| 释义 |
Billingsgate|ˈbɪlɪŋsgeɪt|
Also 3 Bellingesȝate, 7 Bellings gate, Belin'sgate, 7–8 Billinsgate.
[The proper name (presumably from a personal name Billing) of one of the gates of London, and hence of the fish-market there established. The 17th c. references to the ‘rhetoric’ or abusive language of this market are frequent, and hence foul language is itself called ‘billingsgate.’]
1. One of the gates of the city of London; the fish-market near it; the latter noted for vituperative language.
c1250Lay. 15070 And ladde to Londene..bisides Bellinges-ȝate [c 1205 Bælȝes-]. 1585Pilkington Exp. Nehem. (1841) 345 The gates of cities have their names..of them that builded them, as Lud-gate and Billings-gate, of Lud and Billinns. 1658R. Newcourt Title Map Lond., Billings gate Founded by Belen y⊇ 23th Brittish Kinge. 1672Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 167 There is not a scold at Billins⁓gate but may defend herself. 1705Hickeringill Priest-cr. i. (1721) 56 The Rhetorick of Billingsgate, viz. Lying and Slandering. 1795Windham Speeches Parl. (1812) I. 266 The scolding of a fishwoman in Billingsgate. 1848Thackeray Van. Fair xiii, Mr. Osborne..cursed Billingsgate with an emphasis worthy of the place.
b. attrib. (in reference to language.)
1652Culpepper Eng. Physic., With down-right Billingsgate-Rhetoric. 1726Amherst Terræ Fil. x. 48, I know nothing that he is fit for, but Billinsgate sermons. 1750Wesley Wks. (1872) IX. 87 Low, Billingsgate invectives.
2. Scurrilous vituperation, violent abuse.
1676Wycherley Pl.-Dealer iii. i. (1678) 35 With sharp Invectives ― Wid. (Alias Belin'sgate). 1710Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) III. ii. 15 Philosophers and Divines, who can be contented to..write in learned Billinsgate. 1799T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 289 We disapprove the constant billingsgate poured on them officially. 1867Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) I. App. 625 This is mere Billingsgate.
†3. A clamouring foul-mouthed person, a vulgar abuser or scold. Obs.
1683Tryon Way to Health 480 Neither have we any Billings-gates, all that sort of People are our hewers of VVood and drawers of Water. 1715Bowes' Trag. in Yorksh. Anthol. (1851) 18 Words not fit for a Billingsgate. 1721–90Bailey, Billingsgate, a scolding impudent Slut.
Hence † Billingsgate v. rare. † Billingsgatry, scurrilous language.
1673Remarks upon Rem. 56 (Boucher) A great deal of Billingsgatry against poets. 1715A. Littleton Lat. Dict., To Billingsgate it. Arripere maledictum ex trivio. |