It forms all or part of: brook (v.) "to endure;" defunct; fructify; fructose; frugal; fruit; fruitcake; fruitful; fruition; fruitless; frumentaceous; function; fungible; perfunctory; tutti-frutti; usufruct.ETD *bhrug-.3

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Latin frui "to use, enjoy," fructus "an enjoyment, proceeds, fruit, crops;" Old English brucan "use, enjoy, possess," German brauchen "to use."ETD *bhrug-.4

Bhutan

Himalayan land between Tibet and India, from Sanskrit bhota "Tibet" + anta "end." The local name is said to be Druk Yul "Land of the Dragon." Related: Bhutanese.ETD Bhutan.2

bi (adj.)

1956 as a colloquial abbreviation of bisexual (q.v.).ETD bi (adj.).2

bis-

word-forming element meaning "twice," from Latin bis "twice, in two ways, doubly," from Old Latin dvis, cognate with Sanskrit dvih, Avestan bish, Greek dis, Middle High German zwis "twice," from PIE root *dwo- "two." Also the form of bi- used before -s-, -c-, or a vowel.ETD bis-.2

bi-

word-forming element meaning "two, having two, twice, double, doubly, twofold, once every two," etc., from Latin bi- "twice, double," from Old Latin dvi- (cognate with Sanskrit dvi-, Greek di-, dis-, Old English twi-, German zwei- "twice, double"), from PIE root *dwo- "two."ETD bi-.2

Nativized from 16c. Occasionally bin- before vowels; this form originated in French, not Latin, and might be partly based on or influenced by Latin bini "twofold" (see binary). In chemical terms, it denotes two parts or equivalents of the substance referred to. Cognate with twi- and di- (1).ETD bi-.3

bias (v.)

"giving a bias to, causing to incline to one side," 1610s literal; 1620s figurative; from bias (n.). Compare French biasier. Related: Biased; biasing.ETD bias (v.).2

bias (n.)

1520s, "oblique or diagonal line," from French biais "a slant, a slope, an oblique," also figuratively, "an expedient, means" (13c., originally in Old French a past-participle adjective, "sideways, askance, against the grain"), a word of unknown origin. Probably it came to French from Old Provençal biais, which has cognates in Old Catalan and Sardinian, and is possibly via Vulgar Latin *(e)bigassius from Greek epikarsios "athwart, crosswise, at an angle," from epi "upon" (see epi-) + karsios "oblique" (from PIE *krs-yo-, suffixed form of root *sker- (1) "to cut").ETD bias (n.).2

In the old game of bowls, it was a technical term used in reference to balls made with a greater weight on one side, causing them to curve obliquely (1560s); hence the figurative use "a one-sided tendency of the mind" (1570s), and, at first especially in law, "undue propensity or prejudice."ETD bias (n.).3

bialy (n.)

bagel with onion flakes sprinkled on it, by 1936, ultimately short for Białystok, city in modern Poland. The city is named for the Biała river (literally White River), that flows past it, from Polish biały "white" + stok "slope."ETD bialy (n.).2

Bianca

fem. proper name, from Italian, fem. of bianco "white," which is from Germanic (see blank (adj.)). A doublet of French Blanche, which also is from Germanic, and compare Gwen, which means the same.ETD Bianca.2

biangular (adj.)

also bi-angular, "having two angles or corners," 1770; see bi- "two" + angular.ETD biangular (adj.).2

biannual (adj.)

also bi-annual; "occurring every six months, twice a year," 1837; see bi- + annual (adj.). It is distinguished in sense from biennial, but the distinction is etymologically arbitrary. Related: Biannually; bi-annually.ETD biannual (adj.).2

biarticulate (adj.)

"having two joints," 1806; see bi- "two" + articulate.ETD biarticulate (adj.).2

biased (adj.)

1610s in reference to bowling, 1660s in reference to persons; past-participle adjective from bias (v.). The simple bias also formerly was used as an adjective.ETD biased (adj.).2

biathlon (n.)

"athletic contest in which participants ski and shoot," 1956, from bi- "two" + Greek athlon, literally "contest," but in this case abstracted from pentathlon.ETD biathlon (n.).2

biaxial (adj.)

also bi-axial, "having two axes," 1833; see bi- + axial. Related: Biaxially; biaxiality.ETD biaxial (adj.).2

bib (n.)

linen worn over the breast, especially by children, to keep the front of the dress clean while eating, 1570s, from verb bibben "to drink" (late 14c.), which is perhaps imitative of lip sounds; or else [Skeat] it is from Latin bibere "to drink" (from PIE root *po(i)- "to drink"). If the latter, it is difficult now to say whether this is because it was worn while drinking or because it "soaked up" spills.ETD bib (n.).2

bibber (n.)

"drinker, tippler," 1530s, from Middle English bibben (v.) "to drink heartily" (see bib (n.)).ETD bibber (n.).2

bibelot (n.)

"small curio," 1873, from French bibelot "knick-knack," from Old French beubelet "trinket, jewel" (12c.), from belbel "plaything," a reduplication of bel "pretty" (see belle).ETD bibelot (n.).2

bibitory (adj.)

"pertaining to drinking," 1690s, from Modern Latin bibitorius, from Late Latin bibitor "drinker, toper," from Latin bibere "to drink" (from PIE root *po(i)- "to drink"). Bibacious "fond of drinking" is from 1670s.ETD bibitory (adj.).2

Bible (n.)

"the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments," early 14c., from Anglo-Latin biblia, Old French bible (13c.) "the Bible," also any large book generally, from Medieval and Late Latin biblia "the Bible" (neuter plural interpreted as feminine singular), from phrase biblia sacra "holy books," a translation of Greek ta biblia to hagia "the holy books." The Latin word is from the Greek one, biblion "paper, scroll," also the ordinary word for "a book as a division of a larger work;" see biblio-.ETD Bible (n.).2

The Christian scripture was referred to in Greek as Ta Biblia as early as c. 223. Bible replaced Old English biblioðece (see bibliothec) as the ordinary word for "the Scriptures." Figurative sense of "any authoritative book" is from 1804. Bible-thumper "strict Christian" is from 1870. Bible belt in reference to the swath of the U.S. South then dominated by fundamentalist Christians is from 1926; likely coined by H.L. Mencken.ETD Bible (n.).3

biblical (adj.)

1734, "pertaining to the Bible," from Bible + -ical. Related: Biblically. An earlier adjective was Biblic (1680s). Related: Biblicality.ETD biblical (adj.).2

biblico-

word-forming element meaning "biblical, biblical and," from combining form of Medieval Latin biblicus, from biblia (see Bible).ETD biblico-.2

biblio-

word-forming element meaning "book" or sometimes "Bible," from Greek biblion "paper, scroll," also the ordinary word for "a book as a division of a larger work;" originally a diminutive of byblos "Egyptian papyrus." This is perhaps from Byblos, the Phoenician port from which Egyptian papyrus was exported to Greece (modern Jebeil, in Lebanon; for sense evolution compare parchment). Or the place name might be from the Greek word, which then would be probably of Egyptian origin. Compare Bible. Latin liber (see library) and English book also are ultimately from plant-words.ETD biblio-.2

bibliographer (n.)

1650s, "one who writes or copies books," from Greek bibliographos "writer of books, transcriber, copyist," related to bibliographia (see bibliography). From 1809 as "one who studies or writes about books."ETD bibliographer (n.).2

bibliographical (adj.)

"pertaining to bibliography," 1670s; see bibliography + -ical. Related: Bibliographic.ETD bibliographical (adj.).2

bibliography (n.)

1670s, "the writing of books," from Greek bibliographia "the writing of books," from biblion "book" (see biblio-) + graphos "(something) drawn or written" (see -graphy).ETD bibliography (n.).2

The meaning "the study of books, authors, publications, etc.," is from 1803. The sense of "a list of books that form the literature of a subject" is attested by 1814. Related: Bibliographic.ETD bibliography (n.).3

biblioklept (n.)

"one who steals books," 1880, from biblio- "book" + Greek kleptēs "thief" (see kleptomania). Walsh calls it "a modern euphemism which softens the ugly word book-thief by shrouding it in the mystery of the Greek language."ETD biblioklept (n.).2

bibliolator (n.)

also bibliolater, "book-worshipper," 1820, perhaps first in Coleridge, from bibliolatry (q.v.). In later use, especially "one who regards the letter of the Bible with undue respect."ETD bibliolator (n.).2

bibliolatry (n.)

1763, "worship of books," from biblio- "book" + -latry "worship of." Meaning "worship of the Bible" is from 1847. Related: Bibliolatrist; bibliolatrous.ETD bibliolatry (n.).2

bibliology (n.)

"book-lore," 1804, from French bibliologie; see biblio- + -logy. By 1871 as "Biblical literature."ETD bibliology (n.).2

bibliomancy (n.)

1753, "divination by opening a book (especially the Bible) at random," the first verse presenting itself being taken as a prognostication of future events, from biblio- + -mancy. In pagan times, Homer (sortes Homericae) and Virgil (sortes Virgilianae) were used.ETD bibliomancy (n.).2

bibliomania (n.)

"book-madness, a rage for collecting rare or unusual books," 1734, after French bibliomanie, from biblio- "book" + mania.ETD bibliomania (n.).2

bibliomaniac (n.)

"one mad for books, an enthusiastic collector of rare or unusual books," 1811; see bibliomania. Earlier was bibliomane (1777), from French.ETD bibliomaniac (n.).2

bibliopegy (n.)

"the art of book-binding," 1835, from biblio- "book" + Greek pegia, from pegnynai "to fasten, fix; make stiff or solid," from PIE root *pag- "to fasten." Related: Bibliopegic; bibliopegist.ETD bibliopegy (n.).2

bibliophile (n.)

also bibliophil, "lover of books," 1824, from French bibliophile; see biblio- "book" + -phile "lover." Related: Bibliophilic; bibliophily.ETD bibliophile (n.).2

bibliophobia (n.)

"dread or hatred of books," 1832, from biblio- "book" + -phobia. From late 18c. in German and Dutch. Related: Bibliophobic; bibliophobe.ETD bibliophobia (n.).2

bibliopole (n.)

"bookseller," 1775, from Latin bibliopola, from Greek bibliopōlēs "bookseller," from biblion "book" (see biblio-) + pōlēs "merchant, seller," from pōlein "to sell" (from PIE root *pel- (4) "to sell"). Especially a dealer in rare or curious books. French has bouquinist "a dealer in second-hand books of little value."ETD bibliopole (n.).2

bibliothec (n.)

also bibliothek, Old English biblioðece "the Bible, the Scriptures," from Latin bibliotheca "library, room for books; collection of books" (in Late Latin and Medieval Latin especially "the Bible"), from Greek bibliothēkē, literally "book-repository," from biblion "book" (see biblio-) + thēkē "case, chest, sheath," from suffixed form of PIE root *dhe- "to set, put." Used of the Bible by Jerome and serving as the common Latin word for it until Biblia began to displace it 9c. (see Bible). The word was later reborrowed from French as bibliotheque (16c.).ETD bibliothec (n.).2

bibliotheca (n.)

"the Bible," also "library, place to keep books;" see bibliothec.ETD bibliotheca (n.).2

bibliothecary (n.)

"librarian," 1610s, from Latin bibliothecarius "a librarian," noun use of an adjective, from bibliotheca "library, room for books; collection of books," from Greek bibliothēkē, literally "book-repository," from biblion "book" (see biblio-) + thēkē "case, chest, sheath" (from suffixed form of PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). An earlier form in English was bibliothecar (1580s), and compare bibliothec.ETD bibliothecary (n.).2

bibulous (adj.)

1670s, "spongy, absorbent," from Latin bibulus "drinking readily, given to drink;" of things, "absorbent; moistened," from bibere "to drink" (from PIE root *po(i)- "to drink"). The meaning "fond of drink" is attested in English by 1861.ETD bibulous (adj.).2

Bic (n.)

popular type of plastic ball-point pen, designed c. 1950 in France, named 1953 as a shortened form of the name of company co-founder Marcel Bich (1914-1994).ETD Bic (n.).2

bicameral (adj.)

"having two chambers," 1832; see bi- "two" + Late Latin camera "chamber" (see camera) + -al (1).ETD bicameral (adj.).2

bicarbonate (n.)

"carbonate containing two equivalents of carbonic acid to one of a base," 1814, bi-carbonate of potash; see bi- + carbonate. Apparently coined by English chemist William Hyde Wollaston.ETD bicarbonate (n.).2

bice (n.)

"pale blue color," early 15c., shortened from blew bis "blue bice," from French bis "swarthy, brownish-gray" (12c.), a word of unknown origin, cognate with Italian bigio. Via French combinations azur bis, vert bis, names given to two dark colors used in painting, the word came into English with a sense of "blue" or "green."ETD bice (n.).2

bicentenary (adj.)

"pertaining to a 200-year period," 1843; see bi- + centenary. Also see bicentennial. As a noun, "two-hundredth anniversary or celebration," from 1840.ETD bicentenary (adj.).2

bicentennial (adj.)

also bi-centennial, "occurring every two-hundred years," 1843, American English; see bi- + centennial (q.v.). In rivalry with bicentenary (1840) which seems to have been the more common word in Britain. From 1871 as a noun, "the two-hundredth anniversary of an event."ETD bicentennial (adj.).2

bicep (n.)

false singular of biceps (q.v.).ETD bicep (n.).2

biceps

1630s (adj.) "two-headed," specifically in anatomy, "having two distinct origins," from Latin biceps "having two parts," literally "two-headed," from bis "double" (see bis-) + -ceps, combining form of caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). As a noun meaning "biceps muscle of the arm," from 1640s, so called for its structure. Despite the -s, it is singular, and classicists insist there is no such word as bicep.ETD biceps.2

bicephalous (adj.)

"having two heads," 1803, a hybrid from bi- + Latinized adjectival form of Greek kephalē "head" (see cephalo-) + -ous. Bicephalic in the same sense is by 1863.ETD bicephalous (adj.).2

bicipital (adj.)

"having two heads," 1640s, from Latin biceps (genitive bicipitis; see biceps) + -al (1).ETD bicipital (adj.).2

bickering (adj.)

1808 in the sense of "contentious," present-participle adjective from bicker (v.). Earlier it was used to mean "flashing, quivering" (1660s).ETD bickering (adj.).2

bicker (v.)

early 14c., bikere, "to skirmish, fight," perhaps from Middle Dutch bicken "to slash, stab, attack," + -er, Middle English frequentative suffix (as in blabber, hover, patter (v.); see -er (4)). The meaning "to quarrel, petulantly contend with words" is from mid-15c. The meaning "make a noisy, repeated clatter" is from 1748. Related: Bickered; bickering.ETD bicker (v.).2

bickering (n.)

c. 1300, "a skirmish," verbal noun from bicker (v.). The meaning "a verbal wrangle" is from 1570s.ETD bickering (n.).2

bicker (n.)

c. 1300, "a skirmish, a confused battle;" from the same source as bicker (v.). In modern use, often to describe the sound of a flight of an arrow or other repeated, loud, rapid sounds, in which sense it is perhaps at least partly echoic.ETD bicker (n.).2

bicoastal (adj.)

"pertaining to two coasts," also bi-coastal, by 1977 in reference to the East and West coasts of the U.S. (or, specifically, New York and Los Angeles); from bi- + coastal.ETD bicoastal (adj.).2

bicuspid (adj.)

1826, "having two parts," from bi- "two" + Latin cuspidem "cusp, point," which is of unknown origin. As a noun, short for bicuspid molar, attested from 1837.ETD bicuspid (adj.).2

bicycling (n.)

"art or practice of riding on a bicycle," 1869, verbal noun from bicycle (v.), for which see bicycle (n.).ETD bicycling (n.).2

bicycle (n.)

1868, from bi- "two" + a Latinized form of Greek kyklos "circle, wheel" (see cycle (n.)), on the pattern of tricycle; both the word and the vehicle superseding earlier velocipede.ETD bicycle (n.).2

The English word is said in some dictionaries to be probably not from French, but the 1868 citations are in a French context:ETD bicycle (n.).3

Pierre Lallement, employee of a French carriage works, improved Macmillan's 1839 pedal velocipede in 1865 and took the invention to America. See also pennyfarthing. As a verb, from 1869.ETD bicycle (n.).4

bicyclist (n.)

"one who rides on a bicycle," 1869, from bicycle + -ist.ETD bicyclist (n.).2

bid (n.)

1788, "an offer of a price," from bid (v.). From 1880 in card-playing.ETD bid (n.).2

bid (v.)

probably an early Middle English mutual influence or confusion of two older words: The sense in bid farewell is from Old English biddan "to ask, entreat, beg, pray, beseech; order" (class V strong verb, past tense bæd, past participle beden), from Proto-Germanic *bedjanan "to pray, entreat" (source also of German bitten "to ask," attested in Old High German from 8c., also Old Saxon biddian, Old Frisian bidda "ask, request command," Old Norse biðja, Gothic bidjan "request"). This, according to Kluge and Watkins, is from a PIE root *gwhedh- "to ask, pray" (see bead (n.)).ETD bid (v.).2

To bid at an auction, meanwhile, is from Old English beodan "offer, proclaim" (class II strong verb; past tense bead, past participle boden), from Proto-Germanic *beudanan "to stretch out, reach out, offer, present," (source also of German bieten "to offer," Old High German biatan, also Old Saxon biodan, Old Frisian biada, Old Norse bjoða, Gothic anabiudan "to command"). This is (with a shift of meaning) from PIE root *bheudh- "be aware, make aware" (source also of bode (v.)).ETD bid (v.).3

bidden

past participle of bid and bide.ETD bidden.2

biddy (n.)

"old woman," 1785, from Biddy, pet form of common Irish fem. proper name Bridget. The meaning "Irish female domestic servant" (1861) is American English.ETD biddy (n.).2

bide (v.)

Middle English biden, from Old English bidan "to stay, continue, live, remain," also "to trust, rely," from Proto-Germanic *bidan "to await" (source also of Old Norse biða, Old Saxon bidan, Old Frisian bidia, Middle Dutch biden, Old High German bitan, Gothic beidan "to wait"), which is of uncertain origin. According to Watkins possibly from PIE root *bheidh- "to trust, confide, persuade" (via notion of "to await trustingly").ETD bide (v.).2

Frequent in Middle English (to bide on live was "stay alive;" bide in bay was "stand at bay"). It was preserved in Scotland and northern England, displaced elsewhere by abide in all senses except in the expression bide (one's) time. "I Bide My Time" is said to be "the motto of the earls of Loudon" in a Scottish context [1806, in a note to "Poetical Words of Sir David Lyndsay"], and it may owe its popularity to Scott's significant use of it in "The Bride of Lammermoor":ETD bide (v.).3

Related: Bided; biding.ETD bide (v.).4

bidet (n.)

1620s, "small horse," from French bidet (16c.), a word of unknown etymology. Originally in French "a small horse, a pony," thus "a vessel on a low narrow stand, which can be bestridden for bathing purposes," a sense attested in English from 1766.ETD bidet (n.).2

bidirectional (adj.)

also bi-directional, "functioning or occurring in two directions," by 1941, from bi- + direction + -al (1). Originally of microphones. Related: Bidirectionally.ETD bidirectional (adj.).2

Biedermeier (n.)

1899, in reference to the artistic, literary, and decorative styles popular in middle-class, mid-19c. German households. It is from German, a reference to Gottlieb Biedermeier, the name of a fictitious writer of stodgy poems (invented by Ludwig Eichrodt as a satire on bourgeois taste). The term was used in German publications from c. 1870. Also as an adjective, "conventional, bourgeois."ETD Biedermeier (n.).2

biennial (adj.)

1620s, "lasting for two years;" 1750, "occurring every two years," from Latin biennium "two-year period," from bi- "two" (see bi-) + annus "year" (see annual (adj.)). The vowel change is "due to the Latin phonetic law according to which the unaccented and closed radical syllable of the second element of compounds, original -ă- becomes -ĕ-" [Klein]. The noun meaning "a biennial plant" (which requires two seasons of growth to produce flowers and fruit and dies the next) is attested by 1770. Related: Biennially.ETD biennial (adj.).2

biennium (n.)

"space of two years," 1835, from Latin biennium "two years, a period of two years," from bi- "two" (see bi-) + annus "year" (see annual (adj.)). For vowel change, see biennial.ETD biennium (n.).2

bier (n.)

Middle English bere, from Old English bær (West Saxon), ber (Anglian) "handbarrow, litter, bed," from West Germanic *bero (source also of Old Saxon, Old High German bara, Old Frisian bere, Middle Dutch bare, Dutch baar, German Bahre "bier"), from PIE root *bher- (1) "to carry."ETD bier (n.).2

The original sense is "wooden frame on which to carry a load," and it is related to bear (v.). The specific sense of "framework on which a coffin or corpse is laid before burial" was in late Old English and predominated from c. 1600. The spelling altered from c. 1600 under influence of French bière, from Old French biere, which is from Frankish *bera, from the same Germanic source.ETD bier (n.).3

bifarious (adj.)

"divided in two parts," 1650s, from Latin bifarius "twofold, double," from bi- "two" (see bi-) + fari "to speak, say" (from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say"). Probably originally "that which can be expressed in two ways" [Klein]. Related: Bifariously.ETD bifarious (adj.).2

biff (v.)

"to hit," 1877, imitative (as a sound effect by 1847). Related: Biffed; biffing. As a noun, attested by 1881.ETD biff (v.).2

bifid (adj.)

"cleft, forked, split halfway down into two equal parts," 1660s, from Latin bifidus "split into two parts," from bi- "two" (see bi-) + -fid, from stem of findere "to split" (from PIE root *bheid- "to split"). Related: Bifidity.ETD bifid (adj.).2

bifocals (n.)

"bifocal spectacles," 1883, bi-focals; see bifocal. Invented by Benjamin Franklin, but he called them double spectacles.ETD bifocals (n.).2

bifocal (adj.)

"having two foci," 1844; see bi- "two" + focal.ETD bifocal (adj.).2

bifold (adj.)

"double, of two kinds," c. 1600; see bi- "two" + -fold.ETD bifold (adj.).2

bifoliate (adj.)

"having two leaves or leaflets," 1817; see bi- "two" + foliate.ETD bifoliate (adj.).2

bifurcate (v.)

"to divide into two forks or branches," 1610s, from Medieval Latin bifurcatus, from Latin bi- "two" (see bi-) + furca "two-pronged fork, fork-shaped instrument," a word of unknown etymology. Related: Bifurcated; bifurcating.ETD bifurcate (v.).2

bifurcate (adj.)

"two-forked," 1835, from Medieval Latin bifurcatus, from Latin bi- "two" (see bi-) + furca "two-pronged fork," a word of unknown etymology. Nativized biforked in the same sense is from 1570s.ETD bifurcate (adj.).2

bifurcation (n.)

1610s, "the point at which something splits in two," noun of action from bifurcate (v.). The meaning "a division into two forks" is from 1640s.ETD bifurcation (n.).2

big (adj.)

c. 1300, at first found chiefly in writings from northern England and north Midlands, with a sense of "powerful, strong;" a word of obscure origin. It is possibly from a Scandinavian source (compare Norwegian dialectal bugge "great man"). Old English used micel (see much) in many of the same senses.ETD big (adj.).2

Big came into general use c. 1400. The meaning "of great size" is from late 14c., as is that of "full-grown, grown up." The sense of "important, influential, powerful" is from c. 1400. The meaning "haughty, inflated with pride" is from 1570s. The sense of "generous" is U.S. colloquial by 1913.ETD big (adj.).3

Big band as a musical style is from 1926. Slang big head "conceit" is recorded by 1850. Big business "large commercial firms collectively" is from 1913 (before that it meant "a profitable income in business"). Big top "main tent of a circus" is from 1895. Big game "large animals hunted for sport" is from 1864. Big house "penitentiary" is U.S. underworld slang is attested by 1915 (in London, "a workhouse," 1851). In financial journalism, big ticket items were so called from 1956. Big lie is from Hitler's grosse Lüge.ETD big (adj.).4

bigness (n.)

"largeness of proportions; size, whether large or small; bulk, absolute or relative," late 15c., from big + -ness.ETD bigness (n.).2

bigamous (adj.)

"pertaining to or guilty of bigamy," 1690s; see bigamy + -ous.ETD bigamous (adj.).2

bigamy (n.)

"state of having two wives or husbands at the same time," mid-13c., from Old French bigamie (13c.), from Medieval Latin bigamia "bigamy," from Late Latin bigamus "twice married," a hybrid from bi- "double" (see bi-) + Greek gamos "marrying" (see gamete). The Greek word was digamia, from digamos "twice married."ETD bigamy (n.).2

In Middle English, also of two successive marriages or marrying a widow.ETD bigamy (n.).3

bigamist (n.)

"one who has had two or more wives or husbands at once," 1630s; see bigamy + -ist. Earlier in the same sense was bigame (mid-15c.), from Old French bigame, from Medival Latin bigamus.ETD bigamist (n.).2

Big Apple (n.)

"New York City," 1909 (but popularized by 1970s tourism promotion campaign), apparently from jazz musicians' use of apple for any city, especially a Northern one.ETD Big Apple (n.).2

bigass (adj.)

from big + ass (2). By 1945 as big-assed in U.S. military slang, later through African-American Vernacular variant as big-ass, bigass.ETD bigass (adj.).2

big bang (n.)

hypothetical explosive beginning of the universe, developed from the work of astronomers Monsignor Georges Henri Joseph Édouard Lemaître and George Gamow; the phrase is first attested 1950 (said to have been used orally in 1949), used by British astronomer Fred Hoyle (1915-2001) in an attempt to explain the idea in laymen's terms.ETD big bang (n.).2

Big Ben (n.)

clock-bell in the Parliament tower in London, by 1861, generally said to have been named for Sir Benjamin Hall (1802-1867), first Chief Commissioner of Works, under whose supervision the bell was cast. The name later was extended to the clock itself and its tower.ETD Big Ben (n.).2

big-boned (adj.)

"stout," 1580s, now often considered euphemistic. See big (adj.) + bone (n.).ETD big-boned (adj.).2

Big Brother (n.)

"ubiquitous and repressive but apparently benevolent authority" 1949, from George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four." The phrase big brother for "older brother" is attested by 1833.ETD Big Brother (n.).2

big deal (n.)

1860s, "a good deal, a large amount;" by 1878 in financial speculation, originally in California publications; see deal (n.1). As an ironic expression, popular in American English from c. 1965, perhaps a translated Yiddishism (such as a groyser kunst).ETD big deal (n.).2

Big Dipper (n.)

American English name for the seven-star asterism (known in England as the plough; see Charles's Wain) in the constellation Ursa Major, 1845; attested 1833 as simply the Dipper (sometimes Great Dipper, its companion constellation always being the Little Dipper). See dipper.ETD Big Dipper (n.).2

bigfoot (n.)

supposed elusive man-like creature of the Pacific Northwest, 1963, from big (adj.) + foot (n.).ETD bigfoot (n.).2

biggen (v.)

1640s, "to make big, increase," also "grow big, become larger," from big (adj.) + -en (1). As a noun, bigger is attested from mid-15c. for "builder."ETD biggen (v.).2

bigger (adj.)

comparative of big (q.v.).ETD bigger (adj.).2

biggest (adj.)

superlative of big (q.v.).ETD biggest (adj.).2

biggie (n.)

1931, "important person," from big in the "important, influential" sense + -ie.ETD biggie (n.).2

bighorn (n.)

"Rocky Mountain sheep," 1805, American English (Lewis & Clark), from big + horn (n.).ETD bighorn (n.).2

bight (n.)

Old English byht "bend, angle, corner," from Proto-Germanic *buhtiz (source also of Middle Low German bucht, German Bucht, Dutch bocht, Danish bught "bight, bay"), from PIE root *bheug- "to bend," with derivatives referring to bent, pliable, or curved objects. The sense of "long, narrow indentation on a coastline" is from late 15c. In Middle English it also was used in reference to the body, of the fork of the legs or the hollow of an armpit.ETD bight (n.).2

bestead (v.) — *bhreu-

big-league (adj.) — biogeography (n.)