127614
A Dictionary of Slang
and Colloquial English
Abridged from the seven-volume work, entitled
Slang and its Analogues
BY JOHN S. FARMER
AKD W. E. HENLEY
LONDON
George Routledge & Sons, Limited
New York : E. P. Dutton £ Co,
1921
A LIST
THE MORE IMPOBTANT DICTIONABIES
AND OfHBK WGHK8 TO WHICH REFERENCE AND
ACKNOWLEDGMENT IS MADE
%" Tttf faun A fa brack'to, thtut [168SJ, which, occur in the text may be taken
a* inditutiny, in moxi /taw#, the dfrte of the carlicxt iUwtrative quotation
"Hlang »ad its Analogues.'
It JO. GAUTiUDOB CJBAfifMATiocrs Promptoriuui Parvulorum sive
clorioorunx The Brut English-
Latin Dictionary.
*~" de la Langue
Hin/JKT, HIC?IARD * . Abeoedarium Anglico-Latinuna pro
Wrriuus, .Toncw . A Little Diotionarie for Children
(Latin and English).
Caveat or Wamnmg for Common
Curators vulgarly called Vaga-
bones. The earliest Glossary of
the language of "the Canting
Crew."
M/inipuluH Vocabulorum.
the Frateraatye of, AS
, ,
well oa of ruflyng Vaoabonee, as
of beggerly, of Women as of
Mo»» oTOyrlftB as of Boyesr with
thoir proper N&mee and Qualities,
with A Deeoription of the Crafty
Company of Consonera and
Shifters, »Iao the XZV. Orders
of Knave*; otherwyao called a
Quartern of Knavoe, oonfirmed
by Cook* LorelL
A Isist o\ Dictionaries anJ Oth r
1586. WITHALS. JOHN .
1693. HOLLYBAND, CLAUDII *
1595. ELORIO, JOHN
1599. MrsrsHsnr, JOHN .
1611. COTQRAVE, RA.NIH.B
1616. B[TOLOKAB], JI.OHN]
1617. MnrsHEtr, JOHN .
1656. BLOUNT, THOMAS .
1658. PHILLIPS, JEIDWAKD
1660. HOWELL, JAMB?
J674, HJ6A&, RICHARD .
1677.
e. 1696. £1. B.. OJSNT . •
17J& SMITH, CAPT. i «
1721. BAILEY, NATBAJ* * «
1724.
1737. BAILTOT, NATHAN ,
1754. ANON .
A Shorte Oiotionarie in Latin© and
English.
Diciionnrits French and Englnh.
A Worlde of WorcUw: a most copi-
ous Dictionary of the Itah^n
and English Tonfjues.
Dictionaric m Spanish and
"
Dictionario dc la lAncnio fr m^ «-t*.
English Expositor of Kurd VS-mJ-*.
Guicl<i into tht* Tonguv^, Knvlish,
British or WeL«h» Low
High I>titcht Fronch,
Spanish Fo
and Hebrew.
GloHso^raphift, or D
proting l ho hard
in our rvfim'd Knsrli^h l
The Now World uf
or it, (ttwral !>!<»f iontty rout«in-
ing tht* intor{»r**tati'->n^ rtf ttuch
hiirtJ word« IUH ;*rt* ti^ni-tMi from
Kloriof» Die-
nter-
Lexicon *T«ktray]ottnn, ^rt
tionary,
euatin^ At»ad«my, with
Cantittfc iHfWHn
Ene:U«*h» with
ami Kwn**h.
A Nttw IMctionnjry uf llw TV-im*.
Ancient rind Mit«Ii»rn. «& tht*
ini? CVw in it«
(the
Caul
An K
^ i<tjr«*t*K
1769.
WILLIAM
A. List of Dictionaries and Other Works.
1785. GROSS, FKAKOIS
1786. TOOKB, JOHN
1790. POHTSB, JOHJBf
1803.
1808. JAMIESOUN JOHN
1812. VAFX, ,T. H. .
1812. ANON .
18-2-2. NAKK
3. BKB, (;EORQ»
$, OJHTKJWAW,
1HU. I>AN,\, H. H.. -fns. *
iULUWfcu*, .JAMK.-I o. ,
R.
Al/
t
A Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongua
Divcrftiona of Parley.
Dictionary of all the Cant and Flash
Languages.
Oradus ad Canfabrigiam, or a Dic-
tionary of the Terms Academical
and Colloquial, or Cant, which
are uaed at tho University.
An Etymological Dictionary of the
Scott ish Language. 2 vote. , with
supplement, 2 vols.
Klaflh Diet lonary.
liang-up Dictionary, or the Lounger
nn<l Sportsman's Vade-mecum.
A Glossary of Words and Phrases,
etc., in tho Work* of English
Authors, particularly Shake-
8pearf» and hi« Contemporaries.
(JNow ed,, with considerable
«vddit,iotiK by J. O. Hnlliwoll and
TKomaw Wright, 1876).
A Dictionary of the Turf, tho Eingf
Thi* (faaws ihfl Pit, of Bon Ton
and the V«r»Ui«'a of Life, forming
tht< <tc>mpU^»«t Jx^xicon Bala-
tnmionm (n*«r offered to the
Sporting World.
Th<- LfidiH' Lexicon and Parlour
IK<tt|onnry of Sea Terma*
A Diotioninry of Archaic and Pro-
vincial Word«. $ vols.
l>irtionarv of American Words and
PUrnmti (fid. of 1877).
Bittkn of I K in don laid open; a
Jtttttwt (Vmtpunion for tho Un-
niiUatcd. (n which IB added a
nuwl'TTi Kln^h Dictionary, oon-
trviuinK »H tho Cant Words, Slang
Twin*. *w«l Wit«h Phrasott now
in Vo«tic. with A lint of tho
Sixty Ordi»w *»C Primo Covoe,
'Hi** VulKwTtjiifpK*. Two Gloflsaries
, wui Flaiih Words and
A iJirtmnnry of M<^rt«irn Slang,
(*i*tit, »mi Vulgar Wordu aftor-
w*ft& tmtitknt 'Hift Hlrwag Die-
tiwmrv. Ktymotogmi,Hi»toric»l,
miil Aitwfcitia (Iut4»t «*&» 1885).
VagKtorum: Der Bettor
4ta. av^niafttcd into
with Not«K, by John
< 'ttmtUni iiatt^t, UK the Book of
, with a
A List of Dictionaries and Other Worfa.
1879-82. SKEAT, BEV. W. W.
1880. BREWER, REV. 33. OOBHAM .
1881. KWONQ xi CHUT .
1881. DATIBS, Bar. T. L. O. .
1881. PASCOE, CHARLES
1884-1904. MTTRRAY, JAMBS A. H.
and A. GRAIOIE)
188(1. YUWB, Cot* H., &
C.
1886. OEJCPHAITO, W. KING-TON
1887. BARHKBE, ALBEIIT
1888. FARMBU, JOHN S. .
1889. BARBERS, A., and
CHABLES GODFHHY
1900. FABMBH, JOHN S.
(JRnf we? **•
r>f their
tj, vvir',
preface, by Martin Luther, in
the* year 1528.
Etymological Dictionary of the
jfingliah Language, amma^d on
an Historictvl B^HIB.
Reader's Han<lboi>k of AHw.^ton**.
References, Plots, and Sturio-;.
A Dictionary of Knylirth i'hrv*^,
A Supplementary Knjili^h t ll»>-*t',»ry.
Every - day Life in our Pnblir
Pk*hooli<. (f-ontains u < Jlf >.•»•«, »rv
of Public School i>I,«»ff.)
A New Knifliwh Dirtionary *m
Historical Principles, Kounfl»'>I
miiinlyon the Mftt*>ri*ita collect*1*!
by th« PliilulopoAl Soc*i«*ty. In
Hobaon-.Tol>sonf Un
of Ant»!n-Indin» (V>
and Phn-Hitw, Kfv
torical,
cursive*
Tiic Now Rngiinh.
Arg
Slang. Jitrgon. iuui <*rmt.
The Public School Word Book.
Slang and Colloquial English
Huron, a jtnountainfwr.] (2) The
luatlcr of a gang of thieves ; always
with * tbo » as a prefix. (3) A leader
0 t.Uo church (1007).
A. B. An A f bhVI-bfodicd] Boa-man.
Abba. A form of contempt: gen-
eric. AH suUs., a non-unionist: as adj.,
vile, Hilly.
Aback, To fnkf, aback, to surprise,
ohet'k ; «uddenly and forcibly. fOrig.
nautical : iu which aonse (0, £/. D,)
dating from 1704.1
Abacter (or Abactor), iStcalera
of < 'atllo or 'Bciaotth, by Hereto, or great
number* ; and were distinguished
from Furt* (Mount),
Abaddon. A thiof turned informer ;
H «»itobor (({.v.). [Obviously a Jew
f^nt'c'.j punning rofaronco to Abaddon,
the attgcl of tlio bottomless pit ; Ror.
ix. H.]
Abandnnnad (or Abandannaad),
( I ) A Immlkcwhtof (or bandanna) thiof.
1 Uw*» (il) a potty thiof. I Bnwr : A
font motion (**V) of a bandanna lad.]
Abandoned Habit In pl.t flpoc.
thf < rUUnji dt'nu-tmmdr* in Hotton libv.
Abbcr (Harrow). (1) An abstract;
(X')uuftbtiit(q.v.).
Abbess (or Lady Abbess). A bawd;
A Mwunlftwt of lr«» 8tow» (fj.v.) : of.
Ahlnit: Nun; H«m»tan; otc, (1770.)
Abbey. fr* ttrfaff an abbey to rt
tjmpgct to Hquiwdw : ttUin obh to
tiny (tit (tMwn (Kny : wtt Rpak It of an
untt»r»f< ), Amoujt kindrw;} expww»lo»»
an* : To hrinj* a tiobln to nint^K-nco ; to
nmkti of n Ittrn-n a thorn ; to mnki> of a
jukir of hrt'Hch^ti a purno ; to thwiU* a
tnttl }K>Mt to », pudding - priuk ; Hi"
wind-tntU in tiwiiuik-d into ft niutr.
triu:k««r ? front ft
Hdron, a mountaineer.] (2) The
tiadtT of a gang of (hicvcs; always
*ith ' tl»o ' as a prefix. (3) A leader
> t,ho church (1007).
A. B. An A [blo'|-bfodi«»<l] seaman.
Abba. A form of oontompt: gon-
iria AH subs., a non-unionist: as adj.,
i'il<i, willy.
Aback, To take aback, to surprise,
*Uc*'k : wuddenly and forcibly. fOrig.
tiauttoul : iu which muue (0, M. D.)
;iatiti'T from 1704.]
Abucter (or Abactor). «tcaler«
:»f < 'at< lc or 'BooHtw, by Herda, or great
niunborH ; and wore distinguished
front Fvrc* (Mount),
Abaddon. A thiof turned informer ;
n Huitohor (<{.v.), [Obviously a Jow
fpiK'<i'.i punning reference to Abaddon,
Llif atigci o£ tlio bottomlosB pit ; Her.
ix. U.J
Abandnnnad (or Abandannaad).
f ! ) A (uutdkrrtthiQf (or bandanna) thiof,
I ii'iuM* (li) a potty thiof. I Uronwr : A
contraction (vnr) of a bandanna lad.]
Abandoned Habit In pi., «poo.
thf ruling doitii-motul*1' in Hotton Ilow.
Abber (H«rrc»w). (1) An abstract;
kial»:
Abbess (or Lady Abbess). A bawd ;
a ultwunlftitM of uui Htews (q.v.) : of.
AhlNiti Nun; Snoristanj oto, (1770.)
Abbey. Tr» ttring ,an abbry to a
H<ju(ind«r t altto
,
AK// r>w <iAAr« (/toy s w«i Rwak tt of an
unt hrift ), AnxHiff kindrotl expr*-W!lo0&
»n' : Tit brinjt a tiobtn to nin«pt*nce ; to-
»mk»j of n Unco a thorn ; to mako of a.
pitir of brn-s:h<'H a puroo ; to thwit« A
mill |«>-'t u> H. pudding • prink ; Hi*
wtml.miH in ilwiudk^t into «v nut-
t-riu!k««r i Ifotw ftl»U';!rt to
Abbey-laird.
Abroad.
Abbey-lair d. An insolvent debtor :
spec, one sheltered in the sanctuary of
Holyrood Abbey. (1709.)
Abbey - lubber (or loon). An
idler, vagabond : orig. (prior to the
Reformation) a lazy monk or hanger-on
to a religious house. Hence abbey-
lubber-like, lazy, thriftless, ne'er-do-
well : see Lubber. (1509.)
Abbot A bawd's man : ponce
(q.v.) : see Abbess. Whence Abbot on
the cross (or croziered abbot), the bully
(q.y.) of a brothel. Abbot (or Lord) of
Misrule, the leader of the Christmas
revels. Also (Scots) Abbot of unreason,
and Fr. Abbgde Liesse (Abbot of Joy).
(1591.)
Abbotts' Priory. The King's
Bench Prison : Abbott's Park, the rules
thereof (Grose, 1823, Bee). [Sir Charles
Abbott, afterwards Lord. Tenterden,
was Lord C.-J. of the frig's Bench,
1818.]
ABC (The). 1. The A B C
(Alphabetical) Railway Guide. 2.
(London). An establishment of the
ASrated Bread Company: orig. bakers,
now refreshment caterers. Hence
A JB C gvrlf B, waitress therein. 3.
(Christ's), .die, jBread, and (Theese on
going home night. 4. Generic for
beginnings : thus, like (or as easy as)
ABC, facile, as simple as learning
the alphabet ; down to the ABC, down
to first principles, or the simplest rudi-
ments. (1595.)
Abear. To endure, suffer. [O.E.D.:
A word of honourable antiquity ;
widely diffused iA the dialects; in
London reckoned as a vulgarism.
(885 with a gap to c. 1836)].
Aberdeen Cutlet. A dried had-
dock : of. Billingsgate pheasant.
Abigail. A waiting-woman, lady'a
maid. [Abigail, a waiting gentlewoman
in The Scornful Lady (1616) by Beau-
mont and Fletcher : also see 1 Sam.
xxv. 24-31.] Hence Abigailship
(Grose). Cf. Andrew, Acres, etc.
(1663.)
Abingdon-law. Summary punish-
ment : cf. Stafford-law ; Lydford-law ;
Scarborough-warning, etc. [In 1645,
Jord Essex and Waller held Abingdon,
in Berks, against Charles I. The town
was unsuccessfully attacked by Sir
Stephen Hawkins in 1644, and by
prince Rupert in 1645. On these occa-
•ions the defenders put every Irish
prisoner to death without trial.}
Ablewhackets (or Abelwhackets),
A popular sea game with cards,
wherein the loser is beaten over the
palms of the hands with a handkerchief
tightly twisted like a rope. Very popu-
lar with horny -fisted sailors (£mifth),
Aboard. A gamester's term for
getting even in score.
About. See East, Right, Size.
Above. See Bond, Par, Hooks,
Huckleberry, Persimmon.
Abracadabra. (1) A cabalistic
word, formerly used as a charm. Hence
(2), any word-charm, verbal jingle,
gibberish, nonsense, or extravagancy.
Abraham. 1. A cheap clothier's,
slop (q-v.), or hand-me-down shop
(q.v.). Hence Abraham work, ill-paid
work, sweated labour (see Abraham-
man). 2. Auburn : formerly written
abern and abron . also Abram and
Abraham-coloured. (1502.) 3. See
Abraham-man,
Abraham Grains. A publican
brewing his own beer.
Abraham-man (Abram, Abram-
man or Abram-cove). A sturdy
beggar (1567) : also Bedlam beggar
(q.v.) and Tom of Bedlam. Theno-
sturdy beggars roamed the country,
begging and stealing, down to the
period of the Civil Ware."} Hence
To sham (or do) Abratu (or to Abraham
sham), to feign madness, sham nick
(nautical). Also Abram, naked, nuul,
shamming sick ; Abraham- work, sham*
of all kinds, false pretences : whence tot
go on the Abraham suit, to report t<>
trick or artifice. The mad Tom of
King Lear is au Abram-man : »e<?
.Edgar's description, «'. 4.(
Abraham Newland. A banknote.
[Abraham NewHml wa« chief eiwhier
to the. Bank of .Knglanii, from 177H to
1807.J Hence T<t tthttm Abraham, to
forgo bank paper.
Abraham's Balm. Hanging : *we-
Ladder.
Abraham's - bosom. Dead and
gone to heaven : t-f. Lukt* am. 22.
Abraham's eye, A nwjrio chanwu
the application of which «:VA »tiiipo#e<l
to deprive a thief, who refused to con-
fess his crime, of eymright.
Abraham's Willing. A titling :
ace Rhino.
Abroad, K WicU> of th< mark, out
of one'a reckoning. |xtrpU»x*iiL To
come abroad ( Winc'ht*!rt«r)« to mtum fco
school work after tticknviw; to bt* on
Abroaded.
Ace.
the sick list is to be continent (q.v.).
Also to be fiurJced abroad, to be sent back
to school after going continent: an
implication of shamming.
Abroaded. A noble defaulter on
the continent to avoid creditors was
said to be abroaded ; also police slang
for convicts sent to a colonial or penal
settlement, but likewise applied by
thieves to imprisonment merely.
Abs (Winchester). (1) Absent:
placed against the name of a boy when
absent from school. Also (2) to take
away. Formerly, circa 1840, to abs a
tolly (candle), meant to put it out; now,
to take it away, whether lighted or
unlighled : the modern notion (q.v.)
for putting it out being to dump it.
(3) To get (or put) away ; generally in
the imperative: e.g. aba! Hence,
to aba quiddy, to stir one's stumps
(q.v.), or to put things away with
speed. To have one's wind absed, to
get a breather (q.v.).
Abscotchalater. One in hiding
from the police : cf. Absquatulate,
Absence (Bton). Names - calling.
(1856.)
Absent. Absent witfu>ut leave, of
oao who has broken prison, or ab-
sconded.
Absentee. A conviot.
Absent-minded Beggar. Tommy
Atkins (q.v.): popularised by Kipling's
versos in aid of the wives and children
of soldiers serving in South Africa dur-
ing the Boer War.
Absit. Every undergraduate wish-
ing to leave Cambridge for a whole day,
nob including a night, must obtain an
absit from hiH tutor. Permission to go
away for a longer period ... IB called
an exeat
Abskize (or Abschize). To de-
OAmp : soft Bunk. [Suid to !xt of
Western origin, circa 1833.]
Absquatulate (or Absquotilate).
To docamp, .skedaddle (q.v.): H<IC
Dutik. (1833.)
Academy, (I) A ^angof tluoven ;
(2) a rendezvous for Uneven, harlots, or
g&mefttors; ami (3) a prison. Honuo
Academician, (!) a thief, and (2) a
h«k>t Also buzzing anadcmy, a train-
ing school for pickpockets ; canting-
academy* (I) a common lodging-house,
kim (q.v.), or house of call for
ami (2) a likely houwn for
(q.v.) ; floating fwxfarny. the
hulks; character academy* a rc«orl of
servants without characters, which are
there concocted ; and gammoning-
academy , a reformatory (B. K, Grose,
Bee, Mateett.)
Accident (1) Seduction; and (2)
a bastard : see By-blow.
Accommodate. 1. To equip, supply,
provide. [Jon&on, Discoveries : one of
the perfumed terms of the time,
SalliweU : the indefinite use is well
ridiculed by Bardolph's vain attempt to
define it (2 H. IV., iii. 2. 77) : ci to
accommodate with a loan, or with cash
for a cheque.] (1597.) 2. To part a bet,
or to let a person go halves (that is to
accommodate him)inabetthatislikely
to come off successful It is also, in an
ironical manner, to believe a person
when you are well assured he is uttering
a lie, by observing you believe what he
is saying, merely to accommodate him
(Grose).
Accompany. To cohabit. ( 1 500. )
Account To cast wp accownts
(one's gorge., or reckoning). L To
vomit, cab (or shoot the cat) (q.v.) :
orig. to cast, thence by punning exten-
sion (Ray, Gfrose): also to audit one's
accounts at the Court of Neptune
(1481). 2. To turn King's evidence.
To go on the account, to join a fili-
bustering or buccaneering expedition,
turn pirato. [Ogilvie: probably from
the parties sharing, as in a commercial
venture.] (1812.) To account for, to
kill, literally to be answerable for
bringing down, one's share of the shoot-
ing; make away with. (1846.) To
give a good account o/, to bo successful,
do one's duty by : e.g. Tho stable gave
a good account of their trainer.
(1684.)
Accoutrement. In pi, fino
rigging (now) for Men or Women,
(formerly) only Trappings for Hors«a.
Well accoutred, gentilly dressM
( B. 33. ). [A recognised usage from tho
middle of the l«th century.]
Accumulative. A sort of jour-
nalistic sparring match, codicil (q.v.).
Accumulator* A backer, succewt-
f ul with ono horse,oarrying forward the
stakes to another event.
Ace. The Htnallest standard of
value: also ambs-ace : see Rap, Straw,
otc. Henoo To bate an acet to make a
nlight reduction : also bate mo an aco,
quoth Bolton, a deriaivo retort ; with-
in an ace (or amb's-acc], nearly, within
a shade: fioe Ames Aco. (152S.)
Ace of Spades.
Ace of Spades. 1. A widow. 2.
A black-haired woman.
Ack (Christ's). No ! refusal of a
request, e.g. Lend me your book.
Ack !
Ackman (Ackpirate or Ackruff).
A fresh-water thief or pirate, [Cf.
dialectic Acker, flood-tide, a bore, and
Ark.]
Acknowledge. To acknowledge the
corn, to confess, make an admission :
as to an accusation, failure, etc.
(1846.)
Acock-horse (or Acock). (1)
Triumphant; also (2) defiantly.
(1611.)
Acorn. Horse foaled of an, acorn,
the gallows : see Ladder and Nubbing-
cheat (Grose). (1694.)
Acquisitive. Plunder, booty,
pickings.
Acreocracy. The landed interest :
cf. Snobocracy, Squattocracy, Mob-
ocracy, Cottonocracy, Slavocracy, etc.
Acres. A coward : see (The Rivals,
v. 13. (1775.)
Acrobat. A glass [i.e. tumbler].
Across. Across lots,, (1) by the
shortest way ; (2) completely. (1848. )
Acteon. A cuckold, also as verb :
whence Acteon's badge, the stigma
of cuckoldom (73. E.f Grose, Bee).
(1590.)
Acting Dicky. 1. A temporary
appointment which may, or may not,
l>o confirmed by the Admiralty ; an
acting-order. 2. A man acting in the
name of an enrolled solicitor.
Active Citizen. A louse : seo
Chates (Grose and Bee).
Act of Parliament. Small beer,
five pints of which, by an act of Parlia-
ment, a landlord was formerly obliged
to give gratis to each soldier billeted
upon him.
Actual. Money ; generic : see
Rhino : also tJie actual. (1856.)
Ad (or Adver). An advertisement.
(185-1.)
Adam. 1. A bailiff (Comedy of
Errors, iv. 3). 2. A master man, fore-
man : see Adam's Ale and Adam Tiler.
Adamed, Married.
Adam's- ale (-wine, or Adam).
Water. (1643.) English synonyms,
aqua pura ; aqua pompagmis ; fish
broth. ; pure element.
Adam* s-ap pie. The thyroid car-
tilage : also Adam's-moraei. (1580.)
Adam's -arms. A spade; cf. old
saw : When Adam delved and Eve
span, Who was then the gentleman ?
Hence Adam's -profession, spade work
(i.e. gardening). (1602.)
Adam Tiler (or Adam). An
accomplice. (1C96.)
Add. To add to the list, to geld,
add to the list of geldings m train-
ing.
Addition. Colouring matter, or
cosmetics used for the face. (1704. )
Addition, Division, and Silence !
A Philadelphia catch phrase : properly
multiplication, division^ and silence ! o
reply given by William (Boss) Tweed
when asked the proper qualification for
a ring or trust. (1872.)
Addle. To addle ile sJioon, to roll
on the back from side to side : of
horses. [In the South a horse is then
said to earn a gallon oi oats.]
Addle-egg. Addle egg and Idle
head* anything worthless, an abortion.
(1589.)
Addle-brain (-cove, -head, or
-pate). A stupid btvnjrler, dullard,
onofull of Whimsies and Projects, and
as empty of Wit (B. E. and Grose).
Hence addle-trained, etc. (1580. )
Addle- plot. A marplot, spoil-sport,
Martin-mar-all (ft. E. and . GVov).
Adjective Jerker. A wnu-r for
the press ; ink-slinger (q.v.).
Adjutant's Gig. The bamu-k
roller : usually drawn by men under
punishment.
Admiral. Adiitiral of tl:t. Ulin\ ,
tapster : from the colour of lii.s apron
(Grose). (1731.) Jrf/wfa/' of fA*-
Narrow Seas, a man vomiting into Ihr
lapof his neighbour or ? zVN<l-zw(#w-v).
Admiral of the Zfrrf, a sol : tw Luahm".:-
ton. Admiral of ihe jird, \, /W<, nnd
Ktue, a beadle, hall- porter, or similar
functionary when sporting the livery
of office. Admiral of the White, u
white-faced person, coward, woman m
a faint. Ydhw Adttu'rul, a rear-
admiral retired without service tiiioat
after promotion. [Ailmirnlrf of t h<* rt-d,
tho white, or the blue, were yrudeu in
naval rank prior to 180-i, accord mi^ <<»
tho colour of the ensign display <*<! : all
admirals now ily tho while ensign, and
thoy rank as Admiral of the Fleet,
Admiral, Vice-Admiral, and H'-ar-
Admira-1.] To tap the Ad mini? * (!) to
suck tho moukuy : aeo quotw. ; iform.
Den Affen sauycn., Al^o (2) to drink
on the sly. (1H34.)
Admiral's Regiment.
Aggregator.
Admiral's Regiment (The). The
"Royal Marines ; also nicknamed The
Little Grenadiers, The Jollies, and
The Globe Rangers.
Adonis. 1. A dandy, exquisite.
Hence, to adonize, to dandify, dress
to kill: of men only. (1611.) 2. A
wig. (1760.)
Adrift. Loose — I'll turn ye adrift,
a Tar phrase ; I'll prevent ye doing me
any harm (B. .$.); also (Grose) adrift,
discharged. Hence, astro y, puzzled,
distracted. (1690.)
Adsum (Ci'arterhouse). A response
in answer to a summons or names-
calling. (18-21.)
Adullamites. 1. A nickname for
seceding Liberals who in 1866 voted
Tory because dissatisfied with a Liberal
measure for the extension of the Fran-
chise. [See 1 Sam. acxii. 1.] The
political party in question were
also known collectively as The
Cave. Hence (2) Adullamy, ratting
(q.v.).
Advantage. 1. A thirteenth:
added to a dozen of anything; (2)
something in addition : also vantage.
jSce Baker's dozen and Lagniappe.
(1G4-1.) 2'o play upon advantage, to
cheat. (1592.)
,/Egrotat (^Eger). 1. An excuse
for absence on account of sickness ; (2)
a medical or other certificate of indis-
position (Grow), [j&gritude, sickness ;
£3grotat, an invalid. (1532).] Hence
reading-fFgrotant, leave taken to read
for a degree ; arger-room (Felsted), the
pick room. Lat. he is sick.] — Gradus
ad Cantab., 1803.
Affidavit-man. A false witness,
said to attend Westminster Hall, and
other courts of justice, ready to swear
anything for hiro (Grose).
Afflicke. A thief. (1610.)
Afflicted. Drunk: see Screwed
(JRfiiy).
Afflictions. Mourning goods:
e.g. Afflictions are quiet, there is little
demand for mourning. Mitigated
afflictions, half mourning.
Affygraphy. To an
to & nicety, a T- In an
in a moment, directly.
Afloat. Drunk : see Screwed : also
with lack teeth wdl afloat.
Afraid. Among colloquial and
proverbial Hayings are : He that's
afraid of grass must not piss in a
meadow (Ztal. Ohi ha Datura d'ogni
wrtica now piaci in herba, He that's
afraid of every nettlo must not piss in
the grass) ; He that's afraid of leaves
must not come in a wood (French, Qui
a peur des feuiUes ne doit pas oiler a-u
bois : Ital.s Nbn entri tra rocca e fuso
chi non vuol esser filato) ; He that's
afraid of the wagging of feathers must
keep from among wild fowl ; He
that's afraid of wounds must not come
near a battle ; He's never likely to
have a good thing cheap that's afraid to
ask the price ; Afraid of far enough
(fearful of what is not likely to happen)
Afraid of him that died last year
(fearful of a shadow) ; Afraid of the
hatchet lest the helve strike him ;
Afraid of his shadow ; More afraid
than hurt.
After. A long way after, of a
sketch, cartoon, or burlesque of a classic
picture, book, etc.
After -clap. (1) Anything unex-
pected (spec, disagreeable), after the
conclusion of a matter. Hence (2) a
demand made over and above a
stipulated price, or for an amount
already paid (Grose). (14th century.)
After - dinner Man (or After-
noon's - man). A man who drinks
long into the afternoon : it was the
custom, formerly, to dine in the halls
of our Inns of Court about noon, and
those who returned after dinner to work
must have been much devoted to
business, or obliged to work at unusual
hours by an excess of it. (1614.)
Afternoon-buyer. One who buys
not until after the market dinner,
thereby hoping to buy cheaper.
Afternoon - farmer. A laggard ;
spec, a farmer late in preparing his
land, in sowing or harvesting his crops;
hence one who loses bis opportunities.
Afternoon- tea (Boy. High Sch.,
Edin. ). Detention after three o'clock.
After Twelve. See Twelve.
Against Against the grain
(collar, or hair), contrary to inclination,
unpleasant, unwillingly done (Grose).
(1589.) To run against, to meet by
accident .- e.g. I ran against him the
other day in Brighton.
Agaze. Astonished, open-eyed
(Matsett.) (1400.)
-agger (Charterhouse). As in Com-
binaggera, a combination suit: esp.
football attire.
Aggravator ( Aggerawator, or
Haggerawator). A lock of hair
Agitator.
Air.
brought down from the forehead, well
greased, and twisted in a spiral on the
temple, either toward the ear, or con-
versely toward the outer corner of the
eye. Usually in pi., once an aid to
beauty : now rare. English synonyms :
bell-ropes; beau-catchers; cobbler's-
knots ; cowlicks ; love-locks ; Newgate
knockers ; number sixes ; spit-curls.
(1836.)
Agitator. 1. In Eng. Hist., an
agent, one who acts for others ; a, name
given to the agents or delegates of the
private soldiers in the Parliamentary
Army, 1647-9 ; in which use it varied
with Adjutator (O. E. D.). J. A. H.
Murray : Careful investigation satis fies
me that Agitator was the actual title,
and Adjufator originally only a bad
spelling of soldiers familiar with
Adjutants and the Adjutors of 1641.]
2. A bell -rope, or knocker. To agitate
the communicate, to ring the bell.
Agogare. Be quick ! a warning
signal (New York Slang Dictionary).
Agony. To pile up (or on) the
agony, to exaggerate, use the tallest
terms in lieu of the simplest, cry Holll
when all you mean is Goodness
gracious I : as a newspaper when
writing up murder, divorce, and other
sensations. Also to agonize. Hence
Agony-piler, a player in sensational
parts : see Agony-column. (1857.)
Agony-column. A special column
in newspapers devoted to harrowing
advertisements of missing friends and
private business : orig. the second
column of the Times. (1870.)
Agree. To agree like pickpockets
in a fair, to agree not at all. Other
similes of the kind are, To agree like
bells, they want nothing but hang-
ing; and To agree like cats and
dogs (or like harp and harrow).
Agricultural-implement. A
spade ; call a spade a spade and not
an agricultural implement, a direct
call to very plain speech.
Aground (Qrose). Stuck fast ;
stopped; at a loss; ruined; like a boat
or vessel aground. [This accepted
figurative use of the nautical phrase was
rare prior to the nineteenth century.]
Algiers (The). The 1st battalion
of The Eoyal Irish Fusiliers, late The
S7th Foot. [At Barrosa they captured
the Eagle of the 8th French light
Infantry, a fact now commemorated in
one of the distinctive badges of the
regiment, viz. An Eagle with the
figure 8 below.]
Aim. (B. E.) Endeavour or
Design ... he has missed his Aim
or end.'
Ain't (Hain't or An't). That is,
are not, am not, is not, have not,
[0. E. D., in the popular dialect of
London, Cockney speech in Dickens,
etc.] See A'nt. (1701.)
Air. Castles in the air (the akies,
in Spain, etc.), generic for (1) the
impossible. (2) imagination, and (3)
hope: see infra. To build caf&ea,
(1) to attempt the impossible;
(2) to dream of visionary projects,
indulge in idle dreams ; and (3) to be
sanguine of success. Hence in the air,
(1) uncertain, in doubt, and (2)
anticipated (in men's minds) as
likely ; air-built, chimerical ; air-castle,
the land of dreams and fancies $
air-monger, a dreamer ; see Spain.
Analogous phrases [avowedly generic*
and inserted in this place because as
convenient as any other : the senses,
too, must obviously sometimes over-
lap]. 1. (the impossible), to square
the circle, wash a blackamore white,
skin a flint, make a silk purse out of a
sow's ear, make bricks without straw,
weave a rope of sand, extract sunbeams
from cucumbers, set the Thames on
fire, milk a he-goat into a sieve, catch
a weasel asleep, be in two places
at once, plough the air, wash the
Ethiopian, measure a twig, demand a
tribute of the dead, teach a pig to play
on a flute, catch the wind in a net,
change a fly into an elephant, take the
spring from the year, put a rope in
the eye of a needle, draw water with
a sieve, number the waves ; also
(French) prendre la lun& avec le# denta ;
rompreVarguiUeaugenou. 2. (imagina-
tion), to have maggots, or whimseys ;
to see an air-drawn dagger, the flying
Dutchman, the great sea-serpent, the
man in the moon ; to dream of Utopia,
Atlantis, the happy valley, the isles of
the West, the millennium, of fairyland,
the land of Prester John, the kingdom
of Micoraacon; to set one's wits to
work, strain (or crack) one's invention,
rack (ransack, or cudgel) one's brains.
3. (hope), to seek the pot of gold (Fr.
pot au lait), dream of Alnaschar, live
in a fool's paradise ; sec a bit of
blue sky, the silver lining in the cloud,
the bottom of Pandora's box, catch at
Air-and-exerdse*
Att.
a straw, hope against hope, roekon
one's chickens before they are hatched.
Air of a face or P'icture (B. E , 1696),
the Configuration and Consent of Parts
in each. For this 18th century quots.
are given in O. E. D.~\ To air one's
vocabulary, to talk for phrasing' s sake,
flash the gab (q.v.). [One of the wits
of the time of George IV , asked
what was going on in the House of
Commons, answered that Lord Casile-
reagh way airmg his vocabulary.] To
air one's heels, to loiter, hang about:
see Cool and Heels.
Air-and-exercise. (1) A whipping
at the cart's tail ; shoving the tumbler
(q.v.). Also (2) the revolving pillory ;
and (3), penal servitude (in America,
a short term of imprisonment) (Grose).
Airing. See Out.
Air-line. See Bee-line.
Airy (li. W.), Light, brisk, pleasant.
. . . He is an Airy Fellow.
Ajax (or Jakes). A privy ; a Jakes
(q.v.): Sir John Harrington, in 1596,
published his celebrated tract, called
The metamorphosis of Ajar, by
which he meant the improvement of
a jakes, or necessary, by forming it
into what vre now call a water-closet,
of which Sir John was clearly the
inventor. Also a rm of abuse
(1661.)
Akerman's Hotel. Newgate
prison. [The governor's name was
Akerman, e. 1787.]
Akeybo (Hotten). A slang phrase
used in the following manner: — He
beats akpi/bo, and akeybo boat the devil.
A-la-Mort, Sec Amort.
Albany Beef. The flesh of the
sturgeon. [Rome parts of the fish have
a resemblance, in colour, and taste, to
beef : caught in largo numbers as far
up the Hudson River as Albany.]
Albcrtopolis. The Kensington
Gore district : out of compliment to
the late Prince Consort, who was cloaoly
identified with the Albert Hall and the
Exhibition buildings of 1862.
Albonized. Whitened [L. albus].
Alderman. 1. A half-crown, 2s.
6d. : see Rhino. 2. A long clay pipe ;
a churchwarden (q.v.). 3. A roasted
turkey garnished with sausages ; the
latter aro supposed to represent the
gold chain worn by these magistrates.
4. A jemmy (q.v.) : flomotimos alder-
i*an jemmy : a weightier tool is the
Lord Mayor (q.v.). 6. (Felsted). A
qualified swimmer. [The Alders, a
deep pool hi the Chelmer : see
Farmer, Public School Word Book.l
Blood and guts alderman : see Blood
and guts.
Alderman Lushington. Alder-
man Lushmgton is concerned (or he has
been voting for the Alderman), drunk.
Alderman's Pace. A leisurely
walking, slow gate (Cotgrave).
Aldgate. Draught on the pump at
Aldgate, a worthless bill of exchange
(Grose).
Ale. (1) A merry-making; and
occasion for drinking. There were
bnde-ales, church-ales, clerk-ales, give-
ales, lamb-ales, leet-ales, Midsummer-
ales, Scot-ales, Whitsun-ales, and
several more. (2) An ale-house. Hence
alecie (or alecy), drunkenness ; ale-
Uown (ale-washed or alecied), drunk;
ale-draper (whence ale-drapery), an
inn-keeper (Grose-, of. ale-yard) ; ale-
spinner, a brewer ; ale-knight (ale-stake,
or ale-toast), a tippler, pot-companion ;
ale-post, a, may pole (Grose); ale-passion,
a headache ; ale-pock, an ulcered grog-
blossom (q.v.) ; ale-crummed, grogshot
in the face ; ale-suntting, tippling, etc.
(1362). (3) In pi., Messrs S. AUsopp
and Sons Limited Shares. See Adam's
Ale.
Alexander. 1. To hang. {Rogers :
From the harsh and merciless manner
in which Sir Jerome Alexander, an Irish
judge (1660-1674) and founder of the
Alexander Library at Trinity College,
Dublin, carried out the duties of his
office.] 2. To extol as an Alexander
the Great. (1700.)
Alexandra Limp. An affected
lameness; cf. Grecian bend and Roman
fall.
Alfred David. An affidavit : also
affidavy, davy, and (occasionally) after-
Algerine. (I) A manager-baiter,
eapec. when the ghost (q.v.) will not
walk (q.v.). Also (2) a petty borrower.
Alive. Alive occurs as an intensive
and expletive : e.g. alive and kicking,
very sprightly, all there (q.v.) ; also aU
alive ; man (heart, or sakes) alive ! (an
emphatic address) ; to look alive, to
make haste ; aU alive, slovenly made
(of garments).
All. In pi., belongings : spec, tools :
also awla : see Bens. Hence to pack
up one's alls ; (1) to begone, to desist ;
(2) eee All-nation*. The foe alls, *
Attacompain.
AU-stan&ing.
country sign, representing five human
figures, each having a motto under him
— the first is a king in his regalia ; his
motto, I govern all : the second, a
bishop in pontificals ; motto, I pray for
all : third, a lawyer in his gown ; motto,
I plead for all : fourth, a soldier in his
regimentals, fully accoutred ; motto, I
fight for aU : fifth, a poor countryman
•with his scythe and rake ; motto, 1 pay
for all (Grose}. At all \ The cry of
a gamester full of cash and spirit, mean-
ing that he will play for any sums the
company may choose to risk against
him (HaUiwett). AU's quiet on the
Potomac, a period of rest, enjoyment,
peace. [The phrase dates from the
Civil War; its frequent repetition in the
bulletins of the War Secretary made it
ridiculous to the public.] Phrases and
colloquialisms. All about in one's head,
light-headed ; aU about ^t, the whole of
the matter ; all-around, thorough, all
round (q.v.) ; all at sea, uncertain,
vague ; all face, naked ; on all fours,
fairly, equally, exactly ; aU holiday at
Peckham, hungry, done for ; all in
(Stock Exchange), slow, flat (q.v.) : of
a market when there is a disposition to
sell; whence, aU out, improving; aU
over, thoroughly, entirely, exactly ; all
round my hat, queer, all-overish (q.v.) :
That's all round my hat, Bosh ! spicy
as all round my hat, sensational; att
serene, all's well, O.K. You know
what I'm after ; all up with, finished,
done for; all T.H., of the best, very
good indeed (tailors'), all there (q.v.).
See also Alive ; All-nations ; Along ;
Beat; Betty Martin; Blue; Bandy;
Caboose; Cheek; Dickey; My;
Gammon ; Gay ; Go ; Heap ; Hollow ;
Hough ; Jaw ; Lombard-sweet ; Mops-
and-brooms ; Mouth ; Out ; Pieces ;
Sheep ; Shop ; Shoot ; Skittles ; Smash ;
Smoke; There; Up; Way; Way-
down.
Allacompain. Rain: also alacom-
pain, alicumpane, elecampain : cf.
France and Spain.
All- (or I'm-) afloat A coat.
All- bones. A thin bony person.
(1602.)
Alleviator. A drink, refreshment :
see Go.
Alley (Ally or Alay). A superior
kind of marble. [Alabaster, of which
they are sometimes made.] Also Ally-
tor (or taw) : cf. stoney (q.v.) blood-
alley, and commoney (q.v.). (1720.)
The Alley, Change Alley : cf . House,
Lane, Street, etc. (1720.)
All - fired. A general intensive :
e.g. alt- fired (violent) abuse ; an aU-
fired (tremendous) noise ; an all-fired
(very great) hurry, etc. Also as adv.
unusually, excessively.
All-get-out. That beats all-get-out,,
a retort to any extravagant story of
assertion.
All-harbour-light. All right.
Allicholly. Melancholy, solemn-
cholly (q.v.). (1595.)
All Nations. 1, The tap-droppings
of spirts and malt liquors : also alls, or
all sorts (Grose), 2. A parti-coloured
or patched garment ; a Joseph's coat.
All-night-man. A body-snatcher ;
a resurrectionist (q.v.).
Allot. To allot upon, to count upon,
reckon ( q. v. ), calculate ( q. v. ). ( 1 S 1 6. )
All-out. A bumper, carouse. Hence
to drink all out, to drain a bumper.
(1530.)
All-overish. An indefinite feeling
of apprehension or satisfaction. Also
to feel all over alike, and touch nowhere*
to feel confusedly happy. Also as subs.
(1841.)
All-over-pattern. A term use-el
to denote a design in which the whole
of a field is covered with ornament in
contradistinction to such as have units
only at intervals, leaving spaces of the
ground between them.
Allow (Harrow). A boy's weekly
allowance. Also, to ad mit, declare, in-
tend, think. (1580.)
All-round (Ainor. All-around).
Generally capable, adaptable, or in-
clusive ; affecting all alike : e.g. an till-
round (average) rent ; an all-round
(thorough) scamp; an all-rn^nd crickettr,
one good alike at batting, bowlin<r, and
fielding. Hence all-rounder.
All-rounder. 1. A shirt collar;
spec, one the same height all round the
neck, meeting in front," or (as in clerical
collars) at the buck. (1857.) 2. See
All-round.
Allslops. Allsopp and Sons' ale.
[At one time their brew, formerly
of the finest quality, had greatly de-
teriorated.]
All-sorts. Seo All-nations.
Allspice. A grocor.
All-standing. Fully dressed:
hence to turn in aU siandiMj, to cro to
bed in one's clothes. Also hroitykt up
aU-ntanding, taken unawares.
8
Alma Mat&r.
Ambidexter.
Alma Mater. Originally (and pro-
perly) one's University; now applied to
any place of training ; school, college,
or University. (1701.)
Alman-comb. The four fingers and
the thumb : seo Welsh-comb.
Almighty. An intensive : mighty,
great, exceedingly. (1824.)
Almighty- gold (-money, or
[American] -dollar). The power or
worship of money ; Mammon. (1016.)
Almond- for- a- parrot. A trifle
to amuse a silly person. (1529.)
Aloft. To go aloft, to die : see Hop
the twig. (1C92.) To come aloft, to
vault, play tricks: asa tumbler. (1624.)
Along of. On account of, owing
to, pertaining to, about : also (for-
merly) along on. [The O. E. D. traces
the phrase back to Anglo-Saxon times.]
Along-shore (or Longshore) Boy
(or Man). A landsman (Grose).
Aloud. An intensive : e.g. to talk
aloud, to rave -, to think aloud* to talk ;
to walk aloud, to run ; to stink aloud,
to overpower.
Alphabet. Through tfie alpkabd,
completely, first to last.
Alsatia. 1. Whitefriars: a dis-
trict ad joining the Tern pie, between the
Thames and Fleet Street, pFormerly
thesiteof aCarmelite convent (founded
1241) and possessing certain privileges
of sanctuary. These were coniirmed by
a charter of James 1. in 1608, where-
after the district speedily became a
haunt of rascality in general, a Latin-
ised form of Alsace having been jocu-
larly conferred on it as a debateable
land. Abuses, outrage, and riot led to
the abolition of its right of sanctuary
in 1007. Also Alsatia the higher.
Whence Alsatia the lower, the liberties
of the Mint in Soulhwark ; Alsatian, a
roguo, debtor, or debauchee ; a resident
in Alsatia : also, roguish, debauched ;
ALiatia phrase, a canting term (/?. JS.
and Orone). [Sec Fortunes of Nigel,
chaps, svi. and xvii.]. (1688). 2.
Hence any rendezvous or asylum for
loose characters or criminals, where im-
munity from arrest is tolerably certain;
a disreputable locality : the term has
sometimes been applied (venomously)
to the Stock Exchange. Alsatian, an
adventurer ; a Bohemian. (1834.)
Alt. In alt, in tho clouds ; high-
flywtf ; dignified. [Altiasimo, a musical
term.] Cf. Altitude. (1748.)
Altemal (or Altumal). Altogether.
(1696.) Also as intj., out it short,
stow it (q.v.), stash it (q.v.).
[0. E. D. : Lat. allum, the deep, i.e.
the soa and AL. Dutch altermal.']
Alter. To alter the Jeffs dick, to
make up a garment without regard
to the cutter's chalkmgs or instruc-
tions.
Altham. A wife : Old Cant.
Altitude. In one's altitudes, gen-
eric for bigh-mindedness. (1 ) In lofty
mood ; (2) in high spirits ; (3) hoity-
toity ; and (4) drunk (B. E. and Grose) ;
see Screwed. (1616.)
Altocad. A paid member of the
choir who takes alto (Winchester Col-
lege).
Altogether. A whole ; a tout-en-
semble. (1677.) The altogether, nudity;
in the altogether nude: popularised
byDu Manner's novel and play, Trtlby.
Alybbeg. See 3>bbege.
Alycompaine. See Allacompain.
Amazon. 1. A masculine woman ;
a vigaro. Also (the adjectival pre-
ceded the figurative substantive usage)
Amazonian, manlike, bold, quarrel-
some. (1595.) 2. The Queen: chess.
(1656.)
Ambassador. A trick to duck
some ignorant fellow, or landsman, fre-
quently played on board ship in the
warm latitudes. It is thus managed : a
large tub is filled with water, and two
stools placed on each side of it. Over
the whole is thrown a tarpaulin, or old
sail, which is kept tight by two persons
seated on the stools, who are to repre-
sent the king and queen of a foreign
country. Tfie person intended to be
ducked plays the ambassador, and after
repeating a ridiculous speech dictated
to him, is led in great form up to the
throne, and seated between the king
and queen, who rise suddenly as soon
as he is seated, and the unfortunate
ambassador is of course deluged in the
tub (Grose).
Ambassador of Commerce. A
commercial traveller ; bagman (q.v.).
Ambes-ace. See Ames-ace.
Ambia. Chewed- tobacco juice: also
the intensely strong nicotine, or thick
brown substance which forms in pipes.
1 have always supposed that it is
merely a Southern variation of amber
which exactly represents its colour.
(Barttett).
Ambidexter (or Ambodexter). (1)
A venal juror or lawyer, one taking a
9
Ambree.
OH,
fee from both sides. Hence (2) a
double-dealer, vicar of Bray (q.v.).
Also, deceitful, tricky. (1532.)
Ambree. Mary Ambree, generic
for a woman of strength and spirit
[Narea].
Ambrol. Ambrol, among the Tars
for Admiral (B. E.).
Ambush. Fraudulent weights and
measures. [A punning allusion : to lie
in wait — i.e. lying weight.]
Amen. To finish a matter (as amen
does a prayer), approve, ratify. To say
Fes and Amen, to agree to everything
(Grose) ; amener, a general conformist.
(1812.)
Amen-bawler (-curler or -snorter).
A parish clerk ; also (military) amen-
waUah : see Black-coat (Grose). (1704. )
Amerace. Near at hand, within
call.
American Shoulders. A particu-
lar cut in the shoulders of a coat :
they are padded and shaped to give the
wearer a broad and burly appearance.
American Tweezers. An instru-
ment to unlock a door from the outside,
nippers (q.v.).
Ames-ace (Ambs-ace, Ambes-ace,
etc.). (1) Orig. and lit. the throw of two
aces, the lowest cast at dice. Hence
(2) misfortune, bad luck, nothing.
Within ames-ace, nearly, very uear
(Grose) : see Ace. (1297.)
Aminadab. A quaker : in contempt
(Grose). (1709.)
Ammunition. 1. Originally applied
to every requisite for soldiers' use, as
ammunition bread, shoes, hat, etc. :
now only of powder, shot, shell, and
J/he like. Whence colloquialisms such
as ammunition face, a warlike face ;
ammunition urife, a soldier's trull
(Grose) ; ammunition leg, a wooden leg,
etc. (1658.) 2. Bum-fodder (q.v.).
M out h-ammumtion, food : cf. Belly-
timber. (1694.)
Amoret (or Amorette). (1) Ori-
ginally a sweetheart : spec. (2) a mis-
tress. [0. E. D. : Eng. Amoret having
become obsolete, the word has recently
been re-adopted from the French ; see
sense 4,] Whence (3) the concomitants
of love : e.g. a love-knot, a love-sonnet,
love-books, and (in pi.) love- tricks,
dalliances (Cotgrave). (1400.) (4)
Amourette, a love-affair, an intrigue.
(1865.)
Ampersand 1. The posteriors.
2. The sign & ; ampersand. Van
10
ants : And - pussy - and ; Ann Passy
Ann ; anpasty ; "andpassy ; anparse ;
apersie (q.v.) ; per-se ; ampassy ; am-
passy-and ; amperse-and ; ampus-and :
ampussy and ; ampazad ; amsiam ;
ampus - end ; apperse - and ; empersi-
and amperzed ; and zumzy-zan.
Amputate. To be ofE, to cut
(q.v.) and run, also to amputate one's
mahogany (or timber) : see Bunk and
Timber- merchant.
Amuse. To cheat, beguile, deceive.
O, E. D. . . . Not in regular use,
before 1600. . . . the usual sense m
17th and 18th centuries] : spec. (B. E.
and Grose), to throw dust in one's
eyes by diverting one, to fling dust or
snuff in the eyes of the person intended
to be robbed ; also to invent some
plausible tale to delude shop-keepers
and others, thereby to put them off
their guard. Whence amuscr, a cheat
a snuff - throwing thief ; one that
deceives (Ash and Grose). (14SO.)
Anabaptist. A thief caught in the
act and disciplined at the pump or h>,
the horse-pond (Grose).
Anchor. To sit down. To let go
an anchor to the windward of the Ztw,
to kee£ within the letter of the lav*.
Ancient. See Antient.
Ancient Mariner. A rowing don :
row as in bough (Oxf. Univ.).
Andrew. 1. A broadsword ; also
Andre wForrara: cf. Gladstone. [Cosmo,
Andrea, and Gianantonio Fer.ira, three
Italian cutlers of Belluno m Venetiu.. j
(1618.) 2. A body-servant, valet : cf.
Abigail. (1618.) 3, A ship, whether
trading or man-of-war : also Andrew
Millar, and (Grose) Andrew Miller's
lugger. Among Australian amugglers, a
revenue cutter. (1591.) Poo Morry-
Andrew.
Angel. A child riding on th<»
shoulders: also Flying-angel. Angd
on horseback, oysters rolled in bacon,
and served on crisp toast, very hot.
Angel Altogether. A topor.
Angelic (or Angelica). A young
unmarried woman. ( 182 1 . )
Angelif erous. Angelic, super-
excellent. (1837.)
Angel's-food. Strong alt*. (1597.)
Angel's Footstool. An imaginary
square sail, topping tho Bky-scraper
(q.v.), the moon-sail (q.v.), and the*
cloud-cleaner (q.v.).
Angel's Gear, Female attire.
Angel's Oil. A bribe : also oil of
AngeVs Suit.
Anser.
angels. [Angel, a gold coin, value
6s, 8d., first struck by Ed. IV. in
1465.]
Angel's Suit. A combination
garment for men : the trousers were
buttoned to coat and waistcoat made
in one.
Angel's Whisper. The call to
defaulter's drill : usually extra iatigue
duty.
Angle. To get by stratagem, fish
(q.v.) ; and (in an absolute sense, see
Angler) to cheat, steal. As subs., (1) a
lure or wile; (2) a victim: hence a
simpleton, one easily imposed on ; and
(3) a cunning or specious fellow, an
adventurer. To angle one on, to lure.
(153d.) To angle for farthings, to beg
out of a prison-window, with a cap,
or box, let down at the end of a long
string. To angle vnth a stiver hook, (1)
to bribe, and (2) buy one's catch in the
market.
Angler. * Angglers be peryllous and
most wicked Knaues . . . they custom-
ably carry with them a staffe of v. or vi.
foote long, in which within one ynch of
the tope thereof, ya a lytle hole ... in
which they putte an yron hoke, and
with the same they wyll plucke vnto
them quickly anything that they may
reohe ther with ' (Harmon). To angle,
to steal; Angling-cove, a fence (q.v.)
(JS. E. and Grose).
Anglomaniacs. A club in Boston ;
its members are opposed to every thing
British, y s
Angry Boy. See Boy and Roaring-
Boy*
Angular Party. A gathering of an
odd number of people ; three, seven,
thirteen, etc.
Animal. 1. A term of contempt ;
a fool — he is a mere Animal, he is a
very silly Fellow (If. E., c. 1090). 2.
A new cadet at the United States
Military Academy, West Point ; cf.
Snooker. «oe Whole.
Animule. A mule. A portmant-
eau-word (q.v.): ie. animal-mulo.]
Ankle. To sprain one's ankle, to bo
got with child (Grose) : FT., avoir mal
aitx genouz.
Ankle- beater. A boy-drover:
they tended their animals with long
wattles, and beat them on the legs to
avoid spoiling or braining the iloBh :
also penny-boys (q.v.), because they
received one penny per head as re-
muneration.
Aiikie - spring Warehouse. The
stocks. (1780.)
Ananias. A liar. Hence Ananias-
brand^ an imposture ; Ananias-dub, an
imaginary company of liars; to play
Ananias and Sapphira, to keep back
part of Iho swag (q.v.).
Anna Maria. A fire.
Anne. See Bacon,Sighb, and Thumb.
Annex. To steal, convey (q.v.).
Anno Domini Ship. An old-
fashioned whaler (Century).
Annual. A holiday taken once in
twelve months : cf. annual, a mass
sairl, rent paid, or a book issued yearly.
Anodyne. Death: also to km.
Anodyne necldace (or collar), a halter
(Grose): see Horse-collar, Ladder,
and Nubbmg-cheat. (163C.)
Anoint. 1. To natter, butter ( q. v. ).
(1400.) 2. To bribe, grease the palm
(q.v.); creesh the loof. (1584.) 3.
To beat, thrash soundly ; also, anoint
with the sap of a hazel rod (North) :
cf. strap-oil. Whence anointed, well
drubbed (see next entry). (1500.)
Anointed. Pre-eminent in rascality.
But in a French MS. ... is an
account of a man who had received a
thorough and severe beating: Qui anoit
este si bien oignt. The English Version
[Early English Text Society] translates
this: 'Which so well was anoyntod
indeed. From this it is clear that to
anoint a man was to give him a sound
drubbing, and that the word was so used
in the fifteenth century. Thus, an
anointed rogue means either one who
has been well thrashed or who has
deserved to be' (Skeat).
Anonyma. A fashionable whore
(<•,. 1800-6(i).
Another. You're another, a tu
quoque : i.e. another liar, fool, thief —
any imaginable term of abuse : see
NaiL (1534.)
Anotherguess (Anothergets,
Anothergaines, Anothergates,
Anotherguise, Anotherkins).
That is, another sort, kind, manner,
fashion, etc. [0. E. D. : A phonetic re-
duction from anothergots (tor another-
gates).] Honce anothvt -guess sort of
man (woman, etc.)* one up to snuff
(q.v.). 1580.)
Another Place. The House of
Commons (ford QranvtUe).
Anser. Anser is Latin for Goose
(Brandy, Candle, Fish, etc.). A pun-
ning catch or retort. (1612.)
11
Ansfium-scranehum.
A-pigga-back.
Anshum-scranchum. A scramble :
e.g. when provision is scanty, and each
one is almost obliged to scramble for
what he can get, it is said to be anshum-
scranchum work (HaUiwell).
An't (Aint). A contraction for are
not ; am not ; is not ; has not ; have
not (han't): chiefly Cockney; cf.
shan't, won't, can't : see Ain't. Also,
andmayit. (1612.)
Ant. In an anfs foot, in a short time*.
Antagonize. To oppose a ball,
oill, measure, etc. [Properly, only of
contention or opposition between
brces or things of the same kind.]
Antarctic. To go to the opposite
extreme : cf. lord, tree, etc. (1647.)
Antechamber. (B. JE., c. 1696.)
Forerooms for receiving of Visits, as
the back and Drawing-rooms are for
Lodgings, anciently called Dining-
rooms. [Not in use in this sense until
18th century, the earliest reference in
O. E. D. being 1767 : the orig. meaning,
the room admitting to the royal bed-
chamber.]
Antem. See Autem.
Anthony. ( 1 ) To knock Anthony, to
walk knock-kneed, cuff Jonas (q.v.).
Hence Anthony Cu/fin, a knock-kneed
man. Also (2) to keep warm by beat-
ing one's sides : see Beating the Booby
(Grose). Anthony (or Tantony pig),
see Saint and Tantony. St. Anthony's
fire, Erysipelas: from the tradition
that those who sought the intercession
of St. Anthony recovered from tho
pestilential erysipelas called the sacred
fire which proved extremely fatal in
1089 (Brewer).
Antidote. A very homely
Woman (B. E.}.
Antient. At sea, for Ensign or
Flag (B. E.) [0. E. D.: a corrup-
tion of Ensign, confounded with
ancien.] Cf. Ancient Pistol, Othello's
Ancient (i.e. standard bearers).
Antimony. Type. [Antimony is a
constituent part.]
Antrums. Seo Tantrum.
_ Anvil. On tJie anvil, in prepara-
tion, in hand, on the stocks (the
usual modern equivalent) [an iron]
in the fire. Hence to anvil, fashion,
prepare. (1607).
Anvil-beater (-thresher,
-whacker, etc.). A smith. (1677.)
Any. Any other man, a call to
order : addressed to a prosy or a dis-
cursive speaker, or when from lack of
continuity in thought the same idea is
repeated in synonymous terms. Pm
not taking any, a more or less sarcastic
refusal, Not for Joe.
Any bo dy. An ordinary individual :
in depreciation ; cf. Nobody, Some-
body, etc. (1826.)
Anyhow. All anyhow, carelessly ;
at random. Anyhow you can fix it, a
form of acquiescence : e.g. I don't
know if you'll succeed, but anyhow
you can fix it.
Any-racket. A penny -faggot.
Anything. Like (or as) anything,
an indelinite but comprehensive
standard of measurement; or value,
like one o'clock (old boots, winking,
hell, etc.). (1542.)
Anythingarian. An mdifierentist,
Jack-of-both-sides. Kence anntJ^ng-
arianism, the creed of All things to all
men. (170«.)
Anywhere. Anj/icJiere dovni there !
A workroom, catch - phrase on any-
thing falling to the iloor.
Apart. Apart, severally, asunder
(B. E., c. 1696). [Except for an an-
ticipation by Langland not in use till
long after B. E.'s time.]
Apartments. 1. Apartirteutft to
let, empty-headed, foolish, crazy : see
Balmy. 2. Said of a widow, aLso of a
woman given to prostitution ( Kay and
Grose.)
Ape. 1. An antic, gull. Hence
Goal's ape, a natural fool ; to play the
ape, (1) to mimic ; and (2) to play the
fool ; to put an ape into one's 1'ood (cap,
or hand), to befool, dupe : also to make
one his ape. As adj. (or apish), foolish :
hence ape-drunk, maudlin ; ape-wore,
counterfeit ware. (1230.) 2. An
endearment (Malone) : cf. monkey.
( 1595.) 3. In pi., Atlantic and North-
western First Mortgage Bonds. To
lead apes in heU, to die unmarried : of
both sexes. Hence ape-leader> an old
maid, or bachelor (Grose). (1579.) To
say an ape's paternoster, to chatter with
cold. FT., dire des pate~7i#tre» de singe.
(1611.) Phrases. The ape clasputh lier
young so long that at last she killnth
them ; An apo is an ape, a various a
varlet, Though they bo clad in &ilk or
scarlet ; Tho higher the ape goes, Use
more he shows his tail.
A-per-se. See A.
Apb.ro disian- dame. A courtea&n.
A-pigga-back (or A-pisty-poll).
See Angel and Pick-a-back. .
Apostles (Twelve Apostles).
Formerly when the Poll, or ordinary
B.A. degree list, was arranged in order
of merit, the last twelve were nick-
named The Twelve Apostles ; also The
Chosen Twelve, and the last, St Poll or
St. Paul — a punning allusion to 1 Cor.
xv. 9, For I am the least of the
Apostles, that am not moot to be called
an Apostle. The list is now arranged
alphabetically and in classes. At
Columbia College, D.C., the last
twelve on the B.A. list actually receive
the personal names of the Apostles.
(1785.) To man&uvre tlie apostles, to
borrow of one to pay another, to rob
Peter to pay Paul (Grose).
Apostle's Grove. St. John's
Wood ; also the Grove of the Evan-
gelist.
Apothecary. Formerly a term of
contempt : prior to 1617 the business
of grocer and chemist was combined,
and it was not till 1S15 that the status
of an apothecary, as a medical practi-
tioner, was legally held by licence and
examination of the Apothecaries Com-
pany. Hence To talk like an apothe-
cary, to talk nonsense, use (Grose)
hard or gallipot words : from the as-
sumed gravity and affectation of know-
ledge generally put on by the gentlemen
of this profession, who are commonly
as superficial in their learning as they
are pedantic in their language. Also
Apothecaries' -Latin, gibberish, dog-
(kitchen-, or raw-) Latin (q.v.);
Apothecaries' bill, a long undetailed
account: cf. Bawdy-house reckoning.
Likewise proverbial sayings: A broken
apothecary, a new doctor ; Apothe-
caries* would not give pills in sugar
unless they were bitter.
Appii (The) (Durham University).
The Three Tuns : a celebrated Durham
Inn. [A mis-reading of Actsxxviii. 15.]
Apple. In pi., a woman's paps :
also Applc-dumpling-shop (Grose), the
bosom. (1638.) Phrases and proverbial
expressions : One rotten apple decays
a bushel; To take an eye for an
apple ; As like as an apple is like
an oyster ; There's small choice in
rotten apples; Won with an apple,
lost with a nut; How we apples
swim (What a good time we're
having; a reference to the fable of
Apple-cart. The human body : cf.
Beer- barrel. To upset one's apple-cart,
to floor a man, to thwart (Grose). Also,
to upset the old woman's apple-cart ;
to upset the apple- cart and spill the
gooseberries (or peaches).
Apple - pie Bed. A bed made
apple-pie fashion, like what is called
a turnover apple-pie, where the sheets
are so doubled as to prevent any one
from getting at his length between
them: a common trick played by
frolicsome country lasses on their
sweethearts, male relations, or visitors
(Grose). Fr., ht en portefeuiUe.
Apple-pie Day (Winchester). The
day on which Six-and-six (q.v.) was
played. It was the Thursday after the
first Tuesday in December. So called
because hot apple-pies were served on
gomers (q.v.) in College for dinner.
Apple-pie Order. The perfection
of neatness and exactness. (1813).
Apples-and-pears. A flight of stairs.
Apple Squire. (1) A harlot's con-
venience. Hence (2) a kept-gallant
(see Squire, Bully, and Fancy-man) ;
(3) a wittol (q.v.); and (4) a pimp
(q.v.). Also Pippin-squire, Squire of
the body, Apple-John, Apple-monger,
Apron-man, and Apron-squire. Apple-
wife, bawd. Occasionally Apron-squire,
groomsman. (1500.)
Approach. To know carnally.
Hence approachable,, wanton.
April. This month the poetical
typo of verdure (see Green) and in-
constancy is frequently found in con-
temptuous combination. Thus April-
fool (or Scots April-gowk), cuckoo:
Fr., poisson tfAvril), one who is sent
on a sleeveless errand (for strap -oil,
pigeon's milk, the squad umbrella,
the diary of Eye's grandmother, etc.),
or who is the victim of asinine sport on
April-Fools' (or All Fools') Day (1st
April). This has given rise to the sar-
castic April-day, a wedding-day ; and
Aprfl-genfleman, a newly-married hus-
band. Also April-fish, a pimp (Fr.,
maquereau) ; April-squire, a new-made
or upstart squire. (1592.) Tosmettof
April and May, a simile of youth and
courtship. (1596.) Also proverbial say-
ings: A windy March and a rainy
April make a beautiful May; April
showers bring forth May flowers;
avng ; a reerence o e ae o sowers ng or ay nower ;
posse of horse-droppings floating When April blows his horn it's good
down the river with a company of for hay and corn ; April cling good for
apples). (1340.) Seo Adam's Apple, nothing; April— borrows three days
13
Apron.
of March, and they are ill ; A cold
Apnl the barn mil fill ; An April
flood carries away the frog and her
brood ; April and May are the keys
of the year.
Apron. 1. A woman : generic ; cf.
Muslin; Petticoat ; Placket, etc. Hence
tied to one's apron strings (or apron-
led), (1) under petticoat - rule, hen-
pecked ; and (2) in close attendance ;
apron -hold (or apron - string hold, or
tenure), a hf e-interest in a wife's estate
(Grose) ; apron - squire (see Apple-
squire) ; apron - husband, a domestic
meddler ; apron-up, pregnant, lumpy
(q.v.). Also (proverbial) : Wise as
her mother's apron-strings, dependent
on a mother's bidding. (1542.) 2.
Generic for one wearing an apron :
e.g. a shopkeeper, a waiter, a workman :
also apron-man, apron-rogue, aproneer.
[Spec, the Parliamentary party (many
of whom were of humble origin)
' during the Civil War : by Cavaliers
in contempt.] Hence (3), a cleric of
rank, a bishop or dean (also Apron-
and-Gaiters). As verb, to cover with
(or as with) an apron ; and aproned,
of the working-class, mechanic. Hence
checkered-apron, a barber ; blue-apron
(q.y.) ; green-apron, a lay-proacher ;
white-apron, a prostitute. (1592.)
Apron-washings. Porter.
Aqua. Water : also Aqua-pompa-
ginis (Grose, Dog-Latin). Hence, in
jocose combination, aguapote, aqua-
bib (Bailey, 1731), and aquatic, a
water-drinker; aqua -bob, an icicle.
(1704.)
Aquadiente. Brandy. (1835.)
Aquatics. (Eton). 1. The wet-bob
(q.v.) cricket- team ; and (2) the playing
field used by them : see Sixpenny.
Aqua-vitae. Formerly an alchemic
term, but long popularly generic for
ardent spirits ; brandy, whisky, etc.
[L. water of life. Cf. French eau-de-
vie, and Irish usquebaugh,] Hence
aqua-vitas man, (1) a quack, and (2) a
dram-seller. (1542.)
Arab. (1) A young street vagrant:
also street arab and city arab. Whence
(2) an outcast. (1848.)
Arabian- bird. Anything unique.
[Properly the phoenix.] Also Arabian
nights, the fabulous, the marvellous
(1605.)
Arcadian - nightingale (or bird),
An ass; see Nightingale. (1694.)
Arch. L Properly chief, pre-emi-
nent : hence, (1) clever, crafty, roguish
(B. E.) ; and (2) extreme, out-and-out
(q.v.). [0. E. D. : In modern use
chiefly prefixed intensively to words of
bad or odious sense.] Thus, arch-
botcher, a clumsy patch-worker ; arch-
fool (or dolt), an out-and-out duffer ;
arch-knave, a rascal of parts ; arch-cove
(or rogue), spec, the ringleader of a band
of gipsies or thieves : whence arch-
dell (or doxy), the same in rank among
the female canters of gipsies (Grose) ;
arch-whore, a bilking harlot (B~ E.),
etc. Also, sharp, keen, splenetic :
usually with at or upon. (1551.) "2.
Saucy, waggish. Thus arch- (witty)
fellow (B. E.) ; arch- (pleasant) wag
(B. E.) ; arch duke, & comical or
eccentric fellow (Grose). (1662.) See
Ark.
Archdeacon. (Oxford). Merton
strong ale.
Archwife. A masterful woman ; a
virago. (1383.)
Ard. Hot (Grose), ardent.
Ardelio. A busybody, meddler.
(1598.)
Area-sneak (or slum}. A potty
thief : spec, one working houses by
means of an area-gate (Grose) : see
Sneak, Slum, and Thief. ( 1 8G5. )
Arg, To argue, grumble : cf. Argle.
Argal. Therefore, ergo : of which it
is a corruption As subs., a clumsy
argument. Fee Argle. (1602.)
Argent. Money : generic : spec,
silver money (Hauey) : see Gent.
Hence argenlocracy, the jx>wer of
money; Mammon (q.v.). (1500.)
Argle. To argue disputatiouftly,
haggle, bandy words; also argle-bargk,
argol-bargol, or argm-bargie. Whence
argol-bargolotts, quarrelsome : cf. Anr.
(1689.)
Argot. The jargon, slang, or
peculiar phraseology oi a ch>ss, orig.
that of thieves and rogues. See Slang
and Cant. Whence aryotic* slancy.
(1611.)
Argue. To argue out of (away, a
dog's tad off, etc.), to get rid of by
argument : sco Talk, (1713.)
Argufy, (1) To argue, worry,
wrangle. Whence (2) to signify* prove
of consequence, follow as a result of
argument. Argufiif, a contentious
talker. Sco Arg and Argle. (1751.)
Aristippus. I. Canary wine. (1627.)
2. *A Diet - drink, or Decoction of
Sarsa China, etc. fesoM at certain
14
Ark.
Article.
Coffee-houses, and drank as T * (B. E.
and Grose).
Ark (or Arch). (1) A boat; a
wherry : e.g. Let us take an Ark and
winns, let us take a sculler (B. S. and
Grose,). Hence arTcman, a waterman.
Also (2), in Western America, a flat-
bottomed market-produce boat (Bart-
lett) : rarely seen since the introduction
ol steam. 3. A barrack -room chest :
a lingering use of an old dialect
word.
Arkansas- tooth pick. A large
sheath knife : orig. a bowie-knife (q.v.)
(1854.)
Ark-floater. An actor well ad-
vanced in years.
Arm, Colloquialisms are : To make
a long arm, to exert oneself ; as long as
one's arm, very long ; to work at arm's
length, to do awkwardly; one under
the arm (tailor's), an extra job ; in the
arms of Murphy (or Morpheus), asleep :
see Murphy.
Armful. A heap, a large quantity ;
spec, an endearment: of a bouncing
baby, a big cuddlesome wench, etc.
(1579.)
Armine. A wretched person, a
beggar. (1605.)
Armour. In armo-ur, pot-valiant;
primed (q.v.). ; full of Dutch courage
(q.v.) : see Screwed (B. E. and Grose).
Armpits. To work under the arm-
pits, to escape the halter by the skin of
one's teeth, to practise only such kinds
of depredation as will amount, upon
conviction, to whatever the law calls
single, or petty, larceny ; the extent of
punishment for which is transportation
for seven years. [On the passing of
Sir Samuel Romilly's Act, capital
punishment was abolished for highway
robberies under 40s. in value.]
Arm- pro p. A crutch; a wooden-
leg (q.v.).
Arms-and-legs. Small beer : be-
cause there is no body in it (Grose).
Arm - slasher (or slabber). A
gallant who bled his arm to toast his
mistress; hence to dagger (or stab)
arms to toast a lady-love. (1611.)
Armstrong. See Captain Arm-
strong.
Arrah, An expletive, with no
special meaning (Grose) ; an expletive
expressing emotion or excitement,com-
mon in Anglo-Irish speech (O. E. D.).
rParquhar, who first used the term
(1706) was of Irish birth.]
Array. (1) To thrash, to dress
down (q.v.); (2) to afflict, punish (q.v.) ;
and (3) defile. Hence as subs., a drub-
bing, pickle (q.v.), plight, a pretty
state of affairs. (1388.)
Arrow (or Arra). A corruption of
e'er a, or ever a. (1750.)
'Arry. That is Harry: a popular
embodiment of the vulgar, rollicking,
yet on the whole good- tempered rough
of the metropolis. "Whence 'Arriet,
'Arry's young woman. [Popularised
by Milliken in a series of ballads in
Punch,] 'Arryish, vulgarly jovial.
(1874.)
Arst. Asked.
Arter. After.
Artesian. A Gippsland (Victoria)
brew of beer : manufactured with water
obtained from an artesian well at Sale
— hence artesian (generic), colonial
beer : see Cascade.
Artful Dodger. 1. A lodger. 2.
An expert thief : also a fellow who
dares not sleep twice in the same place
for fear of arrest. [The Artful Dodger,
a character in Dickens' Oliver Twist.]
Arthur. King (or Prince) Arthur.
A sailor's game. When near the line,
or in a hot latitude, a man who is to
represent King Arthur, is ridiculously
dressed, having a large wig made out
of oakum, or some old swabs. He is
seated on the side, or over a large vessel
of water, and every person in turn is
ceremoniously introduced to him, and
has to pour a bucket of water over him.
crying out, Hail, King Arthur ! If
during the ceremony the person intro-
duced laughs or smiles (to which his
majesty endeavours to excite him by
all sorts of ridiculous gesticulations), he
changes places with, and then becomes
King Arthur, till relieved by some
brother tar who has as little command
over his muscles as himself (Grose) : cf.
Ambassador.
Artichoke. 1. A term of contempt.
(1600.) 2. A hanging: also hearty
choak (Grose) ; whence to have an arti-
chobe and caper sauce for "breakfast, to
be hanged.
Article. 1. A woman : e.g. a prime
article (Grose), a handsome girl, a hell
of a goer (Lex. Bal.). 2. A mildly
contemptuous or sarcastic address:
usually with such adjectives as pretty,
nice, etc. Thus, You're a pretty
article, You're a beauty (q.v.) ;
What sort of an article do you think
15
Article of Virtue.
you are ? What's ycmr name when out
for a walk? Also (Halliwdl) of a
wretched animal. 3. In pL, a suit of
clothes (Grose).
Article of Virtue. A virgin. [A
play upon virtue, and virtu.']
Artilleryman. A drunkard : cf.
canon, drunk, and see Iraahlugton.
Artist. An adroit rogue, skilful
gamester.— N. Y. S. D.
As. See Make.
Asia Minor. The Kensington and
Bays-water district. [Many Anglo-
Indians reside in this locality. The
nickname is double-barrelled, for the
district is also the headquarters of the
Greek community in the metropolis.]
Cf. New Jerusalem, Black Hole, etc.
Asinego. (1) A little ass; hence
(2) a fool, donkey (q.v.), duffer (q.v.).
(1606.)
Ask. To proclaim in church : as a
marriage ; literally to ask for (or the)
banns thereto. Formerly also of stray
cattle, etc. [0. E. D. : The recognised
expression is now to publish the
banns; but ask is the historical
word.] Whence asking, an announce-
ment in church of intended marriage
(1461). Aslc another, a jesting or con-
temptuous retort to a question that
one cannot, will not, or ought not, to
answer : also Ask bogy (q.v.).
Askew. A cup: see Skew (Harman,
1567).
Aspasia. A harlot. The name of
one of the celebrated courtesans of
Athens, called Hetcerae (iraipai), many
of whom were highly accomplished and
were faithful to one lover. . . . Repre-
sentative of a fascinating courtesan,
and more rarely, of an accomplished
woman.
Aspen-leaf. The tongue. (1532.)
Ass. Generic for stupidity, clumsi-
ness, and ignorance. Hence ( 1 ) a fool :
see Buffle. [0. E. D. : now disused in
polite literature and speech. ] Also ass-
head : whence assheadcd, stupid ; and
assheadedness, folly. To make an ass of,
to stultify ; to make an ass of oneself, to
play the fool ; Your ass-ship (a mock
title : cf. lordship). Also Proverbs and
proverbial sayings: When a fool is
made a bishop then a horned ass is born
therein ( 1400) : Perhaps thy ass can tsll
thee what thou knoweat not (NasJt) ;
To wrangle for an asy's shadow
(Thynne) ; Go sell au ass (Topsdl : a
charge of bloekishncas to a dull scholar).
• as an ass with a squib in his
(Ootgravc) ; Honey is not for
an ass's mouth (Shelton) ; An ass
laden with gold will go lightly uphill
(Shelton) ; Asses have ears as well as
pitchers (M iddleton) ; He will act the
ass's part to get some bran ( Urquhart);
An ass in a lion's skin (Addison) ;
An unlettered king is a crowned ass
(Freeman) ; to plough with ox and ass,
to use incongruous means ; The ass
waggeth his ears (Cooper, 1563 : * a
proverbe applied to theini, whiche,
although they lacke learnynge, yet will
they babble and make a countenance,
as if they know somewhat'). 2. A
compositor : used by pressmen : the
tit-for-tat is pig (q.v.) : also donkey :
FT., mulet.
Assassin. A breast knot, or similar
decoration worn in front. \Cen-
tuiy: with allusion to its killing
effect ]
Assayes (The). The 2nd battalion
(late 74th) Highland Light Infantry :
for distinction at Assaye, when every
officer present, save one, was killed or
wounded, and the bnxtalion was re-
duced to a mere wreck (Farmer., 3I&,
Forces of Qt. and Greater Britim).
Asses' Bridge (The). The fifth pro-
position in the First Book of Euclid's
Elements ; the pans asinorum. ( 1780. )
Assig. An assignation (B. £J. and
Grose).
Assrnanship (or Asswomanship).
The art of donkey-riding: on thy model
oi horsemanship. (1800.)
Aste. Money : generic : sec Rhino
(Nares). (1612.)
Astronomer. A horse with a high
carriage of the head ; a star-gazor
(q.v.).
At See All ; Breeches ; Himd ;
Hn-vo ; Pickpursr ; JRcat ; That; You.
Athanasian Wench. A forward
girl ; Quicuuqxie vult (q.v.) ; but* Tnrl.
Athens. The J/w?t;-» Atlieins. (1)
Edinburgh; and (2) Do.*,ton, Mass,
(also The Athens of America).
Atlantic - ranger. A herring, a
sea-rover (q.v. ) : soe Glasgow magis-
trate.
Aticins. Sec Tommy Atkins.
Atomy. I. An anatomy, specimen,
skeleton ; ol?o otamy : xvhenro (2) a
very loan persca, walking s!?cliiton
(1508). -2 A diniimitsv - JVTVOH, pigmy
(l.r>!H). 3, An umpty-lh'udvci indi-
vidual.
1G
Atrocity.
Avast/
Atrocity. Anybody or anything
grievously below the ordinary stand-
ard or out of the common : e g. a bad
blunder, a flagrant violator of good
taste, a very weak pun, etc. Hence
atrocious, shockingly bad, execrable,
and as adv. excessively. (1831.)
Attack. A commencement of opera-
tions ; as (jocularly) upon dinner, a
problem, correspondence, etc. Also as
verb. (1812.)
Attempt. To approach a woman ;
to attack the chastity. Hence at-
temptT, atteiriptuble, and other deriva-
tives. (1593.)
Attic. The head, brain, tipper
storey (q.v.)
Attic-salt (style or wit). Well-
turned phrases spiced with refined and
delicate humour. (1633.)
Attleborough. Pinchbeck, Brum-
magem (q.v.). [Attleborough is cele-
brated for its manufacture of trashy
jewelry.]
Attorney. 1 . A knave, swindler j
an ancient (and still general) reproach.
Whence attorneydom and attorneyism,
(in contempt or abuse). (1732. ) 2. A
drumstick of goose, or turkey, grilled
and devilled : cf. Devil. (1828.)
Attorney - General's Devil. See
Devil.
Auctioneer. To tip (or give) the
aitetioneer, to knock a man down ;
Tom Sayers' right hand was nick-
named the auctioneer.
Audit-ale (or Audit). A special
brew of ale : ong. for use on audit days.
Univ. (1823.)
Audley. See John Audley.
Aufe. See Oaf.
Auger. A propy talker, bore (q.v.).
Aught. A common illiteracy for
naught, the cyper 0.
Auld Hornie. The Devil : see
Blacks py.
Auld Reekie. The Old Town,
Edinburgh; i.e. Old Smoky. (1826.)
AulyAuly. (Win. Coll.: obnoloto).
A game played in Grass Court on
Saturday aiternoons after chapel. An
indiarubbor ball was thrown ono to
another, and everybody was obliged to
join in. The game, though in vogue
in 1830, watt not played as late as
1845.
Aumbes-ace. See Amos-ace.
Aunt. 1. A bawd ; a harlot (B. E.
and Grow) : heuco (old sayings) My
aunt will feed me, She is one of my
aunts that made my uncle go a-begging
(or that my uncle never got any good
o£). (1604.) 2. An endearment or
familiar address ; also aunty : spec. (1)
in nursery talk, a female friend of the
family ; and (2) a matronly woman :
hence aunthood : cf. Uncle. (1592.)
3. (Oxford and Cambridge : obsolete.)
The sister university. (1655.) Phrases.
If my aunt had been my uncle what
would have happened then ? (a retort
on inconsequent talk) ; to go and see
one's aunt, to go to the W.C. (see Mrs.
Jones).
Aunt Sally. A game common to
race-courses and fairs ; a wooden head
is mounted on a pole to form a target ;
in the mouth is placed a clay pipe,
which the player, standing at twenty
or thirty yards, tries to smash.
Au Reservoir 1 Au revoir.
Aurum Potabile. That is, Drink-
able gold ; " a medicine made of the
body of gold itself, totally reduced,
without corrosive, into a blood -red,
gummie, or honylike substance ' (Phil-
lips) ; also, some rich Cordial Liquor,
with pieces of leaf gold in it (Kersey).
Australiah Flag. A rucked - up
shirt-tail.
Australian Grip. A hearty hand-
shake.
Autem (Autum, Autom, or An-
tem). A church (Barman, B. E.,
Grose). As adj., married ; also in
numerous combinations, thus : autem-
baider (-cockier ; -jet or -prickear), a
parson : spec, of Dissenters ; autem-
cackle tub, (1) a dissenting meeting-
house, (2) a pulpit ; autum-cove, a
married man ; autum-dipper (or -diver),
(1) a Baptist, (2) a thief working
churches or conventicles, and (3) an
overseer or guardian of the poor;
autum-yoggler, a pietended French
prophet (Grose]; autum-mort, a mar-
ried woman, also the Twenty-fourth
Order of the Canting Tribe, Travelling,
Begging (and often Stealing) about the
Country with one Child in Arms, an-
other on Back,and (sometimes) leading
a third in the Hand ; awtum-quaver, a
Quaker ,• awtum-quaver tub, a Quaker's
inoeting-house.
Author- baiting. Calling a play-
wright before the curtain to subject
him to annoyance — yelling, hooting,
hollowing, etc.
A vast I Hold! Stop! Stay!
(1681.)
17
Avering.
Babe.
Avering subs. (old),
the shallow (q.v.) docile. (1695.)
Avoirdupois. Excess of flesh, fat.
Avoirdupois - lay. Stealing brass
weights off the counters of shops
(Grose).
Avuncular. Humorously employed
in various combinations : e.g. avun-
cular relation, a pawnbroker ; an uncle
(q.v.) ; avuncular hfe, pawnbroking ;
also avuncular, of or pertaining to an
uncle ; to avunculize, to act as an
uncle. (1662.)
Awake. On the alert, vigilant,
fully appreciative : see Fly. (1785.)
Away. Away (forthwith, con-
tinuously) occurs in several colloquial-
isms, mostly imperative. Thus : Fire
away, Commence immediately ; Say
away, Spit it out ; Peg away, Keep
going ; Right, away, at once : Away
the mare, Adieu to care, Begone ; Far-
and-away, altogether ; Who can Jiold
that vrill away ? Who can bind an un-
willing tongue ? To mistake away, to
pilfer and pretend mistake; Away back,
(1) long ago, and (2) see Way-back.
Awful. Monstrous : hence a generic
intensive — great, long, exceedingly
good, bad, pretty, etc. Thus an aw-
ful (very unpleasant) time ; awful (side-
splitting) fan ; aiofully (uncommonly)
jolly, etc. Also penny-awful, a blood-
curdling tale ; of. Dreadful shocker,
Blood-and-guts story, etc. As adv.,
exceedingly, extremely. (1816.)
Awkwar d. Pregnant, lumpy ( q.v. ).
Awkward- squad. "Recruits at drill.
Awls. See Alls.
Ax. This archaic form of ask, ouce
and long literary, survives dialectically
[0. E. D. : Ax, down to nearly 1COO,
was the regular literary form : it was
supplanted in standard Englibh by ask,
originally Hie northern foun.] Also ax-
my~eyef a cute fellow, a knowing blade.
(1380.) Phrases: To have an ax to
grind, to have personal interests to
serve ; to put the ax in the helve, to
solve a doubt, unriddle a puzzle ; to
send the ax after the helve (or the helve
after the hatchet), to despair ; to haiig up
one's ax, to desist from mullets labour,
abandon a useless project ; to open a
door with an ax (said of barren or un-
profitable labour).
Axewaddle. To wallow. Hence
axewaddler (a term of contempt).
Ayrshires. Glasgow and South-
western Railway Stock.
B. 1. The title of a captain in the
army of the Irish Republican Brother-
hood (H. J. Byron). 2. (Harrow). A
standard in Gymnasium the next
below A (q.v.). 3. (Felsted). See A.
Not to know B from a bull's foot (a
battledore, a broomstick, or any allitera-
tive jingle), to be illiterate or ignorant,
unable to distinguish which is which :
also affirmatively : see A, Battledore,
Chalk, etc. (1401.) B Flat (or B), a
bed bug, Norfolk Howard (q.v.) : cf.
F sharp. (1853.)
Ba. To kiss : also as subs. : of.
Buss. [0. E. D. : probably a nursery
or jocular word j Century, perhaps
the humorous imitation of a smack.]
(1383.)
Baa. A bleat ; also as verb ; of a
sheep. Hence baaling, a lambkin :
also baa-lamb ; baaing, noisy silliness,
and as adj, (1600.)
Bab. The first word children use,
as with us dad or daddie or bab (Florio);
Also bnbba.
Babber-lipped. See Blabber-hps.
Babble. Confused unintelligible
talk such as was used at the building of
the tower of Babel (B. E. and Grose).
Babbler, a great talker (/>*. #.).
[0. B. D. : Common to several lan-
guages : in none can its history be
carried far back ; as yet it is known as
early in English as anywhere else
No direct connection with Babel can b<»
traced ; though association with that
may have affected the senses.]
Babbler. L A hound giving too
much tongue. (1782.) i>. See Babble.
Babe. 1. The last elected member
of the House of Commons : cf. father
of tJie House, the oldest representative.
2. The youngest member of a class afc
the United State* Military College,
West Point. 3. An a tietion shark (q.% .);
a knock-out (q.v.) man: for ;» con-
sideration these agree not to oppose the
bidding of larger dealers, who thua
keep down the price, of lots. 4. (Ameri-
can). A Baltimore rowdy : also blood
18
Babe in the Wood.
Sack.
tub (q.v.), plug-ugly (q.v.): see
Baby.
Babe in the Wood. 1. A culprit
in the stocks or pillory (Grose). 2. la
pi., dice.
Baboo (or Babu). In Bengal, and
(2) any large city : spec. London (also
Modern. Babylon). Babylonian, (1) a
papist ; and (2) an astrologer (Chaldea
was the ancient seat of the craft) ;
babylonish, popish. (1564.)
Babylonitish. (Winchester). A
elsewhere, among Anglo-Indians, it is dressing gown. [That is Babylonitish
, ,
often used with a slight savour of dis-
paragement as characterising a super-
ficially cultivated, but too often effemi-
nate Bengali ; and from the extensive
employment of the class to which the
term was applied as a title in the capa-
city of clerks, in English offices the
word has come often to signify a native
clerk who writes English (fide),
Hence "baboo- English, superfine ; grand-
iloquent English such as is written by
a baboo ; also bdboodom and babooism.
(1866.)
Baboon. A term of abuse : see Ape.
Whence baboonery ; baboonish ; and ba-
boomze, to monkey (q.v.). (1380.)
Baby (or Babe). 1. A childish per-
son : e.g. a great baby, a mere baby,
etc. Hence, to smell of the baby, to be
infantiuo or childish (in character or
ability) : of. Baby-act. Also, to act (or
treat) childishly; babyhood (babydom
or babyism), childishness ; baby-bunt-
ing, an endearment. (1596.) 2. In pi.,
pictures in books. [O. E. Z>.: perh. orig.
the ornamental tail-pieces and borders
with Cupids and grotesque figures in-
terworked.] (1605.) 3. The minute re-
ilection of one gazing into another's eye.
Houce to look babies (or a boy) in the
eyes, to look amorously ; to cast sheep' s-
garment.]
Baby's-pap. A cap.
Baby Wee- wees. Buenos Ayres
Water Works shares.
Bacca. Tobacco : Fr., perlot (from
perle). Also Bacco, Baccy, Backer,
and Backey. (1833.)
Bacca-pipes. Whiskers curled in
ringlets : obsolete : see Mutton-chops.
Baccate (or Bakkare), Go back I
Give place ! Away ! (1473.)
Bacchus. 1. Wine, intoxicating
liquor. Whence son of Bacchus, a
tippler : see Lushington ; and Bacchi
ptenus, drunk : see Screwed. [In-
numerable derivatives and combina-
tions have been and are still in more or
less regular and literary use.] (1496.)
2. (Eton.) Verses written (c. 1561) on
Shrove Tuesday in honour or dispraise
of Bacchus — because poets were con-
sidered the clients of Bacchus. . . .
This custom was continued almost into
modern days, and though the subject
was changed, the copy of verses was
still called a Bacchus.
Bach (or Batch). To live as a
bachelor.
Bachelor. Then the town butt is a,
bachelor, the retort incredulous on a
woman's chastity (Ray),
a rag - doll : see Bartholomew - baby.
(1530.) As adj., small ; tiny ; e.g. a
[.v.). (1586.) 4. A doll, puppet, Bachelor's Baby. A bastard : see
l*s plaything: also baby-clouts, Bye- blow and Bachelor' s-wife. (1672.)
- " - • * Bachelor's Buttons. To wear
bachelor's buttons, to be a bachelor.
[Grey. Country fellows carried the
flowers of this plant in their pockets, to
know whether they should succeed
with their sweethearts, and they judged
of their good or bad success by their
growing or not growing there.]
Bachelor's-f are. Bread and
cheese and kisses, (1738.)
Bachelor's-wif e . (1) An ideal wife ;
and (2) a harlot: whence bachelor's
baby, & bastard. (1562.)
Back. 1. To espouse, advocate, or
support, a matter, by money, influence,
authority, etc. : commonly, to back up.
Hence (2), in racing, to wager, or bet in
baby-glass, baby-engine, etc. (1859.)
To kiss the baby, to take a drink ; to
smile (q.v.).
Baby Act. The legal defence of in-
fancy : hence to plead the baby act,, (1)
to plead minority as avoiding a con-
tract ; and (2) to excuse oneself on the
ground of mexporienco.
Baby-farmer. A professional adop-
ter of infants, minder (q.v.) : spec, in
an evil SOIIHO : once tho money is paid,
the children are frequently gradually
done to death. Whence Baby -farming.
Baby-herder. A nurse.
Babylon. Generic for luxury and
magnificence. Hence ( 1 ) the papal support of one's opinion, judgment, or
power (formerly identified with the fancy i to back the field, to bet against all
mystical Babylon, of the Apocalypse) ; horses save one, usually the favourite ;
19
Backing On.
backed, betted on ; backer, ( 3 ) a sup-
porter, back -friend (q.v.), and (2)
a layer of odds : cf. bookie ; backing,
support. (1548.) 3. To endorse, counter-
sign : e.g. to back a cheque ; also to
back a bUl, to become responsible for
payment : cf . to foot an account ;
backed, endorsed, accepted : for-
merly to direct or address a letter :
prior to the general use of envelopes,
the address was written on the back of
the folded sheet (1768) : to be backed,
to be carried for dead. Phrases and
colloquialisms : To give, one the back,
to ignore ; behind one's back, out of
sight, hearing, or knowledge ; to give
back, to turn tail ; to turn one's (or the)
back on, (1) to go, (2) abandon, and (3)
snub ; back and side (back and belly, or
back and edge), all over, completely,
through thick and thin ; to take the back
on oneself, to run away ; with back to
the ivnll, hard-pressed, struggling
against odds ; to have by the back, to
seize, lay hold of; to break the back,
(1) to overburden, (2) all but finish (a
task) ; to ride on one's back, to deceive ;
to get the back of, (1) to take in the rear,
and (2) have at an advantage ; on one's
back, (1) floored (q.v.), (2) at the end
of one's resources, (3) sick or indis-
posed; to have (put, get, or set) one's
back up, (I) to resist, rouse, and (2) get
(or be) angry (J3. E. and Qfose) : whence,
don't get your back up \ Keep calm !
or Your back's up, a jeer at an angry
hunchbacked man ; to back out, to re-
tire cautiously, escape from a dilemma;
to give (or make) a back, (I) to lend a
hand, and (2) bend the body, as atleap-
frog; to back down, (1) to yield or
retire from a matter, and (2) eat one's
words : hence a back-dmon (or square
back down,), (1) utter collapse, and (2) a
severe rebuff ; to be on a man's back, to
chide, be severe upon ; to see the back of,
to get rid of. Also His back is broad
enough to bear jests (Ray) ; What
is got over the devil's back is spent
under Ma belly. To back up (Win-
chester), to call out : e.g. Why didn't
you back up ? I would have come and
helped you. In College, times are
backed up by Junior ua Chambers:
such as Three quarters, Hour,
Bells go single, Bells down. See
Beyond.
Back-and-belly. All over, com-
pletely: also back-and-bed, and cf.
back - and - edge (supra, s,v. Back,
phrases). Hence to keep one back-and-
telly, to provide everything, feed and
clothe ; to beat one backhand-belly, to
thrash thoroughly, (c. 1300.)
Backare. See Baccare.
Backbiter. 1. One who slanders
another behind his back, i.e. in his
absence (Grose), Also (2) His bosom
friends are become his back - biters,
said of a lousy man.
Back-breaker. 1. A hard task-
master : spec, the foreman of a gang of
farm labourers ; and (2) any task that
requires excessive exertion. Hence
back-breaking, arduous.
Back-cap. To depreciate, dispar-
age : also to give a back-cap.
Back-cheat. A cloak; a wrap-
rascal (q.v.).
Backdoor. The fundament. Hence
backdoor - trot, diarrhoea. As adj.,
clandestine, speciously secret: also
backstairs : e.g. backdoor counsellor,
backstairs influence (or work), etc. ;
orig. and spec, of underhand intrigue
at Court, i.e. when the Sovereign is
approached secretly by the private
stairs of a palace instead of by the
State entrance. (1611.)
Back-end. The last two months of
the racing season, commencing with
October : also as adj. [Properly, the
latter part of autumn.] Hence back-
ender, a horse entered for a race late in
the season. (1820.)
Backfall. A trip or fall on the
back, as also backheel and backiock
Also as verb. (1713.)
Back-friend. (1) A secret enemy;
one who holds back in time of need.
Also (2) an ally (see Back, verb, 2).
(1472.) (3) A splinter of skin formed
near the roots of the finger-nail, a
stepmother's blessing (q.v.).
Back-gammon. See Backdoor.
Back-handed Turn. An unprofit-
able bargain.
Back-nan der. 1. A glass of wine
out of turn, the bottle being passed
back or retained for a second glass in-
stead of following the sun round the
table. Hence backhand (verb) and
backhanding. (1855.) 2. A blow on
the face delivered with the back of the
hand ; hence an unexpected rebuff, a
set-down (q.v.). (1836.)
Backing and Filling. Shifty,
irresolute, shuly-shaUy : orig. nautical
(1854.)
Backing On. See Turning-on,
Backings up.
Bad.
Backings up (Winchester). The
unconsumed ends of half - burned
faggots: obsolete.
Back Jump. A back window : see
Jump (Grose).
Backmarked. To be backmarked,
in handicapping to receive less start
from scratch than previously given.
Back - paternoster. See Back-
wards.
Back - scratcher. 1. A wooden
toy on the principle of a watchman's
rattle, which, drawn down the back,
sounds like the ripping up of cloth ;
much in favour at fairs and in crowds ;
its use (in London) is now (1904) pro-
hibited by police order. 2. A flatterer :
hence back-scratching, flattery : cf. Ka
me, Ka thee.
Back-seam. To be down on one's
back-seam, to be down on one's luck.
Back Seat. To take a back seat, to
retire into obscurity, confess failure, be
left behind. [The colloquialism re-
ceived an immense send off by
Andrew Johnson in 1868: In the
work of reconstruction traitors should
take back seats.]
Back-set (modern, Set-back). A
rebuff, untoward circumstance, relapse.
Hence, to set back, to check.
Back-slang. 1. A variety of slang,
orig. costers, in which a word is
slightly veiled by being written or pro-
nounced as nearly as possible back-
wards : thus yob, boy ; cool, look ;
yennep, penny ; etc. 2. See Slum.
3. A back-room; also the back-entrance
to any house or premises ; thus, we'll
give it *em on the back slum, means
we'll get in at the backdoor. As verb,
(1) To enter or come out of a house by
the backdoor ; or to go a circuitous or
private way through the streets, in
order to avoid any particular place in
the direct road, is termed back- slanging
it (Grose). (2) (Australian) to ask for
hospitality on the road : a common and
recognised up-country practice.
Back -slum. See Slum 2, and
Back-slang.
Backstair. See Backdoor.
Backs tair case. A bustle, dress
improver : see Birdcage.
Back-stall. See Stale, subs. 5.
Back-talk, (1) A rude answer?
(2) contradiction ; (3) an insinuation ;
and (4) withdrawal from a promise or
an accepted invitation (Lane.) : also
back-i&ord and back -answer. Hence
backward - answer, a perverse reply ;
No back talk \ Shut up ! (1605.)
Back-teeth. To have one's back
teeth afloat, to be drunk : see Screwed.
Back-timber. Clothes : cf. Belly-
timber. (1656.)
Back Tommy. Cloth to cover the
stays at the waist.
Backtrack. To take the back-track,
to retreat, back out (q.v.).
Back-trade. A backward course.
(1640.)
Back- trick. A caper backwards
in dancing. (1601 )
Backward. A few phrases fall
into alphabet here ; To say (or sing)
ike Te Deum (the Lord's Prayer or to
spell) backuxvrds, to mutter, curse : also
as a charm : hence back-paternoster (or
prayer), an imprecation; to go back-
wards, to go to the W.C. : see Mm
Jones ; to piss backwards, to defecate;
to blow backwards, crepitate; If I
were to fall backwards, I should break
my nose (Ray : It., i.e. I am so foiled
in everything I undertake). See Bad •
talk.
Backwardation. A sum which &
seller pays for not being obliged to
deliver the shares at the time before
agreed upon, but to carry them over to
the following account : cf . Contango.
Also Backwardation.
Back-word. See Back-talk.
Backy. A shopmate working be-
hind another.
Bacon. 1. Generic for rusticity. Thus
bacon-facer (bacon-chops or chaw-bacon)
a rustic ; bacon-brains, a stupid clod-
hopper : hence bacon-brained (-faced or
-fed), clownish, dull (Bee and Grose) :
also bacon-faced (or -side), fat-jowled,
fat, sleek ; bacon-picker, a glutton.
(1596.) 2. The human body. Whence
to save one's bacon, to save appearances,
to escape injury or loss (B. &, Grose,
Bee) : FT., sauver son lard ; to sett one's
bacon, (1) to work for hire and spec.,
(2) to play the harlot for bread.
(1362.) To putt bacon, described in the
Ingoldsby Legends : He put his thumb
unto his nose and spread his fingers
out, to take a sight (q.v.), to make
Queon Anne's Fan (q.v.). Phrases: A
good voice to beg bacon (said in jeer
ol an ill voice) (B. E. and Grose);
When the devil is a hog, you shall oat
bacon (Ray).
Bad (or Badly). Very much,
greatly. Also colloquial phrases ; to go
21
Bad Bargain.
Bad Way.
to the bad, to go to ruin ; to be [any-
thing] to the bad, to show a deficit, be
on the wrong side of an account; to
come back again like a bad penny, (1)
of anything unwelcome, and (2) a
jocular assurance of return ; not half
bad, fairly good ; bad to beat, difficult
to excel; to icant badly,, the superla-
tive of desire ; cruel bad, very bad.
Also Give a dog a bad name and you
may hang him. (1816.)
Bad Bargain. See Q.H.B.
Bad-break. A corruption of bad
outbreak.
Bad Crowd Generally. In sing.,
a mean wretch, no great shakes
(q.v.).
Bad-egg (-halfpenny, -hat, -lot,
penny, etc.). 1. A ne'er-do-weel,
loose fish : in America more inde-
finitely used than m England. Also
(old), a bad or risky speculation: FT,,
mauvais gobet. ( 1 363. )
Bad Form. Conduct not in keep-
ing with a conventional standard,
vulgarity.
Badge. 'A mark of Distinction
among poor People ; as Porters, Water-
men, Parish-Pensioners, and Hospital-
boys, Blew - coats and Badges being
the ancient Liveries' (B. E.). Hence
badge-cove (or -man), a parish pensioner
(Grose). To have one's badge, to be
burned in the hand : e.g. He has got
his badge and piked, He has been
burned m the hand and set at liberty
(Grose).
Badger. 1. They that buy up a
quantity of Corn and hoard it up in
the same Market, till the price rises ;
or carry it to another where it bears
a better (£. B.). \O. E. D. : Origin
unknown : Fuller derived it from L.,
bajutare, to carry (as if a cant con-
traction baj., cf. the modern zoo, cab,
etc.), but evidence is required before
this can be admitted for the 15c. . . .
By Act 5 and 6 Ed. VI. c. 14. 7,
Badgers were required to be licensed by
the Justices (the origin of the hawker's
license).] 2. A river desperado ; vil-
lains who rob near rivers, into which
they throw the bodies of those they
murder (Grose) : see Ark-ruffian. 3. A
panel-thief (q.v.) : hence Badger-crib.
4. A red-haired individual. 5, A com-
mon prostitute. 6. The impersonator
of Neptune in the festivities incident to
Crossing the lane ; also Badger-bag ;
see Ambassador and Arthur, 7. ( Wel-
lington School) A member of the 2nd
XV. at football. [A badge is worn by
each individual : see sense 1.] 8. A
brush ; spec, when made of badger's
hair. 9. See Badger State. As verb,
to worry unceasingly : as a badger when
baited ; to pester : usually of a helpless
victim (Bee). Hence badgered, wor-
ried, teased ; badgering, heckling,
persecution: FT., agvtigner. (1704.)
To overdraw the badger, to overdraw a
banking account. (1843.)
Badger-box (Australian). A bad-
ger-box is like an inverted V in section.
They are covered with bark, with, a
thatch of grass along the ridge, and are
on an average about 14 x 10 feet at the
ground, and 9 or 10 feet high.
Badgerly. Elderly, grey-haired :
cf. grey as a badger. (1753.)
Badger State. (1) The State of
Wisconsin. [Badgers once abounded
there.] Whence Badger, an inhabitant
of Wisconsin.
Bad Give-away. See Give-away.
Bad-halfpenny. See Bad-egg.
Bad Job. An ill bout, bargain, or
business (B. E.).
Bad Man. A professional fighter
or man-killer, but who is sometimes
perfectly honest. These men do moat
of the killing in frontier communities ;
yet the men who are killed generally
deserve their fate. They are used to
brawling, are sure shots, and able to
draw their weapon with marvellous
quickness. They think nothing of
murder, are the terror of their asso-
ciates, yet are very chary of taking the
life of a man of good standing, and
will often weaken, and back down, at
once if confronted fearlessly. Stock-
men have united to put down these
dangerous characters, and many locali-
ties once infested by bad men are
now perfectly law-abiding (Jf2oo«e-
veldt).
Bad Match Twist. Red (or car-
roty) hair and black whiskers.
Badminton. 1. A kind of claret-
cup : claret, sugar, spice, soda-water,
and ice. [Invented at the Duke of
Beaufort's seat of the same namr. J
(1845.) 2. Blood: cf. Claret, Rosy,
etc.
Bad Shot. See Shot.
Bad Slang. Faked up monstrosi-
ties, spurious curiosities ; aee Slang,
suba. 7.
Bad Way. See Way.
Baff.
Bagman.
Baff. See Buff.
Bag. 1. The womb. Hence as verb
(or to be bagged), to become pregnant,
to get big with, child ; bagged, lumpy
(q.v.) : properly of animals ; bag-pud-
ding, pregnancy : of. Sweet-heart and
bag- pudding (Ray). (1598.) 2. The
stomach : hence as verb, to feed, nil the
stomach ; bagging, food : spec. (North)
food eaten between meals, or (Lane.) a
substantial afternoon repast, high
tea; hence "bagging -time. (1750.) 3.
In pi., the paps, dugs (q.v.) : properly
of animals. ( 1 642. ) 4. In pi. , Buenos
Ayres Great Southern Railway Bonds.
5. In pi., loosely-fitting clothes : spec,
trousers ; also bumbags : whence hovd-
ing bags, breeches of loud pattern or
cut, and go-to-meeting -bags* Sunday
clothes, one's best wear : see Kicks.
Hence baggy, stretched by wear ; bag-
gily, loosely ; to bag, to sag ; bag-sleeve,
a sleeve baggy above, and tight at, the
wrist. (1350.) 6. (Westminster School).
In sing., milk. 7. The contents of a
game bag, the result of sport ; said of
racing as of fishing, shooting, etc.; and
alike of a big game expedition as of a
day in the stubble. As verb (or to
bring to bag), (1) to shoot, to Mil, to
catch. (1814.) (2) To acquire, secure:
i.e. to seize, catch, or steal : cf. Nab,
Cop, Bone, etc. Wnence (old) bagger, a
miser; bagged, (1) got, and (2) quodded
(q.v.). (1740.) As intj., Bags \ or
Bags I ! to assert a claim to some
article of privilege : cf . Fains or Fain
it (q.v.), a demand for a truce during
a game, which is always granted :
Pike I (or Prior pike) likewise serves
to lay claim to anything, or to assort
priority : also bar I e.g. He wanted me
to do so and so, but I barred not.
Phrases. To turn to bag and wallet, to
turn boggar ; to give one the bag to hold
(Ray), to slip off : also leave in tho
lurch ; to give, the bag, (1) to leave with-
out warning (Qroxe), also (2) dismiss,
and (3) cheat ( Webster) : aoc Canvas,
Sack, and Wallet ; to let the cat out of
the bag, to disclose a trick or secret (see
Cat) ; to empty the bag, to tell all : also
lose an argument (Fr., vider le sac);
to put one in a bag, to vanquish, double
up j to piit (or get) owe'* head in a bag,
to drink a pot of beer j to take the bag,
to play the hare in Hare and Hounds ;
to have the bag#, (1) to come of ace, and
(2) be flush of money ; to bag the over
(see Jockey), See Blue- bag ;
bagger , Cat ; Green-bag ; Nose-bag ;
Wind-bag.
Bag-and-baggage. One's belong-
ings : hence to dear (or turn) out bag-
and-baggage, to make a good riddance :
in depreciation. [0. E. D. : Originally
a military phrase denoting all the pro-
perty of an army collectively, and ot the
soldiers individually; hence the phrase,
orig. said to the credit of an army or
general, To march out with bag-and-
baggage (Fr., vie et bagues sauves) ; i.e.
with all belongings saved ... to make
an honourable retreat.] Bag - and-
baggage policy, wholesale surrender,
ral scuttling, peace at any price.
Bag and Bottle. Provisions, food
and drink : of. Back and belly.
Bagatelle. A trifle, matter of little
worth or consequence. As adj., trump-
ery, trifling. \O. E. D. : Formerly quite
naturalised ; now scarcely so.] (1 637. )
Baggage. 1. Luggage, portable
property ; belongings (q.v.) : spec, the
equipment of an army. Hence bag-and-
baggage (q.v.). Wnence baggage-check,
a luggage-ticket, cloak-room ticket ;
baggage-man (or master), a guard in
charge of luggage ; baggage-room, a
parcels office or cloak-room; baggage-
smasher, a porter, station thief. (1430. )
2. Generic for trash: e.g. encumbrances,
rubbish, dirt, pus. Whence (spec, post-
Reformation), the rites and accessories
of Catholic ritual : cf. sense 3. As adj.,
trumpery (also baggagely), corrupt,
vile. (1538.) 3. A good-for-nothing :
man or woman : spec, strumpet (B. E. :
cf. Fr, bagasse, Sp. bagaza, Port, bgasa,
It. bagascia). Also (4) a familiar ad-
dress to a woman, esp. a young woman :
usually qualified by ounning, saucy,
pretty, little, sly, etc. (Grose) : of. Puss,
Rogue, Wench, Drab, etc. As adj.,
worthless (see sense 2), vile ; baggagery,
the rabble, the scum of society. Heavy
gage (Grose and Bee), women and
ldren.
Baggy. Inflated ; high-f alutin'
(q.v.). See Bag, subs. 3.
Bagle. A prostitute (HaUiwett).
Bagman. 1. A bag- fox, a fox
caught and preserved alive to be
hunted another day, when it is brought
in a bag and turned out before the
hounds. 2. A commercial traveller,
an Ambassador of commerce (q.v.) :
formerly the usual epithet, but now in
depreciation. (1765.)
baggage
children.
Bagnio.
Bagnio. A brothel, a stew (q.v.).
[Orig. a bathing- house.] Also Baines.
(1541.)
Bag-of- bones. An emaciated
person (or animal) a walking skeleton
(q.v.), shapes (q.v). Also (old) Bed-
full of bones, and Bagful of skin acd
bones : Fr., sacdos (i.e. sac & dos).
(1621.)
Bag of Nails. Confusion, topsy-
turveydom. [Qy. from bacchanals.]
Also, He squints like a bag of nails,
i.e. his eyes are directed as many ways
as the points of a bag of nails (Grose.)
Bag o' Moonshine. Nonsense :
see Moonshine.
Bag of Mystery. A sausage (or
saveloy), a chamber of horrors (q.v.).
Bag-of- tricks. Usually the whole
"bag of tricks, every shift or expedient.
[See fable of The Fox and the Cat.]
Hence the bottom of the bag of tricks
(or the bag), a last resource, a card
up one's sleeve. (1659.)
Bagpipe. A chatterbox, a wind-
bag (q.v.) : of. He's like a bagpipe,
he never talks till his belly's full. As
adj., empty-headed, gutless (q.v.) ; and
as verb, to gas (q.v.).
Bag- pudding. A clown: of. Jack-
pudding : see Bag, subs. 1.
Bag-wig. An eighteenth century
wig ; the back hair was enclosed in an
ornamental bag ; hence bag - wigged,
wearing a bag- wig. (1760.)
Ba-ha. Bronchitis.
Bah. An exclamation of contempt
or disgust : Fr., bah ! (1600.)
Bail. Straw-bail (or straw-shoes),
1. Professional bail : see Straw. Also
(2) insufficient bail (modern). To give
(or take) leg bail, to escape, be indebted
to one's legs for safety : see Bunk. Also
to take leg-bail and give land-secunty.
(1775.)
Bail up (or Bale up). (1) To se-
cure the head of a cow in a bail for
milking. (2) By transference, to stop
travellers in the bush, used of busii-
rangers. ... It means generally to
stop. Like Stick up (q.v. ), it is ofir n
used humorously of a demand for sub-
scriptions, etc. (1844.)
Bain. See Bagnio.
Bairn's-bed. The womb. (1549.)
Bait. 1. Anger, a wax (q.v.).
2. A fee, a refresher (q.v.). (1603.)
WelsJi (or Scotch) bait, a rest given to
a horse at the top of a hill, a breather
(q.v.). (1662.)
Baiting-stock. A laughing-stock.
(1630.)
Baitland. An old word, formerly
used to signify a port where refresh-
ments could be procured. (1725.)
Bake (Winchester). To rest, to sit
(or lie) at ease. Koace baker, (1) a
cushion, and (2) anything to sit (or
kneel) upon, as a bio Iting-Look, etc.
[Bakers were of two kinds : that used
in College was large, oblong and
green ; whilst the Comrnoiicis' hrker
was thin, nairow, muc-li smaller, and
red.] Whence baker-la; -cr (cbw.), a
Junior who carried a Pie3fect*s Lrcen
baker in and out of Hall at meal-times.
Also bakester (obs.), a shipyard ; bak-
ing-leave, (obs.j, (1) permission to bake
(spec, on a kind of soCa) in a study in
Commoners or in a Scob-place (q.v.)
in College, and (2) leavo to sit in
another's toys (q.v.) ; baking-place,
any place ia which to bake, or in
connection with which baking leave
was given. [North, dial. : beck (or
beak), to expose oneself to the genial
warmth of sun, fire, etc., to bask.
Jamieson : beik, beke, beck, to bask.]
( 1230. ) Phrases : To bake oti^s braid,
to punish (q.v.), to do for (<\.v.) ; As
they brew, so let them bake (prov.
saying), Lot them go on as they have
begun; I must go and bake some broad
(a jocular excuse for departure) ( 1380.)
Baked. Collapsed, exhausted, done
up ; e.g. toward the end of the course
the crew were regularly baked. //«//-
(or dough-) baked, inconclusive, imper-
fect. Also dull - vetted, *oft (q.v.):
see Half -baked. (1.-.02.)
Baker. 1. Bakers, against -whom
severo penalties for impurity of Itrvad
or shortness of weight were onfit'lud
from very early times, have boon the
subject of much oollmruftl p.wasm.
* 1 feare wo parte not y»Vl, Quoth tbo
baker to the py lor ie.' (1. ">&!.) Thry
say the owl was a baker's daujrhtrf.
(IC02.) Three dear years will ru'X- *
baker's daughter to a portion ; 'Tis
not the smallness of the brend, but the
knavery of the baker ; Take all, and
pay the baker ; Pull devil, pull buker.
2. A loafer. [The word ia «rom Tally
attributedto Baron de Mandate Jruiicey,
who, in Cowboys anil CWf>/ir/,*, inno-
cently translated thti word loafer u«
baker.") To spdl baker, to attempt A
difficult task. fTn old 8pt*IImc? bookw
Baker was often the tir »t word of
Baker-kneed.
BaU.
two syllables to which a child came
when learning to spell.]
Baker- kneed (or Baker-legged).
Knock-kneed, bow-legged, effeminate
(Grose). (1607.)
Baker's Dozen (or Bargain). 1.
Thirteen counted as twelve : sometimes
fourteen (Grose and Bee). Hence 2. good
measure : e.g. To give a man a baker's
dozen, to trounce him well. Also
Brown-dozen (q.v.)» DeviPs-dozen (of.
Baker 1, and FT., boulanger, devil),
and Round-dozen (see Round). [Bakers
were (and are) liable to heavy penalties
for deficiency in the weights of loaves :
these were fixed for every price from
eighteenpence down to twopence, but
penny loaves or rolls were not specified
in the statute. They, therefore, to be
on the safe side, gave, for a dozen of
bread, an additional loaf, known as
inbread. A similar custom was for-
merly observed with regard to coal,
and publishers nowadays reckon thir-
teen copies of a book as twelve.
(1596.)
Baker's Light Bobs. The 10th
Hussars.
Bakes. 1 . A schoolboy. 2. An ori-
ginal stake : chiefly schoolboys': e.g.
When I get my bakes back I shall
stop playing. [BarHett : in reference
possibly to a baker not always getting
his bake safely out of the oven.]
Bakester, Baking-leave, Baking-
place, etc. See Bake.
Balaam. Miscellaneous paragraphs
for filling up a column of type, padding
(q.v.) ; applied either to MS. copy or
stereo. Hence Balaam-box (or -basket),
(1) a receptacle for such matter, and (2)
a waste -paper basket. [Webster: a
cant term ; popularised by Blackwood'a
Mag. Sco Numbers xxii. 30.] (1822.)
Balaclava- day. A soldier's pay
day. [Balaclava in 1354-6 was a base
of supply for English troops : as pay
was drawn, the men went down to
make thoir purchases.]
Balance. The remainder, the rest :
of. lave (Scots) and shank (as in the
shank of the evening). (1846.)
Balbus. A Latin prose composition.
[From the frequency with which Balbus
is mentioned in Arnold's Latin Prose
Composition,'}
Baldcoot. 1. A term of contempt :
of. Baldhead. (The frontal plate of
the coot is destitute of feathers.]
Hence laid as a coot, as bald as may bo.
\Tyndale, Works (1530), ii. 224, s.v.].
2. A young man who parts with his
blunt freely at gambling, and is rooked;
older persons also stay and get plucked
sometimes, until they have not a
feather to fly with. Such men, after
the plucking, become bald-coots (Bee).
Balderdash. (1) Froth or frothy
liquid ; (2) a jumble of liquors (B. E.
and Grose) : e.g. brandy (or milk) and
beer, milk and rum, etc. : also as verb,
to dash with another liquid, and
hence to adulterate (Grose); (3) a
jumble of words, nonsense, trash ; and
(4) lewd conversation (Grose), obscen-
ity, scurrility, [p. E. D. : From the
evidence at present the inference is
that the current sense was transferred
.... with the notion of frothy talk.
Century : Of obscure origin, apparently
dial, or slang.] (1598.)
Bald -face. New whisky: war-
ranted to kill at forty rods. Boldfaced,
neat (q.v.).
Bald-faced Shirt. A white shirt:
cf. Boiled shirt.
Bald-faced Stag. A bald-headed
man, bladder of lard.
Baldhead (or Pate). A term of
contempt: also Baldy. [Of Biblical
origin.] Hence bafatude,, a state of
baldness ; his balditude, a mock title ;
and baldfieaded-row, the first row of
stalls at theatres, especially at leg-
shops (q.v.). (1535.)
Baldheaded. Eagerly; with might
and main. [Bartlett : as when one
rushes out without his hat. (1848.)
To snatch baldheaded, to defeat a person
in a street fight.
Baldober (or Baldower). A
leader, a spokesman [Ger.].
Bald-rib. A lean person, a walk-
ing-skeleton (q.v. ). (1621. )
Balductum. Nonsense, rubbish:
as adj., affected, trashy. (1577.)
Balfour's Maiden. A covered bat-
tering-ram : used by the Royal Irish
Constabulary in carrying out evictions
in Ireland (1888-89.)
Ball. 1. The head: also Ball in
the hood, Billiard-ball, etc. (1300.)
2. A ration, food or drink. 3. (Win-
chester) in pi., a Junior in College :
his duty is to collect footballs from
lockers m school and take them through
to the Ball-keeper in Commoners to be
blown or repaired, and who, for service
in looking after cricket and footballs,
is exempted from kicking in (q.v.) and
Ballad-basket.
Banbwry*
watching out (q v.) Phrases. To
wick (or take) the, ball before the bound,to
*nticipate ; to have the. ball at one's foot
(or before one), to have in one's power
(or at one's finger-ends) ; to open the
ball, to lead off, make a start ; to keep
the ball rolling (or keep up the baU), to
prevent a matter nagging or hanging
fire ; to take up the ball, to take one's
turn : whence the balFs unth you,
you're next. (1589.) CaU the ball
(Stonyhurst), the Foul ! of Associa-
tion football. Three brass (or golden)
baUs : see Three Balls.
Ballad-basket. A street singer:
see Street pitcher : Fr., braillard.
Ballad-monger. A ballad-maker :
in contempt : hence Ballad-mongering.
(1596.)
Ballahou. A term of derision
applied to an ill-conditioned slovenly
ship (Century) ; a West Indian clip-
per schooner : apparently she may also
be a brig to judge from The Cruise of
the Midge (Clark Russett).
Ballambangjang. The Straits of
Battambangjang, though unnoticed by
geographers, are frequently mentioned
in sailors' yarns as being so narrow, and
the rocks on each side so crowded with
trees inhabited by monkeys, that the
ship's yards cannot be squared, on ac-
count of the monkeys' tails getting
jammed into, and choking up, the
brace blocks (Hotten).
Ballast. Money : generic : see
Bhino. Hence ivett-ballasted, rich.
Ball Face. A white man [Uartlett :
applied at Salem, Mass., 1810-1820].
Ball-keeper. See Ball, subs.
Ball of Fire. A glass of cheap
brandy (Grose. )
Ball of Honour. See Beggar's
Ace.
Ball of Wax. A snob, or shoe-
maker.
Balloon. To brag, to gas (q.v.).
Also balloonacy (cf. lunacy), a mania
for ballooning; battoonatic (cf. lunatic),
balloon - mad ; ballooning, inflating
prices by fictitious means, and as adj.,
high falutin' (q.v.). (1826.)
Ballot-box Stuffing. Tampering
with election returns ; a box is con-
structed with false bottom and com-
partments so as to permit spurious bal-
lots to bo introduced by tho toller in
charge. The most outrageous frauds
have been committed by this means
(fiartlett).
Ball's-bull. Like BdVs bull, said
of a person with no ear for music •
Ball's bull had so little that he kicked
the fiddler over the bridge (Halliwell)*
Bally. A generic intensive : very,
great, excessive. [A comparatively re-
cent coinage, it is said, of The Sporting
Times from ballyhooly.]
Ballyhack, Oo to ballyhack, Got
along.
Ballyrag. See Bullyrag.
Balm. A lie (Buncombe).
Balmy. The balmy, sleep • as arlj ,
sleepy: cf. balmy slumbers (Shake-
speare) and balmy sleep (Young). To
have a doze (01 wink) of the balmy, to
go to sleep : see Bedfordshire and
Balsam. Generic for money (Grose
and Bee) : see Rhino.
Bam (or Bamboozle). A hoax,
cheat : as verb (bamboo, boozle, or barn-
booze), to victimize, outwit, mystify
or deceive (Grose) : also (BalUwcll) to
threaten : cf. hum from humbug,
\8wift (1710), Tatter. Refinements of
Twenty Years Past : Certain words
such as banter, bamboozle . . . now
struggling for the vogue ; Johnson
(1755) : a cant word ; Boucher (1833) :
has long . . . had a place in the gypsy
or canting dictionaries ; O. E. O. :
probably of cant origin; Ceirfuryi
fa slang word of no definite origin.]
Whence numerous combination, col-
loquialisms and phrases : e.g. in trw-
boozlc away, to get rid of speciously ;
to bamboozle into, to persuade artfully ;
to bamboozle out of, to obits in by trick ;
bamboozled, mystified, tricked ; bam-
boozlemewt. tricky deception ; fc«m-
boozlcr, amystiiier ; bant bout , (l<'<vj>(,ivo
humbug ; to bambluNtcrcatc* to bluslor,
embarrass, or confuse : cf. congJoincr
ate and comftogislicale ;
squelched. See Banter. (170!).)
Banaghan. He beat* BanntfUan*,
an Irish saying of one who tolla
travellers' talcs. [Banaghan (<7nw»«)
was a minstrel famous for dealin'j; m
the marvellous.]
Banagher. To bang,
Bananaland, Ban anal an der.
Queensland, a native of Qiwun^nmi,
A large portion of Qnfcii.s'A!;«l lU'rt
within the tropics to which t!u> banauu
( Miisa aapientniH) is inditrouoii1*.]
Banbury. The inhabitants of fchui
Oxfordshire town (now nuUxl for it**
Banco.
Bang*
cakes) seem to have been the subjects
of ridicule and sarcasm from very early
times ; chiefly on account of their zeal
for the Puritan cause. Thus Banbury-
mait (-blood or -saint), a hypocrite (cf.
popular saying A Banbury man will
hang his cat on Monday for catching
mice on Sunday) ; Banbury - wife, a
whore ; Banbury - story (or Banbury
tale of a cock-and-a-bull), an extremely
improbable yarn (Grose), silly chat
(B. U.); Baribury-gloss, a specious
reading ; Banbury-vapours, the stock-
in-trade of a Puritan agitator ; Ban-
bury-cheese, the thinnest of poor cheese
(Heywood : I never saw Banbury
cheese thick enough) : hence a term
of contempt. Also proverbs (Howett,
1660) : Like Banbury tinkers, who in
stopping one hole make two ; As wise
as the mayor of Banbury, who would
prove that Henry HI. was before
Henry EL (1535.)
Banco. (Charterhouse). — Evening
preparation at House, under the
superintendence of a monitor ; the
Winchester toy - time (q.v.). [See
Farmer : Public School Word Book.}
Banco- s teerer. See Bunco-
steerer.
Band. Our Lady's bands, accouche-
ment, confinement (an old abstract
meaning.) (1495.) See Banded.
Bandanna. Orig. a silk handker-
chief with white, yellow, or other
coloured spots on a dark ground.
Also (loosely) a handkerchief of any
kind : see Wipe. (1762.)
Bandbox (or Bandboxical). (1)
Precisely neat, fussy, finical ; and (2)
frail or small (as is a bandbox) : e.g. a
bandbox thing ; She's just come out
of a bandbox (or glass case); You
ought to be put hi a bandbox (of any-
one over particular). See Bandog.
(1774.)
Banded. Hungry ; also to wear
the bands (Grose and Vaux).
Bandero. Widows' weeds. [Of.
Litlrt : bandeau, ancienneiment, coiffure
des veuves ; Kennett : bandore a widow's
veil, and B. E., a widow's mourning
Peak ; Eng., banderol, a streamer
carried on tho shaft of a lance near
the head.]
Bandog. 1. A bailiff, or his
Follower, a Sergeant, or bis Yeo-
man (B, S. and Grose). [Properly
a bound - dog, because ferocious ,-
hence a mastiff
or bloodhound,] To
speak like a bandog (or bandog and
bedlam), to rave, to bluster. (1600.)
2. A bandbox (Grose).
B.andS. Brandy and Soda. (1868.)
Bandy. See Bender.
Bandy-legged. Crooked (B. E.)
[The earliest quot. in O. E. D. is dated
1787 ; but the word did not come into
general use until the second quarter of
the eighteenth century.]
Bang. 1. Generic for energy and
dash : a blow, thump, Sudden noise,
go (q.v.). As verb, to drub (B. S.
and Grose), strike, explode, or shut
with violence. Hence to bang it oid
(or about), to come to blows (or fisti-
cuffs), fight it out ; to bang (slam) a
door; to bang (fire) a gun; to bang
(play loudly) a piano ; to bang into
one 's head, to convince by force; to
bang against, to bump (or thump) ;
to bang away ait, to make a violent and
continuous noise ; to bang out, to go
with a flourish ; to bang up, to sud-
denly throw oneself upon, to spring
up; &anj7(or&aw0o#),atonce, abruptly;
e.g. &on<7wentsaxpence ; in a bang, in
a hurry ; bang out, completely ; banging,
violent, noisy, and as subs, a drubbing :
see Wipe. 2. A fringe of hair (usually
curled or frizzed) cut squarely across
the forehead. As verb, to cut (or
wear) the hair hi this fashion: also
bang tail, bang-tailed, and bang-tail
muster (of horses, cattle, etc.) Every
third or fourth year on a cattle
station, they have what is called a
bang tail muster ; that is to say, all the
cattle are brought into the yards, and
have the long hairs at the end of the
tail cut off square, with knives or
sheep-shears : the object of it is ... to
find out the actual number of cattle on
the run, to compare with the number
entered on the station books (Tyr-
whitt). As verb (1) to excel, surpass,
beat: cf. (Irish) that bangs Bannag-
her and Bannagher bangs the world j
(2) to outwit, puzzle, deceive : banging
great, large, thumping (q.v.) : e.g. a
banging boy, wench, lie, etc. ; banger,
anything exceptional; bang-up, fine,
first-rate, of the best (the root idea is
completeness combined with energy
and dash) ; occasionally (as verb), to
smarten up ; (3) to offer stock loudly
with the intention of lowering the
price (Stock Exchange). To be banged
up to the eyes, to be drunk : see Screwed
to bang (or beat) the hoof : see Hoof.
27
Bang-beggar. 1. A stout cudgel. 2.
A constable or beadle. 3. A vagabond :
£. term of reproach.
Banger. A heavy cane, a bludgeon :
one of the Yale vocables (Hall). The
Bangers, the First Life Guards.
Bang-pitcher. A tippler : see Lush-
ington. "Hence to bang the pitcher,
to guzzle : see Lush.
Bangster. 1. A bully, braggart. As
adj. turbulent. Bangstry, violence.
2. A victor, winner : of. bang, verb.
3. A wanton.
Bangstraw. A thresher: also ap-
plied to all servants of a farmer
(Grose).
Bang- tail. See Bang.
B a n g y (Winchester College).
Brown sugar. As adj., brown. Hence
bangy bags (or &<zTOgr*es),brown-oploured
trousers : the strong objection to
these in former times probably arose
from Tony Lumpkin coming to school
in corduroys (Wrench). Bangy-gate
(1) a brown gate leading from Grass
Court to Sick House Meads ; and (2)
a gate by Racquet Court into Kings-
gate Street.
Banian (or Banyan) -day. One
day (originally two) in the week on
which, in the Royal Navy, meat was
withheld from the crews ; hence, a bad
day, a disagreeable day : in reference
to the Banian's abstinence from flesh.
Banister. A balustrade: a cor-
ruption of baluster condemned by
Nicholson as improper, by Stuart
and Gwilt (Diet. Archil. 1830) as vul-
gar, the term had already taken
literary rank, and has now acquired
general acceptance.
Banjo. A bed-pan, fiddle (q. v. ), slip-
per (q.v.).
Bank. 1. A lump sum, the total
amount possessed: e.g. How's the
bank ? Not very strong, about
one and a buck. As verb, ( 1 ) to steal,
make sure of: e.g. Bank the rags,
Take the notes ; (2) to place in safety ;
and (3) to share the booty, to nap tho
regulars (q.v.). 2. Spec. The Bank,
i.e. Millbank Prison; the site is now
(1903) occupied by an Art Gallery.
Banker. 1. A horse, good at
jumping on and off banks too high to
be cleared. 2. In pi., clumsy boots
and shoes, beetle-crushers (q.v.) : seo
Trotter-cases.
Bankrupt- cart. A one - horae
chaise — of a Sunday (Bee,) : said to
be ao called by a Lord Chief Justice
through their being so frequently used
on Sunday jaunts by extravagant
shopkeepers and tradesmen (Grose).
Bankruptcy List. To be put on t7ie
bankruptcy list, to be completely
knocked out of time (Grose).
Bank-shaving. Usury : before banks
were regulated by Act of Congress, the
least reputable purchased notes of
hand and similar documents at enor-
mously usurious rates of discount :
he who thus raised the wind was said
to get his paper shaved.
Bankside-lady (or wench). In
15th to 17th c. a harlot : in old London
the neighbourhood of the theatres was
likewise the quarter of the stews (q.v.)
— notably Bankside, Southwark, and
in later days, Covent Garden and
Drury Lane.
Bank-sneak. A bank thief (q.v.).
Banner. Money paid for board and
lodging : the origin of the term is un-
known.
Bannister. A traveller in distress :
the term occurs in the ancient accounts
of the parisli of Chudleigh, co. Devon.
Banquet. Running banquet, a snack,
slight repast between meals ; running
banquet between beadles, a whipping.
Banquet-beagle. A glutton, smell-
feast (q.v.).
Banter. Nonsense, raillery,
pleasantry, a jest or matter of jest.
As verb, with numerous derivatives :
e.g. banterer, hanteree, bantering, ban-
tery, etc. Swift says the word was First
borrowed from the bullies in White
Friars, then it foil among the foot-
men, and at last retired to the pedants
(Tale of a Tub, 1710; of unknown
etymology : it is doubtful whether the
verb or the sb. was the earlier : ex-
isting evidence is in favour of the verb :
the sb. wa^ treated as slang in 1688
(O. E, X>.). 2. A challenge to a race,
shooting-match, etc. (Barttett, 1484).
Also as verb.
Bant. Orig. to follow the dietary
prescribed by Dr. Banting for corp-
ulence ; hence to diet oneself, train.
Bantling. A bastard: cf. brat;
hence (modern), child (B. E., Grose) :
spec, a young or undersized child ;
usually in depreciation : with groat
probability, a corruption of Ger.
bankling, bastard, from bank, bench,
i.e. a child bogofrtea on a bench and
not in the marriage-bed (Mahn).
Bargain.
Banty. Saucy, impudent.
Banyan- day. See Banian-day.
Baptised. Mixed with water,
christened (q.r.) (Grose, Bee) : spec.
of spirits when not taken neat (q.v.) :
Fr., chrftien, baptist.
Baptist. A jjickpocket caught and
ducked (Bee).
Bar. As verb and preposition bar,
of respectable lineage, is now more or
lees colloquial. 1. Except, excluding,
save, but for : mostly used in racing,
e.g. four to one bar one, four to one
on the field, that is on all the horses
entered excepting only the favourite.
2. To exclude from consideration, take
exception to. 3. To stop, cease. 4. To
frequent dnnVing-bars, to tipple. To
bar too much, to get drunk: see
Screwed.
Barabbas. A publisher. [Usually*
but erroneously, attributed to Lord
Byron, who is said to have applied it
to John Murray the elder, having sent
him a Bible in which the famous pas-
sage in John xviii., 40, was altered
to Now Barabbas was a publisher.
The reigning John Murray (1904)
writes : I have it on the authority of
my father, who was alive during all
the time of his father's dealings with
Byron, that there is not a word of
truth in any detail of the story. The
joke was in reality made by Thomas
Campbell in regard to another pub-
lisher, the Mr Longman of bis day].
Baragan- tailor. A rough- working
tailor.
Barathrum. An extortioner, a glut-
ton.
Barb. To shave, trim the beard :
also to barber : cf. Butch. 2. To clip
old, sweat (q.v.) : also applied to
lipping wool, cloth, etc.
Barbadoes. To transport (as a con-
vict) : Barbadoes was formerly a penal
settlement.
Barbar. (Durham School). A can-
didate for scholarship hailing from
another school : i.e. barbar-iaxL,
stranger.
Barber. 1. A thick fagot or bough :
one was included in each bundle of nre-
wood. 2. Any large piece of timber. 3.
A generic reproach : thus, barbels-block
(clerk, or barber-monger), a fop, one
who spends much time in barbers'
shops ; spec, (mechanics) an over-
dressed shopman or clerk ; barber's
cat, a weak, sickly -looking person;
gold
clip
barbels - chair, a strumpet (because
common to all comers) ; barbels-music,
rough music. Also (proverbial) Nos-
trils wider than barbers' basins. As
verb, to work off an imposition by
deputy : also barberise : tradition says
that a learned barber, was at one
time employed as a scapegoat in
working off this species of punish-
ment. 3. See Barb and barberise.
That's the barber, that's well done ;
It's all O.K. (q.v.): a street catch-
phrase about the year 1760 (Grose).
Barbarize. To shave, cut hair, play
the barber : cf. Barb.
Barber' s-knock. A double knock :
the first hard, and the second soft as if
by accident.
Bard. A term of contempt : in
early Lowland Scotch used for a
strolling musician or minstrel, into
which tile Celtic bard had degenerated,
and against whom many laws were
enacted ; in 16th cent., a term of con-
tempt, but idealised by Scott to mean
an epic poet, a singer.
Bar'd cater tra. False dice : so
constructed that the quatre and trots
were seldom cast : cf . fuUams, high-
men, low-men, etc.
Bare-board. To go on bare-board, to
play without putting down the stake.
Bare-bones. A lean person, walk-
ing skeleton, rack of bonos : also (in
Commonwealth times) a term of con-
tempt.
Bare-footed. Variously applied:
e.g. to take tea barefooted, to dispense
with sugar and milk ; to take a dram
barefooted, to drink, spirits neat (q.v.),
or naked (q.v.) ; barefooted on the top
of the head, bald.
Bargain. Subs. (old). — A catch,
sell (q.v.). Hence, to sell a bargain,
to humbug, hoax, banter : a species of
low wit, of ancient usage, but much in
vogue about the latter end of the reign
of Queen Anne. Swift remarks that,
The maids of honour often amused
themselves with it. Dutch (or wet)
bargain, a deal clinched by a drink ;
Dutch-bargain also means a deal the
advantage of which is all on one side.
Also in various proverbial phrases :
thus, To make the best of a bad
bargain (Hay); At a great bargain
make a pause ; More words than one
go to a bargain ; A good bargain is a
pick-purRO (i.e. tempts people to buy
what they need not).
Barge.
Bcvrmy.
Barge. 1. A fat, heavy person ; one
broad in the beam : in contempt. 2.
(Printers) (a) A case unduly loaded
with stamps not infrequent request
with a shortness of those most in use.
Also (6) a card or small box for spaces :
used while correcting away from case.
3. (Sherborne School). Small cricket :
played against a wall with a stump
for bat. As verb, to abuse, slang ;
cf. Bullyrag. Also (Charterhouse and
Uppingham) to hustle, mob up, brick.
the bark of a dog. 4. A noisy (or
assertive) disputant, spouting dema-
gogue, querulous fault - fmder. As
verb, to clamour, menace, abuse. 5.
(Univ.), a big swell (i.e. one assert-
ing himself or putting on side (qv.)
6. (American) A noisy coward, blatant
bully, lamb (q.v.). 7. Whence to bark
at (or against) the inoon, to clamour
uselessly, agitate to no effect, labour
in vain : cf. proverb, Barking dogs
bite not. 8. Generic for firearms, spec
Bargee. A barge-man or barger (in navy), a duelling pistol ; also a
.T-- j--., i \.
(the dictionary terms): Cambridge
wit (Grose).
Barge-pole (Winchester). A large
stick of thick bough, of which there
was one in each fagot : also any large
piece of wood : cf. Barber. Not fit to
be touched with the end of a barge-pole
(a pair of tongs, etc.), unapproachable
through filth, disease, prejudice, or the
like.
Bark. 1. A native of Ireland : hence
Barkshire, Ireland. 2. The skin. As
verb, to abrade (scrape, or rub off)
the skin, bruise. 3. A cough : spec,
when persistent and hacking: per-
sons thus troubled are said to Have
been to Barking Creek (or Barkshire).
As verb, to cough incessantly. Barker,
one with a churchyard cough (q.v.) or
notice to quit (q.v.). 4. See Barker.
Phrases: To bark against (or at) tJie
moon (see Barker) ; to take the bark off,
to reduce in value, rub the gilt off ;
the word with the bark on it, without
circumlocution, no mincing matters,
the straight -tip (q.v.); between the
bark and the wood (or tree) (of a well-
adjusted bargain where neither party
has the advantage (Halliwell) ; to bark
through the fence, to take advantage
of adventitious shelter or protection
to say or do that which would other-
wise entail unpleasant consequences ;
to bark up the wrong tree, to blunder, to
mistake one's object or the right course
to pursue, to get the wrong sow by the
ear ; to go between bark and tree, to
meddle : spec, in family matters ; the as adj.
lower deck gun. Barking iron
historically the older term (Grose).
English synonyms, blue lightning,
dag, meat - in - the - pot, my uncon-
verted friend, one-eyed scribe, pop,
peacemaker, whistler.
Barkey. Any kind of vessel: an
endearment. [Baik for vessel is
never used by sailors (Clark Jtussett).]
Barla-fumble ! A call for truce or
quarter : also barley.
Barley. In general colloquial uso :
thus, oil of barley (or barley - bree,
-broth, -juice, -'water, or -wine), (I)
strong ale, and (2) whisky (Grose) ;
barley-island, an alehouse ; John Bar-
ley (or Barleycorn), the personification
of malt liquor : cf. proverb, Sir John
Barleycorn's the strongest knight ;
barley - cap, a tippler ; barley-mood (or
sick) (1) drunk; and (2) 'ill- humour
caused by tippling ; also to have (or
wear) a barley-Jtat (-cap, or -hood)
(1500).
Barley-bun gentleman. A gent.
(although rich) yet lives with
barley bread, and otherwise barely
and hardly ( Minslitu).
Barley-straw. A trifle (1721).
Barmecide. Usually in the phrase,
a Barmecide feast, short commons ;
lenten entertainment. [From, the
Arabian Nights story of a prince of
that name who put a series of empty
dishes before a bc^ar pretending that
they formed a swznptuous repast, the
beggar facetiously assenting.] Also
bark is worse than the bile (of one who
threatens but fails to do as ho vows).
Barker. 1. A salesman's servant
that walks before the shop, and cries,
Cloaks, Coats, or Gowns, what d'ye
lack, sir ? (B. E.). 2. A tout of any
description. Fr., aboyewr. 3. A boy
Barmy ( Balmy). Excited, flighty,
empty-headed (i.e. full of nothing but
froth) ; barmy-brained, cruay ; barmy-
froth, a simpleton, muddle-head ; to
put on the balmy stick (prison), to feign
madness. English synonyms: to be
dotty, off one's chump, sappy, spoony,
. ., . . , , , ,
attending, a drovor, helping him to touched, wrong in the upper storey,
drive his sheep by means of imitating half-baked, have a screw looee, a bee
30
Barn.
Barrett's Blues.
in one1 s bonnet, no milk in the cocoa-
nut, rats in the upper storey (or cock-
loft), a tile (screw or slate) loose.
Barn. See Parson's barn.
Barnaby. To dance jb'amaby, to
moveexpcditiously, irregularly (Grose):
an old dance to a quick movement was
so named. Barnaby -bright (or Long
Barnaby), St. Barnabas's Day, llth
June, O.S. : cf. old rhyme —
Barnaby Bright ! Barnaby Bright :
The longest day and the shortest night.
Barnacle. 1. A close companion, a
follower that will not be dismissed, a
leech ; hence a decoy swindler (1591) ;
cf. Barnard. 2. One that speaketh
through the nose (PercivaU). 3.
A good job, or snack easily got
(B. E.}. 4. A gratuity given to grooms
by the buyers and sellers of horses
(B. E.). 5. In pi., spectacles, bossers
(q.v.), goggles (q.v.): Fr., persiennes :
formerly applied only to spectacles
with side- pieces of coloured glass, and
used moro as protectors from wind,
dust, etc., than as an aid to the sight
(1571). 6. A brake for unruly
horses' noses (B. E.), 7. The irons
felons wear in gaol (B. B.).
Barnard. A sharper's confederate ; a
decoy : cf. Barnacle. (1532.)
Barnburner. A member of the
radical section of the Democratic party
(U.S.A.). (1848.)
Barndoor. 1. A target too large to
be easily missed (1547) : hence barn-
door practice, a battue : the quarry is
driven within a radius from which it is
impossible for it to escape ; 2. applied
at cricket to a player who blocks
every ball.
Barndoor-savage. A country yokel,
farm-labourer, clodhopper.
Barnetl (Christ's Hospital: ob-
solete). Nonsense ! humbug !
Barnet-fair (or Barnet). The hair.
Barney. 1, Generic for humbug or
deceit : Bpec. (sporting) an unfair
competition of any kind — a race, prize
" r or game ; the term is never ap-
to a fair contest ; henco a free
, or rough and tumble, in which
rules of the game are not too
strictly observed. 2. A spree, lark
(q.v.), picnic (q.v.). 3. A bad recita-
tion (Harvard College, e. 1810). As
verb, to recite badly.
Barn - mouse. Bitten by a barn-
mouse, tipsy, screwed (q.v.) : see
Barley (Grose),
Barn-stormer. A strolling player :
spec, a mouthing actor (see quot.
1886) : also barnstorming.
Baraumese. The high-ialuting ( q. v. )
language so lavishly used by the late
P. T. Barnum hi advertising the
greatest show on earth, exaggeration
of style : cf. Telegraphese : hence to
barnumize (1) to exhibit with a lavish
display of puffing advertisement ; and
(2) to talk of (or assert) oneself bom-
bastically in the style of Barnum.
Baronet. A sirloin of beef: cf.
Baron. (1749.)
Barrack. To jeer at opponents,
interrupt noisily, make a disturbance ;
also with for, to support as a partisan,
generally with clamour : an Australian
football term dating from about 1880 :
the verb has been ruled unparlia-
mentary by the Speaker in the Vic-
torian Legislative Assembly, but it is
in very common colloquial use : it is
from the aboriginal word borak (q.v.),
and the sense of jeering is earlier than
that of supporting, but jeering at one
side is akin to cheering for the other
(Morris). Hence barracking and bar-
rocker.
Barrack- (or Garrison) -hack. 1. A
young woman attending garrison balls
year after year. 2. A soldiers' trull :
see Hackney.
Barred-gown. An officer of the law ;
spec, a judge : broad stripes or bars of
gold lace run across the front of the
gown.
Barrel. 1. A confirmed tippler:
also be.&f-barrd ; whence barrd-Jumse
(American), a low groggery ; barrel-
fever, drunkenness (or disease caused
by tippling ) : see Gallon-distemper ;
barrel-boarder , a bar loafer. 2. Money-
used in a political campaign (Ameri-
can politics) ; spec, that expended for
corrupt purposes : cf. Boodle ; barrel-
campaign, an election in which bribery
is a leading feature : a wealthy candi-
date for office (c. 1876) is said to have
remarked, Let the boys know that
there's a bar'l o* money ready for *em,
or words to that effect. Never (or the
devil) a barrel the better lierring, nrach
like, not a pin to choose between them,
six of one and half a dozen of the
other. (1542).
Barrel- bellied. Well - rounded in
stomach, corpulent. (1694.)
Barrell's Blues. The Fourth Foot,
now The King's Own (Royal Lane*
Barres.
Bates9 Farm.
shire Regiment) : from its facings and
Colonel's name from 1734 to 1739.
Barres. Money lost at play, but not
paid : a corruption of barrace, an
obsolete plural of bar.
Barrikin. Gibberish, j argon,
jumble of words. (1851.)
Barring Out. A half serious
but oftentimes jocular rebellion of
schoolboys against their schoolmaster.
[HalUwdl. — An ancient custom at
schools : the boys, a few days before
the holidays, barricade the school
room from the master, and stipulate
for the discipline of the next half year.
According to Dr. Johnson, Addison,
in 1683, was the leader in an affair of
this kind at Lichfield.]
Barrow- bun ter. A barrow- woman,
a female costermonger. (1771.)
Barrow-man. A man under sen-
tence of transportation.
Barrow- tram. A taw-boned person :
properly the shaft of a wheelbarrow.
Barter (Winchester College). A
half volley : as verb, to hit hard.
[From the Warden of that name
famous for disposing of them.] Hit-
ting barters, practice catching, lull
pitches hit from the middle of Turf
towards Ball - Court for catching
tctice towards the end of Long
Bartholomew Baby. 1. A gaudily
dressed doll, such as appears to have
been commonly sold at Bartholomew
Fair. 2. A person gaudily dressed.
Bartholomew-pig. Roasted pigs
were formerly among the chief attrac-
tions of Bartholomew Fair, West Smith-
field, London : they were sold pip-
ing hot, in booths and on stalls,
and ostentatiously displayed, to excite
the appetite of passengers. Hence a
Bartholomew-pig became a common
eubjoct of allusion : the Puritan railed
against it.
Barts. St. Bartholomew Hospital.
Bash. To beat, thrash, crush out of
shape. Bashing, a flogging, spec, with
the cat; basher (1) a rough; and (2)
a prize-fighter.
Bashaw. 1. A pasha. 2. A great (or
imperious) man, grandee. (1593.)
Bashi - Bazouk. A ruffian : used
loosely as a more or less mild term, of
opprobrium j also applied to anything
bizarre in character or composition :
the expression came into vogue during
the period when the Bulgarian atro-
cities were electrifying the world by
their barbarous cruelty.
Bash-rag. A ragamuffin.
Basil. A fetter • usually fastened
on the ankle of one leg only. ( 15 £2.)
Basin. A schooner (q.v.).
Basket. An exclamation frequently
made use of in cockpits where peisons,
unable to pay their losings, arc ad-
judged to be put into a basket sus-
pended over the pit, there to remain
till the sport is concluded (Grose). To
go to the ballet, to go to prison : poor
prisoners in pubhc^gaols were mainly
dependent on the almsbasket for sus-
tenance (1632) ; to pin the basket, to
conclude a matter ; to be left in the
basket, to remain xin chosen ; left tr> the
last; the pick of the basket, the best,
choicest ; to bring to the basket, to re-
duce to poverty ; to leave in the basket,
to leave in the lurch.
Basket-scrambler. One living on
charity, in receipt of alms,
Bass. A familiar abbreviation
for Bass' ale, brewed at Burton-on-
Trent.
Bass. A kiss: see Buss (1430).
Also as verb.
Basta, It is enough ! No more 1
No matter !
Baste. To thrash, beat soundly :
cf. Anoint (1533). Basting, a cudgel-
ling, tanning (q.v.).
Baster. 1. A house thief (q.v.).
2. A stick, cudgel. 3. A heavy blow.
(1726.)
Bastile. A workhouse. 2. A
prison, steel (q.v.).
Bat. 1. A prostitute : cf. Fly-by-
night; Fr. hirondelle de nuit. 2. A
drunken frolic : see Batter. 3. Pace,
speed, rate, manner, stylo : e.g.
going off at a lively bat. ' Off one'*
own batf by oneself, through one's
own exertions, unaided (1845); to
bat the eyes, ( 1) to blink, wink ; (2) to
look on, watch ; of u bystander not
playing ; to carry out one** bat, to
outlast all opponents, secure result
aimed at.
Batch. To live single : of both sexes :
a corruption of ' batchelor,'
Batchelor's Son. A bastard.
Bate. Hate me an ace, quoth Bolton,
an expression of credulity (1570),
Excuse me 1
Bates' Farm (or Garden). Coldbath
Fields prison : from a warder of that
name and a certain appropriateness, in
Bat-fowler.
of Ten Toes.
the initials, C.B.F., the prison initials,
and used as a stamp, Charley Bates'
farm. To feed the chickens on Cliaiiey
Bates' Farm, to be put to the tread-
mill.
Bat-fowler. A swindler, sharper,
victimiser of the unwary. Bat-fowl-
ing, swindling, rookery (1602).
Bath. Go to Bath, a contemptuous
injunction to be off, Go to Blazes,
Hull, Halifax — anywhere : the in-
junction was intensified by, * and get
your head shaved,' a svngaest/ion of
craziness. To go to Bath, to go beg-
ging : Bath in the latter days of the
17th century was infested with the
cadging fraternity.
Bathing Machine. A 10-ton brig.
Batle - bum (or Batie - bummil).
A useless bungler, slowcoach, inactive
helpless fellow (1550),
Bat-mugger (Winchester College).
A wooden instrument used for rubbing
oil into cricket bats.
Bats. A pair of bad or old boots.
Elworthy, in West Somerset Words,
gives this as a heavy laced boot with
hobnails.
Bats Down. How many bats
down ? i.e. how many wickets have
fallen ?
Battels. The weekly bills of students
at Oxford. Dr. Murray says much de-
nds on the original sense at Oxford :
his was food, provisions, it is
natural to connect it with battle,
to feed, or receive nourishment. It
appears that the word has apparently
undergone progreasive extensions of
application, owing partly to changes
in the internal economy of the colleges.
Some Oxford men of a previous gener-
ation state that it was understood by
them to apply to the buttery accounts
alone, or even to the provisions ordered
from the buttery, aa distinct from the
commons supplied from the kitchen :
but this latter use is disavowed by
others. Also as verb, and Battier, an
Oxford student, formerly used hi con-
tradistinction to a gentleman com-
moner.
Batter. Wear and tear ; e.g. the
baiter is more than can be stood for
long. To go on the batter, to indulge
in debauchery of any kind — drunken-
ness, prostitution, etc. Battered, drunk :
see Screwed.
Batterf ang. To beclaw, attack with
fists and nails (1630).
c *
Battle. See Battels. Phrases, to
give the battle, to acknowledge defeat,
grant the victory ; to have the battle, to
be the victor (1400) ; half the battle (of
anything that contributes largely to
Battledore. Not to know a B from
a battledore, to be utterly illiterate
(1553) ; to say B (or Bo /) to a bat&e-
dore, to open one's mouth, to speak :
of. Bo to a goose (1592).
Battledore-boy. AL abecedarian.
Battle of the Nile. A hat, tile;
see Cady.
Battle-royal. A general squabble,
free fight : spec, of two termagant
women (1672).
Battle-wright. A soldier.
Battlings. A weekly allowance of
money : at Winchester it is Is., while
at Kepton it is only 6d: also see
Battels, passim.
Battner. An ox: The cove has
hushed the battner, i.e. has killed
the ox (B. E.).
Batty. Wages; perquisites: from
batta, an extra pay given to soldiers
while serving in India. Col. Yule
says in Indian banking, batty means
difference in exchange, discount on
coins not current (or of short weight).
Baubee. See Bawbee.
Bauble (Bable or Bawbell). A toy,
trinket, trifle (B. E.). To deserve the
bavhel, to be foolish : the baubel being
the Court jester's baton surmounted
by a carved head with ass' ears ; to
give the bantbel, to befool.
Baulk. 1. A false report (especially
that a master is at hand), which is
sported (q.v.), not spread. 2. A false
shot, a mistake.
Baum. To fawn, flatter, curry
favour (Hall).
Bawbee (or Baubee). A halfpenny
(B. E.).
Bawcock, A burlesque term of en-
dearment, my good fellow, my fine
fellow.
Bawdy-baskets. The twenty-third
rank of Canters, with Pins, Tape, Ob-
scene Books, etc., to sell, but live
Bawdy- house- bottle. A very
small one (B. 28.).
Baw-waw. An exclamation of con-
tempt (1599). As adj., contemptibly
noisy.
Bayard of Ten Toes. 1. The feet,
Shanks mare, Marrowbone stage
Bay State.
Bean.
(1606). To ride bayard of ten toes, to
go on foot ; as bold as blind Bayard (of
those who do not look before they leap) ;
hence generic for blindness, ignorance,
or recklessness. Bayard was a horse
famous in old romances.
Bay State. The State of Massa-
chusetts : orig. the Colony of Massa-
chusetts Bay.
Bayswater Captain. A sponger
(q.v.), adventurer : of. Dryland sailor.
Bay Window. Fat, pregnant, lumpy
(q.v.).
Beach - cadger. A beggar whose
pitch is at watering - places and
sea-ports.
Beach-comber. 1. A long wave roll-
ing in from the ocean. 2. A settler on
islands in the Pacific, living by means
more or less reputable : comprising
runaway seamen, and deserters from
whalera. 3. A sea-shore loafer, one
on the look-out for odd jobs. 4. A
river boatman. 5. A wrecker, water-
rat (q.v.).
Beach -tramper. A coastguards-
man, shingle smasher.
Bead. To draw a bead, to attack
an opponent by speech or otherwise :
from backwoods parlance ; to raise a
bead, to bring to the point, ensure
success : from brandy, rum, or other
liquors, which will not raise a bead
unless of the proper strength ; to bid a
bead, to offer prayer ; beads-bidding,
prayer ; to say (tell, or count) one's
beads, to say prayers ; to pray without
one's beads, to be out of one's reckoning.
Beadledom. Red-tapism, formal-
ity, stupid omciousnesB (I860).
Beady. Full of bubbles, frothy
(1868).
Beagle, subs. (old). A spy; in-
former ; man-hunter, policeman ; also
a general term of contempt (1559).
Beak. 1. A constable (also harman-
beck), policeman, guardian of the
peace: as far as is known, this (as
beck) is the oldest cant term for one
of a class of men. In Barman's Caveat
(1573), harman beck is explained as
'the counstable, harmans being the
stookes.' 2. A magistrate: some-
times beak of the law. 3. The
nose : see Conk (1598). 4. (Eton and
Marlborough Schools). A master :
5. A thrust, poke (1592). Birds of a
beak, birds of a feather (q.v.).
Beaker. A fowl : also Beak. OacU-
ing-cheat (q.v. ) : Fr., estable* or cstapMe
34
Beakei-himter. A poultry thief:
also Beofa-ktmter.
Beak-gander. A judge of the High
Court oi Justice.
Beaksman. A policeman.
Be-all and End- all. The whole,
everything, the blooming lot (q.v )
(1606).
Beam. An authorised standard of
criticism, manners, morals, etc. To
kick (OT strike) the beam* to be over-
powered, in a tight place (or corner).
Beam Ends. To be thrown on one's
beamends, ( 1 ) tobe in bad circumstances,
at one's last shift, hard-up : a metaphor
drawn, from sea -faring life : a ship is
said to be on her beam ends Tyhea on
her side by stress of weather, or shifting
of cargo, as to bo submerged (1830),
2. AIso> less figuratively, to be thrown
to the ground, reduced to a sitting
or lying posture.
Bean (or Bien). 1. A sovereign, 20s.:
formerly a guinea : in America five-
dollajr gold pieces : see Half- bean and
Haddock of beans : in old French rant,
liens meant money or property : see
Rhino. 2. pi., small coal (Newcastle).
FvM of beans, in good form (or con-
dition), full of health, spirits, or capa-
city, as a horse after a good feed of
beans. To give 6ea?w, to chastise,
give a good drubbing. Like, bcanx, in
good ionn (style, time, etc.), with
force : a general expression of ap-
proval and praise: cf. Like bla'/e.s,
(bricks, or one o'clock). Not to care
(or &e worifi) a bran* to hold in little
esteem, think lightly of, bo of little
value ; the allusion is to the small
vorth or value of a bean, or the
black of a bean (1207). JimHif, in
good humour — a, metaphor dra\i n from
tho stable. To know &tw?«, to bo well-
informed, sharp and shrewd, within
the charmed circle of the cultured
elect, fully equipped in the upper
storey. To faiowhow many blue hcnn»
make, five white ones, this is generally
put in the form of a qxiestion, the
answer to which ia Five, if peeled,
and those who fail to get tripjx**! by
the catch are said io know how many,
etc. ; in other words to he cute, know-
ing, vide awake. To drum a fann* to
get elected : an alhiston to 1 he former
uso of beans in balloting ; fo han> the
Jean, to be first and foremost; in re-
ference to the custom of appointing
as king of the company on Twelfth
Night, the man in whose portion of
the cake the bean was found (1556).
Also proverbial, Hunger maketh
hard beans sweet ; It is not for
idleness that men sow beans in the
wind (i.e. labour in vain) ; Every
bean liath its black. Three blue beans
in a blue bladder, noisy talk, clap- trap,
froth (1600).
Bean Belly. A Leicestershire man :
from a real or supposed fondness of the
inhabitants of this county for beans.
Bean-feast. An annual feast given
by employers to their work-people.
The derivation is uncertain, and, at
present, there is little evidence to go
upon. Some have suggested its origin
in the prominence of the bean goose, or
even beans at these spreads ; others
refer it to the French bien, good, i.e.
a good feast (by-the-bye, tailors call
all good feeds bean-feasts); whilst
others favour its derivation from the
modern English bene, a request or soli-
citation, from the custom of collecting
subscriptions to defray the cost : also
called a wayzgoose (q.v.).
Bean-f caster. One who takes part
in a bean-feast (q.v.).
Beano. The same as bean - feast
(q.v.).
Bean-pole (stick, or wood). A
lanky person, lamp-post (q.v.).
Bean Trap. A swell mobsman,
stylish sharper.
Beany. Full of vigour, fresh, like a
bean-fed horse.
Bear (Stock Exchange). 1. Ap-
plied, in the first instance, to stock sold
by jobbers for delivery at a certain
date, on the chance of prices falling in
the meantime, thus allowing the seller
to re - purchase at a profit. At first
the phrase was probably To sell the
bear-skin, the buyers of such bar-
gains being called bear-skin jobbers,
in allusion to the proverb, To sell the
bear's skin before one has caught the
bear. So far, the origin of the phrase
soems pretty clear ; of the date of its in-
troduction, however, nothing is known.
It was a common term in Stock Ex-
change circles, at the time of the burst-
ing of the South Sea Bubble in 1720,
but it does not seem to have become
colloquial until much later. In these
transactions no stock was delivered, the
difference being settled according to
tho quotation of the day, as is the prac-
tice now in securities dealt witn for
the account. At present the term for
such an arrangement is time-bargain.
2. Hence a dealer who speculates for a
faD. The earliest instance noted of
this transferred usage is of the date
1744. FT., baissier : see Bull, Stag,
and Lame Duck. 3. A rough, un-
mannerly, or uncouth person ; hence
the pupil of a private tutor, the latter
being called a Bear -leader (q.v.);
also called formerly JBridled-bear. To
yilay the bear, to behave roughly and
uncouthly (1579). As verb, to act as
a bear (q.v.). Are you there with your
bears ? A greeting of surprise at the
reappearance of anybody or anything ;
are you there again; What, again!
so soon ? The phrase is explained by
Joe Miller, as the exclamation of a
man who, not liking a sermon he had
heard on Elisha and the bears, went
next Sunday to another church, only to
find the same preacher and the same
discourse (1642). To bear the bell
(coals, palm, etc.), see the nouns; to
bear low sad, to demean oneself humbly
( 1300) ; to bear a blow, to strike ; to bear
up, to cheat, swindle : see Bonnet.
Sear a bob, (1) lend a hand, look sharp !
look alive 1 (2) To aid, to assist, to
take part in anvthing.
Beard. In spite of one's beard, in
opposition or defiance to a purpose ;
to one's beard, openly, to one's face ;
to run in one's beard, to oppose openly,
face out ; to take by the beard, to attack
resolutely ; to make one's beard, to out-
wit, delude; to make one's beard vrtthout
a razor, to behead ; to put against the
beard, to taunt.
Bearded Cad (Winchester College).
A porter, employed by the College
to convey luggage from the railway
station to the school : the term origin-
ated in an extremely hirsute individ-
ual who at one time acted in the
capacity.
Bear-garden. A scene of strife and
tumult.
Bear-garden Jaw, subs. (old).
Rough, unmannerly speech ; talk akin
to that used in bear gardens and other
places of low resort (Grose).
Be-argered. Drunk: see Screwed.
Bearing. Acting as a bear (q.v.) ;
or using artifices to lower the price of
stock to suit a bear account.
Bearings. To bring one to one's bear-
ings, to bring one to reason, to act as
a check.
Bear-leader.
Bed.
Bear-leader. A travelling tutor.
Bear - play. Bough, tumultuous
behaviour.
Bearskin-jobber. See Bear.
Beast. 1. Applied to anything un-
pleasant ; or, to that which displeases ;
e.g. It's a perfect beast of a day, for
it's an unpleasant day : see Beastly.
2. A new cadet at the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point. 3. (Cam-
bridge University). One who has left
school and come up to Cambridge
for study, before entering the Uni-
versity: because he is neither man
nor boy.
Beastly. In modern colloquial usage
applied to whatever may offend the
taste : cf. awful, everlasting, etc.
(1611).
Beat. 1. This word is used in many
ways, its precise meaning often depend-
ing on its qualifying adjective. It is said
of both men and things ; for example,
a live beat is anybody or anything that
surpasses another, and the sense is
not derogatory in the least. A dead
leaf, on the other hand, is the name
given to a man who sponges on Ms
fellows. [Probably from that sense
of beat signifying to overcome; to
show oneself superior to, either in a
good or bad sense.] 2. A daily round,
duty, work, etc. ; and, figuratively,
a sphere of influence (1788). As
adj. (1) overcome, exhausted, done
up: generally dead-beat (q.v.); (2)
hence baffled, defeated. As verb, to
swindle, deceive, cheat. Daisy beat,
a, swindle of the first water, a robbery
of magnitude. To beat hollow (to
sticks, ribands, fttst all creation, to
shivers, etc.), to excel, surpass (1759).
To get a beat on, to get the advantage of.
Other phrases are, to beat the air, to
.strive to no purpose (1375) ; to beat the
streets, to -walk to and fro ; to beat over the
old ground, to discuss topics already
treated ; to beat about the bush, to act
cautiously, approach warily or in a
roundabout way (1572); to beat up,
to visit unceremoniously ; to beat the
brains, (head, etc.), to think per-
sistently; to beat out, to exhaust,
overpower ; to beat the hoof, to
walk, go on foot, plod, prowl (1596) ;
to beat the rib (see Rib). To beat the
"booby (or goose), to strike the hands
across the chest and under the armpits
to warm them : formerly to beat Jonas ;
to beat the raw?, to travel by rail without
That beats the Dutch/ (see
To beat daddy mammy, to
tattoo, practise the elements of drum
beating. To beat down to bed-rock (see
Bedrock). To beat out, impoverished,
in one's last straits, hard up.
Beater-cases. Boots, shoes, now
nearly obsolete. Trotter-cases (q.v.)
being the usual term nowadays.
Beaters. The feet : Barclay in Shyp
of Folys (1509), speaks of * night
watchers and beters of the stretes : '
see Creepers.
Beating-stock. A subject of fre-
quent chastisement : cf. Laughing-
Beauetry, Dandyism, dandy out-
fit : a humorous imitation of coquetry
(1702).
Beau Trap. 1. A loose stone in a pave-
ment, under which water lodges, and
which, on being trodden upon, squirts
it up. 2. A well-dressed sharper, on
the look-out for raw country visitors
and such like. 3. A fop, well-dressed
outwardly, but whose linen, person,
and habits generally are unclean.
Beauty. A term applied, on the rule
of contrary, to the plainest or ugliest
cadet in the class at the United States
Military Academy at West Point. It
was great beauty, it was a fine sight ;
That's the beauty of it, That's just as it
should be : as affording special pleasure
or satisfaction.
Beauty-sleep. Sleep before mid-
night, the idea being that early hours
conduce to health and beauty (1850).
Beauty-spot. Ironically of a pimple
or other blemish on the face or other
exposed parts of the person.
Beaver, subs, (common), An old
term for a hat; goss, cady (1528):
at one time hats were made of beaver's
fur — hence the name ; the term is still
occasionally applied to tall chimney-
pot hats, but for many years silk has
replaced the skin of the rodent in their
manufacture. In beaver, in a tall hat
and non-academical garb, as distin-
guished from cap and gown (1840).
fcSee also Bever.
Beck. 1. A constable : see Beak. 2.
A parish beadle ; apparently the term
was applied to all kinds of watch-
men : see Harman-beck. As verb, to
imprison : amongst Dutch thieves
bekaan has the same signification.
Bed. To put to bed «*&a j
and shovel, to bury.
Bedder.
Been.
Bedder (Cambridge University). A
charwoman ; one who makes the beds
and performs other necessary domestic
duties for residents in college.
Bed-fagot. 1. Applied contemp-
tuously to a woman ; cf. hussy,
witch, etc. 2. A wanton.
Bedfordshire. Sheet aUey (q.v.),
blanket fair (q.v.), tlw land of Nod
(q.v.), etc. (1665).
Bedful of Bones. A skinny, bony,
bedfellow (1621).
Bedoozle. To confuse, to bewilder :
probably a corrupt form of the old
English' verb bedazzle, used by
Shakespeare in Taming of the Shrew,
iv. v. 46 (1593).
Bedpost. In the twinkling of a bedpost,
instantaneously, with great rapidity :
originally in the twinkling of a bedstaff
(1660). Among English synonyms
may be included : — in a jiffy, in two
two's, in a brace of shakes, before you
can say Jack Robinson, in a crack, in
the squeezing of a lemon. Between
you and me, and the bed-post, a humor-
ous tag to an assertion ; i.e. between
ourselves — 1 know what you say,
but, between you and me, etc. . . . the
thing is absurd : sometimes the last
word is varied by post, door post,
or gate post — any prop will serve
(1831).
Bedrock. To get down to bedrock, to
get at the bottom of matters, thorough-
ly understand, get in on the ground
floor (q.v.) : a miner's term, alluding
to the solid rock underlying superficial
and other formations. Bedrock fact,
a cbiel that winna ding, the incon-
testable and incontrovertible truth.
Bedtime. Tiie hour of death (Al-
ford).
Bee. 1. A sweet writer. 2. A
busy worker. 3. A working party of
neighbours and friends for the benefit
of one of their number ; as when a
party of settlers combine to erect a
log-house for a newcomer, or when
farmers unite to gather one another's
harvests in succession : e.g. apple-bee,
raising bee, etc. ; hence, a social gather-
ing for some specific purpose,, as spelling
bee. To have a bee in the head (brains,
garret, or bonnet,) to have queer ideas,
be half-cracked, flighty ; this phrase in
of considerable antiquity, being traced
back to a Scotch writer, Gawin
Douglas by name [1474-1521], Bishop
of Dunkeld, who used it in a transla-
tion of Virgil's Mneid. Hence, bee-
bonneted (or bee-Jt&aded) crazed ; bee-
head, a crazy pate : see Buffle.
Beef. 1. Human flesh (a trans-
ferred sense) ; i.e. obese, stolid, fleshy
like an ox. 2. By a further transi-
tion beef has also come to signify
men, strength, hands ; More beef ! a
bo* sun's exhortation to extra exertion.
To be in a man's beef, to wound with a
sword (Grose). To cry (or give) beef (or
hot beef), to give an alarm, pursue, set
up a hue and cry : it has been suggested
that beef in this case is a rhyming
synonym for thief. To be dressed
like Christmas beef, to be decked out
in one's best raiment. To make beef,
to run away, decamp. Beef to the
heels, like, a MitUingar Heifer, said of a
stalwart man, or a fine woman ; i.e.
one whose superiority is manifest from
the crown of the head to the sole of the
foot ; literally, all beef down to the heels.
Beef up ! phr. Put on your strength !
Give a long pull and a strong pull !
To beef it, originally a provincialism,
but now common in the East End of
London : to take a meat meal, more
particularly of beef.
Beef- brained. Doltish, obtuse,
thickheaded.
Beef-head. A dolt ; a stupid, thick-
headed person : see Buffle.
Beefment. On the bcefment, on the
alert, on the look out.
Beef-stick. The bone in a joint of
beef. At mess it is First come, best
served ; and those who come last
sometimes get little more than the
beef-stick.
Beef Straight. See Straight.
Beef - witted. See Beef-brained
(1594).
Beefy. Fleshy, unduly thick, obese :
a run of luck and good fortune, gener-
ally, is likewise referred to as beefy.
Whence beefiness.
Bee-line. To take (or make) a bee-
lino, to go direct, as the crow flies,
without circumlocution. Bees, when
fully laden with pollen, make for the
hive in a straight, or bee-line. One
of the American railways is called the
Bee Line Hood from the direct route it
takes between its termini (1849),
Beelzebub's Paradise. Kell, the
infernal regions.
Been. Been in the sun, drunk : see
Screwed. Been measured for a new
umbrella, said sportively of any one
37
Before.
appearing in new, ill - fitting clothes,
or who has struck out a new line of
action, the wisdom of -which is doubt-
ful : the joke is an old one and refers to
a man of whom it was said that nothing
fitted him but his umbrella. Oh yes,
I've been there', I know what I am
about. A popular exclamation : when
it is said of a man that he has been
there, shrewdness, pertinacity, and
experience are implied.
Beer. To drink beer, also, to do a Seer.
To be vn beer, drunk : see Screwed. To
think no small "beer of oneself, to possess
a good measure of self-esteem (1840) :
see Small-beer.
Beer and Bible. An epithet applied
sarcastically to a political party; which
first came into prominence during the
last Beaconsfield Administration, and
which was called into being by a
measure introduced by the moderate
Liberals in 1873, with a view to placing
certain restrictions upon the sale of
intoxicating drinks. The licensed
Victuallers, an extremely powerful
association whose influence extended
all over the kingdom, took alarm,
and turned to the Conservatives for
help in opposing the bill. In the
ranks of the latter were numbered the
chief brewers ; the leaders of the asso-
ciation, moreover, had mostly strong
high-church tendencies, while one of
them was president of the Exeter Hall
organization. The Liberals, noting
these facts, nicknamed this alliance
the Beer and Bible Association ; the
Morning Advertiser, the organ of the
Licensed Victuallers, was dubbed the
Beer and Bible Gazette; and lastly,
electioneering tactics ascribed to them
the war cry of Beer and Bible I This
so-called Beer and Bible interest made
rapid strides : in 1870 the Conservatives
were at their low-water mark among
the London constituencies ; but, in
1880, they had earned seats in the City,
Westminster, Mary leb one, Tower Ham-
lets, Greenwich, and Southward A
notable exception to this strange
fellowship was Mr. Bass [afterwards
Lord Bass], of pale-ale fame, who held
aloof from opposition to the measure
in question. Anent the nickname
Be&r and Bible Gazette given to the
Morning Advertiser, it may bo men-
tioned that it had already earned for
itself a somewhat similar sobriquet.
For a long time this paper devoted
one-half of its front page to notices of
publicans and tavern-keepers ; while
the other half was filled up with
announcements of religious books,
and lists of preachers at the London
churches and chapels. Tins gained
for the paper the sobriquet of the Gin
and Gospel Gazette.
Beer and Skittles. Generally, Not all
beer and skittles, i.e. not altogether
pleasant, or couleur de rose.
Beer-barrel. The human body : cf.
Bacon.
Beeriness (or Beery), pertaining to
a state of (or approaching to) drunken-
ness, intoxicated, fuddled with beer :
see Screwed (1857).
Beer-jerker (or -slinger). A tippler:
see Lushington.
Beerocracy, subs, (common). The
brewing and beer-selling interest : a
humorous appellation in imitation of
aristocracy : cf. Mobocraey, Cotton-
ocracy, etc.
Beeswax. 1. Poor, soft cheese,
sweaty-toe cheese (q.v.) (1821). 2. A
bore ; one who button-holes another ;
generally Old beeswax.
Beeswaxers (Winchester College).
Thick boots : used for football : prob-
ably from being smeared with bees-
wax to supple them : pronounced
Beswazers.
Beeswing. A gauzy film or crust, in
port wines, the result of age, so called
torn its appearance when broken up
in the process of decanting. Hence
also Beeswinged ( 1846). Old beeswing,
a nickname for any one, but especi-
ally for one who takes to his liquor
kindly.
Beetle. Deaf (Jwmfr, or dull) an a
beetle, a type of dulaesa or stupidity,
blockishness ; beetle-brain (-or head), a
term of contempt : cf. Blockhead.
Beetle-crusher(or beetle-squasher),
1. A large foot : the term was popu-
larised by Leech in Punch. 2. A
large boot or shoo : also ftwtte-c<iw$.
3. An infantry soldier ; a cavalry term :
see Mud-crusher.
Beetle-crushing. With solid tread,
suuh as comes from large heavy feet in
boots or shoes to match; e.g. the
marching of infantry.
Beetles. Colorado mining bharoj.
Bee tie- sticker. An entomologist.
Before. Jiff ore the wind, in prosper-
ous circumstances, out of debt or
difficulty.
38
Begad!
Begad ! A corruption of By God !
and, as such., a euphemistic oath
(1742).
Beggar. 1. A term of contempt ;
a mean or low fellow. 2. An endear-
ment : ci baggage, dog, rogue, etc.
Also phrases: A beggar's wallet is
never filled (1539); Beggars should
not be choosers (1562) ; A beggar
may sing before a thief (1562) ; I
know him as well as a beggar knows
his bag ; Beggars mounted run their
horses to death ; Rich when young,
a beggar when old; As great as
beggars; Sue a beggar and catch a
louse ; Set a beggar on horseback
and he'll ride to the devil. Beggar the
tiling \ confound it, or, hang the
thing.
Beggared. Pll be beggared if, etc., an
emphatic asseveration; i.e. I'll give
up everything, even to being reduced
to beggary, if, etc.
Beggar-maker. A publican.
Beggars. The small cards from the
deuce to the ten.
Beggar's Brown. Scotch snuff :
made of the stem of tobacco.
Beggar's Bullets (or Bolts). Stones
(1584).
Beggar's Bush. To go Jiome "by
beggar's bush, to go to ruin (1686).
Beggar's Plush. Corduroy (1688).
Beggar's Velvet. Downy particles
which accumulate under furniture :
otherwise called sluts' -wool (q.v.).
Begin. To begin upon a person, to
attack, assault.
Begosh ! B'gosh ! An expletive
(probably of negro origin), a half veiled
oath.
Behind. 1. The posterior. 2. (Eton
and Winchester Colleges). A back at
football : at Eton called short behind
and long behind, usually abbreviated
to short and long ; at Winchester,
secowd behind and last behind : these
answer to tho half-back and back of
Association football : at Winchester,
in the Fifteens, there is also a third
behind. Behind one's side (Winchester
College). Said of a man when nearer
the opponent's goal than the player of
his team who last touched tho ball.
Beilby's Ball. An Old Bailey
execution (Grose).
Bejan, Baijan (Scotch University).
A freshman student of the first year at
the Universities of St. Andrews and
Aberdeen : it is now obsolete at Edin-
burgh : from the French bee jaune,
yellow beak, in allusion to the colour
of the mandibles of young birds. The
term was adopted from the University
of Paris ; but, signifying a novice,
it has been in more or less general use
for nearly three hundred years. At
Aberdeen, the second-class students
are semi-bejans ; in the third tertians ;
while those in the highest rank are
1nag^strands.
Belch. Beer, especially poor beer :
because of its liability to cause eructa-
tion. One of Shakespeare's characters
in Twelfth Night is Sir Toby Belch, a
reckless, roystering, jolly knight of the
Elizabethan period.
Belcher. 1. A neckerchief named
after Jim Belcher, a noted pugilist : the
ground is blue, with white spots : also
any handkerchief of a similar pattern
(1812). 2. A ring: with the crown
and Y.R,. stamped upon them. 3. A
beer drinker, a hard drinker (1598).
Belial. Balliol College, Oxford.
Believe. I believe you, employed to
signify general assent; Yes: some-
times / believe you, my toy ; once a
favourite catch-phrase of a well-known
actor.
Bell. A song : a tramps' term : a
diminutive of bellow. To beU a
tnarble, to run away with it : the
action scarcely amounts to actual
theft. To ring one's own bell, to
blow one's trumpet, to sound one's
own praises.
Bell - bastard. The illegitimate
child of a woman who is herself
illegitimate.
Bellmare. A political leader, mostly
contemptuously.
Bellows. The lungs (1615). Bettowsto
mend, said of a broken-winded horse ;
likewise of a man whose lungs are
affected, or one who from any cause
is out of health.
Bellows-blower. 1 . One exciting to
strife. 2. An unskilled assistant, a
mere hodman.
Bellowsed. Transported, lagged : of.
Bellowser.
Bellowser. 1. A blow in the pit of
thestomach, a winder, that which takes
the breath away. 2. A sentence of
transportation for life.
Bell-rope. Aggerawators (q.v.).
Bellswagger. See Belswagger.
Bell-topper. A silk hat : see Gol-
gotha.
39
Bell-wether. 1. A chief or leader : in
contempt. 2. Clamorous person, a
mouther (q.v.). Hence BeUwetherMig
and BeUwetherishness,
Belly-ache. A colic.
Belly-bender. A boy's term for
weak and unsafe ice.
Belly-bound. Constipated ; costive.
Belly-bumper (or Belly-buster).
To take a belly-buster, to ride downhill
in a sled lying on one's stomach : an
amusement of young America : the
idea of tobogganing was derived from
this boyish pastime : also Belly-bumbo,
Belly-guts (or gutter), Belly-flounders,
Belly-flumps, and Belly-plumper.
Belly-button. The navel.
Belly-cheat (or Belly-chete). 1.
An apron. 2. Food (1609).
Belly-cheer (or Belly-chere). Food.
Betty-cheering, eating, drinking ( 1559).
Bell y-cri tic. A connoisseur of good
living.
Belly-friend. A parasite, sponger
(q.v.).
Belly-full. A sound drubbing, a
thrashing (1599).
Belly-furniture. Food, something
wherewith to furnish the belly : cf.
Belly-timber, Back-timber, etc. (1653).
Belly-god. A glutton (1540).
Belly - go-firster. An initial blow,
generally given, say some authorities,
in the stomach — whence its classic
name !
Belly-grinding. Colic, a pain in the
bowels.
Belly-gut, subs. (old). A lazy, greedy
fellow; slothful glutton (1540).
Belly-guts. 1. In Pennsylvania,
molasses candy. 2. Belly - bumper
(q.v.).
Belly-hedges (Shrewsbury School).
In school steeplechases, obstructions
of such a height that they can easily
be cleared — i.e. about belly-high.
Belly-metal. Food.
Belly-mountained. Prominent in
the belly, footy-gutted (q.v.).
Belly-paunch. A glutton, a great-
feeder.
Belly- piece. 1. An apron: cf. Belly-
choat (1689). 2. A mistress, concubine
(1630).
Belly-pinched. Hungry.
Belly Plea. A plea of pregnancy :
urged by female folons capitally con-
victed. The ploa still holds * good,
execution of femalo convicts in an
interesting condition being deferred
40
until after accouchement : in practice,
it really means a commutation of the
death penalty for liie imprisonment.
Belly- plum per. See Belly-bumper.
Belly-sacrifice. A gluttonous feast.
Belly-slave. A glutton.
Belly-swain. A glutton.
Belly-timber. Pood, provisions of
all kinds: like many other words of its
class (e.g. Back-timber, q.v.), once
in serious use, but now a thorough-
going vulgarism, only surviving dia-
lectically, and as slang : Massinger anil
the older dramatists employed it
seriously, toward the end of the seven-
teenth century it began to be used in
a ludicrous and vulgar sense.
Belly-up. Enceinte.
Belly- vengeance. Sour beer: as
apt to cause gastralgia : Fr., pissin dc
chevai.
Belongings. 1. Qualities, endow-
ments, faculties. 2. Relations, one's
kindred. 3. One's effects, possessions.
4. Trousers.
Belswagger,subs.(old). 1 , A lewdator,
pimp (1775). 2. A bully, hector (1502).
Belt. To strike below the belt, to act
unfairly ; to take mean advantage, to
stab a man in the hack.
Beltinker. A beating, drubbing. As
verb, to thrasl), beat soundly.
Bemused. Fuddled, in the stupid
stage of drunkenness : see Wcirov/cd :
usually bemused with beer (Po^e).
Ben. 1. A benefit, pnrformauce of
which the receipts, alter paying ex-
penses, are devoted to one person"?
special use or benefit. 2. A fool : sec
Buffle (Grow). 3. A shortened form of
Benjamin (q.v.), a coat ; also of Bcnjy
(q.v.), a waistcoat. To stand ben, to
stand treat.
Benar. See Bene.
Benbouse. Good beer ( 1 C67).
Bench-babbler (or whistler). A
loafer, one who sits idly on a bench :
a generic reproach.
Bencher. A frequenter of taverns,
ono who hulks about public houses,
Ben Cull (or Cove). A frioiul,
Pall (q.v.), companion.
Bend. To tipple, drink hard ( J amir-
son) (1758). Above one's Lend, abov«
one's ability (power or capacity), out
of one's reach, above one's hook : in
U.S.A. abow my IntcUrbcrrif (<].v.),
Grecian beudt a craze amongst women
which had a vogue from about 187- to
1880: it consisted la walking with
Bender,
Bet.
the body bent forward. On the bend,
m an underhand, oblique, or crooked
way — not on the square. Bend over
(Winchester College), a direction to
put oneself into position to receive a
spanking ; this is done by bending
over so that the tips of the fingers ex-
tend towards the toes, thus presenting
a surface as tight as a drum for castiga-
tion.
Bender. 1. A sixpence : see Rhino
(1789). 2. A hard and persistent
drinker, a tippler (1728). 3. In public
school phraseology a stroke of the
cane administered by the master while
the cujprit bends down his back. 4.
The arm. 5. A drinking bout, spree. 6.
The leg. 7. The bow-shaped segment
of a paper kite. Over the bender, a
variant of Over the left shoulder.
As intj., an exclamation of incredulity,
also used as a kind of saving clause to
a promise which the speaker does not
intend to carry into effect.
Bendigo. A rough fur cap : named
after a notorious pugilist.
Bene, Ben. Good : this belongs to
the most ancient English cant, and is
probably a corruption from the Latin :
benar and benat appear to have been
used as comparatives of bene (1567).
Stowe yow bene, hold your tongue.
Bene-bouze. See Benbouse.
Bene- cove. See Ben-cull.
Bene Darkmans ! Good-night !
French thieves say sorgabon, an in-
version of bonne sorgue.
Benedick. A newly- married man ;
especially one who has long been a
bachelor. Apparently, however, there
is some confusion in the usage, for it
also signifies a bachelor.
Bene Feakers. Counterfeiters of
bills (Grose).
Bene Feakers of Gybes. Counter-
feiters of passes (Grose).
Bene (or Bien) Mort. A fine woman,
pretty girl, hostess (1567).
Beneship. See Bonship (1567).
Beneshiply. Worshipfully.
Ben-flake. A steak.
Bengal Tigers. The Seventeenth
Foot, now the Leicestershire regiment :
from its badge of a royal tiger granted
for services in India from 1804-1823 :
also called Tho Lily- Whites from its
facings.
Bengi. An onion.
Benish. Foolish,
Benjamin (Winchester College). 1.
A small ruler. 2, (thieves') A coat:
said to have been derived from a well-
known London advertising tailor of
the same name. Upper Benjamin, a
greatcoat (1815).
Ben Joltram. Brown bread and
skimmed milk ; a Norfolk term for a
ploughboy's breakfast (Hotteri).
Benjy. 1. A low crowned straw hat
having a very broad brim. 2. A
waistcoat : also Ben (q.v.).
Bens. Tools.
Benship (or Beenship). Worship,
goodness : this word, evidently from
Beneship (q.v.), is given by Bailey
(1728), and by Coles (1724), As adj.,
very good (1567).
Beong. A shilling : see Rhino :
from Italian bianco, white ; also the
name of a silver coin.
Beray. To defile., befoul, abuse : old
cant.
Berkeleys. A woman's breasts.
Bermudas. A district in London,
similar to Alsatia in Whitefriars (q.v.),
and the Mint in Southwark, privileged
against arrests. The Bermudas are
thought to have been certain narrow
and obscure alleys and passages north
of the Strand, near Covent Garden, and
contiguous to Drury Lane.
Berthas. London, Brighton, and
South Coast Railway shares.
Berwicbs. The ordinary stock of the
North Eastern Railway.
Besom, A low woman.
Besom-head. A blockhead, fool:
see Buffle. Whence besom-headed.
Besognio. 1. A raw soldier. 2. A
needy beggar. 3. A worthless fellow.
Bespeak-nigh t A benefit.
Bess. See Betty.
Bess-o'- Bedlam. A lunatic vagrant.
Best To best one. To obtain an
advantage, secure a superior position
in a contest or bargain, to worst, but
not necessarily to cheat. To best the
pistol, to get away before the signal for
starting is actually given. To give one
best,to leave one, sever companionship.
Bester. A cheat, swindler: generally
applied to a turf or gaming blackleg.
Bet. 1. Tobet one's eyes, to onlook,
but to take no part in, nor bet upon
the game. You bet ! Be assured, cer-
tainly. 2. To bet round, to lay fairly and
equally against nearly all the horses in
a race, so that no great risk can be run:
commonly called getting round (Hot-
ten).
BelM.
Biddy.
Bethel. In the year 1680 Befhd
and Cornish were chosen sheriffs. The
former used to walk about more like a
corn- cutter than Sheriff of London.
He kept no house, but lived upon
chops, whence it is proverbial for not
feasting to bethel the city (North).
Little Bethel, a place of worship other
than those of the established church :
in contempt.
Be there. See There.
Better. More : there is no idea of
superiority : a depraved word, once
in good usage, but now regarded as a
vulgarism (1587). Better half, a wife :
originally my better half, i.e. the more
than half of my being ; said of a very
close and intimate friend : formerly also
applied to the soul, as the better part
of man (Murray) (1580).
Bettor Round. One who is addic ted
to betting round : see Bet.
Betty. 1. A man who occupies him-
self with household matters : in con-
tempt. 2. A small instrument used
by burglars to force open doors and
pick locks: also Bess, now called a
Jenny (1671). 3. A Florence flask:
as used for olive oil. As verb (collo-
quial), to potter about, fuss about.
All betty \ a cry of warning, it's all up,
the game is lost !
Betwattied. Surprised, confounded,
out of one's senses, bewrayed (Grose).
Between. Phrases: Between the beetle
and the block, in parlous state ; between
the cup and the lip, as near as a toucher
(q.v.) ; between the devil and the Dead
(or deep blue] sea, at one's last resource,
cornered (q.v.) ; between the bark and
the wood (or tree),, see Tree ; between you
and me and the bedpost ; see Bedpost.
Beyer. 1. Drink, hquor. 2. A
potation, drinking bout, a time for
drinking. 3. A small repast between
meals, snack: especially a snack
between mid-day dinner and supper
(1500). Also as verb.
Beverage (or Bevy). A tip, vail :
equivalent to the Fr., pourboire: money
for drink, demanded (Grose) of anyone
having a new suit of clothes.
Beware. ' We [strolling actors] call
breakfast, dinner, tea, supper, all of
them, numyarej and all berr,
brandy, water, or soup, are &om/e'
(wayimo).
Beyond. The back of bci/ond, an
out-of-tho-way place, ever so far off
(1816).
B Flat. A bug : of. F sharps : see
Norfolk Howards.
Bib. To nap a bib (or one'sbib), to
weep, blubber, snivel, Best bib
and tucker, best-clothes.
Bibables (or Bibibles). Drink, as
distinguished from food: a coinage
on the model of edibles, eatables,
drinkables, etc.
Bib-all-night. A toper, confirmed
drunkard : see Lushington (1612).
Bible. A hand-ase, a small holy-
stone (a kind of sand-stone used in
cleaning decks), so called from seamen
using them kneeling (Smyth), That's
bible, that's the truth, that's A 1.
Bible-carrier. A running stationer
(q.v.) who sells songs without singing
them : once often heard in the neigh-
bourhood of Seven Dials.
Bible-clerk (Winchester College). A
College prefect in full power, appointed
for one week. He keeps order in
school, reads the lessons in chapel,
takes round rolls (q.v.), and assists at
floggings. He is absolved from going up
to books (q.v. ) during his term of oftice.
The prefect of hall need not act as
Bible-clerk unless he likes, and the
prefect of School may choose any
week ho pleases ; the rest take weeks*
in rotation, in the order of their
Chambers in College : see Bibler and
Bibling.
Bible-pounder (sharp, or thumper).
A clergy man.
Bibler (Winchester College).
Now called Bibling (q.v.). fa'blcr
under nail, see Bibling under nail
Bibling (Winchester College). For-
merly called a bibler. A flogging of
six cuts on the small o£ the back, ad-
ministered by the head or second
master. So called because the person
to be operated upon ordered (q.v.) his
name to the Bible-clerk (q.v.).
Sibling-rod (Winchester College).
The instrument with which a tabling
(q.v.) was administered. It consisted
of a handle with four apple twigs in
the end, twisted together. It is re-
presented on Aut l)i*fc. It was
invented and first u««l by Warden
Baker in 14") 4. It is not uao'l now.
Bibling under Nail {Wmehester
College). A bibling (q.v. ) mhnmifttered
for very heinous olTeuce* attt»r an
offender had stood under nail (q.v.).
Biddy. 1. A chicken : nomotinwiH
chicl?~a-biddy, '2. A young woman,
42
Big Wig.
not necessarily Irish: in both these
senses the word appears in Grose (1785)
Since that time it would seem to have
changed somewhat in meaning as
follows. 3. A woman, whether young
or old. 4. (Winchester College). See
Bidet. 5. (American). A servant
girl — generally Irish.
Bidet (or Biddy) (Winchester
College). A bath.
Bidstand. A highwayman ( 1637 ).
Bien. See Bene.
Biff. A blow. To give a biff in the
jaw, to smack one's face, to wipe one
in the chops.
Biffin. My biffin I my pal ! A
biffin is properly a dried apple, cf.
Pippin.
Big. To talk (or look) big, to assume
a pompous style or manner with a
view to impressing others with a sense
of one's importance ; to talk loudly,
boastingly: Fr., se hancher (1579).
Big as aU outdoors, an expression in-
tended to convey an idea of indefinite
size, hugeness, enormous capacity.
Big- bellied. Advanced in preg-
nancy (1711).
Big Ben. A nickname for the clock
in the tower of the Houses of Parlia-
ment at Westminster : named after Sir
Benjamin Hall, the Commissioner of
Works, under whose supervision it
was constructed : it was commenced
in 1856, and finished in 1857.
Big Bird. To get (or give) the big
bird, to be hissed on the stage; or,
conversely, to hiss.
Big Bug. A person of standing (or
consequence) : a common mode of
allusion to persons of wealth or other
claims to distinction : variants are
Big-dog, Big-toad, Big-wig, and Great
gun (1854).
Big Country. The open country.
Big Dog of the Tanyard. A conse-
quential, pompous individual; one
who will neither allow others a voice in
any matter, or permit dissent from his
own views.
Big Dog with the Brass Collar.
The chief in any undertaking or
enterprise, a leader.
Big Drink. 1 . The ocean : more par-
ticularly applied to the Atlantic : also
called the Big pond, Herring pond, the
Puddle (q.v.). 2. When a Western
plainsman talks of the Big drink ho is
always understood to mean the Mis-
sissippi river. To take a big (or long)
drink, to partake of liquor from a large
glass.
Big-endian. Anybody or anything
of importance.
Big Figure. To go the big figure, a
variant of to go the whole hog, or
to go the whole animal.
Biggest. A superlative often used in
the sense of the best or the finest.
Biggest Toad in the Puddle. One of
the many bold, if equivocal, metaphors
to which the West has given rise.
The biggest toad in the fuddle is the
recognised leader or chief, whether
in politics or in connection with the
rougher avocations of pioneer life.
B i g g i t y. Consequential, giving
oneself airs : a negro term.
Big Gun. A person of consequence.
Big-head. To have a big-head, 1. To
be conceited, bumptious : also applied
to those who are cocksure of every-
thing, or affected in manner. 2. The
after effect of a debauch. To get the
big-head, to get drunk : see Screwed.
Big House. The workhouse : some-
times called the Large House.
Big Mouth. Excessive talkative-
ness, loquacity.
Big Nuts to crack. An undertaking
of magnitude, one not easy to perform,
Big One (or Big JUn). A man of
note or importance.
Big People. Persons of standing
or consequence.
Big Pond. The Atlantic : also The
big drink (q-v.).
Big Pot. A person of consequence.
Big-side (Rugby School). The com-
bination of all the bigger fellows in
the school in one and the same game
or run; also the ground specially
used for the game so denominated:
also used at other public schools.
Whence Big-side run, a paper chase,
in which picked representatives of all
houses take part, as opposed to a
house run.
Big Take. That which takes the
public fancy, a great success, etc., —
in short, anything that catches on.
Big Talk. Pompous speech, a
pedantic use of long words.
Big Wig. A person of consequence,
ono high in authority or rank: used
both contemptuously and humor-
ously (1703). Big-wigged, pompous,
consequential. Big-wiggefy, a display
of consequence, or pomposity. Big-
wiggism, pomposity.
Big Words.
Bitty.
Big Words,
crack jaw words.
Bike. Short for bicycle : of. Trike.
Bilbo (or Bilboa). ( 1 ) A sword :
Bilbao in Spain was once renowned for
well - tempered blades. Hence (2) a
sword personified, especially that of a
bully. Bilbo's the word, Beware, a blow
will follow the word. Bilbo-lord, a
Pompous speech, long (or short) term of imprisonment.
To pay a bill at sight, said of a man or
woman who is always ready for action.
To bUl up, to be confined to barracks.
Billbrighter (Winchester College).
A small fagot used for lighting coal fires
in Kitchen : so called from a servant
Bill Bright, who was living in 1830.
Billet. A situation, berth. To get a,
bully. Also (3) a kind of stock — along billet, amongst prisoners to obtain
promotion to duties which carry with
them certain privileges.
Billiard Block. One who puts up
with disagreeables for the sake of
pecuniary or other advantages; also,
iron bar with sliding shackles for the
ankle, and a lock by which to fasten the
bar at one end to the ground (1567).
Bile. A vulgarism for boil.
Bilgewater. Bad beer. ^ „ 0 ,
Bilk. A word, formerly in general occasionally, a jackal (q.v.), a tamo
use, to which a certain stigma of vul- cat^q.v.).
garity is now attached. Uncertain in
derivation — possibly a corrupted form
of balk — it was first employed tech-
nically at cribba^e to signify the
spoiling of an adversary's score in the
crib. Among obsolete or depraved
usat^esmay be mentioned. 1. A state-
ment or string of words without sense,
truth, or meaning (1663). 2. A hoax,
imposition, humbug (1664). 3. A
swindler, cheat: this is the most
familiar current use of the word in its
substantive form, and is applied
mainly to persons who cheat cabmen
of their fares, and such like: also
Bilker (1790). 4. A person who
habitually sponges upon another, and
who never by any chance makes a
return or even offers to do so. As
adj., fallacious, without truth 01-
meaning (1740). As verb, to cheat,
defraud, evade one's obligations,
escape from, etc. (1677). To btlk the
blues, to evade the police. To bilk the
schoolmaster,, to obtain knowledge or
experience without paying for it ( 1 8'2 1 ).
Bilker. A cheat, swindler: see Bilk.
Bilking. Cheating, swindling.
Bill (Eton College). 1. A list of boys
who have to go to the hcatfmt'sLsr at
12 o'clock ; also of those who get off
Absence (q.v.), or names-calling : e.g.
an eleven playing in a match are thus
exempt. 2. (Harrow School). Names-
calling, To ftang tip a bill, to pass it
through one or more of its stages, and
then to lay it aside and defer its
further consideration for a more or
less indefinite period. To rush a bill,
to expedite tlio pf»win<< of a Ml
through the Sonalo and Copgrttfifi.
To hold with bill in titc, im/t/% to keep
Billiard-slum. False pretences.
Billingsgate. Coarse language, scur-
rilous abuse : from the ovil reputation
which the market of the same name
has enjoyed for centimes. In the
seventeenth century references to the
violent and abusive speech of those
frequenting the place were very
numerous (1632). In French an
analogous reference is made to the
Place Maubert, also long noted for
its noisy market. To Billingsgate (or
talk Billingsgate), to scold, talk coarsely
(or violently), slang (Q-v.). So
also, You're no better than a Billings-
gate fisli jag, i.o. rude and ill-mannored,
Bdli-ngsgatry, scurr'lous language.
Billingsgate Pheasant. A red
herring (or bloater), a two-eyed steak.
BUI of Sale. Widow's -weeds.
Billy. I. A pocket handkerchief
(or neckerchief) : chiefly oC silk : tho
various fancies have been thus
described : — Belcher, darkish blue
ground, large round white spots, with
a spot in the centre of darker blue than
the ground : this was adopted by Jem
Belcher, the pugilist, as his colours,
and soon became pojmbr amongst tho
fancy ; JHrd'n - cyu w-i/tf, a hand-
kerchief of any colour, containing
white spots : the blue bird's-cyo is
similar to the Bolchor except in tho
centre : sometimes a bird' a -eye wipe
has a white ground and bluo spot** ;
Blood-red fancy, red ; IXws Billy, blue
ground, generally with white figures ;
Cream fancy, any pattern en a, whilo
ground ; King's man, yellow pattern
on a grecu JL- round ; Ra,n&il*# man,
pri'cn, with -ft'hito spots : imi/iwl after
tlus favourite colours of iTack RandaJ,
La auapenao. Long (or a/tort) bill, a, pugilist ; Water'a wan, bky u
44
Bitty Barlow.
Yellow fancy, yellow with white spots ;
Yellow man, all yollow. 2. Stolen
metal. 3. A weapon: usually com-
posed of a piece of un tanned cowhide,
us hard as horn itself, some six inches
in length, twisted or braided into a
sort of handle, and covered from end
to end with woollen cloth : one ex-
tremity is loaded with lead ; to the
other is firmly attached a loop, large
enough to admit a man's hand, formed
of strong linen cord, and intended to
allow the billy to hang loose from the
wrist, and at the same time prevent
it being lost or wrenched from the
grasp of its owner. 4. A policeman's
staff, truncheon. 5. A bushman's
tea-pot or saucepan. 6. A companion,
comrade, mate (1505). 7. A fellow
(1774). 8. A brother ; hence Bftlyhood,
brotherhood (1724).
Billy Barlow. A street clown,
mountebank : from the hero of a slang
song — Billy was a real person, semi-
idiotic, and though in dirt and rags,
fancied himself a swell of the first
water ; occasionally he came out with
real witticisms ; he was a well-known
street character about the East-end
of London, and died in Whitechapel
Workhouse (1851).
Billy blinder. A hoodwinker.
Billy-boy. A vessel like a galliot,
with two masts, the fore-mast square-
rigged : they hail mainly from Goole :
also called Humber-keels.
Billy- button. 1. Mutton. 2. A
journeyman tailor.
Billy Busman. A thief whose
speciality is silk pocket- and necker-
chiefs.
Billy-cock. A round, low-crowned
hat — generally of soft felt, and with a
broad brim. The Billy-cock of the
Antipodean colonies differs from the
"English headgear known by the name
in being made of hard instead of soft
felt, and in having a turned-up brim.
Billy-fencer. A marine store dealer.
Billy-goat. A tufted beard ; similar
to that of a goat.
Billy-hunting. 1. Collecting and
buying old metal. 2. Stealing pocket-
handkerchiefs.
Billy Noodle. A ladykiller, con-
ceited ass.
Billy-roller. A long stout stick.
Bixn, Bimshire. A Barbadian: the
island of Barbadoes : this place is also
jeeringly called Little England.
Bing. See Bynge a waste.
Binge. A drinking bout.
Bingham's Dandies. The 17th
Lancers.
Bingo. Brandy, or other spirituous
liquor • thought to be a humorous
formation from B. for brandy (cf. B.
and S.) and stingo (Grose). Hence,
Bingo boy, a tippler, drunkard ; Bingo
mort, a drunken woman.
Bingy. Bad, ropy butter; nearly
equivalent to vinmed (q..v.) : in the
English Dialect Society's Chester
Glossary, bingy is given as a peculiar
clouty or frowsty taste in milk — the
first stage of turning sour.
Binnacle Word. A fine (or affected)
word, which sailors jeeringly offer to
chalk up upon the binnacle (Qroae).
Birch - broom. A room. Like a
birch-broom in a fit, said of a rough
towzly head.
Birchin Lane. To send one to
Birchin La-tie, to castigate, flog: cf.
Strap oil, etc.
Birch-oil. A thrashing : cf. Strap-
oil, Hazel-oil, etc.
Bird. When a play is hissed the
actors say The bird's there J see Goose.
As verb, to thieve, aioal, look for
plunder : used by Ben Jonson. A
bird of one's ovm brain, one's own
conception. The bird in the bosom,
one's secret pledge, conscience. Birds
of a feather, of like character. Also
proverbs and proverbial sayings —
Some beat the bush and others take
the bird; A child's bird and a
knave's wife lead a sore life ; The
bird that fouleth its own nest is not
honest, A bird in hand is worth three
in the wood (or bush) ; An old
bird is not caught with chaff; To
kill two birds with one stone ; The
early bird catches the worm.
Bird-cage. 1. A bustle, an article
of feminine attire, used for extending
the skirts of the dress : at one time con-
structed of such a size and in such a
manner as to be not altogether unlike
an elongated bird-cage : among Eng-
lish synonyms may be mentioned
canary cage, backstaircase, false here-
after, bishop. 2. A four-wheeled cab.
3. The paddock at the Newmarket
race-course where saddling takes place.
Birdlime. 1. Time. 2. A thief
(1705).
Bird's - eye (Bird's- eye Fogle,
Bird's-eye Wipe). A silk handker-
45
Biter.
chief spotted -with eye-like markings :
see Billy (1665).
Birdsnye. An endearment : cf .
Pigsnye.
Bird-witted. Inconsiderate,
thoughtless, easily imposed on (Grose)
Birk. A crib (q.v.), i-e. a house.
Birthday Suit. Nudity, buff
(q.v.) : FT., en sauvage (1771).
Bishop. 1. A warm drink: wine,
orange (or lemon), peel, and sugar —
but variously compounded (1703). 2.
A bustle (q.v.) : a pad worn on the
back part of the waist, and designed
to give prominence to the skirt : see
Bird-cage (1848). 3. A chamber-
pot, jerry, Jordan, it (q.v.). 4. (Win-
chester College). The sapling with
which a fagot is bound together. As
verb, (1) to burn marks into a horse's
teeth, after ho has lost them by age ;
or, by other deceptive arts to give a
good appearance to a bad horse : by
bishoppmg, a horse is made to appear
younger than ho is : the expression is
derived from the name of a person who
initiated the practice ; (2) to murder
by drowning : now obsolete : like
Burke and Boycott from the name of
an individual ; a man named Bishop
drowned a boy in Bethnal Green, in
1831, to sell the body for dissecting
purposes.
Bismarquer. To cheat, play foul at
cards (or billiards) : the policy of Prince
Bismarck, the German Chancellor, in
1865-66 roused the indignation of
Europe.
Bit, Bite, Byte, 1. Money:
see Rhino (1532). 2. A coin varying
in value according to locality — usually,
however, to the silver piece of the
lowest denomination. Four - penny
pieces are still called bits in English,
though more popularly known as
Joeys (q.v.) (1748). 3. In disparage-
ment— lite of girls, bits of children,
bit of a place, tit of one's mind, candid
(and uncomplimentary) criticism,
opinion, etc. Bitwise, little by little.
Bitch, subs. (low). 1. A woman :
not now in literary use, though for-
merly so (1400). 2. A man : it has long
since passed out of decent usage (1500).
As verb, (I) to yield (or give up an
attempt) through fear (Grose). (2) to
spoil, bungle. To stand bitch, to make
tea, or do the honours of the tea table,
or to perform a woman's duty.
Bitch Booby. A country girl
(Grose).
Bitch- daughter. The night-
mare.
Bitch-fou. Very drunk, beastly
drunk : see Screwed.
Bitch Party. A party composed of
women : originally an Oxford term for
a tea-party : cf. Hen- party (q.v.), and
Stag-party.
Bite. 1. Money : generic : see Bit
and Rhino. 2. An imposition, piece
of humbug, sell, do : cf. Bilk, Bam,
Bargain, and Sell : the sense runs
through all stages, from jocular hoax-
ing to downright swindling ; also in
the sense of disappointment, as in the
old proverb, the biter bit (1711). 3.
A sharper, cheat, trickster (1742). 4.
Applied in a transferred sense to any-
body or anything suspected of being
different to what it appears, but not
necessarily in a bad sense. 5. One
who drives a hard bargain, a close
fist. 6. A Yorkshireman. 7. An
irregular white spot on the edge or
corner of a printed page, caused by
the frisket not being sufficiently cut
out (1677). As verb, (1) to deceive,
cheat, swindle, do, or take in : for-
merly used both transitively and pas-
sively; now only in latter (1699) ; (2)
to strike a hard bargain ; (3) to steal ;
e.g. to bite the roger, to steal a port-
manteau, to bite the wiper, to pur-
loin a handkerchief. As intj., (I)
formerly an equivalent to the modern
Sold! Done! etc. (1704); (2)
(Charterhouse). A warning Cave I
To do a thing when the maggot bites, to do
it when the fancy takes ono, at one's
own sweet will. To bite one's At>v, to
regret a word or action. To bite one's
name in, to drink heavily, tipple, drink
greedily. To bite on the bridle, to be
pinched in circumstances, reduced,
in difficulties. Phrases : To bite it pen
the bridle, to wait impatiently, like a
restless horse ; To bite the dust (ground,
sand), etc., to die ; to bite the tongue,
to repress speech ; to bite flic, thumb at,
(I) 'To threaten or defio by putting
the thumbo naile into the mouth, and
with a ierke (from the upper teeth)
make it to knack' (Cntgravc) -, ("2) to
insult : to bite one's car, lo careas fondly ;
to bite the ear, to borrow.
Biter. 1. A practical joker, hoaxer,
one who deceives, a cheat and trickster :
the term now ouly survives in the
46
Black-birders.
proverbial expression, the biter bit
(1669). 2. A wanton.
Bite-up. An unpleasant altercation.
Bit-faker (or Turner-out). A coiner
of bad money.
Bit-faking, Manufacturing base
coin, counterfeiting.
Bi ting-up. Grieving over a loss (or
bereavement).
Bit-maker. A counterfeiter.
Bit-o'-bull. Beef : Fr., gobet ; for-
merly, a dainty morsel.
Bit of blood. A spirited horse
thoroughbred (1819).
Bit of cavalry. A horse (1821).
Bit of ebony. A negro (or negress),
snowball (q.v.).
Bit of fat. 1. An unexpected
advantage in a transaction. 2. See
Fat.
Bit of jam. See Jam.
Bit of leaf. Tobacco.
Bit of muslin. A young girl,
a woman : see Petticoat.
Bit of mutton. A woman,
cf. Laced mutton.
Bit of sticks. A corpse.
Bit of stiff. A bank-note (or
other paper money), the equivalent of
money when not in specie, i.e. a
draft or bill of exchange (1854).
Hence, to do a bit of stiff, to accept a
bill.
Bit of stuff. An overdressed
man, man with full confidence in his
appearance and abilities ; also a young
woman.
Bitter. A glass of beer. To do a
bitter, to drink a glass of bitter :
originally (says Hotten) an Oxford
term : varied by, to do a beer.
Bittock. A distance of very un-
decided length : if a North country-
man be asked the distance to a place,
he will most probably reply, a mile
and a bittock : the latter may be con-
sidered any distance from one hundred
yards to ten miles : also of time.
Biz. Business, employment, occu-
pation : Good biz, profitable busi-
ness.
B. K. S. Barracks: used by officers
in mufti, who do not wish to give their
address.
Blab, subs, (vulgar). 1. A babbler :
a depraved word, once in common use,
but rarely employed now, except
colloquially. 2. Loose talk, chatter.
Also as verb and in various com-
pounds and allied forms, such as blab-
ber, blabbing, blabbing - book, etc.
— a taint of vulgarism now rests upon
them all.
Black. 1. A poacher working with
a blackened face (1722). 2. A mute
(1619). Phrases: To look Nock, to
frown, look angrily ; to say black is
any one's eye. (eyebrow, nail, etc.), to
find fault, lay to charge; black-babbling,
malicious talk.
Black Act Black art (q.v.).
Blackamoor. \. A negro, any dark-
skinned person ; originally not in
depreciation, but now a nickname
(1547). 2. A devil, demon, evil spirit
(1663).
Blackamoor's Teeth. Cowrie shells
— the currency of some savage tribes
(1700).
Black-and-tan. Porter (or stout)
and ale, mixed in equal quantities.
Black-and-tan country. The
Southern States of North America.
Black and White. The black
characters of print or writing on white
paper. Hence, to put a thing down in
olack and wMte, to preserve it in writ-
ing or in print : black on white is a
variant (1596).
Black - apronry. The clerical and
legal professions (1832).
Black -art. 1. Picking of locks,
burglary (1591). 2. The business of
an undertaker.
Black-ball. See PilL
Blackballing. Stealing, pilfering :
a sailor's word : it originated amongst
the employees of the old Black Ball
line of steamers between New York
and Liverpool — the cruelty and scan-
dalous conduct of officers to men, and
sailors to each other, were so proverb-
ial, that the line of vessels in question
became known all over the world for
the cruelty of its officers, and the
thieving propensities of its sailors.
Blackbeettes. The lower strata of
society (1821).
Blackberry swagger. A hawker
of tapes, boot-laces, etc.
Blackbird. Formerly a captive
on board a slaver; now generally
understood as referring to a Poly-
nesian indentured labourer, who, if
not by name a slave, is often one to all
intents and purposes. As verb, to cap-
ture negroes or Polynesians, to kidnap.
Black- birders. Kidnappers for
labour purposes on the islands of the
Pacific.
47
Slack-look.
Blackleg.
Black- book. To be in the black books,
to be in disgrace, have incurred dis-
pleasure, to be out of fa,vour.
Black box. A lawyer (Grose).
Black-boy. See Blackooat.
Black Bracelets. Handcuffs: see
Darbies (1839).
Black-cactte. 1. Clergymen, par-
sons. 2. lice, active citizens (q.v.),
chates(q.v.).
Black-cattle Show. A gathering of
clergymen.
Black-coat. A parson (1627).
Black-country. Parts of Stafford-
shire and Warwickshire blackened by
the coal and iron industries (1834).
Black-cuffs. The Fifty-eighth Foot:
now the second battalion of the North-
amptonshire Regiment; from the
regimental facings, which have been
black since 1767 : also nicknamed the
steel backs (q.v.).
Black Diamonds. 1. Coals (1849).
2. A rough (but clever or good) person :
this has given place to rough diamond
(q.v.).
Black Dog. 1. Applied, circa 1702-
30, to a counterfeit shilling and other
base silver coinage. 2. Delirium
tremens, the horrors, jim jams:
black dog is frequently used for de-
pression of spirits, and melancholy:
when a child is sulky, it is said, the
black dog is on his back : among
the ancients a black dog and its pups
were considered an evil omen. To
blush like a black dog, not to blush
at all, to be shameless (1634).
Black Doll. See Dolly shop.
Black-eye, To give a bottle a
black eye, to empty it.
Black -eyed Susan. Texan for a
revolver : among other slang equiva-
lents for this weapon current in the
Lone Star State may be mentioned,
Meat in the pot, Blue lightning, The
peace-maker, Mr. Speaker, One-eyed
scribe, Pill box, and My unconverted
friend.
Black-fellow. An Australian
aboriginal (1831).
Black-fly. A clergyman: see
Devil-dodger (1811).
Black-foot. A go-between,
match-maker (1814).
Blackfriars. Look out ! Beware !
Black Fri day. 1 . The day on which
Overend, Guraey, & Co. suspended
payment— 10th May 1886 : c£ Blue
Monday (1750). 2. The Monday on
which the death penalty is carried
out ; these events aio (or wero) gener-
ally arranged to fall on the day in
question.
Black-gown. A collegian, learned
man (1710).
Blackguard, subs, (common). A
man coarse in speech, and offensive in
manner, scamp, scoundrol, disreput-
able fellow : the term, as now used, is
one of opprobrium, and although a
good deal of uncertainty hangs about
its history and derivation, it seems
pretty clear that a certain amount of
odium has always been attached to
the word (1532). As adj., of or per-
taining to a blackguard, to the scum
or refuse of society, vile, vicious ( 1760).
As verb, to act like a rufiian,use filthy
(or scurrilous) language, play the
vagabond (or scoundrel).
Black Hole. 1. Cheltenham* from
the number of retired Anjtlo-Indian.s
who live there : cf. Asia Minor. 2. A
barrack punishment-cell (or lock-up),
guard-room: the official designation
till 1868.
Black Horse. The Seventh Dra-
goon Guards : so called from the regi-
mental facings, black on scarlet :
occasionally The Blacks. During the
reign of George II., the corps was
known as The Virgin Mary's Guard,
and is often called Struwboots (q.v.).
Black House. A place of business
where hours are long, and wages at
starvation rates ; a sweating house.
Black-humour. Melancholy.
Black InoUes. Newcastle-on-Tyne :
from its trade, coal : tho term is now
obsolete, but it was in common UHC
at the latter part of the eighteenth
century.
Black Jack. 1. A leathern jug for
beer, usually holding two gallons
(1591). 2. A black leather 3erkin
(1512).
Black job. A funeral.
Blackleg. LA turf swindler,
rook, welcher ; also one who cheats at
cards or billiards : origin unknown ;
although many speculations have been
hazarded, none are satisfactory ( 1771 ).
2. A workman who, when his follows
are on strike, is willing to go on working.
8. Also any one failing or refusing to
join his fellows in combination for a
given purpose. As verb, to boycott,
to make things so uncomfortable" for a
man that he is compelled to leave his
work or the town. To Hacldeg it,
amongst trades' union men to return
to work before the causes of a strike
have been removed (or settled) to the
satisfaction of the leaders.
B 1 a c k-1 e g g i s m, Black-leggsry.
Cheating, swindling, the arts and
practices of a blackleg (q.v.) (1832).
Black-letter Day. An inauspicious
day : of. Red-letter day.
Black Literature. That printed in
black letter (1797).
Blackmail (or rent). An illegal
tribute (1533).
Black - man (Black Gentleman).
The devil (1606).
Blackmails. See Darkinans.
Black Maria. A prison van or
omnibus : used for the conveyance of
prisoners : the origin of the phrase is
unknown. A variant is Sable Maria.
Black Monday. A schoolboys'
term for the Monday on which, after
holidays, school re-opens.
Black Mouth. A foul-mouthed
person, a slanderer. Henoe Uack-
mouthed, calumnious.
Black - mummer. One unwashed
and unshorn.
Black-neb. A person of democratic
sympathies at tho time of the French
Revolution.
Black -nob. A non-unionist, one
who (while his fellows are on strike)
persists in working at his trade, a
blackleg (q.v.).
Black Ointment. Uncooked meat.
Black- pot. A toper, tippler, Lush-
iagton (q.v.) (1594).
Black Psalm. To sing t7ie black
psalm, to cry ; a saying used to children
(Grose).
Blacks. See Black horse.
Black Sal (or Suke). A kettle.
Black Sanctus. A burlesque hymn
or anthem, rough music.
Black Saturday. A Saturday on
which an artisan or mechanic has no
money to take, having anticipated it
by advances.
Black Sheep. A scapegrace, bad
lot ; mauvais sujet : also applied liko
blackleg and black-nob to workmen,
who persist in working when their
comrades are on strike. As verb (Win-
chester College) : when a fellow in
Junior Part got above (or jockeyed)
a fellow in Middle Part.
Blacksmith's Daughter. A key:
formerly the key with which the doors
of sponging houses were unlocked:
also Locksirmitis daughter.
Black- snake. A long whip-lash.
Black- spice Racket Robbing
chimney sweepers of their tools, bag,
and soot (Lexicon Balatronicum).
Black Spy. The devil: Fr., dache.
Black-strap. 1. Thick, sweet port.
2. Properly speaking, gin mixed with
molasses, but frequently applied to
a compound of any alcoholic liquor
with molaspes: beverages of this
description were at one time the
commonest of dnnks among agricul-
tural labourers. 3. A task of labour
imposed on soldiers at Gibraltar as a
punishment for small offences (Gfrose).
Black- teapot. A negro footman.
Black Watch (The). The 42nd
Foot; now the Royal Highlanders:
from the colour of the dress.
Blackwork. Undertaking : waiters
at public dinners are often employed
during the day as mutes.
Blacky. A negro : cf . Darky.
Bladder. A pretentious person,
windbag (q.v.).
Bladderdash. Nonsense, bunkum
(q.v.), spoof (q.v,): a portmanteau
word — bladder balderdash.
Bladder of Lard, A bald-headed
person.
Bladderskate. See Bletherskate.
Blade. A roysterer, gallant,
sharp, keen, free-and-easy man, good
fellow (1595).
Blamed. Used to emphasize a
statement : it partakes of the nature
of an oath, being often used instead
of doomed or damned : in America
the expression is more of a collo-
quialism than it is in England (1835).
Hence, Blame it ! a round - about
oath.
Blamenation ! Damnation I
Blandiloquence. Smooth, nattering
speech, carneying (q.v.). Hence
Blandttoquous, smooth-speaking, flat-
tering (1615).
Blank (Blanked, Blankety).
Euphemistic oaths: clearly an out-
come of the practice of representing
an oath, for decency's sake, in printing,
by a dash or blank space ; e.g. d d.
Blank -charter. Liberty to do
as one likes.
Blank cheque. Unlimited credit.
Blanket. Lawful llaa&et ; a wife :
see Dutch. Wet-blanket, any thing or
person that discourages, a damper
Hianket, ffair.
(q.v.) (1830). Born on the wrong side
of the blanket, illegitimate (1771).
Blanket Fair. Bed: of. Bedford-
shire, Sheet Alley, and Land of Nod.
Blanket-love. Illicit amours ( 1G49).
Blarmed. A euphemism for
blessed (q.v.); damned; blowed
(q.v.) ; or blamed (q.v.), of the last of
which it is probably a corruption.
Blarm me 1 A euphemistic oath.
Blarney. Blandishment, soft
speech, or sawder, gross flattery,
gammon. [From Castle Blarney m
Ireland, in the wall of which, difficult of
access, is placed a stone. Whoever is
able to kiss this is said thereafter to be
able to persuade to anything (Grose).]
As verb, (1) to wheedle, coax, natter
grossly; (2) to pick looks (American
thieves).
Blasted. Execrable, confounded :
Grose has blasted fellow for an aban-
doned rogue (1682).
Blatantation. Noisy effusion.
ater. A calf : probably a cor-
ruption of bleater (1714).
Blather, Noisy talk, voluble non-
sense : cf . Blether. As verb, to talk
volubly, noisily, nonsensically.
Blatherskite. 1. Boastful dis-
putatious swagger : cf. BlethersMte.
2. A swaggerer, boaster, one who talks
volubly and nonsensically.
Blayney's Bloodhounds. The
Eighty-ninth Foot, now the second
battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers :
they obtained this nickname during the
Irish Rebellion in 1798.
Blaze. Blaze-away \ Look sharp ;
stir your stumps — an inj unction to
renewed and more effective effort.
Blazer. Originally applied to tho
uniform of the Lady Margaret Boat
Club of St. John's College, Cambridge,
which was of a bright red and was
called a blazer : now applied to any
light jacket of bright colour worn at
cricket or other sports. Prof. Skeat
\N. and Q., 7 S., iii. 436] speaking of
the Johnian blazer, says it was always
of the most brilliant scarlet, and thinks
it not improbable that the fact sug-
gested the name which subsequently
became general
Blazes. 1. The infernal regions.
As a verb, to blaze is employed in a
manner closely bordering on slang :
thus one says of an action that it is a
blasting shame ; that he has a blazing
50
headache ; that so-and-so is a blazing
thief ; that such a job is biding hard
work ; that it is a blazing hot day. 2.
The brilliant habiliments of flunkeys :
from the episode of Sam Weller and
the swarry. Old blazes* tlie devil.
Go to blazes ! Go to the dcnl ; 30 to
hell — used in imprecations (1851).
Like blazes, vehemently, with extreme
ardour. How (Who, or What) far,
blazes, How (What or Who) the
Dickens. Drnnk as blazes (or Uaizurs),
very drunk, beastly drunk : see
Screwed.
Bleach (Harvard University).
To absent oncsalf from moramg
prayers.
Bleached Mort. A fair complex-
loned wench (Grose).
Bleak. Handsome.
Bleater. The victim of a sharper
or rook (1(509).
Bleating cheat. A sheep (1, 5 07).
Bleating Cull. A sheep stealer.
Bleating Prig (or Rig). Sheep steal-
ing-
Bleed. 1. To he -victimise.! I, lose
or part with money so that the loss w
felt, be rushed (q.v.), Lave money
drawn or extorted from one (1G6S).
2. To piano down so that tho ed;jo
of a printed book is cut away. 3, To
let water out (nautical). To bhcd the
monkey, to steal rum from ''.-e mesH
tub called tlie monkey: the term
is exclusively naval, monkeys not
being known on merchant ships : also
called sucking the monkey azul tsi jtpm*;
the admiral.
Bleeder (University). 1. A
duffer beyond compare, u superlative
fool : see Bufne. 2. A sovereign : see
Rhino, o. A spur.
Bleeding. An expletive: c-f. (Shake-
speare), bleeding tiow.
Bleeding Cully. One who parts
easily with his money, or blec'ls freely
(Qroae).
Blenker. To plunder: much used
during the Civil War,
Bless. To curso, damn. Tit blr**
oneself, to ba surprised, vexed, mor-
tified : generally, God bless me !
Bless my eyes I Bless mv woui J
Lor' bless mo ! (159i>). * Not a
penny to bless oncsdf vxtb, utterly im-
pecunious, without a sou (1843).
To bless one's stars, to thank omwtf,
attribute one's good fortune to h«ikT
generally in a ludicrous ^-UM-
Blessed.
Block.
Blessed ( Blest). An ironical
euphemism; often used like blazing
for cursed, damned, etc., or as a vow
(1806).
Blessing. A curse : ironical.
Blether Blather. Nonsense,
vapid talk, voluble chatter (1787).
Hence Blethering, volubly, foolishly
talkative : cf . Bletherskate.
Bletherskate, Blatherskite. 1.
Boastful swagger: in talk or action.
2. A boaster, noisy talker : in Ireland,
Bladder - slcate, and Bladderum-sJsate
(1650).
Blew. 1. To inform, peach, expose,
betray : see Blow upon. 2. To spend,
waste : generally of money ; when a
man has spent or lost all his money, he
is said to have blewed it.
Blimey ! Blind me !
Blind. 1. A means or place of con-
cealment ( 1647). 2. A pretence, shift,
action through which one's real pur-
pose is concealed, that which obstructs,
make-believe (1663). 3. A para-
graph CTJ] mark is so called ; from the
eye of the reversed P being filled up.
As adj., tipsy, in liquor : see Screwed.
Blind as a brickbat, very blind — men-
tally or physically (1849). When the
devil is bfand, never : FT., le trente six
du mois, and qucrnd les poules auront
des dents. To go it Wind, to enter upon
an undertaking without thought as
to the result, or inquiry beforehand :
from poker.
Blind-drunk (or fou). So drunk as
to be unable to see better than a blind
man: see Screwed: Americans say,
So drunk as not to be able to see
through a ladder.
Blinder. To take a, blinder, to die :
see Hop the Twig.
Blind Half Hundred. The Fiftieth
Regiment of Foot, now the first bat-
talion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent
Regiment) : many men suffered from
ophthalmia durin^ the Egyptian cam-
paign. [1801].
Blind Harper. A beggar coun-
terfeiting blindness, playing on a
fiddle (Grose).
Blind-man's Holiday. Formerly,
the night or darkness ; now usually
applied to the time between lights,
when it is too dark to see, but often
not dark enough to light up, and a
holiday or rest from work is taken
Blind Monkeys* An imaginary
collection at the Zoological Gardens,
which are supposed to receive care and
attention from persons fitted by
nature for such office and for little
else. An idle and useless person is
often told that he is only fit to lead
blind monkeys. Another form is for
one man to tell another that he knows
of a suitable situation for him. How
much a week ? and what to do ? are
natural questions, and then comes
the scathing and sarcastic reply, Five
bob a week at the doctor's — you're
to stand behind the door and make
the patients sick. They won't want
no physic when they sees your mug
(EoUen).
Blindo. A drunken spree. As verb,
to die : see Hop the Twig.
Blind Side. The side that is
weakest, the most assailable side
(1606).
Blind Story. A story without
point.
Blink. To drink : see Lush.
Blinker. 1. The eye : cf. Winker,
Peeper, Optic, etc. (1816). 2. In pL
Spectacles, barnacles (1732). 3. In
Norfolk, a black eye. 4. A hard blow
in the eye. Blank your blinJeers, a
euphemistic oath.
Blink - fencer. A vendor of spec-
tacles.
Blinko. An amateur entertain-
ment, a free-and-easy (q. v. ) ; a sing-
song (q.v.).
Blister. Euphemistic for damn:
cf. Blamed (1840).
Blizzard. 1. A poser, stunning blow,
unanswerable argument, etc., etc.
(1 83 1 ). 2. A snow-gale, furious storm
of frost-wind and blinding snow.
Bloak. See Bloke.
Bloat. 1. A drowned body. 2.
A drunkard. 3. A contemptuous
name for a human being.
Bloated Aristocrat. A man swollen
with the pride of rank or wealth ; also
a general sobriquet applied by the
masses to the classes. Bloated
has long been employed in a. similar
sense. Swift spoke of a certain states-
man aa a bloated minister (1731).
Bloater. See My bloater.
Blob. To talk, patter. Blob-
tale, a tell-tale, tale-bearer (1670).
Block. A stupid person, hard
unsympathetic individual!, one of
mean, unattractive appearance (1534) :
soe Buffla. Barber' 8 block (1), the
51
Blockers.
Bloody
head (1637) ; (2) a fop. A chip of the
same (or old) block, a man or thing
exhibiting the same qualities as he or
that -with which a comparison is made
(1627). As deaf as a Nock, as deaf as
may be. To cut a Hock with a razot , in-
consequent argument,, futile endeavour,
incongruous application of means (or
ability) to the end in view (1774). To
block a hat, to crush a man's hat over
Ine eyes, to bonnet (q.v.).
Blockers. See Block ornaments.
B 1 o c k h e a d (or Block- pate). A
stupid fellow, woodenhead ; see
Buffle.
Block House. A prison, house
of detention : see Cage (1624).
Block Island Turkey, subs. (Ameri-
can). Salted cod-fish. Connecticut
and Rhode Island. Slang delights in
naming fish as flesh. For some curious
examples, see Two-eyed Steak.
Block Ornament (or Blocker).
1. A small piece of meat of indifferent
quality, a tnmming from a joint,
etc. : as exposed for sale on the blocks
or counters of butchers' shops in cheap
neighbourhoods, opposed to meat
hung on hooks (1848). 2. A queer-
looking man or woman — one odd in
appearance.
Block-pate. See Blockhead.
Bloke (or Bloak). A man, fellow
(1851).
Blood. 1. A fop, dandy, buck, or
fast man : originally in common use,
but now obsolete : from that legitimate
sense of the word which attributes fche
seat of the passions and emotions to
the blood — hence, a man of spirit ; one
who has blood worth mention, and, in
an inferior sense, he who makes him-
self notorious, whether by dress or
rowdyism : in the last century, especi-
ally during the regency of George IV.,
Blood and Thunder.' A beverage
of port wine and brandy mixed.
Blood and Thunder Tales.
Low class fiction, the term being
generally applied to works dealing
with the exploits of desperadoes cut-
throats, and other criminals : also called
Awfuls, Penny dreadfuls, Gutter
htsrature. Shilling shockers.
Blood-an*-'ouns. An abbreviated
form of an old and blasphemous oath.
Blood-curdler (or Blood- freezer).
A narration or incident which makes
the flesh creep, that which stirs one's
feelings strongly (and generally re-
pulsively) : saia of a sensational
murder, a thrilling ghost-story, etc.
Blood for Blood. When
tradesmen exchange wares, setting
the cost of one kind off against another
instead of making payment in cur-
rency, they are said to give blood for
blood.
Blood- Freezer. See Blood-curdler.
Blood-red Fancy. A particu-
lar kind of handkerchief sometimes
worn by pugilists and frequenters of
prize fights : see Billy.
Blood Suckers. The Sixty- third
Regiment of Foot, now the iirsfc
battalion of the Manchester Regi-
ment. 2. An extortioner, sponger
(1668).
Blood-tub. A roivdy, blustering
bully, rough : this nickname was
peculiar to Baltimore ; the Blood-tubs
were said to have been mostly butchers,
and to have got their epithet from
having, on an election day, clipped au
obnoxious German's head in a tub of
warm blood, and then driven him
running through the town.
Bloody, adj. (low). — An inton&ive
difficult to define, and used in a mul-
titude of vague and varying season, 1 >nt
the term was largely in vogue to denote frequently with no special meaning,
a young man of good birth or social much less a sanguinary one : generally
standing about town; subsequently, = an emphatic, very: in general collo-
it came to mean a riotous, disorderly quial use from 1650-1750, but now
fellow (1562). 2. Money: generic:
see Rhino. As verb, to deplete of
money, victimise: a figurative usage
of to bleed ; i.e. surgically., to let or
draw blood by opening a vein.
Blood and Entrails. The
British ensign is so nicknamed by
Yankee sailors ; English salts return
the compliment by jokingly speaking
of the American flag as The Gridiron
and Doughboys (q.v.).
vulgar or profane. The origin is not
quite certain ; but there is good roa?on
to think that it was at first a refer-
ence to the habits ot the bloods or
aristocratic rowdies of the end of the
17th and beginning of the 1 8th cent.
The phrase bloody drunk was ap-
parently as drunk as a blood (of.
as drunk as a lord) ; thence it was
extended to kindred expressions, ami
at length to others ; probably in later
52
Bloody Baok.
Slowed.
times, its associations with bloodshed
and murder (cf. a bloody battle, a
bloody butcher) have recommended
it to the rough classes as a word that
appeals to their imagination. Compare
the prevalent craving for impress-
ive or graphic intensives as seen in the
use of jolly, awf-idly, terribly, dewl-
ish, deuced, damned, ripping, rattling,
thumping, stunning, thundering, etc.
Bloody Back. A soldier.
Bloody Chasm. To bridge
the bloody chasm, a favourite expres-
sion with orators who, during the
years immediately succeeding the
Civil War, sought to obliterate the
memory of the struggle. The anti-
thetical phrase is to wave the bloody
shirt (q.v.).
Bloody Eleventh. The Eleventh
Regiment of Foot, now the Devon-
shire Regiment : at the battle of Sala-
manca (fought with the French) the
corps was nearly cut to pieces, whence
its sanguinary sobriquet. At Fon-
tenoy and Ostend also, it was hard-
pressed and nearly annihilated.
Bloody Jemmy. An uncooked
sheep's head.
Bloody Shirt. To wave, the
bloody sfiirt, to keep alive factious
strife on party questions. Primarily
it was the symbol of those who,
during the Reconstruction period at
the close of the rebellion of the South-
ern or Confederate States, would not
suffer the Civil War to sink into oblivion
out of consideration for the feelings of
the vanquished.
Bloomer. A mistake : said to be
an abbreviated form of blooming
error.
Blooming (often Bloomin'). This
word, similar in type to blessed,
blamed, and other words of the kind,
is, as used by the lower classes, a
euphemism, but it is also frequently
employed as a more meaningless in-
tensitive (1726).
Bloss. Generic for a woman —
girl, wife, or mistress : Shakespeare,
in Titus Andronicus (1588, iv. ii. 72),
employs it in the sense of one lovely
ana full of promise — Sweet blowse
¥ou are a beautious blossome sure ;
ennyson (1847) in the Princess (v.
79), uses the expression, My babe,
my blossom, ah, my child !
Blossom-faced. With red bloated
lace.
Blossom-nose. A tippler, Lushing-
ton (q.v.). Blossom-nosed, red with
tippling : cf . Grog-blossom, Rum-bud.
Blot. To blot the scrip, to put an
undertaking into writing : the modern
phrase is, to put it ia black and
white. Hence, To blot the scrip and
jarJc it, to stand engaged, bound for
any one (Grose).
Bloviate. To talk aimlessly
and boastingly, indulge in high
falutin' : said to
since 1850.
Blow.
have been in use
1. A shilling: see Rhino.
2. A drunken frolic, spree. As verb,
(1) to boast, brag, gas, fume, storm
— generally to talk boastfully or self-
assertingly of oneself or one's affairs
(1400) ; (2) to inform, expose, betray,
peach (1575) ; (3) to lie ; (4) employed
euphemistically for damn — gener-
ally in the imperative — Blow it I
hang it 1 (5) to lose or snend money :
cf. Blue ; (6) to indulge in a frolic or
spree; (7) (Winchester School), to
blush. To bite the blow, to steal
goods, prig. To blow a cloud, to
smoke. To How hot and cold, to
vacillate, be inconsistent ; to blow the
bellows, to stir up passion ; to blow off,
to relieve one's f eehngs, get rid of super-
fluous energy ; to blow into one's ear,
to whisper privily ; to blow one's own
trumpet, to brag, sound one's own
praises ; to blow the coals (or the fire), to
fan the flame of discord, promote
strife ; to blow up, to scold, rate, rail
at; To blow great guns, to blow a
hurricane or violent gale : sometimes
to blow great guns and small arms
(1839). To blow one's bazoo, to boast,
swagger, gasconade. To blow oneself
out, to eat heartily, gorge : hence,
blow out, a heavy feed (or enter-
tainment), a tuck in. To blow the
gab (or gaff), to reveal (or let out) a
secret, peach (Grose). To blow the
grampus, to throw cold water on a
man who has fallen asleep when on
duty. To blow together, to make gar-
ments in a slovenly manner. To blow
up sky-high, to do everything with un-
usual energy. To blow upon, to betray,
tell tales of, discredit, defame.
Blowboul (or Bio boll). A
tippler : see Lushington.
Blow- book. A book containing
indelicate or ' smutty ' pictures (1708),
Slowed. To be blowed, Slowed is
here a euphemism, frequently little
Blowen.
Blue.
more than a thinly-veiled oath. To
bo cursed, sent about one's business.
El o wen (or Blowing). Origin
ally a woman, without special refer-
ence to moral character, now a showy
courtesan or a prostitute (1688).
Blower. 1 A girl : contemptuous
in opposition to jomcr (q.v.) (Grose).
2. A good talker, boaster, gas-bag.
3. A pipe.
Blowhard. A Western term of
abuse : a newcomer may, in one and
the same breath, be called a blarsfcecl
Britisher, a coyote, and a blowhard.
Blowse (Blowsy, Blouze, Blowzy).
1. A beggar's trull, a wench. 2.
A slatternly woman, especially one
with dishevelled hair. Thought to be
of canting origin.
Blowze. 1. A beggar's trull, beg-
gar wench, wonch (1573). 2. A fat,
rod - faced bloated wench, or one
whose head is dressed Uke a slattern
(Bailey}.
Blubber. 1. The mouth: see
Potato-trap (Grose). 2. A woman's
breasts. As verb, to cry, weep: in
contempt (1400) : also Blab.
Blubber and Guts. Obesity ; a
low term.
Blubber-belly. A fat person.
Blubber Head. A foolish, empty-
headed individual : see Buffle.
Blucher (ch. hard) (Winchester
College). 1. A College praefect in half
power: their jurisdiction does not
extend beyond Seventh Chamber
passage, though their privileges are
the same as those of other prsefects :
they are eight in number. 2. A non-
privileged cab plying at railway
stations : railway companies recog-
nise two classes of cabs, called the Pri-
vileged .... and the Bluchers, non-
privileged cabs, which are admitted to
stations after all the privileged have
been hired*, named after the Prussian
Field - Marshal who arrived on the
field of Waterloo only to do the work
that chanced to be undone.
Bludgeoner. A bully, pimp,
ponce.
Bludger. A thief, who does not
hesitate to use violence ; literally one
who will use a bludgeon.
Bludget. A female thief, who
decoys her victims into alley-ways,
etc., to rob them.
Blue. 1. A policeman : from the
colour of the uniform; also (collect*
ively), !>lu<js, Men in "Sine, Blue-boys,
Blue- bottles, Blue-devils, Royal Regi-
ment of Foot-guards Blue. 2. Among
licensed victuallers and their customers
in certain districts of Wales a com-
promiso between the half -pint and
the pint pot ; it is not recognised as a
legal measure by the authorities, but
the Board of Trade has pointed out
to the local authorities that there is
nothing in the Weights and Measures
Act to prevent the use of the Blue or to
make its possessor liable to penalties,
always provided of course that the
vessel is not used as a measure. 3. A
scholar of Christ's Hospital : a blue-
coat boy : also derived from the colour
of the clothes — a blue drugget gown or
body with ample skirts to it, a yellow
vest underneath in winter time, small
clothes of Russia duck, worsted
yellow stockings, a leathern girdle, and
a little black worsted cap, usually
carried in the hand, being the com-
plete costume ; this was the ordinary
dress of children in humble life in
Tudor times. 4. Short for blue-
stocking (q.v.) ; formerly a contempt-
uous term for a woman having (or
affecting) literary tastes (1788). 5.
Female learning or pedantry (1824).
6. At Oxford and Cambridge a man is
said to get his blue when selected as a
competitor in inter-university sports :
the University colours are, for Oxford,
dark blue ; and for Cambridge, light
blue : cf. to get one's silk, said of a
barrister when made King's Counsel.
As adj., (1) applied, usually in con-
tempt, to women of literary tastes :
Fr., blcue celle-la ; (2) indecent;
smutty ; obscene ; (3) gloomy,
fearful, depressed, low-spirited : cf. to
look blue, blue funk, and in the blues.
As verb, (1) to blush (1700) ; (2) to
pawn, pledge, spend, actually to get
rid of money quickly : cf. Blew ; (3) to
miscalculate, to make a mess of
anything, to mull; (4) to steal,
plunder ; to beblued* to be robbed : see
Prig. By aU that's blue, a euphemistic
oath : probably by Heaven : it may
be compared with the French parblev*
synonymous with 'par JDicu. fUl ctJtf
is Uue> (1) to the utmost, the end, for
an indefinite period: Smyth, in his
Sailors' Word Book, says this phrase
is borrowed from the idea of a vessel
making out of port and getting into
deep water; (2) tipsy; see Sc-^wed
Bltte Apron.
Blue Murd&r.
(1616): c£. Fr., avoir un coup d?l>l&u.
To look blue, to bo confounded, aur-
prised, astonished, aimojed, dis-
appointed. Fr... en renter tout bleu, en
ttre bleu, en bailler tout blev ( 1 GOO). To
make the air blue, to curse, swear.
True Hue, faithful, genuine, real : an
allusion to blue as the colour of con-
stancy (1383).
Blue Apron. A tradesman (1721).
Bluebacks. 1. The paper money
of the Confederates : originating, as
in the case of United States paper
currency greenbacks, in the colour of
the printing on the reverse. 2. The
Orange Free State paper money.
Blue Bellies. A nickname be-
stowed by Southerners, during the
Civil War, upon their opponents of
the North, whose uniform was blue :
also Boys in bluo, Yanks, etc. The
Southerners, on the other hand, re-
ceived such names as The secesh,
Rebs, and Johnny Rebs, the latter
being sometimes shortened to Johnnies.
The grey uniform of the Confederates
likewise caused them to be styled
Boys in grey, and Grey backs.
Blue Bills (Winchester College).
A trades man's bills sent home to the
parents and guardians of students.
Blue Billy. A handkerchief
(blue ground with white spots) some-
times worn and used as a colour at
prize-fights : see Billy.
Blue Blanket. I. The sky:
probably suggested by Shakespeare's
Blanket of the dark (Macbeth, I.
v.) (1720). 2. A rough overcoat made
of coarse pilot cloth.
Blue Blazes. See Blazes.
Blue Boar. A venereal disease.
Blue Bottle. 1. A policeman,
constable, watchman (1598). 2. A
serving-man : blue was the usual habit
of servants (1C02). 3. A term of re-
proach for a servant.
Blue Boy. A bubo, a tumour or
abscess with inflammation.
Blue-boys. The police.
Blue Butter, Mercurial ointment.
Blue-cap. A Scotchman (1596).
2. A kind of ale (1822).
Blue-coat. 1. A constable,
• guardian of public order. 2. A serv-
ing man, and, 3. (generally) one of the
lower orders : as wearing coats of blue
( 1600). 4. A blue-coat boy : see Blue.
Blued (or Slewed). Tirey, drunk ;
see Screwed.
Blue Dahlia. Something rare (or
seldom seen), a rara avis.
BlueDevils. 1. Dejection, low-
ness of spirits, hypochondria (1786).
2. Delirium tremens (1818). Hence,
such derivatives as Blue devilage, Blue
devilry, Blue devilism ; and Blue
devilly.
Blue Fear. Extreme frigkc: the
same as Blue funk (q.v.).
Blue Flag. A blue apron (q.v.)
worn by butchers, publicans, and
other tradesmen (Grose).
Blue Funk. Extreme fright,
nervousness, dread (1856).
Blue- gown. 1. A loose woman :
a blue-gown was the dress of igno-
miny for a harlot hi the house of
correction (Nares). 2. A beggar,
especially a licensed beggar who wore
the dress as a badge.
Blue Hen's Chickens.
The inhabitants of Delaware. The
nickname arose thus : Captain Cald-
well, an officer of the first Delaware
regiment in the American War of In-
dependence, was noted for bis love of
cock-fighting. Being personally popu-
lar, and his regiment becoming famous
for their valour, they were soon known
as game - cocks ; and as Caldwell
maintained that no cock was truly
game unless its mother was a blue hen,
his regiment, and subsequently Dela-
wareans generally, became known as
blue hen's chickens, and Delaware as
the Blue Hen State for the same reason.
A boaster is also often brought to book
by the sarcasm Your mother was a
blue hen no doubt.
Blue Horse. The Fourth Dragoon
Guards (1746-88).
Blue-jacket. A sailor; especially
used to distinguish seamen from the
marines.
Blue Laws. Puritanic laws of
extreme severity : originally of enact-
ments at New Haven, Conn,, U.S.A.
Blue Lightning. A revolver.
Blue Monday. A Monday
spent in dissipation and absence from
work.
Blue Moon. Once, in a Uue
moon, extremely seldom, an unlimited
time, a rarely recurring period: an
old phrase, first used in the sense of
something absurd ; a blue moon, like
the Greek Kalends, is something which
does not exist (152G).
Blue Murder (or Blue Murders)
Jlfaeness.
Cries of terror (or alarm), a great
noise, an unusual racket : of. Fr,,
•morbleu.
Blueness. Indecency (1840). Fr.,
horreurs, betises, gueulees.
Blue Noses. The natives of
Nova Scotia : in allusion, it is said,
to a potato of that name which Nova
Scotians claim to be the best in the
world ; Proctor, however, hazards
the suggestion that the nickname
refers to the blueness of nose resulting
from intense cold (1837).
Blue Peter. The signal or
call for trumps at whist : properly a
blue flag with white square in centre,
hoisted as a signal for immediate
sailing.
Blue Pigeon. 1. Lead used for
roofing purposes : see Blue pigeon
flyer. 2. The sounding lead.
Blue Pigeon Flyer. A thief
who steals lead from the roofs of
buildings. Hotten thus explains the
modus operand*. Sometimes a journey-
man plumber, glazier, or other
workman, when repairing houses,
strips off the lead, and makes away
with it. This performance is, though,
by no means confined to workmen.
An empty house is often entered and
the whole of the roof in its vicinity
stripped, the only notice given to the
folks below being received by them on
the occasion of a heavy downfall of
rain. The term flyer has, indeed, of
late years been more peculiarly ap-
plied to the man who steals the lead
in pursuance of his vocation as a thief,
than to him who takes it because it
eomes^in the way of his work (1789).
Fr., limousinewr, gras-doublier, mas-
taroufleur. To fly the blue pigeon, to
steal lead from the roofs of houses.
Blue Pill. A bullet; also JBlue
plum and Slue whistler.
Blue Ribbon (or Riband). A first
prize, the greatest distinction.
Blue Ruin. Gin : see Drinks
(1817).
Blues. 1. Despondency, hypo-
chondria, depression of spirits : a
shortened form of blue devils (q.v.).
2. The police. 3. The Royal Horse
Guards Blue are popularly so known
from their blue uniform with scarlet
facings : the corps first obtained the
name of Oxford Blues in 1690, to
distinguish it from a Dutch regiment
of Horse Guards dressed in blue,
commanded by the Bi.ul of Portland,
tho former being comm.inded by the
Earl of Oxford ; subsequently the
regiment was, during the campaign in
Flanders [1742-45], known as the
Blue Guards.
Blue Skin. 1. Formerly a
contemptuous term for a Presby-
terian. 2. A half-breed — the child of
a black woman by a white man.
Blue Squadron. Mixed blood ;
properly one with a Hindoo strain :
Eurasians belong to the blue squad-
ron : of. Touch of the tar brush.
Blue Stocking. A literary
lady : applied usually with the im-
putation of pedantry. The gener-
ally received explanation, is that the
term is derived from the name given
to certain meetings held by ladies in
the days of Dr. Johnson for conversa-
tion with distinguished literary men.
One of the most eminent of these
literati was a Mr. Benjamin Stilling-
fleet, who always wore blue stockings,
and whose conversation at thefw
meetings was so much prized, that his
absence at any time was felt to be a
great loss, so that the remark became
common, We can do nothing without
the blue stockings, hence these meet-
ings were sportively called blue-
stocking clubs, and the ladies who
attended them blue-stockings. It in
stated that the name specially arose in
this way. A foreigner of rank refused
to accompany a friend to ono of the^e
parties on the plea of being in his
travelling costume, to which there was
the reply, Oh I we never mind dress
on these occasions ; you may come in
bas bleus or blue stookmjrs, with
allusion to Stillirtgfloof a Htoi*kin«j;n,
when the foreigner, fancying thut btt,*
bleus were part of the nee^snry cos-
tume, called the meeting ever after the
Bas-bleu Society. In modern slang
the term bluo-stockino; ia abbrevi-
ated into blue. Derivatives are blue,-
stockingiam, blue-stockings; etc. ( 1 738).
Blue Stone. Gin (or wlusky)
of so bad a quality that it can only l>e
compared to vitriol, of which blitc-utwc,
is also a nickname in the north o£
England and Scotland.
Blue Tape. Gin : see Drinks.
Blue Water. The opori sctn.
Blue Whistler. A bullet.
Bluey. 1. Lead: prc^ Bin*
pigeon. 3. A bnshmari's bundle, th<*
Bluey-hunter.
Bob.
outside wrapper of which is generally
a blue blanket — hence the name : alt'o
called swag (q.v.) and drum (q v.).
Bluey-hunler. A thief who steals
lead, as described under Blue pigeon
flyer (q.v.) (1851).
Bluff. An excuse, pretence,
that which is intended to hoodwink or
blind. As verb, to turn aside, stop,
hoodwink, to blind as to one's real
intention.
Bluffer. 1. An innkeeper (Grose).
2. A bo'sun.
Blunderbuss. A stupid blundering
fellow : see Buffle (Grose).
Blunt. Generic for money, espe-
cially ready money : see Rhino (17 14).
Blunted. Possessed of money, in
comfortable circumstances, warm (q. v. )
Blunt-worker. A blunderer
(1440). Blunt-working, blundering.
B 1 u n t y. A stupid fellow, one
slow-witted : see Buffle.
Blur- paper. A scribbler (1603).
Blush. To blush like a Hack or
blue dog, to blush not at all (1579).
Blushet. A modest girl, a little
blusher (1625).
B. N. C. Brasenose : the initials
of Brasen Nose College, Oxford: hi
spite of the nose over the gate, the
probability is that the real name was
Brasinium; it is still famous for its
beer.
Bo (or Boh). To cry (or say) J5o
to a goose (battledore, bull, etc.), to open
one's mouth, to speak.
Boanerges. A loud, vociferous
speaker : i.e. a son of thunder
(Mark iii. 17).
Board. 1. To borrow. 2. To
accost, ask of, make a demand ; i.e.
to come to close quarters (1547). To
board in the smoJce^ to take one un-
awares, or by surprise. On the board,
enjoying all the privileges and emolu-
ments of a com petent workman : when
an apprentice becomes a regular jour-
neyman he goes on the board : tailors
usually work squatting on a low raised
platform — hence possibly the expres-
sion. To keep one's name on the board, to
remain a member of a College. To sweep
the board, to pocket all the stakes. To
begin the board, to take precedence.
To go by the board, to go for good and
all, be completely done for, ruined.
To tad, on another board, to change
one's tactics.
Boarding House (or School).
Newgate : hut equally applicable to
any gaol — Now Yori thieves apply it
to the Tombs . see Cage.
Boardman. A standing pat-
terer: they endeavour to attract at-
tention to their papers, or, more
commonly, pamphlets ... by meaas
of a board with coloured pictures upon
it, illustrative of the contents of what
they sell : this in street technology
is board work : sometimes called a
sandwich man.
Board of Green Cloth. A card
(or billiard) table.
Boat. Formerly the hulks ;
latterly to any prison : sec Cage. To
have an oar in another's boat, to
meddle, busybody. To sail in the
same boat, to pursue the same course.
As verb, ( 1 ) originally to transport : the
term is now applied to penal servitude.
To get the boat (or to be boated), to be
sentenced to a long term of imprison-
ment— equivalent to transportation
under the old system ; (2) to joiio as
partner : evidently a corruption of
to be in the same boat, i.e. to be in
the same position or circumstances.
To bail one's oum boat, to be self-
reliant, to paddle one's own canoe.
Bob. 1. A shilling : see Rhino ( 1812).
2. A shoplifter's assistant; one who
receives and carries off stolen goods :
FT., nonne (or noune). 3. Gin: see
Drinks ( 1 749). 4. An infantry soldier ;
generally Light-bob, i.e. a soldier of the
light infantry (1544). 5. (Winchester
College). A large white jug contain-
ing about a gallon in measure, and
used for beer. As adj., lively, nice, in
good spirits ( 1 721 ). As verb, to cheat,
trick, disappoint : also to bob out of
(1605). As intj., Stop I That's enough !
Dry bob (Wet bob) (Eton College), the
first-named is one who devotes him-
self to cricket or football and other
land sports ; the latter one who goes
in for rowing and aquatics generally
(1844). AH is bob, All's safe, serene,
gay (1786). Bear a bob I Be
brisk! look sharp! To give thebob, (1)
to give the door : used by Massinger —
It can be no other but to give me the
bob ; (2) to befool, mock, impose upon.
S'heLp me bob, a street oath, equivalent
to So help me God ; a corrupted form
of the legal oath: So help is pro-
nounced swelp : also s'help the cat — my
greens — the tatwrs, etc. To shift one's
bob, to go away.
67
BMer.
Bogus.
Bobber. 1. A felloe-workman,
mate, chum. 2. A spurious plural
of bob (q.v.) = a shilling.
Bobbery. A noise, squabble,
disturbance, racket (1813).
Bobbish. Frequently pretty
bobbish, 1.0. hearty, in good health
and spirits, clever, spruce (1819) ; also
bobbisbly.
Bobby. A policeman : this nick-
name, though possibly not derived
from, was certainly popularised by
the fact that the Metropolitan Police
Actof 1828 was mainly the work of Mr.,
afterwards Sir Robert Peel. Long
before that statesman remodelled the
police, however, the term Bobby the
beadle was in use to signify a guard-
ian of a public square or other open
space. There seems, however, a lack
01 evidence, and examples of its
literary use prior to 1851 have not
been discovered. At the Universities
the Proctors are or used to be called
bobbies.
Bob by- twister. A burglar or
thief (q.v.), who, when resisting pur-
suit or capture, uses violence.
Bob- cull. A good fellow, pleasant
companion.
Bob my pal. A girl, i.e. gal.
Bobstick. A shilling's worth.
Bob Tail. 1. A lewd woman. 2.
A contemptible fellow — Tag, rag,
and bobtail. See Tag.
Bo car do. A prison : see Cage :
specially the prison in the old North
Gate of Oxford, demolished in 1771.
Boco. 1. The nose : see Conk. 2.
Nonsense, bosh.
Bodier, A blow on the side of the
body.
Bodkin. Amongst sporting men,
a person who takes bis turn between
the sheets on alternate nights, when
an hotel has twico as many visitors
as it can comfortably lodge ; as, for
instance, during a race - week. A
transferred sense from To ride (or sit )
bodkin, to take a place and be wedgea
in between other persons when the
accommodation is intended for two
only (1638).
Body-cover. A coat.
Body of Divinity Bound in Black
Calf. A parson : see Devil-dodger.
Body-slangs. Fetters: see Dar-
bies (1819).
Body - snatcher. 1. A bailiff or
runner ; the snatch was the trick by
which the bailiff captured the delin-
quent. '2. A policeraan. 3. A gener-
ally objectionable individual : also
mean bod}/ snatch&r. 4. A violator of
graves, resurrectionist : also Body-
lifter (1833). 5. An undertaker.
Bog. 1. The works at Dartmoor,
on which convicts labour ; durm<*
recent years a large quantity of land
has been reclaimed in this way. 2. An
abbreviated form of bog- house (q.v.).
As verb, fco ease oneself, evacuate.
Bogey. See Bogy
Boggle- de- Bo tch (Boggledy-
Botch). A bungle, mess, hash :
Boggle, however, is more frequently
employed (1834).
Bog-house (Bog-shop). A privy,
necessary house (1671).
Boglander. An Irishman : from
the boggy and marshy character of a
considerable portion of the Emerald
Isle (1698).
Bog Latin. A spurious mode
of speech simulating the Latin in con-
struction : see Dog Latin.
Bog-oranges. Potatoes : see
Bogland, with an oye to the vegetable
in question f orminp. a very substantial
food staple of the Irish peasantry.
Bog-trotter. An Irishman :
Camden, however (c. 1G05), speaking
of the debateablo land on tho bor-
ders of England and Scotland, say.s,
Both these dales breed notable bog-
trotters; so the original sense would
appear to have boon, accustomed to
walk across bogs ; as a nickname for
an Irishman, it dates at least from
1671. Bog - trotting, living among
bogs; e.g. a bog-troiting Irishman
Bogus. Spurious, fictitious, sham,
not what it professes to 1» : of
American origin. Dr. Murray, who,
while slily satirising the bogus deri-
vations circumstantially pivcn, says :
Dr. S. Willard, of Chicago, in a letter
to the editor of this Dictionary, quotes
from the PaineeviUe (Ohio) Telegraph
of July 6 and Nov. 2, 1827, the word
bogus as a subs., applied to an ap-
paratus for coining false money. Mr.
Eber D. Howe, who was then editor of
that paper, describes in his Autobio-
graphy (1878) the discovery of such a
piece of mechanism in the hands oC a
?ang of coinors at Painesyille, in May
827; it was a mysterious-locking
object, and some one in the crowd
58
Bogy.
Bolter.
styled it a bogus, adosignation adopted
in the succeeding numbers of the
paper. Dr. Willard considers this to
have been short for tank abogus, a
word familiar to him from his child-
hood, and which in his father's time
was commonly applied in Vermont to
any ill-looking object ; he points out
that tantrabobs is given in Haiti well
as a Devonshire word for the devil.
[Bogus seenis thus to be related to
bogy, etc.] (1825).
Bogy, Bogey. A landlord :
Fr., Monsieur Vautour (vautour — a,
vulture). Ask Bogy, a reply to a
question (Grose) : modern God knows !
or Bramah knows ! under similar cir-
cumstances. As adj., sombre, dark
in tint : said of a painting exhibiting
these characteristics.
Bohemian. A gipsy of society;
on© who either cuts himself off, or is
by his habits cut off, from society for
which lie is otherwise fitted ; especi-
ally an artist, literary man, or actor,
who leads a free, vagabond, or irre-
gular life, not being particular as to
the society he frequents, and despis-
ing conventionahty generally : used
with considerable latitude, with OL
without reference to morals (O.E.D.}-
Bohn (American College). A trans-
lation, pony (q.v.) : the volumes of
Bonn's Classical Library are in such
general use among under-graduates
in American Colleges, that Bohn has
become a common name for a trans-
lation.
Boil. To betray, peach (1602).
To boil down, to reduce in bulk by con-
densing or epitomising. To boil the
vot, to gam (or supply) one's liveli-
hood. To keep the pot boiling, to keep
going. Tfie blood boils, of strong
emotion, anger, or resentment. To
boil one*$lobster, to enter the army after
having been in the church.
Boiled Shirt (Biled Shirt or
Boiled Rag). A white shirt (1854).
Boiler (Winchester College).
1. A plain coffee-pot used for heating
water : called fourpenny and sixpenny
boilers, not from their price, but
from the quantity of Tmlk they will
hold : TO irtei' boilers were large tin
saucepan-like vessels in. which water
for hot bidets (q.v.) was heated. 2.
See Pot boiler.
Boiler - plated. Imperturbable,
stolid, stoicaL
Boilers (or Brompton Boilers).
1. The Kensington "Museum and
School of Art, in allusion to the
peculiar form of the temporary build-
ings, and the fact of their being -mainly
composed of, and covered with sheet
iron. This has been changed since the
extensive alteiations in the building,
or rather pile of buildings, and the
term boilers is now applied to the
Bethnal Green Museum : cf. Pepper-
boxes. 2. (Royal Military Academy).
Boiled potatoes : Fried potatoes are
called Greasers.
Boiling (or B i 1 1 n g). Whole
botling (or biling), the whole lot, entire
quantity : also whole gridiron (q.v.)
and All the shoot (1835).
Boke. The nose.
Bold. Bold as brass, audaci-
ously forward, presumptuous, without
shame.
Boler (or Bowler). A stiff felt
hat (1861).
B o 1 1 y (Marlborough College).
Padding.
Bolt. The throat (1821). As
verb (at one period slang, now recog-
nised), 1. To escape, leave suddenly :
an instance of a word once orthodox,
subsequently fell into disrepute, but
which, after having for generations
served as a mere slang term, is now
nearly as respectable as when Dryden
wrote: I have reflected on those
who, from time to time, have shot into
the world, some bolting out on the
stage with vast applause, and others
hissed off. 2. The usage in the
United States indicates the right
of the independently minded to
revolt against partisan rule, as He
bolted the party nominations: also
substantively, as He has organised a
bolt. 3. To eat hurriedly without
chewing, swallow whole, gulp down.
To get the bolt, sentenced to penal
servitude. To twrn the corner of Bolt
Street, to run : cf. Queer Street. See
Moon.
Bolter. 1. One who hides
himself in his own house, or some
privileged place, and dares only peep,
but not go out of his retreat (jjyche);
the privileged places referred to were
such as Whitefriars, the Mint, Higher
and Lower Alsatia, etc. 2. One who
bolts; especially applied to horses,
but figuratively to persons in the sense
of one given if throwing off restraint ;
Bolt-in- Tun.
Bone-house.
in American parlance on« who kicks
(q.v.) (1840). 3. One who exoroises
the right of abstention in regard to his
political party.
Bolt-in-Tun. Bolted, run
away (1819). A term founded on the
cant word bolt, and merely a fanciful
variation very common among flash
persons, there being in London a
famous inn so called ; it is customary
when a man has run away from bis
lodgings, broken out of jail, or made
any other sudden movement, to say,
the Bolt -in -tun is concerned, or,
he's gone to the Bolt-in-tun instead
of simply saying, he has bolted, etc.
Boltsprit (Boltspreet, Bowsprit).
The nose : see Conk (1690).
Bolus. An apothecary, a doctor.
Boman. A gallant fellow.
Bombay Ducks. 1. The Bombay
regiments of the East India Company's
army. 2. A well-known delicacy:
the Anglo-Indian relation of the
Digby chick ; alive, it is a fish called
the bummelo ; dead and dried, it
becomes a duck.
Bombo, Bumbo. A nickname
given to various mixtures, but chiefly
to cold punch ; Smollett, in a note in
Roderick Random, speaks of it as A
liquor composed of rum, sugar, water,
and nutmeg (1748).
B o n a. A girl, young woman,
belle : a modern form, in a good sense,
of Bona-roba (q.v.). As adj., good.
Bonanza. A happy hit, stroke
of fortune, success : from the Spanish,
a fail wind, fine weather, prosperous
voyage ; Bonanza was originally the
name of a mine in Nevada, which once,
quite unexpectedly, turned out to be
a big thing, and of enormous value ;
now applied to any lucky hit or suc-
cessful enterprise.
Bona-roba, subs. (old). A wench,
specially a courtesan, a showy wanton.
The term was much in use among the
older dramatists. Ben Jonson speaks
of a bouncing bona-roba ; and Cowley
seems to have considered it as implying
a fine, tall figure. Bona in modern
times is frequently employed to signify
a girl or young woman, without re-
ference to morals (1589).
Bonce. 1. The head (probably a
derivative of sense 2) 2. A large
marble (origin unknown, but soe Alley).
Bond. Our Lady's lands, pregnancy,
confinement.
Bone. 1. A bribe to a Customs
House oiiloer. 2. Something relished
(1884). As adj., good, excellent;
O is the vagabonds' hieroglyphic for
bone, or good, chalked by them on
houses and street corners as a hint to
succeeding beggars. As verb, (1) to
filch, steal, make off with, lake iato
custody (1748) ; (2) to bribe, grease
the palm; (3) to study : see Bohn. To
bone standing, to study hard. The ten
bones, the fingers : as in asseveration,
By these ten bones! To have a bone
in the leg (arm, throat, etc, ), a humorous
reason for declining to do anything, a
feigned obstacle (1542). Hard (or
dry) as a bone, as hard (or dry) as may
be (1833). Bones of me (you, etc.), an
exclamation (1588). To feel a thing
in one's bones, to feel acutely, under-
stand perfectly. A bone to pick, a
difficulty to solve, nut to crack, a
matter of dispute, something dis-
agreeable needing explanation, a
settlement to make. A bone of con-
tention, a source of contention or
discord. To make, bones of, to make
objection to, have scruples of* hesitate.
To find bones in, to be unable to credit,
believe, or swallow. To put a bone
in one's hood, to break one's head. To
carry a bone in the mouth (or teeth), of
a ship when cutting through the water
making foam about her. One end is
pretty sure to be bone, an old-time
saying equivalent to an admission
that All is not gold that glitters ; that
the realization of one's hopes never
comes up to the ideal formed of them.
To be upon the bones, to attack (1C16).
Bone-ache. The lues venerea (1592).
Bone-baster. A staff, cudgel ( 1600).
Bone-box. The mouth : see
Potato-trap (Grose).
Bone- breaker. Fever and ague.
Bone-crusher. A heavy-bore
rifle used for killing big game.
Boned. See Bone, verb, sense 1.
Bone-grubber. 1. One who lives
by collecting bones from heaps of
refuse, selling his spoils at the marine
stores or to bone grinders (I7o0). 2.
A resurrectionist, a violator of graves :
Cobbett was therefore called a bone-*
grubber, because he brought the
remains of Tom Paine from America.
Bone-house. 1. The human
body. 2. A coffin: also a charnel-
house: Americans generally call a
cemetery a bone-yard (1836).
60
Bone Muscle.
Bone Muscle. To practise
gymnastics.
Bone- picker. 1. A footman: FT.,
larbin. 2. A collector of bones, rags,
and other refuse from the streets and
places where rubbish is placed, for the
purpose of sale to marine dealers and
crushers : the same as bone-grubber.
Bone- polisher. The cat - o' - nine-
tails.
Boner (Winchester College). A
sharp blow on the spine.
Bones. 1. Dice, also called St.
Hugh's bones (q.v.) To rattle the
bones, to play at dice (1386). 2.
Pieces of bones held between the fingers
and played Spanish castanet fashion :
generally an accompaniment to banjo
and other negro minstrel music
(1592). 3. A member of a negro
minstrel troupe ; generally applied to
one of the end men who playa the
bones (sense 2) (1851). 4. The bones
of the human body, but more generally
applied to the teeth: Fr., piloches,
ossdots. 5. A surgeon ; generally
sawbones (q.v.). 6. (a) The shares
of Wickens, Pease and Co. ; (5) North
British 4% 1st Preference Shares, the
4% 2nd Preference Stock being nick-
named Bonettas. One end is pretty
sure to be bone: an old-time saying
equivalent to an admission that All is
not gold that glitters ; that the realiza-
tion of one's hopes nevez comes up
to the ideal formed of them. To be
upon the bones, to attack.
Bonesetter. A hard riding
horse, ricketty conveyance : see Bone-
shaker (Grose).
Bone-shake. To ride a bone-
shaker (q.v,).
Bone-shaker. 1. A hard trotting
horse : seo Bone-setter. 2. An ordin-
ary, as distinguished from a safety,
a type of bicycle in use prior to the
introduction of india-rubber tires and
other manifold improvements.
Bonettas. The 4% 2nd North
British 2nd Preference Stock.
Bong. See Boung.
Boniface. The landlord of a tavern
or inn, mine host: from Farquhar's
play of The Beaux' Stratagem (1707).
Boning. Boning adjutant,
aping a military bearing. Boning
muscle (q.v.) going in largely for
gymnastics. Boning demerit, giving no
cause for complaint as regards one's
conduct : all West Point cadet slang.
Bonk. A short, steep hill.
Bonnering. Burning for heresy
(1613) :cf. Boycott, Burke, Maffick, etc.
Bonnet. 1. A gambling cheat,
decoy at auctions ; sometimes called a
bearer up : the bonnet plays as though
he were a member of the general
public, and by his good luck, or by the
force of his example, induces others to
venture theor stakes; bonneting is often
done in much better society than that
to be found in the ordinary gammg-
rooms j a man who persuades another
to buy an article on which he receives
commission or percentage, is said to
bonnet or bear-up for the seller (1812).
2. A pretext, pretence, make believe. 3.
A woman : cf . petticoat. As verb, ( 1 ) to
act as a bonnet, cheat, puff, to bear up
(q.v.) ; (2) to crush a hat over a man's
eyes (1835). To have a green bonnet,
to fail in business. A bee in one"s
bonnet, see Bee. To fill a person's
bonnet, to fill his place, equal him.
To rive the bonnet of, to excel.
Bonnet- buil der. A milliner ( 1 839).
Bonneter. 1. See Bonnet. 2. A
crushing blow on the hat.
Bonnet - laird. A petty proprie-
tor in Scotland : as wearing a bonnet
like humbler folk.
Bonnet-man. A highlander.
Bonnets-so-blue. Irish stew.
Bonny. Looking well, plump.
2. Fine, good, very. To gtve a bonny
for, to pay a long price. A
Bono. Good : from the Latin.
Booby. 1. A stupid fellow, lubber,
clown: see Buffle. 2. A dunce, the last
in a class. To beat the booby, see Beat.
Booby Hutch. A police station.
Booby - trap. An arrangement of
books, wet sponges, vessels of water,
etc., so arranged on the top of a door
set ajar that when the intended victim
enters the room the whole falls on him
(I860).
Boodle. 1. A crowd, com*
pany, the whole boiling (q.v.) : often
caboodle (q.v.). 2. Capital, stock-in-
trade : specially something secret,
peculiar and illegal ; also money used
for bribery, money that comes as spoils,
the result of some secret deal, the profits
of which are silently divided ', the term
is likewise used to cover the booty
of a bank robber, or the absconding
cashier. Amongst the thieving fra-
ternity boodle is ased to denote money
Booctter.
Books.
that is actually spurious or counterfeit,
and not merely money used for nefari-
ous purposes, but which as currency
is genuine enough. 3. Generic for
money : see Rhino. 4. A fool, noodle :
see Buffle. To carry boodle, to utter
base money. Falce - boodle, a roll of
paper over which, after folding, a
dollar bill is pasted, and another bill
being loosely wrapped round this,
it looks as if the whole roll is
made up of a large sum of money in
bills.
B o o d 1 e r. 1. One who bribes
or corrupts. 2. A man uttering base
money : swindlers of this type gener-
ally hunt in couples ; one carrying the
bulk of the counterfeit money, and
receiving the good change as obtained
by his companion, who utters the
boodle piece by piece; the game is
generally worked so that at the slightest
alarm the boodle carrier vanishes and
leaves nothing to incriminate his con-
federate.
B o o g e t. A travelling tinker's
basket (Harman) (1567).
Book. 1. In betting (more
especially in connection with horse-
racing), an arrangement of bets made
against certain horses, and so cal-
culated that the bookmaker (q.v.) has
a strong chance of winning something
whatever the result (1836). By tlie
book, formally, in set phraso. In a
person's good (or bad} books, in favour
(or disfavour). Out of one's book,
mistaken, out of one's reckoning.
Without one's book (1) unauthorised,
(2) by rote. To drive to book, to
compel to give evidence on oath.
To bring to book, to bring to account.
To speak like a book, to speak with
authority. To talk like a book, to
speak in set terms, as a precisian. To
take a leaf out of a person's book, to
take example by him 2, The first six
tricks at whist. 3. The copy of words
to which music is set, the words of a
play : formerly only applied to the
libretto of an opera (17G8). To know
one's book, to have made up one's mind,
to know what is best for one's interest.
To suit one's book, to suit one's arrange-
ments, fancy, or wish.
Book Answerer. A critic (17CO).
Booked. Caught, fixed, disposed
of, destined, etc. (1840).
Book-form. The relative powers
of speed (or endurance) of race-horses
62
as set down in the Racing Calendar or
book.
Bookie (or Booky). A book-
maker (q.v.).
Bookmaker. A professional
betting-man. The English Encyclo-
pcedia says : — In betting there are two
parties — one called layers, as the
bookmakers are termed, and the other
backers, in which class may be in-
cluded owners of horses as well as the
public. The backer takes the odds
which the bookmaker lays against a
horse, the former speculating upon
the success of the animal, the latter
upon its defeat ; and taking the case
of Cremorue for the Derby of 1872,
just before the race, the bookmaker
would have laid 3 to 1, or perhaps
£1000 to £300 against him, by which
transaction, if the horse won, as he did,
the backer would win £1000 for risking
£300, and the bookmaker lose the
£1000 which he risked to win the
smaller sum. At first sight this may
appear an act of very questionable
pohcy on the part of the bookmaker ;
but really it is not so, because so far
from running a greater risk than the
backer, he runs less, inasmuch as it is
his plan to lay the same amount (£1000)
against every horse in the race, and as
there can be but one winner, he would
in all probability receive more than
enough inonoy from the many losers
to pay the stated sum of £1000 which
the chances are he has laid against the
one winner, whichever it is ( 1862).
Bookmaker's Pocket. A breast-
pocket made insido the waistcoat, for
notes of large amount (Jlotten).
Books. 1. A pack of cards ;
used mainly by professional card-
players : also called devil's books,
book of broads, book of briefs : Fr.,
juge de paix, cartouchiere a portccs (a
prepared pack used by sharpers)
(1706). 2. (Winchester College), (a)
The prizes formerly presented by Lord
Say and Selo, now given by the govern-
ing body, to the Senior in each
division at the end of Half. (6)
The school is thus divided: — Sixth
Book — Senior and Junior Division ;
the whole of the rest of the School is
iu Fifth Book— Senior Part, Middle
Part, Junior Part, each part being
divided into so many divisions, Senior,
Middle, and Junior, or Senior, 2nd,
3rd, and Junior, as the case may require.
Bookwork.
Boots.
Formerly, there was also Fourth
Book, but it ceased to exist about
twenty -five years ago (J840). (c)
Up at books, in class, repeating lessons :
now called Up to books, (d) Books
chambers, on Remedies (a kind of
whole holiday), we also went into School
in the morning and atternoon for an
hour or two without masters ; this was
called books chambers ; and on Sun-
days, from four till a quarter to five.
(Mansfield), (e) To get or make books,
to make the highest score at anything.
Bookwork. Mathematics that
can be learned verbatim from books
— all that are not problems.
Bookwright. An author.
Boom. This word is a compara-
tively recent production in its slang
sense ; and is used in a variety of com-
binations ; as, The whole State is
booming for Smith, or The boys have
whooped up the State to boom for
Smith, or The State boom is ahead in
this State, etc., etc. Stocks and money
are said to be booming when active ;
and any particular spot within a
flourishing district is regarded as within
the boom -belt. A successful team
or party is said to be a booming squad,
and we even read of boomlets to ex-
press progress of a lesser degree. As
subs, commercial activity, rapid ad-
vance in prices, flourishing state of
affairs — synonymous with extreme
vigour and effectiveness (1875). As
verb, to make rapid and vigorous
progress, advance by leaps and bounds,
push, puff, bring into prominence with
a rush (1874). To top one's boom off,
to be off (or to start) in a certain direc-
tion.
Boomer. 1. One who booms or
causes an enterprise to become flourish-
ing, active or notorious. 2. Anybody
(or anything) considerably above the
average : a bouncing lie, a fine woman,
a horse with extra good points, etc., etc.
Boomerang. Acts or words,
the results of which recoil upon the
person from whom they originate : the
boomerang is properly an Australian
missile weapon which, when thrown,
can be made to return to the thrower ;
or which, likewise, can bo caused to
take an opposite direction to that in
which it is first thrown (1845).
Booming. Flourishing, active,
in good form, large, astonishing.
Boom-passenger. A convict
on board ship : prisoners on board
convict ships were chained to, or were
made to crawl along or stand on the
booms for, exercise or punishment
(Holten).
Boon - companion. A comrade
in a drinking bout, a good fellow
(1566).
Boon - companionship. Jollity,
conviviality (1592).
Boong. See Bung.
Boorde. See Bord.
Boost. A hoisting, shove, lift,
push up — a New England vulgar-
ism (1858). As verb, to hoist, lift up,
shove.
Boosy. See Boozy.
Boot. To beat, punish with a
strap : the punishment is irregular and
unconventional, being inflicted by
soldiers on a comrade discovered
guilty of some serious breach of the un-
written law of comradeship, such as
theft, etc. : formerly inflicted with a
bootjack — hence the name. To make
one boot serve for either teg, to speak
with double meaning. The boot is on
the other leg, the case is altered, re-
sponsibility is shifted. To have one's
heart in one's boots, to be in extreme
fear. Over shoes, over boots, reck-
less continuance of a course begun,
in for a lamb — in for a sheep. Like old
boots, vigorously, thorough-going. To
die in one's boots, to he hanged.
Boot- catcher. A servant whose
duty it was to remove a person's
boots.
Booth. A house. To heave a
booth, to rob a house.
Booth-burster. A loud and
noisy actor, barn-stormer (q.v.).
Booting. A punishment ad-
ministered with a strap.
Boot- Joe. Musketry drill
Bootlick. A flunkey, hanger-
on, doer of dirty work, toady. As
verb, to toady, haxig on, undertake
dirty work.
Boots. 1. The servant at hotels
and places of a kindred character who
cleans the boots of visitors : formerly
called boot - catchers (q.v.), because
in the old riding and coaching days
part of their duty was to divest travel-
lers of their footgear. 2. The youngest
officer in a regimental mess. 3. In
humorous (or sarcastic) combination :
e.g. Clumsy-boote, Lazy-boots, Sly-
boots, Smooth-boots, etc.
Boots Mid Leathers.
Boots and Leathers. See Com-
moner Peal.
Booty. Plunder, spoils, swag (q.v.).
To <play booty, to play falsely, dis-
honestly ; or unfairly ; this with the
object of not winning, a previous ar-
rangement having been made with a
confederate to share the spoils result-
ing from the bogus play : sometimes it
takes the form of permitting the
victim to win small stakes in order
to encourage him to hazard larger
sums which, naturally, he is not
allowed to win (1575). Booty -fellow,
a sharer in plunder, illicit - gains,
etc.
Booze. 1. Drink, a draught :
the older forms are bouse or bouze
(q,v.), but booze in its present form
appears as early as 1714. 2. A drink-
ing bout, tipsy frolic. As verb, to
drink heavily, tipple, guzzle : an old
term employed in some sense of to
drink, as early as 1300. Boozed,
drunk, fuddled. Boozy, drunken,
screwed (q.v.). Boozing, the act of
drinking hard. Boozer, a drunkard,
a tippler.
Boozing Cheat. A bottle.
Boozing -ken. A drinking den:
Fr., bt&tne : see Lush crib (1567).
Boozington. A drunkard,
Lushington (q.v.).
Borachio. A drunkard : see
Lushington : properly a skin for hold-
ing wine (1599).
B o r a k. To poke borak, to pour
fictitious news into credulous oars,
stuff, kid.
B o r d, Borde, Boorde. A
sMUing : see Rhino (1567).
Bordeaux. Blood : cf. Claret and
Badminton. Bordeaux hammer, a
vinous headache.
Bord You ! An expression used
to claim the next turn in drinking.
Bore (old slang, but now recog-
nised). Anybody (or anything) weari-
some or annoying. As verb, (I) to
weary or to be wearied : the wor l does
not appear in English literature prior
to 1750 ,* (2) push (or thrust) out of the
course : amongst pugilists it signifies
to drive an opponent on to the ropes
of the ring by sheer weight, whilst
amongst rowing men it denotes the
action of a coxswain in so steering a
boat as to force his opponent into
the shore, or into still water, thus
obtaining an unfair advantage; also
analogously applied to horse - racing
(1672).
Bom. AU one's 'born days, one's
lifetime (1740). Born weak, said of
a vessel feebly built.
Bosh. Nonsense, rubbish, stuff,
rot — anything beneath contempt :
Murray says from the Turkish bosh
lakerdi, empty talk ; the word became
current in England from its frequent
occurrence in Mower's Persian novel,
Ayesha [1834], an extremely popu-
lar production. As verb, to hum-
hug, spoil, mar. As intj., nonsense !
Cubbish ! It's all my eye !
Bosh Faker. A violin player.
Boshing. A flogging, bashing.
Boshy. Trumpery, nonsensical.
Bos-ken. A farmhouse : an old
canting term.
Boskiness. The quality of being
fuddled with drink (or bemused), a
state of drunkenness.
Bosky. Drunk, tipsy, fuddled:
see Screwed (1748).
Bosnian. A farmer.
Bosom-bird. An intimate friend.
Bosom-mischief. The root
of offending.
Bosom-piece. A bosom friend :
especially of a woman.
Bosom -sermon. One learnt by
heart.
Bosom-slave. A mistress.
Boss. 1 A master, head man,
one who directs : from the Dutch baas,
a master. 2. A short-sighted person ;
also one who squints : also Bosser : cf.
Boss-eyed. 3. A miss, blunder. As
adj., pleasant, first rate, chief. As
verb, (1 ) to manage, direct, control ; (2)
to miss one's aim, make such a shot as
a boss-eyed (q.v.) person would be ex-
pected to make. Boss-shot, a shot that
fails of its mark.
Bossers. Spectacles.
Boss-eyed. Said of a person with
one eye (or rather with one eye in-
jured), a person with obliquity of
vision, squinny-eyed (q.v.), swivel-
eyed (q.v.).
Bostruchyzer (Oxford University).
A small kind of comb for curling
the whiskers (Hoften).
Bot, Bott, Botts. The colic,
belly-ache, gripes (1787).
Botanical Excursion. Transporta-
tion : the allusion is to Bot« ny Bay (q.v.)
Botany Bay ( University),
1. At Oxford, Worcester College : on
Botany Bay Feo&r>
account ol its remote situation as re-
gards other collegiate buildings. 2.
A certain portion of Trinity College,
Dublin : for a similar reason. 3.
Penal servitude : formerly convicts
[1787-1867] were transported to Bot-
any Bay, a convict settlement at the
Antipodes. Hence to go to Botany
Bay, to get a long term of imprison-
ment.
Botany Bay Fever. Trans-
portation, penal servitude.
Botch. A tailor.
Bottle. To Inrn out no bottle,
not to turn out well, to fail. To pass
the bottle of smoke, to countenance a
conventional tie, to cant. To look for a
needle in a bottle of hay, to engage in a
hopeless search : also, needle in a hay-
stack. To bottle up, to restrain temper
(or) feelings, to hold (or keep) back
(1622).
Bottle - ache. Drunkenness : see
Gallon distemper.
Bottle - arsed. Type thicker at
one end than the other — a result of
wear and tear.
Bottle-head. A fool : see Buffle.
Bottle-holder. 1. A second at
a prize-fight. 2. One who gives moral
support, backer, adviser : in the Tvmes
of 1851, Lord Palmerston was reported
to consider himself the bottle-holder of
oppressed states : and in Punch of the
same year, a cartoon appeared repre-
senting that statesman as the judi-
cious bottle-holder (1753).
Bottle - holding. Backing, sup-
porting.
Bottle of Brandy in a Glass.
A long drinfe, of beer.
Bottle of Spruce. Twopence,
deuce (q.v.).
Bottles. Barrett's Brewery and
Bottling Co. Shaios.
Bottle - sucker. An able - bodied
seaman, the abbreviation is A.B.S.
Bottom. 1. The posteriors :
not now in polite or literary use (1794).
2. Capital, resources, stamina, grit
( 1 062). 3. S pi rit placed in a glass prior
to the addition of water. To knock the
bottom out of one, to overcome, defeat.
To stand on one's own bottom, to act
for oneself, to be independent.
Bottom Dollar. The last dollar.
To bet one's bottom dollar, to risk all.
Bottom Facts. The exact
truth about any matter. To get to the
bottom facts concerning a subject, to
arrive at an unquestionable conclusion
concerning it, to get to the root of the
question : also Bottom-rock.
B o 1 1 y. An inf ant's posteriors,
Fr., tu tu. As adj., conceited, swag-
gering: FT., faire sa merde, faire son
matador.
Bough. The gallows: see Tree
(1590).
Boughs. Up in the boughs, hi a
passion (Grose).
Bounce. 1. Brag, swagger, boast-
ful falsehood, exaggeration (1714).
2. Impudence, cheek, brass (q.v.). 3.
A boaster, swaggerer, showy swindler,
bully (1812). As verb, (1) to boast,
bluster, hector, bully, blow up (1633) ;
(2) to lie, to cheat, swindle ( 1 762). On
the bounce, in a state of spasmodic
movement, general liveliness. To get
the grand bounce, to be dismissed: spec,
in reference to government appoint-
ments.
Bounceable. Prone to bounc-
ing or boasting, uppish, bump-
tious (1830).
Bouncer. 1. A bully, hector,
blusterer, one who talks swagger-
ingly (1748). 2. A thief who steals
goods from shop counters while bar-
gaining with the tradesman: Fr.,
degringoleur, and (the practice itself)
ddgnngoler U la carre. 3. A lie, a
Jiar (1762). 4. Anything large of its
kind, whopper, thumper, corker
(1596). 5. Chucker-out (q.v.). 6. A
prostitute's bully. 7. A gun that
kicks when fired.
Bouncing. Vigorous, lusty, ex-
aggerated, excessive, big (1563).
Bouncing Cheat. A bottle.
Bounder. 1. A four-wheeled
cab, growler (q.v.). 2. A student
whose manners are not acceptable,
one whose companionship is not cared
for. 3. A dog -cart. 4. A vulgar,
though well-dressed man, a superior
kind of 'Arry, one whose dress and
personal appearance are correct, but
whose manners are of a questionable
character. The term is very often
used in connection with bally (q.v.).
Boung. See Bung.
Boung Nipper. See Bung-nipper.
Bounty-jumper. A man who,
receiving a bounty when enlisting,
deserts, re-enlists, and receives a
second bounty. The War of the
"Rebellion is responsible for this, as
for many other colloquialisms ; as
65
Bounty- jumping.
Box.
the conflict lengthened out, men be-
came in great request, and large
bounties were offered by the North
for volunteers. This bounty was
found to be a direct incitement to bad
faith and unfair dealing. Men would
enlist, receive their bounty, join their
regiment, and then decamp, to re-
appear in another State, to go through
the same performance, in some cases
many times over.
Bounty - jumping. Obtaining a
bounty by enlisting and then deserting.
Bourbon. 1. In American
politics a Democrat of the straitest
sect ; a fire-eater : applied, for the
most part, to the Southern Democrats
of the old school — uncompromising
adherents of political tradition — be-
hind the age, and unteachable. 2.
A superior kind of whisky : originally
that manufactured in Bourbon, Ken-
tucky.
Bouse, Bowse, Booze. 1. Drink
or liquor of any kind (1567). 2. A
drinking bout, carouse. As verb, to
drink to excess, tipple, swill : both
this and the substantive seem to have
been known as early as 1300, but
neither came into general use until the
sixteenth century, from which period
both forms have become more and
more colloquial : see Lush. Hence,
bouser, a toper ; bowing, hard drink-
ing; and bousy, intoxicated or
screwed. To bouse the jib, to tipple,
drink heavily : a different word — from
bouse, to haul with tackle, i.e. to make
oneself tight : see Screwed.
Bousing Ken. A tavern, inn,
drinking den: now applied to a low
public house : see Lush crib (1567).
Bouzy. See Boozy.
Bow. Two (or many) strings to
one's bow, an alternative, more re-
sources than one (1562). To draw
the long bow, to exaggerate, gas,
talk up (1819). To draw the bow
uy> to the ear., to do a thing with alac-
rity, put on full steam, exert oneself
to the utmost. The bent of one's bow,
one's intention, inclination, disposi-
tion. To shoot in another's bow, to
undertake another's work, practise an
art or profession other than one's own.
By the string rather than the bow, m a
direct fashion, by the straightest way
to an end. To bend (or bring) to one's
bow, to control, compel to one's will
or inclination. To come to one's bow,
66
to be complaisant, become com-
pliant.
B o w-c a t c h e r. A lass-curl : see
Aggerav/ator : a corruption of beau-
catcher.
Bowdlerize. To expurgate by
removing words or phrases considered
offensive or questionable from a book
or writing : from Dr. T. Bowdler's
method in editing an edition of Shakes-
peare, in which, to use his own words,
Those . . . expressions are omitted
which cannot with propriety be read
aloud in a family (1836).
Bower. A prison: see Cage.
Bowery Boy, Bowery Girl. The
'Arry and ' Arriet of New York of some
years ago : the Bowery was the farm of
Governor Stuyvesant.
Bowlas. Round tarts made of
sugar, apple, and bread (Mayhew).
Bowled. Croppled (q.v.).
Bowler. See Boler.
Bowles. Shoes : see Trotter-
Bowl Out. To overcome, get the
better of, defeat (1812).
Bowl - the - hoop, subs, (rhyming
slang). Soup.
Bowman. AlPs Bowman, All's
well!
Bowse. See Booze.
Bowsing Ken. See Bousing ken.
Bowsprit. The nose. To have
one's bowsprit in parenthesis, to have it
pulled : cf. To have one's head in
Coventry.
Bow-window. A big belly, cor-
poration (q.v.). Bow-windowed, big-
bellied (1840).
Bow-wow. 1. A childish name for
a dog (1800). 2. A Bostonian :
in contempt. 3. A cavalier, lover, spec,
a petticoat-dangler : cf. Tame-cat.
Bow-wow Mutton. Dog's flesh.
Bow-wow-word. A term applied
sarcastically by Max Miillerto words
claimed as imitations of natural sounds.
B o w y e r. One who draws a
long bow, a dealer in the marvellous,
a toller of improbable stories, a liar*
Box. A prison cell. As verb
(Westminster School), to take posses-
sion of, bag. To be in a box* to be
cornered, in a, fix, stuck (or hung)
up. To be in the wrong box, to be out
of one's element, in a false position,
mistaken (1555). On the box, a man
when on strike and in receipt of strike
pay is said to be on the box. To boz
Box Hoi.
Brain-crack.
f/arri/ (1) to take dinner and tea
together ; (2) to dine out, i.e. to do
without a meal at all. To box the
compass, to repeat in succession, or
irregularly, the thirty-two points of
the compass; beginners, on accom-
plishing this feat, are said to be able
to box the compass (1731).
Box Hat. A silk hat : see Cady.
Bex-irons. Shoes : see Trotter-
cases (1789).
Box of Dominoes. The mouth.
[From box 4- dominoes (q.v.), a slang
term for the teeth.] For synonyms,
see Potato-trap.
Boy. 1. Champagne, fiz, Cham
(q.v.) : Fr., champ. [A story, ben
trovato, is told by the Sporting Times
of June 30, 1882, as regards the origin
of the phrase : — At a shooting party
in Norfolk once, a youth was told off
to supply the company with cham-
pagne. The day being hot and the
sportsmen thirsty, cries of Boy !
Boy ! Boy ! were heard all day long.
This tickling the fancy of the royal and
noble party, the term boy became
applied to champagne.] 2. A hump
on a man's back: it is common to speak
of a humpbacked man as two persons
— him and his boy. 3. (Anglo-
Indian and colonial). A servant of
whatever age. Old boy (1) a familiar
term of address : spec, a father, the
guv'nor, the boss; (2)Thedevil. Yellow
boy, a guinea ; also, one pound sterling :
see Rhino. Angry (or roaring boys),
a set of young bucks, bloods, or blades
(q.v.), of noisy manners and fire-
eating tastes: Nares says, like tho
Mohawks (q.v.) described by the
Spectator, they delighted to commit
outrages and get into quarrels ; early
mention is made of such characters ;
Wilson, in his Life of James I. (1653),
gives an account of their origin : —
The king minding his sports, many
riotous demeanours crept into the
kingdom ; divers sects of vicious
persons, going under the title of roar-
ing boys, bravadoes, roysterers, etc.,
commit many insolencies ; the streets
swarm, night and day, with bloody
quarrels, private duels fomented, etc.
(1599). Boys of the holy ground, for-
merly [1800-25] bands of roughs in-
festing a well - known region in St.
Giles: see Holy-land.
Boycott. To combine in refusing
to hold relations of any kind, social or
commercial, public or private, with a
person, on account of political or other
differences, so as to punish or coerce
him. The word arose in the autumn
of 1880— Capt. Boycott, an Irish land-
lord, was the original victim — to de-
scribe the action instituted by the Irish
LandLeague toward those who incurred
its hostility. It was speedily adopted
into every European language (O.E.D.)
Brace. To get credit by swagger.
To brace it through, to succeed by dint
of sheer impudence.
Bracelets. Handcuffs ; fetters
for the wrist: Fr., alliances (properly
wedding rings), also tartonve and
lacets : see Darbies (1661).
Brace of Shakes. A moment,
jiffy, twinkling of an eye, etc. :
see Shakes.
Brace Up. 1. To pawn stolen goods
to their utmost value. 2. To take a
drink.
Bracket-faced. Ugly, hard-
featured (Grose).
Bracket-mug. An ugly face.
Brads. Generic for money : see
Rhino (1812). To tip the, brads, to
pay, shell out.
Brag. A usurer, Jew.
Braggadocia. Three months' im-
prisonment as a reputed thief.
Brain. Cuteness, cleverness, nous
(q.v.). Hence brainy, smart, clever,
up-to-date. Phrases : To beat (break,
busy, cudgel, drag, or puzzle) one's
brains, to exert oneself to thought or
contrivance. To crack one's brains,
to become crazy. On the brain, crazy
about (a matter). To turn one's
brain, to bewilder, flummox. A dry
bra^nf silly, stupid, barren brain. A
hot brain an inventive fancy. Soiled
brains, a hot-headed person. To bear
a brain, to be cautious. To suck (or
pick) a person's brains, to get and ap-
propriate information. Of the same
brain, identical in conception or
doing.
Brain-pan (or Box.) 1. The skull,
or skull-cap : also Brain-canister ; the
Scotch equivalent is Hani -pan 2-
The head (1520).
Brain - trick. A cunning devlc .
Brain -worm. A wriggling dis-
putant (1645).
Brain - brat. A creature of the
fancy (1630),
Brain-crack. A craze, crotchet,
bee (1851).
67
Brain-worm.
Break.
Brain - worm. A wriggling dis-
putant (1045).
Bramble. A lawyer; a tangle of
the law.
Bramble-gel der. An agricul-
turist: a Suffolk term.
Bran. A loaf.
Branded Ticket. A discharge given
to an infamous man, on which his
character is given, and the reason he
is turned out of the service (Smyth).
Brandy. Brandy *s Latin for goose
(or for fish), this punning vulgarism
appears first in Swift's Pohte Conversa-
tion ; the pun is on the word answer.
Anser is the Latin for goose, which
brandy follows as surely and quickly
as an answer follows a question.
Brandy Face. A tippler, drunkard :
spec, one whose favourite dnnk is
brandy: see Lushington (1687).
Brandy-faced. Red-faced, bloated.
Brandy Pawnee. Brandyand
water (1816).
Brandy Smash. An American
drink of brandy and crushed ice.
Bran-mash. Bread sopped in coffee
or tea.
Brass. 1. Impudence, effrontery,
unblushing hardness, shamelessness,
etc. (1594). 2. Generic for money:
see Khino (1526).
Brass -basin. A barber, surgeon-
barber (1599).
Brass-face. An impudent person.
Brass-bound and Copper Fast-
ened. Said of a lad dressed in a
midshipman's uniform (W. Glarlc
Russell).
Brass-bounder. A midshipman.
Brasser (Christ's Hospital). A
bully.
Brass Farthing (or Farde). The
lowest limit of value (1642).
Brass Knocker. Broken victuals,
the remains of a meal : specially ap-
plied by beggars to the scraps often
bestowed upon them in place of money.
Brass-plate Merchant. A dealer
who merely procures orders for coal,
gets some merchant who buys in the
market to execute them in his name,
and manages to make a living by the
profits of these transactions ( M ayhew).
Brassy. Impudent, impertinent,
shameless (1570).
Brat LA child : almost invari-
ably hi contempt (1505). 2. A rag,
shabby clothes, or other articles that
are mere rags.
Brattery. A nursery (1788).
Bratful. Au apronful.
Brazen-faced. Shameless, impud-
ent, unblushing, with a face as of brass,
or as if rubbed with a brass candlestick
(1571).
Bread. Employment. Out of
bread, out of work. Phrases : To know
on which side one's bread is buttered,
to recognise one's interests. To
take the bread out of one's mouth, to
deprive of the means of livelihood.
Bread buttered on both sides, the height
of good fortune, the best of luck. No
bread and butter of mine, no concern
(or business) of mine (1764).
Bread-artist One working merely
to gain a living : of. Potboiler.
Bread and Butter Warehouse,
phr. (old). Ranelagh Gardens.
Bread-and-cheese. Plain living,
needful food.
Bread and Meat. The commis-
sariat.
Bread Bags. A nickname givec
in the army and navy to any one con-
nected with the victualling depart-
ment, as a purser or purveyor in the
commissariat: at one time called
muckers : Fr., riz-'pain-sel.
Bread-barge. The distributing
basket or tray containing the rations
of biscuits.
Bread-basket. The stomach. Eng-
lish synonyms: bread -room, dumpling-
depot, victualling-office, porridge-bowl
(1735).
Bread-picker(Winchester Col-
lege). The four senior prefects used
to appoint juniors to this office,
which was nominal, but which carried
with it exemption from fagging at
meal times. No notion book states
in what the office consisted, but it is
supposed that it relates to times when
juniors had to secure the bread, etc.,
served out for then? masters.
Bread-room, The stomach., bread-
basket (1760) (q.v.).
Bread -room Jack. A purser's
servant.
Break. 1. A collection (of money)
usually got up by a prisoner's friends,
either to defray the expenses of his de-
fence, or as a uf t when leaving prison,
2. Formerly and more generally ap-
plied to a pause in street performances
to enable the hat to be passed round:
ciLead. To break one's back, to become
bankrupt ( 1 001 ). To break one* 9 egg :
Break-down.
Bridge,
seeCrackone'segg. Tobreak out all over
(or in a fresh spot), expressions in com-
mon use — in the one case conveying
an idea of completeness ; and, in the
other, of commencing some new under-
taking, or assuming a different posi-
tion whether in an argument or action.
To break shins, to borrow money.
To break the balls, to commence play-
ing. To break the molasses jug, to come
to grief, to make a mistake. To break
the neck or back of anything, to ac-
complish the major portion of a task,
be near the end of an undertaking, be
past the middle of same. To break a
straw with, to fall out with. To break
a lance with, to enter into competition
with. To break Priscian's head, to
violate the laws of grammar. To
break the neck of a thing (or matter), to
get through the serious part of it.
To break tfie ice, to commence, prepare
the way. To break no squares, to do
no harm.
Break- down. 1 . A measure of li quor.
2. A noisy dance, a convivial gather-
ing : the term was, at first, specially
applied to a negro dance, but is now
in general use in England in a humor-
ous sense. To break down, to dance
riotously, be boisterous, spreeish.
Break-o'-day Drum. A drinking
saloon which keeps its doors open all
night.
Breaky-leg. 1. Intoxicating
drink : see Drinks. 2. A shilling.
Breast Fleet, Roman Catholics;
from their practice of crossing them-
selves on the breast as an act of devo-
tion (Grose).
Breath. Change your breath, an
injunction to adopt a different manner
or bearing. An offensive, slang ex-
pression which, originating in Cali-
fornia, quickly ran its course through
the Union.
Breath-bubble. An empty thing,
trifle (1835).
Breath-seller. 1. A perfumer
(1601). 2. A paid speaker.
Breech. To nog: formerly in
literary use, but now fallen into des-
uetude (1557).
Breeched. Well off, with plenty of
money ; weU breeched, in good circum-
stances : cf. Ballasted. Fr.» deculotte
( —bankrupt, i.e. unbreeched).
Breeches. Ironically applied to the
Commonwealth coinage; aug ' *
by the arrangement of two
on the reverse side of the coin. To
wear the breeches, to usurp a husband's
prerogative, be master (1450): cf.
the grey mare is the better horse of
the two.
Breeching. A flogging (q.v.),
formerly in general use (1520).
Breef. See Brief.
Breeze. A row, quarrel, disturb-
ance, coolness (Grose).
Brekker. Breakfast.
Brevet Hell. A battle : the term
originated during the American Civil
War.
Brevet- wife. A woman who takes
a man's name, and enjoys all the
privileges of a wife.
Brew (Marlborough School). To
make afternoon tea.
Brewer's Horse. A drunkard : see
Lushmgton.
Brian o' Linn. Gin : see Drinks.
Briar, Brier. A brier-wood pipe.
Brick. A good fellow; one whose
staunchness and loyalty commend him
to his follows : said to be of University
origin, the simile being drawn from
the classics (1835). As verb, to pun-
ish a man by bringing the knees close
up to the chin, and lashing tb.o arms
tightly to the knees — a species of
trussing. Like a brick (like bricks, or
like a thousand of bricks), with energy,
alacrity, thoroughly, vehemently and
with much display. Brick in the hat,
top-heavy, inability to preserve a
steady gait: of drunken men.
Brick- duster. See Brick-fielder.
Brickdusts. The Fifty-third
Regiment of Foot, now The King's
(Shropshire Light Infantry), from its
facings.
Bnckfielder (or Brickduster). In
Sydney the name given to a dusi or
sand storm brought by southerly
winds from sand hills locally known
as the Brickfields — hence the name :
also the Buster or Southerly Burster.
Bricklayer. A clergyman.
Bricklayer's Clerk. A lubberly
sailor.
Bricks (Wellington College). A
sort of pudding.
B r i c k W a 1 1. To run one's head
against a brick wall, to pursue a course
obstinately to certain disaster, ruin,
or death.
Bridge, A cheating trick at
cards, by which any particular card
is cut by previously curving it by the
Broiled Crow.
pressure of the hand: Fr., le pont sec.
To throw a person over the bridge, bo
deceive him by betraying the con-
fidence he has reposed in you. Beside
the bridge, off the track, astray. A
gold (or silver) bridge, an easy way of
escape.
Bridle-cull. A highwayman ( 1754).
Bridport (or Brydport) Dagger.
The hangman's rope. To be stabbed
with a Bridport dagger, to be hanged
(1662).
Brief. 1. A ticket of any kind —
railway pass, pawnbroker's duplicate,
raffle ticket. 2. A pocket book. Hence
briefless, ticketless.
Briefs (or Breefs). Prepared cards
(1529). [Take a pack of cards and open
them, then take out all the honours
. . . and out a little from the edges of
the rest all alike, so as to make the
honours broader than the rest, so that
when your adversary cuts to you, you
are certain of an honour. When you
cut to your adversary cut at the ends,
and then it is a chance if you cut Mm
an honour, because the cards at the
ends are all of a length. Thus you
may make breefs end-ways as well as
side-ways] (Sotten).
Brief -snatcher. A pocket-book
thief (q.v.).
Brier (or Briar). In pi. difficulty,
trouble, vexation. In the briars, in
trouble (1509).
Brigh. A pocket, cly, skyrocket.
Bright Bright in the eye, tipsy :
see Screwed.
Brighton Tipper. A particular
brew of ale.
Brim. A prostitute : i.e. Brim-
stone (q.v.) (1730). 2. An angry,
violent woman, or a termagant, with-
out reference to moral character.
Brimstone. 1. A violent tempered
woman, virago, spitfire (1712). 2. A
prostitute.
Briney (or Briny). The sea ( 1856).
English synonyms, herring pond, big
pond, big drink, the puddle, Davy's
looker.
Bring. To bring down the house,
to elicit loud applause ; and, figur-
atively, to be successful (1754).
Brisket- beater. A Roman Catholic :
cf. Breast-fleet, and Craw-thumper
(Grose).
Bristle. To set up one's bristles,
to show temper.
Bristle Dice or Bristles, subs.
A method of cogging dice by inserting
bristles into them, and thus influencing
the position of the cubes when thrown
(1562).
B r i s t ol Milk. Sherry : formerly
a large import of the city of Bristol :
see Drinks (1644).
Broach. To broach daret, to
draw blood.
Broad. Knowing, cute, smart :
cf . Wide. Phrases : In the broad or the
long, in one way or another. It's as
broad as it's long, there's no difference,
there's not a pin to choose between
them.
Broad and Shallow. An
epithet applied to the Broad Church
party, in contradistinction __to the
High and Low Churches : see High
and dry.
Broadbpttoms. A nickname of
two Coalition Governments, one in the
last century [1741], and the other in
1807.
Broadbrim. A Quaker : the origin
of this expression is to be found in the
hat once peculiar to the Society of
Friends (1712).
Broad - cooper. A person em-
ployed by brewers to negotiate with
Broad Cove. A card - sharper :
Fr., bremeur (1821).
Broad-faking. Playing at
cards : spco. work of the three card
and kindred descriptions.
Broad-fencer. A k'rect card vendor.
Broads. Playing cards (1789).
Broadsman. A card-sharper.
Broady 1. Cloth: a corruption
of broadcloth (1851). 2. Anything
worth stealing.
Broady Worker. A man who goes
round selling shoddy stuff under the
pretence that it is excellent material,
which has been got on the cross, i.e.
stolon.
Brock (Winchester College). To
bully, tease, badger.
Brockster (Winchester College). A
bully.
Brogues (Christ's Hospital).
Breeches : in reality an obsolete old
English term which has survived
among the Blues.
Broiled (or Boiled) Crow, To eat
botlcd crow, a newspaper editor, who is
obliged by his party, or other outside
influences, to advoi-ate principles dif-
ferent from those which he supported
70
Broke.
Bruise.
& short time before, is said to eat
boiled crow.
Broke. Dead broke (or stone
broke), ruined, decayed, hard up — of
health or pecuniary circumstances :
Fr., pas un radis.
Broken Feather in One's Wing.
A blot on one's character.
Broken-kneed (or legged).
Seduced.
Brolly. An umbrella : first used
at Winchester and subsequently
adopted at both Oxford and Cam-
bridge Universities.
Broncho. Unruly, wild, savage :
from the name of the native horse of
California, a somewhat tricky and un-
certain quadruped ; familiarly applied
to horses that buck and show other
signs of vice : the Spanish signification
of the word is rough and crabbed little
beast, and in truth he deserves this
name.
Broncho- buster. A breaker-in of
bronchos, a flash-rider.
Bronze John. A Texas name for
yellow fever ; commonly called Yel-
low Jack (q.v.).
Broom, subs. (old). A warrant
( 1815). As verb, to run away : see Bunk.
Broomstick. A sort of rough
cricket bat, very narrow in the blade :
all of one piece of wood. To jump
the broottistick (hop the broom, jump
tlie besom), to go through a quasi
marriage ceremony by jumping over
a broomstick (1774).
Broomsticks, Worthless bail,
straw-bail (1812).
Brosier (or Brozier) (Eton Col-
lege). A boy when he had spent all
his pockot money : brozier is Cheshire
for bankrupt. J3roz^crc,d, cleaned out,
done up, ruined, bankrupt (1796).
Brozier -my -dame (Eton College), eat-
ing one out of house and homo : when
a dame (q.v.) keeps an unusually bad
table, the boys agree together on a
day to eat, pocket, or waste every-
thing eatable in the house. The
censure is well understood, and the
hint is generally effective (1850).
Broth. Breath. To make, white
broth of, to boil to death. A broth of
a boy, a downright good fellow.
Brother- blade. A eoldior: see
Mudcrusher (Grwte).
Brother Chip, One of tho same
calling or trade : formerly a fellow-
carponlor (1820).
Brother of the Brush. An artist, a
house-painter (1687).
Brother of the Bung. A brewer ;
one of the same trade.
Brother of the Buskin. A player,
actor — one of the same profession.
Brother of the Coif. A serjeant-
at-law : the coif was a close-fitting cap
worn by the serjeants-at-law (Grose).
Brother of the Quill. An author
(1754).
Brother of the String. A fiddler.
Brother of the Whip. A coachman
(1756).
Brother - smut A term of famili-
arity : e.g. Ditto, brother or sister
smut, tv, quoque.
Brpughtonian. A bruiser, boxer,
pugilist : from Broughton, once the
best boxer of his day.
Brown. 1. A halfpenny : see
Rhino (1812). 2. Porter: an ab-
breviation of Brown Stout As verb,
(1) to do brown, to get the better of ;
(2) to understand, comprehend. To
do brown, to do well, take in, deceive,
exceed bounds (1600).
Brown Bess. 1. Yes. 2. The old
regulation musket, 3. A prostitute
(1631). To hug brown B&ss, to serve
as a private soldier.
Brown George. 1. A wig, of the
colour of over-baked ginger-bread:
modish during the latter half of the
last century. 2. A jug : generally of
brown earthenware : cf. Black-jack.
3. A coarse brown loaf, or hard biscuit
(1653).
Brownie. The polar bear.
Brown Janet. A knapsack.
Brown Joe. No : cf . Brown
Bess, Yes.
Brown - paperman. A gambler
in pence.
Brown-paper warrant. A warrant
given by a captain : this he can cancel
(Smyth).
Brown Stone. Beer : see Drinks.
Brown-study. Mental abstraction,
musing, thoughtful absentminded-
ness, idle reverie.
Brown Talk. Conversation of
an exceedingly proper character: of.
Blue
Browse. To idle, loll, take
things easy. A browse morning, one
in which there is little work.
Bruise. To fight, box — gen-
erally with the idea of mauling. To
bruise along, to pound along.
71
Suck.
Bruiser. 1. A prize-fighter,
boxer (1744). 2. A prostitute's bully.
3. One toad of fighting. 4. Generic for
a rowdy or bully : sometimes, how-
ever, limited in its application to a
particular band of ruffians, as once
in Baltimore.
Bruising. Prize - fighting, boxing
(1757).
B r u m. 1. A counterfeit coin :
contracted form of Brummagem (q. v. ),
spec, counterfeit groats (about 1691).
2. Anything counterfeit, not genuine.
3. Copper money struck by Boulton
and Watt at their works at Soho,
Birmingham (1787). 4. An inhabit-
ant of Birmingham. As adj. (Win-
chester College), mean, poor, stingy:
the superlative is dead brum.
Brumby. A wild horse : the Anti-
podean counterpart of the American
broncho.
Brummagem. 1. Birmingham. 2.
Base money of various denominations
— especially groats in 17th century —
hence anything spurious or unreal
(1691). As adj., counterfeit, unreal,
sham, showy, pretentious (1637).
Brummagem Buttons. Counter-
feit coin (1836).
Brummish. Doubtful, counterfeit
(1805).
B r u m s. London and North
Western Stock : formerly the London
and Birmingham Railway.
Brush. 1. See Brother of the
Brush. 2. A hasty departure (1750).
3. A person who decamps hastily, or
who evades his creditors (1748). As
verb, (1) to flog, thrash : e,g. to brush
one's jacket: of. Dust; (2) to run away,
decamp : also to brush off (1696).
Brusher. 1. A full glass. 2. One
that gets or steals away privately
(Dyche). 3. A schoolmaster. As
verb, to humbug by flattery. To
brush up a flat, to use mealy-mouthed
words, lay it on thick, soft soap (q.v.).
Brute. A man who has not yet
matriculated : the play is evident — A
man, in college phrase, is a collegian ;
and as matriculation is the sign and
seal of acceptance, a scholar bei'oro
tjhat ceremony is not a man, only a
biped brute.
Brydport Dagger. See Bridport
Bub. 1. Strong drink of any
kind : usually applied to malt liquor,
To take bub and grub, to cat and drmk
(1671). 2. A woman's breast: gen-
erally in plural — bubbles (q.v.). 3.
A brother. 4. A term of affection
applied to a little boy : also a familiar
address. 5. An abbrevi&lod form of
bubble (q.v.). As verb, (1) to drink
(1671); (2) to bribe, cheat: cf. Bub-
ble (1719).
Bubber. 1. A hard drinker, con-
firmed tippler: see Lushington: Fr.,
b^bass^er (1653). 2. A drinking bowl
(1696). 3. A public-house thief (1785).
4. An old woman with large pendulous
_ . T. I. An abbreviation of A big
thing on ice : cf. P.D.Q., O.K., N.G.,
and Q.K.
Bubbles. A woman's breasts
(1686).
B u b b i n g. Drinking, tippling
(1678).
Bubble. A dupe, gull, caravan
(q.v.); and rook (q.v.) (1598). As
verb, to cheat, humbug, delude as
with bubbles, to overreacii (1664).
Bubbleable. That can be duped,
gullible (1669).
Bubble and Squeak. Cold meat
fried up with potatoes and greens
(Grose).
Bubble-buff. A bailiff.
Bubble Company. A swindling
association, enterprise, or project :
the South Sea Bubble will occur to
mind (1754).
Bubbled. Gulled, deceived, be-
fooled (1683).
Bubbling-squeak. Hot soup.
Bubbly Jock, 1 A turkey cock,
gobbler (Grow). 2. A stupid boaster.
3. A pert, coned tod, pragmatical
fellow ; a prig ; a cau.
Bubby. See Bub atid Bubbles.
Bucco. A dandy, buck (q.v.).
Buck. 1. In the- first instniico «•?
man of spirit or gaiety of oomluct. ;
later a fop, a dandy (172o). 2. An
unlicensed cabdnvcr : also a sham fare
(1851). 3. A sixpence : thought to be
a corruption of fyebuek (q.v") : rarely
used by itself, but demotes the sixpence
attached to shillingrt in reference to
cost, as, three and a buck, three thil-
lings and sixpence : sue Rhino. 4.
A large marble. 5. A term used in
poker. As adj., at PrLieeton College*
anything which is of an intoiisivo
degreo, good, oxcelloai, pleasant or
agreeable, is called buck. AB verb,
(1) to oppose, run counter to ; (2) Ap-
Buck Bait.
Bufe.
plied to horses this term describes the
action of plunging forward and throw-
ing the head to the ground in an
effort to unseat the rider. (3) To cook
(q.v.) : of accounts. (4) To play
Buckish. Foppish, dandyish
(1782).
Buck -jump. A jump made in
buck (q.v.) fashion.
Buckle. 1. To marry (1693).
against the bank, usually, to buck the 2. To buckle to, to undertake, grapple
, ,
tiger. (5) To put forth one's whole
energy. To run a buck, to poll a bad
vote at an election (Grose). To buck
(or fight) the tiger, to gamble. To
buck down (Winchester College), to be
sorry, unhappy.
with, slip in, work vigorously (1557).
To buckle down, to settle down, be-
come reconciled to, knuckle down
(q.v.).
„ ,. Buckle-beggar. A Fleet parson;
To be bucked, to_be also one who celebrated irregular
marriages, a hedge priest, one who
undertook similar offices for gipsies
and tramps (1700).
Buckle-bosom. A catchpoll, con-
stable.
Buckled. Arrested, scragged.
Buckler. A collar.
Bucklers. Fetters. See Darbies.
Buckram. Men in buckram, non-
existent persons : in allusion to Fal-
staff's four men in buckram.
Bucksome (Winchester College).
Happy, in a state of buck-uppishness :
see Buck-up.
Bud. An endearment : of children
or young persons.
Budge. 1. A pick -pocket (1671).
2. An accomplice who gains access to a
dismiss from one's employment, send building during the day for the pur-
a person about his business : see Bag pose of being locked in, so that he can,
and Sack. To kick the bucket, to die : ' ' '
app
tired. To buck up (Winchester Col-
lege), to be glad, pleased: the usual
expression is Oh, buck up, a phrase
which at Westminster School would
have a very different meaning, namely
exert yourself; at Uppingham to be
bucked (q.v.) is to be tired.
Buck Bait. Bail given by a con-
federate.
Buckeen. 1. A bully (Grose). 2. A
younger son of the poorer aristocracy.
Bucket. An anonymous letter.
As verb, (1) to ride hard, not to spare
one's beast ; (2) to cheat, ruin, deceive
(1812) ; (3) to take the water unfairly
—with a scoop at the beginning of the
stroke instead of a steady even pull
throughout. To give the bucket, to
the bucket hero is thought to refer to a
Norfolk term for a pulley ; when pigs
are killed they are hung by their hind
legs on a bucket (Grose).
Bucket-afloat. A coat.
Bucket Shop. 1. A stock gambling
den carried on in opposition to regular
exchange business, and usually of a
more than doubtful character. 2. A
low groggery, lottery office, gambling
den, etc.
Buckeye. A native of Ohio.
Buck-eye State, Ohio.
Buck Face. A cuckold.
Buck Fitch. An old roue.
Buckhara. A cattle-driver, cow-
Buckhorse. A smart blow, box
on the ear : from the name of a cele-
brated bruiser of that name ; Buck-
horse was a man who either possessed
or professed insensibility to pain, and
who would for a small sum allow any-
one to strike him with the utmost force
on the side of the face ; his real name
was John Smith, and he fought in
public 1732-46,
when night comes, admit his fellow
thieves: also sneaking -budge (1752).
3. Drink, liquor : see Drinks. JBudgy,
drunk. Budging -ken, a public house.
Cove of the budging-ken, a publican.
Budger, a drunkard (1821). As verb,
to move, to make tracks.
Budge-a-beake. To run away
(presumably from justice) : of. to bilk
the blues (q.v.) (1610).
Budger. A drunkard: see Lush-
ington.
Budget. To open one's budget, to
epeak one's mind.
Budging -ken. A public house:
see Lush-crib (1821).
Budgy. Drunk, intoxicated: see
Screwed.
Bud of Promise. A young un-
married woman : see Rosebud and
Bud.
Buenos Ayres. The Royal Crescent
at Margate at the extreme end of the
town used to be so called : the houses
remained unfinished for a very con-
siderable time (H. J. Byron).
Bufe. A dog: from the sound of
its bark (1567).
73
Jtiuje-nabber.
Buf e - nabber (or napper ). A dog
thief (q.v.) (Grose).
Buff. 1. The bare skin (1654).
2. A man, fellow: also Buffer (q.v.)
(1708). 3. Foolish talk (1721). To
buff it, (I) to swear to, adhere to a
statement hard and fast, stand firm :
also to buff it home (1812) ; (2) to strip,
bare oneself to the buff or skin (1581).
In buff, naked, in a state o£ nudity
(1602). To stand buff, to stand the
brunt, pay the piper, endure without
flinching (1680). To say neither buff
nor baff (not to say buff to a wolfs
shadow, or to know neither buff
Buffle-head. An ignoramus, stupid,
obtuse fellow (1659).
Buffleheaded. Stupid,idiotic,foolish.
Buffo. A comic actor, singer in
comic opera (or burlesque) (1764).
Buffs (The). The Third Regiment
of Foot in the British army : see Buff
Howards.
Buff y. Intoxicated : see Screwed.
Bug. 1. A breast-pin. 2. An
Englishman (old Irish) : Grose says,
because bugs were introduced into
Ireland by Englishmen !! 3. In the
United States bug is not confined,
as in England, to the domestic pest,
stye), to say neither one thing nor but is applied to all insects of the
another, to know nothing at all.
Buffard. A foolish fellow: of.
Buffle.
Buff -coat. A soldier, one who
wears a buff coat (1670).
Buffer. 1. A dog: this term in
varying forms from 1567 down to tlie
present time — Harman gives it as bufe
(1567) and bufa (1573) ; Rowlands as
buffa (1610) ; Head as bugher (1673) ;
whilst in The Memorials oj John Hall it
first appears as buffer. 2. A man, fellow
— sometimes with a slightly contempt-
uous meaning; generally speaking a
familiar mode of address, as in Old
Buffer, although even this form may
be used disparagingly (1749). 3. A
boxer, one of the fancy (1819). 4.
A rogue that kills good sound horses
only for their skins (B. E.). 5. One
who took a false oath for a considera-
tion. 6. A pistol (1824). 7. A smuggler,
rogue, cheat. 8. A boatswain's mate,
one of whose duties it is — or was — to
administer the Cat. 9. A stammerer
(1382).
Buff Howards. The Third
Regiment of Foot, now the East Kent
Regiment ; also The Buffs : from its
facings and Colonel from 1737 to 1749 ;
also the Nut-crackers (q.v.) ; and the
Resurrectionists (q.v.), from its re-
appearing at the Battle of Albuera
after being dispersed by the Polish
Lancers ; also the Old Buffs, from its
facings, and to distinguish it from the
31st, the Young Buffs ; but the most
ancient Old Buffs were the Duke of York
and Albany's Maritime Regiments
raised in 1664, and incorporated into
the 2nd or Coldstream Guards in 1689.
Buffle. A fool, a stupid person:
Murray quotes it as occurring in 1655,
but the term was in use in 1580.
Coleoptera order, which includes what
in this country are generally called
beetles. 4. A person of assumed im-
portance (1771) ; big bug (q.v.), a per-
son of wealth or distinction ; thence
cattle -bug, a wealthy stock - raiser ;
gold -bug, a monied man. Fire -bug,
an incendiary. TJiat beats the bugs,
a high mead of praise, that beats
cock-fighting. As verb, (1) among
journeymen hatters, to exchange dear
materials for others of less value:
Hats were composed of the furs and
wools of diverse animals, among which
is a small portion of bever's fur —
bugging is stealing the bever, and
substituting in lieu thereof an equal
weight of some cheaper ingredient
(Grose). (2) to bribe : bailiffs accept-
ing money to delay service were said
to bug the writ ; (3) to give, hand over,
deliver (1812).
Bugaboo. 1. A sheriff's officer
(Grose). 2. A tally-man. 3. A weekly
creditor.
Bugaroch. Pretty, comely, hand-
some (Grose).
Bug-blinding. Whitewashing.
Bugger. 1. A thief (q.v.), one
who steals breast-pins from drunken
men. 2. A man, a fellow: a coarse
term of abuse with little reference to
the legal meaning : the French has an
exact equivalent : equivalent to bitch
(q.v.), as applied to women (1719).
Buggy. A leather bottle.
Bugher. See Buffer.
Bug-hunter. 1. A thief who
plunders drunken men. 2. An
upholsterer (Lexicon Balatronicum).
Bug-juice. 1. Ginger ala 2.
Tho SculechtcT whibky of the Penn-
sylvania Dutch — a very inferior spirit :
also bug-poison.
74
Bull
Bugle. To bugle it. To abstain sill projecting from a window (1691).
from going into class until the last 2. A thief (q.v.) : see Bulk (1669).
mnmonf. io «r.+.il t.Tio Vinrrla annn^a Bulky. A pOUCe COUStable : Said
to be a northern term (1821). As
adj. (Winchester College) ; rich, gener-
moment, i.e. until the bugle sounds.
Bug Walk. A bed. English
synonyms : Bedfordshire, Sheet Alley,
Blanket Fair, Land of Nod, doss, rip,
Cloth Market.
Bug-word. A word to cause terror,
swaggering (or threatening) language ;
i.e. Bugbear-word (1562).
Build. Properly, to build is to
construct, says Murray, for a dwell-
ing and by extension of meaning ... to
construct by fitting together of sepa-
rate parts ; chiefly with reference to
structures of considerable size . . . (not,
e.g., a watch or a piano). Therefore,
when build is applied to the make or
,
ous (or both) : the opposite of brum
(q.v.).
Bull. 1. Formerly a blunder or
mistake ; now generally understood
as an inconsistent statement, a ludi-
crous contradiction, often partaking
largely of the nature of a pun : the
term was current long before the form
Irish bull is met with (1642). 2. A
crown, five-shilling piece : formerly
bull's-eye (q.v.) (1812). 3. Originally
a speculative purchase for a rise ; i.e.
a man would agree to buy stock at a
style of dress, it is pure slang — It's a future day at a stated price with no
,
tidy build, who made it ? A tailor is
sometimes called a trousers builder.
In the United States, as Fennimore
Cooper puts it, everything is built.
The priest builds up a flock, the specu-
lator a fortune, the lawyer a reputation,
the landlord a town, and the tailor, as
in England, builds up a suit of clothes ;
a fire is built instead of made, and the
expression is even extended to in-
dividuals, to be built being used with
the meaning of formed. I was not
built that way ; and hence in a still
more idiomatic sense to express un-
willingness to adopt a specified course
or carry out any inconvenient plan.
To "build, a chapel, to steer badly, and
so cause a ship to y,eer round. Not
built that way, not to one's taste, in
one's line — a general expression of
disapproval or dissent, whether said
of persons or things.
Bulgarian Atrocities. Varna and
Rustchuk By. 3 per cent, obligations.
Bulge. The legitimate meaning is
extended in many odd ways. Bags
(q.v.) bulge, but do not get baggy ;
and in a similar fashion when a man is
all attention bis eyes are said to bulge.
To go (or be) on a bulge, to drink
to excess : see Screwed. To get the
bulge on one, to obtain an advan-
tage over, to get the drop on one
(1869).
Bulger. Large buster (q.v.).
Bulk. An assistant to a File
or Pickpocket, who jostles a person
up against the wall, while the other
picks his pocket (£. #.).
Bulker. 1. A prostitute of a low
type, one who slept on a bulk, a kind of
intention of taking it up, but trusting
to the market advancing in value to
make the transaction profitable : bull
is the reverse of bear (q.v.) : the term
is now more frequently applied to
persons, i.e. to one who tries to en-
hance the value of stocks by speculative
purchases or otherwise ; also used as
a verb and adjective (1671) : on the
French Bourse a bull is hatMsier, in
Berlin he is known as liebhaler ; and
in Vienna contremine. 4. See Bull the
cask (or barrel). 5. 1 teapot with
the leaves left in for a second brew.
6. Prison rations of meat, an allusion
to its toughness ; also generally used
for meat without any reference to its
being either tough or tender: Fr.,
bidoche. 7. A locomotive : sometimes
bullgine. 8. (Winchester College).
Cold beef: introduced at breakfast
about 1873. As verb, at Dartmouth
College, to recite badly, make a poor
recitation. Stale bull, stock held over
for a long period with profit. To
bull the cask (or barrel), to pour
water into a rum cask when empty,
with a view to keeping the wood
moist and preventing leakage; the
water after some time is very intoxi-
cating, and the authorities, not looking
with much favour upon wholesale
brewing of grog in this way, sometimes
use salt water as a deterrant, though
even this salt water bull, as it is called,
when again poured out, has often
proved too attractive for seamen to
resist : again it is common to talk in the
same way of Bulling a teapot, coffee-
pot, etc. ; that is, after the first brew
has been exhausted, by adding fresh
75
Buttace.
water, and boiling over again, to make
a second brew from the old materials.
He may bear a bull that hath borne a
calf, after little, big things are possible.
A buU in a china shop, a simile of reck-
less destruction. To fake the bull by
the horns, to meet a difficulty with
resolution and courage. To show the
bull horn, to make a show of resist-
ance.
Bultace. A black eye (1659).
Bull-and-cow. A row.
Bull- back. Pickaback (q.v.)
(1600).
Bull-bait. To bully, hector,
badger.
Bull -beef. Hard, stringy meat;
hence, As ugly as bull-beef ; As big as
bull-beef ; Go and sell yourself for bull-
beef (1579). To bluster like buU-beef,
to tear round like mad.
Bull-calf (or dog). A great hulkey
or clumsy fellow (Grose).
Bull-chin. A fat, chubby child
(Grose).
Bull-dance. A dance in which
only men take part: cf. Stag-dance,
Gander-party, Hen-party, etc.
Bull- dog. 1. A sheriffs officer,
bailiff (1698). 2. A pistol; in the
naval service a main-deck gun (1700).
3. A sugar-loaf. 4. A proctor's assist-
ant or marshal (1823). 5. A member
of Trinity College, Cambridge : ob-
solete.
Bull-dog Blazer. A revolver.
Bull- dose. A severe castigation
or flogging. As verb, to thrash, in-
timidate, bully ; a term of Southern
political origin, originally referring
to an association of negroes formed
to insure, by violent and unlawful
means, the success of an election :
now in general use, to signify the
adoption and use of coercive measures
(1876).
Bull-doser. 1. A bully, braggart,
swaggerer. 2. A pistol: spec, one
carrying a bullet heavy enough to
destroy human life with certainty.
Bullet. To give the bullet, to dis-
charge an employe, give the bag (or
sack) (1841). FuU bullet, full size.
Every bullet has its billet (or hghting-
place): see Billet. Buftet tn mouth,
ready for action.
Bullet-head. L A person with a
round head hko a bullet. 2. /n
obstinate fellow, pig-hcadod fool, dull
silly fellow (£. E.).
Bullfinch. 1. A stupid fellow. 2.
A high thick hedge ; one difficult to
jump or rush through: most authorities
agree that this term is a corruption of
bull-fence, i.e. a fence capable of pre-
venting cattle from straying. As verb,
to leap a horse through such a hedge
(1820).
Bull-flesh. Brag, swagger (1832).
Bull-head. 1. Hair curled and
frizzled, worn over the forehead
(1672). 2. A fool, blockhead. Bull-
headed, pig-headedly impetuous, block-
headed.
Bull-jine. A locomotive.
Bull-nurse. A male attendant on
the sick.
Bullock. 1. A cheat. 2. A
countryman or bushman : cf. Bullock-
puncher. As verb, to bully, bounce
over, intimidate (1716).
Bullock's Heart. See Token.
Bullock's-horn. To pawn.
Bull Party. A party of men.
Bull - puncher. A cow-puncher,
(q.v.).
Bull's Eye. 1. A sweetmeat of
which peppermint is an important in-
gredient (1825). 2. A five-shilling
piece, a bull (q.v.) (1696).
Bull's - eye Villas. A nickname
given to the small open tents used by
the Volunteers at their annual gather-
Feather. To give [or get]
the bull's feather, verbal phr. (old). To
cuckold. Fr., planter des plumes de
Bull's -head. A signal of con-
demnation, and prelude of immediate
execution, said to have been anciently
used in Scotland (Jainieson).
Bull's-noon. Midnight (1839).
Bull-trap, A sham police con-
stable.
Bully, subs. (old). — 1. A fancy man
(q.v.) (1706). 2. (Eton College). A
mdee at football ; the equivalent of
the Rugby scrimmage and the Win-
chester hot. 3. (nautical). A term
of endearment: orig. of either sex —
sweetheart, darling : now of men only
— pal, mate. 4. A weapon formed
by tying a stone or a piece of lead
in a handkerchief: used knuckle-
duster fashion. 5. A bravo, hector,
swashbuckler; now spec, a tyran-
nical coward. As adj., fine, capital,
crack, spiff (1681). Thafs bully for
you, Grand, fine, all right, OK.
76
Bully Beef.
Bum Fodder.
Bully boy (or butty boy with the glass
eye), a good fellow (1815).
Bully Beef. Tinned meat: iron
ration (q.v.) : in the navy, boiled salt
meat.
Bully- boss. The landlord of a
brothel or thieves' den.
Bully-cock. 1. One who foments
quarrels in order to rob the persons
quarrelling (Grose). 2. A low round
hat with broad brim, billy-cock (q.v.).
Bully-huff. A boasting bully.
Bullyrag (or Ballyrag). To revile,
abuse, scold vehemently — usually in
vulgar or obscene language; also to
swindle by means of intimidation.
Bullyragging. Scolding, abuse,
swindling.
Bully-rook (or Bully-rock).
Originally boon-companion ; later, a
swaggerer, bully, bravo (1596).
Bully Ruffian. A footpad or
highwayman, who, to robbery, added
coarse invective.
Bully-scribbler. A bullying
journalist (1715).
Bully Trap. A man of mild out-
side demeanour who is a match for any
ruffian who may attack him (Grose).
Bulrush. A simile of delusive
strength. To seek a, knot in a bulrush,
to cavil, find difficulties where there
are none : also in sarcasm, to take
away every knot in a bulrush.
Bum. 1. The posteriors (1387).
2. Bum bailiff (q.v.). 3. A birching,
biding, tanning. As verb, to arrest.
Cherry bums, the llth Hussars: the
obvious reference is to the scarlet
trousers worn by this branch of the
service ; a similar nickname is given
to the French Chasseurs, culs rouges.
To say neither ba nor bum., to say not
a word.
Bum-bailiff (also Bum-baily). A
bailiff or sheriff's officer (1602).
Bum Bass. The violoncello.
Bumbaste. To flog, thrash, beat
soundly (1571).
Bum -beating. Jostling, pushing
others off the pavement (1616).
Bumbee. A bailiff (1653).
Bum-blade. A large sword
(1632).
Bumble. A beadle.
Bum-card* A marked playing-card.
Bumble-crew. Corporations,
vestries, and other official bodies.
Bumbledom. Petty officialism,
red tape, fuseiness, pomposity (1866).
Bumble-bath (or broth). A mess,
pickle, confusion; as adj., clumav,
unwieldy (1595).
Bumble-foot. A club-foot (1861).
Bumble - puppy. Family whist,
i.e. unscientific whist. Also applied,
says Hotten, to a game played in
public houses on a large stone, placed
in a slanting direction, on the lower end
of which holes are made, and numbered
like the holes in a bagatelle- table. The
player rolls a stone ball, or marble,
from the higher end, and according to
the number of the hole it falls into the
game is counted. It is undoubtedly
the very ancient game of Trovle-in-
Bumbler. 1. An idle fellow. 2.
A blunderer. 3. A Tyneside artillery-
man.
Bumbles. Coverings for the eyes
of horses that shy in harness.
Bumbo. A liquor composed of
rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg (Smol-
lett); brandy, water, and sugar
(Grose).
Bum-brusher, subs, (schoolboys').
A flogging schoolmaster, an usher.
English synonyms, fLaybottom, haber-
dasher of pronouns (1704).
Bum Charter. The name given
to bread steeped in hot water by the
first unfortunate inhabitants of the
English Bastile., where this miserable
fare was their daily breakfast, each
man receiving with his scanty portion
of bread a quart of boiled water from
the cook's coppers (Vavac).
Bum-court. The Ecclesiastical
Court (1544).
Bumclink. In the Midland
counties inferior beer brewed for hay-
makers and harvest labourers.
Bum-creeper. One who waits
bent almost double.
Bum Curtain. An academical
gown, worn scant and short ; especially
applied to the short black gown worn
till 1835 by members of Caius College.
Bumf. Toilet paper.
Bumf eague (Bumf eagle, Bumfeg).
To flog, thrash (1589).
Bumfhunt (Wellington College).
A paper-chase.
Bum Fiddle. The posteriors.
Bum Fidget. A restless individual.
Bum Fodder. 1. Low-class worth
less literature : once in literary use
(1653). 2. Toilet paper, curl paper
(q.v.) (Grose).
77
Bummaree.
Bundling.
Bummaree. A Billingsgate middle-
man : these men, who are not recog-
nised as regular salesmen by the
trade, are speculative buyers of fish
(1786).
Bummed. Arrested.
Bummer. 1. A bum-bailiff (q.v.)
2. A heavy loss, severe pecuniary
reverse. 3. An idler, loafer, sponger,
looter : the term came into general use
at the time of the Civil War, -when
it was specially applied to a straggler,
hanger-on, or free-lance, particularly
in connection with General Sherman's
famous march from Atlanta to the sea ;
also a general term of reproach, as
with rascal, black-leg, etc.
Bumming (Wellington College).
A thrashing, licking.
Bump. When one boat touches
another in a race it is said to make
a bump, and technically beats its
opponent : see Bumping race. As
verb, to overtake and touch an op-
posing boat, thus winning the heat or
race (1849).
Bumper. 1. Anything of super-
lative size — a big fie, horse, house,
or woman. 2. A full or crowded house
(1838). 3. (cards). When, in long
whist, one side has scored eight before
the other has scored a point, a bumper
is the result.
Bum - perisher (or Bum-shaver).
A short-tailed coat, a jacket.
Bumping Race. Eight-oared
inter-Collegiate races, rowed in two
divisions of fifteen and sixteen boats
respectively, including a sandwich
sufficient, on good terms with oneself
(1803).
Bumptiousness. Self-assertiveness,
arrogance, self-conceit.
Bum-roll. A pad or cushion worn
by women to extend the dress at the
back — the equivalent of the modern
bustle or dress-improver (1601).
Bumsquabbled. Discomfited,
defeated, stupefied (1G20).
Bum-sucker. A sponger, toady,
lick-spittle, hanger-on : FT., leche-cul.
Bum-trap. A bailiff (1750).
Bun. 1. A sponger, one who
cannot be shaken off. 2. A knob of
hair worn at the back of the head. 3.
A term of endearment (1587). To
take (or yank) the &«», to take first
place, obtain first honours : a variant
of take the cake.
Bunce (Bunse or Bunt). Originally
see Rhino. 2. Profit, gain,
to the good.
u n c e r. One who sells on
commission.
Bunch-of -fives. The hand or fist
(1845).
Bunco (or Bunco-game). A
swindling game played either with
cards or dice, not unlike three card
monte. As verb, to rob, cheat, or
swindle by means of the bunco game ;
or by what in England is known as the
confidence trick, etc.
Bunco-steerer (Bunko-steerer). A
swindler, confidence- trick man : — The
bunco-steerer .... will find you out
the morning after you land in Chicago
^ or St. Louis. He will accost you —
boat (q.v.), i.e. the top boat of the very friendly, wonderfully friendly —
second division, which rows bottom of when you come out of your hotel, by
the first : the boats in each division your name, and he will remind you—
start at a distance apart of 176 feet which is most surprising, considerin*
from stern to stern in the order at you never set eyes on his face before —
which they left off at the last preceding how you have dined together in Gin-
race, and any boat which overtakes, cinnati, or it may be Orleans, or per-
and bumps another (i.e. touches it in haps Francisco, because he finds out
any part) before the winning post is where you came from last ; and he will
reached, changes place with it for shake hands with you; and he will
the next race.
Bumpkin. The posteriors (1658).
Bumpology. Phrenology. Bump-
osopher, a phrenologist.
Bump-supper. A supper to com-
memorate the fact of the boat of the
college having, in the annual races,
bumped or touched the boat of another
college immediately in front.
Bumpsy. Drunk : see Screwed.
Bumptious. Arrogant, self-
propose a drink ; and ho will pay for
that drink ; and presently he will take
you somewhere else, among his pals,
and he will strip you so clean,that there
won't be felt the price of a four-cent
paper to throw around your face and
hide your blushes. In London . . .
they do the confidence trick (£csant
and Rice).
Bundling (or Bundling up). 3Vten
and women sleeping on the same bed
78
Bung.
Burn-crust.
together without having removed their
clothes.
Bung (Bong, Boung). 1. A purse
(1567). 2. A pickpocket: also Bung-
nipper (1598). 3. A brewer, landlord
of a public house. Hence as adj.,
tipsy, fuddled ; see Screwed. As verb,
(1) generally bung up, i.e. to close or
shut up the eyes by means of a blow
that causes a swelling (1593) ; (2) to
give, pass, hand over, drink, to per-
form almost any action : Bung over
the rag, hand over the money ; (3)
to deceive one by a lie, to cram
(q.v.).
Bungay. Go to Bungay I Go to
the deuce !
Bung-eyed. 1. Drunk, fuddled:
see Screwed (1858). 2. Cross-eyed,
unable to see straight, boss-eyed,
squinny-eyed (q.v.).
Bung-hole. The anus (1611).
Bungfunger. To startle, confuse :
cf. Bumbsquabbled : also used as adj.,
confounded (1835).
Bung-juice. Beer.
Bung-knife (or Boung-knife). A
cut-purse's knife (1592).
Bung-nipper (or Boung-nipper).
A cut- purse, sharper.
Bung Upwards. Said of a person
lying on his face.
Bunk. Hasty departure. As verb,
(1) to be off, decamp; (2) (Wellington
College), to expel.
Bunker. Beer : see Drinks.
Bunkum (Buncombe, Buncome).
Talking for talMng's sake, claptrap,
gas, tall talk : the employment of the
word in its original sense of insincere
political speaking or claptrap is ascribed
to a member of Congress, Felix Walker,
from Buncombe County, North Caro-
lina, who explained that he was merely
talking for Buncombe, when his fellow
members could not understand why
he was making a speech. That's ail
buncombe, That's afl nonsense, or, an
absurdity. Also used attributively ;
for example, a bunkum proclamation,
bunkum logic, bunkum politicians,
etc. (1841).
Bunky (Christ's Hospital). Awk-
ward, ill-finished.
Bunnick. To settle, dispose of
(1886).
Bunny. An endearment : of
women and children (1606).
Bunny -grub (Cheltenham Col-
lege). Green vegetables, such as
cabbage, lettuce, and the like : at the
Royal Military Academy and other
schools, grass (q.v.).
Bunse. See Bunco.
Bun - struggle (or Bun - worry).
A tea : see Tea-fight.
Bunt. See Bunce.
B u n t e r. A low vulgar woman,
one who picks up rags and refuse in
the street. 2. A woman who takes
lodgings, and after staying some time,
runs away without paying the
rent.
Bunting. An endearment to a
child : as in Baby bunting.
Burdon's Hotel. Whiteoross Street
Prison, of which the Governor was a
Mr. Burdon : see Cage.
Burick (or Burerk). A woman;
spec, one showily dressed ; for-
merly a thief s term for a prostitute
(1819).
Burke. 1. To murder by strangul-
ation : as Burke did for the purpose of
selling the bodies for dissection. 2.
To hush up, smother a matter. 3. To
dye the moustache and whiskers.
Burn. To cheat, swindle. To
be burned., to be infected with venereal
disease. To burn the parade, to warn
more men for a guard than necessary,
and excusmg the supernumeraries for
money : this practice was formerly
winked at in most garrisons, and was
a considerable perquisite to the adju-
tants and sergeant-majors ; the pre-
tence for it was to purchase coal and
candle for the guard, whence it was
called burning the parade. Burn my
breeches I A mild kind of oath. To
burn the ken, to live at an km or tavern
without paying for one's quarters.
His money burns in "his pocket, he is
eager to spend (1740). To burn one's
boats behind one, to cut off all chance
of retreat. To burn the Thames, to
perform some prodigy. To burn day'
light, to burn candles in the daytime.
To burn fine weather, to fail to turn it
to advantage. To burn the candle at
both ends : see Candle. To burn the
planks, to remain long sitting. To
burn one's fingers, to suffer through
meddling. To burn a stone, to displace
by accident.
Burnand. To pilfer plots of plays,
novels, etc.) : from the name of Mr. F.
Burnand, the editor of Punch,
Burn-crust. A baker: ef. Master of
the mint, a gardener ; Bung, a brewer ;
Burner.
Butcher.
Ball of wax, a shoemaker; Quill-driver,
a clerk ; Snip, a tailor, etc.
Burner. A card-sharper.
Burr. A hanger on, dependant,
sponger. As verb (Marlborough Col-
lege), to fight, scrimmage, rag.
Burst. 1. A spree, drunken frolic,
big feed, blow out (q.v.) : usually, On
the burst. 2, A sudden and vigorous
access (or display) of energy, a lively
pace or spurt.
Bursted. Hard up.
Burster. 1. A heavy fall, cropper.
2. See Buster.
Bury. Go bury yourself ! A
Californianism which has more of the
Business End [of a thing]. The
practical part.
Busk. To busk it, to sell songs,
books, and other articles at bars and
tap-rooms of public houses : also to
work public houses and certain spots
as an itinerant musician.
Busker. See Busk.
Busnapper. See Buz-napper.
Buss Beggar. An old prostitute of
the lowest type, a beggar's trull.
Bust. 1. A corrupted form of
burst: also busting, busted, 2. A
burglary. 3. A frolic, spree, drunken
debauch : cf . to go on the bust. 4.
A failure, fizzle. As verb, (1) to burst,
\^>eiuuj.ui.jLu.euj_LHiu vv.ui.uu iiaa liujj-c- ui. uuxj JTV tooiiuc, JJXAIC. -n.o VUAU, \i ) \nj UIU.BU,
fortiter than the suaviter in its com- explode, (2) to commit a burglary ; (3)
position : equivalent to, Go ! hide your to inform against an accomplice ; (4)
diminished head : cf. Carry me out to fail in business or transactions of
and bury me decently. To bury (or dig any kind ; (5) to put out of breath,
up) the hatchet : amongst Indian tribes wind ; (6) to indulge in a drunken
certain symbolic ceremonies are con- frolic, go on the spree ; (7) to destroy,
nected with the war-hatchet or toma- commit suicide, set aside, expose.
hawk, which are equivalent to
declaration of war, or a compact of
peace : To bury the hatchet is the em-
blem of the putting away of strife and
enmity ; on the other hand, the red skin,
Bust me I A mild oath — Blow me !
Jigger me !
Buster. 1. A new loaf; also a
coarse cake or bun of large size that
fills or blows out the stomach ( 1821 ). 2.
enmiy ; on e oer an, e r , s or ows ou e somac . .
before he commences hostilities, digs up A burglar : see Thief. 3. Anything of
afresh the fateful symbol. To bury a
moll, to desert a wife or mistress. To
buryaQuakertto evacuate, ease oneself.
To bury a urife, to feast and make
merry : used in connection with the
jollifications frequently indulged in
by apprentices on the completion of
their term of indenture, when they
became full-blown craftsmen.
Bus (or Buss). 1. Business
(q.v.) : pronounced biz. 2. Omnibus
(1832). As verb, to punch one's head.
Bush. 1. To camp out in the bush,
get lost in the bush. Hence, 2. to
be in a mental or a physical difficulty,
to be muddled. To becct about the
bush, to prevaricate, avoid coming to
the point, go indirectly to one's object.
Bushed. Hard up, without trifles.
superior size, that has unusual capa-
city, that causes admiration, a spurt,
To come a buster, to fall heavily, to come
a cropper. In for a buster, prepared,
ready (or determined) for a spree
(1852). 4. A heavy storm from the
south, brick-fielder (q.v.).
Busting. Informing against ac-
complices, turning King's evidence.
Bustle. 1. A pad, roll, or wire
contrivance worn by women at the
back in order to extend the dress, and
also with a view to setting off the
smallness of the waist (1788). 2.
Money : see Rhino. As verb, to con-
fuse, confound, perplex.
Busy-head. A busybody.
Busy-idler. A person busy about
money, destitute (1812).
Bushed On. Pleased, delighted.
Bushwhacker. A free-lance: during
the American Civil War deserters from
the ranks of both armies infested the
country, making raids upon defence-
less houses and sacking whole towns.
Bushy -park. A lark. To be in
bushy park, to be poor.
Business. Dramatic action,
bye-play (1753). To do one's business
for one, to kill, cause one's death.
Busy-sack. A carpet-bag: in
America a grip-sack.
Butch. To follow the trade of a
butcher.
Butcher. 1. The king in playing-
cards: when card-playing in pubbc
houses was common, the kings were
called butchers, the queens bileb.es,
and the knaves jacks: Fr., basuf. 2.
A peripatetic vendor of varieties and
'notions' on railway cars — at onoe
a convenience and a terror. 3. A
80
Buz.
prison doctor, 4. A malevolent critic.
As verb, to murder a reputation, to
mangle an author's lines. To butcher
about (Wellington College), to make a
great noise, humbug.
Bulcher's-bill. The list of those
killed in battle.
Butcher's Mourning. A white hat
with a black mourning hat-band.
Butteker. A shop.
Butter. Fulsome flattery,
unctuous praise, soft soap: Fr.,
cirage (1819). As verb, (1) to
(latter fulsomely, indulge in rhodo-
luantic praise: "Fr., c^rer (1700); (2)
to increase the stakes every throw or
every game (1696). To look as if
butter would not melt in one's mouth, a
contemptuous saying of persons of
simple demeanour (1475). Will cut
butter when ifs hot, said of a knife
when blunt. Butter and eggs, going
down a slide on one foot and beating
with the heel and toe of the other at
short intervals.
Butter-bag (or Butter-box). A
Dutchman (L600).
Butter-boat. To empty the
butter-boat, to lavish praise, to butter
(q.v.)-
Buttercup. A pet name for a
child.
Buttered. 1. Whipped. 2. Flat-
tered.
Butter-fingered. Apt to let things
fall, greasy (or slippery) fingered.
Butter-fingers, one who lets things slip
easily from a hold (1615),
Butter-flap. A light cart, i.e. a
trap.
Butterfly. 1. A river barge. 2.
The guard for the reins affixed to the
top of a hansom cab.
Butternuts. The sympathisers
with the South in the North and the
Middle States during the American
Civil War ; the term was derived from
the colour of the uniforms worn in the
early part of the war by Confederate
soldiers in the West, which, be* jag
homespun, were dyed brown with the
juice of the butternut.
Butter-print. A child; usually
when illegitimate (1620).
Buttock, A common prostitute
(1674).
Buttock - and - file. A prostitute
and her companion ; sometimes bulk
and file; occasionally buttock and
file is used of a single individual — one
who unites the roles of a thief and
prostitute (1671).
Buttock -and -tongue. A scold-
ing woman, shrew.
Buttock-and-twang. A common
prostitute, but who is no thief.
Button. 1. A shilling: formerly
good currency, now only of counter-
feit coin : see Rhino. 2. A decoy of
any kind, whether the confederate of
confidence- trick men, or a sham buyer
at an auction. As verb, to decoy,
act as confederate in swindles : Fr.,
aguicher. Not to care a button (or brass
button), to care nothing. To have a
button on, to have a fit of the blues
(q.v.), despondent. To button up,
when a broker has bought stock on
speculation and it falls suddenly on bis
hands, whereby he is a loser, he keeps
the matter to himself, and is reluctant
to confess the ownership of a share :
this is called buttoning up.
Button-burster (or Button-buster).
A low comedian.
Button-catcher. A tailor.
English synonyms: snip, cabbage
contractor, steel -bar, driver, goose
persuader, sufferer, ninth part of a
man, etc.
Buttoner. A card - sharper's
decoy (1841).
Button-pound. Money : generic :
see Rhino.
Buttons. A page ; sometimes
boy in buttons (I860). Dash my buttons
(wig, etc.) a mild oath; also employed
to express vexation or surprise. Not to
have all one's buttons, to be deficient
in intellect, slightly cracky, to have a
bee in one's bonnet. To have a soul
above buttons, to be above one's work
or duty, to think one's ability superior
to one's position. To make buttons*
to look sorry, sad, to be in great fear
(1593).
Butty. A comrade, partner.
Buvare. Drink: generic.
Buy. To buy a prop, a term
used to signify that the market has
gone flat, and that there is no one to
support it.
Buz (or Buzz). A parlour game
which is thus described by Hotten,
who, however, erroneously limited it
to public-houses : — The leader com-
mences saying one, the next on the
left hand two, the next three, and
so on to seven, when buz must be said ;
every seven and multiple of 7, as 14,
81
Buz-Hoke.
Plaai.
17, 21, 27, 28 etc., must not be
mentioned but buz instead ; whoever
break the rule pays a fine. As verb, ( 1 )
some uncertainty exists as to whether
to buz signifies to drain a bottle or
decanter to the last drop, or whether
it means to share equally the last of
a bottle of wine, when there is not
enough for a full glass to each of the
party ; (2) to pick pockets ; (3) to
search for, look about one.
Buz-bloke, Buz-cove, Buz-gloak.
See Buz-napper.
Buz -man. 1. A pickpocket. 2.
An informer.
Buz-napper. A pickpocket :
see Thief (1781).
Buz-napper's Academy.
A training school for thieves : figures
were dressed up, and experienced
tutors stood in various difficult atti-
tudes for the boys to practise upon ;
when clever enough they were sent on
the streets : Dickens gives full par-
ticulars of this old style of business
in Oliver Twist.
Buz-napper's Kinchin. A watch-
man.
Buzzing (or Buz-faking). Pocket-
By-blow. An illegitimate child:
also By-chop and By-slip (1594).
By Cracky! An ejaculation con-
veying no idea beyond that of general
surprise.
Bye - drink. Liquid refreshment
taken at other than meal - timea
(1766).
By George! An ejaculation sig-
nifying either surprise, or anger, or
used without any special meaning
(1731).
By Goldam! A semi - veiled
oath.
By G o 1 1 y 1 Euphemistic for By
God (1743).
By Gorram ! See By Goldam !
By Gosh I A euphemistic oath.
By Gum ! By Gummy ! intj. phr.
Expletives from the great American
Dictionary of Oaths and Cuss Yv'ords,
compiled by descendants of the Puri-
tan Fathers.
By hook or by crook. See Hook,
By Hooky. A veiled oath.
Byng, Bing. To go. Bynge-
awaste, to go away (1567).
By-scape (or slip). A bastard
(1646).
By the Ever - living Jumping
Moses I An effective ejaculation
and moral waste - pipe for interior
passion or wrath is seen in the ex-
clamation, By the ever- living jump-
ing Moses ! — a harmless phrase,
that for its length expends a con-
siderable quantity of fiery anger. —
Eotten.
By the Living Jingo ! (or By
Jingo !) See Jingo.
By the Wind. Hard up, in diffi-
culties.
Cab. 1. An adventitious aid to
study, a crib, a pony (q.v.). As verb,
to use a crib; cf. cabbage (1853).
2. A brothel (1811). 3. A cavalier
(17th century) ; cf. Sp., caballero. 4.
A cabriolet : also any vehicle to seat
two or four persons plying for hire.
Whence, 5. A cabman (also Cabby) :
e.g. Call a cab ! As verb, to travel by
cab : cf, foot it, hoof it, tram it, train
it, 'bus it. Hence cobber, a cab-horse :
cf. Vanner, Wheeler, etc.
' Cabbage. 1. Pieces purloined by
tailors ; hence any small profits in the
shape of material. [Johnson,-, a cant-
ing term.] As verb, to purloin
material, to take toll (q.v.). Also, cold-
slaw (American) : cf. Pigeon-skewings.
Cabbage is stored in hell (q.v.) or one's
82
eye (q.v.) (1038). 2. A tailor, also
cabbager and cabbage - contractor
(q.v.) (1690). 3. A style of dressing
the hair : similar to the modern
chignon: Er., kilo (1690) 4. A
translation, crib (q.v.) ; also cab (q.v.)
5. A cigar : 3Tr., fewlle dc platans,
crapvios (or crapulados) : see Weed.
Cabbage - contractor. See Cab-
bage.
Cabbage - gelder. A greengrocer
or market gardener.
Cabbage-head. A fool, soft-head,
go-along (q.v.) : see Buffle (1682).
Cabbage-leaf. A bad cigar ; also
cabbage. [A popular theory of
material.] ffr., infectadoB. See Weed,
Cabbage Plant. An umbrella,
gamp (q.v.), brolly (q.v.).
Qabbag&r.
Cabbager. A tailor.
Cabbage-stumps. In pi., the
legs : see Drumsticks.
- Cabbage - tree Mob. A larrikin
(q.v.). [A low-crowned cabbage-palm
hat is affected by this section of Aus-
tralian society.] Also Cabbagites.
Cabby. A cabman: ITr., h^rondelle
and maraudeur (1852).
Cable. To send a telegram by
ocean (submarine) wire : cf. Wire. To
slip or cut one's cable, to die ; see Hop
the twig.
Cable-hanger. An oyster dredger
not free of the fishery.
Cab-moll. A prostitute.
Cabobbled. Confused, puzzled,
perplexed.
Caboodle. A crowd ; usually, the
whole caboodle. pBoodle (q.v.) was
frequently used in the same sense,
which is indifferently applied] (1858).
Caboose. Convivial quarters, a
bachelor's snuggery, a den (q.v.), dig-
gings (q.v.). The whole caboose, a
variation of caboodle (q.v.).
Cacafuego. A spitfire, braggart,
bully (1625).
Ca chunk! An exclamation in-
tended to convey an imitation of the
sound of a falling body : onomatopoeic
— the bow-wow word of Max Muller.
Variants are, Caswash, Cawhalux,
Chewallop, Casouse, Cathump, Ker-
plunk, Katouse, Katoose, Kelumpus,
Kerchunk, Kerswosh, Kerslosh,
Kerswollop, Kerblmkityblunk, and
Kerblam.
Cackle. 1. The dialogue of a play,
spec, a clown's patter : whence cacMe-
ckucker, a prompter; cackle-merchant,
a dramatist ; cockier (or cacHing-cove),
an actor, preacher, or lecturer ; cackle-
tub, a pulpit. 2. Idle talk, inconse-
quent chatter, a short spasmodic
laugh ; and as verb, to talk idly, fussily,
or loudly of petty things, as a hen after
laying an egg : see Cackler (1676).
Cackler. 1. A fowl : also cackling
cheat (1672). English synonyms:
beaker, cackler, margery prater, gal-
eny, partlet, chickabiddy, rooster,
chuck-chuck, chuckle. French syn-
onyms : becquant, ornichon, pigue-en-
terre fpeck-the-ground), estdble (or
estaphte), 'bruantez (Breton). Whence
caekling-fruit, an egg, and cacMer's-
ken, a fowl-house. 2. A noisy talker,
blab (q.v.) (1400).
Cackling - cove. An actor. Eng-
lish synonyms : mummery-cove, mug-
faker, mummer, mugger (properly an
actor who makes free play with his
face), tragedy or comedy merchant,
pro, stroller, cackle - faker, barn-
stormer, surf.
Cad. A term of contempt : spec,
an offensive or ill-bred person, irrespec-
tive of social position, but formerly
of underlings and others performing
menial offices. [0. E. D. : apparently
from cadet and the popular forms
cadee and caddie; cadator suggests a
collateral, if an independent origin.]
The vocable has passed through a
variety of meanings. 1. A passenger
taken up by coach drivers for their own
profit. 2. A chum or companion. 3.
An assistant. 4. An omnibus con-
ductor. 6. A messenger or errand boy.
6. A non-school or non-umversity man.
At Cambridge, snob (q.v.), the word
Thackeray used, has long been a
common term for a townsman; now
the undergrad says Townee or Towner
(q.v.) (1831). 7. A vulgar, ill-man-
nered person, a blackguard, i.e. a
person incapable of moral decency
( 1849). Hence caddish, vulgar, offens-
ively bred.
Cadator. A beggar apeing a
decayed gentleman (1703).
Caddie. An attendant at golf.
Cade. The Burlington Arcade : cf .
Zoo, Proms, Pops, Cri.
Cadge. The profession of cadging
or begging. As verb, to obtain by
begging., to beg in an artful wheedling
manner. Here cadging (or on the
cadge), on the make (q.v.); among
intimates to cadge a dinner or sivpper
is often used without implied re-
proach: see Cadger (1811). English
synonyms: to mump, pike, mouch,
stand the pad, maund, tramp, mike.
Cadge-cloak (or Gloak). A
beggar (1791).
Cadger. 1. Primarily a carrier,
pedlar, or itinerant dealer. 2. A whin-
ing beggar, sponger (q.v.), snide (q-v.).
Eng. synonyms : Abram man, croaker,
Abraham, cove, Tom of Bedlam, Bed-
lam beggar, maunderer, xnoueher,
pikey, traveller, turnpike or dry-land
sailor, scoldrum, shyster, shivering
James, silver beggar, skipper-bird,
mumper, paper- worker, goose-shearer,
master of the black art, durrynacker.
C a d y. A hat, also cadey and
caddy : see Golgotha.
dajjan.
Odf
Caffan. See Cassan.
Caff re's Tightener. A full
meal.
Cage. 1. A petty prison, a country
lock-up (1500). English synonyms
(generic) : academy, boat, boarding-
house, bower, block -house, bastille,
bladhunk, stone-jug, jug, calaboose,
cooler, coop, downs, clink, jigger, Irish
theatre, quod, shop, stir, clinch, steel,
sturrabin, mill, toll-shop, floating hell,
floating academy, dry room, House that
Jack Built, choakee. Special names
for particular prisons : Bates' s Farm or
Garden (Cold Bath Fields), Akerman's
Hotel (Newgate), Castieu's Hotel (Mel-
bourne Gaol, Burden's Hotel (White
Cross Street Prison), Ellenborough
Lodge, Spike or Park (the King's
Bench Prison, to which, as a matter of
fact, every Chief-Justice stood god-
father), Campbell's Academy (the
Hulks), City College and Whittington's
College (Newgate), Tench, Pen, and
Smith's Hotel (Edinburgh). 2. A
dress-improver, bustle : see Bird-cage
3. A bed ; also Breeding-cage. 4. The
Ladies' Gallery in the House of
Commons, also called the Chamber of
Horrors, which, however, is properly
the Peeresses' Gallery in the Upper
House.
Cagg. A term used by private
soldiers, a solemn vow or resolution
not to get drunk for a certain time ; or,
as the term is, till their cagg is out,
which vow is commonly observed with
the strictest exactness : e.g. 'I have
cagg'd myself for six months. Excuse
me this time, and I will cagg myself
for a year.' Common in Scotland,
where the vow is performed with divers
ceremonies (Grose).
Cag-mag. 1. A tough old goose ;
hence, 2. refuse, rubbish, scraps and
ends (1769).
Cain. To raise Gain, to be quarrel-
some, make a disturbance : also to
raise hate, hell (or hell and tommy),
and to raise Ned (q.v.). To pay the
cam, to pay the penalty.
Cam and Abel. A table.
Cainsham-smoke. The tears of a
wife-beaten husband (Dunton) (1694).
Cake (or Cakey). I. A fool, a
dullard : see Buffle (Grose). 2. A stupid
policeman. 3. (Christ's Hospital). A
stroke with a cane : also as verb, to
take the cake, to rank highest, carry off
honours, be the best of a kind, fill tho
bill (theatrical). In certain sections
of the U.S.A. cake walks have long
had a vogue among tho coloured
people. The young bucks ' get them-
selves up regardless,5 and walk
from one end of a hall to the other,
trader the gaze of dusky beauty and
the critical glance of judges. The
marking is done on a scale of numbers,
and ties are walked off witii the utmost
finish and rare attention to style. The
prize is a cake, and the winner takes it.]
Also to take (or yank) the bun, to slide
away with the Baabury, to annex the
whole confectioner's shop : cf. io take
the kettle, to take the prize for lying.
Hurry up the cakes ! Look sharp !
[Buckwheat and other oat cakes form a
staple dish at many American tables.]
lake hot cakes, quickly, with energy ; a
variant of like winking, or one o'clock.
Phrases : You can't eat your cake
and have it; One's cake is dough,
one's project has failed ; Every cake
has its mate, make, or fellow.
Cake -fiddler (or Funibler). A
parasite.
Cakes and Ale. A good time :
also Cakes and cheese.
Cafcey-pannum Fencer. See Pan-
num-fencer.
Calaboose. A common gaol.
[From the Sp., calahozo, through the
French.] Also as verb, to imprison
(1810).
Calculate. To think, expect,
believe, intend : see Guess and Reckon.
Sometimes (New England) cal'late
(1830).
Calends. See Greek Kalends.
Caleys. Caledonian Railway Ordin-
ary Stock.
Calf. 1. An ignoramus, dolt, weak-
ling: cf. Calf lolly (1553). For
synonyms, see BufSe. 2. An endear-
ment : cf. Puss, Ape, Monkey, etc.
3. See Essex calf. To eat the calf in
the cow's belly, to anticipate, to count
one's chickens before they are hatched
( 1748). To slip the calf, to suffer abor-
tion, to be brought to bed : projvrly
of cattle. Calf-bed, a cow's matrix ;
also parturition : cf. Child- bed and
Bairn's-bed (q.v,).
Calf - clinger. Tn pi., pantaloons,
i.e. close-fitting trousors.
Calf - country (land or ground).
One's birthplace ; the hmu1 <>/ curly
life. Also Calf'ti'we, tho period of
youth.
Calf.
Camp-stool Brigade.
Calf, Cow, and Bull Week. Calves. Calves gone to grass, thin
Before the passing of the factory Acts legs, spmdie-shanks. There are tnany
it was customary in manufacturing dis- ways of dressing calves' heads, many
tricts to work very long hours for three ways of saying or doing a foolish thing,
weeks befors Christmas. In the first, a simpleton showing his folly, or,
caK week, the ordinary hours were but generally, if one way won't do, we
slightly exceeded ; in the second, cow must try another. Calves' Jieads are
week, they were considerably aug- best hot, a sarcastic apology for sitting
mented ; and in the third, or
week, operatives spent the greater
portion of Lhe twenty-four in their
workshop.
down to eat with one's hat on.
Calx (Eton). The goal line at foot-
ball. [From a Latin sense of calx, a
go.il, anciently marked with lime or
Calf's'- head. A stupid, witless chalk.] As Eton calx is a space so
~* marked off at each end of wall (q.v.) ;
individual (1600). See Buffle.
Calf-lick. See Cow-lick.
Calf -lolly. An idle simpleton ; a
generic reproach (1653).
Calf-love. A youthful fancy,
romantic attachment (1823).
Calfskin-fiddle. A drum.
Calf - sticking. Selling worthless ingale, etc.
rubbish, on the pretence that it is Cambridgeshire
smuggled goods, to any foolish or
unscrupulous person who can be in-
veigled into purchasing it.
Calibogus. A mixture of rum and
spruce beer, an American beverage
(Grose).
Calico. Thin, wasted, attenuated
(Bailey, 1725).
Calico - bally. Somewhat fast;
good calx is the end at which there is
a door for a goal ; bad calx the end
where part of an elm tree serves the
purpose.
Cambridge - oak. A willow: cf.
Cotswold lion, Cambridgeshire night-
(or Fen Night-
The county is
lfpenny,
ingale). _ _
scored with canals and dykes.]
Camden-town. A half]
brown (q.v.) : see Rhino.
Camel. A great hulking fellow.
Camel's Complaint. Low spirits,
the hump (q.v.).
Camese. A shirt, chemise, shimmy.
[Sp. carnisa, It. camicia.] The word ap-
one always on the look-out for amuse- pears in various forms from the begin,
ment.
Californian. A red herring: see
Glasgow Magistrate.
for gold pieces.
Californian - widow* A married
woman whose husband is absent.
ning of the seventeenth century, e.g.
camisa, camiscia, kemesa, camise, and
In pi., generic in a more genuinely English dress as
commission, which in turn is shortened
to mish.
Camister. A clergyman, a
grass-widow (q.v.). The least offensive blackgown (1851).
sense. [At the period of the Californian Camp. To go to camp, to go to
gold fever many men went West, bed, take rest. [In early settler days
leaving their wives and families behind a camp was formed whenever a halt for
the night was called.] To take info
camp, to kill To camp, to surpass,
floor.
Campbell's Academy. The hulks,
or lighters, on board which felons were
them.
Calk (Eton). To throw.
Call (Eton). The time when the
masters do not call Absence ( q. v. ). To
Tiave or get a call upon, to have a pre-
ference, got the first chance. To call
condemned to hard labour. [Mr.
a <7o, to change one's stand, alter one's Campbell was the first director.]
tactics, give in at any game or business.
See Coals, Put, Spade, Wigging.
Calle. A cloak or gown (Grose).
Calp (or Kelp). A hat: see Gol-
gotha.
Cal vert's Entire. The Fourteenth
Foot. [From its colonel's name ( 1806-
Camp-candlestick. 1. An empty
bottle, ; 2. a bayonet.
Camp-fire. A military social gather-
tamp - follower. A prostitute,
soldiers' trull.
Camp-stool Brigade. People who
1826) : three entire battalions were wait outside a place of entertainment
kept up for the good of Sir Harry, for hours in order to secure seats,
when adjutant-general, with an eye on [Camp-stools, now prohibited by police
Calvert's malt liquors. ']
order, formed part of the outfit.]
85
Oan.
Canoe.
Can. 1. A dollar piece : see Rhino.
2. A general servant, slavey (q.v.).
Canack, Canuck, Kanuck,
K'nuck. A Canadian : usually K'uucfc.
[Obscure, and limited in application :
within, the Canadian frontier a Canuck
is understood to be a French Canadian,
just as within the limits of the Union
only New Bnglanders are termed
Yankees ; elsewhere the appellation is
used indiscriminately.]
Canary (or Canary-bird). 1. A
prisoner (1678). 2. A mistress. 3.
A sovereign, 20s. : formerly a guinea.
English synonyms : yellow boy, gold-
finch, yellow hammer, shinor^gingleboy
monarch, couter, bean, foont, James
(from Jacobus), poona, portrait, quid,
thick 'un, skin, skiv, dragon, goblin : a
guinea was also called a " ned.' French
synonyms (twenty franc piece) : jaunet
sigue (sigle, sigolle or cig), bonnet jaune,
bcuton, inaLtaise, inoule a boutons, me-
daille d'or. 4. A female watcher or
stall (q.v.), mollisher (q.v.) : of. Crow,
a male watcher : 3?r. marque franche,
5. (Salvation Army), a written promise
of a donation or subscription. [At some
of the meetings of the Army, instead
of sending round the plate, the officers
distribute slips of paper on which those
present are invited to record their in-
tentions : the original colour of the
slips was yellow.]
Cancer. To catch or capture a
cancer. See Crab. (1857).
Candle. In pi., mucus at the nose.
Phrases : To hold a candle to another,
to help : see Devil ; not able (or fit) to
Jwld a candle to, useless, nothing to be
to; to sell (or let) by tlie
candle (or by inch of candle), to sell by
candle-auction: bids are received whilst
a small piece of candle burns, the last
bid before the candle goes out securing
the article ; to smell of the candle, to
show trace of study or night- work : cf.
to smell of the lamp ; the game (play,
etc.) is TIC* worth the candle, the end (or
result) does not justify the cost or
labour expended ; to light (or burn) the
candle at both ends, to consume (or
waste) in two directions at once : cf.
Fr., Le jeu ne veut pas la chandeUe
(Cotgrave). Also Proverbs and Pro-
verbial sayings : Set forth the bright-
ness of the sun with a candle ; He burns
one candle to seek another : losing both
time and labour ; To set a candle in the
sunshine ; They grope in the dark that
light not their candle at once ; To hold
a farthing candle to the sun ; To hide
one's candle under a bushel (Biblical :
Matt. v. 15).
Candle-end. In pi., a thing of
little value (short duration, or small im-
portance), trifle, fragment. To drink
off (or eat) candle ends, a romantic
extravagance in drinking a lady's
health, by which gallants gave token
of their devotion.
Candle-keeper (Winchester). One
of eight seniors in college by election
who are not prsefects. [Most of the
privileges of praefects are enjoyed with-
out their powers.] (1840).
Candlestick. 1. (Winchester). A
candidate (1840). 2. (London). In
pi., the fountains in Trafalgar Square.
Candle - waster. 1. A night-stu-
dent : whence candle-vjasting : cf . To
smell of the candle, to show traces of
study at night. 2. A small portion of
burning wick that, falling on the
candle, causes it to run.
Candy. Drunk : see Screwed
(Gro&e).
Candyman. A bailiff, a process
server. jln 1863, during a strike of
miners at the collieries of Messrs.
Strakers and Love, in Durham County,
a hawker of candy and sweetmeats was
employed to serve writs of ejectment.]
Canister. 1. The head: see
Crumpet (1811). 2. A hat: also
canister-cap : see Golgotha.
Cank. Dumb, silent. [Curiously
enough, cank also signifies to chatter,
cackle as a goose ; it only survives
in this latter sense.] (1673).
Cannibal (Cambridge). In Bump-
ing races (q.v.) a college may be repre-
sented by more than one boat, the best
talent being put into the first ; but it
has sometimes happened that the crew
of the second have disappointed the
prophets and bumped the first of its
own college. It is thus termed a
cannibal, having eaten up its own
kind, and a fine is exacted from, it by
the University Boat Club.
Cannikin (or Cannifcen). The
plague (1688).
Cannis-cove. A dog-fancier.
[Latin, canis, a dog.]
Cannon. See Canon.
Cannon-ball. An irreconcilable
opponent of free trade.
Canoe. To paddle one's own canoe*
to make one's own way in life, exhibit
Canon.
Capetta.
skill and energy, succeed unaided : of
Western American origin, but now
universal. Also to bail one's own boat ;
FT., vl conduit or ti mene bien sa barque
(1845).
Canon (or Cannon). Drunk : see
Screwed.
Canoodle. 1. To fondle, bill and
coo. 2. (Oxford). To paddle a canoe.
3. To share profits. 4. To coax.
Canoodler. See Canoodle.
Canoodling. Endearments.
Cant. 1. The secret speech or jargon
of the vagrant classes — gipsies, thieves,
beggars, etc.; hence, contemptuously,
the peculiar phraseology of a particular
class of subject : see Thieves' Latin,
St. Giles' Greek, Peddlars1 French,
etc. (q.v.). Also as verb, to -whine, to
speak the jargon of gipsies, beggars,
and other vagrants, and (generic), to
speak, to talk (1567). 2. A blow or
toss. 3. Food: also Kant, but of.
sense 4. (1851). 4. A gift.
Cantab. A student at Cambridge
University : i.e. Cantabrigian (1750).
Cantabank. A common ballad
singer.
Cantankerous. Cross-grained, ill-
humoured, self-willed, productive of
strife. Hence cantankerously, can-
tankerousness, cantankerate (verb),
and cantankersome (1773).
Cante. See Canter.
Canteen-medal. A stripe for the
consumption of liquor.
Canter. A vagrant, beggar, one
who cants (q.v.) or uses the secret
language otherwise called Peddlars'
French, St. Giles' Greek, etc.
Canterbury. In derisive allusion
(old Puritan) to the see of Canterbury :
e.g. Canterbury - tale (or story), a
tedious yarn, friars' tale or fable, cock-
and-bull story (q.v.); Canterbury-
trick, mean dodge ; Canterbury pace
(rack, rate, trot, gallop), the pace of
a pilgrim on his way to the shrine of
St. Thomas a Becket, a half gallop.
Canticle. A pariah clerk (Grose).
Canting. The jargon used by
beggars, thieves, gipsies, and vagrants :
see Cant (1547).
Canting Crew. See Canter.
Can't. See National Intelligencer,
Hole, Ladder.
Canuck. See Canack.
Canvass. To receive the canvass,
to be dismissed, to get the sack (q.v.) :
see Bag (1652).
Canvasseens. In pi., sailors' can-
vas trousers : see Kicks.
Canvas-town. The Volunteer
Encampment, formerly at Wimbledon,
now at Bisley, at the meeting of the
National Bine Association: also any
camp or baby-city.
Cap. 1. A false cover to a tossing
coin ; also cover-down : the cap shows
either head or tail as it is left on or
taken off. 2. The proceeds of an im-
provised collection : cf. to send round
the cap or hat (1851). 3. (West-
minster). The amount of the collec-
tion at Play and Election dinners.
[The College cap is passed round on
the last night of Play for contribu-
tions.] As verb, (1) To stand by a
friend, take part in any undertaking,
lend a hand. (2) To take off (or touch)
oiie's hat in salutation; also to cap to,
and to cap it (1593). To cap one's
lucky, to run away : see Bunk ; to cap
(or cast) one's skin, to strip naked ; to
set one's cap at, to set oneself to gain
the affections : only of women (1773);
to cap a quotation (anecdote, proverb,
etc.), to fit with a second from the
same, or another, author; to go
one better, in the way of anecdote
or legend (1584) ; to pull caps, to
wrangle in an unseemly way : only of
women (1763) ; to cast one's cap at, to
be indifferent, give up as a bad job ;
to come (fall under, or lie) in one's cap,
to occur to mind, run in the head ; to
put on one's thinking (or considering)
cap, to pass under review, think out ;
tlie cap jits, the remark or description
applies ; to have enough under one's cap,
to be drunk : see Screwed ; to throw
up one's cap, to manifest pleasure by
throwing one's cap in the air ; to kiss
caps ivith to drink out of the same
vessel : hence kiss of a cap ; to drink
cap out, to empty ; also (proverbial),
If your cap be of wool ; As sure as
your cap is of wool ; My cap is better
at ease than my head; Heady as a
borrowed cap.
Cape Cod Turkey. Salted cod:
also Marblehead turkey : cl Billings-
gate pheasant, Yarmouth capon, and
Albany beef (1865).
C a p e 1 1 a. A coat [Italian].
English synonyms: benjamin, cover-
me-decently, upper benjamin (a great-
coat), Joseph, wrap-rasoal, claw-ham-
mer, swallow-tail, steel-pen (all three,
a dress coat), M.B. coat, panupetaston*
Cape Nightingale.
Card.
rock-a-low, reliever, pygostole, ulster,
monkey-jacket : see Caster.
Cape Nightingale. A frog: of.
Cambridgeshire nightingale.
Capeovi. Sick, seedy (q.v.).
Caper. A device, idea, perform-
ance, occupation ; in America, a
racket (q.v.), e.g. the ' real estate
racket' or 'caper' (1867). To cid a
caper upon nothing., or to eat caper
sauce, to be hanged : see Ladder,
(1708).
Caper-juice. Whisky.
Caper-merchant. A dancing
master, hop- merchant (q.v.) (Grose).
Capital. To work capital, to com-
mit an offence punishable with death.
Capivi (or Capivvy). To cry
capivvy, to be persecuted to the death,
or very near it.
Capon. 1. A red herring ; but
applied to other kinds of fish ; herrings
now receiving the distinctive cogno-
men of Yarmouth capons (1640). 2.
A term of reproach — dullard, fool:
see Buffle (1542). 3. A eunuch (1594).
4. A billet-doux: cf. (Cotgrave) Pr.,
poulet, a chicken, also a love letter, or
love message (158S).
Capon-justice. A corrupt judge
Cappadochio (Caperdochy, or
Caperdewsie). A prison : see Cage.
(1600).
Capper. 1. A confederate ; at
cards one who makes false bids in
order to encourage a genuine player.
2. A dummy bidder whose function is
either to start the bidding or to run up
the price of articles for sale. 3. A per-
son or thing who caps, or beats, all
others ; a thing which beats one's
comprehension (1790).
Capper - clawing. See Clapper-
clawing.
Capsick. Drunk : see Screwed.
Captain. 1. A familiar and jesting
address : cf . Governor, Boss, etc.
(1598). 2. A gaming or bawdy-house
bully (1731). Captain is also a fancy
title for a highwayman in a good way
of business : Fletcher uses the term
copper-captain, as also does Washing-
ton Irving, for one who has no right to
the title, and, in modern athletics, we
have the captain of a club or crew, with
the corresponding verb, to captain.
3. Money : see Rhino. 4. A glandered
horse.
Captain Armstrong. To come
Captain Armstrong, to pull a horse
and prevent him from winning. Also
Captain Armstrong, a dishonest jockey.
Captain Cop perthorn' s Crew.
All officers : of a company where every-
one wants to be first in command.
Captain Cork. A man slow in
passing the bottle.
Captain Crank. The chief of a
gang of highwaymen.
Captain Grand. A haughty,
blustering fellow : see Furioso.
Captain Hackum. A hectoring
bully (Grose).
Captain Lieutenant. Meat
neither young enough for veal, nor old
enough for beef. [Properly a brevet
officer who, ranking as captain, re-
ceives lieutenant's pay (Grose).]
Captain Queernabs. A shabby,
ill-dressed man : see Guy.
Captain Quiz. A mocker.
Captain Sharp. A cheating bully,
one whose office it is to bully a 'pigeon'
refusing to pay up (Grose).
Captain Tom. The leader of a
mob ; also the mob itself (Grose).
Caravan. 1. A dupe, gull, subject
of plunder : see Bubble (1676). 2. A
large sum of money (1690). 3. A train
chartered to convey people to a prize
fight. [Early in the present century
caravan, now shortened to van, was
applied to a third class covered railway
carnage ; now a pleasure party is so
described ; also a gipsy's cart ; also
the wheeled cages of a travelling
menagerie.]
Caravansera. A railway station:
thus : The scratch must be toed at
sharp five, so the caravan will start at
four from the caravansera (Hotten).
Card. 1. A device, expedient, or
undertaking: e.g. a good card, a
strong card, a safe card, a likely, or a
doubtful card (1537). 2. A character,
odd fish, eccentric ; generally with
knowing, old, queer, downy, rum,
etc. : cf . Hamlet, v. ii. (from the
card table, such expressions as, a
sure card, a sound card, being of
very ancient use. Osric tells Hamlet
that Laertes is the card and calendar
of gentry) (1835). 3. The ticket
(q.v.), the figure, the correct thing.
Hence (American) a published note,
short statement, request, explanation,
or the like ( Webster). Phrases : To give
one cards, to give one an advantage,
to give points : Pr.., faire un bosuf j
Cardinal,
Carrion.
on the cards, within Che rang©
of probability, liable io turn up:
Dickens popularised the expression
(1749) ; to pack (stock, or put up) the.
cards., to prepare cards for cheating
purposes ; to &peaJs by the card, to
speak with precision, with the utmost
accuracy (1569) ; to face (or brag)
it out with a card of ten, to put on a
bold front ; a codling card, anything
that damps one's ardour, a wet blanket
(q.v.) ; a leading card, an example,
precedent ; to play one's best card, to
stake all, do one's best; to throw (or
fling) up one's cards, to abandon a pro-
ject ; to show one's cards, to make a
clean beast, full explanation, or to
reveal the extent of one's resources ; to
have (or go in) ^v^th good cards, to have
good grounds for expecting success ; to
cast (or count ) one's cards, to take stock,
reckon chances ; a house (or castle') of
cards, an unsecure position, scheme,
etc.
Cardinal. 1. A red cloak: worn by
ladies circa 1740 and later. 2. Mulled
red wine (1861). 3. A shoeblack.
Some London brigades wear red tunics:
that stationed in the City is now better
known as the City Beds. 4. A lobster :
from its colour when cooked (Jules
Janin once made a curious blunder and
called the lobster le cardinal de la mer) ;
whence cardinal hash, a lobster salad.
5. A new [1890] variety of red.
Cardinal's - blessing. A bene-
diction carrying with it no further
advantage (1720).
Care. Not to care or be worth a
fig, pin, rap, button, cent, straw, rush,
or hang, similes ol indifference ; to
care not even so much as the value of a
fig, a pin, or a straw : Fr., s"en battre
Vati : see Worth (1590). / don't care
if I do, a street phrase of no parti-
cular meaning ; also a form of accept-
ing an invitation to drink : Will you
peg ? I don't care if I do.
Careaway. An exclamation of
merriment or recklessness. Care
begone I Away with care! Hence,
a reckless fellow, roisterer, anything
that drives away care (with a pun on
caraway) (1440).
Care-grinder, A treadmill, also
vertical care-grinder (q.v.) : see Wheel
of life.
Cargo (Winchester). A hamper
from home (1840) ; the word is still in
use.
Caii^i. A y. k^. k : see Quill-driver.
Carlicues. See Curlycues.
C a r n e y (or C a r n j j. Seductive
flattery, language covering a design ;
as verb, to wheedle, coax, insinuate
oneself, act in a cajoling manner ;
hence carneying, wheedling, coaxing,
insinuating.
Garnish. Meat. [Ital., carne
neah: through the Lingua Franca.]
Whence carm&li-ken, a thieves' eating
house, prog-shop.
Caroon. A five-shilling piece: sec
Rhino. English synonyms : bull (or
bull's eye), cartwheel, coachwheel (or
simply wheel), tusheroon, dollar, thick
'un(alsoasovereign), ease, caser,decus.
Carpet. To reprimand, call over
the coals, give a wigging (or ear-
wigging), etc. : also to walk the carpet
( 1 823 ). As adj . , generic for luxury and
effeminacy : e.g. carpet consideration,
Mend, gentry, toy, poet, soldier, knight
(q v.), etc. To bring on the carpet, to
bring up or forward.
Carpet-bagger. A political adven-
turer. [After the Civil War, numbers
of Northerners went south j they were
looked upon with suspicion. Originally
a wild-cat banker (q.v.)].
Carpet-bag Recruit. A recruit of
better than ordinary standing, Le. one
with more than he stands upright
in.
Carpet-knight. A stay-at-home
soldier, a shirker of practical work, a
petticoat dangler : also in such com-
binations as car pet -captain, carpet
squire ; all in contempt.
Carpet-swab. A carpet-bag (1837).
Carrier. A rogue employed to
look out, and watch upon the roads, at
inns, etc., in order to carry information
to their respective gangs, of a booty in
prpspect (J3. E.).
Carrier-pigeon. 1. A cheat, speo.
a lottery office swindler (1781). [The
sharper attended the drawing of a lot-
lery in the Guildhall, and as soon aa a
number or two are drawn, wrote them
on a card ; a confederate, ready
mounted, rode full speed to some
distant insurance office, whore another
of the gang, commonly a decent-
siderable sum, thus biting the biter
(Grose).] 2. A peripatetic commission
agent, a kind of tout.
Carrion. The human body ; for-
merly a corpse.
Carrion-case.
Cassan.
Carrion-case. A shirt, chemise :
arrio^, the humxn body: see Flesh-
An undertaker cases.
Carrion Hunter.
(1785).
Carrots. In pi., red hair: also a
proper name (1085). Take a carrot!
A contemptuous retort : originally
ohscene.
Carry. To carry coals, to put up
with insults, endure an affront or in-
jury (1593) ; to carry boodle, see Boodle;
to carry real estate, to neglect the finger
nails ; to carry out one's bat, see Bat ;
to carry com, to bear success well and
equally : of a man who breaks down
under a sudden access of wealth, or
who becomes affected and intolerant, it
is said, He doesn't carry com well ; to
carry on, to make oneself conspicuous
by a certain hue of behaviour, conduct
oneself wildly or recklessly, joke or
frohc ; also, in a special sense, open to
flirt openly: whence carryings on,
frolicsome or questionable proceedings,
a course of conduct that attracts atten-
tion (1663) ; carry me out and, bury
me decently, a dovetail to an incredible
story, or something displeasing j varied
by Let me die! Good -night! etc.,
as also by Carry me home ! Carry
me upstairs ! Carry me out and leave
me in the gutter ! (a writer in Notes
and Queries (2 S., iii. 387) states it to
have been in use circa 1780); to
carry the sticJs : see Trip up.
Carry-castle. An elephant
(1598).
Carsey. A house, den, or crib.
[Lingua Franca casa, a house.]
Cart. To defeat: in a match, fight,
examination, race, etc. : e.g. we carted
them home, we gave them an awful
licking. In the cart (or carted), an
employee is said to put an owner in the
cart, when, by trick or fraud, his horse
is prevented from winning : also in the
box ; 2. in the know, in the hunt ;
3. the lowest scorer at any point is
said to be in the cart ; sometimes on
the tailboard ; to walk the cart, to walk
over a racecourse ; to cart off (out or
away), to remove ; to set (or <pwt ) the
cart before the horse, to reverse matters
(1520) ; to be left out of the carfs tail,
to suffer loss or injury through care-
lessness (1541) ; to keep cart on wheels,
to peg away, keep things going.
Cart - grease. Butter, spec, bad
butter. Englishsynonyms : cow-grease,
Thames mud, cow-oil, spread, scrape,
smear, ointment, sluter.
Carts. A pair of shoes : see Trotter-
90
Cart - wheel. 1. A five-shilling
piece, also coach- wheel, and wheel :
see Rhino. 2. A broad hint. 3. A
continuous series of somersaults in
which the hands and feet alternately
touch the ground, the appearance pro-
duced being similar to the spokes of a
cart wheel in motion ; also Catharine
wheel (1851).
Carver and Gilder. A match-
maker : cf . fingersmith, a midwife.
Casa, See Case.
Cascade. 1. Tasmania beer : be-
cause manufactured from ' cascade '
water : of. Artesian. 2. A trundling
gymnastic performance in panto-
mime. As verb, to vomit (1771).
Case. 1. A certainty in fact, an
accentuated or abnormal instance in
character. When two persons fall in
love, or are engaged to marry, it is said
to be a case with them. An eccentric
person is a case. 2. A bad five-shilling
piece. Half a case, a bad half-crown,
cf. Caser. 3. A house, respectable or
otherwise : spec, a brothel, and, by
transference, a water-closet (1678).
4. (Westminster School). The discus-
sion by Seniors and tipper Election
preceding a tanning (q.v.), and the
tanning itself. A case of crabs, a
failure ; a case of pickles, an incident,
a bad breakdown, a break up ; a case
of stump, impecuniosity.
Caseine. A variant of The cheese
(q.v.) : of. Cassan. (1856).
Caser. Five shillings : see Case
and Caroon. (1879).
Case-vrow. A dress-lodger (q.v.).
Casey. Cheese: see Cassan.
Cash. Equal to cash, of unquestion-
able merit ; to cash a prescription, to get
a prescription made up ; cash or pass in
one's checks, to die (in poker, counters
or checks, purchased at certain fixed
rates, are equivalent to com) ; to cash
up, to liquidate a debt.
C a s h e 1 s. Great Southern and
Western of Ireland Railway Stock.
[Said to be derived from the fact that
the line originally had no station at
Cashel.]
Cask. A brougham, pill-box (q.v.) :
FT., bagniole.
Cass. See Cassan.
Cassan. Cheese ; also cass, casuon,
Cast.
Catamount.
cassam, cassom, and casey. TLo old-
est form is cassan (1567). English
synonyms: caz, sweaty -toe, choke -
dog.
Cast. See Accounts, Sheep's Eyes.
Castell. To see, look (1610).
Caster. 1. A cloak (1567). 2. A
cast-off (1859).
Castieu's Hotel. Melbourne gaol:
BO called from Mir. J. B. Castieu : see
Castle -rag. A fourpenny piece,
flag : see Joey.
Cast - off. 1. In pi., landsmen's
clothes: see Togs. 2. A discarded
mistress : see Cast.
Castor. A hat : Latin, castor* a
beaver : hats -were formerly made of
beaver's fur: see Golgotha. (1640).
Cat. 1. A prostitute (1401). 2.
A shortened form of Cat-o* -nine- tails
(q.v.) (1788). 3. A lady's muff. 4.
A quart pot : pint pots are Kittens :
cat and kitten sneaking, stealing pewter
pots (1851). 5. See Tame cat. 6. A
fanciful monster infesting lodging
houses, •which devours with equal
readiness cold meat and coals, spirits
and paraffin, etc., etc. (1827). Fly-
ing cat, an owl (1690). To jerk, shoot,
or whip tlie cat (or to cat), to vomit
(1609). To whip the cat (or to draw
through the, water with a cat). 1. To
indulge in practical jokes (1614):
hence cat-whipping or whipping the cat :
A trick often practised on ignorant
country fellows, vain of their strength ;
by laying a wager with them that they
may be pulled through a pond by a
cat; the bet being made, a rope is
fixed round the waist of the party to
be catted, and the end thrown across
the pond, to which the cat is also
fastened by a pack-thread, and three
or four sturdy fellows are appointed
to lead and whip the cat ; these, on a
given signal, seize the end of the cord,
and pretending to whip the cat, haul
the astonished booby through the
water (Grose) 2. To work at private
houses. Phrases: To see, how the
cat will jump, to watch events and act
accordingly ; also (American) to sit on
the fence (1827) ; you kill my cat and
PU kill your dog. Ca' me, ca* thee,
an exchange in the matter of scratch-
ing backs : FT., passez moi la casse, et
je tfenvarrai la senne ; to let the cat out
of the bag, to reveal a secret, to put
one's foot in it (this and the kindred
pliraae, To buy a, pig in a poke, are
said to originate in the bumpkin's
trick of substituting a cat for a young
pig and bringing tt to market in a bag :
if the customer were wary the cat was
let out of the bag, and there was no
deal) ; who ate or stole the cat ? a
gentleman whose larder was frequently
broken by bargees, had a cat cooked
and placed as a decoy : it was taken and
eaten, and became a standing jest
against the pilferers ; to lead a cat and
dog life, to quarrel night and day ; to
turn cat in^ the pan, to fc rat,' to reverse
one's position through self-interest,
to play the turncoat (the derivation is
absolutely unknown : tlie one gener-
ally received — that cat is a corrup-
tion of cate or cake, is historically
untenable) (1559) ; to feel as though a
cat had kittened in one's mouth, to-
have a month, after drunkenness.
Many other phrases and proverbial
sayings will occur to mind : A cat may
look at a king, a retort on impertinent
or ill -placed interference, there are
certain things which an inferior may
do in presence of a superior ; care
Jjilled the cat, the strongest will ulti-
mately break down, even though one
had, hke the proverbial cat, nine
lives ; enough to make a cat speak (or
laugh), of something very extraordin-
ary or facetious (frequently of very
good drink); to -fight like Kilkenny
cats, to engage in a mutually destruc-
tive struggle ; to t>ett the cat : see Bell ;
to grin like a Cheshire cat. Also pro-
verbial sayings, Wisdom is great if the
cat never touched milk; The cat
winks when her eye is out ; The cat
likes (or will eat) fish, but she will not
wet her feet to catch them ; In the dark
(or when the candle is out) all cats are
grey ; Cats are not to be caught with-
out mittens ; The cat will after kind ;
Evil will abide as long as a cat is tied
to a pudding ; As like as a cat and a
cart wheel; Not .room enough to
swing a cat ; A cat and mouse game.
Catabaptist A denier of the ortho-
dox doctrine of baptism: 16th and
17th cent. [Coined by Gregory Naa-
ianzen.]
Catamarin. A vixenish old woman
a cross-grained person of either sex
(1833).
Catamount (Catarnountain, or Cat
o' Mountain). A shrew. [Cf. Cata-
marin and Beaumont and Fletcher's
91
Cat and Mouse.
Cat-o* -nine-tails.
use of the word for a wild auvi
from tlia mountains, a transferred
sense of catamount, a leopard or
panther.]
Cat and Mouse. A house.
Catastrophe. The tail or latter
end : cf. the Falstaitian I'll tickle
your catastrophe.
Catawampous (Catawamptiously).
With avidity, fiercely, eagerly, or
violently destructive (1843). As subs.
pi., vermin, especially those that sting
and bite.
Catch. A man or woman matri-
monially desirable ; formerly a prize or
booty ( 1593). In combination anything
that catches : e.g. catch-all, catcli-bit,
catch-cloak, catch-coin, catch-credit,
catch - fish, catch - fool, catch - penny
(guinea, slnHing, etc.) and so forth.
To catch (or cut) a crt b. (1) To turn
the blade of the oar, or feather, under
water at tlie end of the stroke, and
thus be unable to recover ; (2) to
lose control of the oar at the middle of
the stroke by digging too deeply ; or
(3) to miss the water altogether, — also
to capture a cancer, and (American)
to oatch a lobster ; to catch a tartar,
to unexpectedly meet -with one's
superior, TO fall into one's own trap,
having a design upon another, to be
caught oneself: also to catch on a
snag (q.v.) (1C82) ; catch that catch
may (catch as catch can, etc.), to help
oneself, each as he can ; catch me / (or
catch me at it /), an emphatic denial
(1780) ; to catch it, to get a thrashing
or scolding (1835) ; to catch on, to
understand, grasp, apprehend, quickly
seize an opportunity ; to catch the eye,
to arrest attention ; to catch fire, to be-
come inflamed with, passion, inspired
with zeal, etc. ; to catch on a snag, to
catch a tartar (q.v.), meet with one's
superior ; to catch on the hop, to catch
or have on the hip, as Gratiano catches
Shylock : see Hop ; to catch the wind
of the world, to quickly understand
the meaning of what is said. See
Twig.
Catch-'em-alive (or alivo). 1.
A fly-paper. 2. A tooth comb.
Catch-fart. A footman, page-boy.
Catch - pole. A warrant - officer,
bum-bailifi : formerly in respectable
use, but employed contemptuously
from the sixteenth century (1377).
Catchy. Vulgarly or cheaply at-
tractive, of a quality to take the eye or
ear, easily caught and remembered
(as a tune) (1831).
Caterpillar. A soldier : see Mud-
crusher.
Caterwaul. To make a noise like
cats at rutting time, woo, make love
(1899).
Catever. A queer or singular
affair, anything poor or bad. [Lingua
Eranca, and Ifcal,, caltivo, bad.]
Catfish death. Suicide by drown-
itgut - scraper. A fiddler: also
scraper or teaser of the catgut, rosin-
the-bow (1633).
Cat - harping fashion. Drinking
cross ways, and not as usual over the
left thumb (Grose),
Cat -head. In pi., the paps: see
Dairy.
Cathedral (Winchester). A high
hat : see Golgotha ; as adj., old-
fashioned, antique (1690). [Because
only worn when going to the Cathe-
dral.]
Catharine Puritan. A membei
of St. Catharine's Hall, Cambridge. [A
pun on Catharine and KaQaipiif, tc
purify.] Also Doves (q.v.)
Catherine Hayes. A liquor con-
sisting of claret, sugar, and nutmeg
(1856). [The derivation may presum-
ably be traced to the immense popu-
larity of the Irish singer at the an-
tipodes.]
Cat's. St. Catharine's Hall : whence
Caffs men, members of St. Catharine's
Hall.
Catherine Wheel. See Cartwheel.
Cat - lap. Thin potations of any
sort, especially tea (1785).
Cat-market. A number of people
all talking at once : e.g. You make a
row like a cat-market, a general cater-
wauling.
Cat - match. When a rook or
cully is engaged amongst bad bowlers
(Grose).
Catoller (or Catolla). A noisy,
rating fellow : a foolish betting man
tJSgan).
Cat - o' - nine - tails (or cat). A
nine-lashed scourge still occasionally
used on criminals, but until 1881 the
authorised means of punishment in the
British army and navy. In prison par-
lance the cat-o' -nine- tails is Number
one, or the Nine-tailed bruiser (q.v.),
the birch being Number two (q.v.)
(1665).
Si
Cat-party.
Cos.
Cat -party (Bitch - party). A
gathering of women.
Cats. Atlantic Seconds : for tele-
graphic purposes.
Cats and Dogs. To rain cats and
dogs, and pitchforks and slwvels, to ram
heavily (1738).
Cat's-foot. To live under the
cat's foot, to be under petticoat gov-
ernment, hen-pecked: cf. Apron-
string.
Cat's - head (Winchester). The
end of a shoulder of mutton.
Catskin - earls. The three senior
earls in the House of Lords, viz. the
Earls of Shrewsbury, Derby, and
Huntingdon, the only three earldoms
before the seventeenth century now
existing, save those that (like Arundel,
Rutland, etc.), are merged in higher
titles, and the anomalous earldom of
Devon (1553), resuscitated in 1831.
Cat's-meat. The lungs.
Cat's-paw (or Cat's-foot), A
dupe, tool. [A reference to the fable
(Bertrand el Raton) of a monkey using
the paw of a cat, dog, or fox, to pull
roasted chestnuts off the fire, current
hi the sixteenth century, but varying
considerably in details.] (1657).
Cat-sticks. Thin legs (1785),
Cat's-water. Gin.
Cattle. An imperfect or smutty
look on a printed sheet, caused by an
oily or unclean roller.
Cattle. A term of contempt:
applied to human beings : e.g. queer
cattle, kittle-cattle (1577). Cattle is
often used of horses.
Cattle-bug. See Bug.
Caudge- pawed. Left-handed
(Grose).
Caught. Caught on the fly, caught
in the act, on the hop, or hip.
Cauliflower. 1. A clerical wig
supposed to resemble a cauliflower ;
modish in the time of Queen Anne. 2.
The foaming head of a tankard of
beer. In Fr., tinge or faux-col. 3. In
pi. the Forty-seventh Regiment of
Foot : from its white facings.
Caulk. 1. Sleep ; as verb, to sleep :
also subs., caulking (1836). 2. To
cease ; shut up ; i.e. stop one's talk, or
leave off talking.
Caulker. 1. A dram, stiff glass of
grog : generally a finishing bumper.
When this happens to bo sherry and
follows the drinking of red wines, it is
called a whitewash (q.v.) (1808). 2.
A he, anything surprising or in-
credible : see Whopper.
Caution. Anything out of the
common, wonderful, staggering, to be
avoided, that causes surprise, wonder,
fear. At Oxford, in 1865, a guy
or cure (1835). Whence cautionary,
that which is a caution.
Cavaulting - school. A house of
ill-fame.
Cave (or Cave in). To give way
when opposition can no longer be
maintained, break up, turn up.
English synonyms: to knuckle under,
knock under, give in, sing small, turn
it up, chuck it up, jack up, climb down
(q.v.), throw up the sponge, chuck it,
go down, go out, cut it, out the rope
(pugilistic), etc. ( 1 877). Cave f (Eton).
Beware ! a byword among boys
out of bounds when a master is in
sight.
Caviare. Obnoxious matter
blacked out by the Russian press
censor. Every foreign periodical
entering Russia is examined for ob-
jectionable references or irreligious
matter, the removal whereof is accom-
plished in two ways. If the items or
articles are bulky, they are torn or cut
out bodily. If they are brief, they are
blacked out by means of a rect-
angular stamp about as wide as an
ordinary newspaper column, and
cross-hatched in such a way that,
when Inked and dabbed upon the
paper, it makes a close network of
white lines and black diamonds. The
peculiar mottled or grained look of a
page thus treated has suggested the
attributive caviare : a memory of the
look of the black salted caviare spread
upon a slice of bread and butter. As
verb, to black out.
Cavort. To prance, frisk, run or
ride in a heedless or purposeless
manner. [Lingua Franca, cavoHa,
prancing on horseback.] (1848).
Cawbawn. See Cobbon.
Caw - handed (or Caw - pawed).
Awkward, not dexterous, ready or
nimble (Grose).
Caxton, A wig. [A corruption of
caxon.]
C a y u s e. A nickname given by
Mormon girls to young Latter Day
Saints : the Yahoos of the Gentiles.
[The cayuse is properly the common
Indian pony.]
Caz. Cheese: seeOassan. (1812).
Cedar.
Chalk.
Cedar (Eton). 1. A pair -oared
boat, inrigged, without canvas, and
very crank. [From the material.]
2. A pencil.
Celestial-poultry. Angels.
Celestial. 1. In pi., The Ninety-
seventh Regiment of Foot. 2. A
turn-up or pug nose: see Conk.
3. A Chinaman. [The Chinese Empire
is spoken of as the Celestial Empire.]
Cellier. An out-and-out, unmiti-
gated lie : an echo of the Meal-tub
plot (1682). Cf. Burke, Boycott,
Bishop, and Salisbury.
Cellar-flap. A step or dance
performed •within the compass of (say)
a cellar-nap : the Whitechapel artist
achieves as many changes of step as
possible without shifting his ground :
his action being restricted to the feet
and legs : also to cut capers on a
trencher : to double-shuffle.
Cent. See Worth.
Cent-per-cent. A usurer (Grose).
Centurion. A batsman scoring a
hundred runs. [From Centurion, the
commander of a * century,' in the
Eoman Army.]
Century. A hundred pounds; or
at cricket, etc., a score of a hundred.
[Originally a division of the Roman
Army numbering 100 men. In Eng-
lish it was and is in common use to
signify a group of a hundred.]
Cert. A certainty : also a dead
(or moral) certainty, a dead 'un, and a
moral (1859).
Certainty. An infant of the female
sex : see Uncertainties.
Chafe. To thrash soundly, warm
(1693).
Chaff. 1. Ironical or sarcastic
banter, fooling, humbug, ridicule. As
verb, to banter, jest, gammon, or quiz
(1821). Chaffy, full of banter. 2.
(Christ's Hospital). A small article or
plaything, e.g. a pocket chaff ; as
adj. (Christ's Hospital), pleasant, glad :
sometimes chaffy. As intj. (Christ's
Hospital), an exclamation signifying
joy or pleasure. Also phrases and
proverbs : neither corn nor chaff,
nondescript, neither one thing nor
another (1835); To sell corn and eat
chaff, to deny oneself, play the miser
(1579) ; A grain of wheat in a busnel of
chaff, poverty of result, much cry and
little wool.
Chaff-cutter. A back-biter,
Blunderer.
C h a ff e r. LA quizzer, banterer
(q.v.). 2. The mouth, the tongue
(1821); to moisten one's chaffer, to
drink : see Lush.
Chaffing-crib. The place where a
man receives his intimates ; a den,
snuggery, diggings (1821).
Chained (or Chain) Lightning.
Whisky of the vilest description :
warranted to kill at forty rods : also
forty-rod h'ghtning.
Chain - gang. Jewellers ; watch-
chain makers : FT., boguiste and chain-
iste.
Chair. To put in the chair, to
commit to prison : of drivers neglect-
ing to pay hire for their cabs.
Chairmarking. Inserting the date
in a cab-driver's licence in words in-
stead of figures : or, endorsing it in an
unusually bold, heavy hand : a hint
to possible employers that the holder
is undesirable. In other trades it is
understood that an unexceptionable
character, with the adjectives care-
fully underlined, is to be read as imply-
ing just the opposite of what it appears
to say.
Chaldese. To trick, cheat, take
in (1684).
Chalk. LA score, reckoning;
whence, by chalks, many chalks, long
chalks, etc., i.e. degrees or marks ; also
credit, tick (1529). 2. A scratch or
soar (1846). As verb, (1) To score
up, tick off. (2) To make one stand
treat, or pay his footing ; an old
hand succeeds in chalking the shoes
of a green hand, the latter has to
stand drinks all round. (3) To strike :
cf. chalkers, sense 1 (1822). Phrases:
To chalk up (or chalk it up), to credit,
take credit, put to one's account
(1597) ; to beat by long (or many) chalks,
to beat thoroughly, show appreciable
superiority (1857) ; to walk (or stump
one's chalks), to move or run away, be
off ; to be able to walk a chalk, to be
sober (the ordeal on board ship of
trying men suspected of drunkenness
is to make them walk along a line
chalked on the deck, without deviating
to right or left) ; making chalks, a
term connected with the punishment
of boys on board ship, and in the
Royal Naval School : two chalk lines
are drawn wide apart on the deck or
floor, and a boy to be punished places
a foot on each of these lines, and
stoops, thereby presenting a con-
Chalker.
Chappie.
venient section of his person to the
boatswain or master ; to chalk the
lamp-post, to bribe : see grease the palm
(1857). Other expressions connected
with chalk are, to know chalk from
cheese ; to chalk out, etc.
Chalker. 1. In pi., Men of wit
in Ireland, who in the night amuse
themselves with cutting inoffensive
passengers across the face with a knife.
They are somewhat like those facetious
gentlemen, some time ago known in
England by the title of sweaters and
mohocks (Qrose). 2. A milkman.
Chalk - farm. The arm. English
synonyms: bender, hoop* stick, fin,
daddle.
Chalk - head. One with a good
head for figures: spec, a waiter
(1856).
Cham (or Chamxny). Champagne,
(q.v.), boy.
Chamber of Horrors. 1. The
Peeresses' Gallery in the House of
Lords : cf. Cage, sense 4. 2. In pi.,
sausages.
Chance. To have an eye to the main
chance, to keep in view that which
will advantage (1609). To chance the
ducks, to risk what one may, take
every chance : also, to chance the
arm.
Chancer. A liar; also an in-
competent workman : i.e. one who
chances what he cannot do.
Changery. In chancery, in pugil-
ism, the head under the left arm of
an opponent so that he can pound
away at it with his right ; also fig., in
a parlous case, an awkward fix :
Fr., chanceUerie and coup de chan-
ceUerie, almost literal translations
(1819).
Chaney-eyed. One-eyed : cf .
squinny-eyed.
Change. To give change, to pay
out, give one his deserts ; whence, to
take one's change out of, to get even
with, give tit for tat : see infra ; to
have att one's change about one, to be
clever, quick-witted, compos mentis,
with twelve pence to the shilling about
one ; to put the change on, to deceive
mislead (1667) ; to ring the changes,
to change better for worse; also to
pass counterfeit money, to pitch the
snide (q.v.) : see Ring (1661) ; to take
the change out of [a person or thing],
to be revenged, take an equivalent, get
quid pro quo : e.g. Take your change out
of that ! with a blow or other rejoinder :
of. Put that in your pipe and smoke
it ! (1829); quids change artiste, a per-
former, male or female, who sings one
song in one costume, retires for a few
seconds and returns to sing another in
another guise, and so on; to change one's
note (or tune), to pass from laughter to
tears, from arrogance to humility, to
alter one's mode of speech, behaviour,
etc. : see Breath. (1578).
Change-bags (Eton). Grey flannel
trousers for cricket, and knicker-
bockers for football.
Chant (or Chaunt). 1. A song;
to throw off a rum chaunt, to sing
a good song (1882). 2. A cipher,
initials, or mark of any kind, on a
piece of plate, linen, or other article ;
anything so marked is said to be
chanted ; also an advertisement in a
newspaper or handbill, etc. (1812).
As verb, (1) to talk, sing praise, cry,
crack up : Fr., pousser la goualante :
street patterers and vendors chant
their songs and wares, oftentimes to
an extent not warranted by their qual-
ity. (2) To sell a horse by fraudulent
representation : Fr., enrosser (1816).
Hence chanter (generally horse-chanter,
(1) a fraudulent horse-dealer ; and (2)
a street patterer : commonly spelt
ohaunter (q.v.) ; chanting, selling
unsound or vicious horses by a trick.
Chantey (or Chanty). A song
sung by sailors at their work. The
music is to a certain extent tradi-
tional, the words — which are com-
monly unfit for ears polite — are
traditional likewise. The words and
music are divided into two parts — the
chanty proper, which is delivered by
a single voice, with or without a fiddle
obligato, and the refrain and chorus,
which are sung with much straining and
tugging, and with peculiar breaks and
strange and melancholy stresses, by a
number of men engaged in the actual
performance of some piece of bodily
labour.
Chantie. A chamber-pot : see It,
Chapel (or Chapel of ease). A
water-closet : see Mrs. Jones.
Chapel of little ease. The police
cells : see Little case.
Chapped. Parched, dry, thirsty
(1673).
Chappie (or Chappy). The latest
variety ( 1890) of a man about town, a
dandy : a term of intimacy.
95
Character. A man or woman
exhibii/iii1^ some prominent (and
usually contemptible) trait, an eccen-
tric, a case (q.v.) : generally with
low, queor, comic, etc. (1773).
Charactered. Burnt in the hand,
lettered (q v.) (1785).
Charing-Cross. A horse ; sse Prad.
Chariot. Aa omnibus : m the
sixteenth century a vehicle of any
kind, and in uiic eighteenth a light
four-wheeled carriage.
Chariot-bussing. Picking pockets
in an omnibus.
Charity. Cold as chanty, lacking
in feeling, perfunctory ; charity begins
at "home, ties of family, friendship, etc.,
come first.
Charley (or Charlie). 1. A
night-watchman. A popular name,
prior to the introduction by Sir B.
Peel, in 1829, of the present police
force ; since fallen into desuetude.
The Charlies were generally old men
whose chief duty was crying the hour on
their rounds. Boxing a Charley was
a favourite amusement with young
bucks and bloods : when they found a
night-watchman asleep in his box,
they would overturn it, leaving the
occupant to escape as best he might.
Charles I. reorganised the watch
system of the metropolis in 1640. 2.
A small pointed beard, fashionable in
the time of Charles I. : of. Imperial,
Goatee. 3. A fox. 4. A watch. 5.
(tailors') The nap on glossy-surfaced
cloth, also a round-shouldered figure.
Charley Bates' farm (or garden).
See Bates' farm-
Charley - Lancaster. A hand-
kerchief.
Charley- pitcher. A sharper
working the thimble-rig, three-card
trick, prick the garter, etc.
Charley-Prescot. A waistcoat.
Charley-wag. To play the
Charley-wag, to absent oneself from
school without leave, play truant;
figuratively to disappear : l"r., taitter
(or caler) Pecole.
Charlies. 1. The paps: see
Dairy. 2. (Winchester: obsolete).
Thick gloves made of twine. [Intro-
duced by a Mr. Charles Griffith.]
Charm. 1. A picklock (1785).
2. In pi., the paps: FT., les appas'.
once in literary use, but now impos-
sible except as slang. 3. In pi.,
generic for money : see Rhino.
Charter. To charier the bar (or
grocery). To buy all the liquor in
stock and stand drinks round as long
as it lasts : this freak was not infre-
quent in the West. In Australia a
similar expression is to shout oneself
hoarse (q.v.). /
Chasing. Exceeding a given average
standard of production.
Chasse. To dismiss : FT., chasser
(1847).
Chat. 1. A house. 2. The truth,
real state of a case, proper words
to use, correct card (1819). 3.
Gabble, chatter, impudence ; e.g.
None of your chat. As verb, to hang :
C h a t e s. 1. The gallows : also
Chattes and Chats (1567): see
Nubbmg- cheat. 2. In pL, lice. Eng-
lish synonyms : active citizens, crabs,
crumbs, friends in need, back friends,
grey backs, black cattle, Scots Greys,
gentleman's companions, creepers,
gold - backed 'uns, German ducks,
dicky-birds, familiars, saddle-backs,
Yorkshire Greys.
Chat-hole. A hole in a wall, made
to carry on conversation (prison).
Chats. 1. Seo Chates. 2. Seals,
3. London, Chatham, and Dover Bail-
way Stock.
Chatterbox. An incessant talker ;
contemptuously of adults and play-
fully of children. Also chatter-basket,
chatter-bones., chatter-cart, chatter-
bladder, chatter-bag, chatter-pie, etc.
Chatter - broth (or water), tea, scandal
broth (q.v.). Chitter - chatter (or
Chatter-clatter), small talk, gossip.
Chatter-house, a resort for women
(1611).
Chatterer. A blow upon the
mouth, or a blow that tells (1827).
Chatterers. The teeth: see
Grmdors.
Chattery. Cotton or linen goods
(1821).
Chatty. A filthy man : see Chat.
As adj., filthy* lousy.
Chatty-feeder. A spoon.
Chaunt. See Chant, To chaumt
the play, to explain the tricks and
manoeuvres of thieves.
C h au n t e r. 1. -A street ballad
singer, reciter of dying speeches, etc.
Rarely heard now except in the poor-
est neighbourhoods. The practice is
peculiar. One man gets as far as he
can, and when his voice cracks a coxa-
Ckaunter-cove.
Cheer.
pardon takes things up. 2. See
Chanter, sense 1.
Chaunter-cove. A reporter.
Chaunter-cull. A writer of bal-
lads and street literature for the use of
chaunters (q.v.). They haunted cer-
tain well - known public houses in
London and Birmingham, and were
open to write ballads to order on any
subject, the rate of remuneration
varying from half-a-crown to seven-
and-sixpence. The chauntcr having
practically disappeared, his poet has
gone with him (1781).
Chaunter upon the Leer. An
advertiser.
Chauvering - donna (or - moll).
A prostitute : see Tart.
Chaw. 1. A countryman, yokel,
bumpkin. In common use at public
schools (1856). 2. A mouthful, gob-
bet, what can be crammed in the
mouth at once, e.g. a quid of tobacco,
a dram of spirits, etc. : as verb, to eat,
chew noisily, and roughly bite : once
literary, now specifically to chew
tobacco (1749). 3. A trick, device,
sell ; also to deceive. Phrases : To
chaw over, to create ridicule by repeat-
ing one's words ; to chaw up, to get the
better of, demolish, do for, smash or
finish ; chawed up, utterly done for
(1843) ; to chaw up one's words, to
retract an assertion, to eat one's words.
Chawbacon. A countryman, a
bumpkin ( q. v. ). Other nicknames are
bacon-slicer, clod-hopper, barn-door
savage, clod- pole, cart-horse, Johnny,
cabbage-gelder, turnip -sucker, joskin,
jolterhead, yokel, clod - crusher, etc.
(1811).
Cheap. On the cheap, at a low rate
[of money], economically, keeping up a
showy appearance on small means ;
cheap and nasty, of articles pleasing to
the eye, but shoddy in fact : cf. Cheap
and nasty, like Short's in the Strand,
a proverb applied to the deceased
founder of cheap dinners, now a well-
known wine-bar ; to feel cheap, to have
a mouth on, suffering from a night's
debauch ; dirt cheap or dog chaep, in-
expensive, as cheap as may be : dog
cheap is the earliest form in which
this colloquialism appears in English
literature (1577), dirt cheap not being
found earlier than 1837.
Cheapside. He came home by way
of Cheapside, i.e. he gave little or
nothing for it, he got it cheap.
G 97
Cheat Generic for a thing, spec,
the gallows ; also the Nubbing, Top-
ping, or Treyning-cheat. The word
is variously spelt — chet, chete, cheate,
cheit, chate, cheat. The following com-
binations illustrate its use : — Betty-
cheze, an apron ; bleting-chete, a sheep
or calf; cackhng-chete, a fowl ; crashing-
cheats, the teeth ; grunting -chete, a pig ;
hearing -chetes, the ears ; low'ing-chete,
a cow ; lullaby - chete, an infant ;
mofling - chete, a napkin ; nubbing-
cheat, the gallows ; prattling -chete, the
tongue ; quacking-chete, a duck : smett-
ing-chete, the nose ; topping-cheat, the
gallows; treymng-cheat, the gallows;
trundling - cheat, a cart or coach — all
of which see (1567).
Cheats. Sham cuffs or wristbands,
half sleeves: cf. Dicky and Sham
(1688).
Checks. Generic for money, cash
[A poker term]. To pass (or hand) in
one's checks, to die : see Hop the twig.
Cheek. 1. Insolence, jaw ; e.g.
None of your cheek, None of your
jaw. Equivalents are Up, chat,
imperance, mouth, chin, chirrup, and
nine shillings (nonchalance) (1840).
2. Audacity, confidence, impudence,
brass, face. Formerly brow was used
in the same sense (1642). Also aa
verb in both senses. To one's own
cheek, to one's own share, all to oneself
(1841) j to cheek up, to answer saucily.
Cheek - ache. To have the cheek-
ache, to blush, to be abashed.
Cheekiness. Impudence, effront-
ery, cool audacity (1847).
Cheekish (or Cheeky). Audacious,
impudent, saucy.
Cheeks. 1. The posteriors. 2. An
accomplice (1857).
Cheeks and Ears. A kind of
head-dress (1600).
Cheeks the Marine. Mr. Nobody :
popularised by Captain Marryat. Also
a sarcastic rejoinder to a foolish or
incredible story, Tell that to Cheeks
the marine (1833). *
Cheer. To change cheer, to exhibit
emotion, change countenance ; to make
a cheer, to assume a look of anger, fear,
shame, etc. ; what cheer ? how are
you ? with good cheer, readily,
gladly; to be of good cheer, to be in
good fettle, stout of heart, courageous ;
the fewer the better cheer, the fewer
there are, the more there is for each
to eat.
Cheese.
Chic.
Cheese. 1. The cheese, anything first-
rate or highly becoming ; the expres-
sion runs up and down the whole
gamut of cheese nomenclature, from
the Stilton, Double Gloster, to the
pure Limburger (1835). 2. An adept,
one who takes the shine out of
another : at Cambridge an overdressed
dandy is a howling cheese. Hard
cheese, what is barely endurable, hard
lines, bad luck ; tip-cheese, probably
Tip-cat (q.v.) ; cheese it ! leave off !
have done ! be off ! (1811). To make
cheeses (Fr., faire des fromages), a
schoolgirl's amusement : turning
rapidly round and round, the figure-
maker suddenly sinks to the floor,
causing the petticoats to inflate some-
what in the form of a cheese: also
a deep curtsey (1857). See Bread,
Chalk, Moon.
Cheese-box. A Confederate nick-
name for a vessel of the Monitor
type (1860-65): cf. Tinclad.
Cheese - cutter. 1. A prominent,
aquiline nose : see Conk. 2. A large,
square peak to a cap : Fr., Zouave
abatjour. 3. In pi., bandy-legs: see
Drumsticks.
Cheese - knife* A sword: also
Cheese- toaster.
Cheesemongers. The First Life-
guards. [Bestowed, it is said, on
account of veterans declining to serve
when the corps was remodelled in
1788, on the ground that the ranks
were no longer composed of gentle-
men, but of cheesemongers.] Also
The cheeses.
Cheeser. An eructation.
Cheeses. See Cheesemongers.
Cheese - toaster. A sword. Eng-
lish synonyms : Toasting-fork, toast-
ing iron, sharp, knitting-needle, iron,
cheese-knife, tool, poker (1785).
Cheesy. Fine, showy: the reverse
of dusty (q.v.) (1858).
Chemiloon. Chemise and drawers
hi one, a combination (q.v.).
Chepemens. Cheapside Market
(1610).
Cheque. To "have seen ike cheque,
to know positively, be possessed of
exact knowledge concerning a matter.
Chemlet. A nipple (1599).
Cherry. A young girl : cf. cherry
ripe and rosebud.
Cherry-breeches. See Cherubims.
Cherry - coloured. Either red or
black; in allusion to a cheating trick
at cards. [When carrSs are being dealt,
a knowing one ofters to bet that he
will tell the colour of the turn-up card.
Done, says Mr. Green. The sum
being named, Mr. Sharp affirms that
it will be cherry - colour ; and as
cherries are either black or red, he wins
(Grose). Cherry -coloured cat, one either
black or white in colour (1785).
Cherry- merry. 1. Convivial,
slightly inebriated : see Screwed
(1602). 2. A present of money.
Cherry-merry-bamboo, a beating.
Cherry-pickers. See Cherubims.
Cherry-pie. A girl.
Cherry-ripe. 1. A woman : also
cherry-pipe. 2. A Redbreast (q.v.),
Bow Street runner. A scarlet waist-
coat formed part of the uniform. 3.
A footman in red plush. 4. A pipe.
Cherubims (vulgo, Cherry-bums).
1. The Eleventh Hussars. [From the
crimson overalls.] Also Cherry-
breeches and Cherry - pickers. 2.
Peevish children : an allusion to the Te
Deum, To Thee cherubin and seraphin
continually do cry. 3. Chorister boys.
To be in the cherubims, to be in good
humour, in the clouds, unsubstantial,
fanciful (1542).
Cheshire - cat. To grin like a
Cheshire cat [chewing gravel, eating
cheese], to laugh broadly, all over one's
face (1782).
Chest. To chuck out one's chest,
to pull oneself together, stand firm,
keep a stiff upper hp.
Chestnut. A stale joke or story,
an old 'Joe,' something frequently
said or done before.
Chete. See Cheat.
Chew. A small portion of tobacco,
a quid. To chew oneself, to get angry ;
to chew the cud, to chew tobacco ; also
to think, to turn over in one's mind
to chew the rag (or fat), to grumble.
Chewallop ! Onomatopoeia : re-
presenting, it is thought, the sound of
an object falling heavily to the ground
or into water : see Cachunk (1835).
Chewre. To steal.
Chic. Finish, elegance, spirit, dash
style — any quality which marks a ]
son or thing as superior. [Origii] "
French slang term of uncertain c
Littre being inclined to trace it to c
ane, tact or skill. The French chic
originally signified subtlety, cunning,
skill ; and, among English painters, to
chic up a picture, or to do a thing from
Chickabiddy.
Chippy.
chic, to work without models and out
of one's own head] (1856). As adj.,
stylish, elegant, up to Diet.
Chickabiddy. A young girl: of.
Chick-woman (Much Ado, I. iii.).
Chickaleary-cove (or bloke). An
artful member, a downy cove (q.v.).
Chicken. A pint pot : cf . hens
and chickens., and cat and kittens
(1851). No chicken, elderly (1720);
to count one's chickens before they are
hatched, to reckon beforehand upon
a successful issue (the Latins said,
Don't sing your song of triumph
before you have won the victory
— ante victoriamcanere triumphum)
(1579).
Chicken - butcher. A poulterer ;
also (sporting), any one shooting im-
mature game (1S11).
Chicken-fixings. Properly a hash,
stew, or fricassee of chicken, but the
term is now applied to any fare out
of the common ; also to show of any
kind : Fr., giieulardise : cf. common
doings.
Chicken-flesh. Goose-flesh (q.v.).
Chicken-pecked. Governed by a
child : cf. hen-pecked.
Chicken-thief. A petty thief.
Chi-ike (or Chy-ack). A street
salute, a word of praise (1869). Also
as verb, to salute or hail, and (tailors')
to chaff unmercifully. To give chi-ike
vrith the chUl off, to scold.
Child. See This child. Also in
proverbs and proverbial phrases, The
burnt child dreads the fire (1400).
The child unborn (a type of inno-
cence. Children, drunkards, and fools
cannot lie. Once an old man, twice
a child. Many kiss the child for the
nurse's sake.
Child-crowing. Group.
Child-geared. Childish, silly.
Child - queller. A severe discip-
linarian.
Children's-shoes. See Make.
Chill (or take the chill off).
To warm. With the chill off, an ex-
pression of (1) dissent, (2) depreciation,
or (3) disbelief : cf. over the left (q.v.).
Chime. To praise, extol, puff,
canoodle (q.v.), especially with a view
to personal advantage. To chime in*
to agree, endorse, spec, to break into
an argument with a note of approval :
also to chime in with (1838).
Chimney. A great smoker: FT.,
locomotive.
Chimney - chops. A negro: sea
Snowball.
Chimney-pot. The silk hat worn
by men, and sometimes by women
on horseback : beaver, bell-topper,
etc., but see Golgotha : FT., cheminte
(1861).
Chimney - sweep. 1. A black
draught : cf. custom - house officer.
2. A clergyman : vice versa sweep =
clergyman.
Chin. A child. As verb, to talk,
chatter : spec, to talk loudly, impu-
dently, or abusively. To hold up by
the chin, to support, encourage, save
from disaster (1562) ; of the first chin,
with sprouting beard ; up to the chin,
deeply engaged, involved, over head
and ears.
Chinas. Eastern Extension Aus-
tralasian and China Telegraph Shares.
Chin-chopper. A drive under the
chin : see Dig.
Chinese - compliment. Seeming
deference to others, one's mind being
already made up.
Chink. Generic for money, ready
cash : also clunkers, or jink : see
Rhino (1557).
Chinker. In pi., handcuffs : see
Chink.
Chin -music. Talk, chatter, ora-
tory : also chin-wag : Fr., casser un
mot. Chinning, talking, chatting ;
chinny, talkative : see Chin.
Chmqua soldi. Fivepence : ItaL
Chinse (Winchester). A chance.
Chip. 1. An item of news : spec, a
local (q.v.). 2. A reporter who col-
lects chips. 3. A sovereign : see
Rhino. As verb, to understand : see
Twig. To chip in, to contribute one's
share in money or kind, join in an
undertaking, interpose smartly; not
to care a chip, to care naught, not
even the value of a counter : see Cent,
Fig, Bap, Straw, etc. ; brother chip,
brother smut, one of the same trade
or profession ; chip of the same (or the
same old) block, a person reproduc-
ing certain familiar or striking char-
acteristics ; chip in porridge, broth,
a thing of no moment, nonentity
(1686). Also Chip, a man or thing-:
a bloke, cove, cheat (1628).
Chipper. Fit, active, ready to
chip in.
Chippy, unwell, seedy : usually of
over-indulgence in eating, drinking,
etc.
99
Chips.
CTtop.
Chips. 1. A carpenter (1785). 2.
Counters used ic Barnes of chance : cf.
checks. 3- Cards. 4. Money. 5.
(Wellington College). A kind of grill :
from its hardness. To hand in one's
chips, to die.
Chirp. To talk : spec, to inform
(thieves).
Chirper. 1. A singer. 2. A glass
or tankard (1862). 3. The mouth : see
Potato trap. 4. A stage door black-
mailer: if money be refused them, they
go into the auditorium and hoot, hiss,
and groan at the performer.
Chirping-merry. Exhilarated with
liquor (Grose).
Chirpy. Cheerful, likely ( 1 837).
Chirrup, verb (music-hall). To
cheer or applaud a public singer,
speaker, etc., for a consideration : FT.,
daguer. Hence chirruper and chirrup-
ing.
Chisel (Chizzle, or Chuzde).
To cheat, defraud, swindle (Jamieson)
(1808). Hence, chiselling, cheating.
To go futt chisel, to go full speed, or
full drive, show intense earnestness,
use great force, go off brilliantly
(1835).
Chit. 1. A letter (1785), corrup-
tion of a Hindoo word. 2. AT» order
for drinks : in clubs, etc. 3. A girl :
under age and undersized. 4. Food
eaten in the hand : as a thumber
(q.v.), a workman's lunch, and a,
child's piece (q.v.).
Chit-chat. Chatter, familiar con-
versation: cf. tittle-tattle, bibble-
babble, etc. [Johnson: only used in
ludicrous conversation.]
Chitterlings. Shirt frills : cf .
Ger., Gekrose.
Chitty. An assistant tailor's cutter
or trimmer.
Chitty - faced. Thin, weazened,
baby-faced (1601).
Chiv. See Chive.
Chive (or Chiv). A knife. Eng-
lish synonyms : Arkansas toothpick
(a bowie knife), cabbage - bleeder,
whittle, gully, jockteleg (a clasp knife :
a corruption of Jacques de Liege)
snickersnee (nautical), cuttle, cuttle-
bung, pig-sticker (1674). As verb, to
stab, to knife (q.v.)
Chive - fencer. A street hawker
of cutlery.
C h i v e y (or Chivvy). A shout,
greeting, cheer: cf. Chi-ike. As
verb, to guy (q.v.), chase round,
hunt about, throw or pitch about
(1831).
Chiving-lay. Cutting the braces of
coaches behind, whereupon, the coach-
man quitting the box, an accomplice
broke and robbed the boot. Also
cutting through the back of the coach
to snatch the large and costly wigs
then fashionable (Grose).
Chivy (or Chevy). The face. Aa
verb, to scold, bullyrag.
Choakee. See Chokey.
Chock. To strike a person under
the chin.
Chocker. A man : generally old
checker, but not necessarily in con-
tempt.
Chocolate. To give chocolate with-
out sugar, to reprove (Grose).
Choke-dog. Cheese; especially
hard cheese made in Devonshire.
Choke. To choke off, to get rid of,
put a stop to, run contrary to. English
synonyms, to shut off, shunt, fub off,
rump, cold shoulder (1818).
Choker. 1. A cravat; spec, the
large neckerchief once worn high round
the neck ; also white choker (q.v.), the
neckgear peculiar to evening dress.
English synonyms : neckinger, tie (now
technical, but formerly slang), crum-
pler (1845). 2. An all-round collar:
cf. all-rounder. 3. A garotter ; see
Wind-stopper. 4. Prison, lock up,
quod : see Chokey. 5. The hangman's
rope, squeezer, halter. White-choker,
a parson.
Chokey (Choky, Chokee, or
Chocker). 1. A prison. Queer? * (or
King's) Ohokey, the Queen's (or King's)
Bench Prison : obs. 2. A cell : spec,
a punishment cell.
Chonkey. A species of mince-meat
cake (1851).
Chop. 1. A blow : once (sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries) literary,
and still respectable in some senses:
e.g. a chopping (i.e. beating) sea. 2.
An exchange, barter, and as verb, to
barter, buy and sell, change tactics,
veer from one side to the other,
vacillate : see Chop, verb (1485) ; e.g.
to chop logic, to give argument for
argument ; to chop stories, to cap one
anecdote with another. 3. To change
quarters : e.g. the wind chopped
round to the north (1554). 4. To eat
a chop (1841). Chop and change, ups
and downs, vicissitudes, changes of
fortune (1759) ; to chop the whiners, to
100
Ohop-chop.
Cinch.
say prayers : FT., manger aa paillasse.
See First chop, Second chop.
Chop-chop. Immediately,
quickly.
Chopper. 1. A blow, struck on the
face with the back of the hand. Men-
doza claims the honour of its inven-
tion, but unjustly ; he certainly re-
vived, and considerably improved it.
It was practised long before our time
— Brougham occasionally used it ; and
Slack, it also appears, struck the
chopper in giving the return in many
of his battles. 2. A sausage maker.
To have a chopper (or button) on, to be
miserable, down in the dumps, in a fit
of the blues.
Chopping. Wanton, forward.
Chopping - block. A man who
takes an immense amount of punish-
ment (q.v.) in fight without the science
or the strength to return it.
Chops. To lick the chops, to anti-
cipate a matter with zest or relish
(1655) ; down in the chops (or mouth),
sad, melancholy : see Chopper (1830).
Chortle. To chuckle, laugh in
one's sleeve, snort. [Introduced by
Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking
Glass.-]
Chosen Twelve. See Apostles.
Chuck-farthing (Chuck, Chuck-
and-toss, or Pitch - and - toss). A
game played with money, which is
pitched at a line, gathered, shaken in
the hands, and tossed up into the air so
as to fall heads and tails until the
stakes are guessed away : a parish
clerk was formerly named chuck-far-
thing (1690).
Chucking-out. Ejection.
Chucks. A boy's signal on a
master's approach. FT., Vesse 1
Chuff it. Be off ! Take it away t
Chum. 1. A close companion, a
bosom friend, intimate. Formerly a
ohamber-fellow or mate. [ Johnson :
& term used in the Universities.]
(1684). English synonyms: gossip,
pal, pard (American), marrow (north-
country), cully (theatrical), cummer,
ben cull, butty, bo' (nautical), mate or
matey, ribstone, bloater. 2. A
brother-in-arms. As verb, to occupy a
joint lodging, or share expenses, on
the closest terms of intimacy with
another, to be ' thick as thieves/ or
* thick as hops * : FrM &re dan* la
a new arrival in a colony, greenhorn,
tenderfoot (q.v.) (1861).
Chummage. Money procured by
chumming together ; but various ex-
tensions of meaning appear to have
been in vogue at different periods.
Thus (1) quartering two or more
collegians in one room, and allowing
the richest to pay his companions a
stipulated sum to go out and find
quarters elsewhere. (2) Money paid
by the richer sort of prisoners in the
Fleet and King's Bench to the poorer
for their share of a room ... A
prisoner who can pay for being alone,
chooses two poor chums, who for a
stipulated price, called chummage, give
up their share of the room (Grose),
Chummery. Chumhood; also
quarters occupied by chums.
Chummy. 1. A chimney-sweep's
climbing boy. [A corruption of
chimney through chumley] (1635).
2. A diminutive form of chum
(q.v.) 3. A low-crowned felt hat:
see Golgotha. As adj., very inti-
mate, friendly, sociable : Fr., cJiouette,
chouettard, chouettaud.
Chump. 1. A blockhead. 2. A
variant of chum : Fr., vieitte tranche.
3. The head : spec, in the phrase off
one's chump (q.v.) : see Crumpet.
Chump of wood, no good : also a block-
head ; off one* 8 chump, insane ; to get
one's own chump, to earn one's own
living.
Chunk. 1. A thick piece, lump :
of wood, bread, coal, etc. (1691). 2.
school-board officer.
Church. To take out the works of
a watch and substitute another set, so
that identification is impossible (1859).
To talk church : see Talk ; to talk shop,
seeShop; togotochurd),toget married.
Churchwarden. A clay pipe with
a long stem. English synonyms,
alderman, steamer, yard of clay.
Churl. To put a churl upon a
gentleman : see Gentleman.
Cider. All talk and no cider, pur-
poseless loquacity, much cry and little
wool, much ado about nothing.
Cider-and. Cider mixed with some
other ingredient : of. cold without»
hot with, etc. (1742).
Cig, A cigar : see Weed.
Cinch. To get a grip on, corner,
put the screw on : also, in the passive
chemise de guetgtfun, du dernier lien sense, to come out on the wrong side
ovee qudgu'un (1730). New chum, in speculations.
101
Cincinnati-olive .
Class.
Cincinnati- olive. A pig. [A Clack. 1. Idle or loquacious talk,
spurious olive oil is manufactured gossips prattle (1440). As verb, to
from lard, and Cincinnati is one of the gabble. 2. The tongue. A more
largest centres of the pork -packing
industry in America.] Cincinnati
oyster, a pig's trotter.
Cinder. 1. Any strong liquor, as
brandy, whisky, sherry, etc., mixed
with a weaker, as soda-water, lemon-
ade, water, etc., to fortify it. 2. A
running path or track.
Cinder - garbler. A female ser-
vant (Grose). English synonyms : mar-
chioness, slavey, cinder-grabber, cin-
derella, can (Scots), piss-kitchen, Julia.
Circle. To give the lie in circle, to
lie indirectly, circuitously (1610).
Circiing-boy. A swindler, rook.
[Nares : a species of roarer ; one who
in some way drew a man into a snare,
to cheat or rob him.]
Circs. Circumstances.
Circumbendibus. A roundabout,
spec, a long-winded, story (1681).
Circumlocution - office. A centre
of red-tape, a roundabout way. A
term invented by Charles Dickens and
applied at firjt in ridicule to public
offices, where everybody tries to
ancient form was clap, dating back to
1225. English synonyms: glib, red-
rag, clapper, bubber, velvet, jibb,
quail - pipe. Hence, clack - box, (1)
the mouth: see Potato-trap. (2) A
chatterbox.
Clack-loft. A pulpit.
Claim. To steal: see Prig. To
jump a claim, to take forcible posses-
sion, to defraud : specifically to seize
land which had been taken up and
occupied by another settler, or squat-
ter (1846).
Clam. 1. A blockhead : cf. Shakes-
peare (Much Ado, n. iii.), 'Love may
transform me to an oyster; but I'll
take my oath on it, till he hath made
an oyster of me, he shall never make
me such a fool.* 2. The mouth or
lips : also clam-shell : Shut your clam-
shell, shut your mouth. The padlock
now used on the United States mail-
bags is called the clam-shell padlock.
See Potato-trap. (1825).
Clam-butcher. A man who opens
clams ; the attendant at an oyster bar
UUJ.UCJ3, WIieJTG OVOJ.J'UULLy LAAQB t>U ULttlUD , ULK3 ttliW3JJLU.aiIJ.Li
shuffle c/ft his responsibilities upon is an Oyster butcher.
some one else.]
Circumslogdologize. See Stock-
dollagize.
' Circumstance. Not a circum-
stance, etc., not to be compared with,
a trifle, of no account — unfavourable
comparison. To whip [something]
into a circumstance, to surpass.
Circus-cuss. A circus-rider.
Citizen. A wedge for prising
open safes : used before the alderman
(q.v.) or jemmy (q.v.) are brought
into play. Whence citizen' 's-friend, a
smaller wedge than the citizen. The
order in which the tools are used is
(1) citizen's friend, (2) citizen, (3) the
alderman (i.e. a jemmy), and some-
times (4) a Lord mayor.
City College. Newgate; in New
York, The Tombs : see Cage.
City-stage. The gallows : for-
merly in front of Newgate : see Nub-
bing cheat.
Civil Reception. See House of
Civil Beception.
Civil-rig. A trick to obtain alms
by a profuse show of civility and
obsequiousness.
Civvies. Civilian clothes, as
opposed to regimentals.
Clink. A pewter tankard : for-
merly a silver one (1785).
Clinker. 1. A great lie (Orose):
see Whopper. 2. Silver plate : whence
clink-napper, a thief whose speciality
was silver plate.
Clap (or Clapper). 1. The
tongue (1225). 2. To clap eyes on, to get
a sight of, spot (q.v.) ; to dap on, to
apply oneself with energy, set to, peg
away.
Clapper - dudgeon. A whining
beggar (1567).
Clap-of-thunder. A glass of gin :
see Flash of lightning (1821).
Clap-shoulder. A sheriff's officer,
bum-bailiff (1630).
Claras. Caledonian Hallway De-
ferred and Ordinary Stock.
Claret. Blood : variants are bad-
minton, bordeaux, and cochineal-dye :
Fr., vermeil (or vermois) (1604). To
tap one's claret, to draw blood. Hence,
claret jug, the nose.
Clarian (Cambridge University).
A member of Clare Hall, Cambridge :
see Greyhound.
Class. The highest quality or com-
bination of highest qualities among
athletes. He's not class enough, i.e.
102
Claw.
Clip.
not good enough. There's a deal of
class about him, i.e. a deal of quality.
Claw. A lash of the cat-o' -rune-
tails : hence clawed off, severely beaten ;
claws for breakfast, a bout of the cat
(q.v.).
Claw-hammer. A dress coat : also
steel-pen coat and swallow-tail.
Clay. A clay pipe : of. Yard of
clay. To moisten (soak or wet) one's
day, to drink (1718).
Clean. 1. Entirely, altogether, e.g.
clean gone, clean broke, etc. 2. Expert,
smart. To dean out, to exhaust, strip,
rack, or ruin : FT., se faire lessiver.
Clean - potato. The right thing :
of an action indiscreet or dishonest, it
is said that It's not the clean potato.
Clean-straw (Winchester College).
Clean sheets. [Before 1540 the beds
were bundles of straw on a stone floor.
At that date Dean Fleshmonger put
in oaken floors, and provided proper
beds, such as existed in 1871 in Third,
and later in the case of the Prefect of
Hall's unused beds in Sixth. The
term has never been used in reference
to mattresses of any kind, straw or
other.]
Clean-wheat. If a the dean wheat,
i.e. the best of its kind : see Al,
Clear. (1) Thick with liquor. [Ap-
parently on the lucus a non lucendo
principle.] (1688). Clear as mud,
not particularly lucid ; to dear out (or
off), to depart (1825); (2) to rid of
cash, ruin, clean out (1849).
Clear - crystal. White spirits, as
gin and whisky, but also extended to
brandy and rum.
Clear-grit. 1. (Canadian). A
member of the colonial Liberal party.
2. (American). The right sort, having
no lack of spirit, unalloyed, decided.
Cleave. To wanton.
Clegg. A horse-fly.
Clencher. See Clincher.
Clergyman. A chimney - sweep :
see Chimney-sweep. St. Nicholas* clerk
(or clergyman), a highwayman (1589).
Clerked. Imposed upon, sold
(q.v.) (1785).
Clerk's blood. Red ink: a com-
mon expression of Charles Lamb's.
Clever-shins. One who is sly to
nopurpose.
Cleyme. An artificial sore : made
by beggars to excite charity.
Click. A blow : also a hold in
wrestling (1819). As verb, to stand
at a shop-door and invite customers
in, as salesmen and shoemakers do
(Dycke). To dick a nab, to snatch
a hat.
Clicker (or Klicker). 1. A shop-
keeper's tout. [Formerly a shoe-
maker's doorsman or barker (q.v.),
but in this particular trade the term
is nowadays appropriated to a fore-
man who cute out leather and dis-
penses materials to workpeople ; a
sense not altogether wanting from
the very first] (1690). 2. A knock-
down blow. 3. One who apportions
the booty or * regulars.'
Clif t. To steal : see Prig.
Climb. To dimb down, to abandon
a position : as subs., downward or re-
trograde emotion, the act of surrender.
Clinching. A prison cell : hence to
get (or kiss) the d^nch (or dink), to be
imprisoned.
Clincher (or Clencher). 1. That
which decides a matter : spec, a
retort which closes an argument, a
finisher, settler, corker (1754). 2.
An unsurpassed lie, stopper-up: see
Whooper.
Cling-rig. See Clink-rig.
Clink, 1. A prison, lock-up ; spec,
applied, it is thought, to a noted gaol
in the borough of Southwark ; subse-
quently to places — like Alsatia, the
Mint, etc. — privileged from arrests ;
and latterly, to a small dismal prison,
or a military guard room (1525) : see
Cage. 2. Silver plate: also Clinch
(1781). 3. Money : of. Chink (1724).
4. A very indifferent beer made from
the gyle of malt and the sweepings of
hop bins, and brewed especially for the
benefit of agricultural labourers in
harvest time: also barn -clink. To
kiss the dink, to be imprisoned
(1588).
Clinker. 1. In pL, fetters (1690).
2. A crafty, designing man (1690). 3.
A chain of any kind : fetter or watch
chain. 4. A well - delivered blow, a
hot-'un. 5. Any thing or person of
first - rate and triumphant quality :
also clincher, a settler (1733). 6. A
lie: see Whooper.
Clinkerum. See Clink.
Clinking. First-rate, extra good,
about the best possible : of. clipping,
thumping, whooping, rattling, etc.
Clink-rig (or Cling-rig). Stealing
silver tankards (1681).
Clip. A smart blow : e.g. a clip
103
Clipe.
in the eye. As verb, to move quickly
(1833).
Clipe. To tell tales, split, to
preach (q.v.).
Clipper. A triumph in horses,
men, or women (1836).
Clipping (or Clippingly). Excel-
lent, very showy, first-rate. See Al.
(1643).
Cloak. A watch case.
Cloak-twitcher . A cloak thief : Fr. ,
tirdaine (i.e. wool-puller) : see Thief.
(1785).
Clobber. Primarily old, but now
applied to clothes of any kind. As
verb (or to clobber up) (1) to patch,
revive, or ' translate ' clothes. Old
clothes that are intended to remain in
this country have to be tutored and
transformed. The clobberer, the re-
viver, and the translator lay hands
upon them. The duty of the clob-
berer is to patch, to sew up, and to
restore as far as possible the gar-
ments to their pristine appearance. (2)
To dress smartly, rig oneself out pre-
sentably (1879). To do clobber at a
fence, to sell stolen clothes : Fr., laver
lea harnais.
Clock. A watch. A red clock,
a gold watch ; a white dock, a silver
watch : usually red 'un and white
'un. To know whafs o'clock, to be on
the alert, in full possession of one's
senses, a downey cove : generally
knowing (q.v.). Also to know the
time o' day (1835).
Clod- crusher. 1. A clumsy boot.
2. A large foot. 3. A country yokel :
see Clodhopper.
Cloister - roush (Winchester Col-
lege : obsolete). There were some
singular customs at the commence-
ment of Cloister time. Senior part
and Cloisters, just before the entrance
of the Masters into School, used
to engage in a kind of general
tournament ; this was called Cloister
roush.
Clootie. The Devil.
Cloots. Hooves (1786).
Close. Close as wax, miserly,
niggardly, secretive.
Close - file. A person secretive or
close ; not open, or communica-
tive.
Cloth. The doth, generic for
clergymen," also the members of any
particular profession.
Clothes-line. Able to sleep upon
104
a dothes-line, capable of sleeping any-
where or in any position : of those
able and willing to rest as well upon
the roughest shake - down as upon
the most comfortable bed. [Cf. Two-
penny-rope and Plank-bed.] Also
in a transferred sense, a synonym for
general capacity and ability.
Clothes - pin. That's the sort of
clothes-pin I am, that's the sort of
man I am : also of women : That's the
sort of hair-pin (q.v.).
Cloth-market. A bed : Fr., hatte,
aux draps (1710).
Cloud. See Blow a cloud.
Cloud- cleaner. An imaginary sail
jokingly assumed to be carried by
Yankee ships : of. Angel's footstool.
Clout. 1. A blow, a kick, whence
douting, a beating, basting, tanning
(q.v.) : see Bang, Dig, and Wipe (1783).
2. A pocket-handkerchief (1621). 3.
A woman's under- clothes, from the
waist downwards : also her complete
wardrobe, on or off her person. 4. A
woman's ' bandage,' ' diaper,' or
' sanitary.' As verb, (1) to strike : Fr.,
jeter une mandole (1576) ; (2) to patch,
tinker.
Clouter. A pickpocket : spec, a
handkerchief thief. Also as verb, to
prig a wipe (qv.).
Clover. In clover, well-off, com-
fortable, like a horse at grass in a
clover field.
Clow (Winchester College). Pro-
nounced do : a box on the ear. Also as
verb, to box the ear : it was customary
to preface the action by an injunction
to Hold down.
Clowe. A rogue (Grose).
Cloy (Cligh, or Cly). To steal:
see Prig (1610). As subs., a thief : of.
Clow. Cloying, stealing.
Cloyer. A thief who intruded on
the profits of young sharpers, by
claiming a share (1611).
Club. In manoeuvring troops, so
to blunder the word of command that
the soldiers get into a position from
which they cannot extricate them-
selves by ordinary tactics.
Clump. A blow : spec, a thumper
with the hand. As verb, to strike,
give a heavy blow : Fr., faire du biftecJc.
dumper. 1. A thick, heavy boot
for walking : see Clump, verb, and
Clumping. 2. One that clumps, a
basher.
Clumperton. A countryman.
Cob.
Clumping. Walking heavily and
noisily : as in hobnails or in clogs.
C 1 y. LA pocket, purse, sack, or
basket (1714). 2. Money: old cant
(1748). As verb, to take, have, re-
ceive, pocket, to cop (q.v.) (1567).
To cly off, to carry off : spec, in a sur-
reptitious manner (1656). To dy ike.
jerk (or gerke), to get a whipping (1567).
Cly-faker. A pickpocket : see Cly
and Fake.
Clyster- pipe. An apothecary
(1785).
Co. LA man (Old Cant). 2.
Short for Company, County.
Coach. 1. A private tutor ; also
in a transferred sense one who trains
another in mental or physical ac-
quirements, e.g. in Sanskrit, Shakes-
peare, cricket, or rowing : analogous
terms are crammer, feeder, grinder,
etc. (1850). Also as verb, to prepare
for an examination by private instruc-
tion, to train : in general use both by
coacher and coachee (1846). Coach-
ing, special instruction, training,
grinding (q.v.): Fr., barbe. 2. The
people in a coach. To drive a coach
and four (or six) through an Act of
Parliament, to make the law a dead
letter, take the law into one's own
hands (1700).
Coachee. A coachman : cf. Cabby.
See Coach. (1790).
Coach - fellow. A companion,
mate (1598).
Coaching. 1. (Eugby School). A
flogging : obsolete. 2. See Coach. 3.
(commercial). Putting up to pretended
auction, thereby hoping to receive
fancy prices by fictitious bidders.
Coachman. A fly-fisher's rod.
Coach-wheel. A crown-piece, five
shillings: also (B. #.)*=2s. 6d. : see
Cartwheel (1785). To turn coach
wheels (see Cartwheels).
Coach-whip. 1. A long thin strap.
Also, 2. in pi., shreds, tatters.
Coal. See Cole. To take in one's
coals (or winter coals), to contract
venereal disease. Precious coal ! an
obsolete exclamation ( 1596) ; to carry
(or bear) coals, to do dirty work; to
havl over the coals, to reprimand; to
carry coals to Newcastle, to do the
superfluous ; black as a coal, as black
as may be (1000) ; to heap (cast, etc.)
coals of fire, to produce remorse by
returning good for evil (Bom. xli. 20) ;
to blow the coals, to fan the passions ;
to blow hot coals, to rage ; to stir coals,
to excite strife ; to blow at a cold coal,
to undertake a hopeless task.
Coal - blower. An alchemist, or
quack : in contempt.
Coal - box. A chorus : obviously
' music-hally ' or s circussy ' : a cross
between rhyming slang and a clown's
wheeze (q.v.) (1809).
Coal- carrier. A low dependant
(1565) ; cf. to carry coals.
Coaley. A coal-heaver, or porter
Coaling (or Coally). Among pros,'
a coally or coaling part is one that is
acceptable to the player.
Coal-scuttle. A poke bonnet:
once modish, later reserved for old-
fashioned Quakeresses, and now ob-
solete except with Hallelujah Lasses
(1838).
Coarse-account. To make of coarse
account, to slight (1579).
Coat. doth (q.v.), profession,
party : common in seventeenth cen-
tury. See Tread. To get the sun into
a horse>s coat, to improve its condition
by feeding, exercise, etc. ; a trainer's
term, to express fitness. Phrases, etc. :
To baste (coil, or pay) one's coat, to
thrash, tan (1530) ; to be in any one's
coat, in any one's place, stand in one's
shoes (1569) ; to cut the coat according
to the, cloth, to adapt oneself to circum-
stances ; to turn one's coat : see Turn-
coat ; to wear the king's coat, to serve
as a soldier. To sit on one's own coat-
tail, to live or do anything at one's per-
sonal expense ; Who'll tread on the,
tail of my coat ? (attributed to Irishmen
at Donnybrook Fair), to purposely
assume a position in which some one
may intentionally or unintentionally
afford a pretext for a quarrel, provoke
attack so as to get up a row ; / wovld
not be in some of their coats for (any
definite or indefinite sum), proverbial :
cf. (modern) I would not stand in
So-and-so's shoes (1549) ; Near is my
coat, bvt nearer is my shirt (or skin),
proverbial (1539).
Coax. 1. To dissemble in the
shoes the soiled or ragged parts of a
pair of stockings (Grose). 2. Orig.
to befool, whence to gull by petting,
[Johnson:
A low
a wheedler : also
wheedle, flatter.
word.] As subs. (1
ooaxer; (2) wheedli
Cob. 1. A punishment cell : eee
Clinch. 2. In pi, generic for money:
spec, a Spanish coin formerly current
105
Gobi.
Cockalorum*
in Ireland, worth about 4s. 8d : also
the name still given at Gibraltar to a
Spanish dollar (1805). 3. (Winchester
College). A hard hit at cricket: of
modern introduction : cf. Barter. 4.
A chief, a leader. 5. A wealthy man :
hence a miser. 6. A huge lumpish
person. 7. A testicle. As verb, (1) to
hit hard: cf. Cobb ; (2) To detect,
catch, etc. (3) To humbug, deceive,
gammon (q.v.): whence, cobbled,
caught, spotted (q.v.).
Cobb. To spank, smack the pos-
teriors with (say) a tailor's sleeve-
board, fives-bat, etc. (1830).
Cobber. A prodigious falsehood,
a thumper, a whopper (q.v.).
Cobble - colter. A turkey : Fr.,
orne de batte, Jesuite (1785).
Cobblers'-knock (or Knock at the
Cobbler's Door). A sort of fancy
sliding in which the artist raps the
ice in triplets with one foot while pro-
gressing swiftly on the other (1836).
Cobbler s' -marbles. A corrupt
pronunciation of Cholera morbus, or
Asiatic cholera.
Cobbler's-thumb. The bull-head, a
small fish which in England is called
the Miller's thumb.
Cobble-text. A prosy person,
ignorant preacher
Coblative. Cobbled, patched up.
Cobweb-morning. A misty morn-
ing.
Cob
obweb - throat. A dry parched
throat, hence to have a cobweb in the
throat, to feel thirsty.
Cocard. An old fool, a simple-
ton. Cocardy, folly.
Cochineal- dye. Blood: see
Claret (1853).
Cock. 1. A chief or leader ; spec.
in such phrases as Cock of the walk,
school, etc. ; orig. a victor (1711).
Hence, to cry cock, to acclaim a victor,
acknowledge a chief, etc. 2. A familiar
address : e.g. Old cock, or Jolly old
cock : Fr., mon vieux zig, mon lapin
(1639). 3. A horse not intended to win
the race for which it is put down, but
kept in the lists to deceive the public.
4. A fictitious narrative in verse or
prose of murders, fires, etc., produced
for sale in the streets. [Famous
manufactories of cocks were kept by
* Jemmy * Catnach and Johnny Pitts,
called the Colburn and Bentley of
the paper trade : hence anything
fictitious or incredible.] 5. Cockney
(q.v.). 6. In gambling or playing
with ' quads,' a cock is when one (or
more) of the nine pieces does not fall
flat, but lodges crosswise on another :
the player is then given another
chance. 7. A night watchman, and fig.
a parson. 8. Good cock (or poor cock),
a good (or bad) workman. As adj.,
chief, first and foremost (1676). As
verb, to smoke. To cock the eye, to
shut or wink one eye, leer, look in-
credulous : Fr., clign&r des cettlets : cf.
Cock-eyed : also to cock the chin : Fr.,
s'o&orgrner (literally, to make oneself
blind of one eye by closing it) (1751) ;
to cock up one's toes, to die ; That cock
won't fight, that will not do (or, go
down) ; of things problematical or
doubtful ; knocked a - cock, knocked
' all of a heap,' or ' out of time.' Also
proverbs and proverbial phrases:
Every cock is king on his own raidden
(1225) ; The young cock learaeth to
crow of the old (1509) : also, as the old
cock crows so does the chick (1589).
Cock-a-doodle-do. A conventional
representation of the crow of the cock ;
a name for this, and hence, a nursery
or humorous name for the cock (also
Cock-a-doodle). Also as verb.
Cock-a-doodle Broth. Eggs beat
up in brandy and a little water (1856).
Cock-a-hoop (or Cock-on, or
-in) a-hoop. Strutting j triumphant ;
high - spirited ; uppish. To set (the)
cock on (the) hoop, cock a hoop, (1) to
drink without stint, make good cheer
with reckless prodigality ; also (2) as
intj., an exclamation of reckless joy
or elation, to abandon oneself to reck-
less enjoyment, cast off restraint,
become reckless, give a loose to all
disorder, set all by the ears.
Cockalare. A comic or ludicrous
representation, a satire lampoon, a
disconnected story, discourse, etc.
Cockaloft. Affectedly lofty,
stuck up.
Cockall. One that beats all, the
* perfection.'
Cockalorum or Cockylorum.
1. A contemptuous address of any-
thing undersized and self-important.
2. A rough - and - tumble game : the
players divide into two opposing bands
of from twelve to fourteen each — in
fact, the more the merrier. One side
' goes down,' so as to constitute a long
* hogsbacfc ' — the last boy having a
couple of pillows between himself and
106
Cock-and-breeches.
Coctte.
the wall, and each boy clasping his stitute ; also a mistress or ' keep *
front-rank man, and carefully tucking (1600). 2. A baby.
Cock-a-wax. 1. A cobbler : see
Snob. 2. A familiar address.
Cock- bawd. A male brothel keeper
(Grose).
Cock -brain. A lighthearted,
his own ' cocoa-nut ' under his right
arm, so as to prevent fracture of the
vertebrae. When the hogsback is thus
formed, the other side comes on, leap-
frogging on to the backs of those who
are down, the best and steadiest
,
foolish person. Also cock • brained.
jumpers being sent first. Sometimes thoughtless, silly.
the passive line is broken quite easily Cockchafer. The treadmill : see
by the ruse of a short high jump, Wheel of life.
coming with irresistible impulse on a Cocked. Half - cocked, full-cocked,
back not expecting weight. Some- ' " " " " '
times a too ambitious leap-frogger
ruins his party by overbalancing and
falling off. It is, however, as the last
two or three leap-froggers come on
etc. Various degrees of drunken-
ness : see Screwed.
Cocked-hat Knocked into a
cocked hat. Limp enough to be
„_ doubled up and carried flat under the
that the real excitement more gener- arm pike the cocked hat of an officer],
ally begins. ^There is absolutely^ no Also, fig. stupefied, speechless. Syno-
back - space belonging to the other nyms : doubled up ; knocked into the
party left to them ; and they are middle of next week ; spifflicated ;
obliged to pile themselves one upon
another — Pelion on Ossa, as it is
called. When the last man is up it is
his duty to say, * High cockalorum
cockalorum jig jig jig — off, o
beaten to a jelly; knocked a-cock;
wiped out ; sent all of a heap ; bottled
up ; settled ; full of beans, or snuff ;
sent, done, or smashed to smithereens.
Cocker. A pugilist, quarrel-
some, contentious man, wrangler.
off,' and then alone is~it permissible to According to Cocker, according to rule ;
fall in one indistinguishable heap to properly, arithmetically, or correctly
the ground. The repeater of the done. [Old Cocker was a famous
shibboleth often falls off himself as he writing master in Charles II. 's time,
is uttering the above incantation — and the author of a treatise on
thus losing the victory for his side. arithmetic : probably popularised by
Cock - and - breeches. A sturdy, Murphy's The Apprentice (1756), in
under-sized man, or boy. which the strong point of the old
Cock-and-bull-story, subs, (collo- merchant Wingate is his extreme
quial). An idle or silly story. [Pre- reverence for Cocker and his arith-
sumabiy from some old legend of a metic.] In America, according to
cock and a bull, a propos to which it Gunter (q.v.).
should be noted that the French " "
equivalent is eoq-d-Fdne, a cock-and-
ass] (1603). Hence, disconnected,
misleading talk, incredible story,
Cockerel. A pert young man.
Cockerer. A wanton.
Cock-eye. A squinting eye. Cock"
„ . „ , eyed, squinting, boss-eyed (q.v.).
canard. Cock-fighting. That beats cock-
Cock - and - hen - club, subs, (com- fighting, phr. (common). A general
mon). 1. A free and easy (q.v.), a expression of approval — up to the
sing - song, where females are ad- mark ; Al ; That surpasses everything
mitted as well as males (1819). 2. A else. [From the esteem in which the
club for both sexes ; e.g. the Lyric. sport was held.] (1659). To live
Cock-and-pinch. The old-fashioned like fighting-cocks, to have the best
beaver of forty years since.
Cockapert, Impudent, saucy. As
subs., a saucy fellow.
Cockatoo - farmer (or Cockatoo).
In Victoria and New South Wales a
small farmer or selector : in contempt,
,
food and plenty of it, be supplied with
the best.
Cock-horse. Triumphant; in full
swing j cock-a-hoop.
C o c k - 1 a i r d (Scots). A small
fanner or proprietor cultivating his
and used by large holders of agri- own land, a yeoman.
cultural squatters with small capital
(1865). •
Cockatrice. 1. A common pro-
.
Cockle. Whimsical. Hence,
cockle-brained (headedf etc.), flighty,
fanciful, whimmy.
107
GocJdes of the Heart.
Oock-up.
Cockles of the Heart. A jocose of Essex and Waller, with their pro-
vulgarism encountered in a variety of
combinations ; e.g. that will rejoice,
digious number of cockneys.'] Hence,
Cockney-shire, London.
or tickle, or warm, the cockles of your Cockpecked. Masculine home-
, ,
heart, etc. [It is suggested (N. and Q.,
1 S., iv. 26) that a hint as to its origin
may be found, hi Lower, an eminent
anatomist of the seventeenth century,
who thus speaks in his Tractatus de
Corde (1669), p. 25, of the muscular
fibres of the ventricles: 'Fibrse quidem
rectis hisce exteri oribus in dextro
ventrioulo proxim^ subjectge obliqu&
dextrorsum ascendentes in basin cordis
terminantur, et spirali suo ambitu
helicem sive cochleam satis apte
referuiit.' The ventricles o£ the
heart might, therefore, be called
cochlea cordis, and this would easily
be turned into Cockles of the heart.]
FT., Ucheras la, face (that'll rejoice
the cockles of your heart) (1671).
To cry cocldes, to be hanged: see
Ladder.
Cockloche. A mean fellow, silly
coxcomb: a generic reproach (1611).
Cock-loft. The head: of. old
proverb, All his gear is in his cock-
rule: spec, of a tyrannical kind: of.
Hen-pecked.
Cockquean. A man who interests
himself in women's affairs : a common
form is cotquean.
Cock-robin. A soft, easy fellow
(Grose).
Cock-robin Shop. A small printing
office: a place where the cheapest
work is done at the lowest price : of .
Slop shop.
Cock's - comb. 1. A cap as worn
by a buffoon or professional fool. 2.
The head. 3. A fop, conceited fool.
Cock's-egg. To send one for a coc&'s
egg. To send on a fool's errand ;
to gammon (q.v.) : cf. pigeon's milk,
oil of strappum, strap oil, the squad
umbrella, etc.
Cock-shy. 1. A mark, butt, or
target ; any person or thing that is
the centre of jaculation (1834). 2. The
establishment of a strolling proprie-
tor, where sticks may be thrown at
lofi ; i.e. All his wealth, work, or coconuts or the like, for payment.
worth is in his head (1642).
Cocksure. Confidently certain ;
Cock-mate. A familiar, intimate, arrogantly sure. [Probably a corrup-
best friend. tion of cocky sure.' Shakespeare
subs, (colloquial). ' "* ~
Cockney,
One born within the sound of Bow-
bells. [The origin of cockney has
been much debated ; but, says Dr.
( I Henry IV., n. i. ) employs the
phrase in the sense of Sure as the
cock of a firelock. We steal as in a
castle, cocksure: and still earlier
Murray, in the course of an exhaustive usages imply its derivation from the
statement (Academy, May 10, 1890,
p. 320), the history of the word, so far
as it means a person, is very clear and
simple. We have the senses (1)
* cockered or pet child,* ' nestle-cock,*
* mother's darling,' * milksop,* the
name being applicable primarily to the
child, but continued to the squeamish
and effeminate man into which he
fact that the cock was much surer
than the older - fashioned match.]
(1549).
Cocksy. Impudent, bumptious,
saucy: cf. Cocky.
Cocktail. 1. A prostitute ; a
wanton. 2. A coward. 3. An up-
start, one aping gentility. 4. (Ameri-
can). A drink composed of spirits
grows up. (2) A nickname applied by (gin, brandy, whisky, etc.), bitters,
country people to the inhabitants of crushed ice, sugar, etc., the whole
great towns, whom they considered whisked briskly until foaming, and
* milksops,' from their daintier habits then drunk 'hot.* As adj., (1) under-
and incapacity for rough work. York,
London, Perugia, were, according to
Harman, all nests of cockneys. (3)
By about 1600 the name began to be
attached especially to Londoners, as
the representatives -par excellence of
bred, wanting in *form (chiefly of
horses). (2) Fresh, foaming: of beer
(see subs. 4). (3) (army). Unsoldier-
like; anything) unworthy of the
regular army, e.g. at one time the
Volunteer auxiliaries were described
the city milksop. One understands as a cocktailed crew.
.
the disgust with which a cavalier
in 1641 wrote that he was 'obliged
to quit Oxford at the approach
Cock-up (printers'). A superior;
e.g. the smaller letters in the
following example^ : Y*
108
Cold-cook.
, , J""- Smith, Sen*<; N°- ;
London1 : alao a large - type initial
letter.
Cocky (or Cocking). 1. Pert, saucy,
forward, coolly audacious, over con-
fident, 'botty' (1711). 2. (Stock
Exchange). Brisk, active. As subs,
(old), a term of endearment : see also
Cockatoo-farmer.
Cockyolly-bird. A nursery endear-
ment : of birds ; cf . dickey - bird,
chickabiddy.
Cocoa-nut. The head : Fr., coco :
see Crumpet (1834). That accounts
for the milk in the cocoa-nut, a rejoinder
upon having a thing explained. No
milk in the cocoa - nut, insane, silly,
cracked.
Cocum (Kocum). 1. Shrewdness,
ability, luck, cleverness. [Yiddish,]
2. (publishers'). A sliding scale of
profit. [Publishers sometimes issue
books without fixing the published
price, leaving the retailer to make
what he can.] To fight or play cocum,
to play double, be wary, cunning,
artful (1857).
Cod. 1. Apparently orig. generic
for a man : cf . bloke, cove, fellow, etc.
Hence in several specialised senses :
e.g. 2. A fool, a humbug, an imposi-
tion (B. JE.)t and as verb, to hoax,
chaff, take a rise out of. 3. A pal, or
friend; generally prefixed to a sur-
name ; at Charterhouse, a pensioner
(see Thackeray, Newcomea, ii. 333).
[Here cod probably =' codlin,* an old
endearment.] 4. A purse ; a cod of
money, a large sum of money. [A.S.
cod or codd, a small bag.]
Coddam (or Coddom). A game
played three, four, or more a side.
The only ' property ' required is a
coin, a button, or anything which can
be hidden in the clenched hand. The
principle is simplicity itself — * Guess
whose hand it's in.' If the guesser
'brings it home,' his side takes the
piece, and the centre man works it.
If the guess be wrong, a chalk is taken
to the holders, who go on again.
Codding. Nonsense, humbug,
chaff : see Cod.
Codger. A familiar address,
especially old codger, a curious old
fellow, odd fish, rum character ; a
precise, and sometimes mean or
miserly man (1760).
Codland. Newfoundland: of.
God-preserves.
Codling. A raw youth.
Cod- preserves. The Atlantic,
Cod's-head. A stupid fellow, a fool:
see Buffle (1675).
Cofe. See Cove.
Coffee. Beans. Greased coffee,
pork and beans.
Coffee - house (or Coffee - shop).
1. A water-closet. 2. In India, a place
at which the residents of a station
(esp. in Upper India) meet to talk over
a light breakfast of coffee, toaat, etc.,
at an earlier hour than the regular
breakfast of the day ; the name is also
applied to the gathering, and so the
haft of a regiment for refreshment on
an early march, etc.
Coffee-milL The mouth ; a
grinder itself, and furnished with
grinders.
Coffee- milling Grinding (q-"V') J
working hard. Also taking a * sight '
by putting the thumb of one hand to
the nose and grinding the little finger
with the other, as if working an imag-
inary coffee TniTl (1837).
Coffins. 1. A piece of live coal
thrown out explosively from a fire, and
supposed to represent a coffin and
presage death: cf. Winding-sheet,
Thief, etc. 2. An ill-found unsea-
worthy vessel. 3. In pi. (Stock Ex-
change), the Funeral Furnishing
Company's Shares. A nail in one's
coffin : see Nail.
Cog. A tooth.
Coke. Go and eat coke, a contemp-
tuous retort.
Coker. A lie (Grose) : see Whopper.
Colchester-clock. A large oyster.
Cold. To leave out in the cold, to
neglect, shut out, abandon.
Cold- blood. A house licensed for
the sale of beer, not to be drunk on
the premises.
Cold-coffee. 1. A sell, hoax,
trumpery affair. 2. Misfortune, ill-
luck : also cold gruel ; to have one's
comb cut, to experience a run of ill-
luck : Fr., &re abonne" au guignon. 3.
A snub for proffered kindness.
Cold-comfort. An article sent out
on approval and returned.
Cold-cook. An undertaker.
English synonyms: carrion hunter,
body snatcher, death hunter, black
worker (see Black work). Hence,
cold-cookshop, an undertaker's work-
shop. Gold meat, & corpse: cf.
pickles (q.v.), specimens direct from
109
Cold-deck.
Coti.
the subject. To make cold meat of one,
to kill. Cold -meat box, a coffin.
Cold-meat cart, a hearse. Gold-meat
train, a funeral train to Brookwood
and other cemeteries : but specifically
a late night train to reach Aldershot
in time For morning duty :
a goods train, but a carriage is a1
which is known as the * Larky Sub-
altern ' : this particular train carries
nothing more dreadful than a portion of
the beef and mutton for the morning
ration to the troops in camp ; and, as
stated, a few belated officers.
Cold-deck. A prepared pack of
cards: also a good hand obtained on
first dealing, and without drawing
fresh cards.
Cold Pig. To give cold pig, to
waken a sleeper by sluicing him with
cold water, or by suddenly stripping
him of bed-clothes (1818). As subs.,
1. A person robbed of his clothing.
2. A corpse. 3. The empty re-
turns sent back by rail to wholesale
Cold - shivers. The effect of ill-
ness, intense fear, or violent emotion :
also cold shake, which may refer alike
to a period of cold weather, or an
attack of fever and ague.
Cold Shoulder. Studied coldness,
neglect, or contempt (1816).
Cold- tea. Brandy (1690).
Cold-water Army. The world of
total abstainers.
Cold - without. Spirits and cold
water without sugar : cf . Oder and,
Hot with, etc. (1837).
Cole (or Coal). Money : generic : see
Rhino (1671). To post or tip the cole,
to hand over money, shell or fork
out.
Colfabias (or Coif abis). A Latinized
Irish phrase signifying the closet of
decency, applied as a slang term to a
place of resort in Trinity College,
Dublin (Hotteri).
Coliander (or Coliander Seeds).
Money : generic (Grose) : see Rhino.
Collar. To seize, appropriate,
steal. To collar the bun (cake, Ban-
bury, or confectioner's shop), to be
easily first, to surpass. Out of collar,
out of work, of cash, training. Con-
versely, in collar, in work, comfort-
able circumstances, fit or in form.
Against collar, uphill, working against
difficulties, against the grain. To be
put to the pin of the collar, to be driven
110
to extremities, come to the end of
one's resources. To -wear the cottar, to
be subject to control not altogether
to one's liking : the antithesis of, to
have the whip hand, and, to wear the
breeches; etc.
Collar. See Big Bird.
Collar-and- elbow. A peculiar style
of wrestling — the Cornwall and Devon
style.
Collar - day. Hanging day : also
Wry-neck-day (q.v.) : FT., your de la
St. Jean Baptiste.
Collared. Unable to play one's
usual game owing to temper, funk,
or other causes.
Collared Up. Kept close to busi-
ness : cf. Out of collar.
Collar-work, Laborious work.
Collector. A highwayman or
footpad.
College. A prison ; the inmates
are called Collegians or Collegiates
(q.v.); Newgate was formerly called
the City College (1703). Ladies'
College, a brothel : see Nanny-shop.
Colleger. A square cap, a mortar-
board (q.v.) : see Golgotha.
Collogue. To confer confidenti-
ally and secretly, conspire, wheedle,
flatter (1596).
Colly-molly. Melancholy : cf .
Solemoncholy and (Dr. Marigold's
Prescriptions) Lemonjolly.
Colly-wobbles. The stomach-
ache, flatulency.
Colour. 1. A handkerchief worn as
a badge by prize-fighters and other
professional athletes. Each man
chose his own, and it was once a
practice to sell them to backers to be
worn at the ring-side : see Billy. In
racing circles the colours are the
owner's, and are shown in the jockeys*
caps and jackets. 2. Payment : e.g.
I have not seen the colour of his
money = I have not received payment.
Coloured on the card, having the colours
in which a jockey is to ride inserted
on the card of the race. Off colour,
exhausted, run down, seedy. To
colour one's meerschaum, to get brandy-
faced, to drink one's nose into a state
of pimples and scarlet.
Colquarron. The neck: see Scrag.
Colt. 1. One new to the office, the
exercise of any art, etc. ; e.g. a pro-
fessional cricketer during his first
season, a first-time juryman, a thief
in his novitiate. 2. A rope, knotted at
Golfs Tooth.
Come-down.
one end, and whipped at the other. 3.
A thief's billy (q.v.). 4=- A burglar's
livery - stable keeper : a colt - man
(Grose). 5. An attendant on a ser-
jeant at his making. As verb, (1)
to thrash : colting, a thrashing. (2)
To cause a person to stand treat by
way of being made free of a new
place, to make one pay one's footing.
Hence, collage., the footing paid by
colts on their first appearance.
Colt's Tooth. To have a colt (or
coifs tooth), to be fond of youthful
pleasures ; in the case of elderly
any more lies ! Fr., As-tu fini tea
mani&res (or magnes) ? ne fats done
pas ta Sophie, and ne fais done pas ton
fendart. To come out (1) to make an
appearance, display oneself, express
oneself vigorously, make an impress-
sion : sometimes in an intensified form.
to come out strong : cf. Come it strong
(1637); (2) to turn out, result: e.g.
How did it come out ? (3) to make a
first appearance in society. To come
out of the little end of the horn, to fare
badly. To come over, to influence,
overreach, cheat. To come the old
persons, to have juvenile tastes ; to be soldier (or any person or thing) over
of wanton disposition and capacity.
[In allusion to a supposed desire to
shed the teeth and see life over again.]
(1500).
Columbine. A prostitute.
Columbus. Failure. A regular
Columbus, an utter failure, a ' dead
frost1 : Fr., II pleut.'=the play is a
failure.
Comb. To comb one's hair, to take
to task, scold, keep in order. Some-
times to thrash, and generally ill-treat :
also to comb down, to comb one's noddle
with a three-legged (or joint) stool (1593).
Comb - brush. A lady's maid
(1760).
Combie. A Combination room,
the parlour in which college dons
drink wine after Hall : also see Com-
bination.
Combination. A woman's under-
garment, shift and drawers in one.
Also Combie, and (American) Chemi-
loon (chemise and pantaloon).
Come. 1. To practise, understand,
act the part of : cf. Come over and
Come tricks. 2. To lend: e.g. Has
he come it ? To make drunk come,
to become intoxicated : see Screwed.
To come about one, to circumvent : cf.
Come over and Come round. To come
down from the walls, to abandon a
position. To come it, (1) to proceed
at a great rate, to make a splash and
dash (in extravagance), to cut a
figure. (2) To inform; (3) to show
fear; (4) to succeed: spec, in You
can't come it, i.e. you cannot succeed.
To come it strong, to exaggerate, lay
it on thick, carry to extremes. To
come John (or Lord Audley), see John
Audley. To come off, to happen,
occur, result from (1609). Come off
the grass (or the tall grass), None of your
airs ! Don't put it on so ! Don't tell
one, to imitate, overbear, wheedle,
rule by an assumption of authority :
Fr., essay er de monter un bateau a
quelqu'un; or monter le coup or un
battage (1713). To come round, to
influence, circumvent, persuade : cf.
Come over and come about, sense 1.
To come the gum game, to over-reach
by concealment. To come through a
side door, to be born illegitimately.
To come to stay, to be endowed with
permanent qualities. To come to (or
up to) time, to answer the call of
* Time ! * after the thirty seconds'
rest between round and round, hence
by analogy, to be on the alert, ready.
To come up smiling, to laugh (or grin)
at punishment ; hence (generally) to
be superior to rebuff or disaster, face
defeat without flinching. To come
up to the chalk : see Scratch. To come
the artful, to essay to deceive; To
come the heavy, to affect a vastly
superior position ; To come the ugly, to
threaten ; To come the nob (or the don),
to put on airs ; To come the lardy-dardy,
to dress for the public and * look up to
your clobber ' ; To come the serjeant,
to issue peremptory orders ; To come
the spoon, to make love ; To come the
gipsy, to try to defraud ; To come the
Rothschild to pretend to be rich ; and
To come the Traviata (prostitutes, now
obsolete), to feign consumption, to put
on ' the Traviata cough ' (q.v.) with
a view to beguiling charitable males.
Come-down. A fall, whether of
pride or worldly prospects, an aban-
donment of something for something
else of less value or moment. As verb,
used either independently or in com-
bination : e.g. To come down, to come
down handsome, or to come down with
the dust, dues, dibs, ready, oof, shiners,
Uunt, needful, (1) to pay, ie. to
111
Comedy- merchant .
Condog.
* part ' ; or to lay down (as in pay-
ment) ; to fork out : see Shell out
(1701) ; (2) to abate prices.
Comedy-merchant. An actor : see
Cackling- cove.
Comflogisticate. To embarrass, put
out of countenance, confuse, hoax, of.
Bamblustercate.
Comf oozled. Overcome, exhausted
(1836).
Comfortable-importance (or Com-
fortable-impudence). A wife; also
a mistress in a wife's position : Fr.,
gouvernement : see Dutch.
Comical. A napkin. To be struck
comical, to be astonished.
Coming. Wanton, forward, sexual
(1750).
Commercial. 1. A tramping rogue
or vagabond : cf. Traveller. 2. A
commercial traveller.
Commission (or Mish). A shirt.
[From the Italian.]
Commister. A clergyman: also
camister (q.v.).
Common-doings. Every-day f are :
cf. chicken-fixings. [A phrase of
Western origin, at first restricted in
its meaning, but now including ordi-
nary transactions as compared to
those either large or peculiarly profit-
able; applied to men, actions, and
things. f What shall we do ? ' says
a poor frontiersman's wife, when she
hears of a Federal officer who is to
take up his quarters at her cabin for
a day; 'I can't give him common-
doings.']
Commoner-grub (Winchester Col-
lege). A dinner formerly given by
Commoners to College after cricket
matches. [Commoners are boys not on
the foundation.]
Commoney. A clay marble: cf.
Alley.
Common- jack. A prostitute.
Common - plug. An ordinary
member of society.
Commonsensical. Marked with
common sense.
Common-sewer. A drink, dram ;
or ' go.' [From common sewer, a
drain.]
Communicator. To agitate the
communicator, to ring the bell.
Com p. A compositor. [An ab-
breviated form of companion now
peculiar to compositors, but originally
applied to pressmen who work in
couples, as well as to compositors who
work in a companionship, or ship
(q.v.).]
Company. To see company, to
live by prostitution.
Competition - wallah. One who
enters the Indian Civil Service by
examination.
C o m p o. A sailor's monthly ad-
vance of wages.
Compy - shop. A truck shop.
[Probably a corruption of company-
shop : workmen, before the passing of
certain Truck Acts (q.v.), having been
frequently compelled to make their
weekly purchases at shops either kept
by, or worked to the profit of, their
employer.]
Con (Winchester College). A rap
on the head with the knuckles, or
anything hard, such as a cricket ball.
As verb, to rap with the knuckles.
[The derivation formerly accepted at
Winchester was from uav3v\ov=&
knuckle, but the editors of the WyTce-
Tiamist suggest its origin in the North
Country con, ' to fillip,' with which the
French se cogner exactly corresponds.]
Concaves and Convexes. Cards
prepared for cheating. All from the
eight to the king are cut convex, and
all from the deuce to the seven, con-
cave ; so that by cutting the pack
broadwise you cut convex, and by
cutting them lengthwise you cut
concave. Sometimes they are shaped
the reverse way, so that, if suspicion
arises, a pack so treated may be sub-
stituted for the other to the same
effect. In this trick the sharper has
less in his favour than in others, be-
cause the intended victim may cut in
the usual way, and so cut a low card
to the dealer. But the certainty of
being able to cut or deal a high or low
card at pleasure, gives him an advan-
tage against which skill is of none
avail. Other modes of sharping are by
means of Reflectors (q.v.) j Longs and
shorts, (q.v.) ; Pricked Cards (q.v.) ;
The Bridge (q.v.); Skinning (q.v.);
Weaving (q.v.) ; The Gradus (or Step)
(q.v.); Palming (q.v.); and The
Telegraph (q.v.).
Concerned. Drunk : see Screwed.
(1686).
Concher. A tame or quiet beast.
Condiddle. To purloin or steal
(1825).
Condog. To agree with : of.
112
Confab,
Confab. Familiar talk (1778).
As verb, to talk in a familiar manner,
to chat.
Confectionery. A drinking bar : of.
Grocery, and Lush-crib.
Confidence Trick (Dodge, or
Buck). A process of swindling,
obtaining trust with the deliberate
intention of betraying it to one's own
advantage. A greenhorn meets (or
rather is picked up by) a stranger who
invites ham to drink. The stranger
admires him openly, protests his
confidence in him, and to prove his
sincerity hands him over a large sum
of money [snide, q.v.)] or valuables
[bogus, q.v.] with which to walk off
and return. The greenhorn does both,
whereupon the stranger suggests that
it is his turn next, and being favoured
with certain proofs of confidence,
which in this case are real, decamps,
and is no more seen. This is the sim-
plest form of the trick, but the confid-
ence man is inexhaustible in devices.
In many cases the subject's idiosyn-
crasy takes the form of an idiotic
desire to overreach his fellows ; i.e.
he is only a knave, wrong side out, and
it is upon this idiosyncrasy that the
operator works. He offers a sham
gold watch at the price of a nickel one ;
he calls with presents from nowhere
where none are expected; he writes
letters announcing huge legacies to
persons absolutely Mnlees ; and as Ms
appeal is addressed to the sister pas-
sions of greed and dishonesty, be
seldom fails of his reward. Fr.,
mener en bateau un pante pour le rz-
/a*Ve^=to stick a jay and flap him.
Conflabberated. Bothered, up-
set, flummoxed (q.v.).
Conflabberation. Aconfusod
wrangle, a hullabaloo.
Confounded. Excessive, odious,
detestable, e.g. a confounded nuisance,
He, humbug, etc. : cf. Awful, Beastly,
and other ' strumpets of speech *
(1767).
Confubuscate. To confuse,
perplex, astonish : cf. Confusticate.
Coniacker. A counterfeiter,
smasher, (q.v.), 'queer -bit' faker.
[Obviously a play upon coin, money,
and hack, to mutilate,] FT., un
momifteur tarte.
Conish. Genteel (1S30).
Conk. The nose. English syno-
nyms: boko (or boco), proboscis,
smeller, bowsprit, claret-jug, gig,
muzzle, cheese-cutter, beak, snuff-
bos, snorter, post-horn, paste-horn,
handle, snout, nozzle, smelling- cheat*
snotter, candlestick, celestial, snottle-
box, snuffler, trumpet, snorer, peak.
Conoodle. See Canoodle.
Conscience. A kind of association
in a small theatrical company for the
allotment of shares in the profits, etc.
The man who is lucky enough to have
a concern of his own, generally a very
small affair, however badly he may
act, must be the leading man or first
low comedian, perhaps both. He
becomes the manager, of course, and
thus has one share for ' fit-up,' one foi
scenery, one and a half for manage-
ment, one for wardrobe, one and a
half as leading man ; and the same is
given to the wife, who, of course, will
not play anything but the juvenile
lead, but who at any other time would
be glad to play first old woman.
Considerable Bend. To go on the
considerable bend, to go in for a bout
of dissipation.
Consonant-choker. One that clips
his G's and muffles his R's.
Constable. To out- (or over-run)
the constable, to live beyond one's
means and get into debt ; also, in a
figurative sense, to escape from a bad
argument, to change the subject,
to talk about what is not understood
(1663).
Constician. A member of an
orchestra.
Constitutional. A walk undertaken
for the sake of health and exercise
[i.e. for the benefit of the constitu-
tion] : Fr., tronchiner (1850).
Contango (Stock Exchange).
A fine paid by the buyer to the seller
of stock for carrying over the en-
gagement to another settling day, and
representing a kind of interest for a
fourteen days* extension. [Thought
to be a corruption of continuation.]
(1853.)
Content. Dead : see Hop the
twig.
Continent (Winchester College). 4
111 ; on the sick list [From continent
cameram vel lectum, keeping one's
room or bed.] See Abroad.
Continental. To care (or be worth)
not a continental or continental darnm*
to be worthless ; to oaie not in th«
least degree.
113
Continuations.
Cop.
Continuations. Trousers: see Kicks.
[Of analogous derivation to inexpres-
sibles ; unmentionables ; mustn't- men-
tion'ems ; untalkaboutables, etc.]
(1841).
Contraptions. Small articles, tools,
and so forth (1838).
Convenience. A -water-closet or
chamber-pot.
Convenient. A mistress (1676).
Convenes. See Concaves.
Convey. To steal (1596). Hence
conveyance, a theft (1592). Convey-
ancer, a thief : also conveyer. Con-
veyancing, thieving.
Cony (or Tom Cony). A simpleton.
Cony catch. To cheat, deceive,
trick, bite (q.v.) (1593). Hence,
cony-catcher, a cheat, sharper, trick-
ster. Cony-catching, cheating, trickery,
swindling after the manner of Cony-
catchers (q.v.).
Coo-e-e-e or Coo-ey. A signal cry
of the Australian blackfellow, adopted
by the invading whites. The final
' e ' is a very high note, a sort of pro-
longed screech, that resounds for
miles through the bush, and thus
enables parties that have lost each
other to ascertain their relative
positions.
Cook. 1. To tamper with, garble, or
falsify : accounts are cooked when so
altered as to look better than they are ;
pictures are cooked when dodged-up
for sale ; painters say that a picture
will not cook when it is so excellent as
to be beyond imitation (1751). 2.
To swelter with, heat and sweat. To
cook one's goose, to settle, worst, kill,
ruin, English synonyms : to anodyne,
to put to bed, to snuff out, to give (or
cook) one's gruel, to corpse, to cooper
up, to wipe out, to spifUcate, to settle
(or settle one's hash), to squash, to
shut up, to send to pot, to smash, to
finish, to do for, to put one's light out,
to stop one's little game, to stop one's
galloping, to put on an extinguisher, to
clap a stopper on, to bottle up, to
squelch, to play hell with, to rot, to
squash up, to stash, to give a croaker.
For synonyms in the sense of circum-
vention : see Floored.
Cookeyshine. An afternoon
meal at which cookies form a staple
dish: of. Tea-fight, Muffin-worry.
Cook-ruffian. A bad or indifferent
cook, one ' who would cook the devil
in his feathers.'
Cool. 1. Impertinent, audacious,
calmly impudent. 2. (In refer-
ence to money ; e.g. a cool hun-
dred, thousand, etc.). Commonly
expletive ; but sometimes used to
cover a sum a little above the figure
stated (1750). As verb (Eton Col-
lege). To kick hard. Hence, Cool-
kick, when a Behind (q.v.), or back,
gets a kick with no one up to him.
Cool as a cucumber, without heat ; also,
metaphorically, calm and composed.
To cool one's coppers, to allay the
morning's thirst after a night of drink.
Cool- crape. A shroud, or winding
sheet (Grose) (1742).
Cooler. 1. A woman (1742).
2. A prison : see Cage. 3. Ale or
stout after spirits and water : some-
times called Putting the beggar on
the gentleman, also Damper (q.v.)
(1821).
Cool-lady. A female camp fol-
lower who sells brandy (Grose).
Cool-nantz. Brandy: see Drinks.
Coon. 1. A man. 2. A nigger, e.g.
a coons' bawdy house, house where
none are kept but girls of colour.
Gone coon, one in a serious or hopeless
difficulty. To go the whole coon, to go
the whole hog.
Coon's - age. A long time, a blue
moon.
Coop. A prison: see Cage. Hence,
Cooped up, imprisoned.
Cooper (or Cooper up). 1. To
destroy, spoil, settle, or finish. 2.
To forge. 3. To understand. Hence,
Coopered, hocussed, spoiled, ruined,
e g. a house is said to be coopered
when the importunity of many tramps
has caused its inmates to cold-shoul-
der the whole fraternity ; a coopered
horse is a horse that has been * got at '
with a view to prevent its running.
Coored. Whipped (D. Haggart,
I*fe, Glossary, p. 171 [1821].)
Coot. A stupid fellow; generally
a silly, or mad, old coot : stupid
as a coot is a common English pro-
vincialism : see Buffle.
Cooter. See Couter.
Cop. . A policeman. As verb. 1.
To seize, steal, catch, take an unfair
advantage in a bet or bargain. [Cop
has been associated with the root of
the Latin cap-io, to seize, to snatch ;
also with the Gipsy kap or cop = to
take ; Scotch kep ; and Gallic ceapan.
Probably, however, its true radix is
Coyjbusy.
to be found in the Hebrew cop=&
hand or palm. Low- class Jews em-
ploy the term, and understand it to
refer to the act of snatching.] Cop
like Chuck (q.v.), is a sort of general
utility verb : thus to cop the needle, to
get angry; to cop the bullet (or the
door), to get the sack ; and to cop the
brewer, to be drunk. 2. To arrest,
imprison, betray, ensnare. English
synonyms : to give the clinch, to make
one kiss the clink, to accommodate, to
nobble, to bag, to box, to fist (old),
to scoop, to take up, to victimize, to
run in, to give (or get) one the boat,
to buckle, to smug, to nab, to collar, to
pinch, to nail, to rope in, to snake,
to pull up.
Copbusy. To hand over booty to
a confederate.
Copper. A policeman.
Copperheads. A nickname applied
to different sections of the American
nation ; first to the Indian ; then to
the Dutch colomst(see Irving, Knicker-
bocker) ; lastly, during the Civil War,
to certain Northern Democrats who
sympathised with the South.
Copperman. A policeman.
Copper-nose. A swollen, pimply
nose, a jolly or bottle nose ; Fr.,
bette-rave, piton passe d V encaustique :
cf. Grogblossom (1822).
Copper's-nark. A police spy, one
in the pay of the police.
C o p u s. A wine or beer cup :
commonly imposed as a fine upon
those who talked Latin in hall or com-
mitted other breaches of etiquette.
Dr. Johnson derives it from episcopus,
and if this be correct it is doubtless the
same as bishop.
Copy - of - countenance. A sham,
humbug, pretence (1579).
Core (C o r e i n g). Picking up
small articles in shops (1821).
Corinth. A brothel (1609).
Hence, Corinthian. 1. A rake, loose
liver, sometimes specifically, a fashion-
able whore. Shakespeare has it, ' a
lad of mettle,* but in another place
he uses Corinth as above. 2. A dandy, '
specifically applied in the early part
of the present century to a man of
fashion; e.g. Corinthian Tom, in
Pierce Egan's Life in London.
Cork,- 1. A bankrupt. 2. A
general name in Glasgow and neigh-
bourhood for the head of an establish-
ment, e.g. of a factory, or the like. To
draw a cork, to draw blood ; to tap
one's claret (1818).
Cork-brained. Light headed,
foolish.
Corker. 1. That which closes an
argument, or puts an end to a course
of action ; a settler ; a finisher (q.v.) ;
specifically a he : cf Whopper. 2.
Anything unusually large, or of first-
rate quality ; remarkable in some
respect or another ; e.g. a heavy
blow ; a monstrous lie. To play the
corker, to indulge in the uncommon,
exhibit exaggerated peculiarities of
demeanour : specifically in school and
university slang to make oneself ob-
jectionable to one's fellows.
Corks. 1. A butler : cf. Burn-
crust, a baker ; Master of the mint, a
gardener; Cinder-garbler, a maid-of-
aH-work, etc. 2. (nautical). Money :
see Rhino.
Corkscrewing. The straggling,
spiral walk of tipsiness.
Corkscrews. Very stiff and formal
curls, once called Bottle-screws.
Corky. Sprightly, lively. Shakes-
peare uses it in King Lear, m. vii.
Com., Bind fast his corky arms ; but
with Mm (1605) it = withered.
Corn. 1. Food, sustenance, grub
(q.v.). 2. An abbreviated form of
corn - juice (q.v.), i.e. whisky (1843).
To acknowledge the corn : see Acknow-
ledge.
Corned. 1. Drunk : see Screwed
(1785). 2. (sailors'), pleased.
Corner. 1. TattersalTs Subscrip-
tion Booms, once situate at the top of
Grosveaor Place, near Hyde Park
Corner ; now removed to Albert Gate,
but still known by the old nickname.
2. Short for Tattenham Corner, a
point on the Derby course on Epsom
Downs. 3. A share; an opportunity
of standing in for the proceeds of a
robbery. As verb, to get control of a
stock or commodity and so mono-
polize the market ; applied to persons,
to drive or force into a position of
difficulty or surrender, e.g. in an
argument ; also as subs., a monopoly,
a controlling interest Fr., &re en -fine
pigr&ne, and se rrtetfre swr les fonts de
bapteme. Tailors speak of a man as
cornered who has pawned work en-
trusted to him, and cannot redeem it.
To be round the corner, to get round
or ahead of one's fellows by dishonest
outs, doublings, twists, and turns. To
115
Corner-man.
Counter -jumper .
turn the comer, to get over the worst, -writers, and is American by survival'
begin to mend in health and fortune. To die with cotton in one's ears : Many
To be cornered, to be in a fix :
etre dans le lac.
Corner-man (or Cove). 1. A loafer;
literally a lounger at corners (1851).
2. The ' Bones ' and ' Tambourine ' in
a band of negro minstrels.
Corn-in- Egypt. Plenty of all kinds.
[Biblical.]
Cornish-duck. A pilchard: of.
Yarmouth capon.
Corn- juice. Whisky : see Drinks.
Cornstalk. Generic (Australian)
for persons of European descent,
but especially applied to girls. The
of the most hardened and desperate
offenders, from the kindness, attention,
and soothing conduct of the Rev. Mr.
Cotton [the chaplain at Newgate,
1821], who is indefatigable in admin-
istering consolation to their troubled
minds, have become the most sincere
penitents (Bgan, Tom and Jerry).
This was by no means the only instance
of a popular punning allusion to the
name of Cotton. The Jesuit Father
Coton, having obtained a great
ascendency over Henri IV., it was
remarked by that monarch's subjects
children of Anglo - Australians are that, unfortunately, his ears were
generally taller and slighter in build stuffed with cotton,
than their parents. Originally a native Cotton-lord (or king),
of New South Wales; now general.
Cf. Bananalander.
Cornstealers. The hands.
Corny-faced. Red and pimply with
drink.
Coroner. A severe fall.
Corporation. A protuberant
stomach: see Bread-basket (1785).
Corpse. A horse in the betting for
A wealthy
cotton manufacturer.
Cottonopolis. Manchester : cf.
AlbertopoUs, Cubitopolis, Hygeia-
polis.
Cottons (Stock Exchange). Con-
federate Bonds. [From the staple of
the Southern States.]
Cotton - top. A woman loose in
fact, but keeping up some sort of
market purposes alone ; otherwise a appearance. [In allusion to cotton
stifPun. Verb, 1. To confuse, queer, stockings with silk feet.]
' "" Couch.
blunder, and so put out one's fellows,
to spoil a scene. 2. To Mil (literaEy
to make & corpse of one). Fr., parler
sur quelqu'un.
Corps e- provider. A doctor or
physician : see Crocus.
Corpse-reviver. A mixed drink.
Correct (or K'rect Card). See Card.
Corroboree. A disturbance.
To couch a hogshead, to lie
down and sleep (1569).
Councillor of the Pipowder Court.
A pettifogging lawyer. [The Pi-
powder Court was one held at fairs
where justice was done to any injured
person before the dust of the fair was
off his feet; the name being derived
from the French p^e <po>udr6. Some,
[Properly a tremendous native dance.] however, think that it had its origin
Verb, to boil.
Gorsican. Something out of the
common ; a buster. [A Burnand-
ism.]
Corybungus. The posteriors.
Cosh. A ' noddy,* a life-preserver ;
a short, loaded bludgeon. Also a gerbier.
policeman's truncheon. Count.
Cossack. A policeman.
Costard. The head, [Properly an
apple.] See Crumpet (1534).
Cotch. To catch. [A corruption.]
Also ppl. adj., Cotched,
Cot (Christ's Hospital). A shoe-
string.
Cotsold (or Cotswold Lion). A
sheep : see Wool-bird (1615).
Cotton. To take a fancy to, unite
in pied-pouldreux, a pedlar, and
signifies a pedlars' court.
Council-of-ten. The toes of a man
who walks Duck-footed (q.v.) : cf.
Ten commandments : Fr., arpione.
Counsellor. A barrister: Fr.,
A man of fashion, a swell.
Counter. To strike while parry-
ing. Figuratively, to oppose, to cir-
cumvent. Another lie nailed to the
counter : see Another.
Counterfeit-cranke. 'These that do
counterf et the cranke be yong knaves
and yonge harlots, that deeply dis-
semble the falling sickness ' (Harman).
Hence, a cheat.
Counter-jumper (or skipper).
with, agree with. In the last sense it is A draper's assistant, a shopman : Fr.,
found occasionally in the Elizabethan chevalier dtt, m$re : see Knight of the
116
Count.
yard : also Counter-jump, lo act as a
shop-assistant, and Counter- jumping,
verbal subs. (1855).
Count. See Noses.
Country. That part of the ground
at a great distance from the wicket;
thus, a fielder at deep-long-off, or
long-on is said to be in the country.,
and a ball hit to the far boundary, is
hit into the country.
Country- put. An ignorant, country
fellow: see Joskin. (1717).
County- crop. The hair cut close
to the skull ; a mode once common to
all prisoners, but now to convicts only :
also prison-crop.
Couple (or Buckle) beggar. A
celebrant of irregular marriages — as
the Chaplain of the Fleet; a hedge
priest (1737).
Coupling-house. A brothel.
Couranne. See Caroon.
Court-card. A beau, swell.
Court Holy Water (or Court Pro-
mises). Fair speeches without per-
formance.
Cousin Betty. A half-witted
person : see JBufflo.
Cousin-trumps. One of a Mud,
Brother smut, Brother chip.
Couter (or Cooter). A sovereign .*
see Rhino.
Cove (Covey, Cofe, Cuffing, and,
in the feminine, Covess). 1. A
person; a companion. Cove enters
into many combinations : e.g. Cross-
cove, a robber ; Flash-cove, a thief or
swindler ; Kinchin-cove, a little man ;
Flogging-cove, a beadle; SmacMng-
cove, a coachman ; Harry - cove, a
drunkard ; Topping-cove, a highway-
man ; Abram-cove, a beggar ; Queer-
cove, a rogue ; Nubbing-cove, the
hangman ; Gentry-cove, a gentleman ;
Downy-cove, shrewd man j Bum-cove,
a doubtful character ; Nib - cove, a
gentleman, etc., etc., etc., all which
see, English synonyms : boy, chap,
cull, cully, customer, kiddy, homo (or
omee), fish, put, bloke, gloak, party,
cuss, codger, buffer, gaffer, damber,
duck, chip. [For examples of the
use of Covey and Covess, see same.]
2. In up - country Australian, the
master, boss, or gafier of a sheep
station. Cove of dosaing-ken, the land-
lord of a common lodging-house : Fr.,
marcho/nd de sommeti,
Covent Garden. A * farden ' or
farthing.
Covent - garden Abbess. A pro-
curess. [Covent Garden at one time
teemed with brothels : as Fielding's
Covent Garden Tragedy (1751-2) sug-
Co vent- garden Ague. A venereal
disease.
Covent - garden Nun. A pro-
stitute.
Coventry. To send one to (or to
"be in) Coventry, to esclude from social
intercourse, or notice; to be in dis-
grace.
Cover. A pickpocket's confed-
erate : one who ' fronts,' i.e. distracts
the attention of, the victim ; a stall
(q.v.). As verb, 1. To act as a pick-
pocket's confederate. 2. To drink:
see Lush.
Cover-arse Gown. A gown with-
out sleeves (1803).
Cover-down. An obsolete term for
a false tossing coin ; see Cap.
Co ver- me -decently. A coat
(1821).
Covess. A woman : see Cove. (1789).
Covey. A man : a diminutive of
cove (q.v.).
Cow. LA woman. The term is
now opprobrious ; but in its primary
and natural sense the usage is ancient.
Howell [1659] says : ' There are some
proverbs that carry a kind of authority
with them, as that which began in
Henrie the Fourth's time. " He that
bulls the cow must keep the calf." *
2. A prostitute. 3. A thousand pounds :
see Rhino. To talk the hind teg off a
cow (or dog) : see Talk. Tune the cow
died of : see Tune.
Cowan. A sneak, a Paul Pry.
Cow-and-calf. To laugh.
Coward's-castle (or Corner). A
pulpit.
Cow cumber. A corruption of
cucumber.
Cow-grease (or Cow-oil). Butter:
see Cart-grease.
Cow-juice. Milk.
Cow-lick. A look of hair, greased,
curled, brought forward from the ear,
and plastered on the cheek: once
common amongst costermongers and
tramps : see Aggerawators.
Cow- oil. Cow-grease.
Cow- puncher. A cowboy or herds-
man.
Cow- quake. The roar of a bull.
Cows-and-kisses. The missus, or
mistress ; also women generally.
117
Cow9s~baby.
Cracksman.
Cow's - baby (or baba) A calf,
Cow-lhooter (Winchester College).
A deerstalker hat : only worn by prse-
fects and candle-keepers.
Cow's-spouse. A bull (Grose).
Cow - with - the - iron - tail. A
pump ; the source of the ' cooling
medium ' for ' regulating ' milk : also
Black - cow, One - armed man, and
Simpson's cow (q.v.).
Coxy. Stuck up, conceited, im-
pudent (1856).
Coyduck. To decoy. [A blend of
conduct and decoy.'] (1829).
Cozza. Pork.
Crab. 1. The same as bonnet (q.v.)
subs., sense 1. 2. In pi., the feet.
3. A pah? of aces, or deuce-ace — the
lowest throw at hazard (1768). Verb,
to expose, inform, offend, insult ; and
especially to interrupt, to get in the
way of, to spoil. To turn out crabs
(or a case of crabs), a matter turns out
crabs when it is brought to a dis-
agreeable conclusion. To catch a
crab (to cut a crab, to catch or c^lt a
cancer or lobster), there are various
ways of catching a crab, as, for ex-
ample (1) to turn the blade of the oar
or * feather * under water at the end
of the stroke, and thus be unable to
recover ; (2) to lose control of the oar
at the middle of the stroke by dig-
ging too deeply; or (3) to miss the
water altogether.
Crab-louse. The pulex pubis, the
male whereof is called a cock, the
female a hen (Grose).
Crabshells. Shoes.
Crack. LA crazy person : soft-
head : see Buffie (1609). 2. A pro-
stitute (1698). 3. A lie : also Cracker.
4. A burglary. 5. A burglar (1749).
6. An approach to perfection (1825).
7. A racehorse eminent for speed, and
(hunting), a famous * mount.' 8.
Dry firewood. Adj., approaching
perfection : used in a multitude of
combinations. A crack hand is an
adept or dabster; a crack corps, a
brilliant regiment; a crack whip, good
coachman; etc. (1836). Verb, 1.
To talk to, boast. [The verb was
once good English, and in the sense of
to talk or gossip is still good Scots.
The modern form to crack up, is well
within the borderland between literary
and colloquial English (1597). 2. To
force open, to commit a burglary. 3.
To forge or utter worthless paper. 4.
To fall to ruin, to be impaired (1631).
5. To inform ; to peach (q.v.). To
crack a bottle (or a, quart), to drink
(1598). To crack a crib (swag, or ken), to
commit a burglary ; to break into a
house. English synonyms : to stamp
a ken or crib, to work a panny, to
jump a house (also applied to simple
robbery without burglary), to do a
crack, to practise the black art, to
screw, to bust a crib, to flimp, to buz,
to tool, to wire, to do a ken-crack-lay.
To crack a crust, to rub along in the
world: a superlative for doing very well
i s, to crack a tidy crust. To crack a whid,
to talk. To crack on, to put on speed,
increase one s pace. To crack up, to
praise, eulogize: a superlative is to
crack up to the nines : Fr., faire Particle,
and faire son boniment (or son petit
boniment). The crack (or all the crack),
the go (q.v.), the thing, the kick, the
general craze of the moment. In a
oracJc, instantaneously, in the twink-
ling of an eye (1725)."
Cracked (or Cracked-up). 1.
Ruined, bust up, gone to smash (or
to pot). 2. Crazy. 3. Deflowered :
also Cracked in the ring.
Cracker. Anything approaching
perfection : used in both a good and
bad sense ; e.g. a rattling pace, a
large sum of money, a bad fall, an
enormous he, a dandy (male or female)
of the first magnitude, and so forth.
Cracky. See Crickey.
Crack - halter (or Crack - rope),
A vagabond ; an old equivalent of
jail-bird : cf. Hemp-seed (1566).
Cracking. House-breaking.
Crackish. Wanton, said only of
women : cf. Coming.
Crack-jaw Words (Names, etc.).
Long words difficult to pronounce.
Crackle (or Crackling). The velvet
bars on the gowns of the Johnian
'hogs' (q.v.).
Crsickmans (or Cragmans). A
hedge (1610).
Crack (or Break) One's Egg (or
Duck. To begin to score. [To
make no run is to lay, or make, a
duck's egg; to make none in either
innings is to get a double-duck, or
to come off with a pair of spectacles.]
Crack- pot. A pretentious, worth-
Crack-rope. See Crack-halter.
Cracksman. A housebreaker.
118
Cradle.
Cradle, Altar, and Tomb Column.
The births, marriages, and deaths
column in a newspaper : also Hatch,
Match, and Dispatch column.
Crag. See Scrag.
Cram. 1. A lie ; also Crammer. 2.
Hard, forced study. 3. One who
prepares another for an examination,
a coach, a grindstone. 4. An adven-
titious aid to study, a translation,
a crib. Verb, 1. To study at high
pressure for an examination : also to
prepare one for examination (1803).
2. To lie, deceive (1794).
Crammer. 1. A liar, one who tells
Crams (q.v.). 2. A lie ; the same as
cram. 3. One who prepares men for
examination, a coaoh, grinder (q.v.)
(1812).
Cramming. The act of studying
hard for an examination.
Cramped (or Crapped). Hanged ;
also killed.
Cramping-cull. The hangman.
Cramp in the Hand. Meanness,
stinginess.
Cramp - rings. Bolts, shackles,
fetters. [Properly a ring of gold or
silver, which after being blessed by
the sovereign, was held a specific for
cramp and falling-sickness.] (1609).
Cramp - words. 1. Hard, unpro-
nounceable vocables, Crackjaw words
(q.v.) (1748). 2. Sentence of death
(1748).
Cranberry-eye. A blood-shot eye ;
the result of alcoholism.
Crank. 1. * These that do coun-
terf et the cranke be yong knaues and
yonge harlots, that deeply dissemble
the tailing sicknes. For the crank in
their language is the fallings evill '
(Harmon). Also Cranke and Crank-
cuffin. 2. Gin and water (Qrose). 3.
An eccentric, a crotcheteer. Adj.,
Easily upset : e.g. The skiff is very
crank.
Crank-cuffin. One of the canting-
crew whose specialty was to feign
sickness : see Crank.
Cranky. Crotchetty, whimsical,
ricketty, not to be depended upon,
crazy. English synonyms : dicky,
maggotty, dead-alive, yappy, touched,
chumpish, comical, dotty, rocketty,
queer, faddy, fadmongering, twisted,
funny.
Crap. 1. Money ; sometimes crop :
see Ithino. 2. The gallows: see
"gabbing Cheat. 3. Type that has got
mixed ; technically known as ' pL*
Verb, 1. To hang ; to be cropped, to
be hanged. 2. To ease oneself by
evacuation : see Mrs. Jones.
Crapping - casa (case, castle, or
ken). A water-closet.
Crapping - castle. A night stool :
see previous entry.
Crash. 1. Entertainment: prob-
ably a cant word (Wares), 2. The
machine used to suggest the roar of
thunder ; a noise of desperate (and
unseen) conflict j an effect of ' alarums
excursions' generally. Verb, to kill.
Crashing - cheats (or chetes).
1. The teeth (1567). 2. e Appels,
peares, or any other fruit ' (Barman).
Crater (Cratur, or Creature).
Formerly, any kind of liquor, now,
Irish whisky. [Fuller speaks of
water as ' a creature so common and
needful,' and Bacon describes light as
4 God's first creature.* Transition is
easy.] The skin of the creature, the
bottle : see Brinks (1598).
Crawl. A workman who curries
favour with a foreman or employer, a
lickspittle.
Crawler. 1. A cab that leaves the
rank and ' crawls * the street in. search
of fares. 2. A term of contempt,
lickspittle.
Crawthumper. 1. Roman
Catholic, ' the Pope's cockrels '
(1629) : also Brisket-beaters and, col-
lectively, the Breast - fleet. 2. In
America an Irishman or Dick, Le. an
Irish Catholic (1782).
Cream Cheese. To make believe the
moon is made of cream (or green) cheese,
to humbug, to deceive, to impose upon.
Cream - jugs (Stock Excliange).
1. Charkof - Krementschug Railway
Bonds. 2. The paps.
Cream - of - the - valley, (also Cold
Cream). Gin: cf. Mountain Dew,
Creamy. Excellent, first-rate : see
Al.
Creation. To beat (or lick) creation,
to overpower, excel, surpass, be in-
comparable.
Creeme. To slip or slide anything
into the hands of another (Qrose).
Creeper. One who cringes and
curries favour, a skunk, a snide (q.v.).
Creepers. 1. The feet. English syn-
onyms: dew-beaters, beetle-crushers,
understandings, trotters, tootsies,
stumps (also the legs), everlasting.
Crocus.
shoes, hocks, boot - trees, pasterns,
ards (Old Cant now used as an adj. =
hot), double-breasters, daisy-beaters,
kickers, crabs, trampers, hookies,
hoofs, pudseys. 2. Lice : see Chates.
Creeps. The peculiar thrill re-
sulting from an undefinable sense of
dread : Goose - flesh, Cold shivers,
Cold water down the back (1836).
Crevecceur. See Heart - breaker.
Cri. The Criterion, theatre and
restaurant, at Piccadilly Circus.
Crib. 1. The stomach (1656). 2.
Generic for a place ; e.g. a house,
place of abode, apartments, lodgings,
shop, warehouse, den, diggings, or
snuggery (1598). 3. A situation, place,
or berth. 4. A literal translation sur-
reptitiously used by students ; also a
theft of any kind ; specifically, any-
thing copied without acknowledg-
ment (1841). 5. A bed. Verb, (1)
to steal, pilfer ; used specifically of
petty thefts : see Prig (1748). (2) To
use a translation ; to cheat at an
examination ; to plagiarise. To crack
a, crib, see Crack.
Cribbage - face (and Cribbage-
faced). Pock - marked and like a
cribbage-board, Colander-faced, Crum-
pet - faced, Pikelet - faced, Mockered
(q.v.) (1785).
Cribber. A grumbler.
Cribbeys (or Cribby - Islands).
Blind alleys, courts, and bye-ways.
Cribbing. 1. Food and drink, grub
and booze (1656). 2. Stealing, pur-
loining, using a translation.
Crib- biter. An inveterate grum-
bler. [Properly a horse that worries
his crib, rack, manger, or groom, and
at the same time draws in his breath
so as to make the peculiar noise
called wind-sucking.] Fr. gourgousseur,
un r&me, rendcleur, and renaudeur.
Crib-cracker. A housebreaker.
Crib-cracking Housebreaking.
Crikey! (Cracky! or Cry!) For-
merly, a profane oath ; now a mere
expression of astonishment. [A cor-
ruption of ' Christ.']
Crimini (Criminey, or Crimes 1)
See Crikey. [Possibly influenced by
crimen meum, my fault.] (1700).
Crimson. To make things look
crimson, to go on a drunken frolic,
paint the town red (q.v.).
Crincle - pouch. A sixpence : see
Bender (1593).
Crinkums. A venereal disease.
Crinoline. A woman.
Cripple. 1. A ' snid ' (Scots) or
sixpence: see Rhino (1785). 2. An
awkward oaf, a dullard: FT., mala-
patle. Go it, you cripples ! A sarcastic
comment on strenuous effort ; fre-
quently used without much sense of
fitness ; e.g. when the person ad-
dressed is a capable athlete. Wooden
legs are cheap, is sometimes added as
an intensitive.
Crisp. A banknote : see Rhino.
Crispin. A shoemaker. [From
Saints Crispin and Crispianus, th*»
patrons of the ' gentle craft,' i.e. shoe
making.] St. Crispin's lance, an awl.
Crispin's fohday, Monday : spec. 25th
of October, being the anniversary of
Crispinus and Crispianus.
Croak. A dying speech, especially
the confession of a murderer. Also
the same as printed for sale in the
streets by a flying stationer (q.v.).
Verb, to die : see Hop the Twig.
Croaker. 1. A sixpence : see Rhino.
2. A beggar. 3. A dying person. 4.
A corpse. 5- The flesh of an animal
which has died a natural death. 6.
A doctor. 7. A person who sees
everything en noir, and whose con-
versation is likened to that of the
raven, the bird of ill-omen : see Gold-
smith's Good Natured Man. Fr., glas.
Croakumshire. Northumberland.
[Grose : from the particular croaking
in the pronunciation of the people of
that county, especially about New-
castle and Morpeth, where they are
said to be born with a burr in their
throats, which prevents their pro-
nouncing the letter * r.']
Crock. A worthless animal, a
fool, rotter.
Crocketts (Winchester College).
A kind of bastard cricket, sometimes
called ' small orochetts.' Five stumps
are used and a fives ball, with a bat
of plain deal about two inches broad,
or a broomstick. To get crocketts, to
fail to score at cricket, to make a
duck's egg.
Crocodile. A girl's school walk-
ing two and two.
Crocus (Crocu s- metallorum
or Croakus). A doctor ; specifically,
a quack. English synonyms: pill,
squirt, butcher, croaker, corpse-pro-
vider, bolus, clyster, gallipot. [Several
of these terms also*=an apothecary.]
(1785).
120
Crocus-chovey.
Crow.
Crocus-chovey. A doctor's shop.
Crocus- pitcher. A quack ambulant.
Crocussing-rig, subs. (old).
Travelling from place to place as a
quack doctor.
Crone. A clown or buffoon.
Crook. 1. A sixpence : see Rhino.
2. A thief, swindler, one who gets
things on the crook. On ike crook, the
antithesis of on the straight (q.v.) : cf.
Cross. To crook (or cock) the elbow (or
the little finger), to drink. [Fr., lever
le, coude ; a hard drinker is un adroit
du, coude,"] See Lush.
Crook-back. A sixpenny piece,
many of the slang names of which
suggest a bashed and battered ap-
pearance ; e.g. bender, cripple, crook :
see Rhino.
Crooked. Disappointing, the
reverse of straight (q.v.), pertaining
to the habits, ways, and customs of
thieves. Crooked as a Virginia (or
snake) fence, uneven, zig-zag, said of
matters or persons difficult to keep
straight. To make a Virginia fence,
to walk unsteadily, as a drunkard.
Virginia fences zigzag with the soil.
Crooky. To hang on to, lead, walk
arm-in-arm, court, or pay addresses
to a girl.
Crop. See Crap.
Cropped. Hanged : see Ladder,
and Topped (1781).
Cropper. A heavy fall or failure
of any kind j generally * to come a
cropper.' [Originally hunting.]
Croppie (or Croppy). Originally
applied to a criminal cropped in ears
and nose by the public executioner ;
subsequently to convicts, in allusion to
closely cropped hair j hence any person
with hair cut close to the head ; e.g.
the Puritans and the Irish Rebels of
1789.
Croppled. To be croppled (Winches-
ter College), to fail in an examination ;
to be sent down at a lesson.
Croppy. See Croppie.
Crops. To go and look at the crops,
to consult Mire. Jones (q.v.).
Cross. 1. A pre-arranged swindle.
In its special sporting signification a
cross is an arrangement to lose on the
part of one of the principals in a fight,
or any kind of match. When both
principals conspire that one shall win,
it is called a Double cross (q.v.).
[Obviously a shortened form of Cross-
bite. 2. A thief; also Cross -man,
Cross-cove, Cross -chap, squire (knight,
or lad) of the cross, etc. Literally a
man on the cross (see sense 1).] As
verb, to play false in a match of any
kind. Hence to thwart, baffle, spoil
(1709). Cross in the air, a rifle carried
butt-end upwards. To shake the. cross,
to quit the cross (sense 1) and go on
the square (q.v.)- To be. crossed, thus
explained in a University Guide : —
For not paying term bills to the bur-
sar (treasurer), or for cutting chapels,
or lectures, or other offences, an
undergrad can be crossed at the but-
tery, or kitchen, or both, i.e. a cross is
put against his name by the Don, who
wishes to see him, or to punish him.
On the cross, tlie opposite of on the
square (q.v.) : cf. On the crook.
Cross-belts. The Eighth Hussars.
[The regiment wears the sword belt
over the right shoulder in memory of
the battle of Saragossa, where it took
the belts of the Spanish cavalry.
This privilege was confirmed by the
King's Regulations of 1768.
Cross-bite. See Cross-biting. As
verb, to cheat, scold, hoax. [Nares
thinks it a compound of cross and
bite. It bas suffered a double ab-
breviation, both its components being
used substantively and verbally in the
same sense.] See Stiff (1581).
Cross - biter. A cheat, swindler,
hoaxer : Fr., goureur (1592).
Cross- biting. A deception, cheat,
hoax (1576).
Cross- buttock. A throw in wrest-
ling. Also as verb and verbal subs.
(1690).
Cross - crib. A thieves* dossing-
ken (q.v.) : or Lush-crib (q.v.) : also
Cross-drum.
Cross-fan (or Cross-fam). Robbery
from the person done with one hand
(fam) across, dissembling the action
of the other. As verb, to rob from
the person-
Cross -kid (or Cross- quid). To
question, cross-examine : Fr., faire la
jactance, also faire saogww du nez.
Cross-patch, subs, (colloquial).
An ill-natured, ill-tempered person:
cf. old nursery rhyme : ' Cross-patch,
draw the latch, Sit by the fire and
spin' (1785).
C r o w. 1. A confederate on
watch whilst another steals : generally
a man, but occasionally a woman;
the latter is also called a Canary (q.v.).
121
Crowd.
Cry.
2. A pjece of unexpected luck ; a Crumb-and- crust Man. A baker :
#uke : generally a regulaf crow. cf. Burn-crust aud Master of the
[Originally billiards, in which it«a rolls : FT., marckand de larton.
hazard not played for, i.e. a fluke ; no Crummy. 1. Fat, plump, well-
doubt a corruption of the FT., raccroo.] developed: especially said of high-
3. A parson. To eat crow : see Broiled bosomed and full - figured women :
crow. A crow to pluck (pull, or pick) e.g. a crummy piece of goods.
with one, something demanding ex- FT., fort en rate (an almo&t literal
planation : a misunderstanding to translation) (1748). 2. (American),
clear ; a disagreeable matter to settle : comely. 3. Lousy. Hence, Crummy-
sometimes, a bone to pick (1593). doss, a lousy bed. 4. (thieves').
Crowd. A fiddle. Plump in the pockets.
Crowder. 1. A large audience. Crump (Winchester College).
2. A fiddler. A hard hit, a f all : as a verb, to cob
Crow-eater. A lazybones who pre- (q.v.),
fers subsisting upon what he can pick Crumpet. The head. English
up, as crows do, to putting himself to synonyms : brain-pan, nut, chump,
the trouble of working for it. jazey, steeple, tib or tibby, weather-
Crow-fair. A gathering of clergy- cock, turnip, upper extremity, top
men. end, twopenny, upper storey, canister,
Crown. To inspect a window with attic, garret, costard, sconce, bonce,
view to burglary.
Crown-office. The head (1785).
Crow's - foot. The Government top-knot, crust, chimney-pot, onion,
broad arrow ; also (hi pi.) wrinkles at ' ,,..,-.
the outside corners of the eyes.
Cruel (or Cruelly). ~ "
very, great (1662).
Cruelty -van (or Booby - hutch).
A four-wheeled chaise.
Crug (Christ's Hospital). 1. At
Hertford, a crust; in the London
school, crust and crumb alike (1820).
Hence, 2. a Blue (q.v.): especially an
old boy.
Cruganaler (Christ's Hospital). A
biscuit given on St. Matthew's Day.
[Orthography dubious. Blanch in-
nob, lolly, lobb, knowledge-box, block,
cocoa-nut, Crown - Office, calabash,
top-knot, crust, chimney-pot, onion,
chevy, cockloft, top-flat, gable, pump-
kin, hat- peg, billiard ball, upper-orust,
Extremely, mazzard, oabaza, dome. Balmy in
one's crumpet : see Balmy.
Crumpet-face. A pock-pitted face,
a cribbage-foce (q.v.).
Crumpet-scramble. A tea party,
tea-fight, muffin- worry, mufon-fightj
bitch- party, or cooky-shine (q.v.).
Grumpier. 1. A cravat. 2. A fall.
Crush. A large social gathering
(1854). As verb, to run away, de-
camp: see Bunk. To crush down
sides, to keep tryst, also to run to a
clines to the following derivation: place of safety. To crush (or burst)
" The biscuit had once something to do a pot (cup, or bottle) to drink in com-
with those nights when bread and beer, pany.
with cheese, were substituted for Crusher. 1. A policeman: cf.
bread-and-butter and milk. Thence Crush ! once a favourite signal of the
the term '" crug and aler." The only pea, thimble, and other race-course
argument against this is the fact that sharps warning of the approach of the
the liquid was never dignified with the police. 2. Anything large, fine, or
name of ale, but was invariably called extraordinary : of. Whopper, Stinger,
" the swipes.'* By another deriva- Corker, Bouncer, etc. (q.v.).
... , ., .. It ig then ~ . . _ ., v*~ .
tionsca" hard as nails.1
spelt Ouggy-nailer.']
C r u g g y (Christ1
Hungry.
Cruisers. 1. Beggars, or highway
spies : those who traversed the road
(Grose] to give intelligence of a
Crushing. Excellent, first-rate.
Crust (or Upper Crust). The
Hospital), head : see Crumpet. Upper-crust (q.v.).
Crusty- beau. One that uses paint
and cosmetics to obtain a fine com-
plexion (Grose).
Cry. A large number, a quantity.
,
booty ; also, rogues ready to snap [From cry, a pack of dogs.] Great
> any booty that may offer. 2. In
sing., a street- walker.
Crumb. A pretty woman: cf.
cry and hide wool, much ado about
nothing. The original text of the
proverb was, Great cry and little vwol,
as the devil said when he sheared the
122
C.T.A.
Curbstone-sailor.
hogs. Hudibras alters it into All
cry and no wool. To cry carrots and
turnips, a term which rogues use for
whipping at the cart's arse (Johnson,
1747). To cry (or call) a go, to give in,
as one unable to proceed. An ex-
pression borrowed from cribbage signi-
fying that the playeirwho makes use
of it has nothing playable in his hand,
and is compelled to cry a go. To
cry cupboard, to be famished, hungry,
banded (q.v.) : Fr., rien dans le cornet,
U buffet vide, and danser devant le
buffet. Cry matches I an exclamation
of surprise. [Variously derived : (1)
a corruption of ' Crime hatches ' ; (2)
cry = XP/ or Christ, no suggestion
being offered to account for * matches ' ;
and (3) a conversion of the Fr. crc
matin, presumably Canadian : of.
Crimini.] To cry off, to retreat, back
out from an engagement. See Stink-
ing fish.
C.T.A. (Circus and showmen's).
The police.
Cub (or Unlicked-cub). An awk-
ward, sulky girl; a mannerless, uncouth
lout of a boy. [In allusion to the
supposed shapelessness of bear cubs
till their dam has ' licked them into
shape.']
Cubito polls. The Warwick and
Eccleston Square districts. [From the
name of the builders.] Cf. Alberto-
polis, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, The
New Jerusalem, Slopers' Island, etc.
(q.v.).
Cuckoo. 1, A fool: see Buffle.
(1598). 2. A cuckold (1594). 3. In
pi., generic for money : see Rhino.
(1612).
Cucumber-time. The dull season,
[A correspondent of Notes and Queries
says it is of German origin, and
originated among London tailors of
German nationality. The German
phrase is die saure Chirlcen Zeit (pickled
gherkin-time). Hence, it is said, the
expression ' Tailors are vegetarians,'
because they live now on * cucumber '
and now on ' cabbage'] (Grose).
Cud. A chew of tobacco, a quid.
As adj., (Winchester College). 1.
Pretty, handsome. 2. (Christ's Hos-
pital), severe : see Cuddy,
Cuddie. A donkey.
Cuddling. Wrestling.
Cuddy (Christ's Hospital).
Hard, difficult, said of a lesson. Also
Hertfordice for Passy (q.v.).
Cue. To swindle on credit.
Cuff. 1. A foolish old man. Prob-
ably a contraction of Cuffin (q.v.)
(1678). 2. (tailors'). A religious man.
To cuff Anthony: see Anthony. To
beat or cuff Jonas : see Beat.
Cuff er. 1. A lie, an exaggerated
and improbable story. Hence, to
spin cuffers, to yarn, draw the long
bow (q.v.). 2. A man : see Cove.
C u ffi n (C u ff e n, or Cuffing). A
man (Barman, 1567). Queer-cuffin, a
magistrate (1609).
Cuff - shooter. A beginner, one
who gives himself airs ; literally one
who shoots his cuffs : having a greater
regard for the display of his linen than
for his work.
Cule (Cull, Culing, Culling).
To purloin : espec. from the seats of
carriages ; the act of snatching hand-
bags and other articles. [Probably an
abbreviation of reticule.]
Cull (or Cully). A man, com-
panion, partner. Specifically, a fool,
one tricked or imposed upon. Grose
seems to make a distinction, for he
quotes cull = " a man honest or other-
wise,' and cully = * a fop, fool, or dupe
to women,' in \vhich sense it was cur-
rent in the seventeenth century. Sum
cull, the manager of a theatre ; also
a Cully-gorger.
Culls. The testes (1600).
Culminate. To mount a coach-boi
(1803).
Cummer. An intimate.
Cup-and-saucer Player, A term of
derision applied to players of the late
T. W. Robertson's comedies.
Cupboard-love. Interested affec-
tion : cf . old saw, The way to a man's
heart is through his stomach (1661).
Cups. In one's cu^s, drunk : cf.
Cup-shot and Screwed (1593).
Cup-tosser. A juggler.
Curate, A small poker, or
tickler (q.v.), used to save a better
one ; also a pocket-handkerchief in
actual use as against a flimsy one worn
for show. The better article is a
Rector. Similarly when a tea-cake
is split and buttered, the bottom half,
which gets the more butter, is the
Rector, and the upper half the Curate.
Curb. To steal : see Prig. (1615).
Curbstone - broker. See Gutter-
snipe.
Curbstone-sailor. A prostitute : see
Tart.
123
Cure.
Cure, subs, (common). An eccen-
tric, fool, funny fellow. Originally
applied in many connections, see
Punch, xxxu 201 (1856).
Curious. To do curious, to act
strangely.
Curl. Out of curl, out ot sorts ;
out of condition. To curl up, to be
silent, ' shut up.' To curl one's ha-ir,
to administer chastisement, ' go for '
one. To curl one's liver (or to have
one's liver curled), to make one feel
intensely.
Curie. Clippings of money
(Grose).
Curl-paper. Paper for the W.C.,
toilet paper, * wipe - bummatory '
(Urquhart), or ' sanitary ' paper,
bumfodder, bumf, ammunition.
Curly cues (or Carlicues). Fantastic
ornaments worn on the person or used
in architecture ; also, by implication,
a strange line of conduct.
Currants - and - plums. A three-
penny bit, thrums (q.v.).
Currency. A colonist born in
Australia, those of English birth being
sterling (q.v.).
Curse. Not to care (or be worth) a
curse, to care (or be worth) little — or
nothing at all (1362).
Curse-of-God. A cockade (Lexicon
ftalatronicum).
Curse of Scotland. The nine of
diamonds. The suggested derivations
are inconclusive. [The locution has
nothing to do with Culloden and the
Duke of Cumberland, for the card was
nicknamed the Justice-Clerk, in al-
lusion to the Lord Justice-Clerk
Qrmistone, who, for his severity in
suppressing the Rebellion of 1715, was
called the Curse of Scotland. Other
suggestions are : (1) That it is derived
from the game of Pope Joan, the nine
of diamonds there being called the
4 pope,9 of which the Scotch have
always stood in horror. (2) The
word 4 curse ' is a corruption of cross,
and the nine of diamonds is so ar-
ranged as to form a St. Andrew's
Cross. (3) That it refers to the arms
of Dalrymple, Earl of Stair (viz. or,
on saltire azure, nine lozenges of the
field), who was held in abhorrence for
the massacre of Glencoe ; or to Colonel
Packer, who attended Charles I. on the
scaffold, and had for his arms nine
lozenges conjoined, or in the heraldic
language, gules, & cross of lozenges.
124
These conflicting views were discussed
at length in Notes and Queries, 1 S.,
i. 61, 90; iii. 22, 253, 423, 483; v.
619 ; 3 S., xii. 24, 96 ; 4 S., vi. 194,
289; also, see Chambers' Encyclopaedia.]
Cur si tor (or Cursetor). A tramp or
vagabond.
Curtain - raiser. A short ' piece '
to bring up the curtain : FT., lever de
rideau.
Curtail (or Curtail). A vagabond
or thief : ' A curtail is much like to the
Vpnght man, but hys authority is not
fully so great. He vseth commonly to
£>o with a short cloke, like to grey
Friars, and his woman with him in like
huery, which he calleth his altham if
she be hys ' (Awdeley, 1560). ' Thieves
who cut off pieces of stuff hanging out
of shop windows ; the tails of women's
gowns, etc. ; also thieves wearing
short jackets ' (Grose, 1785). As verb,
to cut off.
C u s e (Winchester College). A
book in which a record is kept of the
v marks ' in each division : its name to
dons is ' classicus paper ' ; also used
for the weekly order.
Cushion. To hide, conceal, Stall
off (q.v.), Stow (q.v.). Slum (q.v.).
To deserve the cushion, on the birth of
a child a man was said to deserve the
cushion ; i.e. the symbol of rest from
labour.
Cushion - smiter (or - thumper).
A clergyman.
Cuss. A man, Cove (q.v.), or Cull
(q. v. ) : generally, but not necessarily,
disparaging. To cuss out, to talk
down, flummox by the lip (q.v.).
Cussedness. Generally in such
phrases as, pure cussedness, the cus-
sedness of things, etc. Mischievous-
ness, or resolution, or courage may
be implied ; but in the Coventry plays
cursydnesse signified sheer wickedness
and malignity.
Customer. A man, fellow, cove,
cuss, or chap : with a certain qualifi-
cation, e.g. an ugly customer = a
dangerous opponent ; a queer customer
=a suspicious person, one to be sus-
pected ; a rum customer = an odd
fish.
Custom-house Officer. An
aperient pill : of. Chimney-sweep.
Cut. 1. A stage or degree: e.g.
a cut above one. 2. A refusal to
acknowledge acquaintance, or to
associate with another person ; a snub.
Gut.
Cutting.
A cut direct (or dead cut)ia a conspicu-
ous non-acknowledgment of an ac-
quaintance. 3. Mutilation of the
book of a play, opera, etc. (1779).
As adj., tipsy ; on the cut, on the spree :
see Screwed (1748). As verb, 1. To talk
(1567): To cut benle, to speake
gentle ; to cut bene whydds, to speake
or give good words ; to cutte quyer
whyddes, to geue euil words or evil
language. 2. To disown, ignore, or
avoid associating with, a person :
sometimes cut dead. An article in
the Monthly Magazine for 1798 cites
cut as a current peculiarity of ex-
pression, and says that some had tried
to change it into * spear,' but had
failed. 3. To depart more or less
hurriedly and perforce. Also to cut
and run, cut it, cut one's lucky., cut
one's stick, cut off, cut away, etc.
[Originally nautical — to cut the cable
and run before the wind.] (1570).
4. To compete in business ; to under-
sell. A cutting trade is one where
profits are reduced to a minimum.
Also cut under. 5. To excel. Also
cut out. 6. To strike out portions of
a dramatic production, so as to shorten
it for representation. 7. To avoid,
absent oneself from. Thus, to cut
lecture, to cut chapel, to cut flail, to cut
gates (1794) are common phrases. To
cut a caper or capers, to play a trick or
prank, behave boisterously or fan-
tastically ( 1692). To cut a dash, splash
(or shine), to make a show, attract at-
tention through some idiosyncrasy of
manner, appearance, or conduct. In
the United States to cut a splurge (or
a swathe), FT., flamber, faire du flafla,
and faire flouer (1771). To cut a
figure, to make an appearance, good
or bad (1759). To cut and come again,
to have plenty : i.e. if one cut does
not suffice, plenty remains to come
at again (1738). To cut (or cut up)
didoes (shindies, shines, etc.), to play
pranks or tricks, to out capers. To
cut dirt (or cut one's stick, lucky), to
make off, escape. To cut fine, to
narrow down to a minimum. To cut
in, to join in suddenly and without
ceremony, intrude, chip in (q.v.).
Also substantively (1819). To cut
into (Winchester College), originally
to hit one with a ' ground ash.' The
office was exercised by Bible-clerks
upon a ' man ' kicking up a row when
* wp to books.5 Now generally used in
the sense of to correct in a less formal
manner than Tundmg (q.v.). To
citf it, to move off quickly, run away,
cut dirt (q.v.). As intj., Cease!
Stow it! Stash it! A forcible
injunction to desist and be off. Also
cut that ! or simply cut ' To cut it fat,
to show off, make a display, come it
strong, put on side, cut a dash (q.v.).
To cut mutton, to partake of one's
hospitality, to break bread with one.
To cut off one's head (American polit-
ical) used of an official when his term
of office has come to an end through
change of Government, or super ces-
sion in other ways. The cut of one's
jib, the general appearance. To cut
one's cart, to expose a trick. To cut
one's comb, to snub, lower conceit
(1593). To cut one's eyes, to get
suspicious. To cut one's eye (or wis-
dom) teeth, to learn what's what. To
cut one's own grass, to get one's own
living, paddle one's own canoe. To
cut out, to debar, deprive of advan-
tage, supersede (1779). To cut out of,
to do out of. To cut saucy : see Saucy.
To cut snort (generally cut it short !) a
common injunction not to be prolix,
Stow it ! To cut the line, (rope, or
string), to cut a story short, stop
yarning. To cut the painter (1) to
decamp, make off — secretly and sud-
denly. (2) To die : see Hop the twig.
To cut up, to run down, to mortify
(1759). (2) To come up, turn up,
become, show up. (3) To divide
plunder, to share, to nap the regulars
(1779). (4) To behave. To cut up
fat, to leave a large fortune (1824). To
cut up rough (rusty, savage, stiff, ugly),
to become quarrelsome or dangerous.
To "be cut up, to be vexed, hurt, de-
jected : sometimes simply cut. For-
merly, to be in embarrassed circum-
stances (1821).
Cut-away. A morning coat. [As
compared with a frock coat.]
Cute. Sharp, clever, ' fly to wotfs
wot.' Fr., avoir le nez creux (1748).
Cuts. Scissors. SmaU-cutes=
button-hole scissors.
Cutter. A thief, bully. This
ancient cant word now survives in
the phrase, to swear like a cutter
(1589).
Cutting. 1. The process of under-
selling; competition of the keenest
kind. 2. Disowning or ignoring a
person.
125
Cuttle.
Cuttle (or Cuttle- bung).
A knife used by cut - purses
(1592).
Cutty -eyed. Suspicious looking.,
leering.
Cutty. A short pipe, a nose-
warmer (q.v.).
C u z. A workman free of the
* chapel.'
Cymbal. A watch.
D. 1. A penny, or (in pi.) pence ;
e.g. two d, three d, etc. ,— two- pence,
three-pence, etc. 2. A detective;
among thieves, any policeman. To
use a big d, to swear ; the d stands for
damned. The two <Z's, army regula-
tions enact that a soldier's pay must
not be so docked in fines as to leave
him less than two - pence a day.
Hence, if a man, from any cause, is
put on short pay, he is said to be on
the two d"s.
Dab. 1. An expert, a dabster.
[Thought to be a corruption of adept
(Latin adeptus) a dep ; a dap ; a dab.]
Cf. dabbler, one who meddles
without mastery ; a superficial med-
dler. FT., dab, dale, or dade (1733).
2. A bed, bug-walk, kip. 3. The
drowned corpse of an outcast woman.
4. A trifle (1745). As adj., 1. Clever,
skilled, expert. 2. Bad. A dabheno,
a bad market, day, or sale. Doogheno
=a good day, etc. ; dab iros=bad
sort. JRum-dabe, the same as dab,
subs., sense 1 : see Bum. To dab
down, to pay, hand over, post,
shell out. To dab it up, to pair oft ;
to agree to cohabitation.
Dabster. An expert or dab (q.v. ).
Dace. Two-pence; in America,
two cents. [From deuce.]
Dacha-saltee. A franc; ortenpence
English. [From the Italian died
soldi.-}
Dadbinged (also -blamed, -fetched),
gasted, -goned, -rotted, or -snatched
(American), half-veiled oaths, ' whips
to beat the devil round the stump.*
Dad-dad, (Mum-mum or Daddy-
mammy). A beginner's practice on the
Daddle. The hand; or fist. To
tip the doddle, to shake hands. English
synonyms: chalk-farm, claw, clutch,
cornstealer, duke, fam, famble, feeler,
fin, flapper, flipper, forceps, forefoot,
fork, grappling-iron (or hook), goll
(old), oar, paddle, palette, paw, pher,
shaker, wing, Yarmouth mitten.
Daddy. 1. The superintendent of a
casual ward ; generally an old pauper.
2. A stage manager. 3. A confederate
of workers of mock raffles, lotteries,
etc. ; generally the person selected to
receive the prize.
Daddyism. (American). Pride of
birth.
Daffy (or Daffy's Elixir). Gin.
[From a popular medicine sold as
early as the beginning of the eighteenth
century.
Daffy - down - dilly. A dandy,
one ' got up regardless.'
Dagen. An artful member.
Dagger - cheap. Dirt cheap.
[From an ordinary of low repute in
Holborn, notorious for the coarseness
of its enter tainment (see Johnson's
Alchemist, v. 2, and Devil is an Ass, i.
!)•
Dags. A feat, performance, work,
e.g. I'll do your dags=*&n incitement
to emulation.
Daily Levy (The). The Daily Tele-
graph. [This London daily is the
property of Mr. Edward LevyLawson.]
Dairy. The paps. To air the
dairy^sto expose the breast. Eng-
lish synonyms: bubs (or bubbies),
charlies, blubber, butter-boxes, but-
ter-bags, berkeleys, cat-heads, diddies,
globes, dugs, milk-walk, milk-shop,
milky way, dumplings, udder (Brown-
ing), ' Nature's founts ', feeding bot-
tles, charms, hemispheres, apple-
dumpling shop, meat market, poonts,
titties, cabman's rests (rhyming),
baby's bottom.
Daisies. Boots : also Daisy-
roots. To turn up one's toes to the
daisies, to die : see Hop the twig.
Daisy. A man or thing first-rate
of a kind. As adj., first-rate, Al.
Daisy- beat. See Beat.
Daisy-beaters. See Creepers.
Daisy-cutter. 1. A horse, good or
bad : also daisy-kicker : FT., rase tapis
(1785). 2. A ball bowled to travel
more than half the pitch along the
126
sy -flicker.
ground without rising, a sneak,
and (Wykehamiee), a ramrod.
Daisy-kicker. 1. A horse. 2. An
ostler (1781).
Daisy - roots. Boots. To pick a
daisy, to evacuate in the open.
Daisyville. The country, the
monkery : also Deuseaville (1622).
Dakma. To silence.
Dam. To care or be worth not a
dam, to oare or be worth nothing.
Damage. The cost of anything,
the sum total in the sense of recom-
pense. What's the damage (or
swindle) ? What's to pay ? (1800).
Damaged. Drunk, Screwed (q.v.).
Damber. A man, Cove, or Cull, in
the fraternity of vagabonds.
Damme (Dammy or Dammy-boy).
A sixteenth and seventeenth century
roysterer, a blusterer.
Dam - nasty Oath (American). A
corruption of amnesty oath. [South-
erners, at the close of the Civil War,
were required, as an outward sign of
submission to the Union, to subscribe
to certain conditions, upon which a
free pardon was granted. The terms
were deemed unpalatable.]
Damned -soul. A Custom House
clearing clerk. [To avoid perjury he
was alleged to have taken a general
oath never to swear truly in making
declarations.] (Lexicon JSalatroni-
cum, 1811).
Damp (generally Something damp).
A drink, go (q.v.). To damp one's
mug, to drink : see Lush. To damp
the sawdust, to crack a bottle with
friends for luck on starting a new
house.
Damper. 1. A till, Lob (q.v.).
Drawing a damper, robbing a till,
Lob -sneaking. 2. A sweater ; one who
takes as much as possible out of work-
men for a minimum of pay. 3. He or
that which damps, chills, or dis-
courages. 4. Ale or stout after spirits
and water, a Cooler (q.v.). 5. A
snack between meals. 6. A suet
pudding served before meat. 7. Un-
leavened bread made of flour and
water and baked in thin cakes, in a
frying pan or on a flat stone in wood
ashes (Australian).
Damp-pot. The sea; specifically
the Atlantic.
Damson-pie. A Birmingham
and * black country ' term for ' Bil-
Ungsgatry.'
127
Dance. A staircase, flight of steps :
a contraction of the older form —
Dancers. As verb, 1. To be hanged :
also to dance upon nothing, and to
dance the Padd^ngton frisk : see
Ladder. 2. Type dances if letters
drop out when the forme is lifted.
To dance Barnaby, see Barnaby.
Dance of Death. Hanging.
Dancers. 1. Stairs, flight of
steps: Fr., les grimpants (1671). 2.
(sing.) Also dancing master. A thief
whose speciality is prowling about the
roofs of houses and effecting an
entrance through attic and upper
storey windows ; a garreteer (q.v.) :
also dancing-master.
Dancing-master. 1. A species of
Mohock or dandy, temp. Queen Anne.
[Who made his victims caper by
running his sword through the legs";
for detailed description, see Spectator
(1712), No. 324.] 2. See Dancers,
sense 2. 3. The hangman, Jack
Ketch (q.v.).
D-and-D. Drunk and disorderly.
Dander. Anger. To raise one's
dander (or get one's dander up, or riz),
to make or get angry. Hence Dan-
dered, angry, mad.
Dan do. A great eater, glutton,
wolfer ; specifically a sharper who sub-
sits at the expense of hotels, restaur-
ants, or oyster bars. [Prom one
Dando, a bouncing, seedy swell,
hero of a hundred ballads, notorious
for being charged at least twice a
month with bilking.]
Dandy (formerly slang, now re-
cognized). 1. A fop, coxcomb, man
who pays excessive attention to dress.
The feminine forms, 4 dandilly ' and
( dandizette,' did not catch on.
Dandy was first applied half in admira-
tion, half in derision to a fop about the
year 1816. John Bee (Slang Diet.,
1823) says that Lord Petersham was
the chief of these successors to the
departed Macaronis, and gives, as
their peculiarities, l French gait,
lispings, wrinkled foreheads, killing
king's English, wearing immense
plaited pantaloons, coat cut away,
small waistcoat, cravat and chitter-
lings immense, hat small, hair frizzled
and protruding.' In common English
dandy has come to be applied to such
as are neat and careful in dress-
ing according to fashion. English
synonyms : beau, blade, blood, buck,
Davy.
chappie, corinthian, count, court-card,
cheese, dany-dovrn-rlilly, dancmg-
itiaster, dude, diiudivary, eiquisite,
limner, fop, galk-it. yommy, gorgcr,
Jemmy Jessamy. Johnny, lounger,
macaroni, mao'ior. moha-wk, nerve,
nicker, nizzie, nob. oatmeal, scourer,
emart, spark, sweater, fcVirell, toff, tip-
topper, tumbler, yum-yum. 2. A
base gold coin. [In allusion to its
careful make and composition, this
coin containing a certain proportion
of pure gold.] 3. A * small whisky.'
4. Anything first-rate ; a Daisy (q.v.)
Also used adjectively. The Dandy, all
right, your sort, the ticket : a north-
country song has the line, ' The South
Shields lasses are The Dandy O ! '
Dandy-master. Tae head of a gang
of counterfeiters one who makes the
coin but does not himself attempt to
pass it : see Dandy 2.
Dandy pratt (or Dandipratt). Prim-
arily a dwarf, page ; by implica-
tion a jackanapes. In all likelihood,
the etymon of the modern ' dandy,'
erroneously derived from the French
dandin, a fool, as in Moliere, Georges
Dandin (1580).
Dang it ! A euphemism for Damn
it ! Also Dang my buttons ! and
Dang me !
Danglers, A bunch of seals.
Dan Tucker. Butter.
Darbies. 1. Handcuffs. English
synonyms : black-bracelets, buckles,
Father Derbie's bands, ruffles, wife,
snitchers, clinkers, government se-
curities, twisters, darbies and Joans
(= fetters coupling two persons). 2.
Sausages, bags of mystery, chambers
of horrors (q.v.).
Darble. The devil, [A corrup-
tion of French diabl&.~\
Darby. Ready money. [One
Derby is supposed to have been a
noted sixteenth century usurer.]
Darby Allen (Lancashire). Ca-
jolery, chaff, gammon.
Darby - roll. A gait peculiar to
felons of long standing : the result of
shackles-wearing.
Darby's - dyke. The grave ; also
death.
Darby' s-f air. The day of removal
from one prison to another for trial.
Dark, To get the dark, to be con-
fined, in the punishment cell.
Dark-cull (or -cully). A married
man with a secret mistress (Grose).
D ark- horse ( or D arfc' un ) . A horse
whose pace is unknown to the backers ;
figuratively, one about whom little is
known.
Dark-house, subs. (old). A mad-
house. Shakespeare (All's Wett, etc.,
n. lii.) used it to denote the seat of
gloom and discontent.
Darkmans (Darks, Darky). The
night, twilight (1567). English syno-
nyms : blaokmans, bund, blindman's
holiday (twilight).
Darkman's - budge. A burglar's
confederate : he slips into a house
during the day, hides there, and opens
the door at night (Grose).
Darky (or Darkey). 1. A dark
lantern, bull's eye. 2. The night,
twilight: also (nautical) Darks. 3.
A negro : see Snowball.
Darn (Darned). Euphemistic for
damn and damned ; used to
avoid ' cussing bar' -foot.' Also Dor-
nation, Dangnation, Darn burn it,
and Darn (or Dash) my buttons (or
wig).
Dart. A straight-armed blow.
D.A.'s. The menstrual flux: an
abbreviation of Domestic afflictions
(q.v.)
Dash. 1. A tavern waiter. 2. (com-
mon). A small quantity, a drink ;
a go (q.v.). Also a small quantity
of one fluid to give a flavour to another
e.g. a lemon and a dash, a bottle of
lemonade with just a suggestion of
bitter beer in it. As verb, to adulterate
Dash it f (or dash my buttons, wig,
limbers, etc.) Expletives employed
euphemistically, i.e. to damn. To
cut a dash : see Cut. To have a dash
on, to speculate largely or wildly, to
go it strong.
Dasher. 1. A showy prostitute.
(1790). 2. An ostentatious or extra-
vagant man or woman, an impetuous
person, a clipper ; also latterly, a
man or woman of fashion, a person of
brilliant qualities, mental or physical :
FT., genreitx-se.
Daub. 1. An artist. 2. A bad
picture.
David. 1. See Davy. 2. (Ameri-
can). A torpedo.
David's Sow. Drunk as Daviffs
(or Davy's) sow, beastly drunk: see
Screwed.
Davy. 1. An affidavit: e.g. So
Jtelp (or s'welp) me davy, or Alfred
Davy (q.v.): Fr., Je fen fous man
128
Davy's-dust.
Dead-head.
billet or won fcttt lurlntutu, I'll take
my davy on it (176-i). Davy Jon&s,
Davy, or Old Davy, the spirit of the
sea, specifically the sailor's devil
(1751). Whence, Davy Jones* locker,
the ocean, specifically, the .grave ot
them that perish at sea. The popular
derivation ( = a corruption of Jonah's
locker, i.e. the place where Jonah
was kept and confined, and by im-
plication the grave of all gone to the
bottom, drowned or dead) is con-
jectural. Davy putting on the coppers
for the par&ons, the indications of a
coming storm. Davy Jonetf natural
children, smugglers, sea-rovers, pirates.
Davy's-dust. Gunpowder.
Dawb (or Daub). To bribe.
Daylight. A glass that is not a
bumper, skylight (q.v.) : obsolete.
To burn daylight, to use artificial
light before it is really dark, to waste
time (1595). To let (or knock) day-
light into one (into the victualling de-
partment, or into the luncheon reservoir),
to stab in the stomach, and, by im-
plication, to kill : Fr., bayafer.
Daylights. 1. The eyes. To
darken one's daylights, to give a black
eye, sew up one's sees (1752). 2. In
sing., the space in a glass between
liquor and brim : inadmissible in
bumpers at toasts : the toast-master
cries ' no daylights nor heeltaps ! *
Deacon. To pack fruit, vegetables,
etc., the finest on the top : of. Yankee
proverb, All deacons are good, but
there is odds in deacons. To deacon
a calf, to kill. To deacon land, to
filch land by gradually putting back
one's fences into the highway or other
common property. To deacon off, to
give the cue, lead in debate. [From
a custom, once universal but now
almost extinct, in the New England
Congregational churches. An im-
portant function of the deacon's
office was to read aloud the hymns
given out by the minister one line at a
time, the congregation singing each
line as soon as read. This was called
deaconing off.]
Deacon - seat. In log cabins the
sleeping apartment is partitioned off
by poles. The bed is mother earth,
the pillow is a log, the foot-board a
long pole six feet from the fire and in
the centre of the cabin. The deacon
seat is a plank fixed over and running
parallel with the footboard so as to
form a kind of settee m front of the
fire. [Probably in allusion to the
seats round a pulpit, facing the con-
gregation, reserved for deacons.]
Deacon's Hiding-place. A private
compartment in oyster saloons and
cafes ; Fr., cabinet particulier.
Dead. An abbreviation of dead
certainty. As adj., stagnant, quiet
(of trade), flat (as of beer or aerated
waters after exposure), cold, good,
thorough, complete (1602). Dead as
a door nail (mvMon, a herring, a tent-
peg, Julius Cc&sar, etc.), utterly, com-
pletely dead. Dead as a door-aail is
found in Langland's Piers Plowman
all other forms are modern.
dead earnest, without doubt, in
very truth. Dead against, decidedly
opposed to. Dead alive (or Dead-
and-alive), dull, stupid, mopish, for-
merly deadly - lively. Dead - amiss,
incapacitated through illness from
competing in a race : of horses. Dead-
beat, a sponger, loafer, sharper. 2.
A pick-me-up compounded of ginger,
soda, and whisky. As verb, to
sponge, loaf, cheat. As adj., ex-
hausted. Dead broke, utterly penni-
less, ruined : also flat (or stone) broke ;
used verbally, to dead break. Eng-
lish synonyms: wound up, settled,
coopered, smashed up, under a cloud,
cleaned out, cracked up, done up, on
one's back, floored, on one's beam
ends, gone to pot, broken- backed, all
U. P., in the wrong box, stumped,
feathered, squeezed, dry, gutted,
burnt one's fingers, dished, in a bad
way, gone up, gone by the board,
made mince meat of, broziered, wil-
lowed, not to have a feather to fly
with, burst, fleeced, stony, pebble-
beached, hi Queer Street, stripped,
rooked, hard up, broke, hooped-up,
strapped, gruelled.
Dead-cargo. Booty of a disappoint-
ing character.
Dead-certainty. That which is sure
to occur ; usually contracted to Dead
or Cert, both of which see. Dead cut,
see Cut.
Dead-duck. That which has depre-
ciated to the verge of worthlesaness.
Deader. 1. A funeral, black - job
(q.v.). 2. A corpse.
Dead -frost. A fiasco, Columbus
(q.v.) ; Fr., four noir.
Dead-head (Dead-beat or Dead*
hand). One who obtains -
129
Dead-Jieai.
Dean.
thing of commercial value without
special payment or charge ; bpcc, a
person who travels by rail, visits
theatres, etc., by means of free passes.
Also as verb.
Dead-heat A race with an equal
finish: formerly dead (1C35).
Dead-horse/ 1. Work, the wages for
which have been paid in advance ;
by implication, distasteful, or thank-
less labour : Fr., bijouterie. To pull
the dead horse, to work for wages al-
ready paid : Fr., manger du sale (1651).
2. (West Indian). A shooting star.
Among Jamaican negroes the spirits
of horses that have fallen over pre-
cipices are thought to re-appear in
this form. To flog the dead horse, to
work to no purpose, dissipate one's
energy in vain, make much ado
about nothing.
Dead-letter. Anything that has
lost its force or authority by lapse of
time or other causes (1775).
Deadlights. The eyes.
Dead - lurk. The art of entering
dwelling-houses during divine service
(Jfayhew).
Deadly. Very, extremely, ex-
cessively: e.g. So deadly cunning
a man ( Arbuthnot).
Deadly-lively. Jovial against the
grain and to no purpose.
Deadly-nevergreen. The gallows,
The leafless tree, The tree that bears
fruit all the year round : see Nubbing-
Dead-man. 1. An emply bottle:
said to bear Moll Thompson's mark
(Le. M.T.=sempty), English syno-
nyms : camp-candlestick, fellow-com-
moner, corpse, dummy, dead marine,
dead recruit, dead 'un. 2. A loaf,
over- charged, or marked down though
not delivered. In London, dead 'un
is a popular term for a half -quartern
loaf. Also, by implication, a baker
(1819). 3 (tailors'). In pL, Misfits ;
hence, a scarecrow.
Deadman's - lurk. Extortion of
money from the relatives of deceased
persons.
Dead - meat. A corpse. English
synonyms : cold meat, pickles (medical
students' : for specimens direct from
the subject), croaker, stiff, stiff 'un,
dustman, cold pig. See Cold-meat
train.
D e a d - ni e n's - shoes. A situa-
tion, property, or possession formerly
130
occupied or enjoyed by a person
who is dead and buried. Waiting for
dead men's shoes, looking forward to
inheritances (1584).
Dead-nap. A thorough -going
rogue.
Dead - nip. A plan or scheme of
little importance which has turned out
a failure,
Dead-oh. In the last stage of intoxi-
cation : see Screwed.
Dead - on (or Dead nuts on).
Originally, having some cause oi
complaint or quarrel ; also, very fond
of, having complete mastery over,
sure hand at.
Dead-set. A pointed and persist-
ent effort or attempt (1781).
Dead Sow's-eye. A badly worked
button-hole.
Dead-stuck. Said of actors who
break down in the midst of a perform-
ance through sudden lapse of memory.
Dead-swag. Dead stock, or dead
cargo (q.v.); plunder that cannot be
disposed of.
Dead-to-rights. Certain, without
doubt.
Dead-'un. 1. An uninhabited
house. The cracksman who confines
his attentions to * busting * of this
kind is, in ITr., un nourrisseur. 2. A
half-quartern loaf. 3. A horse des-
tined to be scratched or not intended
to win, and against which odds may
be safely laid ; a safe 'un (q.v.). 4.
An empty bottle. 5. An unpaid
super.
Dead-unit for (or against). Collec-
tive advocacy of (or opposition to) a
subject, principle, or line of action.
Dead-wo od earnest. Quite earnest,
dead on.
Dead Wrong- 'un. See Wrong 'un.
Deady (or Dead-eye). Gin ; a
special brand of full proof spirit, Stark-
naked (q.v.). [Prom Deady, a well-
known gin-spinner.] (1819).
Deal. There's a deal of glass about,
said of men and things ; used as a
compliment-=showy, it's the thing.
To wet the deal, to ratify a bargain by
drinking, to ' shake.' To do a deal, to
conclude a bargain.
Deal-suit. A coffin ; especially one
supplied by the parish.
Dean (Winchester College). A
small piece of wood bound round a
Bill-brighter (q.v.) ; that securing a
faggot is called a Bishop.
Dean&r.
Deuce.
Deansr. A shilling : see Rhino.
Death. To be death on, very fond
of, thoroughly master of — a metaphor
of completeness; the same as Dead
on, Mark on, or Some pumpkins on.
To dress to death, to attire oneself in
the extreme of fashion. In America
to dress within a ^nch of one's life ; to
dress up drunk, and to dress to kitt. An
old Cornish proverb has dressed to
death like Sally Hatch (N. and Q., 3
ser., vi. 6).
Death hunter. 1. A vendor of the
last dying speeches, or confessions of
criminala ; a running patterer or
stationer (1738). 2. An undertaker.
Death or Glory Boys. See Bing-
ham's Dandies.
Debblish. A penny : see Rhino.
Decent (Decently, Decentish).
Moderate, tolerable, passably, fairly
good.
Decoy-bird (or duck). One em-
ployed to decoy persons into a snare ;
a Buttoner or Bug-hunter (q.v.) : Fr.,
aUumeur, chatou&leur, or arrangeur.
D e c u s. A crown piece : see
Rhino. [From the Latin motto,
Decus et tutamen on the rims of these
coins.] (1688).
Dee. 1. A pocket-book or reader.
2. A detective; also 'tec (q.v.). 3.
See D, sense 2.
Deeker. A thief kept in pay
by a constable (Haggart).
Deep. Artful, e.g. a deep one:
cf. Wide (1672).
Deerstalker. A felt hat : see Gol-
gotha.
Deferred-stock. Inferior soup.
Degen (Began, or Dagen). A
sword (1785).
Delicate. A lurker's (q.v.) false
subscription book.
Dell. A young girl, virgin,
young wanton : later, a mistress : cf.
Doxy (1567).
Delog. Gold : see Rhino.
Delo-nammow. An old woman.
Delve. To delve it* to hurry with
one's work, head down and sewing fast.
Demaunder for Glymmar. ' These
Demaunders for Glymmar be for the
moste parte wemen ; for glymmar hi
their language, is fyre. These goe
with fayned lycences and counter-
f ayted wrytings, haumg the hands and
seales of suche gentlemen as dwelleth
nere to the place where they fayne
them seines to haue bene burnt, and
their goods consumed with fyre. They
wyll most lamentable demaunde your
charitie, and wyll quicklye shed salte
teares, they be so tender harted.
They wyll neuer begge in that Shiere
where their losses (as they say) was '
(Barman).
Demi-doss. A penny sleep.
Demi-rep. A woman of doubtful
repute. [A contraction of demi-
reputation.] (1750).
Demnition Bow-wows. The
* dogs ' which spell ' ruin.' Originally a
Dickensism.
Demon (Australian prison). 1.
A policeman. 2. An adept; e.g.
the demon bowler=Mr. Spofforth ;
the demon jocfcey^Fordham or Fred
Archer, and so forth.
Den. A place where intimates are
received ; one's diggings, or snug-
A small walking stick
Dep. 1. A deputy; specifically the
night porter or chamberlain at padding
or doss-kens. 2. (Christ's Hospital).
A deputy Grecian, i.e. a boy m the
form below the Grecians.
D e r r e y. An eyeglass. To take
the derrey, to quiz, ridicule.
Derrick. The gallows. [A cor-
ruption of Theodoric, the name of the
public hangman at the end of the
sixteenth and the beginning of the
seventeenth centuries.] Now the name
of an apparatus, resembling a crane.
Also as verb, to hang (1600): see
Nubbing-cheat.
Derwenter. A convict. [From the
penal settlement on the banks of the
Derwent, Tasmania.]
Despatchers. False dice with two
sides, double four, five, and six.
Desperate (and Desperately),
generic for excessiveness ; e.g. des
perately mashed, over head and ears
in love.
Detrimental. An ineligible suitor ;
also a male flirt.
Detrimental-club. The Reform
Club.
Deuce (Dewce, or Dense). 1. The
devil ; perdition. Also used as an
ejaculation, e.g. the deuce 1 what the
deuce / who the deuce I deuce take you J
etc. 2. Twopence : see Rhino (1714).
3. The two at dice or cards. To play
the deuce (or devil) with, to send, or
be sent, to rack and ruin. The deuce
to pay, unpleasant or awkward con-
jseo'jcncpi to bs faced : see Dei'J, to
1 '''/-
Deuced. Denbsh, e^c.^ive, con-
founded. Also adverbially.
De.u£es. - ville. The country: see
Daisyvills.
Detisea-ville Stampers. Country
earners.
Devil. 1. Formerly, a barrister
who devils, or gets up, a case for a
leader ; as in A Talc of Two Cities,
Sydney Carton for Mr. Stryver. Now
com mon. for any one hacking for
a7:£ther. 2. An errand boy or young
apprentice ; in the early days of the
craft, the boy who took the printed
sheets as they came from the press :
Fr., attrape- science (1754). 3. A kind
of sharpened anchor, at the bows of a
trawler, for cutting the nets of drifters
in the Xorth Sea. 4. A firework
(1742). 5. Gm seasoned with capsi-
cums. 6. A grilled bone seasoned with
mustard and cayenne. 7. A sand-
storm. 8. A species of firewood
soaked in resin. The (or a) devil of [a
thiaj], an indefinite intensitive : e.g.
devil of a mess, of a woman, of a
row, etc. (1602). American devil, a
steam whistle or hooter : used in
place of a bell for summoning to
work. JBlue devils: see ante. little
(or young) devil, a half playful, half
sarcastic, address ; a term of endear-
ment ; e.g. You little devil. As verb,
1. To act as a Devil (q.v.), to perform
routine or regular work for another.
2. To victimize. What who, when,
where, or how the devil, an expletive of
wonder, vexation, etc. To play the
devil with, to ruin or molest. To
puU the devil by the tail, to go headlong
to ruin; also to be reduced to one's
last shift. To whip the devil round
the stump, to enjoy the sweets of
wickedness and yet escape the penalty.
Haul devil, pvU baker, to contend with
varying fortunes. And the devil Jcno ws
what, (or who), a term used vaguely
and indefinitely to include details
not specifically mentioned or known
(1717). To go to the devil, to go to
rack and ruin. Go to the devil I Begone !
a summary form of dismissal with no
heed as to what may become of the
person who is sent about his business,
To hold a light or candle to (or "burn a
candle "before} the devil, to propitiate
through fear, to assist (or wink at)
wrongdoing. Shakespeare (* Merchant
of Venice,' act n. sc. vi), employe
' What ! must I hold a candle to my
sharae,* in much the same sense. Not
fit to fold a candle to the devil, a simile
of inferiority. To hold a candle to
another, to assist in, occupy a sub-
ordinate position, or to compare to
another (1461). The devil (or the
devil and aU) to pay, a simile of fruit-
less effort; awkward consequences
to be faced. [Nautical : originally,
There's the devil to pay and no pitch
hot ; the devil being any seam in a
vessel, awkward to caulk, or in sailor's
language ' to pay.' Hence by con-
fusion, The deuce to pay (q.v.).]
(1711). Tolls of the devil and you'tt
see his horns or tail, said of a person
who, being the subject of conversation,
unexpectedly makes an appearance.
FT., parlez des anges et vous en voyez
les ailes (1664). Devil may care,
rollicking, reckless, rash ( 1 822). Devil
take (fetch, send, snatch, or fly away
with) you, me, him ! an imprecation
of impatience. Fr., le boulanger
fentrotte en son pasclin. There*$ the
devil among the tailors f a row is going
on. [Edwards: — Originating hi a
riot at the Haymarket when Dow-
ton announced the performance, for
bis benefit, of a burlesque entitled
* The Tailors : a Tragedy for Warm
Weather.* Many thousands of jour-
neymen tailors congregated, and
interrupted the performances. Thirty-
three were brought up at Bow Street
next day. — See Biographica Drama-
tica under * Tailors.'] When the
devil is blind, never, i.e. in a month
of Sundays ; said of anything unlikely
to happen : see Greek Kalends.
Devil-dodger. A clergyman: also,
by implication, any one of a religious
turn of mind (1791). English syno-
nyms : devil catcher (driver, pitcher,
or scolder), snub devil, bible pounder,
duck that grinds the gospel mill, corn-
mister, camister, sky-pilot, chimney-
sweep, rat, rum (Johnson), pantfler,
cushion smiter (duster, or thumper),
couple (or buckle) beggar, rook, gospel
grinder, earwig, one-in-ten (tramps =
a tithe-monger), finger-post, parish
prig, parish bull, holy Joe, green
apron, black cattle (collectively),
white choker, patrico, black coat,
black fly, glue pot, gospel postilion,
prunella, pudding-sleeves, puzzle-text,
schism - monger, cod, Black Bruns-
132
Devil-drawer.
Deiv-beaters.
wicker, spiritual flesh-broker, head-
clerk of the Doxology Works, Lady
Green, fire-escape, gospel sharp, padre
(Anglo-Indian), pound-text.
Devil-drawer. An indifferent
artist.
Devilish. Used intensively : cf.
Awfully, beastly (1755).
Devil's Bed-posts (or Four-
poster ). The four of clubs ; held
to be an unlucky ' turn up.'
Devil' s-bones. Dice; also Devil's
teeth, Devil's books (1664).
DeviPs-books. Cards. [Of Pres-
byterian origin ; in reproof of a syno-
nym— King's books, or more fully,
The History of the Four Kings (Fr.,
livre des quatre rois).~\ Also Books of
Briefs (Fr., la cartouchiere a portees)
(1729).
Devil's-claws. The broad arrow on
convict dress.
DeviTs-colours (or livery). Black
and yellow.
Devil's-daughter. A shrew.
Devil's-delight. To kick up the
devil's delight, to make a disturbance
(1854).
Devil' s-dozen. Thirteen; the
original of baker's dozen (q.v.).
[From the number of witches sup-
posed to sit down together at a ' Sab-
bath.* Fr., boulanger=the devil.]
Devil's - dung, subs. (old). Asa-
fo?tida : the old pharmaceutical name
(1604).
Devil' s-dust. 1. Old cloth shredded
for re-manufacture. [In twofold al-
lusion to the swindle and to the ' dust *
or * flock ' produced by the disinteg-
rating machine called a ' devil.* The
practice and the name are old. Lati-
mer, in one of his sermons before Ed-
ward the Sixth, treating of trade
rascality, remarked that manufac-
turers could stretch cloth seventeen
bed too. Not7 they have turned
their flocks into powder, to play the
false thieves with it.' Popularised by
Mr. Ferrand in a speech" before the
House of Commons, March 4, 1S42
(Hansard, 3 S., bri. p. 140), when he
tore a piece of cloth made from devil's
dust, into shreds to prove its worth-
lessness.] Also Shoddy (q.v.) (1840).
2. Gunpowder.
Devil's-guts. A surveyor's chain
(1785).
Devil's Own (The). 1. The Eighty-
Eighth Foot. [A contraction of The
Devil's Own Connaught Boys, a name
bestowed by General Picton for
gallantry in action and irregularity in
quarters during the Peninsular War,
1809-14.] 2. The Inns of Court
Volunteers [in allusion to the legal
personnel] (1864).
Devil' s-paternoster. To say the
devtfs paternoster, verb. phr. (old).
To grumble (1614).
Devil's-playthings. Cards : also
Devil's books.
Devil* s-sharpshooter. A cleric who
took part in the Mexican War.
Devil's - smiles. April weather,
alternations of sunshine and rain.
Devil's - tattoo. Drumming the
fingers or tapping the floor with one's
feet, in vacancy or impatience (1817).
Devil's-teeth. See Devil's-bones.
[Also to note in this connexion are
DeviTa oum boy, a young blackguard ;
imp of the devil, idem; Devil's own
ship, a pirate ; JDeviPs own luck, un-
common, or inexplicable good fortune.
To lead one the devil's own dance, to
baffle one in the pursuit of any object ;
The devil a "bit, says Punch, a jocular
yet decided negative ; and Neat but
not gaudy, as the devil said when he
painted his bottom pink and tied up his
tail with pea green, a locution em-
yards long, into a length of seven-and- ployed of aged ladies dressed in flam-
twenty yards : * When they have ing colours.]
brought him to that perfection,' he Deviltry. A vulgarism for
continues, *they have a pretty feat
to thick him again. He makes me a
powder for it, and plays the pothicary.
They call it flock-powder, they do so
incorporate it to the cloth, that it is
wonderful to consider ; truly a good
invention. Oh that so goodly wits
should be so applied ; they may well
deceive the people, but they cannot
deceive God. They were wont to
make beds of flocks, and it was a good
1 try.
devilry.
D e v o r (Charterhouse). Plum
cake. [From the Latin.]
Devotional - habits. Said of a
horse that is apt to ' say his prayers/
i.e. to stumble and go on his knees.
Dew-beaters (dusters, or
treaders). 1. Pedestrians out early
in the morning, i.e. before the dew
is off the ground (1692). 2. The
feet : see Creepers. 3. Shoes.
133
Dew-bit.
Die-Hards.
Dew-bit. A snack before break-
fast.
Dew-drink. A drink before break-
fast : Fr., goutie pour tuer le ver, i.e.
io drown tne maggot, or, to crinkle
t'ae worm. Xot, of course, the early
worm, of the proverb, but his spiritual
cousin, the worm that never dies.
Dewitt. To Ijnch. [The two De
Witts, opponents of William of Orange,
were massacred by the mob in 1672,
without subsequent inquiry.] Cf.
Boycott, Burke, Cellier (1690).
Dewse-a-Vyle. The country: see
Daisyville (1507).
Dewskitch. A thrashing.
Dial (or Dial-plate). The face. To
turn ike hands on the dial, to disfigure
the face. English synonyms : frontis-
piece, gills (the jaws), chump (also
the head), phiz, physog, mug, jib,
chivy (or chevy), roach and dace
(rhyming), signboard, door - plate,
front- window.
Dials. Convicts and thieves hailing
from Seven Dials.
Diamond - cracking. 1. Stone-
breaking. 2. Coal mining. Cf. Black
diamonds.
Dibs (or Dibbs). Generic for money :
see Rhino. [Said to be a corruption
of diobs, i.e. diobolus, a classic coin=
2|d. Another derivation is from the
hucklebones of sheep, popularly dibbs,
used for gambling ; Scots * chuckles.*]
To brush with the dibs, to abscond with
the cash ; To tip over the dilis, to pay
down or shell out ; To flash the dibs.,
to show money, etc.
Dice. To box the dice, to carry a
point by trick or swindle.
Dick. 1. A dictionary, a Richard
(q.v.) ; also, by implication, fine
language or long words. 2. A riding
whip. 3. An affidavit. 4. An Irish
Catholic : see Crawthumper. As verb,
to look, Pipe (q.v.) ; e.g. the bulky's
di eking, the policeman is watching
you: FT., gaffer: see Pipe. Dick in
the green, weak, inferior : of. Dicky.
In the reign of Queen Dick, never,
when two Sundays come in a week :
see Greek Kalends. To swallow the
Dick, to use long words without know-
ledge of their meaning, to high f alute
(American). Up to Dick, not to be
taken in, artful, By, wide-awake.
Also, up to the mark, i.e. perfectly
satisfactory.
Dickens. The devil (q.v.) or
deuce (q.v.) (1596), used interchange-
ably. [A corruption of nick (q.v.).]
For synonyms, see Skipper.
Dicker (or Dickering). Barter,
swap (q.v.) : generally applied to trade
in small articles.
Dickey. 1. A woman's under pet-
ticoat. 2. A donkey (1766). 3. A
sham shirt front, formerly a worn-out
shirt. [Hotten : originally tommy
(from the Greek, T-O/EW/, a section), a
word once used in Trinity Collage,
Dublin.] Also, by implication, any
sham contrivance (1781). 4. A shirt
collar (De Fere). 5. A ship's officer
or mate ; second dickey, i.e. second
mate. 6. A swell : see Dandy. As
adj., 1. Sorry, inferior, paltry and poor
in quality. Dickey aormts (theatri-
cal), a poor house. 2. Smart: cor-
ruption of Up tu dick (q.v.). AU
dickey with [one}, queer, gone wrong
all up with (1811).
Dickey-bird. 1. A louse: see
Chates. 2. (pi.) Professional singers
of all grades. 3. A prostitute ; gener-
ally naughty dickey-bird.
Dickey-diaper, A linen-draper.
Dickey-dido. An idiot : see
Buffle.
Dickey -lagger. A bird-catcher.
Dickey-sam. A native of Liverpool.
Diddles. The paps.
Diddle. 1. Gin : see Drinks. 2.
A swindle, do. As verb, 1. To
cheat (1811). 2. (Scots colloquial).
To shake.
Diddle-cove. A landlord.
Diddler. A cheat, a dodger. [Cf.
Jeremy Diddler, in Kenny's Raising
the Wind."] Also a chronic borrower.
Didoes. Pranks, tricks, fantastic
proceedings.
Die (or Dee). A pocket book. To
die in one's boots (or shoes). 1. To be
hanged: see Ladder (1653). 2. To
' die standing ' : at work, in harness,
in full possession of one's faculties.
See Cotton.
Die - by - the - Hedge. The flesh
of animals deceased by accident or of
disease ; hence, inferior meat.
Die - Hards. The Fifty-Seventh
Foot. [From the rallying call at
Albuera (1811) its Colonel (Inglis)
calling to the men, ' Die hard, my men,
die hard,* when it had thirty bullets
through the King's Colour, and only
had one officer out of twenty-four, and
one hundred and sixty-eight men, out
134
Dig.
Dip.
of five hundred and eighty-four, when
left standing.]
Dig. LA blow, thrust, punch, or
poke ; in pugilism, a ' straight left-
hander ' delivered under the guard on
the 'mark' (1819). Also as verb.
English synonyms : auctioneer, biff,
bang, buck-horse, buster, chatterer,
chin - chopper, chopper, clip, click,
clinker, clout, cock, cork, comber,
cuff, cant, corker, dab, downer, douser,
ding, domino, floorer, ferricadouzer,
fibbing, facer, flush - hit, finisher,
gooser, hot 'un, jaw-breaker, lick,
mendoza, muzzier, noser, nobbier,
nose-ender, nope, oner, punch, stock-
dollager, stotor, spank, topper, twister,
whack, wipe. 2. A diligent student :
(by implication from the verb (q.v.) ;
also study ; e.g. to have a dig at Ctesar
or Xavy ; as verb, to work hard ; especi-
ally to study. To dig a day under the
skin, to make one shave serve two
days. To dig up the "hatchet : see Bury.
Digester. See Patent digester.
Digged. See Jigged.
Diggers. 1. Spurs, persuaders
(1789). 2. The spades suit- also
Diggums. Big digger, ace of spades.
3. The finger nails.
Diggers' -delight. A wide-brimmed
felt hat : see Golgotha.
Diggings. A place of residence or
employment. [First used at the
Western lead mines in the U.S.A. to
denote whence ore was dug.] Eng-
lish synonyms : birk, box, case, crib,
chat, den, dry-lodgings, drum, place,
pig- sty, pew, cabin, castle, chaffing-
crib, caboose, sky-parlour, shop, ken,
dossing - ken, hole, rookery, hutch,
hang-out.
Diggums. 1. A gardener. 2.
The suit of spades ; also Diggers (q.v.).
Dil berries. Foacal and seminal
deposits : clinkers.
Dilly. A night cart; formerly
a coach. [Fr., diligence.']
Dilly-bag. A wallet, scran-bag.
Dilly-dally. To loiter, hesitate,
trifle (1740).
Dimber. Pretty, neat, lively,
scrumptious, natty. Fr., batif, fignde,
girofle. Dimber cove, a sprightly man,
a gentleman. Dimber mort, a pretty
girL
Dimber -damber. A captain of
thieves or vagrants.
Dimmock. Generic for money : see
Rhino.
Dinahs. Edinburgh and Glasgow
Railway Ordinary Stock.
Dinarly (or Dinah) Money : gen-
eric : see Rhino. Nantee (or Nanti
Dinarly), no money : Sp., dinero ;
lingua 'Franca, niente. dinaro, not a
penny.
Dine. To dine, out, to go dinnerless.
To dine with Duke Humphrey, Take a
Sptialfields breakfast (or an Irishman's
dinner), go out and count the railings.
Fr., Se coucher bredouitte (to go to bed
supperless) ; otter voir defter lea dragons
(to go and watch the dragoons march
past) ; diner en vfile (to dine in town :
i.e. to munch a roll in the street or to
eat nothing), lire le journal.
Ding. To knock, strike down,
pound, or give way : also to get rid
of, pass to a confederate, steal by a
single effort. To ding a castor, to
snatch a hat and run with it : the
booty being dinged if it has to be
thrown away. Going upon the ding, to
go on the prowL Ding ike tot \ run
away with the lot ! (1340).
Ding -bat. Money : see Rhino.
Ding-boy. A rogue, bully (Grose).
Ding-dong. To go at it (or to it)
ding-dong, to tackle with vigour, or in
right good earnest. Formerly, helter-
skelter (Orose, 1785).
Dinge (Royal Military Academy).
A picture or painting.
Dinged. Darned (damned), some-
times Ding-gonedL
Dinger. I. A thief who throws
away his booty to escape detection :
see Ding. 2. In pi., cups and balls ;
Fr., gobelets et muscades.
Ding-fury. Huff, anger.
Ding-goned. See Dinged.
Dingle. Hackneyed, used up
(1786).
Dining - room. The mouth : see
Potato - trap. Dining - room chairs,
the teeth ; also Dinner-set (q.v.) : see
Grinders.
Dining-room Post. Petty pilfering
by sham postmen.
Dink. Dainty, trim (1794).
Dinner-set. The teeth. Your
dinner-set wants looking to, you need
to go to the dentist.
Dip. 1. A pickpocket; also Dip-
per and Dipping-bloke : see Stook-
hauler. 2. A stolen kiss, especially
one snatched in the dark. 3, (West-
minster School). A pocket inkstand
4. A candle made by dipping the wick
135
Dipe.
Do.
in tallow. As verb ( 1 ) To pick pockets
To dip a lob, to rob a till : also to go on
the dipe, to go pocket- picking : see
Frisk (2) To pawn, mortgage (1G93).
(3) To be convicted, get into trouble.
To dip one's beak, to drink : see Lush.
Dipe. See Dip.
Dipped. Dipped 'in the w&ng.
Worsted.
Dipper. 1. A baptist (Grose). 2.
See Dip.
Dipping-bloke. See Dip.
Dips. I. A purser's boy. 2. A
grocer.
Dipstick. A gauger.
Dirt. Money : generic : see Rhino.
To eat dirt, to submit to insult, eat
broiled crow, or humble pie (q.v.) ; to
retract. To fling dirt (or mud), to
abuse, vituperate (1689). To cut
dirt. See Cut.
Dirt-baillie. An inspector of
nuisances.
Dirt - scraper. An advocate who
rakes up unpleasant facts in a witness's
past.
Dirty -dishes. Poor relations.
Dirty Half-Hundred. The Fiftieth
Foot. [From the fact that, in action,
during the Peninsular Wax, the men
wiped their faces with their black fac-
ings.] Also the Blind Half- Hundred.
Dirty -puzzle. A slut (Grose).
Dirty-shirt March. On Sunday
mornings the male population of Drury
Lane, Whitechapel, and other crowded
districts loaf about the streets, before
attiring themselves in their Sunday
clothes. This promenade is called a
Dirty-shirt march.
Dirty-shirts. The Hundred
and First Foot. [They fought in
their shirt-sleeves at Delhi in 1857-]
Disgruntled. Offended : colloquial
in U.S.A. Undisgruntled, unoftencled.
Disguised. Drunk : see Screwed
(1622).
Dish. To cheat, circumvent, dis-
appoint, to ruin (1798).
Dish-clout. A dirty-puzzle,
slattern. To make a napkin of one's
dish-clout, to marry one's cook, eon-
tract a mesalliance (Grose).
Dished. Said of electrotypes when
the centre of a letter is lower than
its edges.
Dismal -ditty. A psalm sung by a
criminal at the gallows.
Dispar /Winchester College). See
Cat's-head
136
Dispatches. False dice ; con-
trived always to throw a nick. See
Doctor.
Dissecting - job. Garments re-
quiring extensive alterations.
Distiller. A man easily vexed,
and unable to dissemble his condition.
Ditto-blues (Winchester College).
A suit of clothes all of blue cloth :
cf. Dittoes.
Ditto Brother (or Sister) Smut.
See Brother Smut.
Dittoes. A complete suit of clothes
of the same material. FT., un com-
plet. Occasionally applied to trousers
only.
Ditty-bag. A handy bag, used by
sailors as a * huswife.' [Deft, Dight
= neat, active, handy.]
Dive. A drinking saloon ; also ^ a
brothel. As verb, to pick pockets :
see Frisk. Diving, picking pockets
(1631). To dive into one's sky, to put
one's hands into one's pockets. To
dive into the woods, to conceal oneself.
Diver (or Dive). A pickpocket (as
Jenny Diver in ' The Beggar's Opera *)
dip (q.v.) : see Thief (1608).
Divers. The fingers : see Forks.
Divide. To divide the house with
one's^ wife, to turn her out-of-doors.
Diving-bell. A cellar- tavern : cf.
Dive : and see Lush-crib.
Do. 1. A fraud (1812). 2. One's
duty, a success, performance of what
one has to do; once literary (1663).
As verb, (1) to cheat : see Gammon
(1789). 2. To punish (q.v.). 3. To
visit a place ; e.g. to do Italy, to do
the Bow, to do the High (at Oxford),
etc. FT., fa^re is used in the same
sense ; faire ses Acacias, i.e. to walk
or drive in the Attee des Acacias. 4.
To perform, to come (q.v.) ; to do the
pohte, to be polite; to do a 6oofc,to write
one ; to do the heavy (the grand, or the
genteel), to put on airs (1767). 5. To
utter base coin or Queer (q.v.). Do
as I do, an invitation to drink. See
Drinks. To do a beer (or a bitter, a
drink, or a drop), to take a drink. To
do a bUk. See Bilk. To do a bitt,
to utter an acceptance or bill of ex-
change. To do a bishop, to parade at
short notice. To do a bit, to eat some-
thing ; of. to do a beer. To do a
bunk (or shift), to ease nature: see
Bury a quaker, and Mrs. Jones. Also,
to go away. To do a crib, to break
into a house, to burgle : Fr., maqufller
Do.
Dodder.
une cambriole : see Crack a crib. To
do a guy (1) to ran away, make an.
escape. (2) To absent oneself when
supposed to be at work. To do a nob,
to make a collection. To do a pitch :
see Pitch. To do a rush, see Rush.
To do a snatch : see Snatch. To do
a star pitch, to sleep in the open air :
FT., loger d la belle, etmle : see Hedge
Square. To do a brown : see Brown
and Bamboozle : also to do brown and
to do it up brown. To do for (1) to
ruin: also to fall (1650). (2) To
attend on (as landladies on lodgers).
(3) To convict, sentence. Done, for,
convicted. To do or play gooseberry :
see Gooseberry. To do gospel, to go to
church. To do the handsome (or the
handsome thing), to behave extremely
well to one. To do it away, to dispose
of stolen goods : also To do the swag
(q.v.), Fence (q.v.). To do it on the
B. H., to perform with ease. To do
it up, to accomplish an object in view,
obtain one's quest. To do if up in
good twig, to live an easy life by one's
wits. To do one proud, to flatter :
e.g. Will you drink ? You do me
proud. To do out, to plead guilty and
exonerate an accomplice. To do over
(1) to knock down, persuade, cheat,
rain (1789). (2) To search a victim's
pockets without his knowing it : cf .
run the rule over. To do potty, to
pick oakum in gaol. To do one^s
business, to kill : see Cook one's goose.
Also (vulgar), to evacuate. To do the
downy to lie in bed. Downy flea pas-
ture, a bed. To do the swag, to sell
stolen property : Fr., laver la camelote
or lea fourgueroles. To do the trick, to
accomplish one's object. To do time,
to serve a term of imprisonment. To
do to death, to repeat ad nauseam. To
do to tie to, to be fit to associate with ;
trustworthy. To do up, to use up,
finish, quiet. Done up, tired out,
ruined, sold up: see Floored (1594).
For the rest, do, like Chuck and Cop,
is a verb-of-all-work, and is used in
every possible and impossible connec-
tion. Thus, To do reason and To do
right, to honour a toast ; To do a bit of
stiff, to draw a bill ; To do a chuck, to
eject, or to go away; To do a sip
(back slang), to make water ; To do a
eat, to vomit; To do a hall (or a
theatre), to visit a music hall or a play-
house ; To do a fluff (theatrical), to
forget one's part ; To do a pitch (show-
man's or street artists'), to go through
a performance ; To do a mouch (or a
mike), to go on the prowl ; To do a
grouse, to go questing for women ; To
do a doss, to go to sleep ; To do a
cadge, to go begging ; To do a scrap,
to engage in combat ; to do a rural, to
' rear ' by the wayside ; etc. Do tell t
intj. A useful interjection, for lis-
teners who feel that some remark is
expected ; equivalent to the English
Re.illy ? and Indeed ? A similar
phrase in the South is the old English,
You don't say so ? which a Yankee
will vary by, I want to know ! Do
tell is also used with inexperienced
Munchausens who by its means may
often be lured to repeat themselves
(1824).
Doash. A cloak : see Capella.
Dobbin. Ribbon. Dobbin rig,
stealing ribbon.
Dock. 1. The weekly work bill or
Pole (q.v.). 2. The hospital As
verb, (1) (Winchester College), to
scratch out, tear out (as from albook) ;
also to strike down. To go into dock,
to undergo salivation.
Docker. 1. A brief handed to
counsel by a prisoner in the dock.
Legal etiquette compels acceptance if
' marked * with a minimum fee of
£1, 3s. 6d. 2. A dock labourer.
Dock -walloper. A loafer ; one who
loiters about docks and wharves ; also
an unemployed emigrant.
Dockyarder. A skulker : cf . Straw-
yarder (q.v.).
Dockyard-horse. An officer better
at correspondence than at active
service.
Doctor. 1. A false die ; sometimes
a manipulated card. To put the
doctor on one, to cheat. 2. An adulter-
ant. To keep the. doctor, to make a
practice of adulterating liquor. 3.
Brown sherry. [Because a doctored
(q.v). wine.] 4. A ship's cook. 5.
(Winchester College). The head
master. 6. The last throw of dice or
ninepins. As verb, (1) to patch, adul-
terate, falsify, cook. (2) To poison a
horse.
Doctor Draw-fart. A wandering
quack.
Doctored. Patched, adulterated,
falsified, cooked.
Dod-burn it ! A euphemistic oath ;
on the model of Dadbinged (q.v.).
Dodder. Burnt tobacco taken
137
Dodderer.
Dog's-ea'fed.
froia the bottom of a pipe and placed
on the top of a fresh plug to give a
stronger flavour.
Dodderer. A meddler; always in
contempt. Sometimes doddering old
sheep's head, which also=sa fool.
Doddy. In Norfolk a person of
low stature. Sometimes kodrnandod
and hoddy-doddy, " all head and no
body.' Dodman (dialect), a snail.
Dodf etched. A euphemistic oath.
Most of its kind have originated in
New England, where the descend-
ants of the Puritans form the largest
portion of the population.
Dodgasted. See Dodf etched.
Dodge. To trick, swindle, elude.
Used in various combinations : The
pious dodge, a pretence of piety ; The
chiding ; e.g. a sad dog, gay dog, old
dog, etc. : see Cove. Sometimes
adjectively=male ; An old dog at
it, expert, or accustomed to (1596).
2. A burglar's iron : see Jemmy. To
go (or throw) to the dogs, see Go and
Demnition Bow-wows. Hair of the
dog tltat bit you : see Hair. To blush
like a, blue dog : see Blush. Dog biting
dog, said of actors who spitefully
criticise each others' performance.
Dog in a blanket, a pudding of pre-
served fruit spread on thin dough,
rolled up, and boiled ; also Roly-poly
and Stocking. Like a dog in shoes, a
pattering sound ; as the noise of a
brisk walk. Dog in the manger, a
selfish churl; who does not want
himself, yet will not let others enjoy.
tidy-dodge, begging in the streets with [From the fable.] (1621). To go to
tidily but poorly dressed children, the dogs : see Go. To let sleeping dogs
etc. Also, Nart ( 1708) : see Lay. lie : see Sleeping dogs.
Dodger. 1. A trickster : e.g. the Dogberry. A magistrate or stupid
* Artful Dodger j_ (Dickens, Oliver constable : see Beak and Copper.
~ ~ " ----- [From Much Ado about Nothing.]
Dog-cheap. Very cheap, of little
worth, foolish. [Skeat : from Swed.*
dog, very ; Latham : the first syllable
is god •= good, transposed + cheap,
from chapman, a merchant— hence,
a good bargain.] FT., ban marchfi
(1598).
Dog-collar. A stand-up shirt
collar, an all-rounder (q v.).
Dog-drawn (old), adj., phr. Said
of a bitch from which a dog has been
removed by force.
Dogger (Charterhouse). To
cheat, sell rubbish.
Doggery. 1. Transparent cheating :
of. Dogger. [Carlyle in Frederick uses
doggery = the doings of a scurvy set of
soldiers.] 2. A low drinking saloon.
Doggoned, A euphemistic oath.
Doggy. A batty in the mining
districts is a middleman ; a doggy is
his manager. As adj., (1) Connected
with, or relating to dogs. (2) Stylish.
Dog -Latin. Barbarous or sham
Latin ; also Kitchen, Bog, Garden, or
Apothecaries' Latin.
Dogs. 1. Sausages; otherwise bags
of mystery (q.v.), or chambers
of horrors (q.v.). 2. Newfoundland
Land Company's shares; now amal-
gamated with the Anglo - American
United, and called Anglos.
Dog's-body. Pease pudding.
Dog's-eared. Crumpled, as the
tff, ch. viii.) : Fr., fire ficelle, to be
a dodger (1611). 2. A dram; pro-
vincially, a nightcap : see Go. 3. A
hard-baked cake or biscuit : usually
corn - dodger, or when mixed with
beef, beef-dodgers. 4. A handbill.
Dodo. A stupid old man.
Dodrotted. A euphemistic oath.
Does. Does it ? A sarcastic
retort. Does your mother know you're
out " A popular locution, vague as
to meaning and inexact in application
— an expression expressive of con-
tempt, incredulity, sarcasm, anything
you please. English variants : Has your
mother sold her mangle ? Not to-
day, or it won't do, Mr. Ferguson !
Sawdust and treacle ! Draw it mild !
And the rest ! Who are you ? All
round my hat ! Go it, ye cripples I
Shoo, fly ! How does the old thing
work ? Well, yon know how it is
yourself ! How's your poor feet ?
Why, certainly ! "!i have your
whelk ! Not to-day, baker, call to-
morrow, and we'll take a crusty one !
Do you see any green in my eye ?
Put that in your pipe and smoke it 1
Where are you going on Sunday ?
Go to Putney ! Who stole the donkey :
the man in the white hat ! Cough,
Julia ! Over the bender ! There you
go with your eye out ! etc., etc.
Dog. LA man; sometimes used
contemptuously (cf. Cat, a woman),
but more frequently in half-serious leaves of a page with, much reading.
138
Dog's-meat.
Donkey.
Dog's-meat. Anything worthless :
as a bad book, a common tale, a
villainous picture, etc.
Dog-shooter. 1. A volunteer. 2.
(Royal Military Academy). Cadets
thus term a student -who accelerates,
that is, who, being pretty certain of
not being able to obtain a commission
in the engineers, or not canng for it,
elects to join a superior class before
the end of the term.
Dog*s-nose. A mixture of gin and
beer : see Drinks.
Dog's - paste. Sausage or mince-
meat.
Dog's - portion. A lick and a
smell, i.e. next to nothing.
Dog's-sleep. The lightest possible
form of slumber.
Dog's-soup. Water: see Adam'd
ale and Fish broth.
Dog's-tail. The constellation of
Ursa minor or Little Bear.
Dog - stealer. A dog-dealer : sar-
castic.
Doldrums. Low spirits; the dumps
or hump (q.v.). [Properly parts of
the ocean near the Equator abounding
in calms and light, baffling winds.]
Dole (Winchester College). A
stratagem or trick. [Latin dolus.']
D o 1 i fi e r (Winchester College).
One who contrives a trick. See
Dole.
Dollar. A five-shilling piece.
Half-dollar, half-a-crown, or two
shillings : see Caroon.
Dollop. A lot. Att the doHop, the
whole thing. In Norfolk to dollop, to
dole out ; also to ' plank.' Dolloping,
throwing down.
Dolly. 1. A mistress. 2. A piece of
cloth use as a sponge. As adj., silly.
Dolly-mop. A harlot.
Dolly - shop. A marine store :
really an illegal pawn-shop and fence
(q.v.) ; also leaving-shop. No ques-
tions are asked ; all goods are received
on the understanding that they may
be repurchased within a given time ;
so much per day is charged ; no
duplicate is given ; and no books are
kept. From the sign of the Black
Doll (q.v.).]
Dome. The head : see Crumpet.
Domestic-afflictions. A woman's
flower-time.
Dome-stick. A domestic servant.
Dominie. A clergyman ; also
(modern Scots), a pedagogue or
schoolmaster. [Latin dominus, a lord
or master.] (1616).
Dominie Do-little. An impotent
old man.
Domino ! An ejaculation of com-
pletion : e.g. for sailors and soldiers
at the last lash of the flogging ; and
for 'bus conductors when an omnibus
is full inside and out ; also, by im-
plication, a knock-down blow, or the
last of a series. [From the call at the
end of a game of dominoes.]
Domino - box. The mouth : see
Potato-trap.
Dominoes. 1. The teeth: see
Grinders. To sluice one's dominoes,
to drink. 2. The keys of a piano.
Domino-thumper. A pianist.
Dommerar (Dommerer, or Dum-
merer). A beggar feigning to be deaf
and dumb; also, a madman (1567).
Don. An adept; a swell; also
a swaggerer, a man putting on
side. At the Universities a fellow
or officer of a college ; whence the
vulgar usage. [Latin, dominus, a lord,
through the Spanish title.] (1665).
As adj., clever, expert, first-rate.
Dona (Donna, Donny, or Doner).
A woman : see Petticoat.
Donaker. A cattle-lifter (1669).
Done! An interjection of accept-
ance or agreement (1602). As adj.,
exhausted, ruined, cheated, convicted.
[See Do in most of its senses.]
Done-over. Intoxicated : see
Screwed.
Donkey. 1. A compositor; press-
men are Pigs (q.v.). English syno-
nyms: ass, moke, galley-slave. 2. A
sailor's chest. 3. A blockhead : see
Buffie. A penny (twopence or three-
pence) more, and up goes the donkey,
an exclamation of derision. [Street
acrobats' : the custom was to finish off
the pitch by balancing a donkey at the
top of a ladder on receipt of * tuppence
more ' ; which sum, however often
subscribed, was always re-demanded,
so that the donkey never ' went up '
at all.] Who stole the donkey? A
street cry once in vogue on the ap-
pearance of a man in a white hat.
With a similar expression Who stole
the leg of mutton ? applied to the
police, it had its rise in a case of
larceny. To ride the donkey, to cheat
with weights and measures : also
Donkey-riding. To talk the hind leg
off a donkey : see Talk.
139
Donkey-drops.
DouUe.
Donkey - drops. Slow round hand
bor- kng, such as IB seldom seen in good
matches, but is effective against boys,
is kno-wn by the contumelious desig-
nation of donkey-drops.
Donkey's-ears. An old-fashioned
shirt- collar with long points.
Donna. See Dona.
Donnish (Donnism, Donnishness)
(University). Arrogant, arrogance
(1823).
Donny. See Dona.
Donovans. Potatoes : cf. Murphy.
[Donovan, like Murphy, is a common
Irish patronym.]
Don's-week. The week before a
general holiday.
Don't-name-'ems. Trousers : see
Kicks.
Don't. Don't you wish you may get
it, a retort forcible.
Doodle. A dolt : see Buffle.
Doodled. Cheated, done (1823).
Doodle-doo-man. A cockfighter or
breeder.
Doog. Good.
Do okie. A penny show or un-
licensed theatre : cf. Gaff.
Dookin (Dookering). Fortune-
telling (1857). Dookin-cove, a fortune
teller.
Door-nail. Dead as a door-nail :
see Dead,
Doorsman. See Barker and Clicker.
Doorstep. A thick slice of bread
and butter : Fr., fondantc.
Dooteroomus (or Doot). Generic
for money : see Rhino.
Dope. To drug with tobacco : also
doping, the practice.
Dopey. 1. A beggar's trull. 2.
(old). The podex.
Dor (Old Westminster School).
1. Leave to sleep awhile (Kersey,
1715). 2. An affront.
Doras. South-Eastern Railway
Deferred Ordinary Stock, sometimes
applied to the ' A ' Stock
D o r b i e. An initiate. The Dor-
bie*s knock, a peculiar rap given by
masons as a signal amongst themselves.
It may be represented by the time of
the f oUowing notes :
rrii/r
Dorcas. A sempstress ; especially
one employing herself for charitable
purposes.
Dorse. See Doss.
Dose. 1. A sentence of imprison-
ment ; specifically three months' hard
labour. English synonyms: spell,
time, drag, three moon, length, stretch,
seven-pennorth, sixer, twelver, lagging.
2. A burglary. 3. A beating. 4. As
much liquor as one can hold. To have
a dose of the balmy, to do a sleep. To
take a grown man's dose, to take a very
large quantity of liquor.
Doss (or Dorse). A bed, lodging ; also
asleep, or hb (q.v.) (1789). As verb,
to sleep. English synonyms : to go to
the arms of Murphy (q.v.). have forty
winks, go to Bedfordshire, take a little
(or do a dose) of the balmy, chuck (or
do) a doss, snooze, go to by-by, read
the paper, shut one's eyes to think,
retire to the land of Nod.
Dosser. One who frequents a
doss - house (q.v.). 'Appy dossers,
houseless vagrants who creep in, sleep
on stairs, in passages, and in empty
cellars. The dosser, the father of a
family.
Doss-house (Dossing-crib or ken).
A common lodging - house : FT., bas-
tengue and garno. Doss -money, the
price of a night's lodging (1838).
Dossy. Elegant, spiff (q.v.).
Dot. A ribbon. Dot-drag, a watch
ribbon (1821).
Dot - and - Carry - (or Go-) one.
1. Properly, a man with a wooden leg ;
by implication, a Hopping-giles or
Limping- Jesus (q.v.): FT., banban. 2.
A writing-master or teacher of arith-
metic (Grose). As verb, to ' hirple ' ;
especially applied to a person with
one leg shorter than the other, or,
with an uneven keel.
Dot. 1. An item of news. 2.
Money : see Rhino.
D o 1 1 e r. A reporter, penny-a-
liner : see Dot.
Dottle. The same as Dodder (q. v. ).
Dotty. 1. Feeble, dizzy, idiotic;
e.g. Dotty in the crumpet, weak in the
head ; Dotty in the pins, unsteady on
the legs. Also 2. subs., a fancy man
of prostitutes of the lowest type.
Doubite. A street.
Double. 1. A trick. 2. An actor
playing two parts in the same piece ;
also as a verb (1826). 3. A turning.
4. Repetition of a word or sentence.
Double, adj. and adv., is also used
as an intensitive in many obscene or
offensive connotations : e.g. Double-
arsed, large in the posteriors ; Double
140
Double-back.
Down.
duggs (and Dovble-dugged or diddied),
heavy breasted ; Double - gute (and
Double • gutted), excessively corpu-
lent; Double-hocked, abnormally thick
ankled ; Double - mouth&d, Mouth -
almighty (q.v.) ; and so forth.] To
'put the double on, to circumvent. To
tip (or give) the double, to run or slip
away openly or unperceived ; to
double as a hare ; formerly to escape
one's creditors. Also to Tip one the
Dublin packet : see Amputate (1781).
Double-back. To go back upon
oneself, an action, an opinion.
Double-barrel. A field or opera
glass.
Double- bottomed. Insincere,
saying one thing and meaning another.
Double-breasted feet. Club feet :
also Double-breasters.
Double-cross (or Double-double).
Winning or doing one's best to win
after engaging to lose or Mike (q.v.).
Double-distilled. Superlative : e.g.
a double - distilled whopper, a tre-
mendous lie.
Double - dutch. Unintelligible
speech, jargor, gibberish. It was all
Double - dutch to me, 1 didn't under-
stand a word of it.
Double-event. Backing a horse for
two races.
Double - finn. A £10 note : see
Finn.
Double-header. A false coin with a
head on the obverse and reverse, made
by soldering two split coins.
Double- juggs. The posteriors
(Burton).
Double-lines. Ship casualties : from
the manner of entering at Lloyd's.
Doublet. A blow in the side or
stomach, causing a man to bend from
pain or lack of wind.
Double - ribbed. Pregnant : see
Lumpy.
Double-shotted. Said of a whisky
(or brandy) and soda, containing
twice the normal quatity of alcohol.
Double-shuffle. 1. A hornpipe step
in which each foot is shuffled twice in
succession, the more rapidly and
neatly the better. 2. A trick or fake-
ment.
Double-slang. See Slangs.
Doublet. A doctored diamond
or other precious stone. The face is
real and this is backed up by a piece of
coloured glass. Of. Triplet
Double-thumber. A prodigious lie.
Double-tongued. Mendacious,
given to change opinions in changing
company.
Double-tongued squib. A double-
barrelled gun.
D o u b I e - u p. 1. To punish.
Doubled-up, collapsed (1819). 2. To
pair off, chum with.
Dough. Pudding.
Dough-baked. Deficient in intel-
lect. In U.S.A., easily moulded : said
of politicians (1675).
Doughy. A baker : see Master of
the rolls.
Douse. See Dowse.
Dover. A made-dish, hash, re-
chauffe.
Dovers. South Eastern Railway
Ordinary Stock.
Dove. A member of St. Catharine's
College, Cambridge. It is said that
the members of St. Catharine's Hall
were first of all called Puritans,
from the derivation of the name of
then: patroness from Kadaipetv. The
dove being the emblem of purity,
to change a name from Puritans to
doves was but one short step. Soiled
dove, a high-class prostitute.
Dove-tart. A pigeon-pie. (Doo-
tairt is excellent Scots for the same
thing.) Cf. Snake-tart, eel pie.
Dowlas. A draper. [From dowlas,
now a kind of towelling, but mentioned
by Shakespeare (' 1 Henry IV.,' m. iii,
1597) as a material for shirts. Popu-
larised as a sobriquet by <Jolman*s
Daniel Dowlas in The Heir at Law.
Dowling. A compulsory game of
footbalL [co£i\o£.3
Down. 1. Suspicion, alarm, a
diversion. There is no down, all is
quiet, it is safe to go on (1821). 2.
Small beer. Up, bottled beer. As
adv. (1) dispirited, hard-up, in dis-
grace. Found in various combina-
tions : e.g. Down in the mouth (or
dumps), dejected; Down on one's
luck, reduced in circumstances ; Down
at heel, shabby ; Down at one1 a back-
seam, out of luck ; Down to bed-
rock, penniless, etc., etc. (1608), (2)
acquainted with, Fly (q.v.), Up to
(q.v.). Also in combination: down
to, down on, and down as a hammer
(1610). (3) Hang-dog. As verb, to
put on one's back ; whether by force or
by persuasion. To be down a pit,
to be very much taken with a part.
To be (or come) down upon one, to be™
141
Downed.
Drat.
rate, attack, oppose. Sometimes with
~ • ,%f . e.1?. like a thousand (or is load) of
bricks ; like one o'clock ; like a tom-
tit on a horse turd, etc. To be down
pin, to be out of sorts, despondent,
To drop down on one, to discover one's
character or designs. To pvt a down
upoh one, to peach so as to cause detec-
tion or failure. To put one down to
[a thing], to apprize, elucidate, or
ezplain ; to coach or prime ; to let
one into the know. To take down a
peg : see Peg. Down the road, vulgarly
showy, flash. Down to dandy : see
up to Dick. Down to the ground, en-
tirely, thoroughly, to the last degree
Downed. Tricked, beaten, sat
upon.
Downer. 1 A sixpence : see
Rhino. In U.S.A., a five-cent, piece.
[Cf. Deaner (q.v.) ; now corrupted
into Tanner (q.v.).] 2. A knock-
down blow : cf. Bender, Doubler, etc.
Down -hills. Dice cogged to run
on the low numbers (Grose).
Downs. Tothill Fields prison : see
Hell.
Downy. A bed : also Downy flea-
pasture. As adj., artful, knowing
(q.v.) (1823). To do the downy: see
Downey-bit. A half-fledged girl.
Downy-cove (or bird). A clever
rogue : in pi., the dowmes. English
synonyms: mizzler, leary bloke or
cove, sly dog, old dog, nipper, file,
Greek, one that knows what's o'clock,
one who knows the ropes, or his
way about, don, dodger, dab, doll's
eye-weaver, dam - macker, shaver,
dagen, chickaleary - cove, ikey bloke,
artful member, one that is up to the
time of day, fly cove, one that's in
the know, one that has his eye-teeth
skinned, or that has cut his wisdoms.
Dowry. A lot, a great deal ;
dowry of parny, a lot of rain or water.
Dowse (or Douse). A verb of
action: e.g. Dowse your dog vane,
take the cockade out of your hat;
Dowse the glimr put out the candle;
Dowse on the chops, a blow in the
face.
Dout. laterally, to do out ; as
Dup (q.v.), to do up, and Don, to do
on. See Hamlet, iv. Then up he
rose and donned his clothes, and
dupped the chamber door.
Dosology - works. A church or
chapel
Doxy. A mistress, prostitute, oc-
casionally, a jade, a girl, even a wife.
In West of England, a baby (1567).
Dozing-crib. A bed : see Bap.
D.Q. On the D.Q., on the dead quiet :
cf. Strict Q.T., etc.
Drab. 1. Poison; also medicine.
Also as a verb. 2. A strumpet.
Drabbing, strumming.
Drabbut. A vague and gentle
form of imprecation. Drabbut your
back, confound you.
Draft. Draft on Aldgate pump, a
fictitious banknote or fraudulent bill.
See N. and Q., 7 S., i. 387-493
(1750).
Drag. 1. A cart of any kind ; now
usually applied to a four-horse coach.
2. A chain. 3. A street or road. Bacls
drag, a back street. 4. Three months'
imprisonment ; also Three Moon : see
Dose. Done for a drag, convicted of
Dragging (q.v.) : see Drag, a term of
imprisonment. 5. Feminine attire
worn by men. To go on (or flash) the
drag, to wear women's attire for im-
moral purposes. 6. A lure, trick,
stratagem. 7. A fox prepared with
herring or aniseed and brought to
covert in a bag. 8. See Dragging.
To put on the drag, to ease off or go
slow ; also to put on pressure. To
drag the pudding, to get the sack
just before Christmas-time.
Drag-cove. A carter OP driver of
a Drag (q.v.).
Dragging. Robbing vehicles.
Drag - lay. The practice of rob-
bing vehicles (Grose).
Dragon. A sovereign, 20s. : see
Rhino. To water the dragon, to urinate,
* pump ship,' * rack off.*
Dragsman. A coachman ; also a
Drag-sneak (q.v.).
Drag-sneak. A thief who makes a
speciality of robbing vehicles (1781).
Drain. 1. A drink: see Go. To
do a drain (wet, or common sewer), to
take a friendly drink (1835). 2. Gin,
[From its diuretic qualities.]
Drains. A ship's cook; The
Doctor (q.v.).
Drammer. See Drummer.
Draper. See Gammon the Draper.
Drat (Dratted). A mild and in-
definite imprecation of contempt, or
impatience. [A corruption of God
rot it]
142
Draught.
Drinks.
Draught. A privy : see Mrs. -Jones
(1002).
Draw. 1. An undecided contest.
[An abbreviation of ' drawn game.3]
2. An attraction; e.g. an article,
popular preacher, successful play, and
so forth. 3. A stroke with the surface
of the bat inclined to the ground. As
verb, (1) to attract public attention.
(2) To steal, pick pockets. To draw a
wipe (or ticker), to prig a handkerchief
or -watch ; to draw a damper, to empty
a till (Grose). (3) To tease to vexation,
take in, make game of. (4) To bring
out, cause to act, write, or speak, by
flattery, mis-statement, or deceit.
Also, to draw out ; Fr., tirer les v&rs du
nez. (5) To ease of money: e.g. I
drew him for a hundred ; She drew
me for a dollar ! To draw on [a man],
to use a knife. To draw a bead on, to
attack with rifle or revolver. To
draw a straight furrow, to live up-
rightly. To draw 'plaster, to fish for
a man's intentions. To draw straws,
to be almost asleep, drowsy. To draw
teeth, to wrench knockers and handles
from street doors. To draw ike
badger : see Badger. To draw blanks, to
fail, be disappointed. To draw the
bow up to the ear : see Bow. To draw
(or pull) the long bow : see Bow. To
draw the cork, to make blood flow ; to
tap the claret (q.v.). To draw the
King's (or Queen's) picture, to manufac-
ture base money. To draw wool (or
worsted), to irritate ; foment a quarrel :
cf. Comb one's hair. Draw it mild 1
an interjection of (1) derision ; (2) in-
credulity ; (3) supplication : cf. Come
it strong. Draw boy, a superior
article ticketed and offered at a figure
lower than its value.
Drawer-on. An appetiser: used
only of food, as Puller-on (q.v.) of
drink. Both are in Massinger.
Drawers. Embroidered stock-
ings (1567).
Draw-fart (or Doctor Draw-fart).
A wandering quack.
Draw - latch. A thief ; also a
loiterer (1631).
Draw - off. To throw back the
body to strike; He drew off, and
delivered on the left peeper. A sailor
would say, He hauled off and slipped
in.
Dreadful. A sensational story,
newspaper, or print : see Awful, and
Shilling Shocker.
Dredgermar*. A nver thief under
pretence of dredging up coals and such
like from the bottom of the river.
They hang about barges and other
undecked oraft, and when opportunity
serves, throw any property they can
lay their hands on overboard: in order,
slyly, to dredge it up when the vessel
is gone. Sometimes they dexterously
use their dredges to whip away any-
Lhing that may lie within reach. Some
are mighty neat at this, and the ac-
complishment is called Dry dredging.
Dress (Winchester College). The
players who come next in order after
Six or Fifteen. [So called because
they come down to the matches ready
dressed to act as substitutes if re-
quired.] To dress a hat, to exchange
pilferings : e.g. to swap pickings from
a hosier's stock with a shoemaker's
assistant for boots or shoes. To
dress down, to beat, scold (1715). To
be dressed like Xmas beef: see Beef.
To dress to death (within an inch of
one's life, or to kill), to dress in the
extreme of fashion.
Dress -house. A brothel : of. Dress-
'res sing (or Dressing - down)
Correction, manual or verbal ; also
defeat.
Dress-lodger. A woman boarded,
fed, and clothed by another, and pay-
ing by prostitution.
Dressy. Fond of dress.
Drilled. Shot through the body.
Drinks. The subjoined lists will
be of interest. Invitations to drink —
What'll you have ? Nominate your
pizen ! Will you irrigate ? Will you
tod ? Wet your whistle ? How9!!
you have it ? Let us stimulate 1
Let's drive another nail! What's
your medicine ? Willst du trinken ?
Try a little anti-abstinence ? Twy
(zwei) lager! Your whisky's wait-
ing. Will you try a smile ? Will you
take a nip ? Let's get there. Try a
little Indian ? Come and see your
pa ? Suck some corn juice ? Let's
liquor up. Let's go and see the baby.
Responses to invitations to drink. —
Here's into your face ! Here's how !
Here's at you ! Don't care if I do.
Well, I will. I'm thar! Accepted,
unconditionally. Well, I don't mind.
Sir, your most. Sir, your utmost.
You do me proud ! Yes, sir-ree !
With you — yes ! Anything to oblige.
143
Drinks.
Drop.
Oi. time.
I
Fra vit'^ yor.
*s:;/;?r.
L'ouat mo
/r«r
water, CroM1:, vvine, jumper, jackoy,
lap, riax, misery, oH Tom, nbbon,
drink fi.e. a port'on], r^nerally, or satin, sootuizig-syrup, sfcark-nahod,
" ' '" ' '
when taken at Vperjift-d times. — Anti-
lunch, appetiser, ball, bullock's
,
strip - me - naked, tape, white stitia,
tape, or uriae : see Satin. Synonyms
(a glass of port), bead, bosom friend, /or champagne. — Cham or cl
bucket, bumper, big-reposer, chit- boy, tiz, dry, bitches' wine. Synonyms
chat, chcirer, cinder, corker, cobbler, for port. — Bed fustian (q.v,). Syno-
damper, or something damp, dannie, nyms for sherry — Bristol in ilk, white
j j j — , j j_- — i__ wasj1. Term*' implying -various degrees
of intoxication : see Screwed. See
drain, dram, dcocb-an-doras, digester,
eye-opener, entr'acte, fancy smile,
flash, flip, iac^r, forenoon, go, gill,
heeltap, invigorator, Johnny, joram,
morning rousor, modicum, nip, or
nipperkin, night cap, nut, pistol shot,
pony, pill, quantum, refresher, rouser,
reposer, shout, smile, swig, sleeve-
button, something, slight/ sensation,
shant, sparkler, settler, stimulant,
soother, thimble-foil, tift, taste, tooth-
full, Timothy : see Go. General syn-
onyms for dnnls. — Breaky - leg, bub,
crater i' also = whisky), fuddle, gargle,
grog, guzzle, lap, hash, neck-oil, nectar,
poison, sium-gullion, swizzle, stingo,
tipple, tittey, toddy: see Tipple*
Synonyms for ~b&er (including stout).
— Act of Parliament ; artesian, barley,
belch, belly-vengeance, bevy or bevvy,
brownstone, bum-clink, bung-juice,
bunker, cold-blood, down (see Up);
English burgundy (porter), gatter,
half-and-half, heavy-wet, John Bar-
leycorn, knock-down or knock-me-
down, oil of barley, perkm, ponge,
pon^elow, or ponjello, rosin, rot-gut,
sherbet, stingo, swankey, swipes,
see
also lists under Elbow - crooker,
Lush, Lushcrib, Lushmgton, Gallon
Distemper.
Dripper. A gleet.
Dripping. A cook ; especially an
indifferent one: Fr., fripier and
daube : cf. Doctor and Slushy (q.v.), a
ship's cook.
Drive. A blow. To let drive, to aim
a blow, strike. Four rogues in buck-
ram let drive at me. — Shakespeare.
As verb, to send a ball off the bat with
full force horizontally. To dnve at,
to aim at : e.g. What are you driv-
ing at ? What do you mean ? (1697).
To drive a, 'bargain, to conduct a
negotiation, make the best terms
one can, dispute a condition or a price,
succeed in a deal (1580). To drive a
humming (or roaring) trade, to do well
in business (1625). To drive oneself
to the wash, to drive in a basket-chaise.
To dnre pigs to market, to snore. Fr.,
jouer ic, la ronfie (or de Forgw), also
fumer. To drive turkeys to market, to
reel and wobble in drink. To drive
swizzle, up (bottled ale or stout) : see French horses, to vomit. From the
Swipes. Synonyms for Brandy. — Hue done of French carters to their
Ball of fire, bingo, cold-tea, eold-
nantz ; French eltsar or cream : see
French Elixir. Synonyms for whisky.
— Aqua vitce, bald - face, barley - bree,
breaky - leg, bottled - earthquake,
bum - clink, caper - juice, cappie,
curse of Scotland, family-disturbance,
farintosh, forty -rod lightning, grapple-
the-rails, hard stuff, hell-broth, in-
teams.]
Driver's pint. A gallon.
Driz. Lace : Fr., ntiche (in allusion
to the holes in a loaf of bread).
Driz-fencer. A street vendor of
lace, also a receiver of stolen material.
Droddum. The posteriors (1786).
Dromaky. A prostitute : north of
' and S.
. , - England, particularly N. _.
fernal compound, Mil - the - beggar, Shields. [From a strolling actress
lightning, liquid fire, moonlight, moon- who personated Andromache.]
shine, mountain-dew, old man's milk, Dromedary. A bungler ; specifically
pine - top, railroad, red - eye, rotgut, a bungling thief : also Purple drome-
screech, Simon pure, sit -on- a -rock dary.
(rye whisky) soul - destroyer, square Drop. See Drop game. As verb,
face, stone-fence, tangle-foot, the real (1) to lose, give, or part with (1812).
thing, th^ sma' stffl, white-eye: see 'rtx ^ — 1 -1- -*- — J — '
Old man's milk. Synonyms for gin.
Blue ruin, blue-tape, Brian O'Lynn
(rhyming), cat-water, cream of the
valley, daffy, diddle, drain, duke, eye-
(2) To relinquish, abandon, leave : e.g
to drop an acquaintance, to gradually
withdraw from intercourse : cf. Out.
To drop the main toby, to turn out of
the main road (1711). (3) To knock
144
D. Ts.
down : cf. To drop into, to thrash. (4)
To bring down with a shot. To drop
anchor, to pull up a horse. To dtop
one's anchor, to sit (or settle), down.
To drop a cog, see Drop-game. To
drop one's flag, to salute ; also to sub-
mit, lower one's colours. To drop
(hang, slip, or walk) into, to attack :
also cf. Drop on to. To drop off the
hooks, to die : see Hop the twig. To
drop one's leaf, to die : see Hop the
twig To drop on one, to accuse or
call to account without warning. Also
to thrash. To drop the scabs in, to
work button-holes. To drop one's
wax, to evacuate or ' rear.* To get
(or have) the drop on, to hold at dis-
advantage, forestall. To have a drop
w the eye, to be slightly drunk : see
Screwed (1738). Drop it I Cease !
Cut it! Cheese it!
Drop-game. A variety of the con-
fidence trick : The thief picks out his
victim, gets in front of him, and pre-
tends to pick up (say) a pocket-book,
(snide) which he induces the green-
horn to buy for cash. The object is a
Cog, and the operator a Dropper or
Drop-cove.
Dropped-on. Disappointed.
Dropper. A specialist in the Drop-
game (q.v.) : also Drop-cove (1669).
Dropping. A beating ; I'll give
you a good dropping, i.e. I'll thrash
you severely.
Droppings. The excrement of
horses and sheep.
Drown. See Miller.
Drudge. Whisky in its raw state.
Drug. To administer a narcotic.
A drug in the market, anything so
common as not to be vendible.
Drum. 1. An entertainment ; now a
tea before dinner ; a Kettle-drum (q.v.)
(1750). 2. A road, street, or highway.
English synonyms: drag, toby, high (or
main) toby, pad, donbite, finger and
thumb (rhyming). 3. The ear. 4. A
building ; Bazard - drum, a gambling
hell ; Flash - drum, a brothel ; Cross-
drum, a thieves' tavern ; In U.S.A., a
drinking place. 5. A bundle carried
on tramp : generally worn as a roll
over the right shoulder and under the
left arm : also Bluey and Swag (q.v.).
6. A small workshop.
Drummer. 1. A horse, the action of
whose forelegs is irregular (Grose). 2.
A thief, who before robbing, narcotises
or otherwise stupefies bis victim. 3
A commercial traveller ; also Ambas-
sador of Commerce or Bagman (q.v.) ;
Fr., gaudisaart or hirondelle. See
Drum, a road. Old - time pedlars
announced themselves by beating a
drum at the town's end.] (1827). 4.
A trousers' maker, Kickseys' -builder
(q.v.).
Drumstick - cases. Trousers : see
Kicks.
Drumsticks. 1. The legs — especially
of birds. English synonyms : cheese-
cutters (bandy-legs), stumps, cabbage-
stumps, pins, gams, notches, shanks,
stems, stumps, clubs, marrow-bones,
cat-sticks, trap-sticks, dripping-sticks,
trams, trespassers, pegs, knights of the
garter.
Drunk. A debauch ; by implica-
tion, a drunkard, i.e. a drunk and
disorderly person. On the drunk, on
the drink, i.e. drinking for days on
end. DrunJc as Davy's sow, excessively
drunk : see Screwed.
Drunkard. To come the drunkard, to
feign drunkenness ; also to be drunk.
To oe quite the gay drunkard, to be
more or less in liquor.
Drunken-chalks. Good conduct
badges : see Chalk.
Drury - Lane Ague. A venereal
disease : see Ladies' Fever.
Drury-Lane Vestal. A prostitute.
Dry. See lime-basket.
Dry-boots. A dry humorist (Grose).
Dry-hash. A miser ; also, by im-
plication, a loafer.
Dry-land! (rhyming). ' You
understand ! '
Dryland - sailor. See Turnpike
Sailor.
Dry-lodging. Accommodation
without board.
Dry - nurse. A guardian, bear-
leader, tutor ; a junior who instructs
an ignorant chief in his duties (1614).
Dry-room. A prison : see Cage.
Dry - shave. Rubbing the chin
with the fingers ; also as a verb. The
action implies a certain effrontery.
Dry -up. 1. A failure, Columbus
(q.v.) ; contrast with Draw, sense 2.
As verb, to cease talking, abandon a
purpose or position, stop work. As an
interjection, Hold your jaw I
Dry-walking. A hard-up soldier's
outing.
D. T's. Delirium tremens : see Jim-
jams. The D. T., The Daily Tele-
graph.
145
Dub.
Dugs.
i A key; specifically a master (q.v.) ante. To tnake ducks and
key : see Locksmith's daughter (178U). drakes of one's money, to squander
~ ' money as lavishly as stones are squan-
dered at ' ducks and drakes.' [In al-
lusion to the childish game. ] ( 1 605).
Duck's-bill. A tongue cut in a
piece of stout paper and pasted on
at the bottom of the tympan sheet.
Ducky (or Duck of Diamonds).
See Dnck.
Dudder (Dudsinan, or Duffer).
A pedlar of pretended smuggled wares
— gown- pieces, silk waistcoats, etc.
The term and practice are obsolete,
though in a few seaports, London
especially, they survived till recently
in a modified form. FT., marottier.
Dude. A swell, fop, masher: see
Dandy Dudette (or Dudmette), a
young girl affecting the airs of a belle ;
Dudine, a female masher.
Dude-hamfatter. A wealthy pig-
jobber.
Duds. Clothes ; sometimes old
clothes or rags (1440). D^ldderyt a
clothier's booth (De Foe's Tour of Qt.
Brit., p. 125). In America applied to
any kind of portable property. To
angle for duds, see Anglers ; To sweat
duds, to pawn.
Dudsman. See Dudder.
Dues. Money : see Rhino : spec,
a share of booty. To tip the dues, to
pay, to hand over a share.
Duff. 1. Specifically, to sell flashy
goods as pretended contraband or
stolen ; hence to cheat. Duffers (or
Men at the duff), pedlars of flash.
Duffing, the practice ; as an adjective,
, . .__ spurious (1781). 2. To rub up the nap
German silver of old clothes to improve their ap-
duck (or duck's pearance. Duffer, one who performs
this operation, whilst the article
operated upon is also a duffer by
virtue of the fact itself.
D u ff e r. LA pedlar ; specific-
ally a hawker of brummagem (q.v.),
and so-called smuggled goods. In
the population returns of 1831 duffer,
one who gets a living by cheating
pawnbrokers. 2. Anything worth-
less or sham. 3. A female smuggler.
Duffer-out. To get exhausted.
D u ffi n g. False, counterfeit,
worthless.
Dugs. The paps ; once used
without reproach, of women ; now
only in contempt except of animals :
see Dairy. [From same stem as
daughter.]
JLifi
As verb, to open. Dttb t/ijtir
Open your mouih. Dub Hit. j^jgcr,
open the cloor. AIjo by confusion, to
shut or fasten (1567). Dub at a
Knapping Jigger, a turnpike keeper.
To dub up, to hand over, pay, fork out.
Fr., foncer, ab'ivler. Formerly, to lock
up, secure, button one's pocket.
Dubber. 1. The mouth or tongue ;
mum your dubber ; hold your tongue.
2. A picklock (Grose).
Dub-cove. See Dubsman.
Dub -lay. Using picklocks.
Dublin-dissector. A cudgel.
Dubs (Winchester College).
Double.
Dub mans (or Dubs). A turnkey,
gaoler. English synonyms: jigger-
dubber, screw.
Ducats. L Money : see Rhino.
[Probably from Shylock in kThe Mer-
chant of Venice.'] 2. Specifically a
railway ticket ; also pawnbroker's
duplicate, raffle-card, or Brief (q.v.).
Also Ducket.
D u c e. Twopence : see Rhino.
[Latin.]
Duck. 1. Scraps of meat ; other-
wise Block-ornaments, Stickings, Fag-
gots-, Manablins, or Chuck (q.v.).
2. (Winchester College). The face.
To make a duck, to make a grimace.
3. A draw or decoy. [An abbreviation
of decoy-duck.] 4. A term of endear-
ment ; also used in admiration ; e.g.
a duck of a bonnet. Also ducky :
duck of diamonds being a superlative.
5. A metal -cased watch ; i.e. old
watch movements
cases. To make <
egg), to make no score, to crack one's
eg§> Se* a P8" of spectacles. The
duck that rune (or grinds) the. gospel
mitt, a clergyman : see Devil-dodger.
Lame duck (q.v. post). German
duck (q.v. post). To do a duck, to hide
under the seat of a public conveyance
with a view to avoid paying the fare.
Ducket. See Ducat.
Duck-footed. Said of people who
walk like a duck ; i.e. with the toes
turned inwards.
Ducking. To go ducking, to go
courting.
Ducks. 1. Linen trousers ; generally
White ducks: see Backs. 2. Aylesbury
Dairy Co. shares. 3. An official of the
Bombay service. To chance the. ducks
DuJce.
Dost.
Duke. 1. Gin : see Drinks. 2. A
horse. 3. Any transaction in the
shape of a burglary; e.g. I was
jemming to then* duke, I was privy
to the robbery.
Duke Humphrey. See Dine.
Duke - of - Limbs. An awkward,
uncouth man ; specifically one with
ungainly limbs (Grose).
Duke - of - York (rhyming slang).
To walk ; also, to talk.
Dukes. The hands : see Bunch of
fives. To grease the dukes, to bribe ;
also to pay. To put up the dukes, to
put up one's hands for combat.
Dukey. See Dookie and Gaff.
Dulcamara. A quack doctor.
[From the name of a character in
Donizetti's V Elixir d* Amour (1845).]
Dull. DuU in the eye, intoxicated :
see Screwed.
Dull -swift. A sluggish messenger.
Dumb-fogged. Confused.
Dumb -foozled. Confounded,
puzzled.
Dumbfound (Dumfound, Dumb-
founding, Dumbfounded or Dum-
foundered). To perplex, confound,
etc. (1690).
Dummacker. A knowing person.
Dummerer. See Dommerar.
Dummock. The posteriors.
Dummy. 1. A deaf mute ; also an
idiot ; sometimes a duffer, sense 2. 2.
Generic for shams : e.g. empty bottles
and drawers in an apothecary's shop,
wooden half-tubs of butter, bladders
of lard, hams, cheeses, and so forth ;
dummies in libraries generally take the
form of works not likely to tempt the
general reader. 3. The open hand at
an imperfect game of whist. 4. A
pocket book.
Dummy-daddle Dodge. Picking
pockets under cover of a sham hand
or Daddle (q.v.).
Dummy - hunter. A pickpocket
whose speciality is pocket-books.
Dump. A metal counter. As
verb, (1) to throw down : e.g. to dump
down coals. (2) (Winchester College).
To put out. Dump the tolly ! Ex-
tinguish the candle.
Dump-fencer. A button-merchant.
Dumpies. The nineteenth Hus-
sars. [From the diminutive size of the
men when the regiment was first
raised,]
Dumpling-depot. The stomach:
see Bread-basket.
Dumpling -shop. The paps: see
Dairy.
Dumps. Money : see Rhino. In
the dumps, cast down, ill at ease, un-
pleasantly situate (1392).
Dun. An importunate creditor ;
as verb, to persist in demanding pay-
ment. Fr., loup. Also Dunner and
Dunning (1663).
Dunaker. A cattle-lifter (1650).
Dunderhead. A fool : see Buffle.
Dundreary. Specifically, a stam-
mering, foolish, and long-whiskered
fop — the Lord Dundreary of Ovr
American Cousin (1858) — generally,
a foppish fool.
Dundrearies. A pair of whiskers
cut sideways from the chin, and
grown as long as possible. A
fashion (now obsolete) suggested by
Sothern's make-up in Our American
Cousin.
Dung. An operative working for
less than society wages. Formerly,
according to Grose, * a journey-
man taylor who submits to the law
for regulating journey-men taylors'
wages, therefore deemed by the
Flints (q.v.) a coward.'
Dung-fork (also Dung-cart). A
country bumpkin : see Joskin.
Dunnage. Baggage ; clothes.
[Properly wood or loose faggots laid
across the hold of a vessel, or stuffed
between packages, to keep cargo from
damage by water or shifting.]
Dunnaktn (or Dunnyfcen). A
privy ; in U.S.A., a chamber-pot : see
MJS. Jones (Grose).
Dunop (back-slang). A pound.
Dup. To open (1567).
Durham-man. Aknock-kneed man.
Duria. Fire.
Durrynacker. A female lace
hawker ; generally practised as an
introduction to fortune-telling. Also
Durrynacking.
Dust. Generic for money: see
Rhino (1655). To dust one's jacket, to
thrash ; to criticise severely. To get up
and dust (or to dust out of), to move
quickly, leave hurriedly : see Bunk.
To have dust in the eyes, to be sleepy,
draw straws (q.v.). Said mainly of
children : e.g. The dustman is coining.
To kick up (or raise) a dust, to make a
disturbance, or much ado (1759). To
throw dust in the eyes, to mislead, dupe.
To bite the dust, to knock under, be
mortified, or shamed.
it/ Bias's
Breeks.
Dust-bia. A grave.
Dusted. Drubbed, severely criti-
cised.
Duster. A sweetheart : see Joiner
Dust-hole, i. The Prince 01 Wales'
Theatre in Tott?ulum Co.:rt. Road.
[From tlio fact tuat, iifty years ago,
under the ni.iuagtiBient of ilr. Glossop,
the sweepings "of the house were
deposited and baZered to accumulate
tinder the pit.] 2. Sidney Sussex
College, Cambridge. Obsolete.
Dustman. 1. A personification of
sleep : the duslmarfs coming, you
are getting sleepy. 2. A head man.
Dusty. Not so ditsty, a mark of
approval, not so bad. so-so
Dusty-bob. A scavenger.
Dusiypoll (or Dusty - nob). A
miller.
Dutch. An epithet of inferiority.
An. echo, no doubt, of the long-stand-
ing hatred engendered by the bitter
fight for the supremacy of the seas
between England and Holland in the
seventeenth century. As subs., a
wife. [Probably an abbreviation of
Dutch clock.] English synonyms:
mollisher,rib, grey-mare, warming-pan,
splice, lawful blanket, autem-mort,
comfortable impudence, comfortable
importance, old woman, evil, missus,
lawful jam, yoke-fellow, night-cap,
legitimate, or legiti, weight-carrier,
mutton-bone, ordinary, pillow-mate,
supper-table, Dutch clock, chattel,
sleeping- partner, doxy, cooler, mount,
bed-faggot. To do a dutch, to desert,
run away : see Bunk. Thai beats the
Dutch, a sarcastic superlative (1775).
To talk Dutch (Double- Dutch, or High-
Dutch), to talk gibberish; or, by
implication, nonsense (1604). The
Duich have taJten Holland, a quiz for
stale news : cf. Queen Bess (or Queen
Anne) is dead ; The Ark rested upon
Mount Ararat, etc.
Dutch-auction (or sale). A sale
at minimum prices, a mock- auction.
Dutch-bargain. A bargain all on
ouo side. * In matters of commerce
the fault of the Dutch, Is giving too
little and asking too much ! '
Dutch -clock. 1. A wife: cf. Dutch.
2. A bed-pan.
Dutch - concert (or medley). A
sing-song whereat everybody sings
and plays at the same time ; a hubbub.
Dutch-consolation. Job's comfort,
unconsoling consolation.
Dutch-courage. Pot-valiancy.
Dutch -defence. Sham defence.
Dutch - feast. An entertainment
where the host gets drunk before his
guests.
Dutch -gleek. Drinks.
Dutchman. Pm a Dutchman if
I do, a, strong refusal. [During tho
wars between England and Holland,
Dutch was synonymous with all that
was false and hateful; therefore, I
would rather be a Dutchman, =the
strongest term, of refusal that words
could express.]
Dutchman's - breeches. Two
streaks of blue in a cloudy sky.
Dutchman's - drink. A draught
that empties the pot.
Dutch - treat. An entertainment
where every one pays his shot.
Dutch - uncle. I mil talk to you
like a Dutch uncle, I will reprove you
smartly. [The Dutch were renowned
for the brutality of their discipline.]
Dutch-widow. A prostitute
(1608).
Dutch-wife. A bolster.
Eagle-takers (The). The Eighty-
Seventh Foot. [The title was gained
at Barossa (1811), when it captured
the eagle of the 8th French light
Infantry. Its colours also bear the
plume of the Prince of Wales and the
harp and crown, an eagle with a
wreath of laurel.] It was also nick-
named The old Fogs; also The
Faugh-a-Ballagh Boys, from Fag an
bealacf Clear the Way, the regi-
mental march, and the war-cry at
Barossa.
Ear. To send away with a flea in the
ear, to dismiss peremptorily and with
a scolding : Fr., mettre la puce A Voreille
(1764). To bite the ear : see Bite. To
get up on one's ear, to bestir oneself, to
rouse oneself for an effort.
Earl of Cork. The ace of diamonds.
Earl of Mar's Grey Breeks (The).
The Twenty-First Foot, [In allusion
148
to the colour of the men's breeches
and to the original title of the ro^i-
meut, The Earl of Mar's Fuziieers.]
Obsolete.
Early. To get up early, to be
astute, ready, wide - axrake : cf. It's
the early bird that catches the -worm
(1738).
Early - riser. An aperient : cf.
Custom-house officer, and Two gunners
and a driver.
Early-v/orm. A man who searches
the streets at daybreak for cigar
stumps
Earth - bath. A gra^e. To take
nn earth - bath, to be buried ; cf .
ground sweat.
Earthquake. Battled earthquake,
intoxicating drinks.
Earth-stoppers. Horse's feet.
Earthy. Gross, common, devoid
of soul.
Ear-wig. A private prompter or
flatterer ; also (thieves') a clergyman.
[From the popular delusion that the
ear- wig lodges itself in the ear with a
view to working its way into the brain,
when it causes death.] (1639). As
verb, to prompt, influence by covert
statements, whisper insinuations.
Ease. To rob; Fr.s sovlager: cf.
Annex and Convey. To ease a
bloke, to rob a man (1630).
Eason. To tell.
East-and- South (rhyming slang).
The mouth ; also Sunny south : see
Potato trap.
Eastery. Private business.
Easy. To make easy, to gag or kill
(Grose). Eayy as damn it (or as my
eye)f excessively easy, Easy as lying
[Shakespeare]. Easy does it ! An
exclamation of encouragement and
counsel, Take your time and keep
your coat on. Easy over the pimples
(or over the stones), an injunction to go
slow, or, mind what you're about.
Easy Virtue. See Lady of Easy
Virtue.
Eat. To provision: e.g. a steamer is
said to be able to eat 400 passengers
and sleep about half that number.
Eat coke : see Coke. Eat crow : see
Crow. Eat a fig (rhyming slang),
to crack a crib, to break a house.
To eat one's head off, to be retained for
service and stand idle ; also to cost
more in keep than one is worth. Eat
one's head (hat, boots, etc.), a locu-
tion of emphatic asseveration. [Prob-
ably D'ckeiisonian, influenced by the
proveibial saying, To ea+. on^'s iisart
out — to undergo intense struggle,
and also To eat one's head off (q.v.).
To eat one's terms, to go through
the prescribed course of study for
admission to the bar. [In allusion
to the dinners a student has to attend
in the public hall of his inn.] To eat
one's words, to retract a statement,
own a he. To eat up, to vanquish,
ruin. [Originally Zulu.]
Eaves. A hen-roost.
Eavesdropper. A chicken thief ;
also generally, any petty pilferer.
Ebenezer (Winchester College).
A stroke at fives : when the ball hits
'line' at such an angle as to rise
perpendicularly into the air.
Ebony. 1. A negro ; otherwise
Blackbird (q.v.) and Black Ivory.
Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) spoke of
the negro race as God's images cut in
ebony. 2. The publisher of Maga :
i.e. Blackwood.
Ebony-optics. Black eyes. Ebony-
optics albonized, black eyes painted
white.
Edgabac (back slang). Cabbage.
Edge. Stitched off the edge, said of
a glass not filled to the top. Side-
edge, whiskers. Short top edge, a
turn-up nose or Celestial (q.v.). Edge
in, to slip in, insinuate, e.g. to edge
in a word (or a remark). Edge off
(or out of), to slink away, gradually
desist. To take the edge o$ [a thing,
or person, or idea], to become ac-
quainted with, enjoy to satiety : see
Hamlet, m. ii. * It would cost you a
groaning to take off my edge.'
Edgenaro (back slang). An
orange.
Edge-ways. Notabletogetawordin
edge-ways, having but the barest
opportunity of taking part in a dis-
cussion.
Eel - skins. Tight trousers : see
Kicks.
E-fink (back slang). A knife.
Efter. A theatre thief.
Egg. See Bad egg. Egg on, to
encourage. Sure as eggs is eggs, of a
certainty, without doubt. [From
the formula, ' x is z.'] To teach one's
grandmother to roast (or suck) eggs, to
lecture elders and superiors; FT., Us
oisons veulent mener les oies pattre
(the goslings want to drive the geese
to pasture).
Egham.
Errand.
Eg.ir.k-n, Staines, and Windsor
A thrce-corueruil coiichiiiua"** bat.
Egyptian-hall (rbymiiis Rlr.ni;). A
ball.
Eighter. An eight-ounce loaf.
S k a m e { back slang). A Make
(q.v.), siviadk.'.
Ekom (bael: slaug). A Moke (q.v.)
or donktv.
Elbor,7. To tuin a corner, get out
of sight. To stn:fa the, dbotv, to play
dice. [ITrojv the mocion of the arm
in casting.] (UiSO). To cronl- tht
elbow, to drLik : see Lush.
Elbow-crooker. A hard drinker.
Eocjlisii syaouyros : boracliio, booziag-
ton", brewer' y horse* bubber, budger,
caop, lushin^'tcn, -worker of the cannon,
wet - quaker. souker, lapper, pegger,
aa^el alto^c-iLer, bloat, ensign-bearer,,
tiddle - cup, sponge, tun, toss - pol»
swill- pot, vret" subject, shifter, pot-
ster, sT.vr!IoTrer, pot- walloper, wetster,
rirainbter, drink-Cter, beer-barrel, gin-
nuios, lowerer, moist 'un, drainist,
boozer, mopper-up, piss-maker, thirst-
ington.
Elbower. A runaway.
Elbow-grease. Energetic and con-
tinuous manual labour : e.g. Elbow-
grease is the best iumiture oil : Fr.,
huile de. Iras or de poignet ; du foulage
(1779).
Elbow - scraper (or Jigger). A
fiddler.
Elbow-shaker. A gambler (1748).
El bow -shaking. Gambling.
Electrified. 1. Moderately drunk :
see Screwed. 2. Violently startled.
Elegant. Excellent.
Elegant Extracts. 1. The Eighty-
Fifth Foot. [This regiment was re-
modelled in 1812, after a long
sequence of court - martiaJs : when
the officers were removed, and others
set in their room.] 2. (Cambridge
University). Students who, though
* plucked/ were still given their
degrees. A line was drawn below the
poll-list, and those allowed to pass
were nicknamed the elegant extracts.
There was a similar limbo in the
honour - list, called the Gulf : for
' Between them (in ihe poll) and us
(in ffie honour lists) there is a great
gulf fixed.']
Elephant. A wealthy victim.
To see the elephant, 1. To see the world,
go out for wool and come home
shorn; by implication, to go on the
150
loose: sometimes. To see the King.
2. To be t-educed ; FT., avoir vu l& loup.
Elephant-dance. See Cellar-flap
aad Double-shuffle.
klephant's-trunk (rhyming slang).
Drunk : see Screwed.
Elevated. Drunk: see Screwed.
(I0G4).
Elf en. To walk lightly, go on tiptoe.
Ellcnborough - Lodge (Spike, or
Park). The King's Bench Prison.
[From L<L Chief - Justice Ellen-
borough. Ellenbomigh's teeth, the
chevaux de frise round the prison
wall.
£lrig (back slang). A girl.
Elycampane (or Elecampane).
See Allacompain.
Emag (back slang). Game: e.g.
I know your little emag.
Embroider. To exaggerate, add to
the truth.
Embroidery. Exaggeration: the
American sass and trimmins (q.v.).
Emma. See Whoa Emma.
Emperor. A drunken man.
[An intensification of, Drunk as a
lord ; whence, Drunk as an em-
peror.] FT., saoul com/me trente mitte
hommes, or un dne.
Empty the Bag. See Bag.
Encumbrances. Children : see
Certainties and Uncertainties.
End. To le aU on end, to be very
angry, irritated. Also expectant. At
loose ends, neglected, precarious.
End on, straight, full-tilt. To keep
one's end up, to rub along.
Enemy. Time : e.g. How goes the
enemy, what's o'clock ? To Ml the
enemy, to Mil time.
English Burgundy. Porter: see
Drinks.
Enif. Fine.
Eiiin - gen. Nine shillings. Enin
yanneps, ninepenoe.
Eno (back slang). One.
Ensign - bearer. A drunkard ;
especially with red nose and blotchy
face: see Lushington.
Ephesian, A boon companion,
spreester : cf . Corinthian.
Epip (back slang). A pipe.
Epsom-races (rhyming Sang). A
pair of braces.
Equipped. Rich, well-dressed, in
good circumstances.
Erif (back slang). Fire.
Eriff. A young, thief.
Errand. To send a baby on TO
Error.
errand, to uudertake what is pretty
sure to turn out badly.
Error. See No error.
Erth (back slang). Three. Erth
gens three shillings. JErtfi-'pu, Three-
up, % street game, played -with three
halfpence. Mrih sitb-noms, Three
montha' imprisonment ; a drag. Erth
yanneps Threepence.
E s c 1 o p (back slang). A pohce-
constable- esolop is pronounced^ slop '
the t is never sounded : see Beak.
Es-roch (back slang). A horse:
see Prad.
Essex-lion. A calf : e.g. as valiant
as an Essex -lion : cf. Cotswold Lion,
Cambridgeshire Nightingale, etc.
Essex-stile. A ditch.
Esuch( back slang). Ahorse: see Ken.
Eternity-bos. A coffin. English
synonyms: cold meat box, -wooden
surtout, collee-shop, deal suit.
Evaporate. To run away, to dis-
appear : see Bunk.
Evatch (back slang). To have:
e.g. Evatch a kool at the elrig, Have
a look at the girl.
Everlasting-shoes (also Everlast-
ings). The naked feet : see Creepers.
Everlasting-staircase. The tread-
mill.
Everton - toffee (rhyming slang).
Coffee.
Everything is lovely and the
goose hangs high. Everything is
going swimmingly. [An aflusion to
the sport of gander pulling. A gan-
der was plucked, thoroughly greased,
especially about the head and neck,
and tied tight by the feet to the
branch of & tree. The game was
then to rido furiously at the mark,
catch it by the head or neck, and
attempt to bear it away. With every
failure the fun would get more up-
roarious.]
Evif (back slang). Five. Evif-
gen, a crown, or five shillings. Ewf-
yanneps, fivepence.
Evil. A wife : see Dutch.
Evtenet-gen (back slang).
Twelve shillings. E'denet sithnoms,
twelve months : generally known as
a stretch.
Ewe. See White-ewe and-Old ewe.
Ewe-mutton. An elderly strumpet,
or piece.
Exalted. Hanged : see Ladder.
Exam. An abbreviation of Ex-
amination,
Exasperate. To over-aspirate the
letter B.
E x c e 1 1 e r s. The Fortieth Foot.
[A pun upon its number, xl-fers.]
Excruciators. Tight boots ; especi-
ally with pointed toes.
Execution-day. Washing day.
Exes. 1. An abbreviation of ex-
penses. 2. An abbreviation of ex-
officials, ex-ministers, and so forth.
As in Tom Moore's ' We x's have
proved ourselves not to be wise.*
Exis-evif-gen (back slang). Six
times five shillings, Le. 30s. All
monies may be reckoned in this
maaner, either with yanneps or gens.
Exis-evif-yanneps, literally, sixpence
and fivepence, elevenpence. Exis gen,
six shillings. Exis sith-noms, six-
months. Exis yanneps, sixpence.
Expecting. With child.
Experience Does it. A dog-
English rendering of Experienta docet.
Explaterate. To hold forth, ex-
plain in detail. [From O.E. Expiate
=sfco unfold.]
Explosion. A delivery in childbed.
Exquisite. A fop : see Dandy.
Extensive, Formerly applied to a
person's appearance or talk; rather
extensive that ! intimating that the
person alluded to is showing off, or
cutting it fat.
Extinguisher. A dog's muzzle.
Ex Trumps (Winchester College).
Extempore. To go up to books ex
trumps, to go to class without pre-
paring one's lessons.
Eye. See All my eye. To putt wool
over the eyes : see WooL To keep the.
eyes clean (skinned, or peeled), to b©
watchful, alert, with all one's wits
about one. To have a drop in the
eye, to be drunk : see Screwed. In
the tvtinUing of an eye : see Bedpost.
To bet one's eyes: see Bet. My
eyes ! An expression of surprise.
Eyelashes. To hang on by the eye-
lashes (or eyebrows), to be very tena-
cious ; also by implication, to be in a
difficulty : cf. Hang on by the splash
board.
Eye-limpet. An artificial eye.
Eye-opener. 1. Drink generally j
specifically, a mixed drink. 2. Any-
thing surprising or out of the
way.
Eyeteeth. To have cut one's eye-
teeth* to have learned wisdom.
Eye-water. Gin : see Drinks,
151
Face.
Faggot-briefs.
Face. 1. Confidence, boldness,
also (more frequently) impudence :
e.g. I like your face, I like your
cheek. Once literary ; cf. Cheek,
Jaw, Gab, Brow, Mouth, Lip, etc.
(1610). 2. Credit. To push one's
face, to get credit by bluster (1765).
3. A qualification of contempt : e.g.
Now face ! where are you a-shoving
of ? ' As verb, to bully (1503) • also
to face (or outface) with a card of fen,
to browbeat, bluff. [Nares : derived
from some game (possibly pnmero)
wherein the standing boldly upon a
fen, was often successful.] (1460). To
face the knocker, to go begging : see
Cadge. To have no face but one's own,
to be penniless, or (gamesters') to
hold no court cards : Fr., n'avoir pas
une face, to have not a sou. To
make faces, to go back, or ' round *
upon a friend. To face the music, to
meet an emergency, show one's hand.
Face - entry. Freedom of access,
the personal appearance being familiar
to attendants.
Facer. LA blow in the face
(Grose). 2. A sudden check, spoke
in one's wheel. 3. A dram. 4. A
bumper (Grose). 5. A tumbler of
whisky punch. 6. An accomplice,
stall (q.v.), fence (q.v.).
Facey. A fellow vis-d-vis, work-
man. Facey on the bias, one in front
either to right or left ; Facey on the
two thick, one working immediately
behind one's opposite.
Facings. To be put (or go),
through one's facings, to be called
to account or scolded, to exemplify
capacity ; to show off. Stile-facings,
stains upon work caused by beer
droppings.
Fad-cattle. Easy women.
Faddist (or Fadmonger). A
person (male or female) devoted to the
pursuit of public fads : as social
purity, moral art, free - trade in
syphilis, and so-forth.
Faddle. To toy, trifle : as a subs.,
a busybody, a * nancified,' affected,
male. Also Faddy, full of fads.
Fadge. A farthing. English syno-
nyms : fiddler, farden, gig, (or grig),
quartereen. As verb, to suit, fit,
agree with, come off. [Nares : prob-
ably never better than a low word :
it is now confined to the streets]
(150U).
F a d g e r. A glazier's frame, a
1 frail.'
Fadmonger. A Fa.ddisi (q.v.).
Fadmcmgenng, dealing as a Faddist
v--ith fads.
Fag. 1. A boy doing rcenial work
for a schoolfellow in a ligher form.
As verb, to act as a fag. 2. Christ's
Hospital). Eatables. 3. A lawyer's
clerk. -1. A cigarette.
Fag. See subs. To beat.
Fagger (Figger, or Figure). A
boy thief employed to enter houses by
windows and either open the doors to
his confederates as Oliver Twist with
Bill Sykes), or hand out the swag to
them; also Little snakesman (q.v.):
cf . Diver.
Fagging (or F a g g e r y).
Waiting upon and doing menial work
for a schoolfellow in a higher form.
Also used adjectivelj.
Faggot. 1. A woman, baggage : in
contempt. [Once a popular symbol
of recantation : heretics who had thus
escaped the stake -were required either
to bear a faggot and burn it in public,
or to wear an imitation on the sleeve
as a badge.] Also Bed- (or Straw-)
faggot, a wife, or mistress ; Tumble-
faggot, a whore-master ; Garry - faggot,
a mattress. 2. A sort of cake, roll,
or ball, a number being baked at a
time, made of chopped liver and lights,
mixed with gravy, and wrapped in
pieces of pig's caul. It weighs six
ounces, so that it is unquestion-
ably a cheap [it costs Id. hot] and, to
the scavenger, a savoury meal, but
to other nostrils its odour is not
seductive (Mayhew). 3. A dummy
soldier ; one hired to appear at a
muster to hide deficiencies. Many
names of dummies would appear on
the muster-roll : for these the colonel
drew pay, but they were never in the
ranks : obsolete, see Widow's - man
(1672). As verb, to bind hand
and foot, to tie [as sticks into a
faggot] : Fr., un fagot, a convict, be-
cause bound to a common chain on
their way to the hulks.
Faggot-briefs. Bundles of
dummy papers sometimes carried by
briefless barristers.
152
Faggot-vote.
Fan
Faggot - vote. A vote cocured by
the purchase of property under mort-
gage, or otherwise, so as to constitute
a nominal qualification without a sub-
stantial basis.
Fains! (Fainitsl Fain it!) A
call for truce during the progress oi
a game without which priority or place
would be lost ; generally understood to
be preferred m bounds, or when out
of danger : see Bags '
Fair-gang. Gypsies.
Fair-rations. Fair dealings.
Fair-shake. A good bargain : see
Shake.
Fair-trade. Smuggling.
Faithful. One of the faithful ( 1 ) A
drunkard: see Lushington (1609).
(2) A tailor giving long credit (Grose).
Faithful Durhams. The Sixty-
Eighth Footh.
Fake. An action, proceeding,
manoeuvre, mechanical contrivance —
an affair of any kind irrespective of
morals or legality : generally used in
a sense specifically detrimental. In
America, a swindler. As verb, (1)
to do anything ; to fabricate, cheat,
deceive, devise falsely, steal, forge : a
general verb-of-all-work. In America,
fix (q.v.) is employed much in the
same way : Fr., faire. Also, To fake
a screeve, to write a begging letter ; to
fake one's slangs, to file through one's
fetters ; to false a cly (q.v.), to pick a
pocket ; to fake the sweetener, to kiss ;
to fake the duck, to adulterate, dodge ;
to fake the rubber, to stand treat ; to
fake the broads, to pack the cards, or to
work the three-cark trick; to fake a
line (theatrical), to improvise a speech ;
to fake a dance (a step, or a trip) thea-
trical), to perform what looks like, but
is not, dancing. (2) To hocus, nobble,
tamper. (3) To paint one's face, make
up a character. Also to fake up. (4)
To cut out the wards of a key. Fake
away! an ejaculation of encouragement.
Fake-boodle. See Boodle.
Faked. Counterfeit : sometimes
Faked-up: Fr., lophe.
Fakement. 1. A counterfeit signa-
ture, forgery: specifically a begging
letter or petition : Fr., brasser des
faffes, to forge documents, i.e. To
screeve fakements. 2. Generic for
dishonest practices; but applied to
any kind of action, contrivance, or
trade : see Fake. 3. Small properties,
accessories.
Fakemer.t - Chr-ley. An owner'
ynTrtce niai'C.
Faker. i. One who makes, does,
or fakes anything ; specifically a
thief. Found ia many combinations :
e.g. Bit -faker, Flue -faker, Grub-
faker. Sham-faker, Twat-faker, etc.
2. A circus rider or performer.
Fakes and Slumboes. Properties,
accessories of any kiad.
Faking. The act of doing any-
thing : Fr., maquillage. (or goupinage).
Fall. 1. To be arrested. 2. To
conceive : see Lumpy.
Fall of the Leaf (The). Hanging :
see Ladder.
False - hereafter. A bustle : see
Bird-cage.
F a m. See Fambling-cheat and
Famble.
F amble (Fam, or Fern). The
hand : see Famblmg-cheat : see Bunch
of fives and Daddle. As verb, to
touch, to handle, especially with a
view to ascertaining the whereabouts
of valuables. Also To fam for the
plant : see To run a rule over.
Famblers (Fambling - cheats, or
Fam-snatchers). Gloves.
Fambling- cheat (Famble, or
Fam). A ring ; also (about 1694)
gloves, which later still were also
called Fam-snatchers (q.v.) (1560).
Fam-grasp. To shake hands : also
subs., hand-shaking.
Familiars. Lice : see Chates.
Familiar-way. With child.
Family-disturbance. Whisky : see
Drinks.
Family - hotel. A prison : see
kamily-man. A thief ; specifically,
a fence (q.v.). [In allusion to the
fraternities into which thieves were at
one time invariably banded] (1749).
Family-plate. Silver money: see
Rhino.
Family-pound. A family grave.
Fam-lay. Shoplifting.
Fam-snatchers. Gloves: of.
Fambling-cheat.
Fam-squeeze. Strangulation.
Fam-strucfc. Baffled in ascertain-
ing the whereabouts of valuables on
the person of an intended victim ; also
handcuffed.
Fan. A waistcoat ; said by Hotten
(1864) to be a Houndsditoh term, but
quoted in Matsell (1859) as American.
English synonyms: ben, benjie, M.B.
153
Fancy.
Father.
waistcoat;, Cnarloy 1'rubcot. As verb,
(1) to beat, to be-rate. (2) To feel,
handle (with a view to ascertain if a
victim has anything valuable about
his person). Abo to steal from the
person. Qvczn Anrn?s fan: see 'poet.
Fancy. Tae fraternity of pugilists :
prize-Stilting being: oace regarded as
The fancy, par excett&'Me. Hence, by
implication, people who cultivate a,
.-*peo'al hobby or\u*lf.
Fancy-bloke. 1. A sporting man.
2. S«e Fancy-man.
Fancy-house. A brothel.
Fancy-Joseph. An Apple-squire
(q.v.), Cupid.
Fancy-lay. Pugilism.
Fancy-man (or bloke). A
prostitute's, lover, liusb^nd, or pen-
sioner. English synonyms: apple-
squire, faker, bully, ponce, pensioner,
Sunday-man, fancy-Joseph, squire of
the body, apron - squire, petticoat
pensioner, prosser, twat-faker, twat-
mastcr, stallion, mack, bouncer,
briber, buck.
Fancy-piece. A prostitute.
Fancy-work, To talte in fancy
work, to play the harlot.
Fang-f nker. A dentist.
Fanning. 1. Stealing; Cross-
grease ' us equivalent to a email
quantity.
Fast. 1. Embarrassed, hard-up,
in a tight place. 2. Dissipated, ad-
dicted to going the pace : e.g. a fast
man, a rake-hell, or spendthrift ; a
fast woman, a strumpet ; a fast life, a
life of debauchery ; a fast house, a
brothel, or a sporting tavern ; to dress
fast, to dress for the town ; to live
fast, to go the pace, and so forth
(1751) 3. Impudent, cheeky: e.g.
Don't you be ao fast, Mind your own
business. To play fast and loose, to be
variable, inconstant., say one thing
and do another.
Fastener (or Fastner). A warrant.
Fat. 1. Money : FT., graisse : see
Rhino. 2. Composition full of blank
spaces or in short lines. Verse is
frequently fat, while this dictionary,
with its constant change of type, is
lean (q.v.). Hence, work that pays
well : FT., affaire juteuse. 3. A good
part ; telling lines and conspicuous or
commanding situations : FT., des
cfodettes. As adj., (1) rich, abundant,
profitable. (2) Good. Cut it fat: see
Cut. Cut up fat: see Cut up. All
the fafs in the fire, said of failures and
of the results of sudden and un-
fanning, robbery from the person, the expected revelation, disappointments :
"£ iT" — !-•*•-•._ u~:— ~ t^u — i \,Q. j^ jg gjj over or up with, a
person or thing. A late equivalent is,
And then the band played. Fat as
a hen' 8 forehead, meagre, skinny (q.v.).
Fat- (Barge-, Broad- or Heavy-)
arsed. Broad in the breech ; and,
arms of the manipulator being folded.
2. A beating.
Fanny Adams. Tinned mutton.
Fanny Blair. The hair.
F a n t a i 1. A sort of round hat
vrith a long leathern fan-shaped flap
at the back ; worn by coal-heavers by implication (in Richard Baxter's
and dustmen ; a Sou'-wester (q.v.).
Fanteague. On the Fanteague, on
the burst, or loose.
Far - back. An indifferent work-
man, ignoramus.
Farclen. A farthing : see Rhino*
Fadge.
Farm. 1 . An establishment where
pauper or illegitimate children were
lodged and fed at so much a head.
Also verbally, to contract to feed and
lodse pauper or illegitimate children.
2. The prison infirmary. To fetch the
farm, to be ordered infirmary diet
and treatment : see Fetch.
Farmer. 1. An alderman. 2.
One who contracts to lodge and feed
pauper or illegitimate children.
Farthing. To care not a brass
farthing, to care nothing. Chaucer
uses the expression ' no farthing of
Shove to Heavy Arsed Christians'),
thick-witted and slow to move.
Fat- (or Thick-) chops. A con-
tumelious epithet.
Fater (Faytor, or Fator). A
fortune-teller. In Spencer, a doer ; in
Bailey, an idle fellow, vagabond : Fr.,
faiteur.
Fat-flab (Winchester School).
A cut off the fat part of a breast of -
mutton : see Cat's-head.
Fat- (or Full-) guts. An oppro-
brious epithet for a fat man or
woman.
Fat-head. A dolt. Fat -headed
(-skulled, -thoughted, -pated, -grained,
or -witted), dull, stupid, slow.
Father. LA receiver of stolen
property, fence (q.v.). 2. A chief in
authority, elder: e.g. The father of
the house, the oldest member of the
154
FatJier Derbie's Bands.
House of Commoiiis (cf. l;i*Lo) ;
among printers, the chairman of the
Chapel (q.v.), the intermediary be-
tween master and men ; in naval
circles, the builder of a man-of-wai
or Government * bottom.'
Father Derbie's Bands. See
Darbies.
Father's Brother. A pawnbroker,
My uncle (q.v.).
Fat Jack of the Bone-house. A con-
tumelious epithet for a very stout man.
Fatness. Wealth : Fat, rich.
Fatten - up. To write Fat (subs.,
sense 3) into a part.
Fat - 'un. An emission of peculiar
ranfcness, * roarer * (Swift).
Fatty (Fatymus, or Fattyma).
A jocular epithet for a fat man j a
comic endearment for a fat woman.
Faugh - a - Ballagh Boys. The
Eighty-Seventh Foot; also known
as the Eagle-takers (q.v.), and the
Old Fogs (q.v.). [From Fag an bealac,
Clear the Way, the regimental
march.}
Faulkner. A tumbler, juggler.
Fawney (or Fauney). 1. A ring :
FT., brobuante, broqutile, chason. 2.
A swindle (also Fawney-dropping, or
rig), worked as follows : — A ring
(snide) is let drop in front of a passer-
by, who picks it up, and is confronted
by the dropper, who claims to share.
In consideration of immediate settle-
ment he offers to accept something less
than the apparent value in cask.
Also done with pocket-books, meer-
schaum pipes, etc. Fa-wney-droppcr,
one that practices the ring-dropping
trick; Fawney-bouncing, selling rings
for a pretended wager ; Fawnied,
ringed (1789).
Feager. * One that beggeth with
counterfeit writings ' (Rowlands,
1610).
Feague. To send packing, whiff
away.
Feafc. The fundament.
Feather. 1. Kind, species, com-
pany : cf. Birds of a feather : see
Kidney (1608). 2. In pi., money,
wealth : see Rhino. In full feather ( 1 ),
rich. (2) In full costume; with all
one's war paint on. In high (or full)
feather, elated, brilliant, conspicuous.
To feather one's nest, to amass money ;
specifically to enrich oneself by in-
direct pickings and emoluments (1590).
To feather an oar, in rowing, to turn
155
thj blade horizontally, with the upper
edge pointing affc, as it leaves the
water, for the purpose of lessening the
resistance of the air upon it. To
show the white feather, to turn cur,
prove oneself a coward. [Among
game cocks a cross-bred bird is known
by a white feather in the tail. Of old
the breed was strictly preserved in
England, for though birds of all
descriptions were reared in the farm-
yard, special care was taken that game
fowls did not mis with them ; but this
would occasionally happen, and while
the game birds were only red and
black, white feathers would naturally
appear when there was any cross.
The slightest impurity of strain was
said to destroy the bird's courage, and
the half -breeds were never trained for
the pit. It became an adage that any
cock would fight on his own dunghill,
but it must be one without a white
feather to fight in the pit.]
pillow
Feather-bed and pillows. A fat
woman.
Feather-bed Lane. A rough or
stony lane.
Feather-bed Soldier (old col-
loquial). A practised and determined
loose liver.
Feck. To discover a safe way of
stealing or swindling.
Feed. A meal, Spread (q.v.),
Blow-out (q.v.) : FT., lampie. As
verb (1), to support, backup. (2) To
prompt. (3) To teach or cram (q.v. ) for
an examination. At feed, at meat.
To be off one's feed, to have a distaste
for food. To feed the fishes, to be sea-
sick ; also to be drowned. To feed
the press, to send up copy slip by slip.
Feeder. 1. A spoon ; among thieves
a silver spoon. To nab a feeder, to
steal a spoon (Grose). 2. A tutor,
crammer (q.v.). coach (q.v.) (1766).
Feeding - bottle. The paps : see
Dairy.
Feel. See Bones.
Feele. A girl or daughter: see
Titter: Fr., fiue; It., figlia. Feeles,
mother and daughter.
Feeler. 1. A device or remark
designed to bring out the opinions
of others. 2. The hand : see Bunch
of Fives.
Feet. Making feet for children's
stockings, begetting or breeding chil-
dren. Officer of feet, an officer of
infantry (Grose). How's your poor
Feet-casements.
Fetch.
feet ?
the
street catch phrase
early part of the sixties.
Irving's revival of ' The Dead Heart '
revived this bit of slang. . . . When the
play was brought 7>ut originally,
where one of the characters says, ' My
heart is dead, dead, dead 1 ' a voice
from the gallery nearly broke up the
drama with ' How are your poor feet ?
The phrase Eved,]
Feet-casements. Boots or shoes :
see Trotter-cases.
Feeze (Feaze, Feize, or Pheeze).
To beat.
Feint. A pawnbroker: see My uncle.
Feker. Trade, profession.
Fell. Fell a lit on, to act craftily,
in an tmderhand manner.
Fell - and - didn't. Said of a man
walking lame.
Fellow. See Old fellow.
Fellow - commoner. An empty
bottle: see Dead man (1794).
Felt. A hat of felted wool : see
Golgotha (1609).
Fern. See Famble.
Fen. A prostitute (Grose). As verb
(also Fend, Fain, Fainits, etc.), a term
of warning, or of prohibition : as to
prevent any change in the existing
conditions of a game ; e.g. at marbles,
Fen-flacingf, no alteration in position
of marbles is permissible ; Fen-clear-
ances. removal of obstacles is for-
bidden.
Feu ~e. 1. A purchaser or receiver
of stolen goods. English synonyms:
fencing master (or cully), billy-fencer,
angling cove, stallsman, Ikey, family-
man, father (1714). 2. A place
where stolen goods are purchased or
received : FT., vnovlin. As verb, (1) to
purchase or receive stolen goods (1610).
(2) To spend money (1728). To be
(sit, or ride) on the fence, to be neutral,
ready to join the winning side, to
wait to see how the cat will jump :
also, to sit on both sides of the hedge.
Those who thus seek to run with the
hare and hunt with the hounds are
called Fence-men. The operation is
Fence-riding, which sometimes quali-
fies for rail-riding (q.v.).
Fencer. A hawker of small wares,
tramp : generally used in connection
with another word ; thus, Driz-fencer
(q.v.), a pedlar of lace.
Fencing-crib (or ken). A place
where stolen goods are purchased or
156
Fencing-cully. A receiver of stolen
goods.
Fen - nightingale. A frog : also
Cambridgeshire, and Cape Night-
ingale.
Ferguson. You can't lodge here,
Mr. Ferguson, a street cry, popular
about 1845-50 ; used in derision or
denial. [Mr. J. H. Dixon, writing to
Mr. John Camden Hotten, under date
Nov. 6, 1864, says the phrase originated
thus : — A young Scotsman, named
Ferguson, visited Epsom races, where
he got very drunk. His friends
applied to several hotel keepers to give
him a bed, but in vain. There was
no place for Mr. Ferguson. He was
accordingly driven to London by his
companions, who kept calling out,
Ferguson, you can't lodge here. This
was caught up by the crowd, repeated,
and in a week was all over London, and
in a month all over the kingdom. Mr
Dixon states he was introduced to
Mr. Ferguson, and that two of his
companions were intimate friends.]
Perm. A hole : with Spencer, a
prison (1632).
Ferret. 1. A barge-thief. 2. A
dunning tradesman. 3. A pawn-
broker : see My uncle. To ferret out,
to be at pains to penetrate a mystery
of any kind by working under-
ground.
Ferricadouzer. A knock - down
blow, a thrashing.
F e s s. To confess, own up : FT.,
norguer. As adj., proud.
Festive. Loud, fast ; a kind of
general utility word. Gay and festive
cuss (Artemus Ward), a rollicking
companion.
Fetch, 1. A stratagem ; indirectly
bringing something to pass (1576). 2.
A success. 3. A likeness : e.g. the
very fetch of him, Ms very image or
spit (q.v.) : also an apparition. As
verb, (1) to please, excite admiration,
arouse attention or interest (1607).
(2) To get, do. Some combinations are
To fetch the farm, to get infirmary
treatment and diet ; to fetch a stinger,
(colloquial), to get in a heavy blow ;
to fetch a lagging (thieves'), to serve
one's term ; to fetch a bowl, to cry ; to
fetch a crack, to strike ; to fetch a cir-
cumbendibus, to make a detour ; to
fetch the brewer, to get drunk To
fetch away, to part ; e.g. A fool and
his money are soon fetched away. To
Fettle.
Fieri Facias.
fetch up, 1. to stop ,- to run against. 2.
To startle. 3. To come to light. 4.
To recruit one's strength after illness.
Fetching, attractive (as of women),
pleasing (as of a dress or bonnet).
Fettle. In good (or in proper)
fettle, drunk.
Few. A few (or Just a few), origin-
ally a little. Hence, by implication,
on the lucus a, non lucendo prin-
ciple, considerably ; e.g. Were you
alarmed ? No, but I was astonished
a few ! i.e. I was greatly surprised :
cf. Bather, a good deal (1778).
Fib. 1. To beat, specifically (pugil-
ism) to get in a quick succession of
blows, as when you get your man
round the neck (i.e. in chancery) and
pommel his ribs and face (1665). 2.
To He (1694). Also, used substan-
tively, (1) a lie, (2) a liar (1738).
Fibber. A liar (1748).
Fibbery. Lying.
Fibbing. 1. "Prim mailing an op-
ponent's head while ' in chancery,*
drubbing : Fr., oordee de coups de
Wings. 2. Lying.
Fibbing-gloak. A pugilist.
Fibbing-match. A prize-fight.
Fibster. A liar.
Fiddle. 1. A sharper ; sometimes
Old fiddle : see Book. 2. A swindle :
see Sell. 3. A whip. 4. A fiddle on
which to play a tune called ' Four
pounds of oakum a day ' — a piece of
rope and a long crooked nail. 5.
(Stock Exchange). One sixteenth
part of a pound. 6. A watchman's
(or policeman's) rattle. 7. A six-
pence : see Rhino, and cf. Fiddler's
money. As verb, (1) to trifle, especi-
ally with the hands (1663). (2) To
cheat, specifically, to gamble. (3) To
earn a livelihood by doing small
jobs on the street. (4) To intrigue.
(5) To strike. Scotch frffle, the itch.
To hang up the fiddle, to abandon
an undertaking. To play first (or
second) fiddle, to take a leading or
a subordinate part. Among tailors
second fiddle, an unpleasant task.
Fit as a fiddle, in good form or con-
dition. See Fiddle-de-dee.
Fiddle-faced. Wizened, also sub-
stantively.
Fiddle-faddle. Twaddling, trifling,
' little nothings,' rot (q.v.) : Fr., oui,
lee landers ! (1693). As adj., trifling,
fussy, fluffing (1712). As verb, to
toy, trifle, talk nonsense, gossip,
make much cry and little wool.
(1761). Also Fiddle - faddler, one
inclined to Fiddle-faddles.
Fiddle - head. A plain prow as
distinguished from a figure - head :
Hence Fiddle-headed, plain, ugly.
Fiddler. 1. A trifler, a careless,
negligent, or dilatory person. 2. A
sharper, cheat; also Fiddle (q.v.). 3.
A prize-fighter; one who depends
more on activity than upon strength
or stay. 4. A sixpence. [From
the old custom of each couple at a
dance paying the fiddler a sixpence : cf .
Fiddler's- money,] 5. A farthing : see
Rhino.
Fiddlers' -fare. Meat, drink, and
money (Grose),
Fiddlers' -green. A sailor's elysium
(situate on the hither and cooler
side of hell) of wine, women, and
song.
Fiddlers' -money. Sixpences : see
Rhino. [From the custom at country
merry-makings of each couple paying
the fiddler sixpence.] Also generic-
ally, small silver.
Fiddlestick! Nonsense: sometimes
Fiddlestick's end and Fiddle-de-dee
(1610). As subs., A spring saw. 2. A
sword.
Fiddling. 1. A livelihood got on
the streets, holding horses, carrying
parcels, etc. 2. Buying a thing for
a mere trifle, and selling it for double,
or for more. 3. Idling, trifling. 4.
Gambling. As adj., trifling, trivial,
fussing with nothing (1667).
Fid - fad. A contracted form of
Fiddle-faddle (q.v.); also applied to
persons (1754).
Fidlam-bens (or coves). Thieves
who steal anything they can lay
hands on: also St. Peter's sons.
Field. To chop the field, to win
easily.
Fielder. A backer of the field
Le. the ruck (q.v.), as against the
favourite]. At cricket, a player in
the field as against those at the
wickets.
Field-lane Duck. A baked sheep's
head.
Fient (Scots colloquial). An ex-
pression of negation : e.g, Fient a hair
care I, Devil a hair I care.
Fieri Facias. To have been served
with a writ o/ fieri facias, said of a red-
nosed man. [A play upon words.]
(1594).
167
Lot*
Pitchman.
Fiery Lot. Fast (q.v.), rollicking,
applied to a hot member (q.v.).
Fiery Snorter. A reel nose.
Filer. 1. A waistcoat hand. 2.
A native of the Kingdom (q.v.}, i.e.
the county of Fife.
Fi-fi (or fie-fie). Indecent, blue, or
smutty.
Fifteener. A book printed in the
15th century.
Fifth Rib. To hit (dig, or poke)
one. under the -fifth rib, to deliver a
heavy blow, dumbfound.
Fig. 1. A gesture of contempt made
by thrusting forth the thumb between
the fore and middle fingers ; whence
the expression, I do not care, or would
not give, a fig for you: FT., je ne
voudraia pas en donner un ferret
(Faigufflettei see other similes of
worthlessness, Curse, Straw, Rush,
Chip, Cent, Dam, etc. (1599). [Italian :
When the Milanese revolted against
the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa
they set his Empress hind before upon
a mule, and thus expelled her. Fred-
erick afterwards besieged and took the
city, and compelled all his prisoners,
on pain of death, to extract with his
(or her) teeth a fig from the funda-
ment of a mule and, the thing being
done, to say in announcement, Ecco
la fica. Thus far la fica became a
universal mode of derision. FT.,
faire la figue ; Ger., die Feigen weisen ;
It., far U fiche ; Dutch, Devyghe setten.
2. Dress. In fuU fig, in full dress.
As verb, to ginger a horse. To fig
out, to show off, dress ; don one's war
paint (q.v.). To fig up, to restore,
reanimate (as a gingered horse).
Figaro. A barber. [From Le
Nozze di Figaro.]
Figdean. To kill : see Cook one's
Goose.
Figged. See Jigged.
Figger (or Figure). See Fagger.
Figging- (or Fagging-lay). Pocket-
picking.
Fight. A party ; e.g. Tea fight,
Wedding-fight, etc.: ci Scramble,
Worry, Row. To fight or $ay
cocumt see Cocum. To fight (or
buck) the tiger i see Buck. One, that
can fight his weight in wtid cats, a
brilliant desperado.
Fighting - cove. A professional
pugilist, specifically one who * boxes *
for a livelihood at fairs, race-meetings,
etc.
158
Fighting Fifth (The). The Fifth
Foot. [So distinguished in the Pen-
insula.] Other nicknames were the
Shiners (in 1764, from its clean and
smart appearance) ; The Old Bold
Fifth (also Peninsular) ; and Lord
Wellington's Body Guard (it was at
headquarters in 1811).
Fighting Ninth (The). The Ninth
Foot. Also Holy Boys (Peninsular),
from its selling its Bibles for drink.
Fighting -tight. Drunk and
quarrelsome: see Screwed.
Fig-leaf. An apron. In fencing,
the padded shield worn over the
lower abdomen and right thigh : Fr.,
petite bannette.
Figs (also Figgins). A grocer.
Figure. 1. Appearance, conduct;
e.g. to cut a good or bad figure, a mean
figure, sorry figure, etc. (1712). 2.
Paps and posteriors ; said only of
women. No figure, wanting in both
particulars. As verb, to single out, spot
(q.v.). Figure, like Fetch, comes in for
a good deal of hard work in America.
It is colloquially equivalent to ' count
upon ' ; as, You may figure on getting
a reply by return mail ; also, to strive
for. To figure on [a thing], to think it
over; to figure out, to estimate; to
figure up, to add up ; to cut a figure, see
Cut ; to go the whole figure, to be
thorough ; to go the big figure, to launch
out ; to -miss a figure, to make a mis-
take.]
Figure-dancer. A manipulator of
the face value of banknotes, cheques,
and paper security generally (Grose).
Figure-head. The face : see Dial.
Figure-maker. A wencher.
Figure (or Number) Six. A lock of
hair brought down from the forehead,
greased, twisted spirally, and plastered
on the face : see Aggerawator.
Filbert. Cracked in the filbert,
crazy ; a variant of Wrong in the nut
(q.v.) or Upper storey.
Filch. 1. To steal : specifically to
pilfer (1567). 2. To beat. As subs.,
a thief.
Filcher (or Filch). A thief.
F i 1 c h m an (or Filch). A thief s
hooked staff: 'He carries a short
staff in his hand, which is called a
filch, having in the nab or head of it a
ferme (that is to say a hole) into which,
upon any piece of service, when he
goes a filching, he putteth a hoofce of
iron, with which hooke he angles at
Fire-eater.
a window in the dead of night for
shirts, smookes, or any other linen or
woollen ' (Dekker).
File. 1. A pickpocket: also file
cloy (or bung nipper) : Fr., poisse & la
detoume (1754). As verb, to pick
pockets. 2. A man : i.e. a cove (q.v.).
Thus silent file (Fr. lime sourde), a
dumb man; dose -file, a miser, or a
person not given to blabbing ; hard-
filet a grasper (q v.) ; old file, an elder ;
and so forth.
Filing-lay. Pocket - picking
(1754).
Filling at the Price. Satisfying.
Fill. Fill one's pipe. To attain to
easy circumstances. Fill the biU, to
excel in conspicuousness : as a star
actor whose name is ' billed * to the
exclusion of the rest of the company.
Hence, by implication, out of the
common run of things ; e.g. That fills
the lift, that takes the cake, for a He,
an effect, an appearance — anything.
Fill the bin, to be beyond question,
come up to the mark ; e.g. Is the news
reliable ? Yes, it fills the bin.
Fillupey. Satisfying.
Filly. A girl ; specifically a
wanton: among thieves, a daughter
(1668).
FUtfa. A prostitute (1602).
Finable - famble. A lame excuse,
prevaricating answer.
Fin. The arm; also the hand:
IV., nageowe : To tip the fin, to shake
hands (Grose).
Find (Harrow). A mess of three
or four upper boys which teas and
breakfasts in the rooms of one or
other of the set. Find-fag, a fag who
provides for, or finds, upper boys.
Finder. 1. A thief; specifically a
meat-market thief. 2. (Oxford Uni-
" y). A waiter; especially at
Fine. Punishment, a term of im-
prisonment. To fine, to sentence.
To cut it fine, see Out fine. To get
one down fine and close, to find out all
about a man, deliver a stinging blow.
Att very fine and large, an interjection
of (1) approval, (2) derision, and (8)
incredulity. [The refrain of a music-
hall song excessively popular about
1886-88.] Fine as fivepence: see
Fivepence. Fine day for the young
ducks, a very wet day. Fine words
butter no parsnips, a sarcastic retort
upon huge promises.
Fine-drawing. Accomplishing an
end without discovery.
Fineer (and Fineering).
Running into debt ; getting goods
made in such a fashion as to be unfit
for every other purchaser, and if the
tradesman refuses to give them on
credit, then threatens to leave them
upon his hands (Goldsmith).
Fine-madam. An epithet of envy or
derision for one above her station.
Finger. A * nip,' usually ap-
plied to spirituous liquors. Thus,
Three fingers of clear juice, Three
* goes * of whisky. To put the finger
in the eye, to weep (Grose).
Finger - and - thumb. A road or
highway, i.e. drum.
Finger-better. A man who bets on
credit ; also one who points out cards.
Finger-post. A clergyman.
Finger - smith. L A pickpocket.
2. A midwife: Fr., Madame tire-
monde (or tire-pouce, tire-mdmes).
Finish. To MIL
Finisher. Something that gives
the last, tiie settling touch to any-
thing: see Corker, Clincher, etc,
(1788).
F i n j y ! (Winchester College)
An exclamation excusing one from
participation in an unpleasant or un-
acceptable task, which he who says
the word last has to undertake.
Finnuf . See Finnup.
Finn up (also Finaip, Finnuf
Finnif , Finnic, Finn, or Fin) . A five
pound note or Flimsy (q.v.) [A
Yiddish pronunciation of German
funf, five.] Also Finnup ready,
ready money : in America, Finnup, a
five dollar bill Double finnup, a ten
pound note.
Fippenny. A clasp knife : see Chive.
Fire. Danger. Like a house on
fire, easily and rapidly: cf. House,
Winking, One o'clock, Cake, Briofe,
etc. To fire a slug, to drink a dram
(Grose). To fire a gun, to introduce
a story by head and shoulders, lead
up to a subject (Qrose)* To set the
Thames on fire, to do some next-to-
impossible task, to be exceptionally
clever ; used negatively in sarcasm-
Fire and Light. A master-at-arms.
Fired. Arrested, turned out, and
(among artists) rejected.
Fire-eater. In Old Cant a quick-
worker; and in modem English, a
duellist or bully : also Fire-eating.
150
Fix,
Fire-escape. A clergyman.
Fire-prigger. A tiiiei whose venue
is a conflagration (Grose).
Fire-spaniel. A soldier who
nurses the barrack-room fire : syn-
onyms are: fire- dog, fire- worshipper,
chimney - ornament, fender - guard,
and. cuddle-chimney.
Firewater. Ardent spirits.
Fireworks. A state of disturb-
ance, mental excitement : e.g. Fire-
vxtrks on ilus, brain, a fluster.
Firk. To beat (1599).
Firkytoodle. To carets. English
synonyms • to canoodlo, to fiddle, to
mess (or pull) about, to slewther
(Irish), to spoon, to crooky, to fam.
Firmed. See Well-firmed.
First - chop. First rate. [From
Hind., chaap, a stamp, an official
mark on weights and measures ;
hence used to signify quality.] Also
Second-chop (q.v.).
First-flight. In the first flight
those first in at the finish; in fox-
hunting those in at the death.
First - nighter. An habitue"
of theatrical jBrst-performances.
First-night Wrecker. See Wrecker.
Fish. 1. A man ; generally in con-
tempt or disparagement, as Odd fish,
Loose fish, Queer fish, Scaly fish, Shy
fish. 2. Pieces cut out of garments to
make them fit close. As verb, to
attempt to obtain by artifice, seek in-
directly, curry favour. Pretty kettle
of fish, a perplexing state of affairs,
quandary. To have other fish to fry, to
scrubbing brush, and set to work.
To put up one's fiat, to acknowledge a
fact: of. Fill the bin and acknowledge
the corn.
Fit. Suitable, m good form. Fit
as a fiddle, m perfect condition. To
fit like a ball of wax, to fit close to the
skin. To fit like a sentry box, to fit
badly. To fit like a glove, to fit per-
fectly. To fit to a T, to fit to a nicety.
[In reference to the T square used in
drawing.] To fit up a ahow, to ar-
range an exhibition.
Fitch's Grenadiers. The Eighty-
Third Foot. [From the small stature
of the men and the name of the first
colonel.]
Fits. To beat into fits : see Beat
and Creation.
Fitter. A burglar's locksmith.
Fit-up. A small company: also
used adjeotively : see Conscience.
Five-fingers. The five of trumps
in the game of Don or Five Cards
(1611).
Fiver. Anything that counts as
five ; specifically a five-pound note :
cf. Finn.
Five over Five. Said of people
who turn in their toes.
Fivepence. As fine (or ag grand),
as fivepence (or as fippence), as fine as
possible : of. As neat as ninepence
(1672).
Fives. 1. The fingers. Bunch of
fives, the fist : see Forks (1629), Also
the feet, 2. A fight.
Fix. A dilemma j frequently in con-
junction with Awful (q.v.) and T
have other business on hand. To be
neither fish nor fiesh, to be neither one lar (q.v.), e.g. An
£>nT>g nor another ; said of waverers position. Variants are
and nondescripts; sometimes ex- ~
tended to Neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor
good red herring (1598).
Fish-broth. Water: see Adam's
ale (1599).
Fisher. A lick-spittle ; only used
contemptuously.
Fishhooks. The fingers : see Forks.
Fishrnarket. The lowest hole at
bagatelle, Simon (q.v.).
Fishy. Effete, dubious, or seedy
(o£ persons) : unsound, or equivocal
(of things). Also Fishiness, unsound-
Fist. 1. Handwriting: FT., la
cape. 2. A workman. Good fist, a
good workman. 3. An index hand,
As verb, (1) to apprehend (1598). 2.
To take hold : e.g. Just you fist that
a tree, Up a close, Under a cloud, In a
scrape : Fr., avoir des mots avec les
sergots, to run. amuck of the police.
As verb, (1) to arrest (1789). (2) A
general verb of action. Everything is
fixed except the meaning of the word
itself. The farmer fixes his fences,
the mechanic his work-bench, the
seamstress her sewing-machine, the
fine lady her hair, and the schoolboy
his books. The minister has to fix
his sermon, the doctor to fix his
medicines, the lawyer to fix his brief.
Dickens was requested to un-fix his
straps ; eatables are fixed for a meal ;
a girl unfixes herself to go to bed, and
fixes herself up to go for a walk. At
public meetings it is fixed who are to
be the candidates for office ; rules are
160
Fixings.
Flannels.
fixed to govern an institution, and
when the arrangements are made the
people contentedly say, Now every-
thing is fixed nicely. To fix ike
ballot box, to tamper with returns.
Anyhow (or nohow) you can or can't
fix it: see Anyhow. To fix one's
flint, to settle one's hash : see Cook
one's goose ( 1 835). To fix up, to settle,
arrange.
Fixings. A noun of all work:
applied to any and everything.
Fiz (or Fizz) , Champagne ; some-
times lemonade and ginger-beer : see
Boy.
Fiz-gig. A firework.
Fizzer. Anything first-rate: of.
Fizzing.
J*^rfz\ ri ?. First-rate. English
-*r^nonyms: Al, cheery, clean wheat,
clipping, crack, creamy, crushing,
first chop, first-class, first-rate, or (in
America) first-rate and a half, hunky,
jamzny, jonnick, lummy, nap, out-
and-out, pink, plummy, proper, real
jam, right as ninepence, ri-"--
rooter, rum, screaming, scrumj
ship-shape, slap-up, slick, sp
cious, splendiferous, to rights, tip-top,
true marmalade, tsing-tsing.
Fizzle. A ridiculous failure,
flash in the pan: in many of the
United States colleges, the term«a
blundering recitation. To hit just
one third of the meaning constitutes
a perfect fizzle. As verb, to fail in
reciting, recite badly. Also (said of
an instructor) to cause one to fail at
reciting. At some American colleges
Flunk (q.v.) is the common word for
an utter failure. To Fizzle, to stumble
through at last.
Flabbergast. To astound, stagger,
either physically or mentally (1772).
Flabberdegaz. Words interpolated
to dissemble a lapse of memory, Gag
(q.v.). Also, imperfect utterance or
bad acting.
Flag. 1. A groat, fourpenny piece :
also Flagg, and Flagge: see Ehino
(1567). 2. An apron ; hence a badge
of office or trade : of. Flag-flasher. 3.
A jade (1539). To fly the flag, to post
a notice that hands are wanted.
Flag of Defiance. A drunken
roysterer: see Lushington. To hang
out the flag of defiance (or bloody flag),
to be continuously drunk.
Flag-flasher. One sporting a
badge or other ensign of office
(cap, apron, uniform, etc.) whan off
duty.
Flag-about. A strumpet.
Flag-flying. See Flag.
Flag of Distress. 1. A card an-
nouncing lodgings, or board and
lodgings. Hence, any overt sign of
poverty. 2. A flying shirt-tail; in
America, a letter in the post-office
(q.v.).
Flagger. A street-walker.
Flags. Linen drying and flying in
the wind.
Flag Unfurled. A man of the
world.
Flag-wagging. Flag-signal drill.
Flam. 1. Nonsense (for synonyms,
see Gammon), humbug, flattery, or
a lie : as a regular flam (1598). 2. A
single stroke on the drum (Qrose), As
adj., false. As verb, (1) to take in,
flatter, lie, foist or fob off. Flamming,
lying. (2) (American University). To
affect, or prefer, female society.
Flambustious. Showy, gaudy,
pleasant.
Flamdoodle. Nonsense, vain
boasting. Probably a variant of
Flapdoodle (q.v.).
Flame. 1. A sweetheart, mistress
in keeping. Old flame, an old lover,
cast-off mistress (1664). Also, 2. a
venereal disease.
Flamer. A man, woman, thing, or
incident above the common.
Flames. A red-haired person:
ot Carrots and Ginger.
Flaming. Conspicuous, ardent,
stunning (q.v.) : see Al (1738).
F lander kin. A very large fat
man or horse ; also natives of Flanders
(B. K).
Flanders-fortunes. Of small sub-
stance (B. K).
Flanders - pieces. Pictures that
look fair at a distance, but coarser
near at hand (B. .».)•
Flank. 1. To crack a whip ; also,
to bit a mark with the lash of one.
2. To deliver a blow or a retort,
push, hustle, quoit (Shakespeare) : FT.,
flanqu&r. A plate of thin flank, a
sixpenny cut off the joint. To
flanls the whole bottle, to dodge, Le. to
outflank, to achieve by strata
Flanker. A blow, retort^ 1
Flankey. The posteriors.
Flannel. See Hot flannel.
Flannels. To get one's flannels,
to get a place in the school football
161
Flash.
or cricket teams, or in the boats : cf.
to get one's colours, or, one's* blue.
Flap. 1. Sheet-lead used lor roof-
ing : Fr., doussin, noir : cf. Bluey. 2.
A blow (1539). As verb, (1) to rob,
swindle. 2. To pay, fork out. To
flap a jay, to swindle a greenhorn, sell
a pup (q-v.). To flap the dimmock, to
pay.
Flapdoodle. 1. Transparent
nonsense, kid. Also Flamdoodle,
Flamsauce, or Flap-sauce : see Gam-
mon. To talk flapdoodle, to brag,
talk nonsense.
Flapdoodler. A braggart agitator,
one that makes the eagle squeal (q.v.),
Flap-dragon. To gulp down
hastily, as in the game of flap-dragon
(1604).
Flap man. A convict promoted
for good behaviour to first or second
class.
Flapper. 1. The hand ; also Flap-
per-shaker: see Daddle. 2. A little
girl. [Also a fledgling wild duck]
3. A very young prostitute. 4. A
dustman's or coaiheaver's hat, a
Fantail (q.v.). 5. (in pi.). Very
long-pointed shoes worn t>y nigger
minstrels. 6. A parasite ; a remem-
brancer.
Flapper-shaking. Hand-shaking.
Flap-sauce. See Flapdoodle.
Flare. 1. Primarily a stylish
craft ; hence, by implication, anything
out of the common. 2. A row, dispute,
drunk, or spree. As verb, (1) speci-
fically to whisk out; hence, to steal
actively, lightly, or delicately. 2.
To swagger, go with a bounce. All
of a flare, bunglingly.
Flaring. Excessive: e.g. a flaring
lie, flaring drunk : see Flaming.
Flare-up (or -out). An orgie, fight,
outburst of temper. Also a spree.
English synonyms: barney, batter,
bean-feast, beano, breakdown, burst,
booze (specifically a drinking-bout),
caper, deviTs delighfc, dust, fanteague,
fight, flare, flats -yad (back slang),
fly, gig, hay-bag, hell's delight, high
jinks, hooping up, hop, jagg, jamboree,
jump, junketting, lark, drive, randan,
on the tiles, on the fly, painting the
town (American), rampage, razzle-
dazzle, reeraw, ructions, shake, shine,
spree, sky-wannocking, tear, tear
up, took As verb, to fly into a
passion.
Flash. L The vulgar tongue; the
lingo of thieves and their associates.
To patter flash, to talk in thieves'
lingo. The derivation of Flash, like
that of French argot, is entirely specu-
lative. It has, however, been gener-
ally referred to a district called Flash
(the primary signification as a place
name is not clear), between Buxton
Leek and Macclesfield : there lived
many chapmen who, says Dr. Aiken
(Description of Country round Man-
chester), * were known as flash-men . . .
using a sort of slang or cant dialect.']
(1718). 2. Hence, at one period,
especially during the Regency days,
the idiom of the man about town, of
Tom and Jerrydozn. 3. A boast,
brag, or great pretence made by a
spendthrift, quack, or pretender to
more art or knowledge than he really
has. 4. A showy swindler (e.g. Sir
Petronel Flash) ; a blustering vulgar-
ian (1605). 5. A peruke or perriwig.
6. A portion, a drink, go (q.v,). As
adj., (1) relating to thieves, their
habits, customs, devices, lingo, etc.
(2) Knowing, expert, showy, cf. Down,
Fly, Wide-awake, etc. Hence (popu-
larly), by a simple transition, vul-
garly counterfeit, showily shoddy :
possibly the best understood mean-
ings of the word in latter-day English.
To put one flash to anything, to put him
on his guard; to inform. (3) Vulgar,
blackguardly, showy, applied to one
aping his betters. Hence (in Aus-
tralia), vain-glorious or swaggering.
(4) In a set style. Also used sub-
stantively. Hence, in combination,
Flash-case (crib, drum, house, ken, or
panny) : see Flash - ken ; Flash - cove
(q.v.); Flash-dispensary (American),
a boarding house, especially a swell
brothel; Flash-gentry, the swell mob
or higher class of thieves ; Flash-girl
(moll, -mollisher, -piece, or -woman), a
showy prostitute ; Flash- jig (costers),
a favourite dance; Flash-kiddy, a
dandy ; Flash-lingo (or song), patter,
or song interlarded with cant words
and phrases ; Flash - man (q.v.) ;
Flash-note, a spurious bank-note ;
Flash-rider (American) : see Broncho-
buster ; Flash toggery, smart clothes ;
Flash vessel, a gaudy looking, but
undisciplined ship. As verb, (1) to
show, to expose. Among combina-
tions may be mentioned— t-To flash
one's ivories, to show one's teeth, to
grin (Grose); To flash the hash, to
Flash-case.
vomit (Grose) ; To flash the dicky, to
show the shirt front; To flash tJie
dibs, to show or spend one's money ;
To flash a jawney, to wear a ring ; To
flash, one's gab, to talk, to swagger, to
brag ; To flash the bubs, to expose the
paps ; To flash the muzzle (q.v.) ; To
flash one's ticker, to air one's watch ;
To flash the drag, to wear women's
clothes for immoral purposes ; To
flash the white grin : see Grin ; To flash
the flay, to sport- an apron ; To flash
the wedge, to fence the swag, etc,
To flash the muzde, to produce a pistol.
To flash it about (or to cut a flash or
dash), to mate a display ; to live
conspicuously and extravagantly.
Flash-case (-crib, -house, -drum,
-ken, -panny, etc.) 1. A house
frequented by thieves, as a tavern,
lodging-house, fence (q.v.) (1690).
2. A brothel, any haunt of loose
women.
Flash - cove (also Flash Com-
panion). A thief, sharper, fence
(q.v.).
Flash - man. Primarily a man
talking Flash ; hence, a rogue, thief,
the landlord of a Flash-case (q.v.).
Also a Fancy-Joseph. In America, a
person with no visible means of sup-
port, but living in style and showing
up well.
Flash-of-lightning. 1. A glass of
gin, dram of neat spirits : see Go
and Drinks. Latterly, an American
drink. 2. The gold braid on an
officer's cap.
Flashy (Flashily, or Flashly).
Empty, showy, tawdry, insipid
(1637).
Flash-tail. A prostitute.
Flasher. A high-flyer, fop, pre-
tender to wit (1779).
Flasher y. Inferior, vulgar :
hence by inversion, elegance, dash,
distinction, display.
Flash - yad (back slang). A day's
enjoyment.
Flashy Blade (or Spark). A
Dandy (q.v.) j now a cheap and noisy
swell, whether male or female: of.
Flasher (1719).
Flat. 1. A greenhorn, noddy, gull :
see Baffle (1762), 2. An honest
man. 3. A lover's dismissal, jilting.
As adj., downright, plain, straight-
forward : as in That's flat ! a flat lie,
flat burglary, etc.* (1598). There are
other usages, more or less colloquial
163
e.g. Insipid, tame, dull : as in Mac-
aulay's Flat as champagne in de-
canters. On the Stock Exchange,
flat, without interest ; stock is bor-
rowed flat when no interest is al-
lowed by the lender as security for the
due return of the scrip. As verb, to
jilt. To fed flat (1), to be low-
spirited, out of sorts, Off colour (q.v.).
(2) To fail, give way : also used sub-
stantively. Flat as a flounder (or
pancake), very flat indeed : also, flat
as be blowed. To brush up aflat:
see Brasher. To pick up a flat, to
find a client : FT., lever or faire un
miche.
Flat-back. A bed-bug: see Nor-
folk Howard.
Flat-broke. Utterly ruined,
Dead-broke (q.v.).
Flat-catcher. An impostor.
Flat-catching. Swindling.
F 1 a t c h (back slang). 1. A half.
Flatch-kennurd, half drunk,- Flatch-
yenorle, half-a-crown ; Flatch-yennep, a
half-penny. 2. A half-penny: see
Rhino. [An abbreviation of Flatcb-
yennep.] 3. A counterfeit half-
crown : see Rhino.
Flat - cap. A citizen of London.
In Henry the Eighth's time flat round
caps were the pink of fashion ; but
when their date was out, they be-
came ridiculous. The citizens con-
tinued to wear them long after
they were generally disused, and
were often satirized for their fidelity.]
(1596).
Flat-cock. A female (Cfrose).
Flat - feet. Specifically the Foot
Guards, but also applied to regiments
of the line. Also (generally with
some powerful adjective), applied to
militiamen to differentiate them from
linesmen.
Flat-fish (generally, a Regular
Flat-fish). A dullard.
Flat-footed. Downright, resolute,
honest. [Western: the simile is
common to most languages, j
Flat-head. A greenhorn, a Sammy-
soft (q.v.) : see Buffle.
Flat-iron. A corner public house.
[From the triangular shape.}
Flattie (or Flatty). A gull:
see Baffle.
Flat -move. An attempt or pro-
ject that miscarries ; folly and mis-
management generally (Grose).
Flats. 1. Playing cards : see King's
Flals-and-sTiarps.
Flesh-pot.
Books. 2. False dice: see Fulhams.
3. Base money. Mahogany flats,
bed-bugs : see Norfolk Howards.
Flats-and-sharps. Weapons.
Flatten. To flatten outt to get the
better of (in argument or fight). Flat-
tened out, ruined; beaten.
Flatter - trap. The mouth : FT.,
menteuse : see Potato-trap.
Flatty-ken. A house where the
landlord is not awake, or fiy to the
moves and dodges of the trade.
Flawed. Half -drunk, a little
crooked, quick-tempered (Gfrose) : see
Screwed.
Flay (or Flay the Fox). 1. To
vomit : from the subject to the effect,
says Cotgrave ; for the flaying of so
stinking a beast is like enough to make
them spue that feel it. Now, To
shoot the cat. 2. To clean out by
unfair means. To flay (or skin) a
flint, to be mean or miserly: see
Skinflint.
Flaybottom (or Flaybottomist) .
A schoolmaster, with a play on the
word phlebotomist, a blood -letter
(Grose). FT., fouette-cvl ; and (Cot-
grave) Fesse-cmf a pedantical whip-
arse.
Flavour. To catch (or get)
the flavour, to be intoxicated : see
Screwed.
Flax. To beat severely ; to give it
hot (q.v.J.
Flax-wench. A prostitute
(1604).
Flea. To send away with a flea in
ihe ear, to dismiss with vigour and
acerbity. To have a flea in the ear,
(1) to fail in an enterprise ; and (2)
to receive a scolding or annoying
suggestion. To sit on a bag of fleas, to
sit uncomfortably ; on a bag of hen
fleas, very uncomfortably indeed. To
catch fleas for, to be on terms of ex-
treme intimacy: e.g. I catch her
fleas for her, She has nothing to refuse
me: cf. Shakespeare (* Tempest/ rr. ii.),
*Yet a tailor might scratch her
where'er she did Itch/ In a flea's
leap, in next to no time, instanter
fq.v.).
Flea-and-louse (rhyming slang),
A house : see Ken.
Flea-bag. A bed : FT., pueier.
Flea-bite. A trifle (1630).
Flea-biting. A trifle.
Flea- (or Flay-) Flint. A miser :
cf. Skinflint (q.v.) (1719).
Flear. To gi'in. A flearing fool,
a grinning idiot.
Fleece. An act of theft : of. old
proverb, To go out to shear and
come home shorn. As verb, to
cheat, shear or be shorn (as a sheep)
(1593). Hence fleeced, ruined ; dead-
broke (q.v.).
Fleecer. A thief (1600).
Fleeter-face. A pale-face, coward :
cf. Shakespeare's Cream-faced loon.
(1647).
Fleet-note. A forged note.
Fleet-of-the-desert. A caravan :
see Ship of the desert, camel.
Fleet-street. The estate of jour-
nalism, especially journalism of the
baser sort. Fleet-sir eeter, a journalist
of the baser sort ; a spunging Prophet
(q.v.) ; a sharking dramatic critic ; a
Spicy (q.v.) paragraphist ; and so on.
Fleet-streetese, the so-called English,
written to sell by the Fleet-streeter
(q.v.), or baser sort of journalist: a
mixture of sesquipedalians and slang,
of phrases worn threadbare and
phrases sprung from the kennel; of
bad grammar and worse manners ; the
like of which is impossible outside
Fleet-street (q.v.), but which in
Fleet-street commands a price, and
enables not a few to live.
Fleg. To whip (Bailey).
Flemish - account. A remittance
less than expected; hence, an un-
satisfactory account. [Among the
Flemings (the merchants of Western
Europe when commerce was young)
accounts were kept in livres, sols, and
pence ; but the livre or pound onlysas
12s., so that what the Antwerp mer-
chant called one livre thirteen and
f ourpence would in English currency
be only 20s.] (1668).
Flesh - and - blood. Brandy and
port in equal proportions.
Flesh -bag. A shirt or chemise.
English synonyms : biled rag (Ameri-
can), camesa, carrion-case, commis-
sion, dickey (formerly a worn-out
shirt), gad (gipsy), lully, mill tog,
mish, narp (Soots'), shaker, shimmy
(=*a chemise, Marryat), smish.
Flesh-broker. 1. A match-maker
(1690). 2. A procuress (Grose).
Flesh-fly (or Flesh-maggot). A
whoremaster.
Flesh-pot Sighing for the flesh-pots
of Egypt, hankering for good things
no longer at command. [Biblical.]
FlesJi-ta&or.
Floater.
Flesh - tailor. A surgeon : see
Sawbones.
Fleshy (Winchester College):
see Gat's Head.
Fletch. A spurious coin : cf . Flatch.
Flick (or Flig). 1. A cut with a
whip-lash; hence, a blow of any sort
A flicking is often administered by
schoolboys with a damp towel or
pocket-handkerchief. 2. A jocular
salutation; usually Old Hick. As
verb, 1. To cut (1690). 2. To strike
•with, or as with, a whip.
Flicker. A drinking glass. As
verb (1) to drink (Mateell). (2) To
laugh wantonly ; also to kiss, or
fondle a woman. Also Flick-
(1) drinking, and (2) wanton
laughter. Let her flicker, said of any
doubtful issue : let the matter take its
chance.
Flicket-a-Flacket. Onomatopoetic
for a noise of flapping and flicking
(1719).
Flier (or Flyer). 1. A horse or boat
of great speed ; also (American rail-
way) a fast train ; hence, by implica-
tion, anything of excellence. 2. A
shot in the air. 3. A small hand-
bill, Dodger (q.v.). To take a flier,
to make a venture ; to invest against
odds.
Flies (rhyming). Lies. Hence,
nonsense, trickery, deceit. There are
no flies on me (or him), T. am dealing
honestly with you ; He is genuine,
and is not humbugging. In America,
the expression is used of (1) a man of
quick parts, a man who knows a
thing without its being kicked into
him by a mule ; and (2) a person of
superior breeding or descent.
Fligger (also Flicker). To grin
(1720).
Film. See Flimsy.
Flim-flam. An idle story, sham,
Bobin Hood tale (q.v.) (1589). As
adj., idle, worthless (1589).
Flimp. To hustle or rob. To put
on the flimp, to rob on the highway.
Flimping, stealing from the person.
Flimsy (or Flira). 1. A bank-note.
Soft-flimsy, a note drawn on the
' Bank of Elegance/ or ' The Bank of
Engraving.' 2. News of all kinds,
Points (q.v.). Krst used at Lloyd's.
Flinders. Pieces mfinitesimaUy
smalL
Fling. 1. A fit of temper. 2. A
jeer, jibe, personal allusion or attack
( 1592). As verb, (1) to cheat, get the
best of, Do (q.v.) or diddle (Grose).
(2) To dance. To fling out, to depart
in a hurry, and, especially, in a temper.
In a fling, in a spasm of temper. To
have one's fl^ng, to enjoy full liberty of
action or conduct (1624). To fling
dirt : see Dirt.
Flinger. A dancer.
Fling-dust. A street-walker.
Flint. A man working for a
Union or fair house ; non-Union-
ists are Dung (q.v.). Both terms
occur in Foote's burlesque, The
Tailors : a Tragedy for Warm Weather,
and they received a fresh lease of
popularity during the tailors' strike
of 1832. Old Flint, a miser : one
who would skin a flint, i.e. stoop
to any meanness for a trifle. To
fix one's flint: see Fix. To flint in,
to act with energy ; stand on no cere-
mony, pitch into, tackle. A verb erf
action well-nigh as common as Fix
(q.v.).
Flip. 1, Hot beer, brandy, and
sugar ; also, says Grose, called Sir
doudesley after Sir Cloudesley ShoveL
2. A bribe or douceur. 3. A light blow,
or snatch. As verb, to shoot. To
up, to spin a coin,
lip - flap. 1. A flighty creature
(1702). 2. A step-dance; a Cellar-
flap (q.v.). Also (acrobats1) ; a kind
of somersault, in which the performer
throws himself over on his hands and
feet alternately (1727). 3. A kind of
tea-cake. 4. The arm : see Bender.
Flipper. 1, The hand. Tip un
your flipper, give me your hand : see
Daddle. 2. See Flapper. 3. Part of
a scene, hinged and painted on both
sides, used in trick changes.
Flirtatious. Flighty.
Flirt-gill (Flirtgill£antor Gill-flirt).
A wanton, a chopping - girl (q.v.) ;
specifically a strumpet (1595).
Flirtina Cop - all. A wanton,
young or old ; a men's woman (q.v.).
Float. The footlights : before the
invention of gas they were oil-pans
with floating wicks* // thai? a the way
the stick float* : see Stick.
Floater. 1. An Exchequer bOl ; ap-
plied also to other unfunded stock. 2.
A suet dumpling in soup. 3. A vend-
ible voter. 4. A candidate represent-
ing several counties, and therefore
not considered directly responsible to
any one of them.
165
jb loatintj-academy.
Flop.
Floating - academy. The hulks ;
also Camwheli's academy (q.v.), and
Floating hell (q.v.).
Floating - batteries. 1. Broken
bread in tea ; also Shngers (q.v.)- 2.
The Confederate bread rations during
the Secession.
Floating-coffin. A rotten ship.
Floating -hell (or Hell afloat).
A ship commanded by (1) a brutal
savage, or (2) a ruthless disciplinarian.
Flock. A clergyman's congrega-
tion. Aleio any bo<jy oi people with a
common haunt or " interest : e.g. a
family of children, a company of
soldiers, a school of girls or boys,
a cabf ill of molls, and such like. To
p're into the wrong flock, to blunder :
see To bark up the wrong tree.
Flock-of-Sheep. 1. A hand
at dominoes set out on the table. 2.
White-crested dancing waves on the
sea, White horses (q.v.).
Flog. A -whip : a contraction of
Flogger (q.v.). To flog (now recog-
nised), is cited by B. E. (1690), and
Grose, To be flogged at the tumbler, to
be whipped at the cart's tail : see
Tumbler. To flog the dead horse, 1. To
•work up an interest in a bygone sub-
ject, try against heart, do with no
will nor liking for the job. [Bright
said that Earl Russell's Reform Bill
was a dead horse (q.v.), and every
attempt to create enthusiasm m its
favour was flogging the dead horse.]
•2. To work off "an advance of wages.
To flog a willing horse, to urge on one
who is already putting forth bis best
energies.
Flogger. 1, Awhip: FT.,&OM&. 2.
A mop (i.e. a bunch of slips of cloth on
ti handle) used in the painting room to
whisk the charcoal dust from a sketch.
Flogging, Careful, penurious.
F 1 o g g i n g-cove. 1. An official
who administers the Cat (q.v.). 2.
See Flogging cully.
Flogging-cully. A man addicted
to flagellation, a Whipster (q.v.).
Flogging-stake. A whipping post.
Flogster. One addicted to flog-
ging. Specifically (naval) a nick-
name applied to the Puke of Clarence
(afterwards William IV.).
Floor, 1. To knock down. Hence
to vanquish in argument, make an
end of, defeat, confound (Grose). To
•floor the odds, said of a low-priced
the betting. 2. To finish, get outside
of: e.g I floored three half -pints
and a nip before breakfast. 3. To
pluck, Plough (q.v.) To floor a
paper (lesson, exami^iat^on, examiner),
to answer every question, master,
prove oneself superior to the occasion.
To floot one's licks, to surpass one-
self. Cut-around (q.v.). To have
(hold, or take) the floor, to rise to ad-
dress a public meeting ; in Ireland, to
stand up to dance ; and, in America,
to be in possession of the House.
Floored. 1. Vanquished, brought
under, ruined. English synonyms:
basketed, bitched, bitched-up, bowled
out, broken up, buggered up, busted,
caved in, choked-off , cornered, cooked,
coopered up, dead-beat, done brown,
done for, done on toast, doubled up,
flattened out, fluffed, flummoxed,
frummagemmed, gapped, gone through
St. Peter's needle, done under, grav-
elled, gruelled, hoofed out, in the last
of pea-tuno, or last run of shad,
jacked -up, knocked out of time,
knocked silly, looed, mucked - out,
petered out, pocketed, potted, put in
his little bed, queered m his pitch,
rantanned, sat upon, sewn up, shut-
up, smashed to smithereens, snashed,
snuffed out, spread-eagled, struck of
a heap, stumped, tied up, timbered,
treed, trumped, up a tree. 2. Drunk ;
in Shakespearean ' put down * ; as Sir
Andrew Aguecheek, ' Never in your
life, I think, unless you see canary
put me down' ("Twelfth Night," i.
iii.) : see Screwed. 3. Hung low at an
exhibition ; in contradistinction to
Skyed (q.v.), and On the line (q.v.).
Floorer. 1. An auctioneer (q.v.),
or knock-down blow. Hence, sudden
or unpleasant news, a decisive argu-
ment, an unanswerable retort, a,
decisive check: Sp., 'peso (1819). 2.
A question or a paper too hard to
master. 3. A ball that brings down
all the pins. 4. A thief who trips his
man, and robs in picking him up ; a
Ramper (q.v.).
Flooring. Knocking down : hence,
to vanquish in all senses.
Floor-walker. A shop-walker.
Flop. 1. A Bite (q.v.), a successful
dodge (1856). 2. A sudden fall or
flop down. 3. A collapse or break-
down. 4. (For Flap or Flip). A
light blow (1662). As verb, (1) to
horse that pulls off the event in face of fall, or flap down suddenly: Fr.,
166
Florence.
Flummox.
prendre un billet de parterre (1742).
(2) To knock down. As adj , An
onomatopoeia expressive of the noise
of a sudden and sounding fall. Often
used expletively, as Slap (q.v.) is, and
the American, Right (q.v.) (172G).
To flop over, to turn heavily ; hence
(in America), to make a sudden
change of sides, association, or
allegiance. Flop up, a day's tramp,
as opposed to a Sot-down, half a
day's travel. Flop up time, Bedtime.
Flop, too, is something of a vocable of
all-work. Thus, to flop round, to loaf,
to dangle ; to do a flop (colloquial), to
sit, or to fall, down: to flop out, to
leave the water noisily and awk-
wardly ; a flop in the gills, a smack in
the mouth.
Florence. A wench that has been
touzed and ruffled (JB. E.}.
Floster. A mixed drink : sherry,
noyau, peach - leaves, lemon, sugar,
ice, and soda-water.
Flouch. To faU (or go) flouch (or
ftoush}, to come to pieces, sag sud-
denly on the removal of a restraining
influence, as a pair of stays.
Flounce. To move with violence,
and (generally) in anger. Said of
women, for whom such motion is, or
rather was, inseparable from a great
flourishing of flounces.
Flounder. 1. A drowned corpse :
see Stiff. 2. To sell, and afterwards
re-purchase a stock, or vice-versd.
Flounder -and-Dab. A cab.
Flour. Money : generic : see
Rhino.
Flourish. To be in luck: e.g. I
flourish, I am well off ; Do you flourish,
or Are you flourishing ? Have you got
any money ? Flourishing, a retort to
the inquiry, How are you ? The
equivalent of Pretty well, thank
you t
F 1 o w e r y. Lodging, entertain-
ment ; Square the omce for the
flowery, pay the landlord for the
lodging. [Lingua Franca.']
Flowery Language. Blasphemous
and obscene speech.
Flowing - hope. A forlorn hope.
Flub-dub-and-Guff. Rhetorical
embellishment; High-falutin* (q.v.).
Flue. 1. The Recorder of London
or any large town. 2. The filth, part
fluff, part hair, part dust, which
collects under ill-kept beds, and at
the junctures of sofas and chairs:
see Beggar's Velvet. 3. A contrac-
tion of influenza. As verb, to put
in pawn. In (or up) the flue, pawned.
Up tJie flue (or spout), dead ; collapsed,
mentally or physically. To be up
one's flue, to be awkward for one.
That's up your flue, that's a facer, or
that's up against you.
Flue-Faker (or Scraper). A
chimney-sweep : see Clergyman.
Fluff (or Fluffings). 1. Short
change given by booking-clerks. The
practice is known as Fluffing : see
Menavelings : FT., des fruges ( = more or
less unlawful profits of any sort). As
verb, to give short change. 2. Lines
half learned and imperfectly delivered.
Hence, To do a fluff, to forget one's
part : also as verb, to disconcert, to
floor (q.v,)- Fluff it 1 an interjection
of disapproval : Be off ! Take it
away !
F 1 u ff e r. 1. A drunkard : see
Lushington. 2. A player * rocky on
his lines ' ; i.e. given to forgetting his
part. 3. A term of contempt.
Flufftness. 1. Drunkenness : see
Fluffy and Fluffer. 2. The trick, or
habit, of forgetting words.
Fluffy. Unsteady, of uncertain
memory.
Fluke. In billiards, an accidental
whining hazard ; in all games a result
not played for; a Crow (q.v.). In
yachting, an effect of chance ; a result
in which seamanship has had no part.
Hence, a stroke of luck. As verb, (1)
to effect by accident. (2) To shirk.
To cut flukes out, to mutiny, turn
sulky and disobedient. To turn
flukes, to go to bed ; i.e. to Bunk (q.v.),
or turn in-
Fluky (or Flukey). Of the
nature of a Fluke (q.v.) ; i.e. achieved
more by good luck than good guid-
ance. Hence Fluikiness, abounding in
Flukes.
Flummadiddle l.Nonsense,
Flummery (q.v.). 2, A sea-dainty.
Flummergasted. Astonished, con-
founded. A variant of Flabber-
gasted (q.v.).
Flummery. 1. Nonsense, Gammon
(q.v.), flattery (Grose). 2. A kind of
bread pudding (Nordhoff). 3. Oat-
meal and water boiled to a jelly
(Grose).
Flummox (Flummocks, or Flum-
mux). 1. To perplex, dodge, abash,
silence, victimize, Best (q.v.}, dis-
167
Munvmocky.
appoint Ai=o Conflurnmox. To {turn- fib, to flap, to flick, to flop, to jerk, to
mox (or con/lummox) by the lip, to out- give one ballast, to hide, to lamm, to
larrup, to paste, to punch, to rub
down, to swinge, to swish, to switch,
to trounce, to thump, to tund (Win-
chester), to wallop. (2) To clean by
filling full, and emptying, of water :
e.g. to flush a sewer ; to wash, swill, or
sluice away. Also, to fill with water :
e g. to flush a lock. (3) To start or
raise a bird from covert : e.g. to flush
a snipe, or a covey of partridges. To
come flush on one, to come suddenly
and unexpectedly (Marvell) ; to over-
whelm (as by a sudden rush of water).
Flushed on the horse, privately whip-
Flump. To fall, put, or be set down ped m gaol.
with violence or a thumping noise: ~
onomatopoeic. Also to come down
with a flump (1840).
Flunk. 1. An idler, Loafer (q.v.),
Lawrence (q.v.). 2. A failure, especi-
ally (at college) in recitations ; a
backing out of undertakings : also
Flunk-out. As verb, to retire through
fear, fail (as in a lesson), cause to fail.
Flunkey. 1. A ship's steward. 2.
An ignorant dabbler in stock, inexperi-
enced jobber. 3. One that makes a
complete failure in a recitation ; one
slang (q.v.), talk down; to flummox
the coppers, to dodge the police ; to
flummox the old Dutch, to cheat one's
wife, etc. 2. To confuse, Queer (q.v.).
3. Used m the passive sense, to abandon
a purpose, give in, die. As subs., a
bad recitation, failure. Flummox&A,
spoilt, ruined, drunk, Sent down
(q.v.), Boshed (q.v.), defeated, dis-
appointed, silenced, Floored (q.v.).
Flummocky. Out of place, in bad
taste.
Flummut. A month in prison : see
Dose.
who Flunks (q.v.). 4. A man-serv-
ant, especially one in livery. Hence,
by implication, a parasite or Toady
(q.v.): Fr., larbin (1848). Whence,
Flunkeyiam, blind worship of rank,
birth, or riches : Fr., larbinerie.
Flurry. To flurry one's milk,
Flush-hit. A clean blow, a bit
full on the mark and straight from
the shoulder. As adj., full, straight.
Eight on (q.v.).
Fluster. To excite, confuse, abash,
Flummox (q.v.), upset, or be upset,
with drink (1602).
Flustered (or Flustrated).
Excited by drink, circumstances,
another person's impudence, etc.;
also mildly drunk: of. Flusticated
and see Screwed (1686).
Flusticated (or Flustrated). Con-
fused, in a state of heat or excite-
ment: cf. Flustered (1712).
Flustration. Heat, excitement,
bustle, confusion, Flurry (q.v.) (1771).
Flute. The recorder of a corpora-
tion (1598).
Flutter. 1. An attempt or Shy (q.v.)
to be worried, angry, or upset : see To at anything, a venture hi earnest, a
fret one's Mdneys( q.v.); To tear one's spree, a state of expectancy (as in
shirt (or one's hair), (q.v.). betting) : hence gambling. 2. The
Flurryment. Agitation, bustle, con- act of spinning a coin. As verb, (1) to
fusion, nervous excitement. spin a coin (for drinks) ; also to gamble.
Flush. A hand of one suit. As adj., (2) To go in for a bout of pleasure
(1) with plenty of money, the reverse To flutter the ribbons, to drive. Flutter,
of Hard-up (q.v.) ; Warm (q.v.). Also if not a word of all-work, is a word
abounding in anything : e.g. Flush of with plenty to do. Thus, to have (or
his patter, full of his talk; flush of do) a flutter, to have a look in (q.v.), to
the lotion, liberal with the drink ; go on the spree ; to be on the flutter, to
flush of his notions, prodigal of ideas ; be on the spree ; to flutter a judy, to
flush of her charms, lavish of her person ; pursue a girl ; to flutter a brown, to spin
and so forth (1603). (2) Intoxicated a coin ; to flutter (or fret) one's kidneys,
(o.e. full to the bnm) ; also Flushed : to agitate, to exasperate ; to flutter a
see Screwed. (3) Level: e.g. Flush skirt, to walk the streets ; and so forth.!
with the top, with the water, with the Flu x. 1. To cheat, cozen, over-
road, with the boat's edge, etc. As reach. 2. To salivate (Grose}.
verb, (1) to whip. English synonyms : Fly. A familiar ; hence, by im-
to bludgeon, to bumbaste, to breech plication, a parasite or Sucker (q.v.).
(Cotgrave), to brush, to club, to curry, [In the sixteenth and seventeenth
to dress with an oaken towel, to drub, centuries it was held that familiar
to dry-beat, to dry-bob, to drum, to spirits, in the guise of flies, lice, fleas,
168
Flying.
etc., attended witches, who for a
price professed to dispose of the
Power for evil thus imparted.] 2. A
printer's devil ; specifically a boy who
lifted the printed sheets from the
press. [Now the vibrating frame
used for the same purpose.] (1688).
3. A customer. 4. The act of spinning
a coin : of. Flutter. 5. A public
waggon : afterwards (colloquial) a four-
wheel hackney coach : FT-, mouche
(fly)r=a public boat on the Seine. 6.
A policeman. As adj., (1) knowing,
Artful (q.v.), up to every move, cute.
Also fly to, a-fly, fly to the game, and
fly to what's what: of. Awake, and,
see Knowing (2) Dextrous. As verb,
( 1 ) To toss, raise ; to fty the mags, to toss
up halfpence. (2) To give way : as,
china flies in the baking. To fly around,
to bestir oneself, make haste. Also to
fly around and tear one's shirt. To fty
the flag, to walk the streets. See also
Flag. To fty high (or rather high), (1)
to get, or be drunk : see Screwed. (2)
o keep the best company, maintain
To
the best appearances, and affect the
best aims: i.e. to be a High-flier
(q.v. ). Also, to venture for the biggest
stakes in the biggest way. To fty
low, to make as little of oneself as
possible,- to sing small (q.v.); and
(among thieves) to keep out of the
way when Wanted (q.v.). To fty off
the handle, to lose temper, fail of a
promise, jilt, die ; also to slip off the
Handle (q.v.) ; to disappoint in any
way. [In pioneer life for an axe to
part company with its handle is a
serious trial to temper and patience.}
To fly out, to get angry, scold (1612).
To make the fur (or feathers) fly, to
attack effectively, make a disturbance,
quarrel noisily like two torn cats on the
tiles, who are said (in American) to pull
fur, or to pull wool To take on the
fly, to beg in the streets ; a specific
usage of adverbial sense. To fly a
kite, to raise money by means of
accommodation bills, raise the Wind
(q,v.). (3) To go out by the window.
(4) To evacuate from a window. (5)
To attempt, set one's cap at. To fly
the blue pigeon, to steal lead from
roofs : see Blue-pigeon. Fr., faire
la mastar au gras-double (or la faire
au mastar) (Grose). To let fty, to
bit out: from cock-fighting. Not a
feather to fly with, penniless, rained,
Dead- broke (q.v.). To break a fly
on a wheel, to make a mountain of a
molehill: cf. To crack a nut with a
Nasmyth hammer, to lavish force or
energy. The fly on the wheel, one
who fancies himself of mighty im-
portance. [From the fable.] I don't
rwe to that fty, I don't believe you ;
you won't catch me with such bait as
that. Off the fly, on the quiet, laid
up in dock, doing nothing. On tJte fly,
(1) walking the streets, out for a Lark
(q.v.), Off work (q.v.), out on the
spree (q.v.). (2) In motion: e.g. I
got in one on the fly, I landed a blow
while I was running.
Fly-blow. A bastard; cf. Bye-
blow.
Fly-blown. 1. Intoxicated : see
Screwed. 2. Qeaned-out, without a
rap, Hard-up. 3. Used, done-up,
Washed-out (q.v.). 4. Deflowered,
known for a wanton, suspected of
disease.
Fly - by - night. 1. A sedan chair
on wheels ; a usage of the Regency
days. 2. A defaulting debtor, one
who shoots the moon (q.v.). 3. A
prostitute. 4. A noctambulist for
business or for pleasure : i.e. a
burglar or a common spreester (q.v.).
5. A term of opprobrium, spec, 'an
old woman, signifying that she was a
witch, and alluding to the nocturnal
excursions attributed to witches who
were supposed to fly abroad to their
meetings mounted on brooms ' (Grose).
Fly - catcher. An open-mouthed
ignoramus, a Gape-seed (q.v.): Fr.,
gobe-mouche.
Flycop. A sharp officer ; one well
broken in to the tricks of trade.
Fly-disperser Soup. Oxtail
Flyer. 1. See Flier in all senses.
2. A shoe : see Trotter-case. 3. (Win-
chester). A half- volley at football.
A made-flyer is when the bound of
the ball is gained from a previous
kick, by the same side, against canvas
or any other obstacle, or is dropped,
as in a drop - kick. This is now
confused with a kick-up.
Fly-flapped. Whipped in the stocks,
or at the cart's tail (Grose).
Fly - flapper. A heavy bludgeon.
Fly-flat. A would-be connoisseur
and authority.
Flying. To look as if the Devil
had spued on him (or her) flying, said
in derision of one odd -looking, filthy,
or deformed.
169
Fogtatn.
Flying-angel.
Flying Bricklayers, Iho mounted
Royal Uii^irkj'jrs.
Flying - camps. Couples or gaaga
of bcr^ars.
Flying - caper. An escape from
prison, Le^-ba:l (q.v.).
Flying-cat. See Cat.
Flying- country. A country where
the Going (q.v.) is last and good.
Flying - cove. An iui},oe,tor who
gets, or tree's to get, mo.ie.-v from
persons who licu-e been rob.,«,-il by
pretending to give such mfovination
as will lead to recovery. Formerly,
Flying-porter ( Cfi ose).
Flyiag-dustzn&n. *See Stiff -"an.
Flying - Dutchman. The London
and Exeter esprit (G.W.R.) See
also Flying Scoitrcan and Wild
Irishman
Flying horse (or mare). The
throw by whicb an opponent is sent
over the head. Introduced, says
Bee, by Parkms (1754).
Flying - jigger (or gygger). A
turnpike gate.
Flying - man. A tkirmisher good
at taking, and running with, the ball.
Flying - mare. See Flying-horse.
Flying-pasty. Excrement
wrapped in paper tiad thrown over a
neighbour's wall f "
Flying-porter. See Flying- cove.
Flying-stationer, .A hawker
of street ballads, Paper worker (q.v ),
or Running patterei (q.v.). 'Printed Hazy (q.v.): see Screwed,
for the Flying-stationer ' is the tm- fatwitted, Thick (q.v.
primatur on hundreds of broadsheets — -
from the last century onwards (Grose).
Fly my. Knowing, Fast (q.v.),
fiom UiG fob. As verb, (1) to rob,
cheat, pocket: also to fob off (1700).
(2) To deceive, trifle with, disappoint,
put off dishonestly or unfairly (1598).
To gut a fob, to pick pockets.
Fob us. An opprobrious epithet
(1677)
Fodder. Paper for the closet,
Bum-fodder (q.v }.
F ce t u s. To tap the iostits, to
procure abortion.
Fog. Smoke (Grose). In a fog,
in a condition of perplexity, doubt,
difficulty, or mystification : as, I'm
rte in a fog as to what you mean,
verb, (1) to smoke. (2) To mystify,
perplex, obscure.
Fogey (Fogy, Fogay, or Foggi).
An invalid or garrison soldier or sailor.
Whence the present colloquial usages :
(1) a person advanced in life, and (2)
an old-fashioned or eccentric person ;
generally Old fogey. So also Fogey-
tsh, old-fashioned, eccentric. Fogey-
dom, the state of fogeyishness ; and
fogeyism, a characteristic of f ogeydom,
F o g g a g e. Fodder, especially
green-moat (Grose).
Fogged. 1. Drunk : see Screwed.
2. Perplexed, bewildered, at a loss.
Fogger. 1. A huckster, a cringing,
whining beggar, a pettifogger. 2. A
farm-servant whose duty is to feed
the cattle ; i.e. to supply them with
Foggage (q.v.).
Foggy. 1 Drunk, clinched,
' ' - ' 2. Dull,
roguish, sprightly.
Fly-my-kfte (rhyming). A light.
Flymy-mess. To be in a fli/wy-^cst,,
to be hungry and have nothing to eat.
Fly - slicer. A cavalry-man : see
Mudcrusher. French lancers are allum-
eurs de gaz, then weapons being
likened to a lamplighter's rod.
Fly-the-garter. Leap frog.
Fly-trap. The mouth ; see
Potato-trap.
Foaled. Thrown from a horse :
Fr., faire parache.
Fob (or Fub). 1. A cheat, trick,
swindle. To come the /o6, to impose
ttpon, swindle : of. Come over (1090).
2. A breeches pocket, watch pocket
(1678). 3. A watch-chain or ribbon,
with buckle and fceals. worn hanging
Fogle. A silk handkerchief; also
generic. [Of. Itol., foglia, a pocket,
a purse : Fr , fouttte, a pocket]. A
cotton handkerchief is called a clout.
English synonyms: bandanna, belcher,
billy, clout, conch- clout, fam-cloth,
flag, kent-rag, madam, muckender,
mucketer (Florio) ; nose-wipe, pen-
wiper, rag, sneezer, snot-tinger or
snot-rag, stook, wipe : see Billy.
Fogle - hunter. A thief whose
speciality is Fogies (q.v.) : Fr., blavin-
iste or chiffonier: see Stookhauler
(1827).
Fogle-hunting(or drawing).
Stealing pocket-handkerchiefs : i.e.
prigging of wipes.
Fogram (or Fogrum). A fussy
old man : see Fogey. As adj., fogey-
ish, stupid (1777). Hence Fogram-
ity, (1) Fogeyism (q.v.), and (2) the
state of Fogeyishness.
170
Fogue.
Foot-wobbler*
Fogue. Fierce, fiery.
Fogus. Tobacco (1671).
Foiler. A thief (1C69).
Foist (Foyst, or Fyst). 1. A cheat,
swindler, sharper (1592). 2. A trick,
swindle, imposture : also Foyster and
Foister (1605). As verb, to trick,
swindle, pick pockets (1607).
Foister (or Foyster). A pick-
pocket, a cheat (1598).
Follower, A maid-servant's
sweetheart, a beau : see Jomer.
Follow-me-lads. Curls or ribands
hanging over the shoulder: Fr., suivez-
moi-jeune-homme : also Followers.
Follow-on. A team eighty runs
behind the other in the first innings
is obliged to follow on ; i.e. to take to
the wickets a second time. A run
more, and it saves the follow on.
Follow your nose! A retort on
asking the way. The full phrase is,
Follow your nose and you are sure
to go straight (1620).
Foo-foo. A person of no account
an insignificant idiot, a Poop (q.v.).
Fool. A dish of gooseberries,
boiled with sugar and milk : also Gull
(q.v.) (1720). No fool, a phrase
laudatory. To make a fool of, to
delude : specifically to cuckold, or to
seduce un der promise of marriage. To
fool about (or around), to dawdle, trifle
with, be infatuated with, hang about,
defraud.
Fool-finder. A bum-bailiff
(Grose).
Fool -mo n g er. A person, male
or female, living by their wits, e.g.
a Promoter (q.v.), a betting-man,
a swindler : also Fool - catcher and
Fool- trap (q.v.).
Foolometer. A standard, positive
or neuter, whereby to gauge the
public taste.
Fool's Father. The pantaloon or
Old 'un (q.v.).
Fool's-wedding. A party of
women : see Hen party.
Fool-trap. A Fool-monger.
F o o n t. A sovereign : see Rhino.
[Probably a corruption of Ger., Pfund.']
Foot. 1. To acknowledge pay-
ment; e.g. To foot a bill. 2. To
kick, to Hoof (q.v.) : cf. ' Merchant of
Venice,' i. in. 'You, that did void your
rheum upon my beard, And foot me,
as you spurn a stranger cur.' To foot
it, to walk, to dance : see Pad the
Hoof. To foot-up, to sum. up the
total (of a. Mil) ; to Tot up (q.v.).
Hence, to pay, discharge one's obliga-
tions, Reckon up (q.v.) ; to summarize
both merits and defects, and strike a
balance. I? noting -up, the reckoning,
the sum total : Fr., gowiberger. To
put one's best foot (or leg) foremost, to
use all possible despatch, esert one-
self to the utmost (1596). To put
one's foot -mio anything .fro make a mess
of it, get into a scrape. The bishop
(i.e. the Devil) has put his foot in it
(Old English proverb) is said of burned
porridge or over-roasted meat (Grose) :
Fr., faire une gaffe. To have one foot
(or ley) in the grave, on one's last legs,
measured for a funeral sermon : also
as adj. (1825). To puU foot, to make
haste : also To take one's foot in one's
hand, and To make tracks. To ttzke
Mr. Foots horse, to walk, Go by
Shank's mare (q.v.) : see Pad the
hoof. To know the length of one's
foot, to be well acquainted with one's
character (1581).
Footer (Harrow). I. Short for
football. 2. A player of football
according to Rugby rules.
Foot-hot. In hot haste, Hot-foot
(q.v.).
Footing. Money paid on entering
upon new duties, or on being received
into a workshop or society : as at sea
when a comrade first goes aloft.
Formerly Foot-ale : Fr,, arroser ses
galons, to christen one's uniform
(1777).
Footle. To dawdle, trifle, potter,
Mess about (q.v.).
Footlicker. A servant, a lickspittle
(1609).
Footlights. To smeU the footlights,
to acquire a taste for theatricals. To
smeU of the footlights, to carry thea-
trical concerns and phraseology into
private life, to Talk shop (q.v.).
Footman's Inn. A poor lodging,
a jail: Fr., Hotel de la modestie: the
Poor Man's Arms (1608).
Footman's-maund. An artificial
sore, as from a horse's bite or kick :
the Fox's bite of schoolboys. Also
Scaldrum dodge, or Maund (q.v.).
Foot-riding. Walking and
wheeling one's machine instead of
riding it.
Foot-scamp. A footpad (Parker).
Footstool. See Angel's footstool.
Foot-wobbler. An infantry-man :
see Mudorusher.
171
Form.
F o o t y. Contemptible, worth-
less : Fr., /ozrftt (Grose).
Foozle. 1. A boggle, a miss. 2.
A bore, a fogey ; and (m America) a
fool, a green 'un : see Buffle. As verb,
to miss, boggle, Muff (q.v.). Foozled
(or Foozle^/), blurred in appearance
and effect, fuzzy, JIuff ed ( q.v. ). Often
said of badly painted pictures, or parts
of pictures.
Fop-doodle. An insignificant man,
a fool (1689).
Fop's Alley. The gangway run-
ning parallel to the footlights, between
the last row of the stalls and the
first row of the pit in Her Majesty's
Theatre, and in its palmiest days it
wa-> always graced by the presence of a
subaltern of the Guards in full uniform,
daintily swinging his bearskin.
Forakers (Winchester Col-
lege). The water-closet : see Mrs.
Jones. [Formerly spelt foricus and
probably a corruption of foricas, an
English plural of the Latin forica,']
Force (The). The police. To
force the voucher, it is customary for
sporting tricksters to advertise selec-
F o r k. 1. A pickpocket : FT.,
Avoir lea mains crochues, to be a light-
fingered or lime - fingered filcher ;
every finger of his hand as good as
a hme-twig (Cotgrave). 2. A finger.
The /orfcs, the fore and middle fingers ;
of. (proverbial) Fingers were made
before forks. English synonyms :
claws, fish-hooks (Grose), daddies,
(also the hands), divers, feelers, fives,
flappers, grapplers, grappling irons,
gropers, hooks, nail bearers, pickers
and stealers (Shakespeare), corn-steal-
ers, Ten Commandments, ticklers,
pinkies, muck - forks. 3. The hands.
4. A gibbet ; in the plural, the gallows.
5. A spendthrift. 6. The Crutch (q.v.),
or Twist (q.v.) : FT., Fourcheure, that
part of the bodie from whence the
thighs depart (Cotgrave). As verb,
to steal; specifically to pick a
pocket by inserting the middle and
forefinger: also To put one's forks
down: Fr., vol d la fourchette. To
fork out (or over — sometimes to fork),
to hand over, pay, to shell out (q.v.).
To fork on, to appropriate : cf. Freeze
on to. To fitch the fork, to tell a piti-
tions and enclose vouchers (similar to ful tale. To eat vinegar with a fork, a
person either over -shrewd or over-
snappish is said to have eaten vinegar
those sent out by respectable com-
mission agents) for double or treble f .~~e_
the current odds. The correspondent with a fork : Fr., avoir mange de
is informed that, in consequence of Foseille,
early investments, the extra odds can
be laid ; a remittance is requested ;
the voucher is forced ; and then the
firm dries up, and changes its name
and address.
Forcemeat - ball. Something en-
dured from compulsion : as ( 1) a rape :
2.
(2) going to prison; (3) transporta-
tion ; (4) an affiliation order ; (5) ab-
F o r k e r. A dockyard thief or
Fence (q.v.).
Forking. 1. Thieving.
Hurrying and Scamping (q.v.).
Forkless. Clumsy, unworkman-
like, as without Forks (q.v.) (1821).
Foreloper. A teamster guide.
Forlorn-Hope. A last stake (Grose).
Form. 1. Condition, training,
stention (from drink, pleasure, etc.) fitness for a contest. In (or otrf of)
through impecuniosity.
Forceps. The hands : see
Daddle.
Fore-and-after. Anybody or any-
thing good all round.
Fore - buttocks. The paps: see
Dairy.
Fore-coach-wheel. A half-
crowa : see Caroon.
Forefoot. The hand (1598).
Foreman of the jury. A babbler ;
one with the Gift of the gab (q.v.)
Fore-stall, In garotting, a look-
out in front of the operator, or Ugly-
man (q.v.); the watch behind is the
Baok-statt (q.v.) : see Stale.
form, in or out of condition, i.e. fit or
unfit for work. Setter (or top) form,
etc. (in comparison) : cf. Colour. 2.
Behaviour (with a moral significance :
as good form, bad form, agreeable to
good manners, breeding, principles,
taste, etc., or the opposite). This
usage, popularised in racing circles, is
good literary English, though the
word is commonly printed in inverted
commas (' '): Shakespeare ('Two
Gentlemen of Verona,' 4), says, * Can
no way change you to a milder form,'
ie. manner of behaviour. 3. Habit,
Game (q.v.): e.g. That's my form,
That's what Fm in the way of doing ;
or That's the sort of man I am.
172
Forney.
Four Seams.
Forney. A ring ; a variant of
Fawney (q.v.).
Fortune-biter. A sharper (1719).
Fortune - teller. A magistrate
(1696).
Forty. To talk foity (more com-
monly nineteen) to the dozen, to chatter
incessantly, gabble. To walk off
forty to the dozen, to decamp in quick
time. Roaring forties, the Atlantic
between the fortieth and fiftieth
degrees of latitude ; also applied to the
same region in southern latitudes.
Forty -faced. An arrant deceiver :
e.g. a forty-faced liar, a forty-faced
flirt, and so forth.
Forty-five. A revolver : see
Meat in the pot.
Forty-foot (or Forty-guts). A fat,
dumpy man, or woman : in contempt.
English synonyms : All arse and no
body, arse-and-corporation, all-belly
(Cotgrave) ; all guts (idem), bacon-
belly, barrel-belly, belly-god, bladder-
figured, bosse-belly, Bosse of Billings-
gate (Florio, a fat woman), chuff
(Shakespeare), Christmas beef, double-
guts, double- tripe, fat-cock, fat-guts
(Shakespeare and Cotgrave), fatico,
fattymus or fattyma, fubsy, fat Jack
of the bonehouse, fat-lips, flander-
kin, fustiluggs (Burton), fussock, gor-
belly, grampus, gotch-guts, grand-guts
(Florio), gulche (Florio), gullyguts,
gundigutts, guts, guts-and-stomach,
guts-and-garbage, guts-to-sell, hoddy-
hopper-arse, Jack Weight, loppers,
lummox, paunch, pod, porpoise, pot-
guts, princod, pudding-belly, puff-
guts, ribs, slush-bucket, sow (a fat
woman), spud, squab, studgy-guts,
tallow-guts, tallow-merchant, thick-
in - the - middle, tripes, tripes and
trullibubs, tubs, waist, water-butt,
waUnng-niaepin, whopper.
Forty-jawed. Excessively
talkative.
Forty-lunged, Stentorian ; given
to shouting ; Leather-lunged (q.v.).
Forty-rod (or Forty-rod Light-
ning). Whisky, specifically, spirit
so fiery that it is calculated to Mil
at Forty Rods' distance, i.e. on
sight : of. Rotgut. Cf. Morio (1598),
Catoolepa, ' a serpent in India so
venomous that with his looke he kils
a man a mile off.']
Forty - twa. A common jakes,
or Bogshop (q.v.) : in Edinburgh, So
called frora its accommodating that
number of persons at once (Rotten}.
[Long a thing of the past.]
Forty - winks. A short sleep or
nap : see Dog's sleep.
Fossed. Thrown.
Fossick. To work an abandoned
claim, or to wash old dirt ; hence to
search persistently. [Halliwell, to
take trouble, but of. fosse, a ditch
or excavation.] Also Possickzng, a
living got as aforesaid ; Fossicker. a
man that works abandoned claims ;
Fossicking about (American), Shinning
around, or in England, Ferreting (q.v. ).
Fou (or Fow). Drunk ; variants are
Bitch -fou, greetin* - f ou, piper-fou,
roaring-fou, fou as barty (Burns),
pissing-fou, and so forth : see Screwed.
Also (Scots), full of food or dnnk.
Foul. A running into or down.
As verb, to run against, run down;
also to come (or fall) foul of. [Foul,
adj. and verb, is used in two senses :
(1), dirty, as a foul word, a foul shrew
(Dickens), to foul the bed, etc. ; and (2)
unfair, as a foul (i.e. a felon) stroke, a
foul blow, and so forth.] To foul a
plate with., to dine or sup with (Grose).
Foulcher. A purse.
Foul-mouthed. Obscene or
blasphemous in speech.
Found. Found in a parsley-bed:
see Parsley-bed and Gooseberry-bush.
Four - and - nine (or Four - and
ninepenny). A hat. [So - called
from the price at which an enterpris-
ing Bread Street hatter sold his hats,
circa 1844, at which date London was
hideous with posters displaying a
large black hat and ' 4s. and 9d? in
white letters.]
Four-bones. The knees.
Four - eyes. A person in spec-
tacles : ' a chap that can't believe his
own eyes.'
Four - holed Middlings (Win-
chester College). Ordinary walking
shoes: of. Beeswaxers: obsolete.
Four Kings. The history (or look)
of the four kings, a pack of cards;
otherwise, A child's best guide to the
gallows, or The Devil's picture books :
FT., livre des quatre rois.
Four - legged burglar - alarm. A
watch dog.
Four - poster. A four-post bed-
stead.
Four Seams and a Bit of Soap,
A pair of trousers : see Kicks.
173
Four
Four (or Three) Sheets in the Foxed, stained or discoloured. 7.
Wind. Drunk ; cf . Half soas over : To criticise a brother pro's perform-
z ?(,• Screwed. anee. 8. To mend a boot by capping
Fourteen Hundred (Stock it. To set a fox to keep one's geese, to
Exchange). A warning cry that a entrust one's money, or oue's circum-
stranger is in the Eouse. The cry stances, to the care of sharpers. To
is said to have had its origin in the fact make a fox paw, to make a mistake or
that for a long while the number of a wrong move ; specifically (of women)
members never exceeded 1399; and to be seduced. FT., faux pas.
it was customary to hail ever}' new (Grose).
coiner as the fourteen hundredth. Fox's-sleep. A state of feigned yet
It has, in its primary sense, long since very vigilant indifference to one's
lost significance, for there are now surroundings. [Foxes were supposed
nearly three thousand members of to sleep with one eye open.]
the close corporation which has its Fox y. 1. Red-haired : cf. Car-
home in Capel Court. roty. 2. Cunning, vulpine in char-
Fourteenth Amendment Persua- acter and look. Once literary,
sion. Negroes. [From the number Jonson (1605) calls his arch- foist
of the clause amending the Constitu- Volpone, the second title of his play
tion at the abolition of slavery.] being The Fox ; and Florio (1598)
Fourth (Cambridge University), defines Volpone as : an old fox, an old
A Bear (q.v.) or jakes. [Origin un- reinard, an old, crafty, sly, subtle,
certain ; said to have been first used at companion, sneaking, larking, wilie
St. John's or Trinity, where the closets deceiver. 3. Repaired with new toe-
were situated in the Fourth Court, caps. 4. A term applied to prints
Whatever its derivation, the term is and books discoloured by damp. 5.
now the only one in use at Cambridge, Inclined to reddishness ( 1792). 6.
and is frequently heard outside the Strong-smelling : of a red-haired man
University.] The verbal phrase is or woman.
To keep a fourth (see Keep). On his Foy. A cheat, swindle (16 15).
fourth, hopelessly drunk : see Screwed. Foyl-cloy. A pickpocket ; a
Fourth Estate. The body of rogue (B. E.)~
journalists ; the Press. [Literally Foyst. See Foist.
the Fourth Estate of the realm, the Foyster. See Foister.
other three being the Queen, Lords, Fraggle. To rob.
and Commons.] Fragment (Winchester College).
Four-wheeler. 1. A steak. 2. A A dinner for six (served in College Hall,
four-wheeled cab ; a Growler (q.v.). after the ordinary dinner), ordered by
F o u s t y. Stinking [probably de- a Fellow in favour of a particular boy,
rived from foist, sense 3].
who was at liberty to invite five others
Fouter (Foutering). To meddle, to join him. [Obs. A fragment was
importune, waste time and tongue ; supposed to consist of three dishes. —
the act of meddling, importunity, Winchester Ward-book 1891].
wasting time and tongue : e.g. Don't Framer. A shawl (1859).
come foutering here ! From the Frater. A beggar working with
French : the sense of which is intensi- a false petition (1567).
fied in a vulgarism of still fuller Fraud. A failure, anything or
flavour]. body disappointing expectation ; e.g.
Fox. A sword j specifically, the an acquaintance, a picture, a book,
old English broadsword (1598). As a play, a picture, a bottle of wine,
verb, 1. to intoxicate, foxed, drunk; Actual dishonesty is not necessarily
to catch a fox, to be very drunk ; while implied.
to play the fox (Urquhart), to vomit, Fraze. See Vessel.
to shed your liquor, i.e. to get rid of the Freak. A living curiosity : as the
beast (1611). 2. To cheat, trick, Siamese Twins, the Two-headed Night-
rob (colloquial at Eton) : see Gammon ingale. [Short for .Freak of nature.]
(1631). 3. To watch closely: also to Free. Impudent, self-possessed,
fox about. 4. To sham. 5. To play As verb, to steal ; cf. Annex and
truant. 6. To stain, discolour with Convey. Free of jumble^s halt, im-
damp ; said of books and engravings, potent. Free, gratis,— for nothing, a
174
FreshmansJiip.
pleonastic vulgarism. Free of
intimate ; privileged to come and go
at will. For the rest, the commonest
sense of free is one of liberality : e.g.
Free of his foolishness, full of chaff ;
Free-handed, lavish in giving ; free-
Jiearted, generously disposed; free of
his patter, full of talk.
Free-and-easy. A social gathering
where smoke, drink, and song is the
order of the day : generally held at a
public house.
Freebooker. A' pirate ' book-
seller or publisher ; a play on ' free-
booter.'
Free fight. A general mellay.
Freeholder. 1. A prostitute's
lover or fancyman. 2. A man whose
wife insists on accompanying him to
a public house (1696).
Free-lance. An habitual adulteress.
Also said of a journalist attached to
no particular paper.
Freeman. A married woman's
lover. Freeman of bucks, a cuckold.
Freeman's Quay. To drink (or lush),
at freeman's quay, to drink at another's
expense. [Freeman's Quay was a
celebrated wharf near London Bridge.]
Freeze. 1. The act or state of
freezing, a frost. 2. Hard cider (Grose),
As verb, (1) to long for intensely
e.g. to freeze to go back, said of the
home-sick ; to freeze for meat. (2)
Hence, to appropriate, steal, stick to.
(3) To adulterate or Balderdash (q.v.)
wine with Freeze (q.v: sense 2)
(Grose). To freeze to (or on to), to take
a strong fancy to, cling to, keep fast
hold of ; and (of persons) button-hole
or shadow. To freeze out, to compel
to withdraw from society by cold and
contemptuous treatment ; from busi-
ness by competition or opposition ;
from the market by depressing prices
or rates of exchange.
Freezer. I. A tailless Eton jacket :
of. Bum-perisher. 2. A very cold
day. By analogy, a chilling look,
address, or retort.
French - elixir (cream, lace, or
article). Brandy. [The custom of
taking of brandy with tea and coffee
was originally French. Whence
French Cream. Laced tea, tea dashed
with spirits], English synonyms : ball-
of-fire, bingo, cold tea, cold nantz,
red ribbon.
French fake. The fashion of
coiling a rope by taking it backwards
and forwards in pi rallel bands, so that
it may run easily
French-gout (disease, or
fever). Sometimes gonorrhoea, but
more generally and correctly syphilis,
the llorbus GaUicus of older writers
(1598).
French Leave. To take French leave,
(1) to decamp without notice; (2) to
do anything without permission ; (3)
to purloin or steal ; (4) to run away (as
from aa enemy) [Derivation ob-
scure ; French, probably traceable to
the contempt engendered during the
wars with France ; the compliment
is returned in similar expressions.]
(1771).
French -pigeon. A pheasant killed
by mistake in the partridge season, a
Moko or Oriental (q.v.).
French - pig. A venereal bubo ; a
Blue boar (q.v.), or Winchester goose
(q.v.).
French -prints. Generic for indecent
pictures.
French-vice. A euphemism for
all sexual malpractices.
Frenchy. A Frenchman.
Fresh. 1. Said of an under-
graduate in his first term (1803).
2. Slightly intoxicated, elevated : see
Screwed. (Scots, sober). 3. Inex-
perienced, but conceited and presump-
tuous ; hence, forward, impudent
(1596). 4. Fasting ; opposed to eating
or drinking. Fresh as paint (as a,
rose, as a daisy, etc.), full of health,
strength, and activity ; Fit (q.v.).
Fresh on the graft, new to the work.
Fresh-bit A beginner.
Freshen. To freshen one's way, to
hurry, quicken one's movements. To
freshen up, to clean, vamp, revive,
smarten.
Fresher. An undergraduate in his
first term. The freshers* that part of
the Cam which lies between the Mill
and Byron's Pool. So called because
it is frequented by Freshmen (q.v.).
Fresh man (or Fresh er). A
University man during bis first year.
In Dublin University he is a junior
freshman during bis first year, and a
senior freshman the second year. At
Oxford the title lasts for the first term :
Ger., Fuchs (1596). As adj., of, or
pertaining to, a freshman, or a first year
student.
Freshrnansbip. Of the quality or
state of being a freshman (1605).
175
Freshman's Bible.
Fr audacious.
Freshman's Bible. The Univer-
sity Calendar : cf. Post-office Bible.
F r e s h m a n's - church. The
Pitt Press at Cambridge. [From its
ecclesiastical architecture.]
Freshman's - landmark. King's
College Chapel, Cambridge. [From
the situation.]
Freshwater-mariner (or seaman).
A beggar shamming sailor, a turnpike
sailor (q.v.) (Io67).
Freshwater-soldier. A raw recruit
(1598).
Fret. To fret one's gizzard (guts,
giblets, kidneys, cream, etc.), to get
harassed and worried about trifles,
Tear one's shirt (q.v ).
Friar. A pale spot in a printed
sheet: Fr., moine (monk).
Frib. A stick : see Toko (1754).
Fribble. A trifler, a contempt-
ible fop. [From the character in
Garrick's Miss in her Teens (1747)]
Friday-face. A gloomy, dejected-
looking man or woman : Fr., figure de
carfime. [Probably from Friday being,
ecclesiastically, the banyan day of
the week.] (1592). Whence, Friday-
faced, mortified, melancholy, sour-
featured (Scott).
Friendly- lead. An entertain-
ment (as a sing-song) got up to assist
a companion hi Trouble (q.v.), or to Frog-salad,
raise money for the wife and children piece (q.v.).
of a ' quodded pal.' ""
Friends -in-need. lace: see
Chates.
Frigate. A woman.
Frightfully. Very. An expletive
used as are Awfully, Beastly, Bloody,
etc. (q.v.).
Frig -pig. A finnickmg trifler
(Grose).
Frillery. Feminine under-
clothing : see Snowy.
Frills. Swagger, conceit ; also
accomplishments (as music, languages,
etc.), and culture. To put on one's
frills, to exaggerate, chant the poker,
after arrest, for evidence of char-
acter, antecedents, or identity. Hence,
careful examination of any kind
(1781). 2. To pick pockets, rob.
To frisk a cly, to empty a pocket. To
dance the Paddington frisk, to dance
on nothing ; i.e. to be hanged : see
Ladder. [Tyburn Tree was in Pad-
dington.]
Frisker. A dancer.
Frivol (or Friv vie). To act
frivolously, trifle. [A resuscitation
of an old word used in another sense,
viz. to annul, to sot aside].
Frog. 1. A policeman : see Beak.
2. A Frenchman. Also Froggy and
Frog-eater. [Formerly a Parisian;
the shield of whose city bore three
toads, while the quaggy state of the
streets gave point to a jest common
at Versailles before 1791 : Qu'en di-
sent les grenouilles ? i.e. What do
the frogs (the people of Paris) say ? ]
3. A foot : see Creepers. To frog on,
to get on, prosper. Frogging-on,
success.
Frog - and - Toad (rhyming). The
main road.
Frog-and-Toe. The city of New
York.
A Dutchman : cf.
(1696.)
A ballet ; i.e. a Leg-
Froglander.
Frog, sense 2.
Frog's-march. To give the frog's
march, to carry a man face down-
wards to the station ; a device adopted
with drunken or turbulent prisoners.
Frog's-wine. Gin : see Drinks.
Frolic. A merry-making.
Frosty-face. A pox-pitted man
(Grose).
Front. To conceal the operations
of a pickpocket ; to cover (q.v.).
Frontispiece. The face : see Dial.
Front-windows. The eyes ; also the
face.
Frost. 1. A complete failure : cf.
Fr., four noir, temps noir. 2. A dearth
swagger, put on side (q.v.); sing it of work, to have a frost, to be idle.
(q.v.) : Fr., se gonfler le jabot, and
faire son lard.
F r i n t. A pawnbroker : see
Uncle.
Frisco. Short for San Francisco.
Frisk. 1. A frolic, outing, Lark
(q.v.), mischief generally (1697). 2.
A dance (1719). As verb (thieves'),
(1) to search, run the rule over (q.v.).
Especially applied to the search made,
176
Froudacious (Froudacity). The
word ' Froudacity,* invented by Mr.
Darnell Davis in bis able review of
The Bow of Ulysses, by Mr. T. A.
Froude, reached the height of popu-
larity hi the Australasian Colonies,
where it was hi everyday use, the
author being accused of ignorance,
misleading, and careless treatment in
his book on the Australasian colonies.
Froust.
lutt.
F r o u s t (Harrow School). 1.
Extra, sleep allowed on Sunday morn-
ings and whole holidays : FT., fazre du
lard. 2. A stink, stuffiness (in a
room).
Frousty. Stinking.
F r o u t (Winchester College).
Angry, vexed.
Frow (Froe, or Vroe). A woman,
wife, mistress. [From the Butch.]
(1607).
Frummagemed. Choked, strangled,
spoilt (1671).
Frump. 1. A coutemptuous speech
or - piece of conduct, sneer, a jest
(1553). 2. A slattern; more com-
monly a prim old lady ; the correlative
of Fogey (q.v.): FT., graillon. 3. A
cheat, a tnck. As verb, to mock, in-
sult (1589).
Frumper. A sturdy man, good
blade (1825).
Frumpish. Cross-grained, old-
fashioned and severe in dress, manners,
morals, and notions : also ill-natured,
given to frumps. Also Frumpy ( 1589).
Frushee. An open jam tart.
Fry. To translate into plain
English : cf. Boil down. Go and fry
your face, a retort expressive of in-
credulity, derision, or contempt.
Frying-pan. To leap (or jump)
from the frying-pan into the fire, to go
from bad to worse : cf . from the smoke
into the smother ('As You Like It,' i.
ii.) : FT., tomber de la poele dans la
braise (1684). To fry the pewter, to
melt down pewter measures.
F-sharp. A flea : cf. B-flat.
Fuant. Excrement.
Fub. To cheat, steal, put off with
false excuses. Also Fubbery, cheat-
ing, stealing, deception.
Fubsey (or Fubsy). Plump, fat,
well -filled. Fubsy dummy, a well-
filled pocket - book ; fubsy wench, a
plump girl (Grose).
Fubsiness. Any sort of fat-
ness.
Fuddle. 1- Drink. [Wedgwood :
A corruption of Fuzz.] (1621). 2, A
drunken bout; a Drunk. As verb,
to be drunk: see Screwed.
Fuddlecap (or Fuddler). A
drunkard, boon companion: see Lush-
ington (1607).
Fuddled. Stupid with drink: see
Screwed (1661).
Fudge. Nonsense, humbug, ex-
aggeration, falsehood (1700). Also
as an exclamation of contempt. As
verb, (1) to fabricate, interpolate,
contrive without proper materials.
(2) To copy, to crib. (3j To botch,
bungle, muff (q.v.). (4) To advance
the hand unfairly at marbles.
Fug (Shrewsbury School). To stay
in a stuffy room. As adj., stuffy.
Fuggy. A hot roll.
Fugo. The rectum (Cotgrave).
Fulhams (or Fullams). 1. Loaded
dice ; called l high 'or k low ' Fulhams
as they were intended to turn up
high of low. [Conjecturally, because
manufactured at Fulham, or because
that village was a notorious resort
of blacklegs.] (1594). 2. A sham, a
Make-believe (q.v.) (1664).
Fulham - virgin. A prostitute :
cf . Bankside lady, Covent Garden nun,
St. John's Wood vestal, etc.
Fulk. To use an unfair motion of
the hand in plumping at taw (Grose),
F u 1 k e r. A pawnbroker : see
Uncle (1566).
Full. 1. Drunk : see Screwed. 2.
Used by bookmakers to signify that
they have laid all the money they wish
against a particular horse. Full guts,
a swag -bellied man or woman. A
fiitt hand, five large beers. Full in the
betty, with child. Full in the pasterns
(or the hocks), thick - ankled. Full
team, an eulogium, A man is a full
team when of consequence in the
community. Variants are whole team,
or whole team and a horse to spare :
cf. One-horse=mean, insignificant, or
strikingly small. Full in the waist-
coat, swag-bellied. FuU of 'em, lousy,
nitty, full of fleas. FuU to the bung,
very drunk: see Screwed. To have
(or wear) a full suit of mourning, to
have two black eyes. Half-mourning,
one black eye : see Mouse. To come
futt bob, to come suddenly, full tilfc,
FuU against, (1) dead, or decidedly
opposed to, a person, thing, or place.
FuU-flavoured, peculiarly rank: as a
story, an exhibition of profane swear-
ing. Full-gutted, stout, swag-bellied.
FuU of emptiness, utterly void. Full
on, set strongly in a given direction,
especially in an obscene sense. At
futt chisel, at full speed; with the
greatest violence or impetuosity.
Also Full drive ; FuU split. In full
blast (swing), etc., in the height of
success ; in hot pursuit. In fuU dig,
on full pay. In fuU feather: see
177
s Earth.
Furk.
Feather. In full fig: see Fig. Full
of it, with child. FvU of gvte, full oi
vigour, excellently inspired auu done :
as a picture, a novel, arid so forth :
see Guts. FvU of beans : see Beans.
Full of bread : see Bread.
Fuller's Earth. Gin : see Satin.
Fullied. To be juUied, to be com-
mitted for trial : Fr., ctre mis sur la
planche au pain. [From the news-
paper expression* Fully committed.]
Fulness. There's not fulness
enough in the sleeve top, a derisive
answer to a threat.
F u m b 1 e r. An impotent man
(1690).
Fumbles. Gloves.
Fun. 1. A cheat, a trick. As
verb, ( 1 ) to cheat, trick : also (2) To put
the fun on. 2. The posteriors, or
Western End (Marvell). Probably
an abbreviation of fundament. To
poke fun at, to joke, ridicule, make
a butt. To have been making fun,
intoxicated : see Screwed.
Functior (or Puncture) (Win-
chester College). An iron bracket
candlestick, used for the nightlight in
college chambers. [The word, says
Winchester Notions, looks like fuLc-
tura, an earlier form of fulture, mean-
ing a prop or stay, with phonetic
change of I into TO.]
Fundamental -features. The
posteriors (1818).
Funds. Finances ; e.g. My
funds are very low.
Funeral. Ifs not my (or your)
funeral, it is no business of mine, or
yours : Fr., nib dans mes blots (that is
not my affair). Also used affirm-
atively.
Fungus. An old man.
Funk. 1. Tobacco smoke ; also a
powerful stink. 2. A state of fear,
trepidation, nervousness, or cowardice,
a stew (q.v.). Generally, with an
intensitive, e.g. a mortal, awful,
bloody, or blue funk : Fr., guenette,
flubart, frousse. 3. A coward. As
verb, (1) to smoke out ; see Funk the
cobbler. (2) To terrify, shrink or
quail through nervousness or coward-
ice. (3) To fear, hesitate, shirk; and
(among pugilists) to come it (q.v.)
English .synonyms: to come it, to lose
one's guts, to get the needle (athletic),
(4) To be nervous, lose heart. (5) To
move the hand forward unfairly in
playing marbles; to fudge (q«v.).
To funk the cobbler, to smoke out a
schoolmate : a trick performed with
asafoetida and cotton stuffed into a
hollow tube or cow's horn ; the cotton
being lighted, the smoke is blown
through the keyhole (1698). See also
Peter Funk.
Funker. 1. A pipe, a cigar ; a fire.
2. A low thief. 3. A coward.
Funking - room. Tho room at
the Royal College of Surgeons where
the students collect on the last even-
ing of their final during the addition
of their marks, and whence each is
summoned by an official announcing
failure or success.
Funkster (Winchester College).
A coward ; one that funks (q.v.).
Funky. Nervous, frightened, timid
(1845).
Funnel. The throat: see Gutter
Alley.
Funniment. A joke, either practical
or verbal.
Funny. A chnker-built, narrow
boat for sculls. To feel funny, to be
overtaken with (1) emotion, or (2)
dnnk : e.g. to was amorous, or get the
flavour (q.y.) ; to begin to be the
worse for liquor.
Funny Bone. The elbow, with the
passage of the ulnar nerve connecting
the two bones : the extremity of the
humerus (1837).
Funny - man. A circus clown.
Also a joker in private life.
Fur. To make the fur fly : see
Fly. To have one's fur out, to be
angry.
Fur - and - feathers. Generic for
game.
Furioso. A blusterer. ItaL,
funoso = raving (1692). English
synonyms: barker, blower, bodadil,
bouncer, bulldozer (American), caca-
fogo, Captain Bounce, Captain Bluff,
Captain Grand, Captain Hackam,
cutter, fire-eater, hector, huff-cap,
humgiiffin, gasser, gasman, mouth,
mouth - almighty, pissfire, pump-
thunder, ramper, roarer, ruffler, shite-
fire, slangwhanger, spitfire, swash-
buckler, swasher, teazer, Timothy
Tearcat.
Furk (Ferk, Firk) (Winchester
College). To expel, send (as on a
message), drive away. Also To furk
up, and furk down. [Old English
fercian, High German ferlcen, Middle
English, to lead or send away.]
178
Furmen.
Gaffer.
Furmen. Aldermen. From their
fur-trimmed robes.
Furmity-faced. White-faced: e.g.
to simper like a funnity kitten (Grose).
Furnish. To fill out, improve in
strength and appearance.
Furniture-picture. A picture sold
not as a piece of art but as a piece
of upholstery, such things being turned
out by the score, as pianos are, or
three - legged stools ; the worst and
cheapest kind of Pot-boiler (q.v.).
Furry - tail. A non-unionist ; a
Rat (q.v.)- Specifically, a workman
accepting employment at less than
Society -wages : ef. Dung, Flint,
etc.
Further. Pll see you further
first, a denial.
Fur-trade. Barristers.
F u s s o c k (or Fussocks). Op-
probrious term for a fat woman (1690).
Fust (or Fust out). To end in
smoke, go to waste, end in nothing :
cf. Fizzle.
Fustian. 1. Bombast, bad
rhetoric, sound without sense, bom-
bastic ranting : now accepted (1598).
2. Wine. Whiue fubtian, champagne ;
red fustian, port.
Fustilarian. A low fellow, a
common scoundrel (1598).
Fustilug (Fustilugs). A piece of
grossness — male or female, a coarse
and dirty Blowzalinda, a foul slut, a
fat stinkard (169C).
Future. To deal in futures, to
speculate for a rise or fall.
Fuzz. 1. To shuffle cords min-
utely ; also to change the pack (Grose).
2. To be, or make, drunk (1685).
Fuzziness. The condition of
being in driak. Hence blurredaess,
incoherence, bewilderment.
Fuzzy. 1. Drunk: seo Screwed.
Hence blurred (as a picture), tangled,
incoherent or inconsequent. 2. Bough,
as in a fuzzy head, a fuzzy cloth, a
fuzzy bit (a full - grown wench), a
fuzzy carpet, etc.
Fuzzy-wuzzy. A Soudanese tribes-
man.
Fye-buck, A sixpence : see Rhino
(1781).
Fylche. See Filch.
Fyst. See Foist.
Gab. 1. The mouth; also Gob:
see Potato trap. 2. Talk, idle babble :
also Gabb, Gabber, and Gabble (1712).
As verb, to talk fluently or brilliantly,
to lie (1383). Gift of the gab (or gob),
the gift of conversation, the talent for
speech: Fr., n' avoir fas sa languedans
sa poche. To Now the. gab, to inform,
peach (q.v.). Also to blow the gaff
(q.v.). To fash the gab, to show off
(q.v.) in talk ; cf. Air one's vocabulary.
Gabble. 1. A gossip : also
Gabbler, Gabble- grinder, Gabble-
merchant, and Gabble - monger. 2.
A voluble talker.
Gabble-mill. 1. The United States
Congress: also Gabble-manufactory.
2. A pulpit: see Humbox. 3. The
mouth : see Potato-trap.
Gable. The head : also Gable-
end : see Crumpet.
Gabster. A voluble talker, whether
eloquent or vain ; one having the Gift
of the gab (q.v.).
Gab-string. See Gob-string.
Gaby (also Gabbey and Gabby).
A fool, babbler, boor : see Buffle.
Gad. An idle slattern : Le. Gad-
about (q.v.). As intj., an abbrevia-
tion of By Gad ! On. the gad, 1. on the
spur of the moment. 2. On the move,
on the gossip. 3. On the spree (especi-
ally of women) ; and, by implication,
on the town. To gad the hoof, to walk
or go without shoes, Pad the hoof
(q.v.). Also, more loosely, to walk or
roam about.
Gadabout. A trapesing gossip ; as
a housewife seldom seen at home, but
very often at her neighbours' doors.
Also as adjective ; e.g. A Gad-about
hussey.
Gaff. LA fair (1754). 2. A
cheap, low music-hall or theatre;
frequently Penny-gaff. 3. A hoar,
an imposture. 4. (American cock-
pit) A steel spur. 5. (anglers') A
landing spear, barbed in the iron. As
verb, (1) to toss for liquor. (2) To play
in a gaff (q.v. sense 2). To blow the
gaff (or gab), to give information, let
out a secret (1186).
G a ff e r. 1. An old man ; the
masculine of Gammer (q.v.). Also a
179
Gallant,.
title of address : e.g. Good day,
gaffer! Cf. Uncle and Daddy.
Also, by implication, a husband. 2.
A master, employer, Boss (q.v.) ;
(athletic) a pedestrian trainer and
u iarmer ' ; and (navvies')
suffering imposes on the credulity o*
people.
G a g g e r. A player dealing in
Gags (q.v.), sense 2. Also Gaggist,
Gag-master, and Gagster.
Gaggery. The practice of Gag-
ging (q.v.), sense 3.
master or Ganger (q.v.) (1719). _ ^ 0 , ^ „
A toss-penny, a gambler. Gagging. 1. Bluff (q.v.); speci-
Gaffing. A mode of tossing for fically, Bunco-steering (q.v.), the art of
drinks, etc., in which three corns are talking over and persuading a stranger
placed in a hat, shaken up, and then that he is an old acquaintance. 2.
thrown on the table. If the party to Loitering about for fares, * crawling.'
3. Dealing in Gags (q.v.), sense 1.
Also as ppl. adj.
Gaggler's-coach. A hurdle.
Gail. A horse : see Prad.
.
call, calls heads (or tails) and all
three coins are as he calls them, he
wins ; if not, he pays a settled amount
towards drinks (Egan).
Gag. 1. A joke, invention, hoax.
Also as verb, to hoar, puff (1781). 2.
Expressions interpolated by an actor
in his part : especially such as can be
repeated again and again in the course Fr.s gagn&r
of performance. Certain plays, as 'The
Critic,' are recognised ' gag- pieces,'
and in these the practice is accounted
Gaily - like. Showyf expensive,
Bang-up (q.v.).
Gain-pain. A sword ; specifically, in
the Middle Ages, that of a hired soldier.
to
bread.
Cf. Breadwinner and Potboiler
(artists').]
f Gait Walk in life, profession,
legitimate. Cf. ' Hamlet,' m. ii. 'And mode of making a living, Game (q.v.).
let those that play your clowns, say no Gaiters. Half boots, shoes.
more than is set down for them.* Cf.
Wheeze. A typical example is the
' I believe you, my boy ! ' of the late
Paul Bedford. Occasionally gag=
patter (q.v.). Also as verb. 3. A
... . .
commonwealth of players in which
Gal. 1. A girl, servant-maid, sweet-
heart. Best girl, favourite flame. 2.
A prostitute. 3. A female rough.
Galaney. See Galeny.
Galanty- (Gallanty- or Galantee-)
show. A shadow pantomime : silhou-
the profits are shared : cf . Conscience, ettes shown on a transparency or
4. A fool ; ie. a thing to laugh at : see thrown on a white sheet by a magic
Buffie. 5. (Christ's Hospital). Boiled lantern : specifically, the former,
fafc beef. Gag-eater, a term of reproach ~
(1813). 6. (Winchester College). An
exercise (said to have been invented
by Dr. Gabell) which consists in
Gal-boy. A romp, Tom-boy (q.v.).
Galen. An apothecary : see
Gallipot.
Galena. Salt pork. [Galen,
writing Lathi criticisms on some EL, a chief hog-raising and pork-
" ' ^ ' ' -*---•• " '- packing centre.]
Galeny (or Galany). The domestic
(
celebrated piece, in a book sent in
about once a month. In the Parts
below Sixth Book and Senior Part, the hen ; now (West of England) a
gags consisted in historical analysis, fowl : see Cackling - cheat. LJuaTin,
[An abbreviation of gathering.] As gaUina.]
verb, (1) see supra, and (2) to in- Galimaufrey. 1. A medley, jumble,
form, Round on (q.v.); also to blow chaos of differences. [Fr., gallimavfree,
the gag. On the high gag, on the a hash.] (1592). 2. A hodge-podge
whisper, telling secrets. On the low of scraps and leavings (1724). 3. A
gag, on the last rungs of beggary, ill- mistress (1596).
luck, or despair. To strike the gag, to
cease from chaffing.
Gage (Gauge, or Gag). 1. A quart
pot (i.e. a measure) : also a drink or
Go (q.v.). (1567). 2. (18th century).
Gall. Effrontery, Cheek (q.v.),
Brass (q.v.); e.g. Ain't he got a
gall on him ? (1789).
Gallant. A Dandy (q.v.), ladies'
man, lover, cuckold-maker, whether
A chamber-pot. 3. A pip© (1696). 4. in posse or in esse (Shakespeare). As
A man : see Cove.
Gagers. The eyes : see Glims
Gagga. A cheat, who by sham
.
adj., (1) valiant ; (2) showy ; (3) amor-
ous. As verb, to sweetheart, squire,
escort, pursue, or enjoy. To
pretence and wonderful stories of gallant a fan, to break with design,
180
Gallant Fiftieth.
Galoot.
to afford aii opportunity of presenting
a better (B. E,) (1690).
Gallant Fiftieth. The .Fiftieth
Foot. [For its share in VimieTa,
1808.] Also, Blind half -hundred
(q.v.); and Dirty half-hundred (q.v.).
Gallantry. (1) Sparkishness
(q.v.), dandyism; and (2) the habit,
or pursuit, of sexuality. A bfe oj
gallantry, a life devoted to the other
sex.
Gallery (Winchester College)
A commoner bedroom. [From a tra-
dition of galleries in Commoners.]
See Gallery-nymphs. To play to the
gallery, to act so as to win the applause
of the vulgar : i.e. to abandon distinc-
tion and art for coarseness of means
and cheapness of effect. Said indif-
ferently of any one in any profession
who exerts himself to win the suffrages
of the mob ; as a political demagogue,
a ' Tjopular ' preacher, a * fashion-
able ' painter, and so on. Hence,
Gallery - hit (shot, stroke, etc.), a
touch desig led for. and exclusively ad-
dressed to, the non- critical. To play
the gallery, to make an audience, ap-
plaud.
Gallery-nymph (Winchester Col-
lege). A housemaid : see Gallery.
Galley, Put a brass galley down
your back (printers'), an admonition to
appear before a principal, implying
that the galley will serve as a screen.
Galley-foist. The state barge, used
by the Lord Mayor when sworn in at
Westminster (1609).
Galley - growler (or stoker).
A loafer, Malingerer (q.v.), Grumble-
guts (q.v.).
Galley - halfpenny. A base coin,
temp. Henry IV. Because commonly
imported m Genoese galleys.]
Galley-slave. A compositor : see
Donkey (1683).
Galleywest. An indefinite super-
lative : of. About-east.
Galley-yarn (or news). A lying
story, a swindle or Take-in (q.v.).
Frequently abbreviated to ' G.Y.*
Gallied. Harried, vexed, over-
fatigued, perhaps like a galley-slave
(Grose). In Australia, frightened.
GalHnipper. A large mosquito.
Gallipot. An apothecary. Eng-
lish synonyms: bolus, bum- tender,
clyster-giver, clyster-pipe, croaker,
crocus, drugs, Ollapod (from a crea-
tion of the Younger Coleman's),
gagemonger, Galen (irom the great
physician), Jakes- provider, pill-box,
pill - merchant, pills, squirt, salts-
and-senna, squire of the pot.
Gallivant. 1. To ga<l about
with, or after, one of the other sex,
play the gallant, do the agreeable.
2. To Trapes (q.v.), fuss, bustle about.
Galliyate. To frisk, figure about:
cL Gallivant.
Gallon. Whafs a gfUlon of rum
among one.? The retort sarcastic;
applied, e.g. to those with fc eyes too
big for their stomach," to dispro-
portionate ideas of the fitness of tilings,
and so forth.
Gallon - distemper. 1. Delirium
tremens ; 2. the lighter after-effects of
drinking. English synonyms: (1) For
the former — barrel-fever, black-dog,
blue-devils, blue Johnnies (Australian),
B. J. (idem), blues, bottle-ache, D. T. ;
horrors, jim-jams, jumps, pink-spiders,
quart - mania, rams, rats, shakes,
snakes in the boots, trembles,triangles,
uglies. (2) For the latter — a head, hot-
coppers, a mouth, a touch of the
brewer, a sore head (Scots).
Galloper. 1. A blood horse, a
hunter. 2. An aide-de-camp.
Gallow-grass. Hemp [ie. haltera
in the rough.] (1578).
Gallows. 1. A rascal, a wretch
deserving the rope (1594). 2. gener-
ally in. pi., Gallowses, a pair of braces.
As adv., excessively: of. Bloody,
Bleeding (q.v.), etc. As adj., great,
uncommon, real (1551).
Gallows-bird (also Newgate-
bird). 1. A son of the rope, habitual
criminal, vagabond or scoundrel — old
or young, crack-rope or wag-halter
(Cotgrave ; a gallows clapper (Florio) :
FT., gibier de Cayenne (or de potence).
2. (common). A corpse on, or from,
the gallows.
Gallows-faced. Evil-looking, hang-
dog : also Gallows-looking (1766).
Gallows - minded. Criminal in
habit and idea, evil-hearted.
Gallowsness. Rascality, reck -
Gallows-ripe. Ripe for the rope.
Gallus. See Gallows.
Gally-f oist. See Galley-foist.
Gallyslopes. Breeches: see
Kicks.
Galoot (also Galloot and Geeloot).
A man (sometimes in contempt) ; also
(in America) & worthless fellow (or
Gal&ptious.
Gammon.
thui^j, ro'vuy, C.ul (q v.). On tkegay
gafoof, on the sprf«?.
Gaioptious (or Galuptious).
Delightful • a ^t-neral superlative.
Galore (a'^'j Gallore and Golore).
In abundance, pleuty.
Galumph. To bump along : ono-
inatopceia.
Galvanised-Yankee. A Greyback
(q.v.) wlio took the oath to the North
and served in iti ar:nies.
Gam. 1. Pluck, gameness. 2.
Stealing (Mnisell, 1S59). As verb, (1)
to steal. ('2) To engage in social inter-
course, make a call, hwe a chat.
Gamaliel. A pedant, a person
curious of the letter and the form :
e.g, these Gamaliels of the theory
=5 these ultra-panians, to whom the
spint is nothing.
Gamb (or Gam). A leg : an heraldic
term. [It., gambs ; Fr.. jainhe, ; prob-
ably througli Lingua Franca.]
Gamble. A venture, Flutter (q.v.).
Gambler. ' A guinea - dropper ;
one class of sharpers ' (Bailey). ' A
tricking gamester ' (Grose). ' A cant
word, I suppose. A knave whose
practice it is to iavite the unwary to
game and cheat them ' ( Johnson).
Gambol. A railway ticket.
Gam-cases. Stockings.
Game. 1. The proceeds of a
robbery, Swag (q.v.). 2. A company
of harlots. A game -pullet, a young
prostitute. 3. A gull, simpleton : see
Bufne. 4. Specifically, the game,
thieving ; also (nautical), slave trading.
Hen of the game, a shrew, a fighting
onicers could be corrupted by bribes to
allow the cargo to be stolen (Clark
Rusaell). Cock of the game, a champ-
ion, an undoubted blood, a star of
magnitude (cook- pit) (1719). To make
game of, to turn into ridicule, delude,
humbug (1671). To die game, to
maintain a resolute attitude to the last,
to show no contrition. To get against
the game, to take a risk, chance it.
[From the game of poker.] To play
Ihe, game, to do a thing properly, do
what is right and proper.
Gamecock. Hectoring, angry,
valiant out of place.
Gameness. Pluck, endurance, the
mixture of spirit and bottom.
Gamester. 1. A prostitute (1598).
2. A ruffler, gallant, wencher ; a man,
fit and ready for anything ; also a
player (1639).
G a m e y. 1. High - smelling,
offensive to the nose, half-rotten. 2.
Frisky, plucky.
Gaminess. The malodorousness
proceeding from decay and — by im-
plication — filthiness.
Gaming-house. A house of ill-re-
pute — hell, tavern, or stews (1611).
Gammer. An old wife : a familiar
address — the correlative of Gaffer
(q.v.) (1551).
Gamming. A whaleman's term for
visits paid by crews to each other at
sea.
Gammon. 1. Nonsense, humbug,
deceit : sometimes Gammon and
rach. No gammon, no error, no
(1363). Also as verb, English
JLLO/* U{ WVC yu-//CK, O. OUJ.CW, 01 J-lgU.Vl.Ltg, LM3O ^JLOU£>;. XXI9U <*O V OX k/, J^JllgJUEjU.
woman (1639). 5. A source of amuse- synonyms : to bam, to bamblustercate,
ment. Lork (q.v.), Barney (q.v.) ; as,
e.g. It was such a game ! 6. A
design, trick, object, line of conduct :
e.g. What's your little game, What
are you after ? Also, None of your little
games ' None of your tricks ! As adj.,
(1) plucky, enduring, full of spirit and
Bottom (q.v.). [Cock-pit and pugil-
ists. The word may be said to have
passed into the language with the rise
to renown of Harrv Pearce, sur-
named the Game Chicken.] (1747).
(2) Beady, willing, prepared. [Also
from cock-fighting. See sense 1.]
(3) Lame, crooked, disabled: as in
Game leg. (4) Knowing, wide-awake,
and (of women) Flash (q.v.) : e.g.
Game-cove, an associate of thieves ;
Game-woman, a prostitute; Game-ship
(old), a ship whose commander and
to bamboozle, to bambosh, to barney,
to be on the job, to best, to bilk, to
blarney, to blow, to bosh, to bounce,
to cob, to cod, to cog, to chaff, to come
over (or the artful, or Paddy, or the
old soldier over) one, to cram, to dof
to do brown, to doctor, to do Taffy,
to fake the kidment, to flare up, to
flam, to flummox, to get at (round,
or to windward of) one, to gild the
pill, to give a cock's egg, to gravel,
to gull, to haze, to jimmify, to jaw,
to jockey, to jolly, to kid, to make
believe the moon is made of green
cheese (Gotgrave), to mogue, to palm
off on, to pickle, to plant, to plum, to
poke bogey (or fun) at, to promoss,
to put the kibosh on, to put in the
chair, cart, or basket, to pull the leg,
to queer, to quiz, to roast, to roor-
182
Gammoner.
back, to run a bluff, or the shenani-
gan, lo sell, to send for pigeon's milk,
to sit upon, to send for oil of strappurn,
etc., to shave, to sluni, or slumguzzle,
to smoke, to snack, to soap, soft soap,
sawder, or soft sawder, to spoof, to
stick, to stall, to string, or get on a
string, to stuff, to sawdust, or get on
sawdust and treacle, to suck, to suck
up, to sugar, to swap off, to take a rise
out of, to rot, to tommy-rot, to take
in, or down, to take to town, to take
to the fair, to tip the traveller, to try
it on, to throw dust in the eyes, to
throw a tub to a whale, to pepper,
to throw pepper in the eyes, to use the
pepper box, to whiffle, to work the
poppycock racket (Irish- American).
[Note. — Many of the foregoing are
used substantively.] 2. A confederate
whose duty is to engage the attention
of a victim during robbery, Bonnet
(q.v.), Cover (q.y.). Also as verb,
to humbug : deceive, to take in. As
intj., nonsense, Skittles (q.v.). Gam-
mon and Patter, (1) the language used
by thieves ; (2) (modem), a meeting, a
Palaver (q.v.) ; (3) commonplace talk
of any kind. To give (or keep) in
gammon, to engage a person's atten-
tion while a confederate is robbing
him (1719). To gammon lusJiy (or
queer, etc.), to feign drunkenness,
sickness, etc. To gammon the twelve,
to deceive the jury.
Commoner. 1. One who Gam-
mons (q.v.), a nonsense-monger: FT.,
bonisseur de loffitudes, Iblagueur, man-
geur de frimea. 2. A confederate who
covers the action of his chief, Bonnet
Cover, Stall, all which see.
Gammy. 1. Cant. 2. A nick-
name for a lameter ; a Hopping Jesus
(q.v.). 3. A fool: see Buffle. As
adj., (1) bad, impossible. Applied to
householders of whom it is known
that nothing can be got. Gammy -
vial, a town in which the police will
not allow unlicensed hawking. (Vial,
Fr., ViUe). (2) Forged, false, spurious :
as a gammy-monek&r, a forged signa-
ture ; gammy-lour, counterfeit money,
etc. (3) Old, ugly. (4) Same as Game,
sense 3 : e.g. a gammy arm, an arm
in dock. Gammy-eyed, blind, sore-
eyed ; or afflicted with ecchymosis in
the region of the eyes. Gammey-lcg,
a lame leg. Also (subs.) a term of
derision for the halt and the maimed.
Gamp. I. A monthly nurse,
Finger-smith (q.v.). lira. Sarah
Gamp, a character in Martin Chuzzle-
wit (1843).] Albo a fussy and gossip-
ing busybouy. 2. An umbrella ;
specifically, oue large and loosely
tied, Lettuce (q.v.). [The original
Sarah always carried one of this said
pattern.] Sometimes a Sarah Gamp.
Mrs. Gamp, The Standard. As adj.,
bulging ; also Gampish.
Gamut. Tone, general scheme,
Swim (q.v.). Thus ^n tlte gamut, a
picture, a detail, or a shade of colour,
in tone with its environment.
Gan (also Gane). The mouth:
occasionally, throat, lip : see Potato
trap (1572).
Gander. A married man ; in
America one not living with his wife,
Grass- widower (q.v.). As verb, to
ramble, waddle (as a goose). Also, to
quest for women. Gone gander: see
Gone coon. To see how the gander
hops, to watch events, see how the cat
jumps. If hat's sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander, a plea for consist-
ency.
Gander-month. The month after
confinement ; when a certain license
(or so it was held) is excusable in the
male. Also Gander-moon, the hus-
band at such a period being called a
Gander-mooner : of. Buck-hutch, and
Goose-month (1617).
Gander - party. A gathering of
men, Stag-party (q.v.) ; also Bull-
dance, Gander-gang, etc. : cf. Hen-
party, an assembly of women.
Gander-pulling. See Goose-riding.
Gander 's-wool. Feathers.
Gang. A troop, a company (1639).
Ganger. An overseer or foreman
of a gang of workmen, a superin-
tendent
Ganymede. A pot-boy (i.e.
a cup-bearer) : the masculine of Hebe
(q.v.) (1659).
Gaol-bird. A person often in gaol,
an incorrigible rogue : Fr., chevronne.
Gaoler's - coach. A hurdle to the
place of execution (1785).
Gap. To Now the gap, to blow the
Gaff (q.v.).
Gapes. A fit of yawning ; also the
open mouth of astonishment (1818).
Gapeseed. 1. A cause of aston-
ishment, anything provoking the
ignorant to stare with open mouth :
also to seek a gape's nest (1598). 2. An
open-mouthed loiterer^
183
Gapped.
Gaskins.
Gapped. Worsted, Floored (q.v.).
Gar. See By gar !
Garble. Garbling the coinage, a
practice amongst money-lenders of
picking out the newest coins of full
weight for export or re-melting, and
passing the light ones into circula-
tion.
Garden (The). 1. (greengrocers',
fruiterers', etc.), Co vent Garden
Market; 2. (theatrical), Covent Gar-
den Iheatre ; 3. (diamond merchants'),
Hatton Garden. Cf. House, Lane,
etc. The Garden (Covent Garden)
was frequently used for the whole
neighbourhood, which was notorious
as a place of strumpets and stews.
Thus, Garden - house, a brothel;
Garden-goddess, a woman of pleasure;
Garden-gout, venereal disease ; Gar-
den~ichore, a low prostitute, etc.] To
<put one in the garden, to defraud a
confederate, keep back part of the
Regulars (q.v.), or Swag (q.v.).
Gardener. An awkward coach-
man : cf. Tea-kettle Coachman.
Garden-gate (rhyming). A
magistrate : see Beak.
Garden Latin. Barbarous or
sham Latin ; also Apothecaries', Bog,
Dog, and Kitchen Latin.
Garden - rake. A tooth - comb :
also Scratching-rake, or R-ake.
Gardy-loo. A warning cry ;
take care ! [Fr., gardez (vous de)
Feau ! Used before emptying slops
out of window into the street. Hence
the act of emptying slops itself.]
Gargle, A drink : generic : cf.
Lotion, and see Go. As verb, to
drink, liquor up : see Lush.
Gargle-factory. A public house :
see Lush-crib.
Garn. A corruption of Go on 1 Get
away with you !
Garnish. 1. A fee, Footing (q.v.) ;
specifically when exacted by gaolers
and old prisoners from a newcomer.
The practice was forbidden by 4 Geo.
IV., c. 43, see. 12. Also Garnish-
money (1592). 2. Fetters, handcuffs :
see Darbies. As verb, to fetter,
handcuff.
Garret 1. The head, Cockloft
(q.v.), Upper storey (q.v.) : see
Crumpet (1625). 2. The fob-pocket.
To have one's garret unfurnished, to be
crazy, stupid, lumpish : Balmy (q.v.).
Garreteer. LA thief robbing
houses by entering skylights or garret-
windows : also Dancer and Dancing-
master. 2. An impecunious author,
literary hack.
Garret-master. A cabinet - maker
working on his own account, and selling
his manufacture to the dealers direct.
Garrison-hack. 1. A woman given
to indiscriminate flirtation with
officers at a garrison. 2. A prostitute,
a soldier's trull.
Garrotte. A form of strangula-
tion (see verb). [From the Spanish
la garrota, a method of capital punish-
ment, which consists in strangulation
by means of an iron collar.] As verb,
(1) a method of robbery with violence,
much practised some years ago. The
victims were generally old or feeble
men and women. Three hands were
engaged : the Front-stall who looked
out in that quarter, the Back- stall at
the rear, and the Ugly or Nasty-man
who did the work by passing bis arm
round his subject's neck from behind,
and so throttling him to insensibility.
(2) To cheat by concealing certain
cards at the back of the neck.
Garrotte r. A practitioner of
garrotting (under verb, sense 1).
Garrotting. 1. See Garrotte (verb,
sense 1). 2. Hiding a part of one's
hand at the back of the neck for
purposes of cheating.
Garter. In pi. the irons, or
bilboes: see Darbies. To fly (or
prick) the garter : see Prick.
G a r v i e s. 1. Sprats : some-
times Garvie-herrmg. 2. The Garvies,
the Ninety-fourth Foot. [From the
small stature of earlier recruits.]
Gas. Empty talk, bounce, bombast.
As verb, (1) to talk idly, brag, bounce,
talk for talking' s sake : Fr., faire son
cheval de corbutard (in American, To
be on the tall grass) : see Long Bow.
(2) To impose on, to Pill (q.v.), to
Splash (q.v.) : see Gammon. To take
the gas o^lt of one, to take the conceit
out of, take down a peg. To turn cm
the gas, to bounce, Gas (q.v.). To
turn off the gas, to cease, or cause to
cease, from bouncing, vapouring, or •
Gas (q.v.). To gas round, to seek
information on the sly, Gas (q.v.).
Gas-bag. A man of words or Gas
(q.v.), gasconader : also Gasometer.
Gash. The mouth : see Potato-
trap.
Gashly. A vulgarism for Ghastly.
Gaskins. Wide hose, wide
184
Gasp.
Gawk.
breeches. From Galli^otskms, An
old ludicrous word (Johnson).
Gasp. A dram of spirits • see Go.
As verb, to drink a dram, e.g Will you
gasp ? Will you take something neat.
G a s p i p e. 1 An iron steamer,
whose length is nine or ten times her
beam. [At one time a ship's length
but rarely exceeded four and a halt to
five times the beam.] 2. A bad roller.
3. A rifle, specifically the old Snider.
Gaspipe-crawler. A thin man : see
Lamp-post.
Gasser. A braggart.
Gassy (or Gaseous). 1. Likely
to take umbrage or to flare up. 2.
Full of empty talk or Gas (q.v.).
Gaster. A fine and curious eater
(Thackeray). In Rabelais, the belly
and the needs thereof : a coinage
adopted by Urquhart.
Gat. A quantity ; e.g. a gat of
grub, plenty to eat : also Gats.
Gate. 1. The attendance at a race
or athletic meeting, held m enclosed
grounds ; the number of persons who
pass the gate. 2. Money paid for ad-
mission to athletic sports, race course,
etc., the same as Gate-money (q.v.).
3. in. pi. (University). The being for-
bidden to pass outside the gate of a
college: as verb, to confine wholly
or during certain hours within the
college gate for some infraction of
discipline. To break gates, to stay out
of college after hours. The gate,
among fishmongers, Billingsgate ;
among thieves, Newgate : of. Lane,
Row, Garden, etc. To be at {fates
(Winchester College). To assemble in
Seventh Chamber passage, prepara-
tory to going Hills or Cathedral. On
the gate, on remand.
Gate-bill. The record of an under-
graduate's failure to be within the
precincts of his college at, or before, a
specified time at night.
Gate - money. The charge for
admission to a race - meeting : see
Gate.
G a t e r (Winchester College). A
plunge head foremost into a Pot (q.v.).
Gate - race (or meeting). For-
merly, a contest not got up for sport
but entrance money ; now a race or
athletic meeting to which admission
is by payment.
Gath. A city or district in Philistia
(q.v. ); often used, like Aakelon (q.v.)for
Philistia itself. Hence, to be mighty
%/i, (JTU, . i-j •• i j-^uiiatt.K {q.v ^ of the
first maguitude ; to prevail against Gath,
to smite the Philistines lii? and thigh,
as becomes a valiant companion of
the Davidsb a nd ; & ad so forth. Tell it
not in Gath, an interjection of derision,
signifying that the person exclaimed
against has done something the know-
ledge of which Trould bring on him
the wrath, or the amazement, of his
friends.
Gather, To gatfiw up. to lead
away. To gather the taxes, to go from
workshop to workshop seeking employ-
ment. Hence, Tax gatherer, a man
out of work and looking for a job :
of. Inspector of public buildings. Out
of gathers, in distress : cf. Out at
elbows.
Gatherings. See Gags.
Gatter. Beer ; also liquor gener-
ally. Shant of gatter, ^ pot of beer :
Fr., moussante : see "Prinks,
Gaudeamus. A feast, drinking bout,
any sort of merry-making. [German
students', but now general and popu-
lar.] From the first word of the
mediaeval (students') ditty.
Gaudy (or Gaudy-day). A feast
or entertainment : specifically the
annual dinner of the fellows of a
college in memory of founders or
benefactors ; or a festival of the Inns
of Court (Lat., gaudere, to rejoice).
(1724). As adj., good, frolicsome,
festive : cf . Shakespeare's ' Let's have
one other gaudynight (lAnt. and Cleo.,"
m. xiii.). Neat but not gaudy, as the
devil said, of ancient ladies dressed in
flaming colours.
Gauge. See Gage. To get the
gauge of, to divine an intention, to
read a character, to Size (or Reckon)
np (q.v.). Hence, That's about the
gauge of it, That's a fair descrip-
tion.
Gauley. See By golly.
Gawf. A red-skinned apple.
Gawk. A simpleton, especially
an awkward fool, male or female : see
Buffle. [Scots Gowk, a cuckoo, fool ;
whence, to gowk, to play the fool. As
in the * Derision of Wanton Women '
(Bannatyne, MS., 1567), * To gar them
ga in gncking,' to make them play the
fool.] As verb, to loiter round; to
Play the sfoat. [The same verb is
used by Jonson (Magnetic Lady, iii.
4, 1633) In the sense of amazed, or
bamboozled, Le, absolutely befooled :
185
Gawkiness.
Gentleman.
' Nay, look bow the man stands, as he
were gowked ! *]
Gawkiness. Awkwardness, silli-
ness. Greenness (q.v.).
Gawking. Loitcrlnjr and stanng,
Gatheiog hayseed (q v.)-
Gawky. An awkward booby, a
fool : e.g. Now squire gawky, a chal-
lenge to a clumsy lout : see Buftie
(1686). As adj., lanky, awkward,
stupkl (1759).
Gawney (or Goney). A fool: see
Bnffie.
Gay. 1. Dissipated, specifically,
given to venery : as in the French,
avoir la cuisse gaie. Hence Gay
woman (girl, or bit), a strumpet ; Gay
house, a 'brothel ; To be gay, to be in
continent, etc., etc. (1383). 2. In
drink: see Screwed Att gay (or
aU so gay}, all right, first-rate, All
serene (q.v.). To fed gay, inclined for
sport.
Gay-tyke Boy. A dog fancier.
Gazebo. A summer-house com-
manding an extensive view. [Dog
Latin, Gazebo, I will gaze.]
Geach. A thief.
Gear. Work, Business (q.v.). Thus :
Here's goodly gear, Here's fine doings ;
Here's a pretty kettle of fish (' Romeo
and Juliet,* n. ii. 106).
Gee. See Gee-gee. As verb, (1)
to go or turn to the off-side ; used as a
direction to horses. (2) To move
faster: as a teemster to his horses,
Gee-up! (3) To stop: as Gee
whoa ! To gee with, to agree with,
fit, be congenial, go on all fours with,
do (1696).
Gee-gee (or Gee). 1. A horse : see
Prad. 2. The nickname among jour-
nalists (of the interviewer type) of
Mr. G(eorge) G(rossmith), better
known, perhaps, as the Society Clown.
Gee-gee Dodge. Selling horseflesh
for beef.
Geekie. A police-station.
Geeloot. See Galoot.
Geese. Att Ms geese are swans,
he habitually exaggerates, or Embroi-
ders (q.v.) ; or, He is always wrong in
his estimates of persons and things.
The old woman's picking tier geese, said
of a snowstorm : the other leg of the
couplet (schoolboys') runs : * And
selling the feathers a penny a piece.*
Like geeae on a common, wandering hi a
body, aggressive and at large : e.g.
as Faddists (q.v.) in pursuit of a
Fad ; or members of Parliament in re-
cess, whoa both sides go about to say
the thing which is in them.
Geewhihkens ! An exclamation of
surprise : also Jeewbihkens.
Geezer. An appellation, some-
times, but not necessarily, of derision
and contempt ; applied to both sexes,
but generally to women : usually, Old
geezer.
Gelding. A eunuch. To enter
for ike geldings' stakes, to castrate a
man ; also used to describe a eunuch.
Gelt. Money, Gilt (q.v.), Gelter:
generic : see Rhino.
Gemini ! (Geminy ! or Jiminy I)
An exclamation of surprise, a mild
oath : also O Jimminy ! O Jimminy
Figs ! O Jimminy Gig ! etc. : for
the phrase has pleased the cockney
mind, and been vulgarised accordingly
(1672).
Gemman. A contraction of gentle-
man (1550).
Gen. A shilling : see Rhino. Back
slang, but cf. Fr., argent.]
Generalize. A i*
Rhino and Gen.
Geneva Print. Gin : see Drinks and
Satin (1684).
G e n - n e t (back slang). Ten
shillings.
Gennitraf (back slang). A
(back slang). Long.
Gent. 1. A showily- dressed vul-
garian. [A contraction of gentle-
man.] (1635). 2. Money : see
Rhino [Fr., argent.'] 3. A sweetheart,
mistress : e.g. My gent, my particular
friend. As adj., elegant, comely,
genteel (1383).
Gentile. Any sort of stranger,
native or foreign ; among the Mormons,
any person not professing the Gospel
according to Joe Smith. Hence, In
the land of the Gentiles, (1) in foreign
parts ; and (2) in strange neighbour-
hoods or alien society.
Gentle. A maggot ; vulgarly,
Gentile.
Gentle- craft. 1. Shoemaking.
[From the romance of Prince Crispin.]
2. Angling.
Gentleman. A crowbar : see
Jemmy. To put a churl (or beggar)
upon a gentleman, to drink malt hquor
immediately after wine (Grose).
Gentleman of the (three, four, or five)
outs (or ins), a varying and ancient
186
Gentleman Commoner.
Get.
wheeze, oi which the following are
representative : — Out of money, and
out of clothes ; Out at the heels, azici
out at the toes ; Out of credit, and in
debt. A man in debt, in danger, and
in poverty ; or in gaol indicted,
and in danger of being hanged. Out
of pocket, out of elbows, and out
of credit. Without wit, without
money, without manners. Gentleman
of fortune, an adventurer. Gentleman
of observation, a tout. Gentleman of
the round, an invalided or disabled
soldier, making his living by begging
(1596). Gentleman of the short staff, a
constable. Gentleman of the fist, a
prize-fighter. Gentleman in brown, a
bed bug : see Norfolk Howard. The
little gentleman in broivn velvet, a mole.
[The Tory toast after the death of
William III., whose horse was said to
have stumbled over a mole hill.] Gen-
tleman of the green baize road, a card
sharper.
Gentleman Commoner. 1. A
privileged class of commoners at
Oxford, wearing a special cut of
gown and a velvet cap. 2. An empty
bottle; also Fellow- commoner (q.v.).
Gentleman - ranker. A broken
gentleman serving in the ranks.
Gentleman 's-companion. A louse :
see Chates.
Gentleman's - master. A high-
wayman (Grose).
Gentleman's (or Ladies*-) piece.
A small or delicate portion., a Tit-bit.
Gentlemen's - sons. The three
regiments of Guards.
Gently I An interjection, Stand
still (q.v.) ; hence, colloquially, don't
get into a passion, Go slow (q.v.).
Gentry-cove (or cofe). A gentle-
man, Nib-cove (q.v.) : Fr., messire de
la liawte (1567).
Gentry-cove's Ken (Gentry-ken).
A gentleman's house (1567).
Gentry-mort. A lady (1567).
Genuine (Winchester College).
Praise. As adj., trustworthy, not
false nor double-faced. As verb,
to praise. He -was awfully quilled
and genuined my task.
Geordie (North Country). 1.
A pitman; also (generally), a North-
umbrian. 2. A North-country col-
lier. 3. See George.
George (or Geordie). 1. A half-
crown : also (obsolete), the noble (6s.
3d.), temp. Henry VZEL 2. A guinea :
ai'o Yellow George : see i-:_i-.uo. 3. A
p-snny: s.-e Ith'mo. Broit-n George.
Sej A.M. li»j fare (or By George).
Se'j 3y Georga-
George Home. A derisive retort
oa a piece of stale news : also G. H. 1
[From a romancing compositor of the
name.]
Georgy-porgy. To pet, fondle, be-
slobber.
German. The German, a round
dance
German Duck. 1. Half a sheep's
head, stewed with onions (Grose). 2.
A bed bug : sets Norfolk Howard.
German - flutes (rhyming). A
pair of boots.
Germantowner. A pushing shot —
when balls in play jar together : cf.
Whitechapel.
Gerry. Excrement (1567).
Gerry Gan. A retort forcible,
Stow it! (q.v.) (1567).
Gerrymander (the g hard as in
get). To arrange the electoral sub-
divisions of a State to the profit and
advantage of a particular party. The
term, says Norica, is derived from the
name of Governor Gerry, of Massa-
chusetts, who, in 1811, signed a Bill re-
adjusting the representative districts
so as to favour the Democrats and
weaken the Federalists, although the
last-named party polled nearly two-
thirds of the votes cast. A fancied
resemblance of a map of the districts
thus treated led Stuart, the painter, to
add a few lines with his pencil, and say
to Mr. Russell, editor of the Boston
Sentinel, " That will do for a Sala-
mander.' Russell glanced at it:
' Salamander,* said he, c call it a
Gerrymander ! ' The epithet took at
once, and became a Federalist war-
cry, the caricature being published as
a campaign document.
Gerund-grinder. A schoolmaster,
especially a pedant (1759).
Get. 1. A cheating contrivance,
a Have (q.v.). 2. A child : e.g. One
of bis gets, one of Kia making ; Whose
get is that ? who's the father ? It's
his get, anyhow ; at all events he got it
( 1570). Qet!(fa: You get !) Short for
Get out ! Usually, Git \ To get at,
(1) to quiz, banter, aggravate, take a
rise out of : also To get back at.
(2) To influence, bribe, nobble (of
horses), and to corrupt (of persons) :
applied to horse, owner, trainer,] ookey,
187
Get.
Giblets.
and vet alike. To 'jet b^ck at, to Measure, Mitten, Needle, .Religion,
dfttiriao, caH to account. Get back Rise, Run, Scot, Swot or Scrape, Set,
into your box 1 an injunction to silence, ~ ' " " " " "A- '--1-A "
Stow it! (c.v.). To pet encored f to
have a job returned tor alterations.
To get even with, to take one's revenge,
give tit for tat. To get vt, to be
punished (morally or physically), to male.
be called over the coals. To get off, Get-up.
to (1) escape punishment, be lot off- ;
Shut of, Silk, Snuff, Straight, Sun,
Ticket of Leave, Wool, Wrong box.]
Getaway. A locomotive or train,
Putfer (q.v.).
Getter. A sure getter, a procreant
regardless (to the nines, knocker,
to kill, within an inch of one's life) ;
(4) to disguise (as a sailor, a soldier,
Henry VIII., a butcher, a nun) : see
also Get into.
G.H. See George Home.
Ghastly. Very : a popular inten-
sitive : cf. Awful, Bloody, etc.
Ghost. One who secretly does
artistic or literary work for another
who takes the credit and receives the
price : cfc Devil. [The term was
popularised during the irial of Lawes
v. Belt in 188(?).] As verb, to prowl,
spy upon, shadow (q.v.). The ghost
Dress, constitution
and appearance, disguise : see Get-up.
(2)' to utter, deliver oneself of, per- As verb, phr., (I) to prepare (a part,
petrate — as to get off a joke; and (3) a paper, a case) ; (2) to arrange (a
get married. To get on, (I) to back a concert) ; (3) to dress (as Got up
horse, put & Bit on (q.v.). (2) To " - --- ----- -----
succeed, or, simply, to fare. Thus,
How are you getting on ? may signify
( 1 ) To what esten L are you prospering ?
or (2) How are you doing ? To get one
in the cold, to have at an advantage,
be on the Windward side (q.v. ). Have
on toast (c: v.). To get one on, to
land a blo^. To get down fine (or
efoac), to know all about one's ante-
cedents ; and (police) know where to
find one's man. To get over, to seduce,
fascinate, dupe : also To come over and
To get round. To get outside of, to
eat or drink, accomplish one's pur- _fif ,,f ,.__..
pose. To get out of bed on the wrong walks (or does not walk), there is (or is
side, to be testy or cross-grained, not) money in the treasury. The
[A corruption of an old saying, To rise ghost of a, chance, the faintest likeli-
on the right side is accounted lucky ; hood, or the slightest trace : e.g. He
hence the reverse meant trials to hasn't the ghost of a chance.
temper, patience, and luck.] (1607). Ghoul. 1. A spy ; specifically a
To get out (or round), to back a horse man who preys on married women
against which one has previously laid, who addict themselves to assignation
Hedge (q.v.). To get set, (1) to warm houses. 2. A newspaper chronicler of
to one's work, get one's eye well in. the small talk and tittle-tattle.
To get there, to attain one's object, Gib. 1. Gibraltar : once a penal
succeed, make one's Jack (q.v.), station: whence, 2. a gaol. To hang
To get there with both feet, to be very one's gib, to pout : see Jib.
successful; (2) to get drunk: see Gibberish (Gebberish, Gibberidge,
Screwed. To get through, to pass an Gibrige, etc.). Originally the lingo of
examination, to accomplish. To get up gipsies, beggars, etc. Now, any kind
and dust, to depart hastily : see Ske- of inarticulate nonsense (1594).
daddle. To get up behind (or get Gibble-gabble, Nonsense, Gibber-
behind) a man, to endorse or back a ish(q.v.) (1600).
bill. To get up the mail, to find G i b - c a t. A tom-cat. [An ab-
money (as counsel's fees, etc.) for breviation of Gilbert^ O. Fr., Tibert
defence. Get enters into many other the cat in the fable of Reynard the
combinations : see Back teeth, Bag or Fox.] (1360).
Sack, Bead, Beans, Beat, Big bird, and
Goose, Big head, Billet, Bit, Boat,
Bolt, Books, Bulge, Bullet, Bull's
feather, Crocketts, Dander and Mon-
key, Dark, Drop, Eye, Flannels, Flint,
Game, Grand Bounce, Gravel - rash,
Grind, Grindstone, Hand, Hang, Hat, erally, the Manifold (q.v.), 2. A~fat
Head, Hip or Hop, Home, Horn, Hot, man, Forty-guts (q.v.) : also Duke of
Jack, Keen, Length of one's foot, Giblets. To fret one* 8 giblets: see Fret.
188
Gibe. To go well with, be accept-
able.
Gibel. To bring.
Gib-face. A heavy jowl, Ugly-mug
(q.v.).
Giblets. 1. The intestines gen-
Gtbsalfm.
Gilt.
Gibraltar. A party stronghold:
e.g. the Gibraltar of Democracy
(Norton).
Gibson (or Sir john Gibson).
A rest to support the body of a build-
ing coach.
Gibus. An opera, or crash hat :
FT., accordion. [From the naxae of the
inventor.]
Giddy. Flighty, wanton : e.g.
To play the giddy goat, to live a fast
life, be happy-go-lucky.
Giffle-gafHe. Nonsense ; a variant
of Gibble-gabble (q.v.).
Gif-gaf (or Giff-gaff). A
bargain on equal terms : whence the
proverb : Gif-gaf makes guid friens :
FT., Passe-moi la casse et je t'enverrai
la senne.
Gift. 1. Anything lightly gained
or easily won. 2. A white speck on
the finger nails, supposed to portend
a gift. 3. See Gift-house. As fuU of
gifts as a brazen horse of farts, mean,
miserly, disinclined to Part (q.v.).
Gkft of the gab : see Gab.
Gift-house (or Gift). A club,
a house of call; specifically for the
purpose of finding employment, or
providing allowances to members.
Gig (Gigg, Gigge). 1. A wanton,
mistress, flighty girl : cf. Giglet. 2.
A jest, piece of nonsense, anything
fanciful or frivolous : hence, generally,
in contempt (1590). 3. The nose : see
Conk. To snitchdl the gig, to pull the
r>ose. Counter's gig, a hog's snout.
4. A light two-wheeled vehicle drawn
by one horse ; now recognised. 5. A
door : see Gigger. 6. A fool, an over-
dressed person : see Buffle. 7. Fun,
frolic, a spree. Full of gig, full of
laughter, ripe for mischief. 8. The
mouth : see Potato-trap. 9. A far-
thing: see Rhino. 10. See Policy
dealing. As verb, to hamstring. By
gigs' an oath (1551).
Gigamaree. A thing of little
worth, a pretty but useless toy, a
Gimcrack (q.v.).
Gigantomachize. To rise in revolt
against one's betters : Gr., Giganto-
machia, the War of the Giants against
the Gods. [Probably a coinage of
Ben Jonson's.]
Gigger. 1. A sewing machine.
[In allusion to noise and movement).
2. See Jigger.
Giggles - nest. Have you found a
giggles-nest ? Asked of one tittering,
or given to immoderate or senseless
laughter.
Gig - lamps. 1. Spectacles : see
Barnacles -2. One who wears spec-
tacles, a Four eyes ( q.v. ). [Popularised
by Verdant Green.]
Gigler (Giglet, Goglet, Gigle,
Gig). A wanton, a mistress.
Giglet (West of England), a giddy,
romping girl ; and in Salop a flighty
person is called a Giggle (1533). As
adj., loose in word and deed : also
Giglet-hke, and Giglet-wise, like a
wanton (1598)
Gild. To make drunk, flush with
drink (1609). To gild the pill, to say
(or do) unpleasant things as g
as may be, impose upon, Bamb
(q.v.).
Gilded-rooster. A man
of importance ; a Howling swell (q.v.) ;
sometimes the Gilded rooster on the
top of the steeple : cf. Big-bug, Big
dog of the tanyard, etc.
Gil deroy's -kite. To be hung
higher than Gilderoy's kite, to be
punished more severely than the very
worst criminals, The greater the
crime the higher the gallows, was at
one time a practical legal axiom.
Hence, out of sight, completely gone.
Giles' Greek. See St. Giles'
Greek.
G i 1 g u y. Anything which hap-
pens to have slipped the memory;
equivalent to What's - his - name or
Thingamy tight.
Gilkes. Skeleton keys (1610).
Gill (or Jill). 1. A girl; (1) a
sweetheart : e.g every Jack must have
his Gill ; (2) a wanton, a strumpet (an
abbreviation of Gillian) (1586). 2.
a drink, a Go (q.v.). 3. (in pi. g hard).
The mouth, jaws, or face : see Potato-
trap (1622). 4. in. pL A very large
shirt collar ; also Stick-ups and Side-
boards: FT., cache-bonbon-d^-liqueur. To
grease the gills, to have a good meal,
to Wolf (q.v.). To look blue (queer, or
green) about the gitts, to be downcast,
dejected ; also to suffer from the
effects of a debauch. Hence, con-
versely, To be rosy about the gills,
to be cheerful. A cant (or dig) in the
gills, a punch in the face.
Gill-flirt. A wanton, flirt (1598).
Gilly. A fool : see Buffle.
Gilly - gaupus. A tall, loutish
fellow.
Gilt 1. Money : generic : see
189
Git.
Rhino. [Ger. : Gdd ; Du. : Gelt.'] 2.
A thief, pick-lock ; also Gilt- (or mm-)
dubber, gilter, etc. 3. Formerly a
pick-lock or skeleton key ; uow a
crow-bar: see Jemmy (1671). To
take the gilt off the gingerbread, to
destroy an illusion, discount heavily.
Gilt-dubfcer. See Gilt, sense 2.
Gilt - edged. First-class, the best
of its kind : see Fizzing.
Gilter. See Gilt, sense 2.
Gilt-tick. Gold : see Bhino.
G i m b a 1- (or gimber-) jawed.
Loquacious, talking Nineteen to the
dozen (q.v.). [Gimbals are a com-
bination of rings tor free suspension.]
Gimcrack (Gincrack, or Jim-
crack). 1. A showy simpleton,
male or female : see Baffle (1618). 2.
A showy trifle, anything pretty but of
little worth (1632) 3. A handy man,
Jack- of -all - trades (q.v.). As adj.,
trivial, showy, worthless.
Gimcrackery. The world of Jim-
crack (q.v.).
Gimlet-eye. A squint-eye,
Piercer (q.v.) : FT., des yeux en trou de
pine,
Gimlet-eyed. Squinting, or
squinny-eyed, cock-eyed : as in the
old rhyme : Gimlet eye, sausage nose,
Hip awry, bandy toes.
G i m m e r. An old woman : a
variant of cummer.
Gin. 1. An Australian native
woman. 2. An old woman : see Geezer,
To gin up, to work hard, make things
Hum (q.v.): see Wire in.
Gin - and - Gospel Gazette. The
Morning Advertiser : as the organ of
the Licensed Victualling and Church
of England party : also the Tap-tub
and Beer-and-Bible Gazette.
Gin - and - tidy. Decked out in
best bib and tucker : a pun on neat
Gin-crawl. A tipple (q.v.) on gin.
Gingambobs (or Jiggumbobs).
Toys, baubles (1696).
Ginger. 1. A showy horse, a
beast that looks Figged (q.v.). 2.
A red-haired person ; Carrots (q.v.).
[Whence the phrase, Black for beauty,
ginger for pluck.] 3. Spirit, dash,
Go (q.v.). To want ginger, to lack
energy and Pluck (q.v.). As adj.,
red-haired, Foxy (q.v.), Judas-haired
(q.v.); also ginger-pated, ginger-
hackled, and gingery (1785).
Gingerbread. 1. Money : e.g. He
190
has the gingerbread, he is rich (1696).
2. Brummagem (q.v.), showy, but
worthless ware. As adj. showy
but worthless, tinsel: Fr., en pain
d'fyice. Gingerbread work (nauti-
cal), carved and gilded decorations ;
Gtngerbread quarters (nautical), lux-
urious living (1757). To take the gdt
off the gingerbread : see Gilt.
Gingerly (old : now recognised;
delicate, fastidious, dainty, as adv.,
with great care, softly (1533).
Ginger - pop. 1. Ginger-beer. 2.
(rhyming), A policeman, Slop (q.v.).
Ginger-snap. A hot-tempered per-
son, especially one with carroty hair.
Gingham. An umbrella; speci-
fically one of this material : see Mush-
room.
Gingle - boy. A coin ; latterly a
gold piece : also ginglers : see Rhino
(1622).
Gin-lane (or Trap). 1. The throat :
see Gutter-alley. Gin-trap also = the
mouth: see Potato-trap (1827). 2.
Generic for drunkenness.
Gin-mill. A drinking saloon : see
Lush-crib.
Ginnified. Dazed, stupid with
liquor.
Ginnums. An old woman : spec,
one fond of drink.
Ginny. A housebreaker's tool ; an
instrument to lift up a grate or grating
(1690).
Gin-penny. Extra profit : gener-
ally spent in drink.
Gin-slinger. A tippler on gin : see
Lushington.
Gin - spinner. A distiller ; a
dealer in spirituous liquors : cf. Ale-
spinner (1785).
Gin-twist. A drink composed of
gin and sugar, with lemon and water
(1841).
Gip. 1. A thief. 2. (Cambridge
University) a college servant : see
Girl-and-boy. A saveloy.
Girl-getter. A mincing, womanish
male.
Girl - show. A ballet, burlesque,
Git ! (or You Git ! ) Be off with you 1
an injunction to immediate departure,
Walker ! (q.v.). Sometimes a con-
traction of Get out I Also Get out
and dust (1851). To Jiave no git up
and git, to be weak, vain, mean, slow
— generally deprecatory.
Give.
Glib,
Give. 1. To lead to, conduct, ope.i
upon : e.g. The door gave upon the
street. Of. French, donner. '2. An
To talK about and
prevaricate, speak
Gladstonize.
round, evade,
much and mean nothing.
Glanthorne. Money: see Rhino.
(17S9).
Glasgow Greys. The 70th Foot,
all-round auxiliary to active verbs :
e.g. To give on praying, to excel at
prayer ; To give on the make, to be _
clever at making money, etc. To give now the 2nd battalion East Surrey
it to, (1) to rob, defraud (Grose) ; (2) to regiment: in the beginning it was
scold, thrash : also To give what for, '- — 1 '"- J ' ""
To give it hot, To give something for
oneself, To give one in the eye, etc. :
the eye,
Fr., oiler en donner (1612). T
in (or out), to admit defeat, yield, be
exhausted throw up the sponge
(1748); to give away, to betray or
expose inadvertently, Blow upon
(
d
largely recruited in Glasgow.
Glasgow Magistrate. A herring,
fresh or salted, of the finest (from
give the practice of sending samples to the
Bailie of the River for approval) : also
Glasgow baihe. English, synonyms
(for hen-ings generally); Atlantic
ranger, Cahforman, Cornish duck,
q.v.), Peach (q.v.) : also to Give Digby chicken, Dunbar wether, gen-
7^-1 i !_ — j :^ darme, Gourock ham, magistrate,
. 0. „ Sf, pheasant, (or Billingsgate pheasant),
posure ; give-away cue, an underhand reds, sea - rover, soldier, Taunton
revelation of secrets ; to give one best, turkey, two-eyed steak, Yarmouth
(1) to acknowledge inferiority, defeat :
also (thieves') to leave, To cut (q.v.) ;
to give the collar, to seize, arrest,
capon : Fr., gendarme.
Glass. An hour : an abbreviation of
hour-glass. There's a deal of glass
Collar (q.v.): see Nab; to give the about, (1) applied to vulgar display,
bullet (sack, bag, kick-out, pike, road. It's the thing (q.v.) ; (2) said in answer
etc.), to discharge from an employ; to an achievement in assertion: a
give us a rest I cease talking \ an in- memory of the proverb, People who
junction upon a bore ; to give nature a live in glass houses should not throw
fillip, verb. phr. (old), to indulge, in stones. WJto*s to pay for the broken
wine, etc. (1696). Other combina- glass ? (stand the racket) ; been
tions will be found under the following; looking through a glass, drunk: see
Auctioneer, Back cap, Bag, Bail, Screwed.
cap,
Baste, Beans, Beef, Biff, Black eye,
Bone, Bucket, Bullet, Bull's feather,
Clinch, Double, Fig, Gas, Go by,
Gravy, Hoist, Hot beef, Jesse, Ken-
Glass-eyes. A man wearing spec-
tacles, Four-eyes (q.v.), Gig-lamps
(q.v.) (1811).
Glass-house. To live in a glass
nedy, Key of the Street, Land, Leg house, to lay oneself open to attack
Lip, Miller, Mitten, Mouth,
le, Office, Points, Pussy, Bub of
the thumb, Sack, Sky-high, Slip,
Tail, Taste of Cream, Turnips, Weight,
White alley, Word.
Giver. A good boxer, an artist in
punishment (q.v.) (1824).
Gixie. A wanton, strumpet,
affected ' mincing woman (1598).
Gizzard. To fret one's gizzard, to
'
or adverse criticism.
Glass-work. An obsolete method
of cheating at cards : a convex mirror
the size of a small coin was fastened
with shellac to the lower corner of the
left palm opposite the thumb, enabling
the dealer to ascertain by reflection
the value of the cards he dealt.
Glaze. A window (1696). As
verb, to cheat at cards by means of
worry; To stick in one's gizzard, to glass-work (q.v.), or by means of a
remain as something unpleasant (dis-
tasteful or offensive), be hard of
digestion, disagreeable or unpalat-
mirror at the back of one's antagonist.
To mitt (or star a glaze), to break a
window (1823) ; on the glaze, robbing
*
able ; To grumble in the gizzardf to be jewellers* shops by smashing the
secretly displeased ; Hence, Grumble-
gizzard (q.v.).
Gladstone. 1. Cheap claret (Mr.
Gladstone, when in office in 1869,
reduced the duty on French wines) :
see Drinks. 2. A travelling bag
(named in honour of Mr. Gladstone).
windows: see Glazier (1724).
Glazier. 1. The eye : see Glims : FT.,
les ardente (1567). 2. A window thief :
see Thief.
Gleaner. A thief (q.v.): of.
Hooker, Angler, etc.
Glib. The tongue: e.g. Slacken
191
Glibe.
Go.
your glib, loose your tongue : see
Clack. 2. A nbbon (1754.) As adj.,
smooth, slippery, voluble ; Ghb-
tonyned for Ghb-gabbit), talkative,
ready of speech (1600).
Glibe. Writing ; spec, a written
statoment
Glim (or Glym). 1. A candle, dark
lanthorn, fire, or light el any kind.
To douse tlw glim, to put out the light :
FT., estourbir li cabaudc ; also short for
Glimmer or Glyminar f ij v. ) ( i (VJO). 2
A sham account of a nre, sold by fcho
Flying stationers (q.v.). 3. In pi., the
eyes. English synonyms: blinkers,
daylights, deadlights, "glaziers, lights,
lamps, ogles, optics, orbs, peepers,
sees, squinters, toplishts, windows,
winkers. 4. In pi., a pair of spectacles,
Barnacles (q.v.). As verb, to brand,
burn in the hand (1696). To puff
the glims, to ,111 the hollow over the
eyes of old horses by pricking the skin
and blowing air into the loose tissues
underneath^ thus giving the full effect
of youth.
Glim-fenders. 1. Andirons, fire-
dogs (1696). 2. Handcuffs (a pun on
sense 1).
Glimflashly(or Glim-flashey).
Angry : see Nab the Rust (1696).
Glim - jack. A lir>fc boy, Moon-
curser (q.v.) ; but, in any sense, a
thief (1696).
Glim -lurk. A beggars' petition,
based on a fictitious fire or Glim
(sense 2)
Glimmer (Glymmar). Fire.
Glimmerer. A beggar working
with a petition giving out that he is
ruined by fire : also Glimmering mort,
a female ghmmerer (1696).
Glimstick. A candlestick: Fr.,
occasion.
Glister. Glister of fish hooks, a
glass of Irish whisky.
Glistner. A sovereign : 20s. : see
Rhino.
Gloak (or Gloach). A man : see
Chum and Cove.
Globe. 1. A pewter pot, pewter
(1704). 2. In. pi., the paps: see
Dairy.
Globe-rangers. The Royal Marines.
Globe-trotter. A traveller; prim-
arily one who races from place to place,
with the object of covering ground
or making a record : Fi.}-pacquelineur.
Whence, Globe-trotting, travelling after
the manner of Globe-trotters (q.v.).
102
Glope (Winchester College). To
spit : obsolete.
Glorious. Excited with drink,
in one's altitudes, Boozed : see Screwed
(1791).
Glorious-sinner. A dinner.
Glory. The after life, Kingdom
come (q v.) : usually, the coming
glory, hi one's glory, in the full flush
of vanity, pride, taste, notion, or idio-
syncrasy.
Gloves. To go for the gloves, to bet
recklessly, bet against a horse without
having the wherewithal to pay if one
loses — the last resource of the plung-
ing turfite : the term is derived from
the frequent habit of ladies to bet in
pairs of gloves, expecting to be paid if
they win, but not to be called upon to
pay if they lose.
Glow. Ashamed.
Glue. Thick soup: which sticks
to the ribs. English synonyms : de-
ferred stock, belly-gum, giblets-twist,
gut-concrete, rib-tickler, stick-in-the-
ribs.
Glue - pot. A parson : see Devil-
dodger and Sky-pilot (1785).
Glum. Sullen, down in the mouth,
stern : Fr., faire son nez, to look glum ;
also, rfen pas mener large (1712).
Glump. To sulk : hence
glumping, and glumpisTi,
stubborn (1787).
Glutman. An inferior officer of
the Customs, and particularly a super-
numerary tide waiter, employed temp-
orarily when there is a stress or
hurry of business. These glutmen were
generally without regular employment,
and also without character, their prin-
cipal recommendation the fact of being
able to write (1797).
Glutton. 1. A horse which lasts
well, Stayer (q.v.). 2. A pugilist who
can take a lot of punishment (q.v.).
Gnarler. A watch dog.
Gnasp. To vex : see Bile. (1728).
Gnoff. See Gonnof.
Gnostic. A knowing one, Downy
cove (q.v.), Whipster (q.v.) (1819). As
adj., knowing, Artful (q.v.) ; whence
ChiosticaUy, knowing.
Go. LA drink ; specifically a
quartern of gin : formerly Go-down
(1690). English synonyms: bender,
caulker, coffin nail, common - sewer,
cooler, crack, cry, damp, dandy, dash,
dewhaiik, dewdrop, dodger, drain,
dam, facer, falsh, gargle, gasp, go-
Go.
Go.
act with vigour and daring, advocate
or speak strongly, live freely : also to
go it blind, fast, bald-headed, strong,
down, hair of the dog, etc., Johnny,
lip, liquor up, livener, lotion, lounce,
modest quencher, muzzier, nail tiom _ r ^
one's coffin, night-cap, nip or nipper, etc. (1689). As intj. phrase, Keep
nobbier, old crow, a one, a two, or a at it ! keep it up ! — a general (some-
three out, peg, piek-mo-up, pony, times ironical) expression of encourage-
ment : also Go it ye cripples, crutches
are cheap ! (or Newgate's on fire), Go
it, my tulip, Go it, my gay and festive
quencher, reviver, rince, sensation,
settler, shift, shove in the mouth,
slug, small cheque, smile, snifter,
something damp, something short,
swig, thimbleful, tiddly, top up, tot,
warmer, waxer, wet, whitewash, yard.
2. An incident, occurrence : e.g. a
Rum go, a strange affair, queer start ;
a Pretty go, a startling business ; a
Capital go, a pleasant business (1803).
3. The fashion, the Cheese (q-v.), the
correct thing : generally in the phrase
All the go. 4. life, spirit, energy,
enterprise, impetus : e.g. Plenty of
go-, full of spirit and dash : FT., du
chien (1825). 5. A turn, attempt,
chance : cf . No go : hence, to have a go
at, to make essay of anything : as a
man in a fight, a shot at billiards, etc.
y gay
cuss ! (Artemus Ward), or (Ameri-
can), Go it boots ! go it rags I I'll hold
your bonnet ! g'lang ! (usually to a
man making the pace on foot or horse-
back) ; to go outt to fall into disuse ;
to go over, (1) to desert from one side to
another : specifically (clerical) to join
the Church of Rome, to 'Vert (q.v. ) ; (2)
to die, i.e. to go over, to join the
majority: also to go off, to go off the
hooks (go under, go aloft, to go up) ;
(3) to attack, rifle, rob ; to go off,
(1) to take place, occur; (2) to be
disposed of (as goods on sale, or a
woman in marriage) ; (3) to deteriorate
(as fish by keeping, or a woman with
6. A success : hence To make a go of it, years) ; (4) to die : see Hop the twig
to bring things to a satisfactory termin- (1606) ; Go as you please, applied to
ation. 7. The last card at cribbage, or
the last piece at dominoes : when
a player is unable to follow the lead,
he calls a Go I 8. A dandy (q.v.), a
very heavy swell, one in the extreme
of fashion. As verb, (1) to vote, be
in favour of : cf. Go for ; (2) to succeed,
achieve, cf. Go down; (3) to wager,
risk : hence to stand treat, afford
(1768) ; (4) to ride to hounds ; (5) to be
pregnant, to be anticipating child-
birth (1561). Phrases: Go doum, (1)
to be accepted, received, swallowed, to
Wash (q.v.) (1609) ; (2) to be under
discipline, rusticated ; (3) to become
bankrupt ; also, To go under ; To go
due north, to go bankrupt (i.e. to go
to White-cross Street Prison, once
situate in north London) ; to go on
ike dub, to house-break, pick locks
(1696) ; to go to the dogs, to go to ruin ;
to go off on the ear, to get angry, fly into
a tantrum : see Nab the rust ; to go for,
(1) to attempt, tackle, resolve upon,
to make for (q.v.) ; (2) to attack vio-
lently and directly, by word or deed ;
(3) to support, favour, vote for; (4)
to criticise ; specifically, to run down ;
to go in for (or at), to enter for, apply
oneself to (e.g. to go in for honours) ;
also to devote oneself to (e.g. to pay
court), to take up (as a pastime, pur-
suit, hobby, or principle) ; to go it, to
,
races where competitors run, walk,
or rest at will • e.g. in time and
distance races : hence, general freedom
of action ; to go to Bath, Putney, etc.
(see Bath, Blazes, Hell, Halifax, etc.) ;
to go through, to rob : i.e. to turn
inside out : hence, to master violently
and completely, make an end of ; to
go up (or under), (1) to go to wreck and
ruin, become bankrupt, disappear
from society j also (2) to die ; to go up,
to die ; specifically to die by the rope ;
to go up Jor, to enter for (as an exam-
ination) ; to go with, to agree, har-
monise with ; on the go, on the move,
restlessly active ; no go, of no use,
not to be done, complete failure:
frequently contracted to N.G. ; a
little bit on the go, slightly inebriated,
elevated: see Screwed. For other
combinations see Abroad, All fours,
Aloft, Aunt, Baby, Back on, Bad,
Bail, Baldheaded, Bath, Batter, Bed-
fordshire, Beggar's bush, Better,
Blazes, Blind, Board, Bodkin, Bulge,
Bungay, Bury, Bust, By-by, Call,
Camp, Chump, College, Cracked,
Dead broke, Devil, Ding, Ding-dong,
Dock, Doss, Drag, Fkraeh, Flue,
Gamble, Glaze, Glory, Gloves, Grain,
Grass, Ground, Hairyfordshire, Hall,
Halves, Hang, Hell, High fly, High
toby, Hooks, Hoop, Jericho, Jump,
193
Goad.
God?s-mercy.
Kitchen, Han, Majority, Mill, Mtirphy,
Pace, Pieces, Pile, Pot, Queen, Raker,
Range, Rope- walk, Saltnvor, Shallow,
Shop, Slow, Smash, Snacks, Snooks,
Spout, Star-gazing, Sweet violets,
Top, Walker's 'bus, West, Whole
animal, Woodbine, Woolgathering,
Wrong.
Goad. 1. A decoy at auctions, a,
horse-chaunter, a Peter funk (q.v.).
2, In pl.s false dice.
Goal (Winchester College). (1)
At football the boy who stands at the
centre of each end, acting as umpire ;
and (2) the score of three points made
when the ball is kicked between his
legs, or over his head, without his
touching it.
Goaler's Coach. See Gaoler's
Coach.
Go - along. A fool, Flat (q.v.) :
see Baffle.
Goat. A lecher (1599). As verb,
to thrash. To play the goat, to play
the fool, Monkey (q.v.): Fr., faire
Foiseau ; to ride the goat, to be initiated
into a secret society (the vulgar error
is that a live goat, for candidates to
ride, is one of the standing properties
of a Masonic lodge).
Goatee. A tufted beard on the
point of a shaven chin (in imitation
of the tuft of hair on a goat's chin).
English synonyms (for a beard gener-
ally): charley, imperial, Newgate (or
sweep's) frill, or fringe.
Goater. Dress.
Goatish adj. (old, now recog-
nised). Lecherous [as vieing with a
goat in lust.] Hence Goatiskly, adv.,
and Goatishness, subs.
Go-away. A railway-train.
Gob (or Gobbett). 1. A portion,
juionthful, a morsel ; also a gulp,
Bolt (q.v.) (1380). 2. The mouth:
e.g. Shut your gob, an injunction
to" silence : see Gab ; a spank on the
gobt a blow on the mouth ; gob-fodi of
claret, a bleeding at the mouth; gift
of the gab (or gob) : see Gab. (1696.)
3. A mouthful of spittle : Fr., copeau :
It. , smaEzo di cavio (gutter-butter). As
verb, (1) to swallow in mouthfuls,
gulp down : also Gobble (q.v.). (2)
to expectorate : Fr., glavioter, molarder.
Gobbie. A coastguardsman ;
whence gobbie-shtp, a man-of-war
engaged in the preventive service.
Gobble (or Gobble-up). To swallow
hastily or greedily ; hence (American)
794
to seize, capture, appropriate : also
'^ob: eg. Gob that 1 (1602).
Gobbler. 1. A duck (Harmari) ;
2. A turkey cock, Bubbly-jock (q.v.) :
also Gobble -cock (1785). 3. The
mouth : see Potato-trap. 4. A greedy
eater ; hence gobbling, gorging.
Go - between. A pimp or bawd :
now an intermediary of any kind
(1596).
Goblin. A sovereign. 20s. : see
Rhino.
Gob-box. The mouth : see Potato-
trap (1773).
Gob-stick. A silver table-spoon
(in America, either spoon or fork) ;
also (nautical), a horn or wooden
spoon.
Gob -string (or Gab-string). A
bridle (Grose).
Go-by. The act of passing, an
evasion, a deception. To give one
the go-by, to cut, leave in the lurch.
Go-by-the-ground. A dumpy man
or woman (Grose).
God. 1. In pi., the occupants of a
theatre gallery (said to have been first
used by Garnck because they were
seated on high, and close to the sky-
painted ceiling : Fr., paradis, also
poulaitter (1772). 2. In pi., Quadrats
used in Jeffing (q.v.). 3. A block
pattern. Gods of doth, classical
tailors (Grose). 4. A boy in the sixth
form (Eton). A sight for the gods, a
matter of wonderment; God pays ! an
expression at one time much in the
mouth of disbanded soldiers and
sailors (who assumed a right to live
on the public charity) : the modern
form is, If I don't pay you, God Al-
mighty will (1605); God (or Bramah)
knows, I don't ; an emphatic rejoinder
(1598).
Goddess Diana. A sixpence,
Tanner (q.v.) : see Rhino.
Godfather. A juryman (1598).
To stand Godfather, to pay the reckon-
ing (godfathers being the objects of
much solicitude and expectation)
(1811).
Go-down. 1. A draught of liquor,
Go (q.v.). 2. (American), a cutting
in the bank of a stream for enabling
animals to cross or to get to water.
God-permit. A stage coach (which
was advertised to start Deo volente)
(Grose).
God's-mercy. Ham (or bacon) and
eggs (There's nothing in the house but
God's-penny.
Gone.
God'*! 'uorcy : at one time a common
answer in country iruis to travellers in
quest of provant).
God's-penny. An earnest penny
(1696).
Go-easter. A portmanteau,
Peter (q.v.) (because seldom used
except in going city- or east-wards).
Goer. 1. The foot : see Creepers,
2. An expert or adept ; as in drawing,
talking, riding j one well up to bis
(or her) work : generally with an ad-
jective, as e.g. a fast goer, a good
workman.
Goff. See Mrs. Goff.
Goggles. 1. A goggle-eyed person:
also Goggler (1647). 2. In pi. The
eyes: also Goggle-eyes. Goggle-eyed,
squint-eyed (1598). 3. In pi. spec-
tacles, Barnacles (q.v.). As verb
(Goggle), to roll the eyes, stare (1577).
Gogmagog. A goblin, monster, a
frightful apparition (Hood).
Going. The condition of a road,
piece of ground, cinder-path : ie. the
accommodation for travelling : e.g.
the going is bad.
Goings - on. Behaviour, proceed-
ings, conduct : cf . Carryings on.
Goldarned (Goldurned, Gol-
dasted, etc.). A mild form of oath.
Gold-backed 'Un. A louse: also
Grey-backed *un : see Ghates.
Gold-bug. A man of wealth and
(inferentially) distinction, a million-
aire : see Bug.
Gold-dropper. A sharper : an old-
time worker of the confidence trick :
also Gold-finder (1696).
Golden-cream. Bum.
Gold-end Man. An itinerant jewel-
ler, a buyer of old gold and silver :
also Goldsmith's apprentice (1610).
Golden Grease. A fee, a bribe : see
Palm oil.
Goldfinch. 1. A well-to-do man,
a Warm sun (q.v.) (1696). 2. A
guinea, a sovereign; see Rhino (1700).
Gold -finder. 1. An emptier of
privies : also Gong-man, and Night-
man: Fr., fouittemerde, fifi (1611). 2.
A thief, Gold-dropper (q.v.) : see Thief.
Gold Hat - band. A nobleman
undergraduate, Tuft (q.v.) (1628).
Goldie - locks. A flaxen - haired
woman. Goldy-locJsed, golden haired
(1698).
Gold Mine. A profitable investment,
store of wealth — material or intel-
lectual (1664),
Golgotha. 1. The Dons' gallery at
Cambridge ; also applied to a certain
part of the theatre at Oxford (that is,
The place of skulls : cf. Luke xxiii. 33,
and Matthew sxvii. 33, whence the
E: Dons being the heads of houses)
10). 2. A hat. English synonyms :
ile of the Nile (rhyming, i.e. a
tile (q.v.), bell- topper, billy-cock,
beaver, box-hat, cady, canister cap,
castor, chummy, cathedral, chimney,
chimney-pot, cock, colleger, cock-and-
pinch, cowshooter, David, deer-stalker,
digger's delight, fantail, felt, Gibus,
gomer (Winchester), goss, moab,
molocher, mortar-board, muffin-cap,
mushroom, nab, nap, napper, pantile,
pimple-cover, pill-box, plug-hat, pot,
shako, shovel, sleepless hat, sou'-
wester, stove-pipe, strawer, thatch,
tile, topper, truck, upper-crust, wash-
pot, wee-jee, wide-awake.
Goliath. 1. A big man. 2. A man
of mark among the Philistines (q.v.).
[Mr. Swinburne described the late
Matthew Arnold as David, the son
of Goliath.]
Goll. The hand ; usually in pi.
See Daddle (1601).
G o 1 1 o p. To swallow greedily,
gulp : see Wolf.
Gollumpus. A clumsy lout
(Grose).
Golly. A contraction of By
Golly 1 (q.v.).
Goloptious (or Golopshus).
Splendid, fine, delicious, luscious.
Gombeen-rnan. A usurer, money-
lender, shacking middleman.
Gomer (Winchester College). 1.
A large pewter dish used in college.
Also, 2. A new hat.
Gomrny. A dandy: Er., gommei&x.
2. One who calls Mr. Gladstone &
G.O.M, [Grand Old Man], and thinks
he has made a good joke. 3. A fool :
seeBuffle.
Gomus. A fool : see Buffle.
Gondola. 1. A railway plat-
form car, sideless or low-sided : also a
fiat-bottomed boat.
Gondola of London. A hansom
cab, Shoful (q.v.). [The description
is Lord Beaconsfield's.]
Gone. 1. Ruined, totally undone :
also, adv., an expression of complete-
ness : e.g. Gone beaver, corbie,
coon, gander, or goose, a man or an
event past praying for (1406). Gone
on. enamoured o£ infatuated with,
195
Goner.
Goose.
^VTrshed .">,-> M.v.), Svroet ou (q.v.) :
^nerally ^i ci.jiicmj't : Fr., reamer
cowme se..* p.lits boyw.c.
Goner (Gor.es, * Gonus, or Goney).
1. A fool, simpleton. ; ateo Gauney
(q.v.) : see Buftle. 2. A person past
recovery, utterly ruined, or done for
in any tray.
Gong (nr Gong-house). A privy :
see Mrs. Jone«.
Gong-farmer (or Gong-man).
An emptier of cess- pools, Gold-finder
(q.v.) (1508).
G o xi o f (Gonnof, Gonoph, or
Gnof). 1. A thief (q.v.) ; specifically
a pick - pocket, and especially an
adept. [From the Hebrew. Ancient
English ; a Iceacy from the old time
Jews. It rav.e into use again with
the modems rrho employ it commonly.
Cf. gonoi\ thief in Er. :cdi. 2 and 6,
viz. If the gonor be found.] 2. A
bumpkin, churl, clumsy hand, shame-
less simpleton (1383). As verb, to
wheedle, cheat, steal. Hence, gonoph-
ing, picking pockets.
Gooby. A simpleton, blockhead:
see Buffie.
Good! An abbreviation of
Good-night ! As adj., responsible,
solvent: principally with for; e.g.
He is good for any amount : also,
expert (1598). Good goods,, in pi.,
something worth trying for, a success :
in superlative, best goods. Bit (or
piece) of goods, a woman : see Petti-
coat. Good old . . . A familiar
address, derisive or affectionate ac-
cording to circumstances. To fed
good, to be jolly, comfortable, in form,
on perfect terms with oneself; to
be in one's good books, to be in favour,
in good opinion : conversely, to be in
one's bad boo7:s, to be in disfavour ;
good at it (or at the game), an expert,
male or female ; to have a good swvm :
see Swim; for good (or for good
and a?/), completely, entirely, finally
(1672); good as wheat: see Wheat;
good as a play : see Play ; good as gold,
very good ; as good as they make 'em,
see Make 'em ; good-bye, John, it's no
go ; airs U.P. ; good cess, good luck
(probably an abbreviation of success :
bad cess, the reverse.
Goodfellow (Good-boy, or Good-
man), 1. A roysterer, a boon com-
panion (1570). 2. A thief (q.v.) (1608).
Good Girl (or Good One). A
wanton (1611).
Goodman. 1. A gaoler, Dubs-
man (q.v.) (1721). 2. The devil.
Goodman - turd. A contemptible
fellow, .Bad-egg (q.v.) (1598).
Good Night ! The dovetail to an
incredible statement or surprising
piece of news.
Good-people. The fairies ( 1828).
Good (or Good old) Sort. A
man of social or other parts.
Good Thing. Something worth
having or backing, a bon mot, Good
goods (q.v.) : in racing a Cert (q.v.)
(1844).
Good Time. A carouse, friendly
gathering, enjoyable bout at any-
thing. Hence, To have a good time,
to be fortunate or lucky, enjoy oneself,
make merry (1596).
Good 'un. 1. A man, woman, or
thing of decided and undoubted
merit. 2. An expression of derisive
unbelief : e.g. a lie.
Good-wooled. Of unflinching cour-
age, the greatest merit, thoroughly
dependable.
Goody. 1. A matron : the corre-
lative ol goodman, husband : used
like auntie, mother, and gammer, in
addressing or describing an inferior
(1598). Hence goodyship, ladyship.
2. A religious hypocrite — male or
female, the 'uncoguid* of Burns; hence
goody - goodyism, sentimental piety.
3. Generally in pi., sweetmeats, bon-
bons, cakes and buns. 4. The kernel
of a nut. As adj., well-meaning but
petty, officiously pious: also Goody-
goody.
G o o k. A low prostitute : see
Tart.
Goose. 1. A tailor's smoothing
iron (whose handle is shaped like the
neck of the bird) : hence the old ditton,
A tayler be he ever so poor is sure to
have a goose at his fire (Grose) : BY.,
gendarme (1606). 2. A simpleton:
usually only of women: also Goose-
cap (q.v.) (1591). 3. A reprimand,
Wigging (q.v.). 4. See Wayz goose.
6. A woman. As verb, (1) to hiss, con-
demn by hissing : also to get the goose
or the big bird (q.v.) : 1Y., appeter (or
siflter) Azor (to whistle a dog, Azor
being a common canine appellation),
boire une goutte (to be goosed) ; (2) to
ruin, spoil: see Cook one's goose;
(3) to mend boots by putting on a new
front half-way up, and a new bottom ;
otherwise to foot boots: of. Foac
196
Goose-and-gridiron.
Gorger ,
Chose without gravy, a severe but
bloodless blow : see Wipe ; to be sound
on the goose, before the civil war, to be
sound on the pro-slavery question;
now, to be generally staunch on party
matters, to pe politically orthodox ; to
find fault vrith a, fat goose, to grumble
without rhyme or reason (1690) ; to
kill the goose for the golden eggs, to
grasp at more than is due, over-reach
oneself (from the Greek fable) ; every-
thing is lovely and the goose hangs
high : see Everything ; he'll be a man
among the geese when the gander is
gone, ironical, He'll be a man before
his mother ; Go t shoe the goose, a retort,
derisive or incredulous, the modern
To hell and pump thunder. Unable
to say boh J to a goose, said of a bashful
person (Grose) ; see also Wild - goose
chase.
Goose-and-gridiron. The American
eagle, and the United States flag : see
Gridiron.
Gooseberry. 1. A fool : see Buffle.
2. A chaperon, one who takes third
place to save appearances or play
propriety (q.v.), a daisy- or goose-
berry-picker. 3. A marvellous tale,
a Munchausen (q.v.), flim-flam: also
gigantic and giant gooseberry. Hence
Gooseberry season, the dull time of
journalism, when the appearance of
monstrous vegetables, sea serpents,
showers of frogs, and other portents
is chronicled in default of news:
also Silly season (q.v.). To j&ay (or
do) gooseberry, to play propriety ; also
to sit third in a hansom : cf . Bodkin ; to
play old gooseberry, to play the deuce,
upset, spoil, throw everything into
confusion; also (Lex. Bal.)9 said of a
person who, by force or threats, sud-
denly puts an end to a riot or dis-
turbance ; Old gooseberry, the devil
(see Skipper).
Gooseberry-eyed. Grey-eyed (Lex.
Bal., 1811).
Gooseberry-grinder. The breech.
Gooseberry - lay. Stealing linen
from a line.
Gooseberry - picker. 1. A person
whose labour profits, and is credited
to, another, a Ghost (q.v.). 2, A
chaperon : see Gooseberry.
Gooseberry-pudding. A woman :
see Petticoat.
Gooseberry-wig. A large frizzled
wig; Perhaps (Grose) from a supposed
likeness to a gooseberry bush.
Noodie
A booby — male or
(q.v.) : see Buffle
Goo
female,
(1593).
Goose-egg. No score, Love (q.v.) :
also Gooser.
Goose-flesh (or Goose-skin).
A peculiar tingling of the skin pro-
duced by cold or fear, etc., the sensa-
tion described as Cold \7ater down the
back, the Creeps (q.v.) (1824).
Goose -gog (or Goose -gob). A
gooseberry.
Goose - month. The lying - in
month : cf. Gander-month.
Goose-persuader. A tailor: see
Snip.
Gooser. 1. A settler, knock-
out blow, the act of death. 2. No
score, a Goose-egg (q.v.).
Goose-riding. See Gander-pulling.
Goose's Gazette. A lying story,
flim-flam tale: that is, a piece of
reading for a goose.
Goose-shearer. A beggar.
Goose-step. 1. Balancing
on one foot and moving the other
back and forwards without taking a
step : a preliminary in military drill,
the perns asinorum of the raw recruit.
Also, 2. (more loosely) marking time :
that is, lifting the feet alternately
without advancing.
Goose - turd Green. A light
yellowish green (Cotgrave).
Goosey - gander. A fool : see
Buffle.
Gopher. 1. A young thief ;
spec, a boy employed by burglars to
enter houses through windows, sky-
lights, etc. (in natural history, Gopher,
a burrowing squirrel). 2. A rude
wooden plough : Southern States.
G o r e e. Money ; spec, gold or
gold-dust : Forfc Goree is on the Gold
Coast : see Rhino (1696).
Gorge. 1. A heaw meal, Tuck-
in (q.v.), Blow-out (q.v.) (1553). 2.
A theatrical manager: an abbrevia-
tion of Gorger (q.v.). As verb, to eat
voraciously ; also to gulp as a fish does
when it swallows (or gorges) a bait:
see Wolf (1572).
Gorger. 1. A voracious eater,
Scruncher (q.v ). Rotten gorger, a
lad who hangs about Cbvent Garden or
other markets, eating refuse fruit. 2,
A well-dressed man, a gentleman : 3Tr.,
un grating. Gipsy, gorgio, gentle-
men.] 3. An employer : a principal :
spec, the manager of a theatre : also
197
Gorgonzola Roll.
Grab.
CuHy-gorger : FT., amendier. 4. A
neckerchief (1320).
Gorgonzola Hall. Formerly the
New Hall of the Stock Exchange ; now
the corporation generally. [From the
veinincrs of the marble.]
G o r m. To Gorge (q.v.) : see
Wolf. Pm gormed, a profane oath :
see Gaum (1849).
Gormagon. * A monster with
six eyes, three mouths, four arms,
eight legs, five on one side and three
on the other, three arses, two tarses,
and a cunt upon its back: — a man on
horseback with a woman behind him *
(Grose).
Gormy-ruddles. The intestines.
Gorram (or Goram). See By
goldam
Gony. See By Gorry !
Goschens. The 2£ per cent.
Government Stock created by Mr.
Goschen in 1888.
Gosh. See By gosh.
Gospel. 1. Anything offered
as absolutely true : also Gospel-truth.
To do gospel, to go to church.
Gospel -gab. Insincere talk con-
cerning religion, cant.
Gospel-grinder (postilion, sharp,
or shark). A paison, devil-dodger,
sky-pilot.
Gospeller. An Evangelist
preacher : in contempt : also Hot-
gospeller, a preaching fanatic.
Gospel-mill (or shop). A church
or chapel, Doxology - works (q.v.)
(1785).
G o s s (or Gossamer). A hat :
at first a make of peculiar light-
ness called a Four-and-nine (q.v.) :
occasionally, a white hat: see Gol-
gotha ( 1830). To give (or get) goss, to
requite an injury, kill, go strong, get
an opportunity, put in big licks (q. v. ) :
sometimes ejaculatory, as Give me
goss and let me rip !
Gossoon. A boy : Fr., garnon,
Gotch-gutted. Pot-bellied; a
gotch in Norfolk, signifying a pitcher
or large round jug (Grose).
Got 'em bad. A superlative of
earnestness or excess: e.g. any one
doing his work thoroughly, a horse
straining every nerve, a very sick
person, spec, a subject of the Horrors
(q.v.)-
Got *em on (all on). Dressed
in the height of fashion, rigged out,
Goth. A frumpish or uncultured
person ; one behind the times or
ignorant of the ways of society (1712).
Hence Gothic, rustic, rude, uncultured.
Gotham. New York city :
hence, Gothamite, a New Yorker:
first used by Washington Irving in
Salmagundi (1807).
Go - to - meeting bags (clothes,
dress, etc.). Best clothes : as worn
on Sundays, or holiday occasions
(1837).
Gouge. An imposture, swindle,
method of cheating (1845). As verb,
(1) to defraud ; also (2) to squeeze out
a man's eye with the thumb, a cruel
practice used by the Bostonians in
America (Grose).
Gouger. A cheat, swindler, rook.
Gourd. Hollow dice filled with
lead to give a bias (1544).
Gourock ham. A salt herring
(Gourock was formerly a great fishing
village) : see Glasgow Magistrate.
Government-man. A convict.
Government - securities. Hand-
cuffs, fetters generally : see Darbies.
Government - signpost. The gal-
lows: seo Nubbing-cheat.
Governor (or Guv). 1. A father,
relieving officer, old 'un, pater, nibso :
also applied to elderly people in
general : FT., ggniteur and Fancien
(the old 'un) (1836). 2. A mode of
address : Fr., bourgeois. 3. A master or
superior, an employer. Fjaglish syn-
onyms: boss, captain, chief, colonel,
commander, head-cook and bottle-
washer, gorger, omee, rum-culL
Governor's-stiff. A pardon.
Gower-street Dialect. See Medical
Greek.
Gowk. A simpleton (Scots'
Gowk, a cuckoo) : see Buffle. Also a
countryman : see Joskin. To hunt
the gowk, to go on a fool's errand.
Gowler. A dog ; spec, a howler.
Gown (Winchester College).
1. Coarse brown paper: obsolete.
2. (University). The schools as dis-
tinguished from the Town (q.v.) : e.g.
Town and gown. Hence, gownsman,
a student.
Grab. 1. A sudden clutch. 2.
A robbery, steal (q.v.): of. Grab-gains.
3. A body - stealer, resurrectionist
(q.v.). 4. A boisterous game at
cards. As verb, (1) to pinch (q.v.),
seize, apprehend, snatch or steal.
Grabbed, arrested (1811); (2) to hold
on, get along, live.
198
Grass.
Grab-alL 1. An avaricious
person, greedy-guts (q.v.). 2. A bag
to carry odds and ends — parcels,
books, and so forth.
Grabber. In pi., the hands :
see Daddle.
Grabble. To seize, grab (q.v.)
(1811).
G r a b b y. An infantry - man :
in contempt by the mounted arm :
FT., manonnette.
Grab-gains. The trick of snatch-
ing a purse, etc., and making off.
Grab - game (coup, or racket).
A mode of swindling : the sharpers
start by betting among themselves ;
then the bystanders are induced to
join, stakes are deposited, and lastly,
there is a row, when one of the gang
grabs the stakes and decamps.
Grace - card. The sis of hearts
(for origin see N. and Q., 5th Series,
iv. 137).
Gracemans. Gracechurch Street
Market (1610).
Graduate, 1. A horse that has been
run. 2. An adept, artful member
(q.v.). As verb, to seek and acquire
experience — in life, love, society, or
trade ; and so on.
Gradus. A mode of cheating:
a particular card is so placed by the
shuffler that when he hands the pack
to be cut, it projects a little beyond
the rest ; the chance being that it forms
the turn-up. Also called the step
(q.v.).
Gradus - ad - parnassum. The
treadmill: see Wheel-of -life.
Graft. Work, employment, lay
(q.v.) : e.g. what graft are you on
now ? Great-graft, profitable labour,
good biz (q.v. ). As verb, ( 1 ) to work :
FT., bait&ser, membrer ; (2) to steal ;
(3) to cuckold, plant horns (1G96) ; (4)
to sole old boots: ci Goose and
Translate.
Grampus. A fat man : see Forty-
guts. To How the grampus, to drencn ;
also to sport in the water.
Grand. Short for grand piano.
As adj., a general superlative. To do
the grand, to put on airs.
Grand Bounce. See Bounce,
Grandmother. To see one's
grandmother, to have a nightmare.
To sJioot one's grandmother, to foe
mistaken, find a mare's nest, be
disappointed : commonly, You've shot
your grannie. To teach one's grand-
199
mother (or grannie) how to suck eggs,
to instruct an expert in his own
particular line of business, talk old
to one's seniors (1811). My Grand-
mother's Review, the British Review :
the nickname was Lord Byron's.
Grand -strut. The Broad Walk
in Hyde Park (1823),
Granger. 1. A member of the
Farmers' Alliance ; a secret American
society, nominally non-political, but
really taking a hand in politics when
occasion offered to favour agricultural
interests : during the decade of years
ending 1870 it attained to great
numerical strength, and extended
throughout the United States : see
Agricultural wheeL 2. Hence, a
farmer, countryman, any one from
the rural districts.
Grangerise. To fill out a book
with portraits, landscapes, title-pages,
and illustrations generally, not done
for it. Hence Grangeriam, the prac-
tice of illustrating a book with
engravings, etc., from other sources :
from the practice of illustrating
Granger's Bibliographical History of
England. Also Granger ite, a practi-
tioner in Grangerism.
Grannam. Corn (1563).
Grannam's-gold. Inhen ted wealth.
Granny. 1. A bad knot with the
second tie across ; as opposed to a reef
knot in which the end and outer part
are in line: also Granny's knot or
Granny's bend. 2. Conceit of super-
ior knowledge. As verb, to know,
recognise, swindle (1851).
Grape-shot. Drunk: see Screwed.
Grape-vine. A hold in wrestling.
Grape - vine Telegraph, News
mysteriously conveyed : during the
civil war bogus reports from the
front were said to be by the grape-vine
telegraph : also clothes-line telegraph.
Grapple. The hand : also
grappler: see Daddle.
Grapple-the-rails. Whisky : see
Drinks (1783).
Grappling - irons (or hooks),
1. Handcuffs: see Darbies (1811).
2. The fingers : see Fork : also grap-
plers and grappling-hooks.
Grass (Royal Military Academy).
1. Vegetables : bunny - grub : FT.,
gargousses de la canonniere. 2.
Fresh mint (American). 3. Short for
sparrow-grass (q.v.), asparagus. 4.
A temporary newspaper hand; hence
Grass-comber.
the proverb, A grass on news waits
dead men's shoes (Australian printers).
Grass-hand, a raw worker, green hand.
As verb, to throw (or be thrown),
bring (or be brought) to ground:
hence, to knock down, defeat, kill.
To give grass, to yield ; to go to grass,
(1) to abscond, disappear : also to
hunt grass ; (2) to fail sprawling, be
ruined, die; (3) to waste away (as
of limbs) ; to hunt grass (1) to decamp ;
(2) to field, to hunt leather (q.v.);
(3) to fall, go to ground ; hence, to be
puzzled or bewildered ; to cut one's
own grass, to earn one's own living ;
to be sent to grass, to be rusticated,
receive a travelling scholarship (q.v.) ;
go to grass I be off ! You be hanged ;
to let the grass grow under one's feet,
to proceed or work leisurely: FT.,
limer.
Grass- comber. A countryman
shipped as a sailor.
Grasser. A fall.
Grasshopper. 1. A waiter in a
tea-garden. 2. A policeman, copper
(q.v.). 3. A thief (q.v.)
Grassing. Casual work away
from a printmg office.
Grassville. The country; cf.
Daisyville.
Grass - widow. 1. An unmarried
mother, a deserted mistress (1696).
2. A married woman temporarily
separated from her husband. [The
usually accepted derivation that
grass is FT., gr&ce, is doubtful. Hall
(says J. C. Atkinson, in Glossary of
Cleveland Words) gives as the defini-
tion of this word, An unmarried
woman who has had a child ; in
Moor's Suffolk Words and Phrases,
Grace-widow, A woman who has had
a child for her cradle ere she has had
a husband for her bed; and corre-
sponding with this is the N. S. or Low
Ger., gras-wedewe. Again, Sw. D.,
gras - anka, or -enka grass - widow,
occurs in the same sense as with us :
A low, dissolute, unmarried woman
living by herself. The original mean-
ing of the word seems to have been A
woman whose husband is away,
either travelling or living apart. The
people of Belgium call a woman of this
description haech-wedewe, from haeck&n,
to feel strong desire It seems
probable, therefore, from the ety-
mology, taken in connection with the
Clevel, signification, that our word
may rather be from the Scand. source
than from the German ; only with a
translation of the word enka- into its
English equivalent. Dan, D., graes-
enka, is a female whose betrothed
lover (fastman) is dead ; nearly
equivalent to which is German,
strohwittwe, literally straw - widow.
See N. and Q., 6 S viii., 268, 414 : x.
333, 436, 526; xi. 78, 178.] English
synonyms : Calif ornian widow, widow-
bewitched, wife in water colours
(1700).
Grass - widower. A man away
from Ms wife.
Gravel. 1. To confound, puzzle,
floor (q.v.). 2. To go against the
grain.
Gravel-crusher. A soldier doing
defaulter's drill.
Gravel - grinder. A drunkard :
see Lushington.
Gravel - rash. The lacerations
caused by a fall. To have the gravel
rash, to be reeling drunk : see Screwed.
Gravesend-bus. A hearse.
Gravesend-sweetmeats. Shrimps.
Gravesend - twins. Solid lumps
of sewage.
Grave - yard. The mouth : see
Potato-trap. To keep a private grave-
yard, to affect ferocity, bluster.
Gravy - eye. A derisive epithet :
e.g. Well Old gravy-eye.
Grawler. A beggar : see Cadger.
Gray. 1. A coin showing either
two heads or two tails, pony (q.v.)
(1828). 2. See Grayback. 3. In pL,
yawning, listlessness : cf. Blues.
Grayback. 1. A louse : also
Scots Greys : FT., grenadier : see
Chates. 2. A Confederate soldier:
from the colour of the uniform : see
Blue-belly.
Gray -beard. 1. An old man:
mostly in contempt (1593). 2. Origin-
ally a stoneware drinking jug; now
a large earthenware jar for hold-
ing wine or spirits : with a bearded
face in relief.
Gray-cloak. An alderman above
the chair : his proper robe is a cloak
furred with grey amis.
Gray-goose. A big field stone on
the surface of the ground (1816).
Grayhound. 1. A fast Atlantic
liner ; one especially built for speed :
also ocean grayhound. 2. (Cam.
bridge University). A member of
Clare CoUege, a Clarian (obsolete).
200
Gray-mare.
Qreen.
Gray - mare. A wife ; spec, one
wearing the breeches (q.v.) (1546).
Gray-parson (or Gray-coat
parson). A lay impropriator, or
lessee of tithes (Grose).
Grease. 1. A bribe, paim-
o (or grease), boodle (q.v.) : greasing,
bribing. 2. Well-paid work, fat
(q.v.) : printers', 3. Fawning, flat-
tery. As verb, (1) to bribe, corrupt
by presents, tip (q.v.) : also, to
grease the fist, hand, or palm : Fr.,
coqu&r la boucanade (1557). (2) To
fawn, to flatter : formerly, to grease
one's boots (1598). (3) To gull, cheat,
do (q.v.). To grease a fat sow, to
bribe a rich man (Grose) ; to grease
one's gills, to make a good or luxuri-
ous meal.
Greased Lightning. An express
train. Like greased lightning, very
quick.
Greaser. 1. A Mexican ; also
a Spanish American. The Mexicans
are called greasers from their greasy
appearance, by the Western people
(£^Kctori) : Greasers, Californian slang
for a mixed race of Mexicans and
Indians (Bret Harte). 2. In pi.
(Royal Military Academy), fried pot-
atoes, as distinguished from boilers,
boiled potatoes. To give one
greaser (Winchester College), to rub
the back of the hand hard with the
knuckles.
Grease-spot* The imaginary
result of a passage at arms, physical
or intellectual (1844).
Greasy - chin. A dinner (Grose).
Great Cry and Little Wool. See
Cry.
Great Go (or Greats). The
final examination for the B.A. degree
at Cambridge : of. Little-go : at
Oxford, greater.
Great Gun. 1. A person of dis-
tinction, a thing of importance.
English synonyms : big bug, big dog of
the tanyard, big dog with the brass
collar, big gun, big head, big one,
big (or great) pot, big wig, biggest
toad in the puddle, cock of the walk,
don, large potato, nob, rumbusticator,
stunner, swell, swell-head, topper,
top-sawyer. 2. A peculiar practice,
trick of particular usefulness and
importance, favourite wheeze (q.v.).
To Uow great guns, to blow a gale ;
also, to Uow great guns and small
arms (1839).
Great-house. See Big House.
Great- Joseph. An overcoat.
Great Scott 1 An exclamation
of surprise — an apology for an oath :
a memory of the name of
Meld Scott, a presidential
candidate whose dignity and style
were such as to win him the nickname
Fuss-and-Feathers.
Great Shakes. See Shakes.
Great Smoke. London.
Great Sun. An exclamation.
Great - unwashed. The lower
classes, the rabble : -also the un-
washed . first used by Burke ; popul-
arised by Scott.
Great Whipper-in (The). Death,
Old floorer (q.v.).
Grecian. LA roysterer, Greek
(q.v.)- 2. (Christ's Hospital). A senior
boy. 3. An Irishman. Hence Grecian
accent, a brogue.
Grecian-bend. An affected
stoop in walking (1821): cf. Alexandra
limp, Roman fall, Italian wriggle,
Kangaroo droop.
Greed. Money : see Rhino.
Greedy-gut (or guts). A
voracious eater, a glutton : as in the
old (schoolboys') rhyme : Guy-hi,
Greedy-gut, Eat all the padding up :
Fr., un glafdtre (1598).
Greek. 1. Slang, or Flash (q.v.) ;
usually St. Giles' Greek (q.v.): cf.
Cant* Gibberish, etc. 2. A card-
sharper, cheat (1528). 3. An Irish-
man (1823). 4. A gambler; also a
highwayman. Merry Greek, a roy-
sterer, drunkard (Cotgrave) (1602).
Greek-fire. Bad whisky,
rotgut (q.v.).
Greek Kalends. Never. To
defer to the Greek Kalends, to put off
sine die : the Greeks used no kalends
in their reckoning of tome (1649).
English synonyms r in the reign of
Queen Dick, when the devil is blind,
when two Sundays come in a week,
at Domesday, at Tib's eve, one of
these odd-come-shortly's, when the
ducks have eaten up the dirt, when
pigs fly, in a month of Sundays, once
in a blue moon.
Green. Rawness, simplicity.
Generally in the phrase, Do you see
any green in my eye ? Do you take me
for a fool ? As adj., simple, in-
experienced, gullible, unsalted (q.v.)
(1596). As verb, to hoax, swindle:
at Eton to green up : see Gammon.
201
Gridiron.
To :,sxd to Dr. Green, to put out to grass
(1811). S* dp me grtji- s / (or taiurs /)
a, veiled oatii of an obscene origin.
Just for greens, for no reason m
particular.
G r e e n-a p r o n. A lay preacher :
also as adj.
Green -back. 1. A frog. 2.
One of Todhunter's series of mathe-
matical text-books : bound in green
cloth : cf, Blue-ruin. 3. The paper
issue of the Treasury of the United
States ; first sent out in 1862 during
the civil war, the backs are printed
in green. Hence green - backer, an
advocate for an unlimited issue of
paper money.
Green-bag. A lawyer ; robes and
briefs were carried in a green bag ; the
colour is now blue, or, in cases of
presentation from seniors to juniors,
red (1696). English synonyms : black
box, bramble (provincial), devil's
own, gentlemen of the long robe, land-
shark, limb of the law, mouth-piece,
Philadelphia lawyer (q.v.), quitam, six
and-eightpence, snipe, sublime rascal.
Green-bonnet. To have (or
wear) a green bonnet, to fail in busi-
ness, go bankrupt : a green cloth cap
was once ^ orn by bankrupts.
Green Cheese. See Cream Cheese
and Moon.
Green Cloth. See Board of
Green Cloth.
Green Dragoons. The Fifth
Dragoon Guards ; also known as the
Green Horse : from their green
facings.
Greener. A new, or raw hand ;
spec, an inexperienced workman intro-
duced to fill the place of a striker.
Green-goods. Counterfeit
greenbacks ; hence green-goods man
(or operator), a counterfeiter of green-
backs, snide-pitcher (q.v.).
Green -goose. 1. A cuckold. 2.
A prostitute.
Green - gown. To give a green
gown, to rough and tumble with a
girl.
Green - head. A greenhorn : see
Buffle (1696).
Greenhorn (Green-head, or
Greenlander). A simpleton, fool,
gull (q.v.); also a new hand: see
Baffle. To come, from Greenland, to be
fresh to things, raw (q.v.) ; Green-
lander, sometimes an Irishman (1753).
Greenhouse. An omnibus.
by i
Gar-
Green Howards. The Nine-
teenth Foot, now the Princess of
Wales' s Own Yorkshire Regiment:
from its facings and its Colonel's
name (1738-4.8), and to distinguish it
from the Third Foot, also commanded
a Col. Howard. Also Howard's
rarbage.
Green Kingsman, A silk pocket-
handkerchief : any pattern on a
green ground.
Green Linnets. The 39th Foot,
now the first battalion Dorsetshire
Regiment : from the facings.
Greenly. Like a greenhorn,
foolishly (1596).
Greenmans. 1. The fields, the
country (1610). 2. In sing., a con-
tractor who speculates with other
people's money.
Greenness. Immaturity of
judgment, inexperience, gullibility
(1748).
Green-rag. See Greeny.
Green-river. To send a man v/p
Green-river, to kill : from a once famous
factory on Green River, where a
favourite hunting knife was made.
Green-sickness. Chlorosis.
Green - turtle. To live up to
green-turtle., to do, and give, one's
best.
Greenwich Barber. A retailer of
sand from the Greenwich pits : a pun
upon shaving the banks (Grose).
Greenwich - goose. A pensioner
of Greenwich Hospital (Grose).
Greeny. 1. The curtain : from
the colour : also green-rag (1821). 2.
A freshman (q.v,). 3. A simpleton,
greenhorn (q.v.) : see Buffle.
Greetin' Fu*. Drunk: literally
crying drunk : see Screwed.
G r e e z e (Westminster School).
A crowd, push (q.v.).
Gregorian. A kind of wig worn
in the 17th century : after the inventor
one Gregory, a barber in the Strand.
Gregorian - tree. The gallows :
there was a sequence of three hang-
men of the name : see Nubbing-cheat.
Gregorine. A louse ; specifically,
head vermin : see Chates.
Greshamite. A fellow of the Royal
Society (1690).
Grey. See Gray, passim.
Griddle. To sing in the streets.
Whence, griddling, street-singing ;
griddler, a street singer (1851).
Gridiron. 1. The United States
Grief.
Grip.
flag ; the Stars and Stripes : also
Gridiron and Doughboys ; also speak-
ing of the Eagle in conjunction with
the flag, the Goose and Gridiron. 2.
A County Court Summons : originally
applied to writs of the Westminster
Court, the arms of which resemble a
gridiron (1859). 3. The bars on a
cell window : !Pr., ler gaides de Schtard.
The Gridiron, the Graf ton Club: the
grill was a speciality. On the gridiron,
troubled, harassed, in a bad way, on
toast (q.v.). The whole gridiron : see
Whole animal.
Grief. To come to grief, to come to
ruin, meet with an accident, fail
Griffin (or Griff). 1. A new-
comer, raw hand, greenhorn (q.v.).
Specific uses are (Anglo-Indian), a
new arrival from Europe ; (military),
a young subaltern ; (Anglo-Chinese),
an unbroken horse. Griffinage (or
Griffinism), the state of greenhornism
(1859). 2. A woman of forbidding
manners or appearance, a Gorgon :
also a caretaker, chaperon, or sheep-
dog (q. v. ). [A reflection of the several
griffins of ornithology and of heraldry :
the former a feeder on birds, small
mammals, and even children ; the
latter (as in Milton) a perfection of
vigilance.] 3. A signal : e.g. to tip
the griffin, to warn, give the office
(q.v.), or tip (q.v.); the straight griffin,
the straight tip. 4. In pi. the scraps
and leavings from a contract feast,
which are removed by the purveyor.
Griff-metoli. Sixpence, a tanner
(q.v.) : see Rhino (1754).
Grig. 1. An active, lively, and
jocose person : as in the phrase
Merry as a Grig (1611). 2. A farthing,
a gigg (q.v.) : see Rhino (1696). As
verb, to vex, worry (1855).
Grim. A skeleton : also Grin.
Whence Old Mr. Grim, death.
Grin. To strike on plates with
knives and forks, beat with the feet,
and shout at the top of the voice, in
an effort to make the victim grin. To
grin in a glass case, to be shown as an
anatomical preparation : the bodies
and skeletons of criminals were once
preserved in glass cases at Surgeons'
Hall (Grose).
Grin agog, the Cat's Uncle.
A grinning simpleton (Grose).
Grind. 1. A walk, constitutional :
e.g. to take a grind, or (University)
to go on the Grand-Chester (or Gog
„ „ Hills) grind. 2. Daily routine,
hard or distasteful work (1853). 3.
Study, reading for an examination ;
also a plodding student, i.e. a grinder.
4. A demonstration. : as (1) a ' public
grind,' given to a class and free to all ;
and (2) a private grtnd, for which a
student pays an individual teacher:
in America, a quiz (q.v.). 5. (Oxford
University) Athletic sports : also,
a training run. The grind (Cambridge
University), the ferry-boat at Chester-
ton. As verb, (1) to prepare for
examination, study, read, teach, in-
struct, coach (q.v.), do a round of
hard and distasteful work, apply one-
self to daily routine ; (2) to vex, put
out. To grind an axe, see Axe. To
get a grind on one, to play practical
jokes, tell a story against one, annoy
or vex. To grind wind, to work the
treadwill : see Everlasting staircase.
Grinder. 1. A private tutor,
Coach (q.v.) : cf. Crammer (1812). 2.
Usually in pi., the teeth. English
synonyms: bones, chatterers, cogs,
crashing cheats, dining-room furni-
ture (or chairs), dinner-set, dominoes,
front-rails, Hampstead Heath (rhym-
ing), head-rails, ivories, park-palings
(or railings), snagglers, tushes (or
tusks), tomb-stones (1597). To take
a grinder, to apply the left thumb to
the nose, and revolve the right hand
round it, as if to work a hand-organ
or coffee-mill ; also to take a sight
(q.v.), to work the coffee mill (q.v.) :
a street retort on an attempt to impose
on good faith or credulity (183C).
Grinding - house. The House of
Correction : see Cage (1614).
Grinding-mill. The house of a
tutor or coach (q.v.) where students
are prepared for an examination.
Grind-off (or Grindo). A miller :
from a character in The Miller and
his Men.
Grindstone. A tutor, a coach
(q.v.). To bring (hold, put, or keep)
one's nose to the grindstone, to oppress,
harass, punish, treat harshly. To
have one's nose kept to the grindstone, to
be held to a bargain, or task (1578).
To have the grindstone on one's back,
said of a man going to fetch the
monthly nurse (Grose).
Grinning-stitches. Slovenly
sewing, stitches wide* apart, ladders
(q.v.).
Grip (or Gripsack). A hand-bag,
203
Qripe.
Grow.
satchell. To lose one's grip, to fail,
lose one's control.
Gripe. 1. A miser, usurer :
also griper or gripe-fist (q.v.). Grip-
ing, extortion. 2. In pi., the colic,
stomach ache, collywobbles : see
Jerry-go-nimble (1684).
Gripe-fist. A miser, grasping
broker: also gripe-penny.
Grist. A large number or quan-
tity : Swift uses grist, a supply ; a
provision. To bring grist to the mitt,
to bring profitable business, be a source
of profit (1719).
Grit. 1. Character, pluck, spirit,
sand (q.v.): also clear grit. No grit,
lacking in stamina, wanting in courage
(1S25). 2. A member of the Liberal
party (Canadian political).
Gritty. Plucky, courageous,
resolute, full of character.
Grizzle. To fret ; also to grizzle
one's guts.
Grizzle -guts (Grizzle- or Glam-
pot). A melancholy or ill-tempered
person, sulkington (q-v.).
Groaner. A thief (q.v.) plying
his trade at funerals or religious
gatherings.
Groaning. The act of parturition :
also adj., parturient, or appertaining
to parturition: as in groaning -malt
(Scots'), drink for a lying-in ; groaning
pains, the pangs of delivery; groaning
itrife, a woman ready to lie-in (1594).
Groats. A naval chaplain's
monthly allowance. To save one's
groats, to come off handsomely: at
the University nine groats were
formerly deposited in the hands of an
academic officer by every person stand-
ing for a degree, which, if obtained
with honour, were returned to him
(Grose).
Grocery. 1. Small change (1728).
2. A drinking bar ; also confectionery
and groggery. 3. Sugar : a restricted
use of a colloquialism.
Grog. Spirits and water, strong
drink generally: till Admiral Vernon's
time (1745) rum was served neat, but
he ordered it to be diluted, and was
therefore nicknamed Old Grog, in
allusion to his grograzn coat : a phrase
that was presently adapted to the
mixture he had introduced : Groggy,
drunk : see Screwed. As verb, to
dilute or adulterate with water. To
have grog on board (or to be grogged),
to be drunk : see Screwed.
204
Grog-blossom. A pimple caused
by excessive drinking : also copper-
nose and jolly-nose : Fr., nez culotU,
and nez de pompettea (1811).
Grog-fight. A drinking party : cf.
Tea-fight.
Groggery. A public bar, grog
shop.
Groggy. 1. Under the influence
of drink: see Screwed (1829). 2.
(stable) Moving as with tender feet.
3. (pugilists') Unsteady from punish-
ment and exhaustion: Fr., locher
(1831).
Gr ogham. A horse, daisy-
kicker (q.v.): now mostly in con-
tempt: see Prad (Grose).
Grog-shop. The mouth : see
Potato-trap (1843).
Grog-tub. A brandy bottle.
Groom. A croupier.
Groomed. See Well-groomed.
Groovy. A sardine. As adj.,
settled in habit, limited in mind.
Groper. 1. A blind man, Hood-
man (q.v.) (1696). 2. A pocket
(Grose). 3. A midwife, fingersmith
(q.v.) (Grose).
Ground. To suit down to the
ground, to be thoroughly becoming or
acceptable. To wipe (or mop) up the
ground (or floor) with one, to adminis-
ter the soundest of thrashings, prove
oneself absolutely superior to one's
opponent. To go (or get) well to the
ground, to defaecate, rear (q.v.): see
Mrs. Jones (1608).
Grounder. A ball with a ground de-
livery, sneak, grub ; and (in America)
at base ball, a ball struck low, or
flying near the ground.
Ground-floor. To be let in on the
ground-floor, to share in a specula-
tion on equal terms with the original
promoters.
Ground-squirrel. A hog, grunter
(Lex. Bat.).
Ground-sweat. To have (or take) a
ground-sweat, to be buried (1696).
Grouser. 1. A grumbler rusty-
guts (q.v.). 2. A rowing man, wet-
bob (q.v.).
G r o u t e (Marlborough and
Cheltenham Colleges). To work or
study hard, swot (q.v.).
Grouty. Crabbed, sulky.
Grove of the Evangelist. St.
John's Wood ; also Apostle's Grove,
and the Baptist's Wood.
Grow. To be accorded the privi-
Growler.
Gudgeon.
lego of letting one's hair and beard Grub - shop (crib, trap, etc.).
grow: also to grow one's feathers. 1. The moulb ; uad 2. a crubbery
Growler. A four-wheeled cab : (q.v.) : sso Potato-trap. 3. See Grub-
of. Sulky. English synonyms : bird- bin£-cnb in both senses.
cage, blucher, bounder, fever-trap, Grub - stake. Food and other
flounder - and-dab (rhyming), four- necessaries furnished to mining prO.
wheeler, groping hutch, mab (an old specters in return for a share in the
hackney), rattler, nimbler. To rush finds. Hence, to grub-stake, to specu-
(or work) the growler, to fetch beer late after this fashion.
Grub Street The world of cheap,
mean, needy authors : originally a
street near Moorfields, changed in 1830
(workman's).
Grown -man's -dose. A lot of
liquor: also a long drink (q.v.): see
Go.
Grown-up. An adult : also (under-
takers') a grown (1864).
Grub. 1. Food. English synonyms :
to Milton Street (1696).
Gruel. 1. A beating, punish-
ment (q.v.). Hence, to get (or give}
one's gruel, to castigate, be well
belly-cheer (or chere), beUy-furniture, beaten, killed. In the prize ring, to
belly-timber, Kaffir's tightener (speci- knock a man out for good. Gnielled,
fically, a full meal), chuck, corn, floored; also gruelling (1815). 2.
(broken "" **
manablins
mouth harness, mungarly,
peck, prog, scoff (S. African), scran,
stodge, tack, tommy (specifically
bread), tuck, yam. Also, verbally, to
bung the cask, to grease the gills, to
have the run of one's teeth, to yam.
2. A short thick-set man, a dwarf:
in contempt : see Hop-o'-my-Thumb.
Coffee.
GrueUer. A knock-down blow,
settler (q.v.), a floorer (q.v.).
Grumble - guts. An inveterate
croaker: also grumble-gizzard*
Grumbles. To be all on the
grumbles, to be discontented, cross, on
the snarley-yow (q.v.).
Grumbletonian. A pattern of
.
3. A sloven, generally of elderly people, discontent, one ever on tlie grumble.
4. A careful student, hard reader. Grumbleton (during the reigns of
5. Roots and stumps: whatever is •"--'-•«— <" j.-\ — -• -•
grubbed up. 6. A' ball delivered
along the ground, grounder (q.v.),
daisy-cutter (q.v.): see Lob-sneak.
As verb, (1) to take or supply with
food (1725). Whence grubbing, eat-
ing. (2) To beg, ask alms, especially
food. (3) To study, read hard, sweat
(q.v.). To ride grub, to be sulky,
crusty (q-v.), disagreeable (Grose).
To grub along, to make one's way
as best one can, rub along.
Grubbery. (1) An eating-house:
also (2) a dining-room, and (3) the
mouth.
Grubbing -crib. 1. An eat-
ing-house. QruKbing-orib faker, the
landlord of a cheap cookshop : FT.,
nourrisseuT, "RngliaK synonyms :
grubbery, grubby (or grubbing-ken),
grub-shop, guttle-shop, hash-house,
mungarly casa, prog-shop, slap-bang
shop, tuck-shop, waste-butt. 2. A
workhouse : sometimes Gruboiken :
see Spinniken.
Grubble. To feel for at random,
or in the dark.
Grubby. Food : a diminutive of
grab (q.v.)- As adj., dirty, slovenly.
Grub-hunting. Begging for food.
the later Stuarts), an imaginary centre
of discontent ; hence, Grumbletonian,
a nickname of the County party, dis-
tinguished from the Court, as being in
opposition.] (1690).
Grumpy (or Grumpish). Surly,
cross, angry.
Grundy. A short fat man, forty-
guts (q.v.) : see Mrs. Grundy.
Grunter. LA pig, grunting-
cheat (q.v.): also pork (1656). 2.
A sixpence : formerly (Grose) Is. : see
Rhino. 3. A policeman, trap (q.v.):
pig (q.v.). 4. A constant grumbler,
grumble-guts (q.v.).
Grunter *s - gig. A smoked pig's
chap (Grose).
Grunting-cheat A pig (1067).
Grunting-peck. Pork or bacon.
Gruts. Tea.
G. T. T. Gone to Texas; abs-
conded; moonshining gentry used
to mark G. T. T. on the doors of their
abandoned dwellings as a consolation
for inquiring creditors : Fr., otter en
Belgigue.
Guage. See Gage.
Gubbins. Fish offal (1611).
Gudgeon. 1. A bait, an allure-
ment : hence, to gudgeon (or to swallow)
205
Guerrilla.
Gummy.
a f/'/i7<7?on, to be extremely Credulous (1596), 2. A cheat, fraud, trick
or Kuiliblc (1508). 2. An easy dupe, (1600). 3. (Oxford Univ.). A swindler,
Duffle (q.v.) ( 1 783). trickster. As verb, to cheat, dupe, vic-
Guerrilla. This name is applied timise, take hi (q.v.) in any fashion
by gamblers to fellows who skin and to any purpose (1596). Hence,
.•,uckera when and where they can, gullible, adj., easily duped,
who do not like the professional G u 1 1 a g e. The act of trickery,
gamblers, but try to beat them, the state of being gulled (1605).
sometimes inform on them, and tell Gull-catcher (Guller, Gull-
the suckers that they have been sharper, etc.). A trickster, cheat
cheated (MatscU). ( 1602).
Guff. Humbug, bluff, jabber : see Gullery. Dupery, fraud, cheat's
Gammon.
Guffy.
crusher.
G u i d e r s.
A soldier: see Mud-
device.
Gullet. The throat : see Gutter-
finder (q.v.) (1712).
Guinea-hen. A courtezan (1602).
alley (1383).
1. Reins, ribbons Gull - finch. A simpleton, fool :
(q.v.). 2. Sinews, leaders (q.v.). see Bufflo (1630).
Guinea. A guinea to a goose- Gull-groper. A gamester's money-
berry, long odds. lender (1609).
Guinea-dropper. A sharper : Gully. 1. The throat : see Gutter-
spec, one who let drop counterfeit alley. 2. A knife : see Chive (1633).
oruineas in collusion with a Gold- As verb, to gull (q-v.), dupe,
'- "•"" swindle.
Gully-fluff. Pocket-filth, beggar's
* ' ' * : also flue (q.v.).
t. A glutton : see
19 a guinea : as ve'ts ; special jurymen, Gully-hole (or Gully). The throat :
etc. Now mainly restricted to clergy- see Gutter-alley.
men acting as deputies, and (in Gully -raker. (1) A cattle-whip;
contempt) to directors of public also (2) a cattle-thief.
companies : hence guinea - trade, Gulpin. A simpleton, gape-seed
professional services (1821). 3. A (q.v.): Fr., gdbemouchet Sponge: see
midshipman, Buffle.
Guise's Geese. The Sixth Foot, or Gulpy. Easily duped.
Saucy Sixth, now the Royal Warwick- G u 1 s h. To hold one's gulsh, to
shire Regiment : from its Colonel's hold one's tongue, keep quiet,
name (1735-63). Gum. 1. Chatter, talk, jaw (q.v.),
Guiver. 1. Flattery; 2. Artfulness abuse (1751). 2. A trick, piece of
(q.v.). As adj., smart, fashionable, dupery, sell (q.v.): also gummation.
on it (q.v.). Guiver lad, a low- 3. A golosh, india-rubber overshoe:
class dandy; also an artful member short for gum- shoes. As verb, to
(q.v.). As verb, to humbug, fool cheat, take in (q.v.), roast (q.v.),
about (q.v.), show off. quiz : see Gammon. Old Mother Gum,
Gulf. 1. The throat, the maw: an old woman: in derision. By
see Gutter-alley (1579). 2. (Cam- gum! a mild oath. Bless your (or
bridge Univ.). The bottom of a list his, herf its, etc.) gums, a piece of
of passes, with the names of those banter : a facetious way of saying
who only just succeed in getting their Bless your soul !
degree. 3. (Oxford Univ.). A man Gummagy. Snarling: of a scolding
who, going in for honours, only gets habit.
a pass. As verb (Cambridge Univ.), Gummed. Said of a ball close to
to place in the gulf ; to be gulfed, to be the cushion.
on such a list : men so placed were Gummy. 1. A toothless person j
not eligible for the Classical Tripos : i.e. with nothing but gums to show :
cf. Pluck and Plough. generally, Old Gummy. 2. Medicine :
Gulf-spin. A rascal, worth- also gummy-stuff. 3. A dullard, fool :
less fellow, beat (q.v.), shyster see Buffle. As adj., puffed, swollen,
(<l-'*r.). clumsy (Grose). To feel gummy, to
GulL LA ninny: see Buffle perspire.
206
Gump.
Gutter-aUey.
Gump. A dolt : see -BufEe (1825)
Gumption. Cleverness, under-
standing, nous (q.v.) : also rum
gumption (Grose).
Gumptious. Shrewd, intelligent,
vain.
Gum - smasher (or Tickler) , A.
dentist : snag-catcher (q.v.).
Gum-suck. To flatter, humbug,
dupe : see Gammon.
Gum-sucker. 1. A native of Tas-
mania, who owes his nickname to the
abundance of gum-trees in the Tas-
manian forests : of. Corn-stalk. 2.
A fool : see Buffie.
Gum-tickler. 1. A drink: spec,
drop of short, or a dram : see Go
(1814). 2. See Gum-smasher.
Gum-tree. To be up a gum-tree, to
be on one's last legs, at the end of
one's rope : He has seen his last gum-
tree, It is all up with him.
Gun. 1. A lie (New Cant Diet.,
1725). 2. A thief (q.v.); spec, a
Magsman (q.v.) or street-artist: also
gun-smith and gunner. Gunning,
thieving. 3. A revolver: seeMeat-in-
the-pot. 4. A toddy glass. As verb,
( 1 ) to consider with attention. (2) To
strive hard, make a violent effort : e.g.
to gun a stock, to use every means to
produce a break; when supplies are
heavy and holders would be unable to
resist. In the gun, drunk : see Screwed
(1696). Son of a gun: see Son. Sure
as a gun, quite certain, inevitable
(1633).
Gundiguts. A fat man, forty-
guts (q.v.) (1696).
Gunner's-daughter. To kiss
(or marry) the gunner's daughter, to be
flogged. Gunner's daughter, the gun
to which boys were lashed for punish-
ment (Grose).
Gunpowder. An old woman (1696).
Gunter. See Cocker.
Gup. Gossip, scandal. To "be a
gup, to be easy to take or steaL
Gurtsey. A fat man, podge
(q.v.) : see Forty-guts.
Gush. The expression of affected
or extravagant sentiment. As verb,
to overflow with extravagant or
affected sentiment. Hence gusher,
a practitioner of gush : also Gushing-
tion ; gushing, extravagants affected
or irrational in expression, demonstra-
tively affectionate: also gushingly.
Gut. 1. The vice or habit of glut-
tony; the belly (as opposed to the
207
groin). 2. In pi. the stomach and
inlesfcine.3 (1C09). 3. In «1. a fat
man, forty-guts (q.v.) : also guls-and-
garbage. More guts than Irakis, a
fo'jl (1598). 4. Spirit, quality, a
touch of force, energy, or fire : e.2.
a picture, a book, an actor. With
guts, a strong thing; put your gvt*
into it (aquatic), row the very best
you can. He (or it) has no guts in
him (or it), he (or it) is a common
rotter (q.v.). Hence, gutsy, adj.,
having guts, and gutei'itiss, subs., the
condition of being gutsy (1738). As
verb, (1) to plunder, or take out all
or most of the contents (i.e. intes-
tines) of a place or thing, dram,
clean out : e.g. to gut a house (thieves'),
to rifle it ; to gut an oyster, to eat it ;
to gut a book, to empty it of interest-
ing matter ; to gut a quart pot, to drain
at a draught. Whence, gutted, dead-
broke ( 1 696). (2) To eat hard, fast, and
badly, wolf (q.v.). To fret one's guts,
to worry ; to have plenty of guts but no
bowels, to be unfeeling, hard, merci-
less ; my great guts are ready to eat my
little ones, I am very hungry : also,
my guts begin to think my throat's cut,
my guts curse my teeth, and my guts
chime twelve (Grose) ; not fit to carry guts
to a bear, to be worthless, absolutely
unmannerly, unfit for human food.
Gut-foundered. Exceedingly
hungry (1696).
Gut-pudding. A sausage (Nomen-
dator).
Gut-puller. A poulterer, chicken-
butcher (q.v.).
Gut - scraper. A fiddler : also
catgut-scraper and tormentor of cat-
gut : see Rosin-the-bow (1719).
Gutter. Porter (MatseU) : prob-
ably a corruption of gatter (q.v.).
As verb (Winchester College), to fall
in the water flat on the stomach : JV.,
piquer un platventre. To lap the
gutter, to be in the last stage of in-
toxication : see Screwed. Carry me
out and leave me in the gutter: see
Carry me out.
Gutter-alley (or lane). 1. The
throat. All goes down gutter-lane,
He spends all on his stomach. Eng-
lish synonyms: Beer Street, common
sewer, drain, funnel, Gin Lane, gulf-
gullet, gully-hole, gutter, HoUoway,
Peck Alley, Red Lane, the Bed
Sea, Spew Alley, swallow, thrapple,
throttle, whistle. 2. A urinal.
Gutter-Hood.
Hack.
Gutter-blood. (1) A ragged
rascal ( 16*22). Also (2) a vulgarian ;
an upstart from the rabble.
Gutter- chaunter. A street singer.
Gutter-hotel. The op'.'ii air : se^
Hedge-square.
Gutter-literature. See Blood-and-
thundor, and Awful.
Gutter - master. A term of re-
proach (1607).
Gutter - prowler. A street thief
(q.v.).
Gutter-snipe. 1. A street arab :
also gutter-slush. 2. A poster for
the kerb. 3. An. outside broker who
does business chiefly in the street ; a
kerbstone broker (q.v.): FT., loup-
cervier.
Guttie. 1. A gutta-percha ball.
2. A glutton, stodger (q.v.). 3. A
forty-guts (q.v.).
Guttle. To eat greedily, Gormand-
ize (q.v.). Also to drink: e.g. to
gvttte a pint, to take off, or do, a
pint ; He's been gwttting svripes, he's
been drinking beer. Hence gtcttHer,
a coarse or greedy eater, a sturdy
pot-companion, gorger (q-v.) : cf.
Thackeray's Book oj Snobs for Guttle-
bury Fair : see Guzzle (1672).
Guttle - shop. A pastry - cook's,
tuck-shop (q.v.).
Guv. An abbreviation of governor
(q.v.).
Guy. 1. A Fifth of November
effigy, whence, 2. an ill-dressed per-
son: as in the old street cry, Hollo,
boys, there goes another guy ! English
synonyms: caution, Captain Queer-
nabs, chivey, comic bird, ragamuffin,
sight. 3. A dark lantern : obviously
a reminiscence of the Gunpowder
Plot. 4. A jaunt, expedition. As
verb, (1) to quiz, chaff, roast (q.v.),
Josh (q.v.) ; (2) to escape, hedge
(q.v ), run away : also to do a guy
(which also=to give a false name: see,
Burk (3) To spoil, muddle, disfigure,
distort. (4) To damn, hiss, slate (q.v.),
give the bird (q.v.).
Guzzle (or Guttle). 1. An insati-
able eater or drinker. 2. A debauch.
3. Drink. As verb, to drink greedily,
or to excess (1607).
Guzzle-guts. A glutton, a
hard drinker (Lex. Bal., 1811): see
Guzzle.
Guzzler. A hard drinker, a coarso
voracious feeder : see Guzzle (1760).
Guzzling. Eating or drinking
to excess, also eating or drinking in a
coarse unmannerly fashion (1696).
Guzzum. Chatter, noise.
G. Y. Att a G.Y., crooked, all on
one side, all of a hugh.
Gybe. A written paper (1567).
As verb, to whip, castigate : e.g.
gybed at the carfs tail, whipped at
the cart's tail (1696).
Gybing (also Gibery). Jeering
(1696).
Gyger. See Jigger.
Gyp (Cambridge University).
1. A college servant : at Oxford, a
scout (q.v.) ; at Dublin, a skip (q.v.)
Etymology doubtful: according to
Sat. Bev. an abbreviation of Gipsy
Joe ; according to Cambridge under-
graduates from the Greek yv-fy
(Gups), a vulture ; from the creature's
rapacity.] (1794). 2. A thief (q.v.).
Gypsies of Science. The British
Association (1846).
Gyrotwistive. Full of evasions
and tricks, a portmanteau word.
Gyte. 1. A child : in contempt. 2.
A first year's pupil in the Edinburgh
High School.
Haberdasher. A dealer in
small wares ; specifically (a) a hatter,
and (b)f (humorously) a publican (i.e. a
seller of tape, q.v.) ; now restricted to
a retail draper (1599). HdberdaaTier
of pronouns, & schoolmaster (1696).
Habit (Old University). College
habit, College dress, called of old,
livery: the dress of the master,
fellows, and scholars (Gradusad Canta-
brigiam).
Hab-nab (or Hob-nob). 1. At
random, promiscuously, helter-skelter,
ding-dong (1602). 2. By hook or by
crook, by fair means or foul (1581).
Hack (or Hackney). (1) A per-
son or thing let out for promiscuous
use: e.g. a horse, harlot, literary
drudge. Whence (2) a coach that
plies for hire; (3) (stables') a horse
for everyday use, as offered to one for
a special purpose — hunting, racing,
Hackle.
Hatf-breed.
polo. (4) (Cambridge Umv, ), * Hacks ;
Hack preachers ; the comuion exhibi-
tioners at St. Mary's, employed in the
service of defaulters arid absentees.'
Also hackster. As verb, to kick
shins. Hacking, the practice of lack-
ing shins at football.
Hackle. Pluck, spirit, bottom
(q.v.). To show hackle, to show fight.
Hackslaver. To stammer, splutter,
hesitate in speech.
Hackum (Captain Hackum, or
Hackster). A bully, bravo : see
Furioso (1657).
Had. See Have.
Haddock. 1. A purse. Had-
dock of beans, a purse of money
(1598). 2. In pi., North of Scotland
Ordinary Stock.
Hag (old : now recognised). (1)
A witch. Whence (2) an ugly old
woman ; a she-monster. Also (3) a
nightmare. At Charterhouse, a
female of any description ; at Win-
chester, a matron. Hence, Hag-
ridden, troubled with nightmare ; hag
born, witch born; hag-seed (Shakes-
peare, * Tempest " ), spawned of a witch ;
hag- faced, foul-featured (1529). Tour
bag-ship ! in contempt (of women).
Hag-finder. A witch finder (1637).
Hagged. Ugly, gaunt, hag -like
(1696).
Haggisland. Scotland.
Haggle. To bargain keenly,
stick at (or out for) trumpery points,
debate small issues (1696).
Haggler. Formerly a travel-
ling merchant^ a pedlar : now (in
London vegetable markets) a middle-
man (1662).
Hail. To raise had (Ned, Cain,
or Hell), to make a disturbance ; to
kick up a row. To be hail fellow weU
met, to be on very easy terms : also
at hail fellow (1574). To be hailed
for the last time, to die : see Aloft^ Hop
the twig.
Hair. To go against the hais, to
go against the grain, contrary to
nature (1589). Both of a hair., very
much alike, two of a teade, two in a
tale. Not worth a, hair, utterly worth-
less : of. Cent, Rap, Dump, etc. To
a hair, exactly, to a nicety ; to fit to
a hair, to fit perfectly ( 1697). To split
hairs, to cavil about trifles, quibble,
be over-nice in argument ( 1 693). Suit
of hair: see Head of hair. To raise
(or lift) hair, to scalp ; hence, idiom-
atically, to defeat, kill ; to keep one's
hair, to escape a danger. To comb
one's hair, to castigate, monkey (q.v.).
To hold (or keep) one's hair (or wool)
on, to keep one's temper, avoid excite-
ment, take things calmly : also, to
keep one's shirt on, or, pull down one's
jacket (or vest) : Fr., etre calma et
inodore. A hair of the Hack bear (or
b'ar), a spice of the deviL To make
one's hair stand on end, to astonish
( 1 697). A hair of the dog that bit one, a
pick-me-up after a debauch. [Ap-
parently a memory of the superstition,
which was and still is common, that,
being bitten by a dog, one cannot do
better than pluck a handful of hair
from him, and lay it on the wound.]
(1531).
Hair-butcher. A barber.
Hair-pin. An individual, male or
female : e.g. Thafs the sort of hair-
pin I am, that's my style.
Hairy. 1. Difficult. 2. Splendid,
famous, conspicuous, uncommon.
Halbert. To get the halbert, to
rise to sergeant's rank : (the weapon
was carried by sergeants of foot).
To be brought, to the Jialberts, to be
flogged ; to carry the halbert in one's
face, to show that one rose from the
ranks (of officers in .commission)
(1785).
Half. Us half past kissing time
and time to kiss again, the retort im-
pudent (to females) when asked
the time : a snatch from a ballad.
[In Swift, Polite Conversation,, an hour
past hanging time.!
Half -a- crack (jiffy, or tick).
Half a second.
Half-and-half. Equal quantities
of ale and porter : cf. Four-half and
Drinks (1824). As adj., half -drunk,
half -on (q.v.): see Screwed. Half-
and-half-coves (men, boys, etc.), cheap
or linsey-woolsey dandies, half-bucks
(q.v.), half- tigers (q.v.).
Half-an-eye. To see with half
an eye, to discern readily, be quick
at conclusions.
Half-baked (or Soft-baked). Half-
witted, cracked, soft (q.v.), doughy
(q.v.), half-rocked (q.v.): Fr., n'awrir
pas la tete bi&n cuite (1825).
Half -breed. A nickname ap-
plied to certain New York Bepublicans
who wavered in their allegiance
during an election to the Senate in
1881 (Norton,).
209
Half -cocked.
Half - cocked. Half-drunk : see
Screwed. To go off at half-cock (or
haZf-coc7;ed), to fail through hasty and
ill-considered endeavours.
Half-cracked. Lacking in intel-
ligence.
Half-crown Word. A difficult
or uncommon vocable, jaw-breaker
(q.v.), crack-jaw : see Sleeveboard.
Half - crowner. A publication
costing 2s. 6d.
H a 1 f - c u t Half-drunk : see
Screwed.
Half-fly Flat. (1) A thief s jackal ;
(2) a man (or woman) hired to do
rough of dirty -work.
Half - grown Shad. A dolt : see
Baffle.
Half Laugh and Purser's Grin.
A sneer, a half - and - half meaning
(Clark Xussell).
Halfiings. Betwixt and between:
usually of a boy or girl just past
childhood (1818).
Half -man. A landsman rated
asA.B.
Half - marrow. 1. A faithless
spouse; also a parcel husband or wife
(1600). 2. An incompetent seaman.
Half-moon. A wig (1611).
Half - mourning. A black eye.
Full-mourning ', two black eyes, deep
grief.
Half -nab (or nap). At a venture,
unsight unseen, hit or miss ( Hfniw?.
Carew).
Half-on. Half-drunk.
Half-rocked. Half-witted, silly:
a West Country saying is that all idiots
are nursed bottom upwards.
Half-saved. Weak-minded, shallow-
brained.
Half-screwed. More or less in
liquor : see Screwed.
Half-seas Over. Loosely applied
to various degrees of inebriety : for-
merly, half way on one's course, or
towards attainment: see Screwed.
[In its specific sense Gifford says, A
corruption of the Dutch op-zee zober,
over-sea beer, a strong heady beverage
introduced into Holland from Eng-
land. Up-zee Freese is Friezeland
beer. The German zauber means
strong beer, and bewitchment. Thus
(1610) in Jonson, Alchemist, iv. 2.
I do not like the dulness of your eye,
It hath a heavy cast, 'tis upsee Dutch.
Other nautical terms *=; drunk are
Water-logged, Sprung, Slewed, With
one's jib well bowsed, Three sheets
in the wind, Channels under, etc.]
Half-slewed. Parcel drunk: see
Screwed.
Half - snacks (or Half - snags).
Half-shares (1683).
Half-'un. Half a glass of spirits
and water, half-a-go (q.v.).
Half - widow. A woman with a
lazy and thriftless husband.
Halifax. Go to Halifax, be off !
The full text is Go to HeU, Evil,
or Halifax: cf. Bath, Blazes, Hull,
Putney, etc. (1599).
Hall. 1. Specifically The Hatt,
Leadenhall Market : cf . Garden Lane,
etc. 2. (Oxford Univ.). Dinner:
which is taken in College hall. To
hall, to dine. Go and hire a haU, a
retort upon loquacious bores. HaU by
the sea, the Examination Hall of the
conjoined Board of the Boyal Colleges
of Physicians and Surgeons: situate
on the Embankment at the foot of the
Waterloo Bridge. HaU of delight, a
music hall.
Hallan-shaker (or Hallen- shaker).
A vagabond, sturdy beggar (1503).
HallibaUo. See Hulhballo.
Hallion (or Hallyon). (1) A rogue,
a clod, a gentleman's servant out of
livery ; also (2) a shrew.
Halloo. To hattoo with the under
dog, to take the losing side.
Halo. To work the halo racket, to
grumble, be dissatisfied : from the
story of the saint in Heaven who got
dissatisfied with his nimbus.
Haltersack. A gallows-bird:
a general term of reproach and con-
tempt (1598).
Halves (Winchester College) : (pro.
Hayes). Half - Wellington boots,
which were strictly non hcet (obs.). —
Notions. To go (or cry) halves, to
take (or claim) a half share or chance :
in America at the halves (1831),
Ham. 1. (in. pi.) Trousers : also
Ham-oases: see Kicks (1725). 2. A
loafer : also Ham-fatter : also (Ameri-
can Slang Diet.), a tenth-rate actor
or variety performer. No ham and
all hominy, of indifferent quality, no
great shakes, all work and no play
much cry and little wooL
Hamlet. A high constable, a
chief of police (American).
Ham -match. A stand-up
luncheon.
Hammer. 1. A hard-hitter :
210
Hammer-and-longs.
Eandbacket- i/ori, ioti.
especially a right-handed slogger, like
Hammer Lane : also Hammerer and
Hammer-man. 2. An unblushing lie.
As verb, (1) to beat, punish (q.v.) ;
(2) to bate, to drive down (prices, etc.);
(3) to declare one a defaulter. Down
as a hammer, (1) wide-awake, know-
ing (q.v.), fly (q-v-); (2) instant,
peremptory, merciless : cf. Like a
thousand of bricks : also To be daum
O7i ... like a, Jtammer. At (or under)
the hammer, for sale at auction. That's
the hammer, an expression of approval
or assent. To be hammers to one, to
know what one means. To hammer out
(or into), to be at pains to deceive, to
reiterate, to force to hear (1596).
H amxner - and - tongs. Violently,
Hammer - headed. 1. Oafish,
stupid (1600). 2. Hammer-shaped
i.e. long and narrow in the head.
Hammering. 1. A beating, ex-
cessive punishment (q.v.) ,• 2. over-
charging time-work (as corrections).
Hammering-trade. Pugilism.
Hammersmith. To go to Hammer-
smith, to get a sound drubbing.
Hampered (old : now recognised).
Let or hindered, perplexed, entangled.
Hampstead Donkey. A louse : see
Ghates.
Hampstead-heath. The teeth : see
Grinders.
Hampstead - heath Sailor. A
landlubber (q.v.) ; freshwater sailor
(q.v.) : FT., marin tfeau douce or
amirat Suisse (Swiss admiral : Switzer-
land having no seaboard).
Hanced. In liquor: see Screwed.
(1630).
Hand. 1. Properly a seaman : now
a labourer, workman, agent (1658).
2. A light touch, sleight, knack, skill.
Phrases : A good (cool, neat, old, fine,
etc.) hand, an expert (1748). A hand
like a foot, a large coarse hand ; also
vulgar or uneducated handwriting
(1738). A hand like a fist, a hand full
of trumps ; also (in derision) a hand
there's no playing ; to take a hand ivith
the outside music, to join in a free
fight ; to get a hand on, to suspect, be
distrustful ; to get one's hand in, to
practise with a view to proficiency ; to
bear a hand, to make haste ; to stand
one's hand, to treat (q.v.), to stand
Sam (q.v.) ; to hand in one's chips (or
checks), see Cash one's checks ; to have
(or get) the upper hand, to have at an
advantage, get to wimh-ard (q.v.);
to hand up (Winchester College), to
give information against, betray
(Notions) ; Jianda itp /an injunction
to desist, stOTp it ! (q.v.) : also (poiioe),
a command to surrender, bail up
(q.v.). Amongst other colloquial
usages of hand are the following : —
At hand, readily, hard by, At any
hand (Shakespeare), on any account,
At no hand, on no account, For one's
own hand, for one's own purpose cv
interest, From hand to hand, from on*
to another, in hand, in a str.te of
preparation, under consideration, cr
control ; Off one's 7iands, finished, On
hand, in possession, In one's hands, in
one's care, Out of hand, completed,
without hesitation, To one's hand,
ready, Hand over head, negligently,
rashly, Hand to mouth, improvident,
Hands off / stand off, Hea^y on hand,
hard to manage, Hot at hind, difficult
to manage, Light in hand, easy to
manage, To ask (or give) the hattd of,
to ask, (or give) in marriage, to be
hand in glove with, to be very intimate
with, To bear a land, to help, To
bear in (or DM) hand, to cheat or mock
by false promises, To change hands, to
change owners, to come to hand, to be
received, To get Jtand, to gain Influence,
To give a hand, to applaud, To give the
hand to, to be reconciled to, To have a
hand inf to have a share in, To hare
one's hands full, to be fully occupied,
To hold hands with, to vie with, to
hold one's own, To lay hands on, to
assault, to seize, To[lend a hand,io}\.elp,
To make a "hand, to gain an advantage,
To put (or stretcli) forth the hand
against, to use violence, To set tJ:e hand
to, to undertake, To strike hands, to
make a bargain, To take by the Jiand, to
take under one's guidance, To take
in hand, to attempt, To icash one's
hands of, to disclaim responsibility,
A heavy hand, severity, A light hand,
gentleness, A slack hand, idleness, care-
lessness, A strict hand, severe discip-
line, Glean hands, freedom from guilt,
To stand one in hand, to concern, to
be of importance to, Hand to fist,
tfte-a-t&e, hip to haunch, Hand over
hand, easily, To get a handf to be
applauded.]
Hand - and - pocket Shop. An
eating house, where ready money is
paid for what is called for.
Handbasket - portion, A woman
211
Handbind&r.
Bang.
whose husband receives frequent
presents from her father, or family,
is said to have a hand-basket portion.
Handbinder. A wrist - chain : see
Darbies.
Hander. A stroke on the hand
with a cane, a palinie (q-v.).
Handicap. An arrangement in
racing, etc., by which every com-
petitor is, or is supposed to be, brought
on an equality as far as regards his
chance of winning by an adjustment of
the weights to be carried, the distance
to be run, etc. : extra weight or dis-
tance being imposed in proportion to
their supposed merits on those held
better than the others. [A handicap
is framed in accordance with the
known performances of the competi-
tors, and, in horse - racing, with
regard to the age and sex of the
entries. The term is derived from the
old game of hand-in-cap, or handicap.]
(1660). As verb, (1) to adjust or
proportion weights, starts, etc., in
order to bring a number of competitors
as nearly as possible to an equality;
(2) to make even or level, equalise
between ; (3) to embarrass, burden,
hinder, or impede in any way.
Handle. 1. The nose: see Conk.
2. A title : FT., queue, as Monsieur
Sansqueue, Mr. Nobody (1855). 3.
Occasion, opportunity, means (1753).
As verb, (1) to conceal cards in the
palm of the hand or up the sleeves,
palm (q-v.) ; (2) to use, make use of,
manage ( 1 606). To handle the ribbons,
to drive ( 1857). To fly off the 'handle :
see Fly.
Hand-me-downs (or Hand-
' em-downs). Second-hand clothes.
Hand-me-down shop (or Never-too-late-
to-mend-shop), a repairing tailor's :
FT., decrochez-moi-ga. English syno-
nyms: reach-me-downs, translations,
wall-flowers.
Hand-out. Food to a tramp at the
door.
Handpiece. A handkerchief,
wipe (q.v.).
Handsaw. A street vendor of
knives and razors, chive-fencer (q.v.).
Handsome. Sharp, severe, con-
venient, fit, neat, graceful, dextrous,
skilful, ready, ample, generous, liberal,
manageable, in good or proper style,
and (in America) grand or beautiful
(1553). To do the handsome (or the
handsome iking), to behave extremely
212
well, be civil ; handsome is that hand-
some does, actions, not words, are the
test of merit; also ironically of ill-
favoured persons (1811); Jiandsome-
bodied in the face, jeering commenda-
tion of an ugly follow ; handsome as a
last year's corpse, a sarcastic compli-
ment ; handsomely f gently ! a cry to
signify smartly, but carefully. Also
handsomely over the "brides, go cauti-
ously.
Handsome - reward. A horse-
whipping.
Handsprings. To chuck hand-
springs, to turn somersaults.
Handy. Handy as a pocket in a
shirt, very convenient : also derisively.
Handy-blows (or cuffs). Fisti-
cuffs ; hence close quarters (1603).
Handy-man. A servant or work-
man doing odd jobs (1847).
Hang. 1. General drift, tendency
or bent : as in to get the hang of, to get
conversant with, to acquire the trick,
or knack, or knowledge of (1847). 2.
A little bit, a bit : see Care. As verb,
(generally Hang it !), an exclamation of
vexation, disgust, or disappointment;
also, more forcibly, a euphemistic
oath (1598). To hang in, to get to
work, do one's best, wire in (q.v.);
to hang in the beUropes, to defer
marriage after being asked in church ;
to hang on by one's eyelashes, to persist
at any cost, and in the teeth of any
discouragement ; to Jiang on by the
splashboard, to catch a tram, omnibus,
etc., when it is on the move ; hence
to succeed by the skin of one's teeth :
FT., arcpincer V omnibus ; to hang
around (or about), to loiter, loaf, haunt ;
to hang out, to live, reside : also (subs.),
a residence, lodging; and (American
University) a feast, entertainment;
to hang out a shingle, to start or carry
on business ; to hang one's latchpan, to
be dejected, to pout : FT., favre son
aquilin ; to hang it out, to skulk, mike
(q.v.) ; to hang up, (1) to give credit,
score (or chalk) up : said of a reckon-
ing : also to put on the slate, or (Ameri-
can) on the ice (q.v.) (1725) ; (2) to
bear in mind, remember ; (3) to pawn ;
(4) to rob with violence on the street*
hold up (q.v.) : FT., la faire au pfre
Frangoie; (5) to be in extremis,
know not which way to turn for relief :
e.g. a man hanging, one to whom
any change must be for the better ;
(6) to postpone, leave undecided ; to
Happy Hunting-grounds,
]MMJ on, (I) to sponge, and (2) to
pursue an individual or a design
(1601) ; to hang off, to fight shy oft; to
hang up one's fiddle, to retire, desist ;
to hang up one's fiddle anywhere, to
adapt oneself to circumstances; to
hang up one's hat (1) to die : see Hop
the twig; (2) to make oneself per-
manently at home.
Hang-bluff. Snuff.
Hang-by. A hangor-on, parasite,
companion (1598).
Hang-dog. A pitiful rascal, only
fit for the rope for the hanging of
superfluous curs : of. Gallows - bird
(1732). As adj., vile, suspicious in
aspect, gallows-looking (q.v.).
Hang - gallows. A thievish, or
villainous appearance (Grose).
Hanger. A side-ana — short
sword or cutlass — hanging from the
girdle. Also in pi., (1) ornamental
loops from the girdle to suspend the
sword and dagger (1596); (2) gloves,
specifically gloves in the hand : (3) see
Pothooks.
Hang-in-chains. A vile, desperate
fellow (Grose),
Hanging. Fit for the halter.
Hanging - bee. A gathering
lynch-lawmongers, bent on the appli-
cation of the rope.
Hangman. A jocular endear-
ment (1600).
Hangman 's-day. Monday, and
(in America) Friday.
Hangman's - wages. Thirteen-
pence-halfpenny. [The fee for an
execution was a Scots mark: the
value of which piece was settled, by
a proclamation of James I., at ISid.J
(1602),
Hang -slang about. To abuse,
slang (q.v.), Billingsgate (q.v,).
Hank. 1. A tie, hold, advantage,
difficulty. In a hank, in trouble
(1696). 2. A spell of rest, easy time.
As verb, to worry, bait, drive from
pillar to post.
Hanker. To desire eagerly, fret
after, long or pine for : generally with
after. Also, hankering, an impor-
tunate and irritating longing (1696).
Hankin. The trick of putting off
bad work for good : cf. To; play hanky-
panky.
Hanktelo. A silly fellow, a
mere Codshead (B. J2.),
Hanky-panky. (1) Legerdemain;
whence (2) trickery, underhand (q-v.)
work, cheating, any manner of doublo-
dealing or intrigue. Hanky - panfcy
business, conjuring; Itanky-panlsywork
(or tricks}, double - dealing. A tit
of hanky - panky, a trick ; a piece
of knavery (1841).
Hanky-panky-bloke. A conjurer.
Hanky-spanky. Dashing, nobby
(q.v.) : specifically of well-cut clothes.
Hannah. That's the man as
married Hannah, That's the thing:
used of a thing well begun and well
ended ; or as an expressive of certainty.
Varied sometimes by TJiat's what's
the matter with Hannah.
Hansel (or Handsel). The first
money taken hi the morning, lucky
money. Hence earnest money, first-
fruits, etc. Hansel-Monday, the first
Monday in the new year, when pre-
sents were received by children and
servants (1587). As verb, (1) to
give handsel to; also (2) to use for
the first time.
Hanseller. A street vendor,
cheap Jack.
Hans-en-Kelder. A child in the
womb : literally Jack - in - the - cellar
(q.v.) (1647).
Hansom. A chop.
Hap - harlot. A coarse stuff to
make rugs or coverlets with, a rug :
cf. Wrap-rascal, an overcoat (1577).
Ha'porth o' Coppers. Habeas
Corpus.
Ha'porth of Liveliness. 1.
Music. 2. A loitering Lawrence,
slowcoach (q.v.).
Happify. To please (1612).
Happy. Slightly drunk, elevated
(q.v.) : see Screwed.
Happy - despatch. Death, speci-
fically a sudden or violent end.
Happy-dosser. See Dosser.
Happy Eliza. A female Salva-
tionist : as in the Broadside Ballad
(1887-8), They call me Happy Eliza,
and I'm Converted Jane : We've been
two hot 'uns in, our time.
Happy - family. Assemblages of
animals of diverse habits and pro-
pensities living amicably, or at least
quietly, in one cage.
Happy-go-lucky. Careless,thought-
less, improvident.
Ha
The
the North-American Indian's con-
ception of heaven. 2. A favourable
place for work or play.
, .
appy Hunting - grounds. 1.
e future state ; glory (q.v.) : from
213
Happy-land.
Hard-up.
Happy-land. The after life,
•Jory (fj.v.).
Happy-returns. Vomiting.
Hard. 1. Hard labour. 2. See
Hard-shell. 3. Third-class : as op-
posed to soft (q..v.). Thus: Do you
go hard or soft ? Do you go Third
or First ? As adj., (1) applied to
metal of all kinds: e.g. hard (cole or
stuff), silver or gold as compared to
cheques or soft (q.v.) (1825). (2)
sour or souring, as in hard-cider ; (3)
hard drinks (American), intoxicating
liquors, as wine, ale, etc., while lemon-
ade, soda-water, ginger- beer, etc., are
soft {1C96). Phrases: Hard as a
bnne (nails, etc.), very hard, austere,
unyielding ; hard at it, very busy, in
the thick of a piece of work; to die
hard^ to uell one's life dearly ; e.g.
The Die-hards (q.v.), the 59th Regi-
ment, so called from their gallantry
at Albuera ; also in many combina-
tions, generally with an unplea-
sant intention, thus — Hard-fisted (or
/Banded), very niggardly ; hard - bit
(or hard-mouthful), an unpleasant ex-
perience ; hard-driven (or hard-run),
sore tested ; hard-faced (favoured,
or featured), grim, shrewish, or bony ;
hard-headed (or hard-witted), shrewd
and intelligent, but timmaginative
and unsympathetic ; hard-hearted, in-
capable of pity ; hard-lipped, obstinate,
dour ; hard-master, a nigger - driver ;
hard - nut, a dangerous antagonist ;
hard-on, pitiless in severity ; hard-
riding, selfish and reckless equestra-
tion ; hard - service, the worst kind
of employment; hard-wrought, over-
worked, etc., etc.
Hard-a-weather. Tough, weather-
proof.
Hard -bake. A sweetmeat made
of boiled brown sugar or treacle with
blanched almonds.
Hard-baked. 1. Constipated. 2.
Hard - bargain (or Case). 1. A
lazy fellow, bad-egg (q.v,), skulker.
One of the Queen's hard bargains, a bad
soldier. 2. A defaulting debtor. 3. A
brutal mate or officer : also Hard-horse.
Hard - bitten. Kesolute, Game
(q.v.), desperate (1815).
Hard-cheese. Hard lines, bad luck :
specifically at billiards.
Hard-cole. See Hard and Cole.
Hard-doings. (1) Rough fare; and
(2) hard work (1848).
214
Hard-drinking. Drinking to excess
(lo9C).
Hard-head. A man of good parts,
physical, intellectual, or moral (1824).
Hard-hit. To be hard hit, (1) to
have experienced a heavy loss, as over
a race, at cards, etc. ; (2) to be deeply
in love, completely gone on (q.v.).
Hard-lines. Hardship, difficulty,
an unfortunate result or occurrence.
Hard-mouthed. Difficult to deal
with, wilful, obstinate : also coarse in
speech (1686).
Hard - neck. Brazen impudence,
monumental cheek (q.v.).
Hard-pan. The lowest point,
bed-rock (q.v.). To get down to hard
pan, to buckle to, get to business.
Hard - puncher. The fur cap as
worn by the London rough : formerly
worn by men in training : a modi-
fication of the Scotch cap with a peak.
[From the nickname of a noted
pugilist.]
Hard-pushed. • In difficulties, hard-
up (q.v.).
Hard put to. In a difficulty —
monetary or other : e.g. He'd be
hard put to it to find a sovereign (or
a word, or an excuse), It would take
hi™ all his time, etc.
Hard-row. See Row.
Hard - run. In want of money,
hard-up (q.v.).
Hard-shell. 1. A member of an
extreme section of Baptists holding
very strict and rigid views. [The
Soft-shells are of more liberal mind.]
Also Hards and Softs (1848). 2.
(political American). A division of
the Democratic Party in 1846-48,
when the Hunkers (q.v.) received the
name of Hards and their opponents,
the Barnburners (q,v.), that of Softs
(1847). As adj., extremely ortho-
dox, unyielding, hide-bound.
Hard-stuff. 1. Money. 2. Intoxi-
cating liquors : see Hard (adj., sense
2).
Hard -tack. 1. Ship's biscuits:
specifically ordinary sea-fare as dis-
tinguished from food ashore, or soft-
tommy (q.v.) (1841). 2. Coarse or
insufficient fare.
Hard - up. 1. A collector of cigar-
ends, a topper-hunter (q.v.). The
refuse, untwisted and chopped up,
is sold to the very poor : sometimes
Hard-cut : FT., megottier. 2. A poor
stony-broke (q.v.) (1857).
Harum-scarum.
As adv. phr., 1. v^ry badly in want of
monoy, in urgent need of anything:
also Hard - run and Hard - pushed
(1809). English synonyms: many
of the synonyms for floored apply
equally to hard-up; others are, — at
low - water - mark, cracked up, dead-
broke, down on one's luck, fast, in
Queer Street, in the last of pea time,
in the last run of shad, low down,
low in the lay, oofless, out of favour
with the oof - bird, pebble - beached,
seedy, short, sold-up, stony-broke,
strapped, stuck, stumped, suffering
from an attack of the week's (or
month's) end, tight, on one's uppers,
under a cloud, on one's beam ends.
2. Intoxicated : see Screwed. 3.
(Winchester College). Out of counten-
ance., exhausted (in swimming).
Hard - upness (or Hard - uppish-
ness). Poverty, a condition of im-
poverishment.
Hardware (or Hard). Counter-
feit coin (MateeU).
Hardware - bloke. A native of
Birmingham, a Brum (q.v.).
Hardy-annual. A bill that is
brought before Parliament every year,
but never passed into law; heace
(journalistic), any stock subject.
Hare. To dodge, double, be-
wilder (1719). To hare it, to retrace
one's steps, double back : from the
way of a hare with the hounds ; to
make a hare of, to make ridiculous,
expose the ignorance of any person
(1830) j to swallow a hare, to get very
drunk: see Screwed (1696); to hold
with the hare and hunt with the hounds,
to play a double game, keep on good
terms with two conflicting parties
(1696). To kiss tJie hare's foot,, to be
late, be a day after the fair, kiss the
post.
Hare-brained (or Hair-brained).
Keckless, flighty, impudent, skittish :
also, substantively, hare-brain, a hare-
brained person (1534).
Harei Hurried.
Hare-sleep. Sham slumber, foxes'
sleep (q.v.) (1696).
Harking. Whispering on one side
to borrow money (B. E.).
Harlequin. 1. A sovereign: see
Rhino. 2. (Winchester College), the
wooden nucleus of a red indiarubber
ball. 3. A patchwork quilt. Har-
lequin china, sets composed of several
patterns and makes.
Harlotry. A wanton (1529). As
adj., disreputable.
Harman-beck (or Harman).
An officer of justice : see Beak (1567).
Harrnans. The stocks : the suffix
mans is common — lightmans, dark-
mans, roughmans, etc. (1567).
Harness. In harness, in business,
at work : as, to die in harness, to die at
one's post ; to get back into harness, to
resume work after a holiday.
Harp. Harp is also the Irish ex-
pression for woman or tail, used in
tossing up in Ireland, from Hibemia
being represented with a harp, on the
reverse of the copper coins of that
country, for which reason it is in hoist-
ing the copper, ie. tossing up, some-
times likewise called music (Grose).
To harp on, to dwell persistently and
at any cost upon a subject (1596).
Harper. A brass coin current in
Ireland, temp. Elizabeth, value one
penny: from the Irish Harp figured
upon it. Have among you my blind
harpers, an expression used in throw-
ing or shooting at random among a
crowd (Grose).
Harridan. Orig. a foundered
wanton : hence, a miserable, scraggy,
worn-out woman (Grose).
Harrington, A brass farthing.
[Lord Harrington obtained a patent
of manufacture under James L]
(1616).
Harry. 1. A countryman, clown,
Joskin. 2. See »Arry. Old Harry, the
devil (1693). Harry of the West,
Henry Clay. To play old Harry, to
annoy, ruin, play the devil. Tom,
Dick, and Harry, generic for any and
everybody, the mob.
Harry-bluff. Snuff.
Harry-common. A general wencher
(1675).
Harry - soph (Cambridge Univ. :
obsolete). * A Harry or errant Soph, I
understand to be either a person, four-
and-twenty years of age, and of an
infirm state of health, who is per-
mitted to dine with the fellows, and
to wear a plain, black, full-sleeved
gown ; or, else, he is one who, having
kept all the terms by statute required
previous to his law-act, is hoc ipeo
facto entitled to wear the same gar-
ment, and, thenceforth, ranks as
bachelor, by courtesy* (Gent. Mag.).
Harum-scarum. 1. Giddy, care-
less, wild, a thoughtless or reckless
215
Has-been.
Have.
fellow (1740). 2. Four horses driven
in a line, suicide (q.v.).
Has-been. Anything antiquated :
spec, in commendation, as the good
old Has-beens ; of. Never was.
Hash. 1. A mess ; spec, in the
phrase To make a hash of : sixes-
and sevens (1747). 2. Clandestine
preparation for supper after hours
(American cadets). 3. A sloven,
blockhead (Burns). As verb, (1) to
spoil, jumble, cook up and serve
again ; (2) to vomit : also to flash
the hash (q.v.). To go "back on one's
hash, to turn, succumb, weaken (q.v.)
Hash - house. A cheap eating-
house, grubbing-crib (q.v.).
Haslar-hag. A nurse at Haslar
Hospital
Hastings. To be none of the
Eastings sort, to be slow, deliberate,
slothful (1696).
Hasty. Rash, passionate, quick to
move (1696: now recognised). Hasty
G., hasty generalisation (Cambridge).
Hasty pudding. 1. A bastard. 2.
A muddy road, a quag (1811).
Hat (Cambridge Univ.). 1. A
gentleman commoner (who is per-
mitted to wear a hat instead of the
regulation mortar-board) : also Gold-
Hatband (1628). 2. A prostitute of
long standing. Phrases : To eat one's
hat (or head), generally in phrase, I'U
eat my hat, used in strong emphasis ;
to get a, hat : see Hat-trick ; to get into
the hat, to get into trouble ; to have a
brick in one's hat, to be top-heavy
with drink : see Screwed ; to hang up
one1 8 hat-, see Hang; to pass (or send)
round the hat, to make a collection ;
to talk through one's hat, to rag, huff,
bluster ; aU round my hat, a derisive
retort from a broadside ballad, popu-
lar c. 1830 : All round my hat I wear a
green willow, All round my hat for a
twelvemonth and a day, And if anyone
should ask you the reason why I wear
it, Tell them my true love is gone far
away ; sung to a tune adapted from a
number in Zampa : also, all over, com-
pletely, generally; shoot that hat ! a
derisive retort : also Ptt have your hat 1
well, you can take my hat ! Well, that
beats me, i.e. that is past belief ;
what a shocking bad hat, said to have
originated with a candidate for
parliamentary honours, who made
the remark to bis poorer constituents
and promised them new head-gear.
Hatch. To be under Jiatches, to be
in a state of trouble, poverty, or de-
pression : also dead (1606).
Hatchet. 1. An ill-favoured
woman. 2. A bribe received by
Customs officers in New York for per-
mitting imported dutiable goods to
remain on the wharf when they ought
to go to the general store-house. To
bury (or dig up) the hatchet : see Bury.
To throw (or sling) the hatchet, ( 1 ) to tell
lies, yarn, draw the long bow (q.v.) ;
hence hatchet flinging (or throwing),
lying or yarning (1789). To sulk.
Hatchet - faced. Hard - favoured,
Hatch, Match, and Dispatch
Column. The births, marriages,
and deaths announcements : also
Cradle, Altar, and Tomb Column,
Hatchway. The mouth : see
Potato-trap.
Hate -out. To boycott, send to
Coventry.
Hatfield. A drink : the chief in-
gredients are gin and ginger-beer.
Hatful. A large quantity, heap
(1859).
Hatpeg. The head: see Crumpet.
Hatter. A gold-digger working
alone. Who's your hatter? a catch- cry
long out of vogue. Mad as a hatter,
very mad.
Hat-trick. Taking three wickets
with three consecutive balls : which
feat is held to entitle the bowler to a
new hat at the cost of the club.
Hat-work. Hack work, such stuff
as may be turned out by the yard
without reference to quality.
Haulable (University). Used of
a girl whose society authorities deem
undesirable for the men : e.g. she's
haulable, a man caught with her will be
proctorised.
Haul-bowline. A seaman.
Haul-devil. A clergyman, devil-
dodger, sky-pilot. HavL devil, pvJl
baker : see Devil.
Haut-boy (or Ho -boy). A night
scavenger, jakesman, gold - finder
(q.v.).
Have. 1. A swindle, take-in
(q.v.), do (q.v.) : see Sell. 2. In pi.,
The moneyed classes, as opposed to
the have-nots, their antipodes. 3.
(in pi.) (Winchester College). Half-
boots: pronounced Haves. Is that
a catch or a have ? a formula of ac-
knowledgment that the speaker ha*
216
Haoercake-lads.
Head.
been had : if the person addressed be
unwise enough to answer with a defini-
tion, the dovetail is a vulgar retort.
As verb, to cheat, take-in, do. To
have (or taJee) it out of one, to punish,
retaliate, extort a quid pro quo, give
tit for tat ; to have it out with one., to
speak freely in reproof, complete an
explanation, settle a dispute with
either words or blows ; to have on, to
secure a person's interest, attention,
sympathy : generally with a view to
deceiving him (or her) ; to have towards
(or with or at), (1) to pledge in drink-
ing, toast (1637) ; (2) to agree with ;
to have on toast, (1) to take in; (2)
worst in argument ; to have on the
raws, to teaze, touch to the quick ;
to let one have it, to punish severely ;
to Iiave wp, to bring before the authori-
ties ; to summons (q.v.).
Havercake-lads. The Thirty-third
Foot, now the first battalion of the
Duke of Wellington's (West Riding
Regiment). [From the circumstance
that its recruiting sergeants always
preceded their party with an oatcake
on their swords.]
Havey-cavey. Uncertain, doubtful,
shilly-shally (1811).
Havil. A sheep, wool-bird (1811).
H a v o c k. Devastation, waste
(B. E.).
Hawcubite. A roysterer, street
bully. [After the Restoration there
was a succession of these disturbers
of the peace : first came the Muns, then
followed the Tityre Tus, the Hectors,
the Scourers, the Nickers, the Haw-
cubites, and after them the Mohawks
(q.v.).]
Hawk. 1. A card-sharper, rook
(q.v.) (1696). 2. A bailiff, constable :
see Beak. As verb, To spit up the
thick phlegm, called oysters, whence it
is wit upon record to ask the person
so doing whether he has a license, a
punning allusion to the act of hawkers
and pedlars (Grose). Ware hawk ! A
warning : look sharp ! (1529).
Hawk-a-mouthed. Foul-mouthed.
Hawker. A pedlar : now re-
cognised (1696).
Hawk-eye state. Iowa : after the
famous Indian chief.
Hawse. To faU athwart one's
hawse, to obstruct, fall out with,
counter and check.
Hawse-holes. To come (or creep)
in through the hawse-holes, to enter the
service at the lovrept grade, rise from
the forecastle (1830).
Hay. To malce liay, to throw into
confusion, turn topsy-turvy, knock tc
pieces in argument or single combat :
also to kick up a row. To dance t:,,e
fiay, to make good use of one's tinx-.
Hay - bag. A woman : FT., pail-
laisse.
Hay-band. A common cigar, s
weed.
Haymarket-hector. A prostitute's^
bully.
Haymarket - ware. A common
prostitute.
Hay-pitcher (or Hay - seed). A
countryman: of. Gape-seed (1851).
Hays I An injunction to be gone,
Git (q.v.).
Haze. Bewilderment, confusion,
fog (q.v.). As verb, (1) to play
tricks or practical jokes, frolic ; hence
Hazing : also to mystify, fog (q.v.),
(2) To harass with overwork or paltry
orders: also to find fault (1840).
Hazel-geld. To beat any one with
a hazel-stick or plant (B. E.).
Hazy. Stupid with drink, mixed
(q.v ) : see Screwed (1824).
He (Charterhouse). A cake. A
young he, a small cake : see She.
Head. 1. A man-of-war's privy.
2. The obverse of a coin or medal.
Heads or tails ? Guess whether the coin
spun will come down with head upper-
most or not (the side not bearing the
sovereign's head has various devices :
Britannia, George and the Dragon, a
harp, the Royal arms, an inscription,
etc. — all included in the word tail, Le.
the reverse of head. The Romans said
Heads or ships?) (1680). 3. An
arrangement of the hair, a coiffure
(1773). Phrases: To have at one's
head, to cuckold (1640) ; to take one.
in the head, to come into one's mind
(1609) ; to do on head, to act rashly
(1559) ; to do on ontfs head, to do
easily and with joy ; to fly at the head,
to attack, go for (q.v.) (1614); to
eat one's Jusad : see Hat ; to eat one's
(or if s) head off, to cost more than the
worth in keep (1703) ; to run on head,
to incite (1556) ; to give one's head (or
one's beard) for washing, to yield
tamely and without resistance : FT.,
laver la tSte, to reprimand, admonish
with point, energy, and force (1615);
to put a head (or new head) on one, (1)
to change a man's aspect by punching
217
Head.
Heap,
his Lead : Jac^ou, to get the better
of one's opponent, annihilate: also
to put a new face on ; (2) to froth
malt liquors : e.g. Put a head on it,
Missf addressed to the barmaid, is a
request to work the engine briskly,
and make the liquor take on a cauli-
flower (q.v.) ; Jieads I win, tails you
lose, a gage of certainty — In no case
can I fail : I hold all the trumps ; to
get the, food into chancery, to get the
other fighter's head under one arm
and hold it there : hence Chancery, a
position of helplessness (1819); (2)
hence to get, or be got, into a posture
of absolute helplessness ; to knock on
the 7iead, to kill, destroy, put an end to ;
to get (or put) the head in a bag : see
Bag ; to get (or have) a swelling ^n the
(or a big-) head, to be or become con-
ceited, put on airs ; to hit the right nail
on the head, to speak or act with pre-
cision and directness, do the right
thing : the colloquialism is common to
most languages : the French say,
Vous avezjrapp6 au but (You have hit
the mark) ; the Italians, Havete dato
in brocca (You have hit the pitcher :
alluding to a game where a pitcher
stood in the place of Aunt Sally, q.v.) :
the Latins, Bern acu tetigisti, (You
have touched the thing with a
needle : referring to the custom of
probing sores) (1719) ; to argue (or
talk) one's head off, to be extremely
disputative or loquacious, to be all
jaw (q.v.) ; to bundle out head (or neck)
and heels, to eject with violence ; to
Jtave no head, (1) to lack ballast, be
crack-brained: hence, to have a head 'on,
to be cute, or alert, have sand (q.v.) ;
(2) to be flat (of malt-liquors) ; to
have a Tiead, to experience the after-
effects of heavy drinking (of. Mouth) ;
also to have a head-ache : see Screwed ;
to give one his head, to give one full and
free play, let go ; to have maggots in
the head, to be crotchety, whimsical,
freakish, have a bee in one's bonnet j
to hurt in the. head, to cuckold, cornute ;
to lie heads and tails, to sleep packed
sardine fashion, i.e. heads to head-
rail and foot-rail alternately ; over
head and ears (in work, love, debt, etc.)
completely engrossed in, infatuated
with; to the fullest extent (1589);
without head or tail, incoherent, neither
one thing nor the other : e.g. I can't
make head or tail of it, I cannot make
it out (1728) ; to tow a head like a
218
sieve, to b© unreliable, forgetful ;
heads out ! a warning cry on the ap-
proach of a master ; mutton-head (or
headed) : see Mutton-head ; fat (or
soft) in the head, stupid ; off one's head,
stupid, crazy ; shut your head, hold
your jaw.
Head-beetler. ( 1 ) A bully ; and (2)
a foreman, ganger (q.v.).
Head-bloke. See Head-screw.
Head - bully (or cully). Head
bidly of the pass or passage ,bank, ' The
Top Tilter of the Gang, throughout
the whole Army, who Demands and
receives Contribution from all the
Pass Banks in the Army ' (£. E. and
Grose).
Head - cook and bottle - washer.
1. A general servant : in contempt.
2. One in authority, boss (q.v.).
Head -clerk. Head clerk of dox-
ology works, a parson.
Header. A notability, big-wig
(q. v. ). To take a header, ( 1 ) to plunge,
or fall, headforemost, into water :
and (theatrical), to take an apparently
dangerous leap in sensational drama.
Hence (2), to go straight and directly
for one's object (1856).
Head-fruit. Horns (1694).
Head-guard. A hat : specifically a
billy-cock.
Heading. A pillow, any rest for
the head. Heading 'em, tossing coins
in gambling : in allusion to the head
on the coin.
Head-marked. Horned. To know
by head-mark, to know a cuckold by
bis horns.
Head-rails. The teeth: see
Grinders (Grose).
Head - robber, 1. A plagiarist.
2. A butler.
Head-screw (or bloke). A chief
warder.
Heady. 1. Heady, strong liquors
that immediately fly up into the
noddle, and so quickly make drunk
(B. K). 2. Restive, foil of arrogance
and airs, opinionated.
Heady-whop. A person with a very
large head.
Healtheries. The Health Exhibi-
tion, held at South Kensington:
others of the series were nicknamed
The Fisheries, The Colinderies, The
Forestries, etc.
Heap. A large number, lots, a
great deal (1371). As adv., a great
deal. AU of a heap, astonished, con-
fused, takon aback, flabbergast (q.v.);
and (pugilists') doubled up (1593).
Heaped. Hard put to it,
floored (q.v.).
Hear. To hear a bird sing, to receive
private communication : in modern
parlance, A little bird told me so
(1598).
Hearing. A scolding, lecture,
wigging.
Hearing-cheats. The ears (1667).
English synonyms: drums, flappers,
leathers, lugs (Scots'), taps, wattles.
Heart. Next the heart, fasting
(1592). Other colloquial usages are
at heart, in reality, truly, at bottom ;
for on&'s heart, for one's life ; in one's
heart of hearts, in the innermost re-
cesses of oneself ; to break the heart of,
(a) to cause great grief, or to kill by
grief, and (6) to bring nearly to com-
pletion ; to find in one's heart, to be
wilTJTig ; to get or learn by heart, to
commit to memory ; to have at heart,
to feel strongly about; to have in the
heart, to design or to intend ; to lay
or take to heart, to be concerned or
anxious about ; to set the heart at rest,
to tranquillize ; to set the heart on, to be
desirous of, to be fond of ; to take heart
of grace, to pluck up courage.
Heartbreaker. A pendant curl, love
lock (q.v.) : FT., crSvecosur (1663).
Heartburn. A bad cigar.
Heartsease. 1. A twenty - shilling
piece (B. E.}. 2. Gin: see Drinks
(B. E>).
Hearty. Drink, drunk: see Drinks
and Screwed. My hearty, a familiar
address.
Hearty - choke. To have a hearty
choke and caper sauce for breakfast, to
be hanged: cf. Vegetable breakfast,
and see Ladder (Grose),
Heat. A bout, turn, trial: by
this means the field is gradually re-
duced : cf. Handicap (16S1).
Heathen - philosopher. *A sorry
poor tatter'd Fellow, whose Breech
may be seen through his pocket-
holes " (B. J?.).
Heave. 1. An attempt to deceive
or cajole ; a dead-heave, a flagrant
attempt. 2. In pi., an attack of in-
digestion or vomiting. As verb, (I)
to vomit ; (2) to rob : old English ; has
on (or ahead), to :aake haste, preaa
forward.
Heaven. See Wheelbarrow.
Heavenly-collar (or lappel). A
collar or lappel that turns the wrong
way.
Heaver. 1. The bosom, panter
(q.v.) (1696). 2. A person in lore :
i.e. siglung, or making play with the
heaver. 3. A thief : cf. Heave.
Heavy. See Heavy wet. As
adj., large : e.g. a heavy amount, a
considerable sum of money. To
come (or do) the heaiy, to affect a
vastly superior position, put on airs
or frills (q.v.). The Heavies, the
regiments of Household cavalry, 4th
and 5th Dragoon Guards, and 1st
and 2nd Dragoons : from their equip-
ment and weight.
Heavy - Cavalry (or Dragoons).
Bugs : cf. Light infantry, fleas : also
Heavy horsemen, the Heavy troop,
and the Heavies.
Heavy-grog. Hard work.
Heavy-grubber. 1. A hearty eater,
glutton : cf. Stodger.
Heavy-plodder. A stockbroker.
Heavy- (or Howling.) swell. A
man or woman in the height of fashion,
spiff (q.v.).
Heavy- wet. 1. Malt bquor:
specifically porter and stout : also
Heavy: see Drinks (1821). 2. A
heavy drinking bout.
Hebe. A waiting maid, a bar-
maid, waitress (1603).
Hebrew. Gibberish, Greek (q.v.).
To talk Hebrew, to talk nonsense,
gibberish (1705).
Hector. A bully, blusterer (1659).
As verb, to play the bully, bluster:
also to play the Hector (1677). To
wear Hector's cloak, to receive the
right reward for treachery: when
Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumber-
land, was routed in 1569, he hid him-
self in the house of Hector Armstrong,
of Harlaw, who betrayed Hm for hire,
and prospered so ill thereafter that he
died a beggar by the roadside.
Hectoring. Bullying, blustering.
Hedge. 1. To secure oneself
against (or minimise) loss on a bet by
reversing on advantageous terms, To
get out (q.v.) : thus if a man backs A
survived, in Shropshire, as a pro- to win him £100 at 5 to 1, he will if
vincialism : e.g. the heler (hider) if possible hedge by laying (say) 3 to 1
as bad as the heaver, the receiver is to the amount of (say) £60 against
as bad as the thief (1567). To heave Mm ; he will then stand
219
wins he gains on tuts first bet £100,
and loses on the second £60, leaving
a net gain of £10 ; if A loses he gets
on the first l>et £20, and wins on the
second £20, thus clearing himself ; also,
as subs. ( Ib i 0). 2. To elude a danger.
To die by the ftedge, to die in poverty ;
to hang i/i the hedge* of a lawsuit or
anything else Depending, Undeter-
mined (B. E.)> ns common as the
hedge (or highway), very common ;
T>y hedge or hi/ crook : see Hook.
Hedge - bird. A scoundrel, vaga-
bond, vagrant (1614).
Hedge-bottom Attorney (or
Solicitor). A person who, being
not admitted, or being uncertificated
(or, it way be, admitted and certi-
ficated both, but struck off the rolls
for malpractices), sets up in the name
of a qualified man, and thus evades
the penalties attaching to those who
act as solicitors without being duly
qualified : all the business is done in
another name, but the hedge-bottom
is the real principal, the partner being
only a dummy.
Hedge - creeper. A hedge-thief,
skulker under hedges, pitiful rascal
(1594).
Hedge - marriage (or wedding).
An irregular marriage performed by a
hedge-priest (q.v.), a marriage over
the broom.
Hedge -note. Low writing: as
Dryden, They left these hedge-notes
for another sort of poem.
Hedge - popping. Shooting small
birds about hedges. Whence, hedge-
popper, a trumpery shooter ; and
hedge-game, small birds, as sparrows
and tits.
Hedge - priest (or parson). A
sham cleric, a blackguard or vaga-
bond parson, a couple beggar. As
Johnson notes, the use of Hedge in a
detrimental sense is common — hedge-
begot, hedge-born, hedge-brat, hedge-
found, hedge-docked, hedge - tavern
(a low ale-house), hedge-square (q.v,),
hedge-reared, hedge-mustard, hedge-
writer (a Grub Street author), hedge-
building, etc. Shakespeare uses the
phrase hedge-born as the very opposite
of gentle-blooded (' 1 Henry VL,' iv. i. ).
Specifically, hedge-priest (in Iceland)
is a cleric admitted to orders directly
from a hedge-school (q.v.) without
having studied theology : before May-
nooth, men were admitted to ordina-
220
tion ero they left for the continental
colleges, so that they might receive the
stipend for saying mass (1588).
Hedge-school. A school in the
country parts of Ireland formerly
conducted in the open air, pending
the erection of a permanent building
to which the name was transferred.
Hence, hedge-schoolmaster.
Hedge-square. To doss (or snooze)
in Hedge-square (or street), to sleep in
the open air. English synonyms : to
skipper it, doss with the daisies, be
under the blue blanket, put up at the
Gutter Hotel, do a star pitch.
Hedge- tavern (or ale-house).
A jilting, sharping tavern, or bund
alehouse (B. E.).
Heel. To bless the world with one's
heels, to be hanged : see Ladder (1566).
To cool (or kick) the heels, to wait
a long while at an appointed place
(1614). To lay T>y the heels, to confine,
fetter, jail (1601) ; to lift one's heels, to
lie down ; to turn (or topple) up the
heels (or toes), to die : see Hop the
twig (1592); to take to (or show) a
pair of heels, to take flight, run
away : see Burk (1593) ; h^s heels, the
knave of trumps at cribbage or all-
fours : hence, two for Ms heels, two
points scored (at cribbage) for turning
up this card ; to tread upon (be at, or
upon) the heels, to follow close or hard
after, pursue (1596) ; to go heels over
head, to turn a somersault, be hasty,
fall violently : also top over tail
(1540) ; to have (or get) the heels of, to
outrun, get an advantage (1748) ;
down (or out) at heel, slipshod, shabby,
in decay (1605).
Heeled. Armed: from the steel
spur used in cock-fighting.
Heeler. 1. A follower or hench-
man of a politician or a party. 2,
A bar, or other loafer ; also any one
on the lookout for shady work. 3.
An accomplice in the pocket-book
racket (q.v.) : the heeler draws
attention, by touching the victim's
heels, to a pocket-book containing
counterfeit money which has been
let drop by a companion, with a view
to inducing the victim to part with
genuine coin for a division of the find.
4. (Winchester College). A plunge, feet
foremost, into water : Pr., chandelle,
Heel-taps. 1. Liquor in the bottom
of a glass. Bumpers round and no
heel taps, fill full, and drain dry ! Fr.,
Heifer.
Her*,- house.
rausigue (1795). 2. A dance peculiar Hellophone. The telephone : from
do London dustmen. Halloo !
Heifer. A woman; old heifer Help. A hired assistant. Lady.
(in Western America), a term of en- help, a woman acting aa a companion
dearment. and undertaking the lighter domestic
Heifer-paddock. A ladies' school. »•-<--.- — -« •**- —•>- .,,,,.
Heigh - ho. Stolen yarn : from
the expression used to apprise a fence
that the speaker had stolen yarn to
sell.
Helbat. A table.
Hell. 1. Generic for a place of
confinement, as in some games
(Sydney), or a cell in a prison : speci-
fically, a place under the Exchequer
Chamber, where the king's debtors
were confined ( 1593). 2. A workman's
receptacle for stolen or refuse pieces,
as cloth, type, etc. ; one's eye (q.v.) :
also hell - hole and hell - box. Hett-
matter (printers') old and battered
type (1589). 3. A gambling house:
whence stiver-hell, a gambling house
where only silver is played for. Danc-
ing-hell, an unchartered hall ; and so
forth (1823). Heaven, Hell, and Purga-
tory, three ale-houses formerly situ-
ated near Westminster Hall (1610); hempen fever, to
hett broke loose, extreme disorder, Ladder (Grose).
anarchy (1623) ; hett of a lark, goer,
duties with or without wages (1&24).
So help (or s'e?p or s'wdp) me God
(Bob, never, or say-so), an emphatic
asseveration.
Helpa. An apple.
Helpless. Drunk : see Screwed.
Hemp (or Hemp-seed, Stretch-
hemp, Hemp-string, or Hempy).
I. A rogue, candidate fit for the gal-
lows: frequently used jocularly: see
crack-halter (q.v.) : FT., gratne de
bagne. 2. A halter (1754) ; as verb,
to choke, strangle. To wag hemp in
the wind, to be hanged (1532).
Hempen-bridle. A ship's rope or
rigging.
Hempen Collar (candle, circle,
cravat, croak, garter, necktie, or
habeas). The hangman's noose, a
halter: also hemp, and the hearty-
choke (1530).
Hempen Fever. To die of a
be hanged : see
row, and so forth), very much of
a , a popular intensitive ; all to
hett (or gone to hell), utterly ruined ;
to hope (or ivish) to hett, to desire
intensely ; to play (or kick up) hett and
tommy, to ruin utterly : also to play
hett and break things, to raise hell, to
make helFs delight (1837) ; to lead
apes in heU, to die an old maid : from.
a popular superstition (1599) ; to give
hett, to trounce, abuse, punish severely:
also (American), to make one smell
hell ; heft for leather, v-th the utmost
energy and desperation ; like hell,
desperately, with all one's might; go
to hett! an emphatic dismissal; heU
and scissor a ! an ejaculation of sur-
prise and ridicule.
Hell-bender. A drunken frolic,
a tremendous row : also heU-a-popping
and fall's delight.
Hell - broth. Bad liquor : see
Drinks.
Hell-cat (hag, hound, kite,
etc.). A man or woman of hellish
disposition, a lewdster of either sex:
of. Hallion (1606).
Hell-driver. A coachman (1696).
Hellite. A professional gambler
(Ducange).
Hempen-fortune. Bad luck : also
the gallows.
Hempen-squincy. Hanging * see
Ladder (1646).
Hempen-widow. A woman
widowed by the gallows (1696).
Hen. 1. A woman : specifically, a
wife or mistress (1811). 2. Drink
money: see Hen drinking. As verb,
to funk, torn tail ; to hen on, to fear
bo attempt. Cock and hen dub, club
open to both sexes. Hens and
chickens, pewter measures — quarts
and pints : cf. Cat and Mttens (1851).
Hen-drinking. A Yorkshire
marriage-custom: on the evening of
the wedding day the young men of
the village call upon the bridegroom
for a hen — meaning money for re-
freshments .... should the hen be
refused, the inmates may expect some
ugly trick to the house ere the festi-
vities terminate.
Hen Frigate. A ship commanded
by the captain's wife : cf. Hen-peeked
(Grose).
Hen-fruit. Eggs.
Hen- (or Chicken-) hearted
Timorous, cowardly (1529).
Hen-house. A house Trader petti-
coat government (Grose).
221
Hen-party.
Hen-party (convention, or tea).
An assemblage of women lev political
L purposes.
Hen-pecked. Petticoat govern-
ment, ruled by a v.oraan (1006).
Hen-snatcher. A chicken thiaf.
Hens '-rights. Women's rights.
Hen - toed. To turn the toes in
walking, like a fowl.
Here. Here's to you (at you,
unto you, now, or luck), an invitation
to drink, here's a health to you (3 J31).
Herds luck, I don't believe you. /
am not here, I don't feel inclined to
work, I wish to be left alone.
Here-and-Thereian. A rolling stone,
a person with no permanent address
(Lex. JBal., 1811).
Hereford. White : Herefords
are white-faced.
Herefordshire-weed. An oak
Her Majesty's Carriage. A
prison van, the King's 'bus : see
Black Maria: Fr., omnibus d, p£gres.
Her Majesty's Tobacco pipe.
The furnace where forfeited tobacco
from the Customs House was burnt :
now a thing of the past : the tobacco
being distributed to workhouses, etc. :
see Tobacco-pipe.
Herod. To out-Herod Herod,
to out-do, specifically (theatrical) to
excel in rant (1596).
Herring. Neither fish, flesh,
fowl, nor good red herring, neither one
thing not the other (1682) ; to throw a
sprat to catch a herring (or whole), to
* . an advantage in the hope of
r profit (1826) ; dead as a herring
shotten herring), quite dead :
die sooner on leaving the
water "than most fish (1596); like
herrings in a barrel, very crowded;
the devil a barrel the better herring, all
alike, indistinguishable.
Herring - gutted. Lanky, thin
(Grose).
Herring - pond. The sea : speci-
fically, the North Atlantic Ocean. To
be sent across the herring-pond, to be
transported (1722).
Hertfordshire - kindness. An
acknowledgment, or return, in kind,
of favours received : spec, drinking
to Kim who has already toasted one.
Hewgag. The Hewgag, an undeter-
minate, unknown, mythical creature.
Hiccius Doccius. A juggler ; also
a shifty fellow or trickster (1676). As
adj., drunk.
222
Hie Jacet. A tombstone ; also
a memorial inscription (1598).
Hick. A man; specifically a
countryman, a booby : also (American
thieves') hiclcjop and hicksam (1696).
Hickety - split. With all one's
might, at top speed, hammer and
tongs (q.v.), full chisel (q.v.).
Hickey. Drunk : see Screwed.
Hickory-shirt. A checked shirt,
cotton or wool.
Hide. The human skin: once
literary, now colloquial or vulgar
(1568). As verb, to flog, tan.
Hidebound. Barren, intractable,
niggardly, pedantic, utterly immov-
able (1606).
Hiding. A thrashing.
Higgledy-piggledy. In confusion,
topsy - turvy, at sizes and sevens
(1598).
High. 1. Drunk : see Screwed.
2. Stinking, gamey (q.v.); whence,
by implication, diseased, obscene in
intention and effect. The High and
Dry, the High Church or Anglo-
Catholio party in the Establishment,
to the Low and Slow (q.v.),
jlical section : ci Broad
and Shallow (1854). High and dry,
stranded, abandoned, irrecoverable ;
high and mighty, arrogant, imperious,
proud, on the high horse or the high
ropes (q.v.), full of side (q.v.) ; too high
for one's nut, out of one's reach, beyond
one's capacity, over one's bend (q.v.) ;
you can't get high enough, a derisive
comment on any kind of failure;
how is that for high ? what do you
think of it ? — once a tag universal,
common wear now (1860).
High-bellied (or High in the belly).
Pregnant : also High-waisted.
Highbinder. 1. A Chinese black-
mailer, 2. (political American). A
political conspirator (Norton).
High-bloke. 1. A judge. 2. A
well-dressed man, splawger (q.v.).
Highfalute. To use fine words,
yarn (q.v.): IT., faireF ttroite. Whence
highfaluting, bombast, rant ; and as
adj., bombastic, fustian, thrasonical
(1860).
High-feather. In high feather, in
luck, on good terms with oneself and
the world.
H i g h - fl y. To be on the high-fly,
specifically, to practise the begging-
letter imposture, but (generally) to
tramp the country as a beggar (1839).
High-tide,
Highflyer. 1. Anything or any-
body out of the common — in opinion,
pretension, attire, and so forth. 2. A
dandy, male or female, of the first
water. 3. A fast coach (1690). 4. A
beggar with a certain style, begging-
letter writer, broken swell (1851). 5.
A swing fixed in rows in a frame much
in vogue at fairs.
High-flying. 1. Extravagance in
opinion, pretension, or conduct (1689).
2. Begging, the high-fly (q.v.), Stilling
(q.v.).
High-gag. A whisperer (MatseU).
The high gag, telling secrets (Matsell).
High-game. A mansion (thieves').
High - gig. In high gig, in good
fettle, lively.
High-go. A drinking bout, frolic.
High - heeled Shoes. To have
high-heeled shoes on, to set up as a
person of consequence, do the grand
(q.v.).
High Horse. To go (or get) on
(or ride) the high horse, to give oneself
airs, stand on one's dignity, take
offence : 3JV., vnonter sur aes grands
chevaux : the simile is common to most
languages (1716).
High - jinks. 1. An old game
variously played: most frequently
dice were thrown by the company,
and those upon whom the lot fell were
obliged to assume and maintain for a
time a certain fictitious character, or to
repeat a certain number of fescennine
verses in a particular order. If they
departed from the characters assigned
. . . they incurred forfeits, which were
compounded for by swallowing an
additional bumper (Quy Mannering,
Note to ch. rxxii.) (1696). 2. A
gambler at dice, who, having a strong
head, drinks to intoxicate his adver-
sary or pigeon. Under this head are
also classed those fellows who keep little
goes, take in insurances ; also, attend-
ants at the races, and at the E O
tables ; chaps always on the lookout
to rob unwary countrymen at cards,
etc. (Grose). 3. A frolic, row. To
be at his high jinks, to be stilted and
arrogant in manner, ride the high
horse (q.v.) : FT., faire sa merde (or
sa poire).
High-kicker. Specifically a dancer
whose speciality is the high kick
or the porte d* armes ; whence, by meta-
phor, any desperate spreester (q.v.),
male or female.
High - kiited. Obscene or there-
abouts, full flavoured (q.v.),
Hignland-bail. The right of the
strongest, force majeure (1S1G).
High - lawyer. A highwayman :
see Thief (loD2;.
High - liver. A garrotter, thief
housed in an attic : hence high-living,
lodging in a garret (Lex. Bal.).
High-men. Dice loaded to run
high: also, high-runners (1594).
High - nosed. Very proud in look
and in fact, supercilious in bearing
and speech, superior (q.v.).
High (or gay) old time (Game,
Liar, etc.). A general intensitive : e.g.
high old time, a very merry tune
indeed ; high eld liar, & liar of might ;
high old drunk, an uncommon booze
(q.v.).
High-pad (Toby, or High-Toby,
splice). 1. The highway: also
high-splice, toby (1567). 2. A high-
wayman : also high - tobyman (or
-gloak). (1696). 3. Highway rob-
bery (1819).
High-pooped. Heavily buttocked.
High -rented. 1. Hot. 2. Very
well known to the police ; hot (q.v.).
High-roller. A goer (q.v.), fast
liver, heavy gambler, highflyer (q.v.).
High - ropes. To ~be on the high-
ropes, to be angry, excited : also to
put on airs, stand on one's dignity,
ride the high-horse (q.v.) (1811).
High-seasoned (or Highly-spiced).
Obscene : of. Spicy.
High- (or clouted-) shoon. A
countryman, joskin (q.v.) (1096).
High-sniffing. Pretentious, super-
cilious, very obviously better than
one's company, high-nosed (q.v.)-
High-stepper. An exemplar (male
or female) of what is fashionable,
swell (q.v.): also a person of spirit.
Whence, high-stepping (or high-pac-
ing), conspicuously elegant or gallant^
in dress, speech, manner, conduct, any-
High - stomached. Proud, dis-
dainful, pot-valiant.
High-strikes. Hysterics (1838).
High-tea. Tea with meat, etc. :
in Lancashire, bagging (q.v.).
High-ti. A showy recitation
(American : Williams ColL) ; at Har-
vard, a squirt (q.v.).
High-tide (or water) . Each for
the moment, the state of being Sush
(q.v.) (1696). Up to high-water mark
High-iobij.
Eitttie.
in good condition : a general expres-
sion of approval.
High-toby. See High pad.
High-toned. Aristocratic ; also,
morally and intellectually endowed,
beyond the common. High - soitlcd,
cultured., fashionable. High - toned
nigger, a negro who has raised himself
in social position. [Once literary ;
now utterly discredited and never
used, save in ignorance or derision.
Stokes, the maniac who shot GarSeld,
described luznseli as a high-toned
lawyer.]
Highty-tighty (or Hoity-toity). A
wanton (1G96). As adj., peremptory,
waspish, quarrelsome.
High Wood. To live, in high wood,
to hide, dissemble of purpose, lie low,
keep quiet.
Higulcion - flips. An imaginary
ailment.
Hike. To move about: also to
carry oS, arrest (1811).
Hilding. A jade, wanton, dis-
reputable slut (1593).
Hill. Not worth a hiU of beans,
absolutely worthless.
Hip. To have (get, or catch) on
the hip, to have (or get) an advantage
(1591).
H i p e. A throw over the hip.
Hence, as vorb, to get across the hip
before the throw.
Hip-hop. To skip or move on one
leg, hop : a cant word framed by the
reduplication of hop (Johnson) (1700).
Hip - inside. An inner pocket.
Hip-outside, an outer ditto.
Hipped (or Hippish). Bored, melan-
chohcal, out of sorts (1710).
Hippen. A baby's napkin (i.e.
hipping cloth). Also (theatrical), the
green curtain.
H i r e n. 1. A prostitute : a cor-
ruption of Irene, the heroine in Poole's
play (158-i). 2. A sword: also a
roaring bully, fighting hector: from
Irene, the Goddess of Peace, a lucus
a non lucendo.
Hishee - Hashee. See Soap-and-
bullion.
His Nibs (or Nabs). See Nibs.
Hiss. The hiss (Winchester Col-
lege), thesignal of a master's approach.
Historical- (Wrought-, or Illus-
Hills (Winchester Coll.). 1. St. trated-) Shirt. A shirt or shift
Catharine's Hill. 2. (Cambridge Univ.)
The Gogmagog Hills : a common morn-
ing's ride (Qradtts ad Cantab.).
Hilly. Difficult: e.g. hilly reading,
hard to read ; hilly going, not easy to
do ; etc.
Hilt. Loose in the hilt, unsteady,
rocky (q.v.), lax in the bowels (1639).
Hind-boot. The breech.
worked or woven with pictures or
texts (1596).
History of the Four Kings. See
Four Kings.
Hit. A success : e.g. to make a hit,
to score, profit, excel (1602). As
adj. (Old Bailey), convicted. Hard-
hvt, sore beset, hard-up (q.v.) : also
deep in love (grief, or anger). As
Hind-coachwheel. A five shilling verb, to arrive at, light on. To
piece : IV., roue de derrtere, ihune, or hit it, to attain an object, light upon
palet, a live franc piece : see Rhino. a device, guess a secret (1594) ; to hit
H i n d - 1 e g. To kick ovt a hind off, to agree together, fit, describe
to lout, make a rustic bow.
talfs the hind leg off a horse (or dog) :
see Talk ; to sit upon one's hvnd legs
and howl, to bemoan one's fate, make
a hullabaloo.
Hindoo. See Know • nothing.
Hindoo punishment, more often called
the muscle grind, a rather painful
with accuracy and precision (1857) ;
to hit the -fiat, to go out on the prairie
(cowboy) ; to hit the pipe, to smoke
opium ; to hit one where he lives, to
touch in a tender part, hurt the
feelings, touch on the raw (q.v.) ; hit
(or struck) with, taken, enamoured,
prepossessed : also hit up with ; hit
exercise upon the bar, in which the in the teeiJt, to reproach, taunt, fling
arms are turned backward to embrace in one's face (1663).
the bar, and then brought forward Hitch,
upon the chest^ in which position the married,
performer revolves.
Hind - shifters. The feet : see
Creepers (1823).
Hinges. Off the hinges, in con-
1. To marry. Bitched,
To agree: also to hitch
horses. To hitch one*s team to the
fence, to settle down.
Hittite. A prize fighter. Eng-
lish synonyms : basher, bruiser, duke
fusion, out of sorts, not quite the ster, fistite, knight of the fist, gem-
i&ing.
man of the fancy, milling-cove, pug,
224
Hodmandod.
puncher, scrapper, slasher, slogger,
slugger, sparrmg-bloke (1823).
Hive. To steal. To get hived, to
be caught in a scrape : also to be
hidden. To be hiied perfectly frigid,
to be caught in flagrante delicto.
Hivite. A student of St. Bees'
(Cumberland).
Hoaky. By the hoaky, a popular
form of adjuration.
Hoax. A jest, practical joke,
take-in : originally (Grose) University
cant. As verb, to play a practical
joke, take-in, bite (q.v.).
Hob (or Hobbinol). A clown (Qrose).
Hob and Nob (or Hob Nob).
1. To invite to drink, clink glasses
(1756). 2. To give or take, to hit
or miss at random (1577). 3. To be
on terms of close intimacy, consort
familiarly together.
Hobbes's-voyage. A leap in the
dark (1697).
Hobbinol. Countryman, joskin
(1663).
Hobble. In a hobble (or hobbled),
in trouble, hampered, puzzled : also
(thieves'), committed for trial: Fr.,
tomber dans la m&asse (to come a
cropper), and faitr6 (booked, q.v.).
Hobbled upon the legs, transported or
on the hulks (1777).
Hobbledehoy. A growing
gawk : as in the folk-rhyme, Hobble-
dehoy, neither man nor bov. [For
derivation, see Notes and Queries, 1 S.,
v. 468, viL 572; 4 S., ii. 297, viii.
451, is. 47 ; 7 S., iv. 523, and v. 58.]
(1557). Hence Hobbledehoyish and
Hobbledehoyhood,
Hobbledelee. A pace be-
tween a walk and a run, a jog-trot
(1811).
Hobble r. A coast-man — half
smuggler, half handyman ; an un-
licensed pilot : also a landsman acting
as tow-Jack (Smyth). Also (Isle of
Man), a boatman.
Hobby. 1. A hackney, a horse in
common use (1606). 2. A translation.
To ride hobbies, to use cribs (q.v.).
Sir Posthumous Hobby, one nice or
whimsical in his clothes.
Hobby-horse. 1. A whim, fancy,
favourite pursuit. Hence Hobby-
horsical, strongly attached to a par-
ticular fad (1759). 2. A rantipole
girl, wench, wanton (1594). 3. A
witless, unmannerly lout (1609). As
verb, to romp.
Hob - collingwood. The four of
hearts : considered an unlucky card.
Hob-jobber. A man or boy on
the look-out for small jobs — holding
horses, carrying parcels, and the like.
Hob-nail. A countryman, joskin
(1647).
Hobnailed. Boorish, clumsy, coarse,
ill-done (1599).
Hobson's-choice. That or none :
i.e. there is no alternative : popularly
derived from the name of a Cam-
bridge livery stable keeper, whose rule
was that each customer must take
the horse next the door, or have no
horse at all.
Hock. 1. The last card in the
dealer's box at faro. Hence, from
soda (q.v.) to hock, from beginning to
end. 2. In pL, the feet. Curby
hocks, clumsy foot: see Creepers
(Gross). Old hock, stale beer; swipes
(q.v.). In hock, laid by the heels,
fleeced, bested (q.v.); and (thieves'),
in prison.
Hock-dockies. Shoes : see Trotter-
cases (1789).
Hockey. Drunk, especially on
stale beer : see Screwed.
Hocus. 1. A cheat, impostor :
see Hocus-pocus (1654). 2. Drugged
liquor (1823). As adj., drunk: see
Screwed. As verb, (1) to cheat,
impose upon ; (2) to drug, snuff (q.v.)
(1836).
Hocus-pocus. 1. A juggler's
phrase: hence a juggler's (or im-
postor's) stock in trade : also Hocus-
trade (1639). 2. A trickster, juggler,
impostor (1625). 3. A cheat, imposi-
tion, juggler's trick (1713). As adj.,
cheating, fraudulent (1715). As
verb, to cheat, trick.
Hod (or Brother Hod). A brick-
layer's labourer. Hod of mortar, A
pot of porter.
Hoddy-doddy (or Hoddie-doddie).
A short thick-set man or woman:
see Forty-guts. Also a fool (1534).
Hoddy-peafc (or peke). A fool,
cuckold (1529).
Hodge. A farm labourer, rustic
(1589).
Hodge-podge (or Hotch-potch).
A mixture, medley : Sp., commis~
trajo : see Hotch-potch (1553).
Hodman. A scholar from West-
minster School admitted to Christ
Church College, Oxford (1728).
Hodmandod. 1. A snail in hur
Boe.
Hdborn Hfll.
shell (Bacon) : see Doddy (1663). 2.
A Hottentot (1686).
Hoe. To hoe in, to work with
vigour, swot (q.v.). To hoe one's
own row, to do one's own work. Hard
row to hoe : see Hard row.
Hoe-down. A negro dance, break-
down (q.v.).
Hog. LA shilling : also a six-
pence : and (in America) a ten-cent
piece : see Rhino (1686), 2. A foul-
mouthed blackguard, dirty foecler :
also, a common glutton (1598). 3.
(Cambridge Univ. : obsolete), a
student of St. John's : also Johnian
Hog : see Crackle, Bridge of Grunts,
and Isthmus of Suez (1690). 4. A
yearling sheep (1796). 5. An inhabit-
ant of Chicago : that city being a
notable pig-breeding and pork-packing
centre. 6. A Hampshireman (1770).
As verb, (1) to cheat, humbug, gam-
mon (q.v.); (2) to cut short: e.g. to
hog a horse's mane. A hog in armour,
a lout in fine clothes : also a Jack-in-
office (q-v.) : Hog-in-togs (in America),
a well-dressed loafer ( Grose). Hog and
hominy, plain fare, common doings
(q.v.): pork and maize are the two
cheapest food stuffs in the U.S.A.
To go the whole hog : see Whole animal.
To bring one's hogs (or pigs) to a fine
market, to do well, make a good deal
(q.v.) : also in sarcasm, the opposite
(1696). To drive one's hogs (or pigs)
to market, to snore (1738).
Hog - age. The period between
boyhood and manhood: cf. Hobble-
dehoy.
Hogan - mogan. The States-
General of the United Provinces were
officially addressed as High and
Mighty Lords, or in Dutch, Hoogmo-
genden ; hence English satirists called
them hogans - mogans, and applied
the phrase to Dutchmen in general.
Hog-grubber. A miser, niggard,
mean cuss (q.v.) (1696).
Hogmenay. 1. New Year's Eve,
which is a national festival : the origin
of the term has been the subject of
much discussion (1776). 2. Hence a
wanton: the feast was celebrated with
much drink and not a little license.
Hogo. A flavour, aroma, relish.
Hence, in irony, and by corruption, a
stink : cl Fogo : from IV., haul gotit
(1569).
Hogshead. To couch a hogshead, to
lie down to sleep (1567)*
Hog-shearing. Much ado about
nothing, great cry and httle wool
(1696).
Hogs-Norton. To have, "been born at
Hogs-Norton, to be ill-mannered( 1666).
Hog-wash. 1. Bad liquor ; speci-
fically, rot-gut (q.v.). 2. Worthless
newspaper matter, slush, swash, and
flub-dub (q.v.).
Hoi Polloi. The candidates for
ordinary degrees : from the Greek :
cf. Gulf.
Hoist. A shop-lifter; also a con-
federate hoisting or helping a thief
to reach an open window. The hoi&t,
shop-lifting. To go upon the hoist, to
enter a house by an open window
(Grose). As verb, (1) to shop-lift, rob
by means of the hoist (q.v.) ; (2) to
run away: see Bunk; (3) to drink:
e.g. WiH you hoist ? will you have a
liquor ? hoisting, drinking ; on the
hoist, on the drunk : also a hoist in.
To give a hoist, to do a bad turn.
Hoister. 1. A shop-lifter, hoist
(q.v.) : also a pickpocket. 2. A sot :
see Lushington.
Hoisting (or Hoist-lay). 1. Shop-
lifting, the hoist (q.v.) : also shaking
a man head downwards, so that his
money rolls out of his pockets. 2. A
ludicrous ceremony, formerly per-
formed on every soldier the first tune
he appeared in the field after being
married, as soon as the regiment, or
company, had grounded their arms,
to rest awhile ; three or four men of
the same company to which the bride-
groom belonged, seized upon him, and
putting a couple of bayonets out of
the two corners of his hat, to represent
horns, it was placed on his head, the
back part foremost, he was then
hoisted on the shoulders of two strong
fellows, and carried round the arms,
a drum and fife beating and playing
the pioneers' call, named Round-heads
and Cuckolds, but on this occasion
styled the Cuckolds March : in passing
the colours he was to take off his hat
.... This in some regiments was
practised by the officers on their
brethren (Grose).
Hoit (or Hoyt). To be noisily or
riotously inclined (1611).
Hoity-toity. See Highty-tighty.
Hokey-pokey. 1. A cheat, swindle,
nonsense: from Hocus-pocus. 2. A
cheap ice-cream sold in the streets.
HolbornHill. To ride back-
Sold.
Edy-land.
wards up Holborn HUl, to go to the
gallows : the way was thence to
Tyburn, criminals riding backwards
(Grose) (1614).
Hold. To bet, wager: see Do
you hold? infra (1534). Phrases:
To hold on to, to apply oneself, be per-
sistent : generally, to hold on like grim
death; to hold up, (I) to rob on the
highway, bail or stick up (q.v.) : also
as subs., a highwayman, road-agent
(q.v.) ; (2) to arrest : see Nab ; to hold
the stage, to have the chief place on the
boards and the eye of an audience :
FT., avoir les planches ; to hold a candle
to (the devil, etc.) : see Devil; to hold
a candle to, to vie with, be comparable
to, assist in or condone ; to hold (or
hang) on by the eyelids, eyelashes or eye-
brows, (1) to pursue an object desper-
ately, insist upon a point, carry on a
forlorn hope : see Splash-board ; (2)
said of a man aloft with nothing much
to lay hold of; to hold in hand, to
amuse, possess the attention of the
nund, have in one's pocket; to hold the
market, to buy stock and hold it to so
large an extent that the price cannot
decline ; do you hold ? have you money
to lend ? can you stand treat ? hold your
"horses, go easy, don't get excited : a
general injunction to calm, in act and
speech ; hold your jaw, hold your
tongue, stow your gab (q.v.) ; Hold
hard \ (or on) \ wait a moment ! don't
be in a hurry 1 (1761) ; to hold-stitch :
see Stitch ; to hold -wafer : see Water.
Hold-out. An old-fashioned
apparatus, in poker, for holding out
desirable cards.
Hole. 1. A cell : of. Hell, sense 1.
(1540). 2. A cock-robin shop, private
printing office : where unlicensed books
were made (Moxon), (1683). 3, A
difficulty, fix, hence (on the turf), to
"be in a hole, to lose (a bet) or be de-
feated (of horses) (1760). 4. A place of
abode: specifically, a mean habitation,
a dirty lodging : see Diggings. Phrases:
A hole in one's coat, a flaw in one's
fame, weak spot in one's character.
To pick a hole in one's coat, to find a
cause for censure ; to make (or burn) a
hole in one's pocket, said of money
recklessly spent; to make a hole in
anything, to use up largely (1663) ;
to make a hole in the wafer, to commit
suicide by drowning ; to make a hole, to
break, spoil, upset, interrupt; to make
a "hole in one's manners, to be rude;
221
to make a hole in one's reputation, to
betray, seduce ; to make a kola in the
silence, to make a noise, raise Cain
(q.v.) ; too drunk to see a hole in a
ladder, very drunk : see Screwed.
Hole-and-corner. Secret, under-
hand, out of the way : e.g. hole-and-
corner work, shady business.
Holiday. Unskilled, indifferent,
careless (Grose). Blvid man's holi-
day : see ante. To have a holiday at
Peckham, to go dinnerless. Att holi-
day at Peckham, no work and nothing
to eat. To take a holiday, to be dis-
missed, get the gag (q.v.), or sack
(q.v.). Gone for a holiday, said of a
flaw, lapse, or imperfection of any kind
(as dropped stitches, lost buttons,
slurred painting, and so forth : also
(Grose), any part of a ship's bottom
left uncovered in painting it, and
(Clark Russell) places left untarred on
shrouds, backstays, etc., during the
operation of tarrmg them.
Holler. To cry enough, give in,
cave in (q.v.) (1847).
H o 1 1 i s (Winchester College). A
small pebble (Notions),
Hollow. Complete, certain, de-
cided: as adv., completely, utterly:
e.g. to beat or lick hollow ( 1759).
Holt To take, take hold of.
Holus-bolus. The head : also the
neck. As adv., helter skelter, alto-
gether, first come first served.
Holy. More holy than righteous,
said of a person in rags, or of a tattered
garment.
Holy-boys. The Ninth Foot, now
the Norfolk Kegiment : from a trick of
selling bibles for drink in the Penin-
sula.
Holy - father. A butcher's boy
of St. Patrick's market, Dublin, or
other Irish blackguard ; among whom
the exclamation, or oath, by the Holy
Father (meaning the Pope), is common
(Grose).
Holy Iron. See Holy Poker.
Holy Joe. A pious person,
whether hypocritical or sincere: also
nautical), a parson.
Holy Jumping Mother of Moses.
See Moses.
Holy - lamb. A thorough-paced
villain (Grose).
Holy -land (or Ground). 1.
St. Giles's, Palestine (q.v.) (1819).
2. Generic for any neighbourhood
affected by Jews: specifically, Bay*-
Holy Moses.
Hook.
water, ar.J ^nghton : cf. New Jeru-
salem, and Holy of Holies.
Holy Moses. See Moses.
Holy of Holies. 1. The Grand
Hotel at Brighton : which is largely
tenanted by Jews. 2. A private room ;
a sanctum (q.v.).
Holy Poker (or Iron). The mace
carried by an esquire bedel (of Law,
Physic, or Divinity) as a badge of
authority : the term, which is applied
to the bedels themselves, is very often
used as an oath.
Holy-water Sprinkler. A medi-
aeval weapon of oSence ; a morning
star (q.v.).
Home. England. To get tome,
I. to achieve an object, succeed per-
fectly, and (athletic) to reach the
winning post. 2. to get in (a blow)
with precision and effect, land (q.v.) :
also(old) to give a mortal wound (1559)
3. To recover a loss, neither to win nor
lose, come out quits : also, to bring
oneself home. To make oneself at "home,
to take one's ease, be familiar to the
point of ill-breeding. To come home,
to, to reach the conscience, touch
deeply. To go (send, or carry) "home
(or to one's last home), to die, kill,
bury: the Chinese say, To go home
horizontally : see Hop the twig (1598).
Home-bird. A hen-pecked hus-
' band : also a milksop : FT., chauffe-
la-couche (warming-pan).
Home for lost dogs. A large and
well-known medical school in London :
from the fact that the majority of its
inmates have strayed there from the
various hospital schools, as a last
resource toward taking a degree.
Home - rule. Irish whisky : see
Drinks.
Homo. A man : generally Omee
(q.v.) : from the Latin : see Cove.
Homoney. A woman, also a wife :
see Homo (1754).
Homo-opathise. To get bills (i.e.
petitions) through Legislature, Con-
gress, or City Council, by means of
bills (i.e. bank-bills).
JHonesL 1. Chaste (1596). 2.
Not positively illegal : as honest penny
or shilling, money earned by means
immoral (as by prostitution) but
within the law. To turn an honest
penny, to make a profitable deal
(1677). To make an honest woman, to
marry a mistress (1629). As honest
a man as when kings are out, knavish.
Honest as the skin, between the brows (or
horns), as honest as may be (1551).
Honest Injun ! A pledge of sincer-
ity; honour bright (q.v.).
Honey. 1. A good fellow. 2.
Money : see Rhino. 3. A term of en-
dearment. As verb, to cajole, ex-
change endearments, deceive by soft
words or promises (1596). To sett
honey for a halfpenny, to rate at a vile
price (1592).
Honey-blobs. Large, ripe, yellow
gooseberries (1746).
Honeycomb. A sweetheart : a
general term of endearment (1562).
Honey-fogle (or fugle). To cheat,
swindle, humbug : see Gammon.
Honour Bright 1 Upon my honour
(1819).
Hood. Two faces under one hood
(or hat), double-dealing. To put a
bone in one's hood, to cuckold (1560).
Hoodlum. A young rough of
either sex: also (political), a low-
class voter : originally Calif ornian : cf .
Arab.
Hoodman. A blind man, groper
(q.v.). As adj., blind; spec, drunk:
also hoodman blind, blind drunk: FT.,
berlu and sans tnirettes.
Hoof. A foot : see Creepers (1836).
As verb, to kick. Hence, to hoof out, to
eject, dismiss, discharge, decline to
see. To hoof it (to pad or beat the
hoof), to walk, tramp it, run away;
hence Hoof -padding (1596). To see
one's hoof in (a thing), to detect per-
sonal influence or interference in a
matter.
Hoof-padder. A pedestrian.
Hoofy. Splay, large.
Hook. I. A finger : see Fork. In
pi., the hands : also Hooks and Feelers
(q.v. ). 2. A thief ( 1562). 3. A catch,
advantage, imposture. As verb, (1) to
rob, steal: specifically, to steal watches,
rings, etc., from a shop by cutting a
small hole in the window, and fiatiing
for such articles with a piece of string
with a hook at the end (1615) ; (2) to
secure (as for marriage), marry. As
intj. (Oxford Univ.), an expression
implying doubt. Phrases: On the
hook, (1) on the thieve, on the cross
(q.v.); (2) on the hip (q.v.), at an
advantage (1694) ; hook and eye, arm
and arm ; to take (or sling) one's hook
(or to hook it), to decamp, run away :
see Bunk ; to drop (go, or pop) off tin
hooks, (1) to die: see Hop the twig
Hook and Snivey.
Hop.
(1837) ; (2) to get married ; to hook
on tot to attach oneself to, button-
hole (q.v.), follow up ; on one's own
hook, on one's own account (risk, or
responsibility), for one's own sake,
dependent on one's own resources (or
exertions) ; by hook or by crook, by-
some means or other, by fair means
or foul, at all hazards : probably of
forestal origin (1298) ; with a hook at
the end, a reservation of assent, over
the left (q.v.), in a horn (q.v.) (1823) ;
off the hooks, out of temper, vesed,
disturbed, out of sorts : Fr., soriit de
ses gonds, off the hinges (q.v.) : see
Nab the rust.
Hook and Snivey (or Hookum Sni-
vey). 1. An imposture: specifically
rtting food on false pretences (1781).
An impostor as described in sense 1.
3. A contemptuous or sarcastic affir-
mation, accompanied by the gesture of
taking a sight (q.v.) or playing
hookey (q.v.). 4. A crook of thick
iron wire in a wooden handle, used
to undo the wooden bolts of doors
from without (1801).
Hooked. Over-reached, snapt,
triekt.
Hooker. 1. A thief (q.v.),
angler (q.v.) : also (modern) a watch-
stealer, dip (q.v.). * These hokers or
Angglers, be peryllous and most
wicked knaues, .... they customably
carry with them a staffe of v. or vi.
foote long, in which, within one ynch
of the tope thereof, ys a lytle hole
bored through, [leaf 9] in which hole
they putte an yron hoke, and with
the same they wyll pluck vnto them
quickly any thing that they may
reche ther with* (Harmon). 2. A
prostitute.
Hookey. To play hookey, to play
truant, do Charley- wag (q.v.). To
do (or play) hookey (or hooky}, to
apply the thumb and fingers to the
nose, take a sight (q.v.), coffee-mill
(q.v.).
Hookey Walker ! (or Walker !)
Be off! go away: also implying
doubt : cf. With a hook. \_Bee : ITrom
John Walker, et hook - nosed spy,
whose reports were proved to be fabri-
cations.}
H o o ki n g-c o w. A cow showing
fight.
Hook-pole Lay. Pulling a man off
his horse by means of iron hooks at
the end of a long pole, and plundering
him (Smith, Lives of Highwaymen, ITL
192, 1720).
Hook-shop. A brothel
Hoop. 1. A ring. 2. See Bull-
finch. As verb, to beat. To u-dl
/toop one's barrel, to thra&it soundly,
tan (Grose). To hoop it for go through
the hoop), (1) to pass the Insolvent
Debtor's Court ; to get hooped up,
whitewashed (q.v.) ; (2) to run away :
see Bunk.
Hoop-stick. The arm.
H o o s i e t. A. native of Indiana :
perhaps the most reasonaLle of several
ingenious explanations is, that in the
early days the customary challenge
or greeting in that region was, Who's
yer ? (who's here ?) : pronounced
hoosier (Norton) (1843).
Hooter. 1. A steam- whistle,
American devil (q.v.). 2. A wooden
trumpet, so contrived as to make a
horrible noise. 3. A corruption of
iota : e.g. I don't care a hooter for
him.
Hooting-pudding. A plum-pudding
with such a paucity of plums that you
can hear them hooting after each
other (Slang, Jargon, and Cant).
Hop. A dance : generally informal,
as a Cinderella (q.v.). Also (1579) the
motions of dancing. Hop - and - go-
kick, a lameter, hop-and-go-one : cf.
Dot-and-carry-one. To hop the wag,
to play truant, or Charley-wag (q.v.)
To hop (or jump) over the broom (or
broomstick), to live as husband and
live (or go) tally (q.v.) (1811).
To hop the twig, (1) to leave, run away,
skedaddle (q.v.): see Bunk (1785);
(2) to die, kick the bucket (q.v.), to
peg out (q.v.) : also to hop off. English
synonyms : to be content, to cock up
one's toes, to croak, to cut (or let go)
the painter, to cut one's stick, to give
in, to give up, to go to Davy Jones*
locker, to go off the hooks, to go under,
to go up, to kick the bucket, Hckera-
boo (West Indian), to lay down one's
knife and fork, to lose the number of
one*s mess, to mizzle, to pass in one's
checks, to peg out, to put on a wooden
surtout, to be put to bed with a
shovel, to slip one's cable, to stick
one's spoon in the wall, to snuff it, to
take an earth bath, to take a ground
sweat. On the hop, (1) unawares,
at the nick of time, in fiagrante delicto :
also on the h. o. p. ; (2) on the go, in
motion, unresting ; (3) See Hip.
Hopeful.
HorsebreaJcer.
Hopeful (or Young Hopeful). A
boy or young man: in sarcasm or
contempt (1856).
Hop- (or Hap-) Harlot. A coarse
coverlet : cf. Wrap-rascal.
Hopkins (Hoppy, or Mr Hopkins).
A lameter: see Dot-and-go-one-Giles
(Grose). Don't hurry, Hopkins / iron-
ical to persons slow to move or to
meet an obligation.
Hop -merchant (or Hoppy). A
dancing master, caper-merchant (q.v.).
Also a fiddler (1696).
Hop-o'-my-thumb. A dwarf (1599).
English synonyms : go-by- the-ground,
grub, grundy, Jack Sprat, little
Breeches, shrimp, stump-of-the-gutter,
torn-tit.
Hopper. The mouth : see Potato-
trap. To go a, hopper, to go quickly.
Hopper - Hipped. Large in the
breech : also snaggy-boned : also as
subs. (1529).
Hopper-docker. A shoe : see
Trotter-cases.
Hop-picker. 1. A prostitute : also
Hopping-wife. 2. In pi., the queens of
all the four suits.
Hopping - Giles. A cripple : see
Dot-and-go-one (Grose).
Hopping- Jesus. A lameter: see
Dot and -go-one.
Hopping-mad. Very angry.
Hop-pole. A tall, slight person:
male or female: see Lamp-post.
Horizontal Refreshment. Food
taken standing ; generally applied to a
mid-day snack at a bar.
Horn. 1. The nose : also horney : see
Conk (1823). 2. A drink ; a dram of
spirits : see Go (1849). Phrases : To
draw in one's horns, to withdraw,
retract, cool dowja (Grose) ; to horn off,
to put on one side, shunt : as a bull
or stag with their horns ; in a horn, a
general qualification (implying re-
fusal or disbelief), over the left (q.v.) ;
to come out of the little end of the horn,
to get the worst of a bargain, be
reduced in circumstances : also, to
make much ado about nothing : said
generally of vast endeavour ending
in failure : through some unexpected
squeeze (q.v.) (1605).
Hornet. A disagreeable, cantanker-
ous person.
Hornie (or Homess). 1. A con-
stable or watchman : also a sheriff. 2.
The devil: generally Auld Hornie
Hornswoggle. Nonsense, humbug
(q.v.) : see Gammon. As verb, to
humbug, delude, seduce.
Horn-thumb. A pickpocket : from
the practice of wearing a sheath of
horn to protect the thumb in cutting
out (1569).
Horrors. 1. Delirium tremens. Also
low spirits, or the blues (q.v.). 2.
Sausages : see Chamber of horrors. 3.
Handcuffs : see Darbies.
Horse. 1. A five-pound note : see
Fmnup. 2. Horsemonger Lane Gaol :
also the old horse. 3. A man, a term
of high regard and esteem. As verb, (1)
a workman horses it when he charges
for more in his week's work than he
has really done : of course he has so
much unprofitable work to get through
in the ensuing week, which is called
dead horse ; also (2) for one of two
men who are engaged on precisely
similar pieces of work to make extra-
ordinary exertions in order to work
down the other man : this is some-
times done simply to see what kind
of a workman a new man may be, but
often with the much less creditable
motive of injuring a fellow workman
ha the estimation of an employer.
Phrases: The gray mare is the better
horse : see Gray-mare ; horse foaled of
an acorn, ( 1 ) the gallows : see Nubbing-
cheat (1760); (2) the triangles or
crossed halberds under which soldiers
were flogged ; old (or salt-) horse, salt
beef: also junk and salt-junk; one-
horse, comparatively small, insignifi-
cant, unimportant (1858) ; to be horsed,
to be flogged (from the wooden-horse
used as a flogging-stool), to take on
one's back as for a logging ; to fall away
from a horseload to a cartload, ironically
of one considerably improved in flesh
of a sudden ; to ftog the dead horse : see
Dead-horse and Horse ; to put the
cart before the horse, to begin at the
wrong end, set things hind-side before
(1696) ; to put the saddle on the right
horse, to apportion accurately (1696);
to ride on a horse with (or bayard of) ten
toes, to walk, use the marrowbone-
stage: cf. Shanks' s mare (1606); as
good as a shoulder of mutton to a sick
horse, utterly worthless (1596); as
strong as a horse, very strong: a
general intensitive; horse and horse,
neck and neck, even.
Horsebreaker (or Pretty Horse-
breaker). A woman (c. 1860),
230
H&rse-lwss.
Hot-flannel.
hired to ride in the park ; hence a
riding demi-mondame.
Horse-buss. Aloud-sounding kiss,
bite (q.v.) (Grose).
Horse -capper (coper, coser,
courser, or chaunter). A dealer in
worthless or faked horses : originally
good English — to cope, to barter :
see Chanter. Hence Horse-coping and
Horse-duffing (1616).
Horse-collar. 1. An extremely long
and wide collar. 2. A halter. To die
in a horse's nightcap, to be hanged : see
Ladder, English synonyms : anodyne
necklace, Bndport dagger, choker,
hempen cravat, hempen elixir, horse's
neckcloth, horse's necklace, neck-
squeezer, neckweed, squeezer, St.
AndreVs lace, Sir Tristram's knot,
tight cravat, Tyburn tiffany, Tyburn
tippet, widow.
Horse-editor. A sporting editor.
Horse-copy, sporting news.
Horseflesh. See Dead horse and
Horse.
Horse - godmother. A strapping
masculine woman, virago : Fr., femme
hommasse (Grose).
Horse-latitudes. A space in the
Atlantic, ' north of the trade - winds,
where winds are baffling.
Horse-laugh. A loud, noisy laugh,
guffaw (1738).
Horse - leech. 1. An extortioner,
miser. 2. A horse - doctor ; also a
quack (1594).
Horse-marines. A mythical corps,
very commonly cited in jokes and
quizzies on the innocent. [The Jol-
lies (q.v.) or Royal Marines, being
ignorant of seamanship, have always
been the butt of blue-jackets.] TeU
that to the marines (or horse-marines),
the sailors won't believe it, a rejoinder
to an attempt at imposition or cred-
ulity : often amplified with when
they're riding at anchor.
Horse - milliner. 1. A dandy
trooper (1778). 2. A saddler and
harness-maker (1818).
Horse-nails. Money: see Rhino.
To feed on horse-nails, to play so as not
to advance your own score so much
as to keep down your opponent's.
To knock into horse-nails, to knock to
pieces, be absolutely victorious.
Horse-nightcap. See Horse1 s-collar.
Horse-protestant. A churehman-
Horse-sense. Sound and practical
j udgmen t.
Horse 's-head. The boot-sole, heel,
and what is left of the front after the
back and part of the front have been
used to fox (q.v.) other boots.
Horse 's-meal. Meat without drink
(Grose).
Horse - sovereign. A twenty-
shilling piece with Pistrucci's effigies
of St. George and the Dragon.
Hose. In my other hose, a quali-
fication of refusal or disbelief, in a
horn (q.v.), over the left (q.v.) (1598).
Hoss. See Horse.
Hoss-fly (or Old Hoss-fly). A
familiar address : see Horse.
Host. To reckon without one* 8
host, to blunder (1696). Mine host, a
taverner.
Hosteler. An oat-stealer (Grose).
Hot (Winchester College). 1. A
mellay at football ; and, 2. a crowd.
As adj., (1) of persons: sexually ex-
citable, lecherous ; of things (as books)
obscene, blue (q.v.), high -kilted
(q.v.); hot member, a male or female
debauchee, a man or woman con-
temptuous of decorum ; "hoi as they
make them, exceedingly amorous or
reckless ; hot-blooded, lecherous : as (in
"Merry Wives,' v. v.) the hot-blooded
gods assist me ; hot-house, a brothel
(1383); (2) careless of decorum,
boisterous, utterly reckless, aban-
doned ; (3) well known to the police,
dangerous, uncomfortable; (4) violent,
sharp, severe, passionate; (5) alive,
vehement, instant. As verb (Win-
chester College), to crowd, mob. To
give (get, or catch) it hot, to thrash or
reprove soundly, be severely beaten
or taken to task (1859). lake a cat
on hot bricks, uncomfortable, restive.
Hot with, spirits with hot water and
sugar: see Cider, and Cold without.
Hot-beef. To give hat-beef, to cry
Stop thief : also Beef (q.v.).
Hot-cakes. To go off like hot cake*,
to sell readily, be in good demand.
Hot-foot. 1. Instant in pursuit.
2. Restless.
Hotch-potch. A medley, hodge-
> (q.v.) (1597).
tot-coppers. The fever and parched
throat, or mouth (q.v.), attending a
debauch : see Cool one's Copper (1830).
Hotel Barbering. Bilking.
Hotel warming-pan. A chamber-
maid: also warming-paoi (q.v.): 3?r.,
Ivmog^re.
Hot-flannel (or Flannel). Gin and
231
Hot-Jiouse.
Hubble-buWe.
beer, with nutmeg, sugar, etc., made
hot (1789).
Hot-house. A brothel, stew (q.v.)
orig. a public bath (1596).
Hot - place. Hell, a tropical
climate.
Hot-pot. Ale and brandy made
hot (Grose).
Hot -potato. To drop like a hot
potato, to abandon (a pursuit, a person,
a thing) with alacrity.
Hot- stomach. So hot a stomach as
to burn the clothes off his back, said of
one who pawns his clothes for drink
(Lex. JBal.).
Hottentot. 1, A stranger (East
End). 2. A fool : see Buffle.
Hot - tiger. Hot-spiced ale and
sherry.
Hot-water. To be in hot-water, to
be in trouble, in difficulties, worried
(1846).
Hound (King's College, Cam-
bridge Univ.). 1. An undergraduate
not on the foundation, nearly the same
as a sizar. 2. A mean, contemptible
feDow, scoundrel, filthy sneak.
Hounslow-heath. The teeth: see
Grinders ; also Hampstead-heath.
Houri of Fleet Street. A pro-
stitute.
House. An audience. To bring
down the house, to elicit a general
burst of applause : FT., avoir sa cutel-
ette boire du lait (1823). The House,
(1) The Stock Exchange; (2) The
House of Commons ; (3) Christ Church,
Oxford. House (or apartments} to let,
a widow (Lex. Bal.). Father of the
Souse, the oldest elected member of
the House of Commons. Souse that
Jack built, & prison : see Cage. Like a
house on fire, quickly, with energy : see
lake. Safe as houses, perfectly safe.
House -bit (or keeper, or piece).
A servant-mistress.
House-dove. A stay-at-home.
Household-brigade. To join the
household brigade, to marry, get
spliced (q-v.).
House of Civil Reception. A
brothel : see Nanny-shop (Grose).
House of Commons (or House of
Office). A W.C. : see Mrs. Jones.
House - tailor. An upholsterer
(1696).
Housewife (Huswife, or Hussy).
Primarily, a house - keeper. Hence
(a) a domestic servant ; (b) a wanton
or a gad -about wench; and (c) a
comic endearment. Hence, too, House-
wifery and Housewife's tricks, wanton-
ness (1508).
Housey (Christ's Hospital). Belong-
ing to the Hospital.
Housle (Winchester College). To
hustle.
Hoveller. A beach-thief.
How. How came you so ? drunt : see
Screwed (1824). Sow much? What
do you say ? What do you mean ?
What price ? — a general request for
explanations. Sow are you off for
soap, a street catch (1833). Sow the
blazes', see Blazes. How is ihat for
high-, see High. How's yow poor
feet, a street catch : orig. a dovetail to
a gag. Sow' II you have it, an invita-
tion to drink: see Drinks. Sow we
apples swim, (1) said in derision of a
parvenu, of a person in better com-
pany than he (or she) has any right
to keep, or of a pretender to honour or
credit he (or she) does not deserve;
also (2) what a good time we're having !
Howard's Garbage. The Nineteenth
Foot, now the Princess of Wales's
Own (Yorkshire Regiment) : also
Green Howards.
Howard's Greens. The Twenty-
fourth foot : now the South Wales
Borderers : from its facings and its
Colonel's name, 1717-37.
How-do-you-do. A to-do, a kettle
of fish, a pass (1835).
Howler. An unblushing falsehood,
enormous blunder, serious accident :
and so forth. To come (or go) a
howler, to come to grief, run, amuck.
Howling. A general rntensitive
e.g. Howhng swell, a man in the
extreme of fashion ; howling - lie, a
gross falsehood ; howling-bags, trousers
extravagant in cut or pattern ;
howling-cad, etc.
Hosier. 1. An inside pocket
(1834). 2. (Eoyal Military Academy).
Extra drill : corruption of extra : Fr.,
&oZL
Hoys. See Hoist.
Hoyt See Hoit.
Hub. 1. Boston : also Sub of the
Universe; the description is Oliver
Wendell Holmes's : since extended to
other centres or chief cities. 2. A
husband : see Hubby.
Hubble-bubble. 1. A confused noise
made by a talkative person, who
speaks so quick that it is difficult to
understand what he says or means
HubUe-de-shuff.
Hum-box.
(Dyche). A hubble-bubble fellow, a
man of confused ideas, or one thick
of speech, whose words sound like
water bubbling out of a bottle (Lex.
Bol.). 2. A hookah, a pipe by which
the smoke is passed through water
(1811).
Hubble-de-shuff. Confusedly.
Hubbub. 1. A noise in the streets
made by the rabble (B. E.). 2. A noise,
riot, or disturbance (Grose).
Hubby (or Hub). A husband (1798).
Huck. To chaffer, bargain ( 1577).
Huckleberry. Above one's huclde-
berry (bend, or hook), beyond one's
ability, out of one's reach : see Bend
(1848).
Huckle-my-but. Beer, egg, and
brandy made hot (Grose).
Huckster. 1. A retailer of small
goods, pedlar (1696). 2. A mean
trickster (1696). In huckster's hands,
At a desperate pass, or condition,
or in a fair way to be lost (B. E.).
Hucksum (Huckle, Huckle-bone,
or Huck-bone). The hip (1508).
Hue. ' The Cove was Hued in the
Naskin, the Rogue was severely Lasht
inBridewel' (B. B.).
Huey. A town or village.
Huff. 1. An outburst of temper,
peevishness, offence at some real or
imaginary wrong or slight. Hence,
to get (or take) the huff, to fly into a
passion (1599). 2. A bully, Hector
(q.v.), sharper: also Captain Hufi
(1569). 3. A dodge, trick. 4. A term
in the game of draughts : the penalty
for not taking a piece. 5. ( Winchester
College) : see Huff-cap. As verb, (1)
to bluster, bounce, swagger (1607) ;
(2) to anger, cheek (q.v)., get angered
(1708). As intj., an exclamation of
defiance : also Huffa and Huffa-
gallant; the last probably the oldest
form of the word (1510). To stand
the huff, to stand the reckoning (Lex.
Bal.), Also huffy, easily offended;
huffed, annoyed ; huffily, testily, in a
tantrum.
Huff -cap (or Huff). 1. Strong
ale : from inducing people to set their
caps in a bold and huffing style.
(Nares) (1579). 2. A swaggering bully,
Hector (q.v.) (1596). As adj., swag-
gering, blustering, rousing (1597).
Huffer. A swaggerer.
Huffle. To shift, hesitate, waver.
Huff-snuff. A person apt to take
(1692).
Huftie-tuftie, Swaggering, galla f;
(159G). *
Hug. Garrotting (q.v.): also verbally
and to put on the hug. To hug broi n
bess (q.v.) ; to hug the rjuitner's da,U£ *-
ter, to cuddle a gun for punishment ;
to hug the ground, to fall, or be hit off
one's legs; to give the hxg (pugilists),
to close with and grapple the bcdy ;
to hug the shore (bank, or wall), to
keep close to ; Cornish hug, a hold
in wrestling ; to hug a belie/ (de-
lusion, or thought), to chur'sh; to
hug one's cltains, to de^ght in
captivity.
Hugger-mugger. Mudcje, confu-
sion. As adj., closely or b.T stealth,
under-board : To eat so, tt^t is, to
eat by one's self (B. E.). As adj., con-
fused, disorderly, hap-hazard, hand-
to-mouth (q.v. ; As verb, to meet by
stealth, lay heads together. In hugger-
mugger, in secret (1565).
Hugging. Garrotting (q.v.).
Hugsome. Attractive.
Hulk (Hulkj, or Hulking). A
fat person, a big lout • generally,
great hulk of a fellow (1631). As verb,
to hang about, to Mooch (q.v.).
Hull-cheese. ' Huli-cheese is much
like a loafe out of a brewers basket,
it is composed of two simples, mault
and water, in one compound, and is
cousin germane to the mightiest ale
in England' (John Taylor).
Hulverhead (Hulverheaded). A
fool : see Buffle.
Hum. 1. A kind of strong liquor :
probably a mixture of beer and spirits,
but also applied to old, mellow, and
very strong beer : also Hum- cap
(1616). 2. A trick, delusion, cheat,
a lie (1756). 3. A church-goer. As
verb, (1) to cheat, bamboozle, quiz
(q.v.) (1762) ; (2) to mumble. To hum
and haw, to hesitate, raise objections
(1469). To make things hum, to
force the pace, keep moving. To
hum around, to call to account, call
over the coals (q.v.).
Human. A human being,
liumber-keels. See Billy-boy.
Humble Pie. To eat humble pie, to
submit, apologise, knock under: see
Cave in.
Hum-bos^ 1. A pulpit (1725). Eng-
lish synonyms : autem, cackle tub,
clack loft, cowards' castle, gospel
mill (also a church), wood. 2. An
auctioneer's rostrum,
233
Humbox Pattef&r.
Hurly-burly.
K Humbox Patterer. A parson, devil-
dodger, sky-pilot
1 Humbug. I. A hoax, imposture,
t Dwindle (1735). 2. Deceit, pretence,
flffection. 3. A cheat, impostor, pre-
tender : also (old), hummer (1783). As
Verb, to hoax, swindle, cajole (1751).
Hence, humbugging, hoaxing, swind-
ling; humbugable., gullible; humbug-
gery, deception, imposture ; humbug -
ger, ,-jheat, hoaxer (1783).
Huradnim. 1. A tiresome dullard,
steadj - going, common - place person
(1596). 2. Monotony, tameness, dull-
ness (1823). 3. The same as humbug,
(1596). L A wife; also a husband.
As adj.,£dull, tame, common - place,
monotonous (1702).
Humdurgeon. 1. An imaginary ill-
ness (Grose). 2. Needless noise, ado
about nothing (1815).
Humdurgeoned. Annoyed.
Humguffin. A hobgoblin: also a
derisive address.
Humgumptious. A knowing sort of
humbug is humgumptious (Bee).
Hummer. 1. Anything of magnitude
or note (1696): spec. 2. a man or
•woman of notable parts, high stepper
(q.v.), good goer (q.v.) : cf. Bustler.
3, See Humbug.
Humming. Strong — applied to
drink; brisk— applied to trade ; hard
— applied to blows. Humming
October., the specially strong brew
from the new season's hops, stingo
(q.v.) (1696).
Hump. 1. To spoil, botch, do for.
2. To shoulder and carry: e.g. to
hump one's swag, to shoulder one's
kit. To hump oneself, to stir, prepare
for attack, fancy oneself (1847). To
get (or have) the hump, to be despon-
dent, hurt, put out, down in the
mouth (q.v.) : also to have ihe hump
up (or ow) (1599).
Humpey. A pile of buffalo robes.
Humphrey. A coat with pocket holes
but no pockets (Matsett). To dine
with Duke Humphrey: see Dine, Sir
Thomas Gresham, and Knights (1592).
Humpty-dumpty. 1. A short and
thick-set person, grundy (q.v.), hunch-
back : see Forty-guts. 2. Ale boiled
with brandy (1696). As adj. and
adv., short and thick, all of a heap,
all together.
Hum-strum. A musical instrument
made of a mop-stick, a bladder, and
some packthread, thence also called
bladder and string, and hurdy gurdy ;
it is played on like a violin, which is
sometimes ludicrously called a hum-
strum; sometimes instead of a bladder
a tin canister is used (Grose).
Hunch. To jostle, shove, squeeze
(1696).
Hung. To be hung up, to come to a
standstill, be in a fix.
Hungarian. 1. A hungry man, a
rare pecker (q.v.) (1608). 2. A free-
booter.
Hunk. To be (or get) hunk or att hunk,
(1) to hit a mark, achieve an object, be
safe. Also (2) to scheme : from Dutch
honk, goal or home.
Hunker (or Old Hunker). In New
York (1844) a Conservative Democrat,
as opposed to the Young Democracy or
Barn-burners (q.v.). Hence, an anti-
progressive in politics.
Hunks. A miser, mean, sordid
fellow, curmudgeon.
Hunky. Good, jolly: a general
superlative: also Hunkidorum.
Hunt. To decoy a pigeon (q.v.) to
the tables. Hence hunting, card-
sharping, flat - catching (q.v.) (1696).
To hunt for soft spots, to make one-
self comfortable, seek one's ease. To
hunt grass, to be knocked down,
grassed (q.v.) : also, to be puzzled,
dumfow^dered. To hunt leather, to
field at cricket. To hunt the dummy,
to steal pocket books. To hunt the
squirrel, an amusement practised by
post boys and stage-coachmen, which
consists in following a one - horse
chaise, and driving it before them,
passing close to it so as to brush the
wheel, and by other means terrifying
any woman or person that may be in
it: a man whose turn comes for him
to drink, before he has emptied his
former glass, is said to be hunted
(Grose). In (or out of) the hunt,
having a chance (or none) ; in (or out)
of the swim (q.v.), admitted to (or
outside) a circle or society.
Hunt-about. 1. A prying gossip. 2.
A street walker.
Hunt-counter. A beggar (1598).
Hunters. Pitching the hunters, the
three sticks a penny, with snuff-boxes
stuck upon sticks ; if you throw your
stick, and they fall out of the hole, you
are entitled to what you knock off
(Land. Lab.).
Hurly-burly. A commotion, buatK
uproar (1509).
234
Hurra's-nest*
Image.
Hurra 's-nest. The utmost confu-
sion, everything topsy - turvy, shces-
and-sevcns.
Hurrah in Hell. Not to care a single
hurrah in hell, to be absolutely in-
different.
Hurry. A quick passage on the
violin, or a roll on the drum, leading
to a climax in the representation.
Hurry-durry. Rough, boisterous,
impatient of counsel or control (1677).
Hurrygraph. A hastily written
letter.
Husband's - boat. The Saturday
boat to Margate during the summer
season (1867).
Husband's- tea. Weak- tea, water
bewitched (q.v.).
Hush. To kiU (Grose).
Hush - money. Money paid for
silence, to quash a case, or stay a wit-
ness, a bribe, blackmail (1709).
Hush-shop (or crib). An unlicensed
tavern,
Husky (Winchester College). Goose-
berry fool with the husks in it : obsolete
(Notions). As adj., stout, well built.
Husky-lour. A guinea : see Khino
(1696).
Hussy. A corruption of housewife
(q.v.).
Hustle. To bestir oneself, go to
work with vigour and energy : also to
hustle, around.
Hustler. An active man or woman,
a hummer (q.v.), rustler (q.v.).
Hutch. A place of residence or
employment, diggings (q.v.).
Hutter. See Hatter.
Huxter. Money : also Hoxter : see
Rhino.
Huzzy (or Huzzie). A case: of
needles, pins, scissors, bodkins, etc., a
housewife's companion.
Hypernese. A dialect of school cry pt-
oepy. When spoken fast it deiies an
outsider's curiosity. If two consonants
commence a syllable, the former is
dropped, and W substitute i : thus
breeches would be wareechepes. If P
commences a syllable, G is interpolated:
thus penny would be pegennepy ....
Bishop WilMns described it, without
mentioning it as a novelty, a couple of
centuries ago.
Hyphenated American. A natural-
ised citizen, as German - Americans,
Irish- Americans, and the like (Norton).
Hypocrite. A pillow slip or
sham.
Hyps (or Hypo). The blue devils
(q.v.) (1710).
Ice. A big thing on ice, a profitable
venture, good thing ; also B.T.L
Icken. Oak. Icken-baum, oak-tree :
from the German (Mat3dl).
Ictus. A lawyer : see Green-bag.
[A corruption of juris consultas'].
Idea-pot (or box). The head: see
Crumpet (Grose).
Identical. Generally tTte identical,
the self-same person, point, argument,
or action (1664).
I desire. A fire.
Ignoramus. A stupid and unlettered
person, male or female : first applied to
ignorant lawyers : from Latin, we
ignore (it), the endorsement by which
a grand jury threw out a bill (1569).
Ignoramus-jury. A Grand Jury.
(1696).
I key. A Jew : specifically a Jew
fence (q.v.) : a corruption of Isaac :
also Ikey Mo. As adj., smart, fly
(q.v.), knowing (q.v.).
lie. See OiL
I1L Vicious, unpleasant, ill-tem-
pered : ci Religious. Also ill for,
having a vicious propensity for any-
thing (Jamieson) : cf. Neither is it ill
air only that makes an ill seat, but
ill ways, ill markets, and ill neigh-
bours (Bacon). To do til to, to wrong
a woman.
Illegitimate. 1. A counterfeit
sovereign; young illegitimate, a half
sovereign (Bee). 2. A low grade coster-
monger. As adj., applied to steeple-
chasing or hurdle - racing as distin-
guished from work on the flat.
Ill-fortune. Ninepence: also the
picture of &-luc& (B. E.).
flluminate. To interline with a
translation (1856).
Illustrated Clothes. See Historical
Shirt.
I 'in-afloat. 1. A boat 2. A coat : see
Capella.
Image. An affectionate reproof:
e,g. Come out you little image I
Immense.
Infant.
Immense. A general superlative :
cf. Awful, Bloody, etc. (1771).
Immensikoff . A fur-lined overcoat :
from the burden of & song, The Shore-
ditch Toff, sung (c. 1SGS) by the late
Arthur Lloyd, who described himself
as Immensikoff, and wore an upper
garment heavily trimmed -with fur.
Immortals.The Seventy-Sixth Foot:
now the second battalion of the Duke
of Wellington's (West Riding Regi-
ment). [Most of its men were wounded,
but escaped being killed, in India in
1806.] Also the Pigs, and The Old
Seven and Sixpennies.
Imp. A mischievous brat, a small
or minor devil : originally a child.
[Trench : there are epitaphs extant
commencing, Here lies that noble imp ;
and Lord Cromwell, writing to Henry
VIEI., speaks of That noble imp your
son.] 2. A man who gets up cases for
a devil (q.v.).
Imperence. Impertinence, impud-
ence, cheek (q.v.). Also, inferentially,
an impudent person; e.g. What's
your imperence about ? (1766).
Imperial. A tuft of hair worn on the
lower lip. [It was introduced by the
Emperor Napoleon HI.] See Goatee.
Implement (old). A Tool, a Pro-
perty, or Fool easily engaged in any
(tho* difficult or Dangerous) Enter-
prise (B. E.).
Importance. A wife : also com-
fortable importance (q.v.) (1647).
Impost - taker. A gambler's and
blackleg's money-lender, sixty- per-
cent, (q.v.) (1696).
Improvement. That part of a
sermon which enforces and applies to
everyday life the doctrine previously
set forth, the application.
Impure. A wanton (1511).
In. A person in, or holding an
office; specifically (in politics), a
member of the party in office : cf. Out
(1768). As adv., various : cricketers,
at the wickets ; general, in season ;
also, on an equality with, sharing, or
intimate with, or fashionable; poli-
tical, in office ; thieves', in prison ; or
quodded (q.v.). To fie in (or in it)
with one, (1) to be even with, on guard
against; (2) to be on intimate terms
(or in partnership) with, in the swim
(q.v.). To "be. in for it, (1) to be in
trouble ; generally to be certain to
receive, suffer, or do (something)
(1668) ; (2) To be with child. In for
the plate, venereally infected. For
all there's in it, to the utmost capacity
(of persons and things). To play
one's hand for all there's in it, to use
fair means or foul to attain an object.
To get it in for one, to remember to one's
disadvantage. For combinations see
Altitudes, Arms of Morpheus, Bad
way, Blues, Bottom of the bag, Buff,
Bunch, Cart, Click, Clover, Crack,
Crook, Cups, Dead earnest, Difficulty,
Hole, Jiffy, Jug, Kish, Know, Laven-
der, Limbo, Liquor, Lurch, Patter,
Pound, Print, Queer Street, Rags,
Running, Shaoe, Shell, Skiffle, Slash,
State of Nature, Straw, String, Suds,
Sun, Swim, Tin-pot way, Town,
Twinkling, Water, Wind, Wrong box,
etc.
In-and-out. The detail or intricacies
of a matter ; generally in pi., e.g. To
know all the ins-and-outs of a matter.
As adv., unequal, variable : ap-
plied to the performances of a horse
which runs well one day, and on
another not.
Inch. To encroach, move slowly
(1696).
Incog. 1. Unknown, in disguise :
also as subs. [An abbreviation of
incognito.'] (1696). 2. Drunk: Le.
disguised in liquor : see Screwed
(1823).
Incognita. A high-class prostitute,
anonyma (q.v.).
Incumbrance. In pi., children.
Indentures. To make indentures,
to stagger with drink (1622).
Indescribables. Trousers : see Kicks
(1835).
Index. The face, dial (q.v.), phiz
(q.v.).
Indian. To prowl about, live like
an Indian.
Indian-gift. An inadequate return or
exchange, a sprat for a whale. Indian
giver, one who takes back a gift.
India-wipe. A silk handkerchief
(Grose).
Indies. See Black Indies.
Indispensables. Trousers: see
Kicks.
Indorse. To cudgel, lay cane on
Abel (Grose).
Ineffable. In pi., trousers; see
Kicks.
Inexplxcables. Trousers : see Kicks.
Inexpressibles. Trousers : see Kicks
(1790).
Infant See Woolwich Infant
Infantry.
Interloper.
Infantry. Children : Fr., entrer dans
finfantene, to fail with child (1<;2U).
Light infantry, fleas : cf. Heavy
dragoons.
Infare (or Infair). An installation
•with ceremony and rejoicing : house-
wanning : more particularly an enter-
tainment given by a newly married
couple on their return from the honey-
moon (1375).
Inferior (Winchester College).
Any member of the School not a
Praefect (q.v.).
Infernal. An intensitive: detest-
able, fit only for hell : cf. Awful,
Bloody (1602).
Infra - dig (Winchester College).
Scornful, proud : e.g. He sported infra-
dig duck, or I am infra-dig to it.
Ingle. An intimate, dear friend.
As verb, to caress, to make much of
(1599).
Ingler. A fraudulent horse-dealer
(1825).
Ingotted. Rich, warm (q.v.), well-
ballasted (q.v.).
Iniquity Office. A registry office.
Ingun. To get upon one's ingun, to
get angry, turn savage.
Ink. To sling ink, to make a
business of writing : see Ink-slinger.
Inkhorn (or Ink-pot). Pedantic,
dry, smelling of the lamp (1579).
Inkle. To warn, give notice, hint
at, disclose (1340).
Inkle-weaver. A close companion,
chum (q.v.) (1725).
Ink-slinger (Inkspiller, or Ink-
waster). 1. A journalist, author,
brother of the quill (q.v. ) : generally in
contempt of a raw hand : Fr., marehand
delignes.
Ink-slinging. Writing for the press :
Fr., scriboufllage.
Inky. Used evasively : e.g. of a
question to which a direct answer is
undesirable or inconvenient.
Inlaid (or Well-inlaid). In easy
circumstances, with well-lined pockets,
warm (q.v.) (1696).
Innards. The stomach : also In-
wards (1602). To fitt one** innards,
to eat.
Inner-man. The appetite.
Innings. A turn, spell, chance :
from cricket (1836). To have a good
innings, to be fortunate : especially
in money matters. To have a long
innings, to die in the fulness of
years.
Innocent. 1. A simpleton, idiot
(1304): see Bu£k« 2. A corpse,
stii? (q.v.). 3. A convict The mur-
der (xiauyhler, or iM^sacre) of the
innocents, the abandonment, towards
the end of a session, of measures
whether introduced l>y the Govern-
ment or by private members, when
they would have no chance of passing
(1859). *
Innominables. Breeches, trousers,
inexpressibles : see Backs.
Inside. A passenger riding inside a
vehicle : see Outside (1816). As adj.
and adv., trustworthy, pertinent, in
touch with, bottom (q.v.). To know
the inside of everything, to be well
informed. Inside of, within the limit,
in less time than. To take the inside
out of (a glass, a book, etc.), to empty,
gut (q.v.) (1S43). To be on (or to
have) the, inside track, to be on the safe
side, at a point of vantage, or (of a
subject) to understand thoroughly.
Inside and outside I A toast.
Insider. 1. One in the know
(q.v.). 2. One who has some special
advantage, as in a business enter-
prise.
Inside-lining. Food.
Inside-squatter. A settler within the
bounds of civilisation: see Outside
Squatter.
Inspector of Pavements. 1. A
man in the pillory (1821). 2. A man
out of work : also inspector of public
buildings : Fr., Inspecteur de monu-
ments publiqves.
Inspire. To impart a tone, pos-
sibly official, to the subject matter of
a newspaper or magazine article.
Inspired. 1. Drunk: see Screwed.
2. See Inspire.
Institution. A practice, idea, in-
vention, established custom or usage
(1851).
Int. A sharper (1621).
Intense. Serious, soulful, aesthetic
(<l-v.) ; yearnest (q.v.).
Intimate. A shirt.
Interesting condition (or situation).
To be in a, to be with child (1748).
Interfere. To maltreat
Interloper. An unlicensed trader,
smuggler, one who interferes, or inter-
cepts unwarrantably. Also, * Hangers
on, retainers to, or dependers upon
other folks ; also Medlars and Busy-
bodies, intruders into other Men's
Professions, and those that intercept
237
Into.
It.
the trade o± a Company, being not
legally authorised » (B. E.).
Into. To be into a man, to pitch
into him, fight him. As prep., short
of, wanting : e.g. I thought I did
pretty well delivering all the load into
one box (Le. all but one box).
Invite. An invitation. (1615).
Inward. 1. An intimate (1603). 2.
In pi., see Innards.
Irish. Irish whisky, Fenian (q.v.).
To get one's Irish up, to get angry :
also to get oneys dutch (or, in America,
Indian) up. As adj., an epithet of
contempt and derogation : as, Irish-
arm^ (or legs), thick legs. No Irish
need apply, phr. (American). You're
not wanted, Git ! (q.v.). You're
Irish, said of any one talking un-
intelligibly.
Irish-apricot (apple, or lemon).
A potato : see Murphy (Grose).
Irish-assurance. A bold, forward
behaviour ; it is said a dipping in
the Shannon annihilates bashfulness
(Grose).
Irish-beauty. A woman with two
black eyes (Grose).
Irish-evidence. A false witness
(Grose).
Irishman 's-dinner. A fast.
Irishman's-harvest. The orange
Irishman's -hurricane. A dead
calm.
Irishman's - reef. The head of a
sail tied up (Clark Russell).
Irish-pennants. Fag ends of rope,
rope-yarns, etc.
Irish-rifle. A small tooth-comb.
Irish-rise (or promotion). A re-
duction hi position or pay.
Irish - theatre, A guard room or
lock-up in barracks : FT., maison de
campagne.
Irish-toyle. « The Twelfth Order of
Canters : also Rogues carrying Finns.
Points, Laces, and such uke Wares,
and under pretence of selling them,
commit Thefts and Robberies* (jB. E.\
Irish-wedding. The emptying of a
cesspool: see Goldfinder. To have
danced at an Irish wedding, to have
got two black eyes.
Iron. 1. Money : see Rhino (Grose).
2. Courage. 3. In pi., fetters: see
Barbies. As verb, to flatter (1823).
Bad iron, failure, misadventure, bad
luck. To polish the king's iron toith
on€* eyebrow, to look out of grated
or prison windows (Grose). To have
many irons in the fire (or on the anwl),
to carry out many projects at the
same time, especially schemes for
making money (1593).
Ironbark. See Ironclad.
Iron-bound. 1. Laced with metal.
Iron-bound hat, a silver laced hat
(Grose). 2. A hard-baked pie.
Ironclad. 1. A paragon: as a
severely chaste girl, popular play,
song, horse, etc. 2. An iron-cased
watch. As adj., strong, hard, un-
yielding : also Ironbark (q.v. ).
Iron-cow. See Cow.
Iron-doublet. 1. A prison : see
Cage. 2. Innocence.
Iron-horse. 1. A locomotive. 2.
A tncycle or bicycle.
Ironmonger 's-shop. To keep an
ironmonger's shop "by the side of a
common, where the shewff sets one up,
to be hanged in chains : see Ladder
(Grose).
Iron-rations. Tinned meat : speci-
fically boiled salt -beef: see Bully-
beef.
Iron-toothpick. A sword, poker
(q.v.).
Irrigate. To drink, liquor up : also
to irrigate one's canal (1708).
Isabella. An umbrella, mushroom
(q.v.).
Island. To drink out of the island,
* he drank out of the bottle till he saw
the island: the island is the rising
bottom of a wine bottle, which ap-
pears like an island in the centre,
before the bottle is quite empty.' (Lex.
Bal.).
I sland of Bermuda. See Bermudas.
Isle-of-fHng. A coat : see Capella.
Issues. To pool one's issues, to
work in unison, come to an under-
standing for mutual advantage.
Isthmus-of-Suez. The bridge at St.
John's College, Cambridge, leading
from the grounds to one of the Courts
familiarly known as the Bridge of
Sighs : also The Bridge of Grunts.
[From its slight similarity to the
Venetian example Sues, swine, in
punning reference to the Johnian
hogs (q.v.) : see Crackle and Hog.
I subscribe. A response to an invita-
tion to drink : see Drinks.
I suppose. The nose : see Conk
It. A chamber-pot. English syno-
nyms: bishop, chantie (Scots'), jerry,
Jordan, jerker, jockum-gage, lagging-
ItcUand.
Jack*
gage, looking - glass, member - mug,
mingo, piss-pot, po, smoker, smoke-
spell, tea-voider, thunder-mug, twiss.
Itchland (or Scratchland). 1.
Wales (B, E. 1G90) ; 2. Scotland (New
Cant Diet.). Itchlander, a Scot.
Itching-palm. See Palm.
Item. A hint, piece of news : (in
Banning) a signal from a confederate ;
(American journalist) a paragraph of
news ; (thieves') a warning (1650).
Ivories. 1. The teeth : see Grind-
ers (1782). 2. Dice: also (cards')
checks and counters. English syno-
nyms (for both genuine and false
pieces), bones, cogs, fulhams, devil's
teeth, devil's bones, gourds, rattlers,
tats, high men, low men, uphills. 3.
Billiard balls. To fash the ivories,
(1) to show the teeth (Grose) ; (2), to
be dissected or anatomised after
execution, the skeleton being taken
to the College of Surgeons ; pri&on,
(3) to be hanged. To sluice (wash
or rince) one's ivories, to drink : see
Lush.
Ivory-box. The mouth : see Po-
tato-trap.
Ivory-Carpenter. A dentist, snag-
catcher (q.v.).
Ivory-thumper (or Spanker). A
pianist.
Ivy-bush. Like an owl in an ivy
bush, a simile for a meagre, or weazle-
faced man, with a large wig, or very
bushy hair (Grose).
Jab (or Job). A prod, poke, stab. As
verb, to handle harshly, hustle, prod,
poke, stab (with a pointed weapon).
Jabber, Chatter, incoherent or
inarticulate and unintelligible speech
(as a foreign language heard by one
ignorant of it) (1706). As verb, to
Talk thick and fast, as great Praters
do, or to Chatter, like a Magpye (B. E.)
(1548) ; to speak a foreign language
(Grose). Hence, jabberer, one who
jabbers ; jabbering, nonsense, indistinct
and rapid speech, patter (q.v.) ; also
jabberment; jabberingly, indistinctly,
nonsensically.
Jabbemowl. See Jobbernowl.
Jabers (or Jabez). Be (or&y) jabers
(or jabez), an oath (1821).
Jack/ 1. A farthing ; also (Ameri-
can thieves'), a small coin (1690). 2.
The small bowl aimed at in the game of
bowls (1605). 3. A contrivance to
assist a person in taking off his boots,
a bootjack (1696). 4. The knave in
any of the four suits in a pack of cards :
Fr., galuchei, larbin savonne, mistigris
(1662). 5. A post-chaise (Grose). 6.
A pitcher varying in capacity (gener-
ally made of leather), blackjack (q.v.)
(1592). 7. A Jacobite. ^ 8. A term of
contempt. [The usage is common in
most modern languages : e.g. Fr.,
Jean-guStre, peasant, Jean-bSte, cab-
bage-head, Jean-fesse or Jean-foutre,
scamp; It., Gianni, whence Zany ; Sp.,
Juan, as 6060 Juan, foolish John.
See also many combinations — To play
the Jack, to act the fool (or goat, q.v.) ;
Cheap Jack, a peddling tradesman ;
Jack-fo'jl (Chaucer), a thundering
idiot ; Jack-friar, a hedge-priest (q.v.) ;
Jack-slave* a vulgarian; Jack-brag, a
boaster ; Jack-snip, a botching tailor j
Jack-straw, a low-born rebel ; Jack-
sprat, a manmkin ; skip-jack, an up-
start ; Jack-at-icarts, a httie conceited
fellow ; Jack-in-the-box, the sacrament ;
Jack-upland (Chaucer), a peasant.
9. A counter resembling in size and
appearance a sovereign ; also Half-
jacks. [They are all made in Birm-
ingham, and are of the size and
colour of the genuine sovereigns and
half-sovereigns .... Each presents
a profile of the Queen; but instead of
the superscription Victoria Dei Graiaa
of the true sovereign, the jack has
Victoria Regina. On the reverse, in
the place of the Britanniarum Regina
Fid. Def. surrounding the royal arms
and crowns is a device (intended for
an imitation of St. George and the
Dragon) representing a soldier on
horseback — the horse having three
legs elevated from the ground, while
a drawn sword fills the right hand of
uie equestrian, and a crown adorns
his head. The superscription is, To
Hanover, and the rider seems to be
sociably accompanied by a dragon.
Bound the Queen's head on the half
jack is Victoria, Queen of Great
Britain, and on the reverse the Prince
of Wales's feather, with the legend
Jack.
Jacket.
The Prince of Wales's Model Half Jack-of-aU-trades, one who can. (or
Sovereign.] 10. (a) A sailor: also
Jack-tar, English-jack, and Spanish-
jack; (&) an attendant at a boat-
house; also Jack-in-the-water (q.v.)
(1788). 11. A stranger. 12. A male
sweetheart : cf. GUI (1600). 13. The
Union Jack, the rag (q.v.) (1652).
14. A seal : see Jark. 15. A police-
man : see Copper. 16. See Jakes. 17.
pretends to be able to) turn his hand
to any business : now usually in con-
tempt, as Jack - of - all - trades and
master of none (1633) ; Jack-of-legs,
(1) an extra tall man, lamp- post
(q.v.); (2) a large clasp knife: see
Jocteleg; Jack-on-both~sidesr a neutral;
also one who hunts with the hounds
and runs with the hare, a fence-
A male: as in the compounds jack- rider (q.v.) (1594); Jack-out-of-doors, a
hare, jack - crow, jack - ass, jack- vagrant (1634) ; Jack-out-of-office, a
rabbit, etc. (1563). 18. An ape. 19. discharged official : in derision (1592) ;
A peasant (1513). As verb, (1) to Jack-the-painter, a much adulterated
1 *-J «— - — green tea used in the bush ; Jack-the-
slipper, the treadmill, wheel of life
^ . . (q-v.); to jack the interim, to be re-
lay on the jack, to thrash soundly, J-J-.--.~T.— *- -w—i. »v—.i~.
brand an unmarked yearling
maverick (q.v.). ; (2) to run away
quickly: see Bunk Phrases: To
scold in good round terms, baste,
tan (1557) ; to make one's jack, to
succeed, gain one's point: from the
game of faro; to be coppered on the
jack, to fail, lose one's point : from the
game of faro ; to play the jack, to play
the rogue (1609); to be upon their
jacks, to have an advantage ; every
man jack (or every jack-rag), every
one without exception (1845) ; Jack-
at-a-pincht a person employed in an
emergency, stop-gap; specifically, a
clergyman who has no cure, but on
occasion officiates for a fee : cf .
Guinea-pig (1696) ; Jack-in-a (oi-the)-
box, (1) a sharper, cheat; (2) a child's w»v \* vyy*)' L^^K"**^. "»-» u^uuu,
toy, consisting of a box out of which, a gaudy-suited and performing ape
; to jack up, to clinch, abandon,
chuck (q.v.); jacked-ttpf ruined, done
for.
Jack Adams. A fool : see Buffie
(1696).
Jack-a-dandy. 1. A little fop, cox-
comb, dandiprat (q.v.) : also Jack
Dandy (1632). 2. Brandy.
Jack - a - green. See Jack-in-the-
green, under Jack.
Jack-a-lent. (1) A dapperling,
dwarf ; and (2) a simpleton : also
Jaek-o'-lent (1596).
Jackanapes. An absurd fop, whip-
per-snapper : a general term of re-
proach. Jackanapes - coat, a dandy-
coat (Pepys). [Originally, no doubt,
on raising the lid, a figure springs
(1570) ; (3) a game in which some
article, of more or less value, is placed
on the top of a stick standing in a
(the word is still good Scots for a
monkey ; cf. Scott, JKedgauntlct) ; and,
hence, by implication, anybody at
once ugly (or diminutive), showy, and
hole, and thrown at with sticks: if the impudent. Also a Jack-of-wpes was a
article be hit so as to fall clear of the
hole, the thrower takes it ; (4) a small
but powerful kind of screw, used by
burglars to open safes (1848) ; (5) see
Jack-tn-the-cellar ; (6) a street-pedlar
man who exhibited performing apes]
(1529).
Jackaroo. A fresh arrival from
England, new chum (q.v.).
Jackass. A stupid ignoramus: see
(1696) ; (7) the sacrament ; Jack-in Buffle. Also Jackasnem, stupidity.
office, an over-bearing petty official, Jackass - Frigate. A small slow-
upstart, Jack - in - the - pulpit (q.v.) sailing frigate (1833).
(1696) ; Jack-in-the-ceUar (or box), a Jack-cove. A moan low follow,
child in the womb, Hans-en-kelder snide (q.v.) (Matsell).
(q.v.) (1765); Jack-in-the-dust, a - ' ' - * -
steward's mate; Jack-in-the-green, a
chimney-sweep enclosed in a portable
framework of boughs for the proces-
sions on the first of May : now mainly
a thing of the past ; Jack-in-the-ptdpit,
a pretender, upstart, Jack-in-omce
(q.v.) ; Jack-in-the-iaater, an odd or
Jack (or Tom) Drum*s Entertain-
ment. HI - treatment, ignominious
dismissal : cf. Stafford law.
Jacked. Spavined, lamed.
Jackeen (or Dublin Jackeen). A
Dublin 'Arry (q.v.).
Jacken-closer. A seal.
Jackery. A favoured station hand
handy man at a boat-house or landing (Australian),
stage : also Jack (q.v., sense 10) ; Jacket 1. The akin of »n
240
Jacketing.
Jakes.
pared potato : generally in phrase
boiled in their jackets. 2. A pinafore
roundabout (q.v.). 3. A folded
docket-paper. As verb, (1) to cheat,
swindle, betray ; (2) to thrash, beat :
also to trim (dust or lace) one's jacket
(1704) ; (3) to enclose (a document)
after scheduling within it other papers
relating to the same subject, docket ;
(4) to denote, point out To give a
red-laced jacket, to flog. To line one's
jacket, to eat or drink, fill one's
stomach (1611). Putt down, your
jacket (or vest), keep cool ! don't get
excited ! hold your hair on (q.v.).
To send in one's jacket, to resign,
deliver up one's badge of office.
Jacketing. A thrashing, reprimand.
Jacket-reverser. A turncoat.
Jackey. Gin : see Drinks.
Jack Frost. A popular personifica-
tion of frost : of. John Fog and Tommy
Snow.
Jack-gagger. A man living on bis
wife's immorality.
Jack Ketch (or Kitch). A hang-
man or executioner, a dancing-master
(q.v.), topsman (q.v.). [From a
famous practitioner of that name
(circa 1663-86). Before his time the
office had been filled by men whose
names each and all became popular
colloquialisms: e.g. Derrick (q.v.),
Gregory Brandon (Gregorian tree,
(q.v.), Dun (q.v.) (1676). As verb, to
hang. Jack Ketch's kitchen, a room in
Newgate, where tho hangman boiled
the quarters of those executed and
dismembered for high treason. Jack
Ketch's pippin, a candidate for the
gallows, #aHows-applo (q.v.).
Jack-leg. Blackleg.
Jackman. See Jarkman.
Jack-nasty. A sneak, sloven : of.
Jack- nasty-face ( 1 856).
Jack-nasty-face. 1. A sailor: specifi-
cally a cook (1811). 2. A filthy
or unpleasant-looking person : of.
Jack-nasty (1823).
Jack-pudding. A serving merry-
andrew, low - class buffoon : Fr.,
jean - pottage (jack-soup), Germ.,
Hanswurst (jack - sausage), Dutch,
frickel-herringe, It., macaroni. Henco
jack-pvddinghood (WalpoU), buffoon-
ery (1650).
Jack Randall* A candle : the name
of a ffttnouft pugilist
Jack Robinson. Before one can say
Jack Robinson, instantly, in tho
Q £4
shortest possible time, in two-two's
(q.v.).
Jackrum. A marriage license
(1825).
Jack-sauce. An impudent fellow,
sauce-box (q.v.) (1571).
Jack's Delight A sailor's woman.
Jack-shay. A tin quart used for
boiling tea, and contrived to hold a
tin pint.
Jack-sprat. An undersized man or
boy (Grose) (1570).
Jack - straw. 1. A nobody ; and,
2. a dwarf: see Hop-o'-my-thumb
(1596).
Jack Tar. 1. A sailor ; and, 2. a
hornpipe (1781).
Jack Weight. A fat man, forty-guts
(q.v.).
Jack-whore. A large, masculine,
overgrown wench (Grose).
Jacob. 1. Rogues called Jacobs ;
these go with ladders in the dead of
the night, and get in at the windows,
one, two, or three pair, of stairs, and
sometimes down the area (1753). 2.
A ladder (1714). 3. A soft fellow,
spooney, fool : see Buffle (Grose).
Jacobite. A sham shirt, dickey
(q.v.) ; also a shirt-collar (B. K).
Jacob's Ladder. A longitudinal flaw
in the leg of a pair of tights ; now
applied to any rent of which only the
woof threads are left (1859).
Jade. 1. An epithet applied to
women : in contempt : originally a
horse or man (Chaucer) : especially (1)
one over-ridden or foundered ; and
(2) unsafe and full of tricks: jadish
(Nashe), malicious, tricky, untrust-
worthy (1560) ; 2. A long term of im-
prisonment, stretch (q.v.).
Jag. 1. A scrap, load, parcel, or
lot : o.g. a fare, a oatoh of fish, etc.
(1692). 2. A whim, fancy. 3. In-
toxication : e.g. to have a jag on, to be
drunk. 4. A drunkard, Lushington
(<l-v.).
Jagged. Drunk : see Screwed.
J agger. l.A gentleman (1869).
2. A hawker.
[ague. A ditch (1622).
ail-bird. A prisoner, orack-
Iter (q.v.) (1603).
Jakes. A privy, house of office.
[CJerrfwy: Tho occurrence of dial.
johnny, a jakes — also called Mrs.
Jones by country people (HaUiweU),
with dial. Torn, a close-stool, suggests
that Jakes was originally Jake's or
Jakes- farmer.
Jawing.
Jack's, a humorous euphemism.]
See Ajax (1550).
Jakes-farmer. An emptier of cess-
pools, goldfinder (q.v.): also jakes-
raker (Sketton), and jakes-barreller
(1596).
Jam. 1. A sweetheart, mistress : also
bit of jam. Lawful-jam, a wife. 2.
A certainty of winning, clear profit :
also real jam. 3. Excellence, good
luck, happiness. Jam-'wp, the pink
of perfection, slap-up (q.v.), bang-
up (q.v.) : also real jam (1855). 4.
A crush, crowd (1812). 5. A ring
(MatseU). 6. The pool at Nap, into
which each dealer pays, the winner of
the next nap taking the lot. As adj.,
neat, smart, spruce. As verb, to
hang (Grose).
Jamboree (or Jimboree). A frolic,
spree (q.v.).
James. 1. A crowbar, jemmy (q.v.);
Fr., Jacques (1819). 2. A sovereign or
twenty shillings (1868). 3. A sheep's
head: more frequently, when un-
cooked, bloody jemmy (q.v.) (1827).
Jamie Moore. To have been talking
to Jamie Moore, to be drunk: see
Screwed.
Jammed. To be jammed, to meet
with a violent death, by accident,
murder, or hanging.
Jam-tart (Stock Exchange). 1.
Exactly the market, buyers and
sellers at the same. 2. A wife or
Jams. An abbreviation of Jim-
jams (q.v.).
Jan. A purse (1610).
Jane. A sovereign : see Rhino.
Jane-of -apes. A pert forward girl ;
the counterpart of Jackanapes (q.v.)
Jango. Liquor (1721).
Janizary. * The Mob sometimes
so called, and Bailives, Sergeants,
Followers, Yeomen, Setters, and any
lewd gang depending upon others'
(B. JB.).
Jannocfc (or Jonnok). Sociable,
fair, just, straightforward, conclusive.
To die jannock, to die with bravado.
Janusmug. A go-between, inter-
mediary between a thief and a re-
ceiver.
Jap. 1. A japanner (Purchas);
also, 2. a Japanese.
Japan. 1. To ordain. To be
japanned, to take orders (1756). 2.
To convert. To be japanned, to be
converted (MalseU). 3. To black
one's boots: Fr., saboitler (1712),
Japanese Knife - trick. " "
with one's knife.
Jappers. See Jabers.
Jargoozle. To mislead, to lead
astray, bamboozle (q.v.).
Jark. 1. A seal : It., tirdla : also
Jack (1567). 2. A watch, ticker
(q.v.). 3. A safe • conduct pass,
jasker (q.v.). To jark it, to run
away : see Bunk.
Jarkman. A begging-letter writer,
fabricator of false characters, counter-
feit-passes, and certificates (1567).
Jarrehoe (Wellington College). A
man-servant.
Jarvel. A jacket.
Jarvey (or Jarvis). 1. A hackney
coachman (1811). 2. (old). A hackney
coach (1823).
Jasey (or Jazey). 1, A worsted wig.
Cove with a jazey, a judge (1789). 2.
A man with an enormous quantity of
hair upon his head and face (MatseU).
Jasker. A seal (MatseU).
Jason's fleece. A citizen cheated of
his gold (B. B.).
Jaum. To discover (1821).
Jaw. Abuse, chatter, impudence,
any sort of talk. Hold (or stow) your
jaw, hold your tongue. AU jaw, like
a sheep's head, nothing but talk. Eng-
lish synonyms: chin-music, gab (or
gob), lingo, lip, lobs, patter, snaffle
(1748). As verb, to chatter., abuse,
use violent language : Fr., faire peter
son grelot, or jouer du mirliton (1748).
To jaw on the toby (or drum), to go
on the road.
Jawbation. 1. A general confab
(q.v.), jawing-match : see Jobation.
2. A scolding.
Jawbone. Credit, day (q.v.). To
caU one's jawbone, to live on credit,
run one's face (q.v.). English syno-
nyms : to run one's face, to get a
light, to give (or strike) on the maco,
to mace it, to get on sock, (or, on the
nod), to go tick.
Jawbreaker (or Jawtwister.) I.
A hard or many - syllabled word
Jawbreakinff, difficult. 2. A hard
punch on the whisker.
Jaw-cove. I. An auctioneer ; and,
2. a lawyer (Mataett).
Jawhawk. To abuse, vilify, jaw
242
Jawing-
organs of
(or Jaw-) tackle,
speech. To have
Tne
one'*
Jaw-smith.
Jerry.
jawing tacks aboard (or to cast off one's
jaw-tackle), to talk fluently j jawing-
match, wordy warfare (Clark Russell).
Jaw-smith. 1. An orator ; also, 2. a
loud-mouthed demagogue: originally
an official orator or instructor of the
Knights of Labour (St. Louis Globe
Democrat, 1886).
Jay (or J). 1. A simpleton: see
BufHe. To play (or scalp) one for (or
to flap) a juif, to dupe, swindle : Fr.,
router dans la, farine. 2. A wanton.
It., putta (1596). 3. An amateur, a
poor actor.
Jay hawker. A freebooter, a
guerilla: specifically a marauder
during the Kansas troubles, and
since extended to all bandits.
Jeames. 1. A footman, flunkey
(q.v.). 2. The Morning Post news-
paper.
Jeff. A rope. As verb, to gamble
with quads, as with dice.
Jeffy. Lightning (Mateett) (1859).
In a, jeffey : see Jiffey.
Jegger. See Jigger.
Jehu. A coachman, driver: from
2 Kings, is.. 20 (1060).
Jelly. A buxom, good-looking girl :
also all jetty : of. Soots jelly, excellent
or worthy. — A jelly man well worthy
of a crown.
Jelly-belly. A fat man or woman,
forty-guts (q.v.).
Jem. A gold ring, rum-gem, a
diamond ring (1726).
Jemima. A chamber-pot : see It.
Jemmy I (or O Jemmy I). See
Gemini.
Jemminess. See Jommy.
Jemmy (or Jimmy).!. A short crow-
bar, usually made in sections screwing
together : used by housebreakers ;
also James (q.v.) (1752). English
synonyms : bess, botty, crow, dog,
Jack-in-the-box, James, jilt, lord-
mayor, persuading plate, pig's-foot,
the stack, screw (also a skeleton key),
tiwill, twist, twirl. 2. A sheep's head.
3. A shooting coat ; also a groat coat.
4. A term of contempt. All jimm/y,
all rot. As adj., (I) spruce, dandi-
fied. Jemminess, spruceness, neatness
(1764) ; (2) a term of contempt.
Jemmy Ducks. The sbip'apoultoror:
also Billy Ducks.
Jemmy Jessamy. A dandy: also
aa adj. (1763). Jemmy find Jtstamy,
a couple of lovers.
Jemmy- John. A demijohn.
243
Jemmy O 'goblin, A sovereign: see
Rhino.
Jenkins' Hen. To d^e like Jenkins*
hen, to die unmarried.
Jeeny. 1. A she-ass. 2. A small
crowbar; formerly bctty or besa (q.v.) :
also a hook on the end of a stick
(ICOCi). 3. A losing hazard into the
middle pocket off a ball an inch or
two from the side cushion. 4. A hot-
water bottle.
Jennylinda. A window.
Jeremy Diddler. A sliark (q.v.), a
shabby swindling borrower (1803).
Jericho. 1. A place of concealment
or banishment; latterly and speci-
fically, a prison : e.g. as in phr. go to
Jericho, go to the devil : genericaUy, a
place of retirement : cf. 2 Sam. x. 4
and 5 (1635). 2. A water-closet 3.
A low quarter of Oxford. From
Jericfuj to June, a long distance.
Jerk. 1. In pi., delirium tremeus :
see Gallon distemper. 2. In pi., reli-
gious paroxysm. 3. A retort, jest,
quirk (1653). 4. A stripe, lash with
a whip. Hence jerking (or yerking)f
lashing, stinging ; jerk, verb, to lash ;
and to dy the jerk, to bo whipped at
the post (1567). fi. A common verb
of action, especially if rapid : e.g. To
jerk Hie cat, to vomit ; to jerk the
tinkler, to ring the bell ; to jerk one's
juice or jetly (also to jerk off), to mas-
turbato ; to jerk chin music, to talk ;
to jerk a poem, article, or book, to
write ; to jerk a gybe, to counterfeit a
licence; jerked,, or jerked to Jesus
(American), hanged ; in a jerk, in-
stantly; Dr* Jerk, flogging school-
master.
Jerfcer. 1. A tippler : see Lush-
ington. 2. A chamber-pot: see It.
3. A steward. 4. A prostitute.
Jerkey. A roughly-mado vehicle,
bono-shaker ( q. v. ).
Jeroboam. 1. A four-fold measure of
wine, a double-magnum (q.v.) : one
especially apt to cause Israel to sin
(see 1 Kings, xi 28). Also, 2. a large
bowl or goblot. 3. See Jerry.
Jerran. Concerned.
Jerry. 1. A chamber-pot* Jero-
boam: see It. 2. A hat: formerly
Tom and Jerry hat (q.v.) ; a hard
round hat ; a pot-hat, 3. A celebra-
tion of the completion of indentures ;
Fr., rovlance. 4. A watch, ticker (q.v.)
Fr., b&biUarde. 5. A fp£ or mist (Dc
Vaux), As adj., &B an adjectival
Jigger.
prefix Jerry is frequently used in con-
tempt: e.g. jerry-go-niirible, jerry-
shop, jerry-builder (all which and
others see). [An abbreviation of
Jeremiah : perhaps a Eestoration jibe
upon the Puritan use of Old Testa-
ment names ; but see Jerry- builder.]
As verb, to jibe, chaff -with malice.
Jerry-builder. A rascally speculat-
ing builder. Jerry built, run up in the
worst materials. [The use of the
term arose in Liverpool circa 1830.]
Jerry cummumble. To shake,
tumble about, towzle (Cfrose).
Jerry-getting (nicking or stealing).
Stealing watches.
Jerry - go - nimble. 1. Diarrhoea,
back - door - trot (q.v.), the colly-
wobbles (q.v.). Formerly thorough-go-
nimble (q.v.) (1734). 2. An antic,
jack-pudding (q.v.).
Jerry Lynch. A pickled pig*s-
head.
Jerrymander. See Gerrymander.
Jerry - shop. A beer-house t also
jerry.
Jerry-sneak. 1 . A hen-pecked hus-
band (1763). 2. A watch thief. -
Jerry - wag. A spreester (q.v.)
especially one half drunk (Bee).
Jerry wag-shop, coffee shop.
Jersey-Lightning. Cider brandy.
Jerusalem. An exclamation of sur-
prise. Go to Jerusalem / Go to Jericho
(q.v.). Jerusalem the golden, Brighton
cf. Holy of Holies.
Jerusalem-pony. 1. An ass (1842).
2. A needy clergyman helping for hire.
Jessamy. See Jemmy Jessamy.
(1684).
Jesse (Jessie, or Jessy). To give
(or raise) jesse, to rate with vigour,
thrash, baste, tan.
Jester. 1. A general term of banter
for a man, joker (q.v.), nice *un (q.v.).
2. See Joker.
Jesuit. A graduate or undergradu-
ate of Jesus College, Cambridge (1771).
Jet A lawyer: see Greenbag.
Autem-jet, a parson. As verb, to
strut, walk pompously: see Jetter
(1567).
Jetter. A pompous man, strut-
noddy (q.v.): see Jet (1510).
Jew. A cheat, hard bargainer,
sharking usurer (1659). As verb, to
drive a hard bargain, beat down : also
to cheat. Worth a Jeu?s eye, ex-
tremely valuable, worth its weight in
gold: in the Middle Ages the Jews
were subject to great extortions, and
many stories are related of eyes put
out, or teeth drawn, to enforce pay-
ment (1593).
Jew-bail. Straw-bail (q.v.) (Grose).
Jew-butter. Goose-grease.
Jew-fencer. A Jew street buyer (or
salesman), generally of stolen goods.
Jewhilikins! A general exclamation
of surprise.
Jewlark. To fool around : a port-
manteau verb of action (1851).
Jew's-poker. A woman, living by
lighting the Jews' fires on Saturdays.
Jezebel. An objectionable woman,
termagant, shrew : from the wife of
Ahab (1553).
Jib. 1. The face : the cvt af one4*
jfb, the peculiar or characteristic ap-
pearance of a person (1825). 2, A
first-year's man. 3. A horse given to
shying, jibber. As verb, (1) to shirk,
funk (q.v.), cut (q.v.) (Lex. Bal) ;
(2) to depart, be off : see Bunk. To
be jibbed (Christ's Hospital), to bo
called over the coals, get into trouble,
be twigged (q.v.). Jib-of-jibs, an
impossible sail, a star-gazer (q.v.),
sky-scraper (q.v.).
Jibb. 1. The tongue: hence, 2.
lage; speech,
toer the kibber. See Kibber.
Tibe. To agree, live in harmony,
jump (q.v.).
Jickajog. A commotion, push
Jiffy (or Jeffey). The shortest pos-
sible time: also jiff (1793).
Jiff ess. An employer's wife.
Jig. 1. A dance, gig (q.v.) (B. 3!.).
2. An antic, nonsense, game, lay
(q.v.) (1596). 3. See Jigger. 4.
Short for giglot (q.v.). 5. (Win-
chester College). A clever man : fifty
years ago it meant a swindler: the
word has now the meanings (i) a low
joke, (ii) a swindle, (iii) an object of
sport (Notions) (1610). As verb, (1)
to cheat, delude, impose upon ; (2) To
dance (1719).
Jigamaree. A bit of chaff, nonsense,
any triviality, thingumbob (q.v.).
Jigga-joggy. A jolting motion : also
jig-jog (1605).
Jigger. 1. A door: also Jig,
Jegger, and Gyger : !>,, fendante,, guim-
barde, lourde: It., diorta. introfbo,
turlante (1567). 2. A doorkeeper,
screw (q.v.), a jailer or turnkey s also
jigger-diMer : !Fr., due dt gvtehe. Itt
244
Jigger-dubber.
Job.
Hants, a policeman (1749). 3. A key. fake (q.v.). 4. A coal waggon. Att
4. A -whipping-post (1708). 5. A secret jimmy, (1) all nonsense ; (2) exactly,
still. Jiggerstuff, illicitly distilled fit, suitable : of. jemmy.
spirits; Jigger-worker, a vendor of
the same: hence, also, a drink of
whisky (1823). 6. The bridge or rest
for the cue when a ball is beyond
arm's length. 7. The curtain, or rag
(q.v.). 8. A guard-room: Er., boite:
also specifically : an interviewing
chamber (in Newgate) where felons,
on payment, saw their friends. 9.
A fiddles fcick. (Jigger or Jig is also
applied to many small mechanical
contrivances or handy tools). 10. A
shifty fellow, trickster (1675). As
verb, (1) To bet, wager ; (2) to shake,
jerk. Not worth a jigger, valueless,
Jigger-dubber. See Jigger.
Jiggered. To be jiggered, use'l as a
mild imprecation : as Blow it ! (q.v.),
Bust me ! (q. v.) : also in astonishment.
Jiggered up. Used up, exhausted.
Jiggery-pokery. Humbug, non-
Jiglets. His jtglets 1 a contempt-
uous form of address ; his nibs (q.v.).
Jig-water. Bad whisky, rot-gut
(q.v.) : see Drinks.
Jiggumbob (or Jiggambob) A
knick-knack, trinket, anything par-
ticular, strange, or unknown: cf.
Thingumbob (1640).
Jill. See Gill.
Jill-flirt. See Gill-flirt.
Jilt. 1. Specifically, a woman wbo
encourages, or solicits, advances to
which she designs there shall be no
practical end. Hence jilted and jilt,
verb. 2. A crowbar, jemmy (q.v.).
In pi., housobroaking tools generally.
As verb, to got in on the sly or false
pretences at tho door, and sneaking
what can bo found.
Jflter. Thieves who work as de-
scribed tinder Jilt.
Jim-Brown. Town.
Jimcrack. See Gimcrack.
A shoep, woolly-bird
Jimbugg.
(q.v.) (1854).
Jim Crow.
Jimjams.
See Billy Barlow.
1. Delirium tromens,
The horrors (q.v.) : also, the. jams : see
Gallon-distemper. 2. Distorted views
kinks (q.v.).
Jim-dandy. Superfine.
Jimmy. 1. See Jemmy, 2. Anew
chum (q.v.) ; specifically (Australian
convicts), a free emigrant (1859). 3.
A contrivance, concealed confederate,
Jimmy Skinner. A dinner.
Jimplecute (or Jimpsecute). A
sweetheart.
Jing-bang. A lot complete, boiling
(q.v.).
Jingle. A hackney carriage (Dub-
lin).
Jingle-box. A leathern jack tipped
with silver, and hung with bells, for-
merly in use among fuddlecaps
(Grose).
Jingleboy. Sefc Gingle boy (1658).
Jingler. A swindling horse dealer.
Jinglebrains. A wild, harum-scarum
fellow (B. X.).
Jingo. 1. Used in mild oaths : as
by Jingo ! or By Jings. (HaUiwett : a
corruption of St. Gmgoulph or Gin-
' 'LUS; by others from Basque
»a, God: also By the Living
>) (1691). 2. One of that party
i advocated the Turkish cause
against Bussia, in the war of 1877-78 :
hence, one clamorous for war, one who
advocates a warlike policy. [In this
sense taken directly from the refrain
of a popular music-hall song (c, 1874),
We don't want to fight, but by Jingo
if we do, We've got the ships, we've
got the men, w&ve got the money
too !]. Hence Jingoism, the theory
and practice of the Jingoes.
Jiniper-lecture. A scolding (B. E.) :
of. Curtain lecture.
Jink. 1. Coin, money, chink (q.v.).
2. See High. Jinks. To jink one's tin,
to pay money, shell out, rattle or
flash (q.v.) one's cash.
Jinny. A Geneva watch,
ipper. Gravy.
o. See Joe.
can. A fetter: specifically Darby
Joan, fetters coupling two persons:
see Darbies. Homely Joan, a coarse,
ordinary looking woman (J3. #.).
Joan in the dark w as good as my lady,
a variant of, When you cannot kiss
the mistress kiss tho maid, or When
candles are out all cats are grey (B. J^.).
Job. 1. Specifically, robbery j
generally, any unfair arrangement, or
effect of nepotism : e.g. the obtaining
of an office, or a contract, by secret
influence, or the undertaking of a
piece of business ostensibly for public
but really for private ends (1667). 2.
A piece of work, occurrence (fortunate
246
Jobation.
or otherwise), situation, place of
employment. A bad job, an unlucky
occurrence, misfortune, unsuccessful
attempt. Hence jobber, one who
does piece or occasional work (1658).
3. A guinea : also jdbe (B. K). 4. As
subs., patience ; as intj., take time,
don't be in a hurry ! ( Matedl). 5. See
Jab (1827). As verb, (1) to do work
(or perform duties), ostensibly pro
bono <publico but in reality for one's
private ends or advantage (1731);
(2) to thrust violently and suddenly,
prod, jab (q.v.) (1557) ; (3) to chide,
reprimand : also jobe. To be on the
job, to mean honestly, be genuine, run
straight, work quickly and steadily,
achieve complete success, be bent on.
To "have, got the job> to have a commis-
sion to back a horse. To do the job
for one, to finish, kill.
Jobation (JawbationX A tedious
rebuke, prolonged scolding, dreary
homily (1746).
Jobbernowl. 1. A fool's head : see
Crumpet (1562). 2. A fool: see
Buffle (1598).
Jobber. 1. One who purchases
goods in bulk and is the medium of
their distribution, a middleman (1662).
2. See Job.
Jobber-knot (or Jobber nut). A
tall ungainly fellow (1823).
Jobbery. The practice of political
corruption, employment of unfair
means to public or private advantage
(1857).
Jobe. See Job.
Job's-comfort. Eeproof instead of
consolation. Hence Job's-comforter, a
sharp-tongued friend: also a boil (in
allusion to Job ii. 7). Job's -news.,
bad news ; Joys-post, a messenger of
bad news ; as poor as Job's turlcey, that
had but one feather in its tail, or, that
had to lean against a fence to gobble.
Job's wife, a whoring scold. Job's-
dock, a hospital ; Job $-iaardf a ward
for the treatment of venereal diseases
(1738).
Jock. See Jockey. As verb, to
enjoy oneself.
Jockey. 1. A professional rider; also
a horse-dealer (1638) : hence (1690) a
sharper: also (colloquially) jock and
ffenKeman~jock and jock&r* 2. In pL,
top-boots. 3. A Scot (1529). As
verb, (1) to cheat, ride foul: goner-
ally, to use dishonest means to a
profitable end ; see Bamboozle (1748).
(2) (Winchester College),(i) to supplant,
(ii) to appropriate; (iii) to engage:
e.g. He jockeyed me up to books ;
Who has jockeyed my baker; This
court is jockeyed : pro bably an extended
use of the word borrowed from turf
slang. Jockey not, the Commoner cry
claiming exemption, answering to
feign at other schools : of which the
college * finge ' seems a translation :
the opposite of jockey up, to lose down
(Notions). To jockey (or bag) the over,
to manage the running in such a
manner as to get all the bowling to
oneself.
Jock Blunt. To look like Jock
Blunt, said of a person who is out
of countenance at a disappointment
(1723).
Jock-te-leear. A small almanack,
i.e. Jock (or John) the liar, from its
loose weather forecasts.
Jocteleg (or Jackyleg). A large
pocket-knife : from Jacques de Liege,
a famous cutler : see Chive (1730).
Joe (or Joey). 1. A fourpenny piece :
see Rhino: these pieces are said to
have owed their existence to the
pressing instance of Mr. Hume, from
whence they, for some time, bore
the nickname. 2. See Joe Miller. 3.
A watercloset. 4. A marine : see
Joseph. 5. A lobster too small for
sale ; i.e. one under ten inches long.
6. A gold coin worth 8 to 9 dollars :
also Double -joe i see Rhino. 7. A
companion, sweetheart (1500). As
verb, to deride, get at (q.v.), take
liberties with text, business, or
audience. Not for Joe: see Joseph.
Joe Manton, a name given to fowling
pieces made by Joseph Manton, a
celebrated London gunsmith : also
Manton.
Joe Miller. A stale joke, dull tale,
chestnut (q.v.) : from a collection
entitled Joe Mtiler's Jest Boole, pub-
lished circa, 1750, the term having been
used to pass off not only the original
stock, but thousands of jokes manu-
factured long after. Hence Joe-
Mitterism and Joe-Mitterize.
Joe Savage. A cabbage.
Joey. 1. A hypocrite (MatseU). &
See Joe. 3. A familiar name for any-
young or email, and is applied
to a puppy, or a kitten,
or a child, Wood-and-vxder-joey, a
hanger about hotels, and a doer of odd
jobs. 4. A marine, 1$. A blown:
Jogger.
Joker.
from Joey Grimaldi. As intj., a
warning cry : also Jo I
Jogger. To play and sing, per-
JoggeringOraey. A musician. [It.,
giocar, to play, and uomo, a man.]
Jog-trot (or Job-trot). A slow
trot : hence a dull round, unvarying
and uninteresting method ; as adj.,
monotonous, easy-going. Hence, adv.,
Jog-trotty (1709).
Jogue. A shilling : see Rhino (Grose).
Jogul. To play up: at cards or
other games (Hottcn).
John (Sandhurst). A first year's
cadet. 2. A priest : also Sir John and
Mess- (or Mass-) John (q.v.) (1383).
3. See Poor John.
John 's silver pin. A piece of finery
amongst sluttery and dirt.
John-a-nokes (John-at-the-oaks).
Anybody, Mr. Thingumbab (q.v.) ;
also Jokn-a-stiles or John-at-the-styles
(1529).
John-a-dreams. A dreamer, man of
sentiment and fancy as opposed to
action, futile person (1590).
John-among-the-rrxaids. A lady's
man, carpet-knight (q.v.).
John-and- Joan, An hermaphrodite.
Jobn-Audley. A signal to abridge
the performance: when another
house (q.v.) is "waiting, the word John
Audley is passed round : also John
Orderly.
John-Barleycorn. Beer : see Drinks
(1791).
John Blunt* A plain-spoken man :
also Jock Blunt.
John-Cheese. A clown : also John
Trot.
John Collins. A mixture of soda
water, gin, sugar, lemon, and ice.
John Chinaman. A Chinaman, the
Chinese collectively.
John Company. The Hon. East
India Company (1808).
John Davis. Money: otherwise
Beady John : see Rhino.
Johnian. A student of St. John's
College, Cambridge: also Johnian
Pig or Hog. Also as adj. : e,g.
Johnian blazer, Johnian melody, etc.
(1785).
John Long the Carrier. To stay for
(or send by) John Long the carrier, to
wait a long time, postpone indefinitely.
Johnnie (Johnny). 1. A police-
man: also Johnny Darby (1851). 2,
An acquaintance, young man about
town. Also a sweetheart — male or
female : e.g. My Johnny (1724). 3.
A hah* - glass of whisky. 4. See
Johnny Rob. Johnny -burnt a jack-
ass (Grose). Johnny - cake, a New-
Englander. Johnny -habitant, a mer-
chant sailor's name for a man-o'-
war's-man (Clark SusseH). Johnny-
Bates' -farm -. see Bates' farm.
Johnny-Bono, an Englishman. Johnny-
Darby, (1) a policeman, (2) in pi.,
handcuffs. Johnny Newcome, a new-
born child; also (nautical) an in-
experienced youngster, landsmen in
general (1857). Johnny Eawt (1) a
recruit, novice (1819) ; (2) a morning
draught. Johnny fieb (or Johnny), a
soldier in the Confederate ranks during
the civil war 1861-65: see Blue-
bellies.
John Roberts. A measure of drink
enough to keep a man tipsy from
Saturday to Sunday night, is univer-
sally known throughout Wales as a
John Roberts : it derives its name from
the author of the Sunday Closing Act.
John the Baptist. A one cent piece.
John Thomas. A flunkey.
John (or Joan) Thomson's Man.
An uxorious, or faithful, husband
(1513).
John Trot. A clown : also John
Cream (1774=).
Join. To marry.
Joint. 1. An opium den, gamb-
ling saloon, low-class drinking liouse
of any kind. 2. A partnership of
thieves. Hence, to work the joint, to
swindle by means of a faked lottery
table.
Joker. 1. A general term of
banter, nice 'tin — as cove, codger,
tulip (1665). 2. An extra card used
in certain games : it is blank or bears
some special device, is always a trump,
and generally the highest : often called
joUy joker. §. c These little jokers were
attached to the left thumbs of certain
judges of election as the ballots were
being counted. These jokers are
made of rubber and have a cross on
them. They are really rubber stamps.
As these judges picked up the ballots
they took hold of them in such a way
that their left thumbs, with the
jokers attached thereto, pressed upon
title squares opposite the name of the
candidate whom they wished to aid.
By thus pressing upon said squares
crosses were left m them ' (£. of Rev.}.
JoUock.
Jug.
JoUock. A parson.
Jolly. 1. The head : also Jolly nob
(1785). 2. A Royal Marine: cf.
Tame Jolly : Fr., bigorneau (1833). 3.
A dependent or confederate of a
cheat. 4. A pretence, excuse. 5.
Praise, recommendation, chaff, abuse.
To chuck a jotty, to set off an address
to one or other of these ends : see
Chuck. As adj. and adv., (1) fine,
excellent, very good, very, exceedingly
(1369); (2) slightly drunk: see
Screwed; (3) fat, fleshy. As verb,
to joke, rally, vituperate (1610).
Jolly-boys. A group of small drink-
ing vessels connected by a tube, or
by openings one from another.
Jolly -dog. A boon companion
(Grose).
Jolly-jumper. A light sail set above
a sky-scraper (q.v.) (Clark Russell).
Jolly-nob. See Jolly.
Jolly-Roger. A pirate's flag, Death's
head and cross bones (q.v.).
Jolt- Head (or Jolter-head). A
blockhead: see Buffle (1593).
Jolt -headed (or Jolter- headed).
Stupid, dull, chowder-headed (q.v.).
Jomer. A flame, sweetheart.
Jonah. A person whose presence
man: of Biblical origin. Jonah-trip,
an unlucky undertaking (1594).
Jonnick (or Jonnuk). Bight,
correct, proper. To be jonnuk, to be
fair, share equally.
Jardan. 1. A slop-pail: see It.
Short for Jordan bottle, a memory of
the Crusades. 2. Hence Jordan-headed
(Dunbar)&n opprobrious epithet (1383).
3. A stroke with a staff ( 1696). 4. The
Atlantic, the ditch (q.v.), the herring-
pond (q.v.). As adj., disagreeable,
hard of accomplishment.
Jorum. A drinking-bowl ; also
a portion of liquor, a neddy (q.v.)
(1796).
Joseph. 1. A cloak : specifically
a lady^s riding habit with buttons to
the skirts : also (American thieves') a
patched coat: cf. Benjamin (1671).
2. A woman- proof male. To wear
Joseph's coat, to defy temptation, as
Joseph with Potiphar's wife (Grose).
Not for Joseph, a contemptuous re-
fusal, a sarcastic dissent. Joseph's
coat, a coat of many colours, a dress
of honour.
J o s e y. To go, hasten : see Bunk.
Josh* 1. A sleepy-head, dolt 2.
248
An Arkansas man. As verb, to chaff,
quiz, make fun of. As intj., a word
shouted at the New York Stock
Exchange to wake up a slumbering
member (Bartleti).
Joskin. A bumpkin, dolt: see
Buffle.
Josser. 1. A simpleton, flat,
sponge (q.v.), old roue* also as adj.
2. A parson (Australian).
Joss op. Syrup, juice, gravy,
sauce (Hotteri).
Jostle. To cheat.
Jounce. A jolt, shake. As verb, to
jolt, shake by rough riding, handle
carelessly, deal severely with (1833).
To be jounced, to be enamoured of.
Journey. Occasion, juncture, time.
Journeyman Soul-saver. A scrip-
ture-reader, bible- woman: also jour-
neyman-parson (London), a curate.
Jove. See By Jove.
Jowl (or Jole), The cheek; check
by fowl, close together ; fold-sucking,
kissing (1592).
Joyful. To be addicted to the 0 be
joy fid, to be confirmed in tippling.
Juba. A negro.
Jubilee (Winchester College). A
pleasant time: e.g. The town was
all in a jubilee of feasts (Dryden).
Judas. 1. A traitor. Judas-
coloured, red : from the tradition that
Judas had red hair (1384). 2. See
Judas-hole.
Judas-hole. A spy -hole in a cell
door : also Judas.
Judge. The man most popular with
his fellows (American cadet).
Judge and Jury. A mock trial, the
fines being paid in beer.
Judy (or Jude) . 1 . A girl, a woman,
especially one of loose morals : also,
a sweetheart : in Anglo-Chinese circle
a native courtezan. 2. A simpleton,
fool : to make a judy of oneself, to play
the fool, act the giddy goat (q.v.) or
saucy kipper (q.v.) (1824).
Juff. 1. The cheek. 2. The pos-
teriors.
Jug. 1. A prison: also more fre-
quently stone-jug (q.v.) : see Cage :
FT., boite aux caiUoux ; Sp., trislura.
[Skeat : Fr., joug, a yoke : the Eng,
jug, a cant term for a prison (also
called jocosely a stone-jug) is the same
word]. 2. A bank. A broken jugged
one, a note from a broken bank : hence,
jug-breaking, bonk burglary. 3. A
mistress : hence a term of endearment.
Jutland.
4. A term of contempt applied in-
differently to both the sexes: see
Juggins. As verb, (1) to imprison,
lock up, run in ; hence to hide (1852) ;
(2) to take in, do (q.v.).
Jug-bitten. Drunk: see Screwed
(1633).
Jug-full. Not by a jug full, not by
a good deal, by long chalks, by no
means (1834).
Juggins (or Jug). A fool: see
JBuffle,
Juggler ' s-box. The branding-iron.
Juice. To stew in one's own juice,
(gravy, or grease) : see Stew.
Juicy. 1. Piquant, racy, bawdy;
2. Amorous.
Jukrura. A licence (B. E.).
Julius Caesar. Dead as Julius
Ccesar, dead past doubting.
Jumbaree. Jewellery.
Jumbo. A clumsy, unwieldy fellow
(Bee).
Jumble-gut-lane. A bad or rough
road (X. #,).
Jumbuck. A sheep, woolly-bird
(q.v.) (1851).
J u m m 1 x. To jumble up, mix
together : a portmanteau word (q.v.).
Jump. 1. A form of robbery : see
Jilt. 2. A window : cf . Back jump. 3.
(in pi.), The fidgets, delirium trc.mens.
4. Loose raiment: see Jumper (1762).
As verb, (1) to seize upon forcibly or
by stealth, cheat, supplant: e.g. to
jump a man, to pounce upon and rob
or maltreat ; to jump a house, to rob it ;
to jump a daim, to take possession of
a mining right in the absence of an
owner : Fr., farquar & la dure ; (2) to try
a medicine. From the jump, from the
start (1848). To jump at, (1) to
accept eagerly. (2) To guess. To
jump (or be jump) with, to agree, co-
incide, tally ( 1567) ; to jump one's horse
over a bar, for a paltry sum, to soil
one's horse, saddle, bridle, and all,
to the lambing-down landlord. To
go a jump, to enter a house by the
window (MatseU). To jump a bill,
to dishonour an acceptance. To see
how the cat will jump, to watch the
course of events, sit on the fence (q.v. ).
To jump upon, to maltreat (physically
or otherwise), criticise severely,
take it out of (q.v.), sit upon (q.v.).
To jump bail, to abscond. To jump
the broomstick : see Broomstick. To
jump up, to get the best of one, or the
reverse. To jump the game, to raid a
gambling den. To jump up behind, to
endorse an acceptance. To jump out
of one's skin : see Skin. On the keen
jump, on the go, violently at work.
Jump-down. The last place in
course of erection on the outskirts of
what is called civilised life. Also
jumping off place, a destination.
Jumped-up. Conceited, arrogant,
perturbed, upset.
Jumper. 1. Atenpenny-pieee (1821).
2. A thief who enters nouses by the
windows: cf. Jilter (1811). 3. One
who illegally appropriates a claim :
cf. Bounty-jumper. 4. A short slop
of coarse woollen or canvas.
Jumping- Jack. An antic, gull.
Jumping Jehosophat (Jupiter, or
Moses). See By.
Jumping Cat. The cult of the jump-
ing cat, the practice of waiting to see
the course of events before acting : see
Cat.
Jumping-powder, A stimulant to
give spirit and go to a person or
animal.
June, To goh[Germ., gehenj.
Junesey. A sweetheart.
Junk (or Salt-junk). Salt beef.
Junket I (Winchester College).
An exclamation of self -congratulation :
o.g. Junket, I've got a remi. As
verb, to exult over (Notions).
Junt. A wanton.
Jupiter (or Jupiter-tonans). The
Times newspaper: see Thunderer.
Jupiter junior, The Daily Telegraph.
Jurk, 4 seal, jark (q.v.) (Matsett).
Jury. An assertion, profession.
Just. In truth, really, rather.
Jybe. See Gybe.
Jutland. The posteriors (1695).
249
Kaffir.
Kelter.
Kaffir. 1. A prostitute's bully,
ponce (q.v.): hence a general term
of contempt. 2. In pL South African
mining shares*
Kail. Kail through the reek, bitter
language or hard usage : in allusion to
the unpalatableness of smoky broth.
To give one his kail through the reek,
to reprove violently, punish with
severity (1817).
Ka me, Ka thee. One good turn
deserves another, scratch my back
and I'll scratch yours : also Ka and
Kob( 1547).
Kangaroo. Kangaroo droop, a
feminine affectation (of. Grecian bend
and Roman fall) : the hands are
brought close to the breast and set to
droop palm downward, as if mus-
cular action were lost. Kangaroo
voting, the Australian ballot system :
adopted, with sundry modifications,
in many of the United States (Norton).
Kanits. A stink. Kanitseno, a
stinking one.
Kant. See Cant.
Kanuck. See Canack.
Karimption. A gang, mob, party.
Karplunk. See Oaohunk.
Kate (or Katey). 1. A picklock:
of. Betty and Jenny (1696). 2. A
wanton: Dutch, Kent (MatseU) : see
Kitty (1721).
Keek-handed. Left-handed : prov.
Eng. Keck, wrongly.
Kedger. A mean fellow, cadger
(q.v.) : one in everybody's mess but
in no one's watch — an old term for a
fisherman (Smyth).
Keek-cloy. See Kicks.
Keeker. In pi., the eyes: of.
Pintle-keek,
Keel. The posteriors. To keel
over, to come to grief.
Keelbully. A lighterman carrying
coals to and from ships (1696).
Keelhaul (or Keelrake). To punish
offenders by dragging them under
water on one side of a ship, and up
again on the other, by ropes attached
to the yard-arms on either side; or
in small vessels, under the craft from
stem to stern. Hence, figuratively, to
treat roughly, chastise. Keelhauling,
a good rating, rough treatment (Grose).
Keen. A funny story, joke : to get
off a keen, to make a witty remark.
Keep. 1. Board and lodging. 2.
A salaried mistress. As verb, to
abide (1593). Phrases : To keep one's
eyes skinned (polished, or peeled, or
one's weather eye lifted, nose open, or
end up, etc.), to take care, maintain a
position, be wideawake, or fly (q.v.) ;
to keep company, (1) to go into society,
entertain often and be often enter-
tained (1658) ; (2) to sweetheart : said
of both sexes (1835) ; to keep a pig
(Oxford University), to have a lodger :
the pig (q.v.) is usually a freshman
who, the college being full, is quartered
on a student whose rooms include two
bedchambers; To keep a stiff upper
lip (or owe** peck&r up], to stand firm,
keep up a heart, chuck out one's
chest; to keep the doctor, to retail
adulterated drinks : cf. Doctor ; to
keep chapel (University), to go to
chapel; to keep cave (Eton College),
to watch and give warning of a tutor's
approach ; to keep dark (or it dark, to
keep secret ; to keep sloom, to keep
quiet ; to keep it up, to continue any-
long a debauch) (1773) ; to keep dry,
to hold one's tongue, keep dark
(q.v.) ; to keep one back and belly, to
feed and clothe ; for keeps, to keep
for good ; to keep the door, to play the
bawd ; to keep the pot batting, to go on
with anything, keep the game alive j
to keep (or held) one! a hair on : see
Hair ; to keep open house, to sleep in
the open air, do a star pitch : see
Hedge-square ; to keep up to the collar,
to keep hard at work ,- to keep sheep by
moonlight, to hang in chains ; he can't
keep a hotel, a phrase intimating lack
of administrative capacity.
KeffeL A horse, prad (B. S.).
Keg. The stomach, victualling
office (q.v,).
Kegmeg. Intimate talk, chat.
Ke-keya. The devil (MatseU}.
Kelder. The belly: see Hans-in-
kelder and Jack-in-the-oellar (1668).
Kelp. A hat: see Golgotha. To
kelp, to raise one's hat in salutation
(1754).
Kelso-hoots. Heavy shackles put
on the legs of prisoners ; by some sup-
posed to be a sort of stocks (/oime-
son).
Kelter (or Kilter). 1. Order, oon-
Kick.
dition, form (q.v.) (1630). 2. Money:
see Rhino.
Keltic (or Kelty). A bumper : im-
posed as a fine on those who did not
drink fair : said to be so called from a
famous champion drinker in Kinross-
shire.
Kemesa. See Camesa.
Ken. A house, place: generally
in combination: e.g. Boozing-Tc&n,
drinking house ; a bob-ken (or bouyman-
ken), & well-furnished house. To
bite (or crack) a ken, to rob a house.
English synonyms: carsey (or case),
castle, cat-and-mouse, crack, diggings,
hang-out, rootee, roost, shop, panny
(1567).
Ken-cracker (or Miller) A
housebreaker (JE#. J0.).
Ken - crack - lay. Housebreaking :
see Ken, Crack, and Lay.
Kennedy. A poker. To give ken-
nedy, to lay on with a poker.
Kennel-raker. A scavenger, one fit
only for low, dirty jobs (1647).
Kennurd. Drunk : see Screwed.
Kent (or Kent -rag, Kent -clout,
etc. ). A coloured cotton handkerchief.
Kentish - fire. A prolonged and
ordered salvo of applause : from the
cheers bestowed in Kent upon the
No-Popery orators in 1828-29.
Kent-street Ejectment. Removing
the street door, a method practised,
by the landlords in Kent Street,
Southwark, when their tenants are
above a fortnight's rent in arrear
(Grose).
Kerbstone-broker. A stockbroker
doing business outside the Stock
BxoHange, a guttersnipe (q.v.): IV.,
cottrtier matron, and (collectively)
covliasiers.
Kerflop. Onomatopoeic : in imita-
tion of the sound of a body falling flat
or into water. Variants: cachunk
(q.v.}, kerslap, kesouso, keslosh, ke-
swosh, kowosh, keswollop, kerchunk,
kerplunk, kerthump, kershaw, ker-
slash, kerslosh, kerswosh, etc.
Kerry-security. Bond, pledge, oath,
and keep the money (Grose).
Ketch. A hangman, Jack Ketch
(q.v.). As verb, to hang.
Kettle. 1. A watch; red - kettle,
gold watch; 2. an iron-built vessel,
ironclad. Pot calling the kettle black,
on all fours, six of one and half-a-
dozen of the other. A wetty (or
fine) fettle (or kiddle, basket) of fish, a
mess or confusion of any kind, muddle
(1750).
Kettledrum. 1. In plural, a woman's
breasts : also Cupid's kettledrum.
2. An afternoon tea-party (1867).
Kew. A week.
Key. A translation, crib (q.v.).
To have the key of the street, to be
locked out-of-doors, to have no home
(1836).
Key -hole. To be all keyhole (or
keyluded), to be drunk : see Screwed.
Keyhole-whistler. A night's lodger
in a barn or outhouse, skipper bird
(q.v.).
Keystone State. Pennsylvania :
when the names of the original Thir-
teen States wore arranged archwise in
their natural geographial order, Penn-
sylvania occupied the central position.
Kibosh. 1. Nonsense, anything
worthless: also Kiboshery. 2. Snot
(q.v.). 3. Style, fashion, form, the
thing ; e.g. that's the proper kibosh.
As verb, to spoil, flummox (q.v.),
queer (q.v.), bewilder, knock out of
time. To put the kibosh on, (1) to
stop, silence; (2) to wheedle, talk
over ; (3) to run down (1836).
Kibsy. See Kypsy.
Kick. 1. The fashion (1696).
2. A sixpence : of compound sums
only, e.g. three and a kick, 3s. 6d. :
see Rhino (1725). 3. A moment, jiffy
(q.v.). 4. A pocket. 5. A grudge. 6.
Thehollowin the butt of a bottle(1861).
7. In pi., breeches, trousers: also
kicksters and kicksies. English syno-
nyms: arse-rug, bum-bags, bell-bot-
toms, bum-curtain, bags, calf-clingers,
canvasseens (q.v.), continuations,
don't-name-'ems, ducks, gam-cases,
hams, inexpressibles, ineJffables, in-
imitablea, kicks, kzckseys, moles,
mustn't- mention-'ems, peg-tops (q.v.),
pants, rice-bags, sit-upons, skirts (q.v.),
slacks, strides, trolly^wags, trucks,
trunks (q.v.), unhintables, unmen-
tionables, unutterable^, unwMsper-
ables, whistling breeches (q.v.) (1696).
8. A sudden and strong objection,
unexpected resistance. As verb, (1)
to borrow, beg, break shins (q.v.);
f2J to protest, resist, resent (1611) ;
(3) to recoil : of firo-arms generally ;
(4) to jilt, give the mitten (q.v.) ;
(6) to die: an abbreviation of to
kick the bucket (q.v.) ; (6) to escape :
also kick it (1725). Phrases:
kick in the guts, a dram of spirits
261
Kidney.
(Grose); to get more kicks than hcf-
,pence (see Monkey's allowance) ; to
'kick over the traces, (1) to go the pace
(q.v.) ; and (2) to resist authority ;
to kick up a breeze (dust, row, diversion,
Iwk, shindy, etc.), to create a disturb-
ance, raise Cain (q.v.), paint the town
red (q.v.) (1750) ; to kick the wind, to
be hanged : see Ladder ; to get the kick
out (or dirty kick out), to be summarily
dismissed, discharged, kicked out ;
to kick the bucket, to die : see Hop the
twig ; the allusion is thought to allude
to the way in which a slaughtered pig
is hung up — viz. by passing the ends
of a bent piece of wood behind the
tendons of the hind legs, and so
suspending it to a hook in a beam
above: this piece of wood is locally
termed a bucket, and so by a coarse
metaphor the phrase came to signify to
die ; to kick down the ladder, to treat with
contumely one's means of advance-
ment ; to kick the clouds (or wind)., to be
hanged : see Ladder ; to kick at ivaist, to
misfit at the waist ; to kick for the boot,
to ask for money ; to kick for trade, to
ask work ; to have the kick, to be lucky,
have cocum (q.v.) ; to kick the stuffing
out of one, to maltreat, take a rise (or
the wind) out of, get the better of ;
to kick (or cool) one's heels, (1): see
Heels ; (2) to die ; to kick the eye out
of a mosquito, a superlative expression
of capacity ,* a kick in one's gallop, a
whim, strange fancy.
Kicker. 1. An obstructionist,
Protestant. 2. In pi., the feet : see
Creepers. 3. A dancing master ( 1 838).
Kickeraboo. See Kick the bucket.
Kicking-strap. An elastic strap
inside a habit.
Kickseys. 1. See Kick. 2. Shoes or
highlows : also Kacksies.
Kickshaw. A trifle, anything fanci-
ful or unsubstantial, something fantas-
tical or with no particular name :
Skeat: a curious corruption of Fr.s
qudgue-chose (pronounced kick-chose]
literally, something ; hence a trifle or
small delicacy (1598).
Kick-shoe. A dancer, caperer,
buffoon.
Kicksies. See Kicks.
Kicksy. Troublesome, disagreeable.
Kicksy-wicksy. A term of contempt
for a woman (1598). As adj., fantas-
tic, restless.
Kick-up. A row: also rowdiness
(1794).
Kid, 1. A child : hence, to kid, to
lie in, get with child ; kidded (or with
kid), pregnant. English synonyms:
brat, encumbrance, get, imp, infantry
(collectively), kinchin, limb, lullaby
cheat, monkey, papoose, youngster
(1599). 2. A man (1811). 3. A
policeman (1879). 4. A thief : speci-
fically a young thief: also Kiddy.
5. A kidnapper. 6. Gammon (q.v.),
devilry, chaff (q.v.). 7. In pi., Kid
gloves: e.g. Bads cleaned for 2d. a
pair. As verb, to quiz, wheedle, to
cheat (1811) ; To kid on, to lead on by
gammon or deceit (1851). To kid
oneself, to be conceited. Hard kid,
hard lines, bad luck, hard cheese
idden (Kid-ken, or Kiddy-ken).
A lodging house frequented by young
thieves (1839).
Kidder. 1. A forestall. 2. A
glib and taking speaker, master of
chaff.
Kiddier. A pork-butcher.
K i d d i 1 y. Fashionably, showily,
flashily : also Kiddy.
Kid-lay (or rig). * One who meeting
a Prentice with a Bundle or Parcel of
goods, wheedles him by fair words,
and whipping Sixpence into his Hand,
to step on a short and sham Errand for
him, in the mean time runs away with
the goods ' (B.K).
Kiddleywink. 1. A raffle. 2. A small
village shop; and, 3. specifically (in
the West country), an ale-house. 4.
a woman of unsteady habits.
Kiddy. 1. A man, boy, young fel-
low : a diminutive of lad (q.v.). Also
kidlet, a boy or girl. 2. A ilaflh thief ;
rolling kiddy, a dandy thief ( 1 780). 3.
A dandy (1823). 4. A stage-coach
driver. As adj., fashionable, smart
(q.v.).
Kiddyish. Stylish, up to date (q.v.).
Kiddy Nipper. A thief who outs off
the waistcoat pockets of tailors,
when crosslegged on the board, there-
by grabbling their bit (Grose).
Kadleybenders. Ice which undulates
under the feet of a skater.
Kidment. 1. Humbug, gammon
(q.v.) : also (cheap Jack's), professional
patter (1836). 2. A pocket handker-
chief pinned to the pocket for a trap.
As adj., comical (MatseU).
Kidnap. To steal children. Hence,
Kidnapper, a ohild-stealer (1696),
Kidney. 1, Kind, disposition,
Kidney-hit.
Kip.
fashion : as, Two of a kidney, two of a
mind ; of a strange kidney, of an odd
humour ; of a different kidney, of
different habit or turn : FT., bouchon
(1596). 2. A waiter, grasshopper
(q.v.) (1710). 3. A fractional part of
a shilling : a corruption of Cadney,
the name of the first dealer on 'Change
kaown to deal under -^.
Kidney-hit. A punch in the short
rios.
Kid's-eye. A fippenny piece ( 1821).
Kldsman. A fellow that boards and
lodges boys for the purpose of teach-
ing them how to steal, putting them
through a course of training, as a dog
trainer will train dogs for the hunt.
The Mdsman accompanies the kid,
and though committing no depreda-
tions himself, he controls and directs
the motions of the others.
Kilkenny. A frieze coat (Grose).
Kill. A garment utterly spoiled.
Dressed to bill : see Dressed and
Death.
Kill-calf (or cow). A butcher, a
murderous ruffian : also Kill-buck.
Kill-devil. Bum : specifically new
spirit (1696).
Killers. The eyes: see Peepers
(1780).
Killing. Fascinating, bewitching,
irresistible: also KMingly (1619).
Kill-priest Port wine.
Kill - the - beggar. Whisky : see
Drinks.
Kill-time. A pastime.
Kilmarnock-cowl. 1. A knitted
night-cap ; and, 2. by implication the
wretch that wore one (1830).
Kilmarnock-whittle. A person of
either sex, already engaged or be-
trothed (Jamieson).
Kilter. See Kelter.
Kilt Killed.
Kimbaw. 1. To trick, cheat, cozen :
also, 2, to beat, bully (1696).
Kmabo (or Kimbaw). To set the arms
afcwn&o, to sot hands on hips with
the elbows cocked (1606).
Kinchin (or Kinchen). A child,
young man : also kinchen cove (q.v.).
(1567).
Kinchin-cove. 1. A child : see Kin-
chin (1067). 2. An undersized man.
3. A man who robs or kidnaps chil-
dren: hence, kinchin lay, robbing
children ; kinchin mart, a little girl.
Kinder. As it were : also Kinder
sorter.
Kind-heart. A tooth-drawer : from,
an itinerant dentist so named, or
nick-named, in the time of Elizabeth'
(1614).
King Cotton. Cotton, the staple
of the Southern States of America,
and the chief manufacture in England.
Cotton-lord, a man enriched by cotton.
Kingdom Come. The future life ; to
go to kingdom come, to die : FT., para-
douze (or part-a-douze — a play on
paradis), parabole ; It., soprano (higher)
Sp., daro (light).
King John's Man. He is one of King
John's men, eight score to the hundred,
a saying of a little undersized man
(Qrose).
King's (or Queen's) Bad Bargain.
A malingering soldier, deserter (Grose).
King's-bencher. The busiest of the
galley orators, a galley-skulkerf/S'w^A).
King's Books. A pack of cards, The
history (or books) of the four kings,
devil's books (q.v.) (1653),
King's Cushion. A seat formed by
two persons holding each other's
hands crossed: also Queen's cushion
(or chair), cat's-carriage (or cradle).
King's (or Queen's) Head Inn.
Newgate : see Cage (1696).
King's Keys. The crow-bars and
hammers used by sheriffs' officers to
force doors and looks, [ftoguefort ;
faire la clef du Roy, ouvrir les clefs
et les cofEres avec des instruments
de serrurier.]
Kingsman. 1. A handkerchief : a
yellow pattern upon a green ground —
the favourite coloured neckerchief of
costermongers : sometimes worn by
women thrown over their shoulders.
2. A member of King's College, Cam-
bridge, 3. In pi., the Seventy-eighth
Foot, now the 2nd battalion, Sea-
forth Highlanders: their motto Is
OuidwWr Rhi, Help the King.
King's (or Queen's) pictures.
Money : see Rhino. To draw the
king's (or queen's) picture, to counter-
feit money (1632).
King's Plate. Fetters (Lex. Bal.) :
see Darbies.
Kingswood Lion. An ass, Jerusalem
pony (q.v.).
Kink. A crotchet, whim (1846).
Kinky. Eccentric, short tempered,
twisty (q.v,).
Kip. A brothel. To tatter a kip,
to wreck a house of ill-fame (1766). 2.
Abed. English synonyms: breeding-
253
Kip-house.
Kite-flying.
cage, bugwalk, bunk, cage, cloth-
market, dab, doss, dossing crib, downy,
Feathers Inn, flea-pasture, latty,
letty, hbb, lypken, perch, ruggins,
shake-down, snooze. 3. A fool, silly
fellow: he's a kvp, he's dull-witted
(MataeU) : see Buffle. As verb, (1) to
play truant, do dolly; (2) to sleep,
Kip-house. A tramps' lodginghouse.
Kipper. To die ; see Hop the twig :
on the Trent a salmon is said to be
kipper when it is seriousy out of con-
dition and has lost about half its
weight.
Kipsy. See Kypaey.
Kirjalis. Who fears ? I fear not ;
come on ! (MatseU).
Kirkbuzzer. A thief whose special-
ity is to ply in churches (MatseU).
Kirkling. Breaking into a house
while the occupants are at church.
Kirk's Lambs. The Second Regi-
ment of Foot, now the Queen's
(Eoyal West Surrey Regiment) : from
Kissing-crust. The soft-baked sur-
face between two loaves, the under
crust in a pudding or pio (1708).
Kissing-strings. Ribands hanging
over the shoulders, follow-me-lads
(q.v.): Fr., suivez-moi-jeune-homme
(1705).
Kissing-trap. The mouth, whisker-
bed (q.v.) : see Potato-trap.
Kiss-me-quick. 1. A kiss-curl (q.v.).
2. The name of a very small, once
fashionable bonnet (1855). 3. A
compounded drink.
Kist-o'-whusties. An organ (1640),
Kit, 1. A dancing master (New
Cant Diet.). 2. A person's baggage
or impediments, an outfit, collection
of anything. The whole kit* the lot,
the whole gridiron, or the whole boil-
ing: in America, the kit and boodle.
Kitchen. The stomach, victualling
office (q.v.).
Kitchener. A thief frequenting a
thieves' kitchen (q.v.).
Kitchenite. A loafing compositor
the name of its first colonel and the frequenting the kitchen of the Gom-
Paschal Lamb, the badge of Portugal,
on its colours.
Kisky. Drunk, fuddled: see
Screwed.
Kiss. 1 . A drop of wax by the side of
a seal on a letter. 2. In pi., Hotchkiss
Ordnance Co. shares. As verb, to touch
gently, brush : in billiards and other
games the balls are said to kiss when
they barely touch (1593). To kiss
the daws (or hands), to salute (1630).
To kiss the counter, to be confined in
the Counter prison : also CUnk (1618).
positors* Society house.
Kitchen- Latin. Barbarous or sham
Latin, dog-Latin (q.v.).
Kitchen-physic. 1. Pot-herbs; and,
2. victuals (1592).
Kitchen-stuff. A female servant
(1658).
Kite. 1. A fool, sharper, cruel and
rapacious wretch: Fr., buse: see
Buffie (1534). 2. An accommodation
bill, fictitious commercial paper,
(in Scotland) a windmill-bill (q.v.) :
— Kite-flying. To fly a kite, (1) to
To kiss the. dust, to die : see Hop the raise money or keep up credit* by the
twig. To kiss the hare's foot, to be
too late for meals, to dine with Duke
Humphrey (q.v.). To kiss the master,
to bit the Jack (q.v.) at bowls (1579).
To kiss the 'post, to be shut out (1600).
To kiaa the maid, * Kissing the Maid, an
Engine in Scotland, and at Halifax
in England, in which the Head of a
Malefactor is laid to be Cut off, and
which this way is done to a hair, said
to be invented by Earl Morton, who
had the ill Fate to Handsel it ' (JS. M. ).
Kiss-curl. A small curl twisted on
the cheek or temple, beau-catcher
(q.v.) : cf. Aggrawator and Lovelock :
Also Kiss-me-quick.
Kisser. 1. The mouth, the drip-
ping (or latch-) pan (q.v.) : see Potato-
trap. 2. In pi., the lips, lispers (q.v.),
mums (q.v.) : Er.
aforesaid means (1817); (2) to putouta
feeler before a definite announcement.
3. Fancy stocks (MatseU). 4. A letter
(MatseU). 5. The chief of a gang of
thieves. 6. A recruiting sergeant:
from Farquhar's Sergeant Kite in
The Xecruiting Officer. 7. The belly
( 1554). As verb, ( I ) to keep up one's
credit by means of accommodation
bills, obtain money by bills; (2) to
speculate wildly; (3) to be restless,
go from place to place, skite (q.v.)
(MatseU).
Kite-flyer. One who raises money or
sustains bis credit by the use of
accommodation bills.
Kite-flying. The fabrication or
negotiation of bills of accommodation
or bills for which no value has been
received, in order to raise money.
254
Kitten.
Kitten. A pint or half -pint pewter
pot : see Gat. As verb, to be brought to
bed, bust up, explode.
Kittle (also Kittock). (1) Generic
for a girl ; (2) a romping wench ; (3) a
harlot (1513).
Kittle-breeks. An irritable person.
Kittle-pitchering. A jocular method
of hobbling or bothering a troublesome
teller of long stories ; this is done by
contradicting some very immaterial
circumstance at the beginning of the
narration, the objections to which
being settled, others are immediately
started to some new particular of like
consequence, thus impeding, or rather
not suffering him to enter into the
main story. Kittle-pitchering is often
practised in confederacy (Grose).
Kit tier. One who tickles or
pleases.
Kitty. 1. The Bridewell or prison
at Durham : hence a prison or gaol
generally. 2. In pi., effects, furniture,
stock-in-trade, marbles (q.v.). To
seize one's kittys, to take one's effects
(Lex. Bo2.). 3. A pool 4. In pi., The
Scots Guards.
Kivey. A man, fellow : a diminu-
tive of cove (q.v.) (1854).
K. Legged. Knock-kneed, shaky
on the pins.
Kloop! An imitation of the
sound of a drawing cork.
Klera. To strike, hit.
Klep. A thief (q.v.): short for
kleptomaniac. As verb, to steal : see
the Rust. See Bust.
Knack. ( 1 ) A trick ; and (2) a trinket.
[Tyrwhitt : The word seems to have
been formed by the knacking or
snapping of the fingers made by
jugglers!] (1383).
Knacker. 1. An old horse. .2. A
horse-slaughterer. 3. In pL, Har-
rison, Barber, & Co., Ltd., shares:
an amalgamation of horse-slaughter-
ers. Knacker's brandy, a beating.
Knack-shop. A toy shop, a nick-
nackatory (1696).
Knap. 1. To steal, receive, accept,
endure, etc. Thus, to knap a clout,
to steal a handkerchief ; to knap the
swag, to grab the booty; to knap
seven (or fourteen) penn'orth, to get
seven or fourteen years". In. making
a bargain, to knap the sum offered is
to accept it, Mr. Knap's been there,
is said of a pregnant woman. To
knap tlw rust, to fall into a rage.
Originally knap meant to strike :
whence knap (theatrical), a manual
retort rehearsed and arranged ; to
take (or give) the knap, to receive (or
administer) a sham blow ; and
knapper, the head or receiver general
(q.v.) (1537). 2. To be in punish-
ment (q.v.); to catch it (q.v.). To
knap a hot *un, to receive a hard blow.
3. To arrest (MatseU). To knap the
stoop, to go hungry. To knap a
Jacob from a danna-drag, to steal the
ladder from a nightman's cart, while
the men are absent, in order to
effect an ascent to a one-pair-of-stairs
window, to scale a garden wall (De
Vaux).
Knapper 's-poll. A sheep's head:
see Sanguinary James.
Knapping-jigger. A turnpike gate :
i.e. a gate for the receipt of tolls.
Knark. A churl, flintheart,
nark (q.v.). (1851).
Knat. (1) A difficult task ; (2) a
tyrant ; and (3) one not easily hood-
winked.
Knave (Christ's Hospital). A
dunce : at Hertford, a knack.
Knee. To offer (or give) the knee,
to play the second in a fight (1856).
Knee high to a mosquito (a toad., a chaw
of tobacco, etc.), insignificant, of scant
account. To sit on one's knees, to
kneel down.
Knee-trick. Kneeling ( 1 632).
Knick-knack. A trinket, toy : see
Nicknacks.
Knife. A sword (1270). As verb,
(1) to stab; (2) to plot against the
candidate of one's own party. To
lay down, one's knife and fork, to die,
peg out (q.v.), to snuff it (q.v.) : see
Hop the twig. To knife it, to decamp,
cut it (q.v.). Knife it! separate!
leave off : go away 1 To play a good
knife and fork, to eat with appetite.
Before one can say Knife I instanter,
in the twinkling of an eye (q.v.) : of.
Jack Robinson.
Knife-board. A seat for passengers
running lengthwise on the roof of an
omnibus : now mostly superseded by
garden seats: ffr., vmperatrice (1853).
Knif er. A sharking sponge.
Knifish. Spiteful.
Knight. An ironical prefix of pro-
fession or calling: generic. Thus:
knight of the Uade, a bully (B. S.
1690) ; knight of the brush, an artist
255
Knitting Needle.
Knock.
or painter ; knight of the coUar, a life, go the pace (q.v.) ; to knock about
gallows-bird ; knight of the cleaver, the bub, to pass round the drink : see
a butcher ; knight of the cue, a Bub ; to knock (or let) daylight into
billiard-marker ; knight of the green one : see Daylight ; to knock all of a
cloth, a gamester ; knight of Hornesy heap : see Heap ; to knock at the
(or of the forked order), a cuckold; cobbler's door: see Cobbler's knock;
knight of industry, a thief ; knight to knock down, (1) to appropriate, em-
of the knife, a cut-purse ; knight of bezzle ; (2) to call upon, select (1758) ;
labour (in America), a working man ; to knock down for a song, to sell under
knight of the lapstone, a cobbler ; intrinsic value ; to knock down a cheque
knight of the napkin, a waiter ; knight (or pile), to spend one's savings lavishly,
of the needle, a tailor ; knight of the blew (q.v.) ; to knock down fares, to
quiUf an author or journalist ; knight pilfer fares : of conductors and guards ;
of the pencil, a book-maker ; knight of to knock it down, to applaud by ham-
the pestle, an apothecary ; knight of mering or stamping ; to knock one
the pit, a cocker ; knight of the down to, to introduce (to a person) ;
petticoat, a bawdy-house bully ; knight to knock in (Oxford University), (1)
of the piss-pot, a physician, an apothe- to return to college after gate is closed ;
cary ; knight of the post, a knight (2), to take a hand at cards, chip in
dubbed at the whipping post or (q.v.)j to knock into fits ^ (& cocked
pillory, also a rogue who got his
the middle of next week, etc.), to
confound, floor (q.v,), punish severely;
living by giving false witness or false , .,„ K w ,
bail ; knight of the rainbow, a foot- to knock (or take it) out of one, to
man (Grose, 1785) ; knight of the road, exhaust, empty, punish severely ;
a footpad or highwayman : also to knock off, (1) to leave off work,
knight of the rumpad ; knight of the abandon : Fr., peter sur le mastic
shears or thimble, a tailor (Grose, (1662) ; (2) to dispatch with ease, put
1785) ; knight of the spigot, a tapster, out of hand ; (3) to deduct, knock
a publican ; knight of the sun, an so much off the price ; (4) to die ; to
adventurer, a knight-errant ; knight knock one bandy, to astound, flabber-
of the wheel, a cyclist ; knight of the gast (q.v.) ; to knock on the head, to
whip, a coachman; knight of the frustrate, spoil, settle; to knock out,
f a shopman or counter-jumper.
To be knighted in JBrideweU, to be
whipped in prison (1592).
Knitting Needle. A sword, cheese-
toaster (q.v.).
Knob. 1. The head, nob (q.v.) : see
Crumpet. One on the nob, a blow on
the head (Grose). 2. (workmen's.)
A knobstick (q.v.).
Knobby. See N
Knob-of-suck.
meat.
obby.
(I) see Knock-out; (2) to bet so
persistently against a horse that from
a short price he retires to an outside
place, drive out of the quotations ; (3)
to make bankrupt; knocked out, un-
able to meet engagements ; (4) see
Knock out of time; (5) (Oxford
University), to leave college after
hours : of out of college men only :
aee Knock in and Knocking out; to
A piece of sweet- knock out of time, to punish an op-
ponent so that ho is not able to answer
Knobstick (or Nobstick) 1. A the call of Time; to knack the spots
non-society hand, dung (q.v.), rat off (or out of), to surpass, confound,
(q.v.) : also one who takes work under thrash, excel ; to knock the bottom
price, or continues at work while his (stuffing, wadding, lining, fitting, or
fellows are on strike. 2. A master inside) out of, to confound, surpass,
who does not pay his men at market floor (q.v.) ; thrash, finish off ; to
•~r,-t-r*r, /1C£1\ «. T. _* 1, _ ^- . ± -J J.^ A. . ! _*.
rates (1851).
smoke out of, to try, vanquish
Knock. A lame horse, an incur- utterly ; to knock saucepans out o/, to
able screwy (q.v.) : the horse-dealer in run amuck ; to knock out ih& wedges*
Jbnson's Bartholomew Fair (1614), is
called Knockem. As verb, to make an
impression, be irresistible, fetch (q.v.),
,
to desert, leave in a difficulty; to
knock round : see To knock about ; to
knock under, to yiold, give out, confess
floor (q.v.). Phrases : To knock acock, defeat (1668) ; to knock up (Christ's
to floor, flabbergast (q.v.), double up ; Hospital), (1) to gain a place in class ;
to knock about (or round), to wander e.g. I knocked up and I knocked
here and there, lounge : also to see Jones up : the Hertford equivalent IB
256
Knockabout.
KnucJde-bone.
ox up (q.v.) ; (2) to achieve, accom-
plish ; (3) to put together hastily, as
by nailing ; (4) to exhaust, tire (1771) ;
to get the knock, (1) to drink, get
screwed (q.v.) ; (2) to be discharged,
get the sack or bag (q.v.) ; to take
the knock., to lose more to the book-
makers than one can pay, be dead
broke (q.v.); to ~be knocked off one's
pins, to bo flabbergasted (q.v.) ; that
knocks me, that confounds (or is too
much for) me ; to be knocked into the
middle of next week, to be astounded,
get badly beaten, be knocked into a
cocked hat (1823).
Knockabout. An actor of violent
and noisy pantomime : a special genre.
Knockabout man. A Jack-of-all-
trades (q.v.), handy man.
Knock-down (or Knock-me-down) .
strong ale, stingo (q.v.), also, gin
(1515). As adj., rowdy (1760).
Knock-down and Drag-out. A
free-fight.
Knock - 'em - down Business.
Auctioneering.
Knock - 'em - downs. Skittles
(1828).
Knocker. In pi, small flat curls
worn on the temples ; sixes (q.v.). Up
to the knocker, (1) completely equal
to, perfect in appearance, condition,
fitness ; (2) in the height of fashion.
Knocker-face (or Head). An ugly
faced person, ugly-mug (q.v.).
Knocker-out. See Knock-out.
Knock - in. 1, The game of loo.
2. A hand at cards. 3. A Knock-
out (q.v.)
Knock-out, 1. A man frequenting
auction rooms and acting in concert
to buy at a nominal price. One of
a gang is told off to buy for the
rest, and after a few small bids as
blinds, the lot is knocked down to
the knock-out bidders, so that com-
petition is made impossible. At the
end of the sale the goods are taken
away and resold or knocked - out
among the confederates, the differ-
once between the first purchase and
the second — or tap-room knock-out
— being divided. The lowest sort of
knock-outs, with more tongue than
capital, are called babes. Hence
an auction at which knocking-out
i« practised. Also as verb and adj. :
mainly a thing of the past. 2. In pL,
dice. 3. A man or woman (used
either in eulogy or in outraged pro-
warm member (q.v.) one
who does outrageous things. 4. A
hit out of the guard on the point of
the chin : which puts the recipient to
sleep, and ends the fight; hence,
a champion of any sort and in any
walk of life. Knocker-out, a pugilist
who is an adept at putting to sleep
(q.v.).
Knocksoftly. A fool, soft (q.v.):
see Buffle.
Knot. A crew, gang, fraternity
(1597). To knot it, to abscond : see
Bunk. To tie with St. Mary's knot,
to hamstring. To tie a. knot with the
tongue that cannot be untied triih the.
teeth, to get married.
Know. To know whafs what
(what's o'clock, a thing or two, one's
way about, etc.), to have knowledge
(taste, judgment, or experience), to
be wide-awake (q.v.), equal to any
emergency, fly (q.v.). Not to know
B from a baMedore: see B. In the
know, having special and intimate
knowledge, in the swim, on the ground
floor (q.v.). All one knows, the ut-
most. / want to know, Is it possible ?
You surprise me.
Knowing. Artful, fly (q.v.) (1712).
Knowing bloke, a sponger on new
recruits.
Knowledge-box. The head, nous-
box (q.v.) : see Crumpet (1798).
Knub. To rub against, tickle
(1653).
Knuck. A thief (q.v.) : short for
knuckle (q.v.) (1834). As verb, to
steal : see Frig.
Knuckle. One who hangs about the
lobbies of both Houses of Parliament,
the Opera -House, and both Play-
Houses, and in general wherever a
great crowd assemble: they steal
watches, snuff-boxes, etc. (Parker,
1781). As verb, (1) to fight with
fists, pummel; (2) to pick pockets:
applied especially to the more refined
or artistic branch of the art, Le.
extracting notes or money from the
waistcoat or breeches pockets, where-
as buzzing (q.v.) is used in a more
general sense : also to go on the knuckle.
To knuckle, (knuckle down to, or
knuckle, under], (1) to stoop, bend,
yield, comply with, or submit to
(1748) ; (2) to apply oneself earnestly,
engage vigorously.
Knuckle-bone. Down on the knuckle-
bone, hard-tip, stony (q.v.).
257
Ladies* Finger.
Knuckled. Handsome.
Knuckledabs (or Knuckle-con-
founders). Handcuffs (Grose): see
Darbies.
Knuckle-duster. 1. A knuckle-guard
of iron or brass which, in stinking, pro-
tects the hand from injury and adds
force to a blow. 2. A large, heavy,
or over-gaudy ring.
Knuckler. A pickpocket.
Knuller. LA chimney-sweep
who solicits custom in an irregular
manner, by knocking at the doors of
houses and such like : also kneller. 2.
K o k u m. Sham kindness : see
Cocum.
Koae. Counterfeit coin (Matsdl).
Koniacker (or Cogniac - er). A
counterfeiter (Matsell).
Kool. To look.
Kotoo (or Kotow). To bow down
to, scrape to, lickspittle.
Kosh (or Kosher). 1. A short iron
bar used for purpose of assault. 2.
A blow. As adj., fair, square : from
the Hebrew, lawful
Krop. Pork.
Kudos. Glory and honour. To
kudos, to praise, glorify : from Gr.,
kudos, praised (1793).
Kye. Eighteen pence: see Rhino.
Kynchen, See Kinchen.
Kypsey. A wicker basket ; also
Jeipsey (1754).
L. The One L's, lead, latitude, and
look-out (Clark Russell).
Label. A postage stamp : cf.
Toadskin.
Labour. To beat
Labourer. An accoucheur, midwife.
Lace, Strong waters added to
coffee or tea : also (by inference), sugar
(1712). As verb, (1) to intermix with
spirits : Fr., consoler son cafe, to brandy
one's coffee (1677); (2) to flog: also
to lace one's coat (or jacket) (1599) ;
(3) to wear tight stays.
Lacedemonians. The Forty-sixth
Foot, now the second battalion of the
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry :
from its colonel making it a long
speech under a heavy fire about the
Lacedemonians and their discipline :
alsoMurraysBucksand The Surprises.
Laced Mutton. A woman, especially
a wanton (1578).
Lacing. 1. See Lace. 2. A drub-
bing, flogging, lashing (1696).
Lach. To let in.
Lack-Latin. An ignoramus : speci-
fically an unlettered priest (1555).
Ladder. To mount a ladder (to bed
or to rest), to be hanged (1560). Eng-
lish synonyms : to cut a caper upon
nothing (or one's last fling), to catch
(nab, or be copped with), the stifles,
to climb the stalk, to climb (or leap
from) the leafless (or the triple) tree, to
be cramped (crapped, or cropped), to
cry cockles, to dance upon nothing
(the Paddington frisk, in a hempen
cravat, or a Newgate hornpipe with-
out music), to fetch a Tyburn stretch,
to die in one's boots (or shoes, or with
cotton in one's ears), to die of hempen
fever (or squinsy), to have a hearty
choke with caper sauce for breakfast,
to take a vegetable breakfast, to
marry the widow, to morris (Old
Cant), to trine, to tuck up, to swing,
to trust, to be nubbed, to kick the
wind, to kick the wind with one's
heels, to kick the wind before the
hotel door, to kick away the prop, to
preach at Tyburn cross", to make (or
have) a Tyburn show, to wag hemp in
the wind, to wear hemp (an anodyne
necklace, a hempen collar, a caudle,
circle, cravat, croak, garter, necktie,
or habeas), to wear neckwecd, (or St.
Andrew's lace), to tie Sir Tristram's
Knotv to wear a horse's nightcap (or
a Tyburn tippet), to come to scratch
in a hanging (or stretching match or
bee), to ride the horse foalod of an
acorn (or the three-legged maro), to
be stretched (topped* scragged, or
down for one's scrag). To be unable to
see a "hole in, a ladder, to be hopelessly
drunk: see Screwed.
Laddie. A lady.
Ladies' Cage. That portion of the
gallery in the Commons which is set
apart for ladies : see Cage.
Ladies1 Fever. Syphilis, French
gout (^.v.).
Ladies 'Finger (or Wish). A taper-
ing glass of spirits, especially gin.
Ladies' Cfrog.
Lamb.
Ladies' Grog. Grog: hot, strong,
sweet, and plenty of it (Dickens).
Ladies ' Mile. Rotten Row in Hyde
Park — the principal airing ground
during the London season.
Ladle. To enunciate pretentiously ;
to mouth (q.v.).
Lad of (or on) the Cross. See
Cross.
Lad o* Wax. 1. A cobbler, cock o'
wax (q.v.). 2. A boy, doll of a man,
man of wax, a proper man.
Ladron. A thief (q.v.) : from the
Spanish (1652).
Lad 's Leavings (A). A girl ( 1737).
Lady. 1. A very crooked, deformed,
and ill-shapen woman (1696): cf.
Lord. 2. The reverse or tail (q.v. ) of a
coin: see Head. 3. A quart or pint
pitcher wrong side uppermost. 4. The
keeper of the gunner's small stores :
lady's Jwle, the place where such stores
are kept. 5. A woman of any station ;
usually in combination, as fore-lady,
sales - lady, cook - lady. 6. In pL,
cards, devil's books. 7. A sweet-
heart.
Ladybird, (1) A wanton ; and (2) a
term of endearment (1595).
Lady-chair. See King's cushion.
Lady Dacre's Wine. Gin (Lex.
Bed.)-, see Drinks.
Lady-feast. A bout of debauchery
(1653).
Lady Fender. A woman who spends
her time nursing the fire.
Lady Green. A clergyman; speci-
fically a prison chaplain.
Lady-killer. A male flirt, a general
lover. Lady - MttitiQ, assiduous gal-
lantry.
Lady of Pleasure. A prostitute:
Efc, fiUe de joie (1760).
Lady's Ladder. Rattlins set too
close.
Lady Ware. Trinkets, knick-
knacks, ribands.
Lag. 1. Sentence of transportation,
penal servitude. 2. A returned trans-
port, convict, ticket - of - leave man
(1811). 3. Water : also Lage (1573).
4. (Westminster School), a fag. 5. A
dialogue or scene of extra length, also a
wait As verb, (1) to transport, send
to penal servitude : fagged, sentenced,
imprisoned : FT., aU&r a la grotto ; To
lump the lighter (q.v.) (1819); (2)
to steal, png (q.v.); (3) to catch
(1680) ; (4) to urinate ; (5) to dally,
wait, drop behind*
Lage. See Lag. As verb, to wash
down, drink (1567).
Lager Beer. To think no lager beer
of oneself : see Small beer.
Lag-fever. A term of ridicule ap-
plied to menwho, being under sentence
or transportation, pretend illness, to
avoid being sent from gaol to the
hulks (Lex. Bat.).
Lagger. 1. A sailor. 2. An infor-
mer, witness.
Lagging. A term of imprisonment :
also lag (q.v.). Hence, lagging
matter, a crime rendering persons
liable to transportation (Grose).
Lagging-dues. When a person is
likely to be transported, the flash
people observe, lagging-dues will be
concerned (Grose).
Lagging-gage. A chamber-pot, it
(q.v.).
Lagniappe (or Lagnappe). The
equivalent of the thirteenth roll in
a baker's dozen. It is something
thrown in, gratis for good measure.
The custom originated in New
Orleans city. When a child or
servant buys something .... he
finishes the operation by saying,
' Give me something for Lagniappe.'
The shopman always responds . . .
When you are invited to drink, and
you say, I've had enough, the other
says, * But just this one time more this
is for lagniappe ' (Marie Twain).
Lagranged. Vexed.
Lag-ship. A convict transport.
Laid. See Lavender, and Shelf.
Lala. A swell.
Lally. Lineri, luUy (q.v. ) ( 1800).
Lallycodler. One eminently success-
ful in any particular line.
Lam. See Lamb.
Lamb. 1. A quiet easy -going
person, simpleton, juggins (q.v.)
(1669). 2. Ironically used of a rough
(cruel, or merciless) person: speci-
fically applied to Nottingham roughs,
and hence to bludgeon men at elec-
tions : the head-money given is called
mint-sauce (q.v. ). English synonyms :
barker, basher, blood-tub, bouncer,
bounder, boy of the Holy Ground,
bruiser, dead duck, hoodlum, larrikin,
mug, plug-ugly, rabbit (or dead
rabbit), ramper, roarer (or roaring-
boy), rougn, roustabout, rouster,
rowdy, rustler, short-ear* 3. A term
of endearment (1595). 4 An elderly
person dressed or got-up young. 5.
259
Lamback.
Land-Security.
Pet Lamb. 6. See Kirke's Lanceraan-prigger). A highwayman
Lambs. As verb, to beat : also lamb
lambaste, lamback, and lambeake (1555).
To skin the lamb. See Skin.
Lamback, A blow (1591).
Lambacker.
(1593).
Lamb and Salad.
and salad, to thrash soundly.
Lambaste. See Lamb.
Lambasting. A thrashing.
Lamb-down. To spend all in drink,
(1591).
Lancepresado. One who has only
twopence in his pocket ; also a lance,
or deputy corporal, that is, one doing
A bully, hector (q.v.) the duty without the pay of corporal ;
formerly a lancier or horseman, who
To give one lamb being dismounted by the death of his
horse, served in the foot by the title
of lansprisado or lancepesato ; a
broken lance (B. E. and Grose).
Land. 1. To deliver, get home
to charter the bar (q.v.), to knock (q.v.). 2. To bring or take a posi-
down one's cheque (q.v.), to blew the tion or place, set down, catch, arrive
lot (q.v.).
Lamb-pie. A drubbing (B. K).
(1850). "3. To set up, make all right,
secure. 4. To win, gain. To land
To beat: see Lamb out, to decamp, bunk (q.v.). To
see how the land lies, to see how
matters stand. Who has any I
Lambskin.
(1593).
Lambskin-man. Ajudge(J3. E.).
Lamb's -wool. Hot ale, spiced, in Appleby, l a Question askt the
sweetened, and mixed with the pulp of Man at whose Door the Glass stands
roasted ap '
Lame-d
a stUe, to give a 1
(q.v.) : Fr., sauver la n,ise a quelQu'im
(1605).
Lame duck. 1. A defaulter on
long '(5. K).
9 a lame dog over Land-broker. An undertaker (Mat-
\ help, bunk up sett).
Land-carack. A mistress (1629),
Land-crab. A landsman.
LandedEstate. 1. The grave,
'Change, who has to 'waddle out of the Darby's dyke (q.v.). 2. Dirt in the
Alley': cf. Bear, Bull, etc. (1766). fingernails.
2. A scapegrace.
Lame-hand. An indifferent driver,
spoon (q.v.).
Lammas. At later Lammas, never,
at the Greek kalends (q.v.), at Tib's
eve (q.v.) (1576).
Lammermoor Lion. A sheep : cf,
Cotswold lion, and Essex lion.
L an dies (Winchester College).
Gaiters: from tradespeople — Landy
and Currell — who supplied them
(Notions).
Landlady. To hang the landlady, to
decamp without payment, to moon-
shine, to stand off the tailor.
Landlubber (also Land-leaper and
Lammie Todd I I would if I could. Land-loper). A vagabond, one who
fled the country for crime or debt;
also (nautical) a landsman, in varying
degrees of contempt, for incapacity in
Lammikin. A blow ( 1622).
Lamming. A beating: of. Lamb
(1619).
Lammy. A blanket: originally a general or uselossness as sailors in
thick quilted frock, or short jumper particular : Fr., jus de cancre, terrien,
made of flannel or blanket cloth, worn ' " ~
by sailors as an outside garment in
or fattli diien de terrien (1362).
Land of Nod. Sleep. To go to the
cold weather (Gentlemen's Magazine, land of nod, to go to bed, faU asleep
1. An eye. 2. In pi., spec-
1866).
Lamp,
tacles, •
Tosmt ,
labour or study (1615).
^ Lamp - post. A tall lanky person.
(1818).
Land of Promises. The fair expect-
jlamps (q.v.) : see Peepers, ation cherished by a steady novice at
of the lamp, to show signs of Oxford (Grose).
1^^ ^ steady habits. Connecticut.
Land of Sheepishness. School-
English synonyms : clothes"- prop, boy's bondage (Grose).
daddy-longlegs, Duke of Lankester, Land-packet. An ox-team.
Duke of Limbs, gawk, gas-pipe, lath- Land-pirate (or Land-rat). I. A
legs, long-ghost. Long-shanks, long- land thief: of. Water-rat (1598), 2.
*un, rasher-of-wind, sky-scraper, sky- See Land-shark,
topper, spindle-shanks, split-up, tongs, Land-raker. A vagabond, land-
matches, lubber (q.v.) (1596).
Lanceman (Lance-knight, or Land Security. SeeLeg-baSL
260
Land-shark.
LavTdng,
Land-shark. 1. A boarding-house
keeper, runner, crimp — any one living
by the plunder of seamen : Fr., v&r-
mine (1838). 2. A usurer. 3. A land-
grabber, one who seizes land by craft
or force. 4. A custom-house officer
(1815).
Land-swab. A landlubber (q.v.),
grasscomber (q.v.).
Land-yard. A cemetery.
Lane. 1. The throat : see Gutter
alley : also Bed lane and Red lion lane
(1534). 2. The course laid out for
ocean steamers between England and
America : there are two lanes, or
lane-routes both narrowly defined — the
northern for westward bound, and the
southern for eastern bottoms. The
Lane, (1) Drury Lane Theatre; (2)
Mincing Lane; (3) Mark Lane; (4)
Chancery Lano; (5) Petticoat Lane, and
(6) the old Horsemonger Lane Jail,
now demolished : cf. Cade, House,
Garden, etc. Harriet Lane, tinned or
preserved meat.
Langret. In pi., dice loaded so as to
show 4 or 3 more often than any other
number: the opposite is bardquater-
tray (1591).
Lank. After a lank comes a
bank, said of breeding women
(1767).
Lank Sleeve. The empty sleeve of
a one-armed man. A fellow with a
lank sleeve ; a man who has lost an
arm (Lex. Hal.).
Lanspresado (or Lansprisado).
See Lancepresado.
Lant. To make water, stale (q.v.) :
also, subs., urine (Ootgrave).
Lantern. To hang from a lamp-
post : Fr., a la lanterne : see Lanthorn.
Lantern-jaws. Lean, thin-faced
(1696).
Lanthorn. Dark lanfhorn, the ser-
vant or agent that receives the
bribe (at Court) (B. .27.).
Lap. 1. Any sort of potable
(among ballet-girls), gin : also lapper
(1573). 2. One round of a course
(1861). As verb, (1) to drink: also,
' ' "'>19);(£
to go on
a race in laps, to
') in running
:e : as, to be
one or more laps ahead ; (3) to pick up,
take, steal ( MatieU) ; (4) to scat a gM
on one's knees; (5) to throw candy,
papers, etc. into the laps of passen-
gers. To lap the putter; see Gutter.
To lap up, to wipe oat, put out of sight.
Oat-lap (nee ante).
261
Lap-ear. 1. A student of a religious
turn of mind. 2. A donkey.
Lap-ful. I. A lover or husband; 2.
an unborn child.
Lapland. The society of women.
Lapper. 1. Drink, lap (q.v.) :
hence, 2. rare-lapper, a hard drinker.
Lap-feeder. A silver table-spoon.
Lappel. To ship the white lappel, to
be raised from the ranks.
Lap-priest. A clerical apple-squire
(q.v.), a servant (q.v.) (1690).
Lap-tea. An informal afternoon
meal.
Lardy. Grand, rich, swell (q.v.).
Lardy - dardy, affected, effeminate :
lardy-dah (or la-di-da), a swell or fop.
To do (or come) the lardy-dah, to dress
for the public.
Lareover. Lareovers for medlers, an
answer frequently given to children,
or young people, as a rebuke for
their impertinent curiosity, in en-
quiring what is contained in a box,
bundle, or any other closed convey-
ance (Grose).
Large. A vulgarism expressive of
excess : thus, to dress large, to dress
showily ; to go large, to go noisily ;
to play large, to play high ; to talk large,
to brag, etc. (1852). Large blue kind,
a general intensitive ; e.g. a mon-
strous lie, bad headache, interesting
book, and so forth.
Large House. A workhouse. English
synonyms: big-house, grubbing-ken,
lump, Lump-Hotel, pan, spinniken,
wool-hole.
Large Order. A difficult undertak-
ing, something exaggerated (exten-
sive, or big).
Lark. LA piece of merriment
(1811). 2. A boat (Lex. JBal.). As
verb, (1) to sport, toase, spree (q.v.).
(2) See Larking. (3) A boy who
steals newspapers from doorsteps.
Larking. 1. To clear a jump, go over
like a bird. 2, Exclusive of work for
horses when hounds are running, there
is another way of making use of horse-
flesh in Leicestershire ; and that is,
in coming home from hunting, or
what in the language of the day is
called larking. One of the party
holds up his hat, which is a signal for
the start; and, putting their horses'
heads in a direction for Melton, away
they go, and stop at nothing till they
get there (Ntmrod). 3. BVoliokmg,horse-
play, rowdyism. As adj., Larkish (q. v, )
Larkish.
Lay.
Larkish (Larky or Larking). Frolic-
some, rowdy.
Larky Subaltern's Train. See
Cold meat train.
Larrence. See Lazy Laurence.
Larrey. Artful (Matsell).
Larrikin. A rough : cf. Arab, cab-
bage-tree, mob, hoodlum, etc. * It was
in a Sydney newspaper that I read
about Larrikins, but the term would
appear to have spread throughout
Australia. H. de S. tells me that
larrikin was originally Melbourne
slang, applied to rowdy youngsters,
who, in the early days of the gold
fever, gave much trouble to the police.
An Australian born spells the word
laraiin Finally, Archibald Forbes
tells me : A larrikin is a cross between
the street arab and the hoodlum, with
a dash of the rough thrown in to im-
prove the mixture. It was thus the
term had its origin. A Sydney police-
man of the Irish persuasion brought up
a rowdy youngster before the local
beak. Asked to describe the conduct
of the misdemeanant, he said, ' Av
it please yer honnor, the blaggard
wor a larrakin' (larking) all over the
place.* The expression was taken
hold of and applied ' (Sola). As adj.,
rowdy. Larrikinism, rowdyism.
Larrup. To flog: Fr., cotter du
rototo.
Larruping. A thrashing: Fr.,
schlague (1844).
Larry Dugan's Eye-water. Black-
ing ( Grose.).
Lash (Blue Coat School). To envy :
usually used in the imperative as a
taunt (Blanch).
Lashings (or Lashins). Plenty,
abundance : also lashitfS and laviris,
plenty and to spare (1841).
Lask* A looseness of the bowels.
Lass in a red petticoat. A wife
with a good portion.
Last Compliment. Burial (1780).
Last-feather. The latest fashion
(1607).
Latch. To let in (New Cant Dice. ).
Latch-drawer. A thief (q.v.) who
stole into houses by drawing the
latch (1362).
Latch -pan. The under -lip; to
"hang one's latch-pan, to pout, to sulk.
Late-play (Westminster School). A
half-holiday or holiday beginning at
Lath-and-plaster. A master.
Lather. To beat, thrash: also
Leather (q.v.) (1849).
Lathy. Thin (1748).
Latitat. An attorney (Grose) : from
an obsolete form of writ (1771).
Latter-end. The breech.
Lattice. See Bed lattice.
Latty. See Letty.
Laugh. To laugh on the torong (or
other) aide of one's mouth (or /ace), to
cry (1811).
Launch. A lying-in (Grose). As
verb, 'I had [at Sandhurst about
1815] to undergo the usual torments of
being launched, that is having my bed
reversed while I was asleep ; of being
thrown on the floor on my face, with
the mattress on my back and all my
friends or foes dancing on my prostrate
body' (Berkeley).
Laundress, A bed maker in
chambers.
Laurence. See Lusty Laurence.
Lavender. To lay (or put) in laven-
der, (1) to lay up or put aside care-
fully; as hnen among lavender.
Hence (2) to pawn; (3) to leave in
lodging for debt ; (4) to hide from the
police ; and (5) on the turf, to be ill
or out of the way (1592).
Lavender - cove. A pawnbroker,
uncle (q.v.).
Law. A time allowance : hence a
preliminary notice, a chance of escape
(Grose). To stab the law, to rail against
authority.
Lawful Blanket (or Jam). A
wife : see Dutch (Lex. Bal.).
Lawful pictures. Money : see Rhino
and cf. King's pictures (1607).
Lawk! (or Lawks!) An exclama-
tion of surprise.
Lawful Time (Winchester College).
Recess, playtime.
Lawn. A handkerchief (Grose).
The lawn, the lawn on the course at
Ascot: cf. House, Lane, etc.
Lawxie (or Laurie). A fox (1667).
Lawyer. High (or highway)
lawyer, a mounted robber or high-
wayman (1592).
Lay. 1. A pursuit, scheme, device,
lurk. Also ia combination, kinchin-
lay (q.v.) ; avoirdujjois-lay {q.v.) ;
ken-crack-lay, houso-breaking ; /oncy-
Zoy, pugilism. English synonyms:
dodge, game, huff, job, knack, lay-out,
line, lurk, lug, move, outfit, racket,
shake, show, swim. 2. A wager (1691).
3. A quantity (1821). 4, Goods (18211.
Lai/cock.
6. On American whaling ships the
custom is not to pay fixed wages,
but a lay or proportion of the catch
which varies from a sixteenth to a
twelfth to the captain down to a three-
hundredth to the cabin - boy. As
verb, (1) to wager ; to lay one's shirt,
to stake one's all. English synonyms :
to lump on, to plank down, to do a
flutter, to wire, to slant, to snap, to
tot (1563). (2) To watch, search, lie in
wait. On the lay, on the alert, at work :
also to lay for and to lay by (1603).
Phrases : to lay about., to strike on all
sides, fight vigorously ; to lay at, to
attempt to strike, aim a blow ; to lay "by
the heels, to put in prison or the stocks :
see Heels ; to lay down, to play cards j
to lay down one's Jcnife and fork, to die,
go aloft (q.v.), hop the twig (q.v.) ;
to lay a duck's egg (see Duck's egg) ;
to lay in, to attack with vigour ; to
lay in one's dish, to object a thing to
a person, make an accusation against
him (1615); to lay into, to thrash
(1838) ; to lay it on (and superlatively,
to lay it on thick), to exceed — in speech,
splendour, expense, charges, praise,
etc. (1560) ; to lay off, to give over ;
to lay oneself form (or out), to exert
oneself rigorously and earnestly ;
to lay oneself open, to expose oneself ;
to lay oneself out for, to be ready and
willing to take part in anything; to
lay out, (1) to got the better of, dis-
able (as with a blow), kill, cook one's
goose (q.v.) ; (2) to intend, purpose,
propose ; to lay over, to excel ; a good
lay, an economical method of cutting,
anything beneficial.
Laycock. See Miss Layoook.
Layer. A bookmaker, a betting
man.
Lay-out. A company, outfit (q.v.),
spread (q.v.).
Layover. See Lareover.
Laystall (Laystall, or Layston).
A dunghill.
Lay-up. A drink, go (q.v,).
Lazy. La&y as Ludlam*s (or Dawd
Laurences) dog, excessively indolent :
also Lazy as JOG the marine who laid
down his musket to sneeze (1670).
Lazy-bones. A loafer; also lazy-
boots : Fr., loche ( 1593).
Lazy - Lawrence (or Larrence).
An incarnation of laziness: a tradi-
• tiooaJ tale has been handed down from
age to age thai at the execution of St.
Lawrence he bore hie torments without
a writhe or groan, which caused some
of those standing by to remark, ' How
great must be his faith!' but his
pagan executioner said, ' It is not his
faith, but his idleness ; he is too lazy
to turn himself.'
Lazy-man's load. More than one
can carry.
Lazy-tongs. An instrument like a
pair of tongs to take anything off the
ground without stooping.
Lead. (1) A leading or principal
part; (2) the person who plays it
Friendly lead, an entertainment-
sing-song, dance, or drinking party — •
got up to assist a friend in trouble
(q.v.) : Fr., bovline (1851). To lead
apes in hett, the employment jocularly
assigned to old maids in hell (1575).
Leading Article. The nose : see
Conk.
Leaf. Autumn : of, fall of the leaf.
To go off with the faU of the leaf, to be
hanged; criminals hanged in Dublin
being turned off from the outside of
the prison, by the falling of a board,
propped up, and moving on a hinge Eke
the leaf of a table (Grose).
Leafless-tree. The gallows: see
Nubbing-oheat : Fr., sansfeuitte.
Leak. 1. To impart a secret (Mat-
sell). 2. To make water (Grose).
Hence, to spring a leak, to urinate.
Leaky. 1. Inclined to blab (q.v.).
2. Incontinent of urine.
Lean. Unremunerative ; the re-
verse of fat (q.v.): also as subs.,
unprofitable work.
Lean- and -fat. A hat: see Gol-
gotha.
Lean-and-lurch. A church.
Lean-away. A drunkard : see Lush-
ington.
Leap. All safe (New Cant Diet,).
To take, a leap at Tyburn (or in the
dark), to be hanged (1600). To leap
(or jump) the book (broomstick, broom,
besom, or sword), to marry in an in-
formal fashion, to dab it up (q.v.);
to live tally : of. Bush - nng. Let
the best dog leap the stUe first, let the
worthiest take preference. To leap
over the hedge before you come (A the
stile, to be in a violent hurry (1670).
To be ready to leap over nine hedges,
exceeding ready (1767).
Leaping-house. A brothel (1598).
Leary (or Leery), 1. Artful, downy
(q.v.). 2, Drunk: see Screwed.
Leary-cum-Fitz. A vulgarian actor.
Least.
pone.
Least. Least in sight, in hiding, out
of the way, scarce (Grose).
Leather. 1. A pocket book: see
Header. 2. In pi., the ears, lugs (q.v.) ;
3. A cricket-, or foot-ball ; to hunt
leather (cricket), to field ; leather-hunting
(subs.), fielding. As verb, to beat, tan
(q.v.), dust (q.v.) (1763). To go to
leather, to grasp hold of the horn of
a saddle. To lose leather, to be saddle-
galled (Grose). Leathers, a postboy.
Leatherhead. 1. A swindler: see
Rook (1696). 2. A policeman, watch-
man.
Leather-hunting. See Leather.
Leathering. A thrashing.
Leathern-convenience. A stage-
coach, carriage (1696).
Leatherneck, A soldier: see Mud-
crusher.
Leathernly. Clumsily, sordidly,
poorly (1594).
Leave. A favourable position for
a stroke (billiards). To take French
leave (see 3£rench leave). To leave
in the air (see Air). To leave in the
lurch (see Lurch).
Leaving- shop. An unlicensed
pawnbrokery, dolly-shop (q.v.) : see
Uncle (1857).
Led - captain. A toady, sponge
Led-friend. A parasite (1710).
Leeds. Lrnoolnshire and Yorkshire
ordinary stock.
Leek. The leeks are men who have
not been brought up to the trade of
chimney-sweeping, but have adopted
it as a speculation, and are so called
from their entering green, or inex-
perienced into the business (Mayhew).
Leekshire. Wales.
Leer. A newspaper (1780).
Leery. On one's guard (Grose).
Left. Over the left (or left shoulder),
used in negation of a statement, and
sometimes accompanied by pointing
the thumb over the left shoulder : in
Florio, ' in my other hose ' (1682). To
get (or be left), (1) to fail, and (2) to be
placed in a difficulty. To be left in
the basket (see Basketed).
Left-forepart. A wife: see Dutch.
Left-handed. Sinister, untoward,
evil : Ger., link (1620).
Left-handed Wife. A concubine : cf .
Fr., mariage de la main gauche, a
morganatic union (1663).
Left-hander. A blow delivered with
the left hand.
264
Leg. 1. A swindling gamester (1836).
2. A chalk or point scored in a game.
3. In pi., a lanky-built man or woman,
lamp-post (q.v.). 4 A bow : see Make
a leg (1596). As verb, (1) to trip up ;
(2) see Leg it. To make (or scrape) a
leg, to bow, curtsey: also to leg it (1592).
To leg it, (1) to run away : cf. Leg-bail
and to give legs ; (2) See Make a leg.
To break a leg, to be seduced (1684).
To cut one's leg, to get drunk: see
Screwed (1767). To get a leg in, to
obtain one's confidence. A leg (or
leg up), help (1836). To have a bone
in one's leg (arm, or throat), to be
incapable of action : a playful refusal
(1542). To shake a free (or a loose)
leg, to live as one likes, go on tramp
(1834). To give (or show) legs (or a
clean pair of legs), to decamp, run
away. Not a leg (or a leg to stand on),
at the end of one's resources. In high
leg, in high feather. On one's last
legs, on the verge of ruin, at the end
of one's tether (1763). To be (or
get) on one's legs, to rise to speak, be
speaking. To stand on one's own
legs, to depend on oneself. To set
one (or get) on one's legs, to restore or
attain to good circumstances. To
show a leg, to get out of bed. To have
the legs of one, to outrun. To fight
at the leg, to take unfair advantages,
it being held unfair by backsword
players to strike at the "leg. To faU
on one's legs (or feet), to prosper (1841 ),
To have legs, to be reputed fast (as a
ship, a horse, a runner). To feel one1*
legs, to be sure of one's ground. To
put one's best leg foremost, (1) to make
haste ; and (2) to exert oneself (1500).
As right as my leg, as right as may bo.
To put the boot on the ether leg, to turn
the tables. To stretch one's legs, to
take a walk : hence, leg-stretcher (q.v.),
a drink. To make infanta rat with
one's legs, to b© drunk : see Screwed.
More belongs to marriage titan four
bare legs in a bed, said of an engage-
ment or wedding of a portionless
couple.
Leg-and-leg. The state of the game
when each player has won a log (q.v.),
horse-and-horse (q.v.).
Leg-bags. 1. Stookings; and, 2.
trousers.
Leg-ball (or Leg * bail and land
security). Escape from custody :
FT., lever lepied( 1757).
Legem pone. Money : generic : w»
Leger.
Letter-racket.
Rhino. \Narea-. The origin of the
phrase is doubtless this : The first
psalm for the twenty-fifth day of the
month has the title Legem pone, being
the first words of the Latin version.
This psalm is the fifth portion of the
119th psalm, and, being constantly
used on the first great pay day of the
year, March 25, was easily connected
with, the idea of payment, while the
laudable practice of daily attendance
on the public service was continued.]
(1557).
Leger. A cant term for a Londoner
who formerly bought coals of the
country colliers at so much a sack, and
made his chief profit by using smaller
sacks, making pretence he was a
country collier. This was termed
Sleight of hand
_ demain.
(15: ,
Legged. In irons.
Legger (or Sham Legger). A cheat
who pretends to sell smuggled goods,
but in reality only deals in shop-
keepers* old and damaged wares.
Leggings. Stockings.
Leggism. The character, practices,
or manners of a leg (q.v.).
Legitimate. 1. Flat-racing as dis-
tinguished from steeple - chasing or
hurdle-racing ; and, 2. drama — especi-
ally the Shakespearean — as opposed
to burlesque,
Leglin-girth. To cast a leglingirth,
to be got with child.
Leg of mutton. A sheep's trotter.
As adj., leg-of-mutton shaped ; as in
the case of sleeves, whiskers, sails, etc.
Leg of mutton Fist See Mutton fist.
Leg of the Law. A lawyer: sAQolimb
of the law.
Legs-and-arms. Bodiless beer : for
synonyms, see Drinks and Swipes.
Leg-shaker. A dancer : Fr., gamoH-
leur.
Leg shire. The Isle of Man: in
allusion to the heraldic bearings.
Leg-stretcher. A drink: i.e. an
inducement or a pretext for going
out : see Go.
Lemon Jolly* See Colly molly.
Lend. A loan : e.g. For the lend
of the ass you might give me the mill
(Old Ballad).
Length. 1. Six months' imprison-
ment : see Dose. 2, Forty-two lines
(theatrical) (1781). ~ - - - -
265
of one's foot, to fascinate, understand
how to manage a person.
Lenten-faced. Starved, sad-lookina
(1621). ^
Lenten-fare. Spare diet.
Ler-ac-am. Mackerel.
Lericompoop (Leripup, Leripoop,
or Luripup). Originally an academi-
cal scarf or hood. Hence (1) know-
ledge or acuteness ; (2) a man or
woman of parts ; (3) a swindle, jest, or
trick ; and (4) a cheat, buffon, or jester.
Thence, to play one's liripups, (1) to
undergo examination for a degree ;
and (2) to play the fool (from the con-
tempt into which scholastic subtle-
ties had in the end to fall). Also as
verb, to deceive, cheat (1584).
Lesson. See Simple Arithmetic.
Let, Let alone, much less, not men-
tioning (1831). To let the cat out of
the 'bag, to reveal a secret, put one's
foot in it: see Gat. To let daylight
into, to stab, shoot, kill. To let down
gently (or easy), (1) to be lenient
(1836) ; (2) to disappoint, rebuff. To
let drive, to aim a blow, attack (1593).
To let fly, to aim at, strike (1647). To
let go the painter : see Painter. To
let in, (1) to deceive, victimise, cheat ;
(2) to give custom to, patronise, consort
with. To let into, to attack, beat,
abuse. To let off steam: see Steam.
To let on, to betray, admit, seem
(1725). To let oneself loose, to speak,
launch out, abandon restraint. To
let out, (1) to disclose ; (2) to speak
strongly ,- (3) to strike out ; (4) to do,
a general verb of action. To let out
a reef, to loosen one's clothes after a
meal: Fr., Idcher un cran. To let
rip : see Kip. To let slide : see Slide.
To let up, to stop : also (as subs.) let
up (q.v.). To let the finger ride the
thumb top often, to get drunk: see
Screwed. For other combinations
see Disinfect, Flicker, In, Marks,
Monkey, Play, Pockets, Slide, Stimu-
late, Tucks, Up, etc.
Let-down. A decline in circum-
stances, come down.
Lets. No lets, no hindrances.
Letter. Letter -in -the -post -office:
see Blag. To go on the letter Q, to play
billiards.
Lettered. Branded, burnt in the
hand.
Letter-racket Men or women of
genteel address, going about to re-
To get the length speotable houses with a
letter
Letty.
Lifer.
statement, detailing some case of
extreme distress, as shipwreck, suffer-
ings by fire, etc., by •which many
benevolent but credulous persons
are induced to relieve the fictitious
wants of the impostors (Grose,),
Letty. A bed, a lodging : see Kip.
Also verbally, to lodge.
Let-up. 1. A pause, breach. 2,
(Stock Exchange). A sudden dis-
appearance of artificial causes of de-
beat (1573) ; (2) to surpass, vanquish,
puzzle, astound: FT., bolder; (3) to
sleek, tittiyate (q.v.), smooth over,
(with varnish, rouge, and so forth),
fashion (1594) ; (4) to coax. To lick
into shape, to fashion, train : from the
popular idea that the bear's young are
born shapeless and are Hcked into shape
by the dam (1663). To lick spittle, to
fawn upon : hence, lickspittle, a para-
site or talebearer. A lick and a pro-
mise, a piece of slovenliness. To lick
Levant. To abscond. To do the eye, to be well pleased. A lick
(throw, or run) a levant (gaming), to and a smell, a dog's portion (q.v.). To
stake and skip (q.v.) : Fr., faire voile lick the trencher, to play the parasite
en Levant : It., andare in Levante. (1608). To lick one's dish, to drink
Also ( 1 7 14) to play without any money ' ~
in one's pocket. Levant me I an im-
precation: of. Blow me (1760).
Levanter. A defaulting debtor,
welsher (q.v.) (1598).
Level. To work (or act) on a broad
level, to be stable, trustworthy.
Broad - level price, the lowest fixed
price.
Level-best. The best one can do,
the utmost of one's power.
Level - headed. Well - balanced,
steady, judicious.
Levite. 1. A parson, devil-doger
q.v.) (1663). 2. A fashionable dress
:or women (c. 1780) : a man's bed-
gown bound round with a belt (Horace
Walpole).
Levy. 1. A shilling. 2. Elevenpence :
in the State of Pennsylvania, Mary-
land, and Virginia, the Spanish real,
or eighth part of a dollar, or twelve
and a half cents: sometimes called
an elevenpenny bit (Barflett).
Leystafl. See Laystall.
Liar. Pm something of a liar my-
self, a retort upon a Munohausen
Lib. 1. Sleep. Long lib, death
(1622). 2. A bank-note : see Flimsy.
As verb, (1) to lie down: also Lyp
( 1572) j (2) To castrate ( 1598).
Libbeg (or Lybbeg). A bed (1573).
L i b b e n. A private house : of.
labken (1696).
Liberty-hall. A house where every
one can do his pleasure (1773).
Lib-ken (or Lypken). Orig. (Ear-
man), a house to lie in, a lodging
Lick. 1. A blow: hence, his licks,
a .thrashing (1701). 2. , A stroke,
effort : big licks, hard work (1847). 3.
A drinking bout. As verb, (1) to
(q-v-
for
(-
Lick-box (dish, fingers, pan, pot,
sauce, or trencher). A scullion,
sloven, parasite, toadeater : a general
epithet of abuse (1571).
Licker. Anything monstrous (ex-
cessive, or unusual), whopper (q-v.),
thumper (q.v.), spanker (q.v.).
Lickety-split. Headlong, violently,
full-chisel (q.v.).
Licking. A thrashing, tanning
(1820). *
Lick-penny. An extortioner
(1450).
Lick-spigot. A tapster (1590).
Lick-spittle. A toady : Fr., ttche.
bottes : also as verb (1629).
Lie. See Whole cloth and White lie.
As verb, to be in pawn : see Pop
(1609). To lie low, to conceal one's
thought* or intentions : also to keep
to one's bed (1847). To lie off, to
make a waiting race. To lie out of
one's ground, to lie o# too long, so as
to be unable to recover lost ground.
To lie around loose, to loaf, be out of
employment. To lie flat : see Lie low,
To lie like truth, to lie with verisimili-
tude and propriety. To lie down, to
be brought to bed (1582). To lie in,
to keep one's room when supposed to
be out on leave (Royal Military Aca-
demy). Lie with, a latthel (or lie
made of whole doth), an out and out
falsehood: also lie laid on with a
trowel- A lie nailed to ike counter, a,
detected falsehood or slander.
Lie-abed. A sluggard (1763).
Life. See Bet and HDoath.
Life-preserver. A slung shot
(Motsett).
Lifer. 1. Transportation for life:
Fr., fagot ft perte de twe» bonnet vert a.
perp&e 2. Penal servitude for life
Lift.
Lily-liver.
Lift. 1. A thief (q.v.): also lifter
(1592). 2. A theft, plunder, swag (q.v.):
also lining (1592). 3. Assistance in
general as a lift in a vehicle ; a lift in
fife : also lifting (1711). 4. A kick. As
verb, ( 1 ) to seal, convey (q. v. ) ; specific-
ally to steal cattle and horses (1591) ;
(2) to transfer ; (3) to help ; (4) to
break (in a walking race) into an unfair
pace. To lift one's hand (elbow, little
finger, etc.), to drink : also see Leg :
see Drinks (Grose). To lift hair, to
scalp (1848). On the hft, on the move,
ready to depart.
Lifter. 1. A thief (q.v.) : see Lift.
2. In pi., a crutch (1696).
Lift-leg. Strong ale, stingo (q.v.).
Lig. 1. A bed (New Cant Diet.).
also a bedstead (Maxell). 2. A He.
Ligby. A bedfellow : specifically a
concubine: cf. Ludby and Loteby
(1632).
Light. 1. Credit : to get a light, to
r credit ; to have one's light put out,
exhaust one's credit, go stony
(q.v. ). 2. A model, example : gener-
ally shining light. 3. In plT, the eyes :
also daylights (q.v.) and top-lights
(q.v.) (1820). 4. In pi., a fool: see
Buffle. As adj., wanton : hence,
light - given, lewd of habit ; light'
heeled (q.v.) ; light - o' - love (q.v.) ;
light-skirts (q.v.) j and so forth (1538).
To put out one's light, to Mil (1602).
To hold a light (or candle) to the devil :
see Devil. To light the lumper: see
Lumper. To light out, to leave secret-
ly and hastily, as when pursued by
an enemy.
Light- blue. Gin: see Drinks
(1820).
Light -bob. L A light infantry
soldier : see Mud-crusher (1785). 2. In
pi., The Forty- third Foot, now the first
battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry.
Lighter. See Lump.
Light-fantastic. Dancing: e.g. to
work the light fantastic, Come and trip
it as you go, On the light fantastic
toe (Milton) • Fr., aauterie.
Light-feeder. A silver spoon.
Light-fingered. Dextrous in steal-
ing, given to thieving (1560).
Light-frigate. A wanton (B. #.).
Light-heeled, 1, Wanton (1633); 2.
of. Mere piteuse fait sa file rogneuse,
a tender mother breeds a scabby
daughter (Ray).
Light-heels. See Light-skirts.
Light - house. A red - nosed man
(Grose). Thou art our Admiral, thou
bearest the lantern in the poop (' 1
Hen. IV.,' m. iia.).
Light-infantry. Fleas, F sharps
(q.v.) : cf. Heavy Dragoons : Fr., savte-
reUe and savteuse.
Lightmans. The day: cf. Dark-
mans, night : Fr., matois ; It., apecchio
(1573).
Lightness. Wantonness : see Light
(1614).
Lightning. Gin : flash of lightning (or
dap of thunder), a glass of gin: see
Drinks (1780).
Light-o'-love. A wanton (1589).
Light-skirts. A strumpet: also
Lightheels (1602).
Light-troops. lace (1823).
Light-weight 1. Of little import-
ance, weak. 2. Under twelve stone
(Grose)
Light-wet Gin: see Drinks (1822).
Like. This word enters into numer-
ous combinations indicating energetic,
rapid, or intense action, motion, and
thought. The chief are :— Like (or
AS) anything ; a basket of chips, beans,
billy-ho, a bird, blazes, boots, or old
boots, bricks, or a thousand, or a cart-
load, of bricks, a dog in a fair, fun,
a house on are, hell, hot cake, mad,
one o'clock, shit to a shovel, a shot, a
streak, thunder, the very devil, winkey
or winky (1542). Lite one o'clock
half struck, hesitatingly. Like a
whale: see Whale. Like GTvristmas
beef: see Beef. Like a birch -broom
in a fit: see Birch -broom. I like
that / a derisive answer to a question-
able statement: e.g. I am a capital
pedestrian, I like that! You talk
like a halfpenny book (or penny book),
said in derision of a fluent or affected
Likeness. A phrase used by thieves
when the officers are examining their
countenances j as, the traps are taking
our likeness (Grose).
Lil (or 1411). A book, document of
any kind, afire pound note: in America
.U1KUI.— UCCiCUr *» VVttUI/Vm \1*JOVJ, *»• Otliy JttJJJ.U, tLJJ.V«J MVILUU USJVCi
Slothful : e.g. A light-heeled mother a dollar (1821).
maketh a heavy -heeled daughter:
because she doth all the work her-
self, and her daughter meantime sit-
ting idle, contracts a habit of sloth:
Lilliputian. A dwarf (1823).
Lily-Benjamin. A white greatcoat :
see Benjamin.
Lily-liver. A coward.
267
Lily-livered.
Lingua franca.
Lily-livered.
(1605).
Lily of St. Clements,
meats.
Cowardly, dastardly one's stomach, to eat; to line one's
pockets, to take money. A line, of
See St. Cle- the old author, a dram of brandy : see
Lily-shallow. A white driving hat
(Grose).
Lilywhite. 1. A negro, chimney-
sweep (1696). 2. In pi., the Seven-
teenth Foot, now the Leicestershire
Regiment : from its facings : also
Bengal Tigers (q.v.). Also, 3. the
Fifty-ninth Foot, now the second
battalion East Lancashire Regiment.
Lillywhite Groat A shilling : see
Rhino.
Limb. 1. A mischievous child, imp :
also (in depreciation of older persons) :
ine Ol>& awnvr, a urauj. vu. Lu.a>uuy : aeo
Go (1696). To get into (or on) a line,
to engage in conversation while a
confederate is robbing the person or
premises; to banter or jest with a
man by amusing him with false
assurances or professions, is also
termed stringing him, getting him in
tow, or on a line ; to keep anybody
in suspense on any subject without
coming to a decision is called keeping
him in tow, in a string, or in a tow-
line : to cut the line, or the string, is to
put an end to the suspense in which
you have kept any one, by telling him
e.g. Limb of Satan, etc. 2. A leg : the plain truth, coming to a final
decision, etc. : a person who has been
'lish conversation or letters, we telling another a long story, until he is
find out, even if stone blind, tired, or conceives his auditor has been
all the while secretly laughing at him,
spec. American : * if w© know anything
of Bi " " " * "
that British men and women have
arms and legs, but in Canada .... one
would learn that both sexes have limbs
of some sort .... but we could not tell
whether their limbs were used to stand
on or hold by' (Geikie). 3. In pi., a
gawk: also Duke (or Duchess) of
limbs (1785). As verb, to cheat.
Limb of the law, a lawyer or lawyer's
clerk: also Limb (1762).
Limbo. 1. A prison, place of confine-
ment : from limbus patrum, purgatory
( 1 55 3 ). 2. A pawnshop, uncle's ( q.v. ),
in limbo, in pawn (1693).
Lime-basket To be dry as a lime-
basket, to be very dry, spit sixpences
(q.v.): also to have hot coppers
(q.v.) (1838).
Lime- juice. A young man newly
arrived in the colonies from the old
country is styled a new chum or a
lime-juice.
Limejuicer. A British ship or sailor :
in allusion to the lime-juice served out
as an anti-scorbutic.
Limetwig. 1 . A snare, trick : hence,
will say at last, I've just dropped
down, you've had me in a fine line or
string, I think it's time to out it. On
the other hand, the auditor, having the
same opinion on his part, would say,
Come, I believe you want to string
me all night, I wish you'd cut it ;
meaning, conclude the story at once.
To line one's jacket : see Jacket. The
deviPs regiment of the line, felons,
convicts, the police- van corps.
Line-age. Payment by line.
Linen. The. linen, the stage curtain,
the rag (q.v.). To v>rap up in clean
linen, to deliver sordid or smutty
(q.v.) matter in decent language
(Say). To cool in one's linen, to die.
Linen-arbor. A dormitory.
Linen-armourer. A tailor : see Snip
(1696).
Linen-draper. Paper.
Linenopolis. Belfast: cf. Cotton-
opolis.
Liner. 1. A casual reporter, paid
"by lineage (q.v.) : short for penny-a-
2. any means of swindling : also as liner. 2. A picture hung on the lino
A landlubber (q.v.)
A lameter, dot-
adj. (1592).
Limlifter.
(1598).
Limping-Jesus,
and- carry- one (q.v.).
Lfndabrides. A wanton ( 1663),
Line. 1. A calling, profession,
lay (q.v.) (1655). 2. A hoar, fool-
trap. 3. In pL, a marriage certificate.
4, In pi., reins ; ribbons (q.v.). On
the line, hung on the line at the Royal
Academy. As verb, to fill : as to line
268
(q.v.).
Lingo. A foreign language, un-
intelligible speech (1699).
Lingua Franca. Specifically the
corrupt Italian (dating from tho period
of the Genoese and Venetian suprem-
acy) employed as the language ot com-
mercial intercourse with the Levant :
other examples of trade jargon are
Hindustani in India, Swahuli and
Houssa in Africa, Pidgin in China,
and Chinook in America (1619).
Lining.
IMe England&r.
Lining. See Inside lining (1632).
Link. To turn out a pocket (1821).
Linsey-woolsey. Neither one thing
nor the other (1592).
Lint-scraper. A surgeon : of. Crocus
and Squirt : also Lint (1763).
Lion. 1. Polite men of the town
give the name of a lion to any one
that is a great man's spy (Guardian,
1713). 2. An object (animate or
inanimate) of interest. To see the
lions, to go sight-seeing (1590). 3.
The name given by the gownsmen of
Oxford, to inhabitants or visitors,
4. A hare : We call it a lion because of
the game laws (Lytton, ' Pelham '). 5.
In pi, the Fourth Foot, now the
King's Own Boyal Lancaster Begi-
ment: from its ancient badge. As
verb, to make a loud noise, substitute
noise for good sense, frighten, bluff.
Ootswold lion, a sheep : see Cotsold and
Lammermoor lion (1537). To tip the
lion, to squeeze the nose flat to the
face with the thumb. To put one's
head into the lion's tnouth, to put one-
self into a desperate position. As
valiant as an Essex lion, as valiant as
a calf (Say).
Lion-drunk. * Now have we not one
or two kinde of drunkards onely,
but eight kinde . . . The second is lion
drunk, and ho flings the pots about the
house . . . breakos the glasse windows
with his dagger, and is apt to quarrele
with any man that speaks to him*
(Nashe).
Lioness. 1. A female celebrity,
woman of note (1825). 2. A lady
visitor at Oxford, especially at Com-
memoration. 3. A wanton (1596).
Lion- (or Leo-) hunter. One who
runs after celebrities : popularised by
Dickens in the Mxs. Leo Hunter of
* Pickwick.*
Lionism. Attracting attention as
a lion (q.v.) ; also, sight-seeing.
Lionize. 1. To go sight-seeing : also
To play the lion (q.v.). 2. To make
much of, to treat as a lion (q.v.).
3. To show the sights of a place,
play the cicerone. 4. To go sight-
seeing.
Lion's Provider. A sycophant,
jackal (q.v.).
Lion's Share. The bigger party
Lip.. Impudence, sauce (q.v.).
To give lip, to cheek (q.v.) (1821). As
verb, (1) to sing : FT., rossignol&r ; (2)
to «peak (1789). To button up the lip
(or mouth), to silence. Button your
lip I hold your tongue, stow it (q.v.)
(1747). To faU betwixt cup and lip :
see Slip. To keep (or carry) a stiff
upper lip, to be self - reliant under
difficulties, unflinching in the attain-
ment of an object (1833). To make a
lip, to mock, grimace (1610).
Lip- clap. A kiss : also Lip-favour
(1592).
Lipey. A mode of address : e.g.
Whatoher, lipey !
Lip-labour (or work). 1. Talk, jaw
(q.v.) : also flattery (1575). 2. Kiss-
Flattery
Bad whisky : see
(q.v.)
mg (L
-salve (or wash).
(1594).
Liquid - fibre.
Brinks.
Liquor. A drink. As verb, to drink,
treat: generally, to liquor up: also
to liquor one's boots (q.v.) (1607).
which also, among Boman Catholics,
means to administer the extreme
unction. In liquor, the worse for
drink : see Screwed (1756).
Liquor-pond Street. To come from
Liquor-pond Street, to be drunk: see
Screwed (1828).
Lispers. The teeth : see Grinders
(1800).
List. See Add.
Listeners. The ears (1827).
Listman. A ready-money book-
maker, betting according to prices
on a list exhibited beside him.
Litter. A muddle (J5. K).
Little. Mean, paltry, contempt-
ible (B. #.).
Littie Alderman. A jemmy (q.v.)
made in sections : see Alderman.
Little Barbary. Wapping (JB. J8.).
Little Ben. A waistcoat: see
Benjamin.
Little Bird. See Bird.
Little Breeches. A familiar appella-
tion for a boy.
Little Church around the Corner.
A drinking saloon : see Lush-crib.
Little clergyman. A
chimney-sweep (Grose).
Little Devil. See DeviL
Little-ease. The pillory, stocks (or
any similar mode of punishment),
prison-celL
Little England. Barbadoes: see
Bim.
Little Englander. An anti-Jingo
(q.v.) ; an opponent of the Imperial
Little FigUing Fours.
Loblolly-boy.
Little Fighting Fours. The Forty-
fourth Foot, now the Essex Regiment :
from the prowess of its men, who are
of small stature.
Little-finger. To cock one'* Ut&e
finger, to drink much and often : see
Screwed.
Little-go. The public examination
which students at the English Univer-
sities have to pass in the second vear
of residence : also called the previous
examination (as preceding the final
one for a degree), and, at Oxford,
smalls (q.v.).
Little-go-vale. Orderly step to the
first examination (Grose).
Uttie-guid. The devil, skipper
shot into the throat of a roaring or
broken-winded horse : this conceals
the defect for a few hours, during
which a sale is effected; (2) (Stock
Exchange), to buy heavily: to un-
load, to sell freely. Load of hay, a
day. Like a load of bricks : see like.
To lay on load, to thrash (1537).
Loaf. 1. A lounge, dawdle, idling :
e.g. to do a loaf. 2. See Loaves and
Fishes. As verb, (1) to lounge, idle,
mike (q.v.) : Fr., louper and gouspiner ;
(2) to borrow, especially with no inten-
tion of return. To be in bad loaf, to be
in a disagreeable situation, in trouble
(Grose) (1785).
Loafer. An idler. English syno-
nyms: baker, beat, bummer, crow-
Little- joker. The pea under the eater, draw-latch, flunk, ham-fatter,
thimble in the thimble-rigging game.
See also Joker, sense 3.
Little-side (Rugby). A term ap-
plied to all games, organised between
houses only.
Littie-snakesman. A young thief
passed into a house through a window
so that he may open the door to the
gang (1781).
Little Spot See Spot.
Little William. A bill of exchange.
Live. Energetic, active, intelli-
gent. To live under the cafs paw*
see Cat's-paw. To live to the door, to
live up to one's means.
Live-eels. The fields.
Live-horse. Work done over and
above that included in the week's
charge-sheet : of. Dead-horse.
Live-lumber. Landsmen on board
ship (Grose).
Livener. A morning dram, pick-
me-up (q.v.) : see Go.
Liver. See Curl.
Liverpool-button. A kind of toggle
used by sailors when they lose a
button.
Liverpool Blues. The Seventy-
ninth Foot (1778-84).
Liverpool Tailor. A tramping
workman, one who sits with his coat
and hat on, ready for the road.
Liverpudlian. A native or inhabi-
tant of Liverpool.
Live-stock. Fleas, bugs, lice — all
body vermin (Grose).
Liza. Outside Liza 1 Be off !
Load. An excess of food or drink :
of. Jag. Loaded, drunk: also loaded for
bears (or to the gunwales) (1767). As
verb,
hayseed, heeler, inspector of pave-
ments, lamb, Laurence (or lazy
Laurence), lazybones, mifcer, moucher,
practical politician, Q.H.B., raff,
scow-banker, striker, wood-and-water
Joey : see Cadger.
Loaferisn. Lounging.
L o a fi n g. Aimless lounging : Fr.,
loupe. As adj., lounging.
Leaver. Generic for money : see
Rhino.
Loaves and Fishes. Emolument,
profit, temporal benefits: from John
vi 26 (1787).
Lob (or Lobb). 1. Any receptacle
—box, till, etc. (1718). 2. A block-
head, a lubber : see Buffle (1577). 3.
A large lump. 4. A slow underhand
ball ; delivered low and falling heavily,
its course a decided curve: at Win-
chester, ?o6=yorker (q.v.). See also
snorter, undergrounder, trimmer, tea-
pot, swiper, stringer, grubber, yorker.
5. The head : see Crumpet. To frisk
(dip, pinch, or sneak) a lob, to rob a
tilL To go on the lob, to go into a
shop for change and to steal some :
hence lob - sneaking, robbing tills ;
lob - crawler, a till- thief (1742). As
verb, (1) to droop, sprawl (1599) ; (2)
to bowl a ball 'as a lol (q.v.).
Lobcock. A blockhead: see Buffo:
also adj. (1534).
Lobkin. A houie, i
Lipken (1662).
Loblolly. 1. A lubber, lout, fool ;
see Buffle (1604). 2. Water-gruel,
spoon-meat (1621).
Loblolly-boy. A surgeon's servant
k lodging : i
, , , .... on board a man-of-war: in America*
to introduce well - greased a bayman or nurse (q.v.) (1617).
270
Lobs.
Lobs. I. An assistant watcher,
tinder -gamekeeper. 2. An abbrevia-
tion of lobster (q.v.). As intj., a
signal of a master's approach.
Lobscouse. A hash of meat and
vegetables, olio, gallimaufrey (q.v.) :
see Soap-and-bullion. Other nautical
food names (mostly derisive) are
choke-dog, daddy funk, dead horse,
dogbody, dough Jehovahs, bishee-
hashee, measles, sea-pie, soft tack,
soap - and - bullion, tommy, twice-
laid.
Lobscouser. A sailor : Le. an eater
of lobscouse (q.v.).
Lobsneak (or -crawler) 1. A tffl-
robber, a till- sneak (q.v.). 2. A
lob (q.v.).
Lobsneaking. TU1 - robbing: Fr.,
coup de radin.
Lob ' s-pound. A prison, pound, the
stocks : generic for any place of con-
finement (1603).
Lobster. A soldier. The nick-
name of lobsters, now wwaappled to
soldiers, seems to have been first ap-
plied to Sir A. Hazilrigg's regiment of
cavalry, completely armed with cors-
lets (Somers, 1642). Also boiled lob-
ster, in contradistinction to raw
lobster (q.v.), which formerly was a
sailor. Unboiled-lobster (q.v.) also,
a policeman. A bowler of lobs
(q.v.). As verb (Winchester College),
to cry. [Notions : Probably a varia-
tion of lowster or louster (Hants) to
make any unpleasant noise]. To boil
one's lobster, means for a churchman
to turn soldier ; lobsters, which are of a
bluish-black, being made red by boil-
ing: Butler's ingenious simile will occur
to the reader : — When, like a lobster
boiled, the morn From black to red
began to turn.
Lobster-box. A barrack; also a
transport.
Lobster-cart To upset one's lobster-
cart, to knock one down : see Apple-
cart.
LobtaiL To sport or play : as a
whale, by lifting his flukes, and
bringing them down flat on the
water.
Local. An item of news of local
interest, a chip (q.v.).
Lock. 1. The magazine or ware-
house whither the thieves carry stolen
goods to be secured (J5. E.). 2. A
receiver of stolen goods, a fence (q.v.) :
also Jxx*-otf-/<wi (1696). 3. A line of
business or conduct : of. Lurk. 4. See
Lovelock.
Lockees (Westminster School).
Lockhouse.
Locker. LA thieves' middle-
man (1718). 2. A bar-room, ^
(q.v. ). To be laid in the locker, tol
see Hop the twig. For synonyms see
Aloft. Davy Jones* locker : see Davy
Jones. Shot in the locker: see
Shot.
Lockeram - jaw'd (or Lockram-
jawed). Thin - faced, lanthorn-
jawed (q.v.) (B. St.).
Locksmith's Daughter. A key:
also blacksmith's daughter (Grose).
English synonyms: betty, blacksmith's
daughter (or wife), gukes (skeleton
keys), Jack-in-the-box, screw, sket,
Lock-up-chovey. A covered cart
(Grose).
Lock-up House. A spunging house,
a public-house kept by sheriff's officers,
to which they convey the persons they
have arrested, where they practise
every speciee of imposition and ex-
tortion with impunity; also houses
kept by agents or crimps, who inlist, or
rather trepan men to serve the Bast
India or African company as soldiers
(Grose).
Lock-ups (Harrow School). Deten-
tion in study.
Loco-foco. 1. A self -lighting match
or cigar. 2. A nickname of the
American Democratic party (1834-5).
[At a meeting held in Tammany Hall
the chairman left his seat, and the
lights were suddenly extinguished with
a view to breaking up the meeting.
Thereupon a section of the audience
relighted the lights by means of their
loco-f ocos and continued the meeting] :
also as adj., Democratic, belonging to
the looo-fooo party.
Locomote. To walk (1847).
Locomotive. 1. A mixed hot drink;
of Burgundy, curaooa, yolks, honey,
and cloves. '2. In pi, the legs, pins
(q.v.).
Locomotive Tailor. A tramping
workman.
Locust. 1. Laudanum. 2. A
truncheon. As verb, to put to sleep
with chloroform : a thief s term.
Lodger. 1. A convict waiting for
his discharge. 2. A person of no
account : e.g. only a lodger : cf. Hog.
Lodging - slum* Hiring furnished
271
tog.
Long Eliza.
lodgings and robbing them of all
portables of value (Grose).
Log. The last boy of his form or
house.
Loge. A watch, clock: i.e. Fr.,
hortoge (1696).
Loges. *A passe or warrant: a
Peager of logos, one that beggeth with
false passes' (Routands, 1610).
Loggerhead. A blockhead: see
Buffle (1589). As adj., stupid: also
Loggerheaded (q.v.) (1596). To be
at (or come to) loggerheads, to quarrel,
come to blows (1678). Loggerheaded,
blockheaded : also log-headed (1567).
Logic. 1. Sham jewellery: from
David Logie, the inventor. 2. (Win-
Chester School). Sewage.
Log-roller. 1. A conditional
ally in passing a bill through the
Legislature without reference to the
merits or demerits of the measure so
advanced; and, 2. a venal critic,
assistant, or friend : see Log-rolling.
Log-rolling. Co-operation in
the pursuit of money, business, or
praise.
Logy. DulL
Loll. 1. A favourite child (Grose).
2. See Lollpoop. As verb, to lounge,
lie lazily, sprawl (1362).
Loller. See Lollpoop.
Lollipop (or Lollypop). A sweet-
meat : also lotty.
Lollop. To lounge about, loaf:
hence, a lazybones, loafer; lollopy,
lazy (1745).
Lollop-fever. Laziness.
Lolloping. Idle, lounging,
slovenly.
Lollpoop (Loll, or Loller). A
lazy, idle drone (Grose).
Loll -tongue. To play a game at
loU-tongue, to be salivated (Grose).
Lolly. 1. The head : see Gram-
pet. 2. See Lollipop.
Lollybanger. A ship's cook : see
Lombard-fever. The idles, loafing
(1767).
Lombard St. All Lombard Street
to a china orange, said of a certainty,
the longest possible odds. There are
several of these fanciful forms of
betting — Chelsea College to a sentry-
box, Pompey's pillar to a stick of
sealing-wax, etc., etc.
London. To turn (or put) the
test aide to London, to show one a best :
of. Humphrey's toppers.
London -ivy (or London Parti-
cular). A thick fog.
London Ordinary. The beach at
Brighton : where trippers feed.
Lone -star State. Texas: from
the flag, which has a single star in the
centre.
Long. 1. A bull (q.v.) ; of. Short.
2. A rifle : cf . Short, a revolver. 3.
See John Long. As adj., tall (1189).
The long, the summer vacation. The
longs (Oxford University), the latrines
at Brasenose: built by Lady Long.
As adj., heavy, great : as a long price,
long odds, etc., etc. The long and
the short of it, the sum of a matter, the
whole : see Long attachment. Long
in the mouth, tough. Long in the
tooth, elderly.
Long Acre. A baker, burn-crust
(q.v.).
Long - attachment. A tall man
and short woman walking together,
or vice versa : also the long and the
short of it.
Long -bill. A long term of im-
prisonment. Short-bin, a short term.
Long -bit. A defaced 20 cent,
piece (MatseU) ; also 15 cents in
Western U.S. (Century). Short-lit,
10 cents (Century).
Long-bow. To draw (or pull) the
long bow, to tell improbable stories.
Hence, long-bow man, a liar, English
synonyms: to climb a steep bill, to
come (or out) it strong (or fat, or
thick), to embroider, to gammon
(q.v.), to lay it on thick, to put on the
pot, to pull a leg, to slop over.
Long Chalk, By a long chalk, by
far, in a large measure.
Long-crown. A clever fellow : as
in the proverb, That caps long-crown,
and he capped the devil.
Long-dispar (Winchester Col-
lege). There were six dispars or
portions to a shoulder, and eight to &
leg of mutton, the other joints being
divided in like proportion. All these
dispars had different names ; the thick
slice out of the centre of the leg was
called a middle cut . . . the ribs, racks,
the loin, long dispars (Mansfield).
Long Drink. A considerable quan-
tity, as compared to & nip (q.v*>, i-e-
a drop of short (q.v.).
Long-ear. L A reading man ; *
sober student : see Short-ear. £ In pi,
a donkey, moke.
Long Eliza. The trade term lor
272
Long-faced One.
Long-shore Butch&r.
certain blue and white vases orna-
mented -with, figures of tall tbia china-
women, is a name derived undoubt-
edly from the German or Dutch.
Our sailors and traders called certain
Chinese vases, from the figures which
distinguished them, lange Ldschen
(tall Lizzies), and the English sailors
and traders promptly translated this
into long Elizas.
Long-faced One. A horse : see
Prad.
Long - feathers. Straw, strommel
(q.v.) : Fr., -plume de Beauce.
Long-firm. A body of phantom
capitalists who issue large orders to
supply an infinite variety of goods —
from herrings to harmoniums, from
cotton-twist to pictures; the ledger
of the long firm has room for the most
multifarious transactions. The rule of
procedure with the long firm is simple :
a noble order, a moderate sum paid
on account, bills for the remainder, an
order to deliver the goods at some
country warehouse or depository — and
exit. In the next town he changes
his name and his partners, and re-
peats the operation. From Liver-
pool and Manchester he flings the bait
to London tradesmen, and now and
then a fish is hooked. Fr., bande
noire. A somowhat similar mode of
swindling is described in Parker's
View of Society (ii. 33, 1781).
Long-fork (Winchester College). A
piece of stick serving as a toasting fork.
Long-gallery. Throwing, or rather
trundling, the dice the whole length of
the board.
Long-ghost. A gawk : see Lamp-
post.
Long - glass (Eton College). A
glass nearly a yard long, shaped like
the horn of a stage-coach guard, and
with a hollow globe instead of a foot.
It held a quart of beer, and tho cere-
mony of drinking out of it constituted
an initiation into the higher circles of
Etonian swelldom. There was long-
glass drinking once or twice a week
during the summer half. The inviUs
attended in an upper room of Tap
after two, and each, before the long
glass was handed to him, had a nap-
kin tied round his neck. It was con-
sidered a grand thing to drain the glass
contents of the tubular portion of the
glass had been sucked down, the beer in
the globe would remain for a moment
as if congealed there: then if the drinker
tilted the glass up a little, and shook
it, the motionless beer would give a
gurgle and come with a sudden rush
all over his face. There was a way of
holding the long glass at a certain
angle by which catastrophes were
avoided. Some boys could toss off
their quart of ale in quite superior
style, and I may as well remark that
these clever fellows could do little
else (jBrindey Richards),
Long - haired Chum. A female
friend, sweetheart.
Long-headed. Shrewd, far-seeing,
clever : also long-headednesa (1696).
Long - hogs. The first growth of
wool on a sheep.
Long-home. The grave (1701).
Long - hope. At Oxford . . . the
symbol of long expectations in study-
ing for a degree (Grose).
Long-lady. A farthing candle.
Long-lane. The throat : see Gutter-
alley, for the long lane, said when a
thing is borrowed without intention of
repayment.
Long-legs (or Long-'un). A
tall man or woman : see Lamp-post.
Long-meg. A very tall woman
(JB. A?
Long- oats. A broom or fork-handle
used to belabour a horse : cf. Thorley's
food for cattle.
Long-one. A hare: cf. Long-tail.
Long-paper (Winchester). Paper
for writing tasks on-
Long-pig. Human flesh when ex-
posed for sale.
Long-robe. A lawyer (1611).
Long-row. See Hoe.
Longs and Shorts (also Longs
and Broads). Cords so manu-
factured that all above the eight are
a trine longer than those below it:
nothing under an eight can be cut,
and the chances against turning up an
honour at whist are reduced to two to
one : of. Brief and Concave.
Long-sauce. Beets, parsnips, or
carrots, in contradistinction to short-
sauce (q.v.), onions, turnips, etc. : an
old English usage.
Long-shanks. A tall man: see
without removing it from the lips, and Lamp- post ( B. E. ).
without spilling any of its contents. Long-shore Butcher. A coast-
This was difficult, because when the guardsman, ehixigle-tramper (q.v.).
s 273
Long-shot.
Loose-legged.
To look botty : see Botly. To look
down one's nose, to look glum, have
the blues (q.v.). To look lively, to be
drunk: see Screwed. To look for a
needle in a bottle of hay (or in a hay-
stack), to seek what it is impossible to
find: bottle, a quantity of hay or
grass tied or bundled up : Fr., bofte
(1592). To look sharp, (1) to exercise
great vigilance, be extremely careful
(1711) ; (2) to be quick, make haste.
To look through a glass, to get drunk :
see Screwed. To look towards one,
to drink one's health. To look up, (1)
to show a tendency to improvement,
recover ; (2) to pay a visit.
Look-in. A chance of success.
Looking-glass. A chamber pot:
see It (1696). To look on, said of a
horse not meant to do its best. To
look nine ways for Sundays, to squint :
Long -tailed "Finnips (or Long- FT., vendre des guignes.
iled 'uns). Banknotes for high Loon (Loun, or Lown). A lout,
varlet, rogue (1500). To play the
loon, to play the wanton (1568).
Loonslate (or Loonslatt). Thir-
A tale-bearer, teen pence halfpenny : cf. Hangman's
Long-shot. A bet made at large
odds: as 100 to 1 on anything not
in favour.
Long-sleeved Top. A silk hat
(1889).
Long-sleeved *un. A long glass:
FT., wagon.
Long-stomach. A voracious eater,
wolfer (q.v.) (Grose).
Long-tail. 1. A greyhound:
hence, as dogs unqualified to hunt
were curtailed; gentlefolk (1696). 2.
A pheasant. 3. A native of Kent
(1628). 4. A canting term for one or
another (Johnson).
Long-tailed. Of gentle birth, good
standing (1662).
Long - tailed Beggar. A cat.
English synonyms : baudrons (Scots'),
gib, grimalkin, masheen, nimshod,
puss, Thomas, Tyb.
Tea poured from
tailed
amounts.
Long - tea.
pot held high.
Long-tongue,
chatter-box (1550).
Long-tongued. Talkative (1593).
Long-togs. Shore-going clothes in
general, and dress-clothes in parti-
cular.
Long-tot. A long set of figures for
addition : as in examinations.
Long-winded. Diffuse, protracted,
loquacious.
Lonsdale's Ninepins, The nine
boroughs for which Lord Lonsdale
used to send up members to St.
Loo. 1. A company, community
(Grose). 2. A half mask. As verb, to
vanquish.
Looby. A fool, idle dullard : see
Baffle (1362).
Look. To look a gift horse in
the mouth, to criticise a present or
favour: from ascertaining the age
of horses by looking at their teeth
(1663). To look alive, to bestir one-
self,, be on the alert : also to look
slimy. To look as, if butter would not
melt in one's mouth : see Butter. To
look at the maker's name,, to drain (a
glass) to the bottom, bite one's name
m the pot (q.v.). To look babies (or
for cupids) in the eyes, to look closely
and amorously into the eyes for the
reflected figures (1693). To look
btg : see Big. To look blue : see Blue.
wages (jB.
Loony (or Luny). Crazy : short for
lunatic : also a fool, natural : see
Bufne.
Loose. 1. Wanton, blue (q.v.).
Hence, loose-legged, loose in the hilts
(or haft), incontinent; loose-girdled
(or gowned), approachable ; loose-
woman, a wanton ; loose - liver, a
whoremaster, etc. (1595). 2. Dis-
sipated. On the loose, ( 1 ) on the town ;
(2) on the drink, on the apree (q.v.).
To play fast and loose : see Fast. To
run loose, to run unbacked. To have
a screw loose : see Screw. Loove in the
haft (or hilt), (1) wanton, (2) diarrhcoic,
(3) untrustworthy (1602). Turned
loose, handicapped in a race at a very
low rate. At loose ends, neglected.
Loose -bodied (or Loose-ended).
Lewd (1607).
Loose -bodied gown. A wanton
(1602).
Loose-box. A brougham or other
vehicle kept for the use of a mistress ;
a mot-cart (q.v.).
Loose-fish. 1. A diwunated char-
acter, bad-egg (q.v.) (18&7). 2. An
independent member or voter.
Loose-hung. Unsteady.
Loose-kirtle. A wanton : of. Looae*
bodied gown.
Loose-legged. Incontinent (1598).
274
Loot.
Lowitig-cheat.
Loot. 1, Plunder. 2. A roue,
vagabond : also lootie.
Lop. To lounge, flop.
Lope. 1. To ran away. 2. To
steal.
Loplolly. A servant who makes
himself generally useful, and is always
at the beck and call of his employer :
see Loblolly.
Lord. 1. A deformed, ill-shapen
person, hunch-back : of. Lady. 2. In
pL (Winchester College). The first
eleven. 3, See Lord of the Manor.
Drunk as a lord (prince, or emperor),
very drunk (1653).
Lord-Baldwin. See Queen Anne.
Lord-Harry. See Old Harry.
Lord - John - Russell. A bustle,
bird-cage (q.v.).
Lord-level. A shovel.
Lord - Mansfield's - Teeth. The
spikes round the wall of the King's
Bench (Grose).
Lord -Mayor. A large crowbar,
jemmy (q.v.).
Lord-Mayor 's-CoaL A slate.
Lord - Mayor's - Fool. Like the
Lord Mayor's fool, fond of everything
that is good.
Lord - of - the - Manor. A tanner
(q.v.): see Rhino.
Lose. See Combination, Hair,
Mess, Shirt.
Loser. A stroke in which the
player pockets his own ball, after
striking either his opponent's or the bastard.
see Rhino. Fr., louer, to hire : ' It was
granted him in lower of his servyse '
(Merlin, E.E.T.S., i 59).
Louse. To care not a louse, to be
utterly indifferent (1719), Not worth
a louse, utterly worthless (1617).
Louse-bag. A black bag worn to
the hair or wig (Grose).
Louse -house. The round-house
or cage (Gfrose).
Louse - ladder. A stitch fallen
in a stocking, a Jacob's ladder (q.v.)
(Grose).
Louseland. Scotland (1696): cf.
Itchland.
Louse -trap. A comb : ItaL,
gaUetto (1696).
Louse-walk. A back-hair parting
(Grose).
Lousy. 1. Paint which, from
keeping, has become full of skin. 2.
Filthy, contemptible (1690).
Lout. 1. A clumsy stupid fellow,
fool : see BufHe. 2. (Rugby School).
Any one of the poorer classes : not
necessarily an awkward, lubberly in-
dividual.
Love, No score : Love-all, no
points on either side : Fr., cherche ;
also baiser le cul de la vieille, to make
no score (1780). Cupboard love, in-
terested love (1688).
Loveage. Taplashes, alls (q.v.),
ullage (q.v.).
Love - child (or Love - brat). A
red.
Lost-cause. Secessionism : a
Southern euphemism after the civil
war, 1860-65.
Lot. A person, male or female :
mostly in sarcasm or contempt; as,
a bad lot, a nice lot, etc.
Loteby (or Ludby). A
(1360).
Lothario. A seducer of married
women (1630).
Lothbury. To go by way of Loth-
6wy, to be loth : cf. Needham Shore,
Peokham, etc, (1580).
Lotion. Drink
Loud. 1. Showy. 2. Strong-
flmelling. , Loud one, a big lie (1767).
Lounce. A drink : specifically a
pint of beer : i.e. allowance.
Lounge (Eton and Cambridge).
1. A treat, a chief meal. 2. A loiter-
ing place, gossiping shop (Grose). 3.
The dock in a criminal court.
Lour (Loure, or Lowre). Money :
Attractive, alluring
Love-ladder. A lace petticoat.
Lovelock (or Lock). A falling
curl by the ear : fashionable more or
less from the time of Elizabeth to
Charles L ; worn on the left side, and
hanging by the shoulder, sometimes
even to the girdle : also heart-breakers
lover (q.v.) (1592).
Lovely.
(1653).
Love-pot. A drunkard: see
Lushington.
L o v e y (or Lovey-dovey). A
term, of endearment (1763).
Low. To lie low, to keep quiet,
bide one's time. Low in the lay, in
straits, hard up (q.v.).
Low-down. Vulgar.
Lowdowner. A general byword.
Lower. To drink : see Lush,
Lower Regions. Hell: Fr., pac-
guelin du raboin.
Lowing - cheat (or chete). A cow
(1567).
275
Lomng-layr.
Stealing
vul-
Lowing - lay (or rig),
oxen or cows (Grose).
Low-lived. Mean, shabby,
gar (1766).
Low-man (Cambridge University).
A Junior Optim6 as compared to a
Senior Optime or a Wrangler.
Low-men. False dice ; so loaded as
to show low numbers: also low-runners:
see Fulharns (1594).
Low-pad. A foot-pad (1696).
Lowre, See Lour.
Low-water (or tide). To be in
lou>-vxeter (or at low-tide), to be in diffi-
culties, penniless (1696).
L. S. D. Money : see Rhino.
Lubber (or Lubbard). A hulMng
lout, lumpish oaf : specifically (nauti-
cal) a bad seaman (1362). As adj.,
clumsy, clownish : also lubberly {1580).
Lubberland. The Paradise of
indolence (1767).
Lubber's - hole. An opening ha
the maintop, preferred before the
shrouds by raw hands and timid
climbers (1794).
Lubricate. To drink: see Lush.
Luck. Down on one's luck, unlucky,
in trouble, hard up (1846). Greasy
luck, a full cargo of oil. Fishermen's
luck, wet, cold, hungry, and no fish.
Lucky. Plunder (1852). As adj.,
handy (1703). To cut (or make) one's
lucky, to decamp, amputate, ske-
daddle.
Lucky-bone. The small bone of a
sheep's head, supposed to bring good
luck to a beggar during the day.
Ludby. See Loteby.
Ludlam's Dog. A culmination of
laziness; sailors say: as lazy as Joe
the marine, who laid down his musket
to sneeze.
Ludfs-bulwarfc. Ludgate prison
(1696) : see Cage.
Luff. 1. Speech. 2. A lieutenant.
Lug. 1. The ear : Fr., isgourde
(1592). 2. Affected manners, airs:
e.g. to put on tugs, to be conceited.
As verb, (I) to drag ; also to take by
the ears (1189) ; (2) to drink steadily.
In lug, in pawn, in pledge, up the
spout (q.v.). To lug in, to include,
insert unnecessarily or unexpectedly
(1762). To lug out, to draw (as a
sword) (1688). To llow in one's lug,
to cajole, flatter : hence, blawin-my-
lw, -a flatterer, wheedler. If worth
Aw lugs (he would do suck a, thing),
tised in approbation, or the reverse :
270
from the mediaeval punishment of
lopping the ears (1362) To have a
flea in one's lug : see Ear. To lay
one's lugs, to wager.
Lug - chovey. A pawnbroker's
shop.
Lugger. A sailor (Matsdl).
Lug-loaf. A blockhead: see
Buffle (1606).
Luke. Nothing (Haggart).
Lull. Ale (1636).
Lullaby-cheat. A baby (1671).
Lully. Linen hung out to dry:
hence luUy-prigger, a mcher of wet or
drying linen : FT., defleurir la picouae,
Ivtty-prigging (1754).
Lumb. Too much (New Cant Diet. ),
Lumber. 1. A room : from the
Lombard Room in which the mediaeval
pawnbrokers and bankers stored
their pledges. 2. A prison, quod
(q.v.). As verb, (1) to pawn, (2) to
imprison. Live lumber, soldiers or
passengers on board a ship are so
called by the sailors (Grose).
Lumberer. 1. A swindling
tipster. 2. A pawnbroker, uncle
(q.v.).
Lumberer - crib. A pawnbroker's
shop.
Lumber-house. A house for stor-
ing stolen property.
Lumber-state. Maine.
Lummokmg. Heavy, awkward.
Lummy. First-rate (1843).
Lump. 1. Anything exceptional :
e.g. a lump of a man ; I like that a
lump; that's a lump. 2. The work-
house, pan (q.v.): also Lump "hotd*
3. A party, association. As verb, (1)
to beat, tan (1786); (2) to dislike:
If he does not like it he may lump it,
if he isn't satisfied he may do the other
thing : also to take without choice (i.e.
to swallow whole) (1833) ; (3) to take
off at a draught ; (4) to stake heavily,
to plunge (q.v.). To knock lumps out
of, to command a great deal of ap-
plause. To lump the lighter, to be
transported (Grose).
Lumper. ( 1) A riverside labourer ;
(2) a riverside thief; and (3) a contrac-
tor in a small way for labour and
materials for unloading and loading
ships (1781) ; (4) a vendor of linens,
cottons, or silks, which might be
really the oommodities represented;
but which, by some management or
other, were made to appear new when
they were old, or soSd when they
Lump Hotel.
Lush.
were flimsy ( Mayhew) ; (5) a militia-
man; (6) in pi., potatoes; murphies
(q.v.); (7) one who lumps together
several species : as opposed to a
splitter (q.v.).
Lump Hotel. See Lump.
Lumping. Heavy, bulky, awk-
ward (1678).
Lumpish. Melancholy, dull,
dispirited, heavy (1592).
Lump of Coke. A bloke (q.v.), a
man.
Lump of Lead. The head, crumpet
(q.v.).
Lumpshious. Delicious : c£
Scrumptious.
Lumpy. 1. Drunk : see Screwed.
2. Pregnant. 3. Costly. 4. Rough,
uneven : as applied to the ground.
Lumtum. A fashionable thief
(q.v.).
Lun. (1) A harlequin (Grose). (2)
a clown (Matsell).
Lunan. A girl.
Luncheon Reservoir. The
stomach, victualling office.
Lung-box. The mouth : see Potato-
trap.
Lungis. An idle, lazy fellow
(1562).
Lungs. A large and strong- voiced
man ; also a chymical servant, a sort
of underworkman in the art.
Lunkhead. An ill-bred, ill-looking
horse ; a screw (q.v.).
Lunk-headed. Senseless.
Luny. See Loony.
Lurch. A cheat (1597). As verb,
to steal, cheat, trick (1563). To
leave in the lurch, pawned for the
reckoning or left at stake to smart
for any plot (JB. .87.). FT., laisser
guelqtfwn bgar. To give a lurch, to
tell a He, deceive.
Lurcher. 1. A rogue (1603). 2.
A bum-bailiff : also lurcher of the law
(1785).
Lurden. A rogue : hence lurdenry,
roguery (1513).
Lurk. Many kinds of thieving as
well as begging are termed lurking —
the dead lurk for instance, is the
expressive slang phrase for the art of
entering dwelling-houses during divine
service. The term lurk, however, is
mostly applied to the several modes
of plundering by representations of
sham distress (Mayhew). As verb,
to beg with false letters.
Lurker. I. A begging impostor.
silver beggar (q.v.): also lurJcsman.
2. A Jack-of-all-fcrades (q.v.).
Lurries. Belongings, money,
valuables : generic (1696) : see Rhino.
Lurry. 1. Gabble (1649). 2.
See Lurries.
Lush. 1. Drink : from Lushington,
a once well-known London brewer :
see Drinks. 2. A drinking bout. 3.
(Eton College), a dainty. As verb, (1)
to drink, and (2) to stand treat.
English synonyms : to barley-bree, to
beer, to bend, to blink, to boose, to
bub, to budge, to cover, to crack (or
crush) a bottle (a quart, or cup), to
crook, to crook (lift, or tip) the elbow
(or little finger), to damp, to damp
one's mug, to dip, to dip one's beak (or
nose), to disguise oneself, to do a
dram (or wet), to drown the shamrock,
to flicker, to flush, to fuddle, to gargle,
to give a bottle a black eye, to guttle,
to guzzle, to go and see a man (or — of
women — one's pa), to grog, to have, get,
or take an ante-lunch, a little anti-
abstinence, an appetiser, a ball, a bead,
a bit of tape, a bosom friend, a bucket,
a bumper, a big reposer, a chit-chat, a
cheerer, a" cinder, a cobbler, a corker,
a cooler, some corn juice, a damp,
something damp, a damper, a dannie,
a drain, a dram, a doch-an-dorroch, a
digester, an eye-opener, an entr'acte, a
fancy smile, a flash, a flip, a forenoon,
a go, a hair of the dog that bit one,
a heeltap, an mvigorator, a Johnny,
a jorum, a leaf of the old author, a
morning rouser, a modicum, a nip, or
nipperkm, a night-cap, a nut, one's
' ' ,e, a pistol shot, a pony, a
quantum, a quencher, a re-
a revelation, a rouser, a re*
poser, a smile, a swig, a sleeve-button,
a something, a slight sensation, a
shant, a shout, a sparkler, a settler,
a shift, a stimulant, a sneaker, a
snifter, a soother, a thimbleful, a tift,
a taste, a toothful, a Timothy, a
warmer, a willy-wacht> to huff, to
irrigate, to knock about the bub, to
lap, to lap the gutter, to liquor, to
liquor up, to load in, to look thro' a
glass, to lower, to lug, to make fun,
to malt, to moisten (or soak) the
chaffer (clay, or lips), to mop, to mop-
up, to mug, to peg, to potate, to prim©
oneself, to pull, to put (or drive)
another nail in one's coffin, to read the
maker's name, to revive, to rince, to
rook, to save a life, to scamander, to
277
LuMorough.
Macaroni.
jhed a tear, to shake a cloth, to sherry-
fog, to shift, to shout, to slosh, to
sluice (or wet) the bolt, gob, or ivories,
bo soak, to splice the mainbrace, to
aquiff, to stab, to suck the monkey, to
swill, to swig, to swipe, to swizzle, to
take the pin out, to take a drop in the
eye, to take in some O be joyful, to
tiff, to tipple, to toddy, to wet, to wet
one's whistle, to wine.
Lushborough. A light coin, imported
into England from Luxembourg,
whence the name. The importation of
this false money was frequently for-
bidden, viz. in 134=7, 1348, and 1351.
Lush-crib (or ken). A public
house, tavern, hotel, club, etc. Eng-
lish synonyms: ale draper's, black-
house, boozer, budging-ken, church,
cold-blood house, confectionery, cross-
dram, devil's-house, dive, diving-bell,
drum, flash - case (drum, ken, or
nny), flat-iron, flatty-fcsn, gargle-
'ory, gin-mill, grocery, groggery,
;-shop, guzzle - crib, jerry - shop,
___j-shop, hedge-house, Mddly-wink,
little church round the corner, lush-
house (panny, or ken), lushery, mop-
up, mug-house, O-be-joyful works,
panny, patter - crib, piss - factory,
pot-house, pub (or public) red-lattice,
roosting-ken, rum -mill, shanty, she-
been, side - pocket, sluioery, suck-
casa, tippling - shop, Tom-and- Jerry
shop, whistling-shop, wobble-shop.
Lushing-muzzle. A blow on the
mouth (Grose).
Lushington. A sot : also lushing
man and lushing cove. English syno-
nyms : admiral of the red, after-dinner
man, ale-knight, ale- wisp, artilleryman,
bang-pitcher, beer-barrel, belch-guts,
bencher, bench- whistler, bezzle,bibber,
blaokpot, bloat, blomboll, boozer,
boozington, borachio, bottle-sucker,
brandy-face, brewer's horse, bubber
(or bubster), budge (or budger), bung-
eye, burster, common sewer, copper-
nose, drainist, drainpipe, dramster,
D-T-ist, elbow-crooker, emperor, en-
sign - bearer, fish, flag - of - distress,
fluffer, fuddle-cap (or fuddler), full-
blown angel, gargler, gin-crawler, (or
slinger), ginnums, gravel - grinder,
grog-blossom, guttle (or guttle-guts),
guzzler (or guzzle - guts), high-goer,
jolly-nose, lapper, love-pot, lowerer,
lug - pot, moist-'un, mooner, mop,
(or mopper-up), nazie-cove (or mort),
nipster, 0 - be - joyfuller (or O - be-
joyful-merchant), pegger, piss-maker,
potster, pot-walloper, pub-ornament,
sapper, shifter, sipster, soaker, sponge,
swallower, swill-pot (or tub), swigsby,
swigster, swipester, swizzle - gute,
ThSstington, tipplo-arae, toddy-cask,
toss-pot, tote, tun, wet-quaker, wet-
subject, wetster.
Lushy. Drunk : see Screwed.
Lustres. Diamonds (Matsell}.
Lux (Blue-coat School). A good
thing ; a splendid thing ; e.g. My
knife is wooston a lux. Probably
short form of luxuriant. Hertford
word (Blanch).
Luxer (Winchester College). A
handsome fellow, I presume from
luxuries, it being a pleasure to look at
him (Adams).
Luxuries. See Bar.
Lyb-beg. A bed (Harmon).
Lyerby (or Lig-by). A mistress.
Lyp. To lie down (Barman).
Lypken. See labken.
Lyribliring. Warbling, singing
M. To Ttave an M under (or by)
t~he girdle, to have a courteous ad-
dress : by using the titles Mr., Mrs.,
Miss, etc. (1597).
Mab. 1. A cabinet (1823). 2. A
slattern (1696). 3. A prostitute. As
verb, * Drest carelessly, like a Slattern *
(B. JB,).
Macaroni. l.'Inthe first Placelmust
observe that there is a Set of merry
Drolls whom the Common People of all
Countries admire, and seem to love so
278
well that they could eat them, accord-
ing to the old Proverb : I mean those
circumforaneous Wits whom every
Nation calls by the Name of that Dish
of Meat which it loves best In
Holland they are termed Pickled
Herrings ; in France, Jean Pottages ; in
Italy, Macoaroniee; and in Great
Britain, Jack Paddings. These
merry Wags, from wliatsoever Food
they receive their Titles that they
may make their Audiences laugh,
Macaroni-stake.
always appear in a Fool's Coat, and
commit such Blunders and Mistakes in
every Step they take, and every Word
they utter, as those who listen to them
would be ashamed of ' ( Addison, 1711).
It., maccarone, now maccherone, a
blockhead : cf. Ger., Hanswurst ;
FT., Jean-farine; and Jack-pudding.
2. A dandy from 1760-75 : from the
Macaroni Club, which introduced
Italian macaroni at Almack's (1764).
3. A Maryland regiment noted for
its smartness, which took part in the
Revolution — Stuck a feather in his
cap and call it macaroni (Yankee
Doodle). 4. A pony. As adj., (1)
foppish, affected ; and (2) a kind of
burlesque poetry, consisting of a
jumble of words of different languages
with words of the vulgar tongue latin-
ized, and Latin words modernised : also
maearonian and macaronical.
Macaroni-stake, A race ridden by
a gentleman -Jock (q-v.) (Bee).
Macaroon. An affected blockhead :
see Buffle (1650).
Mace. A rogue assuming the
character of a gentleman, or opulent
tradesman, who under that appearance
defrauds workmen, by borrowing a
watch or other piece of goods, till one
he bespeaks is done (Grose). As verb,
to defraud : macing means taking an
office, getting goods sent to it, and then
bolting with them; or getting goods
sent to your lodgings and then remov-
ing : also, on the mace, and to strike the
mace ; to mace the rattler, to travel by
rail without paying the fare. On
the mace, on credit, tick (q.v.).
Maceman (Mace-cove, Mace-
gloak, or Macer). A swindler : spec.
(1) a loan-office sharp, and (2) a swell
mobsman.
Machine. 1. A bicycle or tricycle ;
a carriage (Scots') ; and (in America) a
fire-engine (1797). 2. A party, a party
organization (American politics).
Machiner. A coach-horse.
Mackerel (printers'). Smeared,
blurred, indistinct.
Mackerel-back. A very tall, lank
person (S. #.)•
Mad. Angry, vexed. To get one*s
mad wp? to get angered : also as verb
(1369). Like. mad-, see Liko. Mad
OB a hatter, violently angry, crazy.
Mad cw a, March hare, as mad as may
be (1535).
Madam. 1. A pocket-handker-
279
chief, wipe (q.v.) : FT., fassollette. 2.
A mistress (1634). 3. A bold girl,
artful woman. 4. An ironical ad-
dress (1726).
Madam Van. A wanton (1696).
Madcap. A whimsical humourist,
rashling : Fr., lanturlu : as adj.. wild,
freakish.
Mad-dog. Strong ale: see Brinks
(1686).
Made. See Make.
Made - beer (Winchester College).
College swipes bottled with rice, a
few raisins, sugar, and nutmeg to
make it up (Mansfield).
Madge. 1. A private place. 2. A
woman: partly in sport and partly
in contempt (Jamieson).
Mad-pash. A madman.
Mad-Tom. A man feigning mad, a
Tom of Bedlam (q.v.).
Mad-woman. An empty coach.
M a d z a. Half. Madza-caroon,
half a crown; madza - scdtee, a half-
penny: It., mezzo,. Medza-beargeredt
half -drunk.
Mag. 1. Talk, chatter, jaw (q.v.) :
also a jabberer: FT., caquet-oon-bec
(1778). 2. A halfpenny : see Rhino :
also make and magpie: In pi. (in
Scotland), a gratuity expected by ser-
vants: cf . Meg, guinea ( 1567). 3. A half-
cent. 4. The same as Magpie. 5. A
magazine (1796). As verb, (1) to
talk (1836) ; (2) to steal (1818) ; (3)
to get money by cheating countrymen
with balls, patent safes, etc. Mag' a
diversion : see Meg.
Maga. BlacJcwootfs Magazine.
Magdalene. A reformed prostitute
(1693).
Mag-flying. Pitch and toss: cf.
Mag, a halfpenny.
Maggie. A wanton: of. Kitty
(1603).
Maggie Rab (or Robb). 1. <& bad
halfpenny: see Rhino. 2. A bad
wife.
Magging. Talking.
Maggot. 1. A whim, crotchet,
fad (q.v.) : cf. (Soots*) Bee in bonnet :
Fr., rota dans la ttie (1655). 2. 'A
whimsicall Fellow, full of strange
Fancies and Caprichios. Maggotty,
Freakish ' (JS. E.).
Maggot - boiler. A tallow chan-
dler (Grose).
Maggoty (Maggot-headed or
pated). Fanciful, eccentric, full of
whimsies (1687).
Make.
Magistrand (Aberdeen University).
A student in arts of the last year :
of. Bejan.
Magistrate. A herring: see Glas-
gow magistrate.
Magnificent. High and mighty;
in pi., a state of dignified resent-
ment.
Magnify. It doesn't magnify, it
doesn't signify.
Magnum. A double quart : cf. Jero-
boam, Rehoboam, etc. (1796).
Magpie. 1. A bishop: from his
vestments of black and white. 2. See
Mag, 3. Apie^pastry^Fr^^r^.
Maidstone-jailer. A tailor: see
Prick-louso.
Mail. In pi., Mexican railway
shares. To get up the mail, to find
money to defend a prisoner.
Main. The averages of the number
to be thrown at dice ; at (cock-fighting)
the advantage on a series of battles
(See). To turn, on the main, to weep,
nap a bib.
Main-brace. To splice the main-
brace, to serve an allowance of grog ;
hence to drink (1S34).
Main-chance. See Chance.
Main-sheet. Drink : specifically
4A shot striking a target, divided brandy : see Drinks.
into four sections, in the outermost Main-toby. The highway, main
but one • it is signalled with a black road : see Toby.
and white disk: cf. Bull's eye. «_-•—•-_ ™~
Magsman. A street swindler, a con-
fidence-trick man : from mag, to talk :
Fr., chevalier de la retourne.
Mahogany. 1. A dining-table : also Crinagoras (Anthol. Palat. 11, 42),
Majority. To go over to (or join) the
majority (or great majority), to die :
see Hop the twig. [The expression
\e6v<av i/rc<rS-at is found
mahogany-tree (1840). 2. Salt beef,
old horse (q.v.). 3. A drink, made
and penetrare ad plures in Plautus
(Trin., ii. 2, 14). A correspondent
of two partV'gm', and one part treacle, of the Illustrated London News ( Echoes,
well beaten together (Boswell). To Sept. 9, 1883) writes : * The phrase,
have one's feet under another man's joining the majority, is a free transla-
mahogany, to live on some one else, tion of the sepulchral formula, Abier-
To amputate one's mahogany, to run unt ad multos, used by the Roman
away, cut one's stack (q.v.). legionaries in Britain; but in all proba-
Mahogany-flat. A bug : cf . Heavy bility the English use of the ex-
.
cavalry : see Norfolk Howard.
Mahometan-gruel. Coffee (Grose).
pression was
Make. See
larised by Young.]
As verb, (1) to
Maiden. 1. A decapitating steal : see Prig (1696); (2) (Winchester
machine. Which fatal instrument, College), to appropriate; (3) to earn.
at least the pattern thereof, the cruel On the make, intent on (1) booty, or
Regent [Earl Morton] had brought (2) profit. To make up one's mout}^
from abroad to behead the Laird of
Pennecuik of that ilk, who notwith-
standing died in his bed, and the un-
fortunate Earl was the first himself
that handselled that merciless maiden
to get one's living. To make away
(vrith oneself), to commit suicide
(1633). To make, dainty, to scrupK
To make nice, to scruple or object.
To -make up, (1) to dross : as an actor
(Pennecuik). 2. In cricket, an over for a part: see Make-up (ICOiJ); (2)
with no runs ; in racing, a horse
which has never run : also as adj., as, a
maiden-speech, a maiden-attempt, etc.
(1696).
Maidenhead. Newness; freshness;
uncontaminated state : this is now
become a low word (Johnson).
Maiden-town. Edinburgh, Auld
Reekie : from a tradition that the
maiden daughters of a Piotish King
to get up, invent : as a catch or take
in. To make (or take) it up, to be
reconciled after a quarrel (1508).
To make mouths, to jeer, grin. To
make hay, to tumble, confuse, dis-
order. To make meat of, to kill. To
make a house, to gather a quorum (40
members). As good (bad, hot, drunk,
etc.) as they maJee. them, as good, bad,
etc. as may be. Make him swim for it,
sought protection there during a time cheat him out of his share. See also
of civil war. Back, Bacon, Bates, Beef, Blue, Bones,
Maid Marian. A wanton : the char- Books, Buttons, Children's shoes,
aoter in the old morris -dance was Clean breast, Clean sweep, Clink,
taken by a loose woman (1598).
Maids-adorning. The morning.
Crimson, pnckR-and-drakoa, Face,
Feather, Figure, Fish, Flash, Fool,
280
Fun, Fur, Good, Hair, Hand, Hare,
Hash, Hay, Honest woman, Kiss, Leg,
Lip, Long-arm, Lucky, Man, Meal,
Meat, Mouth, Night, Pile, Play, Point,
Queen Anne's fan, 3,aise, Running,
Scarce, Show, Splash, Split, Stand,
Things, Tracks, Turkey - merchant,
Two come, Virginia fence, Water,
Whack, Whole cloth, Woman, etc.,
etc.
Makepeace. A birch.
Maker. A tailor, pricklouse (q.v.).
Makeshift. A thief (q.v.) (1584).
Makesures. Petty pilferings, fluff
(q.v.), cabbage (q.v.) : Fr., gratte.
Make-up. 1 . The arrangement of an
actor's face and dress : see to make up,
Make up box, a box of materials —
rouge, sponges, grease-paint, and the
like — used in makmg-up. 2. A piece
of deception, barney (q.v.), gammon
(q.v.), humbug (q.v.), take-in (q.v.).
Make-weight. 1. A small candle
(Grose). 2. A short slender man
(Grose).
Makings. 1. Material for anything
(1836). 2. Profits, earnings : Fr., jus.
Malinger. To sham illness, shirk
duty.
Malingerer. A shirker under pre-
tence of sickness (Grose).
Malkin (Maukin, Mawkin). 1.
Originally (Johnson) a kitchen-wench :
henco, a dish-clout, scarecrow, wisp :
and so, slattern (1579). 2. A hare;
also (old) a cat.
Malkin-trash. One in dismal garb
(B. E.).
Malmsey - nose. A red-pimpled
snout, rich in carbuncles and rubies
(Grose) : of. Grog-blossom.
Malt To drink beer (1828). To
have the mat4 above the wheat (water,
or meal), to be drunk: see Screwed
(1767).
Maltooling. Picking pockets in
omnibuses: of. Molltooter.
Maltout. A sailor : of. Fr., matelot.
Malt-worm (bug, or horse). A
tippler, Lushington (q.v.) (1551).
Matnmet. A puling girl (1595).
Mammy. 1. Mother : an endear-
ment (1560). 2. A negro nurse,
in&umer.
Man. 1. A husband, lover : gener-
ally, my man (1309). 2. The head
or obverse of a coin used in tossing :
of. Woman (1828). 3. Any under-
graduate from fifteen to thirty : as, a
man of Emamiel — a young member of
Emanuel. Dead man, a supernumer-
ary. Man alive 1 A mode of salutation:
used in remonstrance or surprise.
Man of many morns, a procrastinator.
Man of the world, a knowing man
(Grose). Man -Friday, a factotum:
from the character in Robinson Crusoe.
Man-a-hanging, a man in difficulties.
The man in the moon, (1) a mythical
personage who finds money for elec-
tioneering, and for such electors as
vote straight. (2) A dolt : see Buffle
(1621). // my aunt had been my
uncle she'd have been a man, said in
derision of a ridiculous surmise : — If
wishes were horses, beggars would
ride, If pigs had wings, what lovely
birds they'd make! (1767). He'll be
a man before his mother : see Mother.
To go out and see a man, to drink : an
excuse for a glass. The man in the
street, everybody. To get behind a
man, to endorse a bill. Old man, an
employer, chief, governor (q.v.), the
father of a family, a husband. The
sick man, Turkey. Man about town,
'& Lew'd Spark, or very Debaushe'
(B. E.). Man of Kent, all the in-
habitants of Kent, east of the river
Medway, are called men of Kent, from
the story of their having retained their
ancient privileges, particularly those
of gavel-kind, by meeting William the
Conqueror at Swanscomb-bottom ;
each man, besides his arms, carrying
a green bough in his hand ; by this
contrivance concealing their number
under the appearance of a moving
wood. The rest of the inhabitants of
the county are styled Kentish-men
( Grose). A man or a mouse, something
or nothing (Morio), one on the other
(1547). Nine tailors make a mam
seo Ninth.
Manablins. Broken victuals : Fr.,
arlequin, and "bijou-, also manavtfins.
Manarvel. To pilfer small stores.
Man-box. A coffin ( 1820).
Manchester. The tongue, prating-
cheat (1819).
Manchester-silk. Cotton.
Manchester Sovereign. A
shilling : see Rhino.
Manchet. See Brewer's-basket.
Man-chovey. See Chovey.
Mander. A remand.
Mandozy. ( 1 ) A telling hit ; and (2)
a term of endearment among Bast-
end .Tows : both from the
Mendoza*
281
Mang. To talk, brag, boast (1819).
Manger. See Dog.
Manhandle. To maltreat, handle
roughly, thrash, tan.
Man-in-black. A parson (1691).
Man-in-blue. A policeman : see
Manners. After you is manners,
a jocular implication of inferiority
(1659).
Mannish. Amorous (1382).
Manoeuvre. See Apostle.
Man-of-straw. See Straw.
Man (or Lad) of wax. A sharp,
clever fellow ; a model man (1595).
Man-trap. 1. A widow, house to
let (q.v.) (1773). 2. A lump of ex-
crement, a quaker (q.v.).
Manual-compliment (or subscrip-
tion). A blow, sign-manual (q.v.)
(1750).
Manufacture. Liquors prepared
from materials of English growth
(Lex. Bal.).
Map. A dirty proof.
Marble (or Marvel). To move off,
absquatulate (q.v.).
Marbles. Furniture, movables ;
Money and marbles, cash and effects :
Fr., meubles: hence, and substantial
quid pro quo. English synonyms:
belongings, household gods, lares and
penates, movables, sticks* sprats,
slows, traps.
March. See Dirty-shirt march.
Marching-regiment. An infantry
regiment of the line: in disparage-
ment.
Marchioness. A slatternly maid-of-
all-work, slavey (q.v.): from the
character in The Old Curiosity Shop.
Mare. A woman, a wife. The
grey mare is the better horse, tihe wife
rules the husband. To win the mare
or lose the halter, to play double or
quits. Money makes the mare go,
money does anything you will (1605).
Shank? s mare : see Shanks. To go
"before the mare to market, to do prepos-
terous things (Ray).
Mare *s-nest. A supposed discovery,
hoax, delusion : also to find a mare's
nest and laugh at the eggs (1647). The
mare with three legs, the gallows, the
triple tree (q.v.).
Mare 's-tails. Feather - like clouds
indicative of wind.
Margery-prater. A hen, cackling
cheat (q.v.) (1573).
Maria. See Black Maria.
Marigold (or Marygold). 1.
One million sterling. 2. A gold coin :
from the colour (1663).
Marinated. Transported (Grose).
Marine (or Marine Officer, Dead
Marine). 1. William IV. seemed in
a momentary dilemma one day, when,
at table with several officers, he
ordered one of the waiters to * take
away that marine there,' pointing to
an empty bottle. * Your majesty ! '
inquired a colonel of marines, * do you
compare an empty bottle to a member
of our branch of the service ? * ' Yes,'
replied the monarch, as if a sudden
thought had struck him ; * I mean to
say it has done its duty once, and is
ready to do it again * (Mark Lemon).
2. A man who is ignorant and clumsy
about seaman's work, greenhorn, land-
lubber. TeU that to the marines: see
Horse marines.
Mark. 1. A preference, fancy
(1760). 2. A person, pig (q.v.), raw
(q.v.). Old mark, a lady. 3. The pit
of the stomach : also Broughton's
mark. 4. See Mark of tho beast. 5.
A victim. 6. A street-walker. As
verb, to watch, pick out a victim : see
Marking. To toe the mark : see Too.
To mark up, verb, to know all about
persons. Mark of mouth, the tale
told by the teeth : originally horse-
copers' : ci You mustir t look a gift
horse in the mouth.
Marker (Cambridge University).
A person employed to walk up and
down chapel during a part of the
service, picking off the names of the
students present.
Market The betting ring. To
drive pigs to market ~ see Figs.
Market-dame. A strumpet (1705).
Marketeer. A betting man. who
devotes himself, by means of special
information, to the study of favourites
and their diseases: tho principal
agent in all milking (q.v.) and knock-
ing out (q.v.) transactions.
Market-fever. See Pencil-fever.
Market-horse. A horse kept on the
lists for the sake of tho betting.
Market-place. The front teeth.
Marking. 1. A watcher, stall
(q.v.) (Matsett). 2. Observing ; taking
notice.
Marley - stopper. A splay-footed
person. Marley is a corruption of
marble .... In playing it is common
for a boy to put bos heels together, and
Marmalade.
Masher.
turn out his toes .... to stop an
eccentric marble.
Marmalade. True marmalade, a
variant of real jam (q.v.).
Marmozet. An endearment : also,
in jocular contempt, as monkey (q.v.)
(1607).
Marm-puss. A wife.
Maroon. To abandon on a desert
isle, with a little powder and shot
and a flask of water ; hence maroon, a
man marooned.
Marplot. An officious bungler, spoil
; (q. v. ) : from a character in The
Marquis of Granby. A bald-
head, bladder of lard.
Marquis of Marrowbones. See
Marrowbone.
Marriage - music. The crying of
children (1696).
Married. Chained or handcuffed
together (Grose). Married on the
carpet and the "banns up the chimney,
living as man and wife ; tally (q.v.).
Marrow. A partner, an equal:
specifically (Old Scots') a lover or
spouse : amongst colliers, mate (q.v.)
(1513).
Marrowbone. In pi., the knees :
ItaL, devoti (worshippers) (1553).
Marquess of marrowbones, a lackey
(1502).
Marrowbones and Cleavers.
Butcher's music to new - married
couples : formerly there was a regular
peal in every parish (Grose).
Marrowbone- (or Marylebone)
ge (or coach). To ride in (or
go oy) the marrovibone-sfage, to go on
foot, by Shanks's mare.
Marrowskying. At the London
University they had a way of dis-
guising English (described by Albert
Smith, in Mr. Ledbury, 1848, as the
Gower Street dialect), which consisted
in transposing the initials of words:
as poke a smipe, smoke a pipe ; flutter-
by, butterfly ; stint of pout, pint of
stout, etc. : this is often termed
Marrowskying : also Medical (or Hos-
pital) Greek.
Marshall. A five pound Bank of
England note: of. Abraham New-
Ian.
Martext. A clergyman: speci-
fically a blundering or ignorant
preacher (1600).
Martin. 1. An honest man (1612).
2. A boot. 3. See St. Martin.
Martin-drunk. ' When a man is
drunk, and dnnkes himselfe sober
ere he stirre ' (Nashe) : see Screwed-
Martinet. A military term for a
strict disciplinarian : from the name of
a French general, famous for restoring
military discipline to the French
army. He first disciplined the
French infantry, and regulated their
method of encampment : he was
killed at the siege of Doesbourg m
the year 1672 (Lex. Bal.).
Martingale. Doubling a stake at
every loss : from the fact that, as in
all fair games, a player must win once,
there is a safe hold of fortune : the
difficulty is to command a big enough
bank, or, having the bank, to find some
one to follow in a fair game (1823).
Martin 's-hammer. Martin* s-ham-
mer knocking at the wicket, said of
twins.
Marvel. To walk, be off : e.g. He
marvelled for home : also Marble
(q.v.).
Mary I No score, or love, in j eff-
ing (q-v.) with quads. To tie u>ith
St. Mary's knot, to hamstring (1784).
Mary- Ann. 1. The dea ex maehind
evolved from trades - unionism at
Sheffield, to the utter destruction
of recalcitrant grinders : of. Molly
Maguires. 2. A dress stand.
Marygold. See Marigold.
Maryland - end. The hock of a
ham; cf. Virginia-end (Sartlett).
Marylebone Stage. See Marrow-
bone Stage.
Mary- Walkers. Trousers : see
Kicks. After Dr. Mary Walker, who
adopted Turkish trousers.
Mascot. A luck piece, talisman,
somebody (or something), which
ensures good fortune to the owner:
la mascotte : if the luck - piece be
alive, the master-quality disappears
with the loss of his (or her) virginity.
Mash. A sweetheart : also Masher.
As verb, to court, ogle, lay oneself out
for the practical approval of the
other sex : hence, on the mash ; mashed,
amorous, spoony ; mashed on, in love :
see Masher.
Masher. (1) A species of Don
Juan in a small way of business :
specifically among choristers and
actresses ; hence (2) a dandy, and as
adj., smart, dapper. [The particle
mashed was in use, la America, before
the substantive. A person who was
Mash&rdom.
Mealer.
very spoony on another was said to
be mashed. Then oamo the verb to
mash, and latterly the noun masher;
i.e. he who produces the effect, or at
least who imagines himself a lady-
killer. Men of this calibre are often
fops or dandies ? Hence, the word
masher as now understood here.]
Masherdom. Tho world of mashers
(q.v.).
Mash-tub. A brewer: hence
(Fleet St.) The Morning Mash -tub,
The Morning Advertiser.
Maskin. Coal.
Mason. One who swindled farmers,
etc. by giving worthless notes for
horses, etc. bought by them. The
dealers, called masons .... giving
notes for money, and never to pay it
(Poult&r, 1764) : also as verb.
Masonry. Secret signs and pass-
words.
Mason's-mawn'd. 4 A Sham sore
above the Elbow, to counterfeit a
broken Arm, by a Fall from a Scaffold,
expos' d by subtil Beggars, to move
Compassion, and get Money ' (J5. 2?.)'
Massacre. See Innocents. '
Masse - stapler. A rogue dis-
guised as a woman.
Master-can (or more). A
chamber-pot (Fergussori) (1776).
Master - of - the - black - art. A
beggar : see Cadger.
Master - of - the - Mint. A gar-
dener : cf. Burn-crust, Corks, etc.
Master - of - the - Rolls. A baker
(1641). English synonyms : burn-
crust, doughy, dough- puncher, crumbs,
fourteen-to-the-dozen.
Master - of - the - Wardrobe. One
who pawns his clothes to buy liquor
(Grose).
Masterpiece. A culmination: the
best that can be (1715).
Match. 1. In pi,, Bryant and May,
Limited, Stock. 2. A stripling: see
Lamp-post.
Mate. A companion, partner,
pal (q.v.) : also matey (1580).
Mater. A mother, the Old woman
(q.v.): FT., materneUe (1859).
Matin - bell. A thieves' rendez-
vous, evening chimes (q.v.).
Matriarch. An old dowager.
Matter. As near as no matter, very
nearly, as near a may be.
Maukes (Maux, or Mawkes). See
Mawkes.
Maukin. See Malkxn
Mauled. 1. Swingingly drunk:
see Screwed. 2. Soundly beaten.
Mauley (Morley, or Mawley).
1. A fist, a hand. To tip a mauley, to
give a hand; jam the, mauley, shake
hands (1800). 2. A signature, hand-
writing, fist (q.v.).
Maund (or Maunder). 1. To beg.
To maund wpon the pad (or on ike
fly), to beg in the highway or the
street; maunding, begging: from
maund, a basket : cf . Beg from bag
(1531). 2. To ask (1667).
Maunder. A beggar, cadge-g!
(q.v.) : also maundcrer and mau
cove (1611).
Maundring - broth. A scolding
(J5. E.).
Maverick. An unbranded yearling :
from one Maverick.
Maw. The mouth (1502). Hold
your maw / stop talking.
Mawkes. 1. A vulgar slattern
(Grose). 2. A wanton.
Mawley. See Mauley.
Maw-wallop. A filthy composition,
sufficient to provoke vomiting (Grose).
Mawworm. A hypocrite : from
Biekerstaff s play, The Hypocrite : also
as adj. (1823).
Mawpus. See Mopus.
Mawther. 1. A girl (Jonson). 2. An
old drudge (Dickens).
Max. Gin : see Drinks : from
maxime, and so properly applied only
to the best quality spirit (1823). As
verb, at West Point (United States)
to gain the maximum of marks ;
hence, to do well.
May (Cambridge University). The
Easter Term examination.
May - gathering. Shoep-atealing,
fleecy-claming (q.v.), bleat-marching
(q.v.).
Mazarine. I. A Common Council-
man of the City of London : from the
robe of mazarine blue (1701). 2.
A platform under the stage.
Mazzard (Mazard, or Mazer).
The head, face (1002). As verb, to
knock on the head.
M. B.Coat (or Waistcoat). A
long coat worn by aim* clergymen :
i.e. Mark of the Beast (1853).
Meacock. 1. A milksop, fool ; see
Buffle (1503). 2. A ben - peeked
husband. As adj.t cowardly ( 1503),
Meal. See Square-meat
Mealer. 1. A partial abstainer:
pledged to take intoxicaotg only at
Meal-mouth.
Member.
meals. 2. One who lodges at one
place and boards elsewhere.
Meal-mouth. ' A sly sheepish Dun,
or Sollioitor for Money ' (B. J$,).
Meal -tub (or sack). The stock
of sermons : e.g. I've nothing in my
meal-tub, I've no sermon ready.
Mealy- (or Meal-) mouthed (or
mealy). 1. Fluent, plausible, per-
suasive (1587). 2. One that is faint-
hearted, bashful, or afraid to speak
his mind freely (Dyche).
Mean. 1. Disobliging, petty, stingy.
To feel mean, to feel guilty. 2. A
general epithet of disparagement:
mean night, a bad night j mean horse,
a sorry screw ; mean crowd, a man of
no account ; mean bit, a worn-out,
haggard woman. Mean enough to
steal acorns from a Hind hog, as mean
as maybe.
Mean White (American negro). A
white man working with his hands,
poor white trash (q.v.).
Measly. Contemptible.
Measure. The distance of duellers.
To break measure, to be out of the
adversary's reach (jB. J27.}. To measure
out, to knock down flat, to kill. To
tafcefor get) one's measure, (1) to marry;
(2) to appreciate, to size up (1859).
To be measured [for a part, etc.], to get
a part written to one's liking or capa-
city, to be exactly suited. To have
been measured for a new umbrella, (1)
to appear in new but ill-fitting clothes ;
whence (2) to pursue a policy of
doubtful wisdom. To be measured
for a suit of mourning, to get a pair
of black eyes. Measured for a funeral
sermon, at death's door.
Meat. To chew one's own meat* to
do a thing oneself ; hence, to chew meat
for one, to do another's work for Mm.
Meat-and-drink. 1. Strong drink;
also liquor thickened with yolk of
eggs, etc. 2. Delight (1600).
Meat-axe. Savage as a meat-axe,
extremely hungry.
Meat-nag (or safe). The stomach,
victualling- office.
Meat - in - the - pot. A revolver.
English synonyms: barker, barking
iron, black-eyed Susan, blazer, bull-
dog, Colt, the demoeratiser (Ameri-
can : as making all men equal), un-
converted friend, pop (or pop - gun),
persuader, shooting - iron, shot-gun,
sis-shooter, stick, towel, two -pipe
scatter-gun.
Meaty. 1. Plump. 2. Enjoyable.
Mechanic. A tradesman ; also a
mean, inconsiderable, contemptible
fellow (B. E.). As adj., common,
vulgar, mean.
Med (Medic, Medical, or Medico).
A medical man (or student) (1823).
Meddler. Lay-overs for meddlers:
see Lare-over.
Medes and Persians (Winchester
College). Jumping on a man (q.v.)
when in bed.
Medical Greek. See Marrow-
icine. Liquor: hence to take
one's -medicine, to drink.
Medium. A person engaged by a
squatter, part of whose run is offered
by Government at a land lottery:
the medium takes lot- tickets, as if bent
upon cultivation, attends the drawing,
and if his ticket be drawn before his
principal's land is gone, selects it,
and hands it over on payment of
the attendance fee.
Medlar. A dirty person.
Meech, Meecbing. See Mike.
Meerschaum. The nose : see Conk.
Meetinger. A chapel goer.
Meg. 1. A guinea: see Rhino.
2. In pL, Mexican Railway First Pre-
ference Stock. 3. A wench. Meg
Dorts, & pert girl ; Meg-harry (Lanc.)>
a hoyden. Soaring Meg, a monster
piece of ordnance ; hence, an unfailing
antidote (1624).
Megrim. (1) A crotchet; and (2)
a headache : JPr., migraine (1520).
Meg *s Diversions. (1) Whimsical
pleasantry; and (2) Old Harry (q.v.).
Megsman. See Magsman.
Mejoge. A shilling: see Bhino (1754).
Mell. The nose : see Conk.
Mellow. Slightly drunk : see
Screwed (1696).
Melon. A new cadet.
Melt. To spend, blew (q.v.) (1606).
To look as if butter would not melt in
the mouth: sec Butter. 'Twill cut
butter when it's melted : see Butter.
Melting. A sound drubbing, all
one way. A melter is he wbo pun-
isheth, and the thing administered
is a melting — a corruption of mallet-
ting (See).
Melton. Dry bread.
Member. A person : almost ex-
clusively with qualifying terms, as
hot (q.v.) ; rum (q.v.) ; warm (q.v.)
and the like.
Member-mug.
Mess-mate.
Member-mug. 1. A chamber-pot :
see It (1696). 2. (Westminster School)
An out-of-door boy.
Men. See Man for all senses.
Menagerie. The orchestra.
Menavelings. Odd money in the
daily accounts, fluff (q.v.), overs and
shorts : pf. Manablins.
Mend* To mend fences, to mind one's
own business, attend to one's interest.
To correct (or mend) ike magnificat, to
correct that which is faultless (Bay)
(1670).
Mentor. A second in the ring.
Mephisto. A foreman.
Merchant. A term of abuse (1655).
To play the merchant, to best (q.v.),
get the bulge on (q.v.), get to -wind-
ward of (q.v.) (1593).
Mercury. 1. A messenger; also
applied in cant phrase to the carriers
of news and' pamphlets (Johnson).
2. Wit; hence mercurial, witty
(1696). 3. A thief (q.v.), trickster
(1599).
Mercury-women. Wholesale news-
sellers who retail to the hawkers
(B. B.).
Meridian. Refreshment taken at
noon; hence ante-meridian, a morn-
ing dram, post-meridian, an appetiser
before dinner (1818).
Merkin. 1. Fur (1678). 2. Hair
dye (1869).
Mermaid. A strumpet.
Merry. Wanton (1610).
Merry-andrew (or Mr Merriman).
The jack-pudding, jester, or zany of
a mountebank, usually dressed in a
parti-coloured coat.
Merry -begot (or begotten). A
bastard.
Merry- cain. See Cam, Raise, and
Jesse.
Merry - dancers. The Northern
Lights : IV., ch&wes dansantes (dancing
goats).
Merry-dog. A boon companion,
a jolly-dog (q.v.).
Merry Dun of Dover. A ship
so large that, passing through the
Straits of Dover, her flying jib-boom
knocked down Calais steeple; while
the fly of her ensign swept a flock of
sheep off Dover Cliff. She was so
lofty that a boy who went to her
mast-head found himself a grey old
man when he reached the deck again.
[This yarn is founded on a story in
Scandinavian mythology.]
Merry-go-down. Strong ale, stingo
(q.v.) : see Drinks (1530).
Merry-go-sorry. Hysteria (1600).
Merry-go-up. Snuff (1821).
Merry Greek. A jolly companion
(1602).
Merryman. See Merry-Andrew.
Merry - men - of - may. Currents
formed by the ebb-tides.
Merry-pin. A happy chance, joUy
time, gay mood. In a merry pin,
jovially inclined. [The Dutch, and
English in imitation of them, were
wont to drink out of a cup marked
with certain pins, and he accounted the
man who could nick the pin ; where-
as, to go above or beneath it, was a
forfeiture (Fuller).]
Merry Thought. The furcula or
forked bone of a fowl's breast.
Mesopotamia. Belgravia, Cubit-
opolis (q.v.) : cf. Asia Minor, New
Jerusalem, etc. The true Mesopo-
tamia ring, high-sounding and pleasing
but wholly past comprehension. [In
allusion to the story of the old woman
who told her pastor that she found
great support hi that blessed word
Mesopotamia.]
Mess. 1. A difficulty, fiasco,
muddle. To make a mess of it, to
fail utterly or permanently. 2. (Win-
chester College). The Prefects' tables
in Hall were called Tub, Middle, and
Junior mess respectively. The boys
who dined at each were also so named.
Any number of boys who habitually
breakfasted together were ao called,
with some distinguishing prefix, such
as Deputy's mess. In Chambers, tea
was called mess ; as was also the
remains of a joint of meat. Lest
the reader should make a mess of all
these different meanings, I will give
a sentence in which they shall all
figure, Look .... Junior mess has sat
down at Tub mess, but as they wul
find nothing left but a mess, they had
better go down to chambers as mess
is ready (Mansfield). To mess about,
(1) to take liberties ; (2) to play fast
and loose, swindle, put off. To lose
the number of one** mess, to die : see
Hop the twig.
Mess el. A partner, associate
(1605).
Mess- John. A clergyman : in ooa-
tempt: i.e. jfcffl$a-john.
Mess-mate. A companion, comrade,
one eating at the same table.
Mesting. Dissolving, melting.
Met. 1. A member of the Metropoli-
tan (or New York) Base-ball Club. 2.
In pL, Metropolitan Railway Shares.
(The Met, the Metropolitan Music-
hall.
Metal. 1. Money : see Rhino. 2.
See Mettle.
Metallician. A bookmaker: from
the use of metallic books and pencils.
Metal-rule. An oath, obscenity.
[From the use of " — ' in print].
Mettlesome. Bold, spirited (Grose).
Mew-mew 1 In sarcasm : tell that
to the Marines (q.v.).
Mice-feet. To make mice-feet, to
destroy wholly.
Mich, Micher, Michery, Miching.
See Mike, Miker, Mikery, and Miking.
Michael. A man (1647).
Mick (Mike, or Micky). 1. An
Irishman. 2. A young wild bull.
Mid (or Middy). A midshipman
(1812).
Midden. A foul slattern ; a heap
(q.v.). An eating midden, a glutton,
ddies. Midland Railway Ordinary
Stock.
Middle. 1. The waist (1640). 2.
(Fleet Street). A writer of social,
literary, and scientific articles for the
press is said to be a writer of middles,
or a middleman. 3. A finger.
Middle-cut (Winchester College).
There were . . . eight [portions] to a leg
of mutton . . . the thick slice out of the
centre of the leg was called a middle
out (Mansfield).
Middle-match. See Match.
Middle-mess. See Mess.
Middle-piece. The stomach, victual-
ling-office (q.v.) : also middle-pie and
middle-story (1675).
Middling. Tolerably, moderately.
Also (tailors'), I don't think so. I
don't believe what you say.
Middy. See Mid.
Midge. A small one-horse carriage
used in the Isle of Wight.
Midge-net A lady's veil.
Midget, Anything small of its
kind ; e.g. a sprightly child.
Midnight. Sarsaparilla. Midnight
without, saxsaparilla without ice. As
white, as midnight, as black as may be
(1557).
, Midshipman *s~half -pay. Nothing
a day and find yourself : of. Monkey's
allowance.
Midshipman 's-nuts. Broken bia-
cuit^ eaten by way of dessert.
Midshipman's Watch and Chain.
A sheep's heart and pluck.
Midshipmite. A diminutive mid-
shipman.
Miff. A petty quarrel, tantrum
(1623). As verb, (1) to offend ; (2)
to fall out. As adj., angered; also
miffed.
Miff-maff. Nonsense, rot (q.v.)
Miffy. The devil, Old Scratch
(q.v.).
Mifty. Apt to take offence.
Mighty (Mightily). In a great
degree. Not to be used but in
very low language (Johnson). Also
mightily (1596). High and mighty,
consequential, full of airs.
Mike. 1. An Irishman. 2. See
Miker. 3. See Micky. As verb, (1)
to lurk, skulk, hang about : also to do
a mike (or mouch) (1490) ; (2) to play
truant, Charley -wag (q.v.); (3) to
hang about: for alms, a job, or a
chance to pilfer : also on the mouch ;
(4) to steal (1655).
Miker (Moucher, or Moocher).
A skulker, petty thief, beggar : also
a truant : see Loafer (1360).
Miking (Mooching, or Mo
(1) Prowling; (2) pilfering; (3) ]
truant. Also michery and i
(1393). As adj., (1) skulking ; (2)
lurking ; (3) mean (1500).
Milch-cow. One who is easily
tricked out of his property : a term
used by gaolers for prisoners who have
money, and bleed freely (Grose).
Hence, any living source of alms or
revenue (1696).
Mild. Second-rate, feeble, in-
efficient. Draw it mild I see Draw.
Mild-bloater. See Bloater.
Miler (or Myla). An ass.
Miles's Boy. See Ralph. •
Milestone. A country booby ( Vawc).
Milestone-monger. A tramp.
Milk. 1. To plunder (1536). 2.
To bet against a horse, which is one's
own property but is not meant to win,
to keep him a favourite at short odds
for a race in which he has no chance
whatever (or in which he will not run).
3. To get possession by artifice : as, to
Ttn'lk a telegram, to get access to it
before the addressee : see Milker. 4.
To exhaust, drain (1642), To give
dovm milk, to pay (1655). To milk
the pigeon, to attempt impossibilities :
287
Mtik-and-molasses.
Mitt-tog.
ef. Pigeon's Milk. To mUk the street,
to hold stock so well in hand as to
make it fluctuate as you will : a Wall
Street phrase. To milk ov&r the fence,
to steal milk from cans. No mUk in
the cocoa-nut, silly, crazed. Bristol-
milk : see Bristol.
Milk -and -molasses. The people
of this country (United States) are
of two colours, black and white . . .
or half - and - half sometimes at the
south, where they are called milk-and-
molasses (Neal).
Milk-and-water. A stuff under this
strange designation appears in 16th
century inventories, but we have no
guide as to what determined its
title (Drapers Diet.) (1555). As adj.,
insipid, undistinguished, harmless
(1823).
Milker. 1. Wben a telegram sent
to a specific person is surreptitiously
made use of or drawn from by others,
it is said to have been milked ; and
those who thus steal are called milkers.
To guard, as far as possible, against
this being done, important special
and press messages from abroad, and
sometimes home telegrams also, are
written in cipher: see Milk. 2. A
milk-giver.
Milker's -calf. A calf yet with
the cow ; hence, a mother's boy or
girl.
Milk-fever. See Pencil-fever.
Milk -hole (Winchester College).
The hole formed by the roush (q.v.)
under a pot (q.v.) (Notions).
Milking-pail. To work (or carry) the
milking-paU • see Mill?.
Milk - Hvered. Timid, cowardly
(1605).
Milk -shop (Milk-walk, or Milky-
way). The paps: see Dairies (1640).
Milk-sop. A coward, ladified man,
novice, meacock (q.v.) (1390).
Milk-woman. A wet-nurse.
Green-mflk-ujoman, a woman recently
delivered.
Milky ones. White linen rags.
Milky-duds, white clothes (MatseU),
Mill. LA fight, set-to (q.v.)
(1785). 2. The treadmill. 3. A
prison. 4. The'old Insolvent Debtor's
Court: hence, to go through the mill,
to be adjudicated bankrupt. 5. A
guard-room in barracks, jigger (q.v.).
6. A chisel (Grose). As verb, (1) to
" ' ', pummel, kill, to mOl the nob, to
' the head (1748) ; (2) to rob,
go
be
288
break, force : mill-lay, burglary (1567) ;
3) to send to the tread-mill ^1838).
o go through (or be on) the mill, (1) to
through the Bankruptcy Court,
whitewashed (q.v.) ; (2) to pass
through a more or less severe course
of discipline, experience, or training
(1829) ; (3) See Mill. To bring gnst
to the mill, to be a source of profit
(1726). To put through the mill, to
put to trial: as a horse before a
race.
Mill-clapper. The tongue : speci-
fically of women (1696).
Mill -doll. The Bridewell, once
situate in Bridge Street, Blaokfiriars
(1781). As verb, to beat hemp in
Bridewell, do work on the treadmill :
see Mill-dolly (1751).
Mill-dolly. Hard labour in Bride-
well.
Mill-dose. Prison labour (MatseU).
Mill-lay. To force open the doors
of houses in order to rob them (Grose).
Miller. 1. A pugilist (1823). 2. See
Joe Miller. 3. A vicious horse (1825).
4. A white hat. 6. A murderer. To
give the miller, to wrap flour in thin
paper, which, when thrown, breaks
and smothers the person of whom
a target is made. To drown the
miller, (1) to water overmuch : origin-
ally to drown the miller's thumb, i.e.
the thumb mark on the glass (1767) ;
(2) to go bankrupt (Jamieson) (1805).
Miller 's-eye. A lump of flour in a
loaf. To put the miller's eye out, to
be sparing of flour.
Miller's - thumb. See Cobbler's
thumb.
Mill-ken. A housebreaker.
Milling. 1. A beating : also fight-
ing (1810). 2. Stealing. Milling in
the darkmarfs, murder by ni^ht.
Milling-cove. A pugilist (Grose).
Mill - round. Routine : see Go
through the mill.
Millstone. To see (or look) through
a miOstone (or brick-watt), to be well-
informed, judge with precision, be
quick of perception (1582). To toeep
mittstones, said of a person not likely
to cry (1697). To run one? 8 head
against a millstone (milestone, or
brick waU), to resist muushly, attempt
impossibilities,. To run a milestone,
to strike one die dead and let the other
run as it will.
Mill -tog (tag, or twig), A
shirt: see Camesa (1821).
MiU-wash.
Moab.
Mill -wash. Vest canvas.
Milton. An oyster (1841).
Milvader. A blow. Mtlvadering,
boxing.
Mince. To dissect.
ft Mince-pies. The eyes: also mutton-
pies (q.v.).
Minckins. See MiT>xr
Mind. See Fs and Q's. Mind
your eye, be careful : also (nautical)
mind your helm.
Minden Boys. The Twentieth Foot,
now the Lancashire Fusiliers : from
their bravery at Minden, 1759.
Minder. A child put out to nurse.
Mine-arse. See Bandbox.
Mine Uncle. See Uncle.
Mingle - mangle. A hotch-potch
(1569).
Minikin (or Minnikon). An en-
dearment, ' a daintie lasse, a minnlkin,
smirking wench ' ( Florio) ; A little man
or woman, also the smallest sort of
phi (Grose,}, Also as adj., diminutive,
dainty, delicate.
Minor (Eton College). 1. A younger
brother. 2. A water-closet (Orose).
Minor clergy, young chimney sweeps.
Mint. Money : also mint-sauce or
mint -drops: see Rhino (1420). As
adv., plenty of money (Lex. Bal. ) : also
a mint of money, a big sum (Qrose).
Minx. 1. A woman : in contempt ;
and, 2. a wanton : also minckins
(1503).
Mischief. 1. A vexatious person:
and, 2. ruin. To go to the mischief, go
to the bad ; what, who, or where the
mischief, what, who, or where the
hell, or the devil ; to play the mischief,
to play havoc, disorder ; with a mis-
chief, with a vengeance (1614). A
man loaded with mischief, a man with
his wife on his back.
Misery. Gin : see Brinks.
Misfit An awkward man.
Mish. A shirt or chemise: cf.
Camesa: an abbreviation of com-
mission (q.v.) (1665).
Mishmash. Chaos, confused lump,
formless mass (Florio).
Mish-topper. A coat, petticoat.
Miss. 1. A wanton (1662)., 2. A
very young girl (1695). 3. A girl from
about 10 to 15 years of age : before
and after, a child and a young lady
respectively. A miss is as good as a
mile, a narrow escape is as good as an
easy one. To misa the cushion, to
act foolishly, be wide of the purpose
(1598). To miss one's tip: see Tip.
To miss the figure : see Combination
and Slump.
Miss Nancy. An affectedly prim
person : male or female : hence, Miss
Nancyism, affected nicety, effeminacy.
Missus (The). 1. A wife ; and, 2.
among servants, a mistress.
Mist. Scotch mist, ram.
Mistake. And no mistake, unques-
tionably, without fail.
Mistress. The mark in the game of
bowls, the Jack (q.v.) (1580).
Mistress Roper. A marine : because
handling the ropes awkwardly.
Mite (or Mitey). A cheesemonger :
cf. Burn-crust, Corks, etc. (1765).
Mitre. A hat: see Tufts and
Golgotha.
Mitten. 1. A hand : see Bunch of
fives (Grose). 2. A boxing glove,
muffler (q.v.) : also mitts. As verb, to
jilt : also to give the mitten : in Devon-
shire, to give one turnips. To handle
without mittens, to handle roughly :
a low phrase (Johnson). Easy as
mittens, free.
Mitten-mill. A glove fight.
Miwy. 1. A woman : in contempt ;
hence, 2. a lodging - house landlady,
oat (q.v.). 3, A marble.
Mix. A muddle, mess. As verb,
(1) to confuse ; and (2) to involve or
implicate : also to mix up : spec, to
agree secretly how to make up a tale
or colour a transaction in order to
cheat or deceive another party, as
in case of a justice - hearing, of a
law -suit, or a cross in a boxing-
match for money.
Mixed. 1. Confused, muddled,
bewildered. 2. Foul, bad, inferior
1280). 3. Slightly drunk: see
Mix-metal. A silversmith (Grose).
Mixum. An apothecary (1635).
Mizmaze. A cant word formed from
maze by reduplication : a maze, a
labyrinth (Johnson).
Mizzard. The mouth : cf . Mazzard.
Mizzle. To decamp, amputate
(q.v.), skedaddle (q.v.) (1781).
Mizzler. A fugitive. Rummizzler,*
Aloab. 1. A hat : specifically, the
turban-shaped hat fashionable among
ladies ,1858-59: from the Scripture
phrase, Moab is my washpot (Ps. be.
8). 2. (Winchester College). On the
west side of school court, a spacious
Moabite.
room, nicknamed Moab, with numer-
ous marble basins, and an unlimited
supply of fresh water ( Mansfield).
Moabite. A bailiff, Philistine (q.v.)
(Grose).
Mob. 1. The populace, the crowd :
a contraction of mobile wdgus : also
mobility and monocracy (1686). 2.
A number of thieves working together.
3. A number of horses, or cattle,
part of a flock of sheep : a flock is the
total number of fleeces tended by
one shepherd ; any portion of it being
a mob. 4. A wanton. As verb, to
crowd, hustle, annoy : hence mobbing
(1741). See Swell-mob.
Mobility (or Mobocracy). See
Mob.
Mobsman. A pickpocket : ie. a
member of the swell-mob (q.v.) (1851).
Mockered. Full of holes: e.g.
a ragged handkerchief, a blotched or
pitted face.
Mocteroof. To doctor or fake
(q.v,) damaged produce: e-g. pines axe
washed with a solution of gum ; chest-
nuts shaken in a bag with bees-wax.
Model (The). Pentonville Prison.
Modern Babylon. London.
Modern Athens, Edinburgh.
Modest. A vulgarism expressive
of moderation; the reverse of large
(q.v.). Hence, modest quencher, a
small drink.
Mods (Oxford University). The
first public examination for degrees :
an abbreviation of Moderations.
Moey. 1. The mouth : see Potato-
trap. 2. A petition.
Moffling-chete. See Muf8ing-cheat»
Mofussil. Any part of India ex-
cept the three capitals, Calcutta,
Bombay, and Madras: specifically,
rural, provincial (1772).
Moggy. 1. A badly - dressed
woman, guy (q.v.). 2. A call
Mogue. To gammon, throw dust
in one's eyes.
Mohair. 1. An upholsterer: of.
Burn-crust. 2. A man in the civil line,
a townsman or tradesman, a military
term, from the mohair buttons worn
by persons of those descriptions, or
any others not in the army ; the
buttons of military men being always
of metal ; this is generally used as a
term of contempt (Grose).
Mohawk (or Mohock). A ruffian
who infested the streets of London
at the beginning of the eighteenth
century : at the Restoration, the street
bullies were called Muns and Tityre-
Tus ; then Hectors and Scourers ; then,
Nickers and Hawcubites ; and lastly,
Mohocks or Mohawks : also as verb
(1711).
Mohican. A tremendously heavy
man, who rides five or six miles [in an
omnibus] for sixpence (Tait's Mag.).
Moiety. 1. Fifty. 2. A wife.
Moisten. To drink, lush (q.v.):
also to moisten one's chaffer (or clay).
Moke. 1. An ass. English syno-
nyms : baldwin, cuddy Don Key
Dick, Edward, Issachar, Jack, Jenny,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem pony, King of
Spain's trumpeter, long-ears, myla,
Neddy. 2. A dolt : see BufHe. 3. A
variety artist who plays on several
instruments. 4. A negro, snow-
ball (q.v.).
Moko. A pheasant shot by mistake
before the end of the close time : the
tail feathers are pulled out : cf. Lion.
Moll. 1. A girl. 2. A female
companion. 3. A prostitute. MoUed
v,pt arm-in-arm with, or accompanied
by a woman.
Moll - blood. The gallows : see
Ladder (1818).
Moll - buzzer. A thief devoting
himself to picking women's pockets.
M o 1 1 i e. Whenever the whaling
fleet is stopped for a number of days in
the ice, it is the practice for the cap-
tains to assemble on board one or
other of the ships to discuss thepro-
spects of the season's catch. These
interviews are called mollies and are
announced by a bucket hoisted as a
signal at the fore-royal mast-head
. . . Generally speaking, a mollie means
making a night of it (Rescue of Qreeley).
Moll is her. A thief a mistress,
moll (q.v.).
Moll-sack. A lady's hand-bag,
market basket.
Moll - Thompson 's - mark (M,T. )
Empty packages are said to be so
marked: as adj., empty (Grose).
Moll-tooler. A female pickpocket :
see Thief.
Molly (Miss Molly, or* Molly-
coddle). 1. An effeminate person,
milk-sop (q.v.). 2. A prostitute. 3.
A country wench.
Molly-coddle. To pamper: also
moddley-coddley.
Molly-coddUsh. Effeminate • also
moUyish (1801).
MoUy grubs.
Monkey-boat.
Mollygmbs. See Mulligrubs.
Molly Maguires. 1. An Irish secret
society (c. 1843) formed to intimidate
bailifis and process-servers. These
Molly Maguires were generally stout
active young men, dressed up in
•women's clothes, with faces blackened
or otherwise disguised ; sometimes they
•wore crape over their countenances
sometimes they smeared themselves
in the most fantastic manner with
burnt cork about their eyes, mouth,
and cheeks. In this state they used
suddenly to surprise the unfortunate
grippers, keepers, or process-servers,
and either duck them in bog holes, or
beat them in the most unmerciful
manner, so that the Molly Maguires
became the terror of all our officials
(Trench). 2. A secret society formed
in 1877 in the mining districts of
Pennsylvania. The members sought
to effect their purpose by intdmida-
tion, carried in some cases to murder.
Several were brought to justice and
executed.
Molly-puff. A gamblers' decoy
(1629).
Molocker. A renovated hat : also as
adj. and verb.
Mome. A blockhead: see Buffle
(1550).
Monarch. 1. A name : also moneker,
moniker, monccrcher, and monick. 2.
(Eton College). The ten-oared boat. .
3. Formerly a guinea ; now a sovereign :
see Rhino. Big monarches, a person of
note, big-bug (q.v.).
Monas. Isle of Man Railway
Shares.
Monday. See St. Monday.
Monday. An intensitive: Awful
Bleeding, Bloody, etc.
Mondayish (or Monday fied).
Sunday is not a day of rest to him
[the clergyman'] ; it is a day of grate-
ful work, in which many week duties
are laid aside ; but it is a day of work,
the reaction from which has created
the clerical slang word Mondayish
(Eraser's Mag.). English synonyms:
in the idles, not-up-to-work, run
down, seedy, off colour, off it, off the
spot, out of it, shilly-shally, soft in
the back, stale.
Mondongo. See Mundungus.
Money* 1. Money's worth, a way
or a line of investing money. Eggs
for money, an excuse, trick (1604).
Hard money, coin. Soft money, notea.
Money makes the mare to go : see Mare.
Pot of money, a large amount.
Money-bags. A miser, usurer, man
of means.
Money-dropper. A swindler who
lets money drop before some fiat, and
offering to share it with him, passes off
counterfeit coin in return for good
change (1748).
Money-grubber. A miser.
Mongrel. A hanger on amongst
cheats, a spunger ; also a child, whose
father and mother are of different
countries (Grose).
Moniker. See Monarch.
Monk. 1. A term of contempt. 2.
(printers'), An over-inked spot in a
printed sheet, a dark patch, a black-
ened or wasted impression: see
Friar.
Monkery. 1. The country, Daisy-
ville (q.v.) (1819). 2. Tramps, vag-
rants : collective. On the monkery,
on tramp.
Monkey. 1. A term of real or
affected displeasure : also, an endear-
ment (1602). 2. Five hundred pounds
sterling ; also (in America) $500 : see
Rhino (1856). 3. A hod. 4. A pad-
lock (1819). 5. A rocket-driving
instrument 6. A vessel in which a
mess receives its full allowance of grog.
7. A small bustle, which in the days of
very short waists was worn just below
the shoulder blades. As verb, to
trifle, play, fool about. Monkey on
horseback, a bad horseman. Monkey
on a wheel, a cyclist: FT., imbecile d
deux roues. Monkey with a long
tail, a mortgage; a monkey up the
chimney, a mortgage on oneys house.
To get one's monkey up> (1) to get
angry: hence, (2) his monkey is up
(or he has a monkey on his back), he
is angry : Fr., reniguer. To &UCK the
monkey, (1) to drink rum out of cocoa-
nuts, emptied of milk and rilled with
spirits ; ^2) to liquor from a cask
through a gimlet-holo and a straw
(called tapping the admiral, which see) ;
and (3) to drink from the bottle (1811).
Monkey with a tin tool, a phrase ex-
pressive of impudence or self-content :
e.g. Oh, they're as cocky as monkeys
Monkey - board. The conductor's
place on an old-style omnibus (1860).
Monkey - boat, A long* narrow
canal boat: also a small boat used
in the docks.
£01
Monkey-cage.
Monkey-cage. The grated room in
which a convict sees his Mends : FT.,
parloir des singes.
Monkey -coat (or jacket). A
short, close-fitting jacket, a coat with
no more tail than a monkey: see
Capella.
Monkey-pump. The straw used in
sucking the monkey (q.v.).
Monkey 's-allowance. More kicks
than halfpence (Qrose).
Monkeyshines (Monkeytricks, or
Monkeyings). 1. Antics. 2. Tricks.
Monkey's -money. 1. Good^ 2.
Labour. 3. Words : Fr., monnaie des
singes (1653).
Monkey 's-tail. ' Youngster, hand
me that monkey's tail ! ' I saw
nothing Jike a monkey's tail, but I was
so frightened that I snatched up the
first thing that I saw, which was a
very short bar of iron, and it so hap-
pened that it was the very article
wanted (Marryatt).
Monmouth-street Finery. Tawd-
riness, pretence. [Monmonth Street
(now Dudley Street) was long a mart
for second-hand clothes,]
Monniker (or Monick). See
Moneker.
Monocular-eyeglass. The breech.
Mons (Winchester College). A
crowd: also as verb: e.g. Square
round there, don't mons (Notions).
Monstrous. A general intensitive.
Montem (Eton College). An Eton
custom up to 1847, which consisted
in the scholars going in procession
on the Whit-Tuesday of every third
year to a mound (Lat., ad montem),
near the Bath road, and exacting a
gratuity from persons present or
passing by. The collection was given
to the captain or senior scholar and
helped to defray his expenses at the
University.
Month. A lad attack of the end of
the month, impecuniosity.
Month-of-Sundays. An indefinitely
long time : of. Greek Kalends.
Month's mind. Longing : from
the cravings of pregnant women (1565).
Mooch. See Mike.
Moocher. See Miker.
Mooching. See Miking.
Mooer. A cow, wet-'un : also mooler
and moo-cow.
Moon. 1. A month: specifically
(thieves') a term of imprisonment,
e,g. one (two, or three) moons ; long
moon, a calendar month (or callingder).
(1823). 2. A large, round biscuit. 3.
A wig: also half-moon (1608). As
verb, to wander, lounge as in a dream
(1856). To make believe the moon is
made of green cheese, to hoax (1562).
A blue moon, an indefinite time,
never, Greek Kalends (q.v.), Tib's
eye (q.v.) (1528). Minions of the
moon: see Moonman. Man in the
moon: see Man. To shoot (or bolt)
the moon, to clear a house by night to
evade distraint or payment of rent,
do a moonlight flitting ; to move in the
blind, to go between the moon and
the milkman; hence moonshooters.
To cry for the moon, to crave for the
impossible: Fr., wntloir prendre la
tune avec les dents. To cast beyond
the moon, to make extravagant con-
jectures (1606). To level at the moon,
to be very ambitious. To find an
elephant in the moon, to find a mare's
nest. [Sir Paul Real, a seventeenth
century virtuoso, gave out that he had
discovered an elephant in the moon.
It turned out that a mouse had crept
into his telescope. See Butler, The
M&phant in the Moon.]
Moon-calf. 1. A monster (1609).
2. A false conception (1598). 3. A
blockhead: see Buffle: also moon-
ealfy (1693).
Moon-curser. A link-boy, glim-
jack : his services were not required
on moonlight nights (1696).
Mo oner. An idler, gape-seed
(q.v.).
Moon-eyed. Squinting.
Moonflaw. Moonftaw in the brain,
an idiosyncrasy, craze : see Bee in the
bonnet (1659).
Moonlight (or Moonshine).
Smuggled spirits : from the night-
work of smugglers. Moonlight on
the lake, sarsaparilla. A rush for
moonlight, an attempt at the prize
for elocution.
Moonlighter. 1. A prostitute. 2.
In pi., men (c. 1880) enforcing the
decrees of secret societies by violence :
their action was chiefly confined to
the western counties, and their raids
were nocturnal, whence the name:
their notices were signed Captain
Moonlight. 3. The same as Moon-
shiner (q.v.).
Moonlight-flitting. See Shooting-
the moon : also London - flitting
(1802).
Moonlighting.
Morocco-man.
Moonlighting. Playing the moon-
lighter (q.v.).
Moon-man. I. A lunatic. 2. A
gipsy. 3. A nocturnal thief (q.v.) :
also -minions of the moon (1597).
Moon-raker. 1. An imaginary sail
above the sky-scraper (q.v,), moon-
sail (q.v.). 2. A Wiltshire man. 3.
A smuggler. 4. A blockhead: see
Moon-raking. Wool-gathering.
Moonshine. 1. Anything unreal or
unsubstantial, humbug (q.v.), rot
(q.v.) (1593). 2. The white brandy
smuggled on the coasts of Kent and
Sussex, and the gin in the north of
Yorkshire (Grose). 3. A month (1605).
4. A dish of poached eggs served with
a sauce (1606). As adj., (I) noctur-
nal ; (2) empty ; and (3) trivial (1596),
Gilded moonshine, bogus bills of ex-
change.
Moonshiner, 1. A manufacturer of
illicit whisky. 2. Fly-by-night persons
who cheat their landlords and run away
by night; when 'tis illegal to detain
the goods (Bee),
Moonshinincr. Illicit distilling.
Moonshlny. Unreal.
Moonshooter. See To shoot the
moon.
Moon's-minion. 1. A watchman,
Charley (q.v.) (1828). 2. See Moon-
man.
Moony. A noodle. As adj., (1)
silly : also moonish (1600). (2) Drunk :
see Screwed.
Moose -face. A rich, ugly-faced
man.
Mop. 1. An annual fair in the west
of England where farmers usually hire
their servants. 2. A confirmed drunk-
ard Lushington (q.v. ). 3. A drinking
bout; on me mop, on the drink. 4.
endearment: also moppet and mopsy
(1388). 5. A grimace (1609). 6. A
fool ( 1399). As verb, ( 1 ) to drink up,
guzzle : see Lush t also mop up (1676) ;
(2) to collect : also mop wo. To mop
up, to stop talking. To mop (or
wipe) the floor (ground, or earth) totth
one, to knock one down. To be
mopped (or wiped) ovt» to be ruined,
floored (q.v.), killed. AM mops and
orooms, drunk: see Screwed (1828).
In the mops, sulky.
Mope. 1. A dullard (1621). 2. In
pi., low spirits, the hump (q.v.), the
blues (q.v.). As verb, to despond
(1594).
Moped. Stupid, melancholy: also
mopish, moping, &nd mope-eyed (1621).
Moppet. See Mop.
Moppy. Drunk : see Screwed.
Mop-squeezer. A housemaid (Grose).
Mopsy. 1. A familiar term for a
woman : specifically a young girl ;
a mop. 2. A dowdy, or homely
woman (1696).
M o p u s. 1. A drone, a dreamer
(1765). 2. A small coin: said to be
a corruption of the name of Sir Giles
Mompesson, a monopolist of the
reign of James I. 3. In pi., (mopusses)
money : see Rhino.
Moral. 1. An exact counterpart
(1590). 2. Abbreviation of moral
certainty : see Cert ; anything that is
highly promising.
Moral-shocker. A novel dealing
with sex, a hill- topper (q.v.).
Moray-coach. A cart (1808).
More. See Elbow, Power, Sacks,
Seven, Twelve. More so, a general
intensitive.
Moreish. Wishing for more : when
there is scarcely enough of an eatable
or drinkable, it is said to taste more-
ish.
Morgan. A bare-faced imposture.
Mork, A policeman.
Morning. An early dram, an
eye-opener (q.v.): also morning-
rottser (1814). The top of the morning,
a cheery greeting.
Morningdrop. The gallows : see
tubbing-cheat.
Morning - hills (Winchester Col-
lege). On holidays and Remedies we
were turned out for a couple of hours
on to St. Catherine's Hill .... once
before breakfast (Morning Bolls), and
' in the afternoon (Middle Hills)
Morning-rouser. See Horning.
Morning-sneak, Going out early
to rob private houses or shops, by
slipping in at the door unperceived,
whole the servant or shopman is em-
ployed in cleaning the steps, windows,
etc. (Vaux).
Morning-star. A weapon used by
the London train-bands, temp. Henry
YUI. : it consisted in a spiked ball
chained to a staff: called also Holy-
water sprinkler.
Morocco-man. A lottery assurance
agent. In 1796, the great State
lottery employed 7500 morocco men.
Their business was to go from house to
Morpheus.
Mouldy-grubs.
house among the customers of the
assurances, or to attend in. the back
parlours of public-houses, where the
customers came to meet them.
Morpheus. In the arms of Mor-
pheus : asleep : see Murphy.
Morris (or Morrice). To decamp
(1773).
Morsel. 1. A person. 2. A harlot
(1529).
Mort. 1. A woman, chaste or not.
2. A yeoman's daughter: also mot.
Hence, autem-mort, a married woman ;
vxtlking (or strolling) mort, a female
tramp ; kinchin - mort, a little girl ;
dimber -more, & pretty wench (1567).
3. A large quantity, a great number
(1694). Att amort: see Amort.
Mortal. 1. Extreme: ci Awful,
Jolly, etc. (1679). 2. Drunk: see
Screwed (1808). 3. Expletive and in-
tensitive (1755). As adv., extremely :
also Mortally (1625).
Mortar-board (or Mortar). The
trencher-cap worn at certain public
schools and at the Universities
(1600).
Mortgage - deed. A pawnticket,
tombstone (q.v.).
Moses. To stand Moses, to bp
subject to a bastardy order. By if e
piper that played before Moses, an oath :
also "by the holy jumping mother of
Moses.
Mosey. To decamp (1838). To
mosey along, (1) to jog along ; (2) to
bustle about.
M o s h. To leave a restaurant
without paying: a corruption of
mouch (nuke, q.v.).
Moskeneer. To pawn for more
than the pledge is worth. Maskers,
(q.v.), men who make moskeneering a
profession: also as subs., the agent.
Mosker. One who makes a living
by taking advantage of the business
incapacity of persons engaged in the
pawnbroking trade, and by subtle
wiles and subterfuge imposes on their
credulity and weak good nature.
Mosque. A church or chapel.
Moss. Blue pigeon (q.v.). 2.
Money : generic : see Rhino,
Mossybacfc. 1. A man hiding in
woods or swamps — (till the moss
grew on his back) — to escape the
conscription for the Southern army :
also Mossback. 2. An extreme con-
servative in politics. 3. An old-
fashioned person, back-number (q.v.).
Mossyface (or old Mossyface).
The ace of spades.
Most. Dining at an eating house
and leaving without making payment
(MatseU). ^^
Mot (Mott). See Mort.
Mot-cart. 1. A brougham. 2. A
mattress.
Moth. A prostitute, fly-by-night
(q.v.).
Mother. 1. A bawd : also Mother-
abbess, Mother midnight (1696). 2.
A familiar mode of address (1647). 3,
Hysteria (1605). Does your mother
know you're out? a derisive street
catch - phrase (1836). Has your
mother sold her mangle? a catch
phrase. Teach your mother (or grand-
mother) to roast (or stick) eggs, a derisive
retort upon a piece of information or
an offer of help : FT., les oisons vevlent
mener les oies pattre, the goslings want
to drive the geese to pasture (1670).
He'U be a man before his mother, a
derisive retort.
Mother-and-daughter. Water.
Mother - Carey's Chickens. 1.
Snow, goose -fluff (q.v.): FT., les
mouches ffhiver. 2. To fare alike
and pay the same (Bee).
Mother-in-law. A mixture of old
and bitter ales. Mother-in-law's bit,
a small piece, mothers-in-law being
supposed not apt to overload the
stomachs of their husband's children
(Grose).
Mother-midnight. 1. A midwife.
2. A bawd (1696).
Mother Morey. FU tell you a story
of old Mother Morey, in dension of an
inconsequent yarn: an allusion to
the nursery rhyme.
Mother 's-milk. Gin : see Drinks :
also spirits of any kind.
Mother *s-son. A man.
Mottob. Bottom.
Mouch. See Mike.
Moucher. See Miker.
Mouchey. A Jew, "Xld.
Mouching. See Miking.
Moulder. A lumbering boxer, one
who fights as if he were moulding clay
(Bee),
Mouldy. A purser's steward. As
&d]-> (1) grey-headed: mouldy-pate,
a lackey in powder; (2) worthless:
e.g. a mouldy offer.
Mouldy - grubs. Travelling show-
men, mountebanks who work in the
open without tent or covering.
Mrs. Partington.
Mouldy-grubbing, working as de-
soribed.
Mouldy- 'un. A copper.
Mounch- (or Munch-) present. 1.
'He that is a great gentleman, for
when his mayster sendeth him with a
present, he wil take a tast thereof by
the way : this is a bold knave, that
sometyme will eate the best and leave
the worst for his mayster * (Awdley).
2. A glutton. 3. One who takes bribes.
Mounseer. A Frenchman (1627).
Mount. 1. A saddle-horae (1856).
2. A bridge. As verb, (1) to wear,
carry as an equipment (1822) ; (2) to
prepare for representation on the
stage : (3) to swear falsely, give false
evidence: for hire (1789). To mount
the ass, to go bankrupt : in France it
was once customary to mount a bank-
rupt on an ass, face to tall, and ride
him, through the streets.
Mountain - dew. Scotch whisky:
see Drinks.
Mountain-pecker. A sheep.
Mounter. Men who give false
bale ; or who, for a consideration,
will swear to anything required.
Fellows who hire clothes to wear for
a particular occasion; those who
wear second-hand clothes (MaUdl).
Mounts-of-lilies. The paps: see
Dairy (1694).
Mourner. One taking a drink, a
spreester (q.v.) (1847).
Mourning. Full mourning, two
black eyes ; half-mourning, one black
eye, or a mouse : Fr., ceufs sur le plat,
yeux aii beurre now, yeux poches. As
adj., bruised : also in mourning (1708).
Mourning-shirt. An unlaundered
shirt (1650).
Mouse. 1. A black eye. 2. A
term of endearment (1593). 3. The
face. 4. The mouth : also as verb,
to bite : cf. mousle (1557). 5. Mouse-
jtiece (q.v.). As verb, to go mouse-
like : Le., as in depreciation of one's
self. As intj., be quiet, be still, talk
low", whisper, step^ light, softly. To
speak like a mouse in a cheese, to speak
faintly or indistinctly. As drunk as a
mouse, very drunk: see Screwed (1508).
Mouse - digger (Winchester Col-
lege). A kind of diminutive pick-axe.
Mouse-hunt. A wencher ( 1 595).
Mousepiece (Mouse - buttock, or
Mouse). A piece of beef or mutton
below the round, the part immedi-
ately above the knee joint (1591).
295
Mousetrap. 1. The mouth, potato-
trap (q.v.). 2. A sovereign, canary
(q.v.): see Rhino. The parson's
mousetrap, matrimony.
Mousle. 1. To nibble. 2. To
kiss.
Mouth. 1. A noisy fellow, prating
fool, scold, virago : also Mouth-
almighty (1696). 2. See Cheek. 3.
The after-affects of a debauch, hot
coppers (q.v.). As verb, to rant
(1590). To give mouth, (1) to put
into words ; (2) to speak loudly and
distinctly: also mouth it (1840).
Down in the mouth, dejected (1608).
To laugh on the wrong (or other) side
of one's mouth (or face), to cry. See
also All mouth, Big -mouth, Bone,
Cat, SUver-spoon, Lion, Water.
Mouth-bet A verbal bet.
Mouther. A blow on the mouth
(1821).
Mouth-glue. Speech (1600).
Mouthing. Crying.
Mouthpiece. A counsel: Fr., les-
siveur, whitewashes mtdeein, doctor :
cf. molade, prisoner, Fhdpital, prison;
yarrain.
Move. Any action or operation
in life ; the secret spring by which any
project is conducted, as, There is a
move in that business which you are
not down to. To be flash to every
move upon the board, is to have
a general knowledge of the world, and
all its numerous deceptions (Vaux).
Moveables. 1. Furniture. 2. Rings
watches, or any toys of value (1599).
Moved. Bowed to.
Mow. To kiss.
Mozzy. Judy: Swatohell, Mr.
Punch.
M. P. A policeman.
Mr. Ferguson. Mr. Knap. Mr.
Nash, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pullen.
See Ferguson, Knap, Nash, Palm,
and PulL
Mrs. Goff. A woman.
Mrs. Grundy. A personification of
respectability, society: e.g. What
will Mrs. Grundy say? What will
Mrs. Grundy think ? (1798) : from
a character in Speed the Plough.
Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Gamp. The
Morning Herald and The Standard
when under the proprietorship of Mr.
Baldwin.
Mrs. Jones. A water-closet.
Mrs. Lukey Props, A bawd.
Mrs. Partington. A personification
Mr. Speaker.
Mud-lark.
of impotent and senile prejudice :
also a kind of Malaprop.
Mr. Speaker. A revolver: see
Meat-in-the-pot.
Mrs. Suds, A laundress (1757).
M'sandW's. To make M*8 and W's,
to be drunk : see Screwed.
M. T. 1. Empties, or empty
carriages : see Moll Thompson's mark.
2. An empty bottle, dead- man (q.v.).
Mubblefubbles. Low spirits: of.
Mulligrubs (1592).
Much. An expression of quality,
e.g. Not much of a lawyer, not a very
good lawyer. Much of a muchness,
very much the same thing (1837).
Not much I (or not muchly !}, not
likely, certainly not ! in derision (1598).
Much cry and lit&e wool : see Cry.
Muchly. A great deal
Muck. 1. A dripping (or oozing)
mass of filth : hence, muck-cheap, very
cheap ; muck-heap (or muck-scutch&on),
a foul sloven: ci Midden; muck-
grubber, a miser ; muckhtil, a dunghill ;
muck-spout, a foul-mouthed talker ;
muck-suckle, a filthy woman ; mucky-
white, sallow in complexion; muck
of sweat, a violent perspiration, etc.
(1766). 2. Anything vile. 3. Money:
generic: see Rhino (1393). 4. A
heavy fall : also mucker. 5. A coarse
brute. As verb, (1) to spend; (2)
ruin. To go (or run) a muck (or a
mucker], to go headlong, be reck-
lessly extravagant, run amok (q.v.):
the homicidal frenzy (of a Malay),
used originally in Port, forms amouca,
amuco ; hence, in a homicidal frenzy,
furiously, viciously. To go a muck
(or mucker), to go to smash, risk one's
all, put on one's shirt (q.v.). To
muck about, to fondle, mess about
(q.v.).
Muckcook. To laugh behind one's
back
Muckender (Muckinder, Muck-
inger, or Mucketer). A handker-
chief: Sp., mocadero (influenced by
muck), from mucot mucus (1468).
Mucker. 1. See Muck. 2. A com-
missariat officer. As verb, to blunder
badly, come to grief, fail.
Mucker er COT Mokerer). A
miser (1381).
Muck-fork. A hand, finger.
Mudribus. Sentimentally drunk,
maudlin : see Screwed (1756).
Mucklngtogs (or Muckintogs). A
mackintosh.
Muckrake. In politics, persons who
fish in troubled waters, from the idea
of their raking up the muck to see
what valuable waifs and strays they
may find in it. The term is generally
used in the form of muokrakers and
placemongera.
Mucks. See Mux.
Muck-snipe. A ruined gambler.
Muck-train, A commissariat train.
Muck-worm. 1. A miser. 2. An
upstart.
Mud. 1. A fool, thick head. 2.
A non- society man; dung (q.v.).
As clear as mud, very obscure : also
the reverse: as plain as may be.
His name is Mud, said in cases of
utter defeat; sent up Salt River
(q.v.).
Mud-cat. A Mississippi man.
Mudcrusher. An infantryman : IV.,
pousse-catllou. English synonyms :
beetle-crusher (or squasher), blanket-
boy (a volunteer), boiled lobster,
brother-blade, caterpillar, cat-shooter
(volunteer), coolie, flat-foot, fly-slicer
(a cavalryman), grabby, jolly gravel-
grinder (a marine, see Royal Jolly),
leather-neck, hght-bob, lobster, mud-
major (q.v.), mud-plunger, plunger,
prancer (a cavalryman), Q.H.B.
(Queen's Hard Bargain, a malingerer),
raw lobster (see Lobster), red-coat,
red-herring, Saturday-soldier (a volun-
teer), scarlet - runner, skid, snoddy,
swaddy, tame jolly (see Jolly), toe-
footer (or bloody toe-footer), Tommy
Atkins, tow - pow, wobbler, worm-
crusher (or squasher).
Muddmg-face. A fool, muff (or
muffin-face), (q.v.).
Muddle. A state of confusion (1854).
As verb, (1) to stupefy with liquor:
see Screwed (1712). (2) To bungle.
To muddle away, to squander aim-
lessly, waste one knows not how.
Muddle- head. A fool. Muddle
headed, doltish (1837).
Muddler. A clumsy horse.
Mudge. A hat : see Golgotha.
Mudger. A milk-sop (1830).
Mud-hen. A female gambler in
stocks and shares (Wall Street). ,
Mud-hole. A salt-water lagoon in
which whales are captured.
Mud-honey. Mud, street slush.
Mud-hook. An anchor.
Mud-lark. 1. There is another doss
who may be termed riveifinders.
although their occupation is connected
296
Mud-major.
Mugster.
only with the shore ; they are com-
monly known by the name of mud-
larks, from being compelled, in order
to obtain the articles they seek, to
wade sometimes up to their middle
through the mud left on the shore by
the retiring tide : the mud-larks col-
lect whatever they happen to find,
such as coals, bits of old-iron, rope,
bones, and copper - nails that drop
from ships while lying or repairing
along shore (Mayhew). 2. A duck
(Grose). 3. Any one with outdoor
duties (City). 4. A street-arab (q,v.).
5. A hog (Grose).
Mud-major. An infantry major:
i.e. one who, on parade, commands a
company on foot.
Mud-picker. A garrison policeman.
Mud-player. A batsman partial to a
soft wicket.
Mud-plunging. Tramping through
slush in search of sympathy.
Mud-salad Market. Co vent Garden.
Mud-sill. 1. A low-born, ignorant,
contemptible wretch. 2. A South-
erner: circa 1861-64.
Mud-slinger. A slanderer.
Mud-student. A student at the
Agricultural College., Cirencester.
Muff. 1. A milksop, bungler, dolt :
also muffin. 2. Anything badly
bungled. As verb, (1) to bungle :
e.g. to muff a catch ; (2) to fail in an,
examination, be spun (q.v.) or
plucked (q.v.), skip a cog (q.v.).
Marry, muff I a not uncommon expres-
sion in our old writers, equivalent, I
believe, to stuff, nonsense (Dyce).
Muffin. 1. When a man, availing
himself of the custom of the country,
has secured a young lady for the
season, to share with him his sleigh-
driving and other of the national
amusements, in Canadian phrase she
is called his muffin ; her status is a
sort of temporary wifehood, limited,
of course, by many obvious restric-
tions, but resembling wifehood in this,
tLat, though a close and continuous
relationship, it has nothing in it which
shocks, and much in it which allures,
the Canadian mind , among the
British commodities exported to our
colonies, la pruderie Anglaise does not
find a place (JBartiett). 2. See Muff.
Cold muffin, poor : of no account
Muffin-baker. A quaker (q.v.).
Muffin- (or Mufl-) cap. 1. The
flat woollen cap worn by charity-'
boys. 2. The new regulation head-
gear in the British army : also Muffin.
Muffin-face. A hairless counten-
Muffing. Bungling, clumsy.
Muffin-worry. A tea-party.
Muffle. 1. A boxing-glove : also
Muffler (1755). 2. A stunning blow.
3. A crape mask : once a kind of
vizard or veil worn by women (Stow.
1539).
Muffling-cheat 1. A napkin ( 1573).
2. A towel (Grose).
Mufti. 1. Plain clothes : military.
Hence, 2. a civilian (1834). Fr.,
pekin.
Mug. 1. The face, the mouth
(Grose). 2. A dolt, a raw (or clumsy)
hand, greenhorn (q.v,). 3. A cooling
drink, a cup. As verb, (1) to strike
(or catch it) in the face (1821) j (2) to
grimace (1762) ; (3) to rob, swindle ;
(4) see Mug up ; (5) (a) to study
e.g. I mugged all the morning, and
shall thoke this afternoon, and (o)
to take pains : e.g. He has mugged
his study, and made it quite cud
(Winchester College). To tut mugs, to
grimace. To mug oneself, (1) to get
drunk; (2) to make oneself cosy or
comfortable. To mug up, (I) to paint,
make up (q.v.) ; (2) to cram for exam-
ination : also to mug.
Muggard. Sullen, displeased.
Mugger. 1. A gipsy. 2. A student,
hard reader. 3. A comedian whose
best point is grimace: also Mug- faker.
4. A crocodile.
Muggill. A beadle (1610).
Mugging. 1. A thrashing. 2. Hard
work. 3. Flay with the face, grimac-
lng>_
Muggins. 1. A fool. 2. A borough-
magnate, local leader.
Muggled. Cheap trash offered for
sale as smuggled goods (1961).
Muggles. Restlessness, r "
(q.v.) (1750).
Muggy. 1. Tipsy: see Screwed. 2.
Stifling and damp : of the weather :
also Mugginesa.
Mughouse, An alehouse : see Lush-
crib (1710).
Mug-hunter. See Pot-hunter.
Mugster (Winchester College).
One who mugs (q.v.). [Notions :
ster is generally the termination
of the agent, as in Brockster,
Thokester, etc. Of. Harrow termina-
tion, er as in footer* a footballer;
297
Mug-trap.
leather, one to be loathed: see Re-
volter; Disguster.
Mug-trap. A fool-catcher.
Mugwump. (1) A man of conse-
quence. Hence (2) one who sets himself
up as better than his fellows ; (3) an
independent Republican, who, in 1884=
openly refused to vote for the party
nominee; and (4) a citizen who de-
clines to take any part in politics:
now generally applied to those who
profess to study the interests of their
country before those of their party.
[Norton: After the Independent
movement was started, the word was
launched on its career of popularity.
The Critic of September 6th, 1884,
contained a note to the effect that the
word was of Algonquin origin, and
occurred in Elliott's Indian Bible,
being used to translate such titles as
lord, high-captain, chief, great man,
leader, or duke. In Matthew vi. 21,
it occurs as mukxuomp ; and again in
Genesis xxxvi. 40-43, and several times
in n. Samuel inrii'i. As is frequently
the case in American politics, the
word was used as a term of derision
and reproach by one section, and
accepted with a half-humorous sense
of its aptness by the other]. As verb,
to abstain from politics. Also M ug-
wumpery (or Mvgtvumpism), the habit
of M ugvmmping.
Mule. 1. An obstinate person,
male or female. 2. An impotent man.
3. A day hand in the composing-
room. To shoe one's mule., to em-
bezzle (1655).
Mull. 1. A cow (1689). 2. A
muddle, result of mismanagement
(1821). 3. A simpleton: generally
Old mutt or Regular mutt. As verb,
(1) to spoil, to muddle, muff (q.v.) ;
(2) to spend money.
Muller. To mutter a Jua, to cut
down a chimney-pot hat into the low-
crowned mutter. [From Muller, who
murdered Mr. Briggs on the Brighton
Railway, and tried to disguise him-
self by this means].
Mulligrubs (or Mollygrubs).
1. Colic, the collywobbles (q.v.)
(1619). 2. Mubble-fubbles (q.v.). 3.
A pretended or counterfeit sullen-
ness, a resolute, and fixed, and
artificial displeasure, in order to gain
some point desired.
Mullingar Heifer. A girl with
thick ankles.
Multicattivo. Very bad.
Multy. An expletive : of. Monday.
Mum. 1. In pi., the lips; more
frequently muns (q.v.). As adj.,
silent; also as adv. and in phr., Mum's
the word 1 Keep mum ! Mum your
dubber, silence ! Also mum-chance
and mum-budget I As verb, to act
(1569).
Mumble-crust. A toothless man or
woman (1623).
Mumble-matins. A priest (1576).
Mumble - news. A tale - bearer
(1594).
Mumble-sparrow. A cruel sport
practised at wakes and fairs, in the
following manner : A cock sparrow
whose wings are clipped, is put into
the crown of a hat ; a man having his
arms tied behind him, attempts to
bite off the sparrow's head, but is
generally obliged to desist, by the
may pecks and pinches he receives
from the enraged bird (Grose).
Mumbo - Jumbo. 1. An African
deity. 2. Unmeaning jargon.
Mum-budget See Mum.
Mum-glass. The Monument on
Fish St. HOI (1760).
Mummer. 1. A player (1599). 2.
The mouth : see Potato- trap.
Mummery-cove. An actor.
Mumming-show. A travelling en-
tainment, strolling company.
Mummy. To beat to a mummy, to
beat severely. *
Mump. I. To beg (1624). 2. To
overreach (1671).
Mumper. A beggar. English
synonyms : abram - man (or cove),
bawdy-basket, Bedlam-beggar, blue-
gown (old Scots'), cadator, cadger,
canter, croaker, curtail, durry-nacker,
dry-land sailor, filer, frater, goose-
shearer, Irish-toyle, key-hole whistler,
master of the black art, maunder,
milestone - monger, moucher, mud-
plunger, mugger, mumper, munger,
needy-mizzler, niffler, overland-mailer
(or man), palliard, paper - worker,
pikey, ruffler, scoldrum, shivering
James, (or Jemmy), shyster, skipper-
bird, skitting- dealer, silver - beggar,
street -ganger, strolling -mort^ sun-
downer, swag -man, tankard, Tom
of Bedlam, traveler, turnpike, uhlan,
upright man, washman, whip -jack
Mwnper's-hall. A hedge tavern,
beggar's alehouse
Mutton.
Mumpins. Al™a (1460).
Mumpish. Dull, dejected.
Mumple mumper. See Mummer.
Mumps. Low spirits, ill-humour
(1599).
Mumpsimus. An old error in which
men obstinately persevere: taken
from the tale of an ignorant monk,
who in his breviary had always said
mumpsimus instead of sumpsimus,
and being told of his mistake, said,
' I will not change my old mumpsi-
mus for your new sumpsimitsS
Mund. See Muns.
Mundungus. Bad tobacco (1633).
As adj., stinking (1750).
Mung. News. Mung-n&ws, false
news ( 1849). As verb, to beg. Mung-
Mungarly (Munjari. or Muncrare).
Food, something by way of a meal
(1851).
Mungarly-casa. A baker's shop.
Munpin. In pi., the teeth: see
Grinders (1450).
Muns. 1. The mouth, the face:
also Mund. 2. In sing., a Mohawk
Minister-heifer. An Irish woman.
A woman with thick legs is said to be
like a Monster heifer; i.e. beef to
the heels (Grose).
Munster-plums. Potatoes,
murphies (Q.V.).
M u r. Rum. Nettock of trvur,
quartern of rum.
Murder. See Blue Murder. The
murder ia out, the mystery is dis-
played.
Murerk. The mistress of the
house : see Burerk.
Murkauker. A monkey. [Jacko
Macauco, or Maocacco, was a famous
fighting monkey, who used some
fifty years ago to display his prowess
in the Westminster Pit.]
Murphy. 1. A potato: also murph :
of. Donovan. English synonyms:
bog-orange, Donovan, Irish apricot,
Munster - plum (or orange), murph,
ruggin> spud, tatur (1811). 2. An
Irishman. 3. Morpheus, Le. sleep
(1748).
Murphy 's-face. A pig's head (1819).
Mush (Mush-topper, or Mush-
room). 1. An umbrella (1821). 2.
The .mouth (Grose).
Mush- (Mushroom-) faker (or
(Mush - topper - faker). A street
vendor of umbrellas, an umbrella-
mender (1821). Mu8hfoMngt mend-
ing umbrellas.
Mushroom. 1. A hat. 2. An upstart
(1622).
Music. 1. Fun; frolic. 2. A verdict
of not guilty. 3. The watchword
among highwaymen, signifying the
person is a friend, and must pass un-
molested (Grose). 4. An Irish term
in tossing up, to express the harp side,
or reverse, of a farthing or halfpenny,
opposed to the head (Lex. Bed.). To
face the music : see Face.
Music-box. A piano.
Musicianer. A musician (1848).
Muslin (or Bit of Muslin). A
woman : see Petticoat (1823).
Musn 't-mention- 'ems. Trousers :
see Kicks.
Muss. 1. Confusion, a fuss,
quarrel, row. 2. A term of endear-
ment: probably from Mouse (1596).
As verb, to confuse, disorder, mess-
up.
Mussy. Disordered: also mussed-
up.
Mustang. An officer entering the
U.S. navy from the merchant service,
after serving through the civil war.
Mutcher. A thief whose quarry is
drunken men, a butcher (q.v.).
Mute. An undertaker's servant,
who stands at the door of a person
lying in state : so named from being
supposed mute with grief (Grose).
Mutton (Laced Mutton). 1.
A loose woman. 2. Generic for the
sex (1569). 3. In pL, the Turkish
loans of 1865 and 1873 : they were in
part secured on the sheep-tax. 4. A
sheep (1595). Bow-wow mutton: see
Bow-wow. To cist one's mutton, to
dine. Dead as mutton : see Dead
(1835). Mutton dressed lamb-fashion,
an old woman dressed young. To
return to one's muttons, to hark back to
the point at issue. The phrase is
taken from an old French play, called
FAvocat Paihdin, in which a woollen-
draper charges a shepherd with steal-
ing sheep ; in telling his grievance he
kept for ever running away from Ms
subject ; and to throw discredit on
the defendant's attorney, accused him
of stealing a piece of cloth; the judge
had to pull him up every moment with
1 Mais, mon ami, revenons d not
moutons.' Who *tole the mutton^ a
common street jeer flung on police-
Mutton-chops.
Nabob.
men when the force was first organised,
and rose thus : The first case the force
had to deal with was the theft of a leg
of mutton; but they wholly failed
to detect the thief, and the laugh
turned against them (Brewer).
Mutton-chops. 1. A sheep's head.
2. Whiskers trimmed mutton-chop
fashion : also mutton-chop whiskers.
Mutton -cove. 1. The Coventry
Street end of Windmill Street. 2.
A man addicted to women.
Muttoner (obsolete, Winchester
College). 1. A blow on the knuckles
from a cricket-ball. 2. A mutton
monger (q.v.).
Mutton-eyed. See Sheep's-eyed.
Mutton-fist (or hand). A
hand, large, bony, and coarse (1672).
Mutton-headed. Stupid (Grose).
Mutton-monger. A whoremonger
(1594).
Muttonous. Slow, monotonous :
to., guitars.
Mutton - pies. The eyes : see
Peepers.
Mutton-thumper. A bungling work-
man.
Mutton-walk. 1. The saloon at
Drury Lane Theatre (1821). 2. Any
resort frequented by women of the
town; specifically Piccadilly.
Mux. To muddle.
Muzz. 1. To intoxicate (1836). 2.
(Westminster School). To devote
oneself to study and eschew sports.
Muzzle. 1. The mouth (1821). 2.
A beard (Grose). As verb, (1) to
strike in the mouth (1851); (2) to
drink; (3) to kiss (1697).
Muzzled bull - dog. The great
gun which stands housed in the
officer's ward-room cabin : also gen-
eral term for main-deck guns.
Muzzier. 1. The mouth. 2. A
dram of spirits ; a go (q.v.).
Muzzy. Half-tipsy, dull with
drink: see Screwed (1730).
My Aunt (Aunt Jones or Mrs.
Jones). The W.C., Mrs. Jones
(q.v.).
My Bloater. See Bloater.
My eye I An exclamation of sur-
Myll. See Mill.
My Lord. See Lord.
My Nabs. See Nabs.
Mynt See Mint.
My Pippin. See Pippin.
My Stars and Garters. See Star.
Mystery. A sausage : also Mystery-
bag. English synonyms: bags of
mystery, chambers of horrors, darbies,
dogs (dog's meat or dog's body),
mystery-bags, Sharp's-AHey blood-
worms, sore-leg.
My Tulip. See Tulip.
My Uncle. See Uncle.
My Unconverted Friend. See
Unconverted friend.
My Wig. See Wig.
Nab (or Nap). 1. The head: also lars, and Bust. English synonyms
Napper. 2. A hat, cap : also nob-cheat (see also Cop and Prig, when mean-
and wopper: see Golgotha (1531). 3. ing to take or receive) : to bag, bone,
7l<r$L 4**A P01"56 offioer- As verb, box, claw, collar, cop, grab, naiL
(1) Primarily, to catch, but also a nap, nibble, nick, mm, nip, pinch!
general .verb of action: e.g. to nab the pufi over, rope in, scoop, smuZ
rust, (a) to take offence, turn rusty; (b) snabble, snaffle^ snake, snam, sneaE
to receive punishment unexpected1" -—•-«--•- "»> — - •• — - ^^
to nab the snow, to steal hedge-lint
to nab the stifles, to be hanged; to nab
the stoop, to stand in the pillory-
to nab the teize, to be whipped ; to nab
it on the dial, to get a Wow in the
face ; to be nabbed, to be arrested ; to
nap a cog, to cheat (at dice) ; to nap
the bib, to cry ; to nab the regulars, to
, ,
divide a booty ; to nap a winder, to be
hanged ; to nap it at the nask, to be
lashed at Bridewell; see Bib, Eegu-
snitch. ' (2) To bite! His' 'nabTl
see Nibs.
Naball. A fool.
N a b b e r (or Nabbler). A thief.
Nabbery, theft
Nabbing-cull. A bailiff, constable ;
also Nabman (1780).
Nabby. See Nobby.
Nab-cheat See Nab.
Nab-girder. A bridle : also Nob-
girder.
Nabob. 1., Orig. a nobleman, and
300
Nabs on.
S. a rich man : hence, nabobbery, the
class of nabobs (1612).
Nabs on. A hall-mark.
Nace. See Nase.
Nack. 1. See Knack. 2. A horse.
Nacky. Ingenious, fall of knacks
(q.v.) or dexterity. Also nackie.
Nag. A horse, mount (q.v.):
see Prad: also Naggon, Naggie, or
Naggy, and (Scots'), a horse of blood
(1189). As verb, to scold, fault-
find persistently, tiff. Whence nagger,
a persistent scold; nagging, fault-
finding ; and naggy, shrewish, irrit-
able (1846).
Nag-drag. A term of three months'
imprisonment : see Drag.
Naggie. To toss the head in a stiff
and affected manner (Hattiwdl, 1847).
Nail (Winchester College). To
stand up under the nail, the punish-
ment inflicted on a boy detected in a
lie ; he was ordered to stand up on
Junior Bow, just under the centre
sconce, during the whole of school
time : at the close of it he received a
Bibler. 2. Disposition, spirit, nature.
The avid nail, original sin; a lad
nail, a bad disposition; a guid nail,
a good disposition. As verb, (1) to
catch : like nab (q.v.) and cop (q.v.),
a general verb of action : whence
naming, thieving (1383); (2) to work
as a carpenter ; (3) to back-bite : also
to brass nail : see Nail-box ; (4) (Win-
chester College), to impress for any
kind of fagging. Also, to detect. On
ike nail, at once, on the spot, instanter
(1596). To nvt the nail (or the right
nail) on the head (or to drive the nail
home), to succeed, come to the point:
Fr., toucher au llanc (to hit the white)
(1574). To put (or drive) a nail in
one's coffin, (1) to do anything that
shortens life: specifically, to drink.
As sub., a drink (Grose) ; (2) to hasten
an end, advance a business by a step.
Hard as nails, (1) in good condition ;
(2) harsh, unyielding, pitiless. To
nail to the counter, to expose as false :
as a lie: from putting a counterfeit
coin out of circulation by fastening it
with a nail to the counter of a shop.
Naked as my nail, stark-naked (1605).
Off at the nail, (1) it is conceivable that
this phrase . . . originated in family
and feudal connexion — — when one
acted as an alien, relinquishing the
•ociety, or disregarding the interests
of hia own tribe, he might be said to
301
go off at the nail, as denoting that he
in effect renounced all the ties of
blood ( Jamieson) •, (2) mad ; (3) tipsy :
see Screwed. Nails on th& toes, as in
saying, Wit was mouldy ere your
grandsires had naila to their toes.
Also see Dead, Down.
Nail-bearers. The fingers: see Fork.
Nail-box. A centre of back-biting :
see Nail.
Nailer. 1. An extortioner. 2.
Something out of the common; a
clipper (q.v.) : a general term of ex-
cellence : e.g. a handsome woman, a
clever student, a fast horse, and so
forth.
Nailing. 1. See Nail 2. Excellent,
almost beyond comparison.
Nailrod. See Bod.
Nair. Bain.
Naked. Raw spirit, neat (q.v.).
Nale. An alehouse.
Nam. A man. Nam csdop, a
policeman.
Namase. See Nammous.
Namby-pamby. Affected, effemin-
ate, overnice. [Swift's invention, and
first applied to the affected short-
lined verses addressed by Ambrose
Philips to Lord Carteret's infant
children]. Also as subs, and verb,
to flatter, pamper.
Name. £Tw name is Dennis (or
Mud), a phrase indicative of collapse
or defeat ; to be sent up Salt River
(q.v.), to be played out (q.v.). To
take one7 s name in vain, to mention by
name : the person spoken of having un-
expectedly or accidentally overheard
(170S). To put one's name into it,
to get a thing well forward, to greatly
advance the matter.
Nameless Creek (The). A lucky
place whose whereabouts IB for that
reason untold.
Nammous (Namase, Nommus, or
Namous). Be off ! Skedaddle 1
Nammow. A woman. JDeto nam-
mow, an old woman.
Namurs (The). The Royal Irish
Begiment, formerly The 18th Foot,
Also Paddy's Blackguards.
Nan. A maid (1696).
Nan-boy. 1. An effeminate man,
a Miss Nanoy (q.v.) (1691). 2. A
catamite.
Nanny. L A goat. 2. A wanton.
Nanny-goat. 1. An anecdote (1860).
2. In pi, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers,
formerly the Twenty- tiurd Foot;
Natty.
the regiment has a pet goat which is
led -with garlanded horns and a shield
at the head of the drums — how
the custom arose is unknown. Also
The Royal Goats.
Nanny-hen. As nice, as a Nanny-
hen, very affected, delicate : of. Nun's
hen.
Nanny-shop (or house). A
brothel (B. E., c. 1696).
Nan tee, adv. (Lingua Franca).
Nor any, I have none, also shut up !
or leave of? ! Nantee palaver, hold
yonr tongue : Nanty dinarly, no
money; nanty parnarly, be careful !
(ItaL, niente, nothing].
Nantz. Brandy (1691).
Nap. 1. See Nab, subs, and verb.
2. A short sleep (B. E., c. 1696). 3. A
napoleon : a 20 franc piece. Fr. gold
coin. 4. Ale, strong beer: an ab-
breviation of nappy (q.v.). As verb,
to cheat at dice (1696). To catch
(or take) napping, to take unawares,
take in the act (1587). To go nap,
to risk everything on a single point,
go the whole hog (q.v.) : from the
game of cards. To nap toco for yam,
to get more beating than is given.
See also Regulars, Slap, and Tieze.
Napkin. See Dish -clout. To
fa buried in a napkin, (1) to be asleep ;
(2) to be half-witted. Knight of the
napkin, a waiter, grasshopper (q.v.).
Napkin-snatching. Stealing pocket-
handkerchiefs : also napkin-snatcher.
Nap-nix. An amateur player of
minor parts for the sake of experience.
Napper. 1. See Nab. 2. A cheat,
thief (q.v.). Napper (or naper) of
naps, a sheep - stealer (1696). 3. A
false witness. 4. See Rain-napper.
Nappy. Strong ale : also nappmg-
ffear. As adj. (1) strong or heady ;
(2) drunk (1593).
Nare. See Never.
Nark (or Copper's - nark). A
police spy, common informer. Eng-
Bsh synonyms (see also Beak and
Copper) : buz-man, D, dee, deeker, fox,
marker, nose, noser, peach (omnibus
spy)* pig* piper (omnibus spy), queer-
rooster, rat, rosser (or rozzer), setter,
shadow, shepherd, snitoher, split,
spotter, squealer, stag (or stagger), tec,
teck, worm. As verb, to see, watch,
spy. English synonyms: to buz,
castell, dick, fox, lay, mark, nose,
ogle, pipe, quiz, roast (or roast-brown),
shadow, shepherd, skin, snitch, spot,
stag, tout, twire, be on the beefment,
be on the pounce.
Narp. A shirt: see Flesh-bag
(1867).
Narrish. Thrifty: see Narrow.
Narrow. Ne'er a, not one (1750).
As adj., (1) see Near. (2) Stupid,
foolish, the reverse of fly (q.v.) or
wide-awake (q.v.); (3) when the
bias of the bowl holds too much (B.
E., 1696 : bowlers') ; (4) of a narrow
or slender fortune (B. K). AU
narrow, said by the butchers one to
another when their meat proves not so
good as expected (B. E.}.
Narrowdale Noon. One o'clock, The
top of Narrowdale Hills, in Stafford-
shire, is so high that the inhabitants
under it never see the sun for one
quarter of the year, and when it re-
appears they do not see it till one
o'clock, which they call Narrowdale
Noon. A thing long deferred (Brewer).
Narrow-gauge. Inferior, small:
e.g. a narrow-gauge mule, a worth-
less beast.
Narrow-squeak. See Squeak.
Nary. Not one [ne'er a]. See
Narrow. Nary red, not a red cent :
also as an emphatic negative.
Nasal. The nose : see Conk.
Nase. Drunken ; also nace, naze,
and nazy (1536).
Nash. 1. To go away from, or quit,
any place or company ; speaking of a
person who is gone, he is nash'd, or
Mr. Nash is concerned. 2. To throw
away ; e.g. Nash your leading strings,
throw off all restraint.
Nash-gab. Insolent language, im-
pertinence.
Nask (or Naskin). A prison: see
Cage (1686).
Nasty. Distempered, disagreeable,
cutting: e.g. nasty jar, a stinging
retort; nasty knock (or one), a dis-
agreeable experience ; nasty one in the
eye, a telling blow.
Nasty-man. See Garrotte.
Nation. An abbreviation of damna-
tion, a vulgar term used in Kent,
Sussex, and the adjacent counties, for
very ; nation good, a nation long way,
a very long way (Grose).
National Intelligencer. Un-
able to say National InteUigencer,
drunk : see Screwed : of, British Con-
stitution.
Natty. Neat^ tidy, spruce. NattUy.
nattiness (1557).
302
Natty-lad.
Natty-lad. A young thief or pick-
pocket (Grose).
Natural. 1. A mistress (1688). 2.
An idiot, simpleton (1595). 3. A
bastard. 4. A clever, quick-witted,
generous man. 5. A kind of wig
(c. 1724). As adj., not squeamish.
Nature's Garb. Nakedness. Eng-
lish synonyms : to be abram, all face,
in one's birthday suit, in buff, to cast
one's skin, peeled, on the shallow
(q.v.).
Naughty. 1. Loose, obscene ( 1560).
2. Hash (q.v.). '
Naughty-pack. 1. A wanton. 2.
A half reproving endearment of
children.
Navel. Proud below the navel,
amorous, or wanton ; navel-tied, in-
separable (1629).
Navigator. A potato, 'tatur.
Navigator Scot, a hot baked potato :
also Nav.
Navvy. An abbreviation of navi-
gator, a term humorously applied to
excavators employed in cutting and
banking canals, making dykes to
rivers, etc. (1848).
Navy-office. The Fleet Prison.
Commander of the fleet, the warden of
the Fleet prison.
Navy-sherry. Man-of-war grog.
Nawpost. Mr. Nawpost, a foolish
fellow (1696).
Nay. To deny.
Nay-word. A common by- word or
proverb (B. JB.).
Nazold. A vain fool (1629).
Nazy. See Nase.
N. C. Enough said (nuf ced), cl
O.K.
Near (also Nigh and Narrow).
1. Formerly careful, now (contempt-
uously) stingy, close - fisted : Fir.,
seme"- Thus nearness, a parsimonious
habit (1691). 2. On the left side:
of. Off (1823).
Neardy. A person in authority —
master, parent, foreman (Hotten).
Neat. Unmixed with water, naked
(q.v.J; short (q.v.); straight (q.v.).
English synonyms: aboriginal, ah I
don't mingle, as it came from its
mother, bald-faced, bare-footed, clean
from the still, cold-without, in puria
natwral&ue, in a state of nature,
naked, neat is imported, neat, simplex
munditiis, out of the barrel, plain,
primitive, pure, raw, raw recruit,
reverend, etark - naked, straight,
stripped, unalloyed, unmarried, un-
sophisticated, uncorrupted, untem-
pered, virgin, without a shirt (1596).
As neat as (a bandbox, a new pin, wax,
mnepence), as neat as may be. Neat,
but not gaudy, etc., spick and span, fresh
as a daisy.
Neb (or Nib). 1. Originally the
bill of a bird; hence the face, mouth,
or nose : specifically of a woman (1225)
2. A pen (B. E.). 3. The neck (1535).
Nebuchadnezzar. A vegetarian.
Necessary. 1. A bedfellow. 2. A
privy : also necessary house (or vault)
(1609).
Neck. 1. To hang : see Ladder.
Neck-doth (neckinger, necklace, neck-
squeezer, or necktie), a halter; neck-
tie-sociable, a hanging done by a Vigil-
ance Committee ; neck - question, a
hanging matter, something vital;
neck-verse, a 'Favor (formerly) in-
dulged to the Clergy only, but (now)
to the Laity also, to mitigate the
Rigor of the Law, as in Man-slaughter,
etc. ; reading a verse out of an old
Manuscript Latin Psalter (tho' the
Book now used by the Ordinary is the
same printed in an Old English
Character) save the Criminal's Life ;
nay now even the Women (by a late
act of Parliament) have (in a manner)
the benefit of their clergy, tho' not so
much as put to Bead ; for in such cases
where the men are allowed it; the
Women are of course sizz'd in the fist,
without running the risque of a Halter
by not Beading' (B. E.). Neck-weed,
hemp, or gallows - grass (q.v«); to
wear a hempen necktie, to be hanged.
2. To swallow : also to wash the neck.
Neck and crop, turn him out neck and
crop, is to push one forth all of a heap,
down some steps or stairs being under-
stood, so that the patient may pitch
upon his neck (or head) (Diet. Tvrf).
Neck or nothing, at every risk, des-
perately ( 1708). Neck and neck, close,
almost equal : as horses in a race.
On (or in) the neck of, close upon, or
behind (1598). To win (or lose,} by
a neck, to win (or lose) by next to
nothing. To break the neck of any-
thing, to get the worst part done ; also
(old), to hinder from being done. To
be shot in the neck, to be drunk : see
Screwed. (1855). Unable to neck it,
lacking moral courage. Also see Shut.
Neck-beef. As coarse as neck-beef,
very coarse., of the poorest quality.
303
Neok-oil.
Never.
As subs, a general synonym for
coarseness.
Neck-oil. Drink, lap (q.v.).
Neck-stamper. A potboy.
Nectar. Drink, lap (q.v.).
Ned. A guinea : in America a 10
dollar piece: see Rhino. Half a
ned, halt a guinea or 5 dollar piece :
also noddy (1754). 2. See Neddy.
Nedash. Nothing, of no use.
Neddy. 1. An ass, moke (q.v.) :
also Ned (1658). 2. A fool, donkey
(q.v.) (1823). 3. A large quantity,
plenty: FT., Tvugrement : 4. A life-
preserver ; so called from one Kennedy
whose head was broken in St. Giles's
by a poker (Brewer) : Fr., toume-def.
English synonyms : billy, cosh, colt. 5.
^ed-fool. A noisy idiot (1600).
Ned Stokes. The four of spades
(1791).
Needful (The). Money : see Rhino
(1771).
Needham. On the Ughroad to Need-
'ham, Needham is a market-town in this
county [Suffolk]; according to the
wit of the vulgar, they are said to be
in the highway thither which do hasten
to poverty (Ray). Cf. Peckham,
Land of Nod, Bedfordshire, etc.
Needle. A sharper, a thief (q.v.).
As verb, (1) to annoy, irritate, rile
(q.v.). To give (or get) the needle, to
annoy (or be annoyed) ; (2) to I
over a bargain. Also see Si
needle, St. Peter's needle, I
Needle-and-thread. Bread.
Needle-dodger. A dressmaker.
Needle-point. A sharper: also
needle-pointer (1696).
Needy -mizzler or (Needy). A
ragged person.
Neel. Lean.
Ne'er - be - lickit. Nothing which
could be licked by a dog or cat,
nothing whatever.
Ne'er-do-well. One who is never
likely to do well. As adj., incor-
rigible.
Neergs. Greens.
Neggledigee. A woman's un-
dress gown, vulgarly termed a
neggledigee (Grose).
Negotiate. To contrive, accom-
plish.
Negro. A black man, slave
(Qrose).
Negro-head. A brown loaf.
Negro-nos'd. Flat-nosed (1696).
304
Neighbourly. Friendly, obliging
(Diet. Cant. Grew, 1696).
Neman. Stealing.
Nenti. Nothing : cf . Nantie.
Nephew. The illegitimate son of a
priest : see Niece.
Neptune's Bodyguard. The
Royal Marines. Also The Little
Grenadiers, The Jollies, The Globe
Rangers, and The Admiral's Regi-
ment.
Nerve. One of those heroic ad-
venturers, who have thought proper
to distinguish themselves by the titles
of Buck, Blood, and Nerve (1753). 2.
Impudence, cheek.
Nescio. To sport a nascto, to pre-
tend not to understand anything.
After the senate-house examination
for degrees, the students proceed to
the schools to be questioned by the
proctor. According to custom im-
memorial the answers must be Nescio.
The following is a translated specimen :
Q. What is your name ? A. I do not
know. Q. What is the name of this
University ? A. I do not know. Q.
Who was your father ? A. I do not
know. The last is probably the only
true answer of the three (Grose).
Nest. 1. In pL, list of patterer's
words. Nests, varieties (Mayhew).
2, A place : as of residence ; a centre :
as of activity ; a gang : as of thieves
(1595). See also Feather.
Nest -cock (Nescock, or Nestie-
cock). A tenderling, a fondling.
Nest-egg. Money saved, a little
hoard.
Nestling. Canary birds brought up
by hand (B. E.). To keep a nestling,
to be restless, uneasy, fidgety (1696).
Nestor (Winchester College). An
undersized boy.
Net. AH is fish that comes to net,
all serves the purpose (1670).
Netgen. Half a sovereign: see
Rhino.
Nettie. To annoy, provoke, rile
(q.v.), needle (q.v.). To Twoe lain on
a nettle, to be peevish or out of temper ;
nettled, (1) annoyed; (2) afflicted;
netiler, a spoil-temper (q.v.) (1592).
Nettle in, dock out, fickleness of pur-
pose, thing after thing, place after
place (1369). Also see Rose.
Nevele. Eleven. Thus, nevele gen,
eleven shillings; nevele yannep*,
elevenpence.
Never. Never- (or nare) a- face-
Never-fear.
Nice.
but - his - own, not a penny in the
pocket.
Never-fear. Beer.
Never - never - country. 1. The
confines of civilization : specifically
(in Queensland) the occupied pastoral
land furthest from the more settled
districts. 2. The future life, heaven.
Never - too - late - to - mend - shop.
A repairing tailor's.
Never -wag Man-of-War. The
Fleet Prison : see Cage (1821).
Nevis. Seven. Thus, nevis-gen,
seven shillings ; nevis - stretch, seven
years' hard; nevis - yanneps, seven-
pence.
New. To new collar and cuff, to
furbish up an old sermon.
New-Billingsgate. The Stock Ex-
change i see Qorsonzola TBM1-
New-bug (Marlborough School). A
New boy.
Newcastle. To carry (or send)
coals to Newcastle, to undertake a work
of supererogation: see Owl (1662).
New-chum. A new arrival: cf.
Currency, Sterling, and Lime-juice.
Newcome. A new arrival, fresh face :
as a freshman at college ; a new mid-
shipman ; a new baby : also Johnnie
Newcombe (1821).
New-drop. The scaffold used at
Newgate for hanging criminals ; which,
dropping down, leaves them sus-
pended. By this improvement, the
use of that vulgar vehicle, a cart, is
entirely left off (Grose) : introduced
1786.
New England of the West The
State of Minnesota : many New
Englanders settled there.
Newgate. A gaol; specifically the
prison for the City of London: also
Newman's Hotel (or tea-gardens).
Hence, Newgate - bird (or Newgate-
nightingale), a thief, sharper, or gaol-
bird; Newgate (or Tyburn) cottar,
fringe, or frill, a collar-like beard worn
under the chin; Newgate - frisk, a
hanging; Newgate-knocker, a lock of
hair like the figure 6, twisted from the
temple back towards the ear (chiefly in
vogue 1840-50 — see Aggerawators) ;
Newgate-ring, moustache and board
as one, without whiskers; Newgate"
saint, a condemned criminal ; to dance
the Newgate hornpipe, , to be hanged ;
Newgate - solicitor, a pottifogging at-
torney ; born on Newgate - etept, of
thievish origin ; as black as Newgate,
very black ; Newgate seize me, the gaol
be my portion; Newman's lift, the
gallows (1531). As verb, to imprison
(1740).
New Guinea. First possession of
income (Grose).
New-hat. A guinea.
New Jerusalem. See Cubitopolis.
Newland. See Abraham Newland.
New Light. 1. One of the New
Light, a methodist ; [one] who attends
the gaols to assist villains in evading
justice (Grose). 2. New money.
Newmarket. The best two in three
in tossing.
Newmarket-heath Commissioner.
A highwayman, road-agent (q.v.).
New pin. Smart (bright, neat, or
nice) as a new pin, first-class.
New plates. See Plates.
News. Tell me news ! a retort to a
stale jest or chestnut (q.v.) ; usually
preceded by that's ancient history :
cf. Queen Anne.
New Settlements. Final
reckoning (Grose).
Newtown-pippin. A cigar.
Newy (Winchester College). The
cad paid to look after the canvas tent
in Commoner fields.
N.F. A knowing tradesman: an
abbreviation of * no flies.'
N. G. No go, no good, of no avail.
N. H. (That is, Norfolk Howard), a
bug : from one Bugg who, it is said,
so changed his name in 1863).
Nias. A simpleton: from the FT.,
niais (116).
Nib (or Nib-cove). 1. A gentleman :
whence half -nibs, one who apes gen-
tility (Fr., un herz) ; niblike (or TM&-
some), gentlemanly; nibaomest-cribs,
the best houses. 2. See Neb. 3. A
fool. As verb, (1) to catch, arrest,
nab (q.v.) ; (2) see Nibble.
Nibble. 1. To catch, steal, cheat :
whence nibbler (or nibbing -cutty, a
petty thief or fraudulent dealer
(1608). 2. To consider a bargain, or
an opportunity, eagerly but carefully :
as a fish considers bait. To get a
nibble, to get an easy job.
Nibs (or Nabs). 1. Self: his
nibs, the person referred to; your
nibs, yourself; my nibs, myself— -dis
child. 2. Friend, boy, etc., in. ad-
dressing a person : also nibao : cf.
Watch (1819).
Nice, 1. Simple, witless (1297).
2. Squeamish, precise: of. Swift's
305
Nicholas.
Nigkl-bM.
definition of a nice man, as a man
of nasty ideas (1543). 3. Pleasant ;
agreeable : e.g. a nice -woman or a nice
fellow ; of. the satirical extension : as
in a nice young man for a small tea-
party.
Nicholas (Saint). Thedevil:
see Old Nick. Saint Nicholas's clerk,
a highwayman: also knight of St.
Nicholas, and 8t. Nicholas clergyman :
St. Nicholas was the patron saint of
thieves (1595).
Nick. .1. A five-cent piece : ab-
breviation of nickel 2. See Old Nick.
3. A dent, or island, in the bottom
of a beer can : cf. Kick, Hence nick
and froth (1) false measure; (2) a
publican (1529). 4. The exact or
critical instant (1594). 5. A winning
throw at dice (1721). As verb, (1)
to steal j (2) to cheat : Fr., rifi&r ; (3)
to drink heartily ; as, he nicks fine ;
(4) to break windows with copper
coins: hence, nicker, a person ad-
dicted to the practice (1712) ; (5) to
fool (1593) ; (6) to score at dice (1598) ;
(7) to hit the mark (1690) ; (8) to nick-
name (1634); (9) to catch, arrest
(1700) ; (10) to compare, jump with ;
(11) to indent a beer can, falsify a
measure by indenting and frothing
tin (1628). To nick the pin, to drink
fairly. To knock a nick in the post,
to make a record of any remarkable
event. Out of att nick, past counting
(1595). Out on the nick, out thieving,
on the pinch (q.v.). To mck voith
way, to deny (1350). Nicks : see Nix.
Nickel. A five-cent piece.
Nicker. A dandy (q.v.).
Nickerers. A cant term for new
shoes (Jamieson).
Nicfceries. Nickeries are the same
[as Nicknames] applied to actions and
things, or quid pro quo (Bee).
Nickey. See Nikin and Old Nick.
Nick-nack. A trifle, toy, curio:
also knick-knack: see Knack. Nick-
nackatory, nick - nackery, and nick-
nackp (1580).
Nickname. A name invented in
derision, contempt, or reproach (Grose).
As verb, to miscall in contempt,
derision, or reproach.
Knick-ninny. A flat-catcher.
Nick-pot. A stealer of publican's
pots (1602).
N i c k u m. A sharper ; also a
rooking ale-house or innkeeper,
vintner, or any retailer (B. E.),
Nickumpoop. See Nincumpoop.
Niddicock. A fool ( 1587).
Niddipol. A fool (1583).
Nidget. See Nigit.
Niece, A priest's illegitimate
daughter, or concubine : whence the
expression, No more character than
a priest's niece.
N i ff n a ff y. Fastidious, trifling
(1785).
Nifty. Conspicuous, smart.
Nig. 1. The clippings of money:
also nig, to clip money (1696). 2. A
negro : abbreviation of nigger. 3. Gin :
see Drinks. As verb, (1) to catch;
(2) to revoke : at cards ; also re-nig.
Nigger. Nigger in the fence, an
underhand design, motive, or purpose.
Nigger -baby. A monster pro-
jectile : as used at the siege of Charles-
ton : attributed to General Hardie
of the Confederate Army : see Swamp
Angel.
Nigger- driving. Exhausting
with work.
Nigger-luck. Very good fortune.
Nigger -spit. The half -candied
lumps in cane sugar.
Niggle (or Nig). 1. To trifle:
also niggling, trifling (Grose) (1632).
2. To attend excessively to detail j to
work on a small scale, with a small
brush, to a small purpose.
Night. Combinations are night-
bird (q.v.); night -cap (q.v.); night-
fossicker (Australian mining), a noct-
urnal thief of quartz or dust : whence
night-fossicking ; night-gear (or piece),
a bedfellow, male or female ; night-
hawk (hunter, snap, or trader),
night - bird (q.v.) ; night-house, (1) a
public -house licensed to open at
night, (2) a brothel; night-hunter, (1)
a poacher, (2) a night-bird (q.v.);
night-jury, a band of night brawlers :
night -magistrate, (1) the head of a
watch-house, whence (2) a constable ;
night-man, an emptier of cesspools:
see Gold-finder; night-rale (or raft),
(1) night apparel, (2) a combing-cloth ;
night-shade, night-bird (q.v.); night-
sneaker, a wanton; night - walker
night-bird (q.v.), whence night-walk-
ing, prowling at night for robbery,
prostitution, etc. (1598). To make
a night of it, to spend the night in
dissipation.
Night-and-day. The play.
Night-bird (cap, hawk, hunter,
poacher, snap, trader, or
Night-carp.
Nip.
walker). 1. A thief working by
night (1544). 2. A harlot : also night-
piece (or shade) (1612). 3. A bully,
street brawler: also (in bands),
night -jury (1664). 4. A bellman,
watchman.
Night - cap. 1. The last drink, a
dodger (q.v.) (1840). 2. The cap
pulled over the face before execution :
see Horse's night-cap (1681). 3. See
Night-bird. 4. A wife : see Dutch.
Nightingale. 1. A soldier who, as
the term is, sings out at the halberts :
it is a point of honour in some regi-
ments among the grenadiers never to
cry out, or become nightingales, whilst
under the discipline of the cat of nine
tails ; to avoid which they chew a bullet
(Grose). 2. A prostitute. 3. See Spit-
head, Cambridgeshire, and Arcadian
nightingale.
Night-liner. A night- walking cab :
cf. Owl-train.
Nighty (or nightie). A night-
Nigit (or Nidget). A fool (1623).
*«-*-- (or Niggler). 1. A clipper
(q.v.): see Nig
clever and
of money, sweater
(1696). 2. One wiwTis
dexterous.
Nihil-ad-rem (Winchester College).
Vague, unconscious : e.g. He sported
nihil-ad-rem duck.
Nikin. A fooL
Nil. Half, half profits, etc.
Nil ly- willy. NiLL ye, will ye,
whether you will or not: a familiar
version of the Latin, nolens - volens :
now generally written willy-nilly.
N i m. To seize, take, steal, nab
(q.v.). [A. S., niman, to take].
Whence nimm&r, a thief, and nimming,
theft, robbery (1350).
Nimble. Easy - got, quickly
turned over : of money : of. Ninepence.
Nimble as a cat on a hot hake-stone
(or hot bricks), as nimble as may be,
in a hurry to get away, alort, on the
qui vive : also as nimble as an eel in, a
sandbag, as a new-gelt dog, as a bee in a
tar-barrel, as a cow in a cage, or as
ninepence (May, 1676),
Nimenog. A fool : also nigmenog
(1696).
Nirngimmer. A doctor, surgeon,
apothecary (1696).
Nimrod. A hunting-man, sports-
man (1599).
Nirashi. A nincompoop, conceited
Nimshod. A cat.
Nincompoop (or Nickumpoop).
An impotent ass (1696).
Nine. Nine tailors make a man :
see Ninth.
Nine-bob-square. Out of shape.
Nine corns. A pipeful of tobacco.
Nine-eyed. Observant (1694).
Ninepence. Neat (nice, or right)
as ninepence, all right, correct to a
nicety : cf . alliterative proverb, A
nimble ninepence is better than a
slow shilling (1850).
Ninepins. Life in general.
Nines. Up to the nines, to per-
fection (1780).
Nine-shillings. Nonchalance.
Nine-spot. Only a nine-spot, in-
different ; of small account : the nine
at cards rarely counts for a trick.
Nine - tail Bruiser (or Mouser).
The cat-o' -nine- tails.
Nineways. To look nine ways
(or nine ways for Sundays), to squint
(1542).
Nine Winks. A short nap: of.
Forty winks.
Ningle. See Ingle.
Ning-nang. A worthless thorough-
bred.
Ninny. LA fool : also ninny-
hammer, and hence ninny-hammering
foolishness (1696). 2. A whining
beggar (1696).
Ninny-broth. Coffee (1696).
Ninth. Ninth (or tenth) part of a
man, a tailor. [From the proverb
Nine tailors make a man: whence
Queen Elizabeth's traditional ad-
dress to a deputation of eighteen
tailors: — God save you, gentlemen
both,]
Nip. LA pinch. 2. A thief :
specifically a cut-purse (1592). 3. (a)
A small quantity of spirits; as a nip
of whisky — generally half a glass :
also a small bit of anything, as much
as is nipped or broken off between the
finger and thumb ; hence (&) a sip, a
small drink, go (q.v. ) : also Nipper. 4.
A hit, taunt (1556). As verb, (1) to
pinch, to press between the fingers
and thumb without the nails, or with
any broad instrument like a pair of
tongs as to squeeze between edged
instruments or pincers (J3. E.) ; (2) to
steal: specifically, to cut a purse
(1567) ; (3) to go, to nip along, to move
with speed; to nip in, to Blip in ; (4) to
take a dram ; (5) see Nip-cheese and
307
Nob.
Nip-louse ; (6) to taunt, wring (1599) ;
(7) to arrest, pinch (q.v.) (1851).
Nip and tuck, touch and go, neck
and neck, equality or thereabouts :
also nip and tack, nip and chuck, etc.
To nip in the bud, of an early blast or
blight of fruit; also to crush any-
thing at the beginning (B. K).
Nip-cheese. 1. A miser : also nip
squeeze and nip - farthing (Grose). 2.
A purser.
Nip-louse. A tailor: also prick-
louse.
Nip-lug. A teacher, schoolmaster.
At nip -lug, at loggerheads, on the
point of collision.
Nippent. Impudent.
Nipper. 1. A lad (1851). 2. A
cut-purse. [So called by one Wotton
who, in the year 1585, kept an aca-
demy for the education and perfection
of pick-pockets and out-purses; his
school was near Billingsgate, London :
as, in the dress of ancient times, many
people wore their purses at their
, cutting them was a branch of
it fingered art, which is now lost
L the name remains . . . there
ally ale: also Nippitato and Nippi-
tatum (1575).
Nipps. Shears for clipping money
(1696).
Nippy. Mean, stingy, curt,
snappish.
Nipshot. To play nipsJiot, to fail,
decamp (1775).
Nique. Contemptuous indiffer-
ence.
Nisey. See Nizey.
Nit. 1. Wme that is brisk, and
poured quick into a glass (B. JE.). 2.
A wanton. Nits witt become lice, of
small matters that become important.
Nit-squeezer. A hair-dresser.
Nix (or Nicks). 1. Nothing: also
nix my dott, and (American), nixy and
nixy-cully (1789). 2. A term used in
the railway mail service to denote
matter of domestic origin, chiefly of
the second and first class, which is
unmailable because addressed to places
which are not post-offices, or to States,
etc., in which there is no such post-
office as that indicated in the address.
As intj., a warning that some one in
authority is at hand. Nix my doUJ
was a school house set up to learn Never mind ! [Popularised by Ains-
young boys to cut purses : two devices worth's song in Eookwood],
were hung up, one was a pocket, and *T" "- A — ~"J- -* — '- —-
another was a purse, the pocket had
in it certain counters, and was hung
about with hawk's befis, and over the
top did hang a little sacring bell ; the
purse had silver in it, and he that
could take out a counter, without
noise of any of the hells, was ad-
judged a judicial nipper, according
to their terms of art ; a f oyster was a
pickpocket; a nypper was a pick-
purse, or cut purse. — Grose.] 3.
The serving lad attached to a gang of
navvies, to fetch water and carry
tools. 4. In pi., handcuffs or shackles.
5. In pi., a burglar's instrument used
from the outside on a key : also
American tweezers. 6. (Marlborou
School). A boy or cad. As verb,
arrest, catch: see Nab, and Nip
(1823).
Nipperkin. 1. A small measure,
half a pint of wine, and but half a
quartern of brandy, strong waters, etc.
(B. $.). 2. A stone jug.
Nipping. Sharp, cutting (1596).
Nipping Christian. A out -purse:
see Nipper.
Nippmg-jig. Hanging.
Nippitate. Strong drink,
Niz-priz. A writ of nisi-prius.
Nizzie. 1. A fool : also nikin. 2.
A coxcomb (1696).
No. No battle, no good, not worth
while. No chicken, getting on in
years: usually of women. No end,
extremely, a great many: a general
intensive. No fear: see Fear. No
flies, artful, designing: also N.F.
No fool, an ironical intensive. No
go, no use, impossible : EV., zut / and
ga ne mord pas (1830). No kid, no
mistake. No moss, no animosity.
No name, no pull, if I name no names
there can Jbe no libel, if I do not
mention his name he cannot take
offence, unless he likes to apply the
remarka to himself. No odds, no
matter, of no consequence. No re'
pairs: see Repairs.
especi-
308
Noah's Ark. 1. A long, closely-
buttoned overcoat: a coinage of
Punch: from a similarity to the
wooden figures in a toy ark. 2. Certain
clouds elhptically parted, considered
a sign of fine weather after rain. 3.
A lark (q.v.).
Noakes. See John o* Noakes.
Nob. 1. The head: see Crumpet
(1696). 2. A person of rank or posU
Ndb-a-nob.
NodgecocJc.
tion. To come the nob, to put on airs
(1703). 3, (Oxford University). A
fellow of a college. 4. A knobstick
(q.v.). 5. The game of prick - (or
cheat -) the - garter (1754). 6. A
sovereign, 20s. : see Bhino. As verb,
(1) to strike, get home a blow (speci-
fically on the head) : cf. Nobber j (2)
to collect money, take round the hat :
Fr., faire la manche (1851). Nob in
the fur trade, a judge (1838). To
nob it, to act with such prudence and
knowledge of the world, as to prosper
and become independent, without any
labour or bodily exertion; this is
termed nobbing it, or fighting nob
work ; to effect any purpose or obtain
anything by means of good judgment
and sagacity, is called nobbing it for
such a thong (Vattx), One for his
nob, (1) a blow on the head; (2) a
point in cribbage for holding the
knave of trumps ; cf . Two for his heels,
To pitch the nob : see Prick the garter.
Nob-a-nob. Hob-nob (q.v.) :
probably a corruption.
Nobba. Nine [Italian, Novel
Spanish, Nova; the b and v being
interchangeable, as in sa&e and
sawey].
Nobber. 1. A blow on the head.
2. A financial agent, the man who
goes round with the plate or box :
great care is always bestowed upon the
selection of the nobber; he is really
the most important member of the
troupe, and must be an artist of the
first water if he is to get any money :
only a nobber can know the reluctant
way in which the public doles out its
coppers, and its refusal to donate
silver on any terms.
Nobbily. Showily, smartly: cf.
Nobby,
Nobbing. 1. The administration of
blows on the head. 2. La pi., money
collected : see Nobber.
Nobbing - cheat. See Nubbing-
cheat.
Nobbing-slum. The bag for collect-
ing money : see Nobber.
Nobble. 1. To strike on the head,
stun. 2. Secretly to frustrate, spoil,
lame, dose, drug, or otherwise prevent
the horse from doing his level best,
across hurdles, or in a steeple-chase.
3. To circumvent, cheat, do (q.v.),
square (q.v.). 4. To appropriate,
catch, nab (q.v.).
Nobbier. 1, A blow on the head.
2. A finishing stroke, settler (q.v.).
3. The gaff (that Mils) : rod-fishing.
4. A confederate of thimble-riggers
and card - sharpers, bonnet (q.v.),
bearer up (q.v.): also nob - pitcher.
[The nobbier plays as if a stranger to
the rig (q.v.), to draw unsuspecting
Cons into play.] 5. A pettifogging
yer. 6. A drink, go (q.v.) ;
specifically of spirits (1750).
Nobble-tree. The head, nob (q.v.).
Nobby. A fool. Aa adj., (1)
smart ; elegant, fashionable : also
nobb^sh> nobbily, andndbby (1808).
Noble. To bring a noble to nine-
pence, to decline in fortune (1696).
See Beggar's noble.
Noble Art. Pugilism, boxing.
Nob-pitcher. A sharper who at-
tends at fairs, races, to take in the flats
at prick-in-the-garter, cups and balls,
and similar artifices.
Nobs-houses. The Houses of Parlia-
ment.
Nob's-nob. King George IV.
Nob-stick. See Knobstick.
Nod-thatch. The hair.
Nob-thatcher. 1. A wig-maker,
strummel - faker (q.v.). 2. A straw-
bonnet-maker.
Nob work. Mental occupation.
N o c k y. A simpleton, dullard :
also nocky-boy, and as adj.
Nocturne. A prostitute, night-piece
(q.v.).
Nod. To be stupid, duU. The Land
of Nod, sleep : of. The Land of Nod on
the East of the Jordon (q.v.), Gen. iv.
16(1608). A nod is as good as a wink
to a blind horse, said of a covert hint —
an allusion not put into plain words
(1831). On the nod, on credit.
Nodcock. A simpleton.
Noddipol. See Noddy,
Noddle. The head : see Crumpet
(1593).
Noddle-case. A wig.
Noddy (Nod, Noddle - Noddipole,
Noddy-pole, Noddy-pate, or Noddy-
peake). 1. A simpleton: also
Tom Noddy (1540). £ A kind of
buggy or one-horse chaise, with a seat
before it for a driver, used in and
about Dublin in the manner of a
hackney coach (Grose). As adj.,
simple, foolish (1598). Knave noddy,
the knave of trumps.
Noddy -headed. 1. Witless. 2.
Drunk : see Screwed.
Nodgecock. A simpleton (1566).
Noffgur.
Nose.
Noffgur. A prostitute.
Nog* 3ee Noggin.
.
Noggin (Nog, or Knoggin).
small measure of spirits, go (q.v.)
3. The
,
A small measure of spirits, go (q.v.)
(1696). 2. A mug (163
head : see Crumpet.
Noggy. Intoxicated : see Screwed.
No-how. 1. Upset, out of sorts.
2. Out of countenance (1780).
Noise. A band of musicians
(1598). To make a noise at one, to
scold. To noise one, to tell tales of,
split (q.v.).
Noisy-dog-racket. Stealing brass
knockers from doors (Orose).
Nokes. 1. A ninny or fool. 2.
John-a-Nokes and Tom-a-Stiles, two
fictitious names commonly used in law
proceedings.
Noli - me - tangere. 1. The itch,
any disgusting contagious disease :
cf. Scotch fiddle (1626). 2. A repellent
person, attitude, or occurrence. As
adj., repellent, forbidding. [Lat.,
touch-me-not.] (1591).
Noll (or Nole). 1. The head : see
Crumpet (1400). 2. A simpleton
(1587). Old NoU, 'the late Vsurper,
Cromwell' (B. E.).
No-man's-land. Waste ground, an
unsettled acreage, a barren or broken
stretch between two provinces or
kingdoms: cf. Tom Tiddler's ground.
Nominate. See Poison.
Nommus. See Nammous. ^
Non-com. A non-commissioned
officer.
Non-con. A nonconformist.
Non-est-inventus. Absent.
Non-licet (Winchester College).
Illegal, unbefitting a Wykehamist:
e.g. Don't sport non-licet notions.
Nonny (Nonino, or Hey, Nonny,
Nonny). 1. A refrain once used to
cover indelicate allusions (1593), 2.
A simpleton.
Nonplust, At the end of one's
tether : also at point nonplus (1708).
Nonsense. 1. Money: see Rhino.
2. Melting butter in a wig; also,
fastening the door with a boiled
carrot. (Grose). 3. (Eton College).
A small division of the Third
Form.
Nonsuch. One that is unequalled ;
frequently applied ironically.
Nonjuror. Clergymen and others
(officers in the army, navy, etc.), that
refused to take the oaths to King
William and Queen Mary, and were
310
turned out of their livings and em-
ployments (B. E.).
Noodle. A simpleton : also Bitty
noodle. The Tiouse of noodles, the
House of Lords. As verb, to fool.
Noodledom. The world of fools.
Nookery. A snug corner, place of
hiding (1857).
Noom. The moon, Oliver (q.v.).
Noose (or Nooze). 1. To hang
(1676). 2. To marry. Noosing, a
wedding; noose (or marriage - noose),
the nuptial knot (1617).
Nope. A blow.
Nope. No.
Noras. Great Northern Railway
Deferred Ordinary Stock.
Norfolk-capon. A red herring : see
Glasgow Magistrate.
Norfolk-dumpling. A Norfolk man.
Norfolk Howard. 1. A bug. 2.
In pi., The Norfolk Regiment, for-
merly the 9th Foot.
Norfolk-nog. A kind of strong ale
(1726).
Nor -loch Trout. A joint or leg
of mutton, ordered for a club of
citizens who used to meet in one of
the closes leading down to the North
Loch, The invitation was given in
these terms : Will ye gang and eat a
Nor' loch trout ? The reason of the
name is obvious. This was the only
species of fish which the North Loch,
on which the shambles were situated,
could supply ( Jamieson).
Norp. To put in phrases that will
fetch the gallery, pile it up (q.v.).
North. 1. Strong, good, well forti-
fied : usually of grog. Due north, neat ;
too faar north, drunk. 2. Intelligent,
fly (q.v.), up to snuff (q.v.): cf. FT.,
perdre le nord, to be confused.
Northallertons. Spurs.
North Country Compliment. A
gift not wanted by the giver nor
valued by the receiver.
North-easter. A New England
sixpence or shilling, temp. Charles I.
[On one side were the letters N.E.]
Northumberland. Lord Northumber-
land's arms, a black eye.
Norway Neckcloth. The pillory:
usually made of Norway fir.
Norwicher. An unfair drinker: ie.
a man who, taking first pull at a
tankard, does not draw breath till
he has pretty well emptied the pot.
Nose, 1. An informer : Er., rt/Wfe,
tante, sovfawe, and eonfew (1789). 2.
Nose-and~ehin.
Nozzle.
A paid spy, shadow (q.v.), nark (q.v.) :
also noser (1819). As verb, (1) to
smell, scent; (2) to pry, suspect,
discover (1651) ; (3) to inform (1821) ;
(4) to bluster, look big ; (5) to tell of
anything he has said or done with a
view to injure him, or to benefit your-
self. Many colloquialisms are here
conveniently grouped : e.g. to put
one's nose out of joint, to supplant ; to
wipe one's nose, (1) to cozen ; (2) to
affront ; and (3) in medicine, to dis-
cover an error in diagnosis and alter
treatment (the mistaken practitioner
is said to have his nose wiped) ; to
put one's nose in the. manger, to eat ;
to follow one's nose,, to go straight
forward ; to lead by the nose, to govern ;
to pay through the nose, to pay extra-
vagantly? to put one's nose into any-
thing, to meddle; to turn up one's
nose, to disdain ; to cast in (or to play
with) one's nose, to twit, or to ridicule ;
to have one's nose on the grindstone, to
be held at a disadvantage ; to be bored
through the nose, to be cheated; in
spite of your nose, in your teeth ; to
bite (or to cut off) one's nose to spite
one's face, to be revenged to one's own
detriment ; to tell (or to count) noses, to
appeal to numbers ; to make a person's
nose swell, to make jealous ; to measure
noses, to meet; to take pepper in the
nose, (1) to take offence ; and (2) to
mistrust; as plain as the nose on one's
face, beyond argument ; a good nose, a
smell-feast ; to make a bridge of some-
one's nose, to pass in drinking, also to
supersede; to hold up one's nose, to
be proud ; a nose of wax, a complaisant
or accommodating disposition ; can-
dles (or dewdrops) in the nose, snots ;
on the nose, on the look-out ; a nose to
light candles at, a drunkard's nose, a
poop-lantern ; to see the nose cheese
first, to refuse contemptuously ; my
nose itches/ a jocular invitation to
kiss, the retort being, I knew I was
Nose - and - chin. A penny, win
(q.r.).
Nosebag. 1. A sea-side visitor who
carries his own victuals with him. 2.
A veil. 3. A bag of provender fas-
tened to a horsed head: whence, a
hand-bag. To put on the nose bagf to
eat hurriedly or whilst at work.
Nosegent. A nun (1573).
Nose'm. Tobacco, fogus (q.v.).
311
Nosender (Noser, or Nosegay).
A blow on the nose (1823).
Noser - my - Knacker. Tobacco,
fogus (q.v.).
Nose-warmer. A short pipe : St.,
bntte-gueule.
Nose-watch. See Watch (1573).
Nose-wipe. A handkerchief: see
Fogle.
Nos-rap. A parson, devil-dodger
(q.v.).
Nostrum. A medicine prepared
by particular persons only, a quack
medicine (Grose).
Not. Sec Baker, Care, Carrot,
Curse, Dam, Devil, Feather, Kg, Fit,
Fly, Naif-bad, In it, Joe, (or Joseph),
Long shot (or Sight), Much, Shower,
Bap, To-day, Worth, Yesterday.
Notch. 1. To score. 2. To
denote an advantage : e.g. Notch me
another.
Note. 1. A bon-bon. 2. A singer.
Noter (Harrow School). A note-
book.
Note-shaver. A usurer, a usurious
compositor : specifically a wild - cat
bank (q.v. ), purchasing notes of hand
at excessive rates of discount: ob-
solete since the regulation of banks by
Congress.
Nothing. See Dance, Neck, and
Say.
Notice to quit. When a person is in
danger of dying from bad health, it is
said, he has received a notice to quit.
Notion (Winchester College).
1. A word, usage, or phrase peculiar
to Winchester College). 2. A trifle,
nick-nack : specifically (in pi.), wares
Notional. Imaginative, whimsical,
sentimental: also notionate (1691).
Nottamizer. A dissecting surgeon.
(1828).
Nottingham Lamb. See Lamb.
Nous. Sense, shrewdness. (From
the Greek nous]. (1678).
Nous-box. The head, knowledge-
box : see Crumpet.
Nova. Nine.
Nowhere. Not in the reckoning,
so far behind as not to be. [A remin-
iscence of that * Eclipse first, and the
rest nowhere,' which described the
victory of a famous horse].
Nozzle. The nose : see Conk. As
verb, (1) to shrink : e.g. to no&sle the
bottoms,to shrink the fronts of trousers; t
(2) to pawn.
Nth.
Nursery-business,
Nth (or Nth plus one). To
the utmost degree. Thus Cut to the
Nth means wholly unnoticed by a
friend. The expression is taken from
the index of a mathematical formula,
where n stands for any number, and
n -plus 1 more than any number.
Nub. 1. The neck. 2. A husband.
As verb, to hang : see Ladder (1712).
Nubbin. A remnant, small re-
mainder.
Nubbing. Hanging.
Nubb ing -cheat (or Nubbling-
chit). The gallows, whence nub-
bing, a hanging ; nubbing - cove, the
hangman; and nubbing-lcen, the Ses-
sions House (1696). English syno-
nyms: Abraham's balsam (in botany,
a species of willow), Beilby's ballroom,
chates (chattes or chats), City stage,
(formerly in front of Newgate), crap,
deadly never -green, derrick, forks,
horse foaled by an acorn, hotel door-
posts, the ladder, leafless tree, mare
with three legs, Moll Blood (old Scots'),
morning-drop, prop (Punch and Judy),
the queer-'em (queer-'un, queer-'um),
scrag, scrag-squeezer, sheriffs picture-
frame, squeezer, stalk (Punch and
Judy), the stifler, the swing, three-
legged mare, three trees, topping
cheat, Tower-hill vinegar (the swords-
man's block), tree that bears fruit all
they ear round, tree with three corners,
treyning-cheat, triple-tree, Tuck'em
Fair, Tyburn cross, widow, wooden-
legged mare.
Nuddikin (or Noddleken). The
head.
Nuff. Enough. To "have "had one's
nuff, to be elevated or drunk: cf. N. C.
Nug. To fondle, grubble. Whence
my nug, my dear : a general endear-
ment.
Nugget. In pi., money : see Rhino.
Nuggety. Thick-built, cobby,
stocky.
Nugging - dress. A loose kind of
dress.
Nugging-house. A brothel.
'Nuity. Go-aheaditdveness (q.v.).
Null. To beat.
Null-gropers. Persons who sweep
the streets, in search of old iron, nails,
etc. (Grose).
Nulling-cove. A pugilist.
Nulli Secundus Club. The
Coldstream Guards : also known as
The Coldstreamers.
312
Numans. Newgate (1610).
Number. See Mess. To consult the
"book of numbers, to call for a division,
to put a matter to the vote (Grose).
Number 9, the Fleet Prison; this was
No. 9 Fleet Market. Number One,
(1) self ; to take care of number one, to
look after one's own interests ; (2)
the cat-o' -nine- tails. Number six : see
Newgate knocker. Number two, the
birch.
Numps. A dolt, fool (1614).
Nums (or Numins). A clean collar
on a dirty shirt. As adj., sham.
Numskull. A simpleton (1712).
Numskulled. Foolish, silly.
Nun. A prostitute: cf. Abbess:
also Covent garden nun. Nun's fleshy
a cold temperament (1608).
Nunky (Nunks, or Nuncle), An
uncle [Nuncle, mine uncle : once the
customary address of the licensed fool
to his superiors] (1599).
Nunnery. A brothel.
Nunquam. 'Nunqiiam is he that
when has Maister sendeth him on his
errand he wil not come againe of an
hour or two * (Frat. Vacabondes).
Nunyare. Food, meals.
Nup (or Nupson). A fool (1580).
Nuppence. Nothing : from no
pence, on the model of tuppence, 2d.
Nuptiate. To marry, get hitched
(q.v.).
Nuremburg-egg. An early kind of
watch, oval in shape : invented, c,
1500, in Nuremburg.
N u r 1 y. HI - tempered, cross-
grained: from gnarly.
Nurse. 1. An old man's maid. 2.
An able first lieutenant, who in former
times had charge of a young boy-
captain of interest, but possessing
no knowledge for command. 3. See
Wet-nurse. As verb, (1) to cozen
(Grose) ; (2) to keep the three balls
close in play so as to score successive
cannons : hence, nursery - business
(q.v.) ; (3) to cheat an opposition 'bus
driving close in front
; two vehicles are generally
employed to nurse the victim (1858).
To be at nurse, to be in the hands of
trustees (Grose).
Nursery. A race for two-year-olds ;
almost always a handicap : also as
Nursery - business (or cannon).
Playing the three balls clofle together
and so scoring successive cannons.
Nurse^s-vcvil.
Oath.
Nurse's- vail. A nurse's petticoats
when they are wet with urine.
Nush. The mouth: see Potato-
trap.
Nut 1. The head : hence, intelli-
race, brains : see Crumpet (1858).
The core of fat in a leg of mutton,
the pope's eye (q.v.) (1611). 3. A
harum-scarum ass. 4. In pi., small
round coals. 5. In pi., a delightful
practice or experience (1678). 6.
In pi., Barcelona Tramway Shares.
7. A drink, go (q.v.) : see Drinks. As
verb, (1) to fondle, ogle, spoon (q.v.) ;
(2) to strike on the head. To oe nuts
(or dead nuts) on, (1) to be very much
pleased or gratified with any object,
adventure, or overture ; so a person
who conceives a strong inclination for
another of the opposite sex, is said to
be quite nutty, or nuts upon him or
her ( Vaux) ; (2) to be very skilful or
dexterous ; (3) to be particular, to
detest. To crack a nut, in country
gentlemen's houses (in Scotland), in
the olden time, when a fresh guest
arrived he was met by the laird, who
made him crack a nut — that is, drink
a silver - mounted cocoa - nut shell
full of claret. The Nub, the Keppel's
Head, at Portsmouth, known to all her
Majesty*s navy as the Nut. A nut to
crack,, a problem to solve, puzzle to
explain, difficulty to overcome (1843).
Off one's nut, (1) crazy ; (2) drunk : see
Screwed.
Nut-cracker. 1. The head. 2. A
sharp blow on it. 3. In pi., the fists.
4. In pi., the pillory. 5. In pi., a
curving nose and protruding chin. 6.
The teeth: see Grinders. 7. The
Third Foot : see Buff Howards.
Nut-hook. A term of contempt.
Nutmegs. Wooden nutmegs, when
made of wood, as were those immor-
talised by Sam Slick, have become
so familiar to the public mind that
they have passed into a slang term
for any cunning deception : not only
is Connecticut called the Nutmeg
State — although a factious native
says the true reason is because you
will have to look for a grater — but
in the press and in Congress, Wooden
Nutmegs have to answer for forged
telegrams, political tricks, and falsified
election-returns.
Nutmeg-state. Connecticut.
Nutshell. In a nutsheU, in small
compass, condensed, boiled down
(1622).
Nutted. Deceived by a false friend.
Nutty. 1. Sweet-on, amorous,
fascinating (1821). 2. Fruitful of de-
tails, spicy (q.v.). 3. Smart, doggy
(q.v.), swagger (q.v.), nobby (q.v.),
nice (q.v.) (1823).
Nux. The object in view, the plant
(q.v.), the lay (q.v.).
Nymph of darkness (or the pave-
ment). A prostitute.
Nyp. See Nip.
Oaf. 1. A loutish simpleton. Oaf-
dom, the world of louts ; oafish, stupid
(1621). 2. A wiseacre (1696).
Oak. 1. A man of substance and
credit (1696). 2. An outer door. To
sport one's oak, to be not at home : in-
dicated by closing the outer door
(Grose). As adj., strong, rich, in
good repute. Felling of oaks, sea-
sickness (1608).
Oaken-towel. A cudgel, Plymouth
cloak (q.v.). To nib down with an
oaken towd, to thrash.
Oar. 1. A busybody: henca, to
put (or shove) one's oar in, to interfere,
meddle officiously (Grose). (1596). 2.
(1) la pL, a waterman ; i.e. oars (two
men) as opposed to sculls, (q.v.) one
man); and (2) an oarsman (1611).
First-oars, a favourite, a person or
thing holding the first or highest place
(1774). To tie (or rest) on one's oars, to
rest, take things easy.
Oat. An atom, particle : e.g. Fvo
not an oat, I'm penniless. Wua oats,
a rako, debauchee : hence, to sow one's
wild oats, to indulge ; to have sown
one's wild oats, to have reformed
(1570), Feed of oats, (1) A whip, (2)
a beating. To earn a gaUon of oats,
of horses : to fall on the back rolling
from one side to the other. To feet
one's occts, to get bumptious: oi
Beans.
Oath. To take an oath, to drink,
liquor up (q.v.). Htohgate oath, a
jocose asseveration which travellers
towards London were required to take
313
Oatmeal.
Odds.
at a certain tavern at Highgate : they
were obliged to swear that they would
not prefer small beer before strong,
unless indeed they liked the small
better ; never to kiss the maid if they
could kiss the mistress, unless the
maid was prettier ; with other state-
ments of a similar kind.
Oatmeal. A roystering profligate :
see Roaring boy (1656). Att the world
is not oatmeal, things are not what
they seem, All is not gold that glitters,
of. Beer and skittles (1542).
Oats-and-barley. Charley.
Oats-and-chaff. A footpath.
Oat-stealer. An ostler.
Ob (Winchester College). A con-
traction of obit.
Obadiah. A Quaker.
Ob-and-soller. A scholastic dis-
putant. [From Objection and Solu-
tion used in the margin of books.]
(1638).
O-be-easy, To sing O "be. easy, to
appear contented when one has cause
to complain.
O-be- joyful. Good liquor, brandy.
O-be-joyfid works, a drinMng-shop.
To make, one. sing 0 be joyful on (or
with) the other side of the mouth, to
make one cry.
Obeum (The) (University). The
name for a water-closet building at
Cambridge. [Attributed by the Under-
graduates to the energy of O(scar)
B(rowning)].
Obfuscated. Drunk : see Screwed :
also obfuscation (1861).
Obit. An obituary notice.
Object. 1. A laughing- (or gazing-)
stock. Little object (of children), a
half -playful, half -angry endearment.
2. A sweetheart (i.e. tne object of one's
affections) (1824).
Obiquitous. Innocence of right and
wrong : from oblivious and obliquity.
Obscute, Under-handed, crooked.
Observationist. One who looks out
tempting objects for a skilful thief to
steal : generally pedlars, hawkers, etc.
Obstropulous. A corruption of ob-
streperous (1748),
Occabot. Tobacco ; tib fo occabot,
bit of tobacco.
Occasion. To improve the occasion,
to make the most of a chance (1860).
Occupy. To wear.
Ocean. In pL, a very large quan-
tity : e.g. oceans of drink, or coin, of
notices, and the like.
Ocean-greyhound. A swift steamer :
specifically one running between
England and America: also Atlantic
greyhound. Mr. T. "Dykes (Glasgow
Mail, 28 May 1900), says that in 1882
three great shipbuilding yards —
Barrow, Dalmuir, and FairSeld — had
each on hand a new steamer that was
to beat the record, at that time held
by the Arizona. He was commis-
sioned by Mr. Gordon Bennett to
write an article on the subject, and, as
an old coursing correspondent, was
called upon to name the winner. He
interviewed men best qualified to
give an opinion, amongst others Mr.
G. L. Watson, who plumped for the
Fairfield boat as likely to prove the
greyhound of tho Atlantic. The
Alaska, therefore, was named the
Greyhound of the Atlantic before she
was launched.
Ochive. A knife.
Ochre. Money: specifically gold:
see Rhino.
O'clock. To know whafs o'cfocfc, to
be alert, up to the time of day : seo
Know. Like one o'clock, quickly,
readily, in a jiffy (q.v.) : see Like.
O Criminy. See Crimes.
October. 1. The best ale : spec, ale
or cider brewed in October. 2. Blood,
Odd. Strange, peculiar, difficult
314
Odd - come - shortly. Some day :
also odd-come-short, odds and ends,
fragments.
Odd Fish. An eccentric: see
Queer Card (1771).
Oddish. Drunk : see Screwed.
Oddity. A singularity (1813).
Odd Man out, A mocle of tossing
for drinks by three or more. Each
spins a coin, and if two come up
head and one tail, the toil or odd
man is out, i.e. has not to pay.
Should all throe coins be alike they
are skied again (1840}.
Odds. The probabtlitkw for or
against; the chance of something
occurring; that which justifies the
attributing of superiority to one of
two or more persons or things : speci-
fically, in betting, the exco«« of the
amount of a bot made by one part?
over, that of another: as tho odds
against the favourite were 3 to 1
(1591). Whafs the oddt ? What do*e
it matter : an intensive of reofclewaew
and good-fellowship (1840).
Old Bailey Underwriter.
Odling. Cheating (1500).
Odno. No do. Riding on the
odno, travelling by rail without pay-
ment.
Odour. Repute : as good or bad
odour, the odour of sanctity, etc.
(1853).
Off. Tho field of the wicket-
keeper (1856). As adv., (1) out-of-
date : originally waiters : e.g. Chops is
boff, there are no more chops to-day ;
(2) stale, in bad condition : e.g. smells
a little bit off, don't it ? To be off,
to depart, run away. Ofy bat (Win-
chester College), the station of one
of the field in a cricket match, Point.
Off the horn, said of very hard steak.
Off the hinge, out of work (1853).
Also see Base, Bat, Chump, Cocoanut,
Colour, Dot, Feed, Head, Hook,
Kadoova, Nut, Onion, Reel, Rocfcor,
Saucer, Song, Spot.
Off-chance. A doubtful hazard.
Office. A hint, signal, or private
intimation, from one person to an-
other ; this is termed offlooing him, or
giving him the oflice ; to take tho
office, is to understand and profit by
tho hint given : Fr,, donncr un tui/au.
As verb, to give notice or informa-
tion (1810)- 6V)/jV office, tho galkty.
Jack in office -. sec Jack.
Office-sneak. A otoaler of office
overcoats and umbrellas.
Offish. Distant (1842).
Off-ox. An unmanageable, cross-
grained fellow.
Ogging ot Tekram, Going to
market.
Ogle. 1. In pi., the eyes : also
oglera. Hence quMr-oglcd\ Bquinting ;
rwn ogtfjf* bright or plowing eyes
(1690). 2. An ocular invitation or
consent, side glance, or amorous look :
whence ogling, an amorous look
(1704). Aa verb, (1) to look amor-
ously* make flhf*op'A eyos (q.v.)
(1690); (2) to examine, consider
(1830); (3) to look (1821)
Ogler. I. $w Ogle. 3, One who
ogles (q.v.) (1702).
Oh. See After you, Dummy,
Jupiter, MO«OR, My, Swallow.
OU. Used in humoroun or aar-
castio combination : e.g. oil of <mgcl#,
a gift or bribe (in allunion to the coin),
oU of barley, beer j /># of hanttm (hirc,h*
gladnttM, hazel* kotty, ropf, tttirrup*
etrappem, or irftrp), a beating ; oil of
or palm-oif), * bribe; oil of
tonyue, ilattery (1592). As verb, to
flatter, bnbo (161C). To strike oil
(or He), to meet with a stroke of good
luck, be successful. [From the finan-
cial advantage accruing from the dis-
covery of the Pennsylvanian and
other mineral oil springs.] To oil
the wig, to make tipsy: see Screwed.
To oil the knocker, to fee tho porter :
Fr., graisacr le marteau.
Oiner. A cad.
Ointment. 1. Butter, cart-grease
(q.v.). 2. Money : see Rhino : from
the 13th century Fabliau, De la Vieille
qui Oinf, la Palme au Chevalier.
O. K. General Jackson, better
known ... as Old Hickory, was not
much at home in the art of spelling,
and his friend and admirer, Major
Jack Downing, found therefore no
difficulty in convincing the readers
of his Letters, that the President em-
ployed tho letters O.K. as an endorse-
ment of applications for office, and
other papers. They were intended
to stand for All Correct, which the old
gentleman preferred writing Oil Kor-
r<Kt. As verb, to signify that all is right.
Old. Money : eeo Rhino. As adj.,
1. crafty, cunning, experienced ; 2.
great, famous, grand : once a common
intunsitivo ; now only in combina-
tion with high, good, gay (1590). 3.
Old, ugly. 4. A general term of en-
dearment or cordiality: e.g. Old
chap. Old follow, Old boy, Old hoss,
Old man, Old gal ( 1 r><,)8). 5. A general
disparagement : OB in Old bloke. Old
buffer, Old oat, Old cock, Old codger,
Old coon, Old crawler, Old eurmud-
goon. Old dog, Old file, Old ife-gig,
Old geezer. Old huddle and twang,
Old ima#(\ Old pot-and-pan, Old
ehaver, Old ffquarc»»to<*», OW stager,
OldHtiok, Old stick-iu-tho-mud (1600),
A * old cut Charing Cross (or as PavFt),
of ripe age.
Old Agamemnons. The 00th Foot,
now the 2nd Batt. of tho Wel«h Begi-
mont: befitowod by Nelson at St.
Vincent in 1769, when the regiment
were fiorving as marines. Also The
K7f)s and Downs.
Old and Bold. Tho Prince of Wales'a
Own (Weat Yorkshire Eegtment),
formerly the 1 4th Foot. Also Cal-
vort'B Entire, The Powoe, and The
Fighting Brigade.
Old Bailey Underwriter. A petty
315
Old Bendy.
Old Peti.
Old Bendy. The devil
Old Bird. 1. An experienced
thief : also Old hand. 2. An expert :
also old liand and old dog : hence old
dog at it, expert.
Old Blazes. The devil.
Old Block. See Chip.
Old Bold. The 29th Foot, now the
1st Batt. Worcestershire Begiment.
Also The Ever-Sworded 29th.
Old Bold Fifth. The Northumber-
land Fusiliers : formerly The 5th Foot.
Also The Shiners, The Fighting Fifth,
and Lord Wellington's Bodyguard.
Old Boots. Like old boots, a
general and irrelevant comparison :
see like (1850).
Old Braggs. The 28th Foot, now
the 1st Batt. Gloucestershire Begi-
ment: from its Colonel's name,
1734-51. Also The Slashers.
Old Bucks. The Bedfordshire
Regiment, formerly the 16th Foot.
Also The Peacemakers and The
Feather-beds.
Old Buffs. The Third Foot, now
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment).
Also Nut-crackers and Resurrection-
ists.
Old-crow. A drink, dram. [In
the United States old crow, a choice
brand of Bourbon or corn whisky].
Old-dog. 1. A half-burnt plug of
tobacco left in the bowl of a pipe. 2.
A angering antique. As adj., par-
ticularly good (1596).
Old Donah (or Old woman).
A mother.
Old Doss. Bridewell.
Old Dozen. The Suffolk Regiment,
formerly the 12th Foot.
Old Driver. The devil : see Skipper.
Old Ebony. SlacJcwood's Magazine :
also Maga.
Old Eyes. The Grenadier Guards ;
also known as The Sand Bags, The
Coalheavers, The Housemaids' Pots,
and The Bermuda Exiles.
Old File. A miser; a skinflint
(q.v.) : also see Old.
Old Five and Threepennies.
The Fifty -third Foot. [From its
number and (formerly) the daily pay
of an ensign]. Also Briokdusts.
Old Floorer. Death.
Old Fogs. The 87th Foot, now
the Royal Irish Fusiliers. [From
their battle - cry, Fag - an - Bealach,
Clear the Way]. Also Blayney's
Bloodhounds and The Eollickers.
Old Gentleman. 1. A card somewhat-
larger and thicker than the rest of the
pack, and now in considerable use
amongst the legs. 2. The devil (1727).
Old Glory. The United States' flag
(1770-1844).
Old Gooseberry. The devil. To
play old gooseberry, to play the devil.
Old gown. Smuggled tea.
Old Hand. See Old bird.
Old Harry. The devil : also ike
lord Harry (1687). 2. A composition
used by vintners, when they bedevil
their wines (j?. jET.)- To play old
Harry, to play the devil : see Play.
Old Harvey. The large boat (the
launch) of a man -of* war.
Old (or salt) Horse. 1. Salt
junk : FT., sous-pied, and tire-fiacre. 2.
An endearment : a familiar address.
Old Inniskillings. The 6th
(InnisMlling) Dragoons. Also The
SkUlingers.
Old Iron. Shore clothes, To work
up old iron, to go ashore.
Old lady. A broad (q.v.). The
old lady of Thread-needle. St., the Bank
of England (1797).
Old Lag. See Lag.
Old Line State. Maryland. [From
the old line regiments contributed to
the Continental army in tho War of
the Revolution].
Old Man. 1. A full-grown male
kangaroo. 2. A familiar mode of
address. 3. A master, governor
(q.v.), boss (q.v.). 4. A husband:
cf. Old woman: FT., geniteur. 5. The
captain of a merchantman (1823). 6.
The ridgo between two sleepers in a
feather bed. 7. A blanket used to
wrap a young child in. 8. A father.
Old Man's Milk. Whisky: see
Drinks. In Scotland a mixture of
cream, eggs, sugar, and whisky.
Old Mr. Gory. A piece of gold
(B. S.}.
Old Mr. Grim. Death, Old Floorer
(q.v.).
Old Nick. The devil ; also nickie
and nickie-len (1662).
Old one (or Old 'un) . 1. The devil.
2. A father (1836). 3. A horse more
than three years old. 4. The panta-
loon, fool's father (q.v.).
Old Pegg. Poor Yorkuhire cheese,
made of skimmed milk (Grose).
Old Pelt An old pressman, jln
allusion to the ink pelts formerly in
use for distributing the ink].
316
Old Pod.
On.
Old Pod (or Old Pot-and-pan).
1. An old man, father. 2. A wife, a
woman.
Old Poger. The devil.
Old Probabilities. The Superin-
tendent of the United States' weather
bureau : sometimes Old Prob.
Old Red-eye. Whisky : see Drinks.
Old Rip. See Rip.
Old Roger. The devil.
Old Salt. An experienced sailor.
Old Saucy Seventh. Tho 7th (The
Queen's Own) Hussars : in Peninsula
times. Also The Lily-white Seventh,
Young Eyes, Old Strawboots, and
Straws.
Old Scratch. Tho dovil (1762).
Old Seven and Sixpennies. The
76th Foot, now the 2nd Batt. Duke
of Wellington's (West Biding Regi-
ment) : from its former number and
the amount of a lieutenant's pay.
Also The Immortals and The Pigs.
Old Shell. A sailor.
Old Shoe. A portent (or augury) of
good fortune. To wear (or ride in) an-
otlter marts old shoes (or boots), to marry
another man's sweetheart or widow.
Old Soldier. A cigar end or old
quid. To come tfie old soldier', see
Come.
Old Song. A trifle, a nominal
sum or price.
Old Split-foot. The devil ( 1 848).
Old Stager. A person of experience,
Old dog (q.v.).
Old Stick. 1. A disparagement: of.
Old. 2. A complimentary mode of
address to an old man, Higmfylng ho is
a capital fellow (Halliwett).
Old Stubborns. Tho Forty-fifth
Foot, now Tho Sherwood FortiHtors.
Old Strawboots (or Straws).
The 7th (Tho Quoon*H Own) Hussars :
for aubtttitutmg at Warbourg (1700)
Htrawbancta for worn-out bootw. Also
Tho Old Saucy Seventh and Tho Lily-
White Seventh.
Old Timer. I. A laudator lemfori*
afti. 2. Orui who ha& grown old in a
place or profofwion (1HOO).
Old Toast. 1. The dovil : »U»o Old
toaster (1359). & A brittk old follow
(Qrose).
Old Tom. Gin: BOO White Satin
(1823).
Old Toughs. Tho One Hundred and
Third Foot, mow the 2nd B&tt Royal
Dublin FufiiHers. (For long and
arduous service In India].
Old Trot. See Trot.
Old 'un. See Old one.
Old Whale. A sailor.
Old Woman. 1. A prisoner who,
unfit for physical hard work, is set
to knitting stockings. 2. A man with
tho character and habits of a woman :
also old wife, 3. A wife or mother : cf.
Old man.
Olive-branches. Children. [In al-
lusion to Psalm cxxvjii. 4, in Book of
Common Prayer] (1088).
Oliver. Tho moon, the sky-lantern.
Oliver whiddles (or is up), tho moon
shirics ; Oliver is vn> town, tho nights
are moonlight ( 1781 ). To give, a, Row-
land for an Oliver : see Rowland.
Oliver's Skull. A chamber-pot: see
It.
Ollapod. An apothecary. [From
Gcorgo Coleman's comedy (1802) The
Poor Gentleman.]
Olli compolli. The by-name of one
of the principal rogues of tho Canting
Crew (B. E.).
O m e e. A man : specifically, a
master : also otn&r and homee.
Omnibus. A man of all-work, a
handy man.
Omnium (Stock Exchange). The
aggregate value of tho different stocks
in which a loan is funded.
Omnium Gatherum. A medley,
Jack-of-all-tradcs (1576).
On. 1. No. 2. Tipsy : aoo Screwed.
3. Used for of (1C37). 4. (Winchester
College). Tho word given by the
Prefect of Hall for tho boys to start
to or from Hilla, or to Cathedral.
When any person or thing of im-
portance was known to bo likely to
moot tho boyw when on Hills, the word
was pansed that he, she, or it waft on,
—e.g. Ridsworth on, anobs on,
badger on, etc. (Mansfdd). & Car-
nally minded, concupiscent, To oe
(or get) on, (1) to make a bet : generally
to naw a bit on ; (2) ready and willing,
good at, fond of. To try it on : see
Try. See also Back, Ballot, Bat,
Batter, Beam-ends, Beer, Bend, Board,
Bone, Boot-leg, Bounce, Box, Burst
for Bust), Cards, Chain* Cheap, Crook,
Cross, Dead, Doad broko, Dead quiet,
Dee, Fly, Forty-ninth, Fourth, Fuddle
Grass, Ground-floor, Half-shoU, Head,
Hip, Hop, Ice, Job, I^ay, Ledge, Loose,
Make, Muddle, N*il, Nod, Noso, One's
Pa and Q'«» Pwmce, Prairie, Pro-
motion, Quiet, Q.T., Ramble, Ram
817
Once.
page, Rantan, Beady, Reerau, Road,
Rails, Scent, Scoot, Scout, Sentry,
Shallow, Sharp, Shelf, Shove, Shunt,
Skyte, Slate, Sly, Snap, Spree, Spot,
Square, Stairs, Straight, Stretch,
String, Swing, Tailboard, Take, Tappy,
Tiles, Timet Tick, Tramp, Toast, Top,
Uppers, Velvet, Wallaby, Warpath,
Win, etc.].
Once. In once, first time.
One. LA lie: see Whopper. 2.
A blow, grudge, score : also one in the
eye (1839). One in, hearing another's
good fortune and wishing the same to
oneself. One out, congratulating one-
self on a fortunate escape. One of
my cousins, a harlot. One of us (or
them), a woman of the town (Say).
One under the arm, an extra job. One
out of it, I don't want to be mixed up
with it. One of the Lord's own,, a
dandy. To be one upon another's taw,
a person who takes offence at the con-
duct of another, or conceives himself
injured by the latter, will say, never
mind I'll be one upon your taw ; or,
Til be a marble on your taw ; meaning
I'll be even with you some time
(Vaux). One and thirty, drunk: see
Screwed. One for his nob, 1. A blow
on the head. 2. See Nob, and Three
out.
One-a-piece. To see one-a-piece, to
see double : see Screwed.
Onee. One: e.g. onee soldi (or
toin), one penny.
One - eyed Scribe. A revolver :
see Meat-in-the-pot.
One-horse (or eyed). Petty, in-
significant, of no account: also one-
goat (1858).
One - in - ten. A parson. [In al-
lusion to tithes],
One Nitch (or Nick). A male
child ; two nitch, a baby girl.
One o'clock. See lake.
One-er. 1. A person or thing of
great parts : as a very successful
play, an exceedingly pretty woman, a
crushing blow, a monumental He : also
wtttwier. 2. A shilling : see Rhino.
One's eye. A hiding place for
cabbage (q.v.), hell (q.y.).
One Two. In boxing two blows
rapidly put in after each other. Jem
Belcher was distinguished for his
one two.
Onicker. A prostitute.
Onion. 1. The head. Off his
onion, off bis wits : eee Tibby. 2, A
318
seal : generally in plural : e.g. Bunch
of onions.
Oodles. A large quantity.
Oof (or Ooftish). Money. Oof-bird,
the goose that lays the golden eggs,
the source of supply ; the feathered
oof -bird, money in plenty ; to make
the oof-bird walk, to circulate money ;
oofless, poor. [Ooftish was, some
twenty years ago, the East End
synonym for money, and was derived
from auf tische, on the table — the
aristocracy of Houndsditch being in
the habit of refusing to play cards,
even with their best friends, unless the
money were down on the table. Hence,
ooftish, a word which was freely used
by the late Mr. Benson and his com-
panions in the De Goncourt frauds.
We — that is to say Gub — met ooftish
at a thieves' supper in Little Wylde
Street, took the animal home, out his
tail off, and turned him loose. So
that oof now swaggers about the
mansions of the aristocracy. — Sport-
ing Times'],
O, P. 1. Opposite the Prompter
and Prompt Side. 2. Out of print.
Open. To open the ball, to start or
begin anything (1812). To open owe'*
mouth too wide, to bid for larger
amounts of stock than one can pay for,
to appropriate more than one can use.
Open house. Hospitality for all
comers (1630).
Opera Buffer. An actor in opera
bouffe.
Opera House. A workhouse: Latin
opera, work.
Operator. A pickpocket, thief (q.v.),
O-per-se-O. Watchman, bellman,
crier (1612),
O.P.H. Off: e.g. Demme, I'm
O.P.H.
Oppidan (Eton College). A boy
who boards in the town,' as distin-
guished from a Bang* a Scholar.
Opiniator. An assuming positive
fellow, an obstinate self-conceited
coxcomb (B. Jfi?.).
Opium- joint. An opium den.
Optic. L An eye : see Glims ( 1 600).
2. An optic-glass, spy-glass (1721),
Optime (University). The senior
and junior optionee are the second and
last classes of Cambridge honours
conferred on taking a degree. That
of wranglers is the first. The last
junior optime is called the Wooden
Spoon (Grose).
Oracle.
Out.
Oracle. A watch, ticker (q.v.)
(1708). To work the oracle, to plan,
succeed by stratagem : specifically
to raise money.
Orange. To suck the orange dry, to
exhaust, deplete.
Orange Lilies. The Thirty-fifth
Foot. [From the facings till 1 832 and
the plumes awarded for gallantry at
Quebec in 1759]. Now the 1st Batt.
Royal Sussex.
Orate. To make a speech.
Orator. Cf. oration, dialectical for
noise or uproar. Orator to a mounte-
bank, the Doctor's decoy who in con-
junction with Jack Pudding, amuses,
diverts, and draws in the patients
(B. £!.).
Orchid. A titled member of the
Stock Exchange.
Order. A large order, something
excessive. To order one's name (Win-
chester School), tho direction given
to an offender by any of the authori-
ties. Tho boy so directed, if he was
in College, or if the order was given in
school, had to go to the Ostiarius —
or to the Praofect in course, if tho
offence was committed in commoners
— and give information of the order,
and tho reason why it had been given.
The Ostiarius, or the Prarfect in
course, wrote down the culprit's name,
together with that of the Master, and
the offence, and carried it up to the
Head or Second Master, when due
execution was done (Adams).
Order - racket. Obtaining goods
from a shopkeeper, by means of a
forged order or false pretence.
Ordinary. A wife : see Dutch.
Organ. 1. A clothes' trunk. 2.
A pipe. 3. A workman who lends
money to his follows at exorbitant
interest ; to <pLay the organ, to apply
for such a loan. To carry the organ,
to shoulder the pack or valise at de-
faulters' or marching ordor drill.
Organ-pipe. 1, The throat, wind-
pipe, the voice, 2. In pi., a fulnens
in skirt-books created by folds of
starched muslin.
Original Go- A novel predica-
ment (1864).
Orinofco. A poker.
Ornythorhynchus,, A creditor,
a beast with a bill
Orphan Collar. One that does
not match tho Hhirt in colour or
material.
Oschive. See Ochive.
O s-t i a r i u s (Winchester College) :
obsolete). An office held by the
Prefects in succession. The duties
were, to keep order in school, collect the
Vulguses, and prevent the boys from
shirking out. It is also the official
title for the Second Master.
Ostler. 1. An oat-stealer. 2. In
America, a horse-thief.
Otter. A sailor. As adj., eight:
also otto.
Ottomy. A skeleton, bag of bones
(q.v.), atomy (q.v.). Ottomised,
anatomised (1738).
Ounce. Half an ounce, half a crown,
silver being formerly estimated at a
crown or five shillings an ounce
(Grose).
Out. 1. A dram-glass : they are
made two-out (half-quartern), three-
out, and four-owt : when a man wants
to treat a couple of friends he asks for
a quartern of gin and three-out,
meaning, a quartern of gin. and three
glasses, which together will exactly
hold that quantity (1836). 2. Ono
out of employment or office; speci-
fically (in politics) a member of tho
party in opposition: cf. In (1768).
3. Leave to go out, an outing (q.v.), a
holiday. 4, A discarded mistress.
As verb, (1) to kill, ouling-duGS, tho
doath penalty; (2) to knock out an
opponent so that he fails to respond at
the call of time. As adv., (1) tipsy :
see Screwed; (2) general (society),
(markotmen's), not on sale ; (popular),
(a) having a tendency to lotto, (6)
wrong, inaccurate, and (c) unfashion-
able (1660). To live out, to be in
domestic worvico: i.e. as living from
homo. Out of it (the hunt, or the
running)* (I) debarred from partici-
pation ; (2) having no chance or share ;
(3) completely ignorant. To stand
out, to take no part. Out of twig, (1)
to put any article out of twig, as a
stolen coat, cloak, etc., is to alter it
in such a way that it cannot be identi-
fied. To put yourself out of twfy, is
to diflguiao your dross and appearance,
to avoid being recognised, on some
particular account (Fattse); (2) to
wear shabby clothes. Out of Qo$s
biasing into the warm snm, from better
to worse ( 1581 ). Out for an airing, said
318
Out-and-out.
of a horse not meant to win. Other
coDoquial combinations are To be at
outs, to quarrel ; to make no outs (of
a person), to misunderstand; out of
countenance, confounded ; out of hand,
(1) immediately, without delay, (2)
ungovernable ; out of cry, out of
measure ; out of frame, out of order ;
out of heart, worn out (of land), down-
hearted (of persons) ; out (or down) at
hed (or at elbows), shabbily dressed ;
out at leg, feeding in hired pastures (of
cattle) ; out of pocket, a loser ; out of
temper, too hot, or too cold ; out of
print, used by booksellers in speaking
of any person that is dead ; out of the
way, uncommon, etc., etc. Also see
Barrel, Collar, Funds, Harness, Have,
Kelter, Loose, Lug, Picaroon, Pocket,
Puff, Register, Sorts, Wood.
Out-and-out. Thorough, prime
(q.v,), far and away.
Out-and-outer. A person or thing,
superlative.
Outer. 1. That part of a target used
in rifle-shooting which is outside the
circles surrounding the bull's - eye.
2. A shot which strikes the outer part
of a target.
Outfit. In the Far West and on
the Plains everything is an outfit,
from a railway train to a pocket-knife.
It is applied mdiscriminately, — to a
wife, a horse, a dog, a cat, or a row of
pins.
Out-Herod. To out-Herod Herod, to
exceed in excess (1596).
Outing. 1. A holiday, out (q.v.)
(1860). 2. A feast given to his friends
by an apprentice, at the end of his
apprenticeship : when he is out of his
time : in some parts of the kingdom
this ceremony is termed, by an ap-
prentice and his friends, burying his
wife.
Outrider. A highwayman, road-
agent (q.v.) (1600).
Outrun. See Constable.
Outs. Gentlemen of the three outs, ( 1 )
without money, without wit, and
without manners (Orose) ; (2) out of
pocket, out of elbows, and out of
credit (Lytton).
Outside. An outside passenger :
FT., voyagew a quinze francs le cent :
see Inside (1708). As adj., the ut-
most (1696). Outside 'Liza, get out
of this. To get outside of, (1) to eat
or drink; ; as, to get outside of a pint
of beer, or a chop; (2) to under-
stand; and (3) mounted, astride (a
horse).
Outsider. 1. In pi., a pair of nippers
with semi -tubular jaws which can be
inserted in a keyhole from the outside
to turn the key. 2. An ignoramus.
3. A person unattached. 4. An in-
competent, doubtful, or unknown
champion or competitor in any walk
of life or sport. 5. A duffer (q.v.),
moral, physical, or social. 6. A
person who fails to gain admission
to the ring from pecuniary or other
causes.
Oven. A large rnouth. In the same
oven, in the same plight.
Over. In pi., a surplus on the
day's accounts, fluff (q.v.), menave-
lings (q.v.). To come over (or the old
soldier over) one : see Come over, and
Come the old soldier. To get over, to
get the better, to best (q.v.). To
caU (or fetch) over the coals, to repri-
mand (1719). Over the bay, drunk:
see Screwed. Over tJie stile, sent for
trial. To put over the door, to turn
out, give the key of the street (q.v.).
Over at the knees, weak in the knees.
Over shoes, over boots, thoroughly, the
whole hog. See Bender, Broomstick,
and Left.
Over-day Tarts. About 24 hours
after capture the herring is liable to the
pouring out of extravasation of blood
about his gills and fins, which darkened
and damaged or bruised appearance
is quaintly called in tho Jiah trade
over-day tarts.
Overdo. Double diligence.
Overdraw. To overdraw the badger ;
see Badger.
Overflow and Plunder. Tho un-
suspecting theatro-goor has an order
for the pit ; he goes there, and finds
the pit crammed to suffocation by
people who have not paid. Upon
payment of sixpence ho goes to the
upper boxes, they are also crowded ;
sixpence more takes him to the dross
circle. Before he can obtain a seat he
is bled of another fiispence for his
greatcoat, another for his umbrella,
and another for a programme. The
performances in these places were as
disreputable as the management, and*
as a rule, would disgrace a show at a
country fair.
Overlander. A tramp, sundowner
(q.v.) : also Overland man and Over-
land-mailer.
Overland-trout.
Pace.
Overland-trout. Bacon.
Overrun. See Constable.
Overscutched (Overswitched, or
Overwhipped) -Housewife. A
wanton (1598).
Overseen. More or less in liquor :
see Screwed (1611).
Overseer. A man in the pillory.
Overshot. Drunk : see Screwed.
Oversparred. Top-heavy, drunk:
see Screwed.
Overtaken. Drunk: see Screwed
(1655).
Overtoy 's Box (Winchester College).
A box like a cupboard to hold books :
see Toys.
Owl. I. A prostitute. 2. A mem-
ber of Sidney Sussex College, Cam-
bridge : obsolete. 3. A person much
about at night. As verb, (I ) to sit up
at night ; and (2) to carry on a contra-
band night trade ; to smuggle : cf.
Owler. To Cfttch tlie <n&, a trick prac-
tised on ignorant country boobies,
who are decoyed into a barn under
pretence of catching an owl, where
after divers prcliminarios, the joke
ends in thoir having a pail of water
poured upon their heads (Grose), To
take the 0«tf, to got angry. To Hoc, too
near a wood to b<> frightened by an owl,
not easy to alarm (1708). To bring
(or send) owl* to Athens, to undertake
a work of supererogation, take coals
to Newcastle (q.v.) : owls abounded in
Athens. Drunk as a bilcd owl, very
drunk : RCO Screwed, Like an owl, in
an ivy*bvj*Ii, ftaM of a person with a
large fnzatad wig, or a woman whose
hair in rircHHod a-la-hlouze (Grose).
Owl-car (or train). A lato tram
car, or train.
Owler. Thofltt who privately in
the night carry wool to tho soa-
coasts, near Rumney-Marsh in Kent,
and some creeks in Sussex, etc. and
ship it off for Franco against law
(B, E.) : at one time it was illegal to
carry wool or sheep out of the country :
owling was repealed by 3 Geo. IV. c.
107].
Owl-light. Dusk. To walk ly owl-
light, to skulk from arrest: IV., entre
chien et loup (1610).
Own. On one's own, on one's own
account. To own up, to confess,
make a clean breast.
Owned. A preacher is said in this
phraseology to be owned when he
makes many converts and his converts
are called his seals.
Owt Two : e.g. outi-yannep-flateh,
twopence - halfpenny ; owt-genst two
O x. The black ox has trod on his
foot, to know decay, misfortune, or
old age (1637). ,
Oxer. An ox-fence.
Oxford. A crown piece; half-
oxford, half-a-crown : soe Rhino.
Oxford Blues. The Royal Horse
Guards. [From their uniform, 1690].
Oxford Clink. 1. A play upon
words. 2. A free pass.
Ox-house. To go through the ox-
house to bed, to be cuckolded (1696).
Ox-pop. A butcher.
Oyl-of-barley. See Oil.
Oyster. 1. Profit, advantage:
because it has a beard. 2. A gob
of thick phlegm, spit by a consump-
tive) man (Grow), A choking oyafer, a
reply that loaves one nothing to say
(Jfi/56). Old oyster, a vulgar endear-
ment.
Oyster-faced. In need of
shaving: in allusion to the oyster's
board.
P and Q. To fa P. and & to bo of
tho first quality, good mcaBure (1612).
To mind one** P'* and Q'a, to be oaro-
fttl and ciwumftpect in behaviour,
exact. [Of uncertain, origin ; ninongBt
BOggcstcd derivations are ( I) tlu» diffi-
culty exneritmufwl by children in
distmgutBumg txitwtwn p and q ;
and (2) tho old oufttom of alehouse
tally, marking p for pint, ami q for
quart, car* being zutrem&ry to avoid
over- or tmder-oharge. Probably both
in combination with the phrase, to be
p and q (q.v.)» have helped to popu-
larise the expression] (1779).
Pac. A cap.
Pace, To go the face, to live a fast
lifo, be extravagant (1710). AUvr*
man** pace, a nlow and stately gait :
FrM pas d>MbA (1011). To *h*no
ant'fi pacts, to exhibit one's capability,
to show what one can do.
321
Pacer.
Pacer. Primarily a fast horse;
hence anything of great speed or
activity.
Pack. A prostitute. Also a
general term of reproach with no
reference to sex: see Naughty. As
adj., intimate, familiar (1795). As
verb (also pack off, send packing, give
a packing-penny to, etc.), (1) to dis-
miss without ceremony, send about
one's business, discharge summarily,
depart hurriedly ( 1540). (2) To drink :
see Screwed. To eat the pack (or
packie), to waste one's substance,
spend all. Eat - the - pack, a spend-
thrift.
Packet A hoax, false report.
Packets, an expression of incredulity.
Pack-thread. Covert obscenity.
Pact. To spend the pact, to
waste one's substance : also to perish
ike. pact.
Pad. LA path, road, highway :
also High-pad (1573). 2. An easy-
paced horse, ambler: also Pad-nag
(1696), 3. A highway robber, foot-
pad, tramp : also Padder and (Scots9)
Faddist (1610). 4. Highway robbery
(1664). 5. A bed : also pod. As verb,
(1) to travel on foot, tramp : also to
pad (plod, long, or beat) the hoof (q.v.) :
FT., fendre Fergot (to split the spur)
(1598) ; (2) to rob on foot, or on the
highway: also to go on the pad (1639).
On the pad, on the tramp. To stand
pad, to beg by the wayside. To pad
round, to pay great attention to a
customer, cringe, crawl. Gentlemen
of the pad: see Padder. Pad in the
straw, anything amiss, danger con-
cealed, snake in the grass (1551).
Pad-borrower. A horse thief.
Pad-clinking. Hobnobbing with
foot-pads.
Padded. 1. See Pad. 2. In pi.,
feet, boots, shoes : see Creepers (1828).
Padding-crib (or ken). A lodging
house : cf. Doss-house.
Paddington-fair. A hanging. [Ty-
burn being in Paddington Parish].
To dance the Paddington frisk, to be
hanged : see Ladder.
Paddington -spectacles. The
cap pulled over the eyes of a criminal
on the scaffold: see Paddington-fair.
Paddle. The hand: see Daddle.
As verb, (1) to drink : hence to have
paddled, to be intoxicated: see
Screwed ; (2) to go or run away. See
Canoe.
Paddy. 1. An Irishman : also
Paddy-whack and Paddylander. Hence
Paddy -land, Ireland (Q-rose). English
synonyms : bog - trotter, Emeralder,
Mick, mike, micky, paddylander,
paddy-whack, Pat, patent French-
man, patlander, shirt (1801). 2. A
rage, passion: also Paddy-whack.
To come paddy over, to bamboozle,
humbug.
Paddy quick. 1. A stick. 2. Thick.
Paddy's Blackguards. The
Royal Irish Begiment, formerly The
18th Foot. Also The Namurs.
Paddy's Hurricane. No wind at
all, a breeze up and down the mast.
Paddy-wack (Paddy, or Paddy's
Watch). Before the tax on al-
manacs ... a class of printers [sold]
an almanack unstamped, and this
was often called Paddy's Watch.
They were hawked about, . . . sold
at 3d., and often for lessT when a
stamped almanac cost Is. 9d. or 2s,
I have often heard . . . ' Have you an
almanac ? * and the answer has been.
' We have a Paddy.'
Paddywester. incompetent, worth
less, or destitute sailors or landsmen
masquerading as seamen.
Padlock. See Pleasure Boat.
Pad-nag. See Pad.
Padre. A clergyman : see Devil-
dodger.
P a ff . An interjoction of con-
tempt ; bosh ! Piff - pnff, jargon
Pagan. A prostitute ( 1 050).
Paget's Irregular Horse. The
Fourth Huflsara. [From its loose
drill after return from India],
Paid. Intoxicated: see Screwed.
Paiker (Paikie or Calsay Paiker).
A prostitute.
Paint. Money : seo Rhino. Ae
verb, to drink. Painted, drunk. See
Bed and Fresh.
Painted-box. A coffin.
Painted Mischief, Playing oarda,
history of the Four Kim/* {«{.v.).
Painter. To cut the painter* to send
away, cut adrift, interfero to prevent
mischief : also see Cut.
Pair. A flight of stairs ; e.fc. two-
pair back, the room at the back of the
second flight of stairs.
Pair of Shears. Sec Shears.
Pair of Spectacles, ftoe Sjwctacles.
Pair of Wings, Oara.
Pal. A chum, friend, partner,
Palace.
Panjamdrum.
accomplice. As verb, (1) to make
friends with, chum ; (2) to detect in
any pretence.
Palace. A police-station.
Palarie. To talk: of. Palaver.
Palatic. Drunk : see Screwed.
Palaver. 1. A fussy and ostenta-
tious person: generally Old palaver.
2. Conversation, discussion: speci-
fically idle talk, nailery, cajolery,
also as verb. PaZaverer, a flatterer
(1748). As verb, to fuss.
Pale. To leap the pale, to break
bounds, exceed (1593).
Paleface. A white : in poetry and
fiction, as from an Indian dialect.
Palestine in London. That
portion of the parish of St. Giles,
Bloomsbury, inhabited by the lower
Irish : also The Holy Land.
Palette. A hand : see Daddle,
Palliard. 1. A born beggar, tramp ;
primarily a vagabond who lies on
straw (15«7). 2. A lecher.
Palliasse. A harlot.
Palm. 1. To bribe, tip (q.v.) :
also to grease (anoint, or gild) the
palm (or hand). An itching palm, a
hand ready to receive bribes : of. the
old superstition that money is about
to be received if tho palm itches;
palm-oil (grease or soap, or oil of
palms or angels), a bribe, whence also,
money: Fr., hitile and graisae (1513)$
Mr, Palmer is concerned, of a person
bribed or bribing. 2. To conceal
in the palm of tho hand, swindle,
misrepresent. Palming (palmistry or
palmtng-raeket), trickery (by secreting
in the palm of the hand) : specifically
shop-lifting, the thieves hunting in
pairs, one bargaining, tho other
watching opportunities ; to palm off,
to beguile, gammon (q.v.) ; palmer,
a trickster : .specifically at cards and
dice (1001). To bear the palm, to
excel, be first or bast. [Tho Romans
gave branches of palm to a victorious
gladiator.]
Palm-acid (or oil). 1. A caning :
on tho hand. 12. See Palm.
Palmer (Durham School). 1. A
shy fellow. 2. Sec Palm.
P a 1 m e r s t o n. Lord Palmorston
described himself as acting the part of
a judicious bottle - holder among the
foreign Powers. A lately - invented
instrument to hold a bottle has thus
received tho name of a Palmoraton
<1866),
Palmetto State. South Carolina.
[From the arms of the State : a variety
of dwarf palm or palmetto is abun-
dant therein.] Whence Palmetto -flag,
Palmetto city, and Palmetto boys
(1861).
Palm-oa. See Palm, and Palm-
acid.
Palsy. Generic for weakness.
Palsy in the hand, the habit of dicing
(1008).
Paltock's Inn. A poverty-stricken
place (1579).
Pam. 1. The Knave of dubs.
[Skeat : a contraction of Pamphillion
(Fr.), the Knave of Clubs] (1706). 2.
Lord Palmerston. "
Pan. 1. The workhouse. 2. A
bed : see Kip (1708). 3. Money : see
Rhino. To pan out, to yield, give a
result or return : originally a mining
term ; gold dust being put with water
in a pan and shaken, when gold minks
to the bottom. To have a pan on, to
have a fit of the blues, be down la the
dumps. To savour of the pan (or
frying-pan), to betray origin, smell of
the lamp (q.v.) : also (old literary)
to savour of heresy : cf . eentir U fagot,
from which there would appear to be
a reference to the ancient punishment
for heresy (1555). See Cat, Fluff, and
Flash.
Pancake Tuesday. Shrove
Tuesday. [By ancient custom pan-
cakes are then eaten.]
Pandy (or Pandie). A stroko from
a cane, strap, or tawse on tho palm
of the hand by way of punishment :
also (Scots* ) paumie. [ From tho order
in Latin Panda palmum (or manum),
Hold out your nand.] As verb, to
cano or strap.
Panel (Parnel, or Pcrnel). An
immodest woman, prostitute (1362).
Panel-crib (den, or house). A
brothol specially fitted for robbery.
Panjamdrum (The Great). A
village potentate, Brummagem mag-
nate, [From Foote*s nonsense linos,
written to test Maoklin's memory : —
* So she went into the garden to cut a
oabbago-leaf to make an apple pie ;
and at the same time a great she-boar,
coming up the street, pops its head
into the shop. " What ! no aoap ? "
So he died, and she very imprudently
married the barber, and there were
present the Picninniee, and tho Job-
lillioa, and the Garyulios, and the
Pannicky.
Parader.
3rand Panjandrum himself, with the
ittle round button on top, and they all
ell to playing the game of catch as
jatch can, till the gunpowder ran out
it the heel of their boots '] (1777).
Pannicky. Given to panic.
Pannier - man. A servant of an
'inn of court : his office is to announce
dinner (Grose) (1654).
Pannikin. To roll one's panni-
kin into another shed, to leave one
man's service for another.
Pannum (Panum, or Pannam).
Bread, food. [Latin, pants']. Hence
pannum-bound, cut of one's allow-
ance; pannum- (or cokey-) fence, a
street pastry cook ; pannum-struck,
starving (1567).
Panny. 1. The highway (1754).
2. A house, public or otherwise ; also,
apartments, rooms, lodgings. Hence
ftash-panny, (a) a brothel ; and (&) a
public-house used by thieves (Grose).
3. A burglary: also panny -lay.
Hence, punny-man, a housebreaker ;
to do a panny, to rob a house (Grose).
Pantables. To stand upon one's
pantables, to stand upon dij
assert one's position. [Pantal
pantoufie— slipper]. (1580).
Pantagruelian. An artist in life.
[From Pantagruel, the title character
of Rabelais.]
Panter. 1. The hart. [Because
said (in Psalms) to pant after the
fresh water brooks] (1696). 2. The
heart : also, in pi., the paps : Fr.,
Saint-ciboire, battant (beater), pressure
(pluck or fry); palpitant; It., salsa
(sauce) (1725*).
Pants. Short for pataloons: also
panteys and (colloquial) pantalettes.
Pantile. 1. A hat. 2. A flat
cake covered with jam. 3. A biscuit.
As adj., dissenting.
PantUer. A Dissenter — minister
or layman.
Pantier. A butler, pantry -man
(1598).
Panupetaston. A loose overcoat
with wide sleeves.
Pap. 1. The emoluments of office
— salaries, fees, perquisites. 2. Paper:
specifically paper money, or soft (q.v.).
3. (a) A nipple, (&) a breast (1390). 4.
Father, pop (q.v.). 5. Bread sauce
(1785). To give pap with a hatchet,
to chastise, do an unMndness, treat
unhandsomely (1589). Mouth fuU
of pap, still childish (1785).
Papaw. A bush-whacker. [Cen-
tury, with reference to possible sub-
sistence on the fruit].
Paper. 1. Free passes of admis-
sion to a place of entertainment ; also
(collectively) recipients of such passes.
Hence, papery, occupied by persons
admitted with free tickets. As verb,
to issue free passes. Fr., salle de
papier, a house filled with paper.
2. Negotiable instruments : as prom-
issory notes, bills of exchange, etc.
(1837). 3. Broadsides and similar
literature : henco paper worker, a
vendor of street literature, running
stationer (q.v.) (1851). To read the
paper, to excuse oneself for taking a
nap : see Doss. See Shave and Spot.
Paper - building. Paper - build-
ings, slight, wooden, or old (B. K).
Paper - maker. A rag - gatherer,
gutter-raker : Fr., chiffortin.
Paper -man. An officer who,
being employed on the staff, is not
available for regimental duty.
Paper-marriage. A Society
wedding. [The fees are paid in bank-
?tes.]
Paper-mill, The. The Record
Office of the Court of Kong's Bench.
Paper-scull. A fool : hence paper
sculled, foolish, silly (1696).
Paper-stainer. An author, or
clerk : in contempt.
Pap-feeder. A spoon.
Pap -head. A woman's nipple,
the cherrylet (q.v.) (1530).
Paphian. A prostitute. [Paphos
a city in Cyprus sacred to Venus].
Papier. See Poplar.
Pap-mouth. An effeminate man.
Papoose. A child, kid (q,v.).
[Of Indian origin.] (163 *>
Par. 1. Gold and silver at a like
proportion (J3. JE?.). 2. An abbrevia-
tion of paragraph.
Parade. To burn the parade? to
warn more men for guard than were
necessary, and excusing the super-
numeraries for money. ... A practice
formerly winked at in most garrisons,
a perquisite to the adjutants and
sergeant majors ; tho pretence for it
was to purchase coal and candle for
the guard, whence it was called burn*
ing the parade.
'Parader. 1. A person of good
figure and address employed to walk
tip and down in front of, or inside »
shop ; a shop-walker : cf. Barker. 2.
324
Varadise.
Particular.
A person or tiling that by challenging
attention acts as a foil or set- oil
(1748).
Paradise. 1. The gallery of a
theatre, the gods (q.v.) : Fr., paradis.
2. A grove of trees outside St. John's
College, Oxford. Fool's paradise, a
state of fancied security, enjoyment,
etc. (1528). To have (or get) a penn'orth
of paradise, to take a drink, esp. gin :
see Screwed.
Paralysed. Drunk : see Screwed.
Paralytic - fit (or stroke). A
badly fitting garment — that fits where
it touches.
Param. Wl^ : also Yarum (1573).
Parcel. The day's winnings, a
pocket-book.
Parcel-bawd. One whoso employ-
ment was partly that of bawd.
[Parcel, part : as parcel - gilt, partly-
gilt.] (1603).
Pard. A partner, chum (q.v.).
Parenthesis. In pi., a pair of
bandy legs. Wooden parenthesis, a
pillory (1785). Iron parenthesis, a
prison : see Cage. To have one's nose
(or bowsprit) in parentliesis, to have it
pulled (Grose),
Parings, dippings of money
(1006).
Parish. His stockings "belong to
two parishes, odd, mis-paired (178/>).
Parish - bull (prig, or stallion).
A parson : see Devil-dodger.
Parish-lantern. The moon, Oliver
(q.v.). noom (q.v,): Fr., cafardc (toll-
tale), cymbale, luisante (or luivarde)
grosse lentitte, inoitcharde, pdlotc, and
pair.
Parish - soldier. A militia-man :
from substitutes being frequently
hired by tho parish.
Park. 1. A prison : BOO Cage. 2,
The rules or privileged circuit round
the King's Bench or 'Moot : the park
is well stocked when many priaonors
have obtained tho rule*. 3. A back
yard, a, atrip of town-garden.
Parkcy (or Parky), Oolcl, uncom-
fortable : as when sleeping in the open.
Park - railings (or palings). 1.
Tho teeth : oeo Grinders. 2. The neck
of mutton.
Parleyvoo. The conventional
school study and use of tho French
language. An verb, to flpcak French,
talk gibberish (1837).
ParUamentary-presj. An old cus-
tom, fcuoog t*ilors, of claiming any
iron, which happens to be in use, for
the purpose of opening the collar seam.
Parlour. Out of the parlour into
the kitchen, from better to worse ; out
of God's blessing into the warm sun
(1598). Parlour full of razors, claret
with seltzer or lemonade : see Drinks.
Parlour-jumping. Bobbing rooms :
specifically by window - entry : see
Jump.
Parnel. See Panel.
Par nee (or Paunee). Bain.
Dowry of parney, plenty of ram.
Pawnee-game, water-drinking.
Parrot (or Parroteer). A talka-
tive person, esp. one given to mechan-
ical repetition. As verb, to chatter,
repeat mechanically. Parrotry, servile
imitation ; parrot - lawyer, a solicitor
obsequious to a client's Yea and Nay
(1612). See Almond.
Parson. A wayside sign-post
(q.v.) (1785). As verb, (1) to marry ;
(2) to church (after child-delivery).
Whence parsoned, married or church-
ed ; married and parsoned, duly and
legally married. To Jciss the parson* 8
wife, to bo lucky in horse - flesh
(1785). Remember Parson MullumJ
Pray drink about, sir (167G). Mary-
land parson, a disreputable cleric.
Parson Palmer. One who stops
tho circulation of the glass, by preach-
ing over his liquor, as it is said was
done by a parson of that name whose
collar was under his pulpit (Grose).
Parson's barn. A barn never BO
full but there is room for more.
Parson's-journeyman. A
curate (1785).
Parson 's-nose. A chicken's rump :
cf. Popo'« nose and Pope*H-eye: Br.,
lonnet tftvcque. Parson* s teinan: see
Tender.
Parson's Week. The period from
Monday to Saturday (18(X)).
Part. To pay, restore, give :
hence partcr, a paymaster, good or
bad: of. a fool and his money are
soon parted (Sfiwacr, Ifl73).
Particular. A favourite mistress :
Fr., particulidre : also (generally) a
special choice; o.g. to ride one's own
particular, to a gloss of one's par-
ticular, Particular Jesse : see Joss©.
Isondon particidar (or London tty), a
thick yellow or bloxtk fog, the product
of certain atmospheric conditions and
carbon : formerly peculiar to London,
now common, in mo»t large manujtoc*
Partlet.
Patter.
taring cities situated near water and
lying low (1832).
Partlet. A woman ( 1598).
Partner. See Sleeping partner.
Partridge. A whore: of. Plover.
Party. A person, individual
(1542).
Party -roll (Winchester College).
A list of boys going home together:
see Peal.
Pass. To fail to understand, have
no concern in : e.g. I pass, I don't
know what you are driving at. [From
euchre.] To pass (or hand) in one's
chips (or checks}, to die : see Hop the
twig : from adjusting one's accounts
at poker. To pass the time of day, to
salute. To pass the compliment, to
offer (or give) a douceur, tip.
Passage - at - arms. A squabble,
row.
Passenger. An oar who, from
incompetence or accident, is unable
to do his share of the work. To wake
up the wrong passenger, to mistake
one's man, commit an error of judg-
ment in regard to character, action,
or motive. [From transcontinental
travel.] (1855).
Passions. See Pocket.
Pas s y. Severe : of a master
(Christ's Hospital). [That is passion-
ate, Blanch.] Now obsolete; the
modern equivalent is vish (q.v.).
Past. Past complaining, mur-
dered. Colloquialisms are — past be-
lieving, incredible ; past praying for,
hopeless ; past-master (or mistress),
an adept ; past whooping, undeniable,
beyond/ question; past-price, invalu-
able (1602).
Paste. Brains. [From paste
and scissors : in sarcasm.] As verb,
to beat, thrash, slap the face right
and left [Erom bill-sticking]. Hence,
pasting, a drubbing (1851).
Paste - and - scissors. Extracts,
padding : as distinguished from orig-
inal matter.
Pasteboard. 1. A playing card
(1857). 2. A visiting card : also as
verb (or to shoot, or drop, one*s paste-
loard), to leave a visiting card at a
person's house (1849).
Pasteboard - customer. A cus-
tomer taking long credit.
Paste-horn. The nose : see Conk :
hence Old paste-horn, a large-nosed
man.
Pastern. A foot: see Creepers.
Hence, fvtt in the pasterns, thick-
ankled (1700).
Pasty. A bookbinder. As adj.,
out of sorts, angry, off colour (q.v.).
Pat An Irishman: also Pat-
lander. As adj. and adv., apt, con-
venient, suitable, timely, exactly to
the purpose (1592).
Patch. A saucy fellow, fool.
Primarily, the domestic jester. Hence
cross-patch, an ill-natured fool : as in
the children's rhyme: — Cross-patch,
draw the latch, Sit by the fire and
spin (1579). Not a patch upon, not
to compare to.
Patchey. The harlequin, spangle-
maker (q.v.).
Pate. The head : almost always
in derision: see Crumpet (1604).
Patent-coat. An inside skirt coat
pocket.
Patent-digester. Brandy.
Patent Frenchman. An Irish-
man.
Patent-inside (or outside).
A newspaper printed on the inside
(or outside) only, the unprintcd space
being intended for local news, ad-
vertisements, etc.
Patent Safeties (The). The
First Life Guards. Also The Cheeses,
The Piccadilly Butchers, and The
Tin Bellies.
Pater-cove. See Patrico.
Paternoster. A fishing-line with
hooks and shot at regular intervals.
[As beads on a rosary] ( 1849). DetriTtt
paternoster, a muttering, grumbling :
a profane expletive (1383). Ape's
paternoster: see Ape. In a pater-
noster while, quickly, in a jiffey (q.v.).
[While one could say a paternoster.}
(1362).
Patience on a monument A
long-suffering person.
Patrico. A vagabond, unfrocked
priest, hedge-priest (q.v.) : also patri-
arck-co, patricoee, patter ing-cove, and
pater-cove (1536).
Pattens. To run on pattens* to
clatter, talk nineteen to the dozen
(1575).
Patter. Originally muttering
(of paternosters) : hence, talk of any
kind, but specifically (1) the incon-
sequent orations of cheap jacks (q-v.),
buskers (q.v.), showmen,. (2) The
dialect or cant of A clogs. Hence also
patter, a piece of street literature,
pin-up (q.v.); slum (q.v.). Hence,
Patteran.
Peach.
patter&r, a vendor of street literature :
with mnning-patterer (or stationer) :
obsolete since police control of traffic.
As adj. and verb, whence to patter
flash, to talk slang or cant ; to flash
the patter, to talk, esp. to talk slang ; to
stand (or be in for) the patter, (thieves')
to stand for trial ; humbox-patterer, a
parson. English synonyms : to cackle,
to cant, to chin, to ehinwag, to chip,
to chirp, to chow, to chuck it out, to
clack, to confab, to crack, to cut,
to Duke of York (rhyming, to talk), to
nam, to flummox by the lip, to gabble,
to give lip, to jabber, to jaw, to jaw-
hawk, to jerk chin-music, to ladle, to
lip, to lip-labour, to mag, to mang, to
pipe, to rap, to slam, to slang, to vokor,
to waffle, to wag the red rag, to warble
(1360). As verb, (1) to talk; (2) to
eat.
Patteran. A gipsy trail made by
throwing down a handful of grass.
Patter-cove. Seo Patrico.
Patter-crib. A lodging-house or
inn frequented by thieves, flash -
panny (q.v,).
Paul. To go to Paul's (or West-
P a w - p a w. Naughty. Hence
paw-paw words, obscene expressions ;
paw-paw tricks, (1) wantonness; (2)
(of children, by nurses), tiresome
pranks.
Pax (Winchester College). An
intimate friend. [Wrench: Possibly
the plural of pack, which word has an
extended use in reference to friendship
... as adj., subs., and vb. . . . This
seems a more likely origin than the
Pax of the Church.] As intj., Keep
quiet ! Hands off t Also Have pax 1
[ Wrench : Almost the pure Latin use of
the word.]
Pay. To beat, punish, serve out,
pitch into : generally with oirf : also to
pay home (or away). Hence payment,
chastisement ( 1 785). To pay away, ( 1 )
to go on, proceed: as with a narra-
tion or action. (2) To fight manfully
(Grose). (3) To eat voraciously (Grose).
To pay with a hook, to steal ; of. Hook :
see JPrig. Colloquialisms are: — To pay
old scores, to get even ; to pay one vn
hia own coin, to give tit for tat; to
pay the last debt (or the debt of nature),
to die ; Whafs to pay ? what's the
minster), for a wife, to go whoring, matter ; to pay up and look pretty (or
[HaUiwell : Old St. Paul's was in for- Ug\ to accept the inevitable with
mer times a favourite resort for pur- ~ ' ~ ~ " ~" '
poses of business, amusement, loung-
ing, or assignations ; bills were fixed up
there, servants hired, and a variety
of matters performed wholly in-
consistent with the sacred nature of
the edifice.] Henco PauFs walkers,
loungers ; as wett - known as Paul's,
notorious ( 1 698). See also Old, Peter,
Pi«eon.
Paul Pry. An inquisitive man:
from Poolo's comedy (1825).
Paunch. To oat (1504).
Paunch - guts. A fat-bellied man,
jelly-belly (q.v.) : soo Forty-guts.
P a v. The Pavilion Musio Hall :
of. Met.
Paved. To Jtave one's mouth
pared,, to be hard of mouth (1708).
Pavement. See Nymph.
Pa vior's -workshop. The street
(Grose).
Paw. The hand. Forapaw, the
hand ; Aind-pmr, the foot ; paw-caaey,
gloves. As verb, to handle roughly
or obscenely (1605).
Pawn. To steal away and leave
him or thorn to pay the reckoning
Pawnee. Soe Paniey.
grace. See also Deuce, Devil, Foot-
ing, Fiddler, Noso, Popperidge, Piper,
Rent, Scores, Shot, and Whistle.
P.D. A mixture used in adulterat-
ing pepper. [A contraction of pepper
dust.]
P. D* Q. Pretty damned quick.
Pea. The favourite, the choice.
[From thimble - rigging : e.g. this is
the pea I choose.]
Peacemaker. 1. In pi., The Bed-
fordshire Regiment, formerly The
Sixteenth Foot. [From, Surinaam
in 1804 to Chitral in 1895 the Bedford-
shires missed all chances of active
service.] 2. A revolver : see Meat In
the pot.
Peach* L A detective : specifically
one employed by omnibus and (for-
merly) by stage coach, proprietors
to chock receipts. 2. A gin or young
woman of pleasing parts; of. Plum.
As verb, to inform, betray, aplit(q.v.),
round on (q.v.). [From impeach.]
It once peacher, an informer (Grose).
Knslish Bynonyma: to bust, blow the
l*ait, cast up accounts, cackle, oastell,
crab, crack, olipe, ohirp, oome it,
hedgehog, dick, inkle, leak, lot on,
let out, lip, make a song, nose,
327
Peacock.
give the office, put away, put up,
put a down on, be rusty, ruck on,
round on, scream, snap, snitch,
stag, squeal, squeak, split, tip,
tip the wink, whiddle, whittle
(1362).
Peacock. 1. A gull. 2. A horse
with action : cf . peacock-horse, a horse
with a showy mane and tail. Hence,
peacocky, showy; as verb, (1) to dis-
play (as a peacock its tail), to put
on war-paint or side ; (2) to make a
formal call.
Peacock - engine. A locomotive
with a separate tender for coals and
water.
Pea- (or peak-) goose. A silly
fellow: a general term of reproach
(1570).
Peak. 1. Lace (1696). 2. The
nose: see Conk.
Peak-goose. See Pea-goose.
Peaking. Remnants of cloth :
cf. Makings and Cabbage.
Peal (Winchester: obsolete). 1.
A custom in Commoners of singing
out comments on Praef eets at Cloister-
time (q.v.). 2. Cheers given on the
last three Sundays of the Half for
articles of dress, etc., connected with
going home, such as Gomer hats (q.v.),
Party rolls (q.v.), etc. 3. Chapel
bells which were divided into peals.
[EoLLiweU, a noise or uproar: cf.
M. E. apel, an old term in hunting-
music consisting of three long moots.]
As verb, to scold (1785),
Pealer. A very energetic person,
rustler (q.v.), hummer (q.v.). See
Peeler.
Peanut - politics. Secret tactics.
The pea - nut buries its pods after
flowering, a process by which the
nuts are ripened.]
Pear. To draw supplies from
both sides : as from the police for
information, and from thieves for
a warning. Pear - making, bounty
jumping (1785).
Pea - rigger (or Pea-man). See
Thimble-rigger.
Pearl. To make a pearl on the
nail, to drink (1767).
Pearlies. In pL, pearl buttons:
sewn down the sides of coster trousers.
Peas. As like as two peas, as like
as may be.
Pease - kill. To make a pease-
kill, to squander lavishly : o.g. when
a man's affairs go wrong and in-
terested persons get the management
of his property, it is said, They're
makin5 a bonny pease - kill o't. A
law-suit is said to be a pease-kill for
the lawyers (Jamieson).
Peas - field. To go into the peas-
field, to fall asleep : see Balmy.
Peat. 1. A delicate person : esp. a
young girL 2. (ironically) A spoilt
favourite (1578).
Pea - time. In the last of pea-
time (or picking), in decline of years,
hard -up, passe. Pea-time is past,,
dead, ruined, gone beyond recall.
Pebble. My p&bles, a familiar
address.
Pebbly-beached. Without means,
stony - broke (q.v.) ; high - and - dry
(q.v.). Hence to sight (or land on) a
pebbly "beach, to be face to face with
ruin ; to pebble beach, to suck dry,
clean out: see Dead-broke.
Pec (Eton College : obsolete).
Money : see Rhino. [From Latin
pecunia."]
Peccavi. An acknowledgment
of offence, mistake, or defeat. To cry
peccavi, to confess to wrong-doing or
failure. [Latin, I have sinned.l (1578).
Peck (or Pek). I. Food of any
kind, grub (q.v.), a meal, food : also
peckage. Hence, ruff - peck (q.v.),
bacon; peck and boose* meat and
drink; rum-peck (q.v.). good -mating ;
grunting - peck, pork ; off r • ','$ pe e&,
without appetite, off one's feed
(1567). 2. Seo Racing-peck. As
verb, (1) to oat (1530); (2) to pitch,
throw (1856).
Peck-alley. The throat; gutter-
alloy (q.v.).
Pecker. 1. The appefito. Hence,
a good (or rare) pecker, a hearty cater.
2. Courage, spirits, good cheer: o.g,
Keep i/our pecker up. bo of good heart
(1853).
Peckham. To haw (or *pcnd) a
holiday at Peckham, to havo nothing
to eat. Going to Peckhani, going to
dinner (1823).
Peckish. Hungry (1785).
Peculiar. 1. A belonging. 2. A
mistress (1647).
Peculiar Institution. Negro
slavery — the peculiar domestic in-
stitution of the Southern States.
Ped. 1. A basket (1579). 2. A
professional walker or runner.
Ped-belly. A fat man or woman,
corporation (q.v.).
Pedescript.
Pelican State.
Pedescript. Bruises from kicks
(1659).
Pedestrian Digits. The legs.
Pedlar's French. 1. Cant, or the
language of thieves and vagabonds.
2. Any unintelligible jargon ; also
St. Giles' Greek (q.v.). [French and
Greek here unintelligible.] (1530).
Pedlar 's-news. Stale news, stereo :
also piper's (mung- or tinker's) news.
Pedlar's - pony (horse, or pad).
A walking-stick ; a Penang-lawyer
(q.v.), waddy (q.v.).
Peel. To undress, strip (1785).
Hence peeled, naked : see Nature's
garb. To peel it, to run at full speed.
To peel eggs, to stand on ceremony.
See Keep.
Peeler. 1. A policeman. [First
applied to the Boyal Irish Con-
stabulary established by Sir Robert
Peel, when Irish Secretary (1812-18),
and subsequently, for similar reasons
(1828-30), to the Metropolitan Police.]
2. One ready to strip for the combat.
3. A very energetic person, ripper
(q.v.). Sir Peeler, a poverty-striking
crop (1557).
Peep. 1. To spoak. 2. To sleep
(1696).
Peeper. 1. A spy-glass. 2. The
eye. 3. In pi, a pair of spectacles.
Hence painted peepers (or peeper* in
mourning), black eyos (1656). Eng-
lish synonyms: blinkers, daylights,
glaziers, gliins, mutton-pics (rhyming),
ogles, optics, sees, winkers. 4. A
looking-glass (1606). Single peeper, a
one-eyod man (1785).
Peeping. A peeping Tom, an
inqwHitivo person, Paul Pry (q.v.)«
[From the Coventry Legond.J
Peep-o '-day-boy. A street roister
[EegonoyJ.
Peepsies. The pan-pipes.
Peepy. Drowsy, sleepy. To go to
pcepy (or peep-) oy, to sloop.
P « I e r y (or Peerie). Suspicious,
knowing, aly, sharp-looking. AH vorb,
to look about snaplciously (1005),
Peety. Cheerful (1726).
Pec-wee. A small marble.
Peg. 1. A dram, drink, go (q.v.) :
specifically (in India), a brandy-and-
floda. In the 16th century po#-
tankarde held two quarts, divided by
seven pegs or pins, ono above tho
other, into eight equal portions.
Hence, to drink to jwp*, to drink tho
draught marked in a pog taakatxl ; to
add (or drive) a peg (or nail) into one's
coffin, to drink hard ; to go a peg lower,
to drink to excess ; a peg too low, (1)
drunk ; (2) low - spirited ; pegger, a
persistent drinker, nipstor (q.v.)(1821).
2. A blow : spec, (old boxers') a straight
drive in the pit of the stomach : see
Dig and Wipe. Whence pegging, a
beating (1600). 3. A foot or leg : also
cribbage - pegs : see Creepers. 4. A
tooth. 5. A shilling; a bob (q.v.):
see Rhino. 6. A step, degree. Hence
to take down a peg, to humiliate; to
hoist a peg higher, to advance (1625).
7. A text, excuse ( 1791 ). 8. A diminu-
tive of Margaret: also Peggy. As
verb, (1) to drive (1819) ; (2) to throw
at cocks at Shrovetide (B. E.). (3) to
beat ; (4) to drink frequently, tipple ;
(5) (Stock Exchange), to fix a market
price, and prevent fluctuation by
buying all that is offered at it, thus
debarring lower quotations ; or, selling
all that the market will take at it, thus
preventing higher quotations; (6) to
run : cf. To peg away. To peg away
(at or o?7,), (1) to work persistently,
put in Lcks (q.v.): Fr., otter son petit
tonhomme de chcmin: honce pegging,
plodding (1749) ; (2) to fight. To peg
into, to hit, lot drive (1834). To peg
out, (1) to dio: seo Hop the twig; (2)
to bo ruined, quisby (q.v.). To b&
pugged out, to bo notorious. On the
peg, (1) under arrest, rooated (q.v.) ;
(2) under stopjwigo of pay, fined. To
put on the peg, to pull oneself up (or
together), bo careful ; as of drink,
behaviour, etc. There are always
more round peg* than round holes, there
are alwayw more candidates than
places. Old peg, poor hard Suffolk
or Yorkshire Choose (Grose).
Pegasus. To Iweah Pcffa&ua'f
neck* to write halting vorse (1728).
Peggy. A slondor poker, dis«
poscdly bont at right angles for the
purpose of rftfcmg tho fir© : cf. Rector
and Curate.
Peg -leg. A wooden logged man
or woman.
Peg Puff. An old young woman:
of. Old ewe droased lamb-faahioa.
Pegtops. In pi., trousers: very
wide at tho hi pa and narrowing down
to a tight-fit at tho anfctes (1859).
Peg Trantum. Gone to Peg Tran-
fum'«, doad : «tw> Hop the twig.
Pek. ScePsolc
Pelican State. Louisiana. [From
PeU-mell
Penny-hop.
its armorial bearings, the bird being
common in the State.]
Pell-mell. In confusion, higgledy-
piggledy (1696). Also as subs, and
verb (1591).
Pelt. 1. A hurry : hence to pelt
(or go futt pelt), to go as hard or as fast
as may be. 2. A rage, passion, blow :
also pelter. As verb, to be violently
angry ; pelting (dr out for a pelter), very
angry, passionate (1594). 3. The
skin ( 1694). 4. A miser, stingy fellow :
Pen - driver. A clerk or writer :
cf. Quill-driver.
Pen - gun (Penguin). A talka-
tive person : esp. of small stature. To
crads like a pen-gun, to chatter.
Peninsular. A veteran of the
Peninsular war.
P e n n i f . A five pound note ; a
turnup (q.v.).
Penniless Bench. Poverty. On
the penniless bench, poverty stricken ;
Pierce Pcnnilessf an embodiment of
JS.HJ-I-1. \J.\JW±). *. JX JlilSOJ., BlUUgy J.C11UW . j(. iC/uc J. o/cif&tfoao, CUJL ^.j-nuwv ij i.u.c- io.il WJL
also pelter (1552). 5. Clothes ; some- impecuniosity : cf. Poverty Corner
times in pi. : spec, garments made of
peltry, the furs of beasts (1567). As
verb, (1) see subs. ; (2) to sew thickly.
Pelter. 1. A heavy shower : hence
a rain of missiles. 2. Anything large,
whopper (q.v.). 3. A pistol.
Pelting. Mean, paltry, contempt-
ible (1570).
Peltis-hole. A term of reproach :
of women (1500).
P e m p e (Winchester), An ima-
ginary object in search of which a
newcomer is sent : cf. Pigeon's milk,
Strap-oil, Squad umbrella, etc. [From
pempe moron proteroy, send the fool
farther.]
Pen. 1. A prison, penitentiary :
see Cage. 2. A saucy man with a
sharp nose. 3. A three-penny piece
knight of the pen, an author or
journalist.
Penance- board. The pillory
(1696).
Fen - and - ink. A stink. Also as
verb.
Penang - lawyer. A species of
palm imported from Penang for walk-
ing-sticks. They are small and hard,
and have a portion of the root-stock
attached, which is left to form the
handle. [Probably a corruption of
Penang liyar, the wild areca. j
Penbanfc. A beggar's can ( 1 728).
Pencil - fever. A disease amongst
race-horses, generally preceded by
milking (q.v. ). When a horse has been
milked to the utmost, and can no
longer, in spite of marketeers (q.v.),
be kept at a short price, his true con-
dition gets known, pencil-fever sets in,
and every layer is anxious to pencil
(1579).
Penny. 1. Money in general,
oof (q.v.). Hence, a pretty penny, a
large sum: see Rhino (1362). 2. A
cent. Various colloquial usages ob-
tain : e.g. A penny for your thoughts,
a call to persons in a brown study
(q.v.); at first penny, at first bid or
offer ; dean as a penny, (1) very clean,
and (2) completely j not a penny to
Ness oneself with, very poor j penny or
paternoster, pay or prayers, love or
money: cf. Money or marbles (Gas-
coigne) ; to think one's penny silver, to
have a good opinion of oneself j to
turn an honest penny, to earn money
honestly ; to turn (or get) a penny, to
make money, to endeavour to live
(Dryderi) j penny wise and pound
foolish, careful in small matters and
extravagant in largo ones (Grose) ;
penny plain or twopence coloured, said
of things varying in quality.] ( 1510).
Penny-a-liner. A writer of para-
graphs at the rate of a penny a line
(or some such small sum), a literary
hack : FT., ecrivain de ferblctnc. Hence,
penny-a-linerism (1840).
Penny - boy. A boy who haunted
the cattle markets on the chance of
driving beasts to the slaughter-house,
an ankle-beater (q.v,). [They were
paid a penny per head.]
Penny-dreadftil (or awful).
A sensational story, newspaper, or
print. [Published at a penny.] See
Awful, Blood * and - thunder, and
Shilling Shocker.
Penny - father (or Peni - father).
A miser, niggard (ir>f»l).
Penny-gaff. A low-class theatre
his name in his betting-book, i.e. lay or music-hall, [The charge for ad-
against him as a safe or stiff 'un (q.v.). mission being a panny or two.] Also
Also Milk-fever and Markot-fever. penny-room and dvlvy.
Whence penciller, a book-maker : also Penny - hop. A country daneinp;
knight of the pencil ; and penciling club. [Ifiaoh person paid a penny to
fraternity, the world of bookmakers. the fiddler.]
330
Penny-lattice-house.
Perlcs.
Penny - lattice - house. A low
ale-house : see Lush-crib and Red-
lattice.
Penny - poet. A reproach ; a
gutter rhymster (1601).
Penny-pots. Pimples on the face
of a hard drinker.
Penny - royal. Poor, common,
inferior.
Penny - starver (or buster). A
penny roll, or bun.
Penny - wedding. Wedding ban-
quets in Scotland, to which a number
of persons were invited, each of whom
paid a small sum of money not ex-
ceeding a shilling. After defraying
the expenses of the feast, the residue
went to the newly-married pair, to
aid in furnishing their house. Abol-
ished in 1645 (Brewer).
Penny-weight. A thief who
devotes his attention to jewellery
robberies.
Penny - white. Said of her to
whom fortune has been kinder than
nature (1). E.).
Pennyworth (or Penn'orth),
One's money's-worth, a right equiva-
lent, what's owing and more: a good
pennyworth, & royal bargain: of.
Robin Hood's pennyworth ; to cast
pennyworths, to count the cost (1534).
Pensioner (University : Cam-
bridge). One who pays a pension or
rent for rooms in College : at Ozford
a Commoner (q.v. ).
Pent (The). PentonviUe Prison:
see Cage.
Penthouse-nab. A broad-
brimmed hat : see Golgotha (1690).
Penwiper. A handkerchief: see
Fogle.
People. Any sort of allies or
connections — racial, parental, hired,
voluntary : with or without the pos-
sessive. At Harrow, relations or
visitors : I've got peoplo coming down
Pepper. Vigorous or persistent
action. As verb, (1) to chastise
desperately by word or deed j (*2) to
pain or inconvenience or punish : as
a pugilist by blows, cannon by shot, or
a whore by infection ; (3) violent and
ardent motion: e.g. plting rain,
heavy betting, or (in skipping) when
the turn of the rope is incrwuieu from a
slow pace to «alt (q.v.), and then to
the quickest possible, or pepper (Fr.,
du vinaigrc) : derivative are peppercr,
(a) forcible or rigorous attack, and
(b) a hot- tempered, active, or violent
person; peppering, a fierce attack:
as adj. (peppering or peppery), angry
and peppered, badly hurt, or hurt to
the death (see Pipped) (1589). (4)
to mark in the accents of a Greek
exercise. (5) To humbug, gammon
(q.v.): also to throw pepper in the
eyes (or to use tJie pepper-box). To
have (or take) pepper in the nose, to
be testy, offend quickly, get angry :
FT., la moutarde lui monte au nez ( 1362).
Pepper - and - salt. Light grey,
mingled black and white : applied to
fabrics (1843).
Pepper - box. A revolver. The
Pepper-boxes (or Castors), domes or
cupolas: specifically the National
Gallery in Trafalgar Square, but
applied to any dome-shaped building:
cf. Boilers (1855), See Pepper.
Pepperidge. To pay the pepperidge,
to pay one's footing (q.v.) : as a school
boy has to pepperidge his mates when
he puts on a new suit of clothes.
Pepper's Dragoons. The Eighth
Hussars.
P e p s t. Drunk : see Screwed
(1577).
Perambulator. A costermonger.
Perch. A high seat, resting place.
To drop (hop or fatt) off (or tip over)
the percfb, to die: sec Hop the twig:
(also to perch 1594). To knock off the
perch, to upset, defeat, do for (q.v.).
P e r c h e r (Winchester College).
A Latin cross laid horizontally against
the name of an absentee on any roll.
Perfect-lady. A prostitute.
PerfectlyDemmy. Stylishly dressed.
Perform. To carry out a design,
(generally a dishonest one), play,
work. To perform on a flat, to cozen
a fool.
Perger. See Purgor.
Pericranium (or Pericrane). The
head or skull.
Perished. Starved with cold :
henco, collapsed, ay from fear or
pain.
Perisher. 1. A short-tailed coat,
jacket. 2. A consummation, extreme.
Periwinkle (or Perriwinkle).
A wig : a corruption of periwig : Fr.,
panouflc, gazon, botibane,
Perks. Perquisites. To pe,rb up,
(I ) to plume onewolf , adorn ( 1 00 1 ). (2)
To recover from sickncflfl (1096).
Board of Pcrfca, Board of Works-
331
Perkin.
Peter Gottins.
Perkin. 1. Weak cider or perry
(Grose). 2. Beer. [Erom Barclay,
Perkin & Co.]
Perking. A pert, forward, ally
fellow. Aa adj., peering, inquisitive.
Fernel. See Panel.
Fernicated. Swaggering, full of
side (q.v.).
Pernickity (or Pemicketty).
Fastidious, over-particular.
Perpendicular. A stand-up lunch,
evening party where the majority
of the guests stand, upright position.
Persimmon. A species of wild
plum ; in America as common, south
of latitude 42°, as is the blackberry
in England. Its fruit and hard wood
are much esteemed. The huckle-
berry is akin to the whortleberry.
Among popular phrases are : To rake
tup the persimmons, to pocket the
stakes or spoils, to rake (or pull) in the
pieces (q.v.); the longest pole gets (or
Tenocks) the most persimmons, the
best man wins, the strongest party
gains the day [the persimmon tree
sometimes attains to 60 ft.] ; the
persimmon is above the huckleberry,
a confession of inferiority ; not a
huckleberry to one's persimmonf not
comparable ; that's persimmon (or aH
persimmon), that's fine.
Perspire. To melt away, vanish.
Persuader. 1. A pistol, revolver,
spur, digger (q.v.), jemmy (q.v.) or
other burglar's tool, 2. The tongue
(Grose).
Persuading - plate. An iron disk
used in forcing safes : it revolves on
a pivot, and is fitted with a cutting
point.
Pert. Impudent. Pert end up,
in good spirits, cheerful.
Perthshire Greybreeks (The).
The 2nd Batt. Cameronian (Scottish
Rifles) : formerly the 90th (Perthshire
Volunteers) Regiment of Foot.
Per Usual. See Usual.
Pesky. Troublesome, plaguy.
As adv., excessively.
Pester. A trouble, bother.
Pestle. 1. A constable's staf.
2, A leg : cf. Pestlo of pork, long and
still in vogue ( 1529). See Knight.
Pestie-head. A blockhead.
Pet. 1. An angry mood, tantrum,
fling of temper (1548). Hence, to
&e petted, to take offence. 2. A
darling: also in sarcasm. [Occa*
sionaUy, a delicate young thing.]
Also peat. As verb, to fondle
(1529).
Petard. Hoist with a petard (or
petar), caught in one's own trap, in-
volved in danger meant for others
(1596).
Pete Jenkins. An auxiliary
clown. [The original Pete Jenkins
(c. 1855) had a line of business (q.v.) :
he planted rustics in the audience, and
played them thence.]
Peter. 1. A portmanteau, box,
trunk, bag, or purse: generic for
any parcel, bundle, or package, large
or small. Whence peter-biter (claimer,
or man), a carriage thief : peter-drag
(hunting, or lay), robbery from
vehicles of all kinds ; peter-hunting
jemmy, a small crow-bar used in
smashing the chains securing luggage
to a vehicle (1724). 2. A punishment
cell : see Box. 3. A partridge. 4.
See Peter-see-me. 6. A knavish mode
of handling dice. As verb, (1) to
call (in whist) for tramps by discard-
ing an unnecessarily high card : sec
Blue-peter ; (2) to cease word or deed,
stow it (q.v.) ; (3) to run up prices :
see Peter Funk. As intj., an oath.
To peter out, to fail, become exhausted.
To go (or pass) through St. Peter's
needle, to be severely disciplined :
of children. To rob (or borrow from)
Peter to pay (or clothe) Paul, to take
of ono to give to another, manoeuvre
the apostles (q.v.). [John Thirleby,
the first and only bishop of West-
minster (1541-50), having wasted the
partimony allotted by tho King (Hon.
VHI.) for tho support of the ace was
translated to Norwich, and with Mm
ended the bishopric of St. Pttter's,
Westminster (Haydn, Dignities).
The lands of Westminster were so
dolapidated by Bishop Thirlby that
there was almost nothing to support
the dignity. They wt-rti invaded by
the great men of tho Court, and tho
rest laid out for reparation to the
Church of St. Patil, pared almost to
tho very quick in those days of rapino.
Iftom hence came first that B>#nificant
byeword (as is said by nemo) of
robbing Peter to pay Paul
Peter Collins. A fc
never to be found, on whom
aspirants are told to rail. The votita
is went from roof to collar, anil, finally
is generally let down a trap and left
to get out as best ho can. The
Peter Funk.
Philistine.
word at circuses is the green-handled
rake, which the youth is requested
to ask for. He is generally settled
with a pill of horse-dung when they
have had enough of him.
Peter Funk. 1. A decoy at a
mock auction; also, at genuine but
petty sales, a runner-up of prices;
a puffer (q.v.). 2. The personification
of petty deceit and humbug.
Peter - Grievous. A fretful child.
Peter-Gunner. An amateur gun,
plasterer (q.v.) (1014).
Peter Lug. A laggard in drink-
ing (1696).
Peter-man. 1. A fisherman :
specifically those who formerly used
unlawful engines in catching fish in
the river Thames (1605). Peter-boat,
& fishing-boat : specifically one built
sharp, bow amf stern, for quick
handling. [In allusion to Math. iv.
18.] 2. See Peter.
Peter - see - me. A Spanish wine.
[From Sp., Podra Ximonos, the famous
cardinal.] Also Peter, Potor-Ha-mono,
and Peter-somine (1617).
Petman. Thp smaliost pig in a
litter, tan tony-pig (q.v.).
Petronel. Sir Petroncl Flash, a
swaggerer, jxjnniless ruffier, boaster,
braggaclochio.
Petticoat. A woman : also as
adj. Hence, petticoat-affair, a matter
with a woman in it ; petticoat-govern-
ment, female Home - rule ; petticoat-
hold, a life interest in a wife's estate ;
petticoat-Zed, infatuated of a woman
1607).
Petticoat Lane. Middlesex
Street, E. : a well-known rendezvous
of old-clothoa dealers, mostly Jews.
In Yiddish, Pilomot, the initials (in
Hebrew) P. L. Also Dover Street,
Piccadilly, the seat of the Court
milliner.
Pettifogger* An attorney of the
baser sort, sharking lawyer. Hence
(generally), one given to moan or
underhand practices, AH verb, to
conduct business in a sharp or paltry
way (1076).
Petty. A scholar low in the
school (1602),
Pew. A place of abode (or busi-
ness), orib: see Diggia^a Formerly
a box at a thaatre : HOC Eoom,
Pew-opener's Muscle. A
muscle in the palm of the hand. [Sir
Benjamin Brodie: because it helps
to contract and hollow the palm for
tho reception of a gratuity.]
Pewter. Generic for money:
specifically prize-money : see Rhino
(1842).
Pewy. Enclosed by fences so as
to form small fields.
Pharaoh. 1. A corruption of faro
(1732). 2. A strong ale or beer:
also Old PJtaraoh (1685). One of
Pharaoh's lean fane, a thin, spare
person : one who looks (a) as though
he'd run away irom a bone-house ;
or (&) as if he were walking about to
save his funeral expenses (1598).
Pheasant. 1. A wanton. Hence
peasantry, a brothel. 2. See Bil-
lingsgate-pheasant.
Pheeze (Pheaze, Feaze, or Feize).
To chastise (1579).
Philadelphia - catechism. The
couplet : — Six days shalt thou labour,
and do all thou art able, And on the
seventh — holystone the decks and
scrape the cable.
Philadelphia - lawyer. A smart
attorney: hence, to puzzle (be as
smart as, beat, or know as much as) a
Philadelphia - lawyer, to bo a paragon
of shrewdness.
Philander. To flirt, spoon (q.v.),
wanton : of both sexes. As subs, (or
philanderer), a lover: specifically a
dangler after women (1619).
Philip. A policeman. As intj.,
a warning. Houco, Philiper, a thief's
accomplice.
Philip and Cheiney. Any and
every one, Tom, Dick, and Harry
(q.v.). (1542).
Philippi. To meet at Phftippi, to
koop an appointment without fail.
[Of. * Julius Omar,' iv. iiL, where the
ghost of J. C. iso delivers itself to
Brutus. 1
Philistia. The region of the •un-
enlightened or commonplace : speci-
fically (Matthew Arnold) the English
middle - olaHH — ignorant, narrow-
minded, and deficient in great ideas.
Whence (generally) PhttimtinG, an wn-
lettorod barbarian (q.v.).' & person,
male or female, who has never rend
Matthew Arnold. [Oriff. (German
students*), anybody not belonging to
a wuvorsity,] (1857).
Philistine. 1. Genoric for a re-
presentative of authority ; a ahoriffs
officer, bailiff, rovonuo officer, watch-
man, and (in pi) the press - gang
33S
PUz.
Pick-a-back.
[Judges xvi.]. 2. A drunkard: see
Lushington (1708). 3. Earwigs and
such hke insect tormentors (JB. £/.).
4. See Philistia.
Phiz (Phyz, or Physog). The
face : see Dial (1693).
Phiz - gig. 1. An extravagantly
dressed old woman, an old ewe dressed
lamb - fashion. 2. A pyramid of
moistened gunpowder, which, on
ignition, fuses but does not flash.
Phoenix- man. Men with a
phoenix for their badge, in livery, and
pay from the insurance - office, to ^ _
extinguish fires, covering their heads endearment), small :
with an iron-pot, or head-piece (JB. JS.) (1696).
Physic. 1. Strong drink, medi-
cine (q.v.), lush (q.v.). 2. Hard A „
hitting, punishment (q.v.) : also as pickeer, but, usually, to pick and cut
verb. 3. Losses, wagers, points, and
so forth. Also as verb.
Phyz. See Phiz.
Pi (or Pie). 1. Type, jumbled and
mixed. [Ordinarily a compositor,
when distributing type, reeds a line
or sentence and is enabled to return
it to case with expedition : with pi,
however, each stamp has to be recog-
of a broad collar worn by women early
in 17th century (1607).
Piccadilly Butchers (The). The
First Life Guards. [Having been
called out to quell the Piccadilly riots
in 1810.] Also The Cheeses ; The Tin
Bellies ; and The Patent Safeties.
Piccadilly-crawl. A walk: modish,
in the Eighties : cf . Alexandra limp,
Grecian bend, Roman fall, etc.
Piccaninny (Pickaninny, Pinka-
ninny, etc.). A baby, child : speci-
fically (modern) a child of negro
parents. [Originally from pink (an
Pigsney.]
Pick. 1. To shoot, fling (1530).
2. To pilfer, choose thievishly: also
^-Ske&r, but, usually, to pick and cut
(or to pick pockets). As subs, (or
picking), petty larceny: of. (Prayer
Book) Keep my hands from picking
and stealing. Hence picker (picker
up or pickeerer), (1) a petty thief;
(2) in pi., the fingers. The same
idea (stealthy, underhand) occurs in
Pickpenny, Pickthank, Pickpurse, etc.
(all of which see) (1400).^ Expres-
nised separately.] FT., p&U: fairedu sipns more or less colloquial are: to
pdt6, to distribute pi; German,
zwiebelfisch (fish with onions) (1790).
2. A miscellaneous collection of books
out of the alphabet (q.v.). As adj.,
virtuous, sanctimonious : e.g. He's
very pi now, he mugs all day; He
pi-jawed me for thoking. Whence,
pi-jaw (or gas), a serious admoni-
tion ; pi-man, sim (q.v. ).
pick a bone (crow or matter), to seek a
quarrel : see Bone, Crow, and Pluck ;
to pick up, (1) to improve gradually :
as from illness or failure ; (2) to make
acquaintance with, or accost : usually
in disparagement of the person ac-
costed— sharpers, street walkers, and
such like pick-up flats or culls ; (3) to
get casually; and, generally, (4) to
ju, , yt-mi/iiUfn, ami iij. v./« e°" vwaauekujr > cuuu, gvuvLtmij/ 1 \tj iiu
Piazzas. To walk the piazzas, impose upon or take an advantage
to walk the streets. [The piazzas in a contract or bargain (Bee, 1823) ;
were those in Covent Garden, only a to pick flies off (tailors'), to fault-find ;
portion of which now (1904) remain.]
Picaroon (Pickaroon, or Picaro).
A rogue, shabster. As verb, to rob,
prowl in quest of plunder (1617).
On the picaro, on the make (q.v.).
Picayune. Formerly the Spanish
half -real in Florida, Louisiana, etc. :
now a five-cent piece or any small
coin. Also (generic) money, rhino
(q.v.). Picayune (or picayunish),
small, mean, or little value.
Piccadil (or PiccadiUo). 1. A
stiff collar over which an ornamental
fall or collar was arranged, worn first
at the close of the 16th century. Per-
haps the spelling piccadil was sug-
gested by the Italian use of Picardia
for hanging, place where persons are
hanged. 2. The ornamental border
$34
to pick out robin's eyes (tailors*), to
side-stitch black cloth or fine material ;
to pick of (general), (1) to aim with
effect, and (2) to wound or kill ; to
pick on, to disturb, to nap; ; to pick up,
to put in order : as a room ; to pick
a bit, to eat mincingly ; to pick and
choose, to select with discrimination ;
to pick the brains (or mind), to steal
ideas ; to plagiarise ; to pick holes (or
a fault), to fault - find : hence pick-
fault, a censorious fault-finder ; to
pick a quarrel, to make offence ; hence
pick-quarrel, a cantankerous person;
to pick at, to nag; and so forth.
See also Pick-thank and Pick-purse.
Pick-a-back (Ptckback, Picfc-a-
pack, or Pickpack). On the back or
shoulders : as a pack (1558),
Pick-and-ddb.
Pig.
Pick-and-dab. A meal of pota-
toes and salt : cf. Potatoes-and-point.
Pickers. See Pick.
Picker-up {Stock Exchange). A
dealer buying on quotations trickily
obtained from a member trapped
into giving a -wrong price.
Pickle. 1. A difficult or disagree-
able position, a plight. Hence, a
case of pickles, a bad breakdown,
serious quandary (1609). 2. A wag :
specifically, a troublesome child : cf.
'Peregrine Pickle' (1751). Hence,
pickled, roguish, waggish (1690). 3.
Tin pi., specimens for dissection di-
rect from the subject. As verb, to
humbug, gammon (q.v.). A rod in
also ironically, e.g. a pretty picture,
a strange figure. Not in the picture,
strange, inappropriate, better away,
and (racing) unplaced. See also
Lawful pictures.
Picture -frame. See Sheriff's
picture-frame.
Picture -hat. The Gainsborough
Duchess of Devonshire set a fashion
in hats which women continue to wear
up to the present style,
Piddle. To do languidly or to
little purpose ; to niggle (q.v.). Hence,
pidcfter, a trifler ; and piddling, mean,
of small account, squeamish (1644).
Pie. LA magpie. 2. A prating
gossip. Wily-pie, a sly rogue (1369).
pickle, a flojrging or scolding in re- 3. See Pi. More or less colloquial are :
;_ i j_ /in*ox — rpQ fa^ a finger fa tfa pje (or> fa.
deed, any matter), to meddle, to join
in : cf. Boat j to make a pie, to com-
bine with a view to profit ; like pie,
with zest ; cf. Jam ; in spite of the pie,
obstinately (pie, the Book of the
Offices of the Church) ; not to cook
any of the pie, to abandon an enter-
prise, to take no further interest.
Piece. 1. A person, male or
female : often in contempt. Also (of
women) piece (or bit) of mutton, muslin,
or goods (1290). 2. In pi., money;
rhino (q.v.). [From the old Spanish
pieces of eight.] (1558). To go aU to
pieces, to collapse, become exhausted,
be ruined (1667), To eat a piece, to
eat between raoals : also to piece. See
also Flesh, Muslin, Pudding, Thick,
and Top.
Piece-of-entire. A jolly follow.
Piece-out. Employment, a loan.
Pieman. 1. The ono in hand at
pitch-and-tosfl (q.v.). 2. See Pi.
Piercer. A squint -oyo, one look-
ing nine ways for Sundays (q.v.).
Pining. Sec Spiff.
Piffle. Twaddle: osp. mincing, pre-
tentious, affootod twaddle. As verb,
to trifle pretentiously, to twaddle with
a purpose and an air. Piffler, an
earnest futility, i.e. a person with a
moral end in view, and nothing to back
it but a habit of talking or writing
sentimental rubbiBh. As verb, (1) to
filch ; (2) to bo squeamish.
Pig. 1. An epithet of disparage-
ment or abuse. Thus, a dirty pig, a
person uncloan in word or deed;
an old pig, a ill - natured boor ; a
serve, a revenge in lavender (1678).
In the days of authority rods were
pickled in urine or in brine, which
elements, it was held, imparted tough-
ness.
Pickle-herring (or pickled-
herring). A buffoon (1602).
Pickle-jar. A coachman in
yellow.
Pick-me-up. A stimulant.
Pick - penny. 1. Sco Pinch - fist.
2. A sharper.
Pick - pie. To turn a pick - pie,
to make a somersault.
Pick-purse. A thief (q.v.). As
adj., mercenary, fraudulent (1529).
Picksome. Fastidious, particu-
lar, tjiven to picking and choosing.
Pick - thank. A toady : also as
adj. and verb (1412).
Pi ckt- hatch. To go to the
manor of pickt- hatch (or to pickl-
hatch grange), to wanton. [The
Pickt-hatch — a hatch with pikes— was
a common brothol sign : specifically
in Shakespeare's time a notorious
tavern brothel in Turnbull St, Clerk-
enwelL]
Pick-tooth. Leisurely (1726).
Pick-up. A casual acquaintance,
male or female. AH adj., composed
of what is at tiio moment available :
as a pick - up dinner ; a pick - up
orew, or team : of. Scratch and Pot-
luck.
Pickwickian Sense. A technical
or constructive sense.
Picnic. A mollay, rough-and-
tumble.
Picture. A model, pattern, boau-
ideal : as a picture of health, a perfect learned pig, a bombastic shallow-pato ;
picture— child, horse, and 00 forth : as verb (or to pig it], to herd as pigs ;
335
Pig.
Pigeon-hole.
to pig together, to lie (or sleep) two (or
more) in a bed ; piggery, a squalid or
untidy room ; pig-eyed, small-eyed ;
pig - faced, heavy jowled ; piggish,
ereedy ; pig - headed, obstinate ; as
nappy as a pig in muck, contented but
filthy; like a pig, no good alive,
selfish ; to long for pig (or a Bartholo-
mew pig) (q.v.), to show signs of, or
presume upon, pregnancy; to bleed
like a pig, to bleed copiously, like a
pig under the knife ; to stare like a
stuck pig, to look fixedly or terrifically.
2. A policeman, detective: also
grunter: see Beak. China street pig,
a Bow Street officer. 3. In pi., The
Seventy-Sixth Foot> now the 2nd
Batt. West Biding Regiment. [From
its badge.] Also The Immortals
(q.v.) and The Old Seven and Six-
pennies (q.v.)- 4. A pressman: of.
Donkey. 5. Sixpence : see Bender,
Hog, and Ehino. 6. (Cambridge
University). See Hog. 7. An utterly
spoiled garment : also Pork. CoEo-
quial phrases are : — A pig in a poke,
a blind bargain : FT., acheter chat en
poche ; to stuff a fat pig in the tail, to
give unnecessarily ; to take one's pigs
(or hogs) to market, to deal or do busi-
ness ; generally with pretty, fair, fine,
or bad, when, a good or bad bargain,
to succeed or fail ; to drive one's pigs
(or hogs) to market, to snore ; to follow
like an Anthony pig, to beg, to hang
on; to get the wrong sow by the ear
(or Am., the wrong pig by the tatt), to
make a mistake ; when pigs fly, never :
see Queen Dick ; cold pig, (1) see ante, ;
(2) goods on sale when returned ; and
(3, medical), a corpse, dead -meat
(q.v.) ; to have bo&ed pig at home, to be
master in one's house (an allusion to
a well-known poem and story);
brandy is Latin for pig and goose, an
excuse for a dram after either ; please
the pigs, if circumstances permit,
Deo volente; long (or masked) pig,
human flesh : exposed openly for sale
in Hayli under this name ; to teach a
pig to play on a flute, to attempt the
absurd or impossible ; When a pig is
proffered, hold up the poke, never
refuse a good offer ; 7ou catft make
horn of pig's tail (see Sow's ear) ; to
mistake a pig for a dog, to act stupidly ;
child's pig but father's bacon, a pre-
tended benefit : as when a pet animal
is sold ; to grease a fat pig (or sow), to
be insensible of a kindness.
336
Pig and Tinder - box. The
Elephant and Castle (1821).
Pig and Whistle Light Infantry
(The). The Highland light In-
fantry, formerly the 71st and 74th
Regiments of Foot.
Pig-eater. An endearment.
Pigeon (or Stool-pigeon). 1. A
dupe; a gull (q.v.) ; a fly (q.v.) : of.
Rook and Spider (cf. Thackeray's
title, Captain Rook and Mr. Pigeon).
As verb (or to pluck a pigeon, to
swindle : Fr., pigeon, dindon, or tordu ;
Sp., palamo (pigeon), or sanyrado
(subject for bleeding) (1585). 2.
Sharpers, who, during the drawing of
the lottery, wait ready mounted near
Guildhall, and, as soon as the first two
or three numbers are drawn, which
they receive from a confederate on a
card, ride with them full speed to
some distant insurance office, before
fixed on, where there is another of the
gang, commonly a decent - looking
woman, who takes care to be at the
office before the hour of drawing : to
her he secretly gives the number,
which she insures for & considerable
sum : thus biting the biter (Orose).
To pigeon the news, to send informa-
tion by carrier pigeon ; to run or ride
with news surreptitiously obtained.
3. See Blue pigeon. 4. Business : see
Pigeon English, [The Chinese pro-
nunciation of the English word.]
PavFs pigeons, the scholars of St.
Paul's school ( 1662). ( 1 ) To milk the
pigeon, to attempt impossibilities;
(2) to be put to shifts for want of
money. Phrases more or less collo-
quial are : — Pigeon breasted, with pro-
truding breast ; pigeon - hearted (or
livered), timid ; pigeon-toed,vnth turned
in toes; 'pigeon- wing, (1) a late 18th
century mode of dressing the aide hair :
now American ; (2) a wig so called ;
and (3) a brisk step or caper in danc-
ing, skating ; to shoot at a pigeon and
kulacrow, to blunder wilfully ; to catch
two pigeons with one bean (aeo Stone).
Pigeon English (or Pidgin). A
jargon serving aft a means of inter-
communication between the Chinese
and the English - speaking races all
over the -world : alike in Shanghai and
San Francisco. [A corruption of
* business - English — business — bid-
giness — bid#m — pidgin — pigeon.]
Pigeon-hole. 1. An over -wide
space between printed words; * nit*
Pigeon-pair.
Pilgrim.
hole (q.v.). 2. (Winchester College).
A small study. Pigeon-lwle soldiers,
clerks and orderlies.
Pigeon-pair. Twins of opposite
sex. [Pigeons lay two eggs which
usually hatch as a pair.]
Pigeon's- milk. An imaginary
product in quest of which fools are
sent : cf. Strap- oil, Squad umbrella.
To milk the pigeon, to attempt impos-
sibilities.
P i g g o t. To forge. [A reminis-
cence of the Parnell Commission : the
expression was born in the House of
Commons, 2Sth Fob. 1889.] Cf.
Salisbury, Burke, Boycott, Maffick,
etc.
Piggy-wiggy (Pigwiggin, or Piggy-
whidden). A pet pig; hence, a comic
endearment (see Drayton, Nymph-
idia, where it is used as the name of
a kind of Puck).
Pig-poker. A swine-herd.
Pig - running. A kind of game
frequently practised at fairs, wakes,
etc. A large pig, whoso tail is cut
short, and both soaped and greased,
being turned out, is hunted by the
young men and" boys, and becomes
the property of him who can catch and
hold him by the tail, abovo tho height
of his head (Gtrose).
Pigs-and-whisties. To go to pigs*
and-whistles, to be ruined (1801).
Pig-sconce. A lout, dullard (1609).
Pig's-ear (or lug). A very
large Tappel collar or flap.
Pig's-foot. A short cloven crow-
bar, jemmy (q.v.). ""
Pigskin. A saddle. Kniglit of
the pigskin, a jockey.
Pigsney. 1, A girl : an endear-
ment: see Titter. 2. A woman's
eye (1383).
Pig - sticker. 1. A pork-butcher.
2. A long-bladod pocket-knife. 3.
A sword.
Pig-sty. 1. The press -room: see
Pig. 2. A place of abode or business :
Pig's- whisper. 1. A grunt. 2. A
very short apace of time j i.o. as brief
as a grunt}: also (American), pig's-
Pie -tail. 1, A Chinaman. 2. In
pi., the shares of the Chartered Bank
of India, Australia, and China.
Pig-yoke. A quadrant (1836).
Pike. 1. A turnpike road. 2. A
tramp, gipsy (also pikey and piker).
As verb, to walk (also to pike off, and
to tip a pike) : whence to pike on the
been, to hook it for all one's worth.
Pike - keeper (or pikeman), a toll-
keeper ; to bilk a pike, to cheat a toll-
gate (1500). 3. (American : Southern
States). A poor white. As verb, (1)
see subs., sense 1 ; (2) to die : also to
pike off : see Hop the twig ; (3) to play
cautiously and for small stakes.
Hence, piker, a moderate punter. To
pass the pikes, to be out of danger
(1648). To give the pike, to dis-
miss : see Bag and Sack.
Pike I (or Prior Pike). An
assertion of prior claim or privilege ;
Bags or Bags I (q.v.).
Piker. l.SeeKke. 2. Wild cattle.
Pikestaff. See Plain.
Pilate-voice. A big ranting voice.
[Brewer : In the old mysteries all
tyrants were made to speak in a rough
ranting manner. Thus Bottom the
Weaver, after a rant to show his
quality, exclaims, 'That's 'Ercles'
vein, a tyrant's vein * ; and Hamlet
describes a ranting actor as out-herod-
ing Horod.] (1383).
Pilch. To pilfer : see Prig (1577).
Pilcher. A scabbard. \Th& word
is used nowhere in English save in
4 Romeo and Juliet.' It seems to be
a literal due to an Elizabethan comp.
Perhaps Shakespeare wrote, pilch, Sir ;
perhaps he didn't. Anyhow pilch = a
leathern coat, or overall, and was
good enough business for a leathern
sheath.]
Pile. A large sum of money, fortune :
see Rhino. To make one'& pile, to
mako a fortune ; to go the whole pile, to
stake everything (1732). To pile, on t
floo Agony, To pile in, (1) to take
part ; (2) to eat. To pile out, to come
forth,
Pilgarlick. 1. An outcast. Said
originally to mean one whoso skin or
hair hod fallen off from some disease ;
but now commonly used by persons
speaking of themselves; as, there
stood poor pill garlick ; i.e. there stood
I (Grose), 2. A person of ripe age :
eee Antique (1605).
Pilgrim. 1. Pilgrim and tender-
foot were formerly applied almost ex-
clusively to newly imported cattle,
but by a natural transference they are
usually used to designate all new-
comers, tourists, anu business-men,
2. In pt, cattle on the drive.
337
Pilgrim* s-safoe.
Pine-tree Money.
Pilgrim's- salve. Excrement
(1670).
Pill. LA black balloting ball :
see Blackball. As verb, to reject by
ballot. 2. A disagreeable or objec-
tionable person, bore (q.v.) : also of
events— a bitter pill (1536). 3. A
drink, go (q.v.) : see Drinks. 4. A
bullet : also blue-pill (q.v.). As verb,
(1) see subs. 1 ; (2) to twaddle, talk
platitudes. The Pitts, the Eoyal
Army Medical Corps: also The
Licensed Lancers, The Poultice Wal-
lopers; and The Linseed Lancers.
Also pills, a doctor, surgeon. To
gild the, pitt, to sweeten a bitter thing,
soften a hard thing, beautify an ugly
thing, explain away a sure thing,
present the inevitable as though it
were optional, gammon (q.v.). To
pill and pott, to pillage and strip:
specifically in modern usage (thieves'),
to cheat a comrade of his regulars
(q.v.): FT., faire Pesgard. Pott-thief
(or potter), (1) a thief ; (2) an informer
(1529).
Pillar. See Post.
Pill-box. 1. A small brougham. 2.
A soldier's cap. 3. A revolver or g^m :
also pitt-bottte: see Heat-in- the-pot.
Pill-driver (monger, or peddler).
An itinerant apothecary (1763).
Pillicock. An endearment (1598).
Pillory. A baker.
Pillow-mate. A wife.
Pill-pate. A friar, shaveling
(1570).
Pi-man. See PL
Pimginnit. A large, red, angry
pimple (B. SI.).
Pimp. To act meanly, curry
favour. Pimping, small, feeble, per-
haps well-meaning, but in every way
inconsiderable (1749).
Pimple. LA boon companion
(1700). 2. The head: see Tibby.
Pimple-coverf a hat; see Golgotha.
Pimple in a bent, something very
minute : cl Knot in a rash (1582).
Pin. 1. In pi., the legs. On one? 8
pins, (a) alive ; (&) faring well ; (c)
in good form (1520). 2. A trifle : the
lowest standard of value: also pin-
head: of. Button, Cent, Fig, Point,
Bap, Bush, Straw (1433). 3. A
measure containing four-and-a-half
gallons, or the eighth part of a barrel.
As verb, to steal, nab (q.v. ). Phrases :
To be down, pin, to be out of sorts ;
to put in the pin, to stop, arrest, pull
up : as a habit or indulgence ; to pin
oneself on another, to hang on ; to pin
doion (or to the ground), (1) to secure,
(2) to make sure, (3) to attack with no
chance of escape; pinned to a tcife's
taH, petticoat-led ; to pin one's faith
to (or upon one's sleeve), to trust im-
plicitly: see also Bottle, Merry- pin,
Nick.
Pin-basket. The youngest child.
Pin-buttock. A bony rump:
with bones like pins pricking (1598).
Pinch. LA dilemma, critical
situation, scrape. Whence, to come
to the pinch, to face the (situation ; ai
a pinch, upon a push or exigence
(JB. E.). 2. A certainty. As verb, (1)
to steal : formerly, encroach little by
little, appropriate (1362); (2) to
arrest (1600); (3) to cut the measures
of ale, beer, etc. (B. E.). The pinch
(or pinching lay), (1) pilfering while
purchasing, (2) exchanging bail money
for good : ringing the changes (q.v.) ;
pincher (or pincJi-gloak), a shop-lifter ;
to pinch on the parson* $ side, to sharp
him of his tithes ; pinched to the bone,
robbed of all To pinch at, to demur,
fault-find (1383). See Nab, Nick, and
Shoe.
Pinchbeck. Showy, meretricious,
sham. [In the 18th century Christo-
pher Pinchbeck, a London, watch-
maker, invented an amalgam much
used in cheap jewellery.'}
Pinch-belly (back, commons,
fist, guts, penny, or pincher). A
miser, niggard in food (dross, or
money): see Skinflint (1412).
Pinch-board. A swindling roulette
table : see Pinch.
Pincher. A legislative measure
calculated to secure a pecuniary
reward to those interested m it« re-
jection. See Pinch, and PmcU- bully.
Pinch-gut-money. * Money allowed
by the King to the Seiimyn, that Serve
on Board the Navy Royal, when their
Provision falls Short; also in long
Voyages when thoy arc forced to
Drink Water instead of Boer ' (B. #A
Pinch-wife. A vigilant and churl-
ish husband.
Pincushion. See Pin-eaae.
Pineapple. To clos* shave,
county-crop, shinglo (q.v.).
Pine-top. Common whisky :
see Old man's milk.
Pine-tree Money, Money coined
in Massachusetts in 17th contury : as
Pine-tree State.
Pipe-lay tr*
bearing a figure resembling a pine-
tree.
Pine-tree State. Maine. [From
its extensive pine forests.]
Pink. 1. A beauty. 2. A pattern
or model : as a woman of fashion, a
well-groomed man, the pick of the
litter, a champion at sport, etc. (1595)
3. A bad report, e.g. There are several
pinks against you : as verb, to give a
bad account of a person or matter.
4. A hunting coat, scarlet (q.v.) : also
a hunting man (as wearing pink). As
verb, (1) to put home a rapier's point :
also as subs., a wound so made (1598) ;
(2) to convict ; as a result of perjury or
cross-examination to one's prejudice;
(3) to make carefully, even exquisitely ;
(4) to get home easily and often : as
a blow (1819). Dutch pink, blood : of.
Claret.
Pinking - dinder. A bully, ruffian,
Mohawk (q.v.).
Pink - spiders. Delirium tremons,
Pinky. The little ringer : also any-
thing little ; the flinallcat candle, the
weakest beer, etc.
Pin - money. An allowance to a
woman for pocket expenses : originally
to a married woman by her husband,
either by settlement or gift (1070).
Pinnace. A bawd, prostitute,
woman, piece (q.v.).
Pinner (or Pinny). A pinafore
(1672).
Pinner-iip. A vendor of broad-
side songs and ballads. [They are
usually pinned-up on canvas against a
wall.]
Pinnipe. A crab. Honco pin-
niped, sideways ; crab fashion. [Tho
Pinnipedia aro fin-footed animals.]
Pinnock. To Iring pi-anode to
pannocJc, to bring something to
nothing.
Pin-pannierly-fellow. A
covetous miser that pins up his
baskets or panniers, or that Ihinktt
the loss of a pin to be a pain and
trouble to him.
Pins - and - needles. Tho tingling
which accompanies the recovery of
circulation in a benumbed limb.
Pin's -head. To took for a pin* ft
head in a cartload of hay, to attempt
the impossible. Whence, to find a
pvn?8 head* etc., to achieve wonders :
Bee Bottle (1365).
Pinsr&p. A parsnip.
Pint Recommendation, praise.
Pints round ! a fine imposed upon a
cutter for dropping his shears : nearly
obsolete.
Pip. A spot on dice or playing
cards. [A corruption of picks, (O.E.)
diamond and (sometimes) spade :
from old Fr., picque, a spade.] As verb,
(1) to blackball, pill (q.v.); (2) to
take a trick from an opponent. To
fwve (or get) the pip, to be depressed,
out of sorts : see Rump.
Pipe (or Pipers). 1. Generic for
the vocal organs. 2. The voice : in
pi., the lungs. As verb, (a) to talk ;
(b) to cry : also to pipe, up, to taJee a
pipe, to tune one's pipes, and to pipe
one's eye ; to shut (or put) up the pipes,
to be silent. Piper, a broken-winded
horse, roarer (q.v.) (1383). 3. In pL,
the bag- pipes ; to tune one's pipes,
to talk or write. 4. A boot : see
Trotter-cases (1819). As verb, see
subs. 1 and 2; (3) to waylay, inter-
cept ; (4) to watch, spy : also to pipe
off : Fr., attumer. Piper, a spy. The
Queen's p^pc, tho kiln in the great
East Vault of the Wine-Collars of tho
London DockR, whore useless and
damaged goods that have paid no
duty aro burnt: as regards tobacco
a thing of tho past, stuff of this kind
being distributed to workhouses, etc.
To put one's pipe out, (I) to spoil
sport or a chance, to take the shino
out; (2) to kill: see Light : Fr,, caaser
ea pipe. P-ut tJuzt in your pipe and
smoke it, a straight rebuke, digest
that if you can : Fr., mats qa, dans ta
poche et ton wouchoir par deasuft (1824).
To pipe another dance, to change one's
moans, or one's course of action or
attack (1529). To pipe in (or with)
an ivy-leaf, to busy oneself to no
purpose (OB a consolation for failure),
to go whistle, blow the buck's horn.
[Ivy-leaf, a thing of small value, as
Fig, Rush, Straw, etc.] (1374).
Pipeclay. Routine, red-tape
(q.v.). As verb, (I) to wipe out,
ttettle: as accounts. (£J) To hide
faults of workmanship, conceal de-
fects in material.
Pipe-layer. A political intriguer,
schemer. Honco pipe-laying, scheming
or intriguing for }tolltiieal purposes.
\BartteU: c-trca 1835, a traitorous
Now York Wliig election, agent con-
cocted a plot to throw odium on the
party, supporting it by
Pitchfork.
ence in the form of bogus business
letters relating to the Croton water
supply then in progress, the number
of men hired to vote being spoken of
as so many yards of pipe.
Pipe - merry. Merry : as from
•wine (which is stored in pips) (1564).
Piper. 1. A detective : speci-
fically (in England) an omnibus spy :
see Nark. 2. See Pipe. Drunk as a
very drunk : also piper-fou :
s Screwed (1772). To pay the piper
(or fiddler), to pay expenses, assume
responsibility : Fr., payer les violons
(1695).
Piper 's-cheeks. Swollen or puffed
cheeks (1608).
Piper 's-news. Stale news.
Piper 's-wife. A prostitute.
Piping Hot. Very hot (1383).
Pipkin. The head : see Tibby.
Pippin. My pippin, an endearment.
Pippin-squire. See Apple-squire.
Pirate. 1. An infringer of copy-
right : specifically of publishers, print-
sellers, and booksellers, who, without
permission, appropriate the work or
ideas of an author or artist ; a free-
Fishery - pashery. Gabble (1621).
Pistol. A swaggering bully: see
Furioso (1596). Also see Pocket-
pistol.
Pistol-shot. A drink ; a go (q.v.) :
see Drinks and of. Pocket-pistol.
Pit A breast pocket in a coat :
also, a fob. Hence, pitman, a pocket-
book. Knight of the pit, a cocker. To
shoot (or fly) the pit, to turn tail ( 1740).
Pit-a-pat. To walk lightly and
quickly : as with a quick succession
of sounds, to palpitate : also adj. and
subs. [The same word as prittle-
prattle or pittle - pattle, to chatter]
(1555).
Pitch. LA place of sale or en-
tertainment. 2, A performance or
sale. To pitch (or do a pitch), to do
business; to queer a pitch, to spoil a
performance or a sale ; to mar one's
plans. 3. A short sleep, a nap.
Phrases : To pitch the hunters, to set
up the three-sticks-a-penny business ;
to pitch it strong, to exaggerate, over-
do, or embroider (q.v.) : to pitch and
pay, to pay on the nail (at Blackwell
~ " it was enacted that a penny bo
booker : of. Barabbas, Ghost, Jackal, paid by the owner of «very bale of
.x. ,-,w/^ r> -r_ ,0™ ^ 0T.,n, cloill for pitching) . £> ^tch tn, (1) to
take a hand; (2) to start ; (3) to work
hard ; to pitch into, to attack ; to
pitch a tale (or fork}, 1o fell a story,
romantic, playful, or pitiful ; to pitch
on, to select at random,
Pitch-and-ffll. Bill.
Pitched. Cut (q.v.).
Pitcher. 1. Newgate prison : also
the stone pitcher (or jug) : see Cage
(1819). 2. See Snido-pitcher. Pitcher*
have ears f Listeners may overhear :
also (of children) little pitfhrrs have
long (or great) ears, what children hear
at home soon flies abroad : Fr.t
ce que fenfant oit ait foyer, etft ftien-
t6t connu juxqifav Monmtier (1340).
etc. (1703). 2. In 1829 George Shilli-
beer introduced omnibuses into
London, and . . . took care to impress
upon every man, he employed the im-
portance of politeness towards all
passengers. But in 1832 it was
noticed that this high standard .^ .
was not maintained by ... conductors
of the new 'buses running from Pad-
dington to the Bank via Oxford Street.
They overcharged passengers, and
met protests with abuse. [Frequently,
when females only were in the 'bus,
they brought their journey to an end
long before they reached their ad-
vertised destination, compelling the
passengers to walk a considerable
distance after paying their fares. . . .
These were the first pirate omnibuses.
To let the public know which really
were his vehicles Shillibeer at once
had painted on them Shillibeer's
Original Omnibus. In a few days the
same inscription appeared on some
of the pirates with the word not in very
small letters preceding it. Now
(1902), thanks to police regulations
and the imposition of heavy penalties,
almost a thing of the past: chiefly
applied, without depreciation, to any
non-Company or Association vehicle.
Other colloquialisms arc : To get the
sheard* after the pitcher is broken ( 1 760),
to receive & kindness after others have
no need for it, to get the refuse; to
"bang a pitcher, to drain a pot: see
Croous-pitoher.
Pitcher - man. A drunkard ; a
tickle-pitcher: see Lushinpton (1738).
Pitch - fingers. A pilferer : also
tar - fingers (q.v.). Whence pitch"
fangeredf thievishly inclined.
Pitchfork. A tuning-fork. As
verb, to thrust into a position, toss*
settle carelessly.
340
Ptich-lcetiled.
Play.
Pitch - kettled. Puzzled, stuck
fast, confounded (1785).
Pitchpole. (1) To sell for double
the cost : (2) to turn a somersault.
Pitch -up (Winchester School).
One's home circle, a crowd or knot
of people, set of chums. Hence, to
pitch up with, to associate with.
Pit-hole (or Pit). A grave. As
verb, to bury (1607).
Pitman. See Pit.
Fitter - patter. To palpitate, go
pit-a-pat.
Pittle-pattie. See Pit-a-pat.
Pitt's -picture. A bricked-up
window. [To save Pitt's Window-
tax.]
Place. 1. An abode, place of
business : see Diggings. 2. A Jakes, or
house of ease (q.v.).
Placebo. 1. A pacifying dose. 2.
A sop or placation.' To sing (or hunt,
or go to the school of) placebo, to be
servilely complaisant, time - serving,
hold with the hare and hunt with
the hounds (1362).
Placer. To live in concubinage.
Plaguy (or Plaguily). Trouble-
some, annoying, deuced, very (1580).
Plain. Watered, neat (q.v.).
Plain as a pikestaff (or pacikstaffe),
beyond argument; packstaff (adj.),
plain : also plain as the nose on your
face (1546).
Plain-statement. 1. An in-
different meal, common-doings (q.v.).
2. A simple straight-forward piece of
work.
Plank. See Platform. As verb,
to deposit money, pay : also to plank
up (or down).
Plant i. Plunder. 2. A swindle
or robbery. 3. A decoy. 4. A place
of hiding. 5. In pi., the feet. As
verb, (1) to conceal; (2) to select a
person or house for swindling or
robbery ; (3) to utter base coin ; (4) in
mining, to salt (q.v.) ; (5) to humbug ;
gammon (q.v.) ; (6) to prepare cards
for unfair play; (7) to post, set, fix
in position ( 1555) ; (8) to bury (Grose) ;
(9) to drive the ball into another
player : honoo planter, a blow so given :
specifically one delivered in the face.
In plant, in hiding ; to spring a plant
(1) to unearth ; (2) to prepare a trick
by depositing an object in charge of
a conscious or unconscious con*
federate. To plant wh'id* and stow
them, to be wary of speech (1610)*
To plant home, (1) to deliver (as a
blow) ; (2) to make a point (as in
argument) ; and (3, general) to suc-
ceed. To water one's plants, to shed
tears : see Bib.
Plaster. To flatter.
Plasterer. An amateur gun. One
who thinks nothing of the lives and
eyes of the men who surround him on
all sides, and blows his pheasant to
a pulp before the bird is seven feet in
the air (Bromley-Davenport).
Plate (Plate - fleet, or Family
Plate). 1. Generic for money :
formerly a piece of silver : also (Hal-
liwell) illegal silver money : see Rhino.
To melt the plate, to spend lavishly ;
when the plate fleet comes in, money
in plenty (B. E.) (1586). 2. In pi.,
the feet : originally plates of meat : see
Creepers. To plate it, to walk. Also
(American thieves') plates of meat, a
street. Old plates, the shares of the
London and River Plate Bank. New
Plates, shares of the English Bank of
the River Plate. To foul a plate, to
dine, sup (1785).
Platform. Formerly a plan,
design, or model: now a declaration
of principles or doctrines (chiefly religi-
ous and political) governing organised
public action, each section or para-
graph of which is called a plank. As
verb, to draft or publish such a de-
claration of principles or doctrines.
Platter-face. A broad or flat face :
also as adj. : see Dial (1696).
Plausible. Specious, persuasive
(1696). *^
Play. To play artful, to feign sim-
plicity, to keep a card or two up one's
sleeve; to play boots (the devttf the
mischief, Ned, etc.), to thrust, to
spoil, to ruin ; to play off, (1) to simu-
late, (2) to expose to merriment, (3) to
make an end ; to play on (or upon), to
trifle with; to play up, (1) to do
one's best, (£) to be troublesome ; to
play up to, to take one's cue from
another ; played up (or out), used up,
ruined; to play vnth one's beard, to
deceive ; to play it low, to take ad*
vantage; to play light, (I) to take it
easy, (2) to keep one's temper; to
pfay for, to deal with generally ; to
play dark, to conceal one's character
or motive; to play the whole game, to
cheat ; to play least in sight, to hide ;
to play to the gas, to play to small
audiences; to play to the gallery, to
341
Pleb.
Plump.
rant, to gag, to use the coarsest
and cheapest means ; to play it off,
to cheat ; to play the sovereign, to
flatter an inferior ; to make good
play, to work to advantage, or with
execution; to come into play, to
take one's turn, or share ; to play
fair (or false), to act or deal honestly
(or the reverse) ; to play one's cards
well, to advance one's interests j to
play into one'* hands, to advantage ;
to keep (or hold) in play,- to retain
control, keep things going, to engage ;
to play the giddy goat, to behave like
a fool ; to play with, to trifle ; to play
upon advantage, to cheat ; to play in
and out, to trifle ; played out, ex-
hausted, ruined, done for ; to play a
good knife and fork (see Knife); to
play the game, to do honestly at what-
ever cost; to play diddle-diddle, to
trick, to cajole ; to play the duck, (1)
to go contrary, against the grain : as
ducks are plucked, (2) to prove a
coward; to play off one's dust, to
drink. Other proverbial sayings are :
She's like a cat, she'll play with her
tail, of a wanton ; The play won't pay
the candles (or the acting is not worth
the lights), the end is not worth the
means or risk; He'll play a small
game rather than stand out, of a
meddler or busybody. Also see Bear,
Beard, Bob-fool, Booty, Deuce, Devil,
Dickens, Ducks, Fast, Fathers-aud-
Mothers ; Fiddle, Gooseberry, Harry,
Hell, Hob, Hooky, In-and-in, In-and-
out, Knife, Love, Mischief, Possum,
Second fiddle, Schoolmaster, Tail,
Ugly, Uptails-all, Velvet, Wag, Wag-
Pleb (Westminster School). A
tradesman's son.
Plebe (American Collegiate). A
freshman; specifically one in the
lowest class at West Point. Hence,
plebeskin, a freshman's tunic.
Pledge. A baby (1622). As verb,
(Winchester School), to give away.
Pledge me, after you; I'll pledge it
you when I have done with it : cf.
Poste te.
Pleriipo. A plenipotentiary
(1697).
Plier. The hand : see Daddlo.
Plough. To reject in an ex-
amination: see Pluck. To plcugh
the deep, to sleep. To put the plr.ugh
before the oxen, to reverse, put the
caxt before the horse (1653). Pro-
verbial phrases are: — To plough with
ass and ox, to sort or do things ill ;
to let the plough stand to catch a mouse,
to neglect weighty matters for small ;
to plough the air (or a rock), to attempt
the absurd or impossible.
Ploughed. Drunk : see Screwed.
Plover. A wanton : of. Partridge,
Pheasant, and Grouse.
Pluck. Courage, spunk (q.v.) :
also plwkiness. Hence plucked,
valiant : usually with good, well, rare,
etc. ; Jiard - plucked, hard - hearted,
severe; plucky, bold, spiritedly, or
indomitable : pluck-less, fainthearted.
As verb, to reject at an examination.
Against the pluck, against the inclina-
tion. To pluck the riband, to ring
the bell. See Crow, Pigeon, Nose,
Rose.
Plug. 1. A silk hat : also Plug-
hat: see Golgotha. 2. A man or
beast, short and thick-set : see Forty-
guts. 3. A workman whoso appren-
ticeship has been irregxilar ; a turn-over
(q.v.): specifically (in America) a
craftsman who haa learned his busi
ness in casual or evening classes
Such teaching is called -plug-teaching*
4. Anything damaged or deteriorated :
as an unsuccessful book, an old hort
coins bored full of holes and plu
with base metal, a shop-soiled bic-
and so forth : also old plug. loncc
(generally) plug, any defect — moral,
physical, or otherwise. 5. A translation,
a crib (q.v.), pony (q.v.). 6. A loafer,
well-dressed or other : see Plug-ugly.
As verb, to hit with a bullet.
Plug-hat See Plug.
Plug - ugly, A Baltimore street
rowdy, circa, 1860-80. Hence any
loafer or rough (q.v.).
Plum (or Plumb). 1. £100,000, a
fortune : see Khluo. 2. A rich man.
3. A good thing, tit-bit. As adj., a
general appreciative : good, desirable,
exactly, quite, dexterously, thorough-
going. Whence plumb-centre, exactly
at the centre: as a plummet hangs
(1667). As varb, to deceive: see
Gammon : see Blue plum.
Plum-duff. Plum -dumpling,
spotted-dog (q.v.).
Plump. A blow: also Plumper
(1772). Asad>andft<lv.,(I)exao%
downright, quite : as verb, to meet m
more or leas violent contact ; plumply
(or plump and plain), without reserve,
roundly (1536); (2) fat, Ml,
342
Pock-'pudding.
flump in the. pocket, with plenty of
money, warm (q.v.). As verb, (1)
to record a -whole- (i.e. an unsplit-)
vote ; whence plumper, (a) the voter,
and (&) the vote : also (racing), to back
one horse; and (general), to put all
one's eggs in one basket. (2) To strike,
shoot.
Plumper. 1. An unqualified false-
hood. 2. A device for puffing out to
smoothness the wrinkles of the cheeks :
also a false bosom (1650). 3. See
Plump.
Plump - currant. In good condi-
tion, in fettle, in high spirits (Grose).
Plum - porridge. A term of con-
tempt: of. Pudding-head (1634).
Plump-pate. A blockhead.
Plum-puddinger. A small whaler
making short voyages. [Century :
the crew is dieted on fresh provisions
and an abundance of plum -pud-
ding.]
Plunder. 1. Household goods,
personal effects, baggage (1834). 2.
Profit, makings (q.v.).
Plunge. To bet recklessly. Henco
a plunge, a reckless bet; plunging,
gambling for high stakes ; plunger, a
reckless gamblor. [For example, the
Marquis of Hastings, the first so-
called. One night he played tlxroo
games of draughts for £1000 a game
and lost all three. Ho then cut for
£500 a cut, and lost £5000 in less than
two hours, Benzon (the Jubilee
plunger) lost £250,000 in little more
than twelve months.]
Plunger. I. A cavalry man, (1857).
2. See Plunge. 3. A Baptist.
Plush. At sea the overplus of the
gravy, arising from its being distri-
buted in a smaller measure than the
tract ono ; this assigned to the cook of
each moss, becomes a cause of ir-
regularity. John Pluah, a footman;
cf. Thackeray, The YeUowplwh Cor-
respondence, by Charles Yollowplush,
Sp"lyer. 1. A crutch (B. E.). 2.
A trader (Grose}.
Plymouth (or Dunkirk) cloak.
A cudgel (1002).
Poach. 1. To steal; to sneak
(q.v.) : aee Pri#. 2. la racing, to get
the best of a start : oflp. by unflporte-
manlike methods (1531). 3. To
blacken the eyes : cf. Fr., yreux pochcs
ou bewrre ntrir (1819),
Poacher, A jobber or broker who
deals out of, or is continually changing,
his market.
Poacher-court. The Kirk-Sessions
(1796).
Pocket. 1. Money, means, re-
sources : also pocket-book and pocket-
lining. Hence, to be in pocket, to
profit; to be out of pocket, to lose;
pockets to let, penniless, broke (q.v.);
To put one's hand in one's pocket, (1)
to give money (as in charity), and (2)
to spend ; to have (or carry) in one's
pocket, to control ; to pick pockets, to
steal from the person (hence pick'
pocket, a thief from the person : cf .
Pick-purse) ; pocket-piece, (1) a show
coin, whence (2) anything meretrici-
ous or unreal : see Rhino (1598). As
adj., small: e.g. pocket - hercules, a
sturdy dwarf; pocket-volume, a port-
able book; pocket- Venus (or piece),
a diminutive woman ; pocket-parlia-
ment, a town - council, or debating
society; pocket -heU, a Tartarus of
one's own, a Tophit on a minor scale ;
and so forth. As verb, (1) to endure,
submit : as to ridicule, insult, or
wrong. Hence, to pocket one's horns,
to play the witlol ; to put one's pride in
one's pocket, to suppress one's pride ;
to carry one's passions in one's pocket, to
smother one's feelings ; to pocket an
affront, to submit and say nothing
(1592) ; (2) to embezzle, steal (1851) ;
(3) to win. If not pleased, put hand in
pocket and please yourself, a retort on
grumblers. He plays as fair as if he'd
picked your pockets, said of rooking
gamblers.
Pocket-book Dropper. See
Pocket-borough. A constituency
in which votes are controlled by one
man : theoretically, since the Reform
Act of 1832, a thing of the past; to
pocket a borough, to control votes.
Pocketed. Said of a runner so
surrounded that he cannot possibly
get out of the press, and push to the
front.
Pocket-pistol. A wicker-covered
or leather- cased flask for spirits, carried
in the pookot
Pocket-thunder. Eructation.
Pock -nook. To come in on one's
own pock-nook, to lire on one's own
means.
Pock - pudding, A bag-pudding:
hence, by force of metaphor, a glut-
ton: especially an Englishman: whose
343
Pod.
Poles.
appetite the Scotchman affected to
despise, even as he hated and envied
him for its manifold opportunities
(1730).
Pod. 1. A foot: specifically of
children. Hence, to pod, to toddle.
2. A protuberant belly ; a corporation
(q.v.): also pod-beUy. Hence, pod-
bellied (poddy, or in pod), (1) fat or
stout : of men ; and (2) pregnant, of
women. Hence podgy, puggy, and
pudsey (1753). 3. A louse : see Chates.
Podge. 1. A fat man or -woman.
2. An epaulette (1834).
Poddy. 1. Drunk: see Screwed.
2. See Pod.
Podunk. An imaginary place: in
burlesque.
Poem. A foolish appreciative : as
a well - cooked dish, pretty dress,
smart-cut coat, and so forth.
Poet -sucker. A budding poet:
of. Babbit-sucker (1625).
Poet's -walk. The tea served to
Upper dub, on half-holidays, in
River-walk.
Poge (Pogue, or Pogh). See
Poke.
Pograrn. A Dissenter, formalist,
puritanical starch, maw- worm, creak-
shoes (q.v.).
P o g y. Drunk : see Screwed.
Pogey-aqua, long-shore for — make the
grog strong.
Point. In pL, beauties : of women
or children : accepted as applied to
the characteristics of animals (1370).
Possession is nine (or eleven) points
of the law, said in deprecation of any
attempt to change things as they are,
or to seek redress (1749). Phrases,
more or less colloquial, are numerous.
They mostly centre on a figurative
use of point, (1) a sharp end, or (2) a
small but well-defined spot : as a dot,
a speck, a hole, a moment, etc. To
see (tell, or make plain) a point, to
understand (narrate or explicate) the
drift, or application of a thing : as an
argument, a narrative, a detail ; to
care (or be worth) but a point, to esteem
lightly, (point, like Pin, Bap, Cent,
etc., the smallest standard of value) ;
to untruss a point, (1) to take down
one's breeches, and hence (2) to ease
one's bowels; point, a tagged lace,
used of old to keep doublet and hose
together ; to give point to (or bring a,
point to bear on), to emphasise : also
to point ; to come to the point, to go to
the root of a matter ; to bo:l down (or
dose) to a point, (1) to condense : as a
paragraph, and (2) to balance : as an
account ; to stretch (or strain) a point,
to exceed a limit (Grose) : to make a
point of (1) to strive (or insist) to an
end, and (2) to elicit a detail or make
a desired impression (also to prove one's
point) ; to gain ones point, to effect a
purpose ; to stand on points, to be
punctilious ; to be at a point, to be
determined; to come to points, to
fight : with swords ; to give points to,
(I) to have (or give) an advantage,
and (2) to impart exclusive or valu-
able information, to tip (q.v.) : also
pointers ; at all points, completely ; at
(or in) the point, (1) ready, and (2) in
the act of; in good point, in good
condition ; in pointf apropos ; in point
of, as regards ; point for point, exactly ;
to point, completely ; beyond a point,
in excess; a pomt in favour, an ad-
vantage in hand ; full of point, epi-
grammatic, effective; tlic. point of a
matter, its end or purpose; at poiM
Nonplus, hard up, in Queer Street
(q.v.) ; at point blank, immediately,
direct. See also Cuckold's point;
Potato ; Spear ; and V.
Pointer. See Point.
Poison. 1. Drink; tipple (q.v.).
Nominate your poison, What will you
drink ? 2, Anything imploasant
Whence, to hate like poison, to detest
(1530).
Poisoned. Pregnant.
Poison-pated. Red-haired.
Pojam. A poem : set as an exer-
cise: a portmanteau-word (q.v*}.
Poke (Poge, Pogh, or Pogue).
1. A pockot, bog, sack, jimich. purse :
generic. English synonyms: hounge,
brigli, bung, busy-sack, enrpot-awab,
cly, cod, haddock, hoxter, kick, peter,
pit, roger, (also portmanteau), round-
about, skin, sky (or skyrocket, rhym-
ing), slash, suck. 2. Stolon property.
3. A thrust, push, die: with thtt lingers,
a blow with tho fist (Qrose, 1 785). As
verb, poke has always boon literary.
4. A poke - bonnet. 5. A dawdler,
lazy * bones (q.v.). Colloquialisms
are :•— To poke abmti, (or one'* now
into), (1) to meddle, and (2) to busy
oneself aimlessly or officiously ; whence
poke-nose, a meddler, ami afi adj.,
offensively intrusive ; to poke, fun, to
ridicufa ; to poke ftogwy, to humbug ;
to buy a pig in a pofc« (»eo Pig) ; to
344
Pok&r.
Pompadours.
poke fly (tailors'), to show how ; to poke
a smipe, to smoke a pipe : see Marrow
-skying ; to poke borak (see Borak).
Poker. 1. A sword, cheese-toaster
(q.v.) (B. E.). 2. A bedel (q.v).
carrying a silver mace before the
Vice-Chancellor ; also the mace itself :
also Holy-poker : frequently used as
an oath. 3. A single-barrelled gun.
4. A rough fencer. 5. One that con-
veys coals (at Newcastle) in sacks, on
horseback (B. E.). Other colloquial
usages are : Fore - pokers, aces and
kings at cards (Grose, 1785); Old
Poker, the devil : see Skipper ; by tlte
Holy Pokw (or Iron), an oath : also,
by the Holy Poker and tumbling Tom :
ct Poker ; Jews-poker (q.v.) ; to chant
the poker, to exaggerate, swagger, put
on side (q.v.) : 35V., se gonfler le jabot,
and faire son lard.
Pokerish. 1. Stiff, reserved:
hence pokerishly. 2. Frightful : cf.
Old Poker.
Poker-talk. Gossip, fireside chit-
chat.
Poky (or Poking). Cramped,
stuffy, shabby, stupid : a general
depreciative : also Poke-hole (1771).
Pole. The weekly account for
wages. As verb, to study hard. (1 ) Up
ihe pole, in good report, goody-goody,
strait - laced j (2) over - matched, in
diffioulty. Like a rope dancer's pole,
lead at both ends ; a saying of a
stupid sluggish fellow (Gfrose).
Pole-cat. A harlot : also a general
reproach (1596).
Pole - work. A long, tedious
business, collar-work (q.v.).
Policeman. 1. A fly : esp. a blue-
bottle (q.v.), which (in. turn), a
constable. 2. A moan fellow, spy.
Police - nippers. Handcuffs, log-
irons : see Darby's bands.
Policy. To gamble in lottery
numbers : tho game consists in betting
on certain numbers within tho range
of tho lottery schemes being drawn at
the noon or- night drawing. Seventy-
eight numbers usually make up tho
lottery-scheme* and the polioy-playor
can take any three of these numbers
and bet that they will be drawn, either
singly, or in such combinations as he
may select. The single numbers may
come out anywhere in tho drawing, but
the combination mti&t appear as ho
writes it in making his bet. He pays
one dollar for the privilege of betting,
ami receives a written slip containing
the number or numbers on which ho
bets. If a single number is chosen
and drawn, he wins 5 dollars ; two
numbers constitute a saddle, and if
both are drawn the player wins from
24 to 32 dollars ; three numbers make
a gig, and win from 150 to 225 dollars ;
four numbers make a horse, and win
640 dollars. A capital straddle is a
bet that two numbers will be among
the first three drawn, and wins
500 dollars (M 'Cabe). Policy-shop, a
lottery-office.
Polish. To thrash, punish (q.v.).
To polish off, to finish out of hand, get
rid of summarily ; as a dinner, or an
adversary (1834). To polish (pick, or
eat), a bone, to make a meal (Grose).
To polish the King's iron with the eye-
brows, to look through the iron-grated
windows of a prison (Grose).
Polite. See Do.
Poll (Cambridge University). 1.
The ordinary examination for the
B.A. degree: as distinguished from
the Honours examination. 2. A stu-
dent taking tho pass degree without
Honours : also PoU - man and Poll-
degree. [Gr., Hoi polloif the many.]
To go out in the poll, to take an ordi-
nary degree. 3. A woman : generic.
2. A prostitute. Polly -hood, a state
of wantonness (Walpole accused the
ladies of his day of polly-hood, more
fond than virtuous ; to pott - up, (a)
to court ; (b) to live in concubinage.
4. A wig. 5. A decoy bitch. As verb,
1. See Pill and Poll. 2. To beat
distance. 3. To snub. To pott off,
to get drunk : see Screwed.
Pollard. A counterfeit coin worth
about a halfpenny, made abroad, and
smuggled into England, temp. Ed. I.
[Said to be named alter the original
maker.] (1350).
Poller. 1. See Pill and Poll. 2, A
pistol.
Poll-parrot. A talkative woman :
also Poll and PoUy.
Pollrumptious. Restive, unruly,
foolishly confident,
Polly. Apollinaria wator. To do
polly, to pick oakum, mill doll (q.v.).
Pollycon. Political economy.
Polt. A blow, stroke ( B. fi. ).
Poltroon. A toward (1595).
Polty (or Dolty). Easy,
Pommel. Soo Pummel.
Pompadours (The). The late
345
Poor-man.
56th Regiment of Foot, now Uie 2nd
Batt. Essex Regiment. [Tradition
relates that, when facings were
changed in 1764, the crimson not
wearing well, the Colonel desired
blue. The authorities, however, ob-
jected, and he chose purple, a favourite
colour of Madame de Pompadour, the
mistress of Louis XV. of France.]
Also The Sauey Pompadours.
Pompaginis. Aqua pompaginis,
pure water : (1785).
Pompey's-pillar. Pompey's pillar
to a stick of sealing - wax, a fanciful
bet: cf. All Lombard Street to a
China orange, and Chelsea College to
a sentry-box.
Pompkin. See Pumpkin.
Pom-Pom. A quick-firing gun, of
light construction, much used in
South Africa, 1899-1903.
Pond (The). The sea : spec, the
North Atlantic Ocean : also Herring-
pond (q.v.), The big (or great) pond
(q.v.) ; and The puddle (q.v.) (1722).
Pong. Boer : also Pongelow or
PongeUorum. As verb, (1) to drink;
(2) to vamp a part, or (circus), to
perform ; (3) to talk, gas (q.v.).
Pongo. A monkey.
Poniard (or Ponyard). A
dagger (B. IS., c. 1698).
P o n t e. Twenty shillings : see
Rhino. [It, pondo, pound.]
Pontie. On credit, on tick (q.v.).
Pontius Pilate. A pawnbroker
(Grose).
Pontius Pilate's Body-guard.
The late 1st regiment of Foot; now
The Royal Scots, the oldest regiment
in the service. [When the Regiment
de Douglas, was in the French service
[1633-78], the officers disputed with
the Pioardy regiment about the
antiquity of their corps. The Picardy
men declared they were on duty on the
night of the Crucifbdon, when the
colonel of the 1st Foot replied, ' If we
pay, settle. 3. Twenty- five pounds
sterling: see Rhino (1818). 4. A
translation, Bohn (q.v.), crib (q.v.):
also as verb (1832). 5. A generic
diminutive, prob. of turf origin : as
pony, a very small horse, and pony-
stakes, an insigruneant event. Whence
(generally) in comparison, anything
of small size, stature, or value.
Hence, pony (1) a small glass (a pony
of ale or stout), containing a gUl or
(of wines and spirits) a mouthful ; (2)
a woman of very small stature.
Also pony-brandy, the best brandy:
as served in a pony-glass ; pony-purse,
an impromptu collection : of small
contributions. The word is becoming
recognised : as in pony - saw, pony-
engine, and pony-truck. 6. A gaffing.
coin (q.v,) ; a piece showing either
two heads or two tails. Whence, to
seU the pony (or lady), to toss for
drinks : certain coins, say twelve,
are placed one on top of another, aU,
save one, being turned the same way ;
the coins are cut, as at cards, and he
who cuts the single piece has to pay,
having bought the pony. See Jeru-
salem.
Poodle. A dog : in sarcasm,
without reference to breed
Poon (Winchester College). To
prop a piece of furniture with a
wedge (Wrench).
Poona, A sovereign : cf, Ponte :
see Rhino.
Poona Guards. The East York-
shires, formerly the 15th Regiment of
Foot : also The Snappers.
Poont, In pL, the paps: see
Dairy.
Poop. I. A worthless creature,
weakling, nmctimpoop (q,r.)« 2. The
posteriors. 3. The fW (of. Shakes,
peare, ' 1 H«»nry IV.,' Fal*tti/f to Rar-
dotph, etc., Thoxi art our adminU, thou
bearest the lantern in the i>oop» but
'tis in the nose of the*). As vorb, (1)
had been on guard, we should not have to overcome, be sot down { 1 fl 57 ). (2) To
-i—* -4. — * — *-> » T break wind.
Poop - downhaul. An imaginary
rope, a seaman's jest: cf. clapping
the keel *thwartWpa.
Poop-ornament An apprentice.
Poor. To serve the poor teith a
tivump on, the 6orJt with a Mow, to
shark the needy (1670).
Poor -man. l, A heap of corn-
ehoaves: four set upright axxd one
above, 2. The blade -bone of »
slept at out posts.' — Brewer.]
Pontius Pilate's Counsellor.
A briefless barrister : FT., avocat de
Pilate. [Who, like Pilate, can find
no (just) cause.]
P o n t o. New breadcrumbs
kneaded into a pellet.
Pony. LA bailiff : spec, an
officer accompanying a debtor on a
day's liberty. 2. Money. Aa verb,
«o post the pony (or to pony i*p), to
346
Poor Man's Oyster.
Pork-pie.
shoulder of mutton is called in Scot-
land a poor man, as in some parts of
England it is termed a poor knight of
Windsor, in contrast, it must be pre-
sumed, to the baronial Sir Loin. A
Scotch laird -was once asked by an
English landlord what he would have
for dinner. He replied, I think I could
•elish a morsel of a poor man (Scott).
Poor Man's Oyster. A mussel.
Poor Man's Treacle. An onion
Century).
Poor Mouth. To make a poor
nouthf to whine, make the worst of
things.
Poor Robin. An almanack.
Robert Herrick, in the 17th century,
ssued a series of almanacks so called.]
Pop. 1. A father, papa : also
Poppa and Popper. 2. A popular
soncert : as The Saturday (or Monday)
Pops. 3. A club chiefly confined to
Oppidans though Collegers are some-
imes elected : otherwise The Eton
Society for reading and debates.
Supposed to be a contraction of
?opina, the rooms having been for
nany years over a cook - shop or
>,onfoctioner's (Kee Public Softool
Word Book.] As verb., with subs, and
udv. generic for more or less quick,
unexpected, and explosive action.
Whence, (ij I to shoot: as subs, (or pop-
jer), (a) a shop, and (b) a firearm :
ipec. a pistol, and occasionally a
logger ; (2) to crack — as a whip ; (3)
,o explode — as a hat when sat on, or
i cork when drawn; as subs., (a) a
Irink which fizzes from the bottle
vhen opened — spec, ginger-beer, but
ilso champagne, and (6) the noise
nade in drawing a cork; (4), /to rap
rat one*s words: whence popping,
jabbling. Also, as adv., suddenly or
unexpectedly, (6) To pawn, to put
way : whence pop - shop, a pawn-
broker (1823). (6) To get an advan-
>age. Other colloquialisms, mostly
nth the same root - idea, are : — To
x>p of saw*, to babble j to pop upon
in, into, above, or out), (1) to come,
>ut, spring, or thrust suddenly into
riew or place, and (2) to offer abruptly;
o pop with tfte mouth, to smack the
ips ; to pop one out (or off), to deprive,
inth little or no warning ; to pop off
oith, to put off (or aside) ; to pop the
niestion (or to pop)t to offer raarnago ;
o pop up (or down), to appear (or
iisappear) suddenly; to pop off,
to die (also to pop off the hooks : see
Pop and Hook), and (2) to make a
sudden exit ; to pop it on, to increase
a demand : as chance offers.
Pope. A term of contempt : e.g.
What a pope of a thing ! Also,
drunk as a pope, very drunk (Benedict
XII., a glutton and a wine-bibber, gave
rise to the expression, Bfoamus papal-
iter) : see Screwed ; to be (or play)
pope-holy, to be sanctimonious ; to
play the prig (q.v.) or hypocrite;
to know no more tJian the pope of Home,
to know nothing (1670). Bay also
gives, If you would be a pope, you
must think of nothing else. Pope-of-
JKome, home.
Pop's-eye. The thread of fat in
a leg of mutton.
Pope's- (or Turk's-) head. A
round broom, of bristles or feathers,
with a long handle.
Pope's - nose. A chicken's rump,
paraon's-nose (q.v.) (Gfrose).
Pope's-size. Short and stout.
Pop-gun. See Pot-gun.
Popinjay. A general term of
contempt : specifically (1) a chatterer,
and (2) a fop (1598).
Poplars (Poppelars, Popler, or
Paplar). Porridge : spec, milk-
porridge (1576).
P o p 1 e t (Popelet, or Poppet).
1. An endearment (1694). 2. A corp-
ulent person (1400).
Pop - lolly. A sweetmeat : i.e.
Lollipop.
Popped. Annoyed. Popped as
a hatter, very angry.
Popper. See Pop.
Poppy - cock. Nonsense, bosh
(q.v.) : also Poppy-coofc racket.
Pop-shop. Seo Pop.
Pop-squirt. A jackanapes.
Popsy-wopsy. A fooliuh endearment.
Popular. Conceited.
P.P. Seo Play or Pay.
Pork. 1. A pig-headed one ; cf.
Pig (1645). 2. A garment spoiled in
cutting or making ; goods returned on
hand : also pig : of. Cold pig. To cry
pork, to act as undertaker s tout.
Porker. 1. A young hog (1726).
2. A Jow (1786). 3. A sword ( 1688).
Porkopolis. Chicago : formerly
Cincinnati ; of. Cottonopolis.
Pork -pie. A hat: modish in the
Sixties. [In shape resembling a pork-
pio, or the Spanish toreador, fashion-
able in the Nineties.]
347
Porpoise.
Postman.
Porpoise. A stout man, forty-
guts (c[.v.) : FT., Saint - L ichard, as
Saint-Pansart.
Porridge. To cook the porridge,
to contrive and execute a design.
See Breath.
Porridge - bowl. The stomach ;
the bread-basket (q.v.) ; see Victualling
Office.
Porridge - disturber. A drive in
the pit of the stomach.
Portable. Pocketable (B. £!.).
Portage. Carriage of anything,
whether by land or water (J5. E.),
Portcullis (or Portcullis
money). Money, of various values,
temp. Elizabeth, struck for the East
India Company (est. 1599): also
India money [it bore a portcullis
verso].
Porter. Hirelings to carry bur-
thens, beasts of burthen, or else
menial servants set to guard the gates
in a great man's house (B. .27.).
Porterhouse-steak. A chop from
the sirloin — with upper and under cut ;
occasionally, but improperly, from
the wing rib.
Porter's - knot. A large bob of
haix, with a hanging curl : fashionable
with women in the Sixties.
Portionist. See Postmaster.
Portmantle (Portmantick, or
Portmantua). A corruption of
portmanteau (1600).
Portmanteau - word. A made
vocable packed with two or more
meanings : e.g. slithy, lithe and
slimy ; torrible, torrid and horrible ;
squarson, squire and parson ; squirshop,
squire and bishop ; [The name was
Lewis Carroll's, the method Bishop
Sam. Wilberforce's.] (1876).
Portrait. See Queen's pictures.
To sit for one's portrait, to undergo an
inspection by turnkeys, in order that
they may know*prisoners from visitors.
Portuguese Man - of - war. A
nautilus.
Pos (Poss, or Poz). Positive (17081.
Pose. 1. To puzzle. 2. To
posture, pretend, feign. Whence
poter (1) an unanswerable question or
argument ; (2) an impostor, pretender ;
Posh. 1. Money : generic, but
specifically, a halfpenny or other small
coin : see Khinp. 2. A dandy.
Posse Mobilitatis. The mob
(Grose).
Possible. Plenty of the possibles,
full pockets, warm (q.v.).
Possum. To play possum (or to
possum), to feign death, counterfeit
sickness, dissemble strongly : from
the habit of the opossum, which throws
itself on its back and feigns death on
the approach of an enemy.
Possum-guts. A term of reproach.
Post. Employment, Office, Sta-
tion; also an advanced or advanta-
geous piece of ground : a pillar in the
way or street (JB, K). As verb, (1)
to reject, pluck (q.v.) : also as subs. :
at Eton, to put down for bad work in
Collections: the penalty is a holiday,
poena or a swishing ; (2) to publish :
by exposing a list of nominations or
defaulters : spec. (Univ.) to publish
a list of those in debt for College
rations; (3) to hold up to ridicule or
contempt, as a coward. Whence,
to post up (or 6e wdt posted)* to keep
one (or be) well informed ; (4) to pay ;
(5) to raise to the rank of post-captain
(Z818). From pillar to post, hither and
thither ; with *imles» effort or action,
[lat. from the same to tho same —
pillar, Lat., columna, post] (1340).
Other colloquialisms are : To run (or
knock) the head against a post, to
go blindly ; stij? as a postt unyielding:
as a gatepost in the ground ; to talk
(or preach) to a post, to talk to deaf
ears : hence dfaf as a post, as deaf as
may be ; to talk post, to speak hastily •
post alone, solitary ; to KM the post (see
Kiss) ; to hold up a port (or the wait),
to cling for support when drunk : aoe
also Bedpost, Knight, Kick (1400).
Post-and-Rail. A wooden match ;
post-and'rail tea, ill-mado tea, with
floating stalks and leaves (1831).
Post-horn. Tho noso : also paste-
horn: soo Conk.
Postillion. PostWion of the gospd,
a gabbling parson (Grose).
Postman. In th* courts of ex-
chequer, two of the most experienced
(B) poser [apposer, opposer, or opposi- barrators, called tho post -man and
tor}, a bishop's examining chaplain : the tub-man (from the places in wbl
(in modern schools), an examiner — at
Eton for King's College, and at Win-
chester for New College scholarships
and exhibitions (1387).
tho pkeen in which
they sit), have also a wrttcottence in
motions {lifaclestone). [TJio old Court
of Exchequer is now merged in the
High Court of Justice.]
848
Poslmast&r.
Potato.
Postmaster. An exhibitioner of
Merton CoUege : also Portionist (1853).
Postmaster General. The
prime minister : who has the patron-
age to all posts and places (Giose).
Post-mortem. The examination
after failure.
Post - anointer. A house painter
(1785).
Post-office. A letter in the post-
office, a flying shirt- tail.
Post - office Bible. The London
Delivery Book.
Post - office Prayer - book. The
Post-office Guide.
Pot. 1. A quart : the quantity con
tained in a pot : whence as verb, to
drink : also (American) to potate ; pot-
ting, boozing (q.v.); potations (recog-
nised), a drinking bout ; pot-house (or
shop), a beer-shop, a Lush-crib (q.v.) ;
pot - house (or coffee-house) politician,
an ignorant, irresponsible spouter of
politics; pot-companion, (1) a cup-
comrade, and (2) an habitual drunk-
ard : as also, potfury (also, drunken-
ness), -tonight, -head, -Uach, -man,
-polisher, -sucker, walloper, potator.,
potster, toss - pot, and rob - pot ; pot-
punishment, compulsory tippling ;
pot-quarrel, a drunken squabble ; pot-
sick (or -shot), drunk ; pot-sure (-hardy,
or -valiant), emboldened by liquor ;
cf. Butch courage ; pot - bellied, fat,
bloated in stomach, as from guzzling :
also pot-belly (or guts), a big-bellied
one ; pot-revel, a drunken frolic ; pot-
mania (or potomania), dipsomania;
Sir (or Madam) Pint -pot, a host or
hostess ; pot - boy (or man), a bar-
scullion: whence pot-boydo:n. 2. A
large sum ; tho collective amount of
money staked ; tho pool : honce
(racing), a horse backed for a largo
amount., a favourite ; to pot, or to put
on the pot, to wager large sums (1823)j
and to upset the pot, to beat the fav-
ourite (1840). 3. A prisw (usually
given in cup«, mugs, or pots) : whence
pot-hunter (or -fisher), ( I) a professional
athlete of the baser sort—one who,
of good quality, enters for ovonts he is
sure to win for tho sake of tho pots
offered as prizes ; and (2) a man who
seeks a largo bag (q.v.) without re-
gard to the rules and usages of sport ;
also pot-hunting, going m for Bport
for profit alone (1785). 4. A person
of importance, an adept : also biy
pot. 5. A steward, 6. {Sixpence,
five-pot piece, 2s. 6d. 7. In pi., North
Staffordshire Railway Ordinary Stock
(the Railway serves the Potteries).
8. (Winchester CoUege). The pot, the
Canal : put - cad, a workman at the
saw -mills; pot-gates, lock-gates; pot-
houser, a jump into the canal from the
roof of a house called pot-house (Mans-
field). 9. A urinal. As adj., top.
As verb, (1) to kill: specifically
(modern) to shoot from cover : also
to pot-shot : hence pot-shot, (a) a shot
so made ; (6) a shot made for the sake
of a gag (q.v.) without regard to the
rules and usages of sport; and (c) a
shot at random, as into a flight of
birds without definite aim : of. Snipe :
to pot away, to keep up a rain of shot ;
(2) to pocket a ball ; (3) to take arise
out of, do (q.v.), be revenged, land
(q.v.) ; (4) to excel, to pot verses, to
cap them (1599). To go to pot, to
perish, be done for : as by death, bad
seasons, pecuniary difficulties, and so
forth (1394) : whence go to pot /so to
the devil ; go hang yourself. Potted
out, buried. Colloquialisms are : —
A pot (or pitcher) oft sent to the wett is
broken at last, the inevitable must
happen : sec Pitcher ; to agree like pot
and Jcettle, to wrangle ; as like as one
pot's like another, very like indeed ; a
tit&e pot is soon hot, (1) a little suffices,
and (2) little people (or minds) are
ooon angered (1696) ; to make the pot
boil (or keep the pot boiling), (1) to
"le necessaries, and (2) to keep
going: 3?r. (artists'), fairs, du
: soo Pot-boiler ; to make a pot
with two ears, to sot tho arms akimbo ;
(1) soo Pot, (2) to
to exaggerate, (4)
snub, or patronise
(also to put on the big pot) : see Pot,
and (G), to provide the necessaries of
life ; to put on the pot, to banish, to ex-
tinguish ; to make a pot at, to grimace ;
to make pots and pans, to spend freely,
then beg (1823) ; to give moonshine in
a mustard-pot, to give nothing (1C70) ;
If you touch pot, you must touch
penny, you must pay for what you
have : also soo Pot - and - pan, Old
Pod, Pot-shot, Pot-hat? Honey-pot,
etc.
Potato. Holes in fleshings: used
esp. for a hool through an undarned
sock or stocking. SmaU potatoes,
potty, mean, contemptible: also as
adj. and subs. The potato (or dean)
349
Potato-boggle.
Pcf,
potato), the best, whitest (q.v.), tip-
top: see Al. Potatoes and point,
potatoes without salt : point, an
imaginary seasoning, as in pointing,
to bacon, cheese, anything: cf. Eat
your bread and smell your cheese !
(1834).
Potato-boggle. A scarecrow.
Potato - finger. A long thick
•finger.
Potato-trap (or jaw). The
mouth : hence, Shut your potato-trap
and give your tongue a holiday, Be
silent! To make full use of one's
potato-trap, to scold roundly. English
synonyms: beak, blabber, blubber,
bone-box, box of dominoes (or wories),
chaffer, chirper, chops, clacker (or
clack -box), clams (or clam-shells),
coffee-mill, coffer, dining-room, do-
mino-box, dribbler, dubber, East-and-
south (rhyming), natter -trap, fly-
trap, gab, gan, gash, gig, gills, gin
lane (or trap), gob, gobbler, gob-box,
Eve - yard, grog - shop, grub - trap
Dp, or box), grubbery, hatchway,
jper, ivory-box, jug, kisser, kissing-
trap, lung-box, maw, mizzard, moey,
mouse (or mouse-trap), mug, muns,
mush, muzzle, neb, prater, prattler,
prattle-box, rattler, rattle-trap, rat-
trap, respirator, sauce - box, sewer,
sink, sluice-house (or mill), sluicery,
trumpeter, yob (or yop).
Pot-belly (or guts). See JEW
Pot-boiler. 1. A piece of work
done for money : i.e. To boil the pot
(q.v.) ; also as adj. : hence pot-totting,
and to pot - boil. 2. A housekeeper.
3. A rounded pebble, with marks
of fire upon it, which has probably
been heated for the purpose of boiling
water. Pot-boilers of this kind arc
used by many savage peoples at tho
present day, and if we wished to heat
water in a vessel that would not stand
the fire, we should be obliged to
employ a similar method (Dawkins).
Pot-faker. A hawker ; a cheap-
jack (q.v.): spec, one dealing in
crockery.
Pot - gun. 1. A toy gun : pop-gun
is a later form : see Pop. 2. A re-
proach (1C23).
Pot -hat Orig. a tall silk hat:
sometimes a felt hat.
Potheen. Illicit whisky: also
Poteheen*
Pot-hooks. The Seventy-seventh
foot, now the 2nd Bait. Duke of
Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regi-
ment). [From the resemblance of
the two sevens in the old regimental
number to pot-hooks.] Pot-hooks and
hangers, (1) tho elementary characters
formed by children when learning to
write ; (2) a scrawl, bad writing ; (3)
shorthand.
Pot - house (The). St. Peter's
College: formerly Peterhouso. See
Pot.
Potion. See Bitter Pill.
Pot - hunter. See Pot and Pot-
luck.
Potle - bell. To ring the potle-Ml,
to confirm a bargain by linking the
little fingers of the right hand.
Pot - luck. Whatever is going in
the way of food and drink, an im-
promptu invitation ; whence, a hearty
welcome : to take pot-luck, to take the
hazard of a meal : nonce pot-hunter,
a self-invited guest (I3U3).
Pot-of-wine. A bribe: Fr., pot-
de-vin.
Pot-shot, tfee l»ot.
Pottage. See Breath, besides
which there are proverbial sayings : —
With cost one may make pottatjc of a
joint-stool ; Scald nut your lips in
another man's pottage. ; Like a clap in
a pottage-pot, ntiithur good nor harm.
Potted-fug. Pntleil meat.
Potter. (1) To walk aimlessly and
listlessly ; (2) to mako a pretence of
work ; ami (3) to dawdle : usually
with about. Hence as subi*., a saunter,
slow paco : al«o PtAterer (!&>*).
Pottery. Poetry.
Pot -walloper (wabbler, wal-
loner, or waller). 1. The
election, of morubtTri !u*rt» [Tauaton]
i» by thofto whom th««y call pot-
wallouora — that in to way, every in-
habitant, \vhfther housekeeper or
Ijtlgor, who divtwes hi« own victuals ;
to make out which, w-vora! inntatoa or
lodgers will, t*onw little time before
the election, bring out thvir pots, and
mako fires in the street^ and boil
victuals in the sight of their neigh-
bours, that their votee may not bo
called iu quoKtion (I)e. Foe): the
qualification wa» ahotiAhetl by the
Reform Bill of IH&> : hence pot-wO-
loping (1724). X. \ ncalifon, fcitofaen-
maid ; and (nautitiol) & cook, eap. on
board a whaler : also pot-irrtttitr. &
A tap-room loafer, a apouter: eep.
(theatrical) a proaaex (q.v.).
350
Pouch.
Prairie-dew.
Pouch (or Pouch up). L To
pocket (1567). 2. To eat. 3. To
tip, provide with, money (1844).
Pouchet. A pocket (1682).
Pouch - mouth. A ranter. As
adj., ranting (1600).
P o u d e r i n g- (or powdering- )
tub. The salivating cradle or pit
formerly used in cases of lues ven&rea,
pickling tub (1599).
Pouf . A would-be actor.
Poulderling (University). A
student of the second year.
Poulterer. A thief who stole and
gutted letters.
Poultice Wallah. A surgeon's
assistant.
Poultice - wallopers. The
Royal Army Medical Corps. Also
The Licensed (or Linseed) Lancers;
Tho Pills.
Poultry. Women-kind : generic :
of. Hen, Plover, Pheasant, Partridge,
etc. Celestial poultry, angels.
Pounce. To thrash.
Pound. LA prison : see Cage.
Pounded, imprisoned (Grose}. As
verb, to hammer (q.v.). Pounding
match, a fight (1596). 2. To move,
forward, steadily and with more or
less noise : generally with along, or
up and down (1844). 3. To get
caught (or left) in a field with no easy
moans of egress save a fence your
horse won't take, stuck as in a pound.
4. Caught astray from propriety
(Egan), To 'pound it, (1) to ensure or
make a certainty of any thing ; thus,
a man will say, Til pound it to be so ;
taken, probably, from the custom of
aying, or rather offering ten pounds
to a crown at a cock-match, in which
case if no person takes this extrava-
gant ocldn, the battle is at an end.
This is termed pouuding a cock ( Vaux).
Poundable, (1) certain, inevitable j (2)
to wager in pounds. To go one's pound,
to oat a thing out (the weight of a
soldier's ration of broad and meat is
1 lb.). In for pound, committed for
trial Shut art the parson'/t pound,
married, spliced (q.v.).
Poundrel. The head.
Pound-text. A parson, sky -pilot
(q.v.).
Pout. A sweetheart. [0. E.
putt, a yong henne. Prompt Pam]
(1768).
Poverty-basket. A wicker cradle.
Poverty - junction (or corner)*
351
The corner of the York and Waterloo
Roads, London : any Monday, between,
eleven and three, may be seen a
hundred or more persons of both sexes
waiting in the hope of obtaining en-
gagements in music-halls or variety
theatres — lion comiques, serio-comics,
character comedians, in fact, every
variety of music-hall artiste. In New
York that portion of 14th Street,
opposite the Washington Statue, is
known as The Slave Market for
similar reasons.
Powder. Strength, vigour, in-
spiration, beans (q.v.), devil (q.v.).
As verb, to be all over an adversary ;
to powder one's jacket, to swinge (1664).
Powder and sJiot, cost, effort, labour.
Not worth powder or shot, not worth
trouble or cost.
Powder - monkey. A boy em-
ployed to carry gunpowder from
magazine to gun* BY., tnoussciillon
(1682).
Power. A large number or quan-
tity : also poweration. Whence
power /«?, adj. and adv., extremely;
also eloquent.
P o w o s (The). The Prince of
Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regi-
ment), formerly The 14th Foot. Also
The Old and Bold ; Calvert's Entire.
Pow - wow. Noise : hence (poli-
tical), a noisy meeting. As verb, to
take part in such : also to frolic.
[From N.A. Indian pow-wow, a
council.] (1825).
POJS. See Pos.
Practical - Politician. A pot-
house spouter.
Practitioner. A thief (q.v.).
P r a d. A horse. Honce, Prad-
covp., a horse-dealer ; prad-napp&r, a
horse-thief ; t7w prad-fayt the theft of
bridles, saddle-bags, and the- Jiko ;
prod-holder, a bridle. English syno-
nyms: bit of blood, Gharing-oross
(rhyming), crock, crocodile, claisy-
kicker, (or cutter : also, an ostler),
gee, gee-goo, ginger, grogham, jade,
jib (or jibber), high-stopper, knacker,
long-faced 'un, lunk-head, macaroni,
mount, muddier, nag (naggie or nag-
gon), ning-nang, pinto, prancer,
roarer, screw, scrub, star-gazer, tit,
undergraduate, weaver, whistler,
wind-sucker, wobbler.
Prairie. On the prairie, gift-free.
Prairie - dew. Whiflky : of. Moun-
tain-dow (Scots') (1848).
Prawie-oyster.
Prickers.
Prairie - oyster (or cocktail).
A raw yolk dropped into spirits,
flavoured with Worcester or cayenne,
and gulped.
Prairie - schooner. An emigrant
waggon.
Prairie State. Illinois.
Pram. A perambulator.
Prancer. 1. A horse : see Prad.
2. A horse -thief. Hence prancer's-
nab, a horse's head: as a seal to a
counterfeit pass ; the sign of the prancer,
The Nag's Head (1567). 3. A dancer.
As verb, to dance : also pr anker (1621).
4. A cavalry officer.
Prank. A trick (5. E.).
Prat. 1. Usually in pi., the but-
tocks or thighs (1573). As verb, to
beat, swish, 2. A tinder-box (1696).
3. A trick. As verb, to go : Fr., en-
tauler, and enquiHer,
Pratie (or Praty). A potato : see
Murphy (1834).
Prating (prattling- or prattle-)
cheat). The tongue. Prating
(prattle or prittle - prat&e), talk, esp.
gabble ; to prattle (pritfte or prittte-
prattle), to chatter or clack (q.v.);
prattle - basket (box, prate-roast, pratt-
ler, or prate-apace), a chatterbox ;
prattle-broth, tea: cf. chatter- (or
scandal-) broth (q.v.) ; prattling-box,
a pulpit, or hum-box (q.v.) ; prattling-
parlour, a private apartment, or
snuggery (q.v.) j praty, talkative (1520).
Prayer. Common colloquial ex-
pressions are: To say prayers, to
stumble : of horses : cf. Devotional
habits ; to say prayers backwards, to
blaspheme (Say) ; at her last prayers,
of an old maid (Ray) ; prayer-bones, the
Prayer-book. 1. A pack of cards.
2. A small holystone ; a Bible (q.v.).
See Post-office prayer-book.
Prayer - book Parade. A pro-
menade, in fashionable places of resort,
after morning service on Sundays.
Pray-pray Fashion. Imploringly
(1753).
Preach. To moralise out of
season, cant (q.v.) : as subs., (1) a
sermon; (2) canting talk. Hence,
preaching-shop, a church (or chapel) ;
preachifying, tiresome moralising ;
preachy-preachy, long-windedly moral ;
preachman, a clergyman ; preach-
ment, affectedly solemn cackle (1592).
To preach at Tyburn -cross, to be
hanged : see Ladder.
Precious. Worthless, great, over-
nice; as precious little, very little; a
precious humbug, an eminent rascal
and so forth (1383).
Precisian. A stickler : spec. (17th
century), a Puritan (q.v.), in depre-
ciation. As adj., punctilious, rigidly
exact (1596).
Freeze. To urinate.
Presbyteress. A priest's mistress
(1563).
Presbyterian. An epithet of
ridicule or contempt (1600).
Prescott. A waistcoat : also
Charley Prescott.
Present. 1. A white spot on the
finger nail : supposed to augur good
fortune. 2. A baby (1749).
Presenterer. A harlot.
Preserve (old University). A
collection of outstanding bills (Grose).
Press. A winning bet added to
the original stake.
Prettify. To adorn, decorate.
Prettiftcation, the process of adorn-
ment ; prettified, the fact (or con-
dition) of being adorned.
Pretty. A generic intensive :
ironical or complimentary at occasion
or will (1500). To do the (or talk)
pretty, to affect amiability or obsequi-
ousness. See Way and Horse-breaker.
Pretty- (or Merry-) dancers.
The Aurora Borealis.
Pretty-pretty. 1. A knick-knack.
2. See Pretty.
Previous. Out of season, hasty,
over-zealous.
Prey. Money : see Rhino.
Prial. Three cards of a sort (at
commerce, cribbage, etc.) : Double-
prial, four of a kind : whence also,
of persons and things. [A corruption
of pair-royal.]
Price. To enquire the cost of
(1837). What price ? How's
that ? What do you think ? How
much ? What odds ?
Prick. 1. A term of endearment
(1540). 2. A pimple.
Prick-ears. A .Roundhead. [The
Puritan head-gear was a black skull-
cap, drawn down tight, leaving ears
exposed. Prick-eared (or lugged), a
general term of contempt (1599).
Pricked. Sour, acid (#, K ).
Prickers. A Cavalry regiment.
[That is light horsemen : cf. prick, to
ride : e.g. A gentle knight was pricking
o'er the plain.]
Pricket.
Prink.
Pricket. A fictitious bidder,
Peter Funk (q.v.), putter-up (q..v.).
Pricking JEger. See J2ger.
Prick-louse (nip-louse, or prick-
the-louse). A tailor (1590).
Prickmedenty (prick - me-
dainty, or prick - ma - dainty). A
finical person. , As adj., over-precise,
affected (1329).
Prick-the-garter. The manner in
which countrymen are deceived by
gamblers, at a game called Pricking
in the Belt, or the old Nob : this is a
leathern strap folded up double, and
then laid upon a table : if the person
who plays with a bodkin pricks into
the loop of the bell, he wins, if other-
wise, he loses ; however, by slipping
one end of the strap, the sharper can
win with pleasure (Goldsmith) : also
Pitch the nob, Prick the belt (or
loop), and Fast and loose.
JPride - and - pockets. Half-pay
Pride - of - the - morning (The).
A shower of rain.
Priest A short bludgeon: used
to administer tho last rites to a landed
fish, To OR one's priest, to kill (1810).
A great priest, a strong but ineffectual
inclination to stool (Jamieson). To
let the priest say grace, to marry;
priest-link* dt married (1696). Priest
of the blue-bag* a barrister : soe Green-
it 's Niece. A cleric's illegiti-
mate daughter, or concubine : whence
No more character than a priest's
niece (1003).
Prig. 1. A thief: also prigger and
prigrnan. As verb, to steal. Whence
priggr.r of praunccrs (or palfreys), a
horse - thief ; prigger of cacklert, a
poultry thief ; prig - nappert a thief-
taker; Prinft-priff (or Prig>*far), a
King of the QipmcB, also a Top
Thief, or Receiver General (/?> K.) ; to
work on the prig (or prigtfitig>tay}t to
thieve ; to <prig and buz, to pick
Skctw ; priggwh, thievish ; priggery
priggimn), thtovory (1560), Eng-
synonymfi: to angle* to annex, to
bilk, to bito, to bone, to bounce, to
bunco, to bust, to buz, to cabbago,
to chouse, to claim, to ciift, to clink-
rig, to cloy (cligh or cly), to collar,
to collect, to convey, to cop, to
crack, to crib, to crosa-fam, to curb, to
cut, to dip, to divo, to drag, to draw,
to eas*. to fake, to filch, to file, to
find, to flap, to fleece, to flimp, to fop,
to fork, to fraggle, to free, to frisk,
to glean, to haul, to hook, to jump,
to klep, to knap, to knuckle, to lag, to
lap, to lurch, to mag, to make, to
maltool (or moll tool), to manarvel, to
mill, to mug, to nab, to nail, to nap, to
nibble, to nick, to nim, to nip, to palm,
to parlor- jump, to pay with a hook,
to pinch, to poach, to poll, to pug, to
pull, to purchase, to ramp, to rent,
to respun (tinker), to ring, to shake,
to shark, to shoulder, to smouch, to
smug, to snabble, to sn aggie, to snake,
to saam, to snap, to snatch, to sneak,
to snipe, to speak, to spice, to swipe, to
tool, to touch, to trot, to wolf, to work.
2. A superior person, i.e. a person
esteeming himself superior ; in dress,
morals, social standing, anything;
and behaving as such. [The conno-
tation is one of deliberate and ag-
gressive superiority: you must get
that, or you get no prig.] Also a
bore. Whence prigdom* priggery>
priggfehness, and priggism (1676). 3.
A tinker (1567). As verb, (1) see
subs, j (2) to ride (1573); (3) to
haggle, cheapen : hence prigger and
pritjtjing (1512).
Prig- star. 1. See Prig. 2. A
rival in love (8. S.).
Prim. 1. A wanton (1509). 2. A
very neat or affected person (B. SI.).
Prime. 1. Eager; more than
ready. 2. Of the first quality (esp.
butchers' ; as in prime joints, prime
American, etc.). As verb, to fortify,
invigorate, inspire, bring to the height
of a situation ; with liquor, informa-
tion, counsel (1G37).
Prime-cock-boy, See Princook.
Primitive. Unmixed: as spirits
with water, neat (q.v.).
Primo. The chairman or master
of a lodge of Buffaloes.
Prinado. A sharper (1631).
Princock (princox, primcock,
or jprincycock). A port youth. As
adj., saucy, conceited. Primt»cock-
boy (Florio), a freshman, a novice, a
milksop, a boy now como into the-
world (1 537).
Princod, I. A round, plump man
or woman (Grose.), 2. A pincushion
(Grose).
Prink (or PrJnck). To dross for
show, adorn fantastically, put on airs.
Pn'rtcvnw, high- sniffing niceties, and.
f ftd«, scruples ; Mr*, Princum Pro*.
Print.
Prots.
mm, a nice, precise, formal madam ;
prinker, a jetter (q.v.) (1500).
Print. In print, exactly in order.
Out of print, disordered, tumbled.
Quite in print, formal and precise : see
Talk (1621).
Printer's-devil. See DeviL
Printed - character. A pawn-
tioket, mortgage-deed (q.v.)-
Prioress. See Better Horse.
Priscian's-head. To break Pris-
cian's head, to use bad grammar. [Lat.,
diminuere Prisciani caput. Priscian
a famous grammarian of the 5th
century] (1527).
Prittle - prattle. See Prating-
cheat.
Private. To private stitch, to conceal
the thread in stitching.
Private - business. Extra work
done with a tutor (Eton College).
Privy. An outdoor cesspool
(1647). See Private.
Prize - packet. A novice who pays
to go on the boards.
Pro. 1. An actor : i.e. one who
belongs to The Profession. Pro's*
Bible, The Era newspaper; pro1 8-
Teatament, The, Sunday Times. 2.
A pro-proctor : a second in command
in the proctorial police (1823).
Proboscis. The nose : see Conk.
Procession (or Procesh). 1. A
matter of following. 2. A street
circus parade. To go on with the
procession, to maintain continuity;
to stand at the head of the procession, to
lead.
Proclamation. To have one's head
fuU of proclamations, to be much
taken up to little purpose.
Proctour. 1. ' He that will tary
long, an bring a lye, when his Maister
sendethhim on his errand: this is a
stibber gibber knaue, that doth fayne
tales (Awdeley). Also (2, HalliweU),
one who collected alms for lepers, or
other incapables. Also (Kennett)
s of any kind.
ious. Very, exceedingly,
immensely : of. Awful (1744).
Profession (The). See Pro.
Prog. Food (1696) ; Dyche (1748)
a cant word for provisions, goods, or
money laid up in store; Johnson
(1755) a low word. As verb, to beg ;
prog-basket, a beggar's wallet ; prog-
shop, an eating-house (1440). As
verb, to prognosticate. See Prog.
Progger (or Proggins). A proo-
364
tor. To be progged, to be prootorwed ;
progging, a proctorial discipline.
Prognostic. An artistic feeder.
Project. To play tricks, monkey
(q.v.).
Prom. A promenade concert: of.
Pop.
Promoter. 1. A lawyer (1509).
2. An informer (1563) : of. Putter-on.
3. A fool-catcher.
Promoss. To talk rubbish, play
the fool, gammon (q.v.).
Promotion. On promotion, (1) on
approval ; (2) unmarried.
Prompter (Merchant Taylors'
School). One of the second form.
Proof. The best ale at Magdalen,
Oxford.
Prop (or Property). 1. Generally
in pi. : e.g. managers-props, stuff for
stage use; actor* s-props, acting material
nided by himself : Fr., accessoires.
breast-pin: whence prop-nailer,
a thief whose speciality is pins and
brooches. 3. (pugilistic). A straight
bit. 4. (Punch and Judy). The
gallows. 5. In pi., the legs. 6. In
pi., crutches (Grose). 7. A property-
man : also propster. 8. In pi., the
arms. As verb, to hit, knock down.
To put the prop on, to seize an adver-
sary's arm, and so prevent him from
hitting ( 1 851 ). To kick away the prop,
to be hanged : see Ladder.
P.P. See Play or Pay.
Proper. An ironical inversion or
perversion of a popular epithet of
commendation and approval. To
make oneself proper, to adorn, titti-
vate(q.v.).
Property. To make property of
one, to use as a convenience, tool, or
cat's-paw (1785).
Prophet. A sporting tipster.
Propster and Prop-nailer. See Prop.
Pros (Cambridge). A W.C. A«
adv., proper; nothing but the word
prosperous offers in explanation.
Prose (Winchester). A lecture:
also as verb.
Prosit. A salutation in drinking:
Your health! \Vt tibi prosit men
potio.] Fr., Ut /
P r o s s. 1. A prostitute : also
prossy. 2. A cadged drink. As verb
(or adv., on the pross), (1) to apunge ;
(2) to instruct or break in a stage-
struck youth; prosser, a cadger of
drinks, dinners, and small monies;
Prosser's Avenue, the Gaiety bar.
Protected-man.
Puddle.
Protected-man. A merchant sea-
man unfit for the Royal Service and
therefore free of the press-gang.
Proud. Pleased, gratified. Hence,
to do one proud, to flatter, honour ;
to do oneself proud, to be pleased.
P r o v. On the prov, out of work
and on the Provident Fund of a trade
society.
Provender. He from whom money
is taken on the highway: perhaps
provider or provider (Qrose).
Provost. A garrison or other cell
for prisoners whose sentences are for
a week or less.
Prow. A bumpkin.
Prowl. (1) Hugh Prowler ; a thief
or highwayman; (2) prowling (or
prowlery), robbery; (3) to wait for
the ghost (q.v.) to walk.
Prox. A proxy: specifically a
ticket or list of candidates at elec-
tions, presented to voters for their
votes.
Pniff (Winchester School). Sturdy,
proof against pain.
Prugge. A partner, doxy (q.v.)
(1631).
Prunella. A clergyman. [Clerical
gowns were largely made of this
material.]
Prunes. Soo Stewed prunes. To
have, prunr* in the tofre, to speak
huskily, from emotion.
Prussian - blue. A term of great
endearment ; after . . . Waterloo thft
Prussians were immensely popular,
and in connection with the Loyal True
Blue Club gave rise to the toastfl, The
True Blue and the Prussian Bine
(Brewer).
Pry. A busybody, «. peeping Tom :
now Paul Pry (q.v.): from Poolfc'a
farce.
Prygge. See Prig.
Psalm-smiter. A ranting rlinaentw.
Pub (or Public). A tavern; in
the public line, engager} as a licenser!
victualler (1816).
Public - buildings. /Mpector nf
public buildings, (1) an idler: from
choice or necessity ; (2) a loafer or a
man seeking work.
Public-ledger. A prostitute.
Public-man. A bankrupt (1785).
Public - patterer. A swell mob«-
m&n who protends to bo a dissenting
preacher, and harangues in the open
air to attract A crowd for confederate*
to rob.
Puck. The devil (1362).
Pucker. To talk apart or in
private. In a pucker, anxious, agi-
tated, angry, confused: cf, Pudder.
To pucker up, to get angry (1751).
Pucker - water. An astringent:
used to counterfeit virginity.
Puck -fist (or Puck -foist) A
braggart. (" Wares : equivalent to vile
fungus, scum of the earth] (1601).
Pud (or Pudsey). A hand, fist
(1823). As verb, to greet affection-
ately or familiarly.
Pudder. Confusion, bother: cf.
Pucker. As verb, to bustle, search,
dabble, potter (q.v.) (1000).
Pudding. I. Drugged liver: used by
burglars to sLlence house-dogs. 2.
The guts (1785). Pudding-house, the
belly ; pudding - ken, a cook - shop ;
pudding-snammer, a cook-shop thief ;
pudding-fitter (old Scots'), a glutton
(1503). 3. Good luck. Colloquial-
isms, mostly contemptuous arc : —
Pudding-bellied, big-stomached ; pud-
ding-faced, fat, round, and smooth in
face ; pudding-hendt a fool : whence
pudding - /leaded, stupid ; pudding-
heart, a coward ; pudding-hone, baggy-
breeches; -pudding - slcev&t, (1) large
baggy slcovos as in the full dress
clerical gown ; (2) a parson ; in pudding
time, in. the nick of time, opportunely ;
puddingy^ fat and round ; pudding
about the hed*> slovenly, thick-anklcd ;
to ride post for a pudding, to exert for
little cause ; to give the crmm a pudding,
(1) to hang on a jibbot, and (2) to
die: see Hop the twig. Alao pro-
verbs and sayings :— Tho proof of tb«
pudding is in tho outing ; Hungry <log»
will oat dirty puddings ; Oold pudding
will settle yonr love ; Better «omo of &
pudding than none* of a pio ; There it
no deceit in a bug-pudding ; Pudding*
and paramours should bo hastily
handled ; Puddings an* wort arc hasty
dirt ; tt would vox a dog to see a
pudding creep; Bo fair conditioned
and eat bread with your pudding
(1594).
Puddle. A term of contempt :
also as adj. Puddle-met, a gutter
rhymstw ; & puddle of F& n&an* oto,l,
a blundering fool (1G05). As verb,
(1) to tipple: «cx> flnrewed; (2) to
muddy, turbititae (1002). TM puddle,
(1) tho Atlantic Oconn : w» Big Pond,
Herring pond, and Pond ; (2) in Corn-
wall, tho £3nglitth Ch&nneL
Puddle-dock.
Putting-time.
Puddle - dock* The Duchess (or 3. A person speaking of any intricate
Countess) of Puddledock, an im- affair, or feat of ingenuity, which he
aginary dignitary. {Puddledock, an cannot comprehend, will say, There is
ancient pool in Thames Street, not of some pull at the bottom of it, that
the cleanest description.] I'm not fly to ( Vaux). 4. An attempt
Pudsey. 1. A foot : see Creepers, to extort something from another, go
.See Pod and Pud. ' v " "
Pudgy. See Pod.
P u ff. 1. A sham ; an impostor.
2. False praise: also puffing and
puffery. 3. A decoy (as a critic who
extols a book or a play from interested
motives), a mock - bidder, runner-
up (q.v.) of prices at auctions, gam-
bler's confederate, bonnet (q.v.): also
puffer. As adj. (also puffed), fat.
As verb (also puff up), to blow, bloat,
fill with wind, falsehood, conceit.
Puff-worker (American), a penny-a-
liner making a speciality of theatrical
paragraphs (1596). 4. The breath.
To puff and blow, to gasp ; out of puff,
winded ; puff -guts, a fat man, jelly-
belly (q.v.). 5. Life; existence:
Never in one's puff ; the cope of one's
puff, the copestone of one's life (1777).
To puff the. glim, to fill up the hollows
. . . found above all old horses* eyes,
by pricking the skin and blowing
air into the loose tissues under-
neath.
Puffer. 1. A locomotive, puffing-
B&ly. 2. A small river tug or launch :
also puff-puff. See Puff.
Pug. 1. An endearment. 2. A
whore (1567). 3. A pugilist: also
pugil (old). Hence Pug's -acre, a
corner of Highgate cemetery where
Tom Sayers and other pugilists lie
buried (1692). 4. An upper servant.
Pug's -hole, the housekeeper's room
(1847). 5. A dog : with no reference
to breed. 6. A fox (1809).
Fuggard. A thief (q.v.). Pugging.
thievish (1604).
Puke. 1. A term of contempt:
of. puker (Shrewsbury), a good-for-
nothing (1847). 2. An inhabitant of
the State of Missouri (Century Diet.).
As verb, to vomit : still in use at
Winchester (1600).
Puling. Sickly. Puler, a weak-
ling (1608).
Pull. 1. A drink; a go
As verb, to drink, lush (q.v.).
on, an appetiser : of liquids only : of.
Drawer-on (1436). 2. An advantage,
hold, power : e.g. to have a putt over
one, to have at an advantage, in one's
power, or under one's thumb (1500).
(q.v.) (1749). 5. Eowmg exercise:
also as verb, to row (1841). As verb,
(1) see subs. ; (2) to strike a ball from
the off to the leg side of the wicket ;
to take a putt, to drive a straight ball ;
(3) to arrest, raid : see Nab and Cop :
putted up, brought before a magis-
trate (1785) ; (4) to slow a horse, while
seeming to ride one's best; (5) to
steal, cheat (1383). The long pull, in
drawing malt liquors, to give excess
measure in order to attract custom.
Colloquialisms are: — To putt down,
(1) to steal from shop doors ; (2) to
destroy, depress, endanger chances ;
to putt in the pieces, to make money :
Fr., faire son beurre ; to putt it (or foot),
to decamp: see Amputate and Ske-
daddle ; to putt through, to succeed, to
get out of a difficulty ; to pull together,
to co-operate ; to pull up, (1) to take
to task, to arrest, to stop ; (2) to exert
oneself, to make a special effort; to
putt faces, to grimace ; to putt a long
face, to look blue (q.v.) ; to putt off,
to succeed ; to get there (q.v.) ; to pufi,
oneself together, to rouse oneself; to
rally ; to putt (or draw) in one's horns,
to retract; to cool down (1785); to
putt down a side, to spoil all ; to putt
by the sleeve, to remind ; to putt out
(American), (1) to chuck (q.v.); (2)
(athletic), to strike to the utmost, to
extend (q.v.)t usually by means of a
friendly pace-maker ; (3) (common), to
run away ; (4) (tailors ), to hurry, to
get on with work in hand ; to putt up
a Jack, to stop a post-chaise on the
highway (1819); to puU a kite, to be
serious, to look straight (q.v.); to
putt one's (or draw) the teg, to impose
upon, to bamboozle (q.v.), to chaff
(q.v.) ; to putt over, to catch, to arrest :
a general verb of action, see Nab; to
putt about one's ears, to ruin, to
chastise. »See Bacon, Baker, Cap,
Crow, Dead horse, Devil, Foot, Horns,
). Longbow, Stakes, String, Vest, Wires,
Pulled-trade. Secured work.
Pullet (Poulet, or Pulley). 1. A
girl of tender years. 2. A female
confederate.
Pulling- time. The evening of a
356
Pullman-pup.
Punt,
fair-day, when the wenches are pulled
about (old).
Pullman-pup. The Midland night
Scotch train from Leeds runs in front
of the London Scotch train, and is
therefore nicknamed the Pullman pup.
Pully-hauly. Rough-and-tumble,
Haul devil, pull baker (q.v.).
Pulpit - cuffer (drubber, drum-
mer, smiter, or thumper). A
ranting parson, a cushion-thumper
(q.v.). Pulpit-cuffing, violent exhor-
tation (1699).
Pulpiteers (Winchester College).
An arrangement during Cloister-time
of Sixth Book and Senior Part V.
going up to books together . . .
Middle and Junior Part taken together
were called Cloisters.
Pulse. To fed one's pulse, to gauge
opinions (views, feelings), sound
(q.v.), take one's measure (q.v.).
Pummel (Pumble, or Pommel).
A drubbing: amongst pugilists, a
crippler (q.v.). As verb, to beat,
tan (q.v.) : also pum (1515).
Pump. 1. In pi., dancing shoes ;
as verb, to don dancing shoes (1592).
2. In pi., the eyes: see Glim (1825).
3. A public house: see Lush-crib,
4. A solemn noodle. As verb, (I) to
question artfully, make one tell with-
out knowing he's telling, sound (q.v.) :
hence, as subs., an indirect question :
Your pump is good but the sucker's
dry ! a retort on an attempt to pump
(1633) ; (2) to duck under the pump :
also to give a taste of the pump (£. JS?.,
1696) : christened with pump water* said
of a red-faced boy or girl (17CO) ; (3)
to go breathless, wind (q.v.) : pumped
out (or dry), completely blown (IC96):
hence pumper? anything that pumps :
as counsel, a race, a course, a spurt ;
(4) to vomit, cafrfc up accounts (q.v.) :
(5) to steal ; (0) to cry (1837).
Pump - and - Tortoises (The).
The late 38th Regiment of Foot, now
the let Batt. South Staffordshire
Regiment
Pumpkin. 1. A man or woman of
Boston, America, from the number
of pumpkins raised and oaten by the
people of that country; Powpkiiut-
hive, for Boston, and its dependeixcicH
(Grose). 2. The head. Some (or big)
ipitirm (or at big at pumpkin*), a
L appreciation: ci Small potatoes,
umpkin-head. A fool.
Pump-sucker.
157
Pump-thunder. A blusterer : see
Furioso : also as verb.
Pum-pum. A fiddler.
Pumpwater. See Aqua and Yard.
Pun. 1. A play upon words,
similar in sound but different in
meaning : also as verb (B. 22.). 2.
(Harrow School). Punishment. Pun-
paper, specially ruled paper for puns
and impositions. To pun out (Christ's
Hospital), to inform against : e.g. I'll
pun out ; I'll pun you out : exclusively
a London expression ; at Hertford, to
pun or pun of.
Punch. 1. Generic for anything
thick and short: as a fat child, a
horse well-set and well-knit, having a
short back and thin shoulders, with a
broad neck, and well lined with
flesh. Punchy, fat- bellied, Punchi-
ness, stoutness of build. 2. A blow ;
also as verb : e.g. to punch one's head
(1603). As verb, (1) to drive and
brand cattle: whence punc/tcr (bull
or cow-puncher), a cowboy ; (2) to
walk ; honco to punch outsider, to go
out of doors (1780). Collier's ptuwft,
urino with a cindor in it (Grofte),
Punchable. Old passable money,
anno 1095 (#. £!.). See Punch.
Punch-and-Judy. Lemonade.
Puncher. A pugilist. See Punch.
Punch - clod. A farm - labourer,
clod-hopper.
Punch-house. A brothol (1690).
Punchy. A house of entertain-
ment See Punch.
Punish. A strong verb of action :
thus (in boxing) to hit hard, linndlc
severely; (in cricket), to hit frrdy;
(general), to punish the bottle to drink
hard ; to puniah the spread, to eat
much and heartily ; and HO forth.
Henoo punishing* exhftUHlmg, fatigu-
ing; punifiher, a. glutton for work;
punishment, a flovcro beating, com-
plete exhaustion, etc. (1819).
Punk (or Punqufttto). A
harlot. As verb, to procure. Honco,
punkcr, a woncher ; punfcish, mere-
tricious (1575). A« vorb, (1) ace aub«r. ;
(2) to puncture a tyro : alno, as Buba.,
a ptmoturod tyre.
Punsh. Soo Punch.
Punt. 1. To gamble : formerly
generic, but mostly confined to Rtnall
or ohickon staJken. Punter, ft gambler ;
punti'ng.tfwp, a hell (1700), £ (Rugby
footballers'). To kick the tall before
it touches the ground. Pwit-abouL,
Puny.
Purser.
a practice-ball or game. 3. To act
as decoy : also Punter.
Puny. 1. A freshman. 2. A
student at the Irma of Court. 3. A
junior. 4. A puisne judge or bencher
(1548). Punyship, youth. As adj.,
weak, small (B, E,).
Pup. 1. A puppy (q.v.). 2. A
pupil. To sell a pup, to swindle a
greenhorn, flap a jay (q.v.).
Pupe (Harrow School). A pupil
room.
Pupil -monger. A tutor :
specifically at the universities
(1662).
Puppy (Pup, Puppy-dog). 1.
A vain or unmannerly fool, fop, cox-
comb (1593). Puppyism, conceit or
affectation; puppyish (or puppfly),
impertinent ; puppy-headed, stupid.
2. A blind man : IV., sans-mirettes ;
sans-chdsses. As adj., blind.
Puppy - snatch. A snare, plant
(q.v.) (1670).
Purchase. Plunder. As verb
(or to live on one's purchase), to
five by swindling, thieving, or black*
•mailing. To gel in purchase, to beget
in bastardy (1512).
Pure. 1. A mistress. Purest-pure,
& top mistress or fine woman (B. E.).
2. Dogs' - dung. Pure - finder, a man
engaged in collecting dogs' dung
from the public streets. As adj., (1)
neat, unadulterated. Pure - element,
water: see Adam's Ale (1772); (2)
used intensively : cf. Prime, Exquisite,
Tip-top, Stunning, No-end, Mighty,
Out-and-out (1362). The pure quill,
the best, the real thing: any person
or thing of superlative quality.
Purge. Beer, swipes (q.v.).
Purger (or perger). Primarily a
teetotaller, tea-pot sucker (q.v.):
hence a term of contempt.
Puritan. 1. A name given in con-
tempt (c. 1564-69) to clergymen and
laymen who wanted a simpler, and
what they considered a purer, cere-
monial than was authorised: by
extension, a **»-" or woman setting up
for better (esp. chaster) and more
pious than their neighbours. Hence,
Puritanism, a condition of exacerbated
righteousness; unco* guidness j a
habit of life beyond impeachment^
strict, godly, and austere. As adj.,
BOUT, precise, malevolently and tyran-
nically severe: of. Precisian (1567).
2. A wanton. [Probably an echo
of the hypocrisy imputed to th«
Puritans.]
Purko. Beer, [Barclay, Perkins,
and Co.]
Purl, 1. Beer infused with worm-
wood. 2. Beer warmed nearly to
boiling point, and flavoured with
gin, sugar, and ginger. Purl-man, a
boating vendor of purl to Thames
watermen (1680). 3. A dive, head
foremost. As adj., thrown, spilt
(q.v.), foaled (q.v.): e.g. He'll get
purled at the rails. Hence (as subs,),
or purler, a fall, a spill.
Purpose. To as much purpose a-s
the geese slur upon the ice (or as to
give a goose hay), to no purpose at all :
also to no more purpose than to beat
your heels against the ground (or
wind) (Bay, 1670).
Purse. A sum of money : a prize,
a collection, a gift. Also (generic),
money, resources: see Ehino. As
verb, to take purses, steal (1609).
One or two colloquialisms merit notice :
tlonB, &light (or empty) purse, poverty ;
a long (or heavy) purse, wealth;
sword and purse, the military power
and wealth of a nation ; to make a,
purse, to amass money ; purse-proud
(or fuU), haughty, beoause rich
(1696) ; out of purse, penniless ; purse-
pinched, poor ; I've left my purse in
my other hose (old), or on the piano,
a bald excuse for not parting (q.v.).
Amongst proverbs there are: — A
fall purse makes the mouth to speak ;
An empty purse fills the face with
wrinkles; Ask thy purse what thou
should'st buy ; An empty purse and a
new house make a man wise, but too
late; An empty purse frights away
friends ; A friend at court is better
than a penny in the purse.
Purse - leech. A money-grubber
(1648).
Purse - milking. Spendthrift,
greedy (1621).
Pursenets. Goods taken upon
trust by young unthrifts at treble
the value; also a little purse
(B. E.).
Purser. A ship's storekeeper;
used contemptuously as follows : —
Purser's dip (quart, etc.), an under-
sized candle, or quart short in measure;
purse/ft grin, a hypocritical or satiri-
cal sneer: e.g. There are no half*
laughs or purser's grins about me,
I'm right up and down like a yarn} of
Purser* s-pump.
Put.
pump water, meaning that the speaker
IB in earnest; purser* s-name, a false
name; purser' s-shirt on a handspike
(said of ill-fitting clothes).
Purser 's-pump. 1. A syphon. 2.
A bassoon (1785).
Pursy (or Pursive). 1. Rich.
2. Fat with well-being. 3. Short-
winded.
Purting-glumpot. A suiter.
Puseum (The). The Pusey House
in St. Giles Street, Oxford.
Push. 1. A crowd, assembly of any
kind : e.g. (thieves'), a band of thieves ;
(prisons'), a gang associated in penal
labour ; (general), a knot or party of
people, at a theatre, a church, a race-
meeting, etc. : Fr., abadie, tigne, vade,
trepe (1672). 2. A robbery, swindle.
Thus, I'm in this push! I mean to
share — an intimation from one mags-
man to another that he means to stand
in (q. v. ) ( 1 772). 3. Enterprise, energy :
also pushery, forwardness. Colloquial-
isms ; to get (or give) the push (or the
order of the push), to be discharged (or
to reject), to be sent (or send) about
one's business ; put to the push (or
at a push), subjected to trial, in a
difficulty or dilemma (1696) ; to push
one'* barrow, to move on j at push of
pike, at defiance (1696).
Pushed. 1. Drunk: see Screwed.
2. Hard-up (1827).
Pusher. 1. A canary just from
the shell. £ A woman: see Petti-
coat. Hence square pusher, a girl of
good reputation. 3. A blucher boot,
high-low. 4. A finger of bread : used
by children with a fork or spoon when
feeding.
Pushing-school. A fencing-
achool.
Pushing-tout* A thieves' watch-
man, that lies scouting in and about
the City to get and bring intelligence
when and whore there is a Push, or
Crowd of People (Higden).
Push-pin. See Push.
Puss. 1, Sometimes complacently
used of a woman suspected of loose
morals (of. Cat) : but usually a playful
endearment: e.g. little puss, saucy
puss, you puss, you (1083), 2. A
hare, or rabbit (1821). 3. (local
Woolwich: obsolete). A oadot of
the Eoyal Military Academy. [The
uniform was a short jacket with a
pointed tail : vide old pictures at the
B.A. Institution, Woolwich.]
Puss - gentleman.
(1782).
Pussy - cat. 1. A Puseyite. 2.
See Puss.
Put 1. A rustic, shallowpate :
also country put (1688). 2. A wanton
[3fr., putairi]. 3. (Stock Exchange). An
option to deliver, or not deliver, at a
future day : also put and call. Phrases
more or less colloquial merit a men-
tion: — To put off (-by or -on), (l)to
baffle, delay, dismiss, (2) to foist or
deceive, (3) to get rid of or sell :
whence a put off (put-by or put-on), a
shift, trick, or excuse ; to put to, to
ask a question, advice, etc.: to put
down, (1) to baffle or suppress, and (2)
to enter one's name, for a speech,
donation, etc. ; to put upon, (1) to
accuse, and (2) to inflict or oppress ;
to be put upon (or on), to be depressed,
deceived, or blamed ; to put in fort to
compete; to put two and two (or this
and that) together, to draw conclusions ;
to be put up, to be accused or pulled
up (q.v.); to be put to it, (1) to be
compelled, and (2) to be hard pressed
or embarrassed (1696); to put in one**
head, (1) to suggest, and (2) to remind ;
to put out of one's head, to forget; to
put up (or put ^t up) with, ( 1 ) to sub-
mit or endure, (2) to accommodate
(or be received) as a lodger or guest,
(3) to nominate, and (4) to spend or
bet ; to put back, to hinder or refuse ;
to put a quarrel (or rudeness) on one,
to force to angor or incivility ; to put
away, (1) to dispose of by eating
(whence put - away, an appetite or
twist (q.v.), sale, pawning, imprison-
ment, etc., and (2) to inform against,
nark (q.v.); to put a hand to, (1) to
begin a matter, (2) to sign or endorse
a document, and (3) to steal ; to put
finger in the eye, to cry ; to put on> to
imitate, assume a character, airs,
etc. (whence, a pvt-on, a trick or shift),
and (4) see Put-off, supra ; to put out,
(1) to confuse or perplex, ana (2) to
vex ; as much aa one can put in one**
eye, nothing (1C96) : to put a good (or
bad) face on, to appear pleased (or the
reverse) ; put-up* arranged, planned
(whence a- put up fob, a concerted
swindle or robbery, whence also
ptttter- up) ; to put about, (1) to
E' "sh a rumour, He, or statement,
change one's tactics, and (3) to
vouionce, annoy, or embarrass ;
to put through 0) to aaoooed, and (2)
3*9
Putney.
Quad.
to swindle ; to put out (forth or off), to
set out ; to put on, to bet : see Pot ; to
put one on, (1) to tip (q.v.), (2) to bet
for another, and (3) to promise a
bonus if a certain horse wins ; to put
up to, (1) to explain or impart informa-
tion, and (2) to suggest or incite ; to
put out, to vex ; to put in one's motto,
(1) to enter rashly into a discussion,
and (2) to lay down the law ; to stay
put (American), to remain as placed ;
to put in a, hole, (1) to inconvenience,
non-plus, or get the better of (see
Hole), (2) to defraud (thieves' : see
Well), and (3) to victimise ; to put on
one's mettle, to urge ; to be put to one1 8
trumps, to be forced back on one's
resources ; to put by, to save ; to put
(or lay) heads together, to confer; to
put one's head in the lion's mouth, to
run into danger; to put to the door,
to eject; to put over (Australian), to
kill ; to put on the tooman, to shed
tears ; to put ahatona hen, to attempt
the impossible (Ray, 1765) ; to put
together urith a hot needle (or burnt
thread), to fasten insecurely ; Put up !
Shut your mouth ! (American). See
also Ape, Back, Bag, Balmy, Balmy-
stick, Basket, Bed, Best-leg, Boot,
Business, Cart, Chair, Doctor, Double,
Down, Drag, Dukes, End, Frills,
Grindstone, Hand, Head, Horse, Ki-
bosh, Light, Miller, Millers-eye, Nail,
Name, Nose, Oar, Pin, Pipe, Pot,
Side, Spoke, Strong, Time-o'-day,
Tongue, War-paint, Wrong-leg.
Putney. Go to Putney on a pig I
Go to the deuce !
Putrid. A depreeiative : of.
Awful, Bloody, etc.
Putter. A foot : see Creepers
(1821).
Putter-on. An instigator, promp-
ter (1601).
Puttock. 1. A whore.
Putty. 1. Money : generic : see
Rhino. 2. A glazier or painter. The
putty and plaster on the Solomon knob,
an intimation that the master is
coming ; be silent !
Puzzle (or Dirty - puzzle). A
slattern (1583).
Puzzle - cove (or cause). A
lawyer (1785).
Puzzledom. Perplexity, bewilder-
ment: also puzzlement. Whence,
puzzle * headed and puzzleheadedness
(1748).
Puzzle- headed - spoon. See
Apostle-spoon.
Puzzle-text. A clergyman (1785).
Puzzling Arithmetic. A state-
ment of the odds (1613).
Puzzling - sticks. The triangle to
which culprits were tied for flagella-
tion (1819).
Pygostole. A M. B. waistcoat (q. v. ).
Q (Cue or Kue). 1. * Halfe a far-
thing, so called because they set down
in the Battling or Bntterie Bookes
in Oxford and Cambridge the letter
Q for halfe a farthing, and in Oxford
when they make that Cue or Q a
farthing, they say, Cap my Q, and
make it a farthing, thus * (Min-
shen). 2. A score (whence a re-
minder). 3. An item of small value.
Q in a corner, something not seen at
once, but subsequently brought to
notice. See P's and Q's.
Q.H.B. or (K.H.B.). A worthless
soldier: also Queen's (or Sing's) bad
bargain (or shilling) (1785).
Q.T. On the Q.T., on the quiet:
also on the strict Q.T.
Qua. A prison. Quo-keeper, a
gaoler (1798).
Quab. An unfledged bird (1628).
360
Quack. 1. A duck : also quacking-
cheat and quacker (1567). 2. See
Quacksalver. As verb, to give an
new title to an old and unsaleable
book. In a quack, in the shortest
time possible : of. Crack.
Quackle. To drink, gobble,
choke (1847): provincial in England,
and colloquial in America (1627).
Quacksalver (Quacksalve, or
Quack). Originally a charlatan ; a
travelling empiric who cackled about
his salves: shortened by Wycherley
to quack, which now means any noisy,
specious cheat. Also as adj. and
verb (1579). Quackery, a professional
humbug.
Quad. 1. A quadrangle. As verb
(Bugby), to promenade Cloisters at
calling over before a football match :
also quod (q.v.) (1840). 2. A horse,
Qu&dam.
Queen Bess.
a quadruped. 3. A bicycle for
four.
Quajdam. A harlot (1692).
Quse - genus. A bastard ; cf.
Johnny Quas-Genus, a character title.
Quaff. 1. To carouse (1696):
also to quaff off. 2. To diink with
gusto. Quafftide, the time of drinking.
Quag. Marsh-land, a quagmire
(B. E.). As adj., untrustworthy,
unsafe (1859).
Quail. A harlot : cf. Plover,
Pheasant, etc. (1602).
Quail-pipe. 1. A woman's tongue
(1692). 2. The throat.
Quail - pipe boots. Boots full of
plaits and wrinkles : temp. Chas. U. ;
also gum-pipes ( 1602).
Quaint. Curious, neat, also
strange (B. JE.).
Quake-breach. A coward (1608).
Quaker. 1. A member of the
Society of Friends. Like Puritan
(q.v.), which was ultimately accepted,
Quaker originated in contempt, but
it has never been accepted by the
Society. Quakerdom, the world of
Quakers ; Quakerish, prim, demure, and
so forth (1664). 2. A rope or pile of
excrement : Fr., rondin and sentinelle.
To bury a Quaker, to ease the bowels ;
Quaker's burying ground, a jakea. 3.
Sham wooden guns (1840). Stewed
quaker, a remedy for colds : composed
of vinegar and molasses (or honey),
mixed with butter and drunk hot.
Quaker City. Philadelphia.
[William Perm, its founder, belonged
to the Society of Friends.]
Quaker's Bargain. A bargain
Yea or Nay. a tafce-it-or-leave-it
transaction (1697).
Quaking - cheat 1. A calf. 2. A
sheep.
Quality (The). The gentry ; the
upper ten (q.v.): of. the dignity
applied (Patten, 1548) to nobles in the
army. Quality-air, a distinguished
carriage (1599).
Qualm. A stomach- tit ; also
calmness (B. E.). Qualmwk* * crop-
aick, queasy stomaekt* (/£ IS,).
Quandary. A difficulty or doubt;
a low word (Johnson, 1755). As verb,
to hesitate, puzzle (1440).
Quantum. As much an you want
or ought to have : »peo. a drink ; &
go (q.v.). Quantum *«#,, enough.
Quarrel. See Bread-ftnd-Butter,
Pick, Take.
361
Quarrel-picker. A glazier (1676).
Quarroras (Quarrome, or Quar-
ron). The body (1567).
Quarter. A quarter dollar,
twenty-five cents (1824).
Quarter-decker. An officer
more remarkable for manners than
seamanship. Quarter - deckish, punc-
tilious.
Quartereen. A farthing: see
Rhino.
Quarter- sessions Rose. A
perpetual rose. [Fr., rose de quatre
saivons.]
Quart-mania. Delirium tremens :
see Gallon-distemper.
Quarto (or Mr Quarto). A
publisher, bookseller : see Barabbas
(1772).
Quart-pot-tea. Tea made hi the
bush ; really the proper way to make
it : a tin quart of water is set down by
tho tire, and when it is boiling hard
a handful of tea is thrown in, and the
pot instantly removed from the fire.
Quash. To annul, overthrow,
extinguish; vulgarly pron. squash
Quashie (or Quassy). A negro;
generic : soo Snowball (1830).
Q u a t. A dwariish pernon : also
(occasionally) a shabstor (q.v.) (1002).
As verb, to ease the boweln : al«o to go
to quat,.
Quatch. Flat (1598).
Quatro. Four. fFrom the It,]
Quaver. A musician,
Quavery- wavery. Undecided
(1749).
Quay. T7naafo, untrustworthy.
Quean (or Queen). I. Primarily
a woman : without regard to character
or position. '2. A wlutr hussy (q.v.)»
strumpet. To <play the quean* to
wanton (1302). Qucanri/, (1) woman-
kind ; (2) harlotry ; ami (It) wanton-
ness.
Queasy. Qualmish, nquoamish
(1606).
Queed. Tho devil (1726).
Queen. Queen Anne (Queen
8lizabetht My Lord ttatdmn — or any
personage whoso dooeafle is well-
known) is dead, a retort on stale new*.
Queen Elizabetii'* women, ensigns of
antiquity (1610).
Queen Anne*» Fan, A sight
(q.v.) : BOO Bacon, Thumb, and Fig.
Queen Bess. Th<i Qucxsn of Clubs ;
perhaps becauie thai Qawm, history
Queer.
says, was of a swarthy complexion :
see Ned Stokes.
Queen City. Cincinnati: also
Porkopolis and The Paris of America.
Queen City of the Lakes. Buffalo.
Queen City of the Mississippi.
St. Louis.
Queen Dick. Nobody. In the
reign of Queen Dick, never ; to the
tune of the life and death of Queen
Dick, no tune at all (1785). English
synonyms: a Latter Lammas (see
Lammas) ; on the Greek Kalends
(q.v.); on St. Tib's Eve (see Tib's
Eve) ; on to-morrow-come-never ; in
the month of five Sundays ; when
two Fridays (or three Su^Jays) come
together ; when Dover and Calais meet ;
when Dudman and Ramehead meet ;
when the world grows honest; when
the Yellow River runs clear; on the
31st June (or some other impossible
date) ; once in a blue moon ; when
two Sundays come in a week ; when
the devil is bund (or blind drunk) ;
at Doomsday ; one of these odd-come-
shortlys ; when the ducks have eaten
up the dirt ; when pigs fly ; on St.
Geoffrey's day (1691).
Queen Elizabeth. 1. See Queen
Arm*. 2. The street-door key.
Queen Elizabeth's pocket-
' * A brass cannon of a pro-
s length at Dover Castle (B. E.).
_ueenite. A partizan of Queen
Caroline. [The consort of George IV.]
Of. Kingite.
Queen of the Dripping - pan.
A cook.
Queen's (or King's) Ale. The
strongest ale brewed (1574).
Queen's Bad-bargain (or Shilling).
See Q.H.B.
Queen's Bays (The). The Second
Dragoon Guards, now The Bays.
[The Corps were (c. 1767) mounted on
bay horses ; the other heavy regi-
ments (except the Scots Greys) having
black.]
Queen's Bus. A prison van:
Black Maria (q.v.) ; also Her Majesty's
Carriage.
Queen's (or King's) Carriage (or
Cushion). An improvised seat:
made by two persons crossing and
clasping hands, the rider holding both
bearers round the neck; as bandy-
ohair (q.v.) (1818).
Queen'* College. See College.
Queen's (or King's) English.
The English language correctly
written or spoken (1593).
Queen's (or King's) Head. A
postage stamp (1843).
Queen * s-herb. Snuff.
Queen's (or King's) Picture or
Portrait. 1. Money : generic : see
Rhino. 2. A sovereign; 20s. To
draw the Queen's (or King's) picture
(or portrait), to coin money (1632).
Queen's (or King's) Pipe. See
fc's-stick, A stately person.
Street. To live in Queen
Street (or at the sign of the Queen's
head), to be under petticoat-govern-
ment (q.v.) (1785).
Queen ' s- woman. A soldier's trull.
Queer (Quire, or Quyer). 1. A
generic depreciative : criminal, base,
counterfeit, odd: ci Rum. Later
usages are (1), out of sorts or seedy
(q.v.) from drink, sickness, or acci-
dent ; (2) unfavourable or unpro-
pitious; and (3) strange or cranky
(q.v.) : whence also queers (subs.),
queered, and queery. Thus (old)
queer-bail,, fraudulent bail, straw-
bail (q.v.) queer-bird, a jail -bird, a
convict ; queer - bitch, an odd, out-
of-the-way fellow (Grose); queer -bit
(cole, money, paper, screens, soft, or
queer), base money, coin or notes
(whence queer-shover, to shove the
queer, to pass counterfeit money ;
and queer-bit maker, & coiner) ; queer-
bluffer, a cut-throat innkeeper ; queer-
booze, poor lap, swipes (q.v.) ; queer'
bung, an empty purse ; queer-checker,
a swindling box-keeper ; queer-card
(fellow, or fish), a person strange in
manners or views (also, in pi., queer-
cattle) ; queer - clout, a handkerchief
not worth stealing ; queer-cole-maker, a
coiner ; queer-cole-fencer, a receiver (or
utterer) of base coin ; queer-cove, (birdt
cuttt or gift), (I) a rogue, thief, or
gaol-bird, (2) a fop, (3) a fool, and (4)
a shabbily-dressed person; queer-
cuffin, (1) a magistrate, a beak (q.v.),
and (2) a churl ; queer-degen, a p^oor
sword ; queer-diver, a bungling pick-
pocket; queer-doxy, (1) a jilting jade,
and (2) an ill-dressed whore; queer-
drawers, old or coarse stockings;
queer-duke, (1) a decayed gentleman,
and (2) a starveling ; queer- em (queer-
*u» or queer-'um), the gallows ; queer-
fun, a bungled trick: quear-kcn (or
queer-fan hatt), (1) a prison, and (2) a
Queer-roost.
Quillet.
house not worth robbing ; queer-kicks,
tattered breeches ; queer-mart, a dirty
diAb, a jilting wench, a pocky whore ;
queer-nab, a shabby hat ; queer-peeper,
(1) a mirror of poor quality, and (2), in
pi., squinting eyes; queer-plunger, a
cheat working the drowning man
and rescue dodge ; queer-prancer, (1)
a foundered whore, and (2) an old
screw; queer-rooster, a polke spy
Irving among thieves ; queer -topping,
a frowsy wig ; queer-wedge, base gold ;
queer - whidding, a scolding; queer-
gammed, crippled ; to queer, to spoil, to
get the better of ; to be queered, to be
drunk; to tip the queer, to pass sen-
tence; to be queer to (or on), (1) to
rob; (2) to treat harshly; in Queer
Street, (1) in a difficulty, (2) wrong,
and (3) hard-tip. 2. A term made
use of by the dealers in soot, signify-
ing a substitute imposed for the
original article, inferior in point of
value, <4d. per bushel ( JSgan). 3. A quiz
(q.v.), look, hoax: also queer-quifih.
As verb, (1) to ridicule; (2) to dis-
tinguish, divine, spot (q.v.). Queerer,
a quizzer (q.v.) (1790). As adj., cute,
knowing, fly (q.v.) (1789). As verb,
(1) see subs. 3; (2) to spoil, outwit,
perplex. To queer a pitch (cheap
Jacks and showmen), to spoil a chance
of business ; to queer the noose (or
stifter), to cheat the hangman; to
queer fate, to get the better of the
inevitable ; to queer the ogles, to blacken
the eyes (1785), Queer (fine, odd, or
tight) as Dick's (or Nictfs) hatband,
out of order or sorts, not knowing
why : also as queer as Did?* hatband
that went nine times round and wouldn't
meet (1785).
Queer -roost To doxs (or sleep)
on, the queer-roost, to live as man and
wife, to Hve tally (q.v.), dab (q.v )
it up (1800).
Quencher. A drink, go (q.v.) :
also modest quencher (1840).
Querier. A chimney-sweep solicit-
ing custom in an irregular manner, by
knocking at the doors of houses and
such like.
Question. To question a horse, to
test a horse before a race. Sec
Pop.
Qui, To get tht yui, to bo dis-
missed, got a quietus.
Quibble. See Quip.
Quick. Quick and nimble, mart
likt a b*xr than a iqitirrtl, «, j«*r on
leisurely movement (1823). See
Sticks and Trigger.
Quid. 1. A sovereign, 20s. :
formerly a guinea. Also in pi.,
generic for money: see Rhino (1696).
2. As much tobacco as a person can
take between his thumb and two fore-
fingers, when cut small, in order to put
into his mouth to chew (Dyche). (1748).
As verb, to chew (1785), to puzzle,
embarrass. See Quip.
Quidnunc. 1. A person curious,
or professing, to know everything.
[Latin, What now ?] (1709). 2. A
politician. [Popularised by a character
in Murphy's Upholsterer ( 1758).]
Quid pro Quo. A tit for tat,
Rowland for an Oliver (q.v.), an
equivalent : also quid for quod : of.
' (1565).
•ien. A dog.
[er. See Queer.
juiet. On the quiet : see Q.T. At
quiet as a wasp in one's nose, uneasy,
restless (1670).
Quietus (or Quietus est). A
form of finality, settling blow, death,
etc. : originally, a quittance or pardon
(1537).
Quiff. A satisfactory result : spec.
an end obtained by means not strictly
conventional. As verb, to do well,
jog along merrily. To quiff in the
press, to change a breast pocket from
one side to the other; to quiff the
bladder, to conceal baldness : cf.
quiff (military), a small flat curl on
the temple.
Qui -hi. An English resident or
official in Bengal
QuilJ (Winchester College). To
curry favour. To be guttled, to be
pleased ; quitter (or quiteter), a toady
(Fr., suceur): of. Sucker. Phrases:
Under the quill, uncl^r discussion : apeo.
in writing ; to carry a good quill, to write
well ; in a quill, in a push ; to piss in a
quiU (Irish pro vorb : They pissed in the
samo quill), to be agreed to act M one ;
to piss through a quill, to write (1504).
Quill - driver (man, monger,
merchant ; Brother, or Knight
of the QuiU) A penman —
— author, journalist, clerk, or (racing)
bookmaker : Fr., rond de cuir. Hero
of the quill, a dfotmguiahed author;
quill-dnving, clerking; to drivt the
quiU, to write (1680).
" ill-pipes. See Quidl-plp* boot*.
&» Quibble.
363
Qu&t.
Rdb&ter.
Juilt A fat man (1598). The
, the Union Jack : cf . Rag. As
verb, to beat, tan (q.v.). Quuting, a
rope's-ending (1785).
Quilting. A patchworking-party
with a spree at the end : see Bee (1825).
Quinsey. See Hempen-squincey.
Quip. 1. A play upon words, a
jesting or evasive reply, a retort. 2.
A trifling critic (1696). As verb, (1)
to trifle, jest, censure ; (2) to criticise.
Variants more or less allied in mean-
ing and usage are conveniently
grouped: e.g. Quib, Quill, Quibble,
Quidale, Quiblet (also, mod. Amer. :
the patter between turns in negro
minstrelsy), Quidlet, Quittet, Qwb-
lin, and Quidlin ; Sir Quibble Queere
(QuibUer, Quipper, or Quiddler), a
trifler or shatter- brain (q.v.) ; quib-
bling (or quiddling), uncertain, un-
steady, mincing (of gait) ; quiddifical,
• — " • (1420).
See Queer.
j)uirk. An evasion, shift, quip
Quirkist, shifty, quibbling
6) ; quirks and quilletts, tricks and
ces ; quirklum (Jamieson : a cant
term), a puzzle ; quirky, sportively
tricky_ (1538).
Quisby. An eccentric, queer card
(q.v.) (1838). As adj. and adv.,
bankrupt, drunk, upset, out-of-sorts,
wronjsj : generic for misadventure. To
do quisby, to be idle.
Qui-tam. A solicitor. He who,
i.e. he who, as much for himself as for
the King, seeks a conviction, the
penalty for which goes half to the
informer and hall to the Crown. The
term would, therefore, with greater
propriety, be applied to a spy than
to a solicitor (Hotten). Qui-tam horse,
one that will both carry and draw
(Grose).
Quius - kius. A warning to
Quiz (or Quoz). 1. A puzzle, jest,
hoax : also quizzification ; (2) a jesting
or perplexing critic ; also quizzer ; (3)
any odd - looking person or thing.
As verb, to banter, puzzle, confound.
Hence quizzical or quizzically), jocose
or humorous ; to quizzify, to make
ridiculous (1749). 2. A weekly oral
examination : also spec., notes made
and passed on to another : hence quiz-
doss, surgery-quiz, legal-quiz, etc. ;
quiz-master, a tutor or coach (q.v.).
As verb, (a) to attend ; (&) to conduct
such a class. 3. A monocular eye-
glass: also quizzing-glass. As verb,
(1) see subs. ; (2) to watch, nose (q.v.),
nark (q.v.).
Quockerwodger. 1. A puppet on
strings. 2. A tool, agent, or dme
damnee, a dependent.
Quod (or Quad). A prison.
Quodded, imprisoned; quod -cove, a
turnkey (1696).
Quodger. Quo jure, by what law.
Quodling. A fledgling, green -'un
(q.v.).
Quote (or Quot). A quotation.
Quoz. See Quiz.
Quyer. See Queer.
R. See Three E's.
Rabbit. 1. A term of contempt :
hence rabbit-sucker (i.e. a sucking
rabbit), an innocent fool ; young
unthrifts taking up goods upon tick
at excessive rates (J5. E.) : cf. Poet-
sucker (1598). 2. A wooden drinking
can : also rabit (JB. K). 3. A rowdy :
also Dead-rabbit and Dead-duck. [A
gang of roughs paraded New York in
1848, carrying dead rabbits and ducks
as emblems of victory.] 4. An elec-
tioneering agent (or tool) working in
a more or less secret and underhand
fashion. 5. A horse thai runs in and
out (q.v.). 6. A new-born babe.
Rabbit-catcher, a midwife (1785). As
intj., Confound it! Also odsral&itf
and drabbit.f Phrases; to buy the
rabbit, to get the worst of a bargain ;
fat and lean, like a rabbit (proverbial) ;
to go rabbit-hunting with a dead ferret,
to undertake a business with Im-
proper or useless means (1760) : also
see Welsh-rabbit
Rabbit-pie Shifter. A policeman.
Rabbi t-skin (or Cat - skin). An
academical hood. To get on£a rabbit-
skin, to win the B.A. degree. [The
trimming is of rabbit's fur.]
Rabitter (Winchester College).
A blow with the side of the hand on
the back of the neck : a» in killing &
rabbit.
364
RabUe.
Eag.
Rabble. Generic for confusion
Rabid - beast. A new-comer who
sets up against the authority of his
elders : cf . Reptile.
Rabshakle. A profligate.
Rachel. To renovate, make young
again. [Madame Rachel was a notori-
ous * beautiful for ever ' swindler.]
Rack (Winchester). 1. A chop
from the neck or loin, a bone.
Phrases : To live at rack and manger,
to live on the best, gratis : to lie at
rack and maiiger, (1) to live hard
(B. E.) ; (2) to be in great disorder
(Grose) ; to go to rack and ruin, to go
utterly wrong ; on the rack, (I) in ft
state of tension; (2) on the move,
shinning round (Amer. spec, for
money) ; to rack off, to relate, tell.
Rackabimus. A sudden or un-
expected stroke or fall.
Rackabones (or Rack- cf -bones).
A skinny person or" animal, bag of
bones (q.v.), shape (q.v.).
Racket. 1. A confusion, sportive
or the reverse. 2. Generic for dis-
order, clamour, or noisy merriment
(J5. JE.) ; 3. Any matter or happening
(17S5) : also, a general verb of action.
Thus, to racket about (round, through,
etc.), to go the round at night ; to go
on the racket, to spree (q.v.) ; to raise a
racket, to make a disturbance ; What's
the racket t What's going on ? ; to be in
a racket, to be part in a design; to
work the racket, to carry on a matter :
of. Rig, Lay, etc. : whence racket~vnan,
& thief (q.v.) ; to stand ike racket, (1)
to pay a score, and (2) to tako the
consequences ; without racket, without
a murmur ; to tumble to the racket, to
understand, twig (q.v.) ; rackety (or
racketty), (1) noisy, and (2) dissipated ;
rocketer (or rackapett), a libertine. To
play racket, to prove inconstant (1360).
Raclan. A married woman.
Rad. A Radical (1844).
Raddled. Drunk: see Screwed
(1767).
Rafe (or Ralph). A pawn-ticket.
Raff and Raffle. Seo Riff-raff.
Rafiling-shop. A lottery agent's :
the article or lottery tiokot was
divided into shares, ami oast for by a
throw of the dice (17 14).
Raft 1. A whole lot. 2. A
goodly number. [Tho raft* of lumber
on. American waterways are some-
times of enormous iriwu
Rag. Generic : 1. in pL, clothes,
old or new ; 2. in sing., a tatterde-
malion, ragamuffin, any one despic-
able and despised ; and, 3. anything
made out of textile stuff (as a hand-
kerchief, shirt, undergrad's gown,
newspaper, and exercise- [or examina-
tion-] paper): hence tag- (or shag)
ray-aiid-bobtaH (or fag end), one and
all, tho common people (1785) ; tag-
ray, tattered, villainous, poor, dis-
reputable ; rag - mannered, violently
vulgar ; raggery, duds, esp. women's ;
Fr., chiffons; rag-bag (or rag-doU), a
slattern; rag-trade., (1) tailoring, (2)
dressmaking, and (3) tho dry-goods
trado in general; rag-stabber, a tailor,
snip (q.v.); rag-tacker, (1) a dress-
maker, (2) a coach - trimmer ; rag-
sooker (or seeker), an instrument
attached to the end of a long pole for
removing clothes-pins from tno lines
and after wardf) dragging the released
clothes over the fence ; rags-and-jays,
tatters ; to have two shirts and a. rag,
to be comfortably off (1700); to
one1 s rags a gallop, to move, dep
got out; to get one's rag (or shirt)
(1) to bluster, and (2) to got angry;
to rag out, (1) to dresw, clobber up
(q.v.) ; and (2) to show the white rag :
R<»e White feather. 4. Hank paper
(bills of exch&ngo and so forth), soft
(q.v.). Whence rag-sJwfr a bank;
rag-shop boss (or cove), a bankor ; rag-
s/top cove, a cashier; rag-money (or
currency), soft (q.v.) ; to flash one*s
rags, to display ono s xiotoH ; without
a rag, penuiloea. [In Old Cant, rag,
a farthing: whence in pi., money
(#. $.).] 5. A flag : apao. Tho Union,
but also tho roghntmtal colours ; rag-
carriw, an onflign (Grow). 6. (a) Tho
curtain; whonco (I) a dfnou&ment,
i.e. a curtain, a situation on which
to bring down tho drop ; rag$*and-
sticka, a travelling outfit 7. The
order of the rag, the profoBwon of anas ;
rag-fair, kit inspection (ftroac) : see
Rag -and -famish, 8. Tho tongue:
also red-rag, or red-flannd (1C9C), 9.
Talk, banter, abuse: as verb, {«) to
scold ; (j>) to chaff ; and (c— -Amoncan
University) to declaim or compose
bettor than ono's clas.i-matefl : Bee
Ragtime : whence rag-box (or shop),
the mouth ; rag-sauce, (a) chatter, and
(6) ohook (9«v.); ragtter, a bully ot
scold; a dish of r&d ragt abujwj; to
chew toe ny, (a) to scold, wad (b) to
365
Ragamuffin.
Rate.
sulk ; to give the red rag a holiday, to
be silent ; too much red rag, loquacious.
10. Generic for a jollification, a drink-
ing-bout, or (Amer. Univ.) a brilliant
success in class : also rag-time. [In this
connection rag-rowtering, romping.]
As adj., rag - time, merry, lively.
Whence rag-time girl, a sweetheart, a
best girL As verb, to divide, nap
the regulars (q.v.). The rag, (1) The
Raglan Music-hall ; (2) The Rag-and-
Famish (q.v.). To take the rag off, to
surpass, overcome, take the cake (q.v.).
Ragamuffin. A tattered vaga-
bond : also as adj. and adv., beggarly,
ragged, disorderly. [Also occasion-
ally the DeviL] Also ragaboot, rag-
shag, ragabrash, etc. (1383).
Rag-and-famish (or The Rag).
The Army and Navy Club.
Rag-baby. The policy advocated
by Greenbackers ; inflation of the
currency as a panacea for financial
ills (Barttett).
Rage. To wanton : hence r
wantonness ; sMttishness : cf .
subs. 10 (1383). The rage (or att
rage), the fashion, vogue, go (q.v.)
(1785).
Rag -fair. 1. A district in the
parish of St. Mary, Whitechapel,
near the Tower of London, where old
clothes and frippery were sold. 2.
See Bag, subs. 7.
Ragged. Collapsed.
Ragged-brigade. Thirteenth
Hussars. Also The Green Dragoons ;
The Evergreens; and The Great
Runaway Preston]
fcobin. A keeper's fol-
lower (New Forest).
Ragman (or Rageman). 1. The
devil 2. See Rigmarole (1363),
Ragout *A Relishing Bit, with
a high Sawce' (B. JB.).
Rags - and - bones. A miser-
able remnant, pell - mell of rubbish.
Thus rag-and-oone shop (also rag-shop),
a crapulous and tumbled room; a
piggery (q.v.).
Rag-splawger (or gorger).
A rich man; generally used in con-
versation to avoid direct mention of
names (Gfroae) : Fr., riflard.
Rag -water. 1. Any common
spirit (B.E.). 2. Gin (Grose).
Raid. To raid the market, to
derange prices by exciting distrust
or causing a panic.
346
Rails. A curtain lecture : whence,
a dish of rails, a regular jobation.
Front (or head) rails, the teeth. See
Ride.
Raillery. Drolling. To raffly, to
droll. A raiUeur, or droll (£. E.).
Railings. To count the railings, to
go hungry : see Peckham.
Railroad. Whisky, so called
because of the rapidity with which
it hurries men to the end of their
tether. As verb, to run a matter
with all speed, rush (q.v.).
Rain. Proverbs and sayings — It
never rains but it pours, misfortunes
never come singly; If it should rain
pottage, he would want his dish, said of
a wastrel or star-gazer (q.v.). It
rains by planets, i.e. partially ; to get
out of the rain, to absent oneself, to
refrain from meddling. See also
Cats-and-Dogs, Right, etc. (1749).
Rainbow. 1. A mistress. 2. A
footman in livery : also Tonight of the
rainbow. 3. A pattern book. [Dressed
in or exhibiting variety of colour.]
(1821). 4. A sovereign ; half-a-rain-
oow, ten shillings : see Rhino.
Rainbow - chase. A run after
a dream, wild goose chase (q.v.).
[From the folk-story of the pot of gold
found where the two points of a rain-
bow touch the earth.]
Rain-napper. An umbrella;
mush (q.v.) (1823).
Rainy- (or wet-) day. Hard
times ; whence, to lay up for a rainy
day, to provide against necessity or
distress (1626).
Raise. An improvement in con-
ditions (1848). As verb, to rear : of
human beings, crops and cattle ( 1597).
See Bead, Bill, Bobbery, Bristles,
Cain, Dander, Dash, Dead, Devil,
Hair, Hatchet, Hell, Market, Mischief,
Muss, Ned, Organ, Racket, Roof, Row,
Rumpus, Wind.
Raise-mountain. A braggart.
Rake (Rakehell, Rakehel-
lonian, or Rakeshame). 1. A
disreputable person, blackguard, esp.
a libertine ; one so bad as to be found
only by raking hell, or one so reckless
as to rake hell (Century); also RoJce
heU and skin the devil, and you'll not
find such another (1360). As verb,
to live dissolutely. Whence rakish
(raking, rakehelly, rakely, or rake-
shamed), dissolute ; rakery (or
ness), blackguardism;
Edker.
Rank.
blackguard. 2, A comb : also garden-
rake. Colloquialisms are:— To rake
and scrape, to pinch, save, play the
miser ; to rake in the pieces, to make
money in plenty ; to rake the pot, to
take the stakes: see Pot; to carry
heavy rakes, to put on side (q.v.) ;
to overbear ; to rake down, to scold, to
drub : also as subs, rakedown, a scold-
ing, beating ; letter with a rake than a
fork (Ray), more apt to pull in and
scrape up than to give out and com-
municate : also vice versa ; lean as a
rake, as lean as may be.
Raker (or Rake-kennel). A
scavenger: also Jack Baker (1611).
To go a raker, to bet recklessly,
plunge (q.v.). Baker, a heavy bet.
Rally. The rough - and - tumble
work after the transformation scene
in a pantomime.
Ralph. 1- A fool : also Ralph
Spooner (1696). 2. A mischief -mon-
gering d&us ex machind : the supposed
author of the tricks played on a re-
calcitrant member of a chapel (q.v.).
Ram. A practical joke, hoax.
The rams, delirium tremens : sec
Gallon-distemper. To ram one's face
in, to intrude, meddle.
Ramagious. Untamed, wild
(Coles).
Rambooze (or -buze). See Rum.
Rambounge. A severe brush of
labour . . . most probably a cant
term (Jamieson).
Rambustious, Rambunctious,
Rambumptious, Ramgumption, Ratn-
feezled, Ramshackle, Ramstrugen-
ous, and similar words. See Rum-
gumption.
Ramcat (or Ran-cat cove). A
man wearing furs.
Ramhead. A cuckold: henoe
ramhtaded (1630).
Ramjaxxu A surfeit : as verb, to
stuff {q.v.).
Ramjollock. To shuffle cards.
Rammaged. Drunk : see Screwed.
Rammer. The arm ( 1785).
Rammish. 1. Stinking, bircino,
abominable to the nose : also rammy
(1383). 2. Lustful : also rammy and
rammishness; ramrnaking, wantonness
and ram-skyt, skittish (1400).
Ramnuggar Boys (The)* The
14th (The King's) HuesarB. (They
encountered enormous odds at the
battle in question.] Also The Em-
peror** Chambermaid*,
Ramp (see Romp), 1. A wanton.
2. Lascivious horseplay. As verb, to
wanton; and rampant (or rampish)
(1530), wanton. 3. A robbery with
violence (1812). 4. A swindle. 5. A
footpad, 6. A trickster: also rampsman
and ramper : cf. Rush. As verb, (1)
to rob with violence ; (2) to blackmail ;
and (3) to bet against one's own horse ;
ramping, violent ; rampiny - mad,
noisily drunk ; to ramp and reave, to
get by fair means or foul. 7. A hall-
mark. [A rampant lion forms part of
the assay stamp for gold and silver.]
Rampage. To storm ; also on the
rampage, in a state of excitement,
from anger, lust, violent movement,
or drink. Whence rampaging (ram-
pacious, or rampageous), (1) furious,
hot (q.v.), wild, or outrageous : and
(2) loud (q.v.): whence rampageous-
ness. Also rampager (or rampadgeon)
(1) a hector; (2) a vagabond; and
(3)awencher(1722).
Rampallian. A villain, hector:
ef. Ramp and Rapscallion (1593).
Ram - reel. A dance of men : of.
Stag-party (1813).
Ramrod (Winchester). A ball
bowled along the ground, a ray-
monder (q.v.).
Ramshackle. See Rumgumption,
Ranee-sniffle. A mean and
dastardly piece of malignity.
Randal 's-man (or Randlesman).
A green handkerchief with white
spots : Jack Randal's colours : cf.
Belcher, Bird's-eye fogle> otc,
Randan. 1. A boat rowed by
three men, two pulling an oar each,
and one a pair of sculls. 2. Sco Rant.
Randern- (or Random-) tandem.
Throe horses driven abroast : cf.
Harum-scarum, Sudden death, Tan-
dom, and Unicorn.
Randle. To punish by surround-
ing the victim and systematically
pulling the hair.
Randy, Rand, Randan. See Rant
Ranger. 1. A highwayman. 2.
In pi., mounted troops using short
arms : cf. Con naught Rancors (late
88th and 94th Regiments). 3. See
Range.
Rank. 1. A gontM-io intensive:
unmitigated, utter (1465): e,g. a
rank UK, a flat falsehood ; a rank
knave, a ro^ue of the first water; a
rank outsider (eoo Outsider) ; a rank
awdl, « pink of fashion ; a rank duffer,
367
Rarik-and-riohes.
a downright fool ; and so forth. 2.
Eager, anxious, impatient [Century] -.
e.g. I was rank to get back. As verb,
to cheat.
Rank - and - riches. Breeches,
trousers.
Ranker. An officer risen from the
ranks : of. Gentleman-ranker.
Rank - rider. 1. A highwayman.
2. A jockey. Whence rank-riding,
rough-riding (1612).
Rannack (or Rannigal). A
good-for-nothing.
Rannel. A whore (1600).
Ranshackle. To pillage, ransack.
[On model of ramshackle (q.v.)].
Rant 1. To talk big, high, or
boast much (5. E.); to storm, rave :
in this sense rant has always been
literary. Whence, however, many
usages more or less colloquial : —
Rantan (randan, randy, rand, randy-
dan, rant, ranty, rantan, or rantytan),
(1) a jollification, (2) a wenching bout,
(3) the sound of a drum, and (4) a
drunken frolic ; also as verb (or to
go on the randan, etc.), to go on a round
of debauchery ; ranter, (1) extrava-
gants, unthrifts, lewd sparks, also
of the family of love (B. E.) ; (2)
a noisy talker, bawling singer, or
ruffian; (3) a Primitive Methodist:
often extended to Dissenters generally,
and spec, to a sect dating from 1822,
self-registered as such in the Census
returns ; (4) in pi., idle, drunken
bolstering ; ranting, (1) in high spirits ;
(2) amorous ; (3) extravagant ; randy
(or ranty), (1) a beggar, ballad singer,
or tinker : espec. such as bully or
menace; (2) a scold: also randy-
dandy (or ranty-tanty) j (3) a ramping
wanton ; (4) see Rantan, supra ; as
adj, (1) vagrant ; (2) thieving, shrew-
ish ; (3) wanton ; as verb, (1) see row-
ton, supra ; and (2) to beat continu-
ously, as a tinker; rantipole, (1) a
whore, and (2) a romp (q.v.), a gallant
hussy ; as verb, to run about wildly ;
and as adj., wild, rakish, jovial (JB, E.);
to ride rantipole (see Bide) ; rantanker-
oust quarrelsome. 2. To appropriate
anything in a forcible manner : ^Let's
go and rant their marleys,' says one
urchin to another, and straightway the
pair annex the possessions of a more
respectable party. But it is also
used to denote undue freedom with
females, and springs, no doubt, from
rantipole.
Rap, Quick, forcible, explosive
action : generic : e.g. 1. a blow, a
polt on the pate, and a hard knock-
ing at a door (B. 28.). 2. An oath or
exclamation (also rapper). 3. A
severe reprimand : as a rap on (or over)
ike fingers, knuckles, etc. Hence, as
verb, (1) to strike smartly or to speak
forcibly (espec. to reprimand) : usually
with off or out', (2) to break wind;
(3) to swear ; (4) to perjure oneself :
to deal a blow at one's honour or
another's reputation (1785). Also 4. on
the rap, on the spree (q.v.) ; in a rap, in
a moment ; rapfuUy, violently ; rapped
(1) rained ; (2) knocked out of time ;
(3) killed. 5. A counterfeit Irish
coin nominally worth a halfpenny,
but intrinsically less than half a farth-
ing: proclaimed May 5th, 1737. 6.
The smallest unit of value : see Care
and Worth. 7. A cheat (Scots').
Hapless, penniless, stony (q.v.) (1724).
As verb, (1) see subs. 1; (2) to barter,
swop (q.v.) (1696).
Rape. A pear.
Rapparee. 1. An Irish robber or
outlaw. 2. A vagabond.
Rapper. 1. A lie, whopper (q.v.).
2. See Bap, sense 1. Rapping, very
(1688).
Rapscallion (Rascallion, Rab-
scallion, Ramscallion, or Ra-
scabilian). A worthless wretch,
Rapscallionry, etc., the world of
rascaldom. Also as adj. (1622).
Raree-show. A peep-show: speci*
fically one carried in a box. Raree*
showman, a poor Savoyard trotting up
and down with portable boxes of
puppet-shows at their backs . . .
pedlars of puppets (B. E.),
Rascal. A term of (a) affection,
and (6) contempt: of. rogue, scamp,
etc. Raskabilia, the rascal people;
see Rapscallion (1557).
Rasher-of-wind. 1. A thin person,
lamp -post (q.v.), yard of pump-
water (q.v.). 2. Anything of little or
no account.
Raspberry. A gesture of con-
tempt : the tongue is inserted in the
left cheek and forced through the lips,
producing a peculiarly squashy noise
that is extremely irritating.
Raspberry-tart. 1. A dainty girl.
2. The heart. *
Rasper. Anything especial: as
(hunting) a bad leap; (common) *
punishing blow, rank tradesman, or
Razor.
flat falsehood; a big turn or large
profit; and so forth. Rasping-shorter,
a ball which, blocked by the bat, glides
swiftly along the ground instead of
rebounding (1834).
Raspin. (The). Bridewell.
Rat. 1. A renegade: espec.
through self-interest. Whence (politi-
cal), a deserter ; or (trades-unionists')
a workman accepting lower than the
Union rate, or working when his
mates have struck: also ratter. As
verb (or to do a rat), in all theso senses,
whence (loosely) to change one's
views or tactics. Ratting (rattening,
or rattery), apostacy ; rat-shop (house,
or office), a workshop where full rates
are not paid ; to ratten, to destroy tools
and appliances, to intimidate fellow
workmen, or (masters') to lock out
employees or engage non - Union (or
free) labour. 2. A clergyman (1628)
3. A drunken person when in custody
(J3. -27.). Whence (in pi.), d.t.'s (q.v.) ;
drunk as a rat, hopelessly drunk:
see Screwed (1553). 4. An infernal
machine : espec. one used to founder
insured bottoms. 5. In pi, a star.
6. A police spy : see Nark : hence
(general) a term of contempt. 7. A
hairpad, somewhat resembling a rat
in shape, circa 1S60-70. Also as verb.
Phrases : To $meU a ratt to suspect a
trick or roguery ; to give green rate, to
malign or back-bite ; to nave (or see)
rats, (I) to be eccentric, (2) out of
sorts, (3) drunk, and (4) crazy : also
rots in the garret (loft, or upper storey) ;
like a drowned rat, sopping wot; Rat
me, a variant of Rot me: an objurga-
tion ; Eats 1 a contemptuous retort :
see Water (1508).
Rather 1 A strong affirmative :
yes ; I should think so : sometimes
rat/ther. Katherish, in some degree;
slightly. Rather of the rathereft, said
of anything slightly in excess or de-
fect ; in Norfolk of underdone moat.
Rat-hole. 1. An overwide space
between printed words ; a pigeon-hole
(q.v.). 2. See Eat, subs. 1.
Rations. A flogging.
Rat's-tail. A writ, a capias.
Rattle. LA dice-box, 2 and 3.
See verb. 1, and Battler, 2. 4, In pi,
(a) the croup, and (b) the throat
rattle preceding death. Afl verb,
3 for rapid movement or noisy
sity : hence (1) to talk or move
' or noisily; (2) to censure,
confuse, or irritate. Whence, as subs.,
( 1) a clamour of words ; (2) a scolding ;
(3) a lively talker : also (senses 1 and
2) rattling. Derivatives are numerous :
Battle-baby, a chattering child ; rattle-
bag (bladder, brain, cap, head, pate,
scull, or rattler), a flighty blab, a
chatterbox (see Battlo - trap). As
adj., chattering, whimsical, giddy ;
rattled, confused, flurried ; with a
rattle, with a rush or spurt; to rattle
up, to gather noisily ; to rattle down,
to disperse with a clatter; rattler, (1)
a rattle-bag, supra ; (2) a smart blow
or sound scolding ; (3) an out-and-out
lie ; (4) a coach, cab, or train ; (5) a
rattlesnake (Amer.) ; (6) in pi., the
teeth, grinders (cj.v.) ; and (7) any-
thing extra fine in size, value, etc. ;
rattting, (1) brisk ; and (2) lively and
conspicuous in pace, habit, manners,
etc. ; rattling - cove, a coachman ;
rattling - mumper, a carriage beggar :
see Shake, Tats.
Rattletrap. I. The mouth. 2. A
Chatterbox : see Battle. 3. Anything
old and tumble-down : spec, a brokon-
down rattling conveyance. 4. Per-
sonal belongings : in jocular disparage'
ment, and (Grose) any curious, portable
piece of machinery or philosophical
apparatus. As adj., worn-out, crazy
Rat - trap. A bustle, bird-cage
(q,v.).'
Raughty. See "Rorty.
Rave. A strong liking, a craze:
as X has a rave on Miss Z.
Ravilliac. Any assassin (73. &.).
Raw. 3, A novice: also Johnny
Raw. 2. Anything uncooked, a»
oysters, sugar, etc. (1820). 3. A
tender point, foiblo : a» to touch on the
raws, to irritate by all union or joke,
rnb up the wrong way ( 1837). A» adj.,
(1) See auta. 1. 2. Undiluted, noat
(q.v.) ; Of mw recruit, a nip of un-
watered spirits,
Raw -head (or Raw -flesh). A
speotro, a aoaro-ohild (B- £>.)-. usually
Raw-head and Moody-bonM (1550).
Raw - lobster. A policeman : of.
Lobster, a soldier.
Raw-'uns (The). The naked fista.
Ray. Eitfh teen-ponce.
Raymonds See Ramrod, 2,
Razor* 1 , A pun. Sick rcutor, a bad
pun. 2. In pi., aerated water*,
sober-water (q.v.), Patiow ivJd of
: see Parlour.
360
Razor-strop.
Bed.
Razor-strop. A copy of a writ.
Razzle-dazzle. A frolic.
Recordite. One of the Low
Church Party of the Established
[Their organ was The
.
Recreant. * A Poltron, or Coward,
Readier. 1. A blow delivered at Church.
long point. 2. An exaggeration, Record.]
stretcher (q.v.) : see Whopper. Recre
Reach-me-down. In pi., second- one that eats his Words, or unsaies
hand or ready-made clothes: also what he said ' (B. B, ).
Hand-me-downs: FT. decrochez-moi-ga. Recruit. In pi., money in pro-
Read. To read between the lines, spect: e.g. Have you raised the re-
to look into a milestone, to quest for cruits ? Has the money come in ?
hidden meanings in plain English. (B. E.) Recruiting service, robbmg on
To read the paper, to take a nap : see the highway.
Doss. Rector. 1. A poker kept for
Read - and - write. Flight. As show, curate (q.v.), the work-a-day
verb, to fight. iron. 2. The bottom half of a tea-
Reader. 1. A pooket-book. 2. cake or muffin (as getting more
A newspaper, letter, etc. To read, butter), the top half being the curate,
to steal ; reader-hunter (or merchant), and so forth.
a pickpocket, dummy -hunter (q.v.); Red. 1. Gold: also red-*un: FT.,
readered, advertised in the Police jaune (yellow) ; Ital., rossume (red-
Gazette, wanted (q.v.). ness). Red-rogue, a gold piece; red-
Ready (The) (Ready - stuff, toy (or kettle), a gold watch ; red-
John, gilt, or Ready - money), tackle, a gold chain : cf. Ruddork :
1. Money : spec, money in hand, red- un also, a sovereign. 2. Variously
Ready thick-* un, a sovereign, 20s. : applied to objects red in colour : as
see Rhino (1618). 2. Prepared. A (1) a red herring (q.v.) ; (2) in pi., the
good ready, on the spot (q.v.). As menses ; (3) in pi., blushes : also red-
verb, to pull a horse. rag, whence to mount the red-rag (or
Real. A superlative : very, quite, flag), to blush ; (4) a Red Republican :
really. Real fine, glad, good, etc., very spec. (France '93) a violent revolu-
fine, glad, good, etc., indeed ; real tiouary of the established order : see
jam, an acme : see Jam ; real grit, also Admiral, Red-cent, and Red-
sound to the core : see Grit : the real coat. Combinations are numerous —
(or the real thing), the genuine article. Red-book, a book of the officers of
Ream. See Rum. state or the Peerage : cf. Blue-book ;
Ream-penny. Peter-pence (that red-beast, a Bow St. runner (they
is Rome - penny). To reckon one's wore red waistcoats) ; also see infra ;
ream pennies, to confess one's faults, red-cent, originally a copper cent, now
Rear. A jakes : also as verb. in phrase, not worth a red cent ; red-
Rebec (or Rebeck). An old coat, & soldier : also the reds ; red-
woman: in reproach :cf. Ribibe( 1383). cock, an incendiary fire; red-cross, an
Receiver-general. 1. A prostitute. English ship : as bearing the red cross
2. A boxer giving nothing for what he of St. George (1626); red-dog (see
gets. Shinplaster) ; red-eel, a term of con-
Recker, The (or Rekker). tempt; red-eye (or red-7iead), fiery
The town recreation-ground. [Where whisky; red-eye sour, whisky and
the school-sports are held.] lemon ; red-flannel, the tongue : see
Reckon. To think, suppose, Rag, 2; red-fustian, (I) port, (2)
consider — peculiar to the Middle and claret, and (3) porter ; also red-tape ;
Southern States, and provincial in red-grate (see Red-lattice); red-head,
England: cf. guess and calculate a red-haired person, carrots (q.v.);
(1611). To reckon up, to gauge a red-herring, & soldier: cf. Soldier, a
person, measure (q.v.), size (q.v.). red-herring; red-horse* a native of
Hence, to slander, back-bite. See Kentucky ; red-hot, violent, extreme :
Chickens and Host. red-letter day, (1) a Church festival
Reckoning. See Accounts. (printed in red characters in the
Record. To beat (break, cut, Calendar) : hence (2) a happy day or
lower, or smash) the record, to surpass lucky occasion : whence red-letter man^
all previous performances, go one a Roman Catholic ; red - liner, a
better (q.v.). mendicity society officer ; red-fttti*
370
Redbreasts.
Regulator.
coat, a symbol of means : e.g. a lass
in a red petticoat, a wife with a por-
tion ; red-rag (see Bag and Bed), and
(2), a source of annoyance or disgust :
usually a red - rag to a mad bull ;
red-ribbon, brandy: cf. White-satin;
red-sail docker, a buyer of stores
stolen out of the royal yards and
docks ; red-akin, a North American
Indian. Neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor
good red-herring, nondescript, neither
one thing nor another, neither hay
nor grass ( 1 528). To paint (or varnish)
the town red (or crimson), to indulge in
a drunken spree.
Redbreasts (The). 1. The 5th
(Boyal Irish) Lancers. 3. See Bed.
Red Feathers (The). The
late 46th Foot, now the 2nd batt.
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
[A light company were brigaded with
others in 1777 as The Light Battalion.
The Americans, harassed by the
Brigade, vowed no quarter. In
derision, to prevent mistakes, the
Light Battalion dyed their feathers
red.] Also Murray's Bucks; The
Surprisers ; The Lacedemonians ; and
The r>ocs.
Redge (or Ridge). Gold: aee
Bed, subs. 1. Hence redge - cully, a
goldsmith.
Red-knights. The Cheshire Regi-
ment (formerly the Twenty-second
Regiment of Foot). [In I79f> it was
served with red jockota, waistcoats,
and brooches in lieu of the proper uni-
form.] Also The Two Two's,
Red (at Scarlet) Lancers (The).
The 16th (The Queen'») Lancem
[The only Lancer regiment with a
scarlet tunio.]
Red -lane (close, or sea). The
throat, gutter-alley (q.v.) (lf»6tt).
Red -lattice (or Lettice). An
ale* house sign. Ifonoc rod -lattice
phrase*, pothouse talk ; al«o grew,
lattice ; rea~grate, tavern or brothel, or
both combined (I BOO).
Redraw. A warder, jigger-
dubber (q.v.).
Redshanks* I. Applied alike to
Highlanders and Irinh : Roott Ray.s,
The ancient buskin wan mode, of tho
undressed deer hide . , . which pro-
cored the well-known epithet of rwi-
Rhanks. 2. A turkey. ("Properly the
pool-snipe,] 3. A duck or drake
(1667). ^
Red-tape. 1. Official routine,
formality. As adj., formal: also
red - tapery or red - tapeisin, official
routine ', red-tapist, (a) a government
clerk ; (6) a precisian : of. Blue- tape
(1775). 2. See Bed.
Reeb. Beer : top of reeb, a pot of
beer.
Reef. 1. To draw up a dress pocket
until the purse is within reach of the
fingeiu 2. (American). To saw a
horse's mouth (Century), To let out
a reef, to unfasten a button after a
meal. To need a reef taken in, to be
druuk : see Screwed.
Reefer. 1. A midshipman. 2. A
short all-round jacket.
Reek. Money : see Rhino,
Reekie. See Auld Reekie.
Reel. To red off (or out), to
speak or produce easily. Off the reel,
in succession, right of!.
Reeler. A policeman, peeler
(q.v.).
Re el- pot A drunkard: see
Lushington. Reding, drunk : seo
Screwed.
Reformado. A disbanded soldier,
a degraded officer. (In Sp., an
officer deprived of his command but
retaining rank and pay : Fr., reform?."]
As adj., degraded (1508).
Keener ^tramps'). Any small coin.
Reesbin. A prison, wtir (q.v,):
see Cage.
Reflector. A prepared card: the
pattern on the back is HO grouped an
to signalise its face value.
Refresher. 1. A daily foo given to
a ban-inter after the retainer : Hpec.
when a case ift adjourned (1616). 2.
Adrink,go(q,v.).
Regardless. Seo (Jet- up.
Regular. In t>L, show* of a booty :
see Nab. English synonyms f to
come (or stand in), go rugs, whack, go
whackn, whftt-.fc up, go «naoks. 2.
(colloquial), (a) A jxwon keeping
Htated times or doing regular duty ;
(ft) anything recurring periodically :
an a daily pacwmiger, a drink taken
at fixed hours, eta (1307). Ae adj.,
thorough, out-and-out: as a regular
tartar, a shrew (male or female); ft
wgnlur sell, a oonftummate swindle ;
a regular forpsc.r, a knock-out blow ; a
regular <pdt?r, a cat-ancl-doc rain; a
regular crow, A ponton dismally garbed.
Regulator. In pi., a band of
lynciWs, a vigilance oommlttoo (q.v.) :
see Bustler,
Rehoboam.
Reversed.
Rehoboam. 1. A shovel - hat Republican. A Commonwealths-
(1841). 2. A quadruple Magnum man (J3. E.).
(q.v.), a double Jeroboam (q.v.) : Republic of letters. The
usually of champagne. post-office.
Reign. To be at liberty. Requisition. To take by force:
Relation. See Avuncular Relation, now recognised.
Relieve. To ease oneself. Re - raw. A drinking bout. As
Reliever. Among tailors an old adj., drunk : see Screwed.
ooat kept, and borrowed by such men Reservoir. Au reservoir, Au
as have none of their own to go out revoir.
in. Residential - club. An habitual
Relieving - officer. A father; the assemblage of loafers: spec, a crew
governor (q.v.). of idlers, male and female, frequenting
Religion. To get religion, to be the reading - room of the British
converted. Museum for the sake of shelter and
Religious. 1. Free from vice: warmth.
specifically of horses. 2. Of a horse Respectable. Chaste, decent,
given to going on his knees: see Responsions (Oxford). The first
Devotional habits. examination for candidates for the
Remainder. 1. The unsold part B.A. degree.
of an edition bought to be re-sold at a Respun. To steal : see Prig,
reduced price. 2. The drainings of Rest And the rest ? A retort to
pots and glasses : see All nations. anything incomplete, or in which
Remedy (Winchester). 1. A something is being kept back,
holiday: cf. Work (pain) and Bemi. Resty. Headstrong, wayward,
(1519). 2. A sovereign, 20s.: see unruly, masterless (JS. JS.).
Bhino. Resurrection. A dish made of
Remedy-cntch. A chamber-pot. remains : also resurrection-pie.
Remember. See Parson Meldrum. Resurrectionist (or Resurrec*-
Re mi (Westminster School),
holiday : cf. Bemedy.
A tion - man, cove, woman). A body
snatcher. Resurrection - rig, body-
Renovator. A repairing tailor: snatching,
translator. Resurrectionists (The). The
Rent Plunder, booty. To Buffs (East Kent Begiment). [From
collect rent, to rob travellers on the a, rally at Albuera after dispersal at
highway. Rent-collector, a highway- the hands of the Polish Lancers.]
man : specifically one whose fancy Also The Buff Howards ; The Nut-
was for money only. Rents coming in, crackers ; and The Old Buffs,
dilapidated, ragged. To pay one's Res-wort Trousers: see Kicks.
rent, to punish (q.v.), to pay out (q.v.) Retoure. See Toure.
Rep, 1. A woman of reputation Returned - empty. A colonial
(Grose). 2. A woman of a certain missionary preferred to a place at
reputation: also demi-rep: cf. Bip. home.
Also short for repute. *Pon (or on) R e t - s i o. An oyster : ret~sio&,
rep, Upon my reputation. 3. A oysters,
repetition. Revelation. A drink, go (q.v.).
Repairs. No repairs, said of a Revel-dash (or rout). A
reckless contest, neck or nought. rough, noisy, and indecent gathering
Repartee. A sudden smart or carouse. Revel-rout, a company of
reply (B. fl.). spreesters (q.v.).
Repeater. An elector voting Revenge. An opportunity for re-
twiee on the same qualification. couping or retaliation. Revenge in
Reporter. A duelling pistol : see lavender, a vengeance in store, a rod
Meat-in-the-Pot (1827). in pickle (q.v.).
Reposer. A final drink, night- Reverence. See Sir Beverenco.
cap (q.v.). Reverent. Said of a superior
Reptile. 1. A new cadet: cf. brand of whisky or brandy,
rabid -beast. 2. A degraded wretch, Reversed. A man set (by bullies)
baseling. Reptile press, the hireling on his head, and his money turned out
— "- of his breeches (B. S.).
372
Review.
HUno.
Review. Review of the Black steven, etevers, stifiE, stufl, stumpy,
Cuirassiers, & visitation of the clergy, sugar, tin, tea - spoons, tow, wad,
Reviver. 1. A drink, pick-me-up wedge, wherewith (or wherewithal),
(q.v.), go (q.v.). 2. A mending yellowboys, yennoms (back slang),
tailor : of. Translator. As verb, to £1,000,000, marigold. £100,000,
plum. £1,000, oow. £500, monkey,
century. £25, pony. £10,
mend, patch.
Rev-lis. Silver. „ „ „ „, „ .
Reward. Supper : specifically double-finnup, long-tailed finnup (also
the blood and entrails of the quarry of notes of higher values), tenner. £5,
(B. E.). Abraham Newiand (q.v.), finnup,
Rex. To play rex, to handle fiver, flimsy, lil (or 1U1), Marshall,
roughly and terribly, play hell with pinnif. £i (and in many cases for-
(q. v. ). merly, £i : is. ), bean (or bien), bleeder,
Rheumatism in the Shoulder, canary, chip, couter (or cooler),
Arrest. dragon, dunop, foont, George (or
fically
rhinoceral), . , , , , ,
generic. Actual, ballast, beans, bit Jane, Jemmy-o'-Goblin (rhyming),
(bite or byte), blunt, brads, brass, job (or jobe), meg (of. mag, Ad.),
bustle, Oalifornians, captain (the), monarch, mousetrap, ned (or nedfdy),
caravan, change, charms, checks, new-hat, nob, old Mr. Gory, ponte,
chink, chinkers, chips, olink, coal (or poona, quid, red-'un, remedy, ridge,
cole), cod (q.v.), coin, coliander-seeds, (or redge), shiner, skin, skiv, stranger,
coppers, cork, corn in Egypt, crap (or strike, thiok-'un (also of 6s.), yellow-
crop), crisp, cuckoos, darby, dolog boy, yellow-hammer. ios., half -bean,
(back slang), dibs, dimmock, dinarly half-coutor, half- Jack, half -James,
(or dinarlies), dingbat, dirt, dollars, half -Jane, half -ned (or noddy), net-
dooteroomus (or doot), dots, ducats, gen, smelt, young illegitimate. 7s.,
dues, dumps, dust, dye-stuffs, ovil, spangle. 6s. 6d., George. 55. 3d.
(the), family-plate, fat, feathers, flimsy whore's curse. $s., bull (or buU'fi-
(or flim), flour, gent, gilt (gelt, gelter, eye), oaroon, cart-whool, coach-wheel,
, hen, honey, horsenails, hoxters wheel, five-pot piece, flatch, fore-
tor huxters), iron, jink, John (John coach-wheel, George, half-case, half
Davis or ready -John), kelter (or dollar, half - Oxford, half-yenork,
kilter), King's (or Queen's) pictures, madza-caroon, slat. 2s. half-dollar*
lawful pictures, legem pone, leaver, xs. 6d., hog and a kyo. is. ijrd.,
lour (or loure), £ s. d., lurries, mam- loonslate (or loonttiatt), hangman" a
mon, motal, mopussos, mooldy-'uns, wages, is., Abraham's willing (rhym-
moss, muck, needful, nobbings, non- ing), blow, bob, bobatick, borde,
senfs, nuggets, ochre, oil of augels, breaky-leg, button, cleaner, (or deener),
oil of palms, ointment, old, oof (or gen, generalise, grunter, hog, joguo
ooftish: Yiddiab), paint, palm-oil, lovy, lily white - groat, Manchester,,
pan, pap (cf. soft), paper, peo, penny, sovereign, mojogo, north-eaator. oner,
pewter, pieces, pile, plate, plums, peg, tevisa, thirtconor, touch -me,
pocket, pony, portcullis, posh, pot, twelver. iod., dooha-saltee, jumper,
powder, proy, punchable (q.v.), purse, 9d., ill -fortune, picture of ill-luok.
queer, quids, rags, ready (ready-gilt 6d., bandy, bonder, cripple, oroaker,
or ready-John), redgo (or rid/<e)T roek, crook, crook-back, deaner, downer,
regulars, ribbon, ring, rivets, root of fiddle, fiddler, fycbuok, goddess Diana,
all evil, rowdy, salt, sawdust, scads, griff-motol, p^unter, half-bordo, half-
soreens, screevee, scuds, ahadscales (or hog, hog, kick, kyo, lord-of-the-
scales), shan, shekel*, shell«t ahigs, manor, northeaster, pig, pot, eioo,
shiners, shot,sbin-pla8terfl( or plaaters), si mon, suido, sow's- baby, sprat, syu-
ainews of war, skin, aoap, aoft, soft buck, tanner, tester, tilbury, tizzy.
flimsy (base), Spanish, upanks, span- 5d, cinqua soldi, kid's-eye. 4d., oastlu
ken, tpondulick*, spoon, atampa, rag, flag, groat, Joe (or joey). 3d.
37*
Ehody.
Ridiculous.
ourrants-and-plums, threps, three-
swins, thrums. 2d, dace, deuce,
duce. id., D, dibblish, George,
harper, pollard, saltee, win, yennep.;
|d., flatch, madza-saltee, Maggie Bab
for Bobb), magpie, make (magg or
mec), post, rap, scurriok, tonic, id.,
Covent-garden, fadge, farden, fiddler,
gennitraf, grig, Harrington, jig (or
gigg), quartereen, scrope. Base coin
or trick pieces, cap, cover - down,
dandy, double-header, flats, fleet-note,
fletch (or flatch), gaffing-coin, galley-
halfpenny, gammy lour, gray, hard,
hardware, kone, mopus, pony, queer,
soft-flimsy, snide, stumer.
Rhody (Little). The State of
Rhode Island: the smallest in the
Union.
Rhyme-slinger. A poet.
Rhyming slang. A method of
indicating words by a rhyming or
quasi - rhyming substitute ; e.g.
Abraham's willing, shilling ; stand-and-
shiver, river ; elephant's trunk, drunk ;
penny-come-quick, trick ; and so forth.
First in vogue during the late Fifties,
but artistically developed of late years
by The Sporting Times or Pink 'Un.
With use the rhyme has been sup-
pressed by experts : e.g. I'm-so-frisky,
whisky becomes Fin - so, while floun-
der-and-dab, cab, is merely flounder.
Rib. 1. A wife: crooked rib, a
cross-grained wife : see Dutch (1609). JLJC*^, _LMO,U.Q. vjLuuu*.oy, JUUUKJUU, jDroae,
2. In pi., a stout person. See Devil's Cowlstaff, Grub, Holborn Hill, High-
Bones, horse, Hobby-horse, Marleybone
Ribald (Ribold, or Ribaud). A Stage, Bomford, Roughshod, Spanish
"" tte, male or female. Ribaldry " — «••— - ™** - - -° -
Ribstone. See Pippin.
Rib-tickler. 1. Thick soup, glue
(q.v.). 2. See Bib-roast.
Rice-bags. 1. Trousers : see Kicks.
2. In sing., a rice planter.
Rich. (1) Outrageous; (2) ridicul-
ous ; and (3) spicy (q.v.). (1350).
Rich-face. A red face (J3. J7.).
Richard. A dictionery; also
Bichard Snary and Bichardanary.
Fr., musicien. (Grose)*
Rick - ma - tick. 1. A concern,
business, thing: as The whole
blessed rick-ma-tick went to smash.
2. Arithmetic.
Ricochet Gay, splendid.
Rid. To rid the stomach, to vomit.
Riddlemeree. Rigmarole, non-
sense, piffle (q.v,).
Ride. To rob on the highway.
Phrases : To ride and tie, two set out
together, one on horseback, the other
on foot: when one arrives at the
distance agreed on ... he dismounts,
ties his horse to some gate, tree, post
. . . and then proceeds on foot ; when
_0 e , the other comes up to the horse, he
but artistically developed of late years unties him, mounts, and gallops on ; till
V.-0- fn.0 .Q/n/v^ft*/. TV*,/,,, <%•* P.V.Z. »rr*. having passed by his fellow traveller
he likewise arrives at the place of
tying. To ride the fringes, to beat
the bounds ; to ride as if fetching the
midioife, to go post-haste ; to ride out,
to adopt the profession of arms. See
Back, Black donkey, Bodkin, Brose,
(ribaudry, or ribble - rabble), (1) in-
decency, profligate talk ; (2) the mob,
the scum of society; n'&We-rowJ, (1) a
list of the rabble, (3) an inventory
(1360).
Rib bin (Ribbon, or Ribband).
1. Money: generic; The ribbin runs
thick (or thin), the breeches are well-
lined (or there's little cash about).
2. In pi., reins ; to handle (or flutter)
the ribbons, to drive. See Blue
Bibbon.
Rib-roast (baste, or tickle).
To thrash, punish (q.v.). Sib-roast-
ing (etc. : also rib-bending or ribbing),
a pummelling ; rib-roaster (etc. : also
rib-bend&rt ribber, or a rib of roast), a
blow on the body, or in the ribs,
Mare, Stang, Wild-mare.
Rider. LA question or clause
added to a geometrical problem, an
Act of Parliament, an examination
paper, etc. 2. A Dutch coin with a
man on horseback, worth about
twenty -seven shillings: also a Scots
gold piece issued by James VL 3. A
commercial traveller; a bagman
(q.v.).
Ridge (or Hedge). Gold: manu-
factured or specie: in latter case
specifically, a guinea. Whence, ridge-
vnontra, a gold watch; cly fuU of
ridge, a pocket full of money ; ridge-
cully, a goldsmith.
Ridiculous. Indecent, improper:
any violent attack upon » wonian's
chastity is called very ridiculcu*
•i' t v • J I» V , J *«w»ov* V0l¥ J.J,UJLUUH,UJi
which brings down an opponent's behaviour : a very disorderly, and ffl-
iruard and nrtnne «« *h«> \\e*mA «««^,,— i-^j t._ " • »._•'**, -.'
guard and opens
(1576).
up the head conducted houw
ridiculous one,
374
i« alto efttted
Bmg.
Riding-hag. The nightmare:
also the riding of ike witch.
Riff-raff (raff or raffle). 1.
Refuse, lumber. 2. The mob : spec.
(Oxford Univ.) town (q.v.) as op-
posed to gown (q.v.), or vice versa.
3. Booty. As adj., worthless. Raff-
merchant, a marine - store dealer ;
Raffish, disreputable ; raffishness*
scampishness. As verb, raff (or
raffle), to live filthily, to pig it (q.v.).
Raffle-coffin, a ruffian, ribald fellow
(B. E.).
Rig. 1. Generic for wantonness.
As subs., (a) a wanton (also riff -mutton
and rigsby) ; (b) a drinking bout ; (c)
anything dubious, as a knock-out, a
cross - fight, a cheat ; (d) an un-
scrupulous person ; and (e) a half or
whole gelding. As verb, (a) to play
the wanton; (6) to sproe (q.v.); (c)
to trick, to steal ; and (d) to ride
piok*a:back. Riggish, wanton ; rigol-
age, wantonness ; to run (play, or
carry) a rig, to play fast-and-loose ; to
rig the market, to raise or depress
prices for one's private advantage :
hence to swindle ; up to the rigs, ex-
pert, wide-awake, fly (q.v.) (1320).
2. Dress, style, a turn - out, outfit :
also rig-out and rigging. As verb, to
equip; rigged, dressed; rum-rigging,
fine clothes (1594).
Riggen, To ride, the riggen, to be
very intimate.
Rigger. A racing boat.
Right. Very, just, quite. Col-
loquialisms are numerous: Right as
rain (as ninepence, my leg, anything,
a fiddle, trivet, etc.), absolutely de-
pendable; to rights, completely to
one's satisfaction ; right there, on the
spot j right great, very much ; right
now, instanter ; right so, just so ; to
do one right (or reason), (I) to do
justice, and (2) to pledge in drinking ;
right out, to a finish; right down,
downright ; right smart, extremely
clever ; right away (out, or straight),
right off (here, or out), immediately ;
to turn (or fiend) to the right-about, to
dismiss ; right yau are, a complete
acquiescence: all right, certainly*
O.K. ; a lit of all right, extremely
good ; right along, at these presents ;
right up to the handle, nxcollont ; to
do (or have) one to rights, to nerve one
out ; to set to right*, to put in order ;
right on, entirely, straightforward;
right forth, straight ; by yood right*, it
should be so ; right royal, drunk. See
Right-abouts (The). The
Gloucestershire Regiment. Also
The Old Braggs ; The Slashers ; and
The Whitewashers.
Right-eye (or hand). My right-
eye itches, the jesting dovetail is : I'm
going to cry (or receive money).
Right-hander. A hit with the
right-hand.
Right - side. To rise on the right
side, a happy augury : cf . Wrong side
(q.v.) of the bed (1607).
Right-sort. Gin: see White
Satin (1820).
Righteous. An inverted ap-
preciation : e,g. a righteous (i.e. fine)
as distinguished from a wicked (q.v.)
day, etc. : ci Religious. More holy
than righteous, applied to a tattered
garment or person.
Rigmarole. A tedious story,
twaddle, rambling statement : also
ragman roUt rig-my-roll, and rig-
marole. As adj., roundabout, non-
sensical. [A corruption of Ragman
roll— i.e. the Devil's Roll :. cf. Rage-
man — applied apparently to any
document containing many details :
also to an old game in which a parch-
ment roll played a part.] (1529).
Rigol (or Rigil). Sec Rig.
Rile (Roil, or Royle). To vex,
irritate, disturb. Rily, cross-grained ;
rilement, ill-temper. [Originally, to
make turbid.] Fr., cavaler (or covrir)
sur le haricot (1656).
Rimble - Ramble. Nonsense. AM
adj., nonsensical (1600).
Rinder. An outsider.
R i n e r. To shed rineri with a
whctvcr, to cap, surpass.
Ring, BUDB. (colloquial). 1. A
place set apart for, or a concourse on-
gaged in, some specific objoot : as (a)
an enclosure used for hotting, and (b)
the bookmakers therein ; (r.) the circle,
square, or parallelogram within which
a fight takes place : hcnco The prize
ring, the world of pugilists ; (d) tho
space within which norsoa aro ex-
hibited at fair, market, or auction ;
(c) a combination for controlling a
market or political measure; in
America a trust: henoo ringman, a
bookmaker (q.v.) (1705). 2. Monoy
extorted by rogues on the highway,
or by gentlemen beggars (B. SI.), AM
v«rb, (1) to noanipulftU; >p«o. to
Roarer.
_B: e.g. to nng castors, to ex-
change hats ; to ring the changes, (a)
to substitute bad money for good ;
and (6) so to bustle that change is
given wrong (1678) ; (2) when house-
breakers are disturbed and have to
abandon their plunder they say that
they have rung themselves ; (3) to
patrol cattle by riding round and
round them: also to ring up; (4) to
create a disturbance, racket (q.v.) ;
(5) to talk : spec, to scold : of women.
Phrases: To ring the horseshoes, to
welcome a man returning from a
drinking-bout ; to go through the ring,
to go bankrupt, to be whitewashed
(q.v.) ; to ring in, (1) to quote ; to
implicate, (2) to get the better of, (3)
in gaming, to add to (or substitute)
cards in a pack surreptitiously:
whence, to ring in a cold deck, to sub-
stitute a prepared pack of cards ;
cracked in the ring, flawed ; to come on
the ring, to take one's turn ; to take
the mantle and ring, to vow perpetual
widowhood.
Ring - dropper (or faller). A
sharper who, pretending to have found
a ring, induces a gull to part for a
snide or stumer article. Ring-drop-
ping : see Fawney-dropper.
Ringer. A bell, tinkler: FT.,
tattante, brandittante.
Ring-man. 1. The middle or ring
finger : cf. Darkmans, Ruff-mans, etc.
(1544). 2. See Ring.
Ring-tail. A recruit, snooker (q.v. ).
Ring- tailed roarer. The non-
sense-name of some imaginary beast.
Rink. To get out of one's rink, to
BOW wild oats. [Rink, a course, a
race, ring, or circle.]
Rinse. Any sort of potable, lap
(q.v.). As verb, to drink, lush (q.v,).
Riot Act. To read the riot act, to
administer a jobation, reprove.
Riotous - living. Luxuries. [Of.
Luke xv. 13.]
Rip. A reprobate, rake (q.v.).
Hence anything censurable : as a
screw (q.v.) of a horse (Grose), &
shabby mean fellow : sometimes in
jest. As verb, (1) to take one's own
course, go as one will, tear along, dnve
furiously: usually in phrase, let her
rip : also to rip and stave : whence
ripper, a tearer ; to rip and tear, to be
furious ; to rip out, to explode ; also
as an oath, rip me I (1600); (2) to
search, rummage : espeo, with a view
to plunder; (3) to steal; rip-per, a
robber (1388).
Ripe, 1. Drunk. 2. Beady
(1609).
Ripon (or Rippon). 1. A spur.
2. A sword. [The Yorkshire City was
formerly famous for its fine steel]
(1625).
Ripper. Anything especial: a
good ball (cricket), a knock-down
blow (pugilistic), a fine woman, an
outrageous lie, etc. Hence ripping,
great, excellent, stunning (q.v.).
Ripping (Eton College). A cere-
mony incidental to the departure of
a Senior Colleger for King's College,
Cambridge : when he has * got King's'
his gown is stitched up that it may be
ripped afterwards. See Ripper.
Rise. An advance : in salary,
price, betting, status, rank, etc. :
see Raise. As verb, (1) to play into
one's hands, listen credulously; (2)
See Raise. To get (have or take) a
rise out of one, to mortify, make
ridiculous, outwit (1600). To rise a
barney, to collect a crowd.
Rising. (1) Upwards of; (2) ap-
proaching to.
Rispin. See Respin.
River Lea. The sea.
River - rat. A riverside thief :
specifically one who robs the corpses
of men drowned.
River Tick. See Tick.
Rivet. In pi., money : see Rhino.
As verb, to marry, bitch (q.v.),
splice (q.v.) (1700).
Riz. See Raise.
Rizzle. To rest after a meal,
R. M. D. Ready Money down,
immediate payment.
Roach. See Sound.
Road. To take to the roadr to turn
highwayman (the road also, highway
robbery), footpad, beggar, tramp, or
commercial. Whence road - agent,
gentleman (or knight) of the road, (1) a
highwayman, and (2) a commercial
traveller (1704).
R o a f. Four. Hence roetf-yan-
fourpence ; roaf - gen, four
376
Roach - and - dace. The face :
see Dial
Roadster. A person who prefers
the road to cross-country riding.
Roarer. Anything especially loud :
e.g. (1), a broken-winded horse (Grote);
(2) a pushing newftvendor; (3) a
Roaratorio.
stump-orator. Hence roar, (1) to
breathe hard : of horses ; (2) to rant
(q.v.) ; roaring, the disease in horses
causing broken wind (1752).
Roaratorio. An oratorio.
Roaring. Brisk ; successful ;
strong : see Drive, Humming, etc.
Roaring. boy (blade, " girl,
lad, ruffian, etc., or Roarer).
A street bully: late 16th and 17th
centuries : also oatmeal (q.v.) and
terrible -boy (q.v.). As verb, to
riot, swagger ; roaring, riotous. As
adv., extravagantly, noisily, superbly.
Roaring Buckle. See'Buckle.
Roaring Forties. The degrees
of latitude between 40° and 60° N.~
the most tempestuous part of the
Atlantic : also, occasionally to the
same zone in the South Atlantic.
Roaring game (The). Curling.
[Burns : The curlers quest their roar-
ing plav.]
Roaring Meg. (1) A very famous
piece of ordnance ; whence (2) any-
thing loud, efficient, or extraordinary
(1575).
Roast. 1. To ridicule, quiz (q.v.)
(1732). 2. (a) To watch closely,
stall (q.v.). Also to roast brown and
to get (or give) a roasting: Fr., pousser
de la ficelle. Thus (old) to smell of the
roast, to get into prison (1687).
Phrases: To rule ike roatt, to load,
domineer ; to cry roast meat, to chatter
about one's good fortune ; to make
roast meat for worn/?, to kill ; to
give roast meat and beat with the spit*
to do one a curtosy, and twit or
upbraid him with it (5. 3$, ) ; to roast
snow in a furnace, to attempt the un-
necessary or absurd. Also proverbial
sayings : — Set a fool to roast oggs,
and a wise man to eat them ; You ftro
in your roast meat whon others aro
in their fod ; There's reason in roasting
of eggs ; Great boast and small roast
make unsavoury mouths.
Roast - and - boiled. The Life
Guards: who are mostly substantial
housekeepers, and eat daily of roa&t
and boiled (Grose).
Roaster. A landlord's agent,
Roast - meat clothes. Sunday
or holiday gear*
Rob. See Barn, Peter.
Roba. See Bona-roba.
Rob -altar. A sacrilegious plun-
derer.
Robbery. Exchange w no robbery,
S77
an excuse for a forced or jesting im-
position.
Rob - davy (or Rob - o' - davy).
Metheglin.
Robe. Gentleman of the long robe, a
lawyer : see Long Robe.
Roberd's-man (knave, or
Roberts '-man). k The third (old) Bank
of the Canting Crew, mighty Thieves,
like Robin-hood ' (#. E.) (1362).
Robert (or Roberto). A police-
man.
Robin. 1. A penny : see Rhino. 2.
A flannel under-shirt (JBarttett). See
Bound Robin.
Robin Hood. Many phrases trace
back to the legend of this heroic thief.
Thus Robin Hood., a daring lie ; Eobin
Hood's pennyworth, a great bargain ;
Good even, good Robin Hood (said of
civility extorted by fear) ; Many talk
of Robin Hood that never shot in
his bow, Many speak of things of
which they have no knowledge ; Tales
of Robin Hood are good enough for
fools.
Robin Redbreast. A Bow Street
runner : also robin and redbreast.
Robin ' s-eye. A scab.
Robinson. Seo Jack Robinson.
Rob-pot. A drunkard, malt-
worm (q.v.) (1622).
Rob-thief. A thief robbing thief ;
dog eating dog.
Roby Douglas. The breech.
Rock. Generic for hard eatables.
( 1 ) A cheese made from skim-milk, and
said to bo used in making pins to
fasten gates (Hampshire); (2) A kind
o£ hard sweetmeat; (3) School bread
as distinguished from baker's-bread
(Derby School); (4) A hard kind of
soap; (5) A rock pigeon; (0) In pi,,
money ; pocketful of rockn* flush ; on
the, rocks, nlrnndod (q.v.); (7) A
pebble, a Btone (at Winchester, a
medium-sized atono) : as vorb, to
throw stones; (8) A cause of diffi-
culty, defeat, or annoyance: as an
over-trump at cards, an obstacle
suddenly placed in one's way, and
so forth (IrtOl ). The J&>c#, Gibraltar.
To do by rock of eye and rule of thumb,
to substitute guesswork for exact
measurement, Seo Bedrock, Rocker.
Rocker (or Rokfcer), (1) To
understand ; (2) to spcwvk.
Rocketer. A flushed pheasant,
rising quick and straight; rocJcettiny,
rising straight.
Rock-scorpion.
Rock-scorpion. A mongrel Gibral-
tarine : Spanish, Portuguese, French,
Genoese, Barbary Hebrew, Moorish,
negro — a mixture of all mettles.
Rocky (Rocked, or Rocketty).
1. Broken : by drink, illness, poverty ;
and, 2. difficult, dubious, debateable.
Hence to go rocky, to go to pieces, go
wrong. Whence rockiness, (1) crazi-
ness ; (2) incapacity, utter or partial ;
off one's rocJeer, crazy; rocked in a
stone kitchen, the person spoken of is
a fool, his brains having been dis-
ordered by the jumbling of bis cradle
(Grose).
Rod. An angler. See Breach,
Pickle, Tan.
Rod - maker (Winton). The man
who made the rods used in Bibling
(q.v.).
Rodney. A regular Rodney, an idle
fellow, lazybones.
Rodomontade. Boasting, swag-
ger. Hence Rodomont, a boaster.
[A character in Ariosto.]
Rof-efil. A life sentence, for life.
Rogueship. See Spittle-rogue-
ship.
Roister (Royster D o i s t e r,
Royster, Roisterer, etc.). 1. A
swaggerer. 2. A frolic. Whence as
verb (also roist), to swagger; roist-
ing (roistering, roisterly, or roisterous),
uproarious (1553).
Roker. A ruler, stick, poker.
Flat-rok&r, a flat ruler. [Roke, to stir
a fire, a liquid, etc.]
Roland (or Rowland) for
Oliver. A match, tit for tat, six
of one and half-a-dozen of the other,
a fanciful or practical proof of equality
FT., Guy Oontre Robert (14th century).
Roly-poly. 1. A country bump-
kin (1602). 2. A jam roll pudding,
dog - in - a - blanket : also roll-up. As
adj., round and fat (1841). 3. (com-
mon). A comic dance.
Roll. In pi., a baker : see Burn-
crust: also Master of the Bolls. As
verb, a verb of spirit : generic (1), to
gad ; (2) to rollick in one's walk ; and
(3) to swagger: also to roll about.
Roger. 1. A portmanteau, poge Whence to rott in bub (or grub), to have
(q.v.). 2. A goose : also Roger (or tib) plenty to eat (or drink) ; to rott in
f the buttery. 3. A pirate flag ' " ' ' ' -'.----
roUy Roger. 4. A rogue (q.v.).
(q.
of
Jo
. . .
Rogerian. A kind of wig.
Rogue (Roge, or Roger). 1. A
professed beggar ; the fourth Order
of Canters (Awdeley). 2. Wild rogue,
a born rogue. 3. A knave or rascal.
A rogue in grain, a great rogue, or a
corn - chandler (Grose) ; a rogue in
spirit, a distiller or brandy-merchant
(Grose). As verb, to beg. 4. Any-
gold, to be monstrous rich : to roll in
one1 8 ivories, to kiss ; to roll in every
rig, to be up-to-date ; to rott the leer,
to pick pockets ; to have a roU on, to
swagger, to put on side (q.v.) ; to rott
one1 s hoop, to go ahead, be on the safe
side; rolling, smart, ready; rolling
kiddy, a clever thief ; rollick (or rottop),
to romp along.
Roller. 1. A roll-call. 2. In. pi.,
United States Rolling Stock. 3. In
thing vicious, bastard, unstandard- pi., the horse and foot patrols (1785).
ized. Thus rogue - elephant, an evil- 4. A go-cart. 5. A big wave coming
m<nA..* ^ „ — i * !_ .
minded murderous male or female ;
rogue's badge, blinkers for a vicious
horse. 5. An endearment: whence
roguish, playfully mischievous : also
a wag. Derivatives: Rogues* -gattery,
a collection of photographs of con-
victed prisoners ; rogue~house, a prison
or lock-up; rogue -money (Scots'),
an assessment for police purposes;
rogue's - march, the drumming - out
(q.v.) of a disgraced soldier or sailor;
rogue' s-yarn, a worsted thread, varying
in colour in each dockyard, woven in
in from j
mous energy : also runner.
Rolley. A vehicle.
Rollickers. The 2nd Bat The
Princess Victoria's Royal Irish Fusil-
iers (formerly the Eighty-Ninth Foot).
Also (1798) Blayney's Blood-hounds.
Rolling-pin. See Pin.
Roll-me-in-the-dirt, A shirt.
Roll-up. See Roly-poly.
Rom. See Romany.
Romance. A lie, taradiddle. A«
verb, to lie pleasantly, to stretch in
each strand of rope to prevent theft discourse (£. &).
and to trace defective manufacture.
Rogue-and-pullet. A man and
woman in confederacy as thieves.
Rogue -and -villain. A dulling:
•M Rhino.
Roman -fall. A posture (c. 18
in walking : the head well forward «
the small of the back well in:
Grecian Bend.
Romany (Rommany, or Rom).
378
Rombelow.
Rorty.
; and (2) the language spoken
by gipsies. Whence to patter Romany,
to talk the gipsy flash (Grose);
Romany rye, a gentleman who talks
and associates with gipsies. [A few
Romany words have passed into
English, but the only European
tongues on which the Gipsy has had
much influence are those of the Penin-
sula. In Spanish and Portuguese
almost all the slang is Gipsy and
almost all the Gipsy is slang.] See Rum.
Rombelow. See Rumbolow.
Rumboyle (or Romboyles). To
ake hue and cry, whiddle beef
(q.v.): Fr., battre -morasse. Whence
romboyCd, wanted (q.v.).
Rome. See Rum, passim.
Romer (or Romekin). A drink-
ing glass (or can).
Rome-ville. London.
Romford. See Rumford.
Romp. A boisterous girl, tom-
boy (q.v.). As verb, (1 ) to lark (q.v.),
play the rig (q.v.), wanton ; and (2)
to romp in, to win easily (racing).
Roncher (or Rouncher). Any-
thing of exceptional size or quality.
Rook. 1. A cheat : spec, gaming :
also rooker : cf. sense 2 and Pigoon :
hence rookery (or roking), swindling ;
rooky (or rookish), rascally, scampish ;
as verb, to cheat, swindle : hence also
rookery, (1) a gambling holl ; and (2)
any place of ill -repute; e.g. (a) a
brothel, (6) subalterns7 barrack quar-
and (e) a neighbourhood occu-
by a criminal or squalid popu-
.n, a slum (q.v.) (1590). 2. A
simpleton, pigeon (q.v.). [One fit for
rooking : see sense 1]. (1596). 3. A
clergyman : Fr., corbeau. 4. A sloven.
5. A housebreaker's jemmy (q.v.), a
crow (q.v,). As verb, (1) see subs.
2 ; (2) to win heavily.
Rookery. See Rook, 1. 2. A
scolding match.
Rooky (or Rookey). A recruit:
see Snooker, and Rook, subs. 1.
Room. To inhabit. Roomer, a
lodger: spec, one occupying a single
apartment. See Apartments.
Roombelow. See Rumbolow.
Roorback. A journalistic or printed
lie.
Roosher. A constable : see Nark.
Roost Bed: also roosting - place.
As verb, (I) to sleep ; (2) to lodge
(1749); (3) to imprison; (4) to cheat
To r*9tt *wr on*, to get a, riie (q.v.).
Rooster. 1. A euphemism for the
male of the barndoor hen. 2. A
street brawler, a rough. See Queer.
Roost-lay. Poultry stealing : see
Lay.
Root (The). Money. [The
root of all evil.] As verb, to kick.
Whence (The Leys School) root-
about, promiscuous football practice :
also as verb.
Rooter. A superlative : as a
brutal attack, a very smart drees, a
priceless gem, a flagrant untruth, and
so forth.
Rooty. Bread.
Rope. 1. In pi., a half-back. 2.
A trick or knack ; spec, (nautical) to
know the ropes (or to be up to the ropes),
(1) to be expert, and (2) to be artful,
fly (q.v.) ; to pull (or work) the ropes,
to control or direct; to rope in (or
rope), (1) to lose a race by pulling
(q.v.) or other foul means; (2) to
decoy (in a mock auction, gambling-
den, etc.) : hence roper-in, a decoy ;
and (3) to pull (or gather) in: as to
rope in the pieces, to make money.
Hence plenty of rope, lots of choice ;
at the end of one's rope, exhausted,
done for ( 1623). As verb, L To hang :
sec Ladder ; rope-tricks (roping, or
ropery), roguery; rope-ripe, fit for
hanging ; to cry rope, to warn, to bid
beware ; give rope (or lino) enough
and he'll hang, He'll decoy himself to
his undoing ; Mr. Roper (or t?w roper),
tho hangman ; the Rope-walk, tho Old
Bailey ; to go info the rope-walk, to
tako TIP criminal practice (155$). 2.
To beat with a ropo : hence rope'y-end,
a thrashing (1460). Phrasefi; A rope
of sand, (1) a feeble hold, and (2) an
endless or unprofitable tark ; on ike
high ropes, olntc.d, arrojjant: see
High Horao ; What a rope t What the
devil ; to put a rope to the eye of a
needle, to attempt tho impossible or
absurd ; also tho proverbial saying,
A rope and butter, if the one slip, tlxe
other may hold.
Roper (Mrs). A marine. To
marry MM, Roper, to list in the
Marines.
Ropper. A scarf, comforter.
[? Wrapper,}
R o r a m (or ? R o 1 a n d). The
sun : cf. Oliver, moon.
Roritorious, Uproarious : of.
879
'rory-tory* (Devon) showy, dashing.
Rorty (or Raughty). Of th« v«r
wjr
Rory-o'-More.
Round.
best. Hence rorty-toff, an out-and-
out swell ; rorty-dasher, a fine f ellow ;
to do the rarty, to have a good time.
Rory-o'-More. 1. The floor. 2.
A whore. 3. A door : also Bory,
Rorys (The). The Princess
Louise's Argyll and Sutherland High-
landers.
Rosary. A base coin (Ed. I.)
resembling the current silver penny :
it bore (verso) a rose or rosette.
Rose. 1. A bitch. 2. In pi.,
Buenos Ayrea and Bosario Ky.
Ordinary Stock. Under the rose,
secretly, hi confidence (1546). A rose
between two thorns (or nettles), a woman
sitting between two men: the usual
retort is : a thorn (or nettle) between
two roses t To strike with a, feather
and stab with a rose, to chastise play-
fully: a music-hall refrain.
Roseberys. London County
Council 2£ per cent. Stock: Lord
Eosebery was the first chairman of
the Council.
Rosebud. A debutante ((1847).
Rosh (Roush). To hustle,
horse-play. Hence stop roshing I an
injunction to silence.
Rosin (Rozin, or Rozm-the-
bow). 1. A fiddler; and, 2. fiddler's
lap. Whence as verb, (1) to fiddle ;
and (2) to drink: rosinned, drunk:
see Screwed (1607).
Rosser. See Rozzer.
R o s t. To turn boast to rost, to
turn from swagger to humility.
Rosy. 1. Drink; and, 2. blood:
i.e. claret (q.v.). Hence rosy -drop,
a grog blossom : also the ruby. Rosy
about the gills, (1) fresh-coloured,
(2) sanguine : cf. white about the gills :
also rosy, favourable, auspicious,
healthy : whence therosy, good fortune.
Rot Nonsense, bosh (q.v.):
also tommy -rot (q.v.). As verb, to
humbug, to bully; rotter, & good-for-
nothing. Sot it (or Sot *um) (common)
Hang it I
Rotan. Any wheeled vehicle.
Rot - gut. Poor drink : generic :
spec, bad beer or alcohol : also rotto
(1597).
Rothschild. See Come.
Rotten - row. To belong to Rotten
row, to be laid up as past service : of
ships.
Rotten-sheep. A traitor : Fenian.
Rouge. A point in the Eton
game of football : 3 rougea, 1 goal
380
Rough. A ruffian. As adj., un-
couth, hard, severe (#. E.) : also
(of fish) coarse or stale. To cut (or
turn) up rough (or to rough up), (1) to
be annoyed, and (2) to use strong
language ; to rough one, to vex ; to
rough it (or lie rough), (1) to endure
hardship ; (2) to take pot-luck ; and
(3) to sleep in one's clothes ; rough-
and - ready, unpolished, happy - go-
lucky ; rough on, hard, severe. J-fough
on rats, a hard case. See Ruff.
Rough - and - tumble. A free
fight, a mellay. As adj., boisterous
(1838).
Rough-diamond. A person of heart
but no manners (1753).
Rough-fam (or Rough-fammy).
A waistcoat pocket (1812).
Rough-music. A clatter of sticks,
pots, pans, and musical instruments :
for the annoyance of offenders out-
raging public prejudice : sometimes
accompanied by burning in effigy.
Roughrider's-washtub. The
barrack water-cart.
Roughshod. To ride roughshod
(over, or down,), to domineer, be void
of guts (q.v.) or bowels (q.v.).
Rough-up. A fight at short
notice.
Round. An appointed and es-
tablished circuit of travel : generic :
cf. Rounder and gentleman of the
round, an officer of tho watch (1596).
Thus (1) topers', (a) liquor enough to
go round the table, and (b) a toast
drunk round ; (2) gamesters', (a) cards
to all, and (6) a hand in which all the
players deal in turn ; (3) an habitual
course of visits, calls for orders, in-
spection ; (4) a shot, a cartridge ; and
(5) archery, a competition ; (6),
pugilists', the successive periods of
action in a mill : betwieen fall and fall ;
and, under Queensberry Rules, so
many encounters so many minutes
; ; (7) trousers i short lor round-
the-houses (q.v.). As adj., a general
qualitative : simple, straightforward,
unmistakable. Thus a round sum,
(1) a large amount, and (2) a snm
stated in one term ; e.g. thirty pounds,
thirty shillings, three pence ; a round
answer, plain speech; round dealing,
honest trading; round trot, a good
pace; round tale, the unvarnished
truth; round oath, a swingeing ex-
pletive ; round - reply, a straight
answer ; roundly, plainly, vehemently,,
Round-aboui
Royst&r.
briskly ; round (or brown] dozen (see
Brown) (1240). As verb, (1) to
betray, peach (q.v.) ; (2) to turn upon
and berate: also to round, on. To
round up, to collect cattle : for in-
spection, branding, etc. : also as
subs. : whence (general), to complete,
take stock. To bet round, to bet
upon (or against) several horses in a
race. Round in the gills (face, 6c *
twist, or guts), languid, Mondaj
(q.v.).
Round - about. 1. A farthingale.
2. A short close-fitting jacket : also
rounder. 3. A female thiefs all-
round pocket. 4. A horizontal wheel
or frame, turned by a small engine,
and furnished with wooden horses
and carriages ; a merry-go-round. 5.
A treadmill, everlasting - staircase
(q.v.). 6. A housebreaker's tool ; it
outs a round piece, about five inches
in diameter, out of a shutter or door ;
also round robin.
Round-and-square. Everywhere.
Round-betting. See Round.
Roundem. A button.
Rounder. 1. A person or thing
taking or making a round (q.v.). 2.
A round of cheers. 3. A big oath.
4. A man who goes habitually from
bar to bar. To round (or round in
the ear)t to whisper. See Bound and
Bound-about.,
Roundhead. A Puritan (q.v.)
[The hair was worn closely cropped.]
To round the head, to out the hair
round.
Roundy (or Roundy - ken). A
watch-house, look-up.
Round O. A thumping lie : see
Whopper,
Round Robin. I. The host. 2. A
religious (or political) brawler. 3.
We find the first instance of a Bound
Robin in 1626; sailors write their
names and marks in a good round
circular form so that none might
appear for a ringleader ( New English).
4. A big swindle : see Roundabout.
Round-shaving. A reprimand.
Round-the-houses. Trousers : of.
Bounds.
Rotiny. A potato, murphy (q.v.)
Rouse. 1. A Largo glass full of
liquor. 2. A big bumper. 3. A
carouse (1596). 4. Fighting,
Rouser. Generic for anything
exceptional. Hence rousing, very
great, startling, exciting (1677).
Roust. 1. To frisk, disturb,
shift. 2. To steal : see Roustabout.
Roustabout (Rouse - about,
or Rouser). 1. A rough - and - ready
colonial or backwoodsman. 2. A
fidget. 3. A term of contempt.
Rout. LA fashionable party.
2. A card party at a private house
(Grose). As verb, to assemble in
company (1773).
Router. A cow : hence router
putters, cows' -feet.
Rove. To wander idly up and
do\vu (£. E.).
Rover. 1 . A young woman en-
gaged, lawfully or not, in collecting
money for charity. 2. A pirate, free-
booter (formerly : now recognised)
a wanderer, a vagabond (JJ. E.)
Also to run (or shoot) at rovers, to run
wild, to act at random (1440). 3.
In pi., the thoughts (Jamicaon).
Row. 1. A disturbance, shindy
(q.v.), boisterous talk : also rowing*
2. A mob (Univ.). Rowing-man (ow
as ougli in bough), a sproestor (q.v.)-
As verb, to abuse, create a disturb-
ance ; to get into a row, to get into
trouble; [Grow. s.y. Rout, shortened
into row, Cambridge slaug.] The
Mow, 1. Rotten Row, Hydo Park. 2.
Paternoster Row (booksellers') (1812).
Phrases : A hard (or long) vow to hoc, a
difficult task; to hoc one's ovm, row,
to mind one's own business ; to row
in the same boat, to share.
Rowdy. I. A blackguard. 2.
A political brawler. JRmrdy (rowdy-
dowdy, or roiody-dow), blackguardly,
turbulent, vulgar ; rowdyism (rowdy-
dowf or rowdinew), blackguardism.
(1842). 3. Money: see Kliino : of.
Buddy.
Rowl. 1. To recite well : of. Rush.
2. Money : soo Rhino.
Royal, A docker whoso name is
on the dock's books and who takes
precedence as regards casuals.
Royal -goats. The Royal Welsh
Fusiliers (formerly tho Twenty-third
Foot). Also Nanny - goats. [A goat
in kept as a regimental pet.]
Royal-image. In pi., money: see
Rhino.
Royal Poverty. Gin: see White
Satinf
Royal *• scamp. A gentleman of
tho road (q.v.) as distinguished from
a foot-pod (1783).
Royster. See Roister.
381
Rozin,
Rozin. See Rosin.
Rozzer. A policeman.
R's. See Three R's (The).
Rub (or Rubber). 1. An obstacle,
disputable point, difficulty : also
(Old Cant), a hard shift (B. E.)i as
verb, to hinder, obstruct (1590). 2.
A loan : as of a newspaper. As verb,
to run or take away : also to rub off ;
to rub to the whitt, to send to Newgate
(1550). Colloquialisms : To rub along
(on or out), (1) to manage somehow,
to live indifferently, and (2) to live
tolerably well ; to rub down, (1) (police)
to search: the prisoner's arms are
raised, the vest unbuttoned, and the
officer's hand passed over the body:
also to run the rule over ; (2) to scold,
rate, or take to task j to rub in, (1) to
nag, annoy, or aggravate persistently.
FT., monster une scie; (2) to peg away,
insist, or exaggerate ; to 'be rubbed
about, to be made a convenience ; to
rub out (tailors*), to out out; also (3)
(colloquial) to forget old grievances,
cancel a debt : also to rub off ; to rub
out, to kill : hence rubbed out, dead ;
to rub up, (1) to refresh the memory,
(2) to polish, and (3) to touch a tender
point or remembrance : hence to rub
up the wrong way, to irritate, to annoy :
also to rub on the gaule ; to give a, rub
of the thumb, to explain or show the
way.
Rubbacrock. A filthy slattern, a
puzzle (q.v.).
Rubbage (or Rubbidge). Rub-
bish.
Rubber. 1. A round of three
games : also rub. 2. A slight reproof ;
reflections upon any one ... a ren-
counter with drawn swords (B. E.)
3. La pi., indiarubber over -shoes,
goloshes.
Rubber - neck (or Rubber). To
crane one's neck ; hence, to see every-
thing. Also to rubber around, to
keep one's eyes open.
Rubbish. Money: generic: see
Rhino.
Rubric. In (or out of) the rubric,
in (or out of) holy orders.
Rub - rub. * Us'd on Greens when
the Bowl Flees too fast, to have it
forbear, if Words wou'd do it ' (B. J?.).
Ruby. Blood, claret (q.v. ), grog-
blossom (q.v.). Hence, ruby face,
a very red face.
Ruck. I. The mob. 2. Rubbish.
To come in with the ruck (or to ruck
in), to come in unnoticed, or (racing)
unplaced. As verb, (1) to inform,
split (q.v.); (2) to turn rusty;
(3) to drag or crease. To ruck (or
rucket) along (Oxford University)
to walk quickly.
Ruction. An uproar.
Ruddocks (or Red, or Golden,
Ruddocks). Money : specifically
gold: also ruddy. [Formerly gold
was conventionally red — a girdle of
gold so red, and good red gold.] Cf.
Ridge and Redge (1570).
Rudesby. A rude boisterous
person. [Johnson ( 1745), a low word.]
Cf. Sneaksby, Wlesbie, Wigsby, etc.
(1593).
Rudge-gown. An outcast :
also rug-gown. Whence rug-gowned,,
meanly ; rugheaded, shock - headed
(1597).
Rue. Repentance: as rue-guarrel
to repent and withdraw ; rue-bargain,
smart-money.
Ruff. 1. An old - fashioned double
band (B. E.). 2. A court card : hence
to ruff, to tramp. 3. Ruffs Guide
to the Turf. The wooden ruff, the
382
1. Spec, the Devil: also
old ruffian. Wnence, 2. any one
behaving roughly or severely : as a
magistrate, or a brutal bully or
assassin (B. E.); also a pugilist all
spirit and no science ; and so forth.
As adj., (1) wanton; (2) brutal; and
(3) violent. Aa verb, (1) to pimp, (2)
to bully, and (3) to mauL Also
ruffianly (or ruffinou*), wanton, out-
rageous. Ruffian cook ruffian, he
scalded the devil in his feathers, said
of a bad cook. Ruffian1 s-hatt, ' So that
part of Smithfield was antiently called,
which is now the horse-market, where
tryals of skill were plaid by ordinary
ruffianly people with sword ana
buckler.' (B. E.)
Ruffle. A handcuff: usually in
pi. The Ruffle, the flourish to a
trick at cards: the deck held firmly
at the lower end by the left hand is
rapidly manipulated by the right
hand with a crackling noise. See
Ruffler.
Ruffler (Ruffle, or Ruffling
Roister.) 1. Spec, (in Statute 27
Hen. VHT.), a sham soldier or sailor) :
whence, 2. a bully, cheat, or violent or
swaggering blackguard (also rujflfer).
( 1) To plunder, rob : spec, with menaces
Ruff mans.
Bumbo.
and imprecations ; and (2) to swagger,
flaunt it, put on side (q.v.) or be
turbulent ; rufflery, violence ; ruffered,
boisterous ; and ruffle, to dispute
(1537).
Ruff mans. A hedge (1567).
Ruff-peck. Bacon (1507).
Rufty - tufty. Bough, boisterous,
indecent (1592). As intj., Hey-day.
Rug. 1. A Rugbeian. 2. A sort of
drink. 3. A tug. As verb, to pull
roughly ; to get a rug, to get a share,
get there (q.v.) (1300). AH rug, all
right, certain (1696). Seo Bug and
Ruggins.
Ruge. See Rouge.
Rugger. Football: the Rugby
Bed ; at rug, asleep :
.. e whole gill is safe at rug, the
household are asleep (Grose).
Ruin. See Blue Ruin.
Rule. To run the rule over, to
search, frisk (q.v.).
Rule - of - thumb. A rough-and-
ready way : practical rather than
exactly scientific (Gtrose).
Rum (Rome, Roome, or Ram),
adj. (Old Cant). 1. A generic appre-
ciative, good, fine., clever, excellent,
strong, etc. (1667) : cf. sense 2 and
Queer; whencertwnZy, bravely, cleverly,
delicately ; rum-beak (or beck), a
Justice of the Peace ; rum-bing (or
bung), a full purse ; rum-bit (or bite),
(1) a clever rogue; and (2) a smart
trick ; rum bleating-cheat, a fat wether ;
rum-blowen (or blower)r a handsome
mistress ; rum-bluffer, a jolly host ;
rum-bob, (1) a young apprentice, (2)
a clever trick, and (3) a smart
wig ; rum-booze (bouse, ouse, buze, or
bouze), (1) wine, or (2) good liquor
of divers kinds; rum - boozing * welt,
a bunch of grapes ; rum - bubber, a
good thief; rum-buffer (or bugher), a
valuable dog; rum-chant, a good
song ; rum - chub (butcher?'), an
ignorant buyer ; rum-clank, a gold or
silver cup; rum-clout (or wipe), a silk
handkerchief ; rum - cod, (1) a full
purse, and (2) a large sum of money ;
rum-cole, new money; rum-cove (or
cull), (1) a clever rogue, (2) a rich man,
(3) a lover, and (4) an intimate : also
rum-cull (theatrical), a manager* or
boss ; rum • degen (tol, or tutor), a
splendid sword ; rum - dell (doxy or
mort), a handsome whore ; rum-diver,
aotevwr pickpocket; rum-drawer*, silk
383
stockings ; rum-dropper, a vintner ;
rum-duke, (1) a handsome man, (2) a
jolly companion, and (3) ' The boldest
or stoutest Fellows (lately) amongst
the Alsatians, Minters, Savoyards, etc.
Sent for to remove and guard the
Goods of such Bankrupts as intended
to take Sanctuary in those Places'
(B. E. ) ; rum-duckets, a handsome
woman ; rum - dubber (or fie), an ex-
pert picklock ; rum - jam (or fern), a
diamond ring ; rum-fun, a clever
fraud ; rum-gdt (or gilt), new money ;
rum-gill, (1) a clever thief, and (2) a
handsome man ; rum-gagger, a whin-
ing beggar ; rum-glymmer, a chief
link-boy ; rum-going, fast trotting ;
rum-gutleraf canary ; rum-hopper, an
Innkeeper ; rum-kicks, silver or gold-
braided breeches ; rum-ken, a popular
inn or brothel ; rum-kin^ a large mug ;
rum-maunder, a clever beggar; rum-
mizzler, a thief expert at clearing
(q.v.) ; rum-mort, & lady ; rum-one,
a settling blow ; rum-nab, a good hat ;
rum-Nantz, brandy ; rum-Ned, a rich
fool ; rum - pad, the highway ; rum-
padder, a highwayman ; rum - peeper ,
a silver looking-glass ; rum-peck, good
food ; rum - prancer, a fine horse ;
rum-guidda, a largo booty ; rum-ruff-
peck, Westphalian ham ; rum-squeeze,
fiddlers' drink in plenty ; rum-snitch,
a hard blow on the nose ; rum-topping,
a rich head-dress ; ntm-triZZe, London.
2. Xn modern slang (by inversion), in-
different, bad, questionable, odd :
as adj., rummy (or rumly), 3. Any-
body or anything odd or singular in
habit, appearance, otc. ; rum-Ned, a
silly fellow; rum-duke, a half-witted
ehurl ; to come it rum, to act (or talk)
strangely (1729).
Rumble. A seat for servants at
the back of a carriage : al«o rumble-
tumble (which likewise = a stage-coach).
(1830). As verb, to try, search,
handle (1821).
Humbler. A hackney coach.
Humbler' 9- flunkey, (1) a footman, and
(2) a cab-runner ; running-rumbler,
a carriage thief B confederate (1816).
Rumbling. ' The rolling of Thunder,
motion of a Wheelbarrow, or the
noise in the Gutte ' (J3. E.).
Rum-blossom (or bud). A nasal
pimple : of. Grog-blosBom.
Runibo. 1. Rum grog : also rum-
bullion and rumbouxtny: of. Rum-
booze (1661). 2. A prison; alto
Rumbo-ken.
Run.
rumbo-ken. 3. Stolen rope (Claris
Russell). As adj., good, plenty.
Rumbo-ken. 1. A pawnbroker's
shop. 2. A prison: also rumbo
(1724).
Rumbowline (or Rambowline).
1. Condemned stores : rope, canvas,
etc. j whence, 2. anything inferior or
deteriorated: as adj., adulterated.
See Rumbo.
Rurnford. To ride to Romford, to
get new breeched. [Ghrose : Rumford
was formerly a famous place for
leather breeches : a like saying is
current of Bungay.] Also proverbial,
You may ride to Rumford on this
knife, it is so blunt (1700).
Rum-gagger. A sailor who begs
(Clark Russell).
Rumgumption, Rumbumption. A
class of colloquialisms compounded
with an intensive prefix: (1) ram
(imitatively varied by rum), very,
strong ; and (2) rum (q.v.), good, fine,
etc. : also cf. ramp, as in rampageous.
Thus, rambunctious (or rambuatious),
noisy, high-and-mighty ; rombustion,
a row ; r ambumptious, conceited, self-
assertive ; rumbumption, conceit, oock-
sureness ; rumgumption, mother-wit;
ramgumptious, shrewd, bold, rash ;
ramfeezled, exhausted ; rambuskious
rough; ramgunschoch, rough; ram-
shackle, rickety, crazy. Substan-
tives are similarly formed : e.g. ram-
function, rambumption, ramgumption,
etc., whilst such variants as rummel-
fumption, rumble-gumption, rumstru-
genous, and the like are coined at
will. Also rumbusticator, a man of
means, and ramstam, a headlong fool,
and as adj., deliberately or undilutedly
silly (1762).
Rum - hole. A grog - shop : see
Lush - crib. Rum - h/omee (or omer) of
the case : see Omer.
Rum - Johnny. A native wharf
labourer.
Rum kin. 1. A drinking vessel.
2. A tailless fowl.
Rumly (or Romely). See Rum.
Rummy. See Rum.
Rum - mill. A grog-shop, lush-
crib (q.v.).
Rump. 1. The posteriors. As
verb, (1) to slight; to flog. Also
subs., (2) fag end : spec, (political) the
remnant of the Long Parliament
after Pride's Purge (1653); whence
rumper, a long Forliamentarian. He
384
hath eaten the hen's rump (Ray), said
of a person full of talk (1625).
Rump - and - dozen. AJI Irish
wager: i.e. A rump of beef and a
dozen of claret (1785).
Rump-and-kidney Men. Fiddlers
that play at feasts, fairs, weddings,
etc., and live chiefly on the remnants,
or victuals (B. E.).
Rump - and - stump. Entirely,
completely.
Rumpty (Stock Exchange). The
thirty-second part of a pound sterling,
a tooth (q.v.).
Rumpus. 1. A row, noise, dis-
turbance. 2. A masquerade. Also
as verb and adj. (1819).
Rum-slim (or R u m - s 1 u m).
Punch.
Rum-sucker. A toper, lushing,
ton (q-v.).
Rum Tom Pat. A clergyman.
Rumtitum. On prime twig, in
fine order or condition ; a flash term
for a game bull (Grose).
Rum-'un. See Rum.
Run. Generic for freedom or
continuance. Thus, run (of dice,
cards, or luck), a spell or period of
good or bad fortune ; run (of a play,
book, fashion, etc.), the course of
representations, sale, popularity ; the
run of things, the state of affairs;
the run of a place, freedom of range :
the run of one's teeth (or knife and
fork), victuals for nothing; a run on
a bank, a steady call, through panic,
on its resources ; cattle-run, a farm
where cattle roam at will ; a run to
town (or into the country), a trip ; to
have (or lose) the run, to lose sight of ;
to get (or have) Ihe run on, (1) to turn
a joke on, and (2) to have the upper
hand ; to have a run, (1) to take a
walk, a constitutional (q.v.); (2)
to get an opportunity : see P.P. ; and
(3) to make a fight for anything ; to
run, to manage ; to run a bluff, to
carry things with a high hand ; to run
a buck (see Buck) ; to run for office
(parliament, congress, etc.), to start
as a candidate ; to run a rig, to play
a trick ; to run a chance (or risk), to
take the odds; to run a tilt at, to
attack ; to run the cutter, to smuggle ;
to run an eye over, to glance at;
to run the gauntlet (see Gauntlet) ; to
run across, to meet casually ; to rttn
after, to court ; to run against, (I) to
come in collision with, (2) to cal-
Run.
Runner-up.
muriate, (3) to attack, and (4) to
meet casually; to run amuck (see
Amuck) ; to run away with, ( 1) to elope,
(2) to steal ; to run away with a notion,
to be over credulous ; to run big, to
be out of training; to run counter,
to oppose ; to run down, to pursue,
depreciate, attack ; to run dry, to
give out; to run foul of, to attack or
antagonise ; to run hard, ( 1) to threaten,
endanger, make difficult, and (2) to
equal or almost achieve ; to run high
(1) to be violent, (2) to excel in a
marked degree; to run in, (1) to
arrest, and (2) to introduce; to run
in one's head, (1) to bear in mind, (2)
to remember ; to run into the ground,
to carry to excess ; to run it (Ameri-
can cadets'), to go beyond bounds ;
to run like mad, to go at the top of
one's speed: FT., venire A terre; to
run low, (1) to diminish, (2) to be of
little account; to run mad after, to
have a strong desire for ; to run off,
(1) to repeat, (2) to count ; to run off
with, (1) to elope, (2) to carry beyond
bounds ; to run off the straight (see
Straight) ; to run on, to keep going :
spec, to chatter ; to run on all fours
(see Fours) ; to run on pattens (see
Pattens) ; to run on the hirl, to gad,
to loaf (q.v.) ; to run one's face (or
shape), to obtain credit ; to run one's
head into a noose, to fall into a snare ;
to run one's tail, to live by prostitution ;
to run one's week (Am. Univ.), to
trust to chance for success ; run one
way and look another, to play a double
game ; to run out, (1) to end, (2) to
have had one's day, (3) to be lavish ;
to run out on, to enlarge on ; to run
over, (1) to count, (2) to call to mind,
(3) to examine, (4) to describe, and
(5) to sum tip; to run riot, (1) to
be violent, (2) to exaggerate, (3) to
have plenty, (4) to bo active, (5) to
disobey; to run rusty (see Rusty);
to run sly (see Sly) ; to run smooth, to
be prosperous ; to run thin, to back
out of a bargain ; to run to, (1) to
risk, (2) to suffice, (3) to afford ; to
run together, to grow like ; to run to
seed, (1) to age, (2) to deteriorate;
to run through, (1) to be uniform, (2)
to pervade, (3) to be present, (4) to
kill, and (5) to be prodigal; to run
up, (I) to increase, (2) to build, and
(3) (see Runner-up) ; to run up an
account, ( 1) to get credit, (2) to get into
debt* and (3) to charge ; to run up
bills, to obtain goods with no inten-
tion of paying; to run upon, (1) to
quiz, (2) to require ; to run to watte,
(1) to empty, (2) to fritter away; to
run wild, (1) to romp (q.v.), and (2)
to riot ; by (or with) a run, suddenly ;
a run for one's money, a good time in
exchange for a certain expenditure
of energy and cash ; run off one's legs,
(1) exhausted, (2) bankrupt; a near
run, (1) a close finish, (2) a bare
escape, (3) cheek by jowl ; run after,
in repute ; run down, seedy, poor.
Also proverbs and sayings, To run
through thick and thin ; His shoes
were male of running leather ; To
run a wild-goose chase ; The coaches
won't run over him (i.e. He's in gaol) ;
He that runs may read (said of things
unmistakably plain) ; To run where
the devil drives ; Sun tap, run tapster
(Ray. of a tapster that drinks so
much himself and is so free to others
that he is fain to run away) ; To hold
with the hare and run with the hounds.
Runabout. A gadabout, vaga-
bond.
Runaway Preston - pans (The
Great). The 13th Hussars. [A
E seized some of the men in the
with the Jacobite rebels.] Also
Green Dragoons; The Bagged
Brigade; The Evergreens; and The
Geraniums.
Run - down. The bridge between
stage and auditorium: Fr., practicable
zndpont.
Runner. 1. A figure or letter
placed down the length of the page
to indicate the particular number
or position of any given line. 2. A
tout : e.g. (Stock Exchange), & broker's
assistant with a private canvassing
connection; (racing), a messenger
stationed at a telegraph office to get
early information ; (old gaming), *
gambling - house watchman whose
duty was to apprise the approach of
the police ; (American), (a) a steam-
boat and railroad tout: see Ticket-
scalper ; and (b) a commercial travel-
ler. 3. A police officer : also Bow
Street runner : occasionally a sheriffs
officer. 4. A wave: cl Roller. 5.
A smuggler: also a, crimp, a single
rope rove through a movable block,
and (formerly) a vessel sailing with-
out a convoy in time of war {Clark
386
Runner - up. 1. la courring, tfa*
Running.
Rust.
hotuid taking second prize, losing
only the final course against the
winner ; whence, 2. any competitor
running second or taking second place ;
•whence run up, the race from the slips
to the first turn of the hare: see to
run up.
Running. Pace, staying power ;
whence, in (or out) of the running, (1)
in (or out) of competition ; (2) quali-
fied (or not) ; (3) likely to win (or not) ;
to make good running, to do well ; to
make good one's running, to do as
well as one's rival ; to make the run-
ning, to force the pace ; spec, (racing)
to start a second-rate horse at a high
speed with a view of giving a better
chance to a stayer belonging to the
same owner ; to take up the running,
(1) to increase one's pace, (2) to take
the lead or most active part. As adj.
hasty. As prep., approaching, going
on for : cf . Rising.
Running-glasier. A thief :
Running - leather. To "have shoes
of running leather, to be given to
rambling.
Running (or Flying) Patterer
(or Stationer). A hawker of ballads
dying - speeches, newspapers, and
books : cf . Pinner-Tip.
Running-rumble. See Rambler.
Running - smobble. Snatching
goods off a counter, and throwing
them to an accomplice, who brushes
off with them (Grose).
Running - snavel. A thief whose
speciality is the kinchin-lay (q.v.) ;
see Snaffle.
Runt. A term of contempt :
specifically of an old woman. Whence
runty, surly, boorish. Also a short,
squat man or woman (cf. Welsh
runts, small cattle].
Run-to-seed. Pregnant.
Ruof. Four.
Rural. A rustic.
Rush. Generic for violence.
Whence (1) as subs., robbery with
violence : distinguished from a ramp
(q.v.), which might refer to the lifting
of a single article, whereas the rush
involves cleaning out (q.v.) ; hence
(2) any swindle ; and, as verb, to rob,
cheat, extort (e.g. I rushed the old
girl for a quid): also the rush. dodge,
and to give one the rush. Into modern
colloquial usage rush enters largely:
as (3) extreme urgency of affairs ; (4) a
386
great demand, a run (q.v.) ; (5) a
stampede of horses and cattle ; (6) a
mellay ; (7) in Amer. schools, (a) a
gabbled or brilliant recitation, and
(6) a very successful pass ; (8) a
forward's work at football : whence a
scrimmage (q.v.) or play in. which the
ball is forced ; (9) the lowest minimum
of value: cf. Straw, Rap, Cent, etc.
(1362). As verb, (1) to hurry, force
(or advance) a matter with undue
haste ; (2) to go for an opponent
blindly : chiefly pugilists' ; (3) to
charge or attack wildly ; and (4) at
football, (a) to force a ball, (6) to
secure a ball by forcing. Also to do
a rush, to back a safe - *un (q.v.),
and (among bookmakers* touts) to
bet flash (q.v.), to induce business
to bonnet (q.v ). Whence rusher, (1)
a cheat, a thief (spec, a thief work-
ing a house insufficiently guarded)
(2) a man of sensational energy, as a
ranting divine, a bawling politician,
a reckless punter, a wild - hitting
pugilist; and (3) a forward good at
running ball-in-hand or forcing the
play (football). Also, to roam on the
rush, to swerve from the straight at
the spurt for the finish; on (or with) a
rush, with spirit, energetically; on
the rush, on the run, hard at it; to
rush the season, to anticipate social
and other functions ; to rush a but
(parliamentary), to put a bill through,
(a) without debate, or (6) by closuring
the Opposition.
Rush-ring. To marry with a rush-
ring, (1) to marry in jest ; and (2) to
feign marriage.
Rush-buckler. A violent bully.
Russia, A pocket-book, reader
(q.v.).
Russian - law, * A 100 blowes on
the bare shins' (Day, 1641).
Rust. (1) To collect old metal and
dispose of it to the marine-store dealers.
To nab the rust, to take offence, get
restive: cf. Rusty. English syno-
nyms: to chew oneself, to comb one*s
hair, to cut up rusty, to get dandered
(or one's dander up) ; huffed or huffy,
in a pelter, in a scot, in a wax, one's
mad up, on the high ropes, the needle,
the monkey up, the monkey on one's
back, popped, shirty, the spur, waxy,
to have one's bristles raised, one's
shirt or one's tail out, to lose one's
vest, to be miffed, to pucker up, to
squall, to stand on one's hind teg;
Rustic.
Safe.
to throw up buckets; (2) to receive
punishment unexpectedly ; (3) to take
money.
Rustic. A clownish country
fellow (B. K).
Rusticate. To banish by way of
punishment* send down (q.v.) : hence
rustication.
Rustle. To bestir oneself, grapple
with circumstances, rise superior to
the event; whence rustler, (I) an
energetic resourceful man ; and (2)
a rowdy, a desperado : spec. (Western
States) a cattle - lifter. Bustling,
active, energetic, smart (q.v.).
Rusty. An informer. As ad], (also
resty), ill - tempered, sullen, restive,
insolent, or (Grose) out of use : whence
to ride rusty (or nab the rust) : see Rust ;
rusty-guts, a churl (1362).
Rusty - fusty - dusty. Begrimed
malodorous, and dirty.
Rusty Buckles (The). The
Second Dragoon Guards (Queen's
Bays] : also The Bays.
Rut To keep a rut, to play the
meddler, make mischief.
Rutat (or Rattat). A potato, a
tatur.
Ry. A dishonest practice, sharp
dodge.
Ryder. A cloak.
Rye. See Romany.
Rye-buck. All right; O.K. (q.v.)
Sa. Six.
Sabbath-day *s journey. A
short walk : also (ironically) an excuse
for not stirring.
Sabe (save, or savvy). Shrewd-
ness, nous (q.v.), gumption (q.v.).
Sable Maria. See Black Maria.
Sabin. A whimster (1637).
S a c c e r. The sacrament : of.
Soccer, Rugger, Brekker, Colleoker.
SachevereL The iron door, or
blower, to the mouth of a stove : from
a divine of that name who made him-
self famous for blowing the coals of
dissension in the latter end of the
reign of Queen Anne (Grose).
Sack. A pocket. As verb, to
pocket; to dive into a sack, to pick
a pocket. Phrases are : To give (or
get) the sack (bag, billet, bullet, canvas,
kick-out,, mitten, pike, or road), to give
or get discharge : from employment,
office, position, etc. : see Bag ; also
to sack and to bestow (or get) the order
of the sack ; to buy the socle, to get
drunk ; to break a bottle in an empty
sack, a bubble bet, a sack with a
bottle in it not being an empty flack
(Grose); more mete to tfte mm / (1)
Pile it on ! a call to increased exer-
tion, and (2) plenty in store.
Sacrifice. Tho surrender, or loss
of profit. As verb, to sell regard-
less of cost.
Sad. Mischievous, troublesome,
of little account, merry* fast: as a
sad dog, (I) a wiofced debauched
387
fellow (Grose); and (2) a playful
reproach (1706).
Saddle. A charge upon the
proceeds of a benefit performance.
Phrases : To <put the saddle on the
right horse, (1) to blame (or praise)
where justly duo, and (2) to cast a
burden whore best borne ; to suit
one as a saddle suits a sow, to become
ill, to be incongruous ; to saddle a
market (Amer. Stock Exchange), to
foist a stock on the market ; to saddle
one with a tiling, to impose a tiling on,
to constrain to accept an unwelcome
gift; He has a saddle to fit every
horse, He has a salve (or remedy) for
every sore (or mishap) j to saddle the
syit, to give a dinner or supper ; to
saddle one's nose, to wear spectacles j
to saddle a place (or pension), to
oblige the owner to pay a certain
portion of his income to some one
nominated by tho donor (Grose) ;
saddZG'leatkw, the skin of tho post-
wciors; saddle-sick, galled by riding.
Saddleback. A louse : ace Chates.
Sadly. Indifferent in health.
Safe. Trustworthy, certain: e.g.
So-and-so is safe enough, He is certain
to meet his engagements ; aa/o to be
hanged, sure of the gallows; safe a*
houses (the bettows, coons, the Bank—
anything), perfectly sure; a safe
card, & wide-awake fellow; a tajeJnn*
a horse not meant to run, nor, it he
runs, to win ; also stiff- *un (q.v. )
dead-'un (<j.r.)» or afcimer (q.v.)
Sails.
Salt.
with such an entry a bookmaker can
•afely operate (1624).
Sails. Asailmaker (1835). Phrases:
To sail in, to put in an appearance,
or take part in a matter ; to take the
wind out of one's sails, to run foul
of, to spoil sport ; to sail near (close
to, or too near) the wind, (1) to run
risks, (2) to act with caution, (3)
to live closely to one's income, and
(4) to verge upon obscenity; How
you sail about, How you saunter
about.
Sailor's-blessing. A curse.
Sailor's- pleasure. Yarning,
smoking, dancing, growling, etc.
(Clark Russell).
Sailor's- waiter. A second officer
on a merchantman : the crew call
him the sailor's-waiter, as he has to
furnish them with spun yarn, marline,
and all other stuffs that they need in
their work.
Saint. A piece of spoiled timber
in a coachmaker's shop, like a saint,
devoted to the flames (Grose). Phrases
and derivatives : St. Anthony's fig, a
scholar of the City of London School ;
St. Geoffrey's Day, never : see Queen
Dick; St. Giles's breed, fat, ragged,
and saucy (Grose) ; St. Giles's Greek,
cant, slang (q.v.), peddler's French;
St. Lawrence's tears, the Perseides : a
shower of meteors appearing from 9th
to 1 1th August ; St. Lubbock a day, a
bank-holiday; St. Luke's bird, an
ox; St. Marget's ale, water: see
Adam's Ale ; St. Martin's evU, drun-
kenness ; St. Martin's ring, a copper-
gilt ring ; St. Martin's lace, imitation
gold lace, stage tinsel ; St. Monday,
a holiday taken on Monday to re-
cover from the effects of the Sunday's
rest : whence Mondayish, lazy : see
Cobbler's Sunday and Shoemaker's
holiday ; St. Nicholas (see Nicholas) ;
St. Patrick (or St. Patrick's wett), the
best whisky ; to borrow St. John (see
Borrow); to dine with St. Anthony
(cf. Duke Humphrey) ; the 'spital
stands too nigh St. Thomas a' Water-
ings, Widows who shed most tears are
sometimes guilty of such indiscretions
as render them proper subects for
the public hospitals (Haditt) ; saint
of the saucepan, an expert cook.
Sake. For sake's sake (any sake,
goodness sake, etc.), a strong appeal.
For old take's sake, for auld tang syne
(1670).
388
Sal. Salary.
Salad. 1. When an officer oa board
ship is wakened and fails to obey the
summons, but has another nap, it is
called taking a salad. 2. A lettuce.
Salad-days (or Stage). The
days of youthful simplicity, inex-
perience (1608).
Salamander. (1) Anything fire-
proof, and (2) a fire- eating juggler
(circus).
Salesman's -dog. A shop tout,
barker (q.v.).
Salisbury. A lie.
Sally. See Aunt Sally,
Sallinger 's- (or Sallenger 's — i.e.
St Leger's) Round. To dance
SaUinger's - round, to wanton. [Sal-
linger' s round, a loose ballad and tune,
tempus Elizabeth.]
Salmagundy (or Salmon-gundy).
1. Salt beef from the brine, sliced and
mixed with an equal quantity of
onions, with pepper and salt, and
brought into consistence with oil and
vinegar. 2. A cook.
Salmon (or Salomon). The mass,
the Beggar's Sacrament or Oath
(1536).
Salmon-and-trout. The mouth :
see Potato-trap.
Salt. 1. A sailor: esp. an old
hand: also salt-water. 2. Money:
exacted at the now obsolete triennial
festival of the Montem (q.v.) : alao
(generic), a measure of value. 3.
pointed language, wit: whence salt-
pits (old Univ.), The store of attic
wit (1580). As adj., (1) wanton
(1598). Salt-water, urine ; (2) costly,
heavy, extravagant: generic for ex-
cess : e.g. as salt as fire, as salt a*
may be: also salty. As verb, to
swindle: specifically to cheat by
fictitiously enhancing value : e.g.
to salt books, (1) to make bogus en trie*
showing extensive and profitable
business ; to salt an invoice, to charge
extreme prices so as to permit an
apparently liberal discount ; to salt a
mine, to sprinkle (or plant, q.v.) *
worn-out or bogus property with
gold dust, diamonds, etc., with a view
to good sales, and so forth: hence
salter, a fraudulent vendor. (2) To
be-jewell profusely: see To salt a
mine. (3) On a particular day, th#
senior undergraduates in the evening
called th» freshmen to th* fire, »d
Sank.
made them hold out their chins;
whilst one of the seniors with the
nail of his thumh (which was left
long for that purpose) grated off all
the skin from, the lip to the chin,
and then obliged him to drink a beer
glass of water and salt (Martin, First
Lord Shaftesbury, 1. 42). Phrases :
with a grain of salt, under reserve :
Lat. ; not ivorth one** salt, unworthy of
hire ; to eat one's salt, to be received
as a guest or under protection : salt
also, hospitality ; to put (cast, or lay)
salt on the tail, to ensnare, achieve : as
children are told to catch birds ; to
come after with salt and spoons (of one
that is none of the Hastings, J3. J7.) ;
man of salt, a man of tears.
Salt - box. A prison cell : speci-
fically (Newgate), the condemned
cell : Fr., abattoir.
Salt-box-cly. An outside pocket
with a nap.
Saltee (or Saulty). A penny : see
Rhino.
Salt - eel. A rope's-end ; to have
salt -eel lor supper, to be thrashed
(1696).
Salt-horse (or Salt -junk). Salt
beef: also old -horse (or junk) which
see (1857).
Saltimbanco. A street clown, a
Jim Crow, a Billy Barlow : Fr., jritre.
Salt River. A cant phrase : an
unlucky wight, who has tailed to be
elected to some public office, was
rowed up Salt River. If very griev-
ously defeated, they were apt to be
rowed up to the very headwaters of
Salt River (De Fere).
Salts-and-senna. A doctor.
Salubrious. 1. Drunk : see
Screwed. 2. Pretty well, thank you.
Salve. Praise, gammon (q. v. ) ;
of. Lip-salve.
Sam, A Liverpudlian : also
Dicky Sam. To stand Sam, to pay the
shot, to treat (q.v.).
Sambo. A negro : generic : e.
1558, a tribe of Africans is called
Samboses.
Sammy (or Sammy-soft). A
fool. As adj., foolish (1837).
Sample. To drink: see Lush.
Sample-room, a drinking bar.
Sample-count. A traveller, wn-
bassador of commerce (q.v.).
Samson (or Sampson). 1. A
drink made of brandy, cider, fug&r*
and » littfo w»t« (HaUwtli). 2.
(Durham School). A baked jam
pudding.
Samson and Abel (Oxford
University). A group of wrestlers
in the quadrangle of Brasenose
[Some said it represented Samson
killing a Philistine ; others Cain Trilling
Abel : the matter was compromised.]
Samson 's-posts. A mousetrap so
constructed that the capture is
crushed to death.
Sand. 1. Moist sugar, 2. Energy,
spirit, go (q.v.). To eat sand, to
shorten a watch by turning the glass
before it is quite run out, is called
eating of sand. If the sun is not
seen for days together ... it has hap-
pened that an helmsman has eaten so
much sand, that day has been changed
into night, and the night into day
(1743).
Sandbag. 1. A long sausage-like
bag of sand dealing a heavy blow that
leaves no mark : also as verb, and
sandbagger. 2. In pi., The Grenadier
Guards. Also Old Eyes, Coalheavers,
Housemaids' Pets, and Bermuda
Exiles (q.v.).
Sandboy. As happy (jolly, or
merry) as a sandboy, All rags and all
happiness ... a merry fellow who has
tasted a drop (Bee).
Sandgate - rattle. A quick and
violent stamping dance.
Sand-man (or Sandy-man). When
sleepy children begin to rub their
eyes the sand-man (or dustman) is
coming.
Sandpaper. 1. To smooth down.
2. To be well quizzed or roasted (q.v,).
Sandwich. 1. A man carrying
two boards slung over his Bhoulders,
back and front, as an advertisement :
also sandwich man : see Toad-in-the-
hole. 2. A gentleman between two
ladies: cf. Bodkin; Thorn between
two roses, etc. : Fr., dne A deux pan-
ni&res. As verb, to insert between
dissimilars.
Sandwich - boat See Bumping*
race.
Sandy. A Scot: short for Alex-
ander (1500).
Sandy -pate. A red-haired man
or woman.
Sangaree. A. drunken bout
Sank (Sanky, or Centipera).
A soldiers' tailor t whenc* *anfc-vwA,
making tip § oldiert* olothe*.
Sap (Sap head, Sap-pate, or
Sapscull). I. A fool : sappy (or sap-
headed., etc.), foolish, namby-pamby,
lazy (1665). 2. A hard worker,
diligent student, hash (Charterhouse) :
also as verb, to read hard, swot (q.v.).
3. Ale: see Drinks. As verb, to
booze (q.v.): sappy-drinking, ex-
cessive drinking.
Sappy, 1. Severe: of a caning.
2. See Sap.
Sarahs. Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincoln Deferred Stock.
Sarah's Boots. Sierra Buttes
Gold Mining Oo.'s Shares.
Sardine. 1. A sailor: spec, an
old whaling hand. [The living space
on board » whaler is limited.] 2. One
of the crowd : see Herring. Packed
like sardines, huddled. 3. In pi.,
Royal Sardinian Ey. Shares.
Sark (Sherborne School). To sulk.
Sassenger (or sassiger). A
sausage.
Satan's Bones. See Bones.
Sate-poll. A stupid person.
Satin. See White Satin.
Saturday-nighter (Harrow
School). An exercise set for Satur-
day night.
Saturday - scavenger (or scara-
mouch). See Weekly Scarifier,
Saturday-soldier. A volunteer.
Saturday - to - Monday. A week-
end jaunt.
Satyr. A cattle-thief.
Sauce (Sarse, Sass, or Sauti-
ness). 1. Impudence, assurance
(1555) : hence saucy, (a) impudent,
bold, presuming ; and (&) smart (q.v.) ;
as verb (or to eat sauce), to abuse,
Saucebox. 1. The mouth. 2. See
Sauce.
Saucers. Eyea : spec, large, wide-
opened eyes ; also Saucer-eyes (1599).
Saucy Greens. The 2nd Batt.
Worcester Regiment, formerly the
Thirty-Sixth Foot. [From the fac-
inga 1742-1881).
Saucy- Jack, See Saucy, and Jack.
Saucy Pompeys. See Pompadours.
Saucy Sixth (The). The Royal
Warwickshires, formerly The 6th
Foot. Also Guise's Geese; and The
Warwickshire Lads.
Saucy Seventh (The Old).
The Seventh (The Queen's Own)
Hussars (in the Peninsula) : also The
Lily - white Seventh, Young Eyes,
Old Straws, and Strawboots.
Saunter. To loiter idly (B. E.).
Savagerous. Savage.
Save. To sot part of one bet
against another, hedge (q.v.). [Two
persons back differenthorses, agreeing,
tf either wins, to give the other, say
£5, who thus saves a fiver. Also, as
in pool, to save the stakes. Likewise
to keep a certain horse on one side,
not betting against it, saving it as a
clear winner for oneself : hence saver, a
bet so made.] Hang saving, blow the
expense. See Bacon.
Save-all. A stingy person, miser.
Savers. Halves !
Save - reverence. See Sir-Rever-
ence.
Saving-chin. A projecting chin :
that catches what may fall from the
nose : cf. Nutcrackers.
Savey (or Savvy). 1. To know;
as subs., understanding, wit, nous
**o OUWB., uuutaLBi/aiuuiug, WAC, uuua
to lip (q.v.) j sauce. - box (sauce, • pate, (q.v.)- 2. To have, know, do, and all
' " ' " the other verbs that be.
sauceling, or sauce-jack), an imperti-
nent : see Jack-sauce. 2. Vegetables ;
sauce, carrots, parsnips, beet, etc. ;
short-sauce, potatoes, turnips, onions,
etc. : whence any accessory or sequel,
(1705). 3. Money: see Rhino. Phrases:
To serve with the same sauce, to minis-
ter or retaliate in kind (1609) ; Whafs
sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander (1700); tit -for -tat (q.v.);
carrier1*- (or poor man'*-) sauce,
Hunger : cf. Hunger is the best sauce ;
More sauce than pig, exceeding bold.
Saucepan. To have the saucepan
on the fire? to be set on a scolding
Saw. 1. The alternate trumping by
two partners of suits led for the pur-
pose ; a ruff : also see-saw, and as verb.
2. A hoax : also as adj. and verb : Jr.,
scie. Saw your timber 1 Be off \ Cut
your stick (q.v.). Held at the (or a)
long saw, held in suspense.
Sawbones. A surgeon, flesh-
tailor (q.v.).
Sawder (or Soft - sawder). Sof fc
speech, blarney (q.v.).
Sawdust (or Sawdusty). L
Humbug : also as adj. 2. A variety
of the confidence trick.
Sawney (or Sawny). 1. A lout.
bonk frhe saucepan runs (or &otZ«) As adj-Vatapid (1567)." 2. A Soot,
over, You are exceeding bold (B. Jff.). Sandy (q.v.). 3. Baoon; also stolen
Sawneywg.
Soant-of-grace.
cheese ; hence, saumey-hunter, a bacon
thief.
Sawneying. Soft-speaking, pimp-
ing, carneying (q.v.).
Sawyer. A snag: a fallen tree,
rising and falling with the waves.
Say. See Ape's Paternoster ;
Boh ; Jack Robinson ; Knife ; Mouth ;
Nothing ; Parson ; Prayers ; Te Deum ;
Thing; When.
Say-so. An assertion ; also a mild
oath : on my say-so, On my word of
honour : also sammy say - so. You
say you can, but can you? You lie.
Scab. 1. A rascal: spec, a con-
stable or sheriffs officer : often jocular.
Hence scabby (or scab), contemptible ;
beggarly; scabby-sheep, a ne'er-do-
weel: also scabUonian (1591), 2. A
workman who refuses to join, or
continues at work during a strike ; a
blackleg (q.v.) ; generally applied to
all non-Union men: Fr., flint. 3. A
button-hole.
Scabbado. Syphilis (1725).
Scabby. Unevenly printed,
blotchy.
Scabby-neck. A Dane.
Scab - raiser. A drummer. [One
of whose duties was to wield the cat.]
Scad. An abundance : hence in
pi., money, resources.
Scadger. A mean fellow, a
cadger (q.v.).
Scaff (Christ's Hospital). A selfish
fellow : the adj. forms are scaly (and
scabby), mean, stingy.
Scaff - and - raff. Refuse, rabble,
riff-raff (q.v.).
Scaffolders. Spectators in the
gallery, the gods (q.v.) (1599).
Scalawag (or Scallawag). 1.
Anything low class. 2. (Century)
Used in the Southern Statos,during the
Reconstruction period (1865-76) in
an almost specific senses being op-
probriously applied by the opponents
of the Republican party to native
Southerners who acted with that
party, as distinguished from Carpet-
bagger, a Republican of Northern
origin. As aclj-j wastrel, shrunken,
Scaldabanco. * One that keepes a
seate warme, but ironically spoken of
idle lectures that possess© a pewc in the
sohooles or pulpet in churches, and
baffle out they know not what ; also
* hot-headed puritane ' (Florio).
Scatter. Tea.
Scaldingsl (Winchester). Begone!
Be off ! Also a general warning,
Look out 1
Scald-rag. A dyer (1630).
Scaldrum - dodge. The art of
burning the body with a mixture of
acids and gunpowder, so as to suit the
hues and complexions of the accident
to be deplored. Scaldrum, a beggar.
Scales. See Shadscalcs.
Scallops. An awkward girl
(HaUiweU).
Scalp. 1. To sell under price; to
share commission or discount: e.g.
to scalp stock, to sell stock regardless of
value ; ticket-scalping, the sale of un-
used railway tickets, or tickets bought
in quantities as a speculation, at a
cheaper than the official rate ; ticket-
scalper, a ticket broker. 2. (a) To
ostracise for rebellion, and (b) to
ruin one's influence.
Scaly. Shabby, mean, fishy (q.v.).
Scaly-fish. An honest, rough,
blunt sailor (Grose).
Scamander. To loaf (q. v. ).
Scammered. Drunk: see Screwed.
Scamp. 1. A highway robber
(also scampsmari) ; and, 2. highway
robbery (also scampery) : whence as
verb, to rob on the highway ; royal-
scamp, a highwayman who robs
civilly; royal-foot-scamp, a footpad
behaving in like manner ; done for a
scamp, convicted. 3. A rogue ; an
arrant rascal ; sometimes (colloquial)
in jest: hence scampish, roguish,
tricky ; scampery, roguery. As verb]
to do carelessly and ill, give bad work
or short measure.
Scamper. 'To run away, or
Scowro off, either from Justice, or
Thieves, Debtors, Criminals, that are
pursued; or from ill fortune, as
Soldiers that are repulst or worsted '
Scandal-broth (chatter, or
water). Tea, cat-lap (q.r.)-
Scandalous. A periwig.
Scandal - proof. 1. A thorough
pac'd Alsatian, or Minter, one hardened
or past Shame ' (J2f. SI,), 2. * One who
has eaten shamo and drank after it,
or would blush at being ashamed *
(Grose),
S c a n m a g. Scandalous jobber,
pettifogging slander, talk. [Short
and derisive for Scandalum magnatwn.]
Scant - of - grace. A scapegrace
(1821).
Scape.
Scissors.
Scape. A cheat (1599). As verb,
to neglect one's brush (Bee).
Scape-gallows. One -who deserves
but has escaped the gallows (Grose)*
Scape-grace (or thrift). A
good-for-nothing, a ne'er-do-well
(1577).
Scaramouch. 1. A buffoon. 2.
A disreputable rascal. [Stanford : It.
Scaramucciaf the braggart buffoon
of Italian comedy.] (1662). 3. A
puppet.
Scarborough - warning (leisure,
scrabbling). No warning at all; the
blow before the word.
Scarce. To make one's tell scarce,
to retire (3 749).
Scare. To scare up, to find, dis-
cover : e.g. to scare up money.
Scarecrow. A scarecrow is a boy
who has served a thief until he is
well known to the police, and is so
closely watched that he may as well
stay at home as go out.
Scarehead. A line in bold type
calculated to arrest attention.
Scatterling. A vagabond (1599).
Scavenger 's - daughter. An
instrument of torture invented by Sir
W. Skevington, Lieutenant of the
Tower of London, temp. Hen. VHL
Scew. See Skew.
Scellum. A thief: cf. Skellum
(1630).
Scene. An exhibition of feeling
or temper. Behind the scenes, having
access to information not open to the
general public; in the know (q.v.).
Scene-rat. An extra in ballet or
pantomime.
Scheme (Winchester). A candle
on reaching a measured point ignites
paper, which by burning a string
releases a weight; this falls on the
head of a boy to be waked.
Schism-shop. A dissenting meet-
ing-house ; schism-monger, a dissenting
parson: amongst Catholics any Pro-
testant church or chapel.
Schitt (Winchester). A goal: at
football: see Gowner. [Wrench: This
was the word in general use till 186*0,
Scarlet. To dye scarlet, to drink when it was superseded by goal.]
deep (1598). To wear scarlet, (1) to Schliver. A clasp-knife,
win the higher University degrees; " ' J ™
(2) to attain sheriff or aldermanic
rank. [Which were scarlet - robed.]
(1610).
Scarlet - fever. Flirtation with
soldiers: FT., cidotte- (or pantalon-)
rouge : cf. Yellow-fever.
Scarlet - horse. A hired hack
(ttgh-red).
Scarlet Lancers (The). See Bed
Lancers,
Scarlet - runner. 1. A Bow Street
officer, Robin-redbreast ( q. v. ). [They
wore scarlet waiitcoats.] 2. A foot-
Schol (Harrow). 1. A scholar.
2. A scholarship.
School. A party of persons met
together for the purpose of gambling.
Also (modern) any small band of
associates, as thieves or beggars work-
ing together, a set of passengers
travelling regularly by the same train,
etc. Hence schoolman, a companion,
a mate.
Schooling. 1, A term of confine-
ment in a reformatory. 2. Pitch-and-
Scarlet-town. Beading [Berks.]
Scarlet-woman. ~"
Borne.
Scarper. To run away.
Scat. Begone !
S c a t e. A light-heels (HaUiwell).
As verb, to be loose in the bowels
(HdUiweU).
Scatteration. A commotion, dis-
persal. Hence scatterationist, a poli-
tician running his personal fads with-
out reference to either party or public,
Scatterbrain. An unreasoning
MS ; scatterbrained, giddy.
Scattergood. A ip«ndthrift
(1577).
Scatter-gun. A •hot-gun.
School-butter. Aflo: _
Schoolmaster. 1. See Bilk. 2.
mt. <wc "IT'-1 * Ahorse good at jumping : generally
The Church of ridden with one in training.
School - street. The University
(Oxford Univ.).
Schooner. A tall glass: containing
twice the quantity of an ordinary
tumbler : three - masted schooner, a
schooner of extra size. See Prairie
Schooner.
Schwassle - box. See Swatohel-
cove.
Scissorean - operation. Guttiniz
» book. *
Scissors. To give one *ci*sor*, to
pay out, to cut up (q.v.) : also Scittcr* !
an exclamation of duurcuit or im-
patience.
392
Scissors-and-pastc.
Scoundrel.
S cissors-and-paste. Com-
pilation: as distinguished from orig-
inal work : FT., travailler d coups de
ciseaux (to compile).
Scob (Winchester College). An
oak box with a double lid, set at the
angles of the squares of wooden
benches in school : used as desk and
book-case. [Probably the word has
been transferred from the bench itself,
and comes from Fr., escabeau, Lat.,
scabettum.'} Wrench (1620).
Scoff (or Scorf ). 1. To eat : also
as subs., food. 2. To run away,
skedaddle (q.v.) : also to scoff (or
scuff) away.
Scoffer. Plate.
Scoldrum. See Scaldrum.
Schollard. A scholar.
Scolopendra. A prostitute : i.e.
a ramping thing with a sting in its
tail.
Scold's Cure. A coffin: the
blowen has napped the scold's euro ;
the wench is in her coffin (Grose).
Sconce. 1. The head (Grose). 2.
Sense, judgment, brains (1567). 3.
A fine, a score : hence to build a sconce
(or to sconce), (1) to run up a score ;
spec, with no intention of paying ;
(2) to be mulcted in fines ; and (3) to
pay out, to chastise (1630). As verb,
(I to 3), see subs. ; (4) to reduce, dis-
continue : e.g. to sconce one's diet, to
bant (q.v.): to sconce the reckoning, to
reduce expenses ; (6) to hinder, get in
the way : as of a kick at football, a
catch at cricket, etc. : e.g. If you had
not sconced, T should have made a
flyer.
S c o n i c k. To hurry about,
abin about (q.v.) : also to sconick
round.
Scoop. I. A big haul ; an advan-
tage : spec, (journalists') nowa secured
in advance of a rival, a series of beats
(q.v.). 2. On 'Change, a sudden
breaking down of prices, enabling
operators to buy cheaply, followed by
a rise. As verb, (1) to make a big
haul ; (2) to cot the better of a rival ;
(3) to fetch, fit ; (4) to gulp (whalers') :
the whale geta into a patch of food
or brit (resembling sawdust on the
surface of the water) . . . goes through
it with only the head out and mouth
open : as soon as a mouthful of water
U obtained the whale closes its lip»,
eject* the water, the feed being left in
the mouth and throat. On the, scoop,
on the drink, or a round of dissipa-
tion.
Scoot (S k o o t, or Skute). To
move quickly ; on the scoot, on the run ;
scooter, a restless knockabout; scoot-
train, an express.
Scorcher. Anybody or anything
severe, eccentric, or hasty. Spec.
to scorch, to ride a bicycle, drive a
motor, etc., at top speed: whence
scorching, hot (q.v.).
Score. To get the better of : also
to score off one.
Scorf. See Scorf.
Scorpion - of-the-brow.
Accrochecceurs, the beau - catchers,
bell-ropes or aggravators (q.v.).
Scot. 1. A person easily vexed ;
esp. one given to resent company
sport; the diversion is called getting
one out (or round the corner). 2.
Temper, a paddy (q.v.).
Scotch. 1. Scotch whisky: of.
Irish. 2. See Scotch-peg. Phrases:
Scotch-bait, a halt and a resting on a
stick, as practised by pedlars (Grose);
Scotch-casement, the pillory ; Scotch-
chocolate, brimstone and milk ; Scotch-
coffee, hot water flavoured with burnt
biscuit ; Scotch - fiddle, the itch ; to
play the Scotch-fiddle, to work the
index finger of one hand like a fiddle-
stick between the index and middle
finger of the other ; Scotch Oreys, Uco :
hence headquarters of the Scots' Greys
a lowsy head; Scotch-hobby, a little
sorry, scrub bed, low horso of that
country (B* E.) ; Scotch-mist, a soaking
rain ; Scotch-ordinary, the house of
office ; Scotch-peg (rhyming), a leg :
also Scotch; Scotch-pint, a bottle
containing two quarts ; Scotch-prize,
&, capture by iniaiake : of. JOutch ;
Scotch-seamanship, all stupidity and
main strength ; Scotch-ioanning-pan,
a chambermaid ; to answer Scotch
fashion, to reply by asking another
question; cf. Yankee fashion (1675).
Scotchman. A florin. Flying
Scotchman, the daily 2 p.m. express
from JSuston to Edinburgh and the
North: of. Wild Irishman. The
Scotchman hugging the create, a para-
sitical creeper.
Scots (The). The 1st Batt
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), for-
merly The 2ftth Foot (1762).
Scott See Great Scott.
Scoundrel. 1. A Hodg^bird or
sorry Scab (B. tt.). J&. A nuua
Scour.
Scratch.
void of every principle of honour
(Grose).
Scour. To run away : also to scour
away (or off). To scour the darbies
(or cramp-rings), to go (or lie) in
chains (1573).
Scourer (or Scowrer). 1.
Drunkards, beating the watch, break-
ing -windows, clearing the streets, etc.
(B. E.). 2. A night- thief. To scour
the streets, to act riotously (1700).
Scout. LA college servant —
valet, waiter, messenger, etc., in one
(1750). 2. A watchman, or (modern) a
spy, esp. a police spy : hence scout-ken,
a watch-house (1754). 3. A watch
(1088). 4. A mean fellow, scab
(q.v.) (1749). As verb, to shoot
pigeons outside a gun-club enclosure
To scout on the lay, to go in search of
booty (1787).
Scowbank. A term of contempt
for a sailor.
Scrag (or Crag). 1. The neck;
oolquarron (q.v.) : as verb, (1) to
hang ; and (2) to throttle : hence
scragging* an execution: scrag - boy,
the hangman; scragging-post (scrag-
squeezer or scrag), the gallows ; scragg-
*em fair, a public execution (1555).
2. A raw-bones : hence scraggy, lean,
thin. 3. (Shrewsbury School). A
duck's egg and a rent across the paper.
To scrag a lay, to steal clothes put on a
hedge to dry, go snowy-hxinting (q.v.).
Scragg's Hotel. The workhouse.
Scramble. A feed of any
kind : usually with a qualifying subs.:
as tea - scramble, muffin - scramble,
toffee-scramble, etc.
Scran. 1. Food: spec, broken
victuals. 2. Refuse. 3. A meal:
hence scran - oag, a haversack, or
tommy-bag (q.v.) ; on the scran, beg-
ging. Bad scran to yel (Irish), a
mild malediction (1724). 4. The
reckoning at a public-house.
Scrap. 1. A fight, rough-and-
tumble (q.v.) : also scrap-up : hence
scrapping (or scrapping-match), prize-
fighting or boxing; scrapper, a pugil-
ist. 2. A blow ( 1610). 3. A vfflainous
scheme or plot (Grose) ; to whiddle the
whole scrap, to discover a plot.
Scrape. 1. Trouble, difficulty
(1741). 2. An obeisance: also as
verb, to salute by scraping the feet;
scrape-shoe, a sycophant: see Leg
( 1 632). 3. A shave : hence scraper, (a)
a razor, and (5) a barber ; and as verb,
to shave. 4. Cheap butter : whence
bread and scrape, (a) bread very
thinly spread with butter, and (&)
short commons: scrape also, short
shrift. 5. A turn at fiddling : also
scraping ; as verb, to fiddle ; scraper
(or gut scraper), a fiddler: see Cat-
gut-scraper (1607). 6. A miser : also
scraper, scrape - penny, scrape - all,
scrapescaU, and scrapegood : as verb, to
stint, deny (1631). To scrape the
enamel, to scratch the skin: by a falL
See Acquaintance ; Leg.
Scraper. A cocked hat. See Scrape,
Catgut-scraper, Elbow-scraper.
Scraping. A mode of expressing
dislike to a person, or sermon, prac-
tised at Oxford by the students, in
scraping their feet against the ground
during the preachment ; frequently
done to testify their disapprobation of
a proctor who has been, they think, too
rigorous (Grose).
Scrape-trencher. A glutton.
Scrappy (Scrappiness, and
Scrappily). Made up of odds and
ends, in driblets ; without system.
Scratch. 1. A hermaphrodite:
also scrat. 2. A swaggerer (ffalli-
weU). 3. The itch. (EaUiwett) : hence
scratchland, Scotland : of. Scots Greys.
4. A miserly man (HaUiweU). 5. In
handicaps (a) a starting line for those
contestants allowed no odds, (b) the
time of starting, (c) a start, (d) con-
testants starting from the scratch-line ;
in boxing, a hue drawn across the
ring (q.v.) to which boxers are brought
for a set-to : hence to come (or bring)
to (or toe) the scratch, to be ready,
" 6. A fluke (q.v.). As adj.,
for chance: hap-hazard, hasty,
come first served ; thus a scratch-
crew (team, or company), a crew,
etc., got together at short notice and
without special selection; scratch-
race, a contest, unrestricted by con-
ditions, a go-as-you-please affair;
a scratch-meat, a pick-up (q.v.) meal ;
etc., etc. ; also to scratch along, to
manage somehow. As verb, (1) to
expunge, blot-out ; spec, (a) to reject
a horse, a candidate, etc. ; and (&) to
retire; (2) to scribble: as subs., a
scrawl; scratcher (U. S.), » daybook
(1745). Phrases: No great scratch, of
little value; Old Scratch (q.v.); to
scratch one's wool, to try one's memory,
puzzle out; Scratch my breech and Til
claw your elbow, Ka me, Ka thee,
Scratched.
Screwed.
(q.v.); not a sixpence to scratch with
penniless.
Scratched. Drunk: see Screwed
{1630).
Scratcher. An independent
elector, a bolter (q-v.). See Scratch.
Scrawny. A thm, ill-made man or
woman, rasker of wind (q.v.).
Screamer. 1. An exceptional
person or thing : hence screaming, first-
rate, splendid: spec, as causing screams
of laughter. 2. A thief who, robbed
by another thief, applies to the police ;
in American a squealer (q.v.).
Screech. Whisky: see Old
Man's Milk.
Screecher. Anything harsh or
strident: hence screechy, loud
mouthed.
Screed. Screed o' drink, (1) a
full supply ; whence (2) a drinking
bout (1815).
Screen. A bank note (1785).
Hence screen-faking, fingering notes ;
queer-screens, counterfeit paper: cf.
Screeve (1821).
Screeve (or Screave). 1. Any-
thing written : a begging letter, testi-
monial., chalk pavement work, etc. 2.
A bank note (Scots') : cf. Screen.
Screeveton, the Bank of England.
As verb, to write, draw ; screever (or
screeve-faker), (I) a cheeky beggar;
(2) a pavement-artist.
Screw. 1. An extortioner, miser:
as verb, to coerce into paying or
saving money, or making a promise,
yielding one's opinion, vote, person,
etc. : also to screw up (or out), and to put
on (or under or turn) the screw ; screwy
(or screwing), mean (1690). 2. (a) An
unnecessarily minute examination ;
and (b) a screw; the instructor is often
designated by the same name. H. An
old or worthless horso: whence (loosely)
anything old; screwy, worn-out, worth-
less (1835). 4. A small roll of tobacco :
usually costing Id. 5. (common).
Money earned. 6. A turnkey : FT.,
ra/ and griffteur : as verb, to imprison :
also to put under the screw ; screwing ;
a term of imprisonment (1821). 7.
A skeleton-key: as verb, to burgle:
spec, by means of false keys; the
screw (or screw - game), burglary*;
gcreweman, a burglar ; also to stand on
ike screv) (Grose), the door ia not boltod,
merely looked. 8. A prostitute. 9.
A dram, pick-me-up (q-v.). 10. A
etomacb-ache (SaUiweU), A screw
, something wrong (Grose: a
complete flash phrase).
Screwed (or Screwy). Drunk,
tight (q.v.). Synonyms; [Further
lists will be found under Drinks,
Drunk, D.T.'s, Gallon - distemper,
Lush, Lush-crib, and Lushington.]
To be afflicted, afloat, alecied, all at
sea, all mops-and-brooms, in one's
armour, in one's altitudes, at rest,
Bacchi plenus, battered, be-argered,
beery, bemused, a bit on, blind,
bloated, blowcd, blued, boozed, bosky,
a brewer, bright in the eye, bubbed,
budgy, huffy, bung - eyed, candy,
canon (or cannon), chirping - merry,
chucked, clear, clinched, concerned,
corked, corkscrewed, corky, corned,
crooked, In one's cups, cup-shot, cut,
dagged, damaged, dead - oh ! dis-
guised, disorderly, doing the Lord (or
.Emperor), done over, down (with
barrel-fever : see Gallon-distemper),
dull in the eye, full of Dutch-courage,
electrified, elephant's - trunk (rhym-
ing), elevated, exalted, far gone,
feeling funny (or right royal), fettled
(or in good fettle), fighting-tight (or
drank), flawed, floored, fluffed, flum-
moxed, flushed, flustered, flustrated,
flying-high, fly-blown, fogged (ot
foggy), fou (Scots), on fourth, foxed,
fresh, fuddled, full, full-flavoured, full
to the bung, fuzzy, gay, gilded, glori-
ous, grape-shot, gravelled, greotm'-
fou% groggy, hanood, half-seas-over,
happy, hard-Tip, hazy, heady, hearty,
helpless, hiocius-doccius, hickey, high,
hockey, hpodman, in a difficulty (se«
Gallon - distemper), incog, inspired,
jagged, jolly, jug-bitten, kounurd
(back slang, drunk), all keyhole* kisk,
knocked - up, leary, lion drunk, in
Liquor-pond Street-loaded, looking,
lively, lumpy, luahy, making inder,-
tures with one's legs, molted, martin
drunk, mashed, mellow, miraculous,
mixed, moony, mopped, moppy,
mortal, muckibus, muddled, mugged,
muggy, muzzy, nappy, naso (or nazy),
noddy - headed, noggy, obfuscated,
oddish, off (oft at tiao nail, or one's
nut), on (also on the bond, boor,
batter, fuddle, mntldlo, sentry, skyto
spree, etc. : see .Flare-up and Floored),
out (also out of funds, register, al-
titudes, etc.), overcome, ovorsoen,
overshot, over - sparred* overtaken,
over the bay, palatio, paralysed,
peckish, a peg too W, pepat, plokled,
Scribttcr's-ktck.
Song.
woods, inlaid with hundreds of other
pieces of precious woods of various
shapes and shades. Also scrimshon
and scrimshorn.
Scrip. A promise to pay in
writing.
Scroby. To be tipped the acrdby
(or claws) for breakfast, to be whipped
before the justices (Grose).
, , , , Scroof (or Scroofer). A para-
smeekit, smelhng of the cork, snapped, site : as verb, to sponge (q.v.).
snuffy, snug, so, soaked, sow-drunk, Scrope. A farthing- see Rhino,
spiffed, spoony - drunk, spreeish, Scrouger. Anj thing excep-
sprung, squiffed (or squiffy), stale- tional in size, quality, capacity, etc.
piper - drunk (or merry), ploughed,
poddy, podgy, potted-off, pot-shot,
pot-sick, pot-valiant, primed, pruned,
pushed, queered, quick - tempered,
raddled, rammaged, ramping-mad,
rather touched, rattled, reeling (or
tumbling), ripe, roaring, rocky, salu-
brious, scammered, scooped, sewn up,
shaky, three (or four) sheets in the
wind, shot, shot in the neck, slewed,
drunk, starchy, swattled, swiggled,
swilled, swinnied, swine-drunk, swiped
(or swipey), swivelly, swizzled, taknig
it easy, tangle-footed, tap-shackled,
taverned (also hit on the head by a
tavern bitch, or to have swallowed a
tavern token), teeth under, thirsty,
tight, tipsy, top-heavy, topay-boosy,
tosticated, under the influence, up a
tree, up in one's hat, waving a flag of
defiance, wet, wet - handed, what-
nosed, whipcat (Florio), whittled,
winey, yappish (yaupy or yappy).
Also, to have a guest in the attic, the
back teeth well afloat, a piece of bread
and cheese in the head, drunk more
than one has bled, the sun in one's
eyes, a touch of boskiness, a cup too
much, a brick in the hat, a drop in the
eye, got the flavour, a full cargo aboard,
a jag on, a cut leg, the malt above the
wheat, one's nuff, one's soul in soak,
yellow fever. Also, to have been
barring too much, bitted by a barn
mouse, driving the brewer's horse,
biting one's name in, dipping rather
deep, making M*s and T's, paid,
painting the town red, shaking a
cloth in the wind. Also, to wear a
barley cap, to cop the brewer, to let
the finger ride the thumb, to lap the
gutter, to need a reef taken in, to see
the devil, to take a shard (or shourd),
to shoe the goose, to see one
apiece.
Scribbler's- luck. An empty
purse and a full hand.
Scribe. See One eyed Scribe.
Scrimshanker. A loafer: of.
Bloodsucker; whence tcrimshanb to
shirk duty*
(1847).
Scroyle. A diseased wretch: Fr.,
Arouelles, King's-evil (1596).
Scrub. 1. Any mean, or ill-con-
ditioned person or thing; as adj.,
paltry, mean : also scrubbed, and
scrubby ; scrub-race, a contest between
contemptible animals (1598). 2.
(American University). A servant.
As verb (Christ's Hospital), (1) to
write fast: e.g. scrub it down: also as
subs., handwriting [Lat., scribere];
(2) to drudge.
Scrubbado. The itch (1 696),
Scrubber, subs. (Australian).
Cattle left to run wild in the moun-
tains (1859).
Scrubbing (Winchester) : obsolete.
A flogging of four cuts.
Scrudge. A prostitute.
Scruff. The lowest quality of cod.
As verb, to hang : see Ladder.
Scrumptious. First - class, nice,
fastidious (1835).
Scrunch. 1. A hard bite, crushing
blow ; and 2. (figuratively) a complete
effect of tyranny ; as verb, to crush,
grind down, squeeze; tcnmc&er, a
glutton.
Scud. (1) A fast runner; and
(2) a hot spin (q.v.); (3) in pi.,
money: see Rhino. As verb, to
sail, ride, or run very fast
Scuddick. 1. The smallest item of
value. 2. Generic for money.
Scuff. A crowd.
Scuffle - hunter. A loafer about
wharfs, quays, and warehouses under
pretence of asking employment as
porters and labourers: their chief
object is to pillage and plunder what-
Scrimshaw (or Scrimshander). ,,, ------ ___ s ____ r
The art, if art it be, of manufacturing ever comes in their way.
useful and ornamental articles at sea : Scufter. A polico officer.
handsome writing desks, toilet boxea, Scug (Eton and Harrow).
and work-box«i mad* of forwgn sneak (q,v.) ;» pl«y-c*d (q,r.).
396
See.
Sculduddery (or Skulduggery),
Bawdry ; also as adj. (1713).
Scull (University). 1. The head
(or master) of a College ; hence scull-
race, an examination. 2. In pi., a
waterman using a pair of sculls or
short oars (q.v.). 3. A one-horse
chaise or buggjy (1785).
Scullery-science. Phrenology.
Scull - thatcher. 1. A wig-maker
(1785). 2. A hatter: see Nob-
thatcher.
Sculpin. A mean or mischief -
making fellow [Local slang, New
Eng.] (Century).
Scum. The Riff-raff, or Tagrag
and Long - tail (B. E.). As adv.,
enough.
Scumber (or scummer). Excre-
ment : as verb, to defecate (1598).
Scumble. To glaze a picture.
Scurf. A shabby fellow. As
verb, to arrest ; lay hold of (1785).
Scurrick. A halfpenny : see
Rhino.
Scurry. A short race run for
amusement by inferior horses or non-
winners : of. Scab-race.
Scute. A small coin : hence a
low standard (1596).
Scuttle. 1. An affected gait. 2. A
hasty move ; a bolt (q.v.) : as verb,
to run off (1704). As verb (Christ's
Hospital, Hertford), (1) to cry out
under oppression, to attract ih© atten-
tion of the authorities ; hence scuttle-
cat, one who scuttles (obsolete) ; (2) to
stab. To scuttle a nob, to break a
head. On ike scuttle, on a round of
dissipation.
Scuttling. A practice once very
prevalent within the county of Lan-
caster. The offence was committed
by a body of young persons, male and
female, belonging to one part of the
city, who had a real or fancied griev-
ance against another similar body
of persons from an adjacent part.
The opposing forces were armed with
belts with largo buckles to them,
knives, pokers, stones, and the like,
and the mobs so armed turned out at
times for a regular affray, and in-
flicted serious injuries upon one
Another. Not only did these roughs
water into conflict with others o£ a
similar class, but they frequently
Attacked unoffending passers-by.
Scuttle - mouth. A targe-ehelled
oy»t«r.
Sea. At tea, puzzled, wide
of. Half -seas - over. Phrases and
combinations : Sea - crab, a sailor ;
sea-dog, (1) a privateer (temp. Eliz.),
and (2) a sailor; spec, an old salt
(q.v.) ; sea-galloper, a special corres-
pondent ; sea-grocer, a purser ; sea-
lawyer, (1) a shark, and (2) a captious
or scheming fo'csle hand : whence
sea-lawyering, argument with officers ;
sea-legs, ability to walk the deck of a
rolling ship without staggering ; sea-
wag, an ocean-going vessel; sea-rat
(old), a pirate: cf. River-rat; sea-
rover, a herring : eoe Atlantic ranger ;
son of a sea-cook, a nautical term of
abuse ; sea-connie (or cwwu'e), (1) the
helmsman on an Indian trader, and
(2) a Lascar quartermaster ; tea-coal,
money.
Seal. A preacher is said to be
owned when he makes many con-
verts, and his converts are cafied his
seals. In Mormon phraseology, all
wives taken after the first are called
spiritual wives, and are said to be
sealed to the husband . . . under the
solemn sanction of the church, and
ia all respects, in tho same relation to
the man as the wife that was first
married.
Sealer. One that gives bonds and
judgments for goods and money
(£. 18.) : see Squeeze- wax.
Seam. See White-seam.
Sear. Light (or tickle) of the sere,
•wanton, fond of bawdy laughter
(1596).
Seat See Back-seat.
S e a t - of - Honour, (Shame, or
Vengeance). The posteriors (1725).
Secesh. Sec Blue Beilios.
Second. See Bow, Chop, Kddte,
and String.
Second Peal. See Peal.
Second - timer. A prisoner twice
convicted.
Secret. Let into the secret, when
one is drawn in at horse-racing, cook-
fighting, bowling, and other sports
or games, and bit (B, &). In the
grand secret, dead.
Sedgley - curse. *A Sedgly curse
light on him, which is, Pedro, Th«
fiend ride through him booted and
spurred With a sythe at his back1
(Fletcher).
See. 1. In pi., the eyes (1785)
also seer, the eye. 2. A aight, glance.
As verb, (1) to b«U«ve, credit, oon-
Set.
sent/: e.g. I don't see that. Phrases:
To see it out, (1) to finish a matter, (2)
to keep up a carouse, and (3) to come
to an understanding, or know the
reason why; to see one through, to
help to a finish ; to see a man, to have
a drink ; to see the devil, to get tipsy :
see Screwed ; to see the back of, to get
rid of ; to see one coming, to impose on ;
to see double, (1) to be drunk : see
Screwed, and (2) to squint ; to see
one's aunt, to evacuate : see Bury a
Quaker ; to see as far into a millstone
(or milestone) as — , to be as able or
cute as — ; to see stars (spots or candles),
to be dazed : spec, from a blow. Also
see Brickwall, Elephant, Show, etc.
Seed. Run to seed, shabby, gone
off the bloom, seedy (q.v.).
Seedy. Generic for depreciation,
(1) weak or out-of -sorts in health,
(2) worn or out at elbows in dress,
(3) poor in pocket, (4) suspicious or
shady in character. Hence, seedi-
ness (1743).
Seek. To seek others and lose one-
self, to play the fool (1598).
Seek - sorrow (or trouble). A
whining malcontent (1580).
Seeley's pigs. Pig iron in Govern-
ment dockyards. [Some of the yards
were half paved with pigs, which
waste was brought to public notice by
Mr. Seeley, M.P. for Lincoln.]
See -saw. A double ruff (q.v.), a
saw (q.v.) : at whist.
S e g g o n. A term of contempt :
spec, a poor labourer. Also seg-head,
a blockhead ; seg-kite, an over-grown
and greedy person (1577).
Sell. A successful hoax, swindle :
see Gammon. As verb, to betray,
impose on, swindle; see Bargain,
Whence to sell a pup, to fool ; to be
sold like a buUock in Smithfield, to
fall badly by treachery ; Sold again I
Done ! (q.v.) (1597).
Semi-bejan. See Bejan.
Semper (Winchester). A very
common prefix ; e.g. a boy was said to
be semper continent, tardy, or ex-
trumps if he was often at Sick House,
or late for Chapel, or habitually went
up to Books without having looked at
his lessons. An official who was
always at the College meetings went
by the name of Semper Testis ( Mans-
field].
Send. To send up, to commit to
prison, fully (q.v.) (1852). To send
308
down (or away), (1) to expel ; and (2)
to rusticate (q.v.) (1714). To send in,
to drive or break in : Hand down the
jemmy and send it in ; apply the crow
to the door and drive it in (Grose).
See Coventry, Daylight, Flea in the
ear, Green River, Owls, Packing, Salt
River, Up.
Send - off. A start, God - speed.
Send-off notice, an obituary (1870).
Sender. A severe blow.
Sensation. A small quantity; as
much as can be perceived by the
senses : spec, a half-quartern.
Sense. To feel, take in, under-
stand (1651).
Sentimental - club (The). The
Athenaeum.
Sentinel. A wake candle, glim
(q.v.) : Er., flambarde.
Sentry. On sentry, drunk : see
Screwed.
Sentry - box. Chelsea Hospital to
a sentry-box, a fanciful bet.
Sep. A cadet joining in Sep-
tember.
Separate. The first eleven, or
twelve months* probationary im-
prisonment, solitary confinement.
Serene. See All Serene.
Sergeant. See Come.
Sergeant - major. A fat loin of
mutton.
Sergeant-major's brandy- and -
soda. A gold-laced stable jacket.
Sergeant - major's wash cat.
(1) A new kit; and (2) the troop store-
man.
Serpent. Stung by a serpent,
with child (Ray). To hold a serpent
by the tail, to act foolishly.
Servant. A lover en parade
(1396).
Serve. 1. To rob: e.g. I served
him for his thimble, I robbed him of
his watch (1785). 2. See Servant,
and Time, 3. To find guilty, convict,
and sentence (1785). 4. To maim,
wound, punish (q.v.) : whence to
serve wd, to take revenge ; to serve out
and out, to kill (1785). To serve up,
to ridicule. See Slops.
Sessions. An exclamation of sur-
prise,
Set. LA determined stand ; to
get set, to collar the bowling. 2. A
grudge, a sustained attack : in argu-
ment or conduct: also dead-set.
Phrases : To set the hare's head to the
goose giblets, to balance matters, give
Set-back.
STiack.
tit for tat; to set jewels, to take the
best portions of a clever book not
much known to the general public, and
incorporate them quietly in a new work
by a thoroughly original author : the
credit of this term belongs to Mr.
Charles Reade, who explained that the
process is accountable for the presence
of some writing by one Jonathan
Swift, in a story published at Christ-
mas, 1872, and called The Wander-
ing Heir; aU set, desperate fellows,
ready for any kind of mischief (Dun-
combe). See Cap, Dead - set, Bars,
Hard-set, Shoulder, Wheel.
Set-back. See Back-set.
Set - down. 1. A snub ; an un-
expected or overwhelming
also as verb, to take to
get the better of (1749). 2.
meal.
Set-off. 1. A contrast, an alter-
native, a quid pro quo (q.v.) (1749).
2. An adornment, an ornament (1619).
Set-out A company, clique,
display, or turn-out — any arrange-
ment, state of things, or event (1816).
Setta. Seven : also setter.
Setter. 1. 'The nature of the
Setter is to draw any person famili-
arly to drinke with him, which person
they call the bowe' (Qrose); 'They that
draw hi Bubbles, for old Gamesters
to Book; also a Sergeant's Yeoman,
or Bailiff's Follower, or Second, and
an Exoize-Officer to prevent the
Set-up. 1. Port, bearing, carriage.
2. A treat (q.v.) ; to set up, to stand
Sam: cf. Set-down. As adv., con-
ceited.
Seven. To be more than seven,
wide-awake : also, more than twelve.
Sevendible. A very curious word,
used only in the North of Ireland, to
denote something particularly severe,
strong, or sound. It is, no doubt,
derived from sevondouble — that is,
sevenfold — and is applied to linen
cloth, a heavy beating, a harsh repri-
mand, etc, (Gotten).
Seven-pennorth (or Sevenpence).
Seven years' imprisonment (1821).
Seven - year. A long time : pro-
verbial (1660).
Severely. A generic intensitive :
e.g. to be left severely alone, to be
altogether neglected.
Sew. To sew up one's stocking, to
silence, confute (1859).
Sewed up (pugilists'). 1. Severely
punished: spec, with bloated eyes. 2.
Exhausted, drunk, sick. 3. Grounded :
also Sued up.
Sewer. 1. The Metropolitan and
Metropolitan District Railways. 2.
In pi., Tho East London Railway
Shares. Common - sewer, (1) an in-
discriminate tippler ; (2) the throat ;
and (3) a recoive-all (1749).
Sex. The sex, womankind.
Sey (Se, or Say). Yes : pronounced
See.
elbows; and (2) moan, base, seedy
(q.v.) : whence shabbaroon (shabroon,
ahdbrag, or shdbster), a ragamuffin, a
mean-spirited follow (B. E.}: also
shabby - genteel, aping gentility, but
really shabby; to ahab off, to sneak or
slide away (B. 18.) (1C80). 2. To
scratch oneself : like a lousy man or
the Disposition and Avenues of
Houses, and bring notice of the
Booty * (Hall) ; also (modern) a police
spy: see Nark (1691). 2. A runner-
up of prices ; a bonnet (q.v.). Clock-
setter, (1) one who tampers with the
clock to shorten his watch ; also (2)
a busy - body, a sea - lawyer (q.v.)
(Century). w o
Settle. 1. To knock down, do Shabby -woman (The). The
for (q.v.); to settle one's hash (see statue of Minerva which guards the
Hash) ; hence settler, (a) a knock- portal of the Athonomm, and looks so
down blow ; and (o) a finishing stroke, little like * Eve on hospitable thoughts
2. To give (or get) penal servitude for intent * — for since the Athenseum Club
1:*~ was established, no member has ever
afforded the simplest rites of hospit-
ality to a friend (1 804).
Shack, 1. A shiftless fellow, a
vagabond : also shackaback, shaoKbag,
shaclcrag, a shakerag : as verb, to go on
tramp, to idle, to loaf ? a* adj. (also
life.
Settler. 1. A parting drink : see
Screwed. 2. See Settle.
Set-to. 1. A bout at fisticuffs,
with, or without, the gloves. 2.
Determined opposition. Also as
verb.
390
SJiacUe.
Shake-down.
shack-nasty), contemptible : cl shag-
bag (1740). 2. A log cabin: the
average shack comprises but one
room, and is customarily roofed with
earth, supported by poles : in Canada
shack, dwelling. 3. A misdirected or
returned letter.
Shackle. A raffle.
Shackly (or Shackling). Rickety,
ramshackle (q.v.).
Shack-stoner. Sixpence.
Shad. A prostitute.
Shadbelly. A Quaker: the
Quaker coat from neck to skirt follows
the ventral line of the shad — hence
shad-bellied, sloping in front like a
Quaker coat : cf . Cutaway.
Shade. In pi., wine-vaults. As
verb, to conceal, keep secret.
Shadkin. A marriage-broker.
Shadow. 1. A spy or close at-
tendant : e.g. (a) & detective ; (b) a
dress-lodger's (q.v.) guard ; (c) a
bosom friend; and (d) a jackal (q.v.):
as verb, (1) to track, spy, dog (q.v.) ;
and (2) to be inseparable (1607). 2.
(Westminster School). When a boy
is first placed in the school, he is
attached to another boy in the same
form, something in the relation of an
apprentice ; the new boy is called the
shadow, the other the substance ; in
the first week the shadow follows the
substance everywhere, takes his place
next to him in class . . . and is exempt
from any responsibility for his own
mistakes in or out of school ; during
this interval of indulgence his patron
is expected to initiate him in all the
work of the school ... in short to teach
him by degrees to enter upon ... a
responsible existence of his own
(Collins). May your shadow never
be (or grow) less, may you prosper 1
Shadrach. A mass of badly
smelted iron. [Cf. Daniel, iii. 26, 27.]
Shadscales (or Scales). Money:
generic : see Rhino.
Shady. Generic for decadence
and deterioration — moral, physical,
and material ; hence, on the shady
fide of [e.g. 40], beyond (or older)
than 40 years of age ; to keep shady, to
keep in the background, to be cautious
and reticent (1852). The shady
groves of the Evangelist, St. John's
Wood.
Shaft. To make a shaft (or a
bolt) for it, to take a risk for what it is
worth, to venture (1696).
400
Shaftsbury. A gallon-pot full of
wine, with a cock (B. E., c. 1696).
Shag. To shag back, to hesitate,
to hang back, to refuse a fence. .4*
wet as a shag, as wet as may be. [Shag,
cormorant].
Shag- (or shake-) bag (or rag).
1. A poor shabby fellow (B. E.) ; a
man of no spirit : a term borrowed
from the cook-pit (Grose) : originally,
a beggarly soldier : also as adj., mean,
beggarly (1588). 2. A fighting-cock;
and so, by implication, a hen of the
game (q.v.) (1700).
Shake. 1. Standard of value:
usually in the phrase no great shakes;
anything of small account. 2. A
show. Fair shakes, a tolerable bargain
or chance. 3. In pi., generic for
unsteadiness : specifically delirium
tremens. 4. A fad : also in combina-
tion : as the milk-shake,, the vegetarian
shake, etc. ; shook on, in love with. 5.
Generic for quick action: e.g. a great
shake, a quick pace; in a brace (or
couple) of shakes (or in the shake of a
lamb's tail), instantly. As verb, (1) to
steal: e.g. to shake a swell, to rob a
gentleman; to shake a chest of slop, to
steal a chest of tea ; to be shook of a skin,
to be robbed of a purse ; Have you
shook ? Have you stolen anything, etc.;
(2) to shake hands ; generally Shake !
(3) to throw dice, or (printers') quads,
to gamble : see Jeff ; and to shake an
elbow (q.v.) (1623) ; 4. to turn one's
back on, to desert. Phrases and
colloquialisms: More than one can
shake a stick at, past counting;
nothing worth shaking a stick at, worth-
less; to shake a foot (toe, or leg), to
dance ; to shake a loose leg (see Leg) ;
to shake together, to get on well or
smoothly ; to shake up, to upbraid ;
to shake a fall, to wrestle; to shake
up, to scold ; to shake, a cloth in the
wind, to be hanged; to shake down,
(1) (see Shake -down), and (2) to ac-
commodate oneself to, to settle down ;
to shake the ghost into one, to frighten ;
to shake the bullet (or red rag), (1) see
Bullet and Red, and (2) to threaten to
discharge (tailors'); fo shake up, to
get (American); You may go and
shake your ears, advice to one who ha*
lost his money (Ray) (1602).
Shake-buckler. A swash-buckler,
a buUy (1570).
Shake - down. 1. An improvised
bed: also as verb, to »teep on »
Shake-lurk.
Shape.
temporary substitute for a bed. 2.
A brothel kept by a panel- thief (q.v.).
3. A rough dance, a break-down (q.v.).
Shake-lurk. A begging petition:
specifically one on account of ship-
wreck : shake-glim, one for fire.
Shaker. 1. The hand : see Daddle.
2. A shirt: see Fleshbag. 3. An
omnibus.
Shakerag. See Shagbag.
Shakester. See Shickster.
Shake-up. A commotion, a dis-
turbance.
Shaky. Anything questionable :
generic — unstable, insolvent, unwell,
dishonest, immoral, drunken, ignor-
ant. Shakiness, hesitancy, degeneracy
(1841).
Shaler. A girl.
Shalley-gonahey. A smock-frock.
Shallow. 1. An empty-headed
Justice of the Peace (cl Shakespeare,
* 2 Hen. IV.* ra. ii.) : whence, 2. a fool ;
also shallow - ling and shallow pate
(1615). 3. A low - crowned hat, a
whip - hat : whence litty - shallow, a
white whip-hat. 4. (a) The peculiar
barrow used by street traders (also
Trolley and Whitechapel brougham :
Ex., bagnole) ; and (6) a square and
oval willow basket, about four inches
deep, and thirty inches long, by
eighteen broad. 5. A man who goes
about half-naked, telling frightful
tales about shipwrecks, hair-breadth
escapes from houses on fire, and such
like calamities : also Shivering Jemmy*
To live shallow, to live quietly and in
retirement, as when wanted (q.v.).
Sham. 1. Generic for false. As
subs., (a) a cheat, a trick ; (&) a sub-
stitute, as a pillow-sham, false sleeves,
fronts, or cuffs : as adj., spurious,
counterfeit: as verb, to cheat; to
feign : also to cut a sham, to play the
rogue ; shamocrat, one who apes rank
or wealth (1677). 2. Champagne, boy
(q.v.): also shammy. See Abraham;
Snite.
Shamble. In pi., the legs. Whence
Shake your shambles* Begone ! As verb,
to walk awkwardly. Shamble-legged,
shuffling.
Shambrogue. The shamrock : also
shamroot (1Q13).
Shameless. A bold forward
blade (5. J0.)-
Sham - leggar. A man offering
•worthless stuff for sale cheap.
Shammock. To loaf (q.v.).
401
Shamrock. To drown the sham-
rock, to go Drinking on St. Partick's
Day (Mar. 17th).
Shan (or Shand). Ease com :
hence as adj., worthless (1815).
Shandrydan (or Shandry). A
light two-wheeled, one-horsed cart :
hence, any old rickety trap (1843).
Shandy -gaff. Beer and ginger-
beer (1853).
Shaney (or Shanny). A fool
(1800).
Shanghai. 1. A tall dandy [Bart-
lett : In allusion to the long-legged
fowls from Shanghai, all the rage a
few years ago.] 2. A catapult: also
as verb. 3. A glaring daub required
by frame-makers for cheap auctions ;
they are turned out at so much by the
day's labour, or at from 12 dollars to
24 dollars a dozen, by the piece ; all
the skies are painted at once, then all
the foregrounds ; sometimes the
patterns are stencilled; the dealer
attaches the semblance of some well-
known name, of which there are
several, and without initials. 4.
Drugging a sailor, when he enjoys
himself after a long cruise, on shore,
and carrying him, while in a state of
insensibility, to a vessel about to
depart, where he finds himself, upon
his recovery, entered in all forms on
the book.
Shank. 1. In pi, the legs ; gams
(q.v.) ; to shank it (or to ride shanks' s
mare, or nag), (1) to go on foot or by
the Marylebone stage (q.v.) : and (2)
to leave without ceremony ( 1302). 2.
The fag end.
Shannon. It is said, persons
dipped in that river are perfectly and
for ever cured of bashfulness (Grose).
Shant. A quart ; a pot : e.g.
shard of gatt&r, a pot of beer. Also
shanty.
Sha'n't, Shall not. Now we
shan't be long, It's all right : a general
note of satisfaction or agreement :
a street catch of the late nineties.
Shanty. 1. A rough and tumble
hut. 2. A public - house. 3. A
brothel 4. A quart. 5. Beer money ;
also as verb, (1) to dwell in a hut, (2)
to take shelter. 6. See Chantey.
Snap. In pi., leather overalls,
with tags and fringes down the seams.
Shape. In pi., (1) an ill-made
man, and (2) a. tight - laoed girl
Hence to show one'* jnhcvpe, (1) to strip :
Shappu.
Shaver.
specifically (old) to peel (q.v.) at the
whipping-post, and (2) to turn about
and march off ; stuck on one's shape,
pleased with one's appearance ; There's
a shape for you, an ironical comment
on a skeleton-like person or animal —
rack-of -bones (q.v.) ; to travel on one's
shape, to swindle, to live by one's
appearance ; to spoil one's shape, to
be got with child ; shape - smith, a
stay - maker ; in good shape, quite
correct; to cut tip (or show) one's
shape, to frolic. As verb, to turn
out ; to behave (1369).
Shappo, A hat, the newest Cant.
Nab being very old, and grown too
common (B. E.) ; also shappeau,
ehoppo, shopo, shapo [!Pr., chapeau].
Shard. To take a shard, to get
tipsy : see Screwed.
Share-penny. A miser, a skin-
flint (q.v.) (1606).
Shark. 1. A greedy adventurer,
a swindler : also sharker. As verb
(or to live on the shark), to live by
roguery or thieving. Whence shark-
gvU, a flat-catcher (q.v.) ; to shark up,
to press, to enlist on terms of piracy ;
sharking, (1) roguery, and (2) greedy,
tricky (1590). 2. A custom-house
officer : also in pL, the press-gang. 3.
One of the first order of pickpockets
(Bow St. term, A.D. 1785 — Grose).
4. A recruit. 5. At Yale, reck-
less absence from college duties: of
persons and conduct. 6. A lean
hungry hog (Bartiett). As verb, (1)
to fawn for a dinner; (2) see
subs.
Sharp. 1. A swindler, 'one that
lives by his Witts' (B. E.) a rook,
(q.v,) : the opposite of flat (q.v.) :
also sharper: cf. Sharker: as verb,
to cheat ; sharping (or on the sharp)
subs, and adj., swindling; sharper's
tods, (1) fools, and (2) false dice:
see Bible-sharp and Mats-and-sharps
(1688). 2. A pointed weapon: a
sword as contrasted with a foil. 3.
An expert. As adj., subtil, ready,
quick or nimble-witted, forward, of
lively apprehension; also poor and
needy (J3. E.). As adv., to the
moment: e.g. I'll be there at five
o*clock sharp. Mr. Sharp, a similar
expression to e two-pun-ten ' (q.v,), to
signify that a customer -of suspected
honesty is about : the shopman asks
one of the assistants, hi a voice loud
to be generally heard, Has
Mr. Sharp come in yet ? the signal is
at once understood, and a general
look-out kept (Hotten). Sharp as the
corner of a round table, stupid. Sharp's
the word / 1. Of any one very attentive
to bis own interest, and apt to take
all advantage: sometimes with and
quick's the motion (Grose) j also, 2. a
call to brisk movement, or ready
obedience (1706).
Sharp's Alley Bloodworms.
1. Beef sausages; and 2. black
puddings (a noted abattoir near
Smithfield).
Sharp-set. 1. Hungry ; 2. hard-
driven (1577).
Sharpshin. The smallest quantity.
Sharpshooter. A swift clipper-
built schooner. See Devil's sharp-
shooters.
Sharp stick. Persecution, retri-
bution.
Shatterbrain (or pate). A
giddy person; scatterbrained (or
pated), heedless, weak in intellect : see
Shitterbrain and Shuttlehead.
Shave. 1. A narrow escape, a
squeak (q.v.) : usually with close,
near, etc. : whence to make a shave (or
to shave through), to get through by
the sMn of one's teeth (1844). 2. A
false report, a practical joke, a sell
(q.v.) (1854). 3. A money considera-
tion paid for the right to vary a con-
tract, by extension of time for delivery
or payment, etc. 4. The proportion of
the receipts paid to a travelling com-
pany by a local manager. See Shaker.
As verb, to extort, to strip, to cheat
(1548); hence sJwtving (or shavery),
(1) usury, and (2) overcharge (with
drapers called shaving the ladies}-.
also shaver, (1) a cheat, a swindler;
(2) a banker, broker, or money-lender
given to usury; and (ft) shaver (q.v.) :
whence shaving-shop, a wild-cat bank
(q.v.); shaving-terms, make all you
can (1548).
Shaved. Drunk: see Screwed
(1598).
Shaveling (or Shorling). I. A
monk: cf. Beardling: also, 2. Bee
Shaver (1563).
Shaver. 1. A fellow; a party:
spec, (modern), a more or less pre-
cocious youngster. 2. A child, and
occasionally a woman : also Shaveling
and Shave, verb (1586). 3. A short
jacket, bum-perisher (q.v,), 4. S*e
Shave.
402
Shell.
Shavings. The clippings of
money (B. !$.).
Shay. A chaise.
She. 1. A woman : also she-one :
of. He, a man: hence She-howe, a
house tinder petticoat rule; she-
school, a girls' school (1602). 2.
(Charterhouse). A plum pudding:
also shee : of . He.
Shearer's Joy (Australian). Colon-
ial beer.
Shears. Pair of shears, a striking
likeness ; little or no difference : e.g.
There's a pair of shears, they're as
like as two peas. See Knight.
Shebang. A room, a shop, a hut,
a tent, a cabin ; an engine-house. [De
Vere : — Shehang . . . used even yet by
students of Yale College and elsewhere
to designate their rooms or a thea-
trical or other performance in a public
hall, has its origin probably in a cor-
ruption of the French cdbane, a hut,
familiar to the troops that came from
Louisiana, and constantly used in
the Confederate camp for the simple
huts, which they built with such
alacrity and skill for their winter
quarters.]
Shebeen. (I) Any unlicensed place
where excisable liquors are sold ;
whence (2) a low (or wayside) public-
house. Also as verb, shebeening, and
shebeener: the last term applies to
3 frequenting as well as to those
g a shebeen.
Shed. To urinate (q.v.): also
to shed a tear. To shed a tear, to take
a drink : originally to take a dram of
real or short (q.v.J.
She-dragon. 1 . A vixen, an elderly
termagant. 2. A kind of wig.
Sheeney (or Sheney). 1. A Jew,
Yid (q.v.) : used by Gentiles and by
Jews (jocosely by the latter). Whence,
2. a pawnbroker : pawnbroking, like
the fruit and fish trade, is mainly (in
London at least) in the hands of Jews.
Also as adj., base, Jewish, fraudulent :
also sheen.
Sheep. 1. Sheep, liko pigeon (q.v.),
bafihfulnesB : thus, as subs., a simple-
ton ; sheep-faced (or sheepish), bashful ;
sheep's - head, a blockhead ; sheep-
headed, stupid; sheep's Jtecurt, a
coward ; sheep - hearted, cowardly ;
Like a sheep's head, att jaw, said of
a talkative person; old sTieepguts, a
term of contempt (1556). 2. (Aber-
403
deen Univ.). A second class-man.
Phrases and proverbs : To ivash she.ep
with scalding water, to act absurdly ;
to lose a sheep (erroneously ship) for a
half -penny worth of tar, to go niggardly
about a business : also proverbially,
as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.
Sheep-biter. 1. A slinking thief;
also sheep-shearer and sheep-napper
(the latter, a sheep-stealer) ; sheep-
bitiJig, sneaking (1588). 2. 'A
poor, sorry, sneaking ill-lookt Fellow '
(B K).
Sheep-dog. A companion ; a
chapcrone.
Sheep' s-clothing. See Wolf.
Sheep *s-eyes. To cast (or make)
sheep's eyes (or Iambus-eyes), to ogle,
to leer : formerly to look modestly and
with diffidence but always with
longing or affection : Fr., ginginer,
lancer son prospectus (1500).
Sheepskin. (1) The diploma re-
ceived on taking a degree ; also (2)
a person who has taken a degree ;
and (3) a deed or similar document
[engrossed on parchment].
Sheepskin-fiddle. A drum.
Hence, sheepukin- fiddler, a drummer.
Sheepwalk. A prison,
Sheepwash (Winchester). To duck.
Sheet-alley. Bed, blanket-fair
(q.v,).
Sheet, A sheet for three, or four
sheets'] in the wind (or winces eye)
more or less tipsy, half seas over (q. v. ) :
see Screwed.
She-familiar. A kept mistress
(HctUiwcU).
Sheffield Handicap. A
Hprint race with no defined scratch
(q.v.). Tho scratch man receives an
enormoua start from an imaginary
flyer (q.v.).
She-flunkey. A lady's maid.
Shekel. In pi., money: generic:
see Rhino,
Shelf. On the shelf. 1. (general),
laid aside, in reserve, past service :
Fr., &n#/; 2. (military), under arrest;
3. (old), in pawn ; 4. (thieves'), trans-
ported ; 6 (common), dead : whence
off the shelf, resurrected (1580).
Shell. L An undress jacket : also
xhfU-jacket. 2. At the end of this
room [the Westminster schoolroom]
there is a kind "of semicircular apse, in
which the shell form were formerly
taught, and the shape of which is «aia
to have given riao to this name, since
Shell-back.
Shitting.
adopted at several other public
schools (Collins). 3. In pL, money:
see Rhino : hence to shell out, to pay :
FT., attonger les radis: shelling-out,
clubbing money together (1591). 4,
A drinking class. See Brown shell.
Shell-back. A sailor: also old
shea.
Shell-out. A variety of pool.
S'help. SeeS'welp.
Shelta. A kind of cryptic Irish
spoken by tinkers and confirmed
tramps; a secret jargon composed
chiefly of Gaelic words disguised by
changes of initial, transposition of
letters, backslanging, and similar de-
vices. [Discovered by C. G. Leland and
announced to the world in his book The
Gypsies (1882) ; hi 1886 there was a
correspondence on the subject in The
Academy; in 1889 The Gypsy Lore
Society was started and several
articles on Shelta appeared in its
Journal; finally in Clwmbers's En-
cyclopaedia (1902) there is a long
account of this once mysterious but
now fully explained speech.]
Shelve. To hold over part of the
weekly bill; the reverse of horsing
(q.v.).
Shemozzle (Shimozzel, or
Shlemozzle) (Bast End). A diffi-
culty. As verb (East End)., to be off,
to decamp.
Shenanigan. Bounce, chaff,
nonsense, trickery (Barrett, 1877).
She - napper, ' A Woman Thief-
catcher; also a Cock (he) or Hen (she)
Bawd, a Procuress* (B. E.).
She-oak. Colonial brewed ale.
Shepherd. To guard, to keep
under surveillance, to chaperon : as a
ticket-of-leave man (see Nark), an
unmarried woman. Also (football)
to head off whilst one's side is running
or kicking. At Harrow, shepherd,
combination : thus sheriff** picture
frame, the hangman's noose: see
Nubbing-cheat ; sheriffs-journeyman,
a hangman; sheriffs ball, an execu-
tion : whence, to dance at the sheriff's
ball and loll out one's tongue at the
company, to hang ; sheriff's bracelets,
handcuffs; sheriffs hotel, a prison
(1821).
Sherry (or Shirty). To run
away : also to shirry off (1785).
Sherry-fug. To tipple sherry.
Sherry - moor. A fright [Hatti-
well: From the battle of Sheriffe-
muir when ' all was blood, uproar, and
confusion '].
Shet. See Shut.
Shewle. Cat's meat.
Shicer (or Shice). 1. Any worth-
less person or thing : generic for con-
tempt Also, 2. nothing, nix (q.v.) :
e.g. to work for shice, to get no pay-
ment. Spec. Shice, base money;
and, as ad]., (1) spurious, shabby, bad :
also shic&ry and shirkery ; and (2) tipsy.
Schickster (Shickser, or
Schickster). A woman : specifically
(among Jews), (1) a female servant not
of the Jewish faith ; and (2) a woman
of shady antecedents. Shickster-
crabs, ladies' shoes.
Shif. Fish,
Shift. 1, To eat ; and especially
to drink: hence shifter, a drunkard.
2. To change one's smock, change
one's clothes (1695). To do a shift, 1.
to go away, to change one's quarters.
2. To evacuate. To shift on£s bob :
see Bob.
Shifter. 1. An intriguer: shifty-
cove, a trickster: also (a), a thief;
(b) a sharper; and (c) a drunkard;
whence shifty (or shifting), tricky
(now recognised); shifting, (1)
shuffling, stealing, swindling; and
(2), drinking (1567). 2. Aix alarm:
every sixth boy in the cricket-bill who as given by one thief in watching to
answers for the five below, him being another on the job (Vaiix).
present. Also (mining) _.._f 9,
consists of sitting by a huge fire with a
pipe in your mouth, telling or listening
Shifting - ballast. Landsmen on
board ship : spec, soldiers.
- -. ,, „ „ 0 Shig. In pi., money: specifically
to interminable yarns, . . . grumbling silver. At Winchester ahig, a shilling
at your present and regretting your (Mansfield, c. 1840).
past luck, diversified by occasionally
lounging up to a sinking party for the
purpose of ezamiomg the *tack' thrown
up, and criticising the progress made.
Sherbettjr. Drunk : see Screwed.
.
Sheriff. The chief officer of justice
within a county is naturally found in
404
Shiggers (Winchester). White
football trousers costing 10s. : see
Shi*.
Shikerry. Sec Shicer.
Shillagalee. A loafer.
Shilling. To take the Kintf* (or
Queen**) thMing, to enlist (1702).
ShMing-shocker.
Ship-husband.
Shilling - shocker (or dreadful).
A sensation novel sold at a shilling :
a fashion initiated (1887) by The
Mystery of a Hansom Cab, by Mr.
Fergus Hume : cf. Penny-awful.
Shilly-shally (also shally-
shally). To trifle, not to know one's
mind; to stand shilly-shally, to be
irresolute. Hence skilly - shally (or
shitty - shattying), indecision. [Shall
I? Shall I ?] ; shffly-shaUier, a trifler
(1630).
Shimmy (or Shimtney). A
chemise: also (Felsted), a shirt:
obsolete.
Shin. (1) Generic for action: spec,
to walk, to tramp : also to thin it :
Shingle. A signboard: to Jung
out (or stick up) one's shingle, to start
business ; shingle-splitting, in hiding
for debt. As verb, to chastise. To
have a shingle short, to be crazy, have
a tile loose.
Shingle- tram per. A coast-
guardsman.
Shining- light. An exemplar
(1796).
Shinkin-ap-Morgan. A
Welshman (1660).
Shinner. A stocking (1585). See
Shin.
Shinny (or Shiny). Drunk:
aee Screwed.
Shinplaster. A small paper note
hence to shin up, to climb ; to shin it used as money ; a printed promise to
(shin round, or break shins), to go a pay a small sum issued as money
round of lenders : whence shinner, a without legal security. The name
borrower ; to shin out of, to clear off ;
to break one's shins (see above) ; also
(2) to be in a hurry : and (3) to fall
against, or over, a person or thing ;
against one's shins, unwillingly (Hay) :
also shinny, a negro tramp : cf . Hoboe.
To kick on the shins.
came into early use in the United
States for notes issued on private
responsibility, in denominations of
from three to fifty cents, as substitutes
for the small coins withdrawn from
circulation during a suspension of
specific payments ; people were there-
Shindy. 3. A dance : in Western fore obliged to accept them, although
America shindig, a noisy dance. 2.
A disturbance, a quarrel : also shinty :
whence, 3. a boisterous spree (q.v.).
4. A liking, a fancy.
Shine. 1. A happening, a to-do
very few of them were ever redeemed.
Such notes abounded during the
financial panic beginning with 1837,
and during the early part of the Civil
War of 1801-65. After the latter
[q.v.), whether warlike or not ; speci- period they were replaced by the
fically a frolic. 2. A show, or dis-
play. 3. A row, a shindy (q.v.) ; to
cut a shine, to make a show ; every
shine, every one ; as verb, (a) to make
fractional notes issued by the Govern-
ment and properly secured, to which
the name was transferred (Century).
Shin-rapper. 1. A disabling blow
a stir, or impression, and (b) to raise on the splint bone : also, 2. one who
or show money; to take the shine out
of, (c) to outwit, and (d) put in the
shade : to shine up (or take, a shine) to,
to make oneself agreeable, have
delivers such a blow.
Shinscraper. The treadmill: see
Everlasting-staircase.
Ship. A body of compositor*
fancy for. 4. Money : generic : see working together ; one acts as a
Rhino. 5. A flash : e.g. from a rifle, clicker, takes charge and makes out
Shiner. 1. A coin: spec. a gold ^ ------- * ~" -Vi-v -'- -1— J
piece : in pi., money : generic : also
the general bill which is shared and
f..,,. __ K-r „ - 9 shared alike: an abbreviation of
shino and shinery (1760). 2. A look- companionship. As verb, (1) to
ing glass (1785). 3. A silk hat 4. dismiss, sack (q.v.); (2) to expel,
A _rl f~ll H A VJ.-_J. _!__ .!_• -J.- /A _•* TT •' \ . tl\\ A!
A clever fellow. 5. A boaster: also
shine, to boast. The shiners, the
Northumberland Fusiliers, formerly
The 5th Foot. [From smart ap-
pearance at the time of The Seven
Years' War.]
S h i n e- (or S h i n e y-) rag. To
win ihe shine-rag, to be ruined, to
meet with disaster.
Shinfeast. A good fir* (Hatti*
WI).
rusticate (American Univ.) ; (3) to
turn out of bed, mattress on top
(Sherborne School); and (4) to turn
back in a lesson (Shrewsbury School).
Ship blown up at Point Nonplus,
Exemplifies the quietus of a man
when plucked penniless ; or, genteelly
expelled. Oxf. Univ. cant (Grose}.
See Anno Domini, Home, Pump.
Ship - husband. A
rarely goat on nbor*.
406
Ship-in- full-sail.
Shoe.
Ship - in - full - sail. A pot of
ale.
Ship of the desert. A camel.
Ship - shape. Spick and span,
smart above and below: originally
ship - shape and Bristol fashion.
[Bristol's fame as a port in early days
was far higher than now].
Shirk (Eton College: obsolete).
Shirking was a marvellous invention.
Fellows were allowed to boat on the
river, but all the approaches to it were
out of bounds ; we might walk on the
terrace of Windsor Castle, but it was
unlawful to be caught in the streets
of Windsor which led to the terrace
... If, out of bounds, you saw a
master coming, you had to shirk,
which was done by merely stepping
into a shop. The master might see
you but he was supposed not to see
you. The absurdity was . . . that to
buy anything in the shops in High
Street, where all the school tradesmen
dwelt, we were obliged to go out of
bounds (Seven Tears at Eton). To
shirk in (Winchester), to walk into
water instead of plunging. To shirk
out, to go out contrary to rules :
whence shirkster, one who shirks.
Shirker. One who prefers the
road to cross - country riding : cf .
Skirter.
Shirallee. Swag (q.v.); a bundle
of blankets.
Shirt. To get one's shirt out (or
lose one's shirt), to make (or get)
angry: hence, shirty, angry, ill-tem-
pered. Colloquialisms: To bet one's
shirt (or pvi one's shirt on), to risk all ;
to fly round and tear one's shirt, to
bestir oneself; shirt (or flag) in the
wind, a fragment seen through the
fly, or through a hole in the breech ;
thaf 8 up your shirt, that's a puzzler
for you. See also Boiled shirt,
Bloody shirt, Historical (or Illustrated)
shirt.
Shirt - sleevie (Stonyhurst). A
dance : on winter Saturday evenings,
and sometimes hi the open air at the
end of summer term. [The costume
is an open flannel shirt and flannel
trousers.]
Shise. See Sbice.
Shivaroo. A spree.
Shiver. In pi., the ague, chills.
See Beat and Timbers.
Shivering Jemmy (or James).
A beggar faked up with rags.
406
Shivery-shaky. Trembling,
shivery-shakes, chills.
Sho. Pshaw !
Shoard. To take a shoard, to get
tipsy : see Screwed.
Shoat (or Shote). An odd man :
his principal business being to pick
up chips, feed the hogs, etc.
Shock. A Brunt. To stand the
shock, to bear the brunt (B. E-).
Shocking, what is offensive, grating,
grievous, and espec. indecent.
Shocker. Anything to surprise or
startle : see Shilling Shocker.
Shocking. See Hat.
Shod. See Shoe.
Shoddy. 1. Old material— cloth,
rags, etc. — ground up or shredded,
and rewoven with a new warp.
Hence, 2. anything of poor quality
or pretentious reputation : spec, (in
derision) a workman in a woollen
factory. Also as adj., sham. Also
derivatives such as shoddy tie* shoddy-
ise, etc.
Shoe. A room in Southgate
Debtors' Prison. Phrases, colloquial-
isms, and proverbial sayings: To win
one's shoes (old tournament), to
vanquish one's adversary; to die in
one's shoes (or boots), to be hanged:
see Ladder ; to shoe the wild colt, to be
initiated, to exact footing (q.v.) j also
to shoe ; to shoe all rovnd, to provide
hat - band, gloves, and scarf at a
funeral; many shooings being only
partial ; to make children** shoes, to
look ridiculous; to lick one's shoes,
to fawn on, to cringe ; in another1*
shoes, in his place ; to pvt the shoe on
the right foot, to lay blame (or praise)
where justly duo ; to tread one *s shoe
straight, to do what is right and
proper; to tread ontfs shoe awry, (I)
to play fast and loose; and spr?c.
(2) to play the wanton ; to shoe the
goose* to undertake anything absurd
or futile : of. He that will meddle with
all things may go shoo the goslins ;
and (3) to get tipsy ; to shoe the
cobbler, to tap the ice quickly with the
forefoot when sliding : see Cobbler's-
knock; to wait for dead men** shoes
(see Dead men's shoes) ; to throw an
old shoe, * to wish them Luck on their
business' (B. E.) ; the shoe pinches (of
untoward circumstances or events);
also No man knows where the shoe
pinches but he who wears it (B. E.) ;
another pair of »hoe*t something quite
Sfoe-bucUes.
Shoot.
different : FT., une autre paire de
manches ; over shoes, over boots, in
for a sheep, in for a lamb ; One shoe
will not fit all feet, people nor cir-
cumstances are not all alike ; He came
in hosed and shod, he was born to a
good estate.
Shoe - buckles. Not worth shoe-
buckles, of little account (Ray).
Shoe-horn. To cuckold (1650).
Shoeing - horn. A pretext or in-
citement (1562).
Shoe - leather. A cry of warning ;
Look out ! Pr., Chou / chou ! or
Acresto !
Shoemaker. Phrases, etc.: Who
goes worse shod than the shoemaker's
wife, an excuse for the lack of some-
thing one ought to possess ; in the
shoemakers stocks, "pincht with straight
shoes' (B. E.); shoemaker's pride,
creaking shoes ; shoemaker's holiday,
' There was nothing which he [Oliver
Goldsmith] enjoyed better than what
he used facetiously to term a shoe-
maker's holiday — three or four of
his intimate friends rendezvoused at
his chambers to breakfast about ten
o'clock in the morning; at eleven
they proceeded, by the City Road
and through the fields, to Highbury
Barn to dinner ; about six o'clock in
the evening they adjourned to White
Conduit House to drink tea; and
concluded the evening by supping at
the Grecian or Temple Exchange
coffee houses, or at the Globe in
Fleet Street? the whole expenses of
this day's fote never exceeded a crown,
and . . . ofteuer from three-and- six-
pence to four shillings, for which the
party obtained good air and exercise,
good living, the example of simple
manners, and good conversation '
(1793).
Shoesmith. A cobbler.
Shoestring. A small bet run up
to a large amount.
Shoful (Showfull, or Schofel).
Generic for anybody or anything
questionable. Spec. shoful, (1) base
money (also shofut money) : whence
shofvl - pitcher, a dealer in counter-
feit ; shofvl - pitching,, shoving the
queer (q.v.) ; shofvl-jewdlery,, pinch-
beck gauds: also (2) a hansom cab
(because an infringement on Hansom's
patent) j and shovel (q.v.) (1851).
Shog. A jog : also as verb, to be
Off (1500).
Sholl. To bonnet (q.v.), to crush
the hat over the eyes.
Shoo ! Be off ! Away ! As verb,
to scare away. Cannot say Shooh to
a goose, a retort on timidity or bash-
fulness : see Boh (1611).
Shook on. See Shake.
Shool. To loaf, to go on the
tramp, to beg. Whence shooling, idl-
ing ; shoolman, a loafer or vagabond :
FT., battre sa fl&me (1748).
Shoon. A fool, a lout.
Shoot. 1. A shooting party (1573).
2. A vacant piece of ground: where
rubbish is got rid of. 3. A fancy.
The Shoot (London), The Walworth-
road station on the S. E. & C. By.
[A large number of workpeople alight
there.] Phrases: Shoot as a generic
verb of action is found in frequent
combination: as to shoot (jerk, or
whip) the eat, (1) to vomit; see Cat,
and (2) to sound a refrain in the
infantry bugle call to defaulters*
drill, which, it is fancied, follows the
sound of the words, shoot the oat —
shoot the cat; to shoot the crow, to
run off without paying, to bilk (q.v.) ;
to shoot horses, to take horses out of a
van to prevent unloading (strikers') ;
to shoot one's linen, to jerk or display
the cuffs ; to shoot one's lines, to
declaim with vigour ; to shoot (bolt,
or sliove) the moon, to remove furniture
by night to prevent seizure for rent :
see Moon ; to shoot one's bolt, to ex-
haust one's credit or resources, to come
to an end of things ; to go the whole
shoot, to risk all ; to shoot off one's
mouth (or jaw), to abuse ; to be shot,
(1) to make a disadvantageous bet
which is instantly accepted (turf),
and (2) to bo photographed (photo-
graphers*); see Snap-shot; to shoot
on the post, to make a close win at the
finish ; to shoot over the pitcher, to brag
of one's shooting ; to shoot one's stow,
to die ; to shoot the sun, to determine
the longitude (nautical) ; to shoot onr'a
granny, to find a maro'fl nest; to be
disappointed; to slioot the market
(Stock Exchange), to make a man a
close price in a stock without knowing
if there would bo a profit or loss on the
bargain; shoot that [hat, man — any-
thing] ! (1) a mild imprecation,
Bother I ; Shoot that J an injunction to
silence : e.g. shoot the shop ; to shoot
in the eye, to do an HI turn ; to be shot
in thf neck, to bo dni»k; PU (or
407
Sfiootabout.
Short.
Shop-'un. A boxed or pickled
igg: as distinguished from new-
laid.
Shoreditch (The Duke of). A
mock title: When Henry VEIL
became king he gave a prize at Wind-
sor to those who should excel in this
exercise [archery], when Barlo, one
of his guards, an inhabitant of Shore-
ditch, acquired such honour as an
^ m _ archer that the king created him
(printer!') ; a piece of hard wood or Duke of Shoreditch on the spot,
metal used with a mallet for tight- This . . * title continued so late as
may T) "be, that if — , a mild imprecation
or strenuous denial. See also Shot.
Shootabout (school: esp. Charter-
house). An irregular form of foot-
ball.
Shooter. Generic. Thus, (1) a
revolver : also, according to capacf
a five, six, or seven-shooter; (2)
guard of a mail coach (old) : he was
armed with a blunderbuss ; (3) a
shooting star ; (4) a shooting-stick
ening quoins in a chase ; (5)
(cricket), bowled full pitch but
shooting in close to the ground ; and
(6) a black morning coat (Harrow) as
distinguished from the tail coat worn
by the Fifth and Sixth Forms.
Shooting-iron. A gun or revolver.
Shooting - stars. Dizziness : as
caused by a blow.
Shop. (1) Generic for a place: of
residence, business, manufacture, en-
gagement, or resort; and (2) one's
profession, business, or occupation;
(3) (old, and thieves'), a prison:
whence, as verb, to imprison, to
confine ; (4) a guardroom : also spec.
The Royal Military Academy ; and
(5) a place : whence to be shopped (or
get a shop), to come in first, second, or
1683.
Shoreditch - fury (obsolete). A
prostitute (1599).
Shores. Lake Shore By. Shares.
Short. 1. A card (all below the
eight) prepared so that nothing above
the eight can be cut: by which the
chances of an honour turning up are
reduced to two to one : cf . Long and
Brief. 2. In pi., knee breeches, small
clothes. 3. A bear (q-v.) ; one who
has sold short, and whose interest is
to depress the market : as adj. or adv.,
(1) not in hand when contracting to
deliver ; or (2) unable to meet one's
engagements : e.g. short of Eries,
Brighton A's, etc. 4. In pi., flannel
(q.v.). As adj., (1)
to talk shop, to talk business in society :
FT., parler boutique ; to sink the shop,
to refrain from shop - talk ; shoppy
(or full of the shop), wholly engrossed
in business matters; the other shop,
trousers, cuts _ ,
Unadulterated, neat (q.v.) : as subs.,
third ; and (6) to kill, to burke (q.v.) ; a dram [spec, of gin] unlengthened
, . „ _r ... A_ A_,,_ T^.^ , ,^_ by water. (2) a term used by cashiers
of banks, in asking how a cheque is to
be paid, How will you take it ? i.e.
in gold or notes ? if in notes, Long or
short ? i.e. in notes for small or large
amounts (Hotten) ; (3) hard up ; short
of cash (1603). Phrases and col-
loquialisms : To come short home, to be
imprisoned ; to bite off short (tailors'),
to dismiss abruptly, or refuse curtly ;
to cut it sJiort, to be as brief as may
be ; short and sweet, a jesting regret,
or sarcastic comment: frequently with
the addition, like a donkey's gallop;
the short and long (or the short and
a rival (trader, establishment, etc.).
As verb, to work in a shop ; whence
shopped, (1) in work, also (2) dis-
charged. Phrases : To shut up shop,
(1) to come to an end, to retire; (2)
to cease talking (1570); and (3) to
finish, to do for ; to come (or go) to the
wrong shop, to make a mistake ; all
over the shop, confused, awry.
Shopkeeper. An article long in
stock : sometimes old shopkeeper.
Shop-lift (lifter, or bouncer).
'One that steals under Pretence of
Cheap'ning' (B. K): cf. lift. Hence
shop-lifting and similar compounds
(1678).
Shopocracy. The world of shop-
keepers : cf. Mobocracy, Shamo-
cracy, etc.
plain), (1) the whole truth : now
usually the long and the short : also
(2) a couple of persons, one of dwarf
and one of giant stature walking
together; short of puff, winded;
short (or short-waisted), crusty, irrit-
able; short of a sheet, crazy; for short,
for brevity's sake; A short horse
is soon curried, a simple matter i»
Shoppy. (1) Commercial; (2) full soon disposed of; short comment,
shops ; and (3) see Shop. not too much to eat ; short-Umbered,
of sh^ . m
Shop-shift.
A tradesman'* triok. touchy ; a thort thrift and a long rope,
408
Short-ear.
Slwd.
instant dispatch; a short memory,
forgetfulness.
Short-ear (American University).
A rowdy : see Lamb.
Shorter. One who dwindles the sur-
face and the edges of coins by clipping,
filing, shaking together in a bag, pre-
cipitation, or other means ; a sweater
(q.v.).
Short-head. A horse that fails by
a short head.
Shortheels. A wanton. Hence,
short-heeled, unchaste.
Short-length. A small glass of
brandy, a ' wee three.'
Short-one. A passenger whose
name was not. on the way - bill,
shoulderstick (q.v.), a bit of fish (q.v.).
Short-pot. 'False, cheating Potts
used at Ale-houses, and Brandy-
shops' (B. E.)>
Short-staff. See Gentleman.
Short-stick. An insufficient length.
Shot. 1. A reckoning, a share of
expense. 2. Money (generic) : as
shot in the locker, money in hand, or at
will ; also shot-bag, a purse ; shot-free,
nothing to pay : also scot-free ; shot-
clog, a simpleton, tolerated because
he is willing to pay reckonings ; shot-
flagon, the host's pot, given where the
guests have drunk above a shilling's-
worth of ale (Hattiwett); whence
shot-pot, one entitled to the shot-
flagon; shot-ship, a company shar-
ing and sharing alike ; shot - shark,
a waiter (1591). 3. A corpse. 4. A
guess. 5. An attempt, a venture
( 1844). As adv., drunk : see Screwed :
also shot in the neck : see Shoot. As
verb, to fake a horse : a dose of small
cheating their employers in which
they take the fares and pocket them,
generally of such passengers as they
overtake on the road, or who come
across the country to the main road
and are not put down in the way-bill :
hence shoulder-stick, a passenger not
on the way-bill : see Short-one and
cf. Swallow (1828). A slip of the
shoulder, seduction. See Cold shoulder,
Wheel.
S h o u 1 d e r-clapper. A bailiff ;
shoulder-clapped, arrested (1593).
Shoulder-feast. A dinner given
to bearers after a funeral (1785).
Shoulder-hitter. A bully, rowdy :
spec, a gambling tout (1858)
Shoulder-knot. A footman.
Shoulder-of-mutton fist. A coarse
big, broad hand : in contempt.
Shoulder-pegged. Stiff-limbed.
Shoulder-sham. A Partner to a
File. (5. E.)
Shout. A turn in paying for a
round of drinks. Hence as verb, to
stand treat; sliouting, a general in-
vitation to drink ; to shout oneself
hoarse, to get drunk : see Charter the
Bar.
Shouting. All over but the shout-
ing, said of anything obviously
finished.
Shove. Phrases: To shove for (or
to be on the shove), to move, to try for ;
to shove the moon, to remove secretly,
by night: see Moon; to shove the
tumbler, to be whipped at the cart's
tail (B. S.); a shove in the mouth, a
dram ; to shove ike queer, to pass bad
money ; a shove in the eye, a punch in
the eye : generic ; to give the shove, to
shot gives a temporary appearance of send packing ; to get the shove, to be
d-windedness. As intj., (Royal dismissed : see Bag.
sound- w
High School, Edin.), a cry of warning
Shove - halfpenny (also Shove-
at the approach of a master. Phrases : [or Shovel-] board, Shove - groat,
Like a shot, quickly, at full drive; Slide-groat, Slide-thrift, or Push-
shot in the neck, drunk ; see Screwed ;
shot in the tail (or gfldcte), got with
child ; not by a long shot, hopelessly out
of reckoning : whence a long shot, a
bold attempt or large undertaking:
also see Shoot
Shot-clog. See Shot.
Shot-soup. Bad pea-soup.
Shotten-herring. A term of con-
tempt: spec, a lean meagre fellow.
Hence, ehotten - sovled, despicable
(1598).
Shoulder. Shouldering, among
co*chm»n and guard*, is that ipeciea of
penny.) A gambling game,
on a table on which transverse 1
have been drawn rather more than
the width of a halfpenny apart. The
play consists in sending the halfpenny
by a smart stroke of the palm from
the end of the table so as to make it
rest in the compartments formed by
the linos. [Ed. VI. shillings, as being
smooth and easily pushed, were much
in vogue as counters.] (1528).
Shovel. 1. A hat, broad -brimmed,
turned up at the sides, and scooped in
front, a« worn by dearut and biahop*
409
STtover.
of the Established Church: also
shovel-hat : whence shovel-hatted. 2.
A hansom - cab : Bee Shof ul. 3. An
ignorant marine engineer. Phrases:
Put to bed with a, shovel (or spade,
buried ; He was fed with a shovd (or
fire-shovel), a jeer at a large mouth).
That's before yon bought your shovel,
You are too previous, That's up
against you, That settles your hash.
Shover. One who utters base
money ; a smasher (q.v.) ; a sour-
planter (q.v.): also shover of the
queer.
Shove-up. Nothing (Vauz).
Show. (I) An entertainment; a
spectacle (as the Lord Mayor's show) ;
(2) one's business : of. shop j and (3)
a piece of work: also show-box, a
theatre (1539). ^ A cnaace» a tlim»
an opportunity (1537). Phrases and
colloquialisms : To show away (or off),
to give oneself airs: hence showing
off, making the most of oneself ; to
show a leg (nautical), (1) to turn out ;
and (2) see Leg; to show up, (1) to
make an appearance (also to show one-
self), and (2) to expose : also as subs,
in both senses ; to show the door (or
the outside of the door), to dismiss
without ceremony ; to boss the show, to
manage ; to show one London (school),
to hold one by the heels upside down ;
to see London, to hang by the heels : as
from a rail, trapeze ; to give the show
away, to blab ; etc. Also see Agility,
Cold Shoulder, Elephant, Heels, Leg,
Teeth, Water, White Feather.
Shower. A shower-bath.
Showing. A front showing, parade
at short notice : i.e. without time
to properly prepare accoutrements
and kit.
Showman. A manager.
Show-Sunday. Among the com-
monalty, Easter Sunday, when if you
don't wear something new, the rooks
will bewray you; at Oxford, the
Sunday in Commemoration Week (a
kind of University Parade took place
Shrimp. 1. A dwarf, a pigmy : in
contempt (1383). 2. A prostitute.
Shuck. The lowest standard of
value; spec, the paper currency of the
Confederate States: at the close of
the Civil War these notes became as
valueless as pea-shucks; hence, less
than shuck, less than nothing ; to care
(or be worth) not a shuck, to care (or be
worth) little; shuckless, worthless;
Shucks I Nonsense : a contemptuous
denial or refusal. As verb, to un-
dress, peel (q.v.).
Shuffle. 1. To make use of false
pretences or nnfair shifts. Shuffling-
fellow, ' A slippery, shiteing Fellow '
(B. K). 2, (Winchester), to pretend,
to feign: as to shuffle sleep: hence
shuffler.
Shum, In pL, money : see Rhino.
Shunter. One who buys or sells
stocks on the chance of undoing
his business, on one of the provincial
Stock Exchanges, at a profit.
Shurk. A sharper.
Shut. I. To shut up, to hold one's
tongue, to compel silence, to dry up
(q.v.) : also shut your neck (mouth,
head, or face ; Shut up I or Shut it /) :
Fr., ferme ta boite : hence, to be shut
up, to be silenced, exhausted, or done
for (1563). 2, To give up, as one
horse when challenged by another in
a race. To be shut of, to be rid of,
freed from, quit of : as subs, a riddance
(1596).
Shuts (Christ's Hospital). A hoar
a sell (q.v.) : as intj., Sold again !
Shutters. To put up the fihutters.
1. To bung up an opponent's eyes. 2.
To announce oneself a bankrupt, to
stop payment.
Shutter-racket, The practice of
robbing houses or shops by boring a
hole in the window shutters and taking
out a pane of glass (1785).
Shuttle-bag. To swallow the
shuttle-bag, to get husky.
Shuttle - head (brain, or wit).
An eccentric, a scatterling. Whence
in the Broad Walk of Christ's, but shuttle-headed, etc., flighty, ecatter-
the invasion of Town has stopped it) ;
amongst artists, etc., the Sunday
before sending -in day, when the
studios are open to visitors and friends.
Shreds (or Shreds and Patches).
A tailor.
Shrieking (or Whining) Sister-
hood. The world of women re-
formers : hence* busybodiesu
410
brained ; shvttlenefift, rashness, thought-
lessness. Also shitttp-hcad, etc. ( 1 440).
Shy. Generic for a piece of action :
as a throw, a chancet an attempt, a
jibe; as verb, to do, to make, to
throw, and all other verbs of action
(1824). As adj., adv. and verb, (1)
missing, hard to find: whence shy-
cock, one who keeps within doom fop
SigM.
fear of bailiffs (Grose) : hence (2), coy,
squeamish, cold, or averse (£. E.) ;
(3) of dubious repute or character ; as
verb, to fight shy of, to keep out of the
way, to abstain (1796).
Shyster. 1. One of a class of men
who hang about the police courts of
New York and other large cities, and
practise in them as lawyers, but who
in many cases have never been ad-
drinking saloon. Wanted as much ae
a dog (or a toad) wants a side-pocket, a
simile used for one who desires any-
thing by no means necessary : see also
Wife.
Side-sim. A fool (1610).
Side - slip. Bastard, a bye-blow
Side - splitter. A funny story.
Hence, stae ~ splitting, screamingly,
mitted to the bar ; they are men who funny.
have served as policemen, turnkeys, Sidetrack. To ahunt (q.v.), to
_v. _.._.«_ «- __ : j.- i— — ,-j fo pjace on one ^e, to dis-
sheriffs officers, or in any capacity by
which they have become familiar
with criminals and criminal courts.
2. A swindler, duffer, or vagabond : a
generic term (1903) of contempt.
Sice. Sixpence : see Rhino.
Sick. In its primary, extended,
and old literary sense (as in the Bible
and Shakespeare), sick (disabled by
disease or bad health) now borders on
the colloquial, having been super-
seded by ill, whilst sick is confined
to vomiting or nausea. There are
also exceptional usages. Thus sick
(muddy) wvn& ; sick (stale) fish ; a
sick hand (at cards, esp. whist, with-
out trumps) ; a sick (palo) look ; a
sick (ruffled) temper, etc.: also, It
makes me sick (or gives me the sick), 1
am disgusted with it ; sick as a horse
(dog, rat, cat, cushion, or what not),
sick as may be ; sick of the idles (t7ie
Lombard fever, or the idle crick and
the betty work in the heel), a pretence to
be idle upon no apparent cause; to
speak in the sick tune, to affect sick-
ness ; sickly, untoward or disgusting ;
sickrel (3. E.)t a puny, sickly Creature.
Also (American), lacking, in need of :
as paint-sick, nail-sic/fc : cf. home-sick,
mother ~ sick, sleep - sick, etc. Like-
wise, sitting up with a sick friend, an
excuse for marital absence all night
(1600).
Sickener. Too much (even of a
good thing), a cause of disgust : cf .
Side. Swagger (q.v.), conceit;
thus, to pvt on sid?~, to give oneself
airs : Fr., se hancher. As intj., Yos !
See Blanket, Best side, Blind side,
Jack, Mouth, Pull, Bight aide, Seamy,
Set, Shady, Shinny, Split, Wrong
side.
Sideboard, A shirt -collar of tho
stand-up order. In pi, whiskers,
side- wings, gills (q.v.).
Side-pocket. An out-of-the-way
continue.
Side - winder. A heavy blow with
the fist : also sidewipe (1850).
Sidledywry. Crooked (1785).
Sidney-bird. See Sidney-aider.
Siege. 1. Excrement, faecal matter.
2. A jakes. 3. Defecation : as verb, to
stool (1548).
Sieve. A loose-spoken person, a
blab (q.v.) : cf. As well pour water into
a sieve as tell him (1670).
Sift. To embezzle small coins :
such as might pass through a sieve.
Sifter. A drink composed of
whisky, honoy, strawberry - syrup,
lemon, and ice.
Sight. 1. Generic for magnitude
(that is, something worth looking
at): thus a sight oC people, a multitude ;
a sight of work, untiring industry, or
enough and to spare ; a sight of money,
a large amount; hence, out of sight,
unrivalled, beyond comparison ; a
smart (pretty, precious, powerful, etc.)
sight, a great deal; a sight for
sore eyes, something to please : also
in sarcasm. 2. An opportunity, a
chance, a show (q.v.); to get within
sight, to near the end. 3. An oddity,
a scarecrow: also contemptuously^
Her new. jacket was a perfect sight,
or You've made yourself a regular
sight, Not fit to bo seen (1094). 4.
As far as can be soon at one time, as
the reach of a river, or a bend in a
road : thus, in directing a person, Go
three sights on, and take, etc. : also
a look, 5, A gesture of derision : tho
thumb on tho nose-tip and the fingers
spread fan-wise: alao Queen. Anne's
Fan ; a double sight is made by joining
the tip of the little finger (already in
position.) to the thumb of the other
hand, the fingers being similarly
extended ; emphasis is given by
moving tho fingers of both hands as if
playing a piano : similar action* arts
411
Sign.
Silver-gray 9.
taking a grinder (q.v.) or working the
coffee-mill (q.v.) ; pulling bacon (q.v.) ;
making a nose (or long nose) ; Cocking
snooks, etc. (1702). To put out of
eight, to eat, to consume.
Sign. Here may be arranged two
ox three obsolete colloquialisms : sign
of a house to let, a widow's weeds
(1785); the sign of the feathers, a
woman's best good graces ; at the sign
of the horn, in cuckoldom ; the sign
worms are, it seems, indulged by the
tradesmen ; for though they never
buy, they are ever talking of new silks,
laces, and ribbons, and serve the
owners, in getting them customers
(State, 1714).
Silly. A simpleton: also siUy-
billy (or willy), spec, a kind of clown,
or rather a clown's butt; but not
after the style of Pantaloon, for the
part is comparatively juvenile ; Silly
*n.-H-. -_ 3 3 j._ •«." i 11 J
of the prancer (1567), the Nag*s Head ; Bitty is supposed to be a schoolboy,
*i_ ^^ _* A, 41. — j._77- although not dressed in a charity-
boy's attire. He is very popular with
the audience at the fairs ; indeed, they
cannot do without him (1620). Also
siUyton and silliJcen. Hence to knock
one silly, to hit out of time, or to affect
au possible: e.g. She knocked him
titty, She sent him off his chump (wits,
onion) about her.
Silly-season. The parliamentary
recess : in the absence of debates, with
a real or assumed dearth of news,
the newspapers are driven to print all
kinds of political and social twaddles :
of. Gigantic gooseberry, Shower of
the sign of the three balls,
broker's ; sign of the five (ten, or
shillings, The Crown, The Two C
or The Three Crowns (1785) ; to live
at the sign of the cat's foot, to be hen-
pecked.
Signboard. The face: see Dial
Sign - manual. The mark of a
blow (1822).
Sikes. See Bill Sikes.
Sil. See Silver-beggar.
Silence. To knock down, to stun,
to kill (1785): whence silencer, a
knock-down or stunning blow. Silence
in the court, the cat, etc., a gird upon
any one requiring silence unnecessarily
(Grose).
Silent-flute. See Flute.
ilver. In pL, India Rubber,
Gutta Percha, and Telegraph Co.
Silk. 1. A King's Counsel ; also shares : the works are at Silvertown.
sUk-govm ; the canonical K.C.'s robe is See Penny,
of silk ; that of a Junior Counsel of —
stuff ; hence to take silk, to attain the
rank of King's (or Queen's) Counsel.
2. A bishop : the apron is of silk (1838).
Silver-beggar (or lurker).
A tramp with briefs (q.v.) or fake-
ments (q.v.) concerning bogus losses
-,---,- by fire, shipwreck, accident, and the
To carry (or sport) silk, to run (or like ; guaranteed by forged signatures
ride) in a race. v '- - % -* -1
Silk-petticoat.
Silk post. Ast
man commoner's gown.
Cant (Grose).
Silk-purse. See Sow's ear.
Silk-snatch er. Thieves who
snatch hoods or bonnets from persons
walking in the streets (Grose).
Silk-stocking. A rich man
or woman. [Silken hoae were re-
garded as extravagant and luxurious.]
Hence, the silk-stocking gentry (or especial stress on the etiquette of the
element), the wealthj classes ; and drawing room : as Theodore Hook,
iessington, Mrs. Trollops, and
... .. «r , ytton: it is onlv within the
woman of fashion (1596). last forty years that the old two-
Si 1 k w o r m. A czmt among the pronged steel fork has been ousted by
hackney fraternity for their best cheap four-prongs in imitation of
customers, women who ramble twice silver ware.
or thrice a week from shop to shop, to Silver-grays. At a convention of
turn overall the goods in town with- New York State certain measure* bring
buying anything. Th« «Ik- unacceptable, many withdrew who?
412
or shams (q.v.) of clergymen, magis-
See Silk-stocking. trates, etc., the false subscription-
Assumption of a gentle- books being known as delicates (q.v.)
Oxf. Univ. Also silt (1) a forged document, and
(2) a note on The Bank of Elegance,
or The Bank of Engraving (1859).
Silver-cooper. A kidnapper.
Silver-fork (Winchester : obsolete).
A wooden skewer: used as a chop-
stick when forks were scarce (Mans-
field, c. 1840). The Stiver fork School,
school of novelists which laid
il stress on the eti
silken, luxurious ; Tour silkiness I Lady 3
out
Ofar-fett.
Sink.
locks were silvered by age, drawing
forth the remark, There go the silver
grays 1 The term remains and is the
only one now (1859) used to dis-
tinguish one branch of the Whig
party (JBartlett).
Silver-hell. A low- class gambling
den : where silver is the usual stake
(1820).
Silver -hook. To catch fish with
a silver hook, to purchase a catch
in order to conceal unskilful angling :
It., pescar col hamo cFargenta
(1670).
Silver - laced. Lousy : e.g. The
cove's kicksies are stiver-laced, The
fellow's breeches are covered with
lice (1785).
Silver - spoon. Horn with a, silver
spoon in one's mouth, born rich: It.,
over la per a monda (to have his pear
ready pared) (1670).
Silver State (The). Nevada.
Sim (Cambridge University). A
Simeonite, or member of the Evan-
gelical section of the Church of Eng-
land ; a Low Churchman. The
modern equivalent is Pi- man. [The
Rev. Charles Simeon (1759-1836) was
54 years Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cam-
bridge].
Simkin. See Simpkin and Simple.
'Simmon. See Persimmon.
Simon. 1. Sixpence : see Khino.
2. A trained horse. 3. (King Edward's
School, Birmingham). A cane : ob-
solete. [See Acts ix. 43.]
Simon Pure. The genuine article :
also as adj. (1717).
Simpkin (or Simkin). 1. Cham-
pagne: a native pronunciation.
2. The fool in comic ballets. See
Simple.
Simple. In pL, folly; hence, as
in proverb, To go to Battersea to be
cut for the simples, to take means to
cure of foolishness (Battersea was
famous for its herb gardens). Also
Simpleton (Simkin or Simple Simon),
a credulous person : Simple Simon
Suck-egg Sold his wife for an addled
duck-egg (1670).
Simple Arithmetic. See Arith-
metic.
Simpson (or Simson). 1. Water:
spec, when used for diluting milk ;
hence, Mrs, Simpson (or Simpson's
cote), the pump, the cow with the iron
tail 2 Poor milk : MM Sky-blue and
Chalker (1860).
413
Sin. The Devil : as the incarna-
tion of evil.
Sinbad. An old sailor.
Sines (Winchester). Bread; a
sines, a small loaf.
Sinews of War. Money: generic:
see Rhino (1626).
Sing. To cry : usually as a threat
to a crying child, I'll give you some-
thing to sing for. Phrases: To sing
out, (1) to raise the voice ; (2) to cry,
or call out, from excess of emotion;
and (3) to inform, peach (q.v.) ; to
svng small, to lessen one's pretensions,
to eat humble pie (1785) ; to sing (or
pipe) another song (or tune), to modify
one's conduct, manner, etc. ; to sing
the same song, to repeat the weakness ;
to sing it, to exaggerate, to swagger, to
chant the poker ; to sing out beef
(thieves'), to call out stop thief ! Also
proverb, He could have sung well
before he broke his left shoulder with
whistling. See Black Psalm, Placebo,
Te Deum.
Singed-cat. An epithet applied to
a person whose appearance does him
injustice.
Single -broth (or tiff). Small
beer : see Screwed (1635),
Single-peeper. A one-eyed person
(1785).
Single-pennif. A five-pound note :
see Finnup.
Single-soldier. A private.
Singleton. 1. A very silly, foolish
fellow (B. E.). 2. A corkscrew:
from the name of a Dublin cutler
famous for his tempering (Grose). 3.
A single card of any suit in a hand :
whist : also a hand contaLaing such a
card.
Sing - song. 1. (old), a poem ; 2.
(common), a convivial meeting at a
public house at which each person
is expected to contribute a song, a
free-and-easy (q.v.) ; 3. (nautical), a
Chinese theatre ; and 4. (colloquial),
crooning. As adj., musical (1656).
Sink. 1. A slum, a rookery : also
sink-holef 2. A centre of anything
disreputable (1565). 3. A confirmed
tippler. 4. The throat : see Sewer ;
hence to fall down the sink, to take
a drink. 5. (The Leys School). A
heavy feed ; a stodge (q.v.). 6. A
glutton. Phrases : To tirik th* noble-
man (lover, etc.), to suppress, to keep
in the background : cf. Shop ; fink m* /
a mild imprecation (1772).
Sinker.
Sixer.
Sinker. 1. In pi, base money
(Snowden, 1857). 2. A dollar.
Sinner. 1. A publican : cf. Luke
xvui. 2. A harlot. OW siwwer, a
jesting reproach.
Sipper. Gravy.
Si quis. 1. A public notice of
ordination. [These commenced Si
guis, If any]. 2. A candidate for
holy orders. 3. Any public announce-
ment. As verb, to make hue and cry
(1599).
Sir (Sir John or Mass - John).
A parson; spec, a country parson
or vicar (J5. E.) : see Sky -pilot
(1380).
Sir Walter Scott. A pot of beer.
Siserara (Sarsara, Siserara,
Sasarara, etc.). 1. A writ of removal
from a lower to a higher Court. 2. A
blow, a scolding, an outburst ; with a
sarsara, with a vengeance, suddenly
(1607).
Sister. A disguised prostitute. See
Brother Smut
Sisterhood. Harlotry in general.
Sit. Situation: e.g. out of a sit,
out of a job. Phrases : To sit on one's
bnees, to kneel ; to sit under, to attend
the ministry of some particular divine ;
to sit a woman, to keep the night-
courtship (q.v.) : cf. Bundle ; to sit
Sir Garnet. All right, as it should on (or upon), (1) to take to task, to
be. [An echo of the days when * ' * '
Sir Garnet (now Viscount) Wolseley
was in the forefront of military
matters.]
Sir Harry. A Jakes: see Mrs.
snub — in anger, contempt^ or jest;
also sat - upon, adj., reprimanded,
snubbed ; and (2) to allow milk to burn
in the pan ; to sit eggs9 to outstay one's
welcome ; to sit in, to adhere firmly ;
See Jack
See
Jones. To visit (or go to) Sir Harry, to sit up, to pull oneself together ; to
4»«m.H,a+A+i.Ai»«««i« make one sit up, to astonish, dis-
concert, or get an advantage. See also
Bodkin, Skirts.
Sith-nom. A month.
Sit-on-a-rock. Bye whisky.
Sit-still-nest. A cow-shard,
quaker (q.v.), pancake (q.v.).
Sitter. A sitting room; cf. Brek-
ker, Footer, Saccer, etc.
Sitting-breeches. To wear one's
sitting breeches, To stay long in com-
pany (Grose) : also to sit longer than a
hen : cf. To sit eggs.
Situation. A place.
Sit-upons. Trousers: see Kicks.
Siwy. Word of honour, assevera-
tion : e.g. *<pon my #iwy, It's true,
Honour bright ! cf. Davy.
Six. 1. Beer sold at 6s. a barrel ;
to evacuate the bowels.
Sir Hugh's bones.
Sir Jack's Sauce.
Sauce and Sauce.
Sir John Barleycorn.
Barleycorn.
Sir John Lack-Latin. See Lack-
Latin.
Sir Oliver. See Oliver.
Sir Petronel Flash. See Petronel.
Sirrah ! An angry, contemptu-
ous, or jesting address : also (modern)
sirree ! (or sirree, lob 1) (1526).
Sirretch. A cherry.
Sir- (or save-) reverence. 1.
An apology: the commonest of ex-
pressions, for nearly six centuries, on
mentioning anything likely to offend,
or for which an excuse was thought
necessary. Whence, 2. excrement; small beer : ci Four-half and (modern)
and as verb, (1) to evacuate, and Six ale (1631). 2. (Oxford UruvT" A
(2) to excuse oneself. [Lat., salvd privy. At sixes and sevens, in con-
reverentid, whence sa'reverence, sur-
reverence, and sir-reverence'] (1356).
. Sir Sauce. See Jack Sauce and
Sauce.
Sir Sydney. A clasp knife.
Sir Thomas Gresham. To sup
with Sir Thomas Gresham, to go
hungry : see Duke Humphrey (1628).
See Perthshire Greybreeks.
Sir Timothy. One that treats
fusion, at loggerheads : also to set on
seven, to confuse, to disarray (1340).
Six of one and half a doscn of the oih"f,
much alike, not a pin to choose
between them, never a barrel the
better herring.
Six-and-eightpence. 1. A soli-
citor : see Green-bag (1756). 2, The
usual fee given, to carry back the
body of the executed malefactor, to
everybody, and pays the reckonings give it Christian burial (JS. E.).
everywhere (B, E«).
Sir Tristara's Knot. The
hangman's noose: see Ladder and
HoreeooDar.
Six-and-tips. Whisky and small
Sixer. 1. Six months' hard labour
2. (prison). A six-ounce loafc
414
Six-footer.
Skew-tbe~dew.
Six-footer. A person six-feet (or
more) in height.
Sixpence. See Spit.
Sixpenny (Eton). A playing field.
As adj., cheap, mean, worthless :
generic : hence sixpenny strikers, petty
footpads (1598).
Six-shooter. A six chambered
revolver. Six-shooter horse, a swift
horse.
Sixty. Generic for magnitude ;
like sixty, brisk, rapid.
Sixty-per-cent. A usurer: also
cent-per-cenl (1616).
Six-upon-four. The rations of
four men served out amongst six.
Six-water grog. Six of water to
one of spirit.
Size (and Sizar) (Cambridge Univ.
and Trin. Coll., Dublin). 1. ' A portion
of bread or drinke, i. is a farthing,
which Schollers in Cambridge haue at
the butterie; it is noted with the
letter S., as in Oxeford with the letter
Q. for halfe a farthing and q/u. for
a farthing ; and whereas they say in
Oxford to Battle in the butterie booke,
1. to set downe on their names what
they take in Bread, Drinke, Butter,
Cheese, etc. so in Cambridge they say
to size, i. to set downe their quantum,
L how much they take on their names
in the'Butterie booke '(Minsheu, 1617) ;
To sup at one's own expense : if a man
asks you to sup, he treats you : if to
size, you pay for what you eat, liquor
only being provided by the inviter :
aizing-party, a number of students
who contribute each his part to-
wards a supper (Grose) ; the sizers
paid nothing for food and tuition, and
very little for lodging ; but they had
to perform some menial services from
which they have long been relieved.
They swept the court ; they carved up
the dinner to the fellows* table, and
changed the plates, and poured out
the ale of the rulers of the society
(Macavlay). The grade no longer
exists: practically speaking, it has
ceased to exist for a century (1592).
2. Half -a- pint (1785). 3. Besult,
state, fact. As verb, to measure, to
gauge, to reckon tip : also to max. up
(1380).
Skary. See Skeer.
Skedaddle. Hasty flight: also
skedaddling. As verb, to scamper
off, to scatter, to spilt
Skeer. To scare. Hence skcery
(sleary, scary), (1) dreadful; (2)
frightened, nervous (1582).
Skeesicks. 1. A good-for-nothing;
also like dog, rogue, rascal, in playful
address. 2. A fidgety, fussy, httle
fellow.
Skeet. A variant of scoot (q.v.),
to run, decamp. As adj. and adv.,
swift, fleet (1360).
Skeeter. A mosquito.
Skelder. A rogue, a sponge (q.v.) :
as verb, to cheat, to play the sponge :
cf. Skellum. Hence skeldering,
swindling, sponging.
Skeleton. A skeleton in the cup-
board (locker, closet, house), a secret
source of trouble, fear, or annoyance
FT., un cadavre.
Skellum (or Scellum). A
rascal, a vagabond : cf. Skelder (1611).
Skelper. Anything big or strik-
ing : see Spanker and Whopper.
Skelter. See Helter-skelter.
Skensmadaxn. A show dish, some-
times real, sometimes sham.
Skerf er. A blow on the neck.
Sket. A skeleton-key.
Skevington 's daughter (o»
irons). See Soavenger's-daughter.
Skew. 1. A beggar's wooden dish
or cup (B. E.\ 2. (Harrow). An
entrance examination at the end of
term : that at the commencement is
the dab, after which there is no further
chance; a shaky candidate tries the
dab first : as verb, to turn back, to fail.
Skewer. 1. A sword. As verb,
(a) to run through ; and (6) to impose
on. 2. A pen: FT., griff aarde (or
griffonante),
Skew - fisted. Awkward, ungainly
(£. E.).
Skew -gee. A squint: as adj.,
crooked, skew'd, squinting.
Skewgy-mewgy. A certain
caustic composition, known to yachts-
men by the mysterious name of
skcwgy - mewgy, damp and active
under the scrubbing-brushes and
holystones of her crew.
Skewing. In pi., perquisites,
makings (q.v.). [Properly skew
(gilders'), to removo superfluous gold
leaf, and to make good defects.]
Analogous terras are cabbage (tailors') ;
blue - pigoon (plumbers') ; menavel-
ings (beggars') ; fluff (railway clerks');
pudding, or jam (common).
Skew - the - dew. A splay-footed
person, a bumble-foot (q.v.).
410
Skewvow.
Skink.
Skewvow. Crooked, inclining to
one side (Grose) : also all askew.
Skid (or Skiv). 1. A sovereign : see
Rhino. 2. A volunteer, a militia-
man. To put on the skid, to speak
or act with caution.
Skiff. A leg [?].
Skiffle. A great hurry : cf. Souffle.
Skill. A goal kicked between
posts.
Skillet A ship's cook.
Skillingers (The). The 6th (Innis-
killing) Dragoons : also The Old
Skilly (or Skilligolee). 1. A
thin broth or soup of oatmeal and
water. 2. Anything of little or no
value. Shitty and fake, prison fare.
Skilt. In pL, trousers : see Kicks.
Skim. Money : generic : see
Bhino.
Skimble - skamble. Rigmarole,
nonsense; as adj., wandering, con-
fused, incoherently (1598).
Skimmery (Oxford Univ.). St.
Mary;s Hall.
Skimxnington. 1. A ludicrous
cavalcade, in ridicule of a man beaten
by bis wife. A man behind a woman,
face to horse's tail, distaff in hand,
which he seems to work, the woman
beating fri™ with a ladle ; a smock on
a staff is carried before them denoting
female superiority. They are ac-
companied by rough music, frying
pans, bulls* horns, marrowbones and
cleavers, etc. (Grose). Also to ride
the skimmington (or [Scots'] the stang).
[For a long description see Butler,
Svdtbras, n. ii. 585.] Hence, 2. a
row, a quarrel (1562).
Skimp. To stint, to scamp (q.v.).
As adj., insufficient, meagre; skimp-
ing (or skimpy), scanty, carelessly
made, slightly treated.
Skimshander. See Scrimshaw.
Skin. 1. A purse, a pocket-book —
any receptacle for money : thus a
queer skin, an empty purse ; frisk the
skin, clean Mm out, 2. A sovereign,
20s. : see Bhino. 3. In pi, a tanner
(1785). 4. See Skinner. 6. A trans-
lation, a crib (q.v.), a Bohn (q.v.);
also as verb, to copy a solution ; and
skinner, one using an irregular aid to
study. 6. Punch made in the glass :
as a whisky -skin, a rum -skin, etc.
7. See Skinflint. As verb, (1) to rob,
to strip, to clean out (q.v.) : spec.
(racing) to win all one's bets ; (book-
makers') skin the lamb (or have a
skinner, (a) to win with an unbacked
horse ; (6) to swindle ; and (c) to take
toll (q.v.): hence skin-game (e.g.
skin-faro), a swindle : skin-house, a
gambling den ; skinner, (a) a sharping
cheat, a thief: spec. (American) a
looter infesting both camps; (&) a
pirate ; and (c) & race, which being
won by a rank outsider, skins the ring
(1821); (2) to shadow (q.v.): spec,
when previous to arrest ; (3) to strip,
to peel (q.v.) : whence skinner, a
woman who strips children of their
clothes ; (4) to plant a deck (q.v.) : see
Concave, Broads, and Beflector ; (5)
to abate a price, to lower a. value:
cf. Shaving the ladies ; (6) to thrash :
also to skin alive. Other colloquial-
isms and phrases : By the skin of one's
teeth, a narrow escape, the closest of
close shaves ; to skin out, to decamp ;
to skin the cat (gymnasts'), to grasp the
bar with both hands, raise the feet,
and so draw the body, between the
arms, over the bar ; like eels, used to
skinning, of good heart ; to skin the
eyes (see Keep) ; aU skin and whip-
cord, well-trussed ; in good condition ;
in, (or with) a whole skin, uninjured,
with impunity ; to save one's skin, to
escape unhurt : see Bacon ; to skin a
flint (see Skin-flint); honest as the
akin between his brows (or horns) : see
Brow ; to skin a razor, to drive a hard-
and-fast bargain ; to skin one's skunk,
to do one's own dirty work j in a bad
skin, angry; dean-skin (Australian),
an unbranded beast: cf. Maverick;
to leap (or jump) out of one's skin, to
be startled or pleased ; in her (or his)
skin, evasive as to a person's where-
abouts.
Skin -coat. To curry one** akin-
coat, to thrash.
Skin-disease. Pourpenny ale.
Skinflint (or Skin). A griping,
sharping, close-fisted fellow (3. 2?.).
As verb (or to skin, or flay, a flint, jtyt
stone, etc.), to pinch, to screw, to
starve : cf. (proverbial) to skin a flea,
and bleed a cabbage; skinny, mean,
stingy ; the skinftinteries, The Museum
of Economic [now Practical] Geology,
Jermyn St., W. See File, Flay, Flea,
and Flint (1761).
Skinful. A bellyful — liquor or
food (1600).
Skink. Frimarilv to draw, •erve,
or offer drink. Whence «• «nbfl.,
416
Skin-m&rchawt.
Skunk.
drink or lap (q.v.) ; and skinker, (I)
a tapster, or waiter ; (2) a landlord,
and (3) one who waits on iihe company,
rings the bell, stirs the fire, and snuffs
the candles j the duty of the youngest
officer in the military mess (Grose) ;
in a family the person latest at break-
fast, on whom some domestic duty is
imposed or threatened for the day,
such as ringing the bell, putting coal
on the fire, or in other cases, drawing
the beer for the family (HaUiweU)
(1200).
Skin- merchant. A recruiting
officer (1783).
Skinned - rabbit. A very spare
person.
Skinner. 1. See Skin. 2. A bird
fat enough to burst its skin when shot,
Skin-of-the-creature (or
crater). A bottle : see Creature.
Skin-the-lamb. Lansquenet: see
also Skin.
Skintight. A sausage.
Skintling. At right angles.
Skip. 1. A footman, a grass-
hopper (q.v.) : whence spec. 2. (Trin.
Coll., Dublin), a college servant: cf.
Gyp and Scout : also skipkennel (1672).
As verb, (1) to decamp : also to skip
out (or off), and to do a skip ; (2) to die :
see Hop the twig ; (3) to read hastily,
picking out passages here and there ;
(4. University), to shirk work : also
skipper, a hasty reader ; and skipp-
able, easily and quickly read.
Skip-brain. Flighty, volatile,
fickle (1603).
Skipjack. 1. A horse-dealer's
jockey ( 1568). 2. A nobody, a trifler :
also skipper (1580).
Skipper. 1. A barn: whence as
verb (or to skipper it), to sleep in the
straw or in Hedge Square (q.v.) ;
skipper-bird, a barn-rooster or hodge-
tramp (1567). 2. The Devil. 3. ?A
Dutch Master of a Ship or Vessel!'
(JB. £!.) ; in modern use any ship's
captain. 4. A leader or chief in any
enterprise, adventure, or business.
5. A master, boss (q.v.}, governor
(q.v.) (1483). 6. The cheese-hopper :
hence skippery, full of mites. See
Skip and Skipjack
Skipper's - daughter. A crested
wave, a white-cap (or horse).
Skipping. Light, giddy, volatile
(1594).
Skirry. A run: also as verb, to
ecurry (Parker, 1781).
20 417
Skirt. In pi., women (generic) :
cf. Petticoat, Muslin, etc. To sit
wpon one's skirts, to pursue (1525).
Skirter. 1. A hound running wide
of the pack 2. A hunter who does
not ride straight to hounds, but makes
short cuts : cf. Shirker.
Skirt-foist. A general amorist.
Skit. 1. A jest, a satire : also as
verb, to wheedle (Grose) (1779). 2.
A wanton (1583).
Skitter-brain (or wit). A
flighty person : also Skitterbrained, etc.
Skitting-dealer. A sham dumby.
Skittles. Nonsense! Other col-
loquialisms are — All beer and skittles,
everything easy or to one's liking ;
aH wpf as skittles when down, a difficulty,
something to tackle or do again.
Skiv (or Sciv). A sovereign, 20s. :
see Rhino.
Skowbanker. A loafer, a hanger-
on: also showbanker.
Skower. See Secure.
Skrimp (or Skruxnp). To steal
Skrimshanker. See Scrimshanker.
Skrunt. A prostitute.
Skue. The rump.
Skug. See Scug.
Skulker. A soldier who ....
evades his duty ; a sailor who keeps
below in time of danger ; one who
keeps out of the way when work is to
be done ; to skulk, to hide oneself ; to
avoid labour or duty (Grose).
Skull. 1. The head of a college:
see Golgotha; whence skuK-race, a
university examination. 2. Any chief,
as the President, the head of a busi-
ness, the captain of a vessel, etc. My
skuWs afly, awake (q.v.), fly (q.v.).
Skull and Crossbones (The).
The 17th (The Duke of Cambridge's
Own) Lancers. [The Eegimental
Badge.] Also The Death or Glory
Boys; Bingham's Dandies; The
Gentlemen Dragoons ; and The Horse
Marines.
Skullduggery. . See Soullduddery.
Sfcull-thatcher. 1. A efcraw-
bonnet maker. 2. A hatter. 3. A
wig- maker. Skull-thatch, a hat or wig.
Skungle. A generic verb of action :
to decamp, to steal a watch, to gobble ,
up food, etc. : cf . Skyugle.
Skunk. 1. A mean, paltry wretch ;
a stinkard (q.v.) (1841). 2. Utter
defeat: as verb, (1) to disgrace: cf.
Slam. (2) To neglect to pay.
3*9.
Slampam.
Sky (or Ski) (Westminster). 1.
Any one not of the school: an ab-
breviation or corruption of Volsci :
the Westminster boys being Romans.
2. See Skyrocket. As verb, (1) to
hang, throw, or hit high (e.g. a picture
at the Royal Academy : whence the
sky, the upper rows of exhibitors ; a
ball at cricket : hence skyer (or sky-
scraper a high hit); (2) to spend
freely till all's blued (q.v.) ; to sky a
copper, to spin a coin (1800) ; (3)
(Harrow), to charge, knock down : at
football : also to throw away. // the
sky falls we shaU catch larks, a retort to
a wild hypothesis : ci if pigs had
wings they'd be likely birds to fly.
Sky-blue. 1. Gin (1755). 2.
Diluted or separated millr (1800).
Sky-farmers. People that go about
the country with a false pass, signed
by the Church Wardens and Over-
seers of the parish or place that they
lived in, and some Justice of the
Peace, but the names are all forged ;
hi this manner they extort money,
under pretence of sustaining loss by
fire, or the distemper amongst the
horned cattle (Poulter).
Skygazer. A skysail
Sky-godlin. Obliquely, askew.
Sky-lantern. The moon: see
Oliver.
Skylark. Originally tricks in the
rigging of H.M. Navy; hence any
rough - and - tumble horseplay. As
verb, to frolic, to play the fool ; sky-
larking, boisterous merriment or fool-
ing ; and skylarker, a practical joker.
verb, (1) skite (q.v.) ; and (2) squitter
(q.v.). On the skyte, drunk: see
Screwed.
Skyugle. A corps staff officer
informed me that he had been out on
a general scyugle; that he had
scyugled along the front, when the
rebels scyugled a bullet through his
clothes; that he should scyugle bis
servant; who, by the way, had
scyugled three fat chickens ; that
after he had scyugled his dinner, he
proposed to scyugle a nap (Army
and Navy Journal).
Sky-wannocking. A drunken
frolic.
Slab. 1. A milestone. 2. A brick-
layer's boy (Ealliwdl). 3. A thick
slice of bread and butter : cf. Door-
step. 4. In pi-, a flat cake. To dab off,
to reject.
Slabbering-bit. A neck-band :
clerical or legal.
Slabberdegullion. See Slabber-
degullion.
Slab-sided. Tall, lank, up and
down in figure : also slap-sided.
Slack. 1. In pi., overall trousers.
2. A smashing or knock-down blow.
Jack Slack, champion 1750-60, was
known. for his powerful delivery : also
slack-'un -. cf. Auctioneer and Mendoza,
3. A slack time. To hold on the slack :
to skulk, to loaf.
Slack-jaw. Impertinence.
Slag. A slack-mettled fellow, one
not ready to resent an affront (Grose).
Slake. To kiss.
Slam. 1. A trick 2. At whist a
juug , oiiiu etvyitjii moi , eu ^u.w^iuvo'i JWJVCJL. vjxa.4.ii. i. A, MJ.V.B* .», rxv WJllot/ a
Skylarker. 1. A housebreaker fol- game lost without scoring : also as
brick-laying as a blind. 2.
ylark.
it. The eye.
Sfcy-p~arlour. A garret (1807).
Sky-pilot. A clergyman, bible-
pounder.
Skyrocket. 1. A pocket: also
Sky. 2. Eccentricity.
Skyscraper. Generic for height:
e.g. (1) a very tall man; (2) a very
lofty building : spec. (American) erec-
tions sometimes twenty stories high ;
(3) a triangular sail set above the
royals, a sky-sail, sky-gazer, or angel's
footstool (q.v.) ; and (4) a skied ball :
hence skyscraping and other deriva-
tives. (5) A cocked hat.
Skypper. See Skipper.
Skyte (Shrewsbury). A day boy
who lives or lodges in the town. As
verb, to take every trick : cf. Skunk.
3. A sloven ; also slamkin, one whose
clothes seem hung on with a pitch-
fork (Grose). 4. Any ill-made, awk-
ward, ungainly wretch ( 1 697). As verb,
(1) to brag; spec, (military) to feign
drunkenness and boast of many
drinks : cfc Slum ; (2) to patter (q.v.),
to talk in the way of trade.
Slam-bang. See Slap.
Slamkin (Slammocks, or Slam-
merkin). A slut (q.v.). As verb, to
slouch.
Slammer. Anything exceptional.
Hence slamming, large, exceptional.
SI amp am (Slampaine, Slatn-
pambes, or Slarnpant). A blow.
To cut off (or give the) «fampambe*f
to circumvent, to get toe better of
(1563).
418
Slamtrash.
Slate.
Slamtrash. A sloven.
Slaney. A theatre.
Slang. 1. To speak slang. 2. To
scold or abuse. 3. As ad j . , ( 1 ) relating
to slang ; (2) low, unrefined ; and (3)
angry: also slangy and slangular.
Slanginess, the state of being slangy j
slang-boys (or boys of the slang), those
who speak slang ; slangster, a master
of flash (q.v.) j slangwhanger, a speaker
addicted to slang: whence slang-
whanging, and slangwhang, to scold ;
slangander (American), to backbite ;
slangoosing (American), tittle-tattle,
back -biting, esp. of women (1743).
4. A leg iron, a fetter (1785) ; formerly
about three feet long, the slang being
attached to an iron anklet riveted on
the leg: the slack (q.v.) was slung to
the waistbelt. 5. A watch-chain : in
Dutch slang, slang, (a) a snake, and
(6) a chain. 6. False weights and
measures (e.g. a slang quart, 1£ pts.) ;
as verb, to cheat by short weight or
measure : also to defraud a person of
any part of his due. 7. A beggar's
pass, a hawker's license : any official
instrument ; on the slang, begging or
peddling : hence, 8. a pursuit ; a lay
(q.v.) ; a lurk (q.v.). 9. (showmen's),
(a) A travelling show, a oheap-jack's
van; and (5) a performance; a turn
(q.v.) : e.g. the first, second, or third
slang (q.v.), when more than one
performance is given during the
evening : also the slangs, (a) a collec-
tion of shows, and (&) the showman's
profession ; slanging and slang-cull, to
exhibit anything in a fair or market,
such as a tall man, or a cow with two
heads ; slang-and-pitcher shop, (a) a
cheap-jack's van, an (&) a wholesale
dealer in cheap-jack wares; slang-
tree, (a) a stage, and (&) a trapeze:
hence to climb up the slang tree, (a) to
perform, and (6) to make an exhibition
of oneself. To slang the maideys, to
shake hands.
Slangrill (or Slangam). A lout
(1592).
Slant, 1. An opportunity, a
chance : originally nautical, a favour-
able wind : e.g. a slant across the bay.
2. A side-blow. As verb, (1) to run
away ; (2) to exaggerate, to draw tho
long bow (q.v.) j (3) to wager : see
Lay.
Slantendicular (or Slanting-
dicular). Indirect ; a slant (q.v.).
Also as adv.
Slap. I. Booty, plunder. 2.
Make-up: also as verb. As adj.,
first-rate, smart (q.v.), prime (q.v.) :
also slap-up ; cf. Bang-up ; whence
slapper, anything exceptional ; slap-
ping, very-big, excellent (1851).
adv., violently,
p, off-hand; also
slap-bang, slam-bang, and slap-dash ;
as subs., (a) careless work, and (&) in-
discriminate action; as verb, to go
recklessly to work (1671). A slap (or
slat) in the face, a rebuff, a reproach.
See Slop up.
Slap-bang Shop. 1. A petty
cook's shop, where there is no credit
given, but what is had must be paid
for, down with the ready slap-bang,
i.e. immediately. This is a common
appellation for a night cellar fre-
quented by thieves (Grose). Also
Sloan-bang shop. 2. A stage coach, or
caravan (1785). See Slap.
Slap- Jack, See Map-jack,
Slappaty-pouch (or Slatter-pouch).
Beating the arms on the chest to
keep warm (1654).
Slap-sauce. A hanger-on, a
toady. As adj., to sponge (q.v.) (1557).
Slap-sided. See Slab-sided.
Slash. An outside pocket. As
verb, to criticise severely, sarcastic-
ally, or at random, to out up (q.v.) :
also to slash in. Hence slashing,
damning criticism ; as adj., trenchant,
harsh ; slasher, a vigorous critic.
Slasher. 1. A bully, a bravo : see
Furioso. 2. A pounding pugilist, a
ffitfcite (q.v.). 3. See Slash (1593).
4. A sword. 5. Anything exceptional :
hence slashing* exceptionally brilliant,
vigorous, successful, expert, etc. : also
as adv., as a slashing fine woman ; a
slashing good race ; and so forth.
The Slashers, the 1st Batt. Gloucester-
shire Regiment, formerly The 28th
Foot: also The Old Braggs and The
Rightabouts.
Slat Half-a-crown : 2s. 6d. ; see
Rhino ; also slate. As verb, to throw,
beat, or move with violence ( 1604).
Slate. 1. A sheet : also slat (1567).
2. A preliminary list of candidates
recommended to office ; a party pro-
gramme ; in practice a secret under-
standing between loaders as to the
candidates they desire the nominating
Convention to adopt; to smash (or
break) the slate, to defeat the wire-
pullers ; to slaia, (a) to prepare, and
(&) to be included in such a list;
419
Slater's Pan.
Slide.
date -smasher, a leader who ignores
the wishes of Ms party. As verb, (1)
to reprimand or criticise, to cut up
(q.v.): hence slating (or a slate), a
blowing up, severe censure, unsparing
criticism (1300) ; (2) a -woman is said
to be slated when her petticoat falls
below her gown (Halliwett) ; (3) to bash
a man's hat over the eyes, to bonnet
(q.v.) ; (4) to bet heavily against an
entry. A slate off (loose), etc., crazy,
a tile loose (q.v.).
Slater's Pan. The gaol of Kings-
ton in Jamaica ; Slater is the deputy
provost-marshal (Grose).
Slathers. Abundance, * lashin's
an* lavin's.'
Slaughter. 1. To sell at a sacri-
fice (q.v.) : hence slaughter-house, a
shop or auction-room where goods are
bought or sold for what they will
• bring; slaughterer, (1) a vendor at
cost, and (2) a buyer for re-manu-
facture : as books for pulp, cloth for
shoddy, etc. (1851). Slaughter of the
Innocents : see Innocent.
Slave-driver. 1. A harsh task-
master, a strict master, 2. (Harrow
cricket). The upper ground on these
days is given up to practice at the
nets for the eleven and the Sixth Form
game, and to practise in fielding and
catching ; boys below the Removes
have to fag for them, and these fags
are managed by slave-drivers, three
or four boys appointed for the purpose
(Great Public Schools).
Slavey. A drudge — male or
female, a servant of either sex (Grose).
Also (old) slaving gloke (1821).
Sledge-hammer. To hit hard, to
batter.
Sleek. See Slick.
Sleek-and-slum Shop. A public-
house or tavern where single men and
their wives resort (Bee).
Sleep. To provide sleeping ac-
commodation : cf. Boom. To sleep
on bont&, to sleep in a lap : e.g. Let
not the child sleep on bones, i.e. in
the nurse's lap (1670). To sleep on
both ears, to sleep soundly, without a
care (1633).
Sleep-drunk. Drowsy, confused :
as on waking from heavy sleep.
Sleeper. 1. A sleeping-car. 2. Un-
claimed money.
Sleeping-house. * Sleeping© House,
without Shop, Ware-House, or Cellar,
only for a private Family ' (B. &),
Sleeping-partner. 1. A partner in a
trade, or shop, who lends his name and
money, for which he receives a share
of the profit, without doing any part
of the business (Grose). 2. A bed-
fellow.
Sleepy. Much worn, threadbare:
e.g. a sleepy pear, a pear beginning to
decay ; a sleepless-hat, sha&by head-
gear with nap worn off (Grose).
Sleepy-head. A dullard.
Sleepy, Queen's (The). The
Queen's Royal Regiment, late the
2nd Foot.
Sleepy-seed. In pi., the mucous
secretion about the eyelids during
sleep : cf. Sand-man.
Sleeve. Here occur one or two
phrases and colloquialisms: To hang
on (or upon) a sleeve, to be dependent ;
to laugh in one's sleeves, to deride or
exult in secret ; to wear one's heart
upon one's sleeve, to make no mystery,
to be artless ; in (or up) one's sleeve,
hidden, in reserve, ready for use ; to
pin to one's sleeve, to flaunt ; to hang
on another's sleeve, to accept another's
authority.
Sleeveboard. A hard word to
pronounce, a jaw-breaker (q.v.).
Sleeveless. Fruitless, inadequate,
wanting a cover or excuse, impertinent
or trifling : now only in phrase, a
sleeveless errand, a fool's errand (1400)
Slewed. Drunk: see Screwed:
also slued (1845).
Slewer. A servant-girl : el Butch
slang slucr (or aZoor), a poor, common
woman.
Slibber-slabber. Careless.
Slick. 1. Quick, bold, direct,
perfect : whence^ 2. clever, plausible,
expert, smart (q.v.) : also sleek (1605).
To slick up, to tittivate (q.v.), to
smarten, to put in order. *
Slick-a-die. A pocket-book: see
Dee.
Slicker, subs. (Western American).
An overcoat: spec, a, waterproof: also
sleeker.
Slide. 1. To decamp; to skip
(q.v.): also to slide, cut, (1) to leave
stealthily; and (2) to shirk : by
artifice. 2. To backplide j to weaken
(q.v.) : e.g. from a resolution, attitude,
or promise. As subs., an error, &
falling awayj sliding, transgression
(1603). To let slide, to let go ; to
allow things to take care of them-
selves (1360).
Slide-groat.
Slog.
Slide-groat. Shove-halfpenny(q.v.).
Slider. In pi., drawers.
Slide-thrift. See Shovel-board.
Slim. Delicate, feeble. As adv.,
resourceful, smart (q.v.).
Slime (Durham School). 1. To
cut games. 2. To lounge, to loaf :
e.g. slimeing down town. 3 (Felsted),
To sneak along ; to do a slime, to take
a crafty advantage. 4 (Harrow). To
go round quietly. 5 (Harrow). To
make drops at rackets.
Sling. A generic verb of action.
Thus (1), to throw away or pass to a
confederate; and (2) to do easily;
to sling a pot, to drink; to sling the
"booze, to stand treat; to sling a bob
(a tanner — anything), to give ; to
sling one's hook (bunk, or darnel), to
decamp ; to sling a doddle, to shake
hands: to sling a cat, to vomit; to
sling a tinkler, to ring the bell ; to
sling a poem, article, or book, to write ;
to sling a hat, to wave one in applause ;
to sling the smash, to smuggle tobacco
to prisoners ; to sling about, to loaf ;
to sling ink (or a pen), to write : hence
inkslinger, a clerk or author ; to sling
a foot, to dance ; to sling one in the
eye, to blacken it ; to kill a crow with
an empty sling, to gain without effort ;
to sling off (patter, or jaw), to talk,
to abuse, to insinuate : cf. Slang ; to
sling a snot, to blow one's nose with
the fingers : also to sling ; to sling (or
jerk) a part, to undertake a r6le: to
sling a nasty part, to play so well that
another would find it difficult to rival
it ; to sling round on the loose, to act
recklessly ; sling yourself (let her sling!)
Bestir yourself.
Slinger. A piece of bread floating
in tea.
Slinging. Covering, indefatigable,
effortless.
Slink. 1. A sneak. 2. A greedy
starveling. 3. A cheat : hence as
adj. (or slinky). (1) sneaky, mean ; and
(2) thin, lank. 4. A bastard: cf.
slink, to miscarry (of beasts).
Slip. 1. A counterfeit coin : also
slip-coin : whence to be nailed up for
slips, to be tried and found wanting
( 1 692). 2. A miscarriage ; an abortion :
also as verb, to miscarry. Phrases:
To slip one's cable (breath, or wind),
to die : see Aloft ; to give the dip, to
escape unobserved ; a slip (or fatt)
*twixt cup and lip, a thing not done
may spoil in the doing ; to slip into, (1)
to attack, and (2) to execute with
vigour ; to sfap up, to err, to trip ;
a slip of the tongue, an inadvertency
in speech; to make a slip, to give
chastity the go-by : whence see Slip.
Slip-along. See Slipshod.
Slip-gibbet (halter, rope, string,
or thrift). A prodigal, one deserving
of (or who has cheated) the gallows
(1590).
Slippery. Soap : ST., glissant. As
adj. and adv., (1) untrustworthy,
false, wanton : also slipper, slippy, and
slip skin : whence slippery-fellow (or
trick), deceitful (B. E.) : one on whom
there can be no dependence (Grose)
(1553) ; (2) quick.
Slip - shod. Careless, slovenly :
that is slipper-shod : also dip-along,
slip-slop (1605).
Slip-slop. 1. A blunder : as adj.,
slovenly, inaccurate : cf. Slipshod
(1797). 2. In pL, shoes (or slippers)
down at the heels: also (Norfolk)
slip-shoe. As adj., here and there,
all over the shop : also slip-slap and
verb (1721). Sec Slop.
Slip-thrift. See Slip-gibbet.
Slit A pocket.
Slither. 1. To slip, to make away,
to smooth. 2. To hurry. Also
slithery, slippery (q.v.).
Slive. To sneak or lounge away,
to idle. Slive - Andrew, good - for-
nothing ; sliverly, artful; shving, idle.
To let stive, to lot fly (1707).
Slobber. Baxily distributed ink.
As verb, (1) to kiss effusively : also as
subs, and slabbering (1583); (2) to
scamp work : also to slobber over.
Slobberdegullion. SoeSlub-
berdogullion.
Slobberer. (1) A slovenly farmer;
and (2) a jobbing tailor (HaUiwdl),
Slobgollion. Whaleman's term for
an oozy stringy substance found in
sperm oil (G. RusseU).
Slog. 1. A blow. 2. A bout of
fisticuffs. 3. A large portion, spec.
a big slice of cake. As verb, (1) to
hit, or work hard ; (2) to purdah
(q.v.), to pound (pugilists*), and (3)
to tackle a matter seriously. Whence
slogging-match, a hard fight or tussle ;
dogger, (1) a pugilist given to hard
hitting, and (2) a steady worker;
dogging, a beating, a fight; and to
have a slog on, to put on a spurt : in
America the spoiling slug, slugger,
etc., is accepted.
421
Slogger (Camb. Univ.). 1. A boat
in the second division : corresponding
to the Oxford Torpids. See Slog.
Slop. 1. In pi., liquid food : spec,
weak tea : or any thin beverage taken
medicinally (Grose): also slip-slop:
as adj., feeble, poor, weak ; as verb, to
eat or drink greedily, to mop up (q.v.) :
also to slop (or slap) up, or to slop it ;
slopping -up, a drinking bout; slop-
feeder, a tea-spoon; slop-tubs, tea-
things ; slip-sloppy, slushy, watery
(1515). 2. In pi., Wearing apparel
and bedding used by seamen (Grose) :
hence ready - made clothing ; slop-
seller, a dealer in ready-made clothes ;
slop-chest, a ship's supply of clothes
and bedding: usually doled out at
cost price ; slop-book, the register of
supplies ; slop-work, (1) the cheapest :
hence (2) any work poorly done ;
sloppy, ill-fitting (originally an outer
garment made of linen). 3. A tailor.
4. A policeman : a corruption of
esclop (1851). 5. (Christ's Hospital).
A term of contempt. As verb, (1) to
make a mess ; (2) to walk or work in
the wet. To slop over, to enter into
with enthusiasm and speak (write, or
act) like a fool, to put on side (q.v.),
to make a mistake (1859).
Slope. L To run away, to bunk
(q.v.) : as subs., an escape : e.g. to do
a dope (1840), 2. To sleep (1610).
Sloper's Island. A weekly tene-
ment neighbourhood : spec. c. 1870
the Artizan's Village near Lough-
borough Junction, originally in the
midst of fields ; now in the centre of
a densely populated neighbourhood.
Slopper (The Leys School). A
slop basin : cf. Footer, Brekker, etc.
Sloppy. Loose, slovenly.
Slosh. A drink. As verb, to go
here and there, to knock about (q.v.)
(1854).
Slosher (Cheltenham College). A
boarding-house assistant: they are
charged with superintending dormi-
tories, the evening work, etc.
Slouch. 1. A clumsy lout, an idler.
2. Anything indifferent : usually in
phrase no slouch. 3. An awkward
lumpish gait : as verb, to walk lump-
ishly or sullenly ; slouching (or slouchy),
awkward, ungainly, heavy (Grose)
(1570). 4. A slouch -hat (i.e. a hat
with a broad an£ drooping brim)
Slour. To lock up, to fasten, to
button up one's coat, to make aU
secure (Grose).
Slow. A sluggard, a lazybones.
As adv., (1) stupid ; spiritless, tedious
(1855); (2) (Winchester). Ignorant
of Winchester notions (q.v.).
Slow-back. A loafer (1619).
Slowcoach. 1. A dullard, a lout.
2. A dawdler. 3. An antique, a fossil
(1857).
Slow-up. A slackening of speed.
Also as verb, to go easy.
Slubberdegullion. A slovenly,
dirty, nasty fellow (B. JB.). Also
SlabberdeguUion. As adj., paltry,
dirty (1619).
Slued. See Slewed.
Slug. Generic for • sloth. 1. A
drone, a lazybones :" also slug-a-bed,
and (now accepted) sluggard. 2. A
hindrance. 3. A slow-paced boat,
horse, etc., or (B. IB.) a dull-edged
tool ; as adj. (also sluggish and sluggy),
lazy, slow; as verb, (1) to laze, and
(2) to hinder (1383). 4. A dram:
hence to fire (or cant) a slug, to drink
(Grose) (1762). 5. An ingot of gold ;
a twenty-dollar piece (Ency. Diet.),
but in Century Diet, a gold coin of the
value of fifty dollars privately issued
in San Francisco during the mining
excitement of 1849.
Slugger. See Slogger.
Sluice. The mouth : also sluice-
house. As verb, to paddle, to bathe
(or wet) freely (1859). To sluice the
bolt (dominoes, gob, or ivories), to
drink heartily : see Dominoes (Grose) :
sluieery, a public-house (Grose). To
sluice off, to divert, to lay aside (1862).
Slum. 1. Nonsense, a trick, a
swindle : e.g. a sham begging letter,
a roll of snide notes, etc. : hence up
to slum, knowing, not to be had (q.v.) ;
to fake the slum, to do the trick, 2.
Idle talk; as verb, (1) to trick, to
cheat; and (2) to talk idly, or to
speak slang (1821).. 3. A room. 4. A
squalid street or neighbourhood, a
rookery (q.v.): usually in pi., with
back: as verb, (a) to explore poor
quarters out of curiosity or charity ;
(b) to keep to back streets to avoid
observation; and (c) to keep in the
background. 5. A letter, a package :
anything in hand. 6. The call ; slum-
fake, the coffin; slumming, acting
(1872). * ^
SlumgulUon. A representative,
a servant (Bartlett).
Smart.
Slumguzzle. To deceive. Hence
alumguzzling, humbuggery (Barfiett).
Slummy. A servant girl.
Slump. 1. A sudden fall: of
prices ; an ignominious failure : e g.
a slump in Kaffirs : as verb, to fall
heavily (Scots') dump, all of a piece,
to come down with a rush. 2. A
gross amount ; the whole : e.g. a
slump sum : as verb, to lump, group
together (1856). 3. To recite badly,
fail, bungle.
Slung. Slung out on hands and
knees, instantly dismissed.
Slur. 1. A cheat at dice; also a
slight scandal or affront (£. E.). 2.
To cheat (1664).
Slush. 1. Food. 2. A foul feeder :
also slush-bucket ; slusher (or slushy).
3. A drunkard. 4. Indifferent matter,
padding (q.v.).
Slut. 1. A dirty housewife. 2. An
awkward person or thing. 3. A
wench (q.v,) : cf. Quean. 4. A bitch.
As verb, to befoul; sluttery (also
sluttishness), negloct; sluttish, (1)
wanton ; and (2) untidy (1400).
Sly. 1. Under the rose ; trans-
acting business privately is frequently
said to be done upon the sly (Grose).
2. Illicit : also oy the sly ; to run sly,
to escapo, to evade (1787).
Slyboots. A seemingly simple but
really clever and designing fellow
(#. E.) (1680).
Smabbled (or Snabbled).
Killed in battle.
Smack. 1. A twang or ill taste
(B. &). 2. A liMng, a fancy : o.g.
He had a real smack for the old |un :
of. jsmackcring, a longing for (Bailey).
3. A kiss : also smacker : whence
to smack calfe akin, to take oath
( 1 786). Smack - smooth, level with the
surface* everything out away (Grose)
(1790).
Smacking-cove* A coachman
(3. E.).
Small. 1. In pi., brooches: spec,
the close - fitting knee - breeches of
the 18th and early 19th centuries:
also small-clothes (Grose : A gird at the
affected delicacy of tho present age ; a
suit being called coat, waistcoat, and
— articles or small clothes), 2, In pi.,
Greats, so far as the name existed in
my time, meant the Public Examina-
tion, ae distinguished from Respon-
eions. Little-go, or smalls (Freeman).
la pi., ZV^fc-^ is the Cambridge equi-
valent : properly Responsions. 3. A
one-night performance in a small town
or village by a minor company carry-
ing its own fit - up. As adv., timidly,
humbly: e.g. to sing (or speak)
small (q.v.).
Small - and - early. An evening
party : informal and breaking up at
an early hour (1865).
Small beer. 1. Weak beer. 2.
trifles; to chronicle small beer, (1) to
engage in trivial occupations, and (2)
to retail petty scandal ; to think small
beer of anything, to have a poor opinion
of it. Also smaU things. As adj.,
petty (1604).
Small cap. O. A second or inferior
in command, an under overseer.
Small cheque. A dram, a drink.
To knock down a cheque, to spend all
in drink.
Small Fry. Generic (1) for things
little; and (2) for things trifling or
valueless.
Small Hours. The first three or
four hours after midnight: usually
the small hours of the morning. Also
short hours (1796).
Small Potatoes. See Potato.
Small pill (The Leys School).
A diminutive football used on
runs.
Smart. Generic for superior, out
of the common, distinguished. [In
senses 1, 2, and 3 there is often, but
not necessarily, an implied suspicion
of something questionable. 1. Lively,
witty, pert (JB, E.) : e.g. a, smart
(clever) book; a smart (ready) reply; a
smart (bright) saying ; a smart (spark-
ling) speech ; a smart (brisk) lad, etc.
2. Well-dressed, fashionable, brilliant
e.g. a smart (elegant and modish)
frock ; a smart (attractive and amusing)
show; smart (fashionable) society:
hence smart, subs., (1) a dandy (old),
and (2) one in advance of the prevailing
standard of good taste. 3. Quick,
export, shrewd: e.g. a smart (pre-
cocious) child ; a smart (clever) work-
man; a smart (enterprising) trades-
man', a smart (capable, active, and
neat) soldier, sailor, hand, etc. 4.
(American), clover, knavish, and un-
scrupulous. 5. (Prov.), Cold: e.g. a
smart (biting) morning. 6. (colloquial)
Uncommon : e.g. smart (hard) going ;
smart (resolute and lively) hitting;
mart (capable) «w#. As adv., very,
large, considerable, vigorously:
423
Smart-money.
Smtihfield-largain.
such derivatives and combinations as
smarty (subs.), smartness (subs,), and
smartish (adj.) (1383). See Smart-
money.
Smart-money. (1) Given by the
King, when a man in land or sea-
service has a leg shot or cut off, or is
disabled (JB. E.); hence (2) a fine:
and (3) vindictive damages : also
smart.
Smash. 1. Iced brandy and water.
2. Mashed vegetables : potatoes, tur-
nips, and the like (Grose) (1851). 3.
Tobacco : hence to ding the smash, to
pass tobacco to a prisoner. As verb,
(1) to utter base com : hence smasher,
(a) base coin or paper ; and (&) one who
passes base money into circulation ;
(2) to give change : as subs., loose
change ; (1823) ; (3) to ruinate, to go
bankrupt: also (military) to be
reduced or broke : as subs, (or smash-
up), ruin, destruction, bankruptcy;
att to smash, all to pieces, completely
(1847); (4) to beat badly; to double
up ; hence smasher, a settling blow ;
(1832); (5) to kick downstairs: e.g.
The chubbs toute the blosses, they
smash, and make them brush, The
sharpers catch their mistresses on the
hop, kick them downstairs, and make
them clear out (B. K).
Smasher. 1. Anything exceptional,
a settler : whence smashing, crushing
(1854). 2. See Smash. 3. A north
country seaman (Clark Russell).
Smash-feeder. A Britannia-metal
spoon.
Smatterer. One half-learned. A
Smattering, a slight tincture in any
skill or learning (B. E.).
Smear. 1. A plasterer (Grose). 2.
Food, hash, grub : espec. a society
spread or supper (Barttett).
Smear-gelt. A bribe (Grose).
Smectymnus. A word made out
of the first letters of the names of five
Presbyterian ministers, viz. Stephen
Marshall, Edmund Ciilamy, Thomas
Young, Mathew Newoomen, and
William Spurstow, who wrote a book
against Episcopacy, and the Common
Prayer, A.D. 1641, whence they and
their followers were called Smectym-
Smeekit. Drunk : see Screwed.
Smell. To investigate, to search;
to nose (q.v.): also to smell out.
Hence smutting committee, an in-
vestigating committee. [Bcurfatt :
424
the phrase originated in the examina-
tion of a convent in Massachusetts
by legislative order] (1555). See
Smeller, Cork, Elbow-grease, Foot-
lights, Grease, Ink-horn, Lamp, Rat,
Roast.
Smeller. 1. The nose: see Conk
(1678) : in pi., nostrils. 2. A blow on
the nose, a nosender. 3. In pi., a
cat's whiskers (Grose). 4. A spy ; a
Paul Pry (q.v.).
Smell-feast. 1. A parasitic glutton ;
as adj., sharking for victuals. 2. A
point (q.v.) feast (1599).
Smelling-cheat. 1. The nose : see
Cheat and Smeller (1567). 2. An
orchard, garden, or nosegay (Ear-
man).
Smell-smock. See Smock.
Smelly. Offensively odorous
(1863).
Smell-powder. A duellist (Bee).
Smelt. 1. A fool, gull; hence
(proverbial), Westward for smelts !
(old colloquial), on the spree (i.e. in
search of conies, male or female (1600).
2. Half-a-guinea (B. E.).
Smicker. To look wantonly: as
adj., amorous ; smickering, amorous
inclination ; smicldy, amorously (1606).
Smicket. A smock or shift (1719).
Smiggins. Hulk soup.
Smile. A dnnk : as verb, to drink,
spec, in company : cf. Shout (1855).
Smiling. To come up smiling, to
rise superior to the moment.
Smirk. A finical spruce fellow.
To smirk, to smile or look pleasantly
(B. *.>
Smish. A chemise, a shirt : cf .
Camesa and Mish (Grose).
Smite. To get money, to rush
(q.v. ) : acamedic term (Grose).
Smiter. 1. A sword (1591). 2. An
arm (B. E.).
Smithereens (or Smithers).
Small fragments. All to smithereens.
all to smash (q.v.) (1855).
Smithfield - bargain. A bargain
whereby the purchaser is taken in.
This is likewise frequently used to
express matches, or marriages, con-
tracted solely on the score of interest,
on one or both sides, where the fair
sex are bought and sold like cattle
in Smithfield (Grose). A marriage of
interest, where money is the chief
consideration : the allusion is to buy-
ing a wife in Smithfield. Cf. Breton,
OUe Man's Lesson (1605), p. 7 : Fie on
Smock.
Snack,
these market matches, where marriages
are made without affection (Davies)
(1598).
Smock. A woman : cf. Petticoat,
Placket, Skirt, Muslin, etc. Hence,
in combination, pertaining to, or
connected with women. Thus smock-
face, an effeminate ; smock - faced,
snout-fair (B. E.), fair-faced (Grose),
smooth-faced ; smock-verrmn, a con-
temptuous address ; smock - hold,
tenure during a wife's lifetime ;
smock - government (or smock - led),
petticoat rule.
Smoke. 1. A chimney ; hence
(modern) the smoke, any large city:
spec. London : also the great smoke
(1687). 2. A cigar: also the act of
smoking ; dry-smoke, an unlighted
cigar or pipe between the lips. 3.
Idle talk, vanity, anything of little
or no value ; to end in smoke, to serve
or come to no useful end (1594). As
verb, (1) to examine, to suspect, to
observe, to discover, to understand,
to twig (q.v.) : cf. Smell, Nose, otc. :
whence smoky, (a) suspicious, in-
quisitive ; and (6) jealous (B. K.)
(1280) ; (2) to blush ; (3) to ridicule ;
to quiz (q.v.) : whence smoker, a
mocker, a practical joker; smoking,
bantering (1608) ; (4) To affront a
stranger at hia corning in (B. E.) ;
(5) to raise a dust by beating: cf,
to dust one's jacket (1690); (6) to
decamp. Phrases : Like smoke,
rapidly : see Like ; all smoke, gammon,
and spinnack, all nothing ; No smoke,
but there's fir© (or, where there's
smoke there's fire), of a thing that
will out (B. SI.). See Knock, Pipe,
Take (1851).
Smoker (or Smoke-chell). 1.
A chamber-pot : see It. 2. A vessel
to blind the enemies, to make way
for the machine to play (B. E.) 3.
A smoking-carriage: see Smoke. 4.
A tobacconist (B. ft.), fi, At Preston,
before the passing of the Reform Bill
in 1832, every porwon who had a
cottage with a chimney and used the
latter had a vote, and was called a
smoker (BaUiwtU).
Smoke-stack. A steamboat.
Smooth, A meadow, a japraws-
plot, a lawn.
Smoother. A parasite, sponger
(1653).
Smotheration. L Suffocation. 2,
A difih (pork or beef) smothered with
potatoes (cf. smother, an old cookery
term — rabbits smothered in onions).
Smouch. 1. A low-crowned hat
(Halhwett). 2. See Smous. As verb,
(1) to kiss : as subs, (or smoucher), a
Mss (1578) ; (2) to chouse, to trick, to
take an unfair advantage.
Smous (or Smouch). ( 1 ) A Jew
(Grose) ; also (2) a sharper (1705).
Smouting. By-work, odd jobs
done by printers (1688) : now grass-
ing (q.v.).
Smouze. To demolish: as with a
blow.
Smug. 1. A blacksmith (B. E.)
(1611). 2. An affectedly proper or
self-satisfied person; hence as adj.,
neat and spruce (B. E.). 3. A hard-
reading student. As verb, ( 1 ) to work
or study hard ; (2) to pilfer, to snatch,
to sneak into favour : hence smug-
gings. Games had . . . times or seasons
. . . when any game was out, as it was
termed, it was lawful to steal the thing
played with . . . Tops are in, spin
'em again, Tops are out, smugging's
about. Smitg-lay, Persons who pre-
tend to be smugglers of lace and
valuable articles; these men borrow
money of publicans by depositing
thoir goods in their hands ; they
shortly afterwards decamp, and the
publican discovers too late that he
has been duped, and on opening the
pretended treasure he finds trifling
articles of no value (Grose) : also
smuggler. 4, To hush up. 5. To
steal. 6. To apprehend ( 1857).
Smuggle. 1. To cuddle, to fondle,
cf. Snuggle (1698). 2. To sharpen a
pencil at both ends. 8muggler, a
pencil thus sharpened.
Smuggling-ken. A bawdy house
(Grose).
Smulkin. A brass farthing
(Iriflh) : temp. ELiz.
S m u s a. To snatch or seize
suddenly (Qrose).
Smut, 1. Obscenity ; ribaldry
( 1698). Henco smutty, lewd, obscene ;
snwttinesa, bawdry. 2. A copper
boiler. 3. A grate. 4, Old iron.
See Brother Smut.
S n a b b 1 e. Generic {or force :
e.g. to rifle, plunder, arrest, kill, eat
greedily (1724).
Snabby (or Snab). Stylish, taste-
ful, good-looking .{Bwrflett : a college
word].
Snack. 1. A share, a portion:
425
Sneak.
to go snacks (or to snack), to share ; to
divide (1675). 2. A hasty meal, a
bite (q.v.) (1763). 3. An innuendo,
a jibe : e.g. That's a nasty snack for
you : as verb, to quiz, to roast (q.v.).
4. (Winchester College). A racket
balL
Snaffle. Talk: spec, conversation
uninteresting or unintelligible to
those present : cf. Shop. As verb, (1)
to steal ; whence snaffle (or snaffler), a
thief : spec, a highwayman ; snaffling-
lay, highway robbery; snaffled, arrested
(1724) ; (2) to arrest, to pull up (q.v.).
Snag. 1. A tooth: spec, a long
irregular tooth: also snaggler : see
Grinders: whence snag - catcher, a
dentist (1717). 2. Art unsuspected
hindrance or set-back : orig. American
a half sunken tree impeding river
navigation : hence, as verb, to em-
barrass; to catch a snag,, to get a
rebuff, to get snubbed : cf. Snack. 3.
A snail (B. K). To snag on, to attach
oneself to another.
Snaggle. To angle for poultry.
Snail. A drone: cf. slug. Hence
as verb (or to go at a snail's pace or
gallop) to move very slowly (1582).
Snake. 1. A term of contempt,
2. A secret plotter, a bidden foe:
e.g. a snake in the grass (1600). 3.
A skein of silk. As verb, (1) to steal
warily: cf. Sneak; (2) to beat, to
thrash. Phrases : To snake out (along
or up), to drag or worm out ; to snake
in, to steal in, to draw in ; to give one
a snake, to vex ; to snake the pool, to
take the pool (billiards) ; a caution
to snakes, a matter of surprise, some-
thing singular, a revelation (q.v.) ;
snakes in the boots, delirium tremens :
also to see snakes ; As sure as there's
snakes in Virginny, as sure as may be.
Snake -in -tile-grass. A glass.
See Snake.
Snakesxnan. See Sneak.
Snaxn. To steal: spec, to snatch
from the person : also on the snam.
Snap. 1. A sharper, a pilferer, a
cheat : spec, a thief claiming a share
of booty; occasionally a sharking
lawyer : also snapper and snapper-up :
as verb, to claim a share, to nap the
regulars (q.v.) ; on the snap, (a) waiting
a chance of robbery ; and (b) looking
out for odd jobs (1604). 2. A scrap,
a portion, a share : cf . Snack ; hence a
small standard of value: e.g. not a
map, nothing; not worth a snap,
worthless (1561). 3. A project, a
business — any happening : e.g. a
cold snap, a sudden spell of cold
weather ; a soft snap, a pleasant time,
a profitable affair ; to give the snap
away, to discover : also snap (thea-
trical), a short engagement. 4. A
hasty meal, a snack (q.v.). 5. Know-
ledge, energy, go (q.v.), snappy,
lively, amusing. As adj., on the spur
of the moment, without preparation ?
as subs., a chance (or scratch) comer,
player, crew, team, etc. ; thus, a
snap-division, an unexpected vote ;
snap-judgment, a verdict hastily got
or given; snap-shot, (a) a shot fired
without deliberate aim, and (b) a
photograph taken unawares ; as verb,
to take an instantaneous photograph
with a hand camera : also to snap-snot.
Phrases : To snap the glaze, to smash
shop windows (Grose) ; to snap the eye,
to wink ; on the snap, on the look-out,
on the mouch (q.v.).
Snapped. 1. Drunk : see Screwed
( 1844). 2. Taken, caught (B. E. ).
Snapper. 1. A pistol (1687). 2. A
castanet. 3. A cracker bonbon (1837).
4. A braggart : also snapperhead.
The Snappers, The East Yorkshire
Regiment, formerly The 15th Foot :
also The Poona Guards.
Snappish. Peevish, quarrelsome
(a man) ; apt to bite (a dog) (£. J7.).
Snap-shot. See Snap.
Snarler. A dog.
Snatch. 1. A shuffling answer, an
evasive reply (1603). 2. A hasty
meal ; a snack (q.v.) ; also snatch and
away (1673). In (or by) snatches, by
fits and starts, spasmodically: also
snatchy (1573).
Snatcher, A thief : spec, a camp-
follower (1599). Snatch -dy, a pick-
pocket (Grose). See Bodysnatcher.
Sriatch-pastry. A greedy fellow.
Snavel. To steal : spec, by snatch-
ing or picking (q.v.) : cf. Snabble and
see Running snabble.
Sneak. A petty thief: also sneak-
thief, sneaking-budge, sneaksman, and
area-sneak, and cf . Ramp and Rush ;
The sneak is the practice of robbing
houses or shops, by slipping in un-
perceived, andl taking whatever may
lay most convenient ; this is commonly
the first branch of thieving, in which
young boys are initiated, who, from
their size and activity, appear well
adapted for it ; to sneak a place ia to
SneakWl.
Snip-snap*
rob it upon the sneak ; a sneak is a
robbery effected in the above manner ;
one or more prisoners having escaped
from their confinement by stealth,
without using any violence, or alarm-
ing their keepers, are said to have
sneak1 d 'em, or given it to 'em upon the
sneak ( Vaux) : hence morning-sneak,
an early bird (q.v.) ; evening -sneak, a
night thief ; upright sneak, a thief
preying on potboys (B. E.); as verb,
to pilfer, to steal : spec, to walk about
undefinedly, to see what may be
picked up; sneaking on the lurk (or
on the sneak), prowling for booty. 2.
In pi., shoes with canvas tops and
india-rubber soles. 3. A ground ball
having no pitch whatever ; a daisy-
trimmer (or cutter), grub, or under-
grounder(q.v.).
Sneakbill. See Sneaksby.
Sneak-cup. One who shies his
drink: hence, a paltry fellow, also
sneak-up (1598).
Sneaker. 1. A small bowl:
e.g. a sneaker of punch. 2. A
sneak.
Sneaking. Unavowed, undemon-
strative ; e.g. a sneaking kindness
(liking, or preference) (1753).
Sneaksby (Sneakbill, or Sneaks-
fa i 1 1). A sneak: of. Idlesby,
Suresby, Rudesby, Lewdsby, Wigsby,
etc, (Grose). Also sneaking, sheepish
or mean spirited (B. E.); sneawtitt,
sneaking (1577).
Sneck-drawer. A latchlifter, a
slyboots. Sneck • drawing, crafty,
cheating (1401).
Sneck up! Go hang 1 Also
snick up (I5m.
Snee. See Sniofc-and-snee,
Sneerg. Greens.
Sneering. Jeering, flickering,
laughing in soorn (B. $.).
Sneeze. 1, Snuff : also snish. 2.
The noso : sec Sneezer. To sneeze at,
to despise, to scorn : usually in phrase
not to bo sneezed at, worth having or
considering (1820).
Sneeze- (or Snuff-) lurker. A
thief working with snuff, pepper,
and tho like. (To give on ike sneeze (or
muff) racket, to dose a man in the
eyes, and then rob him (Grose).
Sneezer. 1. Severe weather : as a
hard frost or a violent gale. 2. Any-
thing exceptional— a stiff glass, a
knock-out blow. 3. A martmet. 4.
The nose : also tneeve : see Conk. 6.
A pocket-handkerchief. 6. A snuff-
box : also sneezing coffer.
S n e e z y. The second month
(Brumaire, foggy) of the French Re-
publican Calendar.
Snell. A needle. Hence sndl-
fencer, a needle-hawker.
Snib. A prig ( q. v. ).
Snicker. 1. A drinking cup;
horn-snicker, a drinking-horn, 2. A
glandered horse.
Snickersnee. 1. A knife. 2. A
combat with knives : also sntck-and-
snee (1617).
Snick-fadge. A petty thief.
S n i c k 1 e. To inform, to peach
(q.v.) (1859).
Snicktog. To go shares,
Snide (or Snid.) 1. Sixpence : see
Rhino. 2. Anything mean or spuri-
ous : as a contemptible wretch, coun-
terfeit coin, etc. As adj. (also aniddy
or snidey), bad, wretched, contempt-
ible, or (army) dirty. Snide-pitching,
passing base coin.
Sniffy. Disdainful.
Snifter. 1. A long-drawn breath.
2. A dram, a go (q.v.). 3. A blizzard.
Snifty. Pleasant smelling.
Snigger (or Snicker). To laugh
privately or in one's sleeve (B. E.) ;
ill suppressed laughter (Bee).
Smlch [sic.]. To see, to watch
closely (B.E.).
Snip. 1. A share, a piece, a snack
(q.v.) ; to go snips, to share. 2. A
good tip : also snippet, a small piece;
snippy (or snippety), fragmentary,
absurdly small (1621). 3. A tailor:
also snipper, snip-calfoage, and snip-
louse; snipes, scissors (Vaux).
Snipe. 1. A thin thing, male or
female : in America, a. small child.
2. A simpleton; snipe-knave (Cot-
grave) : so called because two of them
are worth but one snipe (1602). 3.
A lawyer. 4. A long biU. 5. In
pi., the fingers (1834). 6. Scissors
(Grose). 7. A half-smoked cigar. 8.
A curbstone broker, a gutter-snipe
(q.v.) (1870). As verb, to fire at
random into a camp.
Snipper- snapper. An insignifi-
cant person, a whipper-snapper (q.v.)
(1677).
Snippy (Snipenny, Sniptious, or
Snip-snap. A neat verbal effect.
As adj., quick, sharp, smart (q.v,)
(1594).
427
Snirp,
Snuff.
Snirp. An undersized contempt-
ible -wretch.
Snitch. 1. In pi,, handcuffs : also
snitchers. 2. A fillip on the nose
(B. E.) : also snitchel. 3. The nose.
As verb, (1) to inform ; hence snitcher,
an informer ; (2) to nark (q.v.) (1812).
Snitched. Glandered.
Suite. To wipe ; to snite a candle,
to snuff it ; suite his snitch, wipe his
nose or give him a good nap on the
face (B. E.) (14=00).
S n i v. 1. To hold one's tongue :
e.g. Sniv that f 2. Bender ! (q.v.).
Snivel. Hypocrisy, cant (q.v.) :
as verb, to complain, to bleat (q.v.).
Hence sniveller (or snivelard), a
whining malcontent ; snivelling, hypo-
critical repentance (1440).
Snivel-nose. A niggard (HaUiwell).
Snoach. To speak through the
nose, to snuffle (1785).
Snob. LA shoemaker (Grose) ;
na journeyman cobbler (HcdliweU)
ji inferior. 3. A toadying or
blatant vulgarian : also as adj. with
numerous derivatives : e.g. snobbery,
snobbishness* and snobbism, snobbess,
snobbish, snobbishly, and snobby, snob-
ling, snobovracy, snobographer, and
snobography. 4. A blackleg, knobstick,
rat, scab (q.v.). 5. Mucus, snot (q.v. ).
As verb, to sloven one's work: cf.
Snobbery.
Snobbery. Bad work, slack trade,
etc. : cf. Snob. To hide the snobbery,
to conceal imperfections or cover up
inferior work.
Snob 's-bo ot. Sixpence : see Rhino.
Snob's-duck. A leg of mutton,
staffed with sage and onions.
Snobstick. A black-leg, rat,
knobstick (q.v.) : also snob.
Snock. To land a blow: e.g. to
snock on the gob, to punch one in the
mouth.
Snoddy. A soldier.
Snook. In pL, the imaginary
name of a practical joker ; also a
derisive retort on an idle question —
Snooks / As verb, ( 1 ) to pry, to watch,
to dog (q.v.) : also snoop ; (2) to pick
(q.v.) : hence snook (snoop, snooker, or
snooper), a spy, a sneak, a Paul Pry
(q.v.) (1653). To cut (or cock) snooks,
see Sight.
Snooker (Royal Military Academy).
A cadet-student of the fourth class, a
freshman.
1. Sleep: spec, a nap
(q.v.): also snoozem. 2. A bed: see
Kip. As verb (or snoozle), to nestle ;
snoozer, (a) a sleepy-head, and (b) a
domiciled boarding-house or hotel
thief; snoozing, sleep; snooze -ken
(or snoozing-ken), (a) a bed, (6) a bed-
room, (c) a lodging-house, (d) a brothel ;
snooze-case, a pillow-slip ; snoozy, a
night watchman or constable (Grose).
S n o p s y (Snops, or Snaps). Gin
(Le. Schnaps).
S n o r k (Shrewsbury School). To
excel, to surpass : e.g. to do the whole
of an examination paper, or to cap
another in argument or repartee.
Snort. To laugh in derision ( 1835).
Snorter. 1. Anything large or
exceptional : spec, a gale of wind, a
heavy snow-storm : cf. Sneezer (1830).
2. The nose : see Conk.
Snot. 1. Nasal mucus. 2. A
contemptible wretch : also snotter and
snottie, a midshipman. As verb, ( 1 ) to
blow the nose; (2) to act scurvily;
snottery, filth (1598) ; snotty, running
at the nose, mean, dirty; snotty-
nosed, contemptible, filthy; snot-
gaH, (or snotter), the nose; snot-
rag (snottvnger, or snotter), (1) a
pocket-handkerchief ; and (2) the nose
(also snot- and snottte-box) - snotter also,
a handkerchief thief: snotter-hauling,
sneaking of wipes (q.v.) ; snotted, re-
primanded : Er., mouch£
Snout. 1. The nose : in contempt.
2. The face: also snout-piece (1785) ;
snoiri'fair, pretty, comely (1567). 3.
Tobacco : see Wright and Trafficking ;
also (itinerants') a cigar.
Snow. Linen: spec, linen hung
out to dry : also snowy. Hence snow-
gatherer (or dropper), a hedge-thief.
Snowball. A negro (Grose) : Bt.,
bottle de neige.
Snow-broth. 1. Snow-water
(B, K). 2. Cold lap (q.v.) (1603).
Snub. To check, to rebuke. See
Snob.
Snub-devil. A parson.
Snub-nose. A short nose turned
up at the end (Grose).
Snudge. 1. A miser, a curmudgeon
hence as adj. (snudge-like (or smudging,
miserly, mean, crabby ; as verb, to
grasp, to screw ; snudgery, meanness
(1531). 2. A thief concealing himself
under a bed (B. E.).
Snudge. snout A dirty fellow
(1606).
Snuff. The drainings of s glass.
Snuffle.
heel-taps (q.v.) (1641). As verb, to
be testy, easily offended : also to take
snuff, or to snuff pepper : see Pepper
Whence in snuff, in dudgeon : to give
snuff, to reprimand, to rebuke, to
scold; snuffy, (1) offended, and (2)
drunk; snuff, a pet (q.v.) (1584).
Phrases : Up to snuff, not to be de-
ceived, wideawake (q-v.), knowing
(q.v.) ; to snuff out, to silence, settle,
annihilate ; to snuff it, to die : see
Sneezclurk (1785).
Snuffle. In pi., a cold in the head :
as verb, to speak gruffly or through
the nose (1789).
Snuffler. A preacher. Hence
snuffling, canting (1861).
Snuffy. Tipsy: see Screwed. As
adj., drunk: see Screwed. All snug,
All's quiet. See Bug.
Snuggery. A comfortable privacy :
as a woman's boudoir, a man's smoking
den, a bar-parlour (1837).
Snyder (or Snider). A tailor (1600).
So. 1. Drunk : see Screwed : also
so-so (1809). 2. Pregnant, lumpy
(q.v.). 3. In courses. As intj., a
questioning reply to a positive state-
ment : e.g. The Kind returns to town
to-day. So? So-and-so, (I) somebody
or something indefinite ; and (2) in
place of a thing forgotten, or which it
is not desired to mention : e.g. Mr.
So-and-so, So long I Good-bye ! So-
so, ordinary, mediocre, nothing to
speak of (1530).
Soak. L A drinking bout. 2. A
hard drinker : also soaker : as verb, to
steep oneself in drink, to booze (q.v.) :
whence soaking, hard drinking;
soaked, drunk : see Screwed : to set
soaking, to ply the pot (1700). As
verb, (1) to pawn : also to put in soak ;
(2) to bo lavish of bait; (3) to sit
lazily over the fire (EaUiweU).
Soaker. A heavy rain. See Soak
(1851).
Soap. 1, Mattery : also soft-soap :
cf. Soft-sawder : as verb, to flatter, to
carney (q.v.): soapy, smooth-tongued
(1840). 2. Money: generic: spec,
secret service money : as verb, to
bribe (1834). 3. (Royal Military
Academy). Cheese.
Soap -and* bullion. Soup -and-
bouilli. Jack calls it aoap-and-bullion :
one onion to a gallon of water, and this
fairly expresses the character of the
nauseous compound.
Soap-crawler. A toady.
Soap-lock (or curl). 1. A soaped
lock of hair on the temple (1844). 2.
Soap-suds. GUI and water, hot,
with lemon and lump sugar (JBee).
Soap-trick. A variety of the well-
known purse swindle. A cake of soap
is sold for a dollar to a gull who thinks
he has that one he has wrapped a
five-dollar bill in, and marked himself.
Hence, eoaper, a soap-trick swindler.
Soary. Inclined to draw the long
bow, high-falutin' (q.v.).
Sobersides. A sedate person (1852).
Sober-water. Soda-water.
Soc. Society : non-Soc-man, a rat
(q.v.), a blackleg, a non- Union- man.
Socius (Winchester). A chum, a
companion: as verb, to accompany.
[The School precept is Sociati omnes
incedunto*]
Sock. 1. A pocket : Not a rag in
my sock, penniless (S. .$.). 2 (Eton
College). Edibles of any kind : spec,
dainties, tuck (q.v.) : as verb, (a) to
eat outside regular meals : (6) to
treat (q.v.) ; whence (c) to give (1550)
3. Credit, jaw-bone (q.v.) : also as
verb, (a) to get credit, and (&) to pay :
also to sock down, 4. An over-grown
baby (Ency. Diet.). 5. A comedy:
the sock, an ancient ensign of comedy ;
the buskin, tragedy : whence sock-
and - Luskin, tho profession (q.v.)
(1590). As verb, (1) to beat, to drub
(B. J3.), to press hardly : also as subs. :
e.g. sock it him, or give him sock (or
socks), Pitch into him, dress him down;
whence socker, a heavy blow ; (2) to
smash a hat over head and ears, to
bonnet (q.v.) ; (3) to hit hard : spec,
at cricket : also to defeat ; (4) to sew
up (1584).
Sockdologer (Socdologer, Stock-
dologer, Slogdologer, or Sogdologer).
Anything overwhelming or excep-
tional : from a repartee to an earth-
quake : generic : also as verb (1824).
Socker. 1. A fool, sloven, lout : a
general term of contempt : also sockie
and socUead (1772). 2. Association
Football : cf. Rugger : also soccer.
Socket. Burnt to the socket, dying
(May).
Socket-money. 1. Demanded and
spent upon marriage (B, B.). 2.
Money paid by a married man caught
in an intrigue (Grose). Hence aocketer,
a blackmailer (1772).
Sodger. Bee Soger.
Sodom.
Son.
Solace. A penalty, a fine (Moaeon,
1683).
Sold. See Sell.
Soldier. 1. A red herring. 2. A
aa au,., IA; iWUDiJL, boiled lobster. As verb, (1) to make
and (2) choice, exquis- temporary use of (another man's
effeminate. As subs, horse) : thus a man wanting a mount
catches the first horse he can, rides it
to his destination, and then lets it go
(Century); (2) to bully, to hector
(Hattiwell); (3) to do routine work,
Sodom. 1. Wadham College,
Oxford. 2. London : cf . Babylon.
Soft. Bank notes: generic: also
soft- flimsy. To do soft, to utter coun-
terfeit notes. As adj., (1) foolish,
easy going;
ite : original „
(softy, or soft -horn), a simpleton;
'tish (or soft-headed), weak-minded,
(1536). Phrases : Soft-hearted,
piteous, tender; soft-food,
pap ; soft, hash ; soft is your horn, you as cleaning accoutrements, fatigue
make a mistake ; a soft thing, (1) an
easy or pleasant task, and (2) a facile
simpleton ; soft down on, in love with.
See Hard-shell, Hard-tack, Sawder,
Snap, Soap, Spots, Tack.
Soft-ball (Royal Military Aca-
Soft-horn. An ass, whether quad-
ruped or biped.
Soft-horse. A horse lacking stamina.
Sof tling. A voluptuary ( 1576).
Soft-soap. See Soap.
Soft-shell. In U.S. Politics : (a) a
member or an adherent of that one of
the two factions into which in 1852 and
succeeding years the Democratic party
in the state of New York was divided
which was less favourable to the ex-
tension of slavery ; (6) a member of the
pro-slavery wing of the Democratic
party in Missouri about 1850 (Century);
see Hard shell: also Softs and Soft-
shell democrats.
duty, anything irksome in a soldier's
life. Phrases and combinations :
Soldier's lot&e, a large bottle ; soldier's
mawnd, (1) a counterfeit sore or
wound in the left arm (B. E.), and
(2) a pretended soldier, begging with
a counterfeit wound, which he pre-
tends to have received at some
famous siege or battle (Grose) ;
soldier's pomatum, a piece of tallow ;
soldier's thigh, an empty pocket; a
soldier's wind, a fair wind either way,
consequently, a beam wind ; old
soldier, (1) an empty bottle: cf . Marine ;
and (2) see Old Soldier. See Come,
and Fresh- water Soldier.
Solemncholy. Seriousness, gravity :
cf. melancholy.
Sole-slogger. A shoemaker.
Sol-fa. A parish clerk ( 1 785).
Solid. United, unanimous. Thus
a solid vote, a unanimous vote ; the
solid South, the Southern States during
reconstruction : from their uniform
Soft- tack (or tommy). Bread:
as distinguished from biscuit, which support of the Democratic party;
is * ship's bread.' a, solid party, a united party ; to make
Sog. 1. A sovereign ; 20s. : see oneself solid with, to come to an agree-
ment with, etc.
Solitary. Solitary confinement.
Solo (Winchester). A solitary
walk, without a socius (q.v.).
Solomon (or Sollomon). See
Salmon,
Some. Somewhat, a certain
amount, a great deal: cf. Few, and
see Pumpkin (1698).
Something. See Damp and Short.
Somewheres. Somewhere, about:
e.g. Somewheres along of fifty quid.
Son. In combination, thus — Son
of AyoUo, a scholar; son of a bitch
(sow, whore, etc.), a term of violent
abuse ; son of a bachelor, a bastard ;
son of a gun (or sea-cook), (1) a soldier's
bastard, and (2) a term of contempt ;
son of Mars, a soldier ; son of Mercury,
a wit; son of parchment, a lawyer;
son of pratfiement, an advocate ; son
Rhino. 2. A swoon, lethargy.
Soger (Sojer, or Sodger). I. A
Soldier. 2. The worst term of re-
proach that can be applied to a sailor.
It signifies a slsulk, a shirk — one who
is always trying to get clear of work,
and is out of the way, or hanging back,
when duty is to be done. Marine is
applied more particularly to a man
ignorant and clumsy about seaman's
work — a green -horn, a land-lubber.
To make a sailor shoulder a hand-
spike, and walk fore and aft the deck,
like a sentry, is the most ignominious
punishment that could be put on him ;
inflicted upon an able seaman in a
vessel of war, would break his spirit
down more than a flogging (Dana).
3 (Winchester). A cross marked on
the margin of an. exercise : see Percher.
Soiled-dove. A prostitute.
430
Song.
Sow.
of wax, a cobbler ; every mother's son,
everybody ; ton of Venus, a wencher.
Song. A trifle, a nominal sum. or
price : also an old (or mere) song
(1598). To change, one's song (or sing
another song), to tell a different tale :
see Sing. His morning and evening
song do not agree, He tells another
yarn at night to the one in the morning.
Sonkey. A clumsy fellow, a lout :
also sonk, sonky, and sonkie.
Sonnie (Sonny, or Sonnikin). An
affectionate or familiar address : with
no necessary reference to age or
relationship : also sonniwax or sonny-
wax (1542).
Sool. • 1. To excite a dog, to set
him on. 2. To worry, as a dog a oat.
Soot-bag. A reticule.
Sooterkin. 1. A kind of false birth
fabled to be produced by Dutch
women from sitting over their stoves
(John-son}. 2. An abortive proposal
or scheme.
Sop. 1. A bribe ; e.g. a sop to
Cerberus, a doorkeeper's or porter's
tip (q.v.) (1513). 2. A small piece,
a, thing or matter of little value (1362)1
3. A simpleton, a milk-sop. A sop in
the pan, (1) a dainty ; and (2) a favour
(1621).
Soph (Cambridge Univ.). A sophis-
ter : in U.S.A. sophomore ; a student
beyond his first year (Qrose). The
terms are 1st year, Freshman ; 2nd
year, Junior Soph ; 3rd year, Senior
Soph. See Harry Soph (1719).
Sore-fist. A bad workman: of.
to write a poor hand, to sew badly.
Sore Leg. 1. German sausage. 2.
A plum-pudding ; spotted-dog (q.v.).
Sorrel-pate. A red-haired man,
carrots (q.v.).
Sorrowful Tale. Three months in
jafl.
Sorry. Vile, mean, worthless : a
sorry fellow or hussy, a worthless man
or woman (Grose). As intj., I beg
your pardon.
Sort. Sort (kind) in its colloquial
usages is frequently elliptical. Thus,
That** yow aort (of method, fancy,
thing, etc.) ; after a sort (of fashion —
well enough of its kind) ; a good (or
bad) tort (of xnan, fellow, lot, etc.).
Ovt of aorfe, (1) seedy (q.v.); (2)
cross, depressed ; and (3) old, destitute.
Sorter, sort of.
So-so. See So,
Sots, Sosale, etc* Se«Sozzle.
Sotweed. Tobacco (1704). Hence
aotweed-dealer and sotweed-planter.
Sou. Not a sou (or souse),
nothing (1761).
Soul. Soul in soak, drunk: see
Screwed.
Soul-case. The body.
Soul-driver. A parson (B. B.).
Sound. To examine, to try (q.v,),
to extract information artfully, to
pump (q.v.). To sound a dy, to try
a pocket (1597). Sound as a roach
(trout, beU, etc.), perfectly sound.
URoche, rock] (1697). See Goose.
Soup. 1. A brief for the defence
given to a junior in court by the
Clerk of the Peace or Arraigns. 2.
Bad ink. 3. Melted plate: also
white soup : whence soup-shop, a fence
(q.v.); melting pots are kept going,
no money passing from fence to thief
until identification is impossible. In
the soup, in a pickle (or difficulty),
left (q.v.).
Souper. 1. A cadger for soup-
tickets. 2. A super (q.v.).
Sour. 1. Base silver money ; to
plant the sour, to utter snide (q.v.)
silver; whence sour - planter, see
Shover. 2. An acid punch : thus
whisky-sour, whisky and lemon. As
adj., crabbed, surly, ill-conditioned
(B. E.). To sour on, to treat un-
kindly.
Sour-ale. To mend like sour-ale
in summer, to get worse.
Sour -cudgel. A severe beating
(1608).
Souse-crown. A fool.
Southerly Buster. A sudden gale
from the southward: cf. Brick-fielder.
South Jeopardy. Terrors of in-
solvency. Oxf. Univ. Cant (Grose).
Sov. A sovereign ; 20s. : see
Rhino.
Sow. 1. A fat woman. 2. A
general term of abuse: cf. Bitch.
Sow-child, a girl baby; sow's-baby,
a sucking pig (1702). Phrases and
proverbs : To grease a fat sow on the
tail, to be insensible to kindness; to
come sailing in a sou? a ear (May) ; to
get the right (or wrong) sow by the ear,
to make a right (or wrong) conclusion,
You cannot make a silk purse of
a sow's ear, a retort on the impossible :
of. You cannot make a horn of a pig's
tailr and An ass's tail will not make a
sieve. See David's sow. Hempseed,
Saddle, Wild Oata.
481
Sow's-baby.
Sparrow.
Sow's-baby. Sixpence : see Rhino :
ct Hog, la.
Sow-belly. Salt-pork.
Sow-drunk. Beastly drank: see
Drank as David's sow (1857).
Sozzle (Sossle, Soss, or Sozz).
Generic for lumpishness. Thus (I),
a lout: also soss-bdly ; (2) a heavy
fall ; a flop-down ; (3) a muddle ; a
mess. As verb, (1) to flop ; (2) to toss at
random ; and (3) to slush about. As
adj. (or SOBS - bellied), ponderously
fat ; soss - brangle, a slattern ; sossly
(or sozzly), wet, sloppy : sossled,
drank (1549).
Spade. A eunuch: also spado
(q.v.). Hence as verb, to unsex
(1612). To catt a, spade a spade, to
speak plainly, to eschew paraphrases
and ambiguity ( 1588). See Shovel.
Spadge (Christ's Hospital). An
affected walk: formerly merely, to
walk.
Spadger. A sparrow.
Spado. 1. A sword: that is
spadone (1711). 2. An eunuch.
Hence, spadonic, eunuchistic ; and
spadonism, eunuchry. In civil law
(modern), an impotent: also (pro-
vincial), a gelding.
Spain. A castle in Spain, a day-
dream, idle fancies. Thus to build a
castle in Spain (in the air, the skies, or
to build a, cas&e), to indulge in visionary
projects or schemes, to romance : Fr.,
chdteau en Espagne, en Asie, en
Albanie, etc. (1400).
Spalpeen. A generic term of
contempt (1809).
Span- (Spandy- or Spanfire-) new.
See Spick-and-shan.
Spange (Royal Military Academy).
New, dressy, smart (q.v.) : e.g. a
spange uniform, a new outfit ; or You
look spange enough.
Spangle. A seven-shilling piece :
see Rhino.
Spangle - shaker (or guts). A
harlequin.
Soaniel. A parasite: as adj.,
servile: as verb, to fawn, to be
obsequious (1601).
Spanish. Spanish, like Dutch
(q.v.), Irish (q.v.), etc., contributes
to colloquial IJnglish. Thus Spanish,
(I) money, spec, ready money: in
America silver only; and (2) fair
words and compliments. Spamsh-
fagot, the sun ; Spanish-pike, a needle ;
Spanish - plague, building (Ray) ;
Spanish-trumpeter (or King of Spain's
trumpeter, i.e. Don Key), a braying
ass ; to walk Spanish, to be seized by
the scnifi and the seat, and thus
forced along: hence, to act under
compulsion ; to ride the Spanish mare,
a punishment in which the offender
was set astride a beam with the guys
loosed, when the vessel was in a sea-
way.
Spank. A sounding thwack : spec,
on the buttocks : also spanker. As
verb, (1) to strike, whence spanking,
a beating (1772); (2) to run neatly
along between a trot and a gallop
(Grose), to move quickly and briskly :
usually with along ; (3) to break, to
smash : e.g. to spank the glaze, to
break a pane in a shop window and to
snatch some article, having tied the
shop door to prevent pursuit; also
on the spank. Spanking, (1) big,
jolly, sprightly : as a spanking lass ;
(2) large, big, stunning (q.v.), whop-
ping (q.v.) ; and (3) dashing, free-
going; spanker, anything of excep-
tional size, pace, figure, merit: cf.
Skelp, He's a spanker to go ; spariky,
showy, smart (q.v.).
Spanker. 1. In pi., money :
generic: spec. gold. 2. A fore-and-
aft gaff sail on the mizzen mast of
a ship or barque : hence spanking,
sailing swiftly along with the wind
so quartered as to keep the spankers
full. See Spank.
Spark. 1. A dandy : masc. or fem. :
also sparkle. 2. A lover, and spec.
(American) a sweetheart. 3. A man
or woman of pluck and parts : as verb,
to court, to gallant, e.g. to spark a
girl or to spark a girl home ; sparkish,
(1) spirited : also sparkfid and sparky ;
and (2) showy, dandified, gay (1362).
4. A diamond: also sparkle ; spark-
prop, a diamond breast-pin. As verb,
to watch closely. A spark in the
throat, chronic thirst (1785).
Sparkler. Anybody or anything
brilliant, gay, or lively: see Spark
(1713).
Sparrow. Mumbling a sparrow,
A cruel sport practised at wakes and
fairs : a booby, hands tied behind, has
the wing of a cock-sparrow put into
his mouth ; without any other assist-
ance than the motion of his lips he is
to get the sparrow's head into his
mouth; the bird defends itself sur-
prisingly, pecking the mumbler till bis
Spcwrowgrass.
lips are covered with blood and he is
obliged to desist ; to prevent the bird
getting away he is fastened to the
booby's coat (Grose).
Sparrowgrass (or Sparagras).
Asparagus : polite in the 18th century ;
now vulgar (1649).
Sparrow-mouth. One whose mouth
cannot be enlarged without removing
the ears ; such persons do not hold
their mouths by lease but have it
from (y)ear to (y)ear (Grose) ; as adj.,
wide-mouthed (1621).
Sparrow - tail. A dress - coat ; a
swallow-tail, clawhammer (q.v.).
Spat. 1- A slap, a light blow, and
2. a petty quarrel, a snarling-match ;
also as verb, (1) to slap ; and (2) to
dispute, to quarrel: A low word
(Webater).
Spatch-cock. A fowl killed,
dressed, and broiled at short notice
(Grose) ; sudden death (West Indies).
As verb, to insert hurriedly, to sand-
wich (q.v.).
Speak. To steal: also to speak
with: see Prig. To make a good (or
rum) speak, to make a good (or bad)
haul ; spoken to, robbed : also spoke
to on the screw, crack, sneak, hoist,
big, etc. (see the nouns). Phrases:
Spoken to (thieves'), dying; to speak
to, to admonish ; to speak at the mowth,
to talk freely, to say one's say; to
speak daggers (sec Dagger) ; ale that
would make a cat speak, strong ale ;
speaks the parrot, a taunting reply ;
to speak (or talk) big, to boast, to talk
loudly; to speak fair, to use soft
words (1581).
Spearmen. The. Delhi Spearmen,
the 9th Lancors.
Spec. 1. Speculation : hence on
spec., on chance, on tho hazard of the
die (1834). 2. In pi., spectacles
(1837). 3. A lottery. 4. (Winchester
College). Anything enjoyable or plea-
sant, a good thing ; on spec, in conse-
quence. 5. (Bdinburgh Advocates').
The Speculative Society.
Special. L A paramour, male or
female : of. Particular (1350). 2. By
ellipsis a particular person or thing :
e.g. a special train, special Scotch, a
special constable, a special edition, etc.
Speck. In pL, damaged oranges.
Specklebelly. A dissenter.
Speech. Information: spec, a
tip (q.v.) : e,g. to give (or get) the
speech : FT., tuyau
Speecher (Harrow). Speech-
day: usually the first Thursday in
July. The Speecher, The Speech-room
built 1871.
Speedyman (Winchester: ob-
solete). The herald of news of a
vacancy at New College, Oxford.
Whence sped to New College, elected to
a scholarship.
Speel. To decamp. To sped the
drum, to make off to the highway.
Speeler. A gambler : also sped.
S p e g (Winchester : obsolete).
Smart.
Spell. 1. A turn of work. 2. A
turn of rest. 3. A period of love,
weather, adventure, sickness, luck,
temper, and so forth. As verb, (1)
to relieve; (2) to rest (1586); (3) to
advertise: spelt in the lear, wanted
(q.v.). To spell for (or at), to desire,
to hanker after: indirectly (1821).
See Baker, Backward, Spellken.
Spell - binder. A speaker who
holds (or thinks he holds) his hearers
spell-bound.
Spell - ken (Spell, or Speelken).
A theatre (1800).
Spend. To spend the mouth, to
give voice, to talk, and (of dogs) to
bark (1593).
Spend-all. A prodigal, a spend-
thrift (1591).
Spess (Felsted School). A specimen.
Spew. To spew oakum, a ship
spews oakum when the seams start.
Spew Alley. The throat: see
Gutter Lane.
Sphere. A football.
Spice. To rob: hence, the spice
(or high toby spice), highway robbery ;
spicer (or spice-gloak), a footpad (1800).
Spick-and-span new. Quite
fresh, brand new : as a spike and chip
from the workman's hands. Also,
spick-and-span, spick-span new, span-
new, and span-fire new. Also spick-
and-span (span, or spandy), quite,
wholly (1369).
Spicy. 1. Racy, full-flavoured
(q.v.) ; nutty (q.v.). 2. Showy, hand-
some, smart (q.v.) (1844).
Spiddock-pot Legs. Large
awkward legs.
Spider. Claret and lemonade. To
swallow a spider, to go bankrupt
(1670).
Spider - catcher. A spindle of a
man (J5. E.): also (EaUiwdl), a
monkey.
433
Spider-shanked.
Spider-shanked. Long legged. Also
spider-shanks, a, lanky fellow : see
Lamp-post (1827).
Spider-web. The subtilties of
logic, which, though artificial to sight
were yet of no use (B. E,).
Spidireen. An imaginary vessel
figuring in an unwilling reply: What
ship do you belong to ? The apidireen
frigate, with nine decks, and ne'er a
bottom.
Spiel. See Spieler.
Spierize (Osf. Univ. Cant). To
have one's hair cut and dressed.
[Spiers, was a barber in The High.]
Spiffing. 1. A generic intensitive:
of pleasure or admiration : used for
anything or anybody out of the
common : e.g. a spiffing time or girl ;
awfully spiff; How spiff you look;
How are you ? Pretty spiff ; and so
forth: also spiff, a swell. 2. In pL, a
percentage on the sale of old or dead
stock.
Spiffed. Drunk: see Screwed.
Spiflicate (Spifflicate, or
SmifUgate). To confound, to crush,
to smash (q.v.). Hence spiflication,
confusion, annihilation (1783).
Spigot -sucker. A tippler, pot-
companion : see Lushington and
Knight.
Spike. A casual ward. Spike-
ranger, a tramper from ward to ward
(1866).
Spike-park. The Queen's Bench
prison.
Spill. 1. A small fee, reward, or
nautical; to spin street-yarn., to gad,
to loaf (q.v.) ; to spin a fair thread, to
busy oneself about trifles ; to spin out,
to prolong unreasonably ; She'd rather
kiss than spm (of a wanton) (1704).
Spindle-legs (or shanks). 1.
Long, thin legs. 2. A tall, slender
person, a lamp-post (q.v.). Also as
adj., (or spindly), thin, slim (1570).
Spink (Royal Military Academy).
Milk : new or condensed.
Spinning (or Spin-) house. A
house of correction or Bridewell for
loose women. [The task work con-
sisted of spinning or beating hemp.]
Hence spinster, a harlot. [The term
is still applied to the prison for dis-
orderly women attached to the Vice-
Chancellor's Court at the University
of Cambridge.] (1622).
Spinniken. St. Giles* Workhouse,
large house (q.v.).
Spinsrap. A parsnip.
Spintext. A parson; spec, a
prosv preacher (1693).
Spirit. To spirit away, to kidnap
(B. E.). Hence spiriter, an abductor
(1675).
Spiritual flesh-broker. A parson.
Spit. 1. A speaking likeness ; orig.
as like as if he'd spit it; usually in
phrase the spit of (some one named) :
FT., (Test son pfre tout craciM (1602).
2. A sword (1613). 3. An obelisk or
dagger, f : used as a reference mark
(1656). As verb, to show signs of
rain: also as subs., drops of rain
(1818). Phrases : A spit and a stride,
gift of money (JJ. E.). 2. A fall, a a very short distance ; to spit at one,
tumble: as verb, to throw, to fall, *~ ™—1* - *- —-•* -j — •• •«- »
to insult; to spit it outf~to speak
plainly ; to spit white (white broth, or
sixpences), to expectorate from a dry
to overturn, to betray. To sptU
stock, to throw great quantities upon ^ ^ .
the market, sometimes from necessity but healthy mouth : Fr., cracker des
but often in order to break the price. pieces de d^x sous.
*»_,« ___* . ,., ... ,„,. Spitalfields Breakfast. No
breakfast at all, a tight necktie and a
A spendthrift (Mm-
Spill-good.
shew).
SpiHsbury. Failure : e.g. to come
by Spillsbury: cf. Bedfordshire,
Peckham, Clapham, etc. (1692).
Spill-time. An idler (1362).
Spilt - milk. To cry over spilt-
milk, to lament what is past recovery
or mending.
Spin. A brisk run, a smart canter,
a spurt : as verb, to go quickly :
usually to spin along ( 1 854). As verb,
(Royal Military Academy), to reject,
to plough; to pluck (q.v,): also to
get a spin (1868). Phrases : To spin a
yam, to tell a story: originally
434
short pipe : of. Irishman's dinner
Duke Humphrey, etc.
Spit-curl. A curl lying flat on the
temple, a soap-curl (q.v.) : see Aceera-
vators. .'
Spite (Winchester). The word in
Wykehamical usage generally con-
noted the frame of mind rather than
the acts in which it finds expression.
But the phrase to spite Gdbett, describes
the act popularly known as cutting off
your nose to spite your face (Wrench).
Spitfire. A hot tempered person :
see Furioso (1623).
Spit-frog.
Spondvlics.
Spit-frog. A small sword (1630).
Spithead - nightingale. A bo' sun
or bo'sun's mate.
Spitter. Slight rain : see Spit.
Spittle (or Spital). A hospital or
lazar-house. Hence, spittle-w/Lore (or
sinner), a foundered harlot ; a spittle-
(ogue (or man), (1) a gaol-bird ; and
2r) a diseased outcast : whence a
general term of contempt ( 1580).
Spittoon. An utensil mostly used
in public-houses for the reception
of smokers' expectorations (Bee).
Splash. 1. Face powder, slap
(q.v.) : as verb, to make up (q.v.). 2.
Display, exertion, effort: hence,
splash up, in good style, quick time,
bang-up (q.v.).
Splashers. The Wiltshire Regi-
ment, late The 62nd Foot.
Splathers. Hold your splathers9
Hold your tongue ! Splatnever, a
braggart, a great talker.
Splatterdash. A bustle, an uproar.
Splatter-face. A broad-faced man
or woman : also as adj. (1861).
Splay-foot, A person with flat,
awkward, or spreading feot: splay-
footed, awkward in gait, hoavy-footod.
Splay-mouth, (1) a large, wide, grin-
ning mouth ; hence (2) a grimace ( 1 688).
Splendiferous. Splendid. Also
splendacious, splendidous ; and splen-
didiovs (1538).
Splice. I. To marry : of the agent ;
to be spliced, to get married : also
splice, a wife (1751), 2. To throw, to
fling. To splice the main brace, to
drink : orig. to serve out extra grog.
With main orace well spliced, drunk :
see Screwed.
Split. 1. A detective, police spy :
also as vorb, (or to turn split), to in-
form, to noao» to tmitch (q.v.) : sew
Nark. 2. In pi., a sitting powturo, the
legs extended laterally on the ground :
whence wall-sfdti up, long in limb ;
split-up, a lanky fellow : ROC Lamp-
post (1851). 3. (a) A small bottle of
aerated water ; also as adv., divided :
e.g. two Scotches and a soda (or
small soda) split; (&) a half gloss of
hairs, to cavil about trifles, to be
over-nice in argument : hence hair-
splitter (or splitter), a precisian (q.v.),
the reverse of lumper (q.v.) ; to split
on a rock, to fail, to come to grief ; to
split on one (or to split), to betray con-
fidence ; to split fair, to tell the truth;
to split out (thieves'), to separate;
to split with one, to quarrel ; Split my
windpipe f a foolish kind of a curse
among the beaux (JB. K, 1592).
Split-asunder. A costermonger.
Split-cause. A lawyer: also
splatter of causes.
Split-fig. A grocer.
Split foot (or Old Split Foot).
The Devil.
Splitting. Extreme, severe: e.g.
a splitting (very quick) pace, a splitting
(painfully throbbing) Tiead-acfa, etc.
Splodger. A lout. Slodgy, awk-
ward (in gait), coarse (in complexion).
Splosh. Money : generic : see
Rhino. As adv., Plump.
Splurge. Generic for effort and
effect. As verb, to make the most
and do the showiest ; splurgy, on it
(q.v.).
Spoffle. To fuss, to bustle. Spof-
fisft (or spoffy), fussy, bustling, smart.
Also spoffy, a busybody (1836).
Spoffskms. A prostitute.
Spoil. In addition to the sense
(now accepted) given by Grose (to
mar, to place obstacles in the way)
there are colloq. usages as follows : —
To spoil for, to be eager for : as
spoiling for a fight, and spoiling to be
invited ; to spoil one's shape, to be got
with child ; to spoil one's mouth, to
damage tho face. Also in sarcastic
combination, spoil - bread, a baker ;
spoil - "broth, a cook ; spoil - iron, a
smith ; spoil - paper* a scribbler ;
spoil-pudding, a long-winded preacher ;
spoil-sport, an unfriendly or dispirited
associate or intruder : hence to spoil
sport, (1) to dishearten, and (2) to
prevent ; spoil-trade, an unscrupulous
competitor ; spoil-temper, an exacting
superior (1280),
Spoke. To put a spoke in one's
BUUCkU BWUU/ »|.U1U , \VJ Or JUCUI gMliBZt Wl t?£IW«.C. J. V 'ffWi U- QF£HSJVe VI* UIUC. a
spirits ; a dram. Phrases: To make all wheel (or cart), to do an ill turn.
split, to make a disturbance or com-
motion ; to split along (or go like split),
(1) to stride, to run quickly ; and (2)
to move or work with vigour ; at full _ r ,
split, as hard as may be ; to tplit one's Spondulacks). Money ;
side* (or to *p£ft), to burnt with laugh- originally (Century) paper
tec ; to split tie ears, to dwf en; to split (1863).
Occasionally (by an unwarrantable
inversion), to assist (1661).
Spoke-box. The mouth.
Spondulics (Spondoolicks, or
money
435
Sponge.
Sponge (Sponger, or Spunge).
1. A parasite. 2. A thirsty fellow
(B. E.). As verb, to take kicks and
lick dishes for a living. Whence
sponging, (1) cadging (q.y.) ; and (2)
extortion: e.g. a sponging -house, a
bailiffs pound in which arrested
debtors were squeezed (q.v.) pending
transfer to a regular prison (1598).
To throw up the sponge, to acknow-
ledge defeat
Sponge-wit. A plagiarist.
Spoof. Deception, a swindle : also
the spoof-game : also as verb (or to
play spoof).
Spook. A ghost. Whence spook-
isli (or spooky), ghostly.
Spoon. 1. A simpleton : spec,
an absurd whole-hearted lover : also
spooney ; a rank spoon, a prating
shallow fellow (Vowc). 2. Calf-love:
e.g. a case of spoons; to come the
spoon, or be spoons on, to make love
openly, innocently, and ridiculously :
also spoony, stupidly fond ; spooniness,
foolish fondness (1837). As verb, to
hit with a slack and horizontal bat,
causing the ball to rise in the air.
Phrases, To stick one's spoon in the
wdR, to die ; see Hop the twig ', to fill
the mouth with empty spoons, to go
hungry ; to take with a big (or little)
spoon, to take in large (or small)
quantities: see Silver Spoon, and
Wooden Spoon.
Spoonage, Liquid food, pap (q.v.)
(1586).
Spoony Drunk. Sentimentally
drunk : see Screwed.
Spoops (or Spoopsie) . A simpleton.
Spoopy, silly, foolish.
Sport. 1, A professional sports-
man : a pugilist, book-maker, jockey,
etc. : also sporting - man ; whence
sporting -house, a public-house fre-
quented by sportsmen. 2. Mischief,
horseplay. As verb, generic for dis-
play: the word . . . was in great
vogue in ... 1783 and 1784 (Grose) ;
now-a-days still general, but spec, a
public school and university usage:
thus to sport (or baulk) a report, to
publish far and wide ; to sport (drive)
a gig; to sport (wear) new togs; to
sport ivory, to grin; to sport (exhibit)
temper i to sport oak (timber, or to
sport in), to deny oneself to callers by
closing an outer door: see Oak; to
sport an aegrotat (see JEgrotat) ; to
sport off, to do with ease; to sport
436
(provide) a dinner ; to sport literature,
to write a book; to sport (spend)
money, one's salary, etc. ; to sport
(express) an opinion ; to sport a nescio
(see Nescio) ; to sport silk (racing), to
ride a race ; to sport (indulge or en-
gage hi) smoking, walking, etc. Also
(Winchester), a sporting action, an
affected manner, gesture, or gait,
or a betrayal of emotion. Sportings
(Charterhouse), clothes worn at the
exeat (q.v.).
Spot. 1. Shares (or goods) ready for
delivery : that is on the spot. 2. A
dollar : e.g. five-spot, five dollars, $5.
As verb, (1) to recognise, to take note
of, to discover ; (2) to detect, to come
upon : hence spotter, a detective : Fr.,
indicateur ; spotted, known to the
police ; and (3) o tpick out, to choose,
to chance upon : e.g. to spot the
winner. 4. To gamble. Phrases and
combinations : A soft spot, an easy,
comfortable, or desirable berth, thing,
or circumstance : see Hunt ; to
knock spots out of (see Knock) ; on (or
off) the spot, alert, dead certain; in
spots, by snatches; to have a vacant
spot, to be crazy.
Spotted-dog. 1. A plum or currant
dumpling : spotted donkey, plum
pudding ; and 2. (military) a sausage
or saveloy.
Spotted Mystery. Tinned beef.
Spout. 1. A pawnbroker's shoot
or hit from shop to store-room. 2.
A pawnbroker's: as verb, to pawn;
up the spout (or spouted), pawned : in
America gone where the woodbine
(q.v.) twineth : also up the spout, im-
prisoned, in hospital (Bee). English
synonyms : To blue, to bullock* s-horn
(rhyming), to flue (or put up the flue),
to lay up in lavender, to lug, to lumber,
to moskeneer, (q.v.), to put away, to
send to uncle's, to soak, to spout, to
sweat, to vamp, to warehouse. As
verb, to talk, speechify, or declaim for
effect. Hence spouter, (1) a mouthing
talker; (2) a fourth-rate speaker or
actor. To spout billy, to earn a living
by reciting Shakespeare in tap-rooms ;
spowting-diib, a rehearsal club (Grose) ;
in great spout, noiay, in high spirits ;
to spout ink, to write: cf. Sling ink
(1599). *
Spouter. A whaling vessel*
Sprat. 1. Sixpence, 6d. : see
Rhino. 2. A sweetheart : cf. Bloater,
Duck, Pippin, etc. 3. In pi., t
Squab.
effects : cf . Marbles, Sticks, etc. 4. An
undersized or mean-looking man or
boy, a scarecrow (q.v.): also Jack
Sprat (q.v.) (1598).
Spread. 1. A meal, a feast (1827).
2. Butter : cf. Scrape. 3. An um-
brella (Grose). 4. A lady's shawl. 5.
A saddle (1798). 6. An optioD, a
straddle (q.v.). To spread oneself, to
push, to come out strong, to swagger
(q.v.) (1832) , A ^
Spread-eagle. 1 . A posture : arms
(wings, or fins) and logs extended :
e.g. a soldier lashed to the halberts
( Grose), or a sailor to the rigging ; a
fowl split down the back for broiling ;
fish split and laid out to dry ; and
a figure in skating imitating the
heraldic eagle displayed [i.e. with
wings and logs extended on each side
of the body] : as verb, (a) to tie up for
punishment: (6) to prepare poultry or
fish for broiling or drying ; and (c) in
racing, to scatter tho field (q.v.).
(1701). 2. This term [spread eagle]
is frequently uwd among stock specu-
lators : a broker, satisfied with small
profits . . . sells* say one hundred shares
Erie Railroad stock at fifty-eight,
buyer sixty days, and at the same time
buys the same quantity at fifty-soven,
seller sixty-days : tho difference is
. , . one per cent, which would bo so
much profit, without any outlay of
capital, provided both contracts run
their full time; having sold buyer's
option sixty days, and bought sellers'
option sixty days, the time is equal,
but ... he does not control the option
in cither case; tho buyer can call
when he pleases, which will compel tho
spread-eagle operator to deliver ; and
the soller way deliver any time, which
would compel the broker to receive.
As adj., bombastic ; espoo. in reference
to national vanity: whence spread-
eagleism, patriotic brag: as verb, to
play the good American till all J8 split
(1858).
Spree. A frolic. As verb, to
carouHo ; ttwaeish, dnmkiflh : see
Screwed (1821 ). As adj. (Winchester)
(1) conceited, Htuok-tm : of persons ;
(2) smart, stylish, befitting a Wyke-
hamist. Spree*mes8, * at the end of tho
half-year wo used to have large
entertainments called aottte-meww,
between Toy- time ami Chapel, con-
sisting of tea, ooffee, muffins, cakes,
eta, the funds for which were generally
provided by fines inflicted during Toy-
time for talking loud, slamming the
door, coming in without whistling (to
show that it was not a Master enter-
ing), improper language, etc. Some-
times a spree-mess was given by boys
about to leave that Half/ ( Mansfield).
Sprig. A young dandy, any well-
groomed youngster (1637).
Spring. (1) To bring to notice
suddenly; (2) to pay out, to give
alms; (3) to provide; and (4) to
extort. To spring to, to be able to
accomplish, pay, give, etc., etc, (1614).
Springal (Spring, or Springer). A
youth (1635).
Spring-ankle Warehouse. A
prison : spec. Newgate (Grose).
Springers (The). The Lincoln-
shire Regiment, formerly The 10th
Foot : tho nickname is also borne by
the late 62nd Foot.
Springer-up. A slop-tailor.
8prung-up clothes, garments blown
together. •
Sprinkle. To christen.
Sprout. 1. A course of severe dis-
cipline; a birching. Also 2. (Yale),
a department of study — classics,
mathematics, etc. ; and 3. (in pi.,) a
bunoh of twigs. A bunch of sprouts,
(1) tho closed fist, and (2) the chambers
of a revolver.
Sprug. To sprug up, to dress
neatly, to spruce.
Sprung. Drunk: see Screwed
(1856).
Sprunt. To sprunt up, to bristle
up, to roaent suddenly.
Sprusado. A dandy (1665).
Spry. Active* lively, smart (q.vO-
Spud. 1. A potato : see Murphy :
hence spuddy, a bakod-potato man.
2. A dwarf, a short thickset person.
3. A baby's hand. 4. In pi., money :
see Rhino. 5. A spade.
Spudgel. To decamp.
Spunk. 1. Mettle, spirit, pluck
(Grose): hence spunkie (Scots'), (a)
a plucky fellow, a lad of mettle;
and (6) a will-o'-the-wisp; spunky,
spirited; to spunk up, to show fight
(1772). 2. In pi,, matches. Spunk-
fencer, match - vendor. Hence, a
spark (1815).
Spur. To annoy. To get ike spur,
to be annoyed : see Needle.
Spy. The eye (1590).
Squab. 1. Anything fat, short,
and dumpy : beno* a tat sofa or well-
437
SquabasJi.
Squarson.
filled bed; as adj. (squabby, squaddy,
squatty, squabbish, etc.), fat and
short, heavy, bulky, short, abrupt ; as
verb, to fall heavily, to plump down
(1593). 2. An inexperienced person,
a fledgeling: as adj., callow (q.v.), coy,
quiet (1635). As verb (King Edward's
School, Birmingham), to squeeze by ;
also squob : with foot on wall or desk,
and back against the victim who is
similarly treated on the other side, or
pressed against the opposite wall ;
squab-up, to push.
Squabash. To crush. As subs.,
a flattening out, spifiication (q.v.)
(1827).
Squabbled, Broken: of type
fighting attitude ; to square up and
down, to strut ; to see how squares go,
to watch events, to see how the cat
will jump (1551). 2. To be entirely
in agreement, to arrange, to accom-
modate; whence on (or upon) the
square (or squarely), absolutely de-
pendable ; all square (or squares), all
right; square to (by the square, or in
square), suitable, exact, in amity or
agreement; to keep square, to lead a
straight life ; also in combination :
amongst others, square backdown, a
palpable retreat ; square piece, & decent
girl ; square answer, an unmistakable
reply; square clobber, respectable
clothes ; square crib, a house of good
repute ; square tats, honest
, 0, — _.t_.., ., fate, honest dice;
so much awry that it is a painstaking square drinker, a steady toper ; square
job to prevent it going to pi (q.v.). eater, a hearty feeder ; square thing,
Squaddie. To decamp. the truth: also square head (thieves'),
SquaU (Squailer). ^To throw sticks an honest man; square meal, a sub-
stantial repast; square play, fair play ;
square rigged, well-dressed etc., etc.
ty; thus
» „ - : also to
square the yards (nautical) ; to square
up, to settle a bill (1835). 4. To
assume a rigid or set attitude : as to
square one's shoulders, (a) to stand
(or sit) bolt upright, and (&) to show
disgust ; to square one's dhows, to give
free play in driving ; to sit square, to
sit straight ; to square out, to lay out ;
to square round, to make room. 5.
at cocks ; the stick thrown. Mr.
Afcerman says sqwoiling is used for
throwing, but the thing thrown must (1589). 3" To bribe ; to
be some material not easily managed ; to square matters, to pay
with a stick sometimes made un- " " ' " "
equally heavy by being loaded with
lead at one end. Squalling is often
very awkwardly performed, because
the thing thrown cannot be well
directed ; hence the word squalling is
often used in ridicule of what is done
awkwardly, untowardly or irregu-
larly shaped. ' She went up the street
squalling her arms about, you never Miscellaneous phrases: To square the
saw the like * : an ill shaped loaf is a circle, to achieve the impossible •
long " ' -
squalling loaf; Brentford is
squalling town ; and, in Wiltshire,
Smithfieid Market would be called a
squalling sort of a place (HaUiwell).
Also Squaw].
Squall. A girl (1593). As verb,
to cry aloud (B. E.). To look out
for squalls, to be on guard.
Squantum. 1. The imaginary
name of a place a very far way back,
How go squares ? How do you do 5 ,
a square peg in a round hole, anything
misplaced or incongruous ; straight
down the crooked lane and all round
the square, a humorous way of setting
a man on his word; att fair and
square, above board, dependable.
Square-cap. A Ixmdon apprentice
(1651).
Square-face. An, inferior gin made
from whence rustics and hayseeds chiefly in Germany, for" barter "with
(q.v.) come. Also, 2. a picnic. and consumption by savages.
Square. Square, like round (q.v.),
.
. , .., Squarehead. 1. Formerly a free
has hved many lives in slang : in fact, emigrant ; now 2. a German or Scandi-
it has boxed the compass, and now navian. See Square.
" old
'< has boxed the compass, and now
means the antipodes of what it meant
in Shakespeare's time. 1. To dis-
agree, to quarrel or be at variance:
Square-toes. An old man?
r (q.v.), a precisian (q.v.); also
8quaretoea. Hence square-toed,
_ wawwww. Jl«luw
hence squarer, a quarreller; while formal, prim, testy (1771).
out of square, (a) at variance and (b) Squarson. A landed proprietor in
dishonest ; to break (or breed) squares, holy orders : cf. Squishop, and Port-
to give offence ; at square, angry, at manteau - word. Whence
'
,
', to square up to, to asume a
438
i parsonage.
Squarum.
Squireen.
Squarum. A lapstone.
Squash. 1. A smash, a soft or flat
mass ; and 2. a mellay : spec, in
Harrow football the Rugby scrim-
mage or Eton rouge ; as verb, (a) to
crush or smash : also to go squash, to
collapse, and (&) to silence by word
or deed ; hence squasher, squashmess,
and squashy (1726). 3. (Harrow).
Racquet played with a soft india-
rubber ball : the ball is also known as
a squash.
Squat. 1. A short thick - set
person ; squatty (or sqitaddy), lumpish,
dumpy. As verb (American Stock
Exchange), to dishonour one's own
contracts.
Squatter. 1. A settler on public
land without title or license. 2. Any
domiciliary usurper. 3. In Australia,
a pastoral tenant of the Crown.
Whence squat, (1) to settle on land
without title : e.g. on a common, and
(2) as in subs, senses 2 and 3. Deriva-
tives are numorotia : e.g. squattage, a
squatter's station ; squattocracy (squat-
t&rarchy or squatter dom), the world of
squatters: spec, rich landowners in
pastoral districts : of. Mobocracy,
Cottonocracy, Slaveocracy, etc., etc.
( 1829). As verb, also to move briskly or
noisily through mud and water (1598).
Squattez-vous. Sit down I
Squartle. To decamp.
Squawk. 1. A harsh noise or voice :
also as verb (1856). 2. A bad failure.
Squeak. A narrow escape; a
close shave (q.v.). As verb, (1) to
talk; (2) to betray confidence, to
squeal, to peach (q.v.) ; hence squeaker,
(a) a blab (q.v.), and (6) an informer ;
to squeak beef, to cry Stop thief : see
, Boo! (1690) j (3) to shirk : an obliga-
tion, debt, etc.
Squeaker. 1. A child : spec, a
bye-blow (q.v.) ; also squealer. 2. In
pi, organ pipes (1785). 3. A pig. 4.
A young bird j a chirper, a peeper, a
squealer (q.v.).
Squeal. To inform, to peach, to
squeak (q.v.). Hence squealer, an
informer: see Nark (1785).
Squealer. 1. A young pigeon. 2.
A squeaker (q.v.). 3. (Wellington
School). A small boy.
Squeemish. Nico (B. S3.).
Squeeze. 1. Silk. 2. A crowd ; a
push (q.v.)» crowding. 3. See
Squeezer. As verb. (1) to gripe, or screw
hard (B. JR); also (colloquial), (2) to
extort, to coerce, to best ( q.v. ) ; as subs.,
( 1 ) a hard bargain; (2) Hobson's choice;
(q.v.); and (3) a rise (q.v.); whence
squeezable, squeezability, etc. (1670).
Squeezer (Squeeze). 1. The
neck. 2. The hangman's noose (1811).
3. In pi., playing cards with the
values marked in the top left hand
margins. Squeeze, to arrange cards
so that only the indicators at the
corners are visible.
Squeeze-wax. A surety (B. E.).
Squelch (or Squelsh). A hard hit*
a heavy fall ; espec. one under some-
thing or somebody: also squelcher. As
verb, to crush, to squash (q.v.) (1624).
Sq>iench. To quench (1600).
Squib. 1. A small satirical or
political temporary jeu d'esprit,
which, like the firework of that deno-
mination, sparkles, bounces, stinks,
and vanishes (Grose). 2. A brush. 3.
See Puff. 4. In pi., asparagus. As
verb, to lampoon.
Squibob. A finicking, fussy
person : in contempt.
Squiffed. Drunk: also squiffy.
see Screwed,
Squiggle. To evade, to wriggle,
to squirm (q.v.).
Squinny-eyes. A squinting man
or woman : also squin-eyes, sqwnt-a-
pipes, and squint-a-fuego. As adj.,
squinting; to squinny (or squiri), to
squint ; and (American) to laugh,
wink, or smile (1602).
S quinsy. Hempen squinsy, a
see Hempen fever, and
Squint. To lack : food, material,
money, anything.
Squinter. In pi., the eyes: see
Glim.
Squint -minded. Deceitful;
crooked; with twisted vision (q.v.)
(1653).
Squire. 1. A gallant; a servant
(q.v.): also squire of dames. 2. A
magistrate (New England). 3. Squire
of -Alsatia, * a Man of Fortune, drawn in,
cheated, and ruin'd by a pack of
poor, lowsy, sponging, bold Fellows
that liv'd (formerly) in White-Fryers ;
the Squire, a Sir Timothy Treat-all;
also a Sap-pate ; squwiah, foolish, also
one that pretends to Pay all Reckon-
ings, and is not strong enough in the
Pocket; a fat Squire, a rich fool* (B. IS.)
Squireen. A term of contempt:
Squireens are persons who, with good
Stag.
long leases or valuable farms, possess
incomes of from three to eight hundred
a year, who keep a pack of hounds,
take out a commission of the peace,
sometimes before they can spell . . .
and almost always before they know
anything of law or justice (Edge-
worth) : also (general) squirelet (1812).
Squiress. A squire's wife ( 1 827 ).
Squirish. Foolish.
Squirm. A small obnoxious boy :
cf. Squirt. As verb, to wriggle ; to
shudder: mentally or physically.
Whence to get a squirm, on, to bestir
oneself ; and squirmy, (a) crooked, de-
ceitful ; and (6) all overish (q.v.) ( 1859).
Squirrel. A harlot.
Squirt 1. A dandified puppy
(q.v.), an upstart, a cad : whence
squirtish, dandified, self - assertive,
caddish: in contempt (1844). 2. An
obnoxious boy: cf. Squirm. 3. A
spurt (1759). 4. In pi., (a) diarrhoea :
cf. Squitters ; and (6) a chemist or
apothecary (1551). 5. (Harvard), a
showy recitation (HaU). As verb, to
blab (q.v.). To squirt one's dye, to
seize an opportunity.
Squish. 1. Marmalade. 2. Weak
tea (Winchester).
Squishop. A bishop who is also a
landed proprietor : cf. Squarson.
Squit. A young woman not over
pleasing and small (EaUiwell).
Squitters. Looseness of the
bowels : cf. Squirt.
Squo (Charterhouse). Racquets
played with a soft ball : e.g. squo-
court, aqua-baft, etc. : cf. Squash.
Sres-wort. Trousers.
Sret-sio. Oysters.
'Stab. Establishment: e.g. on
the 'stab, in regular work at fixed
wages : as opposed to piece - work.
To stab the dice, ' having a smooth box
and small in the bottom, you drop in
both your dice in such manner as
you would have them sticking therein
. . . the dice lying one upon another ;
so that, turning up the box, the dice
never tumble . . . by which means you
have bottoms according to the tops
you put in : for example, if you put
in your dice so that two fives or two
fours lie a top, you have in the bottom
turn'd up two twos, or two treys ; so
if six and an ace a top, a six and an ace
At bottom* (Cotton). To stab oneself
Stable. 1. Inpl., routine duty at
the stables. 2. The horses in a racing
establishment. To shut the stable door
when the steed is stolen, to set a guard
after a mischief is done (1509).
Stab-rag. A tailor: also rag-
stabber (q.v.).
Stab-shot. A stroke where the ball
stops dead (or nearly so) on the spot
occupied by the object ball.
Stacia. Like stacia, a term of
comparison : e.g. to do it like stacia ;
as drunk as stacia, etc. (Hattiwett).
Stack. A large quantity: e.g.
stacks of the ready, plenty of money,
As verb, to make cards in a pre-
arranged manner for a crooked game,
to pack (q.v.), to stock (q.v.).
Staff. Phrases : To put down (or set
up) one's staff, to rest ; to take up resi-
dence ; to keep staff in hand, to retain
possession ; to part with one's staff, to
get rid of one's substance ; to argue from
staff to corner, to raise a question other
than that under discussion, to draw a
red herring across the trail ; to have the
better (or worse) end of the staff, to get
the best (or worst) of a matter : see
Stick (1564).
Staff of Life. Bread. English
synonyms (see also Grub), Melton
(q.v,), penny-starver (penny roll),
soft-tack (or tommy), tack, toke,
tommy, pannum.
Stafford Court. To be tried in
Stafford Court, to be beaten or ill-
treated. Hence Stafford law, violence,
lynch law (1698).
Staffordshire Knots (The). The
2nd Batt. of The South Stafford-
shire Regiment, formerly The 81st
Foot. [The regimental badge is a
knotted cable.]
Staff-striker. A sturdy beggar, a
tramp.
Stag. 1. An informer, a snitch
(q.v.): also stagger. 2. (Stock Ex-
change). An applicant for shares in
new issues, who has no intention of
holding, but prefers to forfeit the
deposit money if unable to sell at a
premium on allotment ; hence, 3. any
irregular outside dealer: also as verb.
4. A professional bailsman or alibi
(Bee). 5. A shilling: see Rhino.
6. A romping girl 7- A male ; whence
stag-dance, a man's dance; a bull-
dance (q.v.): also stag-party; stag-
and pass the dagger, to help oneself and month, the month of a woman's lying
send the bottle round. in ; stag-widow, a man whose wife is
440
Stand.
in childbed. AB adj., naked, in buff
(q.v.). As verb, (1) to find, to watch
closely, to dog (q.v.) : e.g. to staff a
thief, to look on and spoil his game,*
to stag the push, to watch the crowd ;
Who's that stagging ? Who's following ;
also stagger, a spy (1827) ; (2) to dun ?
to beg.
Stage-fever. A craze for the
boards : hence stage-struck (1710).
Stager (or Old Stager). 1. A
person of experience : cf. Stager, a
player; whence, 2. anything long in
use or evidence.
Stagger. In pl.t a drunken fit.
See Stag.
Staggerer. Anything overwhelm-
, a poser.
>J ;gering Bob. 1. A newly
._.„., id calf (HaUiweU); and 2.
meat unfit for human food because the
knife has only anticipated death from
accident or disease; also Staggering
Bob with his yellow pumps.
Stag - mag. A stage manager.
Also as verb, to stage manage.
Staines. At Staines, in pecuniary
difficulties, hard up, at the Bush,
alluding to the Bush Inn at that town
(Grose).
Stairs. The stairs witJiout a
landing, the treadmill : see Everlasting
staircase.
statting-ken, a mart for stolen goods
(1567) ; also (Barman), a tippling-
house ; to stall off, to excuse plausibly,
to escape wilily. To stall one's mug,
to be off. To staU a debt, to forbear
it. See Stall.
Stale Bear (or Bull). (Stock
Exchange). A bear (or bull) (q.v.)
who has long been short of (or has long
held) stock.
Stale-drunk. A man is said to be
stale-drunk when again in liquor
before complete recovery from a
previous bout: see Screwed.
Stalk (The). (Punch and Judy).
The gallows : see Nubbing cheat.
Stall. 1. To install, to initiate
(1567). 2. To take a part. 3. To
lodge, or put up at a public house.
See Stale.
Stall - whimper. A bastard: see
Bye-blow.
Stam-bang. Plump down.
Stam flash. To cant (B. E.).
Stammel (or Strammel). A
brawny, lusty, strapping wench (B. E.)^
Stammer. An indictment (Grose).
Stamp. (1) In pi., the legs; (2)
shoes ; and (3) carriers (B. E.) : also
stampers ; whence stamp - drawers,
stockings (1620). 4. A coin of small
value: spec, a halfpenny: in pi.,
(American), paper money ; shinplaster
(q.v.) : also generic for money (1628).
5. In pi., type (1563). As verb, to
Stake. A booty acquired by rob-
bery ...; and, if considerable, a prime tr. JJJ. UJL., uyjjo \it"jQ;. tin VOJLU, w
stake, or a heavy stake. A person throw dice out of the box, by striking
alluding to anything . . . compara- violently against the table,
tively . . . invaluable, would say, Stamp-crab. A lumpish walker, a
consider it a stake ... a valuable or beetle-crusher (q.v.).
acceptable acquisition of any kind is Stamp - in - the - ashes. A mixed
emphatically called a stake, meaning drink of some kind (1515).
a great prize (Grose), As verb, to
provide for.
Stale. 1. A pretence, a fraud, a
theft; as verb, to deceive, to rob
(1033). 2. Any object of contempt,
deception, or ridicule ; as verb, to
ridicule or abuse (1400). 3. A decoy,
a stalking horse : hence ambush : as
verb, to nide, to lie in wait, to en-
snare (1530). 4. A common pro-
stitute (1600). 5. An accomplice: a
stale for a foist or pickpocket : now
(also stall) a confederate -working
either before (front-stall or fore-stall)
or behind {back-stall) the actual thief,
to cover his movements, and assist in
bis escape : also stalls-man ; as verb, to
screen: also to chuck a stall, and to
stall off t *liO to fence (q.v.) : whence
Stancheous. Strong, durable
(1844).
Stand (or Standing). 1. A thieves*
station. 2. A cheap-jack's, costers',
or street-vendor's pitch (q.v.): also
(colloquially) a shop (q.v.), a show
(q.v.). 4. A visit, a run (q-v.). 5.
situation: e.g. The Astor House is
a good stand for a hotel. As verb,
to endure, put up with, forbear (1383).
Phrases: Stand is frequently col-
loquial: thus to stand ready at the .
door, to be handy for use ; to stand to
a ch&d, to act as sponsor; to stand
buff (or bluff), to swear to, to outface,
to take the consequences ; not a foot (or
leg) to stand on, at the end of one's
resources, or one's repute ; to stand in,
(1) to take aide (or lot) with, to share,
441
Stcmder.
Stare.
and (2) to cost ; to stand on one's hind
legs, to show temper or take in bad
part j to stand on one's head (ears, etc. ),
to be in. good spirits ; to stand up to
the rack, to take rough and smooth ;
to stand up to, to put oneself in fighting
attitude (Bee) : whence a stand - up
fight, a bout where the contestants
manfully face each other ; to stand up
with, (1) to dance, and (2) to act as
bridesmaid or groomsman; to stand
holes, to hold to a bargain; Also
see Pad, Patter, Racket, Sam, Treat,
Velvet.
Stander. A sentinel (1607).
Stander-up. A thief whose
speciality is robbing drunken men
under pretence of helping them home.
Stand- far- off (or Stand-further-
off). *In my childhood there
was one [cloth] called Stand-far-off
(the embleme of Hypocrisie), which
seemed pretty at competent distance,
but discovered its coarseness when
nearer to the eye (fuller).
Stand - further. A quarrel, tiff,
disagreement : e.g. There's quite a
stand-further between them.
Standing. See Stand. To take,
standing, to accept or endure with
composure [as one would take a high
jump without a run in] : hence, with-
out ado.
Standing - dish. Any person or
thing making a frequent appearance :
e.g. a sponging diner-out; a stock
play, etc., etc.
Standing-part erer. A street- vendor
who, taking a stand (q.v.), slings the
patter to sell his wares : almost
obsolete since police control under
the Metropolitan Streets' Act, 1867 :
cf. Running Patterer.
Stand-off. Polarity, a holding off.
As adj., distant, reserved ; also stand-
offish, and stand-offishness.
Stand-up. A meal or snack (q.v.)
taken standing, a perpendicular (q.v.).
Stang. Siding the stang, still used
they call riding the, stang ; and the
person who has been thus treated
seldom recovers his honour in the
opinion of his neighbours ; when they
cannot lay hold of the culprit himself',
they put some young fellow on the
stang or pole, who proclaims that it is
not on his own account that he is thus
treated, but on that of another person
whom he names (Oallander) : see Skun-
mington. Hence stangey, a hen-
pecked husband.
Stangey. 1. A tailor. 2. See
Stang.
Star. 1. A white blaze on a horse's
forehead (1845). 2. An asterisk:
cf. Dagger, Spear, etc. : French stars,
***: a mark of division between
paragraphs, etc. 3. An article intro-
duced into a sale after the catalogue
has been printed : marked in the
official copy by a star. 4. A distin-
guished singer or player : hence to star
the provinces (or the haUs), to go on
tour (or make the round of the music
halls) as the chief attraction (or as
an important turn (q.v.); star-en-
gagement, an important or chief part ;
star-queUer, a player whose bad business
spoils the efforts of better players.
As verb, to strike a window, mirror,
etc., so that cracks radiate from a
common centre: also (thieves1), to
smash a window and rob its contents :
spec, by cracking a pane in a shop-
front and passing the wet thumb
along, directing the crack as they
please, then removing the glass,
removing the goods ; or by striking a
dab of putty with a life-preserver :
also to star the glaze, ; hence done for a
star, convicted for window smashing ;
the star -lay, window robbery. To
Uess (or thank) one's stars, to thank
for one's good fortune (1633). My
stars / An exclamation of surprise •
also My star and garter t (1726).
Star-bason. An impudent-looking
fellow (EoUiweU).
f»«*S. j.tttu/niy WK> aw,nys BJ/LU UB42U
in some colleges in the University Starch. To take the starch out of,
of Cambridge: to stang scholars
Christmas being to cause them to ride
on a cotstaff or pole for missing of
chapel (Ray ,1674); a custom [is]
stall prevalent among the country
people of Scotland : who oblige any
man, who is so unmanly as to beat
bis wife, to ride astride on a long pole,
borne.by two men, through the village,
« * mark of the highest infamy ; lis
to mortify, to humiliate, to abase
another's honour or dignity.
Starched. Affected, proud, stiff:
also starchy; hence starch, a stiff,
formal manner (1599).
Starcher. A stiff white tie.
Starchy. Drunk: see Screwed.
Also see Starched.
, Stare. To swagger, to bully
3 (HaUiweU: a cant f v
442
Stare-cat.
State Nicknames.
Stare - cat. A meddlesome or in-
quisitive neighbour.
S t a r f . Starf take you f an impre-
cation ; the devil take you.
Star - gazer. 1. A hed^e whore.
2. A horse holding its head well up
while trotting (Grose). 3. An im-
aginary sail, a skyscraper (q.v.). 4.
An astrologer : also an astronomer :
in contempt or jest ; also star - clerk,
star-conner, star-divine, star-shooter,
and star - monger ; hence star - craft,
astrology (1572).
Staring Quarter. An ox cheek
(Grose).
Stark -naked. Neat (q.v.) gin:
orig. titrip-me-naked ; also as adj.,
unadulterated (1830).
Starling. 1. A penny : ' because in
the ring or border of the peny, there
was a starre stamped' (II 00). 2. A
marked or starred man.
Star of the Line (The). The
2nd Batt. Worcestershire Regiment,
late the 3Gth Foot.
Star-pitch. Sleeping in the open,
a doss in Hodge Square (q-v.).
Starps. In pi., sprats.
Stars - and - stripes. The United
States flag: the Gridiron, the Star-
spangled banner. Stars - and - Bars,
the nag of the Southern Confederacy
1861-05 (1777).
Start (The). (1) London; (2) the
Old Bailey (also Tfa Old Start) ; (3) a
happening : e.g. a rum start, an odd
occurrence. Phrases : To start in (or
up), to begin ; to rtart a wasd from the
stump, to outfit completely; to atari on,
to beat, bully, quiz, or take hi hand.
Starter. 1. A question (1696).
2, A milksop, a poltroon, a white-
liver (q.v.) : I'm no starter, I shan't
flinch (1604).
Startler. Generic for intensive
surprise.
Start-up. 1. An upstart, no-one
knows-who : also as adj., obscure ;
mushroom (1600). 2. In pi, high
shoes.
Starvation. An epithet applied
to Mr. Dundas, the word being, for the
first time, introduced into our language
by him, in » speech in. 1775 in an
American debate, and thenceforward
became a nickname (Mitford) ; the
word is noted as one of the first
(flirtation being another) to be formed
directly from a native English verb
with the Latin termination— aff on . . .
first used or brought into notice by
Henry Dundas, first Viscount Melville
(Century). [Latham's edition (1866)
of Todd's Johnson was the first
English Dictionary to include this
word.]
Starve 'em, Rob 'em, and Cheat
'em. Stroud, Rochester, and Chat-
ham : cf. The London Smash 'em and
Do-for-'em By., The L.C.D.E.
Stash. To desist, to set aside, to
stow it : e.g. to stash prigging, to turn
honest; to stash one's patter* to hold
one's tongue ; to stash the lush, to stop
boozing (q.v.) (1785).
State Nicknames. The colloquial
designation of various States and
peoples of the American Union is as
follows :— Badger State, Wisconsin;
Bay State, Massachusetts ; Bayou
State, Mississippi ; Bear State, (1) Ar-
kansas, (2) California (Century), and
(3) Kentucky (Century); Big Bend
State, Tennessee : people, Mudheads ;
Blue Hen State, Delaware: people,
Blue Hen's Chickens; Blue Law
State, Connecticut : also infra ; Buck eye
State, Ohio; Bullion State, Missouri:
people, Pukes ; Centennial State,
Colorado : people, Centennials ; Corn-
cracker State, Kentucky: people,
Corncrackers ; Cracker State, Georgia :
people, Crackers ; Creole State, Louis-
iana : also infra ; The Dark and Bloody
Ground, Kentucky: also supra; Dia-
mond State, Delaware: also supra;
Empire State, New York : also infra :
people, Knickerbockers ; Umpire State
of the South, Georgia : people, Crackers ;
Excelsior State, New York : also supra ;
Freestone State, Connecticut: also
supra and infra; Garden State,
Kansas, also infra ; Golden State, Cali-
fornia: also supra; Gopher State,
Minnesota ; Granite State, New Hamp-
shire ; Green Mountain State, Vermont ;
Gulf State, Florida : also infra ; Hawk-
eye State, Iowa : people, Hawkeyes ;
floosier State, Indiana: people,
Boosters; Keystone State, Pennsyl-
vania ; Lake State, Michigan : people,
Wolverines ; Land of Steady Habits
Connecticut : also supra ; Little
Rhody, Rhode Island; Lone Star
State, Texas: people, Beefheads;
Lumber State, Maine : also infra ;
Mother of Presidents (or States), Vir-
ginia : also infra ; Mudccct State, Mis-
sissippi : also supra ; New England of
the West, Minnesota: also supra,
443
Old Colony, Massachusetts : also
supra', Old Dominion, Virginia: also
supra; Old Line State, Maryland;
Old North State, North Carolina : also
infra; Palmetto State, South Carolina;
Pan Handle State, West Virginia;
Pelican State, Louisiana : also supra ;
Peninsular State, Florida : also supra ;
Pine Tree State, Maine: also supra;
Prairie State, Illinois: also infra;
Sage-hen State (or Silver State),
Nevada ; Squatter State, Kansas : also
supra; Sucker State, Illinois: also
supra ; Turpentine State. North Caro-
lina : people, Tarheels : also supra ;
Web-foot State, Oregon; Wolverine
State, Michigan: people, Wolverines;
Wooden Nutmeg State, Connecticut:
also supra. Also see Nature's Garb,
and Elevation.
States of Independency. Frontiers
of Extravagance. Oxf. Univ. Cant
Nicknames. [Barttett : On account
of the staid deportment and excellent
morals of the people.]
Steal. See Brewer's-basket, and
Stationery. Free passes, paper
(q.v.).
Stave. To press onwards regard-
less of everything : generic for vigor-
ous action. Hence staving , ( 1 ) dashing,
active, and (2) great, strong, etc. — a
general intensive. Stover, anybody
or anything exceptionally active,
brilliant, or dashing: a rouser (q.v.).
Also to rip (q.v.) and stave (1842).
Stay. 1. A cuckold. 2. Half a
meal ; also stay-belly : also as verb
(or to stay the stomach) (1610). As
verb, to endure, last out, or persevere :
as an athlete in exercise, a horse in
racing, an author in public favour ;
hence stayer, anybody or anything
capable of holding on for a long time ;
staying power, capacity for endurance.
Phrases, etc. : To stay put, to remain
as placed ; to stay with, to court ; to
stay out, to remain in school ; come to
stay, said of anything meeting a
public need, or with approval or
favour.
Stay-at-home. A person of dom-
estic tastes, a home-bird (q.v.) ; a
house-dove (q.v.) ; as adj., fond of
remaining at home; the reverse of
gad-about (q.v.) (1814).
Stay-tape. A tailor: from that
article and its coadjutor buckram,
which formerly made no small figure
in the bills of these knights of the
needle (Grose).
Steady Habits. The Land of
Steady Habits, Connecticut : see State
Steam. Force, energy, go ( q. v. ).
Steam-engine (Manchester).
Potato-pie (Hotten).
Steamer. A pipe : a swell-steamer,
alongpi£e(1783).
Steaming. A steamed pudding.
Steam-packet. A jacket.
Steel. The House of Correction,
Coldbath Fields, London (1785):
latterly, any prison or lock - up :
originally The Bastille.
Steelbacks (The). 1. The 1st Batt.
Northamptonshire Regiment, the
late 48th Foot ; and (2) The 1st Batt.
Middlesex Begiment, the late 57th
Foot.
Steel-bar. A needle. Hence steel-
"bar driver (or flinger), a needle-man
(or woman) : spec, a journeyman
tailor.
Steel-boy. The kingdom of Ire-
land was (c. 1772) ravaged by
various parties of banditti ; who,
under the name of Whiteboys, Oak-
boys, Steelboys, with captains at
their head, killed proctors, fired stacks,
houghed and maimed cattle, and
took the law into their own hands
(Thackeray).
Steel-pen Coat. A dress coat,
a swallow-tail (q.v.).
Steenkirk. A Muslin neckcloth
carelessly put on, from the manner in
which the French officers wore their
cravats when they returned from the
Battle of SteenMrk, afterwards a
fashion for both sexes (B. E.). Like-
wise applied to other articles of dress
as wigs, buckles, etc.
Steep. A general intensive: cf.
TalL Thus a steep (high) price;
steep (excessive) damages ; a steep
(a difficult or forlorn) undertaking;
steep (heavy) tax, etc. Too steep, too
absurd (bad, idiotic, or impudent) for
acceptance. Hence, in the same
sense precipitous (q.v.) Fr., raide.
Steeple. A woman's head-dress
14th century. Also, later, a steeple-
crowned hat for either sex (1583).
Steeple-fair. The simoniacal mart:
spec. St. Paul's. [Formerly church
doors were plastered with all kinds of
miscellaneo-as advertisements : see
Siqu%8\ (1599).
Steeple-house. A church (1690).
Steer. Steer has furnished one or
two colloquialisms : thus to steer a trick,
to take a turn at the wheel ; to steer
small, to exercise care or skill ; to
give a steer, to give a tip (q.v.)-
Steerer. See Bunco-steerer.
Steering-committee, A committee
of direction, wirepullers (q.v.).
Steever. See Stiver.
Stem. In pi., the legs.
Stem-winder. Anything well-
finished : hence, the best of its kind.
[Stem- winder, keyless watch: at the
time & new and exquisite improve-
ment.]
Step. To make off : also to step it.
Also (military), to desert. To step
out, to die. Step dovm and out I Shut
up ! Stow it ! You're done !
Stephen (or Steven). Money:
generic. Stephen1* at home, He's
got 'em (1785). St. Stephen's loaf,
a stone.
Stepmother. A horny filament
p the side of the finger-nail,
r's blessing, a hang-nail.
1. The treadmill. The
j staircase (q.v.). 2. High-
spirited or full - actioned horse: also
regular stepper and high-stepper ; hence
anybody or anything more than usu-
ally good of its kind : cf. Highflyer.
Stepping - ken. Dancing rooms :
espec. such as are frequented by
sailors.
Stereo. Stale news: see George
Home.
Sterling. See Starling.
Stern. The backside; stern-fore-
most, backwards ; astern, behind ;
stern-uppermost, on one's face ; stern-
chase, a pursuit. To bring a ship
down "by the stern, to over officer
(1836).
Steven. See Stephen.
Stever. See Stiver.
Stew. 1. A fish-pond. 2. Worry,
fuss, mental disturbance (1837). As
verb (Stonyhurst College). To study :
hence stew-pot, a hard-working
student. To stew (fry, or melt) in
one's own (or another's) juice (grease,
fat, or gravy), to be left vindictively or
resentfully alone (1383).
Steward* A doctor.
Stewed Quaker. See Quaker.
Stibber-gibber. 'Proctour is he
that will tary long, and bring a. lye,
when bis Muster sendoth him on his
errand. This is a stibber gibber knaue,
that doth fayne tales ' (Awdeley).
Stibbler. A clerical probationer,
a guinea-pig (q.v.) (1815).
Stichel. A term of contempt
(1620). *
Stick. 1. In pi., furniture, marbles
(q.v.) : also sticks and stones (1785).
2. In pi., pistols, pops (q.v.); Stow
your sticks, hide your pistols. 3.
An awkward, dull, or stupid person .
in contempt : usually poor stick ; a
rum (or odd) stick, an oddity (1803).
4. A crowbar, a jemmy (q.v.). 5.
(a) A candlestick; and (b) a candle.
6. In pi., the stumps. 7. In pi., the
legs, stumps (q.v.). 8. A hard or
otherwise badly printing ink-roller.
9. In pi., hurdles ; hence stick-hopper,
a hurdle-racer. 10. A mast: e.g.
She has handsome sticks, She is finely
sparred. 11. Hesitation, demur;
hence to stick at, to boggle (q.v.)
(1678). As verb, to Mil : spec. (ludia)
to spear wild hogs. Phrases and
colloquialisms are numerous, thus
To be stuck on the deal, to pay too
much, to be swindled; to stick on the
price, to overcharge; to stick for
drinks, to win the toss ; to stick it up,
to get credit ; to stick up (a bank, a
tram, a caravan), to rob ; to be stuck
on one's lines (theatrical), to forget ;
to stick up tricks (points, runs, goals,
etc.), to score; to stick up, to take
one's own part, or another's ; to stick in
a pin, to make a note of, to take heed ;
to stick to, to stand by ; to stick at, to
be scrupulous ; to stick at nothing, to be
utterly without scruple ; to stick in
one's stomach (or gizzard), to rankle ;
to stick to, to back through thick and
thin, to follow closely ; to stick one's
spoon in the wall, to die ; to cut one's
sticks, to decamp; to have the fiddle
but not the stick, to have the means
without the sense to use them ; to go
to sticks and staves (or noggin staves),
to go to ruin ; to beat aH to sticks, to
vanquish utterly ; to stick a point, to
settle a matter ; to stick in (cricket),
to play carefully, so as to keep up the
wicket ; to stick oneself up, to assert
oneself, to spread out (q.v.) ; to stick
to one's fingers, to remain in possession
unlawfully ; to stick out for, to contend
obstinately; to stick and lift, to live
from hand to mouth. Also stuck on
one's shape, pleased with one's ap-
pearance ; stuck in the mud, cornered
445
Sticker.
Stinger.
(q.v.) ; stuck for the ready, penniless ;
stuck by one's pal, deceived, deserted,
done (q.v.); stuck in one's figures
(facts, or calculations), mistaken, at
a loss ; dead studs, completely dis-
appointed, flabbergasted, or ruined;
stuck on a, jude, enamoured; stuck
up, conceited, proud. Also as cross
as two sticks, fully angered; stick
and stone, everything: of. Boot
and Branch, Stock and Block; in
quick sticks (or chisel), instantly;
cost in the bookmaker's interest; also
as adj. (Australian), dead certain, to
win; e.g. Grand Flaneur is stiff for
any race for which he may enter. 5.
A clandestine letter. As adj. and
adv., a general intensive : cf. Steep,
Tall, Wide, etc. : thus a stiff (a strong
or long) drink; a stiff (a cramped)
style ; a stiff (formal) manner : also
crusty, whence to cut up stiff, to turn
testy ; a stiff (strong and steady)
breeze ; stiff (incredible) news ; a stiff
ujrong end of the stick, (I) the worst (difficult) examination ; a stiff (high)
of a position ; and (2) the false of price : cf. Steep : also, a price (or a
a story. Any stick (or staff) suffices market) stiffens, goes higher : to pay
to beat the dog (Say). stiffly, to pay expensively; a stiff
Sticker. 1. A pointed question, an (firm, unyielding) market ; a stiff upper
apt and startling comment or re- lip, courageous; to cut up stiff, to
joinder, an embarrassing situation, a * * ' ' " """
stumper (q.v.). 2. A gaff. 3. A
plodder. 4. A lingering guest (1712).
5. See Stick-in-the-mud. 6. An article
which won't sell, a shop-keeper (q.v.).
7. An office beggar. 8. A knife.
Stick-in-the-mud, A fogey, a
leave a large estate: cf. Warm and
supra (1608).
Stiffler. See Stickler.
Stiff-fencer. A hawker of writing
paper.
Stiff-rumped. Proud, stately
(J5. E.).
Stiffy. A well- dressed conceited
boy.
Stifler. 1. The gallows: also
stifles : see Ladder and Nubbins-cheat ;
hence to nab the stifler, to be hanged ;
y to queer the stifier, to escape the rope
Sticking- pi ace (or point). (1818). 2. A busybody. 3. A severe
The point of election: usually in blow.
pjbjrase to come to the sticking-point Stigmatic. (1) A branded criminal;
(2) any one deformed; and (3) a
Thick soup, contemptible wretch (1598).
Stile. To help a lame dog over a
disqualified stile, to give a hand, to assist in a
slowcoach (1823) : also Sticker.
Stick flams. A pair of
(JB. K).
Sticking. In pi., coarse, bruised,
inferior meat: spec, the portions
damaged by the butcher's knife.
(1606).
Stick - in - the - ribs.
> (q.v.).
t - minister. A
candidate for holy orders : spec, a difficultyrto bunk up': Fr., sauver la
sucking-parson, who, breaking down mise d qudqu'un (1546). Let the best
at his first sermon, never attempts dog leap the stile first, let the best take
another.
Stickler.
An obstinate or trifline
lead (Say).
Still. A still-born infant.
Also
contender, a zealot, a precisian (q.v.) : (American firemen's), a still alarm :
also stiffler (1575).
Stick-slinger. A thief who robs in
company with low women.
Stick-up. In pi., a high-standing
collar, gills (q.v.).
Sticky. Sealing-wax.
Stiff. I. A bill of exchange, nego- a variant of the cheese (q.v )
feable paper, thick (q.v.) : to take (or Stimble. To urinate.
give) the stiff, to receive (or pay) in Sting. To rob, to trick. That
paper ; to do a bit of stiff, to accept a cove is fly ; he has already been stung,
bill. 2, Forged bank notes. 3. A rn- : v-* * * ' "^
i.e. an alarm given other than by the
regular signal service.
Still-sow. A sly knave (1598).
Stilting. Expert thief: spec.
picking pockets.
Stilton (The). The correct thing :
corpse: also stiff one (1785). 4. A
horse certain not to win, nor if
it run, to win : also Dead-'un. Safe-
*un, Stumer, etc. ' -----
stiff, a horse nob)
The man is on his guard ; he has been
robbed before.
Sting-bum A niggard (1696).
Stinger. Generic for an; " '
at the public rebuke, a vexatious occurrence, etc;
446
Stock Exchange.
Hence stinging, keen, sharp, telling
(1613).
Stingo. Strong liquor : spec,
humming ale (q.v.).
Stingy. Covetous, close - fisted,
sneaking (J5. E.).
Stink. 1. Any disagreeable ex-
posure : when any robbery of moment
has been committed, which causes
much alarm, or of which much is said
in the daily papers, the family people
will say there is a great stink about it
(Grose) ; to stir up a stink, to expose ;
and as verb, to have a bad reputation
(1647). 2. In pi., (a) chemistry:
hence stink-cupboard, a close chamber
for evil-smelling or obnoxious chemical
experiments ; and (&) a lecturer on
chemistry ; to go out in stinks, to take
a degree in natural science (Cambridge).
To take a stink for a nosegay, to be
extremely gullible, to mistake egregi-
ously.
Stink-a-puss. A term of contempt.
Stinkard. A mean wretch: also
stinker : a general term of contempt.
Hence stinkardly, mean (1596).
Stinker. 1. A black eye (1785).
2. Anything offensive : e.g. a stink-
pot, a filthy person, in pi., bad coal ;
spec, (modern), a motor car : also stink-
car: See Stinkard.
Stinkibus. Bad lap (q.v.), rot-
gut (q.v.) (1706).
Stinking fish. To cry stinking
fish, to run down one's own affairs, to
foul one's own nest.
Stinkious. Gin : 18th centaury.
Stinkomalee. A name given to
the then New London University by
Theodore Hook. Probably because
some cow-houses and dunghills stood
on the original site. Some question
about Trincomalee was agitated at the
same time. It is still applied by the
students of the old Universities, who
regard it with disfavour from its. ad-
mitting all denominations (Botten).
Stinky. A farrier.
Stioe. A stipendiary magistrate.
Stir. 1. A prison: also etiraben
(gipsy) (1851). 2. A crowd; a
push (q.v.). To have plenty to stir on,
to be wealthy. See stumps.
Stirrup-oil. A sound beating, a
drubbing (1677).
Stir - up - Sunday, The Sunday
before Advent, [Tho collect for tho
day commences ; Stir up, wo beseech
Thee, O Lord]
Stitch. 1. A tailor. 2. Clothing:
e.g. not a dry stitch about her.
Phrases: To go through stitch, to ac-
complish, to bring to a finish ; to go a
gooa stitch, to go a good way ; stop
stitch while I put a needle in, a pro-
verbial phrase applied to any one
when one wishes him to do anything
more slowly (1611).
Stitch - back. Very strong ale,
stingo (q.v.).
Stitch-louse. A tailor: also
prick-louse.
Stive. To crowd, to make hot in
a sultry atmosphere. Stived up,
stifled (1865). As verb, to run; to
move off (Bardett) : a low word used in
the Northern States). See Stew.
Stiver (Steever, Stinner, etc.).
(1) A Dutch coin value Id. ; hence (2)
a small standard of value, a straw, a
fig (q.v.) ; and (3) generic for money.
Hence stiver-cramped, needy (1535).
Stizzle (Tonbridge School). To
hurt.
Stock. 1. Cheek, impudence,
brass (q.v.). As adj., very, com-
pletely : usually in combination :
thus stock-still, entirely at rest ; stock-
blind, absolutely sightless, etc. : cf.
Stone (1675). 2. Anything inert:
hence, (1) a fool, a blockhead (q.v.),
and (2) in contempt : spec, in com-
' (mostly recognised) such as
j-stock, jesting-stocfc, courting-
stock, etc. ; whence stockish, silly,
lumpish ; stockisliness, stupidity
(1693). Stock and block, the whole,
completely ; also lock-stock-and-lbarrd,
and (American) stock-and-ftute : cf.
Stick-and-stonc, Boot - and - branch,
etc. (1725). Phrases: To take stock
in, to have faith in ; to take stock of,
to scrutinize, to size up (q.v.); on
the stocks, in hand, in preparation
(1704). See Broad, Water.
Stock-blind. Quite blind, blind
as a stock or block: cf. Stone-blind
(1675).
Stockdollager. See Sockdolager.
Stock Drawers. Stockings (B. E.).
Stock Exchange Terms. [The
following list is imperfect, but it
contains the better known and older
colloquialisms. The Stock Exchange,
admittedly a close corporation, is, in
fact, so close that not only was direct
official information reraised, but also
an appeal to be put into communica-
tion with some member interested in
447
Stock Exchange.
Stock-jobber.
Stock Exchange colloquialisms was see Megs ; Matches, Bryant and May'e
declined. Perhaps, however, sub- shares; Megs, Mexican Railway 1st
scribers will be good enough to help Preference shares : see Mails ; M ets,
to a supplementary list as an Appen- Metropolitan Railway Co. shares ;
dix.]— Ales, Messrs. S. Allsopp* and Middies, Midland Railway Ordinary
Sons shares ; Apes, The Atlantic and stock ; M onas, The Isle of Man Rail-
North Eastern Railway first mortgage way shares ; Muttons, Turkish Loans
bonds ; Ayrshire*, Glasgow and South- of 1865 and 1873 ; New Billingsgate,
Western Railway stock; Baby Wee- The House (q. v. ); New Plates, English
Wees, Buenos Ayres Water Works Bank of the River Plate shares : see
shares ; Bays, Hudson Bay Company Old Plates ; Noras, Great Northern
shares; Berthas, London, Brighton, Railway Deferred Ordinary stock;
and South Coast Railway stock; Nuts, Barcelona Tramway shares;
Berwick*, North Eastern Railway Old Plates, London and River Plate
Ordinary stock; Bones, (1) North Bank shares; Pigtails, Chartered
British 4 per cent. 1st Preference Bank of India, Australia, and China
shares : see Bonettas, and (2) Wickens, shares; Pots, Staffordshire Railway
Pease, and Company shares ; Bonetas, stock ; Sarahs, Staffordshire and
North British 4 per cent. 2nd Pre- lancoln Railway Deferred stock;
ference shares ; Bottles, Barrett's Sarah's Boots, Sierra Buttes Gold Min-
Brewery and Bottling Company ing Company shares ; Sardines, Royal
shares; Bruins, London and North Sardinian Railway shares; Sewers,
Western Railway stock (formerly East London Railway shares ; Silvers,
London and Birmingham Railway) ; India Rubber, Gutta Percha, and Tele-
Bulgarian Atrocities, Varna and Rust- graph Company shares ; Sunshades,
chuk Railway 3 per cent. Obh'gatdons ; The Sunhales Extension Buenos Ayres
Galeys, Caledonian Railway Ordinary and Rosario Railway Company shares ;
stock; Cashels, Great Southern and Terrors, Northern Territories Co.
Western of Ireland Railway stock; shares; Vestas, Railway Investment
Gats, Atlantic Cable 2nd Preference Company Deferred stock; Virgins,
stock ; Chats, London, Chatham, and Virginia New Funded Bonds ; Whip-
Dover Railway stock ; Chinas, Eastern sticks, Dunaberg and Witepsk Rail-
Ertension Australian and China Tele- way shares ; Westralians, generic for
graph shares; Claras, Caledonian Western Australian Mining shares.
Railway Deferred and Ordinary stock ; Also see Bear, Bucket-shop, Bull,
Coffins, The Funeral Furnishing Com- Cocky, Fiddle, Fourteen-Hundred ;
pany shares; Cottons, Confederate Futures; Guttersnipe; Hammer;
Bonds ; Creamjugs, Charkoff - Kre- House ; Jam-tart ; Kerbstone-broker ;
menlsching Railway bonds ; Dinahs, Kidney ; Lame-duck ; Let-up ; Load ;
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Long; Omnium; Orchid; Peg;
Ordinary stock ; Dogs, Newfoundland Picker-up ; Put ; Raid ; Rush ; Scalp ;
Land Company shares ; Doras, South Scoop ; Set - up ; Shoot ; Short ;
Eastern Railway Ordinary "A*' Shunter; Stag; State; Sweater;
stock ; Dovers, South Eastern Rail- Swimming ; Tapes ; Tapeworm ; Ten-
way Ordinary stock ; Ducks, Ayles- up ; Tight ; Twist ; Unload ; Waddle ;
bury Dairy Company shares ; Floaters, Water ; Wash-sale ; Wireworm.
Exchequer bills; Gorgonzola Hatt, Stocking. In one's stockings (or
The House (q.v.); Ooschens, The 2| stocking-feet), withoxit shoes (1809).
per cent. Government Stock; Ouin- Long-stocking, means in plenty, re-
ness's, Guinness and Company shares ; sources.
Haddocks, North of Scotland Railway Stock-jobber (Stock-i obbing,
Ordinary stock; Kaffirs, generic for etc.). 'A sharp, cunning- cheating
South African Mining shares : whence Trade of Buying and Selling shares of
Kaffir Circus, the South African Stock in East India, Guinea, and other
Market in a state of excitement ; Companies ; also in the Bank, Ex-
Kisses, HotchHss Ordnance Company chequer, etc.' (B. K) ; persons who
shares; Knackers, Harrison, Barber, gamble on the Stock Exchange, pre-
and Company shares ; Leeds, Lanca- tending to buy and sell public funds
shire and Yorkshire Railway Ordinary but only betting that they mil be at a
stock ; Mails* Mexican Railway shares; certain price at a particular time;
448
Stockport-coach.
possessing neither stock to be sold,
nor money to make good the pay-
ments, known [as] bulls, bears, and
lame ducks (Grose).
Stockport - coach. A horse with
two women riding sidewise.
Stocky. 1. Short and stout,
lumpy, stumpy (q.v.) (1712). 2.
Irritable, headstrong, and contrary,
combined (HaUiweU) : also 3. im-
pudent, brassy (q.v.) (185G).
Stodge. (1) Food; (2) a heavy
meal ; and (3) the crumb of new
bread (Charterhouse). As verb, to
gorge, to stuff (q.v.). Hence stodgy
(or stodge - full], distended, lumpy,
crammed ; stodger, (1) a gormandiser ;
and (2) a penny bun. As verb (Ton-
bridge School), to hurt.
Stogy. Generic for coarseness s
thus stogy shoes (or stogies), , heavy
shoes ; stogy-cigar, a rough coarse
cigar.
Stoke. To eat: spec. (1) to eat
without appetite ; and (2) to wolf
(q.v.).
Stoll (North Country Cant). 1. To
understand (Hotteri). 2. To tipple, to
booze (q.v.). Stalled, drunk: see
Screwed,
Stomach. Generic for disposition :
e.g. (a) spirit, compassion. ; (&)
courage, temper; and (e) pride.
Hence a proud stomach, a haughty
disposition ; stomach - grief, anger.
As verb, (1) to endure, to encourage,
(2) to resent, to disgust ; to stick in
ihe stomach, to remember with anger
or disgust; stomachfitl., (1) stubborn,
and (2) angry; stomachy, proud,
irritable (1383).
Stomach-timber, Food : cf. BeUy-
timbor (1820).
Stomach-worm. Hunger: the
stomach-worm knaws, I am hungry
(Grose).
Stone. In combination, quite,
wholly : e,g. stone-blind, stone-cold,
stone-dead, stone-still, etc. : cf. Stock
(#. JS.) (1330). Colloquialisms: To
kill two "birds with one stone, to do (or
achieve) a double purpose : cf . To stop
two gaps with one bush ; to haw no
stone unturned, to spare no endeavour ;
to mark with a white stone, to single
out as lucky or esteemed ; to live in a
glass house and yet throw atones, to lay
oneself open to blame or attack.
Stone-bee. See Bee,
Stone -broke (Stoney, or Stony-
broke). Penniless, hard-up (q.v.)
pebble-beached (q.v,).
Stone-doublet (jug, pitcher,
or tavern). A prison : spec. New-
gate (B. E.) : also jug (q.v.) (1653).
Stone - fence. Brandy and k'e,
breaky-leg (q.v.).
S t o n e - w a 1 1. (1) Parliamentary
obstruction : also as verb, (2) to ob-
struct, hence to obstruct business at
anymeetmg, chiefly by long-winded
speeches ; and (3) to play a slow game
at cricket, blocking balls rather than
runs. Able to see as far
a stone watt as any one, as
of understanding— a retort
on depreciation or doubt of one's
abilities.
Stoobs. Boots.
Stook. A pocket-handkerchief:
stook-havler, a handkerchief thief.
Stool. A decoy: see Stale and
StaU; also (common) stool-pigeon, a
cardsharper's accomplice: cf. Pigeon
and Book. To fatt bettueen two stools,
to hesitate between alternatives and
lose (or be disappointed in) both
(1546). To lay the stool's foot in
water, to make much preparation to
receive a guest.
Stoop. The pulory. The cull
was served for macing and napped
the stoop (or was set on the stoop),
The swindler was convicted and
pilloried; stooping -match, a pillory
exhibition ; stoop-napper, one under
punishment: To give the stoop, to
yield, to knock under (q.v.) (1692).
Stop. To ward off, to parry.
Colloquialisms: To stop one'smowth, to
silence : spec, with a sop or bribe ;
to stop <yu£, to cover teeth with black
wax to make them invisible; to stop
off (or over), to make a break in a
journey: also as subs., e.g. a stop
off, in Philadelphia (American) ; stop
my vitals, A silly curse in use among
the beaux (£. E.) ; stop thief, beef : see
Beefit(1628).
Stop -dice. A kind of false dice
(Palsgrave) 1540.
Stop-hole Abbey. The Nick-
name of the chief rendezvbus of the
canting crew of gypsies, beggars,
cheats, thieves, etc. (B. E.).
Stopper A finisher (q.v.); a
settler (q.v.) (1836).
Stopping Oyster. See Oyster.
Storrac. Carrots.
Storekeeper. An unsaleable
Story.
Strapper.
(English), straight (a trustworthy) tip, griffin,
etc. (q.v.) ; a straight (an unsmiling)
face ; straight (or straight-out), outright*
thorough ; straight up and down (in
the straight, or on the straight), plain,
honest, free from crookedness of all
kinds ; out of the straight, dishonest,
crooked. In the straight, nearing the
end, within sight of a finish ; orig. a
racing term. Straight as a pound of
candles (or as a loon's leg), as honest
as may be ; also as straight as the
__ backbone of a herring, as a die, arrow,
Stout."1 1. Very strong malt-drink etc. (1670). Straight.' Fact E Honest
(B. E.). 2. In pi., Guinness's shares. Injun !
Stout across the narrow, full bellied, Straight-laced. Precise, squeam-
ish, puritanical, nice (B. E.).
article : a shop - keeper
which see.
Story. A falsehood: euphem-
istic ; whence story-teller, a liar (1840).
Blind story, a pointless narrative
(1699). See Upper Story.
Stoter (or Stotor). A violent
blow: e.g. Tip him a stoter in the
haltering place, Give it him under
the left ear (B. E.). Hence a settler
Stoupe* To give up \HattiweU : A
cant term].
corpulent.
Stove-pipe (or Stove - pipe - hat).
A tall hat ; a chimney pot (q.v.) : Fr.,
tuyau de poele.
Stow. To hold one's tongue, to
keep quiet, to leave off : e.g. Stow it 1
Be quiet ; Stow your wJiids and plant
'em ; for the Cove of the ken can cant
'em, Take care what you say, for the
master of the house understands you
(1567).
Stozzle. To drink. Hence
stozzled, drunk; see Screwed.
Strada Reale Highlanders. The 1st
Batt. Gordon Highlanders, late The
75th Foot. [In 18 12 the regiment was
detailed for Mediterranean service,
and for some time formed the Main
guard of the Governor's residence in
the Strada Eeale, Valetta.]
Straddle. A contract in which
the holder can call for (or the signatory
can deliver) stock at a fixed price : a
speculation covering both a put and
a call (q.v.) : cf. Spread-eagle. As
verb, to adopt a non - committal
attitude, to favour both sides, to sit
on the fence (q.v.) : also as subs.
Straights (The). A nest of obscure
courts, alleys, and avenues, running
between the bottom of St Martin's
Lane, Half Moon, and Chandos
Street (1614). Straight, generic for
honesty, has, like round (q.v.), and
square (q.v.), a large colloquial
vogue. Thus a straight (an exact)
thinker; a straight (a chaste) piece
(q.v.); a straight (an out-and-out)
Tory i hence straight-out, thorough-
going ; straight (neat : also duty-paid)
whisky; straight (candid) speech;
straight (honest) people, living, etc.;
straight (honestly acquired) goods :
also of persons, square (q.v.)j a
Strain. To strain hard, 'To ly
heavily' (B. E.). To strain one's
taturs, to urinate.
Strain. A walk: spec, a society
parade. As verb, to walk stiffly : also
(HalliweU), to dash down violently, to
beat
Stramash. A disturbance, a rough
and tumble (q.v.). As verb, to beat,
bang, destroy (1837).
Strammel. See Strummel.
Strammer. Anything exceptional,
Stramming, huge, great.
Stranded. Penniless, friendless.
Stranger. 1. A sovereign : formerly
a guinea : see Rhino. 2. A visitor :
cf. the folk-saying of a badly burning
candle, or a stalk in tea : A stranger's
coming.
Strangle-goose. A poulterer (1785).
Strap. 1. A barber. Strap, a
barber in Smollett's Roderick Random*
1748.] 2. Credit: orig. credit for
drink. On strap* on tick (q.v.); strapped,
penniless, bankrupt (1857). As verb,
to flog, to beat. Hence strapping
(or a dote of strap-oil or oil of strap' em)
a thrashing ; an April fool joke is to
send a lad for a penn'orth of strap oil :
cf. Stirrup-oil. 3. To hang (1825).
4. To work (Grose). See Blackstrap.
Strappado. A form of torture:
the culprit, his legs tied, was hoisted
by a rope fastened to his arms behind
his back, and was given a rapid descent
stopped so suddenly that the jerk often
dislocated the joints of arms and
shoulders ; this was repeated once or
twice: cf. Scavenger's daughter.
Strapper. A swingeing two-
handed woman (B. E.) ; anything big
or bulky. Strapping, tall, robustw
weU-made (1678).
450
Stravag.
Stretcher.
Stravag (or Stravaig). To tramp,
to loaf, to abscond. Hence stravaiger,
a vagabond.
Straw. 1. Generic for worthless-
ness. Thus, not worth a straw, of no
appreciable valne ; to care not a straw,
to care not at all ; a man (or face) of
straw, a man of no standing or sub-
stance, a sham, a fumbler ; straw-bail,
professional security ; straw - shoes
(man or witness), a perjured witness ;
straw-bid, a fictitious offer ; straw-
bidder, a buyer who cannot fulfil his
contract ; straw-vote, a snatch vote ;
strawyarder (nautical), a land-lubber
playing the sailor : spec, a blackleg
doing shipboard duty during a strike.
2. A long clay pipe, a churchwarden.
3. A straw hat ; also strawy ard, and
(schools) strawcr. Phrases: In the
straw, in childbed (Grose) ; to break a
straw, to quarrel ; to lay a straw, to
pause; to draw (or pick) straws, to
show signs of sleep ; a pad in the straw,
anything amiss ; to throw straws against
the wind (Coles), to essay the impos-
sible. Also (proverbial) : A straw
shows which way the wind blows ; He
gives straw to his dog, and bones to
his ass (of one given to absurdities) ;
To make a block of a straw ; To
stumble at a straw and leap over a
block, etc., otc.
Strawberry. A nevus, a birth-
mark. To cut down an oak, and set up
a strawberry, to waste ; cf. Hal., cavar
un chiodo e piantar una cai'icchia (to
dig up a nail and plant a pin).
Strawberry-leaves, A dukedom :
a ducal coronet is ornamented with
eight strawberry-leaves.
Strawberry - preacher. A non-
resident, one who visited his cure
only once a year.
Strawboot1?. 1. The 7th Dragoon
Guards; also Old fUrawboots, and
The Straws* 2. The 7th Hussars.
[Tradition says from those regiments
having been employed in quelling
agricultural riots. 1
Straw - chipper. A barber : ot
Strmmnel - faker and Nob - thatoher
(1823).
Strawing. To soil straws in the
street, and give away with them some-
thing that is really or fictionally for-
bidden to be sold, as indecent papers,
political songs., and the like.
Straw-ride. A driving excursion in
a fttrfwed-down van or sleigh.
St-rawyard. A night shelter,
or asylum, or refuge for the destitute.
See Straw.
Streak. 1. A mental peculiarity :
cf. Twist, Kink, etc. : also a fit of
temper: whence streaky, (1) irritable,
short-tempered, (2) mean ; (3) flabber-
gasted (q[.v.) ; and (4) variable : also
streaked ( 1647). 2. A run ; a sequence
of prosperities or adversities. As
verb, to decamp swiftly, to go with
a rush : also to make streaks, to streak
off like greased lightning, or to go like
a streak (1604).
Streamers. The Aurora Borealis;
Northern Lights (1805).
Street. 1. The people living in a
street (1594). 2. A capacity, a
method, a line (q.v.) : e.g. That's not
in my street, I am not concerned, or
That's not my way of doing, etc. . in
the same street, (1) on (or under) the
same conditions ; and (2) equal with
(1362). The 8treett a centre of trade
or exchange; spec. (American) Wall
Street; cf. House, Lane, etc. (1612).
See Grub Street, Key, Queer Street,
Spin.
Street-ganger. A beggar.
Street-hound. A rough, bully, or
loafer.
Street-pitcher. Any one who
stands, or takes a pitch (q.v.), in the
streets- — vendor, mendicant, etc.
Street-walker. 1. A prostitute,
working on the pavement; hence
street-walking. 2. A jailer.
Strength. On the strength, on the
muster roll.
Streperous. See Obstreperous.
Stretch. 1. A yard (1785). 2. A
yearj three stretch, three years' im-
prisonment (1877). 3. A walk; to
stretch a leg (or one's legs), to walk
(1653). As verb, (1) to hang, to swing
(q.v.) : see Ladder : stretching (stretch-
ing-match, or stretching-bee), a hang-
ing (1623) ; (2) to exaggerate, to lie :
He stretched hard, He told a whistling
lie (1696) ; hence stretcher, an ex-
aggeration, a falsehood. On (or at)
a stretch, continuously, at one and the
same time (1832). To stretch one's
legs according to the coverlet, to adapt
oneself to circumstances, to cut one's
coat according to the cloth (1670).
To stretch (or strain) a point, to
exceed a limit : see Point.
Stretcher. 1. In pi., braces ; hence
stretcher-fencer, a vendor of brace*.
451
Stretch-hatter.
3. A University Extension student.
3. See Stretch. 4. The piece of
wood that lies across the boat where-
on. the waterman rests his feet
(B. E.).
Stretch - halter (or Hemp). A
scoundrel ; one who badly needs a
hanging: of. Crack-rope, Wag-halter,
Scape-gallows, etc. (1604).
Stretchy. Sleepy, languid, in-
clined to stretch and yawn (1872).
'Strewth. God's truth 1
Stride. In pi., trousers: see
Kicks. To take, in one's stride, to do
easily, and without an effort, as a
hunter or a steeple-fencer takes a
fence.
Stride-wide. Ale. \Battiwdl :
mentioned in Harrison's England,
202.]
Strike. 1. A sovereign, 20s. : see
Rhino. 2. Any unscrupulous attempt
to extort money or to obtain other
personal advantage by initiating an
attack with the intention of being
bought off, as by introducing a bill into
a legislature hostile to some moneyed
interest, with the hope of being paid
to let the matter drop (Century)'.
whence striker, a blackmailer. As
verb, generic for getting money: to
steal (1567), to beg, to borrow (e.g.
to strike (or spring (q.v.) a man for a
quid), to get into debt (cf. to strike
a light, to run up an alehouse score),
to rob ; hence striking, a robbery,
swindle, or imposition; and striker,
a robber with violence. Strike me
blind i an oath. Strike me luck (or
lucky), originally used in clenching
a bargain : the hands were struck
together, and the buyer left a luck-
penny in the hands of the seller ;
hence an oath or ejaculation (1616).
To fed like going to heaven in a string,
to feel blindly and confusedly happy.
Stringer. 1. A libertine (1611).
2. A difficult- ball to play (cricket).
Stringy-bark. A combination of
fusel oil and turpentine, labelled
whisky. As adj., rough, uncultered ;
hence mean, ne'er-do-weel : equiva-
lent to bush (q.v.), and usually in
contempt (1833).
Strip. ' To Rob or Gut a House, to
unrig any Body, or to Bite them of
then* Money. Strip the ken, c. to
Gut the House. Strip the table, c. to
Winn all the Money on the Place.
Ibid, Poor, naked : e.g. We have stript
the Cull, We have got all the Fool's
Money ; The Cove's stript, the Rogue
has not a Jack left to help himself
(B. JS.).
Stripe. A characteristic, kind,
kidney (q.v.) ; spec. (American),
persons of the same political colour
(1613). The Stripes, short for Stars
and Stripes (q.v.).
Strip-me-naked. Gin. Also stark-
naked (q.v.) (1820).
Stripped. Unadulterated, neat
(q.v.).
Stripper. la pL, high cards cut
wedge-shape, a little wider than the
rest, so as to be easily drawn in a
crooked game : cf. Concaves and con-
vexes, Longs and shorts, etc.
Strive (Christ's Hospital). To
write with care : cf. Scrub.
Stroker. A flatterer, a sycophant
(1632).
Stroller. ' Strowlers, o. Vagabonds,
Itinerants, Men of no settled Abode,
of a Precarious Life, Wanderers of
Fortune, such as, Gypsies, Beggers,
Pedlers, Hawkers, Mountebanks,
Fidlers, Country - Players, Rope-
dancers, Juglers, Tumblers,
To make a strike, to achieve, succeed, dancers, Juglers, Tumblers, showers
or be lucky : at ninepins : to knock all of Tricks, and Raree-show-men * (B. B.)
the nins down wifh nn« T™:n ft«» Strolling-mort. * Strowling-morts
down with one ball. See _ _^
it, Heap, Jigger, jOil, Rich, Rose. c. pretending to be Widows," some-
times Travel the Countries, Tn».Tri^g
Laces upon Ewes, Beggars-tape, etc.
Are, light Finger'd, Subtil, Hypocriti-
cal, Cruel, and often dangerous to meet,
especially when a Ruffler is with them
(B. K) (1567).
Strommel. 1. Straw (1567) : also,
A ,_.-,— Strammel. 2. Hair (1785): hence to
one nearest the bottom cushion has have one's strummel faked in twig, to
then the choice. In a string, at have it dressed in style; strwnmd-
command (1706). To harp upon one faker, a barber : cf. Strawcbipper.
string, to repeat incessantly (1546). Strong. See Come-and Go,
462
, ,
Strill. A cheating lie (Hotten).
String. A hoax, a discredited story :
hence as verb, (1) to hoax, to deceive ;
also on a string (or line), hoaxed,
bamboozled, stuffed (q.v.); (2) to
cast for play : each player to the top
of the table to return to baulk ; the
Strong Man.
Stun.
Strong Man. To play the part of ballot-box of bogus voting papers;
the strong man, to be whipped at the hence stuffer, a cheating teller,
cart's tail ; i.e. to push the cart and Stuffer. See Heeler, and Stuff,
horses too (Grose).
Strue. Construe.
Strum. 1. A wig (1696). 2. See
Strumpet. As verb, To play badly
on the harpsichord or any other
stringed instrument. A strummer of
WLUlld,* UOO JLMTOIGI., BlliU QlflUl.
Stuffing. See Knock and Stuff.
Stuffy. 1. Angry, sulky, obstinate.
2. Close, airless, malodorous.
Stuling-ken. See Stall.
Stumble. See Truckle-bed.
Stumer. Generic for sham: spec.
wire, a player on any instrument a worthless cheque,
strung with wire (Grose). Stump. 1. In pi., legs ; as verb, to
Strumpet (or Strum). A harlot walk : spec, stiffly, heavily, or noisily j
(B. E.). As adj., wanton ; as verb, whence to stir one's stumps, to bestir
'" ' - ' ky the whore ; and (2) to hold oneself, to increase one's speed (1609).
(Utopia;
up to contempt as a strumpet (1593).
Strunt. Liquor (1787).
Strut-noddy. A mincing fool.
Stub. 1. A fool (1632). 2. A
2. Money : generic : also stumpy : see
Khmo ; hence as verb (or to stump up),
to pay ; stumped (or put to one's stumps
poor, hard - up, put to shift ; to pay
counterfoil of a cheque ; hence stub- on the stump, to disburse readily and
book, a book of counterfoils of cheques
or other duplicate records (1886). As
verb (Felsted), to kick a football about.
•omptly (1785). 3. A blockhead,
' As verb, (1) to boast, to
wjjer (q.v.) ; hence stumper, a
Stubble. To stubble one's whids braggart (1748); (2) to challenge,
(or to stubble it), to hold one's tongue defy, puzzle, or confound ; and (in
(1567). ' * ' * '
Stubbs. Nothing (1785).
an absolute sense) to ruin; as subs.,
an attempt to puzzle or confound ;
Stub-faced. Pitted with small-pox stumper, a puzzler ; up a stump, con-
(Qrose).
Stuck,
also Pig.
See Stick in various senses :
founded, up a tree (q.v.) (1837); (3)
to travel the country for the purpose
of making partisan or personal
Stuck-up. Conceited, purse-proud, speeches from stumps or other im-
assuming airs (dignity, or importance), prevised platforms : originally back-
Also (rare) as subs. (1830).
woods electioneering, and spec, on
Study. A closet of books (B. E.). one's own account : now general ;
See Brown Study.
frequently, but not necessarily, in a
Stuff. 1. Belongings: furniture, derogatory sense; also to go on the
goods, utensils : generic : the literary stump (or to take the stump) j hence
usage lingers in household-stuff, and stumper (stump orator or stump-
in suoh a tributary sense as food- speaker), (a) an electioneer; and (b)
stuffs, bread-stuffs (raw material) a bombastic spouter (q.v.), with such.
(1360). 2. Money : generic : see derivatives as stump-orator, stump-
Rhino (1774). 3. In contempt for speech, etc. ( Worcester : A cant phrase),
anything to be swallowed : spec. Stump and rump, completely : cf.
medicine (1605). 4. Twaddle, fustian, Stock and Block, Boot and Branch,
trash — si>oken, or written ; spec, in Stick and Stone, etc.
such phrases as Stuff / B-ubbish J Stumper (Tonbridge School). 1.
Stuff and nonsense I What rot (q.v.) I Small cricket : played with a stump :
(1696) ; as verb, to gammon (q.v.) : to at Harrow, slumps. 2, A wicket-
nil full of lies, prejudice, statistics, keeper. 3. Anything that bowls out ;
victuals, etc. ; whence staffing (jour- a corker (q.v.). See Stump,
nalists), superfluous matter, used to fill Stump - of - the - gutter. A term
a given space, padding (q.v.) (1579). of contempt; stumpy, short, squat,
5. Tobacco. 6. (a) A simpleton, a dumpy (1764).
weaMng • and (6) a respectable citizen Stump-tail Currency. Cur-
(thiever). 7. A Junior Counsel: as rency issued by certain banks of
distinguished from silk (q.v,) : also doubtful credit prior to the Civil War
sfafi-govm. As verb, to gorge, to (Barflett).
wolf (q.v») (1809). To
Stun. To cheat, to do (q.v.). To
box, to* temper with returns by the rtun out of the regular*, to swindle a
surreptitious introduction into the man of bis sliare of booty.
453
Stunlaw.
Suicide.
(q.v.): hence sucker, a pony (q.v.).
To teach one's grandma (or grannie),
to suck eggs, to instruct an expert, to
talk old to one's elders: see Grand-
mother, and add the following anal-
ogous phrases : To teach one's grannie
A blockhead to grope her ducks, to sup sour milk,
'
Stunlaw. Walnuts.
Stunner. Generic for astonish-
ment. Stunning, amazing, strikingly
large, good, etc. ; to put th& stunners
on, to perplex, confound, astonish
(1848).
Stupid (or Stupe).
Sturdy-beggar. The fifth and last father to get children'; also II ne faut
of the most ancient order of canters pas apprendre aux poissons a nager,
(B. E.) ; beggars that rather demand
than ask (Grose).
Sturiben (or Sturibin). A
prison ; spec. (American) a State
prison ; also Star : see Cage.
to sard, or to spin ; to teach one's
Styx (The Leys School). A urinal,
You must not teach fish to swim.
See Monkey.
Sucker. 1. A parasite, a sponger
(q. v. ) ; spec. (American political), a
blackmailer ; also to sponge upon :
whence to suck dry, to exhaust : cf.
yx e eys coo. urna, wence o su ry, : .
Sub. (1) A subaltern; (2) a sub- proverbial saying, Children suck the
ordinate; (3) a subscription; (4) a
subject; and (5) money: see Sugar,
Paint. As verb (workmen's), to draw
money in advance (1838).
Sub -beau (or Demi -beau). A
would-be-fine (B. E.).
Sublime Rascal. A lawyer: see
Greenbag.
Sub Rosa, Secretly, confidentially.
Substance. See Shadow.
Suburb. Generic for disorder
and loose-living. Thus house in the
suburbs, a, brothel ; suburb - wench
(drab, sinner, etc.), a prostitute ; sub-
urb ( wanton) tricks ; suburb (black-
guard) humour ; suburb-justice, money
is right (1583).
Succuba. A mistress (1610).
Succubus. A thieving hanger-on,
a scoundrel (1700).
Suck. 1. Wine or strong drink
(£. ]$.). 2. A small draught: hence
rum - suck, excellent tipple ; sucky,
drunMsh ; suck - spigot (pint, pot,
bot&e, or can), a confirmed tippler :
also sucker ; suckerdom, the world of
topers ; sucJc-casa, a public house ; as
verb, to tipple, to soak (q.v.). Also
to suck one's face, to delight in drink-
ing (JB. E.); suction, booze* (q.v.):
hence to live on suction, to drink hard ;
power of suction, capacity for boozing
(1585). 3. A breast pocket (1625)
4. A toady : cf . Sucker : whence to suck
up to, to insinuate into one's good
graces. 5. A cheat, a trick: also
suck-in ; to suck in, to take in (q.v.) ;
and sucker (q.v. ), a greenhorn, a dupe :
see Sucking (1758). As verb, (1) to
extract ideas or money, to pump
(q.v.): e.g. to suck one's brains, to
find out all one knows (1785); (2)
(American University), to use a crib
454
mother when young, and the father
when old. 2. A sucking pig; also
any youngling: e.g. a rabbit - sucker,
a young rabbit, etc. (1591). 3. A
native of Illinois, the Sticker State ; see
State (1848). See Suck and Sucking.
Suck-fyst. A parasite (1611).
Sucking. Young, inexperienced,
callow ; cf. sucker, a greenhorn, and
sucking-dove, a dupe or simpleton;
sucking-Nelson, a midshipmite ; poet-
sucker, a budding poet (1680).
Suction (Winchester). Sweet-
meats : cf. (prov.) Sucker and Sucket.
Suction. See Suck.
Sudden Death. 1 . A decision based
on skying a coin once only : see New-
market. 2. A crumpet or Sally Lunn.
3. See Spatchcock.
Suds. In the suds, troubled, per-
plexed, angry (1617).
Suetty - Isaac. Suet pudding : also
Soapy-Isaac,
Suffer. In mock pity, Do you
suffer much ?
Sufferer. 1. A tailor. 2. A loser.
Sugar. 1. Money: generic: see
Rhino : also (rhyming) sugar-and-
honey. 2. Flattery, gammon (q.v.) :
also as verb, (1) to flatter, humbug
(1596) ; (2) to malinger at the oars, tf ,
shirk while pretending to row hard.
To sugar off, to amount to : in speak-
ing of large sums of money.
Sugar-candy. Brandy.
Sugar-basin. See Sugar-stick.
Sugared. Astonished; perplexed,
gammoned (q.v.).
Sugar-loaf. A high-crowned hat :
conical like a sugar-loaf.
Sugar-stick Brigade. Tha
Ordnance Store Corps.
Suicide. Four horses driven in a,
Suit.
Supe.
line, harum - scarum. See Tandem,
Random, Unicorn (Grose).
Suit. 1. In general synonymous
with game ; as, what suit did you give
it to "em upon ? in what manner did
you rob them, or upon what pretence,
etc., did you defraud them ? One
species of imposition is said to be a
prime suit, another a queer suit : a
man describing the pretext he used to
obtain money from another, would
say, I draw'd him of a quid upon the
suit of so and so, naming the ground
of his application. A person having
engaged with another on very ad-
vantageous terms to serve or work
for him, will declare that he is upon
a good suit ; to use great submission
and respect in asking any favour of
another, is called giving it to him
upon the humble suit (Grose). 2.
A watch and seals (1785). 3. Generic
for completeness: e.g. a suit (full
head) of hair ; a suit (a complete set)
of teeth ; a suit of mourning, two black
eyes (Grose).
Suit - and - cloak. Good store of
brandy or any agreeable liquor, let
down Gutter-lane (B. £!.).
Suit to a Hair. See Hair.
Sukey. 1. A kettle (Bee). 2. A
common name for a general servant
or slavey (q.v.): of. Jeames, foot-
man. Sukey - tawdry, a slatternly
female in fine tawdry (Chose).
Sulky. A one-horse chaise or
carriage, capable of holding but one
person : called by the French a
dAobligeante (Grose).
Sullen. In pi., the sulks. Sick
of the sullens (or autten - sick), very
gloomy (1580).
Sultry. Lively, exciting, perhaps
unpleasant : cf . Hot, Warm, etc.
Summer-complaint. Diarrhoea.
Summer-bird. A cuckold,
cuckoo, q.v. Also summer - cabbage,
a woman (1560).
Summer-game. A game for
amusement only, or with another's
money.
Summer 's-day. As nice (proper,
goodly, etc.) as one can see in a sum-
mer9 s-day, as nice (proper, etc.) as
may be : cf. Daj's-march (1592).
Sum ph. A simpleton. Hence
fwwpith, stupid (1821).
Sumpsimus. See Mumpsimus.
Sumpsy. An action of ossumpsit.
Sun* Been in the sun (or sunshine,
or got the sun in one's eyes), drunk :
see Screwed (1670). To moke hoy
while the sun shines, to seize an oppor-
tunity (1509). To get the sun over
the foreyard, to drink before noon.
See Knight, Shoot.
Sunburnt. 1. Superficial, hack-
neyed, unbeautiful (1570). 2. Having
many (male) children (B. E>).
Sunday. See Show - Sunday,
Month of Sundays, and Queen Dick.
Sunday - best (or clothes). Clothes
kept for use on Sundays and
holidays; best clothes (1838).
Sunday Face. The posteriors.
Sunday-man. 1. One who goes
abroad on that day only, for fear of
arrests (Grose). 2. A prostitute's
bully ; also Sunday girl, a mistress.
Sunday - saint. One who roisters
through the week and pulls a long face
on Sunday.
Sunday' s - fellow. ' One asked
Tarlton why Munday was called
Sundaies fellow? Because *he is a
sausie fellow, saies Tarlton, to com-
pare with that holy day. But it
may be Munday thinkes himselfe
Sundayes fellow because it followes
Sunday, and is next after ; but he
comes a day after the faire for that
(Tarlton, 1611).
Sunderland-fitter. The Knave of
Clubs (HalliweU).
Sun-dodger. A heliographer.
Sun-dog. A mock sun.
Sundowner. One of a class of men
who came to be known by the name
of sundowners, from their habit of
straggling up to an upcountry station
at fall of evening with the stereotyped
appeal for work ; and work being at
that hour impossible, they were sent
to the travellers' hut for shelter and
to the store - keeper or cook for the
pannikin of flour, the bit of mutton,
the sufficiency of tea for a brew,
which made up a ration.
Sunny - bank. A good rousing
winter fire (B. E.).
Sunny South. The mouth.
Sunshades. The Sunehales Ex-
tension of the Buenos Ayres and
Roaario Railway Company shares.
Sunshine. See Sun.
Supe (or Super). 1. A super-
numerary : whence super*master, the
director of the supernumeraries : also
as verb. 2. The superintendent of a
station (Australian). 3. A watch:
455
Swaddle.
Surf. A half-and-half professional
, . . (q.v.) player or musician : combining
toady : spec., one who lick-spittles some daily occupation with nightly
supe and slang, watch and chain ; super-
screwing, stealing watches. 4. A
(q.v.) the professors.
Superannuate (Winchester). A
boy who was obliged to leave at
Election, owing to his being past
eighteen years of age. Founders
were not superannuate till they were
twenty-five.
Superfine Review. The Satur-
day Review. [A coinage of Thack-
eray's (1860-63) in The Roundabout
Papers.}
Supernaculum. ' Drinking super Coat (B. E.).
duty on or in connection with the
boards.
Surly. As surly as a butcher's dog,
very surly (1670).
Surly-boots (or Stirling). A
grumpy morose fellow : of. Lazy-boots
(1623).
Surprisers (The). The 46th Foot,
now the 2nd Batt. of the Duke of
Cornwall's Light Infantry.
Surtout. A loose, great, or riding
nagulum, a devise of drinking new
come out of Fraunce : which is, after
a man hath turned up the bottom of
the cup, to drop it on his naile, and
make a pearle with that is left ; which
if it slide, and he cannot make it
stand on, by reason ther's too much,
he must dnnke againe for his pen-
ance ' (Nashe) : [Garden Latin : super
naculum, on the nail.] Whence (2)
right liquor ; and (3) good liquor, of
which there is not even a drop left
sufficient to wet one's nail (Grose).
Superstitious - pie. * Minc'd, or
Christmas-Pies, so Nick-nam'd by the
Puritans, or Precisians, tho' they can
Eat 'em, but affecting to be singular,
make them a Month or six Weeks
before Christmas, or the Feast of
Christ' (B. 28.).
Supouch. An hostess or landlady
(B. K).
Supper. To set one his supper, to
perform a feat impossible for another
to imitate.
Supple Twelfth. The 12th Lancers.
Surveyor of the Highway. A
man reeling drunk : see Inspector.
Surveyor of the Pavement A
man in the pillory.
Suspense. In deadly suspense,
hanged (Grose).
Sus. per Coll. Hanged by the
neck — Lat. suspensus per collum.
[Grose : persons who have been hanged
are thus entered in the jailer's
books.] ^
Suspicion. A very small quantity :
of. Fr., soupgon (1863). As verb, to
suspect.
Sut. Satisfactory, fortunate.
Swab. 1. See Swabber. 2. A
naval officer's epaulet : jocose or in
contempt : cf. Swabber.
Swabber. 1. The sorriest sea-
men put to wash and clean the ship
(B. $.): in this sense good Shake-
spearean English. 2. A term of
contempt : also Swab (1602). 3. The
ace of hearts, knave of clubs, ace and
deuce of trumps at whist (B. J8.) : the
holder was entitled to a portion of the
Surat. An adulterated article of stakes: these four cards were only
inferior quality. Since the American incident to betting at whist (1700).
Civil War, it has not been unusual Swack (Christ's Hospital) De-
ception. Hence to swaclc u<p to
r, n een unus
for manufacturers to mix American
cotton with surat, and, the latter
deceive; to take in
, ,
being an inferior article, the people swack-up, a falsehood.
in Lancashire have begun to apply
the term surat to any article of in-
ferior or adulterated quality (Hotten).
Sure. To make (or be) sure to, to
betroth, to be engaged to marry
(1535). Sure as the creed (as eggs,
fate, death, a pun, etc.), as sure as may
be, of a certainty (1393).
Sure Card (or Thing). A certainty,
anything entirely trustworthy (B. E.)
Suresby. A dependable person:
cf. Budesby, Wigsby, etc. (1686).
466
u<p
(q.v.). Also
Swad. 1. A reproach: generic:
spec, (ft) a rustic or clodhopper ; and
(6) a disbanded soldier (Grose), now-
a-days a militiaman: also swadder,
swadkin, swadgul, and swaddy (1534).
2. A lump, bunch, crowd, mass : almo
swod.
Swadder. 1. A peddlar (1567).
2. See Swad.
Swaddle. To cudgel, to rope'a
end, to swathe round with lash or
stick. Hence sioadler, the tenth,
order of the canting tribe (JB. JS.) who
Bwaddler.
Swash.
not only rob, but beat and often
murder passengers (Grose) (1670).
Swaddler. (1) A Methodist (Grose).
Hence spec. (2) those who in winter
play the Protestant, for the sake of
the blankets, coals, etc., given by
proselytisers. Also (3), in America,
a street preacher, spec. (American
thieves') a preaching confederate.
See Swad and Swaddle.
Swag. 1. A shop : spec, a mart for
stolen goods. Whence a rum-swag,
a shop full of rich goods (J3. E.) ; and
swag -barrow., a coster's cart. 2.
Generic for property; spec, booty;
swag-chovey bloke, a marine store
dealer ; swagsman, (a) a receiver of
stolen goods, and (b) a miscellaneous
dealer in City penn'orths and other
cheap stuff, wholesale or retail 3.
(Australian). A tramp's bundle in a
bluey (q.v.); hence personal lu]__
traps (q.v.) : as verb, to tramp
bush carrying a swag ; swagman
(swagger, or swaggie), a man travelling
in search of work : cf. Sundowner
(1853).
Swag-belly. A very fat man or
woman, a awing - paunch. Hence
Bwaggy (or swag-bellied), fat, forty-
gutted (q.v.) (1550).
Swagger. 1. Bluster, bravado,
roaring insolence, side (q.v.) ; as
verb, to strut defiantly, to boast, to
bluster, to affect or obtrude superi-
ority: also derivatives such as
swaggerer and swaggering (1598). 2.
(Harrow). The rules of swagger are
most complex ; and a new boy is apt
to find hiniBolf entangled : ho goes out
with his umbrella rolled up ... or
carries it by the middle, or under his
arm, or he walks on the middle,
terrace after chapel, or he innocently
wears his blues open when it is hot, or
turns his trousers up when it is wet,
and ... he is swaggering ; lady visitors
sometimes think small boys at
Harrow rude ... to stick close to the
wall . . . and shoulder the world into
the gutter — it is modesty ; to walk in
the road is swagger ; to loiter at the
house door, or to sing or whistle in the
passages, and to wear a hat in the
house are also forms of swagger
(Warner). As adj., tip-top (q,v*),
swell (q.v.), eactremely new.
Swainlng. Love-making, spooning
(q.v.) (1839).
Swallow. (1) The throat: also
swaUow-pipe ; (2) the act of swallow-
ing j and (3) a mouthful: hence (4)
taste, relish, inclination, or capacity.
As verb, to receive, endure, or em-
brace credulously, patiently, without
examination, scruple or reserve ;
occasionally to swallow whole. Hence
swattowatte, credible (1596). Phrases :
One swaUow does not make a spring
(1546) ; to swattow a spider, to become
a bankrupt (1670); You say true;
will you swallow my knife ? (a sarcastic
retort on an impossible story); to
swallow a tavern token, to get drunk
(1596) ; to swallow the cackle, to learn
a part (theatrical) ; He has swallowed
a stake, and cannot stoop (of a very
Swallow-tail. 1. An arrow, having
two points or barbs, looking backward
to the stele and the feathers, which
surely we call in English a broad arrow
hea»l, or a swallow-tail* (Ascham).
2. The points of a burgee. 3. A dress
coat, a steel-pen coat (q.v.). 4. A
tongue always wagging (1690).
Swan. I swan, I swear ! Also
(more emphatically), I swan to man I
(1842).
Swank. To work hard : cf. Swink.
8wanker, a hard- working student.
Swankey. Any weak tipple : spec,
small beer : also (fishermen's) a
mixture of water, molasses, and
vinegar.
Swannery. To keep a swannery, to
boast of one's own doings (possessions,
etc.), to make out that all one's geese
are swans (Grose).
Swan-slinger. A player fond of or
famous for spouting Bill (q.v.) ; a
Shakespearean actor: the same as
slinging the Swan of Avon.
Swap (or Swop). An act of barter,
an exchange : as verb, to exchange, to
strike a bargain (1360). To get the
swap (or swop), to bo dismissed. To
swap off, to cheat, to sell (q*v.).
Swapper. Anything large or big.
Hence swapping, huge, strong; Al
(1589).
Swarm. To climb, to skin up.
Swarry. A boiled leg of mutton
and trimmings (1837).
Swartwout. To abscond. [From
the name of a public defaulter in New
York.]
Swash. To make a noise: a
ruffian is the same with a swaggerer, so
called, because endeavouring to make
457
Swash-bucket.
that side to swag or weigh down word sweat (Hotten). 2. To suffer, to
whereon he ingageth ; the same also
with swash-buckler, from swashing or
making a noise on bucklers (Putter).
Hence swash-buckler (swash, swasher,
or swinge-buckler), a sworder good at
'
,
pay the penalty : also to beat, to pay
out (1610). 3. A street bully ; it was
their practice to cut off a small portion
of the scabbards of the swords which
every one then wore, and prick, or
a lively peal on his opposite' s target ; pink, the persons with whom they
and, therefore, by implication,
ruffier, bully, Hector. As subs.,
quarrelled with the naked points,
which were sufficiently protruded to
bluster, vapouring, roaring ; swashing inflict considerable pain, but not
(or swashy), (I) noisy (a swashing sufficient to cause death. Sweating,
(2) loud-mouthed and a diversion practised by the bloods of
blow) ;
quarrelsome (1560).
Swash-bucket. A slattern.
the last century, who styled themselves
Mohocks : these gentlemen lay
„ -j,y in
Swat. 1. A blow: as verb, (1) to wait to surprise some person late in
strike, to hit; (2) to work hard, to the night, when surrounding him.
sweat (q.v.). Also as subs., 2. hard ^ '^ "~s J •-••--•" • •
study: spec. (Royal Military Aca-
demy), mathematics.
Swatchel (Punch and Judy). Punch.
Hence swatchel- (or schwassle-) box,
the Punch and Judy show; swatchel-
cove, a Punch and Judy man : spec.
the patterer. The other terms con-
nected with this drama of the streets
are : — Mozzy, Judy ; darkey, the
negro; vampo, the clown; vampire,
the ghost; buffer, the dog; bu
'
t
they with their swords pricked him in
the posteriors, which obliged him to be
constantly turning round : this they
continued till they thought him
sufficiently sweated (Grose). 4. To
extort, lose, or squander money freely,
to fleece (q.v.), to bleed (q.v.); to
sweat one's purse, to cause one to
spend everything (1784). 5. To work
for (or employ labour at) starvation
wages; to snibmit to extortion (or
to extort); hence sweater, an em-
ployer of underpaid labour: usually
middleman between the actual
figure, the dog's master ;~ crocodile,
the demon ; fiio, the baby ; the, frame,
the street arrangement; peepsies, employer and employed; a grinding
the panpipes; nobbing-slum, the bag taskmaster; whence sweating-system,
for collecting money; the letter cloth, sweater, sweated, etc. (1850). 6 To
the advertisement; tambour, the
drum ; the stalk (or prop), the gallows ;
the slum fake, the coffin ; the slum, the
call.
Swattied. Drunk; see Screwed.
Swear. An oath, a cuss (q.v.) : also
swear-word. Also (colloquial) to swear
at (said of anything incongruous):
. . .
pawn (1811). Phrases : In asweut, (1)
in a hurry, and (2) in a state of terror,
impatient; to sweat coins, to remove
part of the metal from coins (chiefly
gold) by friction or acids, yet in such
a manner that the depreciation is
imperceptible (1785).
Sweat-box. The cell used for
e.g. His frock coat swore at his prisoners while awaiting appearance
hrrarTftr lift.*. In *.«/,««. l.'l,* ~ 1~~J t~t •_., ^_ & "'tf.F'3**1*""'
bowler hat ; to swear like a lord before a magistrate
(trooper, .etc.), to volley oaths, to make Sweater (Winchester). I. A servant -
the air blue (q.v.) ; to swear through a hence sweat-gallery, fagging juniors
nme inch plank (nautical), to back up 2. A thick coat (or flannel jeraey) worn
any lie (0. BusseU : & favourite ex- by contestants after a finish untu thev
pression of Lord Nelson when referring can be rubbed down. 3 /Stock
sJ^TTS^6?^!?^^ * Exchange). A broker who works for
bweat. i. To work hard, to drudge, such small commissions as to prevent
to put in licks (q.v.); also to sweat other brokers getting the busS
one's guts out: of. modern (public whilst hardly being profitable to"
school) swat (or swot), fagging, himself. 4. si Sweft. ptOlltaWe *°
nard study, especially mathematics, Sweat-pits. The arm-pits f!70fl^
whence swot also a mathematician; .Sweep, l. A £££&& 2
?? "J?*1 *° fag' or stlldy hard: A ^^ « contempt: eS TOat »
rr^%i%SrXufe^p
broad Scotch pronunciation of Dr. thing, to pocket aU the stakeJ^to
Wallace, one of the Professors, of the make a dean sweep, to clean out (q.V),
458
Sweep's-frift.
Swdled-nose.
to remove entirely ; also sweep, at
whist, taking all the tricks in the
hand, a slam (q.v.) (1680). The
sweeps, the Rifle Brigade. Their
facings from formation (1800) have
been black.]
Sweep 's-frill. Beard and whiskers
worn round the chin, the rest of the
face being clean shaven.
Sweet. 1. Gullible, easily deceived.
2. Expert, dexterous, clever : o.g.
Sweet's your hand (said of a clever
thief). Hence to sweeten a victim, to
allay his suspicions (Qrose), to decoy,
draw in, and bite (B. E.): see Sweet-
ener.
Sweetbread. A bribe, a tip (q.v.)
(1692).
Sweeten. A beggar. Also as verb,
(1) to give alms (Grose) ; (2) to con-
tribute to the pool ; hence sweetening,
money paid into the pool or kitty. To
sweeten and pinch, a main part of his
[a bom-bailiffs] office is to swear and
bluster . . . and cry Confound us, why
do we wait ? let us shop him ; whilst
the other meekly replies, Jack, be
patient, it is a civil gentleman, and I
know will consider us ; which species
of wheedling, in terms of their art, is
called sweeten and pinch (Earl. Misc.).
Sweetener. 1. A guinea-dropper
(q.v.) : a coin is planted (q.v.), and a
likely passer-by is offered a share
because present at the discovery ; to
get change, drinks are suggested, and
the victim goes out fleeced (1699). 2.
A runner-up (q.v,) of prices ; a bonnet
(q.v.), 3. In pi., the lips ; to fake the
sweeteners, to kiss. 4. One who
decoys persons to game (Bailey) ; also
sweeten, to decoy, to draw in.
Sweetheart. 1. A mistress, pour
le bon motif ; and 2, a wanton term
(Huloet). Also variants : sweet, sweet-
ing, sweeMine, sweet-lips, etc. Also
sweetkin, adj., delicate, dainty; and
sweet on, in love with, partial to
(1534).
Sweeties. Sweetmeats also sweet-
stuff (1758).
Sweet - lips. 1. An epicure, a
glutton. 2. See Sweetheart.
Sweetmeat. After sweet meat
comes sour sauce, a monition to
temperance and sobriety (Bailey).
Sweet -tooth. A liking for sweet
things or sweetmeats.
Swell. 1. A gentleman ; but any
well-dressed person is emphatically
termed a swell, or a rank swell, A
family man who appears to have
plenty of money, and makes a genteel
figure, is said by his associates to be
in Swell Street. Anything remark-
able for its beauty or elegance, is
called a swell article ; so a swell crib is
a genteel house ; a swell mollisher, an
elegantly dressed woman, etc. Some-
times in alluding to a particular
gentleman, whose name is not re-
quisite, he is styled, the swell, meaning
the person who is the object of your
discourse or attention; and whether
he is called the swell, the cove, or the
gory, is immaterial, as in the following
(in addition to many other) examples : 1
was turned up at China-street, because
the swell would not appear ; meaning,,
of course, the prosecutor: again,
speaking of a person whom you were
on the point of robbing, but who has
taken the alarm, and is therefore
on his guard., you will say to your
pal, It's of no use, the cove is as down
as a hammer ; or, We may as well stow
it, the gory's leary (Qrose). 2. It is
very hard to define exactly what is
meant by a swell at Eton ; but it
usually implies a boy who, brought
into notice either by athletic prowess
or scholarship, or high standing in the
school, by this means becomes ac-
quainted with the leading members
of the school, and is found on acquaint-
ance to develop considerable social
qualities, which make ViiTn hand and
glove with all the Eton magnates
(Oliphant). Hence, as adj. (also
swellish), (1) elegant, stylish, dandified
and (2) first-rate, tip -top (q.v.).
Also derivatives and combinations
such as swelldom, the world of fashion ;
to live in Swell-street, to reside in the
West End ; a swell hung in cftains, a
bejewelled man or woman ; a howling
swell (see Howling); swell-head (or
block), a vain coxcomb (Amer.). 3.
(Winchester). In pL, Sunday Ser-
vices, Saints* days, etc. : when surplices
are worn. As verb (Winchester), to
bathe, to swill.
Swell-head. 1. A drunken man : see
Lushington. 2. See Swell and Swol-
len head.
Swell -mobsman. A well-dressed
pickpocket Hence swell-mob (184.3).
Swelled - nose. Ill temper. Does
your nose *wdl (or itch) at that ? Are
you riled ?
459
Swell-nose.
Swipe.
Swell -nose. Strong ale, stingo
(q.v.) (1515).
S'welp. So help: usually in the
adjurations, S'welp me bob, or
S'welp my tatera (bob, greens, etc.)
(1837).
Swift. A quick - working com-
positor (1841).
Swig. A deep draught: also as
verb, to drink heartily, to pull hard
(q.v.). Hence swiggled, drunk: see
Screwed (1623).
Swigman. A pedlar-thief (1567).
Swill. To drink (and, occasion-
ally, to eat) piggishly : hence as subs.,
booze (q.v.), the lap, or the act: in
contempt. 8witt-bowl (swi&er, svritt-
pot, swul-tub, or swill-betty), a heavy
toper (or glutton) ; swilled, drunk :
see Screwed (1530).
Swim, One's particular pursuits,
pitch (q.v.), or fancy. Hence in a
good (or bad) swim, lucky (or un-
lucky). In the swim, (1 ) participant in
the tunes. 2. In the inner circle or
the know (q.v.). 3. Associated in
any undertaking. 4. A long time out
of the hands of the police (thieves') :
Fr., dans le mouvement (or le train).
To swim in golden grease (oft, lard, etc.),
to roll in bribes : see Grease (1605).
To make a man swim for it, to cheat a
pal out of his share of booty. How we
apples swim: see Apples.
Swimmer. 1. ' A Counterfeit (old)
Coyn' (£. K). 2. A guard-ship, or
tender ; a thief who escapes prosecution,
when before a magistrate, on condition
of being sent on board the receiving-
ship, to serve His Majesty, is said
by bis pals to be swimmerea (Qrose) :
also to have a swimmer.
Swimming. Generic for plenty:
thus a swimming (a full or brisk)
market: of. Sick,- a swimming (an
overfull) dish ; a swimming (an ex-
tremely pleasant) time, etc. Hence
swimmingly, successfully, prosper-
ously (1622).
Swindle. I. Originally (and pro-
perly) a fraud or imposition (in which
sense see Swindler). 2. Loosely and
frequently, any speculation or matter
of chance : e.g. a lottery, a toss for
drinks, a sweepstakes, a race, etc. ;
also (more loosely still) any transaction
in which money passes : e.g. What's
the swindle, What's to pay (or the
damage) ? Why don't you pay the
man bis swindle ? Why don't you
460
give the price ? Swindler (q.v.) is
quite another matter.
Swindler. A cheat, a rogue : spec,
one who employs petty or mean arti-
fices, legal or illegal, for defrauding
others. Hence swindle, a fraud, a de-
ception, an imposition : and as verb,
to cheat, to defraud. Whence, also,
derivatives such as swindleable, swind-
lery, swindling, etc. [Orig. used of
German Jews who settled in London,
circa 1762. Also by soldiers in the
Seven Years' War.]
Swine. A term of the utmost
contempt. Hence swinish, greedy,
gluttonous, covetous (JS. E.) (1597).
Phrases and proverbial sayings : Like
a swine, never good until he come
to the knife (of a covetous person) ;
to sing like a bird called a swine, to
grunt ; to cast pearls before swine (of
unappreciated action or effort).
Swine-drunk. Beastly drunk : see
Screwed (1592).
Swing. Bent, a free hand or course
e.g. to have (or take) one's swing (or
full swing), to do as one likes; also
to swing (a matter) over one's Head,
shoulders, etc., to manage easily; to
swing a business (market, prices, etc.),
to control ; to manage ( 1530). As verb,
to hang: see Ladder. Hence, the
swing, the gallows : see Nubbing cheat
(1542). To swing the monkey, to strike
with knotted handkerchiefs a man
who swings to a rope made fast aloft ;
the person the monkey strikes whilst
swinging takes Ms place.
Swinge. To beat, to thrash, to
chastise, to punish (1280). Hence
(Charterhouse) swinger (q.v.), a box
on the ears. Swingeing, a thrashing ;
swinge-bucJder (see Swash).
Swinging (Swindging, or
Swingeing). Huge, astonishing:
generic for size : anything that beats
all else : see Swinge. Hence swinger,
anything of size, a whopper (q.v.) :
spec, an unblushing falsehood (1623).
Swing-tail. A hog.
Swinny. Drunk: see Screwed:
also swinnied.
Swipe. 1. A blow delivered with
the full length of the arm ; as verb, to
drive (q.v.), to bang: hence swiper,
a hard hitter, a slogger (q.v.), a
knocker-out (q.v.): at Harrow, to
birch (1200). 2. In pL, thin, washy
beer, small beer : also (schools) any
poor tipple : as verb, to drink ; fienoe
Swish.
Tack.
steipey (or swiped)* drunk ; and swipes
a potman (1785) ; also see Purser's
swipes. As verb, to steal : see
Prig.
Swish. To flog. Hence swishing, a
thrashing (1855).
Swished. Married (1785).
Swish-swash. Any weak bever-
age, slops (q.v.). * There is a kind of
swish-swash made also in Essex, and
diverse other places, with honicombs
and water, which the homclie countre
wives, putting some pepper and a little
other spice among, called mead, verie
good in mine opinion for such as love
to be loose-bodied at large, or a little
eased of the cough ; otherwise it
differeth so much from the true
metheglin as chalke from cheese9
(Eolinshed).
Swish-tail. 1- A pheasant. 2. A
horse with undocked tail. 3. A
schoolmaster.
Swiss Admiral. A pretender to
naval rank: cf. IT., amiral suisse, a
naval officer solely employed on shore,
or who has never been to sea.
Switch. To switch in, to be ex-
peditious in movement.
Swivel - eyed. Squinting (Grose).
Hence swvel-eye, a squint -eye, a
boss-eye (q.v.).
Swivelly. Drunk .- see Screwed.
Swizzle (or S w i z z y). 1.
Generic for drink; also, 2. various
compounded drinks — rum and water,
ale and beer mixed, and (West Indies)
what is known in America as a cock-
tail. As verb, to tope, to swill (q.v.) ;
and swizzled, drunk ; also see Screwed
(1850).
Swobber. See Swabber.
Swoddy. See Swad.
SwoUenhead. To have a, sieotten
head, (1) to put on airs, to be filled
with a violent sense of one's own
importance : also (2) to be drunk : see
Screwed : also Swetted-head.
Swop. See Swap.
Sword-racket. Enlisting in differ-
ent regiments, and deserting after
taking the bounty.
Swot See Sweat. In a moot
(Shrewsbury), in a rage.
Sydney-sider (or bird). A
convict. [Sydney was originally a
convict settlement.]
Syebuck. Sixpence: see Rhino
(1785).
Syntax. A schoolmaster (Grose}.
To a T. Exactly, to a nicety,
as true as an angle drawn with a
T-square (1698). To be marked with a
T, known as a thief: formerly con-
victed thieves were branded with a T in
the hand. T. T., too thin or too trans-
parent: e»g. the story is T, T.
Tab. 1. A check, an account; to
keep lab, to keep watch. 2. In pi.,
the ears. To drive tab, to go out on
a party of pleasure with a wife and
family (Oroae). The Tab, the Metro-
politan Tabernacle in Newington
Causeway.
Tabarder. A scholar on the foun-
dation of Queen's College, Oxford:
the original dress was a tabard; they
are part of the foundation, which
consists of a provost, 16 fellows, 2
chaplains, 8 tabarders, 12 probation-
ary scholars, and 2 clerks, — Oxf.
Univ. Col. (1692).
Tabby. I. An old maid ; hence 2.
a spiteful tattier: cf. Cat Tabby-
party f a gathering of women (1761).
Tabernacle. The shed in Moor-
fields, which Whitefield used as a
temporary chapel, was called The
Tabernacle ; and, in the scornful dia-
lect of certain Church of England men,
Methodist and such -like places of
worship have, since then, been known
as Tabernacles. See Tin Tabernacle
and Tab.
Table. To turn the tables, to re-
verse matters (1692).
Table-cloth (The). A white cloud
covering the top of Table Mountain.
Tace. Tace ia Latin for a candle, a
cant phrase in the 18th century
suggesting the expediency of silence.
[Latin, tacdre (Grose).]
Tach. A hat : see Golgotha.
Tachs. A fad, mental eccentricity,
blot, spot, stain, vice, quality, disposi-
tion, trick, enterprise.
Tack. Generic for food : specifically
(1), bad food or bad malt liquor.
Henoe (2), in combination : e.g. hard-
tack, coarse fare or (army and navy)
461
Tacker.
TaU.
biscuit as distinguished from bread ;
soft-tack, (a) good fare, and (6) bread :
also tackle. At Sherborne School, taclc,
a feast in one's study. To tack together,
to marry: cf. Hitch, Sphce, Noose,
6 Tacker. ' A great falsehood (EaUi-
well).
Tackle. 1. A mistress (1785) (Grose).
2. Good clothes (B. .27.). 3- A. watch
chain ; a red tackle, a gold chain. As
verb, to do with energy, to set to
work, to cope with, to attack : generic.
Thus, to tackle (to attempt the solu-
tion of) a problem ; to tackle (to close
with) a burglar, etc. (1844).
Tad. Perhaps an abbreviation of
tadpole. 1. A very small boy, especi-
ally a small street-boy (Century'} ; little
tads, small boys ; old tads, graybeards,
old men (BariLett). 2. Excrement
(EaUiwem.
Taf. Fat ; e.g. taf eno, a fat man
or woman (lit. fat one).
Taff. (Christ's Hospital). A
potato.
Taffy. 1. A Welshman (1577);
hence Taffy's Day, St. David's Day,
the 1st March : a Welsh pronuncia-
tion of Davy. 2. Flattery, blarney
(q.v.), soft-soap (q.v.) : as verb, to
Tag (Winchester football). An
off-side kick : also as verb. When a
player has kicked the ball well forward,
and has followed it, if it was then
kicked back again behind him by the
other side, he was then obliged to
return to his original position with his
own side. If the ball had, in the
meantime, been again kicked in front
of him, before he regained his position,
and he was to kick it, it would be con-
sidered unfair, and he would be said
to tag (Mansfield'). Tag, rag, and "bob-
tail: see Rag.
Tag-end. The fag-end, the con-
cluding portion.
Taglioni. An overcoat: named
after the dancer (1837).
Tagrhyme, A rhymester (1698).
Tagster. A scold, a virago (Hatti-
weZZ).
Tagtail. A parasite, a hanger-on.
Tail. 1. The lower or latter
end. To turn tail, 1. to turn one's
back on; 2. to run away, to shirk;
top over tail, head over heels ; the tail-
end, the fag-end (q.v.). 3. A woman's
dress: espeo. when trailing on the
ground (1774). 4. The reverse of a
coin : spec, the side opposite to that
bearing a head (q.y.) : chiefly in
phrase (heads or tails) in tossing;
hence neither head nor tatt, neither one
nor the other, quite different (1774).
5. In pi., a tail-coat, as distinguished
from a jacket; charity-tails (Harrow),
a tail-coat worn by a boy in the
Lower School who is considered by
the headmaster to be tall enough to
require it. 6. A girl's hair, curled,
plaited, etc., and allowed to hang
down the back in a single strand.
7. A line of persons waiting in rank ;
a queue: as outside a theatre,
booking-office, etc. 8. A band of
followers, retinue, henchmen. 9. A
sword ; tail-drawer, a sword stealer
(B. .27.). 10. The last two or three
men in a batting eleven to go to
the wickets. As verb, to tend sheep,
to herd cattle (1844). Phrases and
combinations : tail of the eye, the outer
corner of the eye ; cow's-tail, a frayed
rope's-end, one not properly knotted :
hence, hanging in cow's tails (said of a
badly kept ship) ; tail-end, the latter
part, the wind-up; with one's tail
between one's legs, cowed, humiliated,
conscious of defeat: also with tail
down, with tail up, in good form or
spirits ; with tail out, angry ; with tail
in the water, thriving ; to flee the tail,
to near the end ; to twist the lion** tail,
to gird at England (or the English,
people) ; to cast (lay or throw") salt on
the tail : see Salt (1678). Also proverbs
and proverbial sayings: the devil
wipes his tail with the poor man's
pride (Say) ; * betweene two stools my
taile goes to the ground ' (Heywood) ;
to make a rod for one's own totZ
(J&eywood) ; like Iambs, you do
nothing but suck and wag your tails ;
she goes as if she cracked nuts with
her tail ; to look like a dog that has
lost its tail; she's like a, cat, she'll
play with her own taU ; make not thy
tail broader than thy wings (keep not
too many attendants) ; his tail will
catch the chin-cough (said of one
sitting on the ground) ; as hasty as a
sheep, when the taU is up ; as free as
an ape is of his tail ; he that aught
the cow gangs nearest her tail; he
holds the serpent by the taU (of any-
thing absurd or foolish) ; to grow like
a cow's tail (ie. downwards) ; lay
the head of the sow to the Wof th*
462
Taa-Uock.
TaJee.
grioe ; to have a slippery eel by the
tail (of anything uncertain) ; it melts
like butter in a sow's tail ; to swallow
an ox, and be choked with the tail;
the higher the ape goes, the more he
shows nis tail ; there is as much hold
of his word as of a wet eel by the tail ;
he hath eaten a horse and the tail
hangs out of his mouth.
Tail-block. A watch.
Tail-board. The back flap of a
little girl's breeches.
Tail-buzzer. A pickpocket.
Tailer (or Taylor) . ( 1 ) A fall on the
breech ; a pratfall (q.y.) ; and (2) an
exclamation on falling, or unex-
pectedly sitting down on one's tail
(q.v.) (1592).
Tailor. Nine (ten, or three) tailors
make a man, a jesting sarcasm (1605).
The fay-end of a tailor, a botcher
(1608). Phrases: A tailor's shreds are
worth the cutting; Like the tailor
who sewed for nothing, and found
the thread himself: thieving and
tailor go together; put a tailor, a
miller, and a weaver into a sack, shake
them well, and the first that puts out
his head is certainly a thief (1600).
Tail-pipe. 1. To fasten any thing to
the tail of a cat or dog ; hence, 2. to
annoy (1857).
Tail-pulling. The publication of
books of little or no merit, the whole
cost of which is paid by the author :
of. Barabbas.
Take. 1. To please, to succeed.
Hence, taking (or taky), attractive,
captivating : also to take to (or with),
or to have a take (1340). 2. To bf
to injure : by infection, disease, j
etc. : as subs., a witch's charm ; 1 _ . _
taking, infections (still colloquial or
provincial) (1332). 3. To deliver a
blow, to strike (1430). Phrases and
colloquialisms: take has been, and
stall is, much in colloquial use ; thus,
to take book, to retract ; to take a breath,
to consider, to seek advice ; to take
after, to resemble; to take about the.
neck, to embrace ; to take any one forth,
to teach, to give a start; to be taken
by ike face, to be put to the blush ; to
take beef, to run away; to take down,
(1) to humiliate (see Peg) ; (2) to
best (Australian) ; to take up, to re-
prove (also to take to do, to task, and
a talking to} ; to take heart, to pluck
up courage ; to take to heart, to grieve ;
to take it out, (1) to get value, to
extort or compel satisfaction or re-
paration; and (2) to exhaust; to take
one (or it), to understand j to take in,
(1) to deceive, to swindle (whence a
take-in (Bee), fraud, humbug) ; (2), to
believe ; (3) to capture, subdue, seize
(B. E.} ; to take off, (1) to kill (taking-
off, death) ; (2) to ridicule, to mimic
(take-off, a caricature) ; to take out, to
copy; to take on or by, (1) to grieve,
to show emotion (hence taking, a to-
do) ; and (2), to simulate ; to take one
(or a matter) on, (1) to engage, to
accept as an opponent ; (2) to under-
take; to take to (or up), generic for
doing (e.g. to take to gambling, early
rising, etc.) ; to take to one's legs (a
shute, water, etc.), to fly; see Heels,
adding quots. infra; to take wo (old,
to take}, (1) to arrest; (2) to stop;
(3) to reform ; (4) to clear up (prov.
of the weather); (5) to protect, to
defend ; (6) to borrow; (7) to rally,
to snub; and (8) to understand; to
take upon, to suspect; to take upon
oneself, to arrogate authority, dignity,
etc. ; to take up with, (1) to consort
with; (2) to court; (3) to endure;
(4) to adopt ; to take the gloss off, to
detract in value; to take the field, to
bet against the favourite; to take tip
one's connections (Arner. Univ.), to
leave college ; to take an oath, to take
a drink; to take one along (or with
one}, to make understand; to take
one's teeth to anything, to set to
heartily; to take a stick to, to beat; to
take (or sit at) one's ease in one's inn,
to enjoy oneself: as if one were at
home (hence, taking it easy, drunk) ;
take it as you like, be angry or not —
as you please (Bee). Also (proverbial)
to take from one's right side to give
to one's left; to take one up before
he is down, to take the bird by the
feet; take all, and pay the baker; to
take a Burford bait (to get drunk);
to take a dagger and drown oneself;
to take a hair (q.v.) of the same dog ;
to take a thing in snuff (q.v.) ; to
take a wrong sow (q.v.) by the ear;
to take counsel of one's pillow; to
take heart of grace ; to take Hector's
cloak (to deceive a friend) ; to take
one a peg (q.v.) lower ; to take physic
before one is sick; who takes an eel
by the tail and a woman by her word,
may say that he holds nothing. See
Aback, Back-seat, Beard, Beef, Bit,
Book, Bosom, Bull, Bush, Button-
463
Take-a- fright.
Tame-army.
hole, Cake, Earth bath, Ease, French
leave, Grinder, Ground sweat, Heels,
Hook, Huff, Measure, Napping, Peg,
Pepper, Potluck, Rag, Rise, Road,
Running, Shilling, Shine, Sight, Silk,
Snuff, Starch, Sun, Tea, Toll, Turn,
Vain, Wind.
Take-a-fright. Night.
Taker. One who accepts a bet, a
booMe (q.v.).
Taking. In pi., receipts (1851).
Tale. An incredible story, a mar-
vellous narration: also old unfe's (or
old man's) tale: see Bull and Tub.
Whence tale-teller, persons said to
have been hired to tell wonderful
stories of giants and fairies, to lull
hearers to Seep. Also to t&U tales out
of school, (1) to romance, and (2) to
play the informer: teU-tale (or " ™
the rustling of their wings (or see his
horns). See Big, Dutch-uncle, Shop,
Tall-talk (1600).
Talkee-talkee. 1. A corrupt dia-
lect, jargon. Whence, 2. chatter;
verbiage. Also talky-talky (1810),
Talker. (1) Then followed solos
from those who could sing, and those
who could not — it made no difference.
The latter class were called talkers, and
every boy was encouraged to stand up
and talk it out (Sowson). (2) See
Talk.
Talking-iron. A gun, rifle: also
Shooting-iron (q.v.) (1843).
Tall. 1. Generic for worth. Thus,
tall (seemly) prayers ; a tall (valiant)
man, taU (fine) English; a tall (cour-
ageous) spirit; a, tall (celebrated) philo-
sopher; to stand tall, to reply boldly ;
tale-tit'}, an informer,* to teU attale, to tally (becomingly or finely) attired ;
turn a matter Lo profit ; his tale is tall (great) compliment, etc. [Century :
- - The word taS (high, lofty), as a] " *
to a man, has been confused wii'
told, It is all over with him; to be in
a tale, to agree- also to jump in one
tale; thereby hangs a tale, or tell that
for a tale (the retort suggestive),
that's another story ; to pitch a tale,,
to spin a yarn : hence, tale-pitcher, a
romancing talker or chattering mal-
content.
Talesman. The author of a story
or report: TD tell you my tale and
my talesman (5. E.)
Talent (The). In sing., a backer
(q.v.) ; as opposed to a layer or book-
Talk. To roar (q.v.): of horses;
hence, talker, a roarer. Colloquial
phrases : to talk one down, to silence ;
to talk one out of, to dissuade ; to talk
over, (J) to persuade; also to talk
into ; and (2) to review ; to talk round,
to review a subject ; to talk up, (1) to
speak plainly (or defiantly) ; and (2)
to discuss with a view to promotion ;
to talk one up, to urge ; to talk out, to
xhaust patience, time, etc. ; to talk
to, to chide : hence, talking-to, a repri-
mand; to talk at, to gird or chide
covertly ; talking of a person who is
present to another; to talk the hind
leg off a jackass (cow, horse, etc.), to
seduce, to wheedle, to charm; also to
talk one mad, to death, into a thing,
fever, etc.; to talk Greek, Dutch (or
Double Dutch}, to talk nonsense; to
talk throiLgh one's neck (American), to
talk foolishly ; to talk Turkey, to say
pleasant things. Also, talk of the
angels (or the devil) and you'll hear
464
tatt
fine, brave, excellent; cf. however,
sense 2]. Whence tall for his inches,
plucky for size (1430). 2. Anything
out of the common : e.g. a taU (severe)
fight; tall (extravagant) talk: whence
to talk tatt, to gas (q.v. ) ; a tall (a great)
pace, etc. Hence as adv., very, ex-
ceedingly. Also, to walk taU, to carry
one's head high: to put on side (q.v.)
(1704).
Tall-boy. 1. A wine glass: large,
high-stemmed, and showy ; spec. * a
Pottle or two Quart-pot full of Wine '
(B.E.) (1694). 2. A very tall chimney,
pot.
Tall-men. Highmen (q.v.).
Tallow. A term of contempt; thus
tallow - keech (taUow-facef or tallow-
breech), a very fat person: whence
tallow-faced, sickly, pale, undermade;
tallow - gutted, pot.beuied; taUov>~
breeched, fat-breeched.
Tally (or To Live Tally). To live in
concubinage; chiefly mining. Also
to make a tatty-bargain.
Tally-men. Brokers that let out
clothes at moderate rates to wear per
week, month, or year (JB. $.); that
let out clothes to the women of the
town (Grose).
Tame. To run tame. To live
familiarly in the family with which
one is upon a visit (Cfrose).
Tame-army. The London Trained
Bands (Grose) : [cf. Footers description
(Mayor of GarraM) of the London
Tame-cat.
far.
regiments as holiday soldiers, Tantoblin. Excrement: also tan-
never wet to the skm in their lives tadlin and tantadlin tart (1768).
except as a matter of accident.
Tame-cat A woman's fetch-and-
carry, a hearthrug saint.
Tame-goose. A foolish fellow: a
simpleton; also tame-fellow, tractable,
easy, manageable (J5. E.) (1598).
Tamper. To practise upon any-
one (B. E.).
Tan. To flog; to thrash. Hence,
tanning, a beating. Also, to tan one's
hide (1600). To smell of the tan, to
smack of the ring, to be circussy : of.
lamp.
Tandem. 1. A two-wheeled
chaise, buggy, or noddy, drawn by
Tantony (or Tantony Pig). ' 1. The
smallest pig in a litter: hence a
favourite. To follow like a tantony
r' , to follow closely. Hence tantony,
a servile follower, a petted re-
tainer. 3. See Saint.
Tantrum. Usually in pi., a pet
(q.v.), the sullens. angry whims
(1754).
Taoc. A coat. Thus Kool the delo
taoc, look at the old coat: also in con-
temptuous reference to the wearer.
Taoc-tisaw, a waistcoat; and taoc-
gentle blow (Grose):
ittep, petticoat.
Tap. 1. A
two horses, one before the other ; that whence to tap (or tap on the shoulder),
is, at length (Grose). Hence, 2.
carriage so drawn ; and, 3. a bicycle
for two riders.
Tangierenes (The). 1. The Queen's
(Royal West Surrey Regiment), late
the 2nd Foot: 2. The King's Own
(Royal Lancaster Regiment), late the
to arrest; tapper, a bailiff: also
shoulder-tapper. 2. In pL, the ears:
see Hearing cheats. 3. (Eton College).
The only place, recognised by the
authorities, where a boy can get
beer. As verb, to broach; also to
tap one's claret, to draw blood (see
4th Foot. [Tangiers formed part of Claret) ; to tap the wires, to intercept
the dowry of Catherine of Braganza, the a telegram; to tap a house, to burgle;
Queen of Charles II. : the regiments to tap the admiral (see Admiral) ; to
were raised for the defence of that tap a guinea, to change it (Grose}. To
possession.]
Tangle. A tall, lanky person.
be on one's taps, on the alert, on one's
feet, ready to move. To get the tap,
Tanglefoot (or Tangleleg). Any to get the upper hand. On tap, avail-
intoxicating liquor. Tanglefooted, able, at handLon view,
drunk: see Screwed (1862).
Tank (King Edward's School,
Birm.) To cane, to cosh (q.v,).
Tankard. Tears of the tankard,
Tape. Spirits: hence red-tape,
brandy; whi*e (or blue) tape, gin; of.
Rxbbon (1755). '*"»*•
_, , Tape-worm (Stock Exchange). An
drippings of liquor on the waistcoat official who collects the prices of stock
for transmission on the tape.
Taplash. 1. Bad, thick beer: cask-
dregs or tap - droppings. Hence, as
adj., poor, washy, trivial (1630),
Hence, 2. a publican: in contempt.
Tappy, On the tappy, under con-
sideration, on the tapis (1690).
Tap-shackled. Drunk: see
Screwed (1610).
Tap -tub (The). The Morning
Advertiser: also The Gin and Gospel
Gazette (1823).
Tar. A sailor: also tarpaulin (of
which tar is an abbreviation), Jack
Tar, tarbreech (or tarrybreelcs), and
tarbarrel : hence tar-terms, proper sea
(1670).
Tanner. Sixpence: 6d. : e.g. The
kiddy tipt the rattling-cove a tanner
for luck, the lad gave the coachman
sixpence for drink: soo Rhino. Hence,
tanne.rgramf a telegram; when the
minimum cost was reduced from Is.
to 6d. (1843).
Tannikin. A Butch placket ; maid,
wife, or widow (1605).
Tanquam. A Fellow's fellow in
our universities (JBlount, 1681).
Tantadlin. See Tantoblin.
Tantarabobs, The devil (SaUi-
Tantivy. Primarily a hunting call :
a note on the horn. As subs,, (1)
full chase; (2) violent movement;
(3) a fox-hunting parson; and (4)
temp. Charles H,, a High Tory : also
Tantivy-boy. As adj., swift. As verb,
to racket, to gallop, to rush (1602).
phrases or words (B. 2?.)» tar -hood,
the navy (1582). To tar out, to
punish, to serve out; to tar and
feather, a practice of great antiquity,
but rare nowadays: heated tar is
poured over a person, who is then
466
Tavern.
covered -with feathers. Tarred with
the same brush, alike.
Tar-box. A shepherd : in con-
tempt. Hence the proverbial sayings,
To lose a sheep (erron. ship) for a
ha'-porth of tar (Grose)', and, to
caper like a fly in a tar-box (1672).
Tar-brush. Black blood: in con-
temptuous reference to colour ; a touch
of the tar-brush, a dash of the negro
(1785).
Tare-and-tret City bon-ton for—
a Rowland for an Oliver, no matter
the juxtaposition of the two matters.
To give as good as is brought (Bee).
Tar-fingers. A petty pilferer : see
Pitch-fingers. Hence tarry, thievish
Tarleather, A woman: in con-
tempt (1551).
Tardy (Winchester College). Late :
e.g. I was tardy task, I was late with
my work (1803).
Tarheel. An inhabitant of S.
Carolina. [Tar is one of the chief
products of the State.]
Tarnation (and Tarnal). Damna-
tion, eternal: mild oaths. As adj.,
great, very, etc.: e.g. tarnation str&nge,
a tornol time, etc.
Tarpaulin. See Tar.
Tarradiddle. A fib, a yarn. As
verb, to hoax (Grose),
Tart. Sharp, quick (B. K); sour,
sharp, quick, pert (Grose).
Tartar. 1. A bad or awkward
tempered person: male or female.
To catch a tartar, (1) to be caught in
one's own trap ; and (2) to get more
than one bargained for, or the worst
of an encounter (JB. JE. ). \Ency. Diet. :
Properly Tatar. The r was inserted
in mediaeval times to suggest that the
Asiatic hordes who occasioned such
anxiety to Europe came from hell
(Tartarus), and were the locusts of
Bevelataon ix.] Hence 2. an adept:
e.g. He is quite a tartar at cricket or
bffliards (1663). 3. See Tartarian.
Tartarian (or tartar). A thief: spec.
a strolling vagabond, a sharper
(B. JB.) (1596).
Tartuff e, A hypocrite, a pretender.
CFrom the character in Moliere's
comedy.] Hence tartuffish, hypo-
critically precise ; and tartuffi&n, hypo-
crisy (1768).
Tassy. Tasmania.
Taste. Taste of ike creature, a
dram, a drink; eap. of whisky (1570);
466
a nasty taste in one's mouth., an unpleas-
ant feeling: regret, loathing, anxiety,
etc.
Taster. A small quantity, a taste:
in quot. a small glass of ice- cream.
Tasty. 1. Full-flavoured (q.v.>,
nutty (q.v.), spicy (q.v.), thick (q.v.).
Hence, 2. of the best, ripping (q.v.).
Tat. 1. In pi., dice, wnence &rf 6oa:,
a dice box ; fat-monger (or tatogey), a
sharper or cheat using loaded dice;
tat's-man, a dicing gambler; tot-shop,
a gambling den (.B. E.). 2. A rag:
milky tats, white linen ; also as verb,
to collect rags; and tatter, a rag-
gatherer (1851). 3. an abbreviation
of tattoo, tit for tat, see Tit.
Ta-ta. A salutation, Good-bye !
Taterwagges. See Tatters.
Tater (or Tatur). A potato.
Whence tater-trap, the mouth; tater-
and-pointf a meal of potatoes: see
Point. Also as noteworthy, one or two
phrases: e.g. to settle one's tatersf to
settle one's hash ; s'welp my taters (see
Swelp) (1838).
Tatol CWestminster). A tutor in
Commoners.
Taterdemalion. A ragged wretch:
a general term of contempt: alsc
tatter saadrags-and-tatters. Tatarwaggs
and TatterwaUops, ragged clothes. As
adj., ragged (1360) ; to tatter a kip, to
wreck a brothel (1766).
Tattle-box. A chatterbox: also
tattler, a gossip: see Tittle-tattle
(1709).
Tattle-de-moy. A new - fashioned
thing in ... 1676, much like a sara-
band, only it had in it more of con-
ceit and of humour .... Thomas
Mace invented it ... and he called
it a tattle -de- may because it tattles
and seems to speak those very words
or syllables (Souihey).
Tattier. A watch; spec, an alarm,
or striking watch, or (indeed) any
(B. E.). Hence, to -flash a tattler, to
wear a watch; to speak to a tattler, to
steal a watch: also tattle (1781).
Tattling fellow (or woman). Prat-
ing, impertinent (S. #.).
Tattoo. See Devil's Tattoo.
Taunton- turkey. A herring: cf.
Billingsgate-pheasant, Qlaegow-magis-
trate, etc. (1850).
Taut Severe. Hence taut hand, a
disci plinari an.
Tavern (The). New Inn Hall,
Oxford. [A punning allusion: also
Tavistock.
Teethward.
because the buttery is open all day
long] (1853). To hunt a, tavern fox
(or to swallow a tavern token), to get
drunk. Hence, the tavern bitch has
bit him in the head (or taverned),
drunk: see Screwed. Also taverner,
a tippler (1340).
Tavistock (or Tawstock) Grace.
Finis.
Taw. A marble. Tawlings (or taw),
the line from which the marble is
shot : hence (American), to come to taw,
to come to scratch (q.v.), to be called
to account; to be on one's taw, a
species of threat (1764). As verb,
(1) to beat, to scourge (Grose); and
(2) to torment. Also taws (or tawse),
a leather strap, slit or fringed at one
end, used by schoolmasters (1549).
Tawdry. (1) Orig. fine, elegant,
trim ; whence (2) cheaply showy, ignor-
antly fine. Also derivations 'such as
tawdered, tawdrily, tawdriness, etc.
Tawdry-lace (or tawdry), a rustic neck-
lace or girdle; tawdrums, fal-lals
(1530).
Tawny-coat. An ecclesiastical
officer. [From the livery.] (1577).
Tawny-moor. A mulatto (1717).
Tax-collector. A liighwayman.
T- beard. A fashion in trimming
the beard; a beard out T-wise (1G18).
Tea. Urine: see Cold-tea, Long-
tea, and Tea-voider (1712). As verb,
(1) to tako tea: of. dine, lunch, sup,
etc. (all recognised) (1837); (2) to
engage with, encounter, go in against.
Teach. See Grandmother and
Suck To teach iron to swim, to achieve
the impossible.
Teach-guy. Eight shillings.
Teacup. Storm (or tempest) in a
teacup (or teapot), much ado about
nothing: of. a tide and flood though
it be but in a basin of water (1699).
Tea-fight. A tea party : cf. Muffin-
worry. Toffee-scramble, etc.
Tea Party. See Boston Tea-party
and Nice.
Teague. An Irishman: in con-
tempt. Hence Teagudand, Ireland
(1661).
Teaich-gir. Bight j pronounced
tadger. Hence lodging, tip-top (q.v.).
Team. Two or more persons asso-
ciated for some purpose: e.g. a foot-
ball side, a cricket eleven, a coach's
pupils, etc. [Properly of animals
harnessed together.] Hence team-
work, work in company (1622).
Tear. A boisterous jollification, a
spree (q.v.) ; as verb, to move, speak,
or act violently, to rant, to fume;
hence tewrer or tear -cat or Timothy
Tearcat (1) a blusterer, a bully, a
roarer (q.v. ) ; and (2) anything violent;
tearing, violent, raving, etc.; tear-
mouth (or tear-throat), a ranting actor :
and as adj., vociferous ; to tear Ghrisfs
body, to blaspheme; to tear one's
beard (or hair), a simile of violent
emotion (1383). To tear one's seat,
to attempt too much.
Tear-pump. To work the tear-pump,
to weep, to turn on the water-
works.
Tease. On the tease, uneasy, fidgety
(1706). See Teaser.
Teaser. 1. A disturbing blow; to
tease (or teaze), to flog; to nap the
teaze, to be flogged (1840). 2. Any-
thing difficult or perplexing (1823).
Teaser of the catgut, see Catgut-
scraper.
Tea- void en A chamber pot
(Grose).
Tea-waggon, An East Indiaman
(1836).
Tec. A defective : see Nark.
Teddy. Teddy my godson, an
address to a simple fellow or ninny
(Grose).
Teddy Hall. St. Edmund's Hall,
Oxford.
Te Deum. See Backwards.
Teejay (Winchester College). Anew
boy, a protegj: placed for a time under
the care of older scholars ; cf . Shadow
and Substance.
Teek (or Tique) (Harrow school).
Mathematics.
Teeny (or Teeny-weeny). Tiny.
Teeth. In spite of one's teeth, in
defiance of; in the teeth, to one's
face; from the teeth, apparently, not
seriously ; to cast in the teeth, to taunt,
to reproach; tooth and nail, whole-
hearted, desperate, thorough; to show
one's teeth, to get angry; to have the
teeth wett afloat (or under), to be
drunk; to the hard teeth, very severely.
He ought to have his teeth drawn, He
should be deprived of the power of
doing mischief; to go to grass with
teeth upwards, to be buried ; to draw
tenth, to wrench off knockers (old:
medical students').
Teethward. Clerk to the teethuxurd,
he hath eaten his service book;
spoken in mockage by such as maketh
467
Teetotal.
TerrcB ftlius.
shew of learning and be not learned
(HoUyband).
Teetotal. In 1818 a temperance
society at Hector, New York, pledged
themselves to abstain from distilled
spirits only, but in Jan. 1827 another
pledge bound all signers to total
abstinence. The two classes were
distinguished by the initials O.P.
(Old Pledge) and T. (Total) : T total
became a familiar allocution (Cen-
tury).
Teetotal Hotel (The). A prison.
Teignton-squash. Perry (1834).
Teize. See Tease.
Tejus. Tedious, extremely, weary-
ingly, tiiesomely: e.g. tejus good,
baa, quick, slow, etc.
Telegraph. See Milk and Under-
ground.
Telescope. To silence.
Tell. A story; a bon mot; spec,
one worth telling. Also, according to
their tdl, upon their making out
( 1743). See Marines, Noses, Tales.
Tell-dock. An idler (1639).
Teller. 1. A well-delivered blow;
anything that scores; hence telling,
effective, to the point (1834). 2. See
Tailor.
Tell-tale. An inverted compass
fixed in a cabin. Also (general) any
recording device: usually automatic:
e.g. a turnstile, an organ bellows-
indicator, etc.
Telling. That's idling, said in
reply to a question that one ought
not, or that one does not wish, to
answer,
Tell-truth. A plain speaker, one
who does not mince matters (1630).
Tempest. Drum is a riotous
assembly of fashionable people, of
both sexes, at a private house, con-
sisting of some hundreds ; not unaptly
styled a drum, from the noise and
emptiness of the entertainment ; there
are also drum-major, rout, tempest,
and hurricane, differing only in degrees
of multitude and uproar (Smollett).
See Tea cup.
Temple of Bacchus. Merry-
making after getting a Uceat. Oxf.
Univ. Cant (Qrose).
Temple-pickling. * The Pumping of
Bailives, Bumms, Setters. Pickpockets,
etc.' (£. &)
Tenant at will. One whose wife
usually fetches him from the ale-
house (Grose],
Tenant for life. A married man;
Le. possessed of a woman for life
(Qrose).
Tenant>in~tail. See Tail.
Ten Bones (or Commandments).
The ten fingers: spec, of a woman.
Also by these ten bones! (once a
common oath: in punning reference
to the Mosaic Decalogue) (1485).
Tench. 1. A prison ; a peni(tewit)-
ary. At one time applied to the
Clerkenwell House of Detention, now
the Central Dep&t of the Parcels Post.
Tender. Tender Parnel. \. A
mistress; also parnel. pernel. Hence,
2. a very nicely educated creature,
apt to catch cold upon the least blast
of wind (B. E.). As tender as Parnett,
who broke her finger in a posset drink
(Qrose). Also as tender as a chicken
(1362).
Tenderfoot. A new comer : as adj.,
raw, inexperienced (1875).
Ten-forty. A five per cent, bond
issued in 1864 by the U.S. Govern-
ment, redeemable at any time after
ten years and payable in forty years
(Century).
Ten-in-the-Hundred. A usurer, a
sixty-per-cent. (q.v.). [Nares: from
their commonly exacting such interest
for their money, before the legal
limitation to five] (1594).
Tenner. 1. A ten pound note,
£10: of. Fiver. 2. Ten years' im-
prisonment.
T e n p e n c e. Only tenpence in the
shilling* a description of weak intellect.
Also tenpenny, in contempt (1607).
Tenterbelly. A glutton, one who
distends bis belly by gross feeding
(1621).
Tenterhooks. On tenterhooks (or
tenters), in suspense, anxious, on the
rack (or stretch) (1607).
Tentoes. See BayarcL
Tercel-gentle. A knight or gentle-
man of a good estate; also any rich
man (B. E. ). Also Tassel-gentle [Tercel,
(Ootgrave and Eandle Holmes), the
male of the peregrine falcon]. Hence
falcon 'gainst tercel (or as tercel), one's
as good as t'other.
A visitor to London at
term time; specifically one whose
object was intrigue, knavery, or sport.
[The law terms marked the fashionable
seasons.] Also termrtrotter (1608).
Terras filius. 1. A person of mean
or obscure birth. 2. A scholar whose
468
Terra finna.
special duty was to make satirical
speeches at the Encaenia : full advan-
tage being ever taken of his license to
satirize, and generally np up, autho-
Terra firma. An estate in land
(1696).
Terrible Boy. See Roaring boy
(1609).
Tertian (Aberdeen Univ.). A
student of the third year.
Tester (or Teston). 1. A silver
coin: orig. (a) the silver currency of
Louis XII. of France (bearing the
head of that prince, and worth (Cot-
grave) 18d. sterling); (&) the brass
silvered shilling of Henry VUL (worth,
temp. Ed. VI., 9d.); and (c) the
Elizabeth sixpence. Hence, 2. a six-
pence (Grose): see Tizzy. As verb,
to fee (1577).
Teviss. A shilling: see Rhino.
Texas. The upper (or third) deck
of a Mississippi steamboat. Hence
texas-tender, a waiter serving on the
texas (1875).
Thames. Setting the Thames on
fire, a simile for the impossible (1363).
Tharborough. See Thirdborough.
Thary. To speak.
That. At that, a pleonastic Inten-
sive (1855),
Thatch. Hair: spec, the hair of
the head (1609).
Thatched- head. An Irishman: in
contempt. [Nar&s: one wearing the
hair matted together, as the native
Irish in times past.] (1612).
Thatch-gallows, A worthless fellow
(Grose).
Theg (or Teaich) gen. Bight
shillings; theg (or teaitch) yanneps,
eightpenco.
There. Colloquial for smart (q.v. ) :
e.g, all there, alert, first-rate, up to
the mark, nothing wanting: also to
get there (1) to achieve; and (2) to
make one's jack (q.v.) : also to get there
uritlt. both feet (1821 ).
Theta. To mark with Theta, to
condemn to death. [The first letter
(the unlucky letter) or Gr- edvaros^
death.]
Thick. 1. Generic for obtuseness :
e.g. as subs., stupid follow, a block-
head: also thick -head, thick -skull,
thiok-pato, thick-sconce, thick-skin.,
thick- witfi, etc.; the corresponding
adjectival forma, dull, stupid, hide-
bound (1582). 2. Porter: ironically
said to be a decoction of brewers'
aprons. 3. Cocoa. As adj. (1 ) inti-
mate or (Scots) chief: e.g. As thick as
thieves, as thick as inkle-weavers, q.v.
(1525). As adv., out of the common,
extraordinary, solid: a general inten-
sive; hence to lay it on thick, to
exaggerate, to surfeit with praise:
also to lay it on urith a trowel: of.
Wide; got 'em thick, very drunk; see
Screwed; a bit thick, rather indecent
(1563). Through thick and thin, thor-
oughly, steadily, at all costs; hence
thicb-and-thin, sincere, out-and-out
(<l-v.). [Orig. over rough or smooth
places ; i.e. through coppice or sparse
land.] (1359).
Thicker (Harrow). Thucydides :
the translation of which is set hi the
Upper School.
Thicklips. A negro. Whence
thick-lipped (1593).
Thick-'un. A sovereign; 20s.:
also a crown piece; 5s. Hence to
smash (change) or Hue a thick *un
(1863).
Thief. 1. A term of reproach : not
necessarily a robber: thus (Grose)
you are a murderer and a thief, you
have killed a baboon and stolen his
face; vulgar abuse (1440). 2. A
mushroom growth on a burning wick
which makes the candle gutter, a
waster (1598): Bishop (Grose). 3. A
bramble: of. bramble, country lawyer,
keeping in mind the A.S. thefethorn,
bramble. 4. Synonyms for thief (a
person guilty of larceny, robbery,
swindling, or crookedness of any kind :
the following list runs up and down
the whole gamut of roguery). Aaron,
abacter, abaddon, abandanad, abra-
ham-cove, aok-man, ack- pirate, acqui-
sitive cove, Adam, Adam Filer, adept,
affidavit-man, afflicke, alsatian, ambi-
dexter, amuser, anabaptist, angler,
angling -cove, arch -cove, arch -dell,
arch-doxy (Grose), arch gonnof, arch-
rogue, area-sneak, ark-pirate, ark-ruff,
artful - dodger, autem - diver, avoir-
dupois - man. Babe, back - jumper,
back-stall, badger, baggage-smasher,
baldover, bank-sneak, barabbas, bar-
nacle, baster, beak, beaker - hauler,
beaker-hunter, bearer-up, beau-trap
(Grose), bene - feaker, bene - gybe,
bester, bilk (Sheridan), bilker, TBilly
Buzman, billy-fencer, bird-lime, bite,
bit-faker, bit-make, black-leg, blasted-
fellow, blaating-cull, blowed-in-the-
400
Thief.
Thief.
glass-stiff (American tramps1 ), bludger, heaver, hedge-creeper, highpad, high-
bludget, blue -pigeon flyer, bluey- tober (or toby), hoist, hoister (or
hunter, bob, bobbyt'trister» bonnet, hoyster), hook, hooker, ho veller, Hugh
boodler, bookkeeper, bouncer, boung- Prowler. Ingler, innocent, int, Irish
nipper, bowman, bridle -cull, brief- toyle (JS. E.). Jack-in-a-box, Janus-
snatcher, broad cove, broadsman, mug, jaxkman, jerry-sneak, Jew, jilter,
bubber, bubble. bubbler, budge, buffer, jingler, jockey, jumper. Ken-cracker,
buffer - napper, bugger, bug - hunter, ken - mailer, kiddy (Grose), kiddy-
bulk, bulk-and-file, bull- trap, bully- nipper, kidsman, kinchin-cove, kite,
buck, bully-cock, bunco-steerer, bunco- kirk-buzzer, kitchener, klep, knap,
man, bung, bung - napper, bunter, knight, knight of the road, knight of
burner, buster, buttock - and - file, St. Nicholas, knowing one, kmick,
button, buttoner, buz-bloke, buz-eove, knuckler. Ladrone, Tag, landloper,
buz-faker, buzman, buzzer, buzlock. landlubber, landpirate, landshark,
Canter (canting crew, generic for lark, latch • drawer, leatherhead, leg,
thieves, rogues, and beggars), Captain legger, lift, lifter, little - sneaksman,
Sharp, carrier : cat-and -kitten nipper, lob-crawler, lob-sneak, Inlly-prigger,
chariot - buzzer, oharley - pitcher, lumberer, lumper. Mace-cove, mags-
chaunting-cove, chive or (chiff) thief, man (Mayhew, MataeZl, Henley),
chouse, chouser, christener, circling- maker, mill - ben, money - dropper,
boy, clank -napper, clicker, clink- mounter, mocher. Nabber, nabbler,
rigger, cloak - twitcher, clouter, cloy, nailer, napper, nasty-man, natty-lad,
cloyer, cly-filoher, cogger, collector, needle, needle-point, Newgate-bird (or
colt, cork, conveyancer, conveyor, nightingale), Newmarket-heath com-
coney - catcher, counterfeit - crank, missioner, nibbler, nibbling - cull,
cover, coverer, crack, cracksman, nicker, nick-pot, nickum, night-bird
crony, crook, cross-bite, cross-biter, (cap, hawk, hunter, poacher, snap,
cross - famker, crib - cracker, cross, trader or walker), nigler (a sweater),
cross-cove, crossman, cross-mollisher, nimmer, nip, nipping Christian, nob-
crow, cruiser, cunniag-man, curtail, bier, nob-pitcher, noae (Grose), Office-
cut-purse, cutter. Damber (Grose,), sneak, old bird (or hand), olli compolli,
damned soul, dancer, darkman's ostler, out-and-outer, outrider. Pad,
budge, dead-nap, deeker, deep-one, pad- borrower, padder, paddist, palmer,
diddler, dimber-damber (Grose), ding- panel dodger, panel-thief, pannyman,
boy, dinger, dip, dipper, dipping-bloke, parlour-jumper, pea-rigger, pea-man,
dive, diver, dog- buffer, dragsman, peter (a safe thief), peter-biter, peter-
drag-sneak, draw -latch, drop-cove, claimer,peter*hunter,peterman,picaro,
dropper, dromedary, drummer, drun- picaroon, picker, picker-up, pickereer,
ken tinker, dubber, dudder, duffer, pick - penny, pick - pocket, pie - man,
dummerer, dummy -hunter, dunaker. pigeon, pinch - gloak, pitch -fingers,
Eriff, eaves-dropper (Grose). Facer, poacher, pocket-book dropper, poul-
fagger, family (generic), father, terer, practitioner, prig, prigger, prig-
fawney - rigger, fence, fencing-cully, man, Prince Prig, prinado, prowler
ferret, riddle, fidlam - bens, figger, (or Hugh Prowler), propnailer,
fUcher, filching - cove, filching - mort, pudding-snammer, puQer-up, purple
file, finder, finger- smith, fire-prigger, dromedary, puffer, puggard, push
fish-hook, flash-cove, flashman (Grose), (generic), pushing tout. Quarrel
flash -gentry (generic), flat - catcher, picker, queer bail (or bird), queer-bit-
fleecer, flimper, flying-cove, fobber, maker, queer bluffer, queer cole fencer,
f ogle - hunter, foist, foot -pad, fore- queer cole maker, queer plunger,
beggar, fork, forker, frater, free- queer-prancer, queer shover, Bamper
booker, free - hooter, freshwater- (ramp, or rampsman), ranger, rank-
warmer, frisker, funfcer. Gagger, rider, rapparee, rascal (Grose), roader-
gallows-bird, gambler (Grose), gar- hunter, reader-merchant, repeater and
reteer, garrotter, geach, gentleman of revolver (American tramps' ), resurrec-
the road, gentleman's master, gentry tdonist, ring - dropper, ring - faller,
(generic), silt, gin -spinner, glasier, river-rat, road-agent, roberd's m^
gleaner, glinimerer, gold - dropper, (or knave), rob-thief, rogue, rook,
gonno^ goodfellow, grafter, Greek, rover, royal scamp, royal foot-scamp,
groaner, gun, gutter-prowler. Hawk, rumblex, runner, running gtaoor,
470
Thief-fakers.
Thing.
running - snavel. Saint Peter's son,
St Nicholas's olerk, St Nicholas's
clergyman, salter, satyr (cattle thief),
sawny - hunter, scamp, scampsman,
screwsman, scuffle - hunter, setter,
shark, sharp, sharper, shaver, sheep-
biter, sheep - napper, sheep - shearer,
she -napper, shifter, shoful - pitcher,
shop-bouncer, shop-lift, shop-lifter,
shoulderer, shoulder - sham, shover,
shark, shutter-racket worker, shyce,
shyster, silk-snatcher, silver cooper,
skylarker, slink, smasher, smugger,
snabbler, snaffle, snaffler, snaggler,
snakesman, snammer, snap, snapper,
snapper - up, snatch - cly, snatcher,
sneak, sneak-thief, sneaking-budge,
sneaksman, sneck - drawer, sneeze-
lurker, snick - f udger, snide - pitcher,
snow-dropper, snow -gatherer, snudge,
soaper, sourplanter, son of St Peter,
spice-gloak, stall (or stale), stallsman,
stander - up, standing - budge, stook-
hauler, sutler, swagsman, sweetener,
swigman, swimmer, swindler. Tail-
buzzer, thimble - rigger, thimble -
twister, till-sneak, tinny-hunter, toby-
gill, toby - man, tool, tooler, top-
sawyer, tosher, toy -getter, tradesman,
traveller, tripper-up, Tyburn-blossom.
Unicorn, unregenerate, upright-man.
Vampor, village bustler, voucher.
Walking poulterer, watchmaker,
waterpad, water-sneak, water-sneaks-
man, welcher, wheedle, whipster,
whispering dudder, whyo, wild rogue,
wipe-drawer, workman, wrong 'un,
Corps. Other nicknames (also derived
from the initials) are The London
Thieving Corps (1855-57); The Moke
Train (1857-60), etc. Safe as a thief
in a mill, very secure (1690).
Thieving-irons. Scissors.
Thimble. A watch; ayaok(q.v.):
hence thimble-twister, a watch thief;
thimble and dang, watch and chain
(1785). Knight of tlte thimble, a tailor
Thief- takers. Fellows who
associate with all kinds of villains, in
order to betray them, when they have
committed any of those crimes which
entitle the persons taking them to
a handsome reward, called blood
money. It is the business of these
thief-takers to furnish subjects for a
handsome execution at the end of
every sessions (Qrose). Also, who
make a trade of helping people (for
a gratuity) to their lost goods, and
sometimes for interest or envy snap-
ping the rogues themselves; being
usually in fee with them and ac-
quainted with their haunts (J5. E.).
Thieves, Thieves' Latin. The
cant terms and slang used by thieves ;
St Giles' Greek, Pedlar's French (q.v.)
etc. (1855). The Murdering Thieves,
the Military Train; the title from
1867 to I860 of The Army Service
Thimbled. Arrested, laid by the
heels (Bee). Thimble and bodkin
army, the Parliamentary Army : in
contempt. The nobles were profuse
in their contributions of plate for the
service of the King at Oxford, while
on the parliamentary side the sub-
scriptions of silver offerings included
even such little personal articles as
those that suggested the term the
Thimble and Bodkin army (Dowell).
ThimblefuL A small quantity;
as much as may be contained in a
thimble : spec, a dram of spirits (1690).
Thimble-pie. Rapping the head
with a thimbled finger.
Thimble-rig. v sharping trick : a
pea placed on a table is quickly
covered, in irregular succession, by
three small cups, the operator betting
against the discovery of the pea ; as
this is easily palmed a successful guess
is at the option of the sharper, and
only allowed for the due landing of
the victim. Hence such derivatives
as thimble-rig (or -man), thimble-rigging,
and as verb (1835).
Thin. One or two modern usages
of thin verge on the colloquial: e.g.
a thin (poor) excuse ; a thin (gutless)
play ; a thin (trashy) novel ; too thin
(or T. T.), frivolous, inadequate, in-
sufficient to deceive, etc. Also (pro-
verbial), As thin, as a lath ; as thin as
the last run of shad (1601 ).
Thin Red Line (The). The Princess
Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland High-
landers): of the 2nd battalion, late
The 93rd Foot.
Thing. 1. In familiar usage (ad-
miration, pity, scorn, or endearment),
a living creature, male or female : e.g.
sweet thing (an old endearment); a
poor thing (a pitiful object); you
thing; a thing of a man (contemptu-
ously): also a thing to thank God on
(Shakespeare) ; a mere thing in one's
hands, a puppet, a nonentity ; all that
sort of thing, hardly worth notice,, no
Thingumbob.
Three
class (q.v.), etc., etc. (1440). 2. In
pi., (a) belongings, sticks (q.v.), traps
(q.v.); and (6) clothes: as in the
phrase, Put on your things (1383).
The thing. 1. What is right, proper,
becoming, fashionable, etc. (1759).
2. In pi., base coin. See Know, Soft,
Handsome, and Good thing.
Thingumbob. 1. Used for the
proper name of a person or thing, (a)
when forgotten; or (6) when it is not
desired to specifically name. Variants
are numerous : e.g. thingumajig,
thingum, thingummy, thingamy, ihing-
umbee, thing - a - merry, ihingummtte,
thingomightum (1751).
Thin-guts. A starveling (1631).
' Think. See Penny, Small Beer.
Thin- 'un. A half sovereign, 10s. ;
cf. thick-'un.
Thirding. A custom practised at
the Universities, where two -thirds
of the original price allowed by the
upholsterers to the students for house-
hold goods returned to them within
the year (Oradus ad Cantab., 1803).
Thirteen (or Thirteener ). An Irish
shilling, 13d. : also thirteen (1837).
Thirteen Clean Shirts. Three
months' imprisonment.
Thirteen-pence Halfpenny. Hang-
man's wages (1602).
Thirty-pound Knight. A creation
of James I. \Nares : He created the
order of baronet, which he disposed
of for a sum of money; and it seems
that he sold common knighthood as
low as thirty pounds, or at least it
was so reported (1605).
Thoke (Winchester College and
prov.). Best: spec, lying in bed.
Hence, as verb, to lie in bed late.
Thokester, an idler; thoky (or thokish),
idle. Also to thoke upon, to antici-
pate with pleasure: e.g. Fm thpking
on next week ; what a thoke it will be,
with a Leave-out day, a h&tch-thoke,
and a half remedy (Wrench).
Thomas Courteous. A churl \Tyn-
dale, Works, ii. 182].
Thorn back. An old maid; also a
well-known fish, said to be exceed-
ingly provocative (B. .#.).
Thorns. To be (or sit) 'upon thorns,
to be uneasy, anxious, impatient
(1555). *
Thorough Churchman. A person
who goes in at one door of a church,
and out at the other, without stopping
(Grose). VV *
472
Thorough-cough. Coughing and
breaking wind backwards at the same
time (J3. E.).
Thorough-go-nimble. An attack
of the squitters (q.v.), a back-door
trot (q.v.). Also jerry - go - nimble
(q.v.) (1694).
Thorough-passage. In atone ear,
and out at t'other (B. E.).
Thorough-stitch. See Through-
stitch.
Thousand. Another thousand a
year, a pledge in drinking:: also
another ten thousand a year — any sum
indeed. See Bricks, and Upper Ten.
Thrapple. The throat: also
thropple : see Gutter-alley.
Thread. To spin a good thread,
to succeed.
Thread-and-thrum. Everything,
all : even to the fringe of threads left
on the loom when the web has been
removed (1592).
Threadneedle St. See Old Lady.
Thread-paper. See Hop- pole.
Three. One (or two's) company —
three's none, a suggestion to a second
or third party that * their room is
preferred before their company*
(1430). Cube of Three, 'the great
health now is, The Cube of Three,
which is the number 27, ie. the
number of the protesting lords'
(Hearne). Three times three, three
cheers, thrice repeated (1850). See
Sheet.
Three Balls. The sign of the three
balls (brass, golden or blue balls), a
pawnbroker's: see Uncle (1748).
Three-by-nine Smile. A broad
laugh (? a pun on ' benign').
Three - cornered Scraper. A
cocked hat.
Three-decker. (1) A man-of-war
carrying guns on three decks;
whence (2) a piece of furniture,
pulpit, etc., in three tiers (in a pulpit
the clerk's place was at the bottom,
the reading-desk on the second stage,
and the pulpit highest of all); (3)
a three-volume novel, or three-act
play; and (4) a coat having three
capes round the shoulders (1814).
Three - draws - and - a - spit. A
cigarette.
Three F's (The). The demands of
the Irish Land League: Free Sale,
Rxity of Tenure, and Fair Rent;
practically conceded by Mr Gladstone's
* • 'Act (1881).
Three-legged Stool.
Throw.
Three-legged Stool. To comb one's
Tweed with a three-legged stool (or joini-
stool), a humorous threat of punish-
ment.
Three Trees (The). The gallows
(1582). Also three-legged stool ; three-
cornered tree; three-legged mare (also
two-legged mare, and mare with three
legs), the Tyburn tree, and triple tree'.
see Nubbing-cheat. [Executions at
Tyburn were abandoned in 1783, and
thenceforward (in London) till 1868
took place in front of Newgate].
Three-out. See Out.
Three - penny (or Three - half -
penny). Common, vulgar, in little
esteem, of little worth: cf. 'three-
inch fool' (Shakespeare, * Tarn. Shrew,'
iv. i.). Hence three-penny planet, an
unpropitious augury ; three-half -penny -
horse-toaf (in contempt of an under-
sized person) (1555).
Three-ply.. A Mormon having
three wives.
Three-quarters of a Peck. The
neck : rhyming slang : amongst experts
three quarters, and written ' g.'
Three Stride Business. Three
strides between each hurdle: the
crack style.
Three R's (The). Beading, 'riting,
and 'rithmetic; a jesting toast pro-
posed by Sir William Curtis, Lord
Mayor of London of 1795, at a dinner
given by the Board of Education.
Three Tens (The). The 1st
battalion East Lancashire Regiment,
late The 30th Foot. Also The Triple
X7S.
Three Sheets. See Sheets.
Threeswins, Threepence.
Three-threads (or thirds). Half
common ale, and the rest stout or
double beer (B. JE.); three - thirds,
and denoted a draught, once popular,
made up of a third each of ale, beer,
and * two-penny,' in contradistinction
to 'half-and-half; this beverage was
superseded in 1722 by the very similar
porter or * entire ' (Chamber s).
Three-up. A gambling game.
Three half -pennies are skied to a
call: if they do not fall alike, the
cry is void, and the operation is
repeated. When the three coins
come off (i.e. fall alike), bets are
decided. If two play, it is "up for
up,' ie. they toss and cry alter-
nately : if three or more join in, it is
a school, and one, » 'pieman,' cries
to the halfpence of the others until
he loses, when the winner of the toss
becomes 'pieman ' in turn.
Three X's (The). The 1st battalion
East Lancashire Regiment, late The
30th Foot.
Threp (Thrip, or Thrups). Three-
pence (1696).
Thresher. Captain Thresher, in
1806 an Irish Catholic organization
was formed to resist the payment of
tithes: threats and warnings were
sent out signed * Captain Thresher.*
Throat. Throat occurs in a few
colloquialisms: e.g. To lie in one's
throat, to lie flatly: an. expression
of extreme indignation; to cub one
another's throats, to engage in cut-
throat (q.v.) competition or conduct
ruinous to either; to cut one's own
throat (or to cut the throat of), to ruin
oneself, to shipwreck chances or
interests; to have one's throat lined,
to be void of taste; to wish for a
throat a mUe long and a palate at every
inch of it, a modern echo of Rabelais :
see Bone, Stick (1637).
Throttle (or Thropple). To strangle
(Grose).
Through. Colloquialisms range
themselves under Through as follows :
To be through, (1) to have finished: as
of a meal, ' Are you through ? ' (2)
to be acquitted (old thieves' : Grose) ;
(3) to complete a bargain; to have
been through the mill, to have learned
by experience; also see Alphabet,
Thick, Water, and other nouns.
Througbshot. Spendthrift: e.g. a
flvrough shot sort of fellow.
Through-stitch. Thorough, com-
plete, *over shoes, over boots'
(B. E.), to stick at nothing (Grose):
a tailor's expression. Hence, to go
through stitch (1611).
Throw. Among slang and col-
loquial usages may be enumerated:
To throw a levant, to make off; see
Bunk; to throw a sop to Cerberus (see
Sop); to throw cold water, to dis-
courage, to damp; to throw dust (or
pepper) in the eyes, to mislead, to
dupe; to throw off, (1) to do or talk
offhandedly: spec, to convey un-
pleasant allusions under a mask of
pleasantry (Grose); (2) to brag of
past booty, (thieves': Grose); (3)
to discard ; and (4) to start the Back
(fox-hunters'); to throw oneself into,
to do zealously; to ft/row out, to expel
473
Throw-back.
with violence; to throw over, to desert ; timidalion practised by masters on
to throw overboard, to abandon; to their servants: when toe latter are
throw together, (1) to do hastily, and compelled to vote as their employers
(2) to bring together frequently : as please, under pain of losing their
* their marriage came about through situations (HaU^well).
being thrown much together ' ; to throw Thump. A heavy blow with club,
up, to resign, to desist, to chuck up fist, or anything that resounds : also
' " " ' as verb (Grose). [Century : Not found
Middle English;
"
(q.v.); to throw up the sponge (:
Sponge) ; to throw about, to seek an
opportunity, to try expedients; to
throw back, to revert ; to throw in for,
to enter : as for a race ; to throw to the
dogs, to put aside as valueless; to
throw off the belt, to stop ; to have a
throw at, to attack; to throw snot
about, to weep; to throw (or throw
down) a paper (lesson, examination,
etc.), to floor (q.v.); to throw the feet,
to beg, hustle, or do anything that
involves much action.
Throw-back. A set-back, a rever-
sion; also to throw back, to revert to
type.
Thrum. To play on any instru-
ment stringed with wire, to strum.
Hence thrummer (1550). As subs.,
in pL, threepence, threps, (q.v.):
see Rhino. Also thrumbuskins and
thrummop. Thread and thrum, see
Thread.
Thrum - cap. Bough headgear
(1694). ^
Thug. 1. A nickname for a
member of the native American
party ; 2. a cut-throat ruffian.
Thumb. To drain a glass upon
the thumb-nail: the glass must be
emptied so that there remains only
a drop that will not run off the nail :
see Supernaculum. Among colloquial
phrases are : A thumb under the girdle,
. apparently
variant of dump."] Hence thumper.
Also, This is better than a thump on
the back with a stone (Grose: said
on giving a drink of good liquor on
a cold morning); 'Thatch, thistle,
thunder, and thump' (Grose: words
to the Irish, like the Shibboleth of
the Hebrews) (1596).
Thumper (Thumping, etc.). 1.
Anything impressive; thumping, un-
usually large, heavy, etc. (Grose)
(1709). 2. In pi., dominoes.
Thumpkin. A barn filled with
hay.
Thunder 1 A mild oath: also
thund&ration } thunder-and-lightning I
and thunder- and -turf[ By thunder,
By God, and the Devil, and what
comes between. To cottar (or steal)
one's thunder, to appropriate another's
work, ideas, etc.
Thunderbomb (H.M.S.). An im-
aginary ship of enormous dimensions.
Thunderer (The). TJie Times
newspaper.
Thundering. A strong intensive :
great, large, tremendous, etc. (1597).
Thunder-mug. A chamber-pot.
Thusness. Why this thusness? A
pleonastic, Why ?
Thwack. To beat with a stick
or cudgel (B. $.), a great blow with
an indication of gravity or sadness; a stick" across th'e shoulders "(Grose) •
rule of thumb (q.v.) ; all his fingers thick thwack, blow after blow (1574) '
are thumbs (of a clumsy person : also "ri *-- » ^- v ''
thumbless); to bite the thumb (see
Bite) ; under one's thumb, under com-
plete control, subservient; finger and
Thwacker. Anything very much
out of the common; thwacking, tre-
mendous, great (1620).
r^w ^u.u.ui, ouuooivieuiFj jirtyer ana Tib. 1. A woman: generic fcf
ihwnb , inseparable. Further, a weU- Tom, man), a usage that ling
thumbed book, a rough-handled book; K« — ~* - *•'•— « - J—- . "s
one thumbed out of respectability;
thumb-marked, bearing unmistakable
traces of an individual artist, reader,
performer, etc. Also proverbial. If
you bite your thumb there's hell to
Thumber. (1) A sandwich; and
(2) a slice of bread and meat carved
and eaten between finger and thumb, goose (1567).
Thumbing. A Nottingham phrase, Tibb's-eve. An indefinite
u««d to deicnbe that specie* of in- (Grose; ' Irish' , . . <St
474,
lingered; hence, 2. a term of en~
dearment: also a calf; and, 3. con-
temptuously, a wanton. Tib of the
buttery, goose (sometimes, an endear-
ment) (1582). 4. The anus. 5. A
bit: hence tib fo occabot, a, bit of
tobacco. To tib out (Charterhouse),
to go beyond bounds (1854).
Jib;?y*^Butte^ <or Tib>- A
date
Tie.
evening, the evening of the last
day or day of judgment ; as He
will pay you on St Tibb's eve ') :
see Queen Dick.
Tibby. 1. A cat. 2. The head ;
to drop on one's tibby, to take
unawares.
Tichborne's Own. The 6th
Dragoon Guards (Carabineers): c.
1871-74, at the time o± the Tichborne
trial, Sir Roger Tichborne having
(1849) served in the regiment.
Tick (or Ticket). A word regarded
as slang to-day (or verging thereon)
that can boast of considerable (and,
indeed, honourable) antiquity: an ab-
breviation of ticket, a tradesman's
bill, formerly written on slips of paper
or cards. Hence tick (or ticket), credit,
a debt; as verb, to buy or take on
trust, to run a score ; to tick up (or to
have the run of the ticket), to put to
account, to run in debt (Fr., avoir
Pardoise=to slate); what's the ticket?
what's the price (Fr., queUe est le
marche du bceuf gras?) (1609). To
tick and toy, to dally, to wanton
(1550).
Ticker. 1. A watch; also tick :
Fr.,focanfe(1789). 2. (Stock Exchange
and Post Office). An automatic tape-
machine. 3. An ignoramus who talks
ior talking's sake, 4, A crib-biting
horse (1802).
Ticket. L An account, a score:
now tick (q.v.) 2. A pass, a licence:
also ticfcrum (£.£!,): cf. approximation
to FT., Etiquette: hence 3. a visiting
card whence (from 2 and 3) the ticket,
the correct thing; thatfs the ticket,
that's the thing, that's all right t also
that's the ticket for soup, you've got it
—be off I (1611). 4. (a) A printed
list of candidates in an election; (b)
the candidates ; and (c) a policy ; a
platform (q.v.); whence straight ticket,,
the party nominations, representing
the official programme; split ticket,
a divided policy, a ticket containing
the names of candidates representing
several differing interests or divisions ;
scratchfd-ticket, a list of candidates
from which names have been erased ;
mixed ticket, a list in which the nomi-
nations of different interests or parties
have been blended; to run ahead of
(he (or one's) ticket, to receive a larger
vote than the average vote polled oy
one's associates on the same electoral
ticket. Similarly to run behind the
ticket is to receive less than such
an average vote. A hard ticket, an
unscrupulous man; a hard nut to
crack. To work the ticket, to procure
discharge by being pronounced medi-
cally unfit.
TicMe. See Ticklish. As verb (1)
to chastise : frequently (as in to tickle
one's tail] a humorous threat of punish-
ment; hence tickletad (ticldetoby, or
tickler),, (a) a schoolmaster's rod; (&)
a schoolmaster ; (c) a whip or strap j
(d) a small weapon carried on the
person: a knife or pistol (1598); (2)
to bribe, to fee: also to tickle one's
palm (or hand).
Tickle - brain. 1. Strong drink;
hence, 2. a taverner: also tickle-
pitcher, a tosspot (1598).
Tickler. 1. A puzzler : anything
difficult or perplexing : also (HattiwcW)
a shrewd cunning person. 2. A small
pocket-ledger; also a banker's register:
of bills (of exchange) payable and
receivable, and daily cash balances.
3. A dram: also (American) a half
pint flask of spirits (1840). 4. A small
poker : used to save a better one : cf .
Curate. 6. A bowie knife (1843). 6.
See Tickle.
TickJf- pitcher. See Tickle-brain.
Tickle-text A parson : see Bible-
pounder.
TiddipoL An overdressed fat young
woman in humble life (HattiweH).
Tiddle. To advance by slow
degrees, or small motions : e.g. to fiddle
& ball, a marble, a wheelbarrow, etc.
Tiddling, getting on bit by bit: also
to potter, to fidget (1748).
Tiddlies. To run tiddlies, to run
over unsafe ice.
Tiddly wink. An unlicensed house :
a pawnbroker's (also leaving -shop,
q.v.), a beershop, a brothel, etc. As
verb, to spend more than prudence or
custom will sanction.
Tidy. An antimacassar. As adj.,
considerable, pretty large, fine,
healthy, comfortable, important, etc,
(1360). As verb, to put (or place) in
order, to make neat: usually to tidy
up, tidy, neat (Grose) has long been
recognised (1853).
Tie. To marry, to hitch (q.v.), to
splice (q»v<): hence a knot tied with
me tongue that cannot be untied with
the teeth, matrimony (1619). Also
phrases and colloquialisms: To tie
one'* hair (or wool), to puzzle (tailor*' ) ;
475
Tie-up.
Timbered.
to tie up, (1) to forswear: e.g. to tie
up prigging, to lead an honest life
(thieves'); and (2) to knock out
(pugilists') : tied up, (I) finished,
settled ; (2) costive. See Apron-
strings, Bide, Saint.
Tie-up. An obstruction, a blockade,
a closure : e.g. a strike, a blocked
bill, etc.
Tiff. 1. Small beer, swipes (q.v.).
Hence, a moderate draught: a tiff
of punch, a small bowl of punch; as
verb, to drink: tiffing, eating and
drinking out of meal time (Grose) :
also tiffin (Anglo - Indian), a meal
between breakfast and dinner (1654).
2. A slight quarrel: also as verb (a)
to have words, and (b) to go peevishly ;
whilst tiffy (or tijfish) petulant, easily
riled (q.v.) ; tiffing, disputing or falling
out (1700).
Tiffity-taffetty Girl (or Taffeta-
punk). A courtesan. [Tiffany, Epi-
phany : whence tiffany silk, a silk for
holiday wear: a gauze-like material.
Taffeta also, a transparent silk. Hence,
tiffity-taffety girl, one who discloses
almost as much as she dissembles:
cl Loose-bodied gown ; tiff, to deck,
to array ; tiffany (or taffefy), wanton,
soft, yielding (1598).
Tiger. A raff. Tigrish, dissolute.
1. A smart -liveried boy -groom; a
show servant: whence (loosely) a
man's out-door servant in contradis-
tinction to a page, a ladies' attendant
(1827). 2. An intensive form of ap-
plause; an addition thought to em-
bellish the traditional three cheers:
whence three cheers and a tiger, three
cheers wound up by a growl, screech,
or howl (new in 1842). 3. Streaky
bacon. To fight the tiger, to gamble
with professionals ; also (loosely) to
play cards. Hence tiger - hunter, a
gambler. See Bengal Tigers.
Tigerkin. A cat (1849).
Tight In pi., closely fitting gar-
ments; e.g. (1) small clothes (q.v.);
and (2) a garment fitting skin-tight to
the legs or the whole body, either to
display the form or for freedom of
movement (chiefly theatrical). As
adj., 1. generic for merit; thus a
tight (strong or active) lad; a tight
(lively or pretty) wench; a tight (an
adroit) question; a tight (well-built)
ship ; a tight (skilful) workman ; a tight
(pleasant) island, etc. : again, aU tight,
in good health (or form); neat and
tight, in good trim (1280). 2. Close,
stingy, dear, hard-up; hence a tight
(straitened) market; tight (scarce)
money ; a tight (hard) bargain ; a tight
(stingy) man: cf. Easy: hence to
tighten, to become dear (of money).
3. Severe, hard, difficult : e.g. a tight
(a straining) puU; a tight, (barely
possible) squeeze i a tight (a;,J:ward)
position (corner, place, etc.); a tight
(hacking) cough. 4. Drunk; full of
liquor : see Screwed (1867). 5. (Win-
chester College). Fast, hard ; a tight
bowler, etc. : as superlative adverb
now only used in %^-junior ; tight-
snob, tight-rot, and other such uses are
obsolete. Blow me tight : see Blow.
Tight-cravat. The hangman's
noose: see Horse-collar.
Tightener. A hearty meal: cf.
Kaffir's tightener. To do a tightener,
to eat heartily.
Tight-fit (Vermont Univ. ). A good
joke : the teller is said to be hard up.
Tike (or Tyke). 1. A dog 1 spec,
a our (a dog with a docked tail : see
Curtail); a mongrel. Hence, 2. a
clodhopper, a churl, a mean snarling
rascal: spec, a Yorkshireman (q.v.)
(1363).
Tilbury. Sixpence, 6d. ; see Rhino.
Tile. A hat: spec, a tall silk-hat,
or chimney-pot (q.v.): see Golgotha.
Tile-frisking, stealing hats from halls
and lobbies (Grose). A tile loose, silly,
crazy. On the tiles, on the loose,
caterwauling.
Till-sneak. A thief whose speciality
is robbing shop-tills.
Tilly. Easy as titty, very easy.
Till y-v ally. Pish! Nonsense!
Bosh! (1529).
Tilter. A sword: also to tilt, to
fight with rapiers (j?. !$,).
Timber. 1. The stocks. 2. In pi.,
the legs : Shiver (or dash) my timber* I
(a mock oath), plague take my wooden
legs: see Dash; also timber toes, (a)
a wooden,- legged man; (6) a person
wearing clogs (East End). 3. A club-
bing at the hands of the toughs ot a
town unfriendly to tramps.
Timber-mare. See Horse.
Timber - merchant A street
match-seller, a spunk -fencer (q.v.).
Timbered. Well (or dean)
timbered, well made ; timber, strength
might Also, Sow'shetimbered? Row's
he built ? not timbered up to my weight,
not my style.
476
Timber-taster.
Tip.
Timber-taster. A dockyard official
who examines timber and decides on
quality and fitness.
Timber - tuned. Heavy - fingered,
wooden.
Timber-yard. A wicket.
Timbrell. The pillory (1593).
Timdoodle. A silly fellow
(Halliwdl).
Time. Cabdrivers to express 9s. 9d.
say that 'it is a quarter to ten ' ; if
3s. 6d., half -past three; if 11s. 9d, a
quarter to twelve; they can hardly
have originated a system which has
been in existence as long as the adage,
' Time is money * ; they have, however,
the full use of the arrangement, which
is perhaps the simplest on record.
The time of day, (1) the immediate
trick, the latest dodge, the absolute
aspect of affairs ; thus, to put up to the
time of day^ to initiate; to know the
time of day, to be fully informed, on
the spot (q.v.), to know what's
o'clock (q.v.); that's the time of day,
* That's how we does it!' (1687); (2)
A knock-out blow; (3) A good joke;
(4) a salutation, a greeting: Good
morning, etc. (1609). To do (or serve)
time, to go to prison ; hence timer, a
convict: e.g. first, second, and tMrd
timer, a prisoner serving for a first,
second, or third stretch. To knock out
of time, to hit out, so to punish an
opponent that he cannot come up
to the call of time. On time (I)
punctual; and (2) abreast of things.
In good time, Just so! Well and
good ! Fr., a la bonne heure (1603).
See Good time, High old time.
Timothy Tearcat See Tear.
Tim-whisky (Timmy- whiskey or
Whiskey). A light one-horse chaise
without a hood (Grose).
Tin. Money; generic: see Rhino.
Hence to tin out, to pay (1836).
Tin-bellies. The 1st and 2nd Life
Guards : from the cuirass.
Tinclad. A gunboat: spec, a musket-
proof gunboat such as wore used
during the civil war on the western
rivers: the armour plating of these
was very light. Also (general), any
ironclad, a tin-pot (q.v.).
Tinge. A commission on the sale
of out-of-date stock: cf. Spiffings.
Tinger. A great lie (HaUiioeU).
Tingle-tangle. The ringing of
bells.
Tin -gloves (Winchester). Other
ordeals . . , were not quite so harm-
less ... a pair of tin gloves which
Bully would furnish in the following
manner. Taking a half - consumed
stick from the fire, he would draw
the red-hot end down the back of
Green's hand between each of the
knuckles to the wrist, and having
produced three lines of blisters, would
make two or three' transverse lines
across. A scientifically fitted pair of
gloves of this description was gener-
ally, if not pleasant wear, of great
durability (Mansfield).
Tinkard. A begging tinker (1575).
Tinker. 1. An unskilful workman,
a botcher. 2. A makeshift ; a botch,
a bungle. As verb, to make barely or
rudely serviceable : e.g. to 'tinker up a
patient, to keep Death at arm's length ;
to tinker a fence, to stop a gap here
and there; to tinker a bill, to make
it temporarily workable (1857). To
swift like a tinker, to tipple without
stint (1694). See Lazy.
Tinker's-budget (or news). Stale
news, piper's news (q.v.).
Tinker's Damn. A small standard
of value : usually, in phrase, Not
worth a tinker's damn (or curse).
Tinkler. 1. A vagrant ; whence, 2.
a runaway. 3. A bell ( 1838).
Tinny. A fire; tinny -hunter, a
thief working at a conflagration.
Tinpot. An ironclad: cf. tin-clad.
As adj., generic for shoddy; thus a
tin -pot (poor or pretentious) game;
tin-pot (shabby) lot; tin-pot (mean)
company; in a tin-pot wavy, in poor or
worthless fashion; also (American)
tin-horn.
T i n - t a b (Dulwich College). The
carpenter's shop.
Tin Tabernacle. An iron -built
church.
T i p. 1. Special information,
private knowledge; specifically an
advice concerning betting or a Stock-
Exchange speculation intended to
benefit the recipient: the straight tip,
an absolute cert (qv.); in racing,
direct advice from owner or trainer;
also a horse, a stock, etc., specially
recommended as a sound investment;
as verb, to impart? exclusive infor-
mation; hence tipster and tipper,
Thofa the tip, That's the right
thing; to mias one's tip, to fail (1567).
2. A gratuity, a vail: spec, money in
acknowledgment of service rendered
477
Tipper.
Tttch.
or expected ; also (loosely), any gift (the original meaning) ; tipsy, fuddled,
of money; likewise tippery, payment ; drunk, boosy (q.v.): also tippled or
as verb, (1) to give tips; and (2) tipt (B. E. Vmost Drunk'). Also
to earn money (1610). 3. (Felsted derivatives such as tippling, tippling*
School), (a) A false report; (6) a house, tipsify, tipsiness, tipsy-cake,
foolish blunder in translating. 4. A etc. (1450).
Tippy bobs. The wealthy classes.
Tip-top. The best, first-rate, in
the highest degree: hence tip topper
(Grose). English synonyms : A 1,
about East, about right, about par,
all brandy, all there, all the way, as
good as they make it, as good as
draught of liquor; an abbreviation
of tipple (q.v.); to tip off, to drink.
As verb, generic for doing : a verb of
general application (1567): thus to tip
the lour (cole, brass, rhino, etc.), to pay,
give, get, or lend money; to tip a
sock, to land a blow; to tip a settler,
to knock out j to tip to Adam Tiler, to
wheat, at par, bang up, Bible;
hand the swag to a confederate; to bobbish; boiler-plated, bona, bully,
tip a mish, to put on a shirt; to tip off, -»•— — +v- -i»«— ^^^ »w« «IM«
(1) to drink: see Tipple; (2) to die;
to tip the lion, to flatten one's nose
with the thumb and extend the mouth
with the fingers ; to tip a doddle (the
fives, or the gripes in a tangle), to shake
hands ; to tip a copper, to sky a coin ;
to tip a yarn, to tell a story; to tip
the traveller, to humbug, to romance
cheery, the cheese, cheesv, chic, clean
potato, clean wheat, clinking, clipping,
crack, creamy, crushing, a corker, a
daisy, dossy, downy, down to the
ground, double - distilled, first chop,
first - rate - and - a - half, fizzing, fly,
gamey, hunky, jammy, jonnick,
lummy, nap, out - and - out, pink,
plummy, proper, pure quill, real jam,
tne WUiVeUiflT, W uiuiiuug, LU ixuiiiiiuue , jjiu-UJLury, JJJ.UJ.KU., jjuio v^uua, jroiii jeuu,
to tip the wink, to wink (as a sign of right as ninepence, ripping, rooter,
,
caution, understanding, etc.) ; to tip the
red rag, to scold; to tip the rags (or
tfee legs) a gattop, or the double, to
decamp; to tip all nine, to knock all
the skittles down at once ; to tip a stave,
to sing; to tip the lime finger
(Australian), to drink; to tip the
grampus, to duck a man: a penalty
for sleeping on watch (nautical); to
tip one's boom off, to hurry away
(nautical); to tip a stave, to snag a
song; to tip a nod, to recognise; to
tip a moral, to give the straight; to
tw> a rise, to befool, etc. (1610). On
the tip of the tongue, on the point of
speech, about to be said (1843).
Tipper. 1. A special brew of ale:
named after Mr. Thomas Tipper: also
Brighton Tipper (1843). 2. See Tip.
Tipperary-Lawyer. A cudgel: of.
Plymouth-cloak.
Tippet. A hangman's rope: also
henvpen (St. Johnstone's, o|r Tyburn)
tippet (1586). To turn tippet, to
change right-about: of. Turncoat and
Turn cat-in-the-pan (1562).
Tipping. Krst-rate, jolly.
Tipple (or Tip). 1. Drink; 2. a
drinking bout: also tiplage, and as
verb. Whence not a few colloquial
usages: e.g. on the tipple, on the
booze (q.v.); to spoil a tip, to interrupt
while drinking; tippler, (1) a toper;
a fuddlecap, Sots who are continually
sipping (B. E>); and (2) a publican
478
rum, screaming, scrumptious, ship-
shape, slap-up, slick, splash up,
splendacious, splendiferous, to the
knocker, to the nines ; to rights, true
marmalade, tsing-tsing; up to Dick.
See also Whopper.
Tique. 1. Arithmetic ; and 2.
mathematics. \Warner-. from a
Harrow French master's peculiar
English.]
Tire. To alarm.
Tired. Born tired, an excuse for
assumed apathy or genuine disinclina-
tion.
Tirrit Fright, terror (1598).
Tiry. Tired (1611).
'Tiser. The Morning Advertiser.
Tish. A cubicle, a partition.
Tisty-tosty. Swaggering, swashing.
Tit. Grig, anything small : hence,
1. a small horse; and 2. a girl; a
young woman: of. filly and titter
( 1548). 3. A small portion, a morsel ;
whence tit-bit, a choice piece, a fine
snack (B. JES.) anything specially
selected. 4. See Titmouse. 5. (Dur-
ham: local). A student of Durham
University: in contempt; also'twrawfy
tit. Tit for tat, originally tap for tap
(or tip for tap), blow for clow, an
equivalent (Grose), tant for tant (B. S.)
tit for tit, and dash for dash ; hence,
to give tit for tat, to give as stood as one
gets (1577). See Tale.
Titch (Christ's Hospital). A flog-
Titivate.
Tod.
ging: also as verb. [It has been
suggested that titch= tight breeches:
a portmanteau word.]
Titivate (or Tittivate). To spruce
up, to put finishing touches to one's
toilet (1836).
Titivil. A generic reproach: a
knave, a jade. [Tom Titivil in old
moralities, the Devil] (1542).
Titley. Intoxicating liquor.
Titter. A girl (Grose) : cf. Tit.
Titter- tatter. One reeling and
ready to fall at the least touch : also
the childish amusement of riding upon
the two ends of a plank, poised upon
the prop underneath its centre ; called
also a see-saw (Grose).
Tittle-goose. A foolish blab.
Tittle-tattle. 1. Chatter, scandal,
foolish impertinent talk (B. J?.);
women's talk (Grose)-, and, 2. a
chatterbox, a gossip. As verb, to
gossip. Hence tittle-tattler and tittle-
tattling. Also proverbial saying, Tittle
tattle, give the goose more hay (1529).
Tittup (or Titup). 1. A gentle
hand-gallop or canter (Grose); hence
titupping (or titupy), (1) lively, gay,
frisky; and (2) shaky, ticklish (1704).
2. The thing (q.v.); thus that's the
tittup, that's the thing; ihe correct
tittup, the correct thing.
Tittery. Gin ; see [Drinks (1726).
Tittery- tu (or Tityre-tu). A roar-
ing boy, a street-ruffian, a Mohawk
(q.v.). [Century: In some fanciful
allusion to the first line of the first
Eclogue of Virgil, — Tityre tu pateda
recubans, etc.} (1616).
Tivy. Tantivy (q.v.)! (1669).
Tizzy. A sixpence: see Rhino.
Hence tizzy-poale (Winchester), a fives
ball (costing 6d. and formerly sold by
a head porter named Poole) ; tizzy-tick
(Harrow), an order on a tradesman to
the extent of 6d. a day (1823).
To. At, in (of places) : thus I shall
be to hum (home) ; He lives to Boston
(1837).
Toad. 1. A term of contempt;
and 2. a jocular address: e,g. You
little toad, cf. Monkey, rogue, etc.
also toadling (1621). Phrases: She
sits like a toad on a chopping block
(of a horsewoman with a baa seat);
As much need of it as a toad of a side-
pocket, no need at all; As full of
money as a toad is of feathers, penni-
less; Like a toad under a harrow, on
the rack.
Toady. 1. A servile dependant, a
lickspittle (q.v.). Also toad-eater
Hence as verb (or toad-eating), to
do dirty or reptile service, to fawn,
to lay it on thick (q.v.): Fr., avaler
des couleuwes. As adj. (toadyish,
hateful or ugly as a toad), repulsive,
soapy (q.v.), blandiloquent ; toadyism
(or toad-eating), servile adulation or
service, snobbery (q.v.), turf-hunting
(q.v.), flunkyism (q.v.). 2. A coarse
peasant- woman.
Toadskin. A five cent stamp. His
purse is made of toad's skin (of a
covetous person) (1670).
Toad-sticker. A sword : almost
universal during the war (1861-65)
(Bartlett).
Toast. 1. Originally, (1) a lady
pledged in drinking ; subsequently, (2)
any person, cause, or thing to which
success is drunk; (3) a call to drink,
and (4) the act of drinking ; also (Scots)
toss, and as verb; hence top-toast, a
reigning belle: cf. top (leading) lady ;
toaster, the proposer of another's
health (1663). 2. A toper : see Lush-
ington ; also toast and butter : in con-
tempt (1598). On toast, (1) cornered,
swindled, done (q.v.); (2) nicely
served : of food, etc.
Toasting-fork (or iron). A sword
(1596); also cheese- toaster (q.v.).
Toasty. Warmly tinted.
Tobaccanalian (Tobacconer, or
Tobacchian). A smoker. Also to-
bacconing, smoking (1615). See Pipe.
Toby (or Tober). 1. The road, the
highway : whence high - toby, a main
road; the toby (toby-lay, or toby-concern),
highway robbery, The toby applies
exclusively to robbing on horseback;
the practice of footpad robbery being
properly called the spice, though it is
common to distinguish the former by
the title of h,igh-toby, and the latter of
low-toby (Grose). Toby-gill (or toby-
man), a road thief; hightobyman, a
mounted highwayman, lowtobyman, a
footpad ; to toby, to rob on the high-
way; and done for a toby, convicted
for highway robbery: cf. gypsy tober,
road. 2. A pitch for a travelling
show. 3. A drinking jug or mug :
usually a grotesque figure of an old
man in a three-cornered hat.
Toby-trot. A simpleton.
Toco (or Toko). Chastisement:
hence to give toco, to thrash (1823).
Tod. A drink, a toddy (1861).
To-day.
Toft.
To-day. See Baker.
Toddle. A walk, a saunter: also
as verb (or to do a toddle), (1) to be off,
and (2) to totter along: as an invalid
or child. Hence toddles (toddlekins or
little toddler), an endearment to a little
child (1783).
Toddy. Originally, the juice of the
cocoa tree; afterwards, rum, water,
sugar, and nutmeg ; now generic for
a hot drink of any kind of spirits, as
whisky - toddy, rum - toddy, gin - toddy,
etc.
Toddy-blossom. A grog-blossom
(q.v.); arum-bud (q.v.).
Toddy-stick. A muddler.
Todge. Stodge : as verb, to smash,
to pulp.
To-do. Ado, a fuss, a commotion, a
set-out: of. Fr., affaire (a faire) (1330).
Toe, 1. To kick: e.g. I'll toe you. 2.
To reach (or touch) with the toes ; e.g.
to toe a line (a mark, or the scratch), (1)
to stand at attention (or at the start) ;
(2) to be fully prepared for a struggle
or contest; (3) to come up to one's
obligations; and (4) to border on
(1835). Phrases: To turn up the toes,
to die : see Hop the twig ; to tread on
one's toes, (1) to vex ; and (2) to inter-
fere (1861).
To-fit-tie (Winchester : obsolete).
It was that brute A whoto-fitti-ed
me last night . . . Let me explain . . .
it is nothing more or less than the
commencement of a Hue in the old,
familiar, As in prsesenti perfectum
format inavi . . . to fit-ti, in reference
to verbs of the third conjugation
transferred from the similarity of sound
to the schoolboy's toe ; it consisted in
tying a running noose on a piece of
clothes at the foot, putting it round
the big toe of an unconscious sleeper,
running the noose up tight, and pull-
ing till the victim followed the direc-
tion of the string from the pain getting
farther out of bed, and nearer the floor
till released (Fdstedian).
Toe-ragger. A term of contempt :
cl Toey.
Toey. A swell, a toff (q.v.) : a New
South Wales localism.
Toff. 1. A gentleman, a fop, a
swell (q.v.): cf. Toft and Tuft. 2. A
superior, a man of grit. Hence toffer,
a fashionable whore ; tofficky, dressy,
showy, gritty (q.v.): to/fetirtese, side
480
Toffee-scramble. Toffee-making :
cf. Tea - fight, Bun - worry, Muffin-
circus, etc.
Toft. A showy individual, a swell
(Eotten) : cf. Tuft and Toff.
Togger. See Torpid.
Tog (or Togs). See Togman.
Togman (Toge, Togemans, or
Tog). A coat, a cloak, a gown (1 567) :
sometimes togger, toggy, and (Tufts)
long tog. [Latin, toga, a mantle ; lit.
a covering.] Also togs, clothes; see
toggery, infra; Sunday togs, best
clothes; toged (or togged)t cloaked,
gowned, togated, or equipped ; togged
out, carefully dressed ; togged up to the
nines, dressed to kill (q.v.), full-
rigged; toggery, (1) clothes : see togs,
supra; (2) harness, equipment, be-
longings ; (3) worn-out clothes (HaUi-
weU); long -togs (nautical), shore
clothes ; upper tog (or upper togger)t
an overcoat. As verb, to dress, to
clothe, to equip.
Toheno (or Tohereno). Very nice.
[That is * hot one.*]
Toke. Generic for food, grub
(q.v.): spec, bread. Also (rare), a
piece, lump, portion. As verb (The
Leys School), to loaf (q.v.), to idle.
Token. 1. The plague (JS. K)i
also the characteristic spots of the
disease on the body, 2. A farthing:
hence a small standard of value
(J5. E.). [Properly a tradesman's
small change, of the nominal values
of Id., £d., and £d.] Tom-fool's token,
money (B. E.).
Toko. See Toco. See Bullock's
Heart.
Tol. Lot of stock, share (1851).
See Toledo.
Told. / told you so, the retort
provocant : in modern phrase, So
like a woman to say, 'I told you
so!* (1412). To le told (Tonbridge
School), to obtain one's colours in a
school team.
Toledo (or Tol). A sword-blade:
manufactured at Toledo in Spain,
whence in fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries came the finest tempered
weapons: cf. Fox. Hence arw»fcrf,
a silver-hilted sword; a queer tot, a
very ordinary weapon (1596).
Tolerable. In fair health, pretty
well: cf. Toll^ollish (1847).
Toll. To take toll, to pilfer, to
' pick and steal ' : cf . custom of millers
taking a portion of grain as compen-
ToUiban Rig.
Tom-fool.
sation for grinding. Also to get (or
take) more than a proper share (1696).
Tolliban Rig. A species of cheat
carried on by a woman, assuming the
character of a dumb and deaf conjuror
(Grose).
Tol-loll (orTol-lollish). Tolerable,
pretty good, nothing to grumble at.
Tolly. 1. A candle: spec, a tallow
caudle ; to tolly up (Harrow), to light
candles surreptitiously after the gas
has been put out: of. Brolly, Tolly,
etc. 2 (Stonyhurst). The instrument in
caning the hand: also taps; hence
tolly-shop, a Prefect's room where
corporal punishment is administered ;
and tolly-ticket, a good-conduct card,
given as a reward for specially good
work, which, presented when punish-
ment is ordered, secures immunity
except for too grave an offence : this
system of accumulated merit, now
almost obsolete, is precisely similar
to one described by Mr. Kegan Paul
in his Memories as existent at Eton
in the forties. The Totty (Bugby),
the tapering spire at the back or the
dose.
Toloben (Tottibon, or Tullibon).
The tongue : hence toloben-rig, fortune
telling.
Tolsery. A penny [HaUiweR:
A cant term.] See Rhino.
Tom. 1. A generic slight: e.g.
Tomboy ; Tom -double, Tom -farthing,
Tom-fool, Tom-noddy (all of which
see). Tomring, a contemptuous re-
ference to the use of bells in the
ceremonial of the mass (1648). 2. A
deep-toned bell: e.g. Great (or Big)
Tom of Oxford, Lincoln, Exeter :
probably onomatopoaia ; whence after
Tom, after 9 p-m. : at that hour Big
Tom of C3hristchurch, Oxford, strikes
one for every student in residence
(101); when it ceases the gates are
closed and late comers are fined on a
sliding scale up to midnight, after
which delinquents are gated (q.v.)
(1630). 3. A close-stool (HaUiweU).
Tomahawk. To bungle the shears
in fleecing sheep (1859), To owry (or
dig up) the tomahtiwk, to make peace
(or go to war), to settle a difference
(or to dispute) : it was the custom of
the North American Indians to bury
the tomahawk during time of peace :
see Hatchet.
Tom-and- Jerry Days. The period
of the Regency (1810-20) ; also, when
George IV. was king. [An allusion
to Pierce Egan's Life in London,
published in 1821: in it Corinthian
Tom and Jerry Hawthorn see life,
much of it of a low or fast order.
Tom - and - Jerry - Shop. A low
drinking-shop : see previous entry.
Tom Astoner. A dashing fellow,
a bold blade, a devil-may-care.
Tom - a - Styles. Anybody, Mr.
Thingamy (q.v.): cf. John-a-Noakes
(I??!).
Tom-a-Thrums. See Wise.
Tomato Can Vag. Draining the
dregs of an empty beer - barrel into
a tomato can.
Tomboy. 1. A boisterous boy: see
Tom; 2. a romping girl, a hoyden;
whence, 3. a strumpet: also torn-rig
(B. E.). Ac adj., rough, boisterous,
wanton (1550).
Tom Bray's Bilk. Laying out ace
and deuce at oribbage ( Vaux).
Tom Brown. Twelve in hand, or
crib (Vaux).
Tombs (The). The New York
city prison : its style of architecture
is heavy Egyptian. Hence tombs'
lawyer, a thieves' advocate: cf. Old
Bailey practitioner.
Tombstone. 1. A projecting
tooth, a snaggle-tooth (q.v.): see
Grinders. 2. A pawn-ticket, a mort-
gage deed (q.v.)
Tombstone - style. A fashion in
composition: spec, of displayed ad-
vertisements, these resembling (or
are supposed to resemble) monu-
mental inscriptions.
Tom Coney. A blundering idiot,
a thundering fool (1696).
Tom Cox's Traverse. Three turns
round the long boat, and a pull at
the scuttle butt: said of a shirker
feigning busy (1835).
Tom, Dick, and Harry (or1 Tom
and Dick). Everybody and any-
body : cf. all the world and bis wife.
As adj., commonplace (1693).
Tom-doodle. A simpleton (1709).
Tom- double. A double-dealer, a
shuffler (1705).
Tom Drum. See Jack Drum's
entertainment.
Tom-farthing. A fooL
Tom- fool. A thundering fool : an
intensive; see Tom and Jack-fool
fJaok, 8). Hence torn - /aoZery (torn
jdOy, or torn - foolishness), nonsense,
trash, anything ridiculous or trifling;
481
Tom Long.
Tom Tug.
tomfoolish, ridiculously absurd ; Tom-
fool's colours., scarlet and yellow (the
ancient motley — Red and yellow, Tom
fool's colour); More know Tom fool
than Tom fool knows (a sarcastic
retort on failing to recognise, or
professing to be unacquainted with,
a person saluting (1565).
Tom Long. A prosy talker, a
bore (q.v.): a windbag (q.v.). Also
to wait for Tom Long the carrier, to
wait to no purpose ; thafs coming by
Tom Long the carrier (of anything
Tommy. 1. Orig. a penny roll;
hence, 2. bread, food: specifically a
workman's daily allowance carried in
a handkerchief ; 3. goods supplied to
a workman in lien of wages; 4. the
truck - system (q.v.); 5. a shop run
on truck lines: also tommy-shop (or
store) ', and 6. a baker's shop ; whence
also soft (or white} tommy (nautical),
(1) bread: as distinguished from
biscuit or hard -tack (q.v.); and (2)
soft solder (jewellers') ; brown-tommy,
ammunition bread for soldiers, or that
given to convicts on the hulks;
tommy bag, a workman's scran -bag
(or handkerchief),- and tommy master,
an employer who pays in kind or by
orders on tradesmen with whom he
shares profits; as verb, to enforce
(or defraud by means of) the tommy-
system (1843). 7. A simpleton: a
Tom - fool (q.v.). 8. See Tommy
Atkins. 9. (Dublin University). A
sham shirt-front, a dickey (q.v.):
Gr. rofjt,tl, a section. 10. A tomato :
usually in plural
Tommy Atkins (Mr. Atkins, or
Tommy. (1) A soldier (of privates
only) ; and (2) among soldiers them-
selves, a private's pocket account-
book. [On attestation forms and
other documents occurs the sample
name Thomas Atkins. 'I, Thomas
Atkins, swear to do so-and-so.' The
same bogus name appears in the
Mutiny Act ; it is, in fact, a tradition
of a century, and was popularised by
Rudyard Kipling in Barrack - room
BaUads,'} Ft., Dumanet.
Tommy - axe. A corruption of
tomahawk: an instance of the law
of Hobson-Jobson (q.v.).
Tommy Dodd. 1. The odd man:
in- tossing, either winner or loser of a
call, according to agreement; also
2. the mode of tossing. (It was the
refrain of a Music Hall song, circa
1866 — Heads or tails are sure to win.
Tommy Dodd, Tommy Dodd.]
Tommy o' Rann. Scran, food.
Tommy-rot. Drivelling nonsense,
bosh (q.v.); gammon (q.v.). As verb,
to fool, to humbug ; tommy - rotics,
obscenity, erotic balderdash.
Tommy Tripe. To observe, to
pipe (q.v.): also Tommy. Tommy
his plates, look at bis feet.
Tom-noddy (or Tommy-noddy).
A fool
Tom o' Bedlam. See Bedlam
beggar and Abraham-man.
To-morrow Come Never. Never,
at the Greek calends: see Queen
Dick (1710).
Tom-pat. 1. A shoe : in Gypsy,
a foot. 2. A parson; a patrico
(q.v.); rum tom-pat, a clerk in holy
orders : patrico (properly), a sham or
hedge-priest.
Tom Pepper. A liar (Claris
Tompion. A watch. [Thomas
Tompion, a celebrated watchmaker,
died in 1669.]
Tom- piper. A piper: of. nursery
rhyme, Tom, Tom, the piper's son
(1616).
Tom-poker. A bugbear.
Tom-rig. See Tomboy.
Tom Tell-truth (or Tom Truth),
1. See Tett-truth. 2. An honest man,
a trusty fellow. 3. A true guesser
(Halliwdl).
Tom Thumb. A dwarf, a thumb-
ling (Fr., petit poucet), a hop-o'-my-
thumb (q.v.) (1592).
Tom Tiddler's Ground. Waste
ground, unsettled acreage, a No-
man's Land: properly a neutral or
barren stretch of country between
two kingdoms or provinces: e.g. the
tract between Spain and the lines of
Gibraltar.
Tom-tiler. A henpecked husband.
Tom Tit A dwarf, an insignificant
fellow, see Hop-o'-my-thumb (q.v.).
TomTitivil. SeeTitiviL
Tom-toe. The great toe.
Tom Topper. A ferryman, a river
hand : also Tom Tug.
Tom Towly. A simpleton (1583).
Tom-trot A sweetmeat: sugar,
butter, and treacle melted together
(HaUiweU). *
o IommTu*- L Afool,anrag(q.v.).
2. See Tom Topper.
Tom-tumbler.
Tooley -street tailor.
Tom- tumbler. ? The name of a
fiend. See Scot, Discoverie of Witch-
craft, 1584, as quoted in Ritson's
Essay on Fairies, p. 45 (HaUiweU).
Tom Tyler. A common fellow, a
Mr. Nobody: cf. Smith and Jones
(1583).
Ton. See Bon-ton.
Tone. That one : see Tother.
Tong. 1. In pL, pantaloons, over-
alls: see Kicks. 2. In pL, forceps:
dental or midwifery. Pair of tongs,
a lanky person, a lamp -post (q.v.):
also Tongs 1 (a sarcastic address)
Not to be touched without a pair of
tongs, a simile of disgust : also, except
at the end of a barge-pole (1668).
Hammer and tongs, see Hammer.
Tongue. Generic for speech : esp.
(1) gabble ; (2) abuse, or (3) impu-
dence. As verb (to tongue it, or to
flash the tongue), (1) to talk down; (2)
to talk at, to chide; (3) to mouth
(q.v.); and (4) to sauce (q.v.),
Whence numerous derivatives and
combinations: thus, to tongue-bang,
to scold roundly, to rate : tongue-
banger, a scold; tongue -battery, a
torrent of words, a flood of talk;
tongue - biter* an indistinct speaker :
also to bite the tongue, to keep silence ;
tongue - doughty, bragging, word -
valiant ; tongue - fence, debate, argu-
ment: tongue fencer (1) a master of
words, and (2) a mouthing-speaker;
tongue-lashing, wordy abuse; tongue-
man (1) an orator, (2) a chatterbox,
and (3) a scold : also tongue-pad, and
tonguester; tongue-powder, fluency of
phrase; tongue -shot, as far as the
voice will reach: cf. ear -shot;
tongue-sore, an evil tongue, ill-speak'-
ing; tongue-valiant, (1) free of talk :
hence (2) brave in word but cowardly
in deed ; tonguey, voluble, abusive, to
tongue walk, to abuse ; tongue warrior,
a boaster ; to tongue whip, to lash with
scorn; tongue wagging, speech-making,
verbosity, raillery: of. He can wag
his tongue better than he can wield
his sword, pen, etc. (of one promising
more than he oan perform); to wag
one's tongue, to talk, to chatter;
tongue - worts, chatter, philological
studies ; a long tongue, so full of talk
that one can't get in a word edge-
ways; auld wives' tongues, scandal.
Also phrases: On (or at) the tip (or
end) of the tongue, on the point of
speech, about to say (or tell) ; to give
tongue, to blurt out; to keep (or hold)
one's toitgue, to be silent ; to wag one's
tongue, to speak out of season ; as old
as my tongue, and a little older than my
teeth, a dovetail to How old are you ?
a tongue too long for one's teeth (or
mouth), indiscreet, over - ready of
speech ; to find one's tongue, to break
silence ; to put one's tongue in another's
purse, to silence; tongue enough for
two nets of teeth, said of a talkative
person ; the tongue of the trump, the
best, the most important thing or
person : see Trump ; Mew your tongue
(old), Shut your mouth-! The Vulgar
Tongue (Grose), cant, slang, heterodox
speech, etc.
Tonic. 1. A drink: spec, an
appetiser. 2. A halfpenny: see Rhino.
Tonish (Tony, eteA See Bon Ton.
Tonkabout (Charterhouse and
Durham). Skying a ball ; to tonic, to
drive a ball into the air: cricket.
Tonner. Usually in combination:
e.g. a ten - tanner, etc. (of floating
bottoms) : cf. twenty -thousand poun-
der (an heiress: Farquhar, Recruiting
Officer).
Tony. A simpleton (1668).
Too. This is too much, the retort
sarcastic or jocose : an echo of Artemus
Ward among the Shakers. See Bag,
Boots, Thin, Too -too.
Tool. 1. A person employed by
another (in reproach) — a jackal, satel-
lite, dupe, cat's-paw. Hence, a poor
tool, a clumsy worker, a bad hand at
anything; a mere tool, a sycophant;
also tool, a useless, shiftless fellow
(1650). 2. A weapon: spec, a sword
(1360). 3. Usually in pL, (a) pistols;
(6) housebreaking implements ; (c) the
hands, the forks (q.v.); and (d) in
sing., a small boy employed to creep
through windows, etc., to effect entry ;
hence to tool, to burgle, pick pockets,
steal ; fixed for the tools, convicted for
possession of illegal instruments; fooler,
a burglar or pickpocket; moll-tooler,
a female thief. 4. Generic for equip-
ment (cf. all senses): spec, (artists')
brushes, (authors'), books, especially
works of reference, (medical) surgical
instruments. 5. A whip; hence as
verb, to handle a team of horses skil-
fully; also (loosely), to drive; applied
to all means of locomotion — engine,
cart, bicycle, motor-oar, etc. ; to tool
along, to go quickly (1849).
Tooley -street tailor. A conceited
483
Toot.
Top.
bumptious fellow. {Soften-. The three
tailors of Tooley Street immortalised
themselves by preparing a petition, for
Parliament and presenting it with
only their own signatures thereto,
which commenced, ' We, the people of
England' — so it is said.]
Toot. 1, The Devil; and, 2. a
shiftless fellow, a good-for-nothing.
Whence (American) on a toot, raising
the devil, on a spree. See Tout.
Tooth (Teeth). A special taste,
palate, or relish ; a great liking. Hence
toothy (or toothful), palatable, to one's
liking; ike run of one's teeth, keep,
maintenance; something for the tooth,
(1) food, and (2) a tit-bit ; to love the
tooth, to gourmandise; tooth -music,
mastication (1581). Phrases and com-
binations; Hen's teeth, anything im-
aginary or rare, a rctra avis: cf. black
swan,- in spite of one's teeth, (1) in face
of opposition; (2) under protest; irn
the, teeth. (1) with difficulty or muct
ado ; (2) at long odds, or against the
grain; and (3) to one's face; to cast
(or throw] ^n the teeth, to accuse, blame,
or bring home to : see Matthew xxvii
44; to grind (or show) one's teeth, to
take amiss, to get angry ; to set one's
teeth, to steel oneself, to put one's foot
down ; to one's teeth, resolutely, boldly,
openly; from one's teeth, reluctantly,
as a matter of form, not seriously; to
hit in the teeth, to taunt, to twit ; to
hide one's teeth, to dissemble, to feign
friendship; to lie in one's teeth, to tell
unblushing falsehoods ; with teeth cmd
aH (see Tooth-and-NailJ ; between the
teefh, in a whisper, aside; to set the
teeth on edge, to repel, offend, or shook ;
to take the bit in one's teeth, to cast
aside restraint, to kick over the traces ;
to have cut one'e eye (or high) teeth, to
be cute or knowing, to know what's
what (q.v.); old in the tooth, advanced
in years: spec, in contempt of old
maids; armed to the teeth, fully pre-
pared, alert, awake (q.v.); by the skin
of the teeth, barely, by a close shave ;
dean as a hound's tooth, as clean as
may be, highly polished; to carry a
bone in the teeth (see Bone); to have
the teeffi toett afloat (or under), to be
dnmk ; to the hard teeth, very severely ;
to go to grass with teeth upwards, to
be buried; to draw teeth (medical
students': obsolete), to -wrench off
knockers; dog's-tooth, a snaggle tooth,
a tombstone (q.v.); colts' -tooth (see
484
ante); He ought to have his teeth
drawn, he should be curbed, sat upon
(q.v.).
Tooth-and-nail. In earnest, to the
utmost: i.e. even to biting and
scratching. Also with teeth and all.
Tooth - carpenter. A dentist, a
snag-fencer (q.v.).
Tooth-drawer. Like a tooth-drawer,
thin, meagre, bald (1393).
Toother. A blow on the mouth.
Toothful. A dram, a nip: cf.
Thimbleful.
Toothpick. 1. A large stack (Grose).
The Crutch and Toothpick Brigade,
foppish men about town: spec. (c.
1884) hangers-on at stage doors when
burlesque was in full swing at the
Gaiety: they affected, as the badge of
their tribe, a crutch-handled stick and
a toothpick. 2. A sword. As adj.,
narrow and pointed, like a toothpick;
spec, of footgear. See Arkansas tooth-
pick.
Tooth-rake (or scraper). A tooth-
pick (1696).
Toothy-peg. A tooth.
Tooting-tub. A church organ-
Tootle. Trashy : spec, of immature
literary effort.
Tootledum-Pattick. A fool.
Too-too. An intensive form of
too : over - and - above, more than
enough, very good, extreme, utter;
spec, (modern but obsolete) of ex-
aggerated aestheticism (1533).
Tootsie. A foot: spec, of women
and children.
Top. 1. The head. 2. The hair,
the thatch (q.v.): also top-dressing :
spec, the forelock or top-knot; whence
topper, (a) a violent blow on the head,
and (6), a hat: top lights, the eyes;
also phrases : tail over topr headlong;
top over tail, topsy-turvy (q.v.), rashly,
hastily; from top to toe, wholly; top
and tail, everything (1360). 3. In pL,
top-boots: cf. Smalls and Trunks;
also (rarely) upper garments (1707).
As verb, (1) to behead (the usage still
lingers in apiculture), to hang ; whence
to be topped, to be hung: see Ladder ;
topping-cheat, the gallows: see Cheat;
topping-cove (or topsman), Jack Ketch
(q.v.); also subs., a dying speech, a
eric for
,
(£. K) ; (2) generic for superior-
ity: to excel, surpass, cap (q.v.): tihua
to top one's part, (a) to surpass oneself,
and (J) to do zealously ; as adj. (or
topping), prime, first - class, disttn-
To-pan*
Torch-race.
guished, thorough, extreme: e.g. top
(the best) ale; a top (a principal)
character, or part ; the top of the free,
pre-eminent socially, in wealth, in a
profession, etc.; a top (a favourite)
toast; a top (a titled or well-to-do)
family ; top (full) speed ; and so forth ;
toppingest (or topless), the best,
supreme ; and toppingly, fine, very
well; also (in a baser sense) arro-
gantly, assumingly, badly, vilely; topper
(or top-satoyer), anybody or anything
exceptional: as the largest and best
fruit : usually placed on top in pack-
ing : of. Humphrey Toppers ; an expert
thief; a famous horse; a beautiful
woman; a man of large means, ex-
ceptional influence, high position, or
remarkable genius: also (of persons)
topping man or topping fellow ; to come
out on topr to be successful, to get
there (q.v.) ; a little, bit off the top, some
of the best; the top of desire, the height
of ambition, all that one cares for:
cf . tip-top ; top and top-gaUant, in full
fig (q.v.), rig, array, or force. (3) to
put in a finishing touch, to conclude :
spec, to drink (or toss off) a bumper,
or to wind up a meal by a special
course: also to top up (or off) (1614);
(4) to snuff (a candle): also top the
glim : amongst work-people, one cried
'Top!1 the others followed, the last
having to do duty: long obsolete
(1607) : (6) to cheat, to trick, to insult
(£. E.\ to get the better of (or a bulge
on) one (q.v.): spec, to cheat with
dice. To cry in top o/, ( 1 ) to overrule ;
(2) to talk down, to outspeak (1596).
To top a clout, to draw the corner or
end to the top of a person's pocket,,
in readiness for shaking or drawing,
that is, taking out, when a favourable
moment occurs, which latter operation
is frequently done by a second person
(Vaux).
To-pan (Winchester). A large basin
of red earthenware placed in each
chamber for washing the feet
(Mansfield).
Top- dressing. An introduction to
a report: usually written by an ex-
perienced hand and set in larger, type.
Tope. To drink: spec, to drink
hard. Hence toper, a confirmed tap-
pier, a soaker (q.v.); to tope it about,
to keep the bottle going briskly (1675).
Top-heavy. Drunk: see Screwed
(1070).
Top-fconours, Topsails (1700),
Top-joint See Top-o*-reeb.
Toplights. See Top.
Top-lofty. Pretentious, bombastic,
high-falutin' (q.v.): also top-loftical.
Top-o'-reeb. A pot of beer. Top-
joint, » pint of beer.
Top of the Morning. A cheery
Topper. 1. A cigar stump; and 2.
a plug of tobacco at the bottom of a
pipe ; hence topper-hunter., a scavenger
of half -smoked and refuse tobacco. 3.
A lanky person, a lamp-post (q.v.).
4. See Top.
Topping-cheat. See Top.
Top-ropes. To sway away on all
top-ropes, to live riotously or extrava-
gantly (Grose).
Topsail (or topsails over). Topsy-
turvy (q.v.), heels over head (1430).
To pay one's debts witii the topsail, to
go to sea leaving scores unpaid; cf.
(military) to pay one's score with the
drum (to march away).
Top-sawyer. 1. See Top. 2. A
collar ; also the front of a garment.
Top-shuffle. To shuffle the lower
half of a pack over the upper half
without disturbing it. The cut, of
course, buries it, but by a very simple
movement the cards are forced back
to their original condition. This is
shifting the out, and. can be done with
one hand or two.
Topsy-boosy. Drunk: see
screwed. ,
Topsy-turvy. Upside down, upset,
m confusion: also as adj.. subs., and
verb, with derivatives such as topsy-
turvily, topsy-turvinesst topsy-tvrvydom,
topsy-turvyftcation, topay-twrvify, and
topsy • turvyiam. Variants: Topsy-
tervy, Topsy - tyrvy, Topsie - turvie,
Topse-torve, Topsy - turvye, Topsie-
turvy, Topsi-turvy, Topsy - turvey,
Topsoltiria (Scots'); Tapsalteerie
(Scots'); Tapsie-teerie (Soots5); Top-
turvye, Topsey, Turvy-topsy, Topsyd-
turvey. Topside - turvey, Topside-
turvy, Topsyturn, Topaiturn, Top-
sieturns Topsyturny, Topsiturnie, Top-
sieturn, Topsiturn, Topside - turned,
Topset-torvie, Topset-turvie, Topset-
tirvi, Topside the other way ; topside
totherway, Topside turfway, Tossy-
tail (1528),
Top-yob. Ajpot-boy.
Torch-race (Winchester : obsolete).
Formerly, part of the breaking -up
ceremony of the winter half - year.
485
Tormentor.
tot.
On the last morning the boys, after political ideas (1566). (4) (American),
early chapel, rushed out of gates, A loyalist: during the period of the
each bearing a burning birch broom, War of Independence. Hence any
up College Street and along the wall one favouring the claims of Great
of the close up to the old White Hart Britain against the revolted Colonies.
Inn, where breakfast was prepared Tosh. 1. A bath, a foot-pan ; also
before the chaises started This as verb, to splash, to douse, to throw
subsequently gave way to a race of water over a person: e.g. He toshed
Seniors in sedan chairs. his house beak by mistake, and got
Tormentor. 1. A long icon fork : three hundred ; tosh - yond (Royal
used by cooks at sea. 2. A first Military Academy), the bathing-
groove wing. 3. A back-scratcher " ~
(q.v.).
Tormentor - of - catgut A fiddler,
a catgut-scraper (Grose).
Tormentor - of - sheepskin,
drummer (1785).
Torn - down. An unruly, unmau-
pond, 2. See Tush. 3. Nonsense;
rot (q.v.): What frightful tosh (Oxf.
Mag. 26 Oct. 1892).
Tosher (Oxford University). 1. An
unattached student. 2. A small
fishing vessel. 3. A man who steals
copper from ships' bottoms in the
ageable person: as adj. (1) rebellious; Thames (Rotten).
(2) overpowering,
Torpid (or togger) (Oxford). (1)
A second-class racing eight: corre-
sponding to the Camb:
Tosh-soap. Cheese: see Tosh.
Toss. 1. Agitation, commotion,
anxiety (1666). 2. A measure of
sprats. As verb, to drink at
(q.v.); (2) one of the crew; (3) in draught, to gulp: e.g. to toss a can of
pL the Lent races: also as adj.; (4) beer: also to toss off: cf. Toast;
A boy who has not been two years in hence
the school (Harrow).
Torrac. A carrot.
Torrit
horse.
Torturer of Anthems,
a hallelujah howler (q.v.) (1809).
Tortle. To shamble away.
Tortoise. See pump and tortoise.
Tory. (1) Orig. (Irish),
toss - pot, a drunkard :
Lushington; tossed (or
drunk: see Screwed (1560). Also.
A worthless woman, or colloquialisms and phrases: To toss
out, (1) to dress hurriedly, and (2) to
A chorister; depart hastily; To toss off, (I) see
verb, supra; (2) to do, execute, or
turn out quickly: as to toss off a
poem, a task, or musical performance ;
,, - w , „ (3) to while away (of time), to dispose
marauder: spec, a bandit (16th cent- of easily: to toss up (or to toss), (1)
ury) who, to cover lawlessness, took up to decide a matter by skying a coin :
arms for the King. Hence (2) a bully, also as subs, (or toss up), an even
a terror; and (3) a generic reproach: chance, and to win the toss, to be
e.g. (a) a sympathiser with, dis- successful; to toss up, (2) to prepare
believer in, or supposed abettor of rough and readily (of food). See
the Popish plot; (&) one who refused Blanket
to concur in the Exclusion Act
confirming the succession to the
A braggart, a
throne to Protestants, a measure
Toss - plume,
swaggerer.
Tossy. Off-hand, careless:
also
which was directly aimed at the Duke tossily.
of York, afterwards James H ; and Tossy-tail. Topsy-turvy (q.v.).
(c), collectively, the Court as distin- Tostication. Perplexity, commo-
guished from the Country party, or tion: whence toslicuted, (I) restless,
Whigs (q.v.). Subsequently Tory worried; and (2) intoxicated: also
assumed its modern meaning, ie. one totsicated (1720).
Tot
anything
in Churcn and State, as opposed to small: spec, an endearment? e.g.
Liberal, i.e. one who sought, by a wee tot, a little child: cf. Toddlekinsj
experimental legislation, to remedy also, 2. a measure holding a gill;
admitted or supposed disabilities, whence a nip or dram, a So (q.v.):
About 1832 Tory began to be as verb, to "f * --'«.? »— <*
, , , „ « -- -- , — ~. see Tote (1735).
superseded by Conservative; indeed 3. see Tottery. 4. A bone- spec.
the march of time has now (1903) (army), kitchen refuse and (general)
considerably modified the old Tory all kinds of waste, or marme stow
486
Tote.
Touch-and-go.
stuff; hence totting, bone - picking,
dust-heap sifting ; tot-picker (or raker),
a scavenger; The Old Tots, the 17th
Lancers; the Death or Glory Boys:
in allusion to the regimental badge of
skull and crossbones. As verb,
touch, (suspicion) of frost; a touch of
the tar-brush, slightly coloured (of
mixed white and black blood); a
touch (a spice) of humour; a slight
touch, a gentle reminder: hence to
touch upon, to dwell lightly on a
(1) to count, to reckon: also to tot matter; a touc-h (a pricking)" of con-
i (or tote); also (2), to wa^er all: science; a touch (a trace) of pity; a
of. Tote, infra; hence as subs., an
exercise in addition; tot-book, a book
containing examples for practice ; the
tote (or the whole tote), all, everything;
to tote fair, to reckon accurately:
hence (South and Western American),
to act honestly; to play the game
(q.v.) (1766).
Tote. A teetotaller: also (in
sarcasm, with a glance at tot, to drink
drams), a hard drinker, see Tot.
As verb, to carry, to bear a burden,
to endure; hence tote-load, as much
as one can carry ; tote-road, a road or
track.
Toter. A piper \Gifford-. a low
term] (1633).
Tother (Tone). The other, the
one (The, thet, the old neuter article) ;
tone and tother, both; totheremmy,
the others (1200).
Pother-day. Spec, the day before
yesterday, but frequently used in an
indefinite sense.
T'other School (Winchester). 1.
One's former school; 2. any school
not a public school As adj., non-
licet (q.v.), or unbecoming, because
more or less alien to Winchester.
T'other-'ttn (Charterhouse), a private
school.
T'other-sider (Victoria: now rare).
A convict: see Sidney-aider.
Totter. To hang, to swing on the
gallows (1630).
Totterarse. Seesaw.
Tottery. Shaky, unsteady: also
totilish for tatty). Hence, totite, to
walk unsteadily; totty-headed, giddy,
hare-brained; tot, a simpleton
(1383).
Tottie: A high-class harlot: some-
what of an endearment : of. Tot.
Touch. 1- Worth, value, coat:
usually in combination, as a guinea-
touch, something costing a guinea; a
penny touch> a penn'orth; also (Eton),
r present of money £1720). 2. A
trick, a dodge, a contrivance ; to do a
touch, to make shift, to manage some-
how (1530). 3. Generic for the
minimum of effort or effect: e.g. a
487
touch (a foretaste) of spring ; a touch
(a twinge) of pain ; to touch off, to out-
line, draft, or produce hastily or by
a few strokes of pen, pencil, or brush;
to touch up, (1) to gently jog the
memory, (2) to urge, egg on, or spur
forward, (3) to improve, mend, or add
to ; touch up, (1) a remainder, (2) a spur
to action, (3) a finishing or improving
stroke (1597). See Touch-and-go.
As verb, (1) generic for getting:
spec, to get money in hand: also in
modern usage, to obtain speciously
or secretly, by methods that will not
bear too close a scrutiny; and hence
(thieves*), to steal: in Australia to
act unfairly (1726); (2) to be equal
to, capable of, or bear comparison
with; to have a touch, to make an
attempt (1713); (3) to arrest (Grose).
Phrases and colloquialisms: In touch
with, (1) in sympathy, and (2) near at
hand ; out of touch with, ( 1 ) antagonistic,
and (2) out - of -the - way, un - get - at-
able ; to touch one, to affect, concern,
or influence ; to touch a sore spot (up,
home, or on the raws, etc.), to irritate
by allusion or joke, to rub up the
wrong way, to clinch an argument,
advice, or comment; true as touch*
absolutely true; to touch, "bottom (or
bedrock), (1) to reach the lowest point,
and (2) to get at the truth of matters ;
to touch her up (nautical), to shake a
vessel by luffing; touch pot, touch
penny, no credit given; touch bone
and whis&e, any one having broken
wind backwards, according to vulgar
law, may be pinched by any of the
company till he has touched bone (i.e.
his teeth) and whistled (1400). See
Touched.
Touch-and-go. 1. Uncertain,
risky, nothing to spare, hasty, super-
ficial: of persons and things. As
subs., (a) a narrow escape, a close
shave; and (b) a trifle; also a near
(or close) touch (or touch (or toucher);
as near as a toucher, as near as may
be, very nearly ; touch and go, to drive
close enough to touch and escape
injury— a trick of the old jarveys to
Touched.
Town.
show their skill. 2. Applied to
anything within an ace of ruin.
Touched. Slightly .crazy, mentally
impaired. Hence, touch, a kink, a
twist (1704).
Toucher. See Touch-and-go.
Touch-my-nob. A shilling, a bob
(q.v.): seeKhino.
Touch-piece. A luck piece given
by the sovereign to those they touched
for the cure of scrofula, or king's evil
Touchy. 1. Irritable, apt to take
offence, all angles and corners [i.e.
tetchy], '[Johnson: a low word.]
Hence touchiness, sensitiveness, peev-
ishness (1529). 2. Descriptive of a
style in which points, broken lines, or
touches are employed, as distinguished
from firm unbroken line work : cf .
touch. 3. (Christ's Hospital). Bather,
e.g. touchy a lux, rather a good thing.
Tough. A rough, a bully. As
adj., generic for difficult, trying,
severe: e.g. a tough (incredible) yarn,
a long story; a tough (difficult) job;
a tough (severe) rebuke ; a tough
(violent) storm; a tough (prolonged)
siege ; a tough (stubborn) customer, a
hard nut to crack ; also to ntaJce it
tough, (1) to raise difficulties, to make
much of a small matter, and (2) to
take excessive pains ; as tough as
whitieather, as tough as may be. See
Old Toughs.
Tour. A turn or drive: spec, the
fashionable promenade in Hyde Park
(1665). SeeTowre. The Grand Tour,
in 18th and early 19th centuries a
continental tour embracing France,
Switzerland, Italy, and Germany: re-
garded as an essential finish to the
education of young men of rank.
Tousle (or Towsle). To rumple.
Tout. The posteriors (1383). As
verb, to look out sharp, to be on one's
guard (J3. E.) : also to keep tout : see
Nark. Hence, to follow; and
(modern), to canvass for custom as
do hotel, coach, or steamer servants,
to solicit employment as does a guide,
or (racing) to spy out special informa-
tion concerning horses in training. A
strong tout, strict observation, close
watching. As subs., (1) a hotel,
coach, or steamer runner; (2) a spy
for thief or smuggler; (3) a racing
agent or horse- watcher. Also touting-
ken, a tavern-bar ( 1696).
Tow (Shrewsbury School). 1. A
long ran in: at hare and hounds.
2. Generic for money: see Rhino.
To tow out, to decoy : spec, to distract
attention and thus pave the way for
robbery by a confederate. In tow, in
hand, at one's apron strings, under
one's influence, or at command: of
persons and things ; spec, of a woman
who is said to have such and such an
admirer in tow.
Towards. / looks (sic) towards
you, a toast.
Towel. 1. A cudgel: also oaken
or (blackthorn) towel ; as verb (to give
a towelling or to rub down with a towel),
to reprimand, scold, and (spec.) thrash
(1771). A lead (or leaden) towel a
bullet (1812).
Tower. (1) A fashion in feminine
hair-dressing, temp. William m. and
Anne: pasteboard, ribbon, and lace
were built up in tiers, or in stiffened
bows, and draped with a lace scarf or
veiL Also (2) a wig or the natural
hair built up in the same fashion ;
and (3) false hair worn on the forehead
(1663). As verb, (1) to watch closely
to see, observe, understand: as a
hawk on the look-out for prey : also
toure, tour, twire, twyre ; to tour out, to
go abroad in search of booty : hence
to be off, to decamp (1567). Seen
round the Tower, clipped: of money
(1696).
Tower-hill-play. A slap on the
face and a kick on the breech (JB. E.).
Tower-hill Vinegar. The swords-
man's block. [Tower-hill was, for
long, the place of execution.] Hence
to preach on Tower BUI, to be hanged
(1529). *
Towering. Extreme, violent, out-
rageous (1713).
Towhead. 1. A flaxen - haired
person; and, 2. a rumple-headj in
contempt. Whence tow - headed,
rough-headed, unkempt.
Town. \. London: e.g. I go to
(or leave) town to-morrow ; so-and-so
is in town: cf. Lane, House, Alley,
etc.: whence man about town (see
phrases) (1601). 2. University and
schools). Townspeople, as distin-
guished from Gown (q.v.), the
members of the University. [In
early days Universities were subject
to perpetual conflict — with the town,
the Jews, the Eriars, and the Papal
Court. Also townsman, and (Cam-
bridge) townee (or towner); Qer.
PhMster. Town -lout (Rugby), a
Town-bull.
Tragedy Jack.
scholar residing in the town with his
parents, and tovmey (Christ's Hospital),
(a) the antithesis of housey, that
is peculiar to the Hospital: whence
(spec.) tourneys, clothes more in accord-
ance with modern taste for town wear
than is the distinctive blue habit;
also (6) a comrade from the same town
or locality (army): FT., pays (1846).
Phrases: to come to town, (1) to
become common, and (2) to be born ;
on the town, (1) getting a hying by
prostitution, thieving, or the like, and
(2) in the swing of pleasure, dissipa-
tion, etc., London being regarded as
the centre of national life ; to go (or
take a turn) round the town, to seek
amusement, spec, at night and by a
round of the halls ; a man (or woman)
of the town., a person whose living,
occupation, or taste is more or less
connected with the shady or fast side
of life ; to paint the town red (see Red) ;
in town, in funds ; out of town, hard
up, penniless (1593).
Town-bull. To roar like a town-
&«#. To cry, or bellow aloud (Grose).
Tow-pow. In pL, The Grenadier
Guards.
Tow-row. A noise, a racket (q.v.)-
Touzery Gang (The). Mock
auction swindlers: they hire sale-
rooms, usually in the suburbs, and
advertise their ventures as Alarming
Sacrifices, Important Sales of Bank-
rupt's Stock, etc.
Towzle (or Towse). See Tousle,
verb.
Toy. Generic for wantonness : as
subs., a lewd conceit, jest, tale, a love
poem, amorous sport. As verb, to
wanton, to dally : also to tick and toy.
Toyfvl (ten/some, toyish, or toying),
amorous, wanton (1303). Hence, (1)
anything of casual or trifling interest,
use, amusement* or adornment, of ad-
ventitious worth, as contrasted with
serious, hard use, or intrinsic value :
a nick-nack, e.g. a trinket, an idle
story, odd conceit, and spec, anything
dimlimti vo (1529). (2) A whim, fancy,
huff, offence, or caprico ; hence to take
toy, (a) to be huffish, whimsical, rest-
less ; and (6) to go at random, play
tricks, act th<* fool: whence toy&omc,
etc.; of. HoLty - fcoity, thoiitfhtloHH,
gxddjp-. Toyty-headch feather-brained
(1400). (3) A watch : whence white
toy, ft silver watch; red toy, a gold
watch j toy and tackle, watch and
chain ; toy-getter, a watch-snatcher.
(4) (Winchester). In pi, a bureau —
desk and bookcase combined ; whence
toy-time, evening preparation (1440).
Tprot An exclamation of con-
tempt.
Trace. In pi., authority, work,
guidance, restraint ; hence in the traces,
in harness (q.v.), at steady work ;
to kick over the traces, to set at defiance,
run riot, take the law into one's own
hands.
Track. 1. To go : hence to track
up the dancers, to whip upstairs (1 671 ) ;
also (modern) to make tracks, to go (or
run) away ; to make tracks for, (a) to
proceed towards ; and (&) to attack, to
go for (q.v.). 2. In various phrases :
e.g. in one's tracks, on the spot, as one
goes, then and there; off the frock,
discursive, out of one's reckoning, at
sea; inside troth, the truth, bedrock
(q.v.).
Trade. 1. An exchange: e.g. a
swopping of knives : also as verb, to
exchange. 2. (Christ's Hospital.) In
pi., the boys who carry the candle-
sticks, the bread-baskets, table-cloth,
and cutlery.
Trade-mark. 1. A scratch on the
face ; hence to put one's trade-mark
upon one, to claw the face : spec, of
women. 2. A cap (domestic servants').
Tradesman. A thief (q.v.) ; a regular
tradesman, an expert thief: also, a
compliment applied, bo any one who
thoroughly understands frig business
whatever it may be.
Trades Union, (The). The First
(The King's) Dragoon Guards. [At
one time most of the officers were
sons of tradesmen, which is still an
offence in the Cavaky.]
Trading. A veiled form of political
treachery : a State Governor is to be
elected, and at the same election, say,
Presidential electors; the one party
agree with their political enemies that,
in return for votes for their own
candidate for Governor, they will vote
and procure votes for the others*
candidate for President. The practice
is susceptible of numerous com-
binations and devices (WaZ«7t).
Whence trading politician, a corrupt,
venal elector or candidate; one who
is regulated by interest rather than
principle.
Tragedy Jack. A heavy tragedian:
in contempt.
Trail.
Trapes.
Trail. To quiz, befool, draw out,
get at (q.v.) : also as subs. To trash
a trail, to take to water in order to
destroy scent: of human beings as
well as animals.
Trail- tongs (or tripes). A slatternly
servant, a dirty puzzle (q.v.). Hence
traify, slovenly.
Train. 1. To travel by train,
usually with. ' it ' : cf . 'bus it, foot
it, tram it, etc., whence to train up,
to hurry. 2. To romp, carry on,
act wildly: almost peculiar to the
girls of New England (Barttett). 3.
To consort with on familiar terms:
e.g. Training with such a crowd
does not suit me.
Trainer. A militia -man; spec,
when called out for periodical
training.
Traitor. There are traitors at table,
Of a loaf turned the wrong side
upwards.
Tram. A tramway -car: of. bus,
rail, motor, etc.
Tramp. 1. On the lookout for
employment; walking about from
place to place. Cant (Grose). 2.
A cargo boat seeking charter or cargo
when and where obtainable; also
tramp-steamer and ocean tramp.
Tramper. A travelling mechanic.
Trampler. A lawyer: see Green-
bag (1619).
Trampolin. A double spring- board.
Trampoose. To walk, tramp,
wander about: of. Vamoose. Also
trampous and trampoos (1818).
Traneen. Not worth a foaneen,
valueless, not worth a rush.
TrangdiHo. see Twangdillo.
Trangrara (Tfangam, or Trankuxn).
A trifle, fallal, ornament; anything
or anybody of little or no value (1677).
Tranklement In pi. intestines:
entrails: cf. Trolly-bags.
Transcribbler. (1) A careless
copyist: hence (2) a plagiarist (1746).
Transfisticated, Pierced (1600).
Translate. To remanufacture
selected parts of old boots and shoes.
Also (tailors') to turn (or cut down)
a coat or other garment. Whence
Transnear. To come up with any-
body (Grose).
Trap. 1. Sagacity, craft, contriv-
ance, penetration; hence to understand
trap, to be knowing, wideawake (q.v.),
alive to one's own interest; to smell
trap, to suspect: spec, of thieves in
spotting a 'tec ; that trap is down,
the trick (or try-on) has failed, it's
no go (1704). 2. A sheriffs officer,
thief-taker, policeman, or detective
(1705). 3. A carriage; a fast name
for a conveyance of any kind (Hotten).
\Sda-. The old-fashioned gig had,
u.ider the seat, a sort of boot extend-
frjg a few inches beyond the back of
the seat. At the beginning of the
century gigs were raised upon higher
wheels than at present. On this
raised vehicle the boot was lengthened
behind, holding a brace of dogs for
sporting purposes. In these dog-carts
(thus namea afterwards) the dogs were
at first placed in the boot at the front,
and I dare say that the noble sports-
men may occasionally have had their
heels or their calves bitten by dogs
with short tempers, and with scant
liking for the confinement of the boot.
This led to a great improvement, in
in the shape of an open latticed box
which was attached to the back of
the body of the conveyance, and
provided with a trap -door behind
tor the admission of the dogs. In
process of time the latticed box
was found very convenient for the
carriage of other things besides dogs,
and as everything conveyed in the
cart (chattels, not people) had to be
put in through the trap -door (soon
curtailed into trap : compare 'bus for
omnibus, cab for cabriolet), the con-
veyance itself was eventually termed
trap.] Hence trapper, a horse used
in a trap : cf . Vanner, Busser, Cabber,
etc., on the model of hunter (1864).
4. Belongings, things (q.v.), stacks and
stones (q.v.) : usually in a measure of
contempt, cf. Rattletrap (1835), 5.
Swag (q.v.).
Trapan. 'He that draws in or
wheedles a Cull, and Bites him. Tra-
translator, (1) a cobbler; (2) in pi., re- pan'd, c. Sharpt, ensnar'd ; to inveigle
made boots and shoes; and (3) a to ensnare* (Grose).
renovating tailor (B. E.). ~ " '
Transmogrify (or Transmigrify).
To transform, change, alter, or new
vamp (B. #.). Also as subs,, trans-
mogrification (1728).
Trapes (or Traipes). 1. A sloven,
slattern, draggletail : a generic term
of contempt for a woman ; hence, &
a going or gadding about, in a more
or less careless, objectless, or even
490
Trapper.
Treating.
lawless fashion: also trapesing. As
verb (or to trape), to gad about ; to
wander listlessly, or in a slovenly or
bedraggled fashion: of. trespass, Fr.,
trespasser (1673).
Trapper. See Trap.
Trapping. Blackmail, FT., chantage.
Trappy. Tricky, treacherous : also
trappiness.
Trapsticfc. In pi,, the legs (Grose).
Trash. 1. Generic for trifles and
•worthlessness (now recognised) : spec.
a harlot: whence, trashery (or trash-
trie), rubbish, odds and ends ; traslvily
(or trashy), worthless, useless ; trash-
bag, a good - for - nothing ; trashmire,
a slattern ; and (American) trash, a
negro term, of contempt: see White
trash (1602). 2. Money: see Rhino
(1590).
Trat An old woman; a witch
(q.v.) : in contempt : cf. Trot.
Trav (Foisted School). Travelling
money.
Travel. To walk: spec, to go
quickly ; usually with along : e.g.
the motor travelled along, and no
mistake. To travel out of the. record,
to wander from the point at issue, or
the matter under discussion (1857).
See Bodkin and Traveller.
Traveller. 1. A highwayman ;
hence to travel the rood, to take to
highway robbery (1707). 2, A tramp
(1851). 3. A transported felon, a
convict : also a traveller at His (or Her)
Majesty's expense. 4. A bond fide
traveller : i.e. a person who, under the
.Licensing Act, is entitled to demand
refreshment during prohibited hours.
5. A thief who changes his quarry
from town to town. 6. A swagznan
(q.v.); hence traveller's hut, quarters
on a station set aside for swagmen,
stockmen, and others not eligible for
the squatter's house. To tip the
traveller, to humbug, to romance, to
tell wonderful stories of adventure a
la M unohattaen : also traveller's tale
and traveller's talent (1760).
Travelling - Piquet. A mode of
amusement, practised by two persons
riding in a carriage, each reckoning
towards bis game the persons or
animals that pass by on the side next
them, according to the following esti-
mation : — A parson riding on a gray
horse, with blue furniture — game ; an
old woman under a hedge— ditto j a
cat looking out of a window — 60; a
man, woman, and child in a buggy —
40 ; a man with a woman behind him
— 30; a flock of sheep — 20; a flock
of geese — 10 ; a postchaise— 5 ; a horse-
man— 2 ; a man or woman walking —
1 (Grose).
Travelling Scholarship. Rustica-
tion (q.v.) (1794).
Travelling Tradesman. A respect-
able mechanic in search of work.
Traverse. See Cart and Tom Cox's
Transverse.
Traviata. See Come.
Tray. Three: spec, three months'
imprisonment ; tray soddy mits, three-
pence halfpenny. [It., tre sodli, mezzo."]
Before one can say treyace, in a
Tray Trip. An ancient game like
Scotch hop (or Hopscotch), played on
a pavement, marked out in chalk into
different compartments.
Treacle. 1. Thick inferior port.
2. Love - making, spooning (q.v.).
Treacle-moon, the noneymoon.
Treacle Bolly. See Bolly.
Treacle-sleep. A sluggish torpor.
Treacle Town. 1. Bristol: the
city is an important centre of the
sugar - refining industry. Also, 2.
Macclesfield : in allusion to a hogshead
of treacle which burst, and, for a time
filled the gutters.
Treacle - wag. Very small beer.
Tread. To tread on one's toes, to vex,
offend, or injure ; to I/read one's shoes
straight, to go carefully, act discreetly,
exercise caution (1851). See Black-ox,
Boards.
Treader. A shoe.
Treasury (The). The weekly pay-
ment (theatrical).
Treat. 1. An entertainment or
party; in modern usage spec, of
children and schools : hence some-
thing paid for by an elder or superior,
or given as a token of good-will and
affection: e.g. a drink, a dinner, a
theatre-ticket, an entertainment, or
the like. 2. A turn in a round of
drinks: It's my treat. As verb (or
to stand treat), to bear the expense of
refreshments, an outing, or an enter-
tainment; also, It does me a treat,
that's O.K., real jam and no error
(1660). 3. In sarcasm: a nuisance, a
terror (q.r.), anybody or anything
objectionable.
Treating. Bribery. £A candidate
who corruptly gives, causes to be
Treating-h&use.
Tribute.
given, or is accessory to giving, or
pays, wholly or in part, expenses for
meat, drink, entertainment, or pro-
vision for any person, before, during,
or after an election, in order to be
elected, or for being elected, or for
corruptly influencing any person to
give or refrain from giving bis vote,
is guilty of treating, and forfeits £50
to any informer, with costs. Every
voter who corruptly accepts meat,
drink, or entertainment, shall be in-
capable of voting at such election, and
his vote shall be void (Abstract of Act
of Parliament).']
Treating - house. A restaurant
(1704).
Treble STs (The). The 30th Foot,
now the 1st battalion East Lancashire
Regiment Also Triple X's.
Treddle. See Tread.
Tree. A gallows: also substantial
tree, fatal tree, tree that bears fruit all
the year round, the tree with three
corners, etc. ; spec. (Biblical and collo-
quial), the Cross. See Triple-tree and
Tyburn, tree (1611). As verb, to
perplex, to get at one's mercy, put in
a fix, drive to the end of one's re-
sources; whence treed (or up a tree),
cornered, obliged to surrender, done
for (q.v.) (1847). Phrases: At the top
of ike tree (see Top); to tree oneself
(American), to conceal oneself, hide;
lame as a tree, very lame ; to bark up
the wrong tree (see Bark) ; pub not the
hand between the bark and the tree,
meddle not in family matters ; also
between bark and tree (or wood), a well-
adjusted bargain (1562). As adj.,
three: e.g. treewins, threepence; tree-
moon, three months' imprisonment,
etc. (Grose) : see Tray.
Tree of • Knowledge (Charter-
house: almost obsolete). The tree
under which books, etc., are piled
in the interval between morning
school and dinner.
Treer (Durham School: obsolete).
A boy who avoids organised sports,
but plays a private game with one
or two friends. [Presumably because
played at the trees by the side of the
ground.]
Trek. To go away, run off: of
South African origin, properly, to
yoke oxen to a waggon.
Tremble. Involuntary shaking ;
spec, when caused by excessive oold,
^ear, drinking, etc. Also aft of a
492
tremble, agitated, excited, shivery-
shaky (1849).
Trembler. In pi., the extreme
Protestant section of early Reforma-
tion days: of. Quaker (1705).
Trencher. 1. A square wooden
platter: in general use before plates,
and till lately at Winchester. Whence,
trenchering, eating; trencher -buff on, a
droll or butt whose place has been
taken by the professional diner-out ;
trencher-chaplain, a domestic chap-
lain; trencher -fly (friend, man, or
ntate), a hanger-on, smell-feast, para-
site, or sponger ; whence to lick the
trencher, to sponge, to lickspittle ;
trencher knight (or knight of the
trencher), & serving man, or waiter at
table: hence trencher -cloak, a cloak
worn by servants and apprentices ;
trencher-man, (1) a hearty feeder, one
who plays, a good knife and fork, (2)
a cook, and (3) see supra; trencher-
law, the regulation of diet; trencher-
critic, an epicurean law -monger ; trim
as a trencher, as trim or exact as may
be, as clean, as a trencher when licked.
2. A college cap, a mortar-board
(q.v.). [In shape thought to re-
semble an inverted trencher with a
basin upon it.] Also trencher-cap.
Trepan. See Trapan.
Trey. See Tray.
Treyning-cheat. See Trine.
Trial (Harrow). An examina-
tion : hence trials, the examinations at
the end of the summer and winter
terms.
Triangle. 1. In pi., a frame of
three hsflberds stuck in the ground
and bound at the top : to this soldiers
were bound to be flogged: obsolete.
2. In. pL, delirium tremens: see
Jim-jams.
Triantelope. A comic variation of
Tarantula,. [Applied in Australia to
a perfectly harmless spider {though
popularly supposed to be poisonous),
with mandibles, but which will attack
nobody unless itself attacked (1846).
Trib. A prison: see Cage, [That
is, tribulation.'} He is in **•&, 'he ia
layd by the Heels, or in a groat deal
of trouble' (B. £!.).
Tribe. A number of persons: in
contempt (1685).
Tribune. (Winchester: obsolete).
A large pew in ante-chapel: reserved
for ladies.
Tribute. To demand tribute of the
Trick.
Trip.
dead, to attempt the impossible or
absurd (Ray}.
Trick. 1. A watch (1798). 2. A
turn, a spell : e.g. a trick at the helm
(1835). 3. In pi., wantonness: spec,
of women. 4. Belongings, things
(q.v.), baggage (q.v.). Phrases and
colloquialisms : a trick worth two (or
a better trick), (1) a better way, a
smarter expedient, and (2) a slightly
sarcastic refusal: e.g. No thanks!
It's all right, but I know a trick
worth two of that; to do the trickf
to accomplish one's purpose; a trick
with a hole in it (American) of any-
thing extraordinary ; to trick and tie,,
(1) to be equal (sporting), and (2) to
have something in reserve. Also
(proverbial saying) Trick for trick.
and a stone in thy foot besides,
quoth one, pulling a stone out of bis
mare's foot, when she bit him on the
back, etc. See Bag-of-tricks.
Trick - and - a - half. A master-
stroke of. roguery: cf. a-lie-and-a-
half, the truth: in sarcasm.
Trickett. A long drink of beer.
[New South Wales, after Trickett,
the champion sculler.]
Tricky. Claver, smart, neat (q. v. ) :
cf. trick (once literary), neat, spruce,
trim, elegant.
Trig. 1. A cockscomb, a dandy;
as adj. (also trick), (1) neat, spruce, in
good condition; whence (2) trust-
worthy, active, clever: also trig and
trim (or trig and true, tight, etc.).
[Obsolete, provincial, or colloquial in
all uses.] Hence trigly, trigness, and
other derivatives (1200). 2: A bit of
stick, paper, etc., placed by thieves in
the keyhole of, or elsewhere about,
the door of a house, which they
suspect to be uninhabited; if the
trig remains unmoved the following
day, it is a proof that no person
sleeps in the house, on which the
gang enter it the ensuing night upon
the screw, and frequently meet with
a good booty, such as beds, carpets,
etc., the family being probably out of
town. This operation is called trigg-
ing the jigger (Qrote). As verb (1)
To stop: as subs., an obstacle, prop,
or skid (1630) ; (2) to trudge along,
to hasten. To trig it, to play truant,
to charley-wag (q.v.). To lay a man
trigging, to knock down, to floor (q.v.).
Trig-haU. Open house, Liberty-
Trigimate (or Trigrymate). An
idle she-companion (B. E.); an inti-
mate friend (BaUiwdl).
Trike. A tricycle: cf. Bike.
Trillibub. (1) Tripe; hence (2)
anything of trifling value or import-
ance. Also trittabub, truUiluble,
trollybag, etc. Tripes and twllibubs, a
fat man (1599).
Trillil. To drink: onomatopoeia
(1599).
Trim. Dress: spec, state dress
(Groae); hence as adj. (and adv.),
spruce, neat, well - groomed (q.v.) ;
in sod trim, dirty, undrest (B. E.);
a trim lad, a spruce, neat, well-trickt
man (J3. JZ?.); to trim -up (or forth), to
dress, make clean and neat, set out:
spec, to shave or clip the beard
(1530). As verb, (1) to call to ac
count, reprove, thrash; hence, to
trim one's jacket, to drub, dress down,
dust one's coat; trimming, a beating,
scolding, or jacketing; trimmer f (a)
a severe disciplinarian, also of
things, and (Z>) see infra. (2) To cheat;
hence trimming, cheating people of
their money (B. E,) of. Shave. See
Trimmer.
Trimmer. 1. Orig. nautical;
figuratively, a moderate man, one
taking a middle course between two
extremes. 2. A waverer, apostate,
time-server; to trim, and trimming
(q.v.). ph Bng. politics a party which
followed the Marquis of Halifax (1680-
96) in trimming between the Whigs
and the Tories. See trim. 3. Anything
specially decisive, of good quality, or
noteworthy, a settler (q.v.): spec,
(cricket), a well-delivered oall; hence
trimming, large, big, etc. (1816).
Trimming. In jjL, accessories:
spec, those accompanying any dish or
article of food (1837).
Trim-tram. A trifle, an absurdity,
folly, nonsense. As adj. foolish non-
sensical, trifling. Also (Qrose) like
master, like man (1547).
Trincum (or Trinkum). A trinket.
Trine. 1. To Kang: see Ladder.
Triiiing~cheat, the gallows (1567). 2.
To go (1360).
Trigum-trangum. A whim, a fancy
(B. Jf.).
Trinket. *In pi., porringers, and
also any little odd thong, Toies and
Trifles ' (B. M.) ; toys, baubles, or nick-
nacks (Grose).
Trip. 1. A short voyage or journey,
493
Tripe.
Trooper.
an excursion: not in general use till degree was not given for that
18th century: as verb (modern), or tion till a few years later.
to trip it, to make short journeys : also
tripper (or trippist), (a) an excur-
sionist: often in the combination
cheap tripper; also (6) a tram con-
There
are now nine triposes . . . founded
in the following order: Mathematical,
Classical, Moral Sciences, Natural
Sciences, Theological, Law, History,
dnctor, railway guard, or driver who Semitic and Indian Languages, with
gets paid by the trip (American)
(1360). 2. A failure, mistake, or
error : spec, the result of inadvertence
or want of thought; an error of the
tongue or pen, a stumble, a false step,
a miscarriage, or a bastard (B. E.)
(1628). 3. A moment, the twinkling
of an eye (1726). „ 4. A tbiefs woman.
6. The pas de deux by which harlequin
and columbine introduce each scene
in the harlequinade. 6. Threepence;
3d. : cf. Thrip, Threp, etc.
Tripe. In pL, the guts : whence w «. » *
the belly. Also in contempt both of (1837).
persons and things; tripe - visaged, Troc.
flabby, baggy, expressionless; Mr
Double-Tripe, a fat man; also tripes
and frullibubs ; tripe-cheek, a fat blowsy
face (1598).
Triplet One of three at a birth;
in pi., three children at a birth.
Triple-tree. The gallows: see
Nubbing - cheat, Ladder, and Tree
(1635).
a Mediaeval and Modern Languages
tripos from 1885.
Tripper. See Trip.
Tripping up. See Carry the stick.
Tristram. Sir Tristram's Knot,
a halter; to tie Sir Tristram's Knot,
to hang: see Ladder.
Triumph. To ride triumph, to go
helter-skelter, rough-shod, full tilt
(1759).
Trivet Right as a trivet, as right,
secure, or good as may be. To suit
to a trivet, to suit perfectly: see Bight
The Trocadero : formerly
Music Hall, now Restaurant.
Troj an. A term of commendation :
(1) a plucky fellow, a sticker (q.v.);
and (2) a familiar address, either to
equals or inferiors; hence trusty
Troy an, a sure friend or confidant:
also trusty trout (1594). (3) A boon
companion, a loose fish (q.v.); occa-
sionally (but loosely) a thief (1598).
Triple X*s (The). The 30th Foot, Troll. To loiter and saunter
._ XT._ i^. T-.^t.-— TO— L T T..-_. about (B. E.); cf. Trull; as subs, (or
trottoch) , a slattern: see Trull.
Trolloll. To sing in a jovial,
rollicking fashion (B. E.) (1740).
Trollop. 1. A lusty, coarse ramp
or tomrig (B. 38.), a hedge -whore,
also, 2. a generic reproach: of
women; whence troKoping (irollopiah
or trollopy), wanton, filthy, draggle-
tail; as verb (or to trollop about), to
gad about: also trollopeef a loose
dress for women: cf. Loose -bodied
(1641).
Trollybags. Tripe.
Trolly - lolly. Coarse lace once
much in fashion, now worn only by
the meaner sort (B. E.).
Trollywags. Trousers, breeches;
see Kicks.
Tronk. A prison : see Cage.
Trooper. A half-crown (B. £?.)•
Phrases: to swear like a trooper (a
simile of hard swearing), to volley
now the 1st battalion East Lancashire
Regiment. Also Treble 3?s.
Tripoly. To come from Tripoly, to
vault or tumble, to perform with
spirit (HaUiwett).
Tripos (Cambridge Univ.) Orig.
the stool on which the champion of
the University sat at the disputations
held with the Father in the Philo-
sophy School on Ash Wednesday, at
the admission of Bachelors of Arts to
their degree ; then it was transferred
to the Bachelor himself; still later to
the humorous, or, in some cases,
scurrilous, speech with which Mr
Tripos opened the proceedings, and
to the verses of the Bachelors at the
Acts, each sheet of verses being called
a tripos or tripos-paper. The honours-
lists were printed (about 1747-48) on
tie backs of these verses, and so
tripos came to mean an honour-list,
and, last of all, the examination itself.
Until the year 1824 there was only oaths till the air is blue; yon'Il die
one tripos, the Mathematical ; and up the death of a trooper** horse (a,
to 1850 only those who had obtained jocular method of telling any one he
honours in mathematics were admitted will be hanged, i.e. will die with hia
to the Classical examination. The shoes on).
494
Trork.
True Inwardness.
Trorfc. A quart.
Tros. Sort: spec, of anything bad
or not to one's liking. Thus trosseno,
a bad day, coin, etc. ; also dabtros.
Trot (or Trat). 1. An old woman :
in contempt: usually old trot, a
bawd : a sorry base old woman (B. E.) :
a decrepit old woman (Grose) (1512).
2. An endearment : of a child learn-
ing to run (1854). 3. A pony (q.v.),
crib (q.v.) ; whence, as verb (or
to trot a lesser tj, to use a translation
or other a !lventitious aid to study.
As (1) to steal in broad daylight; (2)
generic for doing; thus to trot out
(express) an opinion; to trot out
(escort) a judy ; to trot out (sing) a
song; to trot out (spend) the pieces,
and so forth ; to trot round, to take a
turn round the town, the halls, etc. ;
on the trot, on the go (q.v.), pegging
away; dog-trot, a gentle pace; to trot
up, to bid against, to run up prices ;
He lies as fast as a dog can trot (of a
persistent liar).
Trot-cosy. A great coat with cowl,
close buttoned (1814).
Trotter. 1. In pi., the feet: orig.
of sheep : whence shake (box, or move)
your trotters ! Begone ! troop off 1
To shake one's trotters at Bub^s BaU
(where the sheriff pays the fiddlers),
to be put in the stocks (Grose : perhaps
•the Bilboes ball). Trotter-cases (or
boxes), boots or shoes (1838). 2. A
tailor's assistant: he goes on round
for orders; also ( dressmakers' s and
milliners7), a messenger : FT., frottin.
Trouble. (1) Imprisonment; (2)
child-bed, pregnancy (conventional) ;
(3) a to-do (q.v.): e.g. what's the
trouble ? what's going on ? Hence
in trouble, (1) arrested, quodded
(q.v.); (2) pregnant, lumpy (q.v.);
to get into trouble, to be found
out amd punished (1555). Also in
combination : trouble - house, a dis-
turber of family concord; trouble-
mirth, a wet - blanket, spoil - sport,
mar -all; trouble-rest, an element of
discord, sickness, anything tending to
unhappiness or discomfort; trouble-
state (or town), a rebel, an agitator, a
drunk and disorderly. Also proverbial
sayings : that horse is troubled with
corns (i.e. foundered); troubles never
come singly.
Trounce. To vex, trouble, Popish ;
now to beat severely. Whence
trouncing, a drubbing (1551).
Trout See Nor' Loch trout, and
Peculiar river.
Trowel. To lay on with a trowel,
(1) to natter or exaggerate grossly;
to butter (q.v.). Also (2) to lie ; and
(3) to use powder, paint, or the like,
without stint (1600).
Trub. A slattern, a short squat
woman (Ainsworth). Also trubagully,
a short dirty ragged fellow, accustomed
to performing the most menial offices
(Hatt%wett).
Truck. 1. Intercourse, dealing;
e.g. I'll have no truck with you.
Orig. (and still colloquial American),
exchange, trading, espec. the barter
of small commodities ; whence (in
contempt) odds and ends, rubbish,
and spec, bad food, cagmag (q.v.),
mullock (q.v.). Also (now recognised)
truck - system (truck - shop), etc. the
payment of wages in kind instead of
money : illegal since 1870-75. As verb
(originally and still literary), to swop,
barter, or exchange (1608). 2. La pf.,
trousers: see Kicks. 3. A hat: see
Golgotha.
Truckle - bed. In saying, To
stumble at the truckle (or trundle')
bed (Bay), to mistake the chamber-
maid's bed for his wife's. [Formerly
a low bed on small wheels or castors
was trundled under a standing-bed in
the daytime, and drawn out at night
for a servant to sleep on] (1660).
True. Honest : usually in contrast
with thievish, or true man v. thief,
Also (proverbial) true as true (as the
gospel, God in Heaven, as I stand here,
etc.), as true as may be (1400).
True-blue. 1. Unmistakable,
honest, staunch, dependable : as subs.,
a thoroughly reliable good fellow, a
stalwart: also Blue (q.v.). [Blue is
regarded as the colour or emblem of
constancy, but whether in reference
to the blue of sky or sea (both pro-
verbially deceitful) or the fastness of
some dye (e.g. Coventry blue) is
unknown.] Hence spec, 2. the 17th
century, the Scotch Presbyterians or
Whigs : the Covenanters had adopted
blue as against the Royal red; in
later times staunchly Liberal or Tory,
according to the choice made of blue
as a party-colour by either, but mostly
Conservative (1500).
True Inwardness. The real mean-
ing, bottom (q.v.) facts, final result
or end of a matter.
495
Tub.
Truepenny. A familiar address:
in commendation, but sometimes
ioosely used: also (as in old boy)
Old Truepenny (1596).
Truff. To steal: see Prig (1758).
Trull. A wanton, a trollop (q.v.) ;
a soldier's, beggar's, or tinker's wife
or wench (B. E.) (1529).
Truly. See By my truly, and Yours
truly.
Trump. 1. A good fellow, a friend in
Trunk - work. Underhand (or
secret) dealing: of. Back-door work
(1604).
Trusted alone. This bit of flash is
made use of in speaking of any knowing
or experienced person, meaning that
he is so deep as to the tricks of the
town that he may be trusted alone in
any company without danger to him-
self (Grose).
Trusty. 1. An overcoat. 2. A
Trut. An exclamation of contempt.
Truth. Tell the truth and shame the
devil, to reveal all at any cost (1469).
Try. An attempt, endeavour, trial,
experiment : espec. (modern) a try-on,
an attempt at besting (q.v.) ; hence to
try it on, to seek to outwit, get the
better of, fleece, cheat, etc. : see
Gammon. To try it on a dog, to ex-
periment at another's expense or risk ;
to try on, to live by thieving: covej
who try it on, professed thieves (1609).
Phrases and colloquialisms : to try a
fatt with, to compete, contest ; to try
back, to revert to, to retrace one's
steps : as to a former position, stand-
point, or statement, etc., with a view
to recover something missed, or lost :
hence try back (1857).
Tryning. See Trine.
Tub. 1. A pulpit. Hence tub-
need, one (Grose) who displays courage convict with special privileges, such as
on every suit : the highest measure of a ticket of leave. See Trojan.
praise (1774). 2. A Jew's harp:
whence tongue of the trump, a chief,
an essential : properly the steel spring
or reed by which the sound is
produced. Phrases: to be put to
one's trumps, to be in difficulties,
driven to the last shift, or full exertion
of one's strength; to turn up trumps,
to fall out fortunately : e.g. something
may turn up trumps, something lucky
may happen : all his cards are trumps',
he is exceedingly fortunate (1593).
Trumpery. Old Ware, old Stuff,
as old Hats, Boots, Shoes,' etc.
(B. j0.); goods of no value, rubbish
(Grose) : also trash and trumpery, and
(proverbial), For want of good com-
pany, welcome trumpery. Whence
(modern) generic for showy trashiness,
and as adj., meretricious, worthless
(1574). _ _ _
Trumpet To blow (or sound) one's drubber' (po^nd^rrp^he^thum^,
own trumpet, to praise (or talk about) or tubster), a ranting divine: spec.; in
oneself, to brag. Hence, his trumpeter reproach, of Dissenters (Grose, a
is dead (of a braggart). Presbyterian parson) : also tub-thumv-
Trumpeter. King of Spain's (or ing, subs, and adj. (1661). 2. A bath*
Spanish) trumpeter, a braying ass, spec, a sponge-bath, but also (loosely)
1.8. Don Key; his trumpeter is dead a dip (q.v.). Also as verb (1610)
(see Trumpet); He would make a 3. A broad - bottomed, slow . sailing
good ^mpe^for he smells strong: boat; also (loosely) a vessel of any
kind; at the Universities, a boat for
rowing practice; henoe tubbing, boat-
^rowing^practice^fo get tubbed, to
; or village
, 0. . „. . , incheater),
A chest in Hall into which Dispars
(q.v.) not taken by the boys were put;
whence Prcefect of tub, a prefect
whose duty was to examine the quality
of meat sent in by the butcher, and
tion and distribution of the remains •"
obsolete; whence (also) tub-mess, the
table at which the Senior Pnefeote sat
m Hall (see Fanner, Public School
Word-Book). A tale of a tub ; any kind
of one with foetid breath.
Trundler. In pL peas (B. E.).
Trundling-cheat A wheeled
vehicle; a cart or coach: see Cheat be"taught~to row (1858)*
( T ^t i A M ifc ,, ., wheeled and deep-welled'
Trunk. 1. A blockhead, a dunce cart, a governess-car. J
(1656). 2. In pL trunk-hose: cf. ' * " "
Smalls, Tops, Tights, etc. Also
breeches: see Backs, and bathing.
drawers (1613). 3. A nose (£. E.).
How's your old trunk ? a jeer at a
big-nosed man; to shove a trunk, to
poke one's nose in, to introduce
oneself unasked into any place or
company (Grose).
Trunkmaker-like. More noise than
work (Grose).
Tubbing.
Tumble.
of nonsense, fooling, or absurdity, a
cock-and-bull story (q.v.), rot (q.v.)
(1538). To throw a tub to a wJiale,
(1) to bait the hook, give a sop, or
make capital ; (2) to throw dust in
the eyes, to divert attention, to
emphasise small matters so that atten-
tion is distracted from essentials
(1809). A cat under a tub, a supposed
cause of delay. Every tub (vat, etc.)
should stand on its own bottom, a simile
of independence (1538). See Tubby,
Tubbing. 1. Imprisonment. 2.
See Tub.
Tubman. In the courts of ex-
chequer, two of the most experienced
barristers, called the post-man and
tub-man (from the places in which they
sit), have also a precedence in motions
[The old Exchequer Court is now
merged in the High Court of Justice,
but the appointments are still made.]
Tubby (Christ's Hospital). 1. A
male servant of the school : his busi-
ness was the care of the latrine tubs :
the name is still retained for the
lavatory-man. 2. A big-bellied man,
fatty (q.v.), forty -guts (q.v.). As
adj. (or tubbish), round-bellied, swag-
bellied : like a tub (1796).
Tubs. A butterman.
Tuck. 1. Generic for edibles ; (2)
an appetite: spec, (schools') pastry,
sweet-stuff, and the like ; whence
tuck-shop, a pastrycook's ; tuck-pared
(Charterhouse), a hamper from home :
nearly obsolete; also (Australian),
tucker, (1) food, grub (q.y.)} spec. (2)
barely sufficient on which to live,
bare bread-and-cheese ; as verb (or
to tuck in), to eat heartily : tuck-in (or
tuck-out}, a square meal. As verb,
If any of the Freshmen came off dull
or not cleverly, some of the . . . Seniors
would tuck thorn— that is set the nail
of their Thumb to their chin, just
under the Lipp, and by the help of
their other fingers under the Chin,
they would give him a mark which
would sometimes produce blood
(Wood). To tuck up, (1) to hang : Bee
.Ladder; hence tucked up, hanged;
.. cramp,
increase or enhance : e.g. That horse
is not worth half what you gave for
him; the dealer has tucked it on to
you pretty well : of. Stick it on. See
Twopenny. ,
Tucker. See Tuck.
Tuckered. Tuckered out, tired out
(1840).
Tucker -in (or Tucker -up). A
chamber-maid : cf. Scotch warming-
pan.
Tuck-man. A moneyed partner.
Tuel (or Tewel). The fundament
(Hattiwdl).
Tuft. 1. A young nobleman :
students of rank formerly wore a
gold tuft or tassel in their cap
(obsolete) ; whence tuft - hunter, a
hanger - on to a man of title, a syco-
phant, toady, lick - spittle ; tuft-
hunting, sponging (q.v.) on men of
title or means. 2. An imperial, a
goat's beard (1842).
Tug (Eton). A Colleger ; a scholar ;
on the foundation; hence tugg&ry
College. [Gt. Public Schools : from the
toga worn by Collegers to distinguish
them, from the rest of the school.] As
adj. (Winchester) stale, ordinary.,
vapid, common. Whence tugs, stale
news ; tug-clothes, everyday clothes ;
tug-jaw, wearisome talk. Phrases:
To hold one fug, to keep busy, to task-
drive ; to hold tug, to stand hard work,
or severe strain ; tug of war (see War)
(1667).
Tug-mutton. A glutton.
Tui (Winchester). Tuition.
Tulip. Go it, my tulip, a character-
istic street phrase: an echo of the
tulipo-mania of 1842, itself a recrudes-
cence of the great craze of 1634.
Tulip-sauce. A kiss, kissing.
Turn. Stylish, proper, spiff, Al.
Tumbles. Ablutions* tubbing
(q.v.) (1853).
Tumble. To dance. [Formerly
dance and tumble were popularly
synonymous ; moreover, the profes-
sional dancers of mediaeval times
were also acrobats; and, piotorially,
Herodias' daughter is often repre-
sented as walking on her handa.
Hence tumbler (or tumbester), a female
dancer, and (modern) an acrobat;
as subs. ( 1) a dance; and (2) a Catherine
wheel (q.v.) (1380). 2. To under-
stand, perceive, assent to, accept:
cf. fall in with, concur, and Er., tombre
cTaccord. 3. (Stock Exchange). To
fall rapidly in value: of prices.
Phrases : To tumble in, to go to bed ;
to tumble up, (a) to rise from one's
bed, and (&) to come, or move quickly :
also to tumble along ; to tumble to,
497
TwnUer.
Turk.
to set to vigorously : also see verb ;
to take a tumble to oneself, to take
oneself to task ; to kick oneself (q.v.) ;
to tumble to the racket (Am. pol.), see
Backet; to tumble on one's feet, to
escape without injury, to come out
on top (Q.V.).
Tumbler. In various colloquial
or semi-colloquial usages denoting in-
stability or eccentric movement.
Thus (1) a glass rounded or pointed
at the bottom, so that it could not
be set down except when empty — a
silent reminder of no heeltaps ! and
to pass the bottle : orig. a low Silver
Cup to Drink out of (B. E.) : now-
adays applied to any glass that is
cylindrical in sha^e, without a stem ;
(2) a variety of pigeon : in flight the
bird often drops without wing-play ;
(3) a dog used in coursing rabbits, a
Coney Dog (B. 28.) : it tumbles about
in a careless fashion until, within
reach of its prey, it seizes it with a
sudden spring ; (4) a porpoise ; (5)
a variety of printing machine : from
the rocking or tumbling movement of
the cylinder towards the impressive
surface ; (6) a cart : properly tumbrel ;
whence to nap the flog at (or to shove)
the tumbler, to be whipped at the
eart's-tail (5. K) (1721) ; (7) A sharper
employed to draw in pigeons to game
(B. K); (8) a worthless horse; a
screw (q.v.) ; (9) a German Baptist or
Dunker: the sect was founded by
which cannot be blown until the cup
is empty.
Tun - belly. A fat, round-bellied
man, a pot - belly, a corporation
(q.v.); hence tun-bellied, paunchy,
very corpulent, bellied like a tun : cf .
tun-great, with a circumference of the
size of a tun.
Tund (Winchester). To thrash,
funding, a thrashing.
Tune. To beat : also to tune up :
The old man tuned hvm up de-
itfully, He got a good thrashing :
I'll make you sing another tune, a
threat of corporal punishment (Grose).
The tune the cow (or old cow) died of,
(1) a grotesque or unpleasant noiso ;
(2) a homily instead of alms. [From
an old ballad.] Colloquialisms: To
the tune of, to the sum, amount, or
measure of [a stated figure, etc.] j
to change one's tune (or note), to alter
one's way of talking, manner, or
demand ; to change from laughter to
tears ; to sing another tune (see Sing) ;
to tune upt to commence (1578).
Tunker. A street-preacher. [?Dun-
ker.]
Tunnel. A nostril (1596).
Tunnel - grunter. Usually in pL,
potatoes.
Tup. To salute in drinking,.
Tuppence (or Tuppeny), See
Twopenny.
Tup-running. A rural sport prac-
tised at wakes and fairs in Derbyshire ;
Alexander Mack about A.D. 1708. a ram whose tail is well soaped and
Persecution drove them in 1723 to the
United States, where they founded a
church at a German town in Penn-
sylvania : they separate the sexes in
worship, are vegetarians, and are
called Tumblers from their mode of
baptism, which is by putting the
person, whilst kneeling, head first under
water; (10) a street rowdy: early
part of the eighteenth century.
Tumble-down. Dilapidated,
ruinous, rattletrap (q.v.) (1839).
Tummy. The stomach : also turn-
turn.
Tump. To pull, to draw.
Tumptsner. A settler : e.g. That'll
be a tumptsner for the old gentleman.
Turn-turn. A dog-cart See
Tummy.
Tun. 1. A tippler: see Lushing-
ton. 2. At Pembroke (Oxford) a
small silver cup containing half a pint ;
sometimes with a whistle handle,
498
greased, is turned out to the multi-
tude ; any one that can take him by the
tail, and hold him fast, is to have him
for his own (Grose).
Turf. 1. (Winchester). The
pitch : at cricket, the field being long
grass. 2. (Felsted School), the
cricket field : always with the definite
article. As verb, (Derby School) (1)
to send to bed at bedtime j (2) (Marl-
borough School), to chastise.
Turk. 1. A sword: cf. Andrew,
Fox, Toledo (1638). 2. A savage
fellow; a cruel hard-hearted man
(B. E.);o, Tartar (q.v.). Also to turn
Turk, to turn renegade, to change for
the worse, to go off (q.v.). To
Turkise, to play the Turk; Turkish
treatment, barbarous usage, very sharp
or ill dealing in business (#, $.);
Turkish ehvre, Lambeth, Southwark,
and Rotherhithe sides of the Thames
(Grose)-, Tttrk-a-tenpenee, a term of
Turn.
contempt : of. tenpenny infidel (a
term applied to the Turk in Dekker's
Westward Hoe, 1607) and Turk sense
1, with an eye on tenpenny sword, a
poor tooL In modern usage Turk has
lost somewhat of its rigorous meaning,
and is frequently employed as a half-
jesting endearment to a mischievous,
destructive boy : e.g. You young
Turk ! (1596). 3. A target : a dummy
made up of cloth and rags.
Turkey. To have a turkey on one's
back, to be drunk : see Screwed. See
Talk.
Turkey-merchant. 1. A driver of
Turkies (B. E,\; a poulterer (Grose) ;
a chicken - thief (tramps'). 2. A
dealer in contraband silk.
Turk's-head. 1. A long broom:
used for sweeping ceilings and the
like. See Pope's-head. 2. An orna-
mental knot worked on to a rope : in
shape supposed to resemble a turban.
Turn. 1, A trick, stratagem,
device ; hence as verb, to trick, beguile,
cheat, get at (q.v.) (1383). 2. An
execution: formerly, the criminal
stood on a ladder which, at a given
signal, was turned over (cf. New-drop):
also to turn off, and to turn over.
Turning-tree, the gallows : see Nub-
bing-cheat (1542). 3. A walk : spec.
a short walk involving a speedy return
to the starting-point : as a promenade
on the deck of a vessel, round a
garden, etc. ( 1601 ). 4. A spell of work
or a job in rotation with others : e.g.
(theatrical), a public appearance on
the stage, preceding or following others
(1859). 5. A bonus over and above
the legal rate of interest : charged by
bankers on advances against stock
when money is tight. 6. A nervous
shock, a qualm, nausea : as verb, to
make sick, disgusted, silly: also to
turn up or to turn the stomach : whence
turned up, queasy, ill, sick, as from
a shock, sea - sickness, drinking,
smoking, etc. (1605). To turn up,
(I) to desist, abandon an object,
(pursuit or quest), change one's
habits or course of life ; thus to twrn
up (to forsake) a mistress, to bury a
moll (q.v.); to turn up (cut) anacquaint-
once ; to turn up (cease dealing with) a
tradesman ; to turn up (quit) a crowd ;
to turn up a fleet sweet, to leave a i *
(q.v.) in good humour after &
bun, and so forth (Grose) ; (2)
borough School), to chastise — vribh
cane, stick, or fives-bat. A good (HI,
shr&wd, etc.) turn, a kind (spiteful or
clever, etc.) act or deed : also pro-
verbially, One good turn deserves
another (also ill turn, etc.) (1400).
Turn occurs in a multitude of phrases,
all more or less colloquial. Thus to
turn (to perfect or polish) a phrase,
sentence, etc. ; to turn over (mentally
consider) a matter : also to turn about ;
to turn the corner, to begin to mend in
health, pocket, prospects, etc. ; to
turn upside down (inside out, or the
house out of windows, etc.), to cause
a commotion, or disturbance, to
search thoroughly ; to turn over a new
leaf, to reform, to make a fresh start ;
to turn (distract) one's attention ; to
turn one's head, to unbalance the
judgment, make crazy, flighty, or
arrogant ; to turn (or be turned of)
fifteen (or any age), to pass (or have
advanced beyond) one's fifteenth
birthday, to be older than; to turn
against, to become unfriendly, hostile
to ; to turn one's flank, to circumvent,
outwit ; to turn away (or off), to dis-
miss, sack (q.v.) ; to turn (or send)
down (University), (1) to rusticate,
and (2) to snub, suppress (American) ;
to turn off (execute, accomplish, pro-
duce) a contract* design, or book ; to
turn off (marry) a couple; to turn
off (foil, counteract, or ignore) a joke,
slight, etc. ; to turn one's coat (see
Turncoat) ; to turn one's hand to, to
apply (or adapt) oneself ; to turn out
(train) a scholar, soldier, etc. ; to turn
out (produce) so much in a week,
month, etc. ; to turn out (show) one's
hand : spec, at cards j to turn out (or
be turned oid) to dress (or be clothed
by one's tailor) with care: whence
well turned out, well-groomed (q.v.) :
see Turn-out; to turn over (transfer)
a business ; to turn over (sell) goods ;
to be turned over (thieves'), (1) to be
stopped by the police and searched,
(2) to be remanded, and (3) to be
acquitted for lack of evidence ; to twrn
one's back on (see Back) ; to turn cat
in the pan (see Cat) ; to turn the cold
shoulder (see Cold Shoulder) ; to turn
the paunch, to vomit; to turn the
stomach, to cause nausea ; to turn the
tables (see Table) ; to turn an honest
(see Penny) ; to turn rusty (see
; to turn to the right-about, to
summarily: see Bight; to
turn turtle (nautical), to capsize : of a
499
Turnabout.
Tutivittus.
boat or vessel ; to turn up one's nose, to
make a gesture of contempt, to show
disgust ; to turn, up one's eyes, to make
a gesture of (1) surprise, and (2) of
mock sanctity; to turn upon, (I) to
retort, and (2) to snow anger, resent-
ment, or fight, to pay back as good as
sent ; to turn up one's toes, to die : see
Toe ; to turn in, to go to bed ; to turn
out, (I) to rise, to get out of "bed, (2)
to come abroad, (3) to come out on
strike (workmen's), and (4) to result,
end, prove : to turn to, to set to work ;
to turn Turk (see Turk) ; to turn up, (1)
to happen, to occur, (2) to arrest
(thieves'), (3) to acquit (thieves');
to be turned over: see To turn up,
supra ; not to turn a hair to take things
quietly ; to turn a cartwheel : see Cart-
wheel ; to take a turn, to join in ; to
turn it (or the game) up, to desist,
quit, abscond, change one's tactics ; to
turn up a trump, to meet with good
fortune, to improve one's chances ;
to a turn, to a nicety : as a roasted
joint cooked to a turn of the spit;
turned round, at a loss, puzzled : spec,
of that momentary mental ignorance
of one's exact whereabouts which
sometimes occurs in a place that is
normally perfectly well known; turn
and turn about, in regular succession,
alternate duty, one resting while the
other works.
Turnabout. 1. An innovator
(1692). 2. A disease in cattle, the
staggers (q.v.) (1618). 3. A merry-go-
round, a run-around (1889).
Turn-back. A coward.
Turncoat. A renegade, an apos-
tate, he that quits one and embraces
another party (B. E.)t one who has
changed his party from interested
motives (Qrose). Hence to turn coat
(oxacoat), to change, to pervert (1576).
Turning-tree. See Turn.
Turnip, A watch : spec, an old-
fashioned silver watch which in size
approached a turnip: also frying-
pan (see Warming - pan). Phrases :
To give turnips, to get rid of a person
by hook or by crook : to get turnips,
to be taken in, jilted : a play on turn-
up ; one's head to a turnip, & fanciful
bet: cf. Lombard Street to a China
orange, etc. (1694).
Turnip - pated. White or fair-
haired (B. E.\
Turn-out. (1) A parade, also (2) an
assembly: spec, a number of people
500
gathered together in the open air.
(3) a strike ; also (4) a striker (singly
and collectively) ; (5) a shunting-
line, a side-track, a railway siding;
(6) production, output ; (7) a carriage,
coach, or any vehicle with horses,
harness, and other appointments ;
also (latterly) applied to motor-cars;
(8) dress, get-up (q.v.) : cf. to turn out ;
(9) an interval (1851).
Turnpike-man. A parson: because
the clergy collect their tolls at our
entrance into and exit from the world
(Qrose}.
Turnpike-sailor. A beggar posing
as a distressed sailor (1851).
Turn -tail. A coward, renegade,
pervert. To turn tail, (I) to change
sides, (2) to turn one's back -upon, and
(3) to run away, to shirk (1586).
Turn-tippet. A time-server, turn-
coat (q.v.) ; hence to turn tippet, to
change right about (1556).
Turn-up. 1. A fight produced from
a hasty quarrel, a casual boxing-
match (Qrose), a shindy, a scrimmage.
2. An unexpected event, or result ; a
chance encounter, spec, a sudden
piece of luck : see Turn.
Turpentine State. North Carolina :
its people are Tarheels (q.v.).
T u r p i n. A kettle. [Halliwett :
A cant term.]
Turtle. See Turn.
Turtle Dove. In pi., a pair of
gloves : also turtles.
Turvy-topsy. See Topsy-turvy.
Tush (or Twish). An expression
of impatience, contempt, or rebuke :
also as verb, and tushing, suba. : of.
Tut (1400).
Tusfaeroon. A crown piece, 5s. :
see Rhino.
Tussey. A low drunken fellow : cf.
Tosticated.
Tussicated. Driven about, tor-
mented (Halliwell).
Tussle. A struggle, a contest, a
tousle (q.v.). Also as verb, to scuffle,
to struggle.
Tussocker (New Zealand)* A
sundowner (q.v.).
Tut Tush (q.v.), pish (q.v.).
Also tuts I and as verb. To make, tute
for, to make light of ( 1500). A tut for
a tush, a tit for tat (q.v.) : see Tush.
Tutivillus, An old name for a
celebrated demon, who is said to have
collected all the fragments of "words
which the priests had skipped over or
Tutting.
Twiddle.
mutiliated in the performance o£ the
service, and carried them to hell.
Tutting. A tea-drinking for women,
succeeded by stronger potations in
company of the other sex, and end-
ing in ribaldry and debauchery. So
called only, I believe, in Lincoln ; in
other places in the country it is
known as a bun-feast. Now obsolete,
or nearly so (HaUiweU).
Tut tie (or Tuttie Nask). The
Bridewell in Tuttle-Fields (B. K):
closed in 1878.
Tut-work. Piece work.
Tuz I (Felsted School). The
same as Fainits (q.v.), Bags I (q.v.).
Twaddle (Twattle, etc.). 1
Gabble, stuff and nonsense (q.v.) ; 2.
a prosy chatterbox, babbler, drivel-
ler: also twaddler (twat&er, twatUe-
basket, or twattie - brains). As verb,
to clack, prate, rattle on; twaddling
(or twaddley), (1) silly, loquacious,
inane ; (2) trifling, paltry, petty ; also
reduplicated in twitUe - twat&e. (3)
Perplexity, confusion ; or anything
else : a fashionable term that for a
while succeeded that of bore (Grose) ;
(4) a diminutive person.
Twang. A smack or ill taste
(B. M.); hence (modern), a decided
flavour (1707). To go off twanging,
to go well, swimmingly: of. as good
as ever twanged, as good as may be
(1629).
Twangdillo (or Trangdillo).
See Twangle.
T w a n g e y (or S t a n g e y). A
tailor : north country (Grose).
Twangle. That is twang: also
twank, ttvangditto, twangling, and as
verb.
Twank (Durham School). To
cane \HaUiwett : to give a smart slap
with the flat of tho hand, a stick, etc.,
Sasfj.
Twanking. Big, unwieldy: a
generic intensitive.
Twatterlight. See Twitter-
light.
Twattle. See Twaddle.
Tweague (or Tweak). Passion,
peevishness : also tweaguy ; in a tweak,
in a heavy taking, much vext, or very
Tweak. 1. A jerk, twinge, pinch :
as verb, to twitch, pull, or snatch :
usually in phrases to tweak one's nose.
Tweaker (Felsted School : obsolete), a
catapult (1420). 2. A dilemma (1706) :
also as verb, to perplex (1731).* See
Tweague.
Tweedle. A Brummagem ring of
good appearance used for fraudulent
purposes. See Twiddle.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
(The difference between).
No difference at all, save in sound ;
a distinction without a difference.
[Ency. Diet. : The expression arose in
the eighteenth century, when there
was a dispute between the admirers
of Bononcini and those of Handel, as
to the respective merits of these
musicians. Among the first were
the Duke of Marlborough and most of
the nobility ; among the latter the
Prince of Wales, Pope, and Arbuth-
not.] (1730).
Tweenie. A between-maid.
Twelve. After twelve (Eton).
From noon till 2 p.m.
Twelve Apostles (Cambridge
University). 1. The last twelve
in the Mathematical Tripos (Grose).
2. (Stonyhurst). The first twelve
Stonyhurst students.
Twelve Godfathers. A jury.
[Hotten- they name the nature of a
crime; murder or manslaughter,
felony or misdemeanour.] You'll be
christened by twelve godfathers some
day (a taunt).
Twelvepenny. Trifling, of
small value : frequently contemptuous
(1614).
Twelver. A shilling; Is.: see
Rhino.
Twenty. 1. An indefinite number :
also twenty and twenty (1593). 2.
(Rugby). The Sixth Form.
Twenty - two and Twenty - two
(Winchester). Football : twenty-two
a side.
Twibill. A street ruffian, a roaring-
boy (q.v.) : seventeenth century.
Twice. At twice, on a second trial;
in two distinct attempts : of. Tou've
guessed it in once (1611).
Twice-laid. A hash-up of fish and
potatoes: of. Resurrection-pie.
Twicer. A printer who works at
press as well as at case.
Twiddle (or Tweedle). 1. To
finger idly and lightly: usually in
phrase, to twiddle one's fingers; to
fiddle (q.v.), wriggle, or twist about ;
to be busy about trifles ; to wheedle, to
coax ; e.g. She can twiddle him round
her little finger : of. Twirl (1540).
501
Twiddlepoop.
Twoj&r.
Twiddlepoop. An effeminate-
looking fellow (Grose).
Twig. 1. Style, fashion, method ;
hence as adj., stylish, handsome ; in
good (or prime) twig, clever, well-
dressed, in good spirits (Grose). To
put out of twig, to alter, disguise, so
to change as to make unrecognisable
(Vaux). 2. (Marlborough : obsolete).
The Headmaster [in whose authority
rested the use of the birch.] As
verb, (1) to watch, observe, mark.
Also (2) to understand, see (q.v.),
tunable to (q.v.) ; whence (in humor-
ous imitation of Fr., comprenez-vous)
twiggez-vous : see Twug (1763); (3)
to snap asunder, break off : e.g. twig
the darbies, knock of! the irons. To
measure a turig, to act absurdly. See
Hop the twig.
Twilight. A corruption of toilet :
(old) a dressing - cloth, towel, or
napkin (1684).
Twine. To ring the changes (q.v.).
Twinkler. (1) In pi, the eyes.
Also (2) a star, and (3) a light (thieves')
Twinkling. See Bedpost.
Twins. To have twins, to take
dinner and tea at one meal, to box
Harry (q.v.).
Twire (Tweer, Tour, and
Towre). 1. To peep, to look round
cautiously, to peer : cf . Tower. [Tour
(the canting form : see Tower) possibly
originated in twire being carelessly
written.] Whence 2. (old), to leer,
to make eyes. As subs, a glance,
leer. Twirepipe, a peeping Tom
(1598).
Twirl. A skeleton key : see
Jemmy. To twirl one's thumbs, to
be idle: of. cool one's heels: cf.
Twiddle.
Twish. An exclamation of con-
tempt.
Twiss. A chamber-mug, it (q.v.).
[Grose : A Mr. Richard Twiss having
. . . given a very unfavourable de-
scription of the Irish character, some
utensils were made with his portrait
at the bottom.
Twist 1. The fourchure, the
crutch (1568). 2. A bent, turn, oast :
a variation from what is usually
normal and proper. Thus a, twisted
vision, a wrong or cussed way of
looking at things; a twisted (a ly-
ing) tongue; whence twister, a false-
hood or gross exaggeration; twisted
brogoish) speech, etc. Also twisty (or
twislical), awkward, crooked (q.v.),
funny (q.v.) ; twistaUe, easily in-
fluenced. 3. An appetite ; hence
to twist it down (or lustily), to feed like
a farmer (£. E.), to eat heartily
(Grose). Fr., crampe au pylore. 4.
(a) A mixture of tea and coffee (B. E.) ;
also (&) brandy, beer, and eggs (Grose) ;
and (c) brandy and gin. 5. (Win-
chester). A stack spirally marked by
a creeper having grown round it : also
twister. As verb, to hang : see
Ladder. Hence twisted, hanged ( 1823).
6. A turn given to the wrist in delivery
so that a ball breaks from the straight ;
whence twister, a ball so delivered by
the bowler (also, at billiards, a baU
that screws or spins along with a
twist) ; hence (figuratively, anything
that puzzles or staggers (1857). A
twist on the, shorts, a Wall Street
phrase, used where the shorts (q.v.)
have undersold heavily, and the
market has been artificially raised,
compelling them to settle at ruinous
rates. To twist (or wind) round one?$
finger, to control or influence com-
pletely, to make submissive : usually
of women. See Tail.
Twit. To hit in the teeth (B. E.)
to reproach a person or remind him.
of favours conferred (Grose). Twitty,
cross, ill-tempered.
Twitch. To twitch a, twelve, to get
the highest number of marks.
Twitcher. 1. A severe blow. 2.
In pi., small pincers.
Twitchetty. Nervous, fidgety,
uncertain : also twitchy.
Twitter. AU of a twitter, frightened
nervous, fidgety : also in (or cm) the
twitters.
Twitter-light. Twilight: also
twatterlight (1607).
Twittie. To chatter, babble, tattle.
Hence twitile - twat, a chatterbox ;
Twittoc. Two (Grose).
Two. Doubly: e.g. two fools,
twice foolish; two knaves, doubly
foolish (1571). Two thieves beating a
rogue, a man's arms when beating
his sides for warmth, beating the
booby (q.v.), cuffing Jonas {q.v.).
Twoer. I. A florin. 2. A hansom
cab.
Two-eyed Steak. A bloater: Me
Glasgow Magistrate.
Twof er. A wanton.
602
Two F^'ves.
Tyburn.
Two Fives (The). The second
battalion Border Regiment, formerly
the 55th Foot.
Two-foot Rule. A fool.
Two Fours (The). The first bat-
talion Essex Regiment, late the 44th
Foot.
Two-handed. 1. Great: spec, of
a strapping fellow or wench (Grose).
Also, 2. expert with the dukes (box-
^o-handed Game. A matter in
which the chances of success are
equal or nearly so : e.g. I'll dust
your jacket for you, Well, that's a
two-handed game.
Two-legged Cat (Fox, etc.). A
fchief : usually as a retort to The cat
had it,— A two-legged cat then (1551).
Two-legged Tree. The gallows:
see Nubbing-cheat.
Two-legged Tympany. A baby;
spec, a bastard.
Two-nick. A girl baby: cf. One-
nick.
Twopence (or Tuppence). See
Donkey and Penny.
Twopenny. 1. Beer ; sold at 2d.
a quart : cf. Fourpenny, etc. (1771).
2. The head : also tuppenny. Tuck in
your tuppenny, (1) an injunction to
make a back at leap - frog ; and (2)
to desist. 3. (London). An inter-
mediary between pawnbroker and
client ; a professional pawner : the
usual fee being twopence. As adj.,
mean, of little value : as only costing
twopence : also (modern) twopenny-
halfpenny (1485).
Twopenny damn. 1. A variant of
Rap, Straw, Curse, Tinker's curse or
damn), and many others. Tradition
asserts that Wellington once said he
did not care a twopenny damn what
became of the ashes of Napoleon
Buonaparte. 2. The Twopenny J)amn.
The St. James' Gazette : on account
of its strong language concerning Mr.
Gladstone and the latter-day radicals.
Twopenny-hop. A cheap dance.
(Hotten : The price of admission was
formerly twopence : the clog^ horn-
pipe, the pipe dance, flash jigs, and
hornpipes in fetters, a la Jack Shep-
pard, were the favourite movements,
all entered into with great spirit]
(1861).
Twopenny-rope. A lodging-
house : one in which the charge is (or
was) twopence : sacking stretched on
603
ropes served as a shakedown. To
have twopenn'orth of rope, to doss down
in such a place : FT., coucher d la eorde
(1837).
Twopenny- ward. Part of a prison
was formerly so called (1605).
Two-pipe Scattergun. A double-
barrelled rifle.
Two Sevens (The). The second
battalion Duke of Cambridge's Own
Middlesex Regiment, late the 77th
Foot.
Two-shoes. A little girl : an en-
dearment, usually little Two-shoes (cf.
Goody Two-shoes, a kind of fairy
god-mother).
Two -Sixes (The). The second
battalion Princess Charlotte of Wales's
Royal Berkshire Regiment, late the
66th Foot.
Two Tens (The). The Lancashire
Fusiliers, late the 20th Foot.
Two-twos. A moment ; the
shortest imaginable space of time, in
a twinkling. The Two Twos, The
Cheshire Regiment, late the 22nd
Foot.
Twoster. See Twist.
Two-to-one Shop. A pawnbroker's,
uncle's (q.v.). [Grose : alluding to
the three blue balls, the sign of that
trade ; or perhaps to its being two to
one that the goods pledged are never
redeemed.]
Two upon ten (or Two pun*
ten). An expression used by assist-
ants to each other, in shops, when a
customer of suspected honesty makes
his appearance. The phrase refers
to two eyes upon ten fingers, shortened
as a money term to two pun' ten.
When a supposed thief is present^ one
shopman asks the other if that two
pun' (pound) ten matter was ever
settled. The man knows at once what
is meant, and keeps a careful watch
upon the person being served. If it
is not convenient to speak, a piece of
paper is handed to the same assistant,
bearing the, to Tnimt very significant
amount of £2, 10s. Cf. Sharp, John
Orderly.
Twug (Harrow). Caught : ie. the
past ppl. of twig (q.v.).
Twyford. My name t* Twyford, I
know nothiogof the matter.
Tyburn. The place of execution
for Middlesex to 1783 : after which the,
death penalty was enforced at New-
gate tiU the demolition of the prison
Tyburwa.
Umpire.
in 1903. The Tyburn gallows stood
in the angle formed by the Edgware
Road and Oxford Street. In 1778 this
was two miles out of London. Hence
Tyburn-blossom, a young thief : who
in time will ripen into fruit borne by
the deadly never-green (Orose) ; Ty-
burn-check (pickaditt, tiffany, or
tippet), a rope, a halter: Tyburn-
tippet, rather obsolete in 1822 (Egan) ;
Tyburn - fair (jig, show, or stretch),
a hanging ; Tyburn-face, a hangdog
look; Tyburn - ticket, an exemption
(under 10 & 11 Will. EX, c. 23, § 2)
to prosecutors who had secured a
capital conviction : it released from
all manner of parish and ward offices
within the parish wherein such felony
was committed : the Act was repealed
in 1818 : Tyburn-tickets were trans-
ferable, and often sold for a high
price; Tyburn -tree, the gallows; to
preach at Tybwrn- cross (fetch a Ty-
burn stretch, dance a Tyburn horn-
pipe on nothing, the Paddington-frisk,
etc.), to be hanged ; Tyburn-spectacles,
the cap pulled over the face of a
criminal before execution ; and so
forth. See Ladder and Tree.
Tyburnia. A name given, about
the middle of the nineteenth century,
to the district lying between Edg-
ware Eoad and Westbourne and Glou-
cester Terraces and Craven Hill, and
bounded on the south by the Bays-
water Boad, and subsequently in-
cluding (Rotten) the Pprtman and
Grosvenor Square district: faceti-
ously divided by Londoners into
Tyburnia Felix, Tyburnia Deserta,
and Tyburnia Snobbica : it soon fell
into disuse. [From a brook called
Tyburn (properly The Eye bourn),
which flowed down from Hampstead
into the Thames.]
Tye (or Tie). A neckcloth : now
recognised, but slang thirty years ago,
and as early as 1718.
T y g. A three - handled ty
drinking cup so handled that 1
different persons, drinking out of it,
and each using a separate handle,
brought their mouths to different parts
of the rim. The name is still applied
in Oxford to an ordinary round pot
with three handles, much used for
cups, etc.
Tyke. See Tike.
Tyler. See Adam Tiler.
Tympany. Conceit, bombast;
properly a species of dropsy in which
the oelly is stretched tight Uke a drum
(1610). Two-legged tympany, a baby ;
spec, a bastard.
Typo. A compositor. Also type-
lifter (or slinger), an expert corap. :
sometimes in contempt, a slovenly
workman.
Tzing-tzing. Excellent, Al (ob-
solete).
Ugly. 1. An ugly person : also in
contemptuous address, Hallo, Ugly!
Mr. Ugly, etc. (1797). 2. A bonnet
shade : worn by women as an extra
protection from the sun : middle 19th
century. 3. In pi., delirium tremens,
the horrors (q.v.). 4. A beating, a
round of abuse (Eattiwett). As adj.,
generic for disquiet or unpleasantness :
e.g. an ugly (threatening) tone; an
ugly (dangerous) wound; an ugly
(unpleasant) rumour ; an ugly (wrong)
turn i ugly (stormy) weather; an
ugly (awkward or malicious) cus-
tomer, opponent — a source of danger
etc. ; an ugly (troublesome) cough ;
an ugly (ill-natured) temper ; an ugly
(quarrelsome) attitude. Hence to
come the ugly, to threaten ; to cut up
(or look) ugly, to show anger or
504
resentment ; to call by ugly names, to
revile or abuse. Also ugliness (Ameri-
can), ill-nature, crossness, perversity
(1360), See Plug-ngly.
Uglyman. In garrotting, the
actual perpetrator of the outrage:
his operations are covered in front by
the forestall (q.v.), and in the rear
by the backstall (q.v.): also Nasty-
man : see Stale.
Uhlan. A tramp.
Ullage. In pi., drainings, d
of glasses or casks. [Properly
wantage in a cask of liquor.]
Ultramarine. Blue (q.v.).
Ultray. Very : a corruption of ultra*
Umpire. &oufs that, wnpwel
What do yon say to that T How'a
that for high 1 What price ? [An
echo of football and cricket.]
UmUe-pie.
UnUcfed Cub.
Umble-pie. See Humble-pie.
Un-. See Betty, Dub, Pal, Slour,
Thimble, etc. [A negation).
Unbaked. Immature: cf. Hard-
baked (1598).
Unbeknown (or Unbeknownst).
Unknown (1665).
Unbleached American. A negro ;
snowball (q.v.). [An echo of mock
Northern sentiment during the War of
the Secession.]
Uncertainty. A girl baby : cf.
Certainty, a boy.
Uncle. 1. A pawnbroker (Grose) :
FT., tante (cf. Uncle, a mythical rich
relative). 2. A familar address : spec,
of an old worthy negro : cf. Aunt.
[Pegge: the Cornish apply aunt and
i to do it, i.e. Til do it for you.
Phrase : If my aunt had been a man
she'd have been my uncle, in derision
of those who make ridiculous sur-
mises: see Man (1670). See Butch
uncle.
Uncle Sam. A humorous per-
sonification of the Government or
people of the U[nited]S[tates] : cf.
John Bull. [Usually supposed to date
back to the war of 1812:]
Uncommon. Very, exceedingly :
e.g, uncommon bitter, uncommon
cheap, etc.
Unconscionable. Enormous, vast
very. [Johnson : a low word.]
Uncork. To expose to view, to
set forth, to cause to flow out : as
when a cork is removed from a bottle :
e.g. uncork the swag, unlock the bag ;
uncork your clack, speak out 1
Uncouth, Unkissed. A proverbial
allusion to the custom of saluting
friends and acquaintances at meeting,
but not unintroduced strangers
(1666).
Unction. See Blue-unction.
Uncular. Of or relating to an
uncle : cf. Avuncular.
Under. To go under, 1. To die:
whence the under-side, the grave.
2. To become submerged in difficulty
or debt, to be ruined, to disappear from
society. Under a doud, in difficulties
or disgrace (1520). Under the belt, in
the stomach (1815). See Below. Under
the rose, secretly, in confidence
(1546).
Under-dubber (or dubsraan).
A warder other than a chief in com-
mand : see Dubber and Dubsman
(1785).
Underfellow. A mean wretch,
snide (q.v.) : see Sidney, Arcadia, ii.
Undergear. Underclothing.
Undergrad. 1. An undergraduate
2. A horse in training for steeple-
chasing or hunting.
Underground-railway (American),
An organization for assisting fugitive
slaves to the free states and Canada,
many expedients and devices for the
purpose were in vogue during the
agitation for the abolition of slavery
in the United States (1856).
Undergrounder. A ball bowled
without pitch, a daisy-cutter (or
trimmer), sneak (q.v.).
Underpinner. In pL, the legs : cf.
Pins.
Under -shell. A waistcoat: of.
Upper-shell and Upper-stocks.
Under-spur-leather. An underling,
a subservient person (1725).
Under - stair. Subordinate, low,
mean : cf. Back-door (1655).
Understanding. ( 1 ) In pL , the legs :
cf. Under-pinners. Also (2) boots or
shoes (1602).
' Understumble. To understand
also undercomestumble (1710).
Undisgruntled. See Disgruntled.
Unfortunate. A prostitute : spec.
a homeless street-walker. [Probably,
in the first place, the popular usage
arose from a misreading of Hood's
lines.]
Unguentum-aumm. A bribe,
See Unmention-
Unh
ables.
Unicorn. 1. A team of horses :
(1) two wheelers abreast with a leader
in front (Grose) ; and (2) such a turnout
(q.v.), a spike-team (American) : cf.
Four-in-hand, Manchester, Sudden
death, Tandem, etc. (1803). 2. A gold
coin, value 23 shillings Scotch : temp.
James HI., IV. and V. : a unicorn
figured on the obverse. 3. Two men
and a woman (or vice versa), working
together.
Univ. University College, Oxford.
Universal - staircase. The tread
mill, wheel of life (q.v.) : also ever-
lasting-staircase (q.v.) (1851).
Unlicked Cub (or Cub). A
raw, unmannerly youth; an un-
cultivated boor; also an awkward,
sulky girl (Grose). As adj., ungainly
605
Unload.
Up.
rough, rude. [A popular notion was The mob, the rabble : orig. the artisan
that a bear gave birth to shapeless class. [First used by Burke, popular-
lumps of flesh which she licked into ised by Scott.] As adj., vulgar, filthy,
shape.] Also Unlocked lear (1602).
' ' ~
Unload. To sell stocks, shares,
goods, etc., that have been held on
speculation. Also to empty one's
pockets.
Unlock. Unlock the lands (Vic-
torian), a political cry calling for the
opening up for free-selection of lands
held by squatters on lease.
Unmentionable. In pi., trousers,
breeches. Variants, mostly intro-
duced by Dickens, are: — Ineftables,
Inexpressibles, Indescribables, In-
explicables, Unhintables, Unutter-
ables, Unwhisperables, etc.
Unpalled. A thief whose as-
sociates are all apprehended, or taken
from him by other means, is said to
be unpalled, and he is then obliged
to work single-handed.
Unparliamentary. Abusive, ob-
scene, unfit for ordinary conversa-
tion.
Unpaved. Rough, inflamed : spec,
from excessive drinking.
Unready. To undress: as adj.,
undressed, naked (1580).
Unregenerate Chicken - lifter. A
petty thief : see Thief.
Unrig. (1) To strip:
the drab; whence uwrii
Also (2) to plunder ; and (3) of ships
that are laid up (B. K).
Unrove. Unrove his life line, said
of a man who has died (Olar k EusseU).
Unslour. To unlock, unfasten, or
unbutton: see Slour. [Speaking of
a person whose coat is buttoned, so as
to obstruct the access to his pockets,
the knucks will say to each other, the
cove is sloured up, we must un-
Unwashed bawdry, rant, errant, ful-
some, bawdry (1596).
Up. 1. In various elliptical and
colloquial senses. As verb, generic
for action : cf. Down. Thus to up
with one's fist, a stick, etc., to raise
the hand, etc., for striking a blow;
to up with the standard, to bear aloft
the flag ; Up guards and at 'em, Stand
and charge the enemy, and so on.
Adverbially in many connections : as
(1) out of bed ; (2) on one's legs (ready
to speak) ; in the saddle ; under repair
(of streets) ; advanced in rank, posi-
tion, value, etc. ; in revolt, a com-
motion, or the like ; in progress or
taking place (as a hunt) ; adjourned, at
an end (as a sitting of the House), etc.
Also a scoring-limit at billiards (500
or 1000 up) ; recorded on the telegraph
at cricket (Grace 100 up, a century
of runs made). Also in numerous
phrases and combinations: What's
up ? What's the matter, or What's
going on ; up to (or in), well-equipped,
equal to, conversant with (the law,
mathematics, tricks of trade, etc.) ;
aWs up (or up with), everything is
lost, ruin stares one in the face :
frequently up is spelt as, it's all U-P ;
to go up, (1) to travel to London,
Paris, etc. (as the centre and focus
of national life) : specifically (Univer-
sity) to return to Oxford or Cam-
bridge, the antithesis in this case
being going down to London, home,
etc. ; (2) to offer oneself for examina-
tion ; to have (or pull) up, (1) to sum-
mons, arrest, or bring before a magis-
trate ; and (2) to check a downward
course (as of drink, dissipation, or
slour him to get at his Hckseys (Grose), the like) ; up and down (see UtTand-
Unspeakable. A general inten- down) ; to come up with, to overtake,
sive: extremely bad Thus an un- — ^ ' * * • • -
speakable (outrageous) fool; an un-
speakable (rotten) play ; the unspeak-
able (cruel) Turk. [A Carlyleism.]
Unsweetened. Gin: i.e. un-
sweetened gin.
Unthirable. To rob* or otherwise
thittibled, robbed of one's watch.
Unthrift. A prodig
thrift, wastegood (q.v.) (li
Untritnrned. See Trim.
catch up ; to look up, to improve in
health, credit, value ; up tot about to
do, occur, or in preparation; up a
tree (or treed), (1) done for, ruined,
(2) in a difficulty, cornered (q.v.),
and (3) drunk ; also up in one's heft :
see Screwed ; to up jib (the sticks, or
off ; to up and dust, to hurry up^ move
knowing (q.v.), wide-awake (q.v.),
cunning, sharp (Grose); up to the
sa^jto^w*,, s»<d^OT#,rc
Unwashed (or Great-unwashed), etc.), good, capital, excellent; uptte
006
Dp-a-daisa.
spout, (I) in pawn, (2) imprisoned
(Grose) ; up to one's ears (elbows, the
hilt, etc.), overwhelmed; up to the
hub, to the extreme point; to live
up to blue china, to spend up to, or
more than, one's income ; up to
sample, of good quality, O.K. (q.v.) ;
up to Dick, rich, generous, wise, quick,
in good health, jolly, well-dressed :
generic for the best ; up to dictionary,
learned ; up to the gossip (cacUe, try-
on, etc.), prepared for any attempt
at imposition, roguery, or trickery
(Grose) ; up to alum (Grose), proficient
in roguery, good as a tradesman
(q.v.) ; that's up against you, What
do you say to that ? That will knock
the stuffing out of you ; up in the
stirrups, with plenty of money (Grose)
(1340). 2. (Harrow). In school;
To be up at second school, to go to any
one for work at 10 or 11 o'clock.
Up-a-daisa (or Ups - a - daisy).
Used in baby -jumping.
Up - and - down. Usually in pi.,
the events of life, vicissitudes of
fortune, alternate good and bad luck ;
as adj., plain, downright, positive ;
as adv., (1) thorough, completely, in
every respect, down to tlie ground
(q.v.) ; (2) bluntly, brutally (q.v.) ;
and (3) without favour, justly (1542).
Up and down place, a shop where a
cutter-out is expected to fill up his
time sewing. See Ups and Downs.
Uphill. In pi., dice loaded to cast
high numbers: of. Lowmen (B. 28.).
As adj., difficult, severe, against collar
(q.v.) (Grose) ; hence hampered (1748).
Upon- See Cross, Say-so, Siwy,
Square, Snib.
Upper. Down on one1* uppers,
poor, hard-up (q.v:), broke (q.v.).
Upper-ben (or Upper-ben-
jamin). A great coat (Grose) ; also
Benjy: orig. Joseph, but (Hotten)
because of the preponderance of
tailors named Benjamin, altered in
deference to them.
Upper-crust. 1. The skin. 2. See
Upper- ten. 3. A hat : see Golgotha.
Upper -hand. To have (hold, or
get) the upper hand (fortune, or whip-
hand), to have (hold or get) at one's
command., in one's power, lead, or
under control; to have the day as
one's own ; to have full play or ad-
vantage (1525).
Upper-lip. To beep a stiff wpper-
lipt to be courageous, self-reliant
under difficulties, unflinching in quest
(1833).
Upper-shell. A coat: whence under-
shett, a waistcoat : cf . Upperstocks.
Upper-sixpenny (Eton). A play-
ing field : see Sixpenny.
Upper-stock. In pL, trunk hose,
breeches : see Kicks (1646).
Upper -storey (loft, works,
etc.). The head, brain (Grose).
Hence unfurnished (something wrong,
or rats) ^n the upper storey, crazy,
demented, ignorant, off one's chump,
(q.v.), drunk (1751).
Upper-ten. The aristocracy,
landed gentry, world of fashion :
also upper ten thousand, upper-tendom,
and upper-crust. [Usually referred to
N. P. Willis, and originally applied
to the wealthy classes of New York as
approximating that number.] (1835).
Uppish. 1. Proud, arrogant,
stuck-up (q.v.); rampant, crowing,
full of money (B. jEJ.); also (B. J8.),
bnsk; whence uppishly and uppish-
ness, [Johnson : a low word.] 2.
Tipsy : see Screwed (1726).
Upright. A leg. Go upright,
( Said by Taylers and Shoemakers, to
their Servants, when any Money is
givon to make them Drink, and
signifies, bring it all out in Drink, tho*
the Donor intended less, and expects
Change, or some return of Money9
(B. E., 1696).
Upright -man. The leader of a
gang of mendicants or thieves (1561) ;
the second rank of the canting tribes
(B. 18.) ; a thorough-paced and deter-
mined thief (Grose) : see Curtail (1661).
Uproar. An opera : cf . Roaratorio,
oratorio (1762).
Ups and Downs (The). The
second battalion of the Welsh Regi-
ment, formerly the 69th Foot, the
number being read in position or
upside-down.
Upsee - Dutch (Upsee - English,
Upsee-Preese). Conjeoturally a kind
of heady beer qualified by the name
of the brew. Hence upsee-freesy,
etc., drunk : see Screwed ; to drink
-Dutch (English, etc.), to drink
or in true toper fashion ao-
to the custom of the country
Also Upsees (1600).
Upset. See Apple-cart.
Upsides. To oe upsides with, to
be even with, quits with, a match
for (1816).
507
Vamper.
Upsitting. The sitting up of a
woman to see her friends after her
confinement : the feast held on such
an occasion (1607).
Upskip. An upstart (q.v.) (1549).
Upsodown. Topsy-turvy (q.v.),
upside-down : also upset - down. Of.
Baoksevore (1340).
Upstairs (London). A special
brand of spirits : a bottle usually kept
on a shelf : e.g. a drop of upstairs :
the particular brand varies with the
house. To go upstairs out of the
world, to be hanged : see Ladder (1695).
Upstart. A person suddenly
raised from poverty to wealth, from
a humble position to consequence,
or from servitude to power : now
recognised (1592).
Upsyturvy. Topsy - turvy (q.v.)
(1594).
Uptails-all, (1) Confusion, riot,
high jinks ; (2) revellers, good fellows,
boon companions. Hence (3) wanton-
ness (1602).
Up-to-date. Of the latest (in
fashion, fact, or philosophy), abreast
of the times.
Upways. Upward.
Urchin. 1. A mischievous child,
a half-chiding endearment, a little
sorry fellow (£. E.) : also 2. an elf,
fairy, or sprite: popularly supposed
to take the form of a hedgehog, the
original meaning. Hence as adj., (1)
roguish, mischievous ; and (2) tnfling,
foolish, trumpery (1528).
Urinal. 1. A chamber-pot or
glass (B. E.}. Urinal of the planets,
Ireland : because of its frequent and
great rains, as Heidelberg and Cologne,
in Germany, have the same name upon
the same account (B. E.).
U. S. - c o v e. A soldier. U.S.-
plate, handcuffs : cf . Government
securities.
Use. Liking. To use at (or
round) a place, to haunt, frequent. To
use up, to exhaust, wear out, do for
(q.v.) : whence used up, broken-
hearted, bankrupt, fatigued, van-
quished, killed, etc. (Grose).
Usher. Yes: of. Yiddish user, it
is so.
Usual. The custom. As per
usual, as usual : pleonastic (1589).
Utter. The extreme, the utmost :
also (modern) quite too utterly utter,
very ; the blooming utter, the utmost.
As adj., excellent, Al : a supreme
intensive (1697).
Uzzard. The letter Z.
V. 1. A symbol of cuckoldry, the
letter being occasionally printed in
that connection ; hence to make v, to
make horns (q.v.) : the first and
second fingers are derisively forked
out (1611). 2. A five-dollar note:
v is marked prominently to indicate
its value.
Vac. Vacation.
Vag. A vagabond. Whence Yog-
act, the Vagabond Act.
Vagaries. (B. K) Wild rambles,
extravagant frolics (1696); to gad,
to range ; see Vagrant. Hence vaga-
rian, a crank (q.v.) ; vagarious (or
vagarist), whimsical, capricious, ir-
regular (1611).
Vagrant. A wandering rogue, a
strolling vagabond (B. £!.): also
Vagant, [sometimes vagarant, appar-
ently simulating vagary."] Whence
vagrancy (or vagancy), wandering,
strolling; also adj., roving, erratic,
vagabond (1380).
006
Vain. To take one's name in vain,
to name : a common dovetail on
hearing one's name mentioned ; e.g.
Who's taking my name in vain ?
Valley. See Cascade.
Valley-tan. A special manufacture
of whisky sold in Utah.
Vamose (Vamos, or Vampoose).
To go, decamp, clear out (q.v.) : also
(Western) to vamose the ranch.
[Spanish.] (1840).
Vamp. 1. A robbery. Hence
in for a vamp, quodded (q.v.) for
prigging (q.v.) ; vamper (q.v.), a thief.
2. In pi., refooted stockings (.#. j&) :
see Vamper. As verb, (1) to impro-
vise a musical accompaniment: the
key and time being known, a passable
accompaniment is playable at sight
by a system whioh, in America, is
taught in eight lessons for $10 ; also
as subs., and vamper (1851). 2. To
pawn, spout (q.v.) (8. JE?,).
Vamper. 1. A swindling horee-
Vampire.
Verb-grinder.
dealer; a faker (q.v.) of unsound
horses: also see Vamp. 2. In pi.,
stockings (B. J3.).
Vampire (Punch and Judy).
1. The ghost: see Swatchel. 2. A
blackmailer: Fr., chanteur.
Vampo. The clown : see Swatchel.
Vandemonianism. Rowdyism :
i.e. pertaining to Van Diemen's Land,
the old name of Tasmania when a
convict settlement, with a glance at
demon : also Vandemonian (1852).
Van John. A corruption of Vingt-
et-un.
Vanner. A van horse : cf. Busser,
Gabber, Wheeler, etc.
Vantage. Good paying work, fat
(q.v.) : a spec, colloquial usage of a
recognised word.
Vantage-loaf. The thirteenth
loaf in a baker's-dozen (q.v.).
Vapour. (1) In pi., bluster, os-
tentatious or windy talk, swagger
(q.v.). [The Roaring Boys (q.v.) of
Elizabethan times, to provoke a
quarrel, were wont flatly arid swag-
geringly to contradict everything said,
even that to which a bully had pre-
viously assented ; hence as verb, to
boast, swagger, bully. Also (2) in the
eighteenth century, a fashionable
term for airs (q.v.), side (q.v.) : spec,
an exaggerated affectation of nerves
or blues (q.v.) : also (3) whims, fancies,
maggots (q.v.), and as verb, to fuss,
fidget, make to do (q.v.) (1552).
Vardo. A waggon. Vardo-gitt,
a waggoner (Grose). As verb, to
look, see, observe: e.g. vardo the
carsy, look at the house.
Vardy. An opinion: e.g. That's
my vardy on the matter, That's what
I think. [A corruption of verdict."]
Varlet. A generic reproach: a
rogue, scoundrel, low fellow. Whence
varletry, the mob, rabble, crowd
(B. £!.). [Properly, a page, groom, or
serving-man.] (1549).
Varmint. I. Anything troublesome
or mischievous : also a half-jocular
endearment to a child : e.g. You
young varmint [that is, vermin]
(1826). 2. A fox. As adj., spruce,
natty, good-all-round (1823).
Varmint-man. A hack or ghost
(q.v.) : one who, like Jemmy Gordon,
wrote themes for idle undergrads :
see Varmint.
Varnisher. On© who utters baee
money, * snide-pitcher (q.v.).
Varsal. Universal: frequently
as an intensive (1710).
Varsity. University; and spec.
University College, Oxford: the re-
duction is also affected by American
students (1864).
Varsity-tit. A student of Durham
University : in contempt.
Varying (Winchester). A vulgus
(q.v.) when done up to books (q.v.).
Vaseline (Royal Military Academy).
Butter, cart-grease (q.v.).
Vaughan (The). The Harrow
School Library: named after Dr.
Vaughan.
Veal. A calf: cf. Mutton, Beef: in
English these terms are now restricted
to the dead carcase and not applied to
the living animal, as in Stench and
other languages (1612). Phrases:
Veal will be cheap, calves fall (a jeer
at those with spindly legs) ; In a
shoulder of veal there are twenty and
two good bits (Ray : a piece of country
wit — there are twenty [others say
forty] bits in a shoulder of veal, and
but two good ones).
Vealy. Immature, calfish, green
(q.v.).
Veck. An old woman (1360).
Vegetable-breakfast. A
hanging, execution: i.e. an artichoke
(hearty choke) and caper sauce : see
Ladder.
Vein-openers. The first battalion
of the Worcestershire Regiment, late
the 29th Foot.
Velvet. The tongue (B. Jfl,):
especially the tongue of a magsman
(Hotteri). To stand on velvet, to
arrange one's bets so that loss is
impossible. To play on velvet, to
gamble with winnings.
Velvet-cap. A physician : a velvet-
cap formed a distinctive part of a
doctor's garb (1606).
Velveteen. In pi., a gamekeeper.
Velvet-jacket. A steward in a
nobleman's family, a man in the
King's service, the mayor of a city
(1600).
Velvet-pee. A velvet pea-jacket
(1607).
Ventilator. A play, player, or
management that empties a house.
Venture. As in the proverbial
saying, I'll venture it as Johnson did
his wife, and she did well (Kay}.
Venturer. A harlot.
Verb- (or Gerund-) grinder.
509
Verdant.
Virtue.
A schoolmaster or tutor : spec, a
pedantic pedagogue (1785). Also
gerund-grinding, the study of grammar
(1759).
Verdant. Simple, inexperienced,
easily taken in (q.v.), green (q.v.).
Whence verdancy, rawness, inex-
perience (1853).
Verge. A gold -watch.
Verites (Charterhouse). A board-
ing-house. [A corruption of Oliver-
itea, after Dr. Oliver Walford,
1838-55.]
Vert. A per-verfor eon-vert: spec,
one leaving the Church of, England
for the Roman Communion, or vice-
versd. Also as verb (1864).
Vertical-caregrinder. The
tread-mill, horizontal-staircase (q.v.),
wheel of life (q.v.).
Vessel (Winchester College). The
half-quarter of a sheet of foolscap.
[Foe. East Anglia: vessel was used
for theme-papers formerly at Bury
School] The weaker vessel, a woman :
see 1 Peter iii. 7(1600).
Vest. Pull down your vest, a street
catch-phrase* of no special meaning.
To lose owe'* vest, to get angry, lose
one's temper : of. Keep your hair on 1
Vesta. In pi., Railway Invest-
ment Company Deferred Stock.
Vet. 1. A veterinary surgeon. 2.
A veteran (q.v.).
Veteran. A soldier listing for a
second term of service: also vet.
Whence veteran (or veteranize), to re-
enlist.
Vex (Christ's Hospital). So much
the worse for : e.g. Vex for you : cf.
Chaff.
Vic (Felsted School). I. A warn-
ing of a master's approach ; Cave t
hence to keep vicf to be on the look-out.
2. The Victoria Theatre.
Victual, In one's victuals, in
favour, petted, cosseted: spec, of a
mother and child.
Victualler. A pander: the legi-
timate trade of a tavern-keeper was men.
ItUkfllllvn+l-n- "k-,-,4- a n1.n«l~ t*~ 4~J-_: „ „ 3 TK I.
Viewy. 1. Visionary, kinky (q.v.),
funny (q-v.) (1848). 2. Showy, calcu-
lated to catch the eye (1851 ).
Vigilance - committee. Orig.
Californian: a self -constituted body
of men ostensibly for the purpose of
administering justice or protecting
the public interests in places where
the regular authorities were either
unable or unwilling to execute the
laws : cf. Lynch law. Hence vigilant, a
a member of such a committee (1858).
Vile. A town : cf. FT., vitte. Hence
Itomewle, London (see Rum) : deuce-
a-vtte, the country : also decvuseavitte
and daisyvftle (1567).
Vill (Felsted School). Felsted
village.
Villadom. The world of suburban
residents ; spec, the middle classes.
Village (The). London: also the
hardware village, Birmingham.
Village-bustler. An active petty
thief: a picker up of trifles, uncon-
sidered or the reverse.
Villain. A jocular self-reproach:
e.g. I'm a bit of a villain myself, but
- ; or I'm as mild a vdlavn as ever
scuttled a ship. Also as an endear-
ment (1604).
Vim. Spirit, activity, energy :
orig. University slang [Latin]. (1869).
Vincent 's-law. Cheating at cards.
Vinegar. A cloak (fl. #.). Also
see Pepper.
Violet (or Garden - violet). 1.
An onion : spec, in pi., spring onions
used as a salad. Also, 2., in pi, sage-
and-pnion stuffing.
Viol en to. A violent man: cf.
Furioso, Glorioso, etc. (1662).
Virago. A masculine woman, or
a great two-handed female (&. .2?.).
Virgin (Stock Exchange). IQ
pi., Virginia Now Funded Stock.
Virginhead. Virginity (1605).
Virginia-fence. A zig-zag rail feuco
a worm - fence (q.v.). To ivalfc a
Virginia fence, to reel: of drunken
frequently but a cloak for intrigue and
bawdry ; hence many equivocal allus-
ions. -Also victualling house, a house
of accommodation (1598).
Victualling - department (or
office). The stomach, the bread-
the dumpling-depot
basket (q.v.),
(q.v.): 5V., jxtnier OM pain-' Ital,
Virgin-knot. The virginity, chas-
tity. [In allusion to the girdle worn
by Greek and Roman maidens when
of marriageable age.] (I €09).
Virgin Mary's Body-g
The 7th Dragoon Guards. ___ „
served under Maria Theresa of Austria,
fagiana (bean-box).
Viewpoint. A point of view.
/irtueT Smoking, drinking, dis-
sipation in general. When & man
510
Vish.
Wag-halter.
confesses to abstention from to-
bacco and intoxicating liquors he is
perversely said to have no virtues.
Vish (Christ's Hospital). Cross,
vicious: formerly passy (q.v.).
Visor-mask. A harlot (1682).
Vixen (or Fixen). An ill-natured,
snarling man or woman, a termagant,
a scold. Also vixenish (or vixenly)
ill - tempered, snappish, snarling,
turbulent (1563).
V o c a b (Charterhouse). A dic-
tionary, voca&ulary.
Vocalier. A singer (1876).
Vol (Harrow School). Voluntary:
e,g. Vol-gym.
Volant. A Jack-of-both-sides, a
trimmer. Aa adj., giddy, nighty
(1740).
Voluntary (Winchester). A copy
of verses written occasionally by some
in Sixth Book and Senior Part ex
proprio motu (Mansfield, c. 1840).
Voucher. A man or woman that
passes off false money for sham
coiners (B. E.), a snide-pitcher (q.v.)
(1680).
Vowel. To give an LO.U. : e.g. to
vowd a debt.
Vowel- mauler. An indistinct
Vulgus (Winchester: obsolete).
A Latin epigram: four or sis lines
long. Hence vtdgus - book, a crib
(q.v.). [See Farmer, Public School
Word-book.} (1856).
Vum. I vum, a mild expletive
or oath, I vow : cf. Swan (1856).
Wabash. To cheat, swindle, vic-
timise.
Wabble (or Wobble). (1) To rock
from side to side, move unsteadily,
sway unevenly. Hence (2) to vacil-
late, play fast and loose, blow hot and
cold. Whence as subs., unsteady
movement, fickleness, vacillation ;
wabbly, unsteady, shaky, rocky (q.v.)]
wobbler, a waverer, shuffler, trimmer ;
also wibble-wabble (a reduplication).
[Johnson : a low barbarous word.
(3) To make free use of one's tongue, to
be ready of lip (q.v.). Hence wob-
bler, a fluent speaker, a chattering fool.
Wabbler. 1. A boiled leg of
mutton. 2. See Wabblo.
Wack. See Whack.
Wad. A roll of bank - notes ;
hence generic for money : see Rhino.
Waddle. To go like a duck (B. JE.),
to toddle, shamble, slouch. Hence,
as subs, (or waddling), an ungainly
walk, a wabbling (q.v.) gait. Also
derivatives : waddler, waddly, wadd-
Ivngly, etc. (1595). To waddle out
of the Alley, to make default on the
Stock Exchange : cf. Lame Duck
(1771).
Waddler. A duck.
Waddy. A walking -stick: pro-
perly a war-club (1874).
Wade. (1 ) A ford : and (2) the act
of wading. Also waders, long water-
proof boots: used by sportsmen for
wading through water.
Wafer - woman. A bawd, pro-
curess, go-between. Also waferer, a
pander (1607).
W a ffl e. To talk incessantly,
clack (q.v.), jaw (q.v.) : at Durham
School, to talk nonsense. [Cf. prov.
Eng., waffle, to bark, to yelp.]
"Waffles. A loafer, an idle saunter-
ing person.
Wafrican. In pi., generic for West
African stocks and shares : cf. West-
ralian.
Wag. 1. A buffoon, droll, practical
joker. [Probably wag-halter (q.v.).
a rogue (q.v.) : cf. mad wag, mad wag-
halter, etc.] Also 2. as a half -jocular,
half -affectionate slur. As adj., Arch,
Gamesome, Pleasant (B. E.}, As
verb (or waggle), generic for (1) play-
ful or sportive ; (2) mocking, scornful,
or derisive motion ; hence waggery,
waggishness, waggish, etc. (1550); (3)
to stir, move, make way, progress
(1546); (4) to go, be off, depart,
begone (1589). The wag, truancy:
as verb (or to play, or hop, the wag), to
be truant: also charley-vxtg (q.v.).
See Afraid.
Wag-feather. A silly swaggerer.
Wagged-out. Tired, worn out.
Waggoner. A book of sea-
charts : of. taddel and Scott, a diction-
ary ; Oruden, a concordance. [Erom
Baron von Waegenaar's Speculum
Nauticttm, etc.] (1580).
Wag-halter. A rogue, gallows-
511
Wagon.
Walker.
bird.: i,e. one likely or deserving to
•wag in a halter ; cf . Crack-rope, Hal-
ter-sack, etc. (1594).
Wagon. A bicycle.
Wag - pastie. A rogue, urchin,
rascal (all of •which see) ; an endear-
ment (1534).
Wagtail. A term of familiarity or
contempt: spec, a harlot (B. E.).
Hence, to wag the tail (of women), to
wanton (1605).
Wag - wit. A wag : in contempt
(1712).
Waistcoat. Foetid waistcoat, a
waistcoat of a flaunting and vulgar
pattern.
(1711). Ladies' (or Gentlemen's) walk,
a W.C. : a euphemism (hotel-pro-
prietors'). To walk the streets, to fre-
quent the streets for the purpose
of prostitution ; to make public
quest for men. To walk into, (1) to
attack, assault, drub : also to walk
into the affections; (2), to scold, rag
(q.v,), slang (q.v.); (3) to demolish,
overcome, get the best of; and (4)
to eat heartily, to wolf (q.v.) (1840).
To walk the chalk, (1) to walk along a
chalk line as a test of sobriety ; hence
(2) to go straight in conduct, manners,
or morals, to keep up to the mark
(1840). To walk one's chalks (or to
Waistcoateer. A harlot. [The walk), to decamp, move on, go about
waistcoat was formerly in use by both one's business : see Chalk for suggested
sexes : when worn by women without
a gown or upper-dress it was considered
the mark of a mad, low, or profligate
woman.] (1602).
Waister. A seaman or boy of
little use, a green (q.v.) hand: if
origin. The ghost walks (or doesn't
walk), there is (or is not) money in the
treasury (1853). To walk the plank,
to walk overboard, to die : formerly
an old method of execution or ven-
. . , geance, the victim being forced to
inexperienced or broken down, such as walk blindfolded along a plank over
these were placed in the waist of a the ship's side. To walk into one's
man-of-war for duties not requiring affections, (1) to walk into (q.v. supra),
much exertion or seamanship. Also * "* ~
(modern), a new whaling hand.
Wait To wait for dead men's
shoes, to look forward to an inherit-
^^
over, to win a race without opposition ;
hence to win easily : walk-over, an un-
opposed success, complete triumph
ance (1660). To wait on one, to seek (spec, of a horse, coming alone, of all
a chance of retaliation, revenge, or the entries, to the scratch; it has
spite ; to try and get one's own back consequently but to
Waiter. Minority-waiter, a waiter
out of employment : i.e. as one out of
(political) office (1778).
Wake, To wake snakes, (1) to
rouse oneself, to be up and doing ;
and (2) to get into trouble (1848).
To wake up the wrong 'passenger, to
make a mistake, get the wrong sow
by the ear : see Wrong passenger-
Waler. Orig. a cavalry horse im-
ported into India from Few South
Wales; now applied to all cattle
brought from Australia (1863).
Walk. A special haunt, place of
resort, or round (q.v.) : an extension
walk over the
course at leisure to be entitled to the
stake) (1859). Walk, knave, vxdk, a
rude phrase which parrots were
taught to use (Fairholt) (1592). Also
in various phrases : Thus to watk
alone, to be an outcast, forsaken,
shunned; to walk the hospitals, to
attend the medical and surgical prac-
tice of hospitals as a student under one
of the qualified staff ; to uwl,k Spanish,
to be seized by the scruff and the seat
and thus forced along, to act under
compulsion ; to walk about (military),
an occasional instruction from officers
to sentinels for the purpose of waiving
lank-walk, the round of a banker's jump) down one** tfroat, to rate, scold,
collecting clerk; The Walk (Royal abuse; to walk up Ladder-lane and
Hemp-street,
of the pro-
menade frequented by some particular
clique or set of merchants (1851).
Cock (or Hen) of the walk, a man (or
woman) of parts, a worthy, a leader
512
... .-...„ and
. .. ., "be hanged at
the yardarm: see Ladder; to walk
round one, to get an advantage, or the
bulge over,
walker. 1. A prowler, mouoher
Walking-wort.
Wanion.
(q.v.): spec, one questing for op-
portunities of theft or harlotry : also
(later) night-walker and street-walker
(1380). 2. In pi., the feet (1603). 3.
A postman [Rotten : from an old song
called Walker, the twopenny post-
man.] Hookey Walker (or Walker),
(1) an ironical expression of incredul-
ity, bender (q.v.), gammon (q.v.),
also (2) Be off ! dear out 1
Walking-mort. A tramp or gipsy's
woman: see Mort.
Walking-papers (or ticket).
Dismissal. Thus, to get one's walking-
papers, to get the sack (q.v.), to be
sent about one's business, with (spec.)
a flea in one's ear (1840).
Wall (Eton). Two football
games are played at Eton — one at the
wall, the other in the field. The first
is only played by a very limited
number of boys, for there is but one
wall ; the game is of an intricate
nature, and the uninitiated specta-
tor cannot, as a rule, even see how a
point, called a Shy, is obtained. In-
deed, were it not for the time-honoured
match between Collegers and Op-
pidans on St. Andrew's Day the
game would probably become obsolete.
The Eton field game has many merits
as a game for boys superior to those
of any other kind of football. In it
speed, and skilful dribbling, and
accurate kicking have their due suc-
cess, but strength and dogged per-
severance are not left out in the cold
(Great Public Schools). As verb, to
confine to College bounds : cf. Gate.
Go-by-the-waU, strong ale. Phrases :
At (or to) the waU, in difficulties : to
go to the watt, to be slighted, ousted,
put on one side, to succumb to force of
circumstances, to go under (q.v.) ; laid
by the watt, dead, but unburied; to
drive to the waU, to force to give way, to
crush ; to take the wall, to walk nearest
the wall in passing ; hence to get the
better of (or the advantage) : of. to get
to windward (q.v.): the icaU (the
right of choice of way), was in olden
times the safest and cleanest ; to hang
by the waft, to be neglected, remain
disused ; to see as far into a brick waU
(miUstone or milestone) as ... to be as
able (or as cute) as . . . ; Look on the
watt, and it will not bite you (a jeer
to one whose tongue has been bitten
by mustard) ; Watts have ears, Be care-
foX some one may toe listening (1530).
Wallaby. On the waUaby (or
wallaby-track), tramping the country
on foot looking for work. [ M orris :
Wallaby, a small kangaroo ; often in
the bush the only perceptible tracks,
and sometimes the only tracks by
which the scrub can be penetrated,
are the tracks worn down by the
wallaby, as a hare tramples its form.
These tracks may lead to water or
they may be aimless and rambling.
Thus the man on the wallaby, may be
looking for food or for work, or aim-
lessly wandering by day and getting
food and shelter as a sundowner (q.v.)
at night.]
Wallah. See Competition wallah.
Wall-eyed. 1. Having eyes with
an undue proportion of white ; all
white like a plastered wall (Grose),
hence, 2. glaring, fierce, threatening.
Any work irregularly or ill done is
called a wall-eyed job. It is applied
also to any very irregular action (1580).
Wallflower. 1. Orig. a lady un-
able to obtain a partner in a dance ;
now applied to any one of either sex
who goes to a ball but does not dance,
whether from inability, choice, or
neglect; as adj., neglected, passJ
(1830). 2. In pi., second-hand gar-
ments exposed for sale : cf . Hand-
me-downs, Reach-me-downs, etc.
Wallop. 1. To beat, flog, thrash ;
also as subs., a severe blow ; wallop-
ing, a good trouncing; also walloper
(1838). 2. Generic for great effort or
agitation : e.g. (a) to boU and bubble :
see Pot-walloper ; (6) move or gallop
quickly j (c) to tumble about ; also as
subs., with the usual derivatives
(1360).
Walloping. Great, bouncing. Also
waHoper, anything superlative: see
Whopper.
WaUyford. The usual run on a
wet whole schoolday : about 3£ miles.
Waltham 's-calf. As wise as
WaUhants calf, very foolish (1529).
Waltz. To waltz about (or round),
to move in a sprightly fashion, to buzz
round ; also to fuss about, make one-
self a nuisance.
Wamble- cropped. Wretched-
humiliated: also viomble-cropped'.
Wanger. See Whanger.
Wanion. Misfortune, calamity,
mischief, a curse. Thus with (or in)
a wanion, (1) Mischief take you,
Blast you; with, a vengeance; and
513
Wanker.
Wash.
hence (2) summarily, emphatically :
also W anions on you I
Wanker (Felsted School). A
bloater. [A master supplies: From
stinker — stwanker — wanker.]
Wanky. Spurious, bad, wrong: e.g. a
wonky tanner, a snide (q.v.) sixpence.
Want. See Know.
Wa'n't. Was not: also warnt (1699).
Wantage. A deficiency, a shortage.
Wanted. Wanted by the police
(Grose).
Wanter. 1. A person in need of
anything : cf. Haves and Have-nots.
Also 2. spec., an unmarried person
one in want of a mate (1611).
Want-grace. 1. A reprobate (1603).
2. See Whop.
Wapper. See Whopper.
Wapper-eyed. That has sore or
running eyes (jB. JB,).
Waps. A wasp.
War. Ting of war, a severe and
laborious contest (1671). See Before
the war.
Wardrobe. A privy (1383).
Warehouse. To pawn. Hence as
Bubs., a fashionable uncle (q.v.).
War-hat. See War-pot.
War-horse. A veteran : soldier or
politician.
W a r 1 i n g. Apparently slave,
drudge : only occurring in proverbial
saying, It is better to be an old man's
derling, than an old man's werling
(Heywood, 1542).
Warm. Generic f or earfro-ordinary :
e.g. a warm (intimate) friend; warm
(sincere) thanks ; a warm (hearty)
welcome ; a warm (fresh) traU : cf. hot,
warm, and cold in children's play of
guessing or hide-and-seek; warm
(easy) circumstances : whence to cut
up warm, to leave a good estate, to die
rich ; a warm (rich) man : well-lined
or flush in the pocket (B. JB.) ; warm
(in one's position, duty, etc.), at home,
conversant with, well adapted to :
hence to keep a place, etc., warm, to
occupy it; a warm (unpleasant)
position : e.g. He's in a warm corner ;
a warm (zealous) opinion; a warm
(brisk) engagement ; a warm (en-
thusiastic) partisan; warm (quick)
toork; &-warm (hasty) temper: espec.
when contradicted; warm (wanton)
desire ; a warm (lecherous) member
(or twww-'wn): a harlot or whore-
monger : of. Hot-*un, Scorcher (q.v.) ;
also (2) warm-member, an energetic,
pushful, self - advertising person ;
warm (strong) language ; a warm
(hostile) reception; hence the place
gets too warm (unpleasant) because
of unpopularity or antagonism to
authority, and so forth (1377).
Phrases : To warm a house, to cele-
brate incoming by a feast: hence
house-warming; to warm to (a thing,
one's work, etc.), to become enthusi-
astic, to do vigorously ; warm with,
warm with sugar : cf . Cold without ;
Out of God's blessing into the warm
sun, from better to worse. Also see
Warming (1581).
Warming. A beating, flogging,
thrashing. Hence to warm (or warm
one's jacket, q.v.), (1) to beat, drub,
tan (q.v.) ; and (2) to rate, abuse
roundly, call over the coals. To warm
the wax of one's ears, to box the ears.
Warming-pan, 1. A substitute;
a locum tenens; a person occupying
another's office, situation, or post
during absence or while qualifying for
it ; also W. P. : spec, a clergyman
holding a living under a bond of
resignation; also as adj., e.g. a warm-
ing-pan rector : see Warm. 2. A large,
old-fashioned gold watch : cf. Frying-
pan (q.v.) or Turnip (q.v.), a large
silver watch (B. E.). 3. A female bed-
fellow ; also Scotch warming-pan, a
chambermaid (1672).
Warm-sided. Said of a fort or
ship mounting heavy batteries.
war-paint. Official costume,
evening-dress, or (theatrical) make-
up (q.v.).
Warpath. On the warpath, in
hostile mood or attitude, making fur
and feathers fly, angry.
ar-hat).
A spiked
War-pot (or Wa
helmet.
Warren. He that is security for
goods taken up on credit by extra-
vagant young gentlemen ( B. E. ).
Warwickshire Lads (The). The
Royal Warwickshire Kogiment, late
the 6th Foot.
Wash. 1. A fictitious bargain or
sale : a broker gets instructions from
one client to buy, and from another
to sell, a particular stock; inatead
of making separate transactions of
the two commissions to the best
advantage of each principal, he merely
transfers from one to the other, putting
the difference in his own pocket : tb*»
practice is against the rules; honce
Washical.
Water.
washed, as applied to stock sold or
bought in this way ; also a bogus deal
made for the sake of a fictitious
quotation : one broker arranges with
another to buy a certain stock when
he offers it for sale, the effect, when
not detected, being to keep it quoted,
and, if the plotters buy and sell the
stock to a high figure, to afford a
basis for bona, fide sales. 2. Paint
for faces (B. E.). 3. Very weak lap
(q.v.) spec. (Durham School), school
tea or coffee : see Rock. As verb, (1)
to bear investigation, stand testing,
prove genuine, reliable, or trustworthy,
as good fabrics and fast dyes stand
the operation of washing (1857). (2)
To signify doubt of an assertion, or
disapproval of conduct by language
or action more forcible than pleasant :
e.g. printers bang and knock on the
cases ; tailors indulge in strong lan-
guage, etc. See Jerry and Whack !
To wash one's head, to inault, to put
indignity on one ; hence washing-blow,
a box on the ears, a blow on the head ;
and to give one's head for washing, to
submit to overbearing insult. To
wash, (or sluice) the ivories, to drink:
Fr., serincer la dent; also to wash one's
neck (1823). To wash one's sheep
with scalding water, to do the absurd :
a simile of folly (Ray) ; also to wash
'apian, a blacTcamore,
the crow (the
etc.), white.
Washical.
(q.v.) (1551).
Washing.
What - d' - ye - call - it
„ To give one's head for
a washing : set Wash.
Washman. A beggar faked out
with sores ; ' a washman is called a
Palliard (q.v.), but not of the right
making. He vseth to lye in the bye
way with lame or sore legs or armes to
beg. These men ye right Palliards
wil often times spoile, but they dare
not complayn. They be bitten with
spickworts, and sometimes with rats
bane * (Awdeley, ' Frat. Vacabondes,'
1561).
Wash-pot. A hat, a Moab (q.v.) :
see Golgotha.
Wasp. As guiet OB a wasp in one's
nose, very much alive.
Waspish. Peevish (B. E.).
Waste-butt. An eating-house,
grubbing-ken (q.v.), mungarly-casa
(q.v.).
Waster. 1. A prodigal, a spend-
thrift ; also wastrel, waste-good, waste'
thrift. 2. A generic form of contempt,
a ne'er-do-well, bad-egg (q.v.), rotter
(q.v.), a useless, clumsy, or ill-made
person (Hotten); wastrel (q.v.), a
neglected child, street-arab (1383).
3. A lawless thieving vagabond (1342).
4. An imperfection in the wick of a
candle, causing it to gutter or waste :
also thief (q.v.). 5. A cudgel : spec,
a wooden sword used for practice
(1593). 6. A damaged manufactured
article: also Wastrel (1863). 7. See
Waister.
Waste-time. Idle, useless, or
trivial employment : a play on pastime
(1662).
Wat. LA hare: cf. Philip,
sparrow ; Tom, cat ; Ned, donkey ; etc.
(1470). 2. A fellow, a wily cautious
man (EaUiweU) (1400).
Watch. 1. Self: the ancient
equivalent of nibs (q.v.). Thus his
watch, the person referred to; my
watch, myself; your watch, yourself;
our watch, ourselves, us, etc. (1530).
2. (Westminster). A junior who has
to remain in College during play-
hours to answer inquiries, receive
messages, and so forth, performing, in
fact, the duties of a servant. To
watch out (Winchester, cricket), to
field. Paddy's watch: soe Paddy-
whack
Watch-and-seals. A sheep's head
and pluck.
Watch-birth. A midwife (1605).
Watchmaker. A thief whose
speciality is stealing watches: also
watchmaker in a crowd (Hotten).
Water (Westminter School). Boat-
ing, aquatics, the Eton wet-bobbing
(q.v.). As verb, (1) to drink: see
Lush (1598); (2) to increase nominal
capital by the issue of shares for
which, though they rank for interest,
no additional increase in the actual
capital has been provided : the prac-
tice, it is urged, is justified by profits
already earned, or by a supposed
enhancement of the value of the
property, franchises, etc. ; but watering
is usually only resorted to by com-
panies on the down grade; hence as
subs., additional shares created in
this way. Canterbury water, the blood
of Thomas a Beoket diluted with
water: Archbishop ol Canterbury,
murdered in 1 170, canonised as a saint
and martyr. Phrases -.Above water * un-
embarrassed, untroubled, in (or of)
515
Water-bewitched.
easy circumstances, mind, or the like :
whence to keep one's head above water,
to struggle through (or overcome), water-can, It is
financial difficulties; between wind heavy shower.
and water (see Wind) ; in deep water,
(1) in trial, trouble, distress; (2)
impecunious, reduced in circum-
stances : hence deep waters, tribulation
of sorts ; of the first water, the highest,
Al : properly of a diamond free from
blemish, flaw, colour, or any imper-
fection ; to make a hole in the water,
to fall in it : spec, to commit suicide
by drowning : of. to make a hole in
the silence, to speak ; oil on troubled
waters, anything to allay, assuage : the
practice is ancient, being known to the
Greeks and Eomans, and its efficacy
is frequently tested by modern sea-
men ; to be in twt water, to b© in trouble,
difficulties, or disgrace ; to show water,
to bribe, to produce a fee : to cast one's
water (see verb) ; to cast water into the
Thames, to do the unnecessary or
useless (see Thames) ; to hold water, to
prove serviceable or adequate ; to take
water, to back out (or down), to
weaken (q.v.) : as a boat when allowed
to fall in the wake of another in a
race; to draw water with a sieve, to
act absurdly; to throw cold water on,
to discourage, damp one's ardour,
interest, or chances ; wafer in one's
shoes, a cause of annoyance or dis-
comfort ; to water one's plants, to shed
Water - can. In saying Jupiter
Pluvius has got out (or put on) his
T" "- raining: spec, of a
Water-colour. See Wife in Water-
colours.
Water-doctor. 1. A hydropathist.
2. A water-caster (q.v.).
Water-dog. 1. A sailor : spec, an
old salt (q.v.). 2. Any one completely
at home in, or on, the water (1835).
3. A Norfolk dumpling.
Water-drop. A tear ; also water-
works, the eyes, the tear - pump :
whence to turn on the waterworks, to
cry (1605),
Waterfall. 1. A neckcloth, scarf,
or tie with long pendant ends. Also,
2. a chignon : spec, a fringe of hair
falling down the neck under the
chignon (1824).
Water-funk. A boy shy of water :
either in the way of personal cleanli-
ness or aquatics.
Water-gunners (The). The Royal
Marines.
Wateries (The). Tho Naval Ex-
hibition at South Kensington: cf.
Fisheries, Colinderies, etc.
Waterings. St. (Thomas a Water-
ings, a place of execution (for Surrey,
as Tyburn (q.v.), for Middlesex)
situated at the second milestone on the
road from London to Canterbury.
Like Beggar's-bush, Weeping-cross,
comiort ; to water one s promts, TO siiea juute Beggar B-DUSJJL, weeping-cross,
tears. Also proverbially : My mouth Clapham, etc., the place-name was the
waters, & simile of strong appetite or
longing desire : also said of the teeth .;
That's where the water sticks, That's
the point in dispute ; All water runs to
his mill, Fortune smiles on him,
Everythmg goes his way; No safe
wading in an unknown water ; Often
to the water, often to the tatter ; Foul
water will quench fire; Whero the
water is shallow no vessel will ride ;
Water breeds frogs in the belly, and
wine cures the worms ; I'll make him
water bis horse at Haghgate (i.e. I'll
sue him and make him take a journey
up to London) — (Bay) ;' The malt's
above the water, He's drunk (see
Screwed) (1680).
Water-bewitched. Weak lap (q.v.)
of any kind : spec, (modern) tea very
much watered down, but orig. (1672)
very thin beer: also water-damaged :
cf. Husband'fl-tea.
Water-butt (or barrel). The
stomach : spec, a corporation (q.v.).
516
basis of many a quibbling allusion
and much conventional wit. [At this
point is a brook, probably a place for
watering horses, whence its name ;
dedicated, of course, to St. Thomas &
Becket, being the first place of any
note in the pilgrimage to his shrine
(1383).
Water -language. Jocose abuse,
chaff (q.v.).
Waterloo -day. Pay-day: cf.
Balaclava-day.
Waterman. A blue silk handker-
chief : ef . Fogle. \Hottcn : The friends
of the Oxford and Cambridge boats'
crews always wear these-~Hght blue
for Cambridge, and a darker shado for
Oxford.] Also watersman.
Waterologer. See Water.
Water -pad (or rat). A thief
working on the water : spec, one that
robs ships in the Thames (/?. #.),
Water-pusher (or treader).
A ship : sail or steam (1614),
Water-sneak.
Water-sneak (The). Bobbing
ships or vessels on a navigable river or
canal, by getting on board unperceived,
generally in the night. The water-
sneak is lately made a capital offence
(Qrose).
Waterworks. See Water-
drop.
Watlynge-strete. The Milky
Way (1373).
Wattle. In pi., ears ; also Sheep-
folds (JJ. JS. ).
Wave. To wave a flag of defiance,
to be drunk : see Screwed. To
number the waves, to do the unneedf ul,
act foolishly (1670).
Wavy. Wavy in the. syls, imperfect
in one's lines.
Wavy -rule. To make wavy rule,
to be staggering drunk. |y*^wwx,]
Wax. A rage, a passion, a tear
(q.v.) ; also waxiness, vexation, and
waxy, angry : of. Lowland Scotch
wex, vex (1490). As verb, to over-
come, surmount a difficulty, get the
better of: by stratagem or nous
(q.v.). A lad (or man) of wax, a
smart lad, a clever man (1595).
Close as wax, as miserly, niggardly, or
secretive as may be. Neat as wax : see
Neat.
Waxed. Well-known: e.g. So-
and-so has been well waxed, i.e. We
know all about him.
Way. Health, condition, state,
calling ; e.g. in a bad way, shaky in
health, pocket, or manner ; only his
way, characteristic: cf. pretty Fanny's
way. Also in phrases : To look both
(or nine) ways for Sundays, to squint ;
There are no two ways about it, the
fact ia as stated, there's no mistake ;
out of the way, a thief who knows that
he is sought after by the traps on some
information and consequently goes
out of town, or otherwise conceals
himself, is said by his pals to be out
of the way for so and so, naming the
particular offence he stands charged
with; to note the way the cat jumps,
to watch the course of events ; to go the
way of nature (or aU flesh), (1) to be
fond of belly cheer, and (2) to die : see
Hop the twig ; to know one's way
about, to be well informed, experi-
enced : see Know ; way to St. James1
(or Walsingham way), the Milky Way
(1670) ; the longest way rownd is the
shortest way there, a warning to the
unwary or ignorant that short outs are
proverbial pitfalls: of. Better go
about than tall into the ditch.
Way -bit (Weabit, .or Webit).
A considerable though indefinite
addition to a mile; a bittock (q.v.)
(1611).
Way - goose. An entertainment
given by an apprentice to his fellow-
workmen : spec, (printers') an annual
dinner; cf. beanfeast (q.v.). [A cor-
ruption of wayz-goose, stubble goose,
a favourite dish at such festivals : now-
adays, among printers, the funds
are collected oy stewards appointed
by the chapel (q.v.)] (1677).
Weak-brother (or sister).
An unreliable man (or woman). Cf.
also (colloquial) weaUing (a diminu-
tive), which, as adj., puny, weak;
weak - kneed, uncertain, vacillating,
purposeless (1595).
Weaker - sex. Womankind : also
(in singular) the weaker vessel [See
1 Peter iii. 7] (1600).
Weanie. See Weenie.
Wear. To wear it upon a person
(meaning to wear a nose or a conk) is
synonymous with nosing, conking,
splitting, or coming it, and is merely
one of those fanciful variations so
much admired by flash people (Qrose).
Phrases: To wear the heart upon the
sleeve (see Sleeve) ; to wear the breeches
(see Breeches) ; to wear the wHlow
(see Willow) ; to wear yellow stockings
or hose (see Yellow); to wear the
collar, to be subject to control, or
under the direction of another (chiefly
political) ; to wear the bands (see Band).
to wear iU (or well}, to look older (or
younger) than one's years. Also
proverbial, Let every cuckold wear
his own horns ; to wear Pannier-attey
on one's back (see Pannier-man).
Weary. Drunk: see Screwed.
Weasel. A mean, greedy, or
sneaking fellow. Also as adj. (1599).
See Whistle.
Weather. Phrases: To make fair
weather, to flatter, coax, conciliate,
make the best of things ; to keep the
weather eye open, to be on one's guard,
alert, watchful : see Keep one's eyes
skinned; under the weather, seedy,
ill, indisposed; the clerk of the weather,
the imaginary controller of tempera-
ture, rainfall, etc.
Weather - breeder. A hot day
which often precedes and prepares &
storm.
617
Weathercock.
Weed.
out the wedges, to desert, leave in the
lurch (q.v.), abandon one in a diffi-
culty. The thin (or small) end of
Weathercock. A fickle, inconstant
vacillating person (1596).
Weatherdog. A rainbow, frag-
mentary and only partly visible : re- the wedge, a first move (or a
garded as a presage instead of a con- ning), seemingly trivial, but calbu-
comitant of rain. lated to lead to important results, a
Weathergage. Advantage, the finger in the pie, a manoeuvre, shift,
upper hand : of. Windward. Whence artifice.
• • - - J J Wedlock. A wife (1601).
Wee. Small, little, tiny: also
weeny (which also see) (1596).
Weed. 1. A cigar, a Newtown
pippin (q.v.) : also the weed, tobacco :
to get the weathergage, to command,
control, have the best of (1813).
Weather -headed. See Wether-
headed.
Weather-scupper. It is an old j oke
at sea to advise a greenhorn to get a
handspike and hold it down hard in
the weather-scuppers to steady the
ship's wild motions (Clark Rusaett).
of. Cabbage (1844). 2. Generic for
sorryness or worthlessness : spec, a
horse, unfit for stock, a screw (q.v.) :
i.e. (racing) an animal lacking the
Weather-spy. A weather-prophet : points of a thorough-bred ; whence
spec, an _ .„ .
Weave. 1. When a knowing
blade is asked what he has been doing
lately, and does not choose to tell,
he replies, Weaving leather aprons
(Batten) : from the reports of a cele-
brated trial for gold robbery on the
South - Western Railway ; similar
replies are, Making a trundle for a
goose's eye, or a whim - wham to
bridle a goose; sometimes a man
will describe himself as a doll's-eye
weaver. As verb, to roll the neck
and body from side to side : of horses ;
also (American), to walk unsteadily,
to make snakes (q.v.) : as a shuttle in
& loom : spec, of drunken men : usually
with along, about, etc.
Weaving. A card-sharping trick :
oarda are kept on the knee, or between
the knee and the under side of the
table, and used when required by
changing them for cards held in the
hand (Soften).
Web-toot State. Oregon,
Wedding. Cesspool e
because always done in the nij
(Orose).
Wedge. I. Generic for money : spec,
silver, money or plate : see Rhino
(1785); hence wedge-feeder, a silver-
spoon ; wedge-lobb, a silver snuff-box ;
wedge-yaclc, a silver watch ; wedge-
hunter, a thief, spec, one devoting
attention to silver plate, watches, etc. ;
to flash the wedge, to fence (q.v.) the
swag (q.v) (1832). 2. (Cambridge
University). The last in the classical
tripos (q.v.) list : also wooden wedge :
in 1824, on the publication of the
first fist, the_position was occupied
by a T. H. Wedgewood. To knock
weedy, adj., worthless, unfit for stock
purposes (1859). 3. In pi., generic for
clothes : spec, an outer garment : now
only in phrase widow's weeds,, mourn-
ing; whence weedy , clad in mourning
garments ( 1 320). As verb, To pilfer or
purloin a small portion from a large
quantity of anything ; often done by
young or timid depredators, in the
hope of escaping detection, as, an
apprentice or shopman will weed his
master's lob, that is, take small sums
out of the till when opportunity
offers, which sort of peculation may
be carried on with impunity for a
length of time; but experienced
thieves sometimes think it good judg-
ment to weed a place, in order that
it may be good again, perhaps for a
considerable length of time, as in the
instance of a warehouse, or other depot,
for goods, to which they may possess
the means of access by means of a
false key : in this case, by taking too
great a swag at first, the proprietors
would discover the deficiency, and
take measures to prevent future
depredation. To weed the swag, is to
embezzle part of the booty, unknown
to your pals, before a division takes
place, a temptation against which
very few of the family are proof, if
they can find an opportunity. A
flash-cove, on discovering a deficiency
in his purs© or property, which he
cannot account for, will declare that
he (or it, naming tho article) has been
wedded to the ruffian (Grose). Hence
weeding'dues : in speaking of any
person, place, or property that has
been weeded, it is said weeding dw>*
have been concerned*
518
Welsh-ambassador.
Wee-jee. 1. A chimney-pot.
Hence, 2. a hat : see Golgotha. 3.
Anything superlatively good of its
kind : spec, a clever invention : e.g.
That's a regular wee-jee.
Week. Phrases, etc.: A week of
Sundays, an indefinite time: spec,
seven Sundays, hence seven weeks :
also month of Sundays ; the inside of a
week, from Monday till Saturday;
a parson's week, from Saturday to
Monday ; to knock one into the middle
of next week, to punish severely,
knock out of time, do for (q.v.) ;
an attack of the week's (or month's)
end, impecuniosity, hard-uppishness ;
when two Sundays come in a week,
never : a left-handed assent (1800).
Weekender. A week-end holiday.
Weenie. A warning that an in-
spector is coming.
Weeper. A conventional badge
of mourning : e.g. a white border of
linen or muslin worn at the end of a
sleeve, a long crape hatband as worn
by men at a funeral, or the long veil
of widow's-weeds (q.v.) (1759). To
weep Irish, to lament prodigally, to
wail : spec, without sincerity, to shed
crocodile's tears (1650).
Weeping - cross. To return <by
Weeping-cross, (1) to fail, suffer
defeat, meet with repulse ; hence (2)
to repent, to lament : cf . Lothbury.
[Nares : Of the three places now re-
taining the name, one is between
Oxford and Banbury ; another very
near Stafford, where the road turns off
to Walsall; the third being Shrews-
bury : these crosses being, doubtless,
places where penitents particularly
offered their devotions ] (1580).-
Wegotism. The incessant use of
we in journalism : cf. Weism.
Weight. 1. The end of one's
tether: it is often customary with
the traps (q.v.) to wink at depreda-
tions of a petty nature, and for which
no reward would attach, and to let
a thief go unmolested till he commits
a capital crime ; they then grab him
and share a reward of £40, or up-
wards: therefore those gentry will
say, Let him alone ... till he weighs
his weight (Grose). 2. Lust, wanton-
ness, heat (q.v.) (1772).
WeirdSisters. (The). The
Pates : also Three Weird Sisters (1512).
Weism. The excessive use of we in
journalism: cf. Wegotism.
Well. An elliptical use of well
is peculiar to American speech,
especially at the beginning of sen-
tences, as a mere expletive or in
answer to questions. [Lowell, ' Big-
low Papers,' Int. : Put before such a
phrase as How d'e do ? it is commonly
short, and has the sound of wul ; but,
in reply, it is deliberative, and the
various shades of meaning which can
be conveyed by difference of intona-
tion, and by prolonging or abbrevi-
ating, I should vainly attempt to
describe. I have heard ooa - ahl,
wahl, ahl, wtil, and something
nearly approaching the sound of le
in able. Sometimes before I it
dwindles to a mere I ; as, ' 1, 1 dunno.'
A friend told me that he once heard
five wells, like pioneers, precede the
answer to an inquiry about the price
of land. The first was the ordinary
wvl, in deference to custom; the
second, the long, perpending ooahl,
with a falling inflection of the voice ;
the third, the same, but with the
voice rising, as if in despair of a
conclusion, into a plaintive, nasal
whine; the fourth, wvlh, ending in
the aspirate of a sigh; and then,
fifth, came a short, sharp wal, show-
ing that a conclusion had been
reached.] To dig a well at a river,
to act the fool, do the unnecessary
(Say). To put one in a well (in the
garden, or in a hole), (I) to defraud
an accomplice of his share of booty :
also to wett one (1785); (2) to incon-
venience, nonplus, or get the better
° Well -in. Well-off, well-to-do,
wealthy.
Wellington. In pL, (1) long-
legged boots largely worn in the
early part of thp last century: they
came well up the leg, high enough in
front to cover the knee and to the
bend of the knee behind. Also (2)
shorter boots of similar pattern
covering the calf of the leg, and worn
(usually) under the trousers : cf .
Blucher, Albert, Gladstone, etc. [A
favourite campaigning foot-gear of the
Duke of Wellington.]
Welsh. To cheat: spec, to run
away without settling. Hence wel-
sher, an absconding bookmaker, a
common cheat : also weleher (1869).
Welsh-ambassador. The cuckoo
(1608).
519
Welsh-cricket.
W.FSs.
Welsh-cricket. (1) A louse: and
(2), a tailor : oi Prick-louse (1592).
Welsh-fiddle. The itch (B. E.) :
cf. Scotch-fiddle.
Welshman 's-hose. To turn
clothes (Grose). Whence to wet a coat
(bargain, deal, etc.), to treat (q.v.),
to ratify by drinking success. As
verb, to drink, lush (q.v.) : also to
wet one's whistle (clay, swallow, the
iking to a Welshman* s-hose, to suit to red lane, etc.) : Fr., se mouiller: see
rvn<*'a rvivrnnaa, MKO.OA Whiat.ta fO\c{ WVuHtlfi-rJ-PlTnt - fs* »nat
one's purpose , ,
Welsh-rabbit. A dish of toasted
cheese. [Smyth-Palmer : One of a
numerous class of slang expressions —
the mock-heroic of the eating-house —
in which some common dish or pro-
Whistle and Whistle-drunk; to wet
the other eye, to take one drink after
another. As adj., (or wet- "handed)
(1) addicted to drinking, (2) drunk:
see Screwed ; and (3) (American), anti-
prohibition; e.g. a, wet-town, a town
_ ____________ . ______________ K__
duct for which any place or people has opposed to prohibition in the sale of
a special reputation is called by the intoxicants : cf. dry : whence a wet,
-••-•-" "-'-'- -f one opposed to prohibition. Also
'heavy-wet, porter ; twop&nny-wet (see
"" * wet-hand (wetter, or
name of some more dainty article of
food which it is supposed humorously
to supersede or equal.] Cf. German-
duck, Cobbler's - lobster, Norfolk-
capon, Billingsgate - pheasant, and
many others (Grose) (1772).
Welsh-wig. A worsted cap.
Welsh-parsley. Hemp: hence a
hangman's rope.
Welt To beat severely. Hence
welter, a stinging blow ; and welting,
a sound thrashing.
Wench. Orig. a , child of either
sex; subsequently a young woman
without any idea of bold familiarity
or wantonness long afterwards and
still frequently associated with the
term. Wench, a wanton, mistress, or
harlot early came into vogue : nowa-
days a working girl or woman of
humble station in life is usually im-
plied, while in America the word
(save in vulgar use) is confined to
coloured women, especially those in
service (1280).
West-central. A water-closet : i.e.
W.C.
Westminster-wedding. A whore
and a rogue married together (B. JS.).
Westphalia. The backside, the
bum (q-v.): an allusion to West-
phalia hams.
West-pointer. A student, a gradu-
ate of the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point.
Westralia. Western Australia.
[ Morris : The word waa coined to meet
the necessities of the submarine cable
regulations, which confine messages
to words containing not more than ten
letters.]
Westy-head. Dizzy, giddy (HaU,
' Satires ').
Wet Generic for drink, booze
(q.v.): spec, drink demanded or
expected of any one wearing new
> a
wet-*uri), "a toper : see Lushington ;
wet-bargain (see Bargain); wet-night,
an evening carousal ; wet-goods, drink :
cf. dry -goods; wet - Quaker, (1) a
secret drinker, and spec. (2) a drunkard
of that sect (B. E.)-, to wet the sictoe,
to drink out earnest-money at harvest-
time ; wetting the block, a custom among
shoemakers on the first Monday in
March, when they cease from working
by candlelight, and have a supper
so called (HaUiweU).
Wet-blanket See Blanket.
Wet Boat A boat that is crank
and ships water readily (1859).
Wet-bob. See Bob.
Wet-finger. With a wet finger,
easily, readily : as easy as turning
over the leaf of a book, or rubbing
put writing on a slate (1561). Also
in proverbial wheeze (amongst chil-
dren), See my finger wet (licking the
finger), see my finger dry (wiping it
dry), I'll cut my throat (drawing
finger across throat) before I tell a lie
(a strong assurance of veracity).
Wet-goose. A poor simple feUow.
WetheralL General WetheraWa
in command, used when a parade
is abandoned through inclement
weather.
Wether-headed. Silly, super-
stitious, a bit off; also Weathcr-
headed. As subs., a dolt, simpleton,
fool: of. Mutton-head (1695).
Wet-nursed. Coddled, shep-
herded (q.v.), backed (q.v.); see
Nurse.
Wet-un. 1. A diseased beast: cf.
Staggering-bob. 2. See Wet.
We-uns. We, us: i.e. we ones;
of. You-uns.
W.F.'s. Wild cattle.
Whack.
Wheaton.
Whack (or Wack). 1. A heavy,
smart, sounding blow: as verb, to
beat, thwack ; also a heavy fall, and
as verb, to fall (1837). 2. A share ;
piece ; spec, an equal portion (Grose) :
also whacking ; as verb (or go whacks),
(1) to divide, to share: and (2) to
settle, pay up : e.g. Whack the blunt,
share the money ; Give me my whack,
Hand me my due. Also to whack
up. 3. An attempt, a trial, a stroke.
4. Appetite, twist (q.v.). Whack !
An emphatic expression of doubt ;
a polite way of giving the lie
direct.
Whacker. Anything very large
a big thing, a whopper (q.v. ) ; whence :
whacking, very large.
Whacky. A term applied to any-
one doing anything ridiculous or
fooling about (q.v.).
Whale (Cheltenham College). 1.
Codfish. 2. (Royal Military Aca-
demy). A sardine. 3. In pi., an-
chovies on toast. As verb, (1) to
beat, thrash, lash vigorously ; hence
whaling ', a trouncing, walloping (q.v.)
(1847). (2) To talk vehemently,
harangue, spout (q.v.) : also to whale
away. To fish for herring and catch
a whale, (or sprat), (1) to get a result
other than that expected ; hence (2)
to catch a tartar (q.v.), fail miserably.
If s very like a whale, Ironical assent
to a preposterous assertion (1596)*
To go ahead like a whale, to forge ahead,
to act, speak, or write vigorously.
See Tub, and Whaler.
Whalebone. As white as whale-
bone, a common simile for whiteness.
[HaUiwell: Some writers imagined
ivory, formerly made from the teeth
of the walrus, to be formed from the
bones of the whale] (1430).
Whaler. 1. Anything extra-
ordinary of its kind, also whale (q.v.)
a regular whale : see Whopper. Hence
whaling, overwhelming. 2. A sun-
downer (q.v.) : i.e. one who cruises
about.
Whang. 1. A blow, a whack ; a
beating, a banging : as verb, to flog,
thrash; also, 2. a banging noise, and
as verb, to clatter, throw with violence.
3. A slice, chunk, dollop (q.v.) ; also
as verb, to out in large strips, slices,
or chunks (1678). 4. Formerly, in
Maine and some other parts of New
England, a house-cleaning party: a
gathering of neighbours to aid one
of their number in cleaning a house
(Century). See Whanger.
Whangby. Very hard cheese
made of old or skimmed milk (HaUi-
wett).
Whangam (Whangdoodle, etc.).
An imaginary animal: its precise
nature, form, and attributes are
seemingly left to individual fancy
(1759).
Whanger (or Whang). Any-
thing big or unusual of its kind. As
adj. (or whanging), large, strapping.
Wharf - rat. A thief prowling
about wharves ; of. Water-rat.
Wharl. To be unable to pronounce
the letter R. Also as subs.
What. 1. That or that which:
still a vulgarism : e.g. I had a donkey
what wouldn't go (1570). 2. How
much (1867). As indef. pro., (a) A
something, anything: e.g. Til tell
you what (it is) ; also a bit, portion, a
thing: e.g. It's a whangam (q.v.);
It's what ? (1373). WhaTs-his-name,
(1) a locution in speaking of what one
has either forgotten, thinks so trivial,
or does not wish to mention; also
What - d'ye - call - it, What - d'ye - call -
''em, Lord knows what, Washical, etc.
of. Thingumy (1600). What not,
elliptical for What may I not say ;
also as subs., no matter what, what
you please, et cetera (1592). To give
what for, to reprimand, call over the
coals, castigate, punish (q.v. ). The Lord
knows what, (1) heaps, plenty more,
all sorts of things. (2) See Whatfs-his-
name. What ho 1 A summons or
call: once the recognised formula:
long disused save in melodrama and
burlesque, but latterly recrudesoent
in vulgar salutation and expletive
( 1598). What price f How's that 2
What do you think ? How much ?
What odds ? What (Who, When,
Where, or How) the Devil, an expletive
of wonder, vexation, etc. (I860).
Whatabouts. A matter in hand,
something under consideration.
Whatlike. Of what kind.
What - nosed. Drunk, hot-nosed
from drinking: see Screwed.
Whatsomever, Whatsoever: also
whatsomdever (1360).
Whay-worm (or Whey - worm),
A whim, crotchet, maggot (q.v.).
Wheat. See Clean wheat.
Wheaton. To wheaton it, to play
021
Wheedle.
Whew.
sick. [Bartlett : The term is derived
from the name of old Dr. Wheaton
U.S.A., long stationed at West Point
College].
Wheedle. To coax, cajole, fawn
on, take in (q.v.). As subs., (1)
cajolery, a hoax ; (2) a flatterer,
cajoler ; and (3) a sharper (q.v.) :
wheedler, wheedlesome, wheedling, and
other derivatives follow as a matter of
course (1664).
Wheel. 1. A five-shilling piece;
5s. : see Cart-wheel (Grose) ; also
(Tufts), a dollar. 2. A bicycle, or
tricycle ; as verb, to ride a bicycle or
tricycle ; hence wheelman (or woman),
a cyclist : also Tonight of the wheel ;
wheeling, cycling: also the wheeling
world (generic for cycledom). To
break a fly (or butterfly) on a wheel, to
punish unduly, without regard to the
gravity of the crime, or the standing of
the offender ; whence to use means
altogether out of proportion to the
end in view ; to crack a nut with a
Nasmyth hammer (1734). To grease
the wheels, to furnish, money for a
specific object : see Grease (1809). To
go (or run) on wheels, (1) to do with
ease, expedition, without exertion;
(2) said of one suffering from the after-
effects of drunkenness (1772). To
pvt one's shoulder to the wheel, to put
one's heart into a matter, to buckle
to, to do with spirit, resolution,
or courage. Wheels within wheels,
complication, intricacies, something
other than that which is apparent
at first sight (1730). To steer a trick
at the wheel: see Trick. To put a
spoke in one's wheel (or cart), to do an
ifl turn: occasionally (by an un-
warrantable inversion), to assist
(1661). Wheel - hand in the nick,
Regular Drinking over the left Thumb
(B. .27.).
Wheelbarrow. As drunk as a
wheelbarrow (or as the drum of a
wheelbarrow), very drunk indeed : see
Screwed (1675). To go to heaven in
a wheelbarrow, to go to hell. [In the
painted glass at Fairford, Gloucester-
shire, the devil is represented as
wheeling off a scolding wife in a
barrow.] (1655).
Wheeler. A horse driven in shafts
or next to the wheels: cf. Leader.
Also off-wheeler, a horse driven on
the right-hand side, i.e. the side
on which a postilion never rides;
near*wheeler, the horse on the left-
hand side.
Wheel-horse. An intimate friend,
one's right-hand man, a leading man
(Barttett).
Wheel-of-life. The treadmill, the
everlasting-staircase (q.v.).
Wheeze. Generic for a gag (q.v.)
of any description : e.g. interpolated
lines (usually comic) in a play, a bit
of business (q.v.), a sidesman's patter
(q.v.), a bon-mot, joke, and so forth ;
to crack a wheeze, to originate (or
adapt) a smart saying at a psycho-
logical moment. As verb, to say, in-
form, peach (q.v.).
Wheezy. The first month of the
French Republican year : a free transla-
tion of Vindtmiare.
Whelk. 1. A blow (also whelker),
fall, blister, mark, or stripe. 2. A
large number, a quantity: whence
whelking, very large, big, numerous.
Whelp. 1. A youth, unlicfced cub
(q.v.) ; puppy (q.v.) : in contempt ; as
verb, to be brought to bed. 2. A ship
of some kind (1630).
When. Say when! That is, Say
when I shall stop : the dovetail reply
is Bob!
Where. See You.
Wherefore. See Why.
Wherewith (or Wherewithal).
The necessary, requisites : spec,
money (generic) : see Rhino (1390).
Wherret See Whirrit.
Wherry-go-nimble. A looseness
of the bowels, a back-door trot (q.v.) :
cf. Jerry-go-nimble.
Whetstone. To give (deserve, win,
lie for, etc.) the whetstone, to give (get,
or compete for) the prize for lying : a
whetstone, i.e. a wit-sharpener, re-
garded as a satirical premium for
what nowadays would be called naked
(or monumental) lying. [yores :
There were, in somo places, jocular
games, in which the prize given for the
greatest lie was a whetstone. ] [HaUi-
wett : The liar was sometimes publicly
exhibited with the whetstone fastened
to him.] (^570).
Whetstone-park. ' A Lane betwixt
Holborn and Lincoln's-Inn-Pields,
fam'd for a Nest of Wenehest now
(5. B., c. 1696) de-park'd.' Whence
many allusions in the old dramatists,
Whetter. See Wet.
Whew. Influenza, the flue (q.v.) :
it is well known that the influenza is
not an exclusively modern complaint,
but I am not sure whether a curi-
ous reference to it by Bower, the con-
tmuator of Fordun's chronicle, has
been noted. Writing of the year 1420
he says that among those who died in
Scotland were Sir Henry St. Clair,
Earl of Orkney, Sir James Douglas of
Dalkeith, Sir William de Abernethy, Sir
William de St. Clair, Sir William
Cockbum, and many others, all by
that infirmity whereby not only great
men, but innumerable quantity of the
commonalty perished, which was vul-
garly termed le Quhew. Now quh
in Scottish texts usually represents
the sound of wh (properly aspirated) ;
therefore it seems that in the fifteenth
century, the influenza was known as
the Whew, just as it is known in the
twentieth century as the Flue. There
seems little doubt that the disease was
identical with that with which we are
so gjrievously familiar (Notes and
Queries).
Wheyworm. See Whayworm.
Whiblin, 1. An eunuch. 2. A sword
(1653).
Whid. (1) A word (1567) : in pL,
patter, talk, jocular speech. Also
(2) (Scotch), a lie, fib ; (3) (provincial),
a dispute or quarrel. As verb (Scots),
to lie. Also to cut white, to talk, to
speak; to cut tien whids, to talk
fairly, softly, kindly; to cut queer
whids, to abuse, swear, bullyrag (q. v. ) ;
also whiddle, to talk, tell, or discover
(B. E. and Grose) ; spec, to reveal secrets,
or give the game away : hence whiddler,
an informer.
Whiddle. See Whid and Oliver.
Whiff. 1. A smell; as verb, to
smell : e.g. How it whiffs. 2. A draught,
a drink, a go (q.v.) : as verb, to drink :
also whiffle (1653).
Whiffet. Anything or anybody
worthless or insignificant, a whipper-
snapper (q.v.).
Whiffle. 1. Generic for trifling:
to hesitate, talk idly, prevaricate,
waver; hence whiffler, a trifler, a
fickle or unsteady person; whifflery
(whiffling, or whiffle-whaffle), levity,
nonsense ; whiffling, uncertain (1607).
2. To drink.
Whig. 1. Orig. (middle 17th
century) a Presbyterian zealot, a
conventicler : in contempt. Whence,
2. tho Country party (the successors of
the Roundheads of the Civil War) as
opposed to the Court party or Tories
(q.v.), of the Restoration. Both
Whig and Tory were first applied, about
1680, in contempt, and both were
ultimately assumed with pride.
The Whigs favoured the Revolution
of 1688-89, and were in power during
a large portion of the eighteenth
century. The Whigs may be regarded
as tho party of experimental progress.
The curious similarity in the historical
development of both Whig and Tory is
further accentuated by the fact that
at the same time (Reform Bill, 1832)
as the term Tory began to be super-
seded by Conservative, so likewise the
Whigs began to be called liberals.
Also Whigland, Scotland (J3. E.) ; the
Whig College, the Reform Club;
Whiggish, and the usual derivatives
and combinations. 3. During the
war of the American Revolution,
the terms Whig and Tory were ap-
plied,— the former to those who sup-
ported the Revolutionary movement,
the latter to the royalists, or those who
adhered to the British government
(Bar&ett).
Whim. LA maggot (B. E.).
Hence Whimsical, maggotish: see
Bee in bonnet, and Maggot. 2. See
Jiggumbob.
Whimling. A person childish,
weak, or full of whims, a crotcheteer.
Whimmy, whimsical (1610).
Whimper. On the whimper,
peevish, whining, crying: also Whimper
a low or small cry. What a Whimper-
ing you keep (B. E.).
Whim-wham. 1. A trinket, trifle,
fal-lal. Hence, 2. generic for rubbish,
nonsense (1500).
Whindle. A low or feigned crying
(B. E.).
Whine. To cry squeakingly, as at
Conventicles (B. E.).
Whiner. A word; in pi., speech,
talk, gab (q.v.); spec, (thieves')
prayers. To chop the whiners, to talk*
to say prayers.
Whip. 1. A driver, a coachman:
also knight of the whip (1778). 2. A
member who (unofficially) looks after
the interests of his party jprob. from
whipper - in. [Bryce : The whip's
duties are (a) to inform every member
belonging to the party when an im-
portant division may be expected, and
if he sees the member in or about the
House, to keep him there until the
Whip-Idly.
Whirligig.
division is called; (b) to direct the
members of his own party how to vote ;
(c) to obtain pairs for them if they
cannot be present to vote ; (d) to tell,
Le. count the members in every ;party
division : (e) to keep touch of opinion
within the party, and convey to the
leader a faithful impression of that
opinion, from which the latter may
judge how far he may count on the
support of bis whole party in any
course he proposes to take.] Also
(3) the call made for attendance at a
division, etc. ; and as verb (or to
whip in, or up) ( 1S36). 4. A compositor
quick in setting type ; a type-slinger
(which also see). As verb, (1) to
surpass, beat, defeat, overcome;
hence whipping, defeat: e.g. to whip
the enemy (or give them a whipping)
to whip creation, etc. (1859); (2) to
swindle; (3) generic for quick, smart
action: e.g. to whip on (up, off, out,
etc.): frequently with an idea of
stealth; also whip, quickly, instanter
(1360). To drink (or lick) on the whip,
to get a thrashing, to taste the whip
(1401). To whip the cat, (I) to pinch, to
be parsimonious, mean, stingy ; (2) to
go from house to house to work :
chiefly tailors', but the practice was
more or less common to all trades ;
hence whip-cat, a tailor ; (3) to idle on
Monday, to keep St. Monday; 4
(a) To get tipsy : see Screwed : also to
whip (jerk, or shoot the cat, or to cat) ;
also (6) to vomit; hence whipcat,
drunken ; W hipcan, a toper ; (5) to in-
dulge in practical jokes : spec, a trick
often practised on ignorant country
fellows, vain of their strength; by
laying a wager with them, that they
may be pulled through a pond by a cat ;
the bet being made, a rope is fixed
round the waist of the party to be
catted, and the end thrown across the
pond, to which the cat is also fastened
by a pack-thread, and three or four
sturdy fellows are appointed to lead
and whip the cat ; these, on a signal
given, seize the end of the cord, and
pretending to whip the cat, haul the
astonished booby through the water
(JB. K). To whip the devil round the
stump, to make false excuses to one's
self and others for doing what one
likes ; to equivocate, to say, pretend,
or do one thing, and mean, or act
differently.
Whip-belly. Thin weak liquor:
spec, bad beer, swipes (q.v.) : also
whip-belly - vengeance : of. Rot - gut
(1709).
Whip-broth. A beating: of.
Hazel-oil, Thimble-pie, etc. (1630).
Whipcan. A toper, tippler, boon-
companion : in orig. fesse-pinte (1653).
Whip -hand. To have t7te whip-
hand (or whip-handle), to have an ad-
vantage, to be in a position to com-
mand, to have the best of a matter
(1697).
Whip-her-jenny. A term of con-
tempt.
Whip-jack. A beggar shamming
shipwreck; hence a generic term of
contempt (1530).
Whip-king. One who controls or
compels a king ; a king-maker (1610).
Whipmaster. A nagellator: the
actual word in the orig., which has
long been recognised as standard
English : see Whipper (1725).
Whipper. 1. Anything super-
excellent (1530). 2. A flagellant: see
whipmaster (1656).
Whipper-in. See Whip.
Whipper-snapper. A very small
but sprightly boy (£. E.)t spec, a
precocious callow youth, or pert girl :
always more or less in contempt As
adj., diminutive, insignificant: also,
Whipping-snapping.
Whipping-boy. 1. A boy, com-
panion to a prince, educated with
him, and punished in bis stead. 2.
A horse finishing last.
Whipping-cheer. Hogging, flagel-
lation, punishment: cf. Belly-cheer
(1598).
Whippy. A pert girl, forward
young woman.
Whip-round. A subscription got
up for any purpose : seo Whip.
Whipsaw. At faro to win at one
turn, to beat in two ways at once;
hence to win hands down, to beat an
opponent willy-nilly.
Whipsbire. Yorkshire (1696).
Whipster. A sharp or subtil
fellow (B. E.) ; a sharper (Bailey) ; a
sly, cunning blade (q.v.): also (old)
whipstrofa (like whipster), a term of
abuse (1530).
Whip-sticks. The Duoaberg and
Witepsk Railway shares.
Whirligig. 1. A whim, caprice,
maggot (a.v.), bee,(q.y.) (1635). 2.
Change, the turn of the wheel, the
lapse of time, Time or tbe World In the
WUrrit.
White.
abstract (1602). 3. A carriage : also
Whirlicote (1633). 4. Applied to
various toys or the like : e.g. (a) a top
or top-like toy, (&) a tee-totum, (c) a
round-about or merry-go-round : also
whirler and whirl-about ; and (d) a
turnstile (1530). 5. An instrument
for punishing petty offenders : a kind
of wooden cage, turning on a pivot,
in which the culprit was whirled round
with great velocity.
Whirrit (Wherret, or Whirrick).
A blow, slap, box on the ear. As
verb, to box the ears (1577).
Whishler. A ringmaster.
Whisk. 1. A servant: in con-
tempt (1653). 2. An impertinent
fellow, saucebox (q,v.), bouncer
(q.v.).
Whisker-bed. The face (1853).
Whiskers (or Whiskerando).
A whiskered person : a jocular
salutation, Hallo, Whiskers! Also
Whiskery and Whiskerandoed. [From
Don Ferolo Whiskerandos in Sheri-
dan's ' Critic,' 1779].
Whiskey (Tim-whiskey or Timmy-
whiskey). A light one-horse chaise
without a hood (1772).
Whiskey-bloat. A person bloated
from drinking whisky (Bartiett).
Whiskeyfied (or Whiskified).
Drunk, bemused with whisky: see
Screwed (1857).
Whiskey-mill. A grog-shop, a
grocery with a license (1870).
Whisking. Large, great, whopping
(q.v.) (1731).
Whisk-telt Whorish.
Whisky-frisky. Flighty, maggoty
(q.v.) (1782).
Whisper. A secret tip ( q. v. ) : spec,
information passed from mouth to
mouth on the pretence of secrecy.
Hence to give the whisper, (1) to blaze
abroad a supposed secret, and (2) to
give a quick tip (Eott&n] ; a whisper
at the post, an owner's final instruc-
tions to a jockey. As verb, to borrow:
spec, small sums. Hence whisperer, a
petty borrower. Angers whisper, the
call to defaulters* drill : usually extra
fatigue duty. Pig's-whisper, (1) a
grunt : (2) a very short space of time :
that is, as brief as a grunt: also
(American) Pig's-whistle.
Whispering syl.-slinger. A
prompter [that is, syllable-slingerj.
Whister-cUster (Whister - snefet,
Whister-snivet, Whister-twister,
Whister-poop). A thumping blow:
spec, a back-handed blow (1542).
Whistle. 1. The throat, red-lane
(q.y.) i hence to wet (or whet) one's
whistle,, to drink (see Wet): FT.,
s'affitier le sifflet (1383). 2. A whim,
fancy, caprice ; whence to pay for one's
whistle, to pay high (or dearly). [The
allusion is to a story told (1779) by
Dr. Franklin (Works [1836], ii 182)
of his nephew, who set his mind on a
common whistle, which he bought of
a boy for four times its value.] As verb,
to inform (1815). Phrases : To whistle
and ride, to work and talk. To go
whistle, to go to the deuce, to be dis-
comfited or disappointed; to whistle
for a wind, (1) old salts of a super-
stitious turn of mind will whisfte for
a breeze during a calm: during a
storm they would not dream of so
doing: hence to whistle for, to stand
small chance of getting ; (2) a jocular
offer of aid to one long in commencing
to urinate ; at one's whistle, at call ;
worth the whistle, worth notice, at-
tention, or a call ; to whistle down the
wind, to talk for talking' s sake, to talk
idly, or to no purpose ; a* clean as a
whistle, neat (q.v.), slick (q.v.) (1547).
Whistle - belly - vengeance. Bad
beer, swipes (q.v.) ; hence indifferent
lap (q.v.) of any kind: of. Whip-
belly-vengeance.
Whistle-cup. A drinking cup with
a whistle attached : the last toper
capable of using the whistle received
the cup as a prize. Also a tankard
fitted with a whistle, so arranged as to
sound when the vessel was emptied,
thus warning the drawer that more
liquor was required.
Whistle-drunk. Very drunk in-
deed (1749).
Whistle- jacket l Small beer.
Whistler. 1. A broken-winded horse,
a roarer (q.y.). 2. An unlicensed
vendor of spirits. Hence whistling-
shop, an illicit dram-shop (1837).
Whistling- (or Puffing-) billy. A
locomotive.
Whistling-breeches. Corduroy
trousers.
Whit. A prison : see Cage : spec.
Newgate (1676).
White. 1. In pL, leucorrhoaa. 2.
In pi., white clothes, vestments, or
goods (1644). 3. (a) The centre of a
target : Fr., blanc : formerly painted
white : cf. Bull's-eye ; whence (6) the
525
White-apron.
Whitewash.
object in view, a mark ; to hit tJie
white, to be right (1580). 4. In pi.,
the white of the eyes (1662). As adj.,
(1) thus white (fair or specious) words ;
white (lucky) day : ef . Red-letter day ;
white (excusable) lie (Grose); white
(venial) crime ; white (friendly) witch ;
white (honourable) man, formerly,
fair, handsome; white (guiltless) way ;
white (auspicious) howr ; white (bene-
ficially levied) mail (1300). 2. See
Whiteboy. 3. See White -lot. As
verb, to gloss over, to rehabili-
tate : also (modern) whitewash, which
spec, to clear of debt by process of
the Bankruptcy Court. Hence white-
wash, a veneer of respectability ;
with whitewasher and whitewashing as
derivatives. Also to use one white,
(1) to deal fairly and justly, and (2)
to act on the square (q.v.) (1616). To
spit white, to expectorate from a dry
but healthy mouth : also to spit white
froth (or sixpences)', FT., cracker des
pieces de dix sous (1594).
White-apron. A harlot (1599).
White-ash Breeze. The breeze
caused by rowing : oars are generally
made of white ash.
Whiteboy. 1. A generic endear-
ment : also (of a favourite son) white
sow: see White (1554). 2. (Irish
political). A member of a secret
political society, agrarian in character
(c. 1759 - 60). [Ledvy : Their object
was to do justice to the poor by
restoring the ancient commons and
redressing other grievances. This
they sought to accomplish by throwing
down fences, levelling enclosures, and
generally destroying the property of
any one — landlords, agents, Protest-
ant clergy, tax or tithe collectors —
who had made themselves obnoxious to
the association. They styled them-
selves Whiteboys, because during their
nocturnal excursions they covered
their usual attire with white shirts.
This disguise was used principally to
enable them, while scouring through
the darkness, to recognise each other.
3. London rioters (1768).
Whitechapel. 1. A light two-
wheeled cart, a coster's barrow, a
shoful (q.v.): also Whitechapel-cart,
Whitechapel-lrougham, and Chapel-
cart. 2. Tossing two out of three : of.
Sudden death. 3. See Whitechapel-
itechapel-play (Whitechapel).
Whil
Anything mean, paltry, or unsports-
manlike : cf. Bungay-play.
Whitechape 1-portion. A clean
apron and an umbrella ; also a clean
gown and a pair of pattens (Hotten).
Whitechapel - shave. Whitening
applied to the jaws with the palm of
the hand.
White-choker. (1) A white tie:
hence (2) a parson.
White -crow. A rarity; hence
an apparent contradiction in terms
which is none the less a fact. [Albino
crows are occasionally met with.]
White-eye. Maize whisky.
White-feather. See Feather.
Whitefriars. See Alsatia.
White-horse. A white-crested,
dancing wave (1849). To be white-
horsed in, to obtain a berth through
influence.
White-house. The official resid-
ence of the President of the United
States, Washington : from its colour.
Its official designation is Executive
Mansion (Century).
White-livered. Cowardly, mean,
f An old notion was that cowards had
bloodless livers] (1548).
White-lot A silver watch and
chain : or (old) white-stuff (or wedge) ;
cf. Bed. White-dock (or white- 'un), a
silver watch ; white jenny, a foreign -
made silver watch (Hotten). White-
money, silver; the white and the red,
silver and gold. SmootJt, white, a
shilling: see Bhino (1369).
White Man's Hansom Woman.
A brown or yellow mistress.
White-Moor. A Genoese (1042).
Whiteness. (1) Chastity: also
white (or cold) sheets ; (2) nakedness.
White - poodle. A rough woolly
cloth.
White-prop. A diamond scarf-pin :
also sparkle- (or spark-) prop.
Whiter (Harrow School). A white
waistcoat: permissible after three
years at the school : cf. -er.
White-satin (lace, tape, wine,
or ribbon). Gin : see Drinks (1820).
White-sergeant. A brcccheft-wear-
ing wife: the general (q.v.), the
grey-mare (q.v.).
White -trash. A poor white;
Southern states: also poor white lolls
(1856).
Whitewash. 1. See White, 2,
A glass of sherry as a finish, after
drinking port or claret
Whtiewashers.
Wild-cat.
Whitewashes. The second bat-
talion Gloucestershire Regiment, late
the 61st Foot.
Whither-go-thee. A wife (1696).
Whiting. To let leap a whiting, to
miss an opportunity.
Whiting-mop. (1) A young and
pretty girl ; hence (2) an endearment :
also whiting (1525).
Whiting *s-eye. An amorous glance,
sheep's-eye (q.v.) (1673).
W h i t s u n - a 1 e. See Ale.
Hence Whitsun - lord, the master of
ceremonies at a Whitsun merry-
making (1633).
Whittle. 1. To confess at the
gallows. Also (thieves*) to dose
(q.v.), to peach (q.v.) (1727). 2. See
"Whittled.
Whittled. Drunk, cut (q.v.) : see
Screwed. Hence whittle, to make
tipsy, and as subs., a merry-making,
drinking-bout, etc. (1586).
Whizzer. A falsehood (HaUi-
weU).
Whoball (John). He is none of
John WhobaWs children, He will be
abused at no man's hands if he may
(Withals).
Whole. See Boiling, Team, and
all nouns in the various combina-
tions.
Whop (Wap, Woppe, Whap).
A blow. As verb, to beat (1360). As
intj,, Whack! (q.v.), Whip I (q.v.),
Bang ! (q.v.).
Whopper (Whapper). Any-
thing very large, fine, good : a generic
intensive (Grose} : also whopping,
extremely fine, very large, Al (q.v.)
(1520).
Whop-straw (or Johnny Whop-
straw), A countryman, rustic, clod-
hopper (q.v.).
Why and Wherefore (The). The
reason, cause (1593).
Why-not To have (or be) at a
why-not, to have, stand, or be in a
dilemma ; to pull up suddenly, to
meet with a sudden check or reverse
(1612).
Wibble. Weak lap (q.v.) ; any
thin, weak beverage.
Wibble-wobble. Unsteadily.
Wibling's-witch. The four of
clubs.
Wicked. (1) Roguish, mischievous ;
and (2) amorous, wanton, o.g. a
wicked twinkle in the eye, to look
wicked, etc. (1600).
Wicket The mouth, gutter-alley
(q.v.) (1557).
Widdy. 1. A widow. 2. See
Widow.
Widdle. See Oliver.
Widdy - waddy. Trifling, insig-
nificant.
Wide. 1. Well-informed, knowing
(q.v.), keen, alert, up to snuff (q.v.) :
also wide-awake and wido : cf. Narrow
(1834). 2. Indifferent, wide of the
mark, out of the running, adrift:
hence generic for bad (1612).
Wide-awake. A soft felt hat with
a broad brim. So called (Grose)
because it never had a nap and never
wants one. See Wide.
Widgeon. A simpleton : see
Buffle.
Widow. The gallows: see Nub-
bing-cheat. Also (Scots) the widdy,
and Fr., veuve (formerly the gallows,
now applied to the guillotine)
(1796). ™
W i d o w-bewitched. A woman
separated from her husband: cf.
grass- widow (1725).
Widow's-man. An imaginary
sailor borne on the books, and re-
ceiving pay and prize money, which is
appropriated to Greenwich Hospital
(Marryat).
Widow's- weeds. 1. An unmarried
mother (B. E. ). 2. See Weed.
Wife. A leg-shackle. As much
need of a wife as a dog of a side-pocket,
said of a weak, old, debilitated man
(Grose). Wife in water-colours, (1)
a morganatic wife; and (2) a mistress
or concubine: cf. Fr., collage a la de-
tremp^e.
Wif ey. A wife, an endearment.
Wiffle-woffle. In pL, the stomach-
ache, sorrow, the dumps (q.v.);
generic.
Wig. 1. To move off, go away.
2. To rate, scold, carpet : spec, to call
over the coals publicly. Whence
wigging, a public rebuke or reprimand :
ear-wigging, a more or less private
calling over the coals (1837).
Wig-block. The head.
Wigsby. A jocular appellation for
a man wearing a wig: cf. Budesby,
Four-eyes, Barnacles, etc. (Grose).
Wild. A village, the country : of.
Weald.
Wild -brain. A harebrain, silly,
soft (q.v.) fellow.
Wild - cat Reckless, hazardous,
Wild-goose.
William. An acceptance. To
meet sweet Wittiam, to meet a bill on
presentation.
Willow. 1. A bat. 2. Mourning.
Hence to wear the vrillow, to lament
the dead (1505).
Willy-nilly (Will I, Nil I, etc.).
Willing or unwilling, nolens volens,
Whether I Trill or not. As adj.,
vacillating : see Nilly- willy and Shilly-
shally (1563).
Wilt. To run away.
Win (Wyn, or Wing). A penny;
Id. : see Rhino (1608).
Winchester-goose. ( 1 ) A bubo ; (2)
thus infected ; and (3) gener-
' '
unsound: orig. applied to banking
enterprises of doubtful (if of no worse)
character: cf. Blue-pup, Red-dog,
etc, \BarOeU : A bank in Michigan
had a large vignette on its notes re-
presenting a panther, familiarly called
a wild-cat. This bank failed, a large
amount of its notes were in circulation,
which were denominated wild - cat
money, and the bank issuing them the
wild-cat bank. Other banks stopped
payment soon after, and the term
became general in Michigan, to denote
banking institutions of an unsound
character.] Hence wildcat currency,
schemes, etc. (1842).
Wild-goose. A recruit for the _f t ______ _______ n--,
Irish Brigade in the service of Prance in Southwark were, in the 16th century,
in the seventeenth and eighteenth under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of
centuries. Winchester.] Also Winchester~pigeon
Wild-goose Chase. The pursuit of (1585).
anything unprofitable or absurd; a Wind. 1. Breath, lung-power;
bmdhunt. [Z)yce: Orig. a kind of horse- and 2. (pugilists') the stomach: Le.
race, in which two horses were started below the belt, a forbidden point of
together, and whichever rider could attack in legitimate boxing. Hence
get the lead, the other was obliged to winder, anything that deprives one
follow him over whatever ground he of the power of breathing ; to nap a
chose to go] (1595). winder, (1) to be hung, and (2) to «et
Wild Indians (The). The Prince of a settler fa. v.) (1362). Phxasos:^
Wales' Leinster Regiment (Royal take wind, to be known, to transpire ;
Canadians). Both battalions trace to sail near (or dose to) the wind, (1)
some sort of connection with the •"•- J-1 -------- '-*- J """ ' * *
Indians of N. America and the Indians
of the East : the first battalion having
formerly been the 100th Foot, an
expression of Canadian loyalty at the
time of the Mutiny, and the 2nd
battalion, the 109th (Bombay In-
fantry) Regiment, originally raised by
,
** Idia Oomay-
to take every risk, and (2) to border
on malpractice ; to raise the wind, to
borrow (or procure) money: usually
by shift, flying a kite (q.v.), or bills
of accommodation; to go doim the.
wind, to decay ; to dip one** wind, to
die; to take the wind, to gain an ad-
vantage ; to have, one in tfie wind, to
rxr • , j r • «. jfc,-* understand a person ; Is the urind in
Wild Irishman (The). The that door ? Is that so ?; wind enough
evening mail train between Euston to last a Dutchman a weds, enough and
and Holyhead : of. Flying Ihitchman, to spare ; between wind and voter, in a
Wild-mare. The nightmare. To towards ruin or decay ; the *tm« tfti
n&m6 m°re* *** play at see'sav M*»*Mo«wf th«» position of a matter, the
( Wild-oafe. (1) Youthful pranks ^^ ^ ^™ », ^ l^ore or less)
or folly ; hence (2) a rake or debauchee.
To sow one's wild oats, to indulge in
folly or dissipation, and (by implica-
sheets in the wind (see Sheets) ; in the
wvnd, (1) astir, afoot ; and (2) a matter
of surmise or suspicion ; to carry the
wind, to be high-spirited or mettle-
some: properly of horses tossing the
,
tion) to grow steady (1570).
Wild-rogue. A thorough-paced nose as'hig'h as the ears; to have
thief ;_ a rogue brought up to staling wind of, tAeep strict watch ; Z
tS-Sr8?*7- * . tjt* v*™** mean>
a^w1^!, A ^ 5ot,°n the (1546)" To «*»&<>* *
fame-tables of the road, and therefore trouble. *
ttregular and not entitled to the track, Windbag. An inceanant frothv
as the railread phrase is, as against a talker : al^Gas-bag J
regular tram. Winding-sheet ^Greaae (or *ax)
Wolf.
drippings guttering down, the side of a
candle : deemed an omen of death by
the superstitious (Grose): of. Thief
(1859).
Wind-jammer. 1. A sailing vessel :
cL Smoke-stack. 2. A player on a
wind instrument.
Windmill, J.P. Formerly used in
New Sonth Wales for any J.P. who
was ill-educated and supposed to sign
his name with a cross (x).
Window. 1. In pi., the eyes, the
peepers (q.v.). 2. A blank space in
a writing ( 1556). Goldsmith's-window,
a rich working in which the gold shows
freely. See Torn.
Window -bar. In pL, Lattice-
work on a woman's stomacher, or
modesty-piece (q.v.) (leOftJ.
Window - dressing. Manipulation
of figures and accounts to show ficti-
tious or exaggerated value: brought
into prominence during the trial of
Whitaker Wright for fraud in connec-
tion with the balance-sheets of the
London and Globe Corporation (1904).
Window-fishing. Entering a house
by means of a window.
Wind-pudding, Air. To live on
wind-pudding, to go hungry.
Windstopper. A garotter.
Windsucker. 1. A querulous
fault-finder, grizzle-guts (q.y.); one
ready to catch another tripping or to
pick holes ; one on the lookout for a
blemish or weak spot (1603).
Windward. To get to the windward
(or windward side) of one, to get an
advantage, the better of one, or the
best position.
Windy. Talkative, boastful, vain.
Windy-wallets, a noisy prater, vain
boaster, romancing yarnster.
Wine. A wme-drinkuig party
(1847).
Wine-bag. A drunkard who makes
wine his special tipple (q.v.).
Wraey. Drunk: see Screwed.
Wing, A quid or thereabouts of
tobacco. As verb, (1) to wound
slightly: orig. to shoot in the arm
or shoulder ; (2) to undertake a part
at short notice and study it in the
Wink. See Eye, Forty, Tip.
Winker. ( 1) The eye; and (2) in pL,
eyelashes.
Winking. Like winking, very
quickly (1837).
Winks. Periwinkles.
Winter-cricket A tailor.
Winter-hedge. A clothes-horse.
Wipe. 1. A handkerchief: orig.
wiper, a hand towel. 2. A blow;
literally or figuratively. As verb, to
strike : e.g. a wipe (a rap) over the
knuckles ( 1577). Phrases : To wipe one
down, (1) to flatter, (2) to pacify; to
wipe off a score, to pay one's debts;
to wipe a person's eye, (1) to shoot game
which another has missed, (2) to gain
an advantage through skilful manipu-
lation ; to wipe the other eye, to take
another drink ; to wipe out, to Mil, to
exterminate; to wipe one's nose, to
cheat ; to wipe up the floor with one, to
completely demolish an adversary;
to wipe a person's nose (see Nose).
Wire. 1. A telegram. Also as
verb. 2. An expert pickpocket: see
Thief (1851 ). To wire in (or away), to
set to with a will, to apply oneself
perseveringly and zealously.
Wired-up. Irritated, provoked.
Wire-puller (or worker). A
manipulator of party and other in-
terests, working by means more or less
secret; a political intriguer. Hence
to pull the wires, to exercise a com-
manding secret political influence.
Also wire-putting (1848).
Wishy-washy. Weak, insipid,
rotten (q.v.) (1748).
Wjsker. A lie (1694).
Wisp. To give (wear, or show) a
wisp, a wisp or small twist, of straw
or hay, was often applied as a mark of
opprobrium to an immodest woman,
a scold, or similar offenders; even
the showing it to a woman was,
therefore, considered as a grievous
affront. It was the badge of the
scolding woman, in the ceremony of
sMmmington (q.v.) (1567).
Wittol. A husband who knows of,
and endures his wife's unfaithfulness ;
a contented cuckold. As verb, to
make a wittol. \8keat: From wood-
wale, a bird whose nest is often in-
vaded by the cuckoo, and so has the
offspring of another palmed off on it
for its own; like Ciu&old, from
Cuckoo.] (1613).
Wiwi. A Frenchman. [That is,
Oui, Ovi f}
Wobble. See Wabble.
Wobbler. An infantryman.
Wobble-shop. A shop where in-
toxicants are sold without a license.
Wolf. To devour ravenously:
Wolfe's Oum.
Wrong.
hence wolfer, a greedy feeder or
guzzling tosspot: also a wolf in the
stomach, famished; to keep the wolf
from the door, to keep hunger and
want at bay (1513). Phrases: Dark
as a wolfs movth (or throat), pitch
dark; to cry wolf, to raise a false
alarm ; to "have a wolf ly the ears, to
to impose upon, deceive, delude, or
use the pepper-box (q.v.j; to go wool
~ ' to indulge in idle fancies,
act stupidly (1476).
'oof-bird. A si
W<
Wooffist.
(1606).
Wool - hole.
A sheep.
A term of
reproach
know not what to say or do ; to see a Large House.
.«»7J t1\ J.n IsxeiA *vn&*a vrnnsvn o.nrl /OA "WfMlcfrm ((
wolf, (1) to lose one's voice, and (2)
to be seduced (Fr., avoir vu le loup).
Wolfe's Own. The first battalion
of The Loyal North Lancashire Regi-
ment, late the 47th Foot ; the black
worm in the gold lace is in memory of
the Hero of Quebec.
Wolverine State (The),
Michigan: its inhabitants are Wol-
verines.
Wollop. See Wallop.
Woman. A term of abuse ; spec.
a harlot. Whence to woman (or
womanize), (1) to scold or abuse, and
(2) to wanton; to make an Iwnest
woman (see Honest).
Wonner. See One-er.
Woodcock. 1. A simpleton (1593).
2. A tailor.
Woodcock 's-cross. Penitence for
folly: of. Weeping-cross, etc. (1630).
Woodcock 's-head. A pi]
pipes were frequently so
(1599).
Wooden-fit. A swoon.
Wooden-legged mare. The
gallows : see Rubbing-cheat.
Wooden - nutmeg State (The).
Cincinnati,,
Wooden - overcoat (or swtout).
A coffin,
Wooden-ruff. The pillory.
Wooden-spoon (Cambridge). The
student last on the list of mathematical
honours. See Tripos, Gulf, Twelve
Apostles, Wrangler, etc. *
Wooden-sword. To wear the
wooden - sword, to overstand the
market.
Woodman. A carpenter, chips
<q.v.).
Wool, Hair : ct the wheezes, He
has no wool on the top of his head
in the place where the wool ought to
grow ; and Keep your wool on, don't
get angry, keep quiet. As verb, to
rumple or towsle the hair. Phrases :
More squeak than wool, more noise
than substance; great cry and little
wool, Much ado about nothing: see
Cider ; To pvU the wool over one's eyes,
530
A workhouse: see
Wooston (Christ's Hospital). Very :
that is whoreson : e.g. a wooston
jolly fellow, I'm wooston chaffy.
Word. A word and a otow, im-
mediate action: as adj., instantly
(1710).
Work, To steal. Phrases: To
make worJc, to cause (or make) a dis-
turbance, kick up a shindy (q.v.); to
work the oracle, to manoeuvre, to
victimise.
World. AU the world and bis wife,
every one (1709).
Worm. A policeman.
Worm-crusher. A foot sodier: cf.
Mudcrusher.
Worm-fence. A zig-zag rail-fence ;
a Virginia-fence (q.v,) (1839).
Worricrow. A scarecrow.
Worth. See Bean, Candle, Cent;
Cracker, Curse, Fig, Fly, Game,
Louse, Nutshell, Pear, Eap, Straw.
W. P. See Warming-pan.
Wrap -rascal. A oloak or ooat
(1753).
Wren. A prostitute frequenting
the Curragh Camp.
Wretch. Poor wretch, a term of
endearment.
Wretch cock (or Wrechock).
A puny, insignificant person, & poor
wretch.
Wright (Mr.). A warder acting
as go-between for a prisoner and hia
friends.
Wringle-gut A nervous, fidgety
man.
Wrinkle. A new idea, useful hint,
cunning trick, smart dodge (1565).
Writerling. An author of the
baser sort, a petty journalist
(1802).
Writings. To Ivrn ihe writings, to
quarrel.
Wrokin. A Butch woman.
Wrong. In various combinations
and phrases : e.g. Wrong tn the upper
storey, crazy; in the wrong box, mis-
taken, embarrassed, in jeopardy;
ihe wrong end of ihe rtic*, the worst of
a position, the false of * story; to
Yannam.
waJse up the uorong passenger, to make a
mistake in the individual, to get the
wrong sow by the ear ; to laugh on the
wrong side of the mouth, to cry; to
get out of (or rise out of) the wrong
(or right) side of the bed (or right side),
a happy augury (or the reverse)
(1554).
Wrong- 'un. Generic for anything
bad : e.g. a spurious note, base coin,
welsher, a horse intended to be pulled
(q.v.), and so forth.
Wrought - shirt. See Historical
Shirt.
Wry-not To ahead wry-not, to
out-do the deviL
Wuggins (Oxford University).
Worcester College ; Botany-bay (q.v.),
Wusser. A canal boat.
Wuzzle. To jumble, muddle, mix.
X. To take one X (or letter X), to
secure a violent prisoner : two con-
stables firmly grasp the collar with one
hand, the captive's arm being drawn
down and the hand forced backwards
over the holding arms ; in this posi-
tion the prisoner's arm is more easily
broken than extricated.
X-leg. In pi., knock knees.
X m a s. Christmas : frequently
pronounced eksmas. See Christmas.
- Y. {Manchester Grammar
School). M athy, mathematics ;
chewmy, chemistry ; gymmy, gym-
nastics, etc.
Yack. A watch. To church (or
christen) a yaclc, to change the case,
or substitute a fictitious inscription.,
in order to prevent identification.
Yaff. To talk pertly: also yaffle.
[Properly yaff, to bark or yelp.]
Yaffle. An armful. As verb, (1)
to eat (Eattiwett); (2) to snatch, to
pilfer, to take illicitly ; (3) see Yaff.
Yahoo. A generic reproach : spec,
a rough, brutal, uncouth character.
In America, a back-country lout, a
greenhorn (Barttett). [A name given
by Swift in his Gvttiver'a Travels (1726)
to a race of brutes, described as having
human forms and vicious and de-
graded propensities. They were sub-
ject to the Houyhnhnms, or horses
endowed with human reason.] As
adj., boorish, loutish, uncouth.
Yallow. See Yellow.
Yam. Food; grub (q.v.). As
verb, to eat.
Yank. 1. A Yankee (q.v.): an
abbreviation universally applied by
the Confederates to the soldiers of
the Union armies (Barttett). 2. In
pi., leggings. As verb, (1) generic for
quick, sharp, or jerking motion; to
bustle, twitch, snatch, move quickly,
work smartly; usually with along,
over, out, etc. ; as subs, (or yanker), a
smart stroke, jerk, or twitch ; yanking,
active, pushing, thorough-going; to
yank the bun, to take the cake (q.v.)
(1818) ; (2) to chatter, scold, nag; to
talk fast and incessantly. Hence
yankie, a chatterbox, one who talks
nineteen to the dozen.
Yankee (Yankey, Yanky). 1. A
citizen of New England ; 2. A native of
the United States : also Yankee-doodle
Also as adj., with derivatives such as
Yankeedom, Yankeefied, Yankeeiam,
etc. [Of dubious and much-discussed
derivation: see adj. sense.] Yankee-
nation, the United States, \0entwry :
The word acquired wide currency
during the war of the rebellion as a
nickname or contemptuous epithet
among the Confederates for the Union
soldier, the confederates themselves
being in like spirit dubbed Johnnies or
Kebs by the Union soldiers : see Yank]
(1765). 3. A glass of whisky sweet-
ened with molasses. As adj. and
adv., a generic intensive: spanking,
excellent (1713).
Yanker. 1. A great falsehood : see
Whopper (1822). 2. See Yank.
Yankie. 1. A sharp, forward,
clever woman. 2. See Yank.
Yannam. See Pannam (of which
yannam is probably a misprint).
531
Wolfe's Own.
Wrong.
hence wolfer, a greedy feeder or to impose upon, deceive, delude, or
guzzling tosspot: also a wolf in the use the pepper-box (q.v.); to go wool
^ T. lamped: &> Iseev the wolf gathering, io indulge in idle fancies,
* act stupidly (1475).
Wool-bird. A sheep.
Woolfist. A term of reproach
(1606).
Wool -hole. A workhouse: see
from the door, to keep hunger and
want at bay (1513). Phrases: Dark
as a wolfs mouth (or throat), pitch
dark; to cry wolf, to raise a false
alarm ; to Tiave a wolf by the ears, to
know not what to say or do ; to see a Large House.
wolf, (1) to lose one's voice, and (2)
to be seduced (Fr., avoir vu le loup).
Wolfe's Own. The first battalion
of The Loyal North Lancashire Regi-
ment, late the 47th Eoot; the black
worm in the gold lace is in memory of
the Hero of Quebec.
Wolverine State (The),
Wol-
MicMgan: its inhabitants are
verines.
Wollop. See Wallop.
Woman. A term of abuse ; spec,
ft harlot. Whence to woman (or
womanize), (1) to scold or abuse, and
(2) to wanton; to make an honest
woman (see Honest).
Wonner. See One-er.
Woodcock. 1. A simpleton (1593).
2. A tailor.
Woodcock 's-cross. Penitence for
folly: of. Weeping-cross, etc. (1630).
Woodcock 's-head. A pi] "~ '
pipes were frequently so
Wooden-fit A swoon.
Wooden-legged mare. The
gallows : see Nubbing-cheak
Wooden - nutmeg State (The),
Cincinnati.
Wooden - overcoat (or surtout).
Wooden-ruff. The pillory.
Wooden-spoon (Cambridge). The
student last on the list of mathematical
honours. See Tripos, Gulf, Twelve
Apostles, Wrangler, etc.
Wooden-sword. To wear the
wooden - word, to overstand the
market.
Woodman. A carpenter, chips
(q.v.).
Wool. Hair : cf. the wheezes, He
has no wool on the top of his head
in the place where the wool ought to
grow; and Keep your wool on, don't
get angry, keep quiet. As verb, to
rumple or towsle the hair. Phrases :
More squeak than wool, more noise
than substance; great cry and little
wool, Much ado about nothing: see
Cider j To pvU fhe wool over one'a eye*,
530
Wopston (Christ's Hospital). Very :
that is whoreson : e.g. a wooston
jolly fellow, I'm -wooston chaffy.
Word. A word and a blow, im-
mediate action: as adj., instantly
(1710).
Work. To steal- Phrases : To
make, work, to cause (or make) a dis-
turbance, kick up a shindy (q.v.) ; to
work the oracle, to manoeuvre, to
victimise.
World. AU the world and his wife,
every one (1709).
Worm, A policeman.
Worm-crusher. A foot sodier: of.
MndcruBher.
Worm-fence. A zig-zag rail-fence ;
a Virginia-fence (q.v.) (1839).
Worricrow. A scarecrow.
Worth. See Bean, Candle, Cent,
Cracker, Curse, Pig, Ply, Game,
Louse, Nutshell, Pear, Rap, Straw.
W. P. See Warming-pan.
Wrap -rascal. A cloak or coat
(1753).
Wren. A prostitute frequenting
the Curragh Camp.
Wretch. Poor wretch, a term of
endearment.
Wretch cock (or Wrechock).
A puny, insignificant person, & poor
wretch.
Wright (Mr,). A warder acting
as go-between for a prisoner and hut
friends.
Wringle-guL A nervous, fidgety
man.
Wrinkle. A new idea, useful hint,
cunning trick, smart dodge (1555).
Writerling. An author of the
baser sort, a potty journalist
(1802).
Writings. To bum the writings, to
quarrel.
Wrokin. A Dutch woman.
Wrong. In various combinations
and phrases : e.g. Wrong in ike vpper
storey* crazy; fa the wrong box, mw-
taken, embarrmwed, in jeopardy;
&e wrony end of the rffcfc, tha TOTS* of
a position, the false of » story ; to
Wrong-9un,
Yannam.
wake up the wrong passenger, to ruako a
mistake in the individual, to get the
•wrong sow by the ear ; to laugh on the
wrong aide of the matdh, to cry; to
get out of (or rise ov£ of) the wrong
(or right) side of the bed (or right side),
a happy augury (or the reverse)
(1554).
Wrong- 'un. Generic for anything
bad : e.g. a spurious note, baso cola,
welsher, a horse intended to be pulled
(q.v.), and so forth.
Wrought - shirt. See Historical
Shirt.
Wry-not. To sheod wry-not, to
out-do the devil.
Wuggins (Oxford University).
Worcester College ; Botany-bay (q.v.).
Wusser. A canal boat.
Wuzzle. To jumble, muddle, mix.
X. To take one X (or letter X), to
secure a violent prisoner : two con-
stables firmly grasp the collar with one
hand, the captive*s arm being drawn
down and the hand forced backwards
over the holding arms; in this posi-
tion the prisoner's arm is more easily
broken than extricated.
X-leg. In pi., knock knees.
X m a s. Christmas : frequently
pronounced eksmas. See Christmas.
- Y. (Manchester Grammar
School). Mathy, mathematics ;
chemmy, chemistry; gymmy, gym-
nastics, etc.
Yack. A watch. To church (or
christen) a yackt to change the case,
or substitute a fictitious inscription,
in order to prevent identification.
Yaff. To talk portly: also yaffle.
[Properly yaff, to bark or yelp.]
Yaffle. An armful. As verb, (1)
to eat (HattiwtM) ; (2) to snatch, to
pilfer, to take illicitly ; (3) sec Yaff.
Yahoo. A generic reproach : spec.
a rough, brutal, uncouth character.
In America, a back-country lout, a
greenhorn (Kftrttctt). [A name given
By Swift in his Gulliver1 8 Travels ( 1 726)
to a race of brutes, described as having
human forms and vicious and de-
graded propensities. They were sub-
ject to the Houyhnhnms, or horses
endowed with human reason.] As
adj., boorish, loutish, uncouth.
Yellow. See Yellow.
Yam. Food; grub (q.v,). As
verb, to eat.
Yank. 1. A Yankee (q.v.): an
abbreviation universally applied by
the Confederates to the soldiers of
the Union armies (BarOtti}. 2. In
pL. loggings. As verb, (1) generic for
quick, sharp, ox jerking motion; to
bustle, twituh, tnatoh, move quickly.
work smartly; usually with along,
over, ovt, etc. ; as subs, (or yanker), a
smart stroke, jerk, or twitch ; yanking,
active, pushing, thorough-going; to
yank the bun, to take the cake (q.v.)
(1818) ; (2) to chatter, scold, nag ; to
talk fast and incessantly. Hence
yanJcie, a chatterbox, one who talks
nineteen to the dozen.
Yankee (Yankey, Yanky). I. A
citizen of New England ; 2. A native of
the United States : also Yankee-doodle
Also as adj., with derivatives such, as
Yankeedom, Yankeefied, Yanlceeism,
etc. [Of dubious and much-discussed
derivation: see adj. sense.] Yankee-
nation, the United States. [Century :
The word acquired wide currency
during the war of the rebellion as »
nickname or contemptuous epithet
among the Confederates for the Union
soldier, the confederates themselves
being in like spirit dubbed Johnnies ox
Bebs by the Union soldiers : see Yank]
(1765). 3. A glass of whisky sweet-
ened with molasses. As adj. and
adv., a generic intensive: spanking,
excellent (1713).
Yanker. I. A great falsehood : see
Whopper (1822). 2. See Yank.
Yankie. 1. A flharp, forward,
clever woman. £ See Yank.
Yannam. See Pannam (of which
yannam is probably a misprint).
631
Yap.
Yettow-fa/icy.
A cur, a
Also
Yap. LA yelp. 2.
tyke (q.v.). 3. A countryman,
as verb, (1) to back, yelp ; yapster, &
dog (1798) ; (2) {back slang), to pay ;
whence yappy, over-generous, soft
(q.v.), foolish : i.e. paying mad.
Yard. (1) Scotland Yard, head-
quarters of tho London police, now
located at New Scotland Yard ; (2)
(Durham School). In pi , the list of
members originally of the First Game,
but now of the Second Game— at foot-
ball or cricket : formerly in the cricket
season only a patch of ground thirty
yards square was mowed ; those who
had the privilege of playing on this
were said to be on the yards. Under
one's yard, in one's power, subject to
authority (1383). fo get yards, to get
a catch at football and be allowed
a free kick, not running more than
can be covered in three running
strides ; hence to give yards, to give
such a catch; to step yards, to cover
the distance in kicking off yards in
three strides; fo knock down yards,
to prevent another from taking yards.
[Orig. three yards.] See Bought.
Yarder (Harrow). Cricket played
in the school-yard : in the summer
term.
Yard-of-clay. A long clay pipe ; a
churchwarden (q.v.) (1869).
Yard-of-pumpwater. A tall thin
man (or woman) ; cf. Raaher-of-wind.
Yark (Durham School), To cane.
Yarmouth-capon (or bee). A
herring: see Glasgow magistrate
(5. fij
Yarmouth-coach. A sorry, low
cart to ride on, drawn by one horse
(B.E.).
Yarmouth-mittens. Bruised hands.
Yam. A story, a tale : spec, an
incredible, long, or marvellous narra-
tion spun oat by a sailor. Hence as
verb (or to spin yarns), to romance,
draw the long bow ; a sailor's yam, a
traveller's story (q.v.); yarn-chopper
(or stinger), (1) a long prosy talker ;
and (2) a fictional journalist.
Yarum. Milk. Poplars of yarwn,
milk porridge (1667).
Yawney (or Yawnups). A stupid
fellow: cf. Sawney. Also yawney-
oox, a donkey : see Neddy.
Yaw-sighted. Squinting.
Yaw • yaw. A Dutchman : any
man who says Taw-yaw for Yes
(Clark Russell).
Yea - and - nay. Insipid, watery ;
e.g. a poor yay-nay sort of a person, a
stupid, doltish block : one who can
say but Yea or Nay to a question:
see next entry (1780).
Yea -and -nay Man, A Quaker
(S. E.).
Yeack. An imitative word to
express the sound with which coach-
men encourage their horses (?), un-
less it is another form of yerk (Davies)
(1606).
Year's-mind (or Year-mind). A
memorial, a mass, an anniversary:
cf. Month's-mind.
Yellow. 1. Generic for jealousy,
envy, melancholy: also yeUovx and
yellowness: cf. Blue, Brown, Bed,
White, etc. (B. E.). Also in frequent
proverbial phrase : e.g. fo wear yellow
Ao*e (oreecbes, or stockings), to be
jealous ; to anger the yellow hose, to
provoke jealousy; to wear yellow
stockings, to be cuckolded : hence
yellow-hammer (or yloak), (1) a cuck-
old, and (2) a jealous man or husband.
[Yellow stockings (q.v.) were once, for
a long period prior to the civil wars,
a fashionable article of dress: the
fashion is still preserved amongst
Blues (q.v.) at Christ's Hospital.] 2.
See Yellows tockmgs.
Yellow-Admiral. See Admiral.
Yellow - banded Robbers (The).
The Prince Albert's Somersetshire
light Infantry, late the 13th Foot.
Yellow- belly, i. A Lincolnshire fen-
man. 2. A half-caste t also yellow-
boy ( q. v. ) or yellow-girL 3. A .Dutch-
man.
Yellow-boy. A gold coin: «poo.
a sovereign, 20s. : formerly a guinea :
Fr., jaunet : see Rhino (1633). Also
yellow - hammer, yellow - mould, and
yellow - stuff (generic) ; yellow • jfetw,
gold-fever: cf. Scarlet-fover (1633).
2. A mulatto, or dark quadroon : also
yellow-girl.
Yellow-cover. A notice of dis-
missal from government employ-
ment: pron. yallcr JbVer, [From
being usually enclosed in & yellow
envelope.]
Yellow - covered. Cheap, sensa-
tional, trashy. Also ydlow-backs, a
generic term for cheap board- bound
railway novels.
Ydlow^dog. A atron*; term of
contempt.
Yellow-fancy. A yellow aiik
YeUow~fever.
Young.
handkerchief spotted white : of.
Yellow-man.
Yellow-fever. 1. See Yellow-boy.
2. Drunkenness : see Screwed. [Part
of the punishment of drunkards at
Greenwich Hospital consisted in wear-
ing a yellow coat.]
Yellow-hammer. See Yellow and
Yellow-boy.
Yellow -jack. Yellow fever. [A
yellow flag (or jack) being generally
displayed at naval hospitals, or from
vessels at quarantine, to denote the
existence of contagious disease.]
Yellow-man. A yellow silk hand-
kerchief : cf. Yellow-fancy.
Yellow-mould. See Yellow-boy.
Yellow-pine. A quadroon or light
mulatto.
Yellow -plaster. Alabaster: freq.
pronounced yo#oto-plaster.
Yellow - slipper. A very young
calf.
Yellow-stuff. See Yellow-boy.
Yellow-stocking. 1. See Yellow.
2. A Blue- (q.v.) coat boy: also
Yellows.
Yennep. A penny: Id.: see
Bhino. (1851).
Yeoman of the Mouth. * An officer
belonging to his Majeatia'e Pantry*
(B. K).
Yes siree, Bob I See Sirrah.
Yid (or Yiddisher) A Jew [Ger,
Judischer]. Whence Yiddish, Jewish ;
and aa subs., a dialect or jargon
spoken by Jews mainly composed of
corrupt Hebrew and German.
Yob. Boy (q.v.).
Yokel. A countryman, bumpkin,
lout: in contempt. Hence as adj.,
(or yokdish), rustic.
Yokuff. A large box, chest, coffer.
Yolly (Winchester College). A
post-chaiso. [Yellow was a favourite
colour for these vehicles.]
Yonker. Set) Younker.
Yo6p. A word expressive of a
hiccuping or sobbing sound : onoma-
toploca [Thackeray].
York, At like, a* Yltrk w to foul
Button, aa dissimilar as may be (1544).
See Yorkshire.
Yorker. A ball finding pitch very
close to the bat. Hence as verb, to
bowl yorkers.
Yorkshire, tt would appear that
formerly Yorkshire wag more pro-
verbial for dttlnosa and clowmaliness
than, «e in modern phr&ge, for the
boot to be on the other leg: e.g. to
come (or put) Yorkshire over (or to
Yorkshire one), to cheat, take a person
in, to prove too wide-awake for Tnim.
Also Yorkshire-bite, a specially 'cute
piece of overreaching, entrapping one
into a profitless bargain. The monkey
who ate the oyster and returned the
shell to each litigant affords a good
example. Confident as a Yorkshire
carrier, cocksure ; Yorkshire compli-
ment, a gift useless to the giver and not
wanted by the receiver : also North-
country compliment ; Yorkshire
estate, money in prospect, a castle in
the air (q.v.) : e.g. When I come into
my Yorkshire estates, When I have the
means ; Yorkshire reckoning, a reckon-
ing where each one pays his share ;
Yorkshire-tyke, a Yorkshire manner
of man (B. E.) ; Yorkshire-hog, a fat
wether.
Yorkshire- hunters (The). A
regiment formed by the gentlemen of
Yorkshire during the Civil War.
You. You're another, a tu quoque :
i.e. another liar, fool, thief — any im-
aginable term of abuse (1634).
You Bet, You may depend on
it ! to be sure ! certainly ! the moat
positive of affirmations : also you bet
your boots, life, bottom dollar, and
so on. [Originally a Cahfornian
phrase: it has also been given as a
name in the form of Ubet to a town
in the Canadian North-west] (1870).
Young. Found in various canting
combinations : Thus, Young England,
a set of young aristocrats who tried
to revive the courtly manners of the
Chesterfield school : they wore white
waistcoats, patronised the pet poor,
looked down upon shopkeepers, and
were imitators of the period of Louis
XIV. : Disraeli has immortalised their
ways and mannera Young Germany,
a literary school headed by Heinrich
Heine [Hi-wy\, whose aim was to
liberate politics, religion, and manners
from the old conventional trammels.
Youny Ireland, followers of Daniel
O'Connell in politics, but wholly op-
posed to his abstention from war and
maurreotion, in vindication of their
country's rights. Young Italy, cer-
tain Italiar refuguoH, who associated
themselves with the French republican
party, called the Carbonnerie Demo-
cratique : tfao society was first organ-
ised at Marseilles by Mazzini, and its
533
Young Buffs.
Zu-zu.
chief object was to diffuse republican
principles (Brewer).
Young Buffs (The). The first
battalion East Surrey Regiment, late
the 31st Foot. [At Itettingen, George
ILj through the similarity of the
facings, mistook it for the 3rd Foot
or (Old) Buffs.]
Young Eyes (The). The Seventh
(The Queen's Own) Hussars.
Young Hopeful. A half jocular,
half affectionate address.
Young Man. A sweetheart, lover
(1585).
Youngster (Younker,Younfcer-
Jrin, etc). 1. A lad, a young person :
always more or less familiar, con-
temptuous, or colloquial. Also, 2.
a novice, an inexperienced youth,
and (nautical) a raw hand ; in modern
naval usage, a junior officer. Hence
to make a younker of one, to gull,
cheat, deceive (for an innocent).
(1502).
Young Thing. An immature girl :
in mild contempt or pity : e.g. She's
but a young thing (13(K)).
Your Nibs. See Nibs and Watch.
Yours Truly. A jocular mode of
reference to oneself: cf. Nibs and
Watch.
You-'uns. You : cf. Wee-*nns.
Yoxter. A convict returned from
transportation before his time was
up.
Yum-yum. Krst-rate, excellent
Zany. (1) Orig. a buffoon's foil:
bis office consisted in making awkward
and ludicrous attempts to mimic the
professional jester or clown. Hence (2)
a mimic ; and (3) an attendant. As
verb, to play the fool, to mimic, to
dance attendance (B. E.) ; whence also
such derivatives as Zanyism: cf.
Sawney (1567).
Zebra. A prison dress : because
striped.
Zedland. The western counties of
England: where, dialecticaUy, S i»
pronounced as Z. Also Izzardland,
and (literary) the 0nnecessarians,
Western folk,
Zemmies-haw. An exclamation of
surprise.
Z i ff . A young thief: see
Thief.
Zoo. The Zoological Gardens,
London : cf. Pops, Hops, etc,
Zoty. A fool.
Zu-zu. In pi,, the Zouave contin-
gent in the Union Army during the
Civil War, 1860-65,
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