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A     DICTIONARY 


OF 


SLANG,    JARGON    &    CANT 


($7j  Copies  only  printed^  of  ivhich  this  is 
No.      ^^  k:  ^. 


A    DICTIONARY 


SLANG,  JARGON   &  CANT 


EMBRACING 

ENGLISH,    AMERICAN,    AND   ANGLO-INDIAN   SLANG 

PIDGIN    ENGLISH,   TINKERS'   JARGON 

AND    OTHER    IRREGULAR 

PHRASEOLOGY 


COMPILED   AND   EDITED    BY 

ALBERT    BAR  R^.  RE 

Officier  de  l' instruction  publiqtie ;  Professor  R.M.A.   Woolwich 
Author  of  " Argot  and  Slang"  a'c.  &r'c. 


CHARLES  G.   LELAND,   M.A.,   Hon.   F.R.S.L 

Author  of  "  The  Breitmann  Ballads,"  "  The  English  Gypsies 
and  their  Language  "  a'c. 


VOL-.    I.      .-V— K. 
PRINTED  FOR  SUBSCRIBERS  ONLY 

AT 

THE     B  ALLAN  TYNE     PRESS 

MDCCCLX.XXIX 


;.  1.  u  <)  :i  4 


^v. 


K^' 


PREFACE. 


0  a  very  great  number  of  respectable  and  by  no  means 
uneducated  persons,  slang  is  simply  a  collective  name 
for  vulgar  expressions,   the  most  refined  individual 
\  i^B^flj^HI    being  the  one  who  uses  it  least.     To  them  it  is  all 

that  which  in  speech  is  "  tabu,"  or  forbidden.     Others 
<^  regard  it  as  the  jargon  of  thieves,  which  has  spread  to  costermongers 

and  street-arabs,  though  in  justice  to  the  worthy  people  first  men- 
tioned it  must  be  admitted  that  many  of  them  are  so  fortified  in 
'         their  ignorance  of  what  is  beneath  them,  that  they  are  unaware 
CQ         that  thieves  have  a  lingo  of  their  own. 

Zu  Others,  again,  believe  that  it  is  identical  with  the  gypsy  tongue 

or  Romany,  an  opinion  which,  in  spite  of  its  easily  demonstrated 

0)         etymological  absurdity,  has  held  its  ground  for  more  than  a  century ; 

'^        whilst  several  writers,  such  as  the  author  of  the  "  Life  of  Bampfield 

•H         (or  Bampfylde)  Moore   Carew,"   have   published    so-called  gypsy 

vocabularies,  in  which  barely  half-a-dozen  words  of  corrupt  Romany 

are  to  be  found. 

Many,  not  without  good  excuse,  find  it  very  difficult  to  distinguish 
between  technical  terms  not  as  yet  recognised  by  lexicographers, 
and  those  which  are,  to  all  intents  and  purpose,  firmly  established. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice,  let  it  be  said  en  passant,  that  the  two  nations 
at  the  head  of  the  intellectual  movement,  England  and  France,  have 
the  most  extensive  slang  vocabulary,  the  two  being  about  on  a  par 
in  that  respect. 

Now,  the  dialect  alluded  to  above  was,  centuries  ago,  almost  the 
only  slang — and  there  are  men  so  much  behind  the  times  that  it  is 


vi  Preface. 

the  only  slang  to  them  still.  We  put  in  the  qualifying  "  almost " 
because  there  always  have  been  certain  conditions,  such  as  emigra- 
tion to  savage  countries,  which  have  bred  new  circumstances,  with  a 
corresponding  development  of  language.  The  Roman  legionaries  in 
the  wilds  of  Gaul  and  Germany  found  classical  Latin  as  inadequate 
for  bush  vocabulary  as  the  Anglo-Saxon  finds  classical  English  in 
the  backwoods  of  America  and  the  backblocks  of  Australia,  and  they 
evolved  a  Low  Latin  slang  corresponding  with  such  terms  as  "  war- 
paint," "  backwoodsman,"  "  ring-barker,"  "  bushmaii,"and  "  throwing- 
stick."  ^fodern  French  has  its  elements  of  base  Latin  origin,  just 
as  the  English  lexicons  of  the  future  will  include  a  number  of 
words  forged  by  necessity  in  the  busli  and  the  backwoods—  in  New 
"World  mines  and  cities — and  others  which  at  the  present  time  are 
only  to  be  found  in  such  dictionaries  as  the  present  one. 

But  here,  in  the  heart  as  well  as  at  the  extremities  of  "Anglo- 
Saxony,"  new  needs  and  new  circumstances  are  being  developed 
unceasingly,  and  society  both  high  and  low,  in  every  walk  of  life, 
and  on  bypaths  of  art  and  trade,  has  of  late  years  taken  to  inventing 
new  words  and  phrases,  some  for  practical  wants,  others  for  amuse- 
ment, some  coarse  and  rude,  others  daintily  cut  and  polished,  deftly 
veiled — all  in  such  profusion,  that  every  one  of  the  old  definitions 
of  slang  is  now  inadequate  to  express  the  "new  departure"  phase 
of  the  language. 

Perhaps  the  best  general  definition  at  which  one  can  arrive  is 
that  "slang"  is  a  conventional  tongue  with  many  dialects,  which  are 
as  a  rule  unintelligible  to  outsiders.  In  one  case  at  least  it  has 
been  framed  with  the  intention  of  its  being  intelligible  only  to  the 
initiated — the  vagiibond  and  thievish  fraternity. 

The  vocabulary  is  based  chiefly  on  words  of  the  language  jn-oper, 
ancient  and  modern  (with  an  admixture  of  forei^  woi-ds),  which 
have  become  "slang"  through  a  metaphoric  process  or  misappro- 
priation of  meaning.  Thus  "brass,"  "timbers"  and  "pins,"  "red 
lane,"  "  nnig,"  "canister,"  "claret,"  "ivory,"  "tile,"  taken  figura- 
tively, enrich  tlie  slang  vocabulary  by  respectively  acquiring  the 
conventional  meaning  of  "impudence,"  "legs,"  "throat,"  "face,'' 
"head,"  "blood,"  '•  loetli,"  "hat." 


Preface.  vii 

It  has  been  well  said  therefore  that  slang,  in  its  general  features, 
is  hardly  more  than  an  arbitrary  interpretation  of  the  ordinary 
language.  It  does  not  suffice,  however,  that  it  should  be  merely 
conventional  or  figurative,  else  it  might  be  multiplied  ad  infinitum. 
But  being  to  a  great  degree  the  outcome  of  the  humour  and  wit, 
more  or  less  refined,  of  its  promoters,  it  bears  the  stamp  of 
sarcasm,  of  callousness,  and  occasionally  of  a  grim  philosophy,  as, 
for  example,  when  a  drunkard  is  called  a  "  lean  away,"  or  a  man 
"  waiting  for  a  dead  man's  shoes  "  is  said  to  be  "  shepherding "  his 
rich  relative — when  a  clergyman  is  jestingly  called  a  "sky -pilot"  or 
a  "  fire-escape  " — when  a  man  who  feels  beaten  says  that  he  has  been 
"  had  on  toast,"  and  will  "  give  it  best." 

Each  profession  or  trade  has  its  "  lingo,"  not  to  be  mistaken  for 
technical  phraseology.  Thus  in  cricket  "  wickets  "  is  technical,  but 
"sticks"  is  slang  ;  to  put  a  "break"  on  a  ball  the  former,  to  put 
"stuff"  on  it  the  latter.  " Bone  shaker,"  the  old  type  of  bicycle,  is 
slang ;  but  "kangaroo,"  the  latest  improvement  on  the  spider  bicycle, 
and  which  in  shape  somewhat  resembles  the  primitive  "bone  shaker^" 
belongs  to  the  technical  phraseology  of  'cycle  machinists. 

It  sometimes  occurs  that  a  technical  word  conies  to  be  used  figura- 
tively in  an  humorous  and  sarcastic  sense.  Sailors  talk  slang  when 
they  say  of  a  drunken  man  that  his  "  mainbrace  is  well  spliced,"  or 
that  he  is  "  two  sheets  in  the  wind." 

Occasionally  a  class  slang  word  is  adopted  by  the  public,  and 
swells  the  vocabulary  of  general  or  "  society  "  slang.  This  specially 
applies  to  nautical  and  sporting  phraseology.  Thus  it  is  quite  pos- 
sible for  people  Avho  do  not  belong  to  the  seafaring  fraternity  to 
hear  of  a  husband  having  to  "  look  out  for  squalls  "  when  he  comes 
home  "heeling  over"  from  having  dined  too  well,  even  if  he  has 
not  "  capsized  "  or  been  "  thrown  upon  his  beam-ends "  in  the 
gutter.  And  many  a  person  when  asked  to  contribute  to  a  charity 
has  declared  himself  "  stumped,"  though  he  may  never  have  been 
near  a  cricket-field  since  he  left  school. 

What  one  might  call  the  classical  slang  of  thieves  is  technically 
termed  "cant."  It  has  the  appearance  of  possessing  more  quaint 
and  original  features  than  the  more  modern  lingo,  the  sole  reason 


viii  Preface. 

for  which  is  perhaps  that  it  proceeds  from  dialects  but  little  known, 
as  for  instance  Romany,  or  from  Celtic  and  Anglo-Saxon  words  no 
longer  used  as  language-words  and  known  only  to  a  few  scholars. 

Gaiit  possesses  but  few  original  terms  coined  in  a  direct  manner 
by  those  who  employ  the  vocabulary,  for  it  needs  greater  imaginative 
powers  than  these  light-fingered  professors  are  generally  credited 
with  to  invent  terms  that  shall  remain  and  form  part  of  a  language. 
An  illustration  of  this  may  be  found  in  the  French  argot — taken  in 
the  narrower  sense  of  malefactors'  language  and  leaving  out  altogether 
the  Parisian  slang — which  in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  of  those  inte- 
rested in  the  matter  has  remained  very  nearly  what  it  was  in  the 
seventeenth  century. 

The  components  have  been  elongated,  then  curtailed,  then  their 
syllables  have  been  interverted,  and  finally  they  have  reappeared 
under  their  original  form. 

Taking  as  a  starting-point  that  slang  and  cant  are  of  an  essentially 
conventional  and  consequently  metaphoric  and  figurative  nature,  it 
may  safely  be  asserted  that  the  origin  of  slang  and  cant  terms  must 
certainly  be  sought  for  in  those  old  dialect  words  which  bear  a 
resemblance  in  form  ;  not  however  in  words  which  bear  an  approxi- 
mately identical  meaning,  but  rather  in  such  as  allow  of  the  supposed 
offsprings  having  a  figurative  connection  of  sense. 

The  reader  will  probably  best  understand  what  is  meant  if  he 
will,  for  the  sake  of  argument,  suppose  the  modern  English  language 
to  have  become  a  dead  language  known  only  to  scholars.  Then  let 
him  take  the  slang  word  "  top-lights,"  meaning  eyes.  He  is  seeking 
the  origin  of  top-lights.  If  he  were  to  find  in  the  old  language  a 
word  having  some  resemblance  in  form  and  bearing  the  identical 
meaning  of  eyes  he  would  have  to  reject  it.  But  when  he  finds  the 
same  word  signifying  the  upper  lanterns  of  a  ship,  he  may  adopt  it 
without  hesitation,  because  the  metaphor  forms  a  connection  link 
and  furnishes  a  safe  clue. 

So  far  we  have  spoken  rather  as  if  slang  were  a  kind  of  outlaw 
or  Bedouin  with  every  man's  hand  against  it,  but  of  late  years 
many  judicious  and  intelligent  writers  h<ive  recognised  that  there  is 
a  vast  number  of  words  wliicli,  while  current,  are  still  on  probation, 


Preface.  ix 

like  emigrants  in  quarantine,  awaiting  the  time  when  they  are  to 
be  admitted  to  the  regular  haven  of  the  Standard  Dictionary.  But 
this  increase  has  been  so  enormous  and  so  rapid  that  no  standard 
lexicographer  could  do  it  justice.  It  is  generally  admitted  that  to 
keep  pace  with  modem  French  journalism  or  novels,  a  "  Dictionnaire 
d' Argot "  is  absolutely  indispensable,  and  this  is  now  quite  as  much 
the  case  with  English.  And  when  we  consider  that  it  is  not  possible 
to  take  up  a  copy  of  any  of  the  leading  London  society  journals 
without  finding  very  often  in  one  single  article  a  dozen  slang 
phra.ses  which  have  never  yet  been  given  in  any  dictionary  what- 
ever, it  will  be  admitted  that  a  time  has  certainly  come  to  publish 
a  dictionary  upon  new  lines  in  which  every  effort  shall  be  made 
to  define  such  expressions  without  regard  to  what  the  department  is 
called  to  which  they  belong. 

To  show  what  a  need  there  is  of  such  a  work,  one  only  has  to 
reflect  that  a  vast  number  of  more  recent  American  slang  phrases 
(not  old  English  provincialisms  established  ah  initio  in  New  England, 
but  those  chiefly  of  modern  Western  manufacture)  have  never  been 
collected  and  published.  And  the  same  may  be  said  of  those  which 
have  cropped  up  and  developed  themselves  in  the  English-speaking 
colonies,  in  the  bush  of  Australia,  or  South  Africa.  The  real 
amount  of  Romany,  Dutch,  Celtic,  and  Yiddish,  in  the  various 
slangs,  has  never  yet  been  decided  by  writers  who  had  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  these  languages,  and  Mr.  Hotten,  while  declaring  that 
to  the  gypsies  we  are  in  great  measure  indebted  for  the  cant  lan- 
guage, and  that  it  was  the  corner-stone  and  a  great  part  of  the  edifice 
of  English  slang,  was  still  so  utterly  ignorant  of  it  as  to  have 
recourse  to  a  vocabulary  of  Roumanian  gypsy  to  explain  the  very 
few  words  of  English  Romany  in  liis  work,  the  great  majority  of 
which  were  in  some  way  erroneous.  The  present  is  the  first  Slang 
Dictionary  ever  written  which  has  had  the  benefit  of  contributors 
who  thoroughly  understood  Celtic  dialects,  Dutch,  German,  and 
French  slang,  and  who  were  thus  enabled  to  establish  their  rela- 
tions with  English  cant,  and  one  of  these  gentlemen  is  equally 
at  home  in  Pidgin-English,  Gypsy,  and  Slielta  or  tinker's  slang, 
which  by- the-bye  is  one  of  the  three  principal  slangs  of  the  kingdom, 


X  Preface. 

and  is  here  made  known  for  the  first  time  in  a  work  of  this  kind  ; 
this  being  also  the  first  Slang  Dictionary  to  which  the  rich  and  racy 
slang  of  the  fifth  continent — the  mighty  Australian  commonwealth 
of  the  future — has  been  contributed  by  one  long  resident  in  the 
country  and  familiar  both  with  its  life  and  its  literature.  Informa- 
tion has  been  gathered  at  its  very  source  from  all  classes  of  society, 
and  in  every  department  contributors  have  been  employed  who 
were  perfectly  at  home  in  their  respective  specialities. 

We  began  our  preface  with  trying  to  define,  or  discover,  the 
nature  of  that  slippery  Proteus,  slang  ;  after  doing  which  to  the 
best  of  our  power,  we  proceeded  to  show  the  necessity  for  a  dic- 
tionary such  as  the  present,  and  to  instance  the  precautions 
taken  to  make  it  exhaustive.  We  might  have  added  that  the 
majority  of  the  contributors  selected  were  men  not  only  intimate 
with  their  subject,  but  also  of  proved  ability  in  literature.  We 
could  hardly  conclude  without  making  some  allusion  to  the  volume 
which  was  the  forerunner  of  this,  "  Argot  and  Slang."  One  passage 
in  its  preface  has  attracted  much  attention  for  its  terse  enunciation 
of  what  is  generally  recognised. 

"  Slang  has  invaded  all  classes  of  society,  and  is  often  used  for 
want  of  terms  sufficiently  strong  to  convey  the  speaker's  real  feel- 
ings. It  seems  to  be  resorted  to  in  order  to  make  up  for  the  short- 
comings of  a  well-balanced  and  polished  tongue  which  will  not  lend 
itself  to  exaggeration  and  violence  of  utterance.  Journalists,  artists, 
politicians,  mon  of  fa.shion,  soldiers,  even  women,  talk  argot,  some- 
times unawares."  A  curious  illustration  of  this  has  just  been 
brought  under  the  editor's  notice.  A  gentleman  had  been  pub- 
lishing for  some  years  with  the  same  firm  of  publishers,  but  with 
very  varying  success.  "  I  can  never  for  the  life  of  me,"  he  used  to 
complain,  "  tell  whether  Mr.  Pompous  means  that  my  new  book  is 
a  poor  one  or  a  bad  one.  His  letters  are  tissues  of  under  certain 
circumstances,  we  should  not  feel  justified  in  advising  (or  not  advising), 
in  the  present  state  of  the  public  taste  it  is  impossible  to  predict,  con- 
ceivably, &c."  But  a  year  or  two  ago  a  college  friend  of  this  author 
became  a  member  of  this  firm  of  publishers.  In  due  time  another 
book  was  submitted,  and  the  answer  came  from  the  new  partner — 


Preface.  xi 

"  My  dear ,  it  would  be  rot  publishing  a  thing  like  this.     The 

public  would  sfnort  at  it.     Yours  very  truly,  ."    The  author's 

confidence  in  his  publisher  went  up  a  hundred  per  cent.  There 
was  now  a  member  of  the  firm  sufficiently  intimate  with  him  to 
employ  "  slang  "  in  their  communications,  and  the  author  knew  that 
from  that  time  he  would  be  able  to  tell  to  a  fraction  the  exact  grade 
of  value  they  put  upon  every  work  he  off'ered  them.  "  Slang  "  is  an 
essential  of  the  age.  Even  a  bishop  has  used  it  in  the  pulpit,  in  a 
modified  form,  when  he  said  that  "Society  would  be  impossible 
without  white  lies."  It  seems  as  if  the  day  was  not  far  off  when 
it  might  be  true  to  say  that  "  Society  would  be  impossible  without 
slang." 

One  thing  is  Certain,  that  the  taste  of  the  age  is  to  learn  speci- 
alities from  those  who  have  a  special  knowledge  of  them.  The 
public  that  goes  to  see  the  life  of  the  Wild  West  and  the  prize-ring, 
rejoice  also  in  realistic  novels  by  those  whose  special  knowledge  best 
qualifies  them  for  the  work,  whether  it  be  an  uncanny  familiai'ity 
with  the  mysteries  of  the  Far  West,  or  the  mysteries  of  Paris  ;  and 
these  kind  of  works,  as  a  rule,  abound  above  all  others  in  technical 
expressions  and  argot.  Granted  that  people  of  the  same  country  as 
the  author  are  generally  able  to  understand  these  by  the  context 
without  the  labour  of  a  dictionary,  a  very  small  percentage  of  the 
intelligent  foreigners  who  make  a  practice  of  reading  English  works 
of  note  could,  without  the  aid  of  a  vocabulary,  be  able  to  decipher 
the  multifarious  "lingos"  which  enter  into  these  books,  and  this 
is  just  the  class  who  will  be  most  assisted  by  the  arrangement 
adopted  in  this  work  of  giving  all  the  various  departments  of  slang 
together. 

A.  B. 


A  BRIEF 

HISTORY  OF  ENGLISH  SLANG. 

By  CHARLES  G.  LELAND. 


T  does  not  seem  to  have  occuiied  to  any  writer  that  the 
chief  reason  why  the  early  history  of  purely  English 
slang  is  obscure,  is  because  that  previous  to  a  certain 
determinate  date,  there  was  really  so  little  of  it,  that 
it  hardly  existed  at  all.  There  can  be  no  biography  of 
a  child  worth  writing  so  long  as  it  can  babble  only  a  few  words.  It 
is  probable  that  of  these  few  early  slang  words,  none  have  been  lost. 
During  the  Saxon  Early  English  and  IMiddle  English  periods,  there 
were  provincial  dialects,  familiar  forms  of  speech,  and  vulgarisms, 
but  whether  a  distinct  canting  tongue  was  current  in  England,  re- 
mains as  yet  to  be  established.  That  the  tinkers  or  metal-workers, 
who  roamed  all  over  Great  Britain,  were  a  peculiar  people,*  with  a 
peculiar  Celtic  language  called  Shelta,  may  be  true,  but  canting  as 
yet  did  not  exist. 

No  discoveries  have  as  yet  been  made  which  cast  much  light  on 
the  process  by  which  English  canting,  or  the  language  of  the  loose 
and  dangerous  classes,  was  first  formed.  This  much  we  know,  that 
in  England,  to  a  beginning  of  antiquated  and  provincial  or  perverted 
words,  a  few  additions  were  made  of  Welsh,  Irish,  or  Gaelic,  with 
here  and  there  a  contribution  from  the  Continent.  It  seems  to  be 
evident  that  this  rill  of  impure  English,  most  defiled,  was  a  very 


*  John  Bunyan,  it  may  be  remembered,  once  asked  his  father  whether  the 
tinkers  were  not  "a  peculiar  people."  Regarded  from  any  point  of  view, 
this  indicates  that  ho  suspected  they  were  not  English.  Bunyan,  according 
to  recent  researches,  could  not  have  been  a  gypsy,  but  as  a  tinker  he  must 
have  known  Shelta,  or  the  old  tinker's  language,  and  therefore  naturally 
suspected  that  ho  belonged  to  some  kind  of  separate  race. 


xiv  A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang. 

slender  one.  But  as  C.  J.  Ribton  Turner  suggests,  it  was  the  arrival 
of  the  gj'psies  in  England  about  1505,  speaking  by  themselves  a 
perfect  language,  which  stimulated  the  English  nomads  to  gi'eatly 
improve  their  own  rude  and  scanty  jargon.  According  to  Samuel 
Rowlande,  whose  work,  "The  Runnagate's  Race,"  appeared  in  16 10, 
one  Cock  Lorrell,  a  gi-eat  rascal,  but  evidently  a  man  of  talents, 
became,  in  1501,  the  acknowledged  head  of  all  the  strollers  in  Eng- 
land. This  person  formed  his  followers  into  a  regular  guild  or 
order,  according  to  the  spirit  of  the  time  in  which  he  lived,  and 
observing  that  the  gypsies,  under  their  leader,  Giles  Hathor,  were  a 
powerful  and  rapidly  increasing  body,  he  proposed  to  them  a  general 
council  and  union  of  interests  and  language. 

"  After  a  time  that  these  vp-start  Lossels  had  got  vuto  a  head,  the 
two  chief  Commaunders  of  both  these  regiments  met  at  the  Diuels- 
arse-a-peak,  there  to  parle  and  intreete  of  matters  that  might  tend  to 
the  establishing  of  this  their  new  found  gouernment ;  and  first  of  all 
they  think  it  fit  to  deuise  a  certaine  kinde  of  Language,  to  the  end 
that  their  cousenings,  knaueries,  and  villainies  might  not  be  so  easily 
perceiued  and  knowne  in  places  where  they  come." 

Here  Samuel  Rowlande,  speaking  ignorantly,  says  that  this 
tongue  was  made  up  out  of  Latin,  English,  and  Dutch,  with  a  few 
words  borrowed  from  Spanish  and  French.  To  this  day  it  is  com- 
mon enough  for  "  travellers,"  or  gypsies,  to  tell  the  ignorant  that  the 
language  which  they  speak  is  Latin,  French,  or  Dutch,  &c.  From 
the  language  itself,  as  given  by  Robert  Copland  (1535),  and  Ilarman 
("Caveat  for  Cursitors")  in  1567,  it  appears  that  the  gypsies  actually 
contributed  a  certain  amount  of  Romany,  but  that  with  their 
natural  dislike  to  teach  it,  they  made  this  contribution  as  small  as 
possible — though  it  is  larger  than  Mr.  Turner  supposes.  He  has, 
however,  with  very  approximate  accuracy,  shown  the  various  Celtic 
origins  of  the  terms  not  reducible  to  English  or  Saxon.  Of  Latin 
he  finds  only  eight  words,  of  which  two  are  very  doubtful,  while 
two  others,  ijcrry  (i.e.  jerry),  excrement,  and  peck,  meat,  are  plainly 
from  the  lloimuiy  jirr  (rectum  vel  cxcremcntnm),  and  pehho;  roast,  i.e., 
roast  meat.  It  is  too  far  afield  to  seek  these  common  gypsy  words 
in  the  Latin  (jcrra',  trifles,  and  })ecu>^,  cattle. 

This  was  the  beginning  made  of  the  canting  or  thieves'  tongiie, 
and  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  first  meeting  of  this  Philological 
Orientil  Congress  for  the  ])urj)ose  of  forming  a  language  was 
probably  not  deficient  in  a  certain  ]>ictures(iuo  element,  and  an  abbi 
artist  might   find  a  worse  subject  than  tliis  grand  council  of  the 


A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang.  xv 

gypsies  and  vagabonds  in  their  cavern  among  the  hills.  It  is  to 
be  observed  that  Harman,  a  magistrate  who  was  not  only  very 
familiar  with  every  type  of  criminals,  but  who  was  the  first  who 
ever  published  a  canting  vocabulary,  declares  that  it  was  only 
within  thirty  years  previous  to  1567  that  the  dangerous  classes  had 
begun  to  use  a  familiar  jargon  at  all.  Mr.  Turner  says  that  this 
statement  is  little  better  than  a  guess  at  the  truth ;  but  Harman, 
who  seems  to  have  been  an  earnest  and  honest  writer,  explicitly 
declares  that  his  statement  was  the  result  of  inquiry  among  many, 
or  to  use  his  own  words  :  "As  far  as  I  can  learne  or  understand  by 
the  examination  of  a  nuviber  of  them,  their  language — which  they 
terme  peddelars  Frenche  or  canting — began  but  within  these  xxx 
yeeres  or  lyttle  above." 

What  confirms  this  statement,  if  it  does  not  actually  prove  it, 
is  the  fact  that  Harman,  though  he  evidently  laboured  hard  to 
make  a  full  vocabulary  and  had  many  facilities  for  collecting  words, 
gives  us  in  all  only  about  160,  while  those  who  came  after  him  in  the 
field  are  accused  of  only  repeating  him.  But  the  truth  probably 
is,  that  Harman  was  quite  right ;  canting  was  really  young  in  his 
time,  and  small  in  proportion  to  its  age.  Its  growth  may  be  very 
clearly  traced  in  dramatic,  comic,  or  criminal  literature  from  1535, 
as  shown  by  Kobert  Copland  in  his  "Hye  Way  to  the  Spyttel 
House,"  down  to  the  present  day. 

In  old  canting  the  most  striking  element  is  the  large  proportion 
of  Celtic  words,  drawn  from  all  parts  of  Great  Britain.  Turner  has 
observed  that  the  Act  5  Edward  III.  c.  14,  affords  evidence  that  the 
Welsh  gwestwr,  "  unbidden  guest,"  or  vagabond,  was  a  public  nuisance 
in  England  prior  to  133 1.  In  fact  the  Welsh  and  Irish  stroller,  or 
professional  rogue  and  beggar,  was  a  common  type  represented  and 
ridiculed  in  broadsides  or  plays  till  within  a  century.*  Edicts  and 
Acts  of  Parliament,  and  the  most  vigorous  punishment  and  reship- 
ment  of  "  ye  vacabones  "  to  their  homes,  were  utterly  ineffectual  to 
keep  them  out  of  England.  In  the  English  "  kennick  "  or  canting 
of  the  lowest  classes  of  the  present  day,  the  greater  proportion  of 

*  A  majority  of  those  travellers  and  tramps  in  England,  who  are  simply 
beggars  and  thieves,  and  who  do  not  seek  for  work,  are  still  Irish.  Full 
information  on  this  subject  may  be  found  in  the  "  History  of  Vagrants  and 
Vagrancy,"  by  C.  J.  Ribton  Turner ;  and  it  may  be  said  with  truth  that  all 
the  criminals  of  the  towns  and  cities  put  together  do  not  injure  the  country 
at  large  so  much  as  these  creatures,  who  carry  vice  into  every  hamlet,  and 
into  the  remotest  corners  of  the  kingdom. 


xvi  A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang. 

Celtic  terms  are  apparently  not  taken  directly  from  Gaelic,  Erse, 
Welsh,  or  Manx,  but  from  a  singular  and  mysterious  language  called 
Shelta  (Celtic  ?),  or  Minklas  Thari  (tinkers'  talk),  wbich  is  spoken 
by  a  very  lai^e  proportion  of  all  provincial  tinkers  (who  claim  for 
it  great  antiquity),  as  well  as  by  many  other  vagabonds,  especially 
by  all  the  Irish  who  are  on  the  roads.  The  very  existence  of  this 
dialect  was  completely  unknown  until  1867,  its  vocabulary  and 
specimens  of  the  language  being  first  published  in  "  The  Gypsies " 
(Boston,  1880).  It  has  been  ingeniously  conjectured  by  a  reviewer 
tliat  as  all  the  Celtic  tinkers  of  Great  Britain  formed,  until  tlie 
railroad  era,  or  about  1845,  an  extremely  close  corporation,  always 
intermarrying,  and  as  they  are  all  firmly  persuaded^  that  their 
tinkerdom  and  tongue  are  extremely  ancient,  they  may  possibly 
be  descendauits  of  the  early  bronze-workers,  who  also  perambu- 
lated the  country  in  bands,  buying  up  broken  implements  and 
selling  new  ones.  This  is  at  least  certain,  that  the  tinkers  as  a  body 
were  ^'ery  clannish,  had  a  strongly-marked  character,  a  well-de- 
veloped langviage  of  their  own,  and  that  while  they  were  extremely 
intimate  with  the  gypsies,  often  taking  wives  from  among  them, 
and  being  sometimes  half-bloods,  they  still  always  remained 
tinklers  and  spoke  Shelta  among  themselves.  The  nature  of  this 
alliance  is  very  singular.  In  Scotland  the  tinkler  is  popularly 
identified  with  the  gypsy,  but  even  half-blood  tinklers,  such 
as  the  Macdonalds,*  who  speak  Romany,  do  not  call  themselves 
gypsies,  but  tinklers.  The  caste  deserves  this  brief  mention  since 
it  has  apparently  been  the  chief  source  through  which  Celtic  woixls 
have  come  into  English  canting — an  assertion  which  is  not  the  mere 
conjecture  of  a  philologist,  but  the  opinion  of  more  than  one  very 
intelligent  and  well-informed  vagabond.  It  is  very  remarkable  that 
though  Shelta  is  more  or  less  extensively  spoken  even  in  London, 
and  though  it  has  evidently  had  a  leading  influence  in  contributing 
the  Celtic  element  to  canting,  thus  far  only  one  writer  has  ever 
pul)lished  a  line  relative  to  it.  Hotten  or  his  coUaborateurs  seem, 
in  common  with  Turner  and  all  other  writers  on  vagabonds,  never 
to  have  lieard  of  its  existence.  It  will  probably  be  recognised  by 
future  analysts  of  canting  that  in  all  cases  wliere  a  corrupted  Celtic 
word  is  found  in  it,  it  will  be  necessary  to  ascertain  if  it  did  not 
owe  its  change  to  liaving  passed  thi-ougli  the  medium  of  Shelta. 

•  It  is  needlesa  to  say  th.at  gypsies  have  assumed  family  names,  such  as 
Stanley,  Leo,  &c.,  and  among  others  that  of  Macdonald. 


A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang.  xvii 

Though  the  gypsy  contribution  to  canting  was  not  extensive,  it 
was  much  larger  than  many  extensive  writers  on  vagabonds  have 
supposed,  and  it  is  worth  noting  that  a  number  of  our  most  char- 
acteristic slang  words,  such  as  row,  shindy,  tool  (in  driving),  mash 
(i.e.,  to  fascinate),  pal,  chivvy,  and  especially  the  arch-term  slang 
itself,  are  all  Komany.  It  is  not  remarkable  that  Cock  Lorrell 
recognised  in  the  gypsies  "  a  race  with  a  back-bone,"  and  one 
from  whom  something  could  be  learned.  Their  blood  "  had  rolled 
through  scoundrels  ever  since  the  flood,"  and  from  the  begin- 
ning they  had  spoken  not  a  mere  slang,  but  a  really  beautiful  and 
perfect  language  resembling  Hindustani  or  Urdu,  but  which  was 
much  older.  The  constituents  of  this  tongue  are  Hindi  and  Per- 
sian— the  former  greatly  predominating — with  an  admixture  of 
other  Indo- Aryan  dialects.  It  was  first  suggested  in  "English 
Gypsies  and  their  Language "  that  the  true  origin  of  the  Kom  or 
gypsy  was  to  be  found  among  the  Dom,  a  very  low  caste  in  India, 
which  sprung  from  the  Domar,  a  mountain  tribe  of  shepherd- 
robbers  ;  and  recent  researches  by  Mr.  Grierson  among  the  Bihari 
Dom  have  gone  far  to  confirm  the  conjecture.  Its  author  also 
discovered  that  there  exists  to-day  in  India  a  wandering  tribe 
known  as  Trablus,  who  call  themselves  Rom,  and  who  are  in  all 
respects  identical  with  the  Syrian  and  European  gypsies.  About 
the  tenth  century,  owing  to  political  convulsions,  there  were  in 
India  a  great  number  of  outcasts  of  different  kinds.  Among 
these  the  Jdts,  a  fierce  and  warlike  tribe,  crushed  by  Mahometan 
power,  seemed  to  have  coalesced  with  the  Doms  or  Rom,  the 
semi-Persian  Luri  or  Nuri  (originally  Indian),  and  others,  and 
to  have  migrated  westward.  Miklosich,  in  a  very  learned  work, 
has,  by  analysing  the  language  as  it  now  exists,  pointed  out 
the  Greek,  Slavonian,  and  other  words  which  they  picked  up  en 
route.  It  was  about  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century  that  a 
band  of  about  300  of  these  wanderers  first  appeared  in  Germany, 
whence  they  in  a  few  years  spread  themselves  over  Europe,  so  that 
within  a  decade  many  thousands  of  them  penetrated  to  eveiy  corner 
of  the  Continent.  They  were  evidently  led  by  men  of  gi'eat  ability. 
They  represented  themselves  as  pil{^rims,  who,  because  they  had 
become  renegades  from  Christianity,  had  been  ordered  by  the  King 
of  Hungary  as  a  penance  to  wander  for  fifty  years  as  pilgrims. 
They  had  previously  by  telling  the  same  story,  but  adapted  to  the 
faith  of  Mahomet,  got  a  foothold  in  Egypt.  They  thus  obtained 
official  license  to  make  themselves  at  home  in  every  couutrv,  except 

h 


xviii  A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang. 

in  England,  yet  went  there  all  the  same.  Andrew  Borde,  the 
eccentric  physician,  who  lived  during  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  was 
the  first  person  who  made  (in  1 542)  a  vocabulary  of  their  language, 
which  he  did  under  the  impression  that  it  was  "  Egyptian  "  or  the 
current  tongue  of  Egypt.  Bonaventura  Vulcanius,  in  1 597,  in  his 
curious  book  "  De  Literis  et  Lingua  Getarum,"  also  gave  specimens  of 
Romany  as  "  Nubian."  The  first  European  writer  who  discovered 
that  Romany  was  really  of  Hindu  origin,  was  J.  C.  Rudiger,  and 
this  he  announced  in  a  book  entitled  "  Neuester  Zuwachs  der  Sprach- 
kunde,"  Halle  1782.  He  was  followed  by  Grellmann,  whose  work 
was  much  more  copious.  It  was  translated  into  English  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  century,  and  passed  through  thiee  editions.  George 
Borrow,  in  his  novels  of  "  Lavengro  "  and  "  The  Romany  Rye,"  pub- 
lished about  1845,  and  in  "The  Gypsies  in  Spain,"  first  told  the  pub- 
lic much  about  this  subject,  and  his  influence  was  very  great  both 
in  England  and  on  the  Continent  in  awakening  an  interest  in  it. 
Among  more  recent  writers.  Dr.  Bath  C.  Smart,  Francis  Groome, 
and  the  writer,  have  been  the  principal  collectors  of  Anglo-Romany 
lore.  Borrow,  who  knew  the  gypsies  so  well,  was  far  from  being 
perfect  in  their  language,  as  he  declared  positively  that  there  are 
only  1200  words  in  the  English  dialect;  more  recent  researches 
have  more  than  doubled  the  numljer. 

The  next  element  of  importance  which  enters  into  English  slang 
of  the  middle  type,  subsequent  to  old  cant,  is  Dutch.  Of  this  there 
are  two  separate  sources.  In  England,  from  the  time  of  William 
of  Orange  until  that  of  George  II.,  there  was  a  constant  influx 
of  Nederduytsch,  while  in  America,  the  State  of  New  York,  while 
subject  to  Holland,  contributed  an  equally  large  proportion  of  quaint 
expressions,  and  of  these  in  time  there  was  great  interchange  lietween 
the  old  country  and  the  new.  To  detect  many  of  these,  one  must 
go  much  deeper  into  Dutch  than  the  standard  dictionaries,  and 
descend  to  Teirlinck's  and  other  collections  of  thieves'  slang,  or  dig 
into  such  old  works  as  those  of  Sewcl,  in  which  the  vulgar  and  anti- 
quated words  "  to  be  avoided  "  are  indicated  by  signs.  As  English 
and  Dutch  belong  to  the  same  stock,  it  naturally  results  that  nimibers 
of  our  provincial  or  obsolete  terms  are  the  same  or  nearly  the  same 
in  both  ;  in  such  cases  we  have  generally  placed  them  together.  An 
examination  of  the  work  cannot  fail  to  convince  any  one  that  our 
indebtedness  to  this  source  is  much  greater  than  has  ever  been  su])- 
posed.  But  as  these  derivations  are  often  as  doubtful  as  they  are 
numerous  and  plausible,  the  editor,  with  the  exajnple  of  Bellenden 


A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang.  xix 

Kerr  *  before  him,  would  beg  the  reader  to  observe  that  in  this  work 
no  ancient  or  foreign  words  are  advanced  as  positively  establishing 
the  etymology  of  any  slang  expression,  but  are  simply  adduced  as 
indicating  possible  relations.  The  day  has  gone  by  when  it  sufficed 
to  show  something  like  a  resemblance  in  sound  and  meaning  between 
a  dozen  Choctaw  and  as  many  Hebrew  words,  to  prove  positively 
that  the  Red  Indians  are  Jews.  But  "  wild  guess-work "  is  still 
current  even  in  very  learned  works,  and  though  "  in  a  pioneer  way  " 
it  is  useful  in  affording  hints  to  true  philologists,  it  should  never 
claim  to  be  more  than  mere  conjecture. 

During  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth  many  Italian  words  found 
their  way  not  only  into  English  literature  but  also  into  slang,  and 
additions  have  occasionally  been  made  since  then  from  the  same 
source.  Thus  fogle,  a  handkerchief,  is  beyond  question  the  Italian 
foglia,  a  leaf,  also  slang  for  a  silk  handkerchief  (Florentine  folio), 
and  not  the  German  vogel,  a  bird,  as  Hotten  declares.  The  number 
of  these  derivations  is  much  larger  than  has  ever  been  supposed, 
and  much  of  the  mine  is  still  unworked. 

Old  canting  retained  its  character  until  the  reign  of  Charles  II., 
when  a  great  deal  of  general  slang  began  to  be  current,  which  weis 
not  connected  in  any  way  with  the  jargon  of  the  dangerous  classes. 
Bite,  macaroni,  and  quiz  were  slang,  but  not  cant ;  they  originated 
in  or  were  first  made  popular  by  fashionable  people.  Following  the 
Spanish  Quevedo,  and  other  writers  of  the  vida  tunantesca,  or  "  tag- 
rag-and-bobtail  school,"  as  models,  not  only  the  dramatists,  but 
authors  like  Sir  Roger  L'Estrange  and  Defoe  used  directly,  or  put 
into  the  mouths  of  their  heroes,  a  familiar,  free  and  easy,  offhand 
style,  which  was  anything  but  conventional,  or  as  many  may  think, 
correct.  Pedantic  writers  also  continued  for  more  than  a  century 
to  deliberately  manufacture  in  great  quantity,  from  Latin,  words 
of  the  kind  used  by  the  unfortunate  Limousin  student  who  was 
beaten  by  Gargantua.  An  "  about-town  "  dialect  was  developed 
by  "bloods"  and  wits,  in  which  Dutch,  Italian,  and  French  began 
to  appear  more  frequently  than  of  yore.  Gypsy  and  old  canting 
terms  rose  now  and  then  from  the  depths,  or  dregs,  and  remained 
on  the  surface.  It  was  during  this  which  may  be  called  the  middle 
slang  epoch,  that  those  conventional  or  colloquial  terms  began  to  be 

*  The  author  of  an  ingenious  and  eccentric  work  in  two  volumes,  in  which 
he  endeavoured  to  prove  that  most  English  proverbs,  sayings,  and  nursery 
rhymes  are  all  in  old  Dutch,  and  have  an  esoteric  meaning,  being  really 
attacks  on  the  Church. 


A  Brief  Histoty  of  English  Slang. 


current,  whicli,  without  being  vulgar  or  directly  associated  with 
crime,  were,  owing  to  their  novelty,  flippancy,  or  "fastness,"  still 
kept  in  limbo,  or  under  probation.  It  has  been  truly  enough  said 
that  the  old  slang  was  altogether  coarse  or  vulgar,  and  that  there 
was  subsequentl}'^  a  great  increase  in  the  number  of  low  and  obscene 
terms  classed  with  it,  a  growth  which  went  on  vigorously  until  the 
end  of  the  reign  of  George  IV.  But  while  Butler,  Swift,  Tom 
Brown,  Grose,  and  scores  of  minor  artists  dealt  out  more  or  less 
"  dirt  or  deviltry,"  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  accretion  of  new 
phrases,  which  were  in  no  way  "immoral,"  was  really  much  greater. 

About  this  time,  during  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century 
and  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth,  was  the  beginning  of  the  vast 
array  of  words  now  in  familiar  use,  which  are  unjustly  called  slang, 
because  that  term  forces  upon  them  associations  with  vulgarity  and 
crime  which  they  no  more  merit  than  that  leaves  or  flowers  should 
be  identified  with  the  dirt  from  which  they  grow.  This  quarantine 
language  is  simply  the  natural  and  inevitable  result  of  a  rapid  in- 
crease in  inventions,  needs,  new  sources  of  humour,  and,  in  fact,  of 
all  social  causes.  Kew  names  are  in  as  great  demand  as  they  were 
of  yore,  when  heathen  were  converted  and  baptized  in  batches. 
Then  they  were  often  all  called  John  or  James  by  the  thousand 
"for  short,"  but  now  we  are  more  discriminating  and  analytical. 
But  it  is  to  be  observed  that  hitherto  no  writer  whatever  has  ever 
dealt  with  these  quarantined  words  or  piobationers  in  the  spirit 
which  they  merit,  or  pointed  out  the  fact  that  they  fulfil  a  legitimate 
function  in  language,  or  attempted  to  collect  them  in  a  book. 

It  would  a])pear  to  have  been  about  a  century  ago  that  a  few 
Yiddish,  or  Hebrew-German,  woi-ds  began  to  creep  into  English 
slang.  "When  we  consider  that  fully  one-half  of  the  Rothwalsch  or 
real  slang  of  Germany  is  of  this  kind  of  Hebrew,  and  also  the  great 
numbers  of  persons  who  speak  it,  it  is  remarkable  that  we  really 
have  so  little  of  it.  As  an  instance  of  the  guess-work  philology 
which  we  have  alluded  to,  it  may  be  pointed  out  that  the  common 
Jewish  word  gomwf  (Hebrew  ganef),  a  thief,  is  according  to  Hotten 
very  old,  in  English,  because  it  is  found  in  a  song  of  the  time  of 
Edward  VI.  as  grtoffe  ! 

"  Tho  country  gnoffcs,  Hob,  Dick,  and  Will, 
With  clubs  and  clouted  shoon, 
Shall  fill  up  Dussyn  Dale 

With  slaughtored  bodies  soon." 

But  gvnff,:^  according  to  Wright,  does  not  mean  a  thief  at  all,  but 


A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang. 


a  churl  (also  an  old  miser).  Its  true  root  is  probably  in  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  cneov,  cnuf,  or  cnHvan  (also  cneav,  knave),  to  bend,  yield  to, 
cneovjan  (genujlectere).  If  country  boors  or  peasants  be  therefore  the 
meaning  of  gnoffes,  it  would  be  in  Yiddish  keferim.  This  remarkable 
dialect  is  now  spoken  by  some  thousands  of  persons  in  London,  and 
there  are  one  if  not  two  newspapers  published  in  it.  The  editor 
has  not  only  the  German-Jewish  Chrestomatie  of  Max  Griinbaum, 
and  many  books  written  in  Yiddish,  but  also  eleven  vocabularies 
of  it,  one  of  which,  a  MS.  of  about  3000  words,  is  by  far  the  most 
extensive  ever  compiled.  It  seems  not  unlikely  that  the  word 
poker,  as  a  game  of  cards,  is  derived  from  Yiddish,  since  in  it  pochger 
(from  pochgen)  means  a  man  who  in  play  conceals  the  state  of  his 
winnings  or  losses,  or  hides  his  hand.  This  is  so  eminently  char- 
acteristic of  poker  that  the  resemblance  seems  to  be  something  more 
than  merely  accidental.  There  have  always  been  Jewish  card- 
players  enough  in  the  United  States  to  have  given  the  word.  The 
most  remarkable  and  desperate  game  of  poker  within  the  writer's 
knowledge  (in  which  not  only  a  fortune  but  a  life  were  risked) 
occurred  on  board  a  Mississippi  steamer,  its  hero  being  a  Jew. 

Of  late  years  many  Anglo-Indian  and  pidgin-English,  or  Anglo- 
Chinese  words,  have  become  familiar  to  the  public.  For  the  former 
our  chief  authority  has  been  the  "Glossary  of  Anglo-Indian  Colloquial 
Words  and  Phrases,  and  of  Kindred  Terms,"  by  Col.  Henry  Yule  and 
the  late  Arthur  Coke  Burnell  (870  ]ip.  8vo,  London,  John  Murray, 
1886),  a  copious  work,  as  remarkable  for  extensive  erudition  as  for 
sagacity,  common-sense,  and  genial  humour.  For  pidgin-English 
we  have  used  the  only  work  extant  on  the  subject,  viz.,  "  Pidgin- 
English  Ballads,  with  a  Vocabulary,"  by  C.  G.  Leland  (London, 
Triibner  &  Co.,  1887).  This  remarkable  dialect,  owing  to  the  ease 
with  which  it  is  acquired,  is  now  spreading  so  rapidly  all  over  the 
East  that  Sir  Richard  Burton  thinks  that  it  may  at  no  distant  date 
become  the  lingua-franca  of  the  whole  world. 

Anything  like  a  distinct  history  of  the  development  of  English 
slang  has  hitherto  been  impossible,  owing  to  the  ignorance  of  most 
of  those  who  have  put  themselves  forward  as  its  analysts  and  lexico- 
graphers. Samuel  Rowlande  told  the  world  that  gypsy  and  canting 
had  resolved  themselves  into  one  and  the  same  thing,  and  following 
his  lead,  one  authority  after  the  other,  such  as  the  author  of  the 
"Life  of  Bampfylde  Moore  Carew,"  gave  us  as  "Gypsy"  vocabu- 
laries, works  in  which  hardly  a  trace  of  Romany  was  to  be  found. 
In  vain  did  Grellmann,  Hoyland,  and  George  Borrow  explain  that 


xxii  A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang. 

these  wanderers  spoke  an  Oriental  language — even  Mr.  Edward 
Gosse,  in  liis  "  Memoir  of  Samuel  Rowlande,"  says  that  " '  Martin 
Markall '  is  entirely  in  prose,  except  some  queer  gyfsy  songs  " — the 
"  gypsy  songs "  in  question  having  less  resemblance  to  gypsy  than 
English  has  to  Spanish  or  French.  The  editor  has  before  him  a 
work  written  and  published  within  a  few  years,  called  "  The  New 
York  Slang  Dictionary,"  in  which  the  writer  tells  us  that  "  hilk  is 
a  word  in  the  gypsy  language,  from  which  most  English  slang  is 
derived  "  (hilk  not  being  Romany  at  all),  and  assures  the  reader  that 
his  book  (which  is  simply  a  re-hash  of  Grose,  with  the  addition  of 
some  purely  modern  Americanisms)  will  enable  him  to  make  him- 
self understood  in  the  slums  of  St.  Petersburg,  Paris,  or  in  any 
country  in  the  world  !  In  common  with  far  gieater  critics  and 
scholars,  he  believes  that  gypsy  is  a  mixture  of  all  European 
tongues  and  corrupt  English,  when,  in  fact,  it  does  not  contain  a 
single  French  word.*  Hotten  had  a  far  better  knowledge  of  the 
constituent  elements  of  slang,  unfortunately  he  had  not  even  an 
average  "smattering"  of  the  languages  which  must  be  understood, 
and  that  into  their  very  provincialisms,  argots,  and  corruptions,  in 
order  to  solve  the  origin  of  all  the  really  difficult  problems  in  it. 
He  knew  that  tlie  poet,  Thomas  Moore,  made  a  great  mistake  in 
believing  that  canting  was  gJl>sy,  but  he  knew  nothing  whatever 
of  Romany,  and  asserts  that  it  is  mingled  up  and  confused  with 
canting,  and  is  ignorant  enough  to  declare  that  "  had  the  gypsy 
tongue  been  analysed  and  committed  to  writing  three  centuries  ago, 
there  is  every  probability  that  many  scores  of  words  now  in  common 
use  could  be  at  once  traced  to  its  source."  This  was  the  result  of  an 
erroneous  belief  that  Mr.  Borrow  knew  everything  of  English  Romany 
that  could  be  known,  while  the  fact  is  that  by  comparison  with 
Continental  dialects,  and  with  the  aid  of  what  Mr.  Borrow  did  not 
know,  it  is  tolerably  certain  that  the  English  gypsy  of  three  cen- 
turies ago  is  by  no  means  the  lost  langujige  which  he  assumed  it 
to  be. 

The  last  and  not  least  important  element  in  English  slang  consi.sts 
of  Americani.sms.  The  original  basis  or  beginning  of  these  is  to  be 
found  in  Yankeeisms  or  words  and  phrases  jieculiar  at  first  to  New 
England.     They  consisted  chiefly  of  old   English   provincialisms. 


*  Goorgo  liorrow  tliinks  that  the  word  bUddika,  a  shop,  is  from  the  French 
boutique.  It  is  niucli  nioro  probably  the  Italian  hotter/a,  thonffh  it  still  more 
reitombloit  the  Spanish  bodega. 


A  Brief  History  of  English  Slang.  xxiii 

with  an  important  addition  of  Dutch  which  came  over  the  border 
from  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and  a  few  Canadian-French 
expressions.  For  these  the  dictionary  of  Mr.  Bartlett  is  an  invalu- 
able source  of  reference.  We  cannot  praise  too  highly  the  industry 
and  sagacity  manifested  in  that  work.  His  weak  point  lies  in  the 
fact  that  having  been  guided  by  dictionaries  such  as  that  of  Wright, 
he  too  frequently  assumes  that  a  word  which  is  marked  as  provincial 
is  not  generally  known  in  England.  Hence  he  gives  as  peculiarly 
and  solely  American  words  which  have  no  special  claim  to  be  re- 
garded as  such.  In  addition  to  these  mostly  Saxon-born  terms, 
there  is  a  much  greater  number  of  quaint  eccentric  expressions  of 
Western  and  Southern  growth,  which  increase  at  such  a  rate  that  one 
might  easily  compile  from  a  very  few  newspapers  an  annual  volume 
of  new  ones.  Yet  again,  English  slang  phrases  are  continually 
being  received  and  shifted  into  new  meanings  and  forms,  as  caprice 
or  need  may  dictate.  It  may  surprise  the  reader  to  learn  that  the 
works  of  Artemus  Ward,  Bret  Harte,  Mark  Twain,  and  other  standard 
humourists,  are  by  no  means  the  great  mines  of  slang  which  they 
are  popularly  supposed  to  be.  It  is  in  the  newspapers,  especially 
in  their  reports,  theatrical  or  local,  and  not  infrequently  in  the 
"editorials,"  that  the  new  racy  and  startling  words  occur,  as  they 
are  improvised  and  picked  up.  This  dictionary  contains  a  large 
collection  of  true  and  recent  American  colloquial  or  slang  phrases, 
and  though  the  works  of  the  great  American  humourists  have  been 
carefully  searched  for  this  purpose,  it  will  be  found  that  the  majo- 
rity of  terms  given  are  from  other  sources.  The  reader  who  is 
familiar  with  Bartlett  and  other  writers  on  Americanisms,  can  judge 
for  himself  to  what  extent — or  to  what  a  slight  extent — we  are 
"  indebted  "  to  them.  It  is  true  that  tliey  are  frequently  cited,  but 
in  the  great  majority  of  instances  it  lias  been  for  the  purpose  of 
correction,  emendation,  or  illustration  of  their  definitions. 

The  history  of  Slang  is  that  of  the  transition  of  languages  into 
new  forms,  and  from  this  jioint  of  view  it  may  be  assumed  that 
such  a  work  as  the  present  will  be  of  as  great  interest  to  the 
thorough  student  of  history  as  tlie  folk-lore  to  which  it  properly 
belongs,  or  anything  else  which  indicates  the  phases  of  culture. 


CONTRIBUTORS. 


PnOF.  A.  BABRiRE 

K  Brooksmith 
Egebton  Castle 
J.  C.  Coleman 
Sir  Patrick  Colquhoun 
Major  A.  Griffiths 
John  Hollingshead 
P.  Beresfobd  Hope 
Rev.  J.  W.  Horsley 
C.  Pelham  Huggins 
Rev.  Blomfield  Jackson 


C.  T.  Jacobi 
C.  G.  Leland 
Hauon  Le  Stbanqb 
Charles  Mack  ay,  LL.D. 
Prof.  W.  Paris 
T,  Preston 
J.  A.  P.  Price,  M.D, 
Alfred  German  Reed 
Prof.  D.  B.  W.  Sladen 
The  Earl  of  Suffolk 
M.  Tylkcote 


And  Others. 


A    DICTIONARY 


OF 


SLANG,  JARGON,  AND   CANT. 


I  (popular),  a  form 
used  to  indicate  a 
high  degree  of  excel- 
lence. 


The  magistrates  all  praise  my  zeal, 

And  put  me  down  Ai, 
And  burglars  when  they  hear  my  step 

Instantly  cut  and  run. 
They  sometimes  drop  things  in  their  flight. 

Those  things  of  course  I  take  ; 
To  leave  them  there  to  tempt  the  poor 

Would  be  a  great  mistake. 

— Music  Hall  Song. 

The  expression  is  also  used  ad- 
verbially. 

My  friends  remark,  "  Oh,  what  a  lark 

To  see  the  money  fly  !  " 
They  say  we're  two  young  sillies,  and 

We  don't  know  what  to  buy. 
But  you  just  leave  my  Fred  alone, 

He's  such  a  knowing  sort, 
He  lays  the  money  out  A  i. 

And  this  is  what  he's  bought. 

—Music  Hall  Song. 

She  i^  Ax;  in  fact  the  aye-wunnest  girl 
I  ever  saw. — Shirley  Brooks:  The  Gordian 
Knot. 

I  am,  A\,\  am  all  right,  com- 
fortable. 


It  originated  from  A  i ,  Lloyd's, 
an  abbreviation  commonly  used 
in  mercantile  circles  to  indi- 
cate the  character  of  a  ship 
and  its  appointments.  To  be 
classed  Ai  at  Lloyd's  means 
that  the  vessel,  its  anchor's, 
sails,  tackle,  and  stores  have 
been  examined  by  official  sur- 
veyors, and  found  to  be  in 
good  trim,  entitling  it  to  be 
ranked  as  first  class.  When  a 
vessel  fails  to  reach  the  highest 
standard,  other  marks  are  be- 
stowed. 

A.  I  or  No.  I  (fenian).  The  latter 
is  often  incorrectly  used.  It 
should  be  Ai,  a.  title  for  the 
commander  of  900  men. 

Aaron  (thieves).  The  Aaron  is 
the  chief  or  captain  of  a  gang 
or  school  of  thieves.  This 
cognomen  is  invariably  ac- 
comimnied  with  the  prefix  The 
— par  excellence  the  first — simi- 
A 


Aaron — Abandoned. 


lar  to  the  eldest  representa- 
tive of  certain  Irish  and  Scotch 
clans  or  families,  such  as  The 
O'Conor  Don,  The  Chisholm,  &c. 
As  Aaron  was  the  first  high- 
priest,  and  the  Aarons  are  the 
chiefs  of  the  Hebrew  tribes,  it 
is  probably  of  Jewish  origin  in 
its  slang  application.  Aaron  was 
an  old  cant  term  for  a  cadger 
who  combined  begging  with 
acting  as  a  guide  to  the  sum- 
mits of  mountains,  chiefly  to 
evade  the  laws  against  vaga- 
bondage, no  doubt  a  play  in 
its  slang  sense  on  its  Hebrew 
equivalent,  lofty, 

A-baa  (various).  An  abaa  cove, 
a  bad  man ;  an  abaa  muff,  a 
silly  person.  Among  trade 
unionists  an  abaa  signifies  a 
non-unionist,  who  is  generally 
assailed  with  the  derisive  shout, 
"  Baa,  baa,  black  sheep." 

Abacter  (old),  a  dishonest  drover 
or  shepherd,  one  who  connives 
at  the  stealing  of  his  master's 
cattle.  Probably  from  the  Latin 
abactores,  ^stealers  of  cattle. 
One  of  the  tricks  of  the  ab- 
acters  of  old  Smithfield  was 
the  driving  a  bullock  into  a 
jeweller's  or  other  shop,  and 
during  the  confusion  and  excite- 
ment of  expulsion  the  abacter  a 
confederates,  under  the  cloak 
of  assistance,  would  help  them- 
selves to  any  valuables  handy. 
The  Annual  Register  for  1818 
records  that  one  shop  was  so 
served  three  times  in  that 
year. 


Abaddon  (old),  a  treacherous 
thief,  one  who  turns  informer 
against  his  fellow-rogues.  From 
the  Hebrew  dbaddon,  a  de- 
stroyer ;  often  confounded  with 
the  Cockneyism  a-bad-'un,  a  bad 
one. 

The  prisoner.  Money  Moses,  better 
known  among  thieves  and  fences  as  Moses 
the  abaddon,  has  been,  to  my  knowledge, 
for  the  last  twenty  years  a  receiver  and 
dealer  in  stolen  property. — Report  of  the 
Trial  of  the  Great  Gold  Dust  Robbery. 

Abandannaad  (thieves),  one  who 
risks  his  liberty  by  committing 
an  act  of  contemptible  petty 
larceny.  The  phrase  originated 
through  a  footpad  robbing  a 
woman  of  a  paltry  bandanna 
(hence  abandannaad)  shawl 
valued  at  ninepence,  for  which  a 
notorious  high-class,  or  "  high- 
toby"  thief,  one  "Kiddy  Har- 
ris," was  hanged,  although  inno- 
cent of  any  connection  with  the 
robbery,  the  real  culprit  having 
soon  after  confessed  to  the 
crime.  The  poor  prosecutrix 
was  so  horrified  at  discovering 
her  mistaken  identification  that 
she  became  a  lunatic.  This 
incident  was  the  chief  cause 
of  the  passing  of  Sir  Samuel 
Romilly's  Act  for  the  abolition 
of  capital  punishment  for  rob- 
beries on  the  highway  of  pro- 
perty under  forty  shillings 
value. 

Abandoned  habits  (society),  the 
riding  costume  of  the  "Pretty 
Horsebreakers "  of  "the  Lady's 
Mile,"  in  Hyde  Park. 


Abandonees — Abbreviations. 


Abandonees  (provincial),  house- 
less tramps,  wanderers.  (Har- 
lotry), a  prostitute  who  has 
either  deserted  her  husband  or 
been  abandoned  by  him. 

The  married  abandonee  looks  down  with 
a  ludicrous  assumption  of  superiority  on 
such  of  her  unfortunate  companions  as 
have  never  vowed  at  the  altar  "  to  obey." 
— H.  Dowries  Miles:  Life  of  Richard 
Palmer  (Dick  Turf  in). 

Abandonment,  city  term  for  the 
bankruptcy  of  a  railway  com- 
'pany. 

Abandons  (popular),  foundlings, 
also  applied  to  street  prostitutes. 

Abbess,  lady  (obsolete),  the  mis- 
tress of  a  brothel,  also  a  pro- 
curess. 

The  infernal  wretches  who  traffic  in  the 
souls  and  bodies  of  their  helpless  victims 
^x&  CtCCie-A  lady  abbesses. — W.  Kidd:  Lon- 
don and  all  its  Dangers. 

The  inmates  were  called  the 
' '  nuns,"  and  sometimes ' '  Sisters 
of  Charity."  The  French  slang 
had  formerly  the  corresponding 
expression  "  abbesse,"  the  estab- 
lishment being  termed  "  abhaye 
des  s'offre  d  tous,"  the  inmates 
"nonnes,"  and  the  male  associate 
of  the  mistress  "  le  sacristain." 

Abbey-lubber  (nautical).  This  is 
an  old  term  of  reproach  for  idle- 
ness, and  is  applied  only  to  the 
nautical  lubber.  In  the  "  Burn- 
ynge  of  Paula's  Church,  1563,'' 
it  is  thus  explained  :  "  An  abbey - 
lubber,  that  was  idle,  well-fed, 
a  long    lewed    lither    loiterer, 


that  might  work,  and  would 
not." — Smyth :  SaUor's  Word- 
Booh. 

Abbot,  the  fancy  man  or  husband 
of  an  abbess.  A  crozier'd  abbot, 
or  abbot  on  the  cross,  a  man 
who  keeps  a  brothel  more  for 
the  purpose  of  robbery  and  ex- 
tortion than  that  of  prostitu- 
tion. 

Abbreviations.  One  of  the  most 
notable  signs  of  the  degrada- 
tion and  deterioration  of  a  lan- 
guage is  the  popular  habit,  in 
many  other  countries  besides 
England,  of  abbreviating  words 
and  reducing  them  to  their  first 
syllables,  as  if  in  a  fast  age 
the  common  multitude  had  only 
time  to  express  themselves  in 
monosyllables.  It  prevails  alike 
in  the  learned  halls  of  Oxford 
and  Cambridge  and  the  lowest 
slums  of  St.  Giles's  and  White- 
chapel.  Among  the  most  pro- 
minent may  be  cited  the  f  ollow- 
ingwhich,though  strictly  speak- 
ing are  not  slang,  touch  on 
it  as  not  being  the  original 
terms.  When  written  or  printed 
they  are  simply  technical  and 
conventional,  but  used  verbally 
they  are  slang. 

A.D.C.,  Aide-de-Camp ;  Ad.O., 
adjutant ;  Ad  lib. ,  ad  libitum  ; 
A.Q.M.O.,  Assistant  Quarter- 
Master-General  ;  biz,  business ; 
C.  inC,  Commander-in-Chief  J 

C.  - 0.,  Commanding-  Officer  ; 
Cri',    "  Criterion  "  (restaurant) ; 

D.  AQ.M.  G.,  Deputy -Assistant 
Quarter  -  Master  -  General  ;    Ex- 


\ 

Abbreviations — Abigail. 


am.,     university    or    competi- 
tive examination;  Gent.,  gen- 
tleman ;  the  High,  High  Street, 
Oxford  ;   I.G. ,   Inspector-Gene- 
ral ;     Jocks.,     jockeys  ;     J.P., 
Justice  of  the  Peace  ;    Mem., 
memorandum      or       member  ; 
Mods.,  moderations  (university) ; 
N.C.O.,        Non  -  Commissioned 
Officer;  Nem.  Con.,  nemine  con- 
tradicente ;  O.C,  Old  Cheltonian 
fCheltenham  College) ;  Ox.,  Ox- 
ford music-hall;  Pav.,  Pavilion 
mu.sic-hall;  Photo,  photograph 
Pops.,  popular  concerts;  P.R. 
the  prize  ring ;  Pub. ,  or  pablic 
public-house ;    Pug.,    pugilist 
Q.C.,  Queen's  Counsel;  Q.MO. 
Quarter-Master-General ;   Bad. 
radical;   Rep.,    representative 
Sov.,  sovereign ;  Spec,  specula 
tion;  Specs.,  spectacles;  S.U.O. 
Senior     Under  -  Officer     (RM, 
Academy)  ;     Tec,     detective 
Tol  or  tol  lol,  tolerable ;  Tram, 
tram-car;    Typo.,   typographer 
or  printer  ;  Varsity,  university 
Vet.,  veterinary  surgeon;  Vice 
Vice-Chancellor. 

Cab  and  bus,  which  were  ori- 
ginally slang,  have  by  dint  of 
usage  succeeded  in  establishing 
themselves  in  the  language. 
In  the  novels  of  Charles  Dickens 
they  had  already  acquired  a 
certain  archaic  flavour. 

Abdar  (Anglo-Indian),  a  teeto- 
taller. In  Hindostanee  abdar 
signifies  a  water-carrier. 

Abdeli  (Anglo-Indian),  a  hypo- 
crite, a  canting  preacher,  a 
fa.stidious  or  f.tlsc  zealot. 


Aberdeen  cutlets  (popular),  cured 
or  dried  haddocks,  or  "  bad- 
dies," as  the  Scotch  term  them. 

Abiding  (vagrants),  "my  abiding," 
generally  refers  to  a  temporary 
resting  or  hiding  place,  secure 
from  capture.  Abiding-hy,  hid- 
ing within  call. 

Abel  had  no  friends,  and  as  he  was  not 
considered  to  have  an  aii'ding'-plixce,  his 
being  missed  from  one  spot  only  led  to  the 
conclusion  that  he  had  gone  to  another. — 
Mrs.  Crowe:  Lilly  Dawson. 

Abigfail  (society),  a  lady's  maid. 
More  properly  one  of  an  ill 
temper,  or  tyrannical  to  her  mis- 
tress. 

Tyrrill,  on  entering  his  apartment,  found 
that  it  was  not  lighted,  nor  were  the  obi- 
gailsoi  Mrs.  Dods  quite  so  alert  as  a  waiter 
at  Longs'. — Sir  IValter  Scoit :  St.  Konans 
Well. 

Old  English  writers  first  em- 
ployed it  as  a  cant  word  for  a 
termagant  woman,  and  after- 
wards for  a  female  bigamist. 
It  seems  probable  that  having 
originally  received  its  present 
signification  from  Abigail,  who 
called  herself  the  handmaiden 
of  David,  the  word  became 
synonymous  for  a  lady's  maid, 
in  the  same  way  that  Job 
and  Samson  came  to  be  ap- 
plied respectively  to  a  model 
of  patience  and  to  a  man  of 
herculean  strength.  It  was 
used  by  Beaumont  and  Fletcher 
as  the  name  of  a  handmaiden  in 
their  comedy  of  the  "  Scornful 
Lady,"  and  must  have  been  fur- 
thcr  popularised  l)y  the  maiden 


A  bigail — A  bnormity. 


5 


name  Abigail  Hill  of  Mrs.  Ma- 
sham,  waiting- woman  to  Queen 
Anne.  It  appears  to  have  been 
adopted  by  many  authors. 

Whereas  they  petition  to  be  freed  from 
any  obUgation  to  marry  the  chamber-maid, 
we  can  by  no  means  assent  to  it ;  the 
Abigail,  by  immemorial  custom,  being  a 
deodand,  and  belonging  to  holy  Church. 
— Reply  to  Ladies  and  Bachelors  Peti- 
tion, 1694. 

By  coach  to  the  king's  play-house,  and 
there  saw  "The  Scornful  Lady"  well 
acted ;  Doll  Common  doing  Abigail  most 
excellently. — Pepys  Diary. 

There  are  many  other  in- 
stances of  the  names  of  char- 
acters of  comedies  or  novels 
having  been  adopted  to  denote  a 
whole  class  of  individuals.  Thus, 
an  inn-keeper  is  called  Boni- 
face, from  Farquhar's  "Beaux' 
Stratagem."  A  Bob  Acres,  from 
Sheridan's  "  The  Eivals,"  is  sy- 
nonymous with  a  coward.  The 
French  apply  to  a  swindler 
the  name  of  Robert  Macaire, 
immortalised  by  Frdddric  Le- 
maitre  in  his  impersonation  of 
the  character  in  the  melo- 
drama "I'Auberge  des  Adrets" 
— Robert  Macaire,  by  the  bye, 
was  the  name  of  a  notorious 
bandit.  One  of  the  creations 
of  Balzac,  in  his  "Comddie 
Humaine,"  I'lUustre  Gaudis- 
sard,  has  provided  an  epithet 
for  a  commercial  traveller ;  and 
the  French  use  A  hUjail  with  the 
same  signification  as  on  this 
side  of  the  Channel. 

On  vit  paraitre  une  superbe  berline, 
forme  anglaise,  a  quatre  chevaux,  re- 
marc}uable   surtout    par   deux    trcs  jolies 


abigalls,  qui  ^taient  juchdes  sur  le  siege 
du  cocher. — Brillat-Savarin :  Physiologic 
du  Goiit. 

Dr.  C.  Mackay,  alluding  to  the 
generally  accepted  derivation  of 
the  word,  says,  "  This  supposi- 
tion may,  or  may  not  be  correct ; 
but  it  is  curious  to  remark  that 
in  the  ancient  Breton  and  Gaelic 
language,  abliagaU  signifies  flip- 
pant, waspish,  and  snappish, 
which  word  is  derived  from 
abhug,  a  terrier,  a  snarling  dog." 

Abishag  (thieves),  the  illegitimate 
child  of  a  mother  who  has  been 
seduced  by  a  married  man.  In 
Hebrew  it  means  the  mother's 
error. 

Walpole  wrote — "  I  love  David  too  well 
not  to  be  jealous  of  an  Abishageight  years 
old." — Leigh  Hunt's  Indicator. 

Able  -  whackets  (nautical),  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.  It  is  very  popular 
among  sailors.  French  soldiers 
have  a  similar  game,  at  least 
as  regards  the  penalty,  termed 
"  foutro." — Vide  Barrlre' s  Argot 
and  Slang. 

Abnormity  (vulgarism),  "a bleed- 
ing abnormity,"  an  opprobrious 
epithet  applied  to  the  treache- 
rous and  deceitful ;  a  person  of 
crooked  ways,  an  informer,  a 
deformed  or  humpbacked  per- 
son. Abnormeth  was  formerly 
used  in  a  similar  sense. 


A  bob — Above. 


Abob  (Winchester),  a  large  white 
jug  containing  about  a  gallon  in 
measure. 

Abounding  (American),  applied 
to  a  person  unmistakably  pro- 
minent at  a  party  or  a  public 
meeting. 

When  we  are  told  of  a  professed  wit 
more  than  usually  abounding  at  an  even- 
ing party,  there  is  no  temptation  to  recruit 
our  dictionaries  from  the  English  manu- 
factured in  the  United  States. — Evening 
Standard. 

About  East  (American).  A  term 
used  by  men  coming  from  the 
New  England,  i.e.,  the  eastern 
and  purely  Yankee  States,  to 
signify  anything  that  meets 
with  approval.  Such  things  or 
people  are  said  to  be  ahvat 
Eoil.  J,  Russell  Lowell  in  his 
"Letters"  well  illustrates  this 
colloquialism  of  men  who  re- 
gard everything  done  in  their 
native  states  as  right,  and  whose 
eyes  are  often  turned  to  the  old 
home  amidst  the  roughing  and 
struggle  of  the  wilder  West. 

There  was  not  a  Yankee  when  Horace 
Mann  regretted  we  had  not  the  French 
word  sorienter  in  our  speech,  "  whose 
problem  has  not  always  been  to  find  out 
what  is  about  East.  The  enthusiastic 
(though  quaintly  exaggerated)  love  borne 
the  East  by  its  sons  is,  perhaps,  most 
strikingly  illustrated  in  Major  Jack  Dow- 
ning's  oft-repeated  phrase,  '  I'd  go  East 
of  sunrise  any  day  to  see  sich  a  place.'  " 

About  right  (vulgarism).  To  do 
a  thing  ahout  right  is  to  do  it 
thoroughly. 

About  the  size  of  it  (American). 
An    expression    indicating    an 


average,  or  estimate,  or  ex- 
pression of  value,  or  an  equiva- 
lent,  in  a  very  wide  sense. 

"  Do  you  think  that  on  the  whole  our 
Phebe  would  marry  Seth?" 

"  Wall — I  guess  that  on  the  whole  that's 
about  the  size  of  it.  She  don't  know 
her  own  mind  yet,  but  she  will  when  she 
comes  to  take  the  measure  on't." — Ameri- 
can Story. 

When  Eagle  Davis  died, 
I  was  sittin'  by  his  side, 
Twas  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  he 
said  to  me,  "  Old  boy  ! 

This  climate  as  you  see — 
\%ViX.just  the  size  for  me  ; 
Dead  or  livin',  take  me  back  if  you  can 
to  Ellanoy." 

—A  Ballad:  In  the  Wrong  Box. 

"  Do  you  take  this  woman,  whose  hand 
you're  a-squeezin',  to  be  your  lawful  wife, 
in  flush  times  an'  .skimp?" 

"  I  reckon  that's  about  the  siu  of  it, 
squire." — Chicago  Ledger. 

Above    one's    bend   (American), 
beyond  one's  capacity. 

It  would  be  above  tny  bend  to  attempt 
telling  you  all  we  saw  among  the  Red- 
skins.— J.  T.  Cooper:  The  Oak  Openings. 

In  the  South  the  phrase  to  sig- 
nify the  same  idea  is  "  above 
my  huckle-berry,"  or  "  a  huckle- 
berry above  my  persimmon." 
Bend  in  this  sense  is  probably 
derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon 
hend,  signifying  a  bond  or  any- 
thing that  binds — a  contract. 

For  ich  am  comen  hider  to-day, 
For  to  saven  hem,  yive  y  may, 
And  bring  hem  out  of  bende. 
— Anns  and  Atniloun,  1.  1233. 

"Above  my  bend"  is  "more 
than  I  am  bound  or  held  to  do  " 
— a  Saxon  idiom. 


A  bove — A  braham . 


Above  par,  below  par  (popular). 
To  be  above  or  below  par  signifies 
that  the  person  using  the  ex- 
pression is  in  better  or  worse 
health  than  usual.  It  is  derived 
from  the  commercial  term  which 
refers  to  the  price  of  stock,  in 
that  case  the  meaning  being 
"average"  or  "level."  Above 
2)ar  signifies  also  tolerably  drunk ; 
possessed  of  money  beyond  one's 
actual  expense. 

Abracadabra  (medical),  applied 
to  any  senseless  gibberish  or 
extravagant  notion.  Organic 
evolution  has  been  stated  to  be 
the  new  abracadabra  of  science. 
The  French  use  the  epithet 
abracadabrant,  which  is  best 
rendered  by  "stunning"  or 
' '  flabbergasting. "  A  bracadabra 
was  a  cabalistic  word  in  the 
Middle  Ages.  It  was  written 
in  successive  lines  in  the  form 
of  an  inverted  triangle,  each 
line  being  shorter  by  a  letter 
than  the  one  above,  till  the  last 
letter  A  formed  the  apex  of  a 
triangle  at  the  bottom.  It  was 
said  to  have  magical  power,  and 
when  hung  around  the  neck 
it  was  supposed  to  act  as  a 
charm  against  ague.  It  is 
thought  to  be  derived  from  the 
Hebrew  ab,  father,  ruach,  spirit, 
and  dabar,  word.  According  to 
this  derivation  it  represents  the 
Trinity. 

Abraham  (popular),  a  cheap  and 
trashy  slop  shop. 

Abraham's  balsam  or  hempen 
elixir  (provincial),  execution  by 


hanging.  So  named  from  the 
hemp  tree,  a  kind  of  willow, 
that  is  called  Abraham's  balm 
by  botanists.  By  the  gypsies 
it  is  called  Father's  balm,  and 
it  is  used  by  them  as  a  pre- 
servative of  chastity.  There  is 
a  pecuUar  stone  in  the  marshy 
districts  of  the  North  of  Eng- 
land called  Abrahams  stone  ;  a 
piece  of  this  stone  is  worn  by 
the  lower  classes  round  their 
necks  as  a  charm  against  ague, 
thus  following  the  tradition  that 
Abraham  wore  a  precious  stone 
round  his  neck  to  preserve  him 
from  disease;  when  Abraham 
died,  God  placed  this  stone  in 
the  sun. 

Abraham  cove  (thieves),  a  mean, 
beggarly,  despised  thief,  or 
rather  sneak.  Decker  writes 
in  1608  that  "  The  Abraham  cove 
is  a  lustie  strong  rogue  who 
walketh  with  a  slade  about  his 
guarrons"  (a  sheet  about  his 
body).  The  Hon.  Justice  Matsel, 
of  New  York,  in  the  Rogue's 
Lexicon,  registers  Abraham  cove 
"  a  naked  or  poor  man  ;  a  beg- 
gar in  rags"  {Grove). 

Abraham  grains  (thieves),  a  pub- 
lican who  brews  his  own  beer. 

Abraham -man  or  Abram-man 
(ancient  cant),  a  naked  vaga- 
bond, a  lame  or  sick  beggar,  a 
begging  impostor.  The  Abra- 
ham ward  in  Bedlam  had  cer- 
tain inmates  who  were  allowed 
to  go  begging  on  behalf  of 
the  hospital,  and  were  called 


8 


Abraham. 


Abraham-men,  the  term  being 
applied  subsequently  to  lame  or 
sick  beggars,  or  those  shamming 
distress.  The  begging  impos- 
tors designated  as  Abram-men 
were  well  known  in  the  six- 
teenth century,  and  are  men- 
tioned in  the  "  Fraternitie  of 
Vagabondes,"  1575.  "AnAbrar 
ham-man  is  one  that  walketh 
bare-armed  and  bare-legged,  and 
fayncth  to  be  mad,  calling  him- 
self Poor  Tom."  Abraham-men, 
in  Stephen's  "Essays  and  Char- 
acters," 1615,  are  designated  as 
fugitive  ragamuffins,  pretend- 
ing to  be  cripples  or  impotent 
soldiers.  Harman  thus  describes 
them : — 

These  A  brahani-mcn  be  those  that  fayne 
themselves  to  haue  beene  mad  ;  and  haue 
licene  kept  eyther  in  Bethelem  or  some 
other  pryson  a  good  tyme,  and  not  one 
amongst  twenty  that  euer  came  in  pryson 
for  any  such  cause ;  yet  wyll  they  saye 
howe  pitiously  and  most  extreamely  they 
haue  beene  beaten  and  dealt  with  all.  .  .  . 
These  begge  money. — Caveat  or  Waren- 
ing/or  Common  Cursetors. 

The  old  English  dramatists 
use  Abraham  as  a  cant  word  for 
nakedness,  in  which  sense  it  is 
still  common  among  tramps,  who 
say  of  a  naked  person,  "  He  was 
dressed  in  Abraham's  suit,  a  suit 
of  everlasting  flesh  colour." 

A  tawny  beard  was  termed 
an  "  Abraham-coloured  beard," 
probably  in  accordance  with  the 
directions  for  representing  all 
the  i)orsons  in  Scripture  as  given 
in  the  "  Byzantine  Painters' 
Guide,"  the  "Book  of  Bally- 
moti,"  &c.  In  all  of  these  the 
beards  arc  siKJcially  described. 


A  "Judas-coloured  beard,"  a 
word  of  similar  import,  was  so 
called  because  Judas  Iscariot 
was  traditionally  supposed  to 
have  had  a  red  beard,  and  was 
so  represented  by  early  Italian 
painters.  But  the  epithet  of  an 
Abraham  -  coloured  beard  re- 
mains as  yet  without  any  ex- 
planation or  justification.  To 
"sham  Abraham"  was  to  feign 
sickness  or  distress,  and  the  term 
is  used  to  the  present  day. 

The  "  Sham  Abraham  "  Agitation. 
— Matters  must  have  come  to  a  pretty  pass 
when  even  the  Daily  News  withdraws  its 
support  from  the  Trafalgar  Square  impos- 
tors.—  TAe  Globe. 

A  popular  song  of  the  last 
century,  when  forgery  of  bank 
notes  for  one  pound  was  a  com- 
mon crime,  and  when  the  hang- 
ing of  the  detected  criminal  was 
quite  as  frequent,  has  preserved 
for  posterity  the  name  of  Abra- 
ham Newland,  the  then  cashier 
of  the  Bank  of  England,  who 
signed  all  the  notes  in  circula- 
tion : — 

Sham  Abraham  you  may, 
But  you  must  not  sham  Abraham  Newland. 

Sailors  use  the  term  to  de- 
note an  idle  fellow  who  wants 
to  be  put  on  the  sick  list  so  as 
to  shirk  duty.  Workmen  also 
use  it,  with  the  meaning  "to 
pretend  to  be  ill,"  in  order  to 
get  off  work. 

Abraham  suit,  on  the,  any  kind 
of  do<lge  or  deceit  designed  to 
excite  sympathy,  used  by  beg- 
ging-letter impostors. 


Abraham — Abskize. 


Abraham  work  (popular),  ill-paid 
trumpery  work ;  trading  shams ; 
showy  swindles. 

Abraham's  willing  (rhyming 
slang),  a  shilling. 

Abregoyns  (American).  Bartlett 
spells  this  corruption  of  "  abori- 
gines "  as  Abergoins  or  Abrogans. 

1  have  often  heard  Ab-ree-goynes  used 
in  jest  for  aborigines,  especially  by  Virgin- 
ians, but  never  Abrogans  or  Abergoins.— 
C.  G.  Leland. 

Abridgments  (old),  knee  breeches, 
small-clothes. 

/^m«<2  (producing  a  pair  of  small-clothes 
which  Toke  examines) — "  Your  master  is 
\'on  beggar,"  &c. 

Toke — "  I  accept  the  abridginents,  but 
you've  forgotten  to  line  the  pockets." — 
Lyttonl  Money. 

Abroad  (Winchester),  a  boy  is 
said  to  be  abroad  when  his 
name  is  taken  off  "  Continent 
Roll "  or  Sick  List,  and  he  re- 
turns to  school  duties. 

Abroaded  (society),  a  noble  de- 
faulter on  the  Continent  to 
avoid  creditors.  It  is  the  police 
officials'  slang  for  convicts  sent 
to  a  colonial  or  penal  settle- 
ment, but  applied  by  thieves  in 
this  country,  and  formerly  in 
the  colonies,  to  imprisonment 
merely. 

A.B.S.  First-class  sailors  are 
rated  as  A.B.S. ,  "  able-bodied 
seamen."  Sometimes  faceti- 
ously translated  as  "  a  bottle- 
sucker." 


The  Albatross 

Is  the  captain  and  boss. 

The  sea-gull  queers 

Are  the  oflS-ceers ; 
And  the  Carey  chickens,  as  I  guess, 
Is  every  one  an  A.B.S. 

— From  a  MS.  of  Sea  Ballads. 

Abs.  (Winchester),  abbreviation 
for  absent.  To  get  ahi.  is  to  get 
away. 

Abscotchalater  (thieves),  one  who 
is  hiding  away  from  the  police. 
From  the  American  absquattdate, 
to  run  away. 

Absence  (Eton).  This  word  in  the 
slang  of  the  boys  is  meant  to 
convey  just  the  opposite  mean- 
ing.    It  signifies  also  roll-call. 

Absent  without  leave  (thieves), 
broken  out  of  gaol ;  escaped 
from  the  police.  (Common),  not 
forthcoming  when  wanted  for 
some  crime,  debt,  or  difficulty ; 
absconded. 

Mr.  Roupell,  the  member  for  Lambeth, 
was  reported  absent  without  leave.  — Morn- 
ing Star:  Ptirliatnentafy  Summary. 

At  no  former  period  on  the  expiration 
of  the  racing  season  were  there  so  many 
speculators  absent  without  leave. — Sport- 
ing Life. 

Absit  (university),  a  permit  to  be 
absent  from  college,  hall,  or 
chapel  for  the  day. 

Abskize,  abschize  (American). 
In  a  sketch  of  Western  life 
published  in  1833,  in  a  Phila- 
delphia newspaper,  this  word 
occurs  as  meaning  to  depart  or 
go  away.     It  would  seem  to  be 


lO 


A  bsquatulate — A  busive. 


derived  from  the  Dutch  afschey- 
den  ;  German  abscheidm,  to  leave 
or  depart. 

Absquatulate  (American),  to  dis- 
appear, to  run  away,  to  abscond. 
The  reverse  of  to  "squat,"  from 
ab  and  squat,  originally  settlers' 
slang  for  abandoning  a  location 
when  fearing  an  unwelcome 
visitation,  and  settling  on  a 
more  remote  spot. 

You'd  thank  me  to  absquatulate,  as 
the  Yankees  say.  .  .  .  Well,  I  will  in  a 
minute. — Rhoda  Broughton  :  Cometh  up 
as  a  Flower. 

Bartlett  calls  this  "a  factitious 
vulgarism."  It  was  in  use  nearly 
fifty  years  ago.  At  that  time 
running  away  with  money  by 
bank  presidents,  &c. ,  became 
very  common  in  consequence  of 
financial  panics  or  collapses, 
and  it  was  the  fashion  to  coin 
words  from  the  names  of  the 
delinquents,  as  "  to  Swartwout  " 
or  "  to  Schylerise,"  &c.  When 
we  reflect  that  there  are  many 
Yankee  and  Western  men  ac- 
customed to  spelling  bees,  and 
perhaps  more  familiar  with  the 
difficult  words  of  the  dictionary 
than  are  many  scholars,  it  does 
not  appear  remarkable  that  we 
find  in  American  slang  a  num- 
l>er  of  words  which  have  a 
learned  length  and  Latin  sound. 
To  any  half-educated  man  with 
a  fancy  for  extravagant  ex- 
pression, and  familiar  with 
"  abscond,"  "  to  .squattle  away," 
and  "  perambulate,"  absquatu- 
late would  readily  suggest  itself 
in  an  effort  to  recall  one  or  the 


other.  Once  uttered  and  heard, 
it  would  become  popular.  To 
deliberately  invent  a  new  word, 
without  some  foregoing  sug- 
gestion or  basis,  and  get  it 
adopted,  is  one  of  the  rarest 
events  in  the  world,  even  in 
America,  where  men  are  con- 
tinually attempting  it. 

The  various  slang  synonyms 
are  "  to  skedaddle,  to  cut  one's 
lucky,  to  sling  one's  hook,  to 
mizzle,  to  bolt,  to  cut  and  run, 
to  slip  one's  cable,  to  step  it,  to 
leg  it,  to  tip  the  double,  to  am- 
putate one's  mahogany,  to  make 
or  to  take  tracks,  to  hook  it,  to 
slope,  to  slip  it,  to  paddle,  to 
evaporate,  to  vamoose,  to  tip 
your  rags  a  gallop,  to  walk 
one's  chalks,  to  pike,  to  hop  the 
twig,  to  turn  it  up,  to  cut  the 
cable  and  run  before  the  wind," 
and  in  the  lingo  of  the  light- 
fingered  and  sure-footed  gentry, 
"to  make  beef,  to  guy,  to  speeL" 
— Barrlre:  Argot  and  Slang. 

Abusive  drill,  adjutant's  drill. 
The  adjutant,  being  respon- 
sible for  the  drill  of  a  regi- 
ment, has  constant  parades  for 
instruction  and  practice,  at 
which  he  may  occasionally 
use  strong  language.  He  is 
especially  concerned  with  the 
development  of  recruits,  the 
perfecting  of  awkward  squads, 
and  of  careless  or  inattentive 
soldiers  sent  back  to  drill  as 
a  punishment.  A  salutary 
change  has  no  doubt  come  over 
the  army,  which  was  once  pro- 
verbial for  cursing  and  swear- 


A  busive — A  cademy. 


II 


ing.  Even  the  highest  ranks 
were  addicted  to  it,  as  witness 
the  old  saying,  "  How  we  swore 
in  Flanders,"  and  the  story  in 
Greville's  Memoirs  of  the  Duke 
of  Wellington  and  Lord  Anglesea 
at  Waterloo.  When  the  latter 
was  wounded,  he  cried,  "  I've 
lost  my  leg,  by  G — d !  "  "  Have 
you,  by  G — d  I  "  replied  the 
Duke.  But  language  of  cor- 
rection and  reproof  is  stiU  likely 
to  be  strong,  and  may  at  times 
become  "  abusive  "  when  issuing 
from  a  much  aggravated  ad- 
jutant's mouth.  A  story  is  told 
of  the  last  Lord  Cardigan 
which  illustrates  the  style  of  a 
military  officer  of  a  compara- 
tively modern  school.  His  lord- 
ship was  being  driven  to  the 
covert-side  in  a  postchaise, 
and  the  postiUion  lost  his  way. 
Lord  Cardigan,  furious  at  being 
made  late  for  the  pieet,  threw 
down  the  glass  of  the  chaise 
and  cried,  "  I  may  be  right  or 
I  may  be  wrong,  or  I  may  not 
be  the  proper  person  to  say  so, 

but  you're  a son  of , 

and  if  I  could  get  near  you,  I'd 
twist  your neck  off," 

Academies,  canting,  the  low  lodg- 
ings or  public-houses  for  cad- 
gers and  tramps,  lurkers,  or  the 
houses  of  call  or  country  lodg- 
ing-houses for  beggars  and  im- 
postors who  solicit  alms  by  a 
written  petition  or  forged  sol- 
dier's or  sailor's  discharge. 

Academy  (obsolete),  an  organisa- 
tion of  thieves;   a  rendezvous 


for  practising  the  flash  art 
"dodge;"  a  goal;  a  brothel. 
Termed  also  "  flash-drum,' 
"  nanny  -  shop,"  "  buttocking 
shop,"  and  in  police-court  re- 
ports, "disorderly  house."  Esta- 
blishments where  "  good  beds  " 
are  provided  for  couples  are 
termed  "houses  of  accommoda- 
tion," which  correspond  to  the 
French  "maisons  de  passe."  A 
chronicler  of  old  London  relates 
that  Sir  William  Walworth,  the 
city  fishmonger,  who  assassi- 
nated Wat  Tyler,  possessed  a 
number  of  academies  or  low 
brothels  in  Southwark,  which 
Wat  Tyler  had  levelled  with  the 
ground.  "  Hence,"  says  the  old 
writer,  "  private  feeling  and  re- 
venge may  have  prompted  Wal- 
worth's activity  to  slay  Tyler." 
Peter  Pindar  writes  that  "aca- 
demy is  an  euphemistic  expres- 
sion for  a  house  that  harbours 
courtezans."  A  "  finishing  aca- 
demy" is  a  private  brothel, 
where  a  staff  of  young  (not 
common)  prostitutes  are  kept  on 
hire.  So  called  from  its  being 
the  last  gradation  of  private 
prostitution  before  going  on  the 
public  streets.  The  girls  who 
chiefly  resort  to  these  brothels 
are  work  girls  who  visit  on  the 
sly :  they  are  not  driven  by  want 
or  desertion,  but  go  from  wil- 
fulness ;  to  use  their  own  words, 
they  "work  honestly  for  a  liv- 
ing, but  do  the  naughty  for  their 
clothes."  A  "character  aca- 
demy," a  rendezvous  for  cha- 
racterless shopmen,  footmen, 
barmen,    and    others,    whereat 


12 


Academy — According  to. 


false  characters  are  concocted, 
and  other  plans  are  matured  for 
robbing  employers.  These  places 
are  chiefly  alehouses  kept  by 
discarded  servants ;  as  the  sub- 
scriptions are  enforced  monthly 
on  those  in  place,  the  funds  are 
very  large,  and  each  academy 
keeps  a  staff  of  well-educated 
teachers  who  are  well  expe- 
rienced in  all  the  craft  of  trade, 
and  well-appointed  agencies  are 
kept  up  in  aU  the  manufacturing 
towns,  acting  as  references,  and 
to  give  good  written  characters. 
A  "gammoning  academy"  is  a 
reformatory  for  juvenile  cri- 
minals. 

Acceleration  (vagrants).  "  He 
died  of  acceleration"  he  died  of 
starvation. 

Accelerators,  the  union  reheving 
officers,  from  their  frequent  re- 
fusal to  give  food  to  the  dying 
outcast,  whose  miserable  career 
of  want  often  ends  in  death. 
In  such  cases  the  jury  invari- 
ably accompany  their  verdict  of 
natural  death  with  the  rider, 
"  Accelerated  through  the  want 
of  the  common  necessaries  of 
life." 

Accommodated  (thieves),  sen- 
tenced to  a  term  of  imiDrison- 
ment. 

For  practising  on  the  n.-it,  I  w.is  appre- 
hended and  was  accommodated  with  a 
month's  tioard  and  lodging  at  the  expense 
of  the  nM\a\\.—Mayhcw  :  London  Labour 
and  London  J'oor. 

Accommodation  houses  (com- 
mon),   brothels.     Their   female 


frequenters  are  termed  "  Ladies 
of  accommodating  morals"  being 
a  trifle  more  genteel  than  their 
sisters,  the  street  prostitutes. 

Accommodation  shops  (city). 
The  oflicers  of  certain  "  Fin- 
ance Joint  Stock  Companies  " 
who  practise  the  accommodation 
swindle  on  "Lloyd's  Bonds," 
Debentures,  Preference,  and  all 
other  shares. 

Accommodators  (thieves), 
chiefly  ex-police  constables  who 
negotiate  a  compounding  of 
felonies  and  other  crimes  by 
bribing  witnesses  and  prose- 
cutors. 

According  to  Cocker  (common), 
proper,  according  to  rule,  ac- 
cording to  the  best  authority. 
This  phrase  refers  to  a  famous 
writing-master  of  the  name  of 
Cocker,  who  in  tlie  time  of 
Charles  II.  composed  and  pub- 
lished an  elaborate  Treatise  on 
Arithmetic. 

This  work  commences  with  a 
"Frovena,"  or  Preface,  which 
ends  thus:  "All  the  Problems 
and  Propositions  are  well 
weighed,  pertinent,  and  clear, 
and  not  one  of  them  taken  on 
trust  throughout  the  tract; 
therefore  now 

Zoilus  and  Momus  lie  you  down  and 

die, 
For  these  inventions  your  whole  force 

defy." 

Professor  De  Morgan  writes 
that   tlie   plirase   as  a  popular 


According  to — Acatmiilatives. 


13 


saying  originated  in  1756,  and 
was  taken  up  by  the  people 
from  Murphy's  play  of  "The 
Apprentice,"  in  which  the  strong 
point  of  the  old  merchant  Win- 
gate  is  his  extreme  reverence 
for  Cocker  and  his  Arithmetic. 
In  America,  a  similar  confir- 
mation phrase  is  in  common 
use,  except  that  the  name  of 
Gunter  is  substituted  for  that  of 
Cocker.  Gunter  was  a  famous 
arithmetician,  and  no  doubt 
the  American  phrase  is  the 
oldest.  The  old  laws  of  Rhode 
Island  say,  "All  casks  shall  be 
gauged  by  the  rule  commonly 
known  as  '  gaugitig  by  Gunter.'  " 
"  Mr.  K.,  a  respected  citizen  of 
Detroit,  has  published  a  letter 
entirely  exonerating  General 
Cass  from  the  charge  of  having 
defrauded  his  association  in  the 
land  speculations.  He  is  posi- 
tive that  all  was  done  according 
to  Gunter."  According  to  John 
Norie  is  the  standard  of  appeal 
among  sailors.  John  Norie 
compiled  a  very  popular  work 
entitled,  "The  Navigator's 
Standard  Manual."  Among 
schoolboys  according  to  Walking- 
hame  is  the  confirmation  of  a 
rule. 

According  to  the  revised  sta- 
tutes (American).  Anything 
that  is  legal,  or  properly 
authorised  or  established.  An 
expression  first  used  in  this 
general  or  humorous  .sense  by 
a  lawyer  of  New  York  named 
Halstead,  in  Vanity  Fair,  in 
i860. 


Account  (nautical).  Going  upon 
account  is  a  phrase  for  buc- 
caneering. 

(Sporting),  to  account  for,  re- 
fers to  one's  personal  share  in 
killing. 

The  persecuted  animals  (rats)  bolted 
above  ground  ;  the  terrier  accounted  for 
one,  the  keeper  for  another. — TJiackeray : 
Vanity  Fair. 

Accounts  (common).  To  cast  np 
accounts  is  to  vomit,  and  in 
thieves'  lingo  it  signifies  to  be- 
come evidence  against  an  accom- 
plice. 

Accumulatives  (American).  At 
times  an  editor  in  the  United 
States  will  make  a  remark  or  a 
joke,  then  another  will  cite  it 
and  add  a  remark  or  a  parody 
of  it,  which  will  again  be  com- 
mented on  by  a  third.  Thus 
one  says: — 

"  William,  familiarly  known  as  '  Bill ' 
Sticker,  was  indicted  last  week  in  Lead- 
ville  for  passing  counterfeit  money.  This 
is  according  to  law,  for  he  who  runs  may 
read  in  any  street,  '  Bill  Stickers  will  be 
prosecuted.' " 

To  which  a  rival  adds  : 

' '  We  say  amen  to  that.  We  were  stuck 
yesterday  ourself  with  a  bad  bill." 

And  a  third  exclaims : 

"  Suppose  Sam  Jones  should  put  a  bowie 
into  Bill  Sticker,  who  would  be  the  Bill 
Sticker  in  that  case  ?    Let  us  reflect !  " 

We  have  seen  as  many  as 
twenty  and  more  of  these  ac- 
cumulative paragraphs  of  this 
kind  "  going  the  rounds  "  of  the 
country  press. 


14 


Accumulator — Acres. 


Accumulator  (racing),  a  person 
who  backs  one  horse,  and  then 
if  it  wins  results  (sometimes  in- 
cluding original  stakes)  goes  on 
to  some  other  horse. 

Ace  of  spades  (old  slang),  a 
widow,  alluding  to  the  hue  of 
the  card.  This  slang  word  is 
given  in  the  "  Lexicon  Bala- 
tronicum,"  London  1811. 

Ack  (Christ's  Hospital).    In  the  • 
slang  of  Blue  Coat  boys  this 
word  is  expressive  of  denial  or 
refusal. 

Ack  men  or  ack  pirates  (nautical), 
fresh  water  thieves.  Probably 
from  a  corruption  of  "ark," 
meaning  boat,  as  the  term 
"  ark  ruffs  "  has  a  like  significa- 
tion. Ack,  however,  seems  to 
have  some  connection  with  the 
old  term  akcr  (apparently  from 
the  Anglo-Saxon  egor,  the  flow- 
ing of  the  sea),  which  is  still 
applied  on  the  Trent  to  a  kind 
of  eddying  twirl  which  occurs 
on  the  river  when  it  is  flooded. 
In  the  dialect  of  Craven,  ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Thonaas  Wright 
(Dictionary  of  Obsolete  and 
Provincial  English),  a  ripple  on 
the  surface  of  the  water  is 
termed  an  acker. 

Acknowledge  the  com,  to  (Ame- 
rican). To  admit  that  one  has 
been  got  the  better  of,  or  is 
outdone. 

It  is  said  that  an  Illinois  hoosier  once 
came  to  New  Orleans  with  two  boats,  one 
loaded  with  corn,  the  other  with  potatoes. 
He  fell  among  gamblers,  was  made  drunk, 


and  "anted  off"  or  lost  both  his  boats. 
During  the  night  there  came  a  storm  and 
the  boat  full  of  com  was  sunk.  In  the 
morning  the  gamblers  came  to  claim  their 
stakes.  The  hoosier  with  great  firmness 
replied,  "  Gentlemen,  I  acknowledge  the 
com,  but  the  potatoes  you  shan't  have 
— by  thunder!" — American  Newspaper. 
{Given  more  fully  in  Bartlett's  Dic- 
tionary.) 

A-cock  (popular),  knocked  over, 
defeated ;  suddenly  surprised, 
astounded. 

He  made  a  rush  at  me  and  sent  me 
and  my  barrow  all  a-cock. — Thames  Police 
Report,  May  23,  1867. 

Also,  cocked  up. 

The  small  grey  sprig  on  the  crown  of 
our  pericranium  and  the  thin  grey  tail 
acock  behind. — Recreations  of  Christopher 
North. 

Acorn  (old  cant),  the  gallows  tree. 

The  acorn  is  planted  for  thee,  my  bonny 
boy. — Wilson's  Tales  oftlu  Border. 

Acquisitive  (American),  booty, 
plunder. 

The  officers  surprised  them  packing 
up  the  acquisitive.  —  The  Man  in  Pos- 
session, by  Leman  Rede :  Sunday  Times. 

An   acquisitive    cove,   a    man 
given  to  picking  and  stealing. 

Acreocracy  (American),  a  coined 
word  to  signify  the  landlord 
interest. 

The  introduction  of  a  plutocracy  amongst 
the  aristocracy  and  the  acreocracy,  though 
it  has  tended  somewhat  to  vulgarise  our 
social  institutions,  has  not  been  without  its 
good  effect.  —  I/allberger's  Illustrated 
Magazine  (1878). 

Acres  (theatrical),  a  coward,  from 
the  pusillanimous  Bob  Acres  in 
Sheridan's  i)lay. 


Acres — Adam. 


15 


In  Ireland  "a  regular  acres 
man  "  meant  a  professed  duellist . 
From  "the  fifteen  acres"  for- 
merly a  field  famous  for  duels 
in  Dublin,  In  India,  Acre  Farm, 
near  Calcutta,  is  used  for  duels, 
hence  "  a  regular  acre's  man," 

Across  lots  (American).  "  In  the 
most  expeditious  manner"  (as 
regards  time),  or  (as  regards  dis- 
tance) "by  the  shortest  cut." 
"  He  may  be  said  to  have  at- 
tained place  and  power  across 
lots,"  i.e.,  with  great  rapidity. 
This  phrase  comes  down  to  us 
from  the  old  settlers'  days,  when 
the  shortest  road  then,  as  indeed 
now,  was  across  lots,  and  not  by 
the  main  road. 

You  would  cut  across  the  lot  like  a  streak 
of  lightning  if  you  had  a  chance. — Char- 
coal Sketches,  i.  35. 

And  in  the  "  Biglow  Papers," 
Mr.  J.  Kussell  Lowell  says : — 

"  To  all  the  mos'  across  lot  ways  of 
preachin'  an'  convertin'." 

Acting  dickey  (naval),  an  ofiicer 
acting  as  lieutenant  although 
not  confirmed  by  the  Admiralty. 
(Legal),  a  clerk  or  agent  acting 
in  the  name  of  a  lawyer  on  the 
Rolls.  '  The  practice  of  acting 
dickey  is  generally  resorted  to 
in  questionable  proceedings. 

Action  (American),  quick  work, 
an  immediate  result.  Western 
card  playing,  &c.,  slang. 

"  That's  my  kind,"  says  old  Sam  ;  "  you 
get  action  there  at  every  turn.  No  wait- 
ing for  any  darned  cards  to  turn  up." — 
F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 


Actionize,  to  (legal),  to  cite  before 
a  legal  tribunal. 

Act  of  Parliament  (old),  small 
beer.  A  military  term  referring 
to  the  fact  that  publicans  were 
by  Act  of  Parliament  compelled 
to  supply  billeted  soldiers  with 
five  pints  daily  gratis.  There 
is  a  story  current  among  the 
Chelsea  veterans  that  the  Duke 
of  Wellington  saw  a  soldier 
warming  his  weak  regulation 
beer.  His  Grace  said,  "  Damn 
the  belly  that  won't  warm  Act 
of  Parliament."  The  soldier  re- 
plied, "  Damn  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment, it  won't  warm  the  belly." 

Actual  (American),  "the  actual," 

money. 

As  for  happiness  in  this  world  without 
the  rhino,  the  chink,  or  the  actual,  you 
might  as  soon  think  of  winning  a  woman's 
affections  in  a  raffle. — Dow's  Sermons. 

Ad.,  adver.  (printer's),  abbrevia- 
tions for  advertisement. 

"  I  want  this  adver.  where  it  won't 
show,"  said  a  lawyer,  as  he  entered  the 
office  of  a  newspaper.  "It's  got  to  be 
published  to  comply  with  the  law,  but  it 
pertains  to  a  divorce  case,  and  we  don't 
want  any  more  publicity  than  we  can  help. 
Let  me  see  ;  your  paper  is  Democratic, 
isn't  it?" 

The  editor  replied  that  it  was. 

"  Then  run  this  ad.  in  under  the  church 
notices.  It  will  never  be  seen  there  by 
your  subscribers,"  said  the  lawyer. — Ame- 
rican Newspaper. 

Adam  (popular),  master-man,  fore- 
man, or  superintendent ;  termed 
also  "gaffer"  or  "boss  of  the 
show." 


i6 


Adam — Admiral. 


Adam's  ale  (old),  water  as  a 
beverage.  It  is  supposed  that 
this  was  the  only  drink  of  our 
first  parent,  and  that  before 
Noah  planted  the  vine  all  were 
perforce  teetotalers. 

Your  claret's  too  hot,  sirrah  drawer,  go 

bring 
A  cup  of  cold  Adam  from  the  next 

purling  spring. 

— T.Brown:  Works. 

Another  old  term  for  the 
beverage  which  "does  not  in- 
toxicate but  does  not  cheer," 
is  "  fish  broth."  The  French 
argot  has  the  contemptuous 
epithets  "ratafia  de  grenouilles," 
and  "vase,"  sometimes  varied 
to  "vasinette." 

Adam  Tiler  (old  cant),  a  pick- 
pocket's confederate,  who  re- 
ceives the  stolen  article,  and 
runs  off  with  it.  Origin  un- 
known, but  supposed  to  have 
been  the  name  of  one  notorious 
for  his  skill  at  this  kind  of  thing. 
It  is  possibly  from  the  German 
Theiler,  one  who  shares,  a  con- 
federate. 

Added  to  the  list  (racing),  is  said 
of  a  horse  which  has  been  cas- 
trated. A  like  operation  per- 
formed on  a  man  is  termed  in 
French  slang  "  Abdlardiser," 
from  the  barbarous  treatment 
of  Aboard  by  Chanoine  Fulbert. 
When  a  horse  has  been  imper- 
fectly castrated  he  is  called  a 
"rig." 

Addition,  division,  and — silence  I 

(American).     This  phrase  origi- 
nated in  Philadelphia. 


Addle-cove  (popular),  a  foolish 
man,  same  as  addle-pate. 
"  Literally,  a  rank  sucker." — 
N.  Y.  Slang  Diet. 

Addled-egg  (common),  a  canard, 
an  egg  from  the  fabulous  mare's 
nest. 

Addle-headed  (common),  with 
little  brains,  or  empty-headed; 
from  Anglo-Saxon  adda,  mud. 

Addle-pate  (common),  one  whose 
brain  cannot  distinguish  be- 
tween the  objects  which  are 
outside  it  and  the  imaginations 
within. 

Addle  -  pot  (common),  a  spoil- 
sport ;  a  mar-all. 

Adept  (thieves),  a  pickpocket,  a 
conjuror. 

An  adept  must  be  one  of  an  audacious 
spirit  with  a  nimble  conveyance  and  a 
vocabulary  of  cabalistic  phrases  to  astonish 
the  beholder.  —  The  Merry  Companion, 
or  Delights  for  the  Ingenious,  by  Richard 
Neve  [Juggler),  1721. 

(Old  cant),  an  alchemist. 

Adjutant's  gig  (military),  the  bar- 
rack roller,  which  is  drawn,  pre- 
sumably under  the  adjutant's 
orders,  by  the  defaulters — the 
men  imder  punishment — who 
are  the  slaves,  the  hewers  of 
wood  and  drawers  of  water  for 
officers,  comrades,  and  the  bar- 
racks generally. 

Admiral  (naval),  the  ship  which 
carries  the  admiral.  Formerly 
all  ships  were  called  admirals. 

Our  t.-ill  admirals  that  visit  every  sea.— 
Cornelius  0'I)o7vd. 


Admiral — A  dopted. 


17     , 


Admiral  of  the  Blue  (old  slang), 
a  public-house  keeper,  so  called, 
says  Grose,  because  publicans 
were  accustomed  to  wear  blue 
aprons.  Properly  an  Admiral 
of  the  Blue  is  one  of  the  third 
class  in  the  navy,  and  holds  the 
rear  in  an  engagement. 

Admiral  of  the  narrow  seas  (nau- 
tical), one  who  from  drunken- 
ness vomits  into  the  lap  of  his 
opposite  companion. 

Admiral  of  the  Red  (common),  a 
person  whose  ruby  countenance 
gives  unequivocal  signs  of  his 
penchant  for  the  bottle.  Pro- 
perly, Admiral  of  the  Red  is  an 
admiral  of  the  second  class,  and 
holds  the  centre  in  an  engage- 
ment. 

As  regards  the  word  admiral 
taken  in  its  literal  sense,  it  may 
be  interesting  to  remark  that 
this  word  seems  to  have  been 
introduced  into  Europe  by  the 
Genoese  or  Venetians  in  the 
twelfth  or  thirteenth  century, 
from  the  Arabic  Amir-al-bahr, 
commander  of  the  sea,  the  termi- 
nating word  having  been  omitted 
(Webster). 

Admirals  of  the  red,  white,  and 
blue  (popular),  street  and  square 
beadles,  office  and  club  door- 
keepers. 

Admiral  of  the  white  (popular),  a 
white-faced  person,  a  coward ; 
a  woman  in  a  faint. 

Admire,  to  (American),  character- 
istic of  New  England,  and  used 


in  many  strange  ways,  e.g.,  "  I 
admire  to  look  at  pictures." 
Admire  is  often  used  for  liking, 
predilection,  or  taste.  "  I  do 
admire  peaches  and  cream." 
"  Don't  you  admire  pumpkin- 
pie  with  ginger  in  it  ? "  corre- 
sponds to  the  prosaic  use  of 
adorer,  to  worship  :  "  j 'adore 
les  pommes  de  terre  frites." 

Adobe  (American),  a  house  made 
of  dried  clay  in  adobes  or  large 
clay  blocks.  "  To  the  old 
adobe,"  is  the  death-cry  of  the 
vigilants  of  San  Francisco  when 
a  criminal  is  tried  by  lynch  law 
and  condemned  to  death ;  the 
old  adobe  being  the  slang  title 
of  the  custom-house  where  the 
execution  of  malefactors  takes 
place.  Adobe  signifies  a  sun- 
baked brick,  from  the  Spanish. 

At  Los  Angelos,  county  California,  the 
skilled  silk  workers  are  comfortably  housed 
in  adobe  cottages. — United  States  Corres- 
pondent, Standard,  May  i86g. 

Adoi,  adoy  (gypsy),  there.  ''  Adoi 
se  miri  dye  I  " — "  There  is  my 
mother  I " 

Adonee  (old  cant),  the  Deity.  Evi- 
dently Yiddish,  from  Adonai, 
Lord.  Martin  Luther  uses  the 
word  as  a  cant  term  among 
beggars  for  God. 
A  tramps'  toast  says  : — 

"  May  the  good  Adonee 
Soften  the  strong ; 
Lighten  our  loads 
And  level  our  roads." 

Adopted    (American)   signifies  a 
naturalised  citizen.     President 
B 


18 


Adopted — Adullamites. 


'  Lincoln  proposed  to  Congress 
that  the  word  adopted  should  be 
struck  from  all  public  docu- 
ments, so  as  to  place  foreign 
citizens  and  native-born  citizens 
on  an  equality. 

Adopter,  a  scoundrel  who  pre- 
tends to  be  desirous  of  adopting 
a  child,  out  of  philanthropic 
motives,  on  the  payment  of  a 
certain  sum,  and  either  gets  rid 
of  it  at  the  earliest  opportunity, 
or  leaves  it  to  die  of  starvation 
and  neglect. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  if  the  history 
of  every  one  of  the  ten  thousand  of  the 
young  human  pariahs  that  haunt  London 
streets  could  be  inquired  into,  it  would  be 
found  that  no  insignificant  percentage  of 
the  whole  were  children  abandoned  and 
left  to  their  fate  by  mock  adopters  such 
as  F.  X. — J  antes  Greenwood :  Ttu  Seven 
Curses  of  London. 

The  initials  refer  to  the  sub- 
joined advertisement,  which  is 
given  here  as  a  specimen  of  the 
mode  of  proceeding  of  adopters. 

Adoption. — A  person  wishing  a  lasting 
and  comfortable  home  for  a  young  child 
of  either  sex  will  find  this  a  good  opjxjr- 
tunity.  Advertisers,  having  no  children 
of  their  own,  are  about  to  proceed  to 
America.  Premium,  fifteen  pounds.  Re- 
spectable references  given  and  required. 
Address,  F.  X. 

Adoption.  (Low)  "doption,"  an 
adopted  child.  In  baby  farm- 
ing, "  to  be  mounted  for  lopping 
the  '  doption,'  "  is  to  be  placed 
in  the  criminal  dock  for  causing 
the  death  of  an  adopted  child. 

Adown  in  the  viol  (thieves),  a  hue 
and  cry  against  a  detected  cul- 


prit. Adown,  although  now  con- 
sidered vulgar,  was  formerly 
used  by  our  best  writers  in 
place  of  down  ;  viol  refers  to  the 
noise  of  the  old-fashioned  in- 
strument when  played  by  street 
musicians,  which  was  very  dif- 
ferent from  its  offspring  the 
violin. 

Ad  portas  (Winchester),  a  Latin 
speech  delivered  by  the  Senior 
College  Prefect  to  the  War- 
den of  New  College,  and  the 
"Posers"  (see  this  word),  &c., 
under  the  middle  gate  when 
they  come  down  at  election  to 
examine  for  Winchester  and 
New  College  scholarships  and 
ex^bitions. 

Adrom  (gypsy),  away.  From  a 
and  dram,  a  road  or  way ;  Greek 
Spofids.  "  Jasa  tu  adrom,  m5n 
hatch  akai" — "Go  thou  away, 
do  not  stop  here  1 " 

Adsum  (Charterhouse),  roll-call  or 
name  calling. 

Adullamites  (Parliamentary),  the 
seceders  from  the  Liberal  party 
led  by  Mr.  Gladstone  during 
the  Reform  Agitation  of  1S67. 
To  "take  refuge  in  the  cave  of 
Adullam  "  is  a  phrase  borrowed 
from  the  Old  Testament,  and 
was  used  during  the  great 
American  civil  war  in  1863  by 
President  Lincoln  in  reference 
to  the  partisans  of  General 
M'Lellan  after  liis  dismissal 
from  the  command  of  the  army 
of  the  Potomac.     It  was  after- 


Adullamites — Affinity. 


19 


wards  used  by  John  Bright  in 
the  British  Parliament. 

John  Bright  invented  another  apt  phrase 
when  he  dubbed  the  seceders  from  the 
Reform  party  Adullamites.  ParHamen- 
tary  tactics  have  naturally  given  birth  to 
many  slang  words. — Comhill  Magazine. 

Adusta,  adosta  (gypsy),  enough. 

"  But  adosta  Romany  chals," — "  Many 
gypsies. " — L  avengro. 

Advantage  (Califomian) ;  pocket 
advantage,  carrying  a  pistol 
charged  and  at  half  cock  in  the 
coat  pocket,  so  that  if  the  hand 
is  placed  in  the  pocket  it  rests 
on  the  handle.  Sometimes  a 
shot  is  fired  at  an  adversary 
through  the  pocket  itself.  This 
is  only  done  with  a  derringer. 

^gers  (university  slang),  letters 
of  excuse ;  from  the  Latin  ceger. 

Pethaps  it's  a  deep-laid  scheme  of  yours  to 
post  a  heap  of  tegers  while  you're  a  Fresh- 
man, and  then  to  get  better  and  better 
every  term,  and  make  the  Dons  think  that 
you  are  improving  the  shining  hours  by 
doing  chapels  and  lectures  more  regularly, 
artful  Giglamps  !  —  Cuthbert  Bede :  The 
Adventures  of  Mr.  Verdant  Green. 

iEgrotat  (university),  a  remission 
of  a  collegiate  duty,  generally 
obtained  by  some  questionable 
excuse  to  the  principal.  From 
(E'jrotare,  to  be  ill. 

^Esthetic  (American).  This  word, 
from  being  supposed  to  mean 
"artistic,"  has  been  extended 
to  excellence  of  all  kinds.  In 
1884  a  grocer  in  Philadelphia 
advertised  very  seriously  and 
innocently  that   he   had   some 


"  very  (esthetic  cheese."  It  is 
occasionally  abused  in  much  the 
same  way  in  England. 

Aetna  (Winchester),  an  ambitious 
appellation  given  to  a  small 
boiler  for  "  brewing,"  that  is, 
making  cocoa  or  coffee,  the 
combustible  used  being  spirits 
of  wine. 

A.  F.,  abbreviation  for  "Across 
the  Flat,"  one  of  the  numerous 
subdivisions  of  the  racing  track 
at  Newmarket.  The  A.  F.  course 
commences  at  the  running  gap 
in  the  Ditch,  and  ends  at  the 
winning  post  of  the  Rowley 
Mile,  whence  also  to  the  Grand 
Stand.  The  distance  A.  F.  is 
one  mile,  two  furlongs,  and 
seventy-three  yards. 

Affidavit  men  (old),  men  who  loi- 
tered about  the  courts  of  justice 
ready  to  swear  anything  for 
Ijay.  They  were  also  known  as 
Knights  of  the  Post,  and  were 
distinguished  by  the  straw 
which  they  stuck  in  the  heels 
of  their  shoes.  The  word  has 
become  obsolete,  but  not  so  the 
practice,  as  there  are  even  now 
plenty  of  scoundrels  loitering 
outside  courts  of  justice  who 
are  ready  to  swear  to  anything 
for  half-a-crown. 

Affinity  (American),  a  person  of 
the  opposite  sex  who  is  per- 
fectly in  harmony  with  any 
one.  A  passional  affinity  is 
one  in  whom  intense  sexual 
desire  exists  in  common  with 


20 


Affinity — Afflictions. 


all  other  attributes.  This  is 
the  favourite  and  character- 
istic expression  of  the  Free- 
Love  sect,  which  sprang  up 
about  1850,  and  for  a  time 
attracted  a  great  deal  of  atten- 
tion, holding  public  meetings  in 
New  York,  "giving  rise"  to 
much  newspaper  writing,  and 
not  a  little  extremely  lively 
literature,  such  as  "Fanny 
Greely,  or  the  Confessions  of  a 
Free-Love  Sister,"  &c.  Several 
communities  were  founded  to 
carry  out  Free-Love  practically ; 
that  at  Berlin  Heights  was  made 
the  subject  of  an  amusing  sketch 
by  Artemus  Ward.  The  Oneida 
county  Free-Love  community 
is  described  by  Hepworth  Dixon 
in  "  Spiritual  Wives."  The  ori- 
ginal Free-Lovers  held  that  love 
is,  or  should  be  made,  the  mo- 
tive power  and  inspiration  of 
life,  that  to  perfeQt  ourselves 
in  every  way  we  should  have  an 
affinity,  that  two  persons  are 
required  to  make  one  complete 
life  or  destiny,  and  that  it  is 
the  great  duty  of  life  to  seek 
for  this  affinity.  Everything 
should  yield  to  this,  and  should 
the  affinity  unfortunately  be  al- 
ready married  to  another,  there 
should  be  a  divorce  and  re- 
marriage at  once.  Of  course,  it 
was  soon  discovered  that  a  great 
deal  of  experimenting  with  dif- 
ferent ladies  or  gentlemen  was 
necessary  before  the  true  affinity 
could  be  discovered.  This 
liberty  to  "chop  and  change 
ribs  A  Jm  mode  Oermanorum " 
was   not,   however,   favourably 


regarded  by  the  "cold  world" 
of  orthodox  Christians. 

In  the  year  1850,  a  house  of  ill-fame 
having  been  broken  up  in  Philadelphia, 
its  inmates  were  brought  before  a  magis- 
trate. Among  them  was  a  young  lady  of 
very  attractive  personal  appearance,  who 
was  identified  as  belonging  to  an  excellent 
family  in  the  North.  On  being  asked  why 
she  led  such  a  disreputable  life,  she  re- 
plied that  she  was  an  advanced  spiritualist 
and  free-lover,  and  considered  it  to  be  the 
mission  and  duty  of  her  life  to  offer  herself 
to  men  seeking  for  affinities,  or  to  man 
in  the  abstract,  and  that  every  man  whom 
she  liked  and  who  returned  the  feeling  was 
her  husband.  She  defended  her  views  with 
great  earnestness,  and  in  language  which 
indicated  an  excellent  education  and  ex- 
tensive reading. — MS.  Notes. 

I  was  goin'  along  the  street,  'bout 
three-quarters  past  owl-time,  when  I  met 
as  pretty  a  yard-and-a-half  of  black  silk  as 
I  ever  looked  at.  "Young  gentleman," 
says  she,  "  don't  you  want  a  pashernal 
affinity  > "  "  What's  that  ?  "  says  I.  "It's 
a  prize  bed-comforter,"  says  she,  "and  the 
price  is  five  dollars,  extras  included  ;  don't 
say  no,  for  to-morrow  and  the  day  after 
you'll  be  sorry  to  have  missed  such  a  chance 
of  addin'  to  the  golden  joys  of  youth." — 
Ne7v  York  Sunday  Journal. 

Affirmative  side,  the  winning  side, 
the  side  most  likely  to  forward 
one's  self-interest  and  f)romo- 
tion. 

He  was  shrewd,  sharp,  and  subtle  enough 
to  be  always  on  the  affirmative  side. — 
Tiie  Silent  Placeman,  1824. 

Cats  and  dogs  have  never  been  able  tew 
agree  on  the  main  question  that  both  seem 
tew  want  the  affirmative  side  tew  on'st. — 
Josh  Billings :  On  Cats. 

Afflictions  (drapers),  mourning 
habiliments,  .^^tcii'owa  are  quiet, 
i.e.,  mourning  goods  are  not  in 
demand.  Mitigated  affiictiom, 
half  mournin<'. 


Affygraphy — Age. 


21 


AflFygraphy  (popular)  is  said  of 
anything  that  fits  nicely. 

"  Is  it  in  ?  "  said  he — "  It  is,"  said  she. 
"  Does  it  fit  ?  "  said  he — "  It  does,"  said 

she. 
"Quite    affygraphyV — "Quite    affy- 

graphy." 

—  The  Lady  and  the  Shoemaker. 

Aficionado  (gypsy),  a  non-gypsy 
who  lives  and  mixes  with  the 
tribe.  From  the  Spanish  afic- 
ion,  affection. 

An  aficionado,  a  true  lover  and  student 
of  gypsy  life. — Experiences  of  a  Roumanie 
Rhei ;  Penny  Illustrated  Paper. 

Afloat  (common),  in  a  promising  or 
a  prominent  state  or  condition. 

All  the  town's  afloat. — Gay. 

A-fly  (low),  to  get  a-jly  is  to 
become  expert  at. 

Go  first  to  costermongery, 
To  every  fakement  get  a-Jly, 
And  pick  up  all  their  slangery. 

—  The  Leary  Man. 

Afterdap  (American).  In  Peiyi- 
sylvania  and  the  Western  States 
of  America  this  signifies  an  ad- 
ditional, and  very  often  unjust 
demand  beyond  the  agreement 
or  bargain  originally  made. 
"None  of  your  afterclaps.'"  In 
Scotland  the  same  word  means 
"  evil  consequences." 

After-dinner  man  (old),  a  deep 
drinker. 

•  The  good  Baronet  (Sir  Francis  Burdett) 
was  not  only  a  foxhunter,  but  a  celebrated 
after-dinner  man.  It  must  have  been  a 
good  bout  indeed  in  which  he  was  woisted. 
— Dublin  Sketch  Book,  1830. 


After  four  (Eton),  the  interval 
between  3  and  6  f.k. 

Afternoon  buyer  (popnlar),  one 
who  waits  until  after  the  market 
dinner  with  the  hope  of  pur- 
chasing cheaper  than  before 
that  time. 

Afternoon  farmer  (popular),  one 
who  neglects  his  farming  opera- 
tions until  late  in  the  season,  or 
holds  over  his  stock  until  late 
in  the  day,  in  the  hope  of  getting 
a  better  price. 

After  twelve  (Eton),  the  recess 
after  morning  school  and  before 
afternoon  class. 

I  used  to  visit  him  regularly  in  the  dear 
old  college  from  the  after  tivelve. — Whyte- 
Melville's  Good  for  Nothing;. 

Croppie,  who  abominated  all  laws  and 
delighted  in  transgressions,  resolved  to  go 
to  the  fair,  and  without  difficulty  he  per- 
suaded the  Pug  and  me  to  join  him.  One 
day  after  twelve  the  three  of  us  passed  over 
Windsor  Bridge  in  the  same  condition  as 
the  "bold  adventurers"  alluded  to  in 
Gray's  Ode. — Brinsley  Richards'  Seven 
Years  at  Eton. 

Age  (American,  cards,  technical), 
the  oldest  hand  or  player  to  the 
left  of  the  dealer,  who,  at  Poker, 
is  allowed  to  pass  the  first  round 
after  the  hands  are  "  helped," 
and  to  come  in  again  after  all 
have  raised  or  gone  out.  He 
signifies  his  intention  by  saying 
"  my  aye,"  or  *'  I  pass  the  aije." 
The  effect  is  that  the  first  player 
becomes  the  last  player.  This 
expedient  is  sometimes  used  to 
conceal  a  very  good  hand,  and 
at  other  times  as  preparatory  to 


22 


Age — Agonise. 


■  a  "  bluff,"  or  a  poor  one.  As 
cases  of  absolute  equality  among 
hands  are  all  but  impossible  at 
Poker,  little  is  risked  by  it. 

Aged  (racing,  technical),  any 
horse  over  six  years  is  described 
as  aged. 

We  really  do  abuse  the  powers  of  our 
blood  stock  in  its  undeveloped  stage,  and 
use  up  our  racehorses  at  far  too  early  an 
age.  There  is  no  disputing  the  fact  that 
Bendigo  stands  alone  as  a  first-class  aged 
representative  racehorse  now  on  the  turf, 
where  in  former  days  we  had  our  Laner- 
costs.  Touchstones,  Beeswings,  Alice  Haw- 
thorns, &c.,  by  the  dozen. — Sporting 
Times. 

Agee  or  ajee  (American).  Bartlett 
defines  this  as  "  askew  ;  "  as  to 
have  one's  hat  agee.  From  the 
term  gee,  used  in  driving  cattle. 
It  seems  rather  to  be  derived 
ir ova  gee,  "to  agree  with,"  "to 
fit,"  with  the  prefix  negative  o. 
In  America  it  is  also  applied  to 
a  door  ajar  or  partly  open,  as 
appears  by  the  following  rhymes 
from  a  comic  paper  published 
in  Philadelphia  in  1833  or  1834 
on  an  incident  which  occurred 
there : — 

I  am  an  undertaker  true. 

And  know  my  business  well ; 

I'm  just  the  man  to  punish  you, 
For  sending  folks  to  hell. 

You  quite  forgot,  behind  the  door, 

When  it  was  left  agee, 
I  caught  you  hugging  Mrs. , 

Your  heart  quite  full  of  glee. 

According  to  "Wright  (Provincial 
Dictionary),  agee  is  North  Eng- 
lish, and  means  both  awry  and 
ojnr.     The  word  is,  however,  at 


present  far  more  generally  used 
in  America  than  England. 

Aggari  (Anglo-Indian),  lit.  fire- 
carriage,  applied  by  the  natives 
to  a  railway  train. — Eohson  Job- 
son,  being  an  Anglo-Indian  Glos- 
sary, London  1886. 

Aggerawators  (popular),  a  corrup- 
tion of  "  aggravators,"  the  lock 
of  hair  formerly  in  vogue  alike 
among  honest  costermongers  and 
men  of  the  Bill  Sykes  type,  worn 
twisted  back  from  the  temple 
towards  the  ear.  It  is  now  in 
favour  among  gypsies  and  a 
few  "  bruisers."  The  French 
peasants  of  Berry  are  fond  of 
this  ornament,  which  recalls, 
though  much  shorter,  the  old 
cadenettes  of  the  French  hus- 
sars. 

His  hair  was  carefully  twisted  into  the 
outer  corners  of  each  eye,  till  it  formed 
a  variety  of  that  description  of  semi- 
curls  usually  known  as  haggerawaiors . 
— Dickens :  Sketches  by  Boz. 

Agitate  the  communicator  (com- 
mon), ring  the  bell. 

Agitator  (common),  a  bell  rope; 
the  street  door  knocker. 

Aglal,  glal  (gypsy),  before,  in 
front  of. 

Ago  gate  (American  thieves' 
slan<r),  be  quick  I  A  warning 
signal.     From  agog. 

Agonise  (American),  to  endure 
agony.  A  favourite  word  with 
young  or  "sensational"  clergy- 


Agonise — Air. 


23 


men.  The  writer  once  heard 
one  of  these  declare  (in  Ken- 
tucky), that  "We  must  agonise 
if  we  would  see  God,"  and 
he  has  since  met  with  the  same 
expression  in  print. 

Agony  (common),  to  put  or  to 
pile  the  agony  on,  means  to 
thrill,  to  horrify,  to  keep  up  or 
intensify  the  excitement  attend- 
ant on  sensational  productions. 

"Wife"  is  a  fair  specimen  of  a  book  of 
this  kind.  It  is  all  agony  from  beginning 
to  end.  There  are  no  pauses  for  length- 
ened descriptions  of  summer  evenings  or 
old-fashioned  gardens ;  there  are  neither 
panegyrics  of  virtuous  heroes,  nor  verbal 
portraits  of  lovely  heroines.  *  The  agony 
is  put  on  at  full  pressure  in  the  first  chap- 
ter, and  is  never  shut  off  till  the  last.— 
Saturday  Revieiv. 

That  particular  column  in  the 
daily  papers,  which  is  headed 
by  private  communications  be- 
tween individuals,  is  called  the 
"  agony  column." 

And  how  does  she  propose  to  succeed  ? 
Pollaky?  The  a^(7«y  column  ?  Placards, 
or  a  Bell-man  "i— Black :  A  Princess  0/ 
Thvle. 

Hard. — 1  beg  of  you  to  see  me.  Your 
refusal  does  more  harm  than  good.  Your 
time  will  suit  me.  Please  don't  refuse.  I 
ihink  it  most  unkind  of  you,  considering 
all  things. — Q. 

— Standard. 

The  agony  column  does  not 
always  contain  unpleasant  or 
dismal  tidings.  It  is  used  ex- 
tensively by  lovers  and  as  a 
means  of  communication  be- 
tween thieves,  &c. 

Should  be  delighted  to  take  sweet 
counsel  of  an  Oracle  so  lovely,  free,  and 


mild.    True  grief  to  have  marred  Elysian 
blisses. 

Sweetheart. — Shall  be  in  town  shortly 
after  Christmas.  So  longing  to  see  you, 
love.  True  and  faithful  even  to  your 
shadow. 

The  Moon. — Bless  ns  and  keep  us,  what 
can  you  mean?    1  never  supposed. — Eliab. 
— Standard, 

It  is  said  that  the  last  Carlist 
revolution  was  arranged  entirely 
by  means  of  the  Time*'  agony 
column. 

Football  players  say  of  the 
side  that  makes  a  number  of 
goals  that  it  "  piles  on  the 
agony."  In  theatrical  parlance 
an  "agony  piler"  is  an  actor 
who  performs  in  a  sensational 
play  in  which  the  blood  of  the 
audience  is  made  to  curdle 
and  their  flesh  creep.  To  "pile 
on  the  agony "  was  originally 
American ;  it  was  common  in 
1840. 

Aidh  (tinker),  butter, 

Ainoch  (tinker),  a  thing. 

Air  and  exercise  (thieves),  penal 
servitude  at  a  convict  settle- 
ment. Two  stretches  of  air 
and  exercise,  i.e.,  two  years'  penal 
servitude. 

Airing  (racing),  a  horse  is 
said  to  be  "  out  for  an  airing" 
when  there  is  no  intention  on 
the  part  of  those  concerned  with 
him  that  he  should  win. 

Air  line  road,  an  (American),  an 
expression  applied  to  a  rail- 
road track  when  it  passes  over 


24 


Air — Alderman. 


the  level  unbroken  prairie  in  a 
straight  line  without  bend  or 
gradient.  "A  straight  shoot" 
is  also  another  term  for  this. 

Aja,  ajaw  (gypsy),  so.  Often 
pleonastic  kushte  ajd,  good 
enough. 

"If  waver  f<5ki  kirns  lis, 
Mukk  lendy  kair  ajd." 

(If  other  people  like  it,  let  them 
do  so." — £.  H.  Palmer.) 

Akalak  (Anglo-Indian),  a  cape 
worn  by  Indian  ofl5cers  on  state 
occasions. 

Akerman's  Hotel  (obsolete), 
Newgate  prison,  the  governor 
being,  in  1787,  a  man  named 
Akerman. 

Akonyo  (gypsy),  alone. 

"  Me  shon  akonyo  gilde  yoi, 
Men  buti  ruzhior, 
Te  sari  chiricloi  adoi. 
Pen  mandy  giloir." 

("  I  am  all  alone,"  she  sang, 
"  among  many  flowers,  and  all 
the  birds  are  singing  songs  to 
me." — Janet  Tuckey.) 

Alay,  ale  (gypsy),  do'WTi. — ("  Besh- 
tu  alay  adoi  te  me  te  vel  pen 
tute  a  kushto  gudlo" — "  Sit 
thou  down  there,  and  I  will  tell 
thee  a  nice  story  1  ") 

Albany  beef  (American),  the 
stnr<j;cun,  so  called  because 
Washington  Irving  spoke  of  the 
"hospitable  V>oards"  of  that 
city  as  "smoking  with  stur- 
geon."    It   is    also    sometimes 


called  "nigger  beef,"  sturgeon 
being  in  some  parts  of  the 
United  States  a  cheap  fish 
which  was  once  held  in  very 
little  account.  It  is  to  be  re- 
marked that  several  kinds  of 
fish  are  often  spoken  of  as  meat. 
Thus  a  Yarmouth  bloater  is 
called  a  two-eyed  steak,  or  a 
Yarmouth  capon ;  a  kind  of 
fish  in  India  is  known  as  Bom- 
bay ducks,  and  a  fresh  herring 
is  a  Billingsgate  pheasant. 

Albert  (common),  a  watch  chain. 

Albertopolis,  according  to  Hotten, 
a  facetious  appellation  given  by 
the  Londoners  to  the  Kensington 
Gore  district.    Now  obsolete. 

Aldea  (Anglo-Indian  and  frontier 
American),  a  village  or  a  villa,  a 
country-seat.  From  the  Spanish 
aldea,  which  is  in  turn  derived 
from  the  Arabic. 

Alderman  (popular),  a  half-crown, 
a  long  pipe,  a  turkey.  An  alder- 
man in  chains,  is  a  turkey  hung 
with  sausages.  "  Blood  and 
guts  alderman,"  a  fat  and  pom- 
pous man. 

(Thieves),  au  aldinnan,  a  large 
"jemmy"  or  crowbar,  used  for 
opening  safes.  An  extra  large 
one  is  called  a  "  lord  mayor." 

Alderman  Lushington,  intoxicat- 
ing drink.  (I'attor  imported 
into  Australia  by  convicts.) 

Beer  or  liquor  of  any  kind  is  lush  ;  to 
lus/t  is  to  drink.  .Speaking  of  a  person 
who  is  drunk,  tlie  "  fl.ish  "  fraternity  say, 
"  Aliiennan  Lushington  is  concerned,"  or 


Aldgate — All  along. 


25 


simply,  "  He  has  been  voting  for  the  alder- 
man. "  A  lush-crib,  or  lush-ken,  is  a  public- 
house. — From  VaMx's  Memoirs. 

Aldgate  pump  (old),  a  draught 
on  Aldgate  pump  meant  a  bill  of 
exchange  drawn  on  persons  no 
better  able  to  pay  than  Aldgate 
pump. 

Ale  draper  (old),  ale-house  keeper. 

Alemnoch  (tinker),  milk. 

Ales  (Stock  Exchange),  a  nick- 
name used  by  men  on  'Change 
for  Allsopp  &  Sons'  stock. 

Alexandra  limp,  the  (common), 
a  fashionable  craze,  resulting 
from  a  toadying  imitation  of  a 
certain  lady  well  known  in 
society  who  walks  with  a  slight 
limp. 

Your  owji  advocacy  for  the  Grecian  bend 
and  the  Alexandra  limp — both  positive 
and  practical  imitations  of  physical  afflic- 
tion.— Chambers's  Journal. 

Alfred  David  (popular),  affidavit ; 
also  Affidavy  and  Davy. 

I  almost  dropped  when  up  she  jumped 
And  said,  "  I'm  ready  now, 
But  why  this  look  of  thusness 
That  is  stealing  o'er  thy  brow?" 
I  cried,  "  Avaunt  and  touch  me  not  !  " 
Then  bolted  up  the  lane. 
And  I'll  take  my  Alfred  David  h.o\. 
She  don't  catch  me  there  again. 
— Blighted  Love,  by  Harry  Adaufs. 

He  is  engaged  in  receiving  the  after- 
daty  of  a  man  who  got  his  head  broke  by 
a  tinker. — Kingslty :  Geoffrey  Hamlyn. 

Algerines  (theatrical),  performers 
who  bully  the  manager  of  a 
theatre  when  the  salaries  are 


not  paid.  Also  petty  money- 
borrowers. 

All  abroad  (common)  an  expres- 
sion used  when  any  undertaking 
has  failed,  and  a  person  is  im- 
certain  as  to  the  course  to  pur- 
sue.   A  variant  is  "  all  at  sea." 

"  Alas !  poor  ghost ! "  It's  a  doubt  which 

is  most 
To  be  pitied — one  doom'd  to  fry,  broil, 

boil,  and  roast, — 
Or  one  bandied  about  thus  from  pillar 

to  post, — 
To  be  all  abroad— K.a  be  "  stumped,"  not 

to  know  where 
To  go — so  disgraced. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends :  A  Legend  oj 
Dover. 

Allacompain  or  alicumpaine 

(rhyming  slang),  rain,  termed 
"parney"  in  thieves'  lingo; 
also  a  common  sweetmeat  de- 
rived from  the  name  of  the 
plant. 

Of  ups  and  downs  I've  felt  the  shock. 
Since  days  of  bats  and  shuttlecocks. 
And  alicumpaine  and  Albert  rocks 
When  I  the  world  began. 

—  The  Leary  Man. 

He  had  been  noted  for  an  immoderate 
partiality  for  the  saccharine  though  indi- 
gestible cates  known  as  alecampane,  and 
Bonaparte's  ribs.— 6"a/a.-  The  Haddington 
Peerage. 

All  afloat,  rhyming  slang  for  a 
coat. 

All  alive  (tailors),  garments  un- 
fairly or  slovenly  made. 

All  along  of,  an  illiterate  synonym 
for  "on  account  of,"  "by  rea- 
son of,"  or  "owing  to  such  and 
such  a  cause."     The  phrase  oc- 


26 


AU-a-mort — AH  fours. 


curs  in  print  so  early  as  the  time 
of  Chaucer,  and  is  therefore  in 
all  probability  much  older. 

AU-a-mort  (old),  struck  dumb, 
confounded. 

All  around  sports  (American), 
men  who  take  an  interest  in  all 
kinds  of  sport — racing,  shoot- 
ing, fishing,  ball,  pedestrianism, 
sparring,  cock-fighting,  ratting, 
&c. 

All  at  sea  (common),  bewildered, 
confused ;  "  aU  at  tea  on  the 
question." 

"  Dear,  do  scientific  men  become  sailors 
when  they  are  scared?" 

"Guess  not.     Why?" 

"  Because  this  paper  says  that  since  the 
earthquake  the  scientists  are  all  at  sea." — 
Pittsburg  Bulletin. 

All  beer  and  skittles,  recent  slang 
signifying  that  the  life  and  the 
circumstances  of  the  person  to 
whom  it  is  made  applicable  are 
not  so  pleasant  or  so  happy  as 
they  might  be,  or  as  they  are  re- 
presented to  be.  The  allusion  is 
to  the  supposed  amusements 
of  working  men  in  the  skittle 
ground,  and  to  the  beer  which 
they  drink  to  refresh  themselves 
•luring  the  exercise. 

Even  the  life  of  an  heir  to  the  Russian 
throne  is  not  all  beer  and  skittles.  The 
young  Grand  Dulce  has  narrowly  escaped 
lx:ing  sent  to  the  Crimea  instead  of  to 
Cannes  for  the  benefit  of  his  health. — 
Globe. 

The  expression  is  sometimes 
varied  to  idl  skittles  and  beer. 

There's  danger  even  when  fish  are  caught 
To  those  who  a  wetting  fear  ; 


For  wliat's  worth    having  must  aye   be 

bought. 
And  sport's  like  life,  and  life's  like  sport, 
It  ain't  all  skittles  and  beer. 

— Adam  Lindsay  Gordon's  Poems. 

The  word  skittles  itself  has 
ceased  to  belong  to  slang  phrase- 
ology. It  may  be  interesting 
to  remark  that  the  game  was 
originally  nine  pins  ;  but  the 
Blue  Laws  of  Connecticut  having 
forbidden  that  game,  the  astute 
sons  of  the  Puritans  added  a 
pin,  and  made  the  game  ten 
pins,  or,  as  it  is  now  called, 
"American  bowls." 

All  brandy  (popular),  good,  pro- 
fitable, pleasant. 

All  bum  (popular),  a  female  with 
a  large  bustle. 

All-fired  (English  and  Ameri- 
can), immoderate,  violent.  This 
common  expression  is  thought 
in  New  England  to  be  an  eu- 
phemism for  "  hell-fired."  Thus 
people  talk  of  an  "  all-fired 
abuse,"  meaning  a  crying  abuse ; 
an  '^all-fired  hurry,"  i.e.,  in  great 
haste. 

I  knows  I  be  so  all-Jired  jealous  I  can't 
bear  to  hear  o'  her  talking,  let  alone  writing 
to.  —  T.  Hughes ;  Ton  Brown  at  Oxford. 

All  fours,  to  be  on  (common),  to 
be  on  good  terms,  to  be  exactly 
similar ;  probably  of  Masonic 
origin,  and  referring  to  the  com- 
pleteness and  harmony  of  the 
four  sides  of  a  "  square." 

The  cases  [Rradlaugh  v.  Newdegafe, 
Clarke  v.  Bradlaugh]  are  on  all  /ours. — 
J'imes. 


All  gay — All  my  eye. 


27 


All  gay  (thieves),  a  term  to  denote 
that  the  coast  is  clear,  a  variant 
of  "all  serene,"  all  right.  French 
thieves  use  the  expression  "  tout 
est  franco  "  in  the  same  sense. 

Having  selected  one  house,  at  which 
James  Hawes  reported  to  the  fourth  man 
that  it  was  all  gay,  which  the  detective, 
who  was  in  hiding  in  a  garden,  understood 
to  mean  that  no  one  was  at  home,  the  four 
men  joined  together  near  it. — The  Globe. 

All-get-out  (American),  an  old 
Yankee  expression.  "  Oh,  get 
out  1 "  appears  to  have  suggested 
it.  This  is  uttered  very  often 
when  any  person  announces 
or  says  something  extravagant. 
Whence  the  saying,  "  That  beats 
aU-geUout." 

But  hark  !  behold  !  to-morrer  thou, 
In  deep  revenge  mayst  dry  thy  tears, 

I  hev  a  plan  which  you'll  allow 
Beats  all-git-out  when  it  appears. 
—  The  Ballad  0/  Tim  Zioti  Boggs. 

All  holiday  at  Peckham  (popular) 
is  said  when  there  is  nothing 
to  eat.  All  holiday  means  no 
work,  and  Peckham  is  a  play  on 
"peck,"  food. 

All  hollow,  hollow  (old  slang), 
completely,  utterly.  "  I  beat 
him  all  hollow  at  a  race."  Pro- 
bably derived  from  ivhoUy.  All 
whole,  or  whole-and-all,  heel  en 
al,  is  a  Dutch  idiom  ;  heel-all, 
the  universe. 

All  in  (racing)  means  that  bets 
made  on  horses  in  the  list  are 
to  stand  whether  the  horse  runs 
or  not. 

All  in  I  (Stock  Exchange),  an  ex- 
pression used  by  men  on  'Change 


when  a  market  goes  flat,  and 
there  is  a  general  disposition  to 
sell. 

All  in  a  pucker  (common),  in 
confusion ;  so  hurriedly  as  to 
agitate  and  perplex.  Women 
of  the  lower  classes,  especially 
when  suddenly  flustered  and 
agitated,  will  declare  themselves 
aU  in  a  pucker,  and  most  fre- 
quently such  a  statement  will  be 
deemed  sufficient  qualification 
to  justify  a  resort  to  the  usual 
"pick-me-up." 

All  in  fits  (tailors).     See  Paealy- 

TIC  FIT. 

All  mouth  (American),  a  man  who 
is  a  great  talker,  and  only  a 
talker,  is  said  to  be  all  mouth. 

When  one  Congressman  assaults  another 
he  generally  hits  him  in  the  mouth,  that 
being  about  all  there  is  to  strike  at. — 
A  merican  Journal. 

All  my  eye  (popular),  nonsense, 
untrue.  Some  philologists  have 
suggested — though  they  have 
not  adopted — a  derivation  from 
the  Welsh  al  mi  hivy,  it  is  very 
tedious,  i.e.,  it  is  all  nonsense. 
It  seems  far  more  probable  that 
it  is  a  contraction  of  the  phrase 
"  there  is  as  much  of  it  as  there 
is  in  all  my  eye,"  the  words 
being  made  more  forcible  by 
closing  one  of  the  organs  of 
vision.  To  express  dissent  from 
any  statement,  or  a  refusal  to 
comply  with  a  request,  French 
slang  has  the  corresponding  term 
■mon  osil !  which  is  usually  accom- 
panied by  a  knowing  wink  and 


28 


All  my  eye — All  nations. 


a  significant  gesture  as  an  in- 
vitation to  inspect  the  organ. 
AU  my  eye  is  sometimes  elon- 
gated into  ''All  my  eye  and  Betty 
Martin,"  which  seems  to  have 
been  the  original  phrase,  and  of 
which  many  explanations  have 
been  given.  By  many  it  is  said 
to  be  a  corruption  of  a  Popish 
prayer  to  St.  Martin,  commenc- 
ing with  the  words,  "  O  mihi 
beate  Martine  I "  which  fell  into 
discredit  at  the  Reformation. 
Mr.  T,  Lewis  O.  Davies  thinks 
that  it  arose  from  a  gypsy 
woman  in  Shrewsbury,  named 
Betty  Martin,  giving  a  black  eye 
to  a  constable,  who  was  chaffed 
by  the  boys  accordingly.  The 
expression  must  have  been  com- 
mon in  1837,  as  Dickens  gives 
one  of  the  Brick-Lane  testi- 
monials as  from  "  Betty  Martin, 
widow,  one  child,  one  eye" 
("Pickwick,"  ch.  xxxiii.).  Tak- 
ing for  granted  that  the  ex- 
pression originated  from  the 
beginning  of  a  prayer  (a  theory 
which  is  now  rejected  by 
most  etymologists),  this  would 
be  but  one  of  the  many  in- 
stances of  a  religious  formula 
being  distorted  and  ridi- 
culed. Thus,  the  cant  term 
"to  patter  flash,"  i.e.,  to  talk 
in  cant,  is  from  "to  patter" 
(signifying  to  mumble),  which 
itself  is  probably  derived  from 
paternoster.  The  French  use 
palendtres  with  the  significa- 
tion of  mumbling,  and  pate- 
nCtrcs  de  sin;/c  means  mutter- 
ing, grumbling;  un  voblscum, 
from  dominus  voblscum,  in  the 


mouth  of  French  work-people, 
is  a  disparaging  epithet  for 
priest.  The  familiar  cagot,  i.e. 
religious  hypocrite,  was  for- 
merly a  friar  of  a  mendicant 
order.  Then  ears  polite,  on 
both  sides  of  the  Channel,  are 
frequently  offended  by  vulgar 
allusions  to  the  Bulgarian  here- 
tics, though  the  expression  has 
lost  its  former  opprobrious 
meaning.  Again,  some  etymo- 
logists derive  the  word  "  bigot " 
from  the  first  words  of  a  prayer 
"by  God."  "  Un  goddam" 
used  to  be  synonymous  with  an 
Englishman,  at  the  time  when 
it  was  thought  in  France  that 
all  Britons  had  red  hair,  sold 
their  wives  at  Smithfield,  got 
drunk  regularly  after  dinner 
(this  may  have  been  a  fact  at 
the  time  of  three-bottle  men), 
and  always  had  a  bull-dog  with 
his  nose  at  their  heels.  Bailey 
ascribes  the  origin  of  hocus 
pocus,  used  by  quacks,  to  hoc 
est  corpus  meum,  when  this  for- 
mula fell  into  ridicule  with 
many  others  after  the  Reforma- 
tion. It  is  curious  to  note  that 
old-fashioned  French  charlatans 
still  use  the  Vfords  priclii-pr^cha 
as  an  opening  to  their  boniment 
or  puffing  speech. 

All  nations  (obsolete),  a  coat  or 
garment  of  different  patches ; 
a  woman  with  many  colours 
in  her  dress.  A  glass  of  all 
Tmtions  was  supplied  at  the 
dram  shops,  and  consisted  of 
the  mixed  drippings  of  the  spirit 
taps  and  drops  of  spirits  left  in 


All  nations — All  over. 


29 


the  measnres  and  glasses.  In 
America  this  is  called  "all 
sorts."  It  is  generally  mixed 
with  cayenne  pepper.  In  Lon- 
don "  all  sorts  "  is  a  rapidly  in- 
toxicating compound. 

Alio  (pidgin  English),  all,  every. 
0  is  added  to  many  words  in 
pidgin  in  an  arbitrary  manner. 
"Alio  man  talkee  my  so  fashion  " 
— "Every  man  talks  to  me 
thus." 

Slang-Whang  when  makee  noise, 
Wit  'he  pigtail  floggee  alio  boys, 
Alio  this  pidgin  long  tim  'go, 
What  tim  good  olo  Empelor  Slo. 

— Slang-  Whang. 

All  of  a  hough  (tailors),  very 
rough,  twisted,  or  slovenly. 

All  of  my  lone  (American),  all 
alone. 

All  on  the  go  (vulgarism),  gone, 
done  away  with. 

Then  his  supper — so 'nice! — that  had 
cost  him  such  pains — 
Such  a  hard  day's  work — now  all  on 
the  go  ! 
'Twas  beyond  a  joke,  and   enough  to 
provoke 
The  mildest  and  best-temper'd  fiend 
below! 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

All  out  (popular),  much,  by  far; 
"o/i  out  the  best,"  by  far  the 
best.  To  be  all  out,  to  be  quite 
wrong.  (Turf),  one  who  has 
been  unsuccessful  during  a  day's 
racing  is  said  to  be  all  out. 
(Stock  Exchange),  all  out!  an 
expression  to  denote  that  the 
market  improves,  and  that  there 
is  a  general  disposition  to  buy. 


All  out  (athletic),  where  a  runner 
or  walker  has  done  his  utmost, 
and  has  not  a  yard  up  his  sleeve. 

All-overish  (vulgarism),  a  sensa- 
tion as  of  illness,  chills,  shud- 
dering pleasure,  or  "the  creeps" 
from  head  to  foot. 

It  made  me  feel  all-overish  to  hear  him 
talk  so  ! 

Susan  kissed  me  one,  two,  three  times — 
I  swan  it  made  me  feel  all-overish  with 
plum-goodness. 

— An  Honest  Boy. 

All  over  pattern  (decorative  de- 
sign.) "  A  technical  term  that 
is  used  to  denote  a  design  in 
which  the  whole  of  a  field  is 
covered  with  ornament  in  con- 
tradistinction to  such  as  have 
units  only  at  intervals,  leaving 
spaces  of  the  ground  between 
them.  The  ornament  of  the 
Moors,  as  seen  in  the  decora- 
tions of  the  Alhambra,  and  that 
of  Eastern  nations  generally,  is 
most  commonly  of  this  nature  ; 
the  whole  surface  of  the  object 
is  covered  with  decorative  forms 
so  as  to  present  to  the  eye  a 
mass  of  elaborate  detail,  the 
leading  lines  of  which  can  often 
only  be  detected  by  careful 
scrutiny.  When,  as  in  some 
Persian  surfaces,  these  lines  are 
often  quite  lost,  the  result  is 
unsatisfactory." — F.  E.  Hulme : 
Suggestions  in  Floral  Design, 

All  over  the  shop  (common),  all 
over  the  place  ;  refers  also  to  an 
obtrusive  and  exaggerated  per- 
formance which  asserts  itself  in 
an  offensive  manner.     In  retail 


30 


All  over — All-rounder. 


traders'  slang  it  signifies  a  widely 
spread  movement  of  any  kind, 
a  general  scramble,  disturbance, 
or  agitation.  (Tailors),  used  of 
a  person  or  thing  taking  up  too 
much  room. 

Allow  (American),  to  admit,  to 
declare,  to  intimate  that  a  thing 
must  be  done.  This  word  is 
quaintly  used  by  rustics  in  dif- 
ferent states  to  express  thought, 
or  opinion  on  its  utterance  ;  to 
give.  "  AU  the  people  in  the 
room  cUloived  that  his  conduct 
was  perfectly  shameful."  "  He 
allowed  he'd  give  me  a  new  trunk 
if  I'd  allow  him  my  arm-chair." 
(Harrow),  allorc,  a  boy's  weekly 
allowance  of  pocket-money. 

Allowances  (tailors),  allowances 
for  making  up  a  garment,  i.e., 
for  seams,  padding,  wadding, 
buttoning,  and  respiration. 

All  plopa  (pidgin),  quite  right. 

OIo  Howqua,  he  talkee.  My  wife  she 
velly  'culis  'bout  pearlee  (is  very  curious  or 
pecuUar  as  to  pearls),  she  likee  one  kind 
pearlee,  no  other  chop  (quality)  can  do  ; 
she  likee  pearlee  numpa  one  lound,  he 
whitey  colour.  Look,  see  all  plopa,  alio 
samee  that  he  Empelor  hab  got  top  side 
he  hat.  Supposey  pearley  blongy  so 
fashion,  my  wifee  too  much  likee,  golaw. — 
Hmvqua  and  the  Pearls. 

All  round  (common),  a  phrase 
applied  to  a  thing  or  person 
thoroughly  adapted  to  its  or 
his  purpose,  and  signifies  in  its 
restricted  sense  complete  and 
perfect,  as  "an  aiZ  round  man 
of  business,"  "  an  all  round 
lawyer,"  "an  all  round  sports- 


man," "waall  round  gentleman 
or  lady,"  or  even  a.n  "  all  round 
scoundrel  or  thief  "  (in  America 
an  "all  round  crook.")  An  all 
round  man  is  one  who  can  turn 
his  hand  to  anything,  or  a  clerk 
who  can  undertake  all  the  de- 
partments in  his  business. 

A  much  graver  question  is  raised  by  the 
strongly  expressed  opinion  of  so  many  wit- 
nesses, that  the  foreigner  is  at  present  a 
better  all  roufui  man. — The  Times. 

Mr.  Cox  in  the  small  part  of  Coquelicot 
is  quite  himself  as  a  thoroughly  all 
round  actor — at  all  events  in  appearance. 
— Punch. 

An  all  round  player  at  billiards 
is  one  who  goes  in  for  any  kind 
of  stroke,  in  contradistinction  to 
a  player  who  plays  exclusively 
the  spot  stroke. 

It  was  very  evident  that  the  sympathies 
of  the  audience  were  with  the  all  round 
player  rather  than  with  the  spot  performer. 
The  one  was  all  grace  and  variety.  The 
other,  with  plenty  of  grace,  was  playing  a 
game  which  invariably  became  monotonous 
after  a  while.  There  is  no  doubt  that, 
nowadays,  the  British  public  cares  little 
for  billiard  exhibitions  in  which  the  staple 
is  a  continuous  succession  of  spot  strokes. 
— The  Star. 

An  all  round  cannon  is  said 
of  a  cannon  stroke  effected  by 
touching  the  cushions  in  suc- 
cession with  one's  ball  before 
striking  another. 

All-rounder  (common).  A  shirt 
collar  meeting  in  front,  thus 
covering  the  throat,  was  very 
fa.shionable  a  short  time  ago, 
and  no  "  masher"  would  be  seen 
without  one  reaching  up  to  his 
ears. 


All  round — Allspice. 


31 


All  round  my  hat  (popular),  "I 
feel  all  round  my  hat,"  I  feel 
queer,  do  not  feel  very  well. 
"That's  aU  round  my  hat"  is 
synonymous  with  "  that's  all 
gammon,"  or  nonsense.  From 
a  song  which  was  very  popular 
in  1834. 

Alls  (popular),  tap  droppings, 
or  inferior  spirits,  sold  cheap ; 
(workmen's),  goods  and  chat- 
tels, or,  perhaps,  more  properly, 
tools.  "Come,  pack  up  your 
alls  and  be  off,"  is  a  common 
form  of  dismissal  to  a  labourer 
or  workman. 

All-same  (pidgin),  a  very  common 
expression  for  "  the  same  as," 
like,  or  equal. 

Supposey  you  hearee  plenty  talkee  'bout 
fashion.  Ch  'hoy !  my  tlnkee  China- 
woman, fankwei  woman,  dllo  woman,  alio 
tinkey  dllo  same  inside  her  mouth.  Wat 
tim  you  pay  plenty  doUa',  he  allo-tim 
good  fashion. — Hcrwqtui  and  the  Pearls. 

All  serene  (popular),  all  safe,  all 
right. 

Who're  you,  sir? — oh,  Mister  So-and- 
so — all  right — and  this  gentleman  ? — friend 
o'  Mr.  W.'s — oh,  very  well — yes,  there's 
Barney — this  a  friend  o'  yours,  Barney? — 
yes? — all  right,  then — yes,  I  think  we're 
all  serene  I— Bird  d  Freedom. 

Some  years  ago  the  phrase  was 
bawled  in  the  streets,  before 
such  expressions  as  "  How's 
your  poor  feet  ? "  "  Who's  your 
hatter  ? "  came  into  vogue.  The 
Parisians  at  this  time  indulged 
in  equally  idiotic  inquiries  or 
calls,  such  as  "  Et  tes  pieds 
8ont-ils  Ji  la  sauce  1  "  "  Oh^ 
Lambert!  as-tu  vu  Lambert?" 


"Et  ta  soeor?"  Of  more  re- 
cent creation  is  the  stupid  "  On 
dirait  du  veau." 

All  smoke,  gammon,  and  pickles 
(popular),  all  deceit,  nonsense. 

All  sorts.     (See  All  Na'hons.) 

All  sorts  and  conditions  of  men. 

The  title  of  a  novel  by  Walter 
Besant,  and  the  heading  of  a 
well-known  collect  in  the  Pray er- 
Book.  It  has  passed  into  such 
common  and  general  use  as  to 
have  become  a  truly  "  fixed 
popular  phrase."  (See  All 
Nations.  ) 

It  was  a  rare  mess,  all  sorts  and  condi- 
tions of  men,  women,  and  children,  dogs 
and  cats,  promiscuously  intermingled,  and 
all  on  one  grand  kick-up. — American 
Newspaper. 

All  sorts  of  (American).  Bartlett 
defines  this  as  "  expert,  acute, 
excellent,  capital."  It  is  more 
accurately,  as  its  name  declares, 
"  perfect,  complete  in  every  de- 
tail, having  every  quality."  AU 
sorts  of  a  horse  is  a  horse  pos- 
sessed of  every  merit,  not  one 
that  is  merely  excellent  or 
capital.  AU  sorts  of  a  job  (E.  A. 
Poe,  cited  by  Bartlett)  does  not 
mean  an  expert,  acute,  or  excel- 
lent undertaking,  but  one  re- 
quiring all  conceivable  abilities. 
In  this  it  corresponds  to  the 
German  allerlei  and  Dutch  al- 
lerley.  "  Hy  is  van  aWer^e// soort 
voorzien."  Allerley  is,  in  fact, 
translated  aU  sorts  by  Sewel. 

Allspice  (popular),  a  grocer. 


32 


All^s  quiet — All  the  way. 


All's    quiet    on   the    Potomac  1 

(American).  This  phrase  ori- 
ginated during  the  Civil  War, 
and  has  since  been  the  refrain 
of  a  very  popular  song.  It  de- 
notes quietude ;  a  period  of  calm 
enjoyment.  "  Don't  fret  about 
things  ;  they  are  going  on 
swimmingly,  for  all's  quiet  on 
tJie  Potomac." 

All  T.  H.  (tailors),  all  right,  or 
very  good  indeed  (stock  cut- 
ters). 

All  the  caboose  (common),  every- 
where. The  caboose  is  the  galley 
or  cooking  place  of  a  ship,  or 
simply  a  kitchen. 

"  The  fact  is  he  conquers  us  every  one. 

Does  love,  love,  love  ! 
We  don't  find  it  out  till  the  mischief  is 
done. 

By  love,  love,  love  ! 
To  fight  against  him  is  no  manner  of  use, 
A  gander's  a  gander,  a  goose  is  a  goose. 
And  Cupid's  the  king  over  all  the  caboose. 

Oh  I  love,  love,  love  I " 

All  the  go  (common),  in  demand, 
fashionable,  meeting  with  a  very 
ready  sale. 

Jerry  Hawthorn  was  agreeable,  and  he 
and  Corinthian  Tom  were  soon  in  the  midst 
of  Li/e  in  London,  and  lost  no  time  in 
calling  on  young  Bob  Logic,  who  was  a 
gay  spark  like  his  father,  and  quite  aufait 
with  all  the  sprees  of  the  metropolis. 
"  F'ashions  have  changed,  my  dear  Coz," 
said  the  Corinthian,  "  and  the  young  bucks 
and  exquisites  seem  to  us  to  dress  strangely ; 
but  I  suppose  their  attire  is  all  the  go  now, 
and  these  are  the  swell  suits  made  by  the 
Dickey  Primefit  of  the  day." — Punch. 

It  is  also  used  in  America. 

.•\  gentleman  entered  a  Chicago  gun- 
store  and  asked  \.o  be  shown  some  revolvers. 


"  Here  is  a  nice  family  weapon,"  said  the 
clerk.  "Family  weapon?"  "Yes,  a 
family  weapon.  Just  the  thing  for  domes- 
tic tragedies.  It  has  six  chambers,  sir, 
two  bullets  for  your  faithless  wife,  two  for 
the  ruthless  destroyer  of  your  home,  and 
two  for  yourself.  They  are  all  the  go 
now." — Texas  Si/tings. 

Fine  stock  is  getting  to  be  all  the  go  in 
that  line  here  now,  and  there  is  some  as 
fine  here  as  can  be  found  anywhere, — 
Carlisle  Correspondence. 

All  there  (general),  extensively 
used  with  the  signification  of 
first-rate,  up  to  the  mark.  A 
good  player  at  any  game  is  said 
to  be  aU  there  ;  the  same  is  said 
of  a  pretty,  well-dressed  woman. 
A  smart  officer  also  is  all  there. 
It  likewise  means  to  be  in  one's 
element. 

The   band   and    the   'opping   was  prime, 

though,  and  'Arry  in  course  was  all 

there, 
I'd   several   turns  with   a   snappy  young 

party  with  stror-coloured  'air ; 
Her  name  she  informed  me  was  Polly,  and 

wen,  in  my  'appiest  style, 
I    sez,    "Polly   is  nicer   than    Politics  I" 

didn't  she  colour  and  smile  ! 

— Punch. 

All  the  shoot  (popular),  the  whole 
assembly,  all  the  party.  "  Every 
man-jack  of  them." 

The  Prince  of  Wales  in  a  bricklayer's 

suit, 
I  could  scarcely  believe  my  eyes. 
Helping  to  build  the  Royal  Institute  ! 
At  a  penny  an  hour  less  than  all  the 
shoot. 

Oh  !  what  a  surprise  ! 
— Oh .'  what  a  Surprise .'  Broadside 
Ballad. 

All  the  way  down,  or  simply  all  the 
way  (common  slang,  probably 
American),  entirely  (r/.  "down 


All  to — Almighty. 


33 


to  the  ground ").  It  implies 
probably  from  top  to  bottom. 
A  common  phrase  is  "  that  will 
suit  me  all  the  way  dovm,"  or  all 
the  way. 

All  to  his  own  cheek  (tailors) 
signifies  all  to  himself. 

All  to  pieces  (common),  utterly, 
excessively.  To  beat  one  all  to 
pieces  is  to  surpass  one  alto- 
gether. The  term  is  also  used 
by  boating  men.  A  crew  are 
said  to  have  fallen  all  to  pieces 
when  they  are  exhausted  and 
the  rowing  is  wild. 

All  up  (general),  a  synonym  for 
"  all  over,"  signifies  that  the  end 
has  come  to  any  one,  that  aU  is 
over  with  him.  "All  to  smash" 
is  another  phrase  of  a  similar 
meaning,  applied  to  a  person 
whose  affairs  are  irretrievably 
involved,  who  is  utterly  bank- 
rupt in  fortune.  Thus  one  hears 
that  "  So-and-so  has  gone  all  to 
smash,"  i.e.,  his  credit  is  gone. 
Plans,  and  indeed  anything,  may 
go  "all  to  smash."  A  similar 
expression  is  popular  among  the 
lower  classes  in  Belgium  and 
Holland,  and  among  children 
alle  op  signifies  that  every- 
thing is  gone — all  is  over.  An 
odd  variety  of  this  slang  is 
sometimes  heard  in  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Bartlett  records 
that  it  is  a  common  expression 
among  servants  in  Pennsylvania 
to  say,  "  all  any  more,"  instead 
of  "  all  gone  "  or  all's  up. 


All  wag  blue  (American),  a  jolly 
time,  a  frolic,  a  jamboree. — 
MS.  Americanisms,  by  C.  Ze- 
land  Harrison. 

'Tis  merry  in  hall 
When  beards  wag'  all. 

— Shakspeare. 

Ally-begf,  a  bed.  This  very 
ancient  and  nearly  obsolete 
cant  word  was  expressive  of 
the  pleasure  found  by  the  vaga- 
bond classes  in  the  unusual 
luxury  of  a  warm  and  comfort- 
able resting-place  for  the  night. 
People  who  slept  in  a  nook 
in  a  wall,  under  a  bush  or  a 
hedge,  or  the  chance  shelter  of 
a  barn  or  outhouse,  spoke  of  a 
bed  as  a\Re,  pleasant,  agreeable, 
and  heg,  little,  i.e.,  a  little  place 
or  harbour  of  pleasantness. 
Leah  is  Gaelic  for  a  bed,  and 
leab-beg,  a  little  bed ;  and  leab- 
ker  or  lybker,  a  house  with  beds 
in  it,  a  lodging-house  for  travel- 
lers. 

Almighty  smash  (American).  The 
adjective  is  used  in  an  infinite 
variety  of  ways,  and  Lord  Lytton 
in  a  certain  measure  acclima- 
tised it  on  this  side  of  the 
water.  For  example,  he  speaks 
in  the  following  quotations  of 
almighty  smash  (that  is,  a  state 
of  complete  demolition) ;  of 
"  driving  into  almighty  shivers  " 
(a  state  of  entire  collapse) ;  and 
of  "almighty  crack"  (that  is, 
without  ceasing — a  reference 
to  the  popular  crack  of  doom). 
These  phrases  are  thus  illustrated 
from  one  of  his  best  works — 
C 


34 


Almighty^  Altitude. 


"  I  wish  you  would  mind  the  child — 
It  is  crumpling  up  and  playing  almighty 
smash  with  that  flim-flam  book,  which 
cost  me  one  pound  one." 

"  As  if  that  was  not  enough  to  destroy 
and  drive  into  '  almighty  shivers,'  a  decent 
fair-play  Britisher  like  myself." 

"  Let  us  cut  short  a  yam  of  talk  which, 
when  it  comes  to  likings  and  dislikings, 
might  last  to  '  almighty  crack.'  " 

— My  Novel. 

"The  ^almighty  dollar,'  that  great  ob- 
ject of  universal  devotion  throughout  our 
land,  seems  to  have  no  genuine  devotees 
in  these  peculiar  villages." — Washington 
Irving:  Creole  Village. 

Almyra,  an  Anglo-Indian  word 
for  a  chest  of  drawers,  derived 
from  the  Hindustani  almdri,  and 
the  Portugese  almario.  Old 
English,  ambry,  a  cupboard, 
niche;  Italian,  anaodio;  Latin, 
armaria. 

Alsatia  (common),  synonymous 
with  low  quarter.  The  higher 
Alsatia  was  a  sanctuary  in  White 
Friars,  where  people  were  for- 
merly free  from  arrest  for  debt. 
The  lower  Alsatia  was  also  a 
sanctuary  of  the  same  descrip- 
tion, and  was  situated  in  the 
Mint  in  Southwark. 

And  for  this  ruin  the  gambling-house  is 
responsible.  Huntley  is  but  one  of  the 
thousands  who  are  stripped  annually  of 
all  they  possess  in  this  modem  Alsatia. 
Not  only  of  their  money,  but  of  their  health 
and  of  their  happiness. — T.  Greenwood: 
A  Gambling  Hell. 

Whitefriars,  adjacent  to  the  Temple, 
then  well  known  by  the  cant  name  of 
Alsatia,  had  at  this  time,  and  for  nearly 
a  century  afterwards,  the  privilege  of  a 
sanctuary,  unless  ag.ainst  the  writ  of  the 
Lord  Chief  -  J  ustice.  .  .  .  The  place 
abounded  with  desperadoes  of  every  de- 
ncription — bankrupt  citizens,  ruined  game- 


sters, irreclaimable  prodigals,  &c   &c. — 
Scott :  Fortunes  of  Nigel. 

The  haunt  of  gladiators  and  prize- 
fighters— of  the  vicious  and  penniless — of 
the  savage  and  the  obscene — the  Alsatia 
of  an  ancient  city. — Lord  Lytton:  The 
Last  Days  of  Pompeii. 

Alsatian  (old),  a  rogue,  such  as 
lived  in  Alsatia  or  Whitefriars, 

He  spurr'd  to  London,  and  left  a 
thousand  curses  behind  him.  There  he 
stmck  up  with  sharpers,  scourers,  and 
Alsatians.— Gentleman  Instructed. 

Altemal  (American  thieves'  slang), 
altogether ;  the  sum  total  of  a 
story  or  bill ;  cut  it  short.  From 
the  Dutch  altemal,  altogether. 

What  was  the  altemal^.  It  only  raised 
fifteen  cases.  The  dummy  raked  a  case 
and  a  half,  and  the  thimble  was  a  first,  but 
the  slang  and  onions  were  bene. — On  the 
Trail. 

In  olden  days  the  phrase  was 
specially  applied  to  the  accounts 
rendered  to  the  frequenters  of 
brothels,  such  being  given  with- 
out details — a  practice  which 
allowed  of  gross  overcharges 
without  any  possible  means  of 
verification- 
Altering  the  Jeff's  click  (tailors), 
making  up  a  garment  without 
reference  to  the  cutter's  chalk 
lines  or  style. 

Altham  (old  cant),  a  "curtall's" 
wife.  A  curtail  was  a  second 
in  command  in  the  fraternity  of 
vagabonds. 

Altitude  (obsolete),  a  drunken 
man  was  said  to  be  "  out  of  his 
altitude." 


Amah — Ameer. 


35 


Amah  (Anglo-Indian),  a  wet-nurse. 
Portuguese  ama,  German  amme, 
a  nurse. 

A  sort  of  good-natured  housekeeper-like 
bodies,  who  talk  only  of  ayahs  and  amoAs, 
and  bad  nights  and  babies,  and  the  advan- 
tages of  Hodgson's  ale  while  they  are 
nursing ;  seeming,  in  short,  devoted  to 
suckling  fools  and  chronicling  small  beer. — 
Letter froTtt  Madras,  Yule  and  BumelTs 
Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

In  pidgin  English  it  has  the 
same  signification : — 

My  look-see,  one  amah,  t'at  amah  has 
got  one  piecee  littee  fankwei  chilo,  wat 
look-see  allo-same  one  Japanee  nitchky. 
I  askee  amah,  "  How  much  you  sellum 
my  that  one  piecee  culio?" — Th^  Sartcy 
Sayings  of  Wan-  Tong. 

Amandi,  mende,  men  (gypsy),  we ; 
amendi,  a  men  did,  we  two. 
"Jasa  tu  sar  amandi,  man  se 
trashno"  —  "Come  with  us; 
don't  be  afraid." 

Ambassador  (nautical),  a  practical 
joke  performed  on  board  ship 
\>j  Jack  Tars  in  warm  latitudes, 
the  victim  being  ducked  in  the 
wash-deck  tub,  and  subjected 
to  other  indignities  (Admiral 
Smyth).  Sailors  of  other  nations 
indulge  in  similar  jokes  when 
crossing  the  equator. 

Ambia  or  ambeer  (American),  a 
euphemism  for  salivated  tobacco . 
juice,  the  result  of  chewing. 
Bartlett  says,  "The  word  is  a 
corruption  of  amber,  to  which 
it  bears  a  slight  resemblance  in 
colour,  manifesting  certainly  a 
delicacy  of  expression  which 
borders  upon  the  poetical." 


The  word  afiUna,  as  generally  used  at 
Princeton,  which  largely  represents  the 
solid  South,  is  not  applied  to  saliva,  but  to 
the  intensely  strong  nicotine,  or  thick  brown 
substance  which  forms  in  pipes.  I  have 
always  supposed  that  it  is  merely  a  South- 
ern variation  of  amber,  which  exactly 
represents  its  colour. — Notes  by  C.  G. 
Leland. 


Ambidexter  (obsolete),  a  barrister 
who  acts  as  a  counsel  for  both 
parties.  Also  a  blackleg  who 
shares  with  both  parties  at  the 
gaming-table,  or  on  the  race- 
course. 

Ambush  (American),  a  nickname 
for  the  scales  used  by  grocers, 
coal-dealers,  &c.  So  called  be- 
cause they  are  always  "  lying  in 
weight." 

Ameen  (Anglo-Indian),  an  Arabic 
word  amin,  meaning  a  trust- 
worthy person,  but  applied  by 
the  English  in  India  to  several 
kinds  of  native  officials,  nearly 
all  reducible  to  the  definition 
of  fide  commisaariiis.  It  is  also 
applied  to  native  assistants 
in  land  surveying.  —  Yide  and 
Burnell :  A  nglo  -  Indian  Glos- 
sary. 

"  Bengalee  dewans,  once  pure,  are  con- 
verted into  demons  ;  ameens,  once  harm- 
less, become  tigers. — Peterson,  Speech  in 
the  Nte  Durpan  case,  ibid. 

Ameer  (Anglo-Indian),  originally 
an  Arab  word  amin,  root  amr, 
signifying  commanding  or  a 
commander,  is  used  in  the  East 
in  a  very  general  way  for  digni- 
taries and  magnates. 


36 


Amen — Ampersand. 


Amen  (gypsy),  among. 

Amen  a  shel  o'  Gorgios, 
Jinas  len  Romany ; 
(Among  a  hundred  Gorgios, 
You'd  know  the  Romany.) 

—O.  Patteran. 

Amen  chapel  (Winchester),  a 
service  on  "  Com.  and  Ob." 
(which  see),  when  the  responses 
are  chaunted  to  the  organ,  and 
instead  of  the  ordinary  psalms 
and  first  lesson,  Psalms  145, 146, 
and  147,  and  Eccles.  are  used. 

Amen  curler  (old),  a  parish  clerk, 
from  the  response  so  frequently 
made  use  of  by  him. 

Amen  wallah  (military),  the 
chaplain's  clerk,  who  makes 
the  responses  in  the  garrison  or 
other  church.  The  suffix  waU 
lah  is  the  well-known  Hindu- 
stani word  signifying  man  or 
person,  and  is  one  of  innumer- 
able instances  of  the  adoption 
in  our  army  of  Hindustani  terms, 
due  to  the  lengthened  occupa- 
tion of  India  by  British  troops. 

Amener  (old),  a  regular  amener, 
one  who  says  yes  to  everything. 

Amerace  (American  thieves' 
slang),  very  near,  within  call. 

Americanesses  (American).  This 
version  of  Americaine  has  begun 
to  appear  in  Western  news- 
papers. 

Talented  "Americanesses"  Abroad. 
— Miss  Anna  E.  Klumpke,  who  has  been 
studying  for  many  years  under  the  best 
Paris  masters,  can  now  be  ranked  among 
the  first  American  portrait  artists.       She 


received  an  "Honourable  Mention"  in 
last  year's  Salon  for  her  portrait  of  her 
sister,  Dr.  Klumpke,  whose  appointment 
to  be  house  surgeon  in  the  Paris  hospitals 
created  no  little  sensation  a  year  ago  in 
French  medical  circles.  Miss  Klumpke, 
the  artist,  is  now  in  the  South  of  France 
finishing  a  portrait  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Cady 
Stanton. — Chicago  Tribune. 

Americanising  (American). 
"  Americanising  a  people,"  ac- 
cording to  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Gubel- 
man,  "  consists  in  teaching 
them  the  English  language. 
After  this  come  sundry  minor 
virtues.  He  is  not  a  true 
American  who  desecrates  the 
Sabbath,  who  yields  to  intem- 
perance, or  treads  down  the 
laws." 

American  shoulders  (tailors), 
shoulders  cut  broad  and  ' '  built 
up,"  to  give  the  wearer  an  ap- 
pearance of  massiveness  about 
the  shoulder. 

American  tweezers  (thieves' 
slang),  an  instrument  by  means 
of  which  an  hotel  thief  is  en- 
abled to  open  a  door  fastened 
with  the  key  in  the  lock  inside. 

Ames  all  (old  slang),  within  amea 
all,  nearly,  very  near. 

Aminadab  (cant),  a  jeering  name 
for  a  Quaker. 

Ammunition  leg  (army),  a  wooden 
leg. 

Ampersand  (American,  but  of 
Enf^lish  origin),  the  seat  or 
hinder   part.      In    one   of   the 


Ampersand — Analf. 


Z7 


Crockett  almanacs  a  hunter 
speaks  of  a  bear's  ampersand. 
Derived  from  "  and  per  se  and," 
thus  explained  by  Bartlett : — 

"  Two  generations  ago,  when 
Irish  schoolmasters  were  com- 
mon at  the  South,  this  expres- 
sion, equivalent  to  the  &  annexed 
to  the  alphabet  (meaning  &  per 
se  and,  to  distinguish  it  from 
&c.),  was  in  frequent  use." 

As  the  ampersand  came  at  the 
bottom  of  the  alphabet,  it  came 
to  be  at  length  associated  with 
the  breech  itself. 

But  he  observed  in  apology,  that  it  (z) 
was  a  letter  you  never  wanted  hardly,  and 
he  thought  it  had  only  been  put  there  "to 
finish  oflF  th'  alphabet,  like,  though  antpus- 
ena  (&)  would  ha'  done  as  well,"  for 
what  \\^co\:^A%^e..— George  Eliot :  Adam 
Bede. 

A  shrivelled,  cadaverous,  neglected  piece 
of  deformity,  i'  the  shape  of  an  ezard  or 
an  empersi-and,  or  in  short  anything. — 
Charles  Macklin :  The  Man  of  the  World. 

Ample  form.  Lodge  opened  by 
the  Grand  Master  in  person, 
' '  Due  Form "  by  the  deputy, 
"Form"  by  other  mason  or 
person.  Also  used  colloquially 
for  the  "  correct  thing." 

Amputate  your  timber,  or  your 
mahogany,  to  (common),  to  go 
away,  run  off.  A  variant  of 
"  cut  your  stick,"  as  a  person 
who  cuts  a  walking-stick  from 
a  tree  or  hedge  previous  to 
starting  on  a  journey. 

A-muck  ( Anglo- Andian),  from  the 
Malay  amuk  or  amok,  to  run 
furiously  and  desperately  at  any 


and  every  one,  to  make  a  furi- 
ous onset.  A  word  probably 
derived  from  the  Malay,  though 
there  is  some  reason  to  ascribe 
an  Indian  origin  to  the  term. 
Malayan  scholars  say  it  rarely 
occurs  in  any  other  than  the 
verbal  form  mengdmuk,  to  make 
a  furious  assault.  It  has  passed 
into  general  use,  and  is  often 
applied  to  any  one  who  sets 
himself  up  to  defy  popular 
opinions,  or  the  multitude.  The 
word  was  familiar  to  English- 
men two  centuries  ago. 

Frontless  and  satire-proof  he  scours  the 

streets, 
And  runs    an   Indian   vtuck  at  all   he 
meets. 

— Dry  den  :   The  Hind  and  the 
Panther,  a.d.  1687. 

Satire's  my  weapon,   but   I'm   too  dis- 
creet 

To  run  a-muck,  and  tilt  at  all  I  meet. 
— Pope :  Imitation  0/ Horace,  a.  d. 
1727 — Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

To  run  amock  is  to  get  drunk  with 
opium  ...  to  sally  forth  from  the  house, 
kill  the  person  or  persons  supposed  to  have 
injured  the  amock,  and  any  other  person 
that  attempts  to  impede  his  passage.^^ 
Cook's  Voyage. 

Amusers  (English  and  American), 
thieves,  who  formerly  used  to 
throw  snuff  or  pepper  in  a  vic- 
tim's eyes,  while  an  accomplice 
robbed  him,  under  pretext  of 
rendering  assistance. 

Anabaptist  (obsolete),  a  thief, 
caught  in  the  act,  and  doused 
in  the  horse  trough  or  pond. 

Analken  (tinker),  to  wash. 

Analt  (tinker),  to  sweep,  to  broom. 


38 


Anava — Atigeliferous. 


Anava,  Anner  (gypsy).  In  the 
common  dialect  dnner  or  hanner, 
to  bring,  fetch,  carry. 

"  If  tute  '11  anner  a  truslo  levinor 
niandy  'II  pessur  lis" — "  If  you  will  bring 
a  quart  of  ale,  I'll  pay  for  it." 

Anchor  (nautical).  "Bring  your 
a — e  to  an  anchor"  i.e.,  sit 
down ;  also  "  bring  yourself  to 
an  anchor,"  a  common  phrase. 

"Hullo,  Pet!  .  .  .  bring  yourself  to  an 
anchor,  my  man."  The  Pet  accordingly 
anchored  himself  by  dropping  on  to  the 
edge  of  a  chair.— C  Bedt:  Verdant  Green. 

"  To  let  go  an  anchor  to  the 
windward  of  the  law,"  to  keep 
just  within  the  letter  of  the  law. 
SaOors  use  the  expression  "to 
heave  anchor,"  meaning  to  go 
away. 

And  yet,  my  boys,  would  you  believe  me  ? 
1  returned  with  no  rhino  from  sea ; 
Mistress  Polly  would  never  receive  me, 
So  again  I  heav'd  anchor — yo,  yea  ! 
— C.  Dibdin  :  The  Good  Ship  the  Kitty. 

Anchorage  (popular),  a  place  of 
abode.  The  term  explaining 
itself. 

Ancient  mariners  (Oxford  Uni- 
versity slang),  rowing  "dons" 
at  Oxford.  A  crew  of  dons  {vide 
DoKs)  are  always  called  ancient 
mariners. 

And  don't  you  forget  it !  (Ameri- 
can). This  common-place  ex- 
hortation, as  it  is  popularly  used 
and  forcibly  intoned,  illustrates 
the  fact  that  any  word  or  ex- 
pression, by  dint  of  repetition 
and  emphasis,  may  become  as- 
sociated with  humour  until  it 


seems  to  have  something  in  it 
beyond  its  real  meaning. 

And  he  didn't  (tailors),  often  used 
to  express  the  belief  that  a  per- 
son has  really  done  something 
discreditable  in  spite  of  the 
attempt  to  prove  his  innocence. 

And  no  mog^e  (tailors),  and  no 
mistake,  joking  apart.  Some- 
times it  is  used  as  an  interroga- 
tion, and  at  other  times  to  ex- 
press disbelief ;  for  instance,  a 
man  may  be  relating  some  in- 
credible story,  and  an  auditor 
will  convey  a  world  of  meaning 
by  quietly  remarking,  but  with 
peculiar  emphasis,  and  no  moguc. 

And  no  whistle  (taUors).  This 
remark  means,  no  one  seems  to 
think  that  what  you  have  said 
applies  to  yourself,  but  I  do. 

Andrew  Miller  (nautical),  a  man- 
o'-war  ;  Andrew  Miller  s  lur/ger, 
a  vessel  of  the  royal  navy,  is 
smugglers'  slang  taken  out  to 
Australia  by  the  convicts,-  and 
is  used  by  accomplices  in  warn- 
ing the  smugglers  of  the  ap- 
proach of  revenue  cutters,  &c. 

AnerjSl  (gypsy),  over  against,  vis- 
n-vis.  Mungw^  is  also  au  obso- 
lete term  for  the  same. 

An  rikkerdas  stardy  anerjdl, 
To  akovo  kalo  Romany  chdl. 

—O.  Delaben. 

Angelicas  (popular),  young  un- 
married women. 

Angeliferous  (American),  a  word 
signifying  "  angelic,"  and  first 


rl  ugeliferous — A  nglo-French . 


39 


used  by  Bird  in  his  novel  of 
"  Nick  of  the  Woods,"  in  which 
roaring  Ralph  Stackpole  fre- 
quently calls  the  heroine  ^'^an- 
geliferous  Madam  I " 

Heaven,  my  hyarers,  is  all  sorts  of  a 
glorious,  beautiful,  angeliferous  place. 
Eye  hath  not  seen,  ear  hath  not  heard, 
it  hath  not  entered  into  the  heart  of  any 
cracker  round  in  these  hyar  diggins  to 
conceive  what  carryins-on  the  jest-made- 
perfect  hev  up  thar. — A  Hard-  West  Ser- 
tnon. 

Angels  altogether  (West  Indian), 
a  sobriquet  applied  to  those  who 
habitually  give  way  to  excessive 
drinking. 

Angel's  footstool  (nautical),  an 
imaginary  sail  jokingly  assumed 
to  be  carried  by  Yankee  vessels. 
It  is  said  to  be  a  square  sail, 
and  to  top  the  "  sky  sails," 
"moon  sails,"  "cloud  cleaners," 
&c.  —  W.  Clark  Rutiell :  Sailors' 
Language. 

Ang-el's  gear  (nautical),  a  grace- 
ful term  used  by  gallant  tars  to 
denote  female  attire. 

Angel  suit  (tailors),  vestand  jacket 
combined,  and  the  trousers  made 
to  button  to  the  bottom  of  the 
jacket.  It  is  now  a  thing  of  the 
past. 

Angel's  whisper  (military),  the 
bugle  or  trumpet  call  for  de- 
faulters' drill.  It  sounds  from 
three  to  four  times  a  day,  and 
the  expression  is  undoubtedly 
euphemistic ;  like  the  favourite 
expletive  of  the  sea  captain, 
who,  when  reproving  his  crew. 


said  :    "  Bless    you,   my  lads  ; 
bless  vou  1     You  know  what  I 


Anglaterra,  Anghiaterra  (gypsy), 
England. 

Angled  (billiards^,  an  angled  ball 
is  one  that  is  so  near  the  edge 
of  the  pocket,  that  a  player  is 
prevented  from  playing  at  any 
other  ball  direct. 

Anglers  or  hookers  (thieves) 
petty  thieves,  who  steal  goods 
by  means  of  a  stick  with  a  hook 
at  the  end. 

Suffer  none,  from  far  or  near, 
With  their  rights  to  interfere  ; 
No  strange  Abram,  ruffler  crack. 
Hooker  of  another  pack. 
Rogue,  or  rascal,  frater,  maunderer, 
Irish  toyle,  or  other  wanderer ; 
No  dimber-damber,  angler,  dancer. 

— Ainsivorth :  Oath  of  the  Canting 
Crezv. 

Modem  French  thieves  call 
this  mode  of  purloining  "  grin- 
chissage  au  boulon,"  from  the 
circumstance  that  the  hook  is 
inserted  through  a  bolt-hole  in 
the  shutters.  Angler  is  a  very 
old  slang  term  (nearly  obso- 
lete) for  an  adventurer  or  catch- 
penny. It  may  be  found  used  in 
Breton's  "Wit's  Trenchmen " 
(159)  in  this  sense.  It  is  now 
also  applied  to  rogues,  who  at 
races  and  country  fairs  entice 
the  unwary  to  try  their  luck  at 
the  thimblerig,  prick  in  the 
garter,  three-trick -card,  &c 

Anglo-French.  Much  notice  has 
been  taken  of  late  of  English  as 


.40 


A  uglo- French — A  nimals. 


"she  is  spoken ; "  not  so  much  of 
French  as  "he  is  Englished," 
possibly  because  it  is  no  longer 
fashionable  in  England  to  use 
French  words  needlessly  in  con- 
versation, although  the  number 
of  gentlemen  who  ask  for  lee- 
cures  after  dinner  is  still  "  very 
respectable."  In  the  United 
States  it  is,  however,  still  very 
current,  if  we  may  believe  the 
assertion  of  an  American  "  news- 
paporial  writer,"  who  asserts 
that  "there  are  on  an  average 
six  misquotations,  malpronun- 
ciations,  or  misapplications  of 
French  daily  among  our  entire 
population  per  head." 

Detroit  is  agog  over  the  expected  pro- 
duction of  a  new  comic  opera,  written  by 
Miss  Marie  M'Kenna,  a  local  musician. 
It  is  called  "  Lucile,"  and  is  a  love  story 
of  Alsatian  peasants.  Miss  M'Kenna  ad- 
mits that  she  is  "  poetess  as  well  as  musi- 
cian." The  following  is  a  stanza  from  one 
of  her  "  lyrics"  : 

Dear  Claude  will  escort  me  au  bon  tnarche, 
And  whatever  we  buy  will  be  recherche, 
Recherche,  recherche, 
And  nicer  than  anything  here. 

This  is  supposed  to  represent  the  ecstatic 
delight  of  a  young  girl  who  has  just  caught 
a  husband.  Miss  M'Kenna's  French  is 
rather  rheumatic,  but  the  verses  will  touch 
a  chord  in  every  feminine  heart. — Chicago 
Tribune. 

Anglomaniacs  (American), 
another  name  for  Bostonians 
as  being  ultra-English.  There 
is  a  club  at  Boston  called  the 
A  tifflomaniacs. 

Angry  boys.  Slang  of  the  early 
part  of  the  .seventeenth  centurj-, 
to  designate  the  noisy  and 
riotous  young  men  or  "  bloods," 


who  in  dronken  or  semi-drunken 
frolics  made  nocturnal  disturb- 
ances in  the  streets,  and  com- 
mitted outrages  on  unoffending 
passengers.  A  century  later 
these  public  nuisances  were 
called  Mohawks. 

I  have  heard  some  speech 
Of  the  angry  boys,  and  seen  'em  take  to- 
bacco. 

— Ben  Jonson :  Tht  A  Ichemist. 

Get  thee  another  nose  that  will  be  pull'd 
Off  by  the  angry  boys  for  thy  conversion. 
— Beaumont  and  Fletcher :  The  Scorn- 
ful Lady. 

Angular  party  (common),  a  party 
composed  of  three,  five,  or 
seven  persons. 

Angustrin  (gypsy),  a  finger,  a 
ring,  corrupted  to  wongashy. 
It  also  means  only  a  finger's- 
breadth,  or  a  very  little,  in  any 
sense.  Hence  wdngish,  a  little, 
a  short  time.  "  '  Hatch  a  won- 
gish,  besh  a  wongish  akai  for 
me,'  pende  laki  "  — "  '  Stop  a 
little,  wait  a  little  here  for  me,' 
she  said." 

Animal,  to  go  the  whole  (Ameri- 
can), in  common  use  in  the 
West.  It  is  a  mere,  though 
more  popular  variant  of  the 
English  "  to  go  the  whole  hog," 
and  means  the  same. 

That  they  had  much  better  pay  first- 
class,  and  go  the  entire  animal. — Sala  : 
Twice  Round  the  Clock. 

Opposing  all  half  measures,  and  prefer- 
ring to  go  the  extreme  animal. — Dickens  : 
Nicholas  Nicklchy. 

Animals  (American  cadets),  the 
cognomen  by  which  new  arrivals 


A  n  imals — A  nointing. 


41 


are  known  at  the  West  Point 
Military  Academy  (see  also 
"Bkasts").  The  English  have 
' '  snooker "  and  the  lYench 
' '  melon  "  as  equivalents.  A  new 
cadet  who  puts  on  extravagant 
airs  and  pretensions — a  cox- 
comb or  "puppy" — is  called 
"a  fast  animal." 

Ankair  (gypsy),  to  begin. 

"  I  ain't  Idled  kek  religion, 
An'  I'll  kek  ankair  kenna  ; 
But  if  waver  foki  kams  lis 
Mukk  lendy  kair  aja." 

—E.  H.  Palmer. 
("  I  have  taken  (got)   no  religion,  and 
I'll  not   begin   now  ;  but  if  other  people 
like  it,  let  them  do  so." 

Ankle  (American  thieves'  slang). 
"  She  has  sprained  her  anUe," 
she  has  had  an  illegitimate 
child.  Also,  "  She  has  broken 
her  leg."  A  somewhat  similar 
expression  is  used  in  the  French 
theatrical  world ;  a  lady  who  is 
enceinte  is  said  to  have  a  bad 
knee :  "  Elle  a  mal  au  genou." 

Anna  (Anglo-Indian).  Hindi,  and 
or  dndh,  the  sixteenth  part  of  a 
rupee.  The  term  is  also  applied 
colloquially  to  persons  of  mixed 
parentage.  "Such  an  one  has 
at  least  two  annas  of  dark 
blood,"  or  "of  coffee  colour." 
This  may  be  compared  with  the 
Scotch  expression  that  a  person 
of  deficient  intellect  "  wants 
twopence  in  the  shilling." — 
Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

In  the  United  States  this  slang 
is  paralleled  by  the  following 
expressions :— "  He  "or  "  she 
has   a  lick  of  the  tar-brush." 


"  He  has  a  white  stripe  down 
the  back,"  it  being  beUeved 
that  mulattoes  or  quadroons 
have  a  line  of  light  colour  on 
the  spine. 

Annex  (American),  to  steal.  It 
became  popular  in  1835,  at  the 
time  of  the  annexation  of  Texas, 
which  was  regarded  by  many  as 
a  theft. 

Robert,  "Prince"  of  the  Yetholm 
gipsies,  was  recently  charged  with  stealing 
a  pair  of  spectacles.  The  "Prince"  said 
that  his  eyes  were  in  a  very  queer  condi- 
tion, and  that  he  had  no  intention  of  an- 
nexing the  spectacles,  which  he  picked  up 
quite  by  accident ;  but  the  beak  remarked 
that  bagging  barnacles  constituted  a  serious 
offence,  and  was  a  short-sighted  policy  for 
a  man  to  pursue.  As  "Prince"  Robert 
left  the  dock  he  promised  faithfully  to 
avoid  the  eyes  of  the  law  in  future. — Fun. 

Some  account  of  this  ready- 
witted  Prince  Robert  may  be 
found  in  ' '  The  English  Gypsies 
and  their  Language,"  Triibner, 
1874. 

Anodyne  necklace  (old),  a  halter. 
The  hangman's  noose  was  also 
called  the  "  Tyburn  tippet,"  a 
"  horse's  nightcap,"  a  "  hempen 
cravat." 

Anog  (American),  an  andiron. 
Bartlett  derives  this  from  hand- 
dog,  Dutch  aan-hoog,  that  which 
heightens  or  raises. 

Anointed  (Irish),  is  expressive  of 

great  rascality. 

Anointing  (popular),  a  sound  beat- 
ing, the  effect  taken  for  the 
cause. 


42 


Anonyma — Another. 


Anonyma  (obsolete),  or  incognita, 
a  lady  of  the  demi-monde  or  even 
quart-de-monde,  corresponds  to 
the  French  cocotte. 

The  carefully  sealed  envelopes  contain- 
ing letters  from  fair  anonytnas. — Bulwer 
LyttoH :  Kenebn  Chillingly. 

The  late  Mr.  H.  J.  Byron, 
the  playwright  and  actor,  in 
some  MSS.  annotations  to  a 
copy  of  the  "  Slang  Dictionary," 
now  in  the  British  Museum, 
says,  writing  in  November  1868, 

that  "  Miss ,  said  to  have 

been  the  real  Anonyma,  died  at 
Paris  about  that  time."  Other 
synonyms  are  "  pretty  horse- 
breaker,"  "demi-rep,"  and  the 
more  modern  "  tart,"  which, 
however,  is  used  also  in  the 
sense  of  woman,  wife.  The 
lower  in  the  scale  are — mot, 
common  jack,  bunter,  bed-fagot, 
shake,  bulker,  gay  woman,  un- 
fortunate, barrack-hack,  dress 
lodger,  &c. 

Another  acrobat  (music  hall),  for 
another  tumbler,  i.e.,  another 
glass  of  drink. 

Another  fellow's  (popular),  a 
slang  phrase  which,  like  most  of 
its  kind,  owes  its  popularity  to 
its  almost  indefinite  power  of 
application.  Thus  if  a  man  re- 
marks that  he  has  a  new  coat, 
he  is  awked  if  it  was  another 
fellow's,  or  if  the  girl  with  whom 
he  is  in  company  is  not  the 
property  of  some  one  else. 

Whenever   you    meet   me,    I've   always   a 
joke, 

A  nothcr  fellah' i. 


I  love  a  good  weed,  so  invariably  smoke 

A  nother fellah's. 
Round  into  the  Cri.  every  evening  I  slip. 
And  deep  in  the  pale  sparkling  bitter   I 

dip. 
And  when  I've  no  money  I  generally  sip 
A  nother  fellah 's. 
Not  mine,  nor  yours, 
Not  his,  nor  hers, 
No,  no — another  fellah's. 

— Another  Fellah's  Ballad. 

Another  gfuess  sort  of  man  (old). 
The  expression  is  invariably 
applied  to  one  who  is  knowing 
and  "  fly,"  or  not  the  man  you 
take  him  to  be.  It  has  a  close 
resemblance  both  in  sound  and 
meaning  to  the  Yiddish  "chess." 
This  may  be  a  mere  coincidence, 
but  it  is  certainly  of  English 
origin. 

He  has  been  a  student  in  the  temple 
these  three  years  ;  another  guess  sort  of 
man,  I  assure  you. — Tom  D' Urfey :  Ma- 
dame Tickle,  1682. 

Another  lie  nailed  to  the  coimter 

(American),  a  very  common 
expression  in  American  news- 
papers in  reference  to  detected 
slanders,  &c.  It  was  usual  in 
olden  times  to  nail  "  Bungtown 
(t.e.,  Birmingham)  coppers,"  and 
all  kinds  of  counterfeit  or  worth- 
less coins,  to  the  counters  of 
the  country  "stores"  or  shops. 
This  is  mentioned  in  the  "  Jack 
Downing  Letters," 

"  If  there  is  any  truth,"  exclaims  the 
excited  editor  of  a  North  Carolina  paper, 
"  in  the  story  that  one  of  the  Chicago  An- 
archists is  employing  his  time  in  jail  in 
the  perfecting  of  an  invention  by  which  a 
clarionet,  equal  in  tone  to  the  best  in  the 
market,  can  be  made  of  tin  and  sold  for 
fifteen  cents,  the  man  ought  to  be  hanged 
at  once."     Rest   easy,   brother.     None   of 


Antagonise — Any  other. 


43 


the  condemned  Anarchists  is  fond  enough 
of  work  to  spend  his  time  in  such  a  man- 
ner. The  story  has  doubtless  been  cir- 
culated for  political  effect.  Another  lie 
nailed. — Chicago  Tribune. 

Antagonise  (sporting),  to  act  as 
an  opponent. 

Dingley  Dell  sent  Jones  and  Brown  to 
the  wickets,  where  they  were  antagonised 
with  the  leather  by  Alf  and  the  Young 
Phenomenon.  Alf  threw  up  a  maiden. — 
The  Saturday  Review. 


Anthony 

kneed. 


cuffins    (old),    knock- 


Anthony  or  tantony  pig  (old), 
the  favourite  or  smallest  pig 
in  the  litter.  To  follow  like 
St.  Anthony's  pig  meant  to 
follow  close  at  one's  heels.  St. 
Anthony  the  hermit  was  a  swine- 
herd, and  is  always  represented 
with  his  bell  and  pig. 

Antimony  (printer's),  type. 

Anty-up  (Australian  and  Ame- 
rican), a  game  of  cards. 

As  they  ride  up,  a  savage-looking  half- 
bred  bull  dog  yelps  hoarsely,  and  two  or 
three  men  creep  out  from  underneath  the 
tarpaulin  of  the  nearest  dray,  where  they 
have  been  playing  anty-up  (a  favourite 
game  with  cards)  for  tobacco.  John  re- 
cognises a  teamster  who  has  been  employed 
by  himself. — D.  Sladen. 

From  ante,  the  stake  with 
which  the  dealer  at  poker  com- 
mences each  hand  before  deal- 
ing the  cards  ;  he  puts  up  a 
"  chip"  in  front  of  him,  hence 
the  name.  Make  good  the  ante  ; 
the  dealer,  after  looking  at  his 
hand,  must  either  go  out  of  the 


game  and  forfeit  his  ante,  or 
must  make  it  good  by  putting 
up  a  sum  equal  to  it,  so  as  to 
make  his  stake  the  same  as  that 
of  the  other  players.  Raising 
the  ante ;  any  one  at  the  time  of 
"chipping  in"  to  fill  his  hand 
may  raise  the  ante,  and  the  other 
players  must  then  in  turn  make 
their  stakes  equal  to  the  maxi- 
mum so  raised,  or  else  must 
"  run  "  and  abandon  what  they 
have  already  staked. 

Anxious  or  inquirers'  meeting 
(common,  but  of  American  ori- 
gin), an  after-meeting  held  dur- 
ing a  "  revival  "  for  the  benefit 
of  those  who  profess  "to  be 
anxious  for  their  soul's  salva- 
tion." Those  who  during  "  re- 
vivals "  profess  anxiety  for 
"  salvation  "  are  said  to  occupy 
"  the  anxious  seat." 

Anyhow  you  can  fix  it  (Ame- 
rican), however  you  may  try,  try 
as  you  may.  "  I  don't  see  how 
you  can  convince  me  of  th9,t, 
anyhow  you  can  fix  it," 

Once   on   a  drift  log    I    tink   I   see   an 

alligator, 
Scull  my  boat  roun'  and  chuck  him  sweet 

po  later. 
I  hit  him  on  de  head  an'  try  fur  to  wix  it, 
Couldn't  fool  him  bad,  wouldn't  nohow 
nx  it. 

Den  I  up  wid  a  brick, 
An'  I  hit  him  such  a  lick  ! 
An'  'twas  nuffin  but  a  pine  log  upon  a  big 
stick. 
— Gumbo  Cuff,  a  Negro  Ballad,  1832. 

Any  other  man  (American).  This 
phrase  had  a  great  "run"  in 
1 860.     If  a  man  became  prosaic , 


44 


Any  other — Apes. 


or  b^an  to  "  discurse,"  and  to 
use  alternatives  such  as  "  Brown, 
or  Jones,  or  Robinson,"  he  was 
promptly  called  to  order  by  the 
cry  "  OT  any  other  man."  It  was 
first  made  known  in  type  by 
Charles  G.  Leland  in  a  comic 
sketch  in  the  New  York  Vanity 
Fair.  It  has  since  been  dis- 
covered that  in  "  Waverley " 
there  is  the  expression  "  Gif 
any  man  or  any  other  man." 

Any  racket  (rhyming  slang),  a 
penny  faggot. 

Anything  else,  not  doing  (Ame- 
rican), a  strong  affirmation  gene- 
rally in  reply  to  a  question  as 
to  what  is  or  has  been  done  by 
a  third  party.  "Was  So-and- 
so  drunk,"  or  "  bad  tempered," 
or  "in  good  spirits  ? "  "  He 
didn't  do  or  want  anything  else," 
would  be  the  reply. 

Anywhere  down  there  (tailors), 
an  expression  which  comes  al- 
most simultaneously  from  every 
man  in  the  "shop"  when  any- 
thing is  dropped  on  the  floor. 
The  words  are  peculiarly  aggra- 
vating if  it  is  a  breakable  article. 

Apartments  to  let  (popular),  a 
term  used  in  reference  to  one 
who  is  not  over  bright,  whose 
head  requires  metaphorically 
some  furniture  to  fill  its  empty 
rooms.  The  French  have  a 
kindred  expression  for  a  man 
who  shows  signs  of  becoming 
crazy,  and  say  that  he  is  remov- 
ing his  furniture,  "ildemdnage." 


It  is  related  of  the  celebrated 
Richard  Brinsley  Sheridan  that 
his  son  Thomas,  who  was  a  can- 
didate for  a  seat  in  Parliament, 
jestingly  declared  to  him  that 
he  had  no  decided  political  prin- 
ciples, that  he  was  inclined  to 
serve  the  party  which  would  pay 
him  best,  and  that  he  should 
put  a  placard  on  his  forehead 
inscribed  with  the  words,  "To 
let."  His  father  replied,  "All 
right,  Tom ;  but  don't  forget  to 
add,  '  unfurnished  1 '  " 

Ape,  an  "  ape-leader "  is  an  old 
maid.  The  expression  occurs  in 
"  The  Taming  of  the  Shrew,"  and 
is  still  common.  The  punish- 
ment of  old  spinsters,  it  was 
said,  was  to  lead  apes  in  Hades ; 
whereby  two  equally  innocent 
beings  —  the  maid  and  the 
ape — were  equally  but  unjustly 
punished.  It  is  probably  an 
old  superstition  derived  from 
the  East.  In  India  and  China, 
certain  evil-doers  are  supposed 
to  carry  about  or  lead  in  hell 
certain  animals.  ( Vide  Doo- 
little,  "  China.")  "  To  say  an 
ape's  paternoster,"  is  to  chatter 
indistinctly,  either  from  cold  or 
excitement.  The  expression  cor- 
responds to  the  French  "dire 
des  paten6tres  de  singe." 

Apes  (Stock  Exchange),  a  nick- 
name for  Atlantic  first  mortgage 
bonds. 

If  anything  tickles  our  fancy, 
We   buy   them    "Brums,"    "  Caleys,"   or 
"A/ei." 

—  A  tiift :  House  Scraps. 


Apollo — Apple-pie. 


45 


Apollo  bunder  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
well-known  wharf  at  Bombay. 
The  word  Apollo  appears  to  be 
a  very  curious  change  of  the 
native  word  palla  or  pallaa,  a 
kind  of  fish,  to  that  of  a  Greek 
god.  Other  native  authorities 
derive  it  from  pdl,  a  fighting 
vessel,  &c. — Anglo-Indian  Glos- 
sary, 

Apopli  (gypsy),  once  more,  again, 
yet  again,  Kair  lis  apopli,  do  it 
again ;  anpali,  back  again,  lit., 
"  or  after." 

Apostles  (University,  Cantab.). 
The  "Gradus  ad  Cantabrigiam  " 
says  :  "  The  apostles  are  the 
clodhoppers  of  literature,  who 
have  at  last  scrambled  through 
the  Senate  House  without  being 
plucked,  and  have  obtained  the 
title  of  B.A.  by  a  miracle.  The 
last  twelve  names  on  the  list  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts — those  a  degree 
lower  than  the  ol  iroWoi — are 
thus  designated."  The  apostles 
are  so  called  because  they  are 
twelve  in  number.  (Common) 
"to  manoeuvre  the  apostles,"  to 
borrow  money  from  one  person 
to  pay  another,  an  allusion  to 
the  expression,  "Robbing  Peter 
to  pay  Paul." 

Apostle's  Grove,  St.  John's  Wood, 
also  called  ' '  Grove  of  the  Evan- 
gelist." Evilly  disposed  persons 
might  remark  that  the  place  is 
saintly  only  in  name,  as  in  some 
parts  it  corresponds  to  the  Rue 
Breda  of  Paris,  where  ladies  of 
the  demi-monde  and  even  quart- 
de-monde  dwell. 


Apple-cart  (popular),  the  human 
body.  The  term  is  in  keeping 
with  the  "  potato  trap,"  which 
does  duty  in  the  slang  vocabu- 
lary for  mouth  ;  the  "  bread 
basket,"  for  stomach;  "crum- 
pet," for  head,  &c.  To  the 
imaginative  powers  of  coster- 
mongers  we  probably  owe  the 
metaphor.  One  will  say  that  his 
apple-cart  is  upset,  meaning  that 
he  has  been  disappointed  by  the 
failure  of  his  plans.  (American) 
"  To  '  upset  one's  apple-cart  and 
spill  the  peaches,'  means  to  ruin 
any  undertaking.  The  phrase 
was  originally  American,  and 
had  peculiarly  this  signification 
Hotten's  limitation  of  it  to  the 
human  body  was  all  conjecture 
and  fancy." 

Apple-dumpling  shop  (common), 
a  fat  woman's  exposed  breasts. 
The  French  argot,  with  more 
(jalanterie,  terms  the  same 
"  oranges  sur  I'dtag^re." 

Apple-pie  bed  (general),  is  made 
by  xmtucking  the  sheet  at  the 
bottom  of  the  bed  and  doubling 
it  up,  so  as  to  form  a  sort  of 
bag  half  way  down  the  bed  and 
thus  preventing  the  owner  from 
stretching  himself  at  full  length. 
A  common  trick  of  mischievous 
boys  and  girls  at  boarding- 
schools  and  elsewhere. 

Apple-pie  day  (Winchester  col- 
lege), the  last  Thursday  in  Long 
Half,  when  the  "  men  "  get  their 
money  and  the  scholars  get 
apple-pie. 


46 


Apple-pie — Ard. 


Apple-pie  order  (common),  in 
regular  order.  "Order"  is  an 
old  word  for  a  row,  and  a  pro- 
perly made  apple-pie  had,  of 
old,  always  an  order,  or  row 
of  regularly  cut  "  turrets,"  or 
an  exactly  divided  border.  Pies 
are  seldom  made  now  in  this 
manner  in  England,  but  in  rural 
America,  especially  in  New  Eng- 
land, they  are  still  common. 

I  am  just  in  the  order  which  some  folks 
— though  why  I  am  sure  I  can't  tell  you — 
would  call  apple-pie. — Ingoldsby  Legetids. 

Apples  and  pears  (rhyming  slang), 
the  stairs. 

Application  (Irish),  name  ;  a  cor- 
ruption and  perversion  of  appel- 
lation. 

1  am  not  Aurora, 
Or  the  beauteous  Flora, 
But  a  rural  maiden  to  all  men's  view. 
That's  here  condoling 
My  situation, 

And  my  application  is  the  Colleen  Rue. 
—  Colleen  Rue :  Broadside. 

Appro  (trade),  a  contraction  of 
approbation.  "  On  appro,"  on 
sale  for  return.  The  term  is 
used  by  tradesmen  generally. 

Appropriation  (tailors),  garments 
taken  from  old  rejections  and 
worked  in  for  another  "  force," 
or  the  next  "supply"  for  the 
same. 

Apronstringf-hold  (old),  an  estate 
held  by  a  man  during  his  wife's 
life. 

"  There  are  many  estates  like  leasehold, 
freehold,  and  copyhold,  but  a  man  least 
likes  the  a/>ronstring;-hold." 


Aqua  pumpaginis  (old),  pump- 
water.  Termed  also  "Adam's 
ale,"  and  "  fish  broth,"  for- 
merly, when  people  with  weak 
stomachs  did  not  make  a  virtue 
of  necessity,  and  when  the  others 
only  "  pledged  "  themselves  in 
bumpers  of  old  Burgundy. 

A-ratti,  arati  (gypsy),  by  night. 

"  Oh  mandy  jins  ardtti  to  kister  off  a 
gry"— 

"Oh  I  know  how  to  ride  a  horse  off  by 
night." 

Arch  (popular),  a  boat. 

I  goes  and  sneaks  a  mikket  and  a  lot  of 
lines  of  a  pal's  arvh. — H.  Evans ;  The 
Brighton  Beach  Loafer. 

Arch-cove  (thieves),  leader  of  mob 
or  party. 

Archdeacon  (Oxford),  the  Merton 
strong  ale. 

Arch  dell  (old),  the  wife  of  a 
headman  of  vagrants.  Termed 
also  "arch  doxy." 

Arch-duke  (American  thieves),  a 
funny  fellow. 

Arch-gonnof  (American  thieves), 
chief  of  a  gang  of  thieves  ; 
termed  "  dimbcrdamber,"  "  up- 
right man,"  in  old  English  cant ; 
and  archi-siipp6t  in  the  old 
French  argot.  Gonnof  is  Yid- 
dish for  thief  ;  Hebrew,  ganef. 

Ard  (American  thieves),  hot ;  evi- 
dently from  ardent.  In  old  cant 
it  had  the  signification  of  foot. 


Area — Arkansas. 


47 


Area  sneak  (popular),  one  who 
sneaks  into  kitchens  to  steal. 
Other  varieties  of  malefactors  go 
by  the  appellations  of  "  prig, 
cracksman,  crossman,  sneaks- 
man,  moucher,  hooker,  flash - 
cove,  bug-hunter,  cross-cove, 
buz-faker,  fogle-hunter,  stook- 
hauler,  toy-getter,  tooler,  prop- 
nailer,  palmer,  dragsman,  buz- 
gloak,  amuser,  bob-sneak,  boun- 
cer, bully-prigger,  thimble-twis- 
ter, gun,  conveyancer,  dancer, 
pudding -snammer,  ziff,  drum- 
mer, knuck,  buttock -and -file, 
poll-thief,  little  snakesman,  mill- 
ben,  a  cove  on  the  cross,  flash- 
man,  finder,  gleaner,  picker, 
tax-collector,"  and  formerly  "  a 
good  fellow,  a  bridle-cull,  a 
sampsman,  an  angler." — Bar- 
r Ire's  Argot  and  Slang. 

Argify  (popular),  a  jargon  corrup- 
tion of  to  argue. 

"The  European  league  of  Peace  and 
Liberty  have  just  held  a  congress  at 
Geneva.  The  hrst  sitting  was  very  noisy. 
Most  '  leagues '  prefer  liberty  to  peace, 
when  it  comes  to  argi/ying." 

Do  you  want  to  argify,  you  little  beggar. 
— Leech's  Cartoons. 

Argol-bargol.  According  to  Hot- 
ten  this  is  a  Scotch  phrase 
signifying  "to  bandy  words." 
It  is  possible  that  it  has  a 
Hebrew  derivation.  Bar-len  in 
Yiddish  is,  "  to  talk  or  speak 
in  any  way,"  and  hargolis  is 
one  who  goes  about  in  misery 
and  poverty,  perhaps  a  fluent 
beggar.  Argol  is  the  popular 
pronunciation  of  ergo — as  given 
by  Dame  Quickly — a  word  which 


of  old  was  continually  used  in 
argumentative  conversation. 

Aristippus  (old),  a  diet  drink 
much  in  vogue  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  last  century.  It  was 
made  of  sarsaparUla  and  other 
drugs,  and  sold  at  the  coffee- 
houses. 

Ark  (thieves),  a  boat  or  vessel. 
(Military),  a  box  in  the  barrack- 
room  used  for  holding  extra 
articles  of  a  man's  kit.  In 
America  a  large  boat  used  on 
rivers  to  transport  produce  to 
market. 

It  may  be  noted,  that  in  the 
northern  counties  the  large 
chests  in  farm-houses  used  for 
keeping  meat  or  flour  are  called 
arks.  Villon,  the  old  French 
poet,  in  his  Jargon  Jobelin, 
terms  arque  a  coffer  or  money- 
box, and  in  the  modem  French 
argot  "aller  h,  I'arche"  means 
to  go  frequently  to  the  money- 
box, to  spend  one's  money  freely. 

Ark  and  dove  (masonic),  an 
American  degree  preparatory 
to  the  R.A. 

Arkansas  toothpick  (American), 
a  large  bowie  knife  which  shuts 
up  into  the  handle.  It  is  a 
piece  of  savage  irony  which 
thus  dubs  it,  as  the  blade,  which 
has  a  point  of  half  its  length,  is 
over  a  foot  long  and  two  inches 
broad. 

Straightway  leaped  the  valiant  Slingby, 
Into  armour  of  Seville, 

With  a  strong  Arkansas  toothpick. 
Screwed  in  every  joint  of  steel. 
—Ben  Gaultier:  American  Ballads,  B. 


48 


A  rk — A  rsy-varsy. 


Ark  floater  (theatrical),  an  actor 
so  loaded  with  years,  that  he  is 
supposed,  through  some  effort 
of  the  imagination,  to  have 
made  his  d^but  before  the 
"  floats,"  i.e.,  the  footlights  in 
Noah's  ark.  People  will  say, 
"You  must  have  come  out  of 
the  ark,"  or  "  You  were  born  in 
the  ark ; "  because  you  are  so 
old-fashioned,  and  ignorant  of 
current  events. 

Ark-man  (old),  Thames  boatman 
(Baumann). 

Ark-ruff  (old),  fresh-water  thief. 

Armpits  (old),  petty  larceny.  The 
term  has  been  imported  into 
Australia  by  the  convicts.  Vaux, 
in  his  Memoirs,  says :  "  To  work 
under  the  armpits,  is  to  practise 
only  such  kinds  of  depredation 
as  will  amount,  upon  conviction, 
to  what  the  law  terms  single 
or  petty  larceny,  the  extent  of 
punishment  for  which  is  trans- 
portation for  seven  years.  By 
following  this  system  a  thief 
avoids  the  halter,  which  cer- 
tainly is  applied  above  the 
armpits."  Watches  are  stolen 
by  using  the  right  hand  under 
the  armpit  of  the  left  arm,  which 
is  put  across  the  breast. 

Armstrong,  Captain  (turf),  a  dis- 
honest jockey.  "  He  came  Cap- 
tain Armstrong"  is  equivalent 
to  saying  that  the  rider  pulled 
with  a  strong  arm,  thus  prevent- 
ing his  horse  from  winning. 

'Arry,  for  Harry,  a  familiar  general 
term  for  a  young  costermonger 


dressed  in  his  best  clothes  when 
taking  a  Sunday  walk  with  his 
young  woman.  The  correspond- 
ing word  for  the  young  woman 
is  *'  Sarah  Jane  "  or  "Jemima." 
The  'Arri^  are  almost  indigenous 
to  London,  are  generally  to  be 
seen  with  short  pipes  in  their 
mouths,  and  swarm  at  fairs  and 
races  and  other  places  of  public 
resort,  talking  slang  and  puff- 
ing tobacco  smoke,  and  if  not 
altogether  of  the  same  genus 
as  the  roughs  and  rowdies  that 
infest  great  cities,  are  little  re- 
moved from  them  in  manners, 
appearance,  and  conversation. 

'Arry  smokes  a  two-penny  smoke 

Oh  !  poor  'Arry! 
' Arty's  pipe's  enough  to  choke, 

Bad  boy,  'A  rry  ! 
'Arry  thinks  it  very  good  fun 

To  puff  his  cheap  cigar 
Into  the  faces  of  every  one 

While  doing  the  la-di-da. 

—Ballad :  How  do,  'A  rry  f 

The  female  ^Ai'ri/  is  sometimes 
called  an  "'Arriet." 

As  an  inhabitant  of  Munster  Square,  I 
am  quite  content  to  gaze  on  the  "green 
space,"  and  should  be  very  sorry  to  see  it 
become  the  rendezvous  of  the  'Arrits  and 
"'Arriets"  of  the  neighbourhood. —  The 
Echo. 

Arse-board,  the  hinder  part  of  a 

cart. 

Arse  coolers  (vulgar),  a  term 
used  by  common  women  in 
speaking  of  dress-improvers. 

Arsy-varsy  (old),  topsy-turvy, 
heels  over  head. 

"  The  old  mare  pitched  him  arsy-Tarsy 
into  the  ditch." 


Artesian —  Assay. 


49 


Artesian  (Australian,  popular), 
Colonial  beer.  People  in  Gipps- 
land,  Victoria,  use  artesian  just 
as  Tasmanians  use  cascade,  in 
the  sense  of  "  beer,"  because 
the  one  is  manufactured  from 
the  celebrated  artesian  well  at 
Sale,  Gippsland,  and  the  other 
from  the  cascade  water. 

Artful  (popular),  a  word  of  wide 
application  to  intimate  trickery, 
secrecy,  and  "  dodges." 

He'd  an  artful  little  bottle  on  an  artful 

little  shelf, 
He  was  not  "a  little  silly,"  but  a  very 

knowing  elf. 

— H.  Adams:  Sister  Hannah. 

Artful  dodgers  (thieves),  lodgers ; 
fellows  who  dare  not  sleep  twice 
in  the  same  place  for  fear  of 
arrest. 

Artichoke  (American  thieves),  a 
low  and  old  prostitute.  It  is 
curious  to  note  that  the  French 
argot  has  the  term  c(£ur  d'arti- 
chaut  to  denote  a  man  or  woman 
of  a  highly  amatory  disposition. 

Paillasson,  quoi !  cceur  d artichaut, 
C'est  men  genre ;  un'  feuille  pour  tout 

r  monde, 
Au  jour  d'aujourd'hui  j'gobe  la  blonde  ; 
Apres  d'  main,  c'est  la  brun'  qu'i  m'faut. 
—Gill:  La  Muse  ii  Bibi. 

Article  (popular),  a  poor  specimen 
of  humanity ;  also,  a  wretched 
animal. 

Articles  (American  thieves),  a  suit 
of  clothes ;  termed  in  the  Eng- 
lish slang,  "togs,  toggery,  clob- 
ber." 


Articles  of  virtue  (familiar)  {i.e., 
vertu),  virgins. 

Artistic.  It  is  a  common  error 
to  suppose  that  artistic  is  a 
synonym  for  beautiful,  symme- 
trical, or  attractive.  That  only 
is  artistic  which,  being  made 
by  the  hand  of  man,  indicates 
direct  individual  character  and 
touch.  The  more  machinery  in- 
tervenes between  the  original 
pattern  and  the  mere  copy,  the 
less  art  is  there.  The  Sistine 
Madonna  is  truly  a  work  of  art, 
the  most  perfect  chromo-litho- 
graphic  copy  of  it  is  not.  As 
used  by  many  tradesmen,  to 
indicate  their  cast  works, 
machine-sawed  furniture,  &c., 
the  word  art  or  artistic  is  mere 
slang. 

Asa,  asarla,  asarlus  (gypsy),  thus, 
so,  in  this  manner. 

Ash  path  (running),  a  running 
path  formed  of  pulverised  cin- 
ders or  black  ash. 

Ask  bogy  (old  slang),  an  indecent 
evasive  exclamation  used  by 
sailors  when  not  wishing  to 
answer  any  question. 

Askew  (old  cant),  this  may  be  a 
corruption  of  escuelle. 

Asking  (turf),  a  jockey  is  said  to 
"  ask  "  or  "  call  upon  "  a  horse 
when  rousing  him  to  greater 
exertion. 

Assay  (American  thieves'  slang), 
commence,   try  it.     From   the 
D 


50 


Assay — Atmosphere. 


expression  to  take  the  aaaay  or 
esiay,  to  taste  wine  to  prove  that 
it  is  not  poisoned.  Hence  to 
try,  to  taste,  trial  or  sample. 
Shakspeare  uses  the  term. 

(He)  makes  vow  before  his  uncle,  never 

more 
To  give  the  assay  of  arms  against  your 

majesty. 

— Hamlet. 

Asses  (printers).  See  Donkeys. 
Term  used  by  pressmen  for  com- 
positors, by  way  of  retaliation 
in  calling  them  "pigs."  The 
animal  creation  has  furnished 
a  variety  of  slang  terms  for 
French  printers  in  sufficient 
numbers  to  form  a  small  mena- 
gerie. Thus  a  compositor  is 
called  "  mulct ;  "  a  master  or 
foreman,  "singe;"  anewspaper, 
"canard"  (which  also  means 
false  news) ;  to  have  "  one's 
monkey  up,"  that  is,  to  be  angry, 
is  "gober  sa  chfevre"  or  "son 
boeuf ,"  from  the  effect  produced 
by  the  horns  of  the  animal  in 
the  metaphoric  operation ;  a 
letter  which  has  fallen  from 
the  form  is  termed  "  chien ;  "  a 
creditor,  "  loup  ;  "  an  idle  work- 
man whodisturbs  others, "  ours." 
"  Poser  une  sangsue"  is  to  cor- 
rect one's  fellow-workman's 
work  in  his  absence.  The  Ger- 
man typos  say  that  one  receives 
liis  "herring"  when  he  gets 
dismissed  from  his  employ. 

Astern  (common),  behind,  in  the 
rear  of ;  from  the  nautical  term. 

Asti  .(gypsy),  would  have,  have 
to ;     astis,   can,   possible  ;     asti 


si,  it  can  be ;  nasti  negti,  it  is  not 
possible,  i.e.,  it  cannot  be. 

Astral  body  (theosophist),  a 
phrase  borrowed  from  the  Rosi- 
crucians,  and  used  by  Paracelsus 
and  Van  Helmont.  It  signifies 
a  semi-spiritual  self,  which  goes 
forth  from  the  body. 

Then  there  is  the  astral  body,  which  is 
a  nice  thing  to  have,  as  it  can  be  made 
responsible  for  all  the  doings  of  the  carnal 
body,  and  can  be  pressed  into  service  for 
any  occasion  when  the  latter  would  be  of 
no  account,  even  to  the  materialising  of 
strawberries  in  January,  or  crockery  at 
picnics  when  the  necessary  plates  and  cups 
have  been  forgotten.  The  only  difficulty 
with  the  astral  body  is  its  unreliability. 
It  is  such  a  subtle,  slippery  thing  that  the 
owner,  unless  he  hangs  on  to  it  with  the 
utmost  tenacity,  is  apt  to  lose  it  just  when 
he  most  needs  it,  like  the  Buddhist  in 
New  York  who  wis  jailed  the  other  day. 
He  had  been  in  the  habit  of  depending 
upon  his  astral  body  for  the  materialisation 
of  coin  to  meet  his  expenses,  and  when 
arrested  for  obt.iining  money  under  false 
pretences  could  only  defend  himself  by 
saying  that  he  had  lost  his  astral  body. 
As  he  could  not  show  that  he  had  taken 
any  pains  to  find  it,  and  had  not  even 
advertised  a  reward  for  it,  he  had  to  take 
the  same  penalties  that  are  imposed  upon 
those  who  have  no  astral  bodies  to  fall 
back  upon  in  time  of  financial  emergency. 
— Chicago  Tribune. 

Atch,  hatch  (gypsy),  to  remain, 
stay. 

"  Sa  mandy  hatched  to  kur,  my  rye" — 
"  So  I  stayed  to  fight,  my  master." 

Atmosphere  (American,  Boston), 
a  new  slang  phra.se  of  society 
and  literature  thus  explained 
by  an  American  journal : — 

"  The  cant  of  the  day  is  the  word  a/wioj- 
/A^rr,  which  h.is  displaced  'tone.'  When 
people  tried  to  be  exquisite  they  spoke  of 


Atomy  — Attorney. 


51 


the  tone  of  a  novel,  a  club,  or  a  person. 
Now  it  is  atmosphere.  A  city  is  said  to 
have  a  peculiar  atmosphere  when  its  people 
and  their  customs  seem  peculiar  to  the 
observer.  Such  words  are  very  convenient 
when  people  have  nothing  particular  to 
say,  and  mean  to  say  it  impressively." 

Atomy  (popular),  a  small  or 
deformed  person.  Varied  some- 
times to  an  "abortion," 

Atrish  (gypsy),  afraid. 

"  An  whenever  the  bavol  pudered  he  was 
atrdsh  he'd  pel  a-lay  pr6  the  shinger- 
ballas  o' the  guro" — "And  whenever  the 
wind  blew  he  was  afraid  he  would  fall 
down  on  the  horns  of  the  bull." — The 
English  Gypsies. 

At  that  (American),  meaning 
something  in  addition  to,  an 
intensive.  Said  to  have  origi- 
nated in  Pennsylvania,  and  to 
be  a  translation  of  the  German 
dazu.  "  She  is  beautiful  and 
rich  at  that,"  "  She  is  old  and 
ugly  at  that."  It  is  also  used 
upon  a  variety  of  occasions, 
without  reason  or  necessity. 

"  Now  then,  Mister,  drinks  all  round, 
and  cobblers  at  that." — Notes  on  Canada. 

He's  got  a  scolding  wife,  and  an  ugly 
one  at  that. — Bartlett. 

The  Mississippi's  a  mighty  big  drink — 
and  a  muddy  one  at  that. — Idem. 

The  practice  with  one-half  of  the  New 
Yorkers,  of  moving  on  the  first  of  May,  is 
an  awful  custom,  and  foolish  at  that. — 
Major  Downing. 

In  Australia  one  talks  of  dear 
at  that,  weak  at  that,  &c.,  some 
such  word  as  "rate"  or  "price  " 
being  understood. 

So  we'll  drain  the  flowing  bowl, 
'Twill  not  jeopardise  the  soul, 
For  it's  only  tea  and  weak  at  that. 

—KeighlyGoodchild:  The  Old 
Felt  Hat. 


Attic  (popular),  the  human  head, 
to  be  "  queer  in  the  attic,"  to 
be  intoxicated  or  cracked.  A 
somewhat  similar  term  in  the 
French  slang  is  "  grenier  k  sel." 
The  synonyms  are,  "knowledge- 
box,  tibby,  costard,  nob,  nut, 
chump,  upper  storey,  crum- 
pet." 

Attleborough  (American),  sham. 
Sham  jewellery,  from  the  town 
of  Attleborough,  in  Massachu- 
setts, where  much  imitation  or 
trashy  jewellery  is  made. 

Attorney  (thieves).  The  term  is 
applied  to  a  cunning  fellow,  or 
at  least  one  who  passes  himself 
off  as  such ;  clever  in  getting 
round  people,  or  turning  diffi- 
culties [attorney,  French  A  tour- 
ner) ;  a  loafer  who  pretends  to 
a  full  knowledge  of  the  legal 
meshes  in  which  the  light- 
fingered  gentry  are  occasion- 
ally involved.  The  attorney  is 
always  ready  to  give  advice  in 
these  and  other  matters  for  a 
small  consideration  in  money, 
and  failing  that,  for  a  glass  of 
any  kind  of  "tipple"  at  the 
nearest  "pub."  This  distant 
relation  to  the  great  family  of 
"limbs  of  the  law  "  hangs  about 
the  favourite  resorts  of  other 
kinds  of  "  practitioners,"  i.e., 
thieves.  He  is  considered  as  a 
shining  light  by  some,  as  an 
impostor  by  others,  but  what- 
ever the  case  may  be,  he  dis- 
tinguishes himself  from  the  real 
attorney  by  the  low  rate  of  his 
charges. 


52 


Attorney-General — Aunt. 


Attorney-General's  devil  (legal). 
This  is  a  barrister,  who,  not 
being  a  Queen's  Counsel,  is  ap- 
pointed by  the  Attorney-General 
for  the  time  being  to  be  his 
"junior"  in  Government  cases. 
He  is  always  one  of  the  best 
men  at  the  junior  bar,  and  as 
such  is  chosen  by  the  Attorney- 
GeneraL 

Attory,  venomous,  from  adder, 
a  poisonous  little  serpent,  origi- 
nally spelt  and  pronounced  ad- 
der y.  Chaucer  in  the  "Per- 
son's Tale"  speaks  of  attry  anger; 
Anglo-Saxon  attor,  poison. 

Auctioneer  (popular),  to  tip  him 
the  auctioneer,  is  to  knock  a 
man  off  his  legs.  Derived  from 
the  saleroom  phrase  to  knock 
down. 

Audit  (Winchester),  the  day  on 
which  the  students  receive  their 
pocket-money,  called  also  "ap- 
ple-pie day." 

Audit  ale  (Cambridge),  very 
strong  ale  supposed  to  be  drunk 
on  audit  day.  It  is  peculiar  to 
Trinity  College.  About  two  cen- 
turies ago,  some  ale  was  brewed 
for  that  college  which  was  so 
strong  and  good  that  the  recipe 
was  preserved  with  care,  and 
the  ale  has  ever  since  been 
made  every  year  in  a  limited 
(quantity.  Professors  and  un- 
dergraduates arc  allowed  to 
purchase  a  certain  number  of 
bottles.  This  ale  will  burn  like 
spirits  when  thrown  into  the 
fire. 


ITie  table  was  spread  with  coffee,  audit, 
devils,  omelets,  hare-pies,  and  all  the  other 
articles  of  the  buttery.— (?«;V/<a[;  N eld  in 
Bondage. 

Audley  or  orderly  (theatrical),  a 
term  used  by  theatrical  show- 
men when  they  wish  to  abridge 
the  performance,  in  consequence 
of  there  being  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  persons  waiting  to  fill 
"  another  house."  The  manager 
or  parade  master  will  then  call 
out,  John  Orderly  I 

Auger  (American),  a  prosy  fel- 
low, a  bore. 

Aul.  prae.  (Winchester),  an  abbre- 
viation which  stands  for  Pra- 
fectas  Aula,  that  is.  Prefect  of 
Hall. 

Auly-auly  (Winchester),  a  game 
played  on  "  grass  court "  on  Sa- 
turday afternoons  after  chapel. 
It  is  played  by  throwing  a 
small  cricket  ball  at  your  op- 
ponent. 

Aunt.  This  term,  as  used  in  the 
phrase  at  "  my  aunt's,'"  in  a 
brothel,  is  obsolete.  The  old 
slang  of  the  Elizabethan  era, 
aunt,  had  the  signification  of 
a  concubine,  a  prostitute,  or  a 
woman  of  loose  morals,  or, 
worse,  a  procuress.  "  Mine  aunt 
will  feed  me,"  was  a,  common 
phrase  at  one  time,  meaning  an 
agent  who  would  procure  virgins 
for  the  purposes  of  debauchery. 
Shakspeare  and  Hen  Jonson  use 
the  word. 


Aunt — Autem. 


53 


The  lark,  that  tirra-lirra  chants, — 
With,  hey !  with,  hey !  the  thrush  and 

the  jay  : — 
Are  summer  songs  forme  and  my  aunts. 
While  we  lie  tumbling  in  the  hay. 

— Shakspeare. 

The  more  modem  expression 
for  a  concubine — who  lives  in 
a  single  man's  house  without 
either  of  them  letting  the  world 
into  the  real  secret  of  the  con- 
nection—  is  "niece."  Thus 
many  reverend  gentlemen  in 
Catholic  countries,  whose  vows 
of  chastity  debar  them  from 
enjoying  the  sweets  of  pater- 
nity, are  fain  to  content  them- 
selves with  being  the  uncles 
of  pretty  "nieces."  A  curSs 
niece  is  a  standing  joke  in 
France.  The  sons  of  the  Pope 
— if  these  high  ecclesiastical 
dignitaries  have  any,  as  they 
had  in  ancient  times  far  more 
frequently  than  in  the  present 
— are  called  "  nephews." 

To  go  to  "my  aunt's,"  to  go 
to  the  privy.  The  expression  is 
nowadays  used  chiefly  by  girls, 
who  say  among  themselves,  "  I 
am  going  to  my  aunt,"  or  "  I 
am  going  to  my  auntie." 

Australian  flag,  the  (Anglo-Austra- 
lian slang),  the  bottom  of  a  shirt. 
The  Australian  who  lives  up  the 
country  generally  wears  a  belt 
instead  of  braces,  the  result 
being  that  when  he  exerts  him- 
self, there  is  usually  a  great 
fold  of  shirt  protruding  between 
his  small  clothes  and  his  waist- 
coat, which  Englishmen  have 
called  in  scorn  the  Australian 
flag.       The   Cornstalk    talks   of 


him  as  a  '*  new  chum ; "  he  talks 
of  the  Cornstalk  as  "  showing  the 
A  ustralian  flag." 

Australian  grip  (up  country  Aus- 
tralian), a  hearty  shake  of  the 
hand  (compare  Masonic  Grip.) 
The  bushman  shakes  hands  very 
heartily — a  long  grip  with  the 
whole  hand,  following  three 
deep  shakes.  He  does  not  crush 
your  hand ;  but  he  is  sarcastic 
about  the  "limp  shakes"  and 
"one-finger  shakes"  of  people 
"  newly  out  from  home." 

None  the  less 
Was  he  a  graceful,  well-bred  host, 
But  he  was  hearty  in  accost, 
And  giving  the  A  ustralian  grip 
And  good  up-country  fellowship 
As  bushmeii. 

—D.  B.  IV.  Sladen  :  A  Summer 
Christmas. 

Autem  or  autum,  a  church.  This 
word,  which  is  of  the  oldest 
cant,  and  is  given  by  Harman,  is 
probably  the  Yiddish  a'lhoummc, 
a  church  {tifleheing  the  common 
term),  which  in  ordinary  con- 
versation would  be  pronounced 
autem.  It  seems  to  have  been 
at  first  always  associated  with 
clerical  marriage,  and  as  in  cant 
Adam  and  Eve  are  terms  for 
husband  and  wife,  it  is  possible 
that  Autem  also  owes  some- 
thing to  Outem  or  Oudem,  as 
Adam  is  pronounced  in  Yiddish. 
Thoumme  or  tume  reallj'  means 
the  forbidden  or  impure  (church). 
("Unrein  verboten." — Thiele.) 
"A,"  or  "ah,"  is  the  vulgar  Yid- 
dish pronunciation  for  "Ein." 
It  is  curious  to  note  that  in  old 


54 


A  uteni  — A  uthor. 


French  cant  a  church  was 
termed  entonne  or  entijle,  tijle 
being  Yiddish  for  church. 

Autem  bawler  or  autem-jet  (old), 
a  parson.  The  more  modern 
slang  has  the  epithets,  "  devil 
dodger,"  and  "  sky  pilot." 

At  last  Job  explained  the  cause  of  my 
appearance,  viz.,  his  wish  to  pacify  Daw- 
son's conscience  by  dressing  up  one  of  the 
pals,  whom  the  sinner  could  not  recognise, 
as  an  autem  bawler,  and  so  obtaining  him 
the  benefit  of  the  clergy  without  endanger- 
ing the  gang  by  his  confession. — Buhver 
Lytton :  Pelkant. 

Autem  cackle  tub  (old),  conven- 
ticle, or  Dissenters'  meeting- 
house. 

Autem  cacklers  (old),  Dissenters. 
It  also  means  married  women. 

Oh  !  where  will  be  the  culls  of  the  bing, 

A  hundred  stretches  hence  ? 
The  bene  morts,  who  sweetly  sing, 

A  hundred  stretches  hence? 
The  aute>n<ackUrs ,  autem  coves, 
The  jolly  blade  who  wildly  roves  ; 
And  where  the  cuffer,  bruiser,  blowen, 
And  all  the  cops  and  beaks  so  knowin', 

A  hundred  stretches  hence  ? 

— A  Hundred  Stretches  Hence. 

Autem  cove  (thieves),  a  married 
man. 

Autem  dippers  or  divers  (old), 
Anabaptist-s,  from  the  custom 
of  dipping  or  baptizing  the  con- 
verts. 

Autem  divers  (old),  church  pick 
purses,  and  derisively,  the 
churchwardens  and  overseers 
of  the  j)Oor, 

Autem  goglers  (old),  pretended 
French  prophets. 


Autem  jet  (old),  one  of  the  in- 
numerable equivalents  for  a 
parson.  Autem,,  a  church  ;  jei, 
black,  from  the  prevailing  hue 
in  a  parson's  dress. 

Autem  mort  (old  cant).  A  legal 
wife,  whose  marriage  has  been 
celebrated  in  a  church.  It 
does  not  apply  to  marriages 
celebrated  by  "  hedge  parsons" 
on  the  highway,  as  rendered  me- 
morable by  the  lines  supposed 
to  have  been  given  to  a  pair  of 
gypsy  lovers  by  Dean  Swift : — 

"  Beneath  this  tree  in  rainy  weather, 
I've  joined  this  whore  and  thief  together ; 
And  none  but  He  who  wields  the  thunder 
Shall  part  this  whore  and  thief  asunder." 

The  autum-mort  finds  better  sport 
In  bowsing  then  in  nigling, 
This  is  bien  bowse,  this  is  bien  bowse. 
— R.  Brome:  A  Jovial  Crew. 

Autem  prickears  (old),  a  gene- 
ral name  for  Dissenters.  (See 
Autem  Cacklkrs.) 

Autem  quavers  (old),  Quakers. 

Autem  quaver  tub  (old),  a  Quakers' 
meeting-house. 

Author  baiting  (theatrical),  a 
sprightly  pastime,  invariably 
indulged  in  on  the  first  night 
of  an  unsuccessful  play.  The 
process  is  as  follows : — 

"First. — Set  your  trap,  and  catch  your 
author.  In  order  to  do  so— call  for  him 
with  spontaneity,  and  apparent  enthusiasm. 

"Second. — When  you  have  caught  him, 
that  is,  as  soon  as  he  puts  his  hc.id  before 
the  curtain,  go  for  him,  shout,  shriek,  yell, 
bellow,  hiss,  emit  a  flood  of  '  obscure  noises 
from  filthy  lips." 


Av — Avast. 


55 


"When  you  have  degraded  yourself  to 
thelevel  of  the  lowest  standard  of  humanity, 
and  when  you  have  insulted  the  unfortu- 
nate dramatist  hy  every  means  which  your 
paucity  of  brains  and  plenitude  of  lungs 
can  devise,  your  author  baiting  is  com- 
plete." 

Av  (gJTsy),  come ;  avakdi,  come 
here.  •  Full  form  me  avava,  I 
come.  "  If  tute'U  av  akai 
mandy'll  del  tute  a  horra" — 
"If  you'll  come  here,  I'll  give 
you  a  penny." 

Av  my  little  Romany  chel, 
Av  along  with  mansar  ! 
Av  my  little  Romany  chel, 
Koshto  si  for  mangue. 

— Borrcnu. 

Avails,  profits  or  advantages,  ab- 
breviated into  vaili,  is  the  gratui- 
ties given  by  visitors  or  guests 
in  great  houses  to  servants  for 
civilities,  attentions,  or  services 
rendered. 

Avast  (nautical),  a  sailor's  phrase 
for  stop,  cease,  stay.  Accord- 
ing to  Webster  a  corruption  of 
the  Dutch  Koud  vast,  hold  fast. 
Some  etymologists  connect  it 
with  the  old  cant  term  "  bynge 
a  waste."  Others  ascribe  its 
origin  to  the  Italian  batta, 
enough.  This  derivation  seems 
plausible,  from  the  circum- 
stance that  French  workmen 
use  hasta  with  the  same  signifi- 
cation as  EngUsh  tars. 

Avast  heaving  a  minute,  Tom,  and 
we'll  light  our  pipes  and  gather  round 
and  spin  cuff;  what  do  you  say,  lad? — 
/iare  Bits. 

"  No  satisfactory  explanation 
of    this    term,    which    occurs 


in  the  oldest  English  cant- 
ing," says  C.  G.  Leland,  "has 
ever  been  offered."  In  gypsy, 
wast  or  vast  (Hindu,  hasta  or 
hast)  means  a  hand,  and,  as  in 
English,  it  is  intimately  con- 
nected with  using  the  hands  or 
being  ready.  Chiv  a  vast  adoi ! 
means  exactly  in  Romany,  "put 
a  hand  there  I"  "be  alert!" 
It  is  equivalent  to  "lend  a 
hand !  "  It  will  be  readily  un- 
derstood that  the  injunctipn  to 
lend  a  hand  might  easily  be- 
come a  synonym  for  "  attend 
there !  "  "  observe !  "  or  "  look 
out !  "  It  is  to  be  remarked 
that  in  modern  English,  gypsy 
hatch  a  wowjish  !  meang^'"stop 
a  bit!"  or,  literally,  "stop  a 
thumb  !  "  Wongish  is  a  cor- 
rupted form  of  angustrin,  a 
fiuger  or  thumb,  and  it  seems 
to  be  a  synonym  for  a  bit  or 
small  piece,  because  a  digit 
forms  a  smaller  portion  of  the 
hand.  "  I'll  not  bate  a  finger's 
breadth  of  it."  Vast,  meaning 
a  hand,  appears  to  denote  a 
greater  extent  or  quantity,  e.g., 
"a  hand's  breadth  better,"  and 
is  sometimes  confused  with  vast, 
meaning  a  great  deal.  An  old 
Yorkshire  song  says — 

"  But  Tom  got  the  best  of  this  bargain 
avast, 
And  came  off  wi'  a  Yorkshireman's 
triumph  at  last." 

Wright  gives  vast  as  meaning 
a  waste  or  deserted  space.  In 
the  song  the  actual  meaning  is 
that  the  victor  beat  his  anta- 
gonist not  vastly  but  by  a  little, 
or  "  by  a  hand,"  i.e.,  "  barely," 


56 


A  vast — A  wful. 


as  the  succeeding  lines  clearly 
prove : — 

"  For  though  between  dead  horses  there's 
rwt  much  to  choose, 
Yet  Tom's  were  the  better  by  the  hide 
and  four  shoes," 

Avail   In   old    cant   has   the 
signification  of  away. 

Avast    to   the   pad,    let   us   bing. — T. 
MiddUton :  Roaring'  Girle. 

Avering',  the  trick  of  a  be^ar 
boy  who  strips  himself  and  goes 
naked  into  a  town  with  a  false 
story  of  his  being  cold  and  rob- 
bed of  his  clothes,  to  move  com- 
.  passion  and  get  other  clothes. 
This  is  called  averts  and  to  go 
an  avering. — Old  Manuscript  in 
the  Lansdotone  Collection,  quoted  in 
Wrigkt^s  ^'Archaic  Dictionary." 
The  word  is  evidently  gypsy, 
from  aver,  to  come  or  go,  as 
further  appears  by  averis,  is  or 
OS  being  (as  is  common  in  Indian 
dialects)  a  suffix  to  form  a  noun 
{vide  Av). 

Avo,  Swo,  auwo,  awali,   avail 

(gypsy),  yes.  Avali  is  rare  in 
England,  but  it  may  be  com- 
monly heard  in  Hungary. 

Lei  a  chumer  del  a  chumer 

Avo,  avali  ! 

Buti,  buti,  sSr  pa  tQte, 

Miro  kilmlo  zi. 
Take  a  kiss — give  a  kiss — yes — yes.     Many 
and  many,  all  for  you,  my  dear  heart. 

— Janet  Tuckey. 

Avoirdupois    lay   (old),    stealing 
brass  weights  off  shop  counters. 

A'wake  (general),  on  one's  guard, 
warned,  put  up  to. 


"  A  common  expression  of 
the  '  family  people  ; '  thus  a 
thief  will  say  to  his  accomplice 
on  perceiving  that  the  person 
they  are  about  to  rob  is  aware 
of  their  intention  and  upon  his 
guard,  '  Stow  it,  the  cove's 
awake.'  To  be  awake  to  any 
scheme,  deception,  or  design, 
means,  generalh',  to  see  through 
or  comprehendit." — From  Vaux's 
Memoirs. 

Awer  (gypsy),  but.  This  recalls 
the  German  aber,  but  it  is  pro- 
bably only  a  form  of  the  affirma- 
tive awo. 

Awful.  This  word  does  duty  in 
fa.'ihionable  slang  for  "very." 
Girls  and  women  are  no  longer 
"very  pretty"  or  "very  hand- 
some," but  "awfully  pretty" 
or  "  aicftdly  handsome."  The 
expression  is  sometimes  varied 
into  "dreadfully."  An  awful 
shame  or  pity,  or  a  dreadful 
shame  or  pity,  are  common 
expressions  both  among  the 
high  and  low  vulgar.  "An 
aicfidly  fine  day  "  is  a  favourite 
expletive  among  young  and 
old,  but  especially  among  the 
young.  All  these,  and  count- 
loss  other  perversions  of  the 
word,  might  fitly  be  described 
as  awfully  destructive  of  the 
grace,  elegance,  and  purity  of 
the  English  language.  In  like 
manner  very  laughable  farces 
are  declared  to  be  screamingly 
funny  or  excruciatingly  funny  ; 
as  if  very  were  no  longer  an 
English  word. 


A  wful — Ayrshires. 


57 


"  The  lumberer  very  rarely  mixes  in  polite 
society,  but  when  he  does  he  never  fails 
to  make  his  mark.  Only  a  few  weeks  ago 
he  was  introduced  to ,  and  that  effu- 
sive young  lady  was  quite  charmed  with 
him. 

"  '  I  think  him  awfully  nice,'  she  said  ; 
'  I  am  quite  taken  with  him.' 

"  And  so  were  they  all,  until  a  subsequent 
examination  of  the  sideboard  disclosed  the 
fact  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  plate 
had  likewise  been  taken  with  him." 

The  Philadelphia  Press  quotes 
"a  charming  old  lady's  advice 
to  girls — very  excellent  advice 
indeed,  to  the  sv?eet-faced  dam- 
sels who  are  making  their  first 
bows  to  society  this  winter. 
Firstly,  what  to  avoid : 

"  A  loud,  weak,  affected,  whining,  harsh, 
or  shrill  tone  of  voice. 

"  Extravagances  in  conversation — such 
phrases  as  ''awfully  this,'  'beastly  that," 
'  loads  of  time,'  '  don't  you  know,'  '  hate ' 
for  '  dislike,'  &c. 

"  Sudden  exclamation  of  annoyance, 
surprise,  and  joy  —  often  dangerously 
approaching  to  female  swearing  —  as 
'  bother  ! '  '  gracious  !  '  '  how  jolly  ! ' " 

Awkward  squad  (military  and 
nautical),  a  squad  formed  of 
the  men  who  are  backward  in 
drill  instruction.  The  French 
have  the  corresponding  term, 
"Le  peloton  des  maladroits." 

Axe  to  grind,  an  (American, 
political),  said  when  a  man  who 


has  some  pet  scheme  or  hobby 
of  his  own  in  view,  supports 
another  who  may  in  the  future 
be  useful  to  him.  Such  men 
are  said  to  have  axes  to  grind,. 

Special  legislation  in  behalf  of  private 
interests  is  one  of  the  curses  of  this  country, 
otherwise  so  blessed  by  the  smiles  of  Divine 
Providence.  The  number  of  axes  which 
are  taken  to  the  various  State  Capitols,  to 
be  ground  at  the  public  expense,  is  per- 
fectly enormous. — Ne^u  York  Tribune. 

The  phrase  is  derived  from  a 
story  told  by  Benjamin  Franklin 
in  his  life.  Once  when  he  was 
a  boy,  a  man  who  wanted  to 
grind  an  axe  persuaded  little 
Benjamin  by  flattery  to  turn  the 
stone  till  he  was  utterly  weary 
and  his  hands  were  sore,  and 
then  when  it  was  done,  told 
him  rudely  to  be  off.  After 
this,  whenever  anybody  was  ex- 
tremely amiable,  the  great  Ame- 
rican philosopher  speculated 
whether  the  polite  person  had 
not  an  axe  to  grind. 

Ayah  (Anglo-Indian),  a  Hindoo 
nurse  or  lady's  attendant.  From 
the  Portuguese  aia,  a  nurse. 

Ayrshires  (Stock  Exchange),  is 
used  to  describe  Glasgow  and 
South-Western  Railway  stock. 


58 


Ba — Baboo- English. 


(fenian).  In  the  Fenian 
vocabulary  this  letter 
stands  for  a  captain. 


Ba  (gypsy),  brother, 
friend.  This  resembles  the  north- 
country  hor,  but  is  of  Hindu 
origin. 

Babblers  (sport),  ill-bred  hounds ; 
when  the  pack  is  questing  the 
babblers  frequently  open  without 
cause. 

Babelo-dye,  babalo-dye  (gypsy), 
grandmother. 

Babes  (trade),  the  "  small  fry  "  or 
lower  orders  of  "knook-out" 
men  who  are  bought  over  by  the 
larger  dealers  just  previous  to 
a  sale  coming  off,  and  who  for 
a  few  shilUngs  retire  altogether, 
or  promise  to  make  no  biddings 
while  the  lot  is  held  by  any  of 
the  other  party. 

Baboo  (Anglo-Indian),  from  the 
Bengali  and  Hindu  Bdbu,  which 
is  properly  a  term  of  respect, 
like  Master  or  Mr.  Its  applica- 
tion in  this  sense  is  now  confined 
to  Lower  Bengal,  though  C.  P. 
Brown  states  that  it  is  also  used 
in  Southern  India  for  My  Lord 
or  Your  Honour.  In  Bengal 
and  elsewhere  it  is  often  used 
among  Anglo-Indians  with  a 
slight  savour  of  disparagement, 
as  characterising  a  superficially 
cultivated  but  too  often  effemi- 
nate Bengali.  From  the  exten- 
sive cmi)loyment  of  the  class  to 
which  the  term  was  applied  as 


a  title,  in  the  capacity  of  clerks 
in  English  oflBces,  the  word  has 
come  often  to  signify  a  native 
clerk  who  writes  English. — 
Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

"  But  I'd  sooner  be  robbed  by  a  tall  man 

who  showed  me  a  yard  of  steel. 

Than  be  fleeced  by  a  sneaking  Baboo  with 

a  peon  and  badge  at  his  heel." 

—Sir  A.  C.  Lyall:  The  Old 
Pindaree. 

Baboo  -  English  (Anglo  -  Indian). 
This  term  is  applied  to  the 
peculiar  English  which  is  rather 
written  than  spoken  by  the 
natives  in  India.  It  is  difficult 
to  describe,  not  being  specially 
ungrammatical  or  faulty  as  re- 
gards orthography,  and  yet  it  is 
the  drollest  dialect  of  English 
known.  It  is  most  humorous 
when  the  writer  has  made  him- 
self familiar  with,  let  us  say 
Shakspeare  and  the  Referee,  the 
Bible  and  the  "Slang  Diction- 
ary," Artemus  Ward,  Milton, 
Punch,  and  the  "Polite  Letter 
Writer,"  and  then  contrives  to 
happily  unite  all  their  character- 
istics with  most  unexceptionable 
gravity  and  skill.  It  is  said  that 
a  converted  Baboo,  wishing  to 
combine  devotion  with  kindly 
feeUng,  ended  a  letter  to  an 
English  lady-patron,  to  whom 
he  supplied  meat,  with  this 
expression  :  "  Your  affectionate 
butcher,  in  Christ."  Of  late 
years  many  amusing  specimens 
of  Baboo- English  have  been 
collected  and  })ublished.  There 
is  a  work  called  "  The  Baboo 
and  Other  Tales,"  by  Augustus 
Prinsep. 


Babus — Back  block. 


59 


Babus,  bawbus  (gypsy),  grand- 
father. "  Mandy  dikked  yer 
hdbus  a  chinnin  kosbters  kaliko 
adr^  lestis  tan" — "I  saw  your 
grandfather  a  cutting  woods 
(making  skewers)  yesterday,  in 
his  tent." 

Baby-herder  (American  cowboy 
slang),  a  nurse  for  an  infant. — 
C.  Leland  Harrison :  MS.  Ameri- 


Baby-paps  (thieves),  rhyming 
slang  for  caps. 

Bacca-pipe  (popular),  old-fash- 
ioned way  of  wearing  whiskers. 
The  bacca-pipe  was  the  whisker 
curled  in  tiny  ringlets. 

Bach,  to,  batch,  baching  (Ame- 
rican), from  the  word  bachelor. 
To  form  a  party  and  live  without 
women's  society  or  aid  in  the 
woods  or  by  the  sea-side.  The 
expenses  entailed  on  young 
men  who  mix  with  ladies  in 
society  at  the  watering-places 
in  America  are  great,  and  often 
out  of  all  proportion  to  their 
means,  the  natural  result  being 
that  bachelors  take  to  the 
forests  or  sea-surf,  and  live 
in  tents,  enjoying  themselves 
thoroughly  without  the  aid  of 
"  the  muslin,"  for  half,  or  quar- 
ter the  money  which  they  must 
otherwise  have  expended  on 
treating  ladies  to  carriages, 
juleps  and  cobblers  after  bath- 
ing, billiards  and  ten  pins,  ball 
tickets  and  suppers. 

Baching',   a  delightful  Western  amuse- 
ment which  pleases  the  doctors.     Never 


bach?  Well,  it's  a  great  scheme.  Can 
have  just  what  your  appetite  craves,  and 
at  a  nominal  price,  and  there  is  no  woman 
around  to  find  fault  and  comment  upon 
the  lay-out.  Of  course  it  requires  judg- 
ment to  prorate  the  ingredients  essential  to 
a  first-class  repast,  and  frequently  one  errs 
in  the  quantity  of  seasoning  necessary  to 
impart  a  palatable  relish  to  corn,  tomatoes, 
string  beans,  and  succotash,  but  you  soon 
catch  on,  and  frequently  before  the  salt 
and  pepper  give  out.  .  .  .  Yes,  baching  is 
perfectly  delightful,  and  while  errors  may 
inter\'ene  during  the  period  in  which  the 
dog  is  convalescing,  the  outcome  cannot 
be  other  than  satisfactory  —  to  resident 
physicians. — California  Newspaper. 

Back  (general)  to  get  one's  baxik 
tip,  to  get  angry,  the  idea  being 
taken  from  a  cat,  that  always 
arches  its  hack  when  irritated. 
"  Don't  get  your  back  up," 
"  Keep  your  hair  on,"  "  Don't 
lose  your  shirt,"  are  synony- 
mous expressions  for  an  exhor- 
tation to  keep  one's  temper. 

Back  block  (Australian),  the 
country  outside  the  margin  of 
the  settled  districts. 

Like  the  brief  flight  of  a  sparrow  upon  a 

wintry  night, 
Out  of  the  frost  and  and  darkness  into 

the  warm  and  light, 
Is  the  advent  of  a  stranger  in  the  back 

blocks  out  West, 
Here  to-night,  and  gone  to-morrow,  after 
food,  roof,  and  rest. 
—D.  B.  IV.  Sladen :  Out  West  in 
Queensland  {First  Edition  of 
Australian  Lyrics). 

These  back  blocks  are,  as  a  rule, 
grazing  country,  often  very 
poor,  let  to  the  squatters  (or 
graziers)  in  immense  tracts  at  a 
nominal  rent.  One  often  hears 
of  a  man   holding  a  thousand 


6o 


Back  block — Back-handed. 


or  two  thousand  squaxe  miles. 
Mr.  Fisher,  a  South  Austra- 
lian, recently  put  upon  the 
market,  in  the  northern  terri- 
tory of  South  Australia,  lAocks 
to  the  aggregate  of  thirty  or 
forty  thousand  square  miles. 
In  very  remote  parts,  crown- 
lands  are  sometimes  leased  at 
sixpence  a  square  mile.  The 
two  greatest  difficulties  to  con- 
tend with  (besides  droughts  and 
floods)  are  "  getting  up  stores," 
and  getting  to  market.  Cattle 
are  sometimes  driven  all  the  way 
from  the  Gulf  of  Carpentaria 
to  Melbourne,  the  whole  length 
of  Australia,  for  sale,  and  some 
cattle  which  had  come  this 
journey  had  been  six  months 
and  three  weeks  en  route. 

Back-breakers.  According  to  the 
evidence  taken  before  the  Chil- 
dren's Employment  Commis- 
sion, the  ganger  who  contracts 
to  do  the  work  hires  the  sm<allest 
and  cheapest  children,  select- 
ing the  strongest  and  most  will- 
ing of  the  gang  as  a  back-breaker, 
whose  duty  it  is  to.  set  an 
example  of  activity  to  the  rest 
and  "  put  them  along." 

Back-cheat  (old  cant),  a  cloak. 

Back-cloth  (theatrical),  scenes  in 
a  theatre  or  music  hall. 

'I"he  hack<loth  is  the  well-known  "  wood- 
land glade"  that  Mr.  de  Pinna,  the  mana- 
ger, invariably  selects  as  the  scene  of  these 
combats,  and  three  rounds  are  fought 
under  the  Marquis  of  Queensberry  rules. 
—  Evening  Ncivs. 


Back  -  door  work  (popular), 
sodomy. 

Backed  (old  slang),  dead,  with 
"  one's  toes  turned  up." 

Back  end  (racing),  the  last  two 
months  of  the  racing  season. 

Lowestoft,  though  amongst  the  arrivals, 
shirked  some  of  his  engagements  last  back 
end. — Star. 

A  bad:  enler,  consequently,  is 
a  horse  which  appears  on  the 
racecourse  at  the  end  of  the 
season. 

Lord  Bradford's  horse  evidently  likes 
the  Doncaster  course,  and  he  is  undoubt- 
edly a  hack  ender.  It  must  be  for  these 
reasons  that  he  is  so  well  backed,  by  the 
public  be  it  understood,  the  stable  rarely 
making  any  sign  until  the  last  moment. — 
Sporting  Times. 

Backers  (a  racing  technical  term), 
the  general  body  of  the  betting 
public  who  wager  on  horses 
winning,  in  contradistinction  to 
the  more  limited  society  of  the 
"ring"  or  "bookmakers,"  who 
bet  against  horses. 

This  term  is  also  frequently 
applied  to  coal  carriers,  whip- 
pers,  or  heavers. 

Mr.  Dudley  Baxter,  M.A,, 
states  in  National  Income  that  a 
coal  backer  is  considered  past 
work  at  forty. 

Back-gammon  player  (old),  a 
practiser  of  an  unmentionable 
vice.  Also  called  "  an  usher,"  or 
"gentleman  of  the  back  door." 

Back-handed  turn  (Stock  Ex- 
change), leaving  made  an  un- 
profitable bargain. 


Backhanders — Back  seats. 


6l 


Backhanders  (common),  one  who 
keeps  back  the  decanter  in  order 
to  hand  himself  a  second  glass 
before  he  passes  it.  Also,  a 
drink  out  of  turn. 

Long  experience  has  shown  us  that  to 
get  small  advantages  over  us  gives  the 
Scotch  so  much  pleasure  that  we  should 
not  think  of  grudging  them  the  mild  satis- 
faction, just  as  a  kindly  host  affects  not 
to  notice  a  valued  guest,  who,  he  observes, 
always  helps  himself  to  an  innocent  back- 
hander. —  The  Saturday  Review. 

Back  handicap  (running),  the 
process  of  revising  a  time  handi- 
cap, the  time  being  reckoned 
from  the  second  the  "  limit 
man  "  is  sent  off. 

Back-house,  or  backward  (com- 
mon), a  privy.  So  called  from 
being  usually  situated  at  the 
rear  of  house.  Soldiers  also 
call  it  "the  rear,"  from  asking 
leave  to  fall  to  the  rear  of  the 
company. 

Backing  or  turning-on  (Ameri- 
can thieves'  slang),  a  very  usual 
kind  of  cheating,  by  which  a 
man  is  victimised  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  render  himself 
liable  to  punishment. 

Back  jump  (thieves),  a  back  win- 
dow. The  window  seems  to  be 
considered  by  thieves  only  in 
the  light  of  a  convenient  means 
of  escape,  hence  the  expression 
"jump." 

Back  mark  (running),  the  mark 
nearest  the  scratch — sometimes, 
of  course,  the  scratch  itself.    A 


man  is  said  to  be  "  backmarked ' ' 
in  handicajjping  when  the 
handicapper  sets  him  back,  or 
gives  him  less  start  than  he  has 
hitherto  had. 

Back  of  beyond,  the  (American), 
a  mythical  country  where  large 
fortunes  are  to  be  made — a  Tom 
Tiddler's  ground. 

I  sat  down  to  my  breakfast  on  the 
morning  of  the  second  day  of  April  188-, 
with  no  more  notion  that  I  should  find 
myself  at  dinner-time  that  day  at  sea, 
bound  on  a  voyage,  the  story  of  which  I 
now  propose  to  write,  than  I  have,  seeing 
that  I  am  come  in  safety  home  again,  of 
setting  out  before  to-morrow  to  seek  my 
fortune  in  the  uttermost  part  of  the  mys- 
terious country  known  as  the  Back  0/ 
Beyond. — W.  A.  Pat  on:  Down  tht  Isr 
lands. 

Back  scuttle,  to  (thieves),  to  enter 
by  the  back  way. 

Back-seam  (popular),  to  be  down 
on  one's  hack-seam  is  to  be  at 
one's  last  breath. 

Back  seats  (American),  a  very 
common  slang  expression  signi- 
fying reserve  or  an  obscure  and 
modest  position.  It  originated 
in  a  saying  of  President  John- 
son in  1868,  that  "in  the  work 
of  reconstruction  traitors  should 
take  hack  seats." 

General  Shelby  of  rebel  notoriety  says  : — 
"  Let  it  be  distinctly  understood  at  St. 
Louis  and  everywhere  else  that,  while  the 
issues  of  the  war  are  past  and  forgotten, 
we  take  back  nothing,  and  there  is  no  use 
of  their  expecting  us  to  do  so." 

That's  true.  You  don't  even  take  back 
seats.  In  the  Cleveland  variety  show 
every  man-jack  of  you  is  in  the  bald-headed 
TOW.— Chicago  Tribune. 


62 


Backsheesh — Back  staircase. 


"  For  my  part,"  remarked  a  handsomely, 
even  sportively  dressed  young  man  in  the 
smoking-car,  "I  think  this  Grover  Cleve- 
land is  getting  altogether  too  much  atten- 
tion. ...  I  predict  that  in  two  months  he 
will  take  a  back  seat  as  it  were.  He  will 
discover  that  there  are  some  big  men  in 
this  country  b«side  himself.  This  ain't  no 
one-man  countrj-." — American  Humorist. 

Backsheesh  (Anglo-Indian). 
From  the  Persian  bakhsMsh,  a 
gratuity,  a  "  tip." 

What  an  honour  to  think  that  1  am  to 
be  elevated  to  the  throne,  and  to  bring  the 
seat  in  Parliament  as  backsheesh  to  the 
Sultan. — Thackeray:  Pendennis. 

Back  slangy  (Australian  convicts), 
the  going  stealthily  to  or  into  a 
place,  sneaking  into  it.  Pro- 
bably taken  out  to  Australia 
by  the  convicts  transported 
thither,  though  it  may  have 
originated  thera 

(Thieves),  to  enter  or  come 
out  of  a  house  by  the  back 
door,  or  to  go  a  circuitous  or 
private  way  through  the  streets 
in  order  to  avoid  any  parti- 
cular place  in  the  direct  road, 
is  termed  hack-slanging  it. — 
Vaux's  Memoirs.  Back  dang  also 
means  slang  produced  by  spel- 
ling words  backwards,  e.g.,  "nael 
ekom "  for  lean  moke,  "occa- 
bot "  for  tobacco. 

Back-slangitig  is  quite  aristo- 
cratic up  the  country  in  Aus- 
tralia, where,  unless  it  is  a  formal 
visit,  it  is  almost  the  universal 
custom  for  any  one  of  any  rank 
to  drive  straight  into  the  stables 
of  the  house  he  is  going  to,  call 
for  a  groom  (or  quite  as  often 
a  boy)  to  take  the  horses,  and 
then  walk  round  to  the  house. 


Back  slum  (Australian  convicts' 
slang),  a  back  room,  a  back 
entrance.  Probably  taken  out 
to  Australia  by  the  convicts 
transported  thither. 

In  ordinary  colloquial  Eng- 
lish, back  slum  simply  means  a 
"  back  street "  or  a  "  bad  neigh- 
bourhood," but  Vaux  in  his 
Memoirs  says  that  among  the 
Australian  lays  back  dum  is  a 
back  room,  also  the  back  en- 
trance to  any  liouse  or  premises  ; 
thus,  "We'll  give  it  'em  on  the 
back  slum,"  means  "  We'll  get  in 
at  the  back  door." 

Back  staircase  (popular),  a  de- 
risive term  for  a  bustle,  called 
by  maid-servants  "bird  cage," 
or  "  canary  cage."  Parisian 
ladies  had  formerly  the  un- 
assuming polisson,  superseded 
imder  the  Third  Empire  by  the 
more  "all  round"  crinoline, 
brought  into  fashion  by  the 
Empress,  and  which  became  so 
much  the  rage  all  the  world 
over  as  to  be  worn  even  by  Afri- 
can belles,  whose  sole  adorn- 
ment it  frequently  was.  Eng- 
lish girls  of  the  lower  classes, 
who  could  not  afford  to  procure 
the  "  real  article,"  would  aflix 
wooden  hoops  to  their  petti- 
coats. Scoffing  Parisians  now 
term  the  modern  "  dress  impro- 
ver " — so  elongated,  painfully 
pointed,  and  almost  horizontal 
— "  un  lieutenant  "  (a  pun  on 
"  tenant  lieu  de  ce  qui  manque  ") 
"  nuage  "  ("  parcequ'il  cache  la 
lune,"  tunc  being  .slang  for  the 
posterior),  and  "volapuk." 


Backstairs — Badgeer. 


63 


Backstairs  influence  (common), 
a  disparaging  term  for  occult, 
intriguing  influence. 

There  is  no  rule  of  the  service  so  strict 
that  it  will  not  yield  to  backstairs,  or  other 
influence.— rr«M,  April  26,  1888. 

Back  talk  (popular),  no  haclc 
talk,  i.e.,  speaking  frankly. 

Back-tommy  (tailors),  a  piece  of 
cloth  used  to  cover  the  stays  at 
the  waist. 

Back-track  (American)  ;  going 
back,  retreating,  eating  one's 
words;  to  take  the  back-track, 
to  recede  from  one's  position. 

The  first  law  of  self-preservation  has 
admonished  Mr.  Douglas  that  he  has  gone 
as  far  in  the  slavery  concessions  to  the 
South  as  he  can  possibly  go,  and  that  if  he 
would  save  himself  at  home  he  must  take 
the  back-track. — New  York  Herald,  De- 
cember 26,  1857. 

I  turned  to  Mac  and  said,  "  Come, 
Mac,  what's  the  use  of  fooling  ;  come 
with  me." 

"  No  back-tracks,  Texas.  I'll  stay  here." 
— R.  Morley :  The  Western  Av emus. 

Back  up  (public  schools),  to  call 
out,  as,  for  instance,  when  a 
praefect  requires  a  fag. 

Backy  (tailors),  the  man  working 
immediately  behind  the  speaker. 
The  term  is  much  affected  by 
"  slop  cutters." 

Bacon  (common),  the  body;  "to 
save  one's  hacon,"  to  escape  a 
castigation ;  "to  baste  one's 
hacon,"  is  to  strike  one  ;  (theat- 
rical), to  "  pull  hacon," 

The  late  Mr.  H.  J.  Byron,  the 


actor,  very  popular  in  his  time, 
says  this  phrase  has  reference 
to  a  grimace  which  he  used 
to  make,  and  which  was  called 
pulling  a  ba^on  face,  or,  in 
short,  pulling  hacon,  but  the  ex- 
pression is  not  in  general  use. 

Bad  break  (American),  an  out- 
break, outrage,  turbulent  con- 
duct. 

"Sam,"  he  says,  "you've  made  one  or 
two  bad  breaks  since  you've  been  in  town." 
— F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Bad  egg  (popular),  a  rascaL 

There  is  some  philosophy  in  the  remark 
that  a  man  may  be  a  bad  egg,  and  yet  not 
be  a  nuisance  unless  he  gets  broke. — 
Sporting  Times. 

The  term  is  used  in  America 
to  express  a  man  of  unsound  or 
doubtful  character.  It  became 
popular  about  1849-50.  If  the 
corresponding  slang  term  existed 
in  China,  a  had  egg  would,  on  the 
contrary,  mean  a  very  honest 
fellow. 

But   one   gray-haired   old   veller  shmiled 

crimly  und  bet 
Dat  Breitmann  vould  prove  a. /ad  egg  for 

dem  yet. 

—  Ballads  of  Hans  Breitmann. 

There  was,  however,  a  considerable 
feeling  amongst  others  there  that  he  was 
a  bad  egg,  and  they  even  went  so  far  as  to 
suggest  that  the  sooner  he  had  a  bullet  in 
him  the  better. — A,  Staveley  H ill :  From 
Home  to  Home. 

Badge  coves  (old  cant\  persons 
existing  on  the  bounty  of  the 
parish. 

Badgeer  (Anglo-Indian),  from  the 
Persian    bdd-ger,    wind-catch. 


64 


Badger — Bad  man. 


A  contrivance  for  bringing  air 
down  into,  and  for  cooling  and 
ventilating  a  house,  A  wind 
tower. 

Badger  (American  thieves),  a 
"panel"  thief  (panel  being  pro- 
bably a  corruption  of  panny,  a 
cant  word  for  a  house),  who  robs 
a  man  after  a  woman  has  enticed 
him  into  bed. 

In  schools  it  is  the  fate  of 
red-haired  boys  to  be  nick- 
named after  this  animal.  (Na- 
val) badger-hag,  the  fictitious 
Neptune  who  visits  the  ship  on 
her  crossing  the  line,  and  is  so 
called  from  his  badgering  the 
uninitiated.  Formerly  the  term 
was  applied  to  a  huckster  or 
retailer,  from  badjulate,  to  carry, 
Latin  bajulare.  To  overdraw 
one's  badger  is  slang  for  over- 
drawing one's  banking  account, 
a  play  on  the  expression  drawing 
the  badger. 

His  checks  no  longer  drew  the  cash, 
Because,  as  his  comrades  explain'd   in 

flash. 
He  had  overdrawn  his  badger. 

— Hood :  Miss  Kilviansegg. 

Also  applied  in  old  cant  to  a 
footpad  who  in  old  days  robbed 
persons  near  a  river,  subse- 
quently throwing  the  body  of 
the  victim  into  the  water ;  a 
common  prostitute. 

Bad  give-away  (American),  in- 
cautious betrayal,  lapsus. 

It  was  a  bad give-aivay  when  a  temper- 
ance lecturer  absent-mindedly  tried  to  blow 
the  foam  off  a  glass  of  water. — American 
!\eu'Spaper. 


Bad  halfpenny  (Australian  con- 
victs' slang),  a  fruitless  errand, 
no  go.  Probably  taken  out  by  the 
convicts  transported  thither. 
Vaux  in  his  Memoirs  says : — 

When  a  man  has  been  upon  any  errand, 
or  attempting  any  object  which  has  proved 
unsuccessful  or  impracticable,  he  will  say 
on  his  return,  "It  is  a  bad  halfpenny" 
—  meaning  that  he  has  returned  as  he 
went. 

A  ne'er-do-well  is  called  a 
bad  halfpenny,  because  the  ne'er- 
do-well  of  the  family  is  so  diffi- 
cult to  get  rid  of ;  he  is  said  "  to 
turn  up  like  a  bad  halfpenny," 
because  imperfect  coins  are 
constantly  being  traced  back  to 
and  forced  back  on  the  person 
who  circulates  them. 

Bad  lot  (common),  a  person  of 
indifTerent  character.  The  term 
seems  to  be  derived  from  an 
auctioneering  phrase.  It  is 
often  applied  to  girls  who  have, 
as  the  French  term  it,  "  la 
cuisse  gaie." 

The  girl  shuddered. 

"  I  always  thought  you  were  a  bad  lot." 
The  chorus  girl  was  trying  to  pluck  up  her 
courage. 

"  Well,  well — I  was  once  as  pretty  as 
you,  and  a  deal  prettier,  and  was  made 
more  fuss  with." — Aiiy  Sli'per's  Half 
Holiday. 

A  very  handsome  girl  she  may  be,  but 
a  bud  lot,  as  her  father  was. — Ji.  D.  Black- 
more  :  Erema. 

Bad  man  (American).  This  has 
a  special  meaning  in  the  West, 
where  it  indicates  a  heartless, 
cruel  murderer.      Rowdies  and 


Bad  man — Baggage. 


65 


bullies  in  their  boasting  often 
describe  themselves  as  "  hard 
had  men  from  Bitter  Creek." 

In  vain  he  begged  for  mercy.  Milton 
was  obdurate,  and  refused  to  be  moved  by 
the  would-be  bad  man's  prayers.  He  led 
him  into  the  post  tied  up  like  a  broncho 
steer,  and  the  jeers  of  the  citizens  as  poor 
Dosy  shambled  past  them  on  his  way  to 
the  jail  were  the  death-knell  of  his  bad- 
ness. He  made  no  "  John  Branch  plays  " 
after  this,  but  attended  faithfully  to  his 
herd,  and  the  bare  mention  of  the  name 
of  Mad  Milton  was  sufficient  to  keep  him 
quiet  whenever  he  forgot  his  defeat  and 
essayed  the  rdle  of  bad  man. — Detroit 
Free  Press. 

"  Bad  man  "  for  a  cruel  mur- 
derer is  indeed  a  very  mild  way 
of  putting  it.  If  the  euphemism 
were  carried  on,  a  murderer 
pure  and  simple  would  probably 
be  styled  a  naughty  man. 

Bad  match  twist  (barbers),  red 
hair  and  black  whiskers. 

Badminton  (prize  ring),  blood ; 
properly  a  kind  of  claret  cup. 
To  "  tap  the  badminton,  or 
claret,"  is  to  draw  blood. 

Bag  (common),  any  kind  of  purse 
when  empty ;  to  give  the  bag, 
i.e.,  to  dismiss,  run  away. 

When  of  oof  they  had  bereft  him,  his 
own  tart  had  promptly  left  him. 
And  gone  off  with  some  one  else  upon 
a  drag. 
It   was  cruel   to   forsake  him;   but,  as 
settling  day  would  break  him. 
She  had  given  him,  quite  cheerfully, 
the  bag. 

— Sporting  Times. 

(Printers  and  sailors),  a  vulgar 
term  for  a  pint  or  pot  of  beer ; 


"  Come  and  have  a  hag  "  would 
be  a  form  of  invitation  given. 

Bag,  to  (familiar),  to  steal  or 
seize. 

The  shameful  way  in  which  our  ships 
are  being  bagged  without  the  slightest 
scruple  to  suit  private  ends  becomes  our 
wretched  system  of  naval  government  in- 
comparably. The  public,  who  have  to  pay 
the  piper  pretty  sweetly  for  the  Spithead 
pageant,  can  hardly  be  expected  to  look 
without  wonder  or  disgust  at  the  barefaced 
partiality  displayed  by  the  Admiralty  in 
appropriating  vessels. — Moderti  Society. 

Also  a  phrase  in  common  use 
signifying  the  expansion  of  gar- 
ments by  frequent  wear. 

"  You  men  are  so  lucky,"  a  fair  maiden 
said. 
Discussing  the  question  of  dress, 
"  You're  ne'er  burdened  with  petticoats, 
corsets,  nor  shawls, 
Which  to  us  are  a  source  of  distress." 
"  Yes,  I  know,  "  said  a  youth  who'd  been 
waiting  for  this. 
An  argument  ready  to  seize — 
"  What  you've  said  is  all  true,  but  there's 
one  point  you  miss. 
Your  pants  never  bag  3X  the  knees." 

Baggage  smasher  (American),  a 
word  with  two  meanings.  The 
first  applies  to  men  who  hang 
about  the  railway  stations  to 
steal  luggage,  the  second  to  the 
railway  porters  and  others  who 
in  America  handle  trunks  and 
boxes,  &c.,  with  extraordinary 
carelessness. 

"  I  feel  depressed  to-night,"  remarked  a 
large,  down-town  trunk  manufacturer  to 
his  wife.  "  I  think  I  have  a  touch  of 
malaria,"  "I  fancy  it  will  soon  pass 
away,"  replied  the  lady,  without  much 
concern.  "  Why  don't  you  go  around  to 
the  Grand  Central  Station,  and  watch 
them  smash  baggage  for  an  hour.  That 
will  revive  you  I " — New  York  Sun. 
E 


es 


Bagged — Bogs. 


A  London  thief  who  steals 
luggage  off  carriages  or  cabs  by 
climbing  up  behind,  is  termed 
a  "  dragsman." 

Bagged  (American  thieves),  im- 
prisoned, "  scooped  in,"  i.e., 
taken  in,  victimised. 

Bagging  (northern  counties),  used 
of  food  between  meals  ;  in  Lan- 
cashire especially,  an  afternoon 
meal,  i.e.,  what  is  taken  about 
in  a  bag.  See  CARPET  BAG- 
GING. 

Lancashire  adopts  the  whole-board  or 
partial-board  system  very  extensively.  The 
local  term  of  bagging-  implies  bread  and 
cheese,  or  pies  ;  and  there  are  all  the 
varieties  of  board  and  lodging,  dinner  of 
potatoes  and  bacon  with  butter-milk, 
bagging  in  the  forenoon  and  afternoon, 
dinner  and  lunch,  and  rations  allowed  for 
women. — Chambers's  Journal. 

Bagging  or  jockeying  the  over 

(cricketers),  the  practice  of  bats- 
men who  manage  their  running 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  get  all 
the  bowling  to  themselves. 

Bagman  (general),  a  commercial 
traveller.  A  name  formerly 
given  to  commercial  travellers 
from  their  travelling  on  horse- 
back and  carrpng  their  samples 
or  wares  in  saddle-bags  ;  now 
used  only  in  a  somewhat  con- 
temptuous manner. 

The  late  lord  came  to  London  with  four 
post-chaises  and  sixteen  horses.  The  pre- 
sent lord  travels  with  five  bagmen  in  a 
railway  carriage.  —  \V.  At.  Thackeray  : 
Pendtnnis. 

Bagnio  (old),  a  bawdy  house. 


Bag  of  mdls  (American),  the  same 
as  hurrah's  nest  or  whore's  nest. 
Everything  in  confusion,  and 
topsyturvy.  The  sign  of  the 
Bag  of  Nails  in  England  has 
been  said  by  inventive  and 
imaginative  etymologists  to  be 
derived  from  "  the  Baccha- 
nals." 

"  1  may  bid  as  high  as  your  pintle,  and 
make  you  squint  like  a  dag  of  nails," 
replied  the  intruder,  "  though  you  nib 
us  to  whit  for  it." — On  the  Trail. 

Bags  (general),  trousers.  The 
synonyms  are  "  kicks,"  "  sit 
upons,"  "hams."  Sometimes 
rudely  called  "  bumbags." 

Then  the  throng  begins  to  yell. 
But  I  scatters  'em  pell-mell, 
Be  their  clothing  manly  bags  or  female 
skirts ; 
With  my  staff  I  goes  for  all, 
Both  the  big  'uns  and  the  small, 
For  I'm  bound  to  give  sich  rabble  their 
"  deserts." 

— Funny  Folks. 

"But,  hollo!"  he  cried,  as  he  caught 
sight  of  his  legs.  "Parsons  don't  wear 
tight  tweed  bags."  .  .  .  Jack  had  to  un- 
pack his  portmanteau,  and  get  out  his  even- 
ing inexpressibles. — Chambers's  Journal. 

When  the  pattern  of  the  hagi 
is  very  staring  they  are  called 
"  howling  bags."  The  synonyms 
"  unmentionables  "  and  "  inex- 
pressibles," though  generally 
used  jocosely,  must  have  been 
coined  by  people  with  indecent 
imaginations  who  think  more  of 
the  contents  tlian  the  container, 
and  who  would  cover  with  petti- 
coats the  nakedness  of  statues 
or  incase  the  legs  of  pianos  in 
"  inexpressibles."  It  may,  how- 
ever,   have    been    invented   bv 


Bags — Baked. 


67 


ladies  who  will  blush  at  the  word 
chemise,  but  who  do  not  scruple 
to  show  themselves  in  public  in 
such  a  decollete  state  as  to  sug- 
gest that  only  the  lower  half  of 
that  garment  has  been  retained. 
To  "  have  the  bags  off,"  is  to 
be  of  age  and  one's  own  master, 
to  have  plenty  of  money.  To 
have  the  bags  on  would  surely  be 
a  more  appropriate  metaphor  in 
this  instance. 

Bags,  to  take  the  (athletic),  to 
go  hare  in  a  paper  chase. 

Ba-ha  (tailors),  bronchitis. 

Bai,  by  (gypsy),  a  sleeve,  a  bough. 

Bail  (Australian  Blackfellows' 
lingo),  no,  not.  The  following 
is  a  specimen  of  the  pidgin- 
English  stuffed  with  Blackfel- 
lows' words  used  by  the  whites 
on  stations  in  their  intercourse 
with  the  aborigines  : — 

"  Too  much  big-fellow  water,  tail  ply 
(fly),  come  up ;  iaii  pind  (find)  him," 
answers  the  aboriginal,  adding,  however, 
the  question,  "you  patter  potchum "  (eat 
possum). 

"  Yohi  "  (yes),  said  John,  rather  doubt- 
fully, for  he  is  not  sure  how  his  stomach 
will  agree  with  the  strange  meat. — A.  C. 
Grant. 

(Society),  to  give  leg  bail  and 
land  security,  a  phrase  for  run- 
ning away,  decamping. 

Baist  a  snarl  (tailors),  york  up  a 
quarrel. 

Bait  (Winchester),  rage,  to  be  in 
a  bait,  or  in  a  "swot,"  to  be 


angry, 
him. 


To  bait  a  lad  is  to  teaze 


Bait-land  (nautical),  an  old  word, 
formerly  used  to  signify  a  port 
where  refreshments  could  be 
procured. — Admiral  Smyth. 

Bak,  bacht  (gypsy),  luck.  A  very 
common  word.    Bdktalo,  lucky. 

"  Rya  del  mandy  a  panjer."  "What 
for?"  "  For  bdk."  "  For  bock,  kek — but 
mandy'U  dee  it  to  tute  to  kin  a  cigarrus." 

' '  Master  give  me  fiver  (5  cents). "  ' '  What 
for?"  "  ¥  or  bdk."  "  For  bock  (beer),  no 
— but  I'll  give  it  to  you  to  buy  a  cigar." — 
Gypsy  Notes  in  America  (MS.). 

Bake,  to  (Winchester),  to  rest,  to 
enjoy  "dolce  far  niente;"  (com- 
mon), to  fumigate  a  room. 

Baked  (Australian),  tired  out. 
Slang  delights  in  puns.  Because 
meat  put  in  the  oven  is  said  to 
be  baked  when  it  is  "done,"  a 
man  who  is  "  done  up,"  or 
"  done,"  is  said  to  be  baked. 
This  distinctly  "slang"  use  of 
baked  is  quite  different  from 
baked  in  the  sense  of  "  heated  " 
or  "  hot,"  in  which  even  ladies 
often  use  it.  In  the  English 
slang  only  "haXi-baked"  means 
imbecile. 

Baked  Spanish  (common).  A 
Spanish  means  a  large  Spanish 
onion. 

Maria  looks  very  nervous  like  at  this, 
but  told  me  afterwards  if  it  hadn't  been  as 
she  tried  to  forget  of  the  young  man,  and 
only  to  remember  there  was  tripe  for  supper 
and  a  baked  Spanish,  she'd  have  fainted 
right  clean  away. — Fun:  Murdle  Visiting. 


68 


Bakelo — Bakes. 


Bakelo  (gypsy),  hungry.  "  Shan  tu 
bakelo?" — "Are  you  hungry  7  " 

Baker  (American),  a  word  dis- 
covered or  unconsciously  in- 
vented by  the  Baron  E.  de 
Mandat  Grancey. 

We  got  there  without  unduly  exciting 
the  idle  curiosity  of  the  bakers  around  us. 
In  America  they  call  the  habitual  man- 
about-town,  the  lounger — baker.  I  leave 
to  a  more  learned  etymologist  than  myself 
the  care  of  discovering  whether  there  is  not 
in  this  term  an  ironical  allusion  to  the  way 
in  which  they  make  the  execrable  bread 
we  are  forced  to  eat  everywhere  in  the 
country.  —  Baron  E.  Mandat  Grancey : 
Cotv-Boys  and  Colonels. 

The  writer  of  the  above  had 
heard  the  word  loaf  a',  and  having 
inquired  its  meaning,  innocently 
translated  it  as  baker.  In  a  short 
time  baka'  will,  perhaps,  be 
current  as  a  joke,  and  a  few 
years  hence  some  one  learned 
in  Americanisms  may  possibly 
declare  it  to  be  the  original  word, 
or  at  least  a  well  -  established 
American  term,  and  one  recently 
heard  by  him  in  America. 
(Winchester  College),  a  baker 
is  a  cushion,  generally  a  large 
green  one,  used  by  prefects  and 
by  boys  who  have  studies  of  their 
own.  The  name  is  also  given  to  a 
small  red  cushion  used  at  chapel. 
Formerly  it  meant  a  portfolio. 
A  "  baker  layer  "  is  a  junior  who 
has  to  take  a  prefect's  baker  in 
.and  out  of  hall  at  meals.  The 
term  was  probably  obtained  by 
punning  on  the  connotation  of 
t)io  word  loaf. 

Baker-kneed  (workmen),  an  in- 
kneed    man,   one  whose   knees 


knock  together — the  position  in 
which  bakers  stand  to  knead 
their  bread  tending  to  make 
their  knees  incline  inwards. 

His  voice  had  broken  to  a  gruffish 
squeak,  he  had  grown  blear-eyed,  baker- 
kneed,  and  gummy. — Coleman :  Poetical 
Vagaries. 

Baker-legged  (see  Bakeb-kneed). 

.  .  .  His  body  crooked  all  over,  big 
belly'd,  baker-lej^g'd. — L' Estrange:  Life 
of  j-Esop. 

Baker's  dozen  (common),  thir- 
teen. Originally  the  London 
bakers  supplied  the  retailers 
with  thirteen  loaves  to  the 
dozen,  so  as  to  make  sure  of  not 
giving  short  weight. 

About  a  baker  s  dozen  of  cows  and  calves 
were  collected." — P.  Francis :  Saddle  ami 
Moccasin. 

To  "  give  a  man  a  baker's 
dozen  "  is  to  give  him  a  good 
beating,  to  give  him  full  measure 
in  that  respect. 

Baker,  to  spell,  an  expression  for 
attempting  anything  difficult. 
In  old  spelling-books,  baker  was 
the  first  word  of  two  syllables, 
and  when  a  child  came  to  it, 
he  thought  he  had  a  hard  task 
before  him. 

If  an  old  man  will  marry  a  young 
wife,  why  then — why  then— why  then — he 
must  s/ell  baker.— Longfellow  :  The  A'rrc- 
England  Tragedies. 

Bakes  (American),  one's  original 
stake  in  a  game,  a  juvenile  term  ; 
as  "  '  I  will  .'itop  when  I  got  my 
bakes'  said  by  a  boy  playing 
marbles"    (Ilartlett),    in     refer- 


Bakes — Balance. 


69 


ence  possibly  to  a  baker's  not 
always  getting  his  hake  safely 
out  of  the  oven.  More  probably 
'  from  the  provincial  English 
bakes,  marbles  of  baked  clay  or 
porcelain. 

Bakester  (Winchester),  one  who 
bakes — that  is,  a  sluggard,  an 
idle  fellow  who  is  fond  of  lying 
down  doing  nothing.  (Provin- 
cial), a  cognomen  for  a  baker. 

Baking-leave  (Winchester),  per- 
mission to  "bake" — that  is,  to 
sit  in  a  study  or  "  pigeon-hole." 

Baking-place  (Winchester),  a  sort 
of  couch  or  sofa,  an  important 
article  of  furniture  for  those 
who  delight  in  baking,  that  is, 
doing  nothing. 

Bakro,  bokro  (gypsy),  a  sheep  or 
lamb  ;  hakenyro,  a  shepherd. 

Bal  (gypsy),  a  hair  (Hindu,  bal). 
Balm,  bailor,  hairs ;  bdlnoi, 
hairy. 

Balaam-box  (printing  shops),  used 
by  compositors  to  designate  the 
receptacle  for  silly  paragraphs 
about  monstrosities  in  art  or 
nature  ;  or  old  jokes  and  anec- 
dotes kept  in  reserve  to  lengthen 
out  pages  or  columns  which 
might  otherwise  remain  vacant. 
The  phrase  originated  in  the 
comparatively  remote  days  when 
newspaper  editors  were  some- 
times at  a  loss  to  iill  up  the  al- 
lotted space  at  their  command. 
No  such  difficulty,  however, 
confronts    them     in    this    age 


of  verbosity,  when  the  "gift  of 
the  gab"  is  considered  to  be 
one  of  the  proofs  of  states- 
manship, and  when  short-hand 
writers  supply  the  materials  for 
fiUing  and  overfilling  the  news- 
papers, by  full  reports  of  the 
speeches  of  vestrymen,  platform 
orators,  members  of  Parliament, 
and  worse  perhaps  than  all,  of 
windy  barristers,  doing  their 
utmost  in  courts  of  law  to 
make  guilt  look  innocence, 
or  vice  versa,  and  otherwise 
"darkening  counsel  with  vain 
words."  The  disease  that  afflicts 
the  printing-offices  is  no  longer 
that  of  "atrophy,"  but  of  flatu- 
lence in  its  worst  and  most  per- 
sistent forms. 

An  essay  for  the  Edinburgh  Review, 
in  the  old  unpolluted  English  language, 
would  have  been  consigned  by  the  editor 
to  his  <5(i/aaw-basket.  —  Hall:  Modern 
English. 

Balaclava  day  (military),  pay 
day,  a  survival  of  the  Crimean 
war.  The  day  on  which  men 
ha^ang  got  their  pay  took  it 
down  to  Balaclava,  the  great 
base  of  supply,  where  purchases 
could  best  be  made  from  sut- 
lers who  had  their  hut  shops 
there. 

Balance  (American),  the  rest  or 
remainder  of  anything.  Bartlett 
says  that  it  is  "  a  mercantile 
word  originally  introduced  into 
the  ordinary  language  of  life  by 
the  Southern  people,  but  now 
improperly  used  throughout  the 
United  States  to  signify  the  re- 


70 


Balance — Ball. 


mainder  of  a  thing.  The  balance 
of  an  account  is  a  term  well 
authorised  and  proper,  but  we 
also  frequently  hear  such  ex- 
pressions as  the  balance  of  a 
speech,  the  balance  of  the  day, 
&c."  It  seems  doubtful  whether 
balance  can  ever  be  quite  correct 
unless  it  signifies  an  exactly 
equal  half. 

I  hit  on  her  afifections  for  the  balance  of 
the  season. 

— Nes^o  Song-  of  1843. 

Balbus  (university),  Latin  prose 
composition.  A  term  derived 
from  Arnold's  "  Latin  Prose 
Composition,"  a  well  -  known 
text-book  in  which  Balbus  (who 
does  not  connect  in  his  memory 
this  odious  individual  with  the 
magister's  cane  ?)  occurs  at  the 
beginning  of  the  exercises  and 
on  every  page,  sometimes  over 
and  over  again,  right  through  to 
the  end  of  the  book. 

Balderdash  (old),  a  term  applied 
to  adulterated  wine,  and  to 
senseless  talk  or  writing. 

Bald-face  (American),  new  whis- 
key. 

Bald-faced  shirt  (American  cow- 
boys), a  white,  i.e.,  muslin  or 
linen  shirt.  So  called  because 
haldfactd,  or  Hereford  cattle 
have  white  faces.  —  C.  Leland 
Harrison:  MS.  Americanisms. 

Bald-faced  stag  (popular),  a  term 
of  <lurision  applied  to  a  bald- 
headed  man. 


Bald-headed  row  (American),  the 
front  seats  in  the  pit  of  a  theatre. 
It  is  an  old  joke  in  the  United 
States,  that  whenever  there  is 
a  great  "leg-piece,"  or  a  "frog- 
salad  "  (/.c,  a  ballet  with  unusual 
opportimities  for  studying  ana- 
tomy), the  front  seats  are  always 
filled  with  veteran  roues,  or 
"  Uncle  Neds." 

Baldober  (see  Baldower),  a  direc- 
tor, or  leader.  In  German 
thieves'  slang  the  director  or 
planner  of  a  robbery,  who  gets 
a  double  share. 

Baldower  (Yiddish),  head-speaker. 
One  who  conveys  information ;  a 
spy.  Connected  with  this  are 
baldowcm,  to  direct,  plan,  spy, 
lurk,  observe  (in  Dutch  slang 
baldoveren),  also  baldorcr,  a  spy 
or  traitor. 

Bales,  a  little  drive  with  (popu- 
lar) ;  Bales  is  the  policeman  who 
superintends  the  Black  Maria, 
or  prison  van. 

I  was  fined  forty  shillings,  but  not  forty 
pence 
Had  I  in  my  pocket  to  pay. 
So  into  the  p'lice  van  soon  bundled  was  I, 
But  to  Bales  I  sung  all  the  way. 
— Ok,  ain't  I  having  a  day.     Bcrtini, 
Marlborough  Street. 

Bale-up  (common),  an  equivalent 
of  "  fork  out,"  that  is,  pay,  give 
the  money  instantly,  ji  phrase 
imported  from  tlie  Australian 
bushrangers. 

Ball  (prison),  prison  allowance  ; 
six  ounces  of  meal ;  a  drink.  A 
hall  of  fire  in  popular  slang  is  a 


Ballad-basket — Bally. 


71 


glass  of  brandy,  in  allusion  to 
the  fieriness  and  pungency  of 
the  wretchedly  bad  spirit  sold 
as  brandy  to  the  lower  classes. 

Ballad-basket  (old  cant),  a  street 


Ballast  (common),  money.  Some 
of  the  slang  synonyms  for  money 
were  or  are — "Oof,  ooftish, 
stumpy,  muck,  brass,  leaver, 
blunt,  needful,  rhino,  bustle,  cole, 
gilt,  dust,  dimmock,  feathers, 
brads,  chinks,  pieces,  clinkers, 
stuff,  clumps,  chips,  coin,  shek- 
els, corks,  dibbs,  dinarly,  horse- 
nails,  gent,  huckster,  mopusses, 
palm  oil,  posh,  ready,  Spanish, 
rowdy." — Barrere  :  Argot  and 
SlaiKj. 

A  rich  man  is  said  to  be  well- 
ballasted.  A  man  is  said  to 
"lose  his  ballast"  when  his 
judgment  fails  him,  or  when  he 
becomes  top-heavy  from  conceit. 

Ballooning'  (Stock  Exchange). 
When  stock  is  increased  to  a 
figure  far  beyond  its  real  value 
it  is  said  to  be  ballooned,  and 
the  operation  by  which  this 
is  effected  is  called  Ixdlooning, 
The  means  by  which  this  result 
is  attained  are  cooked  or  other- 
wise favourable  reports,  ficti- 
tious sales,  and  so  on. 

Ballooning  it  (American),  exag- 
gerating, indulging  in  bounce, 
pulling  the  long  bow.  It  is 
said  to  have  originated  in  a  story 
of  a  man  who  boasted  that  he 
had  fought  a  duel  in  a  balloon 


and  brought  down  his  adversary, 
balloon  and  all.  But  this  was 
a  veritable  occurrence,  as  ap- 
pears by  the  St.  James's  Gazette 
of  August  5,  1887— 

"Since  General  Boulanger's  conditions 
are  unacceptable  to  M.  Ferry,  and  as  the 
usages  of  duellists  seem  conflicting  on  this 
subject,  perhaps  these  eminent  men  might 
try  a  duel  on  the  very  reasonable  condi- 
tions agreed  on  by  M.  de  Grandpre  and  M. 
le  Pique  in  Paris  in  1808.  These  gentlemen 
having  quarrelled  about  a  lady,  agreed  to 
have  it  out  in  balloons,  each  party  to  fire  at 
the  other's  balloon  and  try  and  bring  him 
down.  A  month  was  taken  to  build  two 
similar  balloons  ;  and  on  a  fine  day  the  pair 
ascended  with  their  seconds  from  the  Tui- 
leries  gardens,  armed  with  blunderbusses. 
When  they  were  about  half  a  mile  up,  and 
some  eighty  yards  apart,  the  signal  was 
given,  and  M.  le  Pique  missed.  M.  de 
Grandpr^,  however,  made  a  successful 
shot,  and  his  opponent's  balloon  went 
down  with  tremendous  rapidity,  both 
principal  and  second  being  instantly 
killed — much  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
spectators." 

Balls  (popular),  "to  make  halls  of 
it,"  to  make  a  mistake,  to  get 
into  trouble. 

Balls'  all  (popular),  all  rubbish. 

Ballum-rankum  (old),  a  ball  where 
all  the  dancers  arc  thieves,  pros- 
titutes, or  other  very  degraded 
persons,  as  in  the  "buff-ball,"  in 
which  both  sexes  join  without 
clothing. 

Bally  (society),  a  word  in  use 
among  the  young  men  of  the 
present  day  to  emphasise  a 
speech.  Coined  by  the  Sportin'j 
Times,  from  the  Irish  word 
"  bally-hooly."      It    is    mostly 


72 


Bally — Balmy. 


used  as  a  euphemism  for 
"bloody."  Of  the  samQ  class 
are  "darn  it!"  "by  golly  1" 
"  great  Scott !  " 

"  Oh,  that's  b rot ! "  quoth  the  dis- 
dainful Chiderdoss,  who  byway  of  a  change 
had  both  backed  and  tipped  the  right  'un. 
"  Who  interfered  with  him  ?  " 

' '  Wliy,  the  bally  winner,  of  course  ! 
Didn't  he  get  in  front  of  him  ?  " 

And  then  sundry  sad  and  silent  men 
faded  away  into  the  Rainbow,  and  got  in 
front  of  several  drinks. — Sporting  Times. 

Ballyrag  (Oxford  University), 
a  free  fight  in  jest.  This  is 
an  old  word  that  has  been  in 
use  at  least  a  hundred  years — 
spelt  also  bullarag.  The  con- 
clusion of  a  big  "wine"  (vide 
Wine),  is  often  a  wholesale 
ballyrag  or  milee,  always  carried 
on  in  good  temper  (personal 
violence  in  a*^narrel  is  practi- 
cally unknown  at  Oxford).  To 
ballyrag  a  man  is  to  mob  him 
and  play  practical  jokes  upon 
him,  to  hustle  him.  To  ballyrag 
a  man's  rooms  is  to  turn  them 
upside  down,  to  make  "hay" 
of  them. 

Dear  Muriel, — I  always  was  rather  a 
toff;  but  when  I  tell  you  that  this  bloom- 
ing house  has  become  perfectly  beastly,  I 
know  you  will  pity  the  poor  old  bounder. 
I  have  been  rotting  all  day  in  the  library, 
but  even  ballyragging  has  lost  its  ch.irm. 
A  sweep  or  a  smug  would  be  a  relief,  but 
there  is  not  so  much  as  a  plunger  to  be 
seen  nor  a  mug  to  speak  to.  Under  these 
circumstances  I  miss  you  most  awfully, 
and  I  write  to  say  that  if  you  would  come 
to  my  di'.jgings  for  a  little  while  it  would 
lie  perfectly  rippin. — Your  affectionate 
uncle,  G.  E.  C. 

P.S. — That's  where  the  j .ke  comes  in. 
—  The  Culture  of  the  Misses :  The  St. 
yames's  Gazette. 


(Common),  to  bully,  to  make 
a  kick  up  or  riot. 

None  of  your  flaring  up,  and  ballyrag- 
ging  the  people  about. — Edmund  Yates : 
The  Rock  Ahead. 

The  word  is  a  corruption  of 
bullyrag,  to  threaten,  bully, 
hustle.  "Bully"  is  a  provin- 
cialism for  a  riot.  It  may  be 
noted  that  in  Yiddish  balhe  and 
rag  mean  a  riot,  a  fight,  and 
rage.  Bahle-rag  would,  in  fact, 
be  a  roaring  row. 

Balm  (old),  a  falsehood. 

Balmy  (common),  sleepy,  from 
balmy  (Ut.,  soothing)  sleep  ; 
weak-minded,  dull,  easily  im- 
posed upon,  mad. 

The  people  in  our  alley  call  me  Salvation 

Sally, 
Since  I  have  been  converted,  but  I  try 

to  bear  the  load, 
They  say  I  must  be  balmy  to  go  and 

join  the  Army, 
That  leads  you  to  salvation  in  the  White- 
chapel  Road. 

— Salvation  Sally. 

The  expression  is  much  in 
favour  with  thieves. 

I  had  hardly  got  outside  when  he  came 
out  like  a  man  balmy. — Horsley  :  Jottings 
from  Jail. 

Among  convicts  to  "  put  on 
the  balmy  stick  "  is  to  feign  in- 
sanity. 

There  was  always  a  number  putting  on 
the  ''^ balmy  stick" — or,  in  plain  terms, 
feigning  insanity.  Nobody  in  prison  be- 
lieves in  brain  disease.  Every  lunatic  is 
accused  of  "  putting  it  on,"  and  is  punished 
for  it.  There  are  always  a  dozen  or  so  in 
the  balmy  \i3.xA.—  Evening  Ne^vs. 


Balmy — Bamboozle. 


7Z 


To  be  a  little  bit  "  balmy  in 
one's  crumpet "  means  to  be 
slightly  crazy.  The  synonyms 
are  "to  be  touched,"  "off  one's 
chump,"  "  wrong  in  the  upper 
storey,"  "to  have  rats  in  the 
upper  storey,"  "  a  tile  loose," 
"  half-baked,"  "  dotty."  To 
"  go  balmy  "  signifies  to  go  mad, 

"  Ah,"  said  Tom  Carleton  subsequently 
to  the  Talepitcher,  "none  o'  my  kids  ever 
go  balmy  over  flowers  or  the  Academy ; 
give  'em  ice  cream  and  Buffalo  Bill — that's 
the  business ! " 

To  have  a  "  dose  of  balmy" 
or  a  "wink  of  the  balmy"  to 
sleep. 

As  it's  rather  late,  I'll  try  and  get  a  wink 
or  two  of  the  balmy. — Charles  Dickens  : 
Old  Curiosity  Shop. 

Balo,    baler,   bawlor  (gypsy),  a 

pig- 

"  Oh  I  jassed  to  the  ker 
An'  I  tried  to  mang  the  bdlor. 
Tried  to  mang  the  muUo  bdlor 
When  I  jassed  to  the  ker  " — 

"  I  went  to  the  house  and  I  tried  to  beg 
the  pig,  tried  to  beg  the  dead  pig  when  I 
went  to  the  house." 

— English  Gypsy  Ballads. 

Policemen  are  also  called 
balor,  or  "  pigs"  in  gypsy. 

Balovas  te  (an')  yoras   (gypsy), 
bacon  and  eggs  ;  yoras,  eggs. 

"  Ballovas  an'  yoras, 
Ballovas  an'  yoras, 
A'  the  rye  an'  the  rani 

A  pirryin  ap  the  drom  " — 
"  Oh  !  the  eggs  and  bacon. 
Oh  !  the  eggs  and  bacon. 
And  the  gentleman  and  lady 
A-walking  up  the  way." 


Balsam  (thieves'  slang),  money. 

"  It  was  no  great  quids,  Jim— only  six 
flimseys  and  three  beans.  But  I'm  flush  of 
the  balsam  now,  and  I  ain't  funked  to 
flash  it." — Netv  York  Slang  Dictionary. 

— I.e.,  "  There  wasn't  much  money,  Jim 
— only  six  notes  and  three  sovereigns.  But 
I've  plenty  of  money  now,  and  I  am  not 
afraid  to  show  it." 

Also  impertinence,  impudence. 

Balwar  (Anglo-Indian),  a  barber. 
This  is  an  amusing  instance  of 
native  blending  of  balwala  (hair- 
person,  capiUarius)  with  the 
English  word. 

It  often  takes  the  further  form  balbar, 
another  fictitious  hybrid  shaped  by  the 
Persian  buridan,  to  cut ;  guosi,  hair- 
cutter. — Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Bam  (old),  facetious  humbug  ; 
"to  bam"  was  to  impose  on  a 
person  by  means  of  falsehood ; 
also  to  chaff  and  poke  fun  at 
any  one. 

Bamboozle,  to  (common),  to 
cheat,  to  delude,  to  humbug? 

Fair  ladies  attend  !  and  if  you've  a  friend 
At  court,  don't  attempt  to  bamboozle  or 

trick  her ! 
Don't  meddle  with  negus,  or  any  mixed 

liquor  ! 
Don't  dabble  in  "magic!"  my  story  has 

shown. 
How  wrong  'tis  to  use  any  charms  but  your 

own. 

—Ingoldsby  Legends. 

In  the  language  of  sailors,  to 
bamboozle  has  the  meaning  of 
to  decoy  the  enemy  by  hoisting 
false  colours. 

This  word  has  been  a  stumb- 
ling-block to  all  t  he  etymologists 
wlio  have  attempted  to  grapple 


74 


Bamboozle — B.  and  S. 


with  it.  "  It  is,"  says  the  Dic- 
tionary of  Phrase  and  Fable, 
"a  Chinese  and  gypsy  word, 
meaning  to  dress  a  man  in  bam- 
boos to  teach  him  swimming." 
As  the  gypsies  never  had  inter- 
course with  China,  and  as  the 
explanation  is  utterly  unintelli- 
gible and  irrelevant,  the  etymo- 
logy must  be  reckoned  imagi- 
native, to  say  the  least  of  it. 
"Hotten,  with  others,  credits 
bamboozle  to  the  gypsies ;  as 
bambhorna  is  Hindu  for  to  hum- 
bug, and  as  the  terminative  dsel 
is  used  in  Romany,  it  is  possible 
that  bamboozle  is  the  Hindu  word 
gypsified." — C.  G.  Leland:  MS. 
Gypsy  Notes. 

Banagher,  to  bang. 

Banco  or  bunko  steerer  or  roper 
(American),  a  sharper,  a  con- 
fidence-trick man. 

The  ro/ier  or  the  banco  steerer  gentle- 
man is  one  and  the  same  animal,  and  he 
will  find  you  out  the  morning  after  you 
land  in  Chicago  or  St.  Ix>uis.  He  will 
accost  you  —  very  friendly,  wonderfully 
friendly — when  you  come  out  of  your  hotel, 
by  your  name,  and  he  will  remind  you — 
which  is  most  surprising  considering  you 
never  set  eyes  on  his  face  before — how  you 
have  dined  together  in  Cincinnati,  or  it 
may  be  Orleans,  or  perhaps  Francisco, 
l>ecause  he  finds  out  where  you  came  from 
1.1st.  And  he  will  shake  hands  with  you  ; 
and  he  will  propose  a  drink  ;  and  he  will 
p.iy  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  left  the  ]irice  of  a  four-cent  paper 
to  throw  .-iround  your  face  and  hide  your 
blushes.— y/d-  Golden  Huttcrjly. 

(Chiirtcrhoiise  .School),  banco, 
evening  school. 


Bandanna  (Anglo-Indian).  Hot- 
ten  says  of  this  word  that  it 
was  originally  a  peculiar  kind 
of  silk  handkerchief,  but  is  now 
a  slang  word,  denoting  all  kinds 
of  "stocks,"  "wipes,"  and  "fo- 
gies," and  in  fact  the  generic 
term  for  a  kerchief.  In  the 
United  States  it  is  specially 
applied  to  a  kind  of  cotton  or 
muslin  handkerchief  from  Mad- 
ras, much  worn  by  women  of 
colour,  especially  old-fashioned 
or  elderly  ones,  wrapped  about 
the  head.  The  American  ban- 
danna is  invariably  made  of 
yellow  and  red  in  cross  stripes. 

This  term  is  properly  applied  to  the 
rich  yellow  or  red  silk  handkerchief  with 
diamond  spots  left  white  by  pressure  ap- 
plied to  prevent  their  receiving  the  dye. 
The  etymology  may  be  gathered  from 
Shakspeare's  Dictionary,  which  gives 
tdnd/ina,  a  mode  of  dyeing  in  which  the 
cloth  is  tied  in  different  places,  to  prevent 
the  parts  from  receiving  the  dye.  "  Sir 
Horace  P'ogle  is  about  to  be  raised  to 
the  peerage  as  Baron  Bandanna"  (I'anity 
fair,  ii.  c.  52.) — Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Banded  (popular),  hungry ;  lite- 
rally, bound  up.  From  the 
notion  that  to  appease  the  pangs 
of  hunger,  one  must  tighten  his 
belt. 

Bandero  (American),  widow's 
weeds. — Nero  York  Slang  Dic- 
tionary. 

Bandog  (old),  a  bailiff  or  his 
assistant. 

B.  and  S.  (common),  brandy  and 
soda. 

"  And  now,  wife  of  mine,  I  wonder 
whether  your   domestic   handiness   would 


Bands — Bang. 


n 


go  far  enough  to  give  me  a  B.  and  S.  f  " 
The  obedient  wife  flies  to  the  cellaret,  and 
for  the  first  time  in  her  life  Squire  Mor- 
combe's  daughter  opens  a  soda  -  water 
bottle. — Braddon :  Hostages  to  Fortune. 

Bands  (Australian  convicts),  hun- 
ger. lutroducedintoAustraliaby 
the  convicts  transported  thither. 
Cf.  the  English  thieves'  expres- 
sion handed,  meaning  hungry. 

"To  wear  the  bands"  is  to  be  hungry 
or  short  of  food  for  any  length  of  time  ;  a 
phrase  chiefly  used  on  board  the  hulks  or 
in  jail. —  Vaux's  Memoirs. 

In  the  early  days  of  New 
South  Wales,  before  Australia 
began  to  produce  meal  and 
grain  for  itself,  the  colony  was 
dependent  for  its  supplies  upon 
England  and  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  and  the  colonists  were 
several  times  on  very  short  com- 
mons, and  even  on  one  occasion 
were  absolutely  in  danger  of 
perishing.  The  phrase  is  derived 
from  the  custom  among  the  poor, 
and  soldiers  on  an  expedition,  of 
wearing  a  tight  belt  round  the 
stomach  to  prevent  the  pains  of 
starvation. 

Bandy  (Anglo-Indian),  a  word  of 
general  application  to  several 
kinds  of  vehicles,  such  as 
carriages,  bullock  waggons,  bug- 
gies, and  carts.  Used  in  South- 
ern and  Western  India.  It  is 
the  Telegu  hamli,  Tamil  vandi. — 
A  nfjlo-Indimi  Glossary. 

A  mighty  solemn  old  man,  seated  in  an 
open  bandy,  as  a  gig  with  a  head  that  has 
an  opening  behind  is  called  at  M.idras. — 
Memoir  of  Colonel  Mountain,  1826. 


In  thieves'  slang  it  means  a 
sixpence,  so  called  from  this 
coin  being  sometimes  bent. 

Bang  (pugihstic  and  low),  a  blow ; 
Icelandic  hang,  a  hammering. 
"I'll  give  you  a  hang  in  the 
'  gills.' "    To  bang,  to  beat. 

The  hemp,  with  which  we  used  to  bang 
Our  prison  pets,  yon  felon  gang. 
In  Eastern  climes  produces  bhang. 

Esteemed  a  drug  divine. 
As  hashish  dressed,  its  magic  powers 
Can  lap  us  in  Elysian  bowers. 
But  sweeter  far  our  social  hours 

Over  a  flask  of  wine. 
— Lord  Neaz'es :  A  nglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Banged  up  to  the  eyes,  is  drunk. 
Hair  worn  down  low  on  the 
forehead  almost  to  the  eyes,  is 
in  America  called  a  hang,  and 
the  practice  of  thus  wearing  it 
is  to  hang.  Called  "toffs"  in 
England. 

Bang,  as  applied  to  wearing  the  hair 
low,  is  derived  from  the  provincial  English. 
In  Norfolk  the  edge  of  a  hat  is  said  to 
bangle  (Wright)  when  it  drops  or  bangs 
down  over  the  eyes.  And  corn  or  young 
shoots  when  beaten  by  the  rain  and  hang- 
ing down,  are  bangled  or  banged.  So 
loose  and  hanging  ears  are  ' '  bangled  ears. " 
■ — Notes  by  C.  G.  Leland. 

He  banged  his  hair  to  hide  his  bunged 
eye.  —  Newspaper. 

To  make  the  bang,  you  must  begin  by 
dividing  your  front  hair  at  half-inch  dis- 
tances from  ear  to  ear,  combing  the  rest 
back.  The  process  is  repeated  until  the 
whole  front  hair  has  been  successfully 
banged. — Illustrated  London  News. 

(Stock  Exchange),  to  hang,  to 
loudly  offer  stock  with  the  in- 
tention of  lowering  the  price. 

Oh  !  in  the  days  of  old, 
At  least,  so  I've  been  told, 
We  only  heard  of  "pufl","  and  "  rig,"  and 
bamr. 


76 


Bang — Bang-up. 


But  now  better  things  exist, 
For  we  daily  swell  the  list, 
And  have  really  quite  a  choice  of  market 
slang. 

— A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

To  hang  also  signifies  to  excel 
or  surpass.  Banging,  great  or 
thumping. 

Banger  (Yale),  a  thick  stick,  cane, 
or  bludgeon. 

The  freshman  reluctantly  turned  the  key, 
Expecting  a  Somophore  gang  to  see. 
Who,  with  faces  masked  and  bangers  stout, 
Had  come  resolved  to  smoke  him  out. 
—  Yale  Literary  Magazine,  vol.  xx. 
P-  75- 

(Popular),  an  obvious  untruth. 

Bangle  (Anglo  -  Indian).  This 
word,  now  generally  used  in 
England,  is  from  the  Hindu 
hangri.  The  original  is  applied 
to  a  bracelet  of  coloured  glass, 
but  it  is  now  extended  to  all 
kinds  of  such  ornaments  for  the 
wrist  when  in  ring-form  or  of 
one  piece  of  metal. 

Hear  their  wrists  and  ankles  jangle, 
With  many  a  brass  and  silver  bangle ; 
Dresses  sprayed  with  many  a  spangle, 
So  for  living  fish  they  angle. 

—  'I'hc  Mild  Hindoo. 

Miss  H.  wore  her  bl.-uing  C.ishmere 
shawl ;  her  great  brooch  .  .  .  ;  and  her  great 
bracelets  (she  used  to  say,  "  I  am  given  to 
imderstand  they  are  called  bangles,  my 
dear,  by  the  natives  ")  decorated  the  sleeves 
round  her  lean  old  \\a.n<i^.— Thackeray: 
The  Neu'comcs. 

It  is  curious  that  the  Hindu 
word  Uingri  exists  in  Eng- 
land as  the  gypsy  term  for  a 
waistcoat,  i.e.,  originally  a  mere 
ring,  belt,  or  circlet  of  cloth, 
like  a  cummerbund. 


Bang  off  (common),  to  write  a 
letter  hang  off,  in  a  hurry. 

Bangster,  a  provincialism  for  the 

victor. 

If  you  are  so  certain  of  being  the  bang- 
ster, so  very  certain,  I  mean,  of  sweeping 
stakes. — .S"/>  Walter  Scott :  St.  Ronan's 
Well. 

Also,  a  loose  woman,  a  buUy. 

If  the  Pope's  champions  are  to  be  bang- 
sters  in  our  very  change-houses,  we  shall 
soon  have  the  old  shavelings  back  again. 
—Scott:  The  Abbot. 

Bang  straw  (provincial),  a  barn 
thresher,  but  applied  to  farm 
servants  in  general. 

Bang-tailed  (popular),  short - 
tailed. 

"These  little  bang-tailed  sinners  any 
good?"  said  Drysdale,  throwing  some 
cock  -  a  -  bondies  across  the  table. — T. 
Hugfus  :  Tom  Bro^vn  at  Oxford 

Bang-up  (common),  fine,  first-rate. 
Synonymous  with  "  slap-up." 
To  bang-up,  to  make  first-rate, 
stylish. 

Pat  to  his  neck-cloth  gave  an  air 
In  style,  and  a  la  militaire ; 
His  pocket,  too,  a  kerchief  bore. 
With  scented  water  sprinkled  o'er  ; 
Thus  bangcd-up,  sweeten'd,  and  clean 

shav'd. 
The  sage  the  dinner-table  braved. 

— Combe:  Dr.  Syntax. 

Jem  drove  me  in  a  gig  of  the  regular 
hang-up,  stay-for-nothing,  rumtumtiddity 
order. — Punch. 

Nothing  more  thoroughly  ban^-up  and 
highgeewoa  rollicking  than  the  run  which 
the  Evergreen  had  last  Thursday, — Punch. 

A  bang-up  cove  is  a  dashing 
fellow    who   sj)cnds   his   money 


Bang-up — Banter. 


77 


freely.  Bartlett  gives  hang-up 
as  American,  but  it  has  long 
been  common  in  England,  where 
it  originated.  "  Bangs  Banag- 
her,"  beats  the  world. 

Bang  up  to  the  mark  (popular), 
in  fine  or  dashing  style. 

B  a  n  g  7  (Winchester)  brown  ; 
brown  clothes  considered  as 
vulgar ;  brown  sugar.  Pro- 
bably from  bangy,  dull,  gloomy, 
an  adjective  used  in  Essex. 

Bangy- wallah  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
carrier  of  parcels. 

The  lady's  luggage  was  particularly 
scant,  and  the  bangy-ivallahs ,  as  they  are 
called,  who  carry  the  boxes,  had  an  easy 
time  of  it. — Mark  Lemon :  Falkner  Lyle. 

Banjee  (Anglo-Indian),  a  band  of 
music. 

Banjo,  the  name  given  by  the 
patients  in  one  at  least  of  the 
London  hospitals  to  a  bed-pan, 
from  its  somewhat  fanciful  re- 
semblance to  the  well-known 
and  now  fashionable  musical 
instrument. 

Bank,  to  (thieves'),  to  put  in  a 
place  of  safety.  "  To  hank  the 
swag,"  to  secure  the  booty. 
Also,  to  bank  is  to  go  shares. — 
Ilotten. 

Bankers  (old),  clumsy  boots  and 
shoes. 

Bankrupt  cart  (old),  a  one-horse 
chaise ;  so  called,  it  is  said, 
by  Lord  Mansfield,  from  being 


so  frequently  used  on  Sunday 
jaunts  by  extravagant  trades- 


Bank  sneak  (American),  "hank 
sneak  thieves,"  men  of  educa- 
tion, good  address,  and  fault- 
less attire,  who  in  gangs  of 
three  or  four  engage  the  atten- 
tion of  the  oSicers  of  a  bank 
while  one  of  their  number  com- 
mits a  robbery.  No  thieves 
are  so  dangerous,  or  so  much 
dreaded. 

Banners  (American),  newsboys' 
slang.  The  word  is  explained 
in  the  following  extract  from 
the  Chicago  Tribune: — 

"Oh,  I  say,  Figsy, "  cried  one,  "  ain't  yer 
gittin'  stood  off  a  good  deal  on  yer 
banner  this  week  ?  " 

"Yer'd  better  dry  up,  Slimmy,  or  may 
be  yer  wouldn't  like  me  to  mention  how 
yer  sponges  yer  eatin's." 

"  Eatin's,"  explained  the  matron,  "are 
the  meals  which  they  get  down-town. 
Banners  are  the  fees  which  they  pay  for 
their  meals  and  lodgings  at  the  home. 
That  word  is  in  use  all  over  the  United 
States,  and  I  have  never  found  a  newsboy 
yet  who  could  tell  me  where  it  came 
from." 

Banter,  to  (American).  The  preli- 
minary discussion  or  pour-par- 
ler  which  precedes  a  bargain 
is  called  a  banter  or  bantering. 
It  is  derived  from  banter,  to 
make  a  jest  of  or  to  challenge. 

Chatham,  N.C,  Nov.  15,  1886.— A 
white  man  named  Moore  was  sent  to  the 
chain-gang  on  S.iturday  for  having  traded 
wives  with  another  man.  When  Judge 
Gilmer  asked  him  what  he  had  to  say 
why  sentence  should  not  be  passed,  he  re- 
plied that  he  did  not  know  his  .-\ct   was  a 


78 


Banting — Bar. 


cHme.  A  man  came  to  his  house  with  a 
woman  that  was  better-looking  than  his 
own  wife,  and  bantered  him  for  a  trade  ; 
so  he  "swapped,"  and  paid  $1.50  to  boot. 
As  this  was  his  first  "swap  "  he  hoped  that 
the  court  would  impose  a  light  sentence. 
— Chicago  Tribune. 

Bantingf,  the  process  of  getting 
rid  of  superfluous  fat  by  means 
of  a  strictly  regulated  diet. 
The  method  was  introduced  by 
Mr.  Banting — hence  the  name 
— about  twenty-five  years  ago. 

A  parlour  where  all  the  furniture  seemed 
to  have  undergone  a  prolonged  course  of 
banting. — Miss  Braddon :  Only  a  Clod. 

Banty  (popular),  saucy,  impudent. 
Probably  from  bantam  or  banty- 
chickens,  which  are  proverbial 
in  America  for  pertness. — Neio 
York  Slang  Dictionary. 

Banyan  (Anglo-Indian),  an  under- 
shirt, originally  of  muslin,  and 
so  called  as  resembling  the  body 
garment  of  the  Hindus,  but  now 
commonly  applied  to  under  body 
clothing  of  elastic  cotton,  wool- 
len, or  silk  web. — Anglo-Indian 
Glossary. 

Those  were  the  days  when  even  the 
honourable  members  of  the  Council  met 
in  banyan  shirts,  conjee  caps,  and  long 
drawers,  with  a  case-bottle  of  good  old 
arrack,  and  a  gouglet  of  water  on  the  table. 
— India  Gazette,  February  24,  1781. 

An  undershirt,  commonly  called  a  ba- 
nian.—  IVilliamson,  V.  M.  i.  19. 

I  have  lost  nothing  by  it  but  a  banyan 
shirt,  a  corner  of  my  quilt,  and  my  Bible 
singed. — Sufferings  of  a  Dutch  Sailor. 

Banyan  days  (nautical),  those  in 
wliich  no  llcsh  meat  was  issued 
to  the  messes.     Stock-fish  used 


to  be  served  out  till  it  was  found 
to  promote  scurvy. 

Of  kitcheny  (butter,  rice,  and  dal)  the 
European  sailors  feed  in  these  parts,  and 
are  forced  at  such  times  to  a  Pagan  ab- 
stinence from  flesh,  which  creates  in  them 
an  utter  detestation  to  those  banian  days, 
as  they  call  them. — Oz'ing^on,  a.d.  1690. 

May  your  honour  never  know  a  banyan 
day,  and  a  sickly  season  for  you,  into  the 
bargain  ! — Marryat  I  Japhet  in  Search 
of  a  Father. 

According  to  Admiral  Smyth, 
"  The  term  is  derived  from  a 
religious  sect  in  the  East,  who, 
believing  in  metempsychosis,  eat 
of  no  creature  endowed  with 
life."  Hotten  says  the  term  is 
probably  derived  from  the  Ba- 
nians or  Banyans,  a  Hindoo  caste, 
who  abstain  from  animal  food. 
Quite  as  probably  from  the  sani- 
tary arrangements  which  have 
in  hot  climates  counselled  the 
gating  on  certain  days  of  ban- 
yans and  other  fruits  in  pre- 
ference to  meat. 

The  dinner,  I  own,  is  shy,  unless  I  come 
and  dine  with  my  friends,  and  then  I  make 
up  for  banian  days. — Thackeray :  The  Ad- 
ventures of  Philip. 

Bar  (racing),  except.  Bar  is  used 
instead  of  the  common  com- 
pound form  debar.  When  the 
bookmaker  says  "  ten  to  one 
bar  one,"  he  means  that  lie  will 
lay  ten  to  one  against  any  horse 
bar  {i.e.,  except)  one. 

"How  do  they  bet?"  inquired  the 
Jubilee  Plunger. 

"  Evens,"  replied  Gus  Jacobs. 

''  All  right.     I'll  bet  j-ou  a  monkey." 

"  No,"  said  (Jus.  "  I  don't  want  to  bet 
— but  here  1  I'll  lay  you  700  to  400  bar 
one." 


Bar — Barge. 


79 


"All  right,"  said  the  Plunger.  "I'll 
have  it." — Sporting  Titnes. 

(American  thieves),  "Jar that 
toss,"  stop  that  game. 

"  Bar  that  toss,  Jim,"  said  Bell,  "  for 
you're  as  fly  at  the  pictures  as  the  devil 
at  lying,  and  1  would  rather  be  a  knight 
of  Alsatia  than  a  plucked  pigeon." — On 
the  Trail. 

(Oxford  University),  to  bar,  to 
object  to.  Probably  from  to  bar, 
in  the  sense  of  to  except ;  com- 
moner in  the  compound  form 
debar.  A  "Bullingdon"  man 
would  probably  say  that  he  tar- 
red "the  Union."  An  "Exeter" 
man  would  be  pretty  certain  to 
say  that  he  barred  "Jesus." 

Bar  (gypsy),  a  hedge,  a  garden  or 
inclosure ;  a  pound  for  cattle. 
Persian,  bdgh.  Also  a  stone ;  tacho 
bar,  a  true  or  real  stone,  i.e.,  a 
diamond. 

Baragan  tailor  (tailors),  a  rough 
tailor. 

Barber,  to  (university),  to  do 
one's  impositions  by  deputy, 
the  college  barber  having  often 
been  employed  to  perform  this 
duty — hence  the  phrase.  Those 
who  by  this  means  get  rid  of 
their  impositions  are  said  to 
barberise  them. 

"And  as  for  the  impositions,  why,"  as 
Mr.  Bouncer  said,  "ain't  there  coves  to 
barberise  for  you,  Gig-lamps?" — C.  Bede : 
Verdant  Green. 

Barber,  that's  the  (old  slang). 
Grose  in  his  rare  first  edition  of 
the  "  Classical  Dictionary  of 
the  Vulgar  Tongue,"  says  this 


was  "  a  ridiculous  and  unmean- 
ing phrase  in  the  mouths  of  the 
common  people  about  the  year 
1760,  signifying  their  approba- 
tion of  any  action,  measure,  or 
thing." 

Barber's  cat  (common).  Hotten 
gives  the  definition — a  half- 
starved,  sickly-looking  person. 
A  term  used  in  connection  with 
a  coarse  expression. 

Barber's  clerk  (common),  a  con- 
ceited, over-dressed  fellow,  who 
apes  the  manners  of  a  gentle- 
man. 

Barbly  (pidgin),  babble,  noise. 
Probably  the  same  as  bobbery 
or  bobbely.  "  Too  muchee  bar- 
bly makee  that  chilo." 

Bared  (popular),  shaved. 

There  are  boys  who  think  themselves 
men,  and  who  go  to  barbers'  shops  to  be, 
as  they  say,  bared. — Diprose :  Modem  Joe 
Miller. 

Bare-footed  on  top  of  the  head 

(American),  an  expression  ap- 
plied to  a  bald  man. 

Barge  (printers),  an  article  used 
by  compositors  in  correcting 
the  forms.  Either  a  flat  piece 
of  card,  or  a  small  wooden  box, 
with  divisions  to  hold  spaces  for 
altering  the  justification  of  the 
line.  A  case,  with  some  boxes 
full  and  others  nearly  empty,  is 
also  called  a  banje,  probably  re- 
ferring to  those  boxes  full  up  to 
the  edge.  The  technical  term 
would  be  space  papers  or  space 
box. 


8o 


Barge — Barking. 


(Common),  barge  or  bargey,  a 
term  of  ridicule  applied  to  a 
very  corpulent  man  or  woman 
of  large  posterior  development ; 
a  simile  derived  from  the  shape 
of  a  coal  barge,  or  any  clumsy 
boat  or  ship,  compared  with  a 
wherry,  or  other  vessel  of  more 
elegant  and  slender  build. 

Baris,  bawris,  bawri  (gypsy),  a 
snail ;  bawris  simmun,  snail  soup. 

Bark  (popular),  an  Irish  man  or 
woman.  Hotten  says  that  no 
etymology  can  be  found  for  this. 
In  low  Whitechapel  Yiddish 
the  term  would  at  once  be 
understood  to  mean  a  wanderer 
or  vagabond,  based  on  barkolis, 
or  bargolis,  one  who  goes  about 
in  misery  and  poverty,  and 
barches,  "  further,"  as  barches 
holchen,  "  to  go  further."  It  is, 
however,  probably  derived  from 
the  Celtic  barrag,  scum,  or  dirty 
scum.  Scum,  as  an  abusive 
term,  "  scum  of  the  earth," 
is  originally  Irish,  vide  Bark- 
shire.  (Common),  the  skin,  to 
''bark  one's  shins  "  is  to  get  the 
skin  off  one's  shins. 

That'll  take  the  bark  from  your  nozzle, 
and  distil  the  Dutch  pink  for  you,  won't 
it  ? — The  Further  Adventures  of  Mr.  Ver- 
dant Green. 

(Popular),  cough. 

So  I  suppose  we  must  sing  "  Spring's 
Delights  "  when  we  ain't  on  the  bark  or  the 
sneeze. — Punch,  1887. 

Barker  (common),  a  man  em- 
ployed at  the  doors  of  shows 
and  shops  of  an  inferior  cla.ss 


to  entice  people  inside.  The 
French  slang  has  the  exactly 
corresponding  term  aboyeur. 
Among  touting  photographers  he 
is  called  a  "door  sman."  At  uni- 
versities a  barker  signifies  a  great 
swell,  and  in  America  a  noisy 
coward ;  barker  has  another  sig- 
nification explained  by  the  fol- 
lowing quotation : — 

But  what  was  "b.arking  "?  I  thought  a 
great  deal  about  the  matter,  and  could 
arrive  at  no  more  feasible  conclusion  than 
that  a  barker  was  a  boy  that  attended  a 
drover,  and  helped  him  to  drive  his  sheep 
by  means  of  imitating  the  bark  of  a  dog. — 
Charles  Greenwood :  Outcasts  0/ London. 

Also  used  by  thieves  for  pis- 
tol. The  term  is  in  contradic- 
tion to  the  saying,  that  a  "  dog 
that  barks  seldom  bites." 

Here  a  loud  holloa  was  heard  close  by  the 
horses'  heads.  "  Good  heavens,  if  that  is 
a  footpad!"  said  Mr.  Spencer,  shaking 
violently.  "  Lord,  sir,  I  have  my  barkers 
with  me." — Buliver:  Night  and  Morning. 

"  Barkers  for  me,  Barney,"  said  Toby 
Cr.-ickit. 

"  Here  they  are,"  replied  Barney,  pro- 
ducing a  pair  of  pistols. — Charles  Dickens : 
Oliver  Twist. 

In  nautical  parlance,  barkers  is 
an  old  term  for  lower-deck  guns 
and  pistols. 

Barkey*  (nautical),  a  sailor  thus 
calls  a  pet  ship  to  which  he 
belongs. 

For  the  barkey  she  did  know, 
As  well  as  e'er  a  soul  on  board, 
'Twas  time  for  us  to  go. 
— Old  American  Slaver's  Song. 

Barking  irons  (thieves),  pistols; 
and    in    nautical    slang    large 


Barkshire — Barney. 


\i 


duelling  pistols,  which  French 
soldiers  call  "  pieds  de  cochon." 

Barkshire,  a  word  applied  by  the 
low  English  to  Ireland  ;  from 
bark,  a  contemptuous  and  deri- 
sive name  for  an  Irishman  or 
Irishwoman.  A  member  for 
Barkshire  is  a  noisy,  howling, 
troublesome  fellow,  who  at- 
tempts to  cough  down  his  op- 
ponents, ie.,  hark  at  them. 

Bark   up    the    wrong   tree,    to 

(American),  is  said  of  a  man 
who  vainly  endeavours  to  ac- 
comphsh  a  thing  for  which  he 
is  not  fitted,  or  who  addresses 
himself  to  the  wrong  person  for 
assistance. 

"  You  didn't  really  go  to  old  Bullion," 
said  a  politician  to  an  office  seeker  ;  "why, 
he  has  no  influence  there,  I  can  tell  you  ; 
you  barked  up  the  •wrong'  tree  there,  my 
friend,  and  you  deserve  to  fail. — Rich- 
mond Enquirer. 

Bamaby  (common),  to  dance 
Barnaby  is  to  move  quickly 
and  irregularly.  See  Cotton  in 
his  "Virgil  Travestie,"  where, 
speaking  of  Eolus,  he  has  these 
lines — 

"  '  Bounce,'  cries  the  portholes,  out  they  fly. 
And  make  the  world  dance  Bamaby." 

Barnacle  (old  cant),  pickpocket. 

The  man  that  stood  beside  thee  is  old 
Crookfinger,  the  most  notorious  setter, 
barnacle,  and  foist  in  the  city. — Mark 
Lemon :  Leyton  Hall. 

Barnacles  (common),  spectacles ; 
termed  also  "gig-laraps"  or 
"  bosses."  From  barnacle,  a  kind 
of   shellfish,  or   from  barnacles. 


an  instrument  consisting  of  two 
branches  joined  at  one  end  with 
a  hinge,  to  put  upon  a  horse's 
nose,  to  confine  him  for  shoe- 
ing, bleeding,  or  dressing. 

Your  eyes  dasell  after  your  washing  ; 

these  spectacles  put  on  ; 
Now  view  this  raysour ;  tell  me,  is  it 

no't  a  good  one  ? 
They  bee  gay  bamikles,  yet   I   see 

never  the  better. 
— Edwards :  Damon  and  Pithias. 

Barndoor  practice  (society),  the 
fashionable  but  indefensible 
system  of  battue,  by  which  the 
birds  are  brought  all  within  a 
limited  range,  where  they  fall 
an  easy  prey  to  the  "  sports- 
man I " 

Barnet  fair  (thieves),  rhyming 
slang  for  hair  ;  called  also 
"  thatch." 

Barney  (popular),  a  mob  or  a 
crowd,  disturbance. 

'Ard  lines,  ain't  it,  Charlie,  old  hoyster? 
A  barney  s  a  barney,  dear  boy, 

And  you  know  that  a  squeege  and  a  sky- 
lark is  wot  I  did  always  enjoy. 

A  street-rush  is  somethink  splendaclous 
to  fellers  of  speerit  like  me. 

But   dints   and  di.ikkylum   plaster  will 
spile  the  best  sport,  dontcher  see. 
— Punch. 

This  word  has  several  mean- 
ings, and  apparently  two  dis- 
tinct roots— one  Aryan,  and  the 
other  Semitic.  Barney,  a  mob 
or  crowd,  may  be  derived  from 
the  gypsy  bdro,  great  or  many, 
which  sometimes  takes  the  form 
of  barno  or  barni,  and  which 
suggests  the  Hindu  bahrna,  to 
increase,  proceed,  to  gain,  &c., 
F 


82 


Barney  — Barnunt. 


and  bharna,   to  fill    or  satisfy. 
Barney,   a   swindle,   a   sell,   or 
a     cross,     is     probably     from 
the  Yiddish  barniss  or  bariwss, 
which  becomes  a  Jewish  proper 
name  in  Barnet,  popularly  Bar- 
ney.     (Dickezis  gives  this  name 
to  a  young  Jew.)   Bai-nits  means 
a  leader  of  a  multitude,  or  head- 
man of  any  description.   Remote 
as  the   connection   between   a 
•'  swindle  "    and    a   "  captain  " 
may   seem  to   be,   it  is  direct 
enough  according  to  the  lowest 
form    of  Yiddish    or    German 
thieves'  slang,  in  which  a  lead- 
ing, a  clever,  a  swindling  man 
are  all  united  in  cnchcnicr,  "  a 
wise  man,"  and  also  "a  leader  of 
thieves."     In  achprosch  we  have 
again  the  conceptions  of  intelli- 
gence united  to  robbery,  and  to 
leadership.     Further,  baldober,  a 
director,  a  leader,  is  applied  to 
an  arch-thief  who  gets  double 
share.     Balmasseniaten  has  also 
the  double  meaning  of  a  shrewd 
man  of  business  and  a  swin- 
dler, and  the  transition  from  a 
swindler  to  a  swindle  is  natural 
enough,  and  has  many  parallels. 
It  is  to  be  observed  that  Hebrew 
terms    of    this    stamp    are    far 
more  frequently  used  by  Chris- 
tian than  by  Jewish  malefactors, 
as   is  proved   by  their  corrup- 
tion.    From  the  harnixs,  barnrt, 
or  barnry  of  a  gang  of  thieves, 
we  have  harncyiny,  robbing,  or 
swindling,    whence     barney,     a 
swindle,  is  all  in  order. 

(Racing),  the  person  who  pre- 
vents a  liorsc  winning  a  race,  is 
<le.scribed  jus  "  doing  a  barney." 


The  same  phrase  is  applied  to 
the  horse  itself. 

(Running),  humbug,  rubbish  ; 
in  racing,  when  a  man  does 
not  try  to  win. 

(Society),  trip,  excursion,  out- 
ing. 

(Popular),  fun,  larking  ;  teas- 
ing for  amusement.  It  is 
common  to  hear  people  of  the 
lower  class  say,  whenever  there 
is  any  object  in  view  to  make  fun 
of,  or  have  a  game  with,  "Let's 
have  a  barney." 

Barney,  to  (Harvard  University), 
to  recite  badly. 

Barn  mouse  (popular),  to  be  bitten 
by  a  ham  mouse,  to  be  tipsy. 
Possibly  an  allusion  to  barley. 

Barn  stormer  (familiar),  a  term 
formerly  applied  to  itinerant 
actors  who  acted  in  barns,  like 
the  troupe  of  Scarron's  Roman 
Comiijue,  and  that  of  Gautier's 
Capitaine  Fracassa 

Barnum  (American.)  "  To  talk 
Barnum "  is  not  to  indulge 
in  extravagant  "  high-falutin," 
— this  the  great  American  never 
does, — but  to  utter  vast  asser- 
tions in  a  quiet  manner.  The 
following  is  a  good  specimen 
of  it. 

Rising  Phoenix-like  from  the  ashes  of 
my  fifth  great  fire,  which  only  served  to 
ilhimin.ate  my  p.ith  of  duty  as  the  Ame- 
rican people's  champion  amusement-pro- 
vider, I  have  taken  into  equal  partnership 
my  energetic  and  experienced  friend  .ind 
former  associate,  James  A.  Bailey.  We 
liavc   cular,t;i:d   and   vastly   improved    the 


Barnumise — Barrack. 


83 


greatest  show  on  earth,  which  we  propose 
to  establish  as  a  permanence,  with  a 
reserved  capital  of  several  millions  of 
dollars.  At  an  early  date  we  intend  to 
establish  in  several  of  the  largest  Ameri- 
can cities  permanent  museums  containing 
many  thousands  of  natural,  artificial,  me- 
chanical, and  scientific  curiosities.  .  .  . 
The  Barnum  and  Bailey  show  will  present 
to  this  and  future  generations  a  world's 
fair  and  a  moral  school  of  object  teaching 
of  unexampled  variety  and  superior  excel- 
lence, more  amusing,  instructive,  compre- 
hensive, and  vast  than  was  ever  before  seen 
or  dreamed  of. — Phineas  T.  Barnum. 

Barnumise,  to  (American),  to  act 
as  Mr.  Barnum,  a  showman,  im- 
presario, and  a  public  cliaracter, 
in  so  many  phases  famous,  or 
notorious,  that  his  name  has 
passed  into  the  established  list 
of  Americanisms.  The  word 
humbug  does  not  express  so 
much  as  that  of  Barnum. 

Barnum  had  made  himself 
so  extremely  conspicuous  in  so 
many  ways  even  thirty  years 
ago,  that  a  Paris  editor  sug- 
gested that  when  his  engage- 
ment as  manager  for  Jenny  Lind 
should  come  to  an  end,  she 
would  make  quite  as  much 
money  if  she  would  go  about 
exhibiting  Mm.  Long  ago  not 
a  soul  in  the  United  States  put 
the  least  faith  in  Barnum's 
curiosities,  but  this  made  no 
difEerence  in  the  receipts,  people 
thronged  in  "  just  to  itt  how 
he  humbugged  the  greenhorns." 
In  one  advertisement  the  great 
exhibitor  admitted  with  beauti- 
ful candour  that  what  lie  exhi- 
bited might  not  be  genuine,  that 
hehimself  with  all  hisexperience 
might  have  been  taken  in  by  un- 


scrupulous deceivers — "  all  that 
we  ask,"  he  said,  "  is  that  the 
public  will  come  and  judge  for 
themselves,  and  we  promise 
faithfully  to  abide  by  their  ver- 
dict." The  public  did  come, 
paying  twenty-five  cents  (or  one 
shilling)  per  head  and  passed 
their  verdict,  and  Mr.  Barnum 
did  abide  by  it  (and  the  dollars), 
and  at  once  got  out  something 
new.  At  last  nobody  put  any 
faith  in  his  curiosities.  Then  it 
became  a  source  of  intense  de- 
light to  him  to  exhibit  objects 
which  were  really  remarkable, 
and  to  make  the  public  believe 
they  were  frauds.  Having  once 
a  real  bearded  woman,  Barnum 
ingeniously  contrived  to  have  it 
reported  that  she  was  a  man, 
and  to  get  himself  prosecuted 
for  imposition,  the  result  being 
a  medical  examination,  an  ac- 
quittal, and  of  course  an  in- 
creased rush  of  sight-seers.  It 
should  be  added  that  Mr.  Bar- 
num has  always  been  noted  for 
,  very  great  though  always  judi- 
cious generosity,  that  he  is 
exceptionally  honourable  and 
honest  in  his  private  dealings, 
and  that  he  has  built  up  Bridge- 
port, Connecticut,  from  a  small 
town  to  a  city.  Barnum's  colos- 
sal show  was  destroyed  by  fire 
a  short  time  since. 

Barrack  hack  (army),  a  girl  who 
prowls  about  barracks  for  pur- 
poses of  prostitution,  generally 
the  lowest  of  the  low.  French 
soldiers  call  these  "  paillasse  de 
corps-dc-garde. "      Barrack-hack 


84 


Barrack — Barvelo. 


is  also  applied  to  young  ladies 
of  perfectly  virtuous  character, 
but  who  have  been  to  garrison 
or  militarj  balls  for  several 
years.  The  term  was  freely 
used  at  one  time  in  reference 
to  one  of  the  parties  in  a  noted 
criminal  case. 

Barracking  (Australian),  banter- 
ing. Probably  from  the  slang 
term  barrikin,  jargon,  speech, 
or  discourse,  on  account  of  the 
"palaver"  which  traders  must 
hold  before  they  can  strike  a 
bargain. 

Barrakin  or  barrikin  (popular), 
jargon,  gibberish ;  low,  unin- 
telligible language. 

The  high  words  in  a  tragedy  we  calls 
jaw-breakers,  and  we  say  we  can't  tumble 
to  that  barrikin. — Maytuiv :  London  La- 
bour and  the  London  Poor. 

From  the  French  baragouin, 
which  has  the  same  meaning. 
It  occurs  in  Rabelais  as  bara- 
goin.  "  Cheese  your  barrikin," 
stop  talking,  shut  up. 

Barrel  boarder  (American),  "a 
bucket-shop  bummer,  a  low 
sot"  (New  York  Slang  Diction- 
ary), evidently  derived  from 
sitting  about  on  the  barrels  in 
a  small  shop. 

Barrel  fever  (common),  the  sick- 
ness caused  by  intoxication, 
sometimes  called  the  bottle- 
ache,  the  quart-mania,  and  the 
gallon -distemper,  all  possible 
precursors  of  ddirium  tremens. 


Barres  (old),  gamblers'  term,  ap- 
plied to  money  lost  by  them, 
but  which  they  do  not  pay. 

Whereby  they  wyl  drawe  a  mannes 
money  but  pay  none,  which  they  call 
barres. — Asc/tam  :  Toxophilus. 

Barrick  (American),  a  common 
word  in  Pennsylvania  for  a  hill. 
From  the  German  berg. 

Bang,  bang  !  de  sharp  pistolen  shots 

Vent  pipin  by  his  ear, 
Boot  he  tortled  oop  de  barrick  road 

Like  any  mountain  deer. 

— Breit?Mann  in  Politics. 

Barrovy-bunter  (costermongers) , 
female  costermonger. 

I  saw  s^d\T\.y  barro7v-bunier\n  the  street, 
cleaning  her  dusty  fruit  with  her  own 
spittle. — Smollett :  Humphrey  Clinker. 

Barrow-tram  (popular),  a  term 
applied  jocularly  to  a  raw-boned, 
awkward-looking  person. 

Barter  (Winchester),  a  barter  is 
a  ball  more  generally  called  a 
"  half  volley  "  by  cricketers, 
from  the  name  of  R.  S.  Barter, 
a  famous  cricketer.  It  has  also 
the  signification  of  a  hard  hit. 
To  barter  is  to  hit  the  ball  hard 
at  cricket. 

Barts,  an  abbreviation  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital,  used  by 
medical  student.'!  and  others. 

Barvelo  (gypsy),  rich,  wealthy. 

A  16rdus  vias  kete  welg(^ro 
Rya  tc  ranis  shan  hanieli. 

A  tano  rye  te  a  kamelo, 
Avo  ml  pirrynl,  Svali  ! 

— A  Lord  Went  to  the  Pair. 


Bash — Basket. 


85 


— Lords  and  ladies  are  rich.  A  young 
gentleman  and  an  agreeable  (lovely)  one. 
Yes,  my  sweetheart,  yes. — Janet  Tuckey. 

(Hindu,  bhara,  increase,  ful- 
ness.) 

Bash,  to  (popular),  to  strike,  to 
thrash,  to  crush ;  to  bash  hats  is 
a  favourite  amusement  of  Lon- 
don roughs  in  a  large  crowd. 
From  a  provincialism  to  beat 
fruit  down  from  the  trees  with 
a  pole. 

He  taps  me  across  the  hand  with  a  cane, 
and  my  mother  goes  in  and  bossies  him 
over  the  head  with  a  poker,  and  gets  him 
fined  for  assaulting  me. — Punch. 

(Pugilistic),  a  bash  is  one  of  a 
variety  of  blows. 

It  certainly  seemed  also  that  this  en- 
counter had  been  full  of  "  go."  The 
"  cockles "  of  the  hearts  of  Corinthian 
Tom  and  Jerry  Hawthorn  warmed  as  they 
heard  and  read  of  "  fibbing  "  and  "  counter- 
ing," of  "red-hot  smacks,"  "left-handers 
on  the  nob,"  "  rib-roasters,"  "  upper- 
cuts,"  "  exchanges,"  "  bashes,"  "  knock- 
downers,"  "body-punches,"  "spankers," 
"welts,"  "smashers,"  "whistlers,"  "rat- 
tling ivories,"  "stingers,"  "bangs,"  "  hot- 
uns,"  and  of  the  "tapping  "of  the  "claret," 
and  the  flowing  of  "  the  r\iby."— Punch. 

(Old  provincial  English),  to 
beat.  In  Bedfordshire  to  beat 
fruit  trees  with  a  pole.  Allied 
to  haste,  to  beat ;  Icelandic 
beysta,  Swedish  bC^ta,  and  basa, 
to  beat.  An  English  word  of 
Danish  origin. 

In  prisons  to  bash  signifies  to 
strike,  and  especially  to  flog. 
Bashing  in,  a  flogging  at  the 
commencement  of  a  rufllan's 
term  of  imprisonment ;  hashing 
out,  one  at  the  close. 


(Popular),  a  tremendous  plunge 
or  fall,  A  word  expressive  of 
sudden  concussion,  breaking  up, 
or  tumbling. 

The  chaise  went  crash  and  I  went  bash 
Amongst  the  shafts  and  wheels, 
And  Mary  Ann  and  her  mama, 
Went  right  head  over  heels  1 

— George  Homcastle:  Mary  Ann 
and  her  Mama. 

Basher  (pugilistic),  prize  fighter, 
synonymous  with  "  bruiser." 

Bashing  (prison),  a  flogging. 

Basing  (gaming).  "  That's  basing  " 
when  clubs  are  turned  up  trumps 
— the  allusion  as  generally  ex- 
plained being  "  that  clubs  were 
trumps  when  Basing  was  taken." 
This  was  one  of  the  most  me- 
morable of  the  sieges  of  the 
Civil  War. 

Basket  (old  cant),  used  in  the 
phrase  "  a  kid  in  the  basket," 
said  of  a  woman  in  the  family 
way.     (Tailors),  stale  news. 

Basket  meeting  (American).  A 
half  picnic  and  half  religious 
meeting. 

Basket,  to  bring  to  the  (old),  to 
fall  into  poverty. 

God  be  praised  !  I  am  not  brought  to 
the  basket,  though  I  had  rather  live  on 
charity  than  rapine. — Father  Darrelll 
Gentlemen  Instructed. 

Basket,  to  go  to  the  (old),  to  be 
imprisoned. 

Arrested  !  this  is  one  of  those  whose  base 
and  abject  flattery  helped  to  dig  his  grave. 


86 


Basket — Both. 


He  is  not  worth  your  pity,  nor  my  anger ; 
go  to  the  basket  and  repent. — Massinger : 
Fatal  Do'Mry. 

This  is  from  the  fact  that  a 
basket  was  lowered  from  the 
prison  window  for  alms  by  a 
man,  who  called  out,  "  Pity  the 
poor  prisoners !  " 

Bastard  brig  (naval),  a  coaster, 
termed  also  a  "  schoony-orgy  " 
or  "  hermaphrodite  brig." 

Bastile  (thieves,  paupers,  and 
tramps),  the  workhouse  or  "  big 
house ;  "  formerly  a  prison.  The 
word  is  now  abbreviated  into 
"steel." 

Bat  (American),  a  frolic,  a  spree. 
An  abbreviation  of  batter,  which 
means  the  same. 

I'm  away  from  the  shop  and  away  from 

my  work, 
And  I  mean  to  cut  up  like  a   regular 

Turk  ; 
So  down  with  the  Lager  and  up  with 

your  hat. 
We  are  off  for  the  day  on  a  regular  bat. 
— Concert  Hall  Songs. 

Also  a  prostitute  who  only 
walks  the  streets  at  night. 
Termed  "  hirondelle  de  nuit" 
in  French  slang. 

You  lie,  you  bat — I  couple  with  no 
cove  but  my  own.  Harry,  will  you  let 
yourself  be  made  a  two-legged  stool  of  l)y 
a  flag-about  ?— 0«  i/ie  Trail. 

In  the  English  slang,  "  on  his 
own  bat "  has  the  signification 
of  on  his  own  account,  by  his 
own  exertions,  a  cricketing 
phrase.  JIat  also  moans  pace — 
to  go  ofT  at  a  good  bat. 


Bates'  farm  (prison),  the  prison  ; 
probably  applied  only  to  Cold 
Bath  Fields. 

Now  every  morning  when  you  rise 

You  get  a  starving  meal, 
And  if  you  don't  eat  all  they  send 

You  have  to  work  the  wheel. 
I'hen  so  merrily  we  go 

To  chapel  to  have  prayers, 
And  for  a  little  pastime  work 
The  everlasting  stairs. 

For  it  was  this  blooming  morning 
I  left  OU  Bates's  fann. 
I  feel  so  glad  this  blessed  day 
I've  left  Old  Bates's  farm  I 

So  C.  B.  F.,  the  initials  of  Cold 
Bath  Fields  stamped  on  articles 
used  in  the  prison,  is  interpreted 
Charley  Bates's  Farm,  and  to  be 
on  the  treadmill  there  is  feed- 
ing the  chickens  on  Charley 
Bates's  Farm.  A  warder  of  that 
name  is  said  to  have  been  in 
charge  there. 

Bath  (general),  "go  to  Bath"  is 
so  universally  used  that  it  has 
almost  ceased  to  be  slang.  In- 
valids or  insane  persons  used  to 
be  sent  to  Bath  for  the  benefit 
of  its  mineral  w^aters.  So  "  go 
to  Bath  "  literally  meant  you  are 
mad,  go  to  Bath  to  get  cured. 

You  tell  a  disagreeable  neighbour  to  "  go 
to  Bath  "  in  the  sense  in  which  a  Roman 
would  have  said  "  abi  in  malam  rem." — 
Frank  Leslie's  Illustrated  Newspaper, 
New  York. 

"  Go  to  Bath  I "  said  the  Baron.  A  de- 
fiance so  contemptuous  roused  the  ire  of 
the  adverse  comn\a.n(leTS.^lngoldsby  Le- 
gends. 

This  town  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  in  favour  with  the 
Earl  of  Rochester,  who  thus 
(Icsorihi's  it : — 


Bath — Battels. 


87 


There  is  a  place,  down  a  gloomy  vale, 
Where   burdeu'd   nature   lays    her    nasty 

tail; 
Ten  thousand  pilgrims  thither  do  resort 
For  ease,  disease,  for  lechery  and  sport. 
— Works. 

Bath,  which  has  given  its 
name  to  various  things  for  which 
it  was  supposed  to  be  famous, 
as  Bath  brick,  Bath  buns,  Bath 
chairs,  &c.,  has,  besides,  pro- 
vided the  French  argot  with 
the  adjective  hath  or  hate,  an 
equivalent  of  .4 1 ,  used  in  phrases 
such  as  "c'est  hien  bath"  that 
is,  excellent,  first-class,  tip-top. 
"  !^tre  de  la  hate  "  signifies  to  be 
lucky,  fortunate.  The  origin 
of  the  expression  is  as  follows  : 
— Towards  1848  some  Bath  note- 
paper  of  superior  quality  was 
hawked  about  in  the  streets  of 
Paris  and  sold  at  a  low  price. 
Thus  "papier  hath"  became  sy- 
nonymous with  excellent  paper. 
In  a  short  time  the  qualifying 
term  alone  remained,  and  re- 
ceived a  general  application. — 
A.  Barrire :  Argot  and  Slang, 

Batha  (Anglo-Indian).  "  Two 
different  words  are  thus  ex- 
pressed in  Anglo-Indian  col- 
loquial, and  in  a  manner 
confounded:  (i.)  Hindu  hhatd, 
an  extra  allowance  made  to 
officers,  soldiers,  or  other 
public  servants  when  in  the 
field  or  on  other  special  occa- 
sions, also  subsistence-money 
to  witnesses  or  j^risoners.  (2.) 
Hindu  hatta,  agio  or  difference 
in  exchange,  or  discount  on 
uncurrent  coins." — Anglo-Indian 
Glossary. 


Bathing  machines  (nautical), 
old  lo-gun  brigs  are  so  named. 

Bat  mugger  (Winchester),  an  in- 
strument for  oiling  bats. 

Bats  (thieves'  slang),  old  shoes  or 
boots.  In  Somersetshire,  low- 
laced  boots.  From  j>at,  old 
gypsy  for  foot  or  shoe. 

Battels  (university),  a  student's 
account  at  the  college  kitchen. 
Sometimes  also  it  is  used  for 
the  goods  supplied. 

Buttery  and  kitchen  cooks  were  adding 
up  the  sum  total ;  bursars  were  preparing 
for  battels. — C.  Bede :  Verdant  Green. 

It  is  an  old  word,  originally 
meaning  an  account.  In  the 
Gentleman's  Magazine,  August 
1872,  it  is  said  to  be  derived 
houibezahlen,  "to'pa.j."  Wright 
gives  the  derivation  old  English 
hat,  increase,  and  Anglo-Saxon 
do,'^,  deal,  portion.  Another  origin 
is  that  given  by  Dr.  Brewer, 
battens,  from  the  verb  to  batten,  to 
feed.  Batten  is  used  by  Shak- 
speare  in  Coriolanus,  and  also 
in  Hamlet,  where  the  prince 
addresses  his  mother,  and  asks 
her  to  compare  his  father's  por- 
trait with  that  of  her  second 
husband,  whom  she  married  so 
soon  after  the  funeral  of  the 
first  as  to  scandalise  all  Den- 
mark. 

Follow  your  function,  go  !  and  batten 
on  cold  bits. 

— Coriolanus  :  Act  IV.  scene  5. 
Could  you  on  this  fair  mountain  leave  to 

feed. 
And  batten  on  this  moor? 

—  Hamlet :  Act  III.  scene  4. 


88 


Battels — Bnulk. 


(Oxford  University),  to  battel,  to 
be  indebted  to  the  buttery  for 
provisions  and  drink,  to  run  an 
account  for  food,  &c.,  with  the 
college  as  opposed  to  boarding 
in  a  private  house.  In  De  Quin- 
cey's  "  Life  and  Memoirs,"  p. 
274,  there  is  an  allusion  to  this 
Iiractice — "  Many  men  battel  at 
the  rate  of  a  guinea  a  week  and 
wealthier  men  more  expensive, 
and  more  careless  men  even 
battdled  much  higher ;  "  also  to 
reside  or  keep  terms  at  the 
university.  It  has  been  sug- 
gested that  the  word  is  derived 
from  an  old  monkish  word, 
patella  or  batella,  a  plate. 

Batter  (popular),  wear  and  tear. 
"Can't  stand  the  batter,"  i.e., 
not  equal  to  the  task ;  "on  the 
batter"  on  the  streets  applies 
to  prostitutes,  termed  in  French 
argot  "  batlre  le  quart"  with 
this  special  meaning ;  also,  given 
up  to  debauchery.     See  BArry. 

Batters  (printers),  a  recognised 
term  applied  to  bad  or  broken 
letters  which  are  flung  into  the 
"  hell  box,"  a  receptacle  to  hold 
these  discarded  types,  which  are 
melted  down  eventually. 

If  you  please,  sir,  .  .  .  the  devil  has 
Ijeen  putting  live  matter  into  hell  instead 
of  batters. — American  Newspaper. 

Batting'  his  eyes  (American),  a 
gambler's  term  for  men  who 
look  on  but  do  not  play. 

Battle  of  the  Nile  (rhyming  slang), 
a  "  tilo,"  i.e.,  a  hat. 


Battlin'-finches  (bird  fanciers), 
explained  by  the  following  quo- 
tation:— 

It's  all  in  the  trainin'  of  'em.  I've  had 
battliti -fitiches  —  we  calls  'em  battliri- 
Jinches  when  they're  trained  for  match- 
singing  or  for  pegging — wot  'ud  sing  in 
my  hat  as  I  walked  along,  and  without 
being  in  any  cage  at  all. — J.  Greenwood : 
In  Strange  Company. 

Battlings  (public  schools),  weekly 
allowance  given  out  to  boys  on 
Saturdays. 

The  business  of  the  latter  was  to  call 
us  of  a  morning  to  distribute  amongst  us 
our  bait  lings  or  pocket-money. — Dickens  : 
Household  IVords,  vol.  i.  p.  188. 

Battner  (old),  an  ox.  "  The  cove 
has  hushed  the  battner,"  the 
butcher  has  killed  the  ox  ;  from 
batten,  to  fatten.  According  to 
Skeat,  of  Scandinavian  origin, 
from  the  same  root  as  "  better." 

Batty  (workmen),  wages,  per- 
quisites. Derived  from  batta, 
an  extra  pay  given  to  soldiers 
while  serving  in  India. — Hotteus 
Dictionary. 

Batty-fang  (provincialism),  to 
thrash;  batty-fang  or  batter-fang, 
blow ;  batty-fanging,  a  thrashing. 

The  Pastor  lays  on  \\xi\.y/angs 
Whitehead  the  Pastor  batter-fangs. 
—  IVard :  Englaml s  Ke/oriiiation. 

Baulk  (Winchester),  a  hoax,  a 
false  report.  (Popular),  wlien 
street  boys  are  playing  at  pitch 
and  toss,  the  cry  may  be  heard 
"  head  a  baulk ! "  or  "  woman  a 
baulk  I "  should  the  coin  fall  on 
its  edge  instead  of  flat  on  the 
ground. 


Baum — B.C. 


89 


Baum,  to  (Univ.,  American),  to 
fawn,  to  flatter,  to  curry  favour. 

Bavo,  bavol  (gypsy),  air,  breath, 
breeze,  wind.  "0  shillo  hdvol 
puderla  'dr^  ye  hevyor  " — "  The 
cold  wind  is  blowing  through 
the  holes."  Bdvol  is  sometimes 
used  for  dust. 

Bawbells  (old  slang),  the  testicles, 
a  corruption  of  hobble,  a  pro- 
vincialism signifying  stones  and 
testicles. 

Bawdy  banquet  (old  cant),  whor- 
ing. 

Bawdy  baskets  (old  slang),  wo- 
men who  sold  pins,  &c.,  to  ser- 
vant girls,  or  exchanged  these 
articles  for  eatables,  and  occa- 
sionally stole  linen  off  hedges. 
Also  applied  to  the  itinerant 
vendors  of  obscene  and  ribald 
literature,  and  to  a  prostitute. 

Many  a  faire  lasse  in  London  towne, 
Many  a  baivdie  basket  borne  up  and 
down. 
— Puttenhaiii :  Art  of  English  Poesie. 

Bawhawder  (Anglo-Indian),  from 
the  Hindu  hahadur,  a  hero,  a 
chamjjion.  A  word  applied  in 
Anglo-Indian  to  any  great  swell 
or  soldier.  It  is  a  title  of  honour 
for  bravery,  which  is  found  in 
one  form  or  another  all  over  the 
East. 

There  is  nothing  of  the  great  bahaivder 
about  him. — Athena-utii,  No.  2670,  p.  851: 
Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Bayadere.  This  word,  though 
generally  supposed  to  be  Hindu 


for  a  dancing  -  girl,  is  only  a 
French  form  of  the  Portuguese 
hailadeira,  from  bailar,  to  dance. 

"  Come,  an  hour  of  rapture  prove?" 
"  And  what  art  thou  ?  "  "A  bayadere. 
And  this  the  joyous  home  of  Love." 
— Goethe. 

Bayard    of    ten    toes,    to    ride 

(old  slang).  The  old  equivalent 
of  "  Shanks'  mare "  (German 
Schusters  Jiappen,  cobbler's  black 
horses),  i.e.,  to  go  on  foot.  In 
the  old  romances  Bayard  was  a 
celebrated  horse. 

Bay-window  (American),  preg- 
nancy, with  a  big  belly.  New 
York  Slang  Dictionary:  "She 
has  a  how-window  to  her  toy- 
shop." The  French  argot  ex- 
presses the  same  by  the  phrase, 
"  EUe  a  un  polichinelle  dans  la 
tiroir,"  the  tiroir  being  in  this 
phrase  a  "toy-shop." 

B.C.  has  become  the  stereotyped 
exponent  of  a  ridiculous  charge 
of  libel.  A  genteel  young 
woman  complained  to  Mr.  Ing- 
ham of  having  been  abused  by 
a  person  who  called  her  a  B.C. 
The  magistrate  asked  what 
B.C.  meant,  when  he  was  told 
that  C.  meant  "cat,"  but  B. 
was  too  shocking  to  be  uttered 
aloud.  She  consented,  however, 
to  whisper  the  naughty  word  in 
his  worship's  ear.  Mr.  Ingham 
heard  the  mysterious  "  libel," 
and  though  he  could  not  grant 
the  summons,  B.C.  has  acquired 
the  signification  given  above. — 
Dr.  Brewer:  Dictionary  of  Phrase 
and  Fable. 


90 


B.C. — Beam  ends. 


(Racing),  the  Beacon  Course, 
the  full  length  (four  miles,  one 
furlong,  one  hundred  and  forty- 
three  yards)  of  the  racing  track 
at  Newmarket. 

Beach  cadgers  (old),  idle  vaga- 
bonds dressed  as  sailors,  who 
prowl  about  the  beach  at  water- 
ing-places and  obtain  money 
on  false  pretences  from  persons 
frequenting  that  part. 

Beach-comber  (nautical),  a  feUow 
who  loafs  about  a  port  to  filch 
smaU  things.  One  who  prowls 
about  the  sea-shore  to  plunder 
wrecks  or  pick  up  waifs  and 
strays  of  any  kind.  In  the 
Pacific  any  kind  of  sailor  ad- 
venturer. (Nautical),  a  river 
boatman. 

Beach-tramper  (nautical),  coast- 
guard. 

Beadle  (freemasons),  an  officer 
answering  to  junior  warden  in 
a  council  of  Knights  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre. 

Beak,  originally  thieves'  cant 
(bock),  for  policeman,  magistrate, 
but  now  it  has  only  the  latter 
signification. 

I  suppose  you  don't  know  what  a  beak 
is,  my  flash  com-pan-i-on  ?  .  .  .  My  eyes, 
how  green  1.  .  .  .  Why,  a  beak's  a  madg- 
st'rate  ;  and  when  you  walk  by  a  beak's 
order,  it's  not  straightforerd,  but  always 
agoing  up  and  niver  a  coming  down  agin. 
— Charles  Dickens  :  Oliver  Tavist. 

The  term  is  used  by  better 
men  than  thieves. 


There  was  an  old  obstinate  beak 
(Who  oftentimes  played  a  queer  freak), 
Said,  "  Take  her  away — 
Next  time  she  must  pay  ! " 
And  would  not  let  her   chief  witness 
speak. 

— Sporting  Times. 

Some  etymologists  derive  heah 
from  the  Saxon  bcag,  a  gold 
collar  worn  by  civic  magistrates 
as  an  emblem  of  authority.  It 
seems,  however,  that  "beck,"  a 
constable,  was  from  a  metaphor 
based  on  the  literal  meaning  of 
the  word  heak  or  hill,  and  the 
circumstance  that  a  detective 
is  nowadays  termed  a  "nose" 
comes  in  support  of  this  sup- 
position. It  may  also  be  de- 
rived from  "  to  beckon,"  to  inti- 
mate a  command,  the  "move 
on"  of  the  modern  constable. 
To  account  for  the  meaning 
of  magistrate,  it  may  be  said 
that  the  transition  was  easy 
from  the  humble  guardian  of 
the  law  to  the  more  exalted 
one.  Thus  French  malefactors 
gave  both  policeman  and  magis- 
trate the  common  appellation  of 
vache.  A  judge  is  sometimes 
called  the  "  beak  of  the  law." 

Beaker  hunter  or  beak  hunter 

(thieves'  slang),  a  thief  who  de- 
votes his  attention  to  the  poultry 
yard. 

Beak  gander,  judge  of  the  supe- 
rior court. 

Beam  ends  (general),  a  nautical 
metaphor.  A  person  ent  irely  at 
a  loss,  who  is  "  all  abroad,"  is 


Beam  ends — Beans. 


91 


said  to  be  "  thrown  upon  his 
beam  ends." 

He  laughed  the  idea  down  completely ; 
and  Tom  abandoning  it,  was  thrown  upon 
his  beam-ends  again  for  some  other  solu- 
tion.— Charles  Dickens :  Martin  Chuzzle- 
wit. 

The  French  would  express  a 
state  of  embarrassment  by  "  il 
est  au  bout  de  son  latin,"  or  "  il 
ne  sait  sur  quel  pied  danser." 

The  phrase  also  means  to  be 
in  great  need,  when  the  "  bal- 
last "  (money) — to  continue  the 
nautical  metaphor — is  gone. 

When  a  fellow  is  on  his  beam-ends,  as  I 
was  then,  he  must  keep  his  eyes  about  him 
and  have  impudence  enough  for  anything, 
or  else  he  may  stop  and  starve. — May- 
kew :  London  Labour  and  the  London 
Poor. 

"  On  one's  heam-ends,"  in  a 
sitting  posture. 

You  get  on  stunningly,  gig-lamps,  and 
haven't  been  on  your  beam-ends  more  than 
once  a  minute. — C.  Bede :  Verdant  Green. 

Bean.  This  word  occurs  in  several 
colloquial  phrases,  such  as  "three 
blue  heans  in  a  blue  bladder," 
and  refers  to  a  rattle-head,  a 
foolish  fellow. 

They  say — 
That  putting  all  his  words  together, 
'Tis  three  blue  beans  in  a  blue  bladder. 
— Prior:  Alma  Cant. 

The  phrase  is  evidently  from  a 
jester's  bladder  with  hfxms  or 
peas  in  it.  It  must  be  noted, 
as  a  coincidence,  that  the  idea 
of  a  hladder  was  uppermost  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  coined 
the  French  word  fol,  fool,  jes- 


ter, from  the  low  Latin  fdlis, 
bellows  or  bladder. 

"Not  worth  a  bean,"  or  "the 
black  of  a  bean,"  corresponds 
to  the  Latin  ne  hilum  (literally 
"not  the  black  of  a  bean"), 
contracted  into  nihil.  There  is  a 
Dutch  proverb,  "  Every  6ean  has 
its  black,"  i.e.,  "  Every  man  has 
his  faults,"  which  gives  force  to 
the  English  expression. 

(American  slang),  a  bean  is 
specially  a  five-dollar  gold  piece, 
and  "  iean-traps "  is  synony- 
mous with  stylish  sharpers. 

Formerly  bean  meant  a  guinea. 
This  is  possibly  from  the  French 
bien,  used  in  old  canting  among 
other  meanings  for  property  or 
money. 

"  Couldn't  you  let  him  pike  if  I  come 
down  with  a  thimble  and  ten  beans  ?  " 

The  detective  shook  his  head. — On  tJie 
Trail. 

Bean  feast  (tailors),  a  good  feast, 
also  an  annual  excursion  of 
workpeople. 

Beano  (printers).  See  'Goose. 
Abbreviation  of  word  "bean- 
feast," mostly  used  by  machine - 
printers.  Compositors  generally 
employ  the  term  "'goose'*'  or 
"wayzgoose"  for  this  festive 
event. 

Beans,  he  don't  know  (Ameri- 
can). The  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land, but  especially  of  Boston, 
are  celebrated  for  culture  or  in- 
telligence of  the  highest  order, 
and  also  for  an  extraordinary 
fondness  for  beans  baked  in  a 


92 


Beans — Bear. 


pot  with  pork — of  which  Fuller, 
the  Shakspeare  of  divines,  said 
that  ' '  it  was  a  good  dish  which 
the  Pythagoreans  and  Jews  had 
contrived  between  them  to 
spoil."  The  result  of  all  this 
has  been  a  saying  for  any  igno- 
rant person  that  Ae  don't  knoio 
beans,  i.e.,  "  he  is  an  ignoramus, 
or  Gentile — he  is  not  a  Bos- 
tonian,  he  is  not  fond  of  beans, 
ergo,  an  outside  barbarian." 
Others  derive  it  from  the  old 
joke,  "  How  many  black  beans 
make  five  white  ones  ?  "  to 
which  the  answer  is,  "  Five,  if 
you  peel  them."  He  who  knew 
how  to  answer  this  question 
was  supposed  to  kno^o  beans.  In 
the  following  extract  from  the 
Boston  Globe,  in  which  an  effort 
is  made  to  select  from  the  local 
directory  names  which  indicate 
articles  of  food,  it  is  worth  ob- 
serving that  the  first  name 
thought  of  is,  of  course.  Bean, 
although  the  list  is  not  in  alpha- 
betical order: — 

"  The  Hub's  Happv  Family. — Accord- 
ing to  the  city  directory,  there  are  plenty  of 
Beans  in  Boston,  one  Egge,  eight  Pyes,  .-i 
number  of  Onions,  and  one  Crumb.  Be- 
sides these  there  are  three  Bones,  also  Salt 
and  Jelly.  Seven  Beers  are  found,  and 
Coffee,  Milk,  and  Teas.  There  is  one 
Chicken  to  three  Goslings  and  a  Hawk. 
Boston  also  has  a  pair  of  Stockings,  one 
Sock,  one  Cravatt,  a  pair  of  Mittens,  and 
four  Collars.  Three  Hatts  and  one  Wigg 
complete  the  outfit." 

The  writer  for  the  Globe  forgot 
to  look  out  for  Bacon  to  go 
with  his  Beans.  It  was,  we  be- 
lieve, a  Bo.ston  Bacon,  "fore- 
named"  Delia,  who  first  denied 


to  Shakspeare  the  authorship  of 
his  plays. 

(Society),  to  be  "full of  beans," 
means  to  be  in  good  form.  The 
metaphor  is  borrowed  from  a 
horse  being  said  to  be  full  of 
beans  when  he  is  fresh  and 
frisky.  To  be  beany,  is  to  be  in 
a  good  humour,  Uke  a  horse 
who  has  had  a  good  feed. 
(Common),  to  "  give  beans," 
means  to  give  a  good  beating. 

He's  the  unbought  and  undefeated  Chel- 
sea Chicken,  and  I  reckon  that  when  he 
meets  the  Brazilian  Gamecock — Tom  Tif- 
fin, who  holds  the  championship  of  the 
Western  Hemisphere,  he'll  give  him  deans. 
— Moonshine. 

The  term  beatis  is  also  used  for 
money  ;  a  "  haddock  of  beans," 
a  purse  of  money. 

Bear  (Stock  Exchange),  a  fall,  or 
a  speculator  for  a  fall ;  a  man 
who  sells  stock  which  he  does  not 
possess  in  the  hope  of  being  paid 
not  to  have  it  delivered.  His 
confrere  the  "bull"  speculates 
in  the  same  manner  for  a  rise, 
while  the  "  stag  "  operates  on 
shares  of  new  companies  which 
he  applies  for  with  the  inten- 
tion of  selling  at  once  at  a  pre- 
mium. The  commonly  accepted 
and  very  old  explanation  of  these 
words  is  that  the  bears  claw 
or  pull  the  stock  down,  wliile 
the  bulls  toss  it  up.  The 
"  stag  "  is  the  representative 
of  the  timid  speculator,  trust- 
ing more  to  his  fieotness  of 
foot  than  to  the  balance  at  his 
banker's  when  the  expected 
premium   is   "nil,"   and   ho   is 


Bear — Bear-leader. 


93 


called  upon  to  pay  the  allot- 
ment. 

Now  as  the  Bull  had  run  away, 
Unable  for  the  shares  to  pay, 
'Twas  clear,  as  he'd  no  cash  to  spare, 
The  Stag  then  couldn't  pay  the  Bear; 
So  when  the  Bear  went  for  his  due, 
The  Stag  had  gone  to  Boulogne  too. 

And,  since  the  Stag  had  cut  and  run, 
'Twas  plain  the  Bear  could  pay  no  one  ; 
So  those  to  whom  he  money  ow'd, 
When  they  sought  out  the  brute's  abode, 
Found  that  the  Bear,  or  him  they  call  so, 
Had  cut  and  run  to  Boulogne  also. 

— A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

Current  expressions  in  the 
"House"  are:  to  operate  for 
a  hear ;  to  realise  a  profitable 
bear.  To  hear  the  market  is 
using  every  effort  to  depress  the 
price  of  stock  in  order  to  buy  it. 

And  these  are  the  clients  who    sell    and 

buy. 
Who  "bear"  when  low  and  "bull"  when 

high. 
And  who  pay  the  Como,  a  source  of  gain, 
Which  lightens  sorrow  and  eases  pain.  .  .  . 
And  these  are  the  men  who,  all  forlorn. 
Wander  about  all  tattered  and  torn, 
Who  have  been  clients,  who  sell  and  buy. 
Who  "bear"  when  low  and  "  bull  "  when 

high. 

— A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

Dealings  are  now  becoming  more  active 
in  these  stocks,  and  a  considerable  bear 
account  is  developing  itself. —  Truth,  April 

26,  1888. 

When  speculators  become  de- 
faulters—to whatever  category 
of  the  animal  trinity  mentioned 
above  they  may  belong — they 
are  metamorphosed  into  "  lame 
ducks,"  and  "  waddle  out  of  the 
alley." 

"  To  hear  a  bob  "  (nautical), 
used  jocularly  by  Jack-tars  for 


"to  lend  a  hand;  "  (popular), 
to  join  in  chorus  with  persons 
singing. 

Beard  splitter  (old  slang),  a  rake ; 
one  of  the  "loose  fish"  sort 
who  is  fond  of  prostitutes.  The 
allusion  is  obvious. 

Bearer-up  (thieves'  slang),  a 
gambling  cheat,  more  generally 
called  a  "bonnet,"  a  commis- 
sion agent,  bidder  or  sweetener 
at  an  auction  ;  a  decoy-duck 
at  cards  who  induces  strangers 
to  play  with  sharpers  by  per- 
suasion or  by  seeing  him  win. 
From  the  legal  term  "  bearer  " 
in  old  law,  one  who  bears  down 
and  oppresses  others  by  vexa- 
tiously  assisting  a  third  party 
in  maintaining  a  suit  against 
them. 

Bear  fight  (society),  a  rough 
and  tumble  in  good  part.  The 
smoking  or  billiard  rooms  at 
night  in  country  houses  are 
the  places  where  bear  figlUs  fre- 
quently occur, 

Be-argered  (common),  drunk. 
Probably  from  the  German  be- 
argcrt,  irritated,  vexed,  referring 
to  the  ' '  fifth  stage  of  intoxica- 
tion, which  is  one  of  wrath  and 
fighting  "  (Korte,  Sprichworter 
der  Deutsclun). 

Bear-leader  (common),  the  travel- 
ling companion  or  tutor  of  a 
young  gentleman  or  nobleman, 
employed  by  the  parents  or 
guardians   to  watch   over   him 


94 


Dear  leader — Beastly. 


and  keep  him  from  evil  courses 
which  he  might  fall  into  if 
left  to  himself.  "  Unlicked 
cub "  was  and  still  is  a  slang 
term  for  an  undisciplined  youth, 
and  was  no  doubt  the  origin 
of  hear  as  applied  to  the  same 
kind  of  person.  When  Dr. 
Johnson  visited  Scotland  and 
the  Hebrides  in  his  old  age, 
accompanied  by  James  Bos- 
well,  who  has  left  the  world 
so  amusing  an  account  of  the 
prejudices  of  his  uncouth  and 
ungainly  hero  against  every- 
thing he  saw  in  Scotland,  it 
pleased  the  wits  of  Edinburgh 
to  call  Boswell  his  bear-Icadcr. 
Henry  Erskine,  to  whom  Bos- 
well had  introduced  the  great 
man,  slipped  a  shilling  into 
Boswell's  hand,  saying,  "Take 
tliat,  my  good  man  ;  it's  for  the 
sight  of  j'our  bear  !  " 

Bears  ?  are  you  there  with  your 

(old),  are  you  there,  or,  at  it 
again  ?  Joe  Miller  says  the  ex- 
pression originated  in  this  way. 
A  man  disgusted  with  a  sermon 
on  Elislia  and  the  bears,  went 
on  the  following  Sunday  to  an- 
other church,  where  he  heard 
the  sermon  delivered  once  more 
by  the  same  preacher.  Irate 
at  being  thus  foiled,  he  cried 
out,  "Arc  you  there  with  your 
bears  ?  "  The  explanation  is  more 
quaint  than  convincing.  The 
phrase  seems  to  have  been  very 
common  in  the  seventeenth  cen- 
lury. 

Another,  wlien  at  the  racket  court  he  had 
a  ball  struck  into  hi>  haiard,  would  ever 


and  anon  cry  out,  "  Estes-vous  Ik  avec  vos 
oursV  which  is  ridiculous  in  any  other 
language  but  English. — J.  Howell:  h'or- 
raine  Travell. 

Oh,  quoth  they,  here  is  an  accident  may 
save  the  man ;  are  you  there  with  your 
hears  ?  We  will  quit  the  exercise  of  the 
House's  right  rather  than  that  should  be.— 
Roger  North  :  Examcn. 

Bear  watching,  to  (American),  a 
phrase  indicating  suspicion. 

"  Jones  may  be  a  nice  man,  but  he'll 
bear  'Matching — you  had  better  keep  your 
eye  on  him." 

' '  Now  Brer  Rabbit  knowed  he  bes'  look 
about  right  spry,  cayse  de  creeters  all  had 
dey  eyes  skint  an'  dey  years  open  fer  him, 
cayse  he  bed  setch  cu'y'ous  leetle  ways 
wi(i  him  dat  he'd  bar  watchin." — Urcr 
Rabbit. 

Beastly  (common).  This  word, 
which  was  once  used  only  in 
a  very  abusive  sense,  has,  by 
dint  of  repetition,  come  like 
awfully,  or  dreadful,  or  horrid 
in  America,  to  signify  "  very." 

Ere  ladies  use  such  beastly  names  our 

follies  to  condemn, 
They  should  be.ir  in  mind  they  always 

find  we're  beastly  fond  of  them. 
— Zoological  CoDi/'anioiis  :  A  Jiallatl. 

They  go  on  if  I  say  "  beastly  jolly," 
.\nd  say  that  I  mustn't  talk  slang, 
And  lecture  me  well  on  the  folly 
Of  shutting  the  door  with  a  bang. 

— //.  Adams  :  Only  a  Little 
Hit  Giddy. 

It  is  also  used  in  society  as 
an  emphatic  adjective.  Every- 
thing that  does  not  meet  with 
approval  now  is  heasth/ :  as, 
"We  had  a  beastly  didl  sermon 
this  morning."  Surely  a  libel 
on  animals,  -as  the  original 
ineaning  is,   "pertaining  to,  or 


Beastly — Beat. 


95 


having  the  form  and  nature 
of  a  beast."  Thus,  the  young 
French  lady  used  the  word 
correctly  when  she  said  of  her 
pets,  "  I  like  horses,  I  like  dogs, 
I  like  parrots  ;  in  short,  I  like 
everything  that  is  haistly l" 

Beasts  (American  cadets).  At 
the  United  States  Military  Aca- 
demy, at  West  Point,  new  cadets 
are  so  called.  More  appro- 
priate and  suggestive  terms — 
though  not  so  forcible — are  used 
at  the  Royal  Military  Aca- 
demy, Sandhurst  —  "Snooker," 
"Johnny;"  "bejants"  (bejaunes) 
is  applied  to  freshmen  at  Aber- 
deen University. 

Beat,  to  (American),  to  cheat,  or 
"do"  one  out  of  money  in  any 
way. 

Two  of  these  eating  establishments  are 
large  and  busy  places,  wherein  two  good 
dishes  can  be  had  for  a  dime  (fivepence). 
It  is  said  that  the  waiters  are  all  athletes 
and  skilled  bouncers,  who  are  more  re- 
spected by  the  public  than  any  waiters 
ever  were  before.  It  is  like  trifling  with 
dynamite  to  try  to  beat  one  of  these  places 
out  of  a  dinner,  and  the  bummer  who  does 
so  is  described  as  looking  and  feeling  as  if 
he  had  been  through  a  rolling-mill  when 
his  waiter  has  tired  of  toying  with  him. — 
Chicago  Tribune. 

To  "6eai  hollow,"  to  "heat 
into  fits,"  to  "  heat  badly,"  to 
surpass  or  excel.  A  man  who 
is  wholly  exhausted  is  said  to 
be  "  dead-?;e«<. " 

"  That  heats  the  bugs !  "  (Ame- 
rican). The  phrase  is  used  to 
denote  anything  stupendous, 
incredible,      incommensurable. 


Probably  from  an  old  story  in 
which  some  bugs  showed  as- 
tounding sagacity  and  achieved 
some  wonderful  feat  in  order  to 
baffle  their  tormentor  and  extri- 
cate themselves  from  a  perilous 
position.  Another  version  is 
that  a  man  to  prevent  the  bugs 
from  getting  to  his  bed,  made 
a  circle  of  tar  round  it.  Then 
they  climbed  up  to  the  ceiling, 
and  fell  or  jumped  down  on  the 
bed.  Finally,  he  made  another 
circle  of  tar  on  the  ceiling,  and 
that  "  heat  the  bugs." 

"  Well,  if  this  don't  beat  the  bugs ! "  he'd 
say.  "  What  a  spot  o'  work  this  is,  sar- 
tainly." — Sam  Slick. 

Mr.  Atkin,  in  his  "  House 
Scraps,"  has  a  story  of  a  dog 
that  certainly  "  heats  the  bugs." 
"One  said  his  dog  was  so  clever 
that  it  would  not  go  out  with 
him  unless  his  cartridges  fit  his 
gun.  '  Well,  old  man,  I  must 
admit  that  youj  dog  is  above 
the  average,  but  I'll  back  mine 
against  him  for  a  fiver.  I  was 
in  our  lane  the  other  evening, 
when  my  dog  pointed  at  a  man 
I  had  never  seen  before,  and  as 
nothing  would  make  him  move, 
I  went  up  to  the  man  and  said, 
'  Sir,  would  you  oblige  me  with 
your  name  ?  '  '  Yes,  sir,  my 
name  is  Partridge.'  " 

Beat,  a  (journalistic).     "To  have 
a  heat  on  one,"  is  to  call  on  one. 

On  my  return  home  I  had  what  jour- 
nalists call  a  heat  on  nearly  all  my 
acquaintances,  to  whom  I  had  much  that 
was  strange  and  wonderful  to  tell  concern- 
ing my  travels. — iV.  A.  I'atou:  Down  the 
Islands. 


96 


Beat — Beating. 


(American),  to  "  get  a  beat  on 
one,"  to  have  the  laugh  of  one, 
to  take  a  "  rise"  out  of. 

"  Great  Csesar !  and  we've  gone  to 
press,"  gasped  the  editor.  "  The  after- 
noon papers  will  get  a  beat  on  us  to- 
morrow."— San  Franciscan. 

Beat  daddy  mammy,  to  (old 
military),  to  practise  the  ele- 
ments of  drum  beating. 

Beat  the  Dutch,  to  (popular). 
That  heats  the  Dutch,  is  said  of 
any  startling  statement  or  in- 
credible fact.  To  beggar  de- 
scription or  stagger  belief.  Ori- 
ginally used  to  express  extreme 
stupidity  and  obstinacy,  a  Dutch- 
man being  popularly  represented 
as  a  phlegmatic  person  whom 
nothing  could  move. 

Beaten  down  to  bed-rock  (Ame- 
rican), reduced  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity. 

Some  had  died,  others  were  dying ;  none 
were  well,  and  all  were,  as  they  tersely 
futii,  beaten  down  to  bed-rock. — Phillipps- 
Wolley :  Trottings  of  a  Tenderfoot. 

Beater  -  cases  (obsolete),  shoes 
or  boots  ;  also  called  formerly 
"  bowles; "  more  modern  are  the 
"trotter-cases"  (termed  "trot- 
tinets,"  or  "  trottins  "  in  French 
slang),  "grubbers,  carts,  beetle- 
crushers,  crab-shells,  and  hock- 
dockies."  Thieves  and  roughs 
in  a  poetical  mood  have  given 
thoin  the  name  of  "dai.sy-roots," 
while  mashers  ruefully  talk  of 
their  pointed  patents  as  "  ex- 
cruciators."  A  policeman  on 
his  beat  is  said  by  the  roughs  to 


exercise  his  "  plates  of  meat." 
The  much  despised  spring  side 
boots  officers  term  ' '  Jemimas." 

Beaters  (thieves),  feet,  an  abbre- 
viation of  dew-beaterg,  a  slang 
term  for  feet,  and,  in  Norfolk, 
coarse  oiled  shoes  that  resist  the 
dew.  "To  pad  one's  beaters," 
to  walk,  to  walk  away. 

Pluck  me  some  panam  and  caftar.  Bill, 
for  I  want  to  pad  my  beaters. — A'e^v  York 
Slang  Dictionary. 

The  earlier  word  is  "  batters  "  or 
"bats,"'  which  represents  the  ori- 
ginal "  pats,"  In  gj'psy,  tompats 
is  in  common  with  canting  a 
word  for  feet.  Hindu,  tal-pat, 
the  sole. 

Beating  the  booby  (nautical),  the 
beating  of  the  hands  and  arms 
across  the  chest,  to  warm 
oneself  in  cold  weather.  An 
older  synonymous  expression  is 
"  beating  Jonas." 

Beating  the  quartermaster  (Ame- 
rican), a  phrase  current  in  the 
army,  which  probably  originated 
in  the  following  story : — 

Jonas  Smith,  of  Washington,  Indiana, 
towards  the  close  of  the  late  war,  was  body 
servant  to  a  Quartermaster,  and  after  the 
close,  and  when  the  Quarterm.-ister  had 
been  mustered  out,  as  the  story  is  told,  he 
requested  Smith,  as  a  last  service  before 
parting,  to  take  a  large  lx)x  on  a  dray  to 
the  freight  depot  and  ship  it,  asking  Smith 
at  the  same  time  "if  he  could  re.nd  and 
write." 

Jonas  answered  that  he  could  not,  started 
off  with  the  box,  and  on  the  way  to  the 
station  removed  the  shipping-tag,  which 
bore  the  n.ime  of  the  Quarterm.istcr  and 
that  of  the  place  the  box  was  to  be  shipped. 


Beating — Beauty-sleep. 


97 


and  substituted  his  own  name  and  address, 
and  by  that  means  obtained  a  box  of  new 
army  blankets  the  Quartermaster  intended 
to  capture  or  steal  from  Uncle  Sam. 

Jonas,  who  is  fairly  educated,  said  in 
extenuation  of  this  commercial  transaction  : 

"  Mr.  Quartermaster  '  captured '  the 
blankets  from  the  Government,  and  I 
captured  them  from  him.  Everything  is 
fair  in  war." — Detroit  Free  Press. 

Beating  the  road  (American), 
travelling  in  a  railway  train 
without  paying.  There  are 
many  ways  of  doing  this  known 
to  the  American  "dead  beat," 
adventurer,  and  tramp.  One  is 
to  pretend  to  be  an  olEcial  em- 
ployed on  some  other  railroad, 
another  to  make  a  private 
arrangement  with  the  conduc- 
tor or  an  employ^  to  be  allowed 
to  travel  in  a  freight  car,  a  third 
is  to  simply  hide  in  the  freight. 

The  problem  was — twelve  or  thirteen 
hundred  miles  to  be  overpassed  without 
paying  one's  fare  over  the  rails.  This 
would  have  been  an  easy  task  to  many, 
and  some  months  later  it  would  scarcely 
have  caused  me  so  much  anxiety,  but  I 
was  then  inexperienced,  and  somewhat 
green  in  the  matter  of  passes,  which  are 
often  to  be  obtained  by  a  plausible  man 
of  good  address,  and  versed  in  the  methods 
of  beating'  the  road,  or,  more  literally, 
of  cheating  the  company. — Roberts  :  The 
U'esiem  Avernus. 

English  roughs  and  tliieves 
term  this  kind  of  cheat- 
ing "  doing  a  duck,"  generally 
managed  by  hiding  under  the 
seat  of  a  carriage. 

Beau.  This  is  a  word  in  very 
general  use  in  America  to  signify 
a  lover  or  an  especially  devoted 
attendant.     From  this  the  verb 


to  beau,  to  beau  about.  In 
Queen  Anne's  time  the  beau 
meant  rather  an  elegant  man 
than  a  lover. 

The  Southern  girl  is  more  frivolous- 
minded  than  her  Northern  sister ;  she  cares 
more  for  beaux  and  ribbons,  a  dance  and 
a  laugh.  She  loves  the  sunshine  and  stroll 
in  the  park  with  no  definite  end  in  view 
except  perhaps  a  smile  and  a  bow  from 
the  young  men  of  her  acquaintance. — 
Boston  Record. 

Beau -nasty  (old),  a  fop  who, 
though  in  exterior  finely  dressed, 
is  dirty  and  slovenly  in  person 
and  habits. 

Beautifiers  (popular).  Women 
who,  like  Madame  Eachel,  pro- 
fess to  make  people  "  young 
and  beautiful  for  ever."  Of  late 
years  these  persons  have  become 
common,  and  have  many  cus- 
tomers not  only  in  the  demi- 
monde, but  even  among  poor 
girls. 

Take  my  advice,  girls ;  good  complexions 
Only  are  gained  by  early  strolls. 

Heed  not  the  beauiijier's  directions. 
Use  not  her  dear  cosmetic  rolls. 
— Ballad:  Strolling  Down  the  Lanes. 

Beau  trap  (old),  a  well-dressed 
sharper  who  used  to  Uc  in  wait 
for  country  visitors. 

Beauty-sleep  (common),  a  nap 
before  midnight. 

Are  you  going?  It  is  not  late.  ...  A 
medical  man,  who  may  be  called  up  at  any 
moment,  must  make  sure  of  his  beauty- 
sleep. — Kingsley :  Tiuo  Years  Ago. 

And  would  I  please  to  remember  that  I 

had  roused  him  (the  hostler)  up  at  night  ; 

and  the  quality  always  made  a  point  of 

paying  four  times  over  for  a  man's  loss  of 

G 


98 


Beavers — Bed-post. 


his  btautysUep.  I  replied  that  his  loss  of 
beauty-sleep  was  rather  improving  to  a  man 
of  so  high  a  complexion,  &c. — Blackmore : 
Loma  Doone. 

Beavers  (Winchester),  originally, 
leave  to  go  out  in  the  afternoon, 
when  none  but  prefects  were 
allowed  to  wear  hats.  After- 
wards the  appellation  denoted 
an  intermission  of  half-an-hour 
in  the  course  of  the  afternoon 
on  whole  school  days,  when 
school  began  at  two  o'clock. 
The  term  is  now  obsolete.  A 
leaver  (nautical),  is  a  helmet  in 
general,  but  particularly  that 
part  which  lets  down  to  aUow 
of  the  wearer's  drinking. 

Beck,  beur  (old  cant),  a  con- 
stable. In  Dutch  slang,  hekaan 
means  arrested,  imprisoned. 

The  ruffin  cly  the  nab  of  the  Harman.  beck 
If  we  mawnd  Pannam,  lap  or  ruff-peck. 
—  Thomas  Dekker. 

Bed  (thieves'  slang),  put  to  hcd 
with  a  shovel,  dead  and  buried. 

Played  out  they  lay,  it  will  be  said, 

A  hundred  stretches  hence ; 
With  shovels  they  were  put  to  bed 

A  hundred  stretches  since. 

— A  Hundred  Stretches  He>:cc :  Neiu 
York  Slang  Dictionary. 

Bedder  (universities),  a  bedmaker, 
a  species  of  charwoman  now 
nearly  extinct  in  Oxford,  but 
flourishing  at  Cambridge. 

Bed-fagot  (common),  a  contemp- 
tuous term  for  a  woman,  but 
more  specially  applied  to  a 
prostitute.  A  provincialism  for 
a  bedfellow. 


Bed  filling^  (army),  lying  down 
after  dinner  to  rest  and  digest. 
It  is  the  general  rule  that  the 
cots  or  iron  bedsteads  in  sol- 
diers' barrack-rooms  shall  be 
constantly  kept  neat  and  tidy, 
palliasse  rolled  up  and  bedding 
evenly  folded.  But  at  certain 
hours,  as  after  dinner,  a  little 
relaxation  of  the  rule  is  allowed. 

Bed-house,  a  house  of  assigna- 
tion. One  where  beds  and 
rooms  are  hired  by  the  hour 
or  half-day,  &c.  An  institution 
which  has  spread  with  incre- 
dible rapidity  of  late  years  in 
England  and  America,  since  the 
suppression  or  gradual  disap- 
pearance of  brothels,  so  that, 
according  to  trustworthy  infor- 
mation, where  there  formerly 
existed  one  of  the  latter,  there 
are  now  from  ten  even  to  twenty 
of  the  former.  The  rejieal  of 
the  Contagious  Diseases  Act 
has  given  a  great  impetus  to 
the  establishment  of  bcd-}u)use». 

Bedoozle  (American),  to  confuse, 
bewilder,  the  result  being  that 
a  man  is  "all  abroad,"  or  "  flab- 
bergasted." 

Bed-post  (common),  in  the 
"  twinkling  of  a  bed-post,"  in  a 
moment,  as  quick  as  lightning, 
in  a  jiffy,  or  a-s  rapidly  as  a 
staff  can  be  twinkled  or  turned. 
A  more  modern  expression  ex- 
tensively used  is,  in  the  "  twink- 
ling of  a  pike-staff,"  which 
explains  itself.  Ikd-post,  in 
this  case,  seems  to  have  re- 
placed l)ed-staff,  a  wooden  pin 


Bed-post — Bee-bee. 


99 


stuck  formerly  on  the  sides  of 
the  bedstead  to  keep  the  clothes 
from  slipping  on  either  side, 
and  which  might  be  wielded  as 
a  stick  or  staif  when  a  brute 
thought  it  necessary  to  chastise 
his  better  half.  Nous  avons 
changi  tout  cela,  and  now  the 
improvised  staff  has  been  super- 
seded by  the  poker,  varied  by 
an  application  of  hob-nailed 
boots. 

Bed-rock  (American),  to  get  on 
the  bed  rock,  not  to  be  able  to  go 
lower  or  to  abate.  Used  in  this 
instance:  "What  is  the  price 
of  that?"  "  Six  dollars."  "Is 
it  bed-rock  price  ? "  i.e.,  is  it 
your  lowest  price.  Bed-rock 
pieces,  the  last  coins  in  one's 
almost  empty  purse ;  probably 
a  miner's  phrase. 

Bee  (American),  a  meeting,  gene- 
rally a  merrymaking,  but  with 
a  practical  or  beneficial  object. 
Thus  there  are  apple-bees 
for  paring  apples,  husking-bees 
for  husking,  raising-bees  to 
"  raise  "  houses,  and  spelling- 
bees.  Probably  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  the  old  word  "  bidding," 
or  the  Dutch  bied,  influenced 
by  bee  as  a  type  of  industry. 
"  Bidding,"  pronounced  fee- 
ding, meant  an  invitation  a  cen- 
tury ago. 

Harry  cum  parry,  when  will  you  marry  ? 

When  apples  and  pears  are  ripe. 
I'll  come  to  your  wedding  without  any 
bidding, 
And  stay  with  the  bride  all  the  night. 
— Mother  Goose's    Nursery  Rhyjiies  for 
Boys  and  Girls  f^Standard  Edition). 


A  "  chopping-Jee  "  is  thus  de- 
scribed in  a  western  magazine : 
"  Once  a  clearing  was  attempted 
on  a  large  scale.  It  was  for  the 
site  of  a  public  institution.  The 
inhabitants  within  a  radius  of 
ten  mUes  were  invited  to  a 
"  chopping- 6ee."  Each  one 
brought  his  axe  and  day's  pro- 
visions. No  spirituous  liquors 
were  allowed.  The  work  was 
ordered  by  an  elected  marshal 
of  the  day.  The  front  rank  of 
trees,  ten  rods  in  width,  were 
chopped  partially  through  on 
either  side,  then  the  succeeding 
ones  in  like  manner  for  a  space 
of  perhaps  twenty  rods.  Then 
the  last  rank  was  felled  simul- 
taneously by  the  united  force, 
when,  with  a  crash  increasing  to 
a  thundering  volume,  it  bore 
down  on  the  next,  till  all  lay 
prostrate.  And  thus  for  three 
days  did  this  volunteer  war 
against  the  forest  progress." 

Bee-bee  (Anglo-Indian),  Hindu, 
from  the  Persian  bl  bi,  once  ap- 
plied to  English  ladies,  who  are 
now  called  Mem  Sahib.  It  is 
still  often  used  by  native  ser- 
vants in  addressing  European 
maid  -  servants.  — Awjlo •  Indian 
Glossary. 
A  Hiuuu  concubine. 

But  the  society  of  the  station  does  inter- 
fere in  such  cases,  and  though  it  does  not 
mind  bce-becs  or  tlieir  friends,  it  rightly 
taboos  him  who  entertains  their  white 
rivals. — lyUliam  Ho".vard  Russell :  Hfy 
Diary  in  India  in  the  Year  1S58-59. 

(Gypsy),     an     aunt.     Some- 
times applied  respectfully  and 


lOO 


Bee-bee — Beef. 


affectionately  to  any  middle- 
aged  woman.  "  The  title  Bibi  is 
in  Persian  the  same  as  among 
us  senora  or  dofia."  —  Texeira  ■' 
Relacion  de  Uormuz,  A.D.  l6ll. 

Beef  (Australian  convicts'  slang), 
"  stop  thief  1  "  introduced  by 
the  convicts  transported  thither. 
A  feature  of  thieves'  cant,  and 
indeed  of  slang  generally,  is  its 
fondness  for  punning  and  rhym- 
ing, e.g.,  "  cobbler,"  applied  to 
the  last  sheep  that  is  shorn, 
"  slang-whang,"  and  "  Bolt-in- 
turns."  Thief  was  canted  into 
beef  because  they  rhymed. 

Beef—sio'p  thief.  To  beef  a  person  is 
to  raise  a  hue  and  cry  after  him  in  order  to 
get  him  stopped. — J'aux's  Memoirs. 

(English  thieves'  slang),  to  heef 
it,  or  to  give  hot  beef,  is  to  give 
chase,  pursue,  raise  a  halloo 
and  cry. 

I  guyed,  but  the  reeler  he  gave   me  hot 
bee/, 
And  a  scuff  came  about  me  and  hollered  ; 
I  pulled  out  a  chive,  but  I  soon  came  to 
grief, 
And   with   screws  and   a  j.imes   I  was 
collared. 

—  The  Re/cree. 

(Nautical),  a  figurative  term 
for  strength  —  "  more  beef !  " 
more  men  on  ;  (common),  "  beef 
up !  "  or  "  put  your  beef  to  it  1  " 
An  ejaculation  meant  as  a  re- 
quest to  use  one's  strength,  to 
use  one's  muscles  to  good  ac- 
count. (Popular),  Ihe  penis; 
to  be  drosscd  like  "  Christ- 
mas hetf,"  to  be  in  one's  best 
clothes. 


Man's  poor  heart  in  ecstasy 

Will  very  often  beat, 
When  the  tart  is  young. 

"Tis  then  he'll  go  and  dress  himself 

Like  unto  Christmas  beef. 
When  the  tart  is  young  ! 

—  When  the  Tart  is  Young. 

Beef -headed  (popular),  stupid, 
dull  as  an  ox.  Bcef-wVled  is  a 
provincialism  with  a  like  signi- 
cation.  "  5ec/-witted,"  that  is, 
dull,  thick-headed  ;  "  having  no 
more  wit  than  an  ox"  is  a 
term  used  by  Shakspeare. 

Beef  it,  to  (provincialism).  To 
beef  it  is  to  indulge  in  a  meal  of 
butchers'  meat ;  it  only  occurs 
amongst  the  lower  and  poorer 
classes. 

Beefment  (thieves),  on  the  beef- 
mcnt,  on  the  look-out. 

Beef  stick  (army),  the  bone  of 
the  meat  in  the  day's  rations. 
A  soldier  is  allowed,  at  home, 
three-quarters  of  a  pound  of 
meat,  including  bone,  and  when 
the  day's  mess  dinner  is  cut  up, 
little  but  the  stick  remains  for 
those  last  served. 

Beef  straight  (American).  When 
a  man  has  nothing  but  beef  for 
a  meal,  and  must  eat  it  without 
bread,  vegetables,  &c.,  it  is  beef 
straight.  The  same  term  is  ap- 
plied to  any  other  kind  of  food 
per  se. 

Beef  to  the  heels,  like  a  Mullin- 
gar  heifer.  Mr.  II.  J.  ISyroii 
.says  :  "  The  expression  beef  to  the 


Beef — Been. 


lOI 


heeli  is  first  found,  I  believe,  in 
the  Irish  saying,  '  A  Waterf  ord 
heifer,  heef  to  the  heds.' " 

Dolly  was  not  a  fine  woman,  as  they 
say,  at  all ;  not  ieef  to  the  heels,  by  any 
means  ;  in  a  grazier's  eye  she  would 
have  had  no  charm  whatsoever. — Rhoda 
Broughton :  Cometh  up  as  a  Flo^uer. 

Beefy  (common),  unduly  thick, 
commonly  said  of  women's 
ankles;  also  rich,  juicy,  plen- 
teous. To  take  the  whole  pool 
at  loo,  or  to  have  any  particular 
run  of  luck  at  cards  generally, 
is  said  by  players  to  be  very 
heefy  (Hotten).  Beefy  is  also 
applied  to  a  bloated,  red-faced 
person. 

Bee-gum  (American),  a  hollow 
gum-tree  in  which  bees  have 
hived.  This  is  more  technical 
than  slang. 

Bob  tuck  him  by  de  skin, 
As  de  bear  wus  comin'  in, 
An'  he  pull,  an'  he  pull  till  down  de  hol- 
ler tree  cum ; 
Den  nigger  Bob  come  out. 
An'  run  like  nigger  mout. 
While  de  bear  link  he  got  de  debbil  in 
de  bee-gum. 

— Negro  Song. 

Bee  in  the  bonnet  (common).  To 
have  a  bee  in  one's  bonnet,  is  to 
be  odd,  eccentric,  fantastical, 
whimsical,  or  half-crazy.  It  is 
supposed  to  be  a  peculiarly  Scot- 
tish phrase,  because  Scotsmen 
wear  "  bonnets,"  and  English- 
men do  not.  Its  use,  however, 
is  not  confined  to  Scotland,  but 
was  known  in  England  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  and  is  still 
common.     It  occurs  in  a  song 


by  Herrick,  entitled  the  "  Mad 
Maiden,"  of  the  date  of  1648: — 

"  For  pity,  sir,  find  out  that  bee. 
Which  bore  my  love  away  ; 
I'll  seek  him  in  your  bonnet  brave, 
I'll  seek  him  in  your  eyes." 

A  friend  speaking  to  an  Edin- 
burgh lady  of  a  late  eminent 
professor  in  the  University,  said 
he  was  an  excellent  man,  but  he 
had  a  bee  in  his  bonnet.  "  Don't 
say  that,"  replied  the  lady,  as- 
suming a  look  and  tone  of  re- 
proof. "  You  under-rate  him. 
A  bee  in  his  bonnet  i  Why,  he 
has  a  whole  hive  of  bees  in  it  I  " 
The  French  have  the  corres- 
ponding expression  "avoir  un 
hanneton  " — a  may-bug. 

Been  in  the  sun  (popular),  intoxi- 
cated, alluding  to  the  flushed 
countenance  of  one  who  has 
been  drinking  heavily. 

Been  measured  for  a  new  um- 
brella (American),  said  origi- 
nally of  a  man  that  nothing 
fitted  him  but  his  umbrella.  An 
old  joke,  reproduced  by  Artemus 
Ward,  who  took  his  own  gene- 
rally wherever  he  found  it. 

"  Wall,  about  this  time  there  was  a  man 
in  an  adjacent  town  who  had  a  green 
cotton  umbrella." 

"Did  it  fit  him  well?  Was  it  custom- 
made  ?    Was  he  measured  for  it  ?  " 

"  Measured  for  what  ?  "  said  Abe. 

"The  umbreller?" — Artemus  Ward. 

Beeno  (gypsy),  bom.  •'  Ki  sos  0 
tikno  becno  ? " — ' '  Where  was  the 
babe  born  ? " 

Been  to  Bung^wn.  Been  to 
Boston  (American).     It  is  re- 


I02 


Been — Beetle-crushers. 


ported  that  instances  have  been 
known  in  which  ladies  living 
in  the  country  have  gone  "  to 
town  "  for  the  purpose  of  meet- 
ing with  lovers,  or  making  them, 
"  in  loco  secreto."  So  it  is  said 
of  one  not  quite  above  suspicion, 
that  she  has  been  there,  and  should 
a  foreigner  not  understanding 
the  phrase  ask  where,  the  answer 
may  be,  to  Bungtoton.  In  Phila- 
delphia it  is  said  of  a  very  fast 
woman,  that  she  has  been  to,  or 
comes  from  Scranton,  a  town  in 
Pennsylvania- 
Beer  barrel  (pugilistic),  the  body. 

That  draws  the  bung  from  the  ieer 
barrel,  I'm  a  thinkin'. — C.  Bede :  Verdant 
Green. 

Beerslinger  (American),  a  term 
for  a  barman  in  a  lager-beer 
"saloon"  or  tavern.  It  origi- 
nated in  Philadelphia  in  1848- 
49,  about  which  time  lager-beer 
was  first  brewed  in  America. 
The  word  "slingers"  had  pre- 
viously been  commonly  applied 
for  at  least  forty  years  to  other 
barmen,  who  were  often  spoken 
of  as  "  whiskey  -  slingers  "  (a 
punningterm).  "  Rum-slingers  " 
or  "  gin-slingers,"  derived  in  this 
instance  probably  from  gin- 
sling.  In  America  "sling"  is 
a  very  common  expression,  indi- 
cating to  be  engaged  with,  or 
to  tackle,  attack,  &c.  Hence 
"  hash-slingcr,"  one  who  eats  at 
an  ordinary  table,  or  one  who 
is  eating  in  any  way.  "  Ink- 
slinger,"  a  writer.  "  Don't  sling 
your  i-ass  at  me,"  means  give 


me  no  more  of  your  impudence. 
"Jerk"  and  "jerker  "  are  in  every 
way  exact  synonyms  for  "sling" 
and  "  slinger,"  e.g.,  a  beer- 
jerker. 

Beeswax  (common),  poor, 
soft  cheese,  sometimes  called 
"sweaty-toe  cheese,"  the  French 
equivalent  of  which  is  "  pied  de 
facteur."  Applied  to  persons 
whom  it  is  difficult  to  get  rid 
of.  Friends  conversing  together 
seeing  one  of  this  kind  coming 
towards  them,  frequently  say, 
"  Here's  old  Beestoax,  let's  be  off." 

Bees'vyaxers  (Winchester  College). 
Thick-soled,  laced-up  boots  are 
BO  called,  no  doubt  from  being 
used  in  damp  or  snowy  weather, 
after  having  been  besmeared 
with  beeswax,  grease,  or  dub- 
bin, in  order  to  make  them 
water-tight. 

Bee  -  sweetening  ( American ) , 
honey,  more  jargon  than  slang. 

I  was  once  a  guest  in  a  log-cabin,  in  a 
remote  part  of  Indiana,  in  1864.  There 
were  on  the  supper-table  three  kinds  of 
sweetening  for  the  coffee,  and  yet  none  of 
them  were  made  from  the  cane.  "  Will 
you  have,"  asked  my  host,  '^  bee-svieeten- 
in,  tree-sweetenin',  or  sorghum?"  Bee- 
S7ueeienin'  was  honey,  tree-sweetenin'  was 
maple  sugar  and  maple  molasses,  while 
sorghum  was  the  coarse  molasses  made 
from  a  kind  of  Chinese  maize. 

Beetle-crushers  (common),  a  per- 
son's foot.  More  frequently 
used  with  the  sense  of  foot  of 
large  proportions,  large  flat  foot. 
Also  shoe  or  boot. 


Beetle-crushers — Belial. 


103 


Yes,  but  what  horrible  boots !  whoever 
could  have  had  the  atwocity  to  fwame  such 
beetle-crushers. — Rhoda  Broughton :  Red 
as  a  Rose  is  She. 

The  expression  was  first  used 
in  Punch,  in  one  of  Leech's 
caricatures.  A  man  with  "  ex- 
trdmitds  canailles,"  as  the 
French  have  it,  is  said  to  be 
blessed  with  "  beetle-crushers 
and  mutton  fists."  (Army),  an 
infantry  soldier  is  derisively 
termed  beetle-crusher  by  the 
cavalry,  varied  sometimes  to 
"  mud-crusher,"  a  near  equi- 
valent of  the  French  "pousse- 
caillou." 

Who  wouldn't  Be  a  millionaire, 

A-roUing  in  his  riches? 
Though  dolor-ous  the  load  they  bear — 
Who  wouldn't  be  a  millionaire? 
I  own  the  rich  man's  shoes  to  wear 

My  beetle-crusher  itches  1 
Who  wouldn't  be  a  millionaire, 

A-rolling  in  his  riches  ? 

— Funny  Folks. 

Before  -  tim  (pidgin),  formerly, 
once,  previously,  ere  now,  of 
old. 

Old  How-qua,  he  one  piecee  velly  largey 
Hong  machin  (merchant),  sartin  be/ore- 
tim  you  plenty  healee  (have  heard  oO 
allo-same  Uoff-quSi.—How-gtta  and  the 
Pearls. 

Beggarbolts  (nautical),  a  term 
formerly  applied  to  any  missiles 
thrown  from  a  galley-slaves' 
boat  at  an  attacking  force. 

Beggars'  velvet  (common),  par- 
ticles of  down  shaken  from  a 
bed,  and  left  to  accumulate 
under  furniture  by  the  negli- 
gence of  housemaids.     A  more 


befitting  term  is  "  sluts'-wool," 
as  reflecting  on  the  lazy  habits 
of  the  maid. 

Begum,  a  rich  widow, 

Beilby's  ball  (old),  an  old  Bailey 
executioner.  "  You  will  dance 
at  Beilby's  ball,  where  the  sheriil 
pays  for  the  music,"  frofii  the 
name  of  the  executioner  in  the 
time  of  Jonathan  Wild. 

Be  in  it,  to  (common),  Uke  the 
American  phrase  "to  be  on  it." 
But  the  English  expression 
seems  to  denote  being  in  trouble, 
"  I'm  always  in  it." 

And  I  was  in  it,  fairly  in  it ! 
I  fell  in  the  box  of  eggs  and  there  I 
quickly  stuck. 
I  mas  in  it,  fairly  in  it ! 
I  was  in  it,  for  it's  just  my  luck. 
— Song. 

Bejant,  new  student  at  Aberdeen 
University.  A  corruption  of 
the  French  bSjaune  {bee  jaune), 
unsophisticated  young  man, 
compared  to  an  unfledged  black- 
bird.  The  term  is  applied  to 
the  first  or  lowest  class,  the 
second  being  the  "  semi-bejants," 
the  third  the  "tertians,"  and 
the  fourth  the  "  magistrands." 

Belay  (nautical),  stop.  "  Belay 
that  yarn,"  cease  talking,  we 
have  had  enough  of  it. 

Belch  (old),  beer. 

Belcher  (roughs),  a  blue  bird's- 
eye  handkerchief. 

Belial  (Oxford),  BaUiol  College. 


104 


Bell — Bell-topper. 


Bell  (tramps),  a  song. 

B  e  1 1  e  r  i  n  (American),  talking 
loudly,  crying  aloud. 

'Twas  up  among  de  mountains 
All  in  de  woods  an'  canes ; 
A  nigger  came  a  bellerin 
An'  rushin'  throo  de  wanes. 

— Lucy  Neal. 

I  hed  a  plaguey  good  ol'  musket  that  I'd 
brung  with  me  from  my  hum  in  Jarsey, 
an'  I'd  polished  an'  iled  it  till  it  was  slick 
as  a  whistle,  an'  I  kinder  thought  I'd  open 
JefTs  eyes  a  leetle  ef  I  got  any  kind  of  a 
chance  to  p'int  it  at  one  o'  them  air  deer 
Jeff  'd  I>en  a  bellerin  so  much  'bout. — New 
York  Sun. 

Bellows  (pugilistic),  the  lungs ; 
"bellows  to  mend  "  was  formeriy 
said  of  a  pugilist  when  winded, 
and  generally  of  a  person  out  of 
breath. 

Bellows,  bellowses  (American), 
the  heaves  in  a  horse. 

And  when  old  Tom  Jefferson  sent  for 
me  to  go  to  Washington,  I  was  still  here 
with  fifteen  children  and  as  good  a  boss  as 
any  man  ever  sid,  only  she  was  blind  and 
had  the  bellusses. — Uncle  Steve's  Stump 
speech. 

(Nautical),  an  old  hand  at  the 
belloics,  a  man  up  to  his  work, 
to  his  duty.  A  "  fresh  hand  at 
the  bellows  "  is  said  when  a  gale 
increases. 

Bellowsed  (thieves)  was  said  of 
nnc  who  had  "  lumped  the 
lighter  "  or  had  been  "  lagged," 
i.e.,  transported.  As  laoged  is  a 
gy|>sy  word,  meaning  bound  or 
tied  together  (Hindu  iCigdnul), 
it  is  probable  that  bellowsed  is 
the    common    provincial  word 


belost,  which  has  precisely  the 
same  signification. 

Bellowser  (pugilistic),  a  blow 
that  knocks  the  wind  out  of  the 
"  bellows  "  or  lungs.  (Old  cant), 
a  sentence  of  transportation  for 
life ;  that  is,  to  the  convict's 
last  breath  when  his  lungs  or 
"bellows"  cease  to  play. 

Bellows  to  mend  (pugilistic  and 
athletes),  short  in  the  wind, 
pumped  out. 

To  one  gentleman  he  would  pleasantly 
observe,  as  he  tapped  him  on  the  chest, 
"  Bellcrws  for  you  to  mend,  my  buck  !  " — 
C.  Bede :  Verdant  Green. 

Bell  swagger  (old),  a  noisy, 
bullying  fellow. 

Bell-topped  or  knobbed  (vulgar), 
a  man  with  a  large  top  to  his 
generative  organ. 

Bell-topper,  that  kind  of  hat 
known  in  England  as  a  "  chira- 
ney-pot,"  a  "  silk  hat,"  a  "  high 
hat,"  a  "  top  hat,"  a  ^^bell-top- 
per," a  bell-shaped  top  hat.  The 
term  is,  we  believe,  not  un- 
known to  hatters  in  England, 
but  in  Australia  it  is  universally 
used,  often  even  by  refined  peo- 
ple. White  ones  are  very  much 
commoner  than  black  in  Aus- 
tralia and  America,  on  account 
of  the  higher  temperature. 

When  the  writer  was  about 
to  land  at  Port  Melbourne  he 
was  warned  "  a  man  is  of  no 
account  in  Melbourne  without 
a  wliite  bell -topper."  Soon  after 
this  he  went  to  the  Geelong 


Bell-topper — Belvidere. 


105 


races  and  ordered  a  dozen 
oysters  at  a  stall.  The  man 
gave  him  thirteen  by  mistake. 
"Stop,"  he  said,  "you're  giving 
me  too  many."  The  man  who 
was  next  to  him — quite  a  com- 
mon man  and  a  little  drunk — 
turned  round  and  addressed  him 
sententiously,  "A  cove  with  a 
white  hell-topper  should  never 
be  mean." 

Belly-chere  (old  cant),  food. 

Belly-chete  (old  cant),  an  apron. 

Bellyful  (old),  a  sound  drubbing 
or  thrashing. 

Belly-go-firster  (old  slang),  the 
first  blow,  usually  given  in  the 
belly. 

Belly  hedges  (Shrewsbury  School), 
an  obstruction  of  a  moderate 
character  in  steeplechases  run 
by  the  boys. 

Belly  plea,  the  (old),  the  old  slang 
term  to  describe  the  practice 
of  women  condemned  to  death 
pleading  pregnancy  in  mitiga- 
tion or  deferment  of  sentence. 
This  custom  is  alluded  to  in  the 
"  Beggar's  Opera."  In  most  jails 
there  were  men  termed  "child 
getters,"  who  made  a  practice 
of  qualifying  women  to  put  for- 
ward such  a  plea. 

Belly-timber  (common),  food; 
termed  also  "  prog,"  "  grub." 

Belly  up,  a  facetious  way  of  allud- 


ing to  a  woman  being  in  the 
family  way. 

"  So  help  my  greens,  if  our 
Sal  ain't  bin  and  got  her  belly 
up." 

Belly-vengeance  (common),  sour 
beer  that  wiU  give  the  stomach- 
ache. 

Below  the  belt  (tailors),  unfair 
or  mean,  from  an  expression 
used  in  boxing  or  fencing. 

Belt,  belt  tinker,  bellows  (tailors), 
a  very  roughly  made  garment. 

Belting  (nautical),  a  beating,  be- 
fore the  rattan  or  cat-o'-nine- 
tails came  into  use. 

Belting  society  (legal),  a  debat- 
ing society,  formerly  held  in  the 
Inns  of  Court. 

Beltinker(popular),  to  give  a  man 
bcltinher,  to  thrash  him. 

Then  they  begin  using  bad  language. 
They  swear  they'll  give  me  beltinktr  if 
they  ever  hear  me  again. — Ballad. 

Some  of  the  synonyms  are  "  to 
give  one  Jessie,  a  tanning,  a  hid- 
ing, a  walloping,  a  jacketting, 
a  dusting,  to  walk  into,  to 
quilt,  to  set  about,"  the  opera- 
tion being  sometimes  pushed 
tu  "  thrashing  one  within  an 
inch  of  his  life,"  or  "  knocking 
into  a  cocked  hat." 

Belvidere  (popular),  a  handsome 
man,  an  Apollo.  Pronounced 
hdvy-dcar. 


io6 


Bent  use — Bender. 


The  ladies  say  I  am  bewitching, 
In  fact  I'm  a  real  belvitUre. 
In  bar-room,  in  parlour,  in  kitchen, 
Oh,  thb  is  the  language  I  hear. 
—  The  Beautiful  Major :  Ballad. 

Bemuse,  to  (common),  to  fuddle 
oneself  with  drink. 

Ben  (jonmalistic  and  theatrical), 
short  for  benefit. 

Benefit  to  Jack  Burke.— This  well- 
known  boxer,  who  has  had  the  misfortune 
to  break  his  leg  in  two  places,  is  to  be 
accorded  a  benefit  at  the  Mason's  Hall, 
Bow  Common  Lane,  on  Monday,  Decem- 
ber 5.  A  capital  programme  has  been 
organised,  and  we  hope  that  his  fellow 
pro's  will  rally  round  him  on  the  occasion, 
and  give  his  ben  a  good  send  off.  M.C.'s 
Jack  Fay,  and  T.  Sands. — Sporting  Life. 

(Common),  an  abbreviation  for 
"Benjamin,"  a  waistcoat  (see 
Benjamin)  ;  to  stand  hen,  to 
treat  one  to  liquor. 

Benamee  (Anglo-Indian,  also  old 
gypsy),  anonymous.  Hindu,  6e- 
naml. 

A  term  specially  applied  to  documents 
of  transfer  and  other  contracts  in  which  the 
name  entered  as  that  of  one  of  the  chief 
parties  is  not  that  of  the  person  interested. 
— Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Benat,  benar  (old  cant),  better. 

Ben  cull  (thieves),  a  friend,  a 
comrade,  a  "pal"  Cull  meant 
formerly  a  man,  a  fool ;  hen,  an 
abbreviation  of  the  cant  term 
hene,  good. 

Bend  (common),  "that's  above 
my  bend,"  i.e.,  beyond  my 
power,  too  expensive  or  too 
difficult  to  perform  (Hotten). 
This  has  nothing  in  common 
with  the  "  Grecian   bend,"  an 


affected  Btyle  of  walking  as- 
sumed by  some  ladies  as  a 
flattery  to  royalty,  in  keeping 
with  the  "  Alexandra  limp." 

Bender  (common),  a  sixpence,  so 
called  because  it  is  easily  bent ; 
also  "  kick,"  a  very  old  word. 
In  old  cant  "  half-a-borde,"  and 
now  a  "  tanner,"  and  in  thieves' 
lingo  a  "  cripple." 

"  What  will  you  take  to  be  paid  out?" 
said  the  butcher.  "  The  regular  chum- 
mage is  two-and-six  ;  will  you  take  three 
bob?"  "And  a  bender,"  suggested  the 
clerical  gentleman.  —  Charles  Dickens  : 
Pickwick  Papers. 

(American),  a  frolic,  relaxation, 
spree,  or  "  party."  Probably 
from  the  Dutch  bende,  an  assem- 
bly, party,  or  band. 

I  led  her  through  the  festal  hall, 
Her  glance  was  soft  and  tender ; 
She  whispered  gently  in  my  ear, 
"  Say,  Mose,  ain't  this  a  bender  t" 
— Putnam's  Monthly  (Barileit,  p.  29). 
Hans  Breitmann  joined  de  Turners, 

November  in  de  Fall, 
Und  dey  gived  a  boorsten  bender 

All  in  de  Turner  Hall. 
— Breitmann  and  the  Turners. 

Also  a  leg. 

Young  ladies  are  not  allowed  to  cross 
their  benders  in  school.  —  Longfello^v : 
Kavanagh. 

(Thieves  and  roughs),  the  arm ; 
over  the  bender  means  over  the 
arm,  over  the  left,  i.e.,  not  really. 
In  the  same  way  schoolboys 
said,  "I'll  do  it — fain,"  mean- 
ing that  they  will  not. 

Yanx,  in  his  Memoirs,  says : 
— "Bender  is  an  ironical  word 
used  in  conver.sation  by  flash 
people ;  as  where  one  j^arty 
afiirms    or    professes   anything 


Bender — Bengi, 


107 


which  the  other  believes  to  be 
false  or  insincere,  the  latter 
expresses  his  incredulity  by  ex- 
claiming bender  !  or  if  one  asks 
another  to  do  an  act  which  the 
latter  considers  unreasonable  or 
impracticable,  he  repUes,  '  Oh, 
yes;  I'll  do  it — bender,'  mean- 
ing by  the  addition  of  the  last 
word  that  in  fact  he  wiU  do  no 
such  thing." 

Bendigo  (common),  nearly  obso- 
lete. A  fur  cap  named  from  a 
noted  pugilist,  who  is  said  to 
have  got  his  nickname  from 
his  skill  at  "  ducking."  This 
"  muscular  Christian,"  some 
fifteen'  years  ago,  became  a 
convert  and  preacher. 

Bendover  (Winchester)  is  to  place 
yourself  in  such  a  posture  as  to 
give  one  so  disposed  an  oppor- 
tunity of  "spanking"  you. 

Bene,  ben  (old  cant),  good. 

A  gage  oiben  Rom-bouse, 

In  a  bousing-ken  of  Rom-vile, 
Is  benar  than  a  Caster,  Peck,  pannam, 
lay. 
Or  popler,  which  we  mill  in  dense-a- 
vile.         — Thomas  Middleton. 

"vStowe  your  6ene"  is  thus  ex- 
plained— 

"What,  stowe  your  bene.,  cofe,  and  cut 
benar  wydds." — Harman :  Caveat. 

I.e.,  "What,  hold  your  peace,  good  fel- 
low, and  speak  better  words." 

A  beae  mort,  a  pretty  woman. 

Oh  1  where  will  be  the  culls  of  the  bing, 
A  hundred  stretches  hence  ? 

The  bene  maris,  who  sweetly  sing, 
A  hundred  stretches  hence  ? 

— A  Hundred  Stretches  Hence. 


Bene  darkmans  (old  cant),  good 
night. 

Bene  flakes  (old  cant),  bill-for- 


Beneship  (old  cant),  very  well. 

Ben-flake  (thieves),  a  steak  at  a 
"  slap-bang,"  i.e.,  a  low  cooking- 
shop  or  eating-house. 

Beng  (gypsy),  devil,  flame ;  hen' 
galo,  bengescro,  devilish.  Also 
bengis  or  bengus.  Bengis  his  ze 
(zee),  (May)  the  devil  (be  in)  his 
heart.  Paspati,  also  Pott.  Thes, 
ii.  407,  arguing  from  mere  re- 
semblance of  sound,  derives  being 
from  benk,  a  frog,  or  beng,  a  frog, 
or  benga,  squint-eyed  in  Hindu, 
But  as  bengel  in  German  and 
Dutch  means  a  mischievous,  evil 
fellow  or  scamp,  there  is  pro- 
bably some  Aryan  root  which 
would  furnish  a  more  direct 
connection  with  the  evil  prin- 
ciple. 

"  As  if  yuv  had  dikked  o'  ien£^  te  sa," — 
"  As  if  he  had  seen  the  devil  and  all." 
— English  Gypsy  Songs. 

Perhaps  it  comes  from  beg, 
Hindu,  but  of  Mongol  origin, 
meaning  lord  or  master.  The 
Spanish  gypsies  call  the  devil 
by  a  similar  term,  d  buen  baron, 
the  good  baron  or  lord. 

Bengi  (military),  an  onion.  Ori- 
gin obscure,  but  it  may  be  re- 
ferred to  the  Hindustani  bcng 
or  bhang,  from  its  pungent 
taste ;   or  again,   it  may  be  a 


io8 


Bengi — Beshava. 


form  of  the  Hindu  bhindi  (often 
pronounced  like  bengi),  the  okra 
of  America,  also  called  bendy 
and  bdmia.  One  variety  of  it  is 
about  the  size  of  an  onion. 

Bengy,  a  waistcoat,  is  from  the 
gypsy  bangri. 

Benighted,  the  (Anglo-Indian), 
a  term  applied  in  raillery  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Madras  by  their 
envious  neighbours. 

Benjamin  or  benjie  (common),  a 
waistcoat  or  coat,  formerly  a 
"Joseph."  Possibly  an  allusion 
to  Joseph's  garment  left  in  Ma- 
dame Potiphar's  grasp.  Dr.  C. 
Mackay  says  it  was  so  named 
from  a  once  celebrated  advertis- 
ing tailor  in  London.  (Nauti- 
cal), a  low  crowned  straw  hat, 
with  a  very  broad  brim. 

Ben  joltraem  (old),  poor  and 
coarse  food,  such  as  agricultural 
men,  navigators,  and  men  work- 
ing on  roads,  have  to  put  up 
with. 

Bens  (American),  tools,  styled 
"  alls  "  by  English  workmen. 

Benvenue  (printers),  obsolete. 
This  was  a  kind  of  entrance-fee 
paid  by  the  workman  to  the 
"  chapel "  on  entering  a  new 
oflice.  Equivalent  to  "  stand- 
ing his  footing."  Derived  from 
the  French  apparently,  bien- 
venue,  welcome,  footing,  used 
in  the  expression  "  payer  la 
bicuvenue." 


Beong  (costermongers),a  shilling ; 
in  old  cant  a  "  borde  "  and  now 
a  "bob;"  from  the  Italian 
bianco,  white,  also  a  silver  coin. 
An  equivalent  for  this  is  to  be 
found  in  most  slangs.  For  in- 
stance, in  Dutch  thieves'  slang, 
toitten;  in  German,  blanker ;  Ita- 
lian, biancon.  Formerly  French 
silver  coins  were  termed  blancs. 

Beray  (old  cant),  dung,  dirty. 

Berk,  burk,  pi.  berkia  (gypsy), 
breast,  breasts. 

Bero  (gypsy),  a  ship  or  boat  ; 
beromengro,  a  sailor ;  beromcscro, 
pertaining  to  a  ship,  naval. 
"Ghiom  adrd  a  bero" — "  I  went 
in  a  ship,"  in  common  jargon 
"  mandy-jawed  (or  jassed),  adrd 
a  bero." 

Berthas  (Stock  Exchange),  Lon- 
don, Brighton,  and  South  Coast 
Railway  Company,  ordinary 
stock. 

Dear  Bertha,  I  have  not  forgotten, 
She's  really  a  feature  in  "  rails ; " 
And  tho'  some  of  my  tips  have  been  rotten, 
I  landed  some  money  in  "  mails." 

— A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

Besh  (gypsy) ,  a  year.  Continental 
gypsy,  bersh.  Bui  besh,  two 
years. 

Beshava  (gypsy),  I  sit,  common 
form  besh ;  Besh  tu  alay,  sit 
down;  bcshclla,  he  sits.  "Who 
besh  in  ye  pus,  around  the  yag  " 
— "  Who  sit  in  the  straw  around 
the  fire." — 0.  Borrow:  Lavengro. 


Beshermengro — Betty. 


109 


Beshermengro  (gypsy),  one  who 
sits,  a  magistrate. 

Bespeak-night  (common),  a  night 
in  theatrical  performance  set 
apart  for  the  special  benefit  of 
some  actor  or  actress — a  benefit 
in  modern  phraseology. 

Best  (common),  to  best  a  man, 
to  have  the  better  of  one  in 
any  way. 

And  this  great  party,  the  noble  army  of 
consumers,  would  cry  out  at  any  attempt 
to  raise  the  price  of  the  commodity  for 
the  benefit  of  the  producers,  whom,  by  a 
curious  perversion  of  mind,  they  consider  ~ 
their  natural  enemies,  to  be  bested  sX  every 
possible  opportunity. — Evening  News. 

To  cheat. 

When  I  went  to  the  fence  he  bested 
me  because  I  was  drunk,  and  only  gave 
me  £i,  los.  for  the  lot. — Horsley :  Jott- 
ings frcmi  Jail. 

(Thieves),   to    give   in    Ic&t,   to 
affect  repentance. 

If  when  in  the  magisterial  presence  he 
contorts  his  countenance  in  affected  agony, 
it  is  merely  because  he  perceives  from  his 
worship's  tone  that  he  wishes  to  agonise 
him,  and  is  shrewd  enough  to  know  that 
to  "give  in  best,"  as  he  would  express  it, 
is  the  way  to  get  let  off  easy. — J.  Green- 
wood:  The  Seven  Curses  0/ London. 

Bester  (popular),  one  who  gets 
the  better.  Also  a  low  betting 
cheat,  a  blackleg. 

Best  girl  (American),  the  preferred 
one ;  a  sweetheart. 

"Did  you  ever  hear,"  asked  my  best  girl, 
as  we  drove  along  Delaware  Avenue,  past 
the  elegant  grounds  of  Jonathan  Scoville, 
"  why  Mr.  Scoville  never  built  that  costly 
residence  he  had  planned  ?" — Detroit  Free 
Press. 


Besting  (running),  to  get  the 
better  of  any  one  by  unfair 
means. 

Besting  the  pistol  (running), 
where  a  runner  gets  the  best 
of  the  starter,  and  is  away  on 
his  journey  when  the  pistol 
goes  off. 

Bet  a  seed,  to  (American),  to  bet 
the  smallest  chip  or  counter, 
i.e.,  stake,  in  the  game  of  poker. 
— MS.  Collection  of  Americanisms, 
by  C.  Leland-IJarrison. 

Be  there,  to  (common),  to  be  in 
one's  element,  to  be  knowing  at 
a  thing. 

I  very  soon  began  to  preach  and  prate. 
And  with  the  sisters  played  some  funny 
pranks, 
I  was  so  good  at  nobbling  with  the  plate. 

They  soon  made  me  captain  of  the  ranks ; 
And  often  when  our  meetings  were  dis- 
persed, 
With  sister  Jane  I'd  offer  up  a  prayer, 
I'd  such  a  jolly  spree  when  she  took  me 
home  to  tea. 
For  I  know  what  it  is  to  be  there ! — Song. 

Better  than  a  dig  in  the  eye  with 
a  blunt  stick  (common).  The 
expression  is  used  to  denote  a 
thing  of  little  value. 

Betting  round  (racing),  laying 
fairly  and  equally  against  nearly 
all  the  horses  in  a  race,  so  that 
no  great  risk  can  be  run.  Com- 
monly called  "getting  round." 

Betty  (thieves),  a  skeleton  key 
or  picklock,  termed  also  tivvil, 
twist,  .screw  ;  all  Betty,  it  is  all 
up  I  past  recovery. 


no 


Bet — Bible-clerk. 


Bet,  you  (American),  you  may  be 
sure  of  it,  you  may  safely  bet 
that  it  is  true. 

We  reached  the  settlement  of  Ubet.  The 
name  had  been  selected  from  the  slang 
phrase  so  laconically  expressive  of  "  You 
may  be  sure  I  will. "...  A  night  marauder 
took  advantage  of  a  good  moon  to  place  a 
ladder  against  a  window,  hoping  to  secure 
the  property  of  a  gentleman  asleep  within 
the  chamber.  As  he  lifted  the  window  and 
put  his  head  in  the  gentleman  woke  up, 
and  with  great  promptness  presented  his 
six-shooter,  shouting  out,  "  You  get ! " 
With  equal  promptness  the  detected  thief 
exclaimed,  "■  You  bet !  "  and  slid  down  the 
ladder, — et  procul  in  tenuem  ex  ocvlis 
evanuit  auram. — Alex.  Stavely  Hill: 
Front  Home  to  Home. 

Bever  (obsolete),  a  slight  repast 
between  meals,  an  afternoon 
lunch,  a  meal  eaten  in  a  hurry. 
It  was  in  use  at  the  English  and 
American  universities.  At  the 
former  the  bevers  consisted  of 
a  portion  of  bread  and  an  allow- 
ance of  beer  laid  out  in  the  hall 
in  the  afternoon,  a  break  of  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  in  school 
time  being  allowed  in  summer 
for  this  refreshment.  The  pecu- 
liar nature  of  the  repast  was  a 
relic  of  the  old  founders'  days. 
Old  English  bever,  a  drinking ; 
from  the  old  French  bevre,  to 
drink. 

Bevy  or  bevali  (common),  beer ; 
abbreviation  of  beverage.  Gypsy 
pivi,  drink;  Slavonian jj/fo,  beer. 
Other  appellations  for  beer  are 
"  gatter,  oil  of  barley,  bug  juice, 
ponjello  "  ;  and  were  it  the  best 
of  Bass's  it  is  termed  by  board- 
ing-.school  boys  "  swipes." 


Bewer  (tinkers'  slang),  a  woman. 
"Misli  to  my  bewer" — "Write 
(i.e.,  go  or  send)  to  my  woman," 
Young  bew'r,  a  girl. 

B  flats  (popular),  bugs. 

Mrs.  B.  beheld  one  night  a  stout  negro 
of  the  flat-backed  tribe,  known  amongcomic 
writers  as  the  B  Jlats,  stealing  up  toward 
the  head  of  the  people. — Household  Words. 

Bheesty  (Anglo-Indian),  a  water- 
carrier.  "  The  universal  word  in 
the  Anglo-Indian  households  of 
Northern  India  for  the  domestic 
who  supplies  the  family  with 
water,  carrying  it  in  a  mussuck 
or  goat's  skin  on  his  back.  No 
class  of  men  is  so  diligent,  so 
faithful,  unobtrusive,  and  so 
uncomplaining  as  the  bihistis." 
— Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Here  comes  a  seal  carrying  a  porpoise 
on  its  back.  No  1  it  is  only  our  friend  the 
bheesty. — In  my  Indian  Garden. 

Bible  (nautical),  a  liand  axe  ;  also 
a  square  jjiece  of  freestone  to 
grind  the  deck  with  sand  in 
cleaning  it ;  a  small  holystone, 
so  called  from  seamen  using 
them  kneeling. — Admiral  Smyth. 

Bible  carrier  (common),  a  person 
who  sells  songs  without  singing 
them  (Hotten). 

Bible-clerk  (Winchester),  a  col- 
lege prefect  who  has  to  read 
the  lessons  in  chapel,  to  keep 
order  in  school,  to  open  the 
doors  for  masters,  to  keep  up 
the  fire,  and  assist  at  flogging. 
He  holds  his  ollice  for  a  week 
at  a  time.    Bible-clerks  come  into 


Bible-clerk — Big  as. 


Ill 


course  now  (since  "  Cloisted 
time"  1872)  on  Wednesday  in- 
stead of  Saturday.  A  Bible- 
cleric  xscob  is  the  first  "scob" 
(box  spelt  backwards,  phoneti- 
cally) on  the  right  hand  as  you 
enter  school  It  bears  a  brass 
plate  with  the  inscription  en- 
graved on  it :  "  Tw  det  di'07- 
vwarr]" — "To  each  successive 
reader,"  because  £ible-dei-ks 
used  to  read  the  lessons  at 
meals. 

Bible-pounder  (popular),  a  parson ; 
termed  also  a  "white-choker," 
a  "  devil-dodger,"  a  "  cushion- 
smiter." 

Bibling  (Winchester),  a  flogging 
consisting  of  six  cuts  on  the 
small  of  the  back  administered 
by  the  head  or  second  master. 
The  term  is  obsolete.  The 
bibling-Tod  was  an  instrument 
with  which  the  punishment  of 
bibling  was  administered.  It 
consisted  of  a  handle  terminated 
by  four  apple-tree  twigs. 

Underneath  is  the  place  of  execution 
where  delinquents  are  "  bibled."  It  need 
hardly  be  said  that  it  (the  rod)  is  applied 
in  the  ordinary  fashion,  six  cuts  forming 
what  is  technically  called  a  bibling,  on 
which  occasion  the  Bible-clerk  introduces 
the  victim  ;  and  four  being  the  sum  of  a 
less  terrible  operation  called  a  "scrubbing." 
— Blacl'TduoocIs  Edinburgh  Magazine. 

Biddable  (common),  docile,  obe- 
dient to  order,  tractable. 

Biddy  (Winchester  College),  a 
bath  in  college  which  was  filled 
every  morning  for  Prefects,  &c., 
by    the    junior    man    in    each 


"  gallery "  or  bed-room.  The 
origin  of  the  word  is  possibly  due 
to  the  French  bidet,  an  article 
of  bed-room  furniture  for  the 
use  of  ladies,  more  common  on 
the  Continent  than  in  Eng- 
land. (American),  an  Irish  ser- 
vant girl. 

Bidree  or  bidry  (Anglo-Indian). 
Of  late  years  all  amateurs  of 
bric-k-brac  in  England  have  be- 
come familiar  with  a  kind  of 
nieUo-work  of  sUver  patterns  on 
a  black  metal  ground  which 
comes  from  the  Deccan,  and 
which  takes  its  name  from  the 
city  of  Bidar.  This  is  bidree 
work.  The  ground  is  made  of 
three  parts  pewter  to  one  of 
copper,  which  is  inlaid  with  the 
silver,  and  the  ground  is  then 
blackened.  —  Madras  Literary 
Society  Jmii-nal,  New  Series,  i 
81-84. 

Biff  (Americanism),  to  give  a  "  biff 
in  the  jaw,"  to  strike  one  in  the 
face.  In  England  to  "  fetch 
you  a  wipe  in  the  mug,"  or 
"  give  you  a  bang  in  the  chops," 
are  choice.  Biff  is  from  the 
provincial  English  befet  or  buffet, 
a  blow  ;  old  French  bufet.  Pos- 
sibly Anglo-Saxon  hifjan,  to 
•shake. 

Biffin  (popular),  "my  biffin"  is  a 
friendly  appellation. 

"Ain't  that  up  to  Dick,  my  biffin?"  "  I 
never  said  it  warn't." — /.  Greenwood: 
Under  the  Blue  Blanket. 

Big^  as  all  out  o'  doors,  a  hu- 
morous  Americanism   for  any- 


112 


Big-bird — Big  fellow. 


thing  unusually  or  abnormally 
large. 

The  infamal  villain  !  Tell  me  who  he  is, 
and  if  he  was  as  big  as  all  out-doors  I'd 
walk  into  him. 

He  is  looking  as  big  as  all  out-doors 
jist  now,  and  is  waitin'  for  us  to  come  to 
him. 

— Sam  Slick :  The  Clockmaker. 

Big-bird  (theatrical),  to  "get  the 
big-bird,"  to  be  hissed.  The  bird 
is  supposed  to  be,  and  is  very 
often,  a  goose.  French  actors 
call  hissing  "  appeler  Azor," 
this  being  the  usual  name  for 
a  dog. 

Big  bugs  (American),  an  expres- 
sion for  great  people,  people  of 
consequence,  aristocrats.  Bart- 
lett  thinks  that  this  word  sug- 
gests some  anecdote  which 
would  be  "  worth  finding  out." 
There  is  no  lack  in  American 
newspapers  of  anecdotes  ex- 
plaining the  origin  of  popular 
phrases,  but  unfortunately  about 
ninety-nine  in  a  himdred  of 
them  are  what  Germans  call 
Nachwerk,  manufactured  after- 
wards by  some  ingenious  hu- 
mourist to  suit  the  case.  The 
following,  which  is  of  recent 
origin,  might  easily  pass  for 
one  of  these  valuable  originals. 
Those  which  have  already  ap- 
peared on  Chestnut,  sworn  to  by 
as  many  authorities  as  those 
cited  by  Autolycus,  would  fill  a 
chapter. 

It  puts  me  in  mind  of  a  story  once 
heard  from  an  old  man.  He  was  speaking 
of  a  rich  neighbour  who  was  going  for  the 
first  time  to  New  Orleans.  "  Yes,"  he 
said,   "  Mr.   Jones   is  a  mighty  big   man 


round  here,  but  he  won't  stand  a  chance 
to  shine  down  there.  He'll  be  like  the 
bug  who  lived  on  a  pumpkin,  and  because 
he  was  twice  as  big  as  any  other  bug  round 
there,  he  allowed  he  was  the  largest  insect 
on  earth.  But  one  day  there  came  two  or 
three  of' them  big  gold  beetles,  and  lit  on 
the  pumpkin  in  all  their  original  splendour, 
and  Mr.  Pumpkin  Bug  jest  turned  pale  and 
crawled  down  underneath.  "  Children," 
says  he,  "  I  wouldn't  hev  thought  it,  but 
there's  bigger  bugs  in  the  world  than  what 
I  be  !  " — Queer  Bits. 

While   my  wife  goes  out   washin',   an 

cleanin'  big  bug  houses, 
I'll  have  a  shop  down-town  for  renovatin' 

trousers. — A  Bootblacks  Soliloquy. 

In  the  Australian  lingo  big 
bugs  has  also  the  meaning  of 
man  of  importance. 

"  What's  your  brother  doing  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  he's  an  awful  big  bug  now.  The 
Minister  of  Railways  has  got  him  a  billet 
in  the  Civil  Service." 

"  What's  the  billet  ?  " 

"Railway-porter  at  Lai  Lai."  —  Vic- 
torian Comic  Paper. 

Big  country  (sport),  the  open 
countrj'. 

In  the  roomy  stalls  of  the  stables  you 
make  the  acquaintance  of  Donative,  who 
bore  his  lord  and  master  to  victory  over 
three  miles  of  big  country. — The  IVorld. 

Big  dog  with  a  brass  collar,  the, 

the  principal  or  head  of  a  con- 
cern, or  the  biggest  "  wig"  of  a 
place. 

Big  fellow  (AustraUan  Blackf el- 
low's  lingo),  large,  a  quantity ; 
a  specimen  of  the  pidgin  Eng- 
lish stuffed  with  Blackfellow's 
words  used  by  the  whites  on 
stations  in  their  intercourse  with 
the  aborigines. 


Biggin — Big  mouth. 


113 


"  Too  much  big  fellow  water,  bait  (ply) 
fly  come  up  bait  pind  (find)  him,"  answers 
the  aboriginal,  adding,  however,  the  ques- 
tion, ' '  You  patter  potchum  ?  "  (eat  possum). 
—A.  C.  Grant. 

Biggfin  (Winchester,  &c.),  a  coffee- 
pot consisting  of  two  parts — a 
strainer,  and  a  coffee-pot. 

"  It  is  very  odd,"  said  Hatton  to  his 
companion  Morley,  "you  can't  get  coffee 
anywhere."  Morley,  who  had  supposed 
that  coffee  was  about  the  commonest  article 
of  consumption  in  Mowbray,  looked  a  little 
surprised ;  but  at  this  moment  Hatton's 
servant  entered  with  a  mysterious  yet  some- 
what triumphant  air,  and  ushering  in  a 
travelling  biggin  of  their  own,  fuming  like 
one  of  the  springs  of  Geyser.  "  Now  try 
that,"  said  Hatton  to  Morley,  as  the  ser- 
vant poured  him  out  a  cup. — Disraeli: 
Sybil. 

Biggity  (American),  large,  extra- 
vagant, grand,  presumptuously. 

Well,  den,  w'iles  dey  wuz  all  a-settin' 
dar,  en  de  'lasses  wuz  a  bilin'  en  a  blub- 
berin',  dey  got  ter  runnin'  on,  talkin' 
mighty  biggity. —  Uncle  Remus. 

Big  guns  (common),  men  of  im- 
portance, great  people. 

M.  Coquelin  has  been  feted,  feasted, 
and  generally  entertained  during  his  stay 
in  the  metropolis.  The  other  evening  he 
was  invited  to  meet  the  Prince  of  Wales, 
and  had  the  honour  of  supping  with  Albert 
the  Jolly,  and  a  host  of  other  big  guns. — 
Modern  Society. 

Big  head  (American),  a  term  of 
abuse,  implying  that  a  man 
is  conceited,  "bumptious;"  to 
get  the  hig  head,  to  be  in  a 
state  verging  on  intoxication, 
what  the  French  call  "  etre  al- 
lumd." 

All  the  Colonel's  tact  and  diplomacy 
were  necessary  to  preserve  peace  now.  .  .  . 


The  "  boys  "  got  the  big  head,  and  dis- 
played effervescence  scarcely  less  remark- 
able than  that  of  the  champagne  itself.— 
F.  Francis ;  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

It  signifies,  further,  the  feeling 
of  a  swelled  head,  accompanied 
by  headache  experienced  in  the 
morning  after  a  debauch,  when 
one  has  "  mal  aux  cheveux,"  as 
the  French  express  it. 

A  big  head  laden  with  cocktails  and  gin, 

Is  all  that  I  have  to  say. 
To  remind  me  of  the  whisky  that  has  all 
gone  in 
To  a  hold  that  is  not  far  away. 
As  I  sit  on  a  keg  gazing  over  the  beers. 
That  the  bums  are  all  scooping  down, 
I  pray  that  the  barkeeper  may  have  no 
fears. 
For  in  whisky  I'll  never  be  drowned. 
— Chicago  Tribune :  Dear  Boys,  Come 
and  Have  a  Drink. 

Big  house  (costermongers),  the 
workhouse. 

As  long  as  they  kept  out  of  the  big  house 
she  would  not  complain.  .  .  .  The  men 
hate  the  thought  of  going  to  the  big  house. 
— London  Labour  a?id  the  London  Poor. 

Big  Injun  (American),  a  term  ap- 
plied at  first  by  the  red  Indians 
to  indicate  some  great  chief. 

"  He  big  Injun — he  heap  big  Injun — 
he  dam  heap  big  Injun — he  mighty  dam 
big  heap  dam  big  Injun — he  Jones  1 " — 
Three  Thousand  Miles  in  a  Railway  Car. 
Philadelphia,  1869. 

Big  mouth  (American),  a  very 
common  expression  applied  to 
any  man  who  talks  too  much, 
who  is  windy,  "gassy,"  and 
given  to  bosh.  During  his 
trial  for  murder  the  wretched 
Guiteau  often  interrupted  the 
judge  by  crying  out  "  Shut  up, 
hig  mouth." 

II 


114 


Big  tints — Bildar. 


Henry  George  is  going  to  leave  New 
York  for  a  while.  He  is  probably  jealous 
of  Liberty,  whose  mouth  is  a  yard  wide. — 
Philadelphia  North  A  tnerican. 

Tliey  hev  wandered  with  their  sorrers  unto 

the  sunny  South, 
They  hev  got  tremendous  swallows,  and  a 

monstrous  lot  of  mouth. 

— Ballad  of  the  Green  Old  Man. 

Big  nuts  to  crack  (American),  a 
difficult  or  large  undertaking. 

Big  pond  (American),  the  Atlantic, 

He  (old  Clay)  is  all  sorts  of  a  boss,  and 
the  best  live  one  that  ever  cut  dirt  this  side 
of  the  big  pond,  or  t'other  side  either. — 
Sam  Slick :  The  Clockiiiaker. 

Big  pot  (common),  a  somebody, 
a  person  of  consequence. 

My  name  is  Peter  Smifkins, 
I  live  with  ma  at  Slough  ; 

I've  got  a  city  clerkship, 
.So  I'm  quite  a  big  pot  now. 

— Music  Hall  Song. 

Big  side  runs  (Rugby),  the  open 
paper  chases. 

Big  sides  (schools),  a  school  term 
for  the  practice  games  at  foot- 
ball, where  all  or  nearly  all  the 
boys  join  in.  It  was  originally 
used  at  Rugby. 

Big  take  (American),  anything 
very  much  affected  or  popular. 
A  grand  acquisition,  a  fashion, 
a  success. 

We  hear  that  certain  fragrant  and  cun- 
ningly contrived  bouquets  for  ladies  are  a 
big  take  in  New  York.  In  the  centre  of 
the  pretty  bunches  of  flowers  half-pint 
bottles  are  neatly  concealed.  The  Ixjttles 
are  filled  with  cool  refreshing  cocktails  ; 
straws  run  throuKh  the  corks,  and  as  the 
gentle  daughters  of  Kve  take  a  sniff,  they 
can  enjoy  a  "  snifter."— /^»«. 


Big,  to  look  (common),  to  assume 
an  inflated  air  or  manner.  To 
"  talk  hig,"  to  talk  in  a  boasting 
manner,  from  the  propensity 
of  very  small  men  to  assume 
"bumptious"  or  defiant  ways. 
These  expressions  have  almost 
ceased  to  be  slang. 

Big  wig  (common),  a  pompous, 
conceited  individual.     Also  ap- 
plied by  the  lower  classes  to 
those  in  a  high  station  of  life 
or    office.      Thus    a    judge    or 
nobleman  will  be  termed  a  hig 
wig.     The  word  is   used  in  a 
good-humoured,  familiar  sense. 
The  portraits  of  Holy  Bonifacius,  Bishop 
of  Budgeon,  and  all  the  defunct  big-7uigs 
of   the  college.  —  Thackeray:  Lovell  the 
lVido7ver. 

Talbot  Twysden's  dinner-table  is  large, 
and  the  guests  most  respectable.  There 
is  always  a  big-iuig  or  two  present. — 
Thackeray :   Tlu  Adventures  of  Philip. 

This  morning  he  went  up  of  his  own 
accord  afore  the  Lord  AL-iyor  or  some  of 
them  city  big-ivigs. — Dickens:  Martin 
Chuzzle^vit. 

(Nautical),  a  high  officer. 

Bikin  (gypsy),  to  sell ;  h'ikin  cngro, 
a  merchant,  or  one  who  sells. 

Bildar  or  beldars  (Anglo-Indian), 
a  term  applied  to  diggers  with 
the  spade  or  mattock  in  the  pub- 
lic works. 

Ye  lyme  is  .-xll<5  out — ye  masons  lounge 

aboute ! 
Ye  beldars  have  alle  strucke  and  are 

smoking  att  their  eese, 
Ye  brickes  are  alle  done  ! — 
Ye  kyne  are  skynne  and  bone, 
And  ye  thre.isurour  has  bolted  wyth  xii 

thousand  rupees  I 
— Anglo-Indian  Glossary:  Ye  Dreame 
of  an  K.recutiTe  F.ngineere. 


Bile — Bilking. 


115 


Bile  (old  slang),  an  old  term  used 
for  the  female  organ  of  genera- 
tion. 

Bilk  (common),  to  defraud,  to 
cheat,  to  obtain  goods  without 
paying  for  them,  to  cheat  the 
driver  of  a  hackney  carriage 
or  a  girl  from  whom  one  has 
received  the  sexual  favour;  a 
bilk,  a  deception.  The  term 
has  long  been  in  use. 

And  all  the  vile  companions  of  a  street 
Keep  a  perpetual  bawling  at  the  door : 
Who   beat   the   bawd   last  night?   who 
bilkt  the  whore  ? 

— Earl  0/  Rochester's  Works. 

I  don't  intend  to  bilk  my  lodgings. — 
Fielding:  Tom  Jones. 

But  as  upon  the  scene  I  cast 
My  wond'ring  gaze,  a  friend  went  past. 
His  nose  was  red,  he  reeled  along, 
And  when  I  asked  him  what  was  wrong, 
Strong  drink,  he  said,  was  [liic  .')  a  bilk. 
And  so  he  had  been  drinking — milk  ! 

— Scraps. 

To  "do  a  hilk,^'  to  defraud, 
specially  used  in  the  case  of 
prostitutes  who  are  cheated,  in 
the  French  slang  "  poser  un  la- 
pin."  Most  etymologists  derive 
the  word  l\lk  from  the  Gothic 
hilaikan,  to  mock,  to  deride. 

Bilk,  as  provincial  or  old  Eng- 
lish, meaning  to  cheat  or  defraud 
(Wright),  is  a  form  of  balk,  which 
has  the  same  meaning,  in  the 
sense  of  hindering  a  man  in  his 
rights.  Balk,  to  hinder,  is,  ac- 
cording to  Skeat  (Etymol.  Diet.) 
from  balk,  a  beam  or  bar ;  to 
put  a  balk  or  bar  in  a  man's 
way.  Anglo-Saxon  balea.  But 
as  English  it  is  probably  from  a 
Danish  source,  bjalka,  Old  Norse 


bialki  (Ettmiiller,  Lex.  Ang. 
Saxonicum),  which  brings  us 
directly  to  bilk. 

"  Bilking  the  blues,"  in  prison 
slang,  is  evading  the  police. 
In  society  a  man  who,  though 
never  actually  found  out,  is 
strongly  suspected  of  cheating 
at  cards,  would  be  called  a 
bilk. 

Bilker  (common),  same  meaning 
as  bilk  in  the  sense  of  cheat, 
but  specially  applied  to  rascals 
who  defraud  prostitutes  or  cab- 
men. 

A  third  and  frequent  means  of  evading 
payment  of  cab  fares  is  for  riders  late  at 
night,  or  in  the  small  hours  of  the  morn- 
ing, to  stealthily  get  out  of  the  vehicles 
in  motion,  and  then  run  off  unobserved. 
Some  of  these  malpractitioners  have  be- 
come so  skilful  in  this  action  that  they 
have  left  the  cabs  and  gently  closed  the 
door  afterwards  without  being  seen,  when 
they  were  being  driven  along  at  six  or 
seven  miles  an  hour.  In  a  few  instances 
the  more  expert  of  these  bilkers  have  even 
jumped  out  of  "hansoms"  in  dark  roads 
or  lanes  unperceived  by  their  drivers  when 
the  "two-wheelers"  have  been  running  at 
eight  or  nine  miles  an  hour. —  Tit  Bits. 

(Popular),  one  who  gets  a  bed 
at  a  lodging-house  and  does  not 
pay  for  it. 

Besides,  the  sjTnpathies  of  the  other 
lodgers  are  always  with  the  bilker,  and  if 
they  took  any  part  in  a  scuffle,  should  such 
a  thing  arise,  it  would  be  in  his  favour 
and  agninst  the  porter. —  Thor  Fredur : 
Sketches  from  Shady  Places. 

Bilking  (popular),   explained  by 

quotation. 

The  consequence  is  that  all  duties  are 
discharged  in  such  a  place  in  the  most 
slovenly  manner,  and  that  as  many  as  pos- 


ii6 


Bill— Billet. 


sible  are  shirked,  with  consequences  in  the 
way  of  bilking,  or  getting  beds  without 
paying  for  them. —  Thor  Fredur :  Sketches 
from  Shady  Places. 

Bill  (Eton),   in  the  h\R,   on  the 
punishment  list. 

Some  of  the  small  boys  whom  this  de- 
lightful youth  tempted  to  ape  his  habits, 
had  often  occasion  to  rue  it  when  they 
staggered  back  to  college  giddy  and  sick, 
carrying  with  them  a  perfume  which  told 
its  tale  to  their  tutors,  and  caused  them  to 
be  put  in  the  bill. — Brinsley  Richards  : 
Seven  Years  at  Eton. 


Bill,  a  long  or  short  (common),  a 
term  of  imprisonment. 

Out  of  prison,  Larry  I  Lord  save  me  ! 
yev've  had  a  short  bill  this  time  for  kick- 
ing a  woman. — Savage  Loudon. 

Bill  brighters  (winter),  small 
fagots  employed  in  the  kitchen 
to  light  the  fires. 

Billed  up  (army),  confined  to  bar- 
racks, a  term  peculiar  to  Her 
Majesty's  Guards,  to  whom  a 
punishment  which  curtails  free- 
dom of  movement  is  no  doubt 
especially  irksome. 

Billet  (Australian,  popular),  a  situa- 
tion. A  bUlet  is  as  universal  a 
term  for  a  situation  as  "screw " 
is  for  a  salary  in  Australia,  or 
"  bobby  "  for  policeman  in  Eng- 
land. The  metaphor  is  of  course 
taken  from  billets  or  quarters 
being  found  for  soldiers,  who 
are  then  said  to  be  "  billeted  out " 
in  military  parlance.  Thus  one 
of  the  commonest  slang  words 
in  Australia— 


Up  country  billets  oft  are  loss. 
Work  for  "tucker" — trust  the  boss. 
— Edward  Fitzgerald :  Printers' 
Proi>erbs  in  the  A  ustralasian 
Printers  Keepsal;e. 

A  gentleman  at  a  boarding- 
house  in  Parramatta,  New  South 
Wales,  in  18S3,  related  with 
great  gusto  a  curate's  biRet  in 
Northumberland  which  had  just 
come  under  his  notice.  The 
vicar  was  away  travelling  round 
the  world  for  his  health,  and  the 
curate,  a  Cambridge  graduate, 
received  the  magnificent  stipend 
of  ;i^  1 20  a  year  for  looking  after 
the  church  services,  the  parish, 
the  vicar's  wife  and  five  children, 
and  two  puj^ils  cramming  for 
matriculation. 

Billet  is  used  in  England  with 
a  like  signification.  In  prisorus 
"getting  a  billet"  is  being  ap- 
pointed to  some  ofiice  which 
procures  certain  advantages  for 
the  convict  who  is  fortunate 
enough  "to  receive  the  favour. 

Some  time  later  on  I  renewed  my  ac- 
quaintance  with   P under  difficulties 

which  were  not  altogether  insurmountable, 
and  as  he  walked  behind  me  in  the  exer- 
cise ground,  he  told  me  the  story  of  his 
commercial  career.  Being  a  "  communion 
bloke"  and  a  "good  character"  man,  he 
soon  got  a  billet.  He  was  enrolled  amongst 
the  "  cleanerSj"  and  promoted  to  be  the 
"chaplain's  orderly,"  which  was  the  only 
billet  I  wished  to  obtain  for  myself.  He 
secured  it,  and  on  a  Sunday  solemnly 
marched  up  the  ])ulpit  stairs  to  open  the 
Rible  or  Prayer  Hook,  and  fix  therein  at 
the  proper  places  the  hymns  and  anthems 
to  be  sung  by  the  congregation.  This  was 
his  Sunday's  duty. — Evening  Ncivs. 

(Old  military  slang),  hiilet,  ap- 
l)ointed  place  or  aim.  "  f^vcry 
bullet  has  its  hillel.^' 


Billiard — Billy-  hunting. 


117 


Billiard  slum,  the  (Australian  con- 
victs' slang),  false  pretences. 
Probably  introduced  into  Aus- 
tralia by  the  convicts  transported 
thither.  To  "  give  on  the  billiard 
slum,"  to  "mace"  or  "give 
upon  the  mace,"  i.e.,  to  obtain 
goods  on  credit  which  you  never 
mean  to  pay  for,  to  run  up  a 
score  with  the  same  intention, 
or  to  sponge  upon  your  acquain- 
tance by  continually  begging 
or  borrowing  from  them  (Vaux's 
Memoirs).  To  parallel  the  pun 
between  "  mace  "  and  billiard 
slum,  cf.  "bolt-in-tun,"  "cob- 
bler," &c.  Slang,  and  especially 
thieves'  slang,  is  very  addicted 
to  these  puns. 

Billingsgate  pheasant  (common), 
a  red  herring  or  bloater,  other- 
wise known  under  the  appella- 
tion of  "Yarmouth  capon"  or 
"  two-eyed  steak." 

Bill  of  sale  (old  slang),  widows' 
weeds. 


he  goes  so  far  as  having  a  bit  of 
mackintosh  sheeting  outside  the 
blanket  to  keep  it  dry.  He  will 
be  seen  "humping"  (carrying) 
these  on  the  hottest  day. 

So  much  for  our  hero  !     A  statuesque  foot 
Would  suffer  by  wearing  that  heavy  nailed 
boot — 

Its  owner  is  hardly  Achilles  : 
However,  he's  happy.     He  cuts  a  great 

"fig" 
In  a  land  where  a  coat  is  no  part  of  the 
rig. 

In  the  country  of  ''damper"  and 

billies. 
—Dr.  Kendall:  Tim  the  Splitter. 

Billy  boy  (nautical),  a  Yorkshire 
vessel,  with  one  mast. 

Bill y-b u t to n  (thieves'  slang), 
rhyming  slang  for  mutton  ;  also 
a  contemptuous  term  for  a  young 
journeyman  tailor. 

Billy  buzman  (thieves),  a  pick- 
pocket who  confines  his  atten- 
tion exclusively  to  silk  handker- 
chiefs. 


Billy  (Scotch),  a  silk  handerchief, 
also  used  by  thieves ;  (common), 
a  policeman's  stall ;  (thieves), 
stolen  metal ;  (New  Zealand  and 
Australia),  a  saucepan.  In  the 
Bush,  everything — tea,  soup,  or 
anything  else — is  boiled  in  the 
hillij,  a  tin  saucepan  with  a 
wire  poop-handle  to  carry  it  by. 
The  sundowner  or  swagman, 
tramping  the  country  in  search 
of  work,  invariably  carries  this 
billy  and  a  blanket.  In  the 
latter  all  his  worldly  goods  are 
usually  strapped  up  ;  sometimes 


Billycock  (Australian),  a  kind  of 
hat.  The  billycock  is  a  low, 
round,  hard-felt  hat  with  a 
turned-up  brim.  Hotten  de- 
scribes it  as  a  soft  felt  hat  of 
the  Jim  Crow  or  "  wide-awake  " 
description. 

Billy-fencer  (popular),  a  marine- 
store  dealer, 

Billy-hunting  (popular),  buying 
old  metal ;  one  of  the  occupa- 
tions of  a  "  billy-fencer "  or 
marine-store  dealer.     (Thieves), 


Ii8 


Billy-siink — Binge. 


going  out  for  the  purpose  of 
stealing  pocket-handkerchiefs. 

Billy-stink  (Anglo-Indian),  a  name 
given  by  Europeans  in  India  to 
the  vile  liquids  of  native  manu- 
facture sold  in  the  bazaars. 

Billy-stink  is  the  very  appropriate  name 
given  by  Europeans  to  one  of  those 
maddening  native  compounds.  It  would 
indeed  be  very  hard  to  say  what  the  com- 
ponent properties  of  this  very  highly- 
flavoured  fluid  consist  of.  .  .  .  When 
drinking  any  of  the  odoriferous  mixture  it 
is  a  common  thing  for  individuals  to  press 
the  apertures  pertaining  to  their  nasal  ap- 
pendage between  thumb  and  forefinger. — 
Brunlees  Patterson :  Life  in  the  Ranks. 

Bims,  bimshise  (West  Indian). 
Barbadoes  and  its  inhabitants  are 
so  nicknamed  throughout  the 
West  Indies.  A  recent  traveller 
hazards  the  following  ingenious 
explanation — which  if  not  true 
ought  to  be  so — of  these  terms, 
which  are  confessedly  obscure 
in  their  derivation.  "  Barbadoes 
is  known  all  the  world  over  as 
the  little  island  that  pays  her 
way ;  it  has  never  been  con- 
quered ;  its  people  are  enter- 
prising and  energetic,  go-ahead 
and  driving  ;  in  short,  the 
business  men  of  these  islands 
(the  Caribbees).  Barbadian  may 
therefore  be  said  to  mean  a 
man  with  '  go '  and  grit,  energy 
and  vim." 

^ing  (g}Tsy)>  the  devil ;  (old  cant) 
a  liquor  shop,  as  a  rum  bing ; 
to  bing,  to  go,  to  attack,  shoot. 

"  Could  you  not  have  turned  him  on  !iis 
back   like  a  turtle,  and  left  him  there?" 


said  Lord  Etherington.  "And  had  an 
ounce  of  lead  in  my  body  for  my  pains? 
No,  no !  we  have  already  had  footpad 
work  enough.  1  promise  you  the  old  buck 
was  armed  as  if  he  meant  to  iing^  folks 
on  the  low  toby." — Scott:  St.  Ronan's 
IVell. 

Bing  avast  (old  cant  derived 
from  gypny),  an  angry  command 
to  be  off,  meaning  literally,  "  go 
to  the  devil."  Beng  English 
gypsy ;  Scottish  gypsy  binff, 
meaning  the  devil,  and  avast  irom 
avdva  second  present  indicative 
and  imperative,  avdsa  or  avissa 
"thou  goest,"  or  "go  thou." 
Full  form,  bin<j  avas  tu  !  or  awaste. 
It  is  probable  that  in  Harman's 
vocabulary  a  is  by  accident  sepa- 
rated from  wad.  Bin//,  the  devil, 
is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the 
same  word  in  "  to  bi}ifj  out,"  in 
old  cant,  nor  avast  with  avast, 
in  its  other  meaning.  It  is 
probable  that  those  who  made 
the  old  cant,  having  learned 
from  gypsies  that  bini/  ai-ast 
meant  "go  to  the  devil,"  con- 
sidered that  binj  meant  "  go  " 
or  "come"  a  distance,  and  used 
it  as  such. 

Binf^  o\xt,  bien  morts  and  toure. 
For  all  your  duds  are  hinged  awast. 
— Old  Song,  1560. 

Binge  (Oxford),  a  big  drinking 
bout.  To  bimjc  is  a  provincialism 
for  to  soak  a  vessel  in  water  to 
prevent  its  leaking.  It  is  also  a 
nautical  term  meaning  to  rinse 
a  cask.  This  word  seems  to  be 
connected  with  bung,  the  orilice 
in  the  bilge  of  a  cask,  througli 
wliicli  it  is  filled. 


Bingo — Birdcage. 


119 


Bingo    (old    cant),    probably    of 
gypsy  origin.    Spirits  or  brandy. 

Pass  round  the  bingo,  son  of  a  gun, 
You  musty,  dusky,  husky  son  ! 
— Lord  Lytton  :  Paul  Clifford. 

Some  soda-water,  with  a  dash  of  bingo, 
clears  one's  head  in  the  morning. — T. 
Hughes :  Tom  Brown  at  Oxford. 

"  Bingo  boy,"  a  drunkard  ; 
"  bingo  mort,"  female  dram- 
drinker. 

£ing  (gypsy),  the  devU,  an  evil 
spirit,  probably  suggested  the 
word.  Puns  on  spirit  in  its 
twofold  meaning  have  always 
been  common  both  in  English 
and  gypsy.  Bengalopani  (gypsy) , 


Bing^  (trade),  a  term  largely  used 
in  the  butter  trade  to  denote 
bad,  ropy  butter  (Hotten). 

Binnacle-word  (nautical),  any 
learned  or  affected  word  used 
in  the  navy,  which  the  sailors 
jeeringly  offer  to  chalk  upon 
the  binnacle. 

Binni  (tinker),  small ;  hinny  soolli, 
a  boy  ;  lit. ,  small  man. 

Birch  broom  (thieves),  rhyming 
slang  for  room. 

Birdcage,  a  slang  term  in  vogue 
among  the  lower  orders  for  a 
bustle,  or  in  more  modern  slang  a 
' '  dress-improver."  This  part  of 
a  lady's  toilet  is  a  kind  of  pad  or 
cushion  worn  at  the  back  of  the 
dress  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
panding the  skirts,  and,  in  some 
cases,    making   up   for   certain 


deficiencies  in  the  wearer's  form. 
Those  now  in  fashion  are  im- 
mensely elongated  structures, 
little  suggestive  of  the  human 
form ;  some  are  built  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  old  crinoline,  with 
wire  or  steel  ribs,  hence  the  ap- 
pellation of  birdcage. 

She  was  walking  in  her  hest  clothes  on 
Bank  Holiday,  when  a  crossing  sweeper 
knocked  up  against  her,  and  being  a  per- 
fect lady  she  was  all  over  his  chevy  before 
he'd  time  to  turn  round,  and  they  took 
her  by  the  chignon  and  the  birdcage  and 
waltzed  her  into  Vine  Street  quicker  than 
a  wink. — Sporting  Times. 

Me  and  Jane  was  at  Greenwich  last 
week.  The  hill's  very  nice,  but  Jane  quite 
spiled  her  birdcage  rollin'  down.  A  new 
dress,  too. — Ally  Sloper's  Half-Holiday. 

Not  long  ago  there  was  an 
action  relating  to  patents  in  the 
High  Court  of  Justice.  The 
court  was  strewn  with  various 
specimens  of  these  articles,  and 
considerable  amusement  was 
caused  by  the  spectacle  of  a 
judge  and  several  leading  coun- 
sel arguing  gravely  on  the  in- 
tricacies of  the  various  designs 
for  dress-improvers.  The  judge, 
after  looking  at  several  designs, 
said,  "  I  hope  you  are  going  to 
produce  another  of  these  ar- 
ticles, Mr. ,  which  I  do  not 

see  here.  It  is  called  the  Jubi- 
lee ...  it  is  one  which,  when 
a  lady  sits  down,  plays  the 
'  National  Anthem.'  "  An  old 
lawyer  would  have  his  feeble 
joke,  too,  and  remarked  that  he 
had  attended  the  sittings  of  the 
court  for  many  years,  but  that 
never  had  he  witnessed  so  much 
"  bustle." 


I20 


Birdcage — Bishop's  foot. 


(Racing),  the  saddling  pad- 
dock adjoining  the  Grand  Stand 
at  Newmarket.  (Popular),  a 
four  -  wheeled  cab,  otherwise 
known  by  the  appropriate  ap- 
pellation of  "  growler." 

Bird-lime  (thieves),  rhyming  slang 
for  time. 


(popular),   a   handker- 


Birdseye 

chief. 

Were  they  lurking  at  this  secluded  spot 
until  what  they  thought  was  a  good  time 
to  sheer  off  with  the  "  swag  "  ?  Was  that 
the  swag  tied  up  in  the  blue  birdseyef — 
J.  Greenwood :  In  Strange  Company. 

Bird's  eye  fogle,  a  (prize-fighters), 
the  name  of  a  scarf  tied  round 
their  waists  by  prize-fighters  in 
the  ring ;  a  neckerchief  or  hand- 
kerchief with  white  spots  on  a 
black,  blue,  or  other  ground. 
Fogle,  from  the  German  vogd,  a 
bird. 

Bird's  eye  wipe  (common),  a  ker- 
chief, either  for  the  pocket  or 
neck,  with  blue  spots  on  it. 

Birk  (back  slang),  a  "crib,"  i.e., 
house. 

Birthday  suit  (common),  the  suit 
of  our  first  parents  before  they 
had  a  bite  in  the  apple. 

Bish  (Anglo-Indian),  poison  ;  San- 
skrit, %-ls1ia,  poison. 

An  old  English  gypsy  once  asked  me 
if  1  knew  what  beesa  meant.  He  said  it 
was  a  kind  of  poison  made  from  beans.  I 
recognised  in  it  at  once  an  Indian  word 
for  poison,  especially  aconite. 


Bishop  (horse-dealers),  to  bishop  a 
horse  is  a  swindling  contrivance 
resorted  to  in  order  to  deceive 
buyers  as  to  its  age.  An  old 
horse  has  no  black  streaks  on 
his  teeth,  and  by  some  process 
these  are  made  to  appear  ;  from 
a  north  of  England  term.  See 
Bishop's  foot. 

(Common),  the  chamber  uten- 
sil or  •'  Jordan  ; "  also,  lat- 
terly, an  "  it."  The  last  is  de- 
rived from  the  humorous  de- 
scription of  Max  O'Rell  in 
"John  Bull's  Womankind,"  p. 
».S:— 

"  Better  still,  would  you  believe  that  in 
very  good  houses  I  have  seen,  and  very 
plainly  too,  .  .  .  ye^,  positively,  I  have 
seen  lion  the  floor  under  the  washstand?" 

Bishop's  court.  In  most  Austra- 
lian sees  the  bishop's  palace  is 
called  bishop's  court.  Perhaps 
palaces  are  considered  unsuit- 
able for  democratic  commu- 
nities ;  just  as  it  is  not  correct 
to  address  a  colonial  bishop  as 
"my  lord."  In  practice,  how- 
ever, they  arc  always  addressed 
"  my  lord."  Not  to  do  so  would 
be  an  incivility. 

Bishop's  foot,  to  bishop  (Low- 
land Scotch  and  North  of  Eng- 
land), the  devil's  foot.  Milk 
burned  in  the  pan  is,  in  the 
North  of  England,  said  to  be 
bishoped.  In  Fifeshire  the 
expression  is  applied  to  food 
tliat  has  been  scorched  in  cook- 
ing or  otherwise  spoiled — "  </tc 
bishop's  foot's  in  it."  The  bisliop 
means  the  devil,  and  the  saying 


Bisser — Bitch  party. 


121 


is  probably  a  relic  of  the  times 
of  the  Keformation,  when  in 
Scotland  everything  connected 
with  prelacy  was  considered  to 
be  bad, 

Bisser  (gypsy),  to  forget. 

Bit  (American),  correctly  the  old 
Spanish  "  real,"  equal  to  twelve 
and  a  half  cents,  or  about  six- 
pence. In  England  the  now 
seldom  seen  fourpenny- piece 
was  called  a  fourpenny-6ii,  also 
a  "joey,"  from  the  late  Joseph 
Hume,  M.P.,  who  extolled  its 
convenience  in  a  speech  which 
he  made  in  Parhament.  In 
Pennsylvania  the  "real"  was 
called  an  elevenpenny-iii, — hit 
being  a  translation  of  the 
Spanish  "peso,"  a  piece  or  bit 
(as  it  was  popularly  understood), 
and  signified  any  coin.  Since 
this  Spanish  and  Mexican 
money  was  withdrawn  from 
circulation  the  term  lit  is 
applied  to  the  "dime."  The 
"  medio  "  or  "  half-real "  was  in 
Philadelphia  called  a  fippenny- 
hit  (fivepenny),  which  was  ab- 
breviated to  "  fip,"  as  "  eleven- 
penny-6i<"  became  contracted 
to  "levy."  This  old  Spanish 
currency  became  so  worn  that 
the  "  levy,"  which  was  legally 
worth  twelve  and  a  half  cents, 
often  weighed  less  than  the  ten- 
cent  silver  piece  or  "dime," 
and  it  was  said  that  boys  were 
in  the  habit  of  filing  down 
and  smoothing  the  latter  so 
as  to  make  them  pass  for  the 
former. 


A  Philadelphian  is  always  stylish  and 
fashionable  when  he  owns  twelve  and  a 
half  cents,  for  then  he  can  always  hold  a 
levy  (levee).  —  Vanity  Fair,  i86i. 

(West  Indian),  a  hit  is  a  four- 
penny  piece.  In  Demerara  the 
negroes  make  this  one  of  their 
units  of  calculation.  Thus  a 
shilling  is  three  hits,  and  so 
on. 

(Popular),  fourpence. 

Bitch,  to  (old  slang),  to  give  way 
through  fear.  The  primary 
meaning  is  to  sport.  (Common), 
"to  be"  or  "to  stand  hitch," 
from  the  gypsy  bitcher  or  hitch, 
to  send  away,  let  go,  or  yield. 

"Don't  bitcher  it  because  you're  at- 
rash" — "Don't  let  it  go  because  you're 
afraid." 

To  assume  a  woman's  functions 
in  making  tea,  presiding  at  the 
table,  &c. 

Bitchadey-pawdel  (gypsy),  trans- 
ported. 

Bitch  booby  (old  military  slang), 
a  country  girl. 

Bitcher  (gypsy),  to  send.  Hence 
to  order  or  command.  Bitcher- 
tng  kirs,  police  or  assize-courts. 
See  To  Bitch. 

Bitcherin  mush  (gypsy),  a  magis- 
trate. 

Bitcher-pawdel  (gypsy),  to  trans- 
port. 

Bitch  party  (university),  tea  party; 
only  suitable  for  women  in  the 


122 


Biter — Bite. 


minds  of  the  coiners  of  this 
irreverent  expression.  "Will 
you  be  old  hitch  ?  "  means  "  Will 
you  make  tea  1 " 

Biter  (old),  a  woman  of  inordinate 
sexual  desires. 

Bite  the  ear,  to  (prison  slang), 
to  borrow.  "  I  bit  his  ear  for 
three  and  a  sprat " — I  borrowed 
3s.  6d.  of  him. 

Bite  the  roger,  to  (thieves),  to 
steal  a  portmanteau. 

Bite  the  •wiper,  to  (thieves),  to 
steal  a  pocket-handkerchief. 

Bite,  to  (common),  to  take  in,  im- 
pose on,  cheat,  over-reach  in  any 
way.  Hotten  says  this  is  a 
gypsy  term,  but  does  not  prove 
it.  "  Cross-bite,  for  a  cheat, 
constantly  occurs  in  the  writers 
of  the  sixteenth  century.  Bailey 
has  cross-bite,  a  disappointment, 
probably  the  primary  sense,  and 
bite  is  very  probably  a  contrac- 
tion of  this."  It  is  much  more 
probably  derived  from  the  Dutch 
buiten,  which  in  slang  means, 
according  to  Teirlinck,  to  buy, 
or  trade,  and  which  is  more 
accurately  defined  by  Ghcrard 
van  der  Scheuren  {Teuthonista 
oft  Duytdender,  1475-77)  as 
"  Buy  ten,  we.sselen  mangeln, 
cuyden  ;  <u,yscAcn-cambire,  per- 
mutare,"  &c.  These  words  all 
mean  to  trade,  exchange,  or 
barter  ;  but  tinjschen  indicates 
cheating,  or  swindling  ;  com- 
bining the  force  of  the  analo- 


gous German  words  tauschen,  to 
exchange  or  trade,  and  tduscJien, 
to  deceive.  Hotten  also  says 
that  bite  is  a  north  country 
word  for  a  hard  bargain  (used 
by  Pope),  and  that  Swift  tells 
us  that  it  originated  with  a 
nobleman  in  his  day.  Accord- 
ing to  Sewel's  Dictionary,  buit 
is  booty,  spoil,  pillage  ;  buiten, 
among  other  meanings,  has  "to 
go  out  to  pillage,"  and  "  zich  te 
buyten  gaan  "  {i.e.,  to  go  out,  or 
away,  or  too  far)  is  "to  be  ex- 
orbitant." When  we  remember 
that  byten  means  in  Dutch  to 
bite,  and  buyten  (which  has  al- 
most the  same  pronunciation) 
to  bargain  ■with  all  the  associa- 
tions of  deceit  and  plunder,  it 
seems  much  more  probable  that 
bite,  a  hard  bargain,  or  bite,  to 
cheat,  came  from  the  Low 
Countries  direct,  than  from  an 
English  word  signifying  "  dis- 
appointment."— C.  G.  L. 

Bite  was  formerly  used  as  an 
interjection  equivalent  to  the 
modern  expression  "  sold  !  " 
There  is  a  story  of  a  man  sen- 
tenced to  the  gallows  who  sold 
his  body  to  a  surgeon.  .  .  . 

It  is  a  superstition  with  some  surgeons 
who  beg  the  bodies  of  condemned  male- 
factors, to  go  to  the  gaol  and  bargain  for 
the  carcass  with  the  criminal  himself.  .  .  . 
The  fellow  who  killed  the  officer  of  New- 
gate, very  forwardly,  and  like  a  man  who 
was  willing  to  deal,  told  him,  "  Look  you, 
Mr.  Surgeon,  that  little  dry  fellow,  who 
h.is  been  half-starved  all  his  life,  and  is 
now  half-dead  with  fear,  cannot  answer 
your  purpose.  .  .  .  Come,  for  twenty 
shillings  I  am  your  man."  Says  the 
surgeon,  "Done,  there's  a  guinea."  'I'his 
witty  rogue  took  the  money,  and  as  soon 


Bite — Bitter. 


123 


as  he  had  it  in  his  fist,  cries,  "  Bite,  I  am 
to  be  hanged  in  chains." — Spectator,  No. 
504. 

Bite  up  (tailors),  an  unpleasant 
altercation. 

Bit-faker  (thieves'  slang),  a  coiner 
or  forger  of  false  money.  To 
"fake"  is  probably  the'  Latin 
facio,  which  has  many  meanings 
besides  its  primary  meanings  of 
"make"  and  "do."  It  may 
also  be  a  form  of  the  gypsy  her, 
which  has  the  same  significa- 
tions. A  hit-faker  would,  there- 
fore, be  a  maker  of  money  (bit). 

Bit-fakingf  (thieves'  slang),  coin- 
ing or  forging  money. 

Bitingf  his  hips  (tailors),  regret- 
ting what  he  has  done  or  said. 

Biting  up  (tailors),  grieving  for 
something  lost  or  gone. 

Biting  your  name  in  (popular), 
taking  a  large  draught  of  some 
liquor,  drinking  deep  or  greedily. 

Bit  of  blood,  a  spirited  horse  that 
has  some  blood. 

Bit  of  cavalry,  a  saddle  horse. 

Bit  of  leaf  (prison),  a  small  quan- 
tity of  tobacco. 

The  same  rigid  rule  is  in  force  at  Port- 
land. I  suppose  it  is  because  the  convicts 
almost  to  a  man  set  such  a  high  value  on 
a  bit  of  leaf,  regarding  it  as  the  greatest 
luxury  of  their  lives,  that  the  authorities 
are  so  severe  in  their  endeavours  to  keep 
it  from  them.  But  they  get  it  for  all  that. 
— J.  Greenwood:  Gaol  Birds  at  Large. 


Bit  of  mutton  (common),  a  nice 
woman,  generally  in  a  question- 
able sense. 

Bit  on,  a  (common),  slightly  in- 
toxicated- 

The  gallant  captain  was  a  bit  on.  He 
wanted  to  make  some  purchases  there  and 
then. — Sporting  Times. 

Bit  of  sticks  (sporting),  a  copse. 

The  form  of  the  master,  his  white  head, 
who  bends 
With  his  fine  old  school  air,  deferential 
and  courtly. 
As  his  hand  to  our  Belle's  tiny  boot- 
tip  he  lends. 
"  Boots  and  saddles  "  the  word  is : — and 
ye  who  would  follow 
For  a  last  stirrup-cup  loiter  not  nor 
delay ! 
For  from  yon  bit  of  sticks  will  ere  long 
the  view-holloa 
Ring  the  rise  of  the  curtain,  the  start 
of  the  play. 

— Sporting  Times. 

Bit  of  stuff  (familiar),  over- 
dressed man ;  a  man  with  full 
confidence  in  his  appearance 
and  ability.  A  young  woman 
of  dissolute  life,  who  is  also 
called  a  "bit  of  muslin." 

(Common),  a  draft  or  bill  of 
exchange. 

I  am  sorry  that  bit  of  stuff  {mtsmng  the 
bill)  wasn't  for  five  thousand  francs. — 
Lever :  Tlie  Dodd  Family  Abroad. 

Bits  of  stiff  (popular),  bank  notes. 

Bitter  (general),  to  "  do  a  bitter," 
to  have  a  glass  of  bitter  ale. 
Originally  an  Oxford  term. 

Into  the  "  Cri."  of  an  evening  I  slip, 
And    into  the  cool   sparkling  bitter  I 
dip. 

— Music  Hall  Song. 


124 


Bitto — Black-and-tan. 


Bitto,  bitti  (gypsy),  a  bit,  a  little, 
small,  little.  A  hitto  mush,  a 
smaU  man ;  bitti  dlr,  fainter, 
lower  (voice),  less,  smaller; 
hitti  mullos  or  mHUeys,  goblins, 
fairies. 

Bivvy,  piwy  (provincial),  a  drink, 
beer ;  a  shant  of  bivvy,  a  pot  of 
beer ;  a  diminutive  of  beverage, 
or  from  the  gjpsjpiava  or  biava, 
to  drink ;  pivo,  beer  in  Bohemian 
or  Czech.  In  French  cant  pivois 
is  wine. 


mugs  ! — and  their  black  and  red  flags 
let  'em  carry ; 
But  wen  they  are  next  on  the  job  they  will 
'ave  to  look  wide-oh  I  for  'Arry. 

— Putich. 

In  theatrical  language  the  biz 
is  the  acting,  performing  a  part. 

And,  when  you  come  to  Covent  G.,  it  also 

may  be  said, 
That  Horace  Lennard's  book  b  good,  and 

worthy  to  be  read  ; 
That  Squire  and  those  are  funny  chaps 

that  Fanny  Leslie's  "great," 
And  Joseph  Cave,  in  all  the  biz,  is  smart 

and  up  to  date. 

— Punch. 


B 1  y  e  g'h  i  n  (tinker),  stealing ; 
hiyegh',  to  steal ;  biyegh'  th'eenik, 
to  steal  the  thing. 

Biz  (English  and  American), 
business. 

"  They  manage  these  things  better  in 
France,"  said  Gub,  on  the  Caffarel  affair. 
"  It's  all  very  well  to  sneer  at  'decorated 
tailors,'  but  I  think  if  you  can  do  it,  to 
pay  your  tailor  with  a  decoration  is  dashed 
good  Hz.     I  think  I  shall  try  it  on." 

"  What'U  you  decorate  him  with?" 
asked  Rootytooty,  who  takes  a  lively  in- 
terest in  these  matters,  and  believes  muchly 
in  an  editor's  ability  to  benefit  his  fellow- 
men. 

"Oh,"  replied  Gub,  "I  shall  try  him 
with  the  Order  of  the  Boot." — Sporting 


It  also   means   any   kind   of 
occupation. 

'i'hat  v/asn't  my  day  for  being  in  the 
target  /liz,  and  I  flopped  flat  as  a  pan- 
cake.— /Iniericcin  N ewspaper. 

'Jo  bonnet  a  lot  of  old  blokes  and  make 
petticoats  squeal  is  good  liz, 

lUit  a  Crusher's  'ard  knuckles  a  crunching 
ycr  scrag?  .No,  I'm  blowcd  if  that  is  1 

Let  'cm  Awarni  "  in  their  thousands" — the 


B.  K.  S.  (officers),  barracks,  used 
specially  among  officers  in  mufti, 
who  wish  to  preserve  the  in- 
cognito. 

Blab  (common),  to  talk  incon- 
siderately, to  let  secrets  slip 
out,  betray  ;  Dan.  blahbrc,  to 
babble. 

"  He  has  not  peached  so  far,"  said  the 
Jew.  .  .  .  "  If  he  means  X.oblai  us  among 
his  new  friends,  we  may  slap  his  mouth 
yet." — CliarUs  Dickens:  Oliver  Twist. 

Among  the  many  modes  of  tormenting 
practised  by  the  ordinary  woman  of  society, 
one  of  the  worst  is  her  habit  of  blid'Hng, 
or  repeating  to  one  dear  friend  the  things 
that  have  been  lately  said  and  done  by 
another  dear  friend. — Saturday  Review. 

Black-and-tan  (street),  half-and- 
half,  porter  and  ale  mixed. 
(American),  applied  to  black  and 
brown  terriers.  A  mulatto,  a 
mi.xture  of  mulattoes  and  blacks. 
During  the  Civil  War  tlie  South 
was  called  the  black  -  ai\d  -  tan 
country,  from  the  planters  "  tan- 
ning "  or  boating  tlieir  slaves. 


Black  arse — Black  bracelets. 


125 


Black  arse  (common),  a  kettle  or 
pot. 

Black  art  (old  cant),  the  art  of 
picking  locks. 

Blackball  (society),  means  to 
vote  against  a  man  for  election 
for  a  club,  &c.,  by  ballot.  The 
expression  was  derived  from  the 
once  prevalent  custom  at  club 
elections  of  giving  each  voter 
a  white  and  a  black  ball ;  if  he 
wished  to  vote  for  the  election 
of  the  candidate  he  put  in  the 
white  ball,  if  otherwise,  the 
black  ball.  This  term  is  so  fre- 
quently used  that  it  has  ceased 
to  be  slang,  and  the  word 
"  piU  "  has  been  substituted. 
The  French  equivalent,  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  English,  is  hlack- 
houler. 

Blackberry  swagger  (popular),  a 
person  who  hawks  tapes  and 
bootlaces  (Hotten). 

Blackbird,  to  (colonial),  to  kidnap, 
from  the  colour  of  the  skin  of 
those  kidnapped,  such  as  negroes, 
natives  of  New  Zealand,  »S:c.  In 
the  quotation  reference  is  made 
to  "Kanakas,"  which  see. 

But  sometimes — we  are  glad  to  say  in  the 
past — iniquitoiisly  blackhirded  or  kidnap- 
ped, and  practically  sold  into  slavery. — 
Daily  Telegraph. 

Blackbird  catching  (colonial),  the 
slave  trade;  recruiting  coloured 
labourers  in  the  South  Sea 
Islands. 

Black-box  (thieves),  a  lawyer. 

My  blowen  kidded  a  bloke  into  a  panel 
crib   and  shook  him  of  his  thimble  to  put 


up  for  a  black-box,  but  it  wouldn't  fadge. 
I  took  two  stretches  of  air  and  exercise.— 
On  the  Trail. 

%,€.,  "  My  girl  enticed  a  man 
into  a  bawdy  house  (where  men 
are  robbed  by  confederates),  and 
stole  his  watch  to  procure  money 
for  a  counsel,  but  it  was  of  no 
use.  I  got  two  years  at  a  con- 
vict settlement." 

Blackboys  (up  country  Austra- 
lian), aboriginal  servants  in 
Australia.  Blackhoy  means  a 
black  who  has  become  a  servant. 
It  is  not  surprising  that  "boy" 
should  be  synonymous  with 
"  servant"  in  countries  in  whose 
infancy  free  adult  whites  could 
hardly  by  any  wages  be  induced 
to  work.  The  term  is  not  ap- 
plied to  wild  blacks. 

In  many  instances  where  two  or  three 
teams  travelled  together,  one  or  more  were 
driven  by  blackboys,  that  is  to  say,  abori- 
ginal natives ;  the  term  being  invariably 
employed  by  colonists  towards  blacks,  no 
matter  what  age  they  may  be.  These 
were  attired  similarly  to  their  white  com- 
panions in  shirt  and  trousers ;  but  the 
shirts  were  as  a  rule  of  a  more  gaudy  pat- 
tern, and  a  bright-coloured  handkerchief 
as  often  as  not  encircled  their  waists,  or 
was  bound  round  their  heads. — A.  C. 
Grant :  Bush  Life  in  Queensland. 

Black  bracelets  (old),  handcuffs. 

When  the  turnkey  next   morning  stepp'd 
into  his  room. 

The  sight  of  the  hole  in  the  wall  struck 
him  dumb ; 

The  sheriff's  black  bracelets  lay  strewn  on 
the  ground, 

I'ut  the  lad  that  had  worn  'em  could  no- 
where be  found. 
Tol-de-rol  ! 
— //.  Ainsworih  :  Jack  Shepfard. 


126 


Black  cattle — Blackford. 


Black  cattle  (old),  parasites  infest- 
ing the  heads  of  uncleanly 
people. 

Black  cattle  show  (clerical),  a 
gathering  of  clergy;  eg.,  Epis- 
copal visitation,  or  garden-party. 

Black  coat  (common),  a  clei^- 
man,  from  the  habitual  sombre- 
ness  of  his  attire.  The  French 
argot  has  corbeau  for  a  priest, 
for  the  same  reason. 

Black  diamonds  (popular),  a 
common  simile  for  coal.  Also, 
talented  persons  of  dingy  or  un- 
polished exterior ;  rough  jewels 
(Hotten). 

Black  disease  (medical),  the 
common  name  of  more  than  one 
disease,  as  of  black  jaundice, 
and  of  melaena. 

Black  eye  (common),  "we  gave 
the  bottle  a  black  eye,"  i.e.,  drank 
it  almost  up.  "  He  cannot  say 
'  black  is  the  white  of  my  eye,' " 
i.e.,  he  cannot  point  out  a  blot 
in  my  character.  (Nautical), 
"  black's  the  white  of  my  eye  I  " 
used  when  Jack  avers  that  no 
one  can  say  this  or  that  of  him. 
It  is  an  indignant  assertion  of 
innocence  of  a  charge.  "Le 
ciel  n'est  pas  plus  pur  que  le 
fond  de  mon  cceur !  " 

Blackfellow  (Australian),  an  ab- 
original, one  of  the  native  in- 
habitants of  Australia.  The 
first  feature  in  the  natives  which 
struck  the  early  settlers  of  Aus- 
tralia was  their  colour.     It  was 


natural  for  them  to  write  of  the 
blacJcfdiows.  At  present  the 
term  is  most  used  by  whites 
"  up  the  country,"  and  by  the 
aborigines  themselves.  Towns- 
people generally  talk  of  "  ab- 
originals." 

I  was  one  day  at  a  country  cricket  match 
in  Victoria.  Two  aboriginals  were  pre- 
sent. We  were  a  man  short,  so  we  asked 
one  of  them  to  play  for  us.  Both  came 
into  the  pavilion,  when  the  one  who  had 
been  asked  to  play  said  to  the  other, 
"  Blackfellmv,  you  just  clear  out  of  this — 
this  place  for  cricketers,  not  for  black- 
fellows." — Douglas  B.  W.  Sladen. 

Black  fly  (country),  a  clergyman. 

Black-foot  (provincial),  one  who 
attends  on  a  courting  expedi- 
tion, to  bribe  the  servant,  make 
friends  with  the  sister,  or  put 
any  friend  oil  his  guard.  The 
French  say  of  a  man  who  favours 
love  intrigues,  that  "  il  tient  la 
chandelle." 

Blackford,  Blackford  swell  (Lon- 
don slang),  a  swell  supposed  to 
be  in  borrowed  or  hired  plumage. 
It  is  common  for  roughs  to  cry 
Blackford!  to  a  swell  dressed 
up  for  the  occasion.  So  called 
from  an  advertising  tradesman 
well  known  as  letting  on  hire 
suits  of  clothes  by  the  day. 

Said  the  teacher :  "  '  And  it  came  to  pass 
that  David  rent  his  clothes.'  Now  what 
does  that  mean,  boys,  'rent  his  clothes'?" 
Up  went  Benny's  hand.  "  I  tumble," 
says  he,  "  Blackford."— Popular  Song. 

"  He  is  seen  everywhere  about  town  I 
declare, 
When  at  home,  who  the  deuce  can 
he  be? 


Blackfriars — Blackguard. 


127 


He  says  he  resides  with  his  ma  in 
Mayfair 
Though  his  letters  are  postmarked 
E.G. 
He  looks  very  well  that's  beyond  all 
dispute 
For  at  Black/onfs  he's  rigged  up 
and  down, 
For  Blackford  lends  suits,  from  the 
hat  to  the  boots, 
And  that  just  suits  the  Boy  about 
Town." 

Blackfriars  (thieves'  slang),  used 
as  a  warning;  "look  out!" 
French  thieves  would  say,  "ac- 
resto  I " 

Blackgfuard  (common),  alow,  dis- 
reputable fellow.  Dr.  John- 
son, GifCord,  and  others  derive 
this  from  an  attendant  on 
the  devil,  and  also  from  the 
mean  dependants  of  a  great 
house,  who  were  generally 
called  the  Hack  guard  as  early 
at  least  as  the  beginning  of  the 
sixteenth  century. 

We  have  neither  school  nor  hospital  for 
the  distressed  children  called  the  black- 
guards. — Nelson  :  Address  to  Persons  of 
Quality^ 

A  lousy  knave,  that  within  this  twenty 
years  rode  with  the  blackguards  in  the 
duke's  carriage,  'mongst  spits  and  dripping- 
pans. —  Webster:  The  White  Devil. 

Thieves  and  murderers  took  upon  them 
the  cross  to  escape  the  gallows  ;  adulterers 
did  penance  in  their  armour.  A  lament- 
able case  that  the  devil's  blackguards 
should  be  God's  soldiers. — Fuller:  The 
Holy  War. 

C.  G.  Leland  says  : — "  It  is 
probably  the  old  Dutch  thieves' 
slang  word  hlagaart,  from  blag, 
meaning  a  man  (but  always  in 
an  inferior  sense),  and  art,  the 


commonest  termination  for  a 
noun.  •  The  greater  part  of 
the  nouns  in  slang  which  are  of 
Dutch  origin,  are  formed  with 
the  ending  aard  {aart,  erd,  ert), 
er,  rik,  heid,  and  ing.' — James 
Teirltnck,  Woordenhoek  van  Bar- 
goensch.  To  those  who  would 
object  that  man  does  not  neces- 
sarily mean  a  vulgar  or  low  per- 
son, I  would  suggest  that  in 
thieves'  patois  it  means  nothing 
else,  and  that  in  our  British 
tinkers'  dialect,  subil  siableach 
(Gaelic  for  a  vagabond)  is  used 
simply  to  denote  any  man." 

Likewise  in  the  French  argot, 
gonce,  originally  a  fool  (occasion- 
ally used  with  that  meaning 
now),  has  the  signification  of 
man,  individual.  Wright  has, 
however,  shown  that  the  entirely 
English  term  blackguard,  as  ap- 
plied to  scullions,  was  in  general 
use  at  an  early  date. 

Her  Majesty,  by  some  means  I  know 
not,  was  lodged  at  his  house  Ewston,  farre 
unmeet  for  her  highness,  but  fitter  for  the 
black  garde.  —  Lodge's  Illustrations,  ii. 

188. 

I  was  alone  among  acoachful  of  women, 

and  those  of  the  elector's  duchesse  cham- 
ber, forsooth,  which  you  would  have  said 
to  have  been  of  the  blacke  guard. — Mori- 
son's  Itinerarie. 

Though  some  of  them  are  inferior  to 
those  of  their  own  ranke,  as  the  blacke- 
guard  in  a  prince's  court. — Burton :  Ana- 
tomy of  Melancholy. 

Nor  must  her  cousin  be  forgot,  preferr'd 
From  many  years'  command  in  the  black 
guard. 

To  be  an  ensign. 
Whose  tatter'd  colours  well  do  represent 
His  first  estate  i'  th'  ragged  regiment. 

— Earl  of  Rochester  s  Works. 


128 


Blackguard — BlacRleg. 


In  the  above  the  allusion  is  to 
the  cousin  of  Nell  Gwyn,  Charles 
II.'s  mistress. 

These  make  out  a  strong  case 
for  the  early  use  of  the  word 
in  England.  It  would  seem  to 
have  died  out  for  a  time  and 
been  revived,  possibly  under 
Dutch  influence,  in  the  time  of 
the  Georges. 

It  has  been  suggested  that 
hlackgnard  is  from  braggart,  with 
a  change  of  liquid.  French  of 
the  sixteenth  century  braguar, 
bragard,  or  bragghar  (gradually 
altered  to  bragueur,  then  bla- 
gueur),  dandy,  vain  fellow, 
swaggerer,  traceable  to  the  old 
braies,  breeches,  dandies  of  the 
sixteenth  century  being  known 
by  the  approved  style  of  their 
breeches.  More  recently  there 
are  instances  of  dandies  or  others 
receiving  the  appellation  of  the 
more  conspicuous  articles  of 
thoir  dress  or  the  colour  of  these 
— the  iaion-rougc,  a  dandy  of  the 
time  of  Louis  XIV. ;  col-casse,  the 
modern  Pari.sian  "  masher ;"  cas- 
quette-d-trois-p'ints,  a  bully  ;  cids- 
rmiges  and  cherry-bums,  hussars  ; 
ichitc-choker,  a  clergyman,  &c. 

It  has  also  been  said  that  the 
term  was  derived  from  the  cir- 
cumstance of  a  number  of  dirty 
ragged  boys  attending  on  the 
parade  to  blacken  the  boots  and 
shoes  of  the  soldiers  and  do  any 
other  dirty  oflices.  From  their 
constant  attendance  at  the  time 
of  the  l{ojal  Body  Guard  mount- 
ing, they  were  ])y  some  facetious 
person  nicknamed  tlu;  llach- 
guards. 


Blackie  (American),  a  very  old 
word  for  a  negro,  still  occa- 
sionally used.  It  is  to  be  found 
in  a  negro  song  which  dates 
back  to  the  beginning  of  this 
century. 

Our  son  no  more  he  serve  ;  no  more  play 

de  lackey, 
No  more  our  daughter  weep,  cos  wite  man 

call  dem  blackie. 

— Ching-a-Ring  Chaw. 

Black  jack  (American),  rum 
and  molasses,  with  or  without 
water.  A  New  England  drink. 
(Winchester),  a  large  leathern 
jug  which  formerly  was  used 
for  beer. 

Black  job  (undertakers'),  a  fune- 
ral. Lord  Portsmouth's  hobby 
was  to  attend  all  the  black  jobs 
he  could  hear  of. 

"What,  a  funeral  mute?"  "Yes,  sir, 
black  job  business." — Edmund  Yates: 
Land  at  Last. 

Black  language  (Anglo-Indian), 
an  expression,  no  longer  com- 
mon, for  Hindustani  and  other 
Indian  tongues.  It  is  remark- 
able that  the  English  gypsies 
sometimes  speak  of  Komany 
as  the  Kalo  jib,  or  black  tongue. 
The  term  was  doubtless  origi- 
nally Hindu. 

Blackleg  (common),  a  name  for- 
merly appropriated  to  swind- 
lers in  racing  transactions,  and 
to  those  who  betted  without 
intending  to  pay  their  losses. 
Also  generally  applied  in  Ame- 
rica to  gambling  of  any  kind. 
In    its    earlier    application    it 


Blackkg- 


-Black  Maria. 


129 


meant  a  swindler  or  criminal, 
and  is  conjecturally  derived 
from  such  fellows'  legs  being 
black  and  bruised  from  sitting 
in  the  stocks  and  wearing  fet- 
ters ;  or  from  the  legs  of  a 
game  -  cock,  which  are  always 
black,  gamblers  and  swindlers 
being  frequenters  of  the  cock- 
pit'. Else  from  an  allusion  to 
the  legs  of  a  "rook,"  another 
name  for  a  swindler.  Blackleg  is 
now  a  recognised  word.  In  old 
provincial  English  a  blacJc-foot 
was  a  man  who  attended  a  lover 
on  a  courting  expedition  to  do 
the  dirty  and  mean  work,  such 
as  bribing  servants,  and  acting 
the  Leporello. 

(Tailors)  to  blackleg,  a  set  that 
reject  a  man  as  not  fit  to  move 
in  their  society,  or  who  organise 
a  method  to  compel  a  man  \o 
leave  his  situation  or  the  town, 
are  said  to  blackleg  him. 

Blackletter  lawyer  (legal),  an 
antiquarian  expert  in  law,  where- 
as one  well  versed  in  "  case 
law,"  or  the  decisions  of  judges, 
is  termed  a  "  case  lawyer." 

Black  lion  (medical),  the  name 
given  to  certain  rapidly-slough- 
ing ulcers  which  affected  our 
soldiers  when  in  Portugal. 

Blackmail  (recognised).  To  levy 
blackmail  was  a  tribute  extorted 
by  jjowerf ul  robber  chieftains  to 
protect  travellers  from  the  de- 
predations of  other  robbers  in- 
ferior to  themselves  in  strength 
an<l  organisation.   In  the  United 


States,  says  Bartlett,  it  usually 
means  money  extorted  from  a 
person,  by  threatening  to  accuse 
him  of  a  crime  or  to  expose  him 
in  the  newspapers  (it  is  used 
with  a  like  meaning  in  England). 

"Thrice  is  he  armed  who  hath  his  quarrel 

just," 
But  sure  that  force  in  self  defence  will 

fail. 
Whose  only  armour  'gainst  the  critic 

thrust, 
Is  found  to  be  l>/ack  mail. 

— Punch. 

What  Mr.  Caine  tells  us  about  Clapham 
Common  is  unfortunately  not  confined  to 
the  suburbs,  but  is  a  very  active  evil  in 
the  centre  of  the  very  best  parts  of  our 
town,  and  the  continuous  blackmailing  of 
unfortunates  by  the  police  has  been  a 
notorious  fact  in  such  thoroughfares  as 
Piccadilly,  Pall  Mall,  Waterloo  Place, 
Regent  Street,  &c.,  for  some  years  past. 
— Saturday  Review. 

Skeat  says : — "  Mail  is  a  Scot- 
tish term  for  rent,  Blackmail  or 
black  rent  is  the  rent  paid  in 
cattle,  as  distinct  from  white 
money  or  silver."  It  is  curious 
to  note,  however,  that  maille  in 
old  French  signified  copper  coin 
(a  trace  of  which  still  remains 
in  the  modern  phrases  $ans  sou 
ni  maille,  avoir  maille  d  partir, 
&c.).  This  word  may  have 
been  adopted  by  the  Scotch,  who 
still  retain  French  words  in 
their  phraseology.  Black-money 
is  a  provincialism  still  used 
(Wright). 

Black  Maria  (English  and  Ame- 
rican), the  cell  van  in  which 
prisoners  are  removed  from 
court  to  prison.  Termed  in  the 
French  argot  "  panier  Ji  salade." 
I 


I30 


Black  Maria — Black  town. 


Bobbies  ba-se  and  beaks  inhuman 
Every  fieldmale's  path  perplex  ; 

Who  on  earth  would  be  a  woman — 
Which  it  is  a  wretched  sex. 

No  one  freer,  no  one  greater, 

'Arrj'  cycles  :  is  it  just 
Sarah  Anne's  perambulator 

Should  be  hobject  of  disgust  ? 

What's  the  reason,  tell  me  why,  ah  ! 

Why  that  gig  with  children  nice 
Should  be  scorned  like  Black  Maria, 

Full  of  villainy  and  vice? 

—Aily  Slopers  Half  Holiday. 

When  I^rd  Carrington  and  his  attend- 
ant noblemen  arrived  in  Melbourne  on  a 
visit  lately,  Black  Maria,  the  prison  van, 
was  drawn  up  by  the  station,  apparently 
in  waiting. — Modern  Society. 

This  term  is  said  to  liave 
originated  in  Philadelphia  in 
1838. 

Black  Monday  (popular),  execu- 
tions used  to  take  place  on 
Mondays. 

Black  mummer  (old),  a  person  un- 
shaved  and  unwashed. 

Black  ointment  (thieves),  pieces 
of  raw  meat. 

Black  psalm  (old),  to  sing  a  lilaclc 
punlm  was  to  cry. 

Black  Sal  (popular),  the  tea-kettle. 

Black  Saturday  (workmen's). 
When  a  labourer  or  meclianic 
has  anticipated  or  drawn  all 
Ills  wages  and  has  no  money  to 
lake  at  the  end  of  the  week, 
his  mates  say  "  he  has  a  black 
Siiturd/i}!  in  his  week." 

Black-sheep  (Winchester). 
Wlicii  a  iiKui  in  "junior  part'' 


jockeyed  a  man  in  "middle 
part"  he  was  said  to  black- 
sheep  him,  whilst  the  other  was 
said  to  be  black  •  fiheeped.  This 
could  only  happen  in  "  cloisted 
time,"  that  is,  during  the  last 
eleven  weeks  of  "  long  half," 
when  "middle"  and  "junior 
parts "  went  up  together.  It 
refers  now  to  senior  and  junior 
divisions  of  "  middle  part." 

Blacksmith's  daughter  (old), 
the  large  keys  with  which  the 
doors  of  sponging-houses  were 
furnished. 

Black  spy  (popular),  the  devil. 

Black  strap  (popular),  port  wine. 
(American),  New  England  mm 
and  molasses.  (Nautical),  the 
dark  country  wines  of  the 
Mediterranean.  Also,  bad  port, 
such  as  was  served  for  the  sick 
in  former  times. 

Ask  for  a  Ixjttle  of  black  strap  out  of 
bin  No.  4 ;  light  your  cigar,  smoke  the 
room  full  ;  nod  to  misses,  pull  up  your 
shirt  collar  before  the  looking-glass. — 
Drawing  for  the  Million. 

(Old),  the  name  by  which  a 
certain  punishment,  a  labour 
task  imposed  on  soldiers  at 
Gibraltar  for  small  offences, 
was  called. 

Black  teapot  (poptdar),  a  black 
footman. 

Black  town  (Anglo-Indian),  the 
jiojiular  local  English  name  for 
Madras.    It  is  also  used  at  Hoin- 


Blach  wash — Blank. 


131 


bay  to  distinguish  the  native 
quarter. 

Many  cadets  on  their  arrival  are  obliged 
to  take  up  their  residence  in  dirty  punch- 
houses  in  the  black  town. — Munro's  Nar- 
rative, 22. 

Black  wash  (medical),  a  lotion 
consisting  of  calomel  and  lime- 
water. 

Black  'V7ork  (popular),  undertak- 
ing. 

Bladder  of  lard  (popular),  a  bald- 
headed  person.  The  French 
equivalent  is  "  boule  de  vieux 
oing." 

Blade  (common).  It  is  generally 
and  plausibly  assumed  that  this 
word  for  a  m^n  is  derived  from 
hlade  as  a  synonym  for  sword, 
and  a  soldier.  And  this  seems 
to  be  borne  out  by  the  analogy 
of  a  similar  French  expression, 
unc  banne  lame,  which  formerly 
meant  a  man  of  the  world,  a 
dashing  man.  Blade  is  still 
used  in  the  provinces  for  a 
brisk,  mettlesome,  sharp  young 
man.  But  as  it  has  the  same 
pronunciation  as  the  Dutch 
hloed,  meaning  "  blood,"  and  as 
a  blood  was  the  common  term 
for  "a  fast,  and  high-mettled 
man  "  during  the  reigns  of  the 
Georges,  it  is  not  impossible  it 
owes  much  to  the  latter.  The 
word  was  also  a  personal  noun 
in  Dutch,  as  een  arme  bloed,  a 
poor  fellow.  Bloed,  a  simple- 
ton, is  from  a  different  root ; 
bluode,     timid,     fearful  ;     Irish 


blate,  German  blode.  Royster- 
ers  and  debauchees  were  also 
termed  "  roaring  boys." 

I  do  not  all  this  while  account  you  in 
The  list  of  those  are  called  the  blades 

that  roar 
In  brothels,  and  break  windows  ;  fright 

the  streets 
At  midnight  worse  than  constables. 

— Shirley :  The  Gamester. 

Bladhunk  (tinker),  prison. 

Blame  (popular),  a  mild  expletive 
used  when  one  is  dissatisfied  or 
disappointed.  Oftener  heard  in 
the  provinces  than  in  London, 
and  much  more  so  in  America. 

The  keeper  had  fired  four  times  at  an 
Indian,  but  he  said,  with  an  injured  air, 
that  the  Indian  had  skipped  around  so's  to 
spile  everything — and  ammunition  blamed 
skurse,  too. — Mark  Twain:  Roughing  It. 

Yes,  John  Bull  is  a  blamed  blockhead. 
— Sa^H  Slick. 

"  Man  alive  !  This  ain't  the  boat;  this 
is  the  ferry  house  ! " 

"Yew — don' — say  so  1 "  slowly  ejaculated 
the  sunburned  old  fellow.  "  An'  here  I've 
been  a  waitin'  three  hours  for  the  blamed 
thing  to  start  for  Brooklyn  1  " — Diak^s 
U  ravellers  Magazine. 

"  Damnation  1  "  is  sometimes 
softened  into  "  blamenation !  " 

Blan  (gypsy),  the  wind. 

Blank  (hunting),  to  draw  a  blanTc 
in  coursing  or  hunting  is  to 
have  a  run  without  meeting 
with  anything.  Quite  recently 
tlie  term  blank  has  been  adopted 
as  a  substitute  for  "  damn," 
"  bloody,"  and  other  forcible 
expressions. 


132 


Blank — Blaze. 


Here  you've  been  and  gone  three  hours 
on  an  errand  for  me,  and  blank  me  if  you 
ain't  runnin'  off  without  a  word  about  it. — 
Bret  Harte :  Gabriel  Conroy. 

Because  you're  religious,  blank  you, 
do  you  expect  me  to  starve  ?  Go  and  order 
supper  first !  Stop  !  where  in  blank  are  you 
going  ? — Bret  Harte :  Gabriel  Conroy. 

"  For  blank's  sake,  sir,  give  me  the 
orffice,  you  knows  me  surely,  and  that  I'm 
square.  Veil,  then,  give  me  the  orffice, 
so  help  me  blank  I'll  keep  it  dark." 

Enter  a  closely-shaven,  bullet  -  headed 
fellow  in  an  ecstasy  of  excitement  at  having 
just  seen  Cuss,  and  at  the  exquisite  "  fit- 
ness" of  that  worthy.  "  So  help  my  blank, 
blank!"  he  cries  delighjedly,  "if  he  ain't 
a  blank  picter  with  the  weins  in  his  face 
down  'ere  and  'ere,  a  showin'  out  just  if  a 
blank  hartist  'ad  painted  him.  Tell  yer 
he's  beautiful,  fine  as  a  blank  greyhound, 
with  a  blank  heavy  air  with  him  that  looks 
blank  like  winnin.  Take  yer  two  quid  to 
one,  guv'nor?"  adds  the  speaker,  suddenly 
picking  out  a  stout  purple-faced  farmer  in 
the  group  of  eager  listeners. 

— Charles  Dickens :  Farce  for  the 

Championship  in  All  the  Year 

Round. 

Blanket,  a  lawful  (old  cant),  a 
wife.     The  allu.sion  is  obviou.s. 

Blanket  hornpipe  (popular)  refers 
to  the  .sexual  intercourse. 

Blanks  (Anglo-Indian),  a  rare 
word  used  for  whites  or  Euro- 
peans by  themselves. 

Blare  (popular),  to  roar,  to  bawl. 

He  blared  and  he  holloaed  and  swore  he 

was  hurt, 
His  coat  got  torn  off  and  he  hadn't  a  shirt, 
'I'hen  the  missus  comes  down  and  she  said 

to  the  cook. 
You  aud.-icious   hussey,   you'd   best   sling 
your  hook. 
—  The  Masher  and  the  Parrot : 
/{ mails iJe  Ballad. 


Blarney  (common),  flattery ;  sup- 
posed to  be  derived  from  a  stone 
in  the  tower  of  Blarney  Castle, 
near  Cork,  the  kissing  of  which 
is  a  feat  of  some  difficulty,  from 
its  perilous  position  in  the  wall. 
It  is  supposed  to  confer  the  gift 
of  eloquence,  of  a  kind  peculiarly 
adapted  to  win  the  hearts  of 
women.  It  is  a  common  saying 
in  Cork,  when  a  man  is  trying 
his  powers  of  persuasion  or 
wheedling,  "  he  has  been  to 
Blarney  Ca.stle,"  or  "none  of 
your  blarney." 

Blast  (popular),  a  familiar  name 
amongst  the  lower  orders  for 
erysijielas  of  the  face. 

Blater  (popular),  a  calf;  to  "cry 
beef  on  a  blater,"  to  make  a  fuss 
about  nothing. 

Don't  be  glim-flashy ;  why,  you'd  cry 
beef  on  a  blater. — Lytton  :  Pelhatn. 

Blather  (general),  idle  nonsense. 
Also  thin  mud  or  puddle. 

A  prize-fighter  who  does  not  fight  is 
about  as  valuable  a  macliine  as  an  alarum 
clock  which  does  not  go  off.  He  has  no 
raison  d^tre.  We  do  not  of  course  wish  to 
insinuate  that  any  of  the  "fistic  marvels" 
of  to-day  are  guilty  of  such  conduct.  And 
yet  there  may  be  those  who  watch  "  Mr." 
John  L.  Sullivan  revolving  round  the  pro- 
vinces in  a  cloud  oi  blather,  who  think  the 
cap  should  fit. — Fair  Trade. 

Blatherskite  (American),  a  man 
whose  tongue  runs  away  with 
him  ;  an  irrepressible  noi.sy 
chatterer;  "  blatliering."  Of 
Hcutcli  origin  {vide  Blkthkhs). 

Blaze  (American).  "To  blaze  a 
tree,"  to  remove  the  bark  so  as 


Blaze — Blazers. 


133 


to  leave  a  white  surface  exposed, 
which  serves  either  for  a  boun- 
dary, a  landmark,  or  as  a  sign 
to  direct  travellers.  The  Algon- 
kin  Indians  of  the  north-east 
blaze  trees  so  as  to  direct  Indians 
leaving  a  village ;  white  men 
make  such  marks  on  the  other 
side. 

A  path  which  brought  us  opposite 
Ntunduru  Island,  Hazing^  the  trees  as  a 
guide. — Stanley :  Through  the  Dark  Con- 
tinent. 

It  is  used  in  this  sense  by  the 
up  country  Australians. 

The  last  six  miles  of  a  new  road  into 
Carcoar  had  just  been  marked  out  and 
partially  made  by  the  inhabitants,  ex- 
pressly for  the  governor.  It  was  a  well 
chosen  but  rough  track  designated  by 
blazed  trees  on  either  hand,  the  unbarked 
parts  being  painted  white,  in  order  to  be 
more  manifest  in  the  dusk. — Lieut. -Col. 
Munday :  Our  Antipodes. 

It  also  applies  to  any  kind  of 
landmark. 

I  picked  up  a  stone,  and  blazed  my 
course  by  breaking  off  a  projecting  corner 
occasionally  from  lava  walls  and  festoons 
of  sulphur. — Mark  Twain  :  A  Strange 
Dream. 

Blaze  is  an  English  provin- 
cialism for  a  white  spot  on  a 
horse's  forehead ;  and  blazed  is 
a  term  applied  to  a  tree  when 
marked  for  sale. 

(General),  to  blaze  away,  to 
fire. 

He  blazed  away  and  missed  you  in  that 
shallow  watercourse. — A.  L.  Gordon :  The 
Sick  Stockrider. 

Blaze  of  triumph  (theatrical),  a 
ridiculous  hyperbole,  invented 
by  the  poet  iJunn,  to  indicate 


a  great  success  and  crowded 
houses.  To  the  initiated  this 
usually  signifies  a  dead  fail- 
ure, and  a  house  crowded  with 
"dead-heads." 

Blazer  (university),  a  coloured 
loose  flannel  jacket,  worn  as 
the  uniform  of  a  boating  or 
other  club ;  originally  red,  but 
now  of  the  club  colours,  striped 
or  coloured  accordingly.  The 
surplice  worn  by  students  in 
chapel  on  certain  feast  or  fast 
days,  is  described  as  the  blazjer 
of  the  Church  of  England.  Each 
club  chose  a  different  colour 
or  combination  of  colours,  and 
these  combinations  are  some- 
thing sufficiently  startling  to 
have  originated  the  appellation. 

Another  fair  damsel  was  resplendent  in  a 
scarlet  blazer  over  cream-coloured  flannel. 
Some  of  the  .striped  blazers  were  very 
becoming.  Slate  and  white,  and  black 
and  white,  were  decidedly  the  favourites, 
though  one  daring  dame  had  ventured  on 
magenta. — Modem  Society. 

The  effect  produced  by  the  thousands  of 
floating  and  moving  craft,  with  their  occu- 
pants in  brilliant  blazers  and  light  cos- 
tumes, is  quite  unique  of  its  kind. — The 
Standard. 

(Prisons),   a  jacket  worn  by 
convicts. 

If  the  young  gentlemen  do  not  like  the 
convict  blazers,  they  will  not  be  allowed 
to  take  out  a  boat  imless  accompanied  by 
a  policeman. — Funny  Folks. 

Blazers  (nautical),  a  term  applied 
to  mortar  or  bomb  vessels,  from 
the  great  emission  of  flame  to 
throw  a  13-inch  shell. — Admiral 
Smyth. 


134 


Blazes — Bleeding. 


Blazes  (common).  "  Go  to  hlnzes," 
i.e.,  "go  to  hell,"  is  a  common 
expression  both  in  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States,  among 
those  who  are  too  fastidious  to 
say  the  word  that  they  mean, 
and  are  willing  to  go  ninety-nine 
per  cent,  in  the  expression  of 
jirofanity,  making  use  of  "  by 
Gad,"  instead  of  "by  God," 
"great  Scott,"  instead  of  "great 
God,"  and  "darned"  instead  of 
"  damned." 

I  could  have  told  Johnny  Skae  that  I 
would  not  receive  his  communication  at 
such  a  late  hour,  and  to  go  to  blazes  with 
it.  —Mark  Twain. 

Bleach,  to  (Harvard  University, 
Massachusetts),  to  absent  one- 
self from  morning  prayers.  To 
prefer  being  present  in  the  spirit 
rather  than  in  the  body. 

Bleached  mot  (popular),  a  fair- 
complexioned  wench. 

Bleak  (thieves'  slang),  handsome 
(New  York  Slang  Dictionary). 

Bleating  cheat  (old  cant),  a  sheep. 
"  Cheat,"  meaning  a  thing 
(gypsy),  was  added  to  a  word 
describing  the  cry  of  the  ani- 
mal, thus  cackling  cheat,  grunt- 
ing cheat,  &c. 

When  I  spoke  to  him,  he  said  some- 
thing about  a  bleating  sheep  losing  a  bite  ; 
but  I  should  think  this  young  man  is  not 
much  of  a  talker  in  general. — Mactnillans 
Jilaga^ine. 

Bleating  cull  (old  cant),  a  shcep- 
stealer. 

Bleating  prig,  sheep-stealing. 


Bleating  rig  (old  cant),  sheep- 
stealing. 

Bleed,  to  (English  and  American), 
to  be  obliged  to  pay  money 
against  one's  will,  or  to  oblige 
one  to  pay. 

A  boy  lives  in  Pennsylvania  who  suffers 
from  bleeding  at  intervals.  He  usually 
bleeds  nine  days  at  a  time.  Candidates 
who  bleed  three  months  at  a  time  will 
envy  him. — San  Francisco  Alia. 

This  is  in  reference  to  the 
extravagant  demands  made 
upon  political  candidates  by 
"  heelers"  and  "  strikers," 

Then  this  fine  old  Englishman,  to  crown 

each  other  deed, 
Has  lately  shown  that  for  our  sake  he  did 

not  fear  to  bleed. 
A  generous  gift,  that  silver  cup,  in  sooth 

you'll  be  agreed. 
That   a  cup  which   bears  nine  handsome 

»tugs  is  a  handsome  one  indeed  ! 

— St.  Helens  Lantern. 

(Printers),  a  book  or  pamphlet 
that  is  cut  down  so  much  as 
to  touch  the  printed  portion  is 
said  to  Uetd. 

Bleeder  (sporting),  a  sovereign ; 
(university),  a  "  regular  bleeder" 
signifies  a  superlative  duffer. 

Bleeders  (old),  spurs,  from  their 
causing  blood  to  flow  by  fre- 
quent use. 

Bleeding  the  monkey  (nautical). 
The  vurnkty  is  a  tall  pyramidal 
rod  or  bucket  which  conveys  the 
grog  from  the  grog-tub  to  the 
men.  Stealing  from  this  in  tran- 
situ is  so  called. — Admiral  Hinyth. 


Blethers — Blind. 


135 


Blethers  (Scottish),  wind  or 
windy ;  nonsense.  Robert  Burns 
jocosely  laments  that  his  busi- 
ness was  to  string  up  blethers 
in  rhyme  for  fools  to  sing. 
Bletherhead  is  a  loquacious  fool. 
Bletherumskite  is  a  synonymous 
word,  but  expressive  of  still 
greater  contempt  by  the  use  of 
the  word  "skite"  or  "skyte," 
which  signifies  excrement.  To 
blether  or  blather  is  to  talk  tedi- 
ously and  foolishly.  The  word  is 
akin  to  "  bladder,"  that  is,  filled 
with  wind. 

I  hae  been  clean  spoilt  just  wi'  listen- 
ing to  twa  blethering  old  wives. — Sir 
Walter  Scott :  Old  Mortality. 

Wha  can  ken  .  .  .  whether  sic  prayers 
as  the  Southron  read  out  of  their  auld 
blethering  black  mess-book  there,  may  not 
be  as  powerful  to  invite  fiends,  &c. — Scott : 
Fortunes  of  Nigel. 

Blew  or  blue  (common),  to  waste, 
to  spend,  to  dissipate.  "  I  hlexo 
a  bob  (I  wasted  a  shilling),"  said 
a  costermonger,  "  when  I  went 
to  an  exhibition  of  pictures." 
To  spend  or  lose  one's  money  in 
gambling  or  betting. 

But  knock-down  blows  the  punter  knows 

Are  a  part  of  his  racing  creed, 
And  he  says  this  year  he  has  no  fear — 

"  The  Baron  must  succeed  !  " 
We  think  so  too,  and  our  oof  we'll  blew. 

However  rash  the  act, 
For  if  this  one's  missed  he  will  swell  the 
list 

Of  the  winners  we  might  have  backed. 
— Sporting  Times. 

We'll  polish  off  the  malt  and  grog,  and  to 

have  we  are  bound, 
A  jolly  jug,  and  kiss  the  girls  and  women 

all  around ; 


We'll  take  a  stroll,  and  then  keep  it  up 

till  boxing  night, 
Blew  all  the  coin — rent  as  well,  and  think 

we're  doing  right ; 
And  if  we  have  to  pawn  the  clock,  next 

day  I  shan't  repine. 
It  was  my  father's  custom,  and  so  it  shall 

be  mine. 

—Song. 

Blewed  (common),  spent,  disposed 
of.  Lost  or  been  robbed  of.  Pri- 
marily, to  pay  out,  to  spend. 
German  blauen,  which  suggests 
blue,  and  not  to  blow,  as  the 
original.  Ins  Uaue  hinein  (away 
into  the  blue),  vanished,  gone ; 
the  French  passe  au  bleu  has 
the  same  signification.  Faire 
passer  au  bleu,  to  suppress,  dis- 
sipate, spend,  squander,  appro- 
priate. An  allusion  to  a  dis- 
tant, undefined  place  in  the  blue 
above. 

Bligee,  bligey  (pidgin),  obliged. 

Too  muchee  'bligee  you,  Missee  Hughsee, 
fo'  that  number-one  book.  You  show  me 
that  pricee,  England-side,  my  look  see 
that  Table,  can  savey  how-fashion  makee 
offer.  Must  catchee  chancee  now. — Chin  : 
Punch. 

Blimey  (common),  an  apparently 
meaningless,  abusive  term. 

C.  FOR  THE  Mob. — As  this  is  a  court,  I 
feel  it  suitable  and  proper  to  use  the  sort 
of  language  always  used  up  our  court.  I 
therefore  remark,  "  Liars,  murderers,  ras- 
cals, gliastly  bloodsuckers,  devils ;  garn 
hout,  shet  up  currant-face,  bliviey"  and 
other  things  which  would  naturally  occur 
to  a  gentleman  by  Act  of  Parliament. — An 
Ennobling  Exhibition. 

Blind  (popular),  "  in  the  blind,"  in 
the  night,  in  darkness. 


136 


Blind — Blizzard. 


Then  it's  down  with  the  bedstead  and  let 
us  away, 
Pack  up  all  we  can  in  the  blind, 
And  long  ere  the  morning, 
Without  any  warning, 
We'll  leave  back-rent  and  landlord  be- 
hind. 

—Song. 

(Printers),  a  term  applied  to  a 
paragraph  mark  IT,  owing  to  the 
fact  of  the  eye  of  the  F  being 
black  or  filled  up. 

Blind  cheeks  (popular),  posteriors, 
termed  sometimes  Uind  Cupid. 
The  French  argot  calls  it  more 
appropriately  le  horijne.  An- 
other slang  expression  for  the 
same  part  of  the  body  is  "two 
fat  cheeks  and  ne'er  a  nose ; " 
in  French  slang  "  un  visage  sans 
nez." 

Blinder  (thieves),  to  "take  a 
Hinder,"  to  die. 

Some  rubber  to  wit  had  napped  a  winder, 
And   some   were  scragged  and  took  a 
blinder. 

—On  ike  Trail. 

Blindo,  to  (army),  to  die. 

Blind  one's  trail,  to  (American),  to 
act  in  such  a  way  that  it  would 
be  difficult  to  trace  one's  doings ; 
putting  off  the  scent.  Thus  a 
fox  in  crossing  a  river  blinds  his 
trail,  water  being  fatal  to  the 
scent  of  dogs. 

Blink,  to  (American),  to  drink.  In 
Dutch  thieves'  slang,  Uinkert  is 
a  glass.  "  Minkcrt  om  uit  te 
biiizen  " — "To  booze  from  a 
glas.-." 


Blinker  (American),  a  phrase 
fully  explained  by  the  follow- 
ing anecdote  from  a  New  York 
newspaper : — 

"  The  term  growler  has  become  obsolete, 
and  blinker  has  succeeded  it.  A  waggon- 
load  of  '  supplies '  was  tr.insferred  to  the 
Bedlows  (prison)  island  boat,  and  among 
them  were  two  two-gallon  kerosene  oil 
cans.  A  boat-h.and  remarked,  '  They  must 
be  usin'  lots  of  kerosene — them  officers 
over  there — for  they  gets  them  cans  filled 
mighty  often  ! '  The  secret  was  let  out  a 
few  minutes  later,  when  one  of  the  men 
coming  on  deck  with  the  happy  smile  of 
one  who  has  interviewed  the  ardent,  said 
to  one  of  his  companions  :  '  I  say,  Jimmy, 
the  blinkers  have  got  good  stuff  this 
time  !'  " 

—  Vide  Blink. 

Blinkers  (pugilistic),  the  eyes, 
termed  also  ogles,  optics,  peep- 
ers, winkers.  (Common),  spec- 
tacles. Blinhert,  Dutch  slang, 
glass. 

Blinko  (thieves),  the  term  is  ex- 
plained by  the  quotation. 

"What  is  a  blinko,  for  instance?" 
"  Well,  it's  a  kind  of  entertainment,  sing- 
ing, and  that,"  replied  the  old  fellow, 
"  to  which  strangers  are  not  invited — least 
of  all  the  police." — /.  Greenwood :  Dick 
Temple. 

Blizzard  (American),  a  word  of 
many  meanings.  In  one  of  the 
early  Crockett  almanacs  about 
1836  it  appears  as  distinctly 
meaning  a  shot  from  a  rifle. 

"  The  elder  boys  when  they  went  to 
school  carried  their  rifles  to  get  a  blizzard 
at  anything  they  might  meet  on  the 
road." 

It  has  been  conjectured  that 
in  this  sense  it  was  derived  from 


Blizzard — Block. 


137 


blaze,  or  from  the  (Canadiau) 
French  blesser,  to  wound  or  hit. 
It  was  also  applied  to  lightning 
at  an  early  date.  At  present  the 
tremendous  wind  -  storms  like 
the  typhoon  which  sweep  over 
the  West  are  called  blizzards. 
It  possibly  owes  this  later  mean- 
ing to  the  German  blitz. 

With  reference  to  the  word  blizzard,  a 
Western  correspondent  sends  the  follow- 
ing : — The  word  was  first  used  in  Marshall, 
Minn.,  some  thirteen  years  ago.  Some 
friends  were  enjoying  themselves  at  a 
public-house,  when  a  storm  of  wind  and 
snow  arose,  and  one  of  the  number,  look- 
ing up  quickly,  uttered  a  German  expres- 
sion (our  correspondent  has  forgotten  the 
words)  which  sounded  very  much  like  bliz- 
zard. His  friends  took  it  up  and  have 
since  called  a  storm  of  wind  accompanied 
by  snow  a  blizzard.  Some  years  ago  the 
origin  of  the  word  was  sought  and  it  was 
said  to  be  Indian,  and  that  an  Indian  used 
the  expression  (or  one  similar  in  sound) 
upon  seeing  some  white  men  coming  out 
of  a  severe  snowstorm.  —  Detroit  Free 
Press. 

The  German  expression  here 
referred  to  is  "blitzen  I  " 

Bloat  (American),  a  drunkard,  a 
drowned  corpse. 

Bloater  (popular),  "  my  bloater"  a 
term  of  friendship  much  in 
favour  with  'Arry,  who  likes 
his  friends  as  much  as  his 
bloater  for  breakfast,  and  that 
is  not  saying  a  little. 

But,  bless  yer,  my  bloater,  it  isn't  all 
chin-music,  vots  and  "ear  !  'ear  !  " 

Or  they  wouldn't  catch  me  on  the  ready, 
or  nail  me  for  ninepence.  No  fear  ! 
— Punch. 

Block,  the  (Australian).  "  Doing 
the    block"   i.e.,   promenade,    is 


one  of  the  favourite  amuse- 
ments of  Melbourne  ladies  be- 
tween twelve  and  one  and  five 
and  six.  The  block  is  the  fashion- 
able promenade  in  Melbourne. 
The  block  is  the  block  of  build- 
ings in  Collins  Street  lying  be- 
tween Swanston  Street  and 
Elizabeth  Street. 

Block  house  (old  slang),  a  prison, 
house  of  correction,  penitentiary, 
and  similar  establishments.  The 
expression  reminds  one  of  the 
French  military  slang  term  le 
bloc,  an  abbreviation  of  blockhaus. 

Block  of  stock  (American),  an 
adaptation  of  the  French  term 
en  bloc,  meaning  a  large  number 
of  shares  in  anything,  a  great 
undivided  mass,  held  as  a  single 
interest. 

It  would  be  comparatively  easy,  there- 
fore, for  a  syndicate  to  take  the  control 
from  Jay  Gould,  especially  if  Russell  Sage 
or  some  other  holder  of  a  big  blocA  oy  stock 
were  to  join  the  movement.  — Chicago  Tri- 
bune,  October  2,  1887. 

Block  ornaments  (popular),  the 
better  kind  of  meat  scraps  sold 
at  butchers'  stalls. 

On  the  shelves  set  out  in  front  of  the 
shop,  meat  scraps  are  offered  at  ijd.  the 
lb.  ;  better  scraps  (or  block  ornaments,  as 
they  are  termed)  at  4d. — Standard. 

For  dinner,  which  on  a  week  day  is 
hardly  ever  eaten  at  the  costermonger's 
abode,  they  buy  block  ornaments,  as  they 
call  the  small,  dark-coloured  pieces  ofme.it 
exposed  on  the  cheap  butchers'  blocks 
or  counters. — Henry  Maykew  :  London 
Labour  and  the  London  Poor. 

Also  old-fashioned,  queer-look- 
ing men  and  women. 


138 


Bloke — Blood. 


Bloke  (common),  not  strictly  "a 
man,"  as  Hotten  defines  it,  but 
a  man  in  a  contemptuous  sense. 
So  the  word  was  originally  used 
in  the  police  newspapers  twenty- 
five  years  ago.  A  bloke  was  a 
victim  of  sharps,  a  stupid  per- 
son, a  greenhorn.  It  is  not 
from  the  gypsy  loke,  a  man,  as 
Hotten  asserts,  loke  not  being 
an  Anglo-Romany  word.  It  is 
probably  from  the  Dutch  blok, 
a  block,  a  log,  a  fool,  which 
gives  rise  to  Uok-ker,  a  plodder, 
a  dull  fellow,  and  to  the  English 
blockhead. 

The  girl  is  stunning,  the  blokes  say,  so 
we  must  forgive  you. — Ouida :  Held  in 
Bondage. 

"  Give  us  a  horder,  then,  old  bloke," 
shrieked  another  gamin. — F.  W.  Robin- 
son :  Little  Kate  Kir  by. 

It  has  another  signification, 
which  is  explained  by  the  quota- 
tion. 

It  came  out  in  the  course  of  the  evidence 
that  the  meaning  of  the  word  bloke  was 
"a  man  whom  a  woman  might  pick  up  in 
the  street." — J.  Greenwood:  Seven  Curses 
i>/  London. 

Blood  (fencing).  In  the  old  back- 
swording  contests  a  blood,  i.e., 
a  streak  of  blood  on  the  head  or 
face  at  least  one  inch  in  length, 
was  the  equivalent  of  a  deci- 
sive "broken-head."  The  word 
Unli;/cr  is  used  in  the  same  sense 
by  tlie  (jlormau  students  on  the 
Mensur. 

In  prize-ring  parlance  the 
word  is  not  considered  suftici- 
ently  graphic,  and  blood  is  never 
mcniioiicd  except  under  syno- 


nyms such  as  "  claret "  (especi- 
ally picturesque  in  connection 
with  tapping),  "Badminton" 
(a  peculiar  kind  of  claret  cup 
invented  at  the  Duke  of  Beau- 
fort's seat),  "ruby,"  "crimson," 
"  Chateau  Lafitte,"  kc. 

Blood  and  entrails  (nautical). 
This  is  a  slang  name  given  to 
the  British  ensign  by  Yankee 

sailors. 

Blood  and  thunder  (popular),  port 
wine  and  brandy  mixed. 

Blood    and    thunder    literature 

(American),  now  common  in 
England.  Literature  of  the 
loudest  and  coarsest  sensational 
kind,  "detective"  novels,  ro- 
mances like  "Jack  Sheppard" 
and  the  "  Outlaw  of  the  Plains," 
"  Life  of  Bufl:alo  Bill,"  &c. 

One  more  instance  of  the  deleterious 
influence  of  blood  and  t/i  under  /iction. 
Lecomte,  the  man  who  made  a  most  deter- 
mined attempt  to  murder  a  messenger  of 
the  Bank  of  France  the  other  day  l>y 
plunging  a  bradawl  into  the  nape  of  his 
neck,  was  an  inveterate  peruser  of  crimson- 
toned  literature,  his  favourite  authors 
being  Ponson  du  'I'errail,  Gaboriau,  and 
Liicenaire,  the  lettered  murderer  who 
emulated  the  deeds  of  Hoffman's  "  Car- 
(lillac  "  by  prowling  around  the  streets  of 
I'aris  for  victims. — Paris  Concspondence  : 
Daily  Telegraph. 

Blood  boat  (naval),  a  "tally 
boat "  or  bumboat,  a  boat  em- 
l)loyed  to  carry  provisions  from 
the  shoi^e. 

Blood -curdler  (society),  a  story 
of  murder  likely  to  make  the 
reader's  blood  curdle. 


Blood — Bloody. 


139 


It  will  contain  two  pages  of  interesting 
and  absorbing  turf  reminiscences  by  our- 
selves and  master;  a  blood ■  curdler,  by 
the  murderman. — Sporting  Times. 

The  only  one  who  is  annoyed  is  our  own 
special  murder-monger,  who  has  got  several 
blood-curdlers  of  English  extraction  up  his 
sleeve. — Sporting  Times. 

Blood  for  blood  (trade),  barter 
among  tradesmen,  who  ex- 
change with  each  other  the 
commodities  in  which  they 
deal. 

Blood-suckers  (society),  extor- 
tioners, people  who  are  con- 
stantly getting  money.  Derived 
from  vampires,  who  are  blood- 
suckers. 

If  the  stay  be  longer,  the  porter  and  the 
boots  expect  something.  A  fair  estimate 
is  about  two  francs  per  diem  divided  be- 
tween all  the  blood-suckers.  Members  of 
the  Stock  Exchange  generally  give  treble 
this;  members  of  the  aristocracy  half  — 
Truth. 

(Nautical),  lazy  fellows,  who 
by  skulking  throw  their  pro- 
portion of  labour  on  the  shoul- 
ders of  their  shipmates. — Ad- 
miral  Smyth.  In  the  army  such 
fellows  are  styled  "  scrim- 
shankers." 

Bloody.  Dr.  C.  Mackay  makes  the 
following  remarks :  "  A  word 
that  is  constantly  used  in  the 
sense  of  sanguinary  by  the  rudest 
and  foulest-mouthed  of  the  vul- 
gar. Did  these  people  know 
the  harmlessness  of  the  odious 
epithet,  as  they  now  understand 
it — if  they  understand  it  at  all' 
— they  would  perhaps  cease  to 
employ  it,  as    not  sufficiently 


coarse  and  disgusting  to  suit 
their  ideas  of  the  emphatic. 
Dean  Swift,  who  was  partially 
acquainted  with  the  vernacu- 
lar Gaelic  of  Ireland,  wrote  from 
Dublin  to  his  friend  Gay  that  it 
was  '  bloody  hot ' — an  expres- 
sion which  he  would  not  have 
permitted  himself  to  use  in  its 
blackguardly  English  sense  of 
sanguinary.  '  Bloody  hot,'  in 
the  use  made  of  it  by  Dean 
Swift,  meant  '  rather  hot.' " 

Mr.  Charles  G.  Leland  writes  : 
"  Mr.  Hotten  thinks  that  this  is 
an  expletive  without  reference 
to  any  meaning.  Any  one  who 
will  take  the  pains  to  look  over 
the  sanguinary  words  in  any 
European  language  can  at  once 
perceive  a  great  deal  of  meaning 
in  the  association  of  Moody  with 
evil  or  revolting.  We  find,  for 
instance,  ill  or  evil  blood,  blood- 
thirsty, blood-stained,  bloody, 
in  the  sense  of  cruel  or  atro- 
cious, bloody  council,  blood- 
guilty,  and  in  German  or  Dutch, 
blood-shame  or  incest,  a  blood- 
revenger,  bloody  revenge,  and 
in  all  three  '  a  bloody  villain  ' 
for  murderer,  as  nothing  is  more 
natural  than  for  an  adjective  or 
adverb  used  in  so  many  oppro- 
brious meanings  to  take  on 
others.  The  transfer  of  Uoody 
from  murderous  to  everything 
wicked  or  bad  seems  as  natural 
as  Max  O'liell's  derivation  of  it 
from  By'r  Lady  1  is  absurd.  As 
11.  H.  Proctor  remarks,  in  his 
Americanisms  ( '  Knowledge  ' ), 
it  is  '  simple  nonsense.'  The 
Germans  have  btutwenig,  which 


140 


Bloody — Blot. 


has  nothing  to  do  with  Hut, 
'  blood ; '  the  first  component 
is  a  dialectal  form  of  bloss, 
'merely.' 

The  Earl  of  Suffolk  gives 
the  following  definition  of 
the  word:  "Bloody,  an  orna- 
mental adjective  of  infinite 
adaptability  and  significance. 
'J'his  word  is  used  largely 
though  not  exclusively  in  turf 
circles." 

Bloody  Jemmy  (popular),  sheep's 
head. 

Bloody  king's,  a  red-brick  church 
in  Barnwell  (St.  Mary's  the 
Less),  resembling  King's  Col- 
lege Chapel  in  architecture. 

Bloody  Mary's,  the  red-brick 
church,  St.  Paul's,  resembling 
St.  Mary's  in  Cambridge,  the 
University  church. 

Bloody  shirt,  the  (American), 
agitation  of  the  war  question 
after  the  Civil  War. 

"Chorus  of  mugwump,  democratic,  and 
rebel  yells  :  Here's  Blaine  waving  the 
bloijiiy  shirt  again.  The  colour  line  is 
wiped  out ;  the  negro  question  is  settled, 
and  all  Southern  negroes  interested  in  poli- 
tics are  democrats.  Down  with  the  sec- 
tional question  ! " 

Bloomer  (Australian),  prison  slang 
for  a  mistake.  Abbreviated 
from  the  expression  "a  bloom- 
ing error." 


manner,  or  to  express  disap- 
pointment or  ruffled  feelings — 
'  mild  swearing,  in  fact.  It  is 
applied  to  everything  from  a 
swell  to  an  oyster. 

Heard  on  the  course  at  Ascot  after 
mounted  bobby  had  rushed  amongst  horses 
in  Prince  of  Wales'  Stakes  and  completely 
spoiled  Phil's  chance  of  winning.  Irate 
backer  of  Phil,  with  feeling  :  "Just  like 
niy  blooming  luck  ;  a  blooming  peeler's 
stood  in  my  way  all  my  life." — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 

He  had  been  tried  and  found  guilty  of 
murder.  The  day  had  come  for  his  execu- 
tion, and  the  Talepitcher  and  Tom  Beard 
had  made  a  special  journey  to  the  gallows 
with  a  Church  Service  and  a  German  dic- 
tionary to  liear  his  last  words.  As  the  fatal 
moment  approached  he  turned  to  the  hang- 
man, in  a  dazed,  half-conscious  manner: 

"  What  day  o'  the  week  is  this  ?" 

"  Monday,"  replied  Berry. 

"  Monday,  is  it  ?  Well,  s'whelp  my 
good  garden  stuff,  this  is  a  bloomin  nice 
way  to  commence  the  week !  " — sporting 
Times. 

Bloomy  (American),  fiowers;  from 
tlie  Dutch. 

Bloss  (American  thieves),  woman, 
girl,  mistress  ;  from  blossom,  old 
English  slang. 

I  only  piked  into  Grassville  with  a  dim- 
ber-damber,  who  couldn't  pad  the  hoof  for 
a  single  darkman's  without  his  bloss  to 
keep  him  from  getting  pogy.  —  On  the 
Trail. 

Blot  the  scrip  (popular),  to  engage 
to  do  anything  by  a  written 
instrument. 


Blooming  (common),  used  com- 
monly for  emphasising  a  word, 
but    generally    in    an    ironical 


Blot  the  scrip,  and  jark  it  (old 
cant),  to  stand  surety  or  bail 
for  anv  one. 


Bloviate — Blow. 


141 


Bloviate  (American),  a  made  up 
or  "factitious"  word,  which  has 
been  used  since  1850,  and  is 
perhaps  older.  It  is  irregularly 
used  to  signify  verbosity,  wan- 
dering from  the  subject,  and 
idle  or  inflated  oratory  or  blow- 
ing, by  which  word  it  was  pro- 
bably suggested,  being  parti- 
ally influenced  by  "  deviate." 

Blow  (university),  a  drunken 
frolic  ;  an  old  slang  phrase  for- 
merly much  in  vogue  at  both 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  but  not 
much  used  now,  such  words  as 
"spree,"  "tight,"  &c.,  having 
superseded  it.  Also,  "to  blow" 
and  "to  go  on  the  Uotc."  (Old 
cant),  "  He  has  hit  the  blow," 
i.e.,  he  has  stolen  the  goods,  or 
done  the  deed.  (Common),  a 
shilling. 

For  this  I  went  to  the  Steel  (Bastile — 
Cold  Bath  Fields  Prison),  having  a  new 
suit  of  clobber  on  me,  and  about  fifty  blow 
in  my  brigh  (pocket).  When  I  came  out 
I  went  at  the  same  old  game. — J.  Horsley : 
Prison  Jottings. 

Blow,  blow  it  (American  thieves' 
slang),  to  be  silent,  be  quiet ! 
hold  your  chatter  I  This  is 
quite  the  opposite  of  the  English 
slang  "to  blow,"  which  means 
to  inform  on,  or  the  common 
American  "  to  blow,"  i.e.,  to  talk 
loudly  and  emptily. 

Mac  Clarty  objected  ;  giving  the  young 
man  a  warning  look,  he  said,  "Nixey 
Toohey,  get  out  flash — blo^u  it,  man,  blo^u 
it!"  which  meant  that  Mr.  Mac  Clarty 
thought  that  Mr.  Toohey  ought  not  to  talk 
so  much. — Philadelphia   Press,    Dec.    8, 


Blow,  blow  on,  upon  (common), 
to  expose,  inform. 

And  she  ain't  got  nobody  but  me  to  keep 
a  secret  for  her,  and  I've  been  and  blotued 
on  her. — J.  Greenwood :  Dick  Temple. 

You  wouldn't  blow  an  old  chum  among 
his  friends,  would  you  ? — Sam  Slick :  The 
Clockmaker. 

Depend  upon  it  that  they're  on  the  scent 
down  here,  and  that  if  he  moved,  he'd 
blow  upon  the  thing  at  once. — Dickens : 
Oliver  Tzuist. 

But  I  will  blow  her,  he  said,  I  will  blow 
her  ladyship's  conduct  in  the  business. — 
Sir  Walter  Scott :  St.  Ronan's  Well. 

Derived  from  the  primary  mean- 
ing to  blow,  to  spread  by  report 
as  if  with  a  trumpet,  to  publish ; 
or  from  to  blow  upon,  to  taint, 
to  blast,  to  bring  into  disfavour 
or  discredit. 

Happily  for  him,  he  was  not  put  to 
the  bar  till  the  first  burst  of  popular  rage 
had  spent  itself,  and  till  the  credit  of  the 
false  witnesses  had  been  blown  upon. — 
Macaulay. 

In  Dutch  an  ear-blower,  oor- 
bleazer,  means  an  instigator, 
informer,  or  sycophant ;  the 
French  siffler  dans  I'oreUle  seems 
to  be  closely  allied  to  it.  (Win- 
chester), to  bloiv  signifies  to 
blush,  like  a  rose  in  full  bloom. 
(American),  to  blow,  to  brag, 
or  "  gas  "  unduly.  (Old  slang), 
"  to  blow  the  groundsels,"  using 
the  floor  for  the  purpose  of  sexual 
intercourse.  (Common),  "toblow 
the  gaff,"  to  reveal  the  secret, 
to  "  peach,"  to  inform.  The  old 
form  still  in  use  is  "to  blow 
the  gab,"  i.e.,  to  utter  the  dis- 
course, which  has  more  meaning 
in  it. 


142 


Blow — Blower. 


Why,  he  scarcely  knows  a  jimmy  from  a 
round  robin,  and  Jack  deserved  the  tippet 
for  making  a  law  with  him,  as  all  coves 
of  his  kiuney  "blow  the  gaflF." — On  the 
Trail. 

Sometimes  "  to  blow  the  gag," 
which  literally  signifies  to  blow 
off  the  metaphoric  impediment 
which  keeps  one's  mouth  closed 
To  blow  off,  to  treat  to  drinks 
(Common),  hloio  out,  a  good  meal 

That  was  a  rare  good  blow  out,  solilo' 
quises  Dan,  complacently  recalling  the 
taste  of  the  savoury  viands. — Savage  Lon 
don. 

Blowed,  to  be  blmved.  This  expres- 
sion is  a  weak  attempt  to  avoid 
the  use  of  the  oaths  "  damn  "  or 
"  blast,"  and  occurs  in  only  such 
expressions  as  ' '  I'll  be  blowed  if 
I  do,"  and  many  others  that 
are  continually  heard  from 
the  mouths  of  the  populace. 
Tom  Hood  was  asked  to  con- 
tribute to  a  new  cheap  periodi- 
cal for  nothing,  or  for  a  small 
advance  as  he  termed  it  upon 
nothing,  and  replied  to  the 
request  that  he  would  will- 
ingly do  so  in  the  interest  of 
cheap  literature,  if  his  butcher 
and  baker  would  act  upon  the 
same  principle  towards  himself. 
He  cited  a  letter  on  the  subject 
which  he  had  received  from  his 
butcher : — 

Sir, — Respectin'  your  note ;  cheap  litera- 
ture be  blo7ved !  Butchers  must  live  as 
well  as  other  people,  and  if  so  be  as  you 
and  the  readin'  public  wants  to  have  meat 
at  prime  cost,  you  must  buy  in  our  beast- 
esses,  and  kill  yourselves. — John  Stokes. 

It's  no  shame  to  lie  defeated  by  Peck- 
sniff. />7oK>  Pecksniff. — Dickens  :  Martin 
Chuzzte-.rit. 


Blowen  (thieves),  originally  a 
showy  courtesan,  a  prostitute, 
but  now  used  more  in  the  sense 
of  woman,  mistress. 

Tramp  it,  tramp  it,  my  jolly  blo^ven. 
Or  be  grabbed  by  the  beaks  we  may. 

And  we  shall  caper  a-heel-and-toeing 

A  Newgate  hornpipe  some  fine  day. 

—  William  Maginn. 

All  the  most  fashionable  prigs,  or  toby- 
men,  sought  to  get  him  into  their  set ;  and 
the  most  crack  bloiven  in  London  would 
have  given  her  ears  at  any  time  for  a'  loving 
word  from  Bachelor  Bill. — Lytton  :  Paul 
Clifford. 

It  is  used  with  a  like  meaning 
by  American  thieves. 

Ah,  Bell !  you  were  always  the  blowen 
for  a  rum  bing. — On  the  Trail. 

M.  O.  Davis  gives  the  definition 
of  "  blowen,  a  showy  woman, 
used  disparagingly,"  which 
would  imply  that  it  is  derived 
from  blown,  i.e.,  inflated.  It 
seems  on  the  contrary  to  be 
used  in  a  complimentary  sense, 
a  simile  from  a  fiill-blown  flower, 
and  this  poetical  derivation  is 
borne  out  by  the  closely  allied 
term,  bloivess,  a  pet,  and  bloss, 
a  woman,  from  blossom  in  Ame- 
rican thieves'  lingo. 

Blower  (American),  a  noisy,  talk- 
ative man,  a  "  gas-bag." 

A  man  who  earns  his  living  by  travelling 
about  with  a  lung-tester  was  in  Indiana- 
polis the  other  day.  He  was  approached 
by  a  tall,  well-fed  personage,  wlio  handed 
him  five  cents  and  prepared  to  blow  into 
his  machine. 

"Hold  on — hold  on  a  minute!"  said 
the  street  faker,  excitedly,  as  he  scanned 
his  customer  a  moment,  and  jerked  the 
tube  out  of  his  hand  ;  "  ain't  you  Dan 
V'oorhees  ?  " 


Blower — Blown. 


143 


"  I  am  D.  W.  Voorhees,"  replied  the 
tall  man,  in  some  surprise. 

"  Then  you  can't  touch  this  machine.  I 
wouldn't  have  it  burst  for  $50.  Here  is 
your  nickel.  This  ain't  no  elephant  lung- 
tester.  " 

And  shouldering  his  macliine  the  man 
walked  rapidly  away,  as  if  he  had  had  a 
narrow  escape. 

It  wonld  appear  from  this 
artless  anecdote  that  Mr.  Voor- 
hees has  a  natural  reputation 
as  a  hlmcer.  It  is  said  that  the 
late  Horace  Greeley,  during  a 
trip  from  New  York  to  Phila- 
delphia, being  engaged  in  a 
political  discussion,  went  on 
"narrating"  or  "orating"  for 
a  long  time,  while  all  the  other 
passengers  kept  silence  in  ad- 
miration of  the  great  man. 
But  the  conductor,  not  knowing 
who  the  speaker  was,  and  think- 
ing that  he  was  monopolising 
an  undue  share  of  conversation 
—a  great  offence  in  the  United 
States — stepped  up  to  him  with 
the  remark,  "  Old  man,  you 
talh  too  much.  Shut  up  1  We 
don't  allow  no  such  Mowing  on 
this  train."  And  then  there 
was  a  roar  of  laughter  "  fit  to 
blow  the  roof  off." 

(Popular),  a  tobacco-pipe. 

Blow  in  (American),  another 
form  of  "blew,"  to  spend  one's 
money. 

".Sam?  Isn't  he  in  the  valley?"  "Not 
much  !  Sam  got  two  months'  wages  ahead, 
so  he  cracked  his  whip,  and  went  off  on  a 
bend."  "To  hlmu  in'f"  Jake  laughed 
assent. ^.S'aa'(^/«  and  Moccasin. 

"  To  Umo  in  one's  pile,"  to  spend 
one's  money,  to  pay. 


I  had  "  blcnvn  in  my  pile  " 
On  the  strength  of  his  tip. 
The  name  of  the  horse 
Was  on  many  a  lip  ; 
But  I  learnt,  ere  sunset,  to  my  sorrow 
Tliat  there's  slips  twixt  the  cup  and  the 
lip. 

—  Turf,  Field,  and  Farm. 

Blowing     (Australian,    popular), 

boasting,  bragging. 

The  public-houses  presented  a  very  busy 
sight,  and  judging  by  the  bars  it  seemed 
that  when  men  were  not  eating,  sleeping, 
or  working,  they  were  drinking  grog  and 
boasting  (or  blowing,  in  colonial  parlance) 
of  some  feat  which  they  had  performed, 
or  of  the  particular  merits  of  some  horse, 
bullock,  dog,  or  man. — Grant:  Bush  Life. 

The  metaphor  probably  is  "hlow- 
inf/ one's  own  trumpet,"  if  indeed 
it  be  not  simply  an  abbreviation, 
Australian  slang  being  given  to 
abbreviations  of  all  kinds.  An- 
thony Trollope  gave  a  good  deal 
of  offence  in  Australia  by  speak- 
ing of  blowing  as  a  national  fail- 
ing out  there. 

(American),  "  blotoing  his  ba- 
zoo," blowing  his  own  trumpet, 
boasting.  From  the  Dutch  feaz», 
abbreviation  of  bazuin,  a  trum- 
pet or  trombone,  "  Jeniand.i  lof 
bazuynen,"  to  sound  one's  (own) 
praise.  (Thieves),  "  blowing  out 
a  red  light,"  stealing  a  gold 
watch,  a  white  light  being  a 
silver  watch.  (Nautical),  "  blow- 
ing ^rc&t  guns  and  small  arras," 
heavy  gales,  a  hurricane ;  "  bloir- 
iug  the  grampus,"  throwing 
water  over  a  man  on  watch  who 
has  fallen  asleep. 

Blown  together  (tailors),  gar- 
ments badly  made  are  said  to 
have  been  blown  together. 


144 


Blow  out — Blue. 


Blow  out  (common),  an  entertain- 
ment or  feast. 

"  She'  sent  me  a  card  for  a  blow  out" 
said  Mowbray,  "  and  so  I  am  resolved  to 
go." — Sir  Walter  Scott:  St.  Ronan's 
Well. 


Synonyms  are  "  spread," 
up." 


flare 


Blow  up  (common),  so  universally 
used  as  to  have  almost  ceased 
to  be  slang;  to  vehemently  scold, 
reprimand. 

The  other  day  some  poor  fellow  married 
a  somewhat  faded  beauty,  and  one  of  his 
former  acquaintances  inquired  how  the 
newly-wedded  pair  were  getting  on. 
"  Very  indifferent,"  was  the  reply.  "  She's 
always  bloiving  hit7i  up."  "I'm  not  sur- 
prised at  that,"  said  the  first.  "Look  at 
the  amount  of  powder  she  carries  about 
her."— /l//^  Sloper's  Half  Holiday. 

To  give  a  hlomng  up  is  synony- 
mous. 

(Workmen),  to  hlow  up  (i.e., 
to  sound  the  whistle),  is  to  call 
the  men  to  work  ;  used  by  fore- 
men and  gaugers. 

Blowsy  (common),  wild,  dis- 
ordered, dishevelled,  generally 
applied  to  the  hair  of  a  woman 
when  unkempt,  disarranged,  and 
streaming  over  her  forehead  and 
face.  "  Blowsabella "  is  the 
name  given  to  a  personage  in  an 
ancient  mock  heroic  poem. 

Blub  (popular),  an  abbreviation 
of  to  "blubber,"  to  cry  like  a 
child  with  noise  and  slavering. 

Don't    be    a    fool    and    blub,    Jim,    it's  a 

darned  good  thing  for  you, 
You'll  find  a  mate  as  can  carry  and   I'll 

play  the  music  too. 
— lieonie  K.  .Siins:  ballads  of  linbylon. 


Blubber  (popular),  the  mouth; 
to  "  sport  blubber"  is  said  of  a 
large  coarse  woman  who  exposes 
her  bosom ;  blubber  and  guts, 
obesity ;  blubber-heUj,  a  fat 
person  ;  blubber-head,  a  stupid 
person.  (Nautical),  blubber  boiler, 
a  whaling  vessel.  (Common), 
blubber  cheeks,  large  flaccid 
cheeks  hanging  like  the  fat  or 
blubber  of  a  whale.  The  terra 
has  ceased  to  be  slang. 

Bluchers  (Winchester),  college 
prefects  with  only  "half" 
power,  which  means  they  can 
only  "fag"  men  in  "hall"  or 
"  chambers." 

The  remaining  eight  college  prefects 
(called  in  Winchester  tongue  bluchers)  have 
a  more  limited  authority,  confined  to 
chambers  and  the  quadrangle. — Black- 
woods  Edinburgh  Magazine. 

Bludgers  (thieves\  fellows  who  do 
not  hesitate  to  use  the  bludgeon. 

Bludget,  a  low  female  thief  who 
decoys  her  victims  into  alley- 
ways, &c.,  to  rob  them  (New 
York  Slang  Dictionary).  Bludger 
(English  slang),  a  man  who  uses 
violence  in  robbery ;  it  has  pos- 
sibly some  connection  with  the 
old  Dutch  slang  word  bollctje,  a 
man  or  master.  "  Volmaakt, 
bolletje,  volmaakt  1 " 

Blue  (common).  This  word  en- 
ters into  several  slang  phrases, 
not  only  English  but  of  other 
nationalities. 

To  be  in  "the  blues,"  to  have 
a  "fit  of  the  blues"  (in  French 
broycrdu  noir),  to  be  afliicted  wit  h 


Blue. 


145 


' "  Uue  devils,"  to  drink  till  "  all 
is  blue"  "  to  be  partial  to  blue 
ruin,"  "tolookblue,"  "tocryblue 
murder,"  are  all  familiar  phrases 
of  ancient  origin  and  modern 
prevalence.  * '  Du  vin  bleu,"  and 
"  petit  bleu,"  are  used  by  the 
French  to  signify  thin,  sour, 
unwholesome  wine,  terms  which 
owe  their  origin  to  a  similar 
association  of  ideas. 

In  some  of  those  with  melan- 
choly meanings,  there  is  an 
evident  connection  between  blue 
as  a  colour,  and  the  idea  of 
grief,  disappointment.  Thus  the 
French  have  the  expression, 
"En  voir  de  Ueues,"  to  meet 
with  great  disappointment,  an- 
noyance, sufferings,  a  variant 
of  "En  voir  de  grises."  "En 
bailler  tout  bleu,"  to  be  gaping 
with  astonishment  at  some  news 
or  act  which  arouses  one's  in- 
dignation, from  the  livid  hue  of 
the  face. 

Charles  G.  Leland  makes  the 
following  remarks : — 

"  Blue,  English  popular  slang, 
but  somewhat  extended  in  the 
United  States.  When  this  word 
is  used  to  denote  extremes,  as 
'  to  drink  till  all  is  blue,'  '  a  dyed 
in  the  wool  blue  Presbyterian,' 
'  true-blue  '  in  political  opinions 
or  honesty,  it  would  appear  that 
its  origin  is  possibly  maritime. 
Mue  water  was  till  a  recent 
period  always  described  as  oil 
or  out  of  soundings,  so  that, 
like  the  sky,  it  suggests  no  end. 
It  is  remarkable  that  in  both 
German  and  Dutch  the  same 
idea  of  extremity  is  connected 


with  Uue.  An  utterly  bad,  piti- 
ful result  in  the  latter  is  '  Een 
blauwe  uytvlugt.'  In  the  last  ex- 
tremity of  dead  drunkenness, 
or  in  the  swoons  of  a  man  in 
the  delirium  tremer^s,  a  blue  sky 
or  atmosphere  seems  to  gather 
round  the  victim,  in  which  a 
luminous  point  appears,  which 
'  seems  to  come  directly  at  him,' 
as  the  writer  has  heard  it  de- 
scribed. To  look  blv£  is  pro- 
bably derived,  like  blue-noses, 
from  cold,  or  from  approaching 
death,  which  latter  would  suffi- 
ciently account  for  the  relation 
of  blue  to  despair,  despondency, 
and  misery." 

"  Now,  shendlemens,  I  sings  you  a  song 
of  mine  own  vot  I  translade  from  de  Sher- 
man of  Schiller  "  : — 

Dere  is  an  oldt  saying,  und  I  peliefe  id 

is  true. 
Dot  ven  a  man  dies  his  fingers  tooirn 

/>/ue, 
His  fingers  toom  />iue  by  de  light  of  de 

moon, 
Und  vy  shouldn't  efery  man  enjoy  his 

own  room  ? 
Gorus. — Room,  poys,  room,  by  de  light 

of  de  moon, 
Und  vy  shouldn't   efery  man  enjoy  his 

own  room  ? 

— Yale  College  Song. 

"  Blue  devils  and  red  monkeys 
are  said  by  the  experienced  to 
be  the  characteristic  appari- 
tions which  haunt  drunkards." 

(Common),  to  talk  blue,  to 
talk  immodestly,  or  libidinously. 
"A  bit  of  blue,"  an  obscene  or 
libidinous  anecdote.  "  A  brown 
conversation"  and  "a  brown 
study  "  is  used  in  the  contrary 
sense,  and  means  seriously, 
gravely,  and  decently. 
K 


146 


Blue — Blue-  blazer. 


(Oxford  and  Cambridge),  a 
man  is  said  to  get  his  blue  (that 
is,  the  right  to  wear  the  Uni- 
versity colour)  when  he  repre- 
sents his  University  against 
the  rival  university,  in  the  an- 
nual boat-race,  cricket-match, 
athletic  sports,  or  football 
matches. 

Blue,  blew,  to  (common),  to  pawn 
or  pledge,  to  spend  or  lose  one's 
money  at  gambling,  to  waste 
money  generally.  Varied  to 
Uew,  from  the  phrase  "blown 
in,"  which  refers  to  money 
that  has  been  spent,  as  in  the 
phrase,  "  I  '  blewed '  all  my 
tin."  For  another  derivation 
see  Blewed. 

He'd  a  rooted  aversion  to  everything 
blue, 
And  so  innately  modest  was  he 
That  he  blushed   when  his  optics  en- 
countered a  view 
Of  the  broadly  cerulean  sea. 
He  adored  modest  maidens  of  charming 
eighteen, 
But  blue-stockings  he'd  always  eschew. 
And  he  carried  his  tastes  to  the  verge  of 
the  mean — 
He  had  oof,  which  he  never  would 
blew. 

— Sporting  Times. 

"  To  blew  a  job,"  to  make  a 
mess  of  a  business ;  from  to 
blow  in  the  sense  of  make  worth- 
less ;  (thieves),  to  bleio,  to  steal ; 
"Ikwcd  of  his  red  'un,"  i.e.,  his 
watch  stolen  from  him.  "  I've 
been  Uewcd  of  my  skin,"  I've 
been  robbed  of  my  purse. 

Blue-apron  (common),  a  Wuc-opron 
statesman.  "Alay  politician,  a 
tradesman  who  interferes  with 


the  affairs  of  the  nation.  The 
reference  is  to  the  blue  apron 
once  worn  by  almost  all  trades- 
men, but  now  restricted  to  but- 
chers, poulterers,  fishmongers, 
and  so  on"  (Dr.  Brewer's  Dic- 
tionary of  Phrase  and  Fable). 

Blue  bill  (Winchester),  every 
"man"  in  " Commoners,"  that 
is,  school,  in  contradistinction 
to  college,  has  his  tradesman's 
bills  enclosed  in  a  blue  envelope 
given  to  him  by  the  head-master 
on  the  last  evening  of  the  half, 
after  "  preces "  or  prayers,  at 
8-45  P.M.,  in  "Mugging  Hall." 
(See  this  word.) 

Blue  Billy  (popular),  the  hand- 
kerchief (blue  ground  with 
white  s^DOts)  sometimes  worn 
and  used  as  a  colour  at  prize- 
fights. Also  the  refuse  ammo- 
niacal  lime  from  gas  factories 
(Hotten). 

Blue  blanket  (vagrants),  explained 
by  quotation : — 

The  vagabond  brotherhood  have  several 
slang  terms  for  sleeping  out  in  a  field  or 
meadow.  It  is  called  "  snoozing  in  Hedge 
Square,"  "  dossing  with  the  daisies,"  and 
* '  Ij'ing  under  the  Hue  blanket." — J.  Green- 
•wood :  Under  the  Blue  Blanket. 

The  French  have  the  equi- 
valent "  Coucher  h,  I'hotel  de 
I'Etoile."  (Popular),  a  large 
rough  coat,  a  pilot  coat. 

Blue-blazer  (American),  a  fancy 
drink  of  sugar,  hot  water,  and 
spirits,  but  made  in  a  peculiar 
manner. 


Blue-blazes — Blue  murders. 


147 


Blue-blazes  (common),  helL  As 
there  is  probably  no  man  who 
has  ever  heard  of  hell  who  has 
not  been  taught  to  associate  it 
with  burning  sulphur  or  brim- 
stone, the  expression  does  not 
seem  to  be  so  meaningless  as 
some  writers  suppose.  (Popular), 
spirituous  liquors. 

Blue  boar  (old  cant),  the  vulgar 
term  for  a  venereal  disease. 

Blue-bottle  (general),  a  policeman, 
a  constable,  termed  also  a  "  blue 
devil." 

The  Bobby's  big  boot,  though,  is  nudging 

her  now, 
And  she   sleepily   stutters,    "  All   right ! 

Whatsh  th'row?" 
Then  the  buzz  of  the  blue  bottle's  borne  on 

the  breeze — 
"  Now  move  yourself,  'Liza  1    Come,  pass 

along,  please  1 " 

— Sfiorting  Tunes. 

It  occurs  in  Shakspeare  in 
the  Second  Part  of  King  Henry 
IV.,  where  Doll  Tearsheet 
calls  the  beadle  "  a  Uue-iotUe 
rogue."  Most  etymologists  agree 
in  ascribing  the  appellation  to 
the  colour  of  a  policeman's  uni- 
form. The  term  was  formerly 
applied  to  servants  dressed  in 
blue  liveries.  The  police  force 
is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  the 
"blues."  The  old  French  city 
police  were  termed  by  thieves 
les  verts,  from  their  green  uni- 
forms, and  nowadays  a  French 
rogue  will  talk  of  les  serins 
(canaries),  i.e.,  gendarmes,  with 
yellow  facings.  The  rebel 
chouans  called  the  Republican 


soldiers  ha  ileus.  The  Austrians 
and  the  English  were  respec- 
tively styled  les  blancs  and 
liabits  rouges  by  French  soldiery. 
Again,  "blue  bellies"  was  a 
term  applied  by  the  Confederate 
soldiery  during  the  CivU  War 
to  the  Federals,  on  account  of 
their  blue  gaberdines,  and  the 
latter  dubbed  their  adversaries 
"grey-backs."  Many  other  ex- 
amples might  be  given  in  sup- 
port of  the  above  derivation  of 
blue-bottles. 

Blue  boy  (popular),  a  bubo. 

Blue  butter  (popular),  mercurial 
ointment. 

Blue  cheek  (popular),  explained 
by  quotation. 

There  were  three  fashions  for  whiskers 
when  I  was  a  child,  and  they  were  vari- 
ously known  as  dlue  cheek,  the  whisker 
shaved  off  and  leaving  the  cheek  blue  ; 
"  bacca  pipe,"  the  whisker  curled  in  tiny 
ringlets) ;  and  "  touzle,"  or  whisker  worn 
bushy.  —  /.  Greenwood :  Outcasts  of 
London. 

Blue  flag  (popular),  a  blue  apron 
worn  by  butchers,  greengrocers, 
&c.     "He  has  hoisted  the  blue 

fiag." 

Blue  funk  (English  and  Ameri- 
can), extreme  fright. 

It  put  me  in  a  regular  blue  funk. — 
Punch. 

Blue  moon  (proverbial),  an  unde- 
fined period,  used  in  the  phrase, 
"  Once  in  a  blue  moon." 

Blue  murders  (popular),  a  great 
and  unusual  noise.    To  call  blue 


148 


Blue  noses — Blue  ruin. 


murders,  to  call  out  loudly.  "  If 
you  hit  me  again  I'll  call  out 
blue  murders." 

Blue  noses  (Americanism), 
natives  of  Nova  Scotia. 

"  Pray,  sir,"  said  one  of  my  fellow-pas- 
sengers, "can  _you  tell  me  the  reason  why 
the  Nova  Scotians  are  called  bliu  noses  ?  " 
"  It  is  the  name  of  a  potato,"  said  I, 
"  which  they  produce  in  the  greatest  per- 
fection, and  boast  to  be  the  best  in  the 
world.  The  Americans  have  in  conse- 
quence given  them  the  nickname  of  Hue 
noses." — Haliburton  :  Sam  Slick. 

Blue  peter  (nautical),  the  signal 
for  sailing  when  hoisted  at  the 
foretop  mast-head.  This  well- 
known  flag  has  a  blue  ground 
with  a  white  square  in  the 
centre  (Admiral  Smyth). 

The  blue  peter  has  long  been  flying  at 
my  foremast,  and  .  .  .  now  I  must  soon 
expect  the  signal  for  sailing.  — Justin 
McCarthy :  A  History  of  Our  Ozvn 
Times. 

This  expression  is  also  ap- 
plied to  the  call  for  trumps 
in  whist. 

Blue  pigeon  (thieves),  the  lead 
on  roofs  ;  to  fly  or  shoot  the 
hlue  pigeon,  to  steal  lead  off 
the  roofs  of  buildings.  (Nauti- 
cal), a  nickname  for  the  sound- 
ing lead. 

Blue  pill  (American),  a  bullet. 
Lead  has  long  been  termed  bluey 
in  England,  and  death  by  a 
bullet  blue  murder,  but  the 
enormous  consumption  of  hlue 
fills  or  calomel  in  the  United 
States  renders  it  possible  that 
the  simile  originated  there. 


.  .  .  That  if  he  did  so  he  would  be  re- 
ceived with  a  welcome  from  a  horse-pistol. 
To  which  the  answer  was,  "  Hev  got  a 
mountain  howitzer  witch  karrys  a  fore- 
pound  (4  lb.)  ball,  and  I  intend  to  blow 
you  and  your  house  to  hel  before  I  begin 
on  your  turkers.  So  come  on  with  your 
pistil  and  blue  pil. — Knickerbocker  Maga- 
zine. 

Blue  plumbs  (thieves),  bullets. 

No  rapture  can  equal  the  tobyman's  joys. 
To  blue  devils  blue  plumbs  give   the 
go-by. 

— Ainsworih:  Rookwood. 

Blue  ribbon  (racing),  the  term  is 
only  applied  to  the  Derby. 

Melton,  who  won  the  blue  ribbon  after 
one  of  the  most  exciting  finishes. — Illus- 
trated London  News. 

Blue  ruin  (popular),  gin  of  inferior 
quality.      Termed    also    "blue 
ribband." 
His  ear  caught   the  sound  of  the   word 

viorbleu  > 
Pronounced  by  the  old  woman  under  her 

breath  ; 
Now,  not  knowing  what  she  could  mean  by 

blue  death. 
He  conceived  she   referred  to  a  delicate 

brewing. 
Which    is   almost    synonymous,   namely, 
blue  ruin- 

— In^oldsby  Legends. 

A  tumbler  of  blue  ruin  fill,  fill  for  me  1 
Red  tape  those  as  likes  it  may  drain, 
I5ut  whatever  the  lush,  it  a  bumper  must 
be. 

— Lord  Lytton  :  Paul  Clifford. 

Dr.  Brewer  gives  the  explana- 
tion: "Blue,  from  its  tint,  and 
ruin,  from  Its  effects."  Compare 
as  regards  similes  of  colour  "red 
tape,"  red  wine  ;  "  petit  bleu," 
coarse  red  wine;  "  une  verte" 
or  "  i^rroquet,"  a  glass  of  ab- 
sinthe (which  is  green);  "une 
brune,"  a  glass  of  porter  ;  "  une 


Blue  ruin — Blujff. 


149 


blonde,"  a  glass  of  ale;  "une 
jaune,"  a  dram  of  brandy ; 
"une  dame  blanche,"  a  bottle 
of  white  wine;  "pi vols  sa- 
vonn^,"  white  wine;  "nd- 
gresse,"  bottle  of  red  wine. 
And  with  respect  to  pernicious 
effects,  "  breaky  leg,"  strong 
drink ;  "  eau-de-mort,  casse- 
poitrine,  tord-boyaux,"  rank 
brandy.  The  term  blue  ruin 
must  have  been  coined  by 
sober  people,  or  by  repentant 
drunkards,  whilst  those  other- 
wise inclined  gave  it  the  fond 
appellation  of  "white  velvet," 
or  "white  satin,"  unconsciously 
imitated  by  French  dram-drink- 
ers, when,  after  having  tossed 
off  some  horrible  stuff  in  an 
assommoir,  they  fervently  ejacu- 
late, "  C'est  un  velours,  quoi  I  " 

Blues  (common),  the  Royal  Horse 
Guards ;   the  Bluecoat  school ; 

.  the  crews  of  the  'Varsity  boat 
race — the  dark  blues  being  the 
Oxford  men,  and  the  light  Uucs 
those  from  Cambridge;  the 
police  force. 

Well,  what's  the  row  .  .  , 

Or  whether   this   here  mobbing,  as   some 

longish  heads  foretell  it, 
Will  grow  to  such  a  riot  that  the  Oxford 

Hues  must  quell  it  ? 

— Hood  Row  at  the  Oxford  Amis. 

(Society),  "a  fit  of  the  blues" 
means  a  fit  of  depression ;  it 
is  abbreviated  from  the  "blue 
devils,"  which  are  supposed  to 
appear  to  a  man  suffering  from 
delirium  tremens. 

She  had  attracted  him  for  a  while,  but 
his  strong  good  common  sense,  as  well  as 


his  strong  healthy  body  and  robust  habits, 
soon  carried  him  out  of  the  blues  he  had 
for  a  while  fallen  into. — Lucy  Farmer; 
or,  Chronicles  ofCardew  Manor. 

Blue  skin  (West  Indian),  the 
child  of  a  black  woman  by  a 
white  man.  The  name  of  a 
mulatto,  one  of  the  characters  of 
Ainsworth's  "  Jack  Sheppard." 

Blue  squadron,  one  of  the  (East 
Indian),  a  person  having  a  cross 
of  the  Indian  breed. 

Blue  the  screw,  to  (popular),  to 
spend  one's  salary. 

He  buys  her  gloves  and  dresses  new. 
And  stands  her  dinners  down  at  Kew ; 
In  fact  on  her  blues  all  his  screw. 
Which  some  day  he  will  sadly  rue. 
— The  Gaiety  Masher:  Broadside. 

Bluey  (thieves),  lead.  (Austra- 
lian), a  bushman's  bundle,  the 
outside  wrapper  of  which  is 
generally  a  blue  blanket 
(Murray). 

Bluff,  to  (American,  low),  to  put 
down  by  a  bold  front,  to  oppose 
by  "cheek"  or  effrontery. 

I  did  not  care  if  it  took  me  a  week  ;  I 
was  not  going  to  be  bluffed  by  them. — 
North  of  England  Advertiser. 

German,  bluff  en.  The  eleventh 
commandment  among  thieves 
in  Germany  is  "  Da  sollst 
Dich  nicht  verbluffen  lassen  " — 
"  Don't  let  yourself  be  Uuffed." 
Dutch  blufferd,  a  snarling  fel- 
low ;  bloffen,  to  bark  at.  Also 
Dutch,  verbluffen,  to  put  out  of 
countenance,  to  face  down. 

(Patterers'  slang),  an  excuse, 
a  pretence. 


ISO 


Bluffer — Boarding  school. 


There  is  a  strong  suspicion  among  men 
whose  heads  are  level  that  the  minstrel 
variety  performance  is  a  blujff'  of  the 
"  messenger  "  to  keep  from  the  public  the 
real  motives  of  the  murders. — Bret  Harte: 
Gabriel  Conroy. 

Bluffer  (provincial),  an  innkeeper, 
or  landlord  of  a  public-house. 
(Nautical),  a  boatswain  of  a  ship. 

Bluifingf  (American,  cards),  betting 
high  on  poor  cards  at  poker, 
in  the  hopes  of  frightening  the 
other  players  into  going  out, 
A  crafty  player  wiU  often  allow 
himself  to  be  called  for  a 
small  Um§,  so  as  to  establish 
a  reputation  for  doing  it,  in 
order  to  lie  by  and  win  a  good 
stake  when  he  has  a  really 
good  hand,  on  which  he  has 
thus  induced  his  antagonists  to 
suppose  that  he  is  bluffing.  The 
English  equivalent  for  this  term 
is  "bragging." 

Blunderbuss  (popular),  a  stupid, 
blundering  f  eUow. 

Blunt  (thieves),  money. 

When  the  slow  coach  paused,  and  the 
gemmen  storm'd, 
I  bore  the  brunt — 
And  the  only  sound  which  my  grave  lips 
form'd 
Was  3/««/— still  blunt  I 
—Lord  Lytton :  Paul  Clifford. 

"  Take  care  of  your  watches,  gentle- 
men 1"  said  the  polite  policeman,  endea- 
vouring to  divide  the  mob. 

"  Take  care  of  your  /Hunt,  you  devils  !  " 
yelled  the  gallant  Primrose  Leaguer,  who 
had  come  to  see  the  fun. — Bird  o'  Free- 
dom. 

By  some   the  word  is  derived 
from     Mr.     John     Ijlunt,     the 


chairman  of  the  South  Sea 
Company,  the  famous  bubble  by 
which  a  few  fortunes  were  won, 
and  many  fortunes  were  lost,  in 
1720.  By  others  it  is  thought 
that  the  word  originated  in  the 
French  Uond.  But  hlunt  (some- 
times varied  to  the  hlunt)  is 
more  probably  derived,  as  the 
latter  appellation  implies,  from 
an  allusion  to  the  blunt  rim  of 
coins  or  to  their  hardness,  as  in 
the  phrase  "  hard  cash,"  "  soft " 
being  bank  notes,  and  "  stiffs  " 
cheques  or  bills. 

Blunted   (popular,  and  thieves), 
possessed  of  money. 

Bly-hunka  (tinker),  a  horse. 

B.  N.  C.,  Brasenose  College,  Ox- 
ford. 

Board,  to  (military),  to  borrow. 


Board  him  (nautical),  a  col- 
loquialism for  I'll  ask,  demand, 
or  accost  him  (Admiral  Smyth). 
Shakspeare  makes  Polonius  say 
of  Hamlet : — 

"  I'll  board  him  presently." 

To  "board  him  in  the  smoke," 
means  to  take  a  person  by  sur- 
prise, from  the  simile  of  firing  a 
broadside  and  taking  advantage 
of  the  smoke  to  board. 

Boardings  school  (old  cant),  the 
name  given  by  thieves  and 
similar  characters  to  Newgate 
or  any  other  prison.  "To  go 
to  boardiny  school "  was  to  go 
to  gaol.     French  thieves  call  a 


Boat — Bobachee. 


151 


prison  "pal"  "un  aminche  de 

Boat  (thieves),  originally  to  trans- 
port, the  term  is  now  applied 
to  penal  servitude.  To  "get 
the  hoaf^  or  to  "be  boated"  is 
to  be  sentenced  to  a  long  term 
of  imprisonment  equivalent  to 
transportation  under  the  old 
system  (Hotten).  To  boat  with 
one  is  to  be  a  partner  in  some 
crime,  to  be  an  accomplice. 

"  Does  he  ioai  with  you?"  "  Yes,  and 
he's  an  artist.  Only  last  night,  down  at 
the  Albany  break-up,  he  buzzed  a  bloke 
and  a  shakester  of  a  reader." — On  the 
TraiL 

(Military),  a  good  boat  is  a 
soldier  who  spends  his  money 
freely  with  his  poorer  comrades. 

Bob  (general),  a  shilling.  Origin 
unknown.  Perhaps  from  a 
simile  in  allusion  to  the  meaning 
of  bob,  formerly  bait  for  fish,  the 
coin  being  looked  upon  in  the 
light  of  a  bribe.  "  Bobstick," 
old  slang  for  a  shilling,  would 
in  that  case  be  the  fishing-rod. 
Compare  with  "palm-oil,"  both 
money  and  bribe,  and  the  French 
slang  huilc  de  mains,  same  mean- 
ing. Also  with  (jraisse,  money, 
from  the  phrase  "graisser 
la  patte,"  to  bribe.  It  is 
curious  to  note  that  hob  is  a 
blow,  and  "blow"  slang  for  a 
shilling. 

The  jolliest  fellow  you  ever  met 

Is  a  dismal  man  at  home  ; 
The  wittiest  girl  in  society's  set 

Will  with  headaches  her  wit  atone. 
The  man  whose  graces  a  court  would 
adorn 


Is  tied  to  a  desk  from  night  till  mom  ; 
And  the  man  who  would  lend  his  last 
bob  to  a  friend 
Never  has  the  first  bob  to  lend. 

— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

(Popular),  bob!  stopl  the  re- 
sponse to  the  request  "say 
when,"  while  spirits  are  being 
poured  into  one's  glass. 

"  Bob  a  nob,"  a  shilling  a  head. 

Bob,  in  old  slang,  signified  a 
shoplifter's  assistant,  to  whom 
the  stolen  goods  were  passed, 
and  who  carried  them  away. 
"  All  is  bob,"  i.e.,  all  is  safe. 
From  a  Cornwall  term  bob, 
pleasant,  agreeable.  A  variant 
of  "aU  gay,"  and  "aU  serene." 
"  To  shift  one's  bob,"  to  go  away. 

(Public  schools),  "  dry  bob," 
a  boy  who  devotes  himself  to 
cricket  or  football,  or  any  other 
games  on  "dry  land,"  in  oppo- 
sition to  "wet  bob,"  one  who 
gives  himself  up  to  boating. 

The  friendly  rivalry  between  England 
and  America  led  some  while  ago  to  a  con- 
test between  the  "  wet  bobs,"  to  use  an 
Eton  phrase,  of  either  country,  and  it  was 
only  fair  that  the  "dry  bobs"  should  show 
what  they  could  do. — T.  Ogilvie :  Im- 
perial Dictionary  of  the  English  Lan- 
guage. 

"Dry  606  "  also  refers  to  fruitless 

coition. 

Resolved    to    win,   like    Hercules,    the 

prize  .  .  . 
The  cheating  jilt,  at  the  twelfth,  a  dry 
bah  cries. 

— Earl  0/ Rochester  s  Works, 

Bob  my  pal  (rhyming  slang),  a 
"gal,"  girl. 

Bobachee  (Anglo-Indian),  a  cook; 
a  vulgar  or  slang  form  of  6<*- 


152 


Bobber — Bobbish. 


warcki,  a  high  dignitary  at  the 
Mongol  court,  a  taster  and 
carver  to  some  great  man. 
Bobbachy  canvah,  cook-house. — 
A  n^lo- Indian  Olossai-y. 

Bobber  (popular),  a  fellow-work- 
man, mate.  Also  a  variant  of 
"bob,"  as  in  the  phrase  "two 
bobber,"  a  florin. 

So  down  I  gets  and  finds  a  two  bobber. 
My  mate  gives  me  the  wink,  but  the  slavey's 
on  the  job,  so  1  say,  "  Oh,  miss,  if  I  ain't 
found  a  two  bobber," — Sporting  Times. 

Bobbery  (Anglo- Indian).  This 
word  comes  from  the  East,  but 
its  origin  is  doubtful.  The 
authors  of  the  "  Anglo-Indian 
Glossary  "  declare  that  it  is  com- 
mon for  Hindus  when  in  surprise 
or  grief  to  exclaim,  Bapre ! 
or  Bapre  bap  !  "  Oh,  Fathers  1" 
This  is  imitated  in  Anglo-Indian 
by  Bobbery  Bob  /  Ladies  in  the 
United  States  also  sometimes 
exclaim,  "Fathers!"  with  or 
without  "  merciful,"  or  "  good  " 
as  a  prefix.  Bobbery  generally 
signifies  a  row,  a  disturbance. 
It  is  even  more  common  as 
"bobbely"  in  pidgin  English, 
but  it  is  very  doubtful  indeed 
whether  it  originated,  as  some 
think,  in  the  Cantonese  pa-pi,  a 
noise. 
I'll  bet  a  wager  there'll  be  a  bobbery  in 

the  pigsty  before  long. — Marryat:  Peter 

Sivtfle. 

It  also  means  in  India  "  pack," 
a  pack  of  hounds  or  dogs  of  all 
kinds  without  distinction. 

What  a  C.ibinet  has  put  together — 
a  regular  bobbery^jn:)s..— Anglo-Indian 
Glossary. 


Bobbin  (common),  "  That's  the 
end  of  the  bobbin."  A  phrase 
equivalent  to  saying,  "That's  the 
end  of  it,"  when  all  the  thread 
is  wound  ofE  a  bobbin  or  spool. 
The  French  say  "etre  au  bout 
de  son  rouleau."  (American), 
bobbin'  around,  a  slang  phrase 
meaning  going  about,  here  and 
there,  casually.  It  rose  from 
the  refrain  of  a  song  which  was 
popular  in  18150.  In  another 
lyric  the  following  allusion  was 
made  to  a  report  that  the  King 
of  Belgium  had  proposed  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Burdett-Coutts 
and  been  rejected. 

So  the  King  of  the  Belgines  went  in  and 
got  sold 

When  he  hoped  for  a  fortune  in  silver  and 
gold, 

Which  shows  that  great  mon-i-archs  some- 
times are  found 

Runnin'  after  rich  ladies  and  bobbin 
around. 

If  I  ketch  him  bobbin'  round  arter  our 
Nancy  here  agin,  I'll  just  set  the  dorgs  on 
him — though  I  don't  believe  a  decent  dorg 
would  want  to  bite  such  an  everlasting 
slink  as  he  is. — Sunday  Paper. 

Bobbing  armind  is  evidently 
a  variation  on  "  bobbing  up  and 
down,"  rising  and  falling,  here 
and  there,  like  a  fisherman's 
bob  in  the  water. 

Bobbing  (public  schools),  "  dry 
bobbing  "  applies  to  all  sports  on 
terra  firma,  and  "  wet  bobbing" 
to  aquatics.  ^ 

Bobbish  (common),  smart,  spruce, 
or  in  good  order,  fair.  From 
a  Cornwall  term  bob,  pleasant, 
agreeable. 


Bobbles — Bobtail, 


153 


"'Ow  are  yer,  pretty iodSisA?"    "I'm 
much  as  usual,  thankee." — Punch. 

Bobbles  (popular),  the  testicles. 
From  the  s^me  word  signifying 
in  Cornwall,  stones,  pebbles. 

Bobby  (general),  a  policeman ; 
otherwise  "  peeler,  cop,  or 
copper,  blue-bottle,  pig,  reeler, 
crusher,  frog,  fly-cop,"  &c. 

The  cook,  she,  when 
The  bobby's  on  his  beat, 

Oft  Ughtens  master's  larder 
Of  the  pudding  and  the  meat. 
—Sonff. 

"  If  you  want  a  thing  done,  you  should 
do  it  yourself," 
Is  an  excellent  maxim,  no  doubt  in  its 
way ; 
But,  when  citizens  willingly  part  with  their 
pelf. 
They're  entitled  to  claim  some  return 
for  their  pay. 
Bull  does  not  pay  Bobbies  to  lounge  on 
their  beats, 
And  leave  him  at  last  to  look  after  his 
streets. 

— Punch. 

Some  thirty  years  ago  the 
man  in  blue  (journalistic)  was 
stiU  sometimes  called  "  hohiy 
peeler,"  a  fact  which  bears  out 
the  generally  admitted  origin 
of  hohhy  from  Sir  Robert  Peel, 
to  whom  the  establishment  of 
the  force  was  due,  in  1829,  and 
who  replaced  the  old  "  Charlies  " 
(so  called  from  Charles  I.,  in 
whose  reign  the  system  was 
reorganised),  who  then  acted 
as  constables  and  night- watchers 
in  the  metropolis.  According 
to  Hotten,  the  ollicial  square- 
keeper,  who  is  always  armed 
with  a  cane  to  drive  away  idle 


and  disorderly  urchins,  has, 
time  out  of  mind,  been  caUed 
by  the  same  urchins,  "  bobby  the 
beadle." 

Bobby  twister  (thieves'  slang),  a 
burglar  who  would  hesitate  at 
nothing,  even  to  shooting  any 
policeman  who  might  be  endea- 
vouring to  capture  him.  A 
noted  bobby  twister  was  the  fa- 
mous burglar  Peace,  whose  diur- 
nal avocations  were  certainly 
in  keeping  with  his  name,  as  he 
was  considered  a  highly  respect- 
able citizen.  He  was,  or  pre- 
tended to  be,  a  teetotaller,  and, 
it  is  said,  a  member  of  the 
Salvation  Army.  His  respecta- 
bihty  ended  on  the  gallows. 

Bob-cull  (thieves),  good  fellow. 

"Where  be  you  going,  you  imp  of  the 
world?"  cried  the  dame.  "Get  in  with 
you,  and  say  no  more  on  the  matter  ;  be  a 
bob-cull — drop  the  bullies,  and  you  shall 
have  the  blunt ! " — Lytton :  Paul  ClifforcU 

Bob  is  a  provincial  term,  sig- 
nifying pleasant,  agreeable. 

Bobs  (schools),  huge  beer  jugs. 

Only  those  "juniors"  attended  whose 
office  it  was  to  bring  away  the  portions  of 
bread  and  cheese  and  bobs  of  beer  for  con- 
sumption in  the  afternoon. — T,  A.  Trollopt: 
What  I  Remember. 


Bobstick  (old),  a  shilling. 
Bob. 


Fide 


Bobtail  (old  slang),  a  licentious, 
immodest  woman  of  the  very 
lowest  character.  One  who  ex- 
posed her  person  in  public.  Also 
an  impotent  debaiiclice. 


154 


Bob  White — Bogey. 


Bob  White  (American),  a  popular 
but  not  a  slang  name  for  the 
quail,  whose  notes  are  supposed 
to  resemble  the  words  Bob — 
White,  with  a  pause  between  the 
two  words  and  a  strong  accent 
on  the  miite.  It  is  just  two- 
thirds  of  the  song  of  the  whip- 
poor-will. 

The  American  fanner  has  watched  his 
birds  through  the  cycle  of  the  year ;  has 
listened  to  the  "Ah  Bob  White!  ah  Bob 
IVhite ! "  that  with  the  fall  of  the  apple- 
blossoms  begins  to  fill  the  air.  —  Mac- 
millans  Magazine. 

Bodier  (pugilistic),  a  blow  on  the 
sides  of  the  body,  otherwise 
known  as  a  "  rib-roaster." 

Bodkin  (common),  an  old  word 
still  in  use,  with  the  sense  of 
dirk,  dagger.  (Sporting),  a  per- 
son who  takes  his  turn  between 
the  sheets  on  a  night  when  the 
hotel  has  twice  as  many  visitors 
as  it  can  comfortably  lodge 
(Hotten's  Dictionary).  (Com- 
mon), to  "  ride  bodkin"  any  one 
sitting  between  two  others  in  a 
carriage,  is  said  to  "ride  bod- 
kin." 

Then  he  called  a  hansom,  and  expressing 
his  willingness  to  "  be  ihebodkin  "  {Anglice, 
ride  in  the  middle),  ordered  the  jehu  to 
drive  to  Middlesex  Street.  —  Sporting 
Times. 

Body-slangs  (thieves'  cant),  fet- 
ters for  the  body. 

Budy-slangs  are  of  two  kinds. 
Each  consists  of  a  heavy  iron 
rint^  to  go  round  the  waist,  to 
which  are  attached  in  one  case 
two  bars  or  heavy  chains,  con- 
nected with  the  fetters  round 


the  ankles,  in  the  other  case  a 
link  at  each  side  attached  to  a 
handcuff.  Into  these  the  wrists 
are  locked,  and  thus  held  down 
to  the  prisoner's  sides.  The 
latter  are  now  only  to  be  found 
in  museums. —  Vaux. 

Body  snatcher  (old),  a  bailiff  or 
runner ;  a  violator  of  the  grave ; 
an  undertaker. 

Bog  (prison),  the  farm  works  at 
Dartmoor  where  much  land  has 
been  reclaimed.  Bog  gang,  the 
party  of  convicts  detailed  for 
this  work.  (Common),  a  privy. 
Originally  printers'  slang,  but 
now  very  common.  "To  bog," 
to  ease  oneself.    (Tinker),  see 

BOGH. 

Bogey,  often  called  bug-aboo,  a 
word  existing  in  different  forms 
in  many  languages.  As  both 
God  and  Devil  may  be  found  in 
Deus,  Uevas,  divine,  Diabolua 
and  the  gypsy  Duvel  or  Bevlia 
(both  meaning  God  only),  so  we 
have  the  divinity  as  Bog  in 
Eussian,  and  in  the  Celtic  bug, 
a  spirit  or  spectre,  while  in 
English  bugge  or  bug  is  in  two 
senses  a  terror,  as  the  famous 
Bugge  Bible  and  Spenser's 
"  Faerie  Queene  "  bear  witness. 
The  bogey  or  bug-aboo  is  an 
imaginary  horror  or  monster 
with  which  vulgar,  wicked,  or 
foolish  people  were,  and  perhaps 
still  are,  accustomed  to  frighten 
children  at  night.  It  is  probable 
that  aboo  is  the  common  old 
Irish  war-cry,  which  was  said 


Bogey — Bogus. 


155 


to  be  so  terrifying  that  it  was 
formeriy  prohibited  by  law. 
This  0600  was  well-known  and 
much  talked  of  during  the  time 
of  Elizabeth.  On  August  2, 
1887,  Mr.  Courtney  in  Pariia- 
ment  invented  a  new  form  of 
the  word. 

Mr.  Courtney,  though  a  partisan  of  the 
undertaking,  urged  that  a  division  should 
be  taken  at  once  to  save  time.  He  de- 
scribed the  speech  of  Baron  H.  de  Worms 
as  a  combination  oibogeyism  and  fogeyism. 
(A  laugh.)  Mr.  W.  H.  Smith  and  Mr.  J. 
Morley  joined  in  the  appeal  to  close  the 
discussion. — Saint  James's  Gazette. 

(Common),  one's  landlord, 
called  by  the  French  "Mon- 
sieur Vautour."  (Studios),  a 
painting  is  said  to  be  hogey  when 
sombre  tints  predominate. 

Bogh  (tinker),  to  get,  hold,  make 
work.  This  appears  to  be  a  very 
general  sort  of  a  verb. 

Bog  oranges  (common),  potatoes, 
from  the  fact  that  potatoes  form 
the  chief  diet  of  Irish  peasants. 

Bog-trotter  (now  recognised),  an 
Irish  peasant.  "  Bog-trotting," 
applied  to  an  Emeralder,  or  to 
any  one  who  lives  among  marshy 
moors. 

The  impudent  bog-trotting  scamp  dare 
not  threaten  me  ! — Thackeray :  Pendennis. 

Bogue,  to  (American),  to  apply 
one's  self  very  earnestly,  to  make 
every  effort.  "  I  don't  git  much 
done  without  I  hogue  right  in 
along  with  the  men"  (Bartlett), 
Jjoege,  a  bow,  or  a  course  in 
Dutch,  is  used  exactly  in  this 


sense,  as  "het  over  alia  bogen 
wenden,"  to  try  everything,  to 
leave  no  stone  unturned.  Also 
in  Dutch  bogen,  to  pride  one's 
self  on  employing  energy  in 
action. 

Bog^s  (American),  anything  like 
a  sham,  a  fraud,  a  counterfeit, 
or  a  humbug.  Bogus  money, 
bogus  banks,  &c. 

One  of  the  bogus  petitions  in  favour  of 
the  coal  and  wine  dues  unearthed  by  Mr. 
Bradlaugh  is  purported  to  be  signed  by 
no  less  than  thirteen  racehorses  I — Funny 
Folks. 

The  story  which  derives  the 
name  from  one  Borghese,  who 
a  generation  ago  flooded  the 
West  with  counterfeit  money, 
is,  like  most  American  deriva- 
tive stories  given  in  news- 
papers, extremely  doubtful.  As 
soon  as  an  expression  becomes 
popular,  ingenious  artists  in 
literary  superclieries  at  once 
manufacture  for  it  a  history. 
Bogus  is  from  a  cant  term  ap- 
pUed  to  counterfeit  coin.  This 
word  is  widely  current  in  the 
United  States,  whence  it  has 
been  recently  imported  by  Eng- 
lish newspaper  writers.  Among 
the  tinklers  or  tinkers,  a  kind 
of  Scottish  gypsies,  bogus  means 
counterfeit  coin,  from  bogh,  to 
make,  and  the  Romany  termi- 
nation us.  Wilson  declares  that 
there  are  numbers  of  these  tin- 
kers in  America.  Dr.  C.  Mackay 
is  of  opinion  that  it  was  intro- 
duced in  America  by  Irish  immi- 
grants from  boc,  pronounced 
hoke,  deceit,  fraud. 


156 


Bohn — Bolt. 


Bohn  (Yale  College),  a  transla- 
tion, or  a  pony  from  Bohn,  the 
name  of  well-known  London 
publishers,  who  issued  a  series 
of  translations  of  the  Classics, 
the  use  of  these  becoming  very 
common  in  the  States ;  a  Bohn 
was  generally  adopted  as  a 
name  for  a  translation. 

'Twas  plenty  of  skin  with  a  good  deal  of 
Bohn. 

— Songs  o/the  Jttinlee:  Yale  College 
Magazine. 

Boiled  shirt  (Australian  diggers) 
a  clean  shirt  or  "  clean  biled 
rag,"  as  Mark  Twain  puts  it, 
boiling  being  a  primitive  way  of 
washing  shirts. 

John  rode  home  with  a  depressed  mind. 
As  he  passed  the  public-house  which  had 
proved  the  lion  in  the  old  man's  path,  he 
saw  the  publican,  a  bloated,  greasy-faced 
man,  a  villainous  low  forehead,  and  a 
prize-fighting  look,  walking  up  and  down 
the  verandah  in  a  boiled  skirt. — A.  C. 
Grant. 

Boiler-plated  (American)  origi- 
nated in  iron-clad.  Utterly  im- 
penetrable, irresistible,  not  to 
be  affected. 

He  gave  me  a  look  of  boiler-plated  re- 
proach, clapped  on  his  hat,  and  was  off  with- 
out another  word. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowser. 

Boilers  (Royal  Military  Academy), 
boiled  potatoes  as  opposed  to 
"greasers,"  fried  potatoes. 

Boilings  or  biling  (common),  the 
"  whole     boiling,"     the     whole 
,    party,  or  entire  quantity. 

The  last  mile,  he  said,  tho'  the  shortest 
one  of  the  whole  bilin',  took  the  longest  to 
do  it  in  by  a  jug  full.— .Saw  SlicA :  The 
Clockmakcr. 


A  phrase  probably  derived 
from  the  kitchen,  and  a  stew 
or  broth  of  many  ingredients. 
It  is  a  phrase  more  common 
among  Irish  than  among  English 
or  Scotch  people,  though  not 
wholly  unknown  to  either.  The 
Irish  pronounciation  is  "  biling  " 
or  "  bilin'."  The  term  is  exten- 
sively used  in  America,  and  is 
sometimes  varied  to  the  "  whole 
gridiron  of  them,"  applied  to  a 
party.     The  latter  is  Irish. 

Boilum  tea  (pidgin),  to  boil  tea. 

Blongy  my  dis  tim  boilum  you  tea, 
mumpa  one  first  chop /itee-Jitee !  (quick  !) 

Talkee  dat  sa-van  (servant)  he  is  savvy 
how  boilum  tea. — Pidgin  Talkee. 

Boko  (common),  a  nose. 

An  expert  in  nazography  declares  that  a 
pale  nose  usually  belongs  to  the  selfish, 
cold-hearted  man;  whilst  the  highly- 
coloured  boko  is  characteristic  of  the  san- 
guine temperament  usually  possessed  by 
the  man  who  is  hopeful  that  a  free  drink 
is  looming  in  the  distance. — Fun. 

Originally  a  large  nose,  pos- 
sibly from  beak,  old  slang  for  a 
nose,  or  from  the  old  English 
boche,  bake,  a  swelling. 

Boler,  bowler  (Winchester),  stiff 
felt  hat  or  pot  hat. 

Bolly  (Marlborough)  is  used  by 
the  pupils  with  the  significa- 
tion of  pudding. 

Bolt,  to  (colloquial),  to  make  a 
sudden  and  rajjid  movement,  for 
haste,  alarm,  jjcrplcxity,  or  other 
cause  of  expedition.  To  bolt  one's 
food  is  to  swallow  without  mas- 


Bolt — Bonanza. 


157 


tication ;  to  holt  is  to  run  away, 
to  decamp,  to  disappear.  The 
term,  according  to  Grose,  is  bor- 
rowed from  the  rabbit-warren, 
because  the  rabbits  hoU  when  a 
ferret  enters  into  their  burrows. 
But  the  derivation  is  probably 
from  holt,  the  ancient  and  not  yet 
obsolete  word  for  an  arrow,  as  in 
the  current  proverb  "  a  fool's 
bolt  is  soon  shot,"  so  that  to 
holt  is  to  move  as  swiftly  as 
an  arrow.  (Prison),  "getting 
the  holt"  being  sentenced  to 
penal  servitude. 

"  Long  Bill  expects  bolt "   informs  the 
sympathetic  or  rejoicing  reader  that  one 

William expects  to  be   sentenced  to 

penal  servitude. — Rev.   J.    W.   Horsley : 
Jottings  from  Jail.  ._ 

Bolted  (nautical),  "  I've  been 
through  the  mill,  ground  and 
halted."  That  is,  "  You  can't 
gammon  me  ;  I'm  too  old  a  bird 
to  be  caught  with  chaff."  Bolted 
in  this  case  signifies  sifted. 

Bolt -in -tun  (London  thieves), 
bolted,  run  away,  got  away, 
one  of  the  puns  that  cant  and 
slang  are  so  fond  of.  Cf.  "  Cob- 
bler," "  Billiard  slum,"  &c. 

Vaux  in  his  Memoirs  says : — 
"A  term  founded  on  the  cant 
word  '  bolt,'  and  merely  a  fan- 
ciful 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  his 
lodgings,  broken  out  of  jail,  or 
made  any  other  sudden  move- 
ment, to  say  'the  IMt-in-tan  is 
concerned,'  or  '  he's  gone  to  the 


Bolt-in-tun'   instead  of  simply 
saying,  *  he  has  bolted,' "  &c. 

Bolt  the  moon,  to  (common),  to 
cheat  the  landlord  by  taking 
away  goods  or  furniture  with- 
out paying  the  rent ;  literally  to 
extinguish  the  moon  and  take 
advantage  of  the  darkness  thus 
produced.  ' '  To  shoot  the  moon ' ' 
is  more  common. 

Bolus  (common),  an  apothecary. 

Bombay  duck  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
small  fish  called  the  bummelo 
or  bumbalow,  which  is  caught 
on  the  Indian  coasts.  When 
dried  it  forms  the  well-known 
Bombay  ducks,  seen  so  frequently 
among  grocers'  delicacies  in 
England. 

Bombo  (nautical),  weak,  cold 
punch. 

Bona  (theatrical),  good,  varied  to 

"  rumbo." 

Bonanza  (American),  a  Spanish 
word,  originally  applied  to  pro- 
fit, benefit.  A  profitable  silver 
mine  or  a  share  in  it  is  a  bon- 
anza. Now  applied  generally 
to  money. 

At  last  the  train  came,  and  the  guard 
on  the  train  handed  me  a  heavily-sealed 
envelope,  remarking  as  he  did  so — 

"  IjC  careful  of  that,  Branthwaite. 
There's  a  bonanza  in  that  package  if  it 
were  yours  or  mine." 

"  Money?'  I  asked. 

"Yes;  twenty  thousand  dollars."  — 
American  Story. 

But  a  bonanza  with  millions  in  it  is  not 
struck  every  week. — Scribner's  Monthly. 


158 


Bonos — Boned. 


Bonas  (popular),  belles.  The 
difference  between  donnas  and 
lonas  is  thus  stated  in  a  music- 
haU  ballad  :— 

Girls  are  in  vulgar  called  donnas, 
Some  are  called  Miss  and  some  Mrs. ; 
The  best  of  them  all  are  called  bonas, 
The  whole  jolly  lot's  fond  of  kisses. 

— Broadside :  O  Fred,  don't  be  so 
frivolous. 

Bonce  (varions),  the  head,  called 
also  "crust,  chump."  From 
honct,  a  marble  of  larger  size 
than  ordinary,  used  by  boys. 
The  French  slang  for  head, 
hiUe,  literally  a  marble,  bears 
out  this  derivation. 

Bone  (American),  a  fee ;  to  J«m«, 
to  pay  a  fee,  or  rather  bribe, 
called  hone,  at  the  custom- 
house to  induce  the  officials  not 
to  examine  passengers'  luggage, 
or  to  let  it  off  lightly.  From 
the  slang  hone,  derived  either 
from  the  French  hon,  or,  as 
Murray  suggests,  from  the 
middle  English  hoon.  This 
word  is  used  with  the  sense 
of  good  by  English  v^abonds. 
<^,  their  hieroglyphic  for  the 
word,  chalked  by  them  on  houses 
and  street  corners  as  a  hint  to 
succeeding  beggars. 

(Masonic),  a  corruption  of  the 
Hebrew  word  for  builder, 

(Common),  to  hone,  to  steal, 
to  pilfer,  to  purloin.  Probably 
derived  from  hon,  good,  or,  by 
extension  of  meaning,  to  seize 
on  a  good  thing. 

The  while  within  the  pocket  of  her  gown 
Childe  Alice  deftly  placed  the  purse  she'd 
boned. 


Alas !    its    contents    were    not    worth    a 
"  brown ; " 
His  winnings  all  were  "stumers,"  and 

she  groaned. 
"  The  world  is  too  much  with  us  ! "  poor 
Childe  Alice  moaned. 

— Bird  of  Freedom. 

This  word,  according  to  the 
Glossary  of  Cant  in  Bampfyled 
Moore  Carew,  also  signifies  to 
apprehend,  to  arrest,  to  take 
into  custody,  to  "  nab."  Com- 
pare with  the  French  cant 
phrase  "  etre  le  bon,"  which  has 
the  same  meaning. 

(American  cadets),  to  study 
hard ;  possibly  a  playful  allu- 
sion to  the  more  universal  slang 
meaning  of  the  verb  "to  hone," 
the  meaning  of  course  being  to 
convey  the  idea  of  acquiring 
knowledge  by  force  —  an  ap- 
propriate reading  of  the  word 
for  the  cadets  of  West  Point — 
but  more  probably  from  Bohn's 
translations.  For  other  deriva- 
tion, see  BoONDER. 

Bone  box  (old  slang),  the  mouth ; 
the  teeth  are  now  called  the 
"  ivories." 

Bone-crusher  (South  African),  a 
heavy  bore  rifle  for  killing  big 
game, 

African  game  require  hone<rushers ; 
for  any  ordinary  carbine  possesses  suffi- 
cient penetrative  quality,  yet  has  not  the 
disabling  quality  which  a  gun  must  possess 
to  be  useful  in  the  hands  of  an  African 
explorer.  —  H.  Stanley :  How  I  found 
Liz'ingstone. 

Boned  (thieves),  taken  into  cus- 
tody. To  hone  is  to  take  what 
does  not  belong  to  one.  There 
is   therefore   a   world   of    dry 


Boned — Bone  shave. 


159 


humour  in  the  thief  saying  that 
he  has  been  boned  or  stolen  by 
the  poKceman  when  taken  into 
custody. 

Tell  us  how  you  was  boned,  signifies  tell 
us  the  story  of  your  apprehension,  a  com- 
mon request  among  fellow-prisoners  in  a 
jail,  which  is  readily  complied  with  as  a 
rule ;  and  the  various  circumstances  therein 
related  afford  present  amusement  and  also 
useful  hints  for  regulating  their  future 
operations,  so  as  to  avoid  the  like  mis- 
fortune. —  Vaux. 

Bone-grubber  (common),  a  person 
who  hunts  for  bones  in  dust- 
holes,  or  any  spot  where  refuse 
is  thrown. 

The  ione-£T>*iier und  the  mud-lark  differ 
little  in  their  pursuits. — Mayhew :  London 
Labour  and  the  London  Poor. 

The  term  was  also  applied  to 
a  resurrectionist.  Cobbett  was 
therefore  called  a  bone-grubber 
because  he  brought  the  remains 
of  Tom  Paine  from  America 
(Hotten). 

Bone-lazy  (common),  excessively 
or  hopelessly  lazy. 

Boneless,  a  ghost,  a  shadowy  and 
impalpable  spectre  or  appari- 
tion. 

Bone  muscle,  to  (American 
cadets),  to  frequent  the  gymna- 
sium ;  frequently  to  take  exer- 
cise there. 

Bone-picker  (common),  a  foot- 
man. 

Boner  (Winchester),  a  blow  given 
with  the  fist  on  the  lowest 
vertebra. 


Bones  (medical),  the  bones  of  the 
human  skull.  "  Do  you  know 
your  bones  ?  "  i.e.,  are  you  fami- 
liar with  the  anatomy  of  the 
human  skeleton.  (Stock  Ex- 
change), Wickens,  Pease  &  Co.'s 
shares. 

So  now  we  shall  soon  have  our  "  crackers," 

And  likely  enough  our  "  cheroots," 
While    our    bones    can    be    sent    to    the 
"  knackers," 
And    then    we    have    sweet    "  Sarah's 
boots." 

— At  kin :  House  Scraps. 

(Common),  to  rattle  the  hma, 
to  play  at  dice. 

Bone  setter  (old),  a  hard  or  fast 
trotting  horse. 

Bone  shaker  (common),  a  name 
given  to  the  old  -  fashioned 
bicycle,  which  was  a  clumsy 
wood  machine,  and  was  super- 
seded by  the  spider  steel  ma- 
chine, which  is  now  being 
superseded  in  its  turn  by  the 
smaller  "Safety." 

Bone  shave,  the  sciatica  or  rheu- 
matic gout  in  the  sciatic  nerve. 
According  to  Mr.  Thomas  Wright 
in  his  Archaic  Dictionary,  the 
peasantry  of  Exmorehadacharm 
for  the  supposed  cure  or  relief 
of  this  malady,  consisting  in  the 
repetition  of  the  following  dog- 
gerel lines  as  the  patient  lay  on 
his  back  on  the  brink  of  a  brook 
or  river,  with  a  staff  by  his  side 
between  him  and  the  water. 
Bone  shave  right, 
Bone  shave  straight. 

As  the  water  runs  by  the  stone 

Good  for  bone  shave. 


i6o 


Bone  standing — Bono. 


Bone  standing  (American  cadet), 
to  hone  standing,  to  study  hard 
for  a  class  position  (0.  E. 
Wood :  United  States  Army). 

Bong  (Australian  blackfellows' 
lingo),  dead.  This  word  is  a 
specimen  of  the  pidgin-English, 
stuffed  with  native  words,  in 
which  intercourse  is  carried  on 
with  the  blacks  on  stations. 

"  Yohi,"  said  the  boy,  still  sitting  on  his 
horse,  "altogether  bcmg"  (dead),  "one 
fellow  bail  bong"  (one  not  dead).  "Which 
one  bail  bong  ? "  demanded  John  in  terror. 
"  Missis  bail  bong  ony,  cawbawn  frighten  " 
(Missis  not  dead,  only  dreadfully  fright- 
ened).—  A.  C.  Grant:  Bush  Life  in 
Queensland. 

Bonger,  banger  (gypsy),  to  bend, 
bow,  duck,  dodge,  to  twist  or 
turn ;  bongo,  bent,  turned,  un- 
willing, sinister,  crooked,  evil, 
distorted,  awry.  "  O  bongo 
yakk" — "The  evil  eye."  "0 
bongo  wast  " — "  The  left  hand." 
"A  bongo  zi"  (or  sec)  —  "A 
crooked,  evil  heart."  "  0  bongo 
rikk  o'  the  drom" — "The  left- 
hand  side  of  the  road." 

Boning  (American  cadets),  boning 
the  adjutant,  a  violent  or  immo- 
derate assumption  of  a  military 
air  or  bearing ;  a  swaggering 
military  fillibuster ;  a  Bombastes 
Furioso.  Boning  demerit,  said 
of  a  cadet  who  avoids  giving 
cause  for  being  reported  to  the 
authorities  (O.  E.  Wood  :  United 
states  Army). 

Bonnet  (thieves),  a  pretext  or 
pretence.    Vau.x  defines  it  thus  : 


— "  A  concealment,  a  pretext,  a 
pretence,  an  ostensible  manner 
of  accounting  for  what  you 
really  wish  to  conceal ;  as  a 
man  who  lives  by  depredation, 
will  still  outwardly  follow  some 
honest  employment,  as  a  clerk, 
porter,  newsman."  One  who 
metaphorically  bonnets  or  blinds 
other  people;  a  bonnet  or  bon- 
neter  is  also  a  sham  bidder  at 
auctions ;  a  confederate  in 
thimblerig  or  three  cards  ;  one 
who  pretends  to  buy  of  a  crocus 
pitcher  or  street  medicine  ven- 
dor so  as  to  entice  purchasers. 
In  French,  bonnetcur  is  one  who 
is  profuse  of  compliments  and 
bows ;  hence  a  swindler  who 
tries  to  wheedle  people  out  of 
their  money  ;  also  a  three-card 
trick  sharper.  To  bonnet  for  a 
person,  is  to  corroborate  any 
assertion  he  has  made,  or  to  re- 
late facts  in  the  most  favourable 
light,  in  order  to  extricate  him 
from  a  dilemma,  or  to  further 
any  object  he  has  in  view. 

(Common),  to  smash  a  man's 
hat  over  his  face,  a  favourite 
amusement  of  London  roughs. 

Two  young  men  who  .  .  .  varied  their 
amusements  by  bonneii'ig  the  proprietor 
of  this  itinerant  coffee-house. — Dickens  : 
Sketclus. 

Bonneter   (thieves),    a    crushing 
blow  on  the  hat. 

Bonnets  so  blue  (rhyming  slang), 
Irish  stew. 

Bono,  good.    (East),  bono  Johnny, 
an  Englishman. 


Booby-hutch — Book-form. 


i6i 


Booby-hutch  (thieves),  the  police- 
station. 

Booby-trap  (Winchester), the  door 
of  a  room  is  left  open,  and  on 
the  top  are  placed  some  big  books 
and  a  wet  sponge,  so  that  when 
it  is  pushed  the  whole  falls  on 
the  head  of  whoever  opens  it. 
This  time-honoured  species  of 
practical  joking  is  not  confined 
to  Winchester. 

Books  were  closed,  hooby-traps  scattered, 
sofa-pillows  restored  to  their  legitimate 
places. — Chambers's  Journal. 

Boodgeree  (Australian  bush 
slang),  a  blackfellow's  word 
for  "good,"  incorporated  into 
the  slang  of  the  white.  Used 
principally  in  the  pidgin-Eng- 
lish, in  which  the  whites  carry 
on  their  conversation  with  the 
blacks.    A  very  common  word. 

What  was  his  fate  then  might  be  mine 
in  a  few  minutes.  I  determined  to  keep 
still  and  wait  for  what  might  turn  up. 
Presently  I  heard  bushes  rustling  some 
distance  behind,  and  the  voice  of  a  black- 
fellow,  uttering  in  that  strange  tone  in 
which  the  wild  savage  first  pronounces 
English  words — boodgeree  (white  fellow, 
good,  good  white  fellow). — A.  C.  Grant: 
Bush  Life  in  Queensland. 

Boodle  (American),  booty,  profit, 
perquisites,  plunder.  Commonly 
used  with  regard  to  government 
transactions,  contracts,  &c.,  by 
which  the  public  are  cheated. 

'Twas  Yankee  doodle  once  I  swore, 
But  it  is  Yankee  boodle  now. 

— American  Paper. 

This  word  in  the  United  States 
is  applied  among  thieves  only  to 
counterfeit  or  bad  money.     The 


hoodie  carrier  is  the  man  who 
carries  the  counterfeit  or 
"  queer,"  while  the  shover  passes 
it  off.  "  At  the  first  sign 
of  trouble  the  hoodie  carrier 
vanishes,  leaving  nothing  to 
criminate  his  com-rogue  "  (New 
York  Slang  Dictionary). 

(American    political),    hoodie 
explained  by  quotation. 

In  the  States  the  money  used  for  elec- 
tioneering purposes  is  known  as  boodle, 
"sinews  of  war,"  and  "living  issues." — 
Cornhill  Magazine. 

Boodle  has  also  the  signification 
of  property,  wealth;  unques- 
tionably from  the  Dutch  hoedel, 
household  stuff.  Also  an  estate 
left  by  persons  deceased.  (Popu- 
lar), a  stupid  noodle  (Murray). 

Book  (literary),  the  libretto  of  an 
opera. 

This  piece  will  be  followed  by  a  new 
comic  opera  called  "Compere  Guillerj-," 
by  H.  Perry,  the  book  being  by  Messrs. 
Julian  Perry  and  Paul  Burani. — Sporting 

Times. 

(Turf),  an  arrangement  of 
bets  against  certain  horses 
marked  in  a  pocket-book  made 
for  that  purpose.  "Making  a  hoolc 
upon  it,"  is  a  common  phrase 
that  a  man  is  prepared  to  lay 
the  odds  against  the  horses  in  a 
race.  "  That  does  not  suit  my 
hook,"  i.e.,  does  not  accord  with 
my  other  arrangements  (Hotten). 

Booked  (common),  disposed    of, 
caught. 

Book-form    (turf),    the    relative 
powers  of  speed  or  endurance 
of  race-horses  as  gauged  by  the 
L 


1 62 


Bookies — Boomali. 


"book,"  i.e.,  the  published  re- 
cord in  the  calendar  of  races  past. 

Bookies  (turf),  the  bookmakers. 

The  bookies  came  down  like  wolves  on  the 

fold 
To  try  and  secure  all  the  "  Jubilee  "  gold. 
Some  plumped  for  St.  Mirin,  but  wrongly 

had  reckoned, 
For  Annaraite  won,  and  the  "  Saint "  was 

but  second.  — Turf. 

Past  Epsom's  Spring,  again  we  try 

Our  luck  with  bookies  and  with  horses 
On  yet  another  field,  where  lie 
The  mysteries  of  the  Guineas'  courses. 
— Bird  o'  Freedom. 
The  toughest  bookie,  as  well  as  the  airiest 
turfite,  will  be  sorry  to  hear  of  the  death 
of  a  genial  fellow. — The  World. 

Books  (Winchester).  There  are 
prizes  given  at  the  end  of  each 
half  by  Lord  Saye  and  Sele  to 
the  two  seniors  in  each  division. 
These  are  called  the  hooks.  To 
get  hooks  is  to  obtain  one  of  these 
prizes.  When  a  part  or  division 
are  saying  a  lesson,  the  pupils 
sit  at  one  end  of  '"School," 
in  three  rows ;  they  are  then 
said  to  be  "up  to  hooks'^  The 
Don  sits  in  his  chair  with  his 
side  towards  them,  and  the 
"  man  "  who  is  saying  the  lesson 
stands  in  front  of  him. 

Books  (card  players),  a  pack  of 
cards. 


business  or  politics.  A  great 
hoom  in  cotton  refers  to  an 
advance  in  price  and  greater 
activity  in  the  market,  while 
the  first  rumour  that  a  certain 
man  will  obtain  a  nomination 
♦  to  office  may  be  announced  in 
a  newspaper  in  large  letters  at 
the  head  of  a  column  as,  "A 
hoom,  for  Smith  !  " 

A  Boom  for  Hill. — A  movement  is 
on  foot  in  Washington  to  organise  a  David 
B.  Hill  boom  for  the  Presidency. — Chicago 
Tribune. 

In  the  present  case  many  influences  seem 

to  work  in  the  direction  of  a  boom. — Truth. 

Some  Prospero  waved  his  magic  wand, 
the  world  made  discovery  that  it  was  posi- 
tively languishing  for  want  of  more  copper 
and  tin,  all  visible  supplies  were  eagerly 
bought  up,  and  the  great  mining  boom  of 
1887  was  fairly  started. — Globe- 

(Journalistic),  a  hoonn  refers  to 
the  publication  in  a  newspaper 
of  some  correspondence  which 
will  raise  up  a  polemic,  and,  by 
thus  attracting  the  attention  of 
the  public,  increase  the  sale  of 
the  paper. 

The  latest  Daily  Telegraph  boom — 
"Our  Daughters" — is  going  on  merrily, 
and  the  views  of  the  various  young  ladies 
are  distinctly  interesting  to  note. — Globe. 

(Nautical),  to  "  top  one's  hoom 
off,"  to  be  off  or  start  in  a  cer- 
tain direction. 


Boom  (American),  properly  the 
distant  sound  as  of  thunder  gra- 
dually increasing  in  intensity. 
This  word,  from  being  a  favour- 
ite one  in  American  oratory, 
began  to  be  applied  in  1880  to 
any   great   advance   or  rise  in 


Boomah  (Australian),  a  very  large 
kind  of  kangaroo.  This  word 
is  probably  a  mistake  of  Colonel 
Munday's.  He  heard  the  kan- 
garoo called  a  boomer  because 
of  its  enormous  size :  the  word 
was    strange   to    him,   and   he 


Boomah — Boom-passenger. 


163 


imagined  it  to  be  a  variety  of 
kangaroo,  and  not  a  slang  word 
expressive  of  size. 

An  oflScer  from  Van  Diem  en's  Land 
told  me  that  he  had  once  killed  in  that 
colony  "a  kangaroo  of  such  magnitude, 
that  being  a  long  way  from  home,  he  was 
unable  though  on  horseback  to  carry  away 
any  portion  except  the  tail,  which  alone 
weighed  thirty  pounds.  This  species  is 
called  the  boomah,  and  stands  about  seven 
feet  high." — Lieut. -Col.  Munday :  Our 
Antipodes. 

Bo(Mner  (American),  a  very  big 
specimen,  a  huge  snake  or  kan- 
garoo. 

And  should  you  ask  how  such  a  one 

A  nvighty  hunter  grew, 
So  many  flying  does  outsped, 

So  many  boomers  slew. 


But  suddenly  the  vision  passed, 

And  Bill  became  aware, 
That  he  was  in  the  boomer's  arms, 

And  bounding  through  the  air. 
— /.  B.  Stephens :  Marsupial  Bill. 

A  very  great  lie,  a  very  big 
flea ;  a  very  long  hit  at  cricket 
would  be  described  as  a  boomer, 
or  a  regular  boomer  (used  by 
"  slangy ' '  Australians).  A  boomer 
is  probably  that  which  makes  a 
big  boom  or  noise,  and  so  some- 
thing very  big.  We  have  the 
same  metaphor  in  "a  great 
gun." 

Boomerangs  (American),  properly 
a  carved  flat  weapon  used  by 
the  natives  in  Australia,  which, 
when  thrown,  returns  to  the 
thrower.  In  American  journal- 
ism the  word  is  frequently  used 
to  indicate  some  evil  measure, 
or  act,  or  falsehood,  which,  like 


a  curse,  has  "come  home  to 
roost,"  or  recoiled  on  the  head 
of  its  author.  The  title,  "  A 
Bourbon  Boomerang,"  in  an  Ame- 
rican newspaper,  means  that 
the  Democrats  have  been  in- 
jured by  some  scheme  they  had 
formed  against  the  Republicans. 

Boomeranging  (Australian),  hit- 
ting or  kUling  with  a  boome- 
rang. A  slang  participle,  coined 
from  the  native  word  boome- 
rang. 

War    shouts   and    universal   Boomerang'- 
ing. 
—J.  P.  Stephens :  A  Picaninny. 

Booming  (Australian),  large,  as- 
tonishing.    For  derivation  vide 

BOOMEE. 

Look  at  that  booming  guana  I  He  has 
been  feeding  sumptuously  on  the  carrion. 
He  is  watching  us  with  his  "glittering 
eye,"  his  head  up,  his  vicious  tongue  darting 
out  now  and  then  like  a  serpent's  fangs. — 
A.  C.  Grant. 

Boom  -  ja  -  langf  ( American),  a 
mysterious  slang  word,  which 
seems  to  mean  the  same  as  the 
Spanish  funeion,  business,  or 
what  is  going  on. 

'Twas  right  in  the  middle  of  the  boom-ja- 
lang, 
All  on  a  summer  day. 
Rip  Sam  !  set  her  up  again ; 
Set  her  up  again  !  set  her  up  again. 
We're  all  of  the  Choctaw  tribe. 

— Song,  i860. 

Boom  -  passenger  (nautical),  a 
convict  on  board  ship.  Derived 
from  the  circumstance  that 
prisoners  on  board  convict  ships 
were  chained  to,  or  were  made 


I04 


Boonder — Booze. 


to  crawl  along,  or  stand  on  the 
booms  for  exercise  or  punish- 
ment (Hotten). 

Boonder,  bounder  (American),  a 
scrubbing-brush,  (New  York), 
Dutch,  boender,  a  brush.  "A 
rubber,  a  rubbing-brush.  Boenen 
to  rub  with  a  brush,"  implying 
diligence.  Hence  the  American- 
ism to  hone  it,  to  bone  into  it,  to 
apply  one's  self,'  to  scrub  away 
hard. 

Boost,  to  (American),  to  push  up. 
Generally  used  in  the  sense  of 
giving  one  a  lift;  "give  me  a 
boost,"  as  one  boy  when  climb- 
ing a  tree  says  to  another. 

The  bull  was  actually  tearing  up  the 
earth  and  boosting  up  the  sand  like  a  whirl- 
wind.— Mark  Twain:  Roughing  It, 

Booth  (thieves),  a  house ;  to  "  heave 
a  booth,"  to  rob  a  house. 

Booth  -  burster,  bam  -  stormer 
(theatrical),  a  loud  actor,  of  the 
good  old-fashioned  "  horse-dung 
and  sawdust"  type.  The  late 
T.  B.  Chatterton  used  to  term 
it  "gut  acting," 

Booting  (military),  punishment 
inflicted  by  the  men  with  a  sur- 
cingle or  strap. 

Boot  joe  (military),  musketry 
drill. 

Boot-leg  plan  (American),  by 
evasion  or  trickery,  in  reference 
to  the  saying  that  "  the  boot  is 
on  the  other  log,"  i.e.,  not  as 


one  would  naturally  understand 
an  assertion. 

There  is  as  much  whisky  consumed  in 
Iowa  now  as  there  was  before,  but  less 
beer,  throughout  the  State  "for  medical 
purposes  only,"  and  on  the  boot-leg  plan, 
and  saloons  run  openly  in  the  larger  towns 
in  defiance  of  the  laws. — Omaha  Herald. 

Boots  (common),  man  or  boy  who 
cleans  boots  at  an  hotel.  The 
term  has  ceased  to  be  slang. 

Well,  I  must  do  my  best,  the  post  oi  boots 
My  office,  which  I  used  to  think  sublime. 
This  sort  of  thing  scarcely  suits. 

— Punch. 

A  "  bootcatcher  "  was  a  pro- 
vincialism applied  to  a  man  at 
an  inn  whose  duty  it  was  to  pull 
off  the  boots  of  travellers. 

To  "  buy  any  one's  old  boots," 
to  marry  or  keep  a  cast-off  mis- 
tress. 

Booze  (common),  drink ;  to  booze, 
to  drink  heavily.  To  be  "  on 
the  booze,"  to  be  out  on  a  drunken 
jollification,  going  from  one 
public-house  to  another.  The 
word  is  derivable  from  "bouse," 
to  drink  deep  or  carouse.  In 
Wright's  Archaic  Dictionary 
"boose"  is  defined  as  mean- 
ing, in  some  of  the  rural  dis- 
tricts, a  cattle  "  trough,"  where 
kine  and  horses  drink.  In  War- 
wickshire and  Leicestershire 
the  trough  is  called  a  "  booson." 
Some  etymologists  derive  this 
from  the  Hindostani  6002a,  drink, 
and  others  from  the  Dutch  buy- 
zcn,  to  tipple — with  more  reason, 
as  the  term  was  good  English  in 
the  fourteenth  century. 


Booze — Bosh. 


165 


Thomas  Harman,  in  his  "  Ca- 
yeat,  or  Warening  for  Common 
Cursetors,"  1568,  has  bouxe  for 
drink,  and  to  house  for  to  drink. 

"  I  say  by  the  Salomon  I  will  lage  it  of 
with  a  gage  of  bene  bouse ;  then  cut  to  my 
nose  watch.  Why,  hast  thou  any  lowre  in 
thy  bonge  to  bouse  ?  " — "  I  say  by  the  mass 
I  will  wipe  it  off  with  a  quart  of  good  drink, 
say  what  you  will  to  me.  Why,  hast 
thou  any  money  in  thy  purse  to  drink?" 

To  be  boozed,  to  be  drunk. 

Boozer,  or  booser  (popular),  one 
fond  of  potations,  a  drunkard. 

This  landlord  was  a  boozer  stout, 
A  snuff-taker  and  smoker. 

—  Wolcot :  Peter  Pindar. 

Boozing  cheat  (thieves),  a  bottle. 

Boozing  ken  (popular),  a  public- 
house. 

Boozing^on  (Australian  prison 
slang),  a  drunken  man.  In 
England,  Lushington'  (one  who 
lushes  or  drinks)  is  the  equiva- 
lent term. 

Boozy  (popular),  partially  intoxi- 
cated ;  what  the  vulgar  collo- 
quialism calls  the  "  worse  for 
liquor,"  or  "  disguised  in  liquor." 
Formerly  not  slang. 

Borak  (colonial),  to  "poke  boraJc," 
applied  in  colonial  conversation 
to  the  operations  of  a  person 
who  pours  fictitious  information 
into  the  ears  of  a  credulous 
listener  {Notes  and  Queries,  7th 
Series,  vol.  iii.  p.  476). 

Bordeaux  (pugilistic),  blood, 
termed  also  "claret.  Badmin- 
ton." 


Borde  (old  cant),  a  shilling.  Pro- 
bably originated  in  the  term 
"  bord,"  formerly  a  duty  paid  in 
fairs  and  markets  for  setting 
up  tables,  boards,  and  stalls. 

Bord  you  (nautical),  a  phrase  used 
to  claim  the  next  turn  after  one 
who  is  drinking.  Used  also  in 
Norfolk  by  harvesters. 

Bore,  to  (pugilistic),  to  drive  an 
opponent  on  to  the  ropes  of  the 
ring  by  sheer  weight. 

MoUineaux  tried  to  bore  down  his 
opponent  by  main  strength  ;  Cribb  deter- 
mined to  prevent  him  if  possible  by  repeat- 
ing some  desperate  blows  on  the  head. 
— Thomas  Cribb :  Pugilistica. 

(Athletics),  to  push  an  oppo- 
nent out  of  his  course. 

Boring  (turf),  when  a  horse  in 
running  hangs  upon  another  so 
as  to  interfere  with  his  chance 
of  winning,  the  process,  whether 
intentional  on  the  part  of  the 
jockey  or  the  result  of  the 
exhaustion  or  bad  temper  of 
the  animal,  is  called  boring.  It 
usually  leads  to  recrimination, 
and  occasionally  to  disqualifica- 
tion. 

Bom  w^eak  (nautical),  when  a 
vessel  is  feebly  built,  she  is  said 
to  have  been  60771  weak. 

Bosh  (colloquial),  nonsense. 

This  gentleman  whispered  to  his  comrade 

the (I  believe  of  Eastern  derivation) 

the  monosyllable  bosh! — Thackeray :  The 
Adventures  of  Philif). 


i66 


Bosh — Boss. 


"This  well-known  word  is 
alleged,"  say  the  authors  of  the 
Anglo-Indian  Glossary,  "to  be 
taken  from  the  Turkish  hosh, 
signifying  empty,  vain,  useless, 
&c.  (Redhouse's Dictionary);  but 
we  have  not  been  able  to  trace 
its  history  or  first  appearance  in 
English."  Bosh  in  English,  and 
all  other  gypsy  dialects,  means 
a  noise  or  sound  of  any  kind, 
and  is  also  used  in  all  the  senses 
of  the  Turkish  word  to  denote 
emptiness,  just  as  we  might  say 
"  that  is  all  talk."  "  Hatch 
your  bosh,"  or  "bosherin,"  stop 
your  noise,  is  quite  the  same 
as  stop  your  hosh.  And  as  the 
English  gypsy  bosh,  in  fact, 
comes  rather  nearer  to  the  Eng- 
lish slang  word  than  the  Turkish, 
it  seems  most  likely  that  the 
Romany  supplied  it.  Bosh  or 
bash  in  gypsy  hds  also  the 
meaning  of  music,  and  is  ap- 
plied to  a  violin.  It  was,  and 
may  yet  be,  a  test  of  a  "  tra- 
veller's" proficiency  in  gypsy 
habits,  or  in  the  Romany  lan- 
guage, to  put  to  him  the  fol- 
lowing verse : 

"  O  can  you  rokker  Romanis  ? 
O  can  you  kill  the  bosh  t 
O  can  you  ja  to  staruben  ? 
O  can  you  chin  the  kosh  ?" — 

i.e.  "  O  can  you  talk  Romany? 
O  can  you  play  the  fiddle  ? 
O  can  you  go  to  prison  ? 
O  can  you  cut  the  wood  ?  " 

The  last  line  refers  to  making 
skewers  or  other  articles  of  wood 
— the  last  resort  for  a  gypsy 
when  poor. 


Bosh  faker  (itinerants),  violinist. 
Bosh  is  gypsy  for  a  violin.  A 
great  many  expressions  used  by 
the  lowest  class  of  actors  are 
from  the  gypsy.     Also  boshman. 

Bosh  lines  (showmen),  literally 
violin  strings,  explained  by 
quotation. 

Both  of  these  men  have  Marionette 
frames,  and  are  Marionette  performer*  in 
addition  ;  and  invariably  charge  more  for 
their  engagement  when  working  the  Ma- 
rionettes, or  "bosk  lines,"  as  they  call 
them,  as  well.— 7"/^  Bits. 

Bos-ken  (tramps),  a  farm-house. 

Bosky  (popular),  drunk ;  from 
bosky,  swelled,  in  fact,  "tight," 

Reminding  Corinthian  Tom  and  Jerry 
Hawthorn  of  the  Oxonian  and  his  inclina- 
tion to  get  bosky. — Putuh. 

Bosman  (tramps),  a  farmer. 
Dutch. 

I've  seen  the  swell  bosmen  buy  the  pills 
to  give  the  people  standing  about,  just  to 
hear  the  crocus  patter. — Henry  Mayhew: 
London  Labour  and  the  London  Poor. 

Boss,  an  American  and  colonial 
term  extensively  used  in  Eng- 
land by  all  classes  in  a  variety  of 
meanings,  such  as  master,  head. 

Boss  horse-shoers  now  charge  fifty  cents 
extra  for  shoeing,  to  meet  the  demands  of 
the  journeymen. — The  Weekly  Bulletin, 
San  Francisco. 

You  want  a  boss  cook  and  a  beauty, 
don  Cabeza,  eh  !  Well  I  guess  I  am  both. 
What'll  you  give  me  to  come  to  the  mine 
and  cook  ? — F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Mo- 
cassin. 

The  station-^<'M  stopped  dead  still  and 
glared  at  me  speechless. — Mark  Twain: 
Koughing  It. 

Much  philological  research  has 
been  devoted  to  establish  the 


Boss. 


167 


complete  etymology  of  this  word, 
it  being  held  that  it  is  connected 
with  boss,  a  round,  salient  protu- 
berance which  rises,  so  to  speak, 
in  a  superior  manner  above  the 
surrounding  surface;  but  most 
philologists  agree  in  deriving  it 
from  the  Dutch  baas,  master  ; 
den  baas  speden,  to  play  the  mas- 
ter, to  domineer,  to  lord  it, 
the  pronunciation  of  baass  and 
boss  being  the  same.  And  this 
origin  is  borne  out  by  the 
circumstance  that  the  French 
argot  has  beausse  for  the  master 
of  a  house,  rich  citizen,  man  of 
importance,  which  was  borrowed 
from  Flemish  vagabonds  and 
thieves.  In  Norfolk  boss  is  used 
in  the  sense  of  master,  or  one 
who  can  beat  and  overcome  an- 
other. In  the  North  of  England 
"bossock"  and  "bossy"  mean 
large,  fat,  with  a  large  belly. 
The  last  word  bears  a  close  re- 
semblance to  the  French  bossu  ; 
but  of  course  a  "bossy  "  man  and 
a  bossu  differ  in  respect  of  the 
position  of  the  protuberance. 

In  America  boss  is  also  used  as 
an  adjective  with  the  sense  of 
principal,  large,  fine,  as  a  boss 
lot  of  apples. 

M.-xny  a  time  have  I  let  the  "  boss  mine," 
or  the  "  boss  ranch"  slip  through  my  fin- 
gers I — F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Mocassin. 

Boss  is  often  used  as  a  verb, 
with  the  signification  to  own, 
manage,  superintend,  conduct. 

Our  gallant  chief,  bossing  the  situation 
as  usual,  insisted  upon  the  National  An- 
them being  played  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
sport,  and  subsequently  called  for  three 
cheers  for  the  Queen.—S/oriing  Times. 


"  Old  Blivins,  who  bossed  the  local  sheet. 
And  the  lawyer  who  worked  for  beer 
as  a  fee ;  -^ 
In  a  maudlin  state  wandered  down  the 
street. 
Having  had  a  dejected  kind  of  spree." 
— Keighky  Goodchild:  Waif. 

In  short,  with  no  other  counteracting 
force  than  an  old  lady  and  a  youth  of 
eighteen,  it  is  easy  to  see  that  a  "free- 
booter "  like  the  Captain  bossed  the  show, 
just  as  he  had  done  at  the  Pantheon. — 
Sporting  Times. 

He  was  bossing  the  cooking  himself 
that  evening,  and  at  that  moment  was  en- 
gaged in  stirring  some  beans  that  he  was 
frying  in  the  Mexican  style,  bacon-fat 
being  substituted  for  lard. — F.  Francis  : 
Saddle  and  Mocassin. 

"  Bossed  his  own  shoes,"  man- 
aged his  affairs  personally. 

At  any  rate,  the  elder  Hegner  has 
hitherto  bossed  his  own  shoes,  &c. — Truth. 

The  Australian  employ^  gene- 
rally speaks  of  his  master  as  the 
boss,  though  he  seldom  would 
address  him  as  boss  except  when 
the  master  is  really  in  the  same 
station  of  life  as  himself.  It  is 
disrespectful  to  address  a  man 
as  boss  in  Australia.  The  "  Lar- 
rikin "  is  rather  fond  of  prefac- 
ing his  impertinences  to  passers 
by  with,  "  I  say,  Boss." 

I  remember  a  certain  South  Australian 
aide-de-camp,  who  was  a  tremendous 
"  masher,"  coming  over  to  Melbourne  for 
"  the  Cup."  He  was  wearing  one  of  those 
btiff-starched  four-inch  collars,  irreverently 
styled  "jampots,"  and  was  saluted  in 
Bourke  Street  on  the  "Cup  night"  with 
"  I  say,  Boss,  how  much  for  the  celluloid?" 
from  an  individual  who  was  not  to  be 
crushed  by  a  withering  glance  through  a 
deliberately  screwed-in  eyeglass. 

—V.  B.  IV.  Sladen. 


1 68 


Boss — Boston. 


"The  Darky  Boss:  the  'trashy  white,' 
a  '  brudder,' 
Man  at  the  prow  and  woman  at  the 
rudder." 
— J.  B.  Stepluns :  Macaulay' s  New 
Zealander. 

Cabmen  use  the  term  with 
the  sense  of  the  "  fare,"  in  Paris 
le.  bourgeois  (which  has  also  all 
the  other  meanings  of  boss). 

Who  is  a  gentleman?  On  returning 
from  the  Lichfield  Coursing  Meeting  the 
other  evening,  one  of  the  runners  with  the 
telegraph  messages  from  the  ground  to  the 
Lichfield  telegraph  office  was  given  a  ride 
home,  and  when  nearing  Lichfield  it  was 
discovered  that  some  one  was  seated  in 
front  by  the  side  of  the  coachman.  The 
ioss  wanting  to  know  who  it  was,  asked 
the  boy  what  gentleman  that  was  riding 
by  the  side  of  the  driver,  and  the  reply 
was  as  follows,  "  He's  no  gentleman,  sir, 
he's  only  a  policeman." — Bird  o'  Free- 
dom. 

' '  Boss  of  the  shanty,"  master, 
manager  of  the  place. 

The  young  man  who  lives  not  far  from 
Burdett  Road,  who  sports  a  P.  and  O. 
cap,  and  wore  a  C.  medal  at  the  Poplar 
early  closing  concert,  should  have  strutted 
about  so.  Was  he  looking  for  the  fair 
young  lady,  or  did  he  fancy  himself  "  toss 
of  the  shanty." — To6y. 

Boss  of  the  show,  manager  of 
a  theatre,  music-hall,  circus,  or 
a  man  who  gives  an  entertain- 
ment. 

Miss  Leonora  Bradley,  well  known  in 
America,  will  open  shortly  in  London,  at 
a  West  End  theatre,  with  a  new  play 
called  "Jess,"  written  by  the  authors  of 
"  My  Sweetheart."  Eugfene  C.  Stafford 
will  he  fioss  of  this  show,  of  which  report 
speaks  highly. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

(Popular),  to  boss  anything, 
to  make  a  mess  of  it,  to  spoil  it. 


Bossaroo,  used  by  J.  B.  Stephens, 
the  Australian  comic  poet,  as  an 
abbreviation  of  "Boss  Kanga- 
roo. 

Ringed  by  the  fathers  of  the  tribe, 

Surrounded,  yet  alone, 
The  Bossaroo  superbly  posed 

Upon  a  granite  throne, 
A  very  old  "  old  man,"  who  had 

Four  generations  known. 

— J.  B.  Stephens :  Marsupial  Bill. 

Bossers  (common),  spectacles ; 
because  (specially  in  the  case 
of  short-sighted  persons)  they 
make  one  look  "boss-eyed"  or 
squinting,  or  from  the  studs  on 
horses'  blinkers. 

Boston  (American),  an  expres- 
sion which  owes  much  of  its 
meaning  to  the  tone  and  accent 
with  which  it  is  uttered.  Some- 
times it  is  Boxting,  the  nasal 
Yankee  form  of  the  word.  It 
is  meant  to  satirise  provincial 
vanity,  and  the  peculiar  form 
of  priggishness  which  is  de- 
clared by  envious  New  Yorkers 
and  others  to  be  characteristic 
of  "the  hub  of  the  universe." 
The  city  of  Boston  unquestion- 
ably is,  as  regards  literary  cul- 
ture, far  in  advance  of  any  city 
in  America,  a  fact  of  which  its 
indwellerg  are  by  no  means 
ignorant. 

Boston  culchaw  (American).  It 
is  declared  by  the  dwellers  in 
the  other  (doubtless  envious) 
cities  of  America  that  the  in- 
habitants of  Boston  are  so  proud 
of  their  "culture,"  that  how- 
ever excited  or  unruly  they  may 


Boston — Bottle-holder. 


169 


become,  any  person  can  at  once 
call  them  to  order  by  referring 
to  it.  In  a  letter  from  the  Hub 
to  the  Chicago  Tribune  there  is 
a  detailed  and  apparently  per- 
fectly truthful  narrative  of  two 
"  ladies,"  or  at  least  "  women  of 
wealth,"  who  began  to  quarrel 
furiously  in  a  shop  over  a  coun- 
ter for  a  shilling  handkerchief. 
The  bystanders,  and  finally  all 
the  people  in  the  place,  were 
soon  in  a  furious  row,  when  a 
tall,  dignified  man,  observing 
that  there  was  a  stranger  pre- 
sent, restored  quiet  as  by  a 
miracle.  All  that  he  did  was 
to  utter  in  an  absent-minded 
way,  "  Boston  cidchaw — ahem  !  " 
There  was  a  sudden  silence — 
a  marked  sensation,  as  if  an 
electric  current  had  in  a  second 
struck  every  heart  —  and  the 
ladies,  forgetting  the  handker- 
chief,,  at  once  retreated.  It  is 
said  that  the  police  experience 
no  difficulty  in  stopping  dog- 
fights, "plug-masses,"  or  rows 
in  the  lowest  taverns ;  they 
have  but  to  cry,  "  Is  this  aesthe- 
tic ?  Is  this  becoming  Boston .? " 
Happy  the  city  whose  detrac- 
tors can  find  in  it  no  worse 
subject  of  ridicule  than  its  de- 
votion to  culture. 

Botany  Bay  (Oxford),  a  name  for 
Worcester  College,  Oxford,  given 
in  reference  to  the  situation  of 
the  building,  which  is  at  some 
distance  from  the  centre  of  the 
town. 

(Prison  slang),  penal  servitude 
generally,  but  going  out  of  use, 


as  transportation,  which  began 
in  1787,  ceased  in  1867.  Botany 
Bay  (now  known  as  New  South 
Wales)  first  received  convicts  in 
1787. 

Botch  (old),  a  nickname  for  a 
tailor.  From  to  botch,  to  patch 
up  clumsily. 

Bottle  (sporting),  it  turned  out  no 
bottle,  did  not  turn  out  well, 
failed.  (Popular),  bottle-headed, 
stupid. 

Bottle-arsed  (printers),  type  that 
is  thickened  at  the  bottom  or 
feet  is  thus  described.  This  cir- 
cumstance arises  from  the  fact 
of  it  being  worn  by  continual 
impression,  and  sometimes  has- 
tened by  improper  "planing" 
down  or  levelling,  preparatory 
to  laying  the  form  on  for  print- 
ing. 

Bottle-holder  (pugilistic),  one  of 
the  seconds  attending  a  prize 
fight  in  the  ring,  who  takes 
charge  of  the  water  bottle  and 
holds  the  combatant  on  his 
knees  between  the  rounds,  whilst 
the  other  sponges  and  other- 
wise attends  to  him. 

Lord  Palmerston  was  so  nick- 
named after  a  speech  he  made 
when  Foreign  Secretary. 

The  noble  Lord  told  the  deputation  that 
the  past  crisis  was  one  which  required  on 
the  part  of  the  British  Government  much 
generalship  and  judgment,  and  that  a  good 
deal  of  judicious  bottU-ltolding  was  obliged 
to  be  brought  into  play.  The  phrase 
bottle-holdings  borrowed  from  the  prize- 


I70 


Bottle — Bounder. 


rinf;,  offended  a  good  many  persons. — 
Justin  M'Carthy :  A  History  of  Our 
07vn  Titftes. 

Bottle  of  spruce  (rhyming  slang), 
a  deuce,  slang  for  twopence. 

Bottling  (theatrical),  the  same  as 
applies  to  hobbing. 

Bottom  (common),  spirit  placed 
in  a  glass  before  water  is  poured 
in. 

(Up  country  Australian),  the 
scrubby,  swampy  ground  in  the 
bottom  of  a  depression  or  valley. 
Mostly  used  in  compounds  such 
as  ti-tree  (tea-tree)  bottom. 

It  led 
Into  a  forest  track  which  oft 
Was  blocked  by  tea-tree  bottom  soft 
Or  fallen  trunk,  compelling  them 
To  make  detours,  and  thrice  a  stem 
Some  inches   through   must    needs   be 

topped 
On  pain  of  being  wholly  stopped. 

— D.  B.  W.  Sladen :  A  Summer 
Christmas. 

5o«oTO-growths  is  good  Eng- 
lish for  grass  growing  on  low 
lands. 

(American),  "  soda  and  dark 
bottom,"  soda  and  brown  brandy. 

Bottom  dollar  (American),  last 
dollar. 

We'll  go  our  bottom  dollar. — Sporting 
Times. 

Botts  (popular),  the  colic.  Pro- 
perly small  worms  in  the  rec- 
tum of  a  horse. 

Botty  (popular),  conceited.  (Nur- 
sery),  a  contraction  for  an  in- 
fant's posterior.  The  French 
equivalent  is  tutu. 


Boughs,  up  in  the  (old),  in  a 
passion.J 

Bounce  (common),  cherry-brandy. 
(Popular  and  thieves),  a  bully ^or 
swell ;  a  "  rank6o«7wre,"  a  great 
swell.  To  bounce,  to  swindle, 
to  cheat  by  false  representa- 
tions. 

You  will  get  no  cheque  or  anything  else 
out  of  us,  so  you  had  better  travel  down 
to  Dover  under  the  seat ;  and  if  you  can't 
bounce  the  "Johnnies "on  the  boat,  you'll 
have  to  swim  from  Dover  to  Calais. — 
Sportitig  Times. 

(American),  bounced,  dis- 
missed, turned  out ;  "  given  the 
G.  B.,"  i.e.,  grand  bounce,  to 
be  turned  out  with  great  in- 
dignity. 

Bouncer  (popular),  a  swindler,  a 
person  who  steals  whilst  bar- 
gaining with  a  tradesman,  a 
large,  stout  man  or  woman. 

(Prison),  a  male  companion 
of  a  prostitute,  who  lives  on 
her  gains,  and  who,  by  in- 
timidation and  threats,  extorts 
money  from  men  whom  she  en- 
tices. 

(Naval),  a  gun  that  kicks  vio- 
lently when  fired. 

Bouncingcheat  (old  cant),  a  bottle, 
probably  from  the  noise  made 
when  opening  it  and  drawing 
the  cork,  or   a   corruption    of 

boozing -cheat. 

Bounder  (university),  a  student 
whose  manners  are  despised  by 
the   soi-disant   dite,    or   who   is 


Bounder — Bow-catcher. 


171 


beyond  the  boundary  of  good 
fellowship ;  also  a  dog-cart. 

(Society),  a  swell,  a  stylish 
fellow,  but  of  a  very  vulgar 
type, 

I  said  something  one  day  about  my  own 
attire,  and  she  remarked  that  if  I  ordered 
the  particular  hat  I  desired  I  should  be 
taken  for  a  bounder;  and  when  I  asked 
what  that  meant,  she  said,  "  Oh,  a  toff, 
you  know."  Feeling  that  my  ignorance 
had  better  be  displayed  no  further,  I  de- 
parted by  the  next  train. — St.  James's 
Gazette:  Culture  of  the  Misses. 

A  bounder  comes  above  the  sunset  hill. 

Who'll  come  and  make  his  stay ; 
For  he's  the  snipe  with  writs  who  is  possest. 
No  human  force  can  chase  that   dun 
away. 
He  is  the  boss  !  and  in  possession  still. 
— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Also  a  four-wheeled  cab, 
otherwise  known  as  a  "  growler." 

Bound  to  be  had  (popular),  des- 
tined to  be  outwitted  or  cheated. 

Sold  again  !     What  a  shame  !  it  is  really 

too  bad. 
The  way  that  I'm  treated  is  certainly  sad, 
Tis  my  phiz  that  they  quiz  like  my  mother 

and  dad. 
So  wherever  I  go  I  am  bound  to  be  had. 
— F.  Caughan:  Ballad. 

Bounge,  bonge,  or  bung  (old 
cant),  a  purse,  and  also  for  a 
pickpocket.  A  corruption  of 
the  English  bougct,  wallet. 

Boung  nipper  (old),  a  pickpocket, 
or,  as  they  were  then  called, 
"  cut-purses." 

Bounty  jumper  (American),  a 
soldier  who  deserts  to  enlist 
into  another  regiment  for  the 
sake  of  the  bounty. 


Afanager  of  Caledonian  Sports—''^  In 
what  line  are  you  a  contestant  ?"  Appli- 
cant— "  I  am  a  jumper."  "Ah,  you  have 
made  a  record?"  "  I  made  a  pretty  fair 
one  during  the  war,  I  jumped  the  bounty 
five  or  six  times. — Philadelphia  Call. 

Bourbon  democrats  (American), 
according  to  their  Republican 
opponents,  the  Democrats,  espe- 
cially those  of  the  South,  are 
like  the  Bourbons,  because  they 
have  "forgotten  nothing,  and 
learned  nothing,"  since  the  war. 

Bouse,  or  booze  out  (naval),  a 
good  house  out  is  a  good  feed,  a 
"tightener." 

Bousing-ken  (old  cant),  tavern, 
ale  -  house,  modernised  into 
"boozing-ken." 

"And  byng  to  rome  vyle,  to  nyp  a 
bonge ;  so  shall  we  haue  lowre  for  the 
bousing-ken." — Harman :  A  Caveat. 

i.e.,  "And  let  us  away  to  London,  to  cut 
a  purse ;  so  we  shall  have  money  for  the 
ale-house." 

Forting  thinks  the  term  is  a 
gypsy  corruption  of  the  Hindos- 
tani  booza,  drink,  and  khana, 
house.  Bousin,  or  housingot, 
in  the  slang  of  French  sailors, 
is  a  drinking  place  or  "lush- 
crib,"  from  the  Dutch  buyzen, 
to  tipple. 

Bovine  heart  (medical),  not  the 
heart  of  an  ox,  but  a  human 
heart,  which,  owing  to  disease 
of  one  set  of  valves,  has  become 
so  much  enlarged  as  to  equal  in 
size  that  of  an  ox. 

Bow-catcher  (popular),  a  corrup- 
tion of  beau-catcher,  a  small 


172 


Bowery — Bowly. 


curl  which  formerly  was  worn 
twisted  on  the  temples.  French 
"  accroche-coeurs  "  (rouflaquettes 
in  the  case  of  prostitutes'  bul- 
lies), and  American  "spit- 
curls." 

Bowery  boy  (American,  specially 
New  York),  for  many  years  the 
rough  or  rowdy  of  New  York 
was  called  the  Bowery  boy,  from 
a  street,  the  Bowery  (Dutch 
Bouwene),  which  he  was  sup- 
posed to  peculiarly  affect. 

When  I  first  knew  it  both  the  old  Bowery 
Theatre  and  the  old  Btnvery  boy  were  in 
their  glory.  It  was  about  that  time  that 
Thackeray,  taking  some  notes  in  Gotham, 
had  an  encounter  with  the  Bowery  boy 
that  seems  to  have  slipped  into  history. 
The  caustic  satirist  had  heard  of  the 
Bowery  boy,  as  the  story  goes,  and  went 
to  see  him  on  his  native  heath.  He  found 
him  leaning  on  a  fire  hydrant,  and  accosted 
him  with,  "  My  friend,  I  want  to  go  to 
Broadway."  Whereupon  the  ^(««(rry  ^(y, 
drawing  up  his  shoulders  and  taking  an- 
other  chew   on   his  cigar,    "Well,   why 

the don't   yer  go,  then  ?  "  — Chicago 

Tribune. 

In  New  York  other  species 
of  roughs  were  termed  "dead 
rabbits,"  "  five  pointers,"  and 
"  Water  -  Street  rats  ;  "  the 
roughs  of  Baltimore  were  known 
as  "blood  tubs"  and  "plug 
uglies,"  in  Philadelphia  as 
"shifflers"  and  "moyamen- 
sings,"  and  in  New  Orleans  as 
"tigers"  (New  York  Slang 
Dictionary). 

Bowled  (Winchester),  synony- 
mous with  "  croppled,"  or  "  crop- 
ped," that  is,  turned  in  for  a 
lesson  at  "  standing  up,"  when 


at  the  end  of  cloister  time  all 
below  senior  part  have  to  repeat 
eight  lessons,  that  is,  from  150 
to  400  lines. 

Bowled  out  (thieves),  convicted ; 
a  metaphor  taken  from  cricket, 
where  the  batsman's  innings  is 
concluded  for  good  when  he  is 
bowled  out. 

A  man  who  has  followed  the  profession 
of  thieving  for  some  time,  when  he  is 
ultimately  taken,  tried,  and  convicted,  is 
said  to  be  bowled  out  at  last  ;  to  botul 
out  a  person  in  a  general  sense,  means 
to  (detect  him  in  the  commission  of  any 
fraud  or  peculation,  which  he  has  hitherto 
practised  without  discovery.  —  Vauj^s 
Memoirs. 

Bowles  (popular),  shoes. 

Bowl  out,  to  (general),  to  put  out 
of  a  game,  to  detect. 

Bowl  the  hoop  (rhyming  slang), 
soup. 

Bowly,  bowry  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
well.  These  in  India  are  often 
grand  and  beautiful  structures, 
the  water  being  reached  by 
broad  flights  of  stairs,  with 
resting-places  here  and  there. 

To  persons  not  familiar  with  the  East, 
such  an  architectural  object  as  a  boiu-lee 
may  seem  a  strange  perversion  of  inge- 
nuity ;  but  the  grateful  coolness  of  all 
subterranean  apartments,  especially  when 
accompanied  by  water,  and  the  quiet  gloom 
of  these  recesses,  fully  compensate  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Hindu  for  the  more  attractive 
magnificence  of  \}m  gh&ts.  Consequently 
the  descending  flights  of  which  we  are  now 
speaking,  have  often  been  more  elaborate 
and  expensive  pieces  of  architecture  than 
any  of  the  buildings  above  ground  found 


Bows — Box. 


173 


in  their  vicinity. — Fergusson :  Indian  and 
Eastern  Architecture,  Anglo-Indian  Glos- 
sary. 

Bows  (nautical),  wide  in  the  hows, 
having  large  hips  and  posteriors. 
To  have  a  large  "barge,"  same 
meaning. 

Bowse,    or   bouse    up   the   jib 

(nautical),  an  old  phrase,  mean- 
ing to  tipple.  "Bowsing  his 
tib  or  jib  "  is  said  of  a  man  who 
has  been  drinking  freely. 

Bowsprit  (old),  the  nose.  The 
analogy  is  evident  between  the 
most  prominent  part  of  the  face 
and  the  bowsprit  of  a  vessel. 
More  modern  are  the  "boko," 
"conk,"  and  "smeller." 

Bow-wow  (old),  a  contemptuous 
term  for  a  man  born  in  Boston, 
Mass.  It  is  possible  that  this 
meaning  was  in  the  first  place 
derived  from  how-wow,  a  servile 
personal  attendant. 

Box  (common),  to  be  in  the  wrong 
60a:,  to  be  mistaken.  The  ex- 
pression is  old,  and  has  passed 
into  the  language. 

"Sir,"  quoth  I,  "  if  you  will  hear  how 
St.  Augustine  expounded  to  that  place, 
you  shall  perceive  that  you  are  in  a  wrong 
box." — Ridley,  1554. 

(Thieves),  cell. 

In  a  box  of  the  stone  jug  I  was  born. 
Of  a  hempen  widow  the  kid  forlorn. 
Fake  away  ! 

— A  insworth  :  Rookwood. 

To    box    (Australian    station 
slang),  to  join,  or  mix. 


It  now  was  time  to  mark  the  lambs, 
And  make  young  ewes  distinct  from  rams. 

While  he  the  overseer  would  come 
With  full  hands  from  the  station  home. 
From  which  they'd  start  at  break  of  day, 
And  do  the  marking  in  a  day ; 
And  still  he  cautioned  each  to  heed. 
And  look  out  as  he  did  proceed. 
"  Now,  mind  yourselves,  for  if  you  box, 
You'll  play  the  mischief  with  the  flocks." 
— Dugald  Ferguson,  N.Z. :  The  Lambs, 
in  "  Castle  Joy  and  other  Poems." 

Boxed  in  (thieves),  explained  by 

quotation. 

When  there  were  three  in  a  job  there 
would  always  be  one  outside  to  look  out, 
not  only  for  any  person  coming  along,  but 
for  lights  in  the  windows,  showing  that 
somebody  had  been  disturbed,  in  which 
case  it  was  easy  for  him  to  whistle  a  warn- 
ing to  his  pals  to  clear  out.  But  the  single- 
handed  man  lacked  these  various  advan- 
tages. It  was  neck  or  nothing  with  him 
when  he  was  once  boxed  in  (when  he 
entered  a  house),  and  a  revolver  was  his 
best  safeguard. — J.  X^reenwood :  A  Con- 
verted Burglar. 

Box  Harry,  to  (commercial  tra- 
vellers), to  go  without  dinner 
for  want  of  the  money  to  pro- 
cure it,  or  having  dinner  and 
tea  at  one  meal  to  save  expense. 
Formerly,  it  is  said,  truants 
confined  at  school,  without  fire, 
fought  or  boxed  a  figure  nick- 
named Harry  (probably  the 
devil),  which  hung  in  their 
room,  to  keep  themselves  warm. 
That  may  be  the  origin  of  the 
phrase.  In  Lincolnshire,  to  box 
Harry  is  to  be  careful  after  being 
extravagant.  To  box  the  devil  on 
account  of  one's  poverty  strongly 
reminds  one  of  the  French  "  tirer 
le  diable  par  la  queue,"  to  be 
"  hard  up." 


174 


Box — Boys. 


Box  hat  (common),  a  silk  hat, 
termed  also  a  "  chimney-pot." 

Box  of  dominoes  (popular),  the 
mouth. 

Box  the  Jesuit,  to  (old),  a  term 
to  express  a  secret  vice. 

Box  -  wallah  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
hybrid  Hindu  word,  from  balas, 
or  the  English  box,  and  wala,  a 
pronominal  termination,  A  box- 
wallah  is  a  small  pedlar,  who 
sells  cheap  wares,  and  who  cor- 
responds closely  to  many  of  his 
cousins,  the  pedling  gypsies  of 
England. 

Boy  (society),  champagne,  pro- 
bably' derived  from  the  term 
"  lively  boy,"  which  is  often  ap- 
plied to  a  young  man  brimming 
over  with  animal  spirits. 

To  be  let,  cheap,  in  the  Royal  Exchange, 
a  small,  well-fitted  office,  with  use  of  iay. 
Suitable  for  stockbroker  or  solicitor. — X., 
care  of  Leathwait  &  Simmons,  advertising 
agents,  i  Pope's  Head  Alley,  E.C.  X. 
can  send  us  particulars  at  once.  Pommery 
74,  extra  sec.,  is  our  favourite  kind  of  iay, 
but  there  aren't  many  brands  that  we  aren't 
equal  to  tackling  at  this  establishment. — 
Sporting  Times. 

(Popular),  a  hump  on  a  man's 
back.  A  hunch,  or  hump  back 
man  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  if 
he  were  two  persons — "him  and 
his  boy" 

(Anglo-Indian  and  pidgin), 
throughout  the  East  personal 
servants  of  any  age  are  called 
hoyi.  The  authors  of  the  Anglo- 
Indian  Glossary  observe  that 
similar  uses  of  the  word  are  to 


be  found  in  the  Vulgate,  also 
in  the  Arabic,  and  German  lite- 
rature, while  Shakspeare  makes 
Fluelen  say — 

"  Kill  the  pays  and  the  luggage !  'tis 
expressly  against  the  laws  of  arms  1 " 

In  pidgin-English  a  servant 
is  boy,  whilst  boy  in  the  ordi- 
nary sense  is "  one  small  boy." 
In  Tonkin  the  word  is  used  by 
the  French  with  a  like  significa- 
tion. 

Boycott,  to  (general),  a  now  gene- 
rally accepted  term,  used  with 
the  signification  of  to  send  to 
Coventry,  to  stand  aloof.  The 
French  equivalent  is  "  mettre 
en  quarantaine." 

"  Why,  Mabel,  dear,  I  have  not  seen  you 
for  the  last  ten  days  :  surely  you  don't  mean 
to  boycott  Regent  Street  ?" 

"  I  don't  want  to  boycott  Regent  Street, 
but  they  may  want  to  Endacott  me." — 
Sporting  Times. 

From  Captain  Boycott,  an 
'  Irish  landlord,  who  lay  under  a 
kind  of  excommunication,  all 
labourers  being  forbidden  to 
work  for  him  under  penalty  of 
some  fearful  punishment. 

Boys  (turf),  the  crowd  of  "  Tam- 
pers," "  brief  snatchers,"  "wel- 
shers,"  "  magsmen,"  "  lum- 
berers," and  other  rogues  who 
nourish  on  every  racecourse. 

I  should  think  that  there  is  hardly  a 
bookmaker  in  Tattersall's,  or  even  one  of 
the  ready-money  fraternity,  who  wonld 
not  willingly  subscribe  to  a  fund  for  the 
laudable  purpose  of  cleansing  the  rings 
from  those  foul  abominations,  those  crimi- 
nal scoundrels  known  as  the  boys.  These 
vermin  rob  the  public  annually  of  thousands 


Boys  — Branded. 


175 


of  pounds,  and  divert  from  the  pockets  of 
the  bookmakers  a  perfect  river  of  gold. — 
Bird  o  Freedom. 

The  hoys  is  also  a  designation 
occasionally  applied  to  the  ring. 
"  He  is  not  on  terms  with  the 
hoys,'''  means  that  the  person 
alluded  to  has  lost  more  money 
than  he  can  pay,  and  does  not 
venture  within  hail  of  the  book- 
makers. 

Brace,  to  (American  thieves),  to 
get  credit  by  swagger.  To  hrace 
it  through,  to  do  a  thing  by 
sheer  impudence. 

Bracelets  (police),  handcuffs.  Its 
equivalent  is  used  in  French 
slang. 

"  You'd  better  slip  the  bracelets  on  him, 
Jim."  The  fellow  on  my  left  produced  a 
pair  of  handcuffs. — Miss  Braddon :  Robert 
Ainsleigh. 

"Ah,  but  I  do!"  exclaimed  the  detec- 
tive, suddenly  seizing  the  trembling  wretch. 
"Come,  let's  slip  the  bracelets  on." — G. 
Sims :  Rogues  and  Vagabonds. 

Brace  of  shakes,  in  a  (popular), 
in  a  moment. 

Brace  up,  to  (thieves),  to  pawn 
stolen  goods.  Hotten  so  defines 
it,  bat  Vaux  says  :  "To  dispose 
of  stolen  goods  by  pledging 
them  for  the  utmost  you  can 
get  at  a  pawnbroker's  is  termed 
'  bracing  them  up.'  " 

Bracket-faced  (old),  of  unpleasing 
features,  hard-visaged  or  ugly. 

Bracket -mug  (popular),  a  very 
ugly  face,  mug  being  slang  for 
face. 


Brads  (thieves),  halfpence,  money. 
Hotten  says,  irads,  money  ; 
Vaux,  "Brads  are  halfpence, 
also  money  in  general."  Pro- 
perly hrads  are  a  kind  of  nails 
used  by  cobblers. 

"  Get  anything  ?  " 

"  Get  anything  ?  Not  a  brad,  s'welp  my 
never.  The  old  bloke  vhas  a  sittin'  up  a 
sharpenin'  his  scissors." 

"  But  you  must  a'  got  something  ?  " 

"  Vhell,  yes — I  vhas  lucky  to  get  out 
without  bein'  made  a  sheeny  myself." — 
Sporting  Times. 

Brag  (thieves),  a  money-lender  at 
exorbitant  interest,  a  Jew. 

Brain-pan  (medical),  the  skull- 
cap, the  calvaria,  also  the  skull 
itself.  (Common),  the  head, 
called  also  "  nob,  nut,  know- 
ledge-box, canister,  chump." 

Bramble,  a  Kentish  term  for  a 
lawyer. 

Bramble  -  gelder.  In  Suffolk  a 
derisive  appellation  for  an  agri- 
culturist (Hotten). 

Bran  (popular),  bread.  French 
soldiery  call  it  houie  de  ton. 

He  purchased  ...  a  half-quartern  loaf, 
or,  as  he  himself  expressed  it,  a  four- 
penny  bran. — Charles  Dickens:  Oliver 
Twist. 

Branded  ticket  (nautical),  a  dis- 
charge given  to  an  infamous 
man,  on  which  his  character 
is  given,  and  the  reason  he 
is  turned  out  of  [the  service 
(Admiral  Smyth). 


176 


Brandy — Brassy. 


Brandy  coatee,  brandy  (Anglo- 
Indian),  a  cloak,  a  coat  for  the 
rain. 

Barani-kurti  seems  to  be  a  kind  of  hy- 
brid shaped  by  the  English  word  "  coat," 
though  kurti  and  kurta  are  true  Persian 
words  for  various  forms  of  jacket  and 
tunic. — Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Brandy-faced  (popular),  red  faced. 
Is  generally  said  of  one  who  is 
in  the  habit  of  drinking  spirits 
in  excess. 

Brandy  pawnee  (Anglo  -  Indian 
and  English  gypsy),  brandy  and 
water.  From  pani,  Hindu  and 
Romany,  for  water.  In  Eng- 
land "  parny  "  is  a  common 
slang  word  for  water. 

I'm  sorry  to  see  you,  gentlemen,  drink- 
ing brandy  paivnee.  It  plays  the  deuce 
with  our  young  men  in  India. —  Thackeray : 
The  Newcomes. 

Bran-mash  (army),  bread  broken 
up  and  soaked  in  coffee  or  tea 
at  breakfast,  or  the  evening 
meal,  which  consists  of  dry 
bread  only,  as  the  regular  ration, 
men  in  funds  adding  red  her- 
rings, eggs,  and  other  savoury 
condiments  according  to  choice. 
See  Floating  Batteries. 

Brass  (coUoquial),  impudence, 
"cheek,"  from  the  immovable 
hard-set  countenance  of  a  bold, 
impudent  person,  the  front 
d'airain  of  the  French  expres- 
sion abbreviated  into  avoir  le 
front  de  .  .  .,  to  have  the  auda- 
city. 

She  in  her  defence  made  him  appear 
such  a  rogue  upon  record,  that  the  Chief 


Justice  wondered  he  had  the  6nus  to 
appear  in  a  Court  of  Justice. — North: 
£xamen. 

It  is  said  of  an  impudent  per- 
son that  his  face  has  been 
"rubbed  with  a  brass  candle- 
stick," or  that  he  is  as  "  bold 
as  brass." 

"  He  died  damned  hard,  and  as  bold  as 
brass,"  an  expression  commonly  used 
among  the  vulgar  after  returning  from  an 
execution. — George  Parker:  Dictionary 
of  Cant. 

(Popular),  money  generally. 

But  my  brass  all  went  to 
Old  Nick,  and  the  rent  too. 
For  I  backed  Sorrento — 

No  Sunday  dinner. 

— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

"  It's  no  good  being  proper  in  this 
world,"  said  the  lirst  housemaid.  "  Brass 
can  do  better  than  the  gold  what  has  stood 
the  fire,"  said  the  second.  —  Dickens  : 
Oliver  Twist. 

Brass  bound  and  copper  fastened 

(nautical),  a  term  applied  to  a 
midshipman  when  in  uniform. 

Brasser  (Blue  Coat  School),  a 
bully. 

Brass  knocker,  a  phrase  used 
among  professional  beggars  and 
tramps  to  signify  the  broken 
victuals,  which  they  unwillingly 
receive  instead  of  money,  and 
commonly  throw  away  on  the 
roadside  as  soon  as  they  are  out 
of  sight  of  the  donors. 

Brassy  (popular),  impudent. 

No,  Mister  Cattle,  Betty  was  too  brassy, 
We  never  keep  a  servant  that  is  saucy. 
—  IVolcot :  Peter  Pindar. 


Brazen-faced — Break. 


\77 


Brazen-faced  (common),  impu- 
dent, shameless.    See  Beass. 

Bread,  or  hard  tack  (nautical), 
biscuit.  Bread  being  termed 
"  soft  tack." 

Bread-and-butter  fashion  (prosti- 
tutes), that  is,  one  (slice)  upon 
another.  It  was  said  of  two 
persons  caught  in  the  act  that 
"they  were  lying  bread-and- 
butter  fashion." 

Bread-and-butter  warehouse  (old 
cant),  Ranelagh  Gardens  was  so 
called.  See  Beead-and-But- 
TEE  Fashion. 

Bread  and  meat  (military),  the 
commissariat. 

Bread  bagfs  (army),  those  con- 
nected with  the  victualling 
department.  Formerly  termed 
"muckers;"  French  soldiers 
call  them  riz-pain-sel. 

Bread  barge  (nautical),  the  tray 
in  which  biscuit  is  handed 
round. 

Bread-basket  (popular),  the 
stomach. 

.  .  .  The  point  of  a  sharp  instrument 
driven  right  through,  close  to  my  knees, 
with  the  exclamation,  "  What  do  you  think 
of  that  now  in  a  policeman's  bread- 
basket V — C.  Kingsley :  Alton  Locke. 

When  you  can't  fill  the  bread-basket, 
shut  it  :  go  to  sleep. — Reade:  Never  too 
late  to  Mend. 

Bread-picker  (Winchester),  a 
nominal  ofSce,  excusing  the 
holder  from  fagging. 


Bread-room  (nautical),  an  old 
term  for  stomach. 

The  waiter  returned  with  a  quartern  of 
brandy,  which  Crowe  .  .  .  started  into  his 
bread-room  at  one  cant. — Smollett :  L. 
Greaves. 

Bread-room  jack  (nautical),  pur- 
ser's steward  help. 

Break  (prison),  a  collection  made 
in  aid  of  one  awaiting  trial 
or  recently  discharged.  Liter- 
ally, pause  in  street  performance 
when  the  hat  goes  round. 

The  mob  got  me  up  a  break  (collection), 
and  I  got  between  five  or  six  foont  (sove- 
reigns).— Rev.  J.  Horsley  :  Jottings  from 
Jail. 

Break  or  crack  one's    egg,   to 

(cricketers),  to  make  one's  first 
run,  thus  avoiding  the  "duck's 
egg-" 

Breaking  the  balls  (billiards), 
commencing  the  game. 

Breaking  up  of  the  spell,  the 

(thieves),  explained  by  quota- 
tion.    Vide  Spell. 

The  breaking  up  of  the  spell  is  the 
nightly  termination  of  the  performance 
at  the  Theatre  Royal,  which  is  regulaily 
attended  by  pickpockets  of  the  lower  order, 
who  exercise  their  vocation  about  the  doors 
and  avenues  leading  thereto,  until  the  house 
is  emptied  and  the  crowd  dispersed. — 
Vaux's  Memoirs. 

Break  o'  day  drum,  a  tavern 
which  is  open  all  night. 

Break  out  all  over  (American),  a 

common  slang  phrase,  borrowed 

from    the  medical  vocabulary. 

Thus  if  a  man  were  in  a  great 

M 


178 


Break — Brewer's  horse. 


rage,  it  might  be  said  that  his 
wrath  broke  out  all  over  him,  or 
that  he  smiled  from  his  feet  to 
his  eyes.  In  the  following  anec- 
dote it  is  applied  to  an  excessive 
development  of  piety. 

"  '  Get  down  the  Bible,  we're  going  to 
have  family  prayer.'  '  Why  1  are  you 
going  to  have  family  prayer  before  you 
have  religion  ?  '  she  asked.  Grigger  said 
he  wanted  it  and  the  minister  said  if  he'd 
do  before  he  got  it  as  he  thought  he'd  do 
after  he  got  it  he'd  have  it.  Well,  Grigger 
could  not  get  the  idea  into  his  head.  But 
Grigger  stuck  to  it,  and  in  a  few  weeks 
Grigger  was  the  finest  case  of  religion  I 
ever  saw.     It  broke  out  all  over  him." 

Break  shins,  to  (common),  to  bor- 
row money.  The  French  slang 
equivalent  is  "  donner  un  coup 
de  pied  dans  les  jambes." 

Break  the  molasses  jug,  to 
(American),  to  make  a  mistake 
and  come  to  grief. 

R 

7^S- 


ht,  dar's  whar  he  broke  his  merlasses 
-Uncle  Remus. 


Break  the  neck  of  anything,  to 

(common),  a  phrase  signifying 
that  the  greater  portion  of  any 
task  has  been  accomplished. 

Breaky-leg  (popular),  strong 
drink.  The  French  slang  says 
of  a  man  who  has  liad  too  much 
drink  that  he  has  "  une  jauibe 
de  vin."  (Thieves),  a  shilling, 
from  the  expression  "  to  break 
shins,"  which  see. 

Breast  fleet  (old  slang),  Roman 
Catholics  were  once  known  by 
this  name.     So  called  from  the 


practice  of  making  the  sign  of 
the  cross  on  their  breasts. 

Breeched  (common),  to  be  well 
off.  The  French  say  of  a  bank- 
rupt that  he  is  unbreeched,  de- 
ctdottd. 

(Schoolboys),  to  be  breeched, 
to  be  flogged. 

Breeches  (colloquial),  a  wife  who 
usurps  her  hu  sband's  prerogative 
is  said  to  "wear  the  breeches." 
French,  "  porter  la  culotte." 

Breeze  (common),  a  quarrel  or 
disturbance— generally  "to  kick 
up  a  breeze." 

Breezy  (American),  cool. 

Not  since  the  original  enemy  of  mankind 
stood  up  and  rebuked  sin  have  we  seen 
such  an  exhibition  of  what  might  be  called 
breezy  chic  (pronounced  in  this  instance 
cheek)  as  that  exhibited  by  Carter  Harri- 
son, Mayor  of  Chicago,  in  coming  to  New 
York  to  give  us  points  on  municipal  govern  - 
ment. — New  York  World. 


Brekker  (Oxford),  breakfast. 
Footer. 


See 


Brevet-wife  (common),  an  unmar- 
ried woman,  who  is  represented 
as  married  to  the  man  with 
whom  she  cohabits. 

Brew,  to  (Marlborough),  to  have 
some  refreshment  in  tlie  after- 
noon at  about  four  o'clock. 

Brewer's  horse,  old  cant  name 
for  a  drunkard.  A  vulgar  stanza 
on  this  subject  was  popular 
about  a  hundred  years  ago  or 
more  : — 


Brian  o  Linn — Brickfielder. 


179 


"  I  wish  I  were  a  hrnver's  horse 

But  six  months  of  the  year, 
I'd  take  my  fill  of  honest  stuff, 

Apd  drink  up  all  the  beer. 
When  that  was  done,  what  should  I  do 

My  thirst  to  satisfy, 
I'd  eat  up  all  the  corks  and  bungs, 

Give  up  the  ghost  and  die." 

Brian  o'  Linn  (rhyming  slang), 

gin- 
Brick  (colloquial),  a  term  of  com- ' 
mendation  applied  to  a  parti- 
cularly    honest,     good,     jolly, 
brave,  or  spirited  person. 

Steerforth  approved  of  him  highly,  and 
told  us  he  was  a  brick. — Dickens :  David 
Copperfield. 

It  is  used  sometimes  with  an 
adjective  prefixed,  as  an  "out- 
and-out  briclc,"  a  "regular 
brick." 

Another  familiar  word  in  the  university 
slang  is  a  "  regular  brick,"  that  is,  a  jolly 
good  fellow,  and  how  the  simile  is  logically 
deduced  is  amusing  enough.  A  brick  is 
"deep  red,"  so  a  "  deep  read  "  man  is  a 
brick ;  a  deep  read  man  is  in  university 
phrase  a  "good  man;"  a  good  man  is  a 
jolly  fellow  with  non-reading  men,  ergo  a 
jolly  fellow  is  a  brick. — Hallberger's  Illus- 
trated Magazine. 

It  is  evident  that  the  figurative 
sense  of  the  word  is  in  allusion 
to  the  shape  of  a  hrick.  In 
English  and  other  languages 
straightforwardness  is  always 
identified  with  squareness.  "He 
answered  30U  as  square  as  a 
hrick."  "He  did  it  on  the 
square." 

Brickfielder  or  brickduster  (Aus- 
tralian), a  dust  storm,  a  kind 
of  whirlwind  frequent  in  Aus- 
tralia during  the  summer  time. 


Identified  by  Lieut.  -Col  Munday 
with  the  "  southerly  burster," 
so  called  from  the  brickdusty 
feel  of  the  grit  with  which  the 
wind  charges  itself  as  it  rolls 
up  the  storm. 

In  October  1848,  as  I  find  by  my  diary, 
I  witnessed  a  fine  instance  of  a  nocturnal 
brickfielder.  Awakened  by  the  roaring  of 
the  wind  I  arose  and  looked  out.  It  was 
bright  moonlight,  or  it  would  have  been 
bright  but  for  the  clouds  of  dust,  which, 
impelled  by  a  perfect  hurricane,  curled  up 
from  the  earth  and  absolutely  muffled  the 
fair  face  of  the  planet.  Pulverised  speci- 
mens of  every  kind  and  colour  of  soil  within 
two  miles  of  Sydney,  flew  past  the  house 
high  over  the  chimney  tops  in  lurid  whirl- 
winds, now  white,  now  red.  It  had  all  the 
appearance  of  an  American  prairie  fire, 
barring  the  fire.  .  .  . 

One  of  the  greatest  miseries  of  the 
"southerly  burster "  is  that  (welcome  to  all 
animated  nature  as  are  its  cooling  airs)  its 
first  symptoms  are  the  signal  for  a  general 
rush  of  housemaids  to  shut  hermetically 
every  aperture  of  the  dwelling.  The  ther- 
mometer in  the  drawing-room  and  one's 
own  melting  mood  announce  some  86" 
of  heat,  while  the  gale  driving  so  refresh- 
ingly past  your  windows  is  probably  30° 
lower ;  but  if  you  have  any  regard  for 
sight  and  respiration,  for  carpets,  chintz, 
books,  and  other  furniture,  you  must  re- 
ligiously shut  up  shop  until  the  chartered 
libertine,  having  scavengered  the  streets  of 
every  particle  of  dust,  has  moderated  its 
wrath.  Even  then,  however  well  fitted 
may  be  the  doors  and  windows,  the  volatile 
atoms  will  find  their  way  everywhere,  to 
the  utter  disturbance  of  household  and 
personal  comfort. — Lieut.-Col.  Munday: 
Our  Antipodes. 

The  climate  of  Queensland  is  very  hot. 
In  summer  the  heat  is  Indian  ;  and  it  is  a 
moist,  that  is  to  say,  an  exhausting  heat, 
whereas  the  summer  temperature  in  other 
parts  of  Australia  is  comparatively  dry ; 
drier  in  South  Australia  and  Victoria  than 
in  New  South  Wales,  but  when  brick- 
fielders  or  dust  storms  are  not  blowing, 
endurable. — Daily  Telegraph. 


i8o 


Brick — Briefs. 


Brick  in  the  hat  (common),  intoxi- 
cated, top-heavy.  The  deriva- 
tion is  obvious. 

Bricklayer's  clerk  (nautical),  a 
contemptuous  expression  for 
lubberly  people  pretending  to 
having  seen  better  days,  but 
who  were  forced  to  betake  them- 
selves to  sea  life. 

Bridge  (card-sharpers),  a  cheating 
trick  at  cards,  by  which  any 
particular  card  is  cut  by  pre- 
viously curving  it.  French  card- 
sharpers  term  it  "  faire  le  pont." 

I've  found  out  the  way  that  Yankee 
fellow  does  the  king.  It's  not  the  common 
bridge  that  everybody  knows. — Charles 
Lever:  Davenport  Dunn. 

To  bridge  a  person  or  throw 
him  over  the  bridge,  is,  in  a  gene- 
ral sense,  to  deceive  him  by  be- 
traying the  confidence  he  has  re- 
posed in  you.  In  the  game  the 
confederates  so  play  into  each 
other's  hands  that  the  victim 
must  inevitably  be  "thrown 
over  the  bridge." 

Bridle-cull  (old  cant),  a  highway- 
man. 

A  booty  of  £10  looks  as  great  in  the  eye 
of  a  bridle-cull,  and  gives  as  much  real 
happiness  to  his  fancy,  as  that  of  as  many 
thousands  to  the  statesman. — Fielding: 
Jonathan  Wild. 

Brief  (prison),  a  note  or  letter. 

"Just  look  what  I've  had  sent  me. 
An  order  to  go  over  the  Bank  of  Eng- 
land." .  .  . 

''Cant  you  alter  the  brief,  to  admit 
three?" 

"  Oh  lor,  no  ;  wouldn't  try  it  on  ;  might 
queer  the  pitch  before  starting." — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 


Brief  is  a  survival  of  an  old 
English  term  of  common  ecclesi- 
astical use  in  the  seventeenth 
and  eighteenth  centuries.  In 
French  bref,  both  from  the 
Latin  brevis.  See  rubric  in  the 
Prayer-book.  Here  briefs,  cita- 
tions, and  excommunications 
are  to  be  read.  Briefs  were 
circular  letters  issued  by 
authority  asking  for  charitable 
collections  in  all  churches. 

(Thieves),  a  ticket,  pocket- 
book,  pawnbroker's  duplicate. 

So  I  claimed  (stole)  them,  .  .  .  and 
guyed  (ran)  to  the  rattler  (railway),  and 
took  a  brief  to  London  Bridge. — Rev.  J. 
Horsley:  Jottings  from  Jail. 

"  Take  it  from  me,"  exclaimed  the  gen- 
tleman with  the  pink  may  twined  round 
his  hat,  as  he  gracefully  reclined  on  the 
seat  of  a  third-class  carriage  in  the  Ascot 
"  special,"  and  leisurely  sucked  a  piece  of 
fried  fish,  "  these  'ere  six  and  sixpenny 
'  rattlers '  may  be  all  right  in  their  way, 
but  give  me  a  thirty-two-blow  weekly 
brief!  They  goes  at  twice  the  bloomin' 
speed,  an'  you  meets  a  different  class  o' 
company  ! " — Bird  o'  Freedom . 

I  have  snatched  at  briefs,  the  property  of 
others, 
But   the  punishment  was  too  much  to 
sustain. 
Oh  send  your  boy  a  pound,  thou  best  of 
mothers  ; 
I'll   refund   it   when   the   Gee-gees   run 
again. 
—  IVhen  the  Gee-gees  Run  .Again. 

Briefs  (cardsharpers),  cards  con- 
structed on  a  cheating  prin- 
ciple. Like  the  German  Bricfc, 
which  Baron  Heineckcn  says 
was  the  name  given  to  the  cards 
manufactured  at  Ulm.  Brief 
is  also  the  synonym  for  a  card 
in  German  slang,  and  briefen 
means  to  play  at  cards. 


Brief  snatchers — Brismelah. 


I8i 


Brief  snatchers  (thieves),  pick- 
pockets who  devote  their  atten- 
tions to  pocket-books  on  race 
courses. 

Brigh  (thieves),  pocket.  Probably 
from  breeches,  but  closer  in  form 
to  the  Gaelic  brigis,  whence  the 
French  braies,  breeches,  and 
hrayette  or  braguette,  flap  of 
breeches,  which  formed  a  con- 
venient receptacle  for  small 
articles  when  pockets  had  not 
superseded  the  pouch. 

Bright  (freemasons),  an  adjective 
applied  to  well-instructed  ma- 
sons. 

Bright  in  the  eye  (popular),  a 
mild  state  of  intoxication. 

Brim  (old  cant),  a  woman ;  (com- 
mon), a  violent  and  irascible 
woman.  Brim,  a  very  old  Eng- 
lish word  for  angry  or  enraged, 
is  supposed  to  be  from  the  raging 
or  roar  of  the  sea.  Anglo-Saxon 
brim,  surf,  surge  on  the  shore. 

She  raved,  she  abused  me,  and  splenetic 

was ; 
She's  a  vixen,  she's  a  brim,  zounds  !  she's 

all  that  is  bad. 

— lyhim  of  the  Day-,  1799. 

Brimstone  (old  cant),  an  aban- 
doned rogue,  or  prostitute ; 
(common),  a  violent,  irascible 
woman. 

The  brimstone  swore  I  beat  her  husband, 
and  so  I  paid  for  meddling. ^/c'/jwj/tjw  .- 
Chrysal. 

Confound  the  woman  .  .  .  was  there 
ever  such  an  aggravating  brimstone  ! — J. 
Greenwood :  A  linos t  Lest. 


Bringing  down  the  house  (thea- 
trical and  journalistic),  eliciting 
thunders  of  applause. 

Bring  on  your  bears  I  (American), 
a  common  form  of  challenge. 
It  is  said  that  a  small  boy  in  the 
Far  West,  who  lived  in  a  place 
where  bear-killing  was  a  favour- 
ite amusement,  was  very  much 
struck  at  hearing  for  the  first 
time  the  story  of  Elisha  read 
from  the  Bible.  The  next  day, 
while  in  his  log-cabin  home,  he 
saw  approaching  an  old  man  on 
whose  pate  not  a  hair  could  be 
seen.  He  hastily  took  down  his 
father's  rifle  and  loaded  it, 
sharpened  the  family  bowie- 
knife,  and  roared  at  the  ancient 
passer-by,  "Go  up,  thou  Bald- 
head  !  "  Then  looking  defiantly 
up  to  heaven  he  cried,  "  Now, 
bring  on  your  bears  I "  The 
Chicago  Tribune  (September  13, 
1886)  heads  a  defiant  article  to 
England  with  this  exclamation. 

Briny  (popular),  the  sea.  French 
slang,  "la  grande  salde." 

He  delights  in  collaring  a  greenhorn, 
and  after  pouring  into  his  willing  ears  tales 
of  unutterable  woe  and  adventures  under- 
gone on  the  briny.  .  . — H.  Evans:  The 
Brighton  Beach  Loafer. 

Brisket-beater  (popular),  a  Roman 
Catholic  (Hotten). 

Brismelah  (Anglo- Yiddish),  the 
ceremony  of  circumcision.  Be- 
rts, a  covenant ;  btris  hamiloh, 
the  covenant  of  circumcision. 

The  practice,  however,  of  putting  round 
the  hat  at  brismelahs  has  fallen  off  consi- 


182 


Bristol  milk — Broady. 


derably.  At  one  place  I  knows  of,  where 
they  haves  a  annual  baby  every  Purim, 
the  family  Mohel  had  become  such  a  nui- 
sance with  his  begging  that  at  the  last 
brismelah  they  couldn't  get  enough 
Yidden  for  mezooman,  let  alone  minyan, 
and  if  it  hadn't  been  for  the  potman  calling 
from  the  Cat  and  Trumpet  they'd  never 
a  been  able  to  bring  the  brismelah  off  at 
all. — Sporting  Times. 

Bristol  milk  (old),  sherry.  Bristol 
was  the  chief  port  at  which  ves- 
sels from  Spain  carrying  cargoes 
of  this  wine  used  to  arrive — 
hence  the  name. 

Broach  the  claret,  to  (pugiUstic). 

'Twas  not  till  the  tenth  round  his  claret 

was  broach'd. 
But  a  pelt   in   the   smeller,   too  pretty 

to  shun, 
If  the  lad  even  could  set  it  going  like 

fun. 
— Torn  Cribb's  Memorial  to  Congress. 

Broad  and  shallow  (popular),  an 
epithet  applied  to  the  so-called 
"  Broad  Church,"  in  contradis- 
tinction to  the  "  High "  and 
"  Low  "  Churches  (Hotten). 

Broad  bottom.  Explained  by 
quotation. 

A  coalition  Government  in  the  last 
century  was  known  by  the  apt  nickname 
of  the  Broad  Bottom.  Walpole,  writing 
Mann  in  1741,  says  :  "  The  Tories  declare 
ag.iinst  any  further  prosecution — if  Tories 
there  are,  for  now  one  hears  of  nothing 
but  the  Broad  Bottom  ;  it  is  the  reigning 
cant  word,  and  me.ins  the  taking  all  parties 
and  people  indifferently  into  the  Ministry." 
— Comhill  Magazine. 

Broad  brim  (common),  originally 
a  Quaker,  thus  called  from 
tlie  peculiar  hat  worn  by  the 
"  friends."  Now  used  in  refer- 
ence to  rjuict,  sedate  men. 


A  veteran  correspondent,  who  inspired 
"The  Druid  "  with  nianyof  his  paragraphs, 
writes  us  that  Mr.  W.,  the  breeder  of  Fair 
Alice,  did  not  stand  atone  as  we  imagined, 
and  that  Mr.  K.,  the  owner  of  Priscilla 
Tomboy,  was  also  a  broad  brim.  —  Sporting 
Times. 

Broad  cooper  (brewers),  a  person 
employed  by  brewers  to  nego- 
tiate with  publicans  (Hotten). 

Broad  faking  (card-sharpers), 
playing  at  cards,  or  doing  the 
three-card  trick  on  race-courses, 
&c. 

Broads  (popular  and  thieves), 
cards. 

"Yes,  he  was  a  red  hot  'un,"  quoth  the 
Horticulturist,  "and  at  the  broads  he  was 
unrivalled.  But  he  played  it  too  thick  at 
Brighton  that  week." — Sporting  Times. 

He  then  took  another  business  at  Wal- 
worth, and  got  on  well  while  he  forswore 
the  "infernal  broads"  as  he  called  them. 
— /.  Greenwood :  Tag,  Rag,  <5^*  Co. 

Broadsman  (thieves),  a  card- 
sharper. 

Broady  (tailors),  among  East  End 
tailors  broadcloth  is  so  called. 
Also  a  general  term  for  cloth. 

Gentlemen  finding  their  own  broady  can 
be  accommodated. — A  Slang  Advertise- 
ment. 

"  Broady  workers  are  men 
who  go  round  selling  vile  shoddy 
stuff  under  the  pretence  that  it 
is  excellent  material,  which  has 
been  got  '  on  tlie  cross,'  that  is, 
'stolen  ' "  (Hotten). 

(Thieves),  hroady,  anything 
worth  stealing. 


Brock —  Broomsticks. 


183 


Brock,  to  (Winchester),  to  bully. 
Literally,  to  badger.  From 
brock,  a  badger. 

Brockster  (Winchester),  a  bully. 

Brogan  (American),  coarse,  strong 
shoes.  From  brogues,  coarse 
shoes,  which,  according  to  Ken- 
nett,  are  shoes  made  of  rough 
hide  used  by  the  wild  Irish. 
Irish  brog,  a  shoe. 

Broiled  crow,  to  eat  (Ameri- 
can). A  newspaper  editor  who 
is  obliged  by  his  party,  or  other 
outside  influences,  to  advocate 
principles  different  from  those 
which  he  supported  a  short 
time  before,  is  said  to  eat  broiled 
crow,  more  conmionly  "to  eat 
crow." 

Broke  (common),  hard -up,  re- 
duced to  one's  last  sou. 

There  was  a  young  plunger,  who  smartly 
Snapped  up  the  big  books  about  Hartley  ; 

Then  came  the^ajc^, 

And  Ben  cried  "  Carrasco  ! 
I'm  bested,  broke,  busted — or  partly  !  " 
— Bird  o  Freedom. 

Broke  her  leg  (American),  said 
of  an  unmarried  woman  who 
has  had  a  child.  In  French 
theatrical  slang,  a  lady  who  is 
enceinte  "  ar  mal  au  genou,"  the 
result  of  a,  faux-j)as. 

Broken.  When  a  corporal  at  the 
R.  M.  Academy  is  reduced  for 
some  irregularity  or  misconduct 
he  is  said  to  be  broken. 

Broken  knees  (popular),  a  woman 
who  has  made  a  slip,  or  been 


seduced,  is  said  to  have  broken 
knees.  The  Germans  say  she 
has  "  lost  a  shoe."  The  analogy 
existing  in  each  language  be- 
tween the  phrase  and  the  lan- 
guage of  the  stable  is  curious. 

Brolly  (Winchester),  a  corruption 
of  umbrella.  The  term  is  used 
also  at  the  universities, 

I  saw  great  Goshen  stamping  on  the  pave, 
I  saw  that  famous  man  his  brolly  wave ; 
I  heard  a  naughty  word,  and  I  am  free 
To  own  that  that  same  word  began  with  D. 
— Funny  Folks. 

Broncho  (American),  wild  or 
savage,  unruly.  A  Western  term 
derived  from  the  broncho  or  mus- 
tang, an  unruly  brute. 

"  Oh !  I  don't  know.  He'd  been  sing- 
ing the  music  to  'em"  (imitating  them). 
"  Sam's  too  broncho."  —  F.  Francis  : 
Saddle  and  Mocassin. 

Broom  it,  to  (old  slang),  to  run 
away. 

Broomstick  (common),  to  be  mar- 
ried "  over  the  broomstick,"  to 
live  as  man  and  wife  without 
being  married. 

Young  ladies  had  fain  single  women  re- 
main, 

And  unwedded  dames  to  the  last  crack  of 
doom  stick, 

Ere  marry  by  taking  a  jump  o'er  a  broom- 
stick. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

An  allusion  to  a  marriage 
ceremony  performed  by  both 
parties  jumping  over  a  broom- 
stick. 

Broomsticks  (thieves),  insolvent 
bail.  Called  also  "  queer-bail," 
"  straw  bail,"  "Jew  bail,"  &c. 


i84 


Brosh — Brown  Bess. 


"  Queer-bail  are  persons  of  no 
repute,  hired  to  bail  a  prisoner 
in  any  bailable  case.  These  men 
are  to  be  had  in  London  for 
a  trifling  sum,  and  are  called 
hroomstickt "  (Vaux's  Glossary). 

Brosh  (American),  brittle.  Dutch, 
brds,  frail,  brittle.  A  New  York 
word. 

Brother-chip  (popular),  originally 
fellow-carpenter.  Almost  gene- 
ral now  as  brother  tradesman  of 
any  kind. 

Brother  smut  (popular),  used  in 
the  phrase  "ditto  brother  smut," 
equivalent  to  tu  quoque.  Some- 
times "  ditto  smut "  when  ad- 
dressed to  a  woman. 

Brother  starlings  (old  slang). 
"He's  a  brother  starling  of 
mine,"  i.e.  he  cohabits  with  the 
same  mistress  and  shares  her 
favours. 

Brovm  (popular),  halfpenny. 

My  father  he  is  on  the  seas,  my  mother's 

dead  and  gone, 
And  I  am  here,  on  this  here  pier,  to  roam 

the  world  alone ; 
I  have   not   had,  this  live-long  day,  one 

drop  to  cheer  my  heart. 
Nor  l>r<nvn  to  buy  a  bit  of  bread  with,  let 

alone  a  tart. 

— Ing;oldsby  Legends. 

How  much  ha' we  took  to-day,  Jim? 

Why,  not  a  single  brmvn, 
Ami  our  show  w.us  one  o'  the  best 
Once,  and  we  rode  from  town  to  town. 
— George  R.  Sims  :  Ballcuis  of 
liahylon. 

1  took  Parr's  pills,  which  brought  on 
premature  old  age  ;  and  here  I  am,  as  you 
see.-.,  a  wicktum  to  mislortunc.     My  heart 


is  btuting  for  a  buster,  my  mag  is  for  a 
mag.  So  throw  down  your  browns,  kind- 
hearted  Christians,  and  be  done  brown 
and  "  no  mistake."— i?j/>wf«.-  Laugh  and 
Learn. 

(Common),  to  "do  it  brovm," 
to  do  well  or  completely. 

What  with  "cabbys"and  with  "wires," 
When  anything  transpires 

To  send  the  market  either  up  or  down. 
In  aerated  "  Breads," 
Or  "  Shores,"  or  "  Yanks,"  or  "  Reds," 

In  slang  we  really  do  it  rather  brown. 
— At  kin:  Hoxise  Scraps. 

(Popular),  to  brown,  to  under- 
stand. 

"I  can  bro^un  almost  any  poetry,"  said 
George,  "but  not  Browning." — News- 
paper Story. 

And  when  they  ask  me  if  I  brown  such 
language,  I  ne'er  hear  or  read  as  to  brown- 
ing ;  I'm  done  broivn  instead. —  T.  K. 
Symns  :  The  Age  of  Betting. 

Browns  and  whistlers  (thieves), 
explained  by  quotation.  ^^  Browns 
arid  Whistlers  are  bad  halfpence 
and  farthings  (it  is  a  term  used 
by  coiners  ")  (Vaux's  Glossary). 

Brown  Bess  (common),  the  old 
Government  regulation  musket. 
Soldiers  of  all  nations  are  fond 
of  giving  names  of  persons  to 
their  weapons.  The  French 
troopers  sometimes  call  their 
sword  "Jacqueline,"  and  most 
of  the  siege  guns  during  the 
siege  of  Paris  in  1870  had  been 
nicknamed  in  the  same  manner 
by  the  sailors  who  manned  the 
forts,  their  favourite  being  a 
very  large  gun  called  "Jose- 
phine." "  To  hug  brown  Bess," 
to  serve  as  a  private  soldier. 
(Rhyming  slang),  yes. 


Brown  Bessie — Brum. 


185 


BroTvn  Bessie,  an  old  word  for  a 
woman  of  easy  or  uneasy  virtue. 
Also  hlach  Bess. 

Things  proffered  and  easie  to  come  by 
diminish  themselves  in  reputation  and 
price,  for  how  full  of  pangs  and  dotage  is  a 
wayling  lover,  for  it  may  bee  some  brown 
Bessie. — Dore's  Polydoron,  1631. 

"Bonny  black  Bess"  was  a  very 
popular  scandalous  baUad  a  cen- 
tury ago. 

Brown  bill  (old),  the  old  weapon 
of  the  English  infantry. 

Brown  George  (nautical),  a  hard 
and  coarse  biscuit. 

Brownie  (whalers),  the  polar  bear. 

Brown  Janet  (nautical),  a  knap- 
sack. 

Brown  Joe  (rhyming  slang),  no. 

Brown  papermen  (popular),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

But  the  little  nick  (a  gambling-house)  is 
what  we  call  only  bro-wn  papermen,  low 
gambling,  playing  for  pence,  and  a  shil- 
ling being  a  great  go. — Mayhew :  London 
Labour  and  the  London  Poor, 

Brown  stone  (American),  beer. 

Brown  talk  (common),  conver- 
sation of  an  exceedingly  proper 
character. 

Brown  typhus,  brown  titus,  and 
in  America  brown  creeturs,  an 
attempt  at  the  pronunciation  of 
bronchitis,  or  the  names  fre- 
quently given  by  the  lower 
orders  to  that  common  disease. 
These  misnomers  are  some- 
times most  amusing,  as,  for  in- 


stance, a  poor  woman  had  been 
told  she  had  myxadema,  and 
informed  a  second  medical  man 
that  her  first  doctor  had  said 
that  she  had  got  Nicodemus; 
but,  she  added,  he  could  not 
cure  it. 

Browny  (thieves),  a  penny. 

Dols.  is  brozvm'es,  as  we  call  'em  some- 
times, that's  pence.  — Hamilton  Aldi : 
Morals  and  Mysteries, 

Browse,  to,  to  enjoy  oneself,  to 
idle  about,  to  loll  in  the  sun. 
French  faire  son  Uzard.  The 
expression  is  much  used  by 
gentlemen  cadets  of  the  Royal 
Mihtary  Academy.  In  the 
United  States,  to  eat  here  and 
there,  now  and  then,  an  ex- 
pression of  Abraham  Lincoln's. 

Bruiser  (prison),  the  bully  who 
is  a  hanger-on  of  prostitutes. 

I'he  bruiser  is  the  nearest  approach 
to  Dickens'  hero.  Bill  Sykes.  —  Michael 
Davitt :  Leaves  frotn  a  Prison  Diary. 

(Common),  a  pugilist.  (Pugilis- 
tic), a  prize-fighter.  (Popular), 
one  fond  of  fighting. 

C,  who  is  known  in  the  neighbourhood 
as  a  "great  bruiser"  pleaded  that  he 
made  a  mistake,  and  thought  Conway  was 
molesting  the  woman,  who  he  also  mistook 
for  his  wife.  He  goes  to  jail  for  six  weeks. 
— Echo. 

Brum  (Winchester),  stingy,  mean. 
Probably  an  abbreviation  of 
Brummagem.  (Popular  and 
thieves),  a  counterfeit  coin. 
AI.S0  Birmingham. 

We  have  just  touched  for  a  rattling  stake 
of  sugar  (large  stake  of  money)  at  Brutn. 
— Cornhill  Magazine. 


1 86 


Brumby — Brush. 


Brumby  (Australian),  a  wild  horse. 

Brummagem  (common),  Birming- 
ham, applied  to  anything  vulgar 
or  counterfeit. 

Those  may  be  Brvmma^em  or  Man- 
chester manners,  but  they  won't  go  down 
here. — Rhoda  Broughton :  Cometh  up  as 
a  Flower. 

Never  let  yourself  be  deceived  by  Brum- 
viagem  and  paste. — Miss  Thackeray :  Old 
Kensington. 

He  whipped  out  his  Brummagem  blade  so 
keen, 
And  he  made  three  slits  in  the  buffalo's 
hide, 
And  all  its  contents,  through  the  rents  and 
the  vents, 
Come  tumbling  out, — and  away  they  all 
hied  I 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Brummagem  was  originally 
spelled  Bromidgham,  and  its 
first  connection  with  anything 
spurious  or  sham  came  from  the 
so-called  Bromidgham  groat,  a 
counterfeit  fourpenny  piece. 
It  was  subsequently  applied  to 
a  person  who  was  neither  Whig 
nor  Tory  (Halliwell). 

Brummagem  buttons  (popular), 
counterfeit  coin. 

Want  change  for  a  fiver — bad  silver, 
Brummagem  buttons,  won't  do. — Dickens : 
Pickwick  Papers. 

Brums  (Stock  Exchange),  London 
and  North  Western  Railway 
stock. 

We  kneel  at  the  feet  of  our  "  Nancys," 
We    load    them    with    "  cottons "   and 
"tapes," 
If  anything  tickles  our  fancy, 

We    buy   them    Brums,    "  Caleys,"    or 
"  Apes." 

— Atkin:  House  Scraps. 


(Popular),  the  inhabitants  of 
Birmingham.  From  "Brumma- 
gem." 

The  Brums  must  really  look  to  the 
morals  of  their  town  a  little  more. — 
Modem  Society. 

Joe  Capp  is  the  most  sensibly  dressed 
man  who  goes  racing.  He  wears  a  long, 
cool-looking  alpaca  surtout  ;  but  it  was 
rough  on  Joe,  after  losing  fourteen  thick 
'uns  at  Four  Oaks,  when  a  Brum,  whom 
he  elbowed  out  of  the  way,  remarked — 

"  Don't  think  you're  heverybody  be- 
cause you  make  your  coat  hout  o'  the  pore 
bloomink  slavey's  Sunday  skirt." — Sport- 
ing Times. 

Brung  (American),  brought.  A 
^vTJter  on  Americanisms  is 
slightly  mistaken  in  saying  that 
white  men  use  it  as  a  "very 
mild  joke."  It  is  very  often  a 
stinging  insult,  and  the  writer 
has  seen  a  man  in  Boston  very 
angry  because  he  was  asked  in 
jest,  "  Where  were  you  brung 
up  ?  "  The  insult  was  in  the 
intimation  that  the  man  was 
familiar  with  or  in  the  habit 
of  using  such  an  expression. 

Brush  (populfir),  a  house-painter. 

Brush,  to  have  a  (old),  to  have 
sexual  intercourse,  when  applied 
to  women  ;  also  to  run  away. 

Brusher  (old  slang),  a  bumper. 
"To  drink  a  brusher"  was  to 
drinkfromafullglass.  (Schools), 
an  abbreviation  of  "  bum- 
brusJur,"  a  schoolmaster. 

Brush  up,  to  (American),  to  hum- 
bug or  flatter,  to  smooth, 
conciliate.     Brushing  up  a  flat, 


Brydport  dagger — Buck. 


187 


"prancing,"     flattering 
York  Slang  Dictionary). 


(New 


Brydport  dagger  (old),  explained 
by  quotation. 

Stab'd  with  a  Brydport  dagger,  that  is, 
hang'd  or  executed  at  the  gallowes ;  the 
best,  if  not  the  most,  hemp  (for  the  quantity 
of  ground)  growing  about  Brydport. — 
Fuller:  Dorset  Worthies. 

Bub,  bubby  (American),  a  term 
very  commonly  applied  to  a 
little  boy.  It-  came  from 
Pennsylvania,  where  it  was 
derived  from  the  German  huhe, 
which  is  commonly  abbreviated 
to  huh. 

"  '  Bui,'  he  said  to  a  little  shaver  coming 
out  of  the  savings-bank  with  a  book  in  his 
hand,  '  are  you  saving  money  ? ' 

"  '  Yes,  sir.' 

"  '  How  much  have  you  got  in  the  bank?' 

"  '  Eight  cents,  sir.  I  did  have  thirteen, 
but  father  got  in  straitened  financial  cir- 
cumstances and  I  had  to  draw  five.'  " 

Bub  (thieves),  strong  malt  liquor ; 
generally  drink. 

Ay,  iui  and  grubby,  I  say. 
Lots  of  gatter,  quo'  she,  are  flowing. 
—  IV.  Maginn  :  Vidocq's  Slang  Song. 

Also  a  brother. 

Bubber  (American),  applied  to 
any  woman  (old  or  young)  with 
full,  well-rounded  breasts,  or 
buhbies,  whence  the  term. 

Bubble-buff  (old),  a  bailiff. 

Bubbley  jock  (popular),  a  turkey ; 
a  stupid,  boasting  person. 

Bubbling  squeak  (army),  hot  soup. 
Properly,  bubble  and  squeak  is  a 
dish  composed  of  pieces  of  cold 


boiled  meat  and  greens,  after- 
wards fried,  which  have  thus 
first  bubbled  in  the  pot,  and 
then  hissed  or  squeaked  in  the 
pan. 

Bubs,  bubbles  (common),  a 
woman's  breasts.  From  bvb, 
drink. 

Buck.  This  almost  obsolete  word, 
for  what  the  French  called  a 
petit-mattre,  and  more  recently 
daim  (literally  buck),  has  been 
gradually  superseded  by  "blood," 
"dandy,"  "maccaroni,"  "swell," 
"Bond  Street  lounger,"  "ex- 
quisite," "dude,"  and  "masher." 

(American,  cards),  a  device 
for  securing  a  good  ante  at 
poker  or  brag.  The  player 
whose  turn  it  is  to  ante,  instead 
of  putting  up  money,  puts  up  a 
knife,  key,  or  any  small  article, 
saying,  "I  ante  a  buck  worth  $5," 
or  whatever  sum  he  chooses  to 
name.  If  he  has  not  won  it 
back  himself  when  he  retires,  he 
must  redeem  it  from  the  pos- 
sessor at  the  price  named.  The 
peculiarity  of  the  buck  is  that 
whoever  holds  it  must  ante  it 
when  it  comes  to  his  turn. 
Whenever  it  is  desired  to  bring 
the  game  to  a  close,  a  good 
finish  is  secured  by  agreeing 
to  "  chase  the  buck  home,"  i.e., 
whoever  wins  it  has  the  next 
deal,  and  consequently  antes 
it.  The  game  stops  as  soon  as 
the  buck  has  been  won  back 
by  the  player  who  originally 
started  it. 

(Cabdrivers),  a  sham  "fare" 


i: 


Buck. 


in  a  cab.  A  biuJe  is  a  man  who 
rides  in  a  cab  ostensibly  as  a 
legitimate  fare,  to  enable  the 
cabman  to  proceed  to  some  des- 
tination to  which  he  is  not 
allowed  to  take  an  empty  cab. 
Many  of  the  semi  -  private 
thoroughfares  of  London  are 
closed  to  empty  cabs, 

Mr. ,  on  behalf  of  the  United  Cab 

Proprietors'  Protection  Association,  said 
it  often  occurred  that  the  men  who  were 
so  conveyed  were  bucks — men  who  rode  in 
a  cab  ostensibly  as  legitimate  fares.  In 
reality  they  acted  in  collusion  with  the 
driver  to  evade  the  police  regulations,  espe- 
cially with  regard  to  theatres. — Standard. 

(Popular),  a  sixpence.  The 
word  is  rarely  used  by  itself, 
but  as  in  the  phrase,  "  two  and 
a  buck."  More  frequently  "  two 
and  a  kick."  Possibly  from  the 
gypsy  bdk  (pronounced  buck), 
luck,  as  it  is  always  asked  for 
for  luck. 

(Old  slang),  to  "  run  a  buck," 
to  poll  a  bad  vote  at  an  election. 
This  phrase  is  of  Irish  origin. 

(American),  to  biick  is  to  butt 
against,  to  oppose. 

Yer  oughter  be  ershamed  o'  yerse'f  ter 
persecute  'ligion  in  dis  way.  Wy  how  de 
work  o'  de  Lawd  gwine  ter  prosper  when 
de  white  folks  bucks  ergin  it  dis  way  ?  I'se 
sorry  fur  yer,  fur  old  Satan  got  his  eye  on 
yer,  sho. — Arkansaiv  Traveller. 

To  rear  up,  to  jump  like  a 
buck,  to  jump  and  "  cavort." 
Applied  to  a  peculiar  leaping  of 
Western  horses.  Dutch,  boken 
vmken,  to  cut  capers ;  bok- 
stavast,  leap-frog. 

The  term  is  used  also  in  South 
Africa  and  Australia. 


I  don't  think  that  we  have  a  beast 
About  the  place  that  bucks  the  least. 
—Z>.  B.  tK  Sladen :  A  Hummer 
Christmas. 

(Banking),  "to  buck  an  ac- 
count "  is  to  make  an  account 
balance  without  carrying  it  out 
properly,  i.e.,  to  cook  the  ac- 
counts. 

(Californian),  in  the  Califor- 
nian  vernacular  this  signifies  to 
play  against  the  bank,  as,  e.g., 
in  faro,  that  is,  to  sweep  the 
tables,  or  clean  out  or  gut  the 
croupier. 

I  don't  like  your  looks  at  all,  I'd  buck 
against  any  bank  you  ran  all  night. — 
Bret  Harte :  Gabriel  Conroy. 

(Winchester  College),  "  to 
buck  down  "  is  to  be  unhappy, 
whilst  to  "buck  up"  is  to  be 
glad. 

(Anglo-Indian),  to  talk  egotis- 
tically, to  prate  and  chatter,  to 
let  one's  tongue  run  loose.  From 
the  Hindu  bakna. 

And  then  he  bucks,  with  a  quiet  stub- 
born determination  that  would  fill  an 
American  editor  or  an  Under  Secretary  of 
State  with  despair.  He  belongs  to  the 
twelve  foot  tiger  school,  so  perhaps  he 
can't  help  it. — All  Baba. 

Buck-bail  (thieves),  bail  given  by  a 
sharper  for  one  of  his  own  gang. 

Buck  fitch  (old),  an  old  man  of 
abandoned  haVjits,  an  old  roui. 
A  "  buck  face,"  an  injured  hus- 
band, alluding  to  the  horns. 

Buck    or    fight    the     tiger,    to 

(American),  to  gamble.  Derived 
from  the  parti -coloured  divisions 
or  strii)es  on  a  gambling  table. 


Buckeen — Buck/torse. 


189 


This  little  oil  town,  on  the  line  of  the 
Olean,  Bradford,  and  Warren  Railroad, 
and  partly  in  Pennsylvania  and  partly  in 
New  York,  is  the  greatest  poker-playing 
place  in  the  entire  northern  oilfield.  It 
is  a  town  in  which  all  the  residents 
"buck  the  festive  tiger."  —  Chicago  Tri- 
bune. 

Buckeen  (Irish),  a  bully,  an  in- 
ferior sort  of  squire. 

There  were  several  squireens  or  little 
squires,  a  race  of  men  who  have  suc- 
ceeded to  the  buckeens  described  by 
Young  and  Crumpe. — Miss  Edge-worth: 
Absentee. 

Bucket  (American),  an  anonymous 
letter.  (Common),  to  "  give  the 
iucket,"  to  dismiss,  to  dismiss 
from  one's  employ. 

He  were  sore  put  about  because  Hester 
had  gi'en  him  the  bucket. — Mrs.  Gaskell: 
Sylvia's  Lovers. 

(University),  to  bucket  is  to 
scoop  the  water  instead  of  pull- 
ing the  oar  steadily  and  fairly 
through. 

(Popular),  to  bucket  a  person, 
to  deceive,  ruin  him.  To  kick 
the  bucket,  to  die. 

"Fine  him  a  pot,"  roared  one,  "for 
talking  about  kicking  the  bucket.  He's  a 
nice  young  man  to  keep  a  cove's  spirits 
up,  and  talk  about  a  '  short  life  and  a 
merry  one.'  " — C.  Kingsley :  Alton  Locke. 

Dr.  Brewer  gives  the  follow- 
ing explanation  :  "A  bucket  is 
a  pulley.  .  .  .  When  pigs  are 
killed  they  are  hung  by  their 
hind  legs  on  a  bucket  .  .  .  and 
oxen  are  hauled  up  by  a 
pulley.  ...  To  kick  the  bucket 


is  to  be  hung  on  the  bulk  or  bucket 
by  the  heels." 

Bucket  afloat  (rhyming  slang),  a 
coat. 

Bucket-shop  (American),  a  bucket 
has  in  America  several  mean- 
ings, all  indicating  underhand 
or  concealed  dealings.  The  term 
is  applied  to  low  groggeries,  and 
also  to  places  which  advertise 
as  below  cost  flashy  goods 
which  are  sold  at  a  large  profit. 
Low,  swindling,  gambling  places, 
or  lottery  offices,  also  bear  this 
name,  and  in  Chicago  it  appears 
from  the  following  extract  to  be 
borne  by  broker  establishments 
where  "  corners  "  are  manipu- 
lated. 

The  latest  story  out  to  account  for  the 
recent  strength  in  the  wheat  market,  is  to 
the  effect  that  it  is  the  result  of  a  combined 
effort  to  "burst  the  bucket-shops." 

(Stock  Exchange),  the  office 
of  an  outside  broker  of  doubtful 
character. 

A  disreputable  gambling  case  which 
came  before  the  Divisional  Court  yesterday 
is  noteworthy  for  the  remarks  made  on 
"  the  vice  of  gambling  in  stocks  and  shares  " 
by  two  judges.  A  gambler  had  sued  a  firm 
of  bucket-shop  keepers  for  profits  alleged 
to  have  been  made  on  "certain  transac- 
tions," and  the  latter  coolly  pleaded  the 
statute  against  wagering  and  gaming  in 
defence.  — Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

Buckhara  (American),  a  California 
name  for  a  cattle  driver.  It  is 
the  Spanish  vaquero. 

Buckhorse  (pugilistic).  ' '  A  smart 
blow  or  box  on  the  ear  ;  derived 
from  the  name  of  the  celebrated 


ipo 


Buckle — Budger. 


'bruiser'"  (John  Smith,  alias 
Buckhone,  fought  on  the  stage 
1732-46),  according  to  Hotten's 
Dictionary. 

Buckle,  to  (Scottish),  to  marry, 
a  vulgarism  used  by  D'Urfey  in 
his  imitation  of  a  Scotch  song, 
popular  in  the  time  of  Charles 
II.,  "Within  a  mile  of  Edin- 
burgh Toun."  The  phrase  is 
still  current  in  England  among 
the  lower  classes,  among  whom 
to  be  "buckled  "  not  only  means 
to  be  married,  but  to  be  taken 
into  custody. 

Buckle-beggar  (old),  a  man  who 
officiated  as  a  clergyman  to  per- 
form the  marriage  ceremony  in 
the  Fleet  Prison  ;  also  a  hedge- 
priest,  who  performs  the  cere- 
mony of  marriage  among  tramps 
and  gypsies. 

Buckled  (thieves),  imprisoned. 
French  slang,  boucld. 

Why,  I  was  iuciied  bccaxxst  I  got  drunk. 
It  was  a  pure  accident.  Had  I  followed 
my  usual  work  I  should  never  have  fallen. 
— Evening  News. 

Buckler,  a  collar  (New  York  Slang 
Dictionary). 

Buckra  yam  ("West  Indian).  As 
in  negro  eyes  "  the  white  man," 
or  buckra,  is  the  synonym  of 
something  superior  and  beyond 
him  in  the  scale  of  being,  so 
the  word  has  come  to  mean 
anything  good.  Thus  buckra 
yam,  good  yam;  buckra  cloth, 
good  cloth.    A  "  swanga  buckra  " 


is  a  specially  well-dressed  white 
man. 

Bucks  (West  Indian),  the  cogno- 
men of  the  aboriginal  inhabi- 
tants of  British  Guiana  —  the 
South  American  Indians. 

Bud  (American),  a  "society"  word 
for  young  lady  debutantes,  or 
"come  outers,"  in  their  first 
season. 

There's  nothing  so  beautiful  to  me  as  a 
beautiful  girl.  1  doubt  if  any  man  can 
better  understand  or  be  more  truly  in  love 
with  the  dear  perfectness  of  nature  than  I 
am.  O  girls,  da  appreciate  girls.  At  my 
last  ball  the  kids  (youths)  were  tearing 
around  .  .  .  but  even  the  shyest  and 
greenest  of  it^ds  knows  that  the  ad- 
miration of  the  kid  isn't  worth  having, 
it  is  so  easy  to  get  and  as  hard  to  get 
rid  of. — Madge  :  Letter  in  the  Nnu  York 
liorld. 

Budge  (thieves),  a  thief ;  especially 
one  who  sneaks  into  a  shop 
and  is  locked  in,  thus  getting  a 
chance  to  admit  an  accomplice. 
Formerly  a  pickpocket.  Pro- 
bably from  bouget,  budge,  budget, 
a  sack,  pouch,  wallet.  A 
drink. 

Budge,  the  sneaking  (old  slang), 
robbing  private  houses  of  light 
small  articles,  such  as  coats, 
hats,  &c. ;  now  called  "  area 
sneak  "  or  "hall  sneak."  "Budge 
clothes,"  lambs'  fur  formerly 
used  for  trimming  the  robes  of 
Bachelors  of  Arts  (Halliwell). 
Standing  budge,  a  thief,  scout, 
or  spy. 

Budger  (thieves),  a  drunkard. 


Budgerow — Buffer. 


191 


Budgerow  (Anglo-Indian).  Hin- 
du, hujra.  A  heavy  keelless 
barge,  formerly  much  used  by 
Europeans  travelling  on  the 
Gangetic  rivers  (Anglo-Indian 
Glossary). 

The  bujra  broad,  the  bholia  trim. 
Or  pinnaces  that  gallant  swim 
With  favouring  breeze,  or  dull  or  slow, 
Against  the  heady  current  go. 

— H.  H.  Wihon  in  Bengal  Annual. 

Budging-ken  (thieves),  a  public 
house,  the  "  cove  of  the  hudg- 
ing-ken  "  being  the  landlord. 

Budmash  (Anglo-Indian),  a  bad, 
worthless  fellow  ;  a  scoundrel. 

Gamblers,  cut-throats,  budmashes  of 
every  description.  —  Bosworth  Smith  : 
Life  0/ Lord  Lawrence. 

Budzat  (Anglo-Indian),  from  the 
Persian  badzat,  evil  race.  A  low 
fellow,  a  "bad  lot,"  a  black- 
guard. 

Why  the  Shaitan  (devil)  didn't  you 
come  before,  you  lazy  old  budzart  ? — 
A  nglo-Indian  Glossary  :  The  Datik  Bun- 
galow. 

Buff  (tramps),  among  the  tramping 
fraternity  a  buff-ball  is  a  dancing 
party,  characterised  by  the  in- 
decency of  those  who  attend  it, 
the  costume  de  rigueur  being  that 
of  our  fir.st  parents. 

The  most  favourite  entertainment  at 
this  place  is  known  as  "buff-ball,"  in 
which  both  sexes — innocent  of  clothing — 
madly  join,  stimulated  with  raw  whisky 
and  the  music  of  a  fiddle  and  a  tin  whistle. 
—James  Greenwood :  In  Strange  Com- 
^lany. 


(Old  slang),  to  "  stand  buff" 
to  bear  the  brunt,  to  pay  the 
piper;  also  "to  boast,"  given 
as  a  very  old  word  by 
"Batman  uppon  Bartholome," 
1582. 

To  buff,  defined  by  Hotten  as 
simply  meaning  to  swear  to ; 
but  the  following,  from  the  New 
York  Slang  Dictionary,  gives  the 
spirit  of  the  word  very  accu- 
rately:  "Buffing  it  home  is 
swearing  point-blank  to  any- 
thing, about  the  same  as  bluf- 
fing it,  making  a  bold  stand  on 
no  backing." 

Buffer  (common),   a  man,  a  fel- 
low. 

But  aged,  slow,  with  stiff  limbs,  totter- 
ing much, 
And   lungs  that   lacked    the    bellows- 
mender's  touch, 
Yet  sprightly  to  the  scratch  both  buf- 
fers came. 
—  Torn  Cribb's  Memorial  to  Congress. 

I'll  merely  observe  as  the  water  grew 

rougher, 
The  more  my  poor  hero  continued  to 

suffer, 
Till   the   sailors  themselves  cried   in 

pity,  Poor  buffer  ! 

—Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Also  a  merry  companion  with  a 
spice  of  the  rogue  in  him,  the 
Falstaff  of  a  century  ago.  Buffer 
or  buffard  is  a  provincialism  for 
a  foolish  fellow.  In  Dutch,  boef 
or  boefer,  means,  according  to 
the  Groot  Wordenbock  der 
Engelsche  en  Nederduytsche 
Jaalen  of  William  Sewell,  "  a 
rogue,  knave,  or  wag,"  which  is 
identical  both  in  sound  and 
meaning  with  the  English  word 


192 


Buffer — Bug. 


(Popular),  a  dog,  from  the 
old  cant  word  hufe,  a  dog.  (Old 
cant),  a  smuggler,  a  rogue,  a 
cheat ;  also  a  dog.  Buffer- 
nabber,  a  dog-stealer.  (Nau- 
tical), buffer,  a  navy  term  for  a 
boatswain's  mate,  one  of  whose 
duties  it  was  to  administer  the 
"cat."  From  the  obsolete 
English  to  huff,  to  strike.  It 
has  been  suggested,  however, 
that  buffer  is  of  Dutch  origin. 
Teirlinck  (Woordenbock  van 
Bargoensch)  gives  haf,  a  blow  ; 
baffen,  to  strike  with  the  fist, 
adding  "Klanknabootsend  idiot- 
isme  van  dagelijksch  gebrink 
in  Vlanderen." 

Buffle-headed  (popular),  stupid 
and  stolid  as  a  buffalo  or  ass. 
Synonymous  with  "pig-headed," 
stupidly  obstinate. 

You  know  nothing,  you  huffle-headed, 
stupid  creature.  —  IVyclurley  :  Plain 
Dealer,  1677. 

Buff's  (common),  the  3rd  regiment 
of  foot  in  the  British  army. 
From  their  facings. 

Buffy  (common),  intoxicated. 

Flexor  was  fine  and  huffy  when  he  came 
home  last  night. — Shirley  Brooks:  The 
Cordian  Knot. 

Bug  (American  and  English 
thieves),  a  breast-pin  ;  bugger, 
a  pickpocket,  or  one  who  makes 
a  specialty  of  snatching  away 
breast-pins,  studs,  &c.  ;  bug- 
hunter,  the  same. 


The  chips,  the  fawneys,  chatty-feeders, 
The    bugs,    the    boungs,    and    well-filled 
readers. 

—On  the  Trail. 

i.e.,  The  money,  the  rin;;s,  spoons, 

Breast-pins,    purses,    and   well-filled 
pocket-books. 

(American  and  older  English), 
bug,  which  in  England  is  now 
limited  to  the  Cimex,  politely 
termed  a  Norfolk  Howard,  is 
in  America  still  applied  to  all 
varieties  of  the  Coleoptera  and 
many  other  insects. 

"Oh,  Fred,  what's  that  ticking  noise? 
Do  you  think  it's  the  death  watch  mamma 
was  reading  about  before  she  put  us  to 
bed?"  "  Hessie,  don't  be  a  little  goose. 
It's  only  a  6ug,  anyhow.  Maybe  it's  not 
even  a  iug- — only  the  bed-ticking." — Phila- 
delphia Call. 

(Old  slang),  to  bug,  an  old 
phrase  in  use  at  one  time  among 
journeymen  hatters  to  signify 
the  substitution  of  good  material 
with  inferior  stuff.  Bailiffs  who 
accepted  money  to  delay  service 
of  writs  were  also  said  "  to  hug 
the  writ." 

Bug-  or  bug  over,  to  (thieves),  to 
deliver,  give  or  hand  over.  Vaux 
instances :  "  He  hug'd  me  .1 
quid,"  i.e.,  he  gave  me  a  guinea ; 
"iwjr  over  the  rag,"  i.e.,  hand 
over  the  money. 

Bugaroch  (American  thieves), 
pretty  (New  York  Slang  Diction- 
ary). 

Bug  blinding  (army),  white-wash- 
ing, a  process  calculated  to 
destroy,  or  at  least  to  remove 
the  superficial  traces  of  vermin 


Bugging — Bulge. 


193 


that  are  a  perfect  pest  in 
the  more  antiquated  barracks, 
especially  in  warm  climates. 

Bugging  (American),  taking 
money  from  a  thief  by  a  police- 
man. This  indicates  the  ex- 
istence of  an  old  word  "bug" 
for  money  as  well  as  valu- 
ables. In  Dutch  slang,  bucht 
is  money. 

Buggy  (old  cant),  a  leather  bottle. 
It  now  signifies  a  gig  or  light 
chaise. 

Bug  hunter  (thieves),  a  thief  who 
plunders  drunken  men. 

Bug  juice  (army),  ginger  ale. 
In  America  applied  to  very  bad 
whiskey. 

Bugle  it,  to  (American  cadet),  to 
abstain  from  attending  class  and 
reciting  until  the  bugle  sounds 
for  attention. 

Bug  walk  (popular),  a  bed. 

Build,  to  (or  it)  (American),  said 
of  a  man  who  is  slow  to  move, 
or  of  an  affair  which  requires 
great  exertion.  It  is  taken  from 
a  boy's  trick  of  putting  a  coal 
under  a  tortoise  to  make  it  walk. 

"  I  have  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Mr. 
Samuel  Slump,"  said  a  stranger  in  a  West- 
ern town  to  a  citizen.  "  Can  you  tell  me 
if  he  is  a  man  of  drinking  habits?"  "  Wall, 
stranger,"  replied  the  citizen,  expectorat- 
ing copiously,  "  I  wouldn't  go  so  fur  as  to 
say  that  Sam  is  a  hard  drinker,  but  I  reckon 
if  you  ask  him  to  go  an'  take  suthin',  you 
won't  have  to  buiid  a  fi>e  under  him  to 
git  him  stalled." 


(Nautical),  to  "build a  chapel " 
is  to  turn  a  ship  round  through 
bad  steering. 

Building  spots  for  sale  (Ameri- 
can), used  of  any  imperfect  per- 
son or  thing. 

Built  that  way  (common),  "  not 
built  that  way,"  not  in  one's  line. 

Black  Moustache  addresses  the  divinity 
as  "  Popsie,"  and  she  calls  him  "  Bob." 
During  the  evening  they  have  impromptu 
dancing.  Smith  cjm't  dance ;  he  isn't 
built  that  way,  and  Miss  Jones  says  that 
Black  Moustache  waltzes  delightfully.  All 
of  which  means  that  the  following  week  is 
one  of  agony  for  young  S.,  who  moodily 
meditates  leaving  England  for  ever,  and 
straightway  abjures  the  harmless  necessary 
shave. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Bulgarian  atrocity  (Stock  Ex- 
change), Varna  and  Rustchuk 
Railway  3  per  cent,  obligations. 

And  we've  really  quite  a  crew 

Of  fancy  names  to  represent  a  share  .  .  . 

But  fancy,  by  the  way. 

Now,  in  the  present  day, 

A  Varna's  a  Bulgarian  atrocity. 

— A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

Bulge  (American),  properly  to 
bulge  is  to  swell  out,  and  bulge 
is  a  swelling  or  belly.  In  the 
United  States  the  words  are 
extended  and  amplified  in  many 
ways.  Thus  there  is  a  story 
of  a  man  who,  being  tried  for 
shooting  his  neighbour,  pleaded 
that  be  had  only  aimed  at  the 
bulge  of  his  shirt  where  it 
"  bagged  out "  above  his  trousers. 
"To  get  the  bulge"  on  a  man, 
appears  to  mean  to  have  the 
better  of  him.  As  bulge  conveys 
the  idea  of  swelling  or  infiation 
N 


194 


Bulger— Bull. 


or  expansion,  it  is  much  used  to 
indicate  magnitude  or  extrava- 
gance. Thus  to  go  "  bulging 
about "  conveys  the  same  idea 
as  "splurging"  (which  see). 

Bulger.  This  English  word,  signi- 
fying a  large  object  or  creature, 
is  much  more  extensively  used 
in  the  United  States  than  in  the 
mother- country.  "  New  York 
is  a  bvlijer  of  a  place,"  said 
Colonel  Crockett  in  1835.  At 
Princeton  College  (New  Jersey) 
the  largest  and  heaviest  of  the 
students  is  familiarly  called  hoi- 
ger.  The  negro  minstrel  word 
hulgine,  for  a  locomotive,  appears 
to  be  a  compound,  the  first  part 
of  which  is  derived  rather  from 
lidge  than  "bull,"  as  implying 
bigness. 

I  got  on  board  de  telegraf  an'  floated 

down  de  ribber, 
De  'lectric  fluid  magnified  and  killed  five 

hundred  nigger. 
De  b-uUgine  burst,  de  steam  went  off,  I 

really  tought  I'd  die  ; 
I   shut   my  eyes  to   hold  my  breath — 

Susanna  don't  you  cry  ! 

— Song  0/0  Susanna. 

Bulk  and  file  (old),  two  thieves 
working  together.  The  hulk 
jostles  the  victim  against  the 
jlle,  who  robs  him  of  his  money 
or  watch. 

Bulker  (old  cant),  a  street-walk- 
ing prostitute;  from  "bulk," 
that  formerly  signified  the 
body. 

She  must  turn  bulker  (when  her  cloathes 
are  worn  out),  at  which  trade  I  hope  to  see 
you  suddenly. — KavtHscro/t,  1670. 


Bulky  (Winchester  College),  gene- 
rous, open-handed,  as  opposed 
to  "brum." 

Bull,  now  recognised  and  applied 
to  a  blunder,  formerly  meant 
any  kind  of  rough,  blundering, 
or  foolish  jest  or  trick,  and  is  of 
the  same  root  with  huUy  in  its 
sense  of  a  clown  or  merry-maker. 
Old  Dutch  bollaert  (Skeat),  "a 
jester  or  a  gyber."  Swedish 
bullra,  to  make  a  noise.  Butler 
in  Anglo-Norman  means  an 
equivocator  or  deceiver,  which 
unmistakably  indicates  the  ex- 
istence of  bull  in  the  modern 
sense. 

The  sexte  case  is  of  fals  bullers, 
Baith  that  tham  makes  and  that  tham  wers. 
—MS.  Cottan.  Vespasian 
{Halli'.uell). 

The  term  hull-ca\i  itself 
(Shakspeare),  and  bull-finch,  a 
stupid  fellow  (North  Country), 
all  indicate  the  association  with 
blundering  and  stupidity  which 
is  implied  by  bull.  The  word 
was  first  .specially  identified  with 
Hibernian  mistakes  by  Miss 
Edge  worth  in  her  "Essay  on 
Irish  Bulls."  (Popular),  a  roar- 
ing horse. 

(Popular  and  thieves),  a  crown, 
an  abbreviation  of  its  former 
appellation,  a  bull's  eye. 

.  .  .  Then  giv'  me  a  little  money,  four 
half  bulls,  wot  you  may  call  half-crowns, 
and  ses,  hook  it  I — Charles  Dickens, 

(Prison),  rations  of  meat ;  an 
uncomplimentary  reference  to 
the  toughness  of  the  beef  sup- 
plied.     The  French  slang   has 


Bull — Bull-doze. 


195 


bidoche,  for  meat,  from  bidet,  a 
pony. 

(Stock  Exchange),  explained 
by  first  quotation. 

Berliner  is  puzzled  by  the  terms  iull 
and  "  bear,"  that  he  often  sees  in  the 
papers  in  connection  with  the  Stock  Ex- 
change. .  .  .  These  terms  are  as  old  as  the 
time  of  the  South  Sea  Bubble,  1710.  A 
man  who  contracted  to  sell  stock  of  which 
he  was  not  possessed  was  called  a  "  bear," 
in  allusion  to  the  proverb,  "  Selling  the 
skin  before  you  have  caught  the  bear," 
and  he  who  bought,  without  intending  to 
receive  the  stock,  was  called  a  iuU,  by 
way  of  distinction.  To  6uU  the  market  is 
now  to  raise  the  price  of  stock  when  ope- 
rating for  a  sale,  while  to  "  bear"  it  is  to 
use  every  effort  to  depress  the  price  of 
stock  in  order  to  buy  it. 

So  was  the  huntsman   by  the    bear    op- 
pressed, 

Whose  hide  he  sold  before  he  caught  the 
beast. 

—  Tii  Bi/s. 

A  man  was  complaining  that  he  had  lost 
all  his  money  through  gambling  on  the 
Stock  Exchange.  A  friend  ventured  to 
ask  him  if  he  had  been  a  bull  ox  a  "  bear  "  ? 
and  was  told  "  Neither,  I  was  an  ass." — 
A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

(American    thieves),   a   loco- 
motive. 

.  .  .  Had  just  touched  a  bloke's  leather 
as  the  bull  bellowed  for  the  last  time. — 
On  the  Trail. 

Bull  and  cow  (rhyming  slang),  a 
row. 

Bull-dance  (nautical),  a  dance 
without  women ;  also  called  a 
"  stag-dance." 

Bull-dog  (university),  one  of  the 
duties  of  the  university  proctors 
is  to  promenade  the  town  in 
search  of  offending  undergra- 
duates.    Certain  men,  who  are 


termed  bull-dogs,  accompany 
him.  Their  duty  is  to  chase 
the  offender,  whose  ingenuity 
in  evading  capture  gives  rise  to 
many  amusing  stories.  Many  a 
long  race  too  often  ends  in 
finding  their  prey  is  an  outsider, 
whom  they  have  no  interest  in 
catching. 

The  proctor's  satellites,  vulgarly  called 
bull-dogs. — Macmillan's  Magazine. 

I  don't  mean  the  college  bull-dogs,  they 
don't  interfere  with  us,  only  with  women. 
— H.  Mayhew  :  London  Labour  and  the 
London  Poor. 

(Old  slang),  a  pistol,  now  a 
short  thick  revolver. 

"  I  have  always  a  brace  oi bull-dogs  about 
me."  ...  So  saying,  he  exhibited  a 
very  handsome,  highly-finished,  and  richly 
mounted  pair  of  pistols. — Sir  W.  Scott: 
St.  Ronatis  Well. 

(Nautical),  the  great  gun 
which  stands  "housed"  in 
the  officers'  wardroom  cabin. 
General  term  for  main-deck 
guns. 

Bull-dog  blazer  (American),  a 
short  thick  revolver. 

The  manager  laid  down  a  large  cane  he 
had  in  his  hand,  and  picked  up  instead  a 
trusty  bull-dog  blazer,  as  he  said — 

"Young  man,  I  don't  think  you  can  be 
of  any  service  to  me,  and  you'd  better  slide." 

"  Assuredly ;  but  you  don't  happen  to 
have  a  shilling  you  could  lend  me?" 

"  No,  I  don't,"  and  the  manager  cocked 
the  revolver. 

"Well,  say  ;  let  me  into  the  show,  will 
j-ou  ?  " — Green  Room. 

Bull-doze,  to  (American),  to  com- 
pel a  person  to  do  anything,  or 
to  influence  his  conduct  by 
cruelty  or  brute  force.      It   is 


196 


Bull-doze — Bullocky. 


derived  from  a  Southern  word 
meaning  a  whip  or  cowhide,  or 
species  of  "  kurbatch,"  made 
from  the  (jlana  penis  of  a 
bull.  It  is  said  that  negroes 
were  whipped  almost  to  death 
with  this,  or  bull-dozed  to  make 
them  vote  the  Democratic  ticket. 
It  is  now  extensively  used  in  the 
United  States,  to  express  com- 
pulsion of  any  kind,  especially 
in  politics. 

Bull-dozer  (American),  a  revolver. 
Used  to  mean  a  persuader,  some- 
thing to  enforce  an  argument 
by  personal  violence.  Vide 
Bull-doze. 

Bullet  (army),  discharge  upon 
the  spot,  without  a  moment's 
notice. 

(Printers),  see  Dry-UP,  and 
Qui.  According  to  Savage's 
"  Dictionary  of  the  Art  of 
Printing,"  1841,  a  workman  was 
said  to  have  got  the  bullet  when 
he  was  discharged  instanter — 
without  the  customary  notice 
on  either  side. 

Bullets  (cards),  in  American  brag, 
are  aces ;  sometimes  called 
white  aces,  in  contradistinction 
to  aces  made  up  by  holding 
braggers.  The  highest  hand  in 
the  game  is  three  white  (or  real) 
aces,  the  next  highest  is  "  two 
bullets  and  a  bragger,"  which 
cannot,  of  course,  occur  in  the 
same  round  in  which  three  real 
aces  are  held,  though  another 
player  may  hold  two  other 
bullets    and   a   bragger   at    the 


same  time.  Hence  the  expres- 
sion "  the  serene  confidence 
which  a  Christian  feels  in  the 
three  white  aces." 

Bullfinch  (provincial),  a  corrup- 
tion of  "  bull  fence,"  a  stiff 
fence  able  to  keep  bulls  out  of 
or  in  a  field. 

The  third  fence  was  a  teazer,  an  ugly 
bullfinch  with  a  ditch  on  the  landing  side. 
— Guy  Livin^tone. 

Also  a  stupid  fellow, 

BuUjine  (nautical)  a  locomotive 
is  so  called  by  sailors.  Termed 
"  bull  "  by  American  thieves. 

Bull-money,  a  vulgar  phrase  for 
money  extorted  by  a  chance 
witness  from  the  man  detected 
in  the  fields,  the  woods,  the  sea- 
shore, or  other  lonely  place,  in 
the  act  of  carnal  copulation. 

Bullock's  heart  (printers),  see 
Token.  This  is  a  term  of  con- 
tempt that  pressmen  apply  to 
a  single  "  token,"  or  order  to 
print,  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
copies  only,  the  lowest  paying 
number  in  the  scale  of  prices. 
This  expression  is  due  to  the 
circumstance  that  it  is  not  a 
"fat"  but  a  "lean"  job,  hence 
the  comparison  to  a  bullock's 
heart,  which,  unless  suffering 
from  "fatty  degeneration,"  is 
the  essence  of  leanness. 

Bullock's  horn  (rhyming  slang), 
in  pawn. 

Bullocky  (Australian,  upcountry), 
a  bullock-team  driver.     In  the 


Biillocky — Bully. 


197 


bush  all  the  heavy  hauling  is 
done  with  bullock-drags.  It  is 
quite  a  common  sight  up  the 
country  to  see  teams  of  a  dozen 
and  upwards.  BuUockirs  in 
Australia  are  as  proverbial  as 
bargees  or  Billingsgate  fishwives 
in  England  for  the  forcibleness 
of  their  language. 

"  When  you  make  Mokepilly,"  quoth  one 
of  the  sunburnt  bullocky  men,  "  keep  on  bj' 
the  brush  fence,  and  that  will  take  you 
right  into  the  gap.  Gee  hup,  Streaky  ; 
ya-hoy-ya,  Strorb'ry." — T.  C.  Work:  Aus- 
tralasian Printer  s  Keepsake. 

Bull  party,  an  assembly,  gather- 
ing, or  dinner  party  of  jnen 
only. 

Bull  puncher  (American),  a  word 
defined  as  follows  by  one  who 
was  himself  of  the  calling  : — 

He  followed  the  profession  of  a  hill- 
puncher;  that  is,  he  went  in  charge  of  the 
cattle  destined  for  slaughter  and  "canning  " 
in  the  distant  North,  and  made  money  at 
it,  being  steady  and  trustworthy,  and  no 
drinker. — Morley  Roberts  :  The  Western 
Avemus,  1887. 

Bull's-eye  villas  (military),  the 
small  open-air  tents  used  by  the 
volunteers  at  their  annual  rifle 
contest  held  on  Wimbledon 
Common. 

Bull's  feathers,  horns.  To  describe 
a  man  as  wearing  huWs  feathers 
was  to  represent  him  as  a 
cuckold. 

Three  crooked  horns,  smartly  top-knotted 
with  ribands;  which  being  the  ladies'  wear, 
seem  to  intimate  that  they  may  very  pro- 
bably adorn,  as  well  as  bestow,  the  bulls 
feather. — Richardson  :  Clarissa  llarlmve. 


The  attribute  of  boms  to  a 
cuckold  is  of  remote  antiquity, 
and  is  supposed  by  symbolists 
of  the  school  of  Creuzer  and 
Faber  to  be  derived  from  the 
horns  of  cattle,  also  of  the  new 
moon,  at  which  time  festivals 
were  held  in  Assyria,  where  all 
women  were  in  common,  and 
men  who  were  among  the  ini- 
tiated bore  the  symbol  and  were 
corpparedtooxen.  Horns  as  worn 
on  the  head  were  suggestive  of 
feathers  in  a  cap,  hence  fruZZ's 
feathers  (Ch3,rles  G,  Leland, 
U.S.  Notes). 

The  French  have  a  correspond- 
ing expression:  "planter  des 
plumes  de  boeuf." 

On  me  dit  qu'elle  est  bien  gente 
Qu'elle  est  douce  comme  un  agneau. 

Par  ma  foi !  j'ai  peur  que'mplante 
Plumes  de  boeuf  a  mon  chapeau  ! 

— Song. 

Bull  the  cask,  to  (nautical),  to 
pour  hot  water  into  an  empty  rum 
puncheon,  and  let  it  stand  until 
it  extracts  the  spirit  from  the 
wood.  The  mixture  is  drunk  by 
sailors  in  default  of  something 
stronger. 

Bull-traps,  thieves  or  swindlers 
who  personate  policemen  (Ne\v 
York  Slang  Dictionary). 

Bully  (American),  oftep  applied 
in  a  commendable  sense  by  the 
vulgar ;  as,  for  instance,  a  hdbj 
fellow,  a  bully  horse. 

Hope  you  had  a  pleasant  nap,  bully  place 
for  a  nice  quiet  snooze. — Bret  Hartt-: 
Poems  ami  Prose. 


198 


Bully — Bully-cock. 


The  captain  said  she  was  a  bully  boat. — 
Mark  Twain:  Roughing  it. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "  Slick,  my  bully,  I 
think  I  see  a  smart  chance  of  doin'  a  con- 
siderable stroke  of  business  to  Nova  Scotia, 
in  the  smugglin'  line. — Sam  Slick. 

BuUij  for  you,  for  me,  is  a 
commendatory  phrase. 

That's  bully,  plenty  bully  for  me.  Just 
you  gimme  the  hundred  dollars. — Mark 
Twain :  Tom  .lawyer. 

This  word  has  two  distinct 
meanings  :  ( i.)  A  braggart,  or  a 
man  who  terrifies  and  threatens. 
(2.)  The  older  form,  still  com- 
mon, applied  to  any  person  or 
thing  which  is  pre-eminently 
excellent,  e.g.,  a  huUy  horse, 
"  that's  hully."  The  Bully  Bot- 
tom of  Shakspeare  implies  a 
compliment.  In  Dutch  slang 
hoL  has  the  same  meaning,  a 
head,  a  leader ;  as  one  might 
say,  the  bully  of  the  crowd. 
Also  an  intelligent  person. 
"  Boll,  'een  man  met  eenen  goe- 
den  kop.  Bol  van  de  kit,  man, 
of  meester  van  het  huis,"  i.e., 
"  A  man  with  a  good  head,  the 
master  of  a  house."  The  word 
came  into  Dutch  as  it  did  into 
German  slang,  from  the  Ger- 
man-Hebrew, hal  meaning  lite- 
rally man,  but  always  used  to 
indicate  a  master,  director,  or 
superior. 

(Common),  a  htdly,  a  stone  or 
lump  of  lead  tied  in  the  end  of  a 
handkerclnef  (New  York  Slang 
Dictionary). 

(Football),  a  scrimmage. 

"  Change !  "  was  called,  and  after  the 
first  bully  the  ball  was  rushed  down  the 
Kroum!    to    tlie    clialk   line   of  good    calx. 


where  a  bully  was  formed,  after  which  it 
was  walked  into  calx  and  five  shies  ob- 
tained before  time  was  called. — Sporting 
Life. 

Bully-beef  (army),  tinned  meat ; 
supposed  to  be  made  of  old  bulL 
The  "  iron  ration,"  as  it  is  often 
called,  either  from  its  tough- 
ness, or  the  cases  of  tin  or  other 
metal  in  which  it  is  preserved. 
(Nautical),  boiled  beef. 

Bully-boss  (American),  the  land- 
lord of  a  sporting  crib,  tavern, 
or  brothel.  Derived  in  all  pro- 
bability from  bully  and  boss,  but 
also  agreeing  remarkably,  though 
b)'  chance,  with  the  baal  habos, 
or  "master  of  the  house"  of 
the  Jews,  which  is  commoner 
as  hal  bos;  hence  the  Dutch 
thieves'  slang,  balleboos  {bads), 
head  man  of  any  kind.  This  is 
a  very  curious  instance  of  words 
of  similar  forms  derived  from 
radically  different  sources. 

Bully-buck  (old  slang),  a  man  re- 
tained by  the  keepers  of  brothels, 
being  paid  by  them  to  assist  in 
enforcing  exorbitant  demands 
on  those  frequenting  such  places. 
Sometimes  it  was  pretended  that 
they  were  the  husbands  of  some 
of  the  inmates,  in  order  by  threats 
of  exposure  to  extort  money 
from  simpletons  supposed  to 
have  been  discovered  in  fayrante 
delicto. 

Bully  -  cock  (old  slang),  a  man 
who,  for  the  purposes  of  robbery 
and  theft,  fomented  a  quarrel 
between  people,  to  cloak  his 
nefarious  designs. 


Bullyrag — Bu  m-brusher. 


199 


Bullyrag  (American  and  English), 
to  abuse,  revile,  or  scold  vehe- 
mently. From  the  Dutch  hvl- 
der-ar,  a  blusterer  ;  bulderaren, 
to  rage,  to  bluster,  to  roar  ;  bul- 
derarig,  blustering,  and  raak, 
hitting. 

Bully -rook  or  rocJc,  a  braggart, 
occurs  in  Shakspeare,  where  it 
is  certainly  of  Dutch  origin,  e.g., 
huller-hrook,  a  boisterous  fellow. 
Bvlbra,  Swedish,  to  make  a 
noise. 

The  C.  C.  Well,  he's  blowing  her  up ; 
"  Look  'ere,  Matilda,"  he  sez,  "  I'm  'anged 
if  they  'aven't  bin  and  let  the  Throne-room 
lire  out  again  !  "  And  she  sez,  "  It's  no  use 
bullyraggin  me,  Billiam ;  speak  to  the 
Lord  'Igh  Chamberlain  about  it — it's  'is 
business.  "—Punch. 

Bully-trap,  a  trap  for  bullies  and 
blackguards  ;  applied  to  a  man 
of  mild  and  gentlemanly  ap- 
pearance and  demeanour,  who, 
if  attacked  by  a  bully,  shows 
unexpected  spirit,  courage,  and 
determination,  and  proves  more 
than  a  match  for  his  assailant. 

Bum  (public  schools),  a  birching  ; 
termed  also  a  belting.  (Army), 
"  cherry  bums,"  the  hussars,  the 
allusion  being  obvious.  The 
French  chasseurs  go  by  the 
nickname  of  cuU  rouges. 

(Obsolete),  hum  or  "  bummy," 
a  contraction  of  bum  baiUif. 
Thus  called  because  he  follows 
the  man  he  has  to  serve  with 
process. 

Here  lies  John  Trull,  by  trade  a  ium ; 

When  he  died 

The  Devil  cried, 
"Come,  John,  come." 


To  bum,  to  arrest  a  debtor. 

The  word,  according  to  Black- 
stone,  is  a  corruption  of  "bound ' ' 
bailiff ;  but  this  has  been  denied, 
as  bum  bailiffs  are  no  more 
"  bound"  than  other  officers  of 
the  law  to  do  justice,  Todd 
quotes  passages  to  prove  that  it 
arose  from  the  pursuer  catching 
hold  of  a  man  by  the  tail  or 
hinder  part  of  his  garment. 

Bumble  (common),  a  beadle,  from 
Dickens'  character  in   "Oliver 

Twist." 

Bumble-crew  (journalistic),  cor- 
poration. 

Then  spake  the  chairman  to  the  rate- 
payers :- 

The  shindy  of  to-day  exposes  all 
The  apish  antias  of  a  bumble  crew. 
The  worst  this  town  containeth. 

— Punch. 

Bumbo  (old),  brandy,  water,  and 
sugar  ;  also  a  negro  term  for 
the  private  parts  of  a  woman. 

Bum  -  brasher,  an  opprobrious 
name  for  a  schoolmaster. 

Dionysius  was  forced  to  turn  bum- 
hrusher  in  my  own  defence,  a  condition 
which  best  suited  with  a  man  that  de- 
lighted in  tyranny  and  blood. — T.  Brcnvfi : 
lyorks. 

Derived  from  the  too  com- 
mon practice  of  pedagogues 
who  flog  boys  with  or  with- 
out reason.  The  historical  bum- 
hrushers  date  from  the  days 
of  James  I.  of  England  and 
VI.  of  Scotland — whose  tutor, 
Buchanan,  had   no  greater  re- 


200 


Bum-brusher — Bummer. 


spect  for  his  royaJ  person  than 
for  that  of  other  boys,  except 
on  the  infrequent  occasions 
when  he  flogged  him  vicari- 
ously— and  from  Drs.  Busby, 
Keate,  and  Arnold  in  more  mo- 
dern times.  In  the  Glossary  to 
the  "  Life  and  Adventures  of 
Bampfylde  Moore  Carew  "  it  is 
said  that  the  word  "  flaybottom  " 
is  bestowed  upon  a  flogging  ped- 
agogue. It  has  been  suggested 
that  the  word  is  a  pun,  and  a 
corruption  of  phlebotomus,  let- 
ting blood,  but  the  word  itself 
gives  evidence  of  its  more 
humble  origin. 

Bum-charter  (thieves),  hot  bread 
and  water. 

Bum<harter  is  a  name  given  to  bread 
steeped  in  hot  water  by  the  first  unfortu- 
nate inhabitants  of  the  Enghsh  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. — Vaux's 
Metnoirs. 

Bumchik  (provincial),  inferior 
beer  for  harvest  labourers.' 

Bum-curtain  (University),  short 
or  ragged  academical  gown. 

Bumf  (schoolboys),  paper ;  an  ab- 
breviation of  "bum-fodder."  A 
6uTO/-hunt  is  a  paper-chase. 

Bum-fidget  (old),  a  restless,  un- 
easy   person    who    cannot    sit 

stiii. 

Bumkin,  or  bumpkin,  a  stupid 
lout,  or  rustic.  P'rom  Old  Dutch 
hoomken,   a  tree  'or   log.     Since 


the  English  term  also  signified 
a  thick  piece  of  wood,  it  was 
readily  applied  to  a  blockhead. 
In  French,  bUche,  a  log,  has 
also  the  signification  of  block- 
head. 

Bummarees,  unrecognised 
hangers-on  at  Billingsgate  Fish 
Market,  who  act  as  middlemen 
between  the  wholesale  and  re- 
tail dealers,  and  who  make  a 
profit  out  of  both  parties.  The 
word  is  usually  derived  from 
the  French  bonne  marie,  the  good 
tide  or  product  of  the  sea. 

The  bummaree  is  the  jobber  or  specu- 
lator on  a  fish  exchange. — Henry  May- 
hew:  London  Labour  and  the  London 
Poor. 

Bummer  (turf),  a  heavy  loss. 
(American),  a  slow,  lazy  fellow  ; 
in  the  French  argot,  chie-debout, 
a  loafer. 

The  auctioneer  .  .  .  never  got  a  bid — 
at  least  never  any  but  the  eighteen  dollar 
one  he  hired  a  notoriously  substanceless 
bummer  to  m3.Vc.—Mark  Twain :  Rough- 
ing It. 

San  Francisco  is  the  elysium  of  hum- 
men.  Nowhere  can  a  worthless  fellow, 
too  lazy  to  work,  too  cowardly  to  steal, 
get  on  so  well. — Scribner's  Monthly. 

(American),  one  who  sponges 
upon  his  acquaintances. 

In  California,  men  who  profess  to  be 
journalists,  and  so  obtain  free  drinks,  are 
called  literary  bummers. — Hottens  Dic- 
tionary. 

Ihtmnwr  is  of  Pennsylvania 
origin,  from  the  German  word 
bummlcr,  meaning  the  same. 
During  the  war  the  term  was 
applied   to  the   camp-fullowers 


Bummer — Bumptious. 


20 1 


or  semi-deserters  who  followed 
the  Federal  army.  These  ir- 
regular heroes,  who  sometimes 
rendered  good  service  by  fight- 
ing desperately,  are  commemo- 
rated as  indomitable  marauders 
in  the  "  Breitmann  Ballads." 

Dey  spurred  on,  dey  hurried  on,  gpllopin 

shtrait, 
Boot  for  Breitmann  help  coomed  yoost  a 

liddle  too  late. 
For  ash  de  La  wine  goes  smash  mit  a  bound, 
So  on  to  de  bummers  de  repels  coom  doun. 
Heinrich  von  Schinkenstein's  tead  in  de 

road, 
Ulrich  aus  Gailingen's  deadt  ash  a  toad, 
Und   Sepperl  —  Tyroler  —  shpoke  nefer  a 

wordt 
But  yoost  "  Mutter  Gottes  1  " — and  died 

in  de  ford. 

Bump,  making  a  (boating,  uni- 
versity), catching  the  boat  in 
front  and  knocking  against  it, 
the  boats  being  arranged  two 
lengths  apart  in  the  race  in 
their  previous  order  of  merit. 

The  chances  of  St.  Ambrose's  making  a 
bump  the  first  night  were  weighed. — Mac- 
millan's  Magazine. 

Bumper  (theatrical),  a  very  full 
house  at  a  popular  performance. 
The  word  bumper,  for  a  full 
glass  of  liquor,  from  which  the 
theatrical  term  is  derived,  was 
in  the  early  days  supposed  to  be 
derived  from  toasts  drunk  to  the 
health  of  the  Pope,  the  "  bon- 
pcre  "  of  all  true  Catholic  Chris- 
tians. This  explanation  is  no 
longer  generally  accepted,  since 
the  word  is  rightly  regarded  as 
a  corruption  of  bombard,  a  drink- 
ing vessel,  but  originally  signi- 
fying a  cannon. 


This  derivation  is  borne  out 
by  the  circumstance  that  the 
French  call  canon  a  glass  of  wine 
drunk  at  a  wine-shop. 

Bum  perisher,  or  shaver,  a  short- 
tailed  coat,  termed  rase-ciU  in 
French  slang. 

Bumping  races  (university).  In 
the  eight-oared  races  at  the 
universities  the  ccnnpeting  boats 
start  one  behind  the  other  at  a 
given  distance.  When  a  boat 
bumps  {i.e.,  touches  any  part  of) 
the  boat  in  front,  it  takes  the 
other's  place  in  the  next  race. 
The  races  are  always  rowed  in 
two  divisions,  about  twelve  to 
fifteen  in  each,  and  the  head 
boat  in  the  lower  division  is  the 
last  boat  in  the  first  division, 
and  is  called  the  sandwich  boat. 
The  first  boat  in  the  first  divi- 
sion is  called  the  Head  of  the 
River. 

Bump  supper  (university),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

A  bump  supper,  th,-it  is,  a  supper  to  com- 
memorate the  fact  of  the  boat  of  one  col- 
lege having,  in  the  annual  races,  "  bumped" 
or  touched  the  boat  of  another  college  im- 
mediately in  front. — Cuthbert  Bede  :  Ad- 
ventures of  Mr.  Verdant  Green. 

Bumptious  (common),  apt  to  take 
offence,  quarrelsome  without 
adequate  provocation.  Evident- 
ly from  "bump,"  which  Skeat 
derived  from  "  boom,"  to  make  a 
hollow  sound.  Dutch,  bommen, 
one  who  roars  or  resounds  at 
once,  to  swell  up  or  bounce. 

I  heard  that  Mr.  Sh.-irp's  wig  didn't  fit 
him,  and  that  he  needn't  be  so  "bounce- 


202 


Bumsquabbled — Buncombe. 


able" — somebody  else  said  bumptious — 
about  it,  because  his  own  red  hair  was 
very  plainly  to  be  seen  behind. — Charles 
Dickens :  David  Copperfield. 

Bumsquabbled  (American),  crest- 
fallen. 

The  judge  said  ...  he  had  got  too 
much  already,  cut  him  off  the  other  two- 
thirds,  and  made  him  pay  all  costs.  If  he 
didn't  look  bumsquabbled  it's  a  pity. — 
Sam  Slick :  The  Clockmaker. 

Bumsucker  (society),  a  very  vul- 
gar expression  in  common  use 
among  men  in  society  for  a 
toady.  One  who  is  a  hanger-on 
and  flatterer  of  great  men,  and 
who  will  do  their  dirty  work 
for  them.  In  French,  ?ecAe- 
cwZ, 

Bum-trap  (old),  bailiff. 

The  noble  bum-trap,  blind  and  deaf  to 
every  circumstance  of  distress,  greatly  rises 
above  all  the  motives  to  humanity,  and 
into  the  hands  of  the  jailor  resolves  to 
deliver  his  miserable  prey. — Fielding: 
Tom  Jones. 

Bun  (American),  a  fellow  who 
cannot  be  shaken  off.  (Com- 
mon), to  have  the  hun,  to  get 
the  better  of,  to  surpass. 

O  Lord  !  to  think  I  deemed  myself  most 

fly- 

This  infamie  most  surely  has  the  lun ! 
—  The  Sporting  Times. 

Bunce  (trade),  commission  from 
tradesmen  and  others,  black- 
mail, sums  of  money,  of  which 
both  the  employer  and  employed 
are  defrauded  liy  the  middle 
man,  through  whose  hands  the 
money  passes  at  some  time  or 


other  prior  to  reaching  its  desti- 
nation. In  large  theatres  there 
are  frequently  four  or  five 
hundred  persons  employed  in 
various  departments,  and  the 
head  of  each  department  holds 
his  own  treasury. 

(Turf),  profit,  interest  on 
money. 

(Popular),  money. 

For  though  I  am  neither  a  fool  nor  a 

dunce, 
Whatever  I   prig  other    folks  get   the 

bunce. 
—  T.Browne:   Unlucky  Individuals. 

The  boys  will  try  it  on  for  their  bunts. 
—L.  L.  and  L.  P. 

According  to  Hotten  from  hon 
or  bonus,  probably  the  latter. 

Buncer  (trade),  one  who  buncea  or 
exacts  bunce  (which  see). 

Bunch  (common),  a  blow.  (Ame- 
rican), to  bunch,  to  gather  up, 
purse  up. 

The  speaker  bunded  his  thick  lips  to- 
gether like  the  stem-end  of  a  tomato. — 
Mark  Twain  :  The  Gilded  Age. 

Bunch  of  fives  (popular),  the  fist. 

M'.\uliffe  does  not  seem  to  appreciate 
the  honour  of  standing  up  to  Carney 
again.  He  says  he  won't  be  ready  for 
three  months.  One  taste  of  the  P.irming- 
ham  boy's  quality  seems  to  have  been 
quite  sufficient  for  the  American  light- 
weight champion.  It  is  extremely  impro- 
bable that  M'Auliffe  will  ever  again  come 
within  reach  of  Carney's  bunch  of  Jives. — 
sporting  Life. 

Bunco.     Vide  Bunko. 

Buncombe  or  bunkum  (Ameri- 
can), talking  big,  affecting  en- 


Buncombe — Bundling. 


203 


thnsiasm,  bnt  always  with  an 
underhand  purpose.  Sometimes 
used,  especially  in  England,  to 
denote  mere  magniloquence. 
Mr.  Hotten  has  made  the  dis- 
covery that  "  it  arose  from  a 
speech  made  by  a  North  Caro- 
lina senator  named  Buncombe." 
The  truth  is  that  these  are 
two  words,  of  the  same  sound 
but  of  entirely  different  ori- 
gin, and  with  different  mean- 
ings. One  originated,  it  is  said, 
as  follows  (vide  Bartlett) :  A 
member  of  the  House  of  Re- 
presentatives, when  making  a 
windy  speech  about  nothing 
then  before  the  House,  being 
asked  why  he  did  so,  replied 
that  he  was  speaking  to  or  for 
Buncombe.  But  long  before  this 
story  arose,  it  was  usual  in  New 
England  to  express  great  ap- 
probation or  admiration  of  any- 
thing by  calling  it  bunkuvi,  and 
this  was  derived  from  the  Cana- 
dian French,  "Le  buncum  sa" 
("il  est  bon  comme  5a"),  "it  is 
good  as  it  is."  There  was  a 
negro  song  fifty  or  sixty  years 
ago  with  this  refrain: — "Bom- 
sell  ge  mary,  lebrunem  sa." 
This  is  presumed  to  be  negro 
Canuck- French  for  "  Mam'selle 
je  marie,  elle  est  bonne  comme 
9a." 

'I'he  bunkum  bestowed   at   Threadneedle 
Street  Board. 

— Punch. 

Another  American  importation  is  bun- 
kum, a  word  generally  [used  to  signify 
empty,  frothy  declamation.  It  is  said  to  be 
derived  from  the  action  of  a  speaker  who, 
persisting  in  talking  to  an  empty  house, 
said   he  was   speaking  to  Buncombe,   the 


name  of  the  place  in  North  Carolina  which 
he  represented. — Comhill  Magazine. 

Buncomise,  to  (journalistic),  to 
talk  twaddle. 

Experience  has  taught  me  the  inutility 
of  interviewing.  You  set  a  man  at  once  at 
weighing  his  words,  and  he  either  gam- 
mons you  intentionally,  buncomises,  or  is 
reticent,  so  as  to  be  of  no  service. — A 
Forbes :  My  Experiences  of  the  War 
between  France  and  Germany. 

Bund  (Anglo-Indian),  an  artificial 
bank  or  wharf. 

"  This  term  is  also  naturalised 
in  the  Anglo-Chinese  ports.  It 
is  there  applied  to  the  embanked 
quay  above  the  shore  of  the  set- 
tlements "  (Anglo-Indian  Glos- 
sary). 

Bunder  (Anglo-Indian).  Persian 
hundar,  a  seaport  landing-place, 
harbour,  or  custom-house. 

Bundling  (old),  a  custom  of  un- 
married people  of  different 
sexes,  or  lovers,  sleeping  to- 
gether, but  with  clothes  on, 
or  under  such  conditions  that 
coition  is  supposed  not  to  take 
place.  It  has  been  described 
by  Wright  as  Welsh,  by  Bart- 
lett as  American,  but  it  is  to 
be  found  anywhere , or  everj-- 
where  in  tlie  world  among  the 
commoner  sort  of  people  (and 
occasionally  among  the  other 
class),  when  opportunity  pre- 
sents itself.  Mr.  Bartlett  thinks 
it  is  not  now  practised  in  the 
United  States.  He  evidently 
does  not  know  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian  Dutch  or  New  England, 
where  the  custom  still  prevails. 


204 


Bundling — Bunged. 


Washington  Irving  acted  rather 
unfairly  when  he  described 
bundling  as  something  which 
the  Dutch  learned  froni  the 
Yankees,  since  it  was  in  full 
bloom  in  Holland  at  the  time  of 
which  he  wrote,  and  is  thus 
described  by  Sewel  (1797) : 

"  Queeston  is  an  odd  way  of 
wooing  usual  in  some  sea  towns 
or  Isles  of  Holland,  after  this 
manner.  When  the  wench  is 
gone  to  bed,  the  fellow  enters 
the  room  and  lays  himself  down 
in  his  clothes  upon  the  blankets, 
next  unto  her,  with  one  window 
of  the  room  open,  and  thus  he 
talks  with  her,  very  innocently 
— as  it  is  reported." 

It  is  said  of  a  damsel  in  Con- 
necticut, who  expected  her  lover 
to  come  and  bundle  with  her, 
that  her  mother  bade  her  put 
both  her  legs  into  a  pillow-case, 
and  tie  it  round  her  waist. 
The  next  morning  she  asked  her 
if  she  had  kept  her  "limbs"  in 
the  bag,  to  which  Miss  Inno- 
cence replied,  "  Ma,  dear,  I  only 
took  one  out." 

Bung  (common),  a  brewer  or  a 
landlord  of  a  beerhouse. 

A  Peerage  and  a  Beerage. — Within  the 
Ia<;t  few  years  several  "  bungs  "  have  been 
made  Peers.  There  is  no  particular  objec- 
tion to  this,  for  brewing  is  just  as  likely  to 
produce  an  individual  who  is  so  thoroughly 
impregnated  with  legislative  wisdom  that 
he  will  propagate  legislators,  as  shooting 
pheasants,  or  any  of  the  other  occupations 
to  which  those  who  become  Peers  generally 
devote  themselves,  and  a  beerage  is  as 
glorious  an  institution  as  a  Peerage.  The 
only  difficulty  seems  to  me  to  be  this  : 
The  title  becomes  a  sort  of  (Jovernment 


guarantee  that  the  beer  of  its  posses.<»r  is 
good,  and,  therefore,  any  one  whose  beer 
is  up  to  par  ought  to  have  a  right  to  claim 
a  Peerage,  for  otherwise  competition  will 
not  be  carried  on  between  the  bungs  under 
fair  conditions.  —  Truth. 

A  pickpocket,  sharper,  a  purse. 
This  very  old  English  cant  word 
is  still  in  use  among  American 
thieves  in  the  phrase  "to  go 
bung,'"  which  is  the  same  as  "to 
go  bang,"  derived  from  the  pop- 
ping of  a  cork,  or  the  hung  of  a 
barrel ;  lost,  gone. 

In  this  case  the  title  of  the  "Queen's 
Fund  "  has  been  sufficient  to  damn  what 
otherwise,  beyond  doubt,  wquid  have  been 
a  widely  beneficial  charity.  It  cannot  be 
thought,  however,  that  the  Queen  herself 
will  be  consumed  with  sorrow  even  if  she 
does  happen  to  hear  that  this  abortion  has 
"  gone  bung." — Australian  journal. 

(Pugilistic)  to  give,  pass,  hand 
over;  "bung  over  the  rag," 
hand  over  the  note.  (Popular), 
in  a  public-house  game  called 
"  cod  'em,"  when  one  of  the  op- 
posite party  suspects  the  piece 
to  be  in  any  particular  hand, 
he  places  his  own  over  it  and 
exclaims  "bung  it  here,"  i.e., 
give  it  up. 

Bunged  peeper  (common),  an  eye 
closed  by  a  blow. 

There  is,  I  think,  no  natural  connection 
between  the  bung  of  a  barrel  and  an  eye 
which  has  been  closed  by  a  blow.  But 
when  we  reflect  on  the  const.int  mingling 
of  gj-psies  with  prize-fighters,  it  is  almost 
evident  that  bongo  may  have  been  the 
origin  of  it.  A  bongo  yakko  (or  yak), 
means  a  distorted,  crooked,  or  in  fact  a 
bunged  eye.  It  also  means  lame,  crooked. 
or  sinister.  —  The  English  Gy/>sies  and 
their  Language. 


Bung-juice — Bunko. 


205 


To  bung  is  good  English  for 
to  close  up. 

Bung-juice  (thieves),  porter  or 
beer  (New  York  Slang  Dic- 
tionary). 

Bunk  (American),  a  wooden  case 
or  bench  "which  serves  for  a 
seat  by  day  and  a  bed  by  night " 
(Bartlett).  In  America  denotes 
generally  a  rough  bed  or  place 
for  sleeping.  Dutch,  "  slaap 
hunk,"  a  settle-bed,  or  press- 
bed.     American,  "  to  hunk." 

,  .  .  And  so  pass  over  the  rest  of  his 
voyage  by  saying  that  he  was  confined  to 
his  bunk,  and  saw  no  more  of  it. — H. 
Kingsley :  Kavenshoe. 

Bunker  (popular),  beer.  (Ameri- 
can), large,  fine,  remarkable. 
East  of  England,  honker.  This 
word  suggests  a  possible  origin 
of  Buncombe. 

Bunko,  bunco  (American),  from 
the  Italian  hanco,  a  bench  or 
bank.  A  game  at  cards,  like 
three-card  monte,  and  is  usually 
simply  a  swindle.  It  is  described 
by  Inspector  BjTnes,  Chief  of 
Detectives  in  New  York,  sub- 
stantially as  follows.  It  is  ap- 
parently so  simple  and  honest 
that  the  shrewdest  men  are 
readily  induced  to  try  it,  and 
are  thus  fleeced.  There  are 
forty-three  spaces  upon  a  hunko 
"lay  out,"  forty-two  are  num- 
bered, and  thirteen  contain  stars 
also  (no  prizes),  one  is  blank, 
and  the  remaining  twenty-nine 
represent  prizes   ranging  from 


two  to  five  thousand  dollars. 
The  game  can  be  played  with 
dice  or  cards.  The  latter  are 
numbered  with  a  series  of  small 
numbers  ranging  from  one  to 
six,  eight  of  which  are  drawn 
and  counted,  and  the  total  re- 
presents the  number  of  the 
prize  drawn.  Should  the  victim 
draw  a  star  number  he  is  allowed 
the  privilege  of  drawing  again 
by  putting  up  a  small  amount 
of  money.  He  is  generally 
allowed  to  win  at  first,  and  later 
on  the  game  owes  him  from 
$1000  to  $5000  (i.e.,  from  ;^200 
to  ;i^ioco).  This  is  when  he 
draws  the  conditional  prize, 
No.  27.  The  conditions  are 
that  he  must  put  up  I500  (;f  100), 
or  as  much  as  the  dealer  thinks 
he  will  stand.  This  is  explained 
to  him  as  necessary  to  save 
what  he  has  already  won,  and  to 
entitle  him  to  another  drawing. 
To  inveigle  men  to  play  hunko, 
the  most  extraordinary  pains 
are  taken,  and  the  hunko-steeieis 
or ' '  touts,"  who  seek  for  victims, 
are  selected  from  the  most 
gentlemanly-looking,  well-edu- 
cated persons  that  can  be  found. 
There  are  innumerable  instances 
of  lawyers  and  others,  who  knew 
the  world  well,  and  who  were 
perfectly  on  their  guard  as  to 
hunko,  being  taken  in  by  it,  and 
half  ruined.  Its  extraordinary 
vogue  in  the  United  States  jus- 
tifies this  detailed  description 
of  it  as  pramionitus,  jira^munitus. 
The  writer  is  well  acquainted 
with  an  English  gentleman  who, 
while  travelling  in  the  United 


206 


Bunkum — But  ra-beebee. 


States,  was  "bunkoed"  out  of 

several  thousand  dollars. 

Bunkum.    See  Buncombe. 

Bunny  grub  (Cheltenham  College), 
green  vegetables,  called  "grass" 
at  the  Royal  Military  Academy. 

Bunon  (Anglo-Indian),  applied  to 
any  humbug,  "  anything  ficti- 
tious or  factitious,"  a  cram,  a 
shave,  a  sham  (Anglo-Indian 
Glossary). 

You  will  see  within  a  week  if  this  is 
anything  more  than  a  bunon. — Oakfitld, 
ii.  58. 

Bun-struggle  or  worry  (army), 
a  tea  meeting ;  an  entertain- 
ment to  which  benevolent  souls 
occasionally  invite  the  soldiers 
in  a  garrison,  but  which  has 
generally  smaller  attractions  for 
them  than  the  canteen  or  public- 
house. 

Bunt  (common),  an  apron,  properly 
sail  canvas  ;  to  hunt,  to  jostle. 

Bunter  (common),  a  street- walking 
thief,  a  prostitute. 

Bunts.     See  Bunce. 

Burick(Australian  convicts' slang), 
a  whore.  Introduced  into  Aus- 
tralia by  the  convicts  tran- 
sported thither. 

Burick  is  a  prostitute,  or  common 
woman. — Vaux's  Memoirs. 

Burking  (army),  dyeing  the  mous- 
tache and  whiskers.  It  was  at 
one  time  the  custom  for  the 
whole    of    the    men    in    smart 


cavalry  regiments  to  dye  their 
moustaches,  &c.,  black,  to  burke 
or  suppress  their  natural  colour. 
This  was  for  the  sake  of  uni- 
formity. Fashion  in  hair  has 
always  been  a  feature  in  military 
life.  As  in  the  past  each  corps 
prided  itself  on  its  own  peculiar 
arrangement  of  pigtail  and 
-powder,  so  now  there  are  regi- 
ments in  which  public  opinion 
demands  a  hard  and  fast  rule 
about  hair.  Few  will  tolerate 
whiskers ;  Piccadilly  weepers, 
Dundrearies,  as  they  were  once 
called,  are  universally  despised ; 
and  where  the  beard  is  permitted 
to  be  worn,  as  in  India,  its 
dimensions  and  trimming  are 
often  the  subject  of  precise 
regulations.  Burking  meant 
formerly  to  stifle,  from  Burke, 
who  was  hung  in  1829  for 
murder  by  suffocation  of  persons 
whose  bodies  he  sold  to  surgeons 
for  dissecting. 

Bum  (thieves),  cheat ;  burners, 
swindlers  with  dice  and  cards  ; 
burnt,  infected  with  venereal 
disease  (New  York  Slang  Dic- 
tionary). 

Burner  (old  slang),  an  acute  form 
of  a  certain  stage  of  a  contagious 
disease. 

Burr,  to  (Marlborough  College), 
to  fight. 

Burra-beebee  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
great  lady,  a  grande  dame,  a 
lady-swell.    (Gypsy),  bdro  beebec. 


Burra — Bushel. 


207 


This  is  a  kind  of  slang  word  applied  in 
Anglo-Indian  society  to  the  lady  who 
claims  precedence  at  a  party. — Anglo-In- 
dian Glossary. 

The  ladies  carry  their  burra  bibi-ship 
into  the  steamers  when  they  go  to  Eng- 
land. My  friend  endeavoured  in  vain  to 
persuade  them  that  whatever  their  social 
importance  in  the  City  of  Palaces,  they 
would  be  but  small  folk  in  London. — 
Viscountess  Falkland:  C how-Chow. 

Burra  khana  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
grand  feast,  a  big  dinner.  In 
English  gypsy,  hdro  habben, 
from  the  same  Indian  roots. 

Burra  sahib  (Anglo-Indian),  the 
chief,  or  head,  or  master.  A 
great  man. 

Burst  (sporting),  lively  pace,  smart 
race,  spurt. 

During  "  a  good  burst "  one  of  the  hunt 
lost  both  "  sight  and  sound"  of  the  pack, 
and  riding  along  almost  disconsolate  over' 
took  a  "  yokel,"  and  at  once  asked  him  if 
he  had  seen  the  "  hare  and  hounds." 
"  Ees,  zir,  I  seed  a  dog  chasing  a  hare." 
"  Which  way  were  they  going?" 
"  Ah,  zir,  I  can't  tell  'ee  that ;  all  I  could 
see  was  the  dog  was  having  the  best  of  it." 
— Sporting  Times. 

Burying  (old  cant),  "burying  a 
wife "  signifies  the  feast  given 
by  an  apprentice  on  the  comple- 
tion of  his  term  of  apprentice- 
ship, and  becoming  a  free  man, 
to  set  up  in  business  for  himself. 
(Common),  "  burying araoW,"  for- 
saking a  wife  or  mistress. 

Bus  (common),  abbreviation  of 
omnibus. 

An  experiment  was  recently  made  of  a 
female  omnibus  conductor  on  the  new  line 


between  Piccadilly  Circus  and  King's 
Cross.  She  only  lasted  a  day.  Most  pro- 
bably she  met  with  an  offer  of  marriage 
and  closed  her  connection  with  one  bus  to 
get  another  as  legitimate. — London  Court 
Journal. 

(Theatrical),  contraction  of 
"business."  Pronounced  hiz. 
The  dramatic  action  of  a  play 
is  described  in  aU  written  parts 
as  bv^.  The  dumb  show  de- 
scribed in  Hamlet  is  all  hiz. 
Biz  is  also  applied  to  the  com- 
mercial affairs  of  the  theatre, 
as  "good  hiz"  or  "bad  biz." 
(Anglo-Indian), 6«s/  "Enough!" 
"  Hold  hard  !  "  "  Stop  there  1  " 
"That  will  do!"  "Hold  your 
horses !  " 

(American),  "  to  buss,"  to 
punch,  probably  from  "burst." 
"  I'U  buss  your  head  "  is  a  com- 
mon threat. 

Bushed  (up  coimtry  Australian), 
lost  in  the  bush  or  uncleared 
country  primarily,  and  hence 
bewildered. 

Desmard  was  on  these  occasions  always 
accompanied  by  one  of  the  boys,  for  John 
feared  that  he  might  get  bushed;  but  he 
himself  and  the  other  boy  went  separately. 
— A.  C.  Grant. 

(Common),  "  bushed  on," 
much  pleased,  "  I  am  awfully 
bushed  on,"  that  takes  my 
fancy. 

(Old  slang),  applied  to  a  poor 
man  without  money.  "He's 
completely  bushed,"  i.e.,  desti- 
tute. 

Bushel,  to  (American),  to  repair 
garments.  German  biiszen,  to 
mend,     hence     "  busheler,"    a 


208 


Bushcl-buhby — Buss. 


tailor's  assistant,  whose  busi- 
ness it  is  to  repair  garments 
(Bartlett). 

Bushel-bubby  (old  slang),  a  large 
and  f  uU-breasted  woman. 

Bushwhackers  (West  Indian), 
men  who  squat  alive  in  the 
"  bush,"  leading  an  idle,  useless 
existence. 

(American),  during  the  CivU 
War  guerillas  or  irregulars 
were  called  "  bushwackers."  To 
"  bushwack"  a  boat  is  to  draw 
it  along  by  seizing  the  bushes 
on  the  banks. 

Bushy  park  (rhyming  slang),  a 
lark.  "A  man  who  is  poor  is 
said  to  be  '  in  hu&hy  park,'  or 
'  in  the  park '  "(Vaux's  Memoirs). 

Business  (theatrical),  the  move- 
ments of  the  actors,  their  look 
and  tone. 

The  success  of  one  of  these  pieces  de- 
pends not  upon  verbal  joking,  good  or 
bad,  but  upon  business. — Saturday  Re- 
vieiv. 

Playing  well  or  ill,  according  to  the  mood 
in  which  she  may  happen  to  be,  an  actress 
of  Madame  Bernhardt's  trempe  naturally 
varies  her  business. —  Times. 

(Singers),  singing  profession- 
ally. 

She  began  her  business  in  a  deep  sweet 
voice.  —  Thackeray :  History  o/Pendennis. 

(American),  "the  husincsi- 
end,"the  end  of  any  object  which 
is  put  to  practical  use.  The  buii- 
»iej(s-end  of  a  mule  is  his  heels. 

If,  on  an  occasion  of  this  nature,  one 
stationed  himself  behind  the  door,  and,  as 
a  sort  of  preliminary  warnii.g  to  the  others, 


greeted  the  first  interloper  with  the  buH- 
ness-cnA  of  a  boot-jack,  he  would  be  morally 
certain  of  a  lively  one-sided  misunderstand- 
ing that  might  end  disastrously  to  himself. 
— J.  Stevens;  Around  the  IVorld  on  a 
Bicycle. 

Busk,  busking  (trade),  explained 
by  quotation. 

They  obtain  a  livelihood  by  busking,  as 
it  is  termed,  or,  in  other  words,  by  offering 
these  goods  for  sale  only  at  the  bars  or  in 
the  tap-rooms  and  parlours  of  taverns. — 
H.  Mayhew :  London  Labour  and  the 
London  Poor. 

From  a  furniture  carter  of  this  descrip- 
tion I  received  some  most  shocking  details 
of  having  to  busk  it,  as  this  talking  about 
goods  for  sale  is  called  by  those  in  the 
trade. — H.  Mayhew :  London  Labour  and 
the  London  Poor. 

(Low  actors),  getting  one's 
living  on  the  road,  by  recita- 
tions in  tap-rooms,  &c. ;  pro- 
bably from  buskin. 

Busking'  is  going  into  public-houses  and 
playing  and  singing  and  dancing. — //. 
Jfay/ieTV :  London  Labour  and  the  London 
J'oor. 

(Tramps),  singing. 

Buskers  (popular),  men  who  go 
about  performing,  singing,  or 
playing  in  a  low  way  in  the 
streets  or  in  public-houses. 

'I'hen  Mary  Jones  happened  to  meet 

•V   tumbler  whose  real  name  was  simply 

John  Brown, 
While  slanging  one  day  in  the  street. 
His  form  so  attractive,  his  figure  so  neat. 
So  unlike  common  buskers  was  he, 
So   pleasing  his  tricks  she   enchanted  be- 
came, 
And  soon  forgot  all  about  me. 

— J.  Lloyd  :   The  Hying  Lady. 

Buss.     See  Bus. 


Bust — Bustle. 


209 


Bust  (thieves),  a  burglary. 

"  Fatty  Bill,  from  City  Road,  rem.  for  a 
^K^<  ex.  2  years,"  means  that  William  .  .  . 
has  been  comf>eIled  to  leave  his  congenial 
haunts  in  the  City  Road  as  he  is  remanded 
for  a  burglary,  and  anticipates  two  years' 
hard  labour. — Rev.  J.  W.  Horsley :  Jot- 
tings  from  Jail. 

(Royal  Military  Academy),  to 
go  on  the  bust,  to  go  to  town  for 
amusement. 

(American),  a  burst,  a  frolic, 
a  debauch,  a  spree.  The  refer- 
ence in  the  following  paragraph 
is  to  an  American  Minister  to 
Mexico,  who  was  said  to  have 
indulged  in  a  hast  of  unwonted 
magnitude. 

An  article  has  appeared  recently  upon 
"  Busts  of  the  Vice-Presidents."  Some- 
thing upon  the  busts  of  Foreign  Ministers 
would  possess  more  of  current  interest. — 
Omaha  Herald. 

(Thieves),  to  bust,  to  inform,  to 
"  split ;  "  to  commit  a  burglary. 
(American),  to  destroy. 

They  was  by  this  time  jined  by  a  large 
crowd  of  other  Southern  patrits,  who 
comenst  hollerin,  "  Hang  the  bald-headed 
aberlitionist,  and  bust  up  his  immoral  ex- 
hibition 1  " — Artcmus  Ward. 

Buster  (popular),  a  small  new 
loaf,  termed  also  "  burster ;  "  a 
"penny-worth  of  bees-wax  and 
a  penny  hustev"  i.e.,  bread  and 
cheese. 

I  can't  get  at  it,  I  can't  get  at  it, 

I  like  the  faggots  tho'  they  smell. 
But  now  the  penn}''s  down  the  well, 

I  can't  get  at  it,  I  can't  get  at  it. 
I  thought  I'd  have  a  buster  but  it's  all 
no  go  1 

— Song. 

(American),  anything  large  in 
size,  a  drinking  bout,  a  man  of 
great  strength. 


He  tackled  some  of  their  regular  busters 
and  they  throwed  him. — Mark  Twain  : 
Dry  Diggings. 

(Australian),  southerly  buster, 
southerly  wind  of  great  vio- 
lence. 

(Thieves),  a  burglar. 

(Common),  anything  large, 
of  extra  size ;  a  spurt. 

At  frequent  intervals  during  the  day, 
the  cattle,  animated  by  a  sudden  impulse, 
broke  back  and  made  a  determined  charge 
through  the  drivers,  with  their  heads 
turned  homewards.  Whenever  this  took 
place,  the  overseer,  after  turning  them 
round,  gave  the  mob  a  buster  a.t  a  severe 
pace  during  the  next  half  hour  to  take  the 
wind  out  of  them. — Nichols  :  Wild  Life 
and  Adventure  in  the  Australian  Bush. 

Wot  odds  arterall  ?  We're  jest  dittos  :  I'm 

not  bad  at  bottom,  sez  you. 
Well,  thank  ye  for  nothink,  my  joker.    As 

long  as  I've  bullion  to  blue, 
I  mean  to  romp  round  a  rare  buster,  lark, 

lap,  take  the  pick  of  the  fun. 
And,  bottom  or  top,  good  or  bad,  keep  my 

heye  on  one  mark — Number  One  ! 
— Punch. 

Bustle,  a  dress -improver,  the  pro- 
tuberance behind  on  a  woman's 
dress.  Before  1855  and  1856 
ladies  had  begun  to  wear  crino- 
line and  skeleton  skirts.  Then 
came  the  bustle,  an  artificial 
appendage  intended  to  produce 
the  impression  that  the  wearer 
had  a  full  glxitc  x.  mnximus  or 
siant.  Of  late  it  has  assumed 
enormous  dimensions,  far  sur- 
passing anything  characteristic 
of  the  most  fully  developed 
Hottentot  Venus. 

"  Nothing  has  outstripped  the  bustle  in 
its  gigantic  strife  for  prodigious  excellence. 
It  is  remarkable  that  this  form  of  fashion, 
O 


2IO 


Bustle — Butler- English. 


which  has  never  been  literally  to  the  front, 
has  still  left  all  other  rivals  behind.  .  .  . 
We  can  recall  when  this  startlingly  repro- 
ductive fruit  received  the  distinct  impetus 
which  has  borne  it  through  successive 
stages  to  the  present  extraordinary  condi- 
tion of  development."  (The  writer  here 
displays  great  knowledge  in  proving  that 
it  was  the  use  of  bustles  during  the  Ameri- 
can war,  as  places  for  concealing  valu- 
ables, which  led  to  their  increase  in  the 
United  States.)  "At  tins  crisis  the  bustle 
played  a  historic  part.  It  became  a  safe 
deposit  vault  for  imperilled  jewellery  and 
plate. 

"  When  the  bustle  shall  have  been  de- 
veloped to  its  probable  limit,  the  lady  who 
wears  one  will  certainly  escape  recogni- 
tion, if  not  observation.  Our  attention 
was  lately  called  to  a  bustle  of -the  pneu- 
matic species.  This  is  a  graft  of  the  bulb 
variety,  and  is  filled  with  atraospheiic 
oxygen,  and  it  was  propelling  a  young 
lady  before  it,  much  as  a  perambulator  is 
advanced  by  a  nurse.  This  bustle  was  the 
admiration  that  day  of  the  entire  city  of 
Augusta.  She  wore  a  terra-cotta  chimney- 
pot hat,  and  what  with  the  pneumatic 
bustle,  the  beautiful  creature  closely  resem- 
bled a  rural  summer  cottage  with  a  stove- 
flue  fixed  at  one  end." — History  of  the 
Bustle  :  Greensboro  {Ga.)  Home  Journal. 

(Popular),  money. 
To    bustle,    to    tie    up    into 
bundles  or  to  make  bunches. 

Bustled  (common),  confused, 
puzzled. 

Busy-sack  (popular),  a  carpet- 
bag. 

Butcha  (Anglo-Indian),  the  young 
of  any  animal. 

Butcher,  the  (American),  a  boy 
wlio  is  allowed  to  pass  through 
the  line  of  "  cars"  or  carriages 
on  a  railway  for  the  purpose  of 
selling  a  great  variety  of  articles. 


He  is  generally  considered,  to 
judge  by  the  tenor  of  the  re- 
marks andanecdotesin  the  news- 
papers, as  an  intolerable  annoy- 
ance. He  leaves  with  every 
passenger,  nolens  volens,  news- 
papers, books,  sweets,  fruit, 
toys,  &c.,  all  of  which  must  be 
carefully  guarded,  or  returned 
if  not  purchased,  under  the  pen- 
alty of  incurring  that  unlimited 
"  sass"  in  which  youths  of  his 
class  are  generally  so  proficient. 
The  following  incident,  from  the 
Detroit  Free  Press,  gives  a  faith- 
ful picture  of  the  temptations 
offered  by  the  butcher  : — 

On  a  Michigan  central  train  the  other 
day  as  the  butcher  came  into  the  car  with 
a  basket  of  oranges,  an  old  man,  whose 
wife  sat  beside  him,  was  very  anxious  to 
buy  half-a-dozen,  but  she  waved  the  boy 
on  witli,  "  He  can't  have  'em.  He  never 
eats  one  without  the  juice  runs  down  on 
his  shirt  bosom." 

(Common),  the  king  at  cards, 
called  un  baufm  French  slang. 

(Prison),  the  butcher  is  a  nick- 
name for  the  doctor.  Other- 
wise termed  "  sawbones," 
"  croaker." 

Butcher's  dog  (common),  "to  lie 
like  a  butchers  dog,^'  i.e.,  by 
the  beef  without  touching  it,  is 
to  lie  beside  a  woman  without 
sexual  intercourse. 

Butcher's  mourning  (popular),  a 
white  hat  with  a  mourning 
band. 

Butler-English  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
kind  of  pidgin-English  spoken 
in  the  Madras  Presidency. 


Butteker — Button-buster. 


211 


Butteker,  a  shop,  from  the  Italian 
bottega.  A  curious  variation  of 
this  word  is  "butter-ken," 
Gypsyj  butteia  or  boodika. 

Butter,  to  (common),  to  praise  a 
person  too  flagrantly;  "to  pass 
the  butter  boat,"  is  to  indulge 
at  public  dinners  in  laudatory 
toasts  of  the  prominent  or  dis- 
tinguished persons  who  are  pre- 
sent. The  phrase  has  its  coun- 
terpart in  the  Scottish  proverb, 
"  Claw  me  and  I'll  claw  you." 
From  dire,  to  praise,  and  signi- 
fying "  Praise  me  and  I'U  praise 
you."  The  English  proverb, 
"  Fine  words  butter  no  parsnips, " 
took  its  rise  in  a  kindred  idea. 

I'll  butter  him,  trust  me.  Nothing  com- 
forts a  poor  beggar  like  a  bit  of  praise  when 
he  is  down. — C.   Kings  ley :    Two    Years 

Ago. 

Butter  a  bet,  to  (old  slang),  to 
increase  it  by  twice  or  thrice  its 
first  amount. 

Buttered  bun  (old  slang),  a  woman 
who,  directly  after  cohabitation 
with  one  man,  allows  another 
to  embrace  her. 

Butter  fingers  (cricketers),  an  epi- 
thet applied  to  a  "  fielder  "  who 
does  not  hold  a  ball  which  he 
ought  to  catch. 

Butter  flap  (rhyming  slang),  a 
trap,  light  cart. 

Butterfly  (nautical),  a  sailor's 
name  for  a  river  barge. 

Buttock  (common),  a  street- 
walker, a  common  prostitute. 


You  jade  I  I'll  ravish  you  !  You  but- 
tock !  I'm  a  justice  of  the  peace,  sirrah  ! 
— Soldiers  Fortune,  1681. 

The  bands  and   the  buttocks  that   lived 
there  around, 
Came  flocking  hither. 

— Poor  Robin,  1694. 

\Vi'  ruefu'  face  an'  signs  o'  grace, 

I  paid  the  buttock  hire ; 
The  night  was  dark,  and  through  the  park 

1  couldna  but  convoy  her. 

Robert  Bums :  On  the  Cuttie  Stool. 

Buttock  and  file  (old  cant),  a  shop 

lifter. 

The  same  capacity  which  qualifies  a 
mill-ben,  a  bridle-cull,  or  a  buttock  and  file 
to  arrive  at  any  degree  of  eminence  in  his 
profession  would  likewise  raise  a  man  in 
what  the  world  esteem  a  more  honourable 
calling. — Fielding:  Jonathan  Wild. 

Buttock  and  tongfue  (old  slang), 
a  scolding,  shrewish  wife. 

Buttock-ball  (old  slang),  cohabita- 
tion. 

Buttock-broker  (old  slang),  a  pro- 
curess, and  in  society  a  match- 
making woman. 

Buttocking-shop  (common),  a 
brothel.  The  corresponding  ex- 
pression in  the  French  slang  is 
magasin  de  f esses. 

Button  (old  cant),  a  shilling,  now 
a  bad  one.  (Streets),  a  decoy 
sham  purchaser. 

The  Cheap  Johns  have  a  man  or  a  boy 
to  look  after  the  horse  .  .  .  and  sometimes 
at  a  fair  to  hawk  or  act  as  a  button  (decoy) 
to  purchase  the  first  lot  of  goods  put  up. — 
//.  Mayhew :  London  Labour  and  the 
London  Poor. 

Button-buster  (theatrical),  a  really 
humorous    low    comedian,   one 


212 


Buttoner — Buz. 


who  excites  the  risible  faculties 
so  strongly  that  the  auditors 
laugh  until  they  burst  their 
buttons. 

Buttoner  (card-sharpers),  a  con- 
federate who  entices  "pigeons  " 
into  playing. 

Button  on  (printers),  see  Pan 
ON  and  CHOPrEE  ON.  An 
expression  frequently  used  by 
printers,  equivalent  to  "  making 
buttons,"  "  lit  of  the  blues,"  or 
"  down  in  the  dumps." 

Button  pound  (provincial),  money, 
literally  money  that  can  be 
pocketed. 

Buttons  (common),  a  pj^e. 

Our  present  girl  is  an  awful  slowcoach  ; 
but  we  hope  some  day  to  sport  buttons. — 
E.  B.  Ramsay:  Reminiscences  of  Scottish 
Life  niui  Cliaracter. 

Button  up,  to  (Stock  Exchange, 
American).  When  in  a  falling 
market  a  broker  has  made  an 
unprofitable  purchase,  and  keeps 
the  matter  secret,  he  is  said  to 
button  up. 

Butty  (Cheap  Jacks),  a  partner. 
(Provincial),  a  companion  or 
partner  in  a  piece  of  contract 
work. 

A  btitty  co\\\er  is  one  who  contracts  with 
the  mine  owner  to  raise  the  coal  at  so 
much  per  ton,  employinc;  other  men  to  do 
the  actual  work.  The  word  is  from  the 
gipsy  dialect.  A  "  booty  pal  "  is  a  fellow- 
workman,  literally  a  "  work  brother."  In 
the  mouths  of  navvies  or  rough  workman 
"pal"  would  soon  be  diopped,  and  hutty 
would  rei)rcscnt  the  original  phrase.— 
I'.liezcr  Edwards ;  Words,  Facts,  and 
} '/;  rases. 


(Army),  comrade,  chum.  (Po- 
pular), a  policeman's  assistant. 

Buy  a  prop  (Stock  Exchange),  a 
recommendation  signifying  that 
the  market  is  flat  and  there  is 
nobody  to  support  it. 

Buy  his  time,  to  (American). 
Before  the  war  slaves  often 
bought  themselves  free  by  in- 
stalments, paying  down  so  much 
money  at  a  stated  time.  When, 
for  instance,  a  slave  had  thus 
paid  half  the  money,  half  of 
his  time  would  be  his  own.  It 
happened  thus  that  a  man  of 
colour  who  was  half  redeemed 
fell  into  a  flood  and  narrowly 
escaped  drowning.  On  being 
asked  what  his  thoughts  were 
on  finding  himself  so  near  death, 
he  replied  that  he  couldn't  help 
thinking  what  a  fool  a  man  was 
to  risk  money  "  in  such  unsarten 
property  as  niggers."  Many 
negroes  also  hired  their  own 
time,  paying  so  much  per  day 
or  week  for  it,  trusting  to  earn 
more. 

Buz  or  buzz,  to  (common),  to 
share  equally  what  remains  in 
a  bottle,  or  to  pour  out  the  last 
drops  from  a  decanter. 

Get  some  more  poit,  whilst  I  hiizz  this 
bottle  here. — Thackeray  :  I  'aniiy  J'air. 

(American,  according  to  Bart- 
lett,  but  quite  as  much  English), 
to  pick  pockets  while  engaging 
a  victim  in  convcrsalion,  or 
while  a  confederate  docs  so, 
i.e.,  while  "  buzzing  "  to  him. 


Buz — Buzzer. 


213 


Scores  of  other  visitors  know  to  their 
loss  how  they  were  buzzed.  The  Plunger 
had  his  note-case,  containing  over  ^200 
in  notes,  extracted  from  his  fob. — Bird  o 
Freedom. 

Buz  in  thieves'  slang  was  ori- 
ginally to  whisper;  it  is  now 
common  in  the  sense  of  talking 
confidentially  or  earnestly  to 
anybody. 

"  I  saw  you  talking  to  Blank  on  the 
corner  over  there." 

"  Yes." 

"  Buzzing  you  to  vote  for  him  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  But  you  can't  do  it." 

"  No." 

"  And  you  told  him  so  ?  " 

"  Well,  not  right  away." 

"  What  were  you  waiting  for  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  didn't  tell  him  so  until  I  had 
asked  for  the  loan  of  $5,  and  he  said  he 
didn't  have  it. " — Detroit  Free  Press. 

(Popular),  to  talk,  to  make  a 
speech. 

Old  bottle-blue  buzzed  iox  a  bit. 
And  a  sniffy  young  Wiscount  in  barnacles, 
landed  wot  'e  thought  a'  it. 

— Punch. 

Buz-bloke  (thieves),  a  pickpocket. 

Buz  -  cove  (AustraUan  convicts' 
slang),  most  hkely  taken  out  to 
Australia  by  the  convicts  trans- 
ported thither. 

Vaux,  in  his  ' '  Memoirs  of 
Convict  Life  in  Australia,"  says : 
"  Buz-covt  or  '  buz-gloak,'  a  pick- 
pocket ;  a  person  who  is  clever 
at  this  practice  is  said  to  be 
a  'good  buz.'" 

Buz-man  (thieves),  a  thief;  an 
informer. 

Buznapper  (old  slang),  a  con- 
stable, onewho  "knaps"  or  takes 


"  buzzers  "  or  pickpocket, 
a  young  pickpocket. 


Also 


Buznapper's  academy,  a  school 
in  which  young  thieves  were 
trained.  Figures  were  dressed 
up  and  experienced  1  utors  stood 
in  various  dillicult  attitudes  for 
the  boys  to  practise  upon.  When 
clever  enough  they  were  sent 
on  the  streets.  Dickens  gives 
full  particulars  of  this  old  style 
of  business  in  "Oliver  Twist" 
(Hotten). 

Buznapper's  kinchin  (old  cant), 
a  watchman. 

Buzzard  (American),  an  oppres- 
sive, arrogant  person,  jealous  of 
rivalry,  and  vindictive.  The 
Wiggins  alluded  to  in  the  fol- 
lowing paragraph  is  a  celebrated 
though  not  very  successful 
American  weather-prophet. 

Wiggins  pronounces  Professor  Proctor 
"a  buzzard  among  scientists,  devouring 
every  young  man  whom  he  finds  making 
any  pretensions."  If  he  can  succeed  in 
eliminating  the  pretentious  Wiggins,  the 
country  will  rise  up  as  one  man  and  call 
him  blessed. — Chicago  Tribune. 

Buzzard  dollar  (American),  so 
called  from  the  eagle  on  it, 
which  captious  critics  think 
looks  like  a  ivs^ic^ -buzzard. 

The  waiters  all  expect  something  from 
}0U.  They  are  very  cunning,  and  always 
bring  plenty  of  small  change,  so  that  if 
one  is  inclined  to  give  he  can  find  no  ex- 
cuse. They  will  take  anything  you  give 
them,  from  a  nickel  up  to  a  buzzard  dollar, 
and  look  happy. — Chicago  Tribune. 

Buzzer  (thieves),  a  pickpocket, 


214 


Buzz-gloak — Cabbage. 


Buzz-gloak  (old),  a  pickpocket. 

He  who  surreptitiously  accumulates 
bustle  is,  in  fact,  nothing  better  than  a 
buzz-gloak.  —  Lord  Lytton :  Paul  Clif- 
ford. 

By-chop    (old),    an    illegitimate 
child. 

By  George  !  a  vulgar  ejaculation. 

By  golly  !  a  mild  oath. 


By  gum  1  (American),  a  mild  oath. 

One  night  she  was  gone,  by  gum  .' 
But  as  soon  as  ever  I  missed  her. 

From  the  king,  for  a  glass  of  rum, 
I  bought  her  younger  sister. 

—  T/u  Ballad  of  yFilliam  Duff. 

By  Jingo  I  (common),  an  exclama- 
tion denoting  surprise,  indigna- 
tion, defiance.    See  Jingo. 

6y  the  wind  (nautical),  hard  up, 
in  pecuniary  need. 


AB  (common),  a  bro- 
thel. The  term  arises 
from  the  fact  that 
four  -  wheeled  cabs 
are  sometimes  used 
for  certain  purposes. 

The  French  argot  describes 
a  four-wheeled  cab  as  bordd 
ambulant. 

(University),  explained  by 
quotation. 

Those  who  can't  afford  a  coach,  get  a 
cab,  alias  a  crib,  alias  a  translation. — 
C.  Bede :  Verdant  Green. 

(Tinker),  a  cabbage. 

Cabbage  ( tailors  and  dressmakers). 
This  is  given  as  a  cant  word  for 
private  theft  by  dictionaries  of 
the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  but  it  is  used  now  in  a 
slangy  sense  only  in  reference 
to  the  purloining  by  tailors  of 
pieces  of  cloth. 

Did  any  one  ever  yet  hear  of  a  working 
lailor  who  was  proof  against  misappropria- 
tion of  his  neighbour's  goods,  or,  as  he  play- 


fully designates  it,  cabbage'i  Is  it  not  a 
standard  joke  in  the  trade  this  cabbage? 
Did  one  ever  hear  of  a  tailor  being  shunned 
by  his  fellow-workmen,  or  avoided  by  his 
neighbours,  on  account  of  his  predilection 
for  cabbage  ?  Yet  what  is  it  but  another 
word  for  "  theft  "  ? — J.  Greenwood :  Seven 
Curses  of  London. 

Formerly  carhagc. 

Lupez  for  the  outside  of  his  suite  has 

paide  ; 
But,  for   his  heart,  he  cannot  have   it 

made ; 
The  reason  is,  his  credit  cannot  get 
The  inward  carbagc  for  his  cloathes  as 

yet. 

— Herrick :  Ilesf>erides. 

Wright  gives  the  following 
definition  of  cabbage  used  as  a 
verb,  "  to  purloin  or  embezzle, 
as  pieces  of  cloth,  after  cutting 
out  a  garment ;  properly  and 
originally  to  cut  off  the  heads 
of  cabbages,  and  occasionally 
also  such  as  are  not  our  own 
but  belong  to  others."  This  de- 
rivation is  borne  out  by  the  old 
French  caiust  r,to  deceive,  cheat, 


Cabbage-head — Cabobbled. 


215 


from  cabus,  a  white-headed  cab- 


Cabbagfe-head  (common),  a  soft- 
headed person. 

Cabbager  (common),  a  tailor. 
Formerly  cahhage  contractor. 

Cabbage-tree  mob  (obsolete  Aus- 
tralian slang),  now  called  "  lar- 
rikins," not  quite  equivalent  to 
the  London  street  rough  or 
loafer,  because  they  generally 
are  or  might  be  in  prosperous 
circumstances.  Thus  called  on 
account  of  the  emblem  of  their 
order  being  the  low-crowned 
cabbage-palm  hat. 

There  are  to  be  found  round  the  doors 
of  the  Sydney  Theatre,  a  sort  of  loafers 
known  as  the  cabbage-tree  7>tob,  a  class 
whom,  in  the  spirit  of  the  ancient  tyrant, 
one  might  excusably  wish  had  but  one  nose 
in  order  to  make  it  a  bloody  one. — Lieut.- 
Col.  Mttnday :  Our  Antipodes. 

The  modern  larrikin  has  ex- 
changed the  cabba[/e-tree  for  a 
black  wideawake  felt  hat  (hence 
called  the  "larrikin  hat"),  which 
he  wears  with  its  brim  turned 
down.  The  clothes  he  most 
affects  are  "  shiny  black,"  with 
a  velvet  collar,  and  his  boots 
have  ridiculously  high  heels. 

Cabbagites.   See  Cabbage-tree 

JMOB. 

Unaware  of  the  propensities  of  the  cab- 
bagitcs,  he  was  by  them  furiously  assailed 
for  no  better  reason,  apparently,  than  be- 
cause, like  "  Noble  Percy,"  "he  wore  his 
beaver  up." — Lieut. -Coi.  Munday  :  Our 
Anti/iodes. 


Cab-bilking  (common),  cheating 
a  cabman  out  of  his  fare. 

Some  of  the  methods  of  cab-bilking  are 
very  artful  and  curious.  One  is  to  order 
a  Jehu  to  set  down  a  fare  at  a  restaurant 
or  tavern  having  a  back  entrance  in  another 
street,  and  to  await  the  return  of  the  latter 
for  a  few  minutes.  On  this  being  done, 
the  ridet,  after  partaking  of  refreshments, 
decamps  by  that  exit,  to  the  loss  and  indig- 
nation of  the  driver,  who  often  only  learns 
that  the  hirer  has  defrauded  him  after 
waiting  for  a  long  time  beyond  that  which 
he  has  been  asked  to  stay. — Globe. 

Cabby  (general),  driver  of  a  cab. 

No  wonder  Lord  Ronald  Gower  is  popu- 
lar among  cabbies.  Last  night  he  presided 
over  the  meeting  of  the  Cabdrivers'  Asso- 
ciation, and  in  his  speech  he  remarked  that 
"  he  always  gave  cabhy  what  he  called  the 
inevitable  extra  sixpence,  particularly  if 
lie  found  that  the  driver  was  kind  to  his 
horse." — Globe. 

Cable-hanger  (nautical),  a  person 
catching  oysters  in  the  river 
Medway,  not  free  of  the  fishery 
(Smyth). 

Cab-moll  (common),  a  prostitute 
in  a  brothel. 

Cabob,  kibob,  khabaub  (Anglo- 
Indian),  used  in  Anglo-Indian 
households  for  any  kind  of  roast 
meat.  Properly  it  is  applicable 
to  small  slices  of  meat  on 
skewers,  with  slices  of  onion 
and  green  ginger  between  them, 
the  whole  being  seasoned  with 
pepjier  and  salt,  butter,  &c.  In 
a  plainer  form  it  is  common  in 
Venice,  and  perhaps  in  all  parts 
of  Italy. 

Cabobbled  (nautical),  confused, 
puzzled. 


2l6 


Caboodle — Cackling-chete. 


Caboodle  (American),  a  New  Eng- 
land expression,  originally  used 
by  coasting  sailors.  It  means 
the  entire  party,  all  the  set  or 
clique.  It  is  probably  a  slang 
modification  of  the  Spanish 
word  cahildo,  which  means  the 
same  thing. 

Cackle  (circus),  the  dialogue  of  a 
play.  Some  actors  seek  to  de- 
rive this  word  from  cacalogy. 
It  is,  however,  far  more  likely 
to  have  been  derived  by  the 
equestrian  performers,  who  in- 
troduced and  popularised  it, 
from  the  more  homely  "cluck, 
cluck  "  of  the  humble  barn-door 
fowl,  after  the  process  of  laying 
an  egg. 

When  manager  of  Astley's,  the 
great  Ducrow,  who  shared  the 
hatred  which  his  craft  has 
always  more  or  less  entertained 
towards  the  actor,  was  wont  to 
apostrophise  the  performers  in 
his  equestrian  drama  after  this 
fashion :  ' '  Come,  I  say,  you 
mummers "  (see  Mummkes), 
"  cut  your  cackle,  and  come  to 
the  'osses  1 " 

(Houghs),  talk. 

He  was  dabs  at  the  cackle.— Punch. 

Cackle-chucker  (theatrical),  the 
prompter,  whose  duty  it  is  to 
"  chuck  out"  the  words,  i.e.,  to 
prompt  the  actors  when  they 
forget,  or  don't  know  the  words 
— a  matter  of  rare  occurrence 
amongst  the  hierarchy  of  Eng- 
lish actors.  As  a  rule,  the 
prompter  is  the  hardest  worked 
and  the  worst  paid  man  in  the 


theatre.  Notwithstanding  his 
proverbial  industry  and  ability, 
under  no  concatenation  of  cir- 
cumstances has  a  prompter  ever 
been  known  to  "  give  the 
word"  at  the  precise  moment 
when  it  is  wanted.  One  of  our 
most  famous  stage-managers,  a 
well-known  tragedian,  is  wont 
to  affirm  with  grim  humour  that 
he  has  observed  during  a  pro- 
longed experience  that  the  first 
qualification  for  a  prompter  is 
"  not  to  know  how  to  prompt." 

Cackle  merchant  (theatrical),  the 
author  of  a  play, 

Cackler  (popular),  talker. 

The  captain  was  a  good-looking  fellow, 
and  a  good  fellow,  too.  "  He  ain't  much 
of  a  cackler,"  thought  Susie,  when  they 
had  sat  together  for  a  little  while. — Ally 
aioper's  Half  Holiday. 

(Thieves),  a  fowl;    "prig   of 
cackler,"  one  who  steals  fowls. 

Cackler'sken  (thieves),  hen  roost. 

Cackle-tub  (common),  a  pulpit. 
Very  old  slang,  but  still  in  use. 

"Jack,  he  goes  to  church,"  said  Hass, 
lifting  her  eyebrows  dubiously,  "  I  don't 
rightly  know  to  what  shop,  and  it's  too  far 
off,  maybe,  and  I  ain't  got  a  prayer-book  ; 
but  I  sorter  think  if  yer'U  Iwrrow  Lucy's 
chair  to  wheel  me,  I'll  go  and  sit  under  the 
cackie-titi  in  Little  Uethel  next  Sunday. — 
Savage :  London. 

Cackling-chete  (old  cant),  a  fowl. 

She  has  a  cackling-chete,  a  grunting- 
chete,  ruff  pecke,  cassan  and  poplarr  of 
yarum. —  T.  Hannan:  Caveat. 

i.e.,  "  She  has  a  fowl,  a  pig,  bacon, cheese, 
and  milk  porridge." 


Cackling-cove —  Cadger. 


217 


Cackling  -  cove  (popular  and 
thieves),  an  actor. 

Cackling  farts  (old),  eggs. 

Cad  (common).  The  word  is 
hardly  slaug  in  some  of  its 
senses.  It  has  various  meanings, 
such  as  omnibus  conductor. 

The  spirited  proprietor,  knowing  Mr. 
Barker's  qualifications,  appointed  him  to 
the  vacant  office  of  cad  on  the  very  first 
application. — Sketches  by  Boz  {The  First 
Omnibus  Cad). 

An '  Arry  or  street  boy ;  a  mean 
or  ill-bred  feUow ;  or  one  vulgar 
in  feeling,  to  be  met  with,  like 
the  snob,  in  every  class  of 
society.  Among  a  certain  class, 
tradesmen,  merchants,  work- 
men. 

Thirty  years  ago,  and  even  later,  the 
young  men  of  the  labouring  classes  were 
the  cads,  the  snobs,  the  blackguards. — 
Kingsley:  Alton  Locke. 

At  public  schools  and  uni- 
versities the  term  applies  to 
townsmen.  Possibly  derived 
from  "cadger."  or  Irish  cadas, 
fustian,  rag.  More  probably  from 
cadet,  used  in  a  sense  of  inferi- 
ority. "  Caddee  "  is  a  provincial- 
ism for  under  -  servant,  and  in 
France,  in  the  provinces,  cadet  is 
a  nickname  sometimes  given  to 
a  poor,  half-witted  hanger-on, 
to  a  young  farm-servant,  or  to 
an  ass.  "  Un  fameux  cadet  "  is 
an  expression  used  by  the  French 
in  a  contemptuous  manner, 
and  applied  to  a  puny  fellow 
who  puts  on  airs.  It  has  been 
suggested  that  cad  comes  from 
the  tscotch   cadie,   a  term   for- 


merly applied  to  the  carriers  of 
sedan  -  chairs.  The  character 
and  occupation  of  these  men 
were  regarded  with  much  con- 
tempt. 

Caddy-butcher  (popular),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

The  calf  .  .  .  the  veterinary  surgeon 
had  advised  him  to  sell  it  to  some  caddy- 
butcher,  i.e.,  one  who  buys  horses  to  sell 
for  horse  meat. — Standard. 

Cade,  the  (society),  the  Burlington 
Arcade.  At  certain  times  of  the 
day  this  covered  walk  is  the 
lounge  of  fast  men  of  the  town 
and  the  better  class  of  the  demi- 
monde. 

Cadge  to,  properly  to  beg ;  sup- 
posed to  be  derived  from  cadge, 
a  basket  carried  by  beggars,  in 
the  same  way  that  to   beg  is 

,  from  "  bag,"  originally  to  carry. 
Slangily  applied  to  waiters  who 
hang  about  for  a  gratuity. 

Mr. has,  further,  my  congratulations 

on  the  excellence  of  the  waiters  employed. 
They  are  smart,  don't  cadge,  and  are 
models  of  civility. — Sporting  Times. 

(Scholastic),  to  try  and  get 
pupils  or  hints  by  sneaking 
means. 

Cadge-cloak  (old  cant),  a  beggar. 

Cadge-cloak,  curtal,  or  curmudgeon,  no 
Whip-Jack,  palliard,  patrico  .  .  .  nor  any 
other  will  I  suflfer.  —  Bampfylde  Moore 
Carew. 

Cadger,  properly  a  trickster,  a 
tramp  or  vagabond  who  either 
begs  or  sells  small  articles  by 
the  way  as  he  tramps  from  place 
to  place. 


2l8 


Cadger — Cain. 


The  full  extent  of  the  society's  useful- 
ness, according  to  vulgar  prejudice,  is 
represented  by  the  unfortunate  cadger 
pounced  on  in  the  act  of  receiving  alms, 
and  carried  before  a  magistrate  to  account 
for  that  enormous  iniquity. — ■/.  Greenwood: 
Seven  Curses  of  London. 

Slang  meaning  explained  by 
quotation. 

I  may  here  remark  that  amongst  people 
of  my  born  grade  no  one  is  so  contemptu- 
ously regarded  as  he  who  is  known  as  a 
cadger.  The  meaning  they  set  on  the 
word  is  not  the  dictionary  meaning.  The 
cadger  with  them  is  the  whining  beggar — 
the  cowardly  impostor,  who,  being  driven 
or  finding  it  convenient  to  subsist  on  charity, 
goes  about  his  business  with  an  affectation 
of  profoundest  humility,  and  a  conscious- 
ness of  his  own  unworthiness  ;  a  sneaking, 
abject  wretch,  aiming  to  crop  a  meal  out  of 
the  despising  and  disgust  he  excites  in  his 
fellow-creatures. — /.  Gieeniuood  :  The 
Little  Ragamuffins. 

Cadging',  properly  begging. 

I've  got  my  living  by  casting  fortins,  and 
t'^gg'ngi  and  cadging,  and  such  like. — 
//.  Kingsley :  Geoffrey  Hamlyn. 

I  don't  say  that  they  were  all  beggars — 
probably  not  more  than  a  third  of  ihem 
were — but  what  one  in  vain  looked  for  was 
the  "jolly  beggar,"  the  oft-quoted  and 
steadfastly  believed  in  personage  who 
scorns  work  because  he  can  "  make"  in  a 
day  three  times  the  wages  of  an  honest 
mechanic 'by  the  simple  process  of  caiie;- 
ing.—J.  Greenwood :  In  Strange  Com- 
pany. 

Slangily  applied  to  cabmen 
when  they  are  off  the  rank  solicit- 
ing fares,  or  to  waiters  who  hang 
about  and  fawn  for  a  gratuity. 

Cady  (popular),  a  hat,  from  an 
old  .style  resembling  a  barrel. 
"Cade,"  [)rovincial  English  for  a 
barrel  or  small  cask. 


Caffre's  tightener  (South  African), 
bread  or  food  of  any  kind,  as 
distinguished  from  drink. 

Cagf,  to  (schoolboys),  to  irritate 
(Hotten). 

Cage  (thieves),  a  prison. 

Cagg.to  (military),  to  abstain  for  a 
certain  time  from  liquor.  Grose, 
in  his  "Classical  Dictionary  of 
the  Vulgar  Tongue,"  says,  "  This 
is  a  military  term  used  by  pri- 
vate soldiers,  signifying  a  solemn 
vow  or  resolution  not  to  get 
drunk  for  a  certain  time,  or,  as 
the  term  i.s,  '  not  till  their  cagg 
is  out,'  which  vow  is  commonly 
observed  with  strictness  ;  "  e.g., 
"  I  have  ca(j;/cd  myself  for  six 
months,"  "Excuse  me  this  time 
and  I  will  carjg  for  a  year." 
This  term  is  also  in  use  in  Scot- 
land. 

Cagmag  (popular),  scraps,  odds 
and  ends  of  butcher  meat,  un- 
palatable food  ;  properly  an  old 
goose. 

Cahoot,  in  (American),  to  be  in- 
timately concerned  with  any 
one  in  an  affair.  There  can  be 
little  doubt  that  it  came  from 
either  the  Dutch  Kajiiit  or  Ger- 
man Kajtitc,  or  perhaps  the  same 
in  Old  Saxon,  meaning  a  cabin, 
implying  living  or  messing  to- 
gether. French  cahutc,  a  hovel, 
renders  this  more  probable. 

Cain  and  Abel  (rhyming  slang), 
a  table. 


Cake — Calico. 


219 


Cake  (American  and  provincial 
English),  a  man  without  much 
sense,  or  one  wanting  in  ideas ; 
not  so  much  a  fool  as  a  mere 
nothing.  A  weaker  form  is  ex- 
pressed by  saying,  "  He's  a  cake 
only  half-baked."  This  expres- 
sion is  most  frequently  heard 
in  Philadelphia. 

"  To  take  the  cake,'"  to  sur- 
pass, excel,  to  be  first  in  any- 
thing. This  coincides  oddly, 
though  entirely  accidentally, 
with  a  conjectured  meaning  of 
the  origin  of  Pretzel  {q.  v.). 

He's  always  up  to  doing  folks, 
He's  always  on  the  wake  ; 

He's  after  profit  when  he  jokes, 
On  that  "  he  takes  the  cake." 
— Queer  Bits. 

Cakey  (popular),  soft,  foolish,  or 
empty-headed ;  from  the  pro- 
vincial English  "cake,"  a  foolish 
fellow. 

Cakey  -  pannum  -  fencer  (street ) , 
a  street  pastry-cook. 

Calaboose  (American),  from  the 
Spanish  calabozo,  the  common 
name  for  a  watch  -  house  or 
prison,  especially  in  New  Or- 
leans. 

I  went  on  board  de  oder  day, 
To  hear  wot  de  boatmen  had  to  say, 
Den  I  let  my  passion  loose, 
An'  dey  jammed  me  fast  in  de  calahjose. 
— Negro  Song. 

Calculate,  to  (American).  Al- 
though it  cannot  be  denied 
that  many  people  in  New  Eng- 
land often  use  the  word  calculate 
as  a  synonym  for  "guess,"  to 


express  every  form  of  thought, 
such  as  "to  esteem,  suppose, 
believe,  think,  expect,  intend," 
&c.,  this  is  far  from  being  uni- 
versally the  case.  Calculation 
sets  forth  a  more  deliberate  ac- 
tion of  the  mind,  and  is  more 
associated  with  thought.  A 
Yankee  will  generally  calculate 
the  chances  of  anything,  when 
he  would  not  guess  them.  Calc'- 
late,  which  is  nothing  but  the 
result  of  rapid  conversation, 
may  be  heard  in  England  as  in 
America. 

Calf  (common),  an  idiotic  or 
stupid  person  ;  calf-  headed, 
cowardly. 

She  had  a  girlish  fancy  for  the  good- 
looking  young  ca//'  who  had  so  signally 
disgraced  himself.  —  Hamilton  AieU: 
Morals  and  Mysteries. 

Calf-clingers  (popular),  explained 
by  quotation. 

Knee-breeches  were  just  going  out  of 
fashion  when  I  was  a  little  boy,  and  calf- 
clingers  (that  is,  trousers  made  to  fit  the 
leg  as  tight  as  a  worsted  stocking)  were 
"coming  in."—/.  Greenwood :  Tlie  Little 
RagariiiiJJijis. 

Calf's-head  (popular),  a  white- 
faced  man  with  a  large  head. 

Calico  (common),  weak,  lean. 

In  such  a  place  as  that  your  calico  body 
had  need  have  a  good  fire  to  keep  it  warm. 
— Nathanael  Bailey  :  Colloquies  0/ Eras- 
mus, Translated. 

How  a  shrewd,  down-east  Yankee  once 
questioned  a  simple  Dutchman  out  of  his 
well-fed  steed,  and  left  him  instead  a 
vile  calico-rm.tc  in  exchange. — Sala  :  The 
Seven  Sons  0/ Mammon. 


220 


Calico-bally —  Calp. 


Calico-bally  (American),  a  fre- 
quenter of  calico-balls.  About 
fifty  years  ago  in  Philadelphia 
it  was  usual  to  speak  of  balls 
frequented  by  factory  girls  as 
"slewers,"  and  the  commoner 
kind  of  grisettes  as  calico  or 
dollar  balls;  hence  calico-bally 
has  come  to  signify,  when  ap- 
plied to  a  young  gentleman 
dissipated  or  fast,  one  who  goes 
anywhere  for  amusement. 

I  once  was  a  cobby  and  hack  young  man, 

And  a  little  bit  calico-bally ; 
A  picture-card-out-of-the-pack  young  man, 

And  frequently  music-hally. 

— Concert  Hall  Song. 

Calico  yard  (Australian),  a  kind  of 
corral.  The  expression  is  used 
by  drovers. 

California,  Califomians,  money. 
Term  generally  applied  to  gold 
only  (Hotten). 

Call  (theatrical),  big  call,  a  warm 
recall  before  the  curtain. 
Charley  played  with  all  his  old  anima- 
tion and  grace,  and  got  a  big  call. — George 
K.  Sims :  Ba  !  Ha  ! 

To  call  a  piece  is  to  have  it 
brought  on  in  rehearsal  after 
a  first  performance  with  a  view 
to  alterations. 

(American),  to  have  the  call, 
to  be  preferred,  have  the  chance, 
to  be  wanted. 

Tall  girls  have  the  call  now.  They  are  the 
fashion  this  season. — Detroit  Tribune. 

Call-a-go  (street  patter),  to  leave 
off  trying  to  sell  anything  and 
to  remove  to  another  spot,  to 
dchiiit.  Also  to  give  in,  yield 
at  any  game  or  business.     Pro- 


bably from  the  go  in  cribbage 
(Hotten), 

Calle  (American  thieves'  slang), 
a  woman's  gown.  German  He- 
brew kcdlc,  a  girl. 

Callee  (pidgin  -  English),  curry. 
"  No  can  chaw-chaw  t'at  cdUee." 

Callithumpian,  Calliathumpian 
serenade  (American),  a  sere- 
nade after  the  fashion  of  a  cha- 
rivari, in  which  old  kettles  with 
sticks,  gridirons,  cows'  horns 
or  tin  horns,  penny  trumpets, 
or  anything  that  will  make  a 
horrible  and  discordant  sound  is 
employed.  It  is  possibly  from 
the  Yiddish  callc,  a  bride,  and 
means  bride-thumping  or  mak- 
ing a  noine  at  a  bridal,  or  from 
"  call "  and  "  thump." 

Hartmann  got  married.  .  .  .  Hart- 
mann's  neighbours  thought  it  would  be 
a  bright  thing  to  give  him  a  calliat/titm- 
/>ian  serenade  .  .  .  occasion.  So  they 
got  under  his  window  and  blowed  and 
snorted,  and  rung  their  dinner-bells,  and 
brayed  on  their  bark  horns  till  there  was  a 
pause.  Then  Hartmann  stuck  his  head 
outen  the  winder  and  said  :  "  Friends, 
Romans,  and  fellow-citizens  !  I  thank  you 
for  the  honour  of  this  musical  treat,  which 
I  suppose  to  your  ears  is  as  good  a  one  as 
can  be  given.  But  it  wants  one  thing.  It 
lacks  the  exhilarating  tones  of  the  shot- 
gun, an'  there  it  is,  d n  you  !"   Saying 

this,  he  fired  two  barrels  of  small  shot 
among  'em,  and  they  scattered.  The  sere- 
nade  was  over. — Phil.  Hartmann  and 
the  Boys. 

Call-party  (bar),  given  in  hall  by 
.students  called  to  the  bar  in  the 
Middle  Temple. 

Calp,  Kelp  (old  cant),  a  hat. 


Cambra — Canard. 


221 


Cambra  (tinker),  a  dog. 

Camden-town  (rhyming  slang), 
a  "  brown  "  or  halfpenny. 

Camel's  complaint  (city),  the 
hump,  i.e.,  low  spirits. 

Camesa  (thieves),  a  shirt  or 
chemise.  From  the  Spanish  or 
Italian.  Written  also  kemesa,  as 
appears  from  the  following 
quotation. 

My  thimble  of   ridge    and    my  driz 

ketnesa, 
All  my  togs  were  so  niblike  and  plash. 
— A  insworth  :  Rookwood. 

Camister  (popular),  a  clergy- 
man, from  his  wearing  a  white 
gown ;  "  camisated,"  i.e.,  one 
who  is  dressed  with  a  shirt  out- 
ward. 

Camp,  to  (Australian),  to  floor,  to 
put  down.  The  metaphor  here 
is  the  same  as  to  "make,"  to 
"  take  a  back  seat ;  "  to  cartif,  to 
make  to  camp,  implying  that 
your  rival  cannot  stand  up  to 
you.  According  to  Wright  camp 
is  a  provincialism  meaning  to 
contend,  from  the  Anglo-Saxon 
cempan. 

At  punching  oxen  you  may  guess 
There's  nothing  out  can  caiii^  him  ; 

He  has,  in  fact,  the  slouch  and  dress 
Which  bullock -driver  stamp  him. 
— //.  Kendall:  Billy  Vickers. 

Camp  candlesticks  (military), 
empty  bottles  and  bayonet.s, 
from  the  fact  that  in  the  exi- 
gencies of  military  life  these 
articles  are  often  used  for  the 
purpose. 


Camp-horse  (Australian).  This 
term,  peculiar  to  the  East,  is 
thus  explained  by  Mr.  Finch 
Hatton : — 

Both  my  brother  and  Frank  were  very 
sound  hands  at  cutting  out,  and  they  were 
both  riding  first-rate  "camp-horses,"  so  I 
watched  them  at  work  wiih  the  greatest 
interest.  A  camp-)wrse  is  one  used  for 
cutting  out  cattle  on  a  camp,  and  very  few 
horses  are  good  at  it ;  but  the  performance 
of  a  really  first-class  one  is  a  sight  worth 
seeing.  Each  man  picks  his  beast,  and 
edges  him  gently  to  the  outside  of  the 
mob,  on  the  side  of  the  camp  nearest  the 
draft-mob.  The  instant  the  animal  finds 
itself  cut  off  from  the  c.imp,  it  makes  the 
most  desperate  efforts  to  rejoin  the  herd, 
and  the  speed  at  which  a  bullock  can 
travel,  and  the  activity  with  which  he 
turns,  are  marvellous. — Fitich  Hatton  : 
Advance  Australia. 

Can  (American),  a  dollar ;  a 
"  canary  "  was  very  old  English 
slang  for  a  gold  coin.  A  gold- 
piece  is  also  called  a  "canary- 
bird  "  in  New  York. 


Canard,  now  recognised.  French 
canard,  literally  duck,  and  meta- 
phorically false  news.  The 
first  canard  is  said  to  have 
been  the  famous  story  illus- 
trating the  voracity  of  ducks. 
Thirty  ducks  were  taken,  one 
was  chopped  up  fine,  feathers 
and  all,  and  the  others  ate  it. 
Then  a  second  was  minced,  and 
.so  on,  till  within  an  hour  only  one 
duck  remained.  Three  similar 
stories  are  told  by  a  French 
writer  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
term.  Hence  canarder,  to  hum- 
bug or  spin  yarns.  "  Donner 
des  canards"  is  given  in  Hautel's 


222 


Canard — Canister. 


Dictionary  ( 1 808)  with  the  mean- 
ing of  to  deceive. 

"  My  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Snaggs  to  her 
husband,  "what  is  a  canard V  "Why, 
a  canard  is  something  one  canardly 
believe,  of  course."  "Oh,  to  be  sure! 
Why  couldn't  I  think  of  that?"— A'ar« 
Bits. 

The  announcement  that  appearefl  in 
these  columns,  to  the  effect  that  in  future 
no  advertisements  from  persons  offering  to 
give  tips  would  be  accepted  by  us,  has 
given  rise  to  the  usual  canards,  and  has 
brought  into  play  the  imaginative  faculties 
of  the  "London  Correspondent." — SJiort- 
ing  Titnes. 

Canary  (old),  a  sovereign,  from  the 
colour.     French  argot,  jaunet. 

Canary-bird  (common),  a  mis- 
tress.    (Thieves),  a  prisoner. 

Candle  keepers  (Winchester  Col- 
lege), the  inferiors  (all  those 
who  are  not  prefects)  who  have 
been  longest  in  the  .school  have 
certain  privileges,  as  wearing  a 
"cow-shooter,"  or  round-top- 
ped hat.  They  used  to  be  called 
"jolly  keepers." 

Candlestick  (Winchester  College), 
a  corruption  of  candidate.  Those 
who  go  in  for  the  college  entrance 
examination  are  termed  candle- 
sticks. 

Candlesticks  (London),  the  foun- 
tains at  Trafalgar  Square. 

There  was  his  pillar  (Nelson's)  at 
Charinc-Cross,  just  by  the  candlesticks 
(fountains). — Mayhew:  London  Labour 
and  tlic  London  Poor. 

Candy-pull  (American),  a  candy- 
pull  is  ;i  party  of  botli  sexes  at 
which  molasses  orsucraris  boiled 


and  pulled  by  two  persons  (whose 
hands  are  buttered)  to  give  it 
proper  consistency,  and  then 
mixed  and  pulled  again,  till  it 
becomes  true  candy.  The  term 
is  used  in  slang  in  many  ways. 

The  good  old-fashioned  amusement 
known  as  a  candy -pull  has  had  more  or  less 
of  a  revival  in  society  this  season.  What- 
ever the  time  of  its  first  advent,  it  was 
quite  popular  about  twenty  years  ago  as  a 
society  entertainment,  but  it  seemed  to  run 
its  course  and  died  away.  At  that  period 
candy-pulls  were  given  in  some  of  the  most 
aristocratic  mansions  on  Fifth  Avenue,  and 
the  rollicking  scenes  were  oftentimes  quite 
democratic  in  the  fun,  however  full-dressed 
might  have  been  their  presentation. — 
Brooklyn  Eagle. 

Cane  (common),  "to lay  Cawe upon 
Abel ;  "  to  beat  with  a  cane. 

Cane  nigger  (West  Indian),  a 
happy-go-lucky  fellow,  one  de- 
void of  care  and  anxiety.  From 
the  circumstance  that  in  "cane 
time  "  the  negroes  are  fat  and 
happy.  As  "fat  as  a  nigger  in 
cane  time"  has  become  pro- 
verbial in  Antigua. 

Caners  (fashionable).  In  the 
summer  of  1886,  at  several 
watering-places,  almost  every 
young  lady  carried  a  cane.  It 
was  originally  an  American 
fancy. 

Canister  (common),  a  hat ;  also 
"  canister  cap." 

Turning  round,  I  saw  my  unfortunate 
bciver,  or  canister,  as  it  w.-is  called  by  the 
gentry  who  had  it  in  their  keeping,  tx)und- 
ing  backwards  and  forwards. — Atkin: 
House  Scraps. 

(rugilistic),  the  head. 


Cank — Canoodler. 


223 


Cank  (old),  dumb,  silent. 

Cannibals  (Cambridge),  the  train- 
ing -  boats  for  the  'Cambridge 
freshmen  or  the  rowers  them- 
selves. 

Cannis-cove  (American),  a  dog- 
fancier.  A  word  current  in  New 
York.  In  Dutch  thieves'  slang 
the  Latin  word  canis  is  used 
for  a  dog,  but,  as  the  accent 
falls  on  the  last  syllable,  it  is 
thought  to  be  derived  from  the 
French  caw/c/te.  This  is  the  more 
probable  as  the  Dutch  word  is 
limited  to  small  dogs. 

Cannon  (turf),  the  collision  of  two 
horses  during  a  race  ;  from  bil- 
liards. Apparently  on  the  lucus 
a  non  principle,  the  jockey  bear- 
ing this  name  (Thomas  Cannon) 
is  celebrated  for  his  scrupulous 
and  honourable  avoidance  of 
such  a  mishap. 

(Common),  to  cannon,  to  come 
into  collision.  French  slang 
caramboler,  literally  to  make  a 
cannon  at  billiards. 

Roaring  with  pain  and  terror,  the  boy 
cannoned  into  the  very  hand  of  a  police- 
man, who  seized  him. — Shirley  Brooks  : 
Sooner  or  Later. 

Canon  (thieves),  drunk. 

One  night  I  was  with  the  mob,  I  got 
canon  (drunk),  this  being  the  first  time. 
After  this,  wlien  I  used  to  go  to  concert- 
rooms,  I  used  to  drink  beer. — Horsley : 
Jottinssfroju  Jail. 

Canon,  literally  having  used 
the  "  can  "  freely. 

The  French  slang  for  a  glass 
of    wine    is    canon.       Canonner 


is  to  drink  wine  at  a  wine-shop, 
or  to  be  an  habitual  tippler; 
and  se  canonner  is  to  get  drunk. 
Cannon  is  a  very  common  word 
in  German  for  a  drinking-cup. 
Hence  he  is  "  canonised,"  he  is 
"  shot,"  i.e.,  he  is  drunk.  "  Er 
ist  geschossen "  (Korte  Pro- 
verbs). The  word  is  naturally 
confused  with  can,  German 
Kaune,  a  tankard,  and  canon- 
enstiefel,  or  "cannon"  (i.e.,  long 
boots),  which  are  a  common  pat- 
tern for  tankards. 

Who  will  not  empty  his  boots  hke  a  can, 
He  is  indeed  no  German  man. 

— Comtiion  Saying. 

Canoodle,  to  (English  and  Ameri- 
can), to  fondle,  pet,  dally,  bill 
and  coo. 

I  meet  her  in  the  evening,  for  she  likes  to 
take- a  walk 
At  the  moment  when  the  moon  cavorts 
above, 
And  we  prattle  and  canoodle,  and  of  every- 
thing we  talk. 
Except,  of  course,  that   naughty  topic 
love. 

— Bird  0'  Freedom. 

Possibly  from  "cannie,"  gentle. 

Canoodler  (American),  explained 
by  quotation. 

"  Pray,  good  sir,  what  is  a  canoodler?" 
"  Tell  you,  mum,  queer  business,  mum, 
but  prosperous,  money — heaps  of  it,  mum, 
for  you  and  me" — and  he  winked  signifi- 
cantly, ierked  up  a  chair  and  squatted  in 
it,  all  in  a  breath.  .  .  .  Undeterred,  he 
rattled  on  :  "  I'm  an  original  thinker,  mum. 
Invent  business  opportunities.  Share'm 
with  actors,  and  then  we  canoodle — divvy 
the  profits.  Me  and  Sheridan  made  a  big 
thing  on  the  Japanese  advertising  screen 
in  'School  for  Scandal.'  Big  thing." — 
Green  Room  Jokes. 


224 


Cant — Cape. 


Cant  (pugilistic),  blow,  a  "  cant  on 
the  chops,"  a  blow  on  the  face, 
(Tramps),  explained  by  quota- 
tion. 

We  broke  one  window  because  the  hou?:e 
was  good  for  a  carti — that's  some  food — 
bread  or  meat,  and  they  wouldn't  give  it 
us. — Mayhcw  :  London  Labour  and  the 
London  Poor. 

Also  a  gift,  as  a  "  cant  of  togs," 
a  gift  of  clothing.  In  these 
senses,  from  cant,  to  divide,  as 
used  by  Jusser,  p.  278.  Hence 
cant,  a  sham. 

(Thieves),  to  cant  the  cues, 
to  explain  a  matter,  to  tell  a 
story. 

"  But  cant  us  the  cues.  AVhat  was  the 
job?"  "A  pinch  for  an  emperor's  slang. 
We  touched  his  leather  too,  but  it  was  very 
lathy."— C«  tJu  Trail. 

Canteen  (South  African),  a  road- 
side tavern ;  natives  often  call 
all  kinds  of  drink  canteen. 

Canteen  medal  (army),  a  good 
conduct  stripe  which  is  gained 
by  absence  from  the  defaulters' 
book.  The  illusion  implies  that 
the  bearer  owes  his  stripe  rather 
to  a  strong  head  than  good  re- 
solution to  keep  away  from  the 
canteen. 

Canticle  (old  slang),  a  parish 
clerk. 

Can't  say  National  Intelligencer 

(American),  equivalent  to  saying 
"  he  is  drunk,"  it  l)cing  held 
that  no  one  who  is  not  sober  can 
pronounce  Ihe  name  of  this  very 
old  and  respectable  Washing- 
ton   newspaper.       There    is    a 


story  in  which  the  phrase  ori- 
ginated— or  which  originated 
from  it,  to  the  effect  that  a 
father  in  Washington  who  had 
a  dissipated  son,  always  obliged 
him  when  he  returned  home  at 
night  to  submit  to  this  test.  If 
he  said  Nacial  InteUencer,  he 
was  obliged  to  sleep  in  the  hay- 
loft of  the  stable. 

Canuck  (American),  a  Canadian. 
The  origin  of  this  word  appears 
to  be  unknown.  The  derivation 
from  Connauglit,  an  Irishman, 
is  far-fetched  and  doubtful. 
It  may  be  possibly  the  first 
syllable  of  Canada,  with  an  In- 
dian termination,  but  this  is 
mere  conjecture.  Uc  or  vq'  is 
a  common  Algcnkin  ending  to 
nouns.  It  is  probably  an  Indian 
word  modified. 

Canvasseens  (nautical),  sailors' 
canvas  trousers. 

Canvas  town  (popular),  the  por- 
tion of  Wimbledon  Common 
occupied  by  the  Hags  of  the 
rifiemen  when  encamped  there 
— within  the  flags. 

Cap  (thieves),  a  false  cover  to  a 
tossing  coin.  To  cap,  to  assist 
as  a  confederate,  especially  of 
cardsharpers.  See  CArrER. 
(Universities),  to  cap  the  quad- 
rangle, to  cross  the  area  of  the 
college,  cap  in  hand,  in  reverence 
to  the  "  fellows"  who  sometimes 
walk  there. 

Cape  cod  turkey  (American),  salt 
fish.  In  tlie  same  way  a  "  Yar- 
mouth capon  "  is  a  bloater. 


Capella —  Cap . 


225 


Capella  (theatrical),  a  coat.  From 
the  Italian. 

Capeovi  (coster),  sick,  seedy. 

Caper  (American),  a  device,  idea, 
or  invention. 

Langtry  and  Daly  worked  the  Chinese 
Boy,  but  the  Arab  is  a  change,  and  then 
this  trap  caper  knocks  the  newspaper 
fiends  silly. — New  York  Morning  Jour- 
nal. 

"  The  proper  cajper,"  the  last 
fashionable  fancy,  the  latest 
"  comme  ilfaut  device." 

Mind-reading  is  now  the  proper  caper. 
"  Take  hold  of  my  left  hand  and  tell  me 
what  I'm  thinking  of,"  said  the  head  of 
the  family  to  his  confiding  spouse.  "Oh, 
yes,"  said  she,  grasping  his  hand  convul- 
sively, "  you  are  thinking  about  taking  me 
to  hear  Patti."  She  had  to  guess  again. — 
Boston  Herald. 

(Streets),  device,  occupation 

for  a  living. 

"  Are  you  goin' a  tottin' ? "  "No."  .  .  . 
"Then  what  caper  are  you  up  to?" — 
Greenwood :  The  Little  Ragatnuffins. 

Caper-sauce  (common),  to  "  cut 
caper-sauce"  to  be  hanged. 

Capers  (thieves),   "merchant  of 
capers,'"  a  dancer. 

And  my  father,  as  I've  heard  say. 

Fake  away  ! 
Was  a  merchant  of  capers  gay, 
Who  cut  his  last  fling  with  great  applause. 
Nix  my  doll  pals,  fake  away  ! 

— A  insworth  ;  Rookwood. 

Also  caper  merchant. 

Capper   (American   thieves),   ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

Gamblers  are  called  knights  of  the  green 
cloth,  and  their  lieutenants,  who  are  sent 
out  after  greenhorns,  are  called  decoys, 
cappers,  and  steerers. — Xexv  York  Slang 
Dictionary'. 


Capper-clawing  (popular),  a  fight 
between  females. 

Captain  Copperthome's  crew 
(old  slang),  where  every  one 
wishes  to  rule  the  roast,  or  to 
take  command. 

Captain  Crank  (old  cant),  head  of 
a  gang  of  highwaymen. 

Captain  Hackum  (old  slang),  a 
blustering  bully,  a  Bombastes 
Furioso. 

Captain  lieutenant  (old  slang), 
the  flesh  of  an  old  calf,  meat 
that  was  neither  veal  nor  beef. 
This  phrase  was  of  military 
origin,  and  was  a  simile  drawn 
from  the  officer  of  that  deno- 
mination. These  men,  while 
ranking  as  captains,  only  drew 
the  pay  of  a  lieutenant,  and 
though  not  full  captains  were 
above  the  lieutenants. 

Captain  Queernabs  (old  slang),  a 
man  who  was  shabbily  dressed 
and  ill-conditioned. 

Captain  Sharp  (old  slang),  a 
cheat,  blackleg,  or  common 
swindler. 

Captain  Tom  (old  slang),  the 
ringleader  of  a  mob.  Some- 
times also  the  mob  itself  was  so 
called. 

Cap  your  lucky  (American 
thieves),  run  away. 

Cap  your  skin,  to  (thieves),  to 
stri^j  naked. 

P 


226 


Caravan — Carney. 


Caravan  (old  slang),  a  large 
sum  of  money,  also  a  person 
swindled  out  of  a  large  amount. 
(Pugilistic),  a  railway  train,  es- 
pecially a  train  expressly  char- 
tered to  convey  people  to  a 
prize  fight  (Hotten). 

Caravanserai  (pugilistic),  a  rail- 
way station. 

Carcoon  (Anglo-Indian),  a  clerk, 
from  the  Mahratta  hdrkan,  a 
clerk  (Anglo-Indian  Glossary). 

My  benefactor's  chief  carcoon  allowed 
me  to  sort  out  and  direct  despatches  to 
officers  at  a  distance  who  belonged  to  the 
command. — Pandurang  Hari. 

Card  (popular),  a  character.  A 
man  may  be  a  knowing,  a  downy, 
rum,  or  shifting  card,  or  queer 
sort  of  card,  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. 

Mr.  Thomas  Potter,  whose  great  aim  it 
was  to  be  considered  as  a  knowing  card, 
a  fast  goer,   and  so  forth. — Sketches  by 
Boz. 
The  last  time  that  he  got  run  in, 

Is  days  about  a  week, 
And,  on  the  charge  of  drunkenness, 

Was  brought  before  the  beak  ; 
He  chaffed  the  magistrate  and  said, 

"  You  are  a  rum  old  card!" 
So  forty  shillings  he  was  fined, 
Or  else  a  month  with  hard. 
— G.  Iloriicastle :  The  Frying  Pan. 

(Common),  a  device,  under- 
taking. A  strong  card,  an  un- 
dertaking likely  to  succeed.  On 
the  cards,  likely,  probable. 

Cardinal  (American),  a  lobster ; 
curdiwxl  hash,  lobster  salad 
(New  York  Slang  Dictionary). 

(Old),  a  lady's  red  cloak.  Now 
mulled  red  wine. 


Cargo  (Winchester),  explained  by 
quotation. 

Scholars  may  supplement  their  fare  with 
jam,  potted  meats  ...  or,  better  still, 
from  the  contents  oi cargoes,  i.e.,  hampers 
from  home. — Everyday  Life  in  our  Public 
Schools. 

Carler  (New  York  thieves),  a 
clerk. 

Carlicues,  curlicues  (American), 
lively  tricks,  capers.  The  deri- 
vation from  curly  and  cue  seems 
to  be  due  to  a  mere  resemblance 
in  sound,  and  an  arbitrary  com- 
bination. Bartlett  suggests  cara- 
cole  (French),  anagrams  being 
common  in  colloquial  language. 
The  old  word  carle-cat,  or  carli- 
cat,  a  male  cat  or  kitten,  may 
have  influenced  the  formation 
of  carlicues. 

Carnes  (popular),  to  heap  up  ca- 
resses, flatteries,  compliments, 
and  blandishments,  with  the 
view  of  deceiving  the  persons 
on  whom  they  are  lavished.  The 
derivation  is  from  came  or  cairn, 
a  heap  or  pile  of  stones.  A 
similar  idea  led  to  the  use  of 
the  phrase,  "pile  up  the  agony." 
The  word  is  also  "  carmes,"  evi- 
dently from  the  g3'psy  Mvis, 
often  pronounced  harms,  mean- 
ing loves,  likes,  pets,  &c.  A 
kcim  or  harm,  which  is  nearer 
to  the  Sanskrit,  is  a  desire,  a 
love,  &c. 

Carney,  flattery,  hypocritical  lan- 
guage. Supposed  to  be  of  Irish 
origin.    To  carncy  or  come  the 


Camish — Carrion-hunter. 


227 


covmey,  to  flatter,  wheedle,  in- 
sinuate oneself. 

Camish  (thieves),  meat,  from  the 
Italian  came;  carnish-ken,  a 
thieves'  eating-house.  In  the 
French  argot  "  came  "  is  tough 
meat. 

Carob  (tinker),  to  cut. 

Caroon  (costermongers),  five  shil- 
lings.   Possibly  from  the  Italian 


Carpet  (common),  to  be  called 
upon  the  carpet,  or  to  be  car- 
peted, to  be  scolded,  reprimand- 
ed, to  have  to  give  an  account 
of  one's  self. 

Poor  Percy  was  often  carpeted,  and  as 
often  he  promised  amendment. — Mark 
Letnon :  Golden  Fetters. 

What  looked  to  most  people  like  a  mis- 
carriage of  justice  occurred  in  connection 
with  the  August  Handicap,  won  by- 
Rhythm.  George  Barrett,  who  rode  the 
second,  was  carpeted,  on  the  complaint  of 
the  apprentice  Allsopp  (inspired  by  his 
master),  for  foul  riding. — Sporting  Times. 

(Masonic),  the  painting  repre- 
senting the  emblems  of  a  degree. 

Carpet-bagger  (popular),  a  term 
introduced  from  America.  A 
man  who  seeks  election  in  a 
place  with  which  he  has  no 
connection  (T.  L.  0.  Davies). 

Other  ca;^«i-ia^^«rj,  as  political  knights- 
errant  unconnected  with  the  localities  are 
called,  have  had  unpleasant  receptions. — 
Guardian  Newspaper. 

Synonymous    with  carpet-bag 
politician. 

Wright  gives  the  definition : 


Carpet-bagger,  an  opprobrious 
appellation  applied  to  a  resident 
of  one  of  the  Northern  States, 
who  after  the  Civil  War  of 
1861-65  removed  to  the  South 
for  temporary  residence,  and 
the  promotion  of  personal  and 
selfish  ends. 

Carpet-bag  recruit  (army),  one  of 
the  better  class  who  joins  with 
his  baggage,  with  other  clothes 
in  fact  than  those  in  which  he 

stands. 

Carpet-swab  (popular),  carpet- 
bag. 

A  little  gallows-looking  chap  .  .  .  with 
a  carpet-swab  and  mucking  togs. — In- 
goldsby  Legends. 

Carpet  tom-cat  (military),  an 
officer  who  shows  much  atten- 
tion to,  and  spends  a  great  deal 
of  his  time  in  the  company  of 
ladies. 

Carrier  (old),  a  tell-tale.  (Thieves), 
a  rogue  employed  to  look  out 
and  watch  upon  roads,  at 
taverns,  &c.,  in  order  to  carry 
information  to  his  gang. 

Carrier-pigeon  (thieves),  a  swin- 
dler, one  who  formerly  used  to 
cheat  lottery  office-keepers ;  now 
used  among  betting-men  to  de- 
scribe one  who  runs  from  place 
to  place  with  commissions 
(Hotten). 

Carrion  case  (popular),  a  shirt,  a 
shift. 

Carrion-hunter  (old  cant),  an  un- 
dertaker. 


228 


Carrots — Casa. 


Carrots,  carroty-nob  (common), 
applied  to  a  red-haired  person. 

"  Here,  one  of  you  boys — you.  Carrots 
— run  to  the  'Compasses'  and  tell  Mr. 
Kiddy  he's  wanted."  A  sharp,  red-haired 
lad  darted  off  with  the  message. — Mark 
Lenwn  :  Loaied  at  Last. 

Carry,  to  (old  cant),  to  carry  the 
keg  is  said  of  one  easily  angered. 
An  allusion  to  fiery  spirits. 

Carry  com,  to  (common),  to  bear 
success  well  and  equally.  It  is 
said  of  a  man  who  breaks  down 
under  a  sudden  access  of  wealth 
— a  successful  horse-racing  man 
and  unexpected  legatees  often 
do — or  who  becomes  so  affected 
and  intolerant,  that  "  he  doesn't 
carry  corn  well "  (Hotten). 

Carry  me  out  I  (American),  an 
expression  of  incredulity  or 
aflfected  disgust.  It  implies 
feeling  faint  and  requiring  to  be 
carried  out  into  the  fresh  air. 
It  would  be  called  forth  by  a  bad 
pun,  or  an  impossible  story,  or 
"blowing;"  often  preceded  by 
"oh,  good  night,"  and  some- 
times intensified  by  the  addition 
of  "  and  leave  me  in  the  gutter." 

Carry  on,  to  (common),  to  make 
love  to,  to  flirt  openly. 

Also  to  joke  a  person  to  excess, 
to  have  a  groat  spree,  to  be 
lively  or  arrogant,  or  act  in  any 
out  of  the  way  manner. 

There  is  a  time  in  the  life  of  every  young 
lady  whtn  she  feels  like  carrying^  on.  No 
matter  how  modest,  and  pious,  and  truly 
good  a  girl  may  be,  a  day  comes  when  she 
feels  like  doing  something  ridiculous,  and 
creating  a  great  laugh.  — A'm/ </  Fn-cJoiu. 


Cart  (turf),  an  owner  is  said  to  be 
"  in  the  cart"  or  carted,  when  his 
horse  is  prevented  winning  by 
some  fraud  on  the  part  of  those 
in  his  employment.  Instances 
are  not  wanting  where  the  pub- 
lic have  been  put  "  in  the  cart  " 
by  an  owner  who  resents  their 
interference  with  his  field  of 
speculation. 

(City.)  When  two  or  three 
fellows  are  playing  at  dominoes 
or  cards,  the  one  who  has  the 
lowest  score  but  one,  at  any 
moment  of  the  game,  is  said  to  be 
"  in  the  cart."  The  lowest  score 
is  called  "  on  the  tail-board." 

Also  race-course  :  "  traversed 
the  cart,"  walked  over  the 
course. 

Carted  (old),  signified  taken  to 
execution  or  whipped  at  the 
cart's  tail. 

Carts  (popular),  a  pair  of  shoes ; 
also  "  crab  shells." 

Cart-wheel  (thieves),  five-shilling 
piece.  French  slang  has  roue  de 
dcrrUre  for  a  five-franc  piece. 

Carvel  (New  York  thieves),  jea- 
lous. Probably  meaning  also  in 
love  or  wooing  ;  from  carve,  to 
make  love  f  o.     Vide  Halliwell. 

Ca-sa  (legal),  a  writ  of  capias  ad 
satisfaciendum. 

Casa,  caser,  carser  (costcrmon- 
gors  and  ncL:;ro  minstrels),  a 
house,  Italian.  (Theatrical),  a 
house.  French  slang  has  case 
with  (lie  .same  signification. 


Cascade —  Cat. 


229 


C^cade  or  hang  out  (theatrical), 
scenic  effect  at  conclusion  of 
scene  or  performance.  (Popu- 
lar), to  cascade,  to  vomit. 

Case  (American),  a  dollar,  good 
or  bad.  In  England  a  bad 
crown  piece.  Hebrew,  Icesef, 
silver,  ^103  ;  hence  kasch,  a  head- 
piece (i.e.,  a  coin),  and  the  Yid- 
dish caser,  a  crown. 

(Tailors),  "case  of  pickles,"  a 
hopeless  case;  "  he  is  the  greatest 
case  evermore,"  he  is  the  worst 
man  known,  or,  he  is  a  most 
remarkable  individual. 

(Old),  a  brothel.  Also  a  water- 
closet.     (Thieves),  a  house. 

Caser  (thieves),  explained  by 
quotation.     Vicle  Case. 

So  one  morning  I  found  I  did  not 
have  more  than  a  caser  (five  shillings).  — 
Horsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Cask  (society),  a  brougham. 

Cass,  cassan  (thieves  and  roughs), 
cheese.  From  the  Italian  iaclo. 
It  is  remarkable  that  this,  the 
oldest  slang  for  cheese,  is  still 
current  among  thieves  in  New 
York.  It  is  found  in  nearly  all 
the  Latin,  Teutonic,  and  Celtic 
languages.  In  old  cant,  casson. 
It  is  generally  supposed  to  have 
been  introduced  by  the  gypsies. 

Here's  ruffpeck  and  cassons,  and  all  of 

the  best, 
And   scraps   of  the   dainties   of  gentry 

cofe's  feast. 

— Broome :  Jo7'ial  Crew. 

Cassan.     See  Cass. 

C  a  s  s  i  e  (printers),  wrinkled, 
stained,  or  outside  sheets  of 
paper.      Old  provincial,   cassen, 


cast  oflF.  From  casse,  to  dis- 
charge, cashier.  Latin,  cassare, 
to  break. 

Cast  (popular).  Men  in  small 
boats  who  want  to  be  towed 
behind  steamers  say  "  give  us 
a  cast"  (Hotten). 

Castieau's    hotel  (Australian 

thieves'  patter),  the  Melbourne 
jail,  so  called  from  Mr.  J.  B. 
Castieau,  the  governor  of  the 
Melbourne  jail. 

He  "caught"  a  month  and  had  to 
"white  it  out"  at  "  diamond -cracking " 
in  Castieau's  hotel.  —  The  Australian 
Printer's  Keejsake. 

Castle -rag  (rhyming  slang),  a 
"  flag  "  or  fourpence. 

Cast-offs  (nautical),  landsmen's 
clothes. 

Castor  (common),  a  bicycle.  Pro- 
perly a  small  wheel. 

Mr.  C ,  who  being  driven  by  a  lady 

whose  carriage  was  molested  by  cads  on 
castors,  climbed  solemnly  down,  and  .  .  . 
administered  a  well  -  deserved  collective 
hiding  to  the  crowd. — Sporting  Times. 

Cast  up  one's  account,  to.  Vide 
Account^:. 

Casual  (common),  a  tramp  or 
poor  man,  who  seeks  shelter 
at  night  at  a  workhouse. 

I  have,  at  the  risk  of  shocking  the  reader 
of  delicate  sensibilities,  quoted  at  full  the 
terms  ui  which  my  ruffianly  casual chsiuxhtr 
fellow  delivered  himself  of  his  opinion  as 
to  the  power  of  "  cheek  "  illimitable. — 
/.  Greenwood :  Seven  Curses  0/ London. 

Cat  (popular),  a  drunken,  fighting 
prostitute.  'iYic  jtudendum f.  In 
French,  chat.    Generally  termed 


230 


Cat — Catch  bet. 


by  girls  "  pussy."  Also  contemp- 
tuously applied  to  a  woman, 

(Society),  "an  old  cat,"  an 
old  lady  of  malicious  disposi- 
tion, who  has  une  mauvaise 
langue,  and  is  always  saying 
disagreeable  things  and  telling 
ill-natured  stories.  Cat,  or  old 
cat,  is  often  applied  by  servants 
to  their  mistress. 

Well,  look  here,  Jessie,  I  am  determined 
to  have  some  fun  while  the  cat's  away. — 
Truth. 

"  A  tame  cat "  is  a  man  in 
society  who  always  has  the 
entr^  of  a  house  and  is  treated 
almost  like  one  of  the  family, 
and  who,  if  a  bachelor,  is  not 
looked  upon  as  a  likely  suitor 
for  one  of  the  daughters,  but 
is  made  general  use  of  when  a 
man  is  wanted  in  a  hurry  to  fill 
up  a  vacancy. 

(Thieves),  lady's  muff.  To 
"free  a  cat,"  to  steal  a  muff. 
To  go  out  "cat  and  kitten "  hunt- 
ing, is  stealing  pewter  pots  from 
publicans.  (Popular),  to  "  shoot 
the  cat,"  to  vomit.  (Tailors), 
to  "  whip  the  cat,"  to  work  at 
private  houses.  (Infantry),  to 
"shoot  the  cat,"  to  sound  the 
bugle  for  defaulters'  drill. 

Cat  and  kittens  (thieves),  quart 
and  pint  pots. 

Cat  and  mouse  (rhyming  slang), 
house. 

Catawampously  (American), 
fiercely,  eagerly,  violently.  "  Ca- 
tawampously chewed  up,"  com- 
pletely defeated,  utterly  demo- 
lished. 


There  is  something  cowardly  in  the  idea 
of  disunion.  Where  are  the  wealth  and 
power  that  showed  us  fourteen  millions? 
Take  to  our  heels  before  three  hundred 
thousand  slaveholders  for  fear  of  being 
' '  catawampously  chewed  up. "—  Frederick 
Douglas :  A  Negro  Orator. 

Catch  (popular),  or  "a  great  catch," 
woman  or  man  worth  marrying. 
Generally  applied  to  wealthy 
men  and  heiresses,  or  "warm" 
widows. 

I  am  friends  with  her  ma,  I  stand  drinks 
to  her  pa. 
They  think  I'm  a  catch,  that  is  plain. 
—G.  Homcastle :  I'll  See  you  again  in 
the  Morning  (Ballad). 

Catch  a  bob,  to  (American),  a 
boy's  expression  for  getting  on 
behind  and  taking  a  ride  gratis  ; 
getting  a  lift. 

"Bob,  what  does  your  father  do?" 
inquired  a  farmer  of  a  lad  who  had  caught 
a  bob  on  his  sleigh. — American  A'ews- 
paper. 

Catch  a  lobster,  to  (American), 
same  as  the  English  "  to  catch 
a  crab." 

She  is  not  the  first  hand  that  caught  a 
lobster  by  puttin'  in  her  oar  afore  her  turn, 
I  guess. — Sam  Slick :  The  Clockmaker. 

Catch  on  a  snag-,  to  (American), 
to  meet  one's  superior. 

In  rough  Western  parlance  a  man  who 
falls  in  with  such  a  player  (a  man  who. 
be.-iring  a  high  reputation  for  all-round 
godliness,  is  a  crack  "poker"  player) 
catches  on  a  snag,  and  it  is  said  that 
every  one  who  visits  the  Nonh-West 
comes  across  sooner  or  later  the  snag  on 
which  he  is  to  catch. — Cumberland :  The 
Queen's  Highway. 

Catch  bet  (popular),  a  bet  made 
for  the  purpose  of  entrapping 


Catchee — Cats^  party. 


231 


the  unwary  by  means  of  a  paltry 
subterfuge  (Hotten). 

Catchee  (pidgin-English),  to  get, 
have,  own,  possess,  hold.  "  My 
look-see  one  piecee  man  catchee 
chow-chow"  —  "I  saw  a  man 
eating."  "  My  catchee  waifo  " — 
"I  am — or  am  to  be  married." 
"My  no  catchee  one  flin  inside 
alio  t'at  house" — "I  have  not 
one  friend  in  all  that  family." 

Suppose  one  man  no  catchee  cash,  he  no 

can  play  at  game  ; 
Supposey  pigeon  no  hab  wing,  can  no 

make  fly  all  same. 

— Wang-ti. 

Catch-'em-alive  (common),  paper 
smeared  with  a  sticky  substance 
to  catch  flies. 

A  picture-room  devoted  to  a  few  of  the 
regular  shaky  old  saints,  with  such  coats 
of  varnish  that  every  holy  personage  served 
for  a  fly-trap,  and  became  what  is  now 
called  in  the  vulgar  tongue  a  catch- 
'em-alive,  O.  —  Charles  Dickens:  Little 
Dorritt. 

Also  a  small-tooth  comb, 
alluding  to  the  tenants  in  the 
hair  of  dirty  people. 

Catch  on,  to  (common),  imported 
from  America ;  to  accept  an 
offer,  to  understand. 

Randolph  looked  rather  puzzled  at  first, 
but  when  he  did  catch  on  to  the  Arch- 
bishop's meaning,  he  had  to  be  thumped 
on  the  back  by  his  pal  Chamberlain,  to 
prevent  him  from  choking.— /"«««y  Folks. 

"  You  catch  on,"  is  an  invitation 
to  take  one's  turn,  to  follow  suit. 

(Theatrical),  a  play  is  said  to 
be  caught  on  when  successful. 

Catch  on  the  hop,  to  (common), 
to  catch  or  find  one  by  taking 


one's  chance  when  he  is  travel- 
ling or  moving  about.  Also  to 
catch  unawares. 

Catch-pole  (old  slang),  a  sheriff's 
officer. 

Catever  (popular),  poor,  bad,  of 
doubtful  quality.  According  to 
Hotten,  from  the  Lingua  Franca 
and  Italian  cattivo,  bad.  ' '  Well, 
how's  things :  bona  1"  "  No, 
catever." 

Catfish  death  (American),  suicide 
by  drowning. 

Col.  "  Pat "  Donan  doesn't  like  the  play 
of  "Hamlet."  Hear  the  eloquent  adjec- 
tive slinger  :  "  I  have  no  patience,  much 
less  sympathy,  with  a  wretched  weakling 
who  goes  around  jabbering  at  dilapidated 
old  ghosts  in  tin  helmets  and  green  gauze 
veils,  under  bogus  moonlight ;  everlastingly 
threatening  to  do  something,  and  never 
doing  it ;  driving  his  sweetheart  to  lunacy 
and  a  catfish  death,  by  his  dime-museum 
freaks." — Chicago  Press. 

Cat-heads  (old),  a  woman's 
breasts. 

Cat-lap  (common),  weak  drink. 

Cats'  head  (Winchester  College), 
the  fag  end  of  a  shoulder  of 
mutton. 

Cats'  meat  (popular),  the  lungs. 

Cats'  party  (familiar),  a  party  to 
which  none  but  those  of  the 
weaker  sex  are  invited,  and  at 
which  tea  drinking  and  singing 
are  indulged  in. 

She  was  once  introduced  to  young  M . 

This  was  at  a  cats'  party  given  by  Mrs. 
to  a  few  \^iii\^%.— Standard. 


-0- 


Cats^  water — Caulker. 


It  is  likely  Mr.  Justice  thought  it 

funny  and  appropriate  to  hint  that  a  fes- 
tivity was  called  a  cats'  party  on  account 
of  the  music. — Town  Talk. 

Cats'  water  (popular),  gin,  cat 
being  here  naeant  for  woman. 

Cat's-skin  earl  (parliamentarj), 
one  of  the  three  senior  earls  in 
the  House  of  Lords. 

Catting  (common),  vomiting. 

Cattle  (popular),  a  kind.  One 
talks  of  men  being  "  rum  cattle," 
"  queer  cattle"  just  as  one  talks 
of  a  man  being  "a  queer  fish" 
or  "a  downy  bird." 

But  lawyers  is  cattle  I  feel  to  hate, 
/\nd  this  one— I'd  like  to  punch  his  head. 
— Keighley  Goodchild :  How  Waif 
went  to  England. 

Cancus  (American),  lately  intro- 
duced into  England,  originally 
a  meeting  of  politicians  called 
together  to  debate  upon  the 
claims  of  candidates  for  politi- 
cal or  municipal  offices,  and 
agreeing  to  act  together  on  the 
day  of  election. 

\Vhat  a  cajiciis  is,  as  popularly  under- 
stood in  England,  needs  no  explanation  ; 
but  the  curious  thing  about  the  word  is 
the  seeming  impossibility  of  ascertaining 
with  any  certainty  its  origin  and  deriva- 
tion. The  explanation  generally  given  is 
that  it  is  a  corruption  of  "caulkers"  or 
"  calk-house."  One  authority  says  that 
I  he  members  of  the  shipping  interest,  the 
"caulkers"  of  Boston,  were  associated, 
shortly  before  the  War  of  Independence, 
in  activf:ly  promoting  opposition  to  Eng- 
lind,  and  that  the  word  arose  from  their 
ineetin;;s  in  the  caulkers'  house  or  "  calk- 
house."  . 

Another  derivation  h.Ts,  however,  been 
proposed.      In  the  "Transactions  of  the 


American  Philological  Association,  1872," 
Dr.  Hammond  Trumbull  suggests  that  the 
origin  of  the  word  is  to  be  found  in  the 
native  Indian  cau-cau-as-u,  meaning  one 
who  advises. — Comhill  Magazine. 

It  may  be  observed  that  the 
derivation  of  the  word  from 
"caulkers"  is  perfectly  rational, 
and  has  been  accepted  for  more 
than  a  century.  There  is  a  pun 
implied  in  the  name  ("  caulker," 
a  tremendous  story,  an  over- 
whelming fellow)  which  pro- 
bably aided  to  make  it  popu- 
lar. . 

Caught  on  the  fly  (American), 
a  phrase  borrowed  from  ball 
play,  but  applied  to  being  caught, 
interviewed,  or  otherwise  arrest- 
ed, while  travelling. 

Carter  Harrison  told  that  New  York 
reporter  that  he  "must  be  caught  on  the 
Jly."  According  to  his  own  umpiring, 
then,  his  New  York  speech  was  a  foul 
bawl.  — A  merican  Newspaper. 

An  English  equivalent  is 
"  caught  on  the  hop." 

Caulk,  to  (nautical^  to  lie  down 
on  deck  and  sleep,  with  clothes 
on. 

Caulker  (society),  a  lie,  derived 
from  a  "caulker,"  a  stiff  dram, 
that  takes  a  considerable  deal 
of  swallowing,  also  supposed  to 
be  derived  from  "corker,"  a 
regular  stopper.  (Common), 
a  stiff  dram. 

The  Mobile  officer  joins  us  heartily  in  a 
caulker^  and  docs  not  need  to  be  pressed 
to  take  a  liule  supper. — Archibald  Forbes  : 
My  Experiences  0/  the  War  between 
France  and  Germany. 


Caution — Cayuse. 


233 


Caution  (general),  any  one  w^o  is 
peculiarly  dressed,  peculiar  in 
his  habits,  or  eccentric,  some 
one  who  makes  himself  ridicu- 
lous. This  word  is  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  the  expression  "a,  caution 
to  snakes." 

Altogether  he  was  a  caution  to  look  at. 
— Sam  Slick :  The  Clockmaker. 

Also    anything    out    of    the 
common  way. 

I'heir  win  against  Middlesex — who  led 
off  with  a  first  innings  of  301 — by  tight 
wickets  is  an  example  of  one  of  their  sur- 
prises, and  what  is  vulgarly  called  a  cau- 
tion.— Bailey  s  Monthly  Magazine. 

Cavaulting'  (old),  copulation. 
From  the  Lingua  Franca  cayoZi«. 

Cavaulting  school  (old  slang), 
a  house  of  ill  fame,  a  brothel 

"•Care-in  (American),  to  fall  in.  "  A 
metaphor  taken,"  says  Hotten, 
"  from  an  abandoned  mining 
shaft,"  but  it  was  used  in  Ame- 
rica before  1849.  Now  generally 
applied  to  a  failure,  such  as  a 
bankruptcy,  a  collapse  of  stock 
speculations,  or  of  political 
schemes. 

That  is  what  Colonel  Sanderson  and  his 
colleagues  in  the  representation  of  Irish 
landlordism  call  it — an  absolute  all-round 
cave-in  on  the  part  of  the  Government. — 
Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

It  is  also  applied  to  any  kind 
of  indentation. 

I  went  down  dar  wid  my  hat  caved  in, 

Du-da,  du-da ! 
Came  back  home  wid  my  pocket  full  of 
tin, 

Du-da,  du-da-day ! 
— Negro  Minstrel  Song. 


Cave-in,  properly  to  "calve- 
in,"  a  phrase  introduced  by 
Dutch  navvies.  Flemish  ink- 
alven,  to  cave-in.  Friesic  calven, 
to  calve  as  a  cow,  also  to  cave-in. 
The  falhng  portion  of  earth 
is  compared  to  a  calf  dropped 
by  a  cow  (Skeat).  From  early 
times  glaciers  were  called  by  the 
Dutch  cows,  and  the  icebergs 
which  fell  from  them  calves. 
The  falling  of  the  bergs  was 
called  calving. 

Cavort,  to  (American),  to  kick  up 
the  heels  like  a  horse  at:  play,  or 
to  act  extravagantly. 

As  long  as  there  h.as  been  a  stage  for 
pretty  women  to  caz'ort  on,  there  have 
been  impressionable  youths  to  worship  at 
the  shrines  of  the  pretty  women. — Ameri- 
can Newspaper 

To  move  about  in  an  aimless 
manner. 

O  Sal !  yer's  that  demed  fool  from 
Simpson's,  cavortin  round  yer  in  the  dew. 
— Bret  Harte :  Penelope. 

Cav?bawn  (up-country  Austra- 
lian), spelt  also  cobbon,  big,  a 
word  borrowed  from  the  blacks, 
which  has  passed  into  bush- 
slang,  and  is  generally  used  by 
bushmen. 

"There,"  said  Stone,  pointing  to  the 
big  house,  "nobody  has  lived  in  the 
'  cawiawn  humpy '  —  that  is  what  the 
blacks  call  it — since  Mr.  Cosgrove  went 
away."  —  A.  C.  Grant:  Bush-Life  in 
Queensland. 

Caxton  (theatrical),  a  wig. 
Cayuse  (cowboys),  a  horse. 


234 


Cas — Chalks. 


Caz  (thieves),  cheese.  See  Cass. 
An  easy  dupe.  As  good  as  caz, 
easy  to  accomplish. 

Cedar  (prison),  a  pencil. 

He  was  a  "first-class"  man,  entitled  to 
write  every  quarter.  He  provided  cedar 
and  a  sheet  of  paper  on  which  I  wrote  what 
was  necessary. — Evening  News. 

Century  (turf),  a  hundred  pounds. 

A  little  cheque  for  a  century  is  the 
prize  we  offer  this  week  for  the  successful 
accomplishment  of  the  task  of  naming  the 
first  three. — Sporting  Times. 

Cert  (turf),  used  in  reference  to 
a  racing  event  thought  to  be 
about  to  have  a  successful  issue. 

A  man  who  was  burdened  with  debt 
Heard  a  cert  and  heavily  bebt. 

But  what  should  have  won 

So  badly  did  ron 
That  quickly  the  man  had  to  "gebt." 
— Bird  o  Freedom. 

Certainties  (printers).  See  Un- 
CEKTAINTIES.  A  Vulgarism  ap- 
plied to  infants  of  the  male  sex. 


Chaff-cutter     (old), 
tongue,  slanderer. 


slanderous 


Chaffer  (popular),  the  mouth ;   a 
great  talker. 

One  of  these  men  had  a  wife  who  used 
to  sell  for  him ;  she  was  considered  to  be 
the  best  chaffer  in  the  row  ;  not  one  of 
them  could  stand  against  her  tongue. — 
Mayhew :  London  Labour  and  the  London 
Poor. 

To  "  moisten  one's  chaffer,"  to 
have  a  drink. 

Chaffy  (Blue-coat  School),  spruce, 
amiable. 


Chai,  chy,  tchai  (gypsy),  girl, 
woman ;  Romany,  chi,  a  female 

gypsy. 

Chairus,  cheirus,  chyrus  (gypsy), 
time.  Bonar  gives  this  word 
also  for  "heaven." 

Chal  (gypsy),  (pronounced  tchal,'ch 
as  in  church),  a  lad,  a  gypsy. 
Hotten  says  this  was  the  old 
Romany  term  for  a  man,  but  it 
is  as  much  in  use  as  ever.  A 
woman  is  not  a  chie,  but  a  chy  or 
chai,  to  rhyme  with  ichy. 

Chalava  (gypsy),  I  touch. 

Chal  droch  (tinker),  a  knife. 

Chalk  (turf),  unknown  or  incom- 
petent. The  names  of  most 
jockeys  are  printed  on  slides, 
which  are  kept  ready  at  every 
race-meeting  for  insertion  in  the 
telegraph-board.  Formerly  a 
certain  number  of  slate  or  black 
slides  were  used,  so  that  the 
name  of  a  new  jockey  could  at 
once  be  written  thereon  in  chalh. 
Hence  "a  chalk-jockej "  came 
to  mean  one  unknown,  or  un- 
favourably known,  to  fame.  His 
name  was  not  considered  worth 
printing.  (Common),  unknown, 
obscure. 

A  list  of  remarkably  chali-tilled  person- 
ages.—/f<?r/</. 

(Tailors),  chalk  !  silence ! 

Chalk  -  farm  (rhyming  slang), 
arm. 

Chalks  (popular),  by  chalks,  by 
far,  by  many  degrees. 


Chalks — Champagne. 


235 


In  chatting,  singing,  and  dancing, 
Don't  we  pass  each  night  away, 

We  beat  by  chalks  your  finest  parties, 
I'll  a  wager  lay. 

We  are  all  jolly,  &c. 


Also  "long  chalJcs,"  originally 
an  expression  used  by  tailors 
only,  alluding  to  the  chalk  lines 
on  garments. 

"  From  your  counsel's  statement  and  the 
seeming  honesty  of  your  countenance," 
said  the  learned  magistrate,  "  I  was  quite 
convinced  that  you  were  innocent ;  but  the 
evidence  of  the  last  witness  has  quite  upset 
all  my  previous  convictions." 

"  I  wish  it  would  upset  all  mine,"  growled 
the  culprit. 

But  it  didn't  by  long  chalks,  and  his 
address  was  Millbank  for  the  next  six 
months. — Sporting  Times. 

Also  the  legs.  To  "  walk  one's 
chalks"  to  go  away. 

The  prisoner  has  fabricated  his  pilgrim's 
staff,  to  speak  scientifically,  and  perambu- 
lated his  calcareous  strata.  "  What  ? " 
Cut  his  stick,  and  walked  his  chalks. — 
Kingsley :  Tiuo  Years  Ago. 

Chalk,  to  (nautical),  to  make  one 
pay  his  footing  or  stand  treat. 
At  sea  it  is  the  custom  the  first 

,  time  a  new  comer  goes  up  a 
mast  for  some  old  hand  to  chase 
him  up  and  try  to  get  near 
enough  to  him  to  chalk  his 
shoes.  If  he  succeeds  the  new 
comer  is  expected  to  pay  for  a 
bottle  of  rum. 

Chalk  up,  to  (Australian  slang,  less 
frequent  in  England),  to  debit 
to  a  person.  Undoubtedly  the 
expression  arose  from  the  custom 
of  the  keeper  of  an  ale-house 
making  a  note  of  the  various 


drinks  consumed  in  a  drinking 
bout,  by  scribbling  them  down 
with  chalk  upon  the  wall. 

Whole  weeks  and  jnonths  of  hard-earned 
gold,  by  ounces  and  even  pounds  weight 
at  a  time,  disappeared  at  these  haunts,  in 
a  mazy  account  and  reckoning  between  a 
landlord  and  his  customer,  chalked  up 
during  successive  days  of  intoxication. — 
W.  Westgarth:  Victoria  late  Australia 
Felix. 

(Common),  chalk  it  up,  put  it 
to  my  account. 

Cham  (gypsy),  cheek,  leather,  tin. 
Chwmmerdino,  a  slap  on  the 
cheek. 

Chamberlain  (Winchester  Col- 
lege), the  brewer  of  the  college 
and  school. 

Chamber  of  Horrors  (Parliamen- 
tary), the  Peeresses'  gallery  at 
the  House  of  Lords,  from  its 
being  railed  round  as  if  it  con- 
tained objectionable  or  repul- 
sive inmates. 

There  could  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  in- 
convenience, the  gallery  being  generally 
known  as  the  Chamber  of  H  orrors. — Daily 

News. 

Chammy  (society),  champagne, 
termed  also  "  cham,"  or  "  boy," 
and  sometimes  "  fizz." 

Champagne  Charley  (popular), 
any  dissipated  man  or  noted 
drinker  of  "  fizz."  The  name  of 
a  song  which  appeared  in  1868, 
which  was  set  to  a  very  pleas- 
ing and  original  air.  The  origi- 
nal Charley  is  said  to  have  been 
a  wine-merchant,  who  was  in 
the  habit  of  making  presents  of 


236 


Champion- —  Chapel. 


bottles  of  champagne  to  all  his 
friends. 

Champion,  very  commonly  used 
in  America  to  signify  pre-emi- 
nent. An  exemplary  humbug 
is  described  as  "a  champion 
fraud."  A  noisy  candidate  for 
office  was  denounced  by  a  Chi- 
cago newspaper  as  '"the  cham- 
pion gas-bag." 

Champ  up,  to  (popular),  to  tear 
up,  pull  upwards. 

Chancer  (tailors),  one  who  exag- 
gerates, or  lies.  Also  one  who 
attempts  anything  and  is  in- 
competent. 

Chancery.  To  get  a  man's  head 
into  chancery  is  to  get  it  under 
your  arm  so  as  to  pummel  it 
at  ease.  The  allusion  is  ob- 
vious. 

Chance  the  ducks  (popular),  an 
ironical  phrase  signifying  "come 
what  may  "  (Hotten). 

Chance  your  arm  (tailors),  try, 
let  it  go,  chance  it. 

Cbaney-eyed  (popular),  with  but 
one  eye,  or  eyes  like  those  of 
a  Chinese,  as  chancy  is  some- 
times used  as  a  corruption  of 
China, 

It  is  another  priboiier,  who  replaces  the 
last  individual— a  "  wall-eyed"  or c/m«^^- 
eyed  prisoner,  with  an  open  mouth. — The 
Crafhic. 

Chant  (old  cant),  an  advertise- 
ment. 


Chant,  to  (popular),  to  talk,  in- 
form, cry  up,  sing  ballads,  &c. ; 
cJianting-coyes,  reporters. 

Chanters  (popular),  explained  by 
quotation. 

As  long  as  one  can  remember,  gangs 
of  men  have  perambulated  the  highways 
in  the  frosty  months,  but  until  recently 
they  were  invariably  chanters  with  a 
legend  of  coming  all  the  way  from  Man- 
chester. But  song  is  eschewed  in  modern 
times. — Greenwood :  Seven  Curses  o/ Lon- 
don. 

Chanty  (nautical).  "There  are 
two  kinds  of  sea  songs  :  those 
which  are  sung  at  concerts  and 
in  drawing-rooms,  and  some- 
times, but  not  very  often,  at 
sea,  and  those  which  are  never 
heard  off  shipboard.  The  latter 
have  obtained  in  this  age  the 
name  of  chanty,  a  term  which  I 
do  not  recollect  ever  having 
heard  when  I  was  following  the 
life.  It  is  obviously  manufac- 
tured out  of  the  French  word  " 
(W.  Clark  Kussell), 

Chapel  (printers).  As  various 
references  are  made  to  matters 
arising  out  of  the  chapel,  it  is 
necessary  to  describe  this  insti- 
tution. Technically,  it  refers  to 
the  meetings  of  the  workmen  to 
discuss  trade  matters,  to  settle 
disputes,  and  to  consider  chari- 
table appeals,  &c.,  and  various 
rules  are  enforced  for  the  guid- 
ance of  the  workmen  and  main- 
tenance of  good  feeling  among.st 
themselves.  It  has  been  suj)- 
posed  that  the  term  arose  from 
the  fact  that  Caxton  established 


Chapel — Charm. 


237 


the  first  printing-press  in  this 
country  in  Westminster  Abbey. 
The  officers  of  these  chapels 
usually  consist  of  a  "father" 
and  "  clerk." 

Chapel  of  ease  (common),  the 
water-closet. 

Chapper  -  cot  (Anglo  -  Indian). 
Hindu,  chappar-khat,  a  bedstead 
with  curtains. 

Chappie  (society),  a  term  of  en- 
dearment in  use  among  the 
"  mashers  "  of  society  when  ad- 
dressing their  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances, much  in  vogue 
lately.    A  dandy. 

I  am  going  to  send  this  correspondence 
to  Puttch.  Ta  !  ta !  dear  old  chappie. — 
Punch. 

He  was  a  harmless-looking  chappie. 
— Sporting  Times. 

Chapt  (old  cant),  thirsty. 

Char  (gypsy),  grass. 

Charl-chorl  (gypsy),  to  pour  out, 
vomit ;  cliorl  it  mree,  pour  it 
out. 

Charge,  to  (Winchester  College), 
to  run  at  all  speed. 

Charing  Cross  (rhyming  slang), 
horse. 

Chariot-buzzing  (thieves),  pick- 
ing pockets  in  an  omnibus. 

Charles,  his  friend  (theatrical), 
the  walking  gentleman,  or  se- 
condary interesting  young  man 
of  a  play. 


Charley  (thieves),  a  gold  watch ; 
probably  from  the  old  word 
Charley,  the  watch  or  a  watch- 
man. (Tailors),  the  nap  on  a 
"faced"  cloth,  also  a  round- 
shouldered  figure. 


Charley      Bates' 
Bates'  Faem. 


farm. 


See 


Charley  Lancaster  (rhyming 
slang),  handkerchief,  pronounced 
"  handkercher. " 

Charley-pitcher  (thieves),  one  who 
plays  to  win  watches,  or  char- 
leys.  A  pitcher  is  one  who 
works  the  streets.  In  San 
Francisco  in  1849  there  were 
open-air  monte  players  who 
only  took  watches  for  a  bet. 
A  sharper  who  entices  country- 
men into  playing  at  some 
swindling  game,  such  as 
"prick  the  garter"  or  "thimble- 


Charley  Prescot  (rhyming  slang), 
a  waistcoat. 

Charlie  (old),  a  name  for  a  watch- 
man. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  watchman  to  call 
the  hours,  but  no  voice  of  any  vigilant 
Charlie  had  as  yet  saluted  the  ears  of 
Lowry. —  Turnpike  Dick,  or  tite  Star  oj 
the  Road. 

Charlies  (Winchester  College), 
thick  string  gloves,  called  thus 
from  the  Rev.  Charles  Griffith. 
(Popular),  a  woman's  breasts, 
also  "  bubbles,"  "  dairies." 

Charm  (thieves),  a  picklock. 


238 


Charpoy — Chaunted. 


Charpoy  (Anglo-Indian),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

We  must  send  down  to  the  bazaar,  and 
get  tables,  chairs,  and  cAa>^(»)'i(bedsteads). 
—  ly.  H.  Russell:  My  Diary  in  India  in 
the  Years  1858-59. 

Charrshom,  chershom  (tinker),  a 
crown. 

Charter  the  bar,  charter  the 
grocery,  to  (American),  to  buy 
all  the  liquor  in  a  groggery  or 
"rum-mill"  and  give  it  away 
freely  to  all  comers.  This  is 
not  an  uncommon  occurrence 
in  the  South  and  West. 

This  fine  Arkansas  gentleman  raises  seve- 
ral hundred  bales ; 

Unless  through  drought,  or  worm,  or  some 
other  contingency,  his  crop  runs  short 
and  fails ; 

And  when  his  crop  is  ginned  and  baled,  he 
puis  it  on  board  a  boat. 

And  charters  the  bar,  and  has  a  devil  of  a 
good  spree  while  down  to  New  Orleans 
he  and  his  cotton  float. 

—Albert  Pike. 

Bolus  was  no  nigeard.  He  would  as 
soon  treat  a  regiment  or  charter  the 
grocery  for  the  day  as  any  other  way. — 
/.  G.  Baldwin :  David  Bolus,  Esq. 

Chat  (thieves),  a  house ;  from 
chattels,  or  chateau. 

I  had  not  been  at  Sutton  very  long  before 
1  piped  a  slavey  (servant)  come  out  of  a 
chat  (house),  so  when  she  had  got  a  little 
way  up  the  double  (turning),  I  pratted 
(went)  into  the  house. — Rev.  J.  W.  Hors- 
ley :  Jottings  frotn  Jail. 

"  That's  the  chat,"  the  proper 
words  to  use ;  the  state  or  facts 
of  a  case. 

Has  the  gentleman  any  right  to  be  in 
this  room  at  all,  or  has  he  not  ?  .  .  .  That's 
the  chat,  as  I  take  it. — Anthony  Trollope  : 
Orley  J' arm. 


Chat-hole  (prison),  a  hole  in  the 
wall,  made  to  carry  on  a  con- 
versation. 

Chats  (theatrical),  properties  ; 
short  for  chattels.  (Popular), 
lice.  In  this  sense  cliaU  is  pro- 
bably from  chatd,  meaning 
cattle. 

(Stock  Exchange),  London, 
Chatham,  and  Dover  Railway 
stock. 

Chatta  (Anglo-Indian),  an  um- 
brella. 

Chatterers  (common),  the  teeth. 

Chattering  (prize  ring),  a  blow  on 
the  mouth. 

Chatter  broth  (old  slang),  a  tea 
party. 

Chatty  (popular),  filthy,  lousy. 
A  chatty,  a  lousy  person ;  a 
"  chatty  doss,"  a  bed  with  ver- 
min.    Vide  Chats. 

Chatty-feeder  (thieves),  a  spoon. 
Vide  Chatty. 

Chaunt  or  chant,  to,  to  take  worth- 
less horses  to  fairs  and  sell  them 
by  false  representations. 

Jack  Firebrand  and  Tom  Humbold  .  .  . 
was  here  this  morning  c/ia«//«^  horses  with 
'em. — Thackeray:  Virginians. 

To  chaunt  the  play,  to  ex- 
plain the  tricks  and  devices  of 
thieves. 

Chaunted  upon  the  leer  (old  cant ), 
an  advertiser. 


Chaunter —  Cheapstde. 


239 


Chaunter  (street),  a  man  who  sells 
baUads,  last  dying  speeches,  &c., 
in  the  streets.  Street  ballad 
singer. 

The  running  patterer  ...  is  accom- 
panied generally  by  a  chaunter.  I'he 
chaunter  not  only  sings,  but  fiddles. — 
Mayhew.  London  Labour  and  the  Lon- 
don Poor. 

A  dealer  who  takes  worthless 
horses  to  fairs  and  sells  them 
by  false  representations. 

Chaunter-cull  (street).  There  are 
rhymsters  who  carry  on  a  trade 
in  London — though  the  head- 
quarters appear  to  be  in  Bir- 
mingham— who  write  ballads  to 
order  on  any  subject,  to  be  sung 
in  the  streets,  on  events  that  may 
interest  the  public :  murders, 
executions,  elopements,  breaches 
of  promise,  suicides,  or  horrible 
railway  accidents.  The  hono- 
rarium paid  to  these  self-styled 
poets  is  said  to  vary  from  half- 
a-crown  (the  minimum)  to  three 
half-crowns  (the  maximum). 

Chauvering  donna  (theatrical),  a 
prostitute.  Chauvering  is  cant 
for  sexual  intercourse.  Also, 
"  columbine,  knofka." 

Chauvering  moll  (old  cant),  a 
prostitute. 

Chaw  (university),  a  trick ;  to 
chaw,  to  deceive.  (American), 
to  use  up. 

Chawbacon  (common),  a  country 
clown,  a  rough,  rude,  unedu- 
cated rustic,  a  clodhopper ; 
sometimes    colloquially    desig- 


nated as  "Giles"  or  "Hodge," 
from  the  supposed  prevalence 
of  these  patronymics  among  the 
rural  population. 

The  chaw-bacons,  hundreds  of  whom 
were  the  Earl's  tenants,  raised  a  shout. — 
Savage:  R.  Medlicott. 

Chaw-buckt  (Anglo -Indian),  a 
whip.  Hindu,  chabuJc ;  gypsy, 
chuchni. 

Ye  same  day  Ramgivan  was  brought 
forth  and  slippered,  the  next  day  he  was 
beat  on  ye  soles  of  his  feet,  ye  third  day 
chaw-buckt,  and  ye  4th  drub'd  till  he  could 
not  speak,  and  all  to  force  a  writing  in  our 
names  for  Rupees  50,000. — Hedges. 

Chaw  over,  to  (popular),  to  repeat 
one's  words  with  a  view  to  ridi- 
cule (Hotten). 

Chaws  or  chores  (American), 
small  jobs.  The  handy  man 
does  chores. 

Very  early  in  the  morning  there  is  an 
unpleasant  operation  to  be  performed, 
called  "doing  chaws,"  in  the  simple  lan- 
guage of  the  farm.  This  luckily  applied 
only  to  Charlie  and  Mr.  C. ,  who,  I  believe, 
except  during  the  busiest  part  of  the  year, 
work  the  300  acre  farm  without  help. 
"  Doing  chaws,"  by  the  way,  means  feed- 
ing the  creatures  generally.  —  Phillips- 
Wolley :  Trot  tings  0/ a  Tenderfoot. 

(Popular),  to   have  a  bit   of 
chaivs  refers  to  copulation. 

Chaw  up,  to  (popular),  to  finish 
one  up.  "  Chawed  up,"  done 
for. 

I  felt  as  if  I  could  cha^v  him  right  up, 
I  was  so  mad. — Sain  Slick  :  The  dock- 
Maker. 

Cheapside  (old  slang),  "He  came 
at  it  by  way  of  Cheapside,"  that 


240 


Cheat — Cheesemongers. 


is,  little  or  nothing  was  given 
for  it. 

Cheat  or  nubbing-cheat  (thieves), 
the  gallows. 

See  what  your  laziness  is  come  to;  to  the 
cheat,  for  thither  will  you  go  now,  that's 
infallible. — Fielding:  Jonathan  Wild. 

Chee  (pidgin),  long ;  probably  an 
abbreviation  of  muchee  "  much," 
"  China-boy  no  stoppee  chee 
tim." 

Chee-chee,  (gipsy),  nothing,  less, 
superfluous,  also  equivalent  to 
"be  silent." 

Cheek  (common),  assurance,  im- 
pudence. Probably  from  the 
habit  of  impudent  persons  of 
putting  their  tongue  in  their 
clieek. 

Although  she  was  neither  good-looking 

nor  young, 
And  her  virtues,  if  any,  unknown  and 

unsung, 
She'd  a  dangerous  eye,  and  an  eloquent 
tongue, 
And  a  cheek  that  was  something 
sublime. 

— Sporting  Times. 

Also,  share  or  portion. 
Cheeks  (common),  the  posterior. 
Cheeky  (common),  impudent. 

lioys  give  me  a  good  deal  of  annoyance, 
they  are  so  very  cheeky. — Mayheiv  :  Lon- 
don Labour  and  the  Lotidon  Poor. 

Cheese  (society),  "  quite  the 
clierse,"  varied  to  tlie  "  Stilton," 
or  "real  Stilton,"  synonymous 
with  quite  the  thing,  from  the 
Hindustani  or  Anglo-Indian  chiz, 


thing.  Sometimes  oheete  is  used 
as  a  derisive  nickname  for  any 
man  who  has  pretensions  to 
being  smart.  (Schools),  an 
adept ;  one  boy  will  talk  of 
another  being  an  awful  clieese 
at  bowling,  fives,  Latin  verses, 
&c.  (R.  M.  Academy),  hard 
cheese,  equivalent  to  "  hard 
lines,"  no  luck  ;  especially  used 
at  bilhards.  (Popular),  cheese 
it,  leave  off.  A  corruption  of 
cease. 

I  was  just  entering  upon  one  of  my  own 
composition,  when,  sir,  I  was  vulgarly 
requested  to  cheese  it. — Sporting  Times. 

(Thieves),  ''cheese  your  barri- . 
kin,"  hold  your  noise.     (Nine- 
pins), the  ball. 

He  sent  the  damaged  cheese  skimming 
and  cannoning  among  the  four  gruat  pins. 
— Greenwood :  Tag,  Kag,  <V  Co. 

Cheese  boxes  (American),  the 
nickname  given  by  irreverent 
Confederates  to  the  ironclads  of 
the  Monitor  type  then  (at  the 
time  of  the  Civil  War)  just 
invented.  They,  however,  spoke 
even  as  disrespectfully  of  their 
own  unsuccessful  attempts  at  a 
similar  class  of  vessel,  calling 
them  "  tinclads." 

Cheese-cutter  (common),  an  aqui- 
line nose ;  also  a  large,  square 
peak  to  a  cap.  Cheese-cutters, 
bandy  legs. 

Cheese-knife  (army),  sword. 

Cheesemongers,  once  a  popular 
name  for  the  First  Lifeguards 
(Hot  ten). 


Cheese-  toaster —  Chew. 


241 


Cheese-toaster  (army),  a  sword. 

I'll  drive  my  cheese-toaster  through  his 
body. — Thackeray:  The  Virginians. 

Cheesy  (society),  excellent,  smart, 
varied  sometimes  to  "rare  Stil- 
ton," which  might  be  said  to  be 
the  square  power  of  cheesy. 

Che  -  muck  (American),  food ; 
taken  from  the  Indians  of  the 
North-West,  and  now  current 
among  the  miners, 

Cherpin  llyower  (tinker),  book. 
"  Cherpin  appears  to  be  vulgar. 
Llyower  was  on  second  thought 
declared  by  Owen  to  be  the  right 
word."  Gaelic,  leahhar.  —  The 
Gypsies.  Fic?e  Lyeskin  CHEEPS, 
telling  fortunes. 

Cherry  (thieves),  a  young  girl. 

Cherry-bums  (army).     Vide  Bum. 

Cherry-merry  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
present  of  money. 

Cherry-merry-bamboo  (Anglo-In- 
dian), a  beating,  a  term  probably 
invented  by  sufferers  with  very 
thick  hides  indeed. 

Cherry  pie  (common),  this  term 
was  formerly  used  with  the 
sense  of  the  more  modern 
"  tart,"  or  girl. 

Cherry-pipe  (thieves),  a  woman. 
Pipe  is  rhyming  slang  for  ripe. 

Cherry-ripe  (rhyming  slang),  a 
pipe. 


Chestnuts  (American  and  Eng- 
lish), an  exclamation  used  in 
reference  to  stale  news. 

The  thing's  got  so  bloomin'  stale,  I  was 
afraid  you'd  yell  chestnuts  at  me  if  I  said 
anythin'. — Sporting  Times. 

Chete  (old  cant),  this  word  was 
extensively  used  by  the  va- 
grant classes  in  reference  to 
anything.  Teeth  were  called 
"  cracking  "  or  "  crunching 
chetes"  swine  "grunting  cketes," 
a  knife  a  "  cutting  chete,"  or 
the  gallows  a  "hanging"  or  a 
"topping  chete."  To  strike 
some  chete,  to  steal  something. 

This  word  is  used  as  an  affix 
in  the  formation  of  names 
(Turner),  and  is  equivalent, 
not  to  the  gypsy  engro,  which 
means  an  active  agent,  but  to 
engree,  denoting  "  a  thing." 
Thus  nab-chete,  a  hat,  literally 
a  head-thing  ;  a  cackling -chete, 
chicken  ;  hearing  -  chetes,  ears. 
Possibly  of  Gypsy-Indian  origin 
in  common  with  the  Anglo-In- 
dian chiz,  corrupted  to  chitz. 
Chit  and  chitter  have  also  the 
meaning  in  gypsy  of  "a  rag,  a 
bit,  a  piece."  It  may,  however, 
be  derived  from  the  root  of 
chattel;  M.  E.  chatel,  property 
(also  cattle) ;  Old  French  catel. 
This  would  lead  to  the  Low 
Latin  capitale  (Skeat),  but  there 
is  possibly  a  different  root  in 
common  with  the  Westmore- 
land chat,  a  fragment,  i.e.,  a 
thing  or  bit. 

Chew  (prison),  a  bit  of  tobacco. 

A  piece  as  large  as  a  horse-bean,  called 
a  chew,  is  regarded  as  an  equivalent  for 

Q 


242 


Chew — Chik. 


a  twelve-ounce  loaf  and  a  meat  ration. — 

Greenwood :  Gaol  Birds  at  Lar^e. 

(American),  to   chew  oneself, 
expressing  vexation. 

Say,  do  you  know  it's  fairly  rank  to  be 
back  at  school.  Could  chew  myself.  I 
hate  it  so. — Springfield  Republican. 

Chewgah  bag  (Australian  black- 
fellows),  the  wild  bee's  store  of 
honey. 

Chewing  the  cud  (common),  the 
habit  of  chewing  tobacco.  It  is 
curious  to  note  that  amongst 
the  farmers  and  stock-keepers 
of  Surrey  the  cud  is  called  a 
(luid — hence  perhaps  ' '  a  quid  of 
tobacco." 

Chewing  the  rag  or  fat  (army), 

grumbling. 

Some  of  the  "knowing  blokes,"  promi- 
nent among  whom  will  be  the  "grousers," 
will,  in  all  probability,  be  chewing  the  rag 
or  fat. — Brunlees  Patterson  :  Life  in  the 
Ranks. 

Chew  it,  to  (cowboys),  to  eat. 

Chic  (society),  elegant,  dashing, 
perfect.  French,  cliic.  For  the 
various  significations  of  the 
French  word,  vide  Barrere's 
"  Argot  and  Slang." 

One  of  the  most  chic  functions  of  the 
present  season  in  Paris  was  the  dinner  given 
last  Wednesday  by  Princess  Mathilde. — 
The  World. 

Chice.     Vide  Shice. 

Chicken  (Anglo-Indian),  embroi- 
dery. Chicken-walla,  a  pedlar 
of  embroidery.  Persian,  chiJcin, 
art  needlework. 

(Common),  a  term,  applied  to 


anything  young,  small,  or  in- 
significant ;  "  chicken  stakes," 
small  paltry  stakes  (Hotten). 

Chicken  -  butcher  (old  slang),  a 
poulterer. 

Chicken  fixings  (American). 
Bartlett  defines  this  as  chicken- 
fricassee,  but  it  is  often  used  to 
denote  chickens  prepared  in  any 
way.  The  common  expression 
"  corn-bread  and  common  doins, 
or  wheat  -  bread  and  chicken- 
fixins,"  intimates  as  much. 

Chicken  Nabob  (old  slang).  If  a 
man  returned  from  India  with 
a  larger  fortune  than  ^^50,000 
or  ;^6o,ooo  he  was  called  a 
chicken  nabob. 

Chickerleary  cove  (coster),  an 
exceedingly  sharp  man. 

Chi-ike  (roughs),  a  street  salute, 
a  loud  word  of  hearty  praise,  a 
cheer. 

Now  join  in  a  chi-ike — the 

Jolly  we  all  like, 
I'm  off  with  a  party  to  the  Vic. 

— Vance  :   The  Chickaleary  Cox'e. 

Chi-iked  (tailors),  chailed  un- 
mercifully. 

Chik,  chick  (gypsy),  dirt,  clay, 
ashes,  sand.  Chikkli  cowas,  ob- 
jects of  earthenware.  Sdr 
chikklo,  all  dirty. 

"  Beshdom  adoi  akonya, 
Te  sar  m;5n  Asti  diUk 
Sas  kalo  muUo  wongur 
Te  pano,  mullo  chikk" — 

"  I  sat  there  alone,  and  all  one  could  see 
was  black  dead  coals,  and  white  dead 
ashes." 

—O.  Patteran. 


Children's  shoes — Chinche. 


243 


(Anglo-Indian),  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  chickeen,  or  four  rupees. 

Children's  shoes  (popular),  to 
"make  children's  shoes,"  to  be 
made  nought  of  (Hotten). 

Chill,  to  (popular),  to  warm. 
From  the  expression  to  "take 
the  chill  off;"  "chilled  beer" 
for  warmed  beer  is  a  very  usual 
term. 

Chilo  (pidgin  English),  child. 

Ping-Wing,  he  pie-man  son, 
He  velly  worst  c/tilo  alio  Canton, 
He  steal  he  mother  picklum  mice, 
An'  thiowee  cat  in  bilin  rice. 
Hab  chow-chow  up,  an'  "  Now,"  talk  he, 
"  My  wonda'  where  he  meeow-cat  be  !" 
— The  Song  of  Ping-Wing. 

Chimany,  chummeny  (gypsy), 
something,  anything.  De  mandy 
chomany,  "Give  me  something." 

Chiming  (thieves),  praising  a 
person  or  thing  that  is  un- 
worthy, for  the  purpose  of 
getting  off  a  bad  bargain. 

Chimleyco  (popular),  Pimlico. 

If  you're  stopping 
Down  in  Wapping, 
Rotten  Row,  or  Chimleyco. 
— Song :  There's  a  lot  ojfun  in  London, 

Chimmel  (tinker),  a  stick. 

Chimmes  (tinker),  wood  or  stick. 
Vide  Chimmel. 

Chimney  chops  (old  slang),  a 
name  given  to  a  negro. 

Chimney-pot  (common),  a  silk 
hat. 


An  excellent  life-preserver  may  be  made 
in  a  few  seconds  in  the  following  manner  : 
Lay  a  silk  handkerchief  on  the  ground  and 
spread  it  open.  Then  place  on  it,  brim 
downwards,  a  hat  of  the  "  chimney-pot 
sort,"  and  tie  the  four  comers  of  it  together 
over  the  crown  of  it.  The  article  so  pre- 
pared may  then  be  thrown  to  the  drowning 
person  ;  or,  better  still,  it  may  be  taken  to 
him  by  some  one  that  can  %^\ia.— Ross's 
Variety  Paper. 

Chimney  -  sweep    (common),    a 

black  draught. 

Chin  (American  thieves),  a  child  ; 
probably  an  abbreviation  of  kin- 
chen.  (American),  to  chin,  to 
chat. 

He  was  a  worker,  and  liked  nothing 
better  than  to  get  into  a  circle  of  young 
cow-punchers  and  chin  and  josh  with 
them. — Prancis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

(Gypsy),  to  cut  or  write.  This 
suggests  the  Indian  cutting,  or 
graving  all  letters  on  palm-leaves, 
&c.  (Hindu,  chinh,  a  scar.) 
Chinamangrl,  a  letter. 

Chinas  (Stock  Exchange),  Eastern 
Extension  Telegraph  Shares. 

China  Street  (thieves).  Accord- 
ing to  Vaux,  China  Street  is 
a  cant  name  for  Bow  Street, 
Covent  Garden  —  where  the 
celebrated  police  court  is 
situated. 

Chinche,  chints,  a  bug.  The 
authors  of  the  Anglo-Indian 
Glossary  say  that  "this  word 
is  now  quite  obsolete  both  in 
India  and  England."  But  it 
has  always  been  familiarly  used 
as  it  now  is  in  the  United  States, 
not  as  an  euphemism,  but  as 


244 


Chin-chin — Chip. 


the  correct  original  Spanish 
word.  It  is  remarkable  that 
"bug"  was  originally  a  figura- 
tive and  perhaps  polite  term  for 
ch'mche. 

Chin-chin  (pidgin-English),  a  term 
derived  from  the  Mandarin 
(standard  dialect)  ts'ing,  ts'ing ; 
Cantonese,  ch'ing,  ch'ing,  equiva- 
lent to  "  thank  you,"  or  a  polite 
"adieu"  or  salutation.  In 
pidgin  it  is  used  for  worship, 
prayer,  or  to  make  a  request. 

Chin-chopper  (popular),  a  blow 
under  the  chin. 

Chine,     choon,      chen,      chone 

(gypsy),  the  moon. 

Chingarer,  chingers  (gypsy), 
sparks.     Hindu,  chingi,  spark. 

Chinger  (gypsy),  to  tear,  split, 
scold,  or  quarrel ;  through. 

Chingerben  (gypsy),  contrary, 
opposite. 

Chink  (thieves),  money. 

At  knock'emsdown  and  tiddlywink, 
To  be  a  sharp  you  must  not  shrink, 
But  be  a  brick  and  sport  your  chink. 
—  1  he  I.eary  Man. 

Chinkers  (thieves),  money. 

Are  men  like  us  to  be  entrapped  and  sold, 
And  see  no  money  down,  Sir  Hurly-Burly? 
We're  vile  crossbow-men,  and  a  knight  are 

you, 
But  steel  is  steel,  and  flesh  is  still  but  flesh, 
So  let  us  see  your  chinkers. 

—  Taylor:  Philip  Van  Artevelde. 

Also  handcuffs  and  shackles 
united  hv  a  chain. 


Chin-music  (English  and  Ameri- 
can), talk,  conversation. 

"I  am  not,"  he  said,  "going  to  orate. 
You  did  not  come  here,  I  guess,  to  hear 
me  pay  out  chin-music." — The  Golden 
Butterfly. 

(Common    English),    talking, 
speechifying. 

But,   bless  yer,    my  bloater,   it   isn't  all 

chin-music,  votes  and  "  'Ear,  'ear  !" 
Or  they  wouldn't  catch  me  on  the  ready, 
or  nail  me  for  ninepence.     No  fear  1 
— Punch. 
Also  cliin  play. 

Chinqua  soldi  (low  theatrical), 
fivepence.     From  the  Italian. 

Chinse  (Winchester  College),  a 
chance. 

Chin-wag  (common),  officious 
impertinence  (Hotten). 

Chip  (American  journalism). 
Local  items  in  newspapers  are 
called  chips,  and  sometimes 
the  term  is  applied  to  the  re- 
porter who  collects  them.  It 
was  once  suggested  in  a  news- 
paper office  in  Philadelphia  that 
the  city  reporters  should  be 
called  "five-six,"  and  the  local 
editor,  "seven-eight,"  in  accor- 
dance with  the  well  -  known 
rhyme : — 

Five,  six — pick  up  chifis  ; 

Seven,  eight — lay  them  straight. 

(American),  to  chip,  to  under- 
stand. 

I  knew  at  once  that  they  had  got  scared, 
and  h.id  trenched  up  like  a  bevy  of  quails  ; 
so  1  said  to  Jim,  "Now  you  lei  me  do 
the  talking,  when  they  begin  to  sing 
'Indians' — don't  you  chipV  —  Francis: 
Sa*lJle  and  Moccasin. 


Chip  in — Chit. 


245 


Chip  in  (American).  Defined  by 
Bartlett  as  meaning  to  contri- 
bute. He  gives  no  etymology 
for  the  word.  It  has  also 
another  meaning,  i.e.,  to  take 
shares  in  and  contribute,  as  if 
ten  men  were  all  to  chip  in  on 
any  undertaking.  Supposed  to 
be  derived  from  "chips,"  the 
counters  which  represent  money 
in  gambling.  As  implying  con- 
cealment, in  a  slangy  sense,  it 
probably  was  something  to  the 
gypsy  chipper,  to  hide ;  Hindu, 
chipana.  Tan  chipdnd,  to  hide 
the  body,  i.e.,  one's  self. 

Chipper  (American),  lively.  Pos- 
sibly from  "  chippernigns," 
"chip-muk,"  or  "  chip-munk," 
a  proverbially  lively  little  squir- 
rel. {Sicurus  striatus,  or  striped 
squirrel.) 

Chippy  (common),  unwell. 

He  was  chippier  than  ever  after  a  jam- 
boree of  abnormal  magnitude. — Sporting 
Times. 

Chips  (popular),  money. 

She  admitted  for  me  she  might  possibly 

care. 
Chips,  eh?    I'm  no  mash  for  a  tinker. 

— Bird  o  Freedon. 

Also  a  nickname  for  a  car- 
penter. 

Chirido  (gypsy),  a  bird.  Romany 
chiriclo,  "the  gypsy  bird,"  i.e., 
the  water-wagtail.  It  is  said 
that  whenever  one  sees  a  water- 
wagtail  he  will  soon  after  meet 
with  gypsies.  KCdo  chinclo,  a 
blackbird  or  crow ;  sometimes 
pronounced  chillico. 


Chirki,  shirki  (gypsy),  a  star. 
Chirki  or  shirki,  a  star  in  Romany, 
may  possibly  have  something  in 
common  with  the  Persian  chirkh, 
meaning  the  sky,  or  chiragh,  a 
lamp. 

Chirp,  to  (thieves  and  roughs),  to 
talk. 

1  firmly  resolved  to  chirp,  when  I  was 
taken  before  the  magistrate  to  give  evi- 
dence, as  little  as  possible. — /.  Green- 
wood :  The  Little  R agamuffitis. 

Also  to  inform. 
Chirper  (journalistic),  a  singer. 

The  gentle  damsel  informed  the  votive 
vocalist  that  she  could  not  .sleep  at  nights 
through  thinking  about  burglars,  and  con- 
templated purchasing  a  revolver.  "  Don't 
be  rash,"  said  the  chirper. — Fun. 

Chirpy  (American),  cheerful,  like 
a  lark,  in  fact. 

Chirruper  (popular),  an  additional 

glass. 

Chisel,  to  (common),  properly  to 
cut  close  as  in  a  bargain,  &c. , 
to  cheat  in  a  small  way ;  for  in- 
stance, to  try  to  sell  second-hand 
or  soiled  goods  for  new  ones. 
(Winchester  College),  to  cheat ; 
a  chisel,  a  cheat. 

Chit  (Anglo-Indian),  a  letter,  note, 
certificate,  or  pass.  It  is  remark- 
able that  for  nearly  a  century 
diiierent  writers  in  India  speak 
of  the  habit  of  writing  notes  on 
all  occasions,  as  if  every  person 
in  the  country  were  a  Micawber. 

These  incessant  chits  are  an  immense 
trouble,  but  the  ladies  seem  to  like  them. — 
Letters  from  Madras  (vide  Anglo-Indian 
Glossary). 


246 


Chit — Choker. 


(Pidgin-English),  same. 

Empelo  posha  he  name  topside  galantee 
chit  (the  Emperor  wrote  his  name  on  a 
grand  letter).  — /"A*  Woolly  Hen. 

(Clubs),  orders  for  drinks,  &c., 
given  at  clubs. 

Chitterlings  (old),  the  shirt  frills 
formerly  fashionable. 

Chitti  (gypsy),  nothing,  trifling. 

Chitty  (tailors),  an  assistant  cutter 
or  trimmer. 

Chitty  -  faced  (popular),  said  of 
one  who  has  a  childish  look, 
like  a  chit  or  infant. 


Chiv  (gypsy)  to  put,  place,  fix, 
throw.  "  Chiv  lis  adrd  " — "  Put 
it  in."  "  Chiv  lis  avrl " — "  Throw 
it  away."  "  Chivella  o  chiriclo 
adr^  lestis  tan  " — "  She  puts  the 
bird  into  his  cage"  {i.e.,  "tent"). 
To  goad,  chase,  drive  about. 
In  this  sense  probably  from  chiv, 
a  sharp-pointed  knife  or  goad. 
Hence,  the  English  slang  word, 
to  "  chivy."  "  Chiv  apr^,"  to 
put  or  throw  up. 

(Tinker  and  Romany),  a  point- 
ed knife.  In  gypsy  generally 
a  churi. 

Beruna,  gibel  a  chiv  for  the  gentry  cove. 
— Disraeli:  Venetia. 

Chivalry  (old),  coition.  To  do  an 
act  of  chivalry,  to  have  con- 
nection with  a  woman.  More 
modern  is  to  "ride,"  with  the 
same  sense.  Old  French  writers 
termed  this  chevaulcher. 


Chive  (thieves),  a  knife  ;  from  the 
gypsy  to  chive,  to  stab. 

We  had  a  fight  and  he  put  the  chive  into 
me. — Horsley:  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Chive  fencer  (popular),  a  street 
seller  of  cheap  cutlery. 

Chivy  (thieves),  the  face ;  to  chivy, 
to  scold. 

Chlorhin  (tinker),  to  hear. 

Choakee.    See  Choket. 

Chocolate  gale  (nautical),  a  brisk 
N.W.  wind  off  the  West  Indies 
and  Spanish  Main  (Smyth). 

Choke-jade  (turf),  a  dip  in  the 
course  at  Newmarket  a  few 
hundred  yards  on  the  Cambridge 
side  of  the  running  gap  in  the 
Ditch. 

Choke  off,  to  (common),  to  get 
rid  of. 

"  We  are  so  terribly  troubled  with  beg- 
gars. .  .  ."  "Don't  know  how  to  choke  'em 
off,  my  dear?  Why,  give  'em  pudding 
crust,  cake,  and  dumplings  of  your  own 
making  to  be  sure." — Fun. 

Choker  (prison),  a  cell.  Yidt 
Choki. 

There  was  not  a  spare  potato  but  what 
he  seized  as  soon  as  the  dinner  tins  were 
put  outside  the  door  by  the  prisoners,  and 
as  a  rule  he  was  summarily  marched  off  to 
choker  for  stealing  food  intended  for  Her 
Majesty's  pigs.  Choker  had  no  terror  for 
this  Chancery  barrister — he  rather  liked  it. 
— Evening  Xeivs. 


Also  a  garotter. 
a  cravat. 


(Common), 


Choker — Choops. 


247 


He  looks  when  walking — pretty  pet ! 
With  gait  still  stiffer  than  his  choker. 
As  if  he'd  swallowed  for  a  bet, 
Or  by  mistake,  the  kitchen  poker. 

— Ally  Slofier's  Half-Holiday. 

"  White-cAoicr,"  a  white  tie. 

We  have  what  Mugford  calls  a  white- 
choker  dinner  to-day. — Thackeray  :  The 
Adventures  of  Philip: 

Also  a  clergyman. 

Chokey  (popular  and  thieves), 
prison.     Yidt  Choki. 

And  didn't  a  bobby  claw  'old  on  me  .  .  . 
and  gits  me  a  week  in  chokey,  cos  he 
said  I  was  a  priggin'. — H.  Evans:  The 
Brighton  Beach  Loafer. 

In  prisons  chokey  refers  speci- 
ally to  the  punishment  cell. 
(Anglo-Indian),  a  chair. 

Don't  throw  yourself  back  in  your  burra 
chokey  and  tell  me  it  won't  do. — Warren 
Hastings  to  G.  Vansittart. 

Also  a  police  station,  a  custom 
or  toll  house.  Hence  watching 
or  mounting  guard  is  called 
chokey. 

Choki,  or  chokie,  the  guard-room. 
The  lock-up  or  prison  for  mis- 
conducted or  drunken  soldiers, 
which  is  part  and  parcel  of  the 
guard  -  house,  and  under  the 
charge  of  the  barrack  guard ; 
generally  a  dark,  gruesome 
place,  with  no  furniture  but  the 
guard  bed,  the  "little  soldat" 
of  the  French  army,  a  standing 
wooden  erection,  fixed,  and  on 
a  slope,  with  a  raised  wooden 
pillow  at  one  end.  It  is  the 
father  of  the  plank  bed,  the 
only  bed  for  short-term  pri- 
soners in  modern  prison  disci- 


pline. Choki  is  Anglo-Hindu- 
stani, derived  from  chank,  the 
market  -  place  near  the  gate 
in  which  Orientals,  like  our 
medisevals,  lodged  their  cap- 
tives. 

Chokidar  (Anglo-Indian) ,  a  watch- 
man ;  sometimes  a  police  atten- 
dant. 

Chokka  (gypsy),  shoe  or  boot. 
Hindu,  charka. 

Chokra,  chuckoroo  (Anglo-In- 
dian), a  boy,  a  youngster,  especi- 
ally one  employed  about  a  house- 
hold, or  a  regiment. 

Chone  (gypsy),  the  moon.  Also 
chen. 

"  Tu  shan  i  chone  odre  o  hev 

Miri  deari  kfimeli  rani, 

Te  waveri  fol;i  shan  o  bav 

Kun  gav'la  tut'  fon  mdn  'y  " — 

"  The  moon  which  passes  o'er  the  sky. 

My  darling,  seems  like  thee. 

And  other  folk  are  but  the  clouds 

That  hide  thy  face  from  me." 

Chonkeys  (popular),  explained  by 

quotation. 

Chonkeys  are  a  kind  of  mince-meat  baked 
in  crust. — Mayhew  :  London  Labour  aiui 
the  London  Poor. 

Choomer  (gypsy),  a  kiss.  Plural, 
chUmya,  kisses. 

"  Si  miri  chUmya  shan  kushti  to  ha 
Tu  iiasti  hatch  bockalo,  deari  aja  " — 
"  If  kisses  of  mine  were  good  to  eat. 
You    shouldn't    go     hungry    long,    my 
sweet." 

Choops  (Anglo  -  Indian),  keep 
silence ;  a  corruption  of  choo- 
praho. 


248 


Chootah — Chores. 


Chootah  (Anglo-Indian),  small, 
insignificant. 

Chop  (pidgin  and  Anglo-Indian), 
properly,  a  seal,  stamp,  or  im- 
pression. Used  to  indicate 
quality,  as  in  "  first  chop,"  i.e. 
stamped  or  branded,  or  marked 
as  the  best.  Hindu,  ch'hdp.  It 
is  used  on  the  Eastern  seas  also 
for  certificate,  pass,  license,  sig- 
nature. CAop-house,  a  custom- 
house. 

Wang  he  go  to  fi'st  c/u>p  coffin. 
To  be  mand'lin  an'  chin-chin  um  ! 

— IVang  the  Snob. 

Chop,  to  (turf),  to  beat.  Essex 
dialect,  chop,  to  fiog.  From  chop 
or  chap,  to  cut. 

Another  in  John  Dawson's  stable  is  likely 
to  be  very  handy  here,  and  thai  one  is 
Hawthorn,  who  created  such  a  sensation 
when  she  chopped  the  mighty  Salisbury 
at  York  the  year  before  last. — Sporting 
Times. 

(Sport),  to  outstrip,  catch. 

A  certain  meet  where,  after  chopping 
their  fox,  poor  Reynard's  carcass  was 
"pinched"  by  a  Brummagem  rough. — 
Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Chop-chop  (pidgin),  quick, 
quickly,  make  ha.ste,  look  sharp. 
Cantonese,  kap  -  Ara/5 ;  Man- 
darin, kip-kip.  "  In  the  Nortli- 
ern  dialects  kwai-kivai,  quick, 
quick,  is  more  usual"  (Bishop 
Moulo). 

That  nightcy  tim  begin  chop-chop, 
One  young  man  walkec,  no  can  stop, 
Ma-skcc  snow,  niaskee  ice, 
He  cally  flag  wit'  chop  so  nice — 
Top-side  galow  I 

— Excelsior. 


Chopper,  chopping  blow  (boxing), 
a  short,  downward  blow  with  the 
knuckles,  delivered  from  the 
elbow.  Oneof  the  most  clumsy, 
ineffective,  and  most  easily  par- 
ried blows  that  could  be  re- 
sorted to.  It  was  nevertheless 
a  favourite  with  SlacK  (cham- 
pion, 1750-60). 

Chopper  on  (printers).  A  man 
when  miserable  or  "down  in 
the  dumps  "  is  said  to  have  a 
chopper  on. 

Chopping  girl  (old  slang),  a  very 
young  female  who  exhibits 
sexual  precocity.  One  who  has 
la  cuissegaie,  as  the  French  slang 
humorously  expresses  it. 

Choppy  (American),  applied  to  a 
broken,  hillocky  county. 

Chops  (popular),  the  mouth.  A 
"  wipe  in  the  chops,"  a  blow  on 
the  face  ;  "  down  in  the  chops,'' 
sad.  Chops  is  a  nickname  given 
by  schoolboys  to  one  who  has 
well-developed  maxillaries. 

Chor,  char  (gypsy),  grass.  Hindu, 
chara,  fodder. 

Chore  (gypsy),  a  thief,  to  steal. 
"  Kai  did  tute  cliore  adovo?" — 
"Where  did  you  steal  that?" 
Hindu,  chor,  a  thief. 

Chores  (American),  odd  jobs.  A 
"  choreman  "  is  a  handy  man,  a 
Jack  of  all  trades. 

Their  carpenter  was  dead,  and  I  am  a 
handy  man,  so  I  took  his  place.     Then 
made  a  few  dollars  doing  cliores  around. — 
The  Golden  Butterjly. 


Choring — Chow-chow. 


249 


Choring  (Scottish  thieves),  steal- 
ing.   From  the  gypsy. 

While  outside  the  cells  he  heard  .  .  . 
ask  "What  she  was  in  for?"  Maciver 
replied,  "  Choring,  me  and  Maggie 
Devaney."  He  took  that  to  mean  steal- 
ing.— Scottish  Newspaper. 

Choro  (gypsy),  poor ;  also  churero 
and  chdridlr,  poorer.  "  Mandy's 
a  churedo  " — "  I  am  a  poor  man." 
This  word  is  confused  with 
choredo,  one  not  of  pure  gypsy 
blood,  and  stolen;  e.g.,  churedo 
or  posh  an'  posh,*hali.  and  half, 
also  a  poor  person. 

"  Oh,  mandy  shorn  ckoro  te  kalo  ; 

Oh,  mandy  shorn  kek  pensa  rye  " — 
"  Oh,  I  am  poor  and  black  ; 

Oh,  I  am  not  like  a  gentleman." 
— Gypsy  Wooing. 

Chortle  (popular),  to  howl. 

Chota-hazry  (Anglo-Indian), 
"  little  breakfast ;  "  refreshment 
taken  early  in  the  morning, 
corresponding  to  the  auroral 
mint  julep  or  pre-prandial  cock- 
tail of  Virginia.  An  ante-break- 
fast. 

The  small  meal  commonly  known  in 
India  as  chota-hnziri,  and  in  our  English 
colonies  as  Early  Tea. — IVaring:  Tropi- 
cal Resident. 

Chouse  (schools).  It  is  a  regular 
ckouse,  signifies  it  is  a  great 
shame. 

The  boy  .  .  .  was  told  that  what  he 
had  done  was  an  awful  chouse.— Brinsley 
Richards  :  Seven  Years  at  Eton. 

(Common),  to  chouse,  to  cheat 
out  of  one's  share  or  portion. 
Supposed   to   be  derived  from 


the  Turkish  chia<ms,  an  inter- 
preter, on  account  of  a  gross 
fraud  committed  by  one  on 
Turkish  merchants  in  London. 

Chout  (East  End,  London),  an  en- 
tertainment (Hotten). 

Chovey  (costermongers),  a  shop. 

Chovihani,  chovihan  (gypsy),  a 
witch,  a  wizard.  Hindu,  choi- 
hani.  ' '  Miri  diri  bibi  ma  kamara 
butidiro  tevel  chovihani" — "  My 
dear  aunt,  I  would  like  to  be- 
come a  witch." 

Chowdar  (Anglo-Chinese),  a  fool. 

Chow-chow  (pidgin-EngUsh),  to 
eat,  or  food  of  any  kind.  This 
is  the  chief  definition,  but  the 
word  is  also  specially  applied  to 
a  kind  of  sweet  preserve  made 
of  many  things,  and  has  thence 
been  somewhat  incorrectly  taken 
to  mean  a  medley  of  trifles  of 
any  kind.  Also  chow-chow,  "  to 
have  a  meal. "  In  the  Mandarin 
dialect  cki-fan,  showing  that  the 
radical  of  the  word  means  to 
eat,  and  not  a  mixture. 

"  Littee  Jack  Horna, 
Makee  sit  inside  coma, 
Choiv-clunv  he  Clismas-pie  ; 
He  puttee  inside  t'um." 
We  ate  chow-chow  with   chopsticks  on 
the  celestial  restaurants. — Mark  Twain; 
Innocents  at  Home. 

The  word  chow<how  is  suggestive 
especially  to  the  Indian  reader  of  a  mixture 
of  things  good,  bad,  and  indifferent ;  of 
sweet  little  oranges  and  bits  of  bamboo 
stick,  slices  of  sugar-cane  and  rinds  of 
unripe  fruit,  all  concocted  together  .  .  . 
into  a  very  tolerable  confection. — Bombay 
Quarterly  Review,  1858. 


250 


Chowing — Chucked. 


Chowing  or  chippingf  (theatrical), 
incessant  talking,  grumbling. 

Christening  (thieves),  christening 
a  watch  is  altering  the  name  of 
maker  and  number. 

Christians  (Cambridge  Univer- 
sity), a  name  given  to  the 
members  of  Christ's  College, 
Cambridge. 

Chuck  (Westminster  School),  a 
schoolboy's  treat. 

(Military),  mealy  bread.  (Nau- 
tical), hard  chuck,  sea  biscuit. 
(Popular),  explained  by  quota- 
tion. 

A  labourer  will  term  a  fellow  he  dislikes 
"a  beggar  who  eats  chuck,"  chuck  being 
a  low-priced  part  of  the  carcase. — Stan- 
dard. 

Also  bread  and  meat. 
(Common),  the  chuck,  turning 
out  of  doors,  dismissal. 

And  I  shall  get  the  blooming  chuck  as 
well  as  fourteen  days. — Sporting  Times. 

Chuck,  to  (popular),  to  eat. 

Mo  and  his  man  were  having  a  great 
breakfast  one  morning.  .  .  .  Mo  exclaimed 
to  his  man,  "  Chuck  rumbo  (cat  plenty)  my 
lad." — Hindlcy:  Life  and  Adventures  of 
a  Cheap  Jack. 

To  turn  out  of  doors,  used 
specially  in  reference  to  drunken 
men  forcibly  ejected  f  rom-public- 
honses. 

There's  one  on  'em  a-sitting  next  to  me 
.  .  .  let's  chuck  him. — Sporting  Times. 

To  chuck  or  chuck  up,  to  give 
up  the  game  or  attempt,  from 
the  custom  of  throwing  up  the 
sponge  at  a  prize  fight. 


The  rest  of  us  can  chuck  up  work  indefi- 
nitely.— Sporting  Times. 

Chuck  a  fit,  to  (popular),  to  pre- 
tend to  have  a  fit. 

He  suddenly  tumbled  across  Stephens 
and  Pascal's  "  Words  and  Music  for  Chil- 
dren of  all  Ages,"  and  he  neaxly  chucked 
a  fit  when  he  saw  that  No.  9,  described 
as  a  drinking  song,  was  called  "Ginger 
Beer,"  and  in  praise  of  that  fluid  ! — Sport- 
ing Times. 

Chuck  and  toss  (popular),  tossing 
for  halfpence. 

They  frequently  had  halfpence  given  to 
them.  They  played  also  at  chuck  and 
toss  with  the  journeymen,  and  of  course 
were  stripped  of  every  farthing. — Afay- 
Iiew.  London  Labour  and  the  London 
Poor. 

Chuck  a  stall,  to  (thieves),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

I  said  to  my  pal,  "  Chuck  me  a  stall  and 
111  have  that."  What  did  I  mean  ?  Why, 
keep  close  to  me,  and  cover  what  I'm 
doing. — Greenwood :  Seven  Years'  Penal 
Servitude. 

Chuck  churches  (old  slang),  those 
who  dealt  simoniacally  in  the 
sale  of  livings  were  so  called. 

Chucked  (prison),  acquitted  or 
released.  "  7,  or  the  chuck  for 
a  clock,"  inscribed  on  a  prison 
wall,  meant  that  the  writer  ex- 
pected seven  years'  penal  servi- 
tude, if  he  was  not  acquitted, 
on  the  charge  of  stealing  a 
watch. 

Rit  from  7  dials ;  remanded  innocent 
on  two  charges  of  pokes,  only  out  2  weeks 
for  a  drag,  expects  to  be  fullicd  or  else 
chucked. — Horsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 


Chucked — Chull. 


251 


(Popular),  disappointed,  thrown 
out,  sold,  reproved. 

Chucked  again,  chucked  again  ! 
Whatever  may  happen  I  get  all  the  blame. 
Wherever  I  go,  it  is  always  the  same — 
Jolly  well  chucked  again  ! 

— Yardley:  Chucked  Again. 

Chucked  in,  into  the  bargain. 

Went  to  one  on  'em  yesterday,  Charlie  ;  a 
regular  old  up  and  down  lark. 

The  Pallis  free  gratis,  mixed  up  with  a  old 
country  fair  in  a  park, 

And  Rosherville  gardens  chucked  in. 

— Punch. 

Chucked  up  (prison),  discharged 
from  jail. 

When  i  was  chucked  up  they  took  me 
to  an  old  Jew's  in  Dudley  Street  for  my 
clothes. — Evening  News. 

Chucker  (cricketers),  a  bowler 
who  throws  the  ball  instead 
of  bowling  it.  Also  one  who 
volunteers  to  play,  and  does  not 
keep  his  promise. 

(Common),  chucker,  or  chucker 

out,  a  waiter  or  potman  whose 

duty  it  is  to  turn  drunkards  out. 

'Tis  midnight— the  chucker  his  duty  has 

done ; 
In  the  gutter  lies  Liza — she's  been  in  the 
"sun." 

— sporting  Times. 

Used  figuratively. 

Lord  Grey  was  about  to  resume  his  role 
of  chucker  out  to  the  proposed  measure  of 
his  own  party. — Punch. 


(Anglo-Indian), 
quoit. 


chucTcer,    a 


Chuck  in  (popular),  to  challenge  ; 
from  the  prize-fighting  custom 
of  throwing  a  cap  into  the  ring. 
Nearlv  obsolete. 


Chucking  a  curly  (military), 
going  sick  without  cause.  To 
"chuck"  a  fit  is  a  common 
slang  expression  for  counter- 
feiting one,  and  the  curly  may 
be  traceable  to  the  contortions 
and  convulsions  of  the  supposed 
sufferer,  who  is  all  curled  up  as 
he  lies  writhing  on  the  bed  or 
floor. 

Chucking  a  jolly  (coster- 
mongers),  ironically  praising  a 
greenhorn,  or  the  goods  of  a 
comrade. 

Chucking  rocks  (American), 
throwing  stones. 

Chuckle-head  (popular),  a  man 
with  a  large  head,  a  dunce. 

Chuck-me-dos  (bird  fanciers),  a 
variety  of  singing-bird,  in  imita- 
tion of  its  notes. 

Talk  about  yer  Middlesex  rubbish,  with 
their  toU-loU-loll-kiss-me-dears ;  they  don't 
touch  yer  reg'ler  good  chuck-me-dos  by  any 
number  of  chalks.—/.  Greenwood:  In 
Strange  Company. 

Chuck  the  dummy,  to  (thieves), 
to  feign  an  epileptic  attack  or  a 
fit.  In  prisons  the  expression 
applies  to  one  who  feigns  an 
epileptic  fit  in  order  to  be  re- 
moved to  the  infirmary. 

Chuff  it  (popular),  be  off. 

Chull  (Anglo-Indian),  make  haste 
An  abbreviation  of  the  Hindo- 
stanee  chuLlo,  go  along. 


252 


Chummage — Cincinnati. 


Cbummag'e,  chumming-up  (old), 
a  custom  amongst  prisoners  be- 
fore imprisonment  for  debt  was 
abolished.  When  a  fresh  man 
was  admitted  to  their  number, 
rough  music  was  made  with 
poker,  tongs,  sticks,  and  sauce- 
pans. For  this  ovation  the  ini- 
tiated prisoner  had  to  pay 
(Hotten). 

Chummy  (popular),  chimney- 
sweep. Also  a  low-crowned 
felt  hat. 

Chump  (popular),  for  chum. 

Fancy,  old  chump, 
Me  doing  the  sawdusty  reglar,  and  foller- 
ing  swells  on  the  stump. 

— Punch. 

A   hard-headed   feUow ;    the 
head.     "  Off  his  cAwnip,"  insane. 

Old  gentleman  off  his  chump— r\in<, 
Away.—Si'ms :  Social  Kaleidoscope. 

(American),  a  chump,  a  fellow, 
chap. 

We  believe  that  he  is  the  man  to  put  on 
the  turf  with  John  L.  with  bare  fists,  and 
stop  the  big  chump's  noise. — New  York 
National  Police  Gazette. 

Chump  of  wood  (rhyming  slang), 
no  good. 

Chunk  (streets),  explained  by 
quotation. 

Here  they  gambol  about  like  rabbits, 
until  somebody  raises  the  cry,  "  Nix  !  the 
chunk "  (the  slang  term  for  School  Board 
officer).  —  Thor  Fredur :  Sketches  from 
Shady  Places. 

Chunks  (American),  large  quan- 
tity. 


Look  here,  pard,  we've  struck  it  this 
time  ;  chunks  of  it  \—New  York  Star. 

Church,  a  term  of  endearment. 
"  My  church,"  my  dear ! 

(Thieves),  to  "church  a  yack," 
vide  Christening. 

Churched  (common),  married. 

"If  it  were  not  for  the  women,  I  fear 
few  churches  would  be  wanted."  "  Of 
course  not,  there'd  be  no  one  to  be 
churched." — Sporting  Times. 

Chu-shimgf  (pidgin),  Chinese  »/(eon- 
chu-shang,  "you  little  beast"  or 
"animal."  Often  used  jestingly 
in  conversation  with  flower-boat 
girls. 

She  talkee,  "  Whomenyou  comedisside? 
My  pay  you  flog  gum,  sheon<hu-shang,  you 
littee  beasts  —  san-ne-ko-tow — my  cuttee 
off  your  head  !  "—The  Little  Wife. 

Chuzzle,  to  (popular),  cheat,  cir- 
cumvent. 

Cig  (American),  a  cigar. 

Dancing  the  jig, 
Every  fellow  with  a  cig, 
And  a  cig  of  confounded  bad  tobacco. 
— Broadside. 

Cinch  (American),  to  subdue,  get 
the  better  of,  extort,  impose 
upon. 

My  father  is  wealthy,  and  I  think  I  can 
cinck  him  for  five  hundred  dollars. — 
Denver  Republican. 

(Thieves),  to  put  the  screw  on 
any  one. 

Cincinnati  olives  (American), 
pigs,  because  a  large  quantity 
of  olive  oil  is  manufactured  out 
of  Cincinnati  lard. 


Cinder — Claret-jug. 


253 


Cinder  (common),  a  dram  of 
spirits  mixed  with  seltzer  or 
soda  water.  (Sporting),  the 
cinder,  the  running  path. 

At  Lords'  wickets,  or  Lilley  Bridge 
cinder.— Funny  Folks. 

Cinder  grabber  (popular),  a  ser- 
vant maid. 

Circumbendibus  (common),  in  a 
roundabout  way.     A  long  yarn. 

Circus  cuss  (thieves),  circus 
rider. 

City  college  (thieves),  Newgate 
prison. 

Civil  rig  (beggars),  a  trick  of 
beggars  to  obtain  alms  by  over 
civility. 

Civvies  (army),  a  suit  of  civvies, 
i.e.,  civilian's  clothes. 

Clack  (popular),  the  tongue, 
speech ;  to  clack,  to  talk  idly, 
to  chatter. 

Clack  box  (common),  a  garrulous 
person. 

Clacker  (popular),  talk,  chatter, 
also  pudding  or  pie  crust. 

I  hope  we've  got  plenty  of  clacker  for 
Christmas  if  we  haven't  got  anything  else. 
— Rare  Bits. 

Clack-loft  (popular),  a  pulpit. 

Gladder  (old),  a  male  flirt. 

ClaggTim  (popular),  boiled  treacle 
hardened.     From"closr." 


Claim  (Australian  and  American), 
a  miner's  allotment. 

The  hill  is  systematically  honey-combed 
with  claims  old  and  new. — L.  IVork : 
Australian  Printers'  Keepsake. 

(Thieves),  to  claim,  to  steal 

Clam  butcher  (American),  a  man 
who  opens  dams. 

Clank  (thieves  and  tramps),  a 
tankard. 

Tip  me  the  clank,  like  a  timber-mort  as 
you  are. — Disraeli:  Venetia. 

Clanker  (old  cant),  silver  plate. 

Clapper  (popular),  the  tongue; 
more  especially  that  of  a  loqua- 
cious person. 

Clapper-dudgeon  (old  cant),  a 
beggar  born. 

Claras  (Stock  Exchange),  Cale- 
donian Railway  stock. 

For  we  have  our  Sarahs  and  Claras, 
Our  Noras  and  Doras  for  fays. 

— Atkin :  House  Scraps. 

Claret  (pugilistic),  a  term  which 
has  become  general  for  blood. 

If  you  spill 
One  drop  of  his  claret  that's  not  in  your 

bill, 
I'll  hang  you.     By  jingo  !  I  will. 

— Ing;oldsby  Lesends. 

To  tap  the    claret,  to    draw 
blood. 

Claret-jug  (pugilistic),  now  com- 
mon for  the  nose. 

What,   oh   what's   the    meaning    of   that 

chappie's  blackened  eyes '/ 
On  his  claret-jug,  I  ask  you,  what's  that 

variegated  rise  ? 

— Bird  o'  Freedom. 


254 


Classy — Cleymans. 


Classy,  clashy  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
common  sort  of  person,  a  tent- 
pitcher,  a  chain-bearer. 


In  such  a  country  it  was  perfectly  hope- 
less to  dream  of  getting  any  of  the  clean 
skins  home  to  the  yards. — Finch  Hation : 
Advance  Australia. 


Claw  (prison),  a  lash  of  the  cat-o'- 
nine  tails. 

Oh  !  cass  that  old  Kerr,  who  condemned 
me  to  twenty-five  claws  with  the  cat. 
—  Greenwood:  A  Night  in  a  Work- 
house. 

Claw-hammer  (common),  dress 
coat.  In  French  slang,  queue 
de  pie,  or  siffiet. 

The  black  claw-hammer  coat  was  gene- 
rally -worn.— Standard. 

Claws  for  breakfast  (prison),  a 
humorous  expression  for  the 
infliction  of  the  cat,  which 
usually  takes  place  in  the 
morning. 

...  A  rufSan  being  uncertain  as  to  the 
morning  when  he  is  to  have,  as  he  himself 
would  say,  clams  /or  breakfast,  is  in  the 
habit  of  lying  night  after  night  in  a  sweat 
of  terror. — Greemvood :  In  Strange  Com- 
pany. 

Clean  (thieves),  expert,  smart.  In 
French,  un  soldat  propre  is  a 
smart  soldier. 

Clean  out,  to  (common),  to  take 
or  win  all  one  has  ;  to  ruin. 

Ah  !  ...  he  has  cleaned  me  out,  but  I 
can  go  and  earn  some  more  when  I  like. — 
Dickens :  Oliver  Tivist. 


Clean  skin  (Australian),  the  term 
for  unbranded  and  wild-bred 
cattle  which  have  escaped  to 
the  scrubs. 


Clean  straw  (Winchester  College), 
clean  sheets.  Formerly  the 
beds  had  a  straw  mattress, 
hence  the  expression. 

Clean  the  slate,  to  (popular),  to 
pay  off  all  debts. 

And  everything  comes  right  some  day. 
Though  "  thirty-five  per  cent."  is  hot, 
'Tis    cheap  when    pa    pays    all    the 

shot! 
Let  hatter,  tailor,  fellahs  wait, 
A  wife  with  cash  will  clean  the  slate. 
— Ballad :  Tra  la  la. 

Clear  (thieves),  drunk. 

Clear  crystal  (popular),  spirits 
generally,  but  more  correctly 
probably  gin  or  whisky  only. 

Cleave  (old  slang),  one  that  will 
cleave  is  said  of  wanton  and 
forward  women,  such  as  would 
throw  themselves  at  a  man  with- 
out waiting  for  favour  to  be 
asked  of  them. 

Clerked  (old),  imposed  upon. 

Clerk's  blood  (old),  red  ink.  A 
common  expression  of  Charles 
Lamb's. 


Clever  -  shins 

fellow. 


(schools),    a     sly 


Cleymans  (old  cant),  artificial 
sores  made  by  beggars  to  im- 
pose upon  people. 


Click  — Clobber. 


255 


Click  (popular),  a  blow ;  to  dick, 
to  snatch. 

Clicks  in  the  gob,  blows  on  the 
mouth. 

.  .  .  What  with  clouts  on  the  nob. 
Home  hits  in  the  bread  basket,  clicks  in 
the  gob. 
— Moore :  Tom  Crib's  Memorial. 

Clicker  (printing),  a  person  in  a 
printing-office  who  is  at  the 
head  of  a  certain  number  of 
compositors  for  a  particular 
division  of  work  or  otherwise. 
It  is  also  used  in  the  shoemak- 
ing  trade.  (Trade),  a  female 
touter  at  a  bonnet-shop,  or  the 
servant  of  a  salesman  who  stands 
at  the  door.  (Popular),  a  knock- 
down blow. 

Clift,  to  (thieves),  to  steal. 

Clinch  (popular  and  thieves),  to 
get  the  clinch,  to  be  imprisoned. 

Clincher  (general),  a  settler. 

Clink  (military),  another  term  for 
guard-house,  derived  evidently 
from  the  Clink,  one  of  the  ancient 
London  prisons,  that  of  West- 
minster. Sir  Walter  Scott,  in 
"  Peveril  of  the  Peak,"  makes 
Jem  Clink  one  of  the  warders 
in  Newgate. 
(Thieves),  plate. 

He  wouldn't  have  been  hobbled  but  the 
melting-pot  receiver  proved  his  selling  flie 
clink  to  him. — G.  Parker:  Variegated 
Characters. 

Clinker  (common),  any  thing  or 
person  that  is  first-rate,  equiva- 
lent to  a  "  stunner." 


The  yellow-haired  girl  at  the  bar.  A 
clinker,  ain't  she  ?  gave  me  these  (cigars), 
and  they  are  'orrid  bad. — Ward  or  Wife. 

(Thieves),  a  chain. 

Clinkerum  (old),  the  gaoL  From 
the  old  prison  called  the  "Clink." 

Clink-rig  (thieves),  stealing  tan- 
kards from  public -houses. 

Clipper  (general),  something  very 
good,  very  fast,  above  the  aver- 
age. Derived  from  the  swift- 
sailing  ships  called  opium  and 
tea  clippers. 

There  must  be  a  new  horse  bought,  not 
a  knacker's  sort  of  horse,  mind  yer,  but 
a  regler  clipper;  a  chestnut;  goes  like 
steam,  Sam  ses  it  do." — ■/.  Greenwood: 
The  Little  Ragamuffins. 

Clipping  (general),  excellent. 
A  "clipping  ball,"  a  ^'dipping 
good  chap."     Vide  Clippeb. 

Clishpen  (tinker),  to  break  by 
letting  fall. 

Clisp  (tinker),  to  fall ;  let  fall. 

Cloak- twitchers  (old  cant),  thieves 
who  robbed  passers-by  of  their 
cloaks.  The  old  French  tire- 
laine. 

Clobber  (popular  and  thieves), 
clothes.  A  corruption  of  that 
word,  with  a  change  of  syllable. 

If  you  are  hard  up  always  tell  the  dear 
things  that  j-ou  are  a  gentleman's  valet. 
This  will  account  for  your  good  clobber. — 
Sporting  Times. 

Next  morning  I  got  up  about  seven,  and 
went  home  to  change  my  clobber,  and  put 


256 


Clobbered  up — Clothes-pin. 


on  the  old  clobber  to  work  with  the  kipsy. 
— Horsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Clobbered  up  (popular  and  vul- 
gar), dressed  up. 

"  D'you  know,  if  you  were  clobbered  up 
I  shouldn't  mind  taking  you  out?"  She 
promised  to  be  presentable.  In  her  own 
words,  she  said,  "  I'll  come  clobbered  up 
like  a  dukess." — Fun. 


(Theatrical),      patched 
shabby-genteel  get  up. 


up; 


Clock  (English  and  American),  a 
watch. 

When  you  have  the  clock  safe  in  your 
hand,  break  the  little  ring  that  holds  it  to 
the  chain,  using  both  hands  to  do  it,  and 
then  drop  the  sucker  (victim)  into  his 
chair  (seat)  again,  and  say,  "  Wait  here  till 
I  bring  you  a  cab." — Philadelphia  Press. 

Clock -calm  (nautical),  perfect 
calm. 

Clod -crushers  (American),  an 
epithet  used  by  Americans  to 
describe  the  large  feet  which 
they  believe  to  be  the  charac- 
teristics of  Englishwomen  as 
compared  with  those  of  their 
own  country,  an  opinion  shared 
by  other  foreign  critics  as  well ; 
but  in  reality  the  question  is 
one  that  rests  wholly  on  the  art 
of  the  shoemaker,  and  it  is  a 
fact  that  English  ladies  of 
fashion  (who  generally  show 
greater  regard  for  the  appear- 
ance of  their  nether  extremity, 
from  the  garter  downward,  than 
their  more  humble  and  plain 
sisters  usually  do)  can  favour- 
ably compare,  in  that  respect  at 
least,  with  any  of  the  dainty, 


neat-ankled,  light-tripping  ones 
of  New  York  or  Paris.  At  any 
rate  they  take  more  wholesome 
exercise  in  the  fresh  air,  and  if 
they  fail  to  satisfy  to  the  same 
extent  the  eye  of  the  artist  or 
the  voluptuary,  they  are  able  to 
walk  greater  distances  without 
groaning  at  every  step,  and 
decidedly  have  the  advantage 
at  "  crushing  clods." 
(Common),  large  feet. 

Cloister-roush  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). Formerly  in  cloister- 
time  two  halves  of  the  school 
used  to  rush  from  the  ends  of 
the  school  at  each  other.  To 
run  "cloisters":  when  a  man 
in  junior  part  is  put  into  senior 
part  without  passing  through 
the  middle  one  he  is  said  to 
"  run  cloisters." 

Clothes,  coloured  (army),  plain 
clothes  as  distinguished  from 
uniform.  More  particularly  in 
the  infantry,  and  the  expression 
"  coloured  "  is  probably  ironical, 
plain  clothes,  or  mufti,  being  as 
a  rule  less  strongly  coloured 
than  the  crimson  livery  of  the 
Queen.  The  expression  has 
oflicial  sanction,  however,  and 
is  often  used  at  courts-martial, 
when  a  prisoner  is  charged  with 
having  "  absented  himself  with- 
out leave,  until  apprehended  in 
'  coloured  clothes,'  "  &c.  &c. — 
out  of  uniform,  that  is  to  say. 

Clothes-pin  (American),  that's 
the  sort  of  clothes-pin  I  am,  i.e., 
that's  the  sort  of  man  I  am. 


Cloth-market — Cly. 


257 


Cloth-market  (old),  a  term  for  a 
bed,  quaint  but  not  slang. 

Miss,  your  slave ;  I  hope  your  early  ris- 
ing will  do  you  no  harm :  I  find  you  are 
but  just  come  out  of  the  cloth-market. — 
Swift:  Polite  Conversation. 

An  old  French  corresponding 
term  is  haUe  aux  draps. 

Cloud-cleaner  (nautical),  an  ima- 
ginary sail  carried  by  a  Yankee 
bottom. 

Clout  (common),  a  blow.  A 
"  clout  in  the  chops,"  a  blow  on 
the  face.  (Thieves),  a  pocket- 
handkerchief. 

Clouting  (thieves),  stealing  hand- 
kerchiefs. 

Clow  (Winchester  College),  a  box 
on  the  ears;  to  clow,  to  box 
one's  ears. 

Clower  (old  cant),  possibly  allied 
to  the  Gaelic  cliah,  a  basket ; 
termed  "kipsy"  by  English 
thieves. 

Cloyer  (old  cant),  one  who  at- 
tempted to  share  in  the  profits 
of  a  robbery  or  a  swindle  in 
which  he  bore  no  part. 

Then  there's  a  cloyer  or  snap,  that  dogs 
any  new  brother  in  the  trade,  and  snaps  ; 
and  will  have  half  in  any  booty. — Roaring 
Girl :  Sixteenth  Century. 

Club,  to  (military),  to  get  a  party 
of  men  or  troops  into  a  confused 
mass  through  a  blunder  when 
manoeuvring. 

Cly  (thieves),  pocket. 


To  his  dies  my  hooks  I  throw  in,  and 
collar  his  dragons  clear  away.  —  W. 
Maginn :  Vidocq's  Slang  Song. 

Old  cant,  dye,  to  take,  to  seize, 
from  old  English  deyes,  claws. 
Cly  is  provincial  for  money.  To 
take,  steal,  money,  pocket  seem 
to  be  interchangeable  terms  in 
various  slang  languages. 

Cly  in  old  cant  had  also  the 
signification  of  sack,  basket, 
possibly  from  Gaelic  cliah, 
basket. 

Clye,  cly,  to  (old  cant),  to  take, 
to  seize. 

Gerry  gan,  the  ruffian  clye  thee. —  T. 
Hamtan:  Caveat. 

To  cly  off,  to  carry  away. 

Here  safe  in  our  skipper  let's  cly  off  our 

peck. 
And  bowse  in  defiance  o'  th'  Harman-beck. 
— Broojne :  Jovial  Crew. 

Also  cly,  to  steal. 
Cly-faker  (thieves),  a  pickpocket. 

They  were  gentlemen  sharpers,  and  not 
vulgar  cracksmen  and  cly-fakers. — Lytton  : 
Pelham. 

This  may  be  from  cly,  a  pocket, 
as  suggested,  but  it  is  worth 
noting  that  in  Dutch  thieves' 
slang,  kleifolher  is  a  thief  who 
wanders  about,  derived  from 
fokker,  one  who  goes  about,  and 
Ueif,  silver.     Vide  Cly. 

Cly-faking'      (thieves),      picking 
pockets.     Vide  Fake. 

"What  is  cly-fakingV  .  .  .  "Why,  a 
prigging  of  wipes,  and  sneeze-boxes,  and 
ridicules,  and  such." — //.  Kingsley:  Ra- 
vcnshoe. 

Cly  the  jerk,  to  (old  cant),  to 
stand  in  the  pillory. 

R 


258 


Coach — Cob. 


Coach  (university  and  public 
school),  the  private  tutor  by 
whose  aid  a  student  is  "  driven  " 
through  his  examination  at  the 
university.  It  is  now  no  longer 
peculiar  to  the  university. 

He  was  a  student  at  Christ  Church  and 
a  Fellow  of  Merton,  and  in  early  life  was 
a  very  successful  coach  at  Oxford. — The 
World. 

A  tutor  not  connected  with  a 
college  is  sometimes  termed  a 
"  rural  coach." 

(General  and  sport),  to  coach, 
to  instruct,  to  "drive,"to  prepare 
a  man  for  an  examination ;  a 
word  which  has  now  almost  at- 
tained to  a  recognised  place  in 
the  language. 

I  coached  him  before  he  got  his  scholar- 
ship ;  he  ought  to  have  taken  honours 
before  Easter,  but  he  was  ill. — G,  Eliot : 
Deronda. 

Also  to  instruct  in  physical 
acquirements,  such  as  boating, 
&c. 

He  had  already  been  down  several  times 
in  pair-oar  and  four-oar  boats,  with  an  old 
oar  to  pull  stroke,  and  another  to  steer  and 
coach  the  young  idea. — T,  Hughes:  Torn 
Jlrcrwn  at  Oxford, 

Coaching'  (common),  instructing. 

An  almost  recognised  word. 

There  is  no  sport  which  is  healthier 
.  .  .  than  rowing  under  proper  coaching 
and  supervision. — Staruiard. 

(Rugby),  a  flogging. 

Coach-'wrheel  (popular  and 
thieves),  a  crown  piece  ;  French 
slang  roue  de  derriire. 

Coal,  cole  (common),  money ; 
"post  the  cole,"  put  down  the 
money. 


Coaling  (theatrical),  a  coaling 
part,  a  part  which  is  popular 
with  the  audience — one  which 
elicits  great  applause ;  coaling 
lines,  telling  speeches. 

It  was  customary  some  years 
ago,  when  a  young  actor 
achieved  a  success  in  a  part  of 
this  character,  for  some  ancient 
idiot  to  put  a  piece  of  coal  in 
the  youngster's  dressing-place. 
One  fails  to  see  the  fun  of  this. 

Hotten  says  coaling,  profitable, 
very  good,  is  derived  from  coal, 
money. 

Coals  (common),  to  "pull  over 
the  coals,"  to  scold.  (Nautical), 
to  "take  one's  coals  in,"  to 
catch  a  venereal  disease. 

Coal-scuttle  (American),  a  nick- 
name for  the  peculiar  bonnet 
worn  by  Quakeresses,  which 
was  exactly  the  shape  of  an  old- 
fashioned  coal-scuttle.  Some 
years  ago  coal-scuttle  bonnets 
were  worn  in  England.  Vv.le 
Leech's  sketches. 

There  was  Miss  Snevellici  .  .  .  glancing 
from  the  depths  ofher(r^a/-jc«^</<r  bonnet  at 
Nicholas. — Dickens :  Nicholas  Nickleby. 

Cob  (popular),  a  piece  of  bread 
baked  in  a  round  form  for 
dinner. 

(English  prisons),  a  dark  pun- 
ishment cell. 

Cob,  to  (schoolboys),  to  catch  or 
detect.     Coh  is  jjrobably  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  cant  word  "  cop," 
from  the  gypsy  kap. 
(Popular),  to  deceive,  humbug. 


Cobble-colter — Cockatoo. 


259 


Cobble-colter  (tramps  and  gyp- 
sies), a  turkey. 
Come,  old  mort,  tout  the  cobhle<olter. 

.   .   .   And    Beruna,    flick    the    panam. — 

Disraeli:  Venetia. 

Cobbled  (schoolboys),  caught  or 
detected.  Cobbled  is  a  variation 
of  "  cobbed."     Vide  To  CoB. 

Cobbler  (Australian  shearers' 
slang),  the  last  sheep.  This 
term  is  very  widely  spread  in 
Victoria.  It  is  a  pun  of  the 
shearers.  The  cobbler  is  the  man 
with  the  last,  and  therefore  they 
call  the  last  sheep  the  cobbler. 

Cochineal  dye  (pugilistic),  blood. 

He  would  kindly  inquire  of  one  gentle- 
man, "What  d'ye  ask  for  a  pint  of  your 
cochinealdye  ?" — C.Bede:  Verdant  Green. 

Cock  (racing),  "  a  cock  horse," 
properly  a  child's  rocking-horse, 
is  a  horse  kept  in  the  betting 
quotations  to  deceive  public 
backers,  though  known  to  the 
private  layers  against  him  that 
he  has  no  chance  of  winning, 

(Tailors),  a  good  cock,  one 
who  thoroughly  understands 
how  a  garment  should  be  made. 
A  poor  cock,  the  reverse. 

(Thieves),  an  abbreviation  of 
"  cockney." 

(Pugilistic),  a  man  knocked 
out  of  time  ;  used  in  the  phrase 
"knocked  him  a  cock.'^  From 
the  expression  "to  knock  into 
a  cocked  hat." 

(Printers),  vide  Jeff  and 
Theow.  When  throwing  or 
j  effing,  should  one  or  more  of 
the  nine  quadrats  not  fall  flat, 
but  lodge  crosswise  on  another, 


it  is  termed  a  cock,  and  the 
thrower  is  allowed  another  turn 
or  chance. 

(Popular),  to  cock,  to  smoke 
(Hotten). 

Cock  a  ball,  to  (cricketers),  to 
throw  a  ball  under-handed. 

Cock-a-brass  (old  cant),  a  con- 
federate of  card- sharpers  who 
remains  outside  the  public- 
house  where  they  are  operating. 
When  they  have  left,  cock-a-brass 
protects  their  retreat  by  mis- 
leading statements  to  the  victim 
on  the  direction  taken  by  them. 

Cock-a-hoop  (common),  in  high 
spirits ;  alluding  to  a  victorious 
cock  crowing.  This  is  borne  out 
by  the  French,  "se  dresser  sur 
ses  ergots,"  to  be  elated  or  to 
look  proud  and  defiant. 

Cock  and  hen  club  (common),  a 
free  and  easy  gathering  where 
persons  of  both  sexes  are  ad- 
mitted. One  composed  exclu- 
sively of  males  is  a  "  stag  party," 
whereas  a  gathering  of  females 
who  do  congregate  for  the  pur- 
pose of  drinking  tea  and  gossip- 
ing is  termed  a  "  cat  party." 

Cock  and  pinch.  The  old  beaver 
hat  cocked  back  and  front,  and 
pinched  at  the  sides. 

Cockatoo  (Australian  up-country). 
Also  cockatoo  farmer  or  settler, 
a  small  settler.  Sometimes 
termed  cocki/.  So  called  to 
compare  them  with  the  common 
sulphur-crested  white  cockatoos, 
which  come  down  6n  the  newly 
sown  cornfields  in  myriads. 


26o 


Cockatoo —  Cocks. 


The  cockatoo  settlers  or  free  selectors 
fight  desperately  for  the  privilege  of  pick- 
ing out  any  piece  of  land  they  may  fancy. 
— Grant:  Busk  Life  in  Queensland. 

A  cockatoo  fence  is  one  on  a 
cockatoo's  farm. 

The  trees  themselves,  .  .  .  woven  with 
their  branches  into  the  stout  cockatoo 
fence.  —  BlackiuoocFs  Magazine :  C.  T., 
Imjiressions  o/ Australia. 

Cocked  hat  (common),  "knocked 
into  a  cocked  hat,"  completely 
beaten,  smashed,  out  of  shape. 

Cocked  his  toes  (thieves),  dead. 

Cocked  it  (tailors),  examined  it, 
saw  it,  spoke  of  it. 

Cocker  (low),  my  cocker,  my  good 
fellow. 

"I'm  on,  my  cocker,"  1  sez.  "Giv'  us 
your  ';ind  on  it,  my  pippin,  and  arf  a  quid 
on  account." — //.  Evans:  The  Brighton 
Beach  Loafer. 

Cock-eye  (popular),  one  who 
squints. 

Cockles  (popular),  more  a  vulgar- 
ism than  slang.  Literally  the 
wrinkles. 

In  Bermondsey  not  long  ago  there  lived  a 

little  dame  ; 
She  was  the  cockles  of  my  heart,  and  Nancy 

was  her  name. 

— Nancy  Fancied  a  Soldier. 

Cockneyshire  (tailors),  London. 

Cock-quean,  a  female  cuckold,  or 
a  wife  whose  husband  goes  with 
other  women.  A  beggar  or 
cheat  (Wright). 


Queene  June,  not  a  little  wroth  against 

her  husband's  crime, 
By  whome  she  was  a  cock-quean  made. 
— Warner:  Albion's  England. 

Cockroaches  (old  slang),  to  get 
cockroaches,  a  phrase  used  at 
one  time  to  describe  the  prac- 
tice of  secret  vices. 

Cockrobin  shop  (printers),  a  small 
printing-office  where  common 
work  is  done,  and  where  labour 
is  badly  paid  for,  is  usually  de- 
scribed as  such.  From  the  fact 
that  some  cheap  printers  were 
noted  for  the  issue  of  fly-leaves, 
on  which  were  printed  stories, 
such  as  the  "Death  of  Cock 
Robin." 

Cocks  (common  publishing  slang). 
According  to  Hotten,  "  fictitious 
narratives  in  verse  or  prose  of 
murders,  terrible  accidents,  &c." 
They  are  the  topical  legends  of 
the  street.  The  suggestion  that 
the  term  is  derived  from  a 
"  cooked  "  statement  is  very  far- 
fetched ;  that  it  came  from  a 
"  cock  and  bull  story  "  is  at  least 
ingenious.  It  is  possible,  though 
not  proved,  that,  as  these  nar- 
ratives were  originally  chiefly 
sung  in  a  dull  chant,  the  pro- 
verbially wearisome  and  mono- 
tonous songster,  the  cuckoo, 
gave  the  original  name  to  these 
C'^oi-minstrels  and  their  wares. 
The  Dutch  say  of  such  a  voca- 
list, "  Hy  zingt  den  Koekeoks 
zang,"  he  sings  the  cuckoo's 
song — "  he  harps  always  upon 
the  same  string." 
(Pugilistic),  blows. 


Cock-sure —  Coddom. 


261 


Cock-sure  (popular),  certain,  con- 
fident. Probably  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  "  cocky-sure,"  i.e.,  confi- 
dent, as  a  "cocky"  fellow.  It 
has  been  suggested  that  the 
origin  ought  to  be  sought  in  the 
old  practice  of  cock-throwing. 
Shakespeare  uses  the  expression 
in  the  sense  of  "sure  as  the 
took  of  a  fire-lock." 

We  steal  as  in  a  castle,  cock-sure.  .  .  , 
We  walk  invisible. — Henry  IV. 

Cock-up  (printers),  a  term  for 
superior  letters  or  figures,  such 
as  used  for  abbreviations,  i.e. 
"Mr- "or  "A\"  &c. 

Cocky  (common),  saucy. 

Cocky.     Tide,  Cockatoo. 

Cocoa-nut  (common),  the  head. 
French  slang,  le  coco. 

Cocum  (common  London  slang, 
also  Yiddish).  In  Hebrew 
chochum,  chochem,  or  cochcm, 
crafty,  learned,  wise,  or  a  wise 
man.  According  to  Hotten  the 
English  slang  term  means 
shrewdness,  ability,  luck. 
"Jack's  got  cocum"  he's  safe 
to  get  on.  Among  themselves 
German  thieves  call  one  another 
by  this  name.  Mr.  Hotten  does 
not  recognise  any  Hebrew  origin 
for  the  word,  and  suggests  that  it 
is  "allied  to  the  Scottish  keek  and 
German  gucken,  to  peep  or  pry 
into."  In  Yiddish  cocJiemer  or 
cochem,  pronounced  almost  like 
cocum,  means  wisdom  ;  cochum- 
wirth,  a  thieves'  landlord  ;  each- 


mat  Schlaumauck,   the  wisdom 
of  Solomon. 

"  Wie  grau  sejnen  deine  werk,  got,  ale 
hastu  gemacht  mit  chochmah,  die  welt  is 
vul  deine  akufte,  du  hast  sei  beschafen." — 
Polish-German  Yiddish  Translation  of 
the  104/A  Psalm,  cited  by  GrUnbaum. 

(Theatrical),  wariness,  to 
"fight  cocum"  to  be  cautious. 

(Booksellers),  a  sliding  scale 
of  profit  in  the  book  trade  in 
cases  where  the  books  are 
not  marked,  according  to  your 
customer. 

Cod  (popular),  a  fool;  to  cod, 
to  chaff,  hoax.  An  idiom  im- 
ported from  the  sister  isle. 

She  threw  a  plaice  right  in  my  face, 

And  told  me  to  depart. 
I  thought  that  she  was  codding  me. 

And  told  her  I  should  stop. 
She  lifted  up  her  lovely  foot, 

And  kicked  me  out  of  the  shop. 

— Barrett:  Old  Jones's  Gal. 

(Thieves),  a  purse.  Gaelic 
cod,  a  bag. 

(Tailors),  a  drunkard ;  on  the 
cod,  drinking  and  neglecting 
work.  From  coddle,  a  pro- 
vincialism for  to  indulge. 

Codd  (Charterhouse),  probably 
from  codger,  an  old  pensioner. 

Yonder  sit  some  threescore  old  gentle- 
men, pensioners  of  the  hospital,  .  .  .  the 
Cistercian  lads  called  these  old  gentlemen 
codds. — Thackeray:  The  Neiucomes. 

Codding  (Irish  schoolboys),  non- 
sense, humbug,  chaff. 

Coddom  (popular),  explained  by 
quotation. 

The  convicts  take  advantage  of  that  to 
the  extent  sometimes  of  playing  a  gam- 


262 


Coddom — Cold. 


bling  game  called  coddom.  It  is  simple 
enough.  They  play  three  or  four  a  side, 
the  implement  being  a  button  or  a  peculiar- 
shaped  small  piece  of  stone,  "guess 
whose  hand  it  is  in  "  being  the  principle. 
— J.  Greenwood:  Seven  Years'  Penal 
Servitude. 

Hotten  gives  "coddam,  a 
public-house  game,  much  affec- 
ted by  medical  students  and 
cabmen." 

Codgfing  job  (tailors),  a  garment 
to  repair. 

Cod  -  lasher  (theatrical),  a  kind 
of  suspender  used  by  tight-rope 
dancers,  acrobats,  pantomimists, 
&c.,  to  protect  the  crutch. 
From  cods,  which  see. 

Cods  (common),  the  testicles. 
Cod  properly  is  a  pad  and  bag 
for  the  testicles.  Gaelic  cod, 
a  bag. 

Cofe  (old  cant),  fellow. 

What,  stowe  your  bene,  co/e. — T.  Har- 
man :  Caveat. 

Co£fee-null  (common).  The  mouth 
is  so  termed,  but  the  phrase 
is  rarely  heard  now,  having 
given  place  to  others. 

(American),  explained  by 
quotation. 

One  of  the  old-pattern  Colts,  with  the 
barrels  revolving ;  the  ancient  coffee-mill 
or  "pepper-box."  —  //.  L.  WiUiavis : 
Buffalo  Bill. 

French  slang  has  moidin  a 
cafe  for  a  mitrailleuse. 

Coffee-shop  (popular),  the  W.C. 
Also  a  coflin. 


Coffin-ships  (nautical),  any  leaky 
cranky  unseaworthy  vessels. 

Cog(oldcant),atooth.  (Sharpers), 
to  co^r,  to  cheat  at  dice.  (Schools), 
to  cheat  at  examinations  by 
using  cribs  or  other  sources  of 
information.  A  perfectly  recog- 
nised word  in  the  sense  of  de- 
ceive, cheat  generally  ;  hence 
cogs,  loaded  dice. 

Coge,  or  coag  it,  to  (American), 
according  to  Bartlett,  refers  to 
the  habitual  and  excessive  use 
of  ardent  spirits.  Cogue,  to  drink 
drams  (Wright).  From  provin- 
cial English  cogue,  a  dram. 

Coguing  the  nose  (nautical), 
making  comfortable  over  hot 
negus  or  grog.  From  provin- 
cial English  cogue,  a  dram. 

Coker.     Vide  Clanker. 

Cold  blood,  a  house  licensed  for 
the  sale  of  beer  "not  to  be 
drunk  on  the  premises  "  (Hot- 
ten). 

Cold  coffee  (common),  misfortune. 
(Oxford),  a  trumpery  affair. 

Cold  comfort  (traders),  said  of 
articles  sent  out  on  approval 
and  returned. 

Cold  cook  (popular),  an  under- 
taker (Hotten). 

Cold  deck  (American),  a  prepared 
pack  of  cards,  played  on  a  green 
board. 

Cold  meat  (popular),  a  corpse. 


Cold —  Collaring. 


263 


Cold  meat  box  (popular),  a  coffin. 

Cold  pig  (popular),  a  dash  of  cold 
water  to  waken  an  indolent 
servant  or  lazy  person  in  the 
morning. 

He  never  threw  cold  water  over  her 
when  she  was  in  bed.  Mr.  Justice  re- 
marked that  no  doubt  many  of  them  knew 
what  cold  pig  was. — Daily  News. 

(Thieves),  a  person  who  has 
been  robbed  of  his  clothing.  A 
corpse. 

(Commercial),  returned  goods. 

Cold  shake  (American),  a  cold 
period  of  weather,  also  used 
sometimes  in  reference  to  fever 
and  ague.  As  a  figure  of  speech 
it  is  applied  to  cold  and  reserved 
conduct.  "  It  gives  me  the 
ccld  shakes  just  to  look  at  her — 
she's  so  frozen  up  an'  digner- 
fied." 

Cold  tea  (common),  brandy.  In 
use  also  during  the  last  century. 
The  Spectator,  Tatler,  and  Ouar- 
dian  often  allude  to  a  "keg "  of 
ccM  tea. 

Cold  thing  (American  cadet),  to 
have  a  cold  thing,  to  have  a  cer- 
tainty, to  be  entirely  confident 
of  anything. 

Cold  water  army  (common),  a 
facetious  name  given  to  the 
fraternity  of  teetotallers. 

An  old  stager  was  compelled  by  his 
worthy  spouse  to  join  the  cold  "water 
army,  which  he  did,  promising  not  to 
touch  a  drop  of  anything  except  in  sick- 
ness. He  has  never  been  well  since. — 
Diprose :  Modern  Joe  Miller, 


Cold  without  (common),  spirits 
with  cold  water  and  without 
sugar. 

1  laugh  at  fame.  Fame,  sir  I  not  worth 
a  glass  of  fold  -without. — Lytton:  My 
Novel. 

Cole  (popular),  money.  Tide 
Coal. 

Moreover,  the  whole  of  the  said  cash  or 

cole 
Shall  be  spent  for  the  good  of  the  old 

woman's  soule. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Colfabis,  a  Latinized  Irish 
phrase,  signifying  the  closet  of 
decency,  applied  as  a  slang 
term  to  a  place  of  resort  in 
Trinity  College,  Dublin. 

Colinderies  (society),  modern 
term  for  the  Colonial  Exhibition, 
used  as  an  abbreviation. 

Colla,  cuUo  (gypsy),  a  thing, 
things.  "  Chiv  yer  cuLloi  adre 
the  wardo" — "  Pitch  your  things 
into  the  waggon  1 " 

Collar  (common),  "  out  of  collar," 
out  of  cash,  not  in  training ; 
a  phrase  borrowed  from  the 
stable.    Also  out  of  work. 

A  decent  allowance  made  to  seedy 
swells,  head  robbers,  and  flunkeys  out  of 
collar.     (Slang  advertisement.) 

To  collar,  to  seize,  to  steal 
(Thieves),  "  to  collar  his  dra- 
gons," to  steal  his  sovereigns. 

Collar  day  (old),  hanging  day. 

Collaring'  the  big  bird  (theatri- 
cal), getting  hissed.    An  allu- 


264 


Collar — Colours. 


sion  to  a  goose's  mode  of  ex- 
pressing angry  dissatisfaction. 

Collar  'work  (common),  hard 
work ;  an  uphill  journey. 

And  when  Lucca  was  reached  there 
were  still  fourteen  miles,  nearly  all  collar 
■work,  between  that  and  the  baths. — Trol- 
lope :  What  I  Remember. 

Collector  (old  cant),  a  street 
robber. 

Colleger  (University  and  schools), 
the  square  cap  worn  by  univer- 
sity men,  or  by  boys  at  public 
and  other  schools. 

Colley  (theatrical).  Actors  and 
others  connected  with  the  stage 
speak  of  the  columbine  as 
cMey. 

Colly- wobbles  (popular),  rumb- 
lings in  the  intestines ;  the 
belly-ache.  A  probable  origin 
is  colic-Jco6Wes,  the  latter  word 
from  to  wobble,  i.e.,  to  shake 
from  side  to  side.  But  it  should 
be  noted  that  colly  is  a  provin- 
cialism for  anything  irregular, 
uneven,  wrong. 

Colo  (pidgin),  cold. 

Hab  lib  in  colo  land, 

Hab  stop  where  we  belong, 
What  tim  much  soUy  in-i-sy  {inside, 
in  her  heart), 
She  makee  dis  sing  song. 

— The  Princess  in  Tartary. 

Colonial  (Australian  and  Ameri- 
can), unsettled,  because  in  the 
early  days  of  the  colonies  men 


dressed  and  behaved  unconven- 
tionally, and  life  and  property 
were  by  no  means  so  secure  as 
they  are  now.  Also  rude,  rough, 
ungainly,  awkward,  used  in  this 
sense  more  in  England  than  in 
Australia.  An  Englishman  will 
say  very  or  thoroughly  colonial 
in  a  contemptuous  way. 

Colours  (prize  ring),  the  hand- 
kerchiefs, displaying  some  de- 
finite colour  or  pattern,  chosen 
by  prize-fighters  as  their  dis- 
tinguishing badges  on  the  day 
of  a  contest.  The  third  "rule 
of  the  ring,"  as  revised  by 
the  PugUistic  Association,  lays 
down  : — "That  every  man  shall 
be  provided  with  a  handker- 
chief of  a  colour  suitable  to  his 
own  fancy,  and  that  the  seconds 
proceed  to  entwine  these  hand- 
kerchiefs at  the  upper  end  of 
one  of  the  centre  stakes  of  the 
ring ;  that  these  handkerchiefs 
shall  be  called  the  colours,  and 
that  the  winner  of  the  battle  at 
its  conclusion  shall  be  entitled 
to  their  possession  as  the  trophy 
of  victory." 

There  was,  among  the  greater 
favourites,  the  "bird-eye"  wipe, 
the  wipe  or  handkerchief  of  any 
colour  with  spots,  but  generally 
with  white  ground  and  blue 
spots;  the  "blood-red  fancy," 
all  red  ;  the  "yellow  man,"  all 
yellow ;  the  "  yellow  fancy," 
yellow  with  white  spots ;  the 
"cream  fancy,"  with  coloured 
pattern  on  a  white  ground  ;  the 
"blue  Billy,"  with  a  white 
pattern  on  a  blue  ground ;  and 


Colours — Come.. 


265 


many  more.  Among  the  colours 
specially  associated  with  the 
names  of  pugilists  are  the 
"Belcher"  {Jem,  the  champion), 
dark  blue  ground  with  a  spot 
in  the  middle  of  darker  hue, 
and  large  white  spots ;  the 
"Randal's  man,"  green,  with 
white  spots;  "King's  man," 
green,  with  yellow  pattern. 

(Australian  miners),  originally 
the  gold  visible  after  washing, 
either  good  or  poor  colour,  as 
the  case  may  be,  but  the  ex- 
pression is  generally  used  that 
there  is  just  enough  to  show 
the  presence  of  gold. 

Colquarron  (old  cant),  a  person's 
neck.  From  cole,  Anglo-Nor- 
man for  neck,  and  quarron, 
cant  for  body.  Vide  QuAE- 
EON. 

Colt,  a  juryman  at  his  d^but ; 
properly  a  person  without  ex- 
perience. (Cricketers),  a  young 
inexperienced  player,  a  pro- 
fessional at  his  first  season. 
(Thieves),  a  young  thief. 
(Popular),  to  colt,  to  make  one 
pay  for  his  footing.  Hotten 
gives  the  definition  "to  make  a 
person  free  of  a  place,  which 
is  done  by  his  standing  treat, 
and  submitting  to  be  struck  on 
the  sole  of  the  foot  with  a  piece 
of  board."  This  is  a  relic  of  the 
old  London  'prentice  days,  when 
it  was  an  exaction  of  money, 
usually  spent  in  ale,  termed  colt 
ale,  paid  by  an  apprentice  at  the 
commencement  and  expiration 
of  his  apprenticeship. 


Colt-man  (American),  a  man 
who  keeps  horses  specially  for 
burglars. 

Columbine  (theatrical),  a  prosti- 
tute. 

Columbus  (theatrical).  One  would 
have  thought  that  this  illus- 
trious navigator  would  naturally 
be  associated  with  some  new 
and  successful  discovery,  never- 
theless a  "regular  Columbus" 
is  synonymous  with  hopeless 
"frost,"  or  utter  failure. 

Comb-brush  (old),  a  lady's  maid. 

The  maid  who  at  present  attended  on 
Sophia  was  recommended  by  Lady  Bellas- 
ton,  with  whom  she  had  lived  for  some 
time  in  the  capacity  of  a  cofnb-brush. — 
Fielding :  Tom  Jones. 

Comb-cut  (common),  mortified, 
like  a  cock  disgraced  by  the 
deprivation  of  his  comb. 

Comb  down,  to  (Australian),  to 
ill-treat,  thrash.  Like  the 
French  "donner  unepeign^e." 

.  .  .  Narrating  how  he  had  copped  the 

old on  the  hop  and  co»tbed  him  down 

to  rights. — A.  C.  Grant. 

Combing  the  cat  (nautical),  the 
boatswain,  or  other  operator, 
running  his  fingers  through  the 
cat-o'-nine-tailsto  separate  them 
(Smyth). 

Comb  the  hair,  to  (common),  to 
scold ;  French  "  laver  la  t^te." 

The  process  called  combing'  his  kair  for 
him  is  said  not  to  be  uncommon  in  married 
circles. — Globe. 

Come  down  to  (common),  to  pay. 


266 


Come — Common. 


Do  you  keep  the  gentleman  in  dis- 
course while  I  speak  to  the  prisoner  and 
see  how  he  can  come  d<nvn. — Johnston: 
Chrystal. 

Come  it  over,  to  (popular),  to 
deceive  by  wheedling,  to  rule 
by  assumption  of  superiority  or 
otherwise. 

Don't  try  to  come  it  over  me  like  your 
sister  comes  it  over  you. — Greenwood: 
Almost  Lost. 

Come  it,  to  (thieves),  to  inform ; 
also  to  be  quiet. 

He  heard  one  of  the  others  say  in  reply, 
"  Come  it,"  meaning  to  tell — to  be  quiet. — 
Daily  Telegraph. 

(Pugilistic),  to  show  fear. 

Come  on  (turf),  said  of  a  horse 
that  has  improved,  is  in  good 
form. 

He  was  at  one  time  last  year  a  few 

pounds  in  front  of ,  and  if  he  has  come 

on,  that  form  would  give  him  a  consider- 
able charm. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Come  souse,  to  (pugilistic),  to 
faU. 

As  it  was.  Master  Georgy  came  sense  with 

the  whack. 
And  there  sprawled,  like  a  turtle  turned 

queer  on  its  back. 

—  Tom  Cribb's  Memorial  to  Congress. 

Come  this-side  (pidgin-English), 
arrived  here.  "Just  now  hab 
got  two  piecee  joss-house  man 
come  this-side." 

Come,  to  (popular),  to  practise, 
to  understand. 

We  ain't  two  by  ourselres  as  comes  that 
dodge. — Greenwood :  Tag,  Rag,  df  Co. 

(Prostitutes),  refers  to  ejacu- 
lation. 


Comical  (popular),  a  napkin. 

Coming  it  at  the  broa(Js  (card- 
sharpers),  explained  by  quota- 
tion. 

People  whose  education  has  been  ne- 
glected might  possibly  have  failed  to 
understand  that  coming  it  at  tlie  broculs 
or  at  the  box  meant  in  common  parlance 
playing  cards  or  dice.— /"A*  Bat. 

Coming  it  strong  (popular),  carry- 
ing things  to  an  unreasonable 
degree;  exaggerating. 

He  here  shook  his  head— right  little  he 
said, 
But  he  thought  she  was  coming  it 
rather  too  strong. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Coming  the  old  soldier  (popular), 
to  trick  one  by  false  represen- 
tations, such  as  are  made  by  a 
rogue  who  pretends  to  be  an 
oW  soldier. 

Permit  me,  if  you  and  your  two  friends 
think  of  coming  what  is  vulgarly  called  t/te 
old  soldier  over  me,  to  make  you  under- 
stand that  you  had  better  abandon  the 
intention. — J.  Greenwood:  Dick  Temple. 

Commission  (old  cant),  a  shirt ; 
Italian,  camicia.  In  more  mo- 
dern slang  a  "  mish." 

Clean  linen  yields  a  shirt  before  we  rise. 
Which  is  a  garment  shifting  in  condition  ; 
And  in  the  canting  tongue  is  a  commission. 
—  Taylor's  Works. 

Commister.     Tide  Camistee. 

Common  bounce  (prison),  one  who 
makes  accusations  of  unnatural 
crime,  employing  lads  as  decoys. 

To  do  most  professional  thieves  justice, 
tliey  never  speak  of  these  unique  wretches 


Common  — Compradore. 


267 


except  in  terms  the  most  contemptible. — 
Michael  Davitt :  Leaves  from  a  Prison 
Diary. 

Common  doingfs  (Americanism), 
plain,  wholesome  fare,  as  distin- 
guished from  dainties. 

Commoner  {old  cant),  a  novice ; 
greenhorn. 

Commoner  grub  (Winchester  Col- 
lege), a  dinner  given  by  college 
to  commoners  when  cricket 
matches  are  over. 

Commonise,  to  (Oxford  Univer- 
sity). Two  or  more  are  said  to 
comtnonise  when  they  have  their 
meals  together.  Commonising 
means  strictly  that  each  should 
bring  his  "commons." 

Common  jack  (army),  low  prosti- 
tutes are  thus  termed  by  the 
military  in  Woolwich,  and  pro- 
bably in  other  garrison  towns. 

Common  plugs  (American),  the 
common  rut  of  mankind — the 
ol  iroWol — sometimes  the  great 
unwashed,  but  more  commonly 
very  ordinary  people  indeed, 
neither  the  big- wigs  nor  the 
dregs  of  society. 

Many  will  meet  us  in  the  depths  of  the 
forest  and  go  away  thinking  that  we  are 
just  coiumon  plugs,  of  whom  the  world 
wots  not ;  but  there  is  where  they  fool 
themselves. — New  York  Mercury. 

Commmiicator.  Agitate  the  com- 
municator,  ring  the  belL 

Commmiion  bloke  (prison),  a 
religious  hypocrite. 


He  was  a  cotnmunion  bloke.  This  was 
the  pious  gentleman. — Evening  News. 

Comp.  (printers).  Vide  Gallet- 
SLAVES.  Generally  applied  to 
compositors  as  an  abbreviation, 
but  originally  the  short  term 
for  companion  used  both  by 
pressmen,  who  work  in  pairs, 
and  by  compositors  who  work 
in  companionships ;  nowadays 
accepted  as  the  abridgment  of 
compositor  only. 

Comped  (printers),  set  up  or  com- 
posed matter  ;  abbreviation  of 
word  composed. 

Competition  wallah  (Anglo-In- 
dian), members  of  the  Civil 
Service  who  have  entered  it  by 
the  competitive  system. 

The  competition  wallah  .  .  .  dins  per- 
petually in  our  ears  the  greatness  of 
India. — Saturday  Revie-w. 

Compo.  (printers),  abbreviation 
for  the  composition  of  which 
printing  rollers  are  made — 
principally  of  treacle  and  glue. 
(Nautical),  a  sailor's  monthly 
wages. 

Compradore  (pidgin),  from  the 
Portuguese  compi-ador,  a  pur- 
chaser. Formerly  used  in 
India,  where  it  originated,  now 
in  general  use  only  in  Chinese- 
English.  The  comprador  of  the 
present  day  is  a  steward  or  but- 
ler, who  manages  all  the  house- 
hold affairs,  supplying  by  con- 
tract, not  only  furniture  and 
provisions,  but  even  servants. 


268 


Compresado —  Conscience. 


An'  Massa  Coe  feel  velly  sore, 
An'  go  an'  scold  he  cotnpladore  / 
An'  compladore  all  hollor  shook, 
Lun  dunny  stairs  an'  bang  he  cook. 
— Mary  Coe. 

Compresado  (gypsies),  an  in- 
former. 

Con  (Winchester),  from  kovIvKov, 
a  knuckle — a  blow  on  the  head 
given  by  the  knuckles  or  any 
hard  substance. 

Concaves  and  convexes  (card- 
sharpers),  cards  cut  in  a  parti- 
ticular  way,  and  thus  contrived 
for  cheating. 

Conchers  (up-country  Australian), 
tame  or  quiet  cattle. 

Condog  (popular),  to  agree  with. 
A  variation  from  concur. 

Confab  (society),  conversation, 
generally  of  a  private  nature. 

Confederate  (Texas),  "you're 
mighty  confederate,"  a  phrase 
used  by  a  Texan  when  he  wishes 
to  express  the  strongest  possible 
approval  of  some  sentiment  or 
thing. 

Confidence  dodge  or  buck  (com- 
mon), explained  by  extract 
from  Daily  Telefjrapk : — 

"...  Swindled  him  out  of 
his  watch  and  chain  by  means 
of  that  ten  thousand  times 
repeated  rogue's  device,  the 
confidence  trick.  It  was  the 
old  game  pure  and  simple 
— the  threadbare  hocus-pocus 
of  inviting  the  victim,  a  per- 


fect stranger,  to  '  come  and 
have  a  drink,'  and  while  the 
friendly  glass  is  being  discussed 
in  comes  another  man,  who 
joins  in  the  conversation,  and, 
in  a  casual  way,  mentions  that 
he  has  just  inherited  several 
thousand  pounds,  and  that,  as 
a  thank-offering,  he  should  like 
to  give  away,  by  deputy,  a  few 
hundreds  to  the  deserving  poor, 
and  is  ready  to  hand  over  the 
largess  there  and  then  to  any 
person  who  can  show  to  his 
satisfaction  that  he  is  of  an 
unsuspicious  disposition ;  the 
same  to  be  proved  by  his  en- 
trusting the  money  and  jewellery 
he  may  happen  to  have  about 
him  to  his,  the  benevolent  lega- 
tee's, keeping,  while  the  latter 
goes  away  for  half-an-hour  or 
so  with  the  same." 

Congee,  conjee  (Anglo-Indian), 
rice  water ;  from  the  Tamil 
kanshi,  "boilings." 

Conk  (common),  nose. 

His  "  dexter  ogle  "  has  a  "  mouse ;  " 
His  conk's  devoid  of  bark. 

— A  tkin  :  House  Scraps. 

"  Conky  "  is  a  nickname  given 
by  schoolboys  to  one  with  a  pro- 
minent nose.  The  great  Duke 
was  called  "  Old  Conky." 

Conscience  (theatrical),  a  kind  of 
association  in  a  small  company 
for  the  allotment  of  shares  in 
the  profits,  &c.  The  man  who 
is  lucky  enough  to  have  a  con- 
cern of  his  own,  generally  a 
very  small  affair,  however  badly 


Conscience — Conveyer. 


269 


he  may  act,  must  be  the  leading 
man  or  first  low  comedian,  per- 
haps both.  He  becomes  the 
manager,  of  course,  and  thus 
has  one  share  for  "  fit-up,"  one 
for  scenery,  one  and  a  half  for 
management,  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.  Thus  the  manager 
takes  nearly  all  the  proceeds. 

Consonant  choker  (society),  one 
who  cannot  pronounce  his  R's 
and  his  G's. 

Consoo  (pidgin),  consul. 

My  makee  first-chop  pidgin  long-side 
dat  consoo  man,  dat  man  no  lawts  (lazy), 
he  blongy  plenty  smart  inside. — News- 
paper. 

Constable   (common),  to   outrun 
or  overrun  the  constable,  to  get 
into  debt. 
Harkee,    my   girl,    how  far   have   you 

overrun  the  cotistable  ?     I  told  him    that 

the   debt   amounted  to  eleven  pounds. — 

Smollett:  Roderick  Random. 

Constician  (theatrical),  an  or- 
chestral musician. 

Consumah,    khansama    (Anglo- 
Indian).     Persian,     khansaman, 
house-steward,  or  provider,  or 
butler. 
"  I  have  taught  my  khansama  to  make 

very     light    iced    punch." — Jacquemont : 

Letters. 

Contango  (Stock  Exchange),  cor- 
ruption of  continuation,  a  re- 


newal of  a  bargain,  a  specula- 
tive sale  or  purchase.  The 
premium  paid  by  a  buyer  of 
stock  to  the  seller,  when  upon 
selling  day  he  wishes  the  bar- 
gain to  remain  open. 

B  stands  for  broker,  for  bull  and  for  bear, 
C's  the  contango  that's  paid  by  the  bull. 
— A  thin :  House  Scraps. 

Continent  (Winchester  College), 
to  be  continent,  is  to  be  on  the 
sick-list.  Continent  work,  work 
done  while  on  the  sick-list. 

Continental  damn  (American), 
a  term  applied  at  a  very  early 
time  in  the  Republic  to  any- 
thing utterly  worthless,  and 
supposed  to  have. originated  in 
some  allusion  to  the  Continental 
currency  or  American  assignats. 
Not  to  care  a  continental,  not 
to  care  a  damn. 

Continuations  (common),  trousers 
or  breeches. 

Convenient  (old  cant),  a  mistress. 

Convey,  to  (thieves),  to  steal. 

But  as  I  am  crack,  I  will  convey,  cross- 
bite,  and  cheat  upon  Simplicius. — Atar- 
si  on. 

Conveyancer  (thieves),  a  thief,  a 
pickpocket. 

Conveyancing  (common),  steal- 
ing ;  picking  pockets. 

Ihe  green  youth  who  attempted  to 
decamp  with  's  watch  .  .  .  was  pro- 
perly punislied  for  his  verdancy  in  the  art 
of  conveyancing. — Modern  Society. 

Conveyer  (old),  a  thief.  The  ex- 
pression is  used  by  Shakspeare 


270 


Cooked —  Cooper. 


in  King  Richard  II.  The  French 
argot  has  the  correspondent 
emporteur,  with  a  like  significa- 
tion. 

Cooked  (society),  done,  defeated, 
finished  up,  exhausted. 

Cook  his  goose,  to  (common), 
to  kill,  ruin  a  person. 

Thus  abstinence,  which  cooks  the  goose. 
At  length  Sal's  life  has  doflfed. 

— A  Song:  Drunken  Sally. 

Also  to  worst  one. 

Billy's  too  big  in  the  Westphalia's  gig- 
lamps,  you're  the  boy  to  cook  Fosbrooke's 
goose. — C.  Bede:  Verdant  Green. 

Cook,  to  (artists),  to  dodge  up  a 
picture.  Artists  say  that  a  pic- 
ture will  not  cook  when  it  is 
excellent  and  unconventional, 
and  beyond  specious  imitation 
(Hotten). 

(Colloquial),  to  prepare,  tam- 
per with,  as  to  cook  accounts, 
returns. 

A  fixed  percentage  on  every  backer's 
pound,  and  the  oflfchance  of  cooking  the 
returns. — Sporting  Times. 

I  hate  my  Lady,  because  she  has  locked 
my  cooked  2kC<:.o\xvA%  in  the  bower  saloon. — 
I'utich. 

Cool  (common),  used  in  reference 
to  a  largo  sum  of  money. 

Suppose  you  don't  get  sixpence  costs, 
and  lose  your  cool  hundred  by  it. — Miss 
E.l^e-djorth  :  Loi'c  and  Law. 

Coolaman  (Australian  blackfel- 
lows),  a  word  adopted  from  the 
blacks  by  the  whites  to  describe 
a  blackfellow's  drinking  vessel, 
and  then  apjilied  gcncndly. 


A  few  broken  gourds  .  .  .  and  a  cracked 
coolaman  were  to  be  seen  here  and 
there.— .^.  Grant:  Busk  Life  in  Queens- 
land. 

Cooler  (American),  prison.  So 
called  on  account  of  its  being 
a  fit  place  for  getting  sober  or 
cooling  down  ;  or  from  cooler,  a 
large  tub,  as  in  quotation. 

They  came  near  soaking  him  in  the 
cooler. — F.  Francis :    Saddle  and  Moc- 


(Popular),  a  glass  of  beer  after 
drinking  spirits.    Also  a  woman. 

Coon  (American),  short  for  racoon, 
a  man.  The  term  first  became 
general  nearly  fifty  years  ago. 
A  gone  coon  (also  English),  one 
who  is  ruined,  lost. 

Coon's  age  (American),  a  very 
popular  expression  to  signify  a 
long  time,  the  racoon  being 
regarded  as  a  very  long-lived 
animal. 

I  saw  Miss  Jones  inside  the  stage, 
'Tis  now  an  hour  or  so, 
It  seems  to  me  an  old  coon's  age 
Since  I  beheld  her  go. 

— Ncivspaper  Ballad. 

Coop  (streets),  prison,  abbrevia- 
tion of  hen-coop. 

Vou  say  that  you  have  been  in  the  coop 
as  many  times  as  I  have. — J.  Greenwood : 
Dick  Temple. 

Cooper,  to  (American),  to  under- 
stand. 

Why  on  earth  nature  made  you  in  the 
shape  she  did  is  more  tli.in  I  can  cooper. 
— A  vierican  Neius/mper. 


Cooper —  Coppas. 


271 


Possibly  from  a  metaphor,  I 
cannot  cooper,  I  cannot  grasp, 
that  is  beyond  my  capacious- 
ness, comprehension.  Else  from 
co-operate,  with  the  sense  of 
concur. 

(Thieves),  to  destroy,  spoil, 
forge ;  to  cooper  a  manniker, 
forge  a  signature.     Vide  CooP- 

EEED. 

Coopered  (turf  1,  a  horse  that  has 
been  hocussed  or  otherwise  pur- 
posely injured  so  as  to  prevent 
him  from  running,  was  formerly 
said  to  be  coopered.  The  ex- 
pression is  sometimes  used  now 
as  in  quotation. 

Till  they  served  him  up  a  "  coopered 

job," 
And  then  of  course  he  came 

A  most  conclusive  "  smasher." 
— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

(Tramps),  a  coopered  place,  a 
house  that  has  been  spoilt  by 
too  many  tramps  calling  there 
(Hotten). 

Coopered,  in  the  sense  of  fall- 
ing in,  ruined,  is  possibly  allied 
to  the  Scotch  cowp,  to  tumble 
over. 

Coorsy  (Anglo-Indian),  a  chair ; 
Arabic  kursl. 

Cooter.     Vide  Coutee. 

Cop  (thieves),  a  policeman.  Vide 
To  Cop. 

Wen  that  cc/"got  his  hand  on  my  collar, 
he  ought  to  'ave  knowed  like  a  shot, 

By  the  Astrykan  only,  that  I  wasn't  one 
of  the  Socherlist  lot. 

— Punch. 


The  copi,  the  police. 

Then,  as  them  cowards  of  cops  'ave  as 
much  on  their  'ands  as  they  kin  do  with, 
now's  the  time  for  a  bit  of  a  loot ! — Punch. 

(Anglo-Indian),  evp  !  beware ; 
an  abbrevation  of  coprador. 

Cop-bung'  (thieves),  a  warning 
cry  when  the  police  make  their 
appearance. 

Johnny  Miller,  who  was  to  have  his 
regulars,  called  out  cop-bung  I  for,  as  you 
see,  a  fly-cop  was  marking. — On  the  Trail. 

Cop  busy  (thieves),  the  act  of 
handing  plunder  to  a  confede- 
rate, so  as  to  have  nothing 
about  one  when  arrested. 

Cop,  to  (popular  and  thieves), 
to  take,  arrest,  steal,  catch. 

I'm  right  Tory  right  down  to  my  boots,  at 
a  price,  and  I  bellered,  "  'Ear,  'ear  !  " 

But  they  don't  cop  yours  truly  with  chaff 
none  the  more,  my  dear  Charlie,  no 
fear. 

—Punch. 

"Here,  cop.''  I  did  not  understand 
what  he  meant  by  the  phrase.  ...  I  did 
not  attempt  to  cop.  Suddenly  I  saw  three 
boiled  potatoes,  a  pudding,  and  a  six- 
ounce  loaf  roll  on  the  floor. — Evening 
News. 

(Sporting),  to  win,  to  get 
money ;  a  dead  cop,  a  sure 
method  of  arriving  at  this  result. 

To  cop  is  derived  by  Hotten 
from  Latin  capere ;  more  pro- 
bably it  comes  from  the  gypsy 
kap  or  cop,  to  take  ;  Scotch,  kep  ; 
Gaelic,  ceapan. 

Coppas  (gypsy),  blankets,  cover- 
ings, tiles. 


272 


Copper —  Corker. 


Copper,  cop  (popular  and  thieves), 
a  policeman ;  from  "  to  cop," 
which  see. 

"  Then  three  coppers  came."  "  Cop- 
fers,  coppers,  what  are  they  ?  "  Witness  : 
"  Policemen,  your  worship." — Standard. 

Copperheads  (American),  pro- 
perly poisonous  serpents.  The 
term  was  applied  by  the  Fede- 
rals to  the  peace  party. 

Copperman  (Australian  prison),  a 
policeman. 

Copper  nose,  the  vulgar  term  for 
acne  rosacea,  the  red,  enlarged, 
pimply  nose  of  chronic  alcohol- 
ism. 

Coppers  (popular),  mouth ;  espe- 
cially a  parched  one  after  pota- 
tions. 

A  fellow  can't  enjoy  his  breakfast  after 
that  without  something  to  cool  his  coppers. 
— Hughes :  Tom  Brown  at  Oxford. 

"Hot  coppers"  is  a  phrase  for 
a  mouth  parched  by  excessive 
drinking,  or  "  as  dry  as  a  lime 
basket." 

Copper,  to  (gaming),  when  play- 
ing at  faro,  to  cover  a  stake 
with  a  small  check,  which 
signifies  that  the  card  selected 
is  backed  to  lose,  not  win. 

Oh,  d — n  Squito !  It  seems  like  she'd 
coppered  me.  Ever  since  she — since  I 
sten  that  gal,  luck's  gone  dead  against 
me. — /''.  Francis:  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Copus  (Cambridge  University). 
Talking  Latin  at  table,  or  similar 
improprieties,  are  followed  by 
the  infliction  by  the  students  of 


a  fine.     A  copus,  or  quart  of  ale, 
is  a  common  penalty. 

Corduroy  -  road  (American  and 
Australian),  a  road  made  of 
branches  and  logs  laid  side  by 
side.  The  branches  stand  out 
like  the  ribs  of  corduroy. 

Cork  (common),  a  bankrupt. 
"Probably,"  says  Hotten,  "in- 
tended to  refer  to  his  lightness, 
as  being  without  ballast." 

(Pugilistic),  "  to  draw  a  cork" 
is  to  "  tap  the  claret,"  i.e.,  to 
give  a  bloody  nose. 

(Army),  Captain  Cork,  applied 
at  mess  when  any  one  is  slow 
in  passing  round  the  bottle. 

Corkage  (hotels),  a  sum  charged 
per  bottle  to  persons  providing 
their  own  wine.  This  term  can 
hardly  be  considered  as  slang, 
but  as  a  word  unrecognised  by 
dictionaries. 

Corker  (theatrical).  A  regular 
corker  is  a  duffer  ;  an  imbecile'; 
one  who  corks  or  bottles  up 
another  actor's  effects,  or  ruins 
a  play. 

(English  and  American), 
sometliiug  that  closes  up  or 
settles  a  question ;  something 
unusually  large,  remarkable. 

The  Crown  Prince's  lunch-bill  was  rather 

a  corker  ; 
No  wonder   His  Highness  refused  for  to 

pay.  — Fun. 

Also  first-rate ;  at  the  top  of 
the  tree. 

Jake  Kilrain  is  a  corker,  and  ought  to 
luive  the  championship  of  the  world. — 
Xeiv  York  National  Police  Gazette. 


Corks —  Corpse-reviver. 


273 


Corks  (popular),  a  butler,  alluding 
to  his  functions.  Also  money  ; 
though  originally  a  nautical 
term,  this  is  very  much  used 
by  printers. 

Corned  (colloquial),  intoxicated. 
From  over-indulgence  in  drink 
strong  enough  to  "corn"  one 
(Wright),  ' '  Possibly  from  soak- 
ing or  pickling  oneself  like 
corned  beef,"  says  Hotten.  It 
has  been  suggested  that  it  is 
from  the  Keltic  corn,  French 
come,  a  horn  used  formerly  as 
a  drinking  vessel.  As  we  say 
that  a  man  is  in  his  "  cups,"  it 
is  possible  that  our  very  remote 
ancestors  said  of  him  that  he 
was  horned  or  corned,  but  it  is 
almost  beyond  doubt  that  the 
term  is  an  Americanism  from 
corn,  a  very  common  name  for 
whisky.     (Tailors),  pleased. 

Comer  (common),  to  get  a  corner 
is  to  get  the  entire  control  of  a 
stock,  and  so  make  it  impossible 
for  others  to  complete  their  bar- 
gains or  to  purchase. 

He  had  been  mixed  up  disadvantage- 
ously  in  a  recent  corner  in  marbles. — 
Punch. 

(London),  the  "  Corner,"  Tatter- 
sail's  horse  repository  and  bet- 
ting-rooms, which  was  at  Hyde 
Park  Corner.  (Thieves),  a  share 
— generally  a  share  in  the  pro- 
ceeds of  a  robbery. 

Cornered  (tailors),  in  an  inextri- 
cable dilemma ;  for  instance,  a 
man  makes  a  garment  which  is 
already  paid  for,  and  pawns  it, 


spends  the  money,  and  can't 
raise  the  amount  to  release  it 
when  wanted. 

Cornish  duck  (city),  a  pUchard. 
"  It  frys  in  its  own  grease." 

Cornstalks  (Australian),  the 
settlers,  especially  the  girls, 
so  called  because  their  average 
height  is  very  great,  though  they 
are  fragile. 

We  talk  of  cornstalks  or  "slab-sided 
Yankees,"  and  have  in  our  minds  a  tall 
but  rather  thin  figure  as  representative  of 
Australasia  and  America. — Globe. 

Com  -  stealers  (American),  the 
hands. 

"How  is  you  been,  my  old  Bullock?" 
and  he  squeezed  his  corn-stealers  till  the 
old  gineral  began  to  dance  like  a  bear 
on  red-hot  iron. — Sam  Slick:  The  Clock- 
maker. 

Corporal  Forbes  (Anglo-Indian), 
a  soldier's  name  for  cholera 
morbus. 

We  are  all  pretty  well,  but  a  great  quan- 
tity are  in  hospital  with  Corporal  Forbes. 
— Shipp's  Memoirs. 

Corpse  provider,  a  facetious  name 
for  a  physician. 

"  Doctor,"  cried  the  happy  mother,  as 
she  waltzed  into  the  consulting-room  of 
the  Brixton  corpse  provider,  "  I  wish  to 
consult  you  about  my  baby's  legs." — 
— Sportitig  Times. 

Corpser.     Vide  To  Cobpse. 

Corpse-reviver  (common),  a  dram 
of  spirits. 

There  was  a  general  rush  for  wet  towels 
and  corpse-revivers. — Sporting  Times. 

s 


274 


Corpse —  Counterfeit. 


Corpse,  to  (theatrical),  to  confuse, 
to  put  out  fellow-actors  by 
sticking  fast  in  the  dialogue ; 
kill  a  scene  through  ignorance, 
wilfulness,  or  stupidity.  A  con- 
tretemps of  this  kind  is  called 
"a  regular  corpser." 

Corroboree  (up  country  Austra- 
lian), to  boil ;  a  word  borrowed 
from  the  natives,  who  thus  call 
one  of  their  wild  dances.  Whites 
generally  use  it  in  the  sense  of 
disturbance,  hence  it  is  said 
that  a  kettle  corroborees  when  it 
boils. 

Corybungus  (pugilistic),  backside. 

Cosh  (popular  and  thieves),  a  stick 
of  any  kind,  but  more  especially 
a  policeman's  baton.  From  the 
gypsy  kdsht,  corrupt  form  kdsh, 
meaning  wood  in  any  form. 

The  officer  .  .  .  sought  to  give  the  finish- 
ing coup  de  grace  with  his  cosh  .  .  . 
and  it  split  the  baton. — Evening  News. 

Cossack  (popular),  a  policeman. 

Costard  (popular), the  head;  avery 
old  word,  used  by  Shakspeare 
in  King  Lear. 

Coster  bloke  (popular),  a  coster- 
monger. 

I  feels  the  tears  come  down  my  cheeks, 
when  I  'eerd  him  'owl  and  wail, 

"And,"  sez  I,  "  I'm  a  simple  coster  bloke, 
but  my  'art's  right  as  the  mail." 

— Sporting  limes. 

Cot,  a  term  of  opprobrium  for 
a    woman.      Heard   in    Kentish 


watering-places  for  the  most 
part. 

Cotton  lord  (common),  a  Man- 
chester manufacturer  or  dealer 
in  cotton. 

Cottonopolis,  Manchester  (Hot- 
ten). 

Cottons  (Stock  Exchange),  Con- 
federated Dollar  Bonds. 

Cotton,  to  (common),  a  colloquial- 
ism in  the  sense  of  to  like,  agree, 
be  attached  (literally  to  adhere, 
cling  to,  like  cotton  to  cloth), 
but  used  in  a  slangy  sense  as  in 
quotation. 

For  when  once  Madam  Fortune  deals  out 

her  hard  raps, 
It's  amazing  to  think  how  one  cottons  to 

drink  ! 
At   such   times,  of  all  things  in  nature, 

perhaps 
There's  not  one  that  is  half  so  seducing  as 

schnaps. 

— Ingoldsby  Legetids. 

Couch  a  hogshead,  to  (old  cant), 
to  lay  down  to  sleep. 

I  couched  a  hogshead  in  a  sk>-pper  this 
darkemans. — T.  Harman  :  Cazcat. 

Council  of  ten  (popular),  the  toes 
of  a  man  who  turns  his  feet 
inward  (Hotten). 

Counterfeit  crank  (old  cant),  a 
rogue  who  shammed  epilepsy. 
From  the  German  krank,  sick. 

Those  that  do  counterfeit  the  crank  be 
young  knaves  and  yonge  harlots,  that 
dcpcly  dissemble  the  falling  sickness. — 
T.  llarman  :  Cazcat. 


Counter-jumper — Covent  Garden. 


275 


Counter-jumper  (common),  a 
shopman,  a  draper's  assistant. 

"Sir,  you  should  know  that  my  cheek 
is  not  for  you."  "  Why,"  said  he,  stifling 
his  anger,  "  it  seems  free  enough  to  every 
counter-jumper  \n  the  town." — C.  Kings- 
ley:  Westward  Ho. 

Counter-skipper  (popularl,  a  vari- 
ant of  "counter-jumper,"  a 
shopman. 

Counter,  to  (pugilistic),  to  strike. 

His  kissing  traps  countered. 
His  ribs  roasted. 

— C.  Bede  :  Verdant  Green. 

Count  noses,  to  (parliamentary), 
to  take  the  number  of  a  divi- 


County  crop  (prison),  hair 
shortened  to  about  an  inch, 
which  used  to  be  the  rule  in  all 
prisons,  but  is  now  confined  to 
convicts.  The  expression  is 
therefore  now  a  misnomer,  as 
county  prisons  no  longer  exist 
since  the  Government  took  all 
over  in  1877,  and  prisoners 
are  not  thus  cropped,  as  it 
would  continue  their  punish- 
ment by  marking  them  out  after 
their  discbarge. 

Couple-beggar  (old  cant),  a  low 
fellow,  who  officiated  as  a 
clergyman  in  performing  mar- 
riages in  the  Fleet  prison. 

Couranne  (theatrical),  from 
couronne  or  corona,  live  shillings. 

Court  card  (old  slang),  a  beau. 


Court  martial  (schoolboy),  the 
practice  of  tossing  in  a  blanket 
for  a  practical  joke. 

C outer  (popular),  a  sovereign. 
From  gypsy,  cutto,  literally  a 
piece.  / 

Cove  (popular  and  thieves).  In 
old  cant,  "  cofe,"  "  cuffin,"  a 
man  ;  also  landlord. 

He's  a  rum  dog.  Don't  he  look  fierce 
at  any  strange  cove-  —  Dickens :  Oliver 
Twist. 

Besides,  I  am  that  sort  of  cave  the  swells 
so  much  admire.  —  Toby. 

This  word  Hotten  connects 
with  "  cuif,"  a  North  of  England 
word  for  a  lout  or  awkward 
fellow.  This  seems  to  be  borne 
out  by  the  circumstance  that  in 
most  cant  languages  man  and 
fool  are  synonymous,  but  it  has 
been  suggested  to  be  more  pro- 
bably from  the  Romany  cova,  a 
thing,  the  term  being  almost 
indefinite  in  its  applicability. 
"It  is,"  says  Pott,  "a  general 
helper  on  all  occasions,  is  used 
as  a  substantive  and  an  adjec- 
tive, and  has  a  far  wider  scope 
than  the  Latin  res.  Thus  cove 
means  that  man ;  cori,  that 
woman."  The  derivation  from 
the  German  kopf,  a  head  (not  ap- 
plied directly  to  individuals  ex- 
cept as  in  English),  has  also  been 
suggested.  (Australian  station), 
the  cove,  the   master,  or  over- 


Covent  Garden  (old  slang).    This 
place  seems  to  have  acquired  at 


276 


Covent  Garden — Cow-boy. 


one  time  a  most  unenviable 
notoriety,  for  it  entered  con- 
siderably into  the  vicious  slang 
of  fifty  years  ago.  Thus  "the 
Covent  Garden  ague  "  was  a  cer- 
tain venereal  disease ;  a  "  Covent 
Garden  abbess  "  was  a  procuress ; 
and  prostitutes  were  nicknamed 
"  Covent  Garden  nuns."  (Rhym- 
ingslang),  afarthing  pronounced 
farden. 

Cover  (thieves),  an  accomplice 
who  "fronts"  or  covers  a  pick- 
pocket while  he  is  operating. 
(American),  to  cover,  to  drink. 

An  Englishman  drinks  rum  fustian,  ima- 
gining that  he  is  overing  a  fancy  mixed 
drink. — American  Newspaper. 

Cover-down  (thieves),  a  tossing 
coin  with  a  false  cover.  Obso- 
lete. 

Covess  (old  cant),  explained  by 

quotation. 

.  .  .  Well  acquainted  with  the  cove  and 
the  coveis—\)\7&  is,  the  landlord  and  land- 
lady.— J,  Parker:  Variegated  Charac- 
ters. 

Covey  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
man  or  boy.     Vide  Cove. 

Hullo,  my  covey !  what's  the  row  ? — 
Dickens:  Oliver  Treist. 

"Can't  you  repay  me  that  five  bob 
now?"  "You'd  only  booze  it  if  I  did." 
And  the  covejf  will  have  to  wait. — Bird  o 
Freedom. 

Coving,  theft  of  jewellery  by 
palming  it  as  a  conjuror  does. 

Covo  (gypsy)  (for  actvo),  this ; 
this  person  or  thing.  Covo, 
"  this  man  ;  "  cori,  "  this  wo- 
man." 


Cowa,  cuwa  (gypsy),  a  thing; 
often  pronounced  cover,  "  up  to 
all  the  covvas,"  up  to  all  the 
tricks,  games,  devices,  or 
"rigs." 

Cowaben  (gypsy),  an  incident. 

Cow  (nautical),  a  gay  woman. 
Vache,  in  the  French  slang,  has 
the  same  signification.  (Turf), 
one  thousand  pounds. 

Cowan.  In  ordinary  slang  a  spy, 
a  sneak,  a  prying  informer.  It 
is  a  term  given  by  the  Free- 
masons to  all  uninitiated  per- 
sons, and  is  probably  the  Hebrew 
word  cohen,  JIID,  a  priest,  from 
the  opposition  and  oppression 
which  the  Freemasons  have  en- 
dured from  the  Catholic  Church. 
Cowan  is  not  an  uncommon  form 
of  "  Cohen"  as  a  name  among 
Jews.  The  derivation  of  Cowan 
from  the  Greek  kuuv,  a  dog,  is 
a  great  injustice  to  the  Free- 
masons, who  have  never  re- 
garded or  treated  the  unini- 
tiated as  dogs. 

Cow  and  calf  (rhyming  slang),  to 
laugh. 

Cow-boy  (American),  cattle  her- 
der or  drover  of  Texas  and 
South -Western  States.  The 
term  was  applied  during  the 
revolutionary  war  to  so-called 
Tory  partisans  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  but  who  were  no 
better  than  brigands,  plunder- 
ing both  sides. 


Cowcamp — Crack. 


277 


Cowcamp  (American),  explained 
by  quotation. 

.  .  .  Were  a  number  of  ccnvcamps, 
where  i-ecently  settled  stockmen  kept 
watch  and  ward  over  herds  of  long-horned 
Texas  cattle,  which  grazed  along  the 
river  or  on  the  mesas  above. — The  Youth's 
Companion. 

Cow-chilo  (pidgin-English),  a 
girl,  i.e.,  cou)-child.  A  boy  was 
termed  bidl-chiio.  These  terms 
are  becoming  obsolete,  but  are 
often  used  in  fun  to  chaff 
Chinese. 

In  he  city  of  Whampo 
Lib  Joss-pidgin  man  name  Coe, 
Massa  Coe  he  missionaly, 
Hab  got  one  cow-chilo  Maly. 

—  The  Ballad  of  Mary  Coe. 

Cow- COW  (pidgin),  to  be  very 
angry,  to  scold  (Hotten). 

Cow  juice  (popular),  milk  ;  the 
term  is  also  used  by  school- 
boys. 

Cowlick  (popular),  lock  of  hair 
twisted  forward  from  the  ear, 
rarely  seen  now. 

Cow-oil,  or  cow-grease  (pidgin), 
butter.  Obsolete,  but  literally 
translated  from  the  Chinese. 

Cows  and  kisses  (rhyming  slang), 
mistress  or  missus ;  the  ladies. 

Come,  ccnvs  and  kisses,  put  the  battle  of 
the  line  on  your  Barnet  fair,  and  a  rogue 
and  villain  in  your  sky-rocket. — Horsley : 
Jottings  from  Jail. 

Cowshooter  (Winchester  College), 
a  round-topped  hat,  worn  only 
by  prefects,  "bluchers"  (rank- 


ing next  to  prefects),  and  "  jolly- 
keepS,"  or  old  students. 

Crabs  (thieves),  feet;  to  move 
one's  crabs,  to  run  away. 

I  crossed  a  crusher  at  the  landyard.  .  .  . 
I  moved  my  crabs  like  a  bull. — On  the 
Trail. 

(Dice  players),  a  pair  of  aces. 

Crabshells  (popular),  shoes. 

Crack,  a  recognised  colloquialism, 
used  as  an  adjective,  meaning 
first-rate. 

Captain  Cadsby,  as  he  loved  to  call 
himself,  was  the  crack  shot  of  Doltshire. 
—Truth. 

(Sport),  a  crack,  an  adept. 

Lawn  tennis  at  Cannes  .  .  .  the  doings 
of  the  cracks,  we  know,  interest  many  of 
our  teasers.— Pastime. 

(Turf),  the  crack  is  the  favour- 
ite in  a  race. 

The  extraordinary  fluctuations  in  the 
betting  which  drove  the  crack  from  6  to  4 
to  10  to  I  the  night  before  the  race. — 
Sporting  Times. 

(Old),  a  crack,  an  insane  person, 
a  boaster. 

(Popular),  a  crack,  a  prostitute ; 
to  crack  up,  to  extol,  to  puff 
(obsolete  English,  but  used  in 
a  slangy  sense) ;  in  a  crack,  in 
an  instant ;  to  crack,  to  inform. 

(Thieves),  a  crack,  a  burglary. 

Here  .  .  .  success  to  the  crack. 

— Dickens :  Oliver  Twist. 

To  crack  a  crib,  to  commit  a 
burglary. 

I  mean  to  crack  a  crib  to-night. 
But,  pals,  don't  crack  on  me. 

— Ballad :  Bates'  Farm. 


278 


Crack — Cram. 


The  crib's  barred  up  at  night  like  a  jail ; 
but  there's  one  part  we  can  crack  safe  and 
softly. — Dickens :  Oliver  Twist. 

(Tinker),  crack,  a  stick.  Not 
"  modern  gypsy,"  as  declared 
by  Hotten. 

Crack  a  bottle,  to  (common),  to 
drink  a  bottle  of  liquor. 

Crack  a  whid,  to  (thieves),  to 
talk. 

Cracked  nut  (common),  the  head 
of  an  insane  person. 

An  enthusiastic  poet  begs   Mr. to 

lift  up  his  "crested  head."  Cracked  nut 
would,  practically  speaking,  be  more  to 
the  point. — Fun. 

Cracked  up  (common),  ruined, 
"  gone  to  smash." 

Cracker  (common),  an  untruth 
consequent  on  boastful  or  im- 
probable statements.  The  older 
form  is  "  crack,"  alluding  to 
high-sounding  language,  as  in 
"crack  up,"  to  loudly  extol,  puff 
up.  It  has  been  suggested  that 
"  crack"  is  from  the  Gaelic 
crac,  to  talk.  The  French  unc 
craque  is  a  mild  untruth,  or  a 
gasconade,  and  in  the  latter 
sense  it  is  synonymous  with 
cracker.  Le  Baron  de  Crac  is 
the  French  Munchausen,  the 
hero  of  a  volume  of  travels,  who 
meets  with  the  most  marvellous 
adventures,  the  type  of  a  boast- 
ful, gasconading,  story-teller. 

Crackey  (popular),  an  ejaculation. 
A  corruption  of  "  crikey,"  which 
see. 


Cracking  a  crust  (common),  rubb- 
ing along  in  the  world ;  "  crack- 
ing a  tidy  crust,"  means  doing 
very  well.  This  is  a  very  com- 
mon expression  among  the  lower 
orders  (Hotten). 

Crackling  (Cambridge  Univer- 
sity), the  three  velvet  strips 
worn  on  the  sleeve  by  members 
of  St.  John's  CoUege,  Cambridge, 
called  "hogs." 

Crack-pot  (American),  preten- 
tious, petty,  a  small  person  of 
little  account. 

I'm  a  crack-pot  in  the  city  .  .  . 
All  the  barmaids  at  me  titter 
When  I  call  for  mild  and  bitter. 
They  say  I  am  their  little  , 

Bit  of  crack-pot  jam. 
—A    Catnach    Ballad:    The 
Crack-Pot  in  tfie  City. 

Cracksman  (thieves),  a  burglar. 

Some    mortals    disdain    the    calm 

blessings  of  rest, 
"^oViX cracksman,  for  instance,  thinks 

night-time  the  best. 

— Insoldsby  Legends. 

Cram,  crammer  (common),  a  lie. 

My  little  friend  .  .  .  pulled  my  nose 
for  telling  what  he  called  a  beastly  cram. — 
Punch. 

That  was  the  crammer  I  told  him,  and 
furthermore  ...  I  piled  it  up  a  bit. — 
Greenwood :  Left  in  a  Cab. 

To  cram,  to  lie ;  also  to  acquire 
or  impart  instruction  hastily  in 
view  of  an  approaching  exami- 
nation. This  is  an  almost  re- 
cognised term. 

A  very  clever  lad  can  dispense  with  the 
expense  of  being  crammed. — United  Ser- 
vice Gazette. 


Cram — Craze. 


279 


To  cram  up  one,  to  ply  him 
with  falsehoods. 

(University),  a  cram,  a  trans- 
lation. 

The  infatuated  Mr.  Bouncer  madly  per- 
sisted ...  in  going  into  the  school  clad 
in  his  examination  coat,  and  padded  over 
with  a  host  of  crams. — C.  Bede :  Verdant 
Green. 

Crammer  (common),  a  falsehood; 
a  liar;  one  expert  in  "cram- 
ming," i.e.,  preparing  hastily 
candidates  for  examination ;  the 
head  of  a  "cramming"  estab- 
lishment. 

Cramped,  crapped  (popular  and 
thieves),  killed  or  hanged. 

Cramping  cull  (old  cant),  the 
executioner. 

Cramp  in  the  hand  (popular), 
stinginess  or  meanness. 

Cramp  words  (old  cant),  sentence 
of  death. 

Cranberry  eye  (American).  When 
a  man's  eye  is  bloodshot,  gene- 
rally from  drinking  alcohol,  he 
is  often  called  a  boy  with  a 
cranberry  eye.  The  American 
cranberry  is  very  much  larger 
than  the  English  variety,  and 
bears  a  resemblance  to  an  in- 
flamed optic. 

Crank.  Tide  Counteefeit 
CRANK.  (American),  insane,  ec- 
centric, or  a  monomaniac.  (Old), 
gin  and  water. 

Crap  (old  cant),  money ;  the 
gallows. 


And  what  if  at  length,  boys,  he  come  to 

the  crap  ? 
Even  rack-punch  has  some  bitter  in  it. 
— Ainsworth :  Rookwood. 

To  crap,  to  hang. 

(Printers),  applied  to  "pie," 
or  mtxed-up  type,  that  a  com- 
positor neglects  to  clear  away  ; 
equivalent  to  the  popular  name 
for  excrement. 

(Popular),  to  crap,  to  ease 
oneself. 

Crapping  casa  (low  theatrical), 
the  W.C. 

Crapny  (gypsy),  a  turnip,  a  button 
or  nail  head.   Sometimes  hrafny. 

Crawl  (tailors),  one  who  uses  un- 
dignified means  to  curry  favour 
with  an  employer  or  foreman. 

Crawler  (common),  explained  by 
quotation. 

Every  hansom-cab,  or  crawler,  is  in 
itself  an  express  waggon  on  a  small  but 
sufficient  scale. — Bird  o  Freedom. 

Also  a  cab  which  goes  slowly 
to  pick  up  fares.  A  mean,  con- 
temptible fellow. 

Craw-thumper  (popular),  a  Roman 
Catholic  (Hotten).  In  America 
a  native  of  Ireland,  i.c.,  Irish 
Catholic. 

Wanted  a  servant-maid.  No  pulings 
or  crawthumpers  need  apply. — Phila- 
delphia Public  Ledger. 

Craze  (common),  used  in  refer- 
ence to  anything  in  great  vogue 
that  is  "  the  rage"  for  the  time 
being. 


280 


Crazy — Cribcracker. 


It  was  a  erase  on  both  sides  and  it 
passed.  During  the  craze  S.  and  M.  had 
their  photographs  taken  together,  and  the 
double  picture  sold  somewhat  furiously. — 
Bird  o  Freedom. 

Crazy  quilt  (American),  properly 
a  quilt  made  of  all  kinds  of 
patches.  Figuratively  a  con- 
fused and  mixed  political  party. 

Cream-jugs  (Stock  Exchange), 
Char  kof -Krementschug  Railway 
Bonds. 

Oh !    supposing    our    Cream-jugs    were 

broken, 
Or  "  Beetles"  were  scuring  the  "  Babies." 
— A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

Cream  stick  (popular),  the  penis. 

Creamy  (common),  excellent. 

Creeper  (prison),  one  who  curries 
favour  by  hypocrisy  and  tale- 
bearing. 

Creepers  (popular),  lice.  (Ameri- 
can), the  feet. 

Creeps  (common),  explained  by 
quotation. 

Each  of  those  four  men  was  immediately 
seized  with  that  cold,  peculiar  thrill,  com- 
monly called  the  creeps. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Cri,  short  for  Criterion. 

But  the   youth   was  hard-hearted,  and 
soon  he  departed, 
And  wandered  away  to  the  Cri. 

— Sporting  Times. 

Crib  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
house,  room. 

They  separated  in  the  garden  after 
they  had  cracked  the  crib, — H.  Kingsley  : 
Geoffrey  ilaiitlyn. 


The  term  is  used  by  others  in 
a  disparaging  sense  for  a  place, 
house,  situation,  restaurant. 
(Schools),  a  literal  translation 
of  an  author.  Possibly  from 
the  meaning  of  to  crib,  to  crowd 
together,  to  confine  in  a  small 
space,  as  "cram,"  synonym  of 
crib,  or  from  the  slang  significa- 
tion to  cheat,  to  pilfer.  To  crih, 
to  cheat  at  an  examination  by 
using  a  crib,  more  generally  to 
cheat  by  plagiary.  (Common), 
to  crih,  given  by  Webster  as  a 
recognised  word  but  used  now 
in  a  slangy  sense,  to  pilfer. 

It  is  not  stealing,  at  least  it  does  not 
seem  like  stealing  ...  it  is  at  most  only 
cribbing. — Greenwood :  Seven  Curses  of 
London. 

(Old  cant),  crih,  the  stomach. 

Cribbage-faced  (common),  is  said 
of  a  person  marked  with  the 
small-pox. 

Cribber  (military),  a  grumbler ;  a 
cavalry  term  evidently  from  the 
expression  "crib-biter,"  given 
to  a  horse  which  gnaws  at  its 
crib  or  manger,  quarrelling  with 
his  last  meal  and  his  difficulty 
in  digesting  it. 

Crib-biter  (common),  an  invete- 
rate grumbler.      Vide  Ckibber. 

Cribcracker  (thieves  and  popu- 
lar) ,  a  burglar. 

The  little  boys  .  .  .  delight  in  gossip 
concerning  his  talents  as  a  cribcracker  s^nii 
his  adventures  as  a  pickpocket. — Sims : 
Ho~M  the  J'oor  Live. 


Crikey —  Crockets. 


281 


Crikey  (popular),  an  exclamation 
denoting  astonishment,  a  cor- 
ruption of  Christ. 

"  Well,  I'm  blowed  !  "  he  added.  "  This 
here's  a  free  country,  and  a  cove  ain't  to 
swear  at  his  own  gal,  oh,  crikey." — Sims : 
Rogues  and  Vagabonds. 

Crimum  (tinker),  sheep. 

Crinkum-crankum  (old  slang),  a 
woman's  private  parts. 

Cripple  (popular),  a  bent  sixpence. 
(Common),  an  awkward  or  dull 
person. 

Crisp  {common),  a  banknote. 

He  .  .  .  cashed  a  cheque  for  ;£ioo  and 
handed  over  the  crisp. — Modem  Society. 

Croaker  (old  slang),  a  fourpenny 
piece.  (Common),  one  who 
takes  a  desponding  view  of 
everything.  (Popular),  a  beg- 
gar, a  corpse. 

Well  ...  it  won't  perhaps  send  you 
into  hysterics  to  hear  that  Dave  is  as 
good  as  a  croaker. — J.  Greenwood:  Al- 
most Lost. 

(Prison),  the  doctor. 

One  man  who  had  put  his  name  for  the 
"  butcher  "  or  croaker,  would  suddenly 
iind  that  he  had  three  ounces  of  bread  less 
to  receive  and  then  a  scene  would  ensue. 
— Evening  News. 

Croak,  to  (thieves),  to  die,  to 
kill. 

Croakumshire  (old  slang).  This 
nickname  is  said  to  have  been 
given  to  Northumberland  be- 
cause of  the  difficulty  people  in 
that  county  have  in  pronouncing 
the  letter  r,  which  imparts  a 


somewhat  rough  tone   to   the 
voice. 

Crock  (common),  the  original 
meaning  is  that  of  a  slow, 
worthless  horse,  but  in  society 
it  is  also  applied  figuratively  to 
a  slow,  foolish,  good-for-nothing 
person,  as  in  the  phrase,  "  that 
girl  is  a  regular  croclc."  In 
sporting  and  university  lan- 
guage it  is  also  used  in  reference 
to  a  duffer,  a  lazy  bungler. 

The  delinquents  still  rowed  their  blades 
like  giants  and  nowhere  in  the  boat  was  a 
crock  to  be  seen. — Referee. 

With  reference  to  the  origi- 
nal meaning  of  ilow,  worthless 
horse,  crock  is  allied  to  creep, 
Anglo-Saxon  creopan,  and  old 
High  Dutch  kriochan.  But  it  is 
curious  to  note  that  in  German 
slang  krig  is  a  horse,  and  that 
the  German  ross,  a  horse,  has 
given  the  French  rosse,  a  slow, 
good-for-nothing  horse ;  this 
word  being  used  with  the  same 
figurative  meaning  as  crock, 
applied  to  persons. 

Crocker  (sporting),  a  spaniel  em- 
ployed in  beating  imderwood 
for  small  game. 

Crockets  (Winchester  College), 
the  word  for  cricket.  To  "get 
out  crockets  "  is  to  get  out  with 
a  "duck's  egg,"  that  is,  with- 
out having  made  any  runs. 
"Small  crockets"  is  the  name 
given  to  a  game  played  with  an 
india-rubber  ball  and  a  plain 
deal  bat  about  two  inches 
broad. 


282 


Crocodile — Cross. 


Crocodile  (university),  a  girls' 
school  walking  two  and  two. 

Crocus,  crocikus  (popular  and 
thieves),  a  quack;  crocus- 
chovey,  an  apothecary's  shop ; 
croMts-pitcher,  a  street  seller  of 
medicines. 

(Army),  crocu$,  an  army  or 
navy  surgeon.  From  "croak," 
to  die,  which  has  given  the 
prison  slang  "croaker"  for  a 
doctor. 

Crone  (circus),  a  clown.  From  a 
provincialism,  oronny,  merry. 

Cronker  (tailors),  the  foreman. 

Crook  (thieves  and  popular).  On 
the  crook,  by  dishonest  means  ; 
the  reverse  of  "  square."  Got 
on  the  crook,  stolen.  Hence  a 
crook  is  a  thief,  both  in  England 
and  America. 

Chicago  crook. — "Good  news,  Jim." 
.  .  .  Fellow  crook.— "  y^)\ax'%  up?" — 
Tit-Bits. 

No  crook  gets  any  good  out  of  his 
boodles. — Detroit  Free  Press. 

Crookback  (old  slang),  a  six- 
penny piece,  from  some  of 
these  coins  being  much  bat- 
tered. 

Crooked  (thieves),  stolen.  Yidc 
Crook. 

Croop  (popular),  stomach;  for 
crop. 

Cropper  (common),  a  heavy  fall ; 
to  tumble  "neck  and  crop." 

He  was  far  more  shaken  by  his  cropper 
than  iu  any  round  of  his  memorable  fight 


with  Bungaree  or  any  other  opponent. — 
Sporting  Times. 

To  "come  a  cropper,"  to  have 
a  heavy  fall.  Also  said  of  a 
man  who  experiences  a  decided 
failure. 

There  was  a  steeplechase  for  gentlemen 
riders,  over  which  all  the  sharps  came  a 
cropper  through  backing  Sufflct. — Sport- 
ing Times. 

Croppie  (prison),  one  who  has  had 
his  hair  cut  in  prison.  The  term 
was  applied  to  Irish  rebels  in 
1789,  and  formerly  to  those  who 
had  their  ears  cut  off  by  the 
executioner.  Puritans  went  by 
that  name  on  account  of  their 
short  hair. 

Croppled  (Winchester  College), 
to  be  croppled  is  to  be  turned 
in  a  lesson. 

Cross  (thieves).  To  be  "  on  the 
cross,"  to  be  a  thief;  to  get  a 
thing  on  the  cross  is  to  obtain  it 
surreptitiously,  the  reverse  of 
"  on  the  square." 

The  young  woman  is  Bess,  and  perhaps 
she  may  be  on  the  cross,  and  y'  don't  go 
to  say  that  what  with  flimping  and  with 
cly-faking,  and  such  like,  she  mayn't  be 
wanted  some  day. — //.  Kingsley:  Kavens- 
hoe. 

Hence,  a  cross,  a  thief;  termed 
also  "cross  man,"  or  ^' cross 
cove." 

It  reminds  us  too  of  the  "plants"  and 
crosses,  and  of  the  lowest  of  the  low  who 
supported  pugilism. — Punch. 

(University),  to  cross,  putting 
a  cross  against  a  man's  name  for 
not  paying  his  bills  to  the  bursar, 
or  cutting  chapel  lectures,  &c. 


Cross —  Grumpier . 


283 


Cross    chap    (costermongers),    a 

thief. 

Cross    cove    and   mollisher 

(thieves),  a  man  and  woman 
who  are  in  partnership  for  pur- 
poses of  robbery. 

Cross-crib  (thieves  and  roughs), 
a  house  frequented  by  thieves. 

Cross-cut,    and    tip   and    sifter 

(American),  mining  terms  from 
California  expressive  of  motions 
or  methods  in  washing  gold. 
These  terms  were  at  one  time 
commonly  applied  in  slang  in 
many  ways. 

Cross-drum  (thieves),  a  thieves' 
tavern. 

Cross-famming  (thieves),  robbing 
a  person  of  his  scarf-pin ;  "  from 
the  position  of  the  arms  in  the 
act,"  says  Hotten.     Fide  Fam. 

Crossing  the  damp-pot  (tailors), 
going  to  America. 

Cross-kid,  to  (thieves),  explained 
by  quotation. 

A  reeler  came  to  the  cell  and  cross- 
kidded  (questioned)  me. — HorsUy :  Jot- 
tings from  Jail. 

Cross-roader  (American),  a  man 
whose  ways  are  doubtful  or 
dishonest. 

.  .  .  For  the  simple  purpose  of  being 
introduced  to  the  club,  there  to  "fleece 
the  suckers,"  who  never  suspect  they  are 
playing  against  a  cross-roader. — Chicago 
Tribune. 

Crow(thieves),a  man  who  watches 
while  another  creeps  into  houses, 


down  areas,  or  into  shops.  ( Com  - 
mon),  a  regular  crow,  an  un- 
expected piece  of  luck,  i.e., 
something  to  crow  over.  "  I 
have  a  crow  to  pull  with  you," 
a  complaint  to  make,  or  mis- 
understanding to  clear  up. 
(American),  to  eat  crow,  to 
recant,  to  humiliate  oneself. 

In  America,  a  right-about  movement  of 
this  character  is  described  as  eating  crow. 
— St.  James'  Gazette. 

Crowder  (tinker),  a  string. 

Crowders  (theatrical),  large  audi- 
ences. 

Crow-eater  (colonial),  a  lazy  fel- 
low who  will  live  on  anything 
rather  than  work. 

Crowsfoot  (prison),  the  Govern- 
ment mark  of  the  broad  arrow, 
which  is  stamped  in  black  paint 
on  prison  clothing  as  a  means 
of  detection  in  case  of  escape. 

Crug  (popular),  food.  (Christ 
Hospital),  bread. 

He  had  his  tea  and  hot  rolls  in  a  morn- 
ing, while  we  were  battening  upon  our 
quarter  of  a  penny  loaf — our  crug. — 
Lamb :  £ssays. 

Crummy  (army),  dirty ;  applied 
amongst  soldiers  to  a  man's 
appearance.  (Thieves),  with 
well-filled  pockets.  Also  lousy. 
A  "  crummy  doss." 

Crumpet  face  (popular),  a  face 
with  smallpox  marks. 

Crumpler  (common),  cravat. 


284 


Crutch — Cuffy. 


If  I  see  a  boy  make  to  do  about  the  fit 
of  his  crj4tn/>Ur  .  .  . — Blacktnore :  Lortui 
Doone. 

Crutch  (Winchester  College),  a 
name  given  to  the  school  car- 
penter. 

Cry  of  things  (popular),  a  great 
number  of  things;  "a  cry  of 
pears." 

Cry  matches  (American),  a  slang 
exclamation  of  surprise.  Its 
derivation  is  improbably  given 
as  "crime  hatches."  By  some 
"cry"  is  considered  as  equiva- 
lent to  Christi  or  Christ,  but 
the  phrase  is  altogether  obscure. 

Crusher  (popular),  a  policeman  ; 
from  the  slang  term  "  to  crush," 
to  run. 

To  bonnet  a  lot  of  old  blokes, 

And  make  petticoats  squeal  is  good 

biz, 
But    a    crusher's    'ard    knuckles     a 
crunching  yer  scrag  ?  no, 
I'm  blowed  if  that  is  ! 

— Putich. 

Crush,  to  (popular),  to  run.  Pos- 
sibly from  "  beetle  -  crusher  " 
(which  see). 

Crust  (theatrical),  the  head. 

Crusty  beau  (old  slang),  a  fop 
who  makes  up  with  paint  and 
cosmetiques. 

C's,  the  three  (prison),  the  Cen- 
tral Criminal  Court. 


Cuckoo  (society),  a  fooL 

Cud  (Winchester  College),  hand- 
some, pretty.  Probably  from 
kudos.  (Popular),  a  piece  of 
tobacco  chewed,  a  "  quid." 

Cuddling  (prize-fighters),  wrest- 
ling. 

It  was  said  by  some  cavillers  that  there 
was  too  much  wrestling,  or,  as  they  called 
it,  cuddling. — Punch. 

Cue  despiser  (theatrical),  said  of 
an  actor  who  is  careless  in  tak- 
ing up  his  cue,  thereby  damag- 
ing the  performance. 

Cue,  to  (thieves),  to  obtain  goods 
on  credit  which  you  never 
mean  to  pay  for,  synonymous 
with  "going  upon  the  letter 
Q,"  "the  mace." 

Cuff  (tailors),  one  who  feigns  re- 
ligion, or  is  religious. 

Cuffer  (military),  a  lie  ;  spinning 
a  cuffer,  telling  an  exaggerated, 
grossly  improbable  story ;  one 
that  cuffs  or  beats  any  story. 
(American  thieves),  a  man,  rus- 
tic. From  old  English  cant 
cofe,  or  the  Yiddish  kaffcr,  a 
stupid  fellow ;  kaffori,  Hebrew 
for  a  peasant. 

Cuff  shooter  (theatrical),  an  im- 
pudent and  presuming  tyro,  who 
gives  himself  airs,  and  thinks 
more  of  his  "  cuffs  "  than  his 


C.T.A.,    (circus    and    travelling 
showmen),  the  police. 


Cuffy,    cuffee    (West   Indian),   a 
word     generally     applied     to 


Cuffy —  Ctinnels. 


285 


negroes,  and  which  was  at 
one  time  a  very  common  name 
among  them.  Literally  it 
means  ' '  Thursday."  Among  the 
Guinea  and  Dahomey  negroes 
every  man  receives  a  name 
from  the  day  of  the  week  on 
which  he  is  born.  Hence  the 
frequency  of  Quashee,  Cuffee, 
Juba,  &c.  The  latest  Cuffee  in- 
troduced to  the  British  public 
was  King  Coffee  Calcolli. 

The  fine  dash  of  Virginia  upper  cuffy 
ism,  it  is  gone,  gone  for  ever.  Sambo  has 
settled  down  into  a  simple  bourgeois. — 
Putnam's  Magazine. 

Culing  (thieves),  an  abbreviation 
of  reticuling;  snatching  reti- 
cules from  the  seats  of  carriages 
at  races. 

Culio  (pidgin),  a  curio,  a  curiosity. 
The  common  term  "  curio  "  was 
borrowed  from  this  Chinese  ab- 
breviation : 

One   time   two    piecey   Flunsee   (French- 
men) make  walkee  in  Canton, 

Look-see   one    piecee    cw/zV-shop — a    first 
chop  numpsi  one. 

— L'Oiseau. 


Evidently  an  abbreviation  of 
"  cullion,"  French  couillon. 

(Theatrical),  actors  sometimes 
address  one  another  as  euUy,  or 
"laddie."  ' 

"Where's  your  wife,  old  boy?"  inquired 
a  friend  of  a  well-known  comedian  on  tour. 
"Don't  know,  cully." — Bird o'  Freedom. 

Kum  cull,  the  manager. 

Cully  gorger  (theatrical),  the 
manager  of  a  theatre.  Ac- 
cording to  Baumann,  a  brother 
actor. 

Cum  annexes  (West  Indian),  the 
members  of  one's  family. 

Cum-sha'w  (pidgin),  a  present  of 
any  kind,  a  gratuity,  a  pourboire 
or  baksheesh.  "According  to 
Giles  it  is  the  Amoy  pronuncia- 
tion (kam-sid)  of  two  characters 
signifying  '  grateful  thanks '  " 
(Anglo-Indian  Glossary). 

Mashee,  he  no  givee  dat  Chinee  man 
cumskaw,  not  one  little  nip  tee  cashee  (one 
very  small  coin),  he  too  smallo  man  inside, 
he  no  makee  plopa  fashion — p'hol — The 
Talking  Ducks. 


Cull,  cully  (popular  and  thieves), 
a  man  or  boy. 

Now  the  darky  shines  on  'em,  you  see 
what  famous  togs  the  cull  has  ou. — Ains- 
worth :  A  uriol. 

Cully  had  formerly  the  signi- 
fication of  greenhorn,  fool,  dupe, 
milksop,  and  was  a  recognised 
word ;  it  is  used  by  Addison 
and  others. 

Your  royal  cully  has  command 
Only  from  you  at  second  hand. 
— Earl  0/  Rochester :  Works. 


Cundum  (old),  appliance  for  the 
prevention  of  infection  in  sexual 
intercourse.  The  word  is  used 
by  the  Germans.  Said  to  be 
derived  from  one  Condom,  who 
lived  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Amie,  and  was  noted  for  selling 
what  is  now  called  "  French 
letters."  French,  capotes  ang- 
laises. 

Cunnels,  dunnovans  (tinker), 
potatoes. 


286 


Cup — Cuss. 


Cup  and  saucer  players  (theatri- 
cal), a  term  of  derision  invented 
br  the  pessimists  for  the  pur- 
pose of  depreciating  the  artists 
associated  with  the  perform- 
ance of  the  late  T.  W.  Robert- 
son's comedies.  * 

Cup-tosser  (popular),  a  person 
who  professes  to  tell  fortunes 
by  examining  the  grounds  in 
tea  or  coffee-cups  (Hotten). 

Cure  (common),  a  curious,  eccen- 
tric, odd  person.  Imported 
from  America ;  was  used  with 
that  sense  twenty  -  five  years 
ago.  More  generally  now  a 
humorous,  comical  person.  De- 
rived from  an  eccentric  Ameri- 
can popular  song  called  "The 
Cure," 

Curious,  to  do  (popular),  to  do 
anything  out  of  the  ordinary. 
"  Look  at  that  man  tumbling 
about.     He's  doing  curious" 

Curl  up  (popular),  be  silent. 

Currants  and  plums  (rhyming 
slang),  thrums ;  slang  for  three- 
jjence. 

Currency  (Australian),     persons 

born    in  Australia,   natives    of 

England  being   termed   "ster- 
ling." 

Curro  (gypsy),  a  cup  or  tankard. 

Curse  of  Scotland  (Scotch),  the 
nine  of  diamonds.  Many  de- 
rivatives have  been  suggested, 
and  Hotten  says  the  most  pro- 


bable is,  that  in  the  game  of 
Pope  Joan  the  nine  of  diamonds 
is  the  pope,  of  whom  the  Scotch 
have  an  especial  horror. 

Cursetor  (old  cant),  a  tramp, 
vagabond. 

Curtail  (old  cant),  second  in 
command  in  the  fraternity  of 
vagabonds. 

Curtain  (theatrical),  a  strong 
situation  at  the  end  of  an  act, 
which,  when  the  curtain  de- 
scends, elicits  a  burst  of  ap- 
plause, and  causes  the  curtain 
to  be  taken  up  again. 

Curtain-raiser  (theatrical  and 
journalistic),  a  short  play  per- 
formed before  a  more  important 
one.  Corresponds  to  the  French 
"  lever  de  rideau." 

"  Love  and  Politics"  was  produced  as  a 
curtain-raiser  at  the  Opera  Comique  on 
Thursday. — The  Referee. 

Cuse  (Winchester  College),  a  book 
in  which  the  marks  of  each 
division  are  recorded. 

Cushion-smiter  (popular),  a 
clergyman  or  preacher. 

Cushmawaunee  (Anglo-Indian), 
never  mind. 

Cuss  (American),  a  man. 

A  durncd  nasty  old  cuss  he  is,  and  don't 
you  forget  it. — F.  Francis:  Saddle  and 
Moccasin. 

It  is  not  always  used  dis- 
paragingly ;  a  tough  cusi  is  a 
bold,  indomitable  man. 


Cussedness — Cut. 


287 


It  is  said  that  the  teamster  .  .  .  con- 
sidered himself  to  be  entitled  to  be  called 
a  tough  cuss. — Stevens:  Around  the 
World  on  a  Bicycle. 

Cussedness  (American),  e\\\- 
mindedness,  innate  depravity. 
To  do  a  thing  out  of  pure 
cussedness  is  the  same  as  to  do 
it  for  mere  mischief,  without 
reason  or  excuse.  Also  auda- 
city. 

He  .  .  .  resolved  to  be  present  in  his 
seat  out  of  what  may  be  characterised  as 
pure  cussedness. — Daily  Telegraph. 

Cuss  out,  to  (American),  to  sub- 
due or  silence  an  opponent 
by  overwhelming  severity  of 
tongue.  "  He  cussed  him  out," 
i.e.,  used  such  violent  language 
(not  necessarily  profane)  as  to 
verbally  annihilate  him. 

Customer  (common),  generally 
used  in  such  phrases  as  a  "  queer, 
or  rum  customer ; "  a  curious 
fellow,  or  one  diiiicult  to  deal 
with;  an  "ugly  customer,"  a 
dangerous  person  or  animal. 
(American  thieves),  a  victim. 

Cut  (old),  tipsy.  (Society),  a  step, 
a  stage,  as  "  she  is  a  cut  above 
me." 

Cut  a  shine,  to  (popular),  to  play 
pranks,  amuse  oneself  boister- 
ously. 

I  smoke  her  havannas  and  lower  her 

wine, 
At  times  with  her  money  I  cut  a  rare 

shine. 

—Song. 


Cut  and  dried  (thieves),  the  phrase 
refers  to  a  robbery  which  has 
been  duly  planned. 

Some  time  after  that  affair  with  the 
fence,  one  of  the  mob  said  to  me,  "  I  have 
got  a  place  cut  and  dried ;  will  you  come 
and  do  it  ?  "—HorsUy :  Jottingsfromjail. 

Cut  bene,  to  (old  cant),  to  use 
pleasant  words. 

Cut  capers,  to  (common),  to  be- 
have in  a  disorderly,  improper 
manner. 

Cut  dead,  to  (common),  to  break 
off  all  connection  with  an  ac- 
quaintance or  friend. 

But  he  could  not  get  these  books  with- 
out Dr.  Wycherley,  and  unfortunately  he 
had  cut  that  worthy  dead  in  his  own 
asylum. — Reade :  Hard  Cash. 

Cut  didoes,  to,  synonymous  with 
cut  capers  (Hotten). 

Cut  dirt,  to  (American),  to  run 
away  very  rapidly. 

He  jump  up  fo'  sartin — he  cut  dirt 

and  run. 
While    Sambo    follow   arter   wid   his 

"  turn,  tum,  turn." 

— Negro  SongofiZzq. 

Cut  down  (American),  deprived, 
brought  low,  poor. 

Cut  in,  to  (society),  take  a  share 
in,  to  try  for. 

Most  of  the  students  will  cut  in  for  a 
prize. — School  Magazine. 

Cut  into,  to  (Winchester  College), 
to  hit  one  on  the  back  with  a 
"ground  ash"  or  stick  used  by 
prefects  in  the  exercise  of  their 
functions. 


288 


Cut — Cutting. 


Cut  it  fat,  to  (popular),  to  show 
off,  exaggerate. 

They've  mustered  in  great  force,  and  no 
mistake.  I'm  blest  if  they  ain't  cut  it /at. 
— Funny  Folks. 

Cut  of  one's  jib  (common),  one's 
appearance. 

Cut  one's  lucky  (popular),  to  go 
away,  to  run  off ;  to  make  a 
"  lucky  "  escape  (Lat.  feliciler 
evasit). 

Cut  one's  stick,  to  (common), 
to  depart ;  literally,  procure  a 
stick  for  a  journey.  Or  a  cor- 
ruption of  up  stick  /  i.e.,  tent- 
pegs,  often  done  in  a  great  hurry. 

Far  off  a  man  appeared ;  and  by  his  guise 
I  knew  him  for  a  keeper  !  .  .  . 
...   I  fled  !— fast  as  I  could 
I  went !— in  fact,  again,  and  it  was  wise, 
I  cut  my  stick. 

— Fun. 

Cuts  (tailors),  "small  cuU"  are 
small  scissors,  button  -  hole 
scissors. 

Cut  saucy,  to  (tailors),  to  cut 
a  garment  in  the  height  of 
fashion. 

Cutsom  (pidgin),  custom  ;  a  word 
extensively  applied  tolaw,  habits, 
usage.  "Dat  blongy  olo  ciit- 
som,"  is  continually  heard  from 
Chinese,  when  asked  the  reason 
for  anything. 

So  it   blongey  olo  cutsom — which   neva' 

wailo  way, 
Alio  baba'  (all  barbers)  hab  got  stickee  in 

China-side  to-day. 

— A  hong  and  the  Mosquito. 

Cutter  (old),  a  cutpurse.  Hotten 
says  this  ancient  cant  word  now 


survives  in  the  phrase,  "to 
swear  like  a  cutter."  Cutter,  ac- 
cording to  Vaux,  was  applied  to 
a  man  in  the  habit  of  drawing  a 
knife  in  a  quarreb 

Cut  that  (popular),  be  quiet. 

Cut  the  line  (printers),  see  Lines 
ON.  When  a  companionship  of 
compositors  fall  short  of  work 
they  cut  the  line,  i.e.,  all  the 
men  leave  work  till  sufficient  is 
provided  for  the  whole.  The 
reference  is  to  the  fact  that 
piece  hands  working  in  com- 
panionships are  paid  by  the 
number  of  lines  composed,  ac- 
cording to  size  and  width. 

Cut  the  line,  string,  to  (thieves), 
to  cut  a  story  short,  to  end  a 
story. 

Cutting  (Australian  and  Ameri- 
can), separating  cattle  from  a 
herd  and  lassoing  them. 

I  had  been  furnished  with  a  trained 
cutting-  pony,  reported  to  be  one  of  the 
best  in  the  valley.  ...  It  was  only 
necessary,  after  having  shown  him  a  cow 
or  a  calf  getting  away  from  the  herd,  to 
give  him  his  he.id,  and  at  full  speed  he 
started  for  it  immediately. — F.  Francis  : 
Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Cutting  his  eyes  (thieves),  getting 

suspicious. 

Cutting  his  own  throat  (Stock 
Exchange)  is  said  of  a  man  who 
buys  or  sells  stocks,  and  imme- 
diately re-sells  or  re-purchases 
them  at  a  loss. 

Cutting  his  painter  (nautical)  is 
said  of  a  man  who  makes  off 


Cutting —  Cymbal. 


289 


suddenly  or  clandestinely,  or 
dies.  French  sailors  use  the 
corresponding  expression  cUra- 
linguer  with  the  same  sense. 

Cutting  it  fine.     Vide  Fixe. 

Cutting  shop  (popular),  a  place 
where  cheap  inferior  goods  or 
material  are  retailed. 

Cutting  the  wind  (military),  sword 
drill 

Cutting-trade  (trade),  one  con- 
ducted on  competitive  principles, 
where  the  profits  are  very  closely 
shaved  (Hotten). 

Cutting  up  (popular),  acting  in 
an  eccentric  or  daring  manner. 
To  cut  up  shindies  was  the  first 
form.  The  expression  has  ex- 
tended to  the  United  States. 

Cuttle-boung  (old  cant),  a  knife 
used  for  cutting  purses. 

Cutto  or  cutter  (gypsy),  a  piece, 
bit,  rag,  or  drop.  Cutters  o' 
brishno,  "drops  of  rain;"  yeck 
cutter  0'  levinro,  "  one  drop  of 
ale."  Cutterengris,  bits,  pieces. 
Engrl,  equivalent  to  a  thing  or 
one  thing,  like  the  "  one  piece  " 
of  Pidgin,  is  often  quite  need- 
lessly post-fixed  to  a  noun  in 
Romany.  (Hindu,  i-a<ra,  a  drop.) 
Hence  cutter,  a  (gold)  piece,  a 
sovereign. 

Cut,  to  (common),  to  run  away. 
Generally  to  "cwi  and  run."  Ab- 
breviated from  "cut  his  stick,"  or 
from  an  idea  of  severance,  sepa- 
ration, as  in  the  phrase  "  cutting 
one's  painter,"  going  away. 


Excuse  me,  you  fellows,  I  must  cut  off 
home. — Bird  o'  Freedom, 

Simply  shook  him  .  .  .  bade  him  to  cut 
it  quick. —  Town  Talk. 

(Trade),  to  compete  in  busi- 
ness (Hotten). 

(Old  cant),  to  speak. 

Cutty  (common),  a  short-stemmed 
clay  pipe. 

"Wot's  the  matter?"  cried  the  sand- 
man, who  had  lighted  a  cutty,  and  was 
quietly  smoking  it. — Ainyiuorth  :  Auriol. 

Cutty-eyed  (thieves),  one  who 
looks  suspicious. 

Cutty-sark  (Scotch),  a  short 
chemise. 

Cut  up  (common),  vexed ;  to  cut 
up,  to  come  up ;  generally  to 
turn  out,  well  or  otherwise ; 
to  become  ;  to  exit  up  well,  vide 
Cut  up  fat.  (Thieves),  to 
cut  up,  to  divide  the  plunder. 

Cut  up  fat,  to  (common),  to  leave 
at  one's  death  a  good  estate. 

Cut  up  rough,  to  (common),  to 
give  signs  of  great  displeasure,  to 
become  violent,  evilly  disposed. 

Well !  .  .  .  I'm  not  so  sorry,  after  all, 
that  they  cut  up  rough,  and  ploughed  me. 
—  C.  Bede  :  Verdant  Green. 

Cut  up  rusty,  to  (popular),  to  be- 
come unpleasant,  angry,  rough. 

Cut  up  shines,  shindies,  to  (popu- 
lar), to  play  tricks,  pranks 
(Hotten). 

Cut  your  own  grass,  to  (prison), 
gain  your  own  living. 

Cymbal  (thieves),  a  watch. 
T 


290 


D~Dab. 


(tramps  and  beggars), 
a  detective. 

Still  I  play  shoeblack 
odd  times.  I  have  a  few 
friends  among  the  D's  (detectives),  who 
give  me  the  job  to  watch  a  house  occasion- 
ally. Then  I  take  up  the  box  and  brushes 
and  place  myself  in  a  suitable  position. 
It  pays  well  while  it  lasts.  Nor  is  it  the 
only  way  in  which  my  friends  the  D's  find 
me  useful.  I  have  free  entry  into  all  sorts 
of  haunts,  and  can  go  and  come  as  I  like 
without  arousing  suspicion. — Thor  Fre- 
dur:  Sketches  from  Shady  Places. 

D's,  the  two  (army),  short  pay. 
The  residue  left  a  soldier,  part 
of  whose  pay  is  stopped  by 
sentence  of  court-martial  for 
"  spouting  "  or  pawning  his  kit. 
However  large  the  amount  to  be 
recovered,  he  must  be  allowed 
to  retain  twopence,  2d.,  as  daily 

pay. 

D.  H.  F.  (cycling  slang),  really 
letters  signifying  a  peculiar 
form  of  fork  used  for  bicycles, 
and  known  as  the  "  Double  Hol- 
low Fork."  Applied  to  a  man 
means  a  stupid  ass. 

Dab.  In  the  slang  of  "  water 
rats,"  i.e.,  river  thieves  who 
plunder  the  bodies  of  drowned 
persons,  the  body  of  a  poor 
ragged  woman  is  called  a  dah  ; 
from  dab,  vulgarly  used  in  con- 
tempt for  a  woman,  as  a  dirty 
da6,  a  slut,  dahs  being  rags. 

(Theatrical),  a  bed. 

(Common),  to  be  a  dah  at  any- 
thing is  to  be  more  than  usually 
expert  at  it. 


Sir  Peter  Lawrie,  on  a  recent  visit  to 
Billingsgate  for  the  purpose  of  making 
what  he  calls  a  piscatory  tour,  was  much 
astonished  at  the  vigorous  performance  of 
various  of  the  real  "  live  fish,"  some  of 
which,  as  he  sagely  remarked,  appeared 
to  be  perfect  dabs  at  jumping. — Punch. 

Generally  supposed  to  be  de- 
rived from  "  adept,"  but  to  dah 
means  to  strike  gently,  and 
a  dah  is  therefore  one  skilful 
in  dabbing,  one  with  a  light 
touch,  a  skilful  hand,  a  "good 
hand  "  at,  hence  expert  in. 

In  old  cant  the  term  "rum 
dabe"  was  applied  to  one  ex- 
pert at  roguery.  Literally,  a 
"good  hand;"  possibly  from 
German  tappe,  fist,  paw,  and 
this  may  be  the  origin  of  the 
modern  dab.  The  French  slang 
has  dab,  meaning  master,  chief, 
father. 

(Costermongers'  back  slang), 
bad. 

I've  been  doing  awful  dab  with  my 
tol  (lot)  or  stock,  haven't  made  a  yennep 
(■p&nny.)—Di/>rose:  London  Life. 

Dab  it  up,  to  (thieves),  to  cohabit 
with  a  woman.  From  dah,  a 
contemptuous  term  for  a  woman. 
Also  to  agree. 

Dab  out,  to  (popular),  to  wash. 

His  wife  at  this  moment  advantaging 
herself  of  Sabbath  leisure  to  dab  out 
her  solitary  cotton  gown. — J.  Greenwood  : 
Undercurrents  of  London  Life. 

Dabster.     Vide  Dab. 

Dab  wash.  Among  the  lower 
classes  a  dab  wash  is  a  small 
intermediate  wash  between  the 
large  ones. 


Dace — Dago. 


291 


That  great  room  itself  was  sure  to  have 
clothes  hanging  to  dry  at  the  fire,  what- 
ever day  of  the  week  it  was  ;  some  one  of 
the  large  irregular  family  having  had  what 
was  called  in  the  district  a  dab  wash  of  a 
few  articles  forgotten  on  the  regular  day. — 
Mrs.  Gaskell:  Sylvias  Lovers. 

Dace  (American),  two  cents.  From 
deuce. 

Dacha-saltee  (thieves  and  coster- 
mongers),  tenpence.  From  the 
Itahan  died  soldi. 

What  with  my  crippledom  and  thy  piety, 
a  wheeling  of  thy  poor  old  dad,  we'll  bleed 
the  bumpkins  of  a  dacha-saltee. — Reade  : 
The  Cloister  and  the  Hearth. 

Dacoit  (Anglo-Indian),  a  robber 
belonging  to  an  armed  gang 
which,  according  to  law,  must 
consist  of  at  least  five  persons. 

Dad,  daddy  (popular),  father.  In 
Welsh  tad  ;  Irish  daid,  ancient. 

He  gets  more  like  his  dad  every  day. 
— Street  Song. 

Ddd,  d£dus,  dddo  (gypsy),  of 
Hindu  origin,  father ;  dadeakro, 
fatherly,  pertaining  to  a  father  ; 
"ap  miro  dad(^skro  wast  1  "  by 
my  father's  hand ! 

Daddle  (popular),  hand. 

Werry  unexpected  pleasure !  Tip  us 
yo-av  daddle. — C.  Kingsley :  Alton  Locke. 

(Boxing  slang),  the  fist. 

With  daddies  high    upraised,   and   nobs 

held  back, 
In    awful    prescience    of    th'    impending 

thwack, 
Both   kiddies  stood,   and   with   prelusive 

spar 
And   light  manoiuvring  kindled   up    the 

war. 

— Belts  Life  in  London. 


Daddy  (theatrical),  the  comic  old 
man  of  a  company.  According 
to  Hotten,  a  stage  manager. 
At  sham  raffles  the  daddy  is  a 
confederate  who  is,  by  previous 
arrangement,  to  win  the  prize. 
At  casual  wards  the  daddy  is 
the  old  pauper  in  charge. 

Daffy  (popular),  gin.  Hotten 
says : — "A  term  used  by  monthly 
nurses,  who  are  always  extolling 
the  virtues  of  Daffy's  elixir,  and 
who  occasionally  comfort  them- 
selves with  a  stronger  medicine 
under  Daffy's  name.  Of  late 
years  the  term  has  been  altered 
to  '  soothing  syrup. '  " 

Daftie  (tailors),  one  who  says  (or 
does)  anything  absurd. 

Dagger-cheap  (old),  dirt  cheap. 
"The  Dagger  w*as  a  low  ordinary 
in  Holborn,  referred  to  by  Ben 
Jonson  and  others ;  the  fare 
was  probably  cheap  and  nasty  " 
(T.  L.  O.  Davies,  Supplementary 
English  Glossary). 

We  set  our  wares  at  a  very  easy  price  ; 
he  (the  devil)  may  buy  us  even  dagger- 
cheap,  as  we  say. — Andrervs :  Sermons. 

Dago  (American),  an  Italian,  de- 
rived by  one  authority  from  the 
Spanish  hidalgo.  As  the  word 
has  been  for  a  long  time  in  use 
among  sailors,  who  apply  it  to 
Spaniards,  Portuguese,  and  Ita- 
lians, but  principally  to  the 
former,  there  is  little  doubt  but 
that  it  comes  from  Diiyo,  which 
is  almost  equivalent  to  Jack  in 
the  Spanish  ports. 


292 


Dags — Daknta. 


Dags  (popular),  a  work,  a  job,  a 
performance.  "  I'll  do  your  dags 
for  you,"  i.e.,  I'll  do  your  work 
for  you.  The  word  is  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  old  English  and  Low- 
land Scotch,  and  local  in  many 
English  counties  ;  darg,  a  day's 
work,  as  in  the  rhyme — 

"  I'll  do  my  (iarg 
Before  I  arg," 

which  is  to  say,  "I'll  do  my 
work  before  I  argue  about  it." 
The  "  Farmer's  Encyclopaedia," 
quoted  in  Worcester's  Diction- 
ary, defines  "darg  "  or  "dargue  " 
as  "  the  quantity  of  peat  which 
one  man  can  cut  and  two  men 
wheel  in  a  day." 

Dai,  dye  (gypsy),  a  mother.  Dya! 
oh  mother  I  Dyeskrl  dye,  ma- 
ternal grandmother.  Bdbeli  dye, 
paternal  grandmother. 

Daily  Levy,  the,  a  nickname  of 
the  Daily  Telegraph,  in  allusion 
to  its  proprietor,  Mr.  Levy 
Lawson. 


We  repeat,  Billy  allowed  the  operation 
to  be  carried  out  without  even  a  verbal 
protest,  very  unlike  him,  and  the  robbers 
took  away  the  gold  box  and  complimented 
him  on  being  a  daisy.  Border  Chester- 
fields have  not  a  word  p{  heartier  com- 
mendation in  their  energetic  but  limited 
vocabulary. — //.  L.  Williams  :  In  the 
Wild  West. 

Daisy-cutter  (common),  a  horse 
that  does  not  lift  its  feet  much 
off  the  ground  when  trotting  or 
galloping,  or  simply  a  trotting 
horse. 

The  trot  is  the  true  pace  for  a  hackney  ; 
and  were  we  near  a  town,  I  should  like  to 
try  that  daisy-cutter  of  yours  upon  a  piece 
of  level  road  (barring  canter)  for  a  quart 
of  claret  at  the  next  inn. — Sir  W.  Scott : 
Rob  Roy. 

(Cricket),  a  ball  bowled  all 
along  the  ground,  instead  of 
with  a  proper  pitch.  Though 
perfectly  fair,  they  are  con- 
sidered bad  form.  Termed  also 
a  "sneak." 

Daisy-kicker  (ostlers),  the  name 
ostlers  at  inns  sometimes  give 
each  other. 


Dairies  (popular),  a  vulgar  word 
for  a  woman's  breasts.  The  allu- 
sion is  obvious. 

Daisies  (popular  and  thieves), 
boots.  Abbreviated  from  "daisy- 
roots,"  which  see. 

And  there  they  set  as  dumb  as  mice, 
and  me  and  Ginger  a  laying  under  the 
seats.  Oh  !  it  Was  a  treat — with  the  'eels 
of  the  copper's  daisies  just  in  front  of  my 
conk.  But  there  was  nothin'  for  it  but  to 
lay  quiet. — Sporting  Times. 

Daisy  (popular),  jolly  fellow. 


Daisyroots  (rhyming  slang),  boots. 

The  Windsor  warrior  was  anxiously 
regarding  his  newly  varnished  patent 
leathers  while  yearning  to  cross  from  the 
Guards'  Club  to  the  Marlborough  in 
muddy  Pall  Mall. 

"'Ere  you  are,  sir;  jump  in,"  roared 
c.ibby.  "  Sooner  t.ike  you  across  for 
nothing  than  see  you  spile  them  lovely 
daisyroots. ' ' — Sporting  1  imes. 

Daisyville  (thieves),  the  country. 
Dakma,  to  (thieves),  to  silence. 

I  had  to  dakma  the  bloke  to  clay  the 
swag.     Palsey  crowed  for  me,   and   that 


Dam — Dancer. 


293 


was  all  the  good   it  done   me. — On  the 
Trail. 

Dam  (up-country  Australian),  a 
pond  for  watering  cattle.  This 
is  generally  made  by  throwing 
up  a  bank  across  a  hollow  or 
little  gully.  When  the  floods 
come  the  escape  of  the  flood- 
water  is  prevented. 

The  rain  had  heen  pouring  down  for 
weeks,  as  if  to  make  up  for  the  summer's 
drought.  It  had  filled  the  dams  and 
flooded  the  creeks,  and  the  diggers  were 
having  a  drunken  bout. — Keighhy  Good- 
child:  Waif. 

Damber  (old  cant),  first  damber- 
cove,  a  head-man. 

Dame  (Eton).  At  Eton  the  word 
Dame  has  no  reference  to  the 
weaker  sex.  Any  person,  other 
than  a  classical  master,  who 
keeps  a  boys'  boarding-house  in 
College  is  a  Dame.  Thus  all 
mathematical  masters'  houses 
are  Dames'  houses. 

I  am  thankful  to  say  that  I  did  not 
attend  the  show.  But  I  happened  to  see 
the  World  conducted  back  to  his  Dames, 
and  the  spectacle  was  gruesome.  The 
punishment  inflicted  had  been  very  con- 
siderable, and  I  do  not  think  the  World 
appeared  in  public  for  quite  a  fortnight. — 
Sketchy  Memories  of  Eton. 

Damnation  Comer  (Eton),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

Meanwhile,  "  regardless  of  our  doom, 
we  little  victims  played,"  or  rather  watched 
the  play ;  we  little  knew  what  cruel  fate 
awaited  us,  or  that  the  present  head-mas- 
ter of  Eton  and  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Cornish 
lay  in  ambush  for  our  outcoming  behind 
that  very  sharp  turn  in  the  High  Street, 
which,  on  account  of  its  acute  angle, 
and  the  consequent  danger  of  being  nailed 


in  shirking  in  old  days,  was  somewhat 
flippantly  termed  Damnation  Comer. — 
Sketchy  Memories  of  Eton. 

Damned  soul  (old  slang).  A  clerk 
in  the  Customs  House,  whose 
duty  was  to  swear  or  clear  mer- 
chandise, used  to  guard  against 
perjury  by  taking  a  previous 
oath  never  to  swear  truly;  he 
was  called  a  damned  soid,    1 

Damper  (school),  a  suet  pudding 
in  use  at  schools,  introduced 
before  meat  to  take  off  the 
edge  of  the  appetite.  (Thieves), 
a  shop  till.  To  "draw  a  dam- 
fer"  to  rob  a  till. 

(Tailors),  a  "sweater,"  i.e., 
one  who  gets  as  much  work  for 
as  little  pay  as  possible  out  of 
workmen. 

Damp-pot  (tailors),  the  sea. 

Dance,  to  (printers).  If  letters 
drop  out  when  the  forme  is 
lifted,  the  forme  is  said  to  dance 
(Academy  of  Armoury,  R,  Holme, 
1 688). 

(Old),  "  <o  dance  the  Padding- 
ton  frisk,"  to  be  hanged ;  also 
termed  "to  dance  upon  nothing." 
French  "  danser  une  danse  oil 
i'  n'y  a  pas  d'  plancher." 

Just  as  the  felon  condemned  to  die, 
With  a  very  natural  loathing, 
Leaving  the  sheriff  to  dream  of  ropes. 
From  his  gloomy  cell  in  a  vision  elopes 
To  a  caper  on  sunny  greens  and  slopes. 
Instead  of  the  dance  upon  nothing. 

— Hood :  Miss  Kilmansegg. 

Dancer   or   dancing-master 

(thieves),  a  thief  who  gets  on 
the  roof  of  houses  and  effects 


294 


Dancers — Dang. 


an  entrance  by  a  window.  He 
has  of  course  to  pick  his  way 
carefully,  and  to  be  as  neat  in 
his  steps  as  a  dancing-master. 

Dancers  (thieves),  a  flight  of  steps 
or  stairs. 

Come,  my  Hebe,  brack  the  dancers, 
that  is,  go  up  the  stairs. — Lytton:  What 
will  he  do  with  it. 

Dander  (low),  to  get  up  one's 
dander,  or  to  have  one's  dander 
raised,  to  get  suddenly  into  a 
passion ;  to  burst  or  flare  up. 
From  the  Dutch. 

The  fire  and  fury  that  blamed  in  her  eyes 
gave  ocular  evidence  of  her  dander  being 
up. — From  the  N.  O.  Picayune,  cited  by 
Bartlett. 

My  dander  got  considerable  riz  at  this, 
so  I  knocked  the  chap  down  as  called  nie 
a  confederate. — Scraps. 

There  is  not  the  slightest 
proof  that  this  is  derived  from 
raising  the  scurf  or  dander  at 
the  roots  of  the  hair,  as  Bart- 
lett thinks,  though  American.':, 
misled  by  the  resemblance  of 
sound,  talk  about  "  dander  being 
riz."  In  Dutch  donder  is  thun- 
der, and  op  donderen,  i.e.,  to  get 
the  donder  up,  is  to  burst  out 
into  a  sudden  rage,  or,  as  Sewel 
explains,  "like  an  infernal 
spirit ; "  to  flare  up ;  to  blaze 
out  in  wrath. 

Dandy  (coiners),  a  counterfeit 
gold  sovereign  or  half  sovereign. 
The  spurious  coin  is  well  made, 
and  its  composition  includes 
some  pure  gold. 

And  it  is  not  in  paltry  pewter  "sours,  " 
with  which  the  young  woman  has  dealings, 


but  in  dandies;  which,  rendered  into  in- 
telligible English,  means  imitation  gold 
coin.—/.  Greenwood :  Tag,  Rag,  &'  Co. 

(American).  This  word,  origi- 
nally English,  and  manifestly 
taken  from  the  ordinary  word 
dandy,  a  fop,  as  a  type  of  any- 
thing neat  or  fanciful,  has  been 
greatly  extended  in  America. 

The  man  who  marries  a  woman  simply 
because  she  is  a  dandy  arrangement  to 
have  about  the  house  does  so  from  a  pure 
business  standpoint,  and,  in  the  end,  if 
not  compelled  to  support  him,  she  has 
done  better  than  many  women  I  know  of. 
— Nasby. 

(Anglo-Indian),  a  boatman  ; 
also  a  kind  of  hammock-litter, 
in  which  travellers  are  carried. 

In  the  lower  hills,  when  she  did  not 
walk,  she  travelled  in  a.daniiy. — Kinloch  : 
Large-game  Shooting  in  Thibet. 

(Irish),  a  small  glass  of  whisky. 

Dandy-master  (coiners),  a  coiner 
who  employs  others  to  pass 
counterfeit  coin. 

The  spirits  obtained  being  mostly  bottled 
and  labelled,  and  unopened,  find  a  ready 
sale  at  public-houses  known  to  the  dandy- 
master,  so  that  no  serious  loss  is  expe- 
rienced in  that  direction. — J.  Greenwood : 
Tag,  Rag,  A'  Co. 

Dandy -rig  (Wq^t  American), 
fashionable  attire. 

In  the  barber's  shop  that  I  entered  the 
three  chairs  were  all  occupied.  A  slender, 
graceful,  "  interesting  young  man,"  of  an 
Italian  type  of  face,  dressed  in  a  blue 
shell-jacket  bound  with  yellow,  a  good 
deal  of  loud  jewellery,  and  a  dandy-rig 
generally,  operated  on  one  customer. — 
F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Dangf  it!  (common),  an  evasive 
curse,  but  imlike  its  prototyi)e, 


Danglers — Dark. 


295 


Damn    it  I    it    is    never    used 
angrily. 

Danglers  (thieves),  a  bunch  of 
seals. 

And  where  the  swag,  so  bleakly  pinched, 
A  hundred  stretches  hence  ? 
The  thimbles,  slang,  and  danglers  filched 
A  hundred  stretches  hence  ? 

— On  the  Trail. 

Darbies  (prison),  handcuffs,  irons. 

"  Stay,"  cried  he,  "  if  he  is  an  old  hand 
he  will  twig  the  officer."  "  Oh,  I'm  dark, 
sir,"  was  the  answer ;  "he,  won't  know  me 
till  I  put  the  darbies  on  him." — Reade: 
Never  too  Late  to  Mend. 

It  is  said  that  handcuffs,  used 
to  bind  two  prisoners  together, 
were  called  a  Darby  and  Joan. 

Darble  (old  cant),  the  devil. 
From  the  French. 

Darby  (old  cant),  ready  money. 

Dark  (common),  secret. 

It  was  evident  to  the  Devonshire  gentle- 
man that  the  three  traitors  had  agreed 
between  them  to  keep  quite  dark  a  certain 
little  episode  of  tiie  afternoon  enjoyment. — 
J.  Greenwood:  Dick  Teinple. 

(Prison),  "getting  the  dark," 
being  confined  in  an  absolutely 
dark  ceU.  Probably  abolished 
now.  There  was  one  at  Clerken- 
well  Prison,  but  it  was  not  used 
for  at  least  the  last  ten  years  of 
that  prison's  existence. 

Dark  cully  (old  slang),  a  married 
man  who  keeps  a  mistress,  but 
for  fear  of  detection  only  visits 
her  secretly. 

Dark  horse  (turf),  a  horse  who 
has  never  run,  or  who  having 


run  is  supposed  not  to  have 
exhibited  his  real  powers  in 
public.  The  sporting  journals 
are  kindly  constant  in  their  en- 
deavours to  throw  light  on  this 
particular  form  of  darkness. 

The  present  year  is  likely  to  be  memor- 
able in  racing  records  as  the  year  of  sur- 
prises. The  first  favourites  have  fared 
badly.  The  Derby  was  won  by  a  dark 
horse;  Tenebreuse,  who  carried  off  the 
Grand  Prix  last  Saturday,  was  hardly  in 
the  betting. — Standard. 

(American),  a  candidate  who 
keeps  his  intentions  in  the  back- 
ground tiU  he  finds  his  oppor- 
tunity. 

Dark  house  (old),  a  lunatic  asy- 
lum. 

Dark  it,  to  (tailors),  to  keep 
secret. 

Darktnans  (old  cant),  night. 

Bene  lightmans  to  thy  quarromes  ;  in 
what  lipken  hast  thou  Ij-pped  in  this 
darkemans,  whether  in  a  lybbege  or  in 
the  strummel ? — T.  Hartnan:  Caveat, 

I.e.,  "  Good-day  to  thee  ;  in  what  house 
didst  thou  sleep  last  night,  in  a  bed  or  on 
the  straw  ?  " 

Darkman's  budge  (old  cant),  a 
man  who  slips  in  unobserved 
into  a  house  in  the  daytime  to 
give  ready  entrance  to  his  con- 
federates. 

Darks  (nautical),  nights  on  which 
the  moon  does  not  shine — much 
looked  to  by  smugglers  (Ad- 
miral Smyth). 

Dark  'un  (racing),  equivalent  to 
"  dark  horse,"  which  see. 


296 


Darky — Davy. 


Darky  (American),  negro. 

In  these  days  of  schools  and  school- 
masters for  the  coloured  people  the  num- 
ber of  those  "who  cannot  tell  their  right 
hand  from  their  left  will  presumably 
rapidly  diminish ;  but  before  the  darky 
of  anti-bellum  times  quite  disappears  among 
the  shades  of  things  that  are  past  .  .  . — 
Harper's  Magazine. 

Also  twilight. 

Darned,  dam  it  (common),  a  cor- 
ruption of  and  euphemism  for 
damn.     Of  American  origin. 

"Two  dimes,"  coolly  replied  Jonathan. 
"Two  devils,"  snarled  the  customer; 
"why,  I  can  get  just  as  good  cider  here 
for  five  cents  a  glass."  "  No,  you  can't," 
drawled  the  Yankee.  "  There  ain't  a  pint 
of  cider,  'cept  what  I've  got  in  that  'ere 
barrel,  this  side  of  Orleans.  I'm  darned 
if  there  is."  —  Diprose  t  Book  0/  Anec- 
dotes. 

Dash  (turf),  to  have  a  dash  on  a 
race  is  to  exceed  largely  the 
speculator's  ordinary  limit  of 
investment. 

(Popular),  to  "  cut  a  dash," 
to  make  a  great  parade,  dress 
showily. 

(African  Coast  patois)  a  pre- 
sent or  gratuity.  Guinea  negro, 
dass. 

Dasher  (common),  an  extravagant 
or  "  fast "  person. 

She  was  astonished  to  find  in  high  life  a 
degree  of  vulgarity  of  which  her  country 
companions  would  have  been  ashamed.  .  . 
These  young  ladies  were  dashers. — Miss 
Edge-worth :  Altneria. 

(Turf),  one  noted  for  his  smart- 
ness. 

With  much  regret  I  heard,  during  my 
visit  to  Newmarket,  that  Mr. 's  con- 


dition still  continues  to  cause  his  family 
and  friends  the  gravest  anxiety.  Would  I 
could  write  better  news  concerning  the 
dasher,  who  is  one  of  the  best  of  good 
fellows. — Sporting  Times. 

Dash  my  wig,  dash  my  buttons, 

senseless  evasion  of  the  honester 
word  damn,  used  at  a  time 
when  profane  oaths  were  more 
fashionable  than  they  have  since 
become. 

Dashy,  deva-dasi,  dasis  (Anglo- 
Indian),  girls  devoted  to  dancing 
and  prostitution  in  the  idol 
temples,  especially  of  Southern 
India. 

"  In  Hindu  deva-ddsi  means  slave-girl 
of  the  gods.  The  like  existed  at  ancient 
Corinth  under  the  name  of  ierodouloi, 
which  is  nearly  a  translation  of  the  Hindu 
term.  These  appendages  of  the  worship 
of  Aphrodite  were  the  same  thing  as  the 
Phoenician  Kedeshoth,  repeatedly  men- 
tioned in  the  Old  Testament.  (E.g.  Deut. 
xxiii.  18.)  Such  girls  are  mentioned  in  the 
famous  inscription  in  Citiura  in  Cyprus  .  .  . 
under  the  name  of  altna,  curiously  near 
that  of  the  modern  Egj-ptian  aii/na " 
(also  aiina  or  ainieh).  Dasis  are  the  danc- 
ing girls  attached  to  the  pagodas. — Nelson  : 
Madura. 

Daub  (low),  a  vulgar  name  for  a 
painter ;  properly  a  coarsely 
painted  picture,  what  the  French 
call  crodte, 

Davy  (popular),  a  corruption  of 
aflddavit. 

Ay,  ay,  my  young  coon,  said  she,  or  a 
silver  spoon  either.  I'll  take  my  daz/y  it's 
only  pewter. — Sam  Stick. 

Davy  Jones  (nautical),  a  mythi- 
cal character  supposed  to  typify 
the    depths    of   ocean.      Davy 


Davy — Daylights. 


297 


Jones'  locker,  the  bottom  of  the 
ocean. 

It  has  been  ingeniously  con- 
jectured that  the  sea,  which  is 
so  often  the  sailors'  cemetery, 
was  called  Jonah's  locker,  that 
the  prophet's  name  was  corrup- 
ted into  Jones,  and  Davy  pre- 
fixed as  being  a  common  name 
in  Wales  {Notes  and  Queries). 
For  other  derivation,  vide  Dr. 
Charles  Mackay's  "  Gaelic  Ety- 
mology of  the  English  Lan- 
guage." 

Sailors  sometimes  call  the 
devil  "  Old  Davy."  This  ap- 
pears to  be  a  diminutive  of 
devil. 

Even  in  the  appellations  given  him  (the 
devil)  by  familiar  or  vulgar  irreverence, 
the  same  pregnant  initial  prevails,  he  is  the 
Deuce,  and  Old  Davy,  and  Davy  Jones. — 
Southey :  The  Doctors. 

Davy  putting-  on  the  coppers  for 
the  parsons  (nautical),  the  brew- 
ing of  a  storm. 

Davy's    sow,    or    David's    sow 

(popular).  ' '  As  drunk  as  Davys 
sow,"  completely  drunk. 

Grose  says  : — "  David  Lloyd, 
a  Welshman,  had  a  sow  with 
six  legs ;  on  one  occasion  he 
brought  some  friends  and  asked 
them  whether  they  had  ever 
seen  a  sow  like  that,  not  know- 
ing that  in  his  absence  his 
drunken  wife  had  turned  out 
the  animal,  and  gone  to  lie 
down  in  the  sty.  One  of  the 
party  observed  that  it  was  the 
drunkest  sow  he  had  ever  be- 
held." 


The  term  may  have  originated 
(a  mere  conjecture)  in  an  allu- 
sion to  Nell  Gywn,  one  of  the 
mistresses  of  Charles  II.  (nick- 
named David — his  father  was 
called  Nebuchadnezzar  by  the 
Roundheads),  who  was  credited 
with  every  vice  by  the  Earl 
of  Rochester,  and  of  whom  he 
wrote : 

.  .  .  Madam  Nelly, 
Whose  first  employment  was,  with  open 

throat, 
To  cry  fresh  herrings,  even  ten  a  groat. 
— A  Satire. 

Other  synonymous  expressions 
are,  "  drunk  as  a  drum,  as  a 
wheelbarrow,  sow-drunk,  drunk 
as  a  fish,  as  a  lord,  as  a  piper, 
as  a  fiddler,  as  a  rat." 

Dav7k  {Anglo-Indian),  transport, 
by  means  of  relays  of  men  and 
horses ;  the  mail.  To  lay  a 
dawk  is  to  organise  a  postal  or 
transport  service. 

During  the  mutiny  of  1857-58,  when 
several  young  surgeons  had  arrived  in 
India,  whose  services  were  urgently  wanted 
at  the  front,  it  is  said  that  the  Head  of  the 
Department  to  which  they  had  reported 
themselves,  directed  them  to  immediately 
"  lay  a  dawk."  To  which  one,  aghast,  re- 
plied, "  Would  you  kindly  explain,  sir — for 
you  might  just  as  well  tell  me  to  lay  an 
egg." — Anglo-Indian  Glossary. 

Dawk-bungalow  (Anglo-Indian), 
a  resting-place  or  house  for 
travellers. 

I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  value 
of  life  to  a  ddk  bungalow  fowl  must  be 
very  trifling. — In  my  Indian  Garden. 

Daylights  (common),  the  space 
left  in  the  glass,  and  between 


298 


Daylights — Dead. 


the  liquor  and  the  rim  ;  not  per- 
mitted in  ultra-conncil  gather- 
ings when  a  toast  is  to  be  drunk. 
The  way  on  such  occasions 
of  the  proposer  of  the  toast  was 
"  no  daylights  and  no  heel-taps, 
but  a  full  bumper." 

(Popular),  the  eyes ;  to  "  dar- 
ken one's  daylights,"  to  give  a 
black  eye. 

Good  woman  I  I  do  not  use  to  be  so 
treated.  If  the  lady  says  such  another 
word  to  me,  damn  me,  I  will  darken  her 
day  Ugh  is.  — Fielding ;  A  niclia. 

Dead  (turf),  certainty. 

"  Dealers  in  the  dead"  did  well  then  ; 
bet  after  bet  was  booked  about  horses 
which  had  no  more  chance  of  winning 
than  "if  they  were  boiled." — Baileys 
Monthly  Magazine. 

Dead-alive  (popular),  a  stupid, 
dull,  slow  fellow. 

Dead-amiss  (racing)  is  said  of  a 

horse  that  is  incapacitated  from 
winning  a  race  through  illness. 

Dead  as  a  tent-peg  (popular), 
from  the  pegs  being  buried  in 
the  ground. 

First  Clubman. — "  Hullo,  Bob ;  heard 
the  news  about  Macstinger,  of  the  '  Mos- 
quito'?" Second  Clubman.  —  "No; 
what's  up?"  KrRST  C. — "Great  Scott! 
it's  a  case  of  down,  not  up,  dear  boy. 
He's  dead  as  a  tent-peg.  Poisoned  him- 
self last  night." — Fun. 

Varied  to  "  dead  as  a  door- 
nail," or  "dead  as  a  herring," 
"  dead  as  small  beer." 

Dead  beat  (American),  an  im- 
postor ;   a  man  who  does  not 


intend  to  pay  his  share;   an 
unprofitable  sponger. 

(Common),  to  be  dead  beat,  to 
be  utterly  exhausted. 

Dead  broke  (common),  utterly 
ruined,  penniless.  (American), 
to  dead  break,  to  ruin  at  a  gam- 
bling game. 

This  other,  a  man  whohad  never  touched 
a  card,  but  learnt  the  game  over-night  and 
sat  out  a  seven-hours'  play  with  the  chief 
gamblers,  under  the  fire  of  their  associates, 
dead-broke  them,  so  that  they  quitted  the 
camp  laughed  at  by  their  own  pals. — H. 
L.  IVilliams  :  Buffalo  Bill. 

Dead  cargfo  (thieves),  plunder 
that  will  not  recompense  for  the 
risk  entailed. 

Deader  (army),  a  military  funeral. 

Dead  finish,  the  (up  -  country 
Australian),  excellent  beyond 
measure ;  in  Cockney  slang  an 
"  out-and-outer."  Death  is  a 
natural  metaplior  for  complete- 
ness, for  exhaustion  or  exhaus- 
tiveness ;  dead  is  a  common 
prefix,  expressing  the  same  idea 
in  "dead  on,"  "dead-nuts," 
"  dead  certain,"  "  dead  beat," 
"dead  heat." 

' '  He's  the  deadjiiiish—^o  right  through 
a  man,"  rejoins  Sam  rather.  "Blessed  if 
he  didn't  near  skiver  my  boss." — A.  C. 
Grant :  Bush  Life  in  Queensland. 

Dead-head  (American),  one  who 
stands  about  a  bar  to  drink  at 
the  expense  of  others. 

Sitting  on  a  bench  outside  the  principal 
hotel  are  three  or  four  hopelessly  aban- 
doned loafers,  wearing  plainly  the  stamp 
of  dead-head  on  their  shameless  features, 


Dead. 


299 


waiting  to  be  asked  to  drink,  or  listening 
eagerly  for  the  not  infrequent  "shout  for 
all  hands."— y4.  C.  Grant. 

Dead  heat  (common),  exactly 
even.  Two  men  who  are  equal 
in  anything  are  said  to  be  a 
dead  heat;  from  a  racing  ex- 
pression. 

Ay,  so  ends  the  tussle.  I  knew  the 
tan-muzzle  was  first,  though  the  ring-men 
were  yelling  "dead  heat."  A  nose  I  could 
sweax  by,  but  Clarke  said  "  the  mare,  by 
a  short  head." — A,  L.  Gordon:  How  we 
Beat  the  Favourite. 

Dead-horse  (popular),  to  "draw 
the  dead-horse"  is  doing  work 
paid  for  in  advance.  The  term 
explains  itself.  Used  also  by 
sailors.  Admiral  Smyth  says 
that  "  when  they  commence 
earning  money  again  there  is  in 
some  merchant  ships  a  ceremony 
performed  of  dragging  round 
the  deck  an  effigy  of  their  fruit- 
less labour  in  the  shape  of  a 
horse,  running  him  up  to  the 
yard-arm,  and  cutting  him  adrift 
to  fall  into  the  sea,  amidst  loud 
cheers."  French  printers  call 
this  manger  du  said,  to  eat  salt 
pork,  that  is,  something  that 
excites  thirst ;  from  the  fact 
that  workmen  in  this  case,  feel- 
ing disinclined  for  work,  pay 
frequent  visits  to  the  wine-shop. 

Dead  horses  (West  Indian), 
shooting  stars.  The  supersti- 
tion of  the  negro  mind  imagines 
that  shooting  stars  are  the 
spirits  of  horses  that  have  been 
killed  by  falling  over  ravines 
and  precipices. 


Dead  lurk  (thieves),  breaking 
into  a  house  when  the  inmates 
are  at  church . 

Deadly  lively,  to  be  (common),  to 
be  factitiously  or  xmnaturally 
jolly. 

Deadly  nevergreen,  the  (thieves), 
the  gallows ;  said  also  to  bear 
fruit  aU  the  year  round. 

Dead  man  (provincial),  ground 
rising  higher  on  one  side  of 
a  wall  than  on  the  other. 
"  There  is  so  much  dead  man 
that  the  house  is  always  damp." 
(Popular),  a  scarecrow;  a 
man  made  of  rags.  Possibly  a 
corruption  of  "dudman,"  from 
cant  term  duds,  for  clothes,  rags. 
Also  an  extra  loaf  smuggled 
into  the  basket  by  a  baker's 
man,  and  disposed  of  by  him. 

Deadman's  lurk  (thieves),  a  crafty 
scheme  laid  by  swindlers  to  ex- 
tort money  from  the  relatives  of 
a  deceased  person. 

Dead  marine,  dead  man  (popular), 
an  empty  bottle,  implying  that 
its  contents  have  been  alcoholic. 
The  expression  doubtless  arises 
from  the  jealousy,  dashed  vdth 
a  slight  flavour  of  contempt, 
with  which  marines  are  re- 
garded by  sailors  on  board 
ship.  The  phrase  survives  in 
a  famous  old  drinking-song,  set 
to  very  spirited  music  by  Jack- 
son of  Exeter — an  admirable 
specimen  of  the  ancient  popular 


300 


Dead. 


melodies  of    England,  and  of 
which  the  well-known  choims 


And  he  who  will  this  toast  deny 
Down  among  the  dead  men  let  him  lie. 

The  word  was  formerly  a 
marine,  which,  being  used  in  a 
company  at  which  William  IV., 
then  Duke  of  Clarence,  was 
present,  gave  offence  to  an 
oflBcer  of  that  gallant  corps, 
who  asked  the  Prince  what  he 
meant  by  it.  "I  mean  by 
marine,"  replied  the  Prince, 
with  more  readiness  than  was 
usual  with  him,  "  a  good  fel- 
low who  has  done  his  duty,  and 
is  ready  to  do  it  again."  The 
French  term  an  empty  bottle 
"un  corps  mort." 

Dead  meat  train  (common),  a 
special  train  carrying  corpses 
from  Waterloo  Station  to  the 
London  Necropolis  at  Woking. 

Dead  men's  shoes  (common),  pro- 
perty which  can  only  be  claimed 
after  the  decease  of  the  holder. 

Dead  nap  (provincial),  a  cheat,  a 
downright  rogue. 

Dead  nip  (provincial),  the  failure 
of  any  petty  plan  or  scheme. 

Dead  nuts  on  (popular  Austra- 
lian), very  fond  of.  An  ampli- 
fication of  the  ordinary  English 
slang  "nuts  on." 

Dead  -  oh  1  (naval),  is  said  of  a 
man  in  the  last  stage  of  intoxi- 
cation. 


Dead-on  (riflemen),  straight  on. 
A  rifle-shot  talks  of  the  aiming 
being  dead-on  when  the  day 
is  so  calm  that  he  can  aim 
straight  at  the  bull's  eye  instead 
of  having  to  allow  to  the  right 
or  left  for  wind.  He  is  said  to 
be  dead-on  himself  when  he  is 
shooting  very  well. 

Dead,  on  the  (common),  on  the 
teetotal  tack.  Dead  is  often 
used  as  a  strengthening  adjec- 
tive, "  dead  proper,"  "  dead 
sober." 

Dead  season  (journalistic),  the 
time  when  nothing  is  going  on. 
For  society  this  is  the  summer, 
or  during  Lent. 

Dead  sow's  eye  (tailors),  a  badly 
worked  button-hole. 

Dead  stick,  to  (theatrical),  to 
stop,  to  break  down  utterly  in 
the  midst  of  a  performance.  The 
most  eminent  actors  have  been 
subject  to  sudden  and  treacher- 
ous lapses  of  memory.  Macready 
has  been  known  to  break  down 
in  Virginius — a  character  he 
had  acted  thousands  of  times. 
Charles  Kean  has  broken  down 
in  Othello  and  Melnotte.  On 
the  first  night  of  "Henry  IV." 
at  the  Queen's  Theatre,  Phelps 
stuck  dead  or  dead  stuck  in  Henry 
IV.,  and  the  actor  who  played 
the  Prince  of  Wales  had  to 
prompt  his  royal  father. 

Dead  stock  (common),  unsaleable 
ware. 


Dead — Deaner. 


301 


The  youngest,  who  was  a  capless,  shoe- 
less little  wretch,  certainly  not  more  than 
eight  years  old,  had  a  "  cigar-light "  box 
tucked  under  his  arm ;  another,  a  couple 
of  years  older,  perhaps,  carried  the  stump 
of  a  birch  broom ;  while  the  third,  who  was 
the  oldest  and  the  hungriest,  looking  the 
most  decently  dressed,  held  in  his  hand  a 
few  local  newspapers — AismaWy  dead  stock, 
considering  the  day  and  the  hour. — James 
Greenwood:  Crackling's  Dole. 

Dead  swag  (thieves),  plunder  that 
cannot  be  got  rid  of. 

Dead  to  rights  (police  slang),  em- 
ployed by  detectives  when  they 
have  quite  convicted  a  criminal, 
and  he  is  positively  guilty.  "I've 
got  him  dead  to  rights,"  It  is 
often  employed  in  a  more  gene- 
ral sense  to  indicate  certainty  of 
success.  It  seems  to  have  ori- 
ginated in  America. 

Dead  'un  (thieves),  a  house  un- 
occupied temporarily  or  alto- 
gether. 

Me  and  the  screwsman  went  to  Graves- 
end  and  found  a  dead  'un,  and  we  both 
went  and  turned  it  over. — Horsley  :  Jot- 
tings from  Jail. 

(Thieves  and  roughs),  a  half 
quartern  loaf.  (Turf),  a  horse 
that  may  be  laid  against  as  if 
he  were  dead  ;  possibly  because 
he  is  not  going  to  run,  certainly 
because  he  is  not  intended  to 


"  Racing  men,"  said  Mr.  Justice  Field, 
in  a  memorable  case  some  years  ago,  "  evi- 
dently have  a  morality  of  their  own."  And 
it  is  certain  that  there  are  bookmakers  or 
commission  agents — call  them  what  you 
will — whose  honour  and  rectitude  is  un- 
questioned in  their  own  circle,  but  who,  so 


far  from  shrinking  from  the  idea  of  getting 
money  out  of  a  dead  'un,  will  jump  at  the 
first  opportunity. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

(Theatrical),  a  super  who  plays 
for  nothing.  The  mistakes  that 
are  made  in  crowds  and  full 
scenes  is  often  accounted  for 
by  the  fact  that  a  super  who 
has  attended  all  rehearsals  is 
shunted  at  a  moment's  notice 
to  make  room  for  the  dead  'un, 
who  sometimes  pays  the  super 
master  for  the  privilege  of  get- 
ting behind  the  scenes  as  welL 

(Popular),  to  make  dead  'uns, 
explained  by  quotation. 

Man  has  a  desire  to  peck  a  bit ;  conse- 
quently he  must  in  a  measure  depend  upon 
rogues  in  grain,  the  miller,  and  the  baker ; 
and  this  rule  therefore  teaches  the  art  and 
mystery  of  making  what  are  called  dead 
'uns;  that  is,  to  charge  not  only  for  what 
j-ou  deliver,  but  for  what  you  do  not. — 
Diprose :  Laugh  and  Learn. 

Dead-wood  earnest  (American), 
quite  earnest. 

No !  oh,  good  licks,  are  you  in  real 
dead-wood  earnest. — Mark  Twain:  Totn 
Sawyer. 

Dead  w^rong  'un  (common),  a  very 
dishonest  fellow,  a  cheat. 

"  Don't  you  ever  speak  to  that  man," 
said  the  Immaculate  One,  "he  is  a  dead 
wrong  'un.  Plays  cards,  and  has  big 
pockets  and  little  fingers.  Cheats.  Once 
went  into  the  card  room  with  six  coups 
ready  put  up  in  his  pocket." — Sporting 
Times. 

Deal  suit  (popular),  a  deal  coffin 
supplied  by  the  parish. 

Deaner  (thieves),  shilling. 

I  know  what  I  will  do ;  I  will  go  to 
London  Bridge  rattler  (railway)  and  take 


302 


Deaner — Deen. 


a  deaner  ride  and  go  a  wedge-hunting 
(stealing  plate.) — Rev.  J.  Horsley :  Jot- 
tings from  Jail. 

It  has  been  suggested  that 
deaner  is  from  denier,  but  more 
probably  it  is  a  corruption  of 
the  Yiddish  dinoh,  a  coin. 

Deansea  Ville  (old  cant),  the 
country ;  Deansea  Ville  stampers, 
carriers. 

Death-hunter  (street),  a  man  who 
sells  dying  speeches  or  con- 
fessions of  executed  criminals. 
Also  an  undertaker. 

Death  on  (Australian),  good  at. 
The  metaphor  is  probably  that 
of  completeness.  Vide  Dead 
Finish.  "Death  on  rabbits," 
would  mean  a  very  good  rab- 
bit shot;  "death  on  peaches," 
greedy  of  peaches.  The  phrase 
is  common  in  the  United 
States,  where  a  lady  over  fond 
of  finery  is  said  to  be  death  on 
dress. 

Death-trap  (journalistic) ,  a 
theatre  or  other  place  of  amuse- 
ment made  to  contain  large 
numbers  of  people.  The  ex- 
pression became  general  after 
the  burning  of  several  such 
edifices  in  1887. 

Our  laws,  too,  would  enable  us  to 
punish  persons  whose  negligence  and  in- 
attention have  been  the  causes  of  disaster ; 
but  then,  as  Mr.  Punch  reminds  us,  we 
never  think  of  trying  a  railway  director  for 
a  railway  accident,  or  a  theatrical  lessee 
and  his  architect  (to  say  nothing  of  a 
bench    of    magistrates)    for    erecting    or 


licensing    a    death-trap. — St.    Jamet's 

Gazette. 

Debblish  (South  Africa),  a  penny. 

Deck  (Anglo-Indian),  a  look,  a 
peep.  Hindu  dekh-nd,  to  look. 
•'  Dek-ho,  you  '  bud-mash ! '  " 
.In  English  gypsy,  dikk.  Dick- 
ing,  from  the  gypsy  is  common 
English  slang  for  looking. 

(American),  a  pack  of  cards. 
Formerly  used  in  England. 
From  the  expression  "to  deck 
out." 

Decus  (old  slang),  a  crown-piece ; 
from  the  motto  on  the  edge, 
Decus  et  Tutamen. 

Dee  (tramps),  a  pocket-book ; 
termed  "reader"  by  thieves. 
Probably  an  abbreviation  of 
dummy,  which  see.  (Popular), 
a  penny. 

Kydder. — Hullo,  Sneyde,  old  man, 
where  are  you  going  ? 

Sneyde. — Inside,  to  see  our  "uncle," 
and  get  a  bob  on  this.  {S/tcnus  his  waist- 
coat done  up  in  neiuspaper.) 

Kvdd'er. — We're  both  down  on  our  luck 
again,  then.  I've  just  taken  in  {looks 
roumi)—ahtm  ! — the  blankets  from  my 
lodgings.  I'll  wait  till  you  come  out. 
(VVniis  till  Sneyde  comes  out.) 

Sneyde. — He's  a  hard  nail,  he  is.  I've 
only  got  nine  dee  out  of  him.  —  The  Re- 
fcree. 

Deen  (Anglo  -  Indian).  Arabic 
din,  religion  ;  faith. 

About  the  worst  curse  that  you  can  lay 
out  on  a  Mahomet.in  is  "  Zen-ul  dinak!  " 
'•Curse  your  religion!"  A  native  who 
will  bear  with  a  placid  smile  the  infor- 
mation that  his  mother  was  a  social  evil  of 


Deerstalker — Demon. 


303 


the  most  revolting  type,  and  that  he  and 
all  his  relations,  like  all  their  ancestry 
before  them,  are  and  were  pigs,  destined 
to  devour  nameless  dirt  in  Sheol,  will  nip 
out  his  cheese-knife  and  go  for  your  vitals 
should  you  cast  any  reflection  on  his 
faith.  Even  for  him  "there  are  choras," 
not  of  muslin,  but  Muslim. — Travels  in 
Egypt. 

Deerstalker  (society),  a  wide- 
awake hat. 

Del  (gypsy),  to  give,  kick ;  also  to 
hit,  as  one  says,  "  give  it  to 
him,"  but  more  precisely  deUer, 
done,  draw ;  dellin,  hitting  or 
kicking ;  dellin  leskro,  "  a  givin' 
of  him ; "  dellemengro,  a  horse 
that  kicks. 

Delaben  (gypsy),  a  gift. 

Delicate  (begging  impostors),  a 
sham  subscription-book. 

Dell  (old  canting),  a  youngwench. 
Brome  ("  A  Jovial  Crew,  or  the 
Merry  Beggars,"  1652)  gives 
this  word.  In  Old  Dutch  slang 
dil,  del,  and  dille  also  mean  a 
girl,  Dielken,  fiUe  de  joie  (Der- 
enbourg).  Thiele,  a  Jewish  girl, 
especially  a  young  one.  In  Ger- 
man-Hebrew dilla  also  means 
a  maiden.  It  is  possible  that 
dilly-dally,  in  the  sense  of  phil- 
andering and  amorous  trilling, 
is  derived  from  diU  or  dell. 
Finally  the  gypsy  has  del  (lit.  to 
give)  in  the  sense  of  sexual 
union,  "  Del  adre  0  minj." 

DeloU  (Anglo-Indian),  a  broker. 
In  Egypt  a  pedlar  of  old  clothes, 
a  street  dealer. 


Delving  it  (tailors),  hurrying, 
keeping  the  head  down,  sewing 
fast. 

Demand  the  box,  to  (nautical),  to 
call  for  a  bottle. 

Demaunders  for  glymmeir  (old 
cant),  explained  by  quotation. 

These  demaunders  /or  giytnmar  he  for 
the  most  parte  wemen,  for  glymmar  in 
their  language  is  fyre.  These  go  with 
fayned  lycences  and  counterfayted  writ- 
ings, hauing  the  hands  and  seales  of  such 
gentlemen  as  dwelleth  nere  to  the  place 
where  they  fayne  themselues  to  haue  bene 
burnt,  and  their  goods  consumed  with 
fyre. — Hartttan  :  Caveat. 

Demi-rep  (old),  a  woman  of 
questionable  character — abbre- 
vation  of  "  demi-reputation." 

.  .  .  arrant  rascals,  male  and  female  .  .  . 
demi-reps  and  lorettes,  single  and  unmar- 
ried.— Quarterly  Revietu. 

Dem  keb  (London),  a  hansom  ;  a 
"masher"  phrase  from  Gilbert's 
"Wedding  March."  "Let's 
take  a  duem  heb. " 

Demmy  cit  (American  cadet),  a 
townsman  (cit.,  citizen)  who  is 
dressed  as  a  gentleman. 

Demon  chandler  (nautical),  one 
who  supplies  ship's  stores  of 
a  worthless  character — often 
utterly  unfit  for  use  and  food. 

I  snubbed  skipper  for  bad  grub,  rotten 

flour  to  eat, 
Hard  tack  full  of  weevils ;  how  demon 

chandlers  cheat  ! 
Salt  junk  like  mahogany,  scurvying  man 

and  boy. 
Says    he,    "Where's    your    remedy?" 

Board  of  Trade,  ahoy  I 

— Sailors'  Language. 


304 


Demons — Deux. 


Demons  (Australian),  prison  slang 
for  police.  "The  demont  put 
pincher  on  me,"  I  was  appre- 
hended. 

Dempstered  (old  cant),  hung;  from 
"dempster,"  the  executioner, 
so  called  because  it  was  his 
duty  to  repeat  the  sentence  to 
the  prisoner  in  open  court. 
This  was  discontinued  in  1773. 

Denounce,  to  (American).  In  the 
West  to  pre-empt  land,  to  an- 
nounce a  title  to  it. 

You  ain't  got  no  right  to  come  prospect- 
ing around  now.  I've  denounced  it  all — 
it's  all  mine. — F.  Francis:  Saddle  and 
Moccasin. 

Dep  (popular),  a  deputy.  (Christ's 
Hospital),  a  Grecian. 

Derby  darlingfs,  or  D.D.'s  (Ame- 
rican), a  term  applied  to  women 
who  wear  Derby  hats. 

The  late  decidedly  masculine  tendency 
in  fashionable  female  headgear  has  brought 
out  a  n«-w  type  of  girl  of  the  period  and 
coined  a  new  phrase  to  describe  her.  The 
girls  who  promenade  up  and  down  Chest- 
nut Street  these  fair  autumn  days,  arrayed 
in  men's  stiff  hats,  are  now  called  Derby 
girls,  or  Derby  darlings.  I'his  is  occa- 
sionally abbreviated  into  D.D.  in  such 
forms  as  "  there  goes  a  D.D-,"  or  "she's 
a  regular  D.D." — Philadelphia  Times. 

Derbyshire  neck,  a  term  for 
the  goitrous  neck,  owing  to  its 
prevalence  in  Derbyshire. 

Derrey  (thieves),  an  eyeglass ; 
hence  the  expression  used  by 
tailors  to  "take  the  derrey,"  to 
quiz,  ridicule. 


Derrick  (old  cant).  In  the  days 
prior  to  the  appearance  in  public 
life  of  the  better  known  Jack 
Ketch,  Derrick  signified  the 
hangman,  from  the  supposed 
name  of  a  then  existing  func- 
tionary. The  word  occurs  in 
"The  Bellman  of  London,"  an 
old  play,  published  in  16 16,  the 
year  of  Shakspeare's  death. 

"  He  rides  circuit  with  the  devil,  and 
Derrick  must  be  his  host,  and  Tyburn  the 
inn  at  which  he  will  alight." 

To  derrick,  "  a  cant  term  for 
setting  out  on  a  small  but  not 
over-creditable  enterprise.  The 
act  is  said  to  be  named  from  a 
Tyburn  executioner  "  (Admiral 
Smyth). 

Derwenter  (Australian),  a  con- 
vict. So  called  from  the  River 
Derwent,  in  Tasmania,  which, 
like  New  South  Wales  and  West 
Australia,  was  originally  a  con- 
vict settlement.  Cf.  "Vande- 
monian"  and  "  Sydney-sider." 

Despatchers  (gambling  cheats), 
according  to  Hotten  false  dice 
with  two  sets  of  numbers,  and, 
of  course,  no  pips.  So  called 
because  they  bring  the  matter 
to  a  speedy  issue. 

Detrimentals  (society),  a  very 
common  term  in  society  for 
those  who  are  not  well  off,  and 
therefore  detrimental  as  hus- 
bands. 

Deuce  (popular),  twopence.  From 
the  French. 

Deux  wins  (old  cant),  twopence. 


Devil. 


305 


Devil,  a  barrister  who  does  work 
for  another,  termed  "devilling." 
The  dexH  gets  up  the  case  for  a 
senior  in  large  practice,  generally 
without  any  remuneration.  It 
is  almost  also  an  oflficial  desig- 
nation. The  Attorney-General's 
devid  for  the  Treasury  is  a  post 
of  £\yxi  a  year.  The  Attor- 
ney-General has  also  devils  in 
Chancery,  as,  for  instance,  the 
"charity  devil,"  for  the  matters 
in  which  he  is  officially  con- 
cerned. The  Attorney-General's 
devil  in  the  Treasury,  after  a 
certain  probation,  is  often  pro- 
moted to  the  bench.  He  is,  in 
fact,  a  sort  of  junior  Attorney- 
General.  On  circuit,  no  one  is 
allowed  to  devil  for  another  un- 
less he  is  a  member  of  the  same 
circuit,  and  the  barrister  for 
whom  he  devils  is  actually  en- 
gaged in  some  other  court  on 
that  circuit  (Huggins). 

(Printers),  a  printer's  junior 
apprentice  or  errand  boy. 

(Literary),  explained  by  quo- 
tation. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  1  asked  in  dismay. 

"  I'm  a  devil."  .  .  . 

"  A  what !  "  I  exclaimed  with  a  start. 

"  A  devil.  ...  I  give  plots  and  incidents 
to  popular  authors,  sir.  Write  poetry  for 
them,  drop  in  situations,  jokes,  work  up 
their  rough  material :  in  short,  sir,  I  devz'l 
for  them." — George  R.  Sims:  The  A  uthor's 
Ghost. 

Devil  a  plebe,  to  (American  ca- 
dets), to  victimise  or  revile  a 
new  cadet. 

Devil   and    Tom   Walker,    the 

(American),  an  old  saying  once 


common  in  New  England  to  the 
effect  that  it  "beats  the  deril  and 
Tom  Walker,"  or  "  he  fared  as 
Tom  Wcdker  did  with  the  devil." 
In  the  Marvellous  Repository,  a 
curious  collection  of  tales,  many 
of  which  are  old  Boston  legends, 
there  is  one  of  Tom  Walker,  who 
sold  himself  to  the  devil.  The 
book  was  published  about  1832. 

Devil-dodger  (popular),  clergy- 
man. 

These  devil-dodgers  happened  to  be  so 
very  powerful  (that  is,  noisy)  that  they  soon 
sent  John  home  crying  out,  he  should  be 
damn'd. — Life  of  J.  Sackington. 

Devil  drawer  (old  slang),  a  poor, 
miserable  artist. 

Devils  (common),  small  wheels 
soaked  in  resin,  and  used  for 
lighting  fires. 

Devil's  among  the  tailors,  the 

(common),  i.e.,  there's  a  disturb- 
ance going  on.  "  This  phrase," 
says  Mr.  Edwards,  "  arose  in 
connection  with  a  riot  at  the 
Haymarket  on  an  occasion  when 
Dowton  announced  the  perform- 
ance for  his  benefitof  a  burlesque 
entitled  'The  Tailors :  a  Tragedy 
for  Warm  Weather.'  At  night, 
many  thousands  of  journey- 
men tailors  congregated  in  and 
around  the  theatre,  and  by  riot- 
ous proceedings  interrupted  the 
performances.  Thirty-three  of 
the  rioters  were  brought  up  at 
Bow  Street  the  next  day.  A 
full  account  of  the  proceedings 
will  be  found  in  Biographua 
U 


3o6 


Devil. 


Dramatim    under  the   heading 
'  Tailors.' " 

Devil's  bedposts  (common),  the 
four  of  clubs. 

Devil's  book  (common),  cards. 

Damn  your  cards,  said  he,  they  are  the 
devil's  book. — Swi/i :  Polite  Conversation. 

Devil's  claws  (prison),  explained 
by  quotation. 

A  Scotch  cap,  worsted  stockings,  and  a 
pair  of  shoes,  completed  the  uniform  of 
a  full  private  in  Her  Majesty's  Convict 
Service.  This  uniform  was  decorated  all 
over  with  the  devils  claws  (the  broad 
arrow). — Evening  News. 

Devil's  daughter  (common),  a 
scolding,  shrewish  wife. 

Devil's  delight,  a  disturbance  or 
quarrel  of  more  than  usual 
vehemence.  To  "kick  up  the 
(hvil's  ddigJit "  is  to  indulge  in 
drunken  and  obstreperous  jovi- 
ahty. 

Devil's  dust,  scraps  and  remnants 
of  old  woollen  garments  sent  to 
the  mill  to  be  remanufactured 
in  the  semblance  of  good  cloth, 
commonly  known  among  manu- 
facturers— who  use  the  word 
satirically — as  "  shoddy." 

Devil's  golden  tooth,  the  (Ameri- 
can). "  One  would  think  he'd 
found  the  dcviVs  yolden  tooth"  a 
common  saying  in  Ma.ssachu- 
setts.  Founded  on  a  story  to 
the  effect  that  Kidd,  the  pirate, 
once  obtained  from  the  devil 
his  eye-tooth,  which  had  the 
power  of  changing  all  metals 


into  gold.  The  losing  and  find- 
ing of  this  tooth  by  several 
persons  forms  the  subject  of  a 
popular  tale. 

Devil's  g^ts  (old  slang),  a  term 
given  by  farmers  to  the  sur- 
veyor's chain. 

Devil's  livery  (nautical),  black  and 
yellow.  From  the  colours  being 
used  for  mourning  or  quarantine. 

Devil's  Own,  the  Inns  of  Court 
Kifle  Volunteers. 

Devil-scolder  (popular),  a  clergy- 
man. 

Devil's  sharpshooters(American). 
anicknamegivenby  "thechurch 
militant"  to  those  of  the  cleri- 
cal party  who  in  the  Mexican 
War  belied  their  clotli  and  pro- 
fession ;  also  to  any  person 
favouring  unjust  war. 

Devil's  teeth  (common),  dice. 

Devil  to  pay,  the  (common),  an 
allusion  to  the  legendary  tales 
of  the  Middle  Ages,  in  which, 
in  exchange  for  the  enjoyment 
of  unlimiteil  wealth,  power,  or 
other  earthly  advantage,  a  man 
was  supposed  to  have  sold  his 
soul  to  the  devil. 

Devil  to  pay  and  no  'fitch  hot 

(nautical).  The  seam  which  mar- 
gins the  water-ways  was  called 
the  "devil."  Why,  only  caulkers 
can  tell,  who  perhaps  found  it 
sometimes    difficult    for    their 


Devotional — Dick. 


307 


tools.  The  phrase,  however, 
means  service  expected,  and  no 
one  ready  to  perform  it.  Im- 
patience and  naught  to  satisfy 
it  (Admiral  Smyth). 

Devotional  habits  (common)  is 
applied  to  a  horse  inclined  to 
"say  his  prayers,"  that  is,  apt 
to  fall  on  his  knees. 

De\7-drink  (labourers),  an  early 
drink.  French,  "une  goutte 
pour  tuer  le  ver,"  the  worm 
being  thought  to  be  more  than 
usually  thirsty  in  the  morning. 

Dewskitch    (popular),    a    severe- 
thrashing;  perhaps  from  "catch- 
ing one's  due." 

Dial-plate  (common),  the  face. 
"  To  turn  the  hands  on  his  dial- 
plate,"  i.e.,  to  disfigure  the  face. 

Dials  (prison),  members  of  the 
criminal  class  who  live  about 
the  Seven  Dials  in  London. 

Diamond  -  cracking  (Australian 
thieves'  patter),  stonebrcaking. 
The  metaphor  is  obvious,  break- 
ing "  those  precious  stones." 

He  caught  a  month  and  had  to  white 
it  out  at  diamond-cracking  in  "  Castieau's 
Hotel." — The  Australian  Printers  Keep- 
sake. 

In  England,  £^t«?no>ui  crackimj 
refers  to  working  in  a  coal- 
mine. 

Diary,  to  (American  thieves),  to 
remember. 

Dib  (common),  a  portion  or  share. 


Dibs  (common),  money. 

The trots  round  with  a  tin  plate  or 

a  royal  dish-cover,  and  collects  dibs  for 
the  Imperial  Institute.  He  exhibits  him- 
self at  football-  matches  and  Church  bazaars 
on  consideration  of  nailing  the  coin  for  his 
pet  scheme. — Modem  Society. 

So  called,  says  Hotten,  from 
the  knuckle  bones  of  sheep, 
which  have  been  used  from 
the  earliest  times  for  gambling 
purposes  when  money  was  not 
obtainable — in  one  particular 
game  five  being  thrown  up  at 
a  time  and  caught  on  the  back 
of  the  hand  like  half-pence. 
This  resembles  the  common 
children's  game  of  "  jackstones." 
The  French  call  it  "  jeu  des 
osselets."  (Thieves),  "flash your 
dibs,"  show  your  money. 

Dick  (military),  the  penis. 

Dick,  dikk,  to  (gypsy,  also  com- 
mon cant),  to  see,  to  look. 
Hotten  says  this  is  "  North 
country  cant,"  but  it  is  found 
in  all  gypsy-  dialects.  (Hindu, 
dekhna.)  Dikkamengro,  a  look- 
ing-glass, also  dikkamengrl,  both 
referring  to  anything  used  in 
connection  with  seeing,  such 
as  spectacles,  lorgnons,  or  tele- 
scopes. The  latter  would  be  a 
daro  -  dikkamengrl  —  a  far  -  see- 
thing. Tu  sCiste  dikkavit,  you 
should  have  seen  it. 

Dick  at  the  Garjcrs  (gorgias) 

The  Garjers  round  mandy, 

Trying  to  lei  my  meriben 

My  meriben  away. 
I.e.,   "  See  the  gorgios  round  me  trying 
to  take  my  life  away." 

iJick-kdlo,     to     look     black. 


3o8 


Dicker — Diddler. 


frown ;  dick-dum,  I  saw  (seldom 
heard) ;  dick-pdli,  look  back,  re- 
call. 

Dicker  (American),  exchange  or 
barter. 

It  may  be  for  their  interest  to  make  the 
dicker. — New  York  Tribune. 

Dick  in  the  green  (thieves), 
weak,  inferior,  poor.  A  pun  on 
the  word  "dicky,"  as  bolt-in- 
tuu  is  on  "  to  bolt." 

Dicky,  or  Dick  in  the  green, 
very  bad  or  paltry  ;  anything  of 
an  inferior  quality  is  said  to 
be  a  "  jDicAy  concern  "  (Vaux's 
Memoirs). 

Dick's    hatband,  as    queer    as 

(provincial),  anything  strange  or 
peculiar.  This  phrase,  which 
Bartlett  claimed  as  an  Ameri- 
canism, is  in  reality  an  English 
provincial  simile,  and  correctly 
given  is,  "^s  queer  as  Dick's 
hatband  made  of  pea  straw  that 
went  nine  times  round,  and 
would  not  meet  at  last."  The 
origin  of  the  phrase  may  be  due 
to  the  oddness  of  using  such  a 
material  for  the  purpose. 

Dick,  up  to  (popular),  all  right, 
up  to  the  mark,  good  and  satis- 
factory. 

Dicky  (common),  middling,  in- 
ferior. 

And  how's  the  fielding  ? 

Dickji.' 
"lis   there    you'll    have    the    pull   that 

wickets  sticky 
Or  cut   up,   through    the    influence   of 

weather, 
Can't  neutralise. 

— J'uncA. 


It's  all  di^iky  or  dickey  with 
him,  it's  all  over  with  him. 

"I'is  all  dickey  with  poor  Father  Dick ; 
he's  no  more. 

— Ingoldiby  Legends. 

(London  slang),  smart,  a  swell. 
(Popular),  explained  by  quo- 
tation. 

"  I  saw  a  laden  waggon  bearing  the 
name  of  one  of  the  cheap  advertising  firms 
you  speak  of."  .  .  .  "Ah,  bearing  the 
name  .  .  .  you  saw  a  waggon  wearing  a 
dicky,  you  mean — a  false  front  plate  with 
a  name  on  it  which  slips  on  and  oflf  like 
them  on  the  wans  that  the  pianoforte- 
makers  borrow."—/.  Greenwood:  Low- 
Life  Deeps. 

(Theatrical),  "  dicky  domus," 
literally  a  bad,  poor  house,  one 
with  a  small  audience. 

Dicky  birds  (theatrical),  a  generic 
term  which  includes  vocalists  of 
every  description,  from  Madame 
Patti  down  to  a  singer  in  the 
chorus. 

Diddeys  (common),  a  woman's 
breasts.  The  word  is  really  a 
provincial  term  for  a  cow's 
teats. 

Diddle,  to  (vulgar),  to  have  sexual 
commerce.  It  signifies  properly 
to  "  dredge  ;  "  also  to  cheat  in 
an  artful  way. 

O  that  Tommy  Riddle, 
What  played  upon  the  fiddle, 
Has  managed  for  to  diddle  me 
Of  my  true  love. 

— Pofiular  Song. 

Diddler(common),an  impecunious 
scamp,  a  swindler.  See  Jeremy 
Diddler  (Kenny's  farce  of  "  Itais- 


Didoes — Diklo. 


309 


iog  the  Wind"),  or  his  more 
modem  prototype,  Jingle,  in 
"Pickwick." 

Didoes.     Vide  To  Cut  Didoes, 

Die-by-the-hedge  (provincial),  in- 
ferior meat  of  cattle  which  have 
died  and  not  been  slaughtered. 

Die  in  one's  shoes,  to  (common), 
to  be  hanged.  The  metaphor  is 
not  happy,  as  men  may  die  else- 
where than  on  the  gallows  with 
their  boots  on. 

And  there  is  M'Fuze,  and  Lieutenant 

Tregooze  ; 
And  there  is  Sir  Carnahy  Jenks,  of  the 

Blues, 
All  come  to  see  a  man  die  in  his  shoes ! 
— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Dientical  (American),  a  frivolous 
anagram  for  "  identical,"  but 
often  heard. 

Die,  or  dee  (thieves),  a  pocket- 
book,  but  specially  the  dummy 
or  pocket-book  stuff ed  with  flash 
bank  bills  used  by  a  "  dropper." 

Dig  (common),  a  blow  with  the 
fist,  or  tips  of  fingers,  as  "  a  dig 
in  the  eye,"  "a  dig  in  the  ribs." 

Dig  a  day  under  the  skin,  to 

(popular),  to  shave  at  such  a 
time  as  to  make  it  serve  for  two 
days. 

Dig,  full  (popular),  the  full  allow- 
ance of  pay. 

Diggers  (popular),  the  fingor- 
nails. 


"  If  you  do,"  returned  Bill,  "  I  will  fix 
my  diggers  in  your  diai-plate  and  turn  it 
up  with  red." — On  the  Trail. 

Also  spurs,  or  the  spades  on 
cards. 

Diggers'  delight  (New  Zealand), 
large  brown  felt  hat  worn  by 
diggers  in  New  Zealand. 

Diggings  (common),  place  or 
habitation.   Of  American  origin. 

I'ma  daisy,  dear  boy,  and  no 'eeltaps  !  I 

wish  the  St.  James's  young  man 
Could  drop  into  my  diggings  permiskus; 

he's  welcome  whenever  he  can  ; 
For  he  isn"t  no  J.,  that's  a  moral;    I 

don't  bear  no  malice  ;  no  fear  ! 
But   I'd  open  'is  hoptics  a  mossel  con- 

cernin'  my  style  and  my  spere. 

— Punch. 

Dignity,  a  (West  Indian),  the 
name  given  by  Europeans  to  a 
negro  ball,  the  designation  being 
probably  derived  from  the  ludi- 
crous pomposity  of  the  negro 
character.  The  blacks  are  very 
chary  of  admitting  strangers, 
and  especially  white  people,  as 
eye-witnesses.  Oftentimes  they 
degenerate  into  a  scene  of  the 
wildest  debauchery. 

Dikk  (Anglo  -  Indian),  worry, 
botheration. 

And  Beaufort  learned  in  the  law, 

And  Anderson  the  sage, 
And  if  his  locks  are  white  as  snow, 

'Tis  more  from  dikk  than  age. 

—  Wilfred  Heeley. 

In  English  gypsy  the  word  is 
duhk,  more  frequently  dush. 

Diklo,  diclo  (gypsy),  a  handker- 
chief, cravat.  Men-dido,  a  neck- 
tie. 


3IO 


Dildoes — Ding-  hat. 


Dildoes,  more  commonly  known 
now  as  "  the  broom  handle." 
An  instrument  made  of  various 
soft  pliable  substances,  and  re- 
sembling the  male  pudendum, 
used  by  women  who,  possessing 
strong  amatory  passions,  and 
forced  to  celibate  lives,  are 
afraid  of  pregnancy  following 
natural  copulation.  In  this  conr 
nection  the  female  pudenda  is 
called  "a  broom." 

Such  a  sad  tale  prepare  to  hear, 
As  claims  from  either  sex  a  tear, 
Twelve  dildoes  meant  for  the  support 
Of  aged  lechers  of  the  court 
Were  lately  burnt  by  impious  hand, 
Of  trading  rascals  of  the  land. 
Who,  envying  their  curious  frame, 
Exposed  these  Priaps  to  the  flame. 
— Butler :  Dildoides  {occasioned  by 
burning  a  hothead  of  dildoes 
at  Stocks  Market,  i6y2). 

(Old  slang),  to  dildo,  to  play 
wantonly  with  a  woman. 

Dilly  (popular),  a  night-cart. 

Dilly-bag  (Australian  up-countrj'), 
a  blackfellow's  wallet. 

Their  own  dilly-hags  have  nothing  of 
value  or  interest  in  them.  Some  locks  of 
hair  rolled  up  in  thin  slips  of  bark,  pro- 
li.-ibly  belonging  to  a  deceased  friend  ;  a 
|iiece  or  two  of  crystal  for  magic  purposes; 
two  or  three  bones,  and  some  fat  which  the 
troopers  who,  from  tlieir  own  upbringing, 
are  authorities  on  such  things,  pronounce 
human  ;  a  primitive-looking  Ixjne  fish  hook 
or  two,  and  some  siring  m.ide  of  opossum 
hair— that  is  all.— /I.  C.  Grant. 

Dimber  (old  cant),  pretty,  neat. 

Dimber  cove  (thievesand  gypsies), 
:i  trontleman. 


'Tis  a  dimber  cm>e.  Come,  old  mort, 
tout  the  cobble-colter ;  are  we  to  have 
darkmans  upon  us  ? — Disraeli :  Venetia. 

Dimber-damber  (old  cant),  very 
pretty ;  a  very  clever  rogue  ; 
head  of  a  gang.  (Dekker  gives 
damhet,  a  rascal,  rogue.) 

No  dimber-damber,  angler,  dancer. 
Prig  of  cackler,  prig  of  prancer. 

— Life  of  Bamp/ylde  Moore  CareTv. 

Dimmock  (popular),  money.  The 
derivation  is  evidently  from  the 
small  coin  "  dime,"  worth  ten 
cents  in  United  States  coinage. 

Dimmocking-bag,  a  bag  used  for 
collecting  subscriptions  in  small 
sums  for  any  special  object ; 
also  the  special  savings  bank 
of  the  individual  who  usually 
hoards  his  sixpence  for  a  parti- 
cular object,  as  at  Christmas 
time  for  the  Christmas  feed. 

Dinahs  (Stock  Exchange),  Edin- 
burgh and  Glasgow  Railway 
Ordinary  Stock. 

Dinarly  (theatrical),  coin,  money, 
borrowed  from  the  Spanish 
dinero ;  "  nantie  dinarly  "  signi- 
fies "  no  treasury  to-day." 

Dine  out,  to  (popular),  to  go 
without  dinner. 

Ding-bat  (American),  money. 
The  word  din  or  ding  seems  to 
indicate  value  in  several  lan- 
guages. £.(/. ,  in  Yiddish,  dinoh 
mimaunaus,  money  questions. 
Din,  judgment.     (Yiddish),  din 


Ding —  Dirt-scrapcrs. 


311 


toe  cheschbaum  geben,  to  settle 
accounts.  In  Dutch,  dingen,  to 
plead,  to  cheapen ;  dinghank,  a 
judge's  bench  ;  dinger,  one  who 
pleads  or  cheapens. 

Ding  boy  (old  cant),  a  rogue  or 
rascal. 

Ding-dongf  (popular),  in  good  ear- 
nest. To  "  set  about  a  thing 
ding-dong  "  is  to  tackle  it  with 
vigour.  An  alliterative  redupli- 
cation of  ding,  to  beat,  to  strike, 
and  also  perhaps  in  allusion  to 
the  quick  succession  of  strokes 
in  ringing  of  bells. 

Dinged  (American),  exceedingly. 
In  the  Southern  States  a  man 
will  say  that  he  worked  dinged 
hard.      Vide  DiNGGONED. 

Dingers,  the  cups  and  balls  ;  or, 
in  the  French  phrase,  "  gobelets 
et  muscades,"  used  by  con- 
jurors. 

Ding-fury  (provincial),  huff  or 
anger.  A  slang  word  very  com- 
mon in  the  provinces.  "  She 
flounced  away  in  a  ding-fury." 

Dinggoned  (American),  a  Western 
equivalent  for  "  darned."  In 
the  South  it  takes  the  form  of 
"dinged."  They  are  all  euphe- 
misms for  "damned." 

Well,  sir,  that  dinggoned  show  was  more 
of  a  mystery  to  me  the  more  I  examined 
it,  so  I  took  Stack  and  Wirth  out  into 
the  hall  and  explained  my  impressions. — 
Superior  Inter  Ocean. 


Dip  (popular),  a  pickpocket  ;  to 
dip,  to  arrest,  convict,  be  put  in 
any  way  into  trouble. 

(Thieves),  to  dip,  to  pick  a 
pocket,  from  the  ordinary  sense 
of  the  word.  To  dip  a  lob,  to 
steal  the  contents  of  a  till.  Also 
to  pawn. 

Dipped  in  the  wing  (popular), 
winged,  worsted. 

I'm  nipped  in  the  bud,  I'm  dipped  in  the 
•wing, 

I'm   weeded,    I'm    sold,    I    am   every- 
thing 

ITiat  is  wretched,  forlorn,  and  mad  with 
despair, 

Look  at  my  head  —  only  gaze  at   my 
hair. 

— Cecil  Merrie :  Only  wait  till 
you^re  Married. 

Dipper,  dipping  bloke  (thieves), 
a  pickpocket. 

Off  to  Paris  I  shall  go  to  show  a  thing  or 

two 
To  the  dipping  blokes  wot  hangs  about 

the  caKs  ; 
How  to  do  a  cross-fan  for  a  super  or  a 

slang, 
And   to  bustle  them  gendarmes   I'd  give 

the  office. 
—  Vance :   The  Chichaleary  Co7'c. 

Dips  (nautical),  the  purser's  boy. 

Dirt-scrapers  (American),  lawyers 
who  in  examining  witnesses  ask 
them  all  manner  of  needless 
questions  relative  to  their  past 
lives  and  inquire  closely  as  to  all 
their  relations  with  women,  &c., 
cither  with  a  view  to  m.aking 
them  appear  inmioral  and  dis- 
creditable, or,  as  is  often  really 
the  case,  to  afford  to  the  court 
and    spectators    the    exquisite 


312 


Dirty — Dtspar. 


pleasure  of  seeing  a  man  or 
woman  tortured  and  put  to 
sliame.  A  criminal  case  without 
any  dirt- scraping  has  become  of 
late  very  exceptional,  both  in 
England  and  in  America. 

Dirty  half  hundred  (military). 
The  50th  Regiment  was  called 
so,  partly  from  having  black 
facings  which  gave  a  sombre 
look  to  the  uniform.  After  the 
battle  of  Badajos  it  was  changed 
to  the  "gallant  half  hundred." 

Dirty  puzzle  (common),  a  slut. 

Discombobberated  (American), 
discomposed,  upset,  "Hum- 
muxed." 

An'  when  he  seen  I'd  killed  a  deer  as 
slick  as  grease  he  was  so  discombobberated 
he  couldn't  speak. — Ne-w  York  Sun. 

Discommon;  or  discommune( uni- 
versity), not  to  communicate  ; 
that  is,  to  prohibit  students 
dc  aling  with  certain  tradesmen 
who  have  transgressed  the  rules 
of  the  University,  a  species 
of  excommunication  or  "  boy- 
cotting." 

Disguised  in  liquor  (common),  a 
common  phrase  in  the  vernacular 
for  one  who  is  slightly  intoxi- 
cated. The  expression,  though 
vulgar,  is  not  without  merit,  as 
conveying  the  truth  that  a 
drunken  man  is  not  playing  a 
real  part,  but  has  assumed  a 
guise  that  is  false  and  unnatural. 

Dish,  to,  to  circumvent,  to  ruin,  to 
frustrate  an  enemy's  or  an  op- 


ponent's plans.  The  word  was 
used  by  the  late  Earl  of  Derby 
on  a  memorable  occasion,  when 
he  affirmed  that  such  and  such 
a  measure  would  "dish  the 
Whigs."  It  has  been  supposed 
that  the  word  was  used  in  the 
first  instance  as  a  corruption  of 
"dash,"  "dash"  itself  being  an 
euphemism  for  "  damn,"  as  in 
the  vulgar  oath,  "dash  my 
wig,"  for  "  damn  my  wig,"  but 
to  dish  most  probably  is  only 
one  of  the  many  expressions 
connected  with  the  kitchen,  as 
"to  cook  his  goose,"  to  "give 
one  a  roasting,"  to  "  do  brown," 
&c. 

Dishclout  (common),  a  dirty,  un- 
savoury woman.  When,  how- 
ever, a  man  marries  his  cook, 
and  it  is  said  that  he  has  made 
a  napkin  of  a  dishclout,  no  other 
meaning  is  attributable  except 
that  a  "mesalliance"  has  been 
made. 

Dispar.  The  following  explana- 
tion of  this  term  is  given  by 
W.  H.  David.  "The  word 
'  sines,'  the  scholars*  allowance 
of  bread  for  breakfast  or  supper, 
and  dispar,  his  portion  of  meat, 
have  their  origin  in  a  Winches- 
ter College  custom  which  pre- 
vailed in  the  last  century.  There 
being  neither  '  hatch  '  nor  roll- 
call  at  the  College  Hall  in  these 
days,  the  provision  for  breakfast 
was  laid  out  on  a  table,  and  the 
stronger  took  the  lion's  share, 
and  left  the  weaker  '  sines.'  So 
again  at  dinner  the  double  plate 


Diss — Diving-bell. 


313 


of  pieat  fell  to  the  former  as  a 
matter  of  might,  and  the  un- 
equal moiety,  the  dispar,  be- 
came the  portion  of  the  weaker 
junior." 

Diss  (printers),  abbreviation  for 
distribution,  i.e.,  printed  off 
type — to  be  returned  to  its  re- 
spective cases,  and  re-composed. 

Dissecting  job  (tailors),  a  heavy 
alteration. 

Distiller  (Australian  convicts' 
slang),  one  who  is  easily  vexed 
and  betrays  his  chagrin.  Vide 
Carey  the  Keg.  Probably  not 
of  colonial  origin  but  introduced 
by  transportees. 

Ditch  and  ditcher  (Anglo- Indian), 
slang  terms  applied  in  a  dis- 
paraging manner  to  Calcutta 
and  the  "  Calcuttians." 

Dite  (American),  "  I  don't  care 
a  dite."  Dutch,  duyt,  a  doit, 
half  a  farthing.  "  Hy  gelykt 
hem  oop  en  duyt,"  there  is  not 
half  a  farthing  difference  be- 
tween them. 

Dittoes,  a  suit  of  clothes  made 
all  of  the  same  cloth,  in  French 
"  un  complet."  The  term  is 
pretty  general. 

Ditty  (popular),  bag ;  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  tailors'  phrase,  "a 
dittobag,"  from  thebag  in  which 
they  keep  miscellaneous  articles 
for  the  repair  of  their  clothes  or 
shoes — for  thread,  tapes,  but- 
tons, needles,  pins,  nails,  &c. 


Dive  (American),  a  drinking- 
saloon ;  a  cellar -saloon. 

An  Ourayite  recently  passing  through 
Canon  City  on  Sunday  was  invited  to  go 
to  the  penitentiary  to  church  services,  and, 
accepting  the  invitation,  found  385  con- 
victs assembled,  and  among  them,  playing 
the  violin  in  the  choir,  the  young  Italian 
who  shot  his  mistress  through  the  window 
of  her  house  just  back  of  the  dive  known 
as  "  220 "  here  in  Ouray  about  a  year 
ago. — The  Solid  Muldoon,  Ouray,  Colo- 
rado. 

Dive  into  one's  sky,  to  (popular), 
to  thrust  one's  hand  in  one's 
pocket, 

"  Yes,  I  know,  Uncle,  it's  Mary  Ann. 
I  see  you  through  the  keyhole  this  morn- 
ing when  she  brought  up  your  shaving 
water." 

Then  Uncle  Ben  dived  into  his  sky 
and  brought  up  a  nice  bright  Jubilee  half- 
dollar,  and  little  Willie  went  off  to  the 
confectioner's  singing. — Sporting  Times. 

Dive  into  the  woods,  to  (Ameri- 
can), a  common  figure  of  speech 
for  hiding  one's  self. 

A  female  of  the  Salvation  Army  has 
invented  what  is  called  the  "salvation 
kiss."  Young  men  who  have  seen  the 
female  portion  of  the  army  will  not  seek 
salvation  in  this  new  form.  They  will  dive 
still  deeper  into  the  ivoods  when  the  army 
comes  around. — S orristovim  Herald. 

Diver  (thieves),  a  pickpocket ; 
he  "dives  into  the  skies"  of 
other  people. 

Divide  the  house  with  one's  wife, 

to,  a  quaint  saying  which  sig- 
nifies to  turn  her  out  into  the 
street. 

Diving-bell,  a  cellar  tavern. 


314 


Divous — Dock. 


Divous  (gypsy),  a  day.  0  boro 
divoHsko  divous,  the  great  day 
of  judgment.  Probably  a  con- 
traction of  diivelesh-o,  divine. 

Divvy(  American),  to  divide,  share, 
or  partake. 

If  Mexican  robbers  make  a  rush  on  an 
American  ranch  in  Zapata,  Frio,  Cameron, 
Hidalgo,  or  Starr  Counties,  they  are  ex- 
pected to  difvy  with  the  American  gentle- 
men engaged  in  the  same  line  of  business 
before  being  permitted  to  cross  the  river 
peacefully. — Chicago  Tribune. 

Do  (popular),  a  do  is  a  fraud,  an 
imposition. 

I  thought  it  was  a  do  to  get  me  out  of  the 
house. — Sketches  by  Boz. 

Do,  to  (common),  to  outwit,  to  pay 
out,  to  cheat.  (Thieves),  to  do  a 
place  or  crib,  is  to  break  into  a 
house  for  the  purpose  of  steal- 
ing. 

I  went  in  a  place  and  touched  for  some 
wedge,  which  we  done  for  three  pounds 
ten. — Horsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

(Popular  and  thieves),  "  to  do 
for,"  to  kill. 

The  prisoners  had  since  stated  that  the 
stranger  had  bidden  them  to  do  for  M. 
— — — ,  and  then  to  take  away  everything 
which  he  might  have  about  him. — Daily 
Telegraph. 

Do  a  bit,  to  (popular),  to  eat  some- 
thing. 

When  I  asked  her  what  she'd  t.ike, 
Her  answer  made  me  queer  ; 
She  said,  "  I  admit 
1  can  do  a  hit 
Of  everything  that's  here. 
Some  mulligatawny  soup,  a  mackerel,  and 

A  hanbury,  a  bath-bun,  and  a  tuppenny 
sausage  roll, 


A   little  drop  of  sherry,  a  little   pint  of 

cham, 
A  roley-poley  pudding,  with  a  pile  of  cakes 
and  jam." 

— Matilda  Gorger:  Francis 
and  Day. 

Do  a  gfuy,  to  (thieves),  to  run 
away,  to  get  out  of  the  way. 

It's  a  fact  to  be  deplored,  though  it  cannot 
be  ignored. 
That  all  of  us  are  not  well  off  for  oof ; 
Andoccasionally  a  Johnny,  who  is  "gone" 
on  some  fair  "  honey," 
Hasn't  cash  enough  to  treat  her  like  a 
toff. 
When  he  tries  to  raise  the  wind,  it's  just 
possible  he'll  find 
It  difficult  to  keep  within  the  law, 
.\!as  !  he  may  be  "  fly,"  but  when  it's  time 
to  do  a  gtjy, 
He's  sure  to  meet  the  bobby  at  the  door. 
—Sporting  Titnes. 

(Workmen),  to  be  away  whilst 
supposed  to  be  at  work. 

Dobie  (Anglo-Indian),  a  man  who 
performs  the  functions  of  a 
washerwoman ;  also  a  wa.sher- 
woman. 

Dock  (old  cant),  to  deflower  (Har- 
man);  gypsy,  diikker,  to  wrong, 
ravish,  injure.  JJukker  or  docker 
is  often  used  without  the  ter- 
minal "  er."  Turner  derives  it 
from  the  Gaelic  terraich. 

(Printers).  This  is  colloquial 
for  a  man's  weekly  bill  or 
"pole,"  probably  from  the  fact 
of  its  being  subject  or  liable  to 
be  "docked"  or  curtailed  by 
the  person  appointed  to  check 
the  bills.  (Winchester),  to  dock, 
1o  scratch  out ;  to  dock  a  book, 
to  fear  out  pages  from  a  book. 
(Popular),  hospital. 


Docker-^Dodge. 


315 


Docker  (law),  a  brief  for  defence 
handed  by  a  prisoner  in  the  dock 
to  any  barrister  who  by  the 
etiquette  of  the  profession  is 
bound  to  take  it,  at  the  mmi- 
mum  fee  of  23s.  6d. 

Doctor,  the  (up-country  Aus- 
tralian), the  men's  cook  on  a 
station.  The  title  of  the  man 
who  concocts  one  kind  of  mix- 
tures and  prescriptions  is  trans- 
ferred to  one  who  practises  in 
another  branch  of  the  profes- 
sion, which  is  thoroughly  char- 
acteristic of  Australian  slang. 

(Old),  a  decoction  of  milk  and 
water,  rum,  and  a  spicing  of 
nutmeg. 

(Gamblers),  doctors,  false  cards 
or  dice. 

"  Here,"  said  he,  taking  some  dice  out 
of  his  pockets,  "  here  are  the  little  doctors 
which  cure  the  distempers  of  the  purse." — 
Fielding :  Tom  Jones. 

From  to  doctor,  to  poison,  to 
falsify,  to  adulterate. 

She  doctor d  the  punch,  and  she  doctor  d 

the  negus, 
Taking  care   not   to  put  in  sufficient  to 

flavour  it. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

To  "put  the  doctor''  on  one, 
to  cheat  him. 

Perhaps  ways  and  means  may  be  found 
to  put  the  doctor  on  the  old  prig. — T. 
Broivn  :   IVorks. 

(Popular),  to  "keep  the  doc- 
tor "  is  said  of  a  publican  who 
retails  adulterated  drinks. 

Dodderer  (provincial),  a  shaky, 
mumbling  old  man.  The  old 
English  had  to  "  doddle,"  signi- 


fying to  tremble,  to  shake,  still 
used  in  the  North  of  England. 

He  got  up  on  an  old  mule  which  had 
served  nine  kings,  and  so  mumbling  with 
his  mouth,  nodding  and  doddling  with  his 
head,  would  go  see  a  coney  ferreted. — 
Urquhart :  Rabelais. 

French  dodeliv^r,  which  has 
the  root  dod,  oscillation,  in  com- 
mon with  the  English  equiva- 
lent ;  Italian,  dandolare,  to  rock, 
to  shake  gently. 

Doddy  (provincial).  This  is  ap- 
plied in  Norfolk  to  any  person 
of  low  stature.  Sometimes 
"Hodman  dod,"  and  "  hoddy 
doddy,  all  head  and  no  body." 
A  "  dod  "  is  provincial  for  a  rag 
of  cloth,  and  to  "dod  "  is  to  cut 
off,  to  lop. 

Dodgasted  (common),  a  milder 
form  of  damned. 

"  Well,  what  was  it,  anyhow?" 
"  It  was  one  of  those  dodgasted  elec- 
trical machines  !     Trying  my  nerves,  you 
know  ! " 

And  when  the  boys  had  recovered,  the 
funeral -monger  had  gone,  and  so  had  all 
the  available  drinks  on  the  counter. — 
Sporting  Times. 

Dodge  (common),  a  clever  contri- 
vance ;  a  cunning,  underhanded 
trick.  A  recognised  term,  but 
used  in  many  slangy  senses. 
Among  the  numerous  dodges  re- 
sorted to  by  tricky  or  dishonest 
persons  are  the  "pamphlet 
dodge." 

The  "pamphlet  dodge"  is  an  established 
variety  of  the  begging-letter  man  of  trade. 
Two  or  three  experts  will  club  together 
to  take  advantage  of  a  striking  event  or 
momentous  political  crisis,  find  out  some 


3i6 


Dodge — Dog. 


poor  penny-a-liner  in  one  of  the  haunts  of 
such  people,  and  get  him  to  throw  to- 
gether forty  or  fifty  pages  on  the  parti- 
cular subject,  paying  him  miserable  wages 
for  the  work. — Tit-Bits. 

(Thieves),  "  delivered  dorfjre." 

Alfred  sends  his  servant  with  goods  to 
a  customer,  with  orders  to  bring  back  the 
goods  or  the  money.  The  servant  takes 
the  goods  and  hands  in  the  bill,  and  the 
customer  says,  on  reading  the  bill,  "All 
right,  put  the  goods  down  there,"  which 
the  man  does,  expecting  that  the  customer 
is  about  to  pay  the  bill.  When  he  has 
done  so,  the  customer  says  he  will  call 
and  pay  his  master ;  but  on  the  man  tell- 
ing him  he  must  take  the  goods  back  if 
the  bill  is  not  paid,  the  customer  replies 
that  he  has  delivered  the  goods,  that  they 
are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  purchaser, 
and  that  if  he  touches  them  he  will  give 
him  in  charge  of  the  police. — Tit- Bits. 

The  "  tidy  dodge,"  dressing 
up  children  so  that  they  look 
tidy,  and  slowly  walking  about 
the  streets  with  this  genuine 
or  borrowed  family  for  begging 
purposes. 

To  dodf/e,  to  track  one  in  a 
stealthy  manner. 

There's  not  the  smallest  danger  in  it 
.  .  .  it's  only  to  dodge  a  woman.  ...  I 
can  do  that  pretty  well,  I  know.  ...  I 
was  a  regular  cutting  sneak  when  I  was  at 
•>c\\oq\.-— Dickens  :  Oliver  Twist. 

Dodger  (common),  a  tricky  per- 
son, a  swindler.  Dickens  has 
immortali.sed  the  word  by  his 
character  of  the  Artful  Dodger 
in  Oliver  Twist.  (Popular),  a 
dram.  (Provincial),  a  night- 
cap, hence  the  latter  meaning. 
(American),  tliis  terra,  meaning 
a  round  roll  or  pat  of  maize- 
bread,  is  apparently  derived 
from  the  same  word  as  applied 


to  any  object  of  a  similar  shape 
(e.g.,  in  vulgar  slang,  the  penis). 
In  Dutch,  dag  or  dagje  {en  end- 
tje  dagg)  means  a  short  bit  of 
rope.  Dot  or  dotje  is  also  a  ball 
of  wool,  cotton,  &c.,  generally 
spoiled,  decaying,  or  in  a  mass. 

Dodo  (old),  a  common  expression 
for  a  fussy  old  man,  or  de- 
crepit man. 

Dod-rottedest  (American),  a  eu- 
phemistic form  of  swearing ; 
sometimes  "dod-fetched,""dod- 
gasted." 

Well,  sir,  there  was  the  dod-rottedest 
machine  you  ever  saw.  A  nice-looking 
man  with  black  whiskers  was  turning 
away  at  a  big  'balance  -  wheel  made  of 
champagne  bottles.  —  Superior  Inter 
Ocean. 

Dog  (society),  a  man  ;  a  gay  dog, 
a  jolly  dog,  a  careless  dog,  &c. 
The  word  dog  now  has  come  to 
mean  in  .society  a  gentleman  of 
an  amorous  turn  of  mind,  who 
ha,s  great  success  among  the 
ladies. 

(American),  dog,  dog-goned, 
God  and  God  damned,  as 
it  is  popularly  explained ;  it 
being  believed  that  dog  is  the 
word  God  reversed.  "  I'll  be 
dogged"  is  the  common  form, 
and  it  is  really  never  used 
to  seriously  signify  anything  so 
extreme  as  eternal  condemna- 
tion. It  is  possibly  a  New  York 
word,  and  may  therefore  be  de- 
rived from  the  Dutch  daugen, 
to  summon  to  judgment,  to 
arraign.     If   this    be   so,   there 


Dog — Doing. 


317 


would  be  a  very  apparent  con- 
nection with  condemned. 

Dog  biting  dog  (theatrical),  one 
actor  ungenerously  criticising 
another's  performance. 

Dog-collar  (common),  a  stiff, 
stand-up  collar,  one  of  the  kind 
much  in  favour  among  dandies. 

Dog  -  dumed  (West  American), 
a  mild  form  of  swearing.  Pro- 
bably an  euphemism  for  God 
damned. 

Bird  declared  that  he  would  be  dog- 
dumed  if  he  was  going  to  run  his  interior 
(he  called  it  by  some  other  name)  out  a-driv- 
ing  the  stock  any  further  ahead— rf«r»^^ 
if  he  would. — F.  Francis :  Saddle  and 
Moccasin. 

Doggery  (American),  a  partial 
anagram  of  groggery.  A  low 
drinking  place,  a  "  rum-bucket- 
shop,"  a  "dive,"  a  "gin-mill," 
a  "  boozing-ken,"  a  "  rum-icile," 
a  "drunkery." 

Not  one  word  can  be  justly  said  against 
the  character  or  ability  of  any  of  the  nomi- 
nees. They  "are  in  every  way  immensely 
superior  to  their  Democratic  opponents, 
who  number  among  them  as  far  as  the 
nominations  have  gone  half-a-dozen  dog- 
^ery- keepers,  a  crooked  ex-gager,  a  police- 
court  shyster,  and  a  railroad  lobbyist. 
Two  or  three  other  doggery ■Ve.e\>^r%  and  a 
lobbyist  or  two  and  Van  Pelt  will  be  added 
before  the  Democratic  nominations  close. 
The  "  Reds  "  and  the  "side-show  "  people 
will  hardly  elect  any  of  their  men  unless 
they  are  indorsed  by  the  Democrats. — 
Chicago  Tribune. 

(Popular),  nonsense. 

Dogs  (Stock  Exchange),  New- 
foundland Land  Co.  Shares. 


Dog's  body  (nautical),  a  kind  of 
pease- pudding. 

Dog-shooter  (Royal  Military  Aca- 
demy). Cadets  thus  term  a 
student  who  accelerates,  that 
is,  who,  being  pretty  certain  of 
not  being  able  to  obtain  a  com- 
mission in  the  engineers,  or  not 
caring  for  it,  elects  to  join  a 
superior  class  before  the  end  of 
the  term.  An  allusion  to  a 
volunteer,  called  a  dog-shooter. 

Dog's  nose  (common),  gin  and 
beer ;  "so  called  from  the  mix- 
ture being  as  cold  as  a  dog's 
nose,"  say  several  etymologists. 
It  also  applied  to  a  man  given 
to  whisky. 

Dog's  paste,  (popular),  .sausage, 
mince-meat. 

Dog's  soup  (common),  rain  water. 

Dog  stealer  (common),  a  faceti- 
ous appellation  for  a  dog-dealer, 
who  is  generally  considered  as 
deserving  it. 

Dog's  tail  (nautical),  a  name  for 
the  constellation  Ursa  Minor, 
or  Little  Bear. 

Dog-town  (American),  a  colony 
of  prairie  dogs. 

The  prairie  dogs  had  colonised  in  a  part 
of  this,  the  upper  end  of  the  valley,  and  we 
traversed  a  dog-tcnun  some  acres  in  extent, 
each  underground  habitation  of  which  was 
marked  by  a  little  heap  of  excavated  earth. 
F.  Francis  :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Doing  a  bishop  (army),  turning 
out  for  parade  at  short  notice. 


318 


Doing — Doll. 


and  with  small  preparation  for 
cleaning  up,  &c. 

Doing  a  bunk  or  doing  a  shift 

(common),  attending  to  nature's 
needs. 

Doing  a  nob  (circus  and  show- 
men), making  a  collection  of 
money  from  spectators  (Frost's 
"  Circus  Life  "). 

Possibly  from  the  gypsy  noh- 
het. 

Doing  a  star  pitch  (theatrical), 
sleeping  in  the  open.  French, 
"  coucher  k  1' hotel  de  la  Belle 
Etoile. 

Doing  it  on  the  d.  h.  (common). 
I  could  do  it  on  my  d.  h.,  i.e.,  on 
my  head,  is  a  vulgar  assurance 
of  being  able  to  do  a  thing  with 
the  greatest  ease. 

Doing  out  (American  thieves), 
a  device  by  which  a  thief,  if 
arrested  with  a  confederate, 
pleads  guilty  but  acquits  the 
other. 

Doing  poUy  (prison),  picking 
oakum  in  jail. 

Doings  (American),  any  kind  of 
food,  but  in  most  instances 
applied  to  that  of  an  ordinary 
sort. 

Suppose  you  drop  roun'  ter-morrer  an' 
take  dinner  wid  me.  We  ain't  got  no  great 
doins  at  our  house,  but  I  speak  de  old 
onian  .  .  .  kin  sorter  scramlile  roun'  'cm 
git  uj)  sunip'n. —  Uncle  Kcmus. 

Doing  time  (tliicves)  refers  to  a 
term  of  imprisonment. 


Doldrums  (nautical  and  provin- 
cial), trouble,  low  spirits,  worri- 
ment.  "  Jack  in  the  Doldrums  " 
was  the  title  of  a  tale  or  novel. 
Applied  sometimes  to  a  stormy 
place,  or  where  the  weather  or 
navigation  is  bad. 

For  then  I  must  surely  die, 

And  my  soul  sail  off  to  Doldrums  isle. 

Unless  some  one  pities  my  pain 

And  carries  me  down  where  the  waters 

boil. 
And  pitches  me  in  again. 

—  The  Song  of  the  Merman. 

The  term  seems  to  have  be- 
come general.  Probably  from 
dull  (with  the  sense  of  doleful), 
and  a  facetious  suffix,  as  in  tan- 
trums. For  other  derivations 
vide  Dr.  Charles  Mackay's 
"Gaelic  Etymology  of  the 
English  Language." 

Dole  (Winchester  College),  a  trick, 
stratagem ;  from  the  Latin  dolus. 

Dollar  (city),  a  five-shilling  piece. 

Dollop  (old  slang),  a  lump,  a 
share.  To  share,  according  to 
Hotten,  derived  from  "  dole 
up,"  to  deal  out  in  small  por- 
tions.    Dutch,  deal,  a  share. 

The  old  gal  used  to  stow  a  whacking  lot 
in  a  big  pocket  she  had  in  herpetticut,  and 
I  used  to  put  away  a  dollop  in  the  busum 
of  my  shirt,  which  it  was  tied  round  the 
waist-bag  hid  underneath  my  trousers  for 
the  purpose,  liut,  Lor'  bless  yer,  some- 
times the  blessed  trade  would  go  that 
aggravatin'  that  we  would  both  find  our- 
selves loaded  up  in  no  time. — Seven  Curses 
of  London. 

Doll's  christening  (provincial),  a 
party  consisting  entirely  of 
ladies. 


Dolly — Domnterar. 


19 


Dolly  (popular),  silly,  foolish. 

"  You  are  a  chit  and  a  little  idiot,"  re- 
turned Bella,  "  or  you  wouldn't  make  such 
a  dolly  speech." — Dickens:  Our  Mutual 
Friend. 

(Society),  a  dolly,  a  prostitute, 
a  street  walker,  short  for  dMy- 
mop ;  also  a  mistress. 

Drink,  and  dance,  and  pipe,  and  play, 
Kisse  our  dollies  night  and  day. 

— Herrick:  Hesjierides. 

More  modern  is  "  my  tart " 
for  "my  mistress." 

(Anglo-Indian),  Hindu,  dCdi, 
a  present  of  fruit,  flowers,  and 
sweetmeats ;  also  the  daily  offer- 
ing of  flowers  usually  made  by 
the  molly  {mall)  called  "the 
molly  with  his  dolly."  In  some 
parts  of  India  the  doUy  has 
grown  into  an  extravagance  con- 
sisting sometimes  of  bushels  of 
fruit,  nuts,  and  confectionery, 
with  bottles  of  champagne  and 
liqueurs. 

(Tailors),  a  bit  of  cloth  used 
as  a  sponge. 

Dolly-mop  (common),  a  tawdrily 
dressed  servant  girl,  a  semi- 
prostitute. 

Dolly-shop  (common),  a  pawn- 
broker's shop  of  the  poorest  and 
lowest  description.  From  the 
Yiddish  dcd  or  dol,  poor,  which 
suggested  the  hanging  up  a  doll 
as  a  sign  for  such  places. 

"  That's  a  dolly-shop,"  said  the  green- 
grocer; "sort  of  pawnbroker's  without  a 
license,  where  they  charge  threepence  in 
the  shilling  per  week  on  what  they  lend 
you.  The  young  'un  went  there  to  raise 
a  sixpence,  I'll  be  bound." — James  Green- 
wood:  Three  Half-Crowns. 


Dom  (Anglo-Indian),  a  very  low 
caste,  representing  some  very 
old  aboriginal  race.  It  was  fir**^ 
suggested  by  Charles  G.  Leland 
that  the  origin  of  the  Rom  or 
gypsies  should  be  sought  in  this 
caste,  and  recent  researches  by 
Grierson  have  gone  far  to  con- 
firm the  conjecture.  Thus  D 
and  R  are  convertible  in  the 
Hindu-gypsy  dialects,  e.g.,  doi, 
a  spoon,  and  roi.  And  while 
dom,  domni,  and  domnipana, 
mean  in  India  a  d(ym,  a  female, 
dom,  romni,  romnipana,  or  rornni- 
pen  have  exactly  the  same 
meaning  in  gypsy  as  applied  to 
gypsies  and  gypsydom. 

Do  me  proud  (American),  equi- 
valent to  saying  that  one  is 
complimented  or  made  to  feel 
proud. 

"  Sez  he,  'You're  an  honour  to  your 
section.'  Sir,"  I  answered,  "you  do  »ie 
proud. " 

Domine  Do-little  (old  slang),  the 
name  of  an  impotent  old  man. 

Domino  (nautical),  "a  common 
ejaculation,"  says  Hotteu,  "of 
sailors  when  they  receive  the 
last  lash  of  a  flogging."  The 
allusion  may  be  understood  from 
the  game  of  dominoes. 

Domino  thumper  (theatrical),  a 
pianist. 

Dominoes  (popular),  the  teeth. 
French  slang,  jie  it  de  dominos. 

Dommerar  (old  cant),  a  variety  of 
the  mendicant  tribe  who  pre- 
tend to  be  deaf  and  dumb. 


320 


Domum — Donkey. 


These  dommerars  are  leud  and  most 
subtyll  people  :  the  most  part  of  these  are 
watch  men,  and  wyll  neuer  speake,  vnlesse 
they  haue  extreame  punishment. — Har- 
man:  Caveat. 

Domum  ball  (Winchester  College), 
a  ball  given  by  the  superan- 
nuated college  prefects  on  the 
evening  after  the  "men"  go 
home  for  the  Midsummer  holi- 
days. 

Don,  a  contraction  of  the  Latin 
dominus.  It  is  a  university  term 
for  a  man  who  has  taken  his 
master's  degree.  It  is,  how- 
ever, generally  confined  to  resi- 
dent M.A.'s. 

An  "  Oxford  M.  A.  "  writes : — "  This 
University  has,  I  suppose,  been  always 
notorious  for  narrow-minded  bigotry  ;  but 
ought  the  general   public   to   be  allowed 

to  suffer  because   Mr.  ,  as  a  robust 

Radical,   is  not   easily  stomached  of  the 
Tory  don  ?  "—Pali  Mall  Gazette. 

(Winchester),  a  master. 

Dona,  donah  (theatrical),  a  girl,  a 
woman  ;  from  the  Italian.  The 
term  is  also  used  by  tramps, 
London  roughs,  &c. 

Of  course  you've  been  to to  see 

the  pantomime, 
Where  fairies  sport  in  clothes  so  smart, 

in  manner  quite  divine. 
Of  course  you've  seen  the  Fairy  Queen, 

they  call  her  Mademoiselle, 
Well,  perhaps  you  won't  believe  it,  but 

that  donah  is  my  gal. 

— Ceo.  Anthony  :  Mary  turns 
the  Mangle. 

Denaker  (old),  a  cattle  stealer. 

Done  (common),  outwitted, 
cheated. 


And  immediately  afterwards  follows  a 
well-known  theatrical  costumier,  who  has 
been  done  in  the  matter  of  fancy  dresses 
by  a  gentleman  connected  with  an  amateur 
dramatic  performance. —  The  Graphic. 

Done  also  means  exhausted, 
varied  to  "  done  up;"  done  for 
himself,  injured  or  ruined  him- 
self. 

Lord  Randolph  is  much  mistaken  if  he 
supposes  that  it  is  only  an  aristocratic 
friend  here  and  there  who  believes  that  he 
has  done  for  h\iase.\i.^Pall  Atall  Gazette. 

Done  brOTWH  (common),  befooled, 
that  is,  completely  done. 

And  they  stared  at  each  other,  as  much  as 
to  say, 
"  Hollo  !  Hollo  !  here's  a  rum  go  ! 
Why,     captain! — my    lord!— here's     the 

devil  to  pay ! 
The  fellow's  been   cut  down  and   taken 
away ! 
What's  to  be  done?    We've  missed  all 
the  fun ! 
Why,  they'll  laugh  at  and  quiz  us  all  over 

the  town. 
We  are  all   of  us  done  so   uncommonly 
brown." 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Done-over  (popular),  intoxicated. 

Done  to  death  (society),  rejieated 
ad  nauseam. 

Wasted  a  shilling  in  Bond  Street  by 
going  to  Harry  Furniss'  "Artistic  Joke." 
Why  Artistic':'  And,  emphatically,  why 
Joke?  Caricature  of  Academy  pictures 
done  to  death  in  comic  journals  with 
utmost  regularity  or  many  past  years.— 
Sporting  Times. 

Donkey  (nautical,)  a  seaman's  box 
in  which  he  keeps  his  clothes. 

(Printers.)  Compositors  are 
sometimes  called  donkrys  by 
pressmen  by  way  of  retaliation 
for  calling  them  "pigs." 


Donkey — Door. 


321 


(Streets),  "  Who  stole  the 
donkey  ?  "  This  was  and  still  is 
a  common  street  cry  in  Hounds- 
ditch  and  the  other  Hebrew 
quarters  of  London  when  a  man 
wearing  a  white  hat  makes  his 
appearance.  The  low  Jews  had 
or  have  a  notion  that  no  one  but 
a  Christian — and  certainly  no 
Jew — ever  wears  a  white  hat. 
They  also  have  a  saying  that  the 
Founder  of  Christianity  stole  the 
donkey  on  the  back  of  which  He 
rode  into  Jerusalem.  Hence  the 
expression. 

(Common),  "Three  more  and 
up  goes  the  donkey,^'  that  is, 
three  pennies  more  and  the  do7i- 
key  will  go  up  the  ladder.  This 
phrase,  used  by  mountebanks  to 
denote  that  the  performance 
will  begin  when  the  sum  re- 
quired is  complete,  is  often  said 
mockingly  to  a  braggart  lo  im- 
ply disbelief  in  accounts  of  his 
own  wonderful  performances. 

Donkey-riding   (popular),   cheat- 
ing in  weight  and  measure. 

Donny  (prison),  a  woman.     From 
the  Italian  dona. 

Don's  week   (tailors),   the  week 
before  a  general  holiday. 

Don't  go  off  before  you 'start 

(American),  a  common  exhorta- 
tion to  any  one  not  to  be  in 
"too  precious"  or  too  great  a 
hurry. 

Well,   hold   on   noM','  I'm.  goin'  to   tell 
you.     Don't  go  off  before  you  start',   as  , 
de    darkey  said    to    de    baulky  mule.-^ 
Brudder  Bones. 


Doodle-dasher  (low),  one  who 
practises  onanism ;  doodle  is  the 
penis. 

Dookering  (gypsies),  fortune- 
telling  ;  from  dooriJc,  to  pro- 
phesy. 

Dookie  (theatrical),  a  penny  show 
or  unlicensed  theatre,  usually 
fitted  up  in  a  large  room  or  a 
cellar  in  a  populous  neighbour- 
hood. The  eminent  tragedian, 
Charles  Dillon,  emerged  from 
one  of  these  in  his  youth,  and. 
handsome  Conway,  once  the 
spoiled  child  of  fashion,  ad- 
mired and  idolised  by  the  belles 
of  Bath — notably  by  Madame 
Piozzi  (Johnson's  Mrs.  Thrale) 
— found  a  temporary  refuge  at 
one  of  them  when  driven  from 
the  patent  theatres  by  the  brutal 
persecution  of  "that  ferocious 
literary  ruffian,  Theodore  Hook  " 
(Byron).  There  are  three  or 
four  performances  a  night  at 
a  dookie,  and  the  audience  is 
usually  composed  of  juvenile 
harlots  and  thieves.  Many  of 
these  places  of  resort ,  still 
flourish  at  the  East  End.     , 

Dookin-cove,  a  fortune-teller; 
from  the  gypsy  dookering  or 
dukkcrin,  telling  fortunes. 

Door  nail,  dead  as  a.  Vide  Dead 
AS  A  Tknt  Peg. 

Door  steps  (Whitechapel  slang), 
slices  of  bread  and  butter.     "  I 
'  say,  guvnor,  give  us  a  pennorth 
of  weak  and  two' c/ot»r  dcps." 
X 


32: 


Do  over — Dossers. 


Do  over  (popular),  said  of  any 
one  who  is  intimate  (carnallv) 
with  a  woman.    . 

Dope,  to  (American).  Doping  is 
the  stupifying  men  with  tobacco 
prepared  in  a  peculiar  way,  as 
the  gypsies  of  old  were  wont  to 
use  Datura  stramonium.  From 
old  cant  dope,  a  simpleton,  dupe. 

Nine  out  of  ten  saloons  in  the  slums 
employ  doping  as  a  mea^iS  to  increase  their 
illicit  \^MGx\\x^.--— American  Newspaper. 

Dopey  (old  cant),  a  beggar's  trull ; 
■     the  podex  ;  the  buttocks  ;  Scot- 
tied,  a  doup. 

Doras  (Stock  Exchange),  South- 
Eastern  Railway  Deferred  Or- 
dinary Stock. 

Dose  (thieves),  a  sentence  to  im- 
grisonment.  To  give  a  man  his 
done,  or  punish  him,  doubtless 
Gomes_  from  a  dose  of  medicine, 
but  it  is  not  impossible  the  Yid- 
dish doic,  don  or  dasz  (Chaldaic), 
m,eaning  the  law;  has  influenced 
the  word  in  this  peculiar  ca^e. 
(Old  cartt),  a'  burglary. 

Doshed,  I'm,  an  exclamation  of 
surprise,  akin  to  "  dashed." 

Doss  (tramps  and  popular),  a 
bed.  ■  '       ■ 

As  the  sombre  shades  of  evening  begin 
lo  cast  their  darkening  shadows  over  the 
earth,  the  m.njority  of  the  troops  will  return 
to  their  respective  quarter?,  and  soon  after 
nine  o'clock  the  greater  number  will  be 
comfortably  tUck^d  in  doss  (bed)  for  the 
ni^t. ^^Patterson  :  Life  in  the  Ranks. 

Dr.  CJharles  Mackay  says  :-;- 
"lIottcnsupi)osesittobederived 


from  '  doze,'  as  a  place  to  sleep 
in  ;  or  quite  as  likely,"  he  adds, 
"  from  dor«e,  the  back.  It  is,  how- 
ever, most  likely  from  neither 
of  these,  but  from  the  Gaelic 
dos,  a  hedge  or  bush  under  which 
tramps  very  often  find  their  only 
available  resting-place  for  the 
night — the  money  failing  them 
to  secure  a  shelter  in  a  low 
lodging-house."  According  to 
Dr.  Brewer,  "  Do»s  is  a  hassock 
full  of  straw,  a  bed — properly  a 
straw  bed.  Dossel  is  an  old  word 
for  a  bundle  of  hay  or  straw. " 
This  derivation  is  the  more  pro- 
bable, and  is  borne  out  by  the 
French  slang  word  picu,  bed, 
from  piau,  straw,  straw  bed, 
which  has  given  piausser  to 
sleep,  modernised  into  pioneer. 
It  also  means  sleep. 

There  is  only  about  one  of  them  in 
l/5ndon  where  a  fellow  can  do  a  comfort- 
able doss,  and  that  is  St.  Pancras's.  —  'J'/ior 
Fredur:  Sketches  in  Shady  Places. 

The  author  of  "Sketches  in 
Shady  Places  "remarks: — "Doss, 
slang  term  for  .sleep — meaning 
to  '  lie  on  the  back.'  On  exa- 
mination it  will  startle  one  to 
find  how  many  of  these  vulgar- 
isms are  derived  directly  from 
the  learned  languages." 

Dosser,  the,  the  father  of  a 
family.  From  provincialism  dos, 
a  "  masher." 

Dossers  (common),  explained  by 
(quotation. 

The  "  'appy  dossers  "  are  the  wretched 
.people  who  roam  alxjiit  the  street  house- 
less, and  creep  in  to  sleep  on  the  stairs,  in 
the  pass<iges  and  untenanted  cellars  of  the 


4^- 


Doss-house — Dott}\ 


323 


lodging-houses  with  the  doors  open  night 
and  day. — George  R.  Sims :  Htna  the  Poor 
Live. 

Doss*'house  (tramps  and  thieves), 
a  lodging-house,  especiaDy  the  . 
common  lodging-houses  where 
beds  are  fourpence  a  night. 

Dossingf-crib  (costermongerg),  a,; 
low  lodging-house. 

Doss,  to  (tramps,  populat,  &c)) 
to  sleep.     Vide  Do^.      " 

A  newspaper  sheet  I.  will  borrow. 
And  make  up  my  face  very  white, 

There  will  be  a  schlemozzle  to-morrow, 
I  shall  doss  in  the  Square  to-night". 
— Sporting  Times. 

Dossy  (popular),  elegant ;,  very 
dossy,  in  elegant  style. 

Joe  Capp  made  a  resolve  a  little  while 
ago  when  on  the  eve  of  a  mashing  expedi- 
tion to  do  the  whole  thing  very  dossy. 
"  Ere  dora  it,"  said  Joe,  "  yew  la'ads  all 
go  .about  in  shiny  boots,  steerewth  an'  all, 
and  ry  have  a  pair,  see  if  I  woant." — 
Sporting  Times. 

An  extremely  elegant  cloak 
was  formerly  ternjed  a  dossal. 
Hence  perhaps  the  expression. 

Dot  (nautical),  a  ribbon  ;  a  dot  • 
drag,  a  watch  ribbon.      ,    ' 

"Do  the  high,  to  (Oxford  Univer- 
sity), to  walk  up  and  down  the 
High  Street  on  Sunday  even- 
ings. 

Do  time,  to  (popular),  to  serVe 
one's  time  in  prison. 

Bums  is  about  fifty-seveii  years  old,  and 
has  a  national  reputation  as  an  expert 
cracksman.     He  has  done  time  in  Joliet, 


Sing  Sing,  and  Nashville,  Tenn;  '  He  was 
pardoned  from  the  latter  institution  one 
year  ago,  after  serving  three-quarters  of  a 
ten  years'  sentence. — /nter  Ocean. 

»Do  to  tie  to  ^American),  trust- 
worthy, fit  tb  asspciat^  with. 

The  only' safe  ^class  of  citizens,  the  class 
that  will  do  to  tie  to,  are  those  who  believe 
in  the  condign  punishinent  6f  all  crime — 
who  believe, that  a  Government  is, great, 
not  in  proportion  as  it  forgives  criminals, 
but  in  proportion  as  it  punishes  them  apd 
en'fqBces  law  and  order.  It  will  be  a  dark 
^ay  for  the  Republic  wheij  this  class  Shall 
not  outnumber  both  of  the  others  com- 
bined.— In4ianapotis  JoutTtal. 

'Dots  (•American),  items  of  infor- 
mation. 

"  Lieutenant  Arnold,"  he  continued, 
"  retnarked  he  could  give  dots  on  a  great 
many  of  them  ;  that  one — a  verj'  prominent 
one — naming  him,  was  in  the  habit  of 
visiting  a  houSb  south  of  the  avenue  twice 
a  week.  I  said  that  is  none  of  our  Ixisi- 
hess  ;  though  we  might  know  these  things 
officially,  we  do  not  know  them 'in  any' 
other  capacity." — Chicago  Tribune. 

(Populitr),  money. 

Dotter  (low),  a  penny-a-liner'  a 
.  reporter. 

Dottle  (popular),  a  well-coloured 
black  stump  of  a  clay  pipp.    . 

Dotty  (popular),  cracked,"  silly.    . 

She's  .sent  away  the  chairs,  and  the  carpet 
off  the  stairs, 
I'm  getting  just  as  lean  as  any  ghbst  ;• 
The  becl<itead  and  the  dra\^ers  have  been 
sacrificed  Ijecause 
She  went  dotty  through  that  dreadful 
Parcels  Post.  -  Soug. 

An  appellation  used  for  one's 
man  by  females  of  the  lower 
classes  or  prostitutes. 


324 


Dou  ble — Dowtu 


Double  (thieves),  k  turning  in  ^ 

road.  '• 

I  had  not  been  at  SuttOn  very  long 
before  I  piped  3  slavey  come  out  of  a 
chat  (house),  so,  whep  she  had  got  a  little 
way  up  the, double,  I  pratted  (went)  into 
the  hoMsc.^Horsiey :  Jottings  frotn  Jail. 

Double-breasted  feet  (tailors), 
club  feet. 

Double-double,  to  put  on  the,  a 
process  wherein  a  thief,  having 
arranged  with  other  thieves  to 
lose  a  race,  so  that  they  may 
safely  "lay"  against  him,  de- 
ceives them  and  runs  to  .win. 

Double  event  (common),  properly 
a  technical  term  used  on  the 
turf  when  a  man  bets  on  both 
sides  to  meet  either  contingency 
— used  in  a  slangy  Sense. 

Dear  Sir— Unqxiestionably  there  is  such 
a  thing  as  luck.  The  other  night  I  was 
under  the  impression  that  I  should  have 
two  stalls  for  the  Haymarket.  I  promised 
one  to  an. aged  Hebraic  tart.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  I  only  got  one,  which,  in  the  in- 
terests of  your  paper,  I  naturally  filled.  I 
thoroughly  disenjoyed  my  evening,  and 
the  aged  one  won't  speak  to  me  now.  Such 
a  double  event  is  only  due  to  luck. — Yours 
sincerely.  Sir  Walter. 

The  Pooferies.  — Sporting  Ti»ies. 

Double-finn  (low),  a  ten-pound 
note. 

Double  L'nes  (nautical),  ships' 
casualties.  From  the  mode  of 
entering  in  books  at  Lloyds'. 

Doubles  (printers).  If  a  composi- 
tor repeats  a  line  or  sentence  in 
composing,  he  is  said  to  have 
made  a  double. 


Doublet  (thieves),  a  spurious  dia- 
'  mond* 

Dough,  pudding  at  public  and 
military  schools. 

Dover  (hotel),  a  r^chauff^  ;  a  cor- 
ruption of  "do  over,"  or  do 
over  again. 

Dovers  (Stock  Exchange),  South- 
Eastern  Railway  Ordinary  Stock. 

DoTwd  (popular),  for  dowdy ; 
showily  dressed. 

But  a  crummy  old  Liberal  doivd. 
With  bare  shoulders  by  acres,  old  boy. 
—Punch. 

Dowlas,  according  to  Hotten,  a 
linen-draper.  Dowlas  is  a  kind 
of  towelling. 

Dowlings  (Shrewsbury  School). 

There  are  four  or  five  compulsory  games 
a  week  (football)  known  as  dowlings 
(ioOAo«). — Everyday  Life  in  our  Public 
Schools. 

DoTvn  (thieves),  suspicion,  alarm, 
or  discovery  which  obliges  one 
to  desist  from  the  business  or 
depredation  he  was  engaged  in. 
(Popular),  to  be  "down  in," 
to  be  at  a  low  ebb,  lacking  in, 
out  of.  "  Dmvn  in  blunt,"  lack- 
ing money.  "  Doivn  upon  one's 
luck,"  unfortunate.  Perhaps 
originally  "doicn  in  one's  luck." 
To  be  "down  in  the  mouth," 
dejected,  disconsolate,  crest- 
fallen. 

I!ut  what  have  you  got  to  say  for  your- 
self, why  you  should  leave  me  here,  dou'U 
in  the  mouth,  health,  blunt,  and  'everj'- 
thing  else? — Charles  Dickens:  Oliver 
J-.vist. 


Down — Downy. 


325 


To  be  "down  on  one^"  to  be 
opposed  to,  to  lose  no  oppor- 
tunity for  punishing,  to  main- 
tain constant  enmity  or  ill-will. 

My  pa  is  a  bishop  of  spotless  renown, 
On  all  that  is  naughty  his  reverence  is 

down; 
But  I  should  delight  in  the  sights  of  the 

town, 
Yet  am  doomed  to  the  utmost  propriety ! 
— George  Anthony :  T%e  Clergy- 
man's Daughter. 

Down  a  pit  (theatrical),  despe- 
rately smitten  with  a  part. 

Down-easter  (West  American),  a 
person  from  the  east. 

A  "  wooden-mugged  down-easter"  with 
bushy  eyebrows,  and  quick,  twinkling 
eyes,  who  sang  over  and  over  again,  "  Oh, 
my  little  darling,  I  love  you  !  Oh,  my  little 
darling,  yes,  I  do  I "  had  the  second  in 
charge. — F.  Francis:  Saddle  and  Moc- 
casin. 

Downed  (English  and  American), 
conquered,  tricked,  cheated. 
Literally  not  getting  the  upper 
hand. 

"  Then  this  money  may  ease  your  dis- 
tress— 
But  I  hope  I'm  not  sold,  'tis  the  truth  you 
have  told  ?  " 
"The    truth,     sir!"    she    murmured. 
"  M'yes  ! " 
But  therein  she  lied,   'twas  a  stratagem 
"wide," 
She'd  a  couple  of  pals  in  the  "  plant ; " 
And  the  stranger  was  downed. 

— Sporting  Times. 

Downer  (popular),  a  sixpence. 
According  to  Barrow  from  the 
gypsy  word  tawno,  or  little  one. 
The  word  seems,  however,  to  be  a 
variant  of  "  deaner,"  which  see. 


Down  on  the  bed  rock  (West 
American),  penniless, 

I  was  mighty  hard  up  at  the  time— right 
down  on  the  bed  rock — and  it  is  just  pos- 
sible that  I  may  have  betfn  monkeying  with 
the  cards  a  little.— ^^".  Francis:  Saddle 
and  Moccasin.  ' 

Downs,  the  (thieves),  Tothill 
Fields'  prison. 

Down  the  road  (popular),  stylish, 
in  fashionable  style. 

Down  to  the  ground  (English  and 
American),  thoroughly,  com- 
pletely ; ' '  right  up  to  the  handle, ' ' 
that  guits.me  doivn  to  the  ground. 
It  implies  probably  from  top 
to  bottom. 

Downy  (common),  to  do  the 
downy,  to  keep  in  bed  in  .the 
morning. 

This'll  never  do  .  .  .  cutting  chapel  to 
do  the  downy. — C.  Bede  :  Verdant  Green. 

(Popular  and  thieves),  cun- 
ning, skilful. 

Upper  benjamins  built  cwi  a  downy 
plan. — Slang  Advertisement. 

"I, suppose  you  don't  know  what  a 
prig  is  ? "  said  the  Dodger  (nournfully. 
"  I  am,  I'd  scorn  to  be  anything  else 
— so's  Charley,  so's  Fagin,  so's  Sikes, 
SOS  Nancy,  so's  Bet.  So  we  ail  are,  down 
to  the  dog.  And  he's  the  do^viiiest  one  of 
tlie  lot  I  " — Dickens:  Olr^er  Twist. 

A  "  doicny  cove,!'  a  cunning 
fellow,  one  who  "  knows  what's 
o'clock."  An  allusion  to  his 
having  the  upper  hand  in  his 
dealipgs  with  others. 

Downy-\ooVm^  cove,  the  fair  'lin  ;  p.  mug 
like  that  ou^ht  to  be  worth  a  fortune  to 
liim. — /.  Greemuood:  Dick  Temple. 


326 


Downy — Drag. 


Dowrny  Bible  (tailors),  corruption 
of  Douay  Bible  j  equivalent  to 
"  according  to  Cocker."         '  • 

Dowry  (common),  a  very  grea* 
deal,  an  excess.  Hotten  says 
this  is  probably  from  the  gypsy, 
but  there  is  nothing  like'  jt 
in  Romany.  It  .is  just  j)os- 
sibly.  from  the  "Yiddish  dowor,  a 
thing  (or  word)  ;  cUttcrin  bfteU- 
im,  superflnous  thidgs.  Dowor  ' 
would,  Jike  res,  refer  to  pro- 
perty. 

Dowser  (popular);  a  m^li  who.tells 
fortunes  ;  a  kind  of  wizard  who 
IJretends  to  be  able  to  find  water 
or  treasures liy  means  of  a  divin- 
ing-rod. .    .  • 

Doxy  (canting),  a  mistress,  a 
';  moll,"  geiierall^  used  in  a 
disreputable  sense,  but  "in  the 
West  ol  Engiand  women  fre- 
quently call  their  little  .  girls 
'  doxies '  in  a  familiar  and  en-  . 
dearing  sense''  (Hotten).  Tins 
probablS" .  is- the  original  tnean-' 
ing.    •  .•*.  . 

Lastly  I 'wril  creave.  to  my  t/a^^,  w.np 
stiffly,  and'will  bring  her  duck.— ./^■(/J-  a/ 
Baiiifylde  Moore  Cdrew. 

Do  you  see  anything  gxfeen  in  my 
eye?  (popular),  Doyou  think  that 
]  am  to  betakafn.in  or  gulled. 
"^Grccn".  «  U  synonym  for'un- 
.*()phisticat«dj  simple-  minded, 
the  equivalent  in  French  Jieing 
c(iriii<*hon,  a  gherkin,  alluding  to 
the  colour.    ' 

Drab  ( LTV psy.),  poison  or  medicine ; 
"up  to  '/)v»/y. '"knowing  all  tlio 


myst^ies  of  poison  and  reme- 
dies, suggesting  "up  to  trap" 
in  English  /slang. 

Drafting  on  the  camp  (Austra- 
Iian),^explained  by  quotation. 

Drafting  on  the  camp,  or  cutting  out,  as 
it  is  generally  called,  is  a  very  pretty  per- 
formance to  watch,  if  it  is  well  done.  First 
of  all  a  small  mob  is  cut  off  from  the  main 
body  of  the  cattle,  and  driven  gently  away 
for  a  little  distance^  and  then  allowed  to 
stand.  This  is  the  nucleus  of  the  draft 
mob,  for  no  beast  will  stand  still  a  moment 
by  itself,  and  one  of  the  hands  is  told  off 
tQ  watch  them.  One  or  two  men  then  ride 
in  among  the  cattle,  and  draft  out  the  ones 
they  want,  one  at  a  time,  while  the  rest  of 
the  hands  ride  round  the  camp  and  keep 
^Jle  cattle  from  breaking  away. — Finch- 
Hatton:  Advance Aitstralia.  ' 

Dr^.g'  (low),-  a  woman's  dress 
when  assumed  by  men  for  a 
frolic  or  a  fraud.  When  a 
"  moUyi"  or  young  man,  dresses 
like  a  girl,  for  immoral  pur- 
poses, he  is  said  to  be  "on 
the  rira^."  In  England  and 
AmericSi  drag-h&Wa  are  held,  at 
which  the  young  men  are 
,  dressed  like  women,  and  women 
'very  often  like  men.  ^ovuedrag- 
.balls,  without  any  of  the  female 
element,  and  attended  by  sodo- 
mites, take  place  occasionally  in 
London. 

(Thieves),  a  term  of  three 
months'  imprisonment,  termed 
also  "tray  moons." 

.  .  .  But  neither  Snuffy  (Reeves,  thr 
identifier)  nor  Mac  (Macintyre)  knew  me, 
so  I  got  a  drag,  and  was  sent  to  the  Steel. 
—Horsley:  Jottingifr»m  Jail. 

■  Well,  sir,  as  I  was-.s.'iying,  I  only  got  a 
drag  for  that. last  jol).  Oh,  1  bej;  pardon, 
a     drag    pieans     three     mo;iths.       Three 


Drag — Draw. 


327 


weeks  is  called  a  drag;,  too — a  cadger's 
drag;. — James  Greenwood:  Seven  Years' 
Penal  Servitude. 

(Popular),  to  go  upon  a  drag, 
to  go  about  for  pleasure. 

Also  a  lure,  trick,  stratagem. 

Dragged  (tailors),  behind  time. 

Dragging  (thieves),  robbing  pro- 
perty from  carts  or  cabs.  (Pro- 
vincial;, dragging  -  time,  the 
evening  of  a  country  fair  day, 
when  the  young  men  begin 
kissing  the  girls  and  pull  them 
about. 

Dragging  the  pudding  (tailors), 
getting  the  sack  just  before 
Christmas. 

Draggletail  (common),  a  dirty, 
drunken  woman ;  a  prostitute 
of  the  lowe;jt  class. 

Dragsman  (thieves),  a  thief  who 
robs  carriages  by  climbing  up 
behind. 

Drain  (common),  a  drink. 

"  A  drain  for  the  boy,"  said  Toby,  half 
filling  a  wine-glas,s  ;  "  down  with  it,  inno- 
cence."— Dickens :  M  liver  Twist.  .    . 

When  I  w.as  a  young  man  of  about  two 
and  twenty,  1  lodged  in  Little  Argj'll 
Street  (out  of  RegenC  Street),  and  having 
made  great  friends  with  the  Tiigiit  bobby, 
who  "had'  a  drain"  occasionally — even 
when  on  duty— in  my  jrooms,  1  could  slip 
in  or  out  early  in  the  morninj;,  or  at  night', 
ill  a  disguise  which  was  useful  and  unique. 
— Sporting  Times i 

Drains  (American),  a  tributary 
of  a  large  river.  Washington- 
Irving  iu  "Astarea"  thus  uses 
the  phrase:   "About  noon,  tlie 


travellers  reached  the  drains 
and  brooks  that  formed  the 
head  waters  of  the  river." 

(Nautical),  the  cook  on  board 
ship. 

Draper  (old),  ale-draper,  a  public- 
house  keeper.  The  term  seems 
to  have  a  facetious  origin,  un- 
less it  be  a  corruption  of  "ale- 
dropper."  Shakspeare  has  ale- 
draper  for  a  publican. 

Drat  it  (popular),  a  feminina  ab- 
jurgation  expressive  of  con- 
tempt or  anger,  erroneoush- 
supposed  to  be  a  corruption  of 
the  vulgar  curse,  "God  rot  it !  " 
It  is- a  form  of  drcadeth  or  dread 
and  drad,  fear  or  dread  (Anglo- 
Saxon).  Drat  occurs  in  Piers 
Plowman  and  Guy  of  War- 
wick. 

Draw  (sporting  and  common), 
a  strife  which  is  without  result. 
From  "a  drawn  game." 

'I'he  time  seems  to  be  nigh  when  all 
"international"  contests  will  end  in  a 
draw.  It  is  the  usual  fate  of  international 
cricket  matches.— 5'/.  James's  Gazette. 

Said  of  any  play,  performance, 
■  or  exhibition  when  it  is  a  suc- 
cass  and  attracts  people. 

Mr.  -^ — 's  hew  religious  enterprise  in 
the  southprn  suburb  commenced  very 
hopefully.  It  was  something  new  to  the 
people  of  Wimblewood,  and  it  proved  a 
draiu.  The  congregations  were  large  and 
growing,  and  very  .soon  the  hall  w.is 
crowded. — F.venht^  News. 

It  has  also  the  general  mean- 
ing of  great  attraction. 


328 


Draw. 


■    Oh,    the    shades   are  -most    charmingly 
blended, 
And  the  fit  without  flaw, 
And  the  hat  quite, a  draw. 

— Bird  o  Freedom. 

(Cricket),  a  draw  is  a  hit  made 
with  the  surface  of  the  bat  in- 
clined. 

(American),  a  Western  term 
applied  to  the  cattle  which  a 
cowboy  employ^  could  pick 
up,  or  plainly  steal,  for  his 
master. 

I  could  have  raised  quit?  a  nice  bunch 
of  cattle  in  a  twelvemonth.  Half  the 
draw  was  worth  something  those  times  I 
— F.  P'rancis  :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Sroall  glades,  glens,  Or  valleys. 

We  had  left  the  flats  behind,  and  were 
now  in  a  r  filing  country,  intersected  by 
grassy  draws,  or  miniature  valUys,  which 
afforded  the  finest  kind  of  shelter  for 
rattle.  —  F.  Francis:  Saddle  and  Moc- 
c  isin. 

(Common),  to  draw,  to  take 
in,-  cir(!nmvent. 

(Military),  to  draw,  an  abbre- 
viation of  "  to  draro  the  badger," 
explained  by  quotation.   "' 

A  young  ofllcer  on  first  joining  was  sub- 
j';cted  to  all  sorts  of  practical  joking.  .  .  . 
Practfail  joking  wa^»  indeed  a  reoognised 
institution.  ...  Its  usual- manffestations 
were  irr.nuing  a  man  who  had  returned 
from  mess  early,  and  "  ntaking  hay "  of 
his  furniture  and  property.  ...  A  parly  • 
of  lialf<i-dozen  wild  young  sulialterns,  led 
proliably  by  a  festive  captain,  would,  after 
a  lieavy .  guest  night,  proceed  to  the 
victim's  room.  .  .  .  Perhaps  the  inmate 
would  be  made  to  stand  in  the  middle  of 
tlie  room  in  his  night-^irt,  and  sing  a 
.omic  son^.  Occasionally,  he  would  be 
carried  downstairs,  where  he  was  made  to 
stand  on  the  mantelpirce  of  the  ante- 
room,  and   order   drinks   .^ll    rouiul     .    .    . 


We  know  of  one  officer,  who,  in  his  night- 
shirt, was  made  on  a  cold  winter's  night 
to  stand  outside  the  window,  on  the  ledge. 
— Colburn :  United  Semice  Gazette. 

(Boxing  and  popular),  to 
"draw  or  tap  the  claret,"  to 
"draw  the  cork,"  to  make  the 
nose  bleed. 

This  is  technically  called  drawing-  the 
claret,  and  is  followed  up  by  "practice 
in  the  school-room  "  by  a  black  eye  and 
a  bloody  nose. — Di/irose:  Laugh  and 
Learn. 

(University  and  popular),  to 
vex,  to  infuriate.  It  is  un- 
doubtedly .a  metaphor  from 
"drawing  a  badger,"  i.e.,  send- 
ing in  a  badger-terrier  to  worry 
him  out :  which  in  its  turn  is 
probably  a  metaphor  from  the 
badgers  being  occasionally 
dragged  out  by  the  bull-dog  or 
badger-hound.  So  in  Australia 
one  speaks  of  "  drawing  a  'pos- 
sum." 

Draw  a  bead,  to  (American),  the 
Western  hunter  or  trtipper  in 
taking  aim  does  so  with  de- 
liberate precision.  He  slowly 
raises  the  "  front  sight,"  which 
in  appearance  is  like  a  bead,  to 
a  level  with  the  back  sight,  and 
when  the  two  are  in  a  line  he 
immediately  fires  —  hence  the 
expression,  and  in  colloquial  use 
it  has.comtf  to  signify  an  attack 
upon  one. 

Dra-w  blanks,  to  (American),  to 
fail,  miss,  or  be  disappointed. 

"  Have  you  any  invisible  ink  ?  "• 
She  sighed 
In  a  whisper 

■J'o  the  clerk. 


Draw. 


329 


"  We  have  it,  and  of  the  best " — 

He  replied  ; 
"  Do  you  know  how  to  make  it  work  ?  " 
"  Oh,  it  isn't  for  me,  but — 
The  nice  young  man 
Who  writes  to  me  often — 

Thanks  I 
Ma  opens  my  letters,  and, 
After  this, 
.  I  propose  that  she  shall  — 
Draw  blanks." 

— C.  G.  Leland. 

Draw  boy  (trade),  a  superior 
article  marked  at  a  low  price, 
placed  in  his  window  by  a  shop- 
keeper to  attract  customers ; 
not  intended  to  be  sold,  but  only 
to  act  as  a  decoy  to  cheat  those 
greedy  credulous  people  who  like 
to  make  a  good  bargain.  This 
trick  does  not  always  succeed, 
and  may  generally  be  foiled 
by  any  obstinate  customer  who 
will  persist,  in  spite  of  re- 
fusal, to  become  possessed  of 
the  identical  piece  of  merchan- 
dise that  has  tempted  his  cupi- 
'     dity. 

Dra^ng  (studios),  artists  call  a 
water-colour  picture  a  draw- 
ing. 

Drawing  a  wipe  (thieves),  steal- 
ing a  pocket-handkerchief  from 
a  person's  pocket. 

Drawing  his  wool  (tailors),  vex- 
ing, or  causing  any  one  to  lose 
his  temper. 

Drawing  piaster  (tailors),  seek- 
ing to  ascertain  a  man's  inten- 
tions. 

Drawing  the  flats  (popular),  im- 
posing on  simple-minded  people. 


The  principal  artists,  however,  in  the 
art  of  drawing;  the  flats,  or  national  per- 
spective, are  lawyers,  doctors,  and  trades- 
men ;  each  of  whom  has  a  principle  of 
drawing  peculiar  to  his  trade  or  profes- 
sion, which  ought  to  be  thoroughly  com- 
prehended by  the  amateur.  —  Diprosc: 
Laugh  arid  Learn. 

Drawing    the    Queen's    picture 

(thieves),   the    manufacture  of 
base  money. 

Draw  it  mild  (common),  calm 
yourself,  don't  exaggerate,  the 
reverse  of  "  coming  it  too  strong." 
It  has  also  the  signification  ex- 
plained by  the  quotation. 

Drawing  it  mild  is  used  when  the 
artist  wishes  to  circumvent  or  bamboozle 
his  customers,  and  consists  in  "  flummery  " 
'or  "  gammon,"  which  may  either  be  put  on 
the  individual  with  a  camel's  hair  pencil 
or  a  trowel,  according  to  his  humour. — 
Diprose:  Laugh  and  Learn. 

Draw  out,  to  (common),  to  elicit 
information  or  secrets  from  one. 
French,  "  tirer  les  vers  du  nez  ? " 

He  was  a  heavy,  simple-looking  fellow, 
and  the  older  tramp  was  in  conversation 
with  him,  and  evidently  "  drawmg  him 
out." — J.  Crreenwood :   Tag,  Rag,  cr"  Co. 

Draw  teeth,  to,  to  wrench  knock- 
ers and  door-liandles  from  '  off 
street  doors,  a  favourite  amuse- 
ment of  medical  students  of 
bygone  days. 

Draw  the  planet,  to  (gypsies),  to 
tell  one's  fortune. 

Eliza  .Stanley,  a  "  good-looking  young 
gypsy,"  tells  fortunes;  in  fact,  Mrs.  Stan- 
ley can  "rule  your  planet."  In  order, 
however,  to  do  this  successfully  she  must 
be  entrusted  with  gold — nothing  less  being 
heavy  enough  tf  draw  the  planet.     Mrs. 


330 


Draiv — Oris. 


Stanley  has  been  drawing  the  planet  with 
considerable  success  lately;  but  she  has 
at  last  drawn  the  planet  down  upon  her- 
self, and  the  Portemoiuh  magistrates  have 
given  her  thrse  months.— T'A*  Globe. 

Draw  wbrsted,to  (tailors),  to  fer- 
,  ment  a  quarreL 

Dress  a.  hut,  to  (shopmeu),  to 
exchange  articles   stolen  from 
'  respective  employers. 

Dressed  to  kail  (American),  to  be 
.  over-dressed  ;  equivalent  to  "  to 

be  dressed  to  death,"  "dressed 

to  the  nfties." 

When  we  see  a  gentleman  tiptoeing 
along  Broadway,  with  a  lady  wiggle- 
wdggling  by  his  side  and  both  dressed 
to  kill,  as  the  vulgar  would  say,  yqu  may 
be  sure  that  he  takes  care  of  Number 
One. — Dow  s.Sfrmons. 

Dress  in  (Winchester  College), 
The  four  or  five  next  best  players 

•  <in  a  fobtball  team  stand  ready 
dressed  so  as  to  take  thfe  place 
of  any  player  .who  is  in-  any 
way  injured.  They  are  said  to 
"  drea  in." 

Dressing    or     dressing     down 

(common),  a  beating,  a  tlefeat. 
It  also  me&ns  a  scolding. 

If  *vef  I  meet  him  again  I  will  give  him 
such  ;i  dresting  as  he  has  not  had  this 
many  a   day.— J/;Vi   Austen :  Sense  -and 

Sensibility. 

Dress-lodger  (prostitute),  ex- 
plained \^s-  quotation. 

They  belong  utterly  aod  entirely  to  the 
devil  in  human  shape  who  owns  the  den 
that  the  wretched  harlot  learns  to  call  her 
"  home."  You  would  neverdream  of  the 
dcjilurable  deptlt  of  her  drslitution  if  you 


met  her  in  her  gay  attire  .  .  .  she  is  abso- 
lutely poorer  than  the  meanest  beggar  that 
ever  whined  for  a  crust.  These  women 
are  known  as  dress-lodgers. — J.  Green- 
wood: The  Seven  Curses  0/ London. 

Drink  (American),  a  river.  The 
"big  Drink"  is  the  common 
Western  term  for  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

The  old  boat  was  a  rouser — the  biggest 
on  tiie  Drink. — Nezv  i'ork  Opinions 0/ the 
Times, 

Dripping  (common),  a  contemp- 
tuous term  applied  to  a  cook, 
who  is  not  exactly  a  cm-don 
bleu. 

IHiver's  pint  (military),  a  gallon 
ol  ate.  Drivers  of  the  artillery 
are  supposed  to  have  large 
powers  of  absorption. 

Drive,  to  (racing),  to  drive  a  horse 
is  to  urge  him  on  with  whip 
and  spurs. 

Drive    turkeys    to    market,    to 

(popular),  to  reel  from  one  side 
to  the  otljer  like  °a  tipsy  man. 
Probably  from  the  wobbling  of 
the  birds  in  question. 

Driz  (lliieves  ^nd  gypsies),  lace. 
From '  the  gypsy  doriez,  thread 
or  lace.  "/Jm-fencer,"  a  per- 
son who  l)uys  or  sells  stolen  lace. 
A  driz  kemtsa,  a  shirt  v^'ith  a 
lape  frill. 

With  my  fawnied   fancy  and   my  onions 

gay,  fake  away, 
With   my  thimble  of  ridge  and   my  driz 

keiiifsa. 

—Ainsni-q^th:  R ookivooii,. 


Droddutn — Dropped. 


331 


Droddum  (popular),  the  buttocks, 
the  breech. 

Dromedary  (thieves),  a  bungler. 

Drop  (American),  to  get  the  drop 
on  a-  man,  to  forestall,  get 
first  advantage.  This  phrase 
alludes  to  a  trick,  practised  in 
large  cities  upon  unsuspecting 
strangers,  called  the  drop  game, 
which  consists  in  pretending  to 
find  a  pocket-book  or  purse  full 
of  notes,  which  a  confederate 
has  dropped  upon  the  near  ap- 
proach of  a  likely  victim.  By 
specious  representations  the 
finder  manages  to  obtain  good 
money  from  the  victim,  who 
is  said  to  be  dropped  on,  the 
noCes  being,  of  course,  counter- 
feit. 

Also   to    hg,ve  .  the    drop    on 
one. 

When  summoned  to  hold  his  hands  up, 
he  refused  and  attempted  to  draw  his  owi» 
revolver,  with  the  result  of  having  two 
bullets  put  through  him.  Finnigan  com- 
mented on  Calamity  as  a  fool  for  not 
knowing  when  a  man  had  the  dro/>  on 
hiin. — Century  Illustrated  Magazine. 

Drop  in  the  eye  (old),  to  "  have  a 
drop  in  the  eye,"  tb' be  partially- 
iutoxicatM. 

O  faith,  Colonel,  you  must  own  you  h^d 
a  drofi  in  your  eye,  for  when  1  left  you 
you  were  half  seas  over.^ — Swift:  Polite 
Conversation. 

Drop  it  (common),  cease,  leave 
off. 

Drop  one's  leaf,  to  (common), 
io  die.     Obviously  an   allusion 


to  the    fall   of   the   leaves  in 
winter. 

Drop  the  money  purse,  to  (Ameri- 
can), to  incur  a  loss,  make  a 
mistake. 

Den  The  Dog  he  sail  inter  Brer  Coon, 
en  right  dar's  whar  he  drop  his  money- 
puss,  kaze  Brer  Coon  wuz  cut  out  fer  dat 
bizness,  an'  he  far'ly  wipe  up  de  face  er  de 
earf  wid  'im — Brer  Remus. 

Drop  the  scabs  in,  to  (tailors), 
to  work  the  button-holes. 

Drop,  to  (thieves  and  popular), 
to  leave,  turn  aside;  to  "dro/j 
the^ain  Toby,"  to  turn  off  the 
main  road.  (Popular),  to  drop 
a  man,  to  knock  him  down; 
to  drop  on,  to  arrest  suddenly, 
to  abruptly  interfere  oi"  pre- 
vent, to  reprove,  lay  the  re- 
sponsibility on. 

The  father  died,  the  son  then  tried  some 

poison  for  to  take  ; 
But  this  they  stopped,  and  on  him  drop- 
ped, for  making  this  sad  mistake. 

— Song:  Tiddle-a-lVink  tlie 
Barber. 

(American),  to  lose. 

St.  Paul  sporting  men  left  for  Illinois  on 
=  Monday  prepared  to  get  even  on  their 
previous  losses  on  the  Gilmore-Myersmill, 
fcught  at  Harrison's  Landing,  near  St. 
Croix  Falls,  Wis.,  October  19th  last,  when 
MeyA  sent  Gilmore  to  grass  in  five  founds. 
The  Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul  men  gave 
big  odds  on  Gilmore,  and  in  round  numbers 
it  is  estimated  that  the  Minnesota  men 
dropped  558000  on  the  fight. — St.  Louis 
Globe  JJemocrat. 

(Common);   to  drop   into,  to 
thrash. 

Dropped  on  (tailors),  disap- 
pointed. 


332 


Dropping — Drunk. 


Dropping  the  anchor  (racing), 
keeping  back  a  horse  in  a 
race. 

On  the  other  hand,  on  remarking  upon 
the  wild  way  of  riding,  the  visitor  will 
probably  be  met  with  the  retort,  that  if 
the  jockeys  did  not  flog  their  animals  un- 
mercifully, they  would  be  accused  of  what 
is  here  termed  in  racing  slang  droppinf; 
the  anchor. — Sporting  Times. 

Drum  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
house  or  lodging. 

Call  it  what  you  like  .  .  .  drum,  crib, 
owse,  or  whichever  way  you  likes  to  put  a 
name  to  it ;  it  makes  no  matter  to  thrf  place 
I  mean. — J.  Greenwood :  Dick  Temple. 

I  went  straight  back  to  the  old  drum  in 
Spitalfields,  and  after  a  drink  with  old 
friends  we  made  up  a  tossing  party,  and  I 
lost  every  penny  of  that  ten  shillings  in  a 
very  little  time. — J.  Green^vood :  Se^ien 
Years'  Penal  Servitude. 

Drum  means  also  a  street,  a 
road  ;  in  the  West  of  England 
a  "drong." 

•  It  may  have  come  directly 
from  the  English  gypsy  di-um 
(old  form  drom),  which  is, 
truly,  from  the  Greek  bpoixbs,  a 
road.  The  origin  of  the  old 
French  cant  word,  trime,  which 
has  the  same  meaning,  is  pro- 
bably identical. 

(Old),  rout  or  ball.  From 
the  noi.se  of  the  entertainment 
a  ball  -  room  was  called  '  the 
"  di-um-Toom." 

The  bonny  hoiusemaid  begins  to  repair 
the  disordered  drum-room.  —  Fielding: 
Tom  Jones. 

(Pugilistic),  the  ear. 
(Tailors),  a  small  workshop. 

Drummer  (tailors),  trousers' 
inakf  T. 


(Old  racing),  a  horse  whose 
forelegs  move  in  an  irregular, 
unusual  manner. 

(American),  a  commercial 
traveller;  probably  from  the 
simile  of  beating  the  drum  to 
attract  attention,  or  from  drum, 
road. 

First  Drummer—"  Had  any  fun  this 
trip  ?  "  Second  Drummer — "  We  tried  to 
have  some  in  Louisville,  but  it  did  not 
turn  out  very  well.  We  painted  the  nose 
of  one  of  the  boys  a  brillijint  red.  and  sent 
him  into  a  revival-meeting."  "  They  must 
have  thought  him  a  fit  subject  for  conver- 
sion." "Well,  no;  they  all  rushed  up  to 
him,  grabbed  him  by  the  hand,  said  they 
were  glad  to  see  him  back  from  Europe, 
and  asked  for  a  puff  in  the  Courier  Jour- 
nal.— Omaha  World. 

In  this  paragraph  the  editor 
of  the  Omaha  World  satirises 
a  colleague  in  a  rival  news- 
paper. 

(Thieves),  a  thief  who  makes 
his  victims  insensible  by  giving 
them  a  narcotic,  or  causing  them 
to  inhale  chloroform.  Pro- 
bably a  corruption  of  "dram- 
mer"  from  "dram." 

Drumstick    (popular),    the    leg ; 
"  drumstick  cases,"  trousers. 

Drunk    (American),    a    state    of 
intoxication. 

Observing  this,  the  opium  master,  who 
was  still  squatted  on  the  bed,  hastened  to 
roll  up  a  couple  of  cigarettes  of  common 
tobacco,  and  lit  them  by  takin*  a  whiff  at 
e.-»ch,  after  which  he  handed  them  to  the 
Chinamen,  -who  rose  from  the  couch  yawn- 
ing, and,  like  men  only  half  awake, 
staggered  towards  the  fire,  and  sat  re- 
R.-irding  it  in  silence.  They  were  not  going 
yet  ;  they  had  come  for  a  drunk,  and 
would   probably   indulge    in   half-a-dozen 


Drunken — Dty. 


333 


more  pipes  before  the  evening  was  over. — 
Jii  Strange  Company. 

Drunken  chalks  (soldiers),  good 
conduct  badges.  Derisively 
used,  and  implying  that  the 
badges  have  been  gained  not 
by  sobriety  but  by  the  faculty 
of  carrying  liquor  well. 

Drury  Lane  vestaJs  (old).  Drury 
Lane,  like  Covent  Garden,  had 
at  one  time  a  reputation  for 
immorality  and  debauchery 
rivalling  the  Haymarket  and 
Regent  Street  of  to-day.  The 
neighbourhood  was  notorious 
as  the  resort  and  dwelling-place 
of  women  of  the  town,  whether 
kept  mistresses  or  common 
harlots.  They  were  called 
Drury  Lane  vestals,  and  "  the 
Drury  Lane  ague  "  was  a  loath- 
some venereal  disorder. 

Dry  bob.     Vide  Bob. 

Dry-bobbing  (Eton),  cricketting. 
"Wet-bobbina,"  the  term  for 
river  sports.     Vide  BOB. 

Eventually  he  won  his  case  ;  the  Georgic 
was  excused,  and  "Hossy"  recited  the 
prologue  with  much  success.  It  was  in 
April,  when  a  late  and  severe  flood  had 
put  an  end  to  a  little  attempted  early  dry- 
bobbing. — Sketchy  Memories  of  Eton. 


Dry    boots     (common), 
humorous  fellow. 


sly, 


Dry  hash  (Australian),  a  man  who 
will  not  "shout,"  i.e.,  pay  for 
drinks.     Vide  Dkadiikad. 

Dry  lodging  (lodging  -  house 
keepers),  .sleeping  accommoda- 
tion without  board. 


Dry  nurse,  to  (nautical),  is  said 
of  a  junior  officer  on  board  ship 
who  advises  an  ignorant  cap- 
tain, and  instructs  him  in  his 
duty. 

Dry  shave,  to  (common),  to  annoy 
one  by  violently  rubbing  his 
chin  with  the  fingers. 

Dry  up  (popular,  originally  Ame- 
rican), hold  your  tongue ;  varied 
by  "  curl  up,"  "put  a  clapper  to 
your  mug,"  "  stop  your  jaw," 
and  other  equally  elegant  in- 
vitations. (Theatrical),  a  dry 
up,  a  failure,  the  reverse  of  a 
"draw." 

Whoever  is  responsible  for  the  dry  up  at 
the  Opera  Comique  deserves  to  be  ostra- 
cised from  theatrical  society. — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 

To  dry  up,  to  stick,  i.e.,  to 
forget  the  words  of  a  part  and 
break  down. 

(Racing),  to  slacken  pace 
through  exhaustion  ;  literally 
tcbe  "pumped  out." 

At  the  distance  he  looked  like  winning 
in  a  canter,  but  dried  up  immediately 
after  ward  s .  — Sporting  1  imes. 

(Printers),  to  leave  off  work 
at  dinner  time  or  at  night. 
Sometimes  to  discharge,  or 
to  leave  a  situation. 

Dry,  walking  (military),  a  dry 
walk  or  walking  dry,  is  the  un- 

,  interesting  and  very  distasteful 
promenade  a  soldier  is  com- 
pelled to  take  when  he  leaves 
barracks  after  working  hours 
without  a  penny  in  his  pocket. 


334 


D.  T. — Duck. 


D.  T.  (common),  deliriam  tre- 
mens, used  very  generally  by 
Anglo-Indians. 

They  get  a  look,  after  a  touch  of  D.  T., 
which  nothing  else  that  I  know  of  can  give 
them. — Indian  Tale. 

D.  T.  also  means  Daily  Tele- 
graph. 

Dub,  to  (thieves),  to  open  ;  "rfuft 
the  jigger,"  open  the  door.  T. 
Harman  writes  this  "dup." 

Tower  ye  yander  is  the  kene,  dup  the 
gygger. — Harman :  Caveat. 

Dub,  a  key,  lock,  picklock. 
i>M6-lay,  robbing  houses  by  pick- 
ing the  locks.  "Dubber,"  an 
expert  lock-picker. 

To  dub  a  jigger  is  a  variant  of 
"  strike  a  jigger,"  to  break  open 
a  door,  and  dub  in  that  sense 
is  from  the  meaning  to  strike. 
Anglo-Saxon  dubban.  Hence 
dub. 

(Popular),  to  "  dub  up,"  to  pay 
up.  Provincial,  dubs,  money. 
So  that  "  dub  up  "  would  be  the 
exact  rendering  of  the  French 
^"nancCT*,  to  pay.  (Anglo-Indian), 
dub,  a  small  coin. 

Dub  at  a  knapping  jigger  (old 
cant),  a  turnpike-man. 

Dubs  (Winchester).  In  the  slang 
of  the  boys  of  that  public  school 
this  term  has  the  meaning  of 
double. 

Dubsman  (old  cant),  a  jailer. 

Oh  1  give  me  a  chisel,  ft  knife,  or  a  file, 
And  the  dubsman  shall  find  that  I'll  do 
it  in  style ! 

Tol-de-rol. 
— IV.  H.  Aumvorih  :  Jack  Shefpard. 


Due  (printers),  short  for  the  ink- 
ductor  or  fountain  that  regulates 
the  quantity  given  out  to  each 
impression  on  a  machine. 

Ducat,  ducats  (theatrical),  coin, 
cash  of  any  description. 

(Thieves),  a  railway  ticket. 
Probably  a  porruption  of  ticket. 

So  I  took  a  ducat  for  Lutton  in  Surrey, 
and  went  a  wedge-hunting.  —  Horsley  : 
Jottings  from  Jail. 

Duck  (popular),  a  bundle  of  scraps 
of  meat  sold  to  the  poor.  (Win- 
chester), the  face. 

Duck,  or  duck's  ^%%  (cricket), 
no  runs ;  an  allusion  to  the 
shape  of  the  nought. 

I  carried  out  my  bat  for  nineteen,  «nd 
Thomas  his  for  fifteen,  scored  with  much 
pluck  at  the  pinch  of  the  game  ;  iii  fact, 
he  won  the  match,  for  the  remaining  man 
was  good  for  nothing  else  but  a  duck, — 
Bird  d  Freedom. 

(Stock  Exchange).  In  the 
slang  of  the  "  House"  a  "lame 
duck"  is  a  defaulter.  The  ex- 
pression is  old. 

1  may  be  "  lame,"  but  I  shall  never  be 
a  duck,  nor  deal  in  the  garbage  of  the 
alley.  —  Walpole  Letters. 

A  "lame  duck"  is  said  to 
"waddle  out  of  the  alley,"  that 
is,  leave  the  Stock  Exchange  as 
bankrupt. 

The  gaming  fools  are  doves,  the  ku.tves 
are  rooks,  'Change-alley  bankrupts  waddle 
out  "\amt  ducks." — Garrick :  Prologue  to 
Foote's  Maid  of  Bath. 

Duck,  doing  a  (thieves),  getting 
under  the  scat  of  a  railway  car- 
riage when  the  ticket-collector 


Duck — Dudetie. 


335 


comes  round,  so  as  to  avoid 
paying  the  fare.  From  the 
ordinary  meaning  of  to  duck,  to 
drop  the  head  or  person  sud- 
denly. 

With  a  downward  glance  of  intense 
scorn  at  me,  the  first  speaker  continued — 

"  Doin'  a  duck,  macin'  the  rattler, 
rid  in'  on  the  cheap,  on  the  odno,  under 
the  bloomin'  seat,  down  wi'  the  dust,  all 
among  the  daisies,  where  you  like,  and 
what  you  like,  it  makes  no  matter  which, 
what  do  you  think?  Gentlemen  in  my 
walk  of  life  can't  always  be  worried." — 
Sporting  Times. 

Ducks  (common),  white  linen,  or 
drill  trousers. 

This  young  person  had  stipulated  that 
Billy  should  do  the  thing  proper,  and  be 
married  in  a  pair  of  white  ducks.  These 
garments  he  had  cheapened  at  a  mart  of 
"reach  me  down"  notoriety,  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  feminine  onlooker  of  his  pro- 
ceedings through  the  window. — Savage: 
London. 

(Stock  Exchange),  Aylesbury 
Dairy  Company  shares. 

(Anglo-Indian),  officials  of  the 
Bombay  service. 

Dudder,  dudsman  (old),  a  pedlar 

'     who  sold  articles  of  clothing  to 

country  people.     Vide  Duds. 

Duddering  rake  (old),  an  ex- 
tremely debauched  man  about 
town. 

Dude  (American),  a  swell  or 
"  masher,"  an  overdressed  man. 
Probably  from  the  very  old 
flnglish  cant  dmle,  a  garment. 

Ain't  you  one  of  these  dudes  as  the 
Colonel  brings  down  sometimes  from  Kl 
Paso  and  Silver,  that  wants  kettles  o'  hot 
water  to  twelve  o'clock? — F.  Francis: 
Saddle  and  Moccasin.  * 


The  word  is  also  used  in 
England. 

Sometimes,  however,  a  dis- 
tinction seems  to  \>&  established 
between  dvde  and  dandy,  the 
former  being  considered  to  apply 
more' to  a  brainless  "masher." 

I'm  a  dandy  I'll  have  you  all  to  know. 

With  the  ladies  I'm  never  rude  : 
This  style  is  all  my  own,  with  it  I  carry 
tone, 
I'm  a  dandy,  but  I'm  no  dude. 

—Son^. 

The  following  quotation  gives 
amusing  evidence  of  the  anti- 
quity of  dude. 

A    correspondent    of   the    AVw    yorik 
Evening'  Pest   shows   that  dudes  are  of 
very  ancient  date.     In  the  "  Eunuchus  " 
of  Terence,  act  iv.  scene  iv.,  1.   15,  it  is  ' 
written  : — 

"  Ita  vistus  est 
Dudutn  quia  v.-iria  veste  exornatus  fuit," 
Which,  literally  translated  into  English, 
would  read  :^"  He  seemed  ^  dude,  be- 
cause he  was  (iecked'out  in  parti^coloured 
clothes,"  or  still  more  literally,  "  in  a  vest 
of  many  colours." 

Dude  hamfatters  (American),  a 
sarcastic  allusion  to  the  swell 
and  "  masher  "  port- raisers.  A 
large  number  arte  located  not  a 
hundred  miles  from  Chicago. 

It  seems  that  the  dude  hamfatters,  after 
tr^'ing  various  games  to  skip  unseen,  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  making  up  as  a  couple 
of  well-dressed  women. — ■Neiu  York  Xa- 
tioiuil  Police  Gazette.  ■ 

Dudetnan  or  dudman,  a  scare- 
crow (HalliwoJl). 

Dudette,  dildinette  (American),  a 
very  young  girl,  a  mere  chit, 
who  affects  the  airs  and  style  of 
a  belle.  . 


336 


Diidikabin — Duffer. 


Dudikabin  (gypsy),  "to  lei  dudi- 
kabin,'^  lit.,  to  take  lightment. 
This  word  was  for  a  long  time 
kept  a  great  secret  by  the 
gypsies,  and  one  of  them  was 
reprimanded  by  his  friends  for 
telling  the  writer.  It  means  the 
making  a  clean  sweep  of  every- 
thing valuable  in  the  house, 
under  pretence  of  propitiating 
the  planets,  or  of  finding  and 
attracting  hidden  treasure.  This 
latter  is  more  specially  the  huk- 
ani  boro,  or  "  great  humbug."  It 
appears  to  be  connected  with 
the  English  slang  -  equivalent 
"lightment,"  from  to  lighten, 
to  relieve  of  one's  property,  to 
rob. 

Dudine  (American),  a  lady  "dude." 

Long  -  handled  eye-glasses,  and  the 
dudines  who  buy  and  use  them. — Phila- 
delphia Times. 

Duds  (thieves),  clothes.     Scottish 

dud,  a  rag. 

As  I  was  walking  down  Cheapeide  a 
man  came  up  to  me  and  said,  "  Look 
here,  mate,  the  sooner  you  sling  them 
dudi  away  the  longer  you' will  keep  out  of 
quod.  I  have  been  following  behind  two 
private  clothes  detectives,  and  they  spotted 
you  by  your  togs,  so  take  my  tip  to  get 
rid  of  them. — Ex'cning  Ne^vs. 

Also  duddies. 

Then  he  took  out  a  little  knife, 

Let  a'  his  duddies  fa'. 
And  he  was  the  brawest  gentleman 

That  stoo4  among  them  a'. 
— Old  Balloji ;  We'll  gang  nae  Mair 
a  Koving.     \Attribtttcd  to  King 
James  I',  p/  Scotland] 

T.  Hiirman  uses  the  word 
with  the  meaning  of  linen 
clothes. 


We  wyll  fylche  some  duddes  off  the 
ruffemans,  or  myll  the  ken  for  a  lagge  of 
dudes. — Caveat. 

I.e.,  "We  will  steal  some  linen  off  the 
hedges,  or  rob  a  parcel  of  the  same  from 
the  house." 

(Old),  to  "  sweat  dud-t,"  to 
pawn  clothes.  A  "  dudman " 
is  provincial  for  a  scarecrow ; 
literally  a  ragged  fellow. 

DufT  (thieves),  spurious.  Men  at 
the  duff,  passers  of  false  jewel- 
lery. To  dnff,  to  sell  spurious 
goods,  often  under  the  pretence 
of  their  having  been  smuggled, 
stolen,  or  found.  In  London 
attempts  at  dujfing  are  often 
made  by  rascals  who  offer  for 
sale  a  worthless  meerschaum 
pipe  or  ring,  pretending  they 
have  just  found  it.  FtiZeDuFFEK. 

Duffer  (common).  This  word  has 
two  opposite  meanings.  A  rank 
swindler,  a  clever  cheat — "a 
word  in  frequent  use  in  1701 
to  express  cheats  of  all  kinds." 
In  Yiddish  every  word  which 
means  clever  or  wise  also  means 
roguery  ;  and  in  Yiddish  doffer 
is  a  shrewd,  clever,  very  crafty 
man  (adjective  doff,  from  tov  or 
toff,  good)  ;  Dutch  thieves'  slang 
doffer,  a  tramp,  a  seller  of  forged 
pictures. 

.  .  .  Nor  did  it  mark  him  out  as  the 
prey  of  ring-droppcrs,  pea  and  thimble- 
riggers,  duffers,  loiiters,  or  any  of  those 
bloodless  sharpers,  who  are  perhaps  a  little 
better  known  to  the  police. — Dickens : 
Martin  Chuzzlnvit. 

A  worthless  person,  a  stupid 
man,  an  awkward,  unskilful  fel- 
low, a  coward. 


Duffer — Duke. 


337 


What  an  awful  duffer  he  is.  I  do  not 
believe  he  hit  a  thing  to-day ;  besides,  he  is 
so  dangerous. — Saturday  Review. 

In  this  latter  sense  the  word 
is  connected  with  daffe,  Anglo- 
Saxon,  a  fool ;  daffum,  a  silly 
person  (Wright) ;  daff,  a  coward ; 
daft,  of  weak  intellect.  Anglo- 
Saxon  deaf,  "  surdus,  absurdus, 
stolidus,"  from  dufan.  Deaf  is 
in  most  of  its  Indo-European 
forms  synonymous  with  stupid 
or  stolid.  Gothic  daufs,  dull  or 
foolish. 

(Popular),  spurious  money. 

I  very  quietly  slipped  four  duffers  among 
six  good  bobs,  and  accommodated  her  with 
the  change  she  wanted.  It  came  off  all 
right,  so  I've  four  bob  left  for  drinks  ;  see  ! 
— Bird  d  Freedom. 

(Nautical),  a  woman  who 
assists  smugglers. 

Duffer  out,  to  (Australian),  mining 
slang.  A  reef  is  said  to  duffer 
out  when  the  gold  is  nearly  or 
quite  exhausted. 

He  then  reported  to  the  shareholders 
that  the  lode  had  buffered  out,  and  that 
it  was  useless  to  continue  working. — Ad- 
vance Australia. 

Dug-out  (American),  a  canoe 
hollowed  out  of  the  trunk  of  a 
tree.  The  term  seems  common 
throughout  the  New  World,  as 
the  Rev.  W.  Cartwright  in  his 
"  Autobiography  "  says,  "  If  by 
chance  we  got  a  dug-out  to 
cross  in  ourselves  and  swira  our 
horses  by,  it  was  quite  a  treat." 
Also  a  rough  kind  of  structure 
built  over  an  excavation. 

The  new  house  was  at  best  but  a  modest 
little  structure,   but    Mayne   viewed    the 


placing  of  each  shingle  and  the  driving  of 
each  nail  with  profound  satisfaction.  In 
the  sparsely  settled  neighbourhood,  where 
dug-outs  and  "shacks"  predominated,  a 
"frame"  house,  even  though  small  and 
unpretending,  was  a  structure  of  no-mean 
importance.  When  it  became  known  that 
Jack  Mayne  intended  to  plaster  the  "  front 
room "  it  was  pretty  thoroughly  agreed 
that  reckless  extravagance  characterised 
Mayne's  house  building. — Sporting  Titne:. 

Duke  Humphrey  (common),  "tb 
dine  with  Duke  Humphrey,"  to 
go  without  dinner.  Dr.  Brewer, 
in  his  "  Dictioaary  of  Phrase 
and  Fable,"  says  :  —  "  Hum- 
phrey, Duke  of  Gloucester,  son 
of  Henry  IV.,  was  renowned  for 
his  hospitality.  At  his  death  it 
was  reported  that  a  monument- 
would  be  erected  to  him  in  St. 
Paul's,  but  his  body  was  interred 
at  St.  Albans.  When  the  pro- 
menaders  left  for  dinner,  the 
poor  stay-behinds  who  had  no 
dinner  used  to  say  to  the  gay 
sparks  who  asked  if  they  were 
going,  that  they  would  stay  a 
little  longer  and  look  for  the 
monument  of  the  '  good  duke.' " 
"  Dining  with  the  cross- legged 
knights "  (the  stone  efligies  of 
the  Round  Church)  had  the  same 
signification.  Hotten  has  the 
following  explanation  : — "  Some 
visitors  were  inspecting  the 
abbey  where  the  remains  of 
Humphrey  DuTie  of  Gloucester 
lie,  and  one  of  them  was  unfor- 
tunately shut  in,  and  remained 
there  solus  while  his  companions 
were  feastihg  at  a  neighbouring 
hostelry.  He  was  afterwards 
said  to  have  dined  with  I)uke 
Hutnphrey,  and  the  saying  even- 
Y 


338 


Duke — Dumb-cow. 


tually  passed  into  a  proverb." 
Vide  Halliwell,  who  gives  a 
better  origin,  and  one  supported 
by  all  contemporary  writers. 

Duke  of  limbs  (common),  a 
tall,  spindle-shanked  man ;  the 
phrase  also  implies  awkward- 
ness and  uncouthness. 

Duke  of  York  (rhyming  slang), 
walk  or  talk. 

Dukes  or  dopks  (popular  and 
thieves),  the  hands  ;  from  the 
gypsy  duk,  dook,  which  refers 
to  palmistry ;  "  it  is  in  his  dook," 
meaning  "  it  is  in  his  fate," 
became  "  it  is  in  his  hand." 

Then  he  began  to  push  me  about,  so  I 
siiiJ  I  would  not  go  at  all  if  he  put  his 
dukes  (hands)  on  me.  Then  he  rammed 
my  nut  (head)  against  the  wall  and  shook 
the  veiy  life  out  of  me. — Horsley:  Jot- 
tings  from  Jail. 

To  grease  one's  duhe,  to  bribe, 
to  pay. 

So  the  next  day  I  went  to  him,  and 
asked  him  if  he  was  not  going  to  grease 
my  duke. — Horsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

To    put    up    one's  dukcf,   to 
fight,  to  box. 

No  doubt  Britain's  foes  will  be  thrown  into 
throes 
Of  utter  dismay  and  despair,  too  ; 
Finding  those  near  the  throne  arc  to  prize- 
fighting prone  ;• 
And  are  nady  to  fight  "on  the  square," 
too. 
Now  tliat  royalties  spar,  all  the  swells,  near 
and  far, 
W  ill  do  ditto— withoiK  any  warning  ; 
And  without  any  llukes,  will  all  put  up 
their  dukes. 
And  try  punching  the  hag  every  morning. 

— J'Ull. 


Dukey.     Vide  Dookie. 
Dukk,  dook  (gypsy),  breath. 

Mandy  nashered  my  diikk  a  prasterin 
puller  the  juva. — An  Old  Gypsy. 

I.e.,  "I  lost  my  breath  running  after  the 
girl." 

A  spirit ;  that  which  inspires 
divination  or  palmistry  ;  the 
demon  of  Socrates. 

I  find  that  the  dook  is  like  myself,  very 
much  given  to  lying. — George  Borroiv  : 
Laven^ro. 

Also  pain,  vexation,  annoy- 
ance. (According  to  the  primi- 
tive Shamanic  faith,  all  pain  was 
caused  by  evil  spirits.) 

Dukker,  dnk,  dook,  dooker 

(gypsy),  to  tell  fortunes,  to  pain, 
grieve,  chide;  diikkirhcn,  grief, 
trouble,  a  fault  ;  dukkcrijien 
or  dukkcrpcn,  fortune  -  tolling, 
augury  ;  dukkero,  sorrowful. 
Hindu,  dokli,  fault. 

When  I  pens  adovo  I  pens  a  tacho  duk- 
kerin. —George  Bonmu:  Lavcngro. 
Mfikk  mengy  dukker  ■^■omx  k(5k'ro,  rj'a  ? 
So?  Mandy  cant  pen  lis-mandy  can. 
Ma  tute  siiv  'at  diikkerin,  pSl.n — 
Addvo  SOS  sar  o  tem  began. 
"  Shall  I  tell  your  fortune  too,  .sir? 
What?  I  can't  !  Oh,  yes,  I  can. 
Don't  you  laugh  at  fortune-telling, 
'Twas  with  that  the  world  Vjegan." 
— Professor  E.  H .  Fainter. 

Dull  in  the  eye  (popular),  intoxi- 
cated. 

Dull  swift  (old),  said  of  one  long 
gone  on  errands  or  messages. 

Dumb-co'w  (Anglo-Indian),  also 
diunb-anccd  (participle),  to  brow- 
beat, to  cow,  set  down. 

"  This  is  a  capital  specimen 


Dumb-cow — Dung. 


339 


of  Anglo-Indian  dialect.  Dam 
khdna,  '  to  eat  one's  breath,'  is 
a  Hindu  idiom  for  '  to  be  silent.' 
Mr.  Hobson-Jobson  converts  this 
into  a  transitive  verb,  to  dam- 
iAas,  and  both  spelling  and  mean- 
ing being  affected  by  English 
suggestions  of  sound,  this  comes 
in  Anglo-Indian  use  to  imply 
coucing  and  silencing "  (Anglo- 
Indian  Glossary. 

Dumfogged  (literary),  confused. 

Dummock  (low),  the  fundament ; 
otherwise  known  as  "blind 
cheek." 

Dummy  (popular),  anything 
fictitious  or  sham,  an  individual 
of  vacant  mind,  and  one  bereft 
of  speech.  (Tailors),  a  piece  of 
cloth  rolled  tight  and  saturated 
with  oil ;  used  for  rubbing 
clothes  of  a  very  hard  nature 
in  places  required  to  be  cut, 
,  also  the  shears,  to  make  cutting 
more  easy.  (Thieves),  a  pocket- 
book.  Originally  a  book  full  of 
sham  notes. 

He  is  caught — he  must  "stand  and  de- 
liver ;  " 

Then  out  with  the  dummy,  and  oflf  with 
the  bit. 

Oh,  the  game  of  High  Toby  for  ever  I 
— Ainswortli:  Roohwood. 

A  "  duwiniy-hunter,"  a  pick- 
pocket, whose  speciality  is  to 
steal  pocket-books. 

No  dummy-hnnteT  had  forks  so  fly, 
No  knuckler  so  deftly  could  fake  a  cly, 
— A  insworih :  Roohwood. 

Dummy  daddle  dodge  (thieves), 
picking  pockets  in  an  omnibus 
under  cover  of  a  sham  hand. 


Asked  by  the  friendly  warder  what  he 
thought  of  the  dummy  daddle  dodge, 
Mr.  Mobbs  said  he  rather  thought  that 
game  was  played  out.  A  woman,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  explain,  can  work  with  a 
dummy  daddle  in  an  omnibus  or  a  railway 
carriage  much  better  than  a  man,  because, 
without  appearing  conspicuous,  she  can 
wear  any  kind  of  loose  shawl  or  cloak  as 
concealment  for  her  real  hand. — J.  Green- 
wood :  Daily  Telegraph. 

Dump  fencer  (street),  a  man  who 
hawks  buttons.  Dump  is  an 
old  word  for  a  leaden  medal. 

Dumpoke  (Anglo-Indian),  a  duck, 
boned,  baked,  and  highly  sea- 
soned. From  the  Persian  dam- 
pukht,  "  air-cooked,"  or  baked. 
In  English  gypsy,  pukht  would 
be  pekkerd,  from  the  same 
root. 

These  eat  highly  of  all  flesh  duntpokcd, 
which  is  baked  with  spice  in  butter. — 
Fryer. 

Dumps  (popular),  money.  Vide 
Dump  Fencer. 

May  I  venture  to  say  when  a  gentleman 

jumps 
In  the  river  at  midnight  for  want  of  the 

dumps. 
He  rarely  puts  on  his  knee-breeches  and 

pumps. 

— Ingpldshy  Legends. 

Dung  (workmen),  one  who  is  com- 
pelled to  accept  lower  wages 
after  being  out  on  strike.  The 
word  is  the  preterite  of  tHe 
old  English  verb  to  "ding,"  to 
beat  down,  one  who  is  dung  or 
beaten,  as  in  the  old  proverb, 
still  termed  Scottish,  "  It's  a 
sair  duivj  bairn  that  maunna 
greet." 


340 


Dungaree — Dust. 


(Tailors),  "  dunging  it  "  is  said 
of  a  traitor  to  the  trade. 

Dungaree  (Anglo-Indian),  com- 
mon, coarse,  low,  vulgar.  The 
name  of  a  disreputable  suburb 
of  Bombay,  and  also  of  a  coarse 
blue  cloth  used  for  sailors' 
clothing. 

Dunnage  (popular),  clothes  or 
baggage. 

Dunnakin  (American  thieves),  a 
chamber-pot.  In  England,  the 
water-closet. 

Durham  man  (old  slang),  a  knock- 
kneed  man  was  so  called,  and 
was  said  to  grind  mustard  be- 
tween his  knees. 

Durrynacker  (prison),  female 
hawker.  From  the  gypsy  dori 
or  doriez,  threads  or  lace. 

Dust  (common),  money.  Possibly 
for  gold  dust. 

"  Put  it  down  to  the  bill "  is  the  fountain 
of  ill, 
'Tis    this    has    the    shopkeepers    un- 
done. 
Bazaars  never  trust,  so  down  with  your 
dust, 
And  help  us  to  diddle  all  London. 
— Grimaldi's  Bazaar. 

The  term  is  old,  it  occurs  in 
the  "Life  of  Ken,"  1690.  "Down 
with  the  dust,"  pay  the  money. 

If  they  did  intend  to  trade  with  Christ 
they  must  "down  with  the i/ust  "  instantly, 
for  to  his  knowledge  the  Papists  did  offer 
a  vast  sum  of  money  for  England's  Christ. 
— Eiuhards  Olicnations,  1O71. 


He  who  giveth  to  the  poor  lendeth  to 
the  Lord.  If  you  like  the  security  "  down 
with  the  dust." — Hemion  attributed  to  the 
Rev.  Rowland  Hill. 

Duster  (tailors),  a  sweetheart. 

Dust  Hole  (common),  the  Queen's 
Theatre,  Tottenham  Court  Road, 
so  called  from  the  fact  that 
half  a  century  ago,  when  under 
the  management  of  Mr.  Glossop, 
the  ddbris  of  the  theatre  was 
swept  daily  under  the  pit,  and 
suffered  to  accumulate,  to  the 
great  inconvenience  of  the 
audience,  until  the  dust  hole  was 
crowded  to  repletion.  The  first 
French  plays  acted  in  London 
were  given  at  this  theatre, 
which,  after  many  vicissitudes 
of  fortune,  became  fashionable 
as  the  Prince  of  Wales',  and  is 
now  the  property  of  the  Salva- 
tion Army. 

Dust  out  of,  to  (American),  to 
leave  or  depart. 

Mother — Johnnie,  brush  the  dust  off 
your  boots.  Johnnie — Is  that  the  kind  of 
dust  papa  was  talking  to  governess  about  ? 
RIotlier — What  did  he  say  ?  Johnnie — He 
said:  "Dost  thou  love  me,  Agnes?" 
Mother — No,  it  was  not,  Johnnie ;  but 
Agnes  will  dust  out  of  here  to-morrow 
morning. — Boston  Globe. 

Dust,  to  (West  American),  to 
dismount  by  .'dlowing  oneself 
to  roll  off  to  the  soft  ground. 

Frequently,  instead  of  quitting  them 
when  they  were  turned  loose,  the  boys 
would  sit  astride  of  the  steers  they  had 
been  holding,  and  "stay  with  them"  as 
they  went  bucking  down  the  corral  to- 
wards their  fellows,  until  the  proximity  of 


Dustoor — Dying. 


341 


these  latter  warned  the  riders  to  roll  off 
and  dust. — F.  Fraticis:  Saddle  and  Moc- 


Dustoor,  dustoory  (Anglo- 
Indian),  a  commission  paid, 
generally  as  a  kind  of  bribe. 
Persian  and  Hindu,  dastur,  cus- 
tom, 

"  That  commission  or  per- 
centage on  money  passing  in 
any  cash  transaction  which 
sticks  to  the  fingers  of  the 
agent  of  payment "  (Anglo- 
Indian  Glossary). 

Dusty  (popular),  "not  so  dusty," 
not  so  bad. 

Three  red  clocks,  two  pusses,  and  a 
white  slang — I  ain't  done  so  dusty! — 
Pti/ich. 

Dusty,    gritty,   or   stony  broke 

(popular),  without  a  sou. 

"  I've  been  as  flash  as  they  make  'em  in 
my  time,  and  you'll  'ardly  believe  it " — 
this  in  a  hoarse  whisper  to  me — "I've 
been  that  broke — stony,  gritty,  dusty  broke 
— you  understand,  as  I'd  'ave  nicked  the 
broads  out  of  a  pal's  kick,  if  they  was 
there,  and  sold  'em  for  the  price  of  'alf  a 
pint." — Sporting  Times. 

Dutch  (military),  to  "  do  a  Dutch," 
to  run  away,  to  desert.  Pro- 
bably an  allusion  to  "  Dutch 
courage." 


Dutch  (popular),  a  wife. 

Now  he'd  not  a  brown,  nor  a  friend  in 

town. 
In  fact  he  was  quite  undone  ; 
He  made  a  vow  he'd  never  row 
With  his  old  Dutch  again. 
So  part  by  hook,  and  part  by  crook. 
He  tramped  it  back  to  London. 

— Mitchell:  J ijnmy  Johnson's 
Holiday. 

Dutch  auction  (cheap  Jacks),  a 
method  of  selling  good-;  with- 
out incurring  the  penalties  for 
selling  without  a  license. 


Dutch  clock,  a  bed-pan  is  so  called 
by  nurses. 

Dutch  feast  (common),  a  dinner 
at  which  the  host  gets  drunk 
before  his  guests. 

Dutchman's  breeches  (nautical), 
two  streaks  of  blue  in  a  cloudy 
sky. 

Dutch  treat  (American),  a  dinner 
or  drinking  where  every  man 
pays  for  himself. 

Dying    in    a    horse's    nightcap 

(po[)ular),  being  luing.  A  horse's 
nightcap,  i.e.,  a  halter. 


342 


Ear — Eat 


AR  (American),  to  get 
up  on  one's  ear,  to 
rouse  oneself  to  a 
great  effort. 


They  called  me  bully  boy,  altho'  I've  seen 

nigh  threescore  years, 
And  said  that  I  was  lightning  when  I  got 

up  on  my  ear. 

—  Words  and  tJuir  Uses. 

Earl  of  Cork  (Irish),  the  ace  of 
diamonds.  According  to  Carle- 
ton,  "It  is  the  worst  ace  and 
the  poorest  card  in  the  pack, 
and  is  called  the  Earl  of  Cork 
because  he  is  the  poorest  noble- 
man in  Ireland." 

Early  riser  (popular),  the  vulgar 
name  for  an  efficient  aperient 
pill.  The  application  of  the 
term  is  obvious. 

Ear-mad  (medical),  the  thickened 
ear  (in  its  upper  portion)  found 
in  some  cases  of  insanity  ;  hence 
the  name. 

Earth  bath  (old),  a  grave  ;  to 
take  an  earth  bath,  to  be  dead 
and  buried.  Also  to  take  a 
"  ground  sweat." 

Earthquake  (American),  hotiUd 
earthquake,  spirits,  intoxicating 
liquor  of  any  kind.  So  called 
from  the  disorderly  motions  at- 
tendant on  intoxication,  or  an 
abbreviation  of  "carf/ii^Ma/tc  pro- 
tector." 

Holfled  earthquakes  are  just  as  bad  as 
the  other  kind.  Scratch  a  bottled  earth- 
ijitake  and  you'll  find  a  QocV\.:i\\.— Chicago 
Tribune. 


Earthquake  protector  (Ameri- 
can), explained  by  quotation. 

It  was  a  delicious  hevera.ze,  not  uncon- 
nected with  old  Jamaica,  and  sent  a  deli- 
cious glow  through  every  vein.  .  .  . 

"  But  how,  pray,  does  this  protect  me 
from  an  earthquake  ?  " 

"  Well,  sir,"  replied  the  barkeeper,  "  if 
you'll  only  drink  enough  of  it,  you  won't 
care  a  continental  whether  the  earthquake 
comes  or  not." — New  York  Star. 

Eanvig  (thieves),  a  clergyman. 

Earwigg'ing  (common),  a  rebuke 
in  private.  Is  said  of  a  sneak- 
ing, tattling  fellow-employe  who 
carries  little  trifling  errors  on 
the  part  of  others  to  the  ears  of 
the  governor. 

Ease,  to  (popular  and  thieves),  to 
rob.     French  slang,  soul/tgcr. 

Eason,  to  listen  (New  York  Slang 
Dictionary).  EaMn  is  an  Eng- 
lish provincialism  for  eaves  ; 
hence  eason,  from  eavesdrop- 
ping. 

East  and  south  (rhyming  slang), 
the  mouth. 

Eastery  (cheap  Jacks),  explained 
by  quotation. 

Sometimes,  when  in  a  country  where 
there  were  large  villages  or  small  towns, 
we  used  to  work  what  was  called  eastery 
or  private  business.— ///W/iy.-  Life  and 
Adventures  of  a  Cheap  Jack. 

Easy  (thieves),  "make  the  cull 
easy,"  kill  the  fellow. 

Eat  a  fig  (rhyming  slang),  to 
"crack  a  crib,"  i.e.,  to  commit 
a  burglary. 


Eat — Elephant. 


343 


Eat  one's  terms,  to  (legal),  to  pre- 
pare for  the  bar ;  to  attend  the 
requisite  number  of  dinners  in 
hall  each  term. 

Eat,  to  (American),  a  Western 
expression,  meaning  not  to  con- 
sume but  to  provide  food. 

Captin,  do  you  ate  us  or  do  we  aie 
ourselves  ?  Eat  yourselves,  to  be  sure. — 
American  Story. 

Eats  his  head  off  (common),  is  said 
of  a  horse  that  remains  for  a 
long  time  in  the  stable.  Some- 
times of  servants  or  others  who 
have  little  to  do. 

Eaves  (American  thieves),  a  hen- 
roost. 

Eavesdropper  (American  thieves), 
a  chicken  thief,  or  a  low  sneak 
or  thief  generally. 

Ebenezer  (Winchester  College), 
a  ball  at  racquets  that  hits  the 
line  and  rises  high  into  the  air. 

Ebony  (popular),  a  bit  of  ebony, 


Ebony  optics  (pugilistic),  black 
eyes ;  ehony  optics  albonized, 
black  eyes  painted  white. 

Edge  (tailors),  "stitched  off  the 
cdfjc  "  refers  to  a  glass  or  pint 
not  filled  to  the  top  ;  "  side 
edije,"  whiskers.  A  "  short  top 
edge  "  is  a  turn-up  nose. 

Edgenaro  (back  slang),  orange. 

Eggshaw  (Anglo-Indian),  brandy ; 
probably  from  the  name  of  a 
brand. 


EgTPtian  hall  (rhyming  slang),  a 
ball. 

Eighter  (prison),  an  eight-OTince 

loaf. 

"  Do  you  eat  all  your  chuck?" 

"  No,  I  have  two  eighters  in  my  cell 

now." 

"I  shall  be  orderly  to-morrow.     Sling 

me  a  toke." — Evening  News. 

Ekom  (back  slang),  a  "  moke  "  or 
donkey. 

Elbow  crooker  (thieves),  a  hard 
drinker  ;  from  the  phrase  to 
"  crook  one's  elbow,"  to  drink. 
In  French,  "lever  le  coude," 
said  of  a  hard  drinker. 

Elbo'wer  (thieves),  a  furtive;  one 
that  "elbows,"  i.e.,  turns  the 
corner,  or  gets  out  of  sight. 

Elbow  grease  (popular),  hard 
work. 

Elbow-scraper  (nautical),  fiddle 
player. 

Elbow  shaker  (old),  gambler  with 
dice.  From  the  expression  "to 
shake  one's  elbow." 

Elbow^,  to  (thieves),  to  turn  a 
corner,  to  get  out  of  sight. 

Electrified  (American),  excited 
with  liquor. 

Elephant  (thieves),  a  victim  pos- 
sessed of  much  money. 

(Common),  the  elephant,  origin- 
ally an  Americanism.  We  might 
compile  a  volume  of  the  amusing 


344 


Elephant — Elfen. 


explanations  and  illustrations 
of  this  expression  which  have 
appeared  in  American  news- 
papers. To  hare  seen  the 
elephant  is  to  have  had  a  full 
experience  of  life  or  of  a  certain 
subject  or  object.  _  There  is  a 
book  by  "Doesticks"  (Mortimer 
Thompson),  called  "Seeing  the 
Elephant,"  devoted  to  describing 
"life"  in  New  York,  of  which 
a  reviewer  remarked  that  the 
ekphant,  according  to  Mr. 
Thompson,  appeared  to  be  bad 
brandy.  When  a  man  had 
made  an  unfortunate  specula- 
tion he  would  say  that  he  had 
not  only  seen  the  elephant  but 
felt  him  kick.  The  phrase 
seems  to  have  originated  in  an 
old  ballad  of  a  farmer  who, 
while  driving  his  mare  along 
the  highway,  met  with  a  show- 
man's elephant,  which  knocked 
him  over,  and  spilt  his  milk 
and  destroyed  his  eggs.  The 
farmer  consoled  himself  for  his 
loss  by  reflecting  that  he  had 
at  least  "  seen  the  elephant." 

And  he  said,  "  Now  in  future  no  one  can 

declare 
That  I've  not  seen  tAe  elephant — neither 

the  mare." 

In  1849-1850,  to  have  been  to 
California  and  returned  was  to 
have  seen  the  elephant. 

Those  who  sold  the  bonds  had  vanished, 
those  who  hadn't  held  the  town, 

Little  knew  they  of  its  glory  over  seas 
or  great  renown, 

They  had  nothing'of  the  fruitage — though 
alas  !  they  held  the  plant. 

Nothing  saw  they  of  the  picture  save  in- 
deed the  ehphant. 


He  who  had  been  in  the  background  now 

came  rushing  to  the  fore. 
Terribly  he  trampled  on  them — very  awful 

was  his  roar. 

—  The  Rise  and  Fall  ofGloryville. 

Montaigne  strangely  enough 
seems  to  suggest  that  "to  see 
tlie  elephant"  waS  in  his  time 
connected  with  experience  of 
life.  He  cites  the  following 
from  "Arrien.  Hist.  Ind.,"  c. 
17- 

"Aux  Indes  Orientales  la  chastet^  y 
estant  en  singuliere  recommandation, 
I'usage  pourtant  souffroit  qu'une  femme 
mari^  se  peust  abandonner  k  qui  luy 
presentoit  un  (Uphant,  et  cela  avec 
quelque  gloire  d'avoir  est6  estim^e  k  si 
hault  prix." 

This  then  was  the  Indian  way 
of  " seeing  the  elephant"  and 
of  paying,  as  at  the  present 
day,  an  enormous  price  for  the 
sight. 

(Common),  a  girl  is  said  to 
"have  seen  tlie  elephant"  when 
she  has  lost  her  chastity. 
French,  "  avoir  vu  le  loup." 

Elephant's  trunk  (rhyming  slang), 
drunk. 

Elevation,   explained   by  quota- 
tion. 

"  They  as  dinnot  tak'  spirits  down  thor, 
tak'  their  pennord  o'  elevation  then — 
women-folk  especial." 

"  Vihal's  elcvationt"  .  .  . 

"  Opium,  Ixjr'  alive,  opium." — C.  Kings- 
liy  :  A I  ton  Locke. 

"  Elevated  "  is  English  for  in- 
toxicated in  a  slight  degree. 

Elfen,  to  walk  on  tiptoe  lightly 
(New  York  Slang  Dictionary). 


Embroider — Entire. 


345 


Probably  from    the    old   word 
alfen,  hence  aleft,  lifted. 

Embroider  (common),  to  exag- 
gerate, romance.  In  French, 
hroder. 

Tom  tried  to  make  himself  appear  to  be 
a  hero  too,  and  succeeded  to  some  extent, 
but  then  he  always  had  a  way  of  e»t- 
broidering.  — Mississippi  Pilot. 

Emperor  (common),  "drunk  as 
an  emperor."  The  quintessence 
of  intoxication.  Ten  times  "as 
drunk  as  a  lord."  The  French 
say  "  saoul  comme  trente  mille 
hommes."  (Thieves),  hence  a 
drunken  man. 

A  pinch  for  an  emperor's  slang.  He 
was  in  his  altitudes,  and  we  pinched  his 
thimble,  slang  and  onions. — On  the  Trail. 

Empty  bottle  (Univ.  Cantab),  a 
pensioner.  Bristed,  in  his  "  Five 
Years  in  an  English  University," 
says,  "They  are  popularly  de- 
nominated empty  bottles,  the  first 
word  of  the  appellation  being 
an  adjective,  though  were  it 
taken  as  a  verb  there  would  be 
no  untruth  in  it.  " 

End  (American),  "  to  be  all  on 
end,"  to  be  very  angry  or 
irritated.  From  rising  up,  or 
jumping  up  in  a  rage.  Also 
applied  to  a  state  of  excite- 
ment, especially  of  anticipa- 
tion. "They  were  all  on  end 
to  see  the  President  go  by." 

Endacott,  to  (journalistic),  to  act 
like  a  constable  of  that  name 
who  arrested  a  woman  whom 
he  thought  to  be  a  prostitute. 


Constable  Endacott.  .  .  .  Though  he 
might  base  a  claim  to  a  pension  on  literary 
grounds,  as  having  enriched  the  English 
language  with  a  new  word  {to  Endacott, 
V.A.),  it  is  not  probable  that  an  economical 
Government  would  value  this  addition  to 
the  dictionary  very  highly.  —  Evening 
News. 

The  expression  lived  "  ce  que 
vivent  les  roses,  I'espace  d'un 
matin,"  probably  on  account  of 
certain  facts  proved  in  the  course 
of  a  subsequent  investigation, 
and  which  showed  that  the  con- 
stable's name  ought  not  to  go 
down  to  posterity  as  that  of  an 
oppressor  of  womankind. 

Ends,  at  loose  (familiar).  When 
a  business  is  neglected,  or  its 
finances  arc  in  a  precarious  con- 
dition, it  is  said  to  be  at  loose  ends. 

Enemy  (common),  used  in  the 
quaint  but  not  slangy  phrase, 
"How  goes  the  enemy?"  i.e., 
what  is  the  time  7 

Ensign  bearer  (military),  a  man 
with  a  red  and  blotchy  face 
arising  from  tippling. 

Enthuse  (American),  to  excite  en- 
thusiasm, to  be  enthusiastic.  A 
favourite  word  with  "gushing" 
clergymen.  "An  object  large 
enough  to  enthuse  an  angel's 
soul."  Enthused,  excited  with 
liquor. 

Entire  figfure,  the  (American),  to 
the  fullest  extent.  A  simile  na- 
turally derived  from  expressing 
sums  of  money  by  numerals 
or  "figures."  Also  the  "big 
figure,"  the  "  whole  figure." 


346 


E.  P. — Excruciators. 


E.  P.  (clerical),  a  very  common 
abbreviation,  means  the  "  East- 
ward Position,"  adopted  in  por- 
tions of  the  Communion  Service. 

Epsom  races  (rhyming  slang),  a 
pair  of  braces. 

Equal  to  the  genuine  Limburg^er 

(American),  a  standard  simile 
for  anything  which  is  asserted 
to  attain  the  maximum  of  bad 
smells.  The  German  Limburger 
cheese  has,  to  those  who  are  not 
accustomed  to  it,  an  intensely 
disagreeable  odour. 

Equipped  (thieves),  rich,  well 
dressed. 

ErifTs,  young  thieves  (New  York 
Slang  Dictionary). 

"  It's  the  gait  all  them  eriff's  dances," 
observed  the  one-eyed  man.  "  I  remem- 
ber once  I  was  in  cahoots  with  a  cove  like 
that."— 0«  the  Trail. 

Esclop  (back  slang),  police  ;  pro- 
nounced "  slops." 

Euchred  (common),  played  out ; 
from  a  game  at  cards. 

Europe  morning'  (Anglo-Indian). 
When  a  man  gets  up  late,  that 
is,  at  nine  or  ten  o'clock,  he  is 
said  to  have  a  Europe  morning. 
The  expression  explains  itself. 

Evaporate,  to  (common),  to  run 
away,  to  vanish. 

Everlasting  staircase,   the 

(thieves).  The  treadwheel, 
originally     invented     by     Mr. 


Cubitt  in  1817,  and  first  used 
in  Brixton  Prison,  fell  some- 
what into  desuetude,  but  has 
been  revived  in  some  prisons 
under  the  Government  rdgime, 
as  an  instrument  both  of  utility 
for  grinding  com,  raising  water, 
&c.,  and  of  real  hard  labour. 
The  labour  varied  most  un- 
equally, e.g.,  from  7500  feet 
ascent  in  the  day  in  Lewes 
prison  to  14,200  feet  in  Boston. 
This  inequality  and  consequent 
injustice  has  now  been  re- 
moved. 

Everton  cofifee  (rhyming  slang), 
coffee. 

Everything  is  lovely,  and  the 
goose  hangs  high  (American), 
a  phrase  which  became  known 
during  the  war,  and  which 
formed  the  burden  of  a  popular 
song.  It  signified  that  all  is 
going  well.  The  goose  is  a 
synonym  for  terror  or  alarm. 
Thus,  on  the  stage,  "to  be 
goosed"  is  to  be  hissed,  and 
when  the  goose  hangs  high  it  is 
equivalent  to  saying  that  there 
is  no  defeat  to  fear.  The  phrase 
originated  in  Philadelphia. 

Ewe  (old),  a  white  ewe,  a  hand- 
some woman ;  an  old  ewe,  an 
old  woman. 

Exam,  (schools),  short  for  exami- 
nation. 

Excruciators  (London),  the  new- 
fashioned  boot  or  shoe  painfully 
j)ointed. 


Execution — Face-making. 


347 


Joyfully  the  lads  bore  T'Owd  Mon  off 
to  Blurton's  and  got  him  a  real  shiny  pair 
of  pointed  excniciators  (small  thirteens, 
T'Owd  'Un  usually  takes  calf  fourteens). 
Sporting  Tunes. 

Execution  day  (common),  wash- 
ing day  amongst  the  lower 
classes. 

Expecting  (society),  a  common 
expression  for  a  woman  being 
in  the  family  way  ;  it  is  an 
abbreviation  for  expecting  her 
confinement. 

Explaterate  (American),  to  en- 
large upon,  to  hold  forth,  to 
explain  and  illustrate  fully. 

On  this  I  will  explaterate. 

And  all  my  views  profusely  state. 

— Joel  Boodler's  Campaign. 

From  the  obsolete  English  to 
explute,  to  unfold. 

Extrumps  (Winchester  College), 
a  corruption  of  extempore.  To 
"go  up  to  books  extrumps "  is 
to  go  up  without  having  pre- 
pared one's  lesson.  "  Extrum- 
pere,"  a  jocose  perversion  of 
extempore,  has  been  used  by 
old  English  authors. 


Eye  limpet,  another  name  for  an 
artificial  eye. 

Eye-openers  (American),  one  of 
the  many  concoctions  drunk  at 
American  bars. 

In  the  vestibule  of  each  refreshment- 
room  there  is  an  American  bar,  where 
visitors  may  indulge  in  juleps,  cock- 
tails, cobblers,  rattlesnakes,  gum  ticklers, 
eye-openers,  flashes  o"  lightning,  brandy 
smashes,  stone  fences,  and  a  variety  of 
similar  beverages. — E.  MacDennott :  The 
Popular  Guide  to  the  International  Ex- 
hibition 0/1Z62. 

Also  a  general  term  for  any 
kind  of  intoxicating  drink. 

(Society),  is  said  of'an3rthing 
out  of  the  way. 

Of  course,  there  were  the  usual  eye- 
openers  in  the  way  of  dress. — Modem 
Society. 

Eyes  (low),  "no  more  eyes  nor 
arseholes,"  said  of  a  one-eyed 
man. 

Eye,  to  take  one's  (tailors),  to 
please  one's  fancy. 

Eye  water  (popular),  gin. 


|ACE  (popular),  credit 
at  a  public-house. 
From  one's  physiog- 
nomy being  known 
there  ;  or  from  face, 
effrontery,  confidence.  "  To  run 
one's  face,"  to  obtain  credit  by 
effrontery.  ' '  He  has  no  face 
but  his  own"  (Grose),  he  has 


no  coin  {faces  in  French  slang) 
in  his  pocket. 

Face  entry  (theatrical),  the  entr«5e 
or  freedom  of  access  to  a 
theatre,  from  the  face  being 
known. 

Face-making  (popular),  begetting 

children. 


348 


Facer — Fad. 


Facer  (pugilistic),  a  blow  on  the 
face. 

While  showers  of  facers  told  so   deadly 

well 
That  the   cracked  jaw-bones  cracked  'as 
they  fell. 

—  r.  Moore. 
Blogg,  starting  upright,  tipped  the  fel- 
low s.  facer. — Ingotdsby  Legends. 

(Society),  a  metaphorical 
knock  down  ;  severe  blow. 

The  news  of  his  having  hit  his  leg  yes- 
terday has  proved  a  facer.  —  Sporting 
Times. 

(Popular),  a  tumbler  of  whiskj- 
punch. 

(Irish),  a  dram,  a  full  glass. 
An  old  word  for  a  bumper  of 
wine. 

(Thieves),  a  man  who  places 
himself  directly  in  the  way  of 
persons  in  pursuit  of  his  ac- 
complices. Formerly /acer  meant 
an  impudent  fellow. 

Face  the  music,  to  (popular),  a 
phrase  no  doubt  of  theatrical 
origin,  and  alluding  to  the  tre- 
pidation sometimes  felt  upon 
facing  the  audience.  The 
orchestra  is  generally  placed 
in  front  of  the  audience,  and 
consequently  nearest  the  stage. 
To  face  the  music  is  therefore  to 
meet  an  emergency.  Some- 
times it  means  "to  show  one's 
hand,"  i.e.,  to  make  plain  one's 
purpose. 

(American),  to  boldly  meet  a 
severe  trial ;  to  nerve  oneself 
up  to  go  tlirough  a  disagree- 
able emergency.  Originally 
army    slang,    applied    to    men 


when  drummed  out  to  the  tune 
of  the  "Rogue's  March." 

Facie  (tailors),  the  man  working 
in  front  of  one.  "Facie  on  the 
bias,"  the  man  working  in 
front  of  one  to  the  right  or 
left.  "  Facie  on  the  two  thick," 
the  individual  working  imme- 
diately behind  one's  face-mate. 

Facings  (tailors),  "silk  facings" 
are  beer  -  droppings  on  the 
breast  of  a  coat. 

Facings,  put  one  through  the 

(popular),  in  military  parlance 
the  regular  drill  —  "Face!" 
"Right  about  face!"  &c.  In 
popular  slang,  to  give  one  a 
scolding  or  call  him  to  account. 

We  were  scarcely  wed  a  week 

When  she  put  me  through  my  facings. 
And  wolloped  me — and  worse  ; 

She  said  I  did  not  want  a  wife, 
I  ought  to  have  had  a  nurse. 

— F.  Egerton :  If  my  wife  would 
let  tne. 

Facing  the  knocker  (tailors), 
begging. 

Fad  (common),  hobby,  whim, 
fancy,  favourite  pursuit. 

It  seemed  a  harmless  bit  of  fun, 

Tho'  smoking  is  a  sad 
Bad  habit  girls  might  better  shun 

I'han  take  up  as  3.  fad. 

— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Given  in  Wright's  Provincial 
Dictionary  as  a  provincialism, 
and  by  Hotten  as  a  slang  term, 
though  it  can  hardly  be  con- 
sidered as  such.  Obsolete  in  the 
sense  of  cherish,  caress,  fondle, 
and  now  a  low  exi)ression  for  to 


Fad — Fagot. 


349 


trifle,  play  the  fiddle.  It  has 
been  suggested  by  a  writer  in 
the  CornhiU  Magazine  that  it  is 
derived  from  "fidfad,"a  word 
that  has  been  long  in  use,  with 
much  the  same  meaning  as  fad. 
In  the  sense  of  trifling,  worth- 
less, it  is  derived  from  the 
Anglo-Norman  fade,  meaning 
originally  sad,  faded,  tainted, 
decoyed.  It  seems  to  have 
been  used  at  a  very  early  date 
to  signify  fanciful,  whimsical. 

Fad  cattle  (old  slang),  women  of 
easy  virtue. 

Faddist  (common),  enthusiast  ; 
one  addicted  to  "  fads,"  which 
see. 

Fadge  (popular),  a  corruption  of 
farthing. 

Fadge r  (glaziers),  a  glazier's 
frame. 

Fadmonger,  a  monger  of  "fads," 
which  see. 

It  has  hardly  yet  found  its  way  into 
the  dictionary,  but  "  fads  "  are  many,  and 
"faddists"  and  fadmongers  abound. — 
CornhiU  Magazine. 

Fae-gang,  a  gang  of  gypsies. 
Faa  was  a  common  name  for 
gypsies— not  assumed,  but  often 
accepted  by  them.  "Johnnie 
Faa,  the  Gipsy  Laddie,"  is  the 
title  of  an  ancient  popular  bal- 
lad, recounting  how  a  hand- 
some vagrant  of  that  name  ran 
off  with  the  Countess  of  Cassilis, 
who  was  enamoured  of  him  for 
his  manly,  hearty,  and  winning 


manners.  Robert  Faa  is  the 
present  king  of  the  Scottish 
gypsies  at  Yetholm. 

Fag,  to  (thieves),  to  beat.  Ex- 
pressive of  the  trouble  in  giving 
a  beating. 

(School),  a  young  scholar  who 
has  to  wait  upon  and  do  all 
sorts  of  little  odd  jobs  for  an 
elder  one. 

Fagger  (thieves),  a  small  boy  put 
into  a  window  to  rob  the  house 
or  to  open  it  for  others  to  rob  ; 
called  also  "little  snakesman." 

Fagot  (popular),  a  bundle  of  bits 
of  the  "stickings"  (hence  pro- 
bably its  name),  sold  for  food  to 
the  London  poor  (Hotten).  But 
more  probably  from  "fag-end." 
Also  a  term  of  contempt  applied 
to  a  woman  or  child  with  re- 
ference originally  to  the  slovenly 
garments,  the  person  being  com- 
pared to  a  bundle  of  sticks 
loosely  put  together.  The 
French  fai/ote  signifies  dressed 
in  ill-fitting,  badly  matched 
garments. 

Fagot  briefs,  bundles  of  worth- 
less papers  tied  up  with  red 
tape  carried  by  unemployed 
barristers  in  the  back  rows  of 
the  courts  to  simulate  briefs 
(Hotten). 

Fagot  vote  (politicians),  votes 
given  by  electors  expressly 
qualified  for  party  purposes 
(Dr.  Brewer). 

Evidently  from  the  old  term 
fagots,    "dummy"    soldiers    or 


350 


Fagot — Fake. 


sailors  who  were  hired  to  appear 
at  muster  and  fill  up  the  com- 
panies or  crews. 

Fag'ot,  to,  an  expression  proper 
to  robbers ;  that  is,  to  bind 
hand  and  foot  (Bayer's  Dic- 
tionary, 1748).  It  is  curious  to 
note  the  coincidence  with  the 
French  cant  fagot,  a  convict ; 
from  the  circumstance  that  con- 
victs were  all  bound  to  one 
common  chain  when  on  their 
way  to  the  hulks. 

Faints  (schoolboys),  in  vogue 
amongst  schoolboys  to  express 
a  wish  temporarily  to  withdraw 
from  participation  in  the  par- 
ticular sport  or  game  being 
played.  It  is  generally  under- 
stood that  this  can  only  take 
place  while  in  bounds  or  out  of 
danger.  It  is  somewhat  similar 
to  the  now  almost  obsolete  term 
"  wicket "  in  cricket. 

Fair  and  square  (common),  hon- 
est, honesty. 

She  beat  him  /air  and  square  in  a  two 
miles  and  a  quarter  gallop. — Bird  o  Free- 
dom. 

Also  fair,    square,   and  above 
ground. 

I  will  have  none  of  this  hole  and  corner 
business.  ...  I  wish  all  the  criticisms  in 
my  paper  to  be  /iiir,  square,  and  above 
ground. — Anthony  Trolhpe. 

Fairlick  (Harvard  University),  .1 
football  terra  used  when  the 
liall  is  fairly  caught  or  kicked 
beyond  bounds. 


"  Fairlick  I"  he  cried,  and  raised  his 

dreadful  foot. 
Armed  at  all  points  with  the  ancestral 

boot.  — Hari'ardiana. 

Fair  rations  (sport),  fair  play, 
fairness. 

Their  protest  was  ludicrous  in  its  insig- 
nificance, _/a/r  rations  out  of  the  question. 
—  Toby.        , 

Fair  trade  (thieves),  smuggling. 

Faithful,  one  of  the  (common),  a 
tailor  giving  long  credit.  As 
this  trade  is  in  London,  at  all 
events,  almost  entirely  in  the 
hands  of  the  Jews,  they  are 
sarcastically  .said  to  have  joined 
the  ranks  of  X\\q  faithful ;  or  this 
when  they  allow  long  credit  to 
a  customer,  a  practice  which,  it 
is  to  be  feared,  also  often  makes 
the  old  saying  concerning  them 
literally  true—"  his  faith  has 
made  him  unwhole,"  i.e.,  bank- 
rupt. 

Fake,  a  very  ancient  cant  word, 
possibly  from  faccrc,  used  in  the 
honest  sense  of  to  do,  to  make, 
originally,  but  afterwards  in  the 
dishonest  one.  The  word  was 
popularised  by  a  song  introduced 

■  in  Mr.  Ainsworth's  novel  "  Rook- 
wood."  It  is  used  with  various 
significations,  and  in  this  resi^ect 
exactly  corresponds  to  the  verb 
fairc  of  the  French  slang. 
(Thieves),  to  rob. 

All  who  in  Blois  entertain  honest  views, 
Have  long  been  in  bed,  and  enjoying  a 

snooze, 
Nought     is    waking    save    mischief   and 

/•iking, 
And  a  few  who  are  silting  up  brewing  or 
baking. 
'  — Ifigoidsby  Legends. 


Fake — Fakement. 


351 


To  do,  to  make,  to  cheat, 
swifldle,  beg,  malinger  or  coun- 
terfeit illness  or  sores,  to  escape 
labour  and  gain  the  diet  of  the 
infirmary. 

Having  set  his  mind  upon  shirking  all 
work,  he  announces  his  intention  Xa  fake 
the  doctor  and  "work"  the  parson. — 
Evening  News. 

To  continue,  go  on. 

In  box  of  the  stone  peg  I  was  born, 
Of  a  hempen  widow  the  kid  forlorn  ; 
Fake  away  I 

— Ains-uiorth:  Rookwood. 

"Fake  away,  there's  no  down," 
go  on,-  there  is  no  one  looking. 
To  "fake  a  screeve,"  to  draw 
up  a  false  document,  a  begging 
letter;  to  "fake  one's  slangs," 
to  file  through  one's  irons ;  to 
"fake  a  cly,"  to  pick  a  pocket. 

(American  thieves),  in  addi- 
tion to  the  usual  meaning,  cut- 
ting out  the  wards  of  a  key. 

"  Faking  the  sweetener,"  kis- 
sing. 

(Sporting),  to  hocus  or  poison. 
To  insert  ginger  under  a  horse's 
tail. 

(American  and  English),  false 
report,  deception,  pretence, 
blind. 

.  .  .  And  that  naming  the  house  in  the 
ridiculous  way  it  was  named  was  merely  a 
fake  to  draw  attention  to  it. — J.  Green- 
wood: Tag,  Rag,  Gr'  Co. 

The  report  sent  out  .  .  .  does  not  bear 
investigation.  It  is  a.  fake,  and  nothing 
else. — Daily  Inter  Ocean. 

"I  heard  your  brother  had  gone  to 
New  York." 

"Oh,  that  w.is  a.  fake.  He  was  badly 
punished  at  football,  and  is  lying  low  to 
fetch  up." — The  Youth's  Companion. 


Also  invention,  contrivance. 

That  was  one  of  the  hesX/akes  of  the 
time,  and  there  was  lots  of  money  in  it 
too. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

(Card-sharpers),  a  dodge. 

Now  to  learn  some  new  fakes  with  the 
broads. — Sporting  Times. 

(Stage), /aA;c  is  another  term 
for  "  make  up  "  of  a  character  ; 
to  fake,  to  paint  one's  face. 

Or  ask  what  their  age  is,  they'll  scorn- 
fully say — 

"  I  do  not  fake  (and  smiling),  I'm  twenty 
to-day." 

— Birdo'  Freedom. 

In  conjuring,  any  mechanical 
contrivance  for  the  performance 
of  a  trick.  So  also  in  a  show,  if,  - 
for  example,  an  apparently  ordi- 
nary dinner  plate  had  a  small 
nick  in  it  to  help  its  being 
caught  on  the  point  of  a  knife 
after  being  tossed  into  the  air, 
the  plate  would  be/oAed.  Again, 
bustling  through  a  show  of  any 
kind  under  difliculties  artfully 
concealed  from  the  spectators 
is  faking  it. 

"  Faking  the  duck,"  adulter- 
ating, dodgery. 

Fakeman  Charley,  the  mark  of 
the  owner  of  a  stolen  object. 

Fakement,  a  word  of  general  ap- 
plication among  the  lower  or- 
ders for  the  doing  of  anything  ; 
trade,  profession,  contrivance, 
invention. 

The  fakement  conn'd  by  knowing  rooks 
Must  be  well  known  to  you. 

—  The  Leary  Man. 

(Thieves  and  vagrants),  a  false 
begging  petition. 


352 


Fakement — Fall. 


Lawyer  Bob  AraMts /oMemenis  up  ;  he's 
tipped  a  peg  for  each. — Ducange  A  nglicus  : 
The  Vulgar  Tongve. 

Any  dishonest  practice,  swin- 
dling dodge,  forgery, 

I  cultivated  his  acquaintance  .  .  .  and 
put  him  up  to  the  neatest  XwxXc  fakement 
in  the  world  ;  just  showed  him  to  raise 
two  hundred  pounds  .  .  .  just  by  signing 
his  father's  name. — H.  Kingsley :  Geoffrey 
Hamlyn. 

Also  the  depositions  of  a  wit- 
ness. 

Fakements  (theatrical),  small 
properties  or  make-up,  such  as 
a  hare's  foot,  an  old  white 
stocking-top,  piece  of  burnt 
cork,  &c.,  all  you  can  get  in  a 
"make-up"  box,  a  cigar-box. 
Certain  pantomimists  are  ac- 
customed to  call  the  proper- 
ties used  in  the  harlequinade 
fakements.  A  good  story  of 
Macready,  whose  loathing  for 
the  very  name  of  slang  was 
notorious,  is  told  in  connection 
with  this  subject.  When  star- 
ring in  Hamlet  at  Newcastle-on- 
Tyne,  the  manager  was  short- 
handed,  and  an  unfortunate 
clown  was  pressed  into  the 
^service  for  Francisco,  who 
speaks  the  first  line  of  the 
play.  The  poor  pantomimist 
was  waiting  in  great  anxiety 
for  the  halberd  or  partizan  he 
was  to  carry  while  niounting 
guard,  and  the  property-man 
who  ought  to  have  provided  it 
was  conspicuous  by  his  absence. 
The  great  Mac,  grim  and  growl- 
ing, and  more  atrabilarious  than 
usual,  opened  fire  with — 


"  Er — er — are  we  to  stay  here 
all  day  7    Begin,  sir,  begin." 

"  Can't  begin,  guv'nor,"  quoth 
the  clown. 

"Er — why  not,  sir?  er — why 
not  7 " 

"  'Cos  I  ain't  got  my  fake- 
ments." 

"  Your  what,  sir?  Good 
heavens  I  your  what  ? " 

"  'Hy  fakements.  Here,  I  say, 
cully"  (catching  sight  of  the 
property-man,  who  had  just  put 
in  an  appearance),  "hand  over 
the  fakements.'" 

The  great  Mac,  thoroughly 
nonplussed,  growled  to  the  pro- 
perty-man— 

"By  all  means,  Mr.  Cully, 
hand  over  the  gentleman's  fake- 
ments, and  let  us  begin  the 
rehearsal." 

Faker  (popular  and  thieves).  This 
word  is  applied  to  a  great 
variety  of  men — pedlars,  work- 
men, thieves.  From  "  to  fake." 
In  Dutch  slang /oi'ier  is  a  thief  ; 
jicker  in  German  cant. 

(Circus),  a  faker,  a  circus 
rider  or  performer. 

(Popular),  a  prostitute's  lover, 
bully. 

Fakes  and  slumboes  (theatrical), 
one  of  the  numerous  synonyms 
used  by  pantomimists  to  de- 
scribe properties. 

Fall  of  the  leaf  (old  cant),  hang- 
ing. Parker  says,  "  The  new 
mode  of  hanging.  The  culprit 
is  brought  upon  a  stage,  and 
placed  upon  a  leaf.     When  the 


Fall — Fancy. 


353 


rope  is  fixed  about  his  neck  the 
leaf  falls,  and  the  body  imme- 
diately becomes  pendant," 

Why,  I  suppose  you  know  that  he  was 
knocked  down  for  the  crap  the  last  ses- 
sions. He  went  off  at  the: /all  of  the  leaf 
at  Tuck'em  Fair. — G.  Parker:  Variegated 
Characters. 

Fall,  to  (thieves),  to  be  appre- 
hended. 

A  little  time  after  this  I^// again  at  St. 
Mary  Cray  for  being  found  at  the  back  of 
a  house. — Horsley :  Jottings  front  Jail. 

False  hereafters  (American), 
bustles. 

The  scheme  worked  to  perfection.  In 
the  large  bustles  which  they  wore,  the 
dudes  carried  off  their  wardrobe  in  large 
false  hereafters,  and  passed  the  lady  of 
the  house  on  their  way  out. — New  Y'ork 
National  Police  Gazette. 

Fam,  fem  (thieves),  the  hand. 

If  they  do  get  their  fatns  on  me  I'll  be 
in  for  a  stretch  of  air  and  exercise.— C» 
the  Trail. 

The  gypsies  claim  this  as  a  Ro- 
many word  and  derive  it  from 
/em.,  five,  or  the  five  fingers,  al- 
though five  in  Romany  is  panrje. 

Fambles,  fumbles  (thieves),  the 
hands.     Vide  Fam. 

Fam  grasp  (old  cant),  shaking 
hands. 

Family  disturbance  (cowboys), 
whisky. 

Family  man  (thieves),  one  of  the 
fraternity  of  thieves.  Also  a 
receiver  of  stolen  goods  or 
"  fence." 


Fam  lay  (thieves),  robbing  a 
store  by  pretending  to  examine 
goods.  But  more  specially  to 
rob  a  jeweller  by  means  of  a 
sticky  substance  attached  to  the 
palm  or  fingers,  thus  abstracting 
the  articles  shown. 

•Fam  squeeze  (thieves),  strang- 
ling. 

Fam,  to  (thieves),  to  handle ;  from 
the  gypsy /aw  or  vangri. 

Fan  (thieves),  a  waistcoat. 

Fan,  to  (thieves),  to  steal  from  the 
person.  (Prov.  Cumberland),  to 
feel,  to  find. 

On  the  way  down  the  street  Pete  was 
very  friendly  and  entertaining,  ar^A  fanned 
the  countryman's  pocket  where  he  had 
seen  him  put  the  roll,  but  it  had  been 
shifted. — New  York  World. 

Fancy  bloke  (sporting),  a  sporting 
man  ;  also  the  favoured  man  of 
a  low  class  woman,  or  prosti- 
tute. 

Fancy  house  (prostitutes),  a 
house  of  ill-repute. 

Fancy  Joseph  (common),  a  youth 
who  is  a  general  favourite  and 
pet  among  prostitutes.  Also 
"  Cupid,"  a  mere  boy,  who  goes 
with  fast  women  or  girls.  An 
M.D.,  a  "  milliner's  darling." 

Fancy  man  (prostitutes),  the  lover 
of  a  prostitute. 

But  my  nuttiest  blowen,  one  fine  day, 

Fake  away ! 
To  the  beak  did  \\^x  fancy  man  betray. ' 
— A  insworth  :  Rookwood. 


354 


Fancy — Farmer. 


Fancy  pieces  (common),  prosti- 
tutes. 

Fancy,  the,  the  favourite  pastimes 
of  sporting  men. 

That  boxing  and  ratting,  and  other  forms 
<\{  the  fancy,  still  exist  as  part  of  the  amuse- 
ments of  the  lower  orders  is  perfectly  true, 
but  they  can  no  longer  be  classed  as  among 
the  amusements  of  those  who  cannot  afford 
to  pay  high  prices  of  admission  to  illegal 
entertainments. — Sims:  How  tht  Poor 
Live. 

The  word  very  soon  became 
specialised  with  reference  to  the 
devotees  of  the  prize  ring. 

They  hurried  to  be  present  at  the  ex- 
pected scene  with  the  alacrity  of  gentlemen 
of  the/a?icy  hastening  to  a  set  to. — Scott : 
St.  Ronan's  Well. 

Other  meaning  explained  by 
quotation. 

His  father  took  a  great  deal  to  the  fancy 
...  it  meant  dealing  in  birds,  and  dogs, 
and  rabbits. — J.  Greenwood:  The  Little 
Ragajnuffins. 

Fancy  work,  to  take  in  (com- 
mon). In  general  use  among 
milliners,  dressmakers,  and  shop 
girls,  who  resort  to  secret  pros- 
titution to  eke  out  their  scanty 
earnings  at  legitimate  work.  If 
a  girl  known  to  be  receiving 
small  wages  dresses  well  and 
seems  to  have  plenty  of  money, 
it  is  said  of  her,  "  Oh,  she  takes 
in  fancy  work." 

Fanning  (thieves),  a  beating,  also 
stealing.  Crosii-f nnning,  steal- 
ing from  the  person  with  the 
arms  crossed,  the  right  hand 
operating  under  the  left  arm- 
pit. 


Fanny  (common),  the  fem.  pud. 

Fanny  Adams  (naval),  tinned 
mutton. 

Fanny  Blair  (rhyming  slang),  the 
hair. 

Fanqui  (Anglo-Chinese),  a  Euro- 
pean ;  literally  foreign  devil. 

Fanteeg  (popular),  to  be  "in  a 
regular /anice^',"  to  be  perplexed, 
embarrassed,  to  be  at  one's  wits' 
end  (provincial  English). 

Far  back  (tailors),  an  indifferent 
workman  or  an  ignorant  per- 
son. 

Farm  (common),  a  place  where  il- 
legitimate children  are  boarded, 
or  rather  starved,  for  a  given 
sum. 

There  can  be  no  question  that  he  has  .t 
better  chance  .  .  .  though  his  treacherous 
"adopter"  deserts  him  on  a  door-step, 
than  if  he  were  so  kindly  cruel  as  to  tole- 
rate his  existence  at  the  fann. — Green- 
wood: Seven  Curses  of  London. 

(Prison),  the  prison  hospital. 

He  .  .  .  first  entered  into  a  critical  de- 
scription of  the  dietary  system  of  \k\'ifarvi 
infirmary. — Evening  News. 

To  "  fetch  the  farm"  to  ob- 
tain infirmary  treatment  and 
diet. 

.  .  .  The  dodges  which  would  take  place 
to  "  fetch  ihefarjn." — Eveniftg  Ac^vs. 

Farmer  (common),  one  who  keeps 
a  "farm,"  which  see. 

These  are  not  the  fanners  who  append 
to  their  advertisements  the  notification  that 
children  of  ill-health  are  not  objected  to. — 
Greenwood :  Sci'cn  Curses  of  London. 


Fashno — Fawney. 


355 


(Thieves),  an  alderman. 
Kent  a  hare. 


In 


Fashno,  fashni,  fashloni  (gypsy), 
false,  counterfeit  ;  fashni  au- 
gxistrins,  false  (gold)  rings  ;  also 
fashino  fauny.  (Fauny  is  cant- 
ing.) 

Fast  (common),  in  want  of  money. 
Same  as  "  hard  up." 

Fat  (thieves),  money.  French 
slang,  graisse.  Fat  cull,  a  rich 
man.  (Printers),  paying  work 
in  contradistinction  to  bad  or 
"  lean  "  work.  This  paying 
work  consists  of  blank  spaces 
in  a  page  which  are  paid 
for  at  the  same  rate  as  pages 
fully  printed.  Short  lines  of 
verse  set  up  in  type  are  also 
considered  as  being  fat.  (Popu- 
lar), vide  Cut  it  fat.  Cut  up 
FAT.  (Theatrical),  a  part  with 
good  lines  and  telling  situation 
that  gives  the  player  an  oppor- 
tunity of  appearing  to  advan- 
tage is  said  to  be  fat,  or  to  have 
fat.  When  an  actor  has  a  part 
of  this  kind,  his  colleagues  are 
wont  to  say  "he's  got  all  the 
fat."  (Princeton  College),  re- 
mittances of  money  to  students. 
(English  and  American),  fat 
thing,  something  which  is  very 
profitable  or  "fat." 

"Those  concerns  will  some  time  be 
unable  to  pay  their  interest,"  say  these 
wise  men,  "  and  then  we  will  step  in  and 
get  a,Jat  thing." — American  Newspaper. 

Fat  flab  (Winchester),  part  of  a 
breast  of  mutton. 


Father  (thieves),  a  receiver  of 
stolen  property.  (University), 
father  of  a  college,  the  praslector 
who  presents  his  men  for  de- 
grees and  represents  the  parents. 
(Printers),  a  person  elected  to 
preside  as  chairman  to  the 
"chapel"  (which  see)  when  held. 
He  acts  as  a  medium  between 
master  and  men.  (Naval),  the 
dockyard  name  given  to  the 
builder  of  a  ship  of  the  navy. 

Fatness  (common),  wealth. 

That  a  man  who  has  enjoyed  so  many 
years  oi  fatness  should  die  in  absolute 
penury. — Sporting  Times. 

Fawney  (thieves),  a  ring ;  also 
"fauney." 

We  believe  that  \}n^fauneysow  the  hands 
were  not  molested,  probably  being  left  to 
be  requisitioned  on  some  future  occasion. 
— Bird  o  Freedom. 

Hotten  gives  the  derivation, 
Irish,  faince,  a  ring. 

Fawney  bouncing  (thieves),  sell- 
ing rings  for  a  pretended  wager. 

Fawney  dropper  (thieves),  one 
who  practises  the  ring-dropping 
trick.      Vide  FAWNEY  KiG. 

Shallow  fellows  gad  the  hoof  and  fence 
their  cant  of  togs,  whWst /a-!vney  droppers 
gammon  the  flats  and  take  the  yokels  in. — 
Ducange  Anglictis :  The  Vulgar  Tongue. 

Faw^ney  rig  (thieves),  the  ring- 
dropping  trick.  A  rogue  drojjs 
a  valueless  ring  or  other  article 
of  jewellery  'and  when  he  sees 
a  person  jncking  it  up,  claims 
half ;  or,  he  pretends  to  have 


356 


Fawnted — Fen. 


just  found  the  article  and  offers 
it  for  sale  to  a  passer-by  at  a 
low  price.  A  few  years  ago 
the  article  offered  was  generally 
a  meerschaum  pipe. 

Fawnied  (thieves),  with  rings, 
wearing  rings. 

Feathers  (popular),  money.  Pro- 
bably from  the  phrase  to 
"  feather  one's  nest." 

Feed  (common\  a  meaL 

When  he  did  give  a  Jeed  he  always 
limited  the  invitation  to  four. — Bird  o 
h'reedom. 

(Football),  io  feed,  to  support. 

Feeder  (thieves),  a  silver  spoon. 
(Nautical),  a  small  river  falling 
into  a  large  one,  or  into  a  dock 
or  float.  Feeders  in  pilots'  lan- 
guage are  the  passing  spurts 
of  rain  which  "feed"  a  gale 
(Smyth). 

Feeding  gale  (nautical^  a  storm 
which  is  on  the  increase,  some- 
times getting  worse  at  each 
succeeding  squall.  When  a  gale 
freshens  after  rain  it  is  said  to 
have  fed  the  gale  (Smyth). 

Feele  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
girl ;  from  the  French  jille,  or 
the  Italian  fylia. 

Feet  (old),  "(o  make  feet  for 
children's  stockings,"  to  beget 
children. 

Feet  casements,  a  humorous  ex- 
pression for  shoes  or  boots. 


But  he  managed  without  it ;  only  the 
new  yiet  casetnents  were  not  sea.soned. — 
Toby. 

Fegaries  (American),  old  English 
for  "vagaries,"  fads,  caprices, 
whimsies,  odd  fancies,  whims. 
A  common  word  in  New  Eng- 
land. 

Fell  and  didn't  (tailors)  is  said  of 
a  man  who  walks  lame. 

Felling  a  bit  on  (tailors),  North- 
ern fell,  sharp,  crafty,  doing 
something  underhand. 

Fellow  -  commoner  (Cambridge 
University),  an  empty  bottle 
(Hotten). 

Fello^w-comp.  (printers),  a  term 
of  familiarity  used  by  composi- 
tors amongst  themselves,  espe- 
cially for  those  employed  in  the 
same  office. 

Fello'w-P.  (printers),  a  designa- 
tion applied  to  each  other  by 
apprentices  that  have  been 
bound  to  the  same  master  or 
firm,  whether  in  the  past  or  in 
the  present.  In  some  large 
offices  it  is  customary  to  have 
an  annual  gathering  of  these 
fellow- P. ^s,  and  such  reunions 
are  very  sociable,  and  the  tra- 
ditions of  a  firm  are  thus 
handed  down. 

Fen  (thieves),  a  prostitute.  Amis- 
pronunciation  of  femme,  or  from 
the  Anglo-Saxon  fen  or  fenn, 
mud,  dirt.  Compare  with  the 
French  gadoue,  meaning  both 
Paris  mud  and  prostitute. 


Fen — Ferg. 


357 


(American  and  provincial  Eng- 
lish), a  boy's  exclamation  to  ex- 
press warning  or  prohibition. 
*^  Fen  puds,"  or  "/en  ball,"  keep 
away  the  ball ;  from  English 
"  fence  off,"  or  very  old  English, 
fend,  ward  off.  English  boys 
use  the  word  "  feign,"  I  decline; 
also  "feign  it,"  leave  off. 

Fence  (thieves),  a  receiver  of 
stolen  property ;  also  his  house 
or  shop.  Probably  from  "fence 
in." 

About  two  moon  after  this  same  fence 
fell  for  buying  two  finns. — Horsley :  Jot- 
tings  Jrotn  Jail. 

G.  Parker,  in  his  "  Variegated 
Characters,"  says:  "In  Field 
Lane,  where  the  handkerchiefs 
are  carried,  there  are  a  number 
of  shops  called  'fence  shops,' 
where  you  buy  any  number." 

Fence-riding  (American),  said  of 
those  who  wait  to  see  which 
side  it  will  pay  them  to  indorse, 
and  then  when  victory  or  suc- 
cess seems  certain,  to  throw  in 
their  lot  with  the  winning  side. 

This  question  is  one  of  clear  right  and 
wrong,  and  there  can  be  no  fence-ridins; 
when  the  rights  of  four  millions  of  men  are 
at  stake. — Congressional  Globe. 

Fence,  sitting  on  the.  Although 
without  doubt  American  in  its 
later  usage,  the  idea  conveyed 
is  "as  old  as  the  hills."  Trench, 
in  his  "  English  Past  and  Pre- 
sent," page  300,  points  out  how 
singular  it  is  that  not  only  is 
the  same  idea  embodied  in  the 
phrase  as  in  the  Latin  prcpvari- 


cato,  viz.,  "  straddling  with  dis- 
torted legs,"  but  that  it  should 
also  carry  with  it  almost  exactly 
the  same  figurative  meaning  as 
the  classical  word.  "To  sit  on 
the  fence,"  in  political  cant  par- 
lance, is  to  wait  and  see  how 
things  go  before  committing 
oneself  to  definite  action  or 
partisanship. 

A  kind  o'  hangin'  round  an'  seitin   on 

the/ence. 
Till  Providence  pinted  how  to  jump  an' 

save  the  most  expense. 

— Biglow  Papers. 

Sometimes  the  phrase  is  varied 
with  "  sitting  on  both  sides  of 
the  hedge."  The  expression  is 
of  Western  growth,  being  trace- 
able to  the  care  with  which  the 
squatter  fences  in  his  lot ;  it  also 
being  a  point  of  vantage  at  the 
top  of  which,  at  the  close  of  the 
day's  work,  he  can  smoke  his 
pipe  and  survey  his  possessions 
while  thinking  out  las  plans  for 
the  future. 

Fence,  to  (thieves),  to  sell  stolen 
property,  or  take  it  to  a  re- 
ceiver's.    The  term  is  old. 

It's  not  the  first  time  that  I  have  fenced 
a  rum  screen  with  him. — G.  Parker: 
Variegated  Characters. 

Also  to  spend  money. 

Fencing  crib  (thieves),  a  place 
where  stolen  property  can  be 
disposed  of. 

Fencing  cully  (old),  a  receiver  of 
stolen  goods. 

Ferg,  to  (Vermont  University), 
old  English  ferke,  to  hasten,  pro- 


358 


Ferguson — Fetch. 


ceed,  go.  As  going  out  of  a 
rage.  German  vergehen.  When 
a  man  is  cooling  down  from 
intense  excitement  or  passion 
he  is  said  to  ferg. 

Fergfuson  (common),  generally 
heard  expressed  as,  "It's  all 
very  well,  Mr.  Ferguson;  you're 
very  good-looking,  but  you  can't 
come  in."  Said  to  be  addressed 
to  men  who  are  not  known  at- 
tempting to  obtain  admission 
to  "close"  gambling  -  houses, 
or  other  haunts  of  dissipation, 
where  close  watch  is  kept  for 
fear  of  the  police.  There  is  a 
song  which  has  this  sentence 
for  a  refrain.  It  was  very  com- 
mon, and  used  with  many  ap- 
plications from  1845  to  1850. 

Ferret  (thieves),  a  young  thief 
who  gets  into  a  coal  barge  and 
throws  coal  over  the  side  to  his 
confederates.  (Old),  a  trades- 
man who,  having  supplied  goods 
at  ruinous  prices  on  credit,  con- 
tinually duns  his  customers  for 
payment. 

Ferricadouzer,  a  knock  -  down 
blow,  a  good  thrashing  (Hotten). 
Evidently  derived  from  the  Ita- 
lian fare  cadere,  to  cause  to  fall, 
and  dosso,  back. 

Fess,  to  (American  university),  to 
fail  in  reciting  the  lesson,  to- 
gether with  a  mute  appeal  for 
no  further  questions  to  be  put. 
The  military  cadets  at  West 
I'oint  also  use  the  word  in  a 
similar  way.  Old  English  fese, 
to  frighten,  make  afraiil. 


And  when  you  and   I   and    Benny  and 

General  Jackson  too, 
Are  brought  before  a  final  board  our  course 

of  life  to  view, 
May  we  never y^w  on  any  point,  but  then 

be  told  to  go 
To  join  the  army  of  the  blest,  with  Benny 

Havens,  O  ! 

— Song:  Benny  Havens,  O  ! 

Fetch  (common),  a  success ;  to 
fetch,  to  please,  to  arouse  lively 
interest,  excite  admiration. 

"  You  come  up  to  the  window  and  touch 
your  hat,  and  say,  '  Luggage  all  in,  my 
Lord;'  that  will  Jeick  'cm." — Bird  o 
Freedom. 

(Theatrical),  is  said  of  a  play 
or  entertainment  which  finds 
great  favour  with  the  public 
and  attracts  large  audiences. 

The  masher's  ballet  is  one  of  the  features 
of  the  show  and  ought  to  fetch  north 
London. — Ez'ening  Neivs. 

(Thieves),  to  fetch  the  farm. 
Y'ldc  Farm. 

Fetch  a  lagging,  to  (thieves),  to 
be  serving  out  one's  sentence  at 
a  convict  establishment. 

Millbank  for  thick  shins  and  graft  at  the 

pump, 
Broadmoor   for    all   lags  as  go  off  their 

chump, 
Brixton  for  good  toke  and  cocoa  with  fat, 
Dartmoor  for  bad  grub  but  plenty  of  chat, 
Portsmouth  a  blooming  bad  place  for  h-ord 

work, 
Chatham  on  Sunday  gives  four  ounces  of 

pork, 
Portland  is  the  worst  of  the  lot  for  to  joke 

in, 
Vox  fetching  a  lagging  there  is  no  place 

like  Woking. 

— A    Thirf's  Production,  quoted  by 
Horslcy :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Fetch  up,  to  (popular),  to  startle. 
(American),  to   come   to  light, 


Fetch — Fiddler's  green. 


359 


and  said,  for  example,  of  the 
bodies  of  drowned  people. 

"  Bodies  that  come  over  the  falls,  they 
mostly_/^/cA  up  here." 

"Things  always  fetch  ufi  sooner  or 
later,  but  it's  sometimes  a  week  before  we 
get  'em." — Between  Two  Oceans. 

Also  to  recruit  one's  strength, 
to  recover  from  some  illness. 

Fettle  (popular),  "  in  good  fettle," 
in  good  order,  well  equipped. 
Also  in  a  good  state  of  mind, 
jolly,  or  very  drunk. 

Fever-time  (Winchester  College), 
the  time  when  superannuated 
college  prefects  go  for  a  fort- 
night into  a  sick-room  in  order 
to  "  mug,"  that  is,  to  give  them- 
selves up  to  hard  study. 

Fez  (Harrow),  the  tasselled  cap 
worn  by  members  of  a  football 
eleven.  A  member  of  that 
society. 

Fibbery  (thieves),  lying.  From 
"lib." 

And  if  you  come  \.o  fibbery 
You  must  mug  one  or  two. 

—  The  Leary  Man. 

Fibbing  gloak  (old  cant),  a  pugi- 
list. 

Fibbing  match  (thieves),  a  prize 
fight. 

Fibbings  (boxing),  rapid,  repeated 
blows,  delivered  at  a  short 
distance. 

I  say,  could   I  borrow  these  gentlemen's 

muses, 
More  skilled  than  my  neck,  or  in  fibbingi 

and  bruises. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 


Fib,  to  (old  cant),  to  strike,  beat. 
(Boxing),  to  deliver  rapid  blows 
at  a  short  distance. 

Each  cull  completely  in  the  dark 
Resolved  his  fibbing  not  to  mind. 

— Ainsworth:  Rookwood. 

.  .  .  His  whole  person  put  in  chancery, 
stung,  bruised,  fibbed,  propped,  fiddled, 
slogged,  and  otherwise  ill-treated. — Cuth- 
bert  Bede:  Adventures  of  Mr.  Verdant 
Green. 

To  tell  lies. 

Fickle  Johnny  Crow  (West  In- 
dian), one  who  does  not  know 
his  own  mind. 

Fiddle  (Stock  Exchange)  a  six- 
teenth part  oi  £,\. 

Done  at  s.  fiddle ;  "  Sugar  "  getting  in  ! 
— Atkin :  House  Scraps. 

(Thieves),  a  whip.  (Popular), 
a  sharper;  the  Scotch  fiddle, 
the  itch ;  a  sixpence,  possibly 
from  the  expression  "fiddler's 
money,"  sixpences.  (Tailors), 
second  fiddle,  an  unpleasant 
task. 

Fiddle-face  (popular),  a  wizened 
countenance. 

Fiddler  (pugilistic),  a  pugilist  wlio 
depends  more  on  his  activity 
than  upon  his  strength  or  stay. 
(Popular),  a  sharper,  a  cheat,  a 
careless,  dilatory  person.  Also 
a  sixpence  or  farthing. 

Fiddler's  green  (nautical),  a  sort 
of  sensual  Elysium,  where  sailors 
are  represented  as  enjoying  for 
a  "full  due"  those  amenities 
for    which     Wapping,     Castle 


36o 


Fiddle — Fi-fa. 


Kag,  and  the  back  of  Ports- 
mouth Point  were  once  noted 
(Smyth). 

Fiddle,  to  (thieves),  to  gamble  and 
consequently  to  cheat.  (Popu- 
lar), to  get  one's  living  by  doing 
small  jobs  in  the  streets.  To 
play  upon,  to  take  in. 

She's  diddled  me,  %\ic's_fiddled  me,  nigh 
Sent  me  oflF  my  chump. 

— Robson  :  Ballad. 

(Common),  to  take  liberties 
with  a  woman.  (American),  to 
intrigue,  or  intrigue  craftily. 

Bob  is  the  man  who^</if/^(f  himself  into 
Congress. — St.  Louis  Chronicle. 

(Pugilistic),  to  strike. 

Fidlam  bens  (thieves),  thieves 
who  have  no  speciality,  who 
will  steal  anything. 

Fidlam  coves  (thieves).  Vide 
FiDLAM  Bens. 

Field  (sport),  the  runners  in  any 
race.  (Turf),  the  horses  in  a 
race  as  opposed  to  the  favour- 
ite. To  "chop  the  field"  is  said 
of  a  horse  that  outstrips  the 
rest,  literally  "whips"  them. 
Vide  To  Chop. 

Bismarck,  whose  terrific  speed  enabled 
him  to  chop  his_field. — Sporting  Times. 

To  "  lay  against  the  field"  is 
to  back  one  horse  against  all 
comers.    (Hunting),  the  riders. 

The  cry  of  the  '  'field  a  pony," 
means  that  the  layer  is  willing 
to  bet  even  money  on  the  gene- 
ral mass  of  runners  against  any 
one  competitor.      The  backers 


would,    of    course,    select    the 
favourite  on  these  terms. 

Fielder  (turf),  one  who  backs  the 
"field"  (which  see)  against  one 
horse.  Also  a  "layer"  or  "book- 
maker." 

Yet  the  confiAm^  ^elder  who  took  this 
security  stood  him  in  Paris  for  about  ;iioo. 
— Bird  d  Freedom. 

Field-leine  duck  (popular),  a  baked 
sheep's  head.  Field-lane  was  a 
low  London  thoroughfare  lead- 
ing from  the  foot  of  Holborn 
Hill  to  the  purlieus  of  Clerken- 
well  (Hotten). 

Field,  to  (Winchester  College),  to 
jump  into  the  water  before  an- 
other goes  in,  so  as  to  assist 
him.  (Turf),  to  back  the  ' '  field, " 
which  see. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  there  has  lately 
been  an  uncommon  eagerness  to  field. — 
Sporting  Times. 

Field,  to  lead  the  (city),  to  set  an 
example  which  is  followed  by 
all  others.  Evidently  an  adap- 
tation of  the  sporting  phrase. 

Fiery  lot  (popular),  a  word  which 
does  not  mean  in  ordinary  slang 
hot-tempered  so  much  as  "fast " 
and  rollicking. 

Berty  isn't  bad-tempered,   though  he's 

such  3. fiery  lot; 
And  he's  cool,  though  when  he's  spree- 

ing,  he's  a  boy  that  goes  it  hot. 

— Brooiiside,:  My  Berty. 

Fi-fa  (legal),  a  writ  of  ficri- 
facias,  i.e.,  a  writ  lying  for  him 


Fifer — File. 


361 


who  has  recovered  an  action  of 
debt  or  damages,  to  levy  the 
debt  or  damages  against  whom 
the  recovery  was  had. 

Fifer  (tailors),  a  waistcoat-maker. 

Fig  (common),  "to  be  in  ivXipj" 
in  full  dress ;  figuretto,  figured 
silk,  the  finest  and  most  expen- 
sive dress.  Old  English  from 
the  Italian  (Halliwell).  Dr. 
Brewer  says  this  term  is  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  Italian  in  fiocchi, 
in  gala  costume.  Hotten  thinks 
it  may  be  an  allusion  to  the  fig- 
leaf  of  our  first  parents.  An- 
other but  more  probable  etymo- 
logy is  that  it  is  taken  from 
the  word  full  jig.  (figure)  in 
fashion  books. 

(Horsedealers),  to  fig  a  hor.se 
is  to  apply  ginger  to  a  horse  to 
make  him  appear  lively,  to  make 
him  carry  a  fine  tail. 

Figged  out  (popular),  dressed  in 
best  clothes,  in  full  costume. 

Figger  (thieves),  vide  Faggek. 

Fighting  tight  (American),  drunk 
and  quarrelsome.  Extremeh' 
drunk. 

In  those  unburdened  days  a  quarter  of 
a  dollar  would  buy  enough  sour  mash  to 
make  an  ordinary  man  fighting  tight,  but 
now  it  would  take  the  larger  part  of  a 
dollar. — Chicago  Tribune. 

Fight  one's  weight  in  wild  cats, 
to  (American),  to  be  full  of 
courage  and  "go." 


John  Halkett,  as  I  learned  afterwards, 
could.;?^A^  his  weight  in  wild  cats. — Th€ 
Golden  Butterfly. 

Fig  leaf  (common),  a  small  orna- 
mented apron  worn  by  ladies. 
(Fencing),  the  apron  or  padding 
protecting  the  lower  part  of 
the  abdomen  and  the  right 
thigh. 

Figure  dancer  (thieves),  one  who 
alters  the  numbers  or  figures  on 
bank-notes. 

Figure-head  (nautical),  the  face. 

Figure  man  (studios),  the  prin- 
cipal figure  in  a  picture.  In 
French  artists'  language,  It 
bonhomme. 

Filau  (Anglo-Indian),  explained 
by  quotation. 

He  is  ambitious  of  being  Vice-President 
of  the  Municipal  Committee,  or  a  Filau 
(Anglicc  Fellow)  of  the  University,  and  it 
is  requisite  that  his  qualifications  should  be 
made  more  widely  known. — St.  Jatnes's 
Gazette. 

Filbert  (popular),  cracked  in  the 
filbert,  slightly  insane. 

File  (thieves),  a  pickpocket ;  ^ie  is 
a  very  old  English  term  of  con- 
tempt for  a  worthless,  dishonest 
person.  Probably  connected 
with  "  vile  "  or  "defile." 

'Ihe  greatest  character  among  them  was 
that  of  a  pickpocket,  or,  in  their  language, 
■jl  file. — Fielding :  Jonathan  IVild. 

"  The  file  is  generally  accom- 
panied   by    the    '  Adam   tiler ' 


362 


File — Fingersntith. 


and  the  'bulker'  or  'staller.' 
It  is  their  business  to  jostle  or 
'ramp'  the  victim,  while  the 
file  picks  his  pocket  and  then 
hands  the  plunder  to  the  Adam, 
who  makes  off  with  it"  (New 
York  Slang  Dictionary). 

(Common),  a  cunning  or  art- 
ful man.  Also  silent  file ;  lime 
sourde,  or  dumb  file,  in  French 
slang. 

He  blewed  a  monkey,  that  sWtntJiU, 
And  tipped  me  the  wink  with  a  slippery 
smile. 
— £ar!  of  VVinchehea :  Lay  of  the 
Cooperer. 

Filing-lay      (thieves),      picking 
pockets, 

I  am  committed  for  \hc  filing-lay,  man, 
and  we  shall  be  both  nubbed  together. — 
Fielding:  Jonathan  Wild. 

Fillibrush,  to  flatter,  praise  ironi- 
cally (Hotten). 

Filly  (London),  a  young  girl. 

At  last  I've  got  a  little  yJ'/Zy  of  my  own. 
— Sporting  Times. 

(Thieves),  a  daughter.  Pos- 
sibly from  the  Italian  figlia,  or 
the  French  fille.  Also  used 
generally  for  a  young  woman ; 
in  this  sense  probably  derived 
from  the  name  for  a  young 
mare. 


You'll  find  if  you  put  half-a-crown  in  his 
Jin, 

It's  so  much  the  better  for  you. 
—Song. 

French  sailors  use  the  corre- 
sponding term  nageoire. 

Find  (Harrow  School),  explained 
by  quotation. 

In  a  large  house  there  are  tisually  four 
sixth-form  _/?«(/i  (a  Harrow  term  signify- 
ing a  mess  of  three  or  four  upper  boys  who 
take  tea  and  breakfast  in  one  of  their  own 
rooms). — Everyday  Life  in  our  Public 
Scliools. 

To  find,  to  mess  together. 

Finder  (thieves),  a  thief ;  one  who 
steals  meat  at  a  market.  (Uni- 
versity), term  used  at  Caius  for 
a  waiter  in  hall. 

Find-fag  (public  schools),  a  kind 
oifag  thus  described. 

Find  figs  have  to  procure  from  the  shops 
in  the  town  anything  that  may  be  required 
besides  the  regulation  bread  and  butter 
for  tea. — Everyday  Life  in  our  Public 
Schools. 

Fine  (shopkeepers),  cutting  it/>ic, 
cheating  in  various  ways,  adul- 
terating articles  of  food. 

Fine-dra'wing  (tailors),  accom- 
plishing an  object  without  being 


Fimble-famble  (common),  a  lame 
excuse;  from  to  fimble,  to  fumble, 
and  to  famble,  to  stutter  ;  both 
provincialisms. 

Fin  (common),  the  hand,  origi- 
nally a  sea-term. 


Fingerpost  (old),  a  clergyman. 

Fingersmith  (thieves),  explained 
b}'  quotation. 

Some  traces  of  humour  are  to  be  found 
in  certain  euphemisms,  such  as  the  delicate 
expression  fingersmith  as  descriptive  of  a 


Finjy — Firky. 


363 


trade  which  a  blunt  world  might  call  that 
of  a  pickpocket. — Horsley :  Jottings  from 
Jail. 

Also  a  midwife. 

Finjy  (Winchester  College),  said 
when  an  unpleasant  or  unac- 
ceptable task  had  to  be  done  by 
a  number  of  boys.  He  who 
said  the  word  last  of  all  had  to 
do  it. 

Finn,  finnup,  finnuf  (thieves),  a 
five-pound  note.  German-Jew- 
ish, finnuf.  It  is  a  pronun- 
ciation of  funf  peculiar  to  Yid- 
dish. 

When  we  got  into  the  rattler  they 
showed  me  the  pass  ;  yes,  there  it  was, 
fifty  quids  in  double  Jinns  (ten-pound 
notes). — Horsley:  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Finnicky  (common),  from  "  finni- 
kin "  ("fine "  with  a  diminutive 
termination),  idly  busy. 

We  don't  want  to  get  into  international 
trouble,  but  we  must  fay  that  Mexico  is 
getting  a  trifle  finnicky. — Bird  o'  Free- 
dom. 

Finnup  ready  (sporting),  a  five- 
pound  note. 

My  reason  for  placing  the  old  'un  there 
is  on  account  of  his  having  touched  a 
finnup  ready — this  is  a  good  old  sporting 
term — and  I  expect  the  extra  five  pounds 
will  just  stop  him  getting  home,  or  rather 
getting  out. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Fipenny  (thieves),  a  clasp  knife. 
The  term  is  in  common  use  in 
Australia,  where  it  was  intro- 
duced by  the  convicts. 

Fire  (thieves),  danger. 


Fire  and  light  (nautical),  nick- 
name of  the  master-at-arms 
(Smyth). 

Fire  a  slug,  to  (old),  to  drink  a 
dram  of  spirits. 

Fired  (American),  arrested,  taken 
up,  turned  out. 

Tell  him  he  mustn't  fall  asleep  in  a  public 
place  or  he'll  %^X.  fired,  and  ask  him  if  you 
can't  go  to  get  him  a  cab. — Confidence 
Crooks :  Philadelphia  Press. 

Also  rejected,  often  applied 
by  artists  to  rejected  pictures. 

Fire-eater  (printers),  a  term  for 
quick  compositors.  Savage,  in 
his  "  Dictionary  of  the  Art  of 
Printing,"  1841,  gives  this  term. 
(Tailors),  one  who  does  a  great 
amount  of  work  in  a  very  short 
time. 

Fire-escape  (popular),  a  clergy- 
man. 

Fire  priggers  (thieves),  thieves 
who  take  advantage  of  a  fire,  or 
in  the  crowd,  to  plunder  or  pick 
pockets. 

Fire  spaniels  (military),  soldiers 
who  sit  round  and  Close  up  to 
the  barrack-room  fire.  They  are 
supposed  to  be  guarding  it  like 
faithful  dogs  or  spaniels. 

Fire-'works  (tailors),  a  great  dis- 
turbance, a  state  of  intense  ex- 
citement. 

Firky  toodle  (popular),  to  cuddle 
or  fondle  ;  to  firk,  on  the  con- 


364 


Firmed — Five. 


trary,  means  to  beat,  to  chas- 
tise. In  the  same  way  the 
French  caresser,  literally  to 
caress,  means  also  to  beat. 

Finned  (theatrical),  well  firmed, 
perfect  in  the  "business"  and 
words. 

First-chop  (American),  excellent, 
first-rate.  In  "  Sam  Slick  in 
England,"  it  is  thus  explained  : 
"This  phrase  is  used  all  through 
the  United  States  as  a  synonym 
for  first-rate."  The  word  chop 
is  Chinese  for  quality.  He  looks 
like  a  first-chop  article.  Vide 
Chop. 

"  Wall,"  ses  Linkin,  "  I  think  that  is  a 
Jirst-chop  idea." — Major  Jack  Dcnvnin^. 

First  flight  (sporting),  the  first 
persons  at  the  finish  in  any  kind 
of  race,  in  a  fox-hunt. 

First  nighters  (journalistic), 
musical  or  dramatic  critics  who 
naturally  attend  on  first  nights. 

The  production  of  Anton  Rubenstein's 
"  Demon  "  in  the  charming  Russian  dialect 
at  the  oddly-named  Jodrell  Theatre,  has, 
so  far,  been  the  only  opportunity  for  first 
«;lfA/^rj  to  distinguish  themselves. — Sport- 
ing Times. 

More  generally  people  who 
make  a  point  of  attending  the 
first  performance  of  plays. 

First  night  wreckers  (theatrical  V 
men  who  attempt  to  hiss  down 
a  play  on  first  performance. 

First  snap  (American),  at  the  be- 
ginning. 


Van  Cott,  you  could  see  at  first  snap, 
was  grit  all  through,  and  as  full  of  fight 
as  a  game  rooster.— 7"A«  Golden  Butter- 
fly. 

Fish  (common),  a  person ;  used  in 
such  phrases  as  an  odd,  a  queer, 
prime,  shy,  loose^A,  &c.  (Nau- 
tical), a  scaly /sA,  a  rough,  blunt- 
spoken  seaman.  (Tailors),  pieces 
cut  out  of  garments  to  make 
them  fit  close. 

Fish  market  (gaming),  the  lowest 
hole  at  bagatelle.  Also  known 
as  "  Simon." 

Fish,  to  (common),  to  endeavour 
to  obtain  favour,  to  ingratiate 
oneself,  to  curry  favour.  He 
who  does  it  is  a  "  fisher,"  a 
very  opprobrious  epithet. 

Fishy  (common),  doubtful,  sus- 
picious, implying  dishonesty, 
as  in  a,  fishy  afi"air  or  "concern." 

Fist  (tailors),  a  "good  fist,"  a 
clever  workman.  (Printers),  an 
index  hand. 

Fist  up,  put  your  (tailors),  ac- 
knowledge your  error. 

Fitter  (thieves),  a  locksmith  who 
makes  burglars'  keys. 

Fitting  up  a  show  (studios), 
arranging  an  art  exhibition. 

Fit  up  (theatrical),  a  concern, 
small  company. 

Five  fingers  (cards),  the  five  of 
trumjis  at  tlie  game  of  "don." 


Fiver — Fizzle. 


365 


Fiver  (common),  a  five-pound 
note. 

Many  a  harmless  Jiver  has  passed  from 
the  unprofessional  into  the  professional 
pocket. — Standard. 

Fives  (popular),  the  fist.  Termed 
also  "bunch  oi fives." 

Whereby  altho'  as  yet  they  have  not  took 

to  use  their  _^ves, 
Or,  according  as  the  fashion  is,  to  sticking 

with  their  knives, 
I'm  bound  there'll  be  some  milling  yet. 
— Hood:  Row  at  the  Oxford  Arms. 

(Low),  a  fight. 

You  are  wanted  at  the  comer  for  a._fives 
.  .  .  they  struck  Cole  .  .  .  and  he  was 
kicked. — Evening;  News. 

Fixings  (popular),  house  furni- 
ture. (American,  English,  and 
Australian),  paraphernalia,  kit, 
the  adjuncts  to  any  dish.  (Bush- 
men), strong  liquor. 

Fixin  to  eat  (American),  a  Vir- 
ginia negro  expression.  Getting 
ready  for  meals. 

Fix  the  ballot-box,  to  (Ame- 
rican), to  tamper  with  the  re- 
turns of  an  election. 

Before  they  got  back  I  had  the  \sox  fixed, 
and  my  economical  friend's  name  was  not 
on  a  single  ballot.  He  made  an  awful 
howl,  and  swore  that  he  had  voted  at  least 
seventeen  times  himself.— .S"<i«  Francisco 
Post. 

Fix,  to  (old  cant),  to  put  people 
in  the  hands  of  justice,  to  appre- 
hend. 

I  daresay  if  any  of  us  was  to  come  in  by 
ourselves  and  should  happen  to  take  a 
snooze  you'd  snitch  upon  us  and  soon  have 
the  trapsyf-r  us. — G.  Parker:  Variegated 
Characters. 


(American),  applied  loosely 
and  slangily  to  a  great  number 
of  words  indicating  different 
kinds  of  manual  action,  such  as 
to  repair,  arrange,  put  in  order, 
execute  in  a  satisfactory  manner, 
to  cook,  write,  or  do  anything 
whatever. 

Fix  up,  to  (American  and  Aus- 
tralian), to  settle,  arrange. 

Later  in  the  evening  Cogan  told  witness 
that  there  was  no  need  of  his  going,  as  the 
matter  had  "been  fixed  up.— Daily  Inter 
Ocean. 

Fiz  (common),  champagne. 

Will  the  call  for^z  be  less  now  the  fiscal 
duty  is  z'^ftz.'i&x.— Sporting  Times. 

(Popular),  lemonade,  ginger 
beer. 

After  winning  a  considerable  sum  of 
money  at  the  sports,  he  could  only  treat 
one  of  his  comrades  to  ayfz  and  a  bun. — 
Toby. 

Fizzer  (theatrical),  a  first-rate 
part ;  "  a  regular  fizzer  "  is  a 
part  full  of  life  and  efferves- 
cence. 

Fizzing  (common),  first-rate,  al- 
luding to  the  effervescence  of 
champagne. 

Fizzle  (American),  failure.  From 
the  old  English  fizzle,  a  flash,  a 
hissing  noise,  as  of  anything 
which  has  expired  in  a  flash. 

Plutarch  says  that  Demosthenes  made  a 
g\oomy  fizz/e  of  his  first  speech. — Ameri- 
can Humourist. 

(Yale  University),  an  imper- 
fectly said  lesson.     To  "flunk' 


366 


Fizzle — Flannels. 


is  to  utterly  fail,  but  a  man 
fizzUs  when  he  manages  to  get 
through  somehow. 

Fisde,  to  rise  with  modest 
reluctance,  to  hesitate  often, 
to  decline  finally.  Generally 
to  misunderstand  the  question 
(Yale  Literary  Magazine). 

Fizzling  has  also  been  defined 
as  a  somewhat  free  translation 
of  an  intricate  sentence,  or 
proving  a  proposition  from  a 
wrong  figure. 

Flabberdegaz  (theatrical),  any 
words  not  in  the  part  said  by 
an  actor  whose  memory  fails 
him.  Also  imperfect  delivery 
or  acting. 

Flabbergast,  to  (common),  to 
astound,  confound.  From  gast, 
old  English,  to  frighten,  and 
jlab,  to  scare. 

The  magistrate  before  whom  the  case 
■was  brought  seems  to  have  been  com- 
pletely flabbergasted  and  paralysed  with 
astonishment. — Evening  Ne^vs. 

Flag  (popular),  an  apron. 

He  stood  flabbergasted,  but  I  wasn't 
goin'  to  put  the  game  away,  so  I  says, 
"  Ginger,  'e  can  'ave  the  jacket  and  the 
flag,  and  the  cards,  and  bust  hisself  shout- 
ing, he  can,  and  jolly  good  luck  to  him." 
— Sporting  Times. 

Persons  who  wearthcir  aprons 
when  not  at  work  are  termed 
"/ajr-flashers." 

Flag-about,  a  low  strumpet  (New 
York  yiang  Dictionary).  (Pro- 
vincial), "flack"  or  "flacket," 
to  flap  about. 


Flag  flying  (tailors)  is  used  in 
reference  to  a  bill  posted  up 
when  hands  are  required. 

Flagge  (old  cant),  a  groat,  or 
fourpence. 

"  Why,  hast  thou  any  lowre  in  thy  bonge 
to  bouse  ?"  "  But  a.  flagge,  a  wyn,  and  a 
make." — Harman :  Caveat. 

Flag  of  defiance  is  out,  the 
(nautical),  a  term  in  use  amongst 
sailors  to  imply  that  a  man  is 
drunk,  the  allusion  being  to  his 
red,  bloated  face,  and  the  pug- 
nacity due  to  being  well  primed 
with  drink. 

Flags  (popular),  clothes  drying  in 
the  open  air  and  flying  in  the 
wind. 

Flag  up  (popular).  "  The  flag's 
up  "  refers  to  menses,  varied  to 
"  I've  got  my  grandmother," 
"  my  friends." 

Flag-wagging  (military),  flag- 
signalling,  or  signal  drill. 

Flam    (common),    obsolete   Eng- 
lish, but  now  used  in  a  slangy 
sense ;    a  lie,  humbug,  flatter- 
ing lie. 
.  .  .  When  with  some  f^moolh  flam 
He  gravely  on  the  public   strives  to 
sham. 

— Earl  of  Rochester :  Works. 
I  slowly  melt — this  Isn't  flam. 
On  torrid  days  like  these. 

— Funny  Folks. 

(American  University),  to 
flam,  to  be  partial  to  the  society 
of  ladies. 

Flannels  (Harrow),  to  get  one's 
flanndi  is  to  obtain  promotion 


Flannels — Flash. 


367 


to  the  school,  cricket,  or  foot- 
ball eleven.  (Kugby),  at  Rugby 
when  the  school  played  football 
in  white  ducks,  the  probation 
"caps"  were  allowed  to  wear 
flannels.  At  present,  though  the 
whole  school  wear  flannds,  the 
name  retains  its  old  signification 
(Our  Public  Schools).  The  term 
has  now  become  generaL 

Flap  (thieves),  sheet  lead  for 
roofs. 

Flapdoodle  (American),  nonsense, 
an  English  west  country  ex- 
pression meaning  nourishment 
for  fools,  as  in  quotation. 

I  shall  talk  to  our  regimental  doctors 
about  it,  and  get  put  through  a  course  of 
fools'  diet.  .  .  .  Flapdoodle  they  call  it, 
what  fools  are  fed  on. — T.  Hughes :  Tovi 
Brown  at  Oxford. 

Also  "flap  sauce." 

Flapdoodlers  (journalistic),  char- 
latan namby  -  pamby  political 
speakers. 

Flapmen  (prison),  the  first  and 
second  class  of  men  in  convict 
prisons,  who  are  allowed  for 
good  behaviour  a  pint  of  tea  at 
night  instead  of  gruel. 

Flapper  (popular),  hand  ;  flappcr- 
shaking,  hand-shaking. 

Wondering  whether  .  .  .  and  if  the 
joining  palms  in  a  circus  was  the  cus- 
tomary _/?(T//fr-shaking  before  "toeing 
the  scratch  "  for  business. — C.  Bede :  Ver- 
dant Green. 

Flap  the  dimmock,  to  (popular), 
to  i)aY.    Termed  also  "  to  touch 


the  cole,  stump  the  pewter, 
tip  the  brads,  down  vdth  the 
dust,  show  the  needful,  sport 
the  rhino,  fork,  fork  out,  shell 
oiat,"  &c. 

Flap,  to  (thieves),  to  rob,  to 
swindle;  "to  flap  a  jay,"  to 
swindle  a  greenhorn.  From/ajo, 
to  turn  over,  i.e.,  manage 
adroitly. 

Flare  (nautical),  said  of  a  stylish 
craft. 

I've  heard  her  stem-post  shows  a  "  rake," 
and  that  she's  a  decided _/?a»r. 

Which  may  be  both  advantages,  but  I'm 
no  salt  and  never  were. 

—Judy. 

Flare  up  (common),  a  jollification, 
an  orgie. 

Flash,  a  recognised  word  for 
slang,  cant,  thieves'  lingo.  Also 
old  for  showy  but  unsubstan- 
tial and  vulgar,  gaudy  but 
tasteless.  The  term  explains 
itself  as  applying  to  anything 
that  glitters,  that  "flashes." 
Also  spurious,  as  a  flash  note, 
a  forged  bank-note.  Thieves 
have  appropriated  it  and  ap- 
plied it  to  themselves  or  their 
avocations,  in  a  sense  of  com- 
mendation, with  various  signifi- 
cations, such  as  good,  knowing, 
dashing,. /asA  toggery,  elegant 
dress. 

Soon  then  I  mounted  in  Swell  Street  High, 
And  sported  lay  Jlashiest  toggery. 

— Ainsivorth:  Rooktuood. 

Flash    man.      Vide    FLASH - 
MAN.  A  flash  mollisher,  a  thief's 


368 


Flash — Flat. 


favourite  mistress.  "  To  patter 
flash,"  to  talk  in  thieves'  lingo. 

I'm  tired  of  pattering ^ojA  and  litshing 
Jackey. — On  the  Trail. 

(Common),  a  jlask  girl,  a 
woman  about  town,  a  showy 
prostitute. 

In  Australia /os/t  is  used  with 
the  sense  of  conceited,  vain- 
glorious, dandified,  foolhardy, 
swaggering.  Australians  would 
call  a  man/asAwho  began  slog- 
ging at  good  bowling  directly 
he  went  in  to  bat,  or  took  up 
a  poisonous  snake  by  the  tail 
to  knock  its  head  against  the 
wall,  &c. 

Flash  cove  (popular  and  thieves), 
a  thief,  sharper. 

Flash  drum  (thieves),  a  thieves' 
tavern ;  also  a  brothel. 

Flashery   (thieves),    elegance, 
boasting  talk,  great  showing  off. 

Flash  gentry  (thieves),  the  higher 
class  of  thieves. 

Oh,  if  my  hands  adhere  to  cash, 
My  gloves  at  least  are  clean, 

And  rarely  have  \!t\^  gentry  JJash 
In  sprucer  clothes  been  seen. 

—Lytton :  Paul  Clifford. 

Flash    house,    ken,    panny, 

(thieves),  a  place  frequented 
by  thieves ;  thieves'  boarding- 
house.     Also  a  brothel. 

Flash  jig   (costers),   a   favourite 
dance  at  a  twopenny  hop. 

Flashly  (thieves),  elegantly. 

Your  fogle  you  must  yTojA/y  Uc.—The 
Leary  Man. 


Flashman  (thieves),  a  thief.  Also 
a  prostitute's  bully,  thus  de- 
scribed by  G.  Parker  in  his 
"  Variegated  Characters  :  " — 
"  A  flashman  is  a  fellow  that 
lives  upon  the  hackneyed  prosti- 
tution of  an  unfortunate  woman 
of  the  town  ;  few  of  them  but 
what  keeps  a  flashman,  and 
some  of  these  despicable  fellows, 
when  their  woman  has  picked 
up  a  country  gentleman,  or  a 
drunken  person,  will  bounce 
into  the  room  and  pretend  they 
have  surprised  you  with  their 
wife,  and  will  beat  you,  or 
threaten  to  bring  an  action 
against  you.  Thus  intimidated 
they  extort  your  purse  from  you, 
or  rob  you  of  your  watch." 

Flash  of  lightning  (thieves),  a 
glass  of  gin. 

"  Will  you  have  a  Jlash  of  lightning  1 " 
"  I  am  just  going  to  have  some  slim." — 
Parker:  Variegated  Characters. 

Flash,  to  (popular  and  thieves), 
to  .show;  ^  flash  your  dibs,"  show 
your  money. 

Cocum  gonnofsy?<«A  by  night  the  coolers 
in  the  boozing  kens. — Ducange  Angluus  : 
The  Vulgar  Tongue. 

"  To  flash  one's  ivories,"  to 
laugh.  (Thieves),  "  to  flash  the 
hash,"  to  vomit.  (Common), 
"  to  flash  the  dicky,"  to  show 
tlie  shirt  front. 

Flashy  blade  (old  cant),  a  fellow 
who  dresses  smart  (G.  Parker). 

Flat  (general),  an  inexperienced, 
easily  imposed  on  person. 


Flat — Flats-yad. 


369 


What  3Lflat, 
To  seek  such  an  asylum  as  that. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

(Sharpers),/a<-catching,  swin- 
dling simple-minded  people  or 
countrymen,  generally  by  means 
of  the  confidence  trick,  or  some 
such  primitive  "  dodge." 

.  .  .  To  mark  the  many  kinds  of  halt 
that  are  used  in  ^rt/-catching,  as  the  turf 
slang  has  it. — Greenwood :  Seven  Curses 
0/  London. 

(Prostitutes),    picking    up    a 
jiM,  finding  a  client. 

.  .  .  On  the  chance  that  she  will  in  the 
course  of  the  evening  pick  up  a  flat. — 
Greenwood :  Seven  Curses  of  London. 

Flat-catcher  (prison),  one  who 
swindles  foolish  or  confiding 
persons  by  selling  painted  spar- 
rows, pretending  to  have  picked 
up  a  valuable  ring,  the  con- 
fidence tirick,  &c. 

Flatch  (back  slang),  half,  or  half- 
penny. (Coiners),  a  bad  half- 
crown. 

Flatch-enore  (costermongers' 
back  slang),  half-a-crown, 

"  Why,  I've  cleared  a  jlatch- 
enore  a'ready,  but  kool  esilop 
(look  at  the  police),  nammus 
(be  off)." 

Flat-feet  (popular),  a  foot-soldier ; 
applied  generally  to  the  Foot- 
guards. 

Flat-fish  (popular),  a  dull,  stupid 
feUow. 

Flat-footed  (American).  There  is 
a  very  interesting  and  accurate 


description  of  fiat-footed,  by  R. 
A.  Proctor,  in  his  "American- 
isms," published  in  Knowledge, 
June  I,  1887. 

"  The  significance  of  this  word  in 
America  is  very  different  from  that  of  the 
French  word  pied-plat,  identical  though 
the  words  may  be  in  their  primary  mean- 
ing. A  French  pied-plat  is  a  contemptible 
fellow ;  but  an  Ammczn  flat -/oot  is  a  man 
who  stands  firmly  for  his  party.  .  .  .  When 
in  America  General  Grant  said  he  had 
'  put  his  foot  down,'  and  meant  to  advance 
in  that  line  if  it  took  him  all  the  summer, 
he  conveyed  .  .  .  the  American  meaning  of 
the  sx^r^ssion  flat-footed." 

It  may  be  observed  that  jfof, 
in  the  senses  of  downright,  reso- 
lute, firm,  plain,  direct,  straight- 
forward, or  simple,  is  Dutch,  and 
that  platt  DeiUsch  means  "  plain 
Dutch  "  (Sewell).  Plat  afslaan, 
or  plat  afzeggen,  is  to  give  a  flat 
refusal,  or  to  refuse  "right  up 
and  down."  But  the  connec- 
tion between  setting  the  foot 
down  firmly  or  flat,  and  a  deter- 
minate resolution,  may  probably 
be  found  in  most  languages. 

Flat-head  (American)  a  green- 
horn. 

Flat-move  (thieves),  the  action  of 
a  fool,  dupe.  Any  attempt  that 
miscarries,  or  any  act  of  folly  or 
mismanagement. 

Flats  and  chits  (thieves),  bugs 
and  fleas  (Baumann). 

Flats,  mahogany  (tailors),  bugs ; 
playing  cards. 

Flats-yad    (tailors),    back    slang 
used  by  stock  cutters,  a  day's 
enjoyment  or  jollification. 
2  A 


370 


Flat — Flimming. 


Flat  taste  (tailors),  very  indiffer- 
ent judgment. 

Flatten  out,  to  (American),  "  I 
jiattened  him  out"  i.e.,  I  had  the 
best  of  him,  of  the  argument. 

(Tailors),  fiatlened  out,  without 
resources  of  any  kind,  beaten. 

Flatter  trap  (thieves),  the  mouth  ; 
called  by  French  rogues  la  men- 
teuse. 

Flatty  (popular),  a  variant  of 
"flat,"  a  greenhorn,  a  fooL 

Flatty-ken  (thieves),  a  public- 
house  the  landlord  of  which 
is  ignorant  of  the  practices  of 
the  thieves  and  tramps  who  fre- 
quent it  (Hotten). 

Flax,  to  (American),  to  beat, 
punish,  to  "give  it"  to  any  one 
severely  in  any  way.  "  Flax  it 
into  him,"  let  him  have  it  hot. 
"Flacks,"  blows  or  strokes 
(East). 

Flay-bottomist  (common),  a 
schoolmaster,  so  called  from 
his  occasional  office  of  bircher 
to  unruly  or  disobedient  pupils. 

Flea-bag  (prize-fighters),  a  bed. 
In  French  slang,  pucier,  i.e.,  a 
receptacle  for  fleas. 

Flemish  account  (nautical),  a 
complicated  and  unsatisfactory 
account,  one  in  which  there  is 
a  deficit. 

Flesh  and  blood,  brandy  and  port 
in  equal  quantities  (Hotten). 


Flesh-bag  (common),  a  shirt. 

Fleshy  (Winchester),  a  thick  cut 
out  of  the  middle  of  a  shoulder 
of  mutton. 

Fletches  (prison),  spurious  coins. 

Flicker  (thieves),  a  glass  ;  to 
flicker,  to  drink  ;  from  flacket,  a 
flask,  a  very  old  word. 

Flick,  to  (thieves),  to  beat,  to 
cut;  "flick  the  panam,"  cut 
the  bread.  (Popular),  old  flick, 
old  fellow. 

Flies  (trading),  perhaps  the  latest 
slang  word  introduced  to  signify 
a  customer. 

(Popular),  trickery,  nonsense ; 
no  flies,  without  humbug,  seri- 
ously. "  In  this  sense,"  says 
Hotten,  "flies  is  a  softening  of 
"  lies." 

That's  poz,  dear  old  pal,  and  no_/!ies. 
—  Punch. 

(Printers),  an  ancient  name 
for  the  printers'  devils,  from  an 
old  cant  term  for  spirits  atten- 
dant on  magicians,  more  par- 
ticularly applied  to  the  boys 
who  lifted  the  newspapers  from 
the  press. 

These  boys  do  in  a  printing  -  house 
commonly  black  and  bedaub  themselves, 
whence  the  workmen  do  jocosely  call 
them  devils,  and  sometimes  spirits,  and 
sometimes  flies.— Academy  of  Armory, 
R.  Hohiie,  1688  ;  and  Gentleman  s Magcu- 
zine,  October  1732. 

Flimming,  flim-flamming  (Ame- 
rican thieves'  flash  or  slang), 
in     England,     "  ringing     the 


Flintmtng — Flip-flap. 


371 


changes."  It  is  supposed  to 
be  partly  derived  from  "flimsy," 
a  bank-bill,  and  "  flam,"  to 
cheat.  But  *'  flim-flam,"  for  a 
shiny,  deceptive  cheat  or  trifle, 
is  an  old  expression. 

Flimp,  to  (thieves),  to  hustle  and 
rob.  Also  refers  to  highway 
robbery,  "to  put  on  thejlimp." 

Flimping  is  a  kind  of  theft  which  I  have 
never  practised,  and  consequently  of  which 
I  know  nothing. — H.  Kingsley :  Ravens- 
hoe. 

Also  to  steal  by  wrenching  off. 

He  told  me  as  Bill  had  Jlimped  a  yack, 
and  pinched  a  swell  of  a  fawney. — Du- 
cange  Anglicus:  The  Vulgar  Tongue. 

Flimsy  (journalistic),  paragraphs, 
items  of  news,  comments ;  from 
the  name  of  their  prepared 
copying-paper,  used  by  news- 
paper reporters  for  producing 
several  copies  at  once. 

I  wonder  who  supplies  thcjlimsy  about 
naval  matters  to  the  Times  and  other 
dailies.  Occasionally  the  mistakes  are  gro- 
tesque in  the  extreme. — Sunday  Times. 

(Thieves),  bank  notes. 
In  English  Exchequer  bills  full  half  a 

million, 
Not  kites  manufactured  to  cheat  and 

inveigle, 
But  the  right  sort  oi  flimsy,  all  signed 
by  Monteagle. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

The  term  is  now  in  common 
use. 

"Well,  I  shall  have  a  fiver  on  White 
Wings,  and  chance  it,"  and  the  Correspon- 
dent put  down  his  flimsy,  and  everybody 
jeered. — Sporting  1  imes. 

(Printers),  an  expression  used 
for  telegraph  forms,  or  anything 
written  on  thin  paper. 


Fling  (common),  properly  a  kind 
of  dance.  "  To  have  his  fling," 
to  lead  a  merry  life. 

In  London  he  has  settled  down ; 
He  means  to  have  his  fling  in  town, 
A  little  king  without  a  crown. 

Who  finds  the  money? 
— Dagonet :  The  Great  Mystery. 

In  the  above  the  reference  is 
to  General  Boulanger. 

Flint  (workmen),  an  operative  who 
works  for  a  "  society  "  master, 
i.e.,  for  full  wages.  In  the  early 
part  or  middle  (1836-7,  C.W.S.) 
of  the  present  century,  a  strike 
for  higher  wages  took  place  in 
London.  The  men  who  "held 
out "  were  known  as  "  flints," 
while  those  who  succumbed  re- 
ceived the  opprobrious  name  of 
"dungs."  Both  these  names 
are  used  in  Foote's  play,  Tht 
Tailors. 

Flint  into,  to  (American),  varied 
to  pour  in,  fire  away,  tumble  on 
to,  pitch  into.  There  may  be 
possibly  fifty  such  words  more 
or  less  in  use,  meaning  to  go  at 
something,  to  begin  to  act,  to 
tackle  anything. 


Flint  it  out,  to   (tailors). 
Flint. 


Vide 


Flip-flap  (popular),  a  peculiar 
rollicking  dance  indulged  in  by 
costermongers  when  merry  or 
excited.  Also  a  kind  of  somer- 
sault in  which  the  performer 
throws  himself  on  his  hands 
and  feet  alternately  (Hotten). 
(Nautical),  the  arm. 


372 


Flipper — Floating. 


Flipper  (common),  hand,  origin- 
ally a  sailor's  expression  ;  "tip 
me  jowc  fiijyper,"  shake  hands. 

The  other,  a  sailor,  had  one  wooden  pin, 
He  looked  mournful  at  Ned,  then  said, 
"  Tip  us  yonr  flipper." 

— SoH£:  Pudding-faced  Ned. 

Flippers,  flappers,  very  young 
girls  trained  to  vice,  generally 
for  the  amusement  of  elderly 
men ;  jloppers  is  a  provincialism 
for  young  birds  beginning  to 
spread  their  wings. 

Flirtina  cop-all  (popular),  a  girl 
generally,  or  one  too  fond  of 
men.  "  Cop  "  has  the  significa- 
tion of  catch. 

Floater  (Whitechapel),  a  small 
suet  dumpling  put  into  soup 
(Hotten). 

Floaters.  The  CornhiU  Magazine 
gives  the  following  explana- 
tion :  — "  An  interesting,  but 
one  would  hope  decaying,  class 
of  voters  are  the  floaters,  the 
electors  whose  suffrages  are  to 
be  obtained  for  a  pecuniary  con- 
sideration. There  is  a  story 
told  of  a  candidate  in  an  Ameri- 
can township  who  asked  one  of 
the  local  party  managers  how 
many  voters  there  were.  '  Four 
hundred,'  was  the  reply.  '  And 
how  many  floaters  ? '  '  Four 
hundred  I  '  Somewhat  akin  to 
the  floaters  are  those  who  sit 
'  on  the  fence  ' — men  with  im- 
partial minds,  who  wait  to  see, 
as  another  petty  phrase  has  it, 
'  how  the  cat  will  jump,'  and 
whose  convictions  at  last  gene- 


rally bring  them  down  on  that 
side  of  the  fence  where  are  to 
be  found  the  biggest  battalions 
and  the  longest  purses.  These 
floaters  and  men  '  on  the  fence  ' 
used  in  the  olden  times  to  be  the 
devoted  adherents  of  the  '  man 
in  the  moon.'  When  an  elec- 
tion was  near  at  hand  it  was 
noised  abroad  throughout  the 
constituency  that  the  '  man  in 
the  moon '  had  arrived,  and 
from  the  time  of  that  august 
visitor's  mysterious  arrival  many 
of  the  free  and  independent 
electors  dated  their  possession 
of  those  political  principles 
which  they  manfully  supported 
by  their  votes  at  the  poll.  Of 
course  no  candidate  bribed — 
such  a  thing  was  not  to  be 
thought  of;  but  still  the  money 
was  circulating,  and  votes  were 
bought,  and  as  it  was  necessary 
to  fix  the  responsibility  upon 
some  one,  the  whole  business 
was  attributed  to  the  action  of 
the  '  man  in  the  moon.'  " 

Floating  academy  (old  cant),  the 
hulks  ;  "  Duncan  Campbell's 
floating  academy,'^  the  hulks  at 
Woolwich.        • 

My  man  is  hobbled  upon  the  leg  for 
three  years  on  board  Duncan  Catitpbcirs 
floating  academy  for  n.ipping  a  clink. — 
G.  Parker:  Variegated  Characters. 

Floating  batteries  (soldiers),  bits 
of  bread  broken  up  and  put  in 
the  evening  tea.  When  soldiers 
are  under  stoppages  or  other- 
wise impecunious  and  unable 
to  buy  herrings,  bacon,  saus- 


Floating — Flop. 


373 


ages,  and  other  savoury  articles 
for  the  tea  meal,  they  are  com- 
pelled to  do  with  floating  bat- 
teries.    See  Slingers. 

Floating  hell  (old  slang).  The 
hulks  were  so  called  by  those 
who  brought  themselves  within 
the  clutches  of  the  law. 

Flock  of  sheep  (domino  players), 
the  row  of  dominoes  before  a 
player  (Baumann). 

Flogger  (common),  a  whip. 

Compared  with  the  light  and  elegant 
fiog;gers  of  the  present  day,  it  is  a  heavy, 
common  "  riding  companion,"  with  a 
massive  silver  handle,  with  a  short  twisted 
lash. — Sporting  Times. 

Flogging  (popular),  a  man  who 
is  careful  and  penurious  is  said 
to  he  flogging,  or  saving  his  coin. 

Flogging  cove  (prison),  the 
official  who  administers  the  cat. 

Floored  (studios),  is  said  of  a 
picture  hung  on  the  lowest  row 
at  the  Exhibition  of  the  Royal 
Academy. 

Floorer  (pugilistic),  a  knock-down 
blow.  (Common),  unexpected 
news  of  an  unpleasant  nature ; 
a  decisive  argument  or  retort ; 
a  question  which  utterly  embar- 
rasses one. 

The  Putney  Pet  stared.  .  .  .  The  inquiry 
for  his  college  was  in  the  language  of  his 
profession  a  "  veguXar  Jloorer." — Ctithbert 
Bedc:  Adventures  of  Mr.  Verdant  Green. 

(Schools),  a  question  or  paper 
too  hard  to  be  mastered,  that 


on  the  contrary  masters  you. 
(Skittles),  a  stroke  that  brings 
all  the  pins  down. 

Floor,  to.  This  word  is  recog- 
nised in  the  sense  of  to  strike 
down,  hence  to  put  to  silence 
by  some  decisive  argument  or 
retort :  given  by  Wright  as  col- 
lege cant,  with  the  sense  of  "  to 
throw  on  the  floor  as  done.with  ; 
hence  to  finish  with."  Gathered 
from  the  quotation — 

V\s_/looredmy  little-go  work. — Hughes: 
Tom  Brown  at  Oxford. 

In  the  above  the  true  sense  is, 
"I  have  mastered,"  &c.  Dr. 
Brewer  says  :  "  Thus  we  say  at 
the  University,  '  I  floored  that 
paper,'  i.e.,  answered  every  ques- 
tion on  it ;  'I  floored  that  pro- 
blem,' did  it  perfectly,  or  made 
myself  master  of  it." 

Floor-walker  (American),  a  man 
employed  in  shops  to  ask  those 
who  enter  what  they  want,  and 
direct  them  to  the  department 
where  it  is  sold. 

I  next  went  into  a  shop  a  few  doors 
farther  up  Broadway.  When  I  entered  I 
approached  ihe  Jloor-7vaiker,  and  handing 
him  my  sample,  said  :  "  Have  you  any 
calico  like  this?"  "Yes,  sir,"  said  he. 
"Third  counter  to  the  right." — Frank  R. 
Stockton. 

Called     in     England     shop- 
walkers. 

Flop  (Vermont  University),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

Any  "cute"  performance  by  which  a 
man  is  sold  is  a  %oo<\  flop,  and  by  a  phrase 
borrowed  from  the  tall  ground  is  "rightly 


374 


Floreat — Fluky. 


played."  The  discomfited  individual  de- 
clares that  they  "are  all  on  a  side,"  and 
gives  up,  or  "  rolls  over,"  by  giving  his 
opponent  "gowdy."  A  man  writes  cards 
during  examination  to  "  feeze  the  profs  ; " 
said  cards  are  "  gumming  cards,"  and  he 
Jiops  the  examination  if  he  gets  a  good 
mark  by  the  means.  One  yxiMaWy  flops  his 
marks  by  feigning  sickness. — Hall:  College 
Words  and  Customs. 

Floreat  (Westminster),  the  toast 
drunk  at  the  election  dinners 
and  other  great  occasions  gene- 
rally from  the  large  silver  cup 
presented  by  Warren  Hastings 
and  other  old  Westminsters,  and 
commonly  known  as  the  "Ele- 
phant Cup,"  from  its  handles, 
which  are  in  the  shape  of  ele- 
phants' heads. 

Floricus  (Winchester  College),  an 
urinal  or  latrine. 

Flour  (American),  one  of  the 
innumerable  synonyms  for 
money,  or  value. 

Flounder,  in  the  slang  of  water- 
rats — i.e.,  men  who  rifle  the 
pockets  of  drowned  people — is 
the  body  of  a  poor,  ragged, 
drowned  man. 

Flourist  (old),  sexual  intercourse 
indulged  in  hastily,  or  at  unsea- 
sonable periods. 

Flowery  (tramps),  lodging  or 
house  entertainment  (Hotten). 

Flowing  hope  (army),  a  term  for 
forlorn  hope. 

Flue-faker  (popular  and  thieves), 
a  chimney-sweep. 


Fluff  (railway  ticket  clerks),  short 
change  given  by  such.  To  fiuff 
is  to  give  short  change. 

Fluff,  to  (popular),  to  take  away  ; 
also  to  disconcert,  put  to  silence. 

And  that  orator  was  fluffed,  and  the 
meeting  broke  up  in  confusion. — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 

Fluffer  (common),  of  unsteady 
habits. 

M.  E. is  a  bachelor,  and,  if  I  may 

use  the  expression,  a.  fluffer.    He  has  had 

his  romance,  as  Mdme. (the  actress) 

could  tell  it. — Evening  News. 

Flu£Bngs  (railway  ticket  clerks), 
the  proceeds  from  short  change 
given  by  them. 

Fluff  it  (popular),  a  term  of  dis- 
approbation, implying  "  take  it 
away,  I  don't  want  it "  (Hotten). 

Fluke  (general),  a  thing  obtained 
by  chance  when  trying  to  get 
another.  From  a  term  at  bil- 
liards, playing  to  score  in  one 
way  and  scoring  in  another. 
FlacTc,  provincialism  for  a  blow 
or  stroke.  A  fluke  at  billiards 
was  originally  a  flying  stroke 
(Skeat).     Dutch  vlug. 

These  conditions  are  not  often  fulfilled, 
I  can  tell  you  :  it  is  a  happy  fluke  when 
they  are. — Black :  Princess  of  Thule. 

Fluky  (common),  obtained  through 
a  "fluke,"  which  see. 

Don't  be  cross — I've    been   learning   my 
lesson — 

Can  describe  who's  "bowled  clean," 
Which  3.  fluky  hit's  been, 
And  almost  know  Forster  from  Gresson, 
.\nd  haven't  a  doubt  of  Nepean. 
— Bird  o  Freedom. 


Flutntnocks — Flux. 


375 


Flummocks  (tailors),  to  spoil. 
Probably  a  variant  of  "flum- 
mux,"  to  perplex  or  hinder. 

Flummux,  flummox,  to  (popular), 
to  perplex,  confound,  bewilder. 

My  'pinion  is,  Sammy,  that  if  your 
governor  don't  prove  a  alleybi,  he'll  be 
what  the  Italians  call  reg'larly  flum- 
tnoxed. — Dickens:  Pickwick  Papers. 

(Theatrical),  to  distress,  to 
annoy,  to  upset  an  actor  in 
his  business.  Forty  years  ago, 
when  the  late  Charles  Kean  was 
acting  "Macbeth"  in  Belfast, 
a  stupid,  inattentive  actor  kept 
the  stage  waiting  for  Seyton,  in 
"Macbeth,"  for  a  considerable 
period-  When  the  act  was  over 
he  was  profuse  with  servile 
apologies.  Kean  was  obdurate, 
and  dismissed  the  fellow  with — 
"Fool!  fool!  you  distressed — 
you  ruined — you  tortured — you 
— you — jlummuxed  me  !  " 

Flummuxed  (thieves),  done  up, 
sure  of  a  month  in  prison  (Hot- 
ten). 

Flunk,  to  (American),  to  die  out, 
to  give  out,  to  fail,  to  make  a 
feeble  effort  and  then  collapse. 
Possibly  a  New  York  or  New 
Jersey  (Princeton)  word,  from 
the  Dutch  Jlonk,  jlonker,  flonken, 
to  "twinkle"  or  sparkle  like  a 
star,  bright  at  one  instant  and 
then  invisible.  It  is  generally 
used  in  American  colleges  for  a 
failure  in  recitation.  In  a.  flunk 
the  student  at  least  makes  an 
effort  before  he  breaks  down, 
but  in  a  "  dead  flunk  "  he  makes 


none,  and  simply  exclaims,  "Not 
prepared." 

In  moody  meditation  sunk, 
Reflecting  on  my  future y?K«^. 

— Son£^s  of  Yale  College. 

Flunkey  (nautical),  the  ship's 
steward.  (American),  a  man 
who  is  unacquainted  with  the 
secrets  of  the  Stock  Exchange, 
makes  rash  ventures,  and  loses 
his  money.  The  original /uni-ey, 
a  footman,  is  from  the  French 
flanquer,  to  run  by  the  side  of 
(Skeat). 

Flush  (popular),  full  to  the  brim, 
that  is,  intoxicated.  Properly 
affluent,  abounding. 

We  would  tempt  him  from  the  ale- 
house bench  he  occupied  when  Jlush,  or 
the  dead  wall  he  propped  up  when  im- 
pecunious. —  Globe. 

When  one  has  plenty  of  cash 
he  is  said  to  be  flush. 

Lord  Strut  was  not  very  Jlush  in  ready. 
— Arbuthnot. 

Flush  in  the  fob  (thieves),  well 
supplied  with  money. 

Flush,  to  (popular),  to  whip. 

Flustered  (common),  intoxicated. 

Flutter  (popular),  used  in  this 
phrase  :  "  I'll  have  a  flutter  for 
it,"  I  shall  do  my  utmost.  To 
flutter,  to  toss  with  coins. 

Flutter,  to  (popular),  to  toss  for 
anything. 

Flux,  to  (thieves),  to  cheat,  over- 
reach. 


376 


Fly — Flying. 


Fly  (popular  andthieves),knowing, 
wide-awake,  well  acquainted  or 
familiar  with,  versed  in. 
"  You  seem  to  know  all  that's  going  on  ?  " 
"Oh  yes:  \'m.Jly"—Tht  Youth's  Com- 
panion. 

Although  when  they  try  their  games  with 

me,  I  let  them  see 
That  I  a.m._fly  to  all  their  tricks,  .  .  . 
— Son^:  That's  a  Game  Best  Left 
Alone. 

To  be  fiy,  to  understand, 
realise. 

"  Do  what  I  want,  and  I  will  pay  you 
well."  .  .  .  "I  am ^^,"  says  Joe. 

— Dickens  :  Bleak  House. 

The  designer  is  said  to  \i&fly  at  every- 
thing, to  be  up  to  everything,  and  down 
at  everything.  —  Diprose  :  Laugh  and 
Learn. 

The  term  is  probably  from  a 
simile  referring  to  rapidity  of 
comprehension.  To  be  fiy  in 
Northamptonshire  signifies  to 
be  quick  at  taking  offence,  at 
flying  into  a  passion.  A  fly 
was  originally  a  light  carriage 
for  rapid  motion ;  and  mouche, 
i.e.,  fly,  is  the  name  given  to 
penny  boats  on  the  Seine. 
(Popular),  "to  be  on  the  fly,"  to 
be  out  for  a  day's  pleasure. 

Fly  by  night,  to  (popular),  re- 
moving the  furniture  by  night 
to  escape  paying  rent.  "  Shoot- 
ing the  moon." 

I  remember  one  night  while  shooting  the 
moon. 
We  were  all  in  a  terrible  fright ; 
The  landlord  came  in  a  little  too  soon. 
And  stopped  owr  Jiy-by-night. 
— Sidney  Barnes :  Shooting'  the  Moon. 

Fly-cop  (thieves),  a  sharp  police- 


Flyer  (sport),  a  term  denoting 
excellence. 

The  New  Zealanders  are  not  ^MliAi  flyers 
as  was  at  first  imagined. —  The  Tatler. 
By  successful  heavy  plunging  he  acquired 

no  little  fame. 
And  he  evidently  thought  himself  a  flyer 
at  the  game. 

— Sporting  Times. 

(Football),  to  kick  a  flyer,  to 
kick  the  ball  high  up  in  the 
air.  (Common),  to  have  sexual 
intercourse  without  disrobing. 
(English  and  American),  a 
chance  venture,  a  risk  or  haz- 
ard taken  without  much  fore- 
thought, commonly  applied  to 
an  off-hand  speculation  in  stock. 

He  began  .  .  .  with  a  small ^/fy^r  at  the 
race-track. — American  Newspaper. 

Flyers  (thieves),  shoes  (New  York 
Slang  Dictionary). 

Fly-flat  (turf),  one  who  really 
knows  little  or  nothing  about 
racing,  but  fancies  himself 
thoroughly  initiated  in  all  its 
mysteries.  There  are  plenty 
of  schoolmasters  always  ready 
to  teach  him  the  lesson  that 
"  a  little  knowledge  is  a  danger- 
ous thing." 

Flying  a  kite  (commercial),  draw- 
ing accommodation  bills. 

No  doubt  but  he  might  without  any  great 
flight, 

Have  obtained  it  by  what  we  qo!A  flying  a 
kite; 

Or  on  mortgage — or  sure,  if  he  couldn't  so 
do  it,  he 

Must  have  succeeded   "by  way  of   an- 
nuity." 

—Ingoldsby  Legends. 


Flying — Fogged. 


Z77 


Flying,  blue  pigeon  (thieves), 
"  Thieves  'vih.ofiy  the  blue  pigeon, 
that  is,  who  steal  lead  off 
houses,  or  cut  pipes  away  .  .  . 
cut  a  hundredweight  of  lead, 
which  they  wrap  round  their 
bodies  next  to  the  skin.  This 
they  call  a  'bible,'  and  what 
they  steal  and  put  in  their 
pockets  they  call  a  '  testa- 
ment "  (G.  Parker). 

Flying  coves  (thieves),  fellows 
who  obtain  money  by  pretending 
to  persons  who  have  been  robbed 
that  they  can  give  them  informa- 
tion that  wUl  be  the  means  of 
recovering  their  lost  goods  (New 
York  Slang  Dictionary). 

Flying  jiggers  (thieves),  turn- 
pike-gates. 

Flying  marc  (popular),  a  throw  in 
wrestling  (Hotten). 

Flying  mess,  to  be  in  a  (soldiers), 
to  be  hungry  and  have  nothing 
to  eat. 

Flying  rather  high  (common), 
intoxicated.  A  more  advanced 
stage  is  when  the  subject  is 
"  corned,"  or  on  his  "  fourth," 
or  has  his  "back  teeth  afloat." 
"Paralysed"  or  "boiling  drunk" 
means  very  much  intoxicated. 

Flying  stationer  (street),  a  hawker 
of  ballads. 

Fly  low,  to  (popular),  to  evade 
observation,  to  keep  quiet. 
Thieves  are  said  to  fiy  low  when 


keeping  out  of  the  way,  because 
"  wanted  "  by  the  police. 

Flymy  (low),  cunning ;  fium,  de- 
ceit, a  provincialism  same  as 
"  flam." 

Fly  the  kite,  to  (thieves),  to  make 
one's  exit  by  the  window.  Vide 
Flying  a  Kite. 

Fly,  to  (thieves),  to  toss  up  ;  "  to 
fly  the  mags,"  to  toss  up  the  half- 
pence ;  "to  fly  a  window,"  to 
lift  a  window  ;  "to  fly  the  blue 
pigeon, "  to  steal  lead  off  roofs. 
"  Ply  a  kite,"  vide  Flying  a 
Kite. 

Fly  to  wot's  wot  (popular),  fully 
understanding, 

Percessions  I've  got  a  bit  tired  of,  hoof 
padding,  and  scrouging's  dry  rot. 

But  Political  Picnics  mean  sugar  to  them 
as  i%yiy  to  wot's  wot. 

—Punch. 

Fly-trap  (popular),  the  mouth. 
Among  costermongers  it  may 
often  be  heard  when  another 
of  their  fraternity  is  unusually 
vociferous  in  shouting  his  wares 
— "  Shut  up  your  fly-trap." 

Fob,  to  (old  cant),  to  pick  a 
pocket. 

Fcetus,  tapping  the  (medical), 
procuring  a  miscarriage. 

Fogey  (nautical),  an  invalid  sol- 
dier or  sailor.  Properly  a  man 
becoming  stupid  with  age. 

Fogged  (tailors),  puzzled,  con- 
fused.    Is  said  specially  of  one 


378 


\ 
Fogging — Fool-killer. 


whose  memory  is  at  fault,  who 
is  "  in  a  fog." 

Foggpmg  (railway),  laying  fog 
signals. 

They  were  identified  as  Benjamin  Gold- 
ing,  a  porter,  and  Henry  Barnes,  a  signal- 
man :  both  had  been  engaged  yii^^'w^. — 
Standard. 

(Theatrical),  getting  through 
one's  part  anyhow,  like  a  man 
lost  in  a  fog. 

Foggy  (common),  not  quite  sober. 

Fogle  (thieves),  a  pocket-hand- 
kerchief. 

But  when  beat  on  his  knees,  that  con- 
founded de  Guise 

Came  behind  with  the  /ogle  that  caused 
all  the  breeze. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

If  you  don't  ts^ic/ogles  and  tickers  .  .  . 
pocket-hankerchers  and  watches  .  .  . 

— Dickens  :  Oliver  Twist. 

From  the  German  vogel,  a 
bird's  eye,  being  slang  for 
pocket-handkerchief,  or  more 
probably  from  Italian  foglia,  a 
piece  of  silk  or  satin. 

Fogle  -  hunter  (thieves),  pick- 
pocket, stealer  of  handkerchiefs. 

"What's  the  matter  now?"  said  the  man 
carelessly.  "A  young _/r>gle-Aunter,"  re- 
plied the  man  who  had  Oliver  in  charge. 
— Dickens :  Oliver  Twist. 

Fogram  (thieves),  a  fussy  old 
fellow  (New  York  Slang  Dic- 
tionary). 

(Nautical),  wine,  beer,  or 
spirits  of  indifferent  quality ;  in 
fact,  any  kind  of  liquor  (Smyth). 


Fogfue  (thieves),  fierce,  fiery.  Pos- 
sibly from  the  French  fougueux. 

Fogus  ( old  cant) ,  tobacco.  ' '  From 
fogo,  old  word  for  stench,"  says 
Hotten.  Possibly  from  fog, 
fouge,  moss,  and  foggage,  rank 
grass.  This  derivation  is  borne 
out  by  the  analogy  of  "  weed," 
another  term  for  tobacco  with 
"to  fog."  Also  by  French  cant 
trejle,  trifoin,  for  tobacco. 

Folk,  to  (football).  "  To  foik"  a 
ball  out  of  the  scrimmage  is 
to  pick  it  up  with  your  hands 
before  it  is  fairly  out  of  the 
scrimmage,  or  to  kick  it  out  of 
the  scrimmage  backwards  to 
one  of  your  own  "  behinds," 
to  give  him  a  chance  of  a 
"  run."  Doubtless  an  imita- 
tion of  "fake,"  broadly  pro- 
nounced in  some  provincial 
dialect. 

Foist  (old  cant),  a  pickpocket,  a 
cheat. 

Follow  me,  lads  (common),  curls 
hanging  over  a  lady's  shoulder. 
The  French  suivez  -  mot  jeunt 
homme  refers  to  ribbons  waving 
behind  from  a  lady's  dress. 

Fooling  around  (American),  tri- 
fling, not  meaning  business. 
As  it  stands  pugilists  are  the  puppets 
or  partners  of  acute  showmen,  and  the 
"Noble  Art  of  Self-Defence"  is  being 
rapidly  reduced  to  a  money-making  form 
of  what  Americans  call  fooling  around. 
By  all  means  let  us  have  a  real  fight  and 
stop  this  nonsense. — Daily  Telegraph. 

Fool-killer  (American),  a  myste- 
rious being  in  the  great  Yankee 


Fool-killer — Footy. 


379 


mythology,  frequently  alluded 
to  by  editors  as  being  "in 
town."  The  information  is 
generally  coupled  with  a  warn- 
ing to  some  prominent  person 
that  his  life  is  in  danger. 

St.  John  of  Kansas  says  he  is  not 
"afraid."  From  this  statement  we  infer, 
that  if  St.  John  of  Kansas  and  the  /ool- 
killer  ever  meet,  the  fur  will  fly.  Look 
out  for  locks  of  a  dyed  moustache. — Ame- 
rican Newspaper. 

Fool's  wedding  (popular),  an 
assemblage  of  women  at  which 
no  man  is  present.  Cf.  Hen 
Convention.  The  metaphor 
probably  is  that  of  a  wedding 
without  a  bridegroom. 

Foont  (thieves),  explained  by 
quotation. 

I  got  between  five  or  six  foont  (sove- 
reigns.— Horsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

German  pfund,  pronounced 
foont. 

Footer  (schools),  football.  There 
are  a  number  of  slang  terms 
formed  by  changing  the  legiti- 
mate ending  of  words  into  er. 
The  custom  is  said  to  be  derived 
from  Harrow. 

(Universities),  one  who-  plays 
football  according  to  the  Rugby 
rules. 

Footing-up  (American),  but  pro- 
bably of  English  origin. 

The  Arab  abhors  statistics.  He  won't 
be  tabulated  if  he  could  help  it,  and  were 
you  to  go  to  Algeria,  Doctor  Colenso, 
you  would  find  a  deeply  rooted  objection 
among  the  people  to  the  reckoning  or 
footing-up,  as  the   Americans  call  it,  of 


anything  animate  or  inanimate. — Geo.  A . 
Sala :  A  Trip  to  Barbary. 

Footman's  maund  (old),  an  arti- 
ficial sore  in  imitation  of  a  kick 
from  a  horse,  produced  with  un- 
slaked lime,  soap,  and  a  piece 
of  old  iron. 

Foot-riding  (bicycling).  When  a 
cyclist  cannot  ride  his  iron  steed, 
but  is  obliged  to  walk  and  wheel, 
it  is  called  foot-riding. 

Already  I  realise  that  there  is  going 
to  be  as  much  foot-riding  as  anything  for 
the  first  part  of  my  journey. —  Thomas 
Stevens :  Round  the  World  on  a  Bicycle. 

Footsac  (South  Africa),  be  off! 
An  apostrophe  to  drive  away 
intrusive  dogs.  Apparently  a 
compound  of  the  French  f outre, 
pronounced/oM<e,  and  tacri. 

Foot  scamp  (old),  a  low  fellow 
that  stops  you  with  bludgeon, 
cutlass,  or  knife,  and  ill-treats 
you  (G.  Parker). 

Foot  wobbler  (old),  an  infantry 
soldier.  Now  termed  a  "  wob- 
bler," or  "mud-crusher." 

Footy  (American  and  English), 
a  foolish  person,  a  "goose,"  a 
"coot."  It  is  an  English  pro- 
vincialism signifying  trifling, 
mean,  inferior,  of  little  worth. 

I  think  it  would  be  a  very  pretty  bit 
of  pr.-ictice  to  the  .ship's  company  to  take 
her  out  from  under  ihit  footy  battery. — 
Marryat :  Peter  Simple. 

Footy  literally  means  "  having 
foots,"  i.e.,  settlings,  or  dregs, 
as  footy  oil.  Hence  its  appli- 
cation to  anything  inferior  or 


38o 


Footy — Foreman. 


worthless.  It  has  been  sug- 
gested, however,  that  footy 
comes  from  the  French  foutu, 
which  among  its  various  signi- 
fications has  that  of  inferior, 
worthless. 

Foozle  (American),  a  man  who  is 
easily  humbugged,  a  fool.  "This 
common  slang  word,  which  ap- 
pears also  as  comfoode,  meaning 
flattery,  cajoling,  or  humbug- 
ging, is  probably  derived  from 
the  Anglo-Indian/oozt^w,  mean- 
ing quite  the  same  thing.  This 
is  in  its  turn  from  the  impera- 
tive p'husldo  of  the  Hindu  verb 
p'husldnd.  It  is  to  be  here 
remarked  that  many  Hindu 
words  came  at  an  early  date  to 
the  ports  of  Boston  and  Salem 
direct  from  India,  and  not 
through  England.  The  prefix 
com  is  possibly  the  Hindu  kom, 
'  love.'  To  comfoozle,  in  Yankee, 
in  fact  means  much  the  same 
as  '  to  mash,'  but  it  also  applies 
to  bewilder,  to  lead  one  off  the 
head,  or  simply  to  fool  and  con- 
fuse, which  all  agrees  with  the 
Indian  word"  ("MS.  of  Anglo- 
Indian  Terms,"  by  C.  G.  Leland). 

Fopdoodle  (American),  a  silly 
fellow.  "  Come,  don't  be  such 
a  fopdoodle."  This  is  provincial 
English. 

Forakers  (Winchester  School), 
water-closet.  Probably  because 
originally  the  place  used  was  a 
field,  termed  "  foreacre,"  a  pro- 
vincialism for  the  headland  of  a 
field. 


Force  the  voucher,  a  term  in  use 
among  sporting  tricksters,  who 
advertise  to  send  certain  win- 
ners, and  on  receipt  of  letters 
enclose  vouchers  similar  to  those 
sent  out  by  respectable  com- 
mission agents,  but  with  double 
or  treble  the  current  odds 
marked  thereon,  in  reference 
to  the  horse  named.  A  plau- 
sible letter  is  sent  with  the 
voucher,  and  the  victim  is  in- 
formed that  on  account  of  early 
investments  made  by  the  firm, 
the  extra  odds  can  be  laid  by 
them,  and  a  remittance  to  the 
amount  named,  or  part  of  it,  is 
requested.  Of  course,  the  firm 
"dries  up"  when  claims  be- 
come heavy  (Hotten). 

Fore  coach  wheel  (popular),  balf- 
a-crown. 

Foreman  (tailors),  a  "  sleeve- 
cutting  foreman  "  is  a  cutter's 
trimmer.  "Near  the  foreman, 
near  the  door,"  a  cutter's  term, 
meaning  the  farther  you  work 
from  the  foreman  the  better  for 
you. 

Foreman  of  the  jury  (common), 
said  of  a  talkative  man  who  will 
persist  in  talking  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  others. 

Foreman  on  the  job  (popular), 
a  leader,  master,  director,  or 
"  boss." 

Ah,  my  f/\k\  /orenian  on  the  job  and 
no  mistake,  and  what  can  I  do?  Nice 
thing  for  a  free-born  Briton,  ain't  it? — 
Sons':  I'll  never  go  home  any  more. 


Fork — Forty-rod. 


381 


Fork  (thieves),  a  pickpocket ;  from 
Jorhs,  fingers. 

Forkers  (nautical),  those  who  re- 
side in  seaports  for  the  sake  of 
stealing  dockyard  stores,  or  buy- 
ing them,  knowing  them  to  be 
stolen. 

Forking  (tailors),  hurrying  over 
the  work  as  if  doing  it  with  a 
pitchfork.  Anglo-Saxon,  fork- 
erven,  to  cut  or  slash  through. 

Fork  on,  to  (American  University) . 
To  fork  on  to  anything  is  to  ap- 
propriate it  to  one's  personal  use 
and  benefit. 

Forks  (popular  and  thieves),  the 
fingers.  In  French  argot,  four- 
chettes.  In  thieves'  language/o)-i-« 
is  more  specially  applied  to  the 
fore  and  middle  fingers  used  for 
picking  a  pocket.  Formerly  the 
gallows. 

Fork,  to  (common),  to  pay. 

"His  fee  was  a  tenner.    Fork,"    Master 
forked. — Sporting  Times. 

Also /ori  out, 

"  Tip  up  !  .  .  .  fork  out"  said  the  boy. 
— Greemvood;  The  Little  Ragamuffins. 

(Thieves),  to  fork,  to  pick  a 
pocket  by  extracting  an  article 
with  two  fingers  only.  In  French 
argot,  vol  db  la,  fourchetle, 

Forloper  (South  Africa),  a  man 
who  walks  in  front  of  a  team  of 
oxen,  acting  as  a  guide. 

Form  (racing),  an  expression  sig- 
nifying a  horse's  present,  past. 


or  presumed  capabilities  ;  thus, 
"  really  in  form  "  means  that  he 
is  just  now  at  his  best ;  "  out  of 
form,"  that  he  is  not  as  good 
as  usual  ;  "  lost  his  form,"  that 
he  is  more  or  less  on  the  wane ; 
"  will  show  better  form,"  that 
he  will  improve  on  his  recent 
performances  ;  "  top/orm,"  that 
he  is  ranked  amongst  the  best 
of  his  day.  (Common),  "good 
form,"  "  bad  form  "  refer  to  be- 
haviour up  or  not  up  to  a  gener- 
ally accepted  standard  of  good 
manners  or  morality. 

The  height  of  "  had  for^n  "  was  reached 
on  Thursday,  when  a  loud  cheer  followed 

the  failure  of to  return  a  service. — 

Pastime. 

Forts  (American  Universities). 
At  some  colleges  the  boarding- 
houses  for  students  are  called 
forts. 

Forty-five  (cowboys),  a  revolver. 

Forty-foot  (popular),  a  short  per- 
son. 

Forty-guts  (popular),  a  short  per- 
son. 

Forty-'leven  (American),  of  negro 
origin.  This  phrase  signifies  in- 
definiteness. 

Nor  don't  want  forty-  leven  weeks    o' 

jawin'  an'  expoundin' 
To  prove  a  nigger  hez  a  right  to  save 

him,  if  he's  drownin'. 

— Biglow  Papers. 

Forty-rod  lightning  (American), 
one  of  the  innumerable  names 
given     to     whisky  —  meaning 


382 


Fossed — Fourth. 


whisky  which  will  kill  like  a 
rifle  at  forty  yards, 

Fossed  (thieves),  thrown  down 
(New  York  Slang  Dictionary). 

Fossick,  to  (Australian  gold- 
miners). 

Fossicking  or  "pocket  mining,"  the 
searching  for  those  scattered  accumula- 
tions of  gold  which  seem  to  have  been 
washed  into  eddies  in  the  early  history 
of  the  earth. — Standard. 

Also  in  the  old  digging  days 
foisicking  was  getting  a  living 
by  extracting  what  little  gold 
there  was  from  the  refuse  wash- 
dirt  which  previous  miners  had 
abandoned.  So  called  from 
fossicking,  taking  trouble,  it 
being  tiresome  work  (Halliwell). 

Fossicker  (Australian  gold- 
miners),  an  alluvial  mining  ex- 
plorer. Also  a  miner  who  works 
at  holes  abandoned  by  others. 

To  this  region  must  one  come  to  see  the 
fossicker  in  all  his  miserable  state.  Travel- 
ling in  pairs,  but  usually  working  sepa- 
rately, the  true  gambusino  of  the  North  is 
found.  Each  boils  his  separate  billy,  and 
provides  his  frugal  fare ;  each  pitches  his 
solitary  tent ;  each  works  when  and  how 
disposed  ;  each  roams  the  ravines  adjacent 
in  search  of  some  hidden  store  ;  and  only 
when  an  abundance  of  water  and  cradling 
dirt  convenient  points  out  the  mutual 
benefit,  do  the  two  combine  and  share  the 
joint  proceeds.  Inducement  for  such  a  life 
is  hard  to  find.  Every  pound  of  food  has 
to  be  packed  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  miles. 
Salt  meat  is  necessarily  the  sole  form  in 
which  meat  can  be  provided.  Day  after 
day,  week  jfter  week,  the  pAticnl /ossicktr 
tries  creek  after  creek,  gully  after  gully, 
ravine  after  ravine,  with  the  same  result, 
the  monotonous  "  colour,"  or  worse  still, 


the  occasional  presence  of  a  coarse  speck 
encouraging  the  delusion  of  better  things. 
—  Tiu  Queenslander. 

Fossicking  about,  ferreting  about. 
Vide  To  Fossick. 

Foul -weather  Jack  (nautical), 
a  person  whose  presence  on 
board  ship  is  supposed  to  bring 
iU  luck. 

Found  on  demerit  (American 
cadet),  having  more  than  the 
limit  (loo)  (O.  E,  Wood,  U.S. 
Army). 

Found  on  math  (American  cadet), 
to  do  badly  at  mathematics — 
obviously  a  corruption  of  "to 
founder." 

Four  eyes  (popular),  a  silly  term 
for  a  person  who  wears  an  eye- 
glass or  spectacles. 

Four-holed  middlings  (Win- 
chester College),  walking  shoes 
of  an  ordinary  kind. 

Four  seams  and  a  bit  of  soap 

(tailors),   a  quaint    phrase  for 
trouser-making. 

Fourteen  hundred  (Stock  Ex- 
change), a  password  used  when 
a  stranger  is  seen  in  the  "house." 

"  So  help  me  Got,  Mo,  who  is  he?" 
Instead  of  replying  in  a  straightforward 
way,  Mo  raised  his  voice  as  loud  as  he 
could,  and  shouted  with  might  and  main, 
"  Fourteen  hundred  new  fives  !  "  A  hun- 
dred voices  repeated  the  mysterious  ex- 
clamation.— Atkin  :  House  Scraps. 

Fourth  (Cambridge),  the  W.C; 
to  "  keep  Sk  fourth"  to  go  to  the 


Fourth — Free-booker. 


383 


W.C.  Supposed  to  allude  to  the 
fourth  court  at  Trinity,  a  small 
quadrangle  devoted  to  lecture- 
rooms  and  other  conveniences, 
(Common),  a  very  drunken  man 
is  said  to  be  "  on  \As  fourth." 

Fourth  estate,  the  complete  body 
of  journalists  of  all  descriptions. 
This  term  is  much  used  among 
"  liners  "  (Hotten). 

Four-wheeler  (popular),  a  steak. 

Fowlo  (pidgin),  a  fowl. 

Fox  (fencing),  a  cant  term  for 
sword  in  the  older  schools, 
from  the  "  wolf  "  or  fox  mark 
borne  by  Solingen  blades.  The 
word  "foxing,"  in  the  collo- 
quial sense  of  pretending,  is 
often  applied  to  a  sham  care- 
lessness in  fencing,  intended  to 
induce  the  adversary  to  "come 
out "  less  cautiously. 

Foxed  (old  slang),  intoxicated. 
(Printers),  stained  or  spotted 
books  or  paper  is  described  thus. 
Caused  by  dampness  mostly. 

Fox,  to  (theatrical),  to  criticise 
a  fellow  actor's  performance. 
(Popular),  to  watch  slily.  (Ame- 
rican police),  to  follow  or  watch 
slily. 

We  had  several  altercations.  He  was 
foxing  me,  and  I  ■fi3&  foxing  him. — Daily 
Telegraph. 

Fo  -  yok  (pidgin),  gunpowder ; 
literally  fire  physic,  fire  medi- 
cine. 


F.P.  (War  Office),  former  papers  ; 
a  regular  phrase  at  the  War 
Office  when  it  is  a  question  of 
referring  to  preceding  communi- 
cations, &c.,  on  any  matter. 

Fraggle  (Texas),  to  rob  (Bartlett) ; 
Dutch  thieves'  slang, /riiietiren, 
to  rob. 

Frazzled  out  (American),  used  in 
the  Southern  States.     Frayed, 
"  frizzled,"  or  worn  out. 
"  Bimeby,"  continued  the  old  man,  "de 

switches  dey  got  foazzle  out."  —[Uncle 

Remus. 

Freak  (American),  men  or 
women  who  make  a  living  by 
exhibiting  themselves  as  living 
skeletons,  giants,  dwarfs,  and 
other  freaks  of  nature. 

Visitor  (to  dime  -  museum  freak).  — 
"  What  is  your  speciality,  my  friend  ?  " 

Freak. — "  I'm  the  man  who  really  knows 
more  than  he  thinks  he  does.  Want  a 
photograph  ?    Quarter  of  a  dollar,  sir." 

Visitor. — "  Yes  ;  give  me  half-a-dozen. 
I'd  wear  one  out  in  a  week  lookin'  at  it." 
— Chicago  Tribune. 

Free  and  easy,  a  smoking  party  of 
any  kind,  the  members  of  which 
meet  at  a  public-house  to  drink, 
smoke,  and  sing. 

One  of  his  accomplices.  Hunt,  had  a 
beautiful  baritone  voice,  and  was  the  de- 
light oi  free  and  easies  patronised  by  the 
fancy. — Daily  Telegraph. 

Free-booker  (journalistic),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

There  are  pirates  and  pirates.  An  Kvnt- 
ncan  free-booker  has  sent  Mrs.  H.  a  cheque 
for  five  hundred  dollars,  on  account  of  the 
profits  of  a  filibustered  edition  of  "  Robert 
Elsmere. " —  World. 


384 


Freeholder — Fresh . 


Freeholder  (common),  a  man  is 
called  a  freeholder  when  his 
wife  will  not  allow  him  to  visit 
a  public-house  by  himself. 

Free  lances  (society),  women  who 
do  not  run  straight,  are  not 
virtuous  and  faithful  to  their 
husbands.  Originated  from 
the  free  lances,  who  carried  on 
irregular  warfare. 

Sooner  than  be  out  of  the  fashion  they 
will  tolerate  what  should  be  most  galling 
and  shaming  to  them — the  thought  that 
by  these  they  are  put  down  among  the 
free  lances. — Saturday  Review. 

Freeman's  quay  (thieves),  to  "lush 
at  freeman^s  quay"  to  drink  at 
another's  expense. 

Freemartin  (veterinary),  a  calf 
which  is  one  of  twins,  the  twins 
being  one  of  each  sex ;  the  sexual 
organs  of  one  or  both  are  imper- 
fectly developed  or  differen- 
tiated, and  the  freemartin  is 
consequently  sterile. 

Free  of  fumbler's  hall  (common), 
a  saying  applied  to  one  who  is 
impotent. 

Free,  to  (thieves),  to  steal;  "to 
free  a  prad,"  to  steal  a  horse. 

Freeze  out,  to  (English  and  Ame- 
rican), to  put  out,  deprive  of,  to 
drive  away  by  distant  freezing 
conduct  and  cold  reserve,  which 
was  apparently  the  origin  of  the 
term. 

I  called  on  Jane  and  Mary  Bung, 
1  thought  I  was  bound  to  blaze, 

P.iit  the  very  first  call  x.\\ty/roze  fne  out, 
With  their  new-converted  ways. 
— Song :  The  OUi-I-'ashioned  Beau. 


To  exclude. 

But  the  large  operators  want  to  get  hold 
of  blocks  of  cheap  stock,  so  a  gradual  pro- 
cess cX freezing cntt  of  the  small  speculators 
is  going  on,  and  it  appears  to  be  pretty 
successfuL — Truth. 

Freezer  (popular),  a  winter's  day. 
An  Eton  tailless  jacket.  The 
application  is  obvious. 

Freeze,  to  (American),  to  stick  to, 
to  take,  to  have  a  longing  desire. 

I  tell  you  I  froze  for  meat  before  the 
week  was  gone  to  be  intimate.  There  was 
no  more  intimacy  shown  between  James 
and  Ann  other  than  might  exist  between 
any  woman  trying  to  freeze  on  to  a  boarder. 
— Daily  Inter  Ocean. 

(Common),  to  freeze  to,  to  stick 
to,  take,  steal ;  "  some  one  has 
frozen  to  my  watch." 

French  cream  (popular  and 
thieves),  brandy. 

French  gout  (popular),  gonorrhoea. 

Frenchman  (printers),  an  Anglo- 
French  printing  machine  is 
generally  termed  thus  by  the 
"minders." 

Fresh  (common),  slightly  intoxi- 
cated. 

M.  was  summoned,  and  did   not 

deny  the  "  soft  impeachment  "  that  he  was 
a  little  y>-«A  at  the  time  of  the  assault. — 
Daily  Telegraph. 

(American),    forward,    impu- 
dent. 
"Has  Peggy  been   Koo  fresh  V      Her 

sunburnt    cheeks    flushed. — F,   Francis: 

Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Also  innocent,  unsophisti- 
cated. 


Freshen — Frillery. 


385 


Wall,  there's  no  denying  that  fellers  as 
is  too  fresh  don't  live  long  our  way.— 
Omaha  World. 

(Thieves),  uninitiated,  green. 

Freshen  one's  way,  to  (nautical), 
to  hurry,  quicken  one's  move- 
ments. From  "  fresh  v?ay," 
increased  speed  through  the 
water. 

Fresher  (university),  a  freshman. 

Freshman's  Bible  (university),  a 
humorous  name  for  the  Uni- 
versity Calendar. 

Freshman's  church  (Cambridge 
University),  the  Pitt  Press,  which 
from  its  ecclesiastical  appear- 
ance is  liable  to  be  mistaken  for 
a  church. 

Freshman's  landmark  ( Cambridge 
University).  King's  College 
Chapel,  so  called  from  its  being 
so  situated  as  to  form  a  beacon 
to  lost  and  wandering  freshmen. 

Freshman's  river,  the  Cam  above 
Newnham  Mill,  used  for  bathing, 
canoeing,  and  sculling,  but  not 
for  boat-races. 

Freshwater  mariners  (old  cant), 
a  variety  of  mendicants. 

"YV^s^ freshwater  vian'ners,  their  shipcs 
were  drowned  in  the  Plaiiie  of  Salisbery. 
These  kynd  of  caterpillers  counterfet  great 
losses  on  the  sea. — Harman :  Caveat. 

Fret  one's  gizzard,  to  (popular), 
to  fret  about  things,  to  get 
harassed  and  worried,  to  the 
absolute  discomfort  of  oneself 
and  those  about  one. 


Friar  (printers).  Vide  Monk.  A 
light  or  "scabby"  patch  in  a 
printed  sheet,  owing  to  bad  dis- 
tribution of  ink  or  dampness. 
Probably  derived  from  Caxton's 
time  when  he  set  up  his  press 
in  Westminster  Abbey,  and  the 
reference  is  to  a  friar  of  holy 
orders,  an  individual  of  light 
clothing. 

It  is  curious  to  note  that 
French  compositors  use  a  simi- 
lar term,  moine,  a  monk  or  friar, 
in  the  same  sense. 

Friday-face  (popular),  a  gloomy- 
looking  man.  Alluding  to  the 
meagre  fare  of  Roman  Catholics 
on  Fridays.  French  "  figure  de 
careme." 

Frigate  (common),  a  well-dressed 
woman. 

Frig  pig  (old  slang),  a  trifling, 
finnicking  man. 

Frill  (Australian  popular), 
swagger,  conceit.  When  a  slangy 
Australian  sees  a  person  very 
conceited,  or  swaggering  very 
much,  he  says,  "  He  has  an 
awful  lot  oi  frill  on,"  "  He  can't 
walk  ioT  frill,"  "  He's  stiff  with 
frUr 

Frillery  (common),  linen. 

And  around  her,  in  confusion,  lay  each 
fashion-plate  delusion, 
AndfriUery,  the  creamiest  and  best. 
But,  for  details,  see  Ouida,  for  in  def  r- 
ence  to  the  reader, 
Further  information  is  suppressed. 
— Sporting  Times. 
2  B 


386 


Frisk — Frosty. 


Frisk  (society),  a  dance,  a  hop; 
not  a  very  common  expression, 
but  occasionally  used. 

The  show  of  dresses  and  jewels  was 
remarkable,  and  l\ic /risk  was  a  brilliant 
success,  everything  being  thoroughly  well 
done. — Tfu  H^or/d. 

Frisk,  to  (thieves),  to  search  on 
the  person ;  "  to  frisk  a  cly,"  to 
empty  a  pocket. 

Frog  (popular),  foot ;  /rojr-footed, 
flat-footer,  a  contemporary  term 
used  for  those  who  go  on  foot. 

(Popular  and  thieves),  a  police- 
man. 

I  must  amputate  like  a  go-away,  or  the 
frogs  will  nail  me. — On  the  Trail. 

Frogging  on  (American),  getting 
on.     Usually  attributed  to  Ger- 
mans, and  possibly  derived  from 
some  popular  misconception  of 
fragcn,  to  ask,  or  an  allusion  to 
the  movements  of  a  frog. 
Ven  ve  go  for  to  see  our  friendts  apout, 
Hey  ho,  countrymen — how  you  froggin 
on  ? 
All  de  liddle  Deutschers  gif  a  pig  shout, 
Hey  ho  !  Schneiders  I     How  you  knock 

along? 
—  Thomas  Browne :  The  Deutschers  ott 
a  Spree. 

Froglanders  (nautical),  Dutch- 
men (Smyth). 

Frog's  march  (common),  a  method 
of  conveying  a  violent  prisoner 
to  the  police-station  or  guard- 
house. The  recalcitrant  one  is 
carried  face  downwards,  with  a 
man  holding  each  limb. 

Frolic,  on  a  (American).  '"Frolic, 
used  for  a  party  ona/roi/c,' seems 


to  be  a  true  Americanism  "  (R. 
A.  Proctor).  Dutch,  vrohjkluyed, 
mirth,  jollity,  gaiety.  The 
American  expression  is  a  literal 
translation  of  an  old  New  York 
Dutch  phrase. 

From  over  yonder  (tailors),  from 
Ireland. 

Front  (Winchester  School),  angry, 
vexed,  from  "affronted." 

Front,  to  (thieves\  to  cover  or 
conceal  the  operations  of  a  pick- 
pocket. 

So  my  pal  said,  "  Front  me  (cover  me) 
and  I  will  do  him  for  it." — Horsley:  Jot- 
tings from  Jail. 

Frontispiece  (pugilistic),  the  face. 

Front  piece  (theatrical),  a  short 
play  or  "curtain  raiser"  per- 
formed before  a  more  important 
one. 

At  the  Gaiety,  on  next  Saturday  even- 
ing, a  farce,  "  Lot  49,"  by  Mr.  Fisher,  as  a 
front  piece  to  "  Frankenstein." — Evening 
News. 

Frost  (society),  a  failure,  a  fiasco. 

At  every  grand  ball  in  the  Row  or  Mayfair, 
The   bill  is  a  frost  if  the  Marquis  ain't 
there. 
— Anthony:   The  Marquis  of  Hanoz'er 
Square.     A  Ballad. 

(Theatrical),  a  dead  failure; 
"  a  frost,  a  killing/ros^."  (Popu- 
lar), a  dearth  of  work. 

Frosty  face  (common),  said  of  one 
whose  face  has  been  pitted  and 
marked  by  small-pox. 


Froust — Full. 


387 


Froust  (Harrow),  extra  sleep  al- 
lowed in  the  morning  of  Sun- 
days and  whole  holidays. 

Frow  (old  cant),  a  woman ;  Dutch 
wouw. 

A  flash  of  lightning  next 

Bess  tipt  each  cull  SLnd/raTV,  sir. 

Ere  they  to  church  did  pad 
To  have  it  christen'd  Joe,  sir. 
— Parker :  P'etrie^ated  Characters. 

Frummagemmed  (old  cant),  anni- 
hilated, strangled,  garrotted,  or 
spoilt. 

Frump  (old  cant),  as  a  wrinkled 
old  woman,  a  witch,  &o.  Frump 
seems  to  have  some  connection 
with  the  Dutch  frommeln,  to 
crumple,  and /raws,  to  wrinkle  up 
the  face,  frown,  appear  angry. 
As  a  verb  it  means  to  mock  or 
insult,  quarrel  with  or  annoy. 

Frushee  (popular),  an  open  jam 
tart. 

Fry  your  face,  go  and  (American 
and  English),  low  slang  ex- 
pression addressed  to  a  thin- 
faced,  lean  man.  Probably  a 
form  of  ' '  dry  face." 

"  Ga,  you  vas  no  goot,  g-o  ami  vry  your 
faces."  "Vat  you  mean  py  tolding  me 
dat  I  vas  no  goods?  I  vas  so  vorse  as  ynu 
if  nod  vorser.  Vry  my  faces,  indeed  1 
I've  got  no  faces  to  vry,  but  you  vas  got 
enof  for  dwo,  you  oldt  shin-parrel  I  "-- 
Thomas  Brmune :  The  Deutsdiers  on  a 
Spree. 

F  sharp  (popular),  fleas. 

Fubsey  (thieves),  fat;  fuhsey 
dummy,  a  well-filled  pocket- 
book. 


Fuddle  (popular),  drink  ;  "  out  on 
the  fuddle"  out  on  a  day's 
drinking.  From  fuddle,  an 
accepted  term  for  drinking  to 
excess  ;  from  full,  by  an  inter- 
position of  the  letter  d.  The 
Scotch  have  full  for  drunk. 

Fug,  to  (Shrewsbury),  to  stay  ia 
a  close,  stuffy  room. 

Fuggies  (schoolboys),  hot  rolls 
(Hottenj. 

Fuggy  (Shrewsbury),  stuffy ;  from 
forjo,  an  old  word  for  stench. 

Fulhams  or  fuUams  (old),  loaded 
dice.  "  So  called,"  it  has  been 
suggested,  "from  the  suburb 
where  the  Bishop  of  London 
resides,  which  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Elizabeth  was  the  most 
notorious  place  for  blacklegs  in 
all  England."  Dice  made  with 
a  cavity  were  called  "gourds" 
(scooped  out  like  the  bottle- 
gourd  used  for  cups,  bottles,  &c. ). 
Thus  those  which  were  loaded 
may  have  been  called  "  full 
ones,"  hence  fullams.  Those 
made  to  throw  the  high  and 
low  numbers  were  respectively 
termed  "  high  fullams,"  and 
^ '  low  fullam))." 

Full  blast  (common),  anything  is 
said  to  be  in  full  blast  when  at 
its  apogee.  The  allusion  is  ob- 
vious. 

Full  drive,  full  chisel,  full  split 

(American),  at  full  sjjeed,  in  full 
career;  an  equivalent  to  "  hic- 
kety  split,"  "ripping  and  staving 


388 


Full — Funkers. 


along,"  "  two  thirty,"  and  other 
synonyms  for  rapidity. 

Full  frame  (printers),  a  composi- 
tor that  has  been  a  "  grass 
hand  "  (which  see),  and  secures 
a  regular  engagement,  is  in  pos- 
session of  a.  full  frame. 

FuUied  (thieves),  committed  for 
trial.  From  the  expression  often 
used  by  magistrates,  "  fully 
committed." 

So  I  got  run  in,  and  was  tried  at  Maryle- 
bone  and  remanded  for  a  week,  and  then 
/uUied  and  got  this  stretch  and  a  half. — 
Horslcy :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Fulness  (tailors),  "not  fulness 
enough  in  the  sleeve  top,"  a 
derisive  answer  to  a  threat  of 
personal  chastisement. 

Fumbles  (thieves),  gloves.  From 
fambles  or  fams,  the  hands ; 
fcemdas,  lit.  hand-garment,  Old 
Dutch  thieves'  slang. 

Function  (society),  party,  ball,  en- 
tertainment. From  the  Spanish 
funcion,  which  is  used  to  mean 
any  kind  of  meeting  or  per- 
formance. It  came  from  Mexico 
through  the  American  press. 

The  Duchess  of ,  who  was  certainly 

one  of  the  handsomest  women  present  at 
the/unction. — Society  Paper, 

Functior  (Winchester  College), 
the  night-light  burned  in  cham- 
bers. 

Funeral  (American),  "  it's  not  my 
juneral,"  I  don't  care,  it  is  not 
my  business,  it  in  no  way  con- 
cerns me. 


Funk  (general),  state  of  nervous 
trepidation,  fear.  * 

...  A  good  professional  with  the  magic 
sixpence  on  the  wicket  will  give  you  more 
trouble  than  many  bowlers  in  a  match,  and 
your  /unk  is  just  the  same  as  a  careless 
barrister  who  has  not  read  his  papers. — 
Freti.  Gale :  The  Game  of  Cricket. 

To  funk,  to  be  nervous,  afraid, 
shrink  back. 

But  when  the  time  for  his  examination 
drew  on  the  little  gentleman  was  seized 
with  such  trepidation,  and  funked  so 
greatly,  that  he  came  to  the  resolution 
not  to  trouble  the  examiners  again. — C. 
Bede :  Verdant  Green. 

Also  to  funk  it. 

Funk  is  declared  by  some 
authorities  to  be  a  recognised 
word.  At  any  rate  it  is  vulgar 
and  used  in  a  slangy  sense  in 
such  phrases  as  "to  be  in  a 
funk,''  "an  awful,  mortal  funk." 
This  term,  according  to  De 
Quincey,  originated  among  the 
Eton  "men."  Probably  from 
funk,  to  emit  an  offensive  smell 
like  certain  animals  when  pur- 
sued, or  people  who  lose  phy- 
sical control  over  themselves 
when  in  a  state  of  great  terror. 
This  derivation  seems  to  be 
borne  out  by  the  parallel  French 
foirer,  to  be  afraid,  shrink  back, 
also  "  faire  dans  -sa  culotte." 

Fu7ik,  also  a  coward. 

In  New  York  the  word  funk 
is  connected  with  humbug,  and 
"Peter  Funk"  is  a  kind  of 
mysterious  spirit  who  inspires 
all  kinds  of  petty  business  tricks. 

Funkers  (thieves),  the  very  lowest 
order  of  tljieves. 


Funkster —  Gab. 


389 


Funkster  (Winchester  College), 
one  who  is  afraid. 

Funky.     Vide  Funk. 

Furk,  to  (Winchester  College), 
to  expel.  It  is  said  that  for- 
merly "  men "  who  were  ex- 
pelled had  to  go  through  "non 
licet  gate"  when  leaving  the 
college  for  good,  and  their 
clothes  were  sent  after  them  on 
a  pitchfork.  If  this  is  true, 
to  furh  is  from  the  Latin  furca, 
pitchfork.  Otherwise  the  origin 
may  be  found  in  old  English 
ferke,  to  hasten  on  or  out.  It 
has  also  the  signification  of  to 
send.  Thus  boys  will  say  that 
reports  are  furked  home  by  the 
doctor.    Also  to  send  on  a  mes- 


Furmen  (old  slang),  aldermen. 
An  epithet  derived  from  their 
robes  of  office  being  trimmed 
with  fur. 

Furniture  pictures  (studios),  pic- 
tures painted  by  the  dozen  for 


the  trade  of  the  same  class  as 
"pot-boilers." 

Fur  out  (Winchester  College), 
angry ;  i.e.,  one  with/wr  (mt  like 
an  angry  animal. 

Furry  tail  (printers),  see  Bat. 
A  workman  who  accepts  work 
at  an  unfair  house  is  thus 
termed,  from  the   fact  that  a 

rat  is  furry. 

Fush,  to  fush  out  (American),  to 
waste,  come  to  nothing.  Dutch 
futad,  a  trifle,  a  worthless  thing ; 
futseln,  to  fiddle,  foddle,  trifle, 
idle. 

Fussock  (popular),  a  person  who 
makes  much  fuss.  Formerly  a 
fat  woman,  from  the  provincial 
English  "  fussocking,"  large  and 
fat. 

Fustian  (thieves),  wine ;  white 
fustian,  champagne.  Compare 
with  "red  tape,  white  velvet," 
&c. 

Fye-buck  (old),  a  sixpence. 


AB  or  gob  (popular), 
the  mouth.  This  word 
is  given  by  diction- 
aries as  a  recognised 
term,  but  it  is  used 
in  a  slangy  sense,  and  may 
be  considered  as  belonging  to 
.slang  phraseology.  It  is  derived 
from  the  Gaelic  and  Scotch  gab 
or goh,  mouth,  idle  prating,  loqua- 
ciousness. 


An'  aye  he  gies  the  towzie  drab 

The  tither  skelpin'  kiss, 
While  she  held  up  her  greedy  gab 

Just  like  an  aumous  dish. 

— Bums:  The  Jolly  Beggars. 

The  term  is  more  often  used 
in  slang  as  the  "gift  of  the 
gah:' 

In  towns  that  have  hecome  accustomed 
to  the  franchise,  the  voters  well  know  that 
though  a  man  may  be  a  moderate  speaker, 


390 


Gabble — Gaff. 


he  may,  and  probably  will,  makr  a  more 
valuable  business-like  member  of  Parlia- 
ment than  the  one  who  has  the  gi/H  of  the 
gab. — S/>oriin^  Times. 

Gabble  manufactory  (American), 
sometimes  called  the  "  GahbJe 
Mill  "  —  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  though  in  this 
respect  it  does  not  seem  to  bo 
worse  than  other  national  assem- 
blies. 

A  mill  for  the  manufacture  of  gahhie. — 
J.  Russell  Lojoell. 

Gahhie  is  a  diminutive  of  gab  : 
Danish  gabberen,  to  trifle,  jest ; 
old  French  se  gabber,  to  mock. 
From  the  Scandinavian  (}ahh, 
mockery,  according  to  Littre ; 
Dutch  gabbcrn,  to  jabber. 

Gaby  {common),  a  simpleton,  a 
fool  or  country  bumpkin.  (The 
synonym  "  gawcum  "  is  used  in 
Somersetshire.)  Probably  from 
"  to  gape  ;  "  Danish  gabe.  This 
derivation  seems  to  be  borne 
out  by  the  analogous  badnnd, 
booby,  idler ;  from  the  low  Latin 
badare,  to  yawn,  to  gape. 

Gad  (gyp-'^y),  a  shirt ;  (popular), 
"  upon  the  gad,"  upon  the 
sudden.  It  also  signifies  rest- 
less, going  about. 

I  have  no  very  good  opinion  of  Mrs. 
Ch.arles'  nursery-maid.  .  .  .  She  is  always 
upon  the  gad. — Jlf/ss  A  usien  :  Persuasion. 

Gadding     or     gadding     about. 

llotteu  says  this  is  only  to  be 
hoard  now  among  the  lower 
orders,  but  in  America  it  is  still 


used  by  everybody.  It  does  not 
mean  merely  "  moving  about," 
but  going  here  and  there  in  an 
irregular  way,  making  short  calls 
or  brief  pauses  on  the  way. 

She  was  always  fond  of  gndding,  and  was 
now  employed  in  adding 
Certain   graces   to   her   charms,   which 
some  mistake 
For  nature's  simple  beauty,  as  apart  from 
fashion'*  duty, 
Although  fashion's  oft  synonymous  with 
"fake." 

— Sporting  Times. 

Gadding  the  hoof  (popular),  walk- 
ing about  without  shoes.  Same 
as  "  padding  the  hoof." 

Gaff  (American),  a  steel  spur 
fixed  to  the  "  heel "  of  a  game- 
cock for  fighting.  From  goff, 
a  barbed  iron  or  large  fishing- 
hook. 

Gaffing  is  tossing,  pitching, 
or  throwing  like  a  juggler  per- 
forming. The  gaff  is  a  ring 
worn  on  the  forefinger  of  the 
dealer.  It  has  a  sharp  point 
(hence  probably  the  name),  on 
the  inner  side,  and  the  gambler 
when  dealing  from  a  two-card 
box  can  deal  out  the  card  ho 
chooses.  Some,  however,  are 
smart  enough  to  do  this  trick 
without  the  gaff.  It  is  out  of 
date. 

(Popular),  a  gaff  or  penny  gaff, 
a  low  place  of  entertainment. 
This  term  is  now  used  for  any 
theatre  or  music-hall,  as  the 
Greenwich  gaff.  This  appears 
to  be  allied  to  gag  (which  see), 
or  from  <j«ff>',  to  chatter. 


Gaff— Gag. 


391 


Two  or  three  times  a  week  I  used  to 
go  to  the  Brit,  in  Hoxton,  or  the  gnff 
in  Shoreditch. — Horsley  :  Jottings  from 
Jail. 

(Theatrical),  to  gaff,  to  per- 
form in  low  theatres.  (Prison), 
a  gaff,  a  pretence,  imposture. 
In  French  slang  gaffe  has 
the  meaning  of  joke,  deceit. 
(Popular  and  thieves),  "  to 
blow  the  gaff,"  to  divulge  a 
secret. 

One  of  them  rushes  to  Smith,  and  de- 
mands, "  Have  you  been  ordering  some 
sewing-machines  ?  " 

"Yes;  is  the  gaff  blown?"  was  the 
rejoinder. 

"We  have  had  a  telegram  to  surround 
the  station." — Evening  News. 

Gaff,  in  the  sense  of  imposture, 
and  blow  the  gaff,  seem  to  be 
from  gafflc,  to  chatter,  or  are 
allied  to  gah  or  gag  (which 
see). 

Gaffer  (athletes),  he  who  trains 
and  "  owns  "  primarily  a  Sheffield 
handicap  runner — now  he  who 
does  the  same  to  any  "  ped  "  or 
pedestrian. 

Gag  (theatrical),  an  actor's  or 
singer's  interpolation  in  the  text 
of  a  play. 

The  chorister  boys  in  a  western  cathedral 
have  been  getting  into  trouble  for  what  in 
theatrical  strollers  is  called  gngging — 
singing  things  that  are  not  in  tlic  pi  Li- 
gramme. — James  Payne,  in  lllustratid 
London  News. 

Many  a  play  has  been  saved 
from  utter  ruin  by  the  self-jjos- 
session  of  the  actor  or  actress. 


who,  finding  himself  or  herself 
face  to  face  with  failure,  has 
emitted  some  bright  line,  some 
apposite  repartee,  which  in  one 
moment  has  converted  defeat 
into  victory. 

On  its  first  production,  the 
comedy  of  "  The  Jealous  Wife  " 
hung  fire  in  the  last  scene,  and 
was  nearly  going  through  alto- 
gether, until  the  quick-witted 
Mrs.  Clive  improvised  a  gro- 
tesque fainting  fit,  which  evoked 
roar  upon  roar  of  laughter,  put 
the  audience  into  a  thoroughly 
good  humour,  gave  Garrick  time 
to  recover  himself,  and  ulti- 
mately ensured  a  triumphant 
success. 

Similarly  Frederick  Lemaitre, 
by  sheer  force  of  genius,  com- 
bined with  unique  and  unrivalled 
effrontery,  at  a  moment's  notice 
convertedamelodramatic  ruffian 
into  the  incarnation  of  comedy, 
and  created  the  character  of 
Robert  Macaire. 

Paul  Bedford's  "  I  believe 
you,  my  boj',"  has  travelled  all 
over  the  globe.  Chinamen  and 
Japanese  have  quoted  it,  to 
prove  their  knowledge  of  the 
English  language.  Two  of  the 
most  memorable  gngs  of  which 
we  have  any  record,  occurred 
in  moments  of  inspiration  to 
Macready. 

The  famous  line  at  the  end  of 
the  fourth  act  of  "Richelieu  " — 

"  Oh  !  for  one  hour  of  youth  !  " 

only  leaped  to  his  lijis,  amidst 
the  tumult  and  excitement  of 
the  scene  on  tlie  niffht  of  the 


392 


Gas —  Gass. 


lirst  representation  of  the  play 
at  Covent  Garden. 

Similarly,  on  the  first  night 
of  "  Werner,"  at  Bristol,  in  an 
agony  of  paternal  anguish,  he 
rushed  down  to  Gabor,  and  in  a 
piercing  voice  demanded  :  "  Are 
you  a  father  ? "  Then  he  whis- 
pered :  "  Say  No  I  "  Gabor, 
taken  off  his  guard,  roared 
"  No  1  "  But  Macready  rose 
above  him  with  a  wail  of  grief, 
which  thrilled  the  heart  of 
every  auditor,  as  he  exclaimed : 
"  Then  you  cannot  feel  for  misery 
like  mine  I  "  At  these  words, 
the  pit  rose  at  him. 

Probably  one  of  the  best  re- 
membered, and  one  of  tlie  hap- 
jnest  interpolations,  took  place 
at  Covent  Garden  on  the  occa- 
sion of  T.  P.  Cooke  (the  original 
William)  taking  his  farewell  of 
the  stage.  Having  described 
the  killing  of  the  shark,  the 
veteran  proceeded  to  say — "  We 
hauled  him  on  deck ;  we  cut 
him  open.  And  what  do  you 
think  we  found  in  him  1 "  The 
usual  reply  is,  "  Why,  his 
innards,  of  course."  On  this 
occasion,  genial  Johnny  Toole, 
who  played  Gnatbrain,  replied  : 
"  I  don't  know  what  you  found 
in  him,  but  I  know  what  you 
didn't  find  in  him.  You  didn't 
find  another  T.  P.  Cooke."  This 
</(([/  brought  down  the  liouse. 
Like  everything  else,  f/ng  is 
subject  to  the  general  law  of 
"the  survival  of  the  fittest," 
all  that  is  bright  and  appro- 
l)riate  abides,  all  that  is  vul- 
gar and  inappropriate  is  swept 


away  by  the  stern  stage  mana- 
ger. 

To  gag,  to  interpolate.  Gag 
is  old  for  jaw,  palate.  Thus  to 
gag  is  synonymous  with  "  to 
jaw,"  but  it  is  possibly  allied  to 
the  old  French  gogue  (whence 
goguenard),  a  joke,  from  the 
Celtic  goguea,  to  deceive,  deride ; 
and  this  derivation  seems  to  be 
supported  by  the  signification 
attributed  to  gag  in  English 
thieves'  cant,  i.e.,  a  lie,  and  to 
hoax. 

Gage  (old  cant),  a  quart  pot  ; 
from  gauge,  a  measure.  Written 
also  gage. 

I  bowse  no  lage,  l)ut  a  whole  g'a^e  of 
this  I  lx>wse  to  you.  —lirome  :  Jcn-ial  Crew. 

Gage  or  gager,  a  man.  Also 
eager.  Gagcr  is  in  all  proba- 
bility the  gypsy  word  gorgio, 
meaning  any  man  not  a  gypsy. 
Two  centuries  ago  the  Eng- 
lish gypsies  pronounced  gorgio, 
"gago"(i/a/i'rf5Ao),  as  their  breth- 
ren still  do  all  over  Europe. 
(Popular^,  a.  gage,  a  small  quan- 
tity of  anything.  "  Oage,"  says 
Hotten,  "  was  in  the  last  century 
a  chamber  utensil." 

Gagger  (theatrical),  one  who 
"gags."  YideGAii.  Actors  were 
formerly  termed  gaggcrs. 

Gags  or  gatherings  (Winchester 
College),  a  name  given  to  notes 
which  tlie  different  parts  of 
school  used  to  write  on  the 
work  they  had  done  in  the  week. 


Gait — Gallimaufry. 


393 


Lamb  used  the  word  for  pieces 
of  mutton  fat  that  make  one 
retch  or  choke. 

Gait  (American  thieves),  manner 
of  making  a  living,  profession, 
calling. 

Galaney  or  galeny  (old  cant),  a 
fowl.  From  the  Italian  gallina, 
novsr  used  in  the  West  of  England 
in  the  sense  of  guinea-fowl.  A 
gally-bird  in  Sussex  is  a  wood- 
pecker. 

Galee  (Anglo-Indian),  slang  for 
bad  language.  Hindu  gali.  In 
English  gypsy  yooler  or  gdUer 
is  a  noise  or  tumult,  and  cfiller 
a  talking  or  clatter  of  words. 

Gall  (American),  pluck,  cheek, 
impudence,  courage. 

Dumley — "  You  know  that  contemptible 
little  Robinson,  don't  you,  Brown  ? " 
Brmun — "Yes,  but  I  don't  associate  with 
him."  Dumley — "  Well,  what  do  you  think 
he  had  the  gall  to  do  to-day  ?  "  Brown — 
"  He  has  the  gall  to  do  anything." 
r>uvtley — "  He  asked  me  to  drink  with 
him ;  but  he'll  never  repeat  the  impudence." 
Brown— ^^  What  did  you  do,  pull  his  nose  ?  " 
Dumley — "  No.  I  ordered  a  champagne 
cocktail,  and  it  cost  him  75  cents." — Ne^u 
\  'ork  Sun. 

Gallanty-show  (common),  an  ex- 
hibition in  which  black  figures 
are  shown  on  a  white  sheet  to 
accompany  dialogues.  Generally 
given  at  night  by  "  Punch  and 
Judy  "  men  (Ilotten).  From  the 
Italian  galanti,  fine,  often  ap- 
plied to  small  shows. 

Gallery  stroke  (sporting),  a  stroke 
for  elTect ;  unlike  "playing  for 


the  gallery,"  which  has  an  al- 
most forgotten  theatrical  origin. 
A  gallery  stroke  is  derived  from 
the  fact  of  so  many  games 
being  witnessed  from  galleries, 
(Cricketers),  a  high  hit  up  into 
the  air  to  take  the  fancy  of  the 
spectators. 

Galley  slaves  (printers),  vide 
Com  PS.  Compositors  are  termed 
thus  from  the  fact  that  their 
earnings,  especially  in  news- 
paper offices,  depend  on  the 
number  of  gallies  done.  A  man 
to  have  a  good  "poll"  must 
slave  hard  to  set  up  a  large 
nnmber  oi  gallies.  Moxon,  1683, 
quotes  this  term. 

Galley-stoker  (nautical),  a  lazy 
skulker. 

Galley  west  (American).  Though 
it  indicates  an  opposite  direc- 
tion, galley  west  means  the  same 
as  "  about  east,"  being  a  strong 
superlative,  as  expressive  of 
greatness  or  magnitude. 

I  have  seen  the  Escurial  and  the  Vatican, 
and  the  Dolme-Bagtche,  and  Windsor 
Castle,  and  lots  of  those  little  dug-outs 
over  there,  but  I'll  be  darned  if  this  estab- 
lishment of  yours,  Hunse,  don't  knock  any 
one  of  them  galley  west ! — galley  west,  sir, 
that's  what  it  does. — F.  Francis :  Saddle 
and  Moccasin. 

G  a  1 1  i  e  d  (Australian  popular) , 
frightened. 

Gallimaufry  (nautical),  a  kind 
of  stew  made  up  of  scraps  of 
various  kinds.  Probably  mean- 
ing the  galley  scraps  (Hotten). 


394 


Gallinipcrs — Galluptious. 


Gallinippers  (West  Indian),  a 
facetious  name  given  by  the 
negroes  to  a  very  large  and 
pertinacious  kind  of  mosquito. 
Without  a  smile  Quashie  will 
tender  information  to  the  effect 
that  they  are  the  grandfathers 
of  their  species  —  veterans  in 
practice  and  cunning.  The 
origin  of  the  word  is  obscure, 
except,  perhaps,  the  "nipping" 
part  of  it. 

Gallipot  (popular),  an  apothecary, 
otherwise  a  "  clyster  pipe." 

It's  Vidler  the  apothecary.  .  .  .  You  s.nid 
you  had  gallipots  enough. — Thackeray  : 
The  Aewcomes. 

Gallivant,  to  (common),  to  dance 
attendance  upon  women,  to  play 
the  gallant.  Gallivant  is  a  cor- 
ruption of  gallant,  the  process 
being  the  same  as  in  Samivel 
from  Samuel.  Also  to  roam 
about  for  pleasure.  The  Italians 
have  stare  a  (jaJla,  to  float  about, 
be  joyous  and  buoyant. 

A  nice  thing,  indeed— all  the  company 
waiting  and  drumming  their  heels,  wh.le  a 
brat  like  you  was  £-alli7aiti!ng' ixhout.  — 1\ . 
Sims :  The  Ring  o  Bells. 

Gallivate  (American^,  frisking  or 
"figuring"  about.  A  form  of 
"gallivant." 

Oh,  Marj'  had  a  little  lamb,  regarding 

whose  cuticular 
The  fluff  exterior  w.is  white  and  kinked 

in  each  particular. 
On  all  occasions  when  the  lass  was  seen 

perambulating 
'J'his  little  quadruped  likewise  was  there 

a-gallivatiiig. 

—  Tit- Bits  :   The  Original  Draft 
of  an  Ancient  Chestnut  MS. 


Gallon  of  rum  among  one  (Ame- 
rican), a  saying  attributed  to  an 
Indian,  who,  on  being  remon- 
strated with  for  his  great  intem- 
perance on  a  certain  occasion, 
replied  :  "What's  a  gallon  of  rum, 
among  one?"  Also  applied  to  a 
millionaire  of  grand  ideas,  who 
though  single  refused  to  take  a 
very  large  villa  because  it  was 
too  small.  "  Fine  enough — 
what's  a  gallon  of  rum  among 
one  ? "  murmured  the  would-be 
seller. 

Galloper  (army\  an  aide-de-camp. 
He  is  continually  "on  the  move," 
or  "  on  the  rack,"  as  Canadians 
say. 

Gallows  or  gallus  (common),  a 
vulgar  word  for  "very,"  in  use 
in  America  and  also  in  England 
until  it  was  almost  superseded 
by  "awful,"  and  "dreadful." 

I'm  hard  up  for  capital — in  short,  .  .  . 
I  am  gallo-iVS  hard  up  for  capital. — J. 
Greenwood:  Dick  Temple. 

In  England  this  was  originally 
applied  to  any  person  orthing  ex- 
tremely bad,  "bad  enough,"  says 
Ilotten,  "to  deserve  hanging." 
In  the  United  States  only  its 
extreme  or  superlative  character 
has  been  preserved.  The  French 
.'ilang  h-Asjwtcnce,  i.^.,  gallows  (old 
English),  to  signify  a  rascally 
person  of  either  sex,  an  abbre- 
viation of  "gibier  de  potence," 
or  galloics-hhd. 

Galluptious  (popular),  delightful. 


Callus — Gammy. 


395 


Gallus.     Vide  Gallows. 

Gaily  slopes  (old  cant),  breeches ; 
abbreviated  from  "  galligaskins , ' ' 
trousers,  first  worn  by  the  Gallic 
Gascons,  according  to  Wright. 

Gaily  yam  (nautical),  a  hoaxing 
story.  A  sailor  expresses  dis- 
belief by  saying  only  g.  y. 
(Hotten). 

Gal  nymphs  (Winchester  College  <, 
a  semi-poetical  name  for  house- 
maids. 

Galoot,  (nautical),  an  awkward 
soldier,  a  sobriquet  for  a  young 
marine.  In  its  early  Engliyii 
use  it  seems  to  be  "an  infam- 
ous person,"  and  derived  from 
the  Italian  galeotto,  a  galley- 
slave.  Its  meaning  as  a  raw 
marine  seems  to  indicate  this. 
Applied  in  America  very  gene- 
rally as  an  abusive  term,  often 
without  any  special  meaning. 

"  Yaas  !  "  he  cried,  striking  the  bar  with 
his  fist,  "  I've  killed  twenty-seven  men  up 
on  the  Kansas  border,  and  ther  first  galoot 
thet  looks  cross-eyed  at  me'il  be  my  meat  I  " 
— Detroit  Free  Press. 

(Also  American),  a  scamp,  a 
rowdy. 

Gamb  (thieves),  a  leg  ;  from  the 
Italian  gamba. 

Game  (sporting),  "  to  play  the 
game''  is  to  do  a  thing  thoroughly 
or  properly.  Also,  lame  ;  from 
Welsh  cam,  Irish  gam,  lame. 

The  chair  .  .  .  broke  down  with  the 
publisher.  Warrington  burst  out  laugh- 
ing, and  said  that  Bacon  had  got  the  game 
chair. — Thackeray  :  Petulennis. 


(Nautical),  a  ^ome-leg,  a  lame 
limb,  but  not  so  bad  as  to  unfit 
for  duty  (Admiral  Smyth). 

Gameness  (common),  spirit, 
pluck,  endurance.  An  almost 
recognised  word. 

Whatever  else  you  might  think  of  Blake, 
there  was  no  doubt  about  his  gameness-  — 
T.  Hughes  :  Tom  Brovin  at  Oxford. 

Game  pullet  (common),  a  very 
young  prostitute,  or  a  girl  who 
by  levity  and  forwardness  is 
almost  certain  to  become  one. 

Gamey  (popular),  brave,  plucky. 

"You'll  be  shot,  I  see."  "Well,"  cried 
Mr.  Bailey,  "wot  if  I  am  ;  there's  some- 
thing gamey  in  it." — Dickens:  Martin 
Chuzzleivit. 

And  then  again  we  had  the  ring. 
Of  which  our  poets  used  to  sing  ; 
In  those  days  'twas  3^  gamey  thing, 

Eh?     Rather! 
— C.  H.  Ross  :  The  Husband's  Boat. 

Gammon  and  patter  (thieves),  a 
meeting. 

Gammon  the  twelve,  to  (Austra- 
lian convicts'  slang),  to  deceive 
the  jury. 

A  man  who  has  been  tried  by  a  criminal 
court  and  by  a  plausible  defence  has  in- 
duced the  jury  to  acquit  him,  or  to  banish 
the  capital  part  of  the  charge  and  so  to 
save  his  life,  is  said  by  his  associates  to 
have  "gammoned  the  trvelve  in  prime 
twig,"  alluding  to  the  number  of  jurymen. 
—  /  'aux's  Memoirs. 

Gammy  (theatrical),  old,  ugly, 
passee.  From  the  Gaelic  gam. 
lame,  crooked,  orbad.  (Tramps  , 
bad,  unfavourable,  forged,  as 
in    "gammy   stuff,"   bad  stuff ; 


396 


Gammy — Gapes. 


"gammy  monniker,"  a  forged 
signature;  "gammy  people," 
people  who  are  hostile  to  the 
tramps.  Hotten  says  that  the 
hieroglyphic  used  by  beggars 
or  cadgers  to  intimate  to  those 
of  the  tribe  coming  after  that 
,  things  are  not  very  favourable, 
is  known  by  Q  or  gammy.  A 
gammy-yial  (ville)  is  a  town 
where  the  police  interfere  with 
tramps  or  hawkers. 

Gamp  (society),  a  common  term 
for  a  monthly  nurse.  Derived 
from  Sarah  Gamp  in  "  Martin 
Chuzzlewit,"  a  monthly  nurse 
famous  for  her  gouty  umbrella 
and  perpetual  reference  to  Mrs. 
Harris,  a  purely  imaginary  per- 
son, whose  opinions  always  con- 
firmed her  own.  (Common),  an 
umbrella. 

But  I  seriously  declare  that  that  wet  day 
when  I  found  myself  stranded  and  desolate 
in  an  out-of-the-way  village,  if  five  shillings 
would  have  bought  me  the  rustiest,  most 
Slump-worn  and  lettuce-shaped  gamp,  \ 
would  have  paid  down  the  money  with 
delight. — J.  Green-wood:  Tag,  Rag,  &' 
Co. 

Gamy,  foul,  putrid.  From  a  kit- 
chen expression,  as  gamy  veni- 
son, that  is,  like  high  game. 

I  wish,  for  the  sake  of  Mr.  Stickle's 
pigeons,  that  I  could  give  a  favourable 
account  of  that  loft  ;  but  truth  forbids.  It 
was  filthy  in  the  extreme  ,"  and  I  no  longer 
wondered  how  Club  Row  became  pos- 
sessed of  \\.%  gamy  atmosphere. — /.  Green- 
luood :   Undercurrents  of  London  Life. 

Gan  (old  cant),  mouth. 

This  bowse  is  better  than  rom-bowse, 
It  sets  the  gan  a  giggling. 

— Brome :  Jo-.'ial  Crew. 


This  is  very  old  slang,  but 
still  in  use  in  America.  From 
the  Italian  ganaicia,  jaw,  a  jaw- 
bone. 

Gander,  a  married  man.  A  very 
old  English  term,  but  still  in  use 
in  America,  where  a, gander  (also 
a  "stag")  partlymeans  agather- 
ing  of  men  only.  Oander-vaonth 
in  England  is  the  time  during  a 
wife's  confinement,  so  called,  in 
Hotten's  opinion,  from  the  free 
range  which  the  husband  has  at 
that  time  among  the  "  geese." 
It  may  be  remarked  in  this  con- 
nection that  geese  or  gheeze  in 
Dutch  slang  means  a  young 
girl,  any  girl ;  also  a  lady  of 
pleasure.  It  is  very  probable 
that  there  is  an  undercurrent 
of  meaning  in  reference  to 
these  slang  words  in  the  nursery 
rhyme : — 

"  Goosey,  Goosey  Gander, 
Whither  dost  thou  wander  ? 
Up  stairs,  down  stairs, 
In  my  lady's  chamber." 

Gandy  month  (common).  Vide 
Gander-month  under  Gan- 
der. 

Gaoler's  coach  (old  slang),  a 
hurdle  on  which  at  one  time  it 
was  customary  to  convey  crimi- 
nals to  the  place  of  execution. 

Gape-seed  (common),  something 
to  look  at,  cause  for  astonish- 
ment ;  a  lazy  fellow  unmindful 
of  his  work  is  said  to  be  looking 
for  gape-seed  (Hotten). 

Gapes  (popular),  fit  of  yawning. 


Gapped —  Garters. 


397 


Another  hour  of  music  was  to  give 
delight  or  the  gapes,  as  real  or  affected 
taste  for  it  prevailed. — Miss  A  usteii  :  Pev 
suasion. 

Gapped  (old  slang),  getting  the 
worst  of  it.  From  old  hunting 
slang. 

I  will  never  meet  at  hard-edge  with  her ; 
if  I  did  ...  1  should  be  confoundedly 
gapped. — Richardson  :  Grand/son. 

Garden  (London),  for  tradesmen 
and  others,  Covent  Garden 
Market  ;  for  actors,  Covent 
Garden  Theatre.  (Thieves),  to 
"put  one  in  the  garden,"  to 
cheat  a  confederate  out  of  his 
share. 

Gardener  (popular),  an  awkward 
coachman.  "  Get  on,  gardener," 
is  a  most  insulting  expression 
from  a  cabby  to  a  real  coach- 
man (Hotten).  The  allusion  is 
to  families  who  employ  the 
gardener  as  coachman. 

Garden- gout  (old  slang),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

When  young  men  by  whoring,  as  it 
commonly  falls  out,  get  the  pox,  which, 
by  the  way  of  extenuation,  they  call  the 
common  garden  gout. — Bailey :  Erasmus, 

It  must  be  said  that  Covent 
Garden  had  a  bad  reputation. 
A  "garden-whore"  was  a  low 
prostitute. 

Gargle  (common),  a  drink.  The 
term  was  first  used  by  medical 
students. 

A  hasty  introduction  and  a  diplomatic 
slope 
On  the  part  of  the  ingenious  Mr.  B., 


And  the  gay  and  gallant   Green  was, 
single-handed,  left  to  cope 
With   the    siren    who  dispensed  the 
L.S.D. 
But  her  taste  for  high-priced  gargles 
could  in  no  wise  be  restrained. 
She  appeared  to  look  on  oof  as  so  much 
dirt, 
And  he  very  soon  discovered  all  the 
assets  that  remained 
Were  a  card-case  and  a  ticket  for  a 
shirt. 

— Sporting  Times. 

Garnish  (old  slang),  a  fee  exacted 
by  the  keepers  of  gaols  from 
the  prisoners  for  extra  comforts, 
real  or  imaginary.  In  Yorkshire 
this  term  means  footing  money. 

Garret  (common),  the  head,  or 
upper  storey.  To  have  one's 
garret  unfurnished  is  to  be  a 
fool. 

As  Blagg  rolled   over   them,  and  they 

rolled  over  Blagg, 
While  what's  called  the  "  claret "  flew 

over  the  garret. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Garreter  (thieves),  a  thief  who 
gets  on  the  roofs  of  houses  and 
effects  an  entrance  by  a  garret 
window. 

Garrison  hack  (army),  a  young 
lady  brought  up  in  a  garrison 
town,  and  who,  according  to 
the  definition  of  an  oflScer, 
"  knows  all  the  officers  by  their 
Christian  names." 

Garrotting  (cardsharpers),  cheat- 
ing by  concealing  certain  cards 
at  the  back  of  the  neck  (Hotten). 
The  allusion  is  obvious. 

Garters  (nautical),  the  irons  or 
bilboes. 


398 


Gas — Gaudy. 


Gas  (common),  boastful  talk, 
bounce. 

"  The   Frog  he   would  a-wooing  go "   is 

excellently  done. 
By  Mr.   Henry  Gascoigne,  at  the  merry 

"  Marry-bun  ; " 
In  wishing  him'success  of  it,  we  one  and 

all  may  join. 
He  has  so  little  g-as,  he  ought  to  take  a 

lot  of  "  coigne.'' 

— /'««. 

To  gas  is  to  bounce  or  brasr  ; 
to  give  gas,  to  scold  or  give  a 
beating.  (Popular),  "  none  of 
your  old  gas,"  do  not  brag,  none 
of  your  nonsense.  Oas  in  old 
French  (from  Latin  gauderc), 
signifies  a  joke,  mockery ;  but 
there  is  apparently  no  connec- 
tion. 

Gas  bag  (common),  a  man  of 
words  and  wind,  a  gasconader. 
"  To  gas  "  and  "  gassing,"  as 
used  in  America,  are  the  equiva- 
lents of  the  French  blaguer  and 
blague,  German  gasebalg. 

Gas  pipes  (printers),  bad  rollers. 

Gassy  (common),  liable  to  "  flare 
up  "at any  offence.  (American), 
talkative,  bouncing,  full  of  wind. 
According  to  Kluge  (EtymoU,- 
gisches  Worlei-bi-eck  der  DeutscUen 
Sp-ache)  the  word  "  gas "  was 
invented  by  Van  Helmont,  the 
alchymist,  who  died  in  1744. 

Gate-bill  (Oxford  University),  a 
list  of  the  names  and  time  of 
coming  in  of  those  who  return 
to  College  after  ten  at  night. 

Gate-race  (sporting),  a  mock  race 
got  up  not  so  much  for  the  best 


runner  to  win,  as  for  the  money 
taken  from  the  spectators  (Hot- 
ten). 

Gater  (Winchester  College),  a  leap 
head  first  into  a  "pot "  or  canal 
lock. 

Gate,  to  (University),  to  punish  a 
student  by  restricting  his  free- 
dom of  going  outside  the  College 
gate. 

The  Dean  gave  him  a  book  of  Virgil  to 
write  out,  and  grated  him  for  a  fortnight 
after  hall.  —  T.  tlughes:  Tom  Brown  at 
Oxford. 

Gathering  the  taxes  (tailors), 
calling  at  workshops  when  on 
the  road. 

Gating.     Vide  Gati:. 

Gats  (Shrewsbury  school),  quan- 
tity, number. 

They  are  called  up  in  gats  of  three  at 
a  time. — Everyday    Life    in    our  Public 

Schools. 

Gatter  (popular),  porter. 

Lots  of  gatter,  quo'  she,  are  flowing, 
Lend  me  a  lift  in  the  family  way. 

—  H  i./iam  Maginn. 

It  has  been  suggested  that 
the  term  is  from  a  play  on 
"  gater,"  meaning  gate-keeper 
and  porter ;  or  from  "  gutter," 
the  conduit  from  which  the 
beer  flows  in  public-houses. 

Gaudy  (Oxford  University  and 
Inns  of  Court),  grand  fea>t, 
from  gaudium.  Also  the  annuul 
dinner  of  the  fellows  of  a  col- 
lege in  memory  of  founders  and 
benefactors. 


Gawfs —  Geezer. 


399 


Gawfs  (costermongers),  cheap  red- 
skinned  apples. 

GaTwney  (provincial),  common 
among  the  lower  orders.  It 
means  a  sawney  or  half-witted 
person. 

Gawpns  (nautical),  a  stupid,  idle 
fellow ;  a  "gawcum"  is  a  pro- 
vincialism with  the  same  signi- 
fication. 

Gay  (common),  loose,  dissipated ; 
a  "gay  woman"  or  ''^ gay  girl," 
a  prostitute.  "All  gay"  vide 
All  gay. 

Gay  tyke  boy  (popular),  a  dog- 
fancier  (Hotten). 

G.  B.  (American),  an  abbreviation 
of  "  grand  bounce,"  i.e.,  a  rejec- 
tion, dismissal,  or  being  turned 
out,  or  disinherited. 

My  dad  and  I 

Have  had  a  round-about,  and  he  has  dis 
Sis-sis-inherited  me  ;  and  I  have 
Been  given  the  G.  B.  on  your  account, 
My  be -be -beautiful  ! 

— A  Californian  Romance. 

G.  C.  of  C,  the  (American),  the 
Glorious  Climate  of  California, 
and  the  Intellect  of  Boston,  are 
such  stock  phrases  in  the  United 
States,  that  academical  writers 
have  suggested  the  expediency 
of  reducing  them,  like  Anno 
Domini,  to  initials. 

If  the  "  glorious  climate  of  California  ' 
is  responsible  for  the  exceedingly  hopeful 
prospects  of  Rocklin's  future censusreports, 
and  the  said  lively  outlook,  m.iterialised, 
is  responsible  for  my  mishap,  then  plainly 


the  said  G.  C.  of  C.  is  the  responsible  ele- 
ment in  the  case.  —  Thomas  Stevens : 
A  round  the  World  on  a  Bicycle. 

Geebung  (native  word  adopted 
by  the  settlers),  an  AustraUan 
wUd-fruit. 

Gee  or  gee-gee  (common),  a 
horse.  From  gee  or  gee  up,  to 
turn  to  the  off  side. 

"  I'm  sick  of  seconds,"  said  the  Tealeaf, 
shutting  up  his  book  with  a  bang,  after 
backing  five  gee-gees  in  succession,  who 
had  occupied  this  unenviable  position. 
— Bird  of  Freedom. 

(Popular),  it  won't  gee,  it  will 
not  do.     From  a  provincialism. 

Gee-gee  dodge  (commercial), 
selling  horse-flesh  as  animal 
food. 

The  emploj'es  I  interviewedwere  encou- 
raged to  speak  plainly  and  without  reserve  ; 
and  unknown  one  to  the  other,  they  all 
agreed  in  the  assurance  that  to  their 
knowledge  ihc  gee-gee  dodge,  as  they  called 
it,  was  seldom  or  ever  practised  by  their 
masters — the  main  safeguard  for  the  public 
being  that  it  was  impossible  to  bargain 
with  any  one  for  a  regular  supply. — J, 
Greenwood :  Veiled  Mysteries. 

Geekie  (Scottish  thieves),  police- 
office. 

Connor  next  asked  her  where  it  was,  to 
which  she  replied,  "  Ben  the  geekie."  He 
did  not  understand  this  at  the  time,  but 
from  the  light  which  he  afterwards  got  he 
knew  it  to  mean  the  police-office. — Police 
News. 

Geezer  (popular),  wife,  old  woman. 
Dutch  slang,  geeze  or  geese,  a  girl, 
a  mistress,  vide  Gandek.  Also 
a  man  derisively. 

He'd  flirt  and  boat,  but  never  wrote 
."V  note  to  his  old  geezer. 
— J.  F.  Mitc/ieil:  Jimiity  Johnson's 
Holiday. 


400 


Geneva —  Genuine. 


Geneva  print  (nautical),  gin. 

And  if  you  meet 
An  officer  preaching  of  sobriety, 
Unless  he  read  it  in  Geneva  print, 
Lay  him  by  the  heels. 

— Massinger. 

Gent  (popular),  a  contraction  of 
gentleman,  generally  applied  to 
a  dressy  fellow.  Originated 
about  1847  from  tailors'  adver- 
tisements. The  geinX  was  the 
'Any  of  that  time. 

Last  summer  to  Brighton  invited, 

My  friends,  on  a  visit  I  went, 
And  while  on  the  sands  promenading 

I  met  with  a  handsome  young  gent. 
His  figure  was  that  of  Adonis, 

His  eyes  they  were  really  divine, 
And  oh  !  how  my  heart  beat  with  rapture 

When  he  turned  and  his  eyes  they  met 
mine. 

— Harry  Hartley :  Writing  his  Name 
on  the  Sands. 

(Old  cant),  money;  from  ar- 
gent. 

Gentleman  commoner  (Oxford 
University),  a  student  who  pays 
higher  fees  and  dines  with  the 
fellows  of  the  college.  At  Cam- 
bridge the  ijhrase  is  a  "  fellow 
commoner." 

Gentleman  of  three  outs  ( popular) , 
without  money,  without  sense, 
without  manners. 

Gentleman's  companion  (thieves), 
a  louse. 

Gentlemen  (nautical),  the  mess- 
mates of  the  gunroom  or  cockpit 
— as  mates,  midshipmen,  clerks, 
and  cadets  (Admiral  Smyth). 

Gentlemen  of  observation  (turf), 
an  euphemism  for  "  touts," 


An  equally  strong  force  of  the  "touting  " 
fraternity,  and  the  sight  of  a  battalion  of 
these  gent/enten  of  observation,  as  they  are 
more  politely  called,  under  the  trees  of  the 
"  Limekilns,"  is  one  of  the  most  interesting 
sights  of  our  morning's  walk  at  a  meeting. 
— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Gentlemen  of  the  g^reen  baize 
road  (gaming),  plunderers  at  the 
card  table,  sharj^ers  (Dickens' 
"Bleak  House");  based  upon  the 
familiar  phrase,  "knights  of  the 
road,"  i.e.,  highwaymen;  hence 
gentlemen  of  the  green  baize  road 
is  equivalent  to  cheating  gam- 
blers, or  sharpers — cards,  dice, 
and  similar  games  being  gene- 
rally played  upon  tables  covered 
with  green  baize. 

Gentle,  to  (American,  Western), 
to  tame  horses  after  the  halter 
breaking,  or  rough  breaking  in 
is  accomplished. 

That's  so.  I  ain't  got  a  colt  at  all  in 
the  corrals  to  gentle  now. — />".  Francis : 
Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Gentry  cove  (canting),  a  gentle- 
man. 

The  gentry  cove  will  be  romboyled  by 
his  dam.  Queer  cuffin  will  be  the  word 
yet  if  we  don't  tout.  —  Bcaconsjield : 
l^'enetia. 

Gentry,  flash  (thieves),  swell 
thieves. 

Oh,  if  my  hands  adhere  to  cash, 
My  gloves  are  at  least  clean, 
And  rarely  have  \.\\e  ^ent>y  Jiash 
In  sprucer  clothes  been  seen. 

— Lytton:  I'auL  Clifford. 

Gentry  mort  (old  cant),  a  lady. 

Genuine,  to  (Winchester  College), 
to  praise. 


Geordie — Gerund-grinder. 


401 


Geordie  (nautical),  a  north  country 
collier. 

George  Home  (printers),  a  com- 
mon exclamation  among  printers 
to  a  person  who  tells  some  old 
story  as  if  it  were  new. 

Georgetown  Yelper,  the  (Ameri- 
can), name  of  a  mythical  or 
imaginary  newspaper  invented 
by  an  editor  when  he  wishes 
to  publish  original  matter  as 
borrowed.  The  name  is  only 
given  in  illustration,  any  other 
may  be  substituted. 
Office  boy  to  editor,  respecf/uUy — "  Fore- 
man says  we  need  half  a  column  more  of 
editorial." 

Editor— "  TcW  him  to  take  that  article 
we  had  on  Blaine's  speech  day  before  yes- 
terday, beginning,  'The  following  scathing 
review  of  Jim  Blaine's  late  abortive  effort 
from  the  Jonesburg  Terror  is  so  illustra- 
tive of  our  views  that  we,'  &c.,  and  run  it 
in  again,  with  the  name  of  the  Georgetoivn 
Yelper  inserted  in  place  of  the  other 
paper." 

Georgic  (Eton),  to  order  a  boy 
to  do  a  georgic  was  a  favourite 
punishment  with  irate  Eton 
masters.  It  consisted  in  writ- 
ing out  about  800  lines  of  Latin, 
an  operation  which  took  at 
least  three  hours  for  the  fastest 
writers. 

Then  he  pulled  himself  together,  dashed 
into  the  house  and  upstairs,  where  he 
found  Palmer  Budd,  a  fellow  of  infinite 
jest  and  some  daring,  "staying  out," 
stutteringly  demanded  if  he  were  the 
culprit,  received  an  affirmative,  inflicted  a 
georgic,  and  then  sought  for  his  footman. 
— Sketchy  Jileinories  0/ Eton. 

German  duck  (popular),  sheep's 
head  stewed  with  onions. 


German  ducks  (popular),  bugs; 
otherwise  knows  as  B  flats,  in 
opposition  to  F  sharps,  i.e.,  fleas. 

German  flutes  (rhyming  slang),  a 
pair  of  boots. 

Germans  (common),  sausages. 

I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that — 
having  spent  several  half-hours  in  the 
company  of  as  many  separate  witnesses, 
all  of  them  employed  at  different  manu- 
factories of  germans,  "collared  head," 
and  "  spiced  beef,"  chiefly  for  supplying 
shops  situated  in  the  poorest  and  most 
densely  populated  neighbourhoods— as  far 
as  I  can  m.-ike  out  there  is  at  present  no 
danger  that  our  feline  pets  will  go  hungry 
because  of  the  wholesale  conversion  of 
their  favourite  food  into  sausages. — /. 
Greenwood:  Veiled  Mysteries. 

Gerry  (old  cant).  C.  J.  R.  Turner 
translates  this  as  excrement, 
and  derives  it  from  the  Latin 
gerrce,  trifles,  stuff,  nonsense. 
It  also  occurs  in  cant  as  jeer,  in 
which  case  it  is  simply  the 
gypsy  jeer,  j'lr,  the  rectum,  also 
excrement,  though  fvl  is  the 
common  word  for  the  latter. 
Where  it  occurs  as  iere,  Mr. 
Turner  derives  it  from  the  Gaelic 
inneir,  dung,  which  is  hardly  so 
close  as  jeer. 

Gerry  gan  (old  cant),  incidentally, 
hold  your    tongue.      Literally, 

s in  your  mouth.     Modern 

Parisians    will    say,     "  Tais    ta 
gueule  ou  j'te  c dedans." 

Gerry  gan,  the  ruffian  dye  thee. 

— I/annan .'  Caveat. 


Gerund  -  grinder 

schoolmaster. 


(common),     a 


2  C 


402 


Get — Get  set. 


Get  against  the  game,  to  (Ame- 
rican), a  term  borrowed  from 
poker,  but  in  general  use  to 
signify  taking  risks  in  anything. 

Get    a   gprind    on    any  one,    to 

(American),  to  have  a  joke  on 
a  man,  to  play  a  trick,  or  to 
have  "a  good  story"  to  tell 
against  him,  it  being  a  popular 
belief  that  anything  which 
annoys,  pains,  or  vexes  a  person 
is  "smart,"  or  witty. 

Get  a  hat,  to  (cricketers),  to  bowl 
three  wickets  in  three  consecu- 
tive balls  ;  originally  one  was 
supposed  to  be  presented  with 
a  new  cocked  hat  when  he  had 
achieved  the  feat. 

Get  a  set  on,  to  (Australian  popu- 
lar), to  have  a  spite  against. 
This  is  a  variation  of  the  English 
"  to  make  a  dead-set  against." 

Get  at,  to  (racing),  to  put  hors-dc 
combat,  to  corrupt.  "  Getting 
at"  meant  originally  getting 
access  to  a  horse  to  injure  it, 
but  it  has  also  been  transferred 
to  those  connected  with  the 
horse,  the  owner,  the  trainer, 
the  jockey,  the  veterinary  sur- 
geon. Applied  to  them  it  meant 
the  same  as  "  get  round,"  or 
"square,"  i.e.,  to  corrupt  into 
not  running  the  horse  fairly. 
From  this  it  has  been  applied  to 
any  kind  of  corruption.  For  in- 
stance rabid  Tories  have  accused 
^Ir.  Gladstone  of  having  been 
f/ot  at  by  the  Irish  Americans. 


"  You  see,  sir,"  he  explained,  "  there  are 
no  end  of  loafing  vagabonds  about  that 
'ere  Yering  ;  who  knows  but  what  some  of 
'em  might  take  it  into  their  heads  ta  get  at 
him." — A.  C.  Grant. 

Get  away  (American),  a  loco- 
motive, called  in  English  popu- 
lar slang  a  "  puffer."  Also  a 
railway  train. 

Get  back  into  your  box  I  (Ameri- 
can), be  quiet,  silence  1 

Get  behind  a  man,  to  (common), 
to  indorse  a  man's  bill. 

Get  even  with,  to  (common),  to 
revenge  one's  self. 

Those  who  think  this  country  fails  to 
get  eren  with  France  for  her  unjust  dis- 
crimination against  American  pork  pos- 
sibly have  never  heard  a  graduate  of  an 
American  young  ladies'  boarding-school 
mangling  French.  The  revenge  is  terrible. 
— A  merican  Ncivspapcr. 

Get  off  a  keen,  to  (American 
cadet),  to  make  a  witty  remark. 

Get  one  cold,  to  (American),  to 
have  a  man  at  advantage,  to 
"best  him,"  to  "have  him  dead 
to  rights."  To  pin  a  man  down, 
or  to  catch  him.  To  get  one 
foul  (My.  Americanisms). 

Get-penny  (old  slang),  a  paying 
speculation.  It  occurs  in  Kirk- 
man's  "  Wits  or  Sports  upon 
Sports"  (1673). 

Get  set,  to  (cricket),  to  begin  to 
play  well,  when  the  batsman  is 
"  getting  Iiis  eye  in." 


Get — Getting. 


403 


Get  the  length  of  one's  foot,  to 

(popular),  to  understand  how  to 
manage  a  person. 

Get  the  mitten,  to  (American 
Universities),  to  be  expelled 
from  college. 

(Popular),  to  be  discarded  or 
jilted. 

There  is  a  young  lady  I  have  set  my 
heart  on  ;  though  whether  she  is  a  goin'  to 
give  me  hers,  or  ghie  me  the  mitten,  I 
ain't  quite  satisfied. — Sam  Slick  :  Hjuiian 
Nature. 

Get  the  needle,  to  (cards),  to  lose 
much  money  at  a  game.  (Com- 
mon), to  get  angry. 

And  fancy  my  slang  being  stale,  Charlie  ! 

Gives  me  the  needle,  that  do. 
In  course  I've  been  in  it  for  years,  mate, 

and  mix  up  the  old  and  the  new ; 
But  if  the  St.  James's  young   gentleman 

fancies  hisself  on  this  lay, 
I'll  "slang  "  him  for  glasses  all  round,  him 

whose  patter  fust  fails  'im  to  pay. 

— Punch. 

Get  there,  to  (American),  to  suc- 
ceed. A  characteristic  Ameri- 
can expression  very  freely  used 
in  conversation.  "  The  specu- 
lation book's  ratl'.er  smoky — but 
I'll  get  there,"  means  that  though 
the  venture  is  unpromising  at 
present  it  will  prove  profitable 
in  the  end. 

Get  there   with    both    feet,   to 

(West  American   slang),  to   bo 
very  successful. 

He  said  as  he'd  been  gambling,  and  was 
two  hundred  dollars  abend  of  ihe  town. 
He  got  there  xvith  both  feet  at  starting, 


and  was  eight  hundred  ahead  once,  but 
he  played  it  off  at  monte. — F.  Francis  : 
Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Get  the  run,  to  (English  and  Aus- 
tralian), to  be  discharged. 

Get  the  sack  or  bag,  to  (common), 
to  be  discharged.  As  the  "bag- 
man "  is  the  traveller  of  the  firm, 
very  possibly  to  get  the  hag  means 
to  be  sent  on  one's  travels.  Cf. 
"get  the  sack,"  "get  the  run." 
Compare  also  German  "  einen 
korb  behommen,"togetabasket, 
to  be  dismissed. 

"  Do  you  know  to  whom  you  are  talk- 
ing?" replied  the  Governor.    "  No,  and  I 

am if  I  care,"  came  the  answer  ;  and  it 

took  all  the  illustrious  personage's  powers 
of  persuasion  to  get  the  man  to  take  him 
across.  The  ferryman  now  knows  who  his 
passenger  was.  He  has  got  the  sack. — 
Modem  Society. 

Getting  an'encore  (tailors),  hav- 
ing to  rectif  J'  something  wrong 
with  your  job. 

Getting  into  his  wool,  wooling 
him  (American;,  beating  a 
man,  assaulting  him  violently. 
A  simile  borrowed  from  the 
negroes,  who  in  fighting  attack 
the  head  and  pull  the  hair. 

Chicago  traders  ars  getting  into  Phila- 
dcl/ihia's  wool  in  fine  style.  —  Chicago 
Tribune. 

Getting  on  (turf),  backing  a  horse 
for  any  particular  race.  The 
term  usually  implies  a  more  or 
less  hurried  operation. 

Getting  out  (racing),  laying 
against     a     horse     previously 


404 


Getting — Ghaut. 


backed.  This  is  almost  invari- 
ably done  in  haste,  though  per- 
haps not  more  often  repented 
of  at  leisure  than  are  most 
speculations. 

Getting  the  leng^  of  his  foot 

(tailors),  knowing  what  is  pre- 
ferred, and  acting  accordingly. 

Getting    your    flannels.       Vide 
Flannels. 


my  get-up.  In  evident  agitation  and  alarm 
he  informed  me  that  he  did  not  want  any- 
thing to  say  to  me. — J.  Greenwood :  Tag, 
Rag,  &'  Co. 

Get  up  and  dust  (American),  arise 
and  depart ;  the  idea  being  that 
a  man  or  a  horse  raises  a  dust 
as  he  goes  on  the  road. 

While  dusting  the  furniture  a  Bangor 
serving-maid  fell  out  of  a  second-storey 
window.  She  then  placidly  arose  and 
dusted  herself.— Detroit  Free  Press. 


Getting    your    hand     on    him 

(tailors),  not  trusting  him,  sus- 
picious. 

Get,  to  (American),  to  depart 
hastily.  It  is  generally  in  the 
form  "you  get !  "  i.e.,  "  begone." 
There  is  also  an  expression, 
"you  bet  1 "  meaning  that  you 
may  bet  on  it,  or  be  sure  of  the 
matter  in  question. 

One  night  Bill  he.ird  a  noise.  It  was  a 
burglar  who  had  clamberated  the  grape- 
vine arbour,  and  was  just  going  to  entrance 
the  window.  Bill  he  grabbed  his  gun  and 
drew  a  bead  on  the  burg,  saying,  "You 
get ! "  The  burg  looked  up,  and  seeing 
the  iron,  replied,  "  You  bet,"  and  retreated. 
—  The  Tale  of  Bill  Hhuter. 

Get-up  (common\  dress,  pure  and 
simple,  or  dress  with  marked 
intention  in,  or  mode  of  dress- 
ing. To  get  up  well  is  to  be 
perfectly  dressed. 

The  F.mpress  of  Aiistria  never  went  out 
hunting  without  her  fan,  the  only  tiling 
tnat  seemed  strange  to  English  eyes  in  a 
very  perfuct  costume  and  get-u/. — 'J he 
World. 

The  way  in  which  he  received  my  civil 
appac.ition  was  coinplinicntary  at  least  to 


Get  up  one's  Injun,  to  (Ameri- 
can). When  a  man  feels  his 
temper  ri.'^ing  with  a  certain 
amount  of  determined  ferocity 
he  is  said  to  feel  the  Indian 
rising  in  him. 

G.  H.  (printers),  see  Stereo. 
These  initial  letters  owe  their 
origin  to  a  certain  Mr.  George 
Home,  a  typographer,  who  was 
in  the  habit  of  retailing  .'^tale 
news.  If  a  workman  repeats  a 
story  already  known,  an  inti- 
mation to  hold  his  tongue  is  con- 
veyed by  uttering  the  ominous 
letters  G.  II. 

Ghastly  (society),  the  commone.st 
emphatic  word  of  the  day,  sig- 
nifying bad,  awful. 

Ghaut  (Anglo-Indian),  a  landing- 
place,  or  path  of  descent  to  a 
river. 

The  country-people  call  this  place  the 

ghaut, 
And   from    its   foot-hills    scanty  breath 
there  be. 
—Burton :  Translation  pfCarnoens. 


Ghee — -Ghouls. 


405 


Ghee  (Anglo-Indian),  boiled  but- 
ter ;  used  in  cooking  through  all 
India. 

"  In  most  of  the  prisons  of 
Hyder  Ali  it  was  the  custom 
(of  European  prisoners)  to  cele- 
brate particular  days,  when  the 
funds  permitted,  with  the  luxury 
of  plantain  fritters  (fried  ban- 
anas), a  draught  of  sherbet,  and 
a  convivial  song.  On  one  occa- 
sion the  old  Scotch  ballad  "  My 
wife  has  ta'en  the  gee "  was 
admirably  sung  and  loudly  en- 
cored. It  was  reported  to  the 
Kelledar  (commander  of  the 
fort)  that  the  prisoners  said 
and  sung  through  all  the  night 
of  nothing  but  ghee.  The  Kelle- 
dar, certain  that  discoveries 
had  been  made  regarding  his 
malversations  in  that  article 
of  garrison  stores,  determined 
to  conciliate  their  secrecy  by 
causing  an  abundant  supply  of 
this  unaccustomed  luxury  to 
be  henceforth  placed  within 
the  reach  of  their  farthing 
purchases  "  (WUkes'  Historical 
Sketches,  Anglo-Indian  Glos- 
sary). 

Ghost-racket  (American),  any 
event  or  narrative  into  which 
the  spiritual  or  ghostly  element 
enters. 

The  most  novel  ghost-racket  on  record 
has  just  been  worked  by  a  Jersey  detective 
in  a  vain  attempt  to  scare  an  ignorant 
German  into  confessing  that  he  was  a 
murderer. — Chicago  Tribune. 

We  have  had  the  tallest  ghost-racket 
here  in  our  town  that  you  ever  did  audit. 
—  Washington  {Pa.)  Eagle. 


Ghost  walking  (theatrical),  a  term 
originally  applied  by  an  impe- 
cunious stroller  in  a  sharing 
company  to  the  operation  of 
"  holding  the  treasury,"  or 
paying  the  salaries,  which  has 
become  a  stock  facetiae  amongst 
all  kinds  and  descriptions  of 
actors.  Instead  of  inquiring 
whether  the  treasury  is  open, 
they  usually  say — "Has  the 
glioit  walked  ? "  or  "  What !  has 
this  thing  appeared  again  ? " 
(Shakspeare). 

A  new  play  called  "  The  Skeleton  "  has 
been  produced  at  a  Vaudeville  matinde. 
It  isn't  likely  to  be  in  much  esteem  with 
the  actors,  owing  to  a  natural  deficiency 
of  "  fat,"  although,  on  the  other  hand,  it 
may  certainly  be  expected  to  offer  a 
favourable  opportunity  for  the  ghost  to 
•walk. — Funny  Folks. 

(Commercial),  in  large  firms, 
when  the  clerk  whose  duty  it 
is  goes  round  the  various  de- 
partments paying  wages,  it  is 
common  to  say  the  ghost  walks. 

Ghouls  (American),  prying  and 
spying  reporters  for  newspapers 
who  chronicle  the  meanest 
gossip  of  private  life.  The  term 
originated  in  the  "ghoulish 
glee"  of  President  Cleveland. 
The  word  ghoul  is  a  great 
favourite  with  American  news- 
paper writers,  and  is  used  in 
every  grammatical  form,  as  to 
ghoul,  ghoulcr,  ghoulest,  and 
ghoulette,  a  female  ghoul,  espe- 
cially a  blackmail-levying  pros- 
titute. 

The  ghouls  also  reported  tliat  Mrs. 
Folsom,  in  the  absence  of  Mrs.  Cleveland, 


4o6 


Ghoulish — Giggcr. 


had  licked  Hector  (the  President's  dog) 
for  being  too  fresh  and  promiscuous.  .  .  . 
The  g-Ziouis  who  haunt  Mr.  Cleveland  are 
not  confined  to  the  Republican  press.  Far 
from  it.  A  £koul  of  the  Washington  Post 
reported  that  the  sex  of  Hector  had  been 
misunderstood,  and  his  (her)  real  sex  just 
discovered. — JVew  York  World. 

Ghoulish  glee  (American),  an  ex- 
pression first  used  by  President 
Cleveland,  which  immediately 
became  a  popular  catch-word. 
It  may  be  observed  that  in  the 
following  paragraph  there  is  a 
slang  expression  in  every  sen- 
tence. 

Some  newspaper  with  ghoulish  glee  re- 
marks that  the  President  undertook  to 
pull  down  his  Vest,  but  that  Vest  pulled 
him  down.  It  is  certain  that  he  squatted. 
He  bounced  Benton  for  making  partizan 
speeches,  and  was  scared  into  putting  him 
back  into  office.  It  is  the  completest 
backdown  known  to  the  White  House. — 
Chicago  Tribune. 

G.  I.  (printers),  "general  indul- 
gence," i.e.,  a  birthday,  holiday 
treat,  and  is  also  the  festive 
occasion  when  an  apprentice 
"comes  of  his  time,"  an  event 
signalised  by  much  noise,  and 
usually  followed  by  bread  and 
cheese  and  beer.  Sometimes 
the  words  "great  independ- 
ence "  are  attributed  to  these 
letters  on  such  an  occasion, 
specially  referring  to  the  inde- 
pendence gained  by  the  ap- 
prentice. 

Gib  (prison  and  army),  slang  for 
Gibraltar,  to  which  transporta- 
tion ceased  in  1S75.  (Nautical), 
a  forelock 


Gib  face  (popular),  a  heavy,  ugly 
face.  To  "  hang  one's  gih"  to 
pout  the  lower  lip.  Gih  is  pro- 
perly the  lower  lip  of  a  horse, 
or  a  bump  or  swelling. 

Gideon's  band  (American),  a  slang 
term  for  good-fellowship,  asso- 
ciation, union  for  carousing,  &c. 
The  term  comes  from  a  negro 
minstrel  song,  the  air  and  some 
of  the  words  of  which  were 
originally  of  a  camp-meeting  or 
Methodist  hymn. 

Oh,  keep  your  hat  upon  your  head, 
For  you  may  need  it  when  you're  dead  ; 
Oh,  keep  your  shoes  upon  your  feet, 
That  you  may  walk  the  golden  street. 

Ch.  If  you  belong  to  Gideons  band. 
Oh,  here's  my  heart  and  here's  my 

hand. 
We're  hunting  for  a  home. 

Oh,  keep  your  trousers  on  your  legs, 
That  you  may  hang  'em  on  the  golden 

pegs ; 

'Twixt  you  and  me,  I  really  think 
It's  pretty  near  time  to  take  a  drink. 
If  you  belong  to  Gideon's  band. 

Gift-house  (printers),  a  house  of 
call.  Compositors  have  their 
"gifts"  also,  or  clubs — a  limited 
number  of  members  being  ad- 
mitted onl}%  and  their  objects 
being  to  find  employment  or  to 
provide  for  non-employment  in 
the  shape  of  a  provident  allow- 
ance. 


Gig  (popular), 
nose. 


a    farthing,    the 


Gigger  (tailors),  sewing-machine ; 
from  "  to  gig,"  to  make  a 
noise. 


Gig-lamps — Ginger. 


407 


Gig-lamps  (common),  spectacles. 
A  person  who  wears  spectacles 
is  sometimes  called  gig-lamps. 

He  had  chosen  his  friend  Verdant  to  be 
his  prompter  ;  so  that  the  well-known  gig- 
lamps  of  our  hero  formed,  as  it  were,  a 
very  focus  of  attraction. — C.  Bede :  Ver- 
dant Green. 

Gills  (popular),  the  jaws,  the  face ; 
to  give  a  "bang  in  the  gills," 
to  strike  one  in  the  face.  Also 
a  high  or  large  shirt  collar. 

Gilt  (popular),  money ;  from  the 
German  geld,  Dutch  gelt,  Guelte, 
in  French  shopmen's  assistants' 
slang,  is  the  percentage  allowed 
them  on  the  sale.  Shakspeare 
has  punned  on  the  word  gilt. 

Have  for  the  gilt  of  France, 
O  guilt  indeed  ! 

—Henry  V. 

(Thieves),  a  crowbar. 

Gilt-edged  (American),  as  the  best 
note-paper  was  once  always  gilt- 
edged,  the  term  passed  to  the 
Stock  Exchange  to  denote  the 
paper  or  promissory  notes  of 
the  first  class,  on  which  there 
could  be  no  risk.  Hence  the 
expression  became  general  for 
anything  superlative. 

"  A  man  is  an  infernal  fool  to  play 
poker  anywhere,"  said  a  well-known  sport 
and  politician  to  a  Tribune  reporter  the 
other  evening;  "but  he  is  a  gilt-eJged 
idiot  to  play  the  game  in  a  card-room 
or  anywhere  else  where  Tom,  Dick,  and 
Harry  may  take  a  liand." — Chicago  Tri- 
bune. 

Gilt-tick  (costermonger),  money 
as  represented  by  gold  coins. 


Gimcrack  (provincial),  a  handy 
man,  a  universal  mechanic  or 
Jack  of  all  trades.  In  this  sense 
common  in  Northamptonshire. 
(Popular),  a  spruce  person. 

Gimlet-eyed  (common),  with  very 
small  eyes.  A  corresponding 
but  coarse  expression  in  French 
slang  is  "  des  yeux  en  trou  de 
pine." 

Gin  (Australian),  the  wife  of  an 
Australian  native. 

An  Australian  settler's  wife  bestows  on 
some  poor  slaving  gin  a  cast-off  French 
bonnet. — C.  Kingsley  :  Two  Years  Ago. 

Gin  and  Gospel  Gazette  (jour- 
nalistic). The  Morning  Advertiser. 
So  called  from  the  fact  of  its 
having  for  a  long  period,  in  the 
early  days  of  its  existence,  de- 
voted a  portion  of  its  space  to 
the  announcements  of  its  parti- 
cular clientele,  and  another  to 
advertisements  of  works  on  theo- 
logy, and  notices  of  preachers  at 
London  churches  and  chapels. 

Ginger  (theatrical),  an  idiom  de- 
rived from  the  vocabulary  of 
the  stables.  If  an  actor  plays  a 
part  tamely,  or  ineffectively,  it 
is  a  common  phrase  to  say  "  he 
wants  ginger."  ( Popular),  a  man 
with  red,  yellow,  or  yellow- 
brownish-red  hair. 

The  man  that  I  loved  was  as  fair  as 

c^uld  be, 
The   man  that   I  married's  a  sort  of  a 

ginger, 
The  man  that  I  loved  paid  attention  to  me. 
The  man  that  I  married  my  feelings  doth 
injure. 
—  T.  C.  Le^uis:    The  Man  I  Loved 
and  the  Man  1  Married. 


4o8 


Gingerbread — Gh  e. 


A  ghiger,  a  showy,  fast  horse. 
From  a  well-known  practice  of 
horse-dealers. 

Gingerbread  (common),  a  dis- 
paraging epithet  for  too  showy 
adornment  of  articles  of  furni- 
ture, architecture,  &c. 

The  rooms  are  too  small,  and  too  much 
decorated  with  carving  and  gilding,  which 
is  a  kind  of  gingerbread  work. — Smollett : 
France  and  Italy. 

The  French  use  the  term  "  en 
pain  d'dpice"  with  alike  signi- 
fication. (Nautical),  "ginger- 
bread work,"  profusely  carved 
decorations  of  a  ship.  (Thieves), 
money. 

Your  old  dad  had  the  gingerbread. — 
Ainsworth:  Rookwood. 

Ginger-snap  (American),  a  hot- 
tempered  person,  particularly 
one  with  yellowish  or  ginger- 
coloured  hair.  A  gingtr-snap 
is  also  a  very  hard  ginger 
biscuit. 

Her  face  was  covered  with  tears  and  woe, 
and  her  little  fist  aided  her  apron  in  dab- 
bing more  sorrow  from  her  eyes.  "O 
teacher,  teacher,"  she  sobbed,  "  Maudie's 
calling  me  names.  Maudie  [a  sob]  called 
me  [another  sob]  a.ginger-s>Mp,  boo-hoo  !  " 
— American  Newspaper. 

Gingham  (common),  an  umbrella. 

He  was  one  of  the  great  unpaid  and  self- 
elected  flock  of  hypocrites  yclept  evange- 
lists, and,  with  a  gingham  in  one  hand  and 
a  bundle  of  tracts  in  the  other,  he  entered 
a  third-class  compartment. — Bird  o'  Free- 
don. 

Gingle-boys  (old),  coin. 

We  thank  our  fates,  the  sign  of  the 
gingle-boys  hangs  at  the  door  of  our 
pockets. — Massinger :  Virgin  Martyr. 


Gingumbob  (common),  a  bauble. 
From  the  same  root  as  "  jingle." 

Ginning  it  up  (American),  "work- 
ing things  up,"  working  hard 
and  energetically  at  anything. 

The  Apaches  were  out  to  beat  hell — at 
least  that  was  the  tune  we  were  all  talking 
to  about  that  time.  And  they  ■were ginning 
her  up,  and  making  things  a  bit  liveh, 
that's  a  fact. — /■".  Francis  :  Saddle  and 
Moccasin. 

The  origin  is  from  working  at 
a  cotton  gin. 

Gin  penny  (costermongers),  the 
extra  profit  charged  to  provide 
the  "glass  of  something  short" 
before  going  home. 

Gin  spinner,  a  distiller  or  rectifier 
of  gin  (Hotten). 

Gip  (thieves),  a  thief,  abbreviated 
from  gypsy. 

Gippies  (journalistic),  explained 
by  quotation. 

Colonel  Kitchener  will  probably  stick  to 
his  original  intention  of  having  only  gip- 
pies (as  they  call  the  Egyptian  soldiers 
here)  at  Suakim. —  The  IVorld. 

Give,  to  (common),  usedinaslangy 
sense  in  the  phrase  "  to  give  it 
one,"  to  scold,  to  thrash.  "  I'll 
give  it  you;"  in  French,  "Je 
vais  t'en  donner ;  "  Italian,  "  To 
vi  lo  daro."  (American),  to 
give  is  extensively  used  to  form 
active  verbs  of  extremely  varied 
forms.  "  To  give  on  the  make," 
to  be  clever  at  profiting.  "  To 
give  on  praying,"  to  excel  in 
prayer.  With  certain  persons  it 
is  used  as  frequently  as  "  fix." 


Give. 


409 


Give  away,  to  (American),  to 
inadvertently  betray  or  injure 
one's  self.  The  man  who  through 
forgetfulness  or  maladroitness 
"lets  out  "  that  he  himself  has 
been  guilty  of  something  which 
he  had  previously  condemned 
gives  himself  away  conspicu- 
ously. Also  to  communicate  a 
thing  or  to  violate  confidence. 
It  is  said  of  a  Yankee  damsel 
in  a  university  town  that  she 
once  expressed  great  horror  at 
the  conduct  of  certain  girls  with 
the  students.  "I  was  going," 
she  said,  ' '  by  the  College  early 
the  other  morning,  when  I  saw 
a  great  basket  being  let  down 
with  a  young  lady  in  it."  Here 
the  tale  was  interrupted,  and 
when  it  was  resumed  the  fair 
narrator  forgetfully  added  — 
"  Oh,  yes  !  wasn't  it  awful  ? 
just  when  about  ten  feet  from 
the  ground  the  rope  broke  — 
and  down  I  came!"  "There 
j'ou  gave  yoursdf  away,"  re- 
marked a  hearer.  The  expres- 
sion came  into  common  use  about 
1868.  In  its  original  meaning 
it  was  limited  to  inadvertent 
betrayal.  It  is  now  vaguely 
used  in  several  senses. 

Give  a  weight,  to  (street),  to 
help  a  person  in  lifting  a  heavy 
weight. 

Give  best,  to  (popular),  to  leave, 
leave  off,  to  yield. 

But  after  a  time  I  gave  him  best  (left 
him)  because  he  used  to  want  to  bite  my 
ear  (borrow)  ioo  oh&n.—HorsUy :  Jottings 
fro7n  Jail. 


To  give  best  means  originally 
to  acknowledge,  and  thus  passes 
easily  to  mean  the  natural  corol- 
lary of  a  confession  of  inferior- 
ity, relinquishing  or  submitting. 
Also  used  in  Australia. 

Accordingly  after  publication  on  Friday 
(it  was  a  bi-weekly  paper,  the  defunct 
Pleasant  Creek  Chronicle)  we  "rushed 
in  "  our  "  dis.  "  and  gave  the  case-room 
best  on  Saturday  morning. — Thos.  L. 
Work:  Australian  Printers  Keepsake. 

Give  'era  Jessie,  a  party  war-cry 
widely  current  in  the  Presiden- 
tial Campaign  of  1856.  Fre- 
mont, the  Republican  candidate, 
had  fifteen  years  before  made 
a  runaway  match  with  Jessie, 
daughter  of  Thomas  H.  Benton, 
and  the  popular  favour  with 
which  runaway  matches  are  apt 
to  be  regarded  was  made  much 
of  in  this  case,  the  lady's  name 
being  freely  used  in  song  and 
story  by  her  husband's  political 
supporters.  It  was,  however, 
in  common  use  a  century  before 
Jessie  Fremont  was  born.  It 
is  probably  an  allusion  to  the 
"  rod  of  Jesse "  in  the  Old 
Testament. 

Give  him  a  chance  for  his  white 
alley  (American),  let  him  have 
a  last  chance  for,  a  forlorn  hope, 
a  fluke,  give  the  man  one  more 
trial.  A  figure  borrowed  from 
the  boys'  game  of  marbles. 

Give  it  a  bone  (common),  "stop 
it,"  or  "  that's  stale."  The 
metaphor  is,  of  course,  that  of 
giving  a  dog  a  bone  to  stop  his 
noise. 


410 


Give — Glib. 


Give  it  mouth  (popular),  speak 
up.     In  Italian,  "  dar  la  bocca." 

Give  it  to  (old  cant),  to  rob ;  "  I 
gave  it  to  him  for  his  reader,"  I 
stole  his  pocket-book. 

Give  sky-high,  to  (Australian  and 
popular),  to  blow  up,  to  scold  in 
the  most  immoderate  fashion. 
The  metaphor  is  from  "blow- 
ing up" — sometimes  simply  "  to 
sky-high"  is  used. 

Give  the  collar,  to  (American),  to 
seize,  arrest,  to  "  collar." 

"  The  charge  is  drunkenness." 
"Yes,  I  suppose  so,  but  here  is  the 
case  :  I  left  home  at  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening  to  buy  a  pork  chop  for  breakfast. 
I  buy  ray  chop  and  am  going  home  in  a 
peaceful  manner,  when  a  policeman  comes 
up  and  gives  tne  the  collar. ' ' — Detroit  Free 
Press. 

Give  the  v«rord,  to  (theatrical),  to 
prompt. 

Give  us  a  rub  of  your  thumb 

(tailors),  show  me  how  you  do  it. 

Giving  out  (theatrical),  announc- 
ing in  front  of  the  curtain  the 
performances  for  the  following 
evening — generally  done  by  the 
Juvenile  Man,  sometimes  the 
Manager,  and  very  often  by  the 
Walking  Gent,  if  he  is  young 
and  a  favourite  with  the  fair  sex. 

Giving  you  a  hoist  (tailors),  doing 
you  a  bad  turn. 

Gladstone  (common),  used  to  de- 
note cheap  claret,  from  the  cir- 
cumstance that  Mr.  Gladstone 


reduced   the   duty   on   French 
wines. 

Glasgow  magistrate,  a  salt  her- 
ring. When  George  IV.  visited 
Scotland  a  wag  placed  some 
salt  herrings  on  the  iron  guard 
of  the  carriage  belonging  to  a 
well-known  Glasgow  magistrate, 
who  made  one  of  a  deputation 
to  receive  his  Majesty  (Hotten). 

Glass  (thieves),  an. hour. 

Glass  work  (cardsharpers),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

"  What  on  earth  is  glass  work  ?  " 
"The  use  of  a  convex  mirror  about  the 
size  of  a  small  coin.  It  is  fastened  with 
shellac  to  the  lower  corner  of  tlie  left  palm, 
opposite  the  thumb,  and  red  ;cts  the  cards 
as  dealt.  Gamblers  generally  made  them 
by  buying  those  little  silvered  glass  globes 
used  for  children's  Christmas  trees  and 
breaking  out  a  piece.  Sometimes  the 
mirrors  were  set  in  half-crowns  and  laid 
carelessly  on  the  table,  but  that  is  all  gone 
by  now,  and  to-day  a  man  must  be  able  to 
take  a  square  pack  of  cards  and  do  all  his 
work  without  apparatus." — Star. 

Glaze  (popular),  glass;  "to  star 
tlie  glaze,"  to  break  a  window 
pane.  Glaze  for  glass  is  old 
gypsy- 
Glaziers  (thieves),  the  eyes. 
(Anglo-Norman),  (jlas,  bright  or 
blue,  allied  to  glass. 

Toure  out  with  your  glaziers,  I  swear  by 

the  ruflfm 
That  we  arc  assaulted  by  a  queer  culTui. 

— Broine :  A  Jovial  Crew. 

I.e.,  "Look  out  with  all  your  eyes,  I 

swear  by  the  devil  a  magistrate  is  coming." 

Glib  (popular),  tongue;  "slacken 
your  </lih.'' 


Glib — Gloves. 


411 


Glib  gabbet  (nautical),  smooth 
and  ready  of  speech.    Vide  Gab. 

Glim  (popular  and  thieves),  an 
eye. 

Harold  escaped  with  the  loss  of  a  glitn. 
— Insoldsby  Legends. 

A  light  or  candle. 

"  Don't  make  such  a  row,"  said  Sikes, 
bolting  the  door.  "Show  a. glim,  Toby." 
— Charles  Dickens :  Oliver  Twist. 

"Douse  the  glim,"  blow  the 
candle  out.  (Nautical),  glims, 
spectacles.  (Common),  the  glim, 
gonorrhea. 

Glimilashy  (popular),  angry. 

Don't  heglimjlasky;  why,  you'd  cry  beef 
on  a  blater. — Lytton  :  Pelhaiii. 

Glim  lurk  (begging-letter  writers), 
a  begging  petition  giving  an 
account  of  a  fire  in  which  some 
relative  of  the  impostor  is  said 
to  have  perished  or  been  injured. 
A  common  dodge,  by  which 
the  writer  of  this  was  once 
"taken  in." 

Glimmering  morte  (old  cant),  a 
woman  who  solicited  alms  under 
the  pretence  that  she  had  lost 
all  her  property  by  fire. 

Globe  rangers  (nautical),  a  sobri- 
quet for  the  Royal  Marines. 

Globes  (American),  a  woman's 
breasts. 

Globe-trotters  (common),  travel- 
lers who  have  gone  round  the 
world. 


These  coachmen  are  such  privileged 
beings  that  they  play  practical  jokes  on 
even  high  and  ^\%X\Xi%\x\^^A  globe-tratters. 
Ben  Halliday's  upon  Horace  Greeley,  the 
eccentric  editor  of  the  New  York  Tribune 
and  once  candidate  for  the  Presidency  of 
the  United  States,  has  gone  the  rounds  of 
the  English  world's  press. — H.  L.  Wil- 
liams :  In  the  Wild  West. 


Glope,  to 

to  spit. 


(Winchester  College), 


Glorious  (popular),  intoxicated, 

Glory-Hole  (popular),  the  hall  for 
worship  used  by  members  of  the 
Salvation  Army.  So  called  ori- 
ginally from  a  cellar  or  under- 
ground place  of  meeting  in 
Brighton. 

These  hoary-headed  buffers, 
And  devil-dodging  duffers, 
At  the  Glory-Hole  in  Teddy  Street  they 
rave. 
Young  women  and  young  girls 
They  denude — of  all  their  curls. 
When  they  get   them   in   their  den  or 
rather  cave. 
— Broadside :  The  Brighton  Glory- 
Hole. 

Gloves  (racing),  "going  for  the 
gloves,"  betting  with  utter  dis- 
regard to  means  of  payment. 
The  maxim  laid  down  by  Mon- 
trose that — 

"  He  either  fears  his  fate  too  much, 
Or  his  deserts  are  small, 
Who  fears  to  put  it  to  the  touch. 
To  win  or  lose  it  all," 

may  embody  a  sound  policy  in 
love  affairs,  but  is  not  to  be 
commended  to  the  turf  specu- 
lator. 

Wlien  the  piquets  were  up  it  was  a  man's 
own  fault  if  he  was  welshed.  Among  the 
established  men  who  bet  at  the  lists  there 


412 


Glove — Go. 


'^as  seldom  a  welsher,  or  any  one  going /or 
the  gloves,  and  this  was  the  great  thing  to 
be  said  in  favour  of  the  lists  that  are  now 
gone  for  ey ex. —Sporting  Times. 

Glove  trick  (American  thieves), 
a  variety  of  what  is  known  in 
Paris  as  the  "  vol  k  rAmtSri- 
caine,"  or  the  taking  in  a  dis- 
honest person  in  such  a  way 
as  to  make  the  "victim"  think 
he  is  cheating  the  one  who  is 
the  master-thief. 

"  The  success  of  this  game  is 
dependent  on  the  latent  dis- 
honesty of  the  victims.  The 
properties  consist  of  a  hand- 
some kid  glove  and  a  cheap  ring 
with  a  stone  in  it.  The  ring  is 
stuck  in  a  finger  of  the  glove  so  as 
to  be  most  conspicuous,  and  tlie 
two  are  dropped  at  the  feet  of  a 
woman  as  she  is  walking  in  the 
street.  '  I  beg  your  pardon,' 
the  "crook"  exclaims,  'you've 
dropped  your  glove ! '  The 
woman  would  look  at  it,  per- 
ceive that  there  was  a  ring  in 
it,  and  if  she  were  dishonest 
would  claim  it.  Then  the  crook 
would  demur.  '  Maybe  the  glove 
did  not  belong  to  the  lady — 
and  now  he  noticed  it,  there 
was  a  ring  in  it!'  The  woman, 
five  times  out  of  ten — for  the 
thief  reads  faces  easily — would 
say,  '  I'm  sure  it's  mine — but 
here  is  something  for  yourself,' 
and  would  give  him  five  dollars 
for  what  she  believed  was  a 
valuable  solitaire  "  {Philadelphia 
Press). 

Glow  (tailors),  ashamed  ;  derived 
doubtless  from  the  warm  ' '  tint  " 


the    face    assumes   under   em- 
barrassing circumstances. 

Glue-pot  (old  cant),  a  clergy- 
man, because  he  joined  men  and 
women  in  the  bonds  of  matri- 
mony, glued  or  cemented  them 
together. 

Glumpish  (popular),  sulky. 

Glutton  (pugUistic),  a  hard  fighter, 
one  who  never  seems  to  have 
had  enough  fighting. 

Go  (general),  impetus,  energy, 
spirit,  vigour,  strength  of  pur- 
pose, a  proceeding.  This  ori- 
ginally slang  word  has  estab- 
lished itself  in  the  language  by 
dint  of  general  usefulness  and 
expressiveness.  Its  vulgar  off- 
shoot "^ro  it "  is  not  likely  to  be 
equally  successful. 

Still,  when  we  get  to  Victoria,  though 
the  air  of  intense  energy  and  go  has 
vanished,  there  is  something  that  appeals 
more  strongly  to  the  English  mind.  — 
Phillipps-  W alley :  Trot  tings  of  a  Tender- 
foot. 

The  strange  costumes,  the  bold  riding, 
the  actors  so  picturesque,  \.\\ego  and  action 
so  vigorous,  all  combine  to  make  the  bril- 
liant show  one  of  the  most  exciting  that 
Londoners  have  ever  seen.  —  Bailey  s 
Monthly  Magazine. 

"  A  rum  go,"  a  strange  affair ; 
"  a  great  go,"  a  remarkable  or 
important  affair ;  "  all  the  go," 
much  in  vogue ;  "  no  go,"  im- 
possible ;  "  a  pretty  go,"  a 
trouble,  unfortunate  circum- 
stance, scrape. 

(Turf),  an  owner  or  jockey  are 
equally  said  to  be  having  or  not 
having  a  go,  according  to  their 


Go — Go  back. 


413 


supposed  intentions  with  regard 
to  a  race.  The  horse,  though 
implicated  in  the  transaction 
only  as  a  more  lor  less  passive  in- 
strument, is  also  thus  spoken  of. 
(Popular),  a  g^o,  adrink ;  termed 
formerly  a  gro-down. 

So  they  went  on  talking  politics,  pufRng 
cigars,  and  sipping  whisky  and  water,  until 
the  goes,  most  appropriately  so  called,  were 
both  gone. — Sketches  by  Boz. 

(Thieves),  "to  go  the  jump," 
to  enter  a  house  by  the  window. 

Go  abroad,  to  (popular  and 
thieves),  formerly  signified  to 
be  transported. 

The  Artful  Dodger  goin^  abroad  for  a 
common  twopenny-halfpenny  sneeze-box  ' 
— Charles  Dickens :  Oliver  Twist. 

Goads  (American),  Peter  Funks 
(which  see).  "Coppers"  in 
gambling  houses. 

Go  along  (popular  and  thieves), 
a  fool,  also  "  go  alonger."' 

Go  and  bust  yourself  (roughs), 
equivalent  to  "you  be  blowed  ;  " 
also  "go  and  eat  coke." 

"  Go    and    bust  yerself^^o    and    eat 
coke ! " 

A  hero  has  spoken.  .  .  . 

— Sporting  Times. 

Go  and  hire  a  hall  (American), 
a  common  expression  which  is 
very  characteristic  of  a  people 
as  familiar  with  lectures  and 
public  discussions  as  the  Ame- 
ricans. It  is  addressed  to  a  bore 
who  talks  a  lonf;:  time,  or  always 
on  some  special  subject.  Such 
people  who  insist  on  delivering 


impromptu  lectures  are  told  to 
go  and  hire  a  haU. 

If  you're  always  dropping  chestnuts. 

Like  the  forest  in  the  Fall, 
Even  though  they  are  the  best  nuts, 
You  had  better  hire  a  hall ! 
Oh,  go  and  hire  a  hall ! 
It  would  please  us  one  and  all. 
You  can  splatter  at  your  leisure. 

If  you  go  and  hire  a  liall! 
— C.  Lelami  Harrison :  MS.  Collec- 
tion of  Americanisms — Negro 
Minstrel  Ballad. 

Go-ashores  (nautical),  a  seaman's 
best  dress. 

Go  as  you  please  (athletes),  a 
race  in  which  the  competitors 
may  run,  walk,  or  rest  as  they 
like.  Usually  applied  to  the 
barbarous  six  days'  "  wobbles." 

Goatee  (American),  the  peculiar 
kind  of  tuft  of  hair  on  the  chin 
worn  by  Americans  and  Irish 
Yankees.  So  called  from  its 
similarity  to  a  goat's  beard.  In 
French  slang  houc,  i.e.,  he-goat. 

Goater  (American),  dress. 

Gob  (popular),  a  provincialism, 
but  chiefly  used  by  slangy  per- 
sons, the  mouth  ;  a  "  spank  on 
the  gob"  a  blow  on  the  mouth. 
Saliva  or  mucus.  ^06  is  often 
used  for  "  gab  "  in  the  phrase, 
"  gift  of  the  gob."  From  the 
Gaelic  gob,  mouth. 

Go  back  upon,  to  (American),  a 
very  curious  phrase,  equivalent 
to  betray  in  an  unexpected  man- 
ner, but  which  has  a  certain  re- 
finement of  application  which  is 


414 


Go  back — God. 


difficult  to  describe.  In  most 
cases  it  intimates  that  the  be- 
trayer has  been  a  trusted  friend, 
and  that  ingratitude  forms  a 
part  of  the  description.  In  the 
"  Breitmann  Ballads"  we  are 
told  of  a  candidate  who  had  lost 
the  entire  vote  of  a  small  town 
in  which  he  confided, 

"  'Twas  long  ere  he  tid  know 
Vot  make  dis  rural  fiUage 
Go  pack  oopon  him  so." 

Gobble  (American),  to  gobble  up 
or  devour  is  a  well-known  Eng- 
lish word.  In  the  United  States 
gobbling  is  often  specially  applied 
to  the  purchase  of  smaller  or 
rival  railroads,  insurance  com- 
panies, &c.,  by  wealthier  or 
shrewder  rivals.  Thus  when  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company 
failed  in  its  effort  to  purcha^se 
the  Northern,  Central,  and  other 
roads,  it  was  announced  by  the 
newspapers  that  "  It  can^t  gobble 
its  competitor." 

(Yale  University),  to  seize,  to 
lay  hold  of,  to  collar.  At  Cam- 
bridge, however,  "  to  gobble 
Greek,"  means  to  speak  or  study 
that  language.  "You  may  have 
seen  him  traversing  the  grass- 
plots  '  gobbling  Greek '  to  him- 
self." 

Gobbler  (popular),  a  turkey-cock. 
In  Scottish  slang  the  bird  is 
called  a  "bubbly-jock."  Har- 
raan,  in  his  "  Caveat,"  giwes  gob- 
bler, a  duck. 

Gob-stick  (nautical),  a  horn  or 
wooden  sx^on.      Vide  Gob. 


Go  by  Walker's  bus,  to  (com- 
mon), to  go  on  foot. 

God  (common).  The  gallery  peo- 
ple, who  sit  enthroned  in  high 
Olympus,  are  called  gods. 

"The  Brit.,"  where  specialities  we  every 

Christmas  see. 
Turns  out  a  feast  of  local  fun,  entitled, 

AV«f  Trickee; 
And  Mrs.  Lane  can  cater  well  for  pittite, 

box,  or  god, 
A  Lane  without  a  turning  in  the  path 

she's  always  trod. 

— Pun. 

Invariably  the  most  sympa- 
thetic and  enthusiastic,  and  not 
infrequently  the  most  intelli- 
gent portion  of  the  audience. 
Formerly,  in  many  of  the  im- 
portant country  theatres,  the 
verdict  of  the  gallery  on  the 
first  night  decided  the  success 
or  failure  of  the  season.  "  Up 
amongst  the  gods,"  the  upper 
gallery,  termed  by  the  French 
paradis,  or  poulailler. 

(Printers),  the  nine  quadrats 
used  in  "  jeffing  "  were  thus 
called.  Perhaps  from  the  fact 
that  the  player  would  be  invok- 
ing the  god  of  fortune,  &c.,  in 
his  behalf. 

(Eton),  one  of  the  sixth  form. 

A  god  at  Eton  is  probably  in  a  moic 
ex.'ilted  position,  and  receives  more  rever- 
ence than  will  ever  afterwards  fall  to  his 
lot. — Pascoe :  Everyday  Life  in  our  Puh- 
lie  Schools. 

God  bless  the  Duke  of  Arg^yle 

(popular),  much  u.sed  by  tailors. 
This  expression  is  often  used  by 
a  man  when  he  rubs  his  back 
against  a  post  or  projection, 
fur  the  purpose  of  allaying  the 


Goddess — Go  it. 


415- 


itching  sensation  in  the  small 
of  his  back,  where  his  fingers 
cannot  reach.  It  is  said  that 
one  of  the  Dukes  of  Argyle 
caused  posts  to  be  erected  in 
certain  parts  of  his  domain,  so 
that  all  persons  troubled  with 
an  itching  back  might  relieve 
their  sufferings.  This  must  be 
taken  cum  grano  sails. 

Goddess  (Anglo-  or  Malay-Indian), 
an  absurd  corruption  which  used 
to  be  applied  by  our  country- 
men in  the  old  settlements  in 
the  Malay  countries  to  the  young 
women  of  the  land.  It  is  the 
Malay  godis,  a  virgin. 

And  then  how  strange,  at  night  opprest 
By  toils,  with  songs  you're  lulled  to  rest, 
Of  rural  goddesses  the  guest. 
Delightful  ! 
—  IV.  Marsden:  Mem. 

(Common),   a  female  sitting 
in  the  gallery  of  a  theatre. 

Each  one-shilling  god  within  reach  of  a 

nod  is. 
And  plain  are  the  charms  of  each  gallery 

goddess. 

— Rejected  Addresses. 

Godfathers  (American),  jurymen. 
The  author  of  the  New  York 
Slang  Dictionary  explains  this 
by  saying  that  they  name  the 
degrees  of  crime. 

Gods  (tailors),  block  patterns,  or 
patterns  stored  and  prized  by 
those  unable  to  produce  patterns 
themselves. 

Gods  of  cloth  (tailors),  classical 
tailors. 


Go-easter  (American),  cow-boy 
slang,  A  go,  a  valise,  so  called 
because  the  cow-boy  seldom 
owns  such  an  object  till  he  buys 
one  to  go  to  a  city,  which  is 
generally  eastwards  (C.  Leland 
Harrison). 

Goff,  Mrs.  (American  Universi- 
ties), a  cant  phrase  to  denote 
any  woman. 

Go  for  the  gloves.   Fide  Gloves. 

Goings-on  (common),  proceed- 
ings. 

'Y:\\s  goin^s-Ofi  of  hundreds  of  years  since 
are  so  frequently  represented  before  our 
latter-day  eyes,  that  in  all  probability  the 
present  generation  knows  more  about  its 
remote  ancestors  than  the  worthies  did 
themselves. — Modem  Society. 

Going  to  pieces  (sporting),  de- 
moralised, tired  out. 

Going  to  pot  (popular),  fto  go 
to  ruin.  Old  metal-work,  &c., 
when  too  old  for  use,  is  sent  to 
pot,  i.e.,  melted  down  for  other 
uses.  This  is  probably  the  ori- 
gin of  the  phrase. 

Go  into  the  kitchen,  to  (popular), 
to  drink  one's  tea  out  of  the 
saucer ;  an  allusion  to  the  vulgar 
method  of  drinking  very  com- 
mon amongst  servants. 

Go  it  (popular),  once  perfectly 
good  English,  but  now  a  slang 
mode  of  expression  used  as  a 
term  of  encouragement,  as  for 
example  in  Artemus  Ward's 
"  Go    it,    my    gay   and   festive 


4i6 


Go  it — Golly. 


cuss  ; "  or,  "  Go  it,  you  cripples, 
Newgate's  on  fira" 

I  met  the  other  day  our  mutual  friend — 
aw — Henry  Irving, 
Linked  arm-in-arm  with  Tennyson  the 
poet ; 
And  Randy  walked  behind,  his  grand  mous- 
tache with  pleasure  curving ; 
Kilrain  was  urging  all  of  them  X.o  go  it. 
— Topical  Times. 

To  go  it,  to  act  with  energy, 
spirit,  fearlessly.  In  the  quota- 
tion it  is  used  in  a  disparaging 
sense. 

The  second  offender,  who  has  been  going 
it  wdth  him,  being  a  much  smaller  youth, 
is  much  more  scared. —  The  Graphic. 

Go  it  blind  (common),  a  phrase 
meaning  to  act  without  due 
thought  or  deliberation.  Ed- 
wards says  :  "  It  is  derived  from 
the  game  of  poker,  where  a 
player  may,  if  he  chooses,  go 
it  blind,  by  doubling  the  '  ante  ' 
before  looking  at  his  cards,  and 
if  the  other  players  refuse  to 
see  his  '  blind '  he  wins  the 
'  ante.' " 

Go  it,  boots  I  go  it,  rags  1  I'll  hold 
your  bonnet!  glangl  (Ameri- 
can), cries  of  encouragement  to 
a  man  on  foot  or  on  horseback, 
"  doing  time."  In  England 
there  is  also  the  well-known 
"Gro  it,  ye  cripples,  wooden  legs 
are  cheap !  " 

Goldbacked  'uns  (popular),  body 
lice. 

Gold  bug  (American)  a  million- 
aire. 

To  her  enduring  honour  be  it  said,  the 
only  country  where  go/d  bugs  have   not 


been  permitted  to  dictate  such  legislation 
that  their  talent  in  the  napkin  may  be 
hocussed  in  the  sight  of  all  men  up  to  the 
value  of  two  talents,  is  the  great  Republic 
across  the  Atlantic, — Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

Goldfinches  (popular),  sovereigns. 

Two  canaries  equal  one  gold/inch — wlio 
so  possesseth  needeth  never  to  pine  for 
lack  of  notes. — Punch. 

Gold-finder  (old),  a  cleaner  of 
privies  or  jakes,  a  night-man. 

A  ffold-Jinder  or  j.ikes  farmer. — Urqu- 
hart's  Translation  of  Rabelais. 

Golgotha  (Cambridge  University  \ 
literally  the  place  of  a  skull, 
"  but,"  says  the  \yestiniinster  Re- 
view, "  a  particular  part  of  the 
University  Church  is  approjjri- 
ated  to  the  "  heads "  of  the 
houses,  and  is  called  golgotha 
therefrom,  a  name  which  the 
appearance  of  its  occupants 
renders  peculiarly  fitting,  inde- 
pendent of  the  pun."  It  also 
signifies  a  hat. 

GoU  (games),  the  hand  ;  derived 
from  the  Keltic.  Hence  gdf, 
hand-ball. 

Gollop,  to  (common),  to  swallow 
greedily  ;  a  corruption  of  "gulp." 

Golly,  by  golly  (American),  a 
common  interjection.  It  is  very 
doubtful  whether  it  is  used 
euphemistically  for  God.  Nor 
is  it  strictly  true,  as  Bartlett 
says,  that  it  is  chiefly  to  be 
heard  among  negroes,  since  it 
is  quite  as  common  among  boys 
in  New  England  or  in  the  West. 


G.  O.M. — Goner. 


417 


Formerly  used  in  the  form  "  by 
goly  "  in  England. 

Why  then,  6y  goly,  1  will  tell  you  !  I 
hate  you,  and  I  can't  abide  you. — Fielding: 
An  Old  Man  taught  Wisdom. 

G.O.M.  (general),  i.e.,  grand  old 
man,  a  nickname  of  Mr.  W.  E. 
Gladstone.  It  was  first  used 
by  Mr.  Bradlaugh  in  a  speech 
at  Northampton.  Since  then  it 
has  become  exceedingly  popu- 
lar, being  used  derisively  by  the 
right  honourable  gentleman's 
political  opponents,  and  respect- 
fully, though  familiarly,  by  those 
who  look  upon  him  as  a  leader. 
It  is  now  used  facetiously  in 
reference  to  any  one. 

Each  guest  has  p'raps  already  guessed 
the  gentleman  I  mean, 

For  all  these  qualities  unite  in  but  one 
man,  I  ween  : 

1  sing  that  real  G.O.M. — the  chairman 
of  our  green— 

Who  here  this  evening  may  be  seen  pre- 
siding o'er  this  scene. 

— St.  Helens  Lantern. 

Gomers  (Winchester  College),  an 
abbreviation  of  "go  homers," 
the  clothes  college  "  men  "  wear 
when  going  home  instead  of 
gowns.  In  the  old  days  ^^  go- 
mcrs  and  hats"  was  a  "peal" 
similar  to  "boots  and  leathers." 
Gomel'  means  also  a  pewter  dish. 

Gone  (American),  but  also  used 
in  England  to  signify  loss,  ruin, 
or  total  injury.  "  Gone  up  "  and 
"gone  down"  are  in  this  mean- 
ing synonymous.  One  may  also 
hear  that  it  or  he  is  a  "gone 
case,"  a  "gone  goose,"  a  "gone 
coon,"  "gronc  bird,"  or  "a  goner." 


"It  is  all  ^rone-day  with  him" 
is  also  a  common  idiom,  mean- 
ing that  his  day  or  time  is 
lost  or  over.  A  "goner"  also 
naturally  refers  to  anything  or 
anybody  who  has  escaped  or 
died. 

I  knew,  in  the  language  of  the  States, 
that  I  was  a.  gone  coon. — Moonshine. 

Gone  for  (theatrical),  criticised, 
run  down.  Borrowed  from  the 
Americans. 

The  "Circassian,"  at  the  Criterion,  is 
drawing  better  houses  than  might  have 
been  expected,  seeing  how  the  piece  was 
gone  for  by  the  body  critical.  And  in 
spite  of  its  ultra-extravagance  and  strained 
fun,  it  makes  the  people  laugh. — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 

Gone  off  one's  chump  (popular), 
crazy. 

I'm  frantic — still  I  wander  about, 
I  am  nearly  ^i7«<r  off  my  c/tum/'. 

My  wife,  my  wife,  my  cruel  wife. 
For  me  don't  care  a  dump. 

—Song. 

Gone  on  (society),  in  love.  Also 
"  sweet  on,"  "  mashed  on." 

The  swells  who  go  there  for  their  lunch 

every  day, 
Are  gone  on  the  duchess — at  least  so  they 

say. 
But  I  fancy  they'd  be  in  a  very  bad  way. 
If  they  knew  for  my  dinner  I've  nothing 

to-day. 

—Song. 

Goner  (popular),  a  dying  person. 

They  had  some  conversation,  which  re- 
sulted in  their  going  to  the  Three  Arrows 
public-house,  where  he  drugged  him.  "  1 
gave  him  more  than  I  intended,  and  when 
I  saw  he  was  a  goner,  I  put  him  in  the 
cab  and  got  away." — Daily  Telegraph. 
2  D 


4i8 


Gone — Good. 


Also  a  bankrupt  person,   or 
any  one  who  has  "  gone  wrong." 


Gone  to  grass,  dead. 

GRASS. 


See  Go  to 


Gone  up  (American),  lost,  ruined, 
bankrupt. 

Goney    (American),    a    stupid, 
foolish  fellow. 

"  How  the  goney  swallowed  it  all,  didn't 
he,"  said  Mr.  Slick  with  great  glee.— i'a;« 
aiick  in  England. 

Gonoph   or  gonnof  (popular),  a 
young  fool  or  lout. 

I  am  obliged  to  take  him  into  custody  ; 
he's  as  obstinate  a  young  gonoph  as  I 
know,  he  won't  move  on. — Dickens :  Bleak 
House. 

"  Produce  the  infant,"  he  gasped. 

"This  is  it,"  said  Spooner,  the  proud 
father. 

"  And  s'posing  I  die  first,  d'you  think 
I'm  going  to  get  damned  for  the  sins  of 
an  ugly  red-faced  gonoph  like  that." — 
Sporting  Times. 

(Thieves),  a  thief.  Hotten 
says  an  expert  thief,  a  master 
of  his  craft.  The  word  is  very 
old. 

Understand,  if  you  please,  I'm  a  travel- 
ling thief, 
The gonophs  all  call  me  the  Gipsy; 
By  the  rattler  I  ride  when  I've  taken  my 
brief, 
-And  I  sling  on  my  back  an  old  kipsy. 
—  The  Referee. 

"To  gonoph"  to  wheedle  out 
of,  to  cheat.  From  the  Hebrew 
ijanef. 

Veil,  it  appears  that  first  all  he  vhent 
to  Cape  Colony,  vhere  de  di'mond  fields 
is.  He  invested  all  vhat  he'd  gonophcd 
from  his  poor  old  father  in  di'mond  shares 
— every  blessed  shtever. — Sporting  Times. 


Gonus  (American  University). 
Vide  Goney. 

Good  (printers),  an  abbreviation 
of  good-night. 

Good-bye,  John !  (American), 
equivalent  to  all  is  gone,  lost, 
or  over. 

Goodfellow  (old),  a  reveller. 

This  they  said,  because  it  was  well 
known  that  Sir  Roger  had  been  a  good- 
fello^u  in  his  youth. — Aschatn  :  School- 
master. 

It  meant  also  a  thief. 

Good  job  too,  and  a  (popular),  an 
emphatic  expression  of  approba- 
tion. A  favourite  affirmative. 
"  And  good  business  "  is  used  in 
the  same  sense. 

The  waves  began  to  roar  and  the  winds 

began  to  blow. 
The  boiler  started  leaking  and  the  engine 

wouldn't  go, 
'J'he  people  felt  afraid  while  the  captain 

and  the  crew 
Refused  to  bring  'em  over  and  a  good  job 
too. 

— J.  sparks:  A  Good  Job  Too. 

Good  line  (tailors),  cheap  or  sale- 
able articles. 

Goods  (sporting),  men  or  horses. 
Termed  " good  ^oorfs"  or  "bad 
fjooda"  according  to  quality. 

Good  sort  (popular),  used  in  ap- 
probation of  any  one. 

And    then    the    Prince   of    Wales    was 
charged  with  being  a  real  good  sort, 


Good — Goose. 


419 


And    every   one    yelled    out,    "  Hear ! 
hear !  "  till   the   roof  went  off  the 
court. 
— Francis  and  Day ;  Six  Months 
Hard. 

Good  thing  (racing),  a  presumed 
certainty  in  racing.  When  a 
horse  on  his  merits  publicly 
shown  or  privately  ascertained 
is  supposed  to  be  sure  of  winning 
a  race,  such  event  is  said  to  be 
a  good  thing  for  him.  The  ima- 
gining of  the  people  more  often 
turns  out  to  be  a  vain  than  a 
good  thing. 

Good  •woolled  (American),  gifted 
with  unflinching  courage.  Of 
late  years  it  has  become  the 
fashion  with  the  Western  Ame- 
rican editors  to  speak  of  their 
part  of  the  country  as  "  the  wild 
and  woolly  West. " 

Go  off  on  the  ear,  to  (American), 
to  be  suddenly  irritated,  to  fly 
off  in  a  tantrum. 

"  What  made  Susie  go  off  on  Iter  ear 
yesterday,  Mildred  ?"  asked  Amy. 

"Amy,"  replied  the  High  school  girl, 
"  please  do  not  say  '  go  off  on  her  ear,'  but 
'retire  on  her  auricular  appendage.'" — 
A  nierican  Newspaper. 

Go  off  the  hook,  to  (familiar),  to 
die. 

Goose  (tailors),  a  name  associated 
from  time  immemorial  with  the 
large  iron  used  by  tailors  for 
pressing. 

Gooseberry  (common),  a  canard, 
or  a  hoax. 


Gooseberry,    doing   or   picking 

(popular),  to  act  as  chaperone 
or  escort  to  young  couples  on 
occasions  when  otherwise  their 
being  together  would  not  be 
quite  the  thing.  The  chape- 
rone is  supposed  to  pick  your 
berries. 

Gooseberry-pickers  (common), 
sharp  children,  who  are  osten- 
sibly placed  in  charge  of  their 
elder  sisters  when  the  latter  go 
out  shopping,  but  who  are  in 
reality  a  check  on  any  chance 
of  flirtation  (Hotten). 

Goosegog  (common),  a  goose- 
berrj\  In  some  dictionaries  this 
is  erroneously  claimed  as  a  mere 
provincialism. 

Gooser  (popular),  a  finishing  blow, 
one  that  "  cooks  his  goose. " 

Goose,  the  (theatrical),  hissing. 
It  is  said  that  the  hissing  of 
a  goose  once  saved  the  Capitol, 
but,  as  the  late  Mr.  Planche 
wisely  and  wittily  observed, 
"  that  was  a  capital  goose." 
This,  however,  is  the  only  useful 
sibillation  on  record,  and  it  is 
apocryphal.  In  our  time  we 
have  authentic  evidence  of  a 
single  instance  of  hissing  lead- 
ing to  a  result  of  a  very  different 
character.  Macready  was  acting 
Hamlet  at  the  Theatre  Royal, 
Edinburgh.  Forest,  the  Ame- 
rican tragedian,  arose  from  his 
place  in  the  boxes  and  hissed 
his  great  rival.  Subsequently, 
during  Macready's  farewell  en- 
gagement in  America  in   1849, 


420 


Goose. 


this  deplorable  incident  led  to 
riots  in  New  York,  the  calling 
out  of  the  military,  bloodshed, 
loss  of  life,  and  Macready's  pre- 
cipitate flight  to  England  in 
disguise.  Hissing  is  now  abo- 
lished in  the  States.  If  an 
American  audience  dislikes  a 
play,  the  auditors  quietly  get 
up  and  walk  out.  The  odious 
custom  still  prevails  in  this 
country,  and  flourishes  in  full 
force  on  first  nights,  when  our 
audiences  devote  themselves 
with  ardour  to  the  sprightly 
pastime  of  author-baiting. 

There  is  a  comic  side  to  every 
tragedy.  Here  is  an  illustration 
of  the  comedy  of  hissing.  A 
famous  low  comedian,  "a  fellow 
of  infinite  jest,"  recently  de- 
ceased, while  acting  the  First 
Witch  in  Macbeth,  found  himself 
in  Bacclii  jtlenua,  and  forgetful 
of  his  part.  In  the  incantation 
scene,  when  he  had  spoken  the 
two  first  lines — 

"  Round  about  the  cauldron  go. 
In  the  poisoned  entrails  throw," 

his  memory  failed  him.  After 
an  agonising  pause,  he  re- 
sumed— 

"  What  comes  next,  I  cannot  guess, 
So  mix  the  lot  up  in  a  mess." 

The  audience  were  furious  at 
this  ribald  tampering  with  the 
text,  and  down  came  the  goose 
most  lustily. 

"  This  sound  of  fear, 
Unpleasing  to  the  actor's  ear," 

sobered  the  comedian  instantly. 
Pulling   himself   together   and 


looking  up  at  the  gallery  with  a 
sly  wink,  he  proceeded — 

"  Funky  actor,  lost  the  word. 
Goose  from  gallery,  awful  bird, 
Twist  his  neck  off  like  a  shot, 
And  boil  hhn  in  the  charmed  pot." 

The  audacity  of  this  quick- 
witted response  so  tickled  the 
"  gods,"  that  they  not  only 
condoned  the  erring  comedian's 
backslidings,  but  gave  him  a 
hearty  round  of  applause  into 
the  bargain. 

(Printers),  goose,  a  curtailment 
of  the  word  "  wayzgoose,"  which 
see.  (Old  cant),  a  particular 
symptom  in  the  lues  venerea 
(Wright). 

He  had  beake  some  private  dealings 
with  her  and  then  got  agoote. — IVeister: 
Cure  for  a  Cuckold. 

Goose,  to  (popular),  to  goose  a  man 
in  the  sense  to  make  a  fool  of 
him,  humbug  or  deceive  him, 
may  naturally  enough  be  derived 
from  making  a  goose  of  him. 
But  it  is  worth  noting  that  in 
Dutch  slang  there  is  a  word, 
genschecsder,  or  geese-shearers 
(Teirlinck  explains  that  to  shear 
here  means  to  swindle),  which 
refers  to  a  kind  of  impostors 
who  go  about  the  country  pre- 
tending to  be  respectable  broken- 
down  tradesmen. 

(American),  to  enlarge  or 
repair  boots,  by  a  process  gene- 
rally known  as  footing,  i.e.,  by 
putting  in  or  adding  pieces  of 
leather.  As  it  is  a  New  York 
word,  it  is  probably  a  translation 
from  the  Dutch  gans,  a  goose, 


Goose —  Gospel. 


421 


which  is  almost  identical  with 
gants,  whole,  entire.  The  pro- 
vincial gantsen,  to  make  whole, 
would  thus  become  gansen,  to 
goose.  Bartlett  ingeniously  sug- 
gests that  to  goose  is  derived 
for  distinction's  sake  from  "to 
fox." 

(Common),  to  goose,  to  hiss, 
to  "give  the  big  bird." 

The  defendant,  one  Dallas,  hired  several 
persons  ta  goose  Mr.  Brewster's  perfor- 
mance. Unfortunately  for  Mr.  Dallas, 
his  opposition  "  made  a  fool  of  it,"  and 
"  hissed  before  the  blind  was  up."  Conse- 
quently Mr.  Dallas  has  had  to  pay  £-1,0 
damages. — Globe. 

Goose  without  gravy  (nautical), 
a  severe  starting,  so  called  be- 
cause no  blood  follows  its  in- 
fliction. 

Go  over,  to  (clerical),  to  join  the 
Church  of  Rome. 

Goree  (American),  gold  dust,  gold. 

Gorger  (popular),  a  gentleman,  a 
well-dressed  man.  A  gorger  or 
gorgio — the  two  are  often  con- 
founded— is  the  common  gypsy 
word  for  one  who  is  not  a 
gypsy,  and  very  often  means 
with  them  a  rye,  a  gentleman. 
Actors  sometimes  call  a  manager 
a  cuUy-gorger  (The  English 
Gypsies  and  their  Language). 

(Theatrical),  the  manager  of 
a  theatre. 

Gorgonzola  Hall  (Stock  Ex- 
change), the  nickname  for  the 
Stock  Exchange,  on  account  of 
the  marble  walls. 


Gorm,  garm.  Bartlett  gives  this 
as  gaum,  to  smear  over.  It  is 
English,  but  probably  more  fre- 
quently heard  at  present  in  the 
United  States. 

I  remember  that  once  when  I  was  a  boy 
the  coloured  footman  of  a  friend  came  to 
the  "missis"  with  the  complaint  that  the 
young  gentlemen  had  "  gormandised  "  all 
over  the  front  door.  He  meant  gormed. 
— C.  G.  Leland. 

Gorm,  to  (American  university), 
to  eat  voraciously. 

Gormy  ruddles  (popular),  the 
intestines. 

Gorry!  by  Gorry!  (American),  a 
common  interjection  or  doubt- 
ful oath. 

Goschens  (Stock  Exchange),  the 
newly  created  £z%  per  cent. 
Government  Stock. 

A  hideous  panic  seized  the  Stock  Ex- 
change. Goschens  went  down  to  60  at  a 
single  leap. — Punch. 

This  stock  was  so  named  after 
Mr.  Goschen,  the  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer,  who  created  the 
Stock  in  April  1888. 

Gospel  grinder  (popular),  a  city 
missionary  or  Scripture  reader. 

Gospel  shark  (Canadian),  a  parson. 

Gospel  shop  (popular),  a  Metho- 
dist chapel  (0.  Davis). 

As  soon  as  I  had  procured  a  lodging 
and  work,  my  next  inquiry  was  for  Mr. 
Wesley's  gospel  shops. — Life  of  J.  Lack- 

ington. 


422 


Goss — Go  to. 


Goss  (popular),  a  hat.  From  gos- 
samer. (American),  to  "give 
one  ffoss,"  to  injure  or  kill. 

Got  'em  all  on  (popular),  dressed 
to  the  height  of  fashion. 

Gotham,  Gothamites  (popular). 
The  term  Gotham  is  satirically 
applied  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
and  its  inhabitants  are  called 
Gothamites,  just  as  Londoners 
are  called  "Cockneys."  First 
so  called  by  Irving,  about  1805. 

I  intend  to  present  you  with  some  phases 
of  life  and  manners — such  things  as  would 
strike  or  interest  a  stranger  in  our  beloved 
Gothatn,  and  in  the  places  to  which 
regular  Gothamites — American  Cockneys, 
so  to  speak — are  wont  to  repair. — Fraser's 
Magazine :  Sketches  of  A  merican  Society. 

Got  him  down   close  and  fine 

(American).  This  means  that 
everything  is  known  about  a 
man.  In  pugilistic  parlance  a 
settling  blow. 

Got  his  gruel  (popular),  dead  or 
dying. 

Vour  yokel  friend,  Mr.  Softhead  —  I 
know  you  all,  you  see — he's^<7/  his  gruel, 
I  rather  fancy.  — /.  Greenwood ;  Vick 
Temple. 

Got  his  leg  (tailors),  obtained  his 
confidence. 

Got  the  ball  (tailors),  having  the 
advantage. 

Go  the  gamble,  to  (sporting),  to 
make  a  bet  on  some  match  or 
race. 

Go  the  whole  hog,  to.  Vidt 
Hog. 


Go  the  whole  pile  (gamesters), 
an  Americanism  naturalised  in 
England,  to  put  all  one's  money 
on  a  solitary  chance. 

Go  through  one,  to  (thieves),  to 
plunder  a  helpless  man  of  all 
valuables  upon  him ;  to  strip 
him  of  all  he  possesses. 

Go  to  Bath  and  get  your  head 
shaved.  This  phrase  denotes 
mental  disorder,  and  as  the 
waters  of  Bath  were  formerly 
in  good  repute  for  the  cure  of 
mental  derangements,  the  saying 
implied  that  the  person  so  ad- 
dressed was  silly  or  idiotic,  and 
should  "pro  hmw  publico  do  some- 
thing to  get  cured. 

Go  to  college,  to  (old  slang),  to 
go  to  prison. 

Go  to  grass  (American),  equi- 
valent to  saying  "  rubbish," 
"clear  out,"  "shut  up;"  an 
expression  of  incredulity,  or  a 
hint  to  be  silent  or  to  depart. 
Said  in  New  England  to  have 
been  first  addressed  to  Nebu- 
chadnezzar. 

Go  to  Halifax  (American,  but  of 
English  origin).  It  is  a  saying 
among  sailors — 

"From  hell,  Hull,  and  Halifax, 
Good  Lord  deliver  us." 

A  Tennessee  manufacturer  told  the  pre- 
sident of  a  railroad  logo  to  Halifax.  The 
president  didn't  go,  but  he  refused  the 
manufacturer  any  more  cars,  took  up  the 
switch  leading  to  his  premises,  and  in  six 
months  saw  the  mnn  lose  his  business  and 


Go-to-meetings — Grabbers. 


423 


every  dollar  of  his  money.  If  you  want  to 
sass  a  railroad  man  don't  go  higher  than  a 
train  hand. — Detroit  Free  Press. 

Go-to-meetings  (common),  Sun- 
day clothes. 

Go  to  smash,  to  (common),  to  fail 
entirely,  to  be  ruined. 

Jay  Gould  and  Sullivan  have  reached 

our  shores, 
To  rest,  they  say,  a  little  on  their  oars. 

The  first,   the   champion  of  the   "vast 

Wabash," 
Makes  millions  when  his  railroads  go  to 

smash. 

— Financial  News. 

Go  under,  to  (American),  a  Western 
euphemism  for  death.  Of  Indian 
origin,  and  allusive  of  being  put 
under  the  grass  of  the  waving 
prairie,  and  also,  it  may  be, 
sometimes  of  being  under  the 
knee  of  a  conquering  enemy. 
The  idea  and  process  of  reasoning 
is  the  same  as  when  the  German 
uses  untergehen  to  signify  to 
perish. 

Poor  Hawkeye  felt  that  his  time  had 
come,  and  knowing  that  he  must  g-o  untier 
sooner  or  later,  he  determined  to  sell  his 
life  dearly. — Hawkeye,  the  Io7ua  Chiff. 

Go  upon  the  dub  (thieves),  to  go 
upon  a  housebreaking  expedi- 
tion ;  to  open  or  pick  the  lock 
or  fastenings  of  a  door.  Vide 
Dub.  Bu^  occurs  in  Ophelia's 
song  in  Hamlet — "JDup  the  cham- 
ber door." 

Gourock  ham  (Scotch),  a  salt 
herring.     From  Gourock  on  the 


Clyde,  formerly  a  great  fishing 
village.  Termed  also  "  Billings- 
gate pheasant,"  or  "Yarmouth 
capon." 

Government  sign-post  (old),  the 
gallows. 

Governor  (popular),  a  mode  of 
addressing  an  unknown  person. 
In  French  bourgeois  or  patron. 
(Common),  my  governor,  my 
father. 

Gowk  (prison),  a  countryman. 
Also  a  provincialism  meaning 
both  cuckoo  and  fool. 

Gowler(  sporting),  a  deep-mouthed 
dog ;  a  howler.  To  "  gowle  "  is 
a  provincialism  for  to  howl. 
French,  gueuler. 

Gowns  (journalistic),  University 
student. 

The  first  at  Cambridge  had  a  good  game 
with  the  'Varsity,  the  go^vns  just  winning 
by  a  goal  to  love. — Football  News. 

Grab  (common),  grasping.  In  the 
United  States  a  grab  means  a 
robbery  or  "a  steal." 

"  Papa,"  said  the  son  of  a  saloon-keeper, 
"  what  does  jumping  at  a  conclusion 
mean  ?  "  "  Grabbing  the  last  piece  of  lunch 
on  the  counter,"  was  the  reply. 

(Cards),  a  boisterous  game  of 
chance  played  with  cards. 

Grabbers  (popular),  the  hands. 
"  lja.ud grabbers"  is  a  phrase  that 
has  lately  come  into  popular  use 


424 


Grabbers — Granger. 


in  Ireland  and  Scotland  to  de- 
signate the  peasants  afflicted 
with  "  earth  hunger,"  or  the 
anti-rent  masters  who  wish  to 
grab  or  seize  the  land  that  docs 
not  belong  to  them. 

Grabby  (military),  a  foot -soldier. 
A  term  of  contempt  used  by 
the  mounted  services. 

Grab,  to  (thieves),  to  arrest. 

Tramp  it,  tramp  it,  my  jolly  blowen, 
Or  be  grabbed  by  the  beaks  we  may. 
—  ly.  Maginn :  Vidocq's  Song. 

Grace  cards  (Irish),  the  six  of 
hearts. 

Graduates  (turf),  horses  that  have 
already  run. 

The  ranks  of  the  graduates  will  be 
m.iterially  recruited  before  Lincoln  comes 
around,  but  in  the  meantime  the  majority 
of  last  year's  steeplechasers  are  on  their 
legs. — Referee. 

Graft  (prison  and  popular),  work  ; 
to  graft,  to  work.  To  graf  is 
a  provincialism  for  "  to  dig " 
{graft  being  a  trench).  Hence 
the  slang  signification.  This 
derivation  is  supported  by  the 
French  jnocher,  to  work  hard, 
literally  "  to  dig. "  (American), 
to  graft,  to  surround  the  feet  of 
old  boots  with  new  leather,  or 
to  add  new  soles. 

Grampus  (nautical),  "  blowing  the 
grampus,"  deluging  with  water. 

Grand  hotelism  (journalistic),  a 
word  expressive  of  living  in  a 


public  manner,  haunting  extra- 
vagant, flaring  hotels ;  a  life  of 
salons  and  mirrors. 

The  inferior  class  of  the  articles  de  Pari.s 
are  Imperialism,  Boulevardism,  grand 
hotelism,  Sebastopolism,  Magentaism, 
Nadesherbism,  adapted  to  the  humblest 
perceptions  and  the  slenderest  purses. — 
G.  A.  Sala :  A  Trip  to  Barbary. 

Grandificent  (American),  grand 
and  magnificent.  Also  "gran- 
daceous,"  "  grandiferous,"  &c., 
which  Bartlett  cliaracterises  very 
correctly  as  factitious  words. 
The  number  of  these  manifestly 
manufactured  expressions  is 
very  great  in  the  United  States, 
but  very  few  of  them  survive. 
It  would  seem  as  if  slang  to 
live  must  grow  naturally  from 
needs    and    be    developed    by 


Grandmother,  to  see  one's  (com- 
mon), to  have  a  nightmare. 
(Popular),  women  of  the  lower 
class  say  they  see  or  have  their 
grandmotlcer  when  they  have 
their  menses. 

Granger  (American),  the  member 
of  a  political  party  formed  about 
1875  in  the  interests  of  the  West- 
ern grain-growing  States,  or  of 
the  agriculturists.  The  word 
is  now  generally  used  to  mean 
a  countryman,  a  rustic,  or  "a 
gentleman  from  the  rural  dis- 
tricts." 

Now  this  person  was  a  stranger 
From  the  West  ;  a  rural  granger 
Sure  that  nobody  could  do  him, 
And  no  city  chap  get  through  him. 


Grape-vine — Crasser. 


425 


Nothing  to  him  could  be  dearer 
Than  to  meet  a  bunko  steerer. 
He  was  with  impatience  hopping 
To  find  a  fellow  wallet-dropping, 
And  he  pined,  this  pine  woods  jonty, 
To  encounter  three-card  monte. 

—How  they  did  the  Buck-Eye. 

Grape-vine  telegraph  (Ameri- 
can). During  the  war  exciting 
accounts  of  battles  not  fought 
and  of  victories  not  won  were 
said  to  have  been  conveyed  by 
grape-vine  (or  clothes-line)  tele- 
graph (New  York  Slang  Dic- 
tionary), but  the  term  was  in 
earlier  use,  meaning  news  con- 
veyed in  a  mysterious  manner. 

Grarler  (American  thieves),  a 
small  dog  who  by  barking 
alarms  the  family.  "  Grarler s 
are  more  feared  by  burglars 
than  guns  or  pistols." 

Grass  (common),  "  to  go  to  grass," 
to  die ;  "  go  to  grass,"  be  off, 
you  be  hanged.  (PugiUstic), 
"to  go  to  grass,"  to  fall  sprawl- 
ing. 

.  .  .  That  he  had  further  eased  his 
mind  by  executing  a  free-hand  drawing 
of  himself  as  a  boxer  .  .  .  engaged  in 
having  a  "set-to"  with  M.  Sterling  .  .  . 
who  was  going  to  grass  in  the  most  igno- 
minious manner. — J.  Greenwood:  Dick 
Temple. 


The  metaphor  probably  is  from 
the  proverb  about  grass — "  The 
gra^s  withereth,"  &c.,  which 
would  imply  temporariness. 
There  is  a  printers'  proverb, 
"  A  grass  on  news  waits  dead 
men's  shoes."  The  Australasian 
Printers'  Keepsake  says  :  "  Those 
familiar  with  newspaper  work 
in  the  colonies  must  often  have 
heard  this  gruesome  axiom. 
Now  this  saying,  though  evi- 
dently figurative,  does  not  pre- 
sent the  usual  pleasing  char- 
acteristics which  we  associate 
with  pastoral  subjects,  especi- 
ally when  they  are  contem- 
plated from  a  proper  distance, 
as  becomes  the  eye  artistic. 
Disagreeable  as  it  may  be  to  ac- 
knowledge the  fact  announced 
in  the  above  saying,  however, 
so  much  more  so  must  it  be  to 
have  it  verified  in  one's  own 
person,  be  you  grass  or  prospec- 
tive dead  man.  Why  are  the 
grass  or  casual  news  hands  not 
put  on  a  more  comfortable  foot- 
ing" (Edward  Fitzgerald:  Prin- 
ters' Proverbs). 

The  expression  has  been  im- 
ported from  England,  a  grass 
hand  in  English  printers'  par- 
lance being  a  compositor  that 
accepts  occasional  work  in  dif- 
ferent offices. 


(Royal  Military  Academy), 
grass,  vegetables. 

(American),  fresh  mint  or 
tansy  leaves,  used  in  making 
juleps. 

(Australian  printers),  tem- 
porary hands  on  a  newspaper. 


Grass-combers  (nautical), 
countrymen  who  enter  the  ser- 
vice from  farming  counties. 

Grasser  (sporting),  a  fall. 

Some  have  terrible  g'rassers  in  climbing 
into  the  pigskin. — Flyers  o/t/ie  Hunt. 


426 


Grasshopper — Gravy. 


Grasshopper  (popular),  a  waiter 
at  a  tea-garden  (Hotten). 

Grass  in  his  liquor.    See  Grass. 

Grass-ville  (thieves),  the  country. 

Grass-widow.  In  America  and 
in  India  a  yrass-widow  is  a 
married  woman  temporarily 
separated  from  her  husband. 
In  the  Slang  Dictionary  of 
Hotten  it  is  explained  as  "an 
unmarried  mother,  a  deserted 
mistress,"  which  is  rather  doubt- 
ful. Low  German,  gras-tcedewe. 
Also  stroh-wittwer  (German). 

Gravel,  to  (popular),  to  confound, 
to  perplex,  to  bewilder.  From 
levelling  with  the  earth  or 
(/ravel. 

Gravel-crusher  (military),  a  sol- 
dier compelled  to  tramp  about 
a  square  at  defaulter's  drill. 
Vide  Organ. 

Gravel -gfrinder  (popular),  one  sub- 
ject to  falls  through  drunken 
habits. 

Gravel-rash  (popular),  a  scratched 
face,  generally  applied  to  a 
drunken  person  who  has  had  a 
fall.  (Schoolboys),  the  injury 
to  the  knees  from  a  fall. 


to  be  buried  there.  Every  fugi- 
tive draught  in  the  theatre  rises 
from  the  cellar  through  this 
opening.  It  is  said  that  Fawcett, 
when  stage-manager  at  Covent 
Garden,  relinquished  the  part 
of  the  gravedigger  (which  he 
had  acted  a  quarter  of  a  century) 
in  favour  of  a  younger  actor, 
against  whom  he  had  a  spite. 
"  You  are  very  generous,  Mr. 
Fawcett,"  gushed  the  youngster. 
"  Not  at  all,  sir — not  at  all," 
rephed  the  veteran.  Then  turn- 
ing to  a  crony,  with  a  grin,  he 
growled  in  a  grim  aside :  "  That 
infernal  north-east  wind  from 
the  (/rave  will  cook  his  goose." 

Graveycird  (American),  a  "  pri- 
vate graveyard,"  men  who  affect 
great  ferocity,  or  who  assume 
to  be  desperadoes,  sometimes 
boast  in  America  that  they  keep 
graveyards  of  their  own  in  which 
to  bury  their  victims,  or  else  are 
sarcastically  asked  where  these 
cemeteries  are.  In  portions  of 
New  England  every  farmer  has 
his  own  family  graveyard  on  his 
property,  and  the  writer  has 
known  an  instance  in  which  a 
father  made  a  present — which 
was  gladly  accepted  —  to  his 
children  of  a  little  graveyard 
with  two  blank  tombstones. 
They  kept  it  in  order  and  used 
it  as  a  playground. 


Grave-trap,  the  (tlicatrical),  a 
large  oblong  trap  in  the  centre 
of  the  stage,  so  called  because 
•'  the  fair  Ophelia"  is  supposed 


Gravy  eye  (popular),  a  term  rather 
loosely  and  unmeaningly  ap- 
plied as  a  derisive  epithet  — 
"  Oh !  you  gravy  eye  !   How  much 


Gray — Great 


427 


gravy  does  your  mother  put 
vour  'taters'  ?" 


on 


Gray  (sharpers),  from  the  gypsy 
giy,  a  horse,  a  halfpenny  with 
either  two  "  heads "  or  two 
"tails,"  used  for  cheating  at 
pitch  and  toss.  Also  called  a 
pony,  hence  the  word. 

Gray-coat  parson,  a  lay  impro- 
priator, or  lessee  of  great  tithes 
(Hotten). 

Grays  (popular),  lice  ;  called  by 
the  French  grenadiers. 

Grease  (printers),  a  synonym  for 
well-paid  work. 

Grease  one's  duke  (thieves),  to 
greasethe  palm  or  hand,  "duke" 
meaning  hand. 

One  or  two  daj's  after  this  I  met  the 
reeler  at  Hackney,  and  he  said,  "  What 
made  you  guy?"  So  I  said  that  I  did  not 
want  my  pals  to  see  me  with  him.  So  he 
said  it  was  all  right.  Some  of  the  mob 
knew  him  and  had  greased  his  duke. — 
Horshy ;  Jottings fiotti  Jail. 

Greaser  (American),  a  Mexican. 

A  Chinaman  stole  swiftly  and  silently 
by ;  a  half-breed  led  a  lame  horse  along  ; 
a  couple  more  greasers,  seated  one  behind 
the  other,  went  past  on  another  equine 
scarecrow.  —  P.  Francis  :  Saddle  and 
Moccasin. 

(Winchester  College), "  to  give 
him  greaser,"  to  rub  the  head 
hard  with  the  knuckles.  (Naval), 
an  engineer,  or  any  other  man 
employed  in  the  stoke-room. 


Greasers  (Royal  Military  Aca- 
demy), fried  potatoes,  in  contra- 
distinction to  "  boilers,"  boiled 
potatoes. 

Greater  or  final  (Oxford  Univer- 
sity), the  final  public  examina- 
tion in  honours.  Greater  is  now 
properly  confined  to  classical 
honours. 

Great  go  (Cambridge  University), 
the  final  and  most  important 
examination  an  undergraduate 
has  to  pass.  An  earlier  examina- 
tion is  called  the  "  little  go." 

Read  through  the  whole  five  volumes 
folio,  Latin,  previous  to  his  going  up  for 
his,  great  go. — The  Etonian. 

Great  pot  (racing),  a  prophet. 

I  enclose  a  little  circular  sent  to  me  in 
the  spring  of  the  present  year,  sent  me  by 
a  great  pot  (he  would  have  you  believe), 
addressing  from  the  Strand,  London, 
whose  selections,  had  I  followed,  would 
break  a  bank,  much  less  a  private  purse. 
— Bird  0'  Freedom. 

Great  Scott !  (common  and  Ame- 
rican), probably  derived  from 
General  Winfield  Scott,  once  a 
candidate  for  the  Presidency,  a 
man  of  such  great  dignity  and 
military  style  that  he  was 
popularly  known  as  Fuss  and 
Feathers.  To  explain  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  an  American 
uew.spaper  in  which  the  word  oc- 
curs, it  must  be  understood  that 
the  Republicans  in  the  United 
States  insist  that  all  the  roughs, 
shoulder-hitters,  and  gamblers 
in    the    country    are    "  Demo- 


428 


Great — Green. 


crats."  "  Where  are  jou  going 
to-day  ? "  asked  a  man  of  a 
Democratic  sheriff,  "  and  why 
is  court  adjourned?"  "Why, 
great  Scott .'"  exclaimed  that  offi- 
cial, "don't  you  know  there  is 
going  to  be  a  prize-fight  to-day 
in  the  next  county?"  The 
phrase  has  been  acclimatised 
in  England  by  the  Sporting 
Times : — 

How  gaily  they  glitter,  and  glisten,  and 

glow. 
As     they   shine     in    their   sovereign 

sway. 
And  see  how  they  sparkle — Great  Scott ! 

here's  a  go  ! 

Great  smoke  (thieves),  London. 

The  Cockneys,  from  the  great  smoke, 
seldom  fraternised  with  the  "  hardware 
blokes "  from  Birmingham.  Liverpool 
criminals  were  almost  entirely  of  Irish 
origin. — Evening  News. 

Great  sun !  (American),  a  mild 
oath,  probably  only  a  variation 
of  "  great  Scott." 

Rut  something  came  up — up  like  a  foun- 
tain, up  like  the  bubbling  over  of  the 
airth's  etern.il  teapot  ;  a  black  muddy  jet 
of  stuff.  Great  sun!  I  think  I  see  it  now. 
—  T/ie  Golden  Butterjly. 


Greek.  Any  language,  dialect,  or 
form  of  speech  that  the  common 
people  did  not  understand,  was 
either  called  gibberish  or  Greek. 
Thus  the  slang  of  the  beggars, 
tramps,  vagabonds,  gypsies,  and 
thieves  was  known  to  the  out- 
side multitude  as  St.  Giles's 
Greek,  or  pedlar's  Greek.  In 
"  As  You  Like  It,"  when  Amiens 
sings— 

"  Under  the  greenwood  tree. 
Who  loves  to  lie  with  me," 

he  is  asked  what  the  mysterious 
syllables  "due  dame"  signify, 
and  gives  the  explanation  that 
it  is  a  Greek  invocation  to  call 
fools  into  a  circle.  "  Due  da 
me"  is  generally  explained  as 
Latin  intentionally  corrupted 
(or  by  a  misprint)  from  O.uca  ad 
me. 

Greeks  (old),  highwaymen,  or 
knights  of  the  road.  The  term 
now  is  applied  to  sharpers;  grecs 
in  French  (not  slang).  Also  a 
name  given  in  derision  to  the 
low  Irish  in  London  who  spoke 
Gaelic.     V^ide  Greek. 


Grecian  bend  (society),  peculiar 
bend  given  to  the  body  by 
means  of  a  large  bustle  and 
high-heeled  boots.  The  term  is 
by  no  means  new.  It  was  used 
in  the  "Etonian"  more  than  half 
a  century  back.  "  In  person  he 
was  of  the  common  size,  with 
something  of  the  Grecian  bend, 
contract  cd  doubtless  from  seden- 
tary habits." 


Green  (common),  not  wide  awake, 
inexperienced.  "  Do  you  see 
any  green  in  my  eye?"  do  you 
take  me  for  a  simpleton  ? 

So  awfully  ^r^^w,  drea.d{u\\y  g-reen, 
I'he  greenest  of  green  that  ever  was 

seen. 
He  blushes  and  simpers— you  know  how 

I  mean, 
FVightfully  shy,  and  awfully  ^^fw. 

—Song. 


Greenbacks — Greenwich. 


429 


Major  P 's  unco'  sly, 

There  is  no  green  about  his  eye. 
And  oh  !  it  makes  the  major  cry, 
When  bang  goes  a  bawbee,  O. 

— A  tkin :  House  Scraps. 

Greenbacks  (University),  one  of 
Todhunter's  mathematical  text- 
books, because  some  of  them 
are  bound  in  green  cloth.  (Ame- 
rican), paper  money. 

Green  bag  (common),  a  lawyer. 
"  What's  in  the  green  hag?"  i.e., 
what  is  the  charge  to  be  pre- 
ferred against  me  ? 

Green  goods  operators  (Ame- 
rican), the  counterfeiters  of 
greenbacks. 

The  article  referred  to  also  contained 
an  expose  of  the  methods,  headquarters, 
and  gangs  who  have  so  long  and  with  so 
much  impunity  carried  on  the  green  goods 
or  sawdust  operators.  It  also  gave  the 
names  of  sawdust  operators  who  had  been 
arrested  and  indicted  in  the  Federal  courts 
but  never  brought  to  trial. — New  York 
Mercury. 

Green  gown,  to  give  a  (old  slang), 
to  tumble  on  the  grass.  Used 
in  an  obscene  sense. 

And  Johnny  gave  Jenny  a  jolly  green 

gown, 
Down  in  the  grass  by  the  river. 

Greenhouse  (drivers),  a  derisive 
term  sometimes  applied  to  an 
omnibus.  "Get  out  of  the 
way  with  that  old  greenhouse  of 


yours 


Greenland  (common).  "  He  comes 
from  Greenland,"  he  is  unsophis- 
ticated. 


A  new  pal  .  .  .  where  did  he  come  from? 
Greenland. — Dickens  :  Oliver  Twist. 

Greenman  (builders),  a  contrac- 
tor who  speculates  with  other 
people's  money. 

Greens  (common),  "to  have  one's 
greens,"  to  have  sexual  inter- 
course. 

(Printers),  a  term  in  vogue 
for  bad  or  worn-out  printing 
rollers. 

Green,  to  (Eton  School),  to  befool, 
to  cause  any  one  to  show  sim- 
plicity. 

I  was  again  catechised  on  many  points 
personal  to  myself,  and  some  mild  attempts 
were  made  to  green  me,  as  boys  call  it. — 
T.  C.  Buckland:  Eton,  1836-1841. 

Green  turtle,  to  live  up  to  (Ameri- 
can), to  do,  and  give  one's  best 
— a  metaphorical  phrase  which 
owes  its  origin  to  turtle  being 
regarded  from  the  epicure's 
point  of  view  a  honne  bouche, 
and  the  green  fat  the  most  de- 
sirable portion. 

It  were  churlish  indeed  to  find  fault 
with  any  custom,  or  to  dwell  critically 
upon  any  shortcoming  of  these  hospit- 
able people,  who,  as  hosts,  live  up  to 
their  green  turtle.  —  Paton :  Down  the 
Islands. 

Greenwich  barbers  (popular),  re- 
tailers of  sand,  so  called  because 
the  inhabitants  of  Greenwich 
"  shave  the  pits  "  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood to  supply  London  with 
sand  (Dr.  Brewer), 


430 


Green  wich — Grig. 


Greenwich  goose  (popular),  for- 
merly a  pensioner  of  the  Green- 
wich Naval  Hospital. 

Greeze  (Westminster  School),  a 
crowd.     In  Italian  grosso. 

Few  whose  names  have  ever  stood  on 
that  paper  will  forget  how  they  pressed 
through  the  surrounding  greeze. — Every 
Hay  Life  in  cur  Pubiic  Sclwols. 

Gregorines  (common),  live  sto(;k 
in  the  hair.     From  the  Italian. 

Greys,  the  (provincial),  a  state  of 
yawning  and  listlessness. 

Grid  (theatrical),  a  contraction  of 
gridiron — the  large  open  wood- 
work structure  built  over  the 
flies,  extending  over  the  whole 
stage,  so  called  because  it  is 
constructed  exactly  like  a  grid- 
iron. To  the  grid  all  the  dead 
lines  which  bear  the  scenery  are 
attached. 

Griddle,  to  (street),  to  be  a  street 
singer.  Possibly  from  Italian 
gridare,  to  cry  aloud. 

Griddler  (streets),  a  street  singer. 
(Tinkers  and  tramps),  a  tinker. 
Probably  from  "gridiron." 

Gridiron,  the  (nautical),  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  of  the  United  States. 
Also  called  the  "  Stars  and  Bars." 
(Popular),  "  the  whole  gridiron," 
the  whole  party.  (Common),  a 
gridiron,  a  County  Court  sum- 
mons. Originally  a  summons  to 
the  Court  of  Westminster  only ; 


from  the  Gridiron  Arms.  The 
Grafton  Club  is  always  known 
as  the  Grid  or  Gridiron,  that 
instrument  being  brought  into 
requisition  whenever  possible  in 
the  cuisine  (Hotten). 

Griffin,  griff  (Anglo  -  Indian),  a 
greenhorn,  a  fresh  comer,  a 
Johnny  Newcome,  one  not  as 
yet  "  in  the  ways."  The  origin 
of  this  word  is  uncertain,  but 
something  resembling  it  is  ap- 
plied in  different  Latin  lan- 
guages to  "  outsiders,"  foreign- 
ers, and  the  excluded  or  mixed 
members  of  society.  Thus  in 
Louisiana  a  griffin  or  griffe  is 
used,  like  the  French  griffon, 
for  a  mulatto,  or  one  of  mixed 
dark  blood  (Bartlett).  "  I  am 
little  better  than  an  unfledged 
griffin,  according  to  the  fashion- 
able phrase  here  "  (Hugh  Boyd, 

1794)- 

(Army),  formerly  a  young 
subaltern  in  the  Indian  service. 

Pig-sticking  is  pretty,  very  pretty  I 
may  say,  if  you  have  two  or  three  of  the 
right  sort  with  you  ;  all  the  gri^ns  ought 
to  hunt  together  though. — H.  Kingsley : 
Geoffrey  Hamlin. 

(Anglo-Chinese),  a  horse  fresh 
from  the  wilds.  Also  a  person 
resident  in  China  under  three 
years. 

Griffins,  the  residue  of  a  contract 
feast  taken  away  by  a  contrac- 
tor, half  the  buyer's  and  half 
the  seller's  (Dr.  Brewer). 

Grig  (thieves),  a  farthing.  (Ameri- 
can), to  grig,  to  irritate,  goad, 


Grig — Gripes. 


431 


or  vex.  Probably  from  grig,  a 
small  fish-spear  used  for  eels 
{grig,  a  small  eel).  Thus  to 
"chivvy,"  to  hunt  about,  chase, 
vex,  or  annoy,  is  derived  from 
chiv  (gypsy),  a  pointed  knife, 
&c. 

That  word,  superiorist,  grigged  me. 
Thinks  I,  my  boy,  I'll  just  take  that  ex- 
pression, roll  it  up  into  a  ball,  and  shy  it 
at  you. — Sam  Slick ;  Human  Nature. 

Grind  (university),  a  long  walk. 
(Cambridge),  the  Granchester 
or  Gogmagog  Hills  Grind.  A 
tedious  piece  of  academical 
work.  A  plodding  student  who 
keeps  aloof  from  the  usual  sports 
and  pastimes.  The  ferry-boats 
at  Chesterton,  wound  across  by 
a  winch  and  chain,  "to  go  over 
in  the  grind."  (Schools),  to 
grind,  to  work  hard,  to  cram  for 
an  examination.  (Common),  to 
have  sexual  intercourse. 

Grinder  (popular),  "to  take  a 
grinder"  is  to  make  an  insult- 
ing gesture  by  applying  the  left 
thumb  to  the  nose,  and  turning 
the  right  hand  round  it  as  if  in 
the  act  of  grinding  an  organ. 
Also  "  to  take  a  sight." 

Grinders  (society),  private  tutors. 
(Popular),  the  teeth. 

This  round  was  but  short — after  humour- 
ing a  while, 

He  proceeded  to  serve  an  ejectment,  in 
style. 

Upon  Georgy's  front  griniiers,  which 
damaged  his  smile 

So  completely,  that  bets  ran  a  hundred 
to  ten 


That  Adonis  would  ne'er  flash  his  ivory 
again. 
—  Toin  Crib's  Memorial  to  Congress. 

Grindery  (shoemakers),  material 
for  making  boots  and  shoes. 

Grinding^  mill  (students),  pre- 
p^ing  for  an  examination. 

Grind  off  (common),  a  miller. 

Grindstone  (common),  to  keep  one 
"with  his  nose  toihe grijidstone," 
to  keep  him  to  his  work. 

Gringo  (American),  a  Spanish 
word,  common  in  the  South- 
west, or  at  least  well  known, 
meaning  a  flat,  new  -  comer, 
stranger,  an  American  or  a 
foreigner.  It  corresponds  in 
some  respects  to  the  "griffin" 
of  India  and  China. 

When  you  play  with  a  gringo  take  off 
that  ar'  green  coat  and  silver  buttons.  I 
seen  every  hand  you  held  rite  in  one  of 
those  buttons,  like  looking  inter  a  looking- 
glass. — Cleveland  Sun  and  Voice. 

Grinning  stitches  (milliners),  said 
of  sewing  slovenly  done,  where 
the  stitches  are  so  wide  apart 
that  they  have  the  appearance 
of  rows  of  teeth. 


Gripes  (popular),  colic. 

Gripes  hole  (Winchester  College), 
a  hole  close  to  the  boat-house, 
thus  called  because  the  water 
there  is  verv  cold. 


432 


Gripper —  Groovy. 


Grip  per  (popular),  a  miser,  a 
curmudgeon. 

Grit  (American  and  common), 
spirit,  courage,  pluck,  endur- 
ance, determination.  The  word 
is  derived  from  the  hardness  of 
the  grit  of  grindstones,  mill- 
stones, and  paving-stones,*  and 
other  uses  to  which  the  most 
durable  sandstone  is  applied. 

If  he  hadn't  had  the  clear  grit  in  him, 
and  showed  his  teeth  and  claws,  they'd  a 
nullified  him  so  you  couldn't  have  seen 
a  grease  spot  of  him. — Sam  Slick  in 
England. 

Grit,  no  (American),  no  pluck, 
sometimes  imitated  by  "no 
sand." 

Grizzle-pot  (popular),  a  sulky 
child,  one  who  is  constantly 
"  grizzling,"  i.e.,  whimpering, 
whining. 

Grizzle,  to  (common),  to  cry, 
whimper. 

"  What  on  earth  are  you  grizzling 
about  now  ? "  asked  the  Talepitcher  of 
Mrs.  T. ,  when  she  came  in  sobbing  the 
other  afternoon.— i?/n/  o  Freedom. 

Groaners  (thieves),  funeral  and 
church  thieves. 

Groats  (nautical),  an  allowance 
for  each  man  jjcr  mensem,  as- 
signed formerly  to  the  chaplain 
for  pay. 

Grog  (popular),  to  "  have  grorj  on 
board,"  to  be  tip.'^y. 


Grog-blossoms  (common),  pim- 
ples on  the  face,  a  consequence 
of  continual  hard  drinking. 

Grog  fight  (army),  a  drinking 
party. 

Groggy  (common),  unsteady  like 
a  drunken  man,  generally  ap- 
plied to  horses  when  they  be- 
come weak  and  unsteady  from 
age  and  overwork. 

And  as  the  Pet,  moreover,  was  so  bat- 
tered and  bruised,  and  was  altogether  so 
groggy  that  he  was  barely  able  to  stand 
up  to  be  knocked  down. — C.  Bede :  Ver- 
dant Green. 

Grogham  (popular),  a  sorry  horse, 
one  who  is  "groggy"  or  not 
firm  on  his  legs. 

Grog -tub  (nautical),  a  brandy 
bottle. 

Groom  (gaming),  a  croupier. 

Groovy  (society),  settled  in  one's 
habits,  old-fogyish,  limited  to 
certain  views. 

After  an  absence  of  fifteen  years  I  have 
just  returned  to  England.  ...  I  never 
aspired  to  being  a  nabob,  or  a  "chappy," 
or  a  "  masher"  (indeed,  I  am  past  the  age 
when  attaining  to  these  latter  distinctions 
could  be  possible)  ;  nor  did  I  intend  to  dis- 
sipate my  hard-earned  and  modest  fortune 
as  a  "plunger."  Six  weeks  ago  I  was  not 
aware  that  these  terms  formed  a  part  of 
the  English  tongue ;  but  now  ...  I  make 
use  of  them,  lest  you  should  infer  from 
what  is  coming  that  I  am  old-fashioned, 
prejudiced,  or  hopelessly  grooty.  —  St. 
James's  Gazette :  The  Culture  of  the 
Mises. 

(American),  a  "  sardine." 


Groper —  Growler. 


433 


Groper  (popular),  a  blind  man, 
termed  also  "  hoodman." 

Ground,  down  to  the  (common), 
anything  that  is  very  acceptable 
and  thorough. 

Grounder  (nautical),  a  ship  that 
is  liable  to  be  run  aground 
through  bad  seamanship. 

Unfortunately  these  rejoicings  have  been 
marred  through  the  loss  of  three  "mids" 
belonging  to  the  notorious  grounder, 
Canada,  who  were  capsized  and  drowned. 
— Modern  Society. 

(Cricket),  a  ball  that  is  de- 
livered along  the  ground,  a 
"sneak"  or  "grub." 

Ground  hog  day  (American),  a 
term  very  common  in  the  Mid- 
dle States,  and  thus  explained 
by  Bartlett: — "Candlemas,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  is  often  so  called  in  the 
Middle  and  Western  States  from 
a  popular  belief  that  the  appear- 
ance of  the  ground  hog  on  that 
day  predicts  a  return  of  cold 
weather."  The  ground  hog  (a 
kind  of  marmot)  has  even  shown 
himself  at  times  in  poetry. 

Though  the  ground  hog  onA  crocus  creep 
into  their  holes, 
It's  Spring,  and  the  almanac  shows  it, 
Though  a  polar  wave  over  the  universe 
rolls. 
It's  Spring,  and  we  don't  care  who 
knows  it. 

—Robert  J.  Burdette:  March. 

Ground-sweat  (thieves),  burial. 

And  as  soon  as  the  noose  was  untied 
Then  at  darkey  we  waked  him  in  clover. 
And  sent  him  to  take  a  ground  sweat. 
— Burrowes :  The  Death  of  Socrates. 


Grouser  (popular),  a  grumbler. 

No  matter  how  well  the  indefatigable 
cooks  acquit  themselves  in  trying  to  ap- 
pease the  ravenous  wants  of  the  hungry 
crowd,  they  very  ofien  find  it  altogether  im- 
possible to  do  anything  at  all  entirely  to  the 
satisfaction  of  a  certain  class  of  individuals. 
.  .  .  This  select  and  volatile  body  of  men 
is  commonly  designated  by  their  more 
sensible  and  forbearing  comrades  as  the 
grousers. — Brunlees  Patterson:  Life  in 
the  Ranks. 

Grout e,  to  (Marlborough  and 
Cheltenham  Colleges),  to  work 
hard.  Also  to  go  out  of  an 
evening.  In  Yorkshire  it  "is 
used  with  the  sense  of  to  dig 
up  with  the  snout  like  a  hog. 

Grouty  (American),  ill-tempered, 
cross,  vexed,  "grumpy."  Grout- 
headed,  stupidly  noisy  (Sus- 
sex), 

Atter  sputin'  an'  rasslin'  roun'  considi- 
bul,  hit  wuz  fix  up  dat  Bre'r  Fox,  Bre'r 
Bar,  and  Bre'r  Buzzard  wuz  ter  run  for 
de  offis — an'  ter  sawter  (sort  oO  pacerfy 
Bre'r  Rabbit,  who  wuz  powerful  grouty 
'bout  bein'  lef  out,  dey  'leek  him  ter  hole 
de  ballick-box. — Detroit  Free  Press. 

Grove  of  the  Evangelist  (com- 
mon), a  name  for  St.  John's 
Wood. 

Growing  his  feathers  (prison), 
letting  one's  hair  and  beard 
grow,  a  privilege  accorded  to 
convicts  for  some  months  before 
their  discharge,  that  they  may 
not  be  noticeable  when  free. 

Growler  (common),  afour-wheeled 
cab  ;  so  called  because  a  man 
is  supposed  to  growl  and  be 
discontented  in  one.  Compare 
with  "  sulky,"  a  kind  of  gig. 
2  li 


434 


Growler — Grub-trap. 


The  cab  again  drew  up  at  the  door,  and 
the  pseudo  Beau  Brummell  set  his  dainty 
foot  upon  the  step  and  gaily  alighted.  A 
four-wheeled  growler  had  accompanied  his 
own  carriage. — Tit-Bits. 

(American),  "  to  work  the 
growler"  to  send  out  a  tin  or 
a  kettle  to  a  saloon  for  beer. 
Considered  rather  low. 

There's   Misther   Hons  Sowfer,   a  fine 
German  man, 

He  goes  out  and  bringp  Lager  in  an  ould 
lobsther  can, 

'Tis  himsilf  works  the  growler  so  nate 
and  so  well, 

For  the  good  of  the  ladies  in  the  Bum- 
mers' Hotel. 
— A  vierican  Broadside  Ballad. 

Grub  (popular),  food.  See  Geub 
AKD  Bub. 

"  I  never  see  such  a  jolly  dog  as  that," 
cried  Master  Bates.  "  Smelling  the  grub 
like  a  old  lady  a  going  to  market."  — 
Dickens:  Oliver  Twist. 

"  To  gruh"  to  eat.  Also  to 
beg,  to  solicit  alms,  especially 
food.  (American  universities), 
a  gruh  is  a  student  who  works 
hard;  to  grub,  to  study  hard. 
(Cricket),  a  grub,  a  ball  that 
is  delivered  along  the  ground. 
Specially  underhand  bowling. 

Grub  and  bub,  victuals  and  drink. 
The  two  words  are  of  indigen- 
ous English  origin.  Grub  is  de- 
rived from  the  action  of  digging 
up  roots  for  edible  purposes  ; 
and  huh  or  "bib"  from  Latin 
bibere,  French  biber.  "  Hum- 
ming bub  "  formerly  signified 
sparkling  ale,  and  is  frequently 
mentioned  in  the  convivial  days 
of  the  eighteenth  century.    The 


"grubbing  ken,"  in  the  language 
of  tramps  and  mendicants,  is  the 
workhouse,  and  is  sometimes 
used  by  the  lower  classes  for 
an  eating-house  or  a  cookshop. 

Grubbery  (popular),  an  eating- 
house.  (Thieves  and  tramps), 
the  workhouse. 

Grubbing  hall  (Winchester),  the 
hall  in  which  college  "men" 
take  their  meals.  It  is  opposite 
"  organ  room."  Each  house  has 
its  grubbing  haU. 

Grubby  (popular),  dirty. 

They  looked  so  ugly  in  their  sable  hides. 
So  dark,  so  dingy,  like  &  grubby  lot 
Of  sooty  sweeps  or  colliers. 

—Hood:  A  Black  Job. 

(Thieves),  food.     Diminutive 
of  "  grub." 

I  pattered  in  flash  like  a  covey  knowing, 
Ay,  bub  or  grubby,  I  say. 

—  Vy.  Maginn:   Vidocq's  Slang 
Song. 

Grub-hunting  (beggars),  begging 
for  food. 

Grub  stakes  (American).  When 
miners  become  so  poor  that  they 
are  not  able  to  furnish  the  neces- 
sary tools  and  food  with  which 
to  "go  prospecting,"  a  third 
party  of  sufficient  means  offers 
to  furnish  tools  and  provisions 
on  condition  that  he  is  to  have 
a  certain  interest  in  anything 
that  may  be  found  (Butter- 
worth's  "  Zig-zag  Journeys"). 

Grub-trap  (popular),  the  mouth. 
A  variant  is  "  potato-trap." 


Gruel —  Guerilla. 


435 


Gruel  (common),  to  "get  one's 
grud  "  is  to  be  well  beaten,  or 
killed. 

He  refused,  and  harsh  language  ensued, 
Which  ended  at  length  in  a  duel, 

When  he  that  was  mildest  in  mood 
Gave  the  truculent  rascal  his  gruel. 
— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

(Sporting),  grud  or  gruelling, 
a  beating. 

Gruelled  (popular),  exhausted. 

Wadham  tan  up  by  the  side  of  that  first 
Trinity  yesterday,  and  he  said  that  they 
were  as  well  gruelled  as  so  many  porters 
before  they  got  to  the  stile.— C.  Kingsley  : 
Alton  Locke. 

Grumble-guts  (popular),  a  person 
who  is  always  grumbling. 

Grumbles  (popular),  to  be  "all 
on  the  grumbles,"  to  be  discon- 
tented, in  a  snarling  mood. 

Grummet  (low),  pudenda  mulie- 
hris.  Termed  also  "  snatch-box," 
"turtle,"  "maddikin,"  "mouse," 
"  monkey,"  "  pussy."  In  French 
slang  "  chat," 

Grumpish  (common),  ill-tempered, 
"grouty ;"  probably  from"  grum  " 
or  "grim." 

If  you  blubber  or  look  grumpish,  I'll 
have  you  strapped  ten  times  over. — Mrs. 
Trollope :  Michael  A  nustrong. 

Grundy,  Mrs.,  to  be  afraid  of 

(society),  to  be  afraid  of  the 
world's  opinion.  Mrs.  Grundy 
was  a  character  in  the  comedy 
of  "  Speed  the  Plough." 

They  eat  and  drink,  and  sleep  and  nod, 
And  go  to  church  on  Sunday, 


And  many  are  afraid  of  God, 
And  more  of  Mrs.  Grundy. 

—Old  Ballad. 

They  should  go   up   the   Dart   and   Fal 

instead  of  up  the  Rhine, 
And  dip,  spite  Mrs.  Grundy's  frown,  in 

truly  British  brine. 
In  short,  they  should  resolve  to  see  their 

native  land  right  through, 
Before  they  fly  abroad  to  seek  fresh  scenes 

and  fevers  new. 

—  Truth. 

Grunter   (tailors),    an    habitual 
grumbler. 

(Old  cant),  a  bumbailiff,  a  pig. 

Here's  ^r««^^^  and  bleater,  with  tib-of-the- 

butt'ry, 
And  margery  prates,  all  dress'd  without 

slutt'ry. 

— R.  Brotne :  A  Jovial  Crew. 

(Popular),  a  policeman,  termed 
also  a  "pig." 

Grunting  cheat  (old  cant),  a  pig. 

Gruts  (thieves),  tea. 

Guddha(ADglo-Indian),anass.  "A 
donkey,  literal  and  metaphorical. 
Hindu  gadhd.  The  coincidence 
of  the  Scotch  'cuddy,'  has  been 
attributed  to  a  loan  from  Hindi 
through  the  gypsies,  who  were 
the  chief  owners  of  the  animal 
in  Scotland,  where  it  is  not 
common.  On  the  other  hand 
this  is  ascribed  to  a  nickname, 
Cuddy,  for  Cuthbert"  (Anglo- 
Indian  Glossary).  The  only  word 
used  at  present  by  gypsies  in 
England  for  a  donkey,  is  viaila 
or  myla. 

Guerilla  (American  thieves),  a 
name   applied   by  professional 


436 


Guerilla — Gully. 


gamblers  to  fellows  who  "  skin 
suckers"  (cheat  the  ignorant), 
when  and  where  they  can.  They 
do  not  like  the  regular  gamblers, 
but  try  to  beat  them  (i.e.,  get 
the  better  of  them),  inform  on 
them,  and  tell  the  suckers  that 
they  have  been  cheated. 

Guess  what  (American),  a  game. 
Also  applied  humorously  to  sus- 
picious food,  such  as  sausages. 

Baltimore  \\a.s,  guess  what  socials,  which 
are  well  attended  and  very  popular.  The 
refreshments  probably  consist  of  sausage 
hash  and  mince  pie. 

Guiders  (popular),  reins.  This 
word  seems  to  have  come  from 
the  gypsies,  who  derived  it  in 
turn  from  the  Slavonian  or 
Wallachian  voidas.  An  English 
gypsy,  on  being  asked  what  he 
supposed  voidas  meant,  sug- 
gested that  it  was  the  same  as 
vyders  or  reins.  The  French 
for  reins  is  guides. 

Guinea-hen  (old cant),  aprostitute. 

Guinea-pigs  (Stock  Exchange), 
directors  of  a  public  company. 
(Common),  special  jurymen. 
Also  others  whose  fee  is  a 
guinea,  such  as  doctors,  veteri- 
nary surgeons — 

"Oh,  oh, "cried  Pat,  "how  my  hand  itches, 
Thou  guinea-f>ig,  in  boots  and  breeches, 
To  trounce  thee  well." 

— Combe :  Dr.  Syntax. 

(Anglo-Indian),  a  nickname 
given  to  midshipmen  on  board 
Indiamen  in  the  last  century, 
and  still  occasionally  used. 


Guire  cove  (old  cant),  a  rogue. 
Probably  a  corruption  of  queer 


Guiver  (theatrical),  flattery,  art- 
fulness. 

Gulf  (Cambridge),  those  to  whom 
thedegreewas  allowed,  although 
inferior  to  junior  optimes,  but 
superior  to  poll  men.  Such  were 
formerly  disqualified  for  the 
classical  tripos. 

Gulf  spin  (American  cadet),  a  man 
who  is  without  principle  of  any 
kind,  a  worthless  fellow. 

Gull  (common),  one  who  is  easily 
cheated. 

The  most  notorious  geek  and  gull 
That  e'er  invention  played  on. 

— Shakspeare :  Twelfth  Night. 

Hotten  derives  it  from  "  the 
easy  manner  in  which  the  bird 
of  that  name  is  deceived"  In 
French  slang  a  "  gullible  "  man 
is  pingmdn,  a  bird  more  easily 
deceived  than  the  gull.  In 
Dutch,  guU  means  soft,  good- 
natured,  easy  to  impose  on. 
"  Hy  is  al  te  gull,"  he  is  far 
too  yielding.  From  gtd,  soft. 
"  De  weg  is  gul,"  the  road  is 
soft  and  yielding.  To  gtdl,  to 
cheat,  deceive. 

Gull-sharper  (nautical),  one  who 
preys  upon  simple  or  inexpe- 
rienced people  or  "gulls." 

Gully  hole  (costers),  the  throat, 
or  gullet  ;  termed  also  "  red 
lane,"  "  gutter  lane."  (Gypsy), 
gullo,  the  throat. 


Gully-raker — Gummy. 


437 


Gully-raker  (up-country  Austra- 
lian), a  cattle- whip.  The  meta- 
phor is  doubtless  that  of  a  man 
walking  down  the  centre  of  a 
gully,  and  commanding  both 
sides  of  it  with  his  lash,  like  a 
man  "covering"  the  whole  net 
at  lawn  tennis  when  he  stands 
close  up  to  volley. 

As  the  day  wore  on  they  overtook  bullock- 
drays  lurching  along  heavily  in  the  ruts  of 
the  road,  the  little  keg  of  water  at  the  tail- 
board swinging  as  if  it  would  wrench  out 
the  staple  it  hung  by,  and  the  driver  appeal- 
ing occasionally  t«  some  bullock  or  other 
by  name,  following  up  his  admonition  by 
a  sweeping  cut  of  his  gully-raker,  and  a 
report  like  a  musket-shot. — A.  C.  Grant : 
Bush- Life  in  Queensland. 

Gulph  or  gfulf,  to  (university),  to 
disqualify.     Vide  Gulf. 

But  I'm  not  going  to  let  them  gulph  me 
a  second  time  ;  though,  they  ought  not  to 
plough  a  man  who's  been  at  Harrow. — 
C.  Bede:  Verdant  Green. 

Gulsh  (provincial),  "  hold  your 
guhh,"  be  quiet,  hold  your 
tongue. 

Gum  (University  and  American), 
a  trick,  deception.  "  He  was 
speaking  of  the  '  moon  hoax ' 
which  gummed  so  many  learned 
philosophers."  Also  "  gumma- 
tion."  The  author  of  "A  Tour 
through  College"  says:  "Our 
reception  to  college  ground  was 
by  no  means  the  most  hospit- 
able, considering  our  unac- 
quaintance  with  the  manners 
of  the  place,  for,  as  poor  '  Fresh,' 
we  soon  found  ourselves  subject 
to  all  manner  of  sly  tricks  and 


'gummations'    from    our    pre- 
decessors the  sophs." 

(Common),  abusive  language, 
chatter. 

There's  no  occasion  to  bows  out  so 
much  unnecessary  gum  .  .  .  you  had 
much  better  clap  a  stopper  on  your  tongue. 
— Smollett :  Peregrine  Pickle. 

To  gum,  to  humbug  or  deceive. 

Gum-gTim  (Anglo-Indian),  a  kind 
of  small  drum  or  gong.  "We 
had  supposed  this  word  to  be 
an  invention  of  the  late  Charles 
Dickens,  but  it  seems  to  be  a 
real  Indian  or  Anglo-Indian 
word  "  (Anglo-Indian  Glossary). 

Gummag^  (common),  to  be  gum- 
magy,  to  be  of  a  snarling,  scold- 
ing disposition.  Dickens  has 
the  character  of  Mrs.  Gummage 
in  one  of  his  works,  the  name 
of  whom  he  evidently  coined 
from  this  slang  expression  in 
the  same  way  that  he  gave  the 
surname  of  "Twist,"  i.e.,  large 
appetite,  to  Oliver. 

Gummer  (popular),  explained  by 
quotation. 

I  was  given  to  understand  that  the  first 
practice  a  fighting  pup  had  was  with  a 
good  old  gummer — that  is  to  say,  with 
a  dog  which  had  been  a  good  one  in  his 
day,  but  now  was  old  and  toothless. — 
/.  Greenwood :  Low-Life  Deeps. 

Gummie  (popular),  a  simpleton, 
a  dull-headed  fellow. 

Gummy  (popular),  a  person  who 
has  lost  all  his  teeth  and  has 
nothing  but  gums  to  "flash," 
i.e.,  to  show.     (University),  to 


438 


Gump — Gunner. 


feel  gummy,  to  be  in  a  perspira- 
tion. (Thieves),  gummy,  medi- 
cine. 

Gump  (American),  a  stupid  person. 
"You  great  gump." 

Gumption  (common),  capacity, 
comprehension,  intelligence ; 
rumgumption,  great  intelligence 
or  capacity.  Oaum  is  a  York- 
shire word  for  comprehension 
or  understanding.  Gumption  is 
a  recognised  word  in  Lowland 
Scotch,  and  not  considered  to 
be  slang. 

Gumptious  (common),  conceited. 

There's  gumption  and  gumptious ! 
Gumption  is  knowing  ;  but  when  1  say 
that  sum  un  is  gumptious,  I  mean  .  .  . 
sura  un  who  does  not  think  small  beer  of 
hisself. — Lytton :  Afy  Novel. 

Gum-smasher  (popular),  a  den- 
tist. 

They  were  fiances,  and  proposed  to 
celebrate  the  occurrence  by  having  a  few 
of  her  less  showy  molars  uprooted  at  his 
expense.  When  the  gum-smasher  had 
got  to  work  he  found  it  was  rather  a 
tougher  job  than  he  had  anticipated. — 
Sporting  Times, 

Gumsucker  (Australian  popular), 
a  young  Australian  "native" 
(white),  so  called,  it  is  said, 
from  their  habit  of  eating  the 
gum  of  the  wattle  tree,  an 
acacia  gum  very  much  resem- 
bling, in  its  astringent  qualities 
and  its  general  appearance,  the 
gum  arable  of  commerce. 

Our  colonial  lads  showed  their  right  to 
the  appellation  of  gumsucker  by  chewing 
the  transparent  lumps  that  depended  from 


the  silver-wattles,  one  of  the  prettiest  of 
our  indigenous  acacias.  —  T.  L.  JVork  : 
"  An  Expedition  to  Halts  Gap,"  in  the 
"  Australian  Printer  s  Keepsake." 

Gumsuck,  to  (American),  to  hum- 
bug or  deceive. 

Gum-tickler  (common),  a  dentist. 

Gum-tree  (nautical),  "  he  has  seen 
his  last  gum-tree,"  it  is  all  up 
with  him. 

Gun  (popular),  a  thief,  an  abbre- 
viation of  "  gonoph,"  which 
see. 

And  this  here  artful  dodger  was 

A  very  artful  gun, 
He  sneaked  the  heart  of  Rachel  and 

Once  more  poor  Roger's  done. 
—  T.  Browne  :  False  Rachel. 

(American),  to  gun,  to  make 
a  violent  eflEort,  to  try  hard  to 
produce  an  effect.  "  '  Gunning  a 
stock,'  "  says  Btirtlett,  "  is  to  use 
every  art  to  produce  a  '  break,' 
when  it  is  known  that  a  certain 
house  is  heavily  supplied,  and 
would  be  unable  to  resist  an 
attack."  As  it  is  a  New  York 
word,  it  may  possibly  be  allied 
to  the  Dutch  gono,  which  means 
a  violent  push,  or  attack.  As 
the  word  implies  secretly  ob- 
taining information,  or  finding 
out,  it  may  also  be  derived  from 
the  old  English  gun,  which  has 
the  same  meaning. 

Gunned  (American  detective), 
examined. 

Gunner  (army),  an  artillery  offi- 
cer. 


Gunny — Guts. 


439 


A  well-known  ^t<«««r,  Lieut.-Col. , 

has  left  England  for  India  to  take  up  a 
command. — The  World. 

Gunny,  gimny-bag'  (Anglo-In- 
dian), a  sack,  sacking.  In  Eng- 
lish gypsy  gono  or  gunnio  is 
also  a  bag  of  any  kind.  In 
Italian  gonna  is  a  petticoat. 

Gunster  (turf).     Vide  To  Gun. 

Gup  (Anglo-Indian),  the  common 
word  among  Europeans  in  India 
for  prattle,  gossip,  or  tittle- 
tattle. 

The  native  ladies  sit  on  their  cushions 
from  day  to  day,  with  no  other  amuse- 
ment than  hearing  the  gup-gup,  or  gossip 
of  the  place. — Mr$.  Sherwood's  Autobio- 
graphy. 

Gurry  (American  fishermen),  de- 
composed spoiled  crude  oil, 
made  from  the  livers  of  cod  or 
other  fish  (Bartlett).  Rancid 
oil.  In  Dutch,  goor  means 
spoiled,  as  goor  mdk,  spoiled  or 
turned  milk.  The  oil  is  used 
for  coarse  work,  lubricating 
wheels,  and  by  tanners. 

Gurtsey  (American  cadet),  a  stout, 
short  man,  a  "  fatty."  The 
epithet  is  generally  applied  at 
West  Point  to  the  fattest  man 
in  a  class. 

Gush  (common),  exaggerated  show 
of  sentiment,  or  manifestation 
of  approval. 

The  Endacott  perjury  has  ended,  and 
very  properly,  in  a  verdict  of  acquittal. 
The  charge  ought  never  to  have  been 
made,  and  would  not  have  been  but  for 
that  absurd  quality  of  gush  which  is  in- 


herent in  the  English  nation.  It  is  this 
ever-present  gush  which  blinds  so  many 
people  to  common-sense. — Sporting  Times. 

Gusher  (common),  one  overflow- 
ing with  sentiment,  with  exag- 
gerated manifestations  of  ap- 
proval, a  rhapsodiser. 

She  was  a  gushing  school-girl,  with  the 
idea  of  matrimony  as  the  ne  plus  ultra  of 
poetic  bliss.  .   .  . 

"  When  your  husband  comes  home  from 
his  toil,"  she  asked,  "  does  he  not  woo 
you  to  rest  with  honeyed  words  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  about  honeyed 
words ;  last  night  all  he  could  say  was, 
'  M'ria,  if  you  can't  untie  the  knots  in 
these  laces  I  shall  go  to  bed  in  my  boots, 
same  as  I  did  last  Saturday.'  " 

I'hat  gusher's  matrimonial  enthusiasm 
is  quenched. — Sporting  Times. 

Gushing  (common).  According 
to  feminine  interpretation,  the 
word  gushing  answers  to  the 
French  phrase,  "  trop  expansif," 
and  is  more  often  used  in  a 
repellent  than  in  a  laudatory 
sense,  being  habitually  applied 
to  overstrained  professors  of  at- 
tachment, or  exaggerated  mani- 
festations of  approval. 

Gut,  to  (schools),  to  eat  more  than 
is  good  for  one. 

Guts  (old),  to  "have  guts  in  the 
brain,"  to  have  sense. 

Quoth  Ralpho,  truly  that  is  no 
Hard  matter  for  a  man  to  do 
That  has  but  any  guts  in's  brain. 

— Hudibras. 

(Artists),  "  no  guts  in  it."  The 
expression  is  pretty  general,  but 
it  is  more  specially  used  by  artists 
to  announce  their  opinion  that 
there  is  nothing  in  a  picture. 


4P 


Gutter — Gym-khana. 


Gutter  (Winchester  College),  a 
purl  into  the  water  rfiade  by 
the  violent  contact  of  a  bather's 
body  with  the  water  when  he 
falls  on  his  stomach.  French 
schoolboys  call  this  "  piquer  un 
plat  -  ventre."  (Binders),  the 
white  space  between  the  pages 
of  a  book.  (Common),  to  "lap 
the  gutter,^'  to  be  in  the  last 
stage  of  intoxication. 

Gutter  -  chaunter  (common),  a 
street  singer. 

Gutter  lane  (popular),  the  urinal. 

Gutter-prowler  (thieves),  a  street 
thief. 

Gutter-slush  or  snipe  (popular),  a 
vagabond  child  who  prowls  in 
the  streets,  sent  out  by  his 
parents  to  beg,  if  he  have  any, 
or  begging  on  his  own  account 
if  he  have  none. 

Guttle-shop  (Rugby),  a  pastry- 
cook's or  tuck  shop. 

We  can  hardly  brine;  our  pen  to  write 
this  word  "pastrycook"  as  a  substitute 
for  the  long-established  and  well-known, 
though  perhaps  inelegant,  name  by  which 
we  knew  such  places— ^w/i/^-fAo/i. — A^^- 
collections  of  Rugby. 

Guy  (thieves),  an  escape ;  to  "  do 
a  guy"  or  to  guy,  to  run  away, 
to  escape. 

Still  it  is  the  constant  burden  of  their 
thoughts — "How  to  do  a  giiyt"  ^ guy 
means  to  escape.  The  primal  difficulty  is 
the  want  of  clothes. — Evening  News. 

From  Dutch  sailor-slang,  in 
which  gy  seems  to  indicate  speed 


as  of  the  wind.  "  Cy-wind,"  an 
arid  dry  wind.  Or  a  corruption 
of  go.  (Theatrical),  to  guy  is 
to  condemn  a  new  play  or  an 
actor. 

1^  I  "brilliant  "  stalls  and  solid  pit 
In  judgment  on  a  new  play  sit. 
Some  guy  the  poor  playmaker's  facts 
IJetween  the  acts — between  the  acts. 
— Fun. 

(General),  a, 9«y,  an  ill-dressed 
person,  a  person  of  queer  dress 
or  looks.  From  the  effigy  of 
Guy  Fawkes,  carried  about  by 
street  boys  on  5th  of  Novem- 
ber. (Common),  to  guy,  to  dis- 
tort. 

Gyger  or  jigfger  (thieves),  a  door. 
Grose  has  gigger,  a  latch  or 
door;  "dub  the  gigger,"  open 
the  door;  '' gigger  dubber,"  the 
turnkey  of  a  prison.  A  door, 
being  for  a  thief  an  obstacle  to 
be  overcome,  must  be  connected 
in  his  mind  with  the  divers  noises 
it  creates  when  forced  open, 
i.e.,  the  creaking  of  the  hinges, 
clatter  of  bolts,  grinding  of  keys 
in  the  lock.  Hence  the  probable 
origin  of  gigger  or  jigger,  from 
the  provincialism  to  "gig,"  to 
make  a  noise.  French  rogues 
call  a  door  or  gate  tine  lourde, 
a  prison  door  being  for  them  a 
/(cary  obstacle.  It  has  been  sug- 
gested that  jigger  is  a  form  of 
the  gypsy  stigga,  a  gate. 

Gym-khana  (Anglo  -  Indian),  a 
club  or  casino,  including  a  skat- 
ing-rink, lawn-tennis  ground, 
and  other  amusements.  It  was, 
according  to  the  Anglo-Indian 


Gym-khana — Had. 


441 


Glossary,  unknown  twenty-five 
years  ago.  The  word  was  in- 
vented in  the  Bombay  Pre- 
sidency, and  was  probably  based 
upon  gend-lhana,  "  ball-house," 
the  name  usually  given  in  Hindu 
to  an  English  racket-court.  It 
is  also  a  colonial  term  signify- 
ing a  race-meeting  got  up  by 
the  military  for  gentlemen 
riders. 

Gyp  (Cambridge),  a  college  ser- 
vant. Said  to  be  derived  from 
yp^i"^,  a  vulture,  in  reference  to 
the  said  servant's  liberal  inter- 
pretation of  perquisites.     This 


has  now  become  a  somewhat 
unfair  description. 

At  Cambridge  g;y^,  at  Oxford  "  scout," 
Collegians  call  the  idle  tout, 
Who  brushes  clothes,  on  errands  runs, 
Absorbs  their  tips  and  keeps  off  duns. 
— C.  Bede :  Verdant  Green. 

A  more  probable  derivation 
is  from  gypsy,  which  has  given 
gip,  a  thief. 

Gyro-twistive  (American),  full  of 
evasions  and  tricks. 

Now  Twine  was  a  gyro-twistive  cuss  as 

ever  you  did  know. 
And  mit  some  of  his  circumswindles  he 

fix  de  matter  so. 

—  The  Breitmann  Ballads. 


A  B  B  E  N,      hobben 

(gypsy),  food,  meal. 
"  Pdrraco  mi  -  ddvel 
for  a  kushto  hab- 
ben ! "  thank  my  Lord 
for  a  good  meal ! 

Hackamore  (American,  Western), 
a  head-stall  for  a  horse.  "  She 
went  with  only  a  hackamore  to 
bring  back  a  couple  of  ponies 
that  were  straying." 

Squito  shot  off  at  a  tangent  on  the 
broncho  she  was  riding,  with  only  a  hacka- 
more or  head-stall,  to  bring  back  a  couple 
of  ponies  that  were  straying  from  the  bunch. 
— F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Hackle  (popular), pluck;  "to show 
hackle"  to  be  willing  to  fight. 
"  Hackles"  are  the  long  feathers 
on  the  back  of  a  cock's  neck 


which   he   erects  when   angry 
(Hotten). 

Hack,  to  (football).  "Hacking" 
is  a  term  used  at  football  to 
indicate  an  irregular  and  savage 
practice,  no  proper  part  of  the 
game,  and  now  falling  into  desue- 
tude. 

Had,  can't  be  (London  slang),  not 
to  be  taken  in. 

While  rambling  once  not  far  from  here,  I 
observed  on  turning  round 

A  man  stoop  and  pretend  to  pick  up  some- 
thing from  the  ground  ; 

He  comes  to  me  and  then  says  he,  "Will 
you  buy  this  gold  ring  ?  " 

Said  I,  "  My  lad,  I  can't  be  had—\  see  it's 
no  such  thing." 

— Song :  That's  a  Game  lest 
left  Alone. 


442 


Haddock — Hair-pin. 


Haddock  (popular),  a  purse.  The 
term  probably  belonged  origin- 
ally to  fish-hawkers. 

Haddocks  (Stock  Exchange), 
Great  North  of  Scotland  Ordi- 
nary Stock. 

Had  it,  or  him,  on  toast,  did  him 
thoroughly,  completely  finished 
him.  (Popular),  all  served  up, 
all  ready,  prepared. 

I  loved  her,  that  was  clear. 
And  oh,  she  had  me  on  toast,  she  had. 
For  I  bou:;ht  her  a  diamond  ring, 
Then  the  very  next  day  she  bolted  away 
With  Charley  the  masher  king. 

—Ballad  by  T.  F.  Robson. 

Hag  (Winchester  College),  an 
ungracious  epithet  applied  to  a 
matron. 

Haggler  (costermongers).  The 
haggler  is  to  the  fruit  and  vege- 
table markets  what  the  "  Bum- 
maree"  is  to  the  fish  market — a 
jobber  and  speculator. 

Hair  (common),  "  keep  your  hair 
on,"  do  not  be  excited,  keep 
your  temper ;  varied  to  "  keep 
your  shirt  on." 

With  the  most  perfect  good  temper  the 
new-comer  answered  the  expostulations  of 
the  fat  woman  with  a  "  Keep  yer  hair  on, 
Lizer." — Sporting  Times. 

"  To  take  a  hair  of  the  dog 
that  bit  you,"  to  take  a  dram 
in  the  morning  after  a  too  free 
indulgence  in  liquor  on  the  pre- 
vious evening. 

But  be  sure,  over  night  if  the  dog  do 
you  bite, 
You  take  it  henceforth  for  a  warning. 


Soon  as  out  of  your  bed,  to  settle  your 
head. 
Take  a  hair  of  his  tail  in  the  morning. 
—Hilton :  Catch  that  Catch  Can. 

It  is  sometimes  applied  to 
other  homoeopathic  proceedings 
(0.  Davies). 

Holding  with  most  of  our  poets  a  vague 
notion  that  her  woes  were  to  be  cured 
by  a  "hair  of  the  dog  who  bit  her," 
viz.,  by  homoeopathic  doses. — Kingsley  : 
T'jMt  Years  Ago. 

The  saying,  which  has  be- 
come a  recognised  phrase,  pro- 
bably originated  in  a  belief 
that  a  dog  bite  could  be  cured 
by  an  application  of  the  animal's 
hair  to  the  wound,  or  it  may 
be  a  version  of  the  saying, 
"  Similia  similibus  curantur." 
The  French  have  the  common 
phrase,  "  reprendre  du  poil  de 
la  b^te. " 

Hair-pin  (American),  a  man.  This 
odd  expression  became  popular 
about  1880.  It  is  derived  from 
a  fancied  resemblance  of  the 
human  figure  to  a  double-tined 
hair-pin,  just  as  in  Shakspeare's 
time  a  thin  man  was  compared 
to  a  forked  radish.  In  America 
the  simile  is  popularly  extended 
to  clothes-pegs  and  tongs.  It 
is  heard  most  frequently  in  the 
form,  "  That's  the  kind  of  hair- 
pin  I  am." 

Aye,  that  is  just  the  hair-/>fn 

I  am,  and  that's  my  line ; 
And  here  is  twenty  dollars 

I've  brought  to  pay  my  fine. 

'Tis  glorious  when  heroes 
Go  in  to  right  their  wrongs  ; 


Half. 


443 


But  if  you're  only  hair-pins. 
Oh,  then,  beware  of  tongs  ! 

—Carey  of  Carson:  A  Ballad. 

Half  an  eye  (nautical),  "  seeing 
with  half  an  eye,"  discerning 
easily. 

Half-a-snrprise  (London  slang),  a 
black  eye.  From  a  music-hall 
song. 

Half-baked,  soft -baked  (pro- 
vincialism), lacking  in  intelli- 
gence. The  French  equivalent 
for  this  is,  "  II  n'a  pas  la  tete 
bien  cuite." 

He  treated  his  cousin  as  a  sort  of  harm- 
less lunatic,  and  as  they  say  in  Devon, 
half-baked.— C.  Kingsley:  Westward  Ho. 

Half-bord  (old  cant),  a  sixpence. 

Half-fly  flats  (thieves'  slang), 
roughs  ready  to  be  hired  to  do 
the  dirty  work  of  thieves. 

Half -grown  shad  (American), 
stupid  fellow.  As  the  Germans 
say,  "  Nicht  mehr  Verstand  als 
ein  Rekrut  im  Mutterleibe," 
no  more  intelligence  than  an 
unborn  recruit. 

No  more  interlect  than  a  lialf-grown 
shad. — Neal:  Charcoal  Sketches. 

He  said  it  with  a  simple  tone  and  gave 

a  simple  smile, 
Vou    never    saw   a     half-grown    shad 
one-half  so  void  of  guile. 

—  The  Green  Old  Man. 

Half-man  (nautical),  a  landsman 
or  boy  in  a  coaster  not  deserv- 
ing the  pay  of  a  "  full  man." 

Half-marrows  (nautical),  incom- 
petent seamen. 


Half-moon  (old  cant),  a  periwig. 

Half- mourning  (common),  "  to 
have  one's  eye  in  half-mourning" 
to  have  a  black  eye.  Latterly 
termed  "  half  a  surprise,"  from 
a  music  hall  song,  "  Oh  I  what 
a  surprise." 

Half-past  kissing  time,  it's  (popu- 
lar), an  impudent  answer  often 
made  by  a  man  or  boy  to  a  girl 
who  asks  him  what  o'clock  it  is. 

It's  half-past  kissing  time,  and  time  to 

kiss  again, 
For  time  is  always  on  the  move,  and 

will  still  remain  ; 
No  matter  what  the  hour  is,  you  may 

rely  on  this, 
It's  always  half-past  kissing  time,  and 

time  again  to  kiss ! 

— G.  Antliony.  Ballad. 

Such  phrases  as  the  above  are 
generally  snatches  of  popular 
songs,  or  are  often  embodied  in 

them. 

Half  rocked(popular),  half-witted, 

silly. 

Half  seas  over  (common),  half  or 
indeed  wholly  drunk.  Common 
at  first  among  sailors,  it  has  now 
spread  to  all  classes  of  the  com- 
munity. 

The  Licensed  Victuallers  have  presented 
a  second  life-boat  to  the  R.N.L.I.  Of 
course  she  will  be  manned  by  a  cork's- 
crew,  who,  though  they  may  be  sometimes 
half  seas  over,  we  trust  may  never  be 
whole  seas  under.  The  L.  V.'s,  not  be- 
lieving in  water  themselves,  do  their  level 
best — their  spirit  level  best— to  save  others 
from  it. — Fun. 

Half  'un  (common),  an  abbrevia- 
tion for  half  a  glass  of  whisky 
and  water. 


444 


Hall — Handicap. 


North  of  the  Tweed  you  get  a  "  sma" 
'un,"  but  there  is  not  about  this  the  deli- 
cate suggestiveness  of  a  kal/  'un.  When 
Drew,  and  Romano,  and  Charlie  Moore, 
not  to  mention  the  Gallery  and  the  Rain- 
bow, start  good  little  whiskies  at  twopence 
a  time,  there  will  be  great  times  in  Fleet 
Street  and  the  Strand. — Sporting  Times. 

Hall  (University),  a  general  term 
for  the  common  dinner  served 
in  the  college  halls  at  a  univer- 
sity.    Hence  the  verb  "  to  hall" 

Ha-loy  (pidgin  Cantonese),  come 
down  1  "  Ha-loy,  you  feUa'  top- 
side dat  go-down  ha-loy!  hab 
got  one  piecee  talkee  fo'  you  ear- 
hear." 

Halves  (Winchester  College),  half 
Wellington  boots.  They  are 
iwn  licet. 

Ham  (American),  a  loafer. 

Ham-cases  (thieves),  trousers  ; 
called  also  "  hams." 

Hamlet  (American),  a  captain  of 
police. 

Hammer  (common),  an  enormous 
falsehood,  synonymous  with 
"  clincher,"  and  "  crammer." 
In  Scottish  parlance,  accord- 
ing to  Robert  Burns,  sometimes 
called  a  "  rousing  whid,"  or  in 
the  London  vernacular  a  "  whop- 
per," a  "rapper,"  a  "good  'un," 
in  contradistinction  to  a  petty 
falsehood,  called  by  ladies  and 
children  a  "taradiddle." 

Hammer-headed  (common), 
stupid,  dull,  obtuse.     Possibly 


derived  from  the  common  yid- 
dish  slang,  hammar,  an  ass. 

Hammering  (printers).  This  is  a 
slang  expression  used  by  com- 
positors to  indicate  overcharg- 
ing time  work — to  charge  more 
"  hours  "  than  actually  engaged 
on  a  particular  job  or  work  and 
thus  cheating. 

Hammersmith  (popular),  "  he  has 
been  at  Ifammersmith,"  he  has 
received  a  terrific  thrashing. 

Hammer,  to  (Stock  Exchange), 
to  declare  one  a  defaulter. 

But  when  the  members  fail, 
Why,  then  the  dealers  quail, 
For  it  sets  the  hammer  working  up 
and  down. 

— A  tkin  :  House  Scraps. 

To  beat,  ill-treat. 

A  fellow  as  ever  broke  bread, 
As  fly  as  a  cop,  he  could  hammer  a.  ^k\^. 
— Sporting  Times. 

Hampstead  Heath  sailor  (popu- 
lar), a  term  of  ridicule — no 
sailor  at  all.  What  the  French 
call  "marin  d'eau  douce,"  or 
"  amiral  Suisse." 

Hams  shrunk  (tailors),  sides  of 
trousers  shrunk  at  thigh. 

Hand-em-down  (provincial),  a 
Northamptonshire  term  for  a 
second-hand  garment.  Corres- 
ponds to  the  French  "  d^cro- 
chez-moi  9a." 

Handicap,  to  (common).  This 
term,  as  used  in  racing,  is  a  re- 
cognised word.    It  is  also  used  in 


Handle — Hang. 


445 


a  metaphoric  sense  to  signify 
to  make  even,  to  equalise  the 
chances. 

Handle  (common),  a  person  with 
a  title  is  said  to  have  a  handle 
to  his  name.  This  is  a  very- 
common  and  now  recognised 
phrase. 

Hand-me-down  place  (tailors), 
a  repairing  tailor's,  now  often 
styled  a  "  never -too -late- to- 
mend  shop." 

The  cut  of  his  coat  makes  me  weary  ! 
Regular  hatid-nie-downs,  and  no  mis- 
take— ugh— how  can  he  expect  the  world 
to  swallow  that  necktie? — Detroit  Free 
Press. 

Hand  out  (American),  an  ex- 
pression fully  explained  in  the 
following  extract  from  "  The 
Western  Avernus,  or  Toil  and 
Travel  in  Further  North  Ame- 
rica," by  Morley  Roberts  —  a 
work  which  should  be  read  by 
every  one  before  attempting  to 
"rough  it"  in  the  "West": — 
"  Up  to  this  time  they  had  always 
given  us  our  meals  in  the  tents 
with  knives  and  forks  and  plates 
(separately),  but  here  the  cooks 
brought  out  a  huge  can  of  soup, 
some  potatoes,  great  lumps  of 
boiled  beef,  a  pile  of  plates,  and 
a  bucket  of  knives  and  forks. 
A  chorus  of  growls  rose  up  from 
us  on  all  sides.  .  .  .  Some  of  the 
boys  said  it  was  a  regular  hand 
out,  and  that  we  looked  like  a 
crowd  of  old  bummers.  Bum- 
mers is  the  American  for  beggars, 
and  a  hand  out  is  a  portion  of 
food  handed  out  to  a  bummer 


or  a  tramp  at  the  door  when  he 

is  not  asked  inside." 

Handsaw  (popular),  a  street 
hawker  of  knives  and  razors. 

Handseller  (popular),  a  street  or 
open-air  vendor. 

Handsome,  Americanism  for 
grand  or  beautiful.  "  The  Falls 
of  Niagara  are  one  of  the 
handsomest  things  in  the  United 
States."  "Yes !  indeed,  they  are 
very  elegant."  A  similar  abuse 
of  the  adjective  is  to  be  found 
in  such  vulgar  phrases  as  "  The 
cheese  is  magnificent,"  "  The 
butter  was  splendid,"  "The  eggs 
were  first-rate,"  "The  whole 
thing  was  marvellous,"  "  The 
liquor  was  glorious,"  "  The  bread 
was  beautiful,"  or  "What  a,  grand 
old  time  we  had  of  it." 

Handsome  as  a  last  year's  corpse 

(American),  a  sarca.stic  compli- 
ment (C.  Leland  Harrison :  MS. 
Americanisms). 

Handsomely  (nautical),  gently. 

Handsomely    over    the    bricks 

(nautical),  go  cautiously,  have 


Handsprings  (popular),  to  chuck 
handsprings,  to  throw  somer- 
saults. 

Hang  (common),  "not  to  care  a 
haiuj,"  synonymous  with  "nOt  to 
care  a  fig. "  Hang,  or  "hang  it ! " 
denotes  that  the  speaker  does 
not  care,  is  vexed,  or  disap- 
pointed. 


446 


Hangers — Hang. 


And  there    lay  the    rider  we  thought 

couldn't  fail ; 
Ah  !  Captain  Lee  Barber  I  we're  broke 

and  want  bail : 
The    Frenchmen   are   beaten  'tis   true  ; 

but,  oh,  hang! 
We  hadn't  a  bob  on  that  beast  Parasang. 
— Sporting  Times. 

Hangers  (popular),  gloves,  gene- 
rally well  worn,  carried  in  the 
hand,  but  never  put  on. 

Hang -it -out,  to  (printers),  to 
"skulk"  on  a  job — not  to  do 
justice  when  on  time  work. 

Hang  it  up,  to  (American),  to 
charge  to  one's  account,  to  put 
down  to  credit,  to  chalk  it  be- 
hind the  door.  Also  English, 
hang  it  vp,  slate  it. 

Hang  of  a  thing,  to  get  or  have 
the  (English  and  American),  to 
become  familiar  with,  to  learn 
the  art,  manner,  or  way  of 
managing  or  using  anything. 
"I  am  bad  at  my  lessons  just 
now,"  said  a  new  pupil  apolo- 
getically, "  but  I  expect  to 
do  well  as  soon  as  I've  got 
the  Jiang  of  the  school-house." 
Bartlett  derives  this,  very  in- 
geniously, from  the  adjusting 
of  tools  to  their  handles,  which 
is  known  as  hanging ;  but  hang- 
ing in  the  sense  of  dependence, 
relationship,  and  adjustment, 
seems  to  be  common  in  the 
Indo-European  languages,  if  not 
in  all  others. 

Though  they  ain't  got  the  'ang  of  it, 
Charlie,  the  toffs  ain't, — no  go  and 
no  spice  ! 


Why,  I'd  back  Barney  Crump  at  our 
sing-song  to  lick  'em  two  times  out 
o'  twice. 

— Punch. 

Hang-off  (printers),  an  expression 
used  to  convey  a  rejection  or 
avoidance  of  anything  objec- 
tionable. To  "keep  off"  or 
"  fight  shy  "  of  anything. 

Hang  out  (University),  a  feasting, 
an  entertainment. 

I  remember  the  date  from  the  Fourth  of 
July  occurring  just  afterwards,  which  I 
celebrated  by  a  hang  out. — Bristed:  Five 
Years. 

Used  as  a  verb,  it  signifies  to 
treat,  to  have  or  possess,  also  to 
dwell;  "from  the  ancient  cus- 
tom," says  Hotten,  "  of  hanging 
out  signs." 

"  I  say,  old  boy,  where  do  you  hang 
out  ?  "  Mr.  Pickwick  replied  that  he  was 
at  present  suspended  at  the  George  and 
Vulture. — Dickens:  Pickwick  Papers. 

"  Ce  bon  Edouard  "  used  to  hang  out — 
and  hang  up — in  a  cold  and  barn-like  <z/f/iVr 
in  the  Rue  d' Amsterdam. — Bird  o'  Free- 
dom. 

Hang,  to  (popular  and  sporting), 
to  be  in  a  desperate  state.  Said 
when  a  man  cannot  turn  one 
way  or  the  other.  Dutch,  "tus- 
schen  Iiangen  en  wurgen,"  to  be 
between  hanging  and  strang- 
ling. (American),  "  it  all  hangs 
on  him,"  it  all  depends  on  him. 
In  Dutch,  "  De  zaak  hangt  aan 
hem." 

Hang  up  a  bill,  to  (politicians), 
explained  by  quotation. 

To  hang  up  a  hill  is  to  pass  through  one 
or  more  of  its  stages,  and  then  to  lay  it 


Hang — Hap. 


447 


aside,  and  defer  its  further  consideration 
for  a  more  or  less  indefinite  period,— Ow«- 
hill  Magazine. 

Hang'  up  his  hat  (common),  to 
make  one's  self  permanently  at 
home,  to  board  and  lodge  in  a 
house. 

I  said,  "  Mrs.  Jones,  may  I  hang  up  my 

fiat  ?  ■• 
She  replied,  "  Mr.  Sponge,  I  don't  know 

about  that." 

— Cotnic  Song, 

Hang  up  one's  fiddle,  to  (Ameri- 
can), to  give  up  business,  to 
resign,  to  desist,  to  retire  from 
public  into  private  life. 

When  a  man  loses  his  temper,  and  ain't 
cool,  he  might  as  well  hang  up  his  fiddle. 
— Satn  Slick. 

If  a  man  at  forty-two  is  not  in  a  fair 
way  to  get  a  fair  share  of  the  world's 
spoils,  he  might  as  well  hang  up  his 
fiddle. — Don's  Sermons. 

(Common),  "to  hang  up  one's 
fiddle  anywhere,"  to  adapt  one's 
self  to  circumstances. 

Hang  up,  to  (thieves),  to  rob  with 
violence.  American  thieves  use 
the  expression  "holdup."  Pro- 
bably from  hoisting  a  man  on 
one's  back,  by  means  of  a  rope 
round  his  neck,  while  an  ac- 
complice robs  him.  French 
thieves  call  this  mode  of  robbery 
"  la  faire  au  p^re  Fran5ois." 

H£nk  (gypsy),  a  well. 

Hankin  (trade),  trickery.  To 
make  common  work  appear  to 
be  the  best  quality. 

Hanky-panky,  adroit  substitu- 
tion,   palming,    sleight-of-hand 


in  legerdemain.  The  gypsies 
use  huckeny  and  hunky  to  signify 
deceit.  In  Hindustani,  the  par- 
ent of  gypsy,  hoggu,  pronounced 
hocku  or  honJcu,  with  the  suffix 
bazee  (a  box),  means  legerde- 
main. In  gypsy,  huckeny  pokee, 
or  ponkee,  means  the  adroit 
substitution  by  sleight-of-hand 
of  a  bundle  containing  lead  or 
stones  for  another  containing 
money  or  valuables. 

Hanky-panky  and  hocus-pocus  are  each 
one  half  almost  pure  Hindustani. —  The 
English  Gypsies  and  their  Language. 

Hanky-panky  bloke  or  pile  o' 
mags  (theatrical),  a  conjuror. 

Hanky-spanky  (popular),  dash- 
ing, in  dashing  style ;  refers 
specially  to  garments. 

Hansom  (coster),  a  chop. 

Hant,  haunt  (American),  a  ghost. 
It  is  possibly  the  Malay  word 
hard,  an  evil  spirit. 

"  It  must  be  Beck's  haunt,"  suggested 
one.  "  Sure  as  I'm  born,"  said  the 
preacher,  "it  does  look  like  a  ghost." — 
— A talanta  Constitution:  Georgia  Ghost 
Stories. 

But  dem  unz  hants.  Witches  is  dere 
yer  kinder  fokes  wat  kirn  drap  dere  body 
and  change  inter- a  cat  en  a  wolf. — Uncle 
Remus. 

Han-tun  (pidgin),  one  hundred. 

Hap  harlot,  a  jocose  term  for 
a  woman's  under-garments. 
Wrap  -  rascal  is  a  similarly 
facetious  term  for  a  man's  over- 
coat. Hap  -  harlot  has  been 
modified  or  corrupted  into  hap- 
parlet. 


448 


Ha'porth — Hard. 


Ha'porth  o'  coppers  (legal), 
Habeas  Corpus. 

Happen  on  it,  to  (American),  to 
meet  with  anything  by  chance 
or  accidentally.  This  phrase, 
like  "  to  happen  in,"  i.c,  "  to 
happen  to  call  in,"  "  to  drop  in 
on  by  accident,"  is  evidently 
derived  from  the  regular  verb 
"to  happen,"  but  it  is  worth 
noting  that  in  Dutch  happen 
means  to  snatch,  or  snap. 

Ver  oughter  hev  happened  through  here 
with  that  instrumint  of  yourn  about  that 
time,  young  feller ;  yer  might  hev  kept 
as  full  as  a  tick,  till  they  war  busted. — 
Thomas  Stevens :  A  round  the  World  en 
a  Bicycle. 

Happer,  happer  (gypsy),  to  carry 
away.  Hoppercore,  a  policeman 
(one  who  carries  away). 

Happy-go-lucky  (common),  given 
as  a  slang  term  by  Hotten  and 
others,  but  to  be  found  in 
English  dictionaries  of  the 
beginning  of  the  eighteenth 
century  as  a  recognised  term 
under  the  form  "  happy -be - 
lucky,"  at  hazard,  go  as  it 
will.  French  slang,  "  va  comme 
je  te  pousse." 

Happy  returns  (Australian  popu- 
lar), throwing  up  one's  food. 
If  a  person  feels  sick,  feels  his 
"dinner  in  his  mouth,"  as  Eng- 
lish people  say,  he  will  say  that 
"  he  has  the  happy  returns." 

Hard  (roughs  and  thieves),  for 
Juird  labour. 


.  .  .  And  then  do  his  month's  hard  on 
his  head. — Sporting  Times. 

(American  rhyming  slang), 
hard  coal,  silver  and  gold,  hard- 
ware, false  coin,  hard  metal. 

Hard  bargain  (nautical),  a  lazy 
fellow,  a  skulker. 

Hard  case  (American),  a  very 
common  old-fashioned  expres- 
sion for  a  worthless,  shameless 
man,  or  any  one  from  whom 
nothing  good  can  be  expected. 
One  may  sometimes  see  in 
"  stores  "  lists  of  hard  cases  hung 
up,  i.e.,  of  defaulting  debtors. 

A  petrified  body  has  been  discovered  in 
Ohio.  It  is  not  the  first  hard  case  that 
has  come  to  light  in  that  commonwealth. 
— Detroit  Free  Press. 

(Nautical),  a  bullying,  cruel 
officer. 

Hard  cheese  (Royal  Military 
Academy),  varied  sometimes  to 
"  what  cheese  1 "  or  "  fromage." 
Vide  Cheese. 

Hardening  market  (commercial). 
The  market  is  said  to  harden 
from  the  purchaser's  point  of 
view  when  prices  advance. 
Also  used  when  one's  chances 
of  success  are  decreasing. 

Take  it  all  together,  his  li''e  was  becoming 
a  mockery  and  a  misery.  The  matrimonial 
market  was  hardening  .igainst  him. — 
Moonshine. 

I.e.,  the  possibility  of  marriage 
was  decreasing. 

Hard  horse  (nautical),  a  tyran- 
nical officer. 


Hard. 


449 


Hard  lines  (common),  ill  Inck, 
hardship. 

'Ard  lines,  ain't  it,  Charlie,  old  hoyster? 
A  barney's  a  barney,  dear  boy, 

And  you  know  that  a  squeeze  and  a  sky- 
lark is  wot  I  did  always  enjoy, 

A  street-rush  is  somethink  splendacious  to 
fellers  of  sperrit  like  me, 

But  dints  and  diakkylum  plaster  will  spile 
the  best  sport,  don'tcher  see. 

— Punch. 

Hard-mouthed  un'  (popular),  an 
obstinate  person,  or  one  difficult 
to  deal  with. 

Hard  neck  (tailors),  a  great 
amount  of  cheek  and  impu- 
dence. 

Hard  or  soft  drinks  (American). 
In  the  United  States  any  liquor 
which  is  decidedly  intoxicating 
is  called  hard,  while  soda-water, 
lemonade,  root-beer,  ginger- 
beer,  and  the  like,  are  soft. 
Likewise  the  French  call  these 
respectively  raide,  and  doux. 

Hard  row  to  hoe  (American),  a 
very  common  phrase  to  express 
a  hard  task. 

Captain  Ben  sighed.  I  thought  ma'be 
you  was  having  a  hard  row  to  hoe,  and  I 
thought  like  enough.— Fra«c«  Lee  Pratt : 
Captain  Ben's  Choice. 

Hard-shell  (American ),  thoroughly 
orthodox,  unyielding,  "  hide- 
bound," or  conservative  in  reli- 
gion or  politics.  The  first  persons 
known  by  this  name  were  the 
old-fashioned  Baptists  in  Geor- 
gia, who  regarded  all  reforms 
as  new-fangled  fancies,  so  that 
they  even  disapproved  of  tem- 
perance.   It  is  said  that  once 


when  there  was  to  be  a  great 
religious  revival,  a  member  rose 
and  said: — "  I  hev  to  complain 
of  Brother  Smith.  He  is  a  rich 
man,  he  is  worth  six  or  seven 
thousand  dollars,  and  yet  he 
has  only  contributed  one  gallon 
of  whisky  towards  this  revival. 
Now  I'm  a  pore  man,  but,  to  up- 
hold the  cause  of  Christ,  I  hev 
given  a  whole  bar'l  of  sperits, 
for  when  it  comes  to  sustaining 
religion  I'll  jest  do  my  level 
best."  The  name  hard-shell,  or 
"  hards,"  was  given  to  a  division 
in  the  Democratic  party  in  1848. 
Both  in  religion  and  in  politics 
the  opponents  of  these  "ortho- 
dox" parties  were  called  "soft- 
shells." 

A  number  of  swimming-bath  proprietors 
have  been  fined  in  the  United  St.ites  for 
opening  their  establishments  on  Sunday 
mornings.  The  prosecutors  were  certain 
religious  (?)  lunatics  who  resuscitated  a 
quaint  old  law  against  bathing  on  the 
Sabbath.  Genuine  hard  shell  fanatics, 
who  are  mad  on  the  subject  of  religion, 
are  usually  dirty  in  their  habits,  and 
strangely  ignore  the  text,  "  Cleanliness  is 
next  to  godliness." — Fun. 

Hard  stuff  (up-country  Austra- 
lian), intoxicating  liquors.  The 
bushman  has  a  great  contempt 
for  non-alcoholic  liquors.  In- 
toxicating liquors  he  calls  hard 
stuff,  as  the  only  thing  not  too 
"  soft "  for  men. 

He  knows  every  one  and  every  one 
knows  him  by  his  Christian  name.  Each 
time  drinks  are  called  for  he  is  included. 
He  cannot  drink  hard  stuff,  however, 
always.  His  business  would  suffer.  He 
has  a  private  bottle  filled  with  tea,  from 
which  he  fills  his  glass  after  receiving  pay- 
ment.—.el.  C.  Grant. 

2  F 


450 


Hard — Narrower. 


Hard  tack  (nautical),  ship  biscuits. 

At  that  particular  moment  I  should  have 
preferred  some  coffee  and  hard  tack  to  a 
lecture. —  O'Reilly :  Pifty  Years  on  the 
Trail. 

(Popular),   coarse   or  insuffi- 
cient food.     Vide  Tack. 

Hard  up  (common),  wanting  for 
anything,  short  of  money,  poor, 
varied  to  "  hard  tip  for  cash." 

He  ought,  or  nothing  else  may  be, 

Such  is  sweet  woman's  whim — 
A  "  J,"  a  knave,  or  e'en  hard  up. 

She's  still  "  soft  down  "  on  him. 
To  make  a  conquest  where  he  will, 

A  gall.int  "  gay  young  spark  " 
Two  attributes  need  but  possess  : 

He  must  be  "  tall  and  dark  ! " 

— Bird  o  Freedom. 

"Sorry  to  say.  Brown  owes  money  to 
me  I  Is  he  hard  «/?"  "Very." — Pall 
Mall  Gazette. 

(Popular),  a  man  who  picks 
up  cigar  ends  in  the  street. 

Hard-upness  (common),  a  state  of 
impoverishment. 

But  in  either  district  there  were  frequent 
failures,  arising  from  inexperience  of  the 
parties  concerned,  or  collapses  from  death 
or  hard-upness. — Hind  ley:  Life  atid  Ad- 
ventures of  a  Cheap  Jack. 

Hard'Vfrare  blokes  (thieves),  men 
of  Birmingham. 

Hare  it  (American  thieves),  re- 
turn, come  back. 


one  who  beckons,  orders  you  off 
to  the  stocks.     Yidc  Beak. 

"  It  is  very  probable  that  this 
word  was  derived  from  the  name 
of  the  celebrated  magistrate 
Harman,  who  was  as  well 
known  to  all  the  thieves  of  Eng- 
land during  the  reign  of  Eliza- 
beth, as  was  George  Borrow  to 
the  gypsies  in  that  of  Victoria  " 
(Charles  G.  Leland:  MS.  Notes 
of  Gypsy  Lore). 

Harmans,  hartmans  (old  cant), 
the  stocks. 

The  Bube  and  Ruffian  cly  the  Harman 
beck  and  harmans.  —  Thomas  Dekker  : 
Lanthome  and  Candle  Light. 

From  haiTe,  the  back  upright 
timber  of  a  gate,  synonymous 
with  stock  or  post ;  and  same 
suffix  used  in  other  cant  words, 
such  as  "  lightmans,"  day  ; 
"  darkmans,"  night  ;  "  ruff- 
mans,"  hedges,  bushes,  woods; 
"  togman,"  coat. 

Haro,  hanro,  halono  (gypsy), 
copper;  hdrra,  a  copper,  i.e.,  a 
penny. 

Harper,  an  Irish  shilling  which 
bore  the  figure  of  a  harp, 
and  was  only  worth  ninepence 
(Wright).  "  Harp  "  is  a  call  at 
pitch-and-toss,  also  "  music." 


Harlequin  (theatrical),  a  sove- 
reign. 

Harman  beck  (old  cant),  a  con- 
stable. It  has  been  suggested 
that    liarman   heck   is,   literally. 


narrower  (theatrical),  a  term  of 
derision  used  to  describe  a 
pathetic  and  powerful  artiste, 
male  or  female,  who  is  accus- 
tomed to  harrow  the  feelings  of 
the  audience. 


Harry — Hatchway. 


451 


Harry  (common),  to  play  old 
Harry  with  one,  is  synonymous 
with  to  play  the  devil,  to  annoy 
or  ruin  one.  Old  Harry  is,  of 
course,  the  "  old  gentleman," 
the  devil.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  Harry  is  the  word  liairy ; 
but  it  is  possible  that  it  comes 
from  to  harry,  to  torment,  to 
tear  in  pieces,  so  that  Old  Harry 
would  literally  mean  the  old  tor- 
mentor, the  "  arch  tormentor," 
"old  scratch."  Again,  it  may 
simply  be  the  diminutive  of 
Henry,  old  "  Nick  "  or  Nicholas 
being  another  name  for  the 
devil.  Sailors  often  swear  "  by 
the  Lord  Han-y" 

Harry  Bluff  (rhyming  slang),  snuff. 

Harry !  Harry  1  (provincial),  a 
derisive  expletive  addressed  by 
workmen  to  their  mates  when 
the  latter  are  overladen. 

Harry  Soph.  This  is  given  as  a 
recognised  term  by  Webster, 
with  the  definition  of  a  univer- 
sity student  at  Cambridge  who, 
having  suflScient  standing  to 
take  the  degree  of  B.A.,  declares 
himself  a  candidate  for  a  degree 
in  law  or  physic.    From  ipl<ro<pos. 

Hash  (common),  to  make  a  hash 
of  it,  to  jumble  together,  to 
spoil ;  to  settle  his  hash,  to  kill 
him. 

(American  cadets),  a  term 
given  to  the  clandestine  pre- 
paration of  supper  in  the  rooms, 
subsequent  to  the  extinction  of 
lights,  and  contrary  to  rule. 


Ah  !  there  was  a  dream  of  revelry  then, 
As  over  the  Aash  these  jovial  men 
Did  stand  to  inhale  the  savoury  smell, 
And  all  went  smooth  as  a  marriage  bell. 
— TAe  IVest  Point  Scrap  Book. 

Haslar  hags  (nautical),  the  nurses 
of  the  naval  hospital,  Haslar, 
near  Gosport. 

Hatches  (nautical),  under  hatches, 
safely  stowed  away,  dead  and 
buried,  in  distress,  trouble,  or 
debt. 

Hatchet  (tailors),  a  name  vulgarly 
applied  to  a  plain  or  ugly  woman. 
(Nautical),  "to slingthehatchet," 
to  sulk  ;  the  reverse  of  to  bury 
the  haichet  or  tomahawk,  a  prac- 
tice of  Red  Indians  in  time  of 
peace. 

Hatchet,  to  throw  or  sling  the 

(common),  to  teU  lies,  to  "  draw 
the  long  bow." 

Hatch,  match,  and  dispatch 
column  (American  and  jour- 
nalistic), a  vulgar  epithet  to 
describe  the  births,  marriages, 
and  deaths  announcements  in 
the  press.  An  equivalent  is  the 
cradle,  altar,  and  tomb  column. 

Hatch  -  thoke  (Winchester  Col- 
lege). The  term  signifies  foun- 
der's days,  which  are  holidays 
with  Amen  Chapel  at  1 1  A.M. 
There  are  three  in  Long  Half  and 
two  in  Short  Half.  Nobody  need 
be  up  till  9  A.M.  TheWardenand 
Fellows  on  those  days  assemble 
and  discuss  college  affairs. 

Hatchway  (nautical),  the  mouth. 


452 


Hat — Hawk. 


Hat  fellow  commoner  (Cam- 
bridge). At  Trinitj  College,  a 
fellow  commoner,  who  was 
either  a  baronet^  the  eldest  son 
of  one,  or  the  younger  son  of  a 
nobleman,  formerly  wore  a  tall 
hat  instead  of  the  square  cap 
or  "  mortar-board." 

Hatfield  (common),  a  drink  con- 
sisting of  gin  and  gingerbeer, 
and  other  ingredients. 

A  deep  draught  of  iced  Hatfield. 

— Punch. 

Hating  out  (American),  sending  a 
man  to  Coventry. 

The  punishment  for  idleness,  lying, 
dishonesty,  and  ill-fame  generally  was 
that  of  hating  the  offender  out,  as  they 
expressed  it.  It  commonly  resulted  in  the 
reformation  or  banishment  of  the  person 
against  whom  it  was  directed.  If  a  man 
did  not  do  his  share  of  the  public  service, 
he  was  hated  out  as  a  coward. — 6".  Mer- 
chaval:  History  of  Virginia. 

Hat  trick  (cricket),  a  bowler  who 
takes  three  wickets  in  succession 
is  said  to  have  done  the  hat  trick. 
From  the  custom  of  giving  him 
a  hat  as  a  recognition  of  his 
skill. 

Only  three  attained  to  double  figures, 
and  the  collapse  at  the  end  of  the  innings 
was  remarkable,  the  wickets  of  Attewell, 
Xewtcfti,  and  Beaumont  falling  to  three 
successive  balls  from  Griffin,  who  thus  ac- 
complished the  hat  trick. — Standard. 

Haul  my  wind  (nautical),  an  ex- 
pression when  an  individual  is 
going  upon  a  new  line  of  action, 
to  avoid  a  quarrel  or  difliculty 
(Admiral  Smyth). 


Haul  over  the  coals,  to  (society), 
to  scold,  give  a  lecture  to.  Very 
often  used  in  reference  to  any 
one  in  an  official  position  who 
gets  reprimanded.  Supposed  to 
refer  to  the  ordeal  by  fire.  More 
probably  an  allusion  to  the  state 
of  discomfort  of  a  person  fum- 
ing under  the  scolding.  The 
French  have  the  familiar  phrase, 
"  etre  sur  le  gril,"  to  be  on  tenter- 
hooks, in  a  stew,  literally  on  the 
gridiron. 

Have  the  drop  on,  to  (Texan), 
to  have  the  advantage  of,  to 
cover  with  an  aim.  From  the 
drop,  bead,  or  sight  on  a  rifle. 

Havey-cavey  (popular),  wavering, 
doubtful. 

Hawk  (common),  cardsharper, 
swindler. 

He  kept  a  private  hotel  at  the  West 
End  of  London,  which  might  be  termed  a 
gambling-house  frequented  by  dissipated 
lords — hawks  and  "  pigeons." — Evening 
News. 

The  Germania  or  Spanish  cant 
has  gerifalte,  a  kind  of  hawk,  for 
a  thief ;  and  aquila  (eagle),  for 
an  expert  thief. 

Hawker  (gipsy),  to  drive  away ; 
Hindu,  hawkdiul. 

Hawks  her  meat  (common),  said 
of  a  woman  who  is  very  de- 
colletie.  French,  "  elle  montre 
sa  viande," 

Hawk,  ware  (thieves),  be  careful  I 
look  out  1 


Hawse — Head. 


453 


Hawse  (nautical), "  to  fall  athwart 
one's  hawse,"  to  come  across  one, 
to  obstruct  one's  way. 

Hay,  to  make  (common),  to  throw 
everything  into  confusion,  to 
turn  topsy-turvy.  Originally  an 
Oxford  phrase. 

The  fellows  were  mad  with  fighting  too. 
I  wish  they  hadn't  come  here  and  made 
^j' afterwards. — H.  Kingsley:  Ravenshoe. 

Hazard  -  drum  (thieves),  a  gam- 
bling-house. 

Haze,  to.  In  England,  to  confuse, 
annoy,  and  intentionally  per- 
plex by  contradictory  orders.  In 
the  United  States  it  expresses 
physical  as  well  as  mental 
cruelty.  It  is  there  peculiarly 
applied  to  the  tormenting  of 
newly-arrived  students  in  uni- 
versities and  military  or  naval 
schools.  This  practice  is  some- 
times carried  to  a  great  extent. 

West  Point  has  just  held  a  court-martial 
over  the  insubordination  of  certain  cadets, 
and  now  the  Annapolis  Naval  School  is 
indulging  in  much  the  same  luxury.  The 
accused  were  guilty  of  hazing  some  of  the 
younger  academicians. — American  News- 
paper. 

Hazree  (Anglo-Indian),  this 
word  is  commonly  used  ( Anglo - 
Indian  Glossary)  in  Anglo- 
Indian  households  in  the  Ben- 
gal Presidency,  for  breakfast. 
It  is  not  clear  how  it  got  this 
meaning.  It  is  probably  hdzirl, 
"  muster ; "  from  the  Arabic 
fidzir,  "ready"  or  "present." 

He  can't  dance  (American),  some- 
times heard  to  indicate  a  man 


without  culture.  "His  daddy 
hasn't  got  no  peach-orchard, 
and  he  can't  dance."  In  Dela- 
ware, where  almost  every  farm 
contains  a  peach-orchard,  this 
allusion  to  the  orchard  would 
imply  a  very  small  landed  pro- 
prietor. Not  many  years  ago 
there  were  not  a  few  people 
who  regarded  music  in  divine 
service  as  a  profane  thing.  A 
rustic  who  had  never  even 
heard  of  such  a  thing  visited 
one  of  the  great  cities,  and 
found  himself  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing before  the  door  of  a  church- 
"Walk  in,  sir,"  said  the  sexton, 
"and  attend  service."  Just 
then  the  organ  pealed  loudly 
and  the  stranger  drew  back  in 
horror.  "No,  mister,"  he  re- 
plied ;  "  I  ain't  used  to  no  sitch 
carryin's-on  on  a  Sunday — be- 
sides, /  can't  dance .' " 

Head  (American),  to  get  a  head, 
or  a  head  on,  is  to  have  a  swelled 
head  after  being  intoxicated. 

Neal  Dow  has  been  lecturing  on  "  How 
to  get  a  head."  It  pains  us  that  the  good 
old  gentleman  should  evince  so  much 
knowledge  of  the  after  effects  of  excessive 
drinking. — Detroit  Tribune. 

To  put  a  head  on  a  man,  to 
assault  with  intent  to  annihilate 
an  adversary. 

Rnt  all  his  jargon  was  surpassed,  in  wild 

absurdity, 
By  threats,  profanely  emphasised,  to  put 

a  head  on  me  ! 
No  -son   of  Belial,   said    I,  [that   miracle 

can  do  ! 
Where.-xt  he  fell  upon  me  with  blows  and 

curses  too, 


454 


Head-beetler — Heap. 


But  failed  to  work  that  miracle — if  such 

was  his  design — 
Instead  of  putting  on  a  head,  he  strove 

to  smite  oflf  mine. 

— Galveston  Neius. 


Head  -  beetler     (workmen), 
bully  of  a  workshop. 


the 


Head  boy  (Royal  Military 
Academy),  the  senior  under- 
officer. 

Head-cook    £ind    bottle-washer 

(popular),  a  general  servant. 

Header  (tailors),  a  notability. 

Heading  (American  cow  -  boy 
slang),  a  pillow  or  anything  put 
under  the  head  at  night  (C. 
Leland  Harrison:  MS.  Ameri- 
canisms). 

Head-quarters  (turf),  Newmarket. 

Head-rails  (popular),  the  teeth. 
Originally  a  sea  phrase,  the  head- 
rails  being  the  short  rails  of  the 
head  extending  from  the  back 
of  the  figure  to  the  cat-head. 

While  to  another  he  would  cheerfully 
remark,  "  Your  head-raiis  were  loosened 
then,  wasn't  they?" — C.  Bede :  Verdant 
Green.  * 

Head  robber  (popular),  a  butler. 

Head  robbers  (journalistic),  pla- 
giarists, those  who  steal  the 
work  of  other  men's  brains. 

Head-serag  (Bengalee  and  sea), 
a  master,  overseer,  or  other  im- 


portant personage.  From  serang, 
a  boatswain,  according  to  Hot- 
ten.  Evidently  the  same  as  the 
provincial  head  Sir  Rag,  a  prin- 
cipal, the  chief  agent  or  actor 
in  anything. 

Heads  out  I  (American  Univer- 
sity), a  cry  of  alarm  and  warn- 
ing to  be  on  guard  when  a  pro- 
fessor or  master  is  near,  and 
when  any  lark  or  spree  is  in 
progress. 

Head  station  (up-country  Austra- 
lian), the  homestead  on  an 
Australian  station.  Vide  Sta- 
tion. The  head  station  is  the 
house  occupied  by  the  owner  or 
manager  of  a  station  or  run, 
and  of  course  contains  the  office 
at  which  its  business  is  trans- 
acted. 

Soon  they  passed  a  head  station,  as  the 
homestead  and  main  buildings  of  a  sta- 
tion are  invariably  called.  .  .  The  houses 
were  comfortably  built,  and  of  handsome 
design  ;  a  large  garden  adjoined  them  ; 
creepers  covered  the  verandahs  and  out- 
buildings, of  which  there  were  many  ;  and 
several  paddocks  of  great  extent,  encircled 
by  substantial  post  and  rail  fences,  sur- 
rounded the  whole. — A.  C.  Grant :  Bus/t- 
Li/e  in  Queensland. 

Healtheries  (common),  modem 
slang  abbreviation  for  the 
Health  Exhibition. 

Heap,  ail  of  a  (common),  amazed, 
confused,  dismayed. 

The  Daily  News  is  all  of  a  heap  this 
morning  over  the  Gower  election. — Globe. 

Heap,  struck  all  of  a  (popular), 
amazed. 


Hearing — Hedgehog. 


455 


Hearing^  cheats  (old  cant),  the 
ears,  now  termed  "  leathers  " 
or  "  lugs." 

Heartburn.  London  cads,  who 
find  a  name  for  everything,  thus 
call  a  cigar,  evidently  a  very 
cheap  one. 

Heave  a  booth,  to  (thieves),  to 
plunder  a  house.  Also  to 
"heave  a  case." 

Heavenly    collar     and     lappel 

(tailors),  a  name  given  to  collars 
or  lappels  that  turn  the  wrong 
way. 

Heaver  (old  cant),  the  breast, 
now  called  the  "  panter ; "  hence 
heavers,  persons  in  love. 

Heavy  dragoons  (Oxford  Univer- 
sity), bugs  (Hotten). 

Heavy  swell  (common),  a  great 
swell. 

And  Mr.  Crackit  is  a  heavy  swell,  an't 
he,  Fagin  ?  —  Charles  Dickens :  Oliver 
Twist. 

Heavy  wet  (common),  strong  malt 
liquor;  principally  used  to  de- 
scribe porter,  stout,  or  double 
stout,  and  sometimes  called 
treble  X.,  because  designated  by 
publicans  and  brewers  as  XXX. 

To  the  Blue  Posts  let  us  go, 
There  will  clouds  of  bacca  blow, 
And  our  cares  we'll  forget 
In  a  flood  ol heavy  wet. 

—Sff»^o/iS28. 


Hedge,  to  (turf),  to  reverse  on 
advantageous  terms  the  previous 
order  of  a  wager — e.g.,  if  a  per- 
son takes  ICO  to  lo  about  a 
horse  for  a  future  race,  and 
subsequently  lays  90  to  10 
against  the  same  animal,  he 
has  hedged  his  mohey — he  may 
win  ;[^io,  but  cannot  imder  any 
circumstances  lose. 

You  must  back  a  winner  before  you  can 
win  in  any  case,  system  or  no  system.  Of 
course,  a  horse  can  be  laid  against,  or  a 
bet  may  be  hedged,  but  this  does  not  apply 
to  the  backing  of  horses  on  a  system. — Bird 
o'  Freedom. 

(Popular),  to  get  away  on  the 
appearance  of  danger. 

Hedge-bottom  attorney  or  soli- 
citor (legal).  This  is  applied  to 
a  person  who,  not  being  himself 
a  solicitor,  or  who,  if  he  is,  has 
not  taken  out  his  certificate 
(or  perhaps  has  been  a  solicitor, 
but  has  been  struck  off  the 
rolls  for  unprofessional  con- 
duct), sets  up  in  business  as  a 
solicitor  under  the  name  of  a 
man  who  is  a  solicitor,  and  thus 
evades  the  penalties  attaching 
to  those  who  act  as  solicitors 
without  being  duly  qualified ; 
because,  although  all  the  busi- 
ness is  done  in  the  name  of 
another,  yet  he  it  is  who  is  the 
real  principal,  introducing  the 
clients,  doing  the  legal  business, 
and  pocketing  the  fees ;  the 
other  is  only  a  dummy  to  be 
used  as  a  figure-head  for  evading 
the  law. 

Hedgehog,  to  (Northampton  pro- 
vincial), to  reveal,  to  open,  to 


456 


Hedgehog — Heel-tap. 


bring  to  light.  *'A  witness 
giving  evidence  in  an  Assize 
Court  said  '  the  prisoner  hedge- 
hogged  ! '  On  being  asked  what 
he  meant,  he  said  that  '  a  hedge- 
hog when  in  water  opened ;  and 
the  man,  when  they  gave  him 
plenty  of  beer,  opened  and  told 
ail  he  knowed.'" 

Hedger  (turf).     Vide  Hedge. 

That  a  tailor's  bad  to  beat  when  his  plans 
are  all  complete, 
Must  be  plain  to  every  punter,  sharp, 
and  hedger  ; 
So  if  Eiridspord's  the  pea,  as  he'll  very 
likely  be, 
Follow  Taylor   as  a   snip   for  the   St. 
Leger. 

— Sporting  Times. 

He'd  play  his  hand  for  all  there 
was  in  it  (American),  a  very 
significant  intimation  that  a 
man  would  make  all  that  he 
could  by  fair  means  or  foul. 

"  I  was  moighty  hard  up  at  the  time — 
right  down  on  the  bed-rock — and  it  may 
be  that  I  was  just  monkeying  with  the 
cards — a  little." 

"You  bet  yer  I "  cried  Jake  from  the 
store.  ^'  He'd  play  his  hand /or  all  there 
was  in  it,  anyhow." — F.  Francis  :  Saddle 
and  Moccasin. 

Heeled  (Western  American), 
armed,  weaponed,  well  de- 
fended. An  allusion  to  the 
practice  of  arming  the  birds  in 
cock-fighting  with  steel  spurs. 
"Were  both  men  heeled?"  i.e., 
were  they  both  armed. 

If  I'd  had  any  show,  I'd  have  drawn 
on  'ern  ri^bt  away — 1  wanted  to  ter'ble 
bad ;    but   I   h.idnt    got    no   Winchester 


along,  and  only  two  cartridges  in  my  six- 
shooter,  whilst  they  was  both  well-A^*/*rf. 
— F.  Francis:  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Heeler  (American),  an  accom- 
plice of  the  pocket-book  drop- 
per. The  heeler  stoops  behind 
the  victim  and  strikes  one  of 
his  heels  as  if  by  mistake.  This 
makes  him  look  down,  and  so 
draws  his  attention  to  the 
pocket-book  which  lies  on  the 
ground.  The  dupe  is  about  to 
pick  it  up,  when  the  dropper 
steps  forward  and  claims  half 
of  whatever  may  be  in  the 
pocket-book,  but  offers  to  re- 
linquish his  share  for  a  certain 
sum,  ten  or  twenty  dollars. 
The  dupe,  who  has  taken  a  peep 
and  ascertained  that  the  dum- 
my is  stuffed  with  bank-notes, 
pays  the  money,  and  then  finds 
out  later  that  he  has  bought 
counterfeit  bills.  * '  Heelers  and 
strikers,"  men  who  beset  can- 
didates for  office  to  extort 
money  from  them  on  divers 
pretences. 

(Winchester  College),  a  jump 
into  the  water  feet  first.  French 
schoolboys  call  this  "une  chan- 
delle." 

Heels,  to  turn  up  (old),  to  die, 
also  "  to  turn  up  one's  toes." 
A  variant  was  to  "topple  up  the 
heels." 

The  backewinter  .  .  .  and  sicknesse  .  .  . 
seaven  thousand  and  fifty  people  toppled 
u/>  their  heels  then.  —  Nash  :  Lenten 
Stuffe. 

Heel-tap,  a  small  quantity  of 
liquor  left  in  the  glass  by  any 


Heel-tap — Hell. 


AS7 


one  who  drinks  or  pretends  to 
drink  the  honour  of  a  proposed 
toast.  This  was  held  in  the 
ultra  convivial  days  of  our  not 
very  remote  ancestors  to  be  a 
mark  of  disrespect  or  of  eflS- 
minacy,  and  was  often  met  by 
the  warning  of  "No  hed-taps." 
Also  the  fag  end  of  a  bottle. 

Nick  took  off  his  heel-tap,  bowed,  smiled 

with  an  air 
Most  graciously  grim,  and  vacated  the 

chair. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Heel-taps  properly  are  pieces 
of  leather  fastened  on  the  bot- 
tom of  a  boot  or  shoe  when 
repairing  the  sole.  Hence  the 
metaphor. 

He-foo  (pidgin),  a  sky-rocket,  lite- 
rally "a  rise-fire"  (Cantonese). 

Hefty  (American).  Bartlett  de- 
fines this  as  "heavy"  in  the 
sense  of  weight.  It  is  also  used 
to  indicate  anything  great,  re- 
markable, or  extraordinary  in  a 
"  moral  "  as  well  as  a  physical 
sense. 

In  course  they  knows  what  a  perlocefede 
(velocipede)  is,  from  seein'  'em  in  pictures, 
but  they  never  seed  a  real  machine,  and 
it'd  be  a  he/ty  treat  for  'em  ! — Thotnas 
Stevens:  Around  the  World  on  a  Bicycle. 

He   got   there  with   both   feet 

(American),    meaning   that    he 
was  very  successful. 

He  said  as  he'd  been  gambling,  and  was 
two  hundred  dollars  ahead  of  the  whole 
town.  He  got  there  with  both  feet  at 
starting,  and  was  eight  hundred  ahead 
once.  But  he  played  it  off  at  mont^. — F. 
Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 


Heifer  paddock,  (Australian),  a 
ladies'  school.  The  derivation 
from  heifer,  a  young  cow — cow 
being  a  slang  word  for  a  woman 
— is  obvious. 

"  The  fact  is,  my  dear  Murray,"  he 
added,  "the  cattle  (women)  hereabouts  are 
too  scattered,  you  can't  inspect  them  pro- 
perly. Next  year  I  shall  look  over  a  heifer 
paddock  in  Sydney  and  take  my  pick." — 
Mrs.  Campbell  Reed:  Sketches  of  Aus- 
tralian Life. 

Heigh-ho  (thieves),  stolen  yam. 

Hekka  !  hokki  1  (gypsy),  haste  I 
Possibly  the  original  of  "  hook 
it,"  i.e.,  hurry. 

Hell  (tailors),  the  place  where  a 
tailor  deposited  his  cabbage 
(Wright). 

Hell  and  scissors !  (American),  a 
peculiar  interjection,  signifying 
that  while  one  startled  at  some- 
thing there  is  still  something 
ridiculous  in  the  aifair.  "To 
kick  up  hell — and  break  things  " 
is  often  uttered  in  quite  the 
same  spirit. 

Hell  and  tommy  (popular).  To 
"  play  hell  and  tommy  "  with  any 
one,  to  ruin  him  utterly.  Ac- 
cording to  Dr.  Charles  Mackay, 
this  grotesque  expression  pro- 
bably means  to  reduce  a  man  to 
extreme  destitution,  or  to  bread 
and  water,  and  if  so,  an  etymon 
may  be  found  in  the  Keltic  ol, 
drink,  and  tomadh  (toma),  a  lump 
of  bread. 

Hell  a -popping  (American),  a 
tremendous  row  or  dispute,  no 


458 


Hell— Hen. 


doubt  from  the  propensity  of 
those  who  use  the  expression  for 
using  their  "six-shooters"  on 
the  slightest  provocation. 

There  was  hell  a-popping.  One  fellow 
said  he  had  roped  in  a  sow  with  the  left 
ear  off.  .  .  .  Another  fellow  said  that  he 
had  got  a  young  boar  with  the  right  ear 
off.  So  they  went  to  him,  madder  than 
hell  they  were,  too. — F.  Francis:  Saddle 
and  Moccasin. 

Hell-box  (printers),  the  receptacle 
for  bad,  broken,  or  "battered" 
letters,  which  are  eventually 
melted  down. 

Hellion  (American),  a  very  abu- 
sive word,  used  in  the  Southern 
States,  equivalent  to  "  devil  or 
hell's  own."  Possibly  a  form 
of  hell-hound. 

Hell's  kitchen  (American),  a 
horrible  slum.  Hell's  Kitchen, 
Murderer's  Row,  and  the  Burnt 
Rag  are  names  of  localities 
which  form  collectively  the 
worst  place  in  New  York. 

Poor  old  Bottle  Alley,  in  Baxter  Street, 
has  become  a  mere  snoozing-ken  for  vag- 
rants made  sodden  and  stupid  with  age, 
disease,  and  rum  ;  Helts  Kitchen,  those  big 
Thirty-ninth  Street  tenements,  offer  harm 
to  no  one,  except  when  a  shower  of  stones 
falls  from  the  gutters  on  an  unpopular 
policeman. — Philadelphia  Press.  {From 
MS.  Collection  of  A  mericanisms,  by  C. 
Leland  Harrison.) 

Hell's  mint  (American).  "  A  mint 
of  money  "  has  led  to  describing 
a  large  quantity  of  anything  as 
one.  "  Old  B.  has  got  a  mint  of 
houses,  as  I  hear."  Hence  hell's 
mint,  as  a  superlative  of  abun- 
dance. 


Is  that  an  Indian  over  there,  or  is  it  only 
a  soap-weed?  There's  a  hell's  mint  of 
soap-weed  killed  these  Indian  times,  grease 
bush  too — and  cactus  !  cactus  gets  fits. 
The  boys  are  death  on  cactus  when  they 
get  scared.  Some  of  them  would  just  as 
soon  shoot  a  cactus  as  not — they  don't  care 
what  they  kill. — F.  Francis:  Saddle  and 
Moccasin. 

He  makes  his  fmi  pay  (American), 
said  of  a  very  shrewd  man,  one 
for  in.stance  who  keeps  horses 
to  ride  and  drive,  yet  manages 
so  well  by  "  trading"  that  they 
cost  him  nothing.  A  great 
sharper  having  said  to  Lessing 
that  it  had  cost  him  ten  thou- 
sand dollars  to  see  the  world, 
Lessing  replied  that  he  feared 
that  the  world  would  gladly 
give  quite  as  much  never  to 
have  seen  him. 

Hemp,  yomig  (old),  young  scoun- 
drel deserving  the  gallows. 


Hempen    croak    (common), 
hangman's  rope. 


the 


Hempen   •widow    (thieves),    one 
whose  husband  was  hanged. 

In  a  cell  of  the  stone  jug  I  was  born. 
Of  a  hempen  widow  the  kid  forlorn. 

— Harrison  Ainsworth. 

Hen  (American),  a  wife  or  mis- 
tress, girl  or  woman. 
This  was  more  than  Jane  could  endure 
from  Emily.  "  My  young  man  is  as  good 
as  yours,"  she  screamed,  "and  five  miles 
out  of  town  better."  And  saying  this  she 
administered  an  exhilarating  old  slap  on 
the  face  which  sounded  like  the  breaking  of 
a  tall  pine  tree  by  a  cyclone.  The  hen- 
fight  lasted  exactly  five  minutes.  What 
was  left  required  exactly  two  weeks  eight 
hours  and  ten  minutes  to  reconstruct. — 
Philadelphia  Newspitper. 


Hen-convention — Herring. 


459 


The  nights  are  spent  at  a  poker  game, 
He  speaks  of  the  ballet  as  something 
tame, 
And  with  jibe  and  joke,  these  racy  men 
Refer  to  the  season  that  brings  his  hen. 
And  pleasures  flee. 

—Mollis  W.  Field. 

Hen-convention  (popular),  an  as- 
semblage of  women  at  which 
no  man  is  present.  Also  "  hen- 
party." 

Hen-frigate  (nautical),  a  ship  in 
which  the  captain's  wife  plays 
a  domineering  part,  "wears  the 
breeches." 

Hen-house  (old),  a  house  for 
soldiers'  wives. 

Hens  and  chickens  (thieves),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

The  liens  and  chickens  of  the  low 
lodging-houses  are  the  publicans'  pewter 
measures  ;  the  bigger  vessels  are  hens, 
the  smaller  chickens. — Mayhew  :  London 
Labour  and  the  Lofidon  Poor. 

Called  also    "  cats  and  kit- 
tens." 

Herder  (American).  In  the  West, 
a  white  man  who  has  charge  of 
a  gang  of  Chinese. 

I  found  large  gangs  of  Chinamen  at 
work  in  difi"erent  places,  in  charge  of  a 
white  man  who  was  called  the  herder.  This 
job  is  not  always  a  happy  one,  although 
it  is  well  paid,  for  the  Chinamen  who  work 
on  railroads  are  the  very  scum  of  China, 
wharf-rats  from  Hong-Kong,  and  are  evil 
and  desperate.  Consequently  it  is  no  un- 
common thing  for  a  herder  to  get  killed  or 
badly  beaten  by  them. — M.  Roberts :  The 
Western  Avemus. 

(American    cowboys),     baby 
herder,  a  nurse. 


Herdic  (American),  a  carriage  for 
public  conveyance,  something 
like  a  small  omnibus.  They 
were  invented  and  brought  into 
use  by  a  Mr.  Herdic  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, whence  the  name.  They 
are  now  common  in  most  Ame- 
rican cities. 

Honest  men,  like  needles  in  hay-mounds, 
are  hard  to  find,  but  we  have  one  in  our 
midst,  and  his  name  is  Joseph  Carroll, 
driver  of  private  herdic— Chicago  Tri- 
bune. 

Hereford  (American  cowboy), 
white. 

A  white  shirt  he  calls  a  Hereford  shirt 
because  Hereford  cattle  have  white  faces. 
Similarly  calls  anything  Hereford  that  is 
white  ;  for  example,  Hereford  dishes  and 
Hereford  hats.  Carrying  this  fancy  stiil 
further,  a  "  white "  man  is  known  as  a 
Hereford  ma.x\. — Philadelphia  Press.  (C. 
Leland  Harrison :  MS.  Americanisms.) 

Here's  luck  (tailors),  I  don't 
believe  it. 

Hermaphrodite  or  niorfydite 
schooner  (nautical)  is  square 
rigged,  but  without  a  top  for- 
ward, and  schooner  rigged  abaft ; 
carrying  only  fore-and-aft  sails 
on  the  mainmast ;  in  other 
phrase,  she  is  a  vessel  with  a 
brig's  foremast  and  a  schooner's 
mainmast  (Admiral  Smyth). 

Herring  (American),  all  bad,  all 
alike.  Hence  the  later  expres- 
sion "sardine,"  applied  to  a 
man  who  is  exactly  like  all  his 
associates,  a  narrow-minded, 
average  sort  of  person,  who  has 
been  packed  away  as  it  were 
among  others. 


46o 


Herring — High. 


Herring  glutted  (old),  lanky. 

Herring  pond,  the  (common),  a 
facetious  name  given  to  the 
Atlantic  Ocean.  Said  to  be  of 
American  origin,  but  now  com- 
monly used  in  both  continents. 

Everybody  nowadays  has  read  as  much 
as  he  or  she  cares  to  about  the  voy- 
age across  the  herring-pond,  a  voyage 
of  which  many  of  our  American  cousins 
think  less  than  other  men  of  a  Channel- 
crossing. — PhilUpps-WolUy :  Trottings  of 
a  Tenderfoot. 

He's  gone  north  about  (nautical) 
said  of  a  sailor  who  has  died 
from  any  cause  but  drowning. 
Shakspeare  in  "Twelfth  Night" 
(Act  iii.  scene  2)  uses  a  some- 
what similar  phrase,  and  which 
seems  to  throw  some  light  upon 
the  expression  as  used  by  sailors : 
— "You  are  now  sailed  into 
the  north  of  my  lady's  opinion, 
where  you  will  hang  like  an 
icicle  on  a  Dutchman's  beard, 
unless  you  do  reclaim  it  by  some 
laudable  attempt." 

Hewgag,  the  (American),  name 
for  an  undeterminate,  unknown 
mythical  creature. 

Hick,  country  (old  cant),  a  stupid 
clodhopper. 

Hickjap  (thieves),  a  fool.  Hicksam, 
a  countryman,  a  fooUsh  fellow. 

Hickey  (thieves),  tipsy,  not  quite 
drunk,  elated.  Probably  from 
hiccough. 

Hickety  split.     Vide  Full  Drive. 


Hickory  shirt  (American),  a  cheap, 
durable  woollen  shirt  generally 
worn  by  working  men,  or  by 
those  who  dispense  with  linen 
or  muslin. 

"  Good  heavens,  girl ! "  asked  Mr.  Necc« 
of  the  domestic,  "  what  are  you  doing  with 
that  hickory  shirt  ?  " 

"  Faith  an'  I'm  brushing  some  of  the 
dust  out  of  it.  It's  in  a  shameful  condi- 
tion."— Peona  Transcript. 

Hid  (American),  an  abbreviation 
of  hideous,  used  as  a  noun. 
Used  chiefly  by  girls.  "She's 
a  perfect  AtVf." 

Hiding  (common),  a  good  hiding,  a 
severe  beating  with  the  "  hide," 
or  dried  skin  of  an  animal, 
formerly  used  as  a  scourge.  To 
"  cow-hide,"  or  beat  with  a  cow 
or  ox-hide,  is  a  common  expres- 
sion, and  before  the  use  of  the 
revolver  became  unhappily  pre- 
valent, was  once  a  common 
practice  in  the  United  States. 
The  word  has  been  erroneously 
derived  from  the  effect  of  the 
beating,  the  skin  or  hide  of  the 
beaten  person,  and  not  from  the 
material  of  the  scourge  itself. 

"  What  right  has  a  josser  like  you  to 
interfere?"  the  coal-heaver  retorted,  turn- 
ing toward  the  tall  stranger.  "  You  may 
be  a  D.,  but  I  will  give  you  a  hiding  for 
your  cheek." — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

High,  the  (Oxford),  the  High 
Street  at  Oxford. 

And  after  calling  in  at  the  tailor's  to 
express  his  approbation,  he  at  once  sallied 
forth  to  do  the  Uigh.—C.  Bede :  Verdant 
Green. 

High  and  dry  (clerical), 
old-fashioned   members   of  the 


High. 


461 


Church  of  England  are  often  de- 
scribed disrespectfully  as  being 
high  and  dry.  Those  of  the 
Evangelical  Church  are  per  con- 
tra dubbed  "low  and  slow." 
(American),  a  simile  borrowed 
from  any  article  left  on  the 
beach  by  a  retreating  tide.  To 
be  left  without  resources,  to  be 
quite  abandoned  and  helpless. 

They  ate  like  brave  men,  long  and  well ; 

they  gobbled  there  and  then, 
Till  the  abdomens  grew  rotund  of  those 

gallant  Fremont  men, 
A  beef  a  day  to  every  man  was  but  a  small 

supply ; 
Soon  conquered  they  Vallejo's  ranch — they 

ate  him  high  and  dry. 

— Political  Song  0/ iZso. 

High-boy,  a  High  Tory  and 
Churchman,  supposed  to  favour 
Jacobitism  (O.  Davis). 

High  faluting  (American),  high- 
flown,  extravagant,  bombastic 
language,  a  gay,  impudent  sort 
of  fellow,  a  vulgar  coxcomb. 
"There  can  be  little  doubt," 
says  Mr.  Bartlett,  "of  its  de- 
rivation from  high  '  flighting.'  " 
As  for  its  coming,  as  Hotten 
absolutely  asserts,  as  if  it  were 
an  established  fact,  from  the 
Dutch  verlooten  (which  word  he 
does  not  translate),  it  is  enough 
to  say  that  verlooten  means 
"to  cast  lots."  It  is  very  re- 
markable that  there  exists  in 
yiddish  the  word  hifelufelem, 
meaning  extravagant  language 
or  nonsense. 

Hifelufelem  is  Narret  hei,  Posseii, 
Schwank,  Rank. — DerHtrricdene  Laub- 
frosch. 


The  remarkable  resemblance, 
as  regards  both  sound  and 
meaning,  existing  between  these 
words  cannot  fail  to  strike  the 
reader.  Of  late  years,  terms 
known  more  or  less  to  all  Jews, 
especially  of  the  commoner  class, 
have  begun  to  work  far  more 
freely  into  American  slang  than 
is  generally  supposed.  By  as- 
sociating hifelufelem  with  "  high 
flighting,"  highfaluten  would  be 
speedily  evolved.  It  may  be 
observed  that  in  rapid  conver- 
sation, the  Hebrew  or  yiddish 
word  becomes  hifelufem  or 
hifelufen,  which  is  a  materially 
nearer  approach  to  the  well- 
known  American  term. 

The  phrase  is  now  common 
in  England. 

A  paper  in  Cincinnati  was  very  much 
given  to  high  falutin  on  the  subject  of 
"  this  great  country,"  until  a  rival  paper 
somewhat  modified  its  continual  bounce 
with  the  following  burlesque  :  "This  is  a 
glorious  country  !  It  has  longer  rivers  and 
more  of  them,  and  they  are  muddier  and 
deeper,  and  run  faster,  and  rise  higher, 
and  make  more  noise,  and  fall  lower,  and 
do  more  damage  than  anybody  else's 
rivers." — Tit  Bits. 

High  fly,  on  the  (mendicants), 
begging  on  the  high  "  toby " 
or  high  road,  and  tramping  over 
the  country.  Also  operating  as 
a  begging-letter  impostor. 

Highflyer  (common),  an  incredible 
or  extravagant  story. 

High  go  (American  University), 
a  merry  drinking-bout  or  frolic. 
"To  get  high"  is  to  become 
tipsy  and  intojcicated. 


462 


High. 


High  horse  (American),  It  is 
commonly  said  of  any  one  who 
is  putting  on  airs  or  assuming 
a  lofty  or  dignified  tone,  that 
"  he  is  on  his  ^i^'A  horse."  Some- 
thing equivalent  to  it  is  to  be 
found  in  many  languages.  The 
French  say  "monter  sur  ses 
grands  chevaux  "  (not  slang). 

High  jinks,  properly  an  old 
Scottish  pastime  played  in  dif- 
ferent ways.  At  a  club  or  con- 
vivial gathering  is  that  part  of 
the  evening  when  the  punch- 
bowl is  introduced  together 
•with  unlimited  license. 

There  he  found  the  eleven  at  kigh  jinks 
after  supper,  Jack  Haggles  shouting  comic 
songs  and  performing  feats  of  strength  ; 
and  was  greeted  by  a  chorus  of  mingled 
remonstrance  at  his  desertion,  and  joy  at 
his  appearance. — Tom  Brown's  School- 
days. 

(Common),  a  jollification. 

All  sorts  of  revelry,  all  sorts  of  devilry, 

All  play  at  high  jinks  and  keep  up  the 
ball. 

Days,  weeks,  and  months,  it  is  really 
astonishing, 

As  to  what  passed  on  his  own  wedding- 
day. 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

To  play  the  Aw/A  jin]a,  to  take 
up  an  arrogant  position. 

In  days  of  yore  the  Lord  of  Misrule 
Played  very  high  jinks  at  the  Tide  of 

Yule, 
And  sported  about  like  a  chartered  fool. 

And  did  pretty  much  as  he  chose  ; 
There  were  scarce  any  bounds   to  his 

quips  and  cranks. 
His  lunatic  larks  and  his  motley  pranks, 
And  victims  who  suffered  e'en  offered 
him  thanks 
For  robbing  them  of  repose. 

— Fun. 


(American),  high  jinks,  small 
gamblers. 

High  rented  (popular),  hot.  A 
seat  near  a  fire  is  said  to  be  higk 
rented  when  it  gets  too  hot  for 
comfort. 

High  roller  (American),  one  who 
plays  high,  or  who  takes  the 
lead. 

He's  a  kigh  roller,  by  gum  !  when  he's 
got  it  (i.f.,  money). — F.  Francis:  Saddle 
and  Moccasin. 

Donaldson  in  those  days  was  known  as 
a  high  roller,  and  under  his  instructions 
John  dealt  the  game  without  a  limit. 
Donaldson  finally  left  the  business  here 
and  went  west.  —  Chicago  Daily  Inter- 
Ocean. 

High  rope,  on  the  (American),  in 
a  passion,  very  loud,  taking  on 
great  airs. 

High  stepper  (society),  a  well- 
dressed  girl,  who  has  a  good 
figure  and  is  handsome,  a  swell 
of  any  kind. 

High  tariff  langfuage  (American), 
rhapsodical,  magniloquent,  or 
extravagant  words. 

Mingle  in  de  mazes  of  de  dance  dou 
knight  ob  valour,  while  de  resplendent 
luminary  of  de  day  has  wifdrawn  his  light 
from  de  earf,  till  de  bright  Aurora  gilds  de 
eastern  sky  wid  golden  an'  den  wid  car- 
rowkteristic  gallivantry,  accompany  de 
fair  an'  umsumfisticated  partners  of  dy^ 
pleasure  to  deir  pyternel  mansions — Hcrey 
dat  am  high  tariff  language. — Brudder 
Bones. 

High  ti  (American  University),  a 
.sliowy  recitation.  In  use  at 
Williams  College.  At  Harvard 
the  equivalent  is  a  "squirt." 


High — Hipped. 


463 


High  tobers.  In  American 
thieves'  slang,  the  very  highest 
order  of  "  gonoffs  "  or  thieves, 
who  go  well  dressed  and  fre- 
quent watering-places. 

High  toby  (old  cant),  the  high 
road.  "  On  the  high  toby,"  to 
take  to  the  road  as  a  high  toby- 
man  or  highwayman. 

Hi£k  toby,  which,  in  ancient  robber 
slang,  meant  the  high  revelry  and  luxury 
and  reckless  indulgence  which  character- 
ised the  existence  of  those  bold  blades  who 
took  to  the  road,  was  nowhere  visible. — 
J.  Greenwood:  Dick  Temple. 

It  was  one  thing  to  hear  play-actors  on 
the  stage,  in  their  tame  and  feeble  delinea- 
tions of  the  ancient  game  of  high  toby,  and 
of  the  redoubtable  doings  of  the  Knights 
of  the  Road,  spout  such  soul-thrilling  ef- 
fusions as  "Nix  my  Dollj',  pals,"  and 
"  Claude  Duval ;  "  but  what  must  it  be  to 
listen  to  the  same  bold  staves  out  of  the 
mouth  of  real  "roaring  boys,"  some  of 
them,  possibly,  the  descendants  of  the  very 
heroes  who  rode  "  up  Holbom  Hill  in  a 
cart,"  and  who  could  not  well  hear  the  good 
words  the  attendant  chaplain  was  utter- 
ing, because  of  the  noisy  exchange  of  bois- 
terous "  chaff"  taking  place  between  the 
short-pipe  smoking  driver,  whose  cart-seat 
was  the  doomed  man's  coffin,  and  the  glee- 
ful mob  that  had  made  holiday  to  see  the 
fun  ! — Seven  Curses  of  London. 

High-tone  niggers  (American), 
negroes  who  have  raised  them- 
selves in  social  position,  or  in 
other  ways  bettered  their  con- 
dition. 

I  never  saw  any  so-called  high-tone  nig- 
gers;  and,  except  in  the  capacity  of  bar- 
bers, waiters,  and  shoeblacks,  never  saw 
any  coloured  men  in  the  hotels. — Philli/>ps- 
Wolley :  Trottings  of  a  Tendcifoot. 

High  water  mark,  up  to  the  (com- 
mon), up  to  the  mark,  an  ex- 
pression of  approval. 


High-wood  (common),  properly  a 
name  given  to  timber.  "  He 
lives  in  high-wood,"  he  conceals 
himself,  he  has  a  secret  game. 

Higfulcion  flips  (Texas),  an  ima- 
ginary malady. 

Hike  (London  slang),  to  carry  off, 
convey,  arrest.  "  Mike,  to  swing, 
put  in  motion,  toss,  throw, 
strike,  to  go  away,  hurry" 
(Wright's  Dictionary). 

And  hiked  me  off  as  sure  as  fate, 
Before  the  sitting  magistrate. 
— Song :  I/I  had  a  Donkey,  &'c. 

Hi !  Kelly  (provincial  Manx),  a 
mode  of  address  among  passers- 
by  in  the  Isle  of  Man.  Kelly 
is  the  name  borne  by  a  large 
number  of  people  in  the  island 
— hence  probably  its  derivation. 

Hindboot  (common),  the  breech. 

Hind  coachwheel  (popular),  a 
crown.  In  French  slang  a  five- 
franc  piece  is  termed  "  roue  de 
derricre." 

Hing  (Anglo-Indian),  assafoetida. 
It  is  remarkable  that  the  Ger- 
mans call  this  abominably  smell- 
ing gum  teufeV  s-drock,  i.e.,  stercus 
diaboli,  while  the  common  gypsy 
name  for  voiding  excrement  is 
hinger. 

Hip  (thieves),  hip  inside,  inside 
coat  pocket ;  hip  outside,  outside 
pocket. 

Hipped  (common),  ill.  To  be 
hipped,  to  suffer  from  "  a  fit  of 
the  blues,"  or  of  hypochondria. 


464 


Hippen — Hivite. 


Hippen,  a  Scotch  synonym  for 
the  green  curtain.  Hence  in 
Glasgow  the  gods  shout  "  Up 
with  the  hippen  !  " 

His  nabs  there  (tailors),  him,  the 
individual  referred  to.  A  variant 
of  "  his  nibs." 

His  nibs  (theatrical),  himself,  his 
person.  From  the  old  English 
neb,  the  face,  also  nose. 

When  the  President's  carriage  arrives  in 
front  of  the  church,  with  Albert  Hawkins 
on  the  box,  wearing  a  big  bearskin  cape  as 
black  as  his  face,  and  driving  the  two  big, 
lumbering  "  seal  browns,"  there  is  gathered 
about  the  doors  of  the  sanctuary  a  crowd 
of  two  or  three  hundred,  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  the  gentleman  whom  Tim  Camp- 
bell, of  New  York,  immortalised  himself 
by  speaking  of  as  his  nibs.  —  Chicago 
Herald. 

Hiss  (Winchester  College),  a 
signal  of  a  master's  approach. 
The  "cave"  or  "chucks"  of 
schoolboys  and  French  vesse. 

Hit  the  flat,  to  (cowboys),  to  go 
out  on  the  prairies. 

Hitched  (American),  married. 
Literally  harnessed. 

Hitch  horses,  to  (American),  to 
agree,  to  draw  or  pull  well  to- 
gether. 

I  never  truckle  to  any  man,  if  he  is  as 
big  as  all  out  of  doors.  After  he  poked 
his  fist  in  my  face,  at  one  election,  we 
never  hitched  Iwrses  together. — Bartlctt. 

Hitch  one's  team  to  the  fence,  to 

(American),  to  remain  for  any 
time  in  a  place. 


Already  jjeople  from  Lyrsilla  and  the 
citron  groves  of  St.  Lawrence  county 
are  coming  into  town,  bringing  their  din- 
ners and  hitching  their  teams  to  the 
fence  behind  the  Coliseum. — A'ra;  York 
Mercury. 

Hits  him  where  he  lives  (Ameri- 
can), goes  home,  hurts  his 
deepest  feelings,  wounds  him 
in  his  domestic  relations. 

"That,"  says  the  editor,  "hits  hint 
luhar  he  lives.  That  will  chase  him  up  as 
bad  as  it  did  when  I  wrote  an  article  ridi- 
cooling  his  sister,  who's  got  a  cock-eye." 
— A  rtevuis  Ward :  Things  in  New  York. 

Hive,  to  (American  cadet),  to  steal 
or  "bone" — to  take  a  thing 
without  permission.  "To  get 
hived"  is  to  be  caught  in  a 
scrape. 

The  Amateur  Cadets'  Band  was  hived 
by  the  inspecting  officer  one  night  "after 
taps  "while  they  were  serenading  in  bar- 
racks without  permission.  As  a  natural 
result  the  entire  band  was  reported  and 
punished  and  had  all  their  musical  instru- 
ments confiscated.  —  'J'he  IVest  Point  Scrap 
Book. 

(Popular  American),  to  cover 
up,  to  entrap. 

Hived  perfectly  frigid  (American 
cadet),  said  of  cadets  who, 
when  beyond  bounds  or  other- 
wise transgressing  the  academy 
rules,  are  caught  in  flagrante 
delicto  without  the  least  pos- 
sible chance  of  escape. 

Hivers  (American),  women  or  men 
who  travel  with  a  swarm  of 
filles  de  joic,  generally  in  the 
Wild  West,  with  a  view  to 
making  money  by  them. 

Hivite,  a  student  of  St.  Bee's. 


Hoaky — Hocus-pocus. 


465 


Hoaky,  by  the  (nautical),  synony- 
mous with  "  hang  it  1 " 

Hobbled  (thieves),  committed  for 
trial, 

Hobbler  (nautical),  a  coast  man 
of  Kent,  a  bit  of  a  smuggler 
and  an  unlicensed  pilot,  ever 
ready  for  a  job  in  either  of 
these  occupations.  Also  a  man 
on  land  employed  in  towing 
a  vessel  by  a  rope  (Admiral 
Smyth). 

Hobby  (university),  a  translation. 
Those  who  use  cribs  in  trans- 
lating from  the  Latin,  Greek, 
and  other  languages,  are  said 
to  ride  hobbies. 

Hob-jobber  (street),  a  man  or  boy 
who  loiters  about  the  streets 
waiting  for  small  jobs,  such  as 
holding  horses,  carrying  parcels, 
&c. 

Days  came  in  which  there  was  a  /«>S- 
jobbers  famine  ;  no  horses  to  hold,  no 
parcels  to  carry.— The  Goal  Cradle. 

Hobson-Jobson  (Anglo-Indian), 
a  phrase  peculiar  to  the  British 
soldier,  by  whom  it  was  in- 
vented. It  is  in  fact  an  Anglo- 
Saxon  version  of  the  wailings 
of  the  Mahommedans,  as  they 
beat  their  breasts  in  the  pro- 
cessions of  the  Moharram  : 
Ya  Hasan,  ya  Hossain!  (Anglo- 
Indian  Glossary). 

Hob's  hogf  (provincial  Northamp- 
ton). When  a  person  conjec- 
tures wrongly,  he  is  compared 
to  BoVs  hog,  a  local  story  being 


that  the  mythical  porker  in 
question  imagined  his  breakfast 
was  coming,  when  it  was  only 
the  butcher  preparing  to  kill 
him. 

Hock  (American),  caught.  Caught 
in  hocJc  is  caught  by  the  heels. 
The  last  card  in  the  box.  Among 
thieves  a  man  is  in  hoclc  when 
he  is  in  prison,  but  when  one 
gambler  is  caught  by  another 
smarter  than  himself  and  is 
beat,  then  he  is  in  hock.  Down 
South  {i.e.,  in  the  Southern 
States),  men  are  only  put  in 
hock  on  the  race-tracks.  In  a 
hock-game,  if  a  man  hits  a  card, 
he  is  obliged  to  let  his  money 
lie  until  it  either  wins  or  loses. 
Of  course,  there  are  nine  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  chances 
against  the  player,  and  the 
oldest  man  living  never  yet  saw 
him  win,  and  thus  he  is  caught 
in  hock  (New  York  Slang  Dic- 
tionary). 

The  author  of  this  work  de- 
rives hock  clearly  enough  from 
the  English  slang  term  for  a 
foot.  It  may  be  observed,  how- 
ever, that  hok  in  Dutch  thieves' 
slang  means  credit  or  debt, 
which  would  furnish  quite  as 
good  a  derivation. 

Hock-dockies  (popular),  shoes  or 
boots. 

Hocker,  hakker  (gypsy),  to  jump. 

Hocus-pocus  (now  recognised),  a 
term  applied  originally  to  de- 
ception  of  the  eye   by  means 
2  G 


466 


Hocus-pocus — Hog. 


of  legerdemain,  now  commonly 
nsed  for  any  formula  of  cheating, 
delusion,  or  humbug.  Crabb 
("Gipsies'  Advocate," p.  i8)  says 
that  gypsies  pronounce  habeas 
corpus,  hawcus  pacmis,  a  mani- 
fest error,  as  in  doing  this  they 
simply  follow  the  word  for  a 
joke.  That  it  is  derived  from 
a  burlesque  rendering  of  hoe 
est  corpus  in  the  Latin  Church- 
service  is  a  mere  bit  of  con- 
jectural philology.  In  the  Ro- 
many tongue  hoc  or  huk  is  the 
root  signifying  deceit  or  false- 
hood in  a  very  extended  sense. 
"  Quite  a  little  family  of  words 
has  come  into  English  from 
the  gypsy  hoc,  hocben,  hucJcaben, 
hokeny,  and  hooker,  all  meaning 
a  lie,  deception,  and  humbug. 
Mr,  Bonar  shows  us  that  hocus, 
to  bewitch  liquor  with  an  opiate, 
and  hoax  are  probably  from  the 
same  root ;  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  the  expression,  '  Yes,  with 
a  hook,'  meaning  '  it  is  false,' 
comes  from  the  same.  'Hookey' 
and  'Walker'  are  of  this  family" 
("  The  English  Gypsies,"  p.  8i). 
Hoc  therefore  means  deceit  or 
delusion,  and  the  English  gypsy, 
like  many  Hindus,  adds  vs  in 
a  most  arbitrary  and  irregular 
manner  to  any  root  whatever  to 
make  a  noun.  It  is  sometimes 
even  affixed  to  English  words, 
e.g.,  side-w.",  a  side.  This  gives 
hocus,  a  pure  gipsy  word.  As 
pocus,  it  has  probably  something 
in  common  as  to  its  root  with 
"  pankey  "  (vide  Hankey-PAN- 
key),  as  a  certain  sleight-of- 
hand  or  "  substitution  "  cheat 


is  called  in  gypsy  huckeny  pou- 
kee,  or  huckeny  pokce,  the  lat- 
ter being  the  common  word. 
That  this  is  sometimes  called 
huckeny  pokus  or  pocus  anybody 
can  ascertain  by  asking  the  first 
old  gypsy  whom  he  may  meet. 
As  a  proof  of  the  soundness  of 
this  derivation,  it  may  be  ob- 
served that  "  hokee  -  pokee  " 
(which  is  simply  hocus-pocus, 
without  the  gypsy  noun-termi- 
nal), is  common  and  very  old 
slang,  used  firstly  as  a  magic 
formula  in  juggling,  and  some- 
times in  any  aggregate  of  unin- 
telligible words. 

Hokey-pokee,  winkee  fiim, 
Flibbidee,  flobbidee,  buskey  bum. 

— 77/^  King  of  the  Cannibal 
Islands. 

Hod  (American  thieves),  a  mason 
or  builder. 

Hod  of  mortar  (rhyming  slang), 
a  pot  of  porter. 

Hoe  in,  to  (American  University), 
to  work  with  vigour.  French 
piocher. 

Hog  (popular),  half-a-crown. 

Two  bobs  and  a  half  equal  one  hog. — 
Punch. 

Old  cant  for  a  shilling,  also  a 
sixpence. 

"  Champollion  -  Figeac,  the 
brother  of  the  famous  Cham- 
pollion, makes  in  his  work  on 
Egypt  the  following  observa- 
tions: "Also  it  appears  there 
were  (in  Egypt)  masses  of  gold 
bearing  another  shape  than  that 


Hog. 


467 


of  the  ring,  for  instance  the 
form  of  a  frog,  of  a  calf,  of  an 
ox,  and  that  it  had  thus  become 
a  custom  to  reckon  a  particular 
object  as  worth  so  many  oxen, 
another  as  so  many  calves,  or 
so  many  frogs,  meaning  thereby 
certain  known  weight  of  gold  " 
(Leigh  Hunt's  Journal). 

Hogfa  (Anglo-Indian),  to  work,  to 
do,  "That  won't  hoga,"  that 
won't  do. 

Hog  and  hominy  (American). 
Hog  is  pork,  and  hominy  is  maize 
or  Indian  corn  scalded,  so  that 
it  is  white  as  rice,  to  which  it 
bears  when  boiled  a  great  re- 
semblance. As  pork  and  hominy 
are  the  two  cheapest  articles  of 
food  in  the  United  States,  the 
term  is  very  generally  used  to 
express  plain,  common  diet. 

Hog',  hogged  (binders),  said  of 
a  book  which  has  the  back 
bulging  out,  from  the  binding 
having  given  way. 

Hogminny  (old  slang),  a  very 
young  girl  very  depraved  ;  one 
who  makes  a  free  present  of 
her  person.  From  "  Hogmcna," 
Christmas  and  New  Year's  pre- 
sents. 

Hogoo,  strong  smell.  This  word, 
a  corruption  of  the  French 
haul  goilt,  is  given  as  slang  by 
Hotten  and  others  ;  but  it  is 
to  be  found  in  a  dictionary, 
1 748,  as  a  recognised  word. 


Hogs  (American),  a  term  some- 
times applied  in  jest  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Chicago.  (Old), 
to  drive  hogs  to  market,  to  snore. 

I'gad  he  fell  asleep,  and  snored  so  loud 
that  we  thought  he  was  driving  his  Actg's  to 
market. — Swift :  Polite  Ci/trversation. 

Hogshead,  to  couch  a  (old  cant), 
to  lie  down,  go  to  sleep.  The 
phrase  explains  itself,  hogshead 
being  a  term  for  body. 

Hog,  to  (American),  to  cheat, 
humbug,  to  do  for,  to  break, 

"Go,"  he  said,  "go,  my  son,  and  Ao^the 
public  "  (he  meant  "knock  'era  ") ;  but  the 
old  man  was  allers  a  Httle  given  to  slang). 
— Artetnns  Ward:  Boston. 

This  is  probably  derived  from 
hogged,  or  broken,  as  applied 
to  steamboats.  It  agrees  with 
the  Anglo-Indian  hoga,  to  do, 
but  probably  by  mere  acciden- 
tal coincidence.  (Common),  to 
have  sexual  intercourse  with  a 
woman. 

Hog,  to  go  the  whole.  So  uni- 
versally used  as  to  be  a  recog- 
nised phrase.  To  do  a  thing, 
good  or  evil,  thoroughly  and 
completely.  This  term  became 
very  common  in  America  about 
1834.  It  was  applied  to  those 
who  approved  entirely  of  Gene- 
ral Jackson's  measures.  It  is 
said  to  bo  derived  from  a  story 
in  a  poem  which  was  to  be  found 
in  most  American  school  read- 
ing-books, of  the  declaration  of 
Mahomet  that  there  is  a  por- 
tion of  the  swine  which  no  true 
believer  should  eat.   But  as  thev 


468 


Ho-gya — Hold. 


could  not  agree  which  part  this 
was  among  them,  the  Mussul- 
mans ate  up  the  entire  animal, 
or  "  went  the  whole  hog." 

Ho-gya  (Anglo-Indian),  used  by 
Anglo-Indians  in  the  sense  of 
"up  a  tree,"  or  of  the  failure 
of  any  undertaking. 

Hoisting  (thieves).  Hotten  de- 
fines this  as  only  shop-lifting. 
In  America  the  term  is  ap- 
plied to  a  very  peculiar  kind 
of  robbery.  To  rob  a  house 
two  or  three  men  gather  to- 
gether, one  of  whom  stands 
close  to  the  wall  and  the  next 
one  climbs  up  so  as  to  stand  on 
his  shoulders,  while  the  third 
does  the  same.  By  long  practice 
this  can  be  done  with  great 
ease,  so  that  a  thief  can  enter 
a  window  ten  or  even  fifteen 
feet  from  the  ground.  This  is 
called  the  hoist-lay.  A  hoister 
means  however  a  shop-lifter  as 
well,  and  also  a  sot. 

Hokey-pokey  (common),  good- 
for-nothing,  cheated,  done. 
This  word  seems  as  regards 
both  meaning  and  sound  to  have 
a  relation  to  the  Yiddish  orche- 
porcliem,  a  vagabond,  a  tramp. 
It  is  from  "  hocus-pocus." 

A  kind  of  inferior  ice  sold 
in  the  streets  and  especially 
at  race  meetings  amongst  the 
lower  classes. 


Ho-lan-kwoh     (pidgin, 
"Holland-nation." 


Dutch), 


Hold,  do  you  (London  slang), 
have  you  any  money  to  lend  or 
stand  treat  with  ? 

Hold-out  (cardsharpers),  the  vest 
hold-out,  sleeve  hdd-out.  Ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

The  old-time  poker  sharp  was  not  well 
equipped  unless  he  had  a  vest  hold-out. 
That  was  a  black  satin  vest  with  claws 
inside  that  came  out  of  the  bosom,  seized 
the  necessary  cards,  and  slid  it  in  again. 
It  was  worked  by  a  chain  that  ran  down 
the  trousers  leg  and  hooked  to  the  heel  of 
the  boot,  and  was  such  a  clumsy  and  com- 
plicated apparatus  that  I  would  as  soon 
think  of  carrying  a  threshing-machine 
around  with  me.  Then  there  was  the 
sleeve  hold-out,  nearly  as  bad,  and  the 
different  hold-outs  to  fasten  to  the  edge  of 
the  table. — Star. 

Hold  the  stage,  to  (theatrical), 
is  said  of  an  experienced  actor 
who  is  fully  at  home  on  the 
stage,  and  always  commands 
the  attention  of  the  audience. 
Corresponds  to  the  French 
phrase,  "avoir  des  planches." 

Hold  up,  to  (American  thieves), 
to  molest,  rob  with  violence. 

Two  thieves  were  caught  in  New  York, 
.  .  .  mistaking  two  detectives  for  persons 
in  their  own  line  of  business,  they  invited 
them  to  hold  up  a  man. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Also  to  arrest,  take   in   cus- 
tody. 

Didn't  I  give  you  fifty  dollars  for  leaving 
my  place  alone  when  it  was  on  your  beat  ? 
Vou  can't  hold  me  up  now. — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 

Hold  your  horses  (American),  an 
injunction  not  to  go  too  far,  or 
say  too  much. 


Hole — Hong-hahng. 


469 


Oh,  hold  your  hosses,  will  you, 
And  do  not  drive  so  fast ! 

And  pray  do  not  imagine, 
Your  team  can't  be  surpassed. 

— Song  ^y  1 8  50. 

Hole  (printers).  According  to 
Moxon,  1683,  a  private  printing- 
office,  where  unlicensed  books 
were  printed,  was  called  a  hole. 
The  term  would  apply  at  the 
present  day  to  a  "  cock-robin  " 
shop.  (Turf),  to  be  in  a  hole  is 
to  lose  or  be  defeated. 

Hole  and  comer  (popular),  plot- 
ting conspiracy.  The  metaphor 
is  obvious  —  conspirators  are 
compelled  to  do  their  plotting 
in  holes  and  corners. 

"  I  will  have  none  of  this  hole  and  corner 
business,"  said  the  proprietor  of  a  great 
Australian  journal  to  the  new  editor  enter- 
ing office.  "  No  more  picking  out  the 
weeds  of  a  work  to  quote  them  as  the 
flowers :  I  wish  all  the  criticisms  in  my 
paper  to  be  '  fair,  square,  and  above 
ground.'" — Anthony  Trollope. 

Hollis  (Winchester  School,  a 
smooth  round  stone. 

Holloira'  (common),  "  to  beat  hol- 
low,'^ to  surpass,  to  be  far 
superior. 

Holus-bolus  (nautical),  the  neck, 
the  head ;  in  a  hurry,  helter- 
skelter. 

Holy  Joe  (prison  and  nautical), 
the  chaplain  or  any  religious 
person. 

Holy  land  (thieves),  the  thieves' 
quarter  in  St.  Giles. 

Home  (turf),  the  status  quo  ante 
of   the  better.      When  a  man 


recovers  his  previous  losses  he 
"gets  home"  on  the  day,  the 
week,  or  the  year,  as  the  case 
may  be.  Strange  to  say  this 
barren  result  is  usually  regarded 
by  the  achiever  thereof  with 
greater  pride  than  the  appar- 
ently more  desirable  process  of 
winning. 

Home  bird  (common),  a  man  lead- 
ing a  very  retired  life,  fond  of 
his  fireside  ;  a  milksop.  French 
chauffe-la-couclie. 

Ho-ming  (pidgin),  Reuters'  Tele- 
gram Company  is  so  termed  in 
the  Shanghai  Directory. 

Homo-opathise  (American),  to  get 
bills,  i.e.,  petitions  for  anything, 
through  the  Legislature,  or  Con- 
gress, or  a  City  Council,  by 
means  of  bills,  i.e.,  bank-bills. 
This  application  of  similia  simi- 
lihus  is  unfortunately  a  rule  of 
practice,  with  few  exceptions, 
especially  in  the  Legislatures, 
when  a  bill  is  brought  forward 
which  has  "anything  in  it,"  i.e., 
any  money. 

Honest  Injun  (American),  a  phrase 
equivalent  to  "honour  bright." 
It  is  often  heard  among  boys 
as  a  pledge  of  faith. 

She  Says, ' '  Honest  Injun,  now  hain't  you 
been  telling  me  a  lot  of  lies?"  "  Honest 
Injun,"  says  I. —  The  Adventures  0/ 
Huckleberry  Finn. 

Honey  (rhyming  slang),  money. 

Hong-hahng  (pidgin  and  Anglo- 
Indian),  hahng  in  Chinese  means 


470 


Hong-hahng — Hook. 


a  row  or  rank,  a  house  of  busi- 
ness. It  is  particularly  ap- 
plied to  trading  establishments, 
foreign  or  native.  The  latter 
were  the  so-called  howj  mer- 
chants who  had  the  monopoly 
of  foreign  trade.  This  monopoly 
was  abolished  in  1842. 

A  society  of  hong  or  united  merchants 
who  are  answerable  for  one  another,  both 
to  the  Government  and  to  foreign  nations. 
— Sir  C.  Staunton :  Embassy  to  China. 

Honour  bright  (common),  on  my 
honour. 

Hoodlum  (American),  a  vagabond 
or  rough,  a  loafer.  It  was  for 
a  long  time  a  Californian  word, 
and  is  probably  of  Spanish  origin. 
It  may  possibly  be  the  pidgin 
English,  hood  lahnt,  good,  ue., 
very  lazy ;  lahnt'o.  Mandarin. 

Two  hoodlums  knocked  down  and  nearly 
killed  an  aged  priest  in  the  streets  of  Ver- 
sailles, France,  the  other  day. — Chicago 
Tribune. 

In  San  Francisco  hoodlums  are 
a  class  of  young  fools,  corres- 
ponding in  some  degree  to  the 
English  'Arries.  The  hoodlums 
walk  the  streets  arm  in  arm, 
upsetting  everything  in  their 
passage  "just  for  the  sake  of  a 
lark." 

Hoodman  (London  slang),  blind, 
drunk. 

"  Ves,"  he  said,  explaining  with  some 
nmount  of  regret  his  curious  behaviour  of 
the  night  before  ;  "  but  haven't  you  noticed 
that  whenever  I  am  a  little  hoodmatt  I  in- 
variably go  on  in  that  way?" 

"  Well,  I  can't  say  that  I  have,"  was  the 
straightforward  answer  of  the  candid 
friend. 


'"Why  not  7" 

"  Because  I  have  never  seen  you  a  little 
hoodtnan.  I  have  always  seen  you  so 
ballyhooly  blind  that " 

Several  bystanders  left  on  the  spot  with- 
out paying  for  their  drinks. — Sporting 
Times. 

He  had  shunted  a  quantum  of  whisky 
immense, 
Dut  that  hoodtnan  he  was  he  denied  ; 
Though  he  cast  on  the  lamp-post  a  look 
so  "  intense" 
That  it  might  have  been  meant  for  his 
bride. 
They  passed  over  this,  but  when  fivers 
galore 
To  the  Tealeaf  he  offered  to  lend, 
That  he  really  was  boozed,  to  a  man  they 
all  swore. 
Had  appeared  sure  enough  in  the  end  1 
— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Hoodooed  (American),  voudooed, 
ue.,  killed,  done  for,  used  up ; 
toudou,  a  term  applied  to  the 
magic  or  secrecy  practised 
among  the  blacks. 

"  Laps,"  said  Mrs.  Potter,  laying  her 
hand  oil  my  shoulder,  "  I'm  hoodoooed  as 
sure  as  eggs  are  eggs.  I've  been  training 
to  do  that  death  all  summer,  and  I  had  a 
new  play  written  to  lead  up  to  it,  and  now 
Lil  has  gone  and  gobbled  my  business." — 
New  York  Morning  Journal. 

Hoof  it,  to  (tliieves),  to  run  away. 

Hoof  one's  bum,  to  (common),  to 
kick  one  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  back. 

Hook  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
pickpocket. 

Take  my  tip  and  turn  square,  from  a 
hook  who  is  going  to  be  lagged,  would  be, 
in  common  parlance,  take  my  advice  and 
get  your  living  honestly,  says  a  pickpocket 
who  is  expecting  penal  servitude.—/.  IV. 
ilorsley :  Jottings  Jrom  Jail. 


Hook. 


471 


Probably  derived  from  hook- 
ing an  article  out  by  the  fingers, 
which  thence  are  called  hooks. 
Or  an  abbreviation  of  hooker, 
old  cant  for  a  thief  who  steals 
things  hanging  up  in  shops  by 
removing  them  with  a  hook. 
Stealing  by  means  of  a  hook 
is  still  practised  by  a  class  of 
French  thieves,  who  call  it  "vol 
au  boulon"  {vide  Barrere's  Argot 
and  Slang).  The  French  popu- 
lar slang  has  croc  (hook)  for  a 
thief,  though  Littr^  is  inclined 
to  believe  this  is  a  contraction 
of  escroc  (swindler).  The  an- 
cient "  hooker  "  was  also  called 
"angler,"  which  corresponds  to 
the  Italian  cant  pescator,  a 
thief,  literally,  a  fisherman. 
Thus  the  literal  hook  has  served 
as  a  metaphor  for  the  English 
hook,  hooker,  angler,  the  French 
croc,  and  the  Italian  pescator. 
The  German  cant  has  hocken, 
to  lie,  deceive,  swindle,  from  the 
gypsy,  though  some  derive  it 
from  hocken,  to  higgle,  retail ; 
hoke,  a  higgler,  huckster,  which 
may  be  traced  to  Jiake,  a  hook, 
pedlars  and  porters  on  the  con- 
tinent using  a  contrivance  for 
carrying  their  burdens,  termed 
crochets  (hooks)  in  French,  hence 
crocheieur,  a  porter. 

(Popular),  a  hook,  a  catch,  an 
advantage  ;  to  take  one's  hook. 
Vide  Hook,  to  sling  one's. 

Hooka-burdar  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
servant  whose  sole  duty  it  was 
to  take  care  of  the  master's 
pipe.  As  the  hookah  is  now  a 
thing  of  the  past,  the  burdar 


has  also  passed  away  with  it 
into  the  obsolete,  so  far  as  the 
pipe  is  concerned. 

Hook  and  eye  (tailors),  walking 
arm  in  arm. 

Hooker  (old  cant),  a  thief  who 
used  to  steal  articles  from  shops 
by  means  of  a  hook. 

I  will  take  my  prince's  part  against  all 
that  shall  oppose  him,  or  any  of  us,  ac- 
cording to  the  best  of  my  ability  ;  nor  will 
I  suffer  him,  or  any  one  belonging  to  us, 
to  be  abused  by  any  strange  abrams,  ruffies, 
hookers. — Banit-fylde  Moore  Carew :  Eng- 
lish Gypsies'  Oath. 

(American),  a  woman  of  easy 
virtue,  generally  one  who  plies 
her  trade  on  the  streets. 

Hookey  Walker  (popular),  go 
away  !  be  off !  Also  an  eja- 
culation of  incredulity  synony- 
mous with  "get  along  with 
you!  "  Many  origins  have  been 
ascribed  to  this  term,  which 
naturally  explains  itself  by  its 
connection  with  "hook  it,"  i.e., 
"go  away,"  and  "  walk  away." 

Hookingf  coaw  (West  American), 
a  cow  that  will  show  fight,  and 
try  to  toss  the  cowboys  who 
are  seeking  to  "cut  her  out" 
from  the  herd.  From  the  Eng- 
lish "  to  hook,"  said  of  an  ox 
which  tosses  one. 

One  of  the  former  was  what  is  termed  a 
hooking  cow,  and  to  escape  her  repeated 
charges  tested  all  our  agility. — F.  Francis  : 
Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Hook  it,  to  (common),  to  run 
away.  Yide  Hook,  to  sling 
one's. 


472 


Hook — Hooks. 


"  Vou  hain't  been  home  since  the  mornin' 
— not  since  you  hooked  it  away  ?"  Jerry's 
voice  was  tremulous  with  excitement  as  he 
asked  the  question. 

"  No,  I've  been  away  all  day." — Tlu 
Little  Ragamuffins. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  it 
is  derived  from  the  gypsy  Iwkka, 
or  hekka,  hurry  away,  hasten. 

Hook,  on  one's  own  (common), 
on  one's  own  account  or  re- 
sponsibility. 

The  tale  runs  that  a  scientific  gentleman 
has  been  examining  his  wife's  out-door 
jacket  after  each  excursion,  and  has  care- 
fully collected  every  loose  hair  which  he 
has  found  thereon. — Society. 

Dependent  for  a  living  on 
one's  own  resources  or  exer^ 
tions.     Originally  American, 

Supplied  me  with  physic  whenever  I 
wanted  it,  and  accustomed  me  to  a  life  of 
organised  laziness — and  yet  at  the  end  of 
this  time  they  turn  me  out  to  get  my  living 
OH  tny  oTjux  hook. — Evening  News. 

What,  loose  several  days  in  London — 
on  your  own  hook  and  free  to  waiider,  and 
with  no  one  to  purtect  you  ? — J.  Green- 
VMod :  Dick  Temple. 

Possibly  from  the  thieves' 
phrase  to  hook,  to  steal,  thieving 
and  getting  a  living  being  with 
them  synonymous ;  or  from 
\iook,  a  catch,  so  that  on.  one's 
own  hook  would  mean  literally, 
living  on  what  I  catch.  It  may 
also  be  derived  from  an  allusion 
to  a  meat  hook,  metaphorically 
meaning  larder,  store.  French 
authors  have  certainly  used  it 
with  that  signification,  and  the 
Trench    have    the    expression 


(not  slang)  "avoir  k  son  croc," 
to  have  in  store;  "  vivre  aux 
crochets  de  quelqu'un,"  to  be 
dependent  on  another  for  one's 
living,  to  live  at  his  expense, 
and  the  obsolete  "  dhier  sur  ses 
crochets,"  to  pay  for  one's  own 
dinner. 

Again,  it  has  been  suggested 
that  on  ones  own  hook  is  from  a 
metaphor  drawn  from  the  prac- 
tice of  the  fish-curers  on  the 
Eastern  coasts,  who  hang  up  the 
herrings  and  haddocks  to  dry  in 
the  sun. 

Hookem  snivey,  an  impostor  who 
feigns  sickness,  disease,  or  cala- 
mity, and  exhibits  his  miseries 
in  the  streets  to  excite  pity 
and  charity.  From  to  hook,  and 
snivelling,  or  possibly  from  the 
gypsy  liookaben,  a  cheat. 

Hooks  (thieves),  fingers.  Termed 
also  "forks." 

With  his  smeller  a  trumpet  blowing, 
A  regular  swell  cove  lushy  lay, 
To  his  dies  my  hooks  I  throw  in, 

Tol,  lol,  &c.. 
And  collar  hLs  dragons  clear  away. 
—  IV.  Mag-inn :  Vidocq's  Slang  Song. 

(Common),  "gone  off  the 
hooks,"  dead. 

Death  wandered  by  the  sea. 
And  struck  by  Walton's  looks, 

Broke  Isaac's  line  of  life 

And  took  him  "  off  the  hooks." 

— Punch. 

An  allusion  to  a  gate  off  its 
hinges.  Compare  with  the  old 
English  phrase,  "to  be  off  the 


Hook — Hoosier. 


473 


hooks,"  to  be  out  of  temper, 
vexed.  French,  "  sortir  de  ses 
gonds,"  and  "to  put  ofif  the 
hooka,"  to  vex,  make  angry. 

Hook  shop  (American),  a  brothel, 
"hooker"  being  a  prostitute. 
Much  used  by  English  residents 
in  China.  Possibly  a  corrupiion 
of  "hock  shop."  The  English 
and  French  slangs  have  the  cor- 
responding "buttocking  shop" 
and  "  magasin  de  f esses." 

Hook,  to  sling  one's  (popular), 
to  depart,  leave,  run  away ; 
ding  is  a  provincialism  for  to 
cast  away,  so  that  the  phrase 
means  literally  "  take  your  hook 
off,"  "let  go  your  hold." 

Hook,  to  take  one's  (common), 
to  depart,  leave,  run  away. 

A  Strange  Time-kekter. — Landlord 
(to  old  toper,  who  has  come  to  the  front 
door,  and  is  gazing  intently  at  an  eques- 
trian statue  in  the  square)  :  "  I  say,  what 
do  you  keep  coming  to  the  door  for  ? " 
"  I  want  to  see  if  it's  time  to  take  my 
hook."  "  But  how  can  you  see  that  ? 
"When  that  horse  begins  to  prance,  then 
it's  high  time." — Tit  Bits. 

Possibly  an  abbreviation  of 
"take  your  hook  off,"  that  is, 
let  go  your  hold,  or  the  allusion 
being  to  a  boat's  hook  which  a 
man  would  naturally  be  told 
to  take  off  as  a  signal  for  de- 
parture. This  supposition  is 
strengthened  by  the  synony- 
mous expression  to  "  sling  one's 
hook,"  which  see. 

Hook,  with  a  (common),  used  in 
this  phrase  to  imply  doubt  or 


some  reservation  referring  to 
an  assertion ;  "  yes,  with  a  hook 
at  the  end  of  it."  Dr.  Brewer 
has  "  with  a  hook  at  the-  end,  you 
suppose  I  assent,  but  my  assent 
is  not  likely  to  be  given.  The 
subject  has  a  hook,  or  note  of 
interrogation  (?),  to  denote  that 
it  is  dubious." 

"  There  is  a  gypsy  story  that 
a  Romany  had  permission  from 
a  gentleman  to  fish  in  his  pond, 
on  condition  that  he  should  only 
use  a  hook.  But  the  gypsy  used 
a  net,  and  emptied  the  pond  of 
fish.  On  being  asked  what  kind 
of  a  hook  he  had  used,  he  replied : 
'  It  was  what  we  call  in  our 
language  a  hookaben,'  i,e.,  a  lie  or 
a  cheat.  Hook  is  here  the  root, 
aben  or  apen  simply  indicating 
a  noun  "  (C.  G.  Leland). 

Hooky,  to  do  (popular),  the  ap- 
plication of  the  thumb  and  fin- 
gers to  the  nose  in  contempt. 

Hoop  (American  thieves),  a 
ring, 

Hoosier  (American),  a  nick- 
name given  to  natives  of  Indiana. 
Bartlett  cites  from  the  Provi- 
dence Journal  a  story  which 
has  the  appearance  of  being  an 
after-manufacture  to  suit  the 
name,  deriving  hoosier  from 
"  husher,"  "  from  their  primary 
capacity  to  still  their  oppon- 
ents." He  also  asserts  that  the 
Kentuckians  maintained  that 
the  nickname  expresses  the 
exclamation  of  an  Indianian 
when  he  knocks  at  a  door  and 


474 


Hoosier — Hopped. 


exclaims  "  who's  yere  ?  "  How- 
ever, the  word  originally  was 
not  hoosier  at  all,  but  hoosieroon  or 
hoosheroon,  hoosier  being  an  ab- 
breviation of  this.  I  can  re- 
member that  in  1834,  having 
read  of  hoosiers,  and  spoken  of 
them,  a  boy  from  the  West  cor- 
rected me,  and  said  that  the 
word  was  properly  hoosieroon. 
This  would  indicate  a  Spanish 
origin  (Charles  G.  Leland). 

Ofttiraes  when  travelling  in  the  West, 
The  stranger  finds  a  hoosiers  nest ; 
In  other  words  a  buck-eye  cabin, 
Just  large  enough  to  put  Queen  Mab  in. 

Hooter  (American),  a  comparative 
for  anything  worthless  or  tri- 
fling. Bartlett  conjectures  that 
it  is  a  corruption  of  iota,  which 
is  also  commonly  used  in  New 
England  in  a  similar  manner. 

Ah,  Billy,  you  and  your  sword  -  cane 
can't  do  a  hooter  among  the  girls,  fine  as 
you  think  yourself. — Philadelphia  Comic 
Newspaper. 

Hooting  pudding  (provincial), 
plum  pudding  so  scantily  fur- 
nished with  raisins  that  they 
are  sarcastically  said  to  hoot  at 
one  another. 

H.O.P.  (popular),  hop;  on  the 
hop,  unawares. 

Oh,  he's  tricky,  very  tricky, 

His  conduct's  very  often  rather  slicky. 

He  never  lets  folks  catch  him  on  the 

Il.O.P. 
Oh,  he's  clicky,  and  he's  quicky,  and 

he's  tricky. 

— Broadside  Ballad. 

Hop  (common),  a  small  ball, 
though  often  used  in  reference 


to  any  kind  of  ball .     Formerly 
"  to  hoppe  "  signified  to  dance. 

I  remember  last  Christmas,  at  a  little 
hop  at  the  Park,  he  danced  from  eight 
o'clock  till  four. — Miss  Austen  :  Sense 
and  Sensibility. 

Said  to  be  of  American  origin. 
The  New  York  Ilerald  once,  if 
not  many  times,  published  ac- 
counts of  the  particular  and 
unfashionable  balls  given  in 
that  city  under  the  heading 
or  caption  of  "  Hop  Intelli- 
gence." Ifop  for  any  kind  of 
dance  is,  however,  provincial 
English. 

(Pidgin), half.  "Mygiveecum- 
shaw  /to/3-dolla,  supposey  you . 
make  dat  Ink-i-lis  man  wailo  to 
look-see  my  shop."  Hop,  have, 
or  has.  While  a  Chinese  is  in 
the  first  stage  of  pidgin-Eng- 
lish, as  set  forth  in  that  primary 
work,  the  Chinese  "  Vocabulary 
of  the  Words  in  Use  among  the 
Ked-Haired  People,"  he  uses 
hop,  and  in  time  advances  to 
hab.  In  this  work  hop-fasze  is 
given  for  have  fashion  {hab/asson 
at  a  more  advanced  stage),  i.e., 
fashionable.  Ifop-pi-tsiu  {hab 
pidgin)  means  have  business ; 
hop-tai  (hab  die),  dead  ;  and  hop- 
time  (hob  time),  leisure. 

Hop  and  go  kick  (tailors),  one 
who  walks  lame. 

Hop  merchant  (common),  a 
dancing-master. 

Hopped  over  the  broom  (popu- 
lar), married  or  run  away  to- 
gether.   From  an  old  belief  that 


Hopper — Harness. 


475 


a  marriage  was  legal  if  the 
bride  and  bridegroom  stepped 
or  hopped  over  a  broom. 

"  The  girl  that  I  had  hoped  to  hear, 
Pronounce  ray  happy  doom,  sir, 
Had  bohed  with  a  carpenter, 
In  fact,  hopped  o' er  the  brootn,  sir." 
—David  Dove :  A  Ballad  by  L.  M. 
Thornton, 

Hopper  (sporting),  to  go  a  hopper, 
to  go  at  a  fast  pace. 

The  latter  is  a  filly  out  of  Effie  Deans, 
and  with  two  such  smart  parents  she 
ought  to  be  able  to  go  a  hopper. — The 
County  Gentleman. 

(Anglo-Indian),  a  colloquial 
term  in  Southern  India  for  rice 
cakes.     Tamil,  appam. 

Appas,  called  hoppers  by  the  English, 
supply  their  morning  repast. — Tennent: 
Ceylon. 

Hopping  giles  (provincial),  a 
cripple.  St.  Giles  was  the  pat- 
ron saint  of  cripples. 

Hoppo  (pidgin),  the  Chinese  Super- 
intendent of  Customs  at  Canton, 
Giles  says,  "  The  term  is  said  to 
be  a  corruption  of  hoo  poo,  the 
Board  of  Revenue"  (Anglo-In- 
dian Glossary). 

Hop  the  Charlie,  to  (common),  to 
decamp. 

Hop  the  twig,  to  (common),  to 
die.  Like  a  bird  which  drops 
from  its  perch. 

The  English  mode  ot  execution  divides 
itself  into  two  branches,  on  both  of  which 
the  victims  must  hop  the  twig. — Diprose : 
Laugh  and  Learn. 

Hora  (gypsy),  an  hour,  a  watch. 


Horizontal  refreshments  (com- 
mon), carnal  intercourse  with  a 
woman.  In  French  slang  a 
prostitute  is  called  horizontale, 
because  *'  elle  gagne  sa  vie  sur 
le  dos."  A  similar '  expression 
in  German  is  used  by  Heine. 

Horizontalise,  to  (common),  to 
have  sexual  intercourse  with  a 
woman. 

Horn  (American).  "  Yes,  in  a 
horn."  This  is  uttered  as  an 
expression  of  disbelief  or  re- 
fusal. "In  a  hog's  horn,"  as 
hogs  have  no  horns.  An  ab- 
breviation of  an  old  West  of 
England  phrase,  "InaAornwhen 
the  devil  is  blind."  "  I'll  give 
it  you  in  a  horn,"  i.e.,  I  shall 
not  give  it  you,  possibly  allud- 
ing to  the  impossibility  of  keep- 
ing anything  in  a  horn  open  at 
both  ends,  or  to  the  wind  blown 
out  of  a  horn. 

Horn,  a  dram,  a  glass  of 
spirits.  The  word  dates  from 
the  times  when  horns  rather 
than  glasses  were  used  for  the 
purpose.  It  is  almost  obsolete 
in  England,  but  common  in 
America. 

He  poured  out  a  glass  of  brandy  and 
water.  Oh,  gummy,  what  a  horn  it  was. 
It  was  strong  enough  to  throw  an  ox  over 
a  fiVe-barred  gate.— .$"«;«  Slick. 

(Common),  "  to  have  the 
horn,"  to  be  in  a  state  of  sexual 
desire. 

Homess  (American  thieves),  a 
watchman. 


476 


Hornswoggle — Horse-shoe. 


Hornswoggle,  to  (American),  to 
humbug,  delude,  seduce,  &c. 
(English  provincial),  swokel,  de- 
ceitful ;  iwodgel,  futuere. 

Homy  (American,  also  English), 
lecherous,  in  a  state  of  sexual 
desire,  in  rut. 

Horrors  (society),  delirium  tre- 
mens. Derived  from  the  fits  of 
horror  of  imaginary  things  men 
have  in  that  condition. 

And  Mostyn — poor  Frank 
Mostyn — died  at  last  a  fearful  wreck, 
In    the    horrors    at    the    upper    Wandi- 
nong. 

— Lyndsey  Gordon :  Poems. 

Horse  collar  (old),  to  die  in  a 
horse  collar  or  nightcap,  to  be 
hanged.  (Tailors),  an  extremely 
long  and  vfide  collar. 

Horse  coppers  (American).  This 
term  is  specially  applied  to  men 
who  cheat  people  by  selling 
broken-down,  but  once  first- 
class  horses. 

Horse  editor  (American).  In  the 
United  States  not  only  the 
manager  or  proprietor  and  direc- 
tor of  a  newspaper  is  called  an 
editor,  but  also  all  who  write 
for  it,  the  chief  reporter  being 
"  the  city  editor,"  and  the  re- 
viewer "  the  literary  editor," 
while  the  gentleman  who  fur- 
nishes the  sporting  news  is 
sometimes  facetiously  termed 
the  horse  editor.  There  is  also 
the  real  or  imaginary  "fighting 


editor,"  who  is  supposed  to  be 
a  man  who  "strikes  from  the 
shoulder"  and  sits  surrounded 
by  revolvers  and  hunting  knives. 
According  to  Puck,  even  the 
porter  of  an  American  news- 
paper shares  the  glory  of  "  edi- 
torialism."  The  writer  in  fact 
knows  an  instance  in  which  the 
janitor  of  an  American  journal, 
when  in  a  rural  community, 
received  much  attention  and 
honour  as  being  "  connected 
with  the  press." 

Horse  flesh  (printers),  an  ancient 
term,  according  to  Moxon,  for 
"  dead  horse,"  which  see. 

Horse-godmother  (common  pro- 
vincial), a  fat  vulgar  virago,  a 
very  masculine  woman,  quite  of 
the  lowest  class. 

In  woman  angel  sweetness  let  me  see. 

No  galloping  )torse-godmotker  for  me. 

—  IVokot  {Peter  Pindar). 

Horse  protestant  (tailors),  a 
churchman. 

Horse-shoe  (common),  the  puden- 
dum f.  In  the  earliest  Oriental 
mythologies,  all  that  indicated 
fruitf  ulness,  impregnation,  love, 
&c.,  was  regarded  as  opposed  to 
the  evil  principle  which  sought 
to  cause  barrenness.  Hence  in 
many  countries,  not  only  the 
images  of  the  pallus  and  of  the 
female  organ  were  worn  as 
charms,  but  also  everything 
which  in  any  way  resembled 
them,  such  as  a  horn,  a  per- 
forated stone,  a  ring,  a  snail- 


Horse-shoe — Hot. 


A77 


shell,  &c.  Among  these  symbols 
the  horse-shoe  occupies  a  con- 
spicuous place.  Hence  the  be- 
lief that  it  forms  an  amulet, 
and  that  it  is  lucky  to  find  one. 
In  German  the  phrase  "  Sie  hat 
ein  Huf  eisen  verloen  "  (she  has 
lost  a  horse-shoe)  is  equivalent 
to  saying  that  a  girl  has  been 
seduced. 

Horse-teeth  (American),  a  man 
with  horse -teeth  is  one  that 
grasps,  grabs  at,  or  gains  what 
he  aims  at. 

"Who  is  that?"  I  asked  of  my  friend 
Fisher,  as  we  passed  a  marked-looking 
man  on  the  street  the  other  day. 

"That?"  responded  Fisher.  "Why, 
that  is  So-and-so ;  great  man  and  full  of 
money.  Got  horse-teeth.  That's  the  kind 
of  man  to  succeed  here." — Detroit  Free 
Press. 

Horse,  the  old  (prison),  for  Horse- 
monger  Lane  Gaol,  built  at  the 
suggestion  of  John  Howard, 
closed  1878. 

Horsey  (common)  applies  to  men 
who  are  great  lovers  of  the 
horse  or  who  aifect  a  turf  ap- 
pearance and  conversation.  Also 
to  articles  of  dress  which  in  cut 
and  style  recall  those  of  turfites 
or  persons  whose  occupations 
are  connected  with  the  horse. 

Hospital  sheep  (up-country 
Australian),  sheep  sufi'ering 
from  some  contagious  disease 
which  necessitates  their  removal 
from  the  rest. 

They  had  passed  some  miles  back  a 
small  gvnyah  and  yard   temporarily  oc- 


cupied by  a  flock  of  hospital  sheep,  ship, 
headed  by  an  old  black  gin. — A.  C.  Grant: 
Bush  Life  in  Queensland. 

Hoss  (American,  Western),  a 
brave,  excellent  man. 

"Well,  old  M]ow,  you're  a  hoss"  is  a 
Western  expression  which  has  grown  into 
a  truism  as  regards  Judge  Allen,  and  a 
finer  specimen  of  a  Western  judge,  to  use 
his  constituents'  language, ' '  ain't  no  whar." 
.  .  .  They  consider  him  one  of  the 
people,  none  of  your  stuck-up  imported 
chaps  from  the  dandy  states,  but  a  real 
genuine  Westerner — in  short,  a  h<>ss. — 
Americans  at  Home. 

Hoss-fly  (American),  "old  host- 
fly"  a  familiar  form  of  ex- 
pression, such  as  "Well,  old 
boy  1  "  in  England.  It  is  of 
course  a  variation  of  "  horse," 
as  meaning  a  man. 

Says  I,  "  Billson,  yer  hav'n't  got  a 
well-balanced  mind."  Says  he,  "  Ves, 
I  have,  old  hoss-Jly  (he  was  a  low  cuss) — 
yes,  I  have.  I  have  a  mind  that  balances 
in  any  direction  that  the  public  rekires." 
— Artetnus  Ward :  The  Prince  0/  Wales. 

Hot  (popular),  exuberant  in  spirits, 
rowdy,  full  of  extravagance  and 
fun,  "  a  warm  one."  A  hot  'un, 
a  fast  man  or  woman.  One  who 
goes  the  pace. 

She's  what  Shakspeare  might  call  "a 
pure,  unadulterated,  red -hot,  clinking 
scorcher."  She's  so  hat  that  when  she 
t.^kes  a  walk  out  in  November  all  the  coal 
merchants  shut  up  shop,  fancying  it  is 
June. — Music  Hall  Song:  Why  don  t you 
be  steady,  Maria. 

(Society),  a  hot  member  of 
society  is  a  man  or  woman 
who  does  not  much  care  what 
he  or  she  does,  and  sets  most 
rules  of  decorum  and  morality 
on  one  side. 


478 


Hot — Hoxter. 


(Thieves),  to  give   hot  beef, 
vide  Beep. 

Hot  coppers.     Vide  Coppers. 

Hottentot  (popular),  a  fool,  a 
simpleton. 

Hottentots  (East  London),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

All  this  vast  audience  was  purely  local. 
Our  advent,  though  our  attire  was  a  special 
get-up  for  the  occasion,  attracted  instant 
attention,  and  the  cry  of  Hottentots  went 
round.  Hottentots  is  ^he  playful  way  in 
this  district  of  designating  a  stranger,  that 
is  to  say,  a  stranger  come  from  the  West. 
— George  R.  Sims :  How  the  Poor  Live, 

Hot  tiger  (Oxford),  a  mixture 
of  hot-spiced  ale  and  sherry 
(Hotten). 

Hot,  to  make  it  (common),  to 
make  it  highly  disagreeable. 

The  smaller  youth  is  sent  out  of  Court 
with  a  caution  ;  but  retribution,  or  stern 
justice,  or  Nemesis,  makes  it  hot  for  the 
weeping  lad. — The  Graphic. 

Hounslow  Heath  (rhyming 
slang),  the  teeth. 

House-farmers,   house-knackers 

(popular),  a  variety  of  the 
"  sweater  "  tribe.  Persons  who 
let  bad  lodgings  at  a  high  rent 
to  the  poor. 

Housemaid's  knee  (medical),  a 
swelling  over  the  knee-pan, 
due  to  the  enlargement  of  a 
bursal  sac  which  normally 
occupies  that  position. 

House,  the  (Oxford  University), 
Chri.st  Church,  Oxford.     (Stock 


Exchange),  the  Stock  Exchange. 
"The  probable  origin  of  the  word 
house,  as  applied  to  the  Stock 
Exchange,  is  as  follows  : — Pre- 
vious to  1801,  when  the  jobbers 
and  brokers  (in  Government 
securities)  assembled,  for  a  short 
period,  in  the  Rotunda  of  the 
Bank  of  England,  a  room  was 
rented  in  a  house  facing  Bartho- 
lomew Lane.  When  a  member 
was  not  to  be  found  in  the 
Rotunda  it  was  said  '  he  is  over 
at  the  house.'  At  a  later  period, 
when  the  members  moved  into 
their  own  building,  house  now 
became  a  recognised  term,  which 
has  continued  in  use  until  the 
present  day"  (Atkin's  "House 
Scraps"). 

Hoveller  (nautical),  a  beach  thief. 

How  d'ye  do  (popular),  a  regular 
ho2o  d'ye  do,  a  regular  row  all 
round.  A  regular  mess  or  diffi- 
culty. 

Howler,  to  go  a  (sporting),  to 
lose  heavy  bets. 

Howling  (common),  great ;  as  in 
a  holding  swell,  a  holding  cad. 

There  was  a  ho^vling  crush   going  on 
outside  the  Law  Courts. — Sporting  Times. 

Hording  bags,  a  swell  pair  of 
trousers. 

Hoxter  (thieves),  an  inside  pocket. 
Old  English  oxter. 

No  slourd  hoxter  my  snipes  could  stay. 
— Ains7varth. 

(Royal  Military  Academy), 
extra  drill,  a  corruption  of 
extra. 


Hubble-bubble — Hump. 


479 


The  hoxter  consists  in  the  painful  ordeal 
of  being  compelled  to  turn  out  of  bed  at  an 
early  hour,  and  march  up  and  down  under 
the  watchful  eye  of  a  corporal. — Albert 
Barrere :  A  rgot  and  Slang. 

Hubble-bubble,  the  Indian  pipe, 
termed  a  "  hookah,"  is  thus 
designated,  from  the  noise  it 
makes  when  being  smoked 
(Hotten). 

Hubby  (common),  husband. 

Item,  one  fair  daughter,  yclept  Lara. 
Mrs.  S.  has  great  faith  in  her  worthy 
hubby,  and  knows  his  book  by  heart. — 
Modem  Society. 

You  may  happen  on  the  pier,  at  Brighton 
or  elsewhere. 
To  stumble  on  a  tart  you  think  is 
tame  ; 
And  if  you  should  accost  her,  and  her 
acquaintance  foster, 
I  really  fail  to  see  how  you're  to  blame. 
Should  she  ask  you  out  to  tea,  why  a 
Juggins  you  would  be 
The  friendly  invitation  to  ignore. 
But  your  danger  you'll  perceive,  should 
you  when  you  turn  to  leave 
Conje  across  her  hubby  at  the  door. 
— Bird  d  Freedom. 

Huckleberry  (American),  jest- 
ingly used  to  mean  a  person  or 
subject.  "  That  is  a  huckleberry 
above  me,"  that  beats  me. 

"  Dat's  cheatin',"  said  Johnny.  "I'se 
going  to  stay  wid  'em  till  I  graduate. 
Dere's  more  stories  dat  day  tell  den  you 
can  find  in  de  dime  novels.  Say,  you 
fellows  would  be  'spired  to  hear  about 
'Liger  going  right  up  t'rough  de  clouds  in 
a  chariot  of  fire,  wid  no  balloon,  no  nothin'. 
'Liger  just  got  in  his  chariot,  cut  'er  loose, 
and  flew.  Dat's  wot  kind  of  a  huckleberry 
'Liger  was.  And,  remember,  dis  was 
thousands  of  years  ago,  before  dere  was 
any  balloons." — Bird  d  Freedom. 

Hue,  to  (thieves),  to  belabour  with 
a  cudgel. 


Huey  (old  cant),  a  town,  a  village. 

Hugger  mugger  (nautical),  in  its 
Shakspearian  bearing  may  have 
meant  secretly,  or  in  a  clandes- 
tine manner,  but  its  nautical 
application  is  to  express  any- 
thing out  of  order  or  done  in  a 
slovenly  way. 

Hum-box  (popular),  apulpit.  Hum 
is  to  cajole,  deceive. 

Well,  you  parish  bull  prig,  are  you  for 
lushing  Jacky,  or  pattering  in  the  hum- 
box  ? — Lyiton :  Pelham. 

Hummer  (popular),  a  swaggerer. 

"  Isn't  she  a  swell?" 

A  dashing  young  woman  in  gorgeous 
raiment  went  sailing  by  like  a  cutter  in 
a  thirty-mile-an-hour  breeze.  The  sun 
shone  down  upon  her  and  sent  out  from 
her  magnificent  diamond  earrings  and  the 
mass  of  beads  that  covered  her  head  and 
shoulders  a  thousand  hues. 

"C'rect,  ChoUy ;  she's  a  hummer!" 
said  the  first  speaker's  friend. — St.  Louis 
Globe  Democrat. 

Humming,  given  by  Hotten  and 
others  as  a  slang  term,  is  a  pro- 
vincialism meaning  strong  as 
applied  to  drink,  and  heady,  in 
which  latter  sense  it  explains 
itself. 

Hump    (common),    to   have    the 
,    hump,  to  be  low-spirited,  dis- 
tressed,  mortified,   alluding  to 
the  attitude  of  one  who  is  cast 
down. 

Rreak  !  break  !  break  ! 
O  ball  on  thy  way  to  the  stump. 

So  let's  alter  tiie  law. 

Without  any  more  jaw. 
Or  you'll  give  an  old  bufi"er  the  hump. 
— Fred  Gale  :  'J  he  Game  of  Cricket. 


48o 


Hu  mp — Ignora  tnus. 


••  To  have  one's  hump  up,"  to 
be  cross  like  a  cat  with  its 
back  set  np.  To  hump  is  a  pro- 
vincialism meaning  to  grumble, 
and  is  used  in  the  slangy  sense 
of  to  spoil.  In  America  to 
hump  oneself  is  to  prepare 
promptly  for  an  attack. 

Hump  the  swag,  to  (Australian), 
to  carry  one's  luggage  on  one's 
back. 

And  you  may  often  have  to  hump  your 
<ytvn  rtvag;  for  the  able-bodied  fellows  who 
are  standing  about  are  probably  too  well 
off  to  care  to  earn  your  shilling. — C.  T.  : 
Impressions  of  Australia  (Blackwood's 
Magazine). 

Hums  (old  cant),  the  congrega- 
tion in  a  church. 

Hunker  (American),  one  opposed 
to  progress  in  politics,  one  op- 
posed to  progress  in  general. 


Hunks.  This  word  is  given  by 
Hotten  and  others  as  a  slang 
term,  but  it  is  a  recognised  pro- 
vincialism, meaning  a  miser. 

Hunky  (American),  good,  jolly ; 
"  everything  went  off  hunky," 
went  off  well. 

Hunt,  in  the  (popular),  regarded  as 
admitted  to  a  circle  or  society. 
"  He  is  in  the  hunt,"  he  is  one 
of  us. 

Although  we  isn't  aristocrats,  we  hold  a 
quid  or  two,  and  are  considered  in  tht 
hunt. — SamWaghom:  The  Merry  Sand- 
boy. 

Hunting  (thieves),  card-sharping. 

Hurkaru  (Anglo-Indian),  a  mes- 
senger. 

Husband's  tea  (popular),  weak 
tea. 


am  not  here  (tailors), 
I  don't  feel  inclined 
to  work ;  or,  I  wish 
to  be  left  alone. 


Ictus  (legal),  a  lawyer.  A  cor- 
ruption of  juris  consultus. 

Idea  pot  (thieves),  the  head ;  also 
called  "knowledge-box." 

I  desire  (rhyming  slang),  a  fire. 

If  not,  why  not?  (American),  a 
peculiar  colloquial  expression, 
as  "Will  you  take  a  drink — if 
not,  why  not  ?  " 


Personal — Has  it  ever  occurred  to  you 
that  there  is  a  combination  of  "the  brains," 
"  the  men,"  and  "  the  money  too"  at  159 
Washington  Street?  If  so,  don't  you  think 
that  it  would  be  to  your  interest  to  call 
'round  and  have  some  talk  with  Bowyer, 
theexpeit  in  circular  advertising?  If  not, 
why  not  ? — Chicago  Tribune. 

Ignoramus  Jury  (old  cant\  for- 
merly a  slang  name  for  a  Grand 
Jury.  When  a  bill  was  ignored, 
instead  of  writing  across  it  "No 
true  bill,"  the  Latin  word  igno- 
ramus, we  do  not  know,  was 
employed — hence  the  saying  in 
question.  "  If  you  find  that 
anything   proceeds   from   envy 


Ignoramus — I'll  have. 


481 


and  malice,  and  not  of  due  pro- 
secution, you  may  acquit  the 
person  that  is  so  wrongfully 
prosecuted,  and  so  justice  is 
done  between  party  and  party, 
so  an  Ignoramus  Jury  may  not 
be  of  no  use." 

I  guess  it's  all  turkey  (Ameri- 
can), a  quaint  saying  indicating 
that  all  is  equally  good.  It  is 
said  that  an  old  gentleman  who 
was  asked  at  a  Thanksgiving 
dinner  if  he  preferred  the  white 
meat  or  dark  of  the  standard 
dish,  replied,  "  I  don't  care 
which  ;  /  guess  it's  all  turkey." 

Ikey  (popular),  a  Jew  ;  a  corrup- 
tion of  Isaac.  Also  said  of  any 
one  who  thinks  himself  know- 
ing, smart,  and  has  a  great 
opinion  of  himself. 

I'll  eat  my  head  (popular),  vari- 
ants. "  I'll  eat  my  hat"  (some 
erroneously  think  hat  here  is 
a  corruption  of  heart) ;  "  I'll 
eat  my  boots,"  "  my  head,"  &c. 
A  boastful  promise  —  an  un- 
meaning way  of  expressing  some- 
thing impossible  of  achievement. 
Mr.  Grimwig  in  "  Oliver  Twist " 
backed  and  confirmed  nearly 
every  assertion  he  made  with 
this  handsome  offer. 

It  was  the  more  singular  in  his  case 
because,  even  admitting,  for  the  sake  of 
argument,  the  possibiUty  of  scientific  im- 
provements being  ever  brought  to  tliat 
pass  which  will  enable  a  man  to  eaf  hi.'! 
own  head  in  the  event  of  his  being  .so 
disposed,  Mr.  Grimwig's  head  was  such 
a  particularly  large  one  that  the  most 
sanguine  man  alive  could  hardly  entertain 
a  hope  of  being  able  to  get  through  it  at 


a  sitting,  to  put  entirely  out  of  the  ques- 
tion a  very  thick  coating  of  powder. — 
Dickens :  Oliver  Twist. 

Illegitimate  (racing),  an  absurd 
formula  used  by  the  sporting 
press  as  a  synonym  for  steeple- 
chasing,  hurdle  -  racing,  and 
hunters'  flat-races.  Previous  to 
the  establishment  of  the  Grand 
National  Hunt  Committee,  these 
sports  were  unregulated  by  any 
code  of  law,  and  unrecognised 
by  any  racing  tribunal,  and 
were  then  properly  regarded 
as  illegitimate.  They  are  now, 
however,  as  much  under  rules 
as  flat-racing ;  nevertheless  the 
term  illegitimate  continues  to  be 
applied  to  them  though  it  has 
lost  its  force  or  significance. 

Illegitimate  season,  also  called 
the  dead  season,  viz.,  the  time 
between  the  weeks  which  in- 
cludes the  22nd  November  in 
one  year,  and  that  which  in- 
cludes the  25th  of  March  in  the 
year  following.  No  races  under 
Newmarket  rules  are  allowed 
during  this  period,  which  is 
obviously  the  most  suitable  for 
the  other  or  so-called  illegiti- 
mate branch  of  racing. 

I'll  have  your  gal !  (street  slang), 
a  cry  raised  by  street  boys  or 
roughs  when  they  see  a  fond 
couple  together.  In  like  man- 
ner, in  small  theatres  in  Paris, 
the  pit  will  raise  a  cry  of  "  II 
I'embrassera !  "  when  a  man  and 
woman  are  sitting  together 
apart  from  others. 

1  proffered  and  she  took  my  arm. 
Which  I  thought  would  be  refused  ; 
2  H 


482 


ril  have — Improvers. 


J ' II  have  your  gal !  the  urchins  cried, 

At  which  I  felt  amused. 

— Ballad:  The  Thames  Embankment. 

I'll  have  your  hat  (street  cry). 

There  is  a  cr^'  that  drives  me  wild 
Which  is,  /  'II  have  your  hat  ! 
J  'II  have  your  hat !  I  'II  have  your  hat ! 
Wi  1  be  the  death  of  me,  that's  flat, 
It  makes  me  feel  so  nervous  that, 
Whene'er  they  cry,  I'll  have  your  hat! 
— Broadside  Ballad. 

I'll  tell  you  a  story  of  old  Mother 
Morey  (American),  said  sarcas- 
tically of  a  narrative  which  has 
nothing  in  it.  From  a  very  old 
nursery  rhyme  repeated  to  chil- 
dren when  they  are  importunate 
to  be  told  a  story. 

/ '//  tell  you  a  story 
Of  old  Mother  Morey, 

And  now  my  story's  begun 
I'll  tell  you  another, 
About  her  brother. 

And  now  my  story  is  done. 

Illumina  (Winchester  College),  an 
abbreviation  for  "illumination." 
On  the  last  Sunday  night  in 
"Short  Half"  before  Grass 
Court  was  thrown  open,  candles 
were  planted  in  temples  or 
niches  cut  in  Mead's  wall.  In 
this  consisted  the  illumina.  This 
is  now  done  in  "  Short  Half," 
and  the  effect  is  enhanced  by 
a  blazing  bonflre. 

I'm  afloat  (rhyming  slang),  a  boat. 

Im-koy  (pidgin  Cantonese),  not 
ought,  i.e.,  you  should  not. 
Used  politely  in  accepting  or 
asking  a  civility. 

Immediately  sooner,  if  not  before 

(American),  a  made-up  phrase, 
heard  occasionally  among  boys. 


Immense  (American),  excellent, 
or  extremely  good.  Such  and 
such  a  person  is  said  to  be  an 
"immense  fellow,"  or  liquor  is 
advertised  as  immense,  or  a 
tailor  notifies  that  he  is  "im- 
mense on  pants,"  and  a  dress- 
maker that  she  is  "immense  on 
skirts,"  though  she  does  not 
boast  of  being  ' '  immense  in  her 
charges." 

Imp.  The  imp  is  the  devil  of 
the  devil,  or  attorney -general's 
devils.  There  are  many  of  them, 
and  have  no  position  whatever 
in  the  law.  They  only  "  devil," 
or  get  up  cases  for  the  junior 
counsel  to  the  Treasury,  though 
in  doing  this  they  often  contrive 
to  get  work  for  themselves  as 
well ;  thus  there  are  many  devils 
in  the  law. 

Impo.  or  impos.  (schools),  abbre- 
viation for  imposition.  At  Chel- 
tenham College  both  masters 
and  boys  call  this  an  "impot." 

Impost-taker  (American  thieves), 
a  man  who  lends  money  to 
thieves  and  gamblers,  or  pros- 
titutes, at  very  high  rates  of 
interest. 

Improvers  (trade),  young  men 
learning  a  business,  and  who 
enter  into  employment  chiefly 
with  a  view  to  qualify  them- 
selves for  work.     Vide  Bustle. 

In  this  est.^bli^hment  no  juniors  or 
i)n/>roz>ers  are  kept,  and  all  the  medicines 
are  prepared  by  the  proprietor  himself, 
and  by  a  thoroughly  competent  assistant. 
— Advertisement  of  a  Chemist  in  West- 
gate-on-the-Sea. 


Fni  something — Infantty. 


483 


I'm  something  of  a  liar  myself 
(American).  It  is  said  that  a 
certain  gentleman  who  was 
given  to  narrating  extraordi- 
nary experiences,  having  on 
one  occasion  told  a  very  re- 
markable incident  of  travel, 
then  turned  to  a  Scotchman 
who  was  present  and  asked 
him  if  he  was  not  astonished. 
"  Na,  na,"  replied  the  Scot,  "  I'm 
na  that — Fm  something  of  a  leear 
mysd'."  This  saying  has  be- 
come of  late  (1887)  extremely 
popular  in  the  United  States, 
and  is  repeated  without  mercy 
among  "the  ruder  sort"  when- 
ever any  one  is  suspected  of 
playing  Munchausen. 

In  (common),  to  be  in  with  one, 
to  be  even  with  him,  or  be  on 
intimate  terms  with  him.  In 
for  it,  in  trouble  or  difficulty. 
(American),  to  be  in  it,  a 
phrase  expressive  of  taking  an 
interest  —  pecuniary,  personal, 
or  mental — in  anything.  Like 
"  I'm  on  it,"  "  I'm  in  it,"  signi- 
fying that  I  have  a  part  in  the 
subject. 

I  won't  listen  to  yournoncents  no  longer. 
Jest  say  rite  strate  out  what  you're  drivin 
at.  If  you  mean  gettin  hitched,  I'm  in. — 
Artemus  Ward. 

A  horse  on  publication  of  a 
handicap  is  said,  in  describing 
his  prospective  chance,  to  be 
in  it,  "not  in  it,"  or  "right 
bang  in  it,"  according  to  the 
view  and  judgment  of  the 
speaker.  The  same  terms  are 
used  during  the  progress  of  a 
race. 


In  a  skifBe  (tailors),  in  a  great 
hurry. 

In  a  tin-pot  ■v^ay  (popular),  in  a 
small,  inferior,  trifling  manner. 

I  light  my  long  pipe  and  I  sit  up  in  bed' 
and  don't  we  enjoy  ourselves  in  our  own 
tin-pot   way  ? —  IVm.    Barnes  :    Boozing- 

Bill. 

In  deep  water  (American),  in 
pecuniary  difficulties  or  in 
trouble. 

From  the  statement  of  Mr.  West's  attor- 
ney it  would  seem  that  Elder  has  been  in 
deep  water  for  several  months.  His  real 
estate  was  mortgaged  for  S5000. — Chicago 
Tribune. 

Indescribables  (society),  trousers. 

Indian  mess  (American),  the  mix- 
ing and  eating  all  kinds  of 
food. 

Individualise,  to  (American),  to 
identify  a  person,  to  indicate 
any  one. 

No  lady  of  refinement  uses  perfume  to 
excess.  A  delicate  suggestion  of  an  odour 
is  a  pretty  way  of  individualising  one, 
provided  too  many  do  not  use  the  same 
perfume. — Detroit  Tribune. 

One  may  hear  in  the  United 
States  or  read  in  the  newspapers 
that  persons  are  "individual  in 
their  orders,"  or  habits,  i.e., 
peculiar. 

Inexpressibles  (society),  a  sham- 
raodcst  expression  for  trousers. 

Infantry  (popular),  children.  The 
French  have  the  slang  expres- 
sion, "entrer  dans  I'infanterie," 
to  become  pregnant.  Light 
infantry,  fleas. 


484 


InfaW — Inside. 


Infa'r  (American),  a  wedding  fes- 
tivity, feast,  or  party. 

Bre'r  Rabbit  got  one  ev  de  gals,  en  dey 
had  a  weddin'  en  a  big  in/a  r.— Uncle 
Remus. 

In  for  patter  (thieves),  awaiting 
trial.     Vide  Patteb. 

In  for  pound  (thieves),  committed 
for  the  assizes. 

In  good  shape  (American,  and 
well  known  in  England),  to  be 
"in  good  shape"  is  to  be  quite 
correct. 

In  Good  Shape. — The  total  indebted- 
ness of  the  City  of  Dead  wood  falls  below 
$6000. — American  Newspaper. 

In  his  kish  (tailors),  quite  at  home 
and  pleased. 

In  his  shell  (tailors),  not  in  a 
talking  mood,  sulky,  or  com- 
pelled to  retire. 

Iniquity  -  office  (American),  in- 
quiry offices  or  bureaux  which 
advertise  to  find  employment 
for  governesses,  servants,  &c., 
and  obtain  situations  for  them 
on  condition  of  receiving  from 
twenty  to  thirty  per  cent,  of 
their  first  year's  wages.  Such 
"affairs"  are  common  in  Lon- 
don, and  many  are  even  worse 
than  the  worst  in  New  York. 

Injun  here  !  (American),  a  phrase 
often  used  jocosely  when  a  man 
asserts  that  he  has  remained 
true  to  his  principles.  It  is 
said  that  an  Indian  when  lost 
in  the  woods  and  unable  to  find 


his  wickee  or  wigwam,  struck 
an  attitude  and  exclaimed,  "/n- 
jun  no  lost.  Wickee  lost — Injun 
here  !  " 

Ink-e-li  (pidgin),  English;  Man- 
darin, ying-kuo, 

Inkslinger  (common),  a  clerk,  a 
journalist  or  reporter. 

Edmund  Yates  went  to  see  and  partially 
eat  at  the  Newspaper  Press  Fund  Dinner  ; 
and  thereat  the  majority  of  the  toasts 
devolved  on  Lord  Chief  Justice  Cole- 
ridge, who  is  not  overburdened  with  reason 
for  liking  Edmund,  who  was  to  respond 
for  the  inkslingers.  —Sporting  Times. 

Inky  (tailors),  a  reply  given  to  a 
question  it  is  not  desirable  to 
answer.  "Who  told  you  that 
tale?"  "  I  III- 1/."  Slopcutter's 
term.  Also  used  among  book- 
sellers, printers,  &c.,  as  an  eva- 
sive answer. 

Innocent  (American  thieves),  a 
corpse,  an  idiot,  or  a  convict. 

Inside  (pidgin-English\  within, 
in,  interior,  heart,  mind,  soul, 
in  the  country.  "  You  belongey 
smart  inside,"  you  are  intelli- 
gent. A  Chinese,  many  years 
ago,  on  being  shown  a  picture 
of  a  locomotive,  at  once  re- 
marked, "  Hab  got  too  much 
})lenty  all-same  inside,"  we 
have  many  such  in  tlic  in- 
terior of  China.  On  one  occa- 
sion a  Chinese  said  "  Hab  got 
one  piocee  man,  one  piccce 
girly  room-inside."  lioom-inside 
means  within. 

Inside  he  mouth  (pidgin-English), 
secretly  in  his  mind,  to  himself 


Inside — Interviewer. 


485 


reserved.      "Inside  he  heart" 
has  the  same  meaning. 

Inside  squatter  (Australian  up- 
country),  a  squatter  (5'.  v.)  in  a 
settled  district,  used  in  the 
wilder  parts  of  Australia,  the 
north  of  Xew  South  Wales,  the 
northern  territory,  and  especi- 
ally Queensland.  Inside  squat- 
ters are  those  who  reside  within 
the  margin  of  settlements,  as 
distinguished  from  "  pioneer  " 
or  "  outside  squatters." 

Stations  were  formed  for  nearly  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  outside  John's  Run, 
and  he  began  to  regard  himself  as  quite 
an  inside  squatter.  His  neighbours 
greatly  assisted  him  in  keeping  his  cattle 
together,  turning  them  back  and  sending 
over  notice  whenever  they  were  discovered 
making  away ;  and,  in  like  manner,  he 
performed  the  same  good  office  for  them. 
Things  soon  beg.m  to  wear  quite  a  settled 
look. — A.  C.  Grant. 

Institution  (American).  Bartlett 
calls  this  a  flash  word  of  recent 
introduction  as  applied  to  any 
prevalent  practice  or  thing. 
But  it  was  so  common  as  to 
attract  the  notice  of  Dickens 
on  his  first  visit  to  the  United 
States,  since  he  made  Martin 
Chuzzlewit  inquire  if  spitting 
was  an  American  institution. 

Instruct  out,  to  (American), 
originally  and  strictly  "to  re- 
move from  office,  as  a  Member 
of  Congress  by  instructions 
from  a  State  Legislature " 
(Bartlett) ;  popularly,  to  turn  out 
in  almost  any  way,  especially 
by  appeal  to  a  higher  autho- 
rity. 


If  you  don't  git  out  of  this  place,  you 
young  pollution,  afore  to-morrow  mornin', 
I  guess  you'll  le  instructed  to  evaporate 
from  the  boss  himself — and  he'll  make  it 
as  hot  for  you  as  a  Fourth  Ward  Meet- 
ing.— How  Silas  Greenstick  got  to  Con- 
gress. 

Interviewer  (American),  a  term 
which  began  to  come  into  gene- 
ral use  about  1S80,  or  earlier. 
It  was  applied  to  the  visiting 
eminent  (or  any  other)  persons, 
by  the  reporters  of  newspapers, 
for  the  purpose  of  extracting 
information  from  them.  Inter- 
viewing in  the  United  States 
was  developed  into  an  art  before 
the  term  crossed  the  water  to 
England.  But  now  the  French 
journalists  send  their  men  to 
interview  politicians. 

At  the  recent  Missouri  Democratic  Con- 
vention, each  interviewer  from  the  St. 
Louis  G!obe-Democrat  wore  a  badge  of 
white  satin  pinned  to  the  coat  lapel  with 
a  silver  star,  and  bearing  this  legend  : — 

Globe-Democrat  Interviewing  Corps. 
"  I'll  call  thee  Hamlet, 
King,  Father,  Royal  Dane.    Oh,  answer 

me. 
Let  me  not  burst  in  ignorance." 
As  he  finished  with  his  victim,  each 
interviewer  handed  him  a  check,  which 
he  put  in  his  hat-band,  and  thus  evaded 
any  further  bother  with  the  reporters. 
These  checks  were  inscribed  as  follows  : — 

PUMI'ED. 

Keep  this  check  in  your  hat,  and  you 
will  not  be  again  disturbed  by  a  reporter. 
— Chicago  Tribune. 

This  is  what  in  American 
parlance  may  be  called  bringing 
interviewing  "  down  to  a  fine 
point." 

I  returned  to  the  United  States  after 
eleven  years'  absence,  and  found  that  many 


486 


In  the  buff- — In  the  wind. 


new  things  had  sprung  up  during  the  time. 
One  of  these  was  "interviewing,"  which 
had  been  developed  "to  a  high  note," 
as  I  soon  experienced.  I  was  hardly  at 
home  before  a  young  man  came  to  take 
my  portrait  in  writing.  Oddly  enough 
he  was  "on  "  a  newspaper  of  which  I  had 
been  managing  editor  for  three  years. 
Finding  him  clever  and  gentlemanly,  but 
inexperienced,  I  proposed  to  interview 
myself  for  him,  which  I  did,  asking  myself 
what  I  thought  of  the  country,  and  so  on. 
X  few  evenings  later  I  delivered  a  lecture. 
At  midnight  another  reporter  called  to  work 
it  up.  I  was  in  bed,  but  I  remembered  how 
sorry  I  should  have  been  when  I  was  on  a 
newspaper  to  have  missed  anything,  so  I 
called  him  in,  and  he  sat  down  by  my  bed- 
side and  phonographed  away,  while  I  gave 
him  the  points.  Well,  as  Dumas  says  of 
life  in  Naples,  "It  is  'sbirro'  one  day, 
and  '  lazarone  '  the  next,"  at  one  time 
sending  forth  interviewers  and  then  being 
interviewed. — C.  G.  Leland:  Journal. 

In  the  buff  (tailors),  stripped. 

In  the  cart  (common),  to  be  in  the 
cart,  is  to  be  defrauded,  sorely 
disappointed.     Vide  Caet. 

In  showing  a  photo,  'tis  wise  to  reflect 
That  the  girl  may  have  no  taste  fur  art, 

So  see  that  the  cabinet's  fairly  correct, 
Or  j-ou  may  find  yourself  in  the  cart. 
— Sporting  Times. 

In  the  crook  or  click  (tailors), 
in  the  act  of  cutting. 

In  the  hole  (printers).  This  term 
is  applied  to  a  compositor  when 
he  is  behind -hand  in  closing  up 
his  copy,  and  his  companions 
that  have  taken  subsequent 
copy  await  the  closing-up  of 
his  portion,  that  the  making-up 
into  pages  may  proceed. 

In  the  know  (common),  the  ex- 
pression explains  itself. 


The  clock  of  St.  Paul's  had  not  long 
struck  one  ere  chance  brought  me  into 
collision  with  an  old  friend  who  did  a 
little  in  the  dramatic  line  for  one  or  two 
newspapers,  and  who  was  generally  sup- 
posed to  be  in  the  know,  as  to  most  things 
connected  with  metropolitan  play-houses. 
—  ToTvn  Talk. 

In  the  rags  (tailors),  in  trouble, 
disputing,  or  in  disgrace. 

In  the  slash  (tailors),  fighting. 

In  the  straw  (common),  said  of 
married  ladies  when  accouched. 
Hotten  is  wrong  in  saying  this 
phrase  is  coarse  in  origin  and 
metaphor,  whatever  it  may  be 
now.  Itisinreality  veryold.and 
dates  back  to  the  days  when  all 
beds  were  stuffed  with  straw. 
Even  the  highest  and  most 
exalted  in  position — Henry  VIII., 
for  example — lay  upon  straw, 
for  Brand  tells  us  that  "there 
were  directions  for  certain  per- 
sons to  examine  every  night  the 
straw  of  the  king's  bed,  that 
no  daggers  might  be  concealed 
therein." 

In  the  swirii.  Hotten  limits  this 
to  being  in  a  run  of  luck,  or  in 
a  good  «H'!»!,  because  anglers 
are  in  luck  when  they  find  a 
sicm  or  "school"  of  fish.  But 
of  late  the  term  is  applied  en- 
tirely to  being  what  the  French 
call  "dans  le  mouvement"  (slang 
equivalent,  "  dans  le  train  "),  in 
with  the  world,  in  the  current 
excitements, speculations,  ideas, 
and  interests  of  the  age. 

In  the  wnd  (nautical),  intoxi- 
cated. 


Intimate — Irish. 


487 


Intimate  (American  thieves),  a 
shirt. 

Into  (popular),  to  be,  walk,  slip, 
drop  into,  to  attack  one,  fight 
him.  (American),  short  of,  want- 
ing, as  "It  was  all  right  into 
a  yard  missing,"  "I  found  the 
account  correct  into  four  cents." 

I  thought  I  did  pretty  well  deliverin'  all 
the  load  into  one  box.  Considerin'  I'd 
come  as  nigh  into  losin'  the  hull  cargo, 
I  guessed  it  was  pretty  well.  But  when 
Zekiel  Hill  missed  that  box  he  was  in  an 
awful  takin'.  He  swore  a  lot  of  oaths  as 
long  as  a  kite-string,  and  sent  'em  ascend- 
ing up  to  heaven  like  unto  the  same. — 
How  Siias  Greens  tick  got  to  Congress. 

Intum  (American),  the  inside 
track  in  a  race,  the  advantage 
at  a  start. 

Dis  kinder  tarrify  Brer  Rabbit,  en  he 
skasely  know  what  he  gwine  to  do  ;  but 
bimeby  he  study  ter  hissef  dat  de  man 
w'at  see  Brer  Fox  fuss  wuz  boun'  ter  have 
de  intum.  —  Uncle  Remus. 

Invitations  to  drink  (American). 
The  following  expressions  are 
all  stamped,  endorsed,  and  ap- 
proved in  drinking  circles : — 

Iwvitations. 
What'U  you  have  ? 
Nominate  your  pizen  I 
Will  you  irrigate? 
Will  you  tod  ? 
Wet  your  whistle  ? 
How'U  you  have  it  ? 
Let  us  stimulate ! 
Let's  drive  another  nail  I 
What's  your  medicine  ? 
Willst  du  trinken? 
Try  a  little  anti-abstinence  ? 
Swy  (zwei)  La.;er ! 
Your  whisky's  waiting. 
Will  you  try  a  smile  ? 
Will  you  take  a  nip  ? 
Let's  get  there. 


Try  a  little  Indian  ? 
Suck  some  corn-juice  ? 

Responses. 
Here's  into  your  face  I 
Here's  how  1 
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  1 
Yes,  sir-ree  ! 
With  you — yes  ! 
Anything  to  oblige. 
On  time. 
I'm  with  you. 
Count  me  in. 
I  subscribe. 
— C.  Leland  Harrison  :  MS. 
A  mericanistns. 

I.  P.  (legal),  a  corruption  of  in 
personam,  an  expression  very 
common  among  the  Old  Bailey 
barristers.  It  is  a  defence  from 
the  prisoner  or  his  friends  given 
direct  to  counsel  without  the 
intervention  of  a  solicitor. 

Irish  cockney  (popular),  a  child 
born  of  Irish  parents  in  any 
part  of  the  southern  counties 
of  England  (Hotten).  "  You're 
Irish  1  "  is  a  common  phrase 
when  a  child  or  person  is  say- 
ing something  not  quite  intel- 
ligible to  the  listener. 

Irish,  Indian,  Dutch  (American), 
all  of  these  words  are  used  to 
signify  anger  or  arousing  temper. 
But  to  say  that  one  has  his 
"  Indian  up,"  implies  a  great 
degree  of  vindictiveness,  while 
Dutch  wrath  is  stubborn  but 
yielding  to  reason. 


488 


Irishman — /  say. 


Irishman's  harvest  (coster- 
mongers),  the  orange  season. 

Irishman's  rise  (tailors  and  com- 
mon), wages  reduced. 

Irish  theatre  (military),  a  guard- 
room or  lock-up  in  barracks. 

Iron  (mechanics),  bad  iron,  used 
in  reference  to  any  bad  affair, 
failure  of  any  kind. 

Ironclads,  baked  pies,  so  called 
from  the  armour-plated  con- 
sistencies of  the  outside  crust. 
Of  American  origin.  During 
the  Civil  War  ironclad  was  ap- 
plied to  everything  well  de- 
fended or  hard.  An  ^'ironclad 
oath."  A  severely  virtuous  girl 
was  an  ironcUid. 

Iron  cow,  the  pump  ;  so  called 
by  the  milk  dealers  of  London 
because  it  provides  them  with 
the  water  for  what  is  some- 
times called  the  stretching — 
that  is,  the  dilution  and  adul- 
teration— of  the  milk  which 
they  supply  to  their  defrauded 
customers. 

Iron  face  (pidgin),  stern,  obdu- 
rate, cruel,  severe ;  Cantonese, 
ted  meen;  Mandann,  t'ccaylayecn. 
"  He  makee  my  one  Hon  face, 
too-muchee  bad  heart  he  hab 
got." 

Iron  making  (popular),  occupying 
a  berth  or  billet  in  which  money 
is  to  be  put  by. 

Ironsides  (nautical),  formerly  a 
sobriquet  for  favourite,  veteran 


men-of-war,  but  latterly  applied 
to  iron  and  ironclad  ships  (Ad- 
miral Smyth). 

Irrigate,  to  (American),  to  drink, 
to  take  liquor  or  refreshment ;  a 
synonymous  expression  is  "to 
smile."  Of  Mexican  frontier 
origin. 

Irrigate  your  canal  (American). 
This  is  becoming  common  in 
England  as  an  invitation  to  take 
a  drink. 

Stumbling  across  a  barrel  of  ale  in  the 
house,  and  feeling  a  little  thirsty,  Joseph 
thought  he  had  found  an  excellent  op- 
portunity for  irrig^aiin^  his  alimentary 
canal.  — Sunday  Times. 

Isabella  (rhyming  slang),  an  um- 
brella. 

I  saw,  I  seen  him  (American),  a 
Western  phrase  implying  agree- 
ment, harmony,  or  good  fellow- 
ship. 

He  was  drunk,  but  /  seen  hivt  all  the 
same.  "  Come  and  have  a  drink,"  says  I. 
— F.  Francis  :  iiaiUile  and  Moccasin. 

I  say  (pidgin).  "  The  Chinese 
mob  used  to  call  the  English 
soldiers  A'says  or  /  says,  from 
their  frequent  use  of  the  ex- 
pression. The  French  gamins 
used  to  do  the  same  in  Bou- 
logne. At  Amoy  the  Chinese 
used  to  call  out  after  foreign- 
ers, Akee,  akee  !  a  tradition  from 
the  Portuguese  a^ui,  'Here!'  In 
Java  the  French  are  called  by 
the  natives  Oraruj-dccdong,  i.e., 
the  dttes-donc  people"  (Anglo- 
Indian   Glossary).       It    is    not 


/  say — Ivories. 


489 


unusual  for  common  people  in 
England  and  America  to  call 
Frenchmen  "  ding-dongs  "  from 
the  same  words,  and  in  the 
latter  country  boys  cry  after 
Germans  Nix  cum  arouse!  and 
Wie  gehts !  and  greet  Italians  as 
"  Johnny  Dagos  "  {vide  Dago). 

Is  his  giblets  in  ?  (American),  is 
he  all  right  ?  From  a  coarse 
story. 


Istubbul  (Anglo-Indian).  "  This 
usual  Hindu  word  for  stable 
may  naturally  be  imagined  to 
be  a  corruption  of  the  English 
word.  But  it  is  really  the  Arab 
istahl,  though  that  no  doubt 
came  in  old  times  from  the  Latin 
stabulum  through  some  Byzan- 
tine Greek  form  "  (Anglo-Indian 
Glossary), 

I   suppose   (rhyming  slang),   the 


Ishkimmisk  (tinkers),  drunk ; 
Gaelic,  misgeach. 

I  should  smile  (American).  In 
this  phrase  a  strong  accent  is 
laid  on  "should."  It  comes 
comes  from  such  expressions 
as  "Well,  I  should  think!" 
which  are  often  left  incomplete, 
but  which  when  completed 
would  be  "that  he  ought  to 
be  ashamed,"  or  "that  people 
would  know  better,"  &c.  Its 
general  meaning  is  an  intima- 
tion of  surprise,  or  mild  con- 
tempt. It  is  much  used  by 
women,  and  is  believed  to  have 
originated  in  the  suburbs  of 
Boston  or  in  Brooklyn,  New 
York. 

We  asked  Joe  Capp  the  other  day, 

And  asked  it  without  guile, 
"If  asked   to   drink,   what  would   you 
say  ?  " 
He  answered  :  "  I  should  s»iile." 
— Bird  o  Freedom. 

Isle  of  Fling  (east  end),  coat. 

Isle  of  France  (rhyming  slang), 
a  dance. 


Itchland  (popular),  Scotland,  al- 
luding to  the  ailment  caused  by 
a  diet  of  oatmeal. 

Items  (American  thieves),  in 
gamblers'  slang,  looking  at  a 
party's  hand  and  conveying  to 
an  opposition  player  by  signs 
what  it  contains.  A  looking- 
glass  is  sometimes  used,  or  else 
signs. 

It  goes  (American),  it  is  all  right, 
I  agree  with  you,  it  is  well. 

"  Come  into  the  ranch  and  have  a  drink, 
Sam,"  says  I.     "  A  i\x\x\Vgocs"  says  he. 

It  takes  the  gloss  off  (tailors), 
it  takes  away  the  profit,  or 
materially  detracts  from  its 
value. 

Ivories  (popular),  the  teeth. 

These  ones  object  to  learning  lengthy 
parts ;  rehearsals  bore  them,  and  stage 
managers  are  notoriously  anything  but 
angels.  One  damsel  possesses  nice  arms, 
another  is  blessed  with  a  swan-like  neck, 
a  third  rejoices  in  a  set  of  lovely  ivories, 
and  a  fourth  has  a  particularly  neat  ankle. 
—.Modern  Society. 


490 


Ivories — Jackaroo. 


"  To  flash  your  ivories,"  to 
show  your  teeth;  "to  wash  your 
ivories,"  to  drink.  Also  dice. 
(Billiards),  the  balls.  "  The 
ivories  run  badly  for  him,"  the 
game  is  against  him,  or,  he  has 


no  luck.    (Card-players),  checks 
and  counters. 

Promptly  ^furat  placed  by  the  side  of 
Halsey's  chips  a  column  of  ivories  twice 
as  high.  It  was  a  raise  and  up  to  the 
limit. — Bird  o  Freedom. 


put  after  a  judge's 
name,  being  an  abbre- 
viation for  Justice, 
thusDenmanJ.  Also 
an  abbreviation  for 
"jay"  or  "juggins." 

Up  !  punters  and  pencillers,  hie  ye  away 

To  the  slopes  that  are  crowded  on  gay 
Derby  day. 

Stream  forth  in  your  thousands  from  ham- 
lets and  towns 

To  Epsom's  bepeopled  and  booth-dotted 
Downs. 

Up !  flat-catching  magsmen  and  boys  of 
that  ilk, 

On  the  warpath  the  /  of  his  ooftish  to  milk. 

"  Here's  a  quid  for  the  man  who  will  turn 
up  the  knave  !  " 

Here's  a  snip  for  those  "sports"  who  the 
bookie  would  brave. 

— Bird  o  Freedom. 

Jab,  to  (English  and  American), 
to  poke,  or  stick  with  any  in- 
strument, commonly  spelt  job, 
is  mostly  used  in  this  sense. 

Tom  :  Yes.  You  remember  that  Cassar 
held  out  against  the  gang  until  he  saw 
Brutus  trying  to  jab  him,  and  then  he  just 
said,  "  Et  tu  Brute  !  "  and  covered  up  his 
face  with  his  mantle.— Ke/tt6iican. 

Jabber,  to,  a  word  frequently 
but  vulgarly  used  in  England, 
and  still  oftener  in  America,  to 
mean  not  to  speak  badly,  but  to 
talk  any  foreign  language  what- 


ever, even  though  it  be  done  cor- 
rectly. 

At  once  the  bird  started  to  jabber  Italian, 
and  had  quite  a  conversation  with  the  man. 
— Savannah  Morning  News. 

To  jabber,  in  the  sense  of  to 
talk  indistinctly,  is  a  perfectly 
recognised  word. 

Jabble  sea  (nautical),  a  choppy, 
nasty  sea. 

Jack  (American).  It  is  common 
among  schoolboys  in  Phila- 
delphia to  address  a  stranger  as 
Jack,  and  also  to  speak  of  a 
blunderer  or  stupid  fellow  as  a 
Jack — an  abbreviation  of  jack- 
ass. 

"Where  do  you  come  from?"  asked  a 
Dallas  man  of  a  neighbour.  "  I'm  just 
from  the  fair-grounds."  "  Have  the 
judges  of  live  stock  awarded  the  prize 
to  the  biggest  Jack?"  "They  have." 
"Did  my  uncle  or  my  father  get  it?" 
"  Neither  of  them.  A  stran:5e  donkey 
from  Eastern  Texas  got  the  prize." — 
Texas  Sif tings. 

(American  thieves),  a  small 
coin.     In  England  a  counter. 

Jackaroo  (up-country  Australian), 
the  name  by  which  young  men 
who  go  to  the  Australian  colonies 
to  pick  up  colonial  experience 


Jack — Jack-shay. 


491 


are  designated  (Grant's  "Bush 
Life.")  Like  bossaroo,  a  slang 
word  coined  on  the  model  of 
kangaroo. 

Jack  cove  (American  thieves),  a 
mean,  low,  small  fellow.  From 
Jack,  any  very  trifling  coin  or  a 
counter. 

Jacketing  (common),  a  thrashing. 
From  the  phrase,  "  to  dust  one's 
jacket." 

Jacket-reverser  (common),  a  new 
word  for  turncoat. 

Jackey  (popular),  gin ;  called  also 
"  old  Tom." 

I've    snuff   and    tobacco,    and    excellent 

Jackey  ; 
I've  scissors,  and  watches,  and  knives, 
I've  ribbons  and  lace  to  set  off  the  face 
Of  pretty  young  sweethearts  and  wives. 
—  IV.  S.  Gilbert:  H.M.S.  Pinafore. 

Jack  gagger  (American  thieves), 
a  man  who  lives  on  the  prosti- 
tution of  his  wife.     A  "  ponce." 

Jack-in-a-box  (old  cant),  a  sharper 
who  robbed  tradesmen  by  sub- 
stituting empty  boxes  for  others 
full  of  money. 

This  Jacke-in.a-boxe,  or  this  divell  in 
man's  shape  .  .  .  comes  to  a  goldsmith's 
stall  .  .  .  where  he  knowes  good  store  of 
silver  faces  are  to  be  seene.  —  Dekker  : 
English  Villanies. 

Jack-in-the-box  (thieves),  a  small 
but  powerful  kind  of  screw, 
used  by  burglars  to  break  open 
safes.     Also  a  kind  of  firework. 

Jack-in-the-cellar  (popular),  a 
child  in  the  womb. 


Jack-in-the-dust  (nautical),  the 
steward's  mate. 

Jack-in-the-pulpit  (American),  a 
man  who  obtrudes  himself  into 
a  place  for  which  he  is  unfitted ; 
as,  for  instance,  an  ignorant 
fellow  who  pretends  to  preach 
or  teach  that  of  which  he  knows 
nothing. 

The  latest  contribution  to  the  history 
of  the  Rebellion  is  from  the  pen  of  that 
eminent  truth-teller,  Don  Piatt.  In  "Re- 
miniscences of  Abraham  Lincoln,"  be- 
tween the  covers  of  which  he  has  been 
allowed  to  obtrude,  he  says  of  himself: 
"  Myone  act  made  Marylandafree  State." 
Of  Mr.  Lincoln  he  says  :  "  The  President 
never  forgave  me."  That  was  because  you 
escaped  his  memory  entirely,  Mr.  Jack- 
in-the-pulpit. — Chicago  Tribune,  May  29, 
1886. 

The  simile  or  term  is  equiva- 
lent to  the  English  "Jack-in- 
office." 

Jack-in-the-water  (popular),  an 
attendant  at  the  watermen's 
stairs,  on  the  river  and  sea- 
port towns,  who  does  not  mind 
wetting  his  feet  for  a  customer's 
convenience  (Hotten). 

Jacks  (thieves),  superior  counter- 
feit coin. 

'Arry  gave  me  five  of  the  best,  and  'ow 
in  the  world  them  quids  come  to  be  snide 
blessed  if  I  know,  though  probably  some- 
body 'ad  chucked  'em  away  for  safety. 
They  wasn't /oi'.tj,  mind,  but  reglar  wrong 
'uns,  and — but,  unless  I'm  mistaken,  this 

'ere   station's    Fulwell — by   leave,  sir 

— Sporting  Times. 

Jack-shay  (up-country  Aus- 
tralian), a  tin  quart  pot  used 
for  boiling  tea  in,  and  contrived 


492 


Jack — Jag. 


so  as  to  hold  it  within  a  tin 
pint  pot. 

The  party,  therefore,  carry  with  them 
a  light  blanket  apiece,  stowed  away  in 
the  folds  of  which  is  each  man's  supper 
and  breakfast.  Hobbles  and  Jackshays 
hang  from  the  saddle-dees.  The  bust  is 
as  full  of  life  as  ever. — A.  C.  Grant. 

Jack  Sprat  (common),  a  diminu- 
tive boy  or  man. 

Jack  the  painter  (up-country 
Australian),  a  much  adulterated 
green  tea  used  in  the  bush. 

Another  notorious  ration  tea  of  the 
bush  is  called  Jack  the  painter,  a  very 
green  tea  indeed,  its  viridity  evidently 
produced  by  a  discreet  use  of  the  copper 
drying-pans  in  its  manufacture. — Lieut.- 
Colonel  Munday :  Our  A  ntiJ>odes. 

Jack  Up,  to  (Australian),  to  throw 
up,  to  abandon ;  very  probably 
a  corruption  of  "  chuck."  Jack 
it  up  is  generally  an  expression 
of  disgust,  e.f/.,  when  a  whist- 
player  finds  his  partner's  hand 
as  bad  as  his  own,  and  tells 
him  to  lay  down  his  cards. 

Says  I,  "  Let's  Jack  up,  man  alive,  an' 
try  further  down  on  the  Creek."  "AH 
right!"  says  my  mate,  "but  we'll  drive 
right  an'  left  to  the  end  of  this  week." — 
Garnet  Walch :  A  Little  Tin  Plate. 

Jade  (American  thieves),  a  long 
term  of  imprisonment. 

Jadoo  (Anglo-Indian),  conjuring, 
magic,  hocus-pocus.  Persian- 
Hind.  jadH. 

Jadoogfur  (Anglo-Indian),  Hind. 
jaduf/Iiar,  conjuring-house. 

"This  is  the  term  commonly 
applied  by  the  natives  to  a 
Freemason's  Lodge,  when  there 


is  one  at  an  English  station. 
On  the  Bombay  side  it  is  called 
a  Skaitan  khana,  a  devil's  house, 
a  name  consonant  to  the  ideas 
of  an  Italian  priest,  who  inti- 
mated to  one  of  the  present 
writers  that  he  had  heard  the 
raising  of  the  devil  was  practised 
at  Masonic  meetings,  and  asked 
his  friend's  opinion  as  to  the 
fact.  In  Southern  India  the 
lodge  is  called  Talai-vctta-kovil, 
or  '  Cut-head-temple,'  because 
part  of  the  rite  of  initiation  is 
supposed  to  consLst  in  the  can- 
didate's head  being  cut  off  and 
put  on  again  "  (Anglo-Indian 
Glossary). 

"  It  is  worth  remarking,  in 
connection  with  the  imagined 
mysteries  and  sorceries  of  the 
Freemasons'  lodges,  that  while 
the  theosophists  of  England  be- 
lieve that  untold  marvels  of 
magic  are  practised  in  India, 
the  Hindoos  on  the  other  hand 
are  all  firm  in  the  faith  that  for- 
eigners, and  especially  English- 
men, excel  in  tlie  black  art,  and 
live  in  daily  secret  intercourse 
witli  devils  of  all  denominations. 
'  What  Cometh  from  afar  aye 
pleases  best.'  In  popular  folk- 
lore, the  witches  and  fairies 
always  live  far  away  beyond 
the  blue  mountains,  and  goblins 
and  .'jatyrs  must  be  looked  for 
in  the  wilderness,  in  all  cases 
anywhere  but  at  home"  (Cliarles 
G.  Lcland). 

Jag  (American),  a  fancy,  a  whim  ; 
also  intoxication,  e.g.,  "  jagged," 
drunk,  or  "  to  have  a,j<ig  on." 


Jagger— Jampot. 


493 


He's  got  3^  Jag  that  there's  money  buried 
in  his  place,  but  I  don't  believe  that  he'll 
ever  get  back  the  money  he's  spent  diggin' 
for  it. — Newspaper  Clippings. 

Jagger  (popular),  a  gentleman. 

Jah  (freemason),  contraction  of 
Jehovah,  used  in  the  R. A.  degree. 

Jail-khana  (Anglo-Indian),  an 
English-Indian  word  for  "jail," 
used  in  the  Bombay  Presidency. 

Jakes  (old  slang),  a  privy,  a  water- 
closet,  a  place  of  convenience. 

Jam,  real  (turf),  one  of  the  almost 
innumerable  synonyms  for  a 
turf  certainty.  Real  jam  has 
been  the  cause  of  many  wry 
faces.  The  expression  is  not  as 
much  in  vogue  as  formerly.  Real 
jam  is  used  by  other  classes  of 
people  to  express  excellence,  so 
also  "true  marmalade."  Girls 
of  the  lower  orders  sometimes 
apply  the  term  jam  to  sexual 
intercourse. 

Jamboree  (American),  a  word 
which  would  appear  to  be 
Anglo-Indian  or  gypsy,  refer- 
ring to  something  very  nice 
or  pleasant,  but  which  is  only 
used  in  the  United  States  for 
a  jollification  or  frolic,  e.y.,  to 
go  on  a  regular  jam-  or  some- 
times jim-borec.  Jam-  or  jan- 
horl  in  gypsy  conveys  the  idea 
of  a  great  riot  or  noise,  and  the 
origin  of  jam  as  signifying  any- 
thing very  apt  or  agreeable  is 
still  obscure.  There  is  really 
very  little  ground,  however,  for 
the  Romany  origin  of  the  word. 


The  negroes  sang  curious  songs, 
like  the  following  : — 

Sally,  she  went  down  de  ribber, 

Jambree ! 
Black  man  see  her  gwane  dar, 

Jambree  ! 
Sally's  face  it  shine  like  gold, 

Jambree  ! 
Black  man's  face  like  tar, 

Jambree  ! 

The  term  is  now  used  in  Eng- 
land. 

They  had  met,  and  it  was  in  the  Strand 
last  Wednesday  morning. 

"Ah,  laddie,  how  goes  it?" 

' '  Very  seedy,  dear  old  boy.  There  was  a 
bit  oi  3.  jamboree  last  night,  and  I'm  quite 
in  a  chippy  way  this  morning." — Sporting 
Times. 

James  (thieves),  a  crowbar,  a 
dignified  form  of  the  term 
"jemmy"  for  the  same.  French 
thieves  have  the  corresponding 
Jacques, 

We  went  to  Willesden  and  found  a  dead 
'un,  so  I  came  out  and  asked  my  pal  to 
lend  me  xheja^nes  and  some  twirls,  and  I 
went  and  turned  it  over. — Horsley  :  Jot- 
tings from  Jail. 

Also  a  sovereign. 

Make  this  man  leave  me  alone  ;  he  is 
knocking  me  'about,  and  I  put  a  half 
James  in  his  hand,  and  said  guy. — Hors- 
ley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Jammy.     Vide  Jam,  Real. 

He  was  callow,  and  was  diffident  of  en- 
tering the  ring ; 
To  his  joy  a  chance  acquaintance  put 

him  oil  a.  Jammy  thing  ; 
He  tumbled  on  perceiving  that  his  quids 
had  taken  wing, 
That  he  wasn't  on  a  "  smasher." 
— Sporting;  Titnes. 

Jampot  (Australian),  applied  to 
the  very  high,  highly  starched 


494 


J  a  mpot — Jaw. 


stand-up  collars  affected  by 
dandies,  sometimes  as  much  as 
four  inches  high. 

When  I  was  staying  at  Queenscliff,  the 
fashionable  watering-place  of  Melbourne, 
I  was  standing  at  a  hotel-bar  with  a  young 

colonial  named  C ,  who  was  a  dressy 

man,  and  was  wearing  one  of  these  collars. 
The  conversation  turned  upon  the  number 
of  Jews  who  were  staying  in  the  hotel. 
"Oh,  blow  these  Jutes,"  he  said,  "they 
stuff  the  whole  place  up ;  it's  as  bad  as 
the  New  Jerusalem." 

"Why,  ain't  you  one  yourself?"  asked 
the  barmaid,  who  was  not  so  well  educated 
as  Australian  barmaids  generally  are. 

"  Me  a  Jute !  why,  what  makes  you 
ask  that,  Mary  ?  " 

"  The  collar.  No  one  but  Jews  wears 
t)\em  Jampots  now." — D.  £.  JK.  Sladen. 

Janasmug  (thieves),  a  go-be- 
tween ;  one  who  was  interme- 
diary between  a  thief  and  the 
"fence,"  or  receiver  of  stolen 
goods.  An  old  word,  from 
"janus,"  i.e.,  double-faced. 

Japanese  knife  trick,  the  (com- 
mon), to  eat,  or  shovel  one's 
food  down  with  a  knife,  instead 
of  conveying  it  to  the  mouth  in 
an  orthodox  fashion  with  a  fork. 
To  eat  peas  with  a  knife  is  to 
do  the  Japanese  knife  trick.  The 
saying  probably  arises  from  the 
similarity  of  both  the  chop- 
sticks one  to  another,  these 
articles  being  equivalent  to  the 
knife  and  fork  amongst  the 
Japanese  —  lience  the  parallel 
suggested  between  the  indis- 
criminate use  of  the  knife  and 
fork,  in  the  same  manner  as 
takes  place  in  regard  to  the 
chop-sticks. 


Japanned  (University),  explained 
by  quotation. 

Many  .  .  .  step  .  .  .  into  the  Church, 
without  any  pretence  of  other  change 
than  in  the  attire  of  their  outward  man — 
the  being  japanned,  as  assuming  the 
black  dress  and  white  cravat  is  called  in 
university  slang.  —  College  Words  and 
Customs. 

Japanning  (popular),  explained  by 
quotation. 

He  applied  himself  to  a  process  which 
Mr.  Dawkins  designated  as  "japanning 
his  trotter-cases."  The  phrase,  rendered 
into  plain  English,  signifieth,  cleaning  his 
boots. — Dickens :  Oliver  Twist. 

Jarifa,  jarika,  jallico,  &c.  (gypsy), 
an  apron.  The  variations  of 
this  word  are  numerous. 

Jarrehoe  (Wellington  College),  a 
man-servant. 

Jarvey  (common),  the  driver  of  a 
liackney  coach. 

After  listening  to  two  I>onnens  singing 
two  Killaloes,  he  called  a  cab. 

"Where  to,  sir?"  asked  the  jarvey. 

"  Gaiety  buffet." 

And  he  is  now  willing  to  bet  that  he 
had  the  cheapest  and  quickest  cab  drive 
on  record. — Sporting  Times. 

Jaw  (popular),  talking. 

"No  more  ya«',  I  tell  you,"  said  the 
first  boy,  who  was  stronger  than  Jerry  Pape. 
"Come  on  horns"  (this  to  me,  with  a 
lug  that  made  my  shoulder-joints  crack.) 
"  I  shouldn't  like  to  go  you  halves,  my 
tulip.  I  'spect  you'll  be  werry  nigh  killed 
wen  yer  father  does  get  hold  on  yer." — 
Greenwood :  The  Little  liai^amuffins. 

Hold  your^'rt?f,  stop  yonr^aw, 
stop  talking. 

Four-and-twenty  of  us  sat  round  a  table 
mending    soldiers'    shirts    and    convicts 


Jawbone — Jeff. 


495 


heard  as  jal,  from  jala,  he  goes. 
Also  Anglo-Indian  jao  1  go ! 

Jaw  twister  (common),  a  hard  or 
many-syUabled  word  (Hotten). 

Jay  (American),  a  contemptuous 
word  for  a  person.  A  sham 
"  swell,"  a  simpleton.  Vide  To 
Flap. 

Spose  you  was  runnin'  reglar  out  of 
Atchison,  or  somewhere  else  in  the  cowboy 
country  !  Why,  these  yaj'i  ain't  a  circum- 
stance to  'em. — Philadelphia  Press. 

"  /a(/-hawker"  was  a  term 
applied  to  marauders  during  the 
Kansas  troubles,  and  extended 
to  other  bandits. 

This  was  a  heavier  blow  to  the  boy  than 
the  corporeal  ones,  and  he  vowed  to  re- 
gain his  property  at  any  cost ;  but  the 
bandits  were  not  easily  come  at  by  a  single 
foe.  In  fact,  the  "yay-hawkers,"  as  they 
pleasantly  dubbed  themselves,  augmented 
their  ranks  every  day. — Buffalo  Bill. 

"To  play  one  for  a  jay,''  to 
make  a  dupe  of.  Any  word 
equivalent  to  ignoramus  or  dolt 
may  be  substituted  ioTJay. 

"I'm  a  plain  man!"  he  said,  as  he 
strode  into  the  reporters'  room,  and  shook 
the  icicles  from  his  whiskers.  "  I'm  a 
plain-everyday-man,  with  no  book-larnin' 
to  speak  of,  but  I  don't  propose  to  let  no 
one-hoss  grocer's  clerk  /lay  me /br  a  j'ajf." 
— Chicago  Tribune. 

Jeff  (printers).  The  act  of  throw- 
ing with  the  quadrats  as  one 
would  with  dice.  Nine  em 
quadrats  (usually  of  pica  body) 
are  selected,  shaken  up  in  the 
hand,  and  thrown  on  an  impos- 
ing surface.     Three  "  throws  " 


stockings.  Notwithstanding  the  frequent 
commands  of  "stop  that  jaw"  we  dis- 
cussed many  matters  of  law  and  prison 
discipline. — Evening  News. 

Jawbone  (Canadian),  credit ;  to 
"  call  his  jaw,"  to  live  on  credit. 

This  picture  of  work  and  health  and 
happiness  has  its  darker  side,  and  nowhere 
a  sadder  one  than  where  the  w.-iges  of 
perhaps  a  whole  year  pass  into  the  hands 
of  a  professed  gambler,  and  the  hundreds 
of  dollars,  which  might  have  been  so  pro- 
fitably invested,  are  squandered  in  the 
poor  excitement  of  an  evening  at  euchre, 
faro,  or  draw  poker  ;  and  his  ready  money 
gone  he  has  nothing  to  live  on  but  jaw- 
bone, i.e.,  credit,  and  to  call  his  jaw,  i.e., 
live  on  credit,  till  he  has  got  further  em- 
ployment and  more  wages.— .,4.  Staveley 
Hill;  From  Home  to  Home. 

Jaw-breakers  (common),  hard 
words  to  pronounce. 

Jawing  tackle  (nautical),  organs 
of  speech. 

Jaw,  jao !  (Anglo-Indian),  go,  to 
go.     English  gypsy  ;aM)  or  ;a. 

Jaw,  to  (popular),  to  talk  much, 
but  especially  to  scold,  com- 
plain. 

The  day  that  I  got  married  was  the  ruin 

of  my  life, 
She  said  I  wasn't  fit  to  be  the  husband  of 

a  wife, 
She  jawed  and  jawed  all  day  and  night 

and  upset  all  the  place. 
Then  knocked  me  down  upon   my  back 

and  jumped  upon  my  face. 

—Song. 

Jaw,  to  go,  common  among 
tramps  or  travellers,  e.g.,  to 
jaw  on  the  toby  or  drum,  to 
go  on  the  road.  From  the  Ro- 
many Java,   I    go.     Sometimes 


496 


Jeff — -Jenkins. 


are  allowed  to  each  player, 
and  only  the  quadrats  that  fall 
with  their  nicks  uppermost  are 
counted.  This  system  is  gene- 
rally adopted  for  determining 
the  share  of  good  or  bad  work 
at  the  end  of  a  volume,  and 
sometimes  it  is  used  as  a  means 
of  gambling. 

Jelly,  or  all  jelly  (popular),  a 
buxom,  good-looking  girl. 

Jem  (old  cant),  a  ring. 

Jemima  (common),  a  chamber 
utensil.  Thomas  in  French 
slang. 

Jemini!  OJeminy!  Byjimmeny! 

(popular),  a  current  interjection, 
also  well  known  in  Holland. 
Teirlinck,  in  his  Dictionary  of 
Bargoensch,  says  that  "  Jemenis 
is  merely  a  variation  of  Jesus ! 
We  still  hear  Jemenis  !  Jee- 
menisl  jumenisi  Zeemenis,  jee- 
menisKristus!  Jeemenis Maria! 
See  Jemeny,  in  Oudermans." 

Jemmy  (popular),  a  sheep's  head  ; 
sometimes  called  by  the  lower 
classes  a  "  bloody  jemmy,"  on 
account  of  the  quantity  of  blood 
about  it. 

Nancy  quickly  laid  the  cloth ;  dis<ip- 
pearing  for  a  few  minutes,  she  presently 
returned  with  a  pot  of  porter  and  a  dish 
of  sheep's  head  ;  which  gave  occasion  to 
several  pleasant  witticisms  on  the  part  of 
Mr.  Sikes,  founded  upon  the  singular  coin- 
cidence of  jemmy  being  a  cant  name 
common  to  them,  and  also  to  an  ingenious 
implem'.rit  much  used  in  his  profession. 
— Dickens  :  Oliver  Tzvist. 


(Thieves),  a  crowbar. 

They  call  for  crowha.TS— jemmies  is  the 

modern  name  they  bear — 
They  burst  through,  and  bolt  and  bar — 
but  what  a  sight  is  there  ! 

— Ini;oldsby  Legends. 
It  has  come  to  the  writer's  knowledge 
that  the  principal  tool  employed  by  the 
burglars  is  a  jemmy,  which  plays  the  in- 
nocent part  of  axle  to  a  perambulator  during 
the  day. — Thor  Fredur:  Sketches  from 
Shady  Places. 

(Popular),  a  greatcoat. 

Jemmy  duck  (men-o'-war),  the 
ship's  poulterer. 

Jemmy  Jed  (American).  When  a 
boy  has  not  brushed  his  hair, 
and  it  stands  on  end,  he  is  called 
a  Jemmy  Jed.  In  the  old  Ame- 
rican editions  of  Mother  Goose's 
Nursery  Rhymes,  Jemmy  Jed  is 
represented  in  a  rude  woodcut 
as  rushing  from  a  shed  with  his 
hair  on  end. 

Jemmy  Jed 
Went  into  a  shed. 
And  made  a  ted 
Of  straw  his  bed  ; 
An  owl  came  out 
And  flew  about, 
And  Jemmy  Jed 
Up  stakes  and  fled. 
Wasn't  Jemmy  Jed  a  staring  fool  ? 
Born  in  the  woods,  to  be  scared  by 
an  owl. 

Jemmy  Jessamy  (popular),  a 
dandy  (Hotten). 

Jemmy  O'Goblin   (theatrical),   a 

sovereign. 

Jenkins  (journalistic),  the  name 
given  to  the  person  on  the  staff 
of  the  Morning  Post  who  reports 


Jenny — Jerry. 


497 


the  Court  news,  and  gives  ac- 
counts of  grand  balls,  &c. 

Jenny  (American  thieves),  a  hook 
on  the  end  of  a  stick.  (Billiards), 
a  losing  hazard  into  the  middle 
pocket  off  a  ball  an  inch  or  two 
from  the  side  cushion.  (Popu- 
lar), a  hot-water  bottle  put  into 
a  bed  to  keep  a  person's  feet 
warm. 

Jeremy  Diddler  (common),  an 
adept  at  raising  the  wind,  i.e., 
at  borrowing  money,  especially 
at  borrowing  with  no  intention 
of  repaying.  See  the  farce  of 
"  Raising  the  Wind  "  (Hotten). 

Jericho  (common),  from  Jericho 
to  June,  a  very  great  distance. 

His  kick  was  tremendous  ...  he  would 
send  a  man  from  Jericho  to  June. — In- 
goldsby  Legends. 

A  prison,  a  watercloset, 
termed  also  a  bog  shop,  a  house 
of  office,  a  necessary,  a  House 
of  Commons. 

Jericho  I  go  to  (common),  an 
exclamation  of  impatience — 
begone  !  In  the  Manor  of 
Blackmore,  about  seven  miles 
from  Chelmsford,  King  Henry 
VIII.  had  a  house  which  had 
been  a  priory,  to  which  he  fre- 
quently retired  when  he  desired 
to  be  free  from  disturbance.  To 
this  place  the  name  Jericho  was 
given  as  a  disguise,  so  that  when 
any  one  inquired  for  the  king 
when  he  was  indulging  himself 
in  animal  pleasures  in  Essex,  it 
was  customary  to  say  he  was 


"  gone  to  Jericho."  The  Rev.  W. 
Callander,  Vicar  of  Blackmore, 
wrote  in  1880,  that  the  place 
"habitually  goes  by  the  name 
of  the  'Jericho  Estate,'  or  the 
'  Blackmore  Priory.'  There  is  a 
brooklet  running  through  the 
village,  which  I  have  heard 
called  '  the  Jordan.'  "  There 
seems  evidence  that  the  phrase 
was  used  in  the  time  of  Henry 
VIII.,  but  it  is  not  quite  clear 
that  it  originated  in  the  cir- 
cumstances stated. 

Jerker,  chamber-pot ;  (nautical), 
the  steward. 

Jerking  (low),  masturbation. 

Jerks  (American),  got  the  jerks, 
has  the  delirium  tremens,  is 
nervous,  or  under  religious  ex- 
citement at  a  camp-meeting. 

Jerk  the  tinkler  (common),  other- 
wise "agitate  the  communi- 
cator." 

^'Jerk  the  tinkler."  These  words,  in 
plain  English,  conveyed  an  injunction  to 
ring  the  bell. — Cluirles  Dickens :  Oliver 
Twist. 

Jerk,  to.  This  word  is  used  in 
the  United  States  in  endless 
forms  to  express  action,  espe- 
cially if  rapid. 

I  can  jerk  a  poem  wilh  any  of  them 
Atlantic  Monthly  fellows. — Artetnus 
IVard. 

Jerry.  This  word  is  common 
among  the  lower  classes  of  the 
great  cities  of  England  in  such 
phrases  as  jen-y  -  go  -  nimble, 
diarrhoea ;  jerry  -  shop,  an  un- 
2  I 


498 


Jerry — Jerusalem . 


licensed  public -house  with  a 
back  door  entrance  ;  and  jerry- 
builder,  a  cheap  and  inferior 
builder  who  runs  up  those 
miserable,  showy  looking  tene- 
ments, neither  air-proof  nor 
water-proof.  Jerry  seems  de- 
rivable from  the  gypsy  jerr  or 
jlr  {i.e.,jeer),  the  rectum,  whence 
its  application  to  diarrhoea,  a 
back  door,  and  all  that  is  con- 
temptible. From  the  same  root 
we  have  the  Gaelic  jerie,  pro- 
nounced jarey,  behind ;  the 
French  derriire.  The  Gaelic 
word  also  signifies  wretched, 
miserable,  in  which  sense  it  is 
strictly  applicable  to  the  jevry- 
builder,  and  to  the  contemptible 
characters  popularly  know  as 
jerry-sneaks.  A  jerry,  a  cham- 
ber utensil,  abbreviation  of 
Jeroboam.  (Thieves),  a  watch- 
chain.  (Popular),  a  round  felt 
hat  or  pot  hat.  (Printers),  on 
an  apprentice  coming  out  of  his 
time  it  is  customary  to  give 
him  a.  jerry,  in  the  shape  of  as 
much  noise  as  possible.  Chases 
and  iron  plates  suspended  and 
beaten  with  bars  of  iron,  to- 
gether with  whistling  and  ratt- 
ling, are  considered  the  correct 
thing,  and  truly  a  printing- 
oflice  seems  a  perfect  pande- 
monium under  such  circum- 
stances. Hansard  in  his  "Typo- 
graphia,"  1825,  deprecates  such 
ovations.  The  same  practice  is 
habitual  in  French  printing- 
shops,  and  is  called  roulance. 

Jerry   Lynch   (popular),   a    pig's 
head  pickled  (Ilotten). 


Jerry  nicking',  sneaking  (thieves), 
watch  stealing. 

Jerry-sneak  (common),  a  hen- 
pecked husband.  From  a  char- 
acter in  a  play.  (Thieves),  a 
stealer  of  watches. 

Jersey  lightning  (American). 
This  is  apple  brandy,  or  spirit 
distilled  from  cider,  which  is 
so  called  because  the  best  is 
made  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 
It  is  also  called  apple-jack. 
But  a  noggin  of  lightning  was 
the  "flash"  for  a  quartern  of 
gm  a  century  ago,  and  it  is 
defined  as  such  in  George 
Parker's  Dictionary  of  1 7S9. 

The  guests  now  being  met, 

The  first  thing  that  was  done, 
Was  handing  round  the  kid, 

That  all  might  smack  his  mun. 
A  flash  of /4'^/;.'«/«i,'  next 

Bets  tipt  each  cull  and  frow, 
Ere  they  to  church  did  pad, 

To  have  it  christened  Joe. 

—Life's  Painter,  1789. 

This  is  interesting  as  showing 
that  mun  (Hindu,  m,un'h,&  face) 
at  that  time  still  retained  in 
gypsy  its  earliest  form. 

Jerusalem,  Jerusalem  pony  (popu- 
lar), ass  or  donkey. 

On  Hampstead  Heath  I  ruralise. 
And  chaff  the  girls  around, 
I  ride  the  best  J le-rn-sa-Unt 
That  up  there  can  be  found. 
"  Here's  Champ.-ignc  Charley  loose  again  ! 
And  what's  your  game'/"  they  cry, 
And  as  I'm  always  so  polite, 
"  Ax  my  donkey,"  I  reply. 
— Champagne  Charley's  Donkey.    A  Ned- 
dyfyin£  Ditty  by  J.  A.  Hariiwick. 


Jerusalem — Jigger. 


499 


I  saw  young  'Arry  with  his  billycock  on, 
Checked    trousers   on    his    thighs,    with 

knobbed  stick  armed, 
Climb  from  the  ground  like  fat  pig  up  a 

pole, 
And  flop  with  such  sore  toil  into  his  saddle 
As  though  a  bran-bag  dropped  down  from 

the  clouds, 
To  turn  and  wind  a  slow  Jerusalem, 
And  shock  the  world  with  clumsy  assman- 

ship.  —Punch. 

Donkey  riding    masters  will    give  the 

daughters  of  the  aristocracy  lessons    in 

Rotten  Row.     A  thoroughbred  Jerusalem 

pony  at  sixpence  an  hour. — Fwiny  Folks. 

Jerusalem  the  golden,  Brighton ; 
so  called  from  the  numbers  of 
wealthy  Hebrews  who  frequent 
this  watering-place. 

Jesse,  Jessie  (popular),  of  Ameri- 
can origin ;  to  give  a  man /esse,  to 
abuse  vehemently,  or  to  thrash 
and  belabour  him  severely.  The 
expression  is  supposed  to  be 
intensified  when,  instead  of 
Je&se,    the    words    "particular 

Jesse,"   or   "d d   particular 

Jesse"  are  used.  The  origin  is 
unknown.  A  synonymous  ex- 
pression is  to  "give  one  fits," 

"particular   fits,"    or   "d d 

particular  fits."  The  original 
term  appears  to  have  been  to 
jess.  A  gypsy  would  under- 
stand by  this  to  make  a  man 
go,  or  to  clear  him  out,  but  this 
is  a  very  doubtful  derivation, 
as  is  Hotten's,  that  Jessie  is 
synonymous  with  gas.  "It  is 
evidently  derived  from  the  al- 
lusion in  the  Bible  to  Jesse's 
valour  and  the  aid  which  he 
rendered,  a  text  continually  re- 
peated among  the  Puritans"  (C. 
G.  Leland,  Notes). 


Jesuit  (Cambridge),  a  member  of 
Jesus  College. 

Jet  (old  cant),  a  lawyer. 

Jew  butter  (American),  goose- 
grease. 

Jib  (Dublin  University),  a  first- 
year  man.  (Gypsy),  language, 
speech  (Hindu  tschib).  Also  used 
in  canting.  "  Dr^  savo  ji6  rakd^ 
0  mush  ? " — in  what  language 
did  the  man  talk  ?  (Common), 
cut  of  one's  ^'(6.  Vide  Cut  op 
One's  Jib. 

If  she  dislikes  what  sailors  call  the  cut 
of  their  jib. —Scott:  St.  Ronan's  Well. 

Jibb  (tramps),  the  tongue. 

Jibber  the  kibber,  to  (old  cant), 
decoying  vessels  on  shore  for 
plunder,  by  tying  a  lantern  to  a 
horse's  neck.  From  jibber,  or 
horse  that  shrinks. 

Jiffess  (tailors),  employer's  wife. 


d      Jigery  pokery  (tailors),  humbug. 

Jigger  (canting  and  gypsy),  a 
gate  or  door.  One  of  the  oldest 
cant  words,  given  in  Harman. 
Mr.  Turner  would  derive  it  from 
the  Welsh  gwddor,  a  gate,  but 
it  seems  to  come  much  nearer 
to  the  old  gypsy  stigga  (also 
stckka),  a  gate,  &c. — there  are 
many  instances  of  Eomany  and 
Hebrew  words  which  have  un- 
dergone much  greater  change 
into  English  than  that  of  st  to  j 
— or,  as  it  is  often  pronounced. 


500 


Jigger— Jimmy. 


thtigger.  The  Welsh  gwddor 
has  itself  a  close  affinity  to  the 
Romany  icuder,  a  door,  but 
goodor  can  hardly  be  said  to 
resemble  gygger  (or  jigger),  so 
much  as  the  latter  resembles 
shtigga.  (Billiards),  the  rest. 
(Printers),  See  ViSORUM.  An 
article  used  by  compositors  to 
hold  the  copy  by,  and  also  ap- 
plied to  a  small  box  with  narrow 
divisions  to  hold  odd  or  peculiar 
sorts  in,  that  do  not  belong  to 
the  cases  that  he  has  in  use. 

Jigger  dubber  (thieves),  a  turnkey. 

Jiggered  (popular),  an  oath, 
equivalent  to  "  blowed,"  or 
"  damned." 

"Got  him,  Jerry?  Halves,  don't  you 
know,"  exclaimed  the  boy  eagerly. 

"  Halves  be  jiggered,"  roared  Jerry, 
seizing  my  other  arm.  "What's  halves  for? 
Ain't  I  been  a-huntin'  arter  him  ever  since 
his  father  come  home  ?  Wasn't  I  the  first 
to  ketch  him?" — /.  Greenwood:  The 
Little  Ragamuffins. 

"Well,  then,"  said  he,  '^  I'm  jiggered 
if  I  don't  see  you  home  1 "  This  penalty 
of  being  jiggered  was  a  favourite  sup- 
posititious case  of  his. — Dickens :  Great 
Expectations. 

If  it  hadn't  been  that  my  uncle  kicked 
me  six  times  round  his  garden  at  Shrews- 
bury, because  I  said  I'd  be  jiggered  if  I 
went,  I  don't  believe  I  should  have  had 
courage  to  accept  the  appointment  of 
naturalist  to  the  expedition. — Punch. 

It  is  said  the  expression  arose 
from  the  suffering  caused  by  the 
chigoe  insect  in  the  West  Indies, 
which  burrows  in  the  feet  of 
the  bare-footed  negroes  (T.  L. 
0.  Davies).  Sailors  call  these 
chigoes  jiggers.      But  it  is  pro- 


bably from  jig,  allied  to  jog,  to 
split,  i.e.,  destroy  (vide  Skeat) ; 
jigger,  to  move  rapidly,  to  use 
exertion,  as  in  "jiggered  up." 

Jiggered  up  (nautical),  tired, 
exhausted. 

Jih-zee-pah-nee-ah  (pidgin),  It- 
pagna,  i.e.,  Spain. 

Jill-mill  (Anglo-Indian),  Venetian 
shutters. 

Jilt  (thieves),  a  crow-bar.  (Ameri- 
can thieves),  specially  applied 
to  a  girl  who  embraces  and 
kisses  a  man,  and  covers  his 
eyes  while  her  accomplice  robs 
him. 

Jimj'ams,  the  (society),  delirium 
tremens.  Called  also  the 
"  uglies"  or  "  horrors." 

Should  you  ask  me  whence  these  blear 

eyes, 
Whence  the  shaking  and  contrition 
With  the  horrors  of  the  jim-jams. 

— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Jimmy,  This  word,  which  came 
into  use  at  Cambridge  Uni- 
versity some  twenty  years  ago, 
is  not  found  in  print  except  in 
Mr.  Besant's  works.  It  has 
three  uses  in  ordinary  parlance, 
"that's  all  jimmy,"  that's  all 
nonsense,  Jimmy  was  in  use 
fifty  years  ago  in  America, 
meaning  exactly,  fit,  suitable. 
In  show  parlance  a,  jimmy  means 
according  to  the  context  a 
"  fake,"  or  a  concealed  con- 
federate. 

(South    Africa),   a  settler  in 
his  first  year. 


Jimpsecute — -Job. 


501 


Jimpsecute  (Texas).  In  the 
Texan  vernacular,  this  is  the 
equivalent  used,  when  a  joung 
man  goes  to  pay  his  devoirs  to 
the  fair  one,  to  signify  the  ob- 
ject of  his  attentions.  She  on 
the  other  hand  calls  her  lover 
a  "juicy-spicy." 

I  knew  a  man  in  Texas  once  who  had 
no  more  sense  than  to  have  a  jimpsecute , 
and  this  was  all  her  name ;  Dionysia 
Boadicea  Jeffalinda  Jacobina  Christiana 
Buckiana  Caledonia  Susannah  Emily 
Wyatt  Wilkinson  Moore  Wynn^.—Over- 
land  Monthly. 

Jin  (gypsy),  know  (Hindu  ^ana, 
also  chinhua,  to  recognise ; 
jindva,  often  jindwa,  I  know ; 
jinessa  or  jines,  thou  knowest ; 
jindom,  I  knew ;  jinaben,  know- 
ledge ;  jinairt,  to  know,  a  com- 
pound between  the  old  form 
jinav,  and  the  English  postfix 
"of  it,"  to  jin ;  jinomescro,  a 
learned  or  knowing  man.  On 
the  Continent  the  Romany  still 
preserves  the  Hind,  ^'an,  "Jan- 
esa  tu  Romanes  ?  "  (Hungarian 
gypsy),  dost  thou  know  Romany  ? 
"Janel  o  baro  Dewel  ani  Polo- 
pen,"  the  great  God  in  Heaven 
knows  (German  Romany). 

Oh  dye,  miri  dy6  ! 
Dont  tutejtn  a  Romany  rye. 
I.e.,  "Oh  mother,  my  mother,  don't  you 
know  a  gypsy  gentleman." 

Jingling  johnnies  (Anglo-Indian). 
They  term  thus  a  small  flat, 
light  structure  which  runs  on 
wheels,  and  on  which  two  or 
three  individuals  will  sit  with 
their  legs  dangling  over  the 
sides,  the  native  driver  sitting 


in  front  to  guide  the  single 
horse  which  drags  one  of  these 
primitive-looking  vehicles. 

Jinked  his  tin  (popular),  rattled 
or  paid  his  money. 

He  tried  to  look  just  like  a  duke. 
As  he  passed  through  the  wicket. 
The  train  got  in,  he  jinked  his  tin, 
Then  went  away  to  dine. 

— /.  F.  Mitchell:  Jimmy  Johnson's 
Holiday. 

Jinks.     Vide  High  Jinks. 
Jinny  (thieves),  a  Geneva  watch. 

Jin- rick -sha,    jenny- rick -shaw 

(pidgin,  both  Chinese  and 
Japanese),  a  very  light  vehicle 
drawn  by  a  man.  Japanese 
ku-ru-ma.  The  French  in  Ton- 
kin call  it  "pousse-pousse." 
The  j in-rich- sha  has  of  late  years 
extended  to  China  and  India. 
Mr.  Giles  states  that  the  word 
is  a  translation  of  three  char- 
acters, signifying  man,  strength, 
cart,  an  exact  equivalent,  as  the 
Americans  in  Japan  at  once  dis- 
covered, of  "Pull-man-car." 

The  jinricksha  is  a  great  im- 
provement on  the  Bath -chair, 
enabling  the  man  who  acts 
horse  to  it  to  go  from  four  to 
six  miles  an  hour. 

Jiv  (gypsy),  to  live  ;  jivava,  1  live  ; 
jivvin',  living  ;  jivabcn,  life. 

Adr^  o  puro  chirus  butidosta  manQshia 
jiwede  kushte-bakeno  'dr4  o  chone. — 
Gypsy  Stories. 

I.e.,  "In  the  old  time  many  men  lived 
happily  in  the  moon." 

Job,  on  the  (turf),  a  horse  is  ^aid 
to  be  or  not  to  be  on  the  job. 


502 


Job — Jogerring. 


according  to  the  supposed  in- 
tentions, honest  or  the  reverse, 
of  his  jockey. 

Trainers  and  jockeys,  from  various 
trivial  circumstances,  very  easily  gathered 
whether  a  particular  horse  they  were  asked 
to  ride  was  "out  for  an  airing"  or  was 
on  the  Job. — Standard. 

Job  also  means  a  commission 
to  back  a  horse ;  "he  has  got 
the  job,"  he  has  the  putting  on 
of  the  stable  money.  (Thieves), 
a  thieving  affair,  a  murder. 

In  some  of  the  worst  of  these  dens  rob- 
beries are  planned,  and  spoils  divided,  and 
every  inhabitant  knows  full  particulars  as 
to  how  and  when  the:  job  was  done,  or  the 
"crib  cracked." — Tmvii  Talk. 

(Popular),  any  affair ;  on  the 
job,  on  duty  there;  the  slavey 
on  the  job,  the  servant  there. 
To  be  on  the  job,  to  enter  into  a 
thing  heart  and  soul,  with  spirit, 
to  be  wholly  bent  on  some  un- 
dertaking. 

And  'Arry  is  fair  on  the  job. — Punch. 

Always  on  the  job  is  the  competitor  in 
angling  contests. — Globe. 

Job  captain  (naval),  one  who  gets 
temporary  appointment  to  a 
ship. 

Jock  (popular),  the  male  organ  of 
generation.  (American  thieves), 
"jockinrj  it  with  a  high-flyer," 
taking  pleasure  with  a  fancy- 
woman. 


Joe  (popular),  a  too  marvellous 
tale,  a  lie,  or  stale  joke.  Ab- 
breviated from  Joe  Miller.    The 


full  name  is  occasionally  used, 
as  in  the  phrase,  "I  don't  see 
the  Joe  Miller  of  it,"  I  don't  see 
the  wit  (Hotten).  "  Not  for 
Joel"  the  refrain  of  a  popular 
song,  equivalent  to  "Not  if  I 
know  it."  (American  univer- 
sity), a  cabinet  d'aisance.  Vide 
Holy  Joe. 

Joey  (prison),  a  humbug. 

Convicts  generally  believe  these  displays 
of  religion  on  the  part  of  their  fellow-pri- 
soners to  be  mere  shams,  calling  those  who 
indulge  in  them  by  the  nickname  oi  Joeys. 
— May  hew :  Criminal  Prisons  of  London. 

(Popular),  a  popular  synonym 
for  clown,  derivable  from  Joey 
Grimaldi,  the  great  pantomim- 
ist.  Also  a  fourpenny  piece. 
The  term  is  from  Sir  Joseph 
Hume. 

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  of  Joeys. — Hazukins  : 
History  o/ the  Silver  Coinage  of  England. 

Coins  of  the  Realm. — 'Arry  remarks 
that  the  Tories  are  led  by  a  "  Bob  "  (Cecil), 
the  Parnellites  can  boast  the  possession  of 
a  "  Tanner,"  whilst  the  Liberal  Unionists 
make  the  most  of  their /oo'. — Punch. 

(Naval),  a  marine. 

Joeying  (theatrical),  buffoonery, 
and  taking  liberties  with  the 
text  and  with  the  audience — 
a  highly  reprehensible  practice 
amongst  certain  very  low  come- 
dians. 

Jogerring  omey  (theatrical),  a 
musician.  From  the  Italian 
giocar,  to  play,  and  itomo,  a 
man. 


John. 


503 


John  Company  (Anglo-Indian),  a 
term  for  the  Honourable  East 
India  Company,  which  was  often 
taken  and  used  by  the  natives 
in  days  of  yore.  John  was  sup- 
posed to  have  a  real  existence ; 
but  according  to  that  charming 
novel  "Pandurang  Hasi,"  some 
of  the  ToTpee  wallahs  were  un- 
certain whether  John  was  a  man 
or  a  woman.  Those  who  were 
so  wicked  as  to  doubt  whether 
there  were  such  a  person,  were 
sure  ere  long  to  have  something 
bad  happen  to  them. 

Johnny  (common),  a  swell ;  a  man 
belonging  to  a  particular  set  is 
one  of  the  Johnnies.  The  young 
man  of  the  day.     A  fellow. 

When  this  idea  passed  through  my  head, 

I  was  on  it ; 
The  earth  was  made  for  all,  I  said, 

I  was  on  it. 
I  twirled  my  stick,  walked  on  my  toes, 
I  struck  a  Johnnie  on  the  nose. 
He  spoke  not,  but  his  foot  arose — 

I  was  on  it. 

— Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Johnny,  with  its  diminutive 
Jack,  is  often  used  in  all  modern 
languages  as  a  term  of  con- 
tempt. 

The  Italian  Gianni  ('pronounced  by  the 
Venetians  and  other  provincials  Zanni) 
has  passed  into  our  language  as  synony- 
mous with  a  fool — Zany  ;  and  in  our  ver- 
nacular we  have  Jack-of-all  trades,  Cheap 
Jack,  jack -pudding,  and  jack-ass — none  of 
these  titles  being  conferred  as  marks  of 
respect.  In  German  folk-lore  it  is  always 
a  HaTis  who  is  the  model  of  folly  or  stu- 
pidity. The  Spanish,  similarly,  have  the 
phrase,  a  Bobo-Juan. — Tit-Bits. 

To  this  enumeration  might  be 
added  the  French  Jean-Jean,  a 


great  simpleton;  Jean  foutre,  or 
Jean  fesse,  a  despicable  fellow. 

(Popular),  my  girl,  or  my 
young  man. 

(Irish),  half  a  glass  of  whisky. 

Johnny  Bates'   Farm.      Vid* 

Bates'  Faem. 

A  gentleman  who  had  apparently  not 
washed  his  face,  nor  let  his  hair  grow 
since  his  last  visit  to  Johnny  Bates'  Farm, 
which  is,  I  understand,  the  pet  name  with 
ces  gens  for  H.M.  Prison  at  Wandsworth. 
— Snorting  Times. 

Johnny -bono  (East),  the  sobri- 
quet by  which,  in  the  East, 
the  English  are  commonly  de- 
signated. 

Johnny  darbies  (thieves),  police- 
men.    Also  handcuffs. 

Johnny  ra^v  (conamon),  a  green 
hand,  a  recruit. 

John  Orderly  (shows  and  gaffs), 
the  showman's  password  to  cut 
short  the  performance.  Said  to 
be  derived  from  Richardson, 
the  famous  showman,  with 
whom  Edmund  Kean  served 
his  apprenticeship  as  an  acro- 
bat. When  Richardson  visited 
"  wakes  and  fairs,  and  market 
towns,"  with  his  travelling  show, 
upon  fair  days,  the  actors  were 
supposed,  to  perform  a  melo- 
drama and  a  pantomime  in  half 
an  hour.  When,  however,  the 
booth  was  crowded  to  repletion 
while  the  performance  was 
actually  going  on  inside — the 
great  showman  was  wont  to 
remain  outside  on  the  Parade, 


504 


John. 


continually  inviting  the  crowd 
to  "walk  up,  and  be  in  time. 
Just  a  goin'  to  begin  !  "  As 
soon  as  he  had  gathered  together 
enough  people  to  fill  the  booth 
again,  it  was  his  custom  to  sing 
out  over  the  heads  of  the  crowd 
within  "  Jack  Orderly."  Upon 
hearing  that  signal  the  per- 
formers put  the  steam  on,  the 
play  and  the  pantomime  were 
finished  in  ten  minutes,  and 
one  audience  was  disgorged  at 
the  side  doors,  while  the  other 
streamed  in  from  the  front. 
Mr.  Button  Cook  derives  the 
phrase  from  an  earlier  authority. 
In  his  "  Book  of  the  Play  "  he 
states  :  "  The  life  of  Edwin 
the  actor,  written  by "  (to 
quote  Macaulay)  "'that  filthy 
and  malignant  baboon,  John 
Williams,  who  called  himself 
Anthony  Pasquin,'  and  pub- 
lished late  in  the  last  century, 
contains  the  following  passage  : 
'  When  theatric  performers 
intend  to  abridge  an  act  or 
play,  they  are  accustomed  to 
say,  We  will  "John  Audley"  it. 
The  saying  originated  thus  : 
In  the  year  1749,  Shuter  wjis 
master  of  a  booth  at  Bartholo- 
mew Fair,  in  West  Smithfield, 
and  it  was  his  mode  to  lengthen 
the  exhibition,  until  a  sufficient 
numberof  persons  were  gathered 
at  the  door  to  fill  the  house. 
This  event  was  signified  by  a 
fellow  popping  his  head  in  at 
the  gallery  door,  and  bellowing 
out  "John  Audley?"  as  if  in 
the  .act  of  inquiry,  though  the 
intention    was    to    let    Shuter 


know  that  a  fresh  audience 
were  in  high  expectation  below. 
The  consequence  of  this  notifi- 
cation was  that  the  entertain- 
ments were  instantly  concluded, 
and  the  gates  of  the  booth 
thrown  open  for  a  new  audi- 
tory. 

John  Smith,  a  (American  and 
English).  The  frequent  recur- 
rence of  this  name  has  caused 
it  to  become  a  byword.  Once 
when  an  American  editor  as- 
serted that  it  was  "  no  name  at 
all,"  an  aggrieved  Smith  col- 
lected and  published  the  names 
of  the  John  Smiths  who  had 
distinguished  themselves.  It 
may  be  remarked  that  in  the 
beginning  of  Teutonic  names 
there  were  but  three  Jarl  (Earl), 
the  first  nobleman  —  Smidt 
{Smith),  the  first  workman,  and 
Thral  (Thrale),  the  first  labourer 
or  bondsman. 

The  ^wrVA  family  was  largely  represented 
in  the  army  of  the  Union,  and  at  one  time 
there  were  upwards  of  600  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  On  one  of  the  regimental 
rolls  in  the  Teutonic  division,  which  gave 
the  names  and  birthplaces,  were  entered, 
"Giovanni  Smithi,  Italy;  Juan  Smithas, 
Spain ;  Jan  Smidt,  Holland ;  Ivan 
Schmithiweski,  Poland ;  Jean  Smeets, 
France  ;  Ion  Skimmitton,  Greece  ;  Janos 
Smido,  Hungary;  Hansli  Schmitl,  Swit- 
zerland ;  Hdnos  Smeta,  Lithuania  ;  Vanni 
Smitello,  Sicily ;  Gianno  Smite,  Venice  ; 
Evanelo  Zsmitka,  Croatia;  Jehan  Ismit, 
Isle  of  Jersey;  Shaun  Ztliemitlche,  Brit- 
tany ;  Hanas  Smatem,  Bulgaria  ;  Ehonas 
Asmito,  Jerusalem;"  and  twelve  /o/in 
Smiths  born  in  this  countrj-,  besides  one 
whose  native  land  was  sweet  Erin,  of 
whom  it  was  recorded,  "  named  Patrick 
but  says  that  he  is  called  John  for  short 
— /icn:  J'erley  Poort. 


John — Jolly. 


50s 


"Mishter,"  said  a  Hollander  to  the 
clerk  at  the  railway  station.  "  Ik  vants  a 
uitganger  dicket,  an  emikrant  dicket  to 
ga  toe  Chicago?" 

"Well — what's  your  name,"  was  the 
reply. 

"Ya — dat  is  Van  Berkenschooverzwer- 
erdondertromp." 

"  Great  Moses,  Mister  !  "  cried  the  clerk 
alarmed.  "I  can't  write  all  that  down. 
Don't  you  know  what  it  is  in  English?" 

"  Ya— I  does.  It's  Von  Smit." — Phila- 
delphia Courier. 

John  Thomas  (common),  a  flun- 
key ;  the  penis. 

John  Trot  (old),  a  name  for  a 
clown. 

Joined  the  gang  (popular),  a 
vulgar  phrase  equivalent  to  say- 
ing that  any  one  has  become  a 
thief. 

Then  from  the  door  he  soon  did  shoot 
With  the  booty  in  his  duke — oh  dear  I  .  .  . 
He  was  sentenced,  understand,  with  the 

rest  of  tiie  gang 
For  a  term  of  seven  long  years. 
Rolling  home  in  the  morning,  boys. 
As  drunk  as  ever  he  can  stand, 
Sure  my  heart  is  broke  and  no  mistake. 
Since  ]ohnny  joined  tJte  gatig. 
— Broadside :  Johnny's  joined  the  Gang. 

Joint  (American),  a  place  of  pub- 
lic resort,  generally  a  "  saloon," 
a  room  of  a  very  low  character. 
From  its  having  been  originally 
an  adjacent,  adjoining,  or  joint 
room,  an  annexe.  All  the  opium- 
smoking  dens  kept  by  Chinese 
in  the  United  States  are  called 
opium  joints.  To  explain  the 
following  extract  it  should  be 
understood  that  the  obtaining 
a  license  to  sell  liquor  in  the 
American   cities   often,   if   not 


generally,  depends  upon  the 
political  influence  of  the  appli- 
cant. 

Carew  said  that  while  his  saloon  was 
a  "  tough /!?/«.',"  it  was  not  near  so  bad  as 
Monroe's  or  the  Alcazar.  Though  a  good 
Democrat,  he  doubtless  lacks  the  Alder- 
manic  "inflooence"  back  of  Monroe  and 
Wilson. 

(Common),  to  put  a  person's 
nose  out  of  joint,  to  grievously 
vex  or  disappoint  him. 

Joint,  working  the  (thieves), 
swindling  in  the  streets  with  a 
lottery  table,  the  indicator  of 
which  can  be  made  to  stop  at 
any  point  by  pressure  on  a  con- 
cealed rod. , 

Jokist  (common),  a  man  fond  of 
playing  practical  jokes. 

On  entering  the  room  I  had  given  the 
bottle  into  the  hand  of  a  young  man,  a 
son  of  the  house.  This  young  fellow  was 
a  bit  o{  A  jokist,  so  when  about  to  take  out 
the  glass  stopper  from  the  bottle  he  said  to 
a  jolly,  fat  old  Kaffir  woman,  who  stood 
close  by,  "  Sara,  kom  ruike  heirzo  de  lek- 
ker  goed"— (Sara,  come  and  smell  this 
sweet  stuflQ. — Globe. 

Jolly  (thieves),  a  pretence,  ex- 
cuse. 

So  I  began  to  count  my  pieces  for  St.  jolly 
(preUnce).—fforsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

Other  meaning  explained  by 
quotation. 

One  who  assists  at  a  sham  street  row 
for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  mob,  and 
promoting  robbery  from  the  person  —  a 
jolly. — Saten  Curses  0/ London. 

(Common),  jolly  is  used 
slangily  as  an  expletive,  signi- 
fying superlatively,  as,  he  got 


5o6 


Jolly — Josh. 


jMy    well    thrashed,    or  jMy 
drunk. 

Jolly  as  a  sandboy,  old  expres- 
sion. The  "Three  Jolly  Sand- 
boys" is  a  tavern  sign.  Who 
the  original  gay  and  festive 
arenarius  was  we  have  not  dis- 
covered. 

I'm  ss  jolly  as  a  sandboy,  as  happy  as  a 

king, 
No  matter  what  occurs  to  me,  I  laugh  at 

everything. 
Although  I'm  like  my  mother,  I'm  the 

image  of  my  pa, 
At  everything  I  see,  I  laugh — ha !  ha  ! 

ha  !  ha  !  ha ! 

— Catnach  Ballad. 

Jolly,  by  jolly !  (American),  an 
interjection.  Possibly  a  modifi- 
cation of  gorry  1  made  by  French 
Canadians  in  association  with 

I  once  knew  an  Indian  named  Tomah. 
His  friends  made  Tomah  or  Thomas  into 
a  beaver  by  adding  j-?*!!/!  to  it.  Tomaquah, 
the  Beaver,  had  but  one  oath,  it  was  by 
Jolly!  What  deity  in  the  Algonkin  or 
Kanuck  mythology  Jolly  represented,  I 
did  not  inquire.  It  occurred  to  me  one 
day  that  Jolly  would  have  made  a  good 
tutelary  saint  for  Mark  Tapley.  While 
we  were  ornamenting  birch  boxes,  I  ex- 
plained the  idea  at  full  length  to  my  friend. 
He  listened  gravely,  and  as  it  dawned 
upon  him,  interjected  approvingly  Ay/;?//)'.' 
— C.  G.  Iceland:  Algonkin  Notes. 

Jolly,  to  (thieves),  to  impose  upon, 
to  act  as  an  accomplice  or  abet- 
tor. Now  common,  with  the 
meaning  to  speak  up  for. 

Of  course  every  "  school  coach  "  has  one 
of  the  most  wonderful  bowlers  or  batsmen 
ever  seen.  If  he  did  not  say  so  he  would 
not  do  his  duty,  and  he  is  bound  to  jolly 
for  his  own  side. — Bailey's  Monthly  Ma- 
gatine. 


(Popular),  tojoUy  a  person  is  to 
"  chaff "  or  "  get  at "  him,  or  to 
hold  him  in  ridicule.  (Acrobats, 
&c.),  refers  to  the  act  of  a  friend, 
a  confederate  in  the  crowd,  who 
puts  in  a  good  show  of  money 
when  the  hat  goes  round,  which 
is  returned  to  him  afterwards. 

Jolly,  to  chuck  a  (cheap  Jack),  to 
praise  another's  goods,  so  as 
to  entice  the  bystanders  into 
buying. 

Joraer  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
mistress,  a  sweetheart ;  literally 
a  kiss,  either  from  the  gypsy 
chumer,  a  kiss,  or  the  Yiddish 
jonia. 

Jonnuk  (shows,  &c.),  to  be  fair, 
to  share  equally. 

Jonger  (gypsy),  to  awake. 

Josey,  to  (American),  to  go,  hasten 
on.  Possibly  suggested  by  the 
Jewish  slang  jozeh,  to  go  out,  go 
forth,  or  from  the  gypsy  jdsa, 
i.e.,  go  hurry. 

"  Hey,  get  along,  Jim  a\ong  josey .' 
Hey,  get  along,  Jim  along  joe  I  " 

Josh,  to  (American),  to  chaff,  to 
make  fun  of,  to  quiz.  English 
provincial,  joskin,  a  country 
clown  ;  jostle,  to  cheat  (Sussex). 
There  is  an  apocryphal  origin 
of  the  phrase  that  a  miner  hav- 
ing been  told  by  a  friend  that 
Joshua  once  commanded  the 
sun  to  stand  still  and  it  obeyed 
him,  replied,  "  I  guess  you  can't 
come^'o»A  over  me  1  " 


Josh — Joss. 


50; 


"  Have  you  boys  seen  any  Indians 
round  ?  " 

"  No — they  hadn't  seen  any." 

"  Nobody's  been  joshing  you,  I  sup- 
pose ?  " 

"  Oh  no  !  Joshing  them  I  Not  much." 
— F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

For  some  unknown  reason  a 
josh  is  supposed,  like  a  David, 
to  be  always  a  sleepy  person. 
On  the  New  York  Stock  Ex- 
change, says  Medbury  in  "  Men 
and  Mysteries  of  Wall  Street " 
(cited  by  Bartlett),  if  a  member 
drops  asleep,  "Josh  .'josh .'"  comes 
roaring  from  a  dozen  lungs,  and 
the  broker  is  awakened  by  the 
cry.  Thackeray  seems  to  have 
associated  josh  with  fatness  and 
dulness  in  his  Josh  Sedley. 
Possibly  the  Chinese  Josh,  or 
Buddha,  who  is  the  incarnation 
of  stoutness  and  tranquillity, 
suggested  the  word. 

Joskin.  Generally  used  to  de- 
note a  dull  rustic  or  greenhorn. 
It  would  seem,  however,  to  be 
derived  from  the  Yiddish  or 
German  -  Hebrew  joschen,  to 
sleep,  sleepy  {i.e.,  stupid),  or 
iiora  joschen,  old ;  einjoschenisch, 
an  old  man. 

Josser  (popular),  a  synonym  for 
a  "prosser  "  or  sponge.  A  sim- 
pleton, a  "flat." 

There  is  a.  josser's  land, 

Far,  far  away ! 
Where  a  drink  they  never  stand, 

Far,  far  away  i 
Termed  Prosser's  Avenue, 
Where  of  Pros'  you  meet  a  few. 
Hundreds  could  much  better  do. 

Far,  far  away  ! 
Far  away  !  Far  away  ! 
— Catnach  Broadside. 


Probably  from  "joskin,"  a 
lout  or  countryman.  (Australian 
popular),  a  priest,  the  Chinese 
temples  being  called  "joss- 
houses"  or  "josses."  Austra- 
lian slang  designated  those  who 
ministered  in  them  jossers,  and 
then  extended  this  term  it  had 
created  to  mean  ministers  of 
any  religion. 

The  reverend  josser  .  .  .  kept  his  fist 
in  Foley  fashion  hammering  the  pulpit. 
— Newspaper. 

Joss  -  house  (pidgin),  an  idol 
temple.     Vide  Joss. 

One  tim  Wang  he  makee  tlavel, 
Makee  stop  one  night  m  joss-house. 
He  go  sleepy,  by'mby  wake 
In-i-side  a!Ci-%a.xm^  joss-house. 

—  Wang  the  Snob, 
Long  side  he  joss-house 
Stop  one  old  mandalin. 

—The  Rebel  Pig. 

Joss,  josh  (pidgin),  God,  a  god, 
an  idol.  This,  say  the  authors 
of  "  Hobson-Jobson,"  is  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  Portuguese  Deos, 
God,  first  taken  up  in  the  pid- 
gin language  of  the  Chinese 
ports  from  the  Portuguese,  and 
then  adopted  from  that  jargon 
by  Europeans  as  if  they  had  got 
hold  of  a  Chinese  word.  "  I 
know  but  little  of  their  reli- 
gion," wrote  Bockyer  in  171 1, 
"more  than  that  every  man  has 
a  small  joss,  or  god,  in  his  own 
house." 

He  olo  fdta  (father)  still  as  mouse, 
He  chin-chin /<?«  top-sidee  house. 
Alio  tim  he  makeycjj-pidgin, 
Wat  you  fan-kwei  cally  'ligion. 

—Mary  Coe. 


5o8 


Joss — Juba. 


Joss  -  pidgin  -  man,  joss  -  house- 
man (pidgin).  "  Thus  also  in 
pidgin,  joss-house-man,  or  joss- 
pidgin-man,  is  a  priest  or  a 
missionary"  ("Hobson-Jobson," 
p.  354)- 

Piggy  keepe  glowin  (growing) 
Fatteler  an'  fatteler, 
Neva  such  a  piggy 
Since  pigs  began, 
Joss-man  he  smilee 
An'  talk  "  you  be  one  flatteler," 
When  dey  talkey  pig  look  all-samee  like 
he  joss-pidgin-man. 

—  The  Rebel  Pig. 

Jostick,  joss-stick  (pidgin),  stick 
of  fragrant  powdered  woods, 
combined  with  a  little  gum, 
used  by  Chinese  as  incense  in 
their  temples.  The  ingredients 
for  the  powder  are  the  putchok, 
a  sweet-smelling  root  from  the 
Himalayas,  and  sandalwood. 

An'  Maly  answx-r  he  lequest, 
"  My  love  Chinee  joss-pidgin  best, 
My  love  Kwanyin  wit'  chilo  neat 
\n'  joss-stick  smellum  muchee  sweet." 
— Mary  Coe. 

Jounce,  to  (American),  to  indent, 
impress  upon,  hit  severely  and 
suddenly. 

Who  was  followed  shortly  after  by  a  most 

unhappy  tramp. 
Upon  whose  features  poverty  had  jounced 

her  iron  stamp. 

—  The  Ballad  of  Charity. 

Jounced,  smitten,  enamoured. 

Journey  (turf).  The  sense  in 
which  this  word  is  used  on  the 
turf  seems  rather  derived  from 
the  French  journie  than  from 
the  English  journey.  "  It  is  not 
his  journei/,"  means  "  it  is  not 
his  day." 


Journeyman  soul-saver  (popular), 
a  Scripture-reader ;  one  of  the 
subordinate  staff  of  the  garri- 
son chaplains  or  other  religious 
minister  who  is  only  a  journey- 
man or  casual  performer. 

Jower  (American),  a  negro  ex- 
pression for  "jaw,"  talking,  and 
quarrelling. 

Wunst  erpon  a  time  de  creeters  spate 
an'  jower  so  much  mungst  deysefs,  and 
hab  so  many  onpleasan'nesses  dat  dey 
'elude  ter  'leek  er  Jedge  ter  'cide  all  dish 
yer  bickyin'  (bickering)  an'  rucksuin'  fer 
dem. — De  Lection/er  Jedge. 

Jowl-sucking  (popular),  kissing. 

J. P.,  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Vul- 
garly a  Joe  Poke,  or  a  Harman- 
beck  in  old  slang. 

Juba,   Cudjo,  Quashee,  Jumbo. 

&c.  (American).  There  are  seven 
of  these  names  in  all  given  to 
negroes.  The  reason  why  they 
were  once  so  common  is  that  in 
the  countries  near  the  Guinea 
coast  every  negro  bears  the 
name  of  the  day  of  the  week 
on  which  he  was  born.  King 
CoiTee  of  Dahomey,  as  he  was 
called,  was  really  Cuffee.  He 
was,  in  full,  Cuffee  Calcalli.  It 
was,  doubtless,  some  knowledge 
of  this  fact  which  induced  Defoe 
to  christen  Robinson  Crusoe's 
man  Friday  as  he  did. 

"  Juha  is  a  negro  dance  con- 
sisting in  keeping  time  by  strik- 
ing the  feet  on  the  floor,  and 
clapping  the  hands  on  the  legs 
to  the  music  of  the  banjo" 
(Bartlett).i 


Jubilee — Jug. 


509 


Quassia  is  so  called  from  a 
negro  named  Quashee,  who  first 
made  it  known  to  white  men. 
The  French  have  the  name 
"  Bamboula"  (from  a  dance)  for 
a  negro. 

Jubilee,  a  new  term  for  the  be- 
hind, invented  by  the  staff  of 
the  Sporting  Times  or  Bird  o 
Freedom. 

Young  Savile  Civility  had  bought  the 
thing  the  day  before,  a  beastly  toy,  made 
to  look  like  a  penny  roll,  with  a  mouse  on 
a  wire  spring  inside.  The  laugh  was  all 
on  his  side  till  he  felt  his  daddy's  old 
slipper  beating  on  his  jztbilee  with  the 
rhythmic  precision  of  the  waves  upon  the 
wild  sea-shore. — Bird  0'  Freedom. 

Juckel,  joakel,  jucko  (gypsy),  a 
dog.  Evidently  from  jackal. 
When  the  gypsies  came  to 
Europe,  they  gave  the  names  of 
animals  to  which  they  were  ac- 
customed to  those  resembling 
them.  Thus  they  called  a  swan 
a  sakku  or  pelican,  and  an  ele- 
phant is  in  their  language  a 
horo  ndkengro  gry,  a  large-nosed 
horse.  It  is  remarkable  that 
the  gypsies  did  not  take  a  Hindu 
word  in  this  instance. 

"  Jackal  is  not  apparently 
Anglo-Indian,  being  taken  from 
the  Turkish  chakdl.  But  the 
Persian  shagdl  is  close,  and  the 
Sanskrit  srigdla,  the  howler,  is 
probably  the  first  form.  The 
common  Hindu  word  is  gidar" 
(Anglo-Indian  Glossary). 

Judge  and  jury  (tailors),  sham 
trials  for  offences  real  or  ima- 
ginary, having  but  one  object  in 
view — beer. 


Judge,  the  (American  cadets), 
the  man  who  is  the  most  popular 
with  his  fellow  cadets. 

Judy  (American),  a  simpleton, 
silly,  donkey,  a  fooL 

The  commonly  common  council  yester- 
day had  a  bowl  of  punch  down  at  the 
Island,  and  they  all  ma.de/udies  of  them- 
selves— as  usual.  The  Doctor  was  present, 
and  the  Chief  of  Police,  with  whose  aid 
they  raised  the  devil,  so  that  none  of  the 
dramaiis  J>erson(E  were  wanting. — Phila- 
delphia Sunday  Paper. 

It  was  said  of  a  man  who 
was  a  convert  to  Judaism,  that 
Punch  and  Judyism  would  be 
more  in  his  line  ;  but  it  is 
doubtful  whether  these  words 
indicate  the  origin  of  the  term. 
As  it  seems  to  be  New  York  by 
birth,  it  is  possible  that  it  owes 
something  to  the  Dutch  jool, 
which  means  quite  the  same 
thing. 

Jug  (old),  a  term  of  contempt 
applied  to  a  woman. 

Hark  ye,  don't  you  marry  that  ill-man- 
nered y«i''. — Centlivre:  Platonic  Lady. 

(Common),  a  simpleton,  a 
prison  ;  a  contraction  of  stone 

Don't  you  fancy  the  "  Hunemployed  "  bun- 
kum has  nobbled  me  ;  not  such  a  mug  ! 

And  as  for  O'Brien  and  his  breeches,  I'm 
glad  the  fool's  fairly  mj'ug. 

No,  no,  law  and  border's  my  motter,  but 
wen  a  spree's  on  'Arry's  there  ; 

And  I  thought,  like  a  lot  of  the  swells,  I 
should  find  one  that  day  in  the  Square. 
— Punch. 

To  jug  a  person,  to  imprison 
him.  The  writer  remembers 
a    joke,    in    connection    with 


510 


J^g — Jumper. 


this  expression,  made  by  a 
foreign  gentleman  in  the  pre- 
sence of  Stuart  Mill,  who  was 
then  seeking  to  bring  Governor 
Eyre  to  justice  for  his  share 
in  the  Jamaica  massacre.  "  To 
jug  your  hare,"  he  said,  "you 
must  first  catch  him." 

Juggins  (sporting),  an  aspirant, 
usually  young,  and  always  more 
largely  provided  with  money 
than  with  brains.  The  lawful 
and  longed-for  prey  of  the  turf 
sharper. 

I  never  lured  ^.juggiiis  on 
To  pigeon  or  billiard  match. 

— Sporting  Times. 

The  appellation,  which  is  of 
recent  origin,  is  never  regarded 
as  complimentary.  In  common 
use,  with  the  meaning  of  simple- 
ton, fool ;  a  form  of  jug. 

"  Why  don't  he  get  the  policeman," 
as1<ed  Peter,  "who  is  standing  there,  to 
help  him?  " 

"  Because  he  is  standing  on  the  sove- 
reign, you  juggins." 

And  a  lifelong  friendship  was  again  dis- 
turbed.— Sporting  Titiies. 

That's  a  motion,  old  man,  you  may  carry, 
When  Toffdom  and  Gladstone  jine  hands, 
And   you    may  make  a  fair  juggins  of 
Harry. 

— Punch. 

This  term  is  also  used  in 
America. 

I'm   not   such  a  juggins  as   I   look,   my 
friends. 
Though  I  may  be  soft  and  balmy  ; 
They   tell   me   I'm   a   goose,  and   all  my 
tiles  are  loose, 
But  there's  bigger  fools  than  me  in  the 
army. 

— BroaAside  Ballad. 


Jug  loops  (popular),  explained  by 
quotation. 

Even  the  hair  and  whiskers  of  the  cos- 
termongers,  like  that  of  more  civilised  folk, 
used  to  be  governed  by  fashion.  Some- 
times/Kg-  loops  (the  hair  brought  straight 
on  to  the  temples,  and  turned  under)  would 
be  the  rage,  another  season  "  terrier  crop  " 
would  be  the  style.  —  Greenwood:  The 
Little  Ragamuffins. 

Jiikalo,  JQcko  (gypsy),  a  dog. 

Jumbaree  (theatrical)  jewellery. 

Jump  (thieves),  a  window.  Vide 
Back -JUMP.  Used  also  in 
America  and  Australia. 

Jump  down  (Canadian),  the  con- 
fines of  civilisation.  The  idea 
involved  is  well  put  in  the  fol- 
lowing quotation. 

We  started  for  Brandon  in  the  first 
train  that  would  carry  passengers  to  that 
new  city,  which  in  the  September  of  1881 
was  what  is  colonially  known  as  the  jump 
dozuH,  that  is,  the  last  place  that  is  in 
course  of  erection  on  the  outskirts  of  what 
is  called  civilised  life,  and  upon  leaving 
which  you  at  once  jump  down  into  the 
open  gulf  of  unsettledom. — A.  Staveley 
Hill:  From  Home  to  Home. 

Jumped-up  (popular),  conceited, 
arrogant  (Hotten). 

Jumper  (popular),  short  smock- 
frock  worn  by  labourers,  navvies, 
&c.  Also  a  short  external  duck- 
frock  worn  by  sail-makers,  arti- 
ficers, and  riggers  to  preserve 
the  clothing  beneath.  (Ame- 
rican), a  rude  sleigh  made  of 
saplings,  or  rough  poles,  with 
the  ends  turned  up.  They  cost 
very  little,  but  are  very  useful. 


Ju  mpers — Jumps. 


511 


(Military),  white  canvas  frock 
worn  by  the  men  at  gun-drill. 
Also  patrol  jacket  worn  by 
gunners. 

Jumpers  (American  thieves),  men 
that  rob  houses  by  entering 
windows. 

Jumping  a  claim  (American),  ob- 
taining anything  by  fraud  or 
stratagem.  Originally  a  West- 
ern expression,  signifying  an 
attempt  to  oust  a  squatter  or 
settler  on  new  country,  such 
having  by  law  and  custom  a  first 
claim  on  the  land.  It  has  now 
come  into  general  use. 

Jumping  Moses !  (popular),  an 
exclamation,  probably  of  Ameri- 
can origin. 

Jumping  off  (turf),  one  of  the 
earliest  and  most  important 
accomplishments  with  which  a 
two-year-old  can  be  indoctrin- 
ated. In  these  days  of  short 
distance  races,  a  horse  which 
has  not  been  taught  to  "jump 
off,"  i.e.,  to  begin  at  a  high  rate 
of  speed,  has  but  a  poor  chance 
with  those  properly  instructed 
in  the  art.  Therefore,  as  soon 
as  a  colt's  education  has  so  far 
progressed  that  he  has  learnt 
to  obey  tl^e  touch  of  the  rider's 
hand  as  to  walking,  trotting,  or 
cantering,  his  lessons  in  jumping 
off  begin.  He  soon  learns  how 
to  use  his  muscles  for  a  sudden 
spring,  and  becomes  as  quick 
on  his  legs  as  a  cat. 

Jumping  off  place  (American), 
the  end  of  the   world.     From 


an  old  story  of  a  man  who  tra- 
velled till  he  came  to  a  precipice 
which  bounded  the  world. 

Jumping  over  the  fat  pot  (thea- 
trical), a  stipulation  made  in  the 
days  gone  by,  that  all  engaged 
should  assist  (as  the  music  in 
Macbeth,  Pizarro,  Rob  Roy, 
Dance  in  Honeymoon,  God  save 
the  Queen,  &c.)  in  the  old-fash- 
ioned pantomime  Man  in  the 
Moon  (now  called  the  Shadow 
Pantomime).  When  gas  even 
was  not  convenient  (Richard- 
son's show),  the  light  was  got 
by  a  large  flame  of  burning  fat, 
behind  the  sheet,  and  all,  each 
and  every  one,  had  to  contribute 
his  share  of  the  work,  and  many 
a  time  the  awkward,  spiteful,  or 
half-drunken  have  knocked  it 
over,  not  jumping  high  enough, 
and  so  finished  the  performance. 

Jumping  up  (tailors),  getting  the 
best  of  one,  or  the  reverse. 

Jump  off  (American).  This  phrase 
is  thus  explained. 

Now  and  again  the  broad  stem  of  a 
fallen  giant  gives  you  150  feet  of  splendid 
wooden  road  ;  but  arrived  at  the  end,  you 
find  you  have  been  gradually  ascending 
and  now  stand  on  what  the  Americans 
would  call  a  jump  off,  with  a  mass  of 
brush  below  you,  hiding  in  all  probability 
a  collection  of  lop,  or  .1  pitfall  which,  com- 
ing at  the  bottom  of  such  a  jump,  would 
end  your  ramble  for  that  day. — Phillipps- 
IVolUy :  Trottings  of  a  Tenderfoot. 

Jumps  (popular),  to  have  the 
jumps,  the  delirium  tremens ; 
also  used  in  the  sense  of  a 
craze,  as  "  He's  got  the  Jubilee 


512 


Jump. 


jumps"  he's  gone  crazed  about 
the  Jubilee. 

"  Now  then,  first  boy,  tell  me  what  beer 
is  made  from." 
"  Hops." 

"  How  do  you  know  that  ?" 
"  'Cos  it  gives  you  the  ju/ti/s." 
He  went  down  to  the   bottom  of  the 
class,  but  there  is  a  bright  future  before 
him,  nevertheless. — Sporting  Times. 

Jump  the  game,  to  (American). 
In  gambling  or  poker  slang  to 
raid  a  gambling  den  by  the 
police  (C.  Leland  Harrison's 
MS.  Collection  of  American- 
isms). 

Jump,  to,  to  cheat,  to  steal.  This 
word  is  used  in  England,  but 
is  more  common  in  the  United 
States.  During  the  great  civil 
war  it  obtained  great  currency 
in  connection  with  the  impu- 
dent frauds  of  the  mercenary 
adventurers — mostly  newly-ar- 
rived Irish  immigrants  —  who 
enlisted  in  the  Federal  armies 
for  the  conquest  of  the  South, 
and  received  large  sums  as 
bounty-money,  varying  from  two 
hundred  and  fifty  to  a  thou- 
sand dollars,  according  to  the 
needs  of  the  State,  and  de- 
serted within  a  few  days  after 
receiving  it,  and  played  the  same 
game  in  a  distant  city,  some- 
times repeating  the  process  as 
many  as  half-a-dozen  or  a  dozen 
times.  These  evaders  were 
called  "  bounty  jumpers."  To 
jump  a  claim,  in  the  partiaUy- 
settled  districts  of  the  great 
West,  is  to  fraudulently  attempt 
to  dispossess  a  squatter  who  has 


the  right  of  occupancy  from 
having  first  settled  upon  the 
land. 

One  morning  his  rich  "claim,"  of  which 
the  fame  had  spread,  was  jumped — two 
men  had  literally  jumped  into  his  pit,  and 
he  found  them  there  when  he  came. — H. 
L.  Williams:  In  the  Wild  West. 

The  word  was  used  by  Shak- 
speare  in  the  famous  passage 
wherein  Macbeth  communes 
with  himself  on  the  expediency 
of  murdering  Duncan  (Macbeth, 
Act  i.,  sc.  7). 

"  If  the  assassination 
Could  trammel  up  the  consequence,  and 

catch, 
With  his  surcease,  success  ;  that  but  this 

blow 
Might  be  the  be-all  and  the  end-all  here, 
But  here,  upon  this  bank  and  slioal  of 

time, — 
We'd  jump  the  life  to  come." 

The  word  is  stiU  used  by  the 
lowest  classes  in  London,  in 
America,  and  Australia,  among 
whom  "to  jump  a  crib"  signifies 
to  rob  a  house  ;  and  "  to  jump  a 
bloke  "  signifies  either  to  cheat 
him,  violently  plunder  him,  ill- 
treat,  or  seize. 

Anyhow,  Doe  Gilpin,  the  marshal, 
jumped  him.  I  was  right  there  when 
they  met. — F.  Francis  :  Saddle  and  Moc- 
casin. 

"Sauter"  is  used  in  French 
in  the  same  sense  —  "faire  le 
saut  d'une  chose,  est  voler,  ou 
escamoter  une  chose."  (Popu- 
lar), to  jump,  to  copulate.  In 
French  sauter. 

(Cape  settlers),  to  jump,  to 
i^teal.  An  English  officer  camp- 
ing out  was  told  to  take  care 


Jump — Juwatib. 


513 


they  did  not  jump  his  candle- 
stick. (Australian  popular),  to 
supplant  in,  to  take.  The  dif- 
ference between  jump  and 
"shake"  is  that  "shake"  im- 
plies stealing,  and  j'ump  does  not. 
A  thief  "  shakes  "  your  watch  ; 
but  if  you  take  a  seat  in  a  rail- 
way-carriage, or  on  a  coach  that 
is  engaged  by  some  one  else, 
you  are  only  jumping  it.  It 
was  a  joke  against  a  crustacean 
bachelor,  an  editor  of  a  weU- 
known  journal  in  a  Murray 
township,  that  he  had  jumped 
a  baby,  the  fact  being  that  in 
the  year  of  the  great  flood  a 
baby,  alive  and  kicking,  and 
enshrined  in  a  gin -case,  had 
been  deposited  by  the  waters 
on  the  verandah-roof  just  under 
his  bedroom  window. 

(Medical),  to  try  a  dangerous 
medicine. 

Jump-up-behind,  to  (common),  to 
endorse  an  accommodation  bill 
(Hotten). 

Junk  dealer  (American),  one  who 
sells  marine  and  old  stores. 

B.  M.  Koppler,  a  junk  dealer,  was 
arrested  by  Officer  Rice  yesterday,  charged 
with  stealing  lead-pipe. — St.  Louis  Re- 
publican. 

Junketting  (nautical),  good  cheer 
and  jollification ;  from  a  pro- 
vincialism. 

Jur'iit,  to  (Winchester  CoUege), 
to  rejoice  over.     "  Junkit  over 


you"  is  not  a  very  charitable 
way  of  saying,  I  would  not  be 
in  your  place.  Junkit  is  from  a 
provincialism  meaning  a  merry- 
making. 

Juries  (costermongers),  assertions, 
professions.  "  We  deals  fair  to 
aU  that's  fair  to  us — and  that's 
more  than  many  a  tradesman 
does,  for  all  their  jurUa." 

Jurk,  jark  (old  cant),  a  seal. 
Still  current  among  thieves  in 
America. 

Just  what  you're  doing  (Ameri- 
can), a  peculiar  expression, 
often  used  in  conversation, 
meaning  that  the  subject  in 
hand  is  of  importance.  "When 
you  have  a  horse  like  that  in 
hand  you  can't  attend  to  any- 
thing else  but  just  what  you're 
doing."  This  was  accidentally 
overheard  at  the  Langham 
Hotel,  London. 

Put  all  your  dynamite  into  jztst  what 
you're  a  doing;,  whatever  you  do,  and 
you'll  do  ! — Waihington  Courier. 

Juva,  commonly  juvo  (gypsy),  a 
wife,  woman.  Properly  a  young 
woman  ( Persian  juva). 

Juwaub  (Anglo-Indian),  a  refusal, 
literally  in  Hindostani  an  answer. 
If  a  gentleman  proposes  to  a 
lady,  and  is  refused,  he  is  said 
to  he  jutcauled. 


2  K 


514 


Kady — Keg. 


ADY.    Ftrfc  Cady. 


If  you  want  to  buy  a  kady 
in  Paris,  you  roust  go  to 
modes. — Snorting  Tinus. 


Kaffir  (popular  and  Yiddish),  a 
prostitute's  bully.  Yiddish  and 
Arabic,  kafir^  an  infidel,  a  country 
boor. 

Kanaka  (colonial),  explained  by 
quotation. 

The  kanaka,  is  a  chocolate-complexioned 
importation  from  the  South  Sea  Islands, 
sometimes  equitably  hired,  fairly  treated 
and  paid,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the 
contract  duly  sent  back  to  his  or  her 
native  country. — Daily  TeUsraph. 

Kana-man  (pidgin),  cannon-naan, 
i.e.,  artillerist. 

Kanatnan,  he  gun  go  bangy, 
Some  get  shootee,  some  be  hangy. 
Many  lebel  head  get  choppy, 
Samee  garden-man  cut  poppy. 
Empelor  hab  got  de  day, 
Alio  Tai-ping  lunny  way. 

— Ah-Fun. 

Kanits  (back  slang),  a  stink. 

Kanitseeno  (back  slang),  a  stink- 
ing one. 

Karibat  (Anglo-Indian),  food,  lite- 
rally rice  and  curry. 

Karimption  (American),  a  party, 
a  set  of  people,  a  crowd,  im- 
plying unity,  relationship,  or 
nationality.  As  i-tion  occurs  as 
postfix  to  other  words,  e.f}., 
"gumption,"  "conniption,"  it 
may  have  been  added  in  this 
case  to  the  German-Hebrew 
word  karim  or  krauiclin  (plural), 
relations,  or  the  related. 


A  whole  karimption  of  Dutch  emigrant* 
were  landed  here  yesterday. — BartUtt  : 
Cairo  {Illinois)  Times. 

Kate  (American  thieves),  a  smart, 
brazen  -  faced  giil  or  woman. 
Kat,  Dutch  slang,  a  bad  woman. 

Katey  (American  thieves),  a  pick- 
lock. 

K.D.  (printers),  abbreviation  of 
the  words  keep  dark,  i.e.,  "  don't 
say  anything  about  it." 

Keel-hauling  (common),  a  scold- 
ing, accompanied  by  personal 
chastisement.  From  the  old 
nautical  custom  of  punishing 
offenders  by  throwing  them 
overboard  with  a  rope  attached, 
and  hauling  them  up  from 
under  the  ship's  keeL 

Not  a  blessed  mag !  Hes  Sail  Grab- 
ham  been  a  kfel-hauling  of  yer  agen  ? — 
Savage  London. 

Keel  over,  to  (popular).  People 
are  said  to  keel  over  when  by 
some  misfortune  or  other  cause 
they  come  to  grief  in  their 
undertakings  or  plans,  as  of  a 
vessel  "keel  up."  "To  go 
up  the  spout,"  "  to  be  dead 
broke,"  "to  be  stumped,"  are 
some  of  the  innumerable  syno- 
nymous expressions  for  the  same 
idea.  The  expression  is  com- 
mon in  America. 

He  goes  sw.irining  along  like  the  devil. 
With  a  cutw.nter  o^er  the  bay  ; 

But  though  now  h-  is  perfectly  level, 
Vou'U  see  him  keel  07'er  some  day. 
— Song  o/  a  Swell. 

Keg  (American),  capacity  to  hold 
gtomach. 


Keen — Keep. 


515 


I  met  him  going  along  with  his  head 
down,  like  he  was  drunk.  We'd  been 
having  a  time,  and  my  keg  was  pretty  full 
too. — F.  Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 


Keen  (American  cadet),  a  humor- 
ous story,  a  joke. 

Keen  on  (common),  intent  on, 
having  great  liking  for,  being 
in  love  with. 

Keep  a  hotel,  to  (American),  a 
phrase  intimating  administra- 
tive capacity.  It  is  almost  uni- 
versally expressed  in  the  nega- 
tive, "  He  can't  keep  a  hottl." 
The  origin  of  it  was  as  follows. 
About  twenty-five  years  ago  a 
man  named  Lynch,  banjo  per- 
former in  a  negro  minstrel 
troupe,  lost  his  overcoat  in  a 
hotel  in  Vicksburg,  Mississippi. 
As  the  landlord  refused  to  pay 
him  for  it,  he  revenged  himself 
for  a  long  time  after  by  a  humor- 
ous dialogue  in  which  the  land- 
lord was  mentioned,  and  all  his 
minor  good  qualities  were  faith- 
fully enumerated,  but  which 
were  neutralised  by  the  other 
interlocutor,  who  drawled  out, 
"  Ya-as — but  he  ca-ant  keep  a 
ho-td ! "  The  expression  is  still 
current. 

Keep  a  pig,  to  (Oxford),  to  have 
a  lodger.  A  man  whose  rooms 
contain  two  bedchambers  has 
sometimes,  when  his  college  is 
full,  to  allow  the  use  of  one 
of  them  to  a  freshman,  who 
is  called  under  these  circum- 
stances a  "pig."     The  original 


occupier  is  then  said  to  keep  a 
pig  (Hotten). 

Keep  cave,  to  (Eton),  explained 
by  quotation. 

Crib-fagging  required  two  lower  boys, 
for  whilst  one  sat  and  read,  another  had 
to  mount  gtiard  in  the  passage  or  on  the 
staircase,  to  keep  cave,  that  is,  to  give 
warning  by  a  whistle  if  he  should  descry  our 
tutor  on  the  prowl. — BrinsUy  Richards: 
Seven  Years  at  Eton. 

Cave  is  of  course  the  Latin 
word. 

Keep  dark,  to  (English  and  Ame- 
rican).    Vide  Daek. 

Keep  sloom  (tailors),  keep  quiet 
(stockcutter's  expression). 

Keep  that  dry  (American),  keep 
that  concealed,  secret. 

But  don't  let  it  enter  into  your  heart. 
Never  let  them  get  a  chance  at  your  senti- 
ment ;  keep  that  dry. — F.  Francis :  Saddle 
and  Moccasin. 

Keep  your  eyes  skinned  (West 
American),  keep  your  eyes  open, 
be  watchful. 

If  you  have  any  business  to  attend  to, 
you'd  best  go  right  along  and  do  it.  Keep 
your  eyes  skinned,  of  course,  but  don't  stay 
home. — F.  Francis ;  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

The  English  in  the  island  cast  in  their 
lot  with  sugar,  and  if  sugar  is  depressed 
they  lose  heart.  Americans  keep  their 
eyes  skinned,  as  they  call  it,  to  look  out 
for  othci  openings. — J.  A.  Froude :  Tht 
English  in  the  West  Indies. 

Keep  your  hair  on.     Vide  Haib. 

Keep  your  pecker  up  (common), 
do  not  lose  heart.    Pecker  is  the 


516 


Keep — Kettle. 


month.    From  pecker,  a  bird's 
biU. 

Each  one  is  carefully  guarded  to  the 
door  by  a  policeman,  and  a  voice  may  be 
heard  crying  out,  /Cee^  your  pecker  np, 
George,  or  'Arry. — Diprose :  London  Life. 

Keep  your  weather  eye  lifting 
(nautical),  keep  a  sharp  look- 
out. 

Keffel  (American  thieves),  a  horse. 
From  the  German  keppd. 

Kelter  (thieves),  money.  Pro- 
bably from  gdt.     Vide  GiLT. 

Keraesa.     Vide  Camesa. 

Ken  (thieves),  a  place,  house. 

Nancy  shall  go  to  the  ken,  and  fetch  it  to 
make  all  sure. — Dickens  ■  Oliver  Twist. 

Also  a  bed. 

Trim  a  ken  for  the  gentry  cove. — 
Disraeli:  Venetia. 

From  khana,  khan,  gypsy  and 
Oriental.  This  word  generally 
has  a  prefix,  as  "  boozing-toi," 
"speel-A:en,"  &c. 

Ken-cracker,  or  ken-miller 
(thieves),  a  housebreaker. 

Kennedy  (St.  Giles),  a  blow  on 
the  head  inflicted  with  a  poker, 
supposed  to  be  derived  from  the 
name  of  a  man  who  was  killed 
in  that  manner,  in  an  encounter 
among  Irish  roughs  in  one  of 
the  slums  of  London.  Compare 
the  expressions  derived  from 
proper  names:  to  "burke,"  to 
"  boycott,"  and  the  French 
"  watriniser  "  {vide  Barr^re's 
"  Argot  and  Slang  "). 


Kennurd  (back  slang),  drunk. 

Kent  rag  (popular),  a  cotton 
handkerchief. 

Kerb-stone  broker  (common),  an 
outsider,  unofficial  stockbroker. 

Kerflop  (American),  another  form 
of  "  kerslap,  kesouse,  keslosh, 
keswosh,  kewosh,  keswollop," 
and  similar  onomatopoetic 
words  expressive  of  the  falling 
of  stones  or  the  jumping  of 
frogs  into  water. 

It  was  a  treat  to  hear  him  sling  it  blindly 
around,  prefixing  adjective  after  adjective 
to  it  as  he  did  so,  until  with  the  accu- 
mulated weight  and  impulse,  he  at  last 
brought  the  whole  tautological  string  down 
kerflop,  full  and  fairly,  upon  the  devoted 
crown  of  his  auditor. — F,  Francis:  Sad- 
dle and  Moccasin. 

Kerr'b  to,  (tinker),  to  hit,  strike, 
punch. 

My  name  is  Barney  MacAfee, 

With  my  borers  and  jumpers  (tinker's  tools) 

down  to  my  thee  (thigh), 
An'  it's  forty  miles  I've  come  to  kerr'b  yer 

pee  (punch  your  face).  • 

—  Tinker's  Song. 

Kerslap  (American),  a  word  ex- 
pressive of  falling  flat  on  the 
ground,  straight  onward,  ahead. 

Other  people  was  sinful  as  they  could 
be,  but  Shakers  was  all  right.  Shakers 
was  all  goin'  kerslap  to  the  Promist  Land, 
and  nobody  wan't  goin"  to  stand  at  the 
gale  to  bar  'em  out,  an  if  they  did  they'd 
git  run  over.  —  A  rteiiius  Ward  :  The 
Shakers. 

Kettle  (thieves),  a  watch  ;  red 
kettle,  gold  watch. 


Kettle — Kicking. 


517 


Two  red  kettles  a  week  will  bring  in 
about  four  pounds.  ITiis  is  better  than 
getting  three  shillings  a-day  for  slaving. — 
Evening  News. 

(Nautical),   iron    or  ironclad 
vessels. 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  the  three 
torpedo  cruisers  .  .  .  have  been  in  the 
contractors'  hands  for  the  past  ten  months, 
and  that  all  kinds  of  expedients  have  been 
resorted  to.  .  .  .  The  inexpressibly  ludi- 
crous plan  of  applying  "  poultices  "  to  their 
kettles  is  now  being  tested. — Society. 

Kettledrum  (society),  an  after- 
noon tea-party. 

Kew  (back  slang),  a  week. 

Khana,  khan,  connah  (Anglo- 
Indian),  a  place  of  residence, 
or  store-room,  entertainment. 
Vide  BUERA  Khana. 

There  never  was  a  burra  khana  given 

yet  in  Ind 
Where  some  at  the  arrangement  of  the 

pairs  were  not  chagrined. 

— Aleph  Cheetn  :  Lays  of  Ind. 

Khubber  (Anglo-Indian),  news, 
especially  sporting  news  (Ara- 
bic, Persian,  Hind.,  khabar). 

There  is  pucka  (good,  real)  khubber  of  a 
tiger  this  morning. — Anglo-Indian  Glos- 
sary. 

Kibosh  (English  and  Yiddish), 
nonsense,  rubbish,  or  humbug. 

Then  he  sez,  "  'Arry's  always  a  Ix)ndoner." 

Shows  'Arry  aint  no  bad  judge. 
"  Wot  the  crokkerdile  is  to  the  Nile  'Arry 

is  to  the  Thames."   Well,  that's  fudge. 
That's  a   ink-slinger's   try  on   at   patter. 

Might  jest  as  well  call  me  a  moke. 
Try  another,  young  man  ;   this  is  kibosh 

purtending  to  pass  for  a  joke. 

— Punch. 


"  To  put  on  the  kibosh,"  to 
run  down,  slander,  degrade. 
To  put  the  kibosh  on  anything 
is  latterly  to  put  an  effectual 
stop  or  end  to  it.  In  this  sense 
it  is  apparently  derived  from 
the  Yiddish  kabas,  v.a.,  kdbbasten, 
to  restrain,  suppress,  hold,  put 
a  stop  to.  In  the  common  pro- 
nunciation the  word  is  often 
sounded  kabash. 

Kick  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
pocket. 

Our  old  friend  .  .  .  says  they  are  ruin- 
ous to  the  kick. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 
So  I  put  on  the  hug,  and  then  all  in  the 

dark, 
I  rifled  his  kick  of  his  shiners  so  fine. 
— greenwood :  A  Night  in  a  Work- 
house. 

Kick  is  probably  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  iict-pocket  {vide  KiCKS), 
like  sty-pocket,  short  for  sky- 
rocket. (Common),  explained 
by  quotation. 

The  kick,  or  sixpence,  at  a  hint, 
From  Demos  is  withdrawn  in  haste. 
— Funny  Folks. 

In  a  kick,  in  a  moment.  (West 
American),  a  grudge. 

I  haven't  got  any  kick  against  Don  Juan. 
He  has  treated  us  like  a  gentleman. — F. 
Francis :  Saddle  and  Moccasin. 

Kickeraboo  (West  Indies),  a  cor- 
ruption of  the  expression  to  "kick 
the  bucket."    Yide  Bucket. 

Kicking  at  waist  (tailors),  an 
unsightly  fault  at  waist  in  a 
coat,  "  out  of  balance." 

Kicking  for  the  boot  (tailors), 
asking  for  money. 


5i8 


Kicking — Kid. 


Kicking  for  trade  (tailors),  apply- 
ing for  work. 

Kicking  strap  (tailors),  an  elastic 
strap  inside  a  habit  skirt. 

Kicks,  kicksters,  kicksies  (popu- 
lar and  thieves),  breeches, 
trousers.  From  a  metaphor 
similar  to  that  which  gave  the 
synonymous  "hams,"  "trolly- 
wags." 


Kick  the  bucket,  to. 

KET. 


Vide  Buc- 


Kick  the  stuffing  out  of  one,  to 

(American),  to  ill-treat  a  per- 
son, or  to  take  the  wind  out  of 
another's  sails ;  to  get  the  better 
of  one. 

I  am  informed  that,  judged  by  the 
standard  of  success,  the  "  ideal "  news- 
paper is  the  one  that  whoops  its  own  side 
to  the  top  of  the  pole  and  kicks  the  stuffing 
out  of  the  other  fellow.  —  New  York 
World. 

Kick,  to  (Australian  popular), 
an  abbreviation  for  "  kick  the 
bucket,"  or  for  "  at  his  last 
kick." 

Kick,  to  have  the  (sporting),  to 
have  luck.  From  a  football 
phrase. 

Kick  up  (common),  ceremony, 
proceedings  of  a  noisy  nature. 

Were  not  Her  Majesty's  subjects  from 
all  ends  of  the  earth  coming  to  see  the 
show,  and  take  part  in  the  kick  up  ? — 
Punch. 

Kick  Up  a  row,  to  (common),  to 
make  or  cause  a  disturbance. 


Charley  dined,  took  his  pen  and  sign'd  ; 
Then  Mob  kicked  over  his  throne  from 

behind  ! 
"  Huzza  !  Huzza  I  we  may  scamper  now  I 
For  here  we've  kicked  up  a  jolly  good 

row!" 

— Ingoldsby  Legends. 

Kid  (popular,  very  common  in 
London),  a  swell,  a  masher.  A 
Londoner  meeting  another  very 
smartly  dressed,  says,  "  What  a 
kid  we  are,"  or  the  smartly 
dressed  man  might  say,  "Ain't 
I  an  awful  hid  to-day?"  The 
"  dude  "  and  the  "  masher  "  are 
really  well-dressed  people,  the 
Icid  is  rather  a  smartly  dressed 
person  ;  also  a  policeman. 

Every  one  of  the  urchins  knows  the 
School-board  officer  by  instinct,  and  abhors 
him  even  more  than  their  ancient  terror, 
the  bobby,  copper,  kid,  or  policeman. 
—  Thar  Fredur:  Sketches  from  Shady 
Places. 

Kid,  cheese ;  kid  hard,  synony- 
mous with  "hard  cheese,"  "hard 
lines,"  no  luck  ;  a  child. 

My  eyes,  what  a  row  !  Sally  was  asleep, 
the  kids  were  asleep,  slavey  was  asleep. — 
Ez'ening  News. 

"  Served  his  time  to  the  trade,"  returned 
the  Badger  coolly  ;  "  been  at  it  ever  since 
he  was  a  kid — so  high." — J.  Greenwood : 
Dick  Temple. 

(Popular  and  thieves),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

Now,  one  of  these  brother  boys  was  well 
known  for  his  kid,  that  is,  gammon  and 
devilry. — I/indley :  Life  and  .-idventures 
of  a  Cheap  Jack. 

Possibly  from  Anglo-Saxon 
cydhan,  to  declare,  make  known; 
the  primary  meaning  of  kid 
being  a  puffing  speech,  termed 
now  "  kidment,"  more  probably 


Kid. 


519 


from  "kidder,"  a  huckster,  the 
patter  of  a  huckster,  and  "gam- 
mon "  being  considered  synony- 
mous ;  compare  the  German 
hoken,  to  deceive,  "gammon;" 
from  hoken,  a  huckster.  Also 
deception,  humbug. 

I  was  not  a  little  surprised,  therefore, 
to  hear  one  of  them  remark,  in  the  unmis- 
takable language  of  a  Cockney  of  the 
slums,  that,  in  his  opinion,  it  was  all  kid. 
— J.  Greenwood :  Tag;  Rag,  cr'  Co. 

Kidd  or  kid  (thieves),  a  swindler. 
Vide  Kid. 

He  at  once  listened  to  the  jargon  of  the 
well-dressed  kidd,  who  hastened  to  ex- 
plain that  not  being  a  smoker  himself  he 
did  not  know  what  to  do  with  the  magnifi- 
cent lot  of  cigars  that  had  just  been  left 
him. —  Tit  Bits. 

Kiddily  (popular),  fashionably. 

Kiddleywink  (popular),  a  small 
shop  where  are  retailed  the 
commodities  of  a  village  store. 
Originally  a  kiddle-a-icink,  from 
the  offer  made,  with  a  wink,  to 
give  you  something  out  of  the 
kiddle  or  kettle.  In  the  West 
country,  an  ale-house.  Also  a 
woman  of  unsteady  habits 
(Hotten). 

Kiddy  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
boy. 

So  take  a  caution,  my  kiddy. — Green- 
wood: The  Little  Ragamuffins. 

Kiddy-ken  (thieves),  a  house  fre- 
quented by  mere  children,  girls 
and  boys.  During  the  past  two 
years  the  increase  of  profligacy 
among  "kids"  of  both  sexes 
has  been  very  great.     A  house 


recently  broken  up  (1887)  in 
London,  was  habitually  visited 
by  boys  and  girls  ;  two  of  the 
former,  who  were  very  well 
dressed,  and  who  appeared  to 
be  gentlemen's  sons,  were  only 
eight  and  ten  years  of  age, 
while  the  girls  were  of  corre- 
spondingly tender  years. 

Kidlet,  a  boy  or  girl. 

Kidment  (popular),  puffing  speech 
of  a  Cheap  Jack,  or  others. 
Humbug,  nonsense,  deceit,  de- 
ception.    Yide  Kid. 

Kidney  (Stock  Exchange),  a  frac- 
tional part  of  one  share.  A  cor- 
ruption of  a  man's  name  Cad- 
ney,  who  is  first  known  to  have 
dealt  under  ^\. 

Kidney  blow  (pugilistic),  a  blow 
planted  in  the  short  ribs,  in  the 
phraseology  of  the  ring  reporter. 
Often  a  backhander. 

Kid,  no  (popular),  no  joke,  seri- 
ously.  For  derivation  vide  Kid. 

Oh,  right  you  are,  chummie  I     I'm  single, 
you  bet,  though  I'm  turned  twenty- 
two, 
And  I've  'ad  lots  o'  chances,  I  tell  yer; 
fair  'ot  'uns,  old  man,  and  no  kid. 

— Punch. 

Kid  on,  to  (popular),  to  incite. 

Kid  oneself,  to  (popular),  to  fancy 
oneself,  to  be  conceited  of  a 
thing.  One  talks  of  a  man 
kidding  himself  on  his  moustache, 
or  a  woman  kidding  herself  on 
her  figure  or  her  costume. 


520 


Kid — Kinchin. 


Kid  rig,  or  kid  lay  (thieves), 
swindling,  kidnapping,  or  rob- 
bing children. 

Kidsman  (thieves),  one  who  trains 

boy  thiev6s. 

Kid,  to  (popular),  to  impose  in 
any  way,  pretend.     Vide  KiD. 

Relating  how  he  had  kidded  the  work- 
house authorities. — Greenwood:  Seven 
Curses  of  London. 

They've  turned  the  gas  out,  and  are 
kidding  to  play  Nap  just  to  make  me 
think  I've  gone  stone  blind. — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 

(Turf),  explained  by  quota- 
tion. 

What  do  you  mean  by  kidding  ? — It  is 
a  difficult  word  to  explain.  If  you  have 
got  a  good  horse,  and  allow  him  to  tumble 
about  just  as  he  pleases,  and  allow  the 
reins  to  hang  loose,  the  public  would  say 
that  he  was  doing  his  best,  but  others 
might  not  think  so.  That  would  be  kid- 
ding. .  .  . 

It  all  depends  on  the  arms,  then,  as  I 
understand  it? — Not  necessarily.  It  may 
depend  upon  the  legs,  and  all  sorts  of 
other  things. — Standard. 

A  kidding  horse,  a  shamming 
horse,  one  which  pretends  to 
be  afraid,  &c. 

Kil  (gypsy),  to  play  on  an  instru- 
ment, properly  kel. 

The  boshomongro  kiis,  he  ki/s, 
The  tani  rakli  gils,  she  gils. 

Now  shoon  the  Romany  gilli  ! 
I.e.,  "The  fiddler  fiddles,  the  little  girl 
sings.     Now  listen  to  the  gypsy  song  !" 
George  Borro^u:  Lavengro. 

Kill-ccw  (popular),  a  great 
boaster. 

Kill-devil  (American),  new  rum. 
The  rum  known  as  "New  Eng- 


land," when  new,  is  an  appalling 
beverage. 

Kill,  dressed  to  (American).  Yvdt 
Dressed  to  Kill. 

Killed  (tailors),  hopelessly  spoiled. 

Killock  (nautical),  given  by  Web- 
ster as  a  United  States  term 
for  small  anchor,  but  used  in 
England  with  the  meaning  of 
anchor.     Also  "  mud-hook." 

Kilt  (Irish),  well  beaten. 

Kilter  (American).  "  Out  of  kilter 
or  kedter,"  disordered,  ill,  out 
of  repair.  Dutch  keelterging, 
nausea,  "  provocation  of  the 
stomach  ; "  kelderziek,  crop-sick, 
&c.  This  is,  however,  a  doubt- 
ful derivation.  Possibly  from 
to  kilt,  to  tuck  up ;  so  that  "  out 
of  kilter"  would  literally  mean 
hanging  loosely,  hence  disor- 
dered. 

Kinchen  (popular  and  thieves),  a 
child.     From  the  German  kind- 

chen. 

Kinchen  morts  (thieves),  little 
girls  trained  to  prostitution. 

Kinchin  cove  (old  cant),  a  man 
who  kidnaps  children.  Also  a 
little  man. 

Kinchins'  lay  (thieves),  explained 
by  quotation. 

The  kinchins  ...  is  the  young  children 
that's  sent  on  errands  by  their  mothers, 
with  sixpences  and  shillings  ;  and  the  lay 
is  just  to  take  their  money  away — they've 
always  got  it  ready  in  their  hands. — 
Dickens:  Oliver  Twist. 


Kincoh — Kipsy. 


521 


Kincob  (Anglo-Indian),  a  term 
which  is  becoming  well  known 
in  England  for  gold-brocade. 
Persian-Hindu,  kinkhwoh.  For- 
merly called  khaTokbd,  and  known 
in  the  Middle  Ages  to  Europe  as 
camocca. 

Kinder  (American),  as  it  were, 
in  a  manner,  or  after  a  fashion. 
Kinder-sorter  (i  pronounced  as 
in  kind),  an  old  expression  very 
common  in  New  England. 

I  guess  I  kinder  heard  o'  that  before,  but 
I'm  like  my  old  man  ;  I  never  was  good 
at  rememberin'  names. — Boston  Courier. 

The  term  is  from  an  English 
provincialism  meaning  rather. 

Kindness  (popular),  a  favour  in 
the  way  of  enjoyment  of  the 
person  granted  by  a  woman  to 
one  of  the  other  sex,  or  indeed, 
the  other  way.  There  is  also 
a  proverb  of  some  standing— 
"  After  kissing  comes  greater 
kindness,"  and  in  this  sense  the 
word  is  still  in  vulgar  accept- 
ance. The  French  have  the  ex- 
pression, "  avoir  des  bont^s  pour 
un  homme." 

Kingsman  (costermongers),  ex- 
plained by  quotation. 

It  was  the  correct  thing  for  the  coster- 
monger,  whatever  branch  of  industry  lie 
might  pursue,  to  wear  round  his  throat — 
bunchy,  loosely  tied,  and  elegantly  care- 
less— a  very  large,  highly-coloured  silk 
pocket-handkerchief.  This  the  costermon- 
ger  calls  a  kingsman.^.  Greenwood:  The 
Little  Ragamuffins. 

Kink  (American),  a  fancy,  caprice, 
or  crotchet. 


The  very  newest  kink,  I  take  it,  is  a  re- 
vival of  the  Louis  XVI.  fashion.— CAtca^o 
Tribune. 

From  an  English  provincial- 
ism. In  Suffolk  a  rope  is  said 
to  kink  when  it  does  not  run  out 
even  from  its  coils. 

Kip  (popular  and  thieves),  a  bed. 
This  is  probably  an  abbrevia- 
tion of  kipsy,  basket.  French 
thieves  call  a  bed  pagne,  a  cor- 
ruption of  "panier,"  basket. 
Kip  had  formerly  the  signi^ca- 
tion  of  house  of  ill-fame,  and 
to  "tatter  a  kip"  signified  to 
wreck  one. 

Kip  house,  a  tramps'  or  vagrants' 

lodging-house. 

Kipsy  (thieves),  a  basket. 

"Wasn't  there  any  clobber?"  "Yes, 
there's  a  cartload."  So  he  said:  "Go 
and  get  a  ii/sy  full  of  it,  and  we  will  guy 
home." — Horsley :  Jottings  from  Jail. 

This  word  is  given  as  a  recog- 
nised term  by  a  dictionary  of 
the  first  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  The  form  kipe  is  still 
used  as  a  provincialism  for  an 
osier-basket  to  catch  fish.  It 
has  been  suggested  that  kipsy 
is  from  the  Old  English  or  Nor- 
man English  quipsure,  in  which 
case  kipe  would  only  be  an  ab- 
breviation of  the  primary  kipsy. 
But  again  kipe  is  traceable  to 
the  Anglo-Saxon  cepan,  to  catch. 
It  must  further  be  noted  that 
kipsy,  sometimes  kepsi,  is  gypsy 
for  basket  and  a  willow.  Kipsi- 
kosh,  willow  wood,  of  Indian 
origin. 


522 


Kip — Kite. 


Kip,  to  (popular  and  thieves),  to 
sleep  or  lodge.     Vide  KiPSY. 

Kirkling;  (thieves),  housebreaking 
on  Sunday  evening  by  finding  a 
house  which  has  been  left  un- 
tenanted while  the  occupants 
are  all  at  church  (or  kirk),  or 
the  servant  left  in  charge  en- 
ticed out. 

Kisky  (popular),  drunk. 

Kisser  (popular),  the  mouth. 

Kisses  (Stock  Exchange),  Hotch- 
kiss  Ordnance  Company  Shares. 

Kissing-trap  (popular),  the  mouth. 

The  off-side  of  his  kissing-trap 
Displays  an  ugly  mark  I 

— A /kin  :  House  Scraps. 

Kiss-me-quick  (common),  a  small 
ladies'  bonnet. 

Kiss,  to  (billiards),  said  of  balls 
in  close  contact. 

Kist  o'  whustles,  Scotch  Presby- 
terian for  organ. 

Kit  (popular),  the  whole  kit  of 
them,  synonymous  with  the 
"whole  gridiron,"  the  "whole 
boiling,"  i.e.,  all  the  party. 
(Old),  a  dancing-master.  From 
the  hit  or  small  fiddle  which 
he  uses  in  his  avocations. 

Kit  and  boodle  (American),  the 
total  or  whole  of  anything,  as 
the  entire  company.  Bartlett 
suggests  the  German  heutel,  a 
purse,  as  the  original  source  of 


hoodie,  or  "perhaps  the  old 
English  hottel,  a  bundle."  But 
as  it  is  a  New  York  word  its 
origin  is  to  be  sought  in  the 
Dutch  hoedel,  pronounced  hoodie 
(which  see),  meaning  property, 
or  anything  inherited. 

Kitcheners  (thieves),  thieves  who 
congregate  in  places  known  as 
thieves'  kitchens.  Mr.  Green- 
wood says  that  such  meeting 
places  for  the  dregs  and  out- 
casts of  society — whose  means 
of  living  is  a  mystery  to  every 
one  but  their  intimate  friends, 
and  who  are  seldom  seen  abroad 
until  the  shades  of  evening  have 
long  since  fallen— exist  within 
three  minutes'  walk  of  the 
Strand  and  within  two  minutes' 
of  Covent  Garden  —  in  Drury 
Lane  in  fact,  or  rather  in  some  of 
the  lanes  and  narrow  thorough- 
fares leading  out  of  that  main 
thoroughfare  into  Great  Queen 
Street. 

Kitchenite  (printers),  a  term  of 
contempt  for  the  hands  that 
frequent  the  kitchen  of  the 
Compositors'  Society  house — 
usually  those  on  the  provident 
fund,  that  prefer  the  small  relief 
given  to  honest  labour.  This 
term    does    not    apply  to    the 

"  genuine  unemployed,  but  only 
to  the  loafers. 

Kite  (popular),  a  fool ;  in  French 
husc.  (Common),  fictitious  com- 
mercial paper.  To  kite  or  fly 
a  kite,  to  raise  money  on  a  ficti- 
tious bill. 


Kite — Knife-boards. 


523 


Here's  bills  plenty— long  bills  and  short 
bills ;  but  even  the  kites,  which  I  can  fly 
as  well  as  any  man,  won't  raise  the  money 
for  me  now. — Miss  Edgcworth :  Love  and 
Laiv. 

Evidently  from  an  allusion  to 
a  Tcite,  formerly  termed  a  paper 
kite.  Flying  the  kite  is  meta- 
phorically putting  a  bill  in  cir- 
culation. In  America  fancy 
stocks  are  called  kites,  and  to 
kite  or  skite  means  roaming  from 
place  to  place,  going  about  rest- 
lessly. 

We  passed  eberyting  on    de    road— you 

ought  to  seen  us  kitin, 
Golly  I  we  had  a  gay  old  time  when  we 

went  to  Brighton. 

— A  tnerican  Song. 

Kiting  has  also  the  significa- 
tion of  going  about  and  specu- 
lating wildly. 

Kitties    (military),    the    Scots 
■  Guards  are  so  nicknamed. 

The  Duke  of  Cambridge  has  been  play- 
ing havoc  with  the  kitties,  not  the  "  kid- 
dies," as  Vatiity  Fair  has  it.  "The  kit- 
ties," we  explain  to  those  of  our  readers 
who  do  not  dine  with  dukes,  is  slang  for 
the  Scots  Guards. — The  Star. 

K  legs  (printers),  a  term  of  deri- 
sion applied  to  a  person  with 
knocked  -  knees,  or  otherwise 
"  shaky  on  the  pins,"  owing  to 
the  legs  being  apart  as  in  the 
lower  portion  of  a  capital  K. 

Klep  (popular),  a  thief ;  to  klep, 
to  steal.  From  kleptomania,  the 
meaning  of  which  is  now  well 
known  to  all  the  lower  classes 
who  read  the  police  news. 


Knacker  (common),  an  old  horse, 
fit  for  the  knacker. 

Knackers  (Stock  Exchange),  Har- 
rison, Barber  &  Company  Shares. 
(Butchers,  &c.),  the  testicles, 
also  "knuckers." 

Knapped  an  hot  'un  (prize  ring), 
got  a  hard  knock. 

Knapping-jigfger  (old  cant),  a 
turnpike  gate. 

Knap,  to  (thieves),  to  steal.  From 
to  knap,  to  bite  off,  break  short. 
Derived  from  the  Dutch  knap- 
pen,  to  bite,  take,  or  catch  hold 
of.  (Popular),  to  catch,  used  in 
the  phrase  "  Won't  he  knap  it !  " 
(Mountebanks  and  others),  to 
knap  the  slap,  to  catch  the  slap 
of  a  lathe  or  board. 

He  got  a  board  about  the  proper  size, 
but  too  thick,  and  with  it  so  belaboured 
the  people  on  his  concern  that  he  laid 
some  of  them  up,  they  not  knowing  how 
to  knap  the  slap. — Hind  ley  :  Life  and 
Adventures  of  a  Cheap  Jack. 

(American),  to  knap,  to  arrest, 
corresponding  to  the  English 
"nab." 

Knark  (old),  a  savage  person. 
Now  spelt  nark,  meaning  an 
informer. 

Knat  (tailors),  a  difficult  task,  a 
tyrant,  one  not  to  be  deceived, 
played  with,  or  hoodwinked. 

Knife  (army),  a  sword. 

Knife-boards  (London  slang),  the 
long,  narrow  seats  for  passen- 
gers on  the  tops  of  omnibuses. 


524 


Knifish — Knocked. 


The  antiquated  knife-board  has  been 
all  but  abolished,  and  garden  seats  reign 
in  its  stea.d.—Da!iy  Teltj^aph. 

Knifish  (tailors),  spiteful. 

Knob  or  nob  (popular),  the  head ; 
one  on  the  knoh,  a  blow  on  the 
head. 

Knobstick    (popular),    a    phrase 
among  workmen   to   designate 
one  who  takes  work  secretly  at 
home,   when   the  men   are   on 
strike,  and  accepts   lower  pay 
than  the  regulation  price  de- 
manded by  his  fellows. 
We  need  some  measure  calculated   to 
completely  restore  prosperity  to  our  indus- 
tries, by  means  of  a  restrictive  duty  on  the 
manufactured  products  of  these  knobsticks. 
— Evening  News. 

Knock  (turf),  "to  take  the  Icnock" 
to  lose  more  money  to  the  book- 
makers than  one  can  pay,  and 
thus  to  be  incapacitated  from 
approaching  the  ring. 

"  I've  had  a  bad  week,"  or  "  I've  copped 
the  knock,"  or  "  it's  all  gone  down  on 
Friar's  Balsam." — Bird o'  Freedom. 

Knockabout  (theatrical),  an  actor 
who  does  tumbler's  work. 

Messrs.  are   two  of  the   smarte-it 

knockabouts. — Fun. 

Knock  about  the  bub,  to  (popu- 
lar), to  pass  about  the  drink. 

Knock  about,  to  (common),  to 
go,  or  saunter  about. 

Knock  down  a  cheque,  to  (up- 
country  Australian).  "A  sys- 
tem known  a.s  knocking  cloicn 
one's  cheque  prevails  all  over  the 
unsettled  parts  of  Australia. 
That  is  to  say,  a  man  with  a 


cheque,  or  a  sum  of  money  in 
his  possession,  hands  it  over 
to  the  publican,  and  calls  for 
drinks  for  himself  and  his 
friends,  until  the  publican  tells 
him  he  has  drunk  out  his 
cheque.  Of  course  he  never 
gets  a  tithe  of  his  money's 
worth  in  any  shape  or  way — 
indeed  the  kindest  thing  a  pub- 
lican can  possibly  do  is  to  re- 
fuse him  any  more  liquor  at 
a  very  early  stage  of  the  pro- 
ceedings, for  cheques  for  enor- 
mous amounts  are  frequently 
'  knocked  down '  in  this  way. 
A  quarter  of  the  worth  of  them, 
if  honestly  drunk  out  in  Bush 
liquor,  would  inevitably  kill  a 
whole  regiment  "  (Finch  Hat- 
ton). 

When  a  shearer  once  determines,  at 
the  end  of  the  season,  to  knock  dorvn  his 
cheque,  as  the  phrase  goes,  hetdoes  it  in 
the  most  complete  and  thorough  manner. 
—  The  Graphic. 

Knocked  all  of  a  heap  (popular), 
astonished,  dumbfounded.  The 
metaphor  is  that  one  is  abso- 
lutely floored,  knocked  down  iu 
confusion  by  surprise. 

Knocked  him  bandy  (tailors), 
completely  astounded  him. 

Knocked  into  a  cocked  hat 
(American  and  English).  When 
a  round  or  high  hat  had  been 
smashed,  it  was  said  to  have 
been  knocked  into  the  shape  of 
the  three-cornered  or  cocked 
one.     Tide  Cocked  Hat. 

There  is  a  Yankee  locution  descriptive 
of  a  process  which  implies  ruthless  and 


Knocked — Knock-outs. 


52s 


wholesale  demolition  and  devastation, 
known  as  knocking  things  into  a  cocked 
hat.  The  French,  from  an  architectural 
point  of  view,  have  knocked  El  Djezzair 
into  a  cocked  hat  as  battered  and  shape- 
less as  that  of  a  parish  beadle  who  has 
been  maltreated  by  a  mob  of  mutinous 
paupers.  — G.  A .  Saia :  A  Trip  to  Barbary . 

Knocked  out  (pugilistic),  ex- 
hausted, beaten,  "knocked  out 
of  time,"  which  see. 

Lyons,  in  the  next  round,  fell  down,  and 
when  he  got  up  he  seemed  "  pretty  well 
knocked  out." — Evening  News. 

(Turf),  a  horse  is  said  to  be 
knocked  out  in  the  betting  when 
he  is  so  persistently  laid  against 
that  from  short  or  comparatively 
short  odds  he  retires  to  an  out- 
side place. 

Knocked  out  of  time  (pugilistic), 
to  be  so  thoroughly  beaten  as 
to  be  unable  to  stand  up  in  the 
ring,  or  to  keep  time  with  his 
opponent,  and  receive  a  succes- 
sion of  new  blows  and  bruises. 

Knocked  up  (common),  tired. 

Knock-era-down  business  (popu- 
lar), auctioneering. 

Knocker  (common),  up  to  the 
knocker,  completely. 

I'm  jolly,  right  up  to  {he  knocker. 
— Punch. 

Also  showily  dressed  or  pro- 
ficient. 

Knocker  face  (common),  an  ugly 
face. 

Knocker  out  (pugilistic),  a  re- 
doubtable prize-fighter. 

Mitchell  laughed  at  the  idea  of  the 
"terrible  right  "  both  before  and  after,  as 


well  as  during  the  progress  of  the  fight, 
and  that  the  celebrated  knocker  out  em- 
ployed it  mainly  as  a  means  of  stopping 
Mitchell's  terrible  left. — Bird  o'  Freedom. 

Knockers  (popular),  small  flat 
curls  worn  on  the  temples  by 
thieves  and  costermongers. 
Called  also  "  sixes." 

Knock  in,  to  (Oxford),  to  return  to 
one's  college  after  gate  is  closed. 

Knocking-out  (Oxford  Univer- 
sity). All  visitors,  on  leaving  a 
college  after  time,  have  to  state 
in  whose  rooms  they  have  been, 
that  his  gate-bill  may  be  scored 
up  for  them.  When  a  rackety 
party  takes  place,  the  visitors, 
or  "  out  of  college  men,"  are 
generally  supplied  with  a  list  of 
the  names  of  the  quietest  men 
in  college,  so  that  the  where- 
abouts of  the  party  may  not  be 
betrayed  (Hotten). 

Knocking'  -  shop  (English  and 
American),  a  house  of  ill-fame. 

Knock-me-down  (popular),  strong 

ale. 

Knock  one  down,  to  (American 
society),  to  introduce. 

"Knock  vie  down  to  that  daisy,"  i.e., 
"  Introduce  me  to  that  fine  girl," — C.  Le- 
land  Harrison:  MS.  Americanisms. 

Knock-outs.  Fully  explained  as 
follows  in  Diprose's  "  London 
Society."  "The  knock-outs  are 
not  peculiar  to  London,  they 
abound  everywhere,  they  are 
regular  traders  in  one  particular 
branch  of  merchandise,  be  it 
'  old  books,'  '  articles  of  vertu,' 


526 


Knock-outs — Knowing. 


china,  plate,  pictures,  horses  or 
houses.  .  .  .  They  do  not  inter- 
fere with  the  sale,  as  is  some- 
times supposed  They  let  the 
general  public  bid  as  much  as 
they  please,  and  then  is  the 
opportunity  for  them  to  display 
their  j  udgment.  Knowing  what 
the  article  is  worth  in  the  trade 
— which,  if  the  property  is  valu- 
able, wiU  fetch  more  than  the 
general  public  will  give — they 
can  outbid  the  last  public  bid- 
der, and  secure  the  property 
to  themselves.  They  may  be 
a  band  of  six,  ten,  or  twenty 
individuals  present,  who,  after 
numerous  bargains  are  secured, 
betake  themselves  to  their 
favourite  'public,'  and  there 
settle,  in  the  most  business 
manner  possible,  who  is  to  be- 
come the  ultimate  possessor 
by  a  ^knock-out  auction.'  The 
article,  say  a  picture,  is  put  uij 
at  the  purchased  price  by  any 
one  party,  acting  as  auctioneer, 
and  the  original  cost  of,  say 
ten  pounds,  may  terminate  by 
bidding  up  to  twenty  or  thirty. 
The  amount  above  the  cost  is 
placed  in  a  bowl  to  form  a  fund 
to  be  equally  divided  amongst 
all  present.  .  .  .  Property 
bought  in  this  manner  from  an 
original  public  bid  of  a  small 
amount,  has  often  reached  to  a 
hundred  pounds." 

Knock  the  spots  off,  to  (Ameri- 
can). This  was  current  in 
America  as  long  ago  as  1850. 
It  means  to  surpass,  confound, 
go  backwards,  beat. 


After  inviting  their  friends,  tliey  pole- 
axed  the  prize  victims,  cooked  them  as 
baked,  boiled,  and  roast  in  their  best  style, 
and  held  a  Jubilee  banquet  which  knocked 
spots  off  anything  of  the  kind  ever  held 
before. — Modem  Society. 

Knock  the  stuffing,  wadding, 
lining,  filling,  insides  out,  to 
(American),  to  eviscerate,  to 
empty,  to  knock  daylight  out 
of  anybody. 

Knock,  to  (popular),  to  make  a 
great  impression,  to  be  irre- 
sistible. 

Didn't  he  knock  'em !  didn't  he  knock  'em  ! 

Awfully  comical  didn't  he  seem  'i 
Didn't  he  knock  'em  !  didn't  he  knock  'em  ! 
Didn't  he  make  the  people  scream  ? 
— Music  Hall  Song  :  Didn't  ht 
Knock  'em. 

"  That  Tcnocka  me,"  that  is  too 
much  for  me. 

Knofka  (theatrical),  a  prostitute  ; 
also  "  nofgur,"  which  see. 

Knout  (public  schools),  a  piece  of 
wax  on  the  end  of  a  string,  used 
as  an  instrument  of  chastise- 
ment by  prefects  on  duty. 

Knowing  blokes  (military).  The 
term  is  applied  in  the  army  to 
individuals,  found  principally 
among  the  older  soldiers,  who 
appear  to  be  continually  suffer- 
ing from  chronic  thirst,  and 
who  are  constantly  seeking  to 
satisfy  it  at  the  expense  of  young 
soldiers. 

The  general  in  command  .  .  .  not  unfre- 
quently  cautions  the  young  soldiers  particu- 
larly to  "beware  and  not  allow  themselves 
to  be  influenced  and  led  away  by  old 
soldiers  with  badges."  .  .  .  Numbers  of 
these  knowing  blokes,  as  they  are  called, 


Knowing — Knucks. 


527 


prove  very  apt  teachers,  and  will  not  be 
found  slow  to  try  and  inveigle  some  of  the 
inexperienced  into  their  "  lx)osing schools." 
— BrunUes  Fatterson  :  Life  in  the  Ranks. 

Vide  Bloke. 

Knowing  cove  (popular),  a  well- 
informed  person,  one  in  the 
secret. 

Dame  Rumour  had  given  the  office  to 
some  of  the  knowing  coves. — Punch. 

Vide  Cove. 

Know,  in  the  (turf),  to  be  in  the 
know  is  to  have  a  knowledge  of 
the  secrets  of  some  particular 
stable.  Sometimes  to  be  gener- 
ally aufait  in  turf  mysteries. 

Knowledge  box  (popular),  the 
head. 

Know  one's  way  about,  know 
one's  way  round,  to  (used  in 
Australia  more  than  in  England), 
to  be  capable,  knowing ;  a  meta- 
phor suggested  by  the  helpless- 
ness of  the  man  who  does  not 
know  his  way ;  or  perhaps  by 
the  facilities  offered  to  one  who 
knows  his  way  round  to  an  un- 
guarded point,  such  as  a  private 
entrance,  or  a  flank. 

But  grant  he  knows  his  way  about. 

Or  grant  that  he  is  silly. 
There  cannot  be  the  slightest  doubt, 

Of  Billy's  faiih  in  Billy. 

—H.  Kendall:  Billy  Vickers. 

Knows  the  ropes  (popular),  is 
said  of  an  old  experienced  work- 
man, or  any  one  who  is  well 
informed.  Originally  a  sailors' 
phrase. 

Know  the  time  of  day,  to  (popu- 
lar and  thieves),  to  be  experi- 
enced, cunning. 


The  message  must  have  found  her,  for  a 
"  dossy  "-looking  bounder. 
Who  appeared  as  if  he  knew  the  time  0/ 
dny. 
Was  the  bearer  of  this  answer,  "If  you 
want  to  see  the  dancer, 
I  can  introduce  you  to  her  right  away." 
— Sporting  Times. 

Know  your  book,  to  (popular),  to 
be  correctly  informed,  to  be  right. 
Ain't  you  glad  sometimes  to  know, 
A  second  thought  you  took 
About  a  subject,  upon  which 
You  thought  you  knew  your  book. 
—Song:  Ain't  you  glad  you  didnt. 

Knuckle  down,  to  (schools),  to 
kneel  down,  properly  to  sub- 
mit to. 

Knuckled  (tailors),  hand  sewn. 

Knuckleduster  (common),  origin- 
ally American.  A  piece  of 
metal  with  holes  for  the  fingers 
which  close  over  it,  and  which 
covers  the  knuckles.  This  in- 
strument, while  protecting  the 
knuckles,  adds  force  to  a  blow 
struck  with  it. 

Struck  by  one  of  the  fellows  with  a 

knuckleduster,  M was  stunned  for  a 

moment,    but    he    speedily    recovered. — 
Daily  Telegraph. 

Also  a  heavy  or  gaudy  ring. 
Knuckler  (thieves),  a  pickpocket. 

The  commons  crowd  around  the  Bar — 
A  rush — a  hustle — merrily  then 

Begins  the  knucklers'  war. 
What  are  you  thieves  about  ? 

—Punch. 

Knuckle,  to  (thieves),  to  pick 
pockets. 

Knucks  (thieves),  pickpockets,  a 
contraction  of  "  knucklers," 

The  knucks  in  quod  did  my  schoolmen 
play. — Ainsworth  :  Pookwood. 


528 


Kokum — Kye. 


Kokum  (Australian  prison),  sham 
kindness. 

Koniacker,  cogniac-er  (American 
thieves),  a  counterfeiter.  Hence 
Iccyne,  or  cone,  money. 

Kootee  (Anglo-Indian),  a  house. 

Kootoo  or  kotcv^  (American),  of 
Chinese  origin,  and  signifying 
to  bow  down  before.  Misap- 
plied, however,  by  many  writers 
when  used  to  denote  flattery. 

Consequently  he  has  kootooed  and  sa- 
laamed before  every  travelling  scribbler 
or  story-monger,  fearful  that  he  would  be 
dismissed  by  them  to  the  dunce's  stool  for 
some  solecism  in  manner  or  pronunciation. 
— New  York  Tribune. 

Kop,  a  lost  (South  African),  a 
solitary  hUl. 

Kopper,  copper  (popular),  police- 
man, detective.     Vide  Cop. 

Pfere-la-Chaise  vows  that  the  treatment 
he  received  at  the  hands  of  the  police  was 
all  owing  to  a  dispute  in  the  past,  when 
the  kopper  had  stood  in  with  him,  and  he 
had  lost. — Sporting  Times. 

Kori,  koro  (gypsy),  a  thorn.  Also 
penis.  Hindu  ker,  the  •memhrum, 
virile. 

Kosh  (common),  a  blow  as  from  a 
stick  or  club.  From  the  gypsy 
lasht  or  kosh,  a  stick.  Vide 
Cosh. 

So  the  fellow  said  "  Bah  ! "  and  Tobias 

said  "  Bosh  !  " 
When  he  felt  such  a  kosh 


lliat  he  went  over  splosh 

All  in  his  Sunday  clothes. 

—  Tke  New  Comic  Songster. 

Krop  (tailors),  back  slang  for  pork. 

Kubber  (Anglo-Indian),  news. 

Kudize,  to  (university),  to  praise. 
Vide  Kudos. 

Kudos  (common),  a  Greek  word 
signifying  praise.  Originally 
used  by  university  men,  but 
now  in  vogue  in  society  with  the 
sense  of  fame,  praise,  honour. 
Promptly  did  Gubbins,  with   hopes  of 

kudos,  if  not  of  drinks,  leap  into  the  arena. 

— Sporting  Times. 

In  theatrical  circles  it  is  said 
of  a  manager  who  produces  a 
piece  which  is  not  a  pecuniary 
success,  that  he  has  made  little 
coin,  but  much  kudos :  "  Un 
succ^s  d'estime,"  as  the  French 
term  this. 

There  is  some  kudos,  as  well  as  consider- 
able profit,  to  be  got  by  the  manager  who 
first  stages  a  tnatin^e  properly. — Bird  o' 
Freedom. 

Kushto,  kosbto  (gypsy),  good. 
Hind. -Persian  kush,  pleasant ; 
kushtipen,  goodness. 

Kushto  pash  kushto  kerela  ferridiro. — 
Romani  Gudli,  or  Gypsy  Stories. 
I.e.,  "  Good  with  good  makes  better." 

Kutcha  (Anglo-Indian),  bad.  Pro- 
perly a  house  built  of  inud. 

Kye  (costermongers),  eighteen- 
pence. 


END    OF    VOU    1. 


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