_BREGEN_, to beg. Both this and the following are probably corruptions of the _German_, PREDIGEN, to pray, to preach; or they may have come from the _Old German_, BRACHER, a pauper. Possibly, however, they are nothing more than corruptions of BEGHARD, the name given to a low order of friars before the Reformation. These professed poverty, and lived on alms. Their orthodoxy and morality were doubtful. In general they were denounced by the ecclesiastical authorities. _See_ Mosheim, _de_ BEGHARDIS _et Beguinis_. The term evidently comes from the _Saxon_, BEGGEN, mendicare; and HARD, or HART, a servant. _BREGER_, a beggar. _BREITHART_, far, wide,—BREIT here being equivalent to broad, or wide; and HART, to very, or exceedingly. _BREITFUSS_, a goose, or duck,—literally, a “broad-foot.” _BRESEM_, BRÜCH, to break. The _Old German_, BRUCH, signifies _fractura_, _ruptura_; _femoralia_; _locus palustris_; _infractio legis_. The _Modern German_, BRUCH, refers to a breach or rupture in a person, especially a breakage caused by violence. _BRIEF_, a playing card. _German_, BRIEF, a letter. _BRIEFELVETZER_, a clerk. _Vide_ FETZEN. _BRIEFEN_, to play at cards. _BRISSEN_, to denounce. _BRÜSS_, a leper. _BSAFFOT_, a letter, a cipher. The _German_, ZIFFER, signifies a cipher, and probably comes from the _Arabic_ or _Hebrew_,—SÉPHER in the latter being equivalent to writing, a writing, or whatever is written in a book. _BSCHIDERICH_, a magistrate. Probably this term, together with the following, were merely vulgar adaptations of the _German_, BESCHEIDEN, to appoint, to be discreet. The _Old German_, BESCHEID-RIK, might be translated as “powerful in decision,” and BESCHEIDRUOM, “renowned for discretion or modesty.” _BSCHUDERULM_, nobility. _BÜTZELMAN_, ZAGEL. The _German_, ZAGEL, is a provincial word, and signifies a tail. _See_ SCHEISS. _DALLINGER_, a hangman. Probably a corruption of GALGENER,—from the _German_, GALGEN, a gallows, or gibbet. _DERLING_, a die (plural _dice_). _DIERLING_, the eye. Possibly a diminutive of the _German_, THÜR, a door, or entrance,—not inappropriately applied to the eye, as the little door out of which all things are seen. _DIERN_, to see. _DIFTEL_, a church. Probably a corruption of the _German_, STIFTEL,—a diminutive of STIFT, a cathedral. STIFTUNG is a foundation, establishment; STIFTER, a founder. _DIPPEN_, to give. _German_, GEBEN. _DOLMAN_, the gallows. The _German_, DOLMAN, properly signifies a pelisse,—the tight-fitting nature of which may have given rise to the cant application to a gallows. _DOTSCH_, _vulva_. Supposed by some to be from the _German_, TASCHE, a pocket. The _Bavarian_ words DOTSCH, DOST, DOSTEN, however, still signify _vulva_.