BOI (Born On the Island) & IBC (Islander By Choice)
Galveston has two distinctions for the people (non-tourists) who live there: "BOI" (Born On the Island) and "IBC" (Islander By Choice). "BOI" is cited in print from at…
New York City
Boilermaker
Entry in progress -- B.P. Boilermaker (beer cocktail)A boilermaker is a beer cocktail consisting of a glass of beer and a shot of whiskey, tequila, or vodka. The beer is served either as a chaser…
Bois d’Arc Capital of Texas (Commerce nickname)
The city of Commerce was declared by the Texas Legislature the "Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas" in 1999. "Bo-dark" (as it's called) is a tree. Commerce holds an annual…
Bola Tie (Bolo Tie)
The bola tie (or bolo tie; "bola" meaning ball) was declared the official neckwear of Arizona in 1971. In 2007, the Texas legislature had a proposal to make it the official necktie of…
Bolillo (Mexican bread)
"Bolillo" is a Mexican bread that's similar to French bread. The name "bolillo" means bobbin or spindle, and a short rolling pin used to make the bread also is called a…
Boll Weevil Democrat
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Boll weevils (politics)Boll weevils was an American political term used in the mid- and late-20th century to describe conservative Southern Democrats. During…
Bollinger Bolshevik
The term "champagne socialist" is sometimes replaced with "Bollinger Bolshevik" or "Bolly Bolshevik." Wikipedia: Champagne socialist Champagne socialist is a political…
Bolts (Brooklyn FXFL football team)
The Brooklyn Bolts became one of four teams to open the Fall Experimental Football League (FXFL), a professional football minor league, in 2014. The team name of "Brooklyn Bolts" was…
Bomber Sandwich
A "bomber sandwich" is another name for an Italian sandwich, like a "sub" or "hero" or "hoagie" sandwich. The long list of the names of sandwiches served on…
Bomboloni (Italian doughnuts)
Bomboloni are Italian doughnuts, popular in Florence. These are more doughnut holes than doughnuts, filled with vanilla pastry cream, raspberry jam, or other fillings. The Italian…
BOMFOG (Brotherhood Of Man, Fatherhood Of God)
Entry in progress -- B.P. 3 July 1939, New York (NY) Times, "Bishop O'Hara Is Peaker on Eve of Opening of Institute of Public Affairs" by Winifred Mallon, pg. 7:CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.,…
Bon Appetex
The Austin Land & Cattle Company restaurant tells its customers: "Bon Appetex!" This Texas version of "bon appétit" hasn't spread to other Texas restaurants, however.…
Bond Vigilante
The term "bond vigilante " sounds like something out of a James Bond movie, but it simply describes players in the bond market. Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research, coined the term when he was…
Bone Alley
"Bone Alley" used to be a densely populated and filthy area of Manhattan, at Pitt Street and Willett Street. The New-York (NY) Daily Tribune of May 12, 1875 probably explains the name:…
Bonehead Play or Boner (“Merkle’s Boner”)
"Merkle's boner" occurred on September 23, 1908, when New York Giants baseball player Fred Merkle -- running from first base in the ninth inning of a 1-1 game -- saw the winning run…
Bonghorns & “Book ‘em, Horns!” (Longhorns & “Hook ‘em, Horns!”)
In 2006 and 2007, several members of the University of Texas "Longhorns" football team were arrested (for illegal drugs and other offenses). The team nickname of "Longhorns" and…
Bongo Boulevard (51st Street, between Seventh Avenue and Broadway)
Syndicated newspaper columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972) wrote in a column in March 1949: "Sights You Never See on the New York Map: (...) 'Bongo Blvd.' (the short block on 51st…
Bonut (biscuit + doughnut)
The "bonut" (biscuit + doughnut) was trademarked by Biscuit Love (a Nashville, Tennessee food truck and later a restaurant) with a first use date of May 2012. The trademark status is…
Boob Tube (television)
The "boob tube" is a nickname for the television -- a tube (cathode-ray tube) for boobs (idiots). "As a chronicler of the boob-tube, I have received hundreds of letters, but the bulk…
Boobeoisie or Booboisie (boob + bourgeoisie)
The writer and critic H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) coined the term "booboisie" (boob + bourgeosie) in the Baltimore (MD) Evening Sun on February 15, 1922. Mencken meant to describe a middle…