or Boh. TO CRY (or SAY) BO TO A GOOSE (BATTLEDORE, BULL, etc.), verb. phr. (old).—To open one’s mouth; to speak; to gainsay a matter.
1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [Harleian Miscellany vi. 174]. All this may passe in the Queene’s peace, and no man SAY BO to it.
c. 1600. HEYWOOD, A Woman Killed with Kindness [DODSLEY, Old Plays (REED), iv. 113]. We have such a household of serving creatures, unless it be Nick and I, there’s not one amongst them all can SAY BO TO A GOOSE.
1709. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. s.v. Ibid., Hamilton’s Bawn.
| A scholard, when just from his college broke loose, | |
| Can hardly tell how to CRY BO TO A GOOSE. |
1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, liv. The soldier with great vociferation swore I was either dumb or deaf, if not both, and that I looked as if I could not BOH! TO A GOOSE. Aroused at this observation, I fixed my eyes upon him, and pronounced with emphasis the interjection, BOH!
