bu

‖n. [ Scot., of uncertain origin. ] A lantern; also, the moon. [ Scot. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. 2d Bubby. ] A young brother; a little boy; -- a familiar term of address of a small boy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Abbrev. from Bubble. ] To throw out in bubbles; to bubble. [ Obs. ] Sackville. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Strong malt liquor. [ Cant ] Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. bubale. See Buffalo, n. ] (Zool.) A large antelope (Alcelaphus bubalis) of Egypt and the Desert of Sahara, supposed by some to be the fallow deer of the Bible. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Resembling a buffalo. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bubaline antelope (Zool.), the bubale. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of ruminants which in some classification systems is included in the genus Bos; the water buffaloes.
Syn. -- genus Bubalus, tribe Bubalus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. D. bobbel, Dan. boble, Sw. bubbla. Cf. Blob, n. ] 1. A thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas; as, a soap bubble; bubbles on the surface of a river. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow,
Like bubbles in a late disturbed stream. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small quantity of air or gas within a liquid body; as, bubbles rising in champagne or aërated waters. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A globule of air, or globular vacuum, in a transparent solid; as, bubbles in window glass, or in a lens. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A small, hollow, floating bead or globe, formerly used for testing the strength of spirits. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The globule of air in the spirit tube of a level. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Anything that wants firmness or solidity; that which is more specious than real; a false show; a cheat or fraud; a delusive scheme; an empty project; a dishonest speculation; as, the South Sea bubble. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then a soldier . . .
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A person deceived by an empty project; a gull. [ Obs. ] “Ganny's a cheat, and I'm a bubble.” Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]