BL

See also: bl, bl., .bl, B/L, and B&L

Translingual

Symbol

BL

1. (international standards) ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code for Saint Barthélemy since 2007.

   Synonym: BLM (alpha-3)

English

Etymology 1

Abbreviations.

Proper noun

BL

1. Initialism of British Leyland.

Noun

BL (plural BLs)

1. (UK military) Initialism of breechloader.
   • 1879, War Office, Manual of Siege and Garrison Artillery Exercises, page 37:

     B.L. cartridges have lubricators choked inside the cartridges of 40-pr. and lower natures.

2. Initialism of boylover.
   • 1984 February 4, “Time On Boylove”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 28, page 4:

     I was able to explain to him the many benefits accruing to a boy befriended by a BL, such as educational, recreational, and material benefits, as well as the happiness of being truly cared for by someone who can be a guide, mentor, confidante, and 'buddy'.

3. Initialism of boylove.
   • 1984 February 4, “Time On Boylove”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 28, page 4:

     I am able to say this with some degree of assurance because the principal writer on the project flew up here specifically to discuss the philosophy of BL with me. He did not come to discuss the alleged transgressions of outmoded and archaic laws, because, he said, he already had all that from police and court records.

Adjective

BL (not comparable)

1. (UK military) Initialism of breechloading.

Etymology 2

From Japanese BL(ビーエル) (bīeru), from ボーイズラブ (bōizu rabu), from English boys +‎ love.

Noun

BL (uncountable)

1. Initialism of boys' love (“yaoi media”).

Anagrams

• lb, lb., L.B., Lb., Lb, LαB, LB, L. B.

Chinese

Etymology

From Japanese BL(ビーエル) (bīeru), from ボーイズラブ (bōizu rabu), from English boys +‎ love.

Noun

BL

1. boys' love (yaoi media)

   Synonym: 耽美 (dānměi)

2. male homosexuality

Coordinate terms

• GL (“girls' love”)

German

Proper noun

BL

1. ISO 3166-2:CH code of Basel-Landschaft (canton)

Japanese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bʲiːe̞ɾɯ̟]

Noun

BL(ビーエル) • (bīeru) 

1. initialism of ボーイズラブ (bōizu rabu, “boys' love”)

Coordinate terms

• GL (GL, “girl's love”)
• NL (NL, “heterosexual love”, literally “normal love; nonke love”)
• TL (TL, “teens' love”)

Korean

Noun

BL • (BL)

1. initialism of 보이즈 러브 (boijeu reobeu, “boys' love”)