B

B B (b[=e]) is the second letter of the English alphabet. (See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 196, 220.) It is etymologically related to p, v, f, w, and m, letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own sound; as in Eng. bursar and purser; Eng. bear and Lat. ferre; Eng. silver and Ger. silber; Lat. cubitum and It. gomito; Eng. seven, Anglo-Saxon seofon, Ger. sieben, Lat. septem, Gr."epta`, Sanskrit saptan. The form of letter B is Roman, from the Greek B (Beta), of Semitic origin. The small b was formed by gradual change from the capital B. [1913 Webster]

Note: In (Music), B is the nominal of the seventh tone in the model major scale (the scale of C major), or of the second tone in it's relative minor scale (that of A minor). B[flat] stands for B flat, the tone a half step, or semitone, lower than B. In German, B stands for our B[flat], while our B natural is called H (pronounced h["a]). [1913 Webster]