Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 4 [of 7]
Author: John Stephen Farmer; William Ernest Henley
Date: 2026-09-27T04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries; Slang -- Dictionaries
Rights: Public domain in the USA.

THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OF SLANG AND ITS ANALOGUES PAST AND PRESENT, VOLUME 4 [OF 7]

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Title: Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 4 [of 7]

A dictionary, historical and comparative, of the heterodox speech of all classes of society for more than three hundred years. With synonyms in English, French, German, Italian, etc.

Author: John Stephen Farmer

William Ernest Henley

Release date: September 27, 2026 [eBook #79663]

Language: English

Original publication: London: "Printed for Subscribers Only", 1890

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/79663

Credits: Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLANG AND ITS ANALOGUES PAST AND PRESENT, VOLUME 4 [OF 7] ***

SLANG AND ITS ANALOGUES PAST AND PRESENT.

A DICTIONARY, HISTORICAL AND COMPARATIVE, OF THE HETERODOX SPEECH OF ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY FOR MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

WITH SYNONYMS IN ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN, ETC.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY

JOHN S. FARMER and W. E. HENLEY.

VOL. IV.

PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

1896

[1]

ce. A BIG THING ON ICE, subs. phr. (American).—A profitable venture; a good thing; also B.T.I.

1890. GUNTER, Miss Nobody, xx. In the hall, prominently posted up by a wag, under new memberships, is a notice: FOR ELECTION. Gussie de P. Van Beekman, vice Baron Bassington, of Harrowby Castle, England. ON ICE.

Icken, adj. (American thieves’).—Oak. ICKEN-BAUM = Oak-tree. [From the German].—MATSELL (1859).

Ictus, subs. (legal).—A lawyer. For synonyms see GREEN-BAG [A corruption of juris consultas].

Idea-Pot (or -Box), subs. (old).—The head. For synonyms see CRUMPET.—GROSE (1785); MATSELL (1859).

Identical, subs. (colloquial).—Generally THE IDENTICAL = the self-same; the person, point, argument, or action in question.

1664. BUTLER, Hudibras, pt. ii, c. i, I. 149. The beard’s TH’ IDENTIQUE beard you knew.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, p. 283. ‘I’m THE IDENTICAL,’ said Jack.

I Desire, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A fire.

Ignoramus, subs. (old: now literary).—A stupid and unlettered person, male or female: first applied to ignorant lawyers. [From Latin = we ignore (it), the endorsement by which a grand jury threw out a bill].

1569. ERASMUS, Praise of Folly. Tr. [Reeves & Turner] p. 64. The lawyer who is so silly … as to be IGNORAMUS to a proverb.

1621. BURTON, Anat. Mel. Pt. 2. Sec. 2, Mem. 4, Vol. i, p. 425 (1827). Let them go as they are in the catalogue of IGNORAMUS.

1670. SHADWELL, Sullen Lovers, iv, p. 58. The greatest Owl.… Rascal, Oaf, IGNORAMUS.

1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v.

b. 1733. R. NORTH, Examen, I, ii. 82. If he had declared otherwise he would have been an IGNORAMUS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal. s.v. [2]

1883. BRADDON, Golden Calf, II, ch. iv, p. 140. Brian is a tremendous botanist, and Mr. Jardine is not an IGNORAMUS in that line.

Ignoramus-Jury, subs. phr. (old).—A Grand Jury.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. IGNORAMUS.… also, We are Ignorant, written by the Grand Jury on Bills, when the Evidence is not Home, and the Party (thereupon) Discharged.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

Ikey, subs. (thieves’).—A Jew: specifically a Jew FENCE (q.v.). [A corruption of Isaac]. For synonyms see YID. Also IKEY MO.

Adj. (common).—Smart; FLY (q.v.); KNOWING (q.v.).

1870. LEYBOURNE, Song. My name it is IKEY Bill, A Whitechapel Covey am I.

1892. CHEVALIER, ‘The Little Nipper’. But artful little IKEY little ways, As makes the people sit up where we stays.

Ile. See OIL.

Ill, adv. (American).—Vicious; unpleasant; ill-tempered. Cf. RELIGIOUS. Also ILL FOR = having a vicious propensity for anything (JAMIESON). Cf., ‘Neither is it ill air only that makes an ill seat, but ill ways, ill markets, and ILL neighbours’ (BACON).

1887. Trans. Am. Philol. Ass., xvii. 39. I heard a man in the Smoky Mountains say, ‘Some rattlesnakes are ILLER’n others;’ and another that ‘black rattlesnakes are the ILLEST’.

1887. Scribner’s Mag. In course the baby mus’ come in the thick er it! An’t make me mad, seein’ him so ILL with her.

TO DO ILL TO, verb. phr. (Scots’ colloquial).—To have sexual commerce with: generally in negative, and of women alone.

Illegitimate, subs. (old).—1. A counterfeit sovereign: YOUNG ILLEGITIMATE = a half sovereign.—BEE (1823).

2. (common).—A low grade costermonger.

Adj. (racing).—Applied to steeple-chasing or hurdle-racing, as distinguished from work on the flat.

1888. Daily Chronicle, 31 October. A much smarter performer at the ILLEGITIMATE game than she was on the flat.

Ill-fortune, subs. (Old Cant).—Ninepence: also THE PICTURE OF ILL-LUCK.—B. E. (1690); GROSE (1785).

Illuminate, verb. (American).—To interline with a translation.

1856. HALL, College Words, p. 261. s.v. ILLUMINATED books are preferred by good judges to ponies or hobbies, as the text and translation in them are brought nearer to one another.

Illustrated Clothes. See HISTORICAL SHIRT.

I’m-Afloat, subs. phr. (rhyming).—1. A boat.

2. (rhyming).—A coat. For synonyms see CAPELLA.

Image, subs. (colloquial).—An affectionate reproof: e.g. ‘Come out, you little IMAGE!’ See LITTLE DEVIL.

Immense, adj. (colloquial).—A general superlative: cf. AWFUL, BLOODY &c.

1771. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic & Satyrical, p. 216. Dear Bragg, Hazard, Loo, and Quadrille, Delightful! extatic! IMMENSE!

1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, xxv. ‘What do you think of this, Florence darling?’ I whispered. ‘Is it not IMMENSE?’

1888. Florida Times Union, 8 Feb. The afterpiece is said to be IMMENSE. [3]

1889. Bird O’ Freedom, 7 Aug. p. 1. If you say of a man he is IMMENSE, you pay him a compliment.

1891. Tales from Town Topics, ‘Mimi & Bébé’, p. 65. The love of twins is phenomenal. It is IMMENSE, pure, and heavenly.

Immensikoff, subs. (common).—A fur-lined overcoat. [From the burden of a song, ‘The Shoreditch Toff’, sung (c. 1868) by the late Arthur Lloyd, who described himself as Immensikoff, and wore an upper garment heavily trimmed with fur].

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 25 Sept., p. 6., col. 1. Heavy swells clad in IMMENSIKOFFS, which is the slang term, I believe, for those very fine and large fur robes affected by men about town.

Immortals, subs. (military).—The Seventy-Sixth Foot. [Most of its men were wounded, but escaped being killed, in India in 1806]. Also THE PIGS and THE OLD SEVEN AND SIXPENNIES.

Imp, subs. (colloquial).—A mischievous brat; a small or minor devil: originally, a child. [TRENCH: there are epitaphs extant commencing ‘Here lies that noble IMP’; and Lord Cromwell writing to Henry VIII speaks of ‘that noble IMP, your son’].

1771. BEATTIE, Minstrel, 1. Nor cared to mingle in the clamorous fray Of squabbling IMPS.

2. (legal).—A man who gets up cases for a DEVIL (q.v.).

Impale, verb. (venery).—To possess a woman: specifically to effect intromission. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Imperance, subs. (vulgar).—Impertinence; impudence; CHEEK (q.v.). Also, inferentially, an impudent person; e.g., ‘What’s your IMPERENCE about’?

1766. COLMAN, Cland. Marriage, v. in Works, (1777) i. 274. I wonder at your IMPURENCE, Mr. Brush, to use me in this manner.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, ii. 2. She is blowing up the fellow for his IMPERANCE.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xiv. ‘Don’t go away, Mary,’ said the black-eyed man. ‘Let me alone, IMPERENCE,’ said the young lady.

Imperial, subs. (colloquial).—A tuft of hair worn on the lower lip. [From being introduced by the Emperor Napoleon III]. See GOATEE.

1892. Tit Bits, 19 Mar., p. 421, col. 2. An IMPERIAL, or carefully cultivated small tuft tapered down to a point from the lower lip to the chin.

Implement, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v., IMPLEMENT, a Tool, a Property or Fool easily engag’d in any (tho’ difficult or Dangerous) Enterprise.

Importance, subs. (common).—A wife; a COMFORTABLE IMPORTANCE (q.v.).

1647–80. ROCHESTER, Works (1718), ii. 29. IMPORTANCE, thinks too, tho’ she’d been no sinner To wash away some dregs he had spewed in her.

Impost-Taker, subs. (old).—A gambler’s and black-leg’s money-lender; a SIXTY-PER-CENT (q.v.).

1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Improvement, subs. (American).—That part of a sermon which enforces and applies to every-day life the doctrine previously set forth; the application. [4]

1869. Putnam’s Magazine, August [quoted by DE VERE]. Long sermons running on to a tenthly, with a goodly number of IMPROVEMENTS appended.

Impure, subs. (common).—A harlot. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed., EGAN) s.v.

In, subs. (colloquial).—A person in, or holding an office; specifically, (in politics) a member of the party in office. Cf. OUT.

1768. GOLDSMITH, Good Natured Man, v. Was it for this I have been dreaded both by INS and outs? Have I been libelled in the Gazetteer, and praised in the St. James’s?

1770. CHATTERTON, Prophecy. And doomed a victim for the sins. Of half the outs and all the INS.

1842. DICKENS, American Notes, ch. ii. The INS rubbed their hands; the outs shook their heads.

1857. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingstone (5th Ed.) p. 216. If he had backed the IN instead of the Out.

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 20 March. p. 1, col. 2. When there shall be no distinction in principle between Radicals and Tories, but a mere scramble for office between ‘INS’ and ‘outs’.

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 7 July. The pledges which the INS have to contend with in their strife with the Outs.

1888. Boston Daily Globe. It is the civil service that turns out all the INS and puts in the outs.

1890. NORTON, Political Americanisms, s.v. INS AND OUTS.

Adv. (colloquial).—Various: (cricketers’) = at the wickets; (general) = in season; also, on an equality with, sharing, or intimate with, or fashionable; (political) = in office; (thieves’) = in prison, or QUODDED (q.v.)

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, i, p. 85. During July cherries are IN as well as raspberries.

1877. Five Years Penal Servitude, iii, p. 147. It is the etiquette among prisoners never to ask a man what he is IN for. The badge upon his left arm gives his sentence.

1883. Punch, 28 July, p. 38, col. 1. I was IN it, old man, and no kid.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, p. 180. You are all IN with me at this.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 311. Jenkins has been on a visit to us for the past two months, so that we are all IN it.

1894. GEORGE MOORE, Esther Walters, xxx. Are the ’orses he backs what you’d call well IN?

TO BE IN (or IN IT) WITH ONE, verb. phr. (common).—1. To be ‘even with’; to be on guard against.

2. (colloquial).—To be on intimate terms, or in partnership with; to be in the SWIM (q.v.) Cf., IN, prep.

1845. SURTEES, Hillingdon Hall, v. p. 22 (1888). He was IN with the players too, and had the entrée of most of the minor theatres.

1879. Justin McCarthy, Donna Quixote, xxxii. You have gone a great deal too far to turn back now, let me tell you. You have been IN with me from the very first.

1888. J. MCCARTHY and MRS. CAMPBELL PRAED, The Ladies Gallery, xxii. The love of woman, the thirst for gold, the desire for drink, the ambition of high command, are not IN it with the love of speech-making when once that has got its hold.

1892. Ally Sloper’s Half-holiday, 27 Feb., p. 71, col. 3. Peter was fascinated all the time. Hypnotism was not IN it as compared with the effect of that … umbrella.

TO BE IN FOR IT, verb. phr. (common).—1. To be in trouble; generally to be certain to receive, suffer, or do (something).

1668. DRYDEN, An Evening’s Love, ii. I fear that I am IN FOR a week longer than I proposed. [5]

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, iv. I was IN FOR a list of blunders.

2. (colloquial).—To be with child.

IN FOR THE PLATE, phr. (old).—Venereally infected.

FOR ALL THERE’S IN IT, phr. (common).—To the utmost capacity (of persons and things). TO PLAY ONE’S HAND FOR ALL THERE’S IN IT = to use fair means or foul to attain an object.

1888. ROOSEVELT, Ranch Life. Cowboys must ride FOR ALL THERE IS IN THEM, and spare neither their own nor their horses’ necks.

TO GET IT IN FOR ONE, verb. phr. (common).—To remember to one’s disadvantage.

1864. Derby Day, p. 121. ‘Brentford!’ cried the tout. ‘That was a bad job for you, guv’nor, I’ve GOT IT IN FOR you. I don’t forget if I do look a fool.’

[For combinations see ALTITUDES; ARMS OF MORPHEUS; BAD WAY; BLUES; BOTTOM OF THE BAG; BUFF; BUNCH; CART; CLICK; CLOVER; CRACK; CROOK; CUPS; DEAD ERNEST; DIFFICULTY; HOLE; JIFFY; JUG; KISH; KNOW; LAVENDER; LIMBO; LIQUOR; LURCH; PATTER; POUND; PRINT; QUEER STREET; RAGS; RUNNING; SHAPE; SHELL; SKIFFLE; SLASH; STATE OF NATURE; STRAW; STRING; SUDS; SUN; SWIM; TIN-POT WAY; TOWN; TWINKLING; WATER; WIND; WRONG BOX, etc.]

In-and-in. TO PLAY AT IN-AND-IN, verb. phr. (old).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE. Also IN-AND-OUT (q.v.).

1635. GLAPTHORNE, The Hollander, in Wks. (1874), i. 127. They are sure fair gamesters … especially at IN-AND-IN.

1653. BROME, Five New Plays, 239. The Physitian thought to have cured his patient (who has bin a notable gamester at IN-AND-IN) between my Lady’s legs.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Works (1725), p. 192. What with some Goddess he’d have bin. Playing, belike, at IN-AND-IN.… For so thy words seem to import.

1719. DURFEY, (quoted) Pills etc., iv. 78. Their wives may PLAY AT IN-AND-IN, Cuckolds all-a-row.

In-and-out, subs. (colloquial).—The detail or intricacies of a matter; generally in pl., e.g., To know all the INS-AND-OUTS of a matter.

Adv. (racing).—1. Unequal; variable: applied to the performances of a horse which runs well one day, and on another not.

1885. Referee, 26 April, p. 1, col. 2. Now and again IN-AND-OUT running on the part of a horse subjects his owner to considerable annoyance.

1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. It is best if possible to overlook IN-AND-OUT running, or variation of form.

TO PLAY AT IN-AND-OUT, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1620. PERCY, Folio M.S., p. 93. ‘Walking in a Meadow Green’. Then stifly thrust … and PLAY about AT IN-AND-OUT.

Inch, verb. (old).—To encroach; to move slowly.

1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. INCHING IN, Encroaching upon.

1694–6. DRYDEN, Æneid, ix. With slow paces measures back the field, And INCHES to the wall.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1868. BROWNING, Ring & Book, i. 118. Like so much cold steel INCHED through the breast blade.

Incog, adv. (colloquial).—1. Unknown; in disguise. Also as subs. [An abbreviation of incognito].

1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. INCOG, for Incognito, a Man of Character or Quality concealed or in disguise. [6]

1711. Spectator, No. 41, 17 April, p. 69 (MORLEY). So many Ladies, when they first lay it (painting) down, INCOG in their own faces.

1739. GRAY, Letters, No. xxiv, Vol. 1, p. 49 (1819). He passes INCOG without the walls.

1777. SHERIDAN, School for Scandal, iv. 3. What! turn inquisitor, and sake evidence INCOG.

1795. BURNS, Poems. ‘Address to the De’il.’ Then you, ye auld sneck-drawing dog, Ye cam to Paradise INCOG.

1812. Edinburgh Review, xx. p. 113. He travels INCOG to his father’s two estates.

1819. MOORE, From the Diary of a Politician. INCOG he (the king) was travelling about.

1826. DISRAELI, Vivian Grey, Bk. v, ch. v, p. 187 (1881). Whose well-curled black hair, diamond pin, and frogged coat hinted at the magnifico INCOG.

1828–45. HOOD, Poems, (1846) i. 215. A Foreign Count who came INCOG, Not under a cloud, but under a fog.

1836. MAHONEY, Father Prout, i. 319. O the vile wretch! the naughty dog! He’s surely Lucifer INCOG.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, ii. 183. ‘Don’t call me by my name here, please Florac, I am here INCOG.’

2. (common).—Drunk: i.e., ‘disguised’ in liquor.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf. s.v. INCOG. A man drunk is INCOG Ibid, s.v. COG: COGUE, a glass of gin or rum with sugar in it.… COGEY = drunk.

Incognita, subs. (obsolete).—A high-class harlot; ANONYMA, (q.v.). For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

Incumbrance, subs., in pl. (common).—Children. For synonyms see KID.

Indentures, TO MAKE INDENTURES, verb. phr. (old).—To stagger with drink.

1622. ROWLANDS, Good Newes and Bad Newes, p. 43. [Hunterian Club’s Rep.]. A fellow that had beene excessive trading, In taking liquor in beyond his lading, Of Claret and the Spanish Malligo, That’s legs vnable were vpright to goe; But sometimes wall, and sometimes kennell taking, And as the phrase is vs’d, INDENTURES MAKING.

Indescribables, subs. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms see BAGS and KICKS.

1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, (C. D. Ed.) p. 67. A pair of INDESCRIBABLES of most capacious dimensions.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xvi. Mr. Trotter … gave four distinct slaps on the pocket of his mulberry INDESCRIBABLES.

Index, subs. (common).—The face. For synonyms see DIAL and PHIZ.

1818–24. EGAN, Boxiana, ii. 438. The INDEX of Church was rather transmogrified.

1828. EGAN, Finish to Tom & Jerry, p. 48. Kind-hearted Sue! Bless her pretty INDEX.

India, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1613. DONNE, Elegy, xviii. [CHALMERS, English Poets, vi. 151]. And sailing towards her India in that way Shall at her fair Atlantic navel stay.

Indian, verb. (American colloquial).—To prowl about, or live like an Indian.

1869. H. B. STOWE, Old Town Folks, 189. Jake Marshall and me has been INDIANING round these ’ere woods more times ’n you could count.

Indian-gift, subs. (American).—An inadequate return or exchange; ‘a sprat for a whale’ INDIAN GIVER = one who takes back a gift.

India-Wipe, subs. (old).—A silk handkerchief.—GROSE, (3rd Ed. EGAN. 1823).

Indies. See BLACK INDIES.—(Grose 1785). [7]

Indispensables, subs. (common).—Trousers. See BAGS and KICKS.

1842. Comic Almanack, June. He slapped his hand against his yellow leather INDISPENSABLES.

1843. SELBY, Anthony & Cleopatra Married & Settled. But my love, consider, the gentleman is waiting for his INDISPENSABLES.

Indorse, verb. (old).—1. To cudgel; to ‘lay cane on Abel’—GROSE (1785).

2. (venery).—To practise sodomy.

Indorser, subs. (venery).—A sodomite; a CHUFFER (GROSE, 1785). For synonyms see USHER.

Ineffable, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

2. in pl. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms see BAGS and KICKS.

1850. L. HUNT, Autobiography, ch. iii. It was said, also, that during the blissful era of the blue velvet, we had roast mutton for supper; but that the small clothes not being then in existence, and the mutton suppers too luxurious, the eatables were given up for the INEFFABLES.

Inexplicables, subs. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms see BAGS and KICKS.

1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, ch. ii. (C.D.Ed.) p. 182. He usually wore a brown frock-coat without a wrinkle, light INEXPLICABLES without a spot.

Inexpressibles, subs. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms see BAGS and KICKS.

1790. WOLCOT, (P. Pindar) Rowland for an Oliver, in Wks. [Dublin 1795] Vol. ii. p. 154. I’ve heard, that breeches, petticoats, & smock, Give to thy modest mind a grievous shock, And that thy brain (so lucky its device) Christ’neth them INEXPRESSIBLES, so nice.

1820. REYNOLDS, (Peter Corcoran), The Fancy ‘King Tim’, i. 1. That single breasted coat, that sweet snub nose, Those INEXPRESSIBLES: I know the clothes.

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, vi. While thus musing, he was suddenly accosted by a gentleman in boots and spurs, having a riding whip in one hand, and the other hand stuck in the pocket of his INEXPRESSIBLES.

1835. BUCKSTONE, Dream at Sea, ii. 2. Tom. Body & breeches. Bid. Hush: you should say INEXPRESSIBLES—that’s the way genteel people talk.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, ch. lv, p. 483. Symmetrical INEXPRESSIBLES, and scented pocket-handkerchiefs.

1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, xii. Whenever I get my INEXPRESSIBLES on, I will come to you there.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, i. 39. Condescend to don at the same time an Elizabethan doublet and Bond-St. INEXPRESSIBLES.

1842. DICKENS, American Notes, ch. xxi., p. 100. He … had grown recently, for it had been found necessary to make an addition to the legs of his INEXPRESSIBLES.

1871. City Press, 21 Jan. ‘Curiosities of Street Literature’. The sale of a wife, and full particulars of ‘Taking off Prince Albert’s INEXPRESSIBLES,’ done by a scamp.

Infant. See WOOLWICH INFANT.

Infantry, subs. (common).—Children. In French, entrer dans l’infanterie = to fall with child. For synonyms see KID.

1623. JONSON, Time Vindicated.

Hangs all his school with sharp sentences,

And o’er the execution place hath painted,

Time whipt, as terror to the INFANTRY.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scoffed [4th ed. 1725, p. 181]. Others a spirit that doth lie In wait to catch up INFANTRY.

LIGHT INFANTRY, subs. phr. (common).—Fleas. Cf. HEAVY DRAGOONS.

1894. Westminster Gazette, 15th Nov. p. 2, col. 1. An Irish lady of good family was remonstrated with by a guest on account of the nocturnal assaults [8]of heavy cavalry, as well as LIGHT INFANTRY issuing after dark from the cracks of an old wood bedstead.

Infare (or Infair), subs. (Old Scots & American colloquial).—An installation with ceremony and rejoicing; a house-warming; more particularly an entertainment given by a newly married couple on their return from the honeymoon.

1375. BARBOUR, The Bruce, xvi. 340 (MSS.) For he thoucht to mak an INFAR, And to mak gud cher till his men.

1847. PORTER, Big Bear, etc. p. 162. I hurried home to put up three shotes and some turkies to fatten for the INFARE.

1878. E. EGGLESTON, Roxy, xxix. There could be no wedding in a Hoosier village thirty or forty years ago without an INFARE on the following day.

Inferior, subs. (Winchester College).—Any member of the School not a PRÆFECT (q.v.).

1870. MANSFIELD, School Life, p. 28. The Præfect of hall … was looked upon by the INFERIORS with something more than a becoming awe and reverence.

Infernal, adj. (colloquial).—An intensitive: detestable; fit only for Hell. Cf. AWFUL, BLOODY. Also adv.

1602. COOKE, How a Man may Choose a Good Wife etc. [DODSLEY: Old Plays (1874), ix. 50]. Not these drugs Do send me to the INFERNAL bugs, But thy unkindness.

1646. LADY MARY VERNEY [in Seventh Report Hist. MSS. Com. 454]. Besides coaches which are most INFE(R)NELL dear.

1775. SHERIDAN, The Duenna, iii. 1. There is certainly some INFERNAL mystery in it I can’t comprehend!

1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xi. Besides, he’s such an INFERNAL character—a profligate in every way.

1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General Bounce, xi. The nights are INFERNALLY dark, though, in this beastly country.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, lxxv. What an INFERNAL tartar and catamaran!

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, ix. It had broken her INFERNAL neck.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, 114. ‘Never is any news in this INFERNAL hole,’ growled Smirk.

Infra-Dig, adj. (Winchester College).—Scornful; proud. E.g. ‘He sported INFRA-DIG duck,’ or ‘I am INFRA-DIG to it.’

Ingle, subs. (old).—1. A pathic.

1593. NASHE, Strange Newes, in Works [GROSART, ii. 277]. I am afraid thou wilt make me thy INGLE.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Cinedo … a bardarsh a buggring boy, a wanton boy, an INGLE.

1617. MINSHEW, Guide into Tongues, s.v. INGLE, or a boy kept for sodomie.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scoffed, 4th ed., 1725, p. 186. Both at thy INGLES and thy jades.

2. (old).—An intimate; a dear friend.

1601. B. JONSON, Poetaster, i. 1. What! shall I have my son a stager now? an ENGHLE for players.

1602. DEKKER, Honest Whore, [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iii. 260]. Call me your love, your INGLE, your cousin, or so; but sister at no hand.

1609. BEN JONSON, Silent Woman, i. 1. Wks. (1860), p. 208. col. i. His INGLE at home.

1659. MASSINGER, City Madam, iv. 1. Coming, as we do, from his quondam patrons, his dear INGLES now.

1773. T. HAWKINS, Origin of Dr. iii. p. 118. I never saw mine INGLE so dashed in my life before.

1821. SCOTT, Kenilworth, iii. Ha! my dear friend and INGLE, Tony Foster.

Verb. (old).—1. To practise sodomy; TO INDORSE (q.v.); TO CHUFF (q.v.).

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Cinedulare, to bugger, to bardarsh, TO INGLE. [9]

2. (old).—To caress; to make much of.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in Works [GROSART, v. 194]. Hug it, INGLE it, kiss it.

Inglenook, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Ingler, subs. (old.)—1. A sodomist. For synonyms see USHER.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Pedicone, a buggrer, an INGLER of boyes.

2. (thieves’).—A fraudulent horse-dealer.

1825. Modern Flash Dict., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. INGLERS. Horse-dealers who cheat those that deal with them.

Ingotted, adj. (common).—Rich; WARM (q.v.). For synonyms see WELL-BALLASTED.

1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness, xvii. p. 168. (1873). They are a tremendously well-timed set at Schröders; and he’s safe to ask no women who are not enormously ingotted.

Iniquity Office, subs. (American).—A registry office. [A play upon ‘inquiry’ office].

Ingun. TO GET UP ONE’S INGUN, verb. phr. (American).—To get angry; to turn savage.

Ink. TO SLING INK, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To make a business of writing. See INK-SLINGER.

Inkhorn (or Ink-pot) adj. (obsolete).—Pedantic; dry; smelling of the lamp.

1579. CHURCHYARD, Choice, sig. Ee 1. As YNKEHORNE termes smell of the schoole sometyme.

1592. NASHE, Summer’s Last Will, [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii, 70]. Men that, removed from their INK-HORN terms, Bring forth no action worthy of their bread.

Inkle, verb. (American thieves’).—To warn; to give notice; to hint at; to disclose.

1340–50. Alesaunder of Macedoine [E. E. T. S.] i. 615. A brem brasen borde bringes he soone, Imped in iuory, too INCLE the truthe, With good siluer & golde gailich atired.

Inkle-Weaver, subs. (old).—A close companion; a CHUM (q.v.).

1725. New Cant. Dict. s.v. INKLE.… As great as two INKLE-WEAVERS, or As great as Cup and Can.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue.

Ink-Slinger, (Inkspiller or Ink-waster), subs. (common).—1. A journalist or author: a BROTHER OF THE QUILL: generally in contempt of a raw hand. Fr. un marchand de lignes. See INK.

1888. Texas Siftings, Oct. 13. ‘Who’s a big gun? You don’t consider that insignificant INK-SLINGER across the way a big gun, do you?’

1888. Illustrated Bits, 14 April. But, helas! I am but a poor INK-SLINGER.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 69. The INK-SPILLER’S slate.

1894. Tit Bits, 7 April, p. 7, col. 3. You insulting INK-WASTER!

Ink-Slinging, subs. (common). Writing for the press. Fr. scribouillage.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 91. Wot with INK-SLINGING, hart, and all that.

Inky, adj. (tailors’). Used evasively: e.g. of a question to which a direct answer is undesirable or inconvenient.

Inlaid (or Well-Inlaid), adv. (old).—In easy circumstances; with well-lined pockets; WARM (q.v.). [10]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Innards, subs. (vulgar).—The stomach; the GUTS (q.v.). Also INWARDS.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, ii. 1. The thought whereof Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my INWARDS.

1653. BROME, Five New Plays, 347. Bestow steeping thy skin in perfumes to kill the stink of thy paintings and rotten INWARDS.

d. 1674. MILTON [quoted in JOHNSON, Ed. 1755]. There sacrificing laid, The INWARDS and their fat … on the cleft wood.

1870. WHITE, Words and their Uses, 387. The simple English word (guts) for which some New England females elegantly substitute IN’ARDS, would shock many.

1871. London Figaro, 17 March. The usual answer given to William’s enquiry as to what was found in the shark is, ‘his INNARDS’.

TO FILL ONE’S INNARDS, verb. phr. (common).—To eat.

Inner-man, subs. (common).—The appetite.

1889. Sporting Life, 30 Jan. Having satisfied the INNER-MAN.

Innings, subs. (colloquial).—A turn; a spell; a chance: from the game of cricket.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, (ed. 1857) p. 103. The friends of Horatio Fizkin Esq., having had their INNINGS, a little choleric pink-faced man stood forward to propose another fit and proper person to represent the electors of Eatanswill in Parliament.

1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, xx. The opposition wag is furious that he cannot get an INNINGS.

1883. JAMES PAYN, Naturalness, in Longman’s Mag., May, p. 67. And others consent to listen to him upon the understanding that they are presently to have their INNINGS.

TO HAVE A GOOD INNINGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be fortunate, especially in money matters.

TO HAVE A LONG INNINGS, verb. phr. (colloquial). To die in the fulness of years.

Innocent, subs. (old).—1. A simpleton; an idiot.

1598. SHAKESPEARE, All’s well, etc. iv. 3. A dumb INNOCENT that could not say him nay.

1605. JONSON, CHAPMAN, &c., Eastward Hoe (DODSLEY, Old Plays, iv. 209). Again, if you be a cuckold, and know it not, you are an INNOCENT; if you know it and endure it, a true martyr.

1609. JONSON, Epicœne, iii. 4. Do you think you had married some INNOCENT out of the hospital, that would stand with her hands thus, and a playse mouth, and look upon you.

1634. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Two Noble Kinsmen, iv. I. She answered me So far from what she was, so childishly, So sillily, as if she were a fool, an INNOCENT.

1639. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Wit without Money, ii. There be three kinds of fools, mark this note, gentlemen, Mark it, and understand it.… An INNOCENT, a knave fool, a fool politic.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. INNOCENTS, one of the INNOCENTS, a weak or simple person, man or woman.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

2. (American).—A corpse; a STIFF (q.v.).

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (American). A convict.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

THE MURDER (SLAUGHTER, or MASSACRE) OF THE INNOCENTS, subs. phr. (parliamentary). The abandonment, towards the end of a session, of measures whether introduced by the Government or by private members, when they would have no chance of passing. [11]

1859. Times, 20 July, p. 7, col. 3. The Leader of the House would have to go through that doleful operation called THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS, devoting to extinction a number of useful measures which there was not time to pass.

1860. Punch, xxxviii. 255. I brooded o’er my discontent, saying—The Notice-paper thins: Now that with early June begins THE MASSACRE OF INNOCENTS.

1870. London Figaro, 6 August. So vigorously has THE SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS been proceeding that the Appropriation Bill was read a first time in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

1871. Times, ‘Leader’ 9 May. THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS has begun.

1872. Saturday Review, 20th July. When the proposals of a member will stand the test of being expressed in a Bill, they are often of great value, and have an effect on legislation, and on the conduct of the Government, although they are MASSACRED WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER INNOCENTS at the end of the Session.

1879. Graphic, 9th July, p. 50. Formerly … THE MASSACRE OF THE INNOCENTS was chiefly confined to measures which owed their existence rather to individual and sectional enthusiasm than to the deliberate wishes of the nation.

Innominables, subs. (obsolete).—Breeches; trousers; INEXPRESSIBLES. For synonyms see BAGS and KICKS.

1834. SOUTHEY, The Doctor, p. 688. The lower part of his dress represented INNOMINABLES and hose in one.

Inside, subs. (common).—A passenger riding inside a vehicle. See OUTSIDE.

1816. SCOTT, Old Mortality, ii. A wheel carriage bearing eight INSIDES and six outsides.

d. 1820. G. CANNING, Loves of the Triangles, i. 178. So down thy hill, romantic Ashbourn, glides The Derby dilly, carrying six INSIDES.

1889. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. The INSIDES were terrified.

Adj. and adv. (colloquial).—Trustworthy; pertinent; in touch with; BOTTOM (q.v.). TO KNOW THE INSIDE OF EVERYTHING = to be well informed.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean. A secret service officer, who has just arrived from Washington on important business, claims to have INSIDE information as to the facts in the case.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 12 Nov., p. 6, col. 2. He saw everything and missed not the smallest incident or accident. The latter were few enough, but such as they were he was, so to speak, INSIDE of them without a falter.

INSIDE OF, subs. and adv. (colloquial).—Within the limit; in less time than.

1888. Missouri Republican, 22 Feb. He is very desperate, and INSIDE OF thirty days shot at four men.

1887. Hartford Courant, 13 Jan. Both animals had been killed INSIDE OF five minutes.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, chap. xi. He knocked the seven senses out of him INSIDE OF three rounds.

1890. W. C. RUSSELL, Ocean Tragedy, 74. Tain’t to be done in the INSIDE OF a month.

TO DO AN INSIDE WORRY, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

TO TAKE THE INSIDE OUT OF (a glass, a book &c.), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To empty; to GUT (q.v.).

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, iii. 1. Haven’t you TAKEN THE INSIDE OUT OF that quart of gatter yet?

TO BE ON (or TO HAVE) THE INSIDE TRACK, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be on the safe side; to be at a point of vantage; or (of a subject) to understand thoroughly. [12]

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE! phr. (old).—A toast: ‘the inside of a cunt and the outside of a gaol’.—GROSE (1823).

Insider, subs. (American thieves’).—1. ONE IN THE KNOW (q.v.).

2. (general).—One who has some special advantage, as in a business enterprise.

Inside-Lining, subs. (common).—Food: specifically in quot. See LINING. For synonyms see GRUB.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lond. Poor, i. 20. He was ‘going to get an INSIDE-LINING’ (dinner).

Inside-Squatter, subs. (Australian). A settler within the bounds of civilization: see OUTSIDE-SQUATTER.

Inspector of Pavements, subs. phr. (old).—1. A man in the pillory.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, ii. 97. Having once been made INSPECTOR OF THE PAVEMENT, or in other words ‘kidnapped on the stoop.’

2. (common).—A man out of work. Also INSPECTOR OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Fr. Inspecteur de monuments publiques.

Inspire, verb. (journalistic).—To impart a tone, possibly official, to the subject matter of a newspaper or magazine article.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 11 Sept. A paragraph obviously INSPIRED appears in a local journal this evening.

1889. Daily Telegraph, 14 Feb. All the INSPIRED papers keep laying stress upon this fact, which is significant.

Inspired, adj. (common).—1. Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

2. (journalistic).—See INSPIRE.

Institution, subs. (colloquial).—A practice; an idea; an invention; an established custom or usage.

1851. THACKERAY, English Humorists, p. 207. The pillory was a flourishing and popular INSTITUTION in those days.

1858. Times, April. The camels form an INSTITUTION of India.

Instrument, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 165]. Her viol-de-gamba is her best content; For ’twixt her legs she holds her INSTRUMENT.

Int, subs. (old).—A sharper.

1621. BRATHWAYTE, Clitus’s Whimzies, p. 12. His nipps, INTS, bungs and prinados.

1658. BRATHWAYTE, Honest Ghost, p. 231. Nips, and INTS, prinados etc.

Intense, adj. (colloquial).—Serious; soulful; ÆSTHETIC (q.v.); YEAR-NEST (q.v.).

1879. W. D. HOWELLS, Lady of the Aroostook, xiv. ‘Why Miss Blood you are INTENSE.’ ‘I don’t know what you mean by that’ said Lydia. ‘You like to take things seriously. You can’t bear to think that people are not the least in earnest, even when they least seem so.’

1889. DU MAURIER, English Society at Home, plate 49. Fair Æsthetic to Smith who has just been introduced ‘Are you INTENSE’?

Intimate, subs. (American thieves’).—A shirt.

TO BE IMPROPERLY INTIMATE WITH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To copulate outside marriage. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Intercourse, TO HAVE IMPROPER INTERCOURSE WITH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To possess a woman outside marriage. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE. [13]

Interesting condition (or Situation), TO BE IN A, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be with child.

1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, lxix. So that I cannot leave her in such an INTERESTING SITUATION, which I hope will produce something to crown my felicity.

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, lxxxi. I found myself in a fair way of being a mother; and that I might be near my own relations in such an INTERESTING SITUATION, etc.

1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, xxix. Mrs. Leuville was in an INTERESTING STATE.

Interfere, verb. (Western American).—To maltreat.

Interloper, subs. (old: now recognised).—An unlicensed trader; a smuggler; one who interferes, or intercepts unwarrantably. Also as in quot. 1690.

1627. MINSHEW, Dict., INTERLOPERS in trade.

1675. SIR W. TEMPLE, Letter, (To the Gov. and Compt. of Merchant Adventurers) 26 March. Whatever privileges are allowed your Company at Dort will be given at the other towns, either openly or covertly, to all those INTERLOPERS who may bring their manufactures directly thither.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. INTERLOPERS, Hangers on, retainers to, or dependers upon other folks; also Medlers and Busybodies, intruders into other Men’s Professions, and those that intercept the Trade of a Company, being not legally authorised.

1725. New Canting Dict., s.v.

Intercrural Trench, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum.—URQUHART. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Into. TO BE INTO A MAN, verb. phr. (common).—To pitch into him; to fight him.

Prep. (American).—‘Short of’; wanting: e.g. ‘I thought I did pretty well delivering all the load into one box’ (i.e., all but one box).

TO BE (or GET) INTO A WOMAN, verb. phr. (venery).—To possess a woman carnally. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Invade, verb. (venery).—To effect intromission; also, to lay hands on; TO GROPE (q.v.).

1684. DRYDEN, The Disappointment (Prologue). INVADE and grubble one another’s punk.

Invite, subs. (vulgar: once literary).—An invitation.

1615. SANDYS, Relation of a Journey, 305. The Lamprey swims to his Lord’s INVITES.

1778. D’ARBLAY, Diary, (1876) i. 73. Everybody bowed and accepted the INVITE but me.

1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, ‘Steam Excursion.’ Guest after guest arrived, the INVITES had been excellently arranged.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Merchant of Venice.’ To give all his old friends that farewell INVITE.

Inward, subs. (old).—1. An intimate.

1603. SHAKESPEARE, Measure for Measure, iii. 2. Sir, I was an INWARD of his: a shy fellow was the Duke.

1607. MIDDLETON, Michaelmas Term, ii. 3. He is a kind gentleman, a very INWARD of mine.

2. in pl. See INNARDS.

Irish, subs. (colloquial).—Irish whiskey; FENIAN (q.v.).

1893. H. CRACKENTHORPE, Wreckage, 125. ‘Mary, … a large IRISH for Mr. Hays here.’

TO GET ONE’S IRISH UP, verb. phr. (common).—To get angry. Also TO GET ONE’S DUTCH (or, in America, INDIAN) UP. [14]

Adj. (common).—An epithet expressive of contempt and derogation: as, THE IRISH-ARMS (or -LEGS) = thick legs. See MULLINGAR HEIFER.

NO IRISH NEED APPLY, phr. (American).—‘You’re not wanted’; GIT! (q.v.).

YOU’RE IRISH, phr. (common).—Said of any one talking unintelligibly.

Irish-Apricot, (Apple or Lemon), subs. (old).—A potato. For synonyms see MURPHY.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1825. Modern Flash Dict., s.v.

Irish-Assurance, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. IRISH APRICOTS … IRISH ASSURANCE, a bold forward behaviour; it is said a dipping in the Shannon annihilates bashfulness.

Irish-Beauty, subs. (old).—A woman with two black eyes.—GROSE.

Irishman’s-Dinner, subs. (common).—A fast. Cf. DINE OUT.

Irish-Evidence, subs. (old.)—A false witness. GROSE (1785).

Irish-Fortune, subs. (old).—A cunt and pattens.

Irishman’s-Harvest, subs. (London costers’).—The orange season.

Irishman’s-Hurricane, subs. (nautical).—A dead calm.

Irish-Pennants, subs. (nautical).—Fag ends of rope, rope-yarns etc.

Irishman’s-Reef, subs. (nautical).—The head of a sail tied up.—CLARK RUSSELL.

Irish-Rifle, subs. (common).—A small tooth-comb.

Irish-Rise (or Promotion), subs. (common).—A reduction in position or pay.

Irish-Root, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Irish-Theatre, subs. (military).—A guard room or lock-up in barracks. For synonyms see CAGE. Fr. maison de campagne.

Irish-Toothache, subs. (venery).—An erection of the penis. For synonyms see HORN.

Irish-Toyle, subs. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. IRISH TOYLES, c., the Twelfth Order of Canters: also Rogues carrying Pinns, Points, Laces, and such like Wares, and under pretence of selling them, commit Thefts and Robberies.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Irish-Wedding, subs. (old).—The emptying of a cesspool. See GOLDFINDER.—BEE (1823).

TO HAVE DANCED AT AN IRISH WEDDING, verb. phr. (common).—To have got two black eyes.

Irish-Whist, (WHERE THE JACK TAKES THE ACE), subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Iron, subs. (old).—1. Money. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1825. Mod. Flash Dict., s.v. [15]

2. (American thieves’).—Courage. For synonyms see SPUNK.

3. in pl. (thieves’).—Fetters. For synonyms see DARBIES.—BEE (1823).

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxxvii. I was kept in IRONS night and day for a month.

Verb. (old).—To flatter.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. IRONING, i.e. Irony e.g. ‘Bill Noon, you are one of the best in all England, for nollidge and for larning.’ Noon. ‘Nay, my Coney, now you’re IRONING me … all down the back’.

BAD IRON, subs. phr. (workmen’s).—Failure; misadventure; bad luck.

SHOOTING-IRON. See post.

THIEVING-IRONS. See post.

TO POLISH THE KING’S IRON WITH ONE’S EYEBROW, verb. phr. (old).—To look out of grated or prison windows.—GROSE (1785).

TO HAVE MANY IRONS IN THE FIRE (or ON THE ANVIL), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To carry out many projects at the same time, especially schemes for making money.

1593. G. HARVEY, Pierces Supererog. in Works ii. 330. It is some men’s fortune to have their handes full of vnneedefull businesse attonce: and for miselfe, I should make no great matter of two, or three such glowing IRONS IN THE FIRE.

1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, i. Aye, quickly, good mistress, I pray you; for I have both eggs on the spit, and IRON IN THE FIRE.

1622. CHAPMAN, Widows Tears, ii. 1. And you know, brother, I have other IRONS ON THE ANVIL.

1640. HOWELL, Dodona’s Grove, p. 38. Elaiana … hath divers nurseries to supplie, MANY IRONS perpetually IN THE FIRE.

1668. DRYDEN, An Evening’s Love, iv. 1. I have more IRONS IN THE FIRE: When I have done with you, I have another assignation.

1760–1. SMOLLETT, Sir L. Greaves, iii. Anthony Darnel had begun to canvass, and was putting every IRON IN THE FIRE.

1849. LYTTON, Caxtons, pt. VII. ii. He had other IRONS IN THE FIRE besides the ‘Literary Times’ and the ‘Confederate Authors’ Society’.

Ironbark, adj. (Australian). See IRONCLAD.

Iron-bound, adj. (old).—1. Laced with metal. IRON-BOUND HAT = A silver laced hat.—GROSE (1785).

2. (common).—A hard-baked pie.

Ironclad, subs. (American).—1. A paragon: as a severely chaste girl, popular play, song, horse, etc.

2. (common).—An iron-cased watch.

Adj. (common).—Strong; hard; unyielding. Also IRONBARK (q.v.).

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, chap. vi. I always thought he was IRONBARK outside and in.

Iron-cow. See COW.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Iron-doublet, subs. phr. (old).—1. A prison. For synonyms see CAGE.

1779. BAMFYLDE-MOORE CAREW, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (American thieves’).—Innocence.

Iron-horse, subs. (common).—1. A locomotive.

2. (cyclists’). A tricycle or bicycle.

1875. Echo, 29 Oct. Mr. S. started on his third day’s journey of the 650 miles ride on his IRON-HORSE. [16]

Ironmonger’s-shop. TO KEEP AN IRONMONGER’S SHOP BY THE SIDE OF A COMMON, WHERE THE SHERIFF SETS ONE UP, verb. phr. (old).—To be hanged in chains. For synonyms see LADDER.—GROSE (1785).

Iron-rations, subs. (nautical).—Tinned meat: specifically boiled salt-beef. See BULLY-BEEF.

Iron-toothpick, subs. (military).—A sword. For synonyms see POKER.

Irrigate, verb. (common).—To take a drink; to liquor up. For synonyms see DRINKS. Also TO IRRIGATE ONE’S CANAL.

1708. PHILIPS, Cyder, ii. Their frying blood compels to IRRIGATE their dry-furred tongues.

1892. JOHN HILL, Treason Felony, ii. 106. They went into the Hotel de Florence in Rupert Street and ate a seconda collazione or déjeuner à la fourchette, IRRIGATED with Barolo.

Isabella, subs. (rhyming).—An umbrella. For synonyms see MUSHROOM.

Island. TO DRINK OUT OF THE ISLAND, subs. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. ISLAND. He drank out of the bottle till he saw the island: the ISLAND is the rising bottom of a wine bottle, which appears like an island in the centre, before the bottle is quite empty.

Island of Bermuda.—See BERMUDAS.

Isle-of-Fling, subs. (East End). A coat. For synonyms see CAPELLA.

Issues. TO POOL ONE’S ISSUES, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To work in unison; to come to an understanding for mutual advantage.

Isthmus-of-Suez, subs. (Cambridge university).—The bridge at St. John’s College Cambridge, leading from the grounds to one of the Courts, familiarly known as the ‘Bridge of Sighs’. Also THE BRIDGE OF GRUNTS. [From its slight similarity to the Venetian example Sues = swine, in punning reference to the JOHNIAN HOGS (q.v.). See CRACKLE and HOG.]

1857. Punch, June 20. A resident Fellowe he was, I wis, He had no cure of Soules; And across ye BRIDGE OF SUES he’d come From playinge ye game of bowles.

1885. CUTHBERT BEDE, in N. & Q., 6, S. xi. 414. Another word is Sues, for swine. This is applied to the bridge leading from the old courts to the new, familiarly known as the BRIDGE OF SIGHS from its slight similarity to the Venetian example, but also known as the ISTHMUS OF SUEZ. This word Suez was then transformed to Sues, swine, to adapt it to its Johnian frequenters.

I subscribe, phr. (common).—A response to an invitation to drink. For synonyms see DRINKS.

I suppose, subs. (rhyming).—The nose.

1859. DU CANGE ANGLICUS, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. I gave him a blow with this neddy on the I-SUPPOSE.

It, subs. (common).—1. A chamber-pot.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bishop; chantie (Scots’); jerry; jordan; jerker; jockum-gage; lagging-gage; looking-glass; member-mug; mingo; piss-pot; po; smoker; smokeshell; tea-voider; thunder-mug; twiss.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un Thomas (popular: also la mère or la veuve Thomas = night-stool); la cassolette (popular = perfuming-pan); un dépotoir [17](thieves’: also a confessional or brothel); un gare l’eau (thieves’: cf. GARDY-LOO); un Jules (popular: also aller chez Jules = to ease oneself: prendre, pincer, or tirer les oreilles à Jules = to carry away the privy tub: passer la jambe à Jules = to assist at an IRISH WEDDING (q.v.): travailler pour Jules = to eat).

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Itch. TO HAVE AN ITCH IN THE BELLY, verb. phr. (venery).—To be sexually excited; to have a MUST (q.v.). Also TO ITCH.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer, Scoffed, 4th ed. 1725, p. 173. Why then to cure thy ITCHING, Jove, thou art now going a bitching.

1720. DURFEY, Pills to Purge etc., vi., 324. Each has an ITCH IN HER BELLY. To play with the scarlet hue.

Itcher (or Itching Jenny), subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Itch-Buttocks. TO PLAY AT ITCH-BUTTOCKS, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Giocar’aleua culo, to play at leuell coile or ITCH BUTTOCKES.

Itchland (or Scratchland), subs. (old).—1. Wales (B. E. 1690); 2. Scotland (New Cant. Dict. and GROSE 1785). ITCHLANDER = a Scot.

Itching-palm. See PALM.

Item, subs. (common).—A hint; a piece of news: (in gaming) a signal from a confederate; (American journalist) a paragraph of news; (thieves’) a warning.

d. 1680. GLANVIL, (quoted in Enc. Dict.). If this discourse have not concluded our weakness, I have one more ITEM of mine.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. ITEM. It was I that gave the ITEM that the traps were a coming.

1893. RUSSELL, Current Americanisms, s.v. ITEM. ‘To give an ITEM’, is to signal information to a confederate unfairly.

1864. KIMBALL, Was He Successful? 129. Otis is ITEM-man and reporter for the Clarion.

b. 1877. New York Spirit of the Times (quoted in BARTLETT). Keep your eyes skinned and your rifles clean, and the minit yer get ITEM that I’m back, set off for the cross roads.

Ivories, subs. (common).—1. The teeth. For synonyms see GRINDERS.

1782. MRS. COWLEY, Bold Stroke for a Husband, ii. 2 Gas. What, Don Sancho, who, with two-thirds of a century in his face, affects … to make you believe that the two rows of IVORY he carries in his head grew there.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. IVORIES. How the swell flashed his IVORIES: how the gentleman shewed his teeth.

1818–24. EGAN, Boxiana, iii. 253. So severe a blow on his mouth as to dislodge some of his IVORY.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 22. The Adonis would ne’er flash his IVORY again.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, lxvii. Chatter your old IVORIES at me, do you, you grinning old baboon.

1868. Orchestra, 20 Oct. Mr. Buckstone might let us off with what Bell’s Life would designate a rattling on the IVORIES.

1882. Punch, lxxxii, 185, 2. I never heard of him sluicing his IVORIES with what you call S. & B.

1889. Notes and Queries, 7, S. vii. 13 April, p. 292. I sometimes think that the attrition in which we so joyously indulge when we ‘sharpen’ our IVORIES may be easily overdone. [18]

2. (gaming).—Dice: also (cards’) checks and counters.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS, (for both genuine and false pieces). Bones; cogs; fulhams; devil’s teeth; devil’s bones; gourds; rattlers; tats; high men; low men; uphills.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les mathurins (thieves’); les maturbes (thieves’).

SPANISH SYNONYM. Hormiga.

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, 23, (ed. 1854). Suppose we adjourn to Fish Lane, and Rattle the IVORIES. What say you, Mr. Lobkins?

1864. G. A. SALA, Quite Alone, vii. Yes, I will promise you I will keep my head cool, and won’t touch IVORY to-night.

3. (billiards’).—The balls.

1888. Sporting Life, 28 Nov. On new premises … where erstwhile the click of IVORIES was heard.

TO FLASH THE IVORIES, verb. phr. (common).—1. To show the teeth.—GROSE (1785).

2. (medical).—To be dissected or ‘anatomised’ after execution, the skeleton being taken to the College of Surgeons; hence, to be hanged.

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, ii. ‘I want to make him an honour to his country and an ixciption to my family’ ‘Who all FLASHED THEIR IVORIES at Surgeon’s Hall’, added the metaphorical Dummie.

TO SLUICE (WASH or RINCE) ONE’S IVORIES, verb. phr. (common).—To drink.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, ii. 6. Mr. J. Sluice your dominos vill you? Green. Vot! I never plays at dominos—it’s too wulgar. Mr. J. Vy then, vash your IVORIES? Green. I’ve got no HIVERIES to vash. Mr. J. Drink vill you? dont you understand Hinglish?

Ivory-box, subs. (pugilists’).—The mouth. For synonyms see POTATO-TRAP.

1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. Harris countered heavily on Joseph’s IVORY BOX, a compliment which he at once returned, and with considerable interest.

Ivory-carpenter, subs. (common).—A dentist. For synonyms see SNAG-CATCHER.

Ivory-gate, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Ivory-thumper, (or Spanker), subs. (common).—A pianist.

Ivy-bush, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. IVY-BUSH. Like an owl in an IVY BUSH, a simile for a meagre, or weazle-faced man, with a large wig, or very bushy hair.

[19]

ab (or Job), subs. (colloquial American).—A prod; a poke; a stab.

1872. C. D. WARNER, Backlog Studies, 279. ‘Oh yes, I have,’ I cried, starting up and giving the fire a JAB with the poker.

1884. Detroit Free Press, 3 May, p. 5, col. 4. He gave each of the Epistles a vicious JAB with the cancelling stamp, and then tossed it into the mail-bag.

Verb. (colloquial American).—To handle harshly; to hustle; to prod or poke; to stab (with a pointed weapon).

1868. Putnam’s Magazine, Sept. (quoted by DE VERE). ‘The Missouri stoker pulls and JABS his plutonic monster as an irate driver would regulate his mule.’

1885. F. R. STOCKTON, Rudder Grange, iv. ‘Shall we run on deck and shoot him as he swims?’ I cried. ‘No,’ said the boarder, ‘we’ll get the boat-hook, and JAB him if he tries to climb up.’

1888. Denver Republican, 6 May. When it [hair] don’t twist easily she’s as like to JAB at it with her scissors and shorten it herself as trust it to anybody as knows how.

1889. Detroit Free Press, 5 Jan. Moses JABBED at him and ran the umbrella clean through him.

1890. Tit Bits, 26 April, p. 55, col. 3. If you JAB that umbrella in my eye again, you’ll get a broken head!

Jabber, subs. (old colloquial).—Chatter; incoherent or inarticulate and unintelligible speech (as a foreign language heard by one ignorant of it). See verb.

1706. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, I, v. 5. And stopp’d their bold presumptuous labour, By unintelligible JABBER.

1726. SWIFT, Gulliver’s Travels, ‘Gulliver, to his cousin Sympson.’ They use a sort of JABBER and do not go naked.

1827. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict. [Todd] s.v. JABBER, garrulity.… Bishop Fleetwood somewhere uses the word in his works; and it is still a colloquial term.

1854. Our Cruise in the Undine, p. 35. The JABBER began … and almost distracted us.

1879. JAS. PAYN, High Spirits (Aunt by Marriage). When one considers the packing, and the crossing the Channel, and the JABBER upon the other side of it, which not one in ten of us understands and the tenth only imperfectly.

1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, viii. Is it French or Queensland blacks’ JABBER?

Verb. (old: now recognised). See quots.

1543. BALE, Yet a Course, fol. 43, b. Censynge, Latyne, JABBERINGE.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JABBER, to Talk thick and fast, as great Praters do, or to Chatter, like a Magpye.

1716. ADDISON, Tory Foxhunter, [in Freeholder, No. 22, Mar. 5]. He did not know what travelling was good for but to teach a man to ride the great horse, to JABBER French &c.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. JABBER. [20]

1728. POPE, Dunciad, ii. 237. ’Twas chatt’ring, grinning, mouthing, JABB’RING all.

d. 1745. SWIFT, [quoted by JOHNSON]. We scorn, for want of talk, to JABBER Of parties.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JABBER … also to speak a foreign language; he JABBERED to me in his damned outlandish parlez-vous.

1853. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, vi. p. 82. A couple more of the same nation were JABBERING oaths and chattering incessantly.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. JABBER. To talk in an unknown language.

1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, xvii. We sallied forth arm in arm, he JABBERING incessantly.

1888. Daily Chronicle, 19 Oct. The woman said that he was a perfect stranger to her, and … JABBERED something she did not understand.

Jabberer, subs. (old: now colloquial).—One who JABBERS (q.v.).

1678. BUTLER, Hudibras, III., c. 2. T’out-cant the Babylonian labourers, At all their dialects of JABBERERS.

Jabbering, subs. (old: now colloquial).—Nonsense; indistinct and rapid speech; PATTER (q.v.).

1690. DURFEY, Collin’s Walk, C. IV., p. 183. With which, and wild Egyptian JABBERING, She got her Living without Labouring.

1720. DEFOE, Capt. Singleton, I., xi. Pray what are we the wiser for all their JABBERING?

Jabberingly, adv. (old: now colloquial).—Indistinctly; nonsensically.

Jabberment, subs. (old: now colloquial).—Nonsense; gibberish; JABBER (q.v.).

1645. MILTON, Colasterion [quoted in Enc. Dict.]. At last, and in good hour, we are come to his farewel, which is to be a concluding taste of his JABBERMENT in law.

Jabbernowl. See JOBBERNOWL.

Jabers (or Jabez). BE (or BY) JABERS (or JABEZ), intj. (common).—An oath.

1821. HAGGART, Life, 118. By JAPPERS! we were tould he was the boy.

1890. HUME NISBET, Bail up, p. 265. A head wind, BE JABBERS!

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 152. Arrah, BE JABBERS! but that’s the foinest song I have listened to since I left Ould Oirland.

Jack, subs. (old).—1. A farthing; also (American thieves’), a small coin.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. JACK.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall, p. 12, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict. s.v. JACK. He wou’d not tip me a JACK, Not a farthing wou’d he give me.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (old).—The small bowl aimed at in the game of bowls.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Cymbeline, ii. 1, 2. Was there ever man had such luck! when I kissed the JACK upon on upcast to be hit away!

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. JACK.

1726. BUTLER, Human Learning, Pt. 2. Like bowlers strive to beat away the JACK.

d. 1742. BENTLEY, [quoted by JOHNSON, 1755]. But if it, [a bowl] be made with a byass … it may … run spontaneously to the JACK.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JACK.

1811. Lex. Bal. s.v. JACK.

3. (old: now recognised).—A contrivance to assist a person in taking off his boots; a bootjack.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. JACK.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JACK.

4. (old: now colloquial).—The Knave in any of the four [21]suits in a pack of cards. Fr. le galuchet, or le larbin savonné or le mistigris.

1662. Rump Songs, ‘Rump Carbonado’d’. No admiral like an old Puritan JACK. A craftier knave you can’t find in the pack.

1754. MARTIN, Eng. Dict. 2nd Ed. Knave, … or a JACK at cards.

1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, viii. He calls the Knaves JACKS.

5. (old).—A post-chaise (GROSE 3rd ed. 1823).

6. (old: now recognised).—A pitcher varying in capacity: generally made of leather; a BLACK-JACK (q.v.).

1592. NASHE, Summer’s Last Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 59]. Rise up Sir Robert Toss-pot. [Here he dubs Will Summer with the BLACK-JACK.]

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 207]. A BLACK-JACK of beer and a Christmas pie.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. JACK.

7. (old).—A Jacobite. [In the quot. there is a punning reference to the flag, sense 13].

1723. SWIFT, Elegy, on Judge Boat, [Works, Aldine ed. iii. 96]. With every wind he sailed, And well could tack; Had many pendents, but abhorred a JACK.

8. (old).—A term of contempt. [The usage is common in most modern languages: e.g. Fr. Jean-guêtré = peasant, Jean-bête = ‘cabbage-head’, Jean-fesse or Jean-foutre = scamp; It. Gianni, whence ZANY; Sp. Juan, as bobo Juan = foolish John, &c.].

[See also many of the combinations following. TO PLAY THE JACK = to act the fool (or GOAT (q.v.)); CHEAP JACK = a peddling tradesman; JACK-FOOL (CHAUCER) = a thundering idiot; JACK-FRIAR = a HEDGE-PRIEST (q.v.); JACK-SLAVE = a vulgarian; JACK-BRAG = a boaster; JACK-SNIP = a botching tailor; JACK-STRAW = a low-born rebel; JACK-SPRAT = a mannikin; SKIP-JACK = an upstart; JACK-AT-WARTS = a little conceited fellow; JACK-IN-THE-BOX = the sacrament; JACK-UPALAND (CHAUCER) = a peasant].

1383. CHAUCER, Canterbury Tales [SKEAT (1894), p. 106]. ‘Go fro the window, JAKKE FOOL,’ she said.

1580. H. GIFFORD, Posie of Gilleflowers (GROSART 1875), ‘A delectable dream’, p. 113. I know some pepper-nosed dame Will term me fool and saucy JACK.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, ii. A mad-cap ruffian, and a swearing JACK, That thinks with oaths to face the matter out.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4. Nurse. An a’ speak any thing against me, I’ll take him down, an a’ were lustier than he is, and twenty such JACKS, and if I cannot, I’ll find those that shall.

1596. NASHE, Have with You, Wks. [GROSART]. Teaching it to do tricks, Hey come aloft, JACKE, like an ape over the chain.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 496]. Some scoffing JACK had sent thee.… To tell a feigned tale of happy luck.

1600. NASHE, Summer’s Last Will, in Works (GROSART, vi. 107). This sawcie upstart JACKE That now doth rule the chariot of the sun.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 101]. Scurvy in thy face, thou scurvy JACK.

1607. WILKINS, Enforced Marriage [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 488]. Shall I be crossed by such a JACK.

1611. DAVIES, Scourge of Folly, Wks. (GROSART, p. 39, Epig. 282). Such jocund JACKS as mock thee.

1621. BURTON, Anat. of Mel., 291. A company of scoffers and proud JACKS are commonly conversant and attendant in such places.

1636. T. HEYWOOD, Love’s Mistress, i. They call her Queen of Love, will know no other, And swear my Son shall kneel and call her mother. Cup. But Cupid swears to make the JACKS forsworn. [22]

1647. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Faithful Friend, i. 2. A company of quarrelling JACKS.… They say they have been soldiers, and fall out About their valours.

1653. BROME, Five New Plays, 403. The frumping JACKS are gone.

1677. WYCHERLEY, Plain Dealer, ii. Wid. Marry come up, you saucy familiar JACK!

1738. SWIFT, Polite Convers. Dial. 1. But, I swear, you are a saucy JACK to use such expressions.

9. (gaming).—A counter resembling in size and appearance a sovereign. Also HALF-JACKS. See quot.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc. i. 387. They are all made in Birmingham, and are of the size and colour of the genuine sovereigns and half sovereigns.… Each presents a profile of the Queen; but instead of the superscription ‘Victoria Dei Gratiâ’ of the true sovereign, the JACK has ‘Victoria Regina’. On the reverse, in the place of the ‘Britanniarum Regina Fid. Def.’ surrounding the royal arms and crown, is a device (intended for an imitation of St. George and the Dragon) representing a soldier on horseback—the horse having three legs elevated from the ground, while a drawn sword fills the right hand of the equestrian, and a crown adorns his head. The superscription is, ‘to Hanover,’ and the rider seems to be sociably accompanied by a dragon. Round the Queen’s head on the HALF JACK is ‘Victoria, Queen of Great Britain,’ and on the reverse the Prince of Wales’s feather, with the legend, ‘The Prince of Wales’s Model Half Sovereign.’

10. (common).—(a) A sailor: also JACK-tar, English-JACK, and Spanish-JACK. (b) An attendant at a boat-house. Also JACK-IN-THE-WATER (q.v.).

1788. C. DIBDIN, Poor Jack, ‘Song’. There’s a sweet little Cherub that sits up aloft, To keep watch for the life of poor JACK.

1867. Cassell’s Family Paper, 23 Feb. The old brigadier ordered the JACKS to storm.

11. (American schools’).—A stranger.

12. (old).—A male sweetheart; cf. GILL.

c. 1500. Babees Book, [E. E. T. S.], 22. And aryse up soft and stylle, And iangylle nether IAK ne IYLLE.

1592. SHAKSPEARE, Midsummer Nights Dream, iii. 2. JACK shall have Jill.

1620. PERCY, Folio MSS., p. 104. Yet there is neuer a IACKE for GILL.

13. (nautical).—The Union Jack; THE RAG (q.v.).

1652. In PREBLE, Hist. of the Flag, p. 151. In a paper dated Jan. 14, 1652 … it is ordered, ‘all the ships to wear JACKS as formerly’.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack Room Ballads, ‘The Rhyme of the Three Captains’. Now he floated the Gridiron, and now he floated the JACK.

14. (Old Cant).—A seal. See JARK.

15. (thieves’).—A policeman. For synonyms see BEAK and COPPER.

1889. RICHARDSON, Police, p. 320, s.v.

16. (Scots’).—See JAKES.

17. (venery).—An erectio penis. For synonyms see HORN.

18. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

19. (colloquial).—A male: as in the compounds JACK-HARE, JACK-CROW, JACK-ASS, JACK-RABBIT, etc.

1563. Appius & Virginius [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 151]. A gentleman?—nay, a JACK-HERRING.

1894. DE SOMERVILLE & ROSS, The Real Charlotte, i. 210. And I don’t care a JACK-RAT what he thought, or what you think either.

20. (old).—An ape. [23]

21. (old).—A peasant.

1513. DUNBAR, Poems (1883–4), i. 106. JOK that was wont to keep the stinks.

1589. NASHE, Anatomie of Absurdity, in Works [GROSART, i. 9]. They distinguish a gentleman from a … JACKE.

c. 1636. London Chanticleers, Sc. i. Thou believ’st that more may be gotten with a Good your worship to every JACK than a Sirrah, deliver your purse to the best lord i’ th’ land.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 122. Shall I invite … Some saucy, proud Numidian JACK, and humbly beg of him to take Æneas’ leavings.

Verb. (American).—1. To brand an unmarked yearling or MAVERICK (q.v.).

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, 211. Any owner of a large herd considers himself authorised to brand a maverick which he finds on or near his ranche, and this operation is called TO JACK a maverick.

2. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

3. (thieves’). To run away quickly. For synonyms see AMPUTATE.

TO LAY ON THE JACK, verb. phr. (old).—To thrash soundly; to scold in good round terms. For synonyms see BASTE and TAN.

1557–8. Jacob & Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii., 253]. If I wrought one stroke to-day, LAY me ON THE JACK.

1579. NORTH, Noble Grecians, p. 127. And that they should make no reckoning of all that bravery and bragges, but should stick to it like men, and LAY it ON THE JACKS of them.

TO MAKE ONE’S JACK, verb. phr. (American).—To succeed; to gain one’s point. [From the game of faro].

TO BE COPPERED ON THE JACK, verb. phr. (American).—To fail; to lose one’s point. [From the game of faro].

1878. J. H. BEADLE, Western Wilds, 46. He … staked a pile of ‘chips’ and won; then made and lost, and made and lost alternately, selling his stock, when ‘broke’, and scarcely ate or drank till the tail of his last mule was COPPERED ON THE JACK.

TO PLAY THE JACK, verb. phr. (old).—To play the rogue.

1609. SHAKSPEARE, Tempest, iv. 1. Your fairy … has done little better than PLAY THE JACK with us.

1612. ROWLANDS, Knave of Hearts, p. 20. [Hunterian Club Rept.]. Boy y’are a villaine, didst thou fill this Sacke? Tis flat, you Rascall, thou hast PLAID THE JACKE.

1668. PEPYS, Diary, Feb. 23. Who PLAYED THE JACKE with us all, and is a fellow that I must trust no more.

TO BE UPON THEIR JACKS, verb. phr. (old).—To have an advantage.

TO GET JACK IN THE ORCHARD, verb. phr. (venery).—To achieve intromission. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

EVERY MAN JACK (or EVERY JACK-RAG), phr. (common).—Every one without exception.

1845. DISRAELI, Sybil, VI, vi. There is none: my missus says that NOT A MAN JOHN of them is to be seen.

1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, viii. Sir Pitt had numbered EVERY MAN JACK of them.

1852. C. READE, Peg Woffington, viii. Send them (the children) to bed; EVERY MAN JACK of them.

1861. MISS BRADDON, Trail of the Serpent, iv, i. I knows EVERY MAN JACK of ’em, sir; and a fine staff they is.

1892. ANSTEY, Voces Populi, ‘Free Speech’, p. 103. Traitors, HEVERY MAN JACK of ’em. [24]

JACK-AT-A-PINCH, subs. (old).—A person employed in an emergency; a stop-gap: specially, a clergyman who has no cure, but on occasion officiates for a fee: cf. GUINEA-PIG.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew., s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1883. WHITCHER, Widow Bedott Papers, p. 27. The fact is, Miss Coon feels wonderfully cut up, because she knows that her husband took her JACK-AT-A-PINCH.

JACK-IN-A(or -THE)-BOX, subs. (old).—1. See quots.

1632. DEKKER, English Villanies, [quoted by NARES]. This JACKE-IN-A-BOXE, or this divell in mans shape, wearing (like a player on a stage) good cloathes on his backe, comes to a goldsmiths stall, to a drapers, a habberdashers, or into any other shoppe, where he knowes good store of silver faces are to be seene.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JACK-IN-A-BOX, c. a Sharper or Cheat.

1725. New Cant. Dict. s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal. s.v.

2. (old).—A child’s toy, consisting of a box out of which, on raising the lid, a figure springs.

1570. Satirical Poems of Reformation [S.T.S.], 1889–90, I, p. 163, l. 78. JAK-IN-THE-BOKKIS, for all thy mokkis.

1600. NASHE, Works [GROSART, 1885, vi. 149]. Close under a hedge, or under a house wall, playing JACK-IN-A-BOX.

1702. The Infernal Wanderer [quoted by NARES]. As I was thus walking my rounds, up comes a brother of the quill, belonging to the office, who no sooner made his entrance amongst the equitable fraternity, but up started every one in his seat, like a JACK IN A BOX, crying out Legit aut non Legit; To which they answer’d themselves, Non legit, my lord.

1878. GRENVILLE MURRAY, Round about France, p. 268. With the suddenness of a JACK-IN-THE-BOX.

3. (common).—A game in which some article, of more or less value, is placed on the top of a stick standing in a hole, and thrown at with sticks. If the article be hit so as to fall clear of the hole, the thrower takes it.

4. (thieves’).—A small but powerful kind of screw, used by burglars to open safes.

1848. ALBERT SMITH, Christopher Tadpole, ch. xiii. Take care of the JACK-IN-THE-BOX: there never was but two made.

5. (venery). The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

6. (old). See JACK-IN-THE-CELLAR.

7. (old.). A street-pedler.

1698–1700. WARD, London Spy [quoted in Century]. Here and there a JACK-IN-THE-BOX … Selling Cures for your Corns, Glass-eyes for the Blind &c.

8. (old).—The sacrament.

JACK-IN-OFFICE, subs. (common).—An over-bearing petty official; an upstart; a JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT (q.v.).

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JACK IN AN OFFICE … one that behaves himself imperiously in it.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JACK-IN-AN-OFFICE, an insolent fellow in authority.

1894. St. James’s Gazette, 27 Aug. p. 13. Radical Governments and their JACKS-IN-OFFICE seem to have a happy knack of making enemies.

JACK-IN-THE-CELLAR (or BOX), subs. (old).—A child in the womb; a HANS-EN-KELDER (q.v.). [25]

1765 SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, i. 65. When his companions drank to HANS IN KELDER, or Jack in the Low Cellar.

JACK-IN-THE-DUST, subs. (nautical).—A steward’s mate.

JACK-IN-THE-GREEN, subs. (common).—A chimney-sweep enclosed in a portable framework of boughs for the processions on the first of May: now mainly a thing of the past.

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT, subs. A pretender; an upstart; a JACK-IN-OFFICE (q.v.).

JACK-IN-THE-WATER, subs. (common).—An odd or handy man at a boat-house or landing stage: also JACK (q.v. sense 10).

JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES, subs. (common).—One who can (or pretends to be able to) turn his hand to any business: now usually in contempt, as ‘JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES and master of none’.

c. 1633. Lady Alimony, iv. 2. What else, you JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES?

c. 1636. London Chanticleers, Sc. ii. Any old pots or kettles to mend? Will you buy my ballads? Or have you any corns on your feet-toes? Nay, I am JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES now.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 193. For where Sir John with JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES joyns His finger’s thicker than the prelates’ loyns.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 229. An then, thy son, that hopeful piece, Apollo, JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES is.

1698–1700. WARD, London Spy, III, 59. He is by his Profession a Labourer to a Physician, but has made himself, by a curious inspection into Mysteries of Universallity a JACK OF ALL TRADES.

1857. HOOD, Pen and Pencil Pictures, 138. A JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES and master of none was Panurgus Pebbles … his shallow versatility was his bane.

1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, xxv. ‘I am my own engineer, and my own carpenter, and my own plumber, and my own gardener, and my own JACK OF ALL TRADES.’

JACK-OF-LEGS, subs. (old).—1. An extra tall man; a LAMP-POST (q.v.).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal. s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (old).—A large clasp knife. See JOCTELEG.

JACK-ON-BOTH-SIDES, subs. (old).—A neutral: also one who ‘hunts with the hounds and runs with the hare’; a FENCE-RIDER (q.v.).

1594. NASHE, Terrors of the Night, in Works [GROSART, 1885, iii. 252]. Like a craftie JACKE A BOTH SIDES.

1654. Witts Recreations [quoted by NARES]. Reader, John Newter, who erst plaid, The JACK ON BOTH SIDES, here is laid.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 140. Did I a factious covenant, subscribe, Or turn a JACK-ON-BOTH-SIDES for a tribe?

JACK-OUT-OF-DOORS, subs. (old).—A vagrant.

1634. WITHAL, DICT., p. 569. Neque pessimus neque primus: not altogether JACK OUT OF DOORES, and yet no gentleman.

JACK-OUT-OF-OFFICE, subs. (old).—A discharged official: in derision.

1592. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Henry VI, i. 1. But long I will not be JACK-OUT-OF-OFFICE.

1606. RICH, Farewell to Militarie Profession [quoted by NARES]. For liberalitie, who was wont to be a principall officer … is tourned JACKE OUT OF OFFICE, and others appointed to have the custodie.

1611. DAVIES (of Hereford), Scourge of Folly, in Works [GROSART, 1878, ii. 41]. He’s IACKE OUT OF OFFICE that John was in it. [26]

JACK-THE-PAINTER, subs. (Australian). A much adulterated green tea used in the bush.

1852. MUNDAY, Our Antipodes, [quoted in ‘Slang, Jargon, & Cant.’]. Another notorious ration tea of the bush is called JACK-THE-PAINTER.

JACK-THE-SLIPPER, subs. (thieves’). The treadmill. For synonyms see WHEEL OF LIFE.

TO JACK THE INTERIM, verb. (thieves’).—To be remanded.

TO JACK UP, verb. (common).—To clinch; to abandon; TO CHUCK; (q.v.); JACKED-UP = ruined; done for.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xix. Not but what I’d had a lot to bear, and took a deal of punishment before he JACKED UP.

1889. Answers, 23 March, p. 265, col. 2. When a man JACKS UP his work—will not do his tasks that is to say.

Jack Adams, subs. (old).—A fool. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. JACK ADAMS, a fool. JACK ADAMS’ Parish, Clerkenwell.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1812. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v.

Jack-a-dandy, subs. (old).—1. A little fop; a coxcomb; a DANDIPRAT (q.v.): also JACK DANDY. For synonyms see DANDY.

1632. BROME, Northern Lass, iii. 2. I’ll throw him into the dock rather than that he shall succeed JACK-O-DANDY.

1664. ETHEREGE, Comical Revenge, ii. 3, [in Works (1704) 28]. Leave her, she’s only worth the care Of some spruce JACK-A-DANDY.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JACK-A-DANDY, a little impertinent insignificant Fellow.

1795. R. CUMBERLAND, The Jew, i. ‘And when my monies is all gone, what shall I be then? An ass, a fool, a JACK-A-DANDY!’

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf., s.v. JACK-O’-DANDY … of Dandy manners, foolish, proud, and choleric as a turkey or dindon.

1839. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard, [ed. 1840], p. 141. ‘Because they’re in the next room, and the door’s shut; that’s vy, my JACK-A-DANDY!’ replied Abraham, unsuspiciously.

1881. J. B. HARWOOD, in Cassell’s Mag., Feb. 164. ‘I take it very unkind o’ you, Sir, to have gone tempting and luring my hands away to your own three mills, and be hanged to you for a JACK-A-DANDY, there!’

2. (rhyming). Brandy.

Jack-a-green. See JACK-IN-THE-GREEN under JACK.

Jack-a-lent, subs. (old).—1. A dapperling; a dwarf; and (2) a simpleton: also JACK-O’-LENT.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, iii. 3. You little JACK-A-LENT, have you been true to us?

1596. NASHE, Have with You etc. in Works [GROSART, 1882–3, iii. 78]. For his stature he is such another pretie JACK-A-LENT.

1602. COOKE, How to Choose a Good Wife [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 41]. That JACK-A-LENT, that ghost, that shadow, that moon in the wane.

Jackanapes, subs. (old colloquial).—An absurd fop; a whipper-snapper: a general term of reproach. JACKANAPES-COAT = a dandy-coat (PEPYS). [Originally, no doubt, a gaudy-suited and performing ape (the word is still good Scots for a monkey; cf. SCOTT, Redgauntlet); and, hence, by implication anybody at once ugly (or diminutive), showy, and impudent. Also a JACK-OF-APES [27]was a man who exhibited performing apes].

d. 1529. SKELTON, Poems, p. 160. He grins and he gapes, As it were JACK NAPES.

1543. BALE, Romish Foxe, fol. 92. He played JACK-A-NAPES swearynge by his tenne bones.

1567. EDWARDS, Damon and Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 60]. Away, JACKANAPES, else I will col’phise you by and by.

c. 1590–1600. ALEX MONTGOMERIE, Sonnets [ed. Irving, 1821] p. 97. Blind brutal Boy, that with thy bou abuses Leill leisome Love by Lechery and Lust, Judge, JAKANAPIS and Jougler maist unjust &c.

1596. NASHE, Have with You etc. in Works [GROSART, iii. 156]. Common marks for every JACKANAPES preacher to kick, spit, or throw dirt at.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, All’s Well &c., iii. 5. That JACKANAPES with scarfs.

b. 1602. Lingua [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 390]. This Invention is the proudest JACKANAPES … that ever breathed.

1604. MARSTON & WEBSTER, Malcontent, i. 3. Sir Tristam Tristam come aloft, JACKE-A-NAPES, with a whim-wham.

1612–13. TAILOR, Hog hath Lost his Pearl, ii. Malapert, my father’s butler, being a witty JACKANAPES, told me why it was.

1639. GLAPTHORNE, Argalus and Parthenia, in Wks. (1874), i. 38. Ladies shall beat thee to death … thou JACKANAPES.

1653. BROME, Five New Plays, 200. Thou art a JACKANAPES of the basest tricks that ever I saw for a halfpenny.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 180. Transformed myself (my pretty knave) Into these Man and Eagle’s shapes, To snap my little JACK-A-NAPES.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JACKANAPES, a Term of Reproach, a little sorry Whipper-snapper.

1712. Spectator, No. 311. I have myself caught a young JACKANAPES, with a pair of silver-fringed gloves, in the very fact.

1752. FOOTE, Taste (5th ed.) 33. Saucy JACKANAPES.

1775. SHERIDAN, Rivals, ii. 1. Nome of your sneering, puppy! no grinning, JACKANAPES!

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JACKANAPES … a pert ugly little fellow.

Jackaroo, subs. (Australian).—A fresh arrival from England: a NEW CHUM (q.v.).

1887. Chamber’s Journal, 23 April, 262. The JACKAROO … is the invariable local name, or rather nickname, given to those young men who are sent out to the Australian colonies from almost every part of the United Kingdom in order to learn sheep or cattle-farming—generally the former—as carried on at the Antipodes.

1881. A. C. GRANT, Bush Life, i. 53. The young JACKAROO woke early next morning, and went to look around him.

1889. E. W. HORNUNG, in London Society Holiday No ‘Bushed’. I had been in the colony but a few months, and was engaged as JACKEROO—that is, apprentice to ‘colonial experience’.

Jackass, subs. (colloquial).—A stupid ignoramus. For synonyms see BUFFLE, and CABBAGE-HEAD. Also JACKASSISM = stupidity.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, II, 268. Calling names, whether done to attack or to tack a schism, Is, Miss, believe me, a great piece of JACK-ASS-ISM.

Jackass-frigate, subs. (nautical).—A small slow-sailing frigate.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, xiii. He recommended me to the Captain of a JACKASS-FRIGATE … so called because there is as much difference between them and a real frigate … as there is between a donkey and a race-horse.

Jack-Cove, subs. phr. (American thieves’).—A mean low fellow; a SNIDE (q.v.).—MATSELL (1859).

Jack (or Tom) Drum’s Entertainment, subs. phr. (old).—Ill-treatment; ignominious dismissal: cf. STAFFORD LAW. [28]

1579. GOSSON, Schoole of Abuse, 22 (Arber’s ed.). Plato when he sawe the doctrine of these Teachers, neither for profite, necessary, nor to be wished for pleasure, gave them all DRUMMES ENTERTAINMENT, not suffering them once to shew their faces in a reformed common wealth.

1587. HOLINSHEAD, Hist. of Ireland. B. ii. col. i. cit. cap. His porter or other officer durst not for both his ears give the simplest man that resorted to his house, TOM DRUM’S ENTERTAINMENT, which is, to hale a man in by the head, and thrust him out by both the shoulders.

1592. GREENE, Groatsworth of Wit, in Works, xii, 129. And so giving him JACKE DRUMS ENTERTAINMENT, shut him out of doores.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller, in Wks. v. 26. I would give him JACKE DRUMMES ENTERTAINMENT, and send him packing.

1598. SHAKESPEARE, All’s Well, iii, 6. 41. If you give him not JOHN DRUM’S ENTERTAINMENT, your inclining cannot be removed.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Festin. Il a esté au festin de Martin Baston. He hath had a tryall in Stafford Court, or hath received JACKE DRUM’S ENTERTAINMENT.

1611. T. CORYAT, Extracts &c. [1776] iii. C. c. 3. Not like the ENTERTAINMENT OF JACKE DRUM, Who was best welcome when he went away.

1626. Apollo Shroving [quoted by NARES]. It shall have TOM DRUM’S ENTERTAINMENT, a flap with a fox-tail.

1649. JOHN TAYLOR, Wandering to see the Wonders of the West. Where the hostess being very willing to give me the courteous ENTERTAINMENT OF JACK DRUM, commanded me very civilly to get out of doors, for there was no room for me to lodge in.

Jacked, adj. (old).—Spavined; lamed.

Jackeen (or Dublin Jackeen), subs. (Irish).—A Dublin ’ARRY (q.v.). [From JACK + EEN, a suffix expressive of contempt or inferiority; a diminutive].

1894. DE SOMERVILLE & ROSS, The Real Charlotte, iii. 246. Don’t you remember what Mr. Baker said about me, ‘that you couldn’t expect any manners from a DUBLIN JACKEEN.’

Jacken-closer, subs. (old).—A seal.

1825. Modern Flash Dict., s.v.

Jackeries, subs. (Australian).—See quot.

1890. HUME NISBET, Bail Up, p. 123. The JACKERIES, i.e., favored station hands, cursed him.

Jacket, subs. (colloquial).—1. The skin of an unpared potato: generally in phrase ‘boiled in their jackets’.

1878. R. L. STEVENSON, Inland Voyage, p. 58. Some potatoes in their JACKETS.

2. (American).—A pinafore; a ROUNDABOUT (q.v.).

3. (American).—A folded paper, or open envelope containing documents, endorsed without as to the contents; a docket.

Verb. (old).—1. To cheat; to swindle; to betray.

1819. DE VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. JACKET.… This term is … properly applied to removing a man by underhand and vile means from any berth or situation he enjoys, commonly with a view to supplant him.

1823. GROSE (3rd ed.), Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (common).—To thrash; to beat. Also TO TRIM (or DUST or LACE) ONE’S JACKET. For synonyms see BASTE and TAN. See JACKETTING.

d. 1704. LESTRANGE [quoted by JOHNSON 1755]. She FELL UPON THE JACKET of the parson, who stood gaping at her.

1845. BUCKSTONE, Green Bushes, i., 1. I’ll DUST YOUR JACKET if you do that again. [29]

3. (American).—To enclose (a document) after scheduling within it other papers relating to the same subject; to docket.

1888. The American, 16 May. Another record was made in the book of the office of letters received and JACKETTED.

4. (American thieves’). To denote; to point out.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. JACKET. The fly cops pulled him, and allowed the flat cops TO JACKET him.

TO GIVE A RED-LACED JACKET, verb. phr. (old military).—To flog.

1871. Temple Bar, XXXI, 311. When soldiers used to be flogged more commonly than now, their commanders used to facetiously call it, GIVING THEM A RED-LACED JACKET.

TO LINE ONE’S JACKET, verb. phr. (old).—To eat or drink; to fill one’s stomach. For synonyms see GRUB.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, Il s’accoustre bien. He stuffes himselfe soundly, hee LINES HIS JACKET throughly with liquor.

PULL DOWN YOUR JACKET (or VEST), phr. (American).—Keep cool! don’t get excited! HOLD YOUR HAIR ON (q.v.)!

TO SEND IN ONE’S JACKET, verb. phr. (jockies’).—To resign; to deliver up one’s badge of office.

1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Finish, p. 222. ‘I presume you know the consequences of refusing?’ ‘I shall have to SEND IN MY JACKET, I suppose.’ The baronet nodded.

Jacketing, subs. (common).—A thrashing; a reprimand.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. & Lond. Poor, i. 92. I don’t work on Sundays. If I did, I’d get a JACKETING.

1862. MRS. H. WOOD, Channings, lvii. ‘You may look Mr. Tod but I’ll be after giving ye a JACKETING for ye’re pains.’

1871. Durham County Advertiser, 10 Nov. The quiet man told him about having found it, and got a JACKETING for not having come direct and reported it at once.

1883. Graphic, May 26, 531, 3. Who the moment before had been administering a vigorous JACKETING to him anent her neglected wardrobe.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xvi. I eased up, and he gave me a JACKETING.

Jacket-reverser, subs. (common).—A turncoat.

Jackey, subs. (old).—Gin. For synonyms see DRINKS and SATIN.

1811. Lex. Bal. s.v. JACKEY, Gin.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, p. 179. Taking her drops of JACKEY with old Mother Brimstone.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v.

1827. LYTTON, Pelham, [ed. 1864] p. 302. Well, you parish bull prig, are you for lushing JACKEY, or pattering in the hum-box.

1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, xxiii. The stuff itself, which in the western gin-shops goes generally by the name of ‘blue ruin’ or ‘short,’ is here called … JACKEY.

1878. W. S. GILBERT, Pinafore, i. I’ve snuff, and tobacky, And excellent JACKEY.

Jack-frost, subs. (colloquial).—A popular personification of frost; cf. JOHN FOG and TOMMY SNOW.

1888. Notes & Queries, 7 S.v. 109. This jubilee year of 1887 has not commenced very well with us sporting folk. JACK FROST, John Fog, and Tommy Snow, having formed themselves into a syndicate, spoilt all our Christmas steeplechasing and hurdle-racing.

Jack-gagger, subs. (American thieves’).—A man living on his wife’s prostitution; a married PONCE (q.v.).—MATSELL (1859).

Jack Ketch (or Kitch), subs. (old).—A hangman or executioner; a [30]DANCING-MASTER (q.v.); A TOPS-MAN (q.v.). [From a famous practitioner of that name (circa 1663–86). Before his time the office had been filled by men whose names each and all became popular colloquialisms: e.g. DERRICK (q.v.); GREGORY BRANDON (GREGORIAN TREE q.v.); DUN (q.v.).]

FRENCH SYNONYMS. L’adjoint (thieves’: the assistant); l’aricoteur (thieves’); le béquillard (thieves’); le béquilleur (thieves’); le bourreau (= the hangman); le buteur (thieves’); le Charlot (popular: les soubrettes de Charlot = Charley’s maids: cf. Monsieur de Paris: le panier à Charlot = Charley’s basket); le faucheur (popular: = the reaper); le mec des gerbiers (thieves’); l’Haricoteur (thieves’); le marlou de Charlotte (thieves’: = Lottie’s ponce); le mécanicien (pop.: = engine-driver); Monsieur de Paris (pop.: an official title); le père Rasibus (pop.: a play on raser = to shave); le tolle or tollart (thieves’); le rouastre (thieves’: = ‘sawbones’); le marieux; le lamboureur.

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Cattaron; cattarone.

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Caffler; malvechino.

1676. Darkmans Budge, verse 5. And we come to the Nubbing-Cheat, For running on the Budge, There stands JACK KITCH, that son of a Bitch.

1678. Broadside, ‘The Plotters’ Ballad, being JACK KETCH’S incomparable Receipt for the cure of Traytorous Recusants &c.

1682. DURFEY, Butler’s Ghost, p. 54. Till KETCH observing he was chous’d, &c.

1682. DRYDEN, Epil. to Duke of Guise, 30. ‘JACK KETCH,’ says I, ‘’s an excellent physician.’

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JACK KITCH, c, the Hangman of that Name, but now all his Successors.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1849–61. MACAULAY, Hist. Eng. v, Note. He (Monmouth) then encountered JACK KETCH, the executioner … whose name has, during a century and a half, been vulgarly given to all who have succeeded him in his odious office.

1856. C. READE, Never Too Late, lxx. ‘He will come back without fear, and we will nail him with the fifty pound note upon him: and then—JACK KETCH.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 109. The culprit had to ‘order his name to the BIBLE-CLERK,’ and that individual, with the help of Ostiarius, performed the office of JACK KETCH.

Verb. (old).—To hang.

1694. Gentlemen’s Journal, June, p. 147. JACK-KETCH thyself or cut thy throat.

JACK KETCH’S KITCHEN, subs. phr. (old). See quots.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 17. Over them is JACK KETCH his kitchen, where, in Pitch, Tar and Oil, he boils the Quarters of … Traitors.

1882. Fortnightly Review, xxxi, 798. ‘JACK KETCH’S KITCHEN’: A room in Newgate, where that honest fellow, the hangman, boiled the quarters of those executed and dismembered for high treason.

JACK KETCH’S PIPPIN, subs. phr. (old).—A candidate for the gallows; a GALLOWS-APPLE: cf. HEMPSEED.

Jack-leg, subs. and adj. (American).—Blackleg.

1888. Florida Times Union, 11 Feb. It seems that the State Bar Association is disposed to draw the line between attornies and JACK-LEG lawyers.

Jackman. See JARKMAN. [31]

Jack-Nasty, subs. (common).—A sneak; a sloven: cf. JACK-NASTY-FACE.

1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-Days, I. iii. Tom and his younger brothers, as they grew up, went on playing with the village boys, without the idea of equality or inequality (except in wrestling, running, and climbing) ever entering their heads, as it doesn’t till it’s put there by JACK NASTYS or fine ladies’ maids.

Jack-nasty-face, subs. (old).—1. A sailor; specifically a cook.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1884. G. A. SALA, in Ill. Lond. News, April 12, p. 339, col. 3. I should be glad to learn … why the cook’s mate is called ‘JACK-NASTY-FACE.’

2. (common).—A filthy or unpleasant-looking person: cf. JACK-NASTY.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JACK-NASTY-FACE—a dirty fellow.

Jack-pudding, subs. (old).—A serving merry-andrew; a low-class buffoon. Fr. jean-pottage (= jack-soup); Germ. Hans-wurst (= jack-sausage); Dutch, pickel-herringe; It. macaroni. Hence JACK-PUDDINGHOOD (WALPOLE) = buffoonery.

1650–51. MILTON, Defence of People of England, i. The extempore rhymes of some antic JACK-PUDDING may deserve printing better.

1653. ASTON COCKAINE. ‘On Mr. Richard Brome’s Playes.’ Our theatres of lower note in those More happy daies Shall scorn the rustic prose Of a JACK-PUDDING.

1664. ETHEREGE, Comical Revenge, iii. 4, in Wks. (1704), 35. He was JACK-PUDDING to a Mountebank, and turned off for want of wit.

1670. J. EACHARD, Contempt of the Clergy, in Arber’s Garner, vii, p. 265. Those usually that have been Rope Dancers in the Schools, oft times prove JACK-PUDDING in the Pulpit.

1672. W. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood, i. 2. He is a mere buffoon, a JACK-PUDDING.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Jan., p. 35. All its inhabitants are JACK-PUDDINGS born.

1757. FOOTE, The Author [1782], 46. A JACK-PUDDING! that takes fillips on the nose for sixpence a piece.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyricall, p. 50. So JACK-PUDDINGS joke, with distorted grimace, Benetting their gudgeons, the croud.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1795. R. CUMBERLAND, The Jew, iv. 2. Sheva. You are a saucy knave to make a joke of your master. Do you think I will keep a JACK-PUDDING in my house like you, to listen at my keyhole and betray my conversation.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, iii. The JACK-PUDDING to the company, whose business it was to crack the best joke, and sing the best song, he could.

1849. MACAULAY, Hist. of England, vi. Booth had bitterly complained to the Commons that the dearest of his constituents were entrusted to a drunken JACK-PUDDING.

1881. BESANT & RICE, Chap. of Fleet, pt. 1. They were again jocund, light-hearted, the oracle of the tavern, the jester and JACK PUDDING of the Feast.

Jack Randall, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A candle. [The name of a famous pugilist].

Jack Robinson, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

BEFORE ONE CAN SAY ‘JACK ROBINSON’, phr. (common).—Instantly; in the shortest possible time; IN TWO-TWO’S (q.v.).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JACK ROBINSON … a saying to express a very short time, originating from a very volatile gentleman of that appellation, who would call on his neighbours, and be gone before his name could be announced. [32]

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge [ed. 18.] p. 295. BEFORE YOU COULD SAY JACK ROBINSON, the pursuer’s starboard leg was whipped out of Jack Lennox’s clutches.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends [ed. 1842] p. 256. I have not a doubt, I shall rout every tout, ERE YOU’LL WHISPER JACK ROBINSON.

1846. Punch, xi. 9. Here it was he married my mother whose name was Robinson, whose ancestor was the famous JACK ROBINSON of whom is still retained a popular proverb relating to rapidity of expression.

Jackrum, subs. (old).—A marriage license.—Modern Flash Dict. (1825).

Jack-Sauce, subs. (old).—An impudent fellow; a SAUCE-BOX (q.v.).

1571. EDWARDS, Damon and Pitheas (DODSLEY, O. Pl., i. 271). Heere is a gay world! boyes now set old men to scoole: I sayd wel inough; what, JACK-SAWCE, think’st cham a fool?

1593. G. HARVEY, Pierce’s Super. in Wks. (GROSART) ii. 328. A JACK-SAUCE, or vnmannerly puppy.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 537]. Well, JACK-SAUCE, The rogue is waking yet to spoil your sport.

1599. SHAKESPEARE, Henry V, iv. 7. If he be perjured, see you now, his reputation is as arrant a villain, and a JACK SAUCE, as ever … trod upon God’s ground and his earth, in my conscience la.

1602. COOKE, How a Man may Choose a Good Wife etc. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 78]. Why, you JACK-SAUCE! You cuckold! you what-not!

1612. FIELD, Woman is a Weathercock, ii. 1. What say ye, JACK SAUCE.

1620. HALL, Honour of the Maried Clergie, ii § 12. Every JACK-SAUCE of Rome shall thus odiously dare to controll and disgrace it.

1633. JONSON, Tale of a Tub, iii. 1. Dame 7. Come up, JACK SAUCE.

1638. RANDOLPH, Muses’ Looking Glass, iv. 4. Such a JACK-SAUCE.

1659. MASSINGER, City Madam, iv. 2. Do you so, JACK SAUCE! I’ll keep them further off.

1702. VANBRUGH, False Friend, iii. 2. Why how now, JACK-SAUCE? why how now, Presumption?

1719. DURFEY, Pills &c. v. 287. A sword and buckler good and strong, To give JACK-SAUCE a rap.

Jack’s Delight, subs. phr. (common).—A sea-port strumpet. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

Jack-Shay, subs. (Australian).—A tin quart used for boiling tea, and contrived to hold a tin pint.

1881. GRANT, Bush Life [quoted in Slang, Jargon & Cant]. Hobbles and JACK-SHAYS hang from the Saddle-dees.

Jack-Sprat, subs. (old).—An undersized man or boy.—GROSE (1785).

1570. Wit and Science [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 39]. But what, no force, ye are but JACK SPRAT to me.

Jack-Straw, subs. (old).—1. A nobody; and (2) a dwarf. For synonyms see HOP-O’-MY-THUMB.

1596. NASHE, Have With You etc. in Works [GROSART] iii. 158. These worthless whippets and IACKE-STRAWES.

1629. Flyting of Polwarth and Montgomerie (Edin. Montgomerie’s Poems, 1885–6, i. 64). IACSTRO, be better anes ingined.

1672. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood, i. 2. You are a saucy JACK-STRAW to question me.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New. Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

JACK STRAW’S CASTLE, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. [33]

Jacksy-pardy, subs. (common).—The posteriors: also JACKSY PARDO. For synonyms see MONOCULAR EYEGLASS.

Jack Tar, subs. phr. (old).—1. A sailor; and (2) a hornpipe.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, i. 53. Our house in this place was chiefly supported by JACK TARS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1822. LAMB, Elia (Some old Actors). Displays before our eyes a downright concretion of a Wapping sailor—a jolly warm-hearted JACK TAR.

Jack Weight, subs. phr. (old).—A fat man; a FORTY-GUTS (q.v.).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jack-Whore, subs. phr. (old).—A large, masculine, overgrown wench.—GROSE (1785).

Jacob, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1753. The Thief-Catcher, p. 25. There are another sort of Rogues called JACOBS; these go with ladders in the Dead of the Night, and get in at the windows, one, two or three pair, of stairs and sometimes down the area.

2. (Old Cant.)—A ladder.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 12, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JACOB … to prig the JACOB from the dunckin-drag.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (old).—A soft fellow; a spooney; a fool.—GROSE (1785); DE VAUX (1819).

4. (venery).—The penis: cf. JACOB’S LADDER sense 2.

Jacobite, subs. (old).—A sham shirt; a DICKEY (q.v.); a shirt-collar.—B. E. (1690), GROSE (1785), MATSELL (1859).

Jacob’s Ladder, subs. phr. (originally theatrical: now general).—1. A longitudinal flaw in the leg of a pair of tights; now applied to any rent of which only the woof threads are left.

1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, xxx. Here he [a tramp] sat down on a milestone; and producing a remarkably neat housewife case, proceeded to overhaul all parts of his apparel with as much care and circumspection as if they had been of purple and fine linen, catching up any strong rents and JACOB’S LADDERS with a grave and deliberate countenance.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Jade, subs. (old).—1. An epithet applied to women: in contempt. [Originally a horse or man (CHAUCER): especially (1) one over-ridden or foundered; and (2) unsafe and full of tricks. Hence, by implication, a knavish, battered, or worn-out whore]. JADISH, adj. (NASHE) = malicious; tricky; untrustworthy.

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 172]. Iniquity. Gup, whore; do ye hear this JADE?

1592. BRETON, Pilgrimage to Paradise, p. 10. Earthly joys will make him prove a JADE.

1607. WILKINS, Enforced Marriage [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 550]. Whore, ay, and JADE.

1611. BARRY, Ram Alley, iv. Does the filthy JADE send to me for money?

1614. COOK, City Gallant [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), xi. 226]. She’s good for nothing then, no more than a JADE. [34]

1635. BROME, Antipodes, iv. 2. Some cowardly JADE That dare not strike a woman.

1647–80. ROCHESTER, Ramble in St. James’s Park, in Wks. (1728), 82. But to turn damned abandoned JADE, Whom neither head nor tail persuade.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 103. And (like a simple hair-brain’d JADE) This Youth hail Fellow with me made. Ibid. p. 105. At last a crew of strapping JADES, That were or should have been her Maids.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JADE a Term of Reproach given to Women, as Idle JADE, Lazy JADE, Silly JADE &c.

1712. STEELE, Spectator, No. 479. There are perverse JADES … with whom it requires more than common proficiency in philosophy to … live.

1714. ALLAN RAMSAY, Elegy on John Cowper, in Works (1848), i. 294. And she, poor JADE, withouten din Is sent to Leith-Wynd—fit to spin.

d. 1719. ADDISON, [quoted in Century]. You now and then see some handsome young JADES.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1770. FOOTE, Lame Lover, i. 1. Why, you pert JADE, do you play on my words?

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic etc., ‘Chastity’. Turn your face to that table, at once you will see What faces JADES wear.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1791. BURNS, Tam O’Shanter. A souple JAUD she was, an’ strang.

1807. CRABBE, Parish Register. To let an artful JADE, The close recesses of thine heart invade.

1863. LONGFELLOW, The Musician’s Tale. A faded old woman, a heathenish JADE.

2. (American thieves’).—A long term of imprisonment; a STRETCH (q.v.).

Jag, subs. (American).—A scrap; a load, parcel, or lot: e.g., a fare, a catch of fish, &c.

1692. HACKETT, Life of Archbishop Williams, 136. The latter of these two letters is come abroad; whereof, because it is in many hands, some JAGS will suffice to be recited.

1834. C. A. DAVIS, Major Downing’s Letters, p. 168. As there was very little money in the country, the bank bought a good JAG on’t in Europe.

1839. URE, Dict., iv. 376. The flint is sold by the one-horse load, called a JAG (in Suffolk, Eng.) and carted to the Knapper’s Shops.

1866. TROWBRIDGE, Coupon Bonds, p. 393. The wagon stood in the road, with the last JAG of rails still on it.

1888. Missouri Republican. One broker buying on a heavy order … occasionally caught a JAG of 2000 or 3000 shares.

2. (American).—A whim; a fancy.

3. (American).—Intoxication: e.g. TO HAVE A JAG ON = to be drunk.

4. (American).—A drunkard; a LUSHINGTON (q.v.).

Jagged, adj. (American).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Jagger, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A gentleman.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1859. DU CANGE ANGLICUS, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (common).—A hawker.

1888. Cassell’s Sat. Journal, 8 Dec, p. 261. He had a strong suspicion that the old coal JAGGER was an aider and abettor.

Jague, subs. (Old Cant.).—A ditch.

1622. HEAD & KIKMAN, English Rogue, ‘Canting Song’. Let Cove bing then, Thro’ Ruffmans, JAGUE or Laund.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1754. Scoundrel’s Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. [35]

Jail-bird, subs. (Old Cant: now recognised).—A prisoner; a CRACK-HALTER (q.v.).—[Cf. CAGE and CANARY].

1603. DAVIES (of Hereford), Microcosmus, in Works [GROSART], i. 991. ‘To the Lady Rich.’ But such a IAILE-BIRDE heavenly nightingale.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JAYL-BIRDS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial, 77. A new set of darbies, when first they are worn, Makes the JAIL-BIRD uneasy.

1849. MAHONY, Reliques of Father Prout (Bohn) p. 233. The fellow must be what Terry calls ‘a bad mimber intirely,’ what we English call a JAIL-BIRD; what the French denominate a ‘vrai gibier de grève;’ termed in Latin ‘corvus patibularius’; and by the Greeks, κακου κορακος κακον ωον.

Jakes, subs. (old colloquial).—A privy; a house of office. [Century: The occurrence of dial. johnny, a JAKES—‘also called Mrs. Jones by country people’ (HALLIWELL), with dial. Tom, a close-stool, suggests that JAKES was originally Jake’s or Jack’s, a humorous euphemism]. Also (Scots) JACK. See AJAX.

c. 1550. INGLELEND, Disobedient Child [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 276]. To … do as poor knaves, which JAKES do scour.

1596. NASHE, Have With You, etc., in Works [GROSART], iii. 196. I worse scorne it than to have so foul a JAKES as his mouth for my groning stool.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Condotto.… Also a conduite, a priuie, a IAKES, a sinke.

1605. CAMDEN, Remains, p. 307. Soloman, a Jew, fell into a JAXE at Tewkesbury on a Saturday.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Lear, ii. 2. I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the walls of a JAKES with him.

1641. MILTON, Apology for Smectymnuus. Christe himself, speaking of unsavory traditions scruples not to name the Dunghill and the JAKES.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 91. Thou here thyself most busie makes In building for the Queen a JAKES.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JAKES.

1728. POPE, Dunciad, i. 144. And ’scape the martyrdom of JAKES and fire.

1737. The Mobiad [quoted in N. & Q. 2 S. xi. 125]. Now Chiefs of haughty bosom supple stoop Ev’n to the JAKES to angle for a dupe.

1751–54. JORTIN, Remarks on Eccl. Hist., an. 379. Their tenets were an horrible confusion of all sorts of impieties, which flowed into this sect as into a JAKES.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Jakes-farmer, subs. (old).—An emptier of cesspools; a GOLD-FINDER (q.v.). Also JAKES-RAKER (SKELTON) and JAKES-BARRELLER.

1596. NASHE, Have With You, in Works [GROSART], iii. 196. Like a JAKES-BARELLER.

1606. MARSTON, Fawne, ii. 1. Nay, I will embrace a JAKES-FARMER, after eleven o’clock at night.

1613. CHAPMAN, JONSON & MARSTON, Insatiate Countess, ii. 2. Well, what time goes the JAKES-FARMER?

1615. SYLVESTER, Tobacco Battered &c., Wks., p. 575. Not scorning scullions, coblers, colliers, JAKES-FARMERS, fidlers, ostlers, oysterers.

1647. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Love’s Cure, ii. 1. Nay we are all signiors here in Spain, from the JAKES FARMER to the grandee, or adelantado.

Jam, subs. (common).—1. A sweetheart; a mistress: also BIT OF JAM. LAWFUL-JAM = a wife.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad. ‘Just the Identical Man.’ And he made this young girl feel queer When he called me his JAM, His pet and his lamb. [36]

c. 1886. Broadside Ballad. ‘Up they Go.’ There were three bits of JAM stepping out of the tram, So we tipped them a wink in a trice.

1889. HENLEY, Villon’s Good Night. Gay grass-widows and LAWFUL-JAM.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum: whence TO HAVE A BIT OF JAM = to copulate: cf. TART. Fr. sucre.

3. (racing).—A certainty of winning; clear profit: also REAL JAM.

4. (common).—Excellence; good luck; happiness. JAM-UP (adj. and adv.) = the pink of perfection; SLAP-UP (q.v.); BANG-UP (q.v.). Also REAL JAM.

1855. HALIBURTON, Nature & Human Nature, p. 273. Connubial bliss, I allot, was REAL JAM UP.

1882. F. ANSTEY, Vice-Versâ, xiv. ‘Ah!’ observed Dick. ‘I thought you wouldn’t find it all JAM! And yet you seemed to be enjoying yourself, too,’ he said with a grin, ‘from that letter you wrote.’

1889. The Mirror, 26 Aug., p. 6, col. 2. He’ll marvel at the rod you have in pickle For him who now considers you REAL JAM.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 56. Society’s lions’ wag their tails on the cheap, and that’s JAM.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads. ‘Oonts.’ It aint no JAM for Tommy.

5. (colloquial).—A crush; a crowd.

1812. J. & H. SMITH, Rejected Addresses. All is bustle, squeeze … and JAM.

1864. LOWELL, Fireside Travels, p. 111. The surest eye for … the weak point of a JAM.

1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July. ‘I knew that there would be such a JAM that I couldn’t get inside the door.’

6. (American thieves’).—A ring.—MATSELL (1859).

7. (gaming).—The pool at Nap, into which each dealer pays, the winner of the next nap taking the lot.

Adj. (common).—Neat; smart; spruce: cf. subs. sense 5.

Verb. (old).—To hang.—GROSE (1785).

Jamboree (or Jimboree), subs. (American).—A frolic; a SPREE (q.v.). For synonyms see FLARE-UP.

1872. Scribner’s Mag., iv. 363. There have not been so many dollars spent on any JAMBOREE.

James, subs. (thieves’).—1. A crowbar. For synonyms see JEMMY. Fr. un jacques.

1819. DE VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. JAMES.

1879. Macmillan’s Magazine, ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ xl. 503. I had the JAMES and screws on me.

2. (thieves’).—A sovereign or twenty shillings.

1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, III, xvii, 365. The firm that received most of his ‘favours’ was in the habit of pricing its ‘half-JAMES’ and JAMES (i.e., half and whole sovereigns) at 2/10 and 7/–.

1887. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail. I put a half JAMES in the hand and said ‘Guy!’

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xxi. He gives him the half-JAMES, and told him never to bother him more.

3. (common).—A sheep’s head: more frequently, when uncooked, BLOODY JEMMY (q.v.).

1827. Belcher’s Every Night Book, p. 38. Hear us, great JAMES, thou poetry of mutton; Delicious profile of the beast that bleats.

1870. London Figaro, 2 July. Club your pence, and you may attain to the glories of Osmazome and JAMES—that is, of baked sheep’s head. [37]

Jamie Moore. TO HAVE BEEN TALKING TO JAMIE MOORE, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To be drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Jammed. TO BE JAMMED, verb. phr. (old).—To meet with a violent death, by accident, murder, or hanging. See JAM, verb.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jammy.—See JAM, subs. sense 4 and JAM-UP.

Jampot, subs. (Australian).—1. A high collar.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Jam-tart, subs. (Stock exchange).—1. Exactly the market; buyers and sellers at the same.

2. (common).—A wife or mistress; a TART (q.v.).

Jams, subs. (common).—An abbreviation of JIM-JAMS (q.v.).

Jan, subs. (Old Cant).—A purse. For synonyms see POGE.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874) s.v.

Jane, subs. (thieves’).—A sovereign. For synonyms see CANARY.

1864. Times, 14 April, ‘Law Report.’ He had told me before I went out, that I could keep half a JANE. A JANE is a sovereign.

Jane-of-apes, subs. (old).—A pert forward girl; the counterpart of JACKANAPES (q.v.).

1624. MASSINGER, Bondman, iii, 3. Here’s JANE-OF-APES shall serve.

Jango, subs. (obsolete).—Liquor.

1721. RAMSAY, Lusky Spence’s Last Advice, in Wks. (1848), ii. 302. Drive at the JANGO till he spew.

Janizary, subs. (old). See quots.

1684. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 238. At door is received by some half-a-dozen JANIZARIES more, of the same brotherhood.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JANIZARIES … also the Mob sometimes so called, and Bailives, Sergeants, Followers, Yeomen, Setters, and any lewd gang depending upon others.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, March, p. 13. The aunt spied them in deep consult with all their JANIZARIES.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. JANIZARIES, a mob of pickpockets.

1895. H. B. MARRIOTT-WATSON, The Lady’s Chamber in New Review. lxxii, 489. And was out and away upon the turnpike to Uxbridge ere ever a JANIZARY were in sight.

Jannock (or Jonnock), adj. (provincial).—Sociable; fair; just; straightforward; conclusive.

1843. MONCRIEFF, Scamps of London, ii. 2. You’ll act JANNOCK surely.

1871. Times, 4 Nov. When a gentleman, began by blowing his own trumpet, it was not altogether JANNOCK.

1878. HATTON, Cruel London, VIII, ii. ‘Honour bright, no kid, as we say in London, JANAK, as we say in the North?’

TO DIE JANNOCK, verb. phr. (old).—To die with bravado.

1882. FENNELL, Antiq. Chronicle, ‘Collection of Old Words,’ July, p. 25, s.v.

Janusmug, subs. (American thieves’).—A go-between; an intermediary between a thief and a receiver.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jap, subs. (colloquial).—A Japanner (PURCHAS) or Japanese. [38]

Japan, verb. (common).—1. To ordain: TO BE JAPANNED = to take orders.

1756. Connoisseur, 29 Jan. Jack … sent me a very hearty letter, informing me that he had been double JAPANNED (as he called it) … and was the present incumbent of.…

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JAPANNED … to put on the black cloth, from the color of the Japan ware which is black.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 5. Lobsters will lie such a drug upon hand, That our do-nothing Captains must all get JAPANNED.

1852. BRISTED, Five Years in an English University, 344. Many … step … into the Church without any pretence of other change than in the attire of their outward man, on being JAPANNED, as assuming the black dress and white tie is called in University slang.

1879. JAMES PAYN, High Spirits (Change of Views). He … was to be JAPANNED in a fortnight. That was the expression which, I am grieved to say, he used, in those unregenerate days, for the ceremony of ordination.

2. (American thieves’).—To convert: TO BE JAPANNED = to be converted.—MATSELL (1859).

3. (common).—To black one’s boots. Fr. sabouler. Also to JAPAN ONE’S TROTTER-CASES.

1712. GAY, Trivia, [quoted by JOHNSON]. And aids with soot the new JAPANNING art.

1734. POPE, Satire, iii, 156. Prefer a new JAPANNER to their shoes.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. JAPAN. To black and gloss shoes. A low phrase.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 171. With Courtier-like bowing the shoe-cleaners call, And offer their Brush, Stool and shining Blackball: ‘JAPANNING, your Honour’, these Colourists plan; And, really, some Honours may want a JAPAN.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xviii. 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.

Japanese Knife-trick, subs. phr. (common).—Eating with one’s knife.

Jappers. See Jabers.

Jape, verb. (old).—To copulate. Formerly (CHAUCER) = to trifle; to scoff. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1510. Hycke Scorner [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 171]. Nay, brother, lay hand on him soon; For he JAPED my wife, and made me cuckold.

1530. PALSGRAVE. I IAPE a wench, i.e. fout and i.e. bistocque, it is better to IAPE a wench than to do worse.

1540. LYNDSAY, Thrie Estaitis, in Works (1879), ii. 23. line 324. There is ane hundred heir sittand by That luiffis GEAPING als weill as I.

c. 1550. A. SCOTT, Poems (1821), p. 26. Sum gois so gymp in gyis Or sche war kissit plane, Sche leir be JAPIT thryis.

1568. Bannatyne MSS. [Hunterian Club Rept. vi. 764]. ‘The Vse of Court.’ His wyfe JAIPPIT, his siller spendit.

1572. GASCOIGNE, Councell … to Master … Withipoll (CHALMERS, ii. 533). First, in thy journey JAPE not overmuch.

1589. Puttenham. Art of Eng. Poesie, B. iii, ch. 22. Such wordes as may be drawen to a foule and unshamefast sense, as one that should say to a young woman, I pray you let me JAPE with you, which is indeed no more than let me sport with you.… For it may be taken in another perverser sense.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, Fottere, to JAIPE, etc.

b. 1600. Grim the Collier etc. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 389]. Heard you not never how an actor’s wife, Whom he (fond fool) lov’d dearly as his life, Coming in’s way did chance to get a JAPE.

1602. SPEGHT, in Wks. of CHAUCER. ‘Hard Words of Chaucer Explained’, s.v. [39]

Jargonelle, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Jargoozle, verb. (common).—To mislead; to lead astray; to BAMBOOZLE (q.v.).

Jark, subs. (Old Cant.).—1. See quot. It. tirella. Also JACK.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A JARKE, a seal.

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London, in Wks. (GROSART, iii, 102). Which license they (beggars) call a gybe, and the Seales to it, JARKES.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, xxv. He knows my gybe [pass] as well as the JARK [seal] of e’er a queer cuffin [justice of peace] in England.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (common).—A watch. For synonyms see TICKER.

3. (Oxford University and general).—A safe-conduct pass; a JASKER (q.v.).

1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, xxix. Stay, gentlemen, … this is a JARK from Jim Radcliffe.

TO JARK IT, verb. phr. (old).—To run away. For synonyms see AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE.—BEE (1823).

Jarkman, subs. (Old Cant).—A begging-letter writer: a fabricator of false characters, counterfeit-passes, and certificates.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 60. For as much as these two names, a IARKEMAN and a Patrico, bée in the old briefe of vacabonds, and set forth as two kyndes of euil doers, you shall vnderstande that a Iarkeman hathe his name of a Iarke, which is a seale in their Language, as one should make writinges and set seales for lycences and pasporte.

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London, sig. C. 3, (ed. 1608). There [are] some in this Schoole of Beggers that practise writing and reading, and those are called JARKMEN [old ed. JACKMEN]: yea, the JARKMAN is so cunning sometimes that he can speake Latine; which learning of his lifts him vp to aduancement for by that means he becomes Clarke of their Hall, and his office is to make counterfeit licenses, which are called gybes, and to which he puts Seales, and those are termed JARKES.

1622. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, ii, 1. And then, what name or title e’er they bear, JARKMAN or Patrico.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, iii, 5. No JARKMAN, be he high or low.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jarrehoe, subs. (Wellington College).—A man-servant. Cf. GYP and SCOUT.

Jarvel, subs. (old).—A jacket.

Jarvey (or Jarvis), subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A hackney coachman.

1811. Lex. Bal., JARVIS, s.v.

1819. DE VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. JERVIS.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JARVY.

1835. BEULER, The Devil and the Hackney Coachman. ‘JARVIE! JARVIE!’ ‘Here I am your honor’.

1837. CARLYLE, French Revolution, II, iv. 3. The glass coachman waits, and in what mood! A brother JARVIE drives up; enters into conversation; is answered cheerfully in JARVIE dialect etc.

1845. DISRAELI, Sybil, V, vii. I pity them ere JARVIES a sitting on their boxes all the night and waiting for the nobs what is dancing. [40]

1851–61. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, iii, 360. He didn’t take the corners or the crossings careful enough for a regular JARVEY.

1882. SERJ. BALLANTINE, Experiences, ch. ii, p. 19 (6th ed.). The driver [of a hackney-coach] was called a JARVEY, a compliment paid to the class in consequence of one of them named Jarvis having been hanged.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 16 Dec. The assembled Londoners placed more faith in the real four-wheeler, the grey horse, and the loquacious JARVEY.

2. (old).—A hackney coach.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, 11. 4. A rattler … is a rumbler, otherwise a JARVEY … better known perhaps by the name of a hack.

1835. T. HOOK, Gilbert Gurney, iii. 1. I stepped into the litter, … at the bottom of the JARVY.

1838. GLASCOCK, Land Sharks & Sea Gulls, i, 203. And now … was Waddy seen to enter a JARVEY, and to drive from the Temple Court.

1865. G. F. BERKELEY, My Life, i. 275. Dan McKinnon slipped through the windows of the first, and so on out of the others till the whole string of JARVIES were bumping in procession to the destination, having no one in them.

Jasey (or Jazey), subs. (old).—1. A worsted wig. COVE WITH A JAZEY = judge.

1789. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 172. Wig, JASEY.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Jerry Jarvis’s Wig’. With an infrenzied grasp he tore the JASEY from his head. Ibid. ‘The Coronation’. All jools from his JASEY to his di’mond boots.

1841. Punch, i. 208. If you only see his big cock’d hat, Stuck up on the top of his JAZY.

1842. LEVER, Jack Hinton, iii. The head would have been bald but for a scanty wig, technically called a JASY, which shrunk by time, merely occupied the apex of the scalp.

1869. THACKERAY, Lyra Hibernica, ‘Molony’s Lament.’ When spring with its buds and its dasies, Comes out in her beauty and bloom, Them tu’ll never think of new JASIES.

1895. Sporting Times, No. 1653, p. 9. There is nothing to be ashamed of in wearing a JASEY.

2. (American thieves’).—A man with an enormous quantity of hair upon his head and face.—MATSELL (1859).

Jasker, subs. (American thieves’). A seal.—MATSELL (1859). Cf. JARK.

Jason’s Fleece, subs. phr. (Old Cant.).—A citizen cheated of his gold.—B. E. (1690); GROSE (1785).

Jaum, verb. (thieves’).—To discover.

1821. HAGGART, Life, 57. McBean … JAUM’D a scout on the chimney-piece.

Jaw, subs. (vulgar).—Abuse; chatter; impudence; any sort of talk. HOLD (or STOW) YOUR JAW = hold your tongue. ALL JAW, LIKE A SHEEP’S HEAD = nothing but talk.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Chin-music; gab (or gob); lingo; lip lobs; patter; snaffle.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Le debérage (popular); une coup de gaffe (general); la jactance (thieves’); la jappe (popular); le jaspin (thieves’).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Canzonamento; contrapunto (= counterpoint).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Champarrado; chapurrado; dichido.

1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, iii. ‘None of your JAW, you swab’ … replied my uncle.

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xxxii. Desiring him to do his duty without farther JAW. [41]

1753. FOOTE, Englishman in Paris (1783), 15. Hold your JAW, and despatch!

1771. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, p. 47. O my love, though I cannot well JAW.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JAW, speech, discourse.

1825. TODD, Eng. Dict., s.v. JAW. In low language, gross abuse.

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, xvi. Hand me the brandy and cease your JAW.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge, 256. Bring the felt, you spalpeen, and no JAW.

1852. H. B. STOWE, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, viii. ‘Stop that ar JAW o’ yourn, there’ said Tom gruffly.

1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Hamlyn, xxvi. Stop your JAW about him!

1874. E. LYNN LINTON, Patricia Kemball, xxi. ‘Dora, I and my father have had a JAW’, Sydney began.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 41. He’s ALL JAW LIKE A SHEEP’S HEAD.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. 2. 2. He had audibly expressed his disgust that some fellows should have all the JAW to themselves.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v. JAW.

1892. S. WATSON, Wops the Waif, i. I’ll hev yer run in … if yer don’t hold yer JAW.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 68. These stuckuppy snipsters as JAW about quiet and peace.

Verb. (vulgar).—To chatter; to abuse; to use violent language. Fr. faire péter son grelot or jouer du mirliton.

1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, xxiv. They JAWED together fore-and-aft a good spell.

1760–61. SMOLLETT, Sir L. Graves, Bk. II. i. You might give good words, however: an we once fall a-JAWING, d’ye see, I can heave out as much bilge-water as another.

1825. TODD (JOHNSON), Eng. Dict. s.v. JAW. In low language, to abuse grossly.

1843. THACKERAY, Irish Sketch Book, ii. Why should four waiters stand and JAW, and gesticulate among themselves, instead of waiting on the guests?

1862. LOWELL, Biglow Papers, ii. p. 61. But, neighbour, ef they prove their claim at law, The best way is to settle, an’ not JAW.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 8 Feb., p. 3, col. 1. If I was to JAW till a blue moon, I couldn’t tell you more about her.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. She’ll lick both of us and JAW father all the evening.

TO JAW ON THE TOBY (or DRUM) verb. phr. (tramps’).—To go on the road.

Jawbation, subs. (old).—1. A general CONFAB (q.v.); a JAWING-MATCH. See JOBATION.

2. (colloquial).—A scolding.

Jawbone, subs. (American).—Credit; DAY (q.v.). TO CALL ONE’S JAWBONE = to live on credit, or RUN ONE’S FACE (q.v.).

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To run one’s face; to get a light; to give (or strike) on the mace; to mace it; to get on sock (or, on the nod), to go tick.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Avoir l’arche; avoir l’ardoise (= TO CHALK IT UP); le crôme or croume (tramps’); grésillonner (= to ask credit); avoir l’œil (general); la symbole.

1862. Times, 21 Oct. (San Francisco correspondent). Individuals, who, in digger’s parlance, live on JAWBONE.

Jawbreaker (or Jawtwister) subs. (common).—1. A hard or many-syllabled word. JAWBREAKING = difficult. [42]

1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, xx. I’d rather hear the Cruiskeen Lawn … as my old friend … could sing [it] than a score of your high Dutch JAWBREAKERS.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 27. ‘I can’t tumble to that barrikin’, said a young fellow; ‘it’s a JAWBREAKER.’

1872. Chambers’ Miscellany, No. 152, p. 2. The most JAWBREAKING poly-syllables were cleared in a flying gallop.

1883. Illustrated London News, 8 Dec., p. 551, col. i. Such tedious talk, such sledge-hammer humour, and JAW-CRACKING jokes.

2. (pugilists’).—A hard punch on the whisker.

Jaw-cove, subs. (American thieves’).—1. An auctioneer; and (2) a lawyer.—MATSELL (1859).

Jawhawk, verb. (American).—To abuse; to vilify; TO JAW (q.v.).

1890. Scribner’s Magazine, p. 242. ‘He’d ev shot him, if he hadn’t skedaddled.’ ‘Well, sir! What fur?’ ‘Oh, jest JAWHAWKIN’ a Yank and burnin’ his heouse down.’

Jawing- (or Jaw-) tackle, subs. (nautical).—The organs of speech. TO HAVE ONE’S JAWING TACKS ABOARD (or TO CAST-OFF ONE’S JAW-TACKLE) = to talk fluently.—CLARK RUSSELL. JAWING-MATCH = wordy warfare.

1859. C. READE, Love me Little, xxii. Ah! Eve, my girl, your JAWING-TACKLE is too well hung.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, xviii. Chap. 6 proves from the JAWING-MATCH and set-to etc.

Jaw-smith, subs. (colloquial).—An orator; also a loud-mouthed demagogue. [Originally an official ‘orator’ or ‘instructor’ of the Knights of Labor—St. Louis Globe Democrat, 1886].

Jay (or J), subs. (common).—1. A simpleton. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 21 Sept., p. 3, col. 1. The amateur gamblers—youths of sixteen or seventeen, and flats or JAYS—are the chief patrons of faro.

1890. Punch, 22 Feb. She must be a fair J as a mater.

TO PLAY (or SCALP) ONE FOR (or TO FLAP) A JAY, verb. phr. (common).—To dupe; to swindle. See FLAP. Fr. rouler dans la farine.

1890. GUNTER, Miss Nobody, p. 25. Telling in broken English how he SCALPED THE Eastern JAY.

2. (old).—A wanton. It. putta.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, iii, 3. Go to, then;—we’ll use this unwholesome humidity, this gross watry pumpion;—we’ll teach him to know turtles from JAYS!

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Cymbeline, iii, 4. Some JAY of Italy, Whose mother was her painting, hath betray’d him.

3. (theatrical).—An amateur; a poor actor.

Jayhawker, subs. (political American).—A freebooter; a guerilla: specifically a marauder during the Kansas troubles and since extended to all bandits.

1887. G. W. CABLE, Century, xxxiii, 360. He and his father are catching the horses of the dead and dying JAY-HAWKERS.

Jeames, subs. (common).—1. A footman; a flunkey.

1845–6. THACKERAY, Jeames’ Diary. [Title].

1857. THACKERAY, Virginians, xxxvi. That noble old race of footmen is well nigh gone … and Uncas with his tomahawk and eagle’s plume, and JEAMES with his cocked hat and long cane, are passing out of the world where they once walked in glory. [43]

1876. J. GRANT, One of the Six Hundred, xv. Where, doubtless, she and her family would be on a Sunday, in their luxuriously-cushioned pew, attended by a tall JEAMES in plush, carrying a great Bible, a nosegay, and gold headed cane.

1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Mirror, 30 Jan., p. 6, col. 3. The JEAMESES and Allplushes who frequent that part of the town.

1892. Tit Bits, 19 Mar, p. 421, col. 1. Mutton-chop whiskers … are now little seen, save on the physiognomy of JEAMES Yellowplush.

2. (obsolete).—The Morning Post newspaper.

Jeff, subs. (circus).—A rope.

1854. DICKENS, Hard Times, vi. Tight-JEFF or Slack-JEFF, it don’t much signify; it’s only tight-rope and slack-rope.

Verb. (American printers’).—To gamble with ‘quads’, as with dice.

1888. American Humorist. He never set any type except in the rush of the last day, and then he would smouch all the poetry, and leave the rest to JEFF for the solid takes.

Jeffy, subs. (American thieves’).—Lightning.—MATSELL (1859).

IN A JEFFEY. See JIFFEY.

Jegger.—See JIGGER.

Jehu, subs. (common).—A coachman; a driver. [From 2 Kings ix, 20].

1660. J. CROUCH, Return of Chas. II, p. 9. Now the restored Rump, JEHU-like, drives on.

1681. DRYDEN, The Medal, 119. But this new JEHU spurs the hot mouthed horse.

1694. CONGREVE, Double Dealer, iii. 10. Our JEHU was a hackney coachman, when my Lord took him.

1759. GOLDSMITH, The Bee, No. 5, p. 388 (Globe ed.). Our figure now began to expostulate: he assured the coachman, that though his baggage seemed so bulky, it was perfectly light.… But JEHU was inflexible.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JEHU.

1841. MACAULAY, Comic Dramatists of the Reformation [quoted in Century]. A pious man … may call a keen foxhunter a Nimrod … and Cowper’s friend, Newton, would speak of a neighbour who was given to driving as JEHU.

1846–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, vii. The worthy Baronet whom he drove to the city did not give him one single penny more than his fare. It was in vain that JEHU appealed and stormed.

1855. LADY HOLLAND, Sidney Smith, vi. She soon … raised my wages, and considered me an excellent JEHU.

1860. Punch, iii. 177. The JEHUS who drive.

1889. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. For some time past the JEHUS of Paris have betrayed a lamentable ignorance of metropolitan topography.

Jelly, subs. (common).—1. A buxom, good-looking girl: also ALL JELLY. Cf. Scots JELLY, = excellent or worthy.—‘A JELLY man well worthy of a crown’.—SHIRREFS, Poems, (1790) p. 33.

d. 1758. RAMSAY, To Lieutenant Hamilton, in Wks., iii. 47. A JELLY sum to carry on A fishery’s designed.

2. (venery).—The seminal fluid. For synonyms see CREAM.

1622. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, iii. 1. Give her cold JELLY To take up her belly, And once a day swinge her again.

d. 1631. DONNE, Progress of the Soul, st. xxiii. A female fish’s sandy roe With the male’s JELLY newly leaven’d was.

Jelly-bag, subs. (venery).—1. The scrotum. For synonyms see PURSE.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. [44]

Jelly-belly, subs. (common).—A fat man or woman; a FORTY-GUTS (q.v.).

Jem, subs. (Old Cant.).—A gold ring: RUM-GEM = a diamond ring.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jemima, subs. (common).—A chamber-pot; a URINAL (q.v.). For synonyms see IT.

Jeminy! (or O Jeminy!), intj. (common).—See GEMINI.

1686. DURFEY, Commonwealth of Women, Epil. OH JEMMINY! what is the cause of that?

1880. BESANT and RICE, Seamy Side, xxii. ‘OH, JEMINY!’ says the judge—crafty old man, that!—‘here’s artfulness!’

Jemminess. See JEMMY.

Jemmy (or Jimmy), subs. (common).—I. A short crowbar, usually made in sections screwing together, used by housebreakers. Also JAMES (q.v.).

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bess; betty; crow; dog; Jack-in-the-box; James; jilt; lord-mayor; persuading plate; pig’s-foot; the stick; screw (also a skeleton key); tivvill; twist; twirl.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Les agobilles (thieves’ = house-breaking tools); les alènes (pop: = shoemakers’ awls); l’avant-courier (thieves’); le bataclan (= the kit); le cadet (thieves’); l’enfant; Jacques (= JEMMY); sucre de pomme (thieves’); le biribi; le rigolo; les halènes (see alènes, ante); le monseigneur (Cf. LORD MAYOR); les outils (= tools).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Culebra (= adder).

1752. Adventurer, No. 100. And when I went out, carried in my hand a little switch, which, as it has been long appendent to the character that I had just assumed, has taken the same name, and is called a JEMMY.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JEMMY. A crow. This instrument is much used by housebreakers. Sometimes called JEMMY ROOK.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xx. She presently returned with a pot of porter and a dish of sheeps’ heads: which gave occasion to several pleasant witticisms on the part of Mr. Sikes, founded upon the singular coincidence of JEMMIES, being a cant name, common to them, and also to an ingenious implement much used in his profession.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (Nell Cook), They call for crowbars—JEMMIES is the modern name they bear.

1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, iv, 339. Expert burglars are generally equipped with good tools. They have a JEMMY, a cutter, a dozen of betties, better known as picklocks.

1888. Saturday Review, 15 Dec., p. 719. One side of slang was illustrated by the burglar Casey in a well-known case of robbery in the City some years ago, who explained in Court that the big JEMMY with which iron shutters were prised open was called the ‘Alderman,’ adding, ‘it would never do to be talking about crowbars in the street.’

1890. Daily Graphic, 7 Jan., p. 14, col. 4. He saw the prisoner leaving, and he detained him until a constable arrived. A JEMMY was found in the back yard.

1890. Standard, 7 Ap., p. 6, col. 3. During the chase the Prisoner threw away a JEMMY, a lantern, and a key.

1892. Globe, 10 May, p. 2, col. 1. Opening a front door with … a JEMMY.

1894. Westminster Gazette, 31 March, 5, 2. Police constable Skeggs said there were marks of a JEMMY on the window and the front door. [45]

2. (common).—See quots.; cf. SANGUINARY JAMES and BLOODY JEMMY.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JEMMY (bloody)—a sheep’s head; so called from a great dealer in these delicious morceaux.

1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 41. The man in the shop, perhaps, is in the baked JEMMY line.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xx. [See ante, sense 1, quot. 1837].

1843. MONCRIEFF, Scamps of London, ii. I shall stand a JEMMY and sauce at Mother White’s.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. &c. ii, 48. They clubbed together for a good supper of tripe, or had a ‘prime hot JEMMY’ apiece.

1884. HENLEY & STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, iv, 1. You’re all jaw like a sheep’s JIMMY.

3. (common).—A shooting coat; also a great coat.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. ii. Your friend in the green JEMMY.

4. (common).—A term of contempt. ALL JIMMY = all rot.

Adj. (common).—1. Spruce; dandified. JEMMINESS = spruceness; neatness.

1754. Connoisseur, No. 19. The JEMMY attorney’s clerk,—the prim curate.

1767. Gentleman’s Mag., Sept. A cute man is an abbreviation of acute … and signifies a person that is sharp, clever, neat, or, to use a more modern term, JEMMY.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JEMMY-FELLOW.

1800. WHITER, Etym. Magn., p. 359. To this race of words I must refer our vulgar term JEMMY.

1788. G. A. STEVENS, Adv. of a Speculist, vol. i. p. 11. He … once was as smart a fellow as ever stood toast-master, dressed as JEMMY … as e’er a commoner in all England.

d. 1800. PEGGE [quoted by TODD]. Perhaps the new word JEMMY should be GIMMY.

1825. TODD, Eng. Dict. s.v. JEMMY, spruce. A low word.

1840. CHAMBERS, Land of Burns, Div. N. I must tell you that Burns had got a pair of JEMMY boots for the journey.

2. (common).—A term of contempt. See subs., sense 4.

Jemmy Ducks, subs. phr. (nautical).—The ship’s poulterer; also BILLY DUCKS.

1880. HARWOOD, [U. S. N.] Mess Table Chat. As to chanticleer, the keeper of the live-stock, JEMMY DUCKS, had long ceased to regard him as worthy of his solicitude.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailors’ Language, s.v.

Jemmy Jessamy, subs. phr. (old).—A dandy. For synonyms see DANDY. Also as adj.

1753. Adventurer, No. 100. The scale, however, consists of eight degrees; Greenhorn, JEMMY, JESSAMY, Smart, Honest Fellow, Joyous Spirit, Buck, and Blood.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 139. Macaronies so neat, Pert JEMMIES so sweet, With all their effeminate brood.

1788. G. A. STEVENS, Adv. of a Speculist, i. 24. With ladies when JEMMYS and JESSAMYS mix.

1853. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, xiii, 180. This was very different language to that she had been in the habit of hearing from her JEMMY JESSAMY adorers.

1853. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, i. 19. My dear young lady readers may know … what a courage and undaunted passion he had. I question whether any of the JEMMY-JESSAMINES of the present day would do half as much in the face of danger.

Jemmy and Jessamy; subs. phr. (American).—A pair of lovers.—MAITLAND. [46]

Jemmy-john, subs. (common).—A demijohn.

1861. MARSH, Lectures on the English Language, (q.v. for Etymology from Damaghan a town in Khorassan, once famous for its glass works).

1873. T. B. ALDRICH, Marjorie Daw &c. p. 76 (TAUCHNITZ). ‘A gill o’ wather out of a JIMMY-JOHN ’d fuddle him, mum.’

Jemmy O’Goblin, subs. phr. (theatrical).—A sovereign. For synonyms see CANARY.

Jenkins’ Hen. TO DIE LIKE JENKINS’ HEN, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To die unmarried.

1805. A. SCOTT, Poems, ‘The Old Maid’, p. 87. I ance had sweethearts nine or ten, And dearly dawted wi’ the men.… But Oh! the DEATH OF JENKINS’ HEN, I shudder at it.

Jenny, subs. (colloquial).—1. A she-ass.

2. (thieves’).—A small crowbar; formerly BETTY or BESS (q.v.); also a hook on the end of a stick.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JENNY, an instrument to lift up a grate, and whip anything out of a shop window.

1725. New Cant. Dict. s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (billiards’).—A losing hazard into the middle pocket off a ball an inch or two from the side cushion.

4. (popular).—A hot water bottle.

Jennylinda, subs. (rhyming).—A window.

Jeremy Diddler, subs. phr. (common).—A SHARK (q.v.); a shabby swindling borrower.

1803. KENNEY, Raising the Wind. [Among the Dramatis Personæ, is JEREMY DIDDLER].

1840. LYTTON, Money, iv. 5. Blount. And he borrowed £700 of me! Gloss. And £600 of me! Sir John. And £500 of me! Stout. Oh! a regular JEREMY DIDDLER!

1843. THACKERAY, Irish Sketch Book, xiii. As for trade, there seemed to be none: a great JEREMY-DIDDLER kind of hotel stood hard by, swaggering and out-at-elbows.

1857. THACKERAY, Virginians, xxxi. Poor JEREMY DIDDLER calls about eleven o’clock for another half-sovereign.

1895. St. James’s Gazette, 15 June, p. 13. Your deeply obliged, JEREMY-DIDDLER.

Jericho, subs. (old).—1. A place of concealment or banishment; latterly and specifically, a prison: e.g. as in phr. GO TO JERICHO = Go to the devil. [Generically, a place of retirement, cf. 2 Sam. x: 4 and 5].

1635. HEYWOOD, Hierarchie, iv. p. 208. Bid such young boyes to stay in JERICHO Untill their beards were growne, their wits more staid.

1648. Mercurius Aulicus quoted in Athenæum. Nov. 14. 1874, p. 645. Let them all GOE TO JERICHO, And ne’er be seen againe.

1758. A. MURPHY, The Upholsterer, ii. He may GO TO JERICHO for what I cares.

1775. D’ARBLAY, Diary (1876), Vol. i. p. 167. I should wish all my new friends AT JERICHO.

1857. THACKERAY, Virginians, xvi. ‘She may go to Tunbridge, or she may go to Bath, or she may GO TO JERICHO for me.’

2. (common).—A watercloset. For synonyms see Mrs. JONES.

3. (Oxford university).—A low quarter of Oxford. [47]

1853. REV. E. BRADLEY, [‘CUTHBERT Bede’], Verdant Green, p. II. ch. iii. It was darkly whispered that the purlieus of JERICHO would send forth champions to the fight.

FROM JERICHO TO JUNE, phr. (common).—A long distance.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends. His kick was tremendous … he would send a man from JERICHO TO JUNE.

Jerk, subs. (common).—1. In pl. = delirium tremens. For synonyms see GALLON-DISTEMPER.

2. in pl. (American).—Religious paroxysm.

1874. E. EGGLESTON, Circuit Rider, xii. These Methodis’ sets people crazy with the JERKS.

3. (old).—A retort; a jest; a quirk.

1653. BROME, Mad Couple well matched [in Five Newe Playes], p. 13. I charge you meddle not with my wife: you have had two or three JERKS at her.

4. (old).—A stripe; a lash with a whip. Hence JERKING (or YERKING), adj. = lashing; stinging; JERK, verb. = to lash; and TO CLY the JERK (Old Cant) = to be whipped at the post.

1557–8. Jacob and Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 194]. Come on, ye must have three JERKS for the nonce.

1597. HALL, Satires, ii. 6. He must ask his mother to define, How many JERKES she would his breech should line.

1598. MARSTON, Satyres, iii. Ne’er YERKING him with my satyric whip.

1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight (GROSART, Wks.), iii. 203. If we heave a Booth we straight CLY THE JERK.

1653. BROME, The Damoiselle, in Wks. (1872), ii. 448. I’ faith she JERKED that humour out of me.

5. (various).—A common verb of action, especially if rapid.

[Some combinations are: TO JERK THE CAT = to vomit; TO JERK THE TINKLER = to ring the bell; TO JERK ONE’S JUICE or JELLY (also TO JERK OFF) = to masturbate; TO JERK CHINMUSIC = to talk; TO JERK A POEM, ARTICLE OR BOOK = to write; TO JERK A GYBE = to counterfeit a license; JERKED, or JERKED TO JESUS (American) = hanged; IN A JERK = instantly; DR. JERK = flogging schoolmaster.]

1622. HEAD & KIRKMAN, English Rogue. A Jybe well JERKED.

1651. On Dr. Gill, Master of St. Paul’s School. In Paul’s Churchyard in London, There dwells a noble Ferker. Take heed, you that passe, Lest you taste of his Lash, For I have found him a JERKER.

1752. FOOTE, Taste (1781). The child has been two years and three quarters at school with Dr. JERK near Doncaster.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. JERK. To strike up; to accost eagerly … is mere cant.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 161. Put wine into wounds You’ll be cured in a JERK.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist. JERK THE TINKLER.… These words in plain English conveyed an injunction to ring the bell.

1872. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, p. 332. The thing I’m now on is to roust out somebody to JERK a little chin-music for us.

Jerker, subs. (common).—1. A tippler. For synonyms see LUSHINGTON.

2. (common).—A chamberpot. For synonyms see IT.

3. (nautical).—A steward.

4. (streets’).—A prostitute. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART. [See quot., but possibly, also, from JERK OFF = to masturbate].

1887. WALFORD, Antiquarian, p. 252. A JERKER is a loose woman of the streets, and possibly comes from ‘jerk’ to accost eagerly. [48]

Jerkey, subs. (American).—A roughly-made vehicle; a BONE-SHAKER (q.v.).

Jeroboam, subs. (common).—1. A four-fold measure of wine; a double-MAGNUM (q.v.); one especially apt to ‘cause Israel to sin’ [See 1 Kings, xi. 28]. Also a large bowl or goblet.

1880. H. S. CUMINGS, (quoted in Century). The corporation of Ludlow formerly possessed a JEROBOAM which was used as a … loving cup.

2. See JERRY sense 1.

Jerran, adv. (Australian).—Concerned.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, chap. 41. When I saw the mob there was I didn’t see so much to be JERRAN about.

Jerry, subs. (common).—1. A chamber-pot; a JEROBOAM. For synonyms see IT.

2. (old).—A hat: formerly TOM & JERRY HAT (q.v.); a hard, round hat; a POT-HAT.

1841. Punch, i. 98. 2. Displaying to the greatest advantage those unassuming castors designated JERRYS.

1864. LE FANU, Uncle Silas, viii. A rather fat and flashily equipped young man, with large, light whiskers, a JERRY HAT, green cutaway coat.

3. (printers’).—A celebration of the completion of indentures. Fr. un roulance.

4. (thieves’).—A watch. For synonyms see TICKER. Fr. une babillarde.

1889. RICHARDSON, Police, p. 321. .v.

5. (thieves’).—A fog, or mist.—DE VAUX (1819).

Adj. (common).—As an adjectival prefix JERRY is frequently used in contempt: e.g. JERRY-GO-NIMBLE, JERRY-SHOP, JERRY-BUILDER (all which and others see). [An abbreviation of Jeremiah: perhaps a Restoration jibe upon the Puritan use of Old Testament names; but see JERRY-BUILDER].

Verb. (common).—To jibe; to chaff with malice.

Jerry-builder, subs. (common).—A rascally speculating builder. JERRY-BUILT, adj. = run up in the worst materials. [The use of the term arose in Liverpool circa 1830].

1883. Daily Telegraph, 23 Mar., p. 6, col. 1. But the JERRY BUILDER is a man of enterprise and energy, and promptly showed himself equal to the occasion. Ibid. Ap. 5, p. 2, col. 1. ‘Houses, of the JERRY-BUILT sort especially, when the builders have a difficulty in raising money to finish ’em, are singularly liable to catch fire.’

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 15 Feb., Two lumps of plaster, fall from the roof of the JERRY-BUILT palace; then the curse begins to work.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday, 3 Aug., p. 242, col. 3. ‘Well, sir,’ said a JERRY BUILDER, ‘I don’t think as ’ow it’s right on you to be a-runnin’ the house down as you do.’

1889. Daily Chronicle, 15. Feb. The vestries and district local boards, in fact, have been dominated too much by JERRY-BUILDERS and house-jobbers.

1891. Sportsman, 21 April, p. 2, col. 1. She lives in a JERRY-BUILT house.

1891. J. NEWMAN, Scamping Tricks, 119. It was in the days when every JERRY-BUILDER thought he was a railway and dock contractor.

1893. St. James’s Gazette, 2 Nov., p. 4, col. 2. All this loss of life and all this fearful suffering are to be laid at the door of scamping JERRY-BUILDERS or of careless employers.

Jerrycummumble, verb. (old).—To shake; to tumble about; to towzle.—GROSE (1785). [49]

Jerry-getting (or NICKING, or STEALING).—Stealing watches.

1888. Tit-Bits, 17 Nov. Watch stealing, or JERRY GETTING, as the thieving fraternity designate the operation, is carried on to a considerable extent all the year round.

Jerry-go-nimble, subs. (old).—1. The diarrhœa; the BACK-DOOR-TROT (q.v.); the COLLYWOBBLES (q.v.). Formerly THOROUGH-GO-NIMBLE (q.v. for synonyms).

1734. CAREY, Chrononhotonthologos, sc. 3. Now … for a swingeing lye.… Say she has got the THOROUGH-GO-NIMBLE.

2. (old.)—An antic; a JACK-PUDDING (q.v.).

1884. HENLEY & STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, iii, 3. You’re a man of parts, you are, you’re solid, you’re a true-born Englishman; you ain’t a JERRY-GO-NIMBLE like him.

Jerry Lynch, subs. (common).—A pickled pig’s-head.

Jerrymander, subs. (political).—See GERRYMANDER and add following quots.

1871. Pall Mall Gazette, 4 Mar. Wonderful adepts in the art of JERRYMANDERING.

1872. Globe, 19 July. JERRYMANDERING is not to be numbered with the other novelties imported into our political system from America.

1883. Echo, 7 Dec., p. 1, col. 5. The Marquis of Salisbury, in a recent speech, attributed the origin of what he called JERRYMANDERING to an individual called Jeremiah Manders. This is a fair example of the Marquis’s accuracy, neither one nor the other of these names being correct.

1883. H. FAWCETT, in Daily News, Nov. 9, p. 3, col. 2. If equal electoral districts were introduced, the success of political parties would mainly depend on skilfully manipulating, from time to time, the boundaries of boroughs. This is so well known in the United States that this manipulation has been elevated into a fine art, and is known there as JERRYMANDERING.

Jerry-shop, subs. (old).—A beer-house. Also JERRY.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, ii. p. 255. An advance of 5/- made to him by the keeper of a beer-shop, or, as he called it, a JERRY.

Jerry-sneak, subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1763, the origin of the phrase.

1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garrett, Dramatis Personae. JERRY SNEAK, a henpecked husband.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 177. He is always at home Sir John Brute to his wife, Abroad, JERRY-SNEAK to his drab.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1821. COMBE, Syntax, Wife, C. I. I know, my friend, that you inherit A portion large of manly spirit, That you would ne’er be brought to speak In humble tone of JERRY SNEAK.

1845. SURTEES, Hillingdon Hall, ii. 6 (1888). A poor, little, henpecked, JERRY SNEAK of a husband.

1830. JOHN POOLE, Turning The Tables, sc. iii. A poor JERRY SNEAK, as they took me to be.

2. (thieves’).—A watch thief. Cf. JERRY.

Jerry-wag, subs. (old).—A SPREESTER (q.v.) especially one half drunk.—BEE (1823). JERRY-WAG-SHOP = coffee shop.

Jersey-Lightning, subs. (American).—Cider brandy.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, p. 415. Known … in the pretentious form of Apple-john in New England it has the terrible name of JERSEY LIGHTNING farther south.

Jerusalem! intj. (common).—An exclamation of surprise. GO TO JERUSALEM! = GO TO JERICHO (q.v.). [50]

JERUSALEM THE GOLDEN, subs. phr. (common).—Brighton; Cf. HOLY OF HOLIES.

Jerusalem-pony, subs. (common).—1. An ass.

1842. Punch, iii, p. 168, col. 2. We saw a JERUSALEM PONY in Clare market yesterday.

1846. THACKERAY, Cornhill to Cairo, xv. Here we alighted upon donkeys.… We had a JERUSALEM PONY race into Cairo.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 28. Sometimes a party of two or three will be seen closely examining one of these JERUSALEM PONIES.

1876. HINDLEY, Cheap Jack, p. 215. The proper thing is to have a real JERUSALEM PONY, i.e. donkey.

2. (clerical).—A needy clergyman helping for hire. Cf. GUINEA-PIG.

Jessamy. See JEMMY JESSAMY.

1684. R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 279. That they may not poison their JISSAMY barbers.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 190. By terror of parents, or tempted by gain, The lady resigns to some JESSAMY swain.

Jesse (or Jessie or Jessy). TO GIVE (or RAISE) JESSE, verb. phr. (American). To rate with vigor; to thrash. For synonyms see BASTE and TAN.

1847. ROBB, Squatter Life, p. 33. Well, hoss, you’ve slashed the hide off ’er that feller, touched his raw, and rumpled his feathers,—that’s the way to GIVE HIM JESSY.

1854. HALIBURTON (Sam Slick), in BARTLETT. Allen was GIVING HIM PARTICULAR JESSE.

1857. St. Louis Republican (quoted by BARTLETT). They all say that the Mormons are going to GIVE US JESSIE.

1867. Campaign with General Price, p. 27. Well, gentlemen, I think we have GIVEN THEM VERY PARTICULAR JESSIE on this field.

Jester, subs. (colloquial).—A general term of banter for a man; a JOKER (q.v.); a ‘NICE UN’ (q.v.).

2. (American).—See JOKER, sense 2.

Jesuit, subs. (Cambridge University).—1. A graduate or undergraduate of Jesus College.

1771. SMOLLETT, Humphrey Clinker, To Sir W. Phillips, April 20. ‘Direct your next to me at Bath; and remember me to all our fellow JESUITS.’

1856. HALL, College Words and Phrases, p. 270, s.v.

2. (venery).—A sodomite: JESUIT’S FRATERNITY = the World of Sodomy. For synonyms see USHER.

1647–80. ROCHESTER, A Ramble in St. James’s Park, in Wks. (1728), 84. The JESUITS’ FRATERNITY Shall leave the use of buggery.

TO BOX THE JESUIT, verb. phr. (old). See quot. For synonyms see FRIG.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. BOX THE JESUIT … for masturbation.… A crime it is said much practised by the reverend fathers of that society.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Jet, subs. (old).—A lawyer. For synonyms see GREENBAG. AUTEM-JET = a parson.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Verb. (old).—To strut; to walk pompously. See JETTER.

1537. Thersites [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 430]. The Knave that here erewhile did JET.

1562–3. Jack Juggler [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 117]. She simpereth, she pranketh, and JETTETH without fail, As a peacock that hath spread and showeth her gay tail. [51]

1594. Look About You [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 436]. Thus JETS my noble Skink along the streets To whom each bonnet vails, and all knees bend.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Twelfth Night, ii. 5. How he JETS under his advanced plumes.

1640. RAWLINS, The Rebellion, ii. The proudest creatures; you shall have them JET it with an undaunted boldness.

TO JET ONE’S JUICE, verb. phr. (venery).—To COME (q.v.); to experience the sexual spasm.

Jetter, subs. (old).—A pompous man; a STRUT-NODDY (q.v.). See JET, verb.

1510. Hycke Scorner, [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 164]. Brawlers, liars, JETTERS, and chiders.

1540. HEYWOOD, Four P’s [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 384]. What, should a beggar be a JETTER?

Jew, subs. (colloquial).—1. A cheat; a hard bargainer; a sharking usurer.

1659. BROME, The English Moor, in Wks. (1873), ii. 45 (Act iii. 1). The best, Sir, I can tell is, the old JEW, Quicksands, hath lost his wife.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew., s.v. JEW.… He treated me like a JEW, he used me very barbarously.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Verb. (colloquial).—To drive a hard bargain; to beat down. Also to cheat.

c. 1871. California Flush Times, [quoted in DE VERE]. To JEW, colloquially known in England as meaning to cheat, is here often used in the sense of haggling, bargaining. ‘Don’t you think the old hunks wanted to JEW me down to three thousand dollars?’

1883. M. TWAIN, Life on the Mississippi, xliii, p. 390. There’s one thing in this world which isn’t ever cheap. That’s a coffin. There’s one thing in this world which a person don’t ever try TO JEW you down on. That’s a coffin.

WORTH A JEW’S EYE, phr. (colloquial).—Extremely valuable; ‘worth its weight in gold’. [In the Middle Ages the Jews were subject to great extortions, and many stories are related of eyes put out, or teeth drawn, to enforce payment].

1593. G. HARVEY, Pierces Super., in Works, ii. 146. Let it euerlastingly be recorded for a souerain Rule, as deare as a JEWES EYE.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Merchant of Venice, ii. 5. There will come a Christian by Will be WORTH A JEWES EYE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1838. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 2 S. xxi. ‘tho’ they are no good to you they are WORTH A JEW’S EYE to us, and have ’em we will.’

Jew-bail, subs. (old).—STRAW-BAIL (q.v.).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v.

Jew-butter, subs. (American).—Goose-grease.

Jew-fencer, subs. (common).—A Jew street buyer or salesman, generally of stolen goods.

Jewhillikens! intj. (American).—A general exclamation of surprise.

b. 1872. Country Merchant, p. 221, (quoted by DE VERE). Now they are coming to the rich licks! JEWHILLIKIN!

Jewlark, verb. (American).—To ‘fool around’: a ‘portmanteau’ verb of action. [See JEW = to delude + LARK = irresponsible action].

1851. HOOPER, Widow Rugby’s Husband, p. 59. Wonder if I’ll ketch that rascal Jim Sparks JEWLARKIN’ round Betsy. [52]

Jews-poker, subs. (common).—See quot.

1891. Lloyd’s Weekly, 17 May, p. 11, col. 4. Deceased used to get her living lighting the Jews’ fires on Saturdays. She was what is known as a JEWS’ POKER.

Jezebel, subs. (colloquial).—1. An objectionable woman; a termagant or shrew. [From the wife of Ahab.]

1553. BRADFORD, Writings &c. p. 36 (1853). The papists … are cast into JEZEBEL’S bed of security.

1601. SHAKSPEARE, Twelfth Night, ii. 5. Fie on him, JEZEBEL.

1677. BUTLER, Hudibras III, iii, 194. To win the JEZEBEL.

1711. Spectator, No. 175. My lodgings are directly opposite those of a JEZEBEL.

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xlvii. ‘Lord curse that chattering Jezebel of a landlady, who advised such a preposterous disguise!’

1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker, L. 52. They hissed and hooted all the way; and Mrs. Jenkins was all bespattered with dirt, as well as insulted with the opprobrious name of painted JEZEBEL.

1857. A. TROLLOPE, Barchester Towers, xi. ‘Mr. Slope,’ said Mrs. Proudie, catching the delinquent at the door, ‘I am surprised that you should leave my company to attend on such a painted JEZEBEL as that.’

2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Jib, subs. (colloquial).—1. The face: THE CUT OF ONE’S JIB = the peculiar or characteristic appearance of a person.

1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, i. 22. If she disliked what sailors call the CUT OF THEIR JIB … none so likely as they to give them what in her country is called a sloan.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ii. I axes you because I see you’re a sailor by the CUT OF YOUR JIB.

1838–40. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 3, S. iv. For I seed by the CUT OF THE feller’s JIB that he was a preacher.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge. A good seaman evidently, by the CUT OF HIS JIB.

1881. BUCHANAN, God & the Man, xvi. By the voice of you, by the rigs of you, and by the CUT OF YOUR precious JIB.

1884. CLARK RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, iii. ‘My democratic wide-awake, and the republican CUT OF MY JIB,’ said he, looking down at his clothes.

2. (Dublin university).—A first-year’s man.

1841. LEVER, Charles O’Malley, xiv. ‘There [referring to Trinity College Freshmen] … are JIBS, whose names are neither known to the proctor nor the police-office.’

3. (vet’s.).—A horse given to shying; a JIBBER.

1851. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, vol. i. p. 189. Frequently young horses that will not work in cabs—such as JIBS—are sold to the horse-slaughterers as useless.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To shirk; TO FUNK (q.v.); TO CUT (q.v.).—Lex. Bal. (1811).

2. (common).—To depart; to be off. For synonyms see AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE.

TO BE JIBBED, verb. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—To be called over the coals; to get into trouble; TO BE TWIGGED (q.v.).

JIB-OF-JIBS, subs. (nautical).—An impossible sail—a STAR-GAZER (q.v.) or SKY-SCRAPER (q.v.).

Jibb, subs. (Old Cant).—1. The tongue: hence (2) language; speech.

Jibber the Kibber. See KIBBER.

Jibe, verb. (American).—To agree; to live in harmony; TO JUMP (q.v.). [53]

1871. S. CLEMENS, Screamers, p. 60. The piece you happened to be playing was a little rough on the proprietors, so to speak—didn’t seem to JIBE with the general gait of the picture that was passing at the time, as it were.

Jickajog, subs. (old).—A commotion; a push.

1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fayre, Induct. He would ha’ made you such a JICKAJOG i’ the booths, you should ha’ thought an earthquake had been i’ the Fair.

1825. TODD, Eng. Dict., s.v. JICKAJOG … a cant word.

Jiffy (or Jeffey), subs. (colloquial).—The shortest possible time. Also JIFF.

1793. T. SCOTT, Poems, p. 365. Wad aften in a JIFFIE to auld Nick Sen’ ane anither.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JEFFEY. It will be done in a JEFFEY; it will be done in a short space of time, in an instant.

1812. H. & J. SMITH, Rejected Addresses [quoted by TODD]. And then shall each Paddy … dispense IN A JIFFY.

1818. E. PICKEN, Poems, ii. 47. An’ in a JIFFIN Row’d his fecket like a clew.

1825. TODD, Eng. Dict., s.v. JIFFEY.… Now a colloquial word in several parts of England; and sometimes used in ludicrous writing.

1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge, p. 257. It is as clear as mud that we shall be minus your own beautiful self and the boat’s crew in a JIFFEY, not forgetting Benjie there.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (Aunt Fanny). It is stain’d, to be sure; but ‘grassbleaching’ will bring it To rights in a JIFFY.

1842. MRS. GORE, Fascination, p. 33. The old lady in the brown hood told me that she was going to return here in a JIFFY.

1855. THACKERAY, Rose & the Ring, p. 109. The fact is, that when Captain Hedzoff entered into the court of Snapdragon Castle, and was discoursing with King Padella, the Lions made a dash at the open gate, gobbled up the six beef-eaters in a JIFFY, and away they went with Rosalba on the back of one of them.

1856. C. BRONTË, Professor, iii. ‘I see such a fine girl sitting in the corner of the sofa there by her mamma; see if I don’t get her for a partner in a JIFFY!’

1866. READE, Griffith Gaunt, ch. v. She said one of the gentlemen was strange to her; but the other was Doctor Islip from Stanhope town. She knew him well: he had taken off her own brother’s leg in a JIFFEY.

1870. Orchestra, 15 July. His approach cleared in a JIFFEY a washerwoman’s barge and the Austerlitz bathing establishment.

1888. ROLF BOLDERWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxxiv. Out of sight in a JIFFY.

1890. HUME NISBET, Bail Up, p. 178. Come along, mate; we’ll have that five hundred pounds out in a JIFFEY.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 49. Put me at ’ome in a JIFF.

1892. G. MANVILLE FENN, Witness to the Deed, ii.… Back for you in a JIFFY.

Jiffess, subs. (tailors’).—An employer’s wife.

Jig, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A dance; GIG (q.v.). B. E. (1690).

2. (old).—An antic; nonsense; a GAME, or LAY (q.v.).

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, ii. 2. He’s for a JIGG, or a tale of bawdry.

1614. COOK, City Gallant [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), xi. 268]. But what JIG is this?

1640. SHIRLEY, Coronation, v. 1. What dost think of this innovation? Is’t not a fine JIGG.

1641. BROME, Jovial Crew, in Wks. (1873), iii. 415. Such tricks and JIGGS you would admire.

1647. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Fair Maid of the Inn, Prol. A JIG shall be clapp’d at, and every rhyme prais’d. [54]

1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JIG, a trick.… A PLEASANT JIG = a witty, arch trick.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1838. Comic Almanack. And now I’m equipped for my JIG, I’ll finish my begging petition.

1848. JONES, Sketches of Travel, p. 14. I know’d the JIG was up.

1857–8. CHILD, Ballads. They will play thee anither JIGG, For they will out at the big rig.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 29 Dec. He knew the JIG was up.

3. (old).—See JIGGER.

4. (old).—Short for GIGLOT (q.v.).

1887. Lippincott, July, p. 141. Shame on thee to say’t, thou bold-faced JIG.

5. (Winchester College).—A clever man: fifty years ago it meant a swindler. The word has now the meanings (i) a low joke, (ii) a swindle, (iii) an object of sport.—Notions.

1600. HEYWOOD, 2 Edward IV. i. 1. There domineering with his drunken crew Makes JIGS of us.

1652. STAPYLTON, Herodion (quoted in Notions). Devising with his mates to find a JIGG, That he thereby might make himself a king.

Verb. (old).—1. To cheat; to delude; to impose upon.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 268. The animal was JIGGED, digged and figged.

2. (old). To dance.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., iv. 124. Oh! how they do frig it, Jump it and JIGG it, Under the greenwood tree.

FEATHER-BED (also BUTTOCK- and MOLL PEATLEY’S) JIG, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

JIG BY JOWL, adv. phr. (old).—

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, v. 293. He with his master, JIG BY JOWL, Unto old Gillian hy’d.

Jig-a-jig, verb. (American).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Jigamaree, subs. (American).—A bit of chaff; nonsense or any triviality; a THINGUMBOB (q.v.).

Jigga-joggy, subs. (old).—A jolting motion. Also JIG-JOG.

1605. MARSTON, Dutch Courtezan, v. 1. I bid myselfe most hartily welcome to your merry nuptials, and wanton JIGGA-JOGGIES.

Jigger, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A door: also JIG, JEGGER, and GYGER. Fr. une fendante; une guimbarde; une lourde. It. diorta; introibo; turlante.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat [E. E. T. Soc., 1869], p. 85. Dup the GYGGER, and maund that is bene shyp.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Rept. 1874) s.v. GIGGER, a door.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, 34. Nap my kelp whilst I stall at the JEGGER.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 83. The outer JIGGER which opens from the yard.

1839. AINSWORTH, J. Sheppard, p. 20. ‘Help!’ ejaculated Wood, renewing his cries. ‘Arrest!’ ‘JIGGER closed!’ shouted a hoarse voice in reply.

1848. DUNCOMBE, Sinks of London Laid Open, p. 106. Dub the JIGGER, fasten the door.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, i. 342. ‘Such men are always left outside the JIGGER (door) of the houses.’ [55]

2. (old).—A doorkeeper; a SCREW (q.v.); a jailor or turnkey: also JIGGER-DUBBER. Fr. duc de guiche. [In Hants = a policeman].

1749. Humours of the Fleet [quoted in ASHTON’S The Fleet, p. 281.] The Door-keeper, and he who opens shuts the Jigg, is call’d the JIGGER.

1781. PARKER, View of Society, ii. 69. JIGGER-DUBBER is a term applied to jailors or Turnkeys, JIGGER being flash or cant for door.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JIGGER-DUBBER—a JIGGER is a key, and with the adjunct DUBBER, means turnkey to a prison.

1828. SMEETON, Doings in London. ‘Humours of the Fleet.’ Near Fleet’s commodious market’s miry verge, This celebrated prison stands compact and large, Where, by the JIGGER’S more than magic charm Kept from the power of doing good or harm.

1888. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 183. One of the JIGGERS says one thing, and one of them says another thing.

3. (old).—See quot.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JIGGER-DUBBER—a JIGGER is a key.

4. (old).—A whipping-post.

1708. HALL, Memoirs etc., s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal. s.v.

5. (old).—A secret still. JIGGER-STUFF = illicitly distilled spirits; JIGGER-WORKER = a vendor of the same. Hence, also, a drink of whiskey.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JIGGER-DUBBER.… The JIGGER is a private still.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc. i. 429. Two, and sometimes three, female lace-sellers are also ‘JIGGER-WORKERS.’ They carry about their persons pint bladders of ‘stuff,’ or ‘JIGGER-STUFF’ (spirit made at an illicit still). ‘I used to supply them with it until lately,’ one street-trader told me, ‘from a friend that kept a ‘JIGGER,’ and a tidy sale some of them had.’

1853. Diogenes, ii. 199. JIGGER-GIN will kill body and brain faster than arrack punch or Sangaree.

1886. Judy, 4 August, p. 58. He imbibed stupendous quantities of JIGGERED gin, dog’s nose, and Paddy’s eye-water.

6. (billiards).—The ‘bridge’ or ‘rest’ for the cue when a ball is beyond arm’s length.

7. (theatrical).—The curtain or RAG (q.v.)

8. (military).—A guard-room. Fr. la boîte. Also, specifically as in quot.

1882. Fortnightly Review, xxxi. 798. Communicating with the GIGGER, an interviewing chamber (in Newgate) where felons, on payment, saw their friends.

9. (old).—A fiddlestick. [JIGGER (or JIG) is also applied to many small mechanical contrivances or handy tools].

10. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

11. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

12. (old.)—A shifty fellow; a trickster.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 268. And (Paris) when thou com’st to bedding, Oh how I’ll trip it at thy wedding. Nay you’re a JIGGER we all know; But if you should deceive me now!

Verb. (common).—1. See quot.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 22 Dec. I’ll JIGGER (bet) you ’un knows roots from tree-tops.

2. (colloquial).—To shake; to jerk.

1869. Quarterly Rev., cxxvi. 350. Many is the fish who has JIGGERED himself free by this method.

NOT WORTH A JIGGER, phr. (common).—Valueless.

1861. Punch, xl. 145. The churches here AIN’T WORTH A JIGGER—nor, not half-a-JIGGER. [56]

Jigger-dubber. See JIGGER, sense 2.

Jiggered. TO BE JIGGERED! verb. phr. (common).—Used as a mild imprecation; as BLOW IT! (q.v.), BUST ME! (q.v.): also in astonishment.

1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, xvii. 76. ‘Well, then’, said he, ‘I’M JIGGERED if I don’t see you home!’

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v.

1884. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 2. p. 3. col. 2. ‘We ain’t seen the p’liceman since, and JIGGERED if we want to.’

1886. BURNETT, Little Lord Fauntleroy, ii. ‘Well,’ said Mr. Hobbs, ‘I’ll be JIGGERED!’

1888. Notes and Queries, 7 S. vi. 322. Lately, I read an article beginning with ‘I’m JIGGERED if I don’t love Jane.’

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 73. Kerrectness be folly, well JIGGERED.

Jiggered up, adv. (nautical).—Used up; Exhausted.

1867. SMYTH, Sailor’s Word Book, s.v.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v. JIGGERED.

Jiggery-pokery, subs. (tailors’).—Humbug; nonsense.

Jiglets. HIS JIGLETS! phr. (American).—A contemptuous form of address; HIS NIBS (q.v.).

1888. Boston Globe, 4 March. Ain’t HIS JIGLETS pretty near ready to see de rat, Jummy.

Jig-water, subs. (American).—Bad whisky; ROT-GUT (q.v.). For synonyms see DRINKS and OLD MAN’S MILK.

1888. Boston Globe, March 4. A middle-aged countryman had just tottered away from the counter over which JIG-WATER is dispensed.

Jiggle, verb. (venery).—To copulate. Hence JIGGLING-BONE = penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Jiggumbob (or Jiggambob), subs. (common).—1. A knick-knack; a trinket: anything particular, strange, or unknown. Cf. THINGAMBOB.

1640. BROME, Antipodes, iii. 5. Kills Monster after Monster, takes the Puppets Prisoners, knocks downe the Cyclops, tumbles all Our JIGUMBOBS and trinckets to the wall.

1647. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Knight of Malta, iv. 1. More JIGGAMBOBS: is not this the fellow that swom like a duck to the shore.

1657. MIDDLETON, Women Beware Women, ii. 2. On with her chain of pearls, her ruby bracelets, lay ready all her tricks and JIGGEMBOBS.

1678. BUTLER, Hudibras, III. i. 108. He rifled all his pokes and fobs Of jimcracks, whims, and JIGGUMBOBS.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1675. COTTON, Scarronides, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 65. Were I not with my first Honey Half tyr’d as t’were with Matrimony; I could with this same Youngster tall, Find in my heart to try a fall.… This only … has made my JIGGAMBOB to water.

3. in pl. (venery).—The testicles: for synonyms see CODS.—GROSE (1785).

Jill. See GILL.

Jill-flirt. See GILL-FLIRT.

Jilt, subs. (old: now recognised).—Specifically, a woman who encourages, or solicits, advances to which she designs there shall be no practical end. But see quots. passim. Hence JILTED and JILT, verb. [57]

1648–80. ROCHESTER, Bath Intrigues, in Wks. (1728), 87. Thither two beldams and a JILTING wife came. Id. The cheating JILT … a dry-bob whore.

1672. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood, i. 2. How has he got his JILT here?

1681. BLOUNT, Glossographia, s.v. JILT is a new canting word, signifying to deceive and defeat one’s expectations, more especially in the point of amours.

1684. R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 278. I only aimed at the lascivious JILT.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JILT, a tricking whore. JILTED, abused by such a one; also deceived or defeated in one’s expectation, especially in Amours.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Jan., p. 20. You all know, or have heard at least, what a JILT this same fortune is. Ibid. Feb., p. 11. The lewd conversation of the town-JILTS.

1691–2. T. BROWN, in Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar. p. 10. There dwells not another such JILT in the city.

1696. CONGREVE, Oroonoko, Epil. She might have learn’d to cuckold, JILT and sham Had Covent Garden been at Surinam.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 214. One, Mary Wadsworth, a JILT of the town.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 129. So here’s to the girl who will give one a share; But as to those JILTS who deny, So cursedly coy though they’ve so much to spare.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JILT, a tricking woman, who encourages the addresses of a man whom she means to deceive and abandon. JILTED, rejected by a woman who has encouraged one’s advances.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. JILT—a she-deceiver.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. JILT, a prostitute who hugs and kisses a countryman while her accomplice robs him.

2. (thieves’).—A crowbar; a JEMMY (q.v.). In pl. = housebreaking tools generally.

Verb. (thieves’). See quot.

1868. Temple Bar, xxiv. 537. JILTING is getting in on the sly or false pretences at the door, and sneaking what you can find.

Jilter, subs. (thieves’).—Thieves who work as described under JILT (verb.).

1863. Cornhill Magazine, vii. 91. Another notable class of criminals called JILTERS or Noteblankers: they go in pairs.

Jim-Brown, subs. phr. (rhyming).—Town.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, v. ‘When did you come into … JIM BROWN?’ ‘Oh, yesterday morning’, says I, tumbling.

Jimcrack. See GIMCRACK.

Jimbugg, subs. (Australian squatters’).—A sheep; a WOOLLY-BIRD (q.v.).

1854. RIDLEY, Phil. Soc. Trans. (1855), p. 73. JIMBUGG, a slang name for sheep.

Jim Crow. See BILLY BARLOW.

Jimjams, subs. (common).—1. Delirium tremens; THE HORRORS (q.v.). Also, THE JAMS. For synonyms see GALLON-DISTEMPER.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 4 Aug. He was a character noted for going on frequent benders until he came very near having the JIMJAMS and then sobering up.

1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, 16. Febr. He had the JIM-JAMS yesterday evening.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 43. Our landlord of the Chequers was very funny about the JIM-JAMS.

1891. Gentleman’s Mag., Aug., p. 119. I thought as ’ow ’twas only the JIM-JAMS he’d got; but the doctor ’e says it’s a bad job, an’ ’is ribs is broke.

1891. Punch, 4 April. ‘Look, Polly!—shee that creature long and lean, Crawling towardsh us! JIM-JAMSH are not in it With thish ’ere Bri’s’h Museum! Wai’ a minute!’

2. (American). Distorted views; KINKS (q.v.).

1888. Cincinnati Commercial Gazette, 22 July. We are glad to see Harper’s [58]Weekly suffering the JIM-JAMS of distortion on the envenomed pencil of an extraordinary artist.

Jim-dandy, adj. (American).—Superfine.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 14 Feb. George C. Ball came upon the floor yesterday arrayed in a JIM-DANDY suit of clothes.

Jimmy, subs. (common).—1. See JEMMY.

2. (colonial). A NEW CHUM (q.v.). Specifically (Australian convicts), a free emigrant.

1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffry Hamlyn, xxvi. ‘Why, one,’ said Lee, ‘is a young JIMMY (I beg your pardon, sir, an emigrant), the other two are old prisoners.’

3. (showmen’s).—A contrivance; a concealed confederate; a FAKE (q.v.).

4. (American).—A coal waggon.

1887. N.Y. Semi-weekly Tribune, 18 Mar. Two JIMMIES loaded with coal.

ALL JIMMY, adv. phr. (Cambridge university). 1. All nonsense.

2. (American).—Exactly; fit; suitable: cf. JEMMY.

Jimmy Skinner, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A dinner.

Jimplecute (or Jimpsecute), subs. (American).—See quot.

1870. Figaro, 1 Dec. The JIMPLECUTE of Texas changed her name, which was a good thing to do—JIMPLECUTE being Texas vernacular for sweetheart.

Jing-bang, subs. (Scots’).—A lot complete; BOILING (q.v.).

1891. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, 61. The men had a great respect for the chief mate, who was, as they said, ‘the only seaman of the whole JING-BANG, and none such a bad man when he was sober.’

Jingle, subs. (Irish).—A hackney carriage (Dublin).

1860. TROLLOPE, CASTLE RICHMOND, vi. An elderly man was driven up to the door of the hotel on a one horse car—a JINGLE as such conveniences were called in the South of Ireland.

Jingle-box, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JINGLE BOXES, leathern jacks tipped with silver, and hung with bells formerly in use among fuddlecaps (Cant).

Jingleboy. See GINGLE BOY.

1658. BROME, The Weeding of Covent-Garden, p. 16. But Mistress, here is a Gallant now below, A GINGLE-BOY indeed.

Jingler, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JINGLERS, horse cosers frequenting country fairs.

Jinglebrains, subs. (colloquial).—A wild, harum-scarum fellow.—B. E. (1690); GROSE (1785).

Jingo, intj. (common).—Used in mild oaths: as BY JINGO! or BY JINGS. [HALLIWELL: a corruption of St. Gingoulph or Gingulphus; by others from Basque Jinkoa = God. Cf. Notes and Queries, 2 S. xii. 272, 336; 5 S. ix. 263, 400, x. 7, 96, 456; 6 S. i. 284, ii. 95, 157, 176, 335, iii. 78, iv. 114, 179]. Also BY THE LIVING JINGO.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Feb., p. 24. Hye, JINGO what a deel’s the matter; Do mermaids swim in Dartford water?

1764. O’HARA, Midas, ii. vi. BY JINGO! well performed for one of his age.

1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of Wakefield, ix. She observed, that, ‘BY THE LIVING JINGO, she was all of a muck of sweat.’ [59]

1773. O. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, v. 2. BY JINGO, there’s not a pond or a slough within five miles of the place, but they can tell the taste of.

1824. Atlanta Monthly, i. 141. He swore by George, BY JINGO and by Gemini.

1834. M. G. DOWLING, Othello Travestie, i. 6. It is the way, BY JINGO, you are right.

1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, v. Dem sell a me Peter, BY JINGO.

1848. Punch, xiv. 172. If I kill you it’s nothing; but if you kill me, BY JINGO it’s murder.

1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairleigh, xxvi. There’s the coach, BY JINGO!

1860. Chambers’ Jour., xiii. 233. ‘Uncle Bob, BY JINGO!’ said the boy.

1864. Press, November 12. JENCO is Basque for the Devil and in the Basque Provinces there were of old Manichæans, who worshipped the evil spirit and naturally swore by him, hence we think the phrase [BY JINGO] may find a much more likely explanation [than St. Gingoulph].

1871. A. H. CLOUGH, Poems. ‘With the Lassie? with her?’ the piper exclaimed undoubtedly! ‘BY GREAT JINGO!’

1878. C. H. WALL, tr. Molière, ii. 114. Gently if you please; BY JINGO, how skilful you are in giving clean plates!

1889. DRAGE, Cyril, ii. ‘Inez de Ribera, BY THE LIVING JINGO!’ said he, half out aloud.

1892. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Tab. ii, sc. 2. BY JINGO! I’ll show them how we do it down South.

Subs. (political).—One of that party which advocated the Turkish cause against Russia, in the war of 1877–8. Hence, one clamorous for war; one who advocates a warlike policy. [In this sense taken directly from the refrain of a popular music-hall song (c. 1874), ‘We don’t want to fight, but BY JINGO if we do, We’ve got the ships, we’ve got the men, we’ve got the money too!’]. Hence JINGOISM = the theory and practice of the JINGOES.

1884. Graphic, 22 Nov. He is a more pernicious kind of JINGO than his predecessors.

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 12 June. In the days when JINGOISM had to be combatted and overcome.

1895. JOHN MORLEY, in The Times, 17th June, p. 7, col. 5. But then the right honourable gentleman will ask, Have you proposed a statue to Cromwell from the point of view of JINGOISM?

Jiniper-lecture, subs. (old).—A scolding.—B. E. (1690). Cf. CURTAIN LECTURE.

Jink, subs. (old).—1. Coin; money; CHINK (q.v.).

2. (in pl.). See HIGH JINKS.

Verb. (old Scots’).—To copulate; also to sport. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1715. ALLAN RAMSAY, Christ’s Kirk, etc. ii. Wks. (1848), i. 324. Was n’er in Scotland heard or seen Sic banquetting and drinkin’—Sic revelling and battles keen, Sic dancing and sic JINKIN’.

c. 1750. ROBERTSON (of Struan), Poems, 86. Let pass, let pass, The naughty Glass, And wisely fall A-JINKING.

TO JINK ONE’S TIN, verb. phr. (common).—To pay money; to ‘shell out’; to rattle or FLASH (q.v.) one’s cash.

Jinker, subs. (venery).—A PERFORMER (q.v.).

1724–27. RAMSAY, Clout the Caudron, in Wks. (at sup.), ii, 275. Yet to yourself I’m bauld to tell, I am a gentle JINKER.

Jinny, subs. (thieves’).—A geneva watch.

Jipper, subs. (nautical).—Gravy.

Jo. See JOE.

Joan, subs. (old).—A fetter: specifically DARBY AND JOAN = fetters coupling two persons. See DARBIES. [60]

HOMELY JOAN, subs. phr. (old).—A coarse, ordinary looking woman.—B. E. (1690).

JOAN IN THE DARK IS AS GOOD AS MY LADY, phr. (old).—A variant of ‘When you cannot kiss the mistress kiss the maid’, or ‘When candles are out all cats are grey’.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725).

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Works (1725), Bk iv. p. 81. The Cave so darksome was that I do Think JOAN had been AS GOOD AS DIDO.

Job, subs. (Old Cant: now colloquial).—1. Specifically, robbery; generally, any unfair arrangement, or effect of nepotism: e.g. the obtaining of an office, or a contract, by secret influence, or the undertaking of a piece of business ostensibly for public but really for private ends.

1667. PEPYS, Diary, April 10. And for aught I see likely only to be used as a JOBB to do a kindness to some lord, or he that can get to be governor. Ibid. 1665, Aug. 31. My late gettings have been very great to my great content, and am likely to have yet a few more profitable JOBBS in a little while.

1711. POPE, Essays on Criticism, i. 104. No cheek is known to blush or heart to throb, Save when they lose a question or a JOB.

1712. ARBUTHNOT, Hist. of John Bull, Pt. iii. App. ch. iii. Like an old favourite of a cunning Minister after the JOB is over.

1730. JAS. MILLER, Humours of Oxford, iv. i. p. 54 (2nd ed.). But I have another JOB for you; and if my stratagem takes there, my fortune’s made.

1788. G. A. STEVENS, Adv. of a Speculist, i. 67. In our august House of Parliament, the word JOB is never made use of but to express an action thoroughly base.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiii. ‘But, Hatteraick, this,—that is, if it be true, which I do not believe,—this will ruin us both, for he cannot but remember your neat JOB.’

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 10. C—nn—g Came in a JOB, and then canter’d about On a showy, but hot and unsound, bit of blood.

1827. TODD, Johnson’s Dict., s.v. JOB. A low word now much in use, of which I cannot tell the etymology.

1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, iii. Who shall hold the first rank, have the first prizes and chances in all government JOBS and patronages.

1859. Political Portraits, p. 219. His (Mr. Disraeli’s) representation of the Reform Bill of 1832 as a Whig JOB is a silliness.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. JOB. To do a JOB, to commit a robbery.

1864. THOMAS HUGHES [in Spectator, 26 Nov.]. The present JOB (and a very stiff one it is, though not in the Standard’s sense) was offered to and accepted by me as a mere piece of conveyancing.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ii. 135. The third day after his discharge he got drunk, joined some old associates, entered with them into a JOB, and was captured ‘redhanded.’

1889. Star, 3 Dec, 1. 5. The whole thing was probably a put-up JOB.

1889. Daily Telegraph, 25 Jan. JOBS abounded and contracts were corrupt.

2. (colloquial).—A piece of work; an occurrence, fortunate or otherwise; a situation or place of employment. A BAD JOB = an unlucky occurrence, a misfortune, an unsuccessful attempt. Hence JOBBER = one who does piece or occasional work.

1658. BROME, New Academy, in Wks. (1873), ii. 97 (Act v. 2). He confest receipt of fifty pounds my wife has lent him (false woman that she is!) for horn-making, JOB journey-work.

1661. T. MIDDLETON, Mayor of Quinborough, iv. 1. And yet not I myself, I cannot read, I keep a clerk to do those JOBS for need.

1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary. JOB, a piece of labour, undertaken at a stated price. Norf. [61]

1857. LORD DUFFERIN, Letters from High Latitudes, vii. Giving it up as a bad JOB.

1895. HENLEY & STEVENSON, Macaire (New Review, June, 701) iii. 1. Blinding dark, and a good JOB.

3. (old).—A guinea: also JOBE.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811).

4. (American thieves’).—As subs. = patience; as intj. = take time; ‘don’t be in a hurry!’—MATSELL (1859).

5. (colloquial).—See JAB.

1827. TODD, Johnson’s Dict., s.v. JOB.

1885. Eng. Ill. Mag., April, 505. Some say that if a fish takes fairly, he will and must hook himself. Others that it requires a good JOB to drive the point of a large hook in beyond the barb.

6. (venery).—See BY-JOB.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To do work, or perform duties, ostensibly pro bono publico but in reality for one’s private ends or advantage.

1731–35. POPE, Moral Essays, iii. 141. And judges JOB and bishops bite the town.

1833. MACAULAY, Let. to Sister [in Life by Trevelyan, v. 241 (1884)]. We shall be suspected of JOBBING if we proceed to extremities on behalf of one of ourselves.

1838. LYTTON, Alice, III. i. No JOBBING was too gross for him. He was shamefully corrupt in the disposition of his patronage.

1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, iii. A man becomes enormously rich, or he JOBS successfully in the aid of a Minister, or he wins a great battle … and the country rewards him for ever with a gold coronet.

2. (colloquial).—To thrust violently and suddenly; to prod; TO JAB (q.v.).

1557. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 37, st. 12, p. 89 (E. D. S.). Stick plentie of bows among runcinall pease to climber thereon, and to branch at their ease. So dooing, more tender and greater they wex, If peacock and turkey leaue IOBBING their bex [See also note in E. D. Soc.’s ed. of Tusser’s Husbandrie, p. 263].

1560. SLEIDANE, Commentaries, Book x. fol. cxxx. Then caught he a boore speare out of a young mans hande that stode next him and as he laie JOBBED him in with the staffe heade.

1692. L’ESTRANGE, Esop [quoted in E. D. Soc.’s ed. of Tusser’s Husbandrie s.v. JOB]. As an ass with a galled back was feeding in a meadow, a raven pitched upon him, and there sate JOBBING of the sore.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxiii. p. 326. He … was greatly beloved for the gallant manner in which he had JOBBED OUT the eye of one gentleman.

1852. DICKENS, Our Bore, [in Reprinted Pieces, p. 298]. As if he were being stabbed—or, rather, JOBBED—that expresses it more correctly—JOBBED—with a blunt knife.

1883. Daily Telegraph, Jan. 11, p. 3. col. 7. There was a disturbance at his door early on Christmas morning, and on going out to see what was wrong the prisoner JOBBED a lantern into his eye.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 17 Ap., 247. i. Following up his advantages, Jem JOBBED his adversary terrifically in the face with the left till Giles was bathed in blood.

1892. ANSTEY, Voces Populi, 60. I’ll JOB the ’helliphants ribs, and make ’im gallop, I will.

3. (colloquial).—To chide; to reprimand: also JOBE.

1685. Autobiography of Sir J. Bramston. The king had talked earnestly to the duke and JOBED him soe that the teares stood in his eyes.

1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., 2nd ed. s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. I heard a lively young man assert that, in consequence of an intimation from the tutor relative to his irregularities, his own father came from the country to JOBE him.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1837–40. HALIBURTON, The Clockmaker [ed. 1862] p. 471. I am as weak as a child, and can’t stand JOBEING. [62]

4. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1537. Thersites, [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 422]. Jenkin Jacon, that JOBBED jolly Joan.

1786. BURNS, ‘What Ails Ye?’ (BOHN, 1842, p. 253), Cry’d three times, ‘Robin, Come hither, lad, and answer for’t, Ye’re blamed for JOBBIN.’

TO BE ON THE JOB, verb. phr. (general).—To mean honestly; to be genuine; to ‘run straight’; to work quickly and steadily; to achieve complete success; to be bent on.

1891. Licensed Victuallers Gaz., 23 Jan. Of course, there was a long wrangle over the choice of referee, for no one cared to occupy that thankless post when the Lambs were ON THE JOB.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 3. ’Arry is fair ON THE JOB.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 64. I was ON THE JOB.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, ch. v. Being ON THE JOB we hoped to improve.

TO HAVE GOT THE JOB, verb. phr. (racing).—To have a commission to back a horse.

TO DO THE JOB FOR ONE, verb. phr. (common).—To ‘finish’ or kill.

TO DO A WOMAN’S JOB FOR HER, verb. phr. (venery).—To do smock-service.

Jobation (or Jawbation), subs. (old).—A tedious rebuke; a prolonged scolding; a dreary homily.

1746. SIR W. MAYNARD [in G. Selwyn & his Contemp. by JESSE i. p. 106 (ed. 1882)]. You would not commend yourself for having sent me a JOBATION for not punctually answering your obliging letters.

1767. COLMAN, Oxonian in Town, ii. 3. And now I find you as dull and melancholy as a fresh-man at college after a JOBATION.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JOBATION, a reproof.

1803. Gradus ad Cantab. He recounts this JOBATION to his friends.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1820. COMBE, Syntax, Consolation, canto 5. For Patrick, fearing a JOBATION, Said nought to forward conversation.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, xlii. 410. But here I am at the end of my paper. Don’t be angry at my JOBATION; but write me a long answer of your own free will, and believe me ever affectionately yours.

1863. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, xiv. Away he went, after getting a most fearful JOBATION from the Dean for daring to appear in his presence without his cap and gown.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v.

1884. G. A. SALA, Ill. London News, Sept. 6, p. 219, col. 2. ‘Why,’ writes ‘R.R.R.’ (Holloway), ‘do you write the word JOBATION, and thereby upset all my preconceived notions that ‘jawbation’ is a mock solemnity for the vulgar ‘jaw’?’ My good sir, I wrote, JOBATION because the word means a long dreary homily or reprimand, and has reference to the tedious rebukes inflicted on the Patriarch Job by his too obliging friends.

Jobbernowl, subs. (old).—1. A fool’s head. For general synonyms see CRUMPET.

1562. Grim [DODSLEY, Old Plays, xi. 241]. Now, miller, miller, dustipoll, I’ll clapper-claw thy JOBBERNOUL.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe in Works, v. 293. Onely to set their wittes a nibbling, and their IOBBERNOWLES a working.

1609. DEKKER, Guls Horne-Booke, iii. If all the wise men of Gotham should lay their heades together, their JOBBERNOWLES should not bee able to compare with thine.

1638. FORD, Lady’s Trial, iv. 2. Took a thousand Spanish JOBBERNOWLS by surprise, And beat a sconce about their ears. [63]

1678. BUTLER, Hudibras, III. ii. 1007. And powder’d th’ inside of his skull, Instead of th’ outward JOBBERNOL.

1716. DRYDEN, Counterscuffle, [in Misc. 12mo, iii. 340]. No remedy in courts of Pauls, In common pleas, or in the rolls, For jolling of your JOBBERNOULS together.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1791. G. HUDDESFORD, Salmagundi, p. 93. Crack’d ev’n the Sexton’s JOBBERKNOWL, And spoil’d him for saying Amen.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, Book iv. ch. i. ‘What we now call a ‘belcher’ bound his throat; a spotted fogle bandaged his JOBBERNOWL, and shaded his right peeper.’

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, (Lord of Thoulouse). So find me out something new under the sun, Or I’ll knock your three JOBBERNOWLS all into one!

2. (old).—See quot. 1690. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1598. MARSTON, Satires, II, vi. 200. His guts are in his brains, huge JOBBERNOULE, Right gurnet’s head, the rest without all soule.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JOBBERNOLL, a very silly fellow.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1768. GAYTON, Festiv. Notes, iv. 17, p. 260. Thou simple animal, thou JOBBERNOLE, Thy basons, when that once they hang on pole, Are helmets strait.

Jobber, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. One who purchases goods in bulk and is the medium of their distribution; a middleman.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 79. Weavers, Dyers, Tinkers, Cobblers, And many other such like JOBBERS.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. BADGERS, MATCHMAKERS, SALESMEN, STOCKJOBBERS.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

2. (colloquial).—See JOB, subs. sense 2.

Jobber-knot (or Jobber nut), subs. (old).—A tall ungainly fellow.

1823. Modern Flash Dict., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jobbery, subs. (colloquial).—The practice of political corruption; the employment of unfair means to public or private advantage.

1857. DICKENS, Dorrit, II. xii. 351. Mr. Merdle had decided to cast the weight of his great probity and great riches into the Barnacle scale. JOBBERY was suspected by the malicious.

Jobbing, subs. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1720. RAMSAY, ‘Epistle to Lord Ramsay’, in Wks. (1848), ii. 326. And compliment them with a clap Which by oft JOBBING grows a pox.

Jobe. See JOB, verb. sense 3.

Job’s-comfort, subs. (old: now colloquial).—Reproof instead of consolation. Hence JOB’S-COMFORTER = a sharp-tongued friend: also = a boil (in allusion to Job ii, 7.). JOB’S-NEWS = bad news; JOB’S-POST = a messenger of bad news; AS POOR AS JOB’S TURKEY = (see quot. 1871). JOB’S-WIFE = a whoring scold. JOB’S-DOCK = a hospital; JOB’S-WARD = a ward for the treatment of venereal diseases.

1738. SWIFT, Polite Convers., Dial. 3. Lady Smart. … I think your ladyship looks thinner than when I saw you last. Miss. Indeed, madam, I think not; but your ladyship is one of JOB’S COMFORTERS.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JOB’S COMFORT and JOB’S COMFORTER and JOB’S DOCK.

1837. CARLYLE, French Revolution, iii. 3. ch. 4. From home there can nothing come except JOB’S-NEWS. Ibid. This JOB’S POST from Dumouriez … reached the National Convention. [64]

1838. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 2. S. ch. ii. ‘Well, I’m e’en a’most starved, and Captain Jack does look AS POOR AS JOB’S TURKEY; that’s a fact.’

1854. F. E. SMEDLEY, Harry Coverdale, xxiv. The amiable and timid London butler, who had played the character of JOB’S COMFORTER to Alice’s Didone abandonata on the memorable evening of the first of September.

1857. Notes and Queries, 1, S. vii. 180. s.v.

1871. Once a Week. May (quoted by DE VERE). Intensified, in American fashion, by some energetic addition; for instance, ‘AS POOR AS JOB’S TURKEY, that had but one feather in its tail,’ or, ‘AS POOR AS JOB’S TURKEY, that had to lean against a fence to gobble.’

Jock, subs. (venery).—1. See quot. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK, PRICK, and MONOSYLLABLE. JOCK-HUNTING = seeking the sexual favor; and JOCK-HUNTER = MUTTON-MONGER (q.v.). [Probably an abbreviation of (Old Cant) JOCKUM (q.v.). For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.]

1790. POTTER, Dict. of Cant & Flash, s.v. JOCK, private parts of a man or woman.

2. (colloquial).—See JOCKEY.

Verb. (venery).—1. See quot. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JOCK, to copulate with a woman.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JOCK, to enjoy a woman.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (American).—To enjoy oneself.

Jockey, subs. (old: now recognised in most senses).—1. A professional rider; also a horse-dealer. Hence (see quot. 1690) a sharper. Also (colloquially) JOCK and GENTLEMEN-JOCK and JOCKER.

1638. BROME, Antipodes, i. 5. Let my fine lords talk o’ their horse-tricks, and their JOCKIES that can out-talke them.

1684. R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 306. There are such plenty of JOCKEYS in this bungalow, they swarm everywhere.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JOCKEYS, rank Horse-Coursers, Race Riders; also Hucksters or Sellers of Horses, very slippery Fellow to deal with.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1725. BAILEY, Colloq. Erasmus, i. 412. You know what cheating tricks are play’d by our JOCKEYS, who sell and let out Horses.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, vii. The tribes of gipsies, JOCKEYS, or cairds,—for by all these denominations such banditti were known,—became few in number.

1828–45. T. HOOD, Poems, vi. p. 252 [ed. 1846]. And what with keeping a hunting box Following fox.… Shooting blue rocks, Trainers and JOCKS.…

d. 1881. G. BORROW (in Annandale).—The word JOCKEY is neither more nor less than the term (chukni) slightly modified, by which they (the gypsies) designate the formidable whips which they usually carry, and which are at present in general use amongst horse-traffickers, under the title of jockey-whips.

2. in pl. (commercial).—Top-boots.

1851. Lond. Lab. Lond. Poor, V. II. p. 43. Top boots (they’re called JOCKEYS in the trade and sold in the streets).

3. (old).—A Scot.

d. 1529. SKELTON, Against the Scots, line 92. King Jamy, Jemmy, JOCKEY, my jo.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To cheat; to ride foul. Generally, to use dishonest means to a profitable end. For synonyms see BAMBOOZLE.

1748. Thompson, Letter to Mr. Paterson, May. ‘Coriolanus has not yet appeared on the stage, from the little dirty jealousy of Jullus (Quin) towards him (Garrick) who alone can act Coriolanus. [65]Indeed the first has entirely JOCKEYED the last off the stage for this season.’

1833. NEAL, Down Easters, vi. p. 84. Fair traders terrible scase—most every body JOCKIES for themselves now.

1839. LEVER, Harry Loweguer, II. He seemed to think that probably he … might be merely JOCKEYED by some bold-faced poacher.

1840. THACKERAY, Paris Sketch Book, p. 173. Have we penniless directors issuing El Dorado prospectuses, and JOCKEYING their shares through the market?

1865. DUNBAR, Social Life in Former Days. They did not see it necessary to be JOCKEYING one another.

1890. W. C. RUSSELL, Ocean Tragedy, p. 3. To suffer your passion to JOCKEY your reason.

2. (Winchester College).—(i) to supplant; (ii) to appropriate; (iii) to engage: e.g. ‘He JOCKEYED me up to books’; ‘Who has JOCKEYED my baker’; ‘This court is JOCKEYED’. Probably an extended use of the word borrowed from turf slang. JOCKEY NOT = the Commoner cry claiming exemption, answering to ‘feign’ at other schools: of which the college ‘finge’ seems a translation. The opposite of JOCKEY UP = to lose down.—Notions.

TO JOCKEY (or BAG) THE OVER, verb. phr. (cricketter’s).—To manage the running in such a manner as to get all the bowling to oneself.

Jock Blunt. TO LOOK LIKE JOCK BLUNT, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1723. RAMSAY, ‘Epistle to Lord Ramsay’, in Wks., ii. 325. Footnote. Said of a person who is out of countenance at a disappointment.

Jock-te-leear, subs. (Scots’).—A small almanack, i.e. JOCK (or JOHN) THE LIAR [From its loose weather forecasts].

Jocteleg (or Jackyleg), subs. (Scots’).—A large pocket-knife. [From Jacques de Liège, a famous cutler]. For synonyms see CHIVE.

1730. RAMSAY, Fables and Tales, in Wks. (1849), iii. 172. And lay out ony ora-bodles On sma’ gimcracks that pleased their noddles, Sic as a JOCTELEG, or sheers.

1787. GROSE, Provincial Glossary, s.v. JOCTELEG, Liege formerly supplied Scotland with cutlery.

1791. BURNS, ‘To Captain Grose’. The knife that nicket Abel’s craig He’ll prove ye fully, It was a faulding JOCTELEG Or lang-kail gully.

1874. E. L. LINTON, Patricia Kemball, xxv. A huge buckhorn-handled knife of the kind called in the north JACKYLEGS, or JOCTELEGS.

Jockum (or Jockam), subs. (Old Cant).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK. Hence JOCKUM-CLOY = copulation, and JOCKUM-GAGE = (literally) MEMBER-MUG (q.v.).

1567. HARMAN, Caveat, 87. He took his IOCKAM in his famble.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. JOCKUM-GAGE. RUM JOCKUM-GAGE, a silver chamberpot.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jockum-gagger, subs. (old).—See JACK-GAGGER.—POTTER (1790); Mod. Flash Dict. (1825).

Joe (or joey), subs. (common).—1. A fourpenny piece [For derivation see quot. 1841 and cf. BOB].

1841. HAWKINS, Hist. Silver Coinage of England. 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. [66]

1842. Punch’s Almanack, Aug. Each baited with a JOEY.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., ii. 218. The chance hands are sometimes engaged for half a day, and, I was told, jump at a bob and a JOEY (1s. 4d.), or at a bob.

1865. H. KINGSLEY, The Hillyars and the Burtons, xlii. A young man as has owed me a JOEY ever since the last blessed Greenwich fair.

1869. WHYTE-MELVILLE, M. or N., p. 66. ‘Done for another JOEY,’ replied Buster, with the premature acuteness of youth foraging for itself in the streets of London.

1883. Antiquary, April, p. 168, col. 2. The fourpenny piece was coined for the first time, after a lapse of two centuries, in the reign of William iv., and it owed its existence to the pressing instance of JOEY Hume, after whom it obtained the name of JOEY.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 9 Oct., p. 5, col. 3. The docker’s wife was worth her JOEY, which it may be explained is ‘East-end’ for fourpence.

1892. S. WATSON, Wops the Waif, p. 13. A bob, a tanner, a JOEY, and a brown.

2. (common).—See JOE MILLER.

3. (American university).—A watercloset. For synonyms see MR. JONES.

4. (nautical).—A marine: see JOSEPH.

5. (American).—A lobster too small for sale; i.e. one under ten inches long.

6. (old).—A gold coin. (Portu. and Braz.) = 8 to 9 dollars. Also DOUBLE-JOE.

1825. NEAL, Bro. Jonathan, II. xxiii. JOES to coppers that she speaks to me.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, Preface v. The old house is full of shooting-jackets, shot belts, and DOUBLE-JOES.

7. (old).—A companion; a sweetheart.

d. 1529. SKELTON, Against the Scottes, in Wks. (DYCE), i. 185. Kynge Jamy, … my JO.

1659. BROME, The English Moor, in Wks. (1873), i. 3. Clap him, and stroke him: Ha, my JOE.

1635. GLAPTHORNE, The Hollander, in Wks. (1874), i. 151. The Twibil Knights (confusion to them, my JO!) had made me drunk.

1727. RAMSAY, Bonny Tweed-side, in Wks. (1848), ii. 244. I’ll make it my care To secure myself a JO.

d. 1796. BURNS, ‘John Anderson, my JO’ [Title].

Verb. (theatrical).—To deride; TO GET AT (q.v.); to take liberties with the text, ‘business’, or audience.

1865. KINGSLEY, The Hillyards and the Burtons, liii. Gertie adduced the fate of the children who had called after—or, as she expressed, JOED—the prophet Elisha.

1866. Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Jan., p. 244. There they was JOEYING away in style, making the people laugh until the house shook again.

NOT FOR JOE.—See JOSEPH.

JOE MANTON, subs. (old).—A name given to fowling-pieces made by Joseph Manton, a celebrated London gunsmith. Also MANTON.

Joe Miller, subs. phr. (common).—A stale joke; a dull tale; a CHESNUT (q.v.). [From a collection entitled Joe Miller’s Jest book published circa 1750, the term having been used to pass off not only the original stock but thousands of jokes manufactured long after]. Hence JOE-MILLERISM (subs.) and JOE-MILLERIZE (verb.).

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 96. The Narrator should not laugh immoderately, and what he delivers, should not be found in every common jest book, or a JOE MILLER, page 14. [67]

1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlegh, liv. ‘Well, of all the vile puns I ever heard, that, which I believe to be an old JOE MILLER, is the worst.’

1859. Times, ‘Rev. of Ramsay’s Reminiscences’, 25 Oct. There is more ‘wit’, more mere word-flashing in one page of our familiar JOE, than in the whole of Dean Ramsay’s book.

1883. Notes and Queries, 6 S. viii. 489. All classes are given to such repetitions, and the only differences are that every set has its own peculiar style or class of JOE MILLERS and old tales.

1885. Punch, August 1, p. 54. What? A weir yonder? Oh! I’m a-weir of it. There! Better old JOE MILLERS than old saws.

1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., p. 211, col. 2. We must not spoil any of Mr. Montagu Williams’s endless laughable stories, though here and there one looks very like an old JOE with a new face.

Joe Savage, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A cabbage.

Joey, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A hypocrite.—MATSELL (1859).

2. (common).—See JOE, subs. sense 1.

3. (Australian).—See quot. 1887.

1865. H. KINGSLEY, Hillyars and Burtons, lvii. He had met a grey doe kangaroo with her little ones.… Then the little one, the JOEY, had opened its mother’s pouch and got in.

1887. Australian Colloquialisms in All the Year Round, 30 July, p. 67. JOEY is a familiar name for anything young or small, and is applied indifferently to a puppy, or a kitten, or a child, while a WOOD-AND-WATER-JOEY is a hanger about hotels, and a doer of odd jobs.

4. (nautical).—A marine.

5. (theatrical).—A clown. [From JOEY Grimaldi].

Intj. (Australian).—See quot. Also JO!

1867. The Victorian Song-book, ‘Where’s your License,’ p. 6. Diggers ain’t often caught on the hop, The little word JOE! which all of you know, Is a signal the traps are quite near.

Jog, verb. (old venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1608. R. MIDDLETON, Epigrams, p. 18. Glabreus of late lay with a common whore, But now he swears he’ll JOGGE with her no more.

1736. The Cupid, 20. He shou’ll ken I’se nae afraid When he gangs to bed me, A’ night long I’se ne’er complain, Tho’ he JOG’D me sprightly.

Jogger, verb. (theatrical).—To play and sing; to perform.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, v. I could vardy that when I heard them JOGGERING.

Joggering Omey, subs. phr. (theatrical).—A musician. [It. giocar = to play + uomo = a man].

Jog-trot (or Job-trot), subs. (old: now recognised).—A slow trot: hence a dull round; an unvarying and uninteresting method. As adj. monotonous; easy-going. Hence, adv.. JOG-TROTTY.

1709. M. BRUCE, Sermon, p. 15. You that keeps only your old JOB-TROOT, and does not mend your pace, you will not wone at soul confirmation. There is a whine old JOB-TROOT ministers among us, a whine old JOB-TROOT professors: they have their own pace, and faster they will not go.

1756. The World, No. 193. They contented themselves indeed with going on a JOG-TROT in the common road of application and patience.

1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of Wakefield, xx. All honest JOG-TROT men, who go on smoothly and dully.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JOGG-TROT.

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, xvii, p. 142. ‘It’s rather JOG-TROTTY and humdrum. But it’ll do as well as anything else!’

1872. M. E. BRADDON, Dead Sea Fruit, i. There is a JOG-TROT prosperity in the place, a comfortable air, which is soothing to the world-worn spirit. [68]

1885. JAS. PAYN, Talk of the Town, vii. They … settled their wigs upon their foreheads and started off again at a JOG TROT in search of another mare’s nest.

1890. St. James’ Gazette, 9 Ap. p. 4, col. 1. Yet the yoke is meekly borne by the JOG-TROT undergraduates of Oxford and Cambridge.

Jogue, subs. (old).—A shilling.—GROSE. For synonyms see BOB.

Jogul, verb. (gaming).—To play up at cards, or other game.—HOTTEN.

John, subs. (Sandhurst).—A first year’s cadet. For synonyms see SNOOKER.

2. (old).—A priest. Also SIR JOHN and MESS- (or MASS-) JOHN (q.v.). For synonyms see DEVIL-DODGER.

1383. CHAUCER, Cant. Tales (SKEAT) iv. 270. 4000. Com neer, thou preest, com hider, thou SIR IOHN.

c. 1554. Youth [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 25]. What! SIR JOHN, what say ye! Would you be fettered now?

1559. PORTER, Two Angry Women [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 320]. Leave these considerations to SIR JOHN; they become a black-coat better than a blue.

1611. BARRY, Ram Alley, iv. Speak, answer we, SIR JACK: stole you my daughter?

1772. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical (1788), 169. The next a MESS JOHN of rank Methodist taint, Who thought like a sinner, but looked like a saint.

3. See POOR JOHN.

John’s silver pin, subs. phr. (old).—A piece of finery amongst sluttery and dirt.

John-a-nokes (or John-at-the-Oaks), subs. (old).—Anybody; MR. THINGUMBOB (q.v.). Also JOHN-A-STILES or JOHN-AT-THE-STYLES.

d. 1529. SKELTON, Colyn Cloute, line 323. What care they though Gil sweate, Or JACKE OF THE NOKE.

1635. GLAPTHORNE, Hollander, in Wks. (1874), 94. ‘I know not how you style him.’ ‘Not JOHN-A-STILES, the Knight of the Post is it?’

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic & Satyricall, 246. From JOHN-A-NOKES to TOM-A-STYLES What is it all but fooling?

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering (ed. 1829), ii. 13, 167. Adventures who are as willing to plead for JOHN-A-NOKES as for the first noble of the land.

John-a-dreams, subs. (old).—A dreamer; a man of sentiment and fancy as opposed to action; a futile person.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, ii. 2. While I a dull, and noddy-mettled rascal, peak Like JOHN-A-DREAMS, impregnant of my Cause And can say nothing.

1876. HENLEY, A Book of Verse, p. 91. Kate-a-Whimsies, JOHN-A-DREAMS, Still debating, Still delay, And the world’s a ghost that gleams, Hovers—vanishes away.

1878. JULIAN STURGIS, JOHN-A-DREAMS [Title].

1894. HADDON CHAMBERS, JOHN-A-DREAMS [Title].

John-among-the-Maids, subs. phr. (old).—A lady’s man; a CARPET-KNIGHT (q.v.).

John-and-joan, subs. phr. (old).—An hermaphrodite.

John-Audley, subs. (theatrical).—A signal to abridge the performance. [When another ‘HOUSE’, (q.v.) is waiting the word ‘JOHN-AUDLEY’ is passed round]. Also JOHN ORDERLY.

1875. Athenæum, 24 April, p. 545, col. 2. When that wary son of wandering Thespis (Richardson) used to step inside from the front, and ask ‘Is JOHN AUDLEY here?’ the stage-manager dropped the curtain wherever the tragedy might be, and a new audience took the places of the old. Even at this day, in [69]dramatic slang, to JOHN AUDLEY a play means to cut it down to a comfortable brevity.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, v. One said, ‘JOHN AUDLEY’, that means leave off!

John-Barleycorn, subs. (common).—Beer. For synonyms see DRINKS and SWIPES.

1791. BURNS, Tam O’Shanter. Inspiring, bold JOHN BARLEYCORN.

John Blunt, subs. phr. (common).—A plain-spoken man. See also JOCK BLUNT.

John-Cheese, subs. (common).—A clown. Also JOHN TROT.

John Collins, subs. phr. (Australian).—See quot.

1865. The Australasian, 24 Feb. p. 8.… That most angelic of drinks for a hot climate—a JOHN COLLINS (a mixture of soda water, gin, sugar, lemon and ice).

John Chinaman, subs. phr. (old).—A Chinaman; the Chinese collectively.

John Company, subs. phr. (old).—The Hon. East India Company.

1808. Lord Minto in India, 184. Preparations to save JOHNNY COMPANY’S cash.

1852. Mem. Col. Maintain, 293. JOHN COMPANY whatever may be his faults is infinitely better than Downing street.

1880. Sat. Review, Feb. 14, p. 220. Doubt as to whether there were any such person as JOHN COMPANY.

John Davis, subs. (American).—Money: otherwise READY JOHN. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT.

Johnian, subs. (Cambridge university).—A student of St. John’s College: also JOHNIAN PIG or HOG—see HOG, subs. sense 3. Also as adj.: e.g. JOHNIAN blazer, JOHNIAN melody etc.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. HOG … JONIAN HOGS an appellation given to the members of St. John’s College Cambridge.

1829. PRAED, Poems, ‘The Vicar’. Sit in the Vicar’s seat: you’ll hear The doctrine of a gentle JOHNIAN.

1841. Westminster Rev., xxxv. 236. The JOHNIANS are always known as pigs. They put up a new organ the other day which was immediately christened ‘Baconi Novum Organum.’

John Long the Carrier. TO STAY FOR (or SEND BY) JOHN LONG THE CARRIER, verb. phr. (old).—To wait a long time; to postpone for an indefinite time.

Johnnie (or Johnny), subs. (common).—1. A policeman: also JOHNNY DARBY.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. &c. ii. 154. The JOHNNYS on the water are always on the look-out, and if they sees any on us about we has to cut our lucky.

1878. BESANT and RICE, By Celia’s Arbour, vi. We might run up and down the slopes or on the ramparts … without rebuke from the JOHNNIES, the official guardians of the walls.

1886. Graphic, Jan. 30, p. 130, col. 1. Constables used to be known as JOHNNY DARBIES, said to be a corruption of the French gensdarmes, and they are still occasionally called JOHNNIES.

2. (general).—An acquaintance; a young man about town. Also = a sweetheart, male or female: e.g. My JOHNNY.

1724–27. RAMSAY, Bonny Tweedside, in Wks. ii. 245. And let us to Edinburgh go Where she that is bonny, May catch her a JOHNNY, And never lead apes below.

1883. Punch, August 18, p. 84, col. 2. Ah! who is more brave than your JOHNNY [70]of note, With his snowy shirt-front and his dainty dust-coat.

1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug. p. 1. col. 1. Well, I’ll put it practically to you. A straight line is the way you JOHNNIES will go to the canteen when I’ve done with you.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Sept. p. 2, col. 3. Now to the JOHNNY in the stalls, now to the ‘’Arry’ in the amphitheatre flew the honeyed tokens, until the air was overcast with them.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Oct. p. 7, col. 1. Mr. Blake said he was very fond of her and did not intend to leave her, as many a JOHNNY would have done.

1890. Tit Bits, 3 Aug. p. 332, col. 3. A microcephalous youth, whose chief intellectual relaxation consists in sucking the head of a stick, thinks that his conversational style is brilliant when he calls a man a JOHNNIE, a hero, ‘a game sort of a chappie,’ and so on.

1890. Daily Telegraph, 4 Feb. The committee seriously discussed the feasibility of conferring with a high-class JOHNNIE.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack Room Ballads, ‘The Widow’s Party’, 57. Where have you been this while away, … Johnnie, my JOHNNIE, aha!

1894. PERCY WHITE, Mr. Bailey Martin, p. 49. What snap your sister has got, and how she must mash all your local JOHNNIES.

3. (Irish).—A half-glass of whisky.

4. (American).—See JOHNNY REB.

JOHNNY-BUM, subs. (old).—A jack-ass.—GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811).

JOHNNY-CAKE, subs. (American).—A New-Englander.

JOHNNY-HAULTANT, subs. (nautical).—A merchant sailor’s name for a man-o’-war’s-man—CLARK RUSSELL.

JOHNNY-BATES’-FARM.—See BATES’ FARM.

JOHNNY-BONO, subs. (East-end).—Generic for an Englishman.

JOHNNY-DARBY, subs. (old).—(1). A policeman, (2) in pl. handcuffs.

JOHNNY NEWCOME, subs. (common).—A new-born child. Also (nautical) an inexperienced youngster; landsman in general.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, [ed. 1862] p. 201. Now to young JOHNNY NEWCOME he seems to confine hers, Neglecting the poor little dear out at dry-nurse.

JOHNNY RAW, subs. (common).—1. A recruit; a novice.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 18. A prettier treat Between two JOHNNY RAWS ’tis not easy to meet.

1825. SCOTT, St. Roman’s Well, xxv. Well, I can snuff a candle and strike out the ace of hearts; and so, should things go wrong, he has no JACK RAW to deal with, but Jack Mowbray.

1828. JON BEE, Picture of London, p. 2. The designations of JOHNNY RAW, Greenhorn or Youkel, whereby they hope to lessen his pretensions to equality with themselves on the score of town-knowledge.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, p. 258 [ed. 1862]. Antonio, like most of those sage JOHNNY RAWS.

1891. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, p. 39. You took me for a country JOHNNIE RAW? with no more mother-wit or courage than a porridge-stick.

1887. Sydney (N. S. W.) Bulletin, 26 Feb. p. 12. He was a new-chum—a regular JOHNNY-RAW.

2. (provincial).—A morning draught.

JOHNNY REB (or JOHNNY), subs. (American).—A soldier in the Confederate ranks during the civil war 1861–5. See BLUE-BELLIES.

John Roberts, subs. phr. (Welsh).—See quot. [71]

1886. J. C. SIKES in N. and Q. 7. S. i. 306. A new measure of drink, enough to keep a man tipsy from Saturday to Sunday night, is universally known throughout Wales as a JOHN ROBERTS. It derives its name from the author of the Sunday Closing Act. See Standard, March 11.

John the Baptist, subs. phr. (American).—See quot.

1888. Arkansas Traveller, Oct. Mebbe he gwine ter gimme a JOHN DE BAPTIST—dat’s one cent—but mos likely he gwineter jis’ give thanks.

John Thomas, subs. (common).—1. Generic for a flunkey.

1883. Echo, April 18, p. 1, col. 5. Pity the sorrows of a poor flunkey!… Who would have thought, to see JOHN THOMAS … sunning himself on the forms provided for his use outside the shops in Regent Street, that he was a sufferer from many hours of confinement in doors.

2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

John (or Joan) Thomson’s Man, subs. phr. (Old Scot’s).—An uxorious, or faithful, husband.

d. 1513. DUNBAR, ‘To the King’, in Poems (S.T.S. Edinburgh, 1884–5, ii. 318–19.) God gif ye war JOHN THOMSOUNS MAN.

John Trot, subs. (common).—A clown: also JOHN CREAM.

d. 1774. GOLDSMITH, Poems. JOHN TROT was desired by two witty pens To tell them the reason why asses had ears.

Join, verb. (colloquial).—To marry. TO JOIN GIBLETS (venery) = to copulate.

1892. Tit Bits, 17 Sept. 419, 1. We’ve come to be JINED.

Joint, subs. (American).—1. An opium den; a gambling saloon; a low class drinking house of any kind.

2. (thieves’).—See quot.

1885. Daily Telegraph, August 18, p. 3, col. 2. This class of thieves, when they agree on a partnership or JOINT, as the slang phrase is, work one for the other as they best can.

TO WORK THE JOINT, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To swindle by means of a ‘faked’ lottery table.

Joker, subs. (common).—1. A general term of banter; a ‘nice un’; as COVE, CODGER, TULIP.

1665. PEPYS, Diary, Feb. 15. At noon, with Creed to the Trinity-house where a very good dinner among the old JOKERS.

1833. MARRYAT, P. Simple, ii. ‘That’s what you’ll learn to do, my JOKER, before you’ve been two cruises to sea’.

1882. Daily News, Oct. 4, p. 2, col. 4. Her screams brought her husband downstairs, when the prisoner said, ‘My JOKER, I want you.’

1892. ANSTEY, Voces Populi, p. 121. No ’urry, old man—this JOKER ’aint arf finished with me yet.

2. (American).—An extra card used in certain games. It is blank or bears some special device. It is always a trump and generally the highest. Often called JOLLY JOKER.

1894. St. James’s Gazette, 19 July [quoted in Saturday Review, July 26]. ‘The game of poker is played with a pack of fifty-three cards, the fifty-third card being called the JOKER.’—Ibid., ‘It is true that American manufacturers of playing cards are wont to include a blank card at the top of the pack; and it is, alas! true that some thrifty person suggested that the card should not be wasted. This was the origin of the JOKER.’

1885. J. B. GREENOUGH, Queen of Hearts, iii. The White Knight, called the JOKER, otherwise the Best Bower.

3. (American political).—See quot.

1895. Review of Reviews, 15 Jan., p. 70. The little JOKERS were used. (We have one of these JOKERS in our possession.) These little JOKERS were [72]attached to the left thumbs of certain judges of election as the ballots were being counted. These JOKERS are made of rubber and have a cross on them. They are really rubber stamps. As these judges picked up the ballots they took hold of them in such a way that their left thumbs, with the JOKERS attached thereto, pressed upon the squares opposite the name of the candidate whom they wished to aid. By thus pressing upon said squares crosses were left in them.

Jollock, subs. (common).—A parson. For synonyms see DEVIL-DODGER and SKY-PILOT.

Jolly, subs. (old).—1. The head: also JOLLY NOB.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

2. (nautical).—A Royal Marine: cf. TAME JOLLY. Fr. un bigorneau.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, v. iii. ch. 1, p. 313. I ran down to Plymouth, hoisted my pennant, drew my JOLLIES from the dock yard, etc.

1883. Graphic, 12 May, p. 487, col. 3. The Marine … not being either a soldier or a sailor, was generally described as a joey, a JOLLY, a shellback, etc.

1884. G. A. SALA, in Illustr. L. News, 12 April, p. 339, col. 3. I should be glad to learn … why a militiaman should be a TAME JOLLY (Admiral Smythe, in ‘The Sailor’s Word-Book’ is my authority); and a marine a ‘Royal JOLLY.’

3. (thieves’).—See quots.

1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of London, p. 46. The dependents of cheats; as JOLLIES and ‘magsmen,’ or the confederates of other cheats.

1867. JAS. GREENWOOD, Unsent. Journeys, xxiv. 190. The ‘wheel of fortune’ keepers, man and woman, attended by their JOLLIES … those wonderfully lucky persons who, coming up quite promiscuously, win and carry away the sets of china and diamond earrings.

4. (thieves’).—A pretence; an excuse.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag. xl. 504. I see a reeler giving me a roasting (watching me), so I began to count my pieces for a JOLLY (pretence).

5. (general).—Praise; recommendation chaff; abuse. TO CHUCK A JOLLY = to set off an address to one or other of these ends. See CHUCK.

c. 1869. VANCE, The Chick-a-leary Cove. Now join in a chyike, the JOLLY we all like.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 7 March. ‘Winner of the Waterloo Cup.’ The boys all turned out to see ‘the illustrious stranger;’ and, on a suggestion to give him a JOLLY, which appears to be the local phrase, they cheered the hero loud and long.

1891. Licensed Victuallers Gazette, 9 Feb. The spank, spank, could be heard distinctly all round the ring of spectators, who cheered and JOLLIED both lads vociferously.

Adj. and adv. (colloquial).—1. Fine; excellent; very good: very; exceedingly. Cf. AWFULLY, BLOODY, etc.

1369. CHAUCER, Troilus (SKEAT), ii. 223, line 1105. Tel us your IOLY WO and your penaunce.

d. 1529. SKELTON, Elynour Rummyng, line 51. And yet she will iet, Lyke a IOLLY fet.

1562–3. Jack Juggler [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 141]. I would he were now before your gate, For you would pummel him JOLLILY about the pate.

1579. SPENSER, Shepheardes Calender, Sept. Indeede thy bull is a bold bigge cur, And could make a JOLLY hole in their fur.

1590–6. SPENSER, Fairy Queen. Full JOLLY knight he seemed, and fair did sit.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART ii. 77]. It will make them IOLLY long-winded, to trot vp and downe the Dorter staires. [73]

1594. LODGE, Wounds of Civil War [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 145]. Aristion is a JOLLY-timbered man.

1597–8. A Woman will Have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 519]. ‘To bed? and what hath God sent you’. ‘A JOLLY girl, sir’.

1607. MARSTON, What You Will. With what a JOLLY presence would he pace Round the Rialto.

1694. Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar., p. 57. Wine alone can make us JOLLY.—Ibid. Among my cups I sing and roar Like JOLLY topers till I snore.

1747–8. J. TRAPP, Notes upon the Gospels, [ed. 1865] p. 25. All was JOLLY quiet at Ephesus before St. Paul came thither.

1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, II. iii. What they call a JOLLY brisk young man.

1836. H. M. MILNER, Turpin’s Ride to York, ii. 4. That’s a JOLLY lie.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. ix. ‘He is so JOLLY green,’ said Charley.

1854. Punch, Nov. The Russian Liprandi charged John, Pat, and Sandy, And a JOLLY good licking he got.

1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School Days, ii. 1. What a JOLLY desk!

1869. Daily Telegraph. He is annoyed when young ladies use slang phrases, such as awfully JOLLY! Their fresh lips should drop pearls and diamonds—not snakes and toads.

1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Gaz., 9 Jan. I was JOLLY glad he didn’t die before.

1894. S. R. CROCKETT, The Play-actress, p. 98. My governor ’ud he JOLLY well left if I did not turn up bright and early.

2. (common).—Slightly drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1883. Daily News, 9 Feb., p. 3, col. 7. The prosecutor came in on Friday night with Mr. S., and had several glasses of lager beer, and all got JOLLY!

3. (racing).—Fat; with too much flesh.

1888. Daily Chronicle, 10 Dec. Mr. Fennick’s mare stripped in JOLLY condition.

Verb. (common).—To joke; to rally; to vituperate.

1610. G. FLETCHER, Christ’s Triumph. They JOLLY at his grief.

1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 69. I can’t JOLLY him down, so you must settle and do away with him, or I must ‘dry up,’ for the fellow’s bested me.

1879. Notes and Queries, 5, S. xi. 406. JOLLEYING is a common term among workmen in London, and is used to express nearly every description of verbal ridicule and abuse.

1889. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 8 Feb. Amidst yells, shouts, hisses, and JOLLYINGS.

1892. GUNTER, Miss Dividends, ch. xv. You’ve left her alone all day—you ain’t been near to JOLLY her up.

Jolly-boys, subs. (common).—A group of small drinking vessels connected by a tube, or by openings one from another.

Jolly-dog, subs. (common).—A boon companion.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JOLLY-DOG, a merry or facetious fellow; a bon vivant, who never flinches from his glass, nor cries to go home to bed.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

c. 1867. Broadside Ballad, ‘Slap Bang’. There is a set of JOLLY DOGS I’ve lately come across.

1880. Punch’s Almanack, 13.

Jolly-jumper, subs. (nautical).—A light sail set above a SKY-SCRAPER (q.v.).—CLARK RUSSELL (1883).

Jolly-nob.—See JOLLY, subs. sense 1.

Jolly-roger, subs. (nautical).—A pirate’s flag; A DEATH’S HEAD AND CROSS BONES (q.v.).

1885. STEVENSON, Treasure Island, xix, p. 151 (1886). There was the JOLLY ROGER—the black flag of piracy—flying from her peak. [74]

1892. HUME NISBET, THE JOLLY ROGER [Title].

Jolt-head (or Jolter-head), subs. (old).—A blockhead: for synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, iv. 1. You heedless JOLTHEADS, and unmannered slaves!

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen, iii. 1. Launce, Fie on thee, JOLT-HEAD! thou canst not read.

1605. B. JONSON, Volpone, v. 5. And your red saucy cap, that seems to me Nailed to your JOLT-HEAD.

1658. BROME, Covent Garden Weeded, p. 23. Sir JOLTHEAD, I do not. I’ll teach you to chop logic with me.

1690. DURFEY, Collin’s Walk, C. 11, p. 79. And shall I not, with reverence low, Presume to ask who’s the JOLT-HEAD now?

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JOLTER-HEAD, a vast large Head; also Heavy and Dull. To jolt or Shake, jolting or shaking of a Coach.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar., p. 14. The blows he had received on his JOLT-HEAD made him fall into convulsions.

1707. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, 11, pt. i, p. 6. Then looking very stern and dread, He bridles up his JOLTER HEAD.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary, (5th ed.). JOLT or JOLTER-HEAD (S.) a large head; also a dull, stupid fellow, or blockhead.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JOLTER HEAD, a long head; metaphorically, a stupid fellow.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, viii. I should like to know whether her little conceited noddle, or her father’s old crazy, calculating JOLTER-PATE, breeds most whimsies.

1825. Mod. Flash Dict., s.v. JOLTER-HEADS—a heavy, dull fellow; a blustering landlord.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, li. p. 490. It isn’t hanging yet for a man to keep a penn’orth of poison for his own purposes, and have it taken from him by two old crazy JOLTERHEADS who go and act a play about it.

Jolt-headed (or Jolter-headed), adj. (old).—Stupid; dull; CHOWDER-HEADED (q.v.).

1690. DURFEY, Collin’s Walk, C. II. p. 56. Insensible JOLT-HEADED Fool.

1754. H. MARTIN, Eng. Dict. (2nd ed.) s.v. Chub, chub … a JOLT-HEADED fellow.

1849. LYTTON, Caxtons, III. iv. A worthless, obscure, JOLTER-HEADED booby in mail, whose only record to men is a brass plate in a church in a village!

1877. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple, ch. xxiv. It might be also that in his JOLT-HEADED way he really was a ‘faithful dependent.’

Jolt, verb. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Jomer, subs. (theatrical).—See quot., FLAME, BLOWEN, BARRACK-HACK, and TART.

1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed. p. 445. A fancy girl—JOMER.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jonah, subs. (common).—A person whose presence brings bad luck; specifically a clergyman. [Of Biblical origin]. JONAH-TRIP = an unlucky undertaking.

1594. GREENE, Looking Glasse, Wks. 134. 2. (1861). We heav’d the hapless JONAS overboard.

1612. T. LAVENDER, Travels etc., Sig. C 1. Thought it best to make a JONAS of him, and to cast both him and his books into the sea.

1644. Merc. Brit., xxii. 172. I am ashamed that these JONAHS should be sleeping thus under the deck in a storme.

Jonnick (or Jonnuk), adj. (showmen’s).—Right; correct; proper—HOTTEN. TO BE JONNUK = to be fair; to share equally. [75]

Jordan, subs. (old).—1. A chamber-mug. For synonyms see IT. [Short for JORDAN BOTTLE; a memory of the Crusades]. Hence JORDAN-HEADED (DUNBAR) an opprobrious epithet.

1383. CHAUCER, Canterbury Tales, 12. 240. I pray to God to saue thy gentil corps, And eke thyn urinals, and thy JORDANES.

1545. LINDSAY, Thrie Estatis, l. 2478. Your mouth war meit to drinke an wesche JURDEN.

1592. GREENE, Blacke Bookes Messenger, in Works, xi. 33. And so pluckt goodman IURDAINE with all his contents down pat on the curbers pate.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Henry IV, ii. 1. They will allow us ne’er a JORDEN.

1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, ii. 1. Good JORDAN, I know what you’ll take to a very drop.

1622. JONSON, Masque of Augurs, in Wks. (CUNNINGHAM), iii. 165. My lady will come With a bowl and a broom, And her handmaid with a JORDAN.

1658. BROME, Covent Garden Weeded, p. Carry up a JORDAN for the Maidenhead, and a quart of white muscadine for the Blue Boar.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JORDAIN.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1728. POPE, Dunciad, ii. 190. Crown’d with the JORDAN walks contented home.

1765. GOLDSMITH, Essays, 1. Instead of a crown, our performer covered his brows with an inverted JORDAN.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

b. 1794. WOLCOT [P. Pindar], Peter’s Prophecy. Who knows not JORDANS, fool! from Roman vases?

1887. DR. BREWER, in N. and Q., S. iii. 79. We always called the Matula the JORDAN, and into this receptacle all the bedroom slops were emptied.

2. (old).—A stroke with a staff.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JORDAIN. I’ll tip him a JORDAIN if I transnear, I will give a blow with my staff if I get up to him.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (journalistic).—The Atlantic; THE DITCH (q.v.); THE HERRING-POND (q.v.).

1875. Daily Telegraph, 10 May. No sooner does a great want of any kind make itself felt, than the means of supplying that want are discovered by our ingenuous cousins on the other side of JORDAN.

Adj. (American thieves’).—Disagreeable; hard of accomplishment.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Jorum, subs. (old).—A drinking-bowl; also a portion of liquor; a NEDDY (q.v.). Sp. granizo (= hail).

d. 1796. BURNS, O May, thy Morn! And here’s to them that like oursels Can push about the JORUM.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JORUM, a jug or large pitcher.

1800. C. LAMB, Letter to Coleridge, Wks. [ed. 1852], ch. v. p. 46. You, for instance, when you are over your fourth or fifth JORUM.

1804. JOHN COLLINS, Scripscrapologia, p. 59. And drown care in a JORUM of grog.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xxxviii. p. 333. After dinner, Mr. Bob Sawyer ordered in the largest mortar in the shop, and proceeded to brew a reeking JORUM of rum-punch therein.

d. 1842. CUNNINGHAM, ‘Newcastle Beer.’ Apply for a JORUM of Newcastle beer.

1854. MARTIN and AYTOUN, Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘The Lay of the Lovelorn’, Hark my merry comrades call me, bawling for another JORUM.

1858. TROLLOPE, Dr. Thorne, xi. He contrived to swallow a JORUM of scalding tea.

1867. LATHAM, Eng. Dict., s.v. JORUM … slang, perhaps connected with YARRUM.

1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 85. Each end and Præfect’s mess had their beer served up in a large white jug, or ‘bob.’ The [76]vessel used for the same purpose in Commoners’ was called a JORAM.

Joseph, subs. (old).—1. See quots: specifically a lady’s riding habit with buttons to the skirts. In American (thieves’) a patched coat. Cf. BENJAMIN, and for synonyms see CAPELLA.

1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, 1. v. 48 (1874). JOSEPH, a cloak.

1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia, ii. in Wks. (1720), 4. Who’s here? my father? Lolpoop, Lolpoop, hide me; give me my JOSEPH.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. JOSEPH, a Cloak or Coat. A Rum JOSEPH, a good Cloak or Coat. A Queer JOSEPH, a coarse ord’nary Cloak or Coat; also an old or tattered one.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall, (4th ed.) p. 12. JOSEPH, a close coat.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of Wakefield, xvi. Olivia would be drawn as an Amazon … dressed in a green JOSEPH.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JOSEPH, a woman’s great coat.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1818. S. E. FERRIER, Marriage, viii. Another held up a tartan cloak, with a hood; and a third thrust forward a dark cloth JOSEPH, lined with flannel.

1823. Modern Flash Dict., s.v.

1825. NEAL, Bro. Jonathan, III. xxvii. So as to betray, with every swing of her body, the rich dress, underneath her JOSEPH.

1847. ROBB, Squatter Life, p. 62. ‘Well, by gunflints,’ says he ‘ef you ain’t makin’ a JOSEY.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. JOSEPH, a coat that’s patched.

2. (colloquial).—A woman-proof male. TO WEAR JOSEPH’S COAT = to defy temptation, as Joseph with Potiphar’s wife.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. JOSEPH.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. JOSEPH’S COAT. It’s of no use trying, he WEARS A JOSEPH’S COAT.

1870. Reynolds’s Newspaper, 6 Feb. You appear to have been a regular JOSEPH.

NOT FOR JOSEPH, phr. (common).—A contemptuous refusal; a sarcastic dissent: cf. ALL MY EYE.

1844. C. SELBY, London by Night, ii. 1. Jack. Who’s to pay? Ned. Whichever you please. Jack. Oh! in that case you may as well settle it. Ned. NOT FOR JOSEPH! You asked me to tea.

c. 1867. Broadside Ballad, ‘Not for Joe’. NOT FOR JOE … NOT FOR JOSEPH, if he knows it.

JOSEPH’S-COAT, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A coat of many colours; a dress of honour.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack Room Ballads, ‘The Rhyme of the Three Captains’. They ha’ rigged him a JOSEPH’S JURY-COAT to keep his honour warm.

Josey, verb. (American).—To go; to hasten. For synonyms see AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE.

Josh, subs. (colloquial).—1. A sleepy-head; a dolt.

2. (American).—An Arkansas man.

Verb. (American).—To chaff; to quiz; to make fun of.

Intj. (American).—A word shouted at the New-York Stock Exchange to wake up a slumbering member.—BARTLETT.

Joskin, subs. (common).—A bumpkin: also a dolt. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JOSKIN. The drop-cove maced the JOSKIN of twenty quid, the ringdropper cheated the countryman of twenty guineas.

1819. CHAS. LAMB, Letter to Mr. Manning. I hate the JOSKINS a name for Hertfordshire bumpkins.

1828. BEE, Living Picture of London, p. 15. The very sight of a countryman, either yokel or JOSKIN.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. [77]

1865. DICKENS, Christmas Stories (Doctor Marigold), p. 172 (H. ed.). They all set up a laugh when they see us, and one chuckle-headed JOSKIN (that I hated for it) made the bidding, ‘Tuppence for her!’

1876. HINDLEY, Adv. of a Cheap Jack, p. 14. An old JOSKIN of a countryman for an ostler.

1885. HENLEY, Ballads and Rondeaux, p. 81. Dull Sir JOSKIN sleeps his fill; Hard Sir Æger dints his mail.

1889. Sporting Life, 3 Jan. Your true JOSKIN, if an observer at all, can pretty accurately gauge the weather prospects.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads. Old JOSKINS a-sucking long churchwarden pipes.

Josser, subs. (common).—1. A simpleton; a flat; a SPONGE (q.v.); an old roué. Also as adj.

1886. Broadside Ballad, ‘I took it On’. I took it on, Of course I was a JOSSER.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 6 July, ‘Jury Box JOSSERS’ [Title].

c. 1890. Music Hall Song, ‘I don’t like London.’ Whenever I’m near them—they always cry Ain’t he a JOSSER? Ain’t he a guy?

c. 1890. Music Hall Song, ‘I’m living with Mother Now.’ As a JOSSER I think you will do.

1890. Punch, 22 Feb. These quality JOSSERS would spile it, if ’arf their reforms they can carry.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 58. I’d keep all sech JOSSERS in mug.

1893. Standard, 29 Jan. p. 2. Now suppose we are on the road … and we meet a JOSSER policeman? Is it fair that the JOSSER should stop us?

2. (Australian).—A parson. For synonyms see DEVIL-DODGER and SKY-PILOT.

Jossop, subs. (schoolboys’).—Syrup; juice; gravy; sauce—HOTTEN.

Jostle, verb. (Old Cant).—To cheat.

Jottling. TO GO JOTTLING, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. Also TO JOTTLE, and TO DO A JOTTLE. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Jounce, subs. (American).—A jolt; a shake.

1876. MRS. WHITNEY, Sights and Insights, II. xvii. Here she … sat herself down … with a JOUNCE.

Verb. (American).—To jolt or shake by rough riding; to handle carelessly; to deal severely with.

1833. NEAL, Down Easters, ii. p. 14. Mind how ye JOUNCE that air chist about!

TO BE JOUNCED, verb. phr. (American).—To be enamoured of.

Journey, subs. (colloquial).—Occasion; juncture; time.

1884. Longman’s Mag., v. 179. ‘Well,’ said the policeman, when he understood, and ceased to suspect; ‘as for him, he’s got safe enough off, this JOURNEY!’

Journeyman Soul-saver, subs. phr. (common).—A scripture-reader; a ‘bible-woman’. Also JOURNEYMAN-PARSON (London) = a curate.

Jove.—See BY JOVE.

Jowl (or Jole), (old: now recognised).—The cheek: CHEEK BY JOWL = close together: JOWL-SUCKING = kissing.

1592. SHAKSPEARE, Midsummer Night’s Dream, iii. 2. Follow! nay, I’ll go with you CHEEK BY JOLE.

1682. DRYDEN, Prol. to Loyal Brother. Sits CHEEK-BY-JOWL, in black, to cheer his heart.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1830. TENNYSON, Vision of Sin, 84. CHEEK BY JOWL, and knee by knee. [78]

Joyful. TO BE ADDICTED TO THE ‘O BE JOYFUL’, verb. phr. (common).—See quot.

1865. London Jour., 8 April. Like a great many other clever fellows, he was too much addicted to the ‘O BE JOYFUL!’ In fact he had done so much at the business, that a red nose, somewhat swollen, was the consequence.

Juba, subs. (American).—A negro. See SNOWBALL.

Jubilee, subs. (Winchester College).—A pleasant time: e.g. The town was all in a JUBILEE of feasts—Dryden.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyricall, p. 192. Day by day, and night by night, Joyful JUBILEES we keep.

Judas, subs. (colloquial).—1. A traitor. JUDAS-COLORED = red. [From the tradition that Judas had red hair].

c. 1384. WYCLIF, Of Prelates, (in F. D. MATHEW’S, Unprinted Wks. of W. ch. v.) And thus the lord or the lady hireth costly a fals JUDAS to his confessour.

1597–8. MUNDAY, Downfall of Robert etc. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 131]. Warman himself, That creeping JUDAS, joy’d, and told it me.

1599. JONSON, Ev. Man out of his Humour, iv. 1. Fal. Now, out upon thee, JUDAS! canst thou not be content to backbite thy friend, but thou must betray him.

1600. SHAKSPEARE, As You Like It, iii. 4. Ros. His very hair is of the dissembling colour. Cel. Something browner than JUDAS’S.

1604. DECKER, Honest Wh., Pt. II, in Wks. (1873), ii. 116. Thou villaine, curb thy tongue, thou art a JUDAS, to sell thy master’s name to slander thus.

1673. DRYDEN, Amboyna, [in Wks. i. 561 (1701)]. I do not like his oath, there’s treachery in that JUDAS-COLOUR’D beard.

1860. THACKERAY, Four Georges (George I). We think within ourselves, O you unfathomable schemer! O you warrior invincible! O you beautiful smiling JUDAS! What master would you not kiss or betray?

2. See JUDAS-HOLE.

Judas-hole, subs. (common).—A spy-hole in a door (see quot. 1893); also JUDAS.

1856. C. READE, Never too Late etc. [Century]. He knew the world as he had seen it through JUDAS-HOLES, chiefly in its foulness and impurity.

1883. Century, xxvii. 75. A JUDAS is a square iron lattice … all have an iron flap inside to keep inquisitive eyes from prying into the house and yard.—Ibid. xxxv. 522. This contrivance which is known to the political prisoners as the JUDAS enables the guard to look into the cell at any time without attracting the attention of the occupant.

Jude, subs. Common.—(A harlot).

1886. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night. You JUDES that clobber for the stramm.

Judische (or Jew’s) COMPLIMENT, subs. (venery).—Lots of PRICK (q.v.) but no money: c.f. YORKSHIRE COMPLIMENT.

Judge, subs. (American cadets’).—The most popular with his fellows.

Judge and Jury, subs. phr. (tailors’).—A mock trial, the fines being paid in beer.

Judy (or Jude), subs. (common).—1. A girl: a woman, especially one of loose morals: also, a sweetheart. In Anglo-Chinese circles a native courtezan.

1886. Daily News, 26 July, p. 6, col. 1. One man saying ‘Them ere Romans was them coves as goes about with a horgan an’ a JUDY’ (girl).

1888. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, p. 80. I done the best as I knew for you, and there ain’t a bloke around as has a JUDY. [79]

2. (common).—A simpleton; a fool: TO MAKE A JUDY OF ONESELF = to play the fool; to act the GIDDY GOAT (q.v.) or SAUCY KIPPER (q.v.).

1824. Atlantic Magazine, i, 346. Not are ye laughin’ at, ye JUDIES.

1854. Punch, i, p. 208, col. 2. Making a JUDY of herself.

b. 1877. Boston Chronotype, (quoted by BARTLETT). It is thought that a set of men never did make greater JUDIES of themselves.

Juff, subs. (old).—1. The cheek; 2. The posteriors.

Jug, subs. (old).—1. A prison: also more frequently STONE-JUG (q.v.). For synonyms see CAGE. Fr. la boite aux cailloux; Sp. tristura. [SKEAT: Fr. joug = a yoke. The Eng. JUG, a cant term for a prison (also called jocosely a STONE-JUG) is the same word].

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, iii. v. And thus was I bowled out at last And into the JUG for a lag was cast.

1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 157. That’s better than the STONE-JUG anyhow; the mill’s a deal better than the Sessions.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xlii. He shall be kept in the STONE-JUG, Charlie, like a gentleman.

1839. THACKERAY, Catherine, i. We intend to take a few more pages from the Old Bailey Calendar to bless the public with one more draught from the STONE JUG.

1842. Punch, ii, 188. ‘Cut like bricks, and bilk the JUG,’ he cried in one of those speeches which bother the French authors so much when they try to translate our works.

1852. JUDSON, Mysteries of New-York, x. ‘What is that place?’ ‘It’s the JUG sir,’ responded Frank—‘the Tombs, I meant, sir.’

1867. Punch, xxxii, 49. This STONE JUG at which flats dare to rail.

1870. All the Year Round, 5 Mar. ‘Bygone Cant’. In a box of the STONE-JUG I was born, aye, And by a tightened jugular I shall die.

1871. Chambers’ Journal, 9 Dec. p. 771. They are no worse than the swells in the City who rob right and left, and never get in the JUG for it.

1884. R. E. FRANCILLON, Ropes of Sand, xxi. I’ve not been under a roof but the JUG’S since somewhere in old Horneds’s time.

1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxii. It was no use sending it to you, old man, while you was in the JUG.

1889. Modern Society, 16 Feb., p. 305. I got three months in the JUG for fortune-telling.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 58. As for O’Brien and his britches, I’d keep all sech jossers in JUG.

1895. C. WHIBLEY, in New Review, May, p. 570. For thirty years his squat, stout figure was amiably familiar to all such as enjoyed the Liberties of the JUG.

2. (American thieves’).—A bank: A BROKEN JUGGED ONE = a note from a broken bank. Hence, also, JUG-BREAKING = burglary at a bank.

1862. Cornhill Mag., vi. 648. It’s all in single pennifs on the England JUG.

3. (old).—A mistress. Hence (as in quot. 1632) a term of endearment.

1569. T. PRESTON, Cambyses. Dost thou think I am a sixpenny JUG?

b. 1600. Grim the Collier [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 409]. The collier chooseth well; … JUG shall be his. [Aside]. But hear’st thou, Grim, I have that in my head, To plot that how thou shall the maiden wed.

1632. W. ROWLEY, Woman Never Vext, i. 1. Bring him away, JUG.

1707. CENTLIVRE, Platonic Lady. Haste ye! don’t you marry that ill tempered JUG.

4. (old).—A term of contempt applied indifferently to both the sexes: see JUGGINS. [80]

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 63. Bell’s a bloomer, and, Jack thought, a bit of a JUG.

Verb. (common).—1. To imprison; to lock up; to ‘run in’; hence to hide.

1852. JUDSON, Mysteries of New-York, iv. When I was JUGGED the last time, didn’t you bring me all I wanted.

1861. ALBERT SMITH, Medical Student, p. 33. Poor Jones got JUGG’D by mistake, but eventually got off the next morning with a five-shilling fine.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 15 Dec. The police came in and JUGGED him.

1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxx. Jim and I will be JUGGED.

1889. Cassell’s Sat. Jour., 9 Feb. That good-looking limb of the law who went wild … and got himself JUGGED.

1892. GUNTER, Miss Dividends, vi. Buck Powers told me I’d be JUGGED if I shot at ’em.

2. (common).—To take in; to DO (q.v.).

Jug-bitten, subs. (old).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1630. TAYLOR, Works. For when any of them are wounded, pot-shot, JUGBITTEN, or cup-shaken, so that they have lost all reasonable faculties of the minde, and in a manner are so mad, that they dare speake felony, whistle treason, and call any magnifico a mungrell.

Jug-full. NOT BY A JUG FULL, phr. (common).—Not by a good deal, by long chalks, by no means.

1834. DOWNING, Mayday in New-York (quoted by BARTLETT.) Downingville is as sweet as a rose. But ’tain’t so in New-York, not by a JUG-FULL.

1838–40. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xviii. The last mile, he said, tho’ the shortest one of the whole bilin’, took the longest [time] to do it by a JUG FULL.

Juggins (or jug), subs. (common).—A fool. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1886. Punch, 17 July, p. 25. Yah! Wot a old JUGGINS he is!

1888. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 116. Only a JUGGINS or a horse ever works, and I don’t intend to do any.

1888. Sporting Life, 29 Dec. The JUGGINSES who pull down but never build up are clamouring just a little bit for the abolition of Christmas.

1890. Globe, 15 Feb., p. 2, col. 1. Among the witnesses called to speak to the character of the prisoner was the Marquis of Ailesbury, who said he did not think Benzon would do any wrong intentionally, but he was a regular JUBILEE JUGGINS.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 5. Darned Sosherlist JUGGINSES ’owl till all’s blue agin Wealth.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xii. He was a JUGGINS though he could write songs.

Juggler’s-box, subs. (Old Cant).—The branding-iron.

Juice, subs. (venery).—SPENDINGS, (q.v.). TO GIVE JUICE FOR JELLY = to achieve the sexual spasm.

TO STEW IN ONE’S OWN JUICE (or GREASE).—See STEW.

Juicy, adj. (common).—1. Piquant; racy; bawdy.

1880. GREENWOOD, Odd People, p. 59. ‘Let me play you a tune, then,’ said the frightened lad. ‘All right, then. Play us something JUICY,’ exclaimed the ruffian.

2. (venery).—Amorous: Of women only.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Jan., p. 43. She by self-denial, … rich, JUICY, full of love, debarr’d herself from the man she doated on.—Ibid., Aug. p. 5. A JUICY young amorous creature.

1719. DURFEY, Pills &c., ii. 312. Snug, rich, and fantastick, no fumbler was known, That wedded a JUICY brisk girl of the town.

Jukrum, subs. (Old Cant).—A license.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785). [81]

Julius Cæsar, subs. phr. (venery). The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

DEAD AS JULIUS CÆSAR, phr. (old).—Dead past doubting.

Jumbaree, subs. (theatrical).—Jewellery.

Jumbo, subs. (old).—A clumsy, unwieldly fellow.—BEE (1823).

Jumble, verb. (old).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE. Also TO DO A JUMBLE-GIBLETS, or a JUMBLE-UP.

1582. STANYHURST, Virgil his Aeneis (ARBER, 1880), iv. 100. Dick and thee Troian captayns doe JUMBLE in one den.

1595. BARNFIELD, Poems (ARBER, 1882), 40. Both they JUMBLE in one bed.

1618. FIELD, Amends for Ladies, iv. 2. I would have so JUMBLED her honesty.

1651. RANDOLPH, Hey for Honesty, iii. 3. The wenches will tumble and merrily JUMBLE.

1687. BROME, The Queen’s Exchange, in Wks. (1875), iii. 535. The dairy maid and he were JUMBLING of A posset together.

1719. DURFEY, Pills &c., iv. 100. We JUMBLE our lasses upon the grass.

Jumble-gut-lane, subs. phr. (old).—A bad or rough road.—B. E. (1690); GROSE (1785).

Jumbler, subs. (old). A FUCKSTER or FUCKSTRESS (q.v.)

1618. FIELD, Amends for Ladies, ii. 1. She has been as sound a JUMBLER as ever paid for it.

Jumbuck, subs. (Australian).—A sheep. For synonyms see WOOLLY-BIRD.

1851. Chambers’ Journal, xv. 317. Mind you look out well after the men as well as the JUMBUCKS.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Feb. The process by which the JUMBUCKS are shorn.

Jumm, verb. (venery).—To copulate.—(URQUHART). For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Jummix, verb. (American).—To jumble up; to mix together: a PORTMANTEAU WORD (q.v.)

Jump, subs. (old).—1. A form of robbery. See JILT, verb.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. JUMP. Robbery effected by ascending a ladder placed by a sham lamplighter against the house intended to be robbed. It is so called because, should the lamplighter be put to flight, the thief who ascended the ladder has no means of escaping but that of JUMPING down.

2. (thieves’).—A window: cf. BACK JUMP.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (in pl.).—(1) the fidgets; (2) delirium tremens.

1879. PAYN, High Spirits (Capt. Cole’s Passenger). I thought he had been drinking, and in fact was on the verge of THE JUMPS.

1889. Daily Telegraph, 7 Sep., 5, 3. Only suffering from an attack of THE JUMPS.

4. (old).—Loose raiment. See JUMPER, sense 4.

1752. FOOTE, Taste (ed. 1781), p. v. Don’t mind my shape this bout, for I’m only in JUMPS.

Verb. (old).—1. To seize upon, whether forcibly or by stealth; to cheat; to supplant: e.g. TO JUMP A MAN = to pounce upon and rob or maltreat; TO JUMP A HOUSE = to rob it; TO JUMP A CLAIM = to take possession of a mining right in the absence of an owner. Fr. farguer à la dure. [82]

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 160. They … pick him up and take him to the above alehouse to JUMP him, or do him upon the broads, which means cards.

1855. F. MARRYAT, Mountains and Molehills, 217. If a man JUMPED my claim.… I appealed to the crowd.

1857. WESTGARTH, Victoria and the Australian Goldmines. There was for that day at any rate to be no JUMPING of claims.

1870. BRET HARTE, Luck of Roaring Camp, 134. The old proprietor … was green, and let the boys about here JUMP him.

1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag., xl. 500. Who used to take me a parlour-JUMPING (robbing rooms), putting me in where the window was open.

1888. Chicago Herald. He arose at early dawn and JUMPED his bill.

1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxxviii. We lying down and our horses hung up not far off for fear we might be JUMPED by the police at any time.

1890. Athenæum, 8 Feb. p. 176, col. 2. ‘How a Claim was nearly JUMPED’ is the most natural and the best of the five stories.

2. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1638. RANDOLPH, Muses’ Looking-Glass, iv. 3. Then there is JUMPING Jude … with bouncing Nan.

3. (medical).—To try a medicine.

FROM THE JUMP, adv. phr. (colloquial).—From the start.

1848. New York Tribune, 11 Nov. Here is a whole string of Democrats, all of whom had been going the whole hog for Cass FROM THE JUMP.

b. 1871. Wild Bill [quoted by DE VERE]. I knew how it would come FROM THE JUMP, for in the man’s face was written rascal.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 3 Feb. He can depend on a big crowd and fair play FROM THE JUMP.

TO JUMP AT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To accept eagerly.

1848. LONGSTREET, Georgia Scenes [quoted by DE VERE]. When I offered him that, his whole face brightened wonderfully, and he JUMPED AT the offer.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, iii. 1. Mary was getting on badly with her drawing, and JUMPED AT the idea of a ramble in the woods.

1882. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than Water, vii. His circumstances were such that, to use a homely but very significant expression, he might well have JUMPED AT such an offer.

2. (colloquial).—To guess.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, 250. I shall only give you a little of our conversation the Sunday night before we parted, and leave you to JUMP AT what had been said before.

TO JUMP (or BE JUMP) WITH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To agree; to coincide; to tally.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat [E. E. I. S.], 44. They mete IOMPE at night.

1584. LYLY, Alexander and Campaspe. And thou to be JUMP WITH Alexander.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, I Henry IV, i. 2. In short, it JUMPS WITH my humour.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 113]. As in the first, so in the last, my censure may JUMP WITH thine.

1633. Match at Midnight, iii. 1. How all things JUMP in a just equivalency.

1660. Andromana, iii. 6. This story JUMP’D Just with my dream to-night.

1838. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, [quoted by DE VERE]. On the whole it JUMPED WITH his desires, and the matter was clinched.

1841. PEAKE, Court and City, iv. Hum. What a happiness it is, when people’s inclinations JUMP!

TO JUMP ONE’S HORSE OVER A BAR, verb. phr. (colonial). See quot.

1886. Daily Telegraph, 20 Mar. Then the unhappy man would, in bush parlance, JUMP HIS HORSE OVER THE BAR, that is to say, he would, for a paltry sum, sell his horse, saddle, bridle, and all, to the lambing-down landlord. [83]

TO GO A JUMP, verb. phr. (American thieves’).—To enter a house by the window.—MATSELL (1859).

TO JUMP A BILL, verb. phr. (common).—To dishonour an acceptance.

1892. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 Oct., p. 2, col. 3. Painting the town red … JUMPING BILLS … evading writters etc.

TO SEE HOW THE CAT WILL JUMP, verb. phr. (common).—To watch the course of events; TO SIT ON THE FENCE (q.v.).

1825. Universal Songster, i. (‘The Dog’s-Meat Man’). He soon saw which way the cat did JUMP, And his company he offered plump.

1827. SCOTT, in Croker Pap. (1884), 1. xi. 319. Had I time, I believe I would come to London merely TO SEE HOW THE CAT JUMPED.

1853. BULWER LYTTON, My Novel, iv. p. 228. ‘But I rely equally on your friendly promise.’ ‘Promise! No—I don’t promise. I must first SEE HOW THE CAT JUMPS.’

1859. LEVER, Davenport Dunn, III. 229. You’ll see with half an eye HOW THE CAT JUMPS.

1874. Sat. Rev., p. 139. This dismays the humble Liberal of the faint Southern type, who thinks that there are subjects as to which the heads of his party need not wait TO SEE HOW THE CAT JUMPS.

1887. ‘Pol. Slang,’ in Cornhill Mag., June, p. 626. Those who sit on the fence—men with impartial minds, who wait to SEE, as another pretty phrase has it, HOW THE CAT WILL JUMP.

TO JUMP UPON, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To maltreat, physically or otherwise; to criticise severely; TO TAKE IT OUT OF (q.v.); TO SIT UPON (q.v.).

1872. M. E. BRADDON, Dead Sea Fruit, v. When a wretched scribbler was, in vulgar phraseology, to be JUMPED UPON, honest Daniel put on his hobnailed boots, and went at the savage operation with a will.

TO JUMP BAIL, verb. phr. (common).—To abscond.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

TO JUMP THE BROOMSTICK.—See BROOMSTICK.

TO JUMP UP (tailors’).—To get the best of one, or the reverse.—Slang, Jargon & Cant.

TO JUMP THE GAME, verb. phr. (American police).—To raid a gambling den.

TO JUMP UP BEHIND, verb. phr. (general).—See quot.

1865. Daily Telegraph, 9 Mar. ‘Has he no friend,’ he asks him, ‘who will JUMP UP BEHIND, that is endorse the acceptance.’

TO JUMP OUT OF ONE’S SKIN.—See SKIN.

ON THE KEEN JUMP, adv. phr. (U. S. colloquial).—On the ‘go’; violently at work.

b. 1884. T. WINTHROP, Saccharissa Mellasys [in Century]. De tar-kittle’s a-bilin’ ON DE KEEN JUMP.

Jump-down, subs. (colonial).—See quot. Also JUMPING OFF PLACE; a destination.

1885. STAVELEY HILL, From Home to Home. Colonially known as the JUMP-DOWN, that is the last place that is in course of erection on the outskirts of what is called civilized life.

1887. Scribner’s Magazine. It is a sort of JUMPING-OFF-PLACE.

Jumped-up, adj. phr. (common).—Conceited; arrogant: also perturbed; upset.

Jumper, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1821. D. HAGGART, Life, Glossary, p. 172. JUMPER, a tenpenny-piece.—Ibid. p. 114. I got three JUMPERS and a kid’s-eye.

2. (thieves’).—A thief who enters houses by the windows: cf. JILTER.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1825. Mod. Flash Dict., s.v. [84]

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (colonial).—One who illegally appropriates a claim: but see JUMP, verb. sense 1. Cf. BOUNTY-JUMPER.

1890. GUNTER, Miss Nobody, p. 86. Bob, the hero who saved the Baby mine from the JUMPERS got us.

4. (common).—A short slop of coarse woollen or canvas.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. p. 222. ‘We weren’t dressed in such togs as these ’ere, but had white canvas JUMPERS and trousers.’

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v.

1884. A. FORBES, in Eng. Ill. Mag., i. 698. He wore the long boots and the woollen JUMPER of a miner [in N.-Zealand].

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, p. 156. His huge chest is set off by a coarse white JUMPER.

Jumping-Jack, subs. (American).—An antic; a gull.

1884. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, ii. 3. He was my ape, my tool, my JUMPING-JACK.

1892. GUNTER, Miss Dividends, x. Some day, my JUMPING-JACK, your wit may cost you the little brains you have.

1895. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Macaire (New Review, June, p. 688), i. 3. With the courage of a hare … and the manners of a JUMPING-JACK.

Jumping Jehosophat (Jupiter or Moses).—See BY.

Jumping Cat. THE CULT OF THE JUMPING CAT, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The practice of waiting to see the course of events before acting. See CAT.

Jumping-powder, subs. (common).—A stimulant administered to give spirit and ‘go’ to a person or animal.

1840. BLAINE, Encyc. Rural Sports, 385. ‘Had he been fortified into pursuing the ‘varmint’ by a certain quantum of JUMPING POWDER.’

June, verb. (Western American).—To go [Germ. gehen].

Junesey, subs. (American).—A sweetheart.

1889. Atlantic Monthly, Oct., p. 502. De young nigger men on de plantation wuz atter Dilsey, but it did n’ do no good, en none un ’em could n’ git Dilsey fer dey JUNESEY, ’tel Dave ’mence fer ter go roun’ Aun’ Mahaly’s cabin.

Junior, adj. (Winchester College).—Applied to all comparable objects. Of two neighbouring trees, the bigger is the ‘senior’: there are a ‘senior’ and a ‘JUNIOR’ end to a table, a room etc. TIGHT JUNIOR = lowest of all.

Juniper, subs. (colloquial).—Gin. For synonyms see DRINKS etc. Also JUNIPER-BRANDY.

1857. J. E. RITCHIE, Night Side of London, p. 195. The pots of heavy and the quarterns of JUNIPER are freely quaffed.

Juniper-lecture, subs. (old).—A round scolding bout.—Lex. Bal. (1811).

Junk, subs. (nautical).—1. Salt beef: also OLD (or SALT) HORSE. [From being tough as old rope].

1760–61. SMOLLETT, Sir L. Greaves, 11. i. ‘Whom I value no more than old JUNK, pork-slush, or stinking stock fish.’

1830. MONCRIEFF, ‘Old Booty’. May the swabs live upon SALT JUNK.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cringle’s Log. viii. I thought I could eat a bit, so I attacked the salt JUNK and made a hearty meal.

1837. MARRYAT, Snarleyow, C. XI. So while they cut their raw SALT-JUNKS, With dainties You’ll be crammed.

1840. HARWOOD, Mess Table Chat. A dry, mahogany looking lump of salt beef, aquatic JUNK, Gallice ‘resistance.’

1891. R. L. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, p. 69. The meals were either of oatmeal porridge or salt JUNK. [85]

Junket! intj. (Winchester College).—An exclamation of self-congratulation: e.g. ‘JUNKET’ I’ve got a ‘remi’.

Verb. (Winchester College).—To exult over.—Notions.

Junt, subs. (old).—A wanton. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1608. MIDDLETON, Trick to Catch, v. i. Daintily abused! you’ve put a JUNT upon me;—a common strumpet.

Jupiter, subs. (Fleet St.).—The Times newspaper; also JUPITER TONANS, or THE THUNDERER. JUPITER JUNIOR = The Daily Telegraph.

Jurk, subs. (American thieves’).—A seal; a JARK (q.v.).—MATSELL (1859).

Jury, subs. (costermongers’).—An assertion; a profession.

Just, adv. (colloquial).—In truth; really; ‘rather’.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 13. Wouldn’t I JUST!

Justum, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.—URQUHART.

Jybe.—See GYBE.

Jutland, subs. (old).—The posteriors. For synonyms see BUM.

1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, i. 5. Pretty round, heaving breasts, and a JUT with her bum, would stir an anchorite.

[86]

affir, subs. (common).—1. A prostitute’s bully; a PONCE (q.v.). Hence a general term of contempt.

2. in pl. (Stock Exchange).—See quot. 1895.

1889. The Rialto, 23 March. Tintos climbed to 12¼, and even KAFFIRS raised their sickly heads.

1895. Daily Telegraph, 1 April, p. 1, col. 6. Advt. KAFFIRS, as South African Mining shares are euphemistically called by dealers in the London Stock Exchange have been the leading market for the past few months.

Kail. KAIL THROUGH THE REEK, phr. (Scots’).—Bitter language or hard usage. [In allusion to the unpalatableness of smoky broth. TO GIVE ONE HIS KAIL THROUGH THE REEK = to reprove violently; to punish with severity.]

1817. SCOTT, Rob Roy, iii. 75. If he brings in the Glengyle folk, and the Glenfinlas and Balquhidder lads, he may come to GIE YOU YOUR KAIL THROUGH THE REEK.

1827–30. SCOTT, Tales of my Landlord, iii. 12. They set till the sodgers, and I think they GAE THEM THEIR KAIL THROUGH THE REEK.

Ka me, Ka thee, phr. (old Scots’: now general).—‘One good turn deserves another’; ‘scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.’ Also KA and KOB.

1547. HEYWOOD, Poems on Proverbs, E. 1 b. KA ME, KA THEE, one good tourne asketh another.

1605. JONSON, etc., Eastward Hoe [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iv. 221]. Thou art pandar to me for my wench, and I to thee for thy cousenage. K ME, K THEE, runs through court and country.

1608. ARMYN, Nest of Ninnies. But KAY ME, Ile KAY THEE; give me an inch to day, Ile give thee an ell to morrow.

1611. BARRY, Ram Alley [DODSLEY, Old Plays, v. 494]. You know the law has tricks; KA ME, KA THEE.

d. 1625. LODGE, Satire, i. To keepe this rule—KAWE ME, and I KAWE THEE; To play the saints whereas we divels be.

1630. TAYLOR, Works, Ep. 6. KA MEE, KA THEE. My muse hath vow’d, revenge shall have her swindge To catch a parret in the woodcocks sprindge, etc.

1634. WITHAL, Dict., p. 565. Manus manum fricat; KA ME, KA THEE, one good turne requireth another.

1653. BROME, The City Wit, in Wks. (1873), i. 444. KA ME, KA THEE: an old kind of court service.

1658. ROWLEY, Witch of Edmonton, ii. 1. If you’ll be so kind as to KA ME one good turn, I’ll be so courteous to KOB you another.

1659. MASSINGER, City Madam, ii. 1. We cash-keepers Hold correspondence, supply one another On all occasions. I can borrow for a week Two hundred pounds of one, as much of a second, A third lays down the rest; and when they want, As my master’s money comes in, I do repay it. KA ME, KA THEE.

1672. RAY, Proverbs, p. 126, s.v. Lend me an oath or testimony; swear for me, and I’ll do as much for you; or CLAW ME, and I’LL CLAW YOU; commend me, and I’ll commend you. [87]

1721. KELLY, Scottish Proverbs, Lett. K. 21, s.v.

Kangaroo. KANGAROO DROOP, subs. phr. (common).—A feminine affectation (cf. GRECIAN BEND and ROMAN FALL): the hands are brought close to the breast and set to droop palm downward, as if muscular action were lost.

KANGAROO VOTING, subs. phr. (American political).—The Australian ballot system adopted, with sundry modifications, in many of the States.—NORTON.

Kanits, subs. (back slang).—A stink. KANITSENO = a stinking one.

Kant, subs. (common).—See CANT, subs., sense 3.

Kanuck.—See CANACK.

Karimption, subs. (American).—A gang; a mob; a party.

Karplunk, intj. (American).—See CACHUNK.

Kate (or Katey), subs. (Old Cant).—1. A picklock: cf. BETTY and JENNY.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KATE. ’Tis a Rum KATE, that is a Clever Picklock.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KATE.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. KATEY.

2. (old).—A wanton. Dutch, Kat.—MATSELL (1859). See KITTY.

1721. RAMSAY, Lucky Spence’s Last Advice, in Wks. (ut sup.), ii. 304. Roun’d in his lug that there was a Poor country KATE, As halesum as the well of Spa, But unco blate.

Kaze, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum.—BURTON (Thousand Nights, passim). For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1882. PAYNE, Book of the Thousand Nights etc. ‘The Porter of the Three Ladies of Baghdad’. Thy CAZE, thy tout, thy catso, thy coney.

Keck-handed, adj. (school).—Left-handed. [Prov. Eng. KECK = wrongly.]

Kedger, subs. (nautical).—A mean fellow; CADGER (q.v.): ‘one in everybody’s mess but in no one’s watch—an old term for a fisherman.’—AD. SMYTH.

Keek-cloy.—See KICKS.

Keeker, subs. (Scots’).—In pl. = the eyes. For synonyms see PEEPERS. From KEEK = to look; to peer. Cf. PINTLE-KEEK.

Keel, subs. (Scots’).—The posteriors. For synonyms see BUM.

TO KEEL OVER, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To come to grief.

Keelbully, subs. (Old Cant).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KEELBULLIES, Lightermen that carry Coals to and from the Ships, so called in Derision.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Keelhaul (or Keelrake), verb. (Old nautical: now recognised or colloquial).—To punish offenders by dragging them under water on one side of the ship, and up again on the other, by ropes attached to the yard-arms on either side; or in small vessels, under the craft from stem to stern. Hence, figuratively, to treat roughly; to chastise. [88]

1626. CAPT. J. SMITH, Accidence, in Wks. (ARBER) p. 790. The Marshall is to punish offendors, and to see Justice executed according to directions, as ducking at yards arme, HAWLING VNDER THE KEELE.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KEEL-HALE, to draw by a Rope tied to the Neck, and fastned to a Tackle (with a jerk) quite under the Keel or bottom of the Ship.

1710. C. SHADWELL, Fair Quaker of Deal, i. May I be KEEL-HAWLED, if any man in the universe has more reformed the navy than myself.

1734. C. JOHNSON, History of Highwaymen etc., 349. He was often whipp’d at the cap stern, put in the Bilboes, and once KEELHAULED.

1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, iii. Whoever told him so was a lying, lubberly rascal, and deserved to be KEEL-HAULED.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v., KEEL-HAWLING.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cringle’s Log, xii. While the old woman KEELHAULED me with a poker on one side, he jerked at me on the other, until at length he gave me a regular cross-buttock.

1837. MARRYAT, Snarley Yow, x. The unfortunate Smallbones was to be KEEL-HAULED.

Keelhauling, subs. (old: now recognised).—See KEELHAUL: hence a good rating; rough treatment.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1838. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 2. S. xxiii. ‘There’s a KEEL-HAULING in store for some of you that shall be nameless, as sure as you are born.’

Keen, subs. (American cadets’).—A funny story; a joke: TO GET OFF A KEEN = to make a witty remark.

Keep, subs. (colloquial).—1. Board and lodging.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, 1. viii. I performed some services to the College in return for my KEEP.

1869. BLACKMORE, Lorna Doone, xlvi. Moreover, we could not bear the idea that she should labor for her KEEP.

2. (colloquial).—A salaried mistress. See verb. sense 3.

Verb. (old and American).—1. To abide.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Titus Andr., v. 2, 5. Knock at his study where, they say, he KEEPS.

1613. BROWNE, Brit. Past., I. iv. p. 87. The high top’d firres which on that mountain KEEPE, Have ever since that time beene seene to weepe.

1626. C. MORE, Life & Death of Sir Thomas More. ‘Letter to Dean Colet’. Yff the discommodities of the cittie doe, as they may very well, displease you, yet may the countrie about your parish of Stepney afforde you the like delights which that affordes you wherein now you KEEPE.

1633. FLETCHER, Purple Island, v. 25. Here stands the palace of the noblest sense, Here Visus KEEPS, whose court than crystal smoother, And clearer seems.

d. 1656. HALL, Satires, v. p. 86. Would it not vex thee, where thy sires did KEEP, To see the dunged folds of dag-tail’d sheep?

1742–3. POPE, Dunciad, iv. 307. But chief her shrine where naked Venus KEEPS, And Cupids ride the Lion of the deeps.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KEEP, to inhabit; Lord, where do you KEEP, i.e. where are your rooms (academical phrase).

1790. WINTHROP, Hist. New England, I. 72. The Tarentines … rifled a wigwam where Mr. Cradock’s men KEPT.

1795. Gentleman’s Magazine, p. 118. He said I ought to have asked for his rooms, or inquired where he KEPT.

1866. M. ARNOLD, Thyrsis. But yet he could not KEEP Here with the shepherds and the silly sheep.

2. (old).—See quot. Cf. Scots’ HAUD.

1724–27. RAMSAY, ‘O Mither Dear, I Gin to Fear,’ in Wks. (at sup.), 11. 281. ‘I ’gin to fear, Tho’ I’m baith good and bonny, I wina KEEP; for in my sleep I start and dream of Johny.’ [89]

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. KEEP.… Mother, your tit won’t KEEP; your daughter will not preserve her virginity.

3. (colloquial).—To maintain a woman for bedservice. Hence KEEPER = a man who salaries a standing mistress; TO GO INTO KEEPING = to take service as a bed-fellow; TO TAKE INTO KEEPING = TO KEEP; KEPT-WOMAN = a salaried smock-servant; HOUSE-KEEPER [or HOUSE-BIT] (q.v.); KEEPING-CULLY (q.v.); etc. [See also BROME (The City Wit), Dramatis Personæ for ‘two KEEPING women’, where it seems to stand for lodging-house keeping.]

1579. NORTH, Noble Grecians and Romanes, ‘Fabius Maximus’ (in Tudor Translations, 1895, ii. 78). My good sister, there was a great speache in the Romaines campe that thou wert KEPT by one of the chiefest captaines of the garrison.

1640. RANDOLPH, Poems etc., in Wks. [HAZLITT, (1875), ii, 539]. I wonder what should Madam Lesbia mean To KEEP young Histrio?

1663. KILLIGREW, Parson’s Wedding [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1875), xiv. 379]. ‘Will you KEEP me then?’ ‘KEEP thee! I’d marry thee as soon’ … ‘no, no KEEPING, I.’ Ibid. 438. Rather than marry, KEEP a wench.

1678. DRYDEN, All for Love, Prol. The KEEPING tonies of the pit.

1679. DRYDEN, Limberham or The Kind KEEPER [Title].

1721. RAMSAY, Morning Interview (note), in Wks., i. 281. A kind KEEPER.

1732. FIELDING, Covent Garden Tragedy. And I will let the sooty rascals see A Christian KEEPS a whore as well as they.

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, i. 2. It was a saying in the place that he KEPT the best horses, dogs, and girls in the whole county.

1895. Times, 19 June, p. 5, col. 6. They allow their daughter, Alma, to be KEPT by Herr Mühlink’s son.

TO KEEP ONE’S EYES SKINNED (POLISHED, or PEELED, or ONE’S WEATHER EYE LIFTED, NOSE OPEN, or END UP, etc.) verb. phr. (common).—To take care; to maintain a position; to be wide-awake, or FLY (q.v.).

1847. PORTER, Big Bear etc., p. 134. KEEP YOUR EYE SKINNED for sign, and listen for my horn.

1848. RUXTON, Life in the Far West, p. 14. ‘Yep, old gal! and KEEP YOUR NOSE OPEN; thar’s brown-skin about.’

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle & Mocassin, 138. If you have business to attend to, you’d best go right along and do it. KEEP YOUR EYES SKINNED of course, but don’t stay home.

1888. FROUDE, The English in the West Indies. Americans KEEP THEIR EYES SKINNED as they call it, to look out for other openings.

1890. W. C. RUSSELL, Ocean Tragedy, p. 88. I bade my friend Jack KEEP HIS EYE POLISHED.

1891. Herald, 19 July. ‘Old fellow,’ he said, ‘we must go with them and KEEP OUR EYES PEELED, for they don’t none of ’em mean to be square any more’n I do.’

1892. R. L. STEVENSON and L. OSBOURNE, The Wrecker, p. 21. ‘Do you think, Loudon,’ he replied, ‘that a man who can paint a thousand-dollar picture has not grit enough to KEEP HIS END UP in the stock market?’

1892. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 19 Mar. p. 94, col. 3. ‘Don’t forget it’s Leap Year ’Hity; KEEP YOUR WEATHER EYE PEELED.’

TO KEEP COMPANY, verb. phr. (old).—1. To go into society; to entertain often and be often entertained.

1658. BROME, Covent Garden Weeded, p. 24. Why, Sir, did not I KEEP COMPANY, think you, when I was young?

2. (colloquial).—To sweetheart: said of both sexes.

1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 140. Mr. Wilkins KEPT COMPANY with Jemima Evans. [90]

TO KEEP A PIG, verb. phr. (Oxford University).—To have a lodger. [The PIG (q.v.) is usually a freshman who, the college being full, is quartered on a student whose rooms include two bedchambers.]

TO KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP (or ONE’S PECKER UP), verb. phr. (general).—To stand firm; to keep up a heart; to CHUCK OUT ONE’S CHEST.

TO KEEP THE DOCTOR, verb. phr. (common).—To retail adulterated drinks: Cf. DOCTOR.

TO KEEP CHAPEL, verb. phr. (University).—See quot. 1852.

1850. Household Words, ii. p. 161. ‘As you have failed to make up your number of chapels the last two weeks,’ such were the very words of the Dean, ‘you will, if you please, KEEP every CHAPEL till the end of the term.’

1852. BRISTED, Five Years etc., 32. The undergraduate is expected to go to Chapel eight times, or, in academic parlance, to KEEP eight CHAPELS a week.

TO KEEP cave, verb. phr. (Eton College).—To watch and give warning on a tutor’s approach.

1883. BRINSLEY RICHARDS, Seven Years at Eton, ch. iv. Another had to mount guard in the passage, or on the staircase, TO KEEP cave.

TO KEEP DOWN THE CENSUS, verb. phr. (common.)—To procure abortion; to masturbate. Fr. taper un môme.

TO KEEP DARK (or IT DARK), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To keep secret.

1868. READE and BOUCICAULT, Foul Play, vii. I always thought it was a pity she KEPT IT SO DARK.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, p. 120. I’ll KEEP DARK.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xii. It’ll give us all we know to KEEP DARK when this thing gets into the papers.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 33. ‘Never mind, Moll, I’ll KEEP the next time DARK, you bet.’

TO KEEP SLOOM, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To keep quiet.

TO KEEP IT UP, verb. phr. (common).—To continue anything vigorously; specifically to prolong a debauch.

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, iii. 1. ‘He mistook you for the barmaid, Madam!’ ‘Did he? Then, as I live, I am resolved to KEEP UP the delusion.’

1775. SHERIDAN, Rivals, i. 1. Their regular hours stupefy me—not a fiddle nor a card after eleven! However Mr. Faulkland’s gentleman and I KEEP IT UP a little in private parties.

1788. G. A. STEVENS, Adv. of a Speculist, ii. 52. Yet they were KEEPING IT UP, as they called it; singing, though they wanted spirits.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. We KEPT IT UP finely last night: metaphor drawn from the game of shuttlecock.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick [ed. 1857] p. 443. We were KEEPING IT UP pretty tolerably at the stump last night.

1857–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, iii. 57. We KEEPS IT UP for half an hour, or an hour … if the browns tumble in well.

1879. Athenæum, July 5, p. 13, col. 2. He puts some excellent remarks on the question of KEEPING IT UP into a conversation among some of his Roman artists.

TO KEEP DRY, verb. phr. (American).—To hold one’s tongue; TO KEEP DARK (q.v.).

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle and Mocassin, p. 295. Never let them get a chance at your sentiment; KEEP THAT DRY.

TO KEEP ONE BACK and BELLY, verb. phr. (common).—To feed and clothe.

FOR KEEPS, phr. (schoolboys’).—To keep for good. [91]

1886. The Advance, 9 Dec. We, the undersigned, promise not to play marbles FOR KEEPS, nor bet nor gamble in any way.

TO KEEP THE DOOR, verb. phr. (old).—To play the bawd.

TO KEEP THE POT BOILING, (colloquial).—To go on with anything; to ‘keep the game alive’.

TO KEEP (or HOLD) ONE’S HAIR ON. See HAIR.

TO KEEP OPEN HOUSE, verb. phr. (tramps’).—To sleep in the open air; TO DO A STAR PITCH. For synonyms see HEDGE-SQUARE.

TO KEEP UP TO THE COLLAR, verb. phr. (common).—To keep hard at work.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, ii. ii. Hardy KEPT him pretty well UP TO THE COLLAR.

TO KEEP SHEEP BY MOONLIGHT, verb. phr. (old).—To hang in chains.

AS LONG AS I CAN BUY MILK I SHALL NOT KEEP A COW, phr. (venery).—See KEEP, verb. sense 3.

1680. BUNYAN, Life and Death of Mr. Badman [ed. 1696], p. 208. When … asked the reason he would make this answer. ‘Who would KEEP A COW of their own THAT CAN HAVE A QUART OF MILK FOR A PENNY?’ Meaning, who would be at the charge to have a wife that can have a whore when he listeth?

HE CAN’T KEEP A HOTEL, phr. (American).—A phrase intimating lack of administrative capacity.

Keeping-cully, subs. (old).—A man who KEEPS (q.v. verb. sense 3).—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811).

Keffel, subs. (old).—A horse. For synonyms see PRAD.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785); MATSELL (1859).

Keg, subs. (American).—The stomach. For synonyms see VICTUALLING OFFICE.

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle and Mocassin, p. 270. We’d been having a time and my KEG was pretty full too.

Kegmeg, subs. (common).—See quot.

1883. PAYN, Thicker than Water, xii. It was not unusual for Mrs. Beckett to seek half an hour’s intimate talk with her young companion, which she playfully termed a KEG-MEG.

Keifer, subs. (venery).—Generic for MUTTON (q.v.). For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Ke-keya, subs. (American thieves’).—The devil.—MATSELL (1859). For synonyms see SKIPPER.

Kelder, subs. (old).—The belly. See HANS-IN-KELDER and JACK-IN-THE-CELLAR.

1658. BROME, New Academy, p. 29. By this good tongue, no more than the unbegotten Hans I mean to clap into thy KELDER.

Kelp, subs. (old).—A hat. For synonyms see GOLGOTHA. TO KELP = to raise one’s hat in salutation.

1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, p. 30. We jostle him, and one knocks his KELP off.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. KELP.

Kelso-boots, subs. (Old Scots’).—Heavy shackles put on the legs of prisoners; by some supposed to be a sort of stocks.—JAMIESON.

Kelter (or Kilter), subs. (old).—1. Order; condition; FORM (q.v.).

1630–50. BRADFORD, Plymouth Plantation, 235. Ye very sight of one (a gun) though OUT OF KILTER, was a terrour unto them. [92]

1687. BARROW, Sermons, i. Ser. 6. If the organs of prayer are out of KELTER, or out of time, how can we pray?

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Out of KELTER, out of sorts.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1754. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., 2nd ed., s.v.

1785. GROSE. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1889. C. F. WOOLSON, Jupiter Lights, xviii. I’m a failure because I always see double, like a stereoscope OUT OF KILTER.

2. (old).—Money. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT. [Also provincial Yorkshire (HALLIWELL); and Scots’ (JAMIESON)].

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 143, s.v.

Keltie (or Kelty), subs. (Scots’).—A bumper, imposed as a fine, on those who do not drink fair. [Said to be so called from a famous champion drinker in Kinrosshire.]

Kemesa. See CAMESA.

Ken, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A house; a place: generally in combination; e.g. BOOZING-KEN = drinking house; a BOB-KEN or BOWMAN-KEN = a well-furnished house; etc. TO BITE, or CRACK, A KEN = to rob a house.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Carsey (or case); castle; cat-and-mouse; crack; diggings; hang-out; rootee; roost; shop; panny.

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Canucha; tugurio.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat Man, p. 86. Stowe your bene, cofe, and cut benat whydds, and byng we to rome vyle, to nyp a bong; so shall we haue lowre for the BOUSING KEN, and when we byng back to the deuseauyel, we wyll fylche some duddes of the Ruffemans, or myll the KEN for a bagge of dudes.

1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight. If we niggle or mill a BOUSING-KEN.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). KEN, an house. STAWLING KEN, a house to receive stolne goods, or a dwelling house.

1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1., ch. vi., p. 54 (1874). We straight betook ourselves to the BOOZING KEN; and having bubb’d rumly, we concluded an everlasting friendship.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KEN. A BOB KEN, or a BOWMAN-KEN, a good or well Furnished House, full of booty, worth robbing; also a House that Harbours Rogues and Thieves. Biting the KEN, Robbing the House.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. KEN. When we entered the KEN we leapt up the Dancers and fagotted all there … ’tis a BOB-KEN, Brush upon the sneak.

1748. DYCHE, Dictionary, (5th ed.). KEN (S.) a cant name for a dwelling house of any sort, but more particularly cottages.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, iv. Out of my KEN, you cur of the mange.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p. 260. The bar of the KEN is filled with traps.

1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, 1., p. 336. The old woman (who kept the KEN), when any female, old or young, who had no tin, came into the kitchen, made up a match for her with some men.

1856. C. READE, Never Too Late, xlvii. We won’t all go together … you two meet me at Jonathan’s KEN in an hour.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1889. Answers, 27 July, p. 136, col. 1. My associations in the fourpenny lodging KEN were such as would have degenerated a stronger character than mine.

1892. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Tab. ii, Sc. 1, p. 24. I had to look into a KEN to-night about the captain. [93]

Ken-cracker (or Miller), subs. (old).—A housebreaker. B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785); MATSELL (1859).

Ken-crack-lay, subs. (thieves’).—Housebreaking. See KEN, CRACK, and LAY.

Kennedy, subs. (common). See quot. TO GIVE KENNEDY = to lay in with a poker.

1864. Athenæum, 29 Oct., p. 559. St. Giles’s perpetuates the memory of a … man … who was killed by a poker by calling that instrument a KENNEDY.

1887. HENLEY, Villon’s Good Night. Paste ’em, and larrup ’em, and lam; GIVE KENNEDY and make ’em crawl.

Kennel, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. [Cf. Kennel, O. F. canal = a gutter or watercourse].

1647–80. ROCHESTER, Bath Intrigues. Twelve times I scoured the KENNEL ’twixt her thighs.

Kennel-raker, subs. (old).—A scavenger; one fit only for low, dirty jobs.

1647. FLETCHER, Prophetess, iii. 1. Give your petitions in seemly sort, and keep your hat off decently, a fine periphrasis of a KENNEL-RAKER.

1655. Comicall History of Francion [quoted by NARES]. They heard behind them so great a hooping and hallowing of men and boys, and an outcry of women, that they were inforced to look back, and presently they discovered a young man, who had nothing but his shirt on his back, and not so much as shoes on his feet, who was followed by a number of the KENNELRAKERS, who made a perpetual shout.

d. 1735. ARBUTHNOT, Wks. (1751). I. 49. You did not love cruelty, you KENNEL-RAKER, you gibbet-carrier.

Kennurd, adj. (back slang).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Kent (or Kent-rag, Kent-clout etc.) subs. (common).—A colored cotton handkerchief.

Kentish-fire, subs. (colloquial).—A prolonged and ordered salvo of applause. [From the cheers bestowed in Kent upon the No-Popery orators in 1828–9].

1865. J. H. BUCKSTONE in letter to Morning Post, 22 March. During the overture that peculiar beating of the feet known to a Dublin audience as the KENTISH FIRE was heard.

Kent-street Ejectment, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To take away the street door, a method practised by the landlords in KENT-ST., Southwark, when their tenants are above a fortnight’s rent in arrear.

Kerbstone-broker, subs. (common).—A stock-broker doing business outside the Stock-Exchange; a GUTTERSNIPE (q.v.). Fr. un courtier marron, and (collectively) les coulissiers.

Kerflop, intj. (American).—Onomatopœic: in imitation of the sound of a body falling flat or into water.

VARIANTS: CACHUNK (q.v.); Kerslap; Kesouse; Keslosh; Keswosh; Kewosh; Keswollop; Kerchunk; Kerplunk; Kerthump; Kershaw; Kerslash; Kerslosh; Kerswosh, etc.

1843. Major Jones’s Courtship, i. KERSLASH! I went rite over Miss Stallinses spinnin’ wheel onto the floor.

1848. JONES, Sketches of Travel, p. 64. KERSLOSH went the water all over my feet.

b. 1852. Traits of American Humour, p. 59. The first thing I knowed, I went KERSWASH into the drink.

d. 1867. BROWN (‘Artemus Ward’), The Shakers. Shakers were all goin’ KERSLAP to the Promist Land. [94]

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle & Mocassin. He at last brought the whole tautological string down KERFLOP, full and fairly, upon the devoted crown of his auditor.

1888. Fostorio Democrat, 8 March. The fence broke down, and KERCHUNK! I went right through the ice all over.

1888. Century Mag. [quoted in Americanisms]. KERTHUMP! head over heels.

Kerry-security, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KERRY-SECURITY, bond, pledge, oath, and keep the money.

Ketch, subs. (old).—A hangman; JACK KETCH (q.v.).

Verb. (American thieves’).—To hang.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. KETCH, I’ll KETCH you; I’ll hang you.

Kettle, subs. (thieves’).—1. A watch: RED-KETTLE = gold watch.

2. (nautical).—An iron-built vessel; an ironclad.

3. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge etc., iii. 221. The tinker too with Mettle, Said he would mend her KETTLE, And stop up every Leak. Ibid. iv. 62. He never clencheth home a Nail, But his Trull holds up the KETTLE.

POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK, phr. (common).—On ‘all fours’; ‘Six of one and half a dozen of the other.’

1890. Tit Bits, 30 Aug. p. 332, col. 1. It was almost a case of the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK, certainly; but the rebuke lost none of its point, nevertheless.

A PRETTY (or FINE) KETTLE (or KIDDLE = basket) OF FISH, subs. phr. (common).—A mess or confusion of any kind; a muddle.

1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, VI. x. ‘There is a fine KETTLE OF FISH made o’t up at our house!’ ‘What can be the matter, Mr. Western?’ said Allworthy.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. KETTLE-OF-FISH. When a person has perplexed his affairs in general, or any particular business, he is said to have made a fine KETTLE OF FISH of it.

1835. C. SELBY, Catching an Heiress, ii. La, miss, you must be joking; you can’t be what you ayn’t, you’d be sure to be found out, and then there’d be a pretty KETTLE OF FISH.

1849. DICKENS, David Copperfield, xix. I intend, Trotwood, to get that done immediately … and then—there’ll be a PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH!

1864. Tangled Talk, p. 337. It is an easy thing … to make a KETTLE OF FISH of one’s whole existence.

Kettledrum, subs. (old).—1. In plural = a woman’s breasts. Also CUPID’S KETTLEDRUM.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

2. (common).—An afternoon tea-party.

1867. LATHAM, Dict., s.v. KETTLEDRUM. Either recent or revived, this word is about two years old.

1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke, ch. xiii. Mrs. Bede Greatorex had cards out for that afternoon, bidding the great world to a KETTLE-DRUM; and she was calculating what quantities of ices and strawberries to order in.

1878. HATTON, Cruel London, 1. iii. Men are as frivolous and as full of gossip and scandal as the tabbies at a West End KETTLE-DRUM.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 8 Dec. ‘Won’t it be rather hard at first to give up all the pink suppers and KETTLEDRUMS and afternoon what-do-you-call-’ems?’ with a suspicion of a grin on his face.

1890. Daily Telegraph, 28 Jan. The ladies’ KETTLEDRUM is not to be shut against male sympathisers, and gentlemen duly provided with tickets are to be suffered to join in the festivities.

Kew, subs. (back slang).—A week. [95]

Key, subs. (venery).—1. The penis: i.e. THE KEY that lets a man in and the maid out. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic & Satyrical [1788]. Here’s … the lock of all locks and unlocking the same.… That lock has the casket of Cupid within it, So——here’s to the KEY, lads,—the critical minute.

2. (common).—A translation; a CRIB (q.v.).

TO HAVE THE KEY OF THE STREET, verb. phr. (common).—To be locked out of doors; to have no home.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xlvii. ‘There,’ said Lowten, ‘it’s too late now. You can’t get in to-night, you’ve got the KEY OF THE STREET, my friend.’ ‘Never mind me,’ replied Job. ‘I can sleep anywhere.’

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. Char. Left your lodgings—and why, sir? Bob. Why?—why because the chimney smoked, my adorable; and then the paper of my rooms wasn’t fashionable enough—(aside)—and the landlady gave me the KEY OF THE STREET.

1888. Daily Telegraph, 28 Dec. Society would, perhaps, be startled and saddened to know how numerous those were upon the great holiday who had the KEY OF THE STREET for home, and a crust of bread by way of Christmas banquet.

Keyhole, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. See KEY. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

TO BE ALL KEYHOLE (or KEYHOLED), verb. phr. (common).—To be drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Keyhole-whistler, subs. (tramps’).—A night’s lodger in a barn or outhouse; a SKIPPERBIRD (q.v.).

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc. i. 339. KEYHOLE WHISTLERS, the skipper-birds are sometimes called, but they’re regular travellers.

Keystone of Love, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Keystone State, subs. phr. (American).—Pennsylvania. [When the names of the original Thirteen States were arranged archwise in their natural geographical order, Pennsylvania occupied the central position].

Kibosh, subs. (common).—1. Nonsense; anything worthless. Also KIBOSHERY.

1885. Punch, Jan. 3, p. 4. Still I wish you a ’Appy New Year, if you care for the KIBOSH, old chappie.

2. (East End).—SNOT (q.v.).

3. (common).—Style; fashion; form; ‘the thing’: e.g., that’s the proper KIBOSH.

Verb. (common).—To spoil; TO FLUMMOX (q.v.), TO QUEER (q.v.); to bewilder or knock out of time.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 5. They KIBOSHED the power of the quid. Ibid. p. 50. A dig in the ribs and a ’owl, Seemed to KIBOSH the Frenchmen completely.

TO PUT THE KIBOSH ON, verb. phr. (common).—1. To stop; to silence. (2) To wheedle or talk over. (3) To run down.

1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, p. 40. ‘What do you mean by hussies?’ interrupts a champion of the other party.… (‘Hooroar,’ ejaculates a pot-boy in parenthesis, ‘put the KYE-BOSH on her, Mary!’)

1856. Punch, vol. 31. p. 139. I ope the Assistans of your powrful Penn to put the CIBOSH upon the Siety for the Perwention of wot they calls crulety to Hanimals.

Kibsy. See KYPSY.

Kick, subs. (old).—1. The fashion. [96]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KICK, a High KICK, the top of the Fashion; also singularity therein.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KICK. It is all THE KICK, it is the present mode.

d. 1814. DIBDIN [quoted in Century]. ’Tis THE KICK, I say, old ’un, so I brought it down.

1833. NEAL, Down Easters, v. p. 64. What do ye pay for sech a pair o’ boots as them in Eurup? Newest fashion out here—all THE KICK, I spose, hey?

d. 1836. GEO. COLMAN the Younger [quoted by BREWER]. I cocked my hat, and twirled my stick, And the girls they called me quite THE KICK.

2. (old).—A sixpence: of compound sums only, e.g. ‘three and a KICK’ = 3s. 6d. For synonyms see BENDER.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, iii, 3. ‘What’s to pay landlord?’… ‘Fourteen bob and a KICK your honor.’

1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, III. xiii. ‘Two coach-wheels [crowns], half a bull [half a crown], three hogs [shillings], and a KICK.’

1860. Punch, xxxix, p. 97. Moshesh is a brick; This cost but ten and a KICK.

1864. Soiled Dove, p. 263. ‘Six bob and a KICK, if so be as the holes are mended.’

1871. Echo, 15 May. ‘What do you mean by telling me that you will take it away for a KICK?’ ‘Wot do I mean? why wot I say; I’ll do the job for sixpence, and me and my mate ’ull sweep up any mess we makes as well.’

1871. Figaro, March. Let persons addicted to the use of slang, in whose dialect two-and-a-KICK means half-a-crown, remark, if they please, that they would twelve times rather have a KICK than a half-penny.

3. (common).—A moment; a JIFFY (q.v.)

4. (thieves’).—See quot. 1859. For synonyms see POGE.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. KICK. The Moll stubbled her skin in her KICK, the woman held her purse in her pocket.

1869. GREENWOOD, Night in a Workhouse. I rifled his KICK of his shiners so fine.

5. (American).—A grudge.

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle and Mocassin, p. 308. I haven’t got any KICK against Don Juan.

6. (trade).—The hollow in the butt of a bottle.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., II. 511. Some bottles has great KICKS at their bottoms.

1864. Scotsman, 29 June, … fraudulently manufactured bottles, which by reason of an oblong cavity in the bottom (called in London a KICK) contain from 10 to 20 per cent less than the due quantity.

1864. Left Her Home, p. 65. The bottle fell on the KICK, and being made of strong glass … did not break.

7. in pl. (old).—Breeches; trousers. Also KICKSTERS and KICKSIES: cf. HAMS.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Arse-rug; bum-bags; bell-bottoms; bum-curtain; bags; calf-clingers; CANVASSEENS, (q.v.); continuations; don’t-name-’ems; ducks; gam-cases; hams; inexpressibles; ineffables; inimitables; kicks; kickseys; moles; mustn’t-mention-’ems; PEG-TOPS (q.v.); pants; rice-bags; sit-upons; SKILTS (q.v.); SLACKS (q.v.); strides; trolly-wags; trucks; TRUNKS (q.v.); unhintables; unmentionables; unutterables; unwhisperables; WHISTLING BREECHES (q.v.).

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un benard (popular); la braillande or braillarde (thieves’); les calinettes (common); la cotte (= blue canvass working trousers); la culbute or le culbutant (thieves’); un fourreau [97](thieves’ = sheath); le fusil à deux coups (popular = the double-barrel); les grimpants (popular); les inexpressibles (from the English); les haut-de-tire (thieves’); le montant.

PORTUGUESE SYNONYM. Os trózes.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KICKS, breeches.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.) p. 12. KICKSEY, Breeches.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Tip us your KICKS, we’ll have them as well as your Lour.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 13. That bedizen’d old Georgy’s bang-up togs and KICKS.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, p. 6. Reg. Stick it into him for a new pair of KICKSES, by-and-by.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, iii. 5. Jist twig his swell KICKSEYS and pipes; if they ain’t the thing, I’m done.

1859. SALA, Gaslight and Daylight, xxx. ‘There’s togs, too,’ he pursued, looking with proper pride at his own attire, ‘the sooner you peels off them cloth KICKSIES the better.’

1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum, or the Rogue’s Lexicon. Kersey-mere KICKSIES, any colour, built very slap with the artful dodge, from three caroon.

c. 1867. Broadside Ballad, ‘The Chickaleary Bloke’. Now kool my downy KICKSIES.… Built upon a plan very naughty.

1883. Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. 6, col. 1. What he termed ‘the saucy cut of his KICKSIES,’ and which, rendered into intelligible English, signified the smart style of his trousers.

1885. The Stage, p. 129. Whitechapel costers who wore slap-up KICKSIES, with a double fakement down each side, and artful buttons at bottom.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 76. He’d a apron, Charlie, and KICKSIES as must ha’ been cut by his wife.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 31. ‘A good thing Cinderella’s grand ball was a little before your time, Stringy, or she’d been out of it with these KICKSEYS,’ remarked Tony Peters gravely.

8. (common).—A sudden and strong objection; unexpected resistance.

Verb. (common).—1. To borrow or beg; TO BREAK SHINS (q.v.). For synonyms see SHINS. Specifically to ask for drink money.

1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, p. 254. Ned Purchase suggested that they might as well try and KICK him for some coppers.

2. (colloquial).—To protest; to resist; to resent.

1611. Bible, Authorised Version. 1 Sam. II. 29. Wherefore KICK ye at my sacrifice?

1847. TENNYSON, Princess, iv. 393. You hold that woman is the better man: A rampant heresy, such as, if it spread, Would make all women KICK against their Lords.

1871. Daily News, 29 Dec. The love of pleasure he’s been encouraged in won’t make him KICK against useful information.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. There are 10,000 baby carriages in Chicago. They obstruct the travel of 200,000 people. I KICK.

1889. Nation, xlviii. 137. In a late number you maintain strongly that it is the duty of persons suffering from overcharges, insolence and other forms of oppression, to KICK.

1889. Bird O’ Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 6. When it comes to editors waking up and tackling hard-worked foremen by the neck, then I KICK.

1891. Morning Advertiser, 6 April. The men certainly KICKED against this increase.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 25. KICK at my lingo.

3. (common).—To recoil: of fire-arms generally. [98]

1871. Observer, 24 Dec. Much calculated, when fired, to develop a quality known as KICKING.

4. (American).—To jilt; TO GIVE THE MITTEN (q.v.).

5. (American).—To die: an abbreviation of TO KICK THE BUCKET (q.v.).

6. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE. Also KICK IT.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. KICK’D. The Rum Cull KICK’D away, i.e., The Rogue made his escape.

KICK IN THE GUTS, subs. phr. (old).—A dram of spirits.—GROSE (1785).

TO GET MORE KICKS THAN HA’PENCE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—See MONKEY’S ALLOWANCE.

1861. TROLLOPE, Framley Parsonage, xix. In all this matter I have harassed myself greatly to oblige you, and in return I have GOT MORE KICKS THAN HALFPENCE.

1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s, xxxiv. ‘Which is like monkey’s allowance, I suppose,’ said the traveller, ‘MORE KICKS THAN HALFPENCE.’

1856. C. KINGSLEY, Letter, May [3rd abridged ed. 1879]. You fellows worked like bricks, spent money, and got midshipman’s half-pay (nothing a day, and find yourself) and monkey’s allowance (MORE KICKS THAN HALF-PENCE).

TO KICK OVER THE TRACES, verb. phr. (colloquial).—(1) TO GO THE PACE (q.v.); and (2) to resist authority.

1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, xlii. ‘I’ll go about with the rogue. He is inclined to KICK OVER THE TRACES, but I’ll whip him in a little.’

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 10. It’s a sort of KICK-OVER-THE-TRACES, a thing as all females enjoy.

TO KICK UP A BREEZE (or DUST, ROW, DIVERSION, LARK, SHINDY, etc.) verb. phr. (common).—To create a disturbance; TO RAISE CAIN (q.v.); TO PAINT THE TOWN RED (q.v.).

1759. SMOLLETT, Letter to Wilkes, quoted in D. Hannay’s Smollett (1887), p. 132. If the affair cannot be compromised we intend to KICK UP A DUST, and die hard.

1764. O’HARA, Midas, 1. ii. Nor doubt I, with my voice, guitar, and person, Among the nymphs to KICK UP SOME DIVERSION.

1770. COLMAN, Oxonian in Town, 1. ii. Ten to one but there’s a riot—we’ll KICK UP A DUST, I warrant you.

1771. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 144. The patron of voices said ’twould go for the wench Unless that A DUST he could KICK UP.

d. 1796. BURNS, The Rights of Women. Would swagger, swear, get drunk, KICK UP A RIOT.

1812. COOMBE, Syntax, Picturesque, C. xxii. I wish to know, Sir, what you mean, By KICKING UP, Sir, such A SCENE!

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 5. Something may happen to KICK UP A BREEZE.

1844. Puck, p. 14. The rows that they might KICK UP.

1871. Louisville Courier, 19 Mar. The ill-treatment of Mr. Sumner will not be borne patiently by his friends and the New England States; it is sure to KICK UP A ROW in the Republican party.

1878. JAS. PAYN, By Proxy, ii. He means that you are much too excited to be sane; that you are apt to KICK UP A ROW about nothing at all.

TO KICK THE WIND, verb. phr. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see ALOFT.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, Dar de’ calci a Rouaio, to be hang’d, TO KICKE THE WINDE.

TO GET THE KICK OUT (or DIRTY KICK OUT).—To be summarily dismissed, discharged, or ‘kicked out’.

TO KICK THE BUCKET, verb. phr. (common).—To die. For synonyms see ALOFT. Also KICK and [99]TO KICK STIFF.—[TAYLOR: The allusion is to the way in which a slaughtered pig is hung up—viz., by passing the ends of a bent piece of wood behind the tendons of the hind legs, and so suspending it to a hook in a beam above. This piece of wood is locally termed a BUCKET, and so by a coarse metaphor the phrase came to signify to die. Another says: To commit suicide by hanging; from a method planned and carried out by an ostler at an inn on the Great North Road. Standing on a bucket, he tied himself up to a beam in the stable, he then KICKED THE BUCKET.] In West Indies KICKERABOO: see also KICK THE WIND.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KICKS. He KICKED THE BUCKET one day, he died one day.

1796. WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), Tristia (in Wks. 1812), v. 242. Pitt KICKED THE BUCKET.

1797. M. G. LEWIS, Castle Spectre, Epilogue. I drew my knife, and in his bosom stuck it; He fell, you clapped—and then he KICKED THE BUCKET!

1812. COLMAN, Poetical Vagaries, p. 55. Near thee doth a BUCKET dangle. Chieftain, leave me not to drown; Save a maid without a smicket. If the BUCKET come not down, Soon shall I be doom’d to KICK IT.

1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, xvi. Dat I believe him will eat till him KICKERIBOO of sorefat (surfeit, I presumed).

1838. SELBY, Jacques Strop, i. 1. A narrow escape of KICKING THE BUCKET, was it not—eh, you rascal?

1849. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, ii. Fine him a pot roared one, for talking about KICKING THE BUCKET.

1853. Diogenes, ii. It is inferrible (on account of her great dislike to the detective officer) that she, as well as Lady Dedlock, KICKED THE BUCKET.

1858. Notes and Queries, 1 S. ix. 107. (q.v.).

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1867. JAS. GREENWOOD, Purgatory of Peter the Cruel, i. Tony Warren, with tears in his honest eyes, endeavouring to pour rum down the body’s throat, while in kindliest tones he begged of it to look up, or at least make some sign that he had not quite KICKED THE BUCKET.

1871. London Figaro, 28 Jan. Yes! I’m going to KICK THE BUCKET.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 48. The Ramper fawned on me, and asked me if I had heard of ‘that pore bloke wot KICKED THE BUCKET upstairs.’

1890. GRANT ALLEN, Tents of Shem, x. I’ve very little doubt Sir Arthur, selfish pig though he is, will do the right thing in the end before he KICKS THE BUCKET.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bail Up, p. 105. Four on them sickened all at once in the camp we had struck, and after they had KICKED IT, my two mates went with me.

1892. Ally Sloper, 27 Feb., p. 67, col 2. But a miserly aunt KICKS THE BUCKET at last And leaves you the fortune which she has amassed.

TO KICK DOWN THE LADDER, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To treat with contumely one’s means of advancement.

1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, viii. She has struggled so violently for polite reputation that she has won it; pitilessly KICKING DOWN THE LADDER, as she advanced, degree by degree.

TO KICK THE CLOUDS (or WIND), verb. phr. (thieves’).—See quot. For synonyms see LADDER.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. KICK THE BUCKET. TO KICK THE CLOUDS before the hotel door, i.e. to be hanged.

TO KICK AT WAIST, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To misfit at the waist.

TO KICK FOR THE BOOT, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To ask for money.

TO KICK FOR TRADE, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To ask work.

TO HAVE THE KICK, verb. phr. (Athletic).—To be lucky; to have COCUM (q.v.).—[From football]. [100]

TO KICK THE STUFFING OUT OF ONE, verb. phr. (American).—To maltreat; to take a rise, or the wind out of; to get the better of.

TO KICK (or COOL) ONE’S HEELS.—1. See HEELS.

2. verb. phr. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see ALOFT.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, Fare il pane, to dye, TO KICK VP ONES HEELES.

TO KICK THE EYE OUT OF A MOSQUITO, verb. phr. (Australian).—A superlative expression of capacity.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xi. He could KICK THE EYE OUT OF A MOSQUITO.

A KICK IN ONE’S GALLOP, subs. phr. (old).—A whim; a strange fancy.

Kicker, subs. (American).—1. An obstructionist; a protestant.

1888. Rochester Herald. The chronic KICKER is always on hand when any improvement is proposed.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 20 Oct. I really and truly believe that the day will come when the KICKER will be classed where he belongs and be entitled to the reverence due him. … Eclectic Review (Amer.), xiii. 6. There is, of course, a class of chronic KICKERS who are always finding fault.

2. in pl. (common).—The feet. For synonyms see CREEPERS.

3. (old).—A dancing master.

1838. SELBY, Dancing Master, sc. II. It is the KICKER, sure enough: what am I to do? If I go out, I shall nap it.

Kickeraboo. See KICK THE BUCKET.

Kicking-in, subs. (Winchester College).—See quot.

1870. MANSFIELD, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 138. But football wasn’t all beer and skittles to the Fags. There was an institution called KICKING IN, which, while it lasted, was much worse than ‘watching out’ at cricket, although it had the very great merit of not continuing so long; for, even on a whole holiday, we seldom had more than two hours of it.

Kicking-strap, subs. (tailors’).—An elastic strap inside a habit.

Kickseys, subs. (old).—1. See KICK, subs. sense 7.

2. (old).—Shoes or ‘highlows’. Also KICKSIES.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. KICKSEES.

Kickshaw, subs. (old: now recognised).—A trifle; anything fanciful or unsubstantial; something fantastical or with no particular name. [SKEAT: a curious corruption of Fr. quelque-chose (pronounced kick-chose) literally, something; hence a trifle or small delicacy].

1598. SHAKSPEARE, 2 Henry IV, v. 1. 29. A joint of mutton, and any pretty little tiny KICKSHAWS, tell William, cook.

1601. SHAKSPEARE, Twelfth Night, i. 3. Sir And. … I delight in masques and revels sometimes altogether. Sir To. Art thou good at these KICKSHAWES, knight?

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Fricandeaux, short, skinlesse, and dainty puddings, or QUELKCHOSES, made of good flesh and herbs chopped together, etc.

b. 1625. FLETCHER, Elder Brother, iii. 2. New KICKSHAWS and delicate made things.

1630. JOHN TAYLOR, The Great Eater of Kent, p. 12. All is welcome; whether it be sawsedge, mackeroone, KICKSHAW, or tantadlin.

1646. FEATLEY, Dippers Dipt, p. 199. I made bold to set on the board KICKCHOSES, and variety of strange fruits.

1753. Adventurer, No. 25. She has no taste for nicknacks, and KICKSHAWS, and whim-whams. [101]

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, xxi. I have given up … roastbeef and pudding for woodcocks and KICKSHAWS.

1830. MARRYAT, King’s Own, xxxiv. I seldom touch anything but the joint. I hate your KICKSHAWS.

1881. BESANT and RICE, Sweet Nelly, in Ten Years’ Tenant etc., vol. i. p. 188. Falbalas for your frocks, quilted petticoats, gold KICKSHAWS, china, pet negro boys.

Kick-shoe, subs. (old).—A dancer; a caperer; a buffoon.

Kicksies. See KICKS.

Kicksy, adj. (old).—Troublesome; disagreeable.

Kicksy-wicksy, subs. (old).—A term of contempt for a woman.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, All’s Well etc. ii. 3. He wears his honour in a box, unseen, That hugs his KICKSY-WICKSEY here at home.

1658. BROME, Covent Garden Weeded, p. 17. This KICKSY-WINSY giddi-brain will spoil all.

Adj. (old).—Fantastic; restless.

Kick-up, subs. (common).—A row. Also ROWDINESS.

b. 1794. WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), Odes of Condolence, in Wks. (1794), iii. 259. There’d be a pretty KICK-UP—what a squall.

1850. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairleigh, p. 132. ‘I tell you what,’ said Lawless, ‘the row and bother, and the whole KICK-UP altogether, has made me alarmingly hungry.’

1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, III. xiii. Not at all caring for … the precious KICK-UP and row that will come off.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 69. As to colour, and KICK-UP, our party was well to the front.

Kid, subs. (old).—1. A child. Hence, TO KID = to lie in: also = to get with child; KIDDED or WITH KID = pregnant; KID-LEATHER and KID-STRETCHER (q.v.). Also KIDDY.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Brat; encumbrance; get; imp; infantry (collectively); kinchin; limb; lullaby cheat; monkey; papoose; youngster.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un or une gosse (general: also gossemar); un gluant (thieves’: a sticker); un loupiau or loupiot (popular); un marmousin (popular = little monkey); un mignard (an endearment); un mion (thieves’); un momaque (thieves’); un momard or momignard (popular); un môme (popular); un morbaque (pop. a disagreeable child); un moucheron (popular); un moufflet (popular); un mounin (thieves’).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Fantasima; fiacco (= weak); cifo; cifon; pivastro; pivo; smerlo.

1599. MIDDLETON etc., Old Law, iii. 2. I am old, you say; Yes, parlous old, KIDS, and you mark me well!

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1690. D’URFEY, Collin’s Walk, iv. And at her back a KID that cry’d Still as she pinch’d it, fast was ty’d.

1694. DRYDEN, Love Triumphant, Epilogue, 19. What if he taught our sex more cautious carriage, And not to be too coming before marriage; For fear of my misfortune in the play, A KID brought home upon the wedding-day?

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.) p. 12. KID, A child.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, i. 321. And thus he to an old Midwife hied, To bring the poor KID to light, Sir.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary, (5th ed.) KID (S.) … also a nickname for a child or young person.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. [102]

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. KID. The blowen has napped the KID, the girl is with child.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 5. That KID, Master Nap.

1840. THACKERAY, Comic Almanack, p. 237. ‘Cox’s Diary’. Carry you, and your KIDS, and your traps etc.

1856. READE, Never too Late to Mend, xxiii. A fig for being drowned, if the KID is drowned.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1865. KINGSLEY, The Hillyars and the Burtons, xxx. Why, that six shillings as you men are asking for, is six shillings off the KIDS’ victuals.

1868. Cassell’s Mag., 4 Jan., p. 213. If you’d have been as full of her when she was a KID, and not have left her to us so much, it might have been sumfink to brag about.

1870. London Figaro, 19 Oct. ‘After the Fire.’ In this room, sir, said my gallant conductor, lived a bricklayer with his wife and two KIDS. He made that hole in the wall, and got ’em safe through—the whole caboose on ’em; and a jolly good job he did.

1871. London Figaro, 13 May, p. 4, col. 2. ‘Yer see I knowed ’er, sir, right from a KID, Loved ’er right from a boy.’

1882. JAS. PAYN, Thicker than Water, i. He thinks how his Missis and the KIDS would enjoy the spectacle, and is half-inclined to fetch them.

1883. Daily Telegraph, March 27, p. 2, col 1. They were afraid of being ridiculed and laughed at by their companions for sinking their manhood and going as KIDS to a dame school.

1889. Time, Aug., p. 151. A reminiscence of my father, the which, now I’m not a KID, I see the value of.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack-room Ballads, ‘Fuzzy-Wuzzy’. Then ’ere’s to you Fuzzy-Wuzzy, and the Missus and the KID.

2. (common).—A man.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1830. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 28. ed. 1854. ‘Vy, Paul, my KID, you looks down in the chops; cheer up, care killed a cat.’

1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood. Two milling coves, each vide avake, Vere backed to fight for heavy stake; But in the mean time, so it vos, Both KIDS agreed to play a CROSS.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 118. He is like all colonial KIDS, don’t know when he is well off.

3. (thieves’).—See quot.

1879. THOR FREDUR, Sketches from Shady Places. Their ancient terror, the bobby, Copper, KID, a policeman.

4. (old).—A thief: specifically a young thief. Also KIDDY.—MATSELL (1859). See quot. 1823.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. KID, KIDDY, and KIDLING—implies youth; but an old evergreen chap may be dressed KIDDLY (q.v.). People who imagine that all KIDS are thieves, carry the joke too far.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. KIDSMAN. The KIDSMAN accompanies the KID.

5. (American).—A kidnapper.

6. (common).—See quots. Cf. verb. sense 1.

1876. HINDLEY, Cheap Jack, p. 64. One of these brother boys was well-known for his KID, that is gammon and devilry. Ibid. p. 3. The rarest chaps at KID.

1883. Punch, 28 July, p. 38, col. 1. I was in it, old man, and no KID, As a chap of my form can be in it, if ready to blue ’arf a quid.

1883. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag and Co. [quoted in Slang, Jargon, and Cant]. In his opinion it was all KID.

1885. Punch, 31 Jan. p. 60. The world’s coming round to my views, Charlie, fast, there’s no KID about that.

7. in pl. (common).—Kid gloves: e.g., ‘KIDS cleaned for 2d. a pair.’

1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July, p. 1. ‘I want to see some gloves.’ ‘Certainly, miss. Can I show you some undressed KIDS?’ ‘Young man! I only require gloves.’

Verb. (common).—1. To quiz; to wheedle; to cheat.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. KID, to coax or wheedle. To amuse a man or divert his attention while another robs him. [103]

1872. Daily News, 5 Jan., p. 2, col. 1. A stern man and a strong, he was not to be blinded, by emphatic expostulators against KIDDING, to the fact that the clamourers against that species of throwing dust in a fellow mortal’s eyes were in fact themselves KIDDING with the greatest activity. Comfort is a relative term.

1879. Macmillan’s Mag., xl. 505. I thought they were only KIDDING at first.

1880. JAS. GREENWOOD, Fly Faker’s Hotel, in ‘Odd People in odd Places,’ p. 55. ‘Why, you don’t mean to say that you’ve been KIDDED to expect a bed for your fourpence,’ said he; ‘a regler turn-in, I mean, with sheets and that?’

1884. R. JEFFERIES, in LONGM. MAG., IV. 255. While the fisherman was telling me this woeful story, I fancied I heard voices from a crowd of the bigger boys collected under a smack, voices that said, ‘Ho! ho! Go on! you’re KIDDING the man!’

1889. Answers, 2 March, p. 218, col. 1. ‘One and tuppence a day,’ said the bootblack, sarcastically; ‘’E’s on’y a KIDDIN’ on yer. Arsk that there copper whether he don’t take ’is four or five bob a day.’

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 33. He wos KIDDING me.

TO KID ON, verb. phr. (common).—To lead on by gammon or deceit.

1851. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, i. p. 473. ‘At the same time he KIDS them ON by promising three times more than the things are worth.’

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, p. 186. I was KIDDIN’ him ON.

1889. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 4 Jan. He KIDDED—who had just come in for his father’s brass—to let him have the lot.

TO KID ONESELF, verb. phr. (common).—To be conceited.

HARD KID, subs. phr. (common).—Hard lines; bad luck; HARD CHEESE (q.v.).

Kidden (or Kid-ken or Kiddy-ken), subs. (thieves’).—A lodging house frequented by young thieves.

1839. BRANDON, Poverty, Mendicity, and Crime, pp. 74 and 90, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Kidder, subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1785.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. KIDDER, a forestaller.

2. (common).—A glib and taking speaker; a master of chaff.

1888. Sporting Life, 15 Dec. Ask Mr. Baldock … to whom I allude, and he will probably reply the champion KIDDER.

1891. J. NEWMAN, Scamping Tricks, p. 88. He was a beautiful KIDDER and could patter sweet and pretty.

Kiddier, subs. (common).—A pork-butcher.

Kiddily, adj. (common).—Fashionably; showily; flashily. Cf. KID subs. sense 2.—Also KIDDY, adj.

1828. JON BEE, Picture of London, p. 304 note. He and his brother … dressed KIDDILY, kept late hours, and pilfered to support it, as usual.

Kid-lay (or RIG), subs. (old).—See quot. 1690.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KIDLAY, one who meeting a Prentice with a Bundle or Parcel of goods, wheedles him by fair words, and whipping Sixpence into his Hand, to step on a short and sham Errand for him, in the mean time runs away with the goods.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Kiddleywink, subs. (common).—1. A raffle.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 6 August, p. 3, col. 1. When it is intended to ‘pull off’ … a KIDLIWINK, or raffle.

2. (common).—A small village shop; and, (3) specifically (in the West country), an ale-house. [104]

4. (common).—A woman of unsteady habits.

Kiddy, subs. (common).—1. A man; a boy; a young fellow: a diminutive of KID (q.v.). Also KIDLET = a boy or girl.

1860. Funny Fellow, 7 May, p. 1. Hollo, my KIDDY, stir your stumps,… Make haste, young chip, my boots to shine.

1888. BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xx. Heard all kinds of rough talk ever since they were little KIDDIES.

2. (thieves’).—A flash thief: ROLLING KIDDY = a dandy thief. See KID, senses 2 and 4.

1780. TOMLINSON, Slang Pastoral, i. My time, O ye KIDDIES, was happily spent. Idem. x. What KIDDY’S so rum as to get himself scragg’d?

1787. GEO. PARKER, Humorous Sketches, p. 34. No more like a KIDDY, he’ll roll the flash song.

1828. BEE, Living Picture of London, 255. Jockies, owners, and wagering KIDDIES.

1830. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late Physician, xi. ‘Come, my KIDDY—caged at last, eh?… Here’s your passport,’ said one of the officers, pointing to the warrant.

1840. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, iii. He merely observed, by way of compliment, that Mr. Augustus and his companion seemed to be ROLLING KIDDIES. A little displeased with this metaphorical remark—for it may be observed that ROLLING KIDDY is, among the learned in such lore, the customary expression for ‘a smart thief.’

3. (common).—A dandy.

1823. BYRON, Don Juan, xi. 17. Poor Tom was once a KIDDY upon town, A thorough varmint and a real swell.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. KID, KIDDY, and KIDLING … hat on one side, short collar upon high, coat cut away … Belcher fogle … and chitterling shirt … these compounded compose the KIDDY.

1832. Brummelliana, p. 180. Let the garçon who is about to set up as KIDDY on his own account take the advice of one who was no mean KIDDY in his day.

4. (venery).—A prostitute’s bully; a PONCE (q.v.).

5. (old).—A stage-coach driver.

1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, 153. It was his ambition to do something in the celebrated KIDDY or stage-coach way.

Adj. (common).—Fashionable; SMART (q.v.). See KIDDILY.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, p. 5. I’ll tell you; before we start on our sprees and rambles, I’ll send for that KIDDY artist, Dicky Primefit, the dandy habit-maker, of Regent Street.

1848. Punch, x. 19. A youth there was of changefulle lotte, Now bryght, now seedie broune. Hee called hymselfe a KIDDIE swelle And lived upon ye toune.

b. 1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Times of James Catnach. So KIDDY is my famble.

Kiddyish, adj. (old).—Stylish; UP TO DATE (q.v.).

1820. Jack Randall’s Diary. Think of the KIDDYISH spree we had on such a day.

Kiddy Nipper, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KIDDY NIPPERS, thieves who cut off the waistcoat pockets of taylors, when cross legged on the board, thereby grabbling their bit.

Kid-leather, subs. (venery).—Generic for harlotry of tender years.

Kidlet. See KIDDY, sense 1.

Kidleybenders, subs. (American).—Ice which undulates under the feet of a skater.

Kidment, subs. (common).—1. Humbug; GAMMON (q.v.). Also (cheap Jack’s) = professional patter.

1836. BRANDON, Poverty, Mendacity, and Crime, p. 106. [105]

1884. Daily Telegraph, 8 August, p. 3, col. 2. That depended on what a man’s talents were, and how he purposed employing them. ‘Employing them for KIDMENT, of course,’ returned the elderly mumper. ‘That’s what talents is give a man for, hain’t it?’

2. (thieves’).—See quot.

1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 445. A pocket handkerchief pinned to the pocket for a trap—KIDMENT.

Adj. (American thieves’).—Comical.—MATSELL (1859).

Kidnap, verb. (old: now recognised).—To steal children. [SKEAT: compounded of KID, (a child in thieves’ slang) NAP, more commonly NAB, to steal]. See KIDNAPPER.

Kidnapper, subs. (old: now recognised).—A child-stealer. See quots. Cf. SHEEP-NAPPER.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KIDNAPPER, one that Decoys or Spirits (as it is commonly called) Children away and Sells them for the Plantations.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KIDNAPPER, originally one who stole, or decoyed children, or apprentices from their parents or masters, to send them to the colonies. Called also spiriting, but now used for all recruiting crimps, for the king’s troops, or those of the East India company, and agents for indenting servants for the plantations.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. The devil can scarce save Dirk Hatteraick from being hanged for a murderer and KIDNAPPER, if the younker of Ellangowan should settle in this country.

Kidney, subs. (colloquial).—Kind; disposition; fashion: as, ‘Two of a KIDNEY’ = two of a mind; ‘of a strange KIDNEY’ = of an odd humour; ‘of a different KIDNEY’ = of different habit or turn. Fr. le bouchon.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor, iii. 5. Think of that, a man of my KIDNEY.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KIDNEY, of that KIDNEY, of such a stamp.

1710. Tatler, No. 230. Other of that KIDNEY are very uppish, and alert upon’t.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., ii. 332. Accosting one of his own crew, Whom he of the right KIDNEY knew.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1742. FIELDING, Joseph Andrews, II. viii. I am heartily glad to meet with a man of your KIDNEY.

1755. JOHNSON, Dicty, s.v. KIDNEY. Sort; kind; in ludicrous language.

1763. Terræ Filius [NARES]. Attempt to put their hair out of KIDNEY.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Van Dieman’s Land, i. 2. I must curry favour with them, as we’re going to be of a KIDNEY.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Witches Frolic.’ As men of his KIDNEY are wont to snore.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1871. DISRAELI, Lothair, i. 741. Men of their own KIDNEY.

1888. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 223. At times, like Robert Burns, George Morland, and men of that KIDNEY, he would give way to a passionate burst of repentance.

1889. Globe, 23 July, p. 6, col. 1. Lord Justice Lopes showed himself a paragon of patience, but it is sincerely to be hoped that there will be no more suitors in person of this KIDNEY.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, 153. I fancy the second King of Israel must have been of the same KIDNEY, if that account is quite accurate about his merry-making on one occasion.

1894. K. GRAHAME, Pagan Papers, p. 129. These great Beasts [hornets] … were of a different KIDNEY.

2. (old).—A waiter; a GRASSHOPPER (q.v.).

1710. Tatler, No. 268. It is our custom, upon the first coming of the news, to order a youth, who officiates as the KIDNEY of the coffee-house, to get into the pulpit and read every paper with a loud and distinct voice. [106]

(Stock Exchange).—A fractional part of a shilling. [A corruption of Cadney, the name of the first dealer known to deal under 1⁄32].

Kidney-hit, subs. (pugilistic).—A punch in the short ribs.

Kid’s-eye, subs. (old).—A fippenny piece.

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 114. I got three jumpers and a KID’S-EYE.

Kidsman, subs. (thieves’).—See quot. 1859.

1836. BRANDON, Poverty, Mendacity and Crime, p. 149, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum. A fellow that boards and lodges boys for the purpose of teaching them how to steal, putting them through a course of training, as a dog trainer will train dogs for the hunt. The KIDSMAN accompanies the kid, and though committing no depredations himself, he controls and directs the motions of the others.

Kid-stretcher, subs. (venery).—A man addicted to the use of KID-LEATHER (q.v.).

Kilkenny, subs. (old).—A frieze coat.—GROSE (1785).

Kill, subs. (tailors’).—A garment utterly spoiled.

DRESSED TO KILL. See DRESSED and DEATH.

Kill-calf (or -cow), subs. (old).—A butcher: also a murderous ruffian. Also KILL-BUCK.

… Old Ballad [quoted by NARES]. Of all occupations that nowadays are used I would not be a butcher, for that’s to be refused; For whatever is gotten, or whatever is gained, He shall be call’d KILL-COW, and so shall be named.

1628. CLAVELL, Recantation of an Ill-bred Life [quoted by NARES]. But in the night, yet then take heed of those Base padding rascalls, for their KILL-CALFE law.

1630. TAYLOR, Wks. [NARES]. They make private shambles with KIL-CALFE cruelty, and sheepe-slaughtering murther, to the abuse of Lent, the deceiving of the informers, and the great griefe of every zealous fishmonger.

c. 1636. London Chanticleers, Sc. iv. I know there’s never a KILL-COW i’ th’ city becomes a woollen apron better than I do.

Kill-devil, subs. (old and American).—Rum: specifically new spirit.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KILL-DEVIL, new still-burnt rum.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Killers, subs. (common).—The eyes. For synonyms see PEEPERS.

1780. MARSELL, in WHIBLEY, Cap and Gown, p. 85. Oer the poor country curate that’s near How their eyes (in fine language called KILLERS).

Killing, adj. and adv.. (common).—1. Fascinating; bewitching; irresistible. Also KILLINGLY.

1619. FLETCHER, Wild Goose Chase, iii. As KILLING eyes as yours, a wit as poignant.

1677. WYCHERLEY, Plain Dealer, ii. Nov. Ay, ay, madam, with you ladies too, martial men must needs be very KILLING.

1700. CONGREVE, Way of the World, iv. 1. L. Wish. And—well—and how do I look, Foible? Foi. Most KILLING well, Madam.

1712. POPE, Rape of the Lock, v. 64. Those eyes were made so KILLING.

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, lxxx. The KILLING edge of her charms was a little blunted by the accidents of time and fortune.

1765. GOLDSMITH, Essays, v. Your modern Briton cuts his hair on the crown, and plasters it with hog’s lard and flour; and this to make him look KILLING.

1828–45. T. HOOD, Poems, i. 231 (ed. 1846). The crowd including two butchers in blue (The regular KILLING Whitechapel hue). [107]

1847. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, iv. Mr. Joseph Sedley … was actually seated tête-à-tête with a young lady, looking at her with a most KILLING expression.

1883. Saturday Review, 21 April, p. 502, col. 2. Mr. Toole is as KILLINGLY funny in this as he is in the still and constantly popular farce of Mr. Guffin’s Elopement.

Kill-priest, subs. (provincial).—Port wine.

Kill-the-beggar, subs. (common).—Whiskey. For synonyms see DRINKS and OLD MAN’S MILK.

Kill-time, subs. (colloquial).—A pastime.

Kilmarnock-cowl, subs. (old Scots’).—1. A knitted nightcap; and (2) by implication the wretch that wore one.

1830. SCOTT, Bonnie Dundee. These COWLS OF KILMARNOCK had spits and had spears And long-hafted gullies to kill Cavaliers.

Kilmarnock-whittle, subs. (Scots’). A person of either sex, already engaged or betrothed.—JAMIESON.

Kilter. See KELTER.

Kilt, adv. (Irish).—Killed.

1836. MARRYAT, Japhet, iii. Sure enough, it cured me, but wasn’t I quite KILT before I was cured.

Kimbaw, verb. (Old Cant).—1. To trick; to cheat; to cozen. Also (2), to beat; to bully.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KIMBAW. Let’s KIMBOW the Cull, Let’s beat that Fellow and get his money.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1839. AINSWORTH, J. Sheppard, p. 23 [ed. 1840]. ‘Ay! ay!’ cried several of the bystanders, ‘let Jonathan KIMBAW the cove. He’s got the gift of the gab.’

Kimbo (or Kimbaw). TO SET THE ARMS AKIMBO, verb. phr. (old: now colloquial).—To set hands on hips with the elbows cocked.

1606. JOHN DAY, Ile of Guls, ii. 4, p. 52. SET MINE ARMES A KIMBO thus, Wrethe my necke and my bodie thus.

1677. WYCHERLEY, Plain Dealer, ii. Nov. But he has no use of his arms but to SET ’EM ON KIMBOW.

1712. ARBUTHNOT, Hist. of John Bull, III. x. He observed Frog and old Lewis edging towards one another to whisper; so that John was forced to SIT with HIS ARMS AKIMBO to keep them asunder.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.) [s.v.] KEMBO (v.) to set or put one’s hand upon one’s hip, to strut or look big.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KIMBAW. TO SET ONE’S ARMS A KIMBAW, vulgarly pronounced ‘a kimbo,’ is to rest one’s hands on the hips, keeping the elbows square, and sticking out from the body, an insolent bullying attitude.

1837. MARRYAT, Snarleyow, i. ch. xii. Poll PUT HER ARMS AKIMBO; At the Admiral’s house looked she.

1857. A. TROLLOPE, Barchester Towers, xxxiii. She tossed her head, and PUT HER ARMS A-KIMBO, with an air of confident defiance.

Kinchin (or Kinchen), subs. (old).—1. A child; a boy; a young man. Also KINCHEN COVE (q.v.).

1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 76. A KYNCHEN CO is a young boye, traden vp to suche peuishe purposes as you haue harde of other young ympes before, that when he groweth vnto yeres, he is better to hang then to drawe.

1607. DEKKER, Jests to Make You Merie, in Wks. (GROSART), II. 329. KINCHEN the coue towres, which is as much as, Fellow the man smokes or suspects you.

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London, in Wks. (GROSART), III. 105. These KINCHINS, the first thing they doe is to learne how [108]to cant, and the onely thing they practise is to creepe in at windowes, or celler doores.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KINCHIN, a little child.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, XXXIV. We did the KINCHIN no harm.

1836. W. H. SMITH, The Individual, 13 Nov. ‘The THIEVES’ Chaunt.’ Her duds are bob—she’s a KINCHIN crack, And I hopes as how she’ll never back.

1837. DISRAELI, Venetia, Bk. i. xiv. He is no lanspresado, or I am a KINCHIN.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xlii. ‘The KINCHINS,’ said the Jew, ‘is the young children that’s sent on errands by their mothers with sixpences and shillings.’

1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. ‘Let’s have a look at the KINCHIN that ought to have been throttled,’ added he, snatching the child from Wood.

1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen String Jack, i. 3. Kit. Peter, don’t patter; you’re werry good in the fancy line—in the light part of our business,—such as robbing a KINCHIN of it’s coral, filching an old lady’s redicule, or getting up small talk vith a nursery maid, vhile you takes a vax impression of the key.

1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffrey Hamlyn, xxiii. ‘So boss,’ began the ruffian, not looking at him; ‘we ain’t fit company for the likes of that KINCHIN, etc.?’

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of A Cheap Jack, p. 2. Nor is his crying pal the KINCHIN any more faithfully drawn.

Kinchin-cove, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A child: see Kinchin.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 76. [See quot. under Kinchin].

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London, in Wks. (GROSART), III. 105. The last Ranke of those Runnagates is fild vp with KINCHYN COES; and they are little boyes whose parents (hauing beene beggers) are dead, or else such as haue run away from their maisters, and in stead of a trade to liue by, follow this kinde of life to be lowsie by.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KINCHIN-COES, the Sixteenth Rank of the Canting Tribe, being little Children whose Parents are dead, having been Beggers; as also young Ladds running from their Masters, who are first taught Canting, then thieving.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KINCHIN. KINCHIN COES, orphan beggar boys, educated in thieving.

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 25. [ed. 1854]. Look you my KINCHIN COVE.

1870. All the Year Round, ‘Bye-gone Cant’, 5 March. Suppose a KINCHIN COVE should hear the twittle-twattle of cobble colter, or the sagacious cackle of tib of the buttery, and the said KINCHIN COVE should think a dinner off these big birds would be delicious and should steal them for that purpose, short work would have been made of it, and KINCHIN COVE would simply have been hanged.

2. (Old Cant).—A little man.

1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, 1. v. 50. (1874). KINCHIN COVE, a little man.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

3. (Old Cant).—A man who robs or kidnaps children: cf. KINCHIN LAY.

Kinchin-lay, subs. (old).—See quot. 1836. [KINCHIN (q.v.) + LAY (q.v.)].

1836. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xlii. The KINCHIN 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.

1871. Standard, 13 Sept. The prisoner, it appeared, is an adept at the KINCHIN-LAY, a term known to the initiated for robbing children.

Kinchin-mort, subs. (Old Cant).—See quots.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 76. A KYNCHING MORTE is a lytle Gyrle; the Mortes their mothers carries them at their backes in their slates, whiche is their shetes, and bryngs them vp sauagely, tyll they growe to be rype, and soone rype, soone rotten. [109]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KINCHIN-MORTS, the Twenty-seventh and last Order of the Canting Crew, being girls of a year or two old whom the Morts (their Mothers) carry at their Backs in Slates (Sheets) and if they have no children of their own they borrow or Steal them from others.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KINCHIN. KINCHIN MORTS in slates, beggars children carried at their mothers backs in sheets.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxviii. The times are sair altered since I was a KINCHIN MORT.

Kinder, adv.. (American colloquial). As it were. Also KINDER SORTER.

1848. DURIVAGE, Stray Subjects, 80. ‘You’re short, KINDER?’ ‘Wal; you’ll find me long enough prehaps.’

1848. BURTON, Waggeries etc., p. 18. I’m not goin’ to say that I didn’t feel KINDER skeered.

Kind-Heart, subs. (old).—A tooth-drawer: in jest. [HALLIWELL: From an itinerant dentist so-named, or nick-named, in the time of Elizabeth].

1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fayre, Induction. For KIND-HEART the tooth-drawer … a fine oily pig-woman.

1632. ROWLEY, New Wonder, iii. 1. Mistake me not KINDHEART; he calls you tooth-drawer.

Kindness, subs. (common).—The sexual favour; BENEVOLENCE (q.v.). Fr. des bontés.

c. 1728. RAMSAY, Address of Thanks, in Wks. (at sup.), ii. 345. The fair one frighted for her fame Shall for her KINDNESS bear nae blame, Nor with kirk censure grapple.

King Cotton, subs. phr. (American).—Cotton, the staple of the Southern States of America, and the chief manufacture in England. COTTON-LORD = a man enriched by cotton.

Kingdom Come, subs. phr. (common).—The next life: TO GO TO KINGDOM COME = to die. Fr. la paradouze or part-à-douze (a play on paradis); la parabole. It. soprano = higher; Sp. claro = light.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1794. WOLCOT [P. Pindar], Br. Peter to Br. Tom, in Wks., i. p. 422. Did gentlemen of fortune die, And leave the church a good round sum; Lo! in the twinkling of an eye, The Parson frank’d their souls to KINGDOM-COME.

1836. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy, xxxi. ‘They will not have much mercy from the waves,’ replied Gascoigne; ‘they will all be in KINGDOM COME to-morrow morning, if the breeze comes more on land.’

1863. MR. NORTON, Lost and Saved, p. 334. Treherne loq. ‘Well, my child, I don’t mean a great dangerous storm that’s to wreck the yacht and send us all to KINGDOM COME—but a nasty tossing sea, bad for women you know; men don’t mind it.’

King John’s Man, subs. phr. (old).—See quots.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. He is one of KING JOHN’S MEN, eight score to the hundred, a saying of a little undersized man.

1867. SMYTH, Sailors’ Word Book, s.v. KING JOHN’S MEN, the Adullamites of the navy.

King’s (or Queen’s) Bad Bargain, subs. phr. (old).—A malingering soldier; a deserter.—GROSE (1785).

King’s-bencher, subs. (nautical).—The busiest of the galley orators; a GALLEY-SKULKER.—SMYTH.

King’s Books, subs. phr. (old).—A pack of cards; THE HISTORY (or BOOKS) OF THE FOUR KINGS; DEVIL’S BOOKS (q.v.).

1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, i. 22. After supper were brought in THE BOOKS OF THE FOUR KINGS. [110]

1760. FOOTE, The Minor (ed. x, 1789), 31. Come, shall we have a dip in the HISTORY OF THE FOUR KINGS this morning?

King’s Cushion, subs. phr. (common).—A seat formed by two persons holding each other’s hands crossed. Also QUEEN’S CUSHION (or CHAIR), CATS-CARRIAGE (or CRADLE) etc.

1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, i. 168. He was now mounted on the hands of two of the rioters clasped together so as to form what, in Scotland is called the KING’S CUSHION.

King’s (or Queen’s) Head Inn, subs. phr. (old).—Newgate. For synonyms see CAGE.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. s.v. KING’S HEAD INN, or the Chequer Inn in Newgate street, the prison, or Newgate.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1836. W. H. SMITH, The Individual. ‘The Thieves’ Chaunt’. Because she lately nimmed some tin, They have sent her to lodge at the KING’S HEAD INN.

King’s Keys, subs. phr. (old legal).—The crow-bars and hammers used by sheriffs’ officers to force doors and locks. [ROQUEFORT: faire la clef du Roy, ouvrir les clefs et les coffres avec des instruments de serrurier].

1816. SCOTT, Black Dwarf, 173, 4. ‘And what will ye do, if I carena to thraw the keys?’… ‘Force our way wi’ the KINGS KEYS, and break the neck of every soul we find in the house.’

Kingsman, subs. (Coster).—A handkerchief with yellow patterns upon a green ground; the favourite coloured neckerchief of the costermongers. Sometimes worn by women thrown over their shoulders: cf. BILLY.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., i. 53. The man who does not wear his silk neckerchief—his ‘KING’S-MAN’ as it is called—is known to be in desperate circumstances; the inference being that it has gone to supply the morning’s stock-money. A yellow flower on a green ground, or a red and blue pattern, is at present greatly in vogue.

2. (Cambridge university).—A member of King’s College.

1852. BRISTED, Five Years, 127. He came out the winner, with the KINGSMAN, and one of our three.

3. in pl. (military).—The Seventy-eighth Foot. [Their motto is Cuidich’r Rhi = Help the King].

King’s (or Queen’s) Pictures, subs. phr. (common).—Money. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785). TO DRAW THE KING’S (or QUEEN’S) PICTURE = to counterfeit money.

1632. BROME, The Court Beggar, in Wks. (1873), Vol. I, (v. 2) p. 258. This picture drawer drew it, and has drawn more of the KING’S PICTURES than all the limners in the town.

King’s Plate, subs. phr. (old).—Fetters.—Lex. Bal. (1811). For synonyms see DARBIES.

Kingswood Lion, subs. phr. (old).—An ass; a JERUSALEM-PONY (q.v.). For synonyms see MOKE.

Kink, subs. (colloquial).—A crotchet; a whim.

1846. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. xx. Look at your shoulders above your ears, and your back with a bow like the KINKING of a cable.

1850. H. B. STOWE, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. xii. ‘Buy me too, Mas’r, for de dear Lord’s sake!—buy me—I shall die if you don’t!’ ‘You’ll die if I do, that’s the KINK of it,’ said Haley,—‘no!’ And he turned on his heel. [111]

1869. H. B. STOWE, Oldtown, 33. The fact is, when a woman gets a KINK in her head agin a man, the best on us don’t do jest the right thing.

1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than Water, ch. xxiv. The wheel of life was turning smoothly enough for Mary when there suddenly came a KINK in it.

Kinky, adj. (colloquial).—Eccentric; short tempered; TWISTY (q.v.).

1848. JONES, Sketches of Travel, p. 146. The KINKY-HEADED cus looked at me sidways and rolled the whites of his eyes at me like he was gwine to have a fit.

1889. Sportsman, 2 Jan. At the former the KINKY ones and the worthy souls who play hole-and-corner with society are made to partake of the toke of contrition and the skilly of repentance.

Kip, subs. (old).—A brothel. For synonyms see NANNY SHOP. TO TATTER A KIP = to wreck a house of ill-fame.

1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of Wakefield, xx. My business was to attend him at auctions, to put him in spirits when he sat for his picture, to take the left hand in his chariot when not filled by another, and to assist at TATTERING A KIP, as the phrase was, when we had a mind for a frolic.

2. (common).—A bed.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Breeding-cage; bugwalk; bunk; cage; clothmarket; dab; doss; dossing crib; downy; Feathers Inn; flea-pasture; latty; letty; libb; lypken; perch; ruggins; shake-down; snooze.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. L’autel de plume (popular: = Feather’s Inn); la bâche (thieves’ = awning); le flac (thieves’); le flacul (thieves’); le fournil (popular = bakehouse); la halle aux draps (common = CLOTHMARKET); le pagne (thieves’ from panier = basket); le panier aux ordures (popular).

1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag. xi. 501. So I went home, turned into KIP (bed).

1891. Answers, 31 Jan. ‘Oh yes,’ said the doctor, ‘this is a very decent KIP; I have tried a good many, but this is the best of the lot.’

1892. Morning Post, 25 Oct., p. 2, col. 4. White said, ‘I went in there to have a KEP’ (slang term for cheap lodging).

3. (American).—A fool; a silly fellow: he’s a KIP = he’s dull-witted—MATSELL (1859).

Verb. (old).—1. To play truant; TO DO DOLLY: Cf. CHARLEY WAG.

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 3. I was sometimes turned down for KIPPING.

2. (thieves’).—To sleep; to lodge.

Kip-house, subs. (tramps’).—A tramps’ lodging house.

Kipper, verb. (common).—See quot.

1885. W. H. STEVENSON, in Notes and Queries, 6th. S. xi. 131. On the Trent a salmon is said to be KIPPER when it is seriously out of condition and has lost about half its weight. The fish are mostly found in this condition after the spawning season, but I have not hitherto been able to learn satisfactorily whether or not there is any connexion between the spawning and KIPPERING. From this has arisen the slang KIPPER = to die.

Kipsy. See KYPSEY.

Kirjalis, phr. (American thieves’);—‘Who fears? I fear not; come on!’—MATSELL (1859).

Kirkbuzzer, subs. (Amer. thieves’).—A thief whose speciality is to ply in churches.—MATSELL (1859).

Kirkling, subs. (thieves’).—Breaking into a house while the occupants are at church. [112]

Kirk’s Lambs, subs. phr. (military).—The Second Regiment of Foot. [From the name of its first colonel and the Paschal Lamb, the badge of Portugal, on its colours].

1891. Globe, 10 Mar. KIRKE’S LAMBS were engaged at Sedgemoor.

Kisky, adj. (common).—Drunk; fuddled. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Kiss, subs. (venery).—1. The sexual favor. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

2. (common).—See quot.

1856. DICKENS, The Detective Police, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 242. [Qtly Review xcix. 177]. I observed that on the back of the letter there was what we call a KISS—a drop of wan by the side of the seal.

3. in pl. (Stock Exchange).—Hotchkiss Ordnance Co. shares.

Verb. (old colloquial).—To touch gently; to brush. In billiards and other games the balls are said TO KISS when they barely touch.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, i. 1. When with his knees he KISSED the Cretan strand.

2. (venery).—See KISS, subs. sense 1.

1730. RAMSAY, Fables & Tales, in Wks. [1800], ii. 515. Ah me! your reverence’s sister, Ten times I carnally have—KIST her.

1786. CAPT. MORRIS. ‘The Plenipotentiary’. The next to be KISSED on the Plenipo’s list, was a delicate Maiden of Honor.

TO KISS THE CLAWS (or HANDS), verb. phr. (old).—To salute.

1630. TAYLOR, Wks. [quoted by NARES]. These men can KISSE THEIR CLAWS, with, Jack, how is’t? And take and shake me kindely by the fist, And put me off with dilatory cogges.

1630. TAYLOR, Wks. [quoted by NARES]. I’m glad to see thee well with all my heart. Long have I long’d to drinke with thee a quart, I have beleev’d this drosse had beene pure gold, When presently I have beene bought and sold Behind my backe (for no desert and cause), By those that kindly cap’d and KIST THEIR CLAWES.

1650. HOWELL, Familiar Letters [quoted by NARES]. This letter comes TO KISSE YOUR HANDS from fair Florence, a citie so beutifull.

TO KISS THE COUNTER, verb. phr. (old).—To be confined in the Counter prison. Also CLINK.

1618. ROWLANDS, Night Raven, p. 11. (Hunterian Club Repr. 1872). Constable:—Tell me of supper, tut a puddings end, You KISSE THE COUNTER, sirra, that is flat, Ile teach you know my place deserves a hat.

1626. Letter dated idem [quoted by NARES]. Some constables, for refusing to distrain, have KISSED THE COUNTER; and some have taken up their lodgings in Newgate, but have been since released.

TO KISS THE DUST, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To die. For synonyms see ALOFT.

TO KISS THE HARE’S FOOT, verb. phr. (old).—To be too late for meals; TO DINE WITH DUKE HUMPHREY (q.v.).

… Serving Man’s Comfort, Sign. C. The hall summons this consort of companions (upon payne to dyne with duke Humphfrie, or to KISSE THE HARE’S FOOT) to appeare at the first call.

1616. BROWN, Brit. Past, ii. 2, p. 67. ’Tis supper time with all, and we had need Make haste away, unless we meane to speed With those that KISSE THE HARE’S FOOT; rhumes are bred, Some say, by going supperlesse to bed.

1672. RAY, Proverbs, p. 195. TO KISS THE HARE’S FOOT, prov. Spoken to one that comes so late that he hath lost his dinner or supper.

1677. COLE, Dict. You must KISS THE HARE’S FOOT, post festum venisti.

1851. Notes and Queries, 1 S. 4. p. 21. KISS THE HARE’S FOOT.—This locution is commonly used in some parts of the United Kingdom, to describe, what is expressed by the Latin proverb: ‘Sero venientibus ossa.’ [113]

TO KISS THE MASTER, verb. phr. (old).—To hit the JACK (q.v.) at bowls.

1579. GOSSON, Schoole of Muse, p. 60 (Arber’s ed.). At Diceplay, euery one wisheth to caste well; at Bowles euery one craues TO KISSE THE MAISTER; at running euery one starteth to win the goale.

TO KISS THE POST, verb. phr. (old).—To be shut out.

1600. HEYWOOD, King Edward, iv. [NARES]. Dost thou hear me, Ned? If I shall be thy host. Make haste thou art best, for fear THOU KISS THE POST.

1612. Pasquils’ Nightcap [NARES]. Men of al countries travels through the same, And, if they money want, may KISSE THE POST.

1630. TAYLOR, Wks. [NARES]. Mars yeelds to Venus, gown-men rule the rost now, And men of war may fast, or KISSE THE POST now.

KISS MY ARSE. See ARSE.

TO KISS THE MAID, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KISSING THE MAID, an Engine in Scotland, and at Halifax in England, in which the Head of a Malefactor is Laid to be Cut off, and which this way is done to a Hair, said to be invented by Earl Morton who had the ill Fate to Handsel it. [Also New Cant. Dict. (1725)].

Kiss-curl, subs. (common).—A small curl twisted on the cheek or temple; a BEAU-CATCHER (q.v.): cf. AGGRAWATOR and LOVE-LOCK. Also KISS-ME-QUICK.

1856. Punch, xxxi. 219. I declare when I read that letter in print, with a picture in the corner not the least bit in the world like me (tho’ I admit rather pretty in its way) I coloured up to the tip-top of my forehead and I am sure that if I had worn those pastry-cook’s girl’s ornaments called KISS-CURLS the gum would have been melted off in a minute.

Kisser, subs. (pugilistic).—1. The mouth; the DRIPPING- or LATCH-PAN (q.v.). For synonyms see POTATO-TRAP.

1860. Chambers’ Journal, xiii. 348. His mouth is his ‘potatoe trap’—more shortly, ‘tatur trap’—or KISSER.

2. in pl. (pugilistic).—The lips; LISPERS (q.v.); MUMS (q.v.). Fr. les balots.

Kissing, subs. (venery).—1. Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

2. (billiards).—See KISS, verb. sense 1. Fr. l’oculaire astronomique.

Kissing-Crust, subs. (colloquial).—The soft-baked surface between two loaves; also the under-crust in a pudding or pie.

1708. KING, Art of Cookery. These baked him KISSING-CRUSTS and those Brought him small beer.

1714. Spectator, No. 608. A quarrel about the KISSING-CRUST; spoiling of dinners, and coming in late at nights.

1822. LAMB, Elia (Praise of Chimney-sweepers). How he would recommend this slice of white bread, or that piece of KISSING-CRUST, to a tender juvenile.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Nell Cook.’ And a mouldy piece of KISSING-CRUST as from a warden pie.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Kissing-strings, subs. (old).—Ribands hanging over the shoulders; FOLLOW-ME-LADS (q.v.). Fr. Suivez-moi-jeune-homme.

1705. London Ladies Dressing Room [NARES]. Behind her back the streamers fly, And KISSING-STRINGS hang dangling by.

1768. A. ROSS, Helenore, 34. The first time I to town or market gang A pair of KISSING-STRINGS and gloves … shall be your due. [114]

Kissing-trap, subs. (common).—The mouth; the WHISKER-BED (q.v.). For synonyms see POTATO TRAP.

1853. C. BEDE, Verdant Green, pt. 1. p. 106. His KISSING TRAP countered, his ribs roasted.

1887. ATKIN, House Scraps. The off-side of his KISSING-TRAP Displays an ugly mark!

Kiss-me-quick, subs. (common).—1. A KISS-CURL (q.v.).

2. (popular).—The name of a very small, once fashionable bonnet.

1855. HALIBURTON, (‘Sam Slick’), Human Nature, p. 131. She holds out with each hand a portion of her silk dress, as if she was walking a minuet, and it discloses a snow white petticoat. Her step is short and mincing, and she wears a new bonnet called a KISS-ME-QUICK.

1885. S. BARING GOULD, Court Royal, ii. Or this Dolly Varden with panniers, a little passed in style, and a KISS-ME-QUICK bonnet.

3. (American).—See quot.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, p. … But of all the rare compounds known to Eastern bar-rooms, few ever reach his secluded home. Nor would he appreciate the bewitching softness of ‘Long Linked Sweetness,’ or the ecstacy produced by a ‘KISS-ME-QUICK’—he likes to take it strong and hot.

Kist-o’-whustles, subs. (Scots’).—An organ.

1640. Lesly’s March [Minst. Scot. Border (1812), ii. 11]. And the KIST-FOU OF WHISTLES, That mak sic a cleiro.

1864. Letter in Glasgow Herald, 10 Dec. We have had, especially in our city churches, highly trained choirs, and we have now at our doors, clamouring for admission, the KIST O’ WHISTLES, the horror of former generations of Scotchmen.

1870. Orchestra, May. By a majority of seventy-two the English Presbyterian Synod has vindicated the right of congregations to adopt the KIST FU’ O’ WHISTLES in their church services if they be so minded. The fight fought in Regent Square Church recently was hotly contested.

Kit, subs. (old).—1. A dancing master.—New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811); [From KIT = a small violin].

2. (popular).—A person’s baggage or impediments; an outfit; a collection of anything. THE WHOLE KIT = the lot; the WHOLE GRIDIRON or the WHOLE BOILING. In American, the KIT AND BOODLE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KIT … likewise the whole of a soldier’s necessaries, the content of his knapsack, and is used also to express the whole of different commodities; here take the WHOLE KIT, i.e., take all.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. ‘Hush!—hush!—I tell you it shall be a joint business.’ ‘Why, will ye give me half the KITT?’ ‘What, half the estate?—d’ye mean we should set up house together at Ellangowan.’

1820. SHELLEY, Œdipus Tyrannus, 1. Now, Soloman, I’d sell you in a lump The WHOLE KIT of them.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, i. ch. xiv. I need hardly say that my lord’s KIT was valuable, but what was better they exactly fitted me.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxv. ‘Ah! I see ’em,’ said Mrs. Gamp; ‘all the WHOLE KIT of ’em numbered like hackney-coaches, ain’t they?’

1846. Punch, ii. p. 44. ‘I’ve got a wife—more fool I—and a KIT o’ children wuss luck!’

1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, x. He has since devoted his time to billiards, steeple-chasing, and the turf. His headquarters are Rummer’s, in Conduit Street, where he keeps his KIT, but he is ever on the move in the exercise of his vocation as a gentleman jockey and gentleman leg. [115]

1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, xl. ‘Blast you every one, from the judge in his wig, to the colonist a stirring up the dust. I’ll show you a better gentleman than the WHOLE KIT on you put together!’

3. (venery).—The penis and testes.

Kitchen, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

2. (common).—The stomach; the VICTUALLING OFFICE (q.v.).

Kitchener, subs. (thieves’).—A thief frequenting a THIEVES’ KITCHEN (q.v.).

Kitchenite, subs. (printers’).—A loafing compositor frequenting the kitchen of the Compositors’ Society house: in contempt.

Kitchen-latin, subs. (common).—Barbarous or sham Latin; DOG-LATIN (q.v.).

Kitchen-physic, subs. (old).—1. Pot-herbs; and (2) victuals.

1592. GREENE, Quip for Upstart Courtier [Harl. Misc. v. 406]. For my selfe, if I be ill at ease, I take KITCHYN PHYSICKE; I make my wife my doctor, and my garden my apothecaries shop.

1641. MILTON, Def. Humb. Remonst., § 2. Nothing will cure this man’s understanding but some familiar and KITCHEN PHYSICK.… Call hither your cook!

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. A little KITCHEN-PHYSIC will set him up; he has more need of a cook than a doctor.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Kitchen-stuff, subs. (old).—A female servant.

1658. BROME, New Academy, p. 44. What a bold piece of KITCHEN-STUFF is this that you have married!

Kite, subs. (popular).—1. A fool; a sharper; a cruel and rapacious wretch. Fr. un buse. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1534. UDALL, Roister Doister, v. 5. Roister Doister, that doughtie KITE.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, King Lear, i. 4. Detested KITE! thou liest.

1639. FLETCHER, Wit without Money, i. 1. Cramming of serving-men, mustering of beggars, Maintaining hospitals for KITES and Curs.

1812. From an old Dublin Jester. [The story, however, with slight variations is told of other judges. See N. and Q., 6 S., ix. 326, 394]. In a case before the Lord Chancellor of Ireland Mr. Curran, on behalf of the suitor, prayed to be relieved from the payment of some bills for which he had not received consideration, but only lent his name as an accommodation. Mr. Curran, in the course of his pleadings, mentioned the terms KITE and RAISING THE WIND several times, when his lordship requested to know the meaning of the words. ‘My lord’, Mr. Curran replied, ‘in your country (meaning England) the wind generally raises the KITE, but with us,’ significantly looking at the gentlemen of the bar, ‘the KITE raises the wind.’

2. (commercial).—An accommodation bill; fictitious commercial paper; (in Scotland) a WINDMILL-BILL (q.v.). See KITE-FLYING. TO FLY A KITE = to raise money or keep up credit by the aforesaid means.

1817. EDGEWORTH, Love and Law, i. 2. 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.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. KITE-FLYING. In Ireland FLYING THE KITE is employed to describe raising the wind.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (M. of Venice). In English Exchequer-bills full half a million, Not KITES, manufactured to cheat and inveigle, But the right sort of ‘flimsy.’

1848. Punch, xiv. 226. He never does a little discounting, nor lends his hand to FLYING A KITE. [116]

1849. Perils of Pearl Street, 82. FLYING THE KITE is rather a perilous adventure.

1880. SIMS, Ballads of Babylon, ‘Little Worries.’ You have a KITE you cannot FLY, and creditors are pressing.

1883. GRENVILLE-MURRAY, People I Have Met, p. 158. His wife, one of the better of the best society, had flown KITES to the height of twenty-five thousand pounds.

1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette, 23 Jan. … has been, FLYING KITES and getting into trouble thereby.

3. (American).—Fancy stocks. MATSELL (1859).

4. (American thieves’).—A letter.—MATSELL (1859).

5. (American thieves’).—The chief of a gang of thieves.

6. (old).—A recruiting sergeant. [From Farquhar’s Sergeant Kite in The Recruiting Officer].

1827. REYNOLDS, The Fancy, ‘The Field of Tothill.’ She was ador’d by … sober sergeants; privates too in drink, While pampered by those red KITES their recruiters.

7. (Old Scots’).—The belly.

d. 1554. LINDSAY, Kitteis Confessioun, Wks. (1879), i. 138, line 140. Thocht Codrus KYTE suld cleve and birst.

d. 1607. MONTGOMERIE, Flyting, Wks. (1886–7), 85, line 754. Misly KYT! And thou flyt, I’ll dryt in thy gob.

1722–30. RAMSAY, Fables & Tales, in Wks. (1851), iii. 165. Whose KYTES can streek out like raw plaider.

Verb. (commercial).—1. To keep up one’s credit by means of accommodation bills; to obtain money by bills. See subs. sense 2.

2. (American).—To speculate wildly.

3. (American).—To be restless, going from place to place; TO SKITE (q.v.).—MATSELL (1859).

TO FLY A KITE.—1. See KITE, subs. sense 2.

2. (general).—To put out a feeler before a definite announcement.

Kite-flyer, subs. (commercial).—One who raises money or sustains his credit by the use of accommodation bills.

Kite-flying, subs. (commercial).—1. The fabrication or negotiation of bills of accommodation, or bills for which no value has been received, in order to raise money.

2. (old).—Whoremongering.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. KITE-FLYING—said of a truant husband.

Kitten, subs. (thieves’).—A pint or half-pint pewter pot. See CAT subs. sense 5.

Verb. (colloquial).—To be brought to bed; TO BUST UP; TO EXPLODE.

Kittie (also Kittock), subs. (Old Scots’). 1. Generic for a girl; (2) a romping wench; (3) a harlot.

d. 1513. DUNBAR, Devorit with Dreme, in Poems (ut supra), I, 83. So many ane KITTY dressed up with golden chenye.

c. 1538. LYNDSAY, Against Syde Taillis, Wks. (1879), i. 131. I ken ane man, quchilk sevoir greit aithir. How he did lift ane KITTOKIS claithis. Idem, i. 135. Kittei’s Confessioun. The Curate KITTIE wold have kissed.

d. 1542. JAMES V, Christ’s Kirk on the Green. There cam our KITEIES weschin clene In thair now kirtillis of gray.

Kittle-breeks, subs. (Scots’).—An irritable person.

Kittle-pitchering, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. A jocular method of hobbling or bothering a troublesome teller of long stories; this is done by contradicting some very immaterial circumstance at the beginning of the narration, the objections to which [117]being settled, others are immediately started to some new particular of like consequence, thus impeding, or rather not suffering him to enter into the main story. KITTLE-PITCHERING is often practised in confederacy.

Kittler, subs. (American thieves’).—One who tickles or pleases.

Kitty, subs. (old).—The Bridewell or prison at Durham: hence a prison or gaol generally. [From KIDCOTE (q.v.)].

1827–8. HONE, Table Book. He would put him in the KITTY for an impostor.

2. in pl. (old).—Effects; furniture; stock-in-trade; MARBLES (q.v.). TO SEIZE ONE’S KITTYS = to take one’s effects.—Lex. Bal. (1811).

3. (cards’).—See quot.

1892. Daily Chronicle, 5 Mar. p. 9. col. 2. Two officers going into the bar parlour on Feb. 20 found five or six men playing ‘Nap,’ with a KITTY for drinks, KITTY being the pool and the payment to it of a half-penny.

4. in pl. (military).—The Scots’ Guards.

Kivey, subs. (common).—A man; a fellow: a diminutive of COVE (q.v.).

1854. BRADLEY, Verdant Green, ii. ch. 4. That’ll stop your dancing my KIVEY.

K. Legged, adj. (printers’).—Knock-kneed; shaky on the pins.

Kloop! intj. (common).—An imitation of the sound of a drawing cork.

1872. Sunday Times, Aug. 25, p. 2. col. 5. ‘The Deserted Village.’ When the sudden KLOOP of a cork has startled me.

Klem, verb. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. KLEM the bloke, hit the man.

Klep, subs. (popular).—A thief. For synonyms see THIEVES. [Short for kleptomaniac].

Verb. To steal. For synonyms see PRIG.

Knab the Rust. See RUST.

Knack, subs. (venery).—1. The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

1656. FLETCHER, Martiall, vii. 30. Why, being a Roman lasse, dost do this? tell, Is’t cause no Roman KNACK can please so well?

2. (old: now recognised).—1. A trick; and (2) a trinket. [TYRWHITT: The word seems to have been formed by the KNACKING or snapping of the fingers made by jugglers].

1383. CHAUCER, Cant. Tales, 4099. The more queinte KNAKKES that they make (= the cleverer tricks they practise).

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, Matassiner des mains, to move, KNACK, or waggle the fingers, like a jugler.

1653. BROME, Novella, i. 2. Such rings, such things, such KNACKS, such knots and bobs.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 163. And if they Women meet do rout ’um, For the fine KNACKS they wear about ’um.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KNACK, or Slight in any Art, the Craft or Mystery in any Trade, a petty artifice, or Trick like those upon the Cards. KNACKS, or Toies.

1731–35. POPE, Moral Essays, ii. 155. For how could equal colours do the KNACK?

1781. COWPER, Table Talk, 666. While servile tricks and imitative KNACKS.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 5. Lots of good temper and NACK. [118]

Knacker, subs. (old).—1. An old horse.

1869. W. BRADWOOD, The O. V., H. xii. Thoroughbred weeds, and a few thoroughbred weight-carriers; half-bred KNACKERS, and half-bred hunters cheap at three figures.

2. (old: now recognised).—A horse-slaughterer.

1839. Comic Almanack, Sept. Soon they’ll be senseless brutes, without a bit of feeling, Or else they’ll pine away so fast, the KNACKERS scarce will skin ’em.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, i. 189. The cat and dogs-meat dealers … generally purchase the meat at the KNACKERS’ (horse-slaughterers’) yards.

3. in pl. (venery).—The testicles. For synonyms see CODS.

4. in pl. (Stock Exchange).—Harrison, Barber, & Co. Ltd. shares. [An amalgamation of horse-slaughterers].

KNACKER’S BRANDY, subs. phr. (common).—A beating.

Knack-shop, subs. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KNACK … a KNACK-SHOP or Toy-shop, freighted with pretty Devises to Pick Pockets.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KNICK-SHOP, a toy shop, a nick-nackatory.

Knap, verb. (old).—1. To steal, receive, accept, endure, etc. Thus, TO KNAP A CLOUT = to steal a handkerchief; TO KNAP THE SWAG = to grab the booty; TO KNAP SEVEN OR FOURTEEN PENN’ ORTH = to get seven or fourteen years’; TO KNAP THE GLIM = to catch a clap. In making a bargain TO KNAP the sum offered is to accept it. MR. KNAP’S BEEN THERE, is said of a pregnant woman. TO KNAP THE RUST = to fall into a rage. Originally (as in quots 1537 and 1566) KNAP = to strike: whence KNAP (theatrical) = a manual retort rehearsed and arranged; TO TAKE (or GIVE) THE KNAP = to receive (or administer) a sham blow; and KNAPPER = the head or RECEIVER GENERAL (q.v.).

1537. Thersites [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 428]. She KNAPPETH me in the nose.

1566. KNOX, Reformation in Scotland, I. i. 47 (Wodrow Society, 1846). And then begane no little fray, but yitt a meary game; for rockattes were rent; typpets were torn, crownes were KNAPPED.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 27. He was not ignorant in KNAPPING, which is, striking one die dead, and let the other run a milstone.

1820. London Magazine, i. 26. It was their husband’s object to KNAP their thimbles.

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 51.

1839. REYNOLDS, Pickwick Abroad, p. 223. We’ll KNAP a fogle with fingers fly.

2. (pugilists’).—To be in PUNISHMENT (q.v.); to CATCH IT (q.v.). TO KNAP A HOT ’UN = to receive a hard blow.

3. (American thieves’).—To arrest.—MATSELL (1859).

TO KNAP THE STOOP, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1822. EGAN, Real Life, ii, 97. ‘Having once been made inspector of the pavement, or in other words KNAPP’D THE STOOP.’

TO KNAP A JACOB FROM A DANNA-DRAG, verb. phr. (old).—To steal the ladder from a night-man’s cart, while the men are absent, in order to effect an ascent to a one-pair-of-stairs window, to scale a garden-wall, etc.—DE VAUX. See KNAP. [119]

Knapper’s-poll, subs. (old).—A sheep’s head. For synonyms see SANGUINARY JAMES.

Knapping-jigger, subs. (thieves’).—A turn-pike gate; i.e., a gate for the receipt of tolls. See KNAP, sense 1.

1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, iv. Turpin treated him as he had done the dub [pikeman] at the KNAPPING-JIGGER, and cleared the driver and his little wain with ease.

Knark, subs. (old).—A churl; a flint-heart; a NARK (q.v.).

1851–61. MAYHEW, London Lab. etc., i. 343. He couldn’t refuse a dog, much more a Christian: but he had a butler, a regular NARK.

Knat, subs. (tailors’).—1. A difficult task; (2) a tyrant; and (3) one not easily hoodwinked.

Knave, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A dunce: at Hertford, a KNACK.

Knee. TO BREAK ONE’S KNEE, verb. phr. (venery).—To be deflowered, or got with child. For synonyms see DOCK, verb. sense 1.

TO OFFER (or GIVE) THE KNEE, verb. phr. (old).—To play the second in a fight.

1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s Schooldays, II. v. Martin, TO GIVE HIM A KNEE, steps out on the turf.

KNEE HIGH TO A MOSQUITO (A TOAD, A CHAW OF TOBACCO etc.), phr. (American).—Insignificant; of scant account.

TO SIT ON ONE’S KNEES, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To kneel down.

Knee-trembler, subs. (venery).—A standing embrace; a FAST-FUCK (q.v.); A PERPENDICULAR. For general synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Knee-trick, subs. (old).—Kneeling.

1632. BROME, Novella, iv. 2. No, if I worship any of ’hem more. Than in the KNEE-TRICK, that is necessary In their true use, let me be eunuchiz’d.

Knick-knack, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

2. (old).—A trinket; a toy. See NICKNACKS.

Knife, subs. (once literary: now military).—A sword.

c. 1270. Robert of Gloucester, p. 104. He drow ’ys KNYF, and slow the kyng.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To stab.

1851. F. WALPOLE, The Ansayrii, ii. 8. A brute who in cold blood KNIVED and tortured them with his own hand.

1862. DICKENS, Xmas Stories (Somebody’s Luggage), p. 132 (H. ed.). If you should even get into trouble through KNIFEING—or say, garotting—a brother artist.

1870. Globe, 17 Nov., i. 3. Already a too refractory sufferer has been threatened by his torturer with the not very pleasant alternative of being KNIFED if he does not submit with a better grace.

2. (American electioneering).—To plot against the candidate of one’s own party.

1870. Globe, 17 Nov. [Leader].

TO LAY DOWN ONE’S KNIFE AND FORK, verb. phr. (common).—To die; TO PEG OUT (q.v.); TO SNUFF IT (q.v.). For synonyms see ALOFT and HOP THE TWIG.

TO KNIFE IT, verb. phr. (old).—To decamp; TO CUT IT (q.v.).

KNIFE IT! intj. (old).—Separate! leave off! go away! [120]

TO PLAY A GOOD KNIFE AND FORK, verb. phr. (common).—To eat with appetite.

1837. KNOWLES, Love Chase, i. 3. Why shouldn’t I marry? KNIFE AND FORK I PLAY Better than many a boy of twenty-five.

1846–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ii. viii. The Colonel PLAYS A GOOD KNIFE AND FORK at tiffin, and resumes those weapons with great success at dinner.

BEFORE ONE CAN SAY ‘KNIFE’! phr. (common).—Instanter; IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE (q.v.). Cf. JACK ROBINSON.

1892. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxiv. She’d be off and out to sea BEFORE ANY ONE COULD SAY ‘KNIFE.’

Knife-board, subs. (common).—A seat for passengers running lengthwise on the roof of an omnibus: now mostly superseded by ‘garden seats’ Fr. l’impératrice.

1853. Diogenes, ii. 21. A ‘Correspondent’ calls the top of an omnibus ‘the eyrie of the KNIFE-BOARD.’

1856. Punch, xxxi. 203. And then the KNIFEBOARD cramps you so.

1859. Punch, xxxvi. 51, 2. Perhaps Mum’ll ride on the KNIFEBOARD.

1860. ARTHUR SMITH, Thames Angler, ii. ‘On ‘busses’ KNIFEBOARDS, stretch’d, The City clerks all tongue-protruded lay.’

1882. Daily News, 7 Oct., p. 5, col. 7. The box, or still better the KNIFEBOARD, of an omnibus facing the docks is the real shifting point from which to view the most superb range of docks in existence on any river but the Thames.

1889. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. The ‘insides’ were terrified, and clamoured loudly, so the driver left his seat, staggered up on the KNIFEBOARD, and fell asleep.

Knifer, subs. (common).—A sharking sponge.

Knifish, adj. (tailors’).—Spiteful.

Knight, subs. (common).—An ironical prefix of profession or calling: generic.

[Combinations are KNIGHT OF THE BLADE = a bully (B. E. 1690); KNIGHT OF THE BRUSH = an artist or painter; KNIGHT OF THE COLLAR = a gallows-bird; KNIGHT OF THE CLEAVER = a butcher; KNIGHT OF THE CUE = a billiard-marker; KNIGHT OF THE GREEN CLOTH = a gamester; KNIGHT OF HORNSEY (or OF THE FORKED ORDER) = a cuckold; KNIGHT OF INDUSTRY = a thief; KNIGHT OF THE KNIFE = a cut-purse; KNIGHT OF LABOR = (in America) a workingman; KNIGHT OF THE LAPSTONE = a cobbler; KNIGHT OF THE NAPKIN = a waiter; KNIGHT OF THE NEEDLE = a tailor; KNIGHT OF THE QUILL = an author or journalist; KNIGHT OF THE PENCIL = a book-maker; KNIGHT OF THE PESTLE = an apothecary; KNIGHT OF THE PIT = a cocker; KNIGHT OF THE PETTICOAT = a bawdy-house bully; KNIGHT OF THE PISS-POT = a physician, an apothecary; KNIGHT OF THE POST = a knight dubbed at the whipping post or pillory, also a rogue who got his living by giving false witness or false bail; KNIGHT OF THE RAINBOW = a footman (GROSE, 1785); KNIGHT OF THE ROAD = a footpad or highwayman: also KNIGHT OF THE RUMPAD; KNIGHT OF THE SHEARS or THIMBLE = a tailor (GROSE, 1785); KNIGHT OF THE SPIGOT = a tapster, a publican; KNIGHT OF THE SUN = an adventurer, a knight-errant; KNIGHT OF THE WHEEL = a cyclist; KNIGHT OF THE WHIP = a coachman; KNIGHT OF THE YARD = a shopman or counter-jumper].

c. 1554. Youth [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1847), ii. 15]. God’s fate! thou didst enough there For TO BE MADE KNIGHT OF THE COLLAR.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, in Works, ii. 19. A KNIGHT OF THE POST, quoth he, for so I am tearmed; a fellowe that will sweare you anything for twelue pence.

1606. Sir Gyles Goosecappe, 1, iii. [in BULLEN’S Old Plays, iii. 19]. O good KNIGHT A’ THE POST, heele sweare.

1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fayre, ii. 1. ‘Is this goodly person before us here … a KNIGHT OF THE KNIFE?’ ‘What mean you by that?’ ‘I mean a child of the horn thumb … a cut purse.’ [121]

1620. FORD, Line of Life. But is his resolution any way infracted, for that some refractaries are (like KNIGHTS OF THE POST) hired to witnesse against him?

1621. BURTON, Anat. of Mel., III. xi. 187 (1836). Perjur’d knaves, KNIGHTS OF THE POST, lyers.

c. 1633. Lady Alimony, i. 3. That KNIGHT OF THE SUN who employed me should have done his errand himself. Ibid. iii. 7. Doubt nothing, my fellow KNIGHTS OF HORNSEY.

1635. GLAPTHORNE, The Hollander, in Wks. (1874), i. 94. Not John-a-Stiles, the KNIGHT OF THE POST, is it?

1653. BROME, The Damoiselle, in Wks. (1873), Act i. 1. He takes me for a KNIGHT OF THE POST.

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 47. Then the KNIGHT OF THE PESTLE, King Lambert, and Vane, With a sceptre of iron did over it reign. Ibid., ii. 185. A KNIGHT OF THE POST, and a cobbling lord.

1662. WILSON, The Cheats, v. 2. How? Stick a bull’s feather in my cap! Make me a KNIGHT OF THE FORKED ORDER! Ibid. iv. 1.

1671. R. HEAD, English Rogue, 1, ch. xxx. p. 246 (Repr. 1874). His investation into the honour of one of the KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar. p. 2. I know some of your sturdy, stuff KNIGHTS OF THE QUILL. Ibid. Feb. p. 5. KNIGHTS OF THE POST, Alsatian braves.

1694. ECHARD, Plautus, p. 151. Whene’er we meet with fellows who hire KNIGHTS OF THE POST in law-sutes, and rascals who forswear themselves.

1709. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Gamester (1872), i. 162. It is a kind of KNIGHT OF THE POST.—That will swear on either side for interest.

1711. Spectator, No. 172. A couple of courtiers making professions of esteem, would make the same figure after breach of promise, as two KNIGHTS OF THE POST convicted of perjury.

d. 1721. PRIOR, Poems (1892), i. 156. There the Squires of the Pad, and the KNIGHTS OF THE POST.

1777. FOOTE, Trip to Calais (1795), i. p. 23. That may be the case, Master Minnikin, with those of the trade who live in the city; but I would have you to know, the KNIGHTS OF THE NEEDLE are another sort of people at our end of the town.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 76. Whose kiss to my lip is as sweet As the brandy and tea, rather thinnish, That KNIGHTS OF THE RUMPAD so rurally sip.

1821. SCOTT, Kenilworth, viii. ‘When an old song comes across us merry old KNIGHTS OF THE SPIGOT, it runs away with our discretion.’

1828. JON BEE, Picture of London, p. 27. To the practices and necessities of the coachmen and guard’s private trade, we owe the increasing number and fresh supply of hangers-on, whose first business has been the performing fetch-and-carry services for those KNIGHTS OF THE WHIP.

1838. JAS. GRANT, Sketches in London, iii. 119. ‘You’ll do what, Sir?’ observed the ‘man with the Macintosh,’ eyeing the KNIGHT OF THE THIMBLE steadily. ‘Just call me a tailor agin, Sir.’

1840. THACKERAY, Catherine, v. We did not go into the Park, but turned off and cantered smartly up towards Kilburn; and, when we got into the country, galloped as if the devil were at our heels. Bless you, my love, it was all done in a minute; and the Ensign and I found ourselves regular KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD, before we knew where we were almost.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, ii. 2. Our hells are full of Greeks—they are the Corinthians of the order, the top sawyers—KNIGHTS OF THE POST, whom you will find in Regent-street, in the clubs, at Epsom, Ascot, Newmarket, and Doncaster.

1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, III, iii. p. 267. ‘It’s scarcely wages for a KNIGHT OF THE RAINBOW (footman).’

1864. Reader, 22 Oct., p. 505. i. The best guard against any such spirit, [that of only regarding books by the light of ‘will they pay’] is that the publisher should be a KNIGHT OF THE PEN himself.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. Gamblers are called KNIGHTS OF THE GREEN CLOTH, and their lieutenants, who are sent out after greenhorns, are called decoys, cappers, and steerers.

1885. JOHN COLEMAN, in Longm. Mag., VII. 78. Occasionally however, the author has his nose put out of joint by the scene-painter. I once heard a distinguished KNIGHT OF THE BRUSH exclaim, [122]‘D—n the author and the actors! the public come to see my scenery!’

1885. Punch, 7 March, p. 109. The KNIGHTS OF THE PENCIL, Sir, hold that backers, like pike, are more ravenous in keen weather, and consequently easier to land.

1890. Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb. p. iv. col. 7. Meanwhile, every temptation is offered to the felonious tendencies of these KNIGHTS OF INDUSTRY. Women parade the rooms with thousands of pounds’ value of jewellery on their persons.

TO BE THE GUEST OF THE CROSS-LEGGED KNIGHTS, verb. phr. (old).—To go dinnerless; TO DINE WITH DUKE HUMPHREY (q.v.); TO DINE (or SUP) WITH SIR THOMAS GRESHAM (q.v.). [In allusion to the stone effigies in the Round Church (Temple) at one time the rendez-vous of lawyers and their clients, who attracted a host of dinnerless vagabonds in the hope of picking up a job]. For synonyms see PECKHAM.

TO BE KNIGHTED IN BRIDEWELL, verb. phr. (old).—To be whipped in prison.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART, ii. 57]. I knewe an odde foule-mouthde knaue … that had … a backe so often KNIGHTED IN BRIDEWELL that it was impossible … to terrifie him from ill-speaking.

Knitting Needle, subs. phr. (military).—A sword. For synonyms see CHEESE-TOASTER.

Knob, subs. (common).—1. The head; THE NOB (q.v.). For synonyms see CRUMPET. ONE ON THE KNOB = a blow on the head.—GROSE (1785).

2. (workmen’s).—A KNOBSTICK (q.v.).

Knobby, adj. (common).—See NOBBY.

Knob-of-Suck, subs. phr. (provincial).—A piece of sweetmeat.

1865. Good Words, Feb., p. 125. These children get an hour for dinner, and when they are ‘very good’ and work hard they sometimes get a KNOB-O’-SUCK on Saturday.

Knobstick (or Nobstick), subs. (workmen’s).—1. A non-society hand; DUNG (q.v.); a RAT (q.v.). Also, one who takes work under price, or continues at work while his fellows are on strike. (2) A master who does not pay his men at market rates.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lond. Poor, iii. 220. I next went to work at a under-priced hatter’s, termed a KNOBSTICK’S.

1855. MRS. GASKELL, North and South, ch. xxv. ‘They would try and get speech o’ th’ KNOBSTICKS, and coax ’em, and reason wi ’em, and m’appen warn ’em off; but whatever came, the Committee charged all members o’ th’ Union to lie down and die, if need were, without striking a blow; and then they reckoned they were sure o’ carrying th’public with them.’

1858. Notes and Queries, 1 S. ix. 373. In these days of strikes, turn-outs, and lock-outs we hear … much of KNOBSTICKS.

1860. SIR J. K. SHUTTLEWORTH, Scarsdale, ii. ch. ii. By picketing the mills, by assaults on KNOBSTICKS.

1887. Contemporary Rev., li. 238. The KNOBSTICK takes away the striker’s hope of bringing his employer to terms.

1887. Daily Telegraph, 1 July, 5. 8. Hundreds of windows at Dobson and Barlow’s foundry, in which are KNOBSTICKS, or ‘importations’, were broken.

1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 25 July, p. 2, col. 2. The fact must be borne in mind that this advocate of physical force as an argument with KNOBSTICKS is repudiated by the organization of his fellow-workers. [123]

Knock, subs. (horse-dealers’).—1. A lame horse; an incurable SCREW (q.v.). [The horse-dealer in JONSON’S Bartholemew Fair (1614), is called KNOCKEM].

1864. London Review, 18 June, p. 643. The KNOCK, afflicted with disease of the navicular joint, or shoulder lameness, neither of which make any outward show, is a great favourite for horse-coping purposes, as he is often a fine-looking animal.

2.—See verb.

Verb. (venery).—1. To copulate. Hence, KNOCK, subs., (1) an act of coition, and (2) the penis (see KNACK); KNOCKING-SHOP (or -HOUSE) = a brothel; KNOCKING-JACKET = a bed-gown; and KNOCKER, (1) = the penis, and (2) a PERFORMER (q.v.) male or female. [For possible derivation see NOCK, subs., and quot. (FLORIO), 1598]. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii]. 170. Goldlocks She must have KNOCKS, Or else I do her wrong.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, Cunnuta, a woman NOCKED.

1611. BARRY, Ram Alley, iii. 1. Comfort her tears, and say her daughters match’d With one that has a KNOCKER to his father.

1612. FIELD, Woman is a Weathercock, i. 2. You should be a KNOCKER, then, by the mother’s side.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., iii. 48. Ladies, make room, behold I come, Have at your KNOCKING jackets.

1722. RAMSAY, Fables & Tales, in Wks. (1851), iii. 170. For nought delights him mair than KNOCKING.

1823. EGAN, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (popular). To make an impression; to be irresistible; TO FETCH (q.v.); TO FLOOR (q.v.).

1883. Referee, May 6, p. 3, col. 3. ‘It’s Never too Late to Mend,’ with J. H. Clynds as Tom Robinson, is KNOCKING ’em at the Pavilion.

1892. CHEVALIER, ‘KNOCKED ’em in the Old Kent Rd’ [Title of Song.]

TO KNOCK ACOCK, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To ‘floor’; TO FLABBERGAST (q.v.); TO DOUBLE UP. See COCKED HAT.

TO KNOCK ABOUT (or ROUND), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To wander here and there; to lounge. Also ‘to see life’; ‘to go the PACE’ (q.v.).

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., ii. 87. I’ve been KNOCKING ABOUT on the streets.

1855. W. IRVING, Life of Washington, i. 423. A long course of solicitation, haunting public offices, and KNOCKING ABOUT town, had taught him [General Gates], it was said, how to wheedle, and flatter, and accommodate himself to the humors of others.

1888. Harper’s Mag., lxxvi. 349. I have been KNOCKING ABOUT Europe long enough to learn there are certain ways of doing things.

1891. Sporting Life, 28 Mar. He was a truant of the first water, and after KNOCKING ROUND till sixteen years of age etc.

TO KNOCK ABOUT THE BUB, verb. phr. (common).—To pass round the drink. See BUB.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, 1. 212. They went away seemingly very well satisfied, leaving master and man KNOCKING ABOUT THE BUB.

TO KNOCK (or LET) DAYLIGHT INTO ONE. See DAYLIGHT.

TO KNOCK ALL OF A HEAP. See HEAP.

TO KNOCK AT THE COBBLER’S DOOR. See COBBLER’S KNOCK.

TO KNOCK DOWN, verb. phr. (American).—1. To appropriate; to embezzle.

1882. MCCABE, New York, p. 158. In former days the driver of a stage was furnished with a cash-box, which was [124]securely fastened to the roof of the coach, at his left hand. All the money received passed through his hands, and he had frequent opportunities of KNOCKING DOWN or appropriating a modest sum to his own use.

2. (colloquial).—To call upon; to select.

1758–65. GOLDSMITH, Essays, i. While the president vainly KNOCKED DOWN Mr. Leathersides for a song.

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, i. 2. 1. Now, gentlemen, silence for a song. The ’squire is going to KNOCK himself DOWN for a song.

1789. G. PARKER, Variegated Characters. He was KNOCKED DOWN for the crap the last sessions. He went off at the fall of the leaf at Tuck’em Fair.

1866. C. READE, Griffith Gaunt, x. They KNOCKED HIM DOWN for a song; and he sang a rather Anacreontic one very melodiously.

TO KNOCK DOWN FOR A SONG etc., verb. phr. (colloquial).—To sell under intrinsic value.

TO KNOCK DOWN A CHEQUE (or PILE), verb. phr. (colonial).—To spend one’s savings lavishly; TO BLEW (q.v.).

1885. FINCH HATTON, Advance Australia. A man with a cheque or 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.

TO KNOCK DOWN FARES, verb. phr. (American).—To pilfer fares: of conductors and guards. See KNOCK DOWN, sense 1.

TO KNOCK IT DOWN, verb. phr. (common).—To applaud by hammering or stamping.

TO KNOCK ONE DOWN TO, verb. phr. (American).—To introduce (to a person).

TO KNOCK IN, verb. phr. (Oxford University).—1. To return to college after GATE is closed.

1825. English Spy, 1. 155. ‘Close the oak Jem,’ said Horace Eglantine, ‘and take care no one KNOCKS IN before we have knocked down the contents of your master’s musical mélange.’

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, p. 463 [ed. 1862]. That same afternoon Father Dick, who as soon Would KNOCK IN, or ‘cut chapel’, as jump o’er the moon Was missing at vespers—at complines—all night! And his monks were of course in a deuce of a fright.

1853. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant Green, I. xi. At first, too, he was on such occasions greatly alarmed at finding the gates of Brazenface closed, obliging him thereby to KNOCK IN.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, p. 458 [ed. 1864]. There’s twelve striking. I must KNOCK IN. Good night. You’ll be round to breakfast at nine?

2. (gaming).—To take a hand at cards; TO CHIP IN (q.v.).

TO KNOCK INTO FITS (A COCKED HAT, THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK etc.), verb. phr. (common).—To confound; TO FLOOR (q.v.); to punish severely. See COCKED HAT, BEAT and FITS.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 42. KNOCKS recit-ateeves INTO FITS.

TO KNOCK (or TAKE) IT OUT OF ONE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To exhaust; to empty; to punish severely.

1841. Punch, i. p. 265; col. 2. The uphill struggles … soon KNOCK IT all OUT OF HIM.

TO KNOCK OFF, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To leave off work; to abandon. Fr. péter sur le mastic.

1662. FULLER, Worthies, x [ed. Nichols, 1811]. In noting of their nativities, I have wholly observed the instructions of Pitœus, where I KNOCK OFF with his death, my light ending with his life on that subject.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. KNOCK OFF, to give over Trading; also to Abandon or Quit one’s Post or Pretensions. [125]

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. KNOCK-OFF, to give over Thieving.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v., KNOCK-OFF, to conclude.

1860. DICKENS, Uncommercial Traveller, v. p. 25. Jack had KNOCKED OFF work in the docks some hours.

1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 4 Mar. Iron ship builders and other employers will have to KNOCK OFF.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 10 Aug., p. 6, col. 1. Another half-pint when he KNOCKS OFF in the evening, and before he starts for home to his late tea.

1883. GREENWOOD, Odd People etc., ‘Genteel Slang’ … With your leave or without, he must KNOCK OFF at midday.

1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, xvii. ‘Why, I heard that you had KNOCKED OFF the sea some years ago—come into an estate.’

2. (colloquial).—To dispatch with ease; to put out of hand.

1886. Westminster Rev., cxxv. 292. He could KNOCK OFF a parody, a drinking song.

1891. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Nov. p. 6, col. 2. Here is a specimen of the ‘consumptive manner’ as KNOCKED OFF by Mr. Lang.

3. (colloquial).—To deduct; to ‘KNOCK so much OFF the price’.

4. (colloquial).—To die.

d. 1704. TOM BROWN, Works, iv. 183. Perverse people … that would not KNOCK OFF in any reasonable time but lived long on purpose to spite their relation.

TO KNOCK ONE BANDY, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To astound; TO FLABBERGAST (q.v.).

TO KNOCK ON THE HEAD, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To frustrate; to spoil; to settle.

TO KNOCK OUT, verb. phr. (auctioneers’).—1. See KNOCK-OUT.

2. (racing).—To bet so persistently against a horse that from a short price he retires to an outside place: to drive out of the quotations.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 203. The concern would either remain for a time in shares or would be KNOCKED OUT at once.

1883. Pall Mall Gazette, 16 April, p. 4, col. 1. Foxhall … was second favourite for some time, but he has now been KNOCKED OUT to comparatively long odds.

3. (common).—To make bankrupt: KNOCKED OUT = unable to meet engagements.

4. (pugilistic).—See subs. sense 4 and KNOCK OUT OF TIME.

1891. Daily Telegraph, 21 Mar. For the third time this year, they managed, after a drawn game, to KNOCK OUT the much fancied Sunderland team.

5. (Oxford University).—To leave college after hours: of out of college men only. See KNOCK IN and KNOCKING OUT.

1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, vii. Five out-college men had KNOCKED OUT at a quarter to three, refusing to give any name but the dean’s.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, xlv. p. 503 [ed. 1864]. ‘Hullo!’ he said, getting up; ‘time for me to KNOCK OUT, or old Copas will be in bed.’

TO KNOCK OUT OF TIME, verb. phr. (pugilistic).—So to punish an opponent that he is not able to answer the call of ‘Time’.

1884. Saturday Review, 16 Jan., p. 108, col. 1. A man of weak physique is apt to be KNOCKED OUT OF TIME by a more robust though less skilful adversary.

1891. Licensed Vict. Minor, 30 Jan., p. 7, col. 2. He had, in fact, almost played with Tom with the gloves, and once, at Jem Ward’s benefit, when both were a little bit pricked, had KNOCKED the Redditch man bang off his legs, and very nearly OUT OF TIME.

TO KNOCK THE SPOTS OFF (or OUT OF), verb. phr. (American).—To surpass; to confound; to thrash; to excel. [126]

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle & Mocassin, 152. She can KNOCK THE SPOTS OUT OF these boys at that game.

1888. Pall Mall Budget, 26 Ap., p. 5. An American gentleman has just sailed for Sydney TO KNOCK SPOTS OUT OF the rabbits.

TO KNOCK THE BOTTOM (STUFFING, WADDING, LINING, FILLING, or INSIDE) OUT OF, verb. phr. (common).—To confound; to surpass; TO FLOOR (q.v.); to thrash; to finish off.

1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 3, col. 1. ‘Hold hard—here he is. Good ev’ning, sir ’aven’t the pleasure of knowing you, but saw you KNOCK THE STUFFING OUT OF the ring to-day. Done well?’

1891. BELLAMY, Dr. Heidenhoff’s Process, p. 52. This cool ignoring of all that had happened that day in modifying their relations at one blow KNOCKED THE BOTTOM OUT OF all his thinking for the past week.

TO KNOCK SMOKE OUT OF, verb. phr. (colonial).—To try; to vanquish utterly.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xi. You ought to have sense enough not to KNOCK SMOKE OUT OF fresh horses before we begin. Ibid. xxxix. A regiment or a man-of-war’s crew like him would KNOCK SMOKE OUT OF any other thousand men the world could put up.

TO KNOCK SAUCEPANS OUT OF, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To run amuck.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxvi. ‘He’ll begin to KNOCK SAUCEPANS OUT OF all the boys between here and Weddin Mountain.’

TO KNOCK OUT OF THE WEDGES, verb. phr. (American).—To desert; to leave in a difficulty.

TO KNOCK ROUND. See TO KNOCK ABOUT.

TO KNOCK UNDER, verb. phr. (old: now colloquial).—To yield; to give out; to confess defeat.

1668. DRYDEN, An Evening’s Love, v. KNOCK UNDER, you rogue, and confess me conqueror.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar., p. 10. He that flinches his glass, and to drink is not able, Let him quarrel no more, but KNOCK UNDER the table.

1703. The Levellers, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), v. 447. Now, my dear, though I must acknowledge our sex to be extraordinary vicious, we will not KNOCK UNDER-BOARD to the men.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., i. 27. Who with Water and Cannon Mahon did take, And make the Pope KNOCK UNDER.

c. 1730. A. RAMSAY, Address of Thanks, in Wks. (1851), ii. 347. They will be forced to thumb your belt, At last and a’ KNOCK UNDER.

1782. GEO. PARKER, Humorous Sketches, p. 164. When fame from ministers is flown, ’Tis time they should KNOCK UNDER.

1844. Puck, p. 82. Says mighty Dan to the Sassenach chain, I never will KNOCK UNDER.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., iii. 71. Several had tried it, but they had to KNOCK UNDER very soon.

1852. THACKERAY, Esmond, iii. 4. Colonel Esmond KNOCKED UNDER to his fate.

1866. Argosy, No. 2, p. 191. So the Emperor of Austria has KNOCKED UNDER, and the Hungarian Diet has met for the first time for sixteen years. They have conquered by the force of passive resistance. It is the grandest thing since our Long Parliament.

1871. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. 223. The men are drove into being reg’lar devils by being constantly down upon by the blooming officers. Them as ’as any pluck in ’em turns savage, and them as ’asn’t they KNOCKS UNDER, as I did, and gets ill, and lots on ’em dies.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 29 Aug. Finally, he KNOCKED UNDER with an abjectness which made every true American blush from the tips of his hair to the soles of his boots.

TO KNOCK UP, verb. phr. (Christ’s Hospital).—1. To gain a place in class: e.g. I KNOCKED UP and ‘I KNOCKED Jones up.’ The Hertford equivalent is OX UP (q.v.). [127]

2. (colloquial).—To achieve; to accomplish.

1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. With only 29 to win, White at his next attempt KNOCKED UP the necessary item.

3. (colloquial).—To put together hastily, as by nailing.

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, xx. KNOCKING UP apologies for shelves.

4. (colloquial).—1. To exhaust or tire.

1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker, L. 62. In passing the sands without a guide, his horse had KNOCKED UP; and he himself must have perished, if he had not been providentially relieved by a return post-chaise.

1814. MISS AUSTEN, Mansfield Park, vii. If Fanny would be more regular in her exercise, she would not be KNOCKED UP so soon.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xvii. p. 187. ‘I am quite KNOCKED UP. Dead beat, Mark.’

1867. All the Year Round, 13 July, 59. You had better go by train, and not run the risk of KNOCKING yourself UP again.

KNOCKED UP, phr. (American).—Pregnant.

TO GET THE KNOCK, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To drink; to get SCREWED (q.v.).

2. (colloquial).—To be discharged; to get the SACK or BAG (q.v.).

TO TAKE THE KNOCK, verb. phr. (turf). To lose more to the bookmakers than one can pay; to be DEAD BROKE (q.v.).

1890. Globe, 21 April, p. 6, col. 1. Many a broken backer of horses who has TAKEN, what is known in the language of the turf, as THE KNOCK over the many fiascoes associated with this particular horse, etc.

TO BE KNOCKED OFF ONE’S PINS, verb. phr. (common).—To be FLABBERGASTED (q.v.).

1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke’s Children, ch. xlvii. He confessed to himself that he was completely bowled over,—KNOCKED OFF HIS PINS!

THAT KNOCKS ME, phr. (common).—That confounds, or is too much for me.

TO BE KNOCKED INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK, verb. phr. (common).—To be astounded; to get badly beaten; ‘to be knocked into a COCKED HAT’ (q.v.).

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii. 4. Up comes these young sparks, and gave me such a maulagaran, that they KNOCK’D ME INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK—beside tipping me this here black eye—only see how red it is!

1837. DICKENS, The Pickwick Papers, p. 334 [ed. 1857]. If Mr. Namby would have the goodness to put his hat on again, he would KNOCK IT INTO THE LATTER END OF NEXT WEEK.

1847. PORTER, Quarter Race etc., p. 105. The next moment he was KNOCKED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE NEXT THREE WEEKS!

b. 1852. Traits of Amer. Humour, p. 50. Arch would fetch him er side wipe on the head, and KNOCK HIM INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.

Knockabout, subs. (theatrical).—An actor of violent and noisy pantomime: a special genre.

1891. Sportsman, Ap. 1. The Armstrongs maintain their position as two of the best KNOCKABOUT artistes.

Knock-about man, subs. (Australian).—A JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES (q.v.); a HANDY MAN.

1881. A. C. GRANT, Bush Life, i. 80. KNOCKABOUT MEN: that is men who are willing to undertake any work. [128]

Knock-down (or knock-me-down), subs. (old).—Strong ale: STINGO (q.v.). Also = gin.

1515. De Generibus Ebriosorum etc. [J. E. HODGKIN in Notes & Queries, 3 S. vii. 163]. In this treatise occurs a chapter on the various kinds of beer then in use in Germany.… The catalogue which follows shows that even the names of fancy drinks are not new under the sun; and that the ‘Eye-openers’ and ‘Cocktails’ of the Yankee bars had their prototypes in the mediæval tap-rooms. I select a few of the most presentable: Cow’s-tail, Calves-neck, Buffalo, Slip-slop, Stamp-in-the-Ashes, KNOCK-’EM-DOWN, Crowing-Cock, Wild-oats, Red-head, Raise-head, Swell-nose, and Gnat’s-mustard.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1698. SORBIÈRE, Journey to London in the Year 1698, p. 35 [quoted in Notes and Queries, 6 S. xii. 167]. He answer’d me that had a thousand such sort of liquors, as Humtie Dumtie, Three Threads, Four Threads, old Pharaoh, KNOCKDOWN.…

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. KNOCK.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. KNOCK-ME-DOWN.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1885. Notes and Queries, 6th S. xii. 232. A very strong ale or beer.

Adj. (old).—Rowdy.

1760. FOOTE, Minor, i. No KNOCK-ME-DOWN doings in my house … no rioters.

Knock-down and Drag-out, subs. phr. (pugilistic).—A free fight.

1848. New York Spirit of the Times, 30 Sept. There are good, quiet, easy people in the world who scarcely open their lips or raise their fingers, lest Dogberry So-and-so across the way might take it in high dudgeon, and forthwith demand an explanation or a KNOCK-DOWN AND DRAG-OUT.

1852. JUDSON, Myst. etc. of New York, xii. p. 83. ‘We must have a fight!’ said Butcher Bill. ‘What shall it be?’ asked Mr. Shorter—‘a genteel knock down, or a KNOCK DOWN AND DRAG OUT?’

b. 1852. Traits of American Humour, p. 48. Mike … in a regular KNOCK-DOWN AND DRAG-OUT row was hard to beat.

Knock-’em-down Business, subs. phr. (common).—Auctioneering.

Knock-’em-downs, subs. (common).—Skittles.

1828. JON BEE, Picture of London, 263. The charms of nine-pins—whether this be of skittles, KNOCK-’EM-DOWNS, bowl-and-tip, dutch-pins, or the more sturdy four-corners.

1872. Fun, Sept. A man, the proud possessor of KNOCK-ME-DOWNS, was brought up at Wandsworth police-court the other day for plying his trade on Putney Common.

Knocker, subs. (venery).—1. The penis (URQUHART): see KNOCK, verb. sense 1. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

2. (venery).—See KNOCK, verb. sense 1.

3. (common).—In pl., small flat curls worn on the temples; SIXES (q.v.).

UP TO THE KNOCKER, phr. (common).—1. Completely equal to; also, perfect in appearance, condition, fitness. Also see quot. 1870.

1844. SELBY, London by Night, i. 2. Jack. How do you feel? Ned. Not quite UP TO THE KNOCKER.

1864. Derby Day, p. 110. It’s a splendid turn out. RIGHT UP TO THE KNOCKER, as they say. I don’t do things by halves when I go out.

1870. HAZLEWOOD & WILLIAMS, Leave it to Me, 1. Joe. If ever there was anybody else first, you’re afore ’em. I ’dores you, TO THE WERRY KNOCKER AND HALF-WAY UP THE PASSAGE.

1889. Sporting Times, 6 July. ‘I see here’s a house to let in Toboggan Terrace, jest up by Sloane Street—how ’ud that suit us?’ ‘UP TO THE BLOOMIN’ KNOCKER, Joey,’ replied Mrs. M. [129]

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 23. I’m UP TO THE KNOCKER, I tell you.

2. (common).—In the height of fashion.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. p. 243. She were a fine woman, and togged like a lady right UP TO THE KNOCKER.

1885. D. C. MURRAY, Rainbow Gold, Bk. II. ch. ii. ‘He’s dressed too,’ he added after a pause, during which the figure drew nearer—‘dressed UP TO THE KNOCKER.’

Knocker-face (or Head), subs. (common).—An ugly-faced person; UGLY-MUG (q.v.).

1887. A. BARRÈRE, Argot and Slang, p. 272. Monstrico, m. (familiar), ugly person, one with a KNOCKER FACE.

Knocker-out, subs. (pugilistic).—See KNOCK-OUT, subs. sense 4.

Knock-in, subs. (common).—1. The game of loo.

2. (common).—A hand at cards.

3. (trade).—The same as KNOCK-OUT, subs. sense 1.

Knocking-out, subs. (common).—See KNOCK-OUT, subs. sense 1.

2. (Oxford University).—See KNOCK-OUT, subs. sense 5 s.v. KNOCK.

Knock-out, subs. (common).—1. A man frequenting auction rooms and joining with others to buy at a nominal price. One of the gang is told off to buy for the rest, and after a few small bids as blinds, the lot is knocked down to the KNOCK-OUT bidders, so that competition is made impossible. At the end of the sale the goods are taken to a near hand public-house, where they are re-sold or KNOCKED-OUT among the confederates, the difference between the first purchase and the second—or tap-room KNOCK-OUT—being divided. The lowest sort of KNOCK-OUTS, with more tongue than capital, are called BABES. Hence (2) an auction at which KNOCKING-OUT is practised. Also verbally, as an adj., and in combination.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. KNOCK OUT, an illegal auction.

1856. C. READE, Never Too Late, xlii. This was a KNOCK-OUT transaction; twelve buyers had agreed not to bid against one another in the auction room, a conspiracy illegal but customary.

1872. Athenæum, 4 May. Book KNOCK-OUT … buying a rare Shakspeare for £20, and afterwards selling it at a KNOCK-OUT for £525.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack. The concern would either remain for a time in shares, or would be KNOCKED OUT at once, that is, resold by auction among themselves, and the profit divided.

1883. A. LANG, A Bookman’s Purgatory, in Longman’s Mag., September, p. 522. The auctioneer put up lot after lot, and Blinton plainly saw that the whole affair was a KNOCK-OUT. His most treasured spoils were parted with at the price of waste paper.

1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Nov., p. 4, c. 3. He condemned the market ‘rings,’ and maintained that by the process of KNOCKING OUT the price of food was kept up.

2. in pl. (gaming).—Dice: when in the box = BABES IN THE WOOD or ROGUES IN THE STOCKS. See FULHAMS.

3. (common).—A man or woman: used either in eulogy or in outraged propriety: also a WARM MEMBER (q.v.); one who does outrageous things.

4. (pugilistic).—1. A hit out of the guard on the point of the chin, which puts the recipient to sleep, and so ends the fight. Hence, 2 [130](common), a champion of any sort and in any walk of life. KNOCKER-OUT = a pugilist who is an adept at PUTTING TO SLEEP (q.v.).

1891. Sporting Life, 25 Mar. The Barrier man was nearly helpless, and Choynski tried frantically to pull himself together for one good KNOCK-OUT.

1892. CHEVALIER, Idler, June, p. 549. Oh! ’e’s a little champion, Do me proud, well ’e’s a KNOCK OUT.

1894. Illustrated Bits, 7 April, 4, 2. They all called her Miss Tricky, except some of the lads who preferred to describe her with fervour as ‘A fair KNOCK-OUT.’

1894. ARTHUR MORRISON, Tales of Mean Streets, 134. It was a hard fight and both the lads were swinging the right again and again for a KNOCK-OUT.

1895. E. B. OSBORN, in New Review, April, 450. The hit out of the guard to the point of the chin, which is the prettiest application of the theory of the lever—is equally dangerous when it comes from a gloved hand. Accordingly, modern boxers (so-called) will give up everything for an opportunity of striking this particular blow; and a contest with or without the gloves degenerates into a struggle of waving hands and woven paces for the one position in which ’tis possible to deliver it with a fair chance of KNOCKING-OUT.

Knocksoftly, subs. (old).—A fool; a SOFT (q.v.).

1864. Derby Day, p. 69. ‘I say,’ cried Mr. Dobson. ‘What’s the row now? Ain’t you going to let us in?’ ‘What! to be larruped? Not if I know it. You must think me a jolly KNOCK-SOFTLY.’

Knot, subs. (old: now recognised).—A crew, gang, or fraternity.

1597. SHAKSPEARE, Rich. III, iii. 3. A KNOT you are of damned blood-suckers.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Verb. (old).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, iv. 2. Keep it as a cistern for foul toads TO KNOT and gender in.

TO KNOT IT, verb. phr. (common).—To abscond. For synonyms see ABSQUATULATE.

TO TIE WITH ST. MARY’S KNOT, verb. phr. (common).—To hamstring.

TO TIE A KNOT WITH THE TONGUE THAT CANNOT BE UNTIED WITH THE TEETH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To get married.

Know, verb. (conventional).—To copulate: applied to women. Also to KNOW CARNALLY and to HAVE CARNAL KNOWLEDGE. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

TO KNOW, ONE’S WAY ABOUT, ROUND, A THING OR TWO, A TRICK WORTH TWO, THE ROPES, THE TIME OF DAY, WHAT’S O’CLOCK, WHAT’S WHAT, ONE’S BOOK, LIFE, HOW MANY BLUE BEANS MAKE FIVE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be well-informed, experienced, wide-awake; to be equal to any emergency; FLY (q.v.).

1534. N. UDALL, Roister Doister, i. 2, p. 17 (ARBER). Have ye spied out that? Ah sir, mary nowe I see you KNOW WHAT IS WHAT.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Henry IV, ii. 1. Soft, I pray thee: I KNOW A TRICK WORTH TWO of that.

1609. JONSON, Silent Woman, v. Daw. O, it pleases him to say so, sir; but Sir Amorous KNOWS WHAT’S WHAT as well.

1679. W. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood, Act iii. Sc. i. But you, gossip, KNOW WHAT’S WHAT.

1711. Spectator, No. 132. This sly saint, who, I will warrant, UNDERSTANDS WHAT IS WHAT as well as you or I, widow, shall give the bride as father. [131]

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, v. ‘Come, boy, I’m an old fellow, and KNOW WHAT’S WHAT as well as you that are younger.’

1792. HOLCROFT, Road to Ruin. YOU KNOW A THING OR TWO, Mr. Selby.

1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well. I am a raw Scotchman, Captain Jekyll, it is true, but yet I KNOW A THING OR TWO.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood. A man of discernment who KNEW A THING OR TWO.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, p. 364 (ed. 1857). ‘Never mind, Sir,’ said Mr. Weller with dignity, ‘I KNOW WOT’S O’CLOCK.’

1841. LEVER, Charles O’Malley. I thought I KNEW A THING OR TWO when I landed in Portugal; but, Lord love you, I was a babe … compared to the Portuguese.

1849. LYTTON, Caxtons, p. IV. iii. ‘I am no genius, but I am a practical man. I KNOW WHAT’S WHAT.’

1849–50. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. x. I KNOW WHAT’S O’CLOCK tolerably well.

1854. WHYTE-MELVILLE, General Bounce. The old Norman bon-vivant evidently KNEW A THING OR TWO.

1867. All the Year Round, 13 July, p. 56. The tramp who KNOWS HIS WAY ABOUT knows what to do.

1887. BAUMANN, Londinismen, Slang u. Cant, pref., vi. So from hartful young dodgers, From vaxy old codgers, From the blowens we got Soon to KNOW VOT IS VOT.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxiv. We KNEW A TRICK WORTH TWO of that. Ibid. XLIV. He KNEW THE ROPES.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 9 Nov., p. 7, col. 2. Tell him frankly that you are a new reader, and would be glad of his assistance until you KNOW THE ROPES, as the sailors say.

1891. NEWMAN, Scamping Tricks, 120. Now it is only fair to say the assistant KNEW HIS BOOK, and was up to snuff.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 12 Oct., p. 5, col. 2. Mr. Asquith KNOWS, if I may use the phrase, THE TIME OF DAY.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 13. He did KNOW A THING OR TWO. Ibid. 36. KNOWS HER WAY ABOUT well, I can tell yer. Ibid. 44. Alfongs KNOWS THE ROPES.

NOT TO KNOW B FROM A BATTLEDORE. See B.

IN THE KNOW, adv. phr. (common).—Having special and intimate knowledge; IN THE SWIM; on the GROUND FLOOR (q.v.).

1883. Referee, 29 April, p. 3, col. 2. As they are being shown about, and as everybody immediately interested knows all about them, perhaps Refereaders would like to be IN THE KNOW likewise.

1884. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 617. The half-dozen young Arabs who are IN THE KNOW as to these eating-houses, and have marked them for their own.

1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. That greatly desired summit of every embryo racing man’s aspirations … being IN THE KNOW.

1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 1, col. 2. There is somebody I wot of who is fairly IN THE KNOW.

1889. Star, 9 Sept., p. 4, col. 3. If he were IN THE KNOW he would be more correct in his facts.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 31 Oct., 3, 1. Racing on the Flat. By ONE IN THE KNOW [Title].

1892. Leisure Hour, Jan., p. 192. It is evident to the reader who is IN THE KNOW that the miserable author will have to go round by Cape Horn to get from Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs.

1894. Illustrated Bits, 7 Ap., p. 4, col. 2. Harry Summers, whose father did the commissions for the stable, and whose main ambition was to be IN THE KNOW, so that he might back winners.

1894. GEORGE MOORE, Esther Waters, xxx. ‘If one was really IN THE KNOW, then I don’t say nothing about it; but who of us is ever really IN THE KNOW?’

ALL ONE KNOWS, phr. (common).—The utmost.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxiii. A good many men tried ALL THEY KNEW to be prepared and have a show for it. [132]

I WANT TO KNOW, phr. (American colloquial).—‘Is it possible?’ ‘You surprise me.’

Knowing, adj. (common).—1. Artful; FLY (q.v.).

1712. Spectator, No. 314. If this gentleman be really no more than eighteen, I must do him the justice to say he is the most KNOWING infant I have yet met with.

1752. FIELDING, Amelia, Bk. x. v. ‘We have so much the advantage, that if the KNOWING ones were here, they would lay odds of our side.’

1819–24. BYRON, Don Juan.… ‘Who, on a spree with black-eyed Sal, his blowen, So swell, so prime, so nutty, and so KNOWING?’

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 11. Our first business of the day, was … not very unusual among KNOWING ones.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, p. 6. Flash, my young friend, or slang, as others call it, is a species of cant in which the KNOWING ones conceal their roguery from the flats.

1830. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 29 (ed. 1854). ‘Paul, my ben cull,’ said he with a KNOWING wink.

1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk. III. v. Until at last there was none so KNOWING.

1835. SELBY, Catching an Heiress, sc. 1. Ho, ho! he’s a KNOWING one.

1841. Punch, i. 29, 2. Why is a cunning man like a man in debt?—Because he’s a KNOWING one (an owing one).

1843. DICKENS, Christmas Carol in Prose. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the KNOWING ones call ‘nuts’ to Scrooge.

1845. The late fight between the Premier (Peel) and young Ben (D’Israeli), v. 9, p. 163. The KNOWING ones suspect that if he comes up to the scratch again—which is doubtful—he will come off second best.

1856. WHYTE-MELVILLE, Kate Coventry, xviii. There was a slight bustle among the KNOWING ones.

1863. READE, Hard Cash, i. 214. He had a very pleasant way of conveying appreciation of an officer’s zeal, by a KNOWING nod with a kindly smile on the heels of it.

1863. Frazer’s Mag., Dec. ‘The English Spy’. Much which is unfair in ordinary life is very clever and KNOWING on the race-course.

1883. Broadside Ballad, ‘Happy Thoughts,’ st. 4. My Uncle Dowle has lots of money; He’s a very KNOWING looking blade.

2. (common).—Stylish.

1811. JANE AUSTEN, Sense and S., xix. Many young men, who had chambers in the Temple, made a very good appearance in the first circles, and drove about town in very KNOWING gigs.

1844. Puck, p. 14. With his weed in his cheek and his glass on his eye, His cut-away neat, and KNOWING tie, The milliner’s hearts he did trepan My spicy swell small-college man.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, i. 5. Tom thought his cap a very KNOWING affair.

KNOWING BLOKE, subs. phr. (military).—A sponger on new recruits.

c. 1887. BRUNLEES PATTERSON, Life in the Ranks. Some of the KNOWING BLOKES, prominent among whom will be the ‘grousers,’ will, in all probability, be chewing the rag or fat.

Knowledge, subs. (colloquial).—Sexual intercourse. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Knowledge-box, subs. (common).—The head; the NOUS-BOX, (q.v.). For synonyms see CRUMPET.

1798. Poetry of Anti-jacobin, xxii. 116 [ed. 1801]. Coal-black is my KNOWLEDGE-BOX.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 17. Found his KNOWLEDGE BOX always the first thing.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, iii. 1. Jerry. Doctor! I touch’d your KNOWLEDGE BOX there, I think. [133]

1840. C. BRONTE, in Mrs. Gaskell’s Life, ch. ix. The wind … has produced the same effects on the contents of my KNOWLEDGE-BOX that a quaigh of usquebaugh does upon those of most other bipeds.

1868. MISS BRADDON, Trail of the Serpent, Bk. VI. iii. The gentlemen of the Prize ring were prepared to fight as long as they had a bunch of fives to rattle upon the KNOWLEDGE-BOX of the foe.

Knub, verb. (old).—To rub against; to tickle.

1653. BROME, The City Wit, in Wks. (1874), 1. 444. As you have beheld two horses KNUBBING one another. Ka me, ka the, an old kind of court service.

Knuck, subs. (old and American).—A thief. Short for KNUCKLE (q.v.).

1834. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Rookwood. The KNUCKS in quod did my schoolmen play.

1851. JUDSON, Mysteries etc. of New-York, ch. iv. For many a year it has been known the ‘crossmen’ and KNUCKS of the town, as ‘Jack Circle’s watering place.’ Ibid. You’re as good a KNUCK as ever frisked a swell.

Verb. (American).—To steal. For synonyms see PRIG.

1851. JUDSON, Myst. etc. of New-York, iv. It’s enough to break my heart to see a man of your talent forced to prig prancers, KNUCK trikers, and go on the low sneaks!

Knuckle, subs. (old).—See quot.

1781. PARKER, View of Society. ‘KNUCKLE in the flash language signifies those who hang about the lobbies of both Houses of Parliament, the Opera-House, and both Play-Houses, and in general wherever a great crowd assemble. They steal watches, snuff-boxes etc.’

Verb. (thieves’).—1. To fight with fists; to pummel.

2. (thieves’).—To pick pockets: applied especially to the more refined or artistic branch of the art, i.e. extracting notes or money from the waistcoat, or breeches pockets, whereas ‘buzzing’ is used in a more general sense.—DE VAUX (1819). Also TO GO ON THE KNUCKLE.

1754. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 43. s.v.

TO KNUCKLE (KNUCKLE DOWN TO or KNUCKLE UNDER), verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. See quots.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). KNUCKLE-DOWN (v.) to stoop, bend, yield, comply with, or submit to.

b. 1794. WOLCOT [P. Pindar], Ode to Tyrants, in Works (Dublin), v. ii. p. 526. TO KNUCKLE DOWN to Jove, And pray the gods to send an Emp’ror down. Ibid. Rights of Kings. Poor gentlemen! how hard, alas! their fate, TO KNUCKLE TO such nuisances of State!

1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, II. vii. So he KNUCKLED DOWN, again to use his own phrase, and sent old Hulker with peaceable overtures to Osborne.

1860. Chamber’s Journal, XIII. p. 289. Considering how he has talked scoffingly of Benedict’s KNUCKLING UNDER and being second best and of some one having always the whiphand of him and so on.

1869. BLACKMORE, Lorna Doone, liv. When the upperhand is taken upon the faith of one’s patience by a man of even smaller wits … why it naturally happens that we KNUCKLE UNDER with an ounce of indignation.

1888. Daily Chronicle, 31 Dec. He KNUCKLED UNDER to the last-named at the second time of asking.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxxvii. I wouldn’t KNUCKLE DOWN to you like some of them.

2. (colloquial).—To apply oneself earnestly; to engage vigorously.

Knuckle-bone. DOWN ON THE KNUCKLE-BONE, phr. (thieves’).—Hard-up; STONEY (q.v.).

1883. Daily Telegraph, 4 August, p. 2, col. 1. I once had the honour of being present at a ‘select harmonic’ [134]held in the shady neighbourhood of Fox-court, in Grays Inn-lane, which, according to the card pertaining thereto, was for the benefit of someone who was DOWN ON THE KNUCKLE BONE in consequence of having been put away since the previous October (it was then the month of March), and only just now released.

Knuckled, adj. (tailors’).—Handsome.

Knuckledabs (or knuckle-confounders), subs. (old).—Handcuffs.—GROSE (1785). For synonyms see DARBIES.

Knuckle-duster, subs. (common).—A knuckle-guard of iron or brass which, in striking, protects the hand from injury and adds force to a blow.

1858. Times, 15 Feb. KNUCKLE-DUSTER … a formidable American instrument, made of brass, which slips easily on to the four fingers of the hand, and having a projecting surface, across the knuckles, is calculated, in a pugilistic encounter to inflict serious injury on the person against whom it is directed.

1861. SALA, Twice round the Clock, Noon Par. 12. A bunch of skeleton keys, a KNUCKLE-DUSTER, and a piece of wax candle, all articles sufficiently indicative of the housebreaker’s stock-in-trade.

1866. Era, 18 June. Without a moment’s hesitation—except to load a six-barrelled revolver with ball cartridge and to arm himself with a pair of Yankee KNUCKLE-DUSTERS—the intrepid African opened the door of the den.

1872. Standard, ‘Middlesex Sessions Report’. In another box he found a life-preserver, the end of it being loaded with lead, KNUCKLE-DUSTERS, and other things of the same description.

1877. E. L. LINTON, World Well Lost, xii. A kind of panic went through the place, and the demand for revolvers and KNUCKLEDUSTERS, iron shutters and bells … surprised the tradesmen.

1883. Daily News, 20 March, p. 6, col. 3. He struck at him in the face with a KNUCKLE-DUSTERS he had in his hand.

1887. Daily Chronicle, 8 Dec. Hayzeman stepped from the other side of the road, and struck prosecutor on the nose, the blow, as believed, being given with a KNUCKLE-DUSTER.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 84. We were a jovial company: four of us were wondering how they could rob the fifth, and that fifth resolved, quite early in this seance, to use his KNUCKLE-DUSTER promptly, and to prevent either of the male warblers from getting behind him, at any risk.

1890. Standard, 30 July, p. 3, col. 6. The Prisoner made no reply, but struck him with a KNUCKLE-DUSTER, which he took out of his pocket.

2. (common).—A large, heavy, or over-gaudy ring.

Knuckler, subs. (old).—A pickpocket.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 184. A universal knocking of knuckles by the KNUCKLERS was followed by profound silence.

1843. Punch, iv. 129. A rush,—a hustle,—merrily then Begins the KNUCKLERS’ war.

Knuller, subs. (old).—1. See quot.: also KNELLER.

1861–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, ii. p. 405. The KNULLERS or ‘queriers’, that is to say, those [chimney-sweepers] who solicit custom in an irregular manner, by knocking at the doors of houses and such like.

2. (common).—A clergyman. [Cf. sense 1 and CLERGYMAN].

Kokum, subs. (Australian prison).—Sham kindness. See COCUM.

Kone, subs. (American thieves’).—Counterfeit coin.—MATSELL (1859).

Koniacker (or Cogniac-er), subs. (American thieves’).—A counterfeiter.—MATSELL (1859).

Kool, verb. (back-slang).—To look. [135]

c. 1865. Broadside Ballad, ‘The Chickaleary Cove’. Now KOOL my downy kicksies.

1892. National Observer, 27 Feb., p. 378. Me a Plantadgenick? Who are you a-getting at? Look at my pearlies, KOOL my ’ed of ’air.

Kotoo (or Kotow), verb. (common).—To bow down to; to scrape to; to lickspittle.

1874. E. LYNN LINTON, Patricia Kemball, xlii. He had never concealed his contempt for him nor KOWTOWED to him as the rest had done.

1890. TRAILL, Saturday Songs, ‘A Manly Protest’, p. 70. But never for Chawles! To the traitors and plotters Whom once he denounced he would scorn to KO-TOO.

Kosh (or Kosher), subs. (thieves’).—1. A short iron bar used for purpose of assault.

2. A blow.

Adj. (common).—Fair; square. [From the Hebrew = lawful].

Krop, subs. (back-slang).—Pork.

Kudos, subs. (now recognised).—Glory and honor. TO KUDOS = to praise; to glorify. [From Gr.] KUDOS = praised.

1793. SOUTHEY, Nondescripts, i. Bepraised in prose it was, bepraised in verse, Lauded in pious Latin to the skies, KUDOS’D egregiously in heathen Greek.

1857. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant Green, Pt. III. ch. xi. Mr. Smalls gained KUDOS by offering to give the luncheon at his rooms.

1860. Punch, xxxviii. 186. Nought would serve the little man [Lord John] But his private little plan, Whereby he hoped much κυδος he should get.

1889. DRAGE, Cyril, vii. I gained no small KUDOS by spotting a vintage of Léoville at dinner.

1889. Standard, 30 Jan. Should he, then, endeavour to gain the KUDOS of his removal by associating himself conspicuously with the decree of dismissal?

1894. The Yellow Bk., i. p. 195. I return to my pearl that is to bring me KUDOS.

Kye, subs. (costers’).—Eighteen pence. [Short for Heb. KYEBOSH (or KIBOSH q.v.); Kye = 18 + bosh = pence, originally STIVERS (q.v.)].

Kynchen. See KINCHEN.

Kypsey, subs. (old).—See quots. Also KIPSEY.

1754. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., 2nd ed. KIBSY, a sort of wicker basket.

1879. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag., xl. 501. I was coming home with my KIPSY (basket).

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, XIV. After tea Blower said, ‘Now you must lay in your KIPSEY.’

[136]

, THE THREE L’S, subs. phr. (nautical).—Lead, latitude, and look-out.—CLARK RUSSELL.

Label, subs. (American).—A postage stamp: cf. TOADSKIN.

Labour, verb. (old).—To beat.

Labourer, subs. (common).—An accoucheur; a midwife. For synonyms see FINGER-SMITH. [From labour = child-birth].

Labour-lea, verb. (Scots’).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Lace, subs. (common).—Strong waters added to coffee or tea. Also (by inference, see verb.) sugar.

1712. Spectator, No. 488. He is forced every morning to drink his dish of coffee by itself, without the addition of the Spectator, that used to be better than LACE to it.

Verb. (common).—1. To intermix with spirits. Fr. consoler son café = to brandy one’s coffee. Also (see quot. 1690) = sugar.

1677. WYCHERLEY, Plain Dealer, iii. Ald. No, faith; prithee, captain, let’s go drink a dish of LACED coffee, and talk of the times.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAC’D coffee, Sugar’d.

1712. Spectator, No. 317. Mr. Nisby of opinion that LACED coffee is bad for the head.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xi. He had his pipe and his tea-cup, the latter being LACED with a little spirits.

1851–61. MAYHEW, London Lab. etc., iii. 359. Breakfast 1s., good tea and good bread-and-butter, as much as you liked always; with a glass of rum in the last cup for the LACING of it. Tea the same as breakfast, and LACED ditto.

1852. THACKERAY, Esmond, ix. ‘D—n it, Polly loves a mug of ale, too, and LACED with brandy, by Jove!’

1872. Athenæum, 2 Nov., p. 556, col. 2. Schiller refreshed himself at the small hours of the morning with coffee LACED with old cognac.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 35. Talk is like tea; it wants LACING with something a little bit stronger.

2. (common).—To flog. Also TO LACE ONE’S COAT (or JACKET).

1599. PORTER, Two Angry Women [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 359]. I do not love to be lac’d in when I go to LACE a rascal.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. iii. p. 27 (1874). It was not long after that I was so LACED for it, that comparatively to my punishment Bridewell whipping is but a pastime.

1673. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 126. Then if they have a mind to LACE us, Let Carthage, if they can, come trace us.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LACING.… I’ll LACE YOUR COAT, Sirrah, I will beat you soundly. [137]

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1754. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1830. MONCRIEFF, Heart of London, ii. 1. You’ll make me LACE you presently, if you don’t mind—go on, Sir.

1847. C. BRONTE, Jane Eyre, XXI. LACE my quivering palm or shaking neck.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (colloquial).—To wear tight stays.

Lacedemonians, subs. (military).—The Forty-sixth Foot. [From its Colonel making it a long speech under a heavy fire about the Lacedemonians and their discipline]. Also MURRAYS BUCKS, and THE SURPRISERS.

Laced Mutton, subs. phr. (old).—A woman; especially a wanton: cf. MUTTON. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1578. WHETSTONE, Promos and Cas., 6, pl. i. p. 14. And I smealt he loved LASE MUTTON well.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, i. 1. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a LAC’D MUTTON; and she, a LAC’D MUTTON, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour.

1596. NASHE, Have with You [GROSART (1885), iii. 61]. He that wold not stick so to extoll stale rotten LAC’D MUTTON, will … sucke figges out of an asses fundament.

1599. BRETON, Wil of Wit [GROSART (1879), ii. c. 62/1. 18]. If your stomache stande to flesh, eate of a little warme MUTTON, but take heede it be not LACED.

1602. MIDDLETON, Blurt Master Constable, sign. B. Laz. Pilcher, Cupid hath got me a stomacke, and I long for LAC’D MUTTON. Pil. Plaine mutton without a lace would serve.

1602. DEKKER, Honest Whore [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iii. 466]. The sturdy beggar, and the lazy lown, Gets here hard hands, or LAC’D correction.

1624. JONSON, Masque of Nep. Triumph [CUNNINGHAM, iii]. Cook. O whom for mutton, or kid? Child. A fine LAC’D MUTTON Or two; and either has her frisking husband.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LACED MUTTON, a prostitute.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LACED MUTTON, a common woman.

Lacing, subs. (common).—1. See LACE, verb. sense 2.

2. (common).—See quot. 1690; flogging; a lashing.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LACING, Beating, Drubbing.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LACING.

1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 1. S. ch. xiv. ‘He would … throw all the blame on him and order him to have an everlastin’ LACIN’ with the cowskin.’

Lach, verb. (American thieves’).—To let in.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LACH. ‘The cove is bene, shall we LACH him?’ ‘The man is good, shall we let him in.’

Lack-latin, subs. (old).—An ignoramus: specifically an unlettered priest.

d. 1555. LATIMER, Sermon, p. 304. Some will say our curate is naught, an ass-head, a dodipole, a LACK-LATIN.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes. Arlotto, the name of a merie priest, a LACK LATINE or hedge-priest.

1598. Servingman’s Comfort [HAZLITT: Roxburgh Library (1868), Tracts, p. 103]. Hoe, syr John LACK-LATTIN, you are out of the text.

1626. BRETON, Pasquil’s Madcappe [GROSART (1879), i. e 6/2. 24]. Sir John LACK LATINE with a face of brass.

1762. FOOTE, The Orators, i. I’ll step to the Bull and Gate, and call upon Jerry LACK-LATIN. [138]

Ladder, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

TO MOUNT A LADDER (TO BED or TO REST), verb. phr. (common).—To be hanged.

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 172]. Thou boy, by the mass, ye will CLIMB THE LADDER.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat [E. E. T. S., 1869, p. 31]. Repentance is never thought upon till they CLYME THREE TREES WITH A LADDER.

1757. RAE, Proverbs (3rd. ed.), p. 199, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. He MOUNTED THE LADDER, he was hung.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To cut a caper upon nothing, or one’s last fling; to catch, or nab, or be copped with, the stifles; to climb the stalk; to climb, or leap from the leafless, or the triple tree; to be cramped, crapped, or cropped; to cry cockles; to dance upon nothing, the Paddington frisk, in a hempen cravat, or a Newgate hornpipe without music; to fetch a Tyburn stretch; to die in one’s boots or shoes, or with cotton in one’s ears; to die of hempen fever or squinsy; to have a hearty choke with caper sauce for breakfast; to take a vegetable breakfast; to marry the widow; to morris (Old Cant); to trine; to tuck up; to swing; to trust; to be nubbed; to kick the wind; to kick the wind with one’s heels; to kick the wind before the Hotel door; to kick away the prop; to preach at Tyburn cross; to make (or have) a Tyburn show; to wag hemp in the wind; to wear hemp, an anodyne necklace, a hempen collar, a caudle, circle, cravat, croak, garter, necktie or habeas; to wear neck-weed, or St. Andrew’s lace; to tie Sir Tristram’s Knot; to wear a horse’s nightcap or a Tyburn tippet; to come to scratch in a hanging or stretching match or bee; to ride the horse foaled of an acorn, or the three-legged mare; to be stretched, topped, scragged, or down for one’s scrag.

FRENCH SYNONYMS (i.e. to suffer the death penalty, formerly by hanging, now by the guillotine). Basculer (popular = to tip-off; to see-saw); bénir des pieds (thieves’ = to bless with the feet, a gibbetted man being un évêque des champs); être béquillé (thieves’); monter à la bute, butte, or bute à regret (thieves’); tirer sa crampe avec la veuve (popular); épouser la veuve (thieves’: to wed the widow: veuve = guillotine); être fauché (thieves’ = to be scythed); être raccourci (popular: raccourci = shortened); être buté (thieves’ = earthed up); mettre la tête à la fenêtre (thieves’: in allusion to passing the head through the lunette or aperture); éternuer dans le son or dans le sac (thieves’ = to sneeze into the sawdust); jouer à la main-chaude (popular: in allusion to the hands tied behind the back; literally: to play hot cockles); embrasser Charlot (thieves’: Charlot = executioner): moufionner son mufle dans le son (thieves’ = to snotter in the sawdust); passer sa bille au glaive [common: bille = NUT (q.v.); glaive = knife]; aller à l’Abbaye de Monte-à-regret (common: to go to Mount Sorrowful Church); passer à la [139]voyante (thieves’); être mécanisé (common = to be passed through the machine: mécanicien = executioner); être glaivé (common = to be knifed); passer sous le rasoir national (popular = to be passed under the national razor); être mis à la bise (old = to be set in the wind); vendanger à l’éschelle (old = to go vintaging on a ladder); avoir le collet rouge (old = to wear the red neck-band); croître d’un demi-pied (old = to grow half a foot taller); faire la longue lettre (old = to make the long letter, i.e. ‘I’—from the Latin); tomber du haut mât (old); servir de bouchon (common = to act as a cork); faire le saut (common = to take the leap); faire un saut sur rien (old = to jump upon nothing); danser où il n’y a pas de plancher (common = to dance where there isn’t a floor); donner un soufflet à une potence (common = to cuff the gallows); donner le moine par le cou (common); approcher du ciel à reculons (common = to go to heaven backwards); danser un branle en l’air (old = to cut capers in the air); avoir la chanterelle au cou (old: chanterelle = first string of a violin); faire le guet à Mont-faucon (old = to do sentry go at Mont-faucon, i.e., the public gibbet); faire le guet au clair de la lune à la cour des Monnoyes (old = to stand sentinel by moonlight); monter à la jambe en l’air (old = to mount the leg-in-air); tirer la langue d’un demi-pied (old = to stick out one’s tongue).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Agguinzare (= to SWING); allungar la vita (= to lengthen life); andar or mandar in piccardia (FLORIO = to go, or be sent to Picardy; also andare a Longone or Fuligno); dar de’ calci al vento, or a Rouiao (FLORIO = to kick the wind); ballare in campo azzuro (= to dance upon nothing); sperlungare (perlunga = lengthened); aver la fune al guindo (= to wear a hempen collar).

TO BE UNABLE TO SEE A HOLE IN A LADDER, verb. phr. (common).—To be hopelessly drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Laddle, subs. (chimney-sweeps’).—A lady.

Ladies’ Cage, subs. phr. (parliamentary).—That portion of the gallery in the Commons which is set apart for ladies. See CAGE, subs., sense 4.

1870. Times, 27 May, ‘Leader’. The female opponents of the Contagious Diseases Act … filled the LADIES’ CAGE on Tuesday night.

Ladies’ Fever, subs. phr. (common).—Syphilis; FRENCH GOUT (q.v.).

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. BAD (or FOUL) DISEASE (or DISORDER); Barnwell ague; the CLAP (sometimes but erroneously): coals (or winter coals); Covent Garden ague; the crinkums; fire; the Frenchman or French gout; the glim; the GLUE (q.v.); the Garden gout; goodyears (SHAKSPEARE); grandgore (Old Scots’); knock with a French FAGGOT (q.v.); malady of France (SHAKSPEARE); the marbles; the stick; the Scotch fiddle; Venus’ curse. [140]

FRENCH SYNONYMS. La baude (thieves’); un coup de pied de jument or de Venus (common = a mare’s kick or a kick from Venus); la goutte militaire (military = soldiers’ gout); un gros lot (common = a prize); le lazzi-lof (thieves’); le mal de Naples or le mal frances; le naze (thieves’).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Galicar; galicodo; picado; potro.

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Der Kleiner Franzose (= the little French girl); Laufer (= running); Türkische-musik (= Turkish-delight).

Ladies’ Finger (or Wish), subs. phr. (common).—A tapering glass of spirits, especially gin.

Ladies’ Grog, subs. phr. (common).—Grog: hot, strong, sweet, and plenty of it.—DICKENS.

Ladies’ Mile, subs. phr. (general).—Rotten Row in Hyde Park—the principal airing ground during the London season.

1871. Daily News, 10 May. Why should not a handsome young Englishwoman, he may ask himself, as she canters along the LADIES’ MILE, be as good to look at as a cow?

1885. J. COLEMAN, in Longman’s Mag., v. 494. The fashionable mob in the LADIES’ MILE.

Ladies’ Tailoring, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. Cf. STITCH. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Ladies’ Treasure (Delight, or Plaything), subs. phr. (venery).—The penis.

Ladle, verb. (theatrical).—To enunciate pretentiously; to MOUTH (q.v.).

Lad of (or ON) the Cross, subs. phr. See CROSS.

Lad o’ Wax, subs. phr. (old).—1. A cobbler; a COCK O’ WAX (q.v.). For synonyms see SNOB.

2. (old).—A boy; a doll of a man; a MAN OF WAX = a ‘proper’ man.

Ladron, subs. (old).—A thief. [From the Spanish].

1652. SHIRLEY, The Brothers [NARES]. Ped. I am become the talk Of every picaro and LADRON.

Lad’s leavings (A), subs. phr. (old).—A girl. For synonyms see TITTER.

1737. RAY, Proverbs (3rd ed.), 58. Lasses are LAD’S LEAVINGS.

Lady, subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1690: cf. LORD.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, a very crooked, deformed, and ill-shapen Woman.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (common).—The reverse or TAIL (q.v.) of a coin: see HEAD, subs., sense 2.

3. (common).—A quart or pint pitcher wrong side uppermost.

4. (nautical).—The keeper of the gunner’s small stores: LADY’S HOLE = the place where such stores are kept.

5. (American).—A woman of any station; usually in combination, as FORE-LADY, SALES-LADY, COOK-LADY. [141]

1888. Philadelphia Times. (Scene up stairs.) Servant—Missus! missus! the BEGGAR LADY is down stairs, and I hare the ash gintleman knockin’ at the gate.

6. in pl. (gaming).—Cards. For synonyms see DEVILS’ BOOKS.

1890. Standard, 15 March, p. 3, col. 5. At Stepney Fairman entered the compartment, and stated he had been to Croydon races, and had been playing with the LADIES (cards), and offered to show them how it was done.

7. (American).—A sweetheart.

OLD LADY, subs. phr. (common).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

PERFECT LADY, subs. phr. (common).—A harlot. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

LADY OF THE LAKE, subs. phr. (old).—A kept mistress.

b. 1660. DAVENANT, The Siege, v. Thou LADY OF THE LAKE: a pox a whispering!

1678. BUTLER, Hudibras, III. i. 868. All women would be of one piece But for the difference marriage makes ’Twixt wives and LADIES OF THE LAKES.

LADY OF EASY VIRTUE, subs. phr. (common).—A harlot; a WOMAN OF ACCOMMODATING MORALS or OF MORE COMPLAISANCE THAN VIRTUE. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.—GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811), and

1890. Standard, 21 March, p. 3, col. 7. Some LADY OF EASY VIRTUE, about whom they knew nothing, lived in another flat, and some one proved that she was an immoral woman.

Ladybird, subs. (common).—1. A whore; and (2) a term of endearment. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, i. 33. What lamb! what, LADYBIRD! God forbid!

1600. JONSON, Cynthia’s Revels, ii. 1. Is that your new ruff, sweet LADYBIRD?

1653. BROME, Court Begger, i. 1. A very lime bush to catch LADY-BIRDS.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LADYBIRDS, Light or Lewd Women.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, p. 173. Others of these LADY-BIRDS were offering their congratulations to him.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, p. 5. Here, among the pinks in Rotten Row, the LADYBIRDS in the Saloon etc.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Lady-chair, subs. (common).—See KING’S CUSHION.

1869. BEECHER-STOWE, Old Town Folks, 436. She insisted on being carried in a LADY-CHAIR over to our woodland study.

Lady Dacre’s Wine, subs. phr. (old).—Gin.—Lex. Bal. (1811). For synonyms see DRINKS and WHITE SATIN.

Lady-feast, subs. (old).—A bout of venery.

1653. BROME, Mad Couple, iii. Al. This kisse and name your time.… Bel. To morrow night. Al. Shall you be ready so soone thinke you after your plentifull LADY-FEAST.

Lady Fender, subs. (servants’).—A woman who spends her time nursing the fire.

Lady-flower, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum.—WHITMAN. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Lady Green, subs. (thieves’).—A clergyman; specifically the prison chaplain. For synonyms see DEVIL-DODGER. [142]

Lady Jane, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Lady-Killer, subs. (colloquial).—A male flirt; a general lover. LADY-KILLING = assiduous gallantry.

1839. LEVER, Harry Lorrequer, xxii. I believe your regular LADY-KILLER—yourself for instance—becomes a very quiet animal for being occasionally jilted.

1846–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xiii. I don’t set up to be a LADY-KILLER.

1880. G. R. SIMS, Three Brass Balls, Pledge iii. He called himself an old fool for being frightened of a dandy—a vain, empty-headed LADY-KILLER.

Lady of Pleasure, subs. phr. (old).—A prostitute. Fr. fille de joie. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1750. ROBERTSON (of Struan), Poems, 203. ‘On a LADY OF PLEASURE’ [Title].

1767. RAY, Proverbs (ed. 1893), 64. A whore … a LADY OF PLEASURE.

Lady’s Hole. See LADY, subs. sense 4.

Lady’s Ladder, subs. (nautical).—Rattlins set too close.

Lady’s Low Toupée, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pubic hair. For synonyms see MERKIN.

1721. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, etc.… With my curling tongs so hot, sir, So well as you may see, And so well I can dress up, A lady’s LOW TOPPIE.

Lady-star, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1598. HALL, Satires, IV. 1 (CHALMERS, English Poets, 1810, v. 273). And with her cruel LADY’STAR uproze She seeks her third roust on her silent toes.

Lady-ware, subs. (old).—1. The penis and testes.

1599. Soliman & Perseda [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), v. 345]. The ladies of Rhodes, hearing that you have lost a capital part of your LADY-WARE have made their petition to Cupid to plague you above all other, as one prejudicial to their muliebrity.

2. (old).—Trinkets; knick-knacks, ribands.

Lag, subs. (old).—1. Sentence of transportation or penal servitude; transportation.

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 18. Under sentence of LAG for spunk.

2. (thieves’).—1. A returned transport; (2) a convict; and (3) a ticket-of-leave man. For synonyms see WRONG ’UN.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAG, a man transported.

1828. BEE, Living Picture of London, p. 39. A few are returned LAGS.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, iii. 5. And thus was I bowled out at last, And into the jug for a LAG was cast.

1856. READE, Never too Late to Mend, ix. ‘He fell in with two old LAGS who had a deadly grudge against the chaplain.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LAG, a convicted felon.

1864. Daily Telegraph, 19 Oct. The country is so wild and unexplored, that the LAG who has traversed it, or could traverse it, might re-enter society as a hero if he would impart his adventures.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, i. 59. The prisoner who had acted as barber, and was an old LAG, passing the door, told me, ‘Never mind cleaning your cell, we are all off to-day.’

1889. Answers, 23 Mar., p. 265, col. 3. In the old days many escapes were made from Chatham by expert swimmers. An old LAG (the slang term for prisoner) told me that twice in his recollection had men got clean away in this manner.

1890. HUME NISBET, Bail Up, 248. ‘Are the police coming’. ‘I tinky not. Only that sundowny lun away like ol’ LAG.’ [143]

1890. Answers, 27 Dec. He ‘skedaddled out of the dock as quickly as he could,’ fearing that he might be recognised as an old LAG if he tarried unnecessarily.

1891. Times, 14 Sept. ‘Capital Punishment’. ‘Jack, my dear fellow,’ they top a LAG out here (W. Aust.) for slogging a screw. That piece of rope is a rare check. A ‘screw’ means a ‘policeman’ as well as a ‘warder’.

1892. Tit Bits, 19 Mar., 417, 1. Broadmoor for all LAGS as go off their chump.

3. (Old Cant).—See quots Also LAGE.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65. LAG, water.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). LAGGE water or p—se.

1641. BROME, Jovial Crew, ii. I bowse no LAGE, But a whole gage Of this I bowse to you.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. i. ch. v. p. 50 (1874). LAGE, Water.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1724. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v. LAGE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

4. (Old Cant).—See quots. Also LAGE.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat, or Warening for Commen Cursetors, p. 86. Man. We wyll fylche some duddes of the Ruffemans, or myll the ken for a LAGGE of dudes.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). LAGGE of dudes, a bucke of clothes.

1661. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, v. 1. Tell us If it be milling of a LAG of duds, The fetching-off a buck of clothes, or so?

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAG-A-DUDDS. We cloy the LAG of Duds, Come let us steal that Buck of Cloths.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

5. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAG-A-DUDDS, LAGG of the Flock, the hindmost.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAG. LAG LAST, the last of a company.

6. (Westminster School).—A fag.

1881. PASCOE, Everyday Life in our Public Schools. Every morning the LAG junior prepares and brings to hall the list.

7. (American theatrical).—1. A dialogue or scene of extra length; also (2) a wait.

1847. DARLEY, Drama in Pokerville, 112. A LAG on the stage was immediately made up for by the pop of a cork.

Verb. (thieves’).—1. To transport; to send to penal servitude. LAGGED = (1) sentenced; and (2) imprisoned. Fr. aller à la grotto = TO LUMP THE LIGHTER (q.v.): also se laver les haricots.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 78. A relative of poor Crockey, who was LAGGED some time since.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAG, The cove was LAGGED for a drag.

1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxxi. ‘I should not much like to have him LAGGED for forgery.’

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 13. Ranting Rob, poor fellow, was LAGGED for doing a panny.

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. XLIII. ‘What do you mean by LAGGING and a lifer,’ demanded Mr. Bolter.… Being interpreted, Mr. Bolter would have been informed that they represented that combination of words, ‘Transportation for life.’

1843. MONCRIEFF, Scamps of London, ii. 3. He was three times LAGGED.

1843. Punch, iv. p. 129. They say that a lord and a reverend were LAGGED the other day. [144]

1853. Diogenes, ii. 54. Sad work when at last I was LAGGED.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1869. Daily News, 29 July. He should then be LAGGED for another job.

1872. Times, 2 Oct. ‘Report of Middlesex Sessions.’ He had expected to be LAGGED for a pocket handkerchief.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. 93. A Welshman convicted or LAGGED for passing ‘shise coin’—bad money.

1879. Macmillan’s Mag., XL. 503. I should have got LAGGED and my pal too.

1887. BAUMANN, A Slang Ditty. Rum coves that relieve us of ‘chinkers’ and pieces, Is gin’rally LAGGED, Or, wuss luck, they gits scragged.

1880. SIMS, How the Poor Live, p. 18. A day or two after Bill returns alone; the girl asks him where her sweetheart is. ‘He’s LAGGED,’ says Bill. But the girl has a bit of newspaper, and in it she reads that ‘the body of a man has been found in some woods near London;’ and she has an idea it may be John.

2. (Old Cant).—To steal. For synonyms see PRIG.

1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 20, st. 15, p. 54 (E. D. S.). Some corne away LAG in bottle and bag. Some steales for a iest, egges out of the nest.

3. (old).—To catch.

1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 36, st. 25, p. 86 (E. D. S.). Poore cunnie, so bagged, is soone over LAGGED.

1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, Bk. III, ch. 1. p. 252. They tell him adventures of how they were nearly LAGGED by the constables.

1891. NAT. GOULD, Double Event, 263. You’ll never LAG me alive, you cur.

4. (old).—TO PISS (q.v.).

5. (old: now recognised).—See quots.

1596. SPENSER, Fairy Queen, VI. ii. 10. Whenso she LAGGED, as she needs mote so, He with his speare … would thumpe her forward.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAG-A-DUDDS. TO LAGG behind, or come after with Salt and Spoons.

1725. New Cant. Dict., q.v.

1725. POPE, Odyssey, XIV. 245. My valour … never LAGG’D behind.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LAG … to drop behind, to keep back.

1811. Lex. Bal., q.v.

Lage, see LAG, subs., senses 3 and 4.

Verb. (Old Cant).—To wash down; to drink.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1869), p. 85. The vpright cofe canteth to the Roge: ‘I saye by the Salomon I will LAGE it of with a gage of Benebouse; then cut to my nose watch.’

Lager Beer, TO THINK NO LAGER BEER OF ONE SELF, verb. phr. (American).—See SMALL-BEER.

1888. Texas Liftings, 23 June. John Ruskin THINKS NO LAGER BEER OF HIMSELF. He knows something about pictures and Venice stones. He is boss on these points; but when he breaks out in bursts of opinion on railroads and other modern inventions, his knowledge of the spirit of the present age turns out to be mighty small pumpkins.

Lag-fever, subs. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAG-FEVER. A term of ridicule applied to men who being under sentence of transportation, pretend illness, to avoid being sent from gaol to the hulks.

Lagger, subs. (nautical).—1. A sailor.

2. (thieves’).—An informer; a witness. [Cf. LAG, verb.].

Lagging, subs. (thieves’).—A term of imprisonment: also LAG (q.v. subs. sense 1). Hence, LAGGING-MATTER = a crime rendering persons liable to transportation (GROSE, 1823).

Lagging-dues, subs. (old).—See quot.

1823. EGAN, Grose’s Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAGGING-DUES. When a person is likely to be transported, the flash people observe, LAGGING-DUES will be concerned. [145]

Lagging-gage, subs. (old).—A chamber-pot: for synonyms see IT.

1891. Referee, 8 March. All this storm in a LAGGING-GAGE is very absurd.

Lagniappe (or Lagnappe), subs. (American).—See quot.

1877. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, p. 404–5. We picked up one excellent word—LAGNIAPPE.… It is the equivalent of the thirteenth roll in a baker’s dozen. It is something thrown in, gratis, for good measure. The custom originated in the Spanish quarter of the city. When a child or a servant buys something … he finishes the operation by saying, ‘Give me something for LAGNIAPPE.’ The shopman always responds.… When you are invited to drink, and you say, ‘I’ve had enough,’ the other says, ‘But just this one time more—this is for LAGNIAPPE.’

1884. G. W. CABLE, Creoles of Louisiana, XVI. The pleasant institution of napa—the petty gratuity added by the retailer to anything bought—grew the pleasanter, drawn out into gallicized LAGNAPPE.

Lagranged, adj. (American).—Vexed.

Lag-ship, subs. (old).—A convict transport.

Laid. See LAVENDER and SHELF.

Laker-lady, subs. (old).—An actor’s harlot. [Saxon LAKER = an actor].

Lala, subs. (American).—A swell.

Lally, subs. (old).—Linen; LULLY (q.v.).

1800. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 157. Dabble your LALLY, wash your shirt.

Lallycodler, subs. (American).—One eminently successful in any particular line.

Lam. See LAMB, verb.

Lamb, subs. (common).—1. A quiet easy-going person; a simpleton; a JUGGINS (q.v.).

1669. The Nicker Nicked (Harl. Misc., ii. 109) [ed. 1808–12]. When a young gentleman or apprentice comes into this school of virtue unskilled in the quibbles and devices there practised, they call him a LAMB; then a rook (who is properly the wolf) follows him close and … gets all his money, and then they smile and say, ‘The LAMB is bitten.’

1672. LACY, Old Troop, i. Sisted. Why, then, it seems we religious LAMBS may play with one another without sinning.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., iii. 216. Made him come three times like a LAMB.

2. (common).—Ironically used of a rough, cruel, or merciless person; specifically applied to Nottingham roughs, and hence to bludgeon men at elections. The ‘head-money’ given is called MINT-SAUCE (q.v.).

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Barker; basher; blood-tub; bouncer; bounder; boy of the Holy Ground; bruiser; dead duck; hoodlum; larrikin: mug; plug-ugly; rabbit (or dead rabbit); ramper; roarer (or roaring-boy); rough; roustabout; rouster; rowdy; rustler; short-ear. See also generally FURIOSO and LOAFER.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un kroumir (popular); un lascar (common); un mangeur de nez (thieves’); un matador; un ostrogoth.

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Troll (or Tallerwatsch).

1849. MACAULAY, Hist. of England, ch. v. ‘As they had been levied for the purpose of waging war on an infidel nation, they bore on their flag a Christian [146]emblem, the Paschal LAMB. In allusion to this device, and with a bitterly ironical meaning, these men, the rudest and most ferocious in the English army, were called Kirke’s LAMBS.’

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 23 Jan. Merryman had pitched on a nice level bit of turf. It was a noisy crowd—that goes without saying—for where the Nottingham LAMBS are you can hardly expect much peace and quietness.

3. (colloquial).—A term of endearment.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, i. 3. What, LAMB! what, ladybird!

1621. BURTON, Anat. (ed. 1893), iii. 183. Pleasant names may be invented, bird, mouse, LAMB, puss.

1690. DAVENANT, Love & Honour, v. 1. We must make haste! Farewell, LAMB!

4. (common).—An elderly person dressed or got-up young.

5. See PET LAMB.

6. (military).—See KIRKE’S LAMBS.

Verb. (old).—To beat. Also LAM, LAMBASTE, LAMBACK and LAMBEAKE. Cf. LAMMING.

1555. Disc. of New World, 115 [NARES]. While the men are faine to beare off with eares, head, and shoulders. Happy may they call that daie whereon they are not LAMBEAKED before night.

1591. NASHE, Wond. Prog. [GROSART (1885), ii. 159]. Tall fellows … armed with good cudgels, shall so LAMBEAKE these stubborne huswiues, that the wind shall turn into another quarter.

1592. HARVEY, Four Letters [GROSART (1885), i. 183]. One, which should massacre Martin’s wit, or should be LAMBACKD himself.

1600. DECKER, Shoem. Holiday, in Works (1873), i. 68. Oh if they had staid I would have so LAMB’D them with flouts.

1601. MUNDAY & CHETTLE, Death of Rob. E. of Hunt., sign. K. 1. [NARES]. First, with this hand wound thus about here haire, And with this dagger lustilie LAMBACKT, I would, y faith.

1613. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Honest Man’s Fortune, v. 2. If I had been acquainted with LAMMING in my youth … I should do better.

1637. DAVENANT, Britannia Triumphans [PATERSON, ii. 82]. Whine not, my love; his fury streight will waste him; Stand off awhile, and see how He LAMBASTE him.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAMBASTE, to beat soundly.

1710. MISSON, Travels in England, p. 306. A fellow whom he LAMBED most horribly.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1731. COFFEY, Devil to Pay, Sc. v. Come, hussy, leave fooling … or else I’ll LAMB you.

1733. FIELDING, Don Quixote, ii. 6. Sirrah, I am able to beat a dozen of you.—If I don’t LAMB thee!

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). LAMB (v.) to thresh or beat severely.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAMB or LAMBASTE, to beat.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1812. SMITH (H. and J.), Rejected Addresses, xx. I would pummel and LAM her well.

b. 1852. Traits of American Humour, 50. If he seed er fellow he thought he could LAMM without no danger, he wouldn’t make no bone, but he’d just go up to the chap and make faces at him.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LAMB, to beat with a club.

1864. Eton School Days, xxvi. 291. The partial thrashing which he had himself received only made him the more anxious for revenge on Ravenous. ‘LAM into him!’ said Lascelles.

1872. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It. He could LAMM any galoot of his inches in America.

1882. F. ANSTEY, Vice-Versâ, iv. ‘Let him undress now, and we can LAM it into him afterwards with slippers.’

1887. HENLEY, Villon’s Good Night. Paste ’em, and larrup ’em, and LAMN.

1889. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 18 Jan. Still the little ’uns LAMMED into each other. [147]

TO SKIN THE LAMB. See SKIN.

Lamback, subs. (old).—A blow.

1591. GREENE, Discov. of Cosenage [GROSART (1881–6), x. 60]. Five or six wives … gave unto him halfe a score of sound LAMBEAKES with their cudgels.

Lambacker, subs. (old).—A bully; a HECTOR (q.v.).

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Superer. [GROSART (1885), ii. 210]. Out upon thee for a cowardly LAMBACKER.

Lamb and Salad. TO GIVE ONE LAMB AND SALAD, verb. phr. (common).—To thrash soundly. For synonyms see WIG and TAN.

Lambaste. See LAMB, verb. sense 1.

Lambasting, subs. (common).—A thrashing; cf. LAMB and BASTING. For synonyms see TANNING.

1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 1. xii. ‘They put me in mind of a great big hulk of a horse in a cart, that won’t put his shoulder to the collar at all for all the LAMBASTIN’ in the world.’

1838. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, ii. 79. ‘I can’t hide,’ says a braggadoccio, ‘when anybody owes me a LAMBASTING.’

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v. LAMBUSTING, a rope’s-ending.

Lamb-down, verb. (Australian).—See quot.

1886. Daily Telegraph, 20 Mar. Arrived there he at once handed his cheque to the landlord, and proceeded to LAMB the amount—say five-and-forty pounds—‘DOWN’; that is to say, he got excessively drunk morning, noon, and night on the infamously bad whiskey supplied to him.

Lamb-pie, subs. (old).—A drubbing.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); DYCHE (1748); GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811).

Lambskin, verb. (old).—To beat: see LAMB, sense 1.

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Superer. [GROSART (1885), ii. 210]. Thou art too young an Artist to coniure him up, that can exercise thee downe; or to lamback him with ten years preparation, that can LAMBSKIN thee with a dayes warning.

1612. CHAPMAN, Widow’s Tears, ii. 4. What think you of … Hercules? … his mistress wore his lion’s skin and LAMB-SKINNED him if he did not his business.

Lamb-skin Man, subs. (old).—A judge.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811).

Lamb’s-wool, subs. (old).—Hot ale, spiced, sweetened, and mixed with the pulp of roasted apples.

c. 1189. The King & the Miller (PERCY, Reliques, iii. 184). A cupp of LAMBS-WOOL they dranke unto him then.

1590. PEELE, Old Wives’ Tale, iv. 6. Lay a crab in the fire to rost for LAMBSWOOL.

1593. NASHE, Strange Newes, in Works, ii. 198. Before I vnbowell the leane Carcase of thy book any further, Ile drinke one cup of LAMBSWOOL.

b. 1602. Lingua [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 424]. LAMBS-WOOL, the meekest meat in the world; ’twill let any man fleece it.

1606. DEKKER, Newes from Hell [GROSART (1886), ii. 124]. One of those big fellows that stand like gyants, having bellies bumbasted with ale in LAMBSWOOL.

1621. BURTON, Anat. (ed. 1892), ii. 297. I find more that commend use of apples … (LAMB’S-WOOL some call it).

1633. JOHNSON, Gerard’s Herbal, p. 1460. The pulpe of the rosted apples, in number foure or five, according to the greatnesse of the apples (especially the pomewater), mixed in a wine quart of faire water, laboured together until it come to be as apples and ale, which we call LAMBES-WOOLL.

d. 1674. HERRICK, Poems, p. 376. Now crowne the bowle With gentle [148]LAMBS-WOOLL, Add sugar, and nutmegs, and ginger.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAMB’S WOOL, roasted apples and ale.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1731. C. COFFEY, The Devil To Pay, i. Here’s sixpence for you; get ale and apples, stretch and puff thyself up with LAMB’S WOOL, rejoice and revel by thyself.

1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of Wakefield, xi. Our honest neighbour’s goose and dumplings were fine, and the LAMB’S-WOOL … was excellent.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, viii. The ale, or, to speak technically, the LAMB’S WOOL, was fitted for drinking.

1883. Notes & Queries, 6, S. VIII. p. 482. The wassail-bowl (as Horsfield states) was compounded of ale, sugar, nutmeg, and roasted apples, the latter called LAMB’S-WOOL. The wassail-bowl is placed on a small round table, and each person present is furnished with a silver spoon to stir.

Lame-dog. TO HELP A LAME DOG OVER A STILE, verb. phr. (common).—To give a hand; to help; TO BUNK UP (q.v.). Fr. sauver la mise à quelqu’un.

1605. MARSTON, Insatiate Countess, ii. 2. Here’s a stile so high as a man cannot HELP A DOG OVER IT.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 168]. Help the LAME DOG OVER THE STILE.

Lame duck, subs. phr. (common).—1. A defaulter on ’Change: who has to ‘waddle out of the Alley.’ Cf. BEAR, BULL, etc.

1766. LORD MARCH in Jesse’s Selwyn, ii. 47 (1882). As I am very deeply engaged [in racing bets], I shall perhaps be obliged to make use of your money, that in case of the worst I may not be a LAME DUCK.

1768. FOOTE, Devil upon Two Sticks, Act i. A mere bull and bear booby; the patron of LAME DUCKS, brokers, and fraudulent bankrupts.

1771. GARRICK, Prologue to The Maid of Bath. The gaming fools are doves, the knaves are rooks, Change-alley bankrupts waddle out LAME DUCKS.

1771. WALPOLE, Letters, iii. 337. I may be LAME, but I shall never be a DUCK, nor deal in the garbage of the Alley.

1774. COLMAN, Man of Business, iv. 1. in Wks. (1777), ii. 179. If Mr. Beverly does not pay his differences within these four-and-twenty hours, the world cannot hinder his being a LAME DUCK.

1787. Whitehall Evening News [quoted in FRANCIS on Stock Exchange]. There were no less than 25 LAME DUCKS who waddled out of the alley.

1846. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, III. xxv. 458. He was obliged to waddle: if I didn’t know much about bulls and bears, I know very well what a LAME DUCK is to my cost.

1847. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xiii. ‘Unless I see Amelia’s ten thousand down you don’t marry her. I’ll have no LAME DUCK’S daughter in my family.’

1860. PEACOCK, Gryll Grange, xviii. In Stock Exchange slang, Bulls are speculators for a rise, Bears for a fall. A LAME DUCK is a man who cannot pay his differences, and is said to waddle off.

1865. Harper’s Mag., April, p. 616. All, or nearly all, have been LAME DUCKS at some time or other.

1890. Standard, 5 Aug., p. 2, col. 2. We learn that it is actionable to call a stockbroker a LAME DUCK, because on the Exchange ‘the word has acquired a particular meaning.’

1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 19 Jan., p. 3, col. 1. We have had applications from a good many LAME DUCKS.

2. (Australian).—A scapegrace.

1895. Pall Mall Gaz. 15 Aug. p. 3, col. 1. Andrew appears to have been the LAME DUCK of the family, and constantly wagged it from school to go fishing in the lagoons or wallaby-hunting in the mountains with the natives.

Lame-hand, subs. (old coaching).—An indifferent driver; a SPOON (q.v.). [149]

Lammas. AT LATER LAMMAS, phr. (common).—Never; at the GREEK KALENDS (q.v.); at TIB’S EVE (q.v.).

1576. GASCOIGNE, Steele Glas (ed. ARBER), 55. Courtiers thrive at LATTER LAMMAS DAY.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 168]. AT LATER LAMMAS, ad Græcas Calendas, i.e., never.

Lammermoor lion, subs. phr. (Scots’).—A sheep: cf. COTSWOLD LION, and ESSEX LION.

Lammie Todd! phr. (tailors’).—‘I would if I could’.

Lammikin, subs. (old).—A blow.

1622. R. HAWKINS, Observations [Hackluyt Soc. 1878, p. 228]. With a truncheon which I had in mine hand, I gave the Indians three or four good LAMMIKINS.

Lamming, subs. (old).—A beating; cf. LAMB. For synonyms see TANNING.

1619. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, King and no King, v. Bes. Gentlemen, you hear my lord is sorry. Bac. Not that I have beaten you, but beaten one that will be beaten; one whose dull body will require a LAMMING, as surfeits do the diet spring and fall.

Lammy, subs. (nautical).—A blanket: originally a thick quilted frock, or short jumper made of flannel or blanket cloth, worn by sailors as an outside garment in cold weather.—Gentlemen’s Magazine (1866, Oct., p. 390).

Lamp, subs. (common).—1. See quot. 1811; and (2) in pl. = spectacles; GIGLAMPS (q.v.). For synonyms see PEEPERS.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAMP, the cove has a queer LAMP, the man has a blind or squinting eye.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1888. Sporting Life, 15 Dec. Why, bruise me ef ’e ain’t got his LAMPS shut.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 49. I lifted my LAMPS and saw Billy.

TO SMELL OF THE LAMP, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To show signs of labour or study.

1615. BRETON, Characters upon Essates [GROSART (1879), ii. q. 4. 1. 3, ad authorem]. He that shall read thy character … they must say they are well written. They TASTE THE LAMPE.

1625. JONSON, Staple of News, Prol. A work not SMELLING OF THE LAMP to-night.

1647–80. ROCHESTER, Wks. (1793), p. 16. Though he be very correct, and has spared no pains to dress the Satires of Horace in good French, yet it SMELLS too much OF THE LAMP.

Lamp-post, subs. (common).—A tall, or lanky person.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Clothes-prop; daddy-longlegs, Duke of Lankester; Duke of Limbs; gawk; gas-pipe; lath-legs; long-ghost; Long-shanks; long-’un; rasher-of-wind; sky-scraper; sky-topper; spindle-shanks; split-up; tongs; matches.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une asperge montée (popular); une brinde (popular: of women only); un grand cadavre (popular: of men only); un faucheux (thieves’ = a field spider); une planche à pain (military); une canne à pêche (= fishing rod); une perche à houblon (= hop-pole).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Cigueño; filisteo; varal; zanguayo; zangarullon.

ITALIAN SYNONYM. Longone (FLORIO).

Lamp of Life, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK. [150]

Lamp of Love, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Lance, subs. (old).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

1622. ATTY, First Book of Airs, in BULLEN, Speculum Amantis (1889), 15. And when I charge, my LANCE in rest, I triumph in delight.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Works (1725), p. 208. And Mankind must in darkness languish Whilst he his bawdy LAUNCE does brandish.

Lanceman (Lance-knight, or Lanceman-prigger), subs. (old).—A highwayman.

1591. GREENE, Second Part of Conny-catching [GROSART (1881–6), x. 76]. The Priggar if he be a LAUNCE-MAN, that is one that is already horst. Ibid. Not long after … this LANCEMAN PRIGGAR was brought to Tenro gayle.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART (1884), v. 278]. He fell into the thieuish hands of … LANCEKNIGHTS.

Lancepresado, subs. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LANSPRESADO, he that comes into Company with but Two pence in his Pocket.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LANSPRISADO, one who has only twopence in his pocket; also a lance, or deputy corporal, that is, one doing the duty without the pay of corporal; formerly a lancier, or horseman, who being dismounted by the death of his horse, served in the foot by the title of LANSPRISADO or LANCEPESATO; a broken lance.

Land, verb. (pugilistic).—1. To deliver; to GET HOME (q.v.).

1888. Sporting Life, 1 Dec. The big ’un LANDED his left straight on his opponent’s dial.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, p. 93. Their object is to LAND one cunning blow.

1891. Gentlemen’s Mag., Aug., p. 110. That’s right, Captain Kitty! LAND him one in the eye.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 31. The TOFF ketched the blade of Tom’s scull, dragged ’im close, and jest LANDED ’im one.

2. (colloquial).—To bring or take to a position or place; to set down; to catch; to arrive.

1850. MCCOSH, Divine Government, Appendix, p. 522. These rules may LAND us in mistakes.

1862. CUTHBERT BEDE, Tales of College Life, p. 18. That’s the ticket! that will just LAND me in time for Gates.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 26 Dec. I’ve LANDED him.

1872. Judy, 29 May, p. 59, col. 2. He’s bound to be on the grand stand before the Derby’s run, and that’s where we’ll LAND him.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 32. The wrinkles and tips I’ve LANDED a-bussing it to and from town.

1892. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 Oct., p. 2, col. 1. The song ‘If I was only long enough’ LANDED me with one bound at the top of the tree.

1894. Tit Bits, 7 Ap., p. 8, col. 1. Mr. Jenkins had been three years in Tooting when he was finally LANDED by a bold and persistent widow.

3. (colloquial).—To set up; to make all right; to secure.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 33. I bought a big covered cart and a good strong horse. And I was LANDED.

1879. Macmillan’s Mag., xl. 502. I was LANDED this time without them getting me up a lead.

4. (sporting).—To win; to gain.

1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand, vi. St. Agatha clears the two with a tremendous rush, and, after one of the finest races on record, is LANDED a winner by a neck.

1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General Bounce, xx. ‘I LANDED a hundred gold mohurs by backing his new lot for the Governor-General’s Cup.’ [151]

1865. Daily Telegraph, 20 June. M. Van Grootvens finished the day’s sport by winning a steeplechase with Vixen—this being the second stake, together £1,000 I hear, which he has LANDED with the mare since he purchased her of Mr. Roe.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 29 Sept. I’d make a similar wager and be more sure of LANDING the stake.

1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 20 March. Had the French filly LANDED, what a shout would have arisen from the ring!

TO LAND OUT, verb. phr. (American).—To decamp.

1882. MCCABE, New York, XXIII. 393. When he was tired of me he LANDED OUT, an’ I’ve never seen him since.

TO SEE HOW THE LAND LIES, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To see how matters stand. See quot. 1690.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LANDLORD. HOW LIES THE LAND? How stands the reckoning?

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

WHO HAS ANY LAND IN APPLEBY, phr. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LANDLORD, WHO HAS ANY LANDS IN APPLEBY? a Question askt the Man at whose Door the Glass stands long. [Also GROSE (1785)].

Land-broker, subs. (American thieves’).—An undertaker.—MATSELL (1859).

Land-carack, subs. (old).—A mistress.

1629. DAVENANT, Albovine, iii. Grim. I must be furnished too. Cuny. With a mistress? Grim. Yes, enquire me out some old LAND-CARACK.

Land-crab, subs. (American).—A landsman.

Landed Estate, subs. phr. (common).—1. The grave; DARBY’S DYKE (q.v.).

2. (common).—Dirt in the nails.

Landies, subs. (Winchester College).—Gaiters. [From tradespeople—Landy and Currell—who supplied them.—Notions].

Landlady. TO HANG THE LANDLADY, verb. phr. (common).—To decamp without payment; TO MOONSHINE; TO STAND OFF THE TAILOR.

Landlubber (also Land-leaper and Land-loper), subs. (old).—A vagabond; one who fled the country for crime or debt: also (nautical) a landsman, in varying degrees of contempt, for incapacity in general or uselessness as sailors in particular. Fr. un jus de cancre; un terrien; or un failli chien de terrien.

1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, B, xv. 207(…). For he ne is noȝte in lolleres, ne in LANDE-LEPERES hermytes.

1592. NEWTON, Tryall of a Man’s owne Selfe [NARES]. Whether the governors of the commonwealth have suffered palmesters, fortune-tellers, stage-players, sawce-boxes, enterluders, puppit players, loyterers, vagabonds, LANDLEAPERS, and such like cozening make-shifts.

1606. LYTE, Dodoene, 348. Wherfore these LANDLEAPERS, koges etc.

1621. BURTON, Anatomy (ed. 1893), i. 367. Let Mariners learn Astronomy; Merchants’ Factors study Arithmetick … LANDLEAPERS Geography.

1622. BACON, Henry VII. [ed. Spedding], vi. 133. Thirdly he had been from his childhood such a wanderer or (as the King called it) such a LANDLOPER, as it was extreme hard to hunt out his nest and parents.

1650. HOWELL, Familiar Letters [NARES]. You are sure where to find me, wheras I was a LANDLOPER as the Dutchman saith, a wanderer, and subject to incertain removes, and short sojourns in divers places before.

1671. SHADWELL, Fair Quaker of Deal, i. And the LANDLUBBER (for he is no sailor) had the impudence to tell me he would not be etc. [152]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAND-LOPERS or LAND-LUBBERS, Freshwater Seamen so called by the true Tarrs; also Vagabonds that Beg and Steal through the Country.

1696. Nomenclator. ERRO … Rodeur, coureur, vagabond. A roge: a LAND LEAPER: a vagabond: a runagate.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAND LOPERS or LAND-LUBBERS, vagabonds lurking about the country, who subsist by pilfering.

17[?]. Ballad, ‘One Fine Morning’ (The Mermaid), Refrain. Three jolly sailor boys up on the mast, And the LAND-LUBBERS down below.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1884. Graphic, April 5. p. 338, col. 2. The veriest LAND-LUBBER cannot fail to become something of a sailor after reading it.

Land of Nod, subs. phr. (common).—Sleep. TO GO TO THE LAND OF NOD = to go to bed; to fall asleep. For synonyms see BALMY.

1818. SCOTT, Heart of Mid-Lothian, xxx. There’s queer things chanced since ye hae been in the LAND OF NOD.

1828. HOOD, Poems, i. 205 [ed. 1846]. To the happy [bed is] a first class carriage of ease To the LAND OF NOD, or where you please.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 275. Saying which he led the way back to our hut, where we flung ourselves down on our blankets, and were soon in the LAND OF NOD.

Land of Promises, subs. phr. (University).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAND OF PROMISES the fair expectation cherished by a steady novice at Oxford.

Land of Steady Habits, subs. phr. (American).—Connecticut.

Land of Sheepishness, subs. phr. (old University).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAND OF SHEEPISHNESS, schoolboy’s bondage.

Land-packet, subs. (American).—See quot.

1847. PORTER, Quarter Race, 115. Known as the Captain of a LAND-PACKET, in plain terms, the driver of an ox-team.

Land-pirate (or Land-rat), subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1690. For synonyms see ROAD-AGENT.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Merchant of Venice, i. 3. There be LAND-RATS and water-rats, land thieves and water thieves.

1609. DEKKER, Gul’s Horn-booke [GROSART (1885), ii. 233]. The Dukes tomb is a sanctuary, and will keep you alive from LAND-RATS. Ibid. iii. 262. These LAND-PYRATES lodge in … the out-barnes of farmers.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAND-PIRATES, Highwaymen or any other robbers. [Also New Cant. Dict. (1725) and GROSE (1785)].

2. (nautical).—See LAND-SHARK.

Land-raker, subs. (old).—A vagabond; a LAND-LUBBER (q.v.).

1598. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Henry IV, ii. 1. I am joined with no foot LAND-RAKERS, no long-staff sixpenny strikers.

Land Security. See LEG-BAIL.

Land-shark, subs. (nautical).—1. A boarding-house keeper; a runner; a crimp; anyone living by the plunder of seamen. Fr. une vermine.

1838. GLASCOCK, LANDSHARKS and Seaguls [Title].

1857. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, ch. iv. These LAND-SHARKS … ’ll plunder even the rings off a corpse’s fingers.

1888. Notes and Queries, 7 S.v. 4 Feb., p. 83. Honest Jack, may he ever be kept from LAND-SHARKS. [An old Toast].

2. (common).—A usurer.

3. (common).—A landgrabber; one who seizes land by craft or force. [153]

c. 1824. The American, VIII. 68. There will be evasion of our laws by native and foreign LAND-SHARKS.

4. (common).—A custom-house officer.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. ‘Lieutenant Brown gave him to his cousin that’s in the Middleburgh house of Vanbeest and Vanbruggen, and told him some goose’s gazette about his being taken in a skirmish with the LAND-SHARKS.’

Land-swab, subs. (common).—A LANDLUBBER (q.v.): a GRASS-COMBER (q.v.).

Land-yard, subs. (American).—A cemetery.

Lane, subs. (old).—1. The throat. For synonyms see GUTTER ALLEY. Also RED LANE and RED LION LANE.

1534. UDALL, Roister Doister, i. 3. Good ale for the nones, Whiche will slide downe the LANE without any bones.

1818. COLMAN, Poetical Vagaries, 75. O butter’d egg, best eaten with a spoon, I bid your yelk glide down my throat’s RED LANE.

1865. London Soc., Jan., p. 13. I eat the macaroon. You see it’s all gone down RED LION LANE.

2. (nautical).—The course laid out for ocean steamers between England and America. [There are two lanes, or lane-routes both narrowly defined: the northern for westward bound, and the southern for eastering bottoms].

THE LANE, subs. phr. (various).—1. (theatrical) Drury Lane Theatre; 2. (colonial brokers’) Mincing Lane; 3. (corn factors’) Mark Lane; 4. (legal) Chancery Lane; 5. (thieves’) Petticoat Lane, and 6. (ibid.) the old Horsemonger Lane Jail, now demolished. Cf. CADE, HOUSE, GARDEN, etc.

1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of London, p. 82 note. Horsemonger Lane jail—THE LANE.

1880. G. R. SIMS, Ballads of Babylon (Forgotten). Whenever THE LANE tried Shakespeare, I was one of the leading men.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, iii. I started off for THE LANE, the professionals’ emporium.

HARRIETT LANE, subs. phr. (military).—Tinned or preserved meat.

Langolee, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Langret, subs. (old).—In pl. dice loaded so as to show 4 or 3 more often than any other number. [The opposite is BARDQUATER-TRAY].

1591. GREENE, Notable Discovery [GROSART (1881–6), x. 12]. The cheter, with a LANGRET, cut contrary to the vantage. Ibid. 37. Cheats … flats, forgers, LANGRETS, gourds.

1594. NASHE, Unfort. Traveller [GROSART (1884), v. 27]. LANGRETS, fullams, and all the whole fellowship of them will not afoorde a man his dinner.

1600. ROWLANDS, Letting of Humours Blood, p. 59. His LANGRETS with his Hie men and his low.

1612. Art of Juggling, C, 4. ‘A LANGRET … is a well-favoured die and seemeth good and square, yet it is forged longer upon the cater and trea than any other way, and therefore it is called a LANGRET.’

Lank, adj. (old: now recognised).—See quot.

1590. SPENSER, Faery Queen, III, vi. 18. Her LANCK loynes ungirt.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LANK, Gaunt, Thin, Hollow, Lean, Meager, Slender, Weak. Lank Ears of Corn, very thin Ears.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

AFTER A LANK COMES A BANK, phr. (old).—Said of breeding women. [154]

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 109]. s.v.

Lank Sleeve, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LANK SLEEVE. The empty sleeve of a one armed man. A fellow with a LANK SLEEVE; a man who has lost an arm.

Lanspresado (or Lansprisado), subs. (old).—See LANCEPRESADO.

Lant, verb. (old).—To make water; to STALE (q.v.). Also, subs. = urine.—COTGRAVE.

Lantern, verb. (American).—To hang from a lamp-post. Fr. à la lanterne. See LANTHORN.

Lantern-jaws, subs. (old: now recognised).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LANTERN-JAW’D, a very lean, thin-faced fellow.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1753. FOOTE, Englishman in Paris, i. I lent him a lick in his LANTHORN-JAWS.

1765. FOOTE, Commissary, i. This here LANTHORN-JAW’D rascal won’t give me an answer.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LANTHORN JAWED, thin visaged, from their cheeks being almost transparent, or else lenten jawed, i.e. having the jaws of one emaciated by a too rigid observance of lent.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Lanthorn. DARK LANTHORN, subs. phr. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. A DARK LANTHORN, the Servant or Agent that Receives the Bribe (at Court).

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. DARK LANTHORN, a servant, or agent at Court, who receives a bribe for his principal or master.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Lap, subs. (old).—1. Any sort of potable; (among ballet girls) gin. Also LAPPER. See quots.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65. LAP, butter mylke or whey.

1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candle-light, in Wks. (GROSART), III. 200. LAP, Butter Milke, or Whaye. Ibid. ‘Gypsy Song.’ The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harman beck. If we mawnd Pannam, LAP or Ruff-peck.

1630. TAYLOR, Works [NARES]. They will make a mans belly like a sowse-tub, and inforce mee to drinke, as if they had a commission under the divels great seale, to murder men with drinking, with such a deale of complementall oratory, as, off with your LAP.

1656. BROME, Jovial Crew [DODSLEY (1874), Old Plays, x. 367]. Here’s pannam, and LAP, and good poplars of yarrum.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. p. 50 (1874). LAP, Pottage.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Pottage, Butter-milk, or Whey. ’Tis rum LAP, this is excellent Soupe.

1724. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. LAP … also strong Drink of any kind.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAP, butter milk or whey.

1789. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 119. To have a dish of LAP Prepar’d for those who like it. Ibid. p. 165. Dish of LAP, a dish of tea.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxviii. I would have given baith LAP and pannel to ony puir gipsy.

1836. W. H. SMITH, The Individual, Nov. 15. She never lushes dog’s soup or LAP.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LAP, Drink; butter milk.

2. (athletes’).—One round of a course.

1861. Chambers’ Journal, XVI. 333. They had gone fourteen LAPS (as these circuits are called).

1884. Daily Telegraph, 27 Nov. Added seven miles and eight LAPS to their score. [155]

1885. Daily News, 1 Sept. 2. 5. At half-distance the positions remained unaltered, and, as they began the last LAP, it appeared to be any one’s race.

Verb. (common).—1. To drink. Also, TO GO ON THE LAP.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 21. Up he rose in a fuuk, LAPP’D a toothful of brandy.

1869. W. BRADWOOD, The O. V. H. xix. As the latter LAPPED his third go of cold gin at the bar of the Greyhound.

1886. Punch, 25 Sept. p. 145. Grinds ’ard, never GOES ON THE LAP, Reads Shakspeare instead o’ the Pink ’Un.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 62. I LAP lemon-squash.

2. (athletes’).—In running a race in laps, to overtake: as, to be one or more laps ahead.

3. (American thieves’).—To pick up; to take; to steal.—MATSELL (1859).

4. (American).—To seat a girl on one’s knees.

5. (American).—To throw candy, papers, etc. into the laps of passengers.

TO LAP THE GUTTER. See GUTTER.

TO LAP UP, verb. phr. (American thieves’).—To wipe out; to put out of sight.

CAT-LAP. See Ante.

Lap-clap, subs. (old).—1. An act of coition. Cf. BELLY-BUMPING. Also (2) the condition of pregnancy. TO GET A LAP-CLAP = to be got with child.

1606. Wily Beguiled [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 252]. A maid cannot love, or catch a lip-clap or a LAP-CLAP.

1707. Poor Robin [quoted by NARES]. Some maids will get a lip-clip, but let them beware of a LAP-CLAP; for fear of maids they become mothers, and sing the doleful lullaby.

Lap-ear, subs. (American University).—1. A student of a religious turn of mind.

2. (American).—A donkey.

Lap-ful, subs. (venery).—1. A lover or husband; and (2) an unborn child.

Lapland, subs. (common).—1. The society of women.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Lapper, subs. (thieves’).—1. Drink; LAP (q.v.). Hence, RARE-LAPPER = a hard drinker.

Lap-feeder, subs. (common).—A silver table-spoon.

Lappel. TO SHIP THE WHITE LAPPEL, verb. phr. (nautical).—To be raised from the ranks.

Lap-priest, subs. (old).—A clerical APPLE-SQUIRE (q.v.); a SERVANT (q.v.).

1690. CROWNE, English Friar, ii. 1. I know him, he’s a LAP-PRIEST indeed! … and, being of a tender constitution, … he lies between their sheets.

Lap-tea, subs. (American).—An informal afternoon meal.

Lardy, adj. (common).—Grand; rich; SWELL (q.v.). LARDY-DARDY = affected; effeminate: LARDY-DAH (or LA-DI-DA) = a swell or fop. TO DO OR COME THE LARDY-DAH = to dress for the public. [156]

1861. MISS BRADDON, Trail of the Serpent, Bk. IV. ch. vi. ‘You’re not much good, my friend, says I, with your LARDY-DARDY ways and your cold-blooded words, whoever you are.’

1870. London Figaro, 8 June. The fast young men among the natives—called in their favourite slang LARDY-DARDY coves—affect a pronunciation in which the ‘v’s’ are substituted for the ‘w’s,’ and vice versa.

1871. ATKINS, House Scraps, p. 166. The young ’un goes to music-halls. And does the LA-DI-DA.

c. 1876. Broadside Ballad, ‘Tiddy Fol Lol.’ He’s no LARDY DARDY swell, Though he looks and dresses well, For he lives at an hotel, Tiddy fol lol, tiddy fol lol.

1879. MRS. B. H. BUXTON, Nell, XXV. p. 280 (1884). ‘Not one of your haw-haw, LARDY-DARDY, eye-glass simpletons.’

1890. Punch, 22 Feb. The skim-milk of life’s for the many, the LARDY few lap up the cream.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 25. See LARDY toffs.

Lareover, subs. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LARE-OVER, said when the true name of the thing must (in decency) be concealed.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAREOVERS FOR MEDLERS, an answer frequently given to children, or young people, as a rebuke for their impertinent curiosity, in enquiring what is contained in a box, bundle, or any other closed conveyance.

Large, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—A. vulgarism expressive of excess. Thus, TO DRESS LARGE = (1) to dress showily, and (2) to flash one’s PACKET (q.v.); TO GO LARGE = to go noisily; TO PLAY LARGE = to play high; TO TALK LARGE = to brag, etc.

1852. JUDSON, Mysteries of New York, ii. ch. 4, p. 29. The eyes of the gamblers sparkled all the brighter, when they noted the hundred marks upon the bills and saw that he intended to ‘play LARGE.’

1891. Globe, 17 Sept., col. 2, p. 2. This is indeed ALL VERY FINE AND LARGE, but can it be that instead of ‘which’ we ought to read ‘who’?

1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads. Tommy. An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re GOIN’ LARGE a bit Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.

LARGE BLUE KIND, phr. (American).—A general intensitive; e.g. a monstrous lie; a bad headache; an interesting book and so forth.

Large House, subs. (common).—A workhouse.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Big-house; grubbing-ken; lump; Lump-Hotel; pan; spinniken; wool-hole.

Large Order, subs. (common).—A difficult undertaking; something exaggerated; extensive, or big.

1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 Feb., p. 7, col. 1. A LARGE ORDER [Title].

1891. Tit Bits, 8 Aug., 274, 1. In asking me to tell you about my clients and their wills, you give a pretty LARGE ORDER.

1892. Illustrated Bits, Oct. 22, 10, 1. Well, sir, that’s a LARGISH ORDER.

Lark, subs. (colloquial).—1. See quot. 1811. [A corruption of M.E. lak, laik, from A.S. lác = game, sport; cogn. with Icl. leikr = game; Sw. lek; Dan. leg; Goth. laiks]. Cf. LARKING, subs., sense 1.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LARK. A piece of merriment. People playing together jocosely.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 37. Is any spark Among you ready for a LARK?

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, p. 46. [157]

1829. BUCKSTONE, Billy Taylor, We’ve had a LARK ourselves.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, p. 5. ‘Here’s a LARK!’ shouted half a dozen hackney coachmen.

1838. THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY, The Spitalfields Weaver. Don’t offer me money, I warn you of that; no, no, when we’re out on a LARK, if you wish to treat me, well and good, but no money given.

1856. WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate Coventry, i. I like Cousin John’s constant good-humour, and the pains he takes to give me a day’s amusement whenever he can, or what he calls ‘have Cousin Kate out for a LARK.’

1870. Saturday Review, 21 May. But it is time that all vulgar habits of outrage and LARK should be put a stop to, and, however inclined grown up men may be to look indulgently on mere boyish follies, we must have these offenders treated as a gang of ‘snobs’ would be who should smash busts in the Crystal Palace.

1877. Scribner’s Monthly, Aug., p. 469. He dusted ’em reg’lar, an’ wound ’em up an’ set ’em goin’ accordin’ to rules; but he never tried no LARKS on ’em.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 69, col. 1. A fine young London gentleman, quite up to any LARK.

1884. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie [‘Three Plays’, p. 61]. Fen LARKS. No rotten shirking, mind.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 121. I was only having a LARK.

1893. Chambers’ Journal, 25 Feb., p. 128. Somebody’s been having a LARK with you, old lady.

2. (old).—A boat.—Lex. Bal. (1811); GROSE (1823); MATSELL (1859).

Verb. (common).—1. To sport; to tease; to SPREE (q.v.).

1836. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ii. 200. Don’t LARK with the watch, or annoy the police.

1847. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, ii. xxxi. Payne was a staid English maid and personal attendant upon Mrs. Osborne, to whom the courier, as in duty bound, paid court, and whom Georgy used to LARK dreadfully with accounts of German robbers and ghosts.

2. (old).—See LARKING, sense 1.

3. (old).—See LARKING, sense 2.

4. (American thieves’).—A boy who steals newspapers from doorsteps.

Larker, subs. (old).—One given to LARKING; see subs., sense 2.

1856. WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate Coventry, xii. ‘Who’s that girl on the chestnut?’ I again heard asked by a slang-looking man, with red whiskers meeting under his chin; ‘looks like a LARKER—I must get introduced to her.’

Larking, subs. (venery).—1. Irrumation.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LARKING a lascivious practice that will not bear explanation.

2. (sporting).—1. To clear a jump; to go over like a bird. Also (2) see quot. 1825.

1815. BYRON, Letters (to MOORE, July 7). If so, you and I (without our wives) will take a LARK to Edinburgh.

1825. Nimrod’s Hunting Tour, p. 227. ‘Exclusive of work for horses when hounds are running, there is another way of making use of horse-flesh in Leicestershire; and that is, in coming home from hunting, or what in the language of the day is called LARKING. One of the party holds up his hat, which is a signal for the start; and, putting their horses’ heads in a direction for Melton, away they go, and stop at nothing till they get there.’

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 294. Dick Turpin, meanwhile, held bravely on his course. Bess was neither strained by her gliding passage down the slippery hill-side, nor shaken by LARKING the fence in the meadow.

3. (common).—Frolicking: also horse-play and rowdyism.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., ii. 325. There never had been more street LARKING, or street gambling.

1888. Indoor Paupers, p. 13. There was no hurry over the job—very much [158]the contrary—but plenty of chatter and LARKING when the taskmaster was out of sight.

Adj. (common).—See LARKISH.

Larkish (Larky or Larking), subs. (common).—Frolicsome: also rowdy.

1855. THACKERAY, The Rose and the Ring, p. 19.… He was neither more nor less than a knocker! … and some LARKING young men tried to wrench him off, and put him to the most excruciating agony with a turn-screw.

1863. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, iv. Austin, expressing himself in that low, slangy way which the young men of the present day seem so conscious to adopt, said that my Lords were ‘uncommonly LARKY.’

1886. MACDONALD, What’s Mine’s Thine. The girls felt LARKY … they tripped gayly along.

1891. Licensed Victuallers Gazette, 3 April. A LARKY youngster who loved his wine and women.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, 247. The landlady was a free-and-easy, buxom, and LARKY woman, who made us all feel at home in the place.

Larky Subaltern’s train. See COLD MEAT TRAIN.

Larrence. See LAZY LAURENCE.

Larrey, adj. (American thieves’).—Artful.—MATSELL (1859).

Larrikin, subs. (Australian).—A rough; cf. ARAB, CABBAGE-TREE MOB, HOODLUM, etc. [For probable derivation see quot. 1884; and for further details, Notes and Queries, 7, S. VII. 344].

1872. THE AGE (Melbourne), 15 July. The accused was at the head of a gang of LARRIKINS, who on the previous night paid a visit to Hill’s Hotel, Clarendon-street.

1884. SALA, ‘Echoes of the Week’ in Illus. London News, 4 April. ‘It was in a Sydney newspaper that I read about LARRIKINS, but the term would appear to have spread throughout Australia. ‘H. de S.’ tells me that LARRIKIN was originally Melbourne slang, applied to rowdy youngsters, who, in the early days of the gold fever, gave much trouble to the police. ‘An Australian Born’ spells the word LARAKIN.… Finally, Archibald Forbes tells me: ‘A LARRIKIN is a cross between the street Arab and the hoodlum, with a dash of the rough thrown in to improve the mixture.’ It was thus the term had its origin. A Sydney policeman of the Irish persuasion brought up a rowdy youngster before the local beak. Asked to describe the conduct of the misdemeanant, he said, ‘Av if it plase yer honnor, the blaggard wor a LARRAKIN’ (larking) all over the place.’ The expression was taken hold of and applied.’

1888. Bulletin, 24 Nov. Sergeant Jem Dalton, whose rich brogue originated the term LARRIKIN passed out of Melbourne history last week. Dalton was a born policeman, and after his friends had persuaded him to send in his resignation he turned gently over on his sick bed and died forthwith. He had nothing else to live for.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Feb., p. 2, col. 2. That is to say, the disturbance was caused not by the meeting but by the police and LARRIKINS.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, 30. He was a LARIKIN of the LARIKINS, this tiny Stringy Bark, who haunted my thoughts, waking and sleeping.

Adj. (Australian).—Rowdy.

1883. Saturday Review, 10 Nov., p. 614. ‘In Melbourne the LARRIKIN element is becoming a danger and a nuisance to decent people.’

Larrikinism, subs. (Australian).—See quot.

1884. SALA, Echoes of the Week, in Illus. Lond. News, 4 April. ‘From the Australian Club, Cambridge, yet another correspondent writes: ‘LARRIKINISM’ is a purposeless, destructive rowdyism, which finds expression, from my own experience, in knocking off the heads of statues in a mason’s yard, and knocking out the eyes of Chinamen with a shanghai (anglicè, catapult).’

Larrup, subs. (colloquial).—To flog. Fr. coller du rototo. [159]

1824. PEAKE, Americans Abroad, i. x. I’ll LARRUP you till you can’t stand, if you hang chattering and stickling behind after this fashion.

1841. Punch, 17 July, p. 5. ‘Toby,’ says she, ‘go and see the old gentleman; perhaps it might comfort him to LARRUP you a little’

1847. LYTTON, Lucretia, II. xx. ‘I wanted sum un to take care of the childern, so I takes Peg into the ’ouse. But Lor! how she LARRUPPED ’em—she has a cruel heart.’

1854. DICKENS, Hard Times, v. ‘There was no rope-dancing for me! I danced on the bare ground, and was LARRUPED with the rope.’ Ibid. He tries to coax her into the stall to LARRUP her.

1867. SMYTHE, Sailor’s Word Book, s.v. LARRUP, An old word, meaning to beat a rope’s end, strap, or colt.

Larruping, subs. (colloquial).—A thrashing. Fr. la schlague.

1844. PEAKE, Court and City, i. 3. I’ve a great mind to give you a good LARRUPPING in the open park!

1860. Punch, xxxix. p. 181. Ain’t a cove just a LARRUPIN’ his wife up the court.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxi. ‘Your father’ll give you a fine LARRUPIN’ if he comes home and there’s that cow lost.’

Larry Dugan’s Eye-water, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LARRY DUGAN’S EYE-WATER, blacking. Larry Dugan was a famous shoe-black at Dublin.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Lash, verb. (Blue Coat School).—To envy. Usually used in the imperative as a taunt.—BLANCH (1877).

Lashings (or Lashins), subs. (common).—Plenty; abundance. Also LASHIN’S AND LAVIN’S—plenty and to spare.

1841. LEVER, Charles O’Mallye, lxvii. I’d as soon be myself as Lord Mayor, With LASHINGS of drink on the table.

1850. F. E. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlegh, ch. xxii. ‘A taste for, that is, an unbounded admiration of, the sublime and beautiful, as exemplified under the form of—’ ‘Rum punch, and LASHINGS of it,’ chimed in Archer.

1855. THACKERAY, Lyra Hibernica, ‘Mr. Malony’s Account of the Ball.’ A rare buffet before them set Where LASHINS of good dhrink there was.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 18. Men patter in pubs about Jack, over LASHING o’ lugs.

Lask, subs. (old).—See quot.

1621. BURTON, Anatomy (ed. 1893), i. 304. A grave and learned Minister, and an ordinary Preacher … was (one day as he walked in the fields for his recreation) suddenly taken with a LASK or looseness, and thereupon compelled to retire to the next ditch.

Lass in a red petticoat, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1767. RAY, Proverbs (ed. 1893), 59. The LASS IN THE RED PETTICOAT shall pay for all … meaning a wife with a good portion.

Last compliment, subs. phr. (common).—1. Burial.

1780. LEE, Chapter of Accidents, i. 2. Lord G. Why, then, does not Hardy bring her up to you? Gov. H. Why, for two very sufficient reasons. In the first place, that identical parson PAID HIM THE LAST COMPLIMENT—that is, buried him a twelvemonth ago.

2. (venery).—The sexual embrace. Also LAST FAVOUR.

1694. CROWNE, Married Beau, ii. I own common favours; that’s no matter, But if she ever grants me the LAST FAVOUR,—I give her leave to cast me off for ever.

Last-feather, subs. (old.)—The latest fashion. [160]

1607. The Puritan, ii. 1. A fine gallant Knight of the LEAST FEATHER.

Latch, verb. (old).—To let in.—New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785) and Lex. Bal. (1811).

Latch-drawer, subs. (old).—A thief who stole into houses by drawing the latch.

1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, p. 143. Thank lyers and LATCHE-DRAWERS and tolleres knocke, Let hem abyde tyl the bord be drawe.

Latch-pan, subs. (common).—The under-lip: TO HANG ONE’S LATCH-PAN = to pout; to be sulky.

Late-play, subs. (Westminster School).—A half-holiday or holiday beginning at noon.

Lath-and-plaster, subs. (rhyming).—A master.

Lather, subs. (venery).—The sexual secretion, male and female. Cf. LETCH-WATER. Hence, LATHER-MAKER = the female pudendum. For synonyms see CREAM.

Verb. (common).—To beat; to thrash. Also LEATHER (q.v.).

1849. Punch’s Almanack. To dream of soap betokens a combat in which you may expect to get LATHERED.

Lathy, adj. (colloquial).—Thin.

1748. WEST, Abuse of Travelling. The which he tossed to and fro amain, And eft his LATHY falchion brandished.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LATHY … a LATHY wench, a girl almost as slender as a lath.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1858. B. TAYLOR, Northern Travel, 204. A LATHY young man … was struggling … to right himself.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Latitat, subs. (old).—An attorney.—GROSE (1785); Lex. Bal. (1811); MATSELL (1859). [From an obsolete form of writ].

1771. FOOTE, Maid of Bath, i. I will send for Luke LATITAT and Codicil, and make a handsome bequest to the hospital.

Latter-end, subs. (common).—The breech. For synonyms see MONOCULAR EYEGLASS.

Lattice. See RED LATTICE.

Latty. See LETTY.

Laugh. TO LAUGH ON THE WRONG (or OTHER) SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH (or FACE), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To cry.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAUGH.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAUGH.

1826. BUCKSTONE, Death Fetch, i. 4. Snapsch. (Aside.) And have a pretty family of them about my ears the first time I’m left alone in the dark, who would soon make me LAUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY MOUTH, I fancy.

1837. CARLYLE, Diamond Necklace, iii. By and bye thou wilt LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THY FACE.

Launch, subs. (old).—A lying-in; BUST-UP; EXPLOSION.—GROSE (1823).

Verb. (old: public school).—See quot.

1865. G. J. BERKELEY, My Life, etc., i. 129. I had [at Sandhurst about 1815] to undergo the usual torments of being LAUNCHED, that is having my bed reversed while I was asleep; of being thrown on the floor on my face, with the mattress on my back and all my friends or foes dancing on my prostrate body.

Laundress, subs. (old).—1. A bed maker in chambers; and hence (2) a SMOCK SERVANT (q.v.). [161]

1611. BARRY, Ram Alley [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 275]. She is my LAUNDRESS, And by this light, no puisne Inn-a-Court But keeps a LAUNDRESS at his command To do him service.

1614. BRETON, I would &c. [GROSART (1879), i. s. 9. st. 61]. Some odde ladde or LANDRESS find me out.

1621. BURTON, Anatomy, ed. 1893, i. Thou shalt have (Tamerlane-like) Kings to draw thy coach, Queens to be thy LAUNDRESSES, Emperors thy footstools.

1636. DAVENANT, Platonic Lovers, iii. 1. He … Commits Idolatry to Euery LAUNDRESS in the house.

1639. MAYNE, City Match, ii. 3. From country madams to your glover’s wife, Or LAUNDRESS.

Laurence. See LUSTY LAURENCE.

Lavender. TO LAY (or PUT) IN LAVENDER, verb. phr. (common).—1. To lay up or put aside carefully; as linen among lavender. Hence (1) to pawn; (2) to leave in lodging for debt; (3) to hide from the police; and (4) on the turf, to be ill or out of the way.

1592. GREENE, Quip, in Harl. Misc., v. 405. But the poore gentleman paies so deere for the LAVENDER IT IS LAID UP IN, that if it lie long at a broker’s house, he seems to buy his apparell twice.

1593. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes. To lay to pawne, as we say, TO LAY IN LAVENDER.

b. 1593. Six Old Plays (on which Shakspeare founded his Measure for Measure etc. 1779. i.), 186. Sander. The ostler will not let me have him, you owe tenpence for his meate, and sixpence for stuffing my mistriss saddle. Fer. Here, villaine, goe pay him strait. Sander. Shall I give them another pecke of LAVENDER? Fer. Out, slave, and bring them presently to the dore.

1599. JONSON, Every Man out of His Humour, iii. 3. And a black sattin suit of his own to go before her in; which suit (for the more sweet’ning) now LIES IN LAVENDER.

1605. CHAPMAN, JONSON etc., Eastward Hoe (DODSLEY, Old Plays, IV. 279), v. 1. Good faith, rather than thou shouldst pawn a rag more, I’ll LAY my ladyship IN LAVENDER, if I knew where.

1628. EARLE, Micr., Char. 2d. He takes on against the pope without mercy, and has a jest still IN LAVENDER for Bellarmine.

1655. COTGRAVE, Eng. Treas., p. 34 [NARES]. A broaker is a city pestilence, A moth that eats up gowns, doublets, and hose, One that with bills loads smocks and shirts together, To Hymen close adultery and upon them Strews LAVENDER so strongly that the owners Dare never smell them after.

d. 1673. BRATHWAITE, Strappado for the Devil, p. 154. ‘Upon a Poet’s Palfrey LYING IN LAVENDER, for the discharge of his Provender.’ [Title of Epigram].

1684. R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 255. These men, who have LAID UP their estates in LAVENDER, that they may the more freely follow their Recreations.

1686. Twelve Ingenious Characters [NARES]. Hither all sorts of garments resort in pilgrimage, whilst he playing the pimp, lodges the tabby petticoat and russet breeches together in the same bed of LAVENDER.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LAYD UP IN LAVENDER, when any Cloaths or other Moveables are pawn’d or dipt for present Money; also Rods in Pickle, or Revenge in reserve, till an opportunity offers to show it.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1772. COLES, Eng.-Lat. Dict., s.v. … TO LAY IN LAVENDER, pignori opponere.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAVENDER.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, xxii. ‘The Marshalsea!… What of the Marshalsea?’ ‘Why, sir,’ said the man, ‘the poor gentleman is LAID UP there IN LAVENDER.’

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. You have had a decent swing of it the last twelvemonth, while your pals have been LAID UP IN LAVENDER.

Lavender-cove, subs. (common).—A pawnbroker; UNCLE (q.v.).—MATSELL (1859). [162]

Law, subs. (old sporting: now recognised).—A time allowance: hence a preliminary notice; a chance of escape.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1847. SHIRLEY BROOKS, The Wigwam, i. Min. Ow—ow—don’t—don’t! Give us ten yards’ LAW—ow—[He runs off].

1855. Philol. Trans., p. 279. In making a running match one boy is said to GIVE as many yards’ LAW as he allows his competitor to be in advance.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LAW. GIVE the cove LAW, give the fellow a chance to escape.

1883. HAWLEY SMART, Hard Times, xxii. ‘Calvert’s very late; but I suppose we must GIVE him a few minutes’ more LAW!’

TO STAB THE LAW, verb. phr. (American).—To rail against authority.

1888. Nevada City Journal, Feb. These speakers were as violent as ever, and gave no evidence of having relinquished their favorite plan of STABBING THE LAW.

Lawful Blanket (or Jam), subs. phr. (common).—A wife. For synonyms see DUTCH.—Lex. Bal. (1811); GROSE (1823).

1887. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night. Gay grass-widows and LAWFUL JAM.

Lawful Pictures, subs. phr. (old).—Money. See KING’S PICTURES.

1607. The Puritan, iii. 4. At this instant I have no LAWFUL PICTURE about me.

Lawk! (or Lawks!) intj. (colloquial).—An exclamation of surprise.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xxxix. LAWK, Mr. Weller … how you do frighten me.

d. 1845. HOOD, Lost Heir [Century]. LAWK, help me, I don’t know where to look.

1860. G. ELIOT, Mill on the Floss, Bk. 1. ch. vii. ‘LAWKS! what have you been a-doing? I niver see such a fright.’

1886. BARING-GOULD, Golden Feather, p. 27 (S.P.C.K.). ‘Going to remain here?’ he asked. ‘LAWK, no! only come over with the ’oss,’ replied Joe Marriage.

1886. Pioneer (N.Y.), Oct. ‘LAWKS!’ exclaimed Mrs. Partington.

Lawful time, subs. (Winchester College).—Recess; playtime.

Lawn, subs. (colloquial).—A handkerchief.—GROSE (1823).

THE LAWN, subs. (racing).—The lawn on the course at Ascot: cf. HOUSE; LANE, etc.

Lawrie (or Laurie), subs. (old Scots’).—A fox.

1567–83. SEMPILL, Tulchene Bishop, line 8. Ane lewrand LAURIE lickerous.

Lawyer. HIGH (or HIGHWAY) LAWYER, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A mounted robber or highwayman. See also SCRIPPER, OKE, MARTIN, and STOOPING.

1592. GREENE, Groats worth of Wit (ed. DYCE), Int. p. xxix. The legerdemains of … HIGH LAWYERS.

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London [GROSART (1885), iii. 151]. The thiefe that commits the robbery, and is cheife clerke to Saint Nicholas, is called the HIGH LAWYER.

Lay, subs. (old).—1. A pursuit; a scheme; a device; A LURK.

Also in combination, KINCHIN-LAY, (q.v.); AVOIRDUPOIS-LAY (q.v.); KEN-CRACK-LAY = house-breaking; FANCY-LAY = pugilism.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Dodge; game; huff; job; knack; lay-out; line; lurk; lug; move; outfit; racket; shake; show; swim.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. La balle (thieves’: also secret); un truc (popular: any kind of small trade: [163]le truc = thieving; le grand truc = murder; des trucs = things. From Provençal tric = deceit); le pêgrage or pégrasse (thieves’): le grinchissage (thieves’: specifically theft).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Alicantina (= stratagem); amaño (= intrigue); andromina (also = trick or fraud); barrabasada (also = plot or intrigue); brega (also = pun or jest); engañifa (also = catch-penny); gatada (also = scurvy trick); pega or pegata (also = imposition).

c. 1520. Boke of Mayd Emlyn, in RIMBAULT, Antient Poetical Tracts (Percy Society, 1841), 25. 6. For he used his playce—With maydens, wyves or nonnes; None amysse to him comes, Lyke they be of LAYES.

1647. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Bonduca, i. 2. I have found you Your LAYS, and out-leaps.

1703. FARQUHAR, Inconstant, i. 1. We fancy he must have something extraordinary about him to please us, and that we have something engaging about us to secure him; so we can’t be quiet, till we put our selves upon the LAY of being both disappointed.

1706. BURTON, Hist. of the Reign of Queen Anne (1880), Vol. ii. p. 159. After having reconnoitred it [Alicant], I would have given something to have been off of the LAY, having found it quite another sort of a place than what it was represented to me to be.

1713. WODROW, Analecta (Maitland Club), ii. 357. He an’ the Treasurer have been at much pains to break steele off the LAY he is upon.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. LAY, an Enterprise, or Attempt; To be sick of the Lay, To be tir’d in waiting for an opportunity to effect their Purposes. Also an Hazard or Chance; as, He stands a queer Lay; He stands an odd Chance, or is in great Danger.

1779. R. CUMBERLAND, Wheel of Fortune, iii. 2. Livery Serv. No offence to you, Mr. Weazel, but we would fain know what LAY we are to be upon; and whether the strange gentleman will be agreeable to allow us for bags, canes, and nosegays.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 36. We who’re of the FANCY-LAY, As dead hands at a mill as they.

1836. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. xliii. The LAY is just to take that money away.

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, He’s not to be found on his old LAY.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LAY, A particular kind of rascality, trade or profession.… What’s the cove’s LAY? Why … he’s on the KEN-CRACK [LAY]—housebreaking.

1862. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, ch. xli. One on ’em plays the bagpipes with a bellus against the waterbutt of a Sunday evening when they’re off the LAY.

1865. Daily Review, Feb. Captain Corbett said the vessel was going on the same LAY that the Alabama had gone. I afterwards went back in the Laurel to Teneriffe.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. p. 144. His peculiar LAY or line of business, which always brought him into trouble, was the stealing of pewter pots.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 82. Blakey’s found out as you’ve got respectable relations as wouldn’t like to see your name in the papers, and he’s goin’ to ’ave a new LAY on.

1889. Answers, 27 July, p. 136, col. 2. The secret marks have considerable significance. They briefly tell the begging-letter writer what sort of LAY to come for. Each charitable person has his, or her, particular soft spot, and it is this which the begging-letter writer endeavours to ascertain.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack Room Ballads, ‘The Widow’s Party.’ Out with the rest on a picnic LAY.

1895. H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON, in New Review, July, p. 2. For it was his aim to stand in security somewhere half-way ’twixt us fellows and the Law, and squeeze the both; and but that he had the lives of scores upon his tongue, and was very useful withal at a pinch, both to us on the LAY and to the traps, he would have been hanged or pistolled for his pains long since. [164]

2. (common).—A wager.

1591. GREENE, Second Part Conny-catching, in Works, vol. x. p. 83. These fellows will refuse no LAY if the ods may grow to their aduantage.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, ii. 8. My fortunes to any LAY worth naming.

1606. JOHN DAY, Ile of Guls, ii. 5, p. 57. Lis. Badd’s the best. I winne her for ten crownes; and there they be. Vist. I take your LAY.

1630. MASSINGER, Renegado, iii. 4. It is an even LAY, but that you had A courtier to your father.

1672. LACY, Old Troop, v. 1. It’s an even LAY whether this farce be a comedy or a tragedy.

1735. OLDYS, Life of Sir W. Raleigh. Looked upon it as an uneven LAY to stake himself against Sir Amias.

3. (old).—A quantity.

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 49. We had a weighty LAY of them that same evening.

4. (old).—Goods.

1821. HAGGART, Life, p. 8. Flash-kanes where I might fence my snib’d LAYS.

5. (American).—See quot.

1883. GEORGE, Progress and Poverty, Bk. 1. ch. iii. On American whaling ships the custom is not to pay fixed wages, but a LAY, or proportion of the catch, which varies from a sixteenth to a twelfth to the captain down to a three-hundredth to the cabin-boy.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To wager. TO LAY ONE’S SHIRT = to stake one’s all.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To lump on; to plank down; to do a flutter; to wire; to slant; to snap; to tot.

c. 1563. Jacke Jugeler, p. 73 [ed. GROSART]. I durst … a wager LAYE That thou laiest downe and sleppest by the waie.

1591. GREENE, Second Part Conny-catching [GROSART, vol. x. p. 84]. I take six to one saies the Gripe, I LAY it saies the Vincent, and so they make a bet.

1597–8. MUNDAY and CHETTLE, Playe of Robin Hode. ‘I will LAI with the Litel John, twenti pound so read.’

1601. SHAKSPEARE, Twelfth Night, iii. 4. Fab. Come, let’s see the event. Sir To. I dare LAY any money ’twill be nothing yet.

1751. FIELDING, Amelia, Bk. x. ch. v. ‘If the knowing ones were here, they would LAY odds of our side.’

1754. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., s.v. 2nd ed.

1844. MORRIS, Lyra Urbanica [N. & Q., 7 S. vi. 40]. His father allows him two hundred a year And he’ll LAY you a thousand to ten.

1851. F. E. SMEDLEY, Lewis Arundel, xxxiii. ‘Your sister’s been five minutes already, and I’d LAY a bet we don’t see her for five more.’

1864. Derby Day, p. 50. Now I’ll bet the Littl’un would pay delicate attention to anyone who might come unawares into the stable without any right to do so. I’ll LAY you an even pony, he’d help ’em out of the door in a manner more forcible than pleasant.

1892. ANSTEY, Voces Populi, p. 72. I’ll LAY you can’t knock a rabbit down.

2. (old).—To watch; to search; to lie in wait. ON THE LAY = on the alert; at work. Also TO LAY FOR and TO LAY BY.

1603. KNOLLES, Hist. of the Turkes [Enc. Dict.]. He embarked, being hardly LAID FOR at sea.

1605. MARSTON, JONSON & CHAPMAN, Eastward Hoe, iv. 1. To. Where are they? Let’s go presently and LAY FOR them. Go. I have done that already, sir, both by constables and other officers.

1608. MIDDLETON, Trick to Catch the Old One, i. 2. I have been LAYING all the town for thee.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LAY … also on the look out; watching for something to steal.

1884. M. TWAIN, Huck. Finn, v. 32. ‘I’ll LAY for you, my smarty; and if I catch you about that school I’ll tan you good.’ [165]

TO LAY ABOUT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To strike on all sides; to fight vigorously.

TO LAY AT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To attempt to strike; to aim a blow.

TO LAY BY THE HEELS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To put in prison or the stocks: see HEELS.

TO LAY DOWN, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To play cards.

TO LAY DOWN ONE’S KNIFE AND FORK, verb. phr. (common).—To die; TO GO ALOFT (q.v.); to HOP THE TWIG (q.v.).

1888. All the Year Round, 9 June, p. 543. To ‘hop the twig’, to ‘peg out’, to LAY DOWN ONE’S KNIFE AND FORK, & the like [phrases for dying], are more flippant than humorous.

TO LAY A DUCK’S EGG, verb. phr. (common).—See DUCK’S EGG and CROCKETTS.

TO LAY IN, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To attack with vigor.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, VII. The eggs and bacon, my word! how Jim did LAY IN.

TO LAY IN ONE’S DISH, verb. phr. (old).—To object a thing to a person; to make an accusation against him.

1615. SIR JOHN HARRINGTON, Epigrams, i. 27. Last night you LAY IT, madam, IN OUR DISH, How that a maid of ours (whom we must check) Had broke your bitches leg.

1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, I. iii. 209. Think’st thou ’twill not be LAID I’ TH’ DISH, Thou turn’dst thy back? quoth Echo, pish.

TO LAY INTO, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To thrash.

1838. D. JERROLD, Men of Character, xiii. I shall be very happy … to go and hold the door while you LAY INTO the ruffian.

TO LAY IT ON (and superlatively, TO LAY IT ON THICK) verb. phr. (colloquial).—To exceed—in speech, splendour, expense, charges, praise, etc.; TO EMBROIDER (q.v.).

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 167]. When they come home, Your mistress-ship would have me LAY ON.

1609–10. SHAKSPEARE, Tempest, iii. 2. I would I could see this taborer: he LAYS IT ON.

1611. SHAKSPEARE, Winter’s Tale, iv. 3. I cannot do ’t without counters. Let me see; what am I to do for our sheep-shearing feast? Three pounds of sugar; five pounds of currants;—rice—What will this sister of mine do with rice? But my father hath made her mistress of the feast, and she LAYS IT ON.

1821. COMBE, Syntax, Wife, c. 1. That in the pulpit you’re a rare one, And LAY IT ON, and never spare one.

1832–53. Whistle-Binkie (Sc. Songs), Ser. II. 68. He could LAY ON the cadge better than ony walleteer.

1891. Tit Bits, 15 Aug., p. 296, col. 1. Mr. Draper is compelled to LAY IT ON THICK.

TO LAY OFF, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To give over.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 20 Oct. Then the Governor of Michigan had to embarrass me by proclaiming a state holiday of some brand or other, and my hired man said he guessed he’d have to LAY OFF that day.

TO LAY ONESELF FORTH (or OUT), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To exert oneself rigorously and earnestly.

TO LAY ONESELF OPEN, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To expose oneself.

TO LAY ONESELF OUT FOR, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be ready and willing to take part in anything.

TO LAY OUT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To get the better of; [166]to disable (as with a blow); to kill; to COOK ONE’S GOOSE (q.v.).

2. (colloquial).—To intend; to purpose; to propose.

TO LAY OVER, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To excel.

1870. BRET HARTE, Luck of Roaring Camp. A street that would LAY OVER any street in Red Dog.

A GOOD LAY, subs. phr. (tailors’).—An economical method of cutting; anything beneficial.

Laycock. See MISS LAYCOCK.

Layer, subs. (racing).—A bookmaker; a betting man.

Lay-out, subs. (American).—A company; an OUTFIT (q.v.); a SPREAD (q.v.).

1869. MCCLURE, Rocky Mountains, 219. A most expensive LAY-OUT.

Layover. See LAREOVER.

Laystall (Leystall, or Layston), subs. (old).—See quots.

1590. SPENSER, Faerie Queene, 1. v. 53. Scarce could he groping find in that fowle way, For many corses like a great LAYSTALL lay, Of murdred men, which therein strowed lay.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LEYSTALL, a Dunghill.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAYSTALL a dunghill on which the soil brought from necessary houses is emptied. Idem, 3rd ed., s.v. LAYSTALL a dunghill about London, on which the soil brought from necessary houses is emptied; or in more technical terms where the old gold, collected at weddings by the Tom turd-man is stored.

Lay-up, subs. (common).—A drink; a GO (q.v.).

1891. NEWMAN, Scamping Tricks, 84. I would have given just then some one else’s gold-mines for a strong LAY-UP of something neat.

Lazy. LAZY AS LUDLAM’S (or DAVID LAURENCE’S) DOG, phr. (old).—Excessively indolent; see quots. Also ‘Lazy as Joe the marine who laid down his musket to sneeze.’

1670. RAY, Proverbs, s.v.

1678. COTTON, Scarronides, Note. ’Tis a proverb, Ludlam’s dog leaned his head against a wall when he went to bark.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAZY. AS LAZY AS LUDLAM’S DOG who leaned against the wall to bark. As lazy as the tinker, who laid down his budget to f—t.

Lazy-bones, subs. (common).—1. A loafer; also LAZY-BOOTS. Fr. une loche.

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Superer. [GROSART (1885), ii. 283]. Was legierdemane a sloweworme, or viuacitie a LASIE-BONES.

1596. NASHE, Have With You etc. [GROSART (1885), iii. 62]. Tell me was euer … Viuacitie a LAZY-BONES?

1626. BRETON, Pasquil’s Madecapp [GROSART (1869), i. e, 12, 2. 31.]. Go tell the labourers, that the LAZIE BONES That will not worke, must seeke the beggars gains.

1860. GASKELL, Sylvia’s Lovers, ch. xxxv. Like a LAZY-BOOTS as she is.

1877. Scribner’s Monthly, p. 526. Sharp at ten o’clock, snow-shoes are strapped on again, and Indian file homeward they go, some novices and LAZY-BONES walking home sans shoes by the road.

Lazy-Lawrence (or Larrence).—An incarnation of laziness. See quot.

1655. PRIDEAUX, Readings in History [N. and Q. 7, S. xi. 212]. St. Lawrence suffered martyrdom about the middle of the third century, 250 to 260 A.C. A traditional tale has been handed down from age to age that at his execution he [167]bore his torments without a writhe or groan, which caused some of those standing by to remark, ‘How great must be his faith!’ But his pagan executioner said, ‘It is not his faith, but his idleness; he is too LAZY to turn himself.’

Lazy-man’s load, subs. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAZY-MAN’S LOAD. Lazy people frequently take up more than they can safely carry, to save the trouble of coming a second time.

Lazy-tongs, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. An instrument like a pair of tongs for old or very fat people, to take anything off the ground without stooping.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Lead, subs. (theatrical).—(1) A leading or principal part; (2) the person who plays it.

FRIENDLY LEAD, subs. (thieves’).—An entertainment—sing-song, dance, or drinking party—got up to assist a friend IN TROUBLE (q.v.). Fr. une bouline.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, vol. iii. p. 164. ‘We went to a public-house where they were having a LEAD, that is a collection for a friend who is ill, and the company throw down what they can for a subscription, and they have in a fiddle and make it social.’

1871. Daily Telegraph, 4 Dec. They distribute tickets for a FRIENDLY LEAD, for the benefit of Bill, who is ‘just out of his trouble.’

1889. Cassell’s Saturday Journal, 5 Jan. The men frequently club together in a FRIENDLY LEAD to help a brother in distress.

1892. Ally Sloper, 2 Ap., p. 106, col. 3. My father takes the chair at FRIENDLY LEADS.

TO LEAD APES IN HELL, verb. phr. (old).—The employment jocularly assigned to old maids in hell.

1575. GASCOGNE, Adv. Master F. J. [HAZLITT (1869), Poems, i. 463]. I am afrayde my marryage will be marred, and I may go LEAD APES IN HELL.

1581. LYLY, Euphues (Arb.), 87. Rather thou shouldest leade a lyfe to thine owne lyking in earthe, than … LEADE APES IN HELL.

1600. SHAKSPEARE, Much Ado etc., ii. 1. Therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the bear-herd, and LEAD HIS APES INTO HELL.

1605. Lond. Prodigal, i. 2. ’Tis an old proverb, and you know it well, That women dying maids LEAD APES IN HELL.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 45]. Old maids LEAD APES IN HELL.

1717. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Bold Stroke, ii. 1. Poor girl; she must certainly LEAD APES, as the saying is.

1830. GENERAL P. THOMPSON, Exerc. (1842), I. 198. Joining with other old women, in LEADING THEIR APES IN TARTARUS.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Bloudie Jacke.’ So they say she is now LEADING APES … below.

Leading Article, subs. phr. (common).—1. The nose. For synonyms see CONK.

1886. Chambers’s Journal, 3 July, p. 428. Men of note almost invariably possess decided and prominent LEADING ARTICLES, whilst an insufficient nasal accompaniment not unfrequently denotes inanity.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Leaf, subs. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LEAF.… ‘I will be out in the LEAF,’ ‘I will be out in the autumn.’

TO GO OFF WITH THE FALL OF THE LEAF, verb. phr. (Irish).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LEAF, TO GO OFF WITH THE FALL OF THE LEAF, to be hanged; criminals hanged [168]in Dublin, being turned off from the outside of the prison, by the falling of a board, propped up, and moving on a hinge like the leaf of a table.

Leafless-tree, subs. (Old Cant).—The gallows. For synonyms see NUBBING CHEAT. Fr. la sans-feuille.

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford.… Oh! there never was life like the robber’s.… And its end—why, a cheer from the crowd below, And a leap from a LEAFLESS TREE.

Leak, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1720. GAY, Tales, ‘Work for a Cooper’. Her coats rose high, her master saw—I see—he cries—(then claspt her fast) The LEAK through which my wine has past.

Verb. (American thieves’).—1. To impart a secret.—MATSELL (1859).

2. (old).—To make water.—GROSE (1823). Hence TO SPRING A LEAK = to piss.

Leaky, adj. (old).—See quots.

d. 1704. LESTRANGE [Century]. Women are so LEAKY that I have hardly met with one that could not hold her breath longer than she could keep a secret.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LEAKY.… One who cannot keep a secret is said to be LEAKY.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (old).—Incontinent of urine.

Lean, adj. (printers’).—Unremunerative; the reverse of FAT (q.v.). Also as subs. = unprofitable work.

Lean-and-fat, subs. (rhyming).—A hat. For synonyms see GOLGOTHA.

Lean-and-lurch, subs. (rhyming).—A church.

Lean-away, subs. (Australian).—A drunkard. For synonyms see LUSHINGTON.

Leap, verb. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE. Hence LEAP IN THE DARK (or UP A LADDER) = the act of copulating; copulation. Also TO DO A LEAP.

1599. SHAKSPEARE, King Henry V, v. ii. 145. If I could win a lady … by vaulting into my saddle … I should quickly LEAP into a wife.

1600. SHAKSPEARE, Much Ado etc., v. 4. l. Bull Jove, Sir, had an amiable low, And some such strange bull LEAPED your father’s cow, And got a calf.

1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, IV. iii. (CUNNINGHAM, II. 191). How now, Whit! close vapours! stealing your LEAPS! covering in a corner. Idem, idem, idem. Sayst thou so, filly? Thou shalt have a LEAP presently, I’ll horse thee myself else.

1623. WEBSTER, Duchess of Malfi, ii. 5. Till I know who LEAPS my sister, I’ll not stir.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 289. And to their children’s credits and their wives, Be it still said, they LEAP fair for their lives.

1662. WILSON, The Cheats, v. 5. Your daughter has married a gentleman. It this not better than a Smithfield bargain—give me so much money, and my horse shall LEAP your mare.

1694. DRYDEN, Virgil, Georgic iii. 328. Whether the bull or courser be thy care, Let him not LEAP the cow, nor mount the mare.

Adv. (old).—All safe.—New Cant. Dict. (1725).

TO TAKE A LEAP AT TYBURN (or IN THE DARK), verb. phr. (old).—To be hanged.

c. 1600–62. Common Cries of London [COLLIER, Roxburghe Ballads (1847), [169]215]. For many a proper man, … Doth LEAP A LEAP AT TYBURN which makes his neck to crack.

1720. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, vi. 327. All you that must take a LEAP IN THE DARK, Pity the fate of Lawson and Clark.

TO LEAP (or JUMP) THE BOOK (or BROOMSTICK, BROOM, BESOM, or SWORD), verb. phr. (common).—See quots.; TO DAB IT UP (q.v.); TO LIVE TALLY. Cf. RUSH-RING.

1811. POOLE, Hamlet Travestied, ii. 3. JUMP O’ER A BROOMSTICK, but don’t make a farce on The marriage ceremonies of the parson.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, 3rd ed. s.v. LEAPING OVER THE SWORD, an ancient ceremonial, said to constitute a military marriage. A sword being laid down on the ground, the parties to be married join hands when the corporal or sergeant of the company repeated these words: Leap rogue, and jump whore, And then you are married for ever more.

1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, I. p. 336. The old woman when any female, old or young, who had no tin, came into the kitchen, made up a match for her with some men. Fellows half-drunk had the old women. There was always a BROOMSTICK wedding. Without that ceremony a couple weren’t looked on as man and wife.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LEAP THE BOOK. A false marriage.

1860. DICKENS, Great Expectations, ch. xlviii. p. 227. ‘They both led tramping lives, and this woman in Gerrard St. here, had been married very young, OVER THE BROOMSTICK (as we say), to a tramping man, and was a perfect fury in point of jealousy.’

1868. Cassell’s Mag., 4. Jan., p. 222. I dare say that most … have laughed at the old joke about getting married by jumping over a broomstick, and have always thought that it was a sheer joke, and nothing else; but this is a great mistake: the ceremony—so to dignify it—of the couple LEAPING OVER A BROOMSTICK, held by the man’s mates a little way from the ground, was the essential and generally recognised rite of most navvy marriages, and was held to be binding so long as both parties were agreed—a very important qualification. There is reason to believe that this grotesque ceremony is of very ancient date.

c. 18(79). Broadside Ballad, ‘David Dove that Fell in Love.’ The girl that I had hoped to hear Pronounce my happy doom, sir, Had bolted with a carpenter, In fact HOPPED O’ER THE BROOM, sir.

LET THE BEST DOG LEAP THE STILE FIRST, phr. (old).—Let the worthiest take precedence.

TO LEAP OVER THE HEDGE BEFORE YOU COME AT THE STILE, verb. phr. (old).—To be in a violent hurry.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 168], s.v.

TO BE READY TO LEAP OVER NINE HEDGES, verb. phr. (old).—Exceeding ready.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 168], s.v.

Leaping-house, subs. (old).—A brothel.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, I Hen. IV, i. 2. What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day? unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons, and clocks the tongues of bawds, and dials the signs of LEAPING HOUSES.

Lea-rigs, subs. (Scots’).—The female pudendum: generic. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Leary (or Leery), adj. (common).—1. Artful; DOWNY (q.v.).

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, 3rd ed. s.v.

1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen String Jack, i. 3. The dashy, splashy, LEARY little stringer.

1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, Vulgar Tongue. For blokes to see That you’re a LEARY man.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LEERY. On guard; look out; wide awake. [170]

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. p. 146. A LEARY look, in which fear, defiance, and cunning are mixed up together.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 85. The bastard gipsy smiled in LEARY fashion.

2. (American).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Leary-cum-Fitz, subs. (theatrical).—A vulgarian amongst actors.

Least. LEAST IN SIGHT, phr. (old).—See quots.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LEAST IN SIGHT, to play least in sight, to hide, keep out of the way, or make oneself scarce.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LEAST. Keep out of the way; hide; out of sight.

Leather, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A pocket book. For synonyms see READER.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LEATHER. The bloke lost his LEATHER, the man lost his pocket book.

1881. New York Slang Dict., ‘On the Trail.’ We touched his LEATHER too, but it was very lathy.

1883. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, p. 459. When we got to Chicago on the cars from there to here, i PULLED OFF an old woman’s LEATHER; i hadn’t no more than got it off when i wished i hadn’t donn it, for awhile before that i made up my mind to be a square bloke.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. Hence, TO LABOUR LEATHER (old) = to copulate; LEATHER-STRETCHER = the penis: cf. KID-LEATHER; and NOTHING LIKE LEATHER (q.v.). For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1540. LINDSAY, Thrie Estaitis [LAING (1879), ii. 72. 1332]. It is half ane yeir almaist, Sen ever that loun laborde my LEDDER.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 74. At that Queen Juno smil’d and said … if they once do come together, He’ll find that Dido’s reaching LEATHER.

d. 1796. BURNS, Court of Equity. Hunter, a willing, hearty brither, weel skilled in dead and living LEATHER.

3. in pl. (common).—The ears; LUGS (q.v.). For synonyms see HEARING CHEATS.

4. (sporting).—A cricket-, or foot-ball. TO HUNT LEATHER (cricket) = to field. LEATHER-HUNTING (subs.) fielding.

1883. Graphic, 11 August, p. 138, col. 1. The giants of the past who handled so efficiently the ‘willow’ and the LEATHER.

1884. Daily News, 12 April, p. 5, col. 2. A man has Morley’s genius with the LEATHER, combined with Morley’s deficiencies as a fielder and bat.

1886. G. SUTHERLAND, Australia, p. 178. In most parts of Australia cricket can be played with tolerable comfort all the year round. Occasionally, in summer, there are days when the heat is unusually oppressive, and the pastime of LEATHER HUNTING becomes somewhat tiresome.

1890. Palace Journal, 4 Aug. Our fellows were kept LEATHER-HUNTING pretty well the whole innings.

Verb. (common).—To beat; TO TAN (q.v.); TO DUST (q.v.).

1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garratt, i. Now, if you think I could carry my point, I would so swinge and LEATHER my lambkin.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. TO LEATHER also means to beat, perhaps originally with a strap. I’ll LEATHER you to your heart’s content.

1858. G. ELIOT, Janet’s Repentance, ch. xxi. ‘He’ll want to be LEATHERIN’ us, I shouldn’t wonder. He must hev somethin’ t’ill-use when he’s in a passion.’ [171]

1892. G. M. FENN, The New Mistress, xxii. Please, teacher, mother LEATHERS the boys if they don’t get home in time for dinner.

1892. ANSTEY, Voces Populi, ‘The Travelling Menagerie,’ p. 61. Bain’t she a LEATHERIN’ of ’un too!

TO GO TO LEATHER, verb. phr. (American).—See quot.

1882. DODGE, Ranch Life in the Far West. After a few jumps, however, the average man grasps hold of the horn of the saddle—the delightful onlookers meanwhile earnestly advising him not TO GO TO LEATHER—and is contented to get through the affair in any shape, provided he can escape without being thrown off.

TO LOSE LEATHER, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be saddle-galled.—GROSE (1785).

LEATHERS, subs. (common).—A postboy.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. xx. ‘Come along; jump in, old boy—go it, LEATHERS!’ and in this way Pen found himself in Mr. Spavin’s postchaise.

Leatherhead, subs. (old).—1. A swindler. For synonyms see ROOK.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1884. PHILLIPS WOOLLEY, Trottings of a Tenderfoot. Now the Senator is only a LEATHERHEAD who made his pile by such and such a swindle.

2. (old: American).—A policeman or watchman.

1882. MCCABE, New York, xxiii. 369. During the British occupation of the city, in the war of Independence, military patrols kept the streets at night.… After the close of the war a patrol of civilians was appointed.… They wore a leather hat with a wide brim, something like a fireman’s hat, and this won for them the name of LEATHERHEADS.

1888. New York Mercury, 21 July. Here the old police or LEATHERHEADS tried to restrain them, but in vain. Hostilities took place, several of the police were killed and several mortally wounded.

Leather-hunting. See LEATHER, subs., sense 4.

Leathering, subs. (common).—A thrashing.

Leather-lane, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Adj. (old).—Paltry; bad.—GROSE (1823); DE VAUX (1823).

Leathern-convenience, subs. (old).—A stage-coach; a carriage.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1703. WARD, London Spy, vii. p. 144. Our LEATHERN CONVENIENCY being bound in the Braces to its Good Behaviour had no more Sway than a Funeral Herse.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1782. CENTLIVRE, Bold Stroke for a Wife, v. 1. Col. F. Ah! thou wicked one. Now I consider thy face, I remember thou didst come up in the LEATHERN CONVENIENCY with me.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LEATHER … LEATHERN CONVENIENCY, term used by quakers for a stage coach.

1801. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspondence (1888), i. 102. I left Oxford with Stapleton in his mama’s LEATHERN CONVENIENCY.

1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, xx. At the duly appointed hour, creaked forth the LEATHERN CONVENIENCE, in which, carefull screened by the curtain … sat Nabob Touchwood, in the costume of an Indian merchant.

Leatherneck, subs. (nautical).—A soldier. For synonyms see MUD-CRUSHER and FLY-SLICER.

Leathernly, adj. (old).—Clumsily; sordidly; poorly.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller [GROSART (1883–4), v. 71]. So filthily acted, so LEATHERNLY set forth. [172]

Leather-stretcher, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK. TO GO LEATHER-STRETCHING = to copulate.

Leave, subs. (billiards’).—A favorable position for a stroke.

TO TAKE FRENCH LEAVE. See FRENCH LEAVE.

TO LEAVE IN THE AIR. See AIR.

TO LEAVE IN THE LURCH. See LURCH.

Leaving-shop, subs. (common).—1. An unlicensed pawn-brokery; a DOLLY-SHOP (q.v.). For synonyms see UNCLE.

1857. Morning Chronicle, 21 Dec. Proprietress of one of those iniquitous establishments called LEAVING-SHOPS.

1867. JAS. GREENWOOD, Unsentimental Journeys, II. 15. I no longer wondered to find my friend a pawnbroker! He had a hankering for it at the pig’s head period, and kept, besides the sausage-shop, a LEAVING-SHOP, in Brick-lane, St. Luke’s.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 10 Oct. A large portion of the least valuable was received in ‘dolly’ or LEAVING-SHOPS. The parties carrying them on purchased goods from whoever brought them, upon an understanding that they might be repurchased within a week or a month.

1880. JAS. GREENWOOD, Odd People in Odd Places, p. 37. There’s a little shop in the second-hand clothes line, a LEAVING-SHOP, I think they call it, in —— Street. There’s a parcel there that belongs to me, and which it will cost one and eightpence to redeem; at least, the woman promised I might redeem it in a month if I paid double what she gave me for what’s in it.

1893. Daily Chronicle, 9 Jan., p. 9, col. 1. Two pawnbrokers, who appeared to have acted in a most reckless manner, and to a Mrs. Waldey, who kept what was known as a LEAVING SHOP.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Lecher, verb. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller [GROSART (1883–4), v. 29]. He must be familiar with all, and trust none, drink, carouse, and LECHER with him.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, passim.

Led-captain, subs. (old).—A toady; a SPONGE (q.v.); a pimp.

1672. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood, i. 1. Wks. (1713), 349. For every wit has his culley, as every squire his LED CAPTAIN.

1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, Bk. xi. ch. ix. Two LED CAPTAINS, who had before rode with his lordship, and who … were ready at any time to have performed the office of a footman, or indeed would have condescended lower, for the honour of his lordship’s company, and for the convenience of his table.

1816. SCOTT, Antiquary, ch. xxxix. Petrie … recommends, upon his own experience, as tutor in a family of distinction, this attitude to all LED-CAPTAINS, tutors, dependents and bottle-holders of every description.

Led-friend, subs. (old).—A parasite.

1710. STEELE, Tatler, No. 208. There is hardly a rich man in the world who has not such a LED-FRIEND.

Leeds, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Lincolnshire and Yorkshire ordinary stock.

Leek, subs. (common).—See quot.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, vol. ii. p. 425. The LEEKS are men who have not been brought up to the trade of chimney sweeping, but have adopted it as a speculation, and are so called from their entering green, or inexperienced into the business. [173]

Leekshire, subs. (common).—Wales.

Leer, subs. (Old Cant).—See quot.

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 178. LEER is cant for a newspaper.

Leery, adj. (old).—‘On one’s guard.’—GROSE (1823).

Left. OVER THE LEFT (or LEFT SHOULDER), adv. phr. (common).—Used in negation of a statement, and sometimes accompanied by pointing the thumb over the left shoulder: in FLORIO ‘in my other hose’. It. zóccoli. The expression occurs also in le Parnasse Satyrique (1611). Cf. LEFT-HANDED.

1682. Preface to Julian the Apostate (London, printed for Langley Curtis). What benefit a Popish successor can reap from lives and fortunes spent in defence of the Protestant religion he may put in his eye; and what the Protestant religion gets by lives and fortunes spent in the service of a Popish successor will be OVER THE LEFT SHOULDER.

1705. Record of Country Court held in Hartford (U.S.A.), 4 Sept. The said Waters, as he departed from the table, said, ‘God bless you OVER THE LEFT SHOULDER.’ The court ordered a record thereof to be made forthwith. A true copie.

1748. RICHARDSON, Clarissa Harlowe, 1. 242. You will have an account to keep too; but an account of what will go OVER THE LEFT SHOULDER; only of what he squanders, what he borrows, and what he owes and never will pay.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick. Each gentleman pointed with his right thumb over his left shoulder. This action imperfectly described in words by the very feeble term of OVER THE LEFT … its expression is one of light and playful sarcasm.

1841. Punch, i. 37, col. 2. I am thine, and thine only! Thine!—OVER THE LEFT.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. I think she will come. Ned. Yes, OVER THE LEFT—ha, ha, ha!

1870. H. D. TRAILL, Saturday Songs, ‘On the Watch,’ p. 22. Eh, waddyer say? Don’t go? Ho yes! my right honnerble friend, It’s go and go OVER THE LEFT … it’s go with a hook at the end.

TO GET (or BE) LEFT, verb. phr. (common).—1. To fail; and (2) to be placed in a difficulty.

1892. GUNTER, Miss Dividends, ch. iv. Making the agreement for the return or the books on arrival at Ogden, much to the delight of the news agent, who remarks oracularly, ‘Buck Powers is never quite LEFT.’

1894. GEORGE MOORE, Esther Waters, xii. I would not go out with him or speak to him any more; and while our quarrel was going on Miss Peggy went after him, and that’s how I GOT LEFT.

TO BE LEFT IN THE BASKET. See BASKETTED.

Left-forepart, subs. (common).— A wife. For synonyms see DUTCH.

Left-handed, adj. (old).—Sinister; untoward; evil. Ger. link.

1620. JONSON, Silent Woman, iii. 2. It shows you are a man … that would not be put off with LEFT-HANDED cries.

Left-handed wife, subs. phr. (common).—A concubine. For synonyms see TART. Cf. Fr. mariage de la main gauche.

1663. KILLIGREW, The Parson’s Wedding [DODSLEY, i. 1]. Do you not know he’s married according to the rogue’s liturgy? a LEFT-HANDED bridegroom.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, 3rd ed. s.v. LEFT-HANDED WIFE. A concubine: an allusion to an ancient German custom, according to which when a man married his concubine, or a woman greatly his inferior, he gave her his left hand.

Left-hander, subs. (pugilistic).—A blow delivered with the left hand. [174]

1861. Macmillan’s Mag., Feb., p. 273. He let fly a terrific LEFT-HANDER at the doctor.

Leg, subs. (common).—1. A swindling gamester.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xlii. 365. ‘He was a horse-chaunter: he’s a LEG now.’

1840. THACKERAY, Character Sketches (Capt. Rook and Mr. Pigeon). As for Tom, he is a regular LEG now—leading the life already described. When I met him last it was at Baden, where he was on a professional tour, with a carriage, a courier, a valet, a confederate, and a case of pistols.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. He’s your brother, Mr. Frank; but there isn’t a bigger LEG on the whole pavement.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 501. Now and then a regular LEG, when he’s travelling to Chester, York, or Doncaster, to the races, may draw other passengers into play, and make a trifle, or not a trifle, by it; or he will play with other LEGS; but it’s generally for amusement, I’ve reason to believe.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LEG, a gambler.

1866. London Miscellany, 5 May, p. 201. The two who were not of their race were of the genus LEG.

1882. THORMANBY, Famous Racing Men, p. 75. He [John Gully] worked on gradually as a layer of odds—a ‘bettor round,’ or LEG, as he was called in those days. [c. 1820.]

1884. HAWLEY SMART, From Post to Finish, p. 172. The world regards me as a compound of LEG and money-lender.

2. (cards’).—A ‘chalk’ or point scored in a game.

3. in pl. (common).—A lanky-built man or woman; a LAMPPOST (q.v.).

4. (old).—A bow: see MAKE A LEG.

1596. NASHE, Have With You, etc. [GROSART (1885), iii. 146]. Whither … haue you brought mee? To Newgate, good Master Doctour, with a LOWE LEG they made answer.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, I Henry IV, i. Well, here’s my LEG.

1602. COOKE, How to Choose a Good Wife etc. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 18]. With LEGS, with curtsies, congees, and such like.

1603. DEKKER, Wonderful Yeare [GROSART (1886), i. 83]. Janus … made a very mannerly LOWE LEGGE.

1663. KILLIGREW, Parson’s Wedding, ii. 7. Then a stranger … beats about with three graceful LEGS.

Verb. (common).—1. To trip up.

1882. Sat. Review, 22 April. Presently they LEGGED the copper, and he fell to the ground.

2. (common). See LEG IT.

TO MAKE (or SCRAPE) A LEG, verb. phr. (old and colloquial).—To bow; to curtsey. Also TO LEG IT.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART (1885), ii. 63]. How much better is it then to haue an eligant Lawier to plead ones cause, than a stuttring Townsman, that loseth himselfe in his tale, and dooth nothing but MAKE LEGS.

1603. DEKKER, Wonderful Yeare [GROSART (1886), i. 91]. He calls forth one by one, to note their graces, Whilst they MAKE LEGS he copies out their faces.

1606. CHAPMAN, Mons. D’Olive, i. p. 117 (Plays, 1874). Pages and parasites [live] by MAKING LEGS.

1616. JONSON, Devil is an Ass, ii. 3. I learned in it myself, TO MAKE MY LEGS, and do my postures.

1633. SHIRLEY, Bird in a Cage, v. 1. He’ll kiss his hand and LEG IT.

1662. Rump, ii. p. 192. Shall’s ask him, what he means to do?—Good faith, with all my heart; Thou MAK’ST THE better LEG o’ th’ two.

1670. J. EACHARD, Contempt of the Clergy, in Arber’s Garner, vol. vii. p. 264. He comes to the end of the table … having MADE A submissive LEG.

1673. DAVENANT, Playhouse to Let, Epilogue. Female fishes never MAKE A LEG.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 25. The prentice MAKES A handsome LEG and bow.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LEG. [175]

b. 1796. WOLCOT [P. Pindar], Rights of Kings, Ode xii. To Thrones, with due decorum, MAKE A LEG.

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, liii. p. 443. ‘Mr. Bucket, my Lady.’ Mr. Bucket MAKES A LEG, and comes forward.

TO LEG IT, verb. phr. (common).—1. To run away. Cf. LEG-BAIL and TO GIVE LEGS.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1878. BESANT and RICE, By Celia’s Arbour, xlviii. Whatever the werdict, you up and LEG IT, and then bring in an alibi.

2. See MAKE A LEG.

TO BREAK A LEG, verb. phr. (venery).—See quot. 1737.

1684. R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 153. Though she hath BROKEN HER LEG, she is sound enough for a Drawer, newly out of his time, who, having credit for wine, his house is furnish’t with the money that did set his wife’s BROKEN LEG.

1737. RAY, Proverbs (3rd ed.), p. 200. She hath BROKEN HER LEG above the knee, i.e. had a bastard.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LEG.

TO CUT ONE’S LEG, verb. phr. (old).—To get drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 63]. s.v.

TO LIFT (or LAY) a LEG ON (or OVER), verb. phr. (venery).—To possess a woman. Hence, TO LIFT ONE’S LEG or TO PLAY AT LIFT-LEG = to copulate (of both sexes); LEG-LIFTER = whoremaster; and LEG-LIFTING = fornication. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge etc., v. No snarling rebel shall e’er LAY LEG o’er me.

17[?]. Old Song [quoted by BURNS], ‘Duncan Davidson’. She fee’d a lad TO LIFT HER LEG.

c. 1787. BURNS, Holy Willie’s Prayer. I’ll ne’er LIFT A lawless LEG Again UPON her.

2. (old).—To piss.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen, IV. 2. Launec. When didst thou see me HEAVE UP MY LEG and make water on a gentle woman’s farthingale?

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 116]. What, Monsieur Kinsayder, LIFTING UP YOUR LEG, and pissing against the world.

1887. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night. At you I merely LIFT MY gam, I drink your health against the wall!

3. (old).—To walk.

1791. BURNS, Tam O’Shanter. Weel mounted on his grey mare, Meg, A better never LIFTED LEG.

TO GET A LEG IN, verb. phr. (common).—To obtain one’s confidence.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, p. 207. He felt exceedingly comfortable now they had GOT A LEG IN.

A LEG (or LEG UP), subs. phr. (colloquial).—Help.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, ch. xvi. Your servant will GIVE YOU A LEG UP.

1871. Figaro, 9 Oct. There are authors who require a LEG-UP before starting, and who do well to explain, and argue, and appeal, and declare beforehand what very clever authors they are.

1876. HINDLEY, Cheap Jack, 171. All the … cheap Johnny coves … promised to come … just to GIVE YOU A LEG UP.

TO HAVE A BONE IN ONE’S LEG (or ARM, or THROAT), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be incapable of action: a playful refusal.

1542. NICHOLAS UDALL, Erasmus’s Apophthegmes (1877, Reprint of Ed. 1562), p. 375. He refused to speake, allegeing that HE HAD A BONE IN HIS THROTE, and he could not speake.

1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation (Conv. iii.). Nev. Miss, come, be kind for once, and order me a dish of coffee. Miss. Pray go yourself; let us wear out the oldest first; besides, I can’t go, for I HAVE A BONE IN MY LEG. [176]

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 50]. I have A BONE IN MY ARM. This is a pretended excuse, with which people amuse young children when they are importunate to have them do something, or reach something for them, that they are unwilling to do, or that is not good for them.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. GOT A BONE IN MY LEG felt rather indisposed.

TO SHAKE A FREE (or A LOOSE) LEG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To live as one likes; to go on tramp.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, iii, ch. 9. While luck lasts the highwayman SHAKES A LOOSE LEG.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., 1. 453. I longed for a roving life and to SHAKE A LOOSE LEG.

1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of London, p. 87. Those who love to SHAKE A FREE LEG, and lead a roving life, as they term it, rather than settle down to any continuous employment.

TO GIVE (or SHOW) LEGS (or A CLEAN PAIR OF LEGS), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To decamp; to run away.

1883. Daily News, 15 May, p. 7, col. 2. ‘The best way is to make a snatch and GIVE LEGS for it; it’s better than loitering.’

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 30. We bunked off in the scurry, and SHOWED ’EM A CLEAN PAIR O’ LEGS.

NOT A LEG (or A LEG TO STAND ON), subs. phr. (colloquial).—At the end of one’s resources.

IN HIGH LEG, subs. phr. (colloquial).—In high feather.

ON ONE’S LAST LEGS, subs. phr. (colloquial).—On the verge of ruin; at the end of one’s tether.

1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garratt, ii. Mrs. Sneak. Miss Molly Jollup to be married to Sneak! Sneak. Ay, and glad enough you could catch me: you know, you was pretty near YOUR LAST LEGS.

1767. RAY, Proverbs (3rd ed.), p. 200. He’s ON HIS LAST LEGS.

1782. D’ARBLAY, Cecilia, vii. ch. 5. She can’t possibly last long, for she’s quite ON HER LAST LEGS.

TO BE (or GET) ON ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To rise to speak; to be speaking.

TO STAND ON ONE’S OWN LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To depend on oneself.

TO SET ONE (or GET) ON ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To restore or attain to good circumstances.

1888. Century Mag., xxxvii. p. 305. When the paper GETS UPON ITS LEGS.

TO SHOW A LEG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To get out of bed.

TO HAVE THE LEGS OF ONE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To outrun.

1861. Macmillan’s Mag., Mar., p. 357. The beggar HAD THE LEGS OF ME.

TO FIGHT AT THE LEG, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LEG. To fight at the leg, to take unfair advantages, it being held unfair by back-sword players to STRIKE AT THE LEG.

TO FALL ON ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To prosper.

1841. LYTTON, Night and Morning, III. 3. A man who has plenty of brains generally FALLS ON HIS LEGS.

1861. JAMES CONWAY, Forage among Salmon and Deer, p. 155. And this inborn self-possession tends greatly to the advantage of the people who are so constituted. Hence it is that a Scotchman put him where you will, almost invariably FALLS ON HIS LEGS.

TO HAVE LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be reputed fast (as a ship, a horse, a runner).

TO FEEL ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be sure of one’s ground. [177]

1846. DICKENS, Cricket on the Hearth, i. Remarkably beautiful child.… May seem impossible to you, but FEELS HIS LEGS ALREADY.

TO PUT ONE’S BEST LEG FOREMOST, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To make haste; and (2) to exert oneself.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART (1885), v. 277]. Well, thither our Fisherman SET THE BEST LEG BEFORE, and vnfardled to the King his whole sachel of wonders.

AS RIGHT AS MY LEG, phr. (colloquial).—As right as may be. But see quot. 1767.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge etc., i. 93. Jolly Ralph was in with Peg, Though frekl’d like a Turkey Egg, And she AS RIGHT AS IS MY LEG, Shee gave him leave to towze her.

1762. WILSON, The Cheats, ii. 4. Fear nothing. All’s well, and AS RIGHT AS MY LEG.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 64]. A whore, she’s AS RIGHT AS MY LEG.

TO PUT THE BOOT ON THE OTHER LEG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To ‘turn the tables.’

1850. New York Herald, 24 May. The Eternal City is in a very curious position. The Pope has returned to his ancestral home; but he has nothing in his pocket, and Rothschild refuses to let him have any more money. A thousand years ago, and the BOOT would have been ON T’OTHER LEG.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Feb., p. 2, col. 2. The Times correspondent at Durban alludes to a rumour which at the first blush seems to PUT THE BOOT quite ON THE OTHER LEG.

TO STRETCH ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (common).—To take a walk. Hence, LEG-STRETCHER (q.v.) = a drink.

TO MAKE INDENTURES WITH ONE’S LEGS, verb. phr. (old).—To be drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.—RAY (1767).

MORE BELONGS TO MARRIAGE THAN FOUR BARE LEGS IN A BED, phr. (old).—Said of the engagement or wedding of a portionless couple. Ital. Inanzi il maritare, abbi l’habitare.—RAY (1670).

Leg-and-leg, adv. phr. (cards’).—The state of the game when each player has won a ‘LEG’ (q.v.); HORSE-AND-HORSE (q.v.).

Leg-bags, subs. (common).—1. Stockings; and (2) trousers.

Leg-bail (or leg bail and land security), subs. phr. (common).—Escape from custody. Fr. lever le pied. See BAIL.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 55]. He has given him LEG-BAIL; i.e., decamped.

1774. FERGUSON, Poems, ii. 10. They TOOK LEG-BAIL and ran awa’.

1775. ADAIR, American Indians, 277. I had concluded to use no chivalry, but GIVE THEM LEG-BAIL instead of it, by … making for a deep swamp.

1816. SCOTT, Antiquary, ch. xxxix. I wad gie them LEG-BAIL to a certainty.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LEG. LEG-BAIL AND LAND SECURITY, to run away.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii. 4. ’Tis my painful duty to commit you, unless you can find good bail. Tom. We’ll give you LEG-BAIL.

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. XIX. He has us now if he could give us LEG-BAIL again.

1848. MARRYAT, Poacher, xxii. GIVEN THEM LEG-BAIL, I swear.

1870. WILKIE COLLINS, Man and Wife (in Cassell’s Mag., p. 309). ‘Ow! ow! that’s bad. And the bit husband-creature danglin’ at her petticoat’s tail one day, and awa’ wi’ the sunrise next mornin’—have they baith taken LEG-BAIL together?’ [178]

Leg-business, subs. (common).—1. See LEG-SHOP.

2. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Leg-drama (or piece).—See LEG-SHOP.

Legem pone, subs. phr. (old).—Money: generic. [NARES: The origin of the phrase is doubtless this: The first psalm for the twenty-fifth day of the month has the title LEGEM PONE, being the first words of the Latin version. This psalm is the fifth portion of the 119th psalm, and, being constantly used on the first great pay day of the year, March 25, was easily connected with the idea of payment, while the laudable practice of daily attendance on the public service was continued].

1557. TUSSER, Good Hus. Lessons, 29. Use LEGEM PONE to pay at thy day, But use not Oremus for often delay.

1611. RUGGLE, Ignolamus, ii. 7. Hic est LEGEM PONE: hic sunt sexcentæ coronæ.

1618. G. MINSHUL, Essayes in Prison, p. 26. But in this, here is nothing to bee abated, all their speach is LEGEM PONE, or else with their ill custome they will detaine thee.

d. 1662. HEYLIN, Voy., p. 292. In bestowing of their degrees here they are very liberal, and deny no man that is able to pay his fees. LEGEM PONERE is with them more powerful than legem dicere.

1737. OZELL, Rabelais, iv. 12. They were all at our service for the LEGEM PONE.

Leger, subs. (Old London Cant).—See quot. 1822. Also LEGERING = the practice of cheating in the sale of coals.

1591. GREENE, Discovery of Coosnage [GROSART (1881–6), x. 51]. The law of LEGERING, which is a deceit that colliers abuse the commonwelth withall, in having unlawfull sackes.

1591. GREENE, Notable Discovery [GROSART (1881–6), x. 52]. The LEGER, the crafty collier I mean. Ibid. 51. There be … in and about London certaine caterpillars (colliers I should say) that terme themselves (among themselves) by the name of LEGERS.

1822. NARES, Glossary, s.v. LEGER. A cant term for a Londoner who formerly bought coals of the country colliers at so much a sack, and made his chief profit by using smaller sacks, making pretence he was a country collier. This was termed LEGERING.

Legerdemain, subs. (old: now recognised).—Sleight of hand.

d. 1535. SIR T. MORE, Works, p. 813. Perceive theyr LEYGIER DEMAINE, wyth which they would ingle forth thir falshood and shift the trouth asyde.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART (1883–4), ii. 108]. Making their eyes and eares vassailes to the LEGERDEMAINE of these ingling mountebankes.

1596. SPENSER, Faery Queene, v. ix. 13. He in slights and jugling feates did flow, And of LEGIERDEMAYNE the mysteries did know.

1653. WALTON, Complete Angler, p. 112. All the money that had been got that week … by fortune telling or LEGERDEMAIN.

1684. R. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus, 238. What trick they play, what LEIDGER-DE-MAIN they use.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Canting Dict., s.v.

Legged, adj. (old).—In irons.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Legger, subs. (old).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LEGGER. Sham LEGGERS, cheats who pretend to sell smuggled goods, but in reality only deal in shop-keepers old and damaged wares.

Leggings, subs. (common).—Stockings.

Leggism, subs. (common).—The character, practices, or manners of a LEG (q.v.). [179]

Leggy, adj. (colloquial).—Long-legged.

1848. THACKERAY, Book of Snobs, ch. x. You behold Slapper’s long-tailed, LEGGY mare.

1884. FIELD, Dec. 6. Her colour and markings are capital, in expression and style fair, but she is LEGGY and light in bone.

Legitimate, adj. (racing).—1. Flat-racing as distinguished from steeplechasing or hurdle-racing; and (2) drama—especially the Shaksperean—as opposed to burlesque.

1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. It was certainly a change from the bustle and excitement connected with the winding-up of the LEGITIMATE season.

Leglin-girth. TO CAST A LEGLINGIRTH, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To be got with child. [LEGLIN = milkpail + GIRTH = hoop].

d. 1758. RAMSAY, Poems (1800), i. 274. Or bairns can read, they first maun spell, I learn’d this frae my mammy, And COOST A LEGLEN GIRTH mysel, Lang or I married Tammie.

Leg of mutton, subs. phr. (common).—A sheep’s trotter.

Adj. (common).—Leg-of-mutton shaped; as in the case of sleeves, whiskers, sails, etc.

1866. W. D. HOWELLS, Venetian Life, xx. With their honest, heavy faces comically anglicised by LEG-OF-MUTTON whiskers.

Leg of mutton fist. See MUTTON FIST.

Leg of the Law, subs. phr. (common).—A lawyer. Also LIMB OF THE LAW.

Legs-and-arms, subs. (tailors’).—Bodiless beer. For synonyms see DRINKS and SWIPES.

Leg-shaker, subs. (common).—A dancer. Fr. un gambilleur.

Legshire, subs. (common).—The Isle of Man. [In allusion to the heraldic bearings].

Leg-shop, subs. (common).—1. A theatre whose speciality is the display of the female form. Hence, LEG-PIECE = a play contrived to that end; LEG-BUSINESS = the condition of a woman whose chief work is to show her legs; and LEG-SHOW = the personnel of a LEG-SHOP in action.

1871. A. E. EDWARDS, Ought We to Visit Her, p. [missing text]. ‘She was,’ says Adonis, ‘in the LEG BUSINESS.’

1875. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Screamers, p. 15. ‘Nothing, sir,’ was the reply; ‘only they’re playing ‘Undine’ at the Opera House, and some folks call it the LEG-SHOP.’

1882. MCCABE, New York, 206. They are liberal patrons of the drama, especially the ballet and the LEG-BUSINESS.

Leg-stretcher, subs. (American).—A drink: i.e., an inducement or a pretext for going out. See TO STRETCH ONE’S LEGS. For synonyms see GO.

Lemon. TO SQUEEZE THE LEMON, verb. phr. (common).—To urinate. For synonyms see PISS.

Lemon jolly. See COLLY MOLLY.

Lend, subs. (old colloquial).—A loan: e.g. ‘For the LEND of the ass you might give me the mill’ (Old Ballad).

Length, subs. (thieves’).—1. Six months’ imprisonment. For synonyms see DOSE. [180]

2. (theatrical).—See quot. 1781.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, 1. 43. It being one of the usual enquiries made by Managers of the candidates for country engagements, ‘How many lengths can you study from night to night?’ A LENGTH is forty two lines.

1838. DICKENS, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. xxiii. I’ve a part of twelve LENGTHS here which I must be up in by to-morrow night.

1871. Edinburgh Review, ‘Lord Brougham’s Recollections of a Long Life.’ Keen said that Iago was three LENGTHS longer than Othello.

1885. Household Words, 22 Aug., p. 328. All they knew or cared to know was that they had to get into their heads certain LENGTHS of a certain drama to be produced that very night.

TO GET THE LENGTH OF ONE’S FOOT, verb. phr. (common).—To fascinate; to understand how to manage a person.

Lenten-faced, adj. (old).—Starved- or sad-looking.

1621. BURTON, Anatomy (ed. 1893), iii. 220. Howsoever they put on LENTEN FACES, and whatsoever they pretend.

Lenten-fare, subs. (old).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LENTEN FARE, spare diet.

Ler-ac-am, subs. (back slang).—Mackarel.

Lericompoop (Leripup, Leripoop, or Luripup), subs. (old).—Originally an academical scarf or hood. Hence, (1) knowledge or acuteness; (2) a man or woman of parts; (3) a swindle, jest, or trick; and (4) a cheat, buffoon, or jester. Thence, TO PLAY ONE’S LIRIPUPS = (1) to undergo examination for a degree; and (2) to play the fool (from the contempt into which scholastic subtleties had in the end to fall). Also as verb = to deceive, to cheat.

1584. Sapho and Phaon, i. 3. Thow maist be skilled in thy logic, but not in thy LERYPOOPE.

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Superer. [GROSART (1885), ii. 78]. Nash is learned, and knoweth his LERIPUP. Ibid. 278. Be no niggard of thy sweet accents … but reach the antike muses their right LERIPUP.

1594. J. LYLY, Mother Bombie, i. 3. There’s a girl that knows her LERRIPOOP.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller [GROSART (1885), v. 159]. Heere was a wily wench had her LIRIPOOP without book.

1603–37. BRETON, Packet of Letters [GROSART (1870), ii. h. 34, 10, line 4]. I see you haue little to doe that haue so much leisure TO PLAY YOUR LURIPUPS.

1605. London Prodigal, iv. 1. Well cha’ a bin zarved many a sluttish trick, but such a LERRIPOOP … was never yzarved.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dict., s.v. Qui sçait bien son roulet, one that knows his LIRIPOOPE.

1621. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Pilgrim, ii. 1. Keep me this young LIRRY-POOP within doors.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, i. 186. And all the day long, This, this was her song, Was ever poor Maiden so LERICOMPOOP’D.

Lesbian, subs. (venery).—A fellatrix of women. [From the legend of Sappho and the women of Lesbos].

Lesson. See SIMPLE ARITHMETIC.

Let. LET ALONE, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Much less; not mentioning.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, … I have not had, this livelong day, one drop to cheer my heart, Nor brown to buy a bit of bread with—LET ALONE a tart. [181]

1851. F. E. SMEDLEY, Lewis Arundel, i. ‘You have brought a wild beast with you, which has eaten up all the tea-cakes.’ ‘LET ALONE fright’ning the blessed cat so that she’s flowed up the chimley.’

1857. C. READE, Never Too Late, xxxvi. The wind emptied a glass of the very moisture, LET ALONE the liquid in a moment.

TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To reveal a secret; to put one’s foot in it. See CAT, and add following quots.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxiv. ‘I’m most afraid of your father, though, LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG; he’s such an old duffer to blow.’

1892. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 27 Feb., p. 67, col. 3. Cats, however, possess an exceptional faculty FOR LETTING THINGS OUT OF THE BAG, and Guy’s and Violet’s feline made its appearance.

TO LET DAYLIGHT INTO, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To stab or shoot; to kill. See SECOND-HAND DAYLIGHT and DAYLIGHT.

TO LET DOWN GENTLY (or EASY), verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To be lenient.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge [Ry. ed. 1840, p. 140]. I did not know it, nor did I believe it, but, by way of LETTING HIM DOWN GENTLY, I said nothing.

1888. New York Sunday Despatch. If the royal parents wish to see their offsprings LET DOWN EASY from their high estate, they will adopt this course.

2. (common).—To disappoint; to rebuff. Cf. LET-DOWN.

TO LET DRIVE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To aim a blow; to attack.

1593. NASHE, Strange Newes, in Works [GROSART], ii. 224. If he … LET DRIVE at him with a volley of verses.

1753. FOOTE, Englishman in Paris, i. But I LET DRIVE at the monk, made the soup-maigre rumble in his bread-basket, and laid him sprawling.

1838. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 2nd S. ch. xiv. ‘Now,’ says I, ‘my hearties, up and LET DRIVE at ’em, right over the wall!’

TO LET FLY, verb. phr. (common).—To aim at; also to strike.

1647. FLETCHER, Sea Voyage, ii. 2. Speak, or … I’ll LET FLY at you all.

1671. BUCKINGHAM, The Rehearsal. And at that word, at t’other’s head LET FLY a greasy plate.

1678. BUNYAN, Pilgrim’s Progress, 156. They, therefore, in angry manner, LET FLY at them again.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, iii. 14. By cock, quote hee, Say you so, do you see, And then at him LET FLIE.

1817. C. LAMB, Letters, 17 May. ‘To Wm. Ayton Esq.’ There’d be many a damme LET FLY at my presumption.

1860. Morning Post, 30 Jan. ‘The Wit of Extravaganza.’ He has been assaulted by another indewiddle, who ‘At his physiognimy LET FLY, Gave him in fact a oner in the eye!’

1876. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 115, s.v.

1889. Sporting Times, 29 June. ‘Another Turf Dispute.’ Now, Maud was quite the ‘lidy’, but she LET the language FLY.

1891. W. C. RUSSELL, Ocean Tragedy, 42. Sir Wilfrid really means to LET FLY at the shark.

TO LET GO, verb. phr. (venery).—To achieve emission. See COME.

TO LET GO THE PAINTER. See PAINTER.

TO LET IN, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To deceive; to victimize; to cheat.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, lxxii. Affairs had been going ill with that gentleman: he had been LET IN terribly, he informed me, by Lord Levant’s insolvency. [182]

1887. Nineteenth Century, xxii. 262. The farmer … persists in trying to convince himself that he was LET IN when he made himself liable for the tithes.

1887. FIELD, 25 June. An owner may be LET IN for a fine.

2. (University).—See quot.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, i. He has also been good enough to recommend to me many tradesmen … but, with the highest respect for friend Perkins (my scout) and his obliging friends, I shall make some inquiries before LETTING IN with any of them.

TO LET INTO, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To attack; to beat; to abuse.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, vol. iii. p. 148. ‘They got from six to nine months’ imprisonment; and those that LET INTO the police, eighteen months.’

TO LET OFF STEAM. See STEAM.

TO LET ON, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To betray; to admit; to seem.

1725. RAMSAY [Poems (1800), ii. 100]. LET na ON what’s past.

d. 1796. BURNS, Last May a Braw Wooer. ‘I never LOOT ON that I ken’d it or car’d, But thought I might hae waur offers.’

1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 1st S. ch. x. ‘I’ll tell you the secret, but you needn’t LET ON to no one about it.’

1838. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, 74. But a man can’t rise, after a royal hyst, without LETTING ON he feels flat.

1843. Major Jones’s Courtship, p. 84. The tears were runnin’ out of my eyes; but I didn’t want to LET ON, for fear it would make her feel bad.

1858. DEAN RAMSAY, Reminiscences. I saw Mr. —— at the meeting, but I never LET ON that I knew he was present.

1860. BOUCICAULT, Colleen Bawn, i. 3. Don’t LET ON to mortal that we’re married.

1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness, ch. iv. p. 38 (1873). ‘Never LET ON that he didn’t know what it was; never changed a muscle of his face.’

1871. Binghamton Journal, April [quoted by DE VERE]. ‘Although the visitors, the gentlemanly keeper, and the prison-chaplain, all tried in every conceivable way to induce him to make a confession, he would never LET ON how the murder was committed, and all agree that Ruloff is the greatest mystery of the age.’

1879. JUSTIN MC. CARTHY, Donna Quixote, ch. xxxiii. ‘I knew it, though she wouldn’t LET ON even to me.’

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xi. He LET ON once to me—that he was awfully cut up about my changing.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 52. ’Arry never LET ON to them Swiss as he felt on the swivel,—no fear!

TO LET ONESELF LOOSE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To speak, or launch out, without restraint.

TO LET OUT, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To disclose.

1878. BEADLE, Western Scenes. ‘You bile the pot, and when I have had a smoke I’ll LET OUT, but not afore.’

2. (colloquial).—To speak strongly.

1840. H. COCKTON, Valentine Vox, xxxix. ‘Does he marry her because he believes her to be engaging, and sweet tempered? A month after marriage she begins to LET OUT in a style of which he cannot approve, by any means.’

1847. ROBB, Squatter Life, p. 80. After dilating at some length on the imported candidate, who was his antagonist, he LET himself OUT, on some of the measures he advocated.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, ix. Jim was just going to LET OUT when he looked up and saw Miss Falkland looking at him.

3. (colloquial).—To strike out.

1869. H. J. BYRON, Not Such a Fool as He Looks, p. 8. Mur. What did he do? Mou. Well, he LET OUT. Mur. What! his language? Mou. No, [183]his left. His aim was straight at the tip of my nose.

4. (common).—A general verb of action; to do.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, ix. Jim’s horse was far and away the fastest, and he LET OUT to head the mare off from a creek that was just in front and at the end of the plain.

TO LET OUT a REEF, verb. phr. (common).—To loosen one’s clothes after a meal. Fr. lâcher un cran.

SHE LIES BACKWARDS AND LETS OUT HER FORE-ROOMS, phr. (old).—Said of a whore.—RAY (1767).

TO LET RIP. See RIP.

TO LET SLIDE. See SLIDE.

TO LET UP, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To stop. Also (as subs.) LET UP (q.v.).

1888. San Francisco Weekly Examiner, 22 March. When every rabbit is killed, the coyotes sit down on their haunches to a very comfortable banquet, and never LET UP until they have taken aboard so much rabbit-meat that they can hardly stir.

1892. A. K. GREEN, Cynthia Wakeham’s Money, 141. ‘We have talked well into the night,’ he remarked; ‘supposing we LET UP now, and continue our conversation to-morrow.’

TO LET THE FINGER RIDE THE THUMB TOO OFTEN, verb. phr. (American).—To get drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

[For other combination see DISINFECT—FLICKER—IN—MARKS—MONKEY—PLAY—POCKETS—SLIDE—STIMULATE—TUCKS—UP, etc.]

Letchwater, subs. (venery).—The sexual secretion, male and female: specifically the concomitant of desire.

Let-down, subs. (colloquial).—A decline in circumstances; a come-down.

1866. London Miscellany, 3 Mar., p. 57. Bug-hunting (robbing drunken men) was about the best game out, and he added, ‘I don’t think that’s no little LET-DOWN for a cove as has been tip-topper in his time, and smelt the insides of all the coops in the three kingdoms.’

Lets. NO LETS, subs. phr. (schoolboys’).—No hindrances.

Letter, subs. (venery).—An abbreviation of FRENCH LETTER (q.v.).

LETTER-IN-THE-POST-OFFICE. See FLAG.

TO GO AND POST A LETTER, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

TO GO ON THE LETTER Q, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1823. DE VAUX, Memoirs, p. 185, s.v. LETTER Q, the mace or billiard slum, is sometimes called going on the Q, or the letter Q, alluding to an instrument used in playing billiards.

Lettered, adj. (old).—Branded; burnt in the hand.

Letter-racket, subs. (vagrants’).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LETTER RACKET, men or women of genteel address, going about to respectable houses with a letter or statement, detailing some case of extreme distress, as shipwreck, sufferings by fire, etc. by which many benevolent, but credulous, persons are induced to relieve the fictitious wants of the impostors.

Letty, subs. (common).—A bed; a lodging. For synonyms see KIP. Also verbally = to lodge.

1875. J. FROST, Circus Life, p. 279. LETTY is used both as a noun and as verb signifying ‘lodging’ and ‘to lodge’. [184]

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xiv. ‘Blower, how about LETTY?’ ‘Kip for you two, eh? I’ll just go and see the under-sheriff.’

Let-up, subs. (common).—1. A pause; a breach.

1888. Troy Daily Times.… It rained for three days, almost without a LET UP, after we reached our destination. Ibid. The stable hymn, as the boys called it, was sung in some companies where there was a little LET-UP on discipline.

1888. Spirit of the Times. There will be a LET UP of a few days, maybe a week, between the close of the Winter Meeting and the opening of the Spring Meeting.

2. (Stock Exchange).—A sudden disappearance of artificial causes of depression.

Levant, verb. (common).—To abscond. TO DO (or THROW or RUN) A LEVANT (gaming) = to stake and SKIP (q.v.). Fr. faire voile en Levant; It. andare in Levante. See quots. 1714 and 1823.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, III. He hath ventur’d to come the LEVANT over gentlemen; that is, to play without any money at all in his pocket.

1729. VANBRUGH and CIBBER, Provoked Husband, i. Crowd to the Hazard table, THROW a familiar LEVANT upon some sharp lurching man of quality, and if he demands his money, turn it off with a loud laugh.

1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, Bk. VIII. ch. 12. Never mind that, man! E’en RUN A LEVANT.

1788. G. A. STEVENS, Adv. of a Speculist, i. 96. This [cheating described] at Hazard-table is called LEVANTING.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.). LEVANTING, or RUNNING A LEVANT, an expedient practised by broken gamesters to retrieve themselves, and signifies to bet money at a race, cock-match, etc., without a shilling in their pocket to answer the event. The punishment … is curious: the offender is placed in a large basket …, hoisted up to the ceiling … and … then kept suspended … exposed to derision, during the pleasure of the company.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, i. 244. When he found she’d LEVANTED, the Count of Alsace, At first turned remarkably red in the face.

1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke’s Children, ch. xlix. Was it not clear that a conspiracy might have been made without his knowledge;—and clear also that the real conspirators had LEVANTED?

1883. Referee, 25 March, p. 3, col. 2. The late manager of the ‘Vic.’, it appears, LEVANTED with over £100 of the money belonging to the committee.

1887. Daily Telegraph, 12 March. Whom he would compel to lodge a considerable sum as caution money, so that in the event of one of the body LEVANTING, there would be wherewithal to pay his creditors.

1892. Globe, 2 April, p. 2, col. 1. If he could only lay his hands on LEVANTING Brown!

LEVANT ME! intj. (common).—Used as an imprecation: cf. BLOW ME.

1760. FOOTE, The Minor, i. LEVANT ME, but he got enough last night to purchase a principality amongst his countrymen.

Levanter, subs. (common).—A defaulting debtor; a WELSHER.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes. LEVANTE.… A limlifter, a shifter, an uptaker, a pilfrer.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, II. 168. LEVANTERS. These are of the order and number of Black-Legs.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, p. 5. Here, among the pinks in Rotten-row, the lady-birds in the Saloon, the angelics at Almack’s, the-top-of-the-tree heroes, the legs and LEVANTERS at Tattersal’s, nay, even among the millers at the Fives, it would be taken for nothing less than the index of a complete flat.

1826. HOOD, Whims and Oddities, 1st S. (Backing the Favourite). But she wedded in a canter, And made me a LEVANTER, In foreign lands to sigh for the Favourite! [185]

Level. TO WORK (or ACT) ON A BROAD LEVEL, verb. phr. (American).—To be stable and trustworthy. BROAD-LEVEL PRICE = the lowest fixed price.

Level-best, adj. phr. (colloquial).—The best one can do; the utmost of one’s power.

1879. E. E. HALE, His Level Best [Century]. I said, ‘I’ll do my LEVEL BEST,’ Doctor.

1882. MCCABE, New York, p. 217. I was listening to the aged cove, and trying to do my LEVEL BEST in replying to him.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 1 June. When that core of my heart does her LEVEL BEST to send the toe of her satin boot through the ceiling, then I somehow think the word Daisy is misapplied, however well it may look on a playbill.

1890. Sporting Life, 8 Nov. Both tried their LEVEL BEST.

1892. R. L. STEVENSON and L. OSBOURNE, The Wrecker, p. 154. But you’ll do your LEVEL BEST, Loudon; I depend on you for that. You must be all fire and grit and dash from the word ‘go.’

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 106. I have done my LEVEL BEST to cater for them.

Level-coil. TO PLAY LEVEL-COIL, verb. phr. (old).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1662. WILSON, The Cheats, iv. 2. Mop. She is the Constable’s wife, whom, to be short, the Alderman cuckolds. Jol. Hah! Are you sure of it? Mop. I made her confess that the Alderman and one Bilboe play LEVEL DE COILE with her.

Level-headed, adj. (American).—Well-balanced; steady; judicious.

1870. Golden City (San Francisco: quoted in Orchestra), 12 Aug. Miss Markham is rather quiet off the stage, agreeable in conversation, and doesn’t care much what the censorious world says about her—and herein her HEAD IS LEVEL!

1870. Orchestra, 12 Aug. To tell a woman her HEAD IS LEVEL is apparently a compliment in America, though to call a man a ‘square head’ is to insult him in France.

1879. BRET HARTE, Gabriel Conroy, xxxix. A strong suspicion among men whose HEADS are LEVEL.

1895. N.Y. Press, in Pall Mall Gazette, Sept. 13, p. 7. This people had taken him for a gallant, persistent, even-tempered LEVEL-HEADED gentleman.

Levite, subs. (old).—1. A parson. For synonyms see DEVIL-DODGER.

1663. KILLIGREW, Parson’s Wedding, ii. 4. You uncivil fellow, you come hither to tell my lady of her faults, as if her own LEVITE could not discern ’em.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1849. MACAULAY, Hist. Eng., ch. iii. A young LEVITE—such was the phrase then in use—might be had for his board, a small garret, and ten pounds a year.

2. (old).—A fashionable dress for women (c. 1780). [HORACE WALPOLE: ‘a man’s bed-gown bound round with a belt’].

Levy, subs. (common).—1. A shilling.

2. (American).—See quot.

1834. Atlantic Club-book, II. 120. How is flour up country? They say it is six and four LEVIES, and corn seven and a fip.

1848. BARTLETT, Dict. of Am., s.v. LEVY. Elevenpence. In the State of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, the Spanish real, or eighth part of a dollar, or twelve and a half cents. Sometimes called an elevenpenny bit.

1848. JONES, Sketches of Travel, p. 76. ‘How much do you ax for ’em?’ ses I. ‘Eight boxes for a LEVY,’ ses he. [186]

Lewd infusion, subs. phr. (venery).—The semen. For synonyms see SPENDINGS.

Leystall. See LAYSTALL.

Liar. I’M SOMETHING OF A LIAR MYSELF, phr. (American).—A retort upon Munchausen.

Lib, subs. (old).—1. Sleep. LONG LIB = death.

1622–65. HEAD & KIRKMAN, English Rogue. ‘Bing Out etc.’ By Rum-coves dine For his LONG LIB at last.

2. (common).—A bank-note. For synonyms see FLIMSY.

Verb. (Old Cant).—1. See quots. Also LYP.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p.… LYP, to lie down.

1611. MIDDLETON & DEKKER, Roaring Girl, v. 1. I would LIB all the darkmans.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LIB, c, to tumble and lie together.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LIB, to lie together.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LIB. The coves LIB together, the fellows sleep together.

2. (old).—To castrate.

1590. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Castrare … to LIB.

Libbeg (or Lybbeg), subs. (Old Cant).—See quots. [Gael. leabadh or leabaidh].

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), 65. LYB BEGE, a bed.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). LYBBEG, a bedde.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. p. 50 (1874). LIBEDGE, a Bed.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Libben, subs. (Old Cant).—A private house. Cf. LIBKEN.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Liberty-hall, subs. (colloquial).— A house where every one can do his pleasure.

1778. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, ii. Gentlemen, pray be under no restraint in this house; this is LIBERTY HALL, gentlemen; you may do just as you please here.

1890. HUME NISBET, Bail Up, p. 75. They did not bother with dressing for supper in this LIBERTY HALL.

Lib-ken (or Lypken), subs. (Old Cant).—See quots.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A LYPKEN, a house to lye in.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). LYBKIN, a house to lodge people.

1621. JONSON, Gipsies Metamorphosed. To their LIBKINS at the crackmans.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LIBKEN, c, a House to lye in; also a Lodging.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xliv. These are the fees I always charge a swell that must have his LIB-KEN to himself—thirty shillings a week for lodgings, and a guinea for garnish; half-a-guinea a week for a single bed.

1858. A. MAYHEW, Paved with Gold, III. Bk. ch. i. p. 256. ‘We can sel-’em to the ‘mot’ (landlady) of the LIBB-KEN (lodging-house) for a good deal.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. [187]

Lick, subs. (old).—1. A blow. Hence, HIS LICKS = a thrashing. For synonyms see WIPE.

d. 1701. DRYDEN [quoted by JOHNSON]. He gave me a LICK across the face.

1753. FOOTE, Englishman in Paris, i. I lent him a LICK in his lanthorn-jaws.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. LICK. A low word.

b. 1785. FORBES, Dominie Deposed, 28. He committed all these tricks, For which he well deserv’d his LICKS.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LICK.… I’ll give you a good LICK o’ the chops, I’ll give you a good stroke, or blow on the face.

1786. BURNS, Epistle to W. Simpson, ‘Postscript.’ Frae less to mair it gaed to sticks; Frae words and aiths to clours and nicks, And mony a fallow gat his LICKS, Wi’ hearty crunt.

1821. PIERCE EGAN, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 78. Oh I took him such a LICK of his mummer.

1840. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Ingoldsby Penance.’ I gave him a LICK With a stick, And a kick.

1851–61. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, i. 41. If a cove was to fetch me a LICK of the head, I’d give it him again.

2. (American).—A stroke; hence, an effort; BIG LICKS = hard work.

1847. PORTER, Quarter Race, p. 128. When he returned we were running a twenty-five knot LICK. Ibid. p. 104. He went up the opposite bank at the same LICK, and disappeared. Ibid. p. 94. I struck a LICK back to the log and looked over.

1848. JONES, Sketches of Travel, 189. He could not swim a LICK.

1851. HOOPER, Widow Rugby’s Husband, etc. 62. I can’t swim a LICK—how deep is it.

1863. BRYANT, Comic Songs [quoted by BARTLETT]. At length I went to mining, put in my BIGGEST LICKS, Went down upon the boulders just like a thousand bricks.

1873. Americans at Home, i. 276. Molly war the most enticin’, gizzard-ticklin’, heart-distressin’ feline creatur that ever made a fellar get owdacious; and I seed Tom Seller cavertin’ round her, and puttin’ in the BIGGEST kind a LICKS in the way of courtin’.

1882. MISS BRADDON, Mount Royal, xiii. Then I coiled up, and made up my mind to stay in America, till I’d done some BIG LICKS in the sporting line.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xii. It’ll be a short life and a merry one, though, dad, if we go on BIG LICKS like this.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 36. Stage LICKS.

3. (common).—A drinking bout.

1886. Daily Telegraph, 3 March. More frequently the ‘sowker’ wound up his big LICK in an attack of delirium tremens.

Verb. (common).—1. See quot. 1573.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat, s.v. LYCKE, to beate.

1732. FIELDING, Mock Doctor, Sc. ii. Suppose I’ve a mind he should drub, Whose bones are they, sir, he’s to LICK?

1733. FIELDING, Don Quixote, II. vii. Stand away, landlord, stand away—If I don’t LICK him!

1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, Bk. XV. V. ‘I’ll teach you to father-in-law me. I’ll LICK thy jacket.’

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LICK, to beat: also, to wash, or to paint slightly over. I’ll give you a good LICK of the chops; I’ll give you a good stroke or blow on the face. Jack tumbled into a cow-turd, and nastied his best clothes, for which his father stepped up and LICKED him neatly. I’ll LICK you! the dovetail to which is, If you LICK me all over you won’t miss my arse.

1786. BURNS, ‘Second Epistle to Davie.’ I’m tauld the Muse ye ha’e negleckit; An gif it’s sae, ye suld be LICKET.

b. 1794. WOLCOT (‘Peter Pindar’), 305. And oft … the gentleman would LICK her.

1840. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (The Cenotaph). Chasing him round, and attempting to LICK The ghost of poor Tray with the ghost of a stick.

1843. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), Sam Slick in England, xxii. I would like to LICK him … round the park … to improve his wind, and teach him how to mend his pace. [188]

1846. THACKERAY, Jeames’s Diary (in Punch, x. p. 13). It was Mary Hann who summind the House and put an end to my physty coughs with Fitz warren. I LICKED him and bare him no mallis.

1870. Daily News, 25 Nov. ‘Leader.’ ‘We ought to believe,’ says the Bishop of Carlisle ‘that an Englishman can LICK a Frenchman, a German or any body else.’

1888. Missouri Republican, 2 Feb. I’m a terror from Philadelphia, and I can LICK any man in the world.

1892. Lippincott’s Mag., Oct., p. 500. Till Big-Foot Zekel, who used to laff At his genteel manners, quit his chaff, An’ give out the statement, cold an’ chill, He’d LICK the duffer as used Hank ill.

2. (colloquial).—1. To surpass; to vanquish; and (2) to puzzle or astound. Fr. bouler. [Cf. CREATION, HOLLOW, SHINE etc.].

1864. Derby Day, 39. ‘As sure as the sun shines, Askpart ’ll LICK ’em; if so be,’ he added significantly, ‘as there ain’t no CROSS.’ Ibid. 79. ‘Don’t you know Little un?’ ‘They LICK me,’ answered the trainer.

1871. Durham County Advertizer, 10 Nov. ‘By G—, chum, it LICKS me how the bottom itself did not tumble clean away from the ship.’

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxxi. But in his own line you couldn’t LICK him. Ibid. xxiv. It LICKED me to think it had been hid away all the time.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, 108. ‘Lets hope you’ll draw the winner, Ike,’ said Kingdon. ‘If you do, and Caloola gets LICKED, you can pull us through,’ he laughed.

3. (old).—1. To sleek; (2) TO TITTIVATE (q.v.); (3) to smooth over, with varnish, rouge, and so forth; to fashion.

1594. NASHE, Have With You, etc. [GROSART, iii. 99]. Spending a whole forenoone euerie daie in spunging and LICKING himselfe by the glasse.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LICKT. Pictures new varnished, Houses new whitened, or Women’s faces with a wash.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LICK.

1853. TAYLOR, Life of Haydon, p. 212. Modern cartoons with few exceptions are LICKED (smoothed) and polished intentionally.

4. (American).—To coax.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

TO LICK INTO SHAPE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fashion; to train. [From the popular idea that the bear’s young are born shapeless and are licked into shape by the dam].

1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, i. 3, 1308. A bear’s … most ugly and unnatural … until the dam has LICKED IT INTO SHAPE and form.

1870. Figaro, 6 July. My essay on ‘The Busy Bee’ Wants LICKING INTO FASHION.

TO LICK SPITTLE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fawn upon. Hence, LICKSPITTLE, subs. = a parasite or talebearer.

A LICK AND A PROMISE, subs. phr. (common).—A piece of sloveliness.

TO LICK THE EYE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be well-pleased.

A LICK AND A SMELL, subs. phr. (common).—A DOG’S PORTION (q.v.).

TO LICK THE TRENCHER, verb. phr. (old).—To play the parasite.

1608. WITHAL, Dictionarie, 263. A fellow that can LICKE his lordes or his ladies TRENCHER in one smooth tale or merrie lye, and picke their purses in another.

TO LICK ONE’S DISH, verb. phr. (old).—To drink.—RAY (1767).

Lick-box (-dish, -fingers, -pan, -pot, -sauce, or -trencher), subs. (old).—See quot. 1598; a general epithet of abuse. [189]

1571. GOLDING, Calvin on Ps. (To Reader), p. 9. Not onely LICKTRENCHERS but claw backs, which curry favour with great men by their false appeachings.

1575. Gammer Gurton’s Needle, v. 2. Thou lier LICKDISH, didst not say the neele wold be gitton?

1594. Lochrine, iii. 3. You slop-sauce, LICKFINGERS, will you not hear?

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Leccapiatti, a LICKE-DISH, a scullion in a kitching, a slouen. Ibid. s.v. Leccapignatte, a LICK-POT, scullion … a slouenly greasie fellow.

1602. DECKER, Satiro-mastix, in Works (1873), i. 234. Art hardy, noble Huon? art Magnanimious, LICKE-TRENCHER?

1631. CHETTLE, Hoffman, 1. ii. Liar, liar, LICK-DISH.

1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, ii. ch. xxx. Agamemnon is a LICK-BOX.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

b. 1794. WOLCOT [‘P. Pindar’], Ode upon Ode, in Works (Dublin 1795), vol. i. p. 321. A cobbler, baker, chang’d to a musician, Butlers, LICK-TRENCHERS! my reader roars.

1853. LYTTON, My Novel, Bk. VI. ch. xxiii. He had a passion for independence, which, though pushed to excess, was not without grandeur. No LICK-PLATTER, no parasite, no toad-eater, no literary beggar, no hunter after patronage and subscriptions.

Licker, subs. (common).—Anything monstrous, excessive, or unusual; A WHOPPER (q.v.); A THUMPER (q.v.); A SPANKER (q.v.).

Lickety-split, adv.. (American).—Headlong; violently; FULL CHISEL (q.v.).

1869. H. B. STOWE, Old Town Folks, 358. If they didn’t whip up and go LICKITY-SPLIT down that ’ere hill.

Licking, subs. (common).—A thrashing. For synonyms see TANNING.

1820. COMBE, Syntax, Consolation, C. III. In vulgar terms, he’d had his LICKING, Not with Ma’am’s cuffs, but by her kicking.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, II. 320. What still at your tricking? I see you won’t rest until you’ve got a good LICKING.

1838. C. SELBY, Hunting a Turtle, I owes you a LICKING, so I’ll pay you.

1871. Figaro, 22 April, ‘Public School’ etc. Various punishments that, in schoolboy language, are called ‘woppings,’ LICKINGS, and ‘spankings,’ may be received by the sufferers with a grim John Bullish resolve to endure the pain with a martyr’s fortitude.

1882. F. ANSTEY, Vice-Versâ, v. If I hear of her favouring you more than any other fellows, I’ll give you the very best LICKING you ever had in your life. So look out!

1889. Polytechnic Magazine, 24 Oct. 264. The Wanderers journeyed down to Tottenham, to play the above club, half anticipating a LICKING.

Lick-penny, subs. and adj. (old).—An extortioner.

d. 1450. LYDGATE, London LICK-PENNY (Title).

1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, XXVIII. Law is a LICK-PENNY Mr. Tyrell—no counsellor like the pound in purse.

Lick-spigot, subs. (old).—1. A tapster.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART (1885), v. 300]. Let the cunningest LICKE-SPIGGOT swelt his heart out.

1703. WARD, London Spy, Pt. xv. p. 346. He that Salutes the old LICKS-PIGGOT with other Title than that of Mr. Church-Warden, runs the hazard of paying double Taxes.

2. (venery).—A fellatrix; a COCK-SUCKER (q.v.).

Lick-spittle, subs. (old).—A toady. Fr. un lèche-bottes. For synonyms see SNIDE. Also as verb.

1629. DAVENANT, Albovine, iii. LICK her SPITTLE From the ground. This disguised humility Is both the swift, and safest way to pride. [190]

1729. SWIFT, Libel on Delany and Carteret. His (Pope’s) heart too great, though fortune little, TO LICK a rascal statesman’s SPITTLE.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, xvii. Averring that they were a parcel of sneaks, a set of LICKSPITTLES, and using epithets still more vulgar.

1856. C. BRONTE, Professor, v. You mean, whining LICKSPITTLE!

1857. THACKERAY, Shabby Genteel Story, iii. We call him tuft-hunter, LICKSPITTLE, sneak, unmanly.

1887. HANNAY, Smollett, p. 96. No surgeon was ever quite such a fool, coward, figurant LICK-SPITTLE as Mackshane.

Lick-twat, subs. (old).—A fellator; a CUNNILINGIST (q.v.).

1656. FLETCHER, Martiall, xi. 67. A LICK-TWAT and a fencer too.

Lie, subs. (common).—See WHOLE CLOTH and WHITE LIE.

Verb. (old).—To be in pawn. For synonyms see POP.

1609. Man in the Moon [quoted by NARES, s.v. LIE]. Sir, answered the begger, I have a good suite of apparell in the next village which LIETH not for above eightpence, if you will helpe me to that first I shall thinke myselve beholding unto you.

TO LIE LOW, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To conceal one’s thought, or one’s intentions. Also to keep to one’s bed.

1847. PORTER, Big Bear etc., p. 129. ‘LAY LOW and keep dark,’ says I.

1884. F. ANSTEY, Giant Robe, xxxviii. So you’ve very prudently been LYING LOW till you could get Master Mark off his guard, or till something turned up to help you.

1890. Athenæum, 22 Feb., 241. 2. It becomes clear in the first chapter, or at any rate in the second, that John Ardell’s intended heir is only suppressed, that he is LYING LOW only in a metaphorical sense.

TO LIE OFF, verb. phr. (turf).—To make a waiting race. TO LIE OUT OF ONE’S GROUND = to ‘lie off’ too long, so as to be unable to recover lost ground.

TO LIE AROUND LOOSE, verb. phr. (American).—To loaf; to be out of employment.

TO LIE FLAT, verb. phr. (common).—See TO LIE LOW.

TO LIE LIKE TRUTH, verb. phr. (common).—To lie with verisimilitude and propriety.

1876. HINDLEY, Cheap Jack, 3. The fraternity … are always supposed, and by common consent allowed, to LIE LIKE TRUTH.

TO LIE DOWN, verb. phr. (old).—To be brought to bed.

1582. LYLY, Euphues and his England [quoted by NARES]. I have brought into the world two children: of the first I was delivered before my friends thought me conceived; of the second, I went a whole yeere big, and yet when every one thought me ready to LIE DOWN, I did then quicken.

1720. The Hartlepool Tragedy [quoted by NARES]. I promis’d her fair, that I would take care Of her and her infant, and all things prepare At Hartlepool town, where she should LIE DOWN; Poor soul she believ’d me, as always she’d done.

TO LIE IN, verb. phr. (Royal Military Academy).—To keep one’s room when supposed to be out on leave.

TO LIE IN STATE, verb. phr. (venery).—To lie between two women.

LIE WITH A LATCHET (or LIE MADE OF WHOLE CLOTH) (common).—An out-and-out falsehood. Also LIE LAID ON WITH A TROWEL. [191]

1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, v. ch. 30. If you hearken to those who will tell you the contrary, you’ll find yourselves damnably mistaken, for that’s a LIE WITH A LATCHET; though ’twas Ælian, that long-bow man, that told you so, never believe him, for he lies as fast as a dog can trot.

1672. RAY, Proverbial Phrases, 200. That’s a LIE WITH A LATCHET, All the dogs in the town cannot match it.

A LIE NAILED TO THE COUNTER, subs. phr. (common).—A detected falsehood or slander.

1888. Texas Siftings, 20 Oct. ‘That LIE WAS NAILED a good while ago.’ ‘I know it,’ chuckled the C. L., ‘but it is easy enough to pull out the nail.’

1888. Denver Republican, 6 May. The La Junta Tribune has scooped all the papers in the State by NAILING THE first campaign LIE this season.

Lie-abed, subs. (colloquial).—A sluggard.

1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garratt, i. If you had got up time enough, you might have secured the stage, but you are a lazy LIE-A-BED.

1859. READE, Love Me Little &c., x. David was none of your LIE-A-BEDS. He rose at five in summer, six in winter.

Life. See BET and DEATH.

Life-preserver, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A slung shot.—MATSELL (1859).

2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Lifer, subs. (thieves’).—1. See quot. 1838. Also, a LAG (q.v.) for life. Fr. un fagot à perte de vue; un bonnet vert à perpète.

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xliii. ‘If they don’t get any fresh evidence, it’ll only be a summary conviction, and we shall have him back again after six weeks or so; but, if they do, it’s a case of lagging. They know what a clever lad he is; he’ll be a LIFER. They’ll make the Artful nothing less than a LIFER.’ ‘What do yer mean by lagging and a LIFER?’ demanded Mr. Bolter.… Being interpreted, Mr. Bolter would have been informed that they represented that combination of words, ‘transportation for life.’

1885. Ency. Brit., xix. 756. LIFERS cannot claim any remission, but their cases are brought forward at the end of twenty years.

1892. HUME NISBET, p. 266. ‘He has money enough, I am sure, raking in the thousands as he does.’ ‘So he has, and so have many old LIFERS.’

2. (thieves’).—Penal servitude for life.

Lift, subs. (old).—1. A thief. Also LIFTER.

1592. GREENE, Quip, in Works, xi. 243. A receiver for LIFTS, and a dishonorable supporter of cut purses.

1600. Sir John Oldcastle, ii. 2. I’se poor Irishman; I’se a LEAFTER.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Troilus and Cressida, i. 2. Is he so young a man and so old a LIFTER.

1608. DEKKER, Belman of London, in Works (GROSART), III. 146. He that first stealeth the parcell is called the LIFT.

1608. Penniless Parliament, in Harl. Misc. (ed. PARK), I. 182. To the great impoverishing of all nimmers, LIFTERS, and cut-purses.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (PARK), ii. 108, s.v.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, II. 138, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (thieves’).—A theft; plunder; SWAG (q.v.). Also LIFTING.

1592. GREENE, A Disputation [GROSART (1881–6), x. 227]. We practise … among merchaunt taylors … getting much gains by LIFTING.

1852. JUDSON, Mysteries etc. of New York, ch. IV. When I hear of the boys making a large LIFT, I always envy them. [192]

3. (colloquial).—Assistance in general: as, a LIFT in a vehicle; a LIFT in life. Also LIFTING.

1711. SWIFT, Journal to Hella, 5 April, Letter 20. I … then took a coach and got a LIFT back for nothing.

1759. STERNE, Tristram Shandy, I. vii. Whose distress, and silence under it, call out the louder for a friendly LIFT.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LIFT. To give one a LIFT, to assist; a good hand at a dead LIFT, a good hand on an emergency.

1796. J. G. HOLMAN, Abroad and at Home, i. 1. Young T. Yes, Sir Simon, so they tell me; but for all that, don’t d— trade; for I don’t think as how you’d ha’ been a gentleman and a knight if the money you got by the warehouse had not given you a bit of a LIFT.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xxxv. p. 307. There was a constant succession of Christian names in smock frocks and white coats, who were invited to have a LIFT by the guard, and who knew every horse and hostler on the road and off it.

1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-Days, Pt. I. v. You know my old aunt, Miss East, she lives somewhere down your way in Berkshire. She wrote to me that you were coming to-day, and asked me to give you a LIFT.

1873. Notes and Queries, 4 S. xii. 16 Aug. p. 128. As she was toiling along the high-road to Oxford, she was overtaken by a student of the University on horseback. He offered her a LIFT, which she accepted.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xl. Grateful to Maddie for giving him this LIFT.

1892. S. WATSON, Wops the Waif, p. 9. Glad of the LIFT Tickle stood on the edge of a broad ledge at the side of the pavement.

4. (football).—A kick.

Verb. (old).—1. To steal; TO CONVEY (q.v.); specifically to steal cattle and horses.

1591. GREENE, Second Part Conny-catching [GROSART, vol. x. p. 118]. Some base roges that LIFT when they come into Alehouses quart potts, platters … or any such paltrie trash, which commonly is called pilfering.

1600. JONSON, Cynthia’s Revels, i. 1. One other peculiar virtue you possess in LIFTING, or leiger-du-main.

1817. SCOTT, Rob. Roy, xxvi. Live by stealing, reiving, LIFTING cows.

1852. JUDSON, Mysteries etc. of New York, iii. ch. 7, p. 47. Well, old gal, wot’s the swag! Wot ’ave you LIFTED.

1863. Fun, iv. 34. Mosstroopers bold did horses LIFT at some fierce Baron’s order.

1883. G. A. SALA, in Ill. L. News, Nov. 24, p. 499, col. 1. ‘Paley’s Natural Theology’ is, from beginning to end, based on the lines of the Dutchman, whose very language has, in many instances, been coolly LIFTED by the English Church dignitary.

1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 19 April, p. 6, col. 1. The pushing and struggling of all this miscellaneous mass at bushy parts of the road, where it got mixed up with the eighty head of cattle which Mr. Stanley had LIFTED.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack Room Ballads, ‘The Lament of The Border Cattle Thief.’ And heaved me into the central jail For LIFTING of the kine.

2. (printers’).—To transfer.

1891. Answers, 28 March. One of the first journalistic duties I ever had to perform was that of replying to the ‘Correspondents’ on a new weekly newspaper attached to a daily, from which nearly all the matter was LIFTED.

3. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LIFT. LIFT the poor cove, he is almost lenten, help the poor fellow, he is almost starved.

4. (sporting).—To break (in a walking race) into an unfair pace.

TO LIFT ONE’S HAND (ELBOW, LITTLE FINGER, etc.), verb. phr. (common).—To drink. Also see LEG, ante. For synonyms see DRINKS.—GROSE (1823). [193]

TO LIFT HAIR, verb. phr. (American).—To scalp.

1848. RUXTON, Life in the Far West, 23. LIFT as much HAIR as they could.

1868. Congressional Report, 17 Aug. The Arrapahoes were not after stealing cattle but after LIFTING HAIR.

ON THE LIFT, adv. phr. (American).—On the move; ready to depart.

Lifter, subs. (old).—1. A thief. See LIFT, subs., sense 1.

2. in pl. (old).—A crutch.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Lift-leg, subs. (old).—Strong ale; STINGO (q.v.).

Lig, subs. (old).—1. A bed.—New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785). (2) A bedstead.—MATSELL (1859). See LIB.

2. (provincial).—A lie.

Ligby, subs. (old).—A bedfellow: specifically a concubine. Cf. LUDBY and LOTEBY.

1632. BROME, Northern Lass. Con. He is wed already, sir. Another wife would gar him be put down at gallows; and I would not be she for all the worldly good that e’re I saw with both mine eyen. And o’ my conscience I’ll be none of his LIGBY, for twise so mickle.

1684. LACY, Sauny the Scot, ii. 1. He means to make one of your lasses his wench—that is, his love and his LIGBY.

Light, subs. (common).—1. Credit. TO GET A LIGHT = to get credit; TO HAVE ONE’S LIGHT PUT OUT = to exhaust one’s credit; to go STONY (q.v.).

2. (colloquial).—A model; an example: generally SHINING LIGHT.

1871. Figaro, 15 April. ‘A Lay of a Chelsea Bus.’ And still the LIGHT seemed ill at ease, And knocked his fists upon his knees. Ibid. ‘Another’ was a SHINING LIGHT; His tie was limp, and once was white.

3. in. pl. (pugilistic).—The eyes. Also DAYLIGHTS (q.v.) and TOP-LIGHTS (q.v.).

1820. J. H. REYNOLDS (‘P. Corcoran’), The Fancy, 72. She knew a smart blow, from a handsome giver Could darken LIGHTS.

4. in pl. (common).—A fool. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

Adj. (old).—Wanton. Hence, LIGHT-GIVEN (BURTON, Anat.) = lewd of habit; LIGHT-HEELED (q.v.); LIGHT-O’-LOVE (q.v.); LIGHT-SKIRTS, (q.v.); and so forth.

1538. ELYOT, Dictionary, s.v. Meretrix, An harlot, a brothel, an hoore, a strompet, a LIGHT housewyfe.

1567. EDWARDS, Damon & Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 50]. Believe her not, she is a LIGHT goddess; she can laugh and low’r.

1594. BARNFIELD, Hellen’s Rape or a LIGHT Lanthorne for LIGHT Ladies (ed. ARBER), p. 38, in title.

1594. NASHE, Dido, Queen of Carthage [GROSART (1885), VI. 33]. I feare me, Dido hath been counted LIGHT, In being too familiar with Iarbas.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Second Henry IV, i. 1. He hath the horn of abundance, and the LIGHTNESS of his wife shines through it. Idem, i. 2. Not so, my lord; your ill angel is LIGHT.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Femina red monate, A bad LIGHT woman.

1599. PORTER, Two Angry Women [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iv. 367]. Hark ye, maid, if [a] maid, are ye so LIGHT, That you can see to wander in the night?

1621. BURTON, Anatomy (ed. 1893), i. 479. I write not this to patronize any wanton idle flirt, lascivious or LIGHT [194]housewives, which are too forward many times.

1669. DAVENANT, Man’s the Master, iv. i. I’m a very LIGHT hus-wife.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1694. CROWNE, Married Beau, i. 1. Here’s my wife! see! she is no LIGHT piece.

1855. BROWNING, Men and Women, Vol. i. A ‘LIGHT Woman’ (Title).

TO PUT OUT ONE’S LIGHT, verb. phr. (common).—To kill. Also see subs., sense 1.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, v. 2. Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then—PUT OUT THE LIGHT?

1619. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Maid’s Tragedy, iv. 1. Evad. You will not murder me? Mel. No; ’tis a justice, and a noble one, TO PUT THE LIGHT OUT of such base offenders.

1868. Temple Bar, xxiv. 539. Hocussing is putting a chap to sleep with chloroform, and bellowing is PUTTING HIS LIGHT OUT.

1884. Graphic, 27 Sept., p. 315, col. 2. So now, the malefactor does not murder, he ‘pops a man off’, or PUTS HIS LIGHT OUT.

1891. Morning Advertizer, 3 April. The prisoners called him a ‘blackleg,’ and a O’Connor said if he went to work again he would PUT HIS LIGHT OUT.

1891. Star, 10 Feb., p. 3, col. 6. He had been heard to say, ‘I should like to PUT HER LIGHT OUT,’ and had fired at her bed-room window.

TO HOLD A LIGHT (or CANDLE) TO THE DEVIL. See DEVIL.

TO LIGHT THE LUMPER. See LUMPER.

TO LIGHT OUT, verb. phr. (American).—See quot. 1882.

1882. Notes and Queries, 6 S.v. 65. ‘Words & Phrases in Use in the Far West.’ LIGHT OUT, same as ‘Skin out’.… To leave secretly and hastily as when pursued by an enemy.

1884. M. TWAIN, Huckleberry Finn, ch. i. p. 2. So when I couldn’t stand it no longer, I LIT OUT.

1890. GUNTER, Miss Nobody, p. 34. LIGHT OUT as if hell were behind you.

1890. Scribner’s Magazine, Feb., p. 493. I want to jes turn in And take and LIGHT right OUT o’ here and get back West ag’in.

Light-blue, subs. (old).—Gin. For synonyms see DRINKS and SATIN.

1820. REYNOLDS (‘Peter Corcoran’), The Fancy.… Never again I’ll cultivate LIGHT-BLUE or brown inebriety.

1822. Randall’s Scrapbook.… My brain-box is airy with Deady’s LIGHT-BLUE.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

Light-bob, subs. (military).—1. A light infantry soldier. For synonyms see MUD-CRUSHER.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1846. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xxiv. Mr. Stubble, as may be supposed from his size and slenderness, was of the LIGHT-BOBS.

1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General Bounce, xi. ‘A LIGHT-BOB on each side, with his arms sloped.’

1870. Daily Telegraph, 27 Sept. ‘On the Superior Education of the German Soldier.’ It was true that the German LIGHT-BOB was an assistant judge in the Berlin Court.

2. in pl. (military).—The Forty-third Foot.

Lighter. See LUMP.

Light-fantastic, subs. (common).—Dancing; e.g., ‘To work THE LIGHT FANTASTIC’. [Cf. MILTON, l’Allegro: Come and trip it as you go On the LIGHT FANTASTIC TOE]. Fr. la sauterie.

1843. STIRLING COYNE, Binks the Bagman, i. 1. Then you’re fond of sporting on THE LIGHT FANTASTIC. [195]

1848. RUXTON, Life In The Far West, 47. Sport a figure on THE LIGHT FANTASTIC TOE.

1855. STRANG, Glasgow and its Clubs, 150. In evening dress, muslins, which were then expensive, were much patronised by those who tripped on the LIGHT FANTASTIC TOE.

1892. GUNTER, Miss Dividends, ix. ‘You dance very nicely;’ she murmurs. ‘Yes, for a man who has not tripped THE LIGHT FANTASTIC for years.’

Light-feeder, subs. (thieves’).—A silver spoon.

Light-fingered, adj. (colloquial).—Dextrous in stealing; given to thieving.

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 167]. I must say more, Your son is suspect LIGHT-FINGERED to be.

1592. GREENE, Defence of Conny-catching [GROSART (1881–6), xi. 97]. A … Taylor, famous for his art, but noted for his filchinge, which although he was LIGHT-FINGERD, yet … he was much sought.

1607–9. DAMPIER, Voyages, ii. 1. 14. The Tonguinese being very LIGHT-FINGERED.

1630. THOS. ADAMS, Workes, 170. ‘The Fatal Banket! Is any tradesman LIGHT-FINGERED, and lighter conscienced? Here [Stolen waters are sweet] is a whole feast of Fraudes, a table furnished with Trickes, conveyances, glossings, perjuries, cheatinges.’

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LIGHT-FINGERED, thievish, apt to pilfer.

c. 1868–9. W. S. GILBERT, Bohemian Girl. And yet I’ve heard you called LIGHT-FINGERED gentry.

Light-frigate, subs. (old).—A woman of loose morals.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725).

Light-heeled, adj. (old).—1. Wanton.

c. 1633. Lady Alimony, ii. 6. Lose a LIGHT-HEELED trull—That in my judgment’s nothing.

1640. The Bride, Sig G. She is sure a LIGHT-HEELD wench.

1661. DAVENPORT, City Nightcap, ii. Who have heavier heads than those whose wives have LIGHT HEELS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LIGHT-HEELED … a LIGHT-HEELED wench, one who is apt by the flying up of her heels, to fall flat on her back—a willing wench.

2. (old).—See quot.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 47]. A LIGHT-HEELED mother maketh a heavy-heeled daughter. Because she doth all her work herself, and her daughter meantime sitting idle, contracts a habit of sloth. Mère piteuse fait sa fille rogneuse = a tender mother breeds a scabby daughter.

Light-heels. See LIGHT-SKIRTS.

Light-house, subs. (old).—A red-nosed man.—GROSE (1823). [Cf. SHAKSPEARE, I Henry IV, iii. 3. ‘Thou art our Admiral, thou bearest the lantern in the poop.’ etc.].

Light-infantry, subs. (common).—Fleas; F SHARPS (q.v.). Cf. HEAVY DRAGOONS. Fr. la sauterelle and la sauteuse.

Lightmans, subs. (Old Cant).—See quots. Cf. DARKMANS = night. Fr. le matois; It. specchio.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), 65. The LIGHTMANS, the day.

1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight. If we … dup but the gigger of a country-cove’s ken, from thence at the chats we trine in the LIGHTMANS.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). LIGHTMANS, the day.

1611. MIDDLETON and DEKKER, Roaring Girle, v. 1. Oh, I would lib all the LIGHTMANS.

1663. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. v. 50 (1874). LIGHTMANS, Morning or Day. [196]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict. LIGHTMANS, (break of) day.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Lightness, subs. (old).—Wantonness: see LIGHT, adj.

1614. COOK, City Gallant [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), XI. 254]. Kindness is termed LIGHTNESS in our sex.

Lightning, subs. (old).—Gin. FLASH OF LIGHTNING (or CLAP OF THUNDER) = a glass of gin. For synonyms see DRINKS and SATIN.

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 154. Noggin of LIGHTNING. A quartern of gin.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

1838. T. E. WILKS, John Smith, i. 2. Sometimes we have a little bet as well, but nothing to speak of—some heavy or a FLASH OF LIGHTNING.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 160. He would … express his desire to add … the stimulant of a FLASH OF LIGHTNING.

Light-o’-love, subs. (colloquial).—A wanton.

1589. NASHE, Anat. of Absurditie, in Wks. (GROSART), I. 14. As there was a loyall Lucretia, so there was a LIGHT A LOVE Lais.

1592. GREENE, Quip for Up. Courtiers, Bz. 6. Next them grew the dissembling daisie, to warn such LIGHT O’ LOVE wenches, not to trust every faire promise that such amorous bachelors make them.

1599. PORTER, Two Angry Women [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), VII. 295]. Foul strumpet, LIGHT-A-LOVE, short-heels.

1605. London Prodigal, ii. 1. I hate a LIGHT O’ LOVE, as I hate death.

1620. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Chances, i. 4. Sure he has encountered Some LIGHT O’ LOVE or other, and there means To play at in and in for this night.

1652. FLETCHER, Wild-Goose Chase, iv. 1. One of your London LIGHT O’ LOVES, a right one! Came over in these pumps, and half a petticoat.

1840. MARK LEMON, Lost And Won, i. 2. Now though Mistress Leyton never oversteps the bounds of modesty, yet it does look so much like what they would do were she a LIGHT OF LOVE.

1874. OUIDA, Two Wooden Shoes, xxiii. You were spared a bad thing, lad; the child was that grand painter’s LIGHT-O’-LOVE, that is plain to see.

Light-skirts, subs. (old).—A strumpet. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART. Also LIGHT-HEELS.

1602. COOKE, How [to] Choose a Good Wife etc. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 53]. I’ll tell my mistress as soon as I come home That mistress LIGHT-HEELS comes to dinner tomorrow.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 118]. Hath not Shore’s wife, although a LIGHT-SKIRTS she, Giv’n him a chaste, long-lasting memory? Ibid. 127. You LIGHT-SKIRT stars.… By gloomy light perk out your doubtful heads.

1612. Passenger of Benvenuto [quoted by NARES]. F. The purse serves for an art; but if I should briefly tell thee, what punkish art derived from her progenitors this LIGHT-SKIRTS used towards me, thou wouldest laugh.

c. 1633. Lady Alimony, ii. 6. That LIGHT-SKIRT, with impetuous heat, Sometimes pursu’d me.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 64]. A whore, a LIGHT-SKIRTS.

1834. TAYLOR, Ph. van Art., pt. II. iii. 3. Oh, she’s a LIGHT SKIRTS! yea, and at this present A little, as you see, concern’d with liquor.

Light-troops, subs. (old).—Lice.

1823. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. The LIGHT-TROOPS are in full march. [197]

Light-weight, adj. (American).—1. Of little importance; weak.

2. (pugilists’).—Under twelve stone.—GROSE (1823).

Light-wet, subs. (old).—Gin. For synonyms see DRINKS and SATIN.

1822. Randall’s Scrap-book. Pure and clear rose the beads on the glass of LIGHT-WET.

Like. This word enters into numerous combinations indicating energetic, rapid, or intense action, motion, and thought. The chief are:—

LIKE (or AS) ANYTHING; A BASKET OF CHIPS; BEANS; BILLY-HO; A BIRD; BLAZES; BOOTS, or OLD BOOTS; BRICKS, or A THOUSAND, or A CART-LOAD OF BRICKS; A DOG IN A FAIR; FUN; A HOUSE ON FIRE; HELL; HOT CAKE; MAD; ONE O’CLOCK; SHIT TO A SHOVEL; A SHOT; A STREAK; THUNDER; THE VERY DEVIL; A TOM-TIT ON A HORSE-TURD; WINKEY or WINKY. (Fr. comme la bourrique à Robespierre).

1542. UDALL, Erasmus Apoph., p. 32. The young maiden, where the lokers on quaked and trembled for feare, daunced without any feare at all emong sweardes and kniues, beyng as sharpe AS ANYTHYNG.

1690. The Pagan Prince [quoted by NARES]. So that the Belgians, hearing what a clutter the Albionians made of their victory which they had got but by one spot of a die, they fell a making a bonfires and fire-works LIKE MAD, and rejoicing and triumphing for the great victory.

1690. CROWNE, English Friar, iii. As soon as ever the stop of coaches is over, my lady will drive LIKE MAD.

d. 1703. PEPYS, Diary, II. 6. A mad coachman that drove LIKE MAD.

d. 1704. LESTRANGE [Century]. A bear, enraged at the stinging of a bee, ran LIKE MAD into the bee-garden, and overturned all the hives.

1716. CROKER, Suff. Cor., i. 8. [Tell] dear Molly I like her LIKE ANYTHING.

1740. RICHARDSON, Pamela, ii. 57. O my dear father and mother, I fear your girl will grow as proud AS ANYTHING.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 23. But a pelt in the smeller … set it going LIKE FUN. Ibid. 25. The whole populace flashed the white grin LIKE A BASKET OF CHIPS.

1835. DICKENS, Sketches, 139. Bump they cums agin the post, and out flies the fare LIKE BRICKS.

1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, 2. The breeze struck us, and it came on to blow LIKE THUNDER. Ibid. We were bowling along right before it, rolling LIKE THE VERY DEVIL.

1837. BARHAM, I. L. (Jackdaw of Rheims). That little Jackdaw kept hopping about, Here and there, LIKE A DOG IN A FAIR, Over comfits and cakes, And dishes and plates. (Ibid. Witches’ Frolic). Old goody Jones All skin and bones, Follows LIKE WINKING. Ibid. (Misadv. at Margate). The tear-drop in his little eye again began to spring, His bosom throbb’d with agony, he cried LIKE ANYTHING. Ibid. (Ingoldsby Penance). For the Friar to his skirts closely sticks, ‘Running after him,’—so said the Abbot,—LIKE BRICKS!

1845. B. DISRAELI, Sybil or The Two Nations, 330. Syllabubs LIKE BLAZES, and snapdragon as makes the flunkeys quite pale.

1847. ROBB, Squatter Life, 37. He lit upon the upper town and its member LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICK!

1850. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairlegh, 204. Tapping his claret for him, as the pugilists call it, and sending him down LIKE A SHOT.

1851. MAYHEW, London Labour and London Poor, III. p. 159. She liked this very much, in fact so much, that the other little ones used to cry LIKE BLAZES because I wouldn’t let them have a turn at them [the stilts]. Ibid. i. 29. He trotted on LIKE ONE O’CLOCK.

d. 1859. DE QUINCEY, Spanish Nun, sect. 24. The horse was so maddened by the wound, and the road so steep, that he went LIKE BLAZES.

1860. New Orleans Picayune, 27 April (Police Report). When it came to the breakdown, Your Honor, he kicked up a row like a drove of contrary mules, and when we wanted to [198]turn him out, he fell upon us LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICKS, and threatened to make minced meat of the police and every one of us.

1864. Western World, 5 March. ‘When Mr. Nye had finished, Mr. Stewart rose, and with his irresistible logic and impressive language came down upon him LIKE A THOUSAND OF BRICKS, till he was utterly crushed and demolished.’

1868. MISS BRADDON, Sir Jasper, xxvii. p. 282. I’ll stick to you LIKE OLD BOOTS.

1869. W. S. GILBERT, Bab Ballads, ‘Captain Reece.’ If ever they were dull or sad, The Captain danced to them LIKE MAD.

1873. CARROLL, Through a Looking Glass, iv. 73. They wept LIKE ANYTHING to see such quantities of sand.

1874. Saturday Review, Jan., 55. An Oxford man, nay even a Balliol man … introduced in the story a pleasing change by such a phrase as jawing away LIKE OLD BOOTS.

1883. Graphic, 17 March, 287, 1. Nevertheless, this solid fare disappeared, with the beer, LIKE WINKING.

1888. Puck’s Library, 15. ‘Will go LIKE HOT CAKES.’ Book Seller (to Clerk). ‘Haven’t we an overstock of ‘Jack, the Giant Killer,’ on hand, James?’ Clerk. ‘Yes, sir.’ Book Seller. ‘Well, take ’m up to the Polo Grounds this afternoon; they’ll sell fast enough there.’

1890. GUNTER, Miss Nobody, 153. ‘Second National Bank LIKE A STREAK,’ screams the new-made lord to the driver.

1891. MRS. LOVETT-CAMERON, in Lippincott, Aug., p. 142. ‘He’s as fit as a fiddle, miss,’ said Griggs, admiringly, as Susan kissed her old friend’s satin coat with enthusiasm, ‘and he’ll carry you LIKE A BIRD to-morrow.’

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 57. I’d be there, LIKE A SHOT. Ibid. 33. I jest blew away LIKE OLD BOOTS.

LIKE ONE O’CLOCK HALF STRUCK, phr. (common).—Hesitatingly.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 19. He stands LIKE ONE O’CLOCK HALF-STRUCK.

LIKE A WHALE. See WHALE.

LIKE CHRISTMAS BEEF. See BEEF.

LIKE A BIRCH-BROOM IN A FIT. See BIRCH-BROOM.

I LIKE THAT! phr. (common).—A derisive answer to a questionable statement: e.g. ‘I am a capital pedestrian.’ ‘I like that!’

YOU TALK LIKE A HALFPENNY BOOK (or PENNY BOOK), adv. phr. (common).—Said in derision of a fluent or affected speaker.

Likeness, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LIKENESS, a phrase used by thieves when the officers … are examining their countenances; as, ‘the traps are taking our LIKENESS.’

Lil (or Lill), subs. (common).—A book; a document of any kind; a five pound note. In America a dollar. [Gypsy: cf. BORROW, Romano-lavo-lil = Gypsy Word Bk.]. See quots.

1821. D. HAGGART, Life’s Glossary, 172. LIL, a pocket-book.

1851. G. BORROW, Lavengro, xvii. p. 63 (1888). The more shame for you—a snake-fellow—a horse witch—and a LIL READER—yet you can’t shift for yourself.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LIL, a pocket-book. LILL, a bad bill.

Lilliputian, subs. (colloquial).—A dwarf.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

Lily-Benjamin, subs. (common).—A white great coat. See BENJAMIN.

Lily-liver, subs. (common).—A coward.

1863. THACKERAY, Roundabout Papers, xii. When people were yet afraid [199]of me, and were taken in by my swagger, I always knew that I was a LILY-LIVER, and expected that I should be found out some day.

Lily-livered, adj. (old).—cowardly; dastardly.

1605–6. SHAKSPEARE, King Lear, ii. 2. Osw. What dost thou know me for? Kent. A knave; a rascal; a LILY-LIVERED, action-taking knave.

1857. A. TROLLOPE, Barchester Towers, xiv. You will not be so LILY-LIVERED as to fall into this trap which he has baited for you.

Lily of St. Clements. See ST. CLEMENTS.

Lily-shallow, subs. (common).—A white driving hat.—GROSE (1823).

Lilywhite, subs. (old).—1. A negro; a chimney-sweep.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LILLY WHITE, a chimney sweep.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 45. Show the LILYWHITES fair play.

2. in pl. (military).—The Seventeenth Foot [from its facings]. Also, BENGAL TIGERS (q.v.). Also, the Fifty-ninth Foot.

Lillywhite groat, subs. (common).—A shilling. For synonyms see BOB.

1894. Daily Bourse, 13 Sept., p. 1. For instance, a ‘man,’ starting with 6s. a week, and, after six years, finding himself in possession of weekly wages amounting to 19s., say nineteen shillings, can assuredly have no legitimate cause for complaint.… Fancy nineteen ‘LILLYWHITE GROAT’ a week, and not to be satisfied!

Limb, subs. (old).—1. A mischievous child; an imp. Also (in depreciation to older persons) LIMB OF SATAN &c.

1589. NASHE, Martin’s Month’s Mind [GROSART (1883–4), i. 155]. He that is termed Satan … and a very LIMM of him.

1625. JONSON, Staple of News, iii. 2. She had it from a LIMB o’ the school, she says, a little limb of nine year old.

1706. R. ESTCOURT, Fair Example, iii. 2. p. 34. Blood and thunder! I’ll broil ye, you LIMB OF SATAN.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiv. Meg Merrilies, the old DEVIL’S LIMB of a gipsy witch.

1862. CALVERLEY, Verses & Translations, p. 7. He was what nurses call a LIMB.

1864. Derby Day, p. 68. You LIMB OF BRIMSTONE; just let me get hold of you.

1880. G. R. SIMS, Ballads of Babylon (Little Jim). Our little Jim Was such a LIMB His mother scarce could manage him.

1892. ANSTEY, Model Music Hall Songs, p. 94. Now I’ve grown into an awful young LIMB.

2. (American colloquial).—A leg.

1720. RAMSAY, The Scribbler’s Lashed, p. 8. If Nellie’s hoop be twice as wide As her two pretty LIMBS can stride.

1857. REV. A. C. GEIKIE, Canadian Journal, Sept. If we know anything of English conversation or letters, we speedily find out, even if stone blind, that British men and women have arms and legs, But in Canada … he would learn that both sexes have LIMBS of some sort … but he could not tell whether their LIMBS were used to stand on or hold by.

1858. Pittsburg Chronicle, June. The poor brute [a horse] fell … fracturing his LIMB.

1861. O. W. HOLMES, Elsie Venner, vii. ‘A bit of the wing, Rovy, or of—the under LIMB?’ The first laugh broke out at this.

1867. UPHAM, Witchcraft, ii. 248. One of her lower LIMBS was fractured in the attempt to rescue her from the prison walls.

1870. R. G. WHITE, Words & their Uses, s.v. LIMB for LEG. Perhaps these persons think that it is indelicate for women to have legs. [200]

1872. DE VERE, Americanisms. LIMB, instead of LEG, one of the ludicrous evidences of the false prudishness prevailing in certain classes of American society.

3. in pl. (common).—A gawk. Also DUKE or DUCHESS OF LIMBS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LIMBS.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Verb. (common).—To cheat.

1878. HATTON, Cruel London, Bk. II. ch. v. ‘They have had me, bless you,’ said Bragford, ‘the men who have LIMBED you and cursed the hand that fed them.’

LIMB OF THE LAW, subs. phr. (old).—A lawyer or lawyer’s clerk. Also LIMB.

1762. SMOLLETT, Sir L. Greaves, I. ii. Then fixing his eyes upon Ferret, he proceeded—‘An’t you a LIMB OF THE LAW, friend?’

1770. FOOTE, Lame Lover, iii. Sir Luke. Well said, my young LIMB OF THE LAW.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1786–1805. HORNE TOOKE, Div. of Purley, ii. ch. 4. LIMB is from the A.S. verb Limpian, pertinere.… ‘Limb of the Body, LIMB OF THE LAW,’ etc.

1818–24. EGAN, Boxiana, iii. 210. Jack and his pal, a LIMB OF THE LAW, were screwed up the whole of the darkey in the compter.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xliii. p. 377. ‘Now, Sammy, I know a gen’l’m’n here, as’ll do the rest o’ the bisness for us, in no time—a LIMB O’ THE LAW, Sammy, as has got brains like the frogs, dispersed all over his body … a friend of the Lord Chancellorship’s, Sammy.’

1889. Cassell’s Saturday Journal, 9 Feb., p. 471. That good-looking LIMB OF THE LAW who went wild over you.

TO MINGLE LIMBS, verb. phr. (old).—To copulate.

1629. DAVENANT, Albovine, iv. I’st fit I proffer her TO MINGLE LIMBS?

Limbo, subs. (old).—1. A prison; a place of confinement. [From limbus patrum = purgatory]. See CAGE and SLOWED.

1553. LINDSAY, The Dreme [LAING (1879), i. 14. 360]. That was the LYMBE in the quhilk did remaine.

1592. GREENE, Quip, in Works, xi. 253. That reprobate is the vserers executioner, to bring such gentlemen to LIMBO, as he hath overthrowne with his base brocage.

1653. BROME, Damoiselle, iii. 1. Had I raked LIMBO as I did the compter.

1664. ETHEREGE, Comical Revenge, v. 4, in Wks. (1704), 78. Sir Fred. No consideration; dispatch, or to LIMBO. Whead. Was there ever such a dilemma? I shall rot in prison.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LIMBO.

1796. J. G. HOLMAN, Abroad & at Home, ii. 3. Har. Captain O’Neill, my friend, Jack Flourish, is a very whimsical fellow. If he had been out of LIMBO, you would have seen him earlier.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, iii. 5. Never desert an old pal in LIMBO, Bob.

1836. MARRYAT, Japhet, lxviii. Who would soon have found out that I had two legs, and have put me into LIMBO as an impostor.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iv. 263. It was a heartless, cruel robbery on his part, and had brought ill-luck on him ever since. Before that occurred he had never been in LIMBO.

2. (old).—A pawnshop; UNCLE’S (q.v.): IN LIMBO = in pawn.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, ii. 1. I let him have all my ready money, to redeem his great sword from LIMBO.

1754. D. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., 2nd ed. s.v.

3. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Limburger. See CHEESE. [201]

Lime-basket. TO BE DRY AS A LIME-BASKET, verb. phr. (common).—To be very dry; TO SPIT SIXPENCES (q.v.). Also to have HOT COPPERS (q.v.).

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist. He wished he might be basted if he warn’t AS DRY AS A LIMEBASKET.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, 136. ‘That infernal swanky has left me AS DRY AS A LIME KILN,’ cried out my companion.

Lime-juice, subs. (Australian). See quots.

1886. E. WAKEFIELD, in Nineteenth Century, August, 173. In these Colonies [Australia], where pretty nearly every one has made several sea voyages, that subject is strictly tabooed in all rational society. To dilate upon it is to betray a ‘new chum’—what they call in Australia a LIME JUICE.

1887. All the Year Round, 30 July, 66. A young man newly arrived in the Colonies from the old country is styled a new Chum or a LIME-JUICE.

Limejuicer, subs. (American nautical).—A British ship or sailor. [In allusion to the lime-juice served out as an anti-scorbutic].

1881. International Rev., xi. 525. You LIMEJUICERS have found that Richmond is taken.

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 26 Aug. They would not go on a LIMEJUICER, they said, for anything.

Limetwig, subs. (old).—1. A snare; a trick. Hence (2) any means of swindling. Also as adj.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART (1885), ii. 24]. Thus walks he vp and downe … and … busies himselfe in setting siluer LIME TWIGS to entangle young gentlemen.

1592. GREENE, Black Books Messenger [GROSART (1881–6), xi. 7]. The cards to be called … the LIME TWIGS.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 125]. Let us run through all the lewd forms of LIME-TWIG, purloining villanies.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 160]. His fingers are LIMETWIGS, spoken of a thievish person.

Limlifter, subs. (old).—A LAND-LUBBER (q.v.).

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, Levantino, a lifter, a shifter, a LIMLIFTER, a pilferer, etc. Ibid. Cefalú, a scornefull nickname, as we say a LIMLIFTER.

Limping-Jesus, subs. (common).—A lameter; a DOT-AND-CARRY-ONE (q.v.).

Lindabrides, subs. (old).—A harlot. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1663. KILLIGREW, Parson’s Wedding, iv. 1. Such a woman is my wife, and no LINDABRIDES.

Line, subs. (colloquial).—A calling; a profession; a LAY (q.v.).

1655. FULLER, Church Hist., II. ix. 23. If I chance to make an excursion into the matters of the Commonwealth, it is not out of curiosity, or busy-bodinesse, to be medling in other men’s LINES.

1803. KENNEY, Raising the Wind, i. 1. Waiter.… The fellow lives by spunging—gets into people’s houses by his songs and his bon-mots. At some of the squires’ tables he’s as constant a guest as the parson, or the apothecary. Sam. Come, that’s an odd LINE to go into, however.

1836. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, 41. The man in the shop, perhaps is in the baked ‘jemmy’ LINE, or the firewood and hearth-stone LINE, or any other LINE which requires a floating capital of eighteen-pence or thereabouts.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxiv. Our first try on in the coach LINE was with the Goulburn mail.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, 177. It’s out of my LINE.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 52. Halpine Club bizness is oko, and not in my LINE. [202]

2. (common).—A hoax; a fool-trap.

3. in pl. (colloquial).—A marriage certificate.

1847. Chronicles of Pineville, 64. One of the women, not the one who held the LINES.

18[?]. Fast Life; an Autobiography, p. 170. Those good-natured ladies who never had their LINES.

1862. THACKERAY, Phillip, XII. ‘How should a child like you know that the marriage was irregular?’ ‘Because I had no LINES,’ cries Caroline.

4. in pl. (common).—Reins; RIBBONS (q.v.).

1852. BRISTED, Upper Ten Thousand, 67. Handing the LINES to Ashburner, as he stopped his team.

ON THE LINE, subs. phr. (common).—Hung on the line at the Royal Academy.

1865. Fortnightly Review, ii. p. 28. Every picture should be hung at that height which in the Royal Academy Exhibition is known as THE LINE.

Verb. (venery).—1. Properly, to impregnate a bitch; hence, to copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1601. P. HOLLAND, Plinie, VIII. ch. XI. The Indians take great pleasure to have their salt bitches LINED with tigres.

1725. N. BAILEY, Erasmus, II. 160. He would with the utmost diligence look for a dog that was on all accounts of a good breed, to LINE her, that he might not have a litter of mongrels.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (colloquial).—To fill: as TO LINE ONE’S STOMACH = to eat; TO LINE ONE’S POCKETS = to take money.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, 43. ‘A couple of pocket-books,’ replied that young gentleman. ‘LINED?’ enquired the Jew.

A LINE OF THE OLD AUTHOR, subs. phr. (old).—A dram of brandy. For synonyms see GO.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

TO GET INTO (or ON) A LINE, verb. phr. (old).—See quot. Cf. STRING and GAMMON.

1819. DE VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. LINE. TO GET a person IN A LINE, or IN A STRING, is to engage them in a conversation, while your confederate is robbing their person or premises; to banter or jest with a man by amusing him with false assurances or professions, is also termed stringing him, or getting him in tow; to keep any body in suspense on any subject without coming to a decision, is called KEEPING him IN tow, in a string, or in A TOW-LINE. TO CUT THE LINE, or the string, is to put an end to the suspense in which you have kept any one, by telling him the plain truth, coming to a final decision, &c. A person, who has been telling another a long story, until he is tired, or conceives his auditor has been all the while secretly laughing at him, will say at last, I’ve just dropped down, you’ve had me in a fine string, I think it’s time to cut it. On the other hand, the auditor, having the same opinion on his part, would say, Come, I believe you want to string me all night, I wish you’d cut it; meaning, conclude the story at once.

TO LINE ONE’S JACKET. See JACKET.

THE DEVIL’S REGIMENT OF THE LINE, subs. phr. (common).—Felons; convicts; THE POLICE-VAN CORPS.

Line-age, subs. (journalistic).—Payment by line.

Linen. THE LINEN, subs. phr. (common).—The stage curtain: THE RAG (q.v.).

TO WRAP UP IN CLEAN LINEN, verb. phr. (old).—To deliver sordid [203]or SMUTTY (q.v.) matter in decent language.—RAY (1767).

TO COOL IN ONE’S LINEN, verb. phr. (old).—To die.

d. 1796. BURNS, Poems. ‘O Merry Hae I Been.’ Blessed be the hour she COOLED IN HER LINENS.

Linen-arbor, subs. (American cadets’).—A dormitory.

Linen-armourer, subs. (common).—A tailor. For synonyms see SNIP.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Linen-draper, subs. (rhyming).—Paper.

Linenopolis, subs. (common).—Belfast: cf. COTTONOPOLIS.

1886. The State, 20 May, p. 210. There is no town of any dimensions in all Ireland more charmingly situated than LINENOPOLIS.

Liner, subs. (journalistic).—1. A casual reporter, paid by LINEAGE (q.v.). Short for PENNY-A-LINER.

1861. DUTTON COOK, Paul Foster’s Daughter, xix. Because now and then a LINER is found in the gutter, it doesn’t do to cry shame on every man that wields a pen.

1864. J. H. BURTON, Scot Abroad, .… The most fashionable PENNY-A-LINER of the Morning Post.

2. (artistic).—A picture hung ON THE LINE (q.v.).

1887. W. P. FRITH, Autobiog., i. 114. The work advanced rapidly and I thought successfully, and in due time made its appearance in Trafalgar Square, where it was amongst the fortunate LINERS.

Ling-grappling, subs. phr. (venery).—Groping a woman; BIRD’S-NESTING (q.v.). Cf. STINK-FINGER.

Lingo, subs. (colloquial).—A foreign language; unintelligible speech.

1699. CONGREVE, Way of the World, iv. 4. I shall understand your LINGO one of these days, Cousin: in the mean while I must answer in plain English.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge etc., iii. 100. We teach them their LINGUA, to crave and to cant.

1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, Bk. VI. ch. ii. I have often warned you not to talk the court gibberish to me. I tell you, I don’t understand the LINGO; but I can read a journal, or the ‘London Evening Post.’

1775. SHERIDAN, St. Patrick’s Day, i. 1. He’s a gentleman of words; he understands your foreign LINGO.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1839. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard, Pt. i. ch. 2. It’s plain he don’t understand our LINGO.

1846. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, xviii. Recollect that I cannot speak a word of their LINGO.

1857. THACKERAY, Four Georges (George I). He recited a portion of the Swedish Catechism to his Most Christian Majesty and his Court, not one of whom understood his LINGO.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v. LINGO.—Sailor’s name for a language he does not understand.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, viii. Droll LINGO, wasn’t it?

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 60. I can’t git the ’ang of his LINGO.

Lingua Franca, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Specifically the corrupt Italian (dating from the period of the Genoese and Venetian supremacy) employed as the language of commercial intercourse with the Levant. [Other examples are Hindustani in India, Swahilli and Houssa in Africa, Pidgin in China, and Chinook in America].

1619. WILSON, Belphegor, iii. 5. Mat. What kind of people are ye? Rod. [204]A hotch-potch of all tongues, nations, and languages. We speak the LINGUA FRANCA, keep open house, etc.

1675. DRYDEN, Kind Keeper, i. 1. English! away you fop! ’tis a kind of LINGUA FRANCA, as I have heard the merchants call it.

1684. E. EVERARD, Tr. Tavernier’s Japan, ii. 41. He spoke half Portuguese, half Italian, which being a kind of LINGUA FRANCA.

1755. LORD CHESTERFIELD, Letters (1777), Bk. ii. No. xcviii, Misc. Wks., Vol. ii. p. 431. How does my godson go on with his little LINGUA FRANCA, or jumble of different languages?

1787. BECKFORD, Italy, ii. (1834), 246. Talking a strange LINGUA FRANCA, composed of three or four different languages.

1825. SCOTT, Talisman, xiii. The LINGUA FRANCA mutually understood by Christians and Saracens.

1860. W. H. RUSSELL, Diary in India, i. 28. Men … talking in LINGUA FRANCA.

1877. F. BURNABY, Through Asia Minor (1878), vi. 34. ‘What do you want’—he asked in LINGUA FRANCA, that undefined mixture of Italian, French, Greek and Spanish, which is spoken throughout the Mediterranean.

Lining. See INSIDE LINING.

1632. W. ROWLEY, Woman Never Vext, iv. 1. This lean gentleman looks as if he had no LINING in’s guts.

TO GET WITHIN THE LINING OF ONE’S SMOCK, verb. phr. (venery). See quot.

1577. STANIHURST, Ireland, p. 26. The pretty poplet, his wife began to be a fresh occupieing giglot at home, and by report fell so farre acquainted with a religious cloisterer of the towne, as that he GAT WITHIN THE LINING OF HIR SMOCKE.

Link, verb. (old).—To turn out a pocket.

1821. D. HAGGART, Life Glossary, p. 172, s.v.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

Linsey-woolsey, adj. (old).—Neither one thing nor the other.

1592. GREENE, Greenes Vision [GROSART (1881–6), xii. 235]. Thou hast writ no booke well but thy Nunquam fera est and that is indifferent LINSEY WOOLSEY.

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Superer. [GROSART (1885), ii. 317]. A LINSEY-WOOLSIE wit.

1594. NASHE, Terrors of the Night [GROSART (1883), iii. 229]. A man must not … have his affections LINSEY WOLSEY, intermingled with lust, and things worthy of liking.

1609. DEKKER, Work for Arm. [GROSART (1886), iv. 158]. Iackes on both sides … a LINSEY-WOOLSEY people, that took no part, but stood indifferent between money and poverty.

1613. PURCHAS, Pilgrimage, 38. And Baalam’s wages doe moue many still to make such LINSEY-WOOLSEY marriages.

1647–80. ROCHESTER, A Satire on Marriage. But if he must pay nature’s debt in kind, To check his eager passion let him find Some willing female out.… Tho’ she be LINSEY-WOOLSEY, Bawd or Whore.

1653. BROME, City Wit, i. 1. Venerable Mr. LINSIE-WOOLSIE; to weare satin sleeves, and whip beggars.

1662. Rump Songs, ‘A Litany for the New-Year,’ ii. 94. From LINSY-WOOLSEY Lords, from Town betrayers, From apron Preachers, and extempore Prayers, Good Lord deliver us!

1664. BUTLER, Hudibras, i. c. 3. A lawless LINSEY-WOOLSEY brother.

Lint-scraper, subs. (common).—A young surgeon. For synonyms see CROCUS and SQUIRT. Also LINT.

1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garratt, Dramatis Personæ, LINT, a surgeon.

1861. THACKERAY, Lovel, vi. ‘If Miss Prior,’ thought I, ‘prefers this LINT-SCRAPER to me, ought I to baulk her?… Take the vaccinator, girl, if thou preferrest him!’

Lion, subs. (old).—1. See quots. [205]

1713. The Guardian, No. 71. This town is, of late years, very much infested with LIONS … there are many of these beasts of prey who walk our streets in broad day-light, beating about from coffeehouse to coffeehouse, and seeking whom they may devour. To unriddle this paradox, I must acquaint my rural reader, that we polite men of the town give the name of a LION to any one that is a great man’s spy.

2. (colloquial).—An object (animate or inanimate) of interest. TO SEE THE LIONS = to go sight-seeing.

1590. GREENE, Never Too Late [GROSART, viii. 68]. This country Francesco was no other but a meere nouice, and that so newly, that to use the old proverb, he had scarce SEENE THE LIONS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LION … to SHOW THE LIONS and tombs, to point out the particular curiosities of any place, an allusion to Westminster Abbey and the Tower where the tombs and lions are shown.… It is a standing joke among the city wits to send boys and county-folks on the first of April to the Tower ditch to see the lions washed.

1822. LAMB, Elia (Decay of Beggars). The Mendicants of this great city were so many of her sights, her LIONS. I can no more spare them than I could the Cries of London.

1837. DICKENS, Pickwick, iv. But more than these, there were half a dozen LIONS from London—authors, real authors, who had written whole books, and printed them afterwards—and here you might see ’em, walking about, like ordinary men, smiling, and talking.

1839. MISS MARTINEAU, ‘Literary Lionism,’ in London & Westm. Review, April. In one crowded room are three LIONS,—a new musical composer, an eminent divine who publishes, and a lady poet.

1849. WASHINGTON IRVING, Goldsmith, xviii. He had suddenly risen to literary fame, and become one of the LIONS.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, viii. Doctor McGuffog, Professor Bodgers, Count Poski, and all the LIONS present at Mrs. Newcome’s réunion that evening, were completely eclipsed by Colonel Newcome.

1864. Glasgow Herald, 23 April. They saw only the danger of losing the LION that they hoped to show about the country in leading-strings.

1888. Daily Telegraph, 6 Jan. The comic LION commenced, but hardly were the first lines out of his mouth when a furious tempest of hisses, cat-calls, and whistling arose.

3. (University).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LION … also the name given by the gownsmen of Oxford, to inhabitants or visitors.

4. (old).—See quots.

1825. English Spy, i. 156. I’ll thank you for a cut out of the back of that LION tittered a man opposite with all the natural timidity of the hare whom he thus particularised.

1828. LYTTON, Pelham, p. 112 [ed. 1864]. ‘A LION is a hare, Sir.’ ‘What!’ ‘Yes, Sir, it is a hare, but we call it a LION because of the game laws.’

1872. Court Journal, 29 June. It was often impossible to get game for the table, and at dinner it was usual to ask for LION, and LION was entered in the bill of fare.

5. in pl. (military).—The Fourth Foot. [From its ancient badge].

Verb. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LION. Be saucy; LION the fellow; make a loud noise; substitute noise for good sense; frighten; bluff.

COTSWOLD LION, subs. (old).—A sheep. See COTSOLD and LAMMERMOOR LION.

1537. Thersites [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 400]. Now have at the LIONS ON COTS’OLD!

1600. Sir John Oldcastle, i. 2. You old stale ruffian, you LION OF COTSWOLD.

1659. HARRINGTON, Epigrams, B. iii. Ep. 18. Lo then the mystery from whence the name, Of COTSOLD LYONE first to England came.

1672. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), p. 204], s.v. [206]

TO TIP THE LION, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LION, TO TIP THE LION, to squeeze the nose of the party tipped, flat to his face with the thumb.

TO PUT ONE’S HEAD INTO THE LION’S MOUTH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To put oneself into a desperate position.

AS VALIANT AS AN ESSEX LION, phr. (old).—As valiant as a calf.—RAY (1767).

Lion-drunk, adj. phr. (old).—See quot.

1582. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse, in Wks. (GROSART), ii. 81–2. Now have we not one or two kinde of drunkards onely, but eight kinde.… The second is LION-DRUNK, and he flings the pots about the house, calls his Hostesse whore, breakes the glasse windows with his dagger, and is apt to quarrele with any man that speaks to him.

Lioness, subs. (common).—1. A female celebrity; a woman of note.

1825. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, vii. All the lions and LIONESSES.

1837. DICKENS, Pickwick, xv. Mr. Tupman was doing the honours of the lobster salad to several LIONESSES.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, xli. For the last three months Miss Newcome has been the greatest LIONESS in London; the reigning beauty.

2. (University).—A lady visitor to Oxford, especially at Commemoration.

1861. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown at Oxford, xxv. The notion that any of the fraternity who had any hold on LIONESSES, particularly if they were pretty, should not use it to the utmost for the benefit of the rest, and the glory and honour of the college, was revolting to the undergraduate mind.

3. (old).—A harlot. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1596. JOHN DAVIES, Epigrams, ‘In Faustum,’ xvi. But when he lost his hair where he had been, I doubt me he had seen a LIONESS.

Lion- (or Leo-) hunter, subs. (colloquial).—One who runs after celebrities. [Popularised by DICKENS in the Mrs. Leo Hunter of Pickwick].

1862. Round Table, 10 Aug. Mr. Alfred Tennyson, fleeing from the bores and LEO-HUNTERS, has bought an estate called Greenhill, near Blackdown-Hill, Haslemere.

1878. Athenæum, 19 Jan., p. 81, col. 2. Keats, the obscure medical student, who died before a single LION-HUNTER had found him out.

1889. Harper’s Mag., lxxviii. 417. One of the greatest dangers to all genius is that of being robbed of its vital strength by velvety-pawed LION-HUNTERS.

Lionism, subs. (colloquial).—Attracting attention as a LION (q.v.); also, sight-seeing.

1839. MISS MARTINEAU, article ‘Literary LIONISM’ in London & Westm. Review of April 1839.

1851. CARLYLE, John Sterling, Pt. III. ch. i. Its Puseyisms, Liberalisms, literary LIONISMS, or what else the mad hour might be producing.

Lionize, verb. (colloquial).—1. To go sight-seeing. Also, TO PLAY THE LION (q.v.).

1838. WILBERFORCE, Life, ii. 12. We came on to Oxford, LIONIZED it, and on to Cuddesdon.

1852. BRISTED, Five Years, 129. For eight days I had been LIONIZING Belgium under the disadvantages of continual rain.

2. (colloquial).—To make much of; to treat as a LION (q.v.).

1843. CARLYLE, Past & Present, iv. 6. Can he do nothing for his Burns but LIONIZE him?

1860. CAROLINE FOX, Journal, ii. p. 237. Tennyson hates being LIONIZED. [207]

1882. Literary World, 3 Feb. Rushing off … from the splendour and LIONIZING of a London season.

1886. Fortnightly Rev., xl. 357. [Liszt] allowed himself … to be LIONIZED.

3. (colloquial).—To show the sights of a place; to play the cicerone.

1871. DISRAELI, Lothair, ch. XXIV. He had LIONIZED the distinguished visitors during the last few days over the University.

4. (colloquial).—To go sight-seeing.

1825. English Spy, i. 137. After partaking of some refreshment and adjusting my dress, we sallied forth to LIONISE as Tom called it, which is the Oxford term for gazing about, usually applied to strangers.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, xviii. He would ogle the ladies who came to LIONISE the University.

Lion’s provider, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A sycophant; a JACKAL (q.v.).

Lion’s share, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The bigger part.

Lip, subs. (common).—Impudence; SAUCE (q.v.). TO GIVE LIP = to CHEEK (q.v.).

1821. D. HAGGART, Life, p. 20. Giving him plenty of LIP. Ibid., p. 172. LIP, abuse.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iv. p. 285. He looked out for a ‘cheeky answer,’ a ‘bit of LIP,’ and had I given it to him he would have reported me without fail.

1884. M. TWAIN, Huck. Finn, v. p. 31. ‘Don’t you give me none o’ your LIP,’ says he.… ‘I’ll take you down a peg before I get done with you.’

1888. F. R. STOCKTON, Rudder Grange, 99. I told him that I didn’t want none of his LIP.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To sing. For synonyms see WARBLE. Fr. rossignoler. (2) To speak.

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 124. But come, I’ll LIP ye a chaunt.

1841. LEMAN REDE, Sixteen String Jack, ii. 3. So thus I’ll trip it, LIP it.

1885. Punch, 10 Jan., p. 21. I had great power, millions LIPPED my name.

TO BUTTON UP THE LIP (or MOUTH), verb. phr. (common).—To silence. BUTTON YOUR LIP! = hold your tongue; STOW IT (q.v.).

1747–8. TRAPP, Explanatory Notes on the Gospels. Mathew xxii. 46. How easily can God BUTTON UP THE MOUTHS of our busiest adversaries.

1868. Notes & Queries, 4 S. 1. 603. At school it was thought quite an accomplishment in the young gentlemen who were fast of tongue to be able to silence a talkative comrade with the phrase ‘BUTTON YOUR LIP.’

TO FALL BETWIXT CUP AND LIP. See SLIP.

TO KEEP (or CARRY) A STIFF UPPER LIP, verb. phr. (common).—To be self-reliant under difficulties; to be unflinching in the attainment of an object.

1833. NEAL, Down Easters, ii. 15. KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP; no bones broke—don’t I know?

1835. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 1st S. xxxii. He was well to do in the world once, CARRIED A STIFF UPPER LIP, and keered for no one.

1847. Chronicles of Pineville, 150. Tut, tut, major, KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, and you’ll bring him this time.

1850. H. B. STOWE, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, xii. I hope you keep up good heart, and are cheerful. Now, no sulks, ye see; KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP, boys; do well by me, and I’ll do well by you.

TO MAKE A LIP, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To mock; to grimace.

1610. SHAKSPEARE, Coriolanus, ii. 1. I will MAKE A LIP at the physician. [208]

Lip-clap, subs. (old).—A kiss. Also LIP-FAVOR.

1592. GREENE, Philomela [GROSART (1881–6), xi. 150]. Lutesio. Kinde gaue the gentlewoman a kisse: for he thought she valued a LIP FAVOUR more than a piece of gold.

1693. Poor Robin [quoted by NARES]. Now the spring coming on, young wenches will grow wanton, and rather than live under a mothers nose, and a granams tongue, will venture a LIP-CLAP and a lap-clap to get them a husband, when a little while after the cuckow sings at their door.

Lipey, subs. (common).—A mode of address: e.g. ‘Whatcher, LIPEY!’

Lip-labour (or -work), subs. (common).—1. Talk; JAW (q.v.). Also flattery.

1575. GASCOIGNE, Steel glas [HAYLITT (1869), Poems, ii. 205]. My priests haue learnt to pray vnto the Lord, and yet they trust not in their LYPLABOUR.

1577–87. HOLINSHED, Chronicles, ed. I. Being but a little LIP-LABOUR.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART (1883), ii. 135]. Words … that are the vsual LIP-LABOUR of euerie idle discourser.

1630. TAYLOR, Works [quoted by NARES]. In briefe, my fruitlesse and worthy LIP-LABOUR, mixt with a deale of ayrie and non-substantiall matter, I gave his lordship, and the like requitall I bestowed on the right worshipfull Mr. Thomas Squibb, maior of Sarum.

1653. BROME, Novella, iii. 1. Meere noyse and LIP-LABOUR, with loss of time, I think with scorne upon such poore expressions.

2. (common).—Kissing.

1582. STANYHURST, Virgil, etc., ‘Of Tyndarus’ (ed. ARBER), p. 145. Syth my nose owtpeaking, good syr, your LIPLABOR hindreth, Hardlye ye may kisse mee where no such gnomon appeareth.

Lip-salve (or -wash), subs. (common).—Flattery.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller [GROSART (1885), v. 92]. What ist? what ist for a mayde fayre and freshe to spend a little LIP SALUE on a hungrie louer.

1680. E. FANNANT, Hist. Ed. II, 91. Spencer … finds here a female wit that … taught him not to trust a woman’s LIP-SALVE.

1891. HERMANN, Scarlet Fortune, VI. Oily flattery … termed in Western phraseology, chin-music and LIP-WASH.

Liquid-fire, subs. (common).—Bad whiskey. For synonyms see DRINKS and OLD MAN’S MILK.

Liquor, subs. (common).—A drink.

1882. Punch, LXXXII. 193. 2. These nips and pegs and LIQUORS at all hours of the day were unknown to us.

Verb. (common).—To drink; to treat: generally TO LIQUOR UP. Also (old)—TO LIQUOR ONE’S BOOTS (q.v.).

1607. W. S., Puritan. Oh, the musicians Master Edward, call ’em in, and LIQUOR them a little.

1682. DRYDEN, Absalom etc., ii. 461. Round as a globe, and LIQUORED every chink.

1699. London Spy, p. 15. When we had LIQUORED our throats.

1838. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, i. 36. Come, boys, let’s LIQUOR—what’ll you have?

1847. PORTER, Big Bear, p. 31. Jumping up, he asked all present to LIQUOR before going to bed.

1850. TENSAS, Odd Leaves, p. 175. Doe, les LICKER, it’s a dry talk.

1852. BRISTED, Upper Ten Thousand, p. 57. The very necessity of LIQUORING so often in our warm weather obliges us to weaken our liquor.

1853. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), Wise Saws, p. 34. Come in here to the hotel, and let’s LIQUOR, for I am nation dry.

1870. E. HINTON, Plutarch’s Morals, ‘Apothegms’ etc. i. 268. ‘If the Athenians,’ said he, ‘deal severely with us, let them execute thee snivelling and gutfoundered; I’ll die WELL LIQUORED, and with my dinner in my belly.’ [209]

1872. Daily Telegraph, 18 Sept. All five then went into the refreshment bar, and—as a bonâ fide traveller has a right to do—LIQUORED UP, clinking their glasses merrily together.

1872. Echo, 23 Aug. He joined them, and accepted the general invitation given by De Castro to have a ‘shout,’ or, as the Americans would say, a LIQUOR-UP, at the hotel on the opposite side of the way.

1882. Daily Telegraph, 13 Nov., p. 5, col. 3. Who gobbled their food, LIQUORED UP repeatedly, smoked or chewed to excess, and expectorated incessantly.

1888. E. EGGLESTON, The Graysons, xix. Come boys, LIQUOR UP!

TO LIQUOR ONE’S BOOTS, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LIQUOR, TO LIQUOR ONE’S BOOTS, to drink before a journey, among Roman Catholicks to administer the extreme unction.

IN LIQUOR, phr. (colloquial).—The worse for drink. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1756. The World, No. 186. It was her misfortune over-night to be a little IN LIQUOR.

1766. COLMAN, Cland. Marriage, in Works (1777), i. 274. And now you are a little IN LIQUOR, you fear nothing.

1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than Water, xv. For her reflection, when all was said, had been similar to that indulged in by the gentleman IN LIQUOR, ‘too much, yet not enough.’

Liquorpond Street. TO COME FROM LIQUOR-POND STREET, verb. phr. (common).—To be drunk.

1828. BUCKSTONE, 23 John St., Adelphi, i. Snatch. I don’t know where you are, sir; but you seem to have just COME FROM LIQUORPOND STREET.

Lispers, subs. (old).—The teeth. For synonyms see GRINDERS.

1800. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 151, s.v.

List. See ADD.

Listeners, subs. (common).—The ears.

1827. EGAN, Anecdotes of the Turf, 7. Hooper planted another under Wood’s LISTNER.

Listman, subs. (turf).—A ready-money bookmaker, betting according to prices on a list exhibited beside him.

1887. Daily Telegraph, 12 March. M. Berthaudin would also extend to the LISTMEN the same rule which is in force among the brokers and agents on the Paris Stock Exchange, all the members of which are jointly and severally responsible for the debts of any one of their number.

Lists-of-Love, subs. (literary).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Venus and Adonis. Now are they in the very LISTS OF LOVE.

1633. FORD, Loves’ Sacrifice, iv. 1. A prince whose eye is chooser to his heart, Is seldom steady in the LISTS OF LOVE.

Litter, subs. (old: now recognised).—A muddle.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725).

Little, adj. (old: now colloquial).—Mean; paltry; contemptible.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725).

Little Alderman, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A JEMMY (q.v.) made in sections. See ALDERMAN.

1889. Daily News, 19 Oct., p. 5, col. 1. The LITTLE ALDERMAN or ‘sectional jemmy,’ must be condemned by virtue of the word sectional.

Little Barbary, subs. phr. (old).—Wapping.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785). [210]

Little Ben, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A waistcoat. See BENJAMIN.

Little Bird. See BIRD.

Little Breeches, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LITTLE BREECHES, a familiar appellation used to a boy.

Little Church around the Corner, subs. phr. (America).—A drinking saloon. For synonyms see LUSH-CRIB.

Little Clergyman, subs. (old).—A young chimney-sweep.—GROSE (1823).

Little Davy, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Little Devil. See DEVIL.

Little-ease, subs. (old).—The pillory, stocks, or any similar mode of punishment; a prison-cell: see quots.

d. 1555. LATIMER, Sermons, fol. 105, b. Was not this a seditious fellow? was not this fellow’s preaching a cause of all the trouble in Israel? was he not worthy to be cast in bocardo, or LITTLE-EASE?

1586. FLEMING, Nomencl., 196, b. Nervus—a kind of stockes for the necke and the feete: the pillorie, or LITTLE-EASE.

1688. HOLME, Academy of Armory & Blazon, III. cvii. No. 91, p. 312. ‘Like to this [the Stocks of which he has just given a description] there is another like place of Punishment in our House of Correction in Chester (the like to it I have not heard in any other place) it is called the LITTLE EASE, a place cut into a Rock, with a Grate Door before it; into this place are put Renegadoes, Apprentices, &c. that disobey their Parents and Masters, Robbers of Orchards, and such like Rebellious Youths; in which they can neither Stand, Sit, Kneel, nor lie down, but be all in a ruck, or knit together, so and in such a Lamentable Condition, that half an hour will tame the Stoutest and Stubbornest Stomach, and will make him have a desire to be freed from the place.’

1733. Abstract of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers etc.… Footnote. ‘This LITTLE EASE was a hole hewed out in a rock; the breadth and cross from side to side is 17 inches, from the back to the inside of the great door; at the top, 7 inches; at the shoulders, 8 inches; and the breast, 9½ inches; from the top to the bottom, 1 yard and a half, with a device to lessen the height as they are minded to torment the person put in, by drawboards which shoot over across the two sides, to a yard in height, or thereabouts.’

1738. The Curiosity, p. 60. LITTLE-EASE … a place of punishment in Guildhall, London for unruly apprentices.

1796. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (2nd ed.), s.v.

1819–30. LINGARD, Hist. of Eng., viii. note G. p. 424 (4th ed.). ‘A fourth kind of torture was a cell called LITTLE EASE. It was of so small dimensions and so constructed that the prisoner could neither stand, sit, nor lie in it at full length. He was compelled to draw himself up in a squatting posture, and so remained during several days.’

1871. Daily Telegraph, 25 Jan., p. 5, col. 2. We should see a hideous dark den … apparently capable of containing about one-fourth of the prisoners with which it is commonly filled.… Every now and then one dies … after a temporary sojourn in one of these chapels of LITTLE-EASE at the Acton Police Station.

1895. H. B. MARRIOTT WATSON, in New Review, July, p. 47. ‘I think,’ he says, ‘my good highwayman, that the LITTLE-EASE in Dartford Compter is the place for you,’ and chuckled as if he had made a jest.

Little England, subs. phr. (West Indian).—Barbadoes: see BIM.

Little Englander, subs. phr. (political).—An anti-JINGO (q.v.); an opponent of the Imperial idea. [211]

Little Fighting Fours, subs. phr. (military).—The Forty-fourth Foot. [From the prowess of its men, who are of small stature].

Little-finger. TO COCK ONE’S LITTLE FINGER, verb. phr. (common).—To drink much and often. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Little-go, subs. (University).—The public examination which students at the English Universities have to pass in the second year of residence: also called the ‘previous examination’ (as preceding the final one for a degree), and, at Oxford, SMALLS (q.v.).

1841. THACKERAY, King of Brentford’s Testament, 86, 7. At college, though not fast, Yet his LITTLE-GO and great-go He creditably pass’d.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, iii. A tutor, don’t you see old boy? He’s coaching me, and some other men, for the LITTLE-GO.

Little-go-vale, subs. (old).—Orderly step to the first examination.—GROSE (1823).

Little-guid, subs. (Scots’).—The devil. For synonyms see SKIPPER.

Little-joker, subs. (sharpers’).—The pea under the thimble in the thimble-rigging game. See also JOKER, sense 3.

Little Man, subs. (Eton College).—See quot.

c. 1880. Sketchy Memoirs of Eton, p. 16. He called the footman (or LITTLE MAN …) and bade him reach down the obnoxious placard.

LITTLE MAN IN THE BOAT. See BOAT.

Little-side, subs. (Rugby).—A term applied to all games, organised between houses only.

Little-sister, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. Ger. Schwesterlein.

Little-snakesman, subs. (thieves’).—A young thief passed into a house through a window so that he may open the door to the gang.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, II. 82, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Little spot. See SPOT.

Little William, subs. phr. (American).—A bill.

Live, adj. (American).—Energetic; active; intelligent.

1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Nov., p. 6, col. 1. At a private muster the other night they came up in good force, decided to organize the party by wards, to maintain a LIVE association, and to find the money to keep it going.

TO LIVE UNDER THE CAT’S-PAW. See CAT’S-PAW.

TO LIVE TO THE DOOR, verb. phr. (common).—To live up to one’s means.

Live-eels, subs. (rhyming).—The fields.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LIVE EELS. Bell has gone to LIVE EELS, to ‘read’ and write with Joe.

Live-horse, subs. (workmen’s).—Work done over and above that included in the week’s bill: cf. DEAD-HORSE. [212]

Live-lumber, subs. (nautical).—Landsmen on board ship.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Livener, subs. (common).—A morning dram; a PICK-ME-UP (q.v.). For synonyms see GO.

Liver. See CURL.

Liverpool-button, subs. (nautical).—A kind of toggle used by sailors when they lose a button.

Liverpool blues, subs. phr. (military).—The Seventy-ninth Foot.

Liverpool tailor, subs. phr. (tailors’).—A tramping workman; one who sits with his coat and hat on, ready for the road.

Liverpudlian, subs. (colloquial).—A native or inhabitant of Liverpool.

1884. Graphic, 12 April, p. 346, col. 3. Its last match was with Liverpool and it had to accept defeat at the hands of the LIVERPUDLIANS.

Live-sausage. See SAUSAGE.

Live-stock, subs. (common).—Fleas, bugs and lice,—all body vermin.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Living fountain, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum.

1648. HERRICK, Hesperides, 404. Show me that hill where smiling love doth sit, Having a LIVING FOUNTAIN under it.

Liza. OUTSIDE LIZA! phr. (common).—Be off!

Load, subs. (colloquial).—1. An excess of food or drink. Cf. JAG. LOADED = drunk: also LOADED FOR BEARS, or TO THE GUNWALES.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 63]. He has a jag or LOAD, drunk.

Verb. (horse-copers’).—1. To introduce well-greased shot into the throat of a ‘roaring’ or broken-winded horse. This conceals the defect for a few hours, during which a sale is effected.

1890. Answers, 6 July, p. 81, col. 1. The process of LOADING a horse, as it is called, is one adopted by ‘horse-copers’—gentry who make a living by selling patched-up horses.

2. (Stock Exchange).—To buy heavily: TO UNLOAD = to sell freely.

LOAD OF HAY, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A day.

LIKE A LOAD OF BRICKS. See LIKE.

TO LAY ON LOAD, verb. phr. (old).—To thrash.

1537. Thersites [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 406]. I will search for them both in bush and shrub, And LAY ON A LOAD with this lusty club.

c. 1550. INGLELEND, Disobedient Child [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1870), ii. 305]. [Here the wife must LAY ON LOAD upon her husband]—Stage direction.

b. 1553. WEVER, Lusty Juventus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 87]. But LAY LOAD on the flesh, whatsoever befall, You have strength enough to do it with all.

Loaf, subs. (common).—1. A lounge; dawdle; idling: e.g., ‘to do a LOAF’.

2. See LOAVES AND FISHES.

Verb. (common).—1. To lounge; to idle; TO MIKE (q.v.). Fr. louper and gouspiner.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Avoir les côtes en long (popular); balocher (thieves’); louper; traîner sa peau (thieves’); n’en pas foutre une [213]secousse (popular); prendre le train d’onze heures (commercial); traîner ses guêtres.

1838. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, III. ii. One night, Mr. Dobbs came home from his LOAFING-place, for he LOAFS of an evening like the generality of people.

1843. NORMAN, Yucatan, p. 88. We arrived at the town of Tincenn; the sun being exceedingly hot, we waited till evening. The Casa Real in this as in other towns of the province was the LOAFERING place of the Indians.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xvi. p. 170. Just now, Mrs. Pawkins kept a boarding-house, and Major Pawkins rather LOAFED his time away, than otherwise.

1845. New York Commercial Advertizer, Dec. The Senate has LOAFED away the week in very gentlemanly style.

1857. BORTHWICK, California, p. 118. The street [in Hangtown, California] was crowded all day with miners LOAFING about from store to store, making their purchases and asking each other to drink.

1861. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, II. xv. Shoe-blacks are compelled to a great deal of unavoidable LOAFING, but certainly this one LOAFED rather energetically.

1862. LOWELL, Biglow Papers, 2nd S., Int. TO LOAF, this, I think, is unquestionably German. Laufen is pronounced lofen in some parts of Germany, and I once heard one German student say to another ‘Ich lauf (lofe) hier bis du wiederkehrest’, and he began to saunter up and down—in short, TO LOAF.

1872. Daily News, 29 Jan., ‘America in Paris.’ Its glass-roofed courts are filled with men of few words and long purses, whose chief mission in life seems to be that of LOAFING ROUND, and paying the endless bills which their wives send in to them. Diving into newspapers is comprised in the verb TO LOAF.

1872. BLACK, Princess of Thule, ch. xiv. Amongst all those LOAFING vagabonds.

1878. WALT WHITMAN, Leaves of Grass, 29. I lean and LOAFE at my ease.

1880. SEEBOHM, Siberia in Europe, ch. xx. Gipsy emigrants who perpetually LOAF about on the outskirts.

1892. ANSTEY, Model Music Hall Songs, 134. I’m LOAFING about and I very much doubt If my excellent Ma is aware that I’m out.

2. (American University).—To borrow, especially with no intention of return.

TO BE IN BAD LOAF, verb. phr. (old).—To be in a disagreeable situation or in trouble.—GROSE (1785).

Loafer, subs. (colloquial).—An idler.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Baker; beat; bummer; crow-eater; draw-latch; flunk; ham-fatter; hayseed; heeler; inspector of pavements; lamb; Laurence (or lazy Laurence); lazybones; miker; moucher; practical politician; Q.H.B.; raff; scow-banker; striker; wood-and-water Joey. See CADGER.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. La cagne (popular: also generally in contempt); un balochard or balocheur (popular); un batteur de flemme (= Old Fr. flegme = idleness); une baladeuse (= a female loafer); un gratte-pavé (popular = scratch-pavement); un marpant or marpeau (whence morpion = crab louse); un omnibus (in allusion to slowness of pace); un batteur de pavé (popular: cf. INSPECTOR OF PAVEMENTS); un petrouskin (popular); un vachard (popular); un chevalier de la loupe (popular: camp de la loupe = an idlers’ rendez-vous; loupeur = a Saint Mondayite); un grand dependeur d’andouilles (= one who prefers good cheer to work: [214]andouilles = chitterlings); un dort-dans-l’auge (pop.: also un dort-en-chiant); une fenasse (O. FR. fen = hay); un faignant (from fainéant); un cul de plomb (= heavy-arse); un rossard (popular); un fourrier de la loupe (familiar); un galapiat, galapian, or galapiau (popular); un las-de-chier (common); Madame milord quépète or quépette (= a LADY FENDER); un gouapeur (thieves’).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Zanguango, zangandongo, or zanguayo.

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Schallef.

1840. R. H. DANA, Two Years before the Mast, vii. There are no people to whom the newly-invented Yankee word of LOAFER is more applicable than to the Spanish Americans.

1842. DICKENS, American Notes, xiv. p. 111. When we stop to change, some two or three half-drunken LOAFERS will come loitering out with their hands in their pockets.

1865. LADY DUFF GORDON, in Macmillan’s Mag., 368. One of the regular LOAFERS who lurk about the ruins to beg and sell water or curiosities and who are all a lazy, bad lot, of course.

1866. W. D. HOWELLS, Venetian Life, iii. I permit myself, throughout this book, the use of the expressive American words loaf and LOAFER, as the only terms adequate to the description of professional idling in Venice.

1872. BLACK, Adv. of a Phaeton, XVIII. The LOAFER in moleskin stood at some little distance.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 2. I am a LOAFER.

1892. F. ANSTEY, Voces Populi, ‘In the Mall on Drawing Room Day,’ 80. A Sardonic LOAFER. ’Ullo, ’ere’s a ’aughty one!

Loaferish, adj. (colloquial).—Lounging.

1866. W. D. HOWELLS, Venetian Life, xix. The four pleasant ruffians in the LOAFERISH postures which they have learned as facchini waiting for jobs.

Loafing, subs. (colloquial).—Aimless lounging. Fr. la loupe.

1866. W. D. HOWELLS, Venetian Life, iii. At night men crowd the close little caffé … and beguile the time with solemn LOAFING, and the perusal of dingy little journals.

Adj. (colloquial).—Lounging.

1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-Days, pt. 1. ch. ii. Then follows the greasy cap lined with fur of a half-gipsy, poaching, LOAFING fellow, who travels the Vale not for much good, I fancy.

Loaver, subs. (common).—See quot. Cf. LOUR, and for synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, i. 472. That’s the time you get them to rights, when they’re old and ugly, just by sweetening them, and then they don’t mind tipping the LOAVER (money).

Loaves and Fishes, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Emolument; profit; temporal benefits [From John vi. 26].

c. 1787. JOHN ADAMS, Works, v. 18. These four orders must be divided … into factions for the LOAVES AND FISHES.

1830. J. B. BUCKSTONE, The Cab-driver, Act i. Do you think the gentlemen are to have all the LOAVES AND FISHES?

1841. Punch, i. p. 18, col. 1. I only know that I am mortal by two sensations—a yearning for LOAVES AND FISHES and a love for Judy.

Lob (or Lobb), subs. (old).—1. See quots. Fr. la grenouille. Cf. DAMPER.

1718. C. HIGGIN, True Discovery, 15. Either by a sint, alias gold watch … or by a wedge LOBB, alias gold or silver snuff-box.

1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, p. 42. A LOBB full of glibbs, a box full of ribbons.

1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 445. A till—a LOB.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. [215]

2. (old).—A blockhead; a lubber. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1577. WHETSTONE, Remembraunce [of Gascoigne]. But as the drone the honey hive doth rob, With woorthy books so deals this idle LOB.

1592. SHAKSPEARE, Midsummer Night’s Dream, ii. 1. Farewell, thou LOB of spirits, I’ll begone.

b. 1600. Grim the Collier &c. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 443]. Well, here in Croydon will I first begin To frolic it amongst the country LOBS.

1661. GAUDEN, Anti-Baal-Berith, 12. This is the wonted way for quacks and cheats to gull country LOBS.

3. (colloquial).—A large lump.

1863. Once a Week, iii. 535. Well instead of about a pennyweight, as Joe had expected, the old fellow washed out a good half-ounce at least, so he must have a regular LOB of gold stowed away somewhere.

4. (cricket).—A slow underhand ball; delivered low and falling heavily, its course a decided curve. At Winchester LOB = YORKER (q.v.).

[See also SNORTER—UNDERGROUNDER—TRIMMER—TEAPOT—SWIPER—STRINGER—GRUBBER—YORKER.]

1892. Cassell’s Saturday Journal, 21 Sept., p. 13, col. 3. I would have to try all sorts of bowling—right and left hand, fast and slow, LOBS, yorkers, and every other variety.

5. (pugilists’).—The head. For synonyms see CRUMPET.

6. (venery).—A partial erection: e.g., a urinary LOB.

TO FRISK (DIP, PINCH, or SNEAK) A LOB, verb. phr. (old).—To rob a till. TO GO ON THE LOB = to go into a shop for change and to steal some. Hence LOB-SNEAKING = robbing tills; LOB-CRAWLER = a till-thief.

1742. C. JOHNSON, Highwaymen & Pyrates, 252. He was also very good for the LOB.

1868. Temple Bar, xxiv. 537. Stealing the till and opening the safe is what we call LOB-SNEAKING and Peter-screwing.

1877. HORSLEY, Jottings from Jail. Poor old Tim, the LOB-CRAWLER fell from Racker and got pinched.

Verb. (old).—1. To droop; to sprawl.

1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry V., iv. 2. Their poor jades LOB down their heads.

1821. EGAN, Real Life in London, i. 187. The dancing party … were LOBBING their lolleys on the table.

2. (cricketters’).—To bowl a ball as a LOB (q.v.).

Lobcock, subs. (old).—1. A blockhead. Also adj.

1534. UDALL, Roister Doister, iii. 3. Such a calfe, such an asse, such a blocke … such a LOBCOCKE.

1557. BRETON, Fancy [GROSART (1876), i. a. 15, 2, 37]. The LOBCOKE lust, from thriftlesse thick, both bring the in his lap.

1567. EDWARDS, Damon & Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 75]. In faith, ere you go, I will make you a LOB-COCK.

1575. GASCOIGNE, Supposes [HAZLITT (1869), Poems, i. 218]. I will laugh a little at this LOBCOCKE.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller [GROSART (1883–4) v. 157]. Seneca and Lucan were LOBCOCKES to choose that death.

1606. Wily Beguiled [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 241]. Your lubberly legs would not carry your LOB-COCK body.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., iv. 171. That ev’ry LOBCOCK hath his wench, And we but one betwixt us.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (venery).—A large relaxed penis.—GROSE (1785). [216]

Lobkin, subs. (old).—A house; a lodging: see LIPKEN.

1662. BRETON, Strange Newes [GROSART (1876), ii. s. 10, 2. 27]. In a country village called LOBKIN the large.

Loblolly, subs. (old).—1. A lubber; a lout; a fool.

1604. BRETON, Grimello’s Fortunes, p. 9 [ed. GROSART, 1879]. This LOB-LOLLIE with slauering lips would be making loue.

1680. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 209. Whilst he not dreaming of thy Folly, Lies gaping like a great LOB-LOLLY.

2. (nautical).—Water-gruel; spoon-meat.

1621. BURTON, Anatomy (ed. 1852), ii. 178. There is a difference (he grumbles) between LAPLOLLY and pheasants.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1703. WARD, London Spy, Pt. xii. 289. Considering Coffee to be a liquor that sits most easie upon Wine, we thought it the best way to check the aspiring Fumes of the most Christian Juice by an Antichristian Dose of Mahometan LOBLOLLY.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1748. F. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). LOBLOLLY (S.) any uncouth, strange, irregular mixture of different things together to compose pottage or broth.

1767. GARRICK, Peep behind the Curtain, i. 2. My ingenious countrymen have no taste now for the high seasoned comedies; and I am sure that I have none for the pap and LOPLOLLY of our present writers.

1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary. LOBLOLLY, an odd mixture of spoon-meat.

Loblolly-boy, subs. (nautical).—See quots. In America a BAYMAN or NURSE (q.v.). See quots.

1617. SHADWELL, Fair Quaker of Deal, i. [sailor loq.] Our rogue of a LOBLOLLY doctor, being not satisfied with his twopences, must have a note for ten months’ pay for every cure.

1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, xxvii. The rude insults of the sailors and petty officers, among whom I was known by the name of LOBLOLLY BOY.

1776. The Patent, a Poem [Note]. LOB-LOLLY-BOY is a person who on board of a man-of-war attends the surgeon and his mates, and one who knows just as much of the business of a seaman as the author of this poem.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. On board of the ships of war, water-gruel is called LOBLOLLY, and the surgeon’s servant or mate, the LOBLOLLY BOY.

1846. ROBERT BELL, Ballads & Songs of the Peasantry of England, p. 182. Jack Rider of Linton was LOBLOLLEY BOY aboard the Victory.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v.

1885. Punch, 11 July, p. 18. Lor’ bless yer, a LOBLOLLY BOY can tell old hands how not to steer.

Lobs, subs. (common).—1. An assistant watcher; an under-gamekeeper.

2. (common).—An abbreviation of LOBSTER (q.v.).

Intj. (schoolboys’).—A signal of a masters’ approach.

Lobscouse, subs. (nautical).—A hash of meat and vegetable; an olio; a GALLIMAUFREY (q.v.); see SOAP-AND-BULLION.

[Other nautical food names, mostly derisive, are CHOKE-DOG; DADDY FUNK; DEAD HORSE; DOGBODY; DOUGH JEHOVAHS; HISHEE-HASHEE; MEASLES; SEA-PIE; SOFT TACK; SOAP-AND-BULLION; TOMMY; TWICE-LAID.]

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, ix. This genial banquet was entirely composed of sea-dishes … the sides being furnished with a mess of that savoury composition known by the name of LOB’S-COURSE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1840. R. H. DANA, Two Years before the Mast, v. The cook had just made for us a mess of hot SCOUSE—that is, biscuit pounded fine, salt beef cut into small pieces, and a few potatoes, boiled up together and seasoned with pepper. [217]

1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, i. It takes a sailor a long time to straighten his spine and get quit of the bold sheer that earns him the name of shell-back. That is not all. LOBSCOUSE eats into the system.

Lobscouser, subs. (nautical).—A sailor [An eater of LOBSCOUSE (q.v.)].

1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, xix. ‘And besides, how many bunks does an old LOBSCOUSER like you want to sleep in?’

1891. W. C. RUSSELL, Ocean Tragedy, 148. ‘He is superstitious, like most old LOBSCOUSERS, no doubt.’

Lobsneak (or -crawler), subs. (common).—1. A till-robber; a TILL-SNEAK (q.v.).

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (cricketters’).—A LOB (q.v.).

Lobsneaking, subs. (common).—Till-robbing. Fr. un coup de radin.

Lob’s-pound, subs. (old).—1. A prison; a pound; the stocks: generic for any place of confinement.

1603. DEKKER, Batchelor’s Banquet [GROSART (1886), i. 156]. He ran wilfully … into the perill of LOB’S POUND.

1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, i. 3, 909. Crowdero whom, in irons bound, Thou basely threwst into LOB’S POUND.

1671. CROWNE, Juliana, i. 1. Between ’um both he’s got into LOBB’S POUND. [Note (MAIDMENT, 1870)]. Jocularly, a prison or place of confinement. The phrase is still used and applied to the prison made for a child between the feet of a grown-up person.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOBCOCK, In LOB’S POUND, Laid by the Heels, or clap’d up in Jail.

1694. Plautus, made English [NARES]. But in what a fine pickle shou’d I be, if Mr. constable and his watch shou’d pick m’ up and in wi’ me to LOBS-POUND? Out o’ which damn’d kitchin, to morrow must I be dish’d up for the whipping post; and not ha’ the benefit o’ the layety to plead i’ m’ own defence.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 18. The cull broke away, as he would from LOB’S POUND.

2. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1623. MASSINGER, Duke of Milan, iii. 2. Who forced the gentleman, to save her credit, To marry her, and say he was the party Found in LOB’S POUND.

Lobster, subs. (old).—A soldier. [See quots.]. Also BOILED LOBSTER in contradistinction to RAW LOBSTER (q.v.) which formerly = a sailor. UNBOILED-LOBSTER (q.v.) also = a policeman. For synonyms see MUDCRUSHER.

c. 1642. SOMERS, Tracts (1811), v. 289. The nickname of LOBSTERS now misapplied to soldiers seems to have been first applied to Sir A. Hazilrigg’s regiment of cavalry, completely armed with corslets—the first body of cavalry on that side which would be brought to stand the shock of the king’s horse.

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 70. Sir William on Run-away-downs had a bout, Which him and his LOBSTERS did totally rout, And his Lady the conqueror could not help him out.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. A red coat, a soldier.

1748. F. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). LOBSTER (S.) … also a mock name for a foot-soldier.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOBSTER, a nickname for a soldier, from the colour of his clothes.… ‘I will not make a LOBSTER kettle of my ——’: a reply frequently made by nymphs of the Point at Portsmouth, when requested by a soldier to grant him a favour.

1803. T. BROWN, Works, i. 73. The women exclaim against LOBSTERS.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 5. LOBSTERS will be such a drug upon hand. [218]

1829. BUCKSTONE, Billy Taylor, i. 1. I … am no more a dull drab-coated watchman … Mary … Thou UNBOILED LOBSTER, hence!

1839. THACKERAY, Fatal Boots (April). I don’t think in the course of my whole military experience I ever fought anything, except an old woman, who had the impudence to hallo out, ‘Heads up, LOBSTER!’

1845. BUCKSTONE, Green Bushes, i. 1. Geo. You must lead the soldiers to the very door … Mur. And where am I to meet the LOBSTERS?

1848. Punch, xiv. 256. He (a soldier) avoids a LOBSTER-shop, for fear of vulgar companions.

3. (cricket).—A bowler of LOBS (q.v.).

1890. E. LYTTELTON, Cricket, p. 36. The gentle and sensitive LOBSTER, whose success depends so largely on facts he is ignorant of and conditions he cannot control.

Verb. (Winchester College).—To cry. [Notions: Probably a variation of ‘lowster’ or ‘louster’ = (Hants) to make any unpleasant noise].

TO BOIL ONE’S LOBSTER, verb. phr. (old). See quot. 1819: of churchmen only. Cf. JAPAN.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOBSTER.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 5. TO BOIL ONE’S LOBSTER means for a churchman to turn soldier; lobsters which are of a bluish-black, being made red by boiling. Butler’s ingenious simile will occur to the reader:—When, like a LOBSTER BOILED, the morn From black to red began to turn.

Lobster-box, subs. (common).—A barrack. Also a transport.

1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, ii. We landed in the LOBSTER-BOX as Jack loves to designate a transport.

Lobster-cart. TO UPSET ONE’S LOBSTER-CART. To knock one down. See APPLE-CART.

1824. MACK, Cat-fight [N.Y.], p. 153. Ready up to take his part, I’d soon UPSET HIS LOBSTER-CART; Make his bones ache, and blubber smart.

Lobster-pot, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Lobtail, verb. (nautical).—To sport or play: as a whale, by lifting his flukes, and bringing them down flat on the water.

Local, subs. (American).—In pl.: an item of news of local interest; a CHIP (q.v.).

Lock, subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1690.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOCK-ALL-FAST.… The LOCK, the magazine or Warehouse whither the thieves carry stolen goods to be secur’d.

1727. GAY, Beggar’s Opera, iii. 3. At his LOCK, Sir, at the Crooked Billet.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (old).—See quots. 1690 and 1718; a FENCE (q.v.). Also LOCK-ALL-FAST.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOCK-ALL-FAST, one that buys and conceals stolen goods.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall, 13, s.v.

1718. HIGGIN, True Discovery, p. 16. That woman they spoke to as they passed by is a LOCK, alias Receiver and Buyer of stolen goods.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (old).—A line of business or conduct. Cf. LURK.

[?]. [NARES], Trum. s. Why look you, colonel, he’s at OLD LOCK, he’s at’s May-bees again.

1800. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 116. What LOCK do you cut now?

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

4. (old).—See quots. [219]

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. LOCK, as He stood a queer LOCK; i.e., He stood an indifferent chance.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). LOCK (S.) … also a cant word.… He stood a queer LOCK or bad chance.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOCK, He stood a queer LOCK; i.e. he bore but an indifferent character.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

5. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. Also LOCK OF ALL LOCKS: cf. KEY = penis.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, 88. Here’s the LOCK OF ALL LOCKS, and unlocking the same.

6. See LOVELOCK.

Lockees, subs. (Westminster School).—Lockhouse.

Locker, subs. (old).—1. A thieves’ middleman.

1718. C. HIGGIN, True Discovery, … I am a LOCKER, I leave goods at a house and borrow money on them, pretending that they are made in London.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

3. (nautical).—A bar-room or GROGGERY (q.v.).

TO BE LAID IN THE LOCKER, verb. phr. (common).—To die. For synonyms see ALOFT.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxxiii. Brown’s dead—shot—LAID IN THE LOCKERS, man.

DAVY JONES’ LOCKER. See DAVY JONES.

SHOT IN THE LOCKER. See SHOT.

Lockeram-jaw’d (or Lockram-jawed), adj. (old).—Thin faced, or LANTHORN-JAW’D (q.v.).—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785).

Lock-hospital, subs. (common).—A hospital for the treatment of venereal diseases.

Locksmith’s Daughter, subs. (old).—A key. Also BLACKSMITH’S DAUGHTER.—GROSE (1785).

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Betty; blacksmith’s daughter (or wife); gilkes (= skeleton keys); Jack-in-the-box; screw; sket; twirl. See JEMMY and THIEVES.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Une aiguille (popular); un bouton (= master-key); un débridoir (thieves’); un frou-frou (thieves’ = master-key); une Josephine (cf. BETTY); un luctrême (thieves’); un peigne (thieves’); une penne (une plume = a false key).

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Bua (Viennese thieves’: Heb. bube); Dalme or Dalmer (Dalmerei = lock; Dalmernekef = keyhole); Echeder or Echoder (Heb. echod: zarfes Echeder = French skeleton key); Haupter (= a master-key); Hinterschieber; Posschener maphteach; Kleinpurim (= skeleton keys); Schasklamonis (= a set of skeleton keys).

DUTCH SYNONYMS. Draaier; klanker; tantel; troetel.

ITALIAN SYNONYM. Ingegnosa (= witty or possessed of genius).

Lock-up-chovey, subs. (old).—A covered cart.—GROSE (1823). [220]

Lock-up House, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOCK UP HOUSE, a spunging house, a public-house kept by sheriff’s officers, to which they convey the persons they have arrested, where they practise every species of imposition and extortion, with impunity; also houses kept by agents or crimps, who inlist, or rather trepan men to serve the East India or African company as soldiers.

Lock-ups, subs. (Harrow School).—Detention in study.

Loco-foco, subs. (American).—1. A self-lighting match or cigar.

2. (American).—A nickname of the Democratic party (1834–5). [At a meeting held in Tammany Hall the chairman left his seat and the lights were suddenly extinguished with a view to breaking up the meeting. Thereupon a section of the audience relighted the lights by means of their LOCO-FOCOS and continued the meeting]. Also as adj. = Democratic; belonging to the LOCO-FOCO party.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xvi. p. 162. Here’s full particulars of the patriotic LOCO-FOCO movement yesterday, in which the Whigs was so chawed up.

1852. BRISTED, Upper Ten Thousand, p. 98. The driver was a stubborn LOCO-FOCO.

Locomote, verb. (American).—To walk.

1847. PORTER, Quarter Race, 83. He throws the galls in, and a bed too in the hay, if you git too hot to LOCOMOTE.

Locomotive, subs. (common).—1. A mixed hot drink: of Burgundy, curaçoa, yolks, honey, and cloves.

2. in pl. (common).—The legs. For synonyms see PINS.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. Char. Will you listen to me, sir? Bob. Will I? To be sure I will. I will stop my LOCOMOTIVES directly. So now you may set your’s agoing as soon as you like.

1870. Sheffield Times, Mar. Having regained his freedom he again made good use of his LOCOMOTIVES.

Locomotive tailor, subs. (tailors’).—A tramping workman.

Locust, subs. (thieves’).—1. Laudanum.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., iii. 397. Some of the convicts would have given me some lush with a LOCUST in it.

2. (American thieves’).—A truncheon.

1882. M’CABE, New York, xxiii. 383. ‘Give them the LOCUSTS, men,’ came in sharp ringing tones from the captain.

Verb. (thieves’).—See quot.

1868. Temple Bar, xxiv. 539. LOCUSTING is putting a chap to sleep with chloroform and bellowing is putting his light out.

Lodger, subs. (prison).—1. A convict waiting for his discharge.

1889. Answers, 25 May, p. 412. We were delicately termed LODGERS, not prisoners, by the authorities.

2. (common).—A person of no account: e.g. ‘only a LODGER.’ Cf. HOG.

Lodging-slum, subs. phr. (thieves’).—Hiring furnished lodgings and robbing them of all portable articles of value.—GROSE (1823).

Log, subs. (public school).—The last boy of his ‘form’ or ‘house.’

Loge, subs. (old).—See quots. For synonyms see TURNIP. [221]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. LOGE, a watch. I suppose from the French horloge, a watch or clock.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOGE … he filed a cloy of a LOGE … he picked a pocket of a watch.

Loges, subs. (old).—See quot.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). LOGES a passe or warrant. A Feager of LOGES, one that beggeth with false passes.

Loggerhead, subs. (old).—A blockhead. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1589. SHAKSPEARE, Love’s Labour Lost, iv. 3, 207. Ah, you whoreson LOGGERHEAD! you were born to do me shame.

1597. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Henry IV, ii. 4. 4. Poins. Where hast been, Hal? Prince. With three or four LOGGERHEADS amongst three or four score hogsheads.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe [GROSART (1883–4), v. 281]. A sweaty LOGGERHEAD.

1609. DEKKER, Gul’s Horn-booke [GROSART (1886), ii. 204]. In defiance of those terrible blockhouses, their LOGGERHEADS make a true discovery of their wild country.

1667. DRYDEN, Sir Martin Markall, i. Warn. Pray, sir, let me alone: what is it to you if I rail upon myself? Now could I break my own LOGGER-HEAD.

1672. C. COTTON, Scarronides, Bk. i. p. 44 (ed. 1725). At last his Friend jog’d him with’s Hand, How like a LOGGER-HEAD you stand!

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1704. SWIFT, Battle of the Books, in Prose Wks. (Camelot). A pack of rogues, and fools … and confounded LOGGERHEADS.

1777. SHERIDAN, Trip to Scarborough, i. 2. Lory. Here comes a head, sir, would contrive it better than both our LOGGERHEADS, if she would but join in the confederacy.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOGGERHEAD s.v.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ii. ch. vii. ‘What plea, you LOGGERHEAD,’ said the lawyer.

Adj. (old).—Stupid. Also LOGGERHEADED (q.v.).

1596. NASHE, Saffron Walden, in Works, iii. 104. For the printing of this LOGGER-HEAD Legend of lyes.

1711. SWIFT, Journal to Stella, 22 August, Lett. 28. Pretty, dear, little, naughty, saucy M.D. Silly, impudent, LOGGERHEAD Presto.

TO BE AT (or COME TO) LOGGERHEADS, verb. phr. (old).—To quarrel; to come to blows.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 90. He was … ready.… To fall to LOGGERHEADS … with a few saucy Carpenters.

1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia, in Works (1720), iv. 19. GO TO LOGGERHEADS with the constable and the watch.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1701. FARQUHAR, Sir Harry Wildair, i. They FELL TO LOGGERHEADS about their playthings.

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xxxix. Who having driven their carts against each other, quarrelled, and WENT TO LOGGERHEADS on the spot.

1828. SMEATON, Doings in London, ‘The Humours of the Fleet.’ Disputes more noisy now a quarrel breeds, And fools on both sides FALL TO LOGGERHEADS.

1846. Punch, x. 46. The Queen’s Speech, xxx. ‘F. M. the Duke of Wellington will let Mr. Punch have the earliest intimation of anything definite being come to.’ As we have not heard from his grace … we can only presume that the ministers were, up to the last moment, AT LOGGERHEADS.

1876. C. H. WALL, trans. Molière, i. 199. You see that without my help you would still all be AT LOGGERHEADS.

Loggerheaded, adj. (old).—Blockheaded. Also LOG-HEADED.

1567. EDWARDS, Damon & Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 65]. For well I knew it was some mad-headed child That invented this name, That the LOG-HEADED knave might be beguiled.

1596–7. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, iv. 1. You LOGGER-HEADED and unpolish’d grooms. [222]

1626. BRETON, Pasquil’s Madcappe [GROSART (1876), i.e. 6, 1, 8]. Who hath not seene a LOGGER-HEADED Asse.

1672. C. COTTON, Scarronides, Bk. iv. p. 102 (ed. 1725). But like a LOGGER-HEADED Lubber, Thou grinning stand’st, and seest me Blubber.

1684. LACY, Sauny the Scot, iii. 1. Here, here, you LOGGERHEADED curs.

Logie, subs. (theatrical).—Sham jewellery. [From David Logie the inventor].

1883. SALA, Living London, 483. The plastering of girdles with zinc LOGIES.

2. (Winchester School).—Sewage.

Log-roller, subs. (colloquial).—1. A conditional ally in passing a bill through the Legislature without reference to the merits or demerits of the measure so advanced; and (2) a venal critic assistant or friend. See LOG-ROLLING.

1885. FIELD, 19 Dec. But some very good contracts can be made, so that the LOGROLLERS are pleased, and also the ignorant, to whose folly the defences are ostensibly a tribute.

1890. BLACK (in Notes & Queries, 7th S. ix. 106). Dryden presents the alternatives very clearly. If the literary friend does not praise his comrade’s work, he must, of course, be dumb with envy; if he does praise it, then he is a LOG-ROLLER.

1895. Star, LOGROLLER (a constant signature).

Log-rolling, subs. (colloquial).—Co-operation in the pursuit of money, business, or praise. See quots.

1848. BARTLETT, Dict. of Americanisms, s.v. LOG-ROLLING. For instance, a member from St. Lawrence has a pet bill for a plank road which he wants pushed through; he accordingly makes a bargain with a member from Onondaga, who is coaxing along a charter for a bank, by which St. Lawrence agrees to vote for Onondaga’s bank, provided Onondaga will vote in turn for St. Lawrence’s plank road.

1855. Washington Union, 10 Feb. The legislation of Congress is controlled by a system of combination and LOG-ROLLING.

1872. DE VERE, Americanisms, p. 260, 1. Vote for my bill and I will vote for your bill; and this is called LOG-ROLLING.

1875. American English, in Chamb. Journal, 25 Sept., p. 610. When a group of members supports a bill in which they have no direct interest, in order to secure the help of its promoters for a bill of their own, they are said to be LOG-ROLLING, a term taken from the backwoods, where a man who has cut down a big tree gets his neighbours to help him in rolling it away, and in return helps them with their logs.

1887. Lippincott’s Mag., July, p. 162. And first as to that question of literary LOG-ROLLING which has of late been harped upon so much.

1888. Globe, 17 Oct. One has always a suspicion that LOG-ROLLING is at work.

1889. Town and Country, 14 Dec., p. 18, col. 4. Votes which have been obtained by no end of trouble, and Heaven knows how much of LOG-ROLLING, will disappear as a dream.

Logy, adj. (American).—Dull. [Cf. Du. log = heavy; slow; unwieldy].

Loll, subs. (old).—1. A favorite child.—GROSE (1785); MATSELL (1859).

2. See LOLLPOOP.

Verb. (old colloquial).—To lounge; to lie lazily; to sprawl.

1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman (C), x. 215. He that LOLLETH is lame other his leg out of ioynte.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, IV. 1, l. 137. So hangs, and LOLLS, and weeps upon me. [223]

1609. SHAKSPEARE, Troilus and Cressida, i. 3. At this fustie stuffe, The large Achilles on his prest bed LOLLING, From his deepe chest laughes out a lowd applause.

1640. T. HEYWOOD, Love’s Mistress, i. Juno lay LOLLING in my Uncle’s lap.

1676. ETHEREGE, Man of Mode, in Wks. (1704); i. 194. And his looks are more languishing than a lady’s when She LOLLS at stretch in her coach.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOLPOOP.… LOLL, to Lean on the Elbows; also to put out the Tongue in derision.

1693. DRYDEN, Juvenal, 1. 204. Meantime his lordship LOLLS within at ease.

1711. Spectator, No. 187. Hyæna can LOLL in her coach, with something so fixed in her countenance, that it is impossible to conceive her meditation is employed only on her dress and her charms in that posture.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1727. GAY, Beggar’s Opera, i. Air 14. Fondly let me LOLL, Pretty, pretty Poll.

1753. Adventurer, No. 96. I found him in full health, LOLLING in an easy chair.

1754. Connoisseur, No. 11. The genuine careless LOLL and easy saunter.

1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, Bk. iv. ch. XVI. ‘I wish to goodness, Ma,’ said Lavvy … ‘that you’d LOLL a little.’

1872. Figaro, 22 June, ‘Lay of the Gallant Yachtsman.’ You may see me here, upon the pier, LOLL lazily to and fro.

1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua Haggard, x. ‘I don’t see any harm in a good novel once in a way, if you take your time over it, and don’t LOLL by the fireside half the day, poking your nose into a book and letting your house go to rack and ruin.’

1893. HENLEY, London Voluntaries, 10. Lingers and LOLLS, loth to be done with day.

Loller. See LOLLPOOP.

Lollipop (or Lollypop), subs. (colloquial).—1. A sweetmeat. Also LOLLY.

1823. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, 3rd ed., s.v.

1838. C. SELBY, Catching an Heiress, Sc. 2. Our hearts we cheer, with LOLLYPOPS.

1844. DISRAELI, Coningsby, ix. The … hopeless votary of LOLLYPOP—the opium eater of schoolboys.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 215. Hard-bake, almond-toffy, halfpenny LOLLYPOPS.

1861. THACKERAY, Lovel the Widower, i. I would … never give these children LOLLYPOP.

1876. C. HINDLEY, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 101. William Carrol was his partner, or butty, in the LOLLIPOP business.

1885. G. A. SALA, in Daily Telegraph, 3 Sept., 5/5. From a perambulator to a packet of LOLLIES or sugarplums.

2. (venery).—The penis. Also LADIES’ LOLLIPOP. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Lollop, verb. (colloquial).—To lounge about; TO LOAF. Hence, LOLLOP, subs. = a lazybones or LOAFER; and LOLLOPY, adj. = lazy.

1745. C. H. WILLIAMS, Place-book, quoted in Notes & Queries, 7 S. iv. 425. Next in LOLLOP’D Sandwich, with negligent grace.

1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, xxxiv. ‘You are allowed, on pretence of sickness, to LOLLOP at your ease, while your betters are kept to hard duty!’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1865. MASSON, Inaugural Address, 13 Nov. What matters it to our judgment of a beautiful poem, it is asked, what was the appearance and personal character of the author—whether he was laborious and independent in his habits, or LOLLOPED on the surface of society, accepting all he could get and paying nobody? With all deference to those who think otherwise I say that it matters a great deal.

1878. LADY BRASSEY, Voy. of Sunbeam, 1. i. For four long hours … we LOLLOPPED about in the trough of a heavy sea. [224]

1883. Daily Telegraph, 26 Jan., p. 5, col. 3. She LOLLOPS about in a loose dressing-gown, and he is seduced into the carelessness of carpet slippers.

Lollop-fever, subs. (American).—Laziness.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Lolloping, adj. (colloquial).—Idle; lounging; slovenly.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, xvi. Turier … made a heavy LOLLOPING hit.

1844. STEPHENS, Adv. of a Gentleman, iii. Horses having long pasterns, have usually a lumbering LOLLOPING action, neither fast nor pleasant.

Lollpoop (Loll, or Loller), subs. (old).—See quots.

1600. BRETON, Pasquils’ Madcappe, p. 10. A lobbe, a lovte, a heavy LOLL, a logge.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOLLPOOP, a lazy, idle drone.

Loll-tongue. TO PLAY A GAME AT LOLL-TONGUE, verb. phr. (old).—To be salivated for syphilis.—GROSE (1796).

Lolly, subs. (pugilists’).—1. The head. For synonyms see CRUMPET.

2. See LOLLIPOP.

Lollybanger, subs. (nautical).—A ships’ cook. See LOBLOLLY.

Lombard-fever, subs. (old).—The ‘idles’; loafing.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 55]. s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Lombard St. ALL LOMBARD STREET TO A CHINA ORANGE, phr. (old).—Said of a certainty; the longest possible odds.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 38. ALL LOMBARD STREET TO NINEPENCE on it. *Note*. More usually LOMBARD ST. TO A CHINA ORANGE. There are several of these fanciful forms of betting—Chelsea College to a sentry-box; Pompey’s pillar to a stick of sealing-wax, etc. etc.

1849. BULWER, Caxtons, iv. 3. ‘It’s LOMBARD ST. TO A CHINA ORANGE,’ quoth uncle Jack. ‘Are the odds in favor of fame against failure really so great?’ answered my father.

1892. Evg. Standard, 9 Nov. i. 1. We describe the betting upon a moral certainty as being ALL LOMBARD-STREET TO A CHINA ORANGE.

London. TO TURN (or PUT) THE BEST SIDE TO LONDON, verb. phr. (common).—To show one’s best: cf. HUMPHREY’S TOPPERS.

1873. Cassell’s Mag., Jan., p. 248, col. 2. This placing the goods in alternate rows of large and small was followed until the top of the box was gained, and then a row of very fine fish indeed crowned the whole. Venturing a remark upon this, the packer grinned as he returned, ‘Allays PUT THE BEST SIDE TO LONDON, gov’nor. Wouldn’t do to shove the big uns underneath. People wouldn’t b’lieve they was there, not if yer swore it. And when we tells ’em up for sale, we allays picks ’em up in double rows, takin’ care to keep the big fish uppermost.’

London-ivy (or London Particular), subs. (common).—A thick fog.

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. iii. I asked him whether there was a great fire any-where.… ‘O dear no, miss,’ he said. ‘This is a LONDON PARTICULAR.’

1889. Sporting Life, 4 Jan. A very severe cold caught by him during a nine hours’ contact with LONDON IVY.

1890. Sportsman, 13 Dec. If only from the question of cost it is clear that a clean sweep should be made of LONDON PARTICULAR.

London ordinary, subs. (common).—The beach at Brighton. [Where trippers feed]. [225]

Lone-duck (or -dove), subs. (common).—A woman out of keeping; also a prostitute, who works away from home by means of houses of accommodation. Also QUIET MOUSE (q.v.).

Lone-star State, subs. phr. (American).—Texas. [From the flag with a single star in the centre].

Long, subs. (Stock Exchange).—1. A BULL (q.v.); cf. SHORT.

1888. Daily Telegraph, 19 Nov. The ramket continued somewhat depressed on LONGS selling.

2. (Fenian).—A rifle: cf. SHORT = a revolver.

3. See JOHN LONG.

Adj. (once literary: now colloquial or humorous).—Tall.

c. 1189. Destruction of Troy [E. E. T. S.], 1. 3805. Off Duke Nestor to deme, doughty in werre, He was LONG and large, with lemys full grete.

c. 1440. Isumbras, line 258. For he es bothe LANGE and heghe, The faireste mane that ever I seghe.

1888–9. Broadside Ballad. ‘If only I were LONG enough.’

THE LONG (University).—The summer vacation.

1852. BRISTED, Five Years in an English University, p. 37. For a month or six weeks in THE LONG they rambled off to see the sights of Paris.

1863. READE, Hard Cash, i. 17. ‘I hope I shall not be [‘ploughed for smalls’] to vex you and puss.’… ‘… Puss? that is me [sister Julia] How dare he? Did I not forbid all these nicknames and all this Oxfordish, by proclamation, last LONG.’ ‘Last LONG?’ [remonstrates mamma]. ‘Hem! last protracted vacation.’

THE LONGS, subs. (Oxford University).—The latrines at Brasenose. [Built by Lady Long].

Adj. (colloquial).—Heavy; great: as a ‘LONG price’, ‘LONG odds’ etc. etc.

1850. AYTOUN, Dreepdaily Burghs, 10. If we look sharp after it, I bet THE LONG ODDS you will carry it in a canter.

1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General Bounce, xiii. Now for good information, LONG odds, a safe man, and a shot at the favourite!

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 63. TOO LONG in the purse to let slip.

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, phr. (common).—The sum of a matter; the whole. See LONG ATTACHMENT.

d. 1845. HOOD, Paired not Matched. For I am small, My wife is tall, And that’s THE SHORT AND THE LONG OF IT.

LONG IN THE MOUTH, adj. phr. (common).—Tough.

LONG IN THE TOOTH, adj. phr. (common).—Elderly.

Long acre, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A baker; a BURN-CRUST (q.v.).

Long-attachment, subs. (common).—A tall man and short woman walking together, or vice versâ: also THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT.

Long-bill, subs. (thieves’).—A long term of imprisonment. SHORT-BILL = a short term.

Long-bit, subs. (old American).—A defaced 20 cent piece (MATSELL); also 15 cents in Western U. S. (Century). SHORT-BIT = 10 cents (Century).

Long-bow. TO DRAW (or PULL) THE LONG-BOW, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To tell improbable stories. Hence, LONG-BOW MAN = a liar. [226]

1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, v. ch. 30. ’Twas Ælian, that LONG-BOW man, that told you so, never believe him, for he lies as fast as a dog can trot.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 64], s.v.

1819–24. BYRON, Don Juan, xvi. 1. At speaking truth perhaps they are less clever, But DRAW THE LONG-BOW better now than ever.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, xxx. What is it makes him PULL THE LONG BOW in that wonderful manner?

1871. Daily News, 29 Dec. If now and then he appears to DRAW THE LONG BOW, or rather to shoot with an extraordinary rifle, he does not abuse the reader’s faith unmercifully.

1883. A. DOBSON, Old-World Idylls, p. 134. The great Gargilius, then, behold! His LONG BOW hunting tales of old Are now but duller.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To climb a steep hill; to come (or cut) it strong (or fat, or THICK); to embroider; TO GAMMON (q.v.); to lay it on thick; to put on the pot; to pull a leg; to slop over.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. La faire à l’oseille; en voilà une sévère; c’est plus fort que de jouer au bouchon.

SPANISH SYNONYM. Jacarear.

ITALIAN SYNONYM. Spalare.

Long Chalk. BY A LONG CHALK, phr. (colloquial).—By far; in a large measure.

1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), 447. Still Sir Alured’s steed was BY LONG CHALKS the best.

1838–40. HALIBURTON, The Clockmaker, p. 26 (ed. 1826). ‘Yes,’ says he, ‘your factories down East beat all natur; they go ahead on the English a LONG CHALK.’

1844. CHARLES SELBY, London by Night, ii. 2. Jack. Yes, and I opine which will come off second best BY LONG CHALKS.

1848. RUXTON, Life In The Far West, 2. Not a hundred years ago BY A LONG CHALK.

1856. C. BRONTË, Professor, iii. ‘You are not as fine a fellow as your plebeian brother BY A LONG CHALK.’

1883. GRENVILLE MURRAY, People I Have Met, 133. The finest thing in the world; or … ‘the best thing out BY MANY CHALKS.’

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, v. ‘Isn’t it as easy to carry on for a few years more as it was twenty years ago?’ ‘Not BY A LONG CHALK.’

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, 209. ‘Oh, everyone to their taste, of course; she’s not mine BY A LONG CHALK.’

Long-crown, subs. (old).—A clever fellow: as in the proverb, ‘That caps LONG-CROWN, and he capped the Devil.’

Long-dispar, subs. (Winchester College).—See quot.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 84. There were six of these [DISPARS (q.v.) or portions] to a shoulder, and eight to a leg of mutton, the other joints being divided in like proportion. All these ‘dispars’ had different names; the thick slice out of the centre of the leg was called a ‘middle cut,’ … the ribs ‘Racks,’ the loin LONG DISPARS.

Long drink, subs. phr. (common).—A considerable quantity, as compared to a NIP (q.v.), i.e., a drop of SHORT (q.v.).

1883. Daily Telegraph, 2 July, p. 5, col. 3. The list of LONG DRINKS which may be imbibed with deliberation and through the medium of a couple of straws.

Long-ear, subs. (American University).—1. A reading man; a sober student. See SHORT-EAR.

2. in pl. (common).—A donkey. For synonyms see MOKE.

Long Eliza, subs. (trade).—See quot.

1884. Pall Mall Gazette, 4 Dec. LONG-ELIZAS (the trade term for certain [227]blue and white vases ornamented with figures of tall thin china-women) is a name derived undoubtedly from the German or Dutch. Our sailors and traders called certain Chinese vases from the figures which distinguished them, lange Lischen (= tall Lizzies) and the English sailors and traders promptly translated this into LONG ELIZAS.

Long-eye, subs. phr. (pidgin).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Long-faced one, subs. phr. (military).—A horse. For synonyms see PRAD.

Long-feathers, subs. (military).—Straw; STROMMEL (q.v.). Fr. piausser sur plume de Beauce = to sleep in the straw.

1879. Correspondent of Notes & Queries, 5 S. xii. 246. Is this bit of ironical slang worth preserving? An old man, lately emerged from what we North-countrymen call the ‘Bastile,’ objected in my hearing to that institution, because, inter alia, ‘you had to sleep there on LONG FEATHERS,’ that is, upon bedding stuffed with straw.

Long-firm, subs. (common).—See quot. 1869. Fr. la bande noire. A somewhat similar mode of swindling is described in PARKER’S View of Society (ii. 33. 1781).

1869. Orchestra, 2 Jan., 235, i. Dismal records of the doings of the LONG FIRM, a body of phantom capitalists who issue large orders to supply an infinite variety of goods—from herrings to harmoniums, from cotton-twist to pictures; the ledger of the LONG FIRM has room for the most multifarious transactions. The rule of procedure with the LONG FIRM is simple: a noble order, a moderate sum paid on account, bills for the remainder, an order to deliver the goods at some country warehouse or depository—and exit Montague Tigg. In the next town he changes his name and his partner’s, and repeats the operation. From Liverpool and Manchester he flings the bait to London tradesmen, and now and then a fish is hooked.

1886. Daily News, 20 Sept., 7, 1. This was the usual case of what is termed LONG FIRM swindling. The prisoner pretended to carry on business in the city, and ordered goods of all descriptions, which were never used for legitimate purposes, but which were immediately pawned or otherwise disposed of.

1892. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 Oct., p. 5, c. 2. Not a few of the most dangerous of the LONG FIRM class (and there are some about at the present time) haunt the locality, as our criminal courts of justice revealed only a few months ago.

Long-fork, subs. (Winchester College).—See quot.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 80. We had not proper toasting forks, but pieces of stick called LONG FORKS.

Long-gallery, subs. (old).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LONG-GALLERY. Throwing, or, rather, trundling, the dice the whole length of the board.

Long-ghost, subs. (common).—A gawk. For synonyms see LAMP-POST.

Long-glass, subs. (Eton College).—See quot.

1883. BRINSLEY-RICHARDS, Seven Years at Eton, 321. A glass nearly a yard long, shaped like the horn of a stage-coach guard, and with a hollow globe instead of a foot. It held a quart of beer, and the ceremony of drinking out of it constituted an initiation into the higher circle of Etonian swelldom. There was LONG-GLASS drinking once or twice a week during the summer half. The invités attended in an upper room of Tap after two, and each before the long glass was handed to him had a napkin tied round his neck. It was considered a grand thing to drain the glass without removing it from the lips, and without spilling any of its contents. This was difficult, because when the contents of the tubular portion of the glass had been sucked [228]down, the beer in the globe would remain for a moment as if congealed there: then if the drinker tilted the glass up a little, and shook it, the motionless beer would give a gurgle and come with a sudden rush all over his face. There was a way of holding the long glass at a certain angle by which catastrophes were avoided. Some boys could toss off their quart of ale in quite superior style, and I may as well remark that these clever fellows could do little else.

Long-haired Chum, subs. phr. (tailors’).—A female friend; a sweetheart.

Long-headed, adj. (old: now colloquial).—Shrewd; far-seeing; clever. Also LONG-HEADEDNESS.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1711. Spectator, No. 52. But being a LONG-HEADED gentlewoman, I am apt to imagine she has some further design than you have yet penetrated.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1840. DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop, lxvi. Many distinguished characters, called men of the world, LONG-HEADED customers, knowing dogs, shrewd fellows.

1871. LOWELL, Study Windows, 126. Ulysses was the type of LONG-HEADEDNESS.

Long-hogs, subs. (old).—The first growth of wool on a sheep.

1841. Punch, i. 85. The tailor clips the implicated LONG-HOGS from the prolific backs of the living mutton.

Long-home, subs. (old colloquial).—The grave.—WRIGHT and HALL.

1701. Harl. MSS., fol. 61. And thy traveyle shalt thou sone ende, For to thy LONG-HOME sone shalt thou wende.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, l. 2. Following the order book to its LONG ’OME in the iron safe.

Long-hope, subs. (old).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LONG-HOPE.… At Oxford, … the symbol of long expectations in studying for a degree.

Long-lady, subs. (old).—A farthing candle.

Long-lane, subs. (common).—The throat. For synonyms see GUTTER-ALLEY.

FOR THE LONG-LANE, adv. phr. (old).—Said when a thing is borrowed without intention of repayment.

Long-legs (or Long-’un), subs. (common).—A tall man or woman. For synonyms see LAMP-POST.

Long-meg, subs. (old).—A very tall woman. For synonyms see LAMP-POST.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785).

Long-oats, subs. (military).—A broom or fork-handle used to belabour a horse: cf. THORLEY’S FOOD FOR CATTLE.

Long-one, subs. (poachers’).—A hare: cf. LONG-TAIL.

Long-paper, subs. (Winchester).—Paper for writing tasks on.

Long-pig, subs. (nautical).—See quots.

1883. ST. JOHNSTON, Camping amongst Cannibals [Century]. The expression LONG PIG is not a joke, nor a phrase invented by Europeans, but one frequently used by the Fijians, who looked upon a corpse as ordinary butcher meat, and called a human body puaka balava, LONG PIG, in contradistinction to puaka dina, or real pig.

1893. Fortnightly Review, Jan., p. 37. I cannot find it in my heart to condemn them for trying to get a little LONG PIG whenever an opportunity presents itself. [229]

Long-robe, subs. (old).—A lawyer.

1611. BARRY, Ram Alley [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 355]. What would you, sir? I guess your LONG profession By your scant suit.

1662. Adv. Five Hours [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), xv. 230]. And, having been affronted by the sword, To pray the aid of the LONG ROBE, and take An advocate for second.

1694. Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar., p. 49. The third was of the LONG ROBE.

Long-row. See HOE.

Longs and Shorts (also Longs and Broads), subs. phr. (card-sharpers’).—Cards so manufactured that all above the eight are a trifle longer than those below it: nothing under an eight can be cut, and the chances against turning up an honour at whist are reduced to two to one. Cf. BRIEF and CONCAVE.

Long-sauce, subs. (American).—Beets, parsnips, or carrots, in contradistinction to SHORT-SAUCE (q.v.) = onions, turnips, etc. [An old English usage].

Long-shanks, subs. (old).—A tall man. For synonyms see LAMP-POST.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785).

Long-shore butcher, subs. phr. (nautical).—A coastguardsman; A SHINGLE-TRAMPER (q.v.).

Long-shot, subs. (racing).—A bet made at large odds: as 100 to 1 on anything not in favour.

1869. Leisure Hour, May. Will teach the tyro when to take a LONG SHOT … when to save himself by timely hedging.

1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. Bachelor was next in demand at 5 to 1, and LONG SHOTS were forthcoming about either of the others.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 16. A jolly LONG SHOT.

Long-sleeved top, subs. (thieves’).—A silk hat.—RICHARDSON (1889).

Long-sleeved ’un, subs. phr. (Australian).—A long glass. Fr. un wagon.

Long-stomach, subs. (old).—A voracious eater; a WOLFER (q.v.).—GROSE (1785).

Long-tail, subs. (sporting).—1. A greyhound: hence, as dogs unqualified to hunt were curtailed, gentlefolk.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, iii. 4. Come cut and LONGTAIL under the degree of a squire.

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 126. But LONG-TAIL and bob-tail can never agree.

1885. Graphic, 17 Oct. 427/2. Greyhounds, as all coursers know, are often designated as LONG-TAILS.

2. (sporting).—A pheasant.

1854. F. E. SMEDLEY, Harry Coverdale, ch. xxiii. In the meantime, Harry and the Colonel were blazing away at the LONG-TAILS most unmercifully.

1871. Standard, 6 Nov. The period of the year at which we have now arrived is quite as important as the advent of the month sounding the note of war against the ‘birds,’ or initiating the campaign against the LONG-TAILS.

3. (old).—A native of Kent.

1628. Robin Goodfellow [HALLIWELL & WRIGHT], s.v. Truly, sir, sayd my hoastesse, I think we are called LONGTAYLES, by reason our tayles are long, that we use to passe the time withall, and make ourselves merry.

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 47. I shall not dispute whether LONG-TAILS of Kent.

1701. Broadside (in Dulwich College Library), ‘Advice to the Kentish LONG-TAILS by the Wise Men of Gotham.’ [Title]. [230]

4. (old).—See quot.

1755. JOHNSON, Dict., s.v. LONGTAIL, a canting term for, one or another.

Long-tailed, adj. (old).—Of gentle birth; of good standing.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 195. She blushing said, that LONG-TAILED men would tell, Quoth I, I’ll be as silent as the night.

Long-tailed beggar, subs. phr. (common).—A cat.

1834. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ii. ‘You must larn to chaw baccy, drink grog, and call the cat a BEGGAR, and then you knows all a midshipman’s expected to know nowadays.’

1874. HOTTEN, Slang Dict., s.v. LONG-TAILED BEGGAR. ‘A boy, during his first, and a very short voyage, to sea, had … entirely forgotten the name of the cat, and was obliged, pointing to puss, to ask his mother what she called that ’ere LONG-TAILED BEGGAR?’ Sailors when they hear a freshwater tar discoursing largely are apt to say, ‘But how mate about that LONG-TAILED BEGGAR?’

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Baudrons (Scots’); gib; grimalkin; masheen; nimshod; puss; Thomas; Tyb.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un lapin de gouttière (familiar = rabbit of the tiles); un greffier, griffard or griffon (griffe = claw); un gaspard (popular).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Laffaro; gulfo.

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Estaffion, estaffin, or estaffier.

Long-tailed finnips (or long-tailed ’uns), subs. phr. (thieves’).—Banknotes for high amounts.

1857. SNOWDEN, Mag. Assist., 3rd ed., 144, s.v.

Long-tea, subs. (schoolboys’).—1. Tea poured from a pot held high; and (2) LANT (q.v.).

Long-tongue, subs. (old).—A talebearer; a chatterbox.

c. 1550. INGLELEND, Disobedient Child [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 282]. What banging, what cursing. LONG-TONGUE, is with thee.

1886. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘Grandmother’s Clock.’ Very short legs and a very LONG TONGUE.

Long-tongued, adj. (old).—Talkative.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, T. Andron., IV. 2. 150. ’Tis a deed of policy: Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours, A LONG-TONGUED babbling gossip?

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue [3rd ed.], s.v. LONG-TONGUED. Loquacious, not able to keep a secret, He is as LONG-TONGUED as Granny; Granny was an idiot who could lick her own eye.

Long-togs, subs. (nautical).—Shore-going clothes in general, and dress-clothes in particular.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, III. ii. May I be so bold as to ask, Captain O’Brien, whether I must wear one of them LONG-TOG, swallow-tailed coats—because if so I prefer being a quarter-master.

1834. MARRYAT, Jack Faithful, xxix. I had fitted on what are called at sea, and on the river, LONG TOGS; i.e., I was dressed as most people are on shore.

1883. CLARK RUSSELL, Sailor’s Language, s.v.

Long-tot, subs. (common).—A long set of figures for addition: as in examinations.

Longwinded, adj. (old: now recognised).—Diffuse; protracted; loquacious. See quots. 1690 and 1796.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART (1883–4), ii. 77]. It will make them iolly LONG-WINDED.

1635. DAVENANT, News from Plymouth, ii. 1. I never read of such a LONG-WINDED monster. [231]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LONG-WINDED Paymaster, one that very slowly, heavily, or late Paies.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1796. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. LONG-WINDED, A LONG-WINDED parson, one who preached long, tedious sermons. A LONG-WINDED paymaster, one who takes long credit.

1871. CLARK RUSSELL, Book of Authors. Sir Walter Scott said Lord Clarendon’s style was a little LONGWINDED.

Lonsdale’s Ninepins, subs. phr. (old Parliamentary).—The nine boroughs for which Lord Lonsdale used to send up members to St. Stephens. A repartee connected with them is attributed to Burke.—H. J. BYRON (M.S. note in HOTTEN).

Loo, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOO, FOR THE GOOD OF THE LOO, for the benefit of the Company or Community.

2. (old).—See quot.

1839. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. Blueskin … turning … beheld a young female, whose features were partially concealed by a LOO, or half mask, standing beside him.

Verb. (common).—To vanquish. [From the game of loo].

Looby, subs. (old: now recognised).—A fool; an idle dullard. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1362. Piers Ploughman, A. i. 6. Great LOUBIES and long, that loth were to swinke.

1399. Richard the Redeless, ii. 170. This lorell that ladde this LOBY awey.

1529. S. FISH, A Supplicacyon for the Beggers, p. 13 (Arber’s ed.). Set those sturdy LOBIES abrode in the world to get … theire liuing with their laboure in the swete of theire faces.

1609. DEKKER, Gul’s Horne-Booke [GROSART (1886), ii. 207]. And how to munch so like LOOBIES, that the wisest Solon in the world, shall not be able to take them for any other.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOOBY, a lazy dull Fellow.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

d. 1731. NED WARD, Works, ii. 20. ‘Reflections on a country corporation.’ Honest men precious as Rubies; Their May’rs successively are Boobies; And Aldermen great brawny LOOBIES.

1754. Connoisseur, No. 22. The country squire seldom fails of seeing his son as dull and awkward a LOOBY as himself.

1775. SHERIDAN, Rivals, ii. 1. I must leave you—I own I am somewhat flurried—and that confounded LOOBY has perceived it.

1776. FOOTE, Bankrupt, ii. How the LOOBIES must look.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, ii. Now, you LOOBY, said the lawyer.

1845. DISRAELI, Sybil, Bk. IV. xi. ‘I went once and stayed a week at Lady Jenny Spinner’s to gain her LOOBY of a son and his eighty thousand a year.’

Look. TO LOOK A GIFT-HORSE IN THE MOUTH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To criticize a present or favour. [From ascertaining the age of horses by looking at their teeth].

1663. S. BUTLER, Hudibras, I. i. 490. He ne’er consider’d it, as loth TO LOOK A GIFT-HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

TO LOOK ALIVE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To bestir oneself; to be on the alert. Also, TO LOOK SLIMY.

TO LOOK AS IF BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT IN ONE’S MOUTH.—See BUTTER.

TO LOOK AT THE MAKER’S NAME, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To drain (a glass) to the bottom; ‘to bite one’s name in the POT’ (q.v.).

TO LOOK BABIES (or FOR CUPIDS) IN THE EYES, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To look closely and amorously into the eyes for the reflected figures. [232]

1593. Tell-trothes N.Y. Gift, 39. That BABIE which lodges IN womens EIES.

1607. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Woman Hater, iii. 1. I cannot think I shall become a coxcomb, To ha’ my hair curl’d by an idle finger.… Mine EYES LOOKED BABIES IN.

1613. DRAYTON, Polyolbion, Song xi. While in their chrystal eyes he doth FOR CUPIDS LOOK.

1618. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Loyal Subject, iii. 2. Can ye LOOK BABIES, sister, IN THE young gallants’ EYES, and twirl their bandstrings? Ibid. ii. 6. Viol. Will he play with me too? Alin. LOOK BABIES IN YOUR EYES, my pretty sweet one; There’s a fine sport!

1621. BURTON, Anat. Mel., III. ii. VI. v. (1651) 576. They may kiss and coll, lye and LOOK BABIES IN one another’s EYES.

1624. MASSINGER, Renegado, ii. 5. When a young lady wrings you by the hand,—thus; Or with an amorous touch presses your foot; LOOKS BABIES IN YOUR EYES, plays with your locks, etc.

1636. DAVENANT, Platonic Lovers, ii. 1. You may beget REFLECTIONS IN EACH OTHERS EYES.

1657. POOLE, English Parnassus, 420. [Among the phrases expressing the ways of lovers, is set down], ‘LOOKING OF BABIES IN EACH OTHER’S EYES.’

1672. MARVELL, Reher. Transp., i. 66. Only to speculate his own BABY IN THEIR EYES.

1682. MRS. BEHN, City Heiress, iii. 1. Sigh’d and LOOKT BABIES IN HIS gloating EYES.

1690. WILSON, Belphegor, ii. 3. What would I care for a man should court my little finger, LOOK BABIES IN MY EYES.… That was not the fashion of my time. Men were men then.

1692. Gentlemen’s Journal, July, p. 9. Ten thousand CUPIDS wanton IN HER EYES.

1802. MOORE (LITTLE), Poems, ‘Impromptu.’ Thus in our looks some propagation lies, For we MAKE BABIES IN each other’s EYES.

TO LOOK BIG. See BIG.

TO LOOK BLUE. See BLUE.

TO LOOK BOTTY. See BOTTY.

TO LOOK DOWN ONE’S NOSE, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To look glum; to have the BLUES (q.v.).

TO LOOK LIVELY, verb. phr. (common).—To be drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

TO LOOK FOR A NEEDLE IN A BOTTLE OF HAY (or IN A HAYSTACK), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To seek what it is impossible to find. [BOTTLE = a quantity of hay or grass, tied or bundled up. Fr. botte].

1592. GREENE, Upstart Courtier (1871), 4. b. He … gropeth in the dark TO FIND A NEEDLE IN A BOTTLE OF HAY.

c. 1845. HOOD, Lost Heir, ii. A child as is lost about London streets … is A NEEDLE IN A BOTTLE OF HAY.

c. 1880. W. M. BAKER, New Timothy, 200. How in the world will we manage to find you afterwards? After we get into the thick of the bush, it’ll be like LOOKIN’ FOR A NEEDLE IN the biggest sort of A HAYSTACK.

TO LOOK PRICKS, verb. phr. (venery).—To look lecherously; to leer an invitation to coition: cf. PINTLE-KEEK.

TO LOOK SHARP, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To exercise great vigilance; to be extremely careful.

1711. STEELE, Spectator, No. 132. The captain … ordered his man TO LOOK SHARP that none but one of the ladies should have the place he had taken fronting the coach-box.

2. (colloquial).—To be quick; to make haste.

1840. DICKENS, Old Curiosity Shop, xxxix. Kit told this gentleman TO LOOK SHARP, and he said he would not only LOOK SHARP, but he actually did, and presently came running back.

TO LOOK THROUGH A GLASS, verb. phr. (common).—To get drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED. [233]

TO LOOK TOWARDS ONE, verb. phr. (common).—To drink one’s health.

1847–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, liii. The ladies drank to his ’ealth, and Mr. Moss, in the most polite manner, LOOKED TOWARDS him.

1890. FARJEON, Felix, 1. i. 26. ‘You know where the bottle is, and per’aps Mr. Wigg will jine you.’ ‘Mrs. Middlemore,’ said Constable Wigg, ‘you’re a lady after my own heart.… Here’s LOOKING TOWARDS you.’

1892. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie. Tableau III. Sc. 1, p. 31. Deacon, I LOOKS TOWARDS you.

TO LOOK UP, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To show a tendency to improvement; to recover.

1850. AYTOUN, Dreepdaily Burghs, 6. ‘Suppose I were to start as a Peelite?’ ‘Something may be said in favour of that view, but on the whole, I should rather say not. That party may not LOOK UP for some little time, and then the currency is a stumbling block in the way.’

2. (colloquial).—To pay a visit.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xlix. He used to go back for a week, just TO LOOK UP his old friends.

1859. Punch, xxxvi. 177. 1. When you hung out in Soho, old cock, one could often LOOK YOU UP.

Look-in, subs. (colloquial).—A chance of success.

1870. Bell’s Life, 12 Feb. If Fawcett imagines he has got a LOOK-IN, young Mullins will fight him for all the money he can get together in the London district.

1883. Daily Telegraph, August 7, p. 6, col. 2. Four had been examined, and he had expressed his belief that neither of them had a LOOK IN as regarded the prizes.

1884. Referee, 23 March, p. 1, col. 4. Easter fought with great gameness, but he never had a LOOK-IN from the commencement.

1888. Sporting Life, 28 Nov. This athlete is stated to have run through the distance from the 15 yards mark in 10 min. 2⅖ sec., which did not give much of a LOOK-IN to the scratch man.

1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 20 Mar. He will have a good LOOK-IN at Epsom if he goes for the City and Suburban.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 17 April, p. 247, c. 1. It was not until the 15th round that Terry had a LOOK-IN—in a rapid exchange of counters, he got home a terrific blow on Forster’s Roman nose, which smashed the nasal bone.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 28. They didn’t get arf a LOOK-IN ’long o’ me.

Looking-glass, subs. (old).—See quot. 1690. For synonyms see IT.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOOKING-GLASS, a Chamber-pot.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

TO LOOK ON, verb. phr. (turf).—Said of a horse not meant to do its best.

TO LOOK NINE WAYS FOR SUNDAYS, verb. phr. (nautical).—To squint. Fr. vendre des guignes.

Loon (Loun or Lown), subs. (old: now recognised).—A lout; a varlet; a rogue.

c. 1500. Babees Book [E. E. T. S.], 291. And take it backe with manlike cheere, not like a Rusticke LOWNE.

15[?]. Old Ballad (quoted in Othello, ii. 3, 1608), ‘King Stephen.’ With that he called the tailor LOWN.

1602. DEKKER, Honest Wh., Pt. II, in Wks. (1873), ii. 167. The sturdy begger, and the lazy LOWNE, Gets here hard hands, or laced correction.

1606. SHAKSPEARE, Macbeth, v. 3. ii. The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced LOON.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOONSLATT … A false LOON, a true Scotchman, or Knave of any Nation.

1697. VANBRUGH, Provoked Wife, iii. 2. Then away John Thompson ran, And, egad! he ran with speed, But before he had run his length The false LOON had done the deed.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. [234]

1771. FOOTE, Maid of Bath, iii. 2. I got acquainted with Maister Foote, the play-actor: I will get him to bring the filthy LOON on the stage.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1798. COLERIDGE, Ancient Mariner, i. Hold-off; unhand me, gray-haired LOON.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, xxx. It might be worth your lordship’s while to have the LOON sent to a barber-surgeon’s to learn some needful scantling of anatomy.

TO PLAY THE LOON, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To play the whore.

1568. SEMPILL, Ballats (ed. 1878), p. 232. ‘Being in ward for PLAYING OF THE LOUN With every ane list geif hir half a croun.’ [Title].

c. 1776. HERD, Ancient & Mod. Scottish Songs, ii. 7. I am o’er low to be your bride, Your LOWN I’ll never be, Sir.

17[?]. Old Scots Ballad [quoted by BURNS], ‘My Wife’s a Wanton Wee Thing.’ She PLAY’D THE LOON or she was married.

c. 1802–5. Minstrelsy Border, ii. 75. I trow some may has PLAID THE LOWN, And fled her ain countree.

Loonslate (or Loonslatt), subs. (old).—Thirteen pence halfpenny. Cf. HANGMAN’S WAGES.—B. E. (1690); New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1785).

Loony (or Luny), adj. (colloquial).—Crazy. [Short for ‘lunatic’]. Also as subs. = a fool; a natural. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1883. E. C. MANN, Psychol. Med., 424. He had frequent LUNY spells, as he called them.

Loose, adj. (old).—1. Wanton; BLUE (q.v.). Hence, LOOSE-LEGGED, adj. = LIGHT-HEELED (q.v.); LOOSE IN THE HILTS (or HAFT) = incontinent; LOOSE-GIRDLED (or GOWNED) = approachable; LOOSE-WOMAN = a harlot; LOOSE-LIVER = a whoremaster, etc.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen, ii. 7, 41. I would prevent The LOOSE encounters of lascivious men.

1633. MASSINGER, New Way to Pay Old Debts, v. I had a reputation, but ’twas lost in my LOOSE course.

1636. DAVENANT, The Wits, iii. 3. This mansion is not her’s, but a concealed retirement.… To hide her LOOSE love.

1711. ADDISON, Spectator, No. 262. I have shown in a former Paper with how much Care I have avoided all such Thoughts as are LOOSE, obscene, or immoral.

1756. The World, No. 182. Apollo obeyed, and became a wit. He composed LOOSE sonnets and plays.

1783–85. COWPER, Task, iii. 692. No LOOSE, or wanton, though a wandering Muse.

2. (common).—Dissipated.

1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, II. iv. They were all feverish, boastful, and indefinably LOOSE; and they all ate and drank a great deal; and made bets in eating and drinking.

ON THE LOOSE, adv. phr. (common).—1. On the town.

2. On the drink; on the SPREE (q.v.).

1848. RUXTON, Life In The Far West, 85. They quickly disposed of their peltries, and were once more ON THE LOOSE.

1848. JAS. HANNAY, King Dobbs, iv. p. 63 (1856). One evening, when they were at Gibraltar, on the look-out for amusement—in modern parlance, ON THE LOOSE.

1859. Punch, vol. XXXVII. p. 22. Our friend prone to vices you never may see, Though he goes ON THE LOOSE, or the cut, or the spree.

1871. All the Year Round, Sept. He lives by anything rather than by steady work, though sometimes, when a virtuous fit is on him, and he is not out ON THE rampage, the LOOSE, or the [235]spree, as the vernacular of the place may have it.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 26 Dec. When a labouring man falls into the state which is indifferently termed being tight, or being ON THE LOOSE, he is only taking a coarse but natural revenge for the previous neglect of the better things in his nature.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 70. Been out ON THE LOOSE all the morning.

1884. Cornhill Mag., Dec., p. 607. Then presently, from the effect of alcohol and the sense of other relief, Sir Samuel went off again ON THE LOOSE for about ten days.

TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE. See FAST.

TO RUN LOOSE, verb. phr. (racing).—See quot.

1884. HAWLEY SMART, Post to Finish, 115. He was much more prudent in his speculations than his partner, and did not at all like the idea of letting a dangerous horse what is termed RUN LOOSE, that is, unbacked, which might cost him a deal of money.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 3 April. But the wise will eschew the youngsters, and seek for the winner among the older horses. Of whom the slashing Lord George must assuredly not be allowed to RUN LOOSE.

TO HAVE A SCREW LOOSE. See SCREW.

TO SHAKE A LOOSE LEG, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To whoremonger; and (2) to whore.

LOOSE IN THE HAFT (or HILT), phr. (colloquial).—1. Wanton; (2) diarrhœric; (3) untrustworthy.

1662. Rump Songs, ii. 56. A government that is LOOSE IN THE HILT.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 54]. To be LOOSE IN THE HILTS. Tentennar nel manico—Ital. To be fickle, not to be relied upon.

TURNED LOOSE, phr. (racing).—Handicapped in a race at a very low rate.

AT LOOSE ENDS, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Neglected.

Loose-bodied (or loose-ended), adj. (old).—Lewd.

1667. SHIRLEY, Love Tricks, ii. 1. Be wise, and take heed of him; he’s giddy-headed and LOOSE-BODIED.

Loose-bodied gown, subs. phr. (old).—A harlot. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1602. DEKKER, Honest Whore [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iii. 479]. Yet if I go among the citizens’ wives, they jeer at me; if I go among the LOOSE-BODIED GOWNS, they cry a pox on me, because I go civilly attired; and swear their trade was a good trade, ’till such as I am took it out of their hands.

Loose-box, subs. (common).—A brougham or other vehicle kept for the use of a mistress; a MOT-CART (q.v.).

Loose-coat game, subs. (old).—Copulation.—URQUHART. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Loose-fish, subs. (common).—1. A dissipated character; a BAD-EGG (q.v.).

1827. EGAN, Anecdotes of the Turf, 72. A game known among the LOOSE-FISH who frequent races by the name of thimble-rig.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, lxii. ‘Our friend Clavering … who, between you and me …, we must own is about as LOOSE a FISH as any in my acquaintance.’

1856. C. READE, Never Too Late, xliv. In short Mr. Mills was a LOOSE FISH; a bachelor who had recently inherited the fortune of an old screw his uncle, and was spending thrift in all the traditional modes.

2. (parliamentary).—See quot.

1864. Saturday Review, July, ‘Stray Votes.’ The game he has in [236]view is that peculiar variety of Parliamentary species known as an outsider or a LOOSE FISH, but described by itself under the more flattering title of ‘an independent member.’

Loose-hung, adj. (common).—Unsteady.

Loose-Kirtle, subs. (old).—A wanton: cf. LOOSE-BODIED GOWN.

Loose-legged, adj. (old).—Incontinent.

1598. MARSTON, Scourge of Villanie.… ’Twas LOOSE-LEGGED Lais, that same common drab, For whom good Tubias took the mortal stab.

Loot, subs. (common).—Plunder. See quots. 1798 and 1840.

1788. STOCKDALE, Ind. Vocab. [YULE], s.v. LOOT, plunder, pillage.

1791. Gentlemen’s Mag., p. 78, col. 2. They had orders to burn and plunder several large villages … this former part of their instructions the LOOTIES said they had followed.

1798. WELLINGTON, Sup. Desp., i. 60 (1858). Nine parts in ten of the native armies are LOOTIES or bad cavalry.

1840. FRASER, Koordistan, ii. Let. xiv. p. 283. The LOOTIES—that is, the rogues and vagabonds of the place.

1842. C. CAMPBELL, in Life of Lord Clive, i. 120. I believe I have already told you that I did not take any LOOT—the Indian word for plunder.

1875. G. CHESNEY, Dilemma, xxxvi. It was the Colonel Sahib who carried off the LOOT.

1893. KIPLING, Barrack-room Ballads, ‘LOOT.’ [Title].

Lop, verb. (colloquial).—To lounge; to flop.

1852. H. B. STOWE, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, viii. ‘She … cried about it, she did, and LOPPED round, as if she’d lost every friend she had.’

1881. BESANT & RICE, Chap. of the Fleet, 1. x. Some debauched, idle fellow who lies and LOPS about all day, doing no work and earning no money.

1881. Century, XXIII. 652. The señora … could only LOP about in her saddle.

Lope, verb. (old).—1. See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOPE. To leap, to run away. He loped down the dancers, he ran down stairs.

2. (old).—To steal.

Loplolly, subs. (old).—A servant who makes himself generally useful, and is always at the beck and call of his employer. See LOBLOLLY.

Lord, subs. (common).—1. See quots.: cf. LADY.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un bombé (= a crump); une bobosse (popular: bosse = hump); porter sa malle; une boulendos (= hunchback); un bosmar (popular); un Mayeux; un moule-à-melon (popular); un amoureux (popular); un porte-balle (popular); un loucheur de l’épaule (= i.e., a person who squints with his shoulder).

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Asterwitz; Pienk (Bavarian: Pünk = a bundle or protruberance).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Brijindobio (Sp. gypsy); paldumo (Sp. gypsy); brijibio.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LORD, a very crooked, deformed, or ill-shapen Person.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xxviii. Who … was … on account of his hump, distinguished by the title of My LORD. [237]

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. LORD.

1820–33. LAMB, Essays of Elia. A deformed person is a LORD … we do not find that that monarch [Richard III] conferred any such lordships as here pretended.

1827. TODD, Johnson’s Dicty., s.v. LORD. A ludicrous title given by the vulgar to a hump-backed person; traced, however, to the Greek λορδος, crooked.

1864. Athenæum, 29 Oct., No. 1931. On the Greek origin of LORD, as applied to those who are vulgarly called ‘hunchbacks,’ Mr. Hotten is silent.

1886. W. BESANT, World Went Very Well Then, iii. He was, in appearance, short and bent, with rounded shoulders, and with a hump (which made the boys call him My LORD).

2. in pl. (Winchester College).—The first eleven.

3. See LORD OF THE MANOR.

DRUNK AS A LORD (PRINCE, or EMPEROR), phr. (common).—Very drunk.

1653. MIDDLETON, Sp. Gipsy, iv. 1. Water thy wine—Sam. [sings] And DRINK LIKE A LORD.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Works (1725), Bk. iv. p. 72. Trojans round beseige her Boards, Merry as Greeks, and DRUNK AS LORDS.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, iv. 17. For our Squire, we fear, is AS DRUNK AS A LORD.

1731. C. COFFEY, The Devil to Pay, Scene 2. I’m always sharp set towards punch; and am now come with a firm resolution, though but a poor cobbler, to be as richly DRUNK AS A LORD; I am a true English heart, and look upon drunkenness as the best part of the liberty of the subject.

1734. FIELDING, Intriguing Chambermaid, ii. 6. You dare disturb gentlemen, who are getting as DRUNK AS LORDS.

1853. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, xviii. 252. She ran screaming through the galleries, and I, as TIPSY AS A LORD, came staggering after.

THE LORD KNOWS WHAT, phr. (colloquial).—‘Heaps’; plenty more; all sorts of things.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar., p. 3. Here’s novels, and new-town adventures … and the LORD KNOWS WHAT not.

Lord-Baldwin. See QUEEN ANNE.

Lord-Harry. See OLD HARRY.

Lord-John-Russell, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A bustle; a BIRD-CAGE (q.v.).

Lord-Lovel, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A shovel.

Lord-Mansfield’s-Teeth, subs. phr. (old).—The spikes round the wall of the Kings’ Bench.—GROSE (1796).

Lord-Mayor, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A large crowbar; a JEMMY (q.v.).

Lord-Mayor’s-Coal, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, 2nd Series (ed. 1851), 144. Had the coal been a LORD MAYOR’S COAL—viz., a slate.

Lord-Mayor’s-fool, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffry Hamlyn, xxxii. Burnside was in the habit of saying that he was like the LORD MAYOR’S FOOL—fond of everything that was good.

Lord-of-the-Manor, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A TANNER (q.v.). For synonyms see BENDER.

Lose.—See COMBINATION; HAIR; MESS; SHIRT.

Loser, subs. (billiards).—A stroke in which the player pockets his own ball, after striking either his opponent’s or the red. [238]

1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. At last brought a run of 87 to a close with a break-down at a white LOSER.

Lost-cause, subs. (colloquial American).—Secessionism.

Lot, subs. (colloquial).—A person, male or female: mostly in sarcasm or contempt; as, ‘a BAD LOT’, ‘a NICE LOT’, etc.

1846–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, 1. vii. ‘You’ll get no good out of ’er,’ continued John, pointing with his thumb towards Miss Sharp: ‘a BAD LOT, I tell you, a BAD LOT.’

1878. JAS. PAYN, By Proxy, ix. ‘So that’s your young friend, is it!’ said he, rattling the loose silver in his capacious pocket with one hand, and laying the other lightly upon Nelly’s head. ‘She’s a very NICE little LOT.’

1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 Nov., p. 2, col. 2. He is a thorough BAD LOT.

1889. C. HADDON CHAMBERS, ‘Ne’er-do-well,’ in Australian Wilds. ‘I’m afraid he’s a very BAD LOT,’ I said. ‘I wonder that you have kept him on so long.’

Loteby (or Ludby), subs. (old).—A concubine. See LIGBY.

1360. CHAUCER, Rom. of the Rose, 1. 6339. And with me folwith my LOTEBY To done me solas and company.

c. 1426. AUDELEY, Poems, 5. Now ȝif that a man he wed a wyfe, And hym thynke sche plese hym noȝt, Anon ther rysis care and stryfe; He wold her selle that he had boȝt, And schenchypus here that he had soȝt, And takys to him a LOTEBY.

1701. Harl. MSS. (1809–13), fol. 20. For almost hyt is every whore, A gentyl man hath a wyfe and a hore; And wyves have now comunly Here husbondys and a LUDBY.

1701. Harl. MSS. (1809–13), fol. 12. But there the wyfe haunteth foly Undyr here husbunde a LUDBY.

Lothario, subs. (colloquial).—A seducer of married women.

1630. DAVENANT, The Cruel Brother, Dramatis Personæ. LOTHARIO, a frantic young gallant.

1703. ROWE (& MASSINGER), Fair Penitent, Dramatis Personæ. LOTHARIO, a gallant.

1756. The World, No. 202. Proud of the summons to display his might, The gay LOTHARIO dresses for the fight.

1818. MOORE, Fudge Family, 87. If some who are LOTHARIOS in feeding should wish Just to flirt with a luncheon.

1849. LYTTON, Caxtons, XVIII. ch. vi. No woman could have been more flattered and courted by LOTHARIOS and lady-killers.

1876. Times, 2 Nov. Maurice, a most inflammable LOTHARIO, catches fire at her charms.

1882. COWPER, Hope, 28. LOTHARIO cries, ‘What philosophic stuff.’

Lothbury. TO GO BY WAY OF LOTHBURY, verb. phr. (old).—To be loth. [A pun: cf. NEEDHAM SHORE, PECKHAM, etc.].

d. 1580. TUSSER [p. 146, quoted by NARES], Though such for woe, by LOTHBURY go, For being spide about Cheapside.

Lotion, subs. (common).—Drink.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 82. Try to make each other drunk, so that the one who could take the most LOTION without being so, might get the best of it by having the place to himself.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 13 April, p. 2, col. 7. In his evidence he said that the testator took his LOTION (liquor) ‘according to his troubles.’

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 85. You squat still, now, and git through that there LOTION.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 62. The ’ole thing seemed swell, with good grubbing and lots o’ prime LOTION chucked in.

1892. ANSTEY, Model Music Hall Songs, 119. What do you all say to goin’ inside, and shunting a little garbage, and shifting a drop or so of LOTION?

Loud, adj. (common).—1. Showy; RAFFISH (q.v.): applied to dress or manners. Also as adv.. Cf. HOWLING. [239]

1847. ALBERT SMITH, Nat. Hist. of the Gent, vi. 42. They were all dressed nearly alike; hats with narrow brims, coats with large buttons, staring shawls, and trousers of the most prominent style—very LOUD patterns, as a friend appropriately called them.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, xxx. Rakish young medical students, gallant, dashing, what is called LOUDLY dressed.

1851. CARLYLE, Life of Sterling, 1. ch. 2. In a much LOUDER style than is freely patronised on this side of the Channel.

1853. E. BRADLEY [‘Cuthbert Bede’], Verdant Green, II. p. 7. And as Mr. Fosbrooke was far too politic a gentleman to irritate the examiners by appearing in a LOUD or sporting costume, he had carried out the idea of clerical character by a quiet, gentlemanly suit of black.

1864. Eton School Days, xxiii. Butler Burke made his appearance in a Jersey, which was decidedly LOUD; and some of the lookers-on exclaimed, ‘By Jove! that’s a LOUD shirt playing in Wynne’s.’

1871. Figaro, 4 Jan. At the last moment Mrs. Tripp, terribly flustered, and also shiny, with a very LOUD shawl on, suggestive of an amalgamation of the brightest Scotch plaids, just popped in.

1885. Truth, 26 March, p. 502, col. 2. I saw a good frock of this kind with stripes of cardinal, navy blue, and amber. That sounds LOUD does it not?

1889. OUIDA, Moths, xv. Her own daughter … had LOUD costumes with wonderful waistcoats.

2. (colloquial).—Strong-smelling.

1887. Fisheries of U. S., vol. ii. 473. They prefer to have the meat tainted rather than fresh, declaring that it is most tender and toothsome when decidedly LOUD.

LOUD ONE, subs. phr. (old).—A big lie.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 64], s.v.

Lounce, subs. (nautical).—A drink: specifically a pint of beer. [From ‘allowance’].

Lounge, subs. (Eton and Cambridge).—1. A treat; a chief meal.

1864. The Press, 12 Nov. By the way, we miss the Etonian word, LOUNGE, for which there is classic authority. ‘I don’t care for dinner,’ said Harry Coningsby at his grandfather’s table; ‘Breakfast is my LOUNGE.’

2. (old: now recognised).—A loitering place, or gossiping shop.—GROSE (1785).

3. (American thieves’).—The dock in a criminal court.

Lour (Loure or Lowre), subs. (old).—Money. Fr. louer = to hire: ‘It was granted him in LOWER of his servyse’ (Merlin, E. E. T. S. i. 59).

1568. Colkelbie Sow, 1. 148 [Bann. MSS.]. A lass that luvis bot for LOUR.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65. LOWRE, money.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). LOWER, money.

1622. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, ii. 1. A very tyrant I, an arrant tyrant, If e’er I come to reign (therefore look to ’t!) Except you do provide me hum enough, and LOUR to bowze with!

1632. DEKKER, English Villanies, sig. M. What are they, but drunken Beggers? All that they beg being either LOWRE or Bowse.

1670. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 280. But ere this life I’ll longer lead, I’ll stroll for LOWER, or beg my bread.

1671. RICHARD HEAD, The English Rogue. Bing out, bien morts and toure. The bien cove hath the LOURE.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. LOUR, money.

1785. GROSE, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. CLOY. To cloy the LOUR, to steal money.

1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 315 (ed. 1864). ‘Well, say no more about it, Sir Luke,’ said Jem, fawningly; ‘I knows I owes you my life, and I thank you for it. Take back the [240]LOWRE. He should not have shown it me—it was that as did all the mischief.’

1889. RICHARDSON, Police, 321, s.v. Bad money, gammy LOWER.

Louse. TO CARE NOT A LOUSE, verb. phr. (old).—To be utterly indifferent.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., iv. 38. For any Ale-house We CARE NOT A LOUSE.

NOT WORTH A LOUSE, adj. phr. (common).—Utterly worthless.

1617. GREENE, Metamorph. [GROSART (1881–6), ix. 97]. Lest thy … Logike prooue NOT WORTH A LOWSE.

1786. BURNS, Address to the De’il. Is instant made NO WORTH A LOUSE, Just at the bit.

Louse-bag, subs. (old).—A black bag worn to the hair or wig.—GROSE (1785).

Louse-house, subs. (old).—The round-house or cage.—GROSE (1785).

Louse-ladder, subs. (old).—‘A stitch fallen in a stocking’; a JACOB’S-LADDER (q.v.).—GROSE (1785).

Louseland, subs. (old).—See quot. 1690. Cf. ITCHLAND.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOUSELAND, Scotland.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Louse-trap, subs. (common).—See quots. Ital. galletto (= little cock).

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOUSELAND.… A Scotch LOUSE-TRAP, a comb.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). LOUSE-TRAP (S.) a small-toothed or fine comb.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Louse-walk, subs. (common).—A back-hair parting.—GROSE.

Lousy, adj. (painters’).—1. Paint which from keeping has become full of skin.

2. (old).—Filthy; contemptible.

1690. CROWNE, English Friar, iv. He forgot he was a LOUSEY friar.

Lout, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. See quots.

1577–82. BRETON, Floorish vpon Fancie [GROSART (1879), I. a. 4, 1, 12]. He that thinkes to be a lorde, first day, Will misse a lorde, and prooue a LOUTE straight way.

1583. GREENE, Mamillia [GROSART (1881–6), ii. 6]. Then may I well be dubbed a dolt, which dare take in hand to decipher the substaunce of loue, that am but a LOUT.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOUT, a heavy idle Fellow.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOUT, a clumsey stupid fellow.

2. (Rugby school).—Anyone of the poorer classes: not necessarily an awkward, lubberly individual.

Love, subs. (common).—No score: LOVE-ALL = no points on either side. Fr. cherche; baiser le cul de la vieille = to make no score.

1780. Gentlemen’s Mag., L. 322. We are not told how, or by what means six LOVE comes to mean six to nothing.

1791. Gent. Mag., lxi. 16. At the game of whist, when one of the parties reckons six, for instance, or any other number, and the other none, why is it usual to say six LOVE?

1821. LAMB, Elia (New Year’s Eve). I play over again for LOVE, as the gamesters phrase it, games for which I once paid so dear.

1868. Chambers’s Encyclopædia, s.v. Whist. We will suppose ourselves to be A, the score to be LOVE-ALL, and D to have turned up the four of hearts. [241]

1883. Field, 27 Oct. … won the game by two sets to LOVE.

1885. Times, 1 April, p. 6, col. 5. Both had an innings [at racquets], but did not score, and consequently the game was called 13 to LOVE.

CUPBOARD-LOVE, phr. (colloquial).—Interested love.

c. 1688. Poor Robin. A CUPBOARD LOVE is seldom true, A love sincere is found in few.

Loveage, subs. (common).—Tap-lashes; ALLS (q.v.); ULLAGE (q.v.).

Love-apples, subs. (venery).—The testes. For synonyms see CODS.

Love-child (or Love-brat), subs. (common).—A bastard.

[?]. Old Chap book [NARES]. Now by this four we plainly see, Four LOVE BRATS will be laid to thee: And she that draws the same shall wed Two rich husbands, and both well bred.

1849. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, xxviii. Unless we all repent of … LOVE-CHILDREN.

1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, I. xvi. ‘A LOVE-CHILD,’ returned Betty Higden, dropping her voice; ‘parents never known; found in the street.’

Love-dart (or dart of love), subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Love-flesh, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The pudenda.—WHITMAN.

Love-juice, subs. (venery).—The sexual secretion. For synonyms see CREAM.

Love-Ladder, subs. phr. (old).—A laced petticoat.

1667. HEAD, Proteus Redivivus (1684), XII. They will make their husbands pawn their consciences, as well as their credits, … for another story of lace more upon their petty-coats; as if women thought men’s fancies did not climb fast enough, without such a lecherous LOVE-LADDER.

Love-lane, (venery).—The female pudendum. Hence A TURN (or AN EJECTMENT) IN LOVE-LANE = an act of coition. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Love-liquor, subs. (venery).—The semen. For synonyms see CREAM.

Lovelock (or Lock), subs. (old).—A falling curl by the ear: fashionable more or less from the time of Elizabeth to Charles I.; worn on the left side, and hanging by the shoulder, sometimes even to the girdle. Also HEART-BREAKERS (q.v.).

1592. LYLY, Mydas, iii. 2. How, sir, will you be trimmed? will you have your beard like a spade or a bodkin? … your LOVE-LOCKES wreathed with a silken twist, or shaggie to fall on your shoulders?

1592. GREENE, Quip for an Upstart Courtier, D2, b. Will you be Frenchified, with a LOVE-LOCK down to your shoulders, wherein you may hang your mistres’ favour?

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART (1885), ii. 28]. Yet cannot his stabbing dagger, nor his nittie LOUE-LOCKE, keep him out of the legend of fantastical cox-combs.

1594. BARNEFIELD, Affectionate Shepherd [NARES]. Why should the sweet LOVE-LOCKE hang dangling downe, Kissing thy girdle-stead with falling pride?

1600. SHAKSPEARE, Much Ado About Nothing, iii. 3. And one Deformed is one of them: I know him, he wears a LOCK.

1615. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Cupid’s Revenge, ii. He lay in gloves all night, and this morning I Brought him a new periwig, with a LOCK at it.

1633. PRYNNE, Histriomastix, 209. And more especially in long, unshorne, womanish, frizled, love-provoking haire, and LOVELOCKES, growne now too much in fashion with comly pages, youthes, and lewd, effeminate, ruffianly persons.

1640. SHIRLEY, Coronation, i. And who knows but he May lose his ribband by it, in his LOCK Dear as his saint? [242]

1649. DAVENANT, Love & Honour, ii. 1. A LOCK for the left side, so rarely hung with ribbanding of various colours.

1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, 1. i. 253. Like Samson’s HEART-BREAKERS it grew In time to make a nation rue.

1821. Blackwood’s Mag., x. 267. Pretty little fantastic chignons and LOVE-LOCKS.

1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, ii. The outlandishness of the fashion was not offensive, when I came to take into the account the beauty of the plaiting, and of the long raven LOVE-LOCKS that hung down behind each of his small transparent ears.

1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable, s.v. LOVE LOCK. When men indulge in a curl in front of their ears, the LOVE-LOCK is called a bell-rope—i.e., a rope to pull the belles after them.

Lovely, adj. (colloquial).—Attractive; alluring.

1653. WALTON, Complete Angler, 85. This trout looks LOVELY.

Love-pot, subs. (old).—A drunkard. For synonyms see LUSHINGTON.

Lover’s-Knot. TO TIE THE TRUE LOVER’S KNOT, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Love’s Channel (-Harbour, -Paradise, -Fountain, or -Pavillion), subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1598. JOHN MARSTON, Pigmalion. Until his eye discended so far downe That it descried LOVES PAVILLION, Where Cupid doth enjoy his onely crowne, And Venus hath her chiefest mention.

d. 1639. CAREW [ANDERSON, Poets, 689]. Thou shalt steer and guide … into LOVE’S CHANNEL.

c. 1727. Old Ballad [B. M. Cat 11621, l/1. 46]. Each night when sport’s over, and LOVE’S FOUNTAIN’S dry, She, weary with stitching contented does lie.

Love’s picklock, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Lovey (or Lovey-dovey), subs. (common).—A term of endearment.

1763. FOOTE, Mayor of Garratt, i. I go, LOVY.

1796. HOLMAN, Abroad & at Home, i. 1. If I am ever so little a while away from you, my darling, it appears a long, tedious age. How does my LOVEY do? Do look tender—’tis so becoming to you; and besides, if you don’t, you know you break my heart.

1837. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, p. 385 (ed. 1857). ‘Who else is a goin’, LOVEY?’ said Mrs. Cluppins in an insinuating manner.

1841. Punch, i. 226. ‘The Prince’s Title.’ LOVEY-DOVEY has been spoken of; but it is not likely that His Royal Highness will assume the style and dignity of LOVEY-DOVEY for a considerable period.

Low. TO LIE LOW, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To keep quiet; to bide one’s time.

LOW IN THE LAY, phr. (thieves’).—In straits; HARD-UP (q.v.).

1830. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, ‘Song.’ As, just at present, I’m LOW IN THE LAY, I’ll borrow a ‘quid’ if you please.

Low-countries, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Low-down, adj. (colloquial).—Vulgar.

1883. EGGLESTON, The Graysons, XVIII. Her archaic speech was perhaps a shade better than the LOW-DOWN language of Broad Run.

Lowdowner, subs. (American).—See quots.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, 45. So low a person … he appears as Conch or LOWDOWNER in North Carolina.

1883. STEVENSON, The Silverado Squatters, 151. They are at least known by a generic byword, as poor whites or LOW-DOWNERS. [243]

Lower, verb. (common).—To drink. For synonyms see LUSH.

Lower regions, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Hell. Fr. le pacquelin du raboin.

Lowing-cheat (or -chete), subs. (old).—See quot.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), 65. A LOWTING CHETE, a cowe.

Lowing-lay (or -RIG), subs. phr. (old).—Stealing oxen or cows.—GROSE (1823); MATSELL (1859).

Lowlands, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Low-lived, adj. (colloquial).—Mean; shabby; vulgar.

1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of W., XIII. She shall choose better company than such LOW-LIVED fellows as he.

Low-man, subs. (Cambridge University).—A Junior Optimé as compared to a Senior Optimé or a Wrangler.

Low-men, subs. (gaming).—False dice; so loaded as to show low numbers. For synonyms see FULHAMS. Also LOW-RUNNERS.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller, in Wks. (GROSART, v. 27). The dice of late are growen as melancholy as a dog, high men and LOW MEN both prosper alike.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, i. 3. Let vultures gripe thy guts! for gourd and fullam holds, And high and LOW beguiles the rich and poor.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, Pise. False dice, high men or LOW MEN.

1605. London Prodigal, Supp. to Sh. ii. 456. Item, to my son Mat Flowerdale I bequeath two bale of false dice, videlicet, high men and LOW MEN, fulloms, stop-cater-traies, and other bones of function.

1615. HARRINGTON, Epigrams, i. 79. Then play thou for a pound or for a pin, High men or LOW MEN still are foisted in.

1647. CARTWRIGHT, The Ordinary [DODSLEY, Old Plays, x. 238]. Your high And LOW MEN are but trifles; your pois’d dye, That’s ballasted with quicksilver or gold, Is gross to this.

1674. COTTON, Compl. Gamester, p. 9. This [cheating] they do by false dice, as high-fullams, 4, 5, 6; LOW-FULLAMS, 1, 2, 3. Ibid. Bristle-dice are fitted for their purpose, by sticking a hog’s-bristle so in the corners, or otherwise in the dice, that they shall run high or LOW as they please; this bristle must be strong and short, by which means, the bristle bending, it will not lie on that side, but will be tript over.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 27. The high ones would run 4, 5, and 6; the LOW FULHAMS 1, 2, and 3.

1822. SCOTT, Fort. of Nigel, xxiii. Men talk of high and LOW dice.

Low-pad, subs. (old).—See quot. 1690.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOW-PAD, a foot-pad.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LOW-PAD.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood (1864), p. 180. High-pads and LOW-PADS.

Lowre. See LOUR.

Low-water (or -tide). TO BE IN LOW-WATER (or AT LOW-TIDE), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be in difficulties, or penniless.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LOW-TIDE, when there’s no Money in a Man’s Pocket.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, viii. I’m at LOW-WATER MARK, only one bob and a magpie.

1885. Chamb. Journal, 21 Feb., p. 125. Or who, having been ‘put away’, and done their time, found themselves in LOW WATER upon their return to the outer world. [244]

1886. MISS BRADDON, Mohawks, ch. iv. Then came talk of ways and means. His lordship was in LOW WATER financially.

L. S. D., subs. (colloquial).—Money.

1891. Referee, 8 Mar. I meet the folks who used to flee To Southern France and Italy; In London now they gladly stay, In London spend their L. S. D.—Where are the fogs of yesterday?

Lubber (or Lubbard), subs. (old: now recognised).—A hulking lout; a lumpish oaf: specifically (nautical) a bad seaman.

1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman (A), Prol. 1. 52. Gret LOBRES and longe.

1534. N. UDALL, Roister Doister, iii. 3, p. 44 (ARBER). For the veriest dolte that euer was borne, And veriest LUBBER sloven and beast.

1537. Thersites [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 404]. Come hither, Cacus, thou LUBBER and false knave!

1567. EDWARDS, Damon & Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 63]. Beaten with a cudgel like a slave, a vacabone, or a lazy LUBBER.

1570. Wit & Science [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 387]. These great LUBBERS are neither active nor wise.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat. Sturdy LUBBARES.

1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 57, st. 22, p. 131 (E. D. S.). For tempest and showers deceiueth a menie, And lingering LUBBERS loose many a penie.

1590. NASHE, Pasquils Apologie [GROSART (1885), i. 241]. Will he neuer leaue to play the LUBBER?

1590. GREENE, Neuer too Late [GROSART (1881–6), VIII. 199]. Leauing this passionate LUBBER to the conceipt of his loues.

1600. Liberality & Prodigality [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 340]. Look forth and see: a LUBBER, fat, great, and tall. Ibid. 370. A luskish LUBBER, as fat as a log.

1605–6. SHAKSPEARE, King Lear, i. 4. Kent. If you will measure your LUBBER’S length again, tarry.

1621. BURTON, Anatomy (ed. 1892), ii. 156. The rest of these great Zanzummins, or gigantical Anakims, heavy, vast, barbarous LUBBERS.

1662. Rump Songs ii. 38. If he had but the life And spirit of his Wife, He would not lye still like a LUBBER.

1671. CROWNE, Juliana, iii. 1. Lo, blunderbuss, my lord, grand LUBBER.

1684. LACY, Sauny the Scot, v. 1. Go, swagger at your greasy LUBBER there; your patient wife will make you no more sport.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LUBBER, LUBBERLY, a heavy, dull Fellow.

1700. CONGREVE, Way of the World, iv. 7. How can you name that superannuated LUBBER? foh!

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1748. SMOLLETT, Rod. Random, xxiv. And called him … swab, and LUBBER.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cringle’s Log, x. Confound the LUBBERS! Boatswain’s mate, call the watch.

1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 350. Of course in the use of sea-terms you’ll not wonder If I now and then should fall into a blunder For which Captain Chamier or Mr. T. P. Cooke Would call me a LUBBER and son of a sea-cook.

Adj. (old: now recognised).—Clumsy; clownish. Also LUBBERLY.

1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 9, st. 16, p. 17 (E. D. S.). To raise betimes the LUBBERLIE, Both snorting Hob and Margerie.

1594. GREENE, Frier Bacon [GROSART (1881–6), XIII. 45]. This LUBBERLY lurden, ill-shapte, and ill-faced.

1596. NASHE, Saffron Walden, in Works, iii. 125. Lamely and LUBBERLY hee striues to imitate and bee another English Lipsius.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, v. 5. I came yonder at Eton to marry mistress Anne Page, and she’s a great LUBBERLY boy.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 533]. What shall we do with this LUBBER-lover.

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes. Homaccione, a great euill fauored man, a LUBBARLY man, a loggarhead. [245]

1606. Wily Beguiled [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 241]. Your LUBBERLY legs would not carry your lobcock body.

1645. MILTON, L’Allegro. Then lies him down, the LUBBAR fiend.

1673. DRYDEN, Amboyna, Epilogue, 14. Venetians do not more uncouthly ride, Than did their LUBBER state mankind bestride.

1706. FARQUHAR, Recruiting Officer, v. 4. Me for a soldier! send your own lazy, LUBBERLY sons at home.

1759. GOLDSMITH, The Bee, No. 6, p. 395 (Globe ed.). Those modest LUBBERLY boys who seem to want spirit generally go through their business with more ease to themselves and more satisfaction to their instructors.

1856. MISS YONGE, Daisy Chain, xxxvii. ‘Poor George had been so spoiled by three aunts, and was so big, and so old that my mother did not know what to make of him.’ ‘A great LUBBERLY boy,’ Ethel said, rather repenting the next moment.

Lubberland, subs. (old).—The Paradise of indolence.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 56]. You’d do well in LUBBERLAND, where they have half a crown a day for sleeping.

Lubber’s-hole, subs. (nautical).—An opening in the maintop, preferred before the shrouds by raw hands and timid climbers.

b. 1794. WOLCOT [‘P. Pindar’], Peter’s Prophecy, in Wks., vol. i. p. 446. And yet, Sir Joseph, Fame reports, you stole To Fortune’s topmast through the LUBBERHOLE.

1822. D. JERROLD, Black Ey’d Susan, ii. 2. Go up the futtock-shrouds like a man—don’t creep through LUBBER’S-HOLE.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. vii. I was afraid to venture, and then he proposed that I should go through LUBBER’S HOLE, which he said had been made for people like me. I agreed to attempt it, as it appeared more easy, and at last arrived, quite out of breath, and very happy to find myself in the main-top.

1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge (ed. 18..), p. 363. Why, captain, I have paid great attention since we embarked, and really I have become a very capital sailor, sir. Do you know I have been twice through the LUBBER’S HOLE?

Lubricate, verb. (common).—To drink.

Luck. DOWN ON ONE’S LUCK, adj. phr. (common).—Unlucky; in trouble; ‘hard up’.

1846–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, lxiv. They say that when Mrs. C. was particularly DOWN ON HER LUCK, she gave concerts and lessons in music here and there.

1885. Eng. Illustrated Mag., p. 638. A fellow who’s DOWN ON HIS LUCK now.

1891. Fun, 25 Mar. Now, the real, genuine, unadulterated nob—be he ever so DOWN ON HIS LUCK—always tends his nails to the last.

1892. St. James’s Gaz., 29 Oct., 5, 1. Sir Harry Golightly was DOWN ON HIS LUCK. He confided his woes to Mrs. FitzHarris.

GREASY-LUCK, subs. (whalers’).—A full cargo of oil.

FISHERMAN’S LUCK, subs. phr. (common).—Wet, cold, hungry, and no fish.

SHITTEN LUCK, subs. phr. (old).—Good luck.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 131], s.v.

Lucky, subs. (thieves’).—Plunder.

1852. JUDSON, Mysteries of New York, iv. Ve might as vel count up the week’s earnins and divide the LUCKY.

Adj. (old colloquial).—Handy.

1703. CENTLIVRE, Love’s Contrivance, i. ‘You used to be a LUCKY rogue upon a pinch.’ ‘Ay, master, and I have not forgot it yet.’

TO CUT (or MAKE) ONE’S LUCKY, verb. phr. (common).—To decamp. For synonyms see AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE.

1834. M. C. DOWLING, Othello Travestie, i. 2. You’d better CUT YOUR LUCKY. [246]

1835. DICKENS, Sketches by Boz, 266. ‘Let me alone,’ replied Ikey, ‘and I’ll ha’ vound up, and MADE MY LUCKY in five seconds.’

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, l. ‘When was Fagin took then?’ ‘Just at dinner-time—two o’clock this afternoon. Charley and I MADE OUR LUCKY up the wash’us chimney.’

1839. REYNOLDS, Pickwick Abroad, p. 223. At dusk we’ll MAKE OUR LUCKY.

1882. MCCABE, New York, xxxiv. 509. (In list of slang terms).

Lucky-bag, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Lucky-bone, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1883. G. A. S[ALA], in Ill. L. News, Nov. 10, p. 451, col. 3. The detective who took him into custody found upon him when searching him ‘the small bone of a sheep’s head, which he understood, was known among beggars as the LUCKY BONE,’ as its possession was supposed to bring good luck to the beggar during the day.

Ludby. See LOTEBY.

Ludlam’s dog, subs. (old).—A culmination of laziness. See quot. Sailors say: ‘as lazy as Joe the Marine, who laid down his musket to sneeze.’

1824. T. FIELDING, Select Proverbs, p. 154. As lazy as LUDLAM’S DOG, that leaned his head against a wall to bark.

Lud’s-bulwark, subs. (old).—Ludgate Prison.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Luff, subs. (old).—1. Speech.

1821. EGAN, Real Life, i. 454. ‘Poll,’ says I, ‘hold your LUFF, give us no more patter about this here rum gig.’

2. (nautical).—A lieutenant.

1848. BURTON, Waggeries etc., p. 12. The second LUFF, who was in the cutter, ordered us to ‘go ahead.’

Lug, subs. (old).—1. The ear. Fr. isgourde.

1592. LYLY, Midas, ii. 5. Dare you think your clumsy LUGS so proper to decide, as the delicate ears of Justice Midas.

1592. GREENE, Defence of Conny catching, in Works, xi. 62. Then the gentlewoman let loose his eares, and let slip his head, and away went he home with his bloody LUGGES.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). LUGGES, eares.

1625. BEN JONSON, Staple of News, v. 1. A fine round head when those two LUGS are off.

1651–57. RAY, Cleaveland’s Poems, With hair in characters, and LUGS in texts.

1652. TATHAM, Scotch Figgaries, v. Come, lend y’ar LUGS.

1653. BROME, Mad Couple, iv. 1. Take her at her word again, sir, and I shall take you by the LUGGS.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 150. Those large LUGS of yours will crack for’t.

1684. LACY, Sauny the Scot, ii. 1. Gin I had yea in Scotland, I’se nea give yea a bawbee for your LUGS.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LUGGS: hence ‘to LUGG by the ears.’

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1762. FOOTE, The Orators, i. Satan … whispers a fast speech in her LUG.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, p. 7. Round LUGS and ogles flew the frequent fist.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, xxxiii. A lurking place called the King’s LUGG or ear, where he could sit undescried, and hear the converse of his prisoners.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii. 4. He napp’d it under the LUGS, too.

2. (common).—Affected manners; ‘airs’: e.g. TO PUT ON LUGS = to be conceited. [247]

Verb. (once literary: now colloquial).—1. To drag; also to take by the ears.

d. 1189. Destruction of Troy [E. E. T. S.], 1, 6663. With myche wepyng and wo, weghis of his aune LUGGIT hym out to the laund.

1609. SHAKSPEARE, Timon of Athens, iv. 3, 31. Why, this Will LUG your priests and servants from your sides.

1726. SWIFT, Gulliver, ‘Laputa’, vi. To tread on his corns, or LUG him twice by both ears.

2. (old).—To drink steadily.

IN LUG, phr. (old).—In pawn; in pledge; up the SPOUT (q.v.).

TO LUG IN, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To include; to insert unnecessarily or unexpectedly.

1762. CHURCHILL, The Ghost, Bk. iv. Physic and divinity are LUGGED IN by the head and shoulders.

1830. GREVILLE, Memoirs, 27 Feb. He could not tell that story which I begged him to do, and which would not have been LUGGED IN neck and shoulders, because every body was telling just such stories.

1864. A. TROLLOPE, The Small House at Allington, x. Joseph Cradell Esqre to John Eames Esqre.… ‘I want you to write me at once, saying what you know about the matter. I ask you as I don’t want to LUG IN any of the other people at Roper’s.’

TO LUG OUT, verb. phr. (old).—To draw (as a sword).

1688. T. SHADWELL, Squire of Alsatia. The Prigster LUGG’D OUT in defence of his natural, the Captain whipt his Porker out, and away rubb’d Prigster and call’d the watch.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1690. DRYDEN, Don Sebastian, iv. 1. They will be heard, or they LUG OUT and cut.

TO BLAW IN ONE’S LUG, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To cajole; to flatter. Hence, BLAW-IN-MY-LUG = a flatterer; a wheedler.

IF WORTH HIS LUGS (he would do such a thing), phr. (Scots’).—Used in approbation, or the reverse. [From the mediæval punishment of lopping the ears].

1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, A. ii. a. Were the bishop blessed and WORTH both HIS EARES His seale shold not be sent to deceyue the people.

TO HAVE A FLEA IN ONE’S LUG. See EAR.

TO LAY ONE’S LUGS, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To wager.

Lug-chovey, subs. (thieves’).—A pawnbroker’s shop.

Lugger, subs. (American thieves’).—A sailor.—MATSELL (1859).

Lug-loaf, subs. (old).—A blockhead.

1606. Wily Beguiled [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 275]. She had little reason to take a cullion LUG-LOAF, milksop slave, when she may have a lawyer, a gentleman.

Luke, (old).—Nothing.—HAGGART (1821).

Lull, subs. (old).—Ale.

c. 1636. London Chanticleers, Sc. 9. Mine host, Welcome, has a cup of blessed LULL.

Lullaby, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Lullaby-Cheat, subs. (old).—A baby.

1671. HEAD, English Rogue. Carried at her back a LULLABY-CHEAT.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LULLABY-CHEAT.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. [248]

1839. W. H. AINSWORTH, J. Sheppard, p. 25 (ed. 1840). ‘Let’s have a look at the kinchen that ought to have been throttled,’ added he, snatching the child from Wood. ‘My stars! here’s a pretty LULLABY-CHEAT to make a fuss about—ho! ho!’

Lully, subs. (old).—See quot. 1785. Hence LULLY-prigger = a filcher of wet or drying linen. Fr. défleurir la picouse = LULLY-PRIGGING.

1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, p. 40. They are great priggers of LULLY.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LULLEYS, wet linen.

1789. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 120. Upon the old slang, and sometimes a little LULLY-prigging.

Lumb, adv.. (old).—Too much.—New Cant. Dict. (1725); GROSE (1796).

Lumber, subs. (thieves’).—1. A room. [From the Lombard Room in which the mediæval pawnbrokers and bankers stored their pledges].

1789. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 117. Have you any-body in the LUMBER behind the bar?

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v., p. 188.

2. (old).—A prison; QUOD (q.v.).

Verb. (old).—(1) To pawn; (2) to imprison.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. LUMBER (p. 188), to LUMBER any property is to deposit it at a pawnbroker’s, or elsewhere for present security; to retire to any house or private place for a short time, is called lumbering yourself. A man apprehended, and sent to gaol, is said to be LUMBERED, to be in lumber, or to be in Lombard Street.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. They LUMBERED him for a few moons.

LIVE LUMBER, subs. phr. (old).—Soldiers or passengers on board a ship are so called by the sailors.—GROSE (1785).

Lumberer, subs. (turf).—1. A swindling ‘tipster’.

2. (American thieves’).—A pawnbroker; UNCLE (q.v.).

Lumberer-crib, subs. (American thieves’).—A pawnbroker’s shop.

Lumber-house, subs. (thieves’).—A house for storing stolen property.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half-holiday, 4 May. For instance, one day, when he was drinking in a LUMBER-HOUSE, near Billingsgate, ‘Joe Haynes, the comedian, and a broken officer came raking thither, too, without a farthing in either of their pockets.’

Lumber-state, subs. (American).—Maine.

Lummoking, adj. (colloquial).—Heavy; awkward.

b. 1852. Traits of American Humour, II. 10. What, the ensign of the Dogtown Blues? that great LUMMOKIN’ feller.

Lummy, adj. (common).—First-rate.

1843. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, xiii. ‘Ah!’ said Bill.… ‘LUMMY Ned of the Light Salisbury, he was the one for musical talents.’

1883. Punch, 28 July, p. 38, col. 1. London’s gettin’ more LUMMY each day; there’s sech oshuns to see and enjoy!

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 4. ’Ardly know which is LUMMIEST.

Lump, subs. (colloquial).—1. Anything exceptional: e.g. ‘a LUMP of a man’; ‘I like that a LUMP’; ‘that’s a LUMP’.

2. (vagrants’).—The workhouse; the PAN (q.v.). Also LUMP HOTEL.

3. (colloquial).—A party; an association. [249]

Verb. (old).—1. To beat. For synonyms see TAN.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

2. (colloquial).—1. To dislike: ‘If he does not like it he may LUMP it’ = if he isn’t satisfied he may do the other thing. Also, (2) to take without choice (i.e. to swallow ‘whole’).

1833. NEAL, Down Easters, vii. Let ’em LUMP it if they don’t like it.

1837–40. HALIBURTON, The Clockmaker, p. 6, preface (ed. 1862). A man that would be guilty of such an action is no gentleman, that’s flat, and if you don’t like it you may LUMP it.

1864. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, Bk. IV, ch. iii. If you don’t like it, it’s open to you to LUMP it.

1878. H. B. STOWE, Poganuc People, xi. And if anybody don’t like it, why they may LUMP it, that’s all.

1887. F. R. STOCKTON, The Hundredth Man, ch. xv. If old Stull didn’t like it, he could LUMP it. And to know that he LUMPED it would be a rare joy to Mrs. People.

1888. BRET HARTE, Five O’clock in the Morning. And I told him, if he didn’t like it he might LUMP it, and he travelled off on his left ear, you bet.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 20 Oct. If the white folks didn’t like it they could LUMP it.

3. (colloquial).—To take off at a draught.

4. (racing).—To stake heavily; TO PLUNGE (q.v.).

1864. Derby Day, 12. Acting upon the gamblers’ favourite axiom, that if you venture nothing you win nothing, he LUMPED it all upon an outsider, and backed him to win the Chester Cup.

1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 3 April. Had laid against Cortolvin for the Grand National while LUMPING it down on Lecturer had not done much to repair his losses.

TO KNOCK LUMPS OUT OF, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To command a great deal of applause.

1885. COUN, Nutts about the Stage, p. 12. We KNOCK LUMPS OUT OF them in these parts, don’t we Mac?

TO LUMP THE LIGHTER, verb. phr. (old).—To be transported.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Lumper, subs. (old).—1. A riverside labourer; (2) a riverside thief, and (3) a contractor in a small way for labour and materials for unloading and loading ships. See quots.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, II. 78. They then commence LUMPERS, which is skulking about ships, lighters, etc. hanging about quays, wharfs, etc. stealing old iron, fruit, sugar, or whatever comes to hand.

1796. COLQUHOUN, Police of the Metropolis, p. 57. The prevailing practice of discharging and delivering the cargoes of ships by a class of aquatic labourers, known by the name of LUMPERS.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, ii. 374. ‘The men to whom it is sublet only find labour, while the LUMPER, or first contractor, agrees for both labour and materials.’ Ibid. ii. p. 107. Then the LUMPERS, or those engaged in discharging the timber ships.

1853. DICKENS, Down with the Tide, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 268. Then there were the LUMPERS, or labourers employed to unload vessels. They wore loose canvas jackets with a broad hem in the bottom, turned inside, so as to form a large circular pocket in which they could conceal, like clowns in pantomimes, packages of surprising sizes.… The LUMPERS dispose of their booty easily to marine store dealers.… LUMPERS also smuggle goods ashore for the crews of vessels.

2. (thieves’).—See quot.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 413. A LUMPER would sell linens, cottons, or silks, which might be really the commodities represented; but which, by some management or other, were [250]made to appear new when they were old, or solid when they were flimsy.

3. (common).—A militia-man.

1869. BLACKMORE, Lorna Doone, xxxviii. He was going to bring the LUMPERS upon us.

4. in pl. (Irish).—Potatoes; MURPHIES (q.v.)

1846. Punch, x. 170. ’Twill tache him to be cuffin’ at me with his ridin’ whip when he rode over my acre and ruined my LUMPERS for me.

5. (scientific).—One who lumps together several species: as opposed to a SPLITTER (q.v.).

1888. Nature, xxxix. 156. The happy medium between LUMPERS and splitters.

Lump hotel. See LUMP, sense 2.

Lumping, adj. (old: now colloquial).—Heavy; bulky; awkward.

1678. Four for a Penny, in Harl. Misc. (ed. PARK), iv. 148. Their chief customers that bring the LUMPING bargains.

d. 1735. ARBUTHNOT (in JOHNSON).—Nick, thou shalt have a LUMPING pennyworth.

1755. JOHNSON, Dict., s.v. LUMPING, large, heavy, great. A low word.

1796. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.… He has got a LUMPING pennyworth; frequently said of a man who marries a fat woman.

1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, i. 163. He gives what is called the LUMPING hap’orth, that is seven or eight pieces [of hot eel with the soup].

1887. Boys Own Paper Xmas No., p. 3. Slick’s Welsh cow-boy (a LUMPING yokel of forty summers and as many winters).

Lumpish, adj. (old).—Melancholy; dull; dispirited and heavy.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART (1885), ii. 82]. Heavy, LUMPISH, and sleepie.

1621. BURTON, Anatomy (ed. 1852), i. 169. We call him melancholy that is dull, sad, sour, LUMPISH, ill-disposed, solitary.

1664. WILSON, Projectors, i. 1. At home you’re as sad and LUMPISH as a gibb’d cat.

Lump of Coke, subs. phr. (rhyming).—A BLOKE (q.v.); a man.

Lump of lead, subs. phr. (rhyming).—The head; the CRUMPET (q.v.).

Lumpshious, adv.. (common).—Delicious: cf. SCRUMPTIOUS.

1844. BUCKSTONE, The Maid with the Milking-pail. Milly. What, paint me? Paint me on a board and hang me up against a wall! Oh, that will be LUMPSHIUS! And then I can sit and look at myself all day long.

Lumpy, adj. (common).—1. Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

2. (common).—Pregnant.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. TO BE awkward; bellied-up, big; big-bellied, on the bones; bow- (or bay-) windowed, cocked-up, double-ribbed, in an interesting condition, in for it, in pod, in the pudding-club, jumbled-up, knocked-up, loaded; on the bones; sewed-up, short-skirted, trussed-up, or wedged-up. TO HAVE one’s apron up; a belly-ful, or a belly-ful of bones; one’s cargo aboard; a nine months’ dropsy (or a dropsy that will drop into the lap); one’s fairing; fallen; got it; a hump in front (or on one’s belly); an inside worry; a kick in the back; a lap-clap; more in one’s belly than ever got there through one’s mouth; young; a white swelling.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Avoir le ventre or le sac plein (= to be bellied-up); avoir un arlequin dans la soupente (of harlots: arlequin = a prostitute’s brat; [251]soupente = loft); avoir un polichinelle dans le tiroir (= to have a Jack-in-the-box in the drawer); en avoir dans le ventre (= to have a belly-ful); avoir son tablier lève (= to have got one’s apron up); avoir le mou enflé (= to be swelled in the soft); avoir avalé un pépin (= to have swallowed a seed); entrer dans l’infanterie (popular); avoir un député dans l’urne (popular); avoir une affaire cachée sous la peau (common); avoir mal au genou (= cf. TO BREAK ONE’S KNEES); s’être fait arrondir le globe (popular); avoir un fédéré dans la casemate (common); se gâter la taille (= to spoil one’s figure); avoir la maladie de neuf mois (common: cf. NINE MONTHS’ DROPSY). Also une couleuvre or un chef-lieu d’arrondissement (= a pregnant woman).

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Schwor or schwar (schwer = heavy).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Arari; avari; barriga ’a boca; cambri; cambrobi; desembarcar; embarago.

3. (booksellers’).—Costly.

4. (cricketters’).—Rough; uneven: as applied to the ground.

Lumtum, subs. (American thieves’).—A fashionable thief.

1882. MCCABE, New York, 221. Altogether my first evening among the LUMTUMS panned out well.

Lun, subs. (old).—(1) A harlequin.—GROSE (1785). (2) A clown.—MATSELL (1859).

Lunan, subs. (vagrants’).—A girl. For synonyms see TITTER. [From the Romany].

Luncheon reservoir, subs. phr. (common).—The stomach. For synonyms see VICTUALLING OFFICE.

Lung-box, subs. (common).—The mouth. For synonyms see POTATO-TRAP.

Lungis, subs. (old).—An idle, lazy, fellow.

1592. NASHE, Summer’s Last Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 53]. There is not, goodman LUNGIS.

1602. DEKKER, Satiro-mastix [NARES]. Knaves, varlets! What LUNGIS! give a dozen of stools there.

Lungs, subs. (old).—See quot. 1755.

1610. JONSON, Alchemist. That is his fire-drake, his LUNGS, his zephyrus, he that puffs his coals.

1755. JOHNSON, Dicty., s.v. LUNGS. Formerly a cant term for a person denoting a large and strong-voiced man, as Coles has observed; and also a chymical servant, a sort of underwork-man in the art.

Lunkhead, subs. (American).—An ill-bred, ill-looking horse; a SCREW (q.v.).

Lunk-headed, adj. (American).—Senseless.

Luny. See LOONY.

Lurch, subs. (old).—A cheat.

d. 1597. PEELE, Jests, 619. The tapster having many of these LURCHES fell to decay.

1606. DEKKER, Seven Deadly Sins [GROSART (1886), ii. 52]. Betting, LURCHES, rubber, and such tricks.

1604. MIDDLETON, Black Book [in Century]. All such LURCHES, gripes, and squeezes, as may be wrung out by the fist of extortion. [252]

1626. BRETON, Pasquil’s Mad-cappe [GROSART (1869), 1. e. 6, 2, 27]. Howere his wit may GIUE the foole THE LURCH, He is not fit to gouerne in the church.

Verb. (old).—To steal; to cheat; to trick.

1563. Appius and Virginius [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 150]. Then—gallop to see where her father doth LURCH.

1592. GREENE, Defence of Conny catching, in Works, xi. 58. Was not this an old conny catcher M. R. G. that could LURTCH a poore conny of so many thousands at one time?

1593. NASHE, Christe’s Teares [GROSART (1885), IV. 228]. Laughing at the Punies they haue LURCHED.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, ii. 1. I … am fain to shuffle, to hedge, and to LURCH.

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes. Imbolare to filch, to steale, to purloine, LURCHE, to pilfer, to prowle.

1609. JONSON, Silent Woman, v. You have LURCHED your friends of the better half of the garland, by concealing this part of the plot.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 210. Our gossips’ spoons away were LURCHT, Our feasts and fees for women churcht.

TO LEAVE IN THE LURCH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—See quot. 1690. Fr. laisser quelqu’un béar. [From cribbage].

[?]. Robin Hood and the Tinker [CHILD, Ballads, v. 233]. Robin made them haste away, And LEFT the tinker IN THE LURCH, The great shot for to pay.

1594. NASHE, Have with You [GROSART (1885), iii. 150]. He … LEFT both of them IN THE LURTCH.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 178]. ’Sblood, a while ago, before he had me IN THE LURCH, who but my cousin Prodigo?

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Il demeura lourche, he was LEFT IN THE LURCH.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 9. And LEAVE us IN THE LURCH.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LURCHED … LEFT IN THE LURCH, Pawned for the Reckoning or left at Stake to Smart for any Plot.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1763. North Briton, No. 41, Mar. [quoted in Notes and Queries, 7 S. iv. 48]. When John LEAVES Margaret IN THE LURCH, And Presbyterians head the Church.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1785. BURNS, Jolly Beggars, ii. But the godly old chaplain LEFT him IN THE LURCH.

1827. TODD, Johnson’s Dicty., s.v. LURCH. TO LEAVE IN THE LURCH, a ludicrous phrase.

1858. LADY HOLLAND, Sydney Smith, xcv. Weary will be the latter half of my pilgrimage, if you LEAVE me IN THE LURCH.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, v. It won’t do to LEAVE old dad IN THE LURCH.

TO GIVE A LURCH, verb. phr. (old).—To tell a lie; to deceive.

Lurcher, subs. (common).—1. A rogue.

1603–35. BRETON, Mad World [GROSART (1860), ii. i. 12, 2, 50]. But these may rather be called LURCHMEN than Churchmen, who as they are not troubled with much learning, so they have no more honesty.

1888. Daily News, 4 Dec. After that shall try on the lazy LURCHERS who live on unfortunates.

1891. Morning Advertizer, 3 April. It was quite time that the honest and respectable drivers sat down on the LURCHERS once and for all, and when they knew that there were 7,000 of them in London they should think of their power and demand better conditions.

2. (old).—See quot. Also LURCHER OF THE LAW.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LURCHER, a LURCHER OF THE LAW, a bum bailiff, or his setter.

1839. HARRISON AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 12. ‘But where are the LURCHERS?’ ‘Who?’ asked Wood. ‘The traps!’ responded a bystander. [253]

Lurden, subs. (old).—A rogue. Hence LURDENRY = roguery.

1513. GAWIN DOUGLAS, Eneados, viii. Prol. l. q. Leis, LURDANRY, and lash.

1540. LINDSAY, Satyre Thrie Estaitis [E. E. T. S.], l. 2474. Thou links evin lyke ane LURDEN.

1562–3. Jack Juggler [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 135]. Avoid, thou lousy LURDEN and precious stinking slave.

c. 1587. GREENE, Follie and Loue [GROSART (1881–6), iv. 206]. Instead of some braue gentleman, I strike some filthie LURDEN.

1606. Wily Beguiled [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 288]. If I had been such a great, long, large, lob-cocked, loselled LURDAN, as Master Churms is … I should never have got Peg as long as I had lived.

Lurk, subs. (vagrants’).—See quots.

1829. A Laconic Narrative of the Life and Death of James Wilson. That awful monster, William Burke, Like Reynard sneaking on the LURK, Coyducked his prey into his den And then the woeful work began.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 403. Many kinds of thieving as well as begging are termed LURKING—the dead LURK, for instance, is the expressive slang phrase for the art of entering dwelling-houses during divine service. The term LURK, however, is mostly applied to the several modes of plundering by representations of sham distress.

1889. Answers, 27 July, 137, 1. Begging of all kinds is divided into LURKS, or branches.

Verb. (vagrants’).—To beg with false letters.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 462. We’ll LURK on your trade.

Lurker, subs. (vagrants’).—1. A begging imposter; a SILVER BEGGAR (q.v.). See DEMAUNDER FOR GLYMMAR. Also LURKSMAN.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, i. 233. In every large town sham official documents, with crests, seals, and signatures, can be got for half-a-crown. Armed with these, the patterer becomes LURKER,—that is, an imposter.

2. (thieves’).—A JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES (q.v.).

Lurries, subs. (old).—See quot. 1690. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT. Also LURRY.

1674. The Canting Academy (ed. 20). ‘The Budge it is a Delicate Trade.’ But if the cully nab us and The LURRIES from us takes, O then he rubs us to the whit.

1676. The Twenty Craftsmen. The fifth was a glazier, who, when he creeps in, To pinch all the LURRY he thinks it no sin.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. LURRIES, Money, Watches, Rings, or other Moveables.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1754. Scoundrel’s Dicty. If he sees but the LURRY his hooks he will bait.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Lurry, subs. (old colloquial).—1. Gabble.

1649. MILTON, Eikonoklastes, XVI. To turn prayer into a kind of LURREY.

2. See LURRIE.

Lush, subs. (common).—1. Drink. [LUSHINGTON = a once well-known London brewer]. For synonyms see DRINKS.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, p. 188, s.v. LUSH, beer or liquor of any kind.

1830. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, ch. xvi. ‘Bring the LUSH and the pipes, old bloke!’ cried Ned, throwing himself on a bench; ‘we are never at a loss for company!’

1841. Comic Almanack, 270. They are identified equally with the LUSH and the literature of the land; for he is prepared to contend that whatever has been great in literature is deducible from LUSH.

1841. LEVER, Charles O’Malley, xx. The Bursar of Trinity shall be a proverb for a good fellow that loveth his LUSH.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, ii. 3. Dispose of your LUSH, and play out your game. [254]

1851. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, i. 25. ‘Cruickshank’s ‘Bottle’ was very much admired. I heard one man say it was very prime, and showed what LUSH did; but I saw the same man,’ added my informant, ‘drunk three hours afterwards.’

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, 201. Stand me a LUSH and go back again.

2. (common).—A drinking bout.

1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Gaz., 16 Jan. To have a supper and a good LUSH.

3. (Eton College).—A dainty.

Verb. (common).—1. To drink; and (2) to stand treat.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. To barley-bree; to beer; to bend; to blink; to boose; to bub; to budge; to cover; to crack (or crush) a bottle (a quart, or cup); to crook; to crook (lift, or tip) the elbow (or little finger); to damp; to damp one’s mug; to dip; to dip one’s beak (or nose); to disguise oneself; to do a dram (or wet); to drown the shamrock; to flicker; to flush; to fuddle; to gargle; to give a bottle a black eye; to guttle; to guzzle; to go and see a man (or—of women—one’s pa); to grog; TO HAVE, or GET, or TAKE an ante-lunch, a little anti-abstinence, an appetiser, a ball, a bead, a bit of tape, a bosom friend, a bucket, a bumper, a big reposer, a chit-chat, a cheerer, a cinder, a cobbler, a corker, a cooler, some corn-juice, a damp, something damp, a damper, a dannie, a drain, a dram, a doch-an-dorroch, a digester, an eye-opener, an entr’acte, a fancy smile, a flash, a flip, a forenoon, a go, a hair of the dog that bit one, a heeltap, an invigorator, a Johnny, a jorum, a leaf of the old author, a morning rouser, a modicum, a nip, or nipperkin, a night cap, a nut, one’s medicine, a pistol shot, a pony, a pill, a quantum, a quencher, a refresher, a revelation, a rouser, a reposer, a smile, a swig, a sleeve-button, a something, a slight sensation, a shant, a shout, a sparkler, a settler, a shift, a stimulant, a sneaker, a snifter, a soother, a thimbleful, a tift, a taste, a toothful, a Timothy, a warmer, a willy-wacht; to huff; to irrigate; to knock about the bub; to lap; to lap the gutter; to liquor; to liquor up; to load in; to look thro’ a glass; to lower; to lug; to make fun; to malt; to moisten (or soak) the chaffer (clay, or lips); to mop; to mop-up; to mug; to peg; to potate; to prime oneself; to pull; to put (or drive) another nail in one’s coffin; to read the maker’s name; to revive; to rince; to rock; to save a life; to scamander; to shed a tear; to shake a cloth; to sherry-fog; to shift; to shout; to slosh; to sluice (or wet) the bolt, gob, or ivories; to soak; to splice the mainbrace; to squiff; to stab; to suck the monkey; to swill; to swig; to swipe; to swizzle; to take the pin out; to take a drop in the eye; to take in some O-be-joyful; to tiff; to tipple; to toddy; to wet; to wet one’s whistle; to wine.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Absorber (familiar); s’affûter le sifflet (common); arroser ses galons (= to pay one’s footing); asphyxier (= to nip); bidonner (= to swig: bidonner à la cambuse = to splice the mainbrace); bocker (popular); boire une chifferlinde (= to take a nip); se rincer le bocal (= to sluice one’s [255]gob); boissonner (popular); se rafraîchir les barres (popular); buvailler (popular); chauffer le four (= to guzzle); se dessaler (specifically to take an EYE-OPENER); écoper (= to bale a boat); écraser une bouteille (= to crack a bottle; écraser un grain = to drink a dram); s’enflaneller (= to take a night-cap); s’éclairer le fanal (= to light-up); se machaber (popular); étouffer une mitrailleuse (popular: cf. boire un canon); se mouiller (RABELAIS); se rincer le moule à blagues (= to moisten the chaffer); étouffer, éreinter une, or éternuer sur, une negresse (= to crack a bottle); se passer quelque chose sous le nez (= to crook the elbow); s’humecter le pavillon (= to dip one’s flag: also pavillonner); s’en pousser dans le battant, le cornet, le fusil, etc. (common); s’humecter le pectoral (familiar); picter (cf. Gr. πιεῖν); pier (old); pitancher (popular); SE RINCER or SE GARGARISER l’avaloir, le bec, le bocal, la gargoine, la corne, la cornemuse, le cornet, la dalle, la dalle du cou, la dent, le fusil, le goulot, le gaviot, le sifflet, le tube, la trente-deuxième, la gargarousse (popular); fioler (familiar); flûter (popular); s’en fourrer dans le gilet (= to line one’s waistcoat); se rincer la gargoine (thieves’); se gargariser le rossignolet (= to gargle one’s nightingale); prendre un coup de gaz (common); se laver le gosier (popular); s’emplir le gilet (popular); sucer un glace (= to take an ice); glouglouter (popular); jouer du, or se rincer, le goulot (= to wash one’s throat); se graisser les roues (= to grease one’s wheels); siffler le guindal (common); pomper les huiles (huile = wine; huile blonde = beer); s’humecter les amygdales (popular); s’imbiber le jabot (popular); faire jambe de vin (old); se laver les yeux (= to take an eye-opener); se laver le tuyau (popular); licher (familiar = to swill); litronner (of wine only); renifler (popular); sabler (common = to shift); sécher (popular); se calfater le bec (common); se blinder (popular); se suiver; sucer (popular); siroter (common); soiffer (popular = to load in); s’en taper; téter; zinguer (= to drink at a bar).

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Ausschassjenen (Heb. schoso); bacheln (Fr. bocal; also pecheln and picheln); bafen (from Lat. bibere); schasjenen (Heb. schoso: also schaskenen); schöchem.

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Tirar l’alzana; stibbiare; scabbiare; ventare; chiarire.

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Echar una limpia (= to take a peg); champurrar; churrupear; palabrar; remojar.

PORTUGUESE SYNONYM. Piar.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, p. 188, s.v. LUSH, to drink; speaking of a person who is drunk they say, Alderman Lushington is concerned, or he has been voting for the Alderman.

1821. HAGGART, Life, 18. We had LUSHED the coachman so neatly that Barney was obliged to drive.

1830. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, p. 47, ed. 1854. ‘Vy, I had been LUSHING heavy vet—’ ‘Till you grew light in the head, eh and fell into the kennel.’ ‘Yes.’

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xxvi. The richest sort you ever LUSHED. [256]

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, i. 187. I was out of work two or three weeks, and I certainly LUSHED too much.

1864. Eton School Days, viii. ‘Gents, will yer please to LUSH?’ inquired Bird’s-eye, with a suavity of manner peculiar to himself.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 80. Ain’t I LUSHED you?

1891. J. NEWMAN, Scamping Tricks, 94. I had a lot of militia chaps, and well paid and LUSHED them.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 17. A workman well LUSHED shies his ’at for the Queen.

Lushborough, subs. (old).—See quots.

1362. LANGLAND, Piers Plowman, xv. 342. In LUSSHEBORWES is a lyther alay, and yet loketh he lyke a sterlynge.

1383. CHAUCER, Cant. Tales [SKEAT (1894), iv. 243, 3152]. God woot, no LUSSHEBORGHES payen ye!

1661. BLOUNT, Nomolexicon, s.v. A brass coyn in the days of Edward III.

1894. SKEAT, CHAUCER, v. 225. Note to line 3152. LUSSHEBURGHES, light coins … spurious coins imported into England from Luxembourg, whence the name. The importation of this false money was frequently forbidden, viz. in 1347, 1348, and 1351.

Lush-crib (or ken), subs. (common).—See quot. 1819.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Ale draper’s; black-house; boozer; budging-ken; church; cold-blood house; confectionery; cross-dram; devil’s-house; dive; diving-bell; drum; flash-case (-drum, -ken, or -panny); flat-iron; flatty-ken; gargle-factory; gin-mill; grocery; groggery; grog-shop; guzzle-crib; jerry-shop; hash-shop; hedge-house; kiddlywink; little church round the corner; lush-house (-panny, or -ken); lushery; mop-up; mughouse; O-be-joyful works; panny; patter-crib; piss-factory; pot-house; pub (or public) red-lattice; roosting-ken; rum-mill; shanty; shebeen; side-pocket; sluicery; suck-casa; tippling-shop; Tom-and-Jerry-shop; whistling-shop; wobble-shop.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un abreuvoir (= a watering-place); un assommoir (a knock-me-down shop); une bibine (rag-pickers’); une bouffardière (common: bouffard = pipe or WEED [q.v.]); un bousin (also = shindy); un bousingot (popular); une buverie (Old Fr.); un cabermon (thieves’: from cabaret); un caboulot (popular); une cambuse (nautical = store-room); une chapelle (popular: cf. CHURCH); une goguette (common); une guinche (common); un malzingue (thieves’); une mine à poivre (poivre = brandy); un mintzingue (popular); le notaire (= also taverner); une piolle (also = KEN [q.v.]); une filature à poivrots (= a manufactory of LUSHINGTONS [q.v.]); un rideau rouge (cf. RED-LATTICE).

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Aules (also = pitcher); Baisel (also = brothel and pitcher); Chessenkitt, Chessenpenne, Chessenspiesse (thieves’); Finkel (also = thieves’ kitchen); Kessefinkel (thieves’); Katschäume (from gypsy tschemika); Molun or Maline (Heb. lun: Chessenmaline = common lodging-house); Spiese (from Ospes = Lat. hospes); Penne (Heb. pono); Plattpenne, Plattspiesse, Plattebajis, Plattbes (also = intercourse with thieves’); Serafbajis (Heb. soraf); Schocherskitt (Heb. schechor from schochar); Schlederhaus (from [257]schlodern or schlottern = to totter); Schwäche, Schwächaules, or Schwächkitt (Heb. sewach = to sacrifice, to kill); Eintippel or Intippel (tippen or tippeln = to dip).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Bruzza; calda; cerchiosa; scabbiosa.

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Alegria (= pleasure or joy); aduana (= custom-house); percha (= perch or pole); puerto (= port).

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, 188, s.v. LUSH-CRIB or LUSH-KEN, a public house, or gin-shop.

1820. Randall’s Diary, ‘Farewell to the King.’ Then blame me not kids, swells, or lads of the fancy, For opening a LUSH-CRIB in Chancery Lane.

Lushing-muzzle, subs. (pugilistic).—A blow on the mouth.—GROSE (1823).

Lushington, subs. (common).—A sot. Also LUSHING MAN and LUSHY-COVE.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Admiral of the Red; after-dinner man; ale-knight; ale-wisp; artilleryman; bang-pitcher; beer-barrel; belch-guts; bencher; bench-whistler; bezzle; bibber; blackpot; bloat; blomboll; boozer; boozington; borachio; bottle-sucker; brandy-face; brewer’s-horse; bubber (or bubster); budge (or budger); bung-eye; burster; common sewer; coppernose; drainist; drainpipe; dramster; D-T-ist; elbow-crooker; emperor; ensign-bearer; fish; flag-of-distress; fluffer; fuddle-cap (or fuddler); full-blown angel; gargler; gin-crawler (or -slinger); ginnums; gravel-grinder; grog-blossom; guttle (or guttle-guts); guzzler (or guzzle-guts); high-goer; jolly-nose; lapper; love-pot; lowerer; lug-pot; moist-’un; mooner; mop (or mopper-up); nazie-cove (or -mort); nipster; O-be-Joyfuller (or O-be-Joyful-merchant); pegger; piss-maker; potster; pot-walloper; pub-ornament; sapper; shifter; sipster; soaker; sponge; swallower; swill-pot (or -tub); swigsby; swigster; swipester; swizzle-guts; Thirstington; tipple-arse; toddy-cask; toss-pot; tote; tun; wet-quaker; wet-subject; wetster.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un bec-salé; un louave (thieves’); un litronneur (popular); une grosse culotte (popular = fat-arse); un gavé (thieves’: gaver = to stuff); une lampe-à-mort (pop. lamper = to swill); un zingueur (popular); un boyau rouge; un marquant (thieves’); un canonneur (pop. = an artilleryman: canon = long glass); un camphrier (popular); un fioleur (popular: fiole = phial: cf. TOSS-POT and BOTTLE-SUCKER); une éponge (popular = a SOAKER); un bibard (thieves’); un buvard (popular = blotting book); un pochard (colloquial); un adroit du coude (pop. = ELBOW-CROOKER); un artilleur (pop. cf. ARTILLERYMAN); un boissonneur (pop. = a BOOZER); un buvailleur or buvaillon (pop. = LUSHINGTON); un chocaillon (pop. a female tippler); un poivrot (familiar: also poivreau); un sac-à-vin (pop.); un pompier (popular); un soiffeur (soiffeuse [fem.], or soiffard = THIRSTINGTON); un schniqueur (= NIPSTER); un ventre d’osier; un siroteur (= a SIPSTER); un [258]pion (VILLON); un pilier de cabaret (= a PUB-ORNAMENT); un pictonneur (picton = wine); un mannezingueur; un marchand d’eau chaude (= PISS-MAKER); un marchand d’eau de javelle.

GERMAN SYNONYM. Mattobolo (= a drunken pig: from the Gypsy matto = drunk).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Fransoso (= a Frenchman); chiaritore; chiaristante.

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Cuero (= a goat-skin bottle); colodra (= a wooden pail in which wine is measured and retailed); cuba (= a measure for wine); difunto de taberna (lit., a public-house corpse); odre (= a wine-skin); pellejo (= a wine-skin); peneque; potista; odrina (= an ox-hide bottle).

DUTCH SYNONYMS. Buisbalk; buiskinne or buizerik.

1826. The Fancy, i. 31. He is reported not to take sufficient care of himself: LUSHINGTON is evidently his master.

1840. Comic Almanack, 239. A blessed school of physic—half-and-half! The LUSHINGTON of each young Doctor’s Commons.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 68. They sell it at the public houses to the LUSHINGTONS.

1859. MATSELL, ‘A hundred stretches hence.’ With all the prigs and LUSHING-MEN, A hundred stretches hence.

Lushy, adj. (common).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, 188, s.v.

1821. HAGGART, Life, 33. We met with a drover, quite LUSHY.

1821. The Fancy, 1, p. 303. At the Goat, as aforementioned, Ben Burn and Randall being both a little LUSHY.

1828. MAGINN, from VIDOCQ, The Pickpocket’s Chaunt. A regular swell cove LUSHY lay. To his clies my hooks I throw in, Tol, lol, etc.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xx. I was so uncommon LUSHY, that I couldn’t find the place where the latch-key went in, and was obliged to knock up the old ’ooman.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of A Cheap Jack, 57. A LUSHY cove.

Lusk, subs. (old).—An idler. Also, LUSKISH; as adj. = idle.

1531–47. COPLAND, Hye Way to the Spyttel Hous, l. 40. Boyes, gyrles, and LUSKISH strong knaues.

b. 1602. Lingua [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 462]. Up, with a pox to you; up you LUSK. [Note: LUSK = idle, lazy, slothful. Minshew derives it from the French lasche, desidiosus].

Lust-proud. See PRICK-PROUD.

Lustres, subs. (American thieves’).—Diamonds.—MATSELL (1859).

Lusty-Lawrence, subs. (old).—A good wencher; a PERFORMER (q.v.). Also LUSTY-GUTS.

1599. PORTER, Two Angry Women [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 295]. Well, LUSTY-GUTS, I mean to make ye stay.

1603–37. BRETON, Mad Letters, [GROSART (1869), h. 33, 7, 12]. While LUSTIE-GUTS and his best beloued were casting sheepes eyes at a cods head.

1621. BURTON, Anat. (ed. 1892), ii. 40. Well fed like Hercules, Proculus … and LUSTY LAURENCE.

Lute, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, ii. 312. Her face like an angel, fair, plump, and a Maid, Her LUTE well in Tune too, could he but have plaid. Ibid. v. 4. Her white belly’d LUTE she set to his flute.

Lux, subs. (Blue-coat School).—A good thing; ‘a splendid thing; e.g., My knife is wooston a LUX. [259]Probably short form of luxuriant. Hertford word.’—BLANCH.

Luxer, subs. (Winchester College).—See quot.

1878. ADAMS, Winchester College, s.v. LUXER. A handsome fellow, I presume from luxuries, it being a pleasure to look at him?

Luxuries. See BAR.

Lyb-beg, subs. (old).—A bed.

Lyerby (or Lig-by), subs. (old).—A KEEP (q.v.).

Lyp, verb. (old).—To lie down.—HARMAN (1567).

Lypken. See LIBKEN.

Lyribliring, subs. (Old Cant).—Warbling or singing.

1580. PHILIP SIDNEY, Arcadia, iii. p. 395. So may her ears be led, Her ears where musike lives, To heare and not despise Thy LYRIBLIRING cries.

[260]

. TO HAVE AN M UNDER (or BY) THE GIRDLE, verb. phr. (old).—To have a courteous address. [By using the titles Mr., Mrs., Miss, etc.]. See quot. 1850.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 531]. Hark ye … methinks you might do well to HAVE AN M UNDER YOUR GIRDLE.

1605. JONSON, CHAPMAN, etc., Eastward Hoe, iv. 1. You might CARRY AN M UNDER YOUR GIRDLE.

1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. The devil take you Neverout.… What plain Neverout! methinks you might HAVE AN M UNDER YOUR GIRDLE, Miss.

1850. HALLIWELL, Dict. Arch. & Prov. Words, s.v. M … To keep the term ‘Master’ out of sight, to be wanting in proper respect.

Mab, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, i. 7. Tom. But if you dislike going in a hack, we’ll get you a MAB. Jerry. A MAB? I’m at fault again—never shall get properly broken in. Tom. A MAB is a jingling jarvy!—a cabriolet, Jerry.

2. (old).—A slattern. See verb.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Canting Dict., s.v.

3. (American).—A prostitute. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Verb. (old).—See quots.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, ii. 2. But who, O! who had seen the MOBLED queen Run bare-foot up and down.…

1672. RAY, Proverbs, ‘North Country Words,’ s.v. To MAB [pronounced mob], to dress carelessly. MABS are slatterns.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAB … MAB’D UP, Drest carelessly, like a Slattern.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

d. 1728. KENNETT, MS. Lansd. 1033, MOBB’D UP, dresst in a coarse clownish manner.

Macaroni, subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1711. [It. maccarone, now maccherone, a blockhead: cf., Ger. Hanswurst; Fr. Jean-farine; and JACK-PUDDING].

1711. ADDISON, Spectator, No. 47, Ap. 24. ‘In the first Place I must observe that there is a Set of merry Drolls whom the Common People of all Countries admire, and seem to love so well that they could eat them, according to the old Proverb: I mean those circumforaneous Wits whom every Nation calls by the Name of that Dish of Meat which it loves best. In Holland they are termed Pickled Herrings; in France Jean Pottages; in Italy MACCARONIES; and in Great Britain Jack Puddings. These merry Wags, from whatsoever Food they receive their Titles, that they may make their Audiences laugh, always appear in a Fool’s Coat, and commit such Blunders and Mistakes in every Step they take, and every Word they utter, as those who listen to them would be ashamed of.’ [261]

2. (old).—A dandy from 1760–75. [From the Macaroni Club, which introduced Italian macaroni at Almack’s].

1764. WALPOLE, To Hertford, 27 May. Lady Falkener’s daughter is to be married to a young rich Mr. Crewe, a MACARONE, and of our loo.

1768. HALL STEVENSON, Makarony Fables (addressed to the Society of MACARONIES) Title.

1770. Oxford Magazine, iv. 228, 2. There is indeed a kind of animal, neither male nor female, a thing of the neuter gender, lately started up amongst us. It is called a MACARONIE. It talks without meaning, it smiles without pleasantry, it eats without appetite, it rides without exercise.

1770. FOOTE, Lame Lover, i. 1. Frederick is a bit of MACARONI, and adores the soft Italian termination in a.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic & Satyrical, 139. MACARONIES so neat, Pert Jemmies so sweet.

1773. FERGUSSON, Auld Reekie (Poems, 1851, p. 130). Close by his side, a feckless race O’ MACARONIES show their face.

1774. BURGOYNE, Maid of the Oaks, ii. 1. All the MACARONIES passed by, whistling a song through their toothpicks, and giving a shrug.

1776. GARRICK, High Life above Stairs, i. 1. Sir T. This fellow would turn rake and MACARONI if he were to stay here a week longer. Bless me, what dangers are in this town at every step!

1779. MRS. COWLING, Who’s the Dupe? ii. 2. You! you for to turn fop and MACARONI!

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

1790. The Busy Bee (quoted in), ii. 248. Some MACARONIES there came in, All dressed so neat, and looked so thin.

1805. G. BARRINGTON, New London Spy (4th ed.), p. 53. The present degenerate race of MACARONIES, who appear to be of a spurious puny breed.

1820. C. LAMB, Elia, ‘South Sea House,’ in Works [1852], p. 316. He wore his hair, to the last, powdered and frizzed out, in the fashion which I remember to have seen in caricatures of what were termed, in my young days, MACCARONIES.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, 1. ix. Though a Frenchman he was a deuced fine fellow in his day—quite a tip-top MACARONI.

1883. A. DOBSON, Hogarth, p. 56. A slim MACARONI, with his hair in curl papers, and his queue loose like a woman’s tresses.

1885. Daily Telegraph, 14 Aug., p. 5, col. 1. The hat of the MACCARONI has gone out as surely as the lights at Ranelagh, or the masquerades in Soho.

3. (American).—A Maryland regiment noted for its smartness, which took part in the Revolution.—‘Stuck a feather in his cap, and called it MACARONI’.—Yankee Doodle.

4. (rhyming).—A pony.

Adj. (old).—1. Foppish; affected; and (2) see quot. 1742. Also MACARONIAN and MACARONICAL.

1596. NASHE, Have With You [GROSART, iii. 47]. One Dick Litchfield … who hath translated my Piers Pennilesse into the MACARONICALL tongue.

1742. CAMBRIDGE, The Scribleriad, b. ii. note 16. The MACARONIAN is a kind of burlesque poetry, consisting of a jumble of words of different languages, with words of the vulgar tongue latinized, and latin words modernized.

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, Epil. Ye travelled tribe, ye MACARONI train.

1806. J. DALLAWAY, Obs. Eng. Arch., 222. Travellers who have seen … will look on the architecture of Bath as belonging to the MACARONICK order.

Macaroni-stake, subs. (old).—A race ridden by a gentleman-JOCK (q.v.).—BEE (1823).

Macaroon, subs. (old).—An affected blockhead.

1650. Elegy on Donne [NARES]. A MACAROON, And no way fit to speak to clouted shoon. [262]

1662. DONNE, Satires, Sat. 4. 116, 117. I sigh and sweat To hear this MAKARON talke, in vaine.

Mace, subs. (old).—See quots.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. MACE, the MACE is a rogue assuming the character of a gentleman, or opulent tradesman, who under that appearance defrauds workmen, by borrowing a watch or other piece of goods, till one he bespeaks is done.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, 287. MACE … which is a slang term for imposition or robbery.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip, ii. Fiddle, or fence, or MACE, or mack.

Verb. (common).—To defraud. See quot. 1868. Also ON THE MACE, and TO STRIKE THE MACE. TO MACE THE RATTLER = to travel by rail without paying the fare.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, p. 320. He laughed heartily at their being MACED.

1827. LYTTON, Pelham, lxxxiii. To swindle a gentleman did not sound a crime when it was called MACING a swell.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. He’s been working ON THE MACE.

1868. Temple Bar, XXIV. 535. MACING means taking an office, getting goods sent to it, and then bolting with them; or getting goods sent to your lodgings and then removing.

1885. Daily Telegraph, 18 Aug., p. 3, col. 2. Fancy him being so soft as to give that jay a quid back out of the ten he’d MACED him of!

ON THE MACE, adv. phr. (common).—1. See verb.; and (2) on credit; ON TICK (q.v.).

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 100. Letting ’em have the super and slang on MACE, for he gets to know their account, and he puts the pot on ’em settling day.

Maceman (Mace-cove, Mace-gloak, or Macer), subs. (thieves’).—A general swindler. But see quots. 1879 and 1884.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, II. 34, s.v.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. MACE. The MACE-COVE is he who will cheat, take in, or swindle as often as may be.

1828. G. SMEETON, Doings in London, p. 39. It is a game in very great vogue among the MACERS, who congregate nightly at the flash-houses.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1861. SALA, Twice Round the Clock, 2 p.m. Par. 10. The turf has its blacklegs and touts; the nightside of London is fruitful in MACEMEN, ‘mouchers’, and ‘go-alongs’.

1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag., XL. 502. The following people used to go in there—toy-getters (watch-stealers) … MEN AT THE MACE (sham loan offices).

1883. G. A. S[ALA], in Illustr. L. News, 28 April, p. 407, col. 2. The lovely and loving spouse of an abandoned MACER, named Brabazon Sikes—to further whose villainous ends she consents to ‘nobble’ Damozel in his stable.

1884. Daily News, 5 Jan., p. 5, col. 2. The victim appears to have entered an omnibus and to have been at once pounced upon by two MACEMEN, otherwise ‘swell mobsmen’.

Machine, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. (2) The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

3. (common).—A bicycle or tricycle; a carriage; (Scots’) and (in America) a fire-engine.

d. 1797. WALPOLE, Letters, IV. 12. Will set out tomorrow morning in the MACHINE that goes from the Queen’s Head in the Gray’s Inn Lane.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, p. 325. A special kind of rowdy known only in America is the b’hoy that runs wid de MACHINE … the fire-engine. [263]

1884. FIELD, 6 Dec. As we proceeded the MACHINE became more of an encumbrance.

4. (old).—A cundum; a FRENCH LETTER (q.v.).

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

5. (American politics).—A party; a party organization.

Machiner, subs. (old coaching).—A coach-horse.

1859. LAWRENCE, Sword and Gown, XI. Steady old MACHINERS, broken for years to don the harness.

Mack, verb. (common).—See MACKEREL.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip, ii. Fiddle, or fence, or mace, or MACK.

Mackerel, subs. (old).—1. A pander; and (2), a bawd. [SKEAT: O. Fr. maquereau = pandar, from Teut. source preserved in Du., makelaar = broker, pandar, from Du. makelen = to procure].

1483. CAXTON, Cato Magnus. Nighe his house dwellyd a MAQUEREL or bawde.

1513. GAVIN DOUGLAS, Eneados, ‘Proloug’ (Book IV), (Edinburgh, 1874, ii. 170, l. 30). Sic poyd MAKRELLES for Lucifer bene leche.

1615. OVERBURY, New & Choice Characters [NARES]. A MAQUERELA, in plain English, a bawd, is an olde charcole that hath beene burnt herselfe, and therefore is able to kindle a whole greene coppice.

1630. TAYLOR, Wks. [NARES]. As some get their living by their tounges, as interpreters, lawyers, oratours, and flatterers; some by tayles, as MAQUERELLAES, concubines, curtezanes, or in plaine English, whores.

c. 1633. Lady Alimony, ii. 2. The only safe way for these gamesome MACQUERELLAS is to antedate their conception before their separation.

1633. SHIRLEY, Triumph of Peace [NARES]. After these, a MAQUERELLE, two wenches, two wanton gamesters.

1650. HOWELL, Familiar Letters [NARES]. The pandar did his office, but brought him a citizen clad in damoisells apparell, so she and her MAQUERELL were paid accordingly.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

Adj. (printers’).—Smeared; blurred and indistinct.

Mackarel-back, subs. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MACKAREL-BACK, a very tall, lank Person.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MACKEREL-BACKED, long backed.

Mad, adj. (Old English and American).—Angry; vexed. TO GET ONE’S MAD UP = to get angered. Also as verb.

1369. CHAUCER, Troilus [SKEAT, 1894], line 479. Ne made him thus in armes for to MADDE.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Titus And., iii. 1. 104. Had I but seen thy picture in this plight, It would have MADDED me. Ibid. iii. 1. 223. If the winds rage doth not the sea wax MAD.

1596. JONSON, Every Man in His Humour, iv. 1. You’d MAD the patient’st body in the world.

1607. MIDDLETON, Your Five Gallants [DE VERE]. They are MAD; she graced me with one private minute above their fortunes.

1611. Acts XXVI. 11 [Authorised Version].—And being exceeding MAD against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

1667. PEPYS, Diary, iv. 482 [BICKERS, 1875]. The King is MAD at her entertaining Jermin, and she is MAD at Jermin’s going to marry from her, so they are all MAD; and so the kingdom is governed.

1816. PICKERING, Collection of Words etc., s.v. MAD, in the sense of ‘angry,’ is considered as a low word in this country, and at the present day is never used except in very familiar conversation. [264]

1824. R. B. PEAKE, Americans Abroad, i. 1. I guess—I’m MADDED, but I’ll bite in my breath a bit—not that I’m sitch a tarnation fool as to believe all you tell me.

1848. RUXTON, Life in the Far West, p. 167. That nation is MAD.

1871. New Era, April [DE VERE]. The Squire’s MAD riz.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, p. 189. My eye! won’t he be just MAD.

LIKE MAD. See LIKE.

MAD AS A HATTER, phr. (colloquial).—Violently angry; crazy. [HATTER = atter = adder].

MAD AS A MARCH HARE, phr. (colloquial).—As mad as may be.

d. 1535. MORE, Supplycacion of Soulys, C. ii. As MAD not AS MARCHE HARE, but as a madde dogge.

1597. HEYWOOD, Epig., 95. As MAD AS A MARCH HARE; where madness compares, Are not Midsummer hares as MAD AS MARCH HARES?

1609. FLETCHER, Wild-Goose Chase, iv. 3. They are all, all mad: I came from a world of mad women, MAD AS MARCH HARES.

1651. TATHAM, Distracted State, iv. 1. My lord, ’tis done! I am as MAD AS a MARCH HARE upon ’t.

1665. Homer à la Mode [NARES]. Therefore, ere since this cunning archer Has been AS MAD AS any MARCH HARE.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 73. Thy little Archer Has made our Dido MAD AS MARCH-HARE.

1754. FOOTE, The Knights, i. Mother’s as MAD AS A MARCH HARE about it.

1760. GEORGE COLMAN, Polly Honeycombe, i. 4. She’s downright raving—MAD AS A MARCH HARE.

d. 1796. BURNS, Ep. to J. R., 13. It pits me ay AS MAD’S A HARE.

1841. Comic Almanack, p. 260. Vell, I’ve heard of MAD AS A MARCH AIR, and precious mad I find it is, still I can’t say as I care: as long as I get home safe.

1851. Notes and Queries, 20 Sept., p. 208. Perhaps the allusion to the well-known saying, AS MAD AS A MARCH HARE, on this occasion was made without the collector of hareskins being aware of the existence of such a saying.

Madam, subs. (old).—1. A pocket-handkerchief; a WIPE (q.v.). Fr. une fassollette.

1879. Macmillan’s Mag., ‘Autobiography of a Thief,’ xl. 503. I tore up my MADAM, and tied the wedge in small packets.

2. (old).—A mistress.

d. 1634–5. RANDOLPH, In Lesbiam, etc., in Wks. (London: 1875), p. 539. And yet has no revenues to defray These charges but the MADAM; she must pay His prodigal disbursements. MADAMS are To such as he more than a treble share.

1719. DURFEY, Pills, etc., iv. 139. Hide-Park may be called the market of MADAMS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (colloquial).—A bold girl; an artful woman.

4. (old).—An ironical address.

1726. GAY, Beggar’s Opera, ii. Air xx. Why, how now, MADAM flirt.

1790. The Busy Bee (quoted in), iii. 59. Every bush beat, And no signs of MADAM, no trace of her feet.

Madam Van, subs. phr. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MADAM VAN, a whore. The cull has been with MADAM VAN, the fellow has enjoyed such a one.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Madcap, subs. (old: now recognised).—A whimsical humourist; a rashling. Fr. un lanturlu. As adj. = wild; freakish. [265]

1594. Look About You [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 420]. But pray have a care of this MADCAP.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentl. of Verona, ii. 5, 8. Come on, you MAD-CAP, I’ll to the ale-house.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 498]. You madman, MAD-CAP, wild-oats.

1609. FLETCHER, Wild-Goose Chase, iv. 1. If any of the MAD-CAP gentlemen should come by, That take up women on special warrant, you were in a wise case now.

1639. GLAPTHORNE, Wit in a Constable [PEARSON (1874), i. 199]. Pray be you Sir Timothy, know his entrance: ’Tis such another MAD-CAP.

1658. Wit Restored [HOTTEN], 147. Two MADCAPS were committed late, For treason, as some say.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 95. Her grace finds me amongst a Crew Of MAD-CAPS.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

d. 1796. BURNS, To R.G. of F., 8. Not so the idle Muses’ MAD-CAP train.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. MAD-CAP a frisky, wild lass, full of fun.

1831. LYTTON, Eugene Aram, Bk. 4, ch. xi. I could not a-think what could make so shy an’ resarved a gentleman as Mr. Aram admit these ’ere wild MAD-CAPS at that hour.

Mad-dog, subs. (Old Cant).—Strong ale. For synonyms see DRINKS and SWIPES.

1586. HARRISON, England, 202. There is such headie ale.… Commonly called huffe-cappe, the MAD DOG, father-whore-sonne, angel’s-food, dragon’s-milk, go-by-the-wall, stride-wide, and lift-leg.

Made. See MAKE, verb. sense 1.

Made-beer, subs. (Winchester College).—College swipes bottled with rice, a few raisins, sugar, and nutmeg to make it ‘up’.—MANSFIELD.

Madge, subs. (American thieves’).—1. See quot. 1882.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1882. MCCABE, New York, xxxiv. 510 (in list of slang terms). MADGE, private places.

2. (venery).—See quots. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. Also MADGE-HOWLET.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MADGE. The private parts of a woman.

1850. HALLIWELL, Archaic and Provincial Words, s.v. MADGE (3). The pudendum muliebre. South.

3. (Scots’).—A woman: partly in sport, and partly in contempt.—JAMIESON.

Madge-cull, subs. (Old Cant).—See quot. Cf. MARY-ANN.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MADGE CULLS, sodomites (Cant).

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mad-pash, subs. (provincial).—See quot.

1850. HALLIWELL, Archaic & Provincial Words, s.v. MAD-PASH. A mad fellow.

Mad-Tom, subs. phr. (old).—See quots.: a TOM OF BEDLAM (q.v.).

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MAD TOM … a rogue that counterfeits madness.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MAD TOM. A fellow who feigns to be foolish.

Mad-woman, subs. (old coaching).—An empty coach.

Madza, adj. (theatrical).—Half. MADZA-CAROON = half a crown; MADZA-SALTEE = a halfpenny. [It. mezza]. MEDZA-BEARGERED = half-drunk.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xiv. They come at MADZA nova butchers to inspect and see all is bona. [266]

Mag, subs. (old).—1. Talk; chatter; JAW (q.v.). Also a jabberer. Fr. un caquet-bon-bec.

1778. D’ARBLAY, Diary, i. 100. If you have any MAG in you, we’ll draw it out.

1874. E. LYNN LINTON, Patricia Kemball, xviii. ‘Don’t be a fool, woman, and hold your MAG on things you don’t understand,’ said Mr. Simpson coarsely.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 20. Tipped the MAG with as much bellows-blowing as though he’d two tongues in his cheeks.

2. (thieves’).—See quots. Also MAKE and MAGPIE. In pl. (in Scotland) = a gratuity expected by servants. Cf. MEG = a guinea.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65. A MAKE, a halfepenny.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). MAKE, an halfpenny.

1676. Warning for Housekeepers, ‘Song.’ But if the cully nap us … it is hardly worth a MAKE.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAKE.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MAKE (S.) a cant name for a half-penny.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MAKE.

1789. GEO PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 124. Bless you eyes and limbs, lay out a MAG with poor chirruping Joe.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, 6. If any body offers you less nor a MAG, or a duce, vy, you may say with the poet, Who vou’d his farthings bear? ven he himself might his quivetus make vith a bare bodkin.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart Of London, ii. 1. I haven’t a MAG.

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, viii. ‘But come,’ said the young gentleman, ‘you want grub, and you shall have it. I’m at low-water-mark myself—only a bob and a MAGPIE, but as it goes Ile fork out and stump.’

1840. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, xvi. You care not a MAG if our party should fall.

1842. Comic Almanack, 29 Aug. ‘La Fontaine’s Homeric Exhibition.’ It’s a science; methinks—tho’ La Fontaine may brag That in language of slang, sir, is not worth a MAG.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps Of London, ii. 3. I’ll play you three times round the board for a MAG a turn, and a pint to come in—the first five out of nine.

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, ch. liv. p. 451. If he don’t keep such a business as the present as close as possible it can’t be worth a MAG to him.

1861. WHYTE MELVILLE, Good for Nothing, ch. xliv. ‘I’ve kept this safe for many a long day. I’ve held on to it when I hadn’t a MAG in my pocket, nor a crust in my wallet.’

1864. Standard, 13 Dec. We do not find the word MAKE (a halfpenny) used by boys in Ireland and extensively among the Irish labouring people settled in London.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 64. We should not have taken a MAG, as we left the place in the morning.

3. (American).—A half-cent.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

4. (shooting).—The same MAGPIE.

5. (common).—A magazine.

1796. WOLCOT, Peter Pindar, p. 309 [ed. 1830]. And now of Hawkesbury they talked, who wrote in MAGS for hire.

1837. Comic Almanack, 92. At least ’twas so Some years ago, Ere wisdom oped our eyes; And farthing folks, with penny MAGS, Made people penny wise.

1869. Chamb. Journal, 8 May, p. 303. ‘Why don’t you fellows write something for the MAGS?’ said Tom.

1882. MRS. E. R. ALEXANDER, The Freres, 45. He … is on the staff of I don’t know how many papers and MAGS.

Verb. (old).—1. To talk.

1836. Comic Almanack, October. Just stow your MAGGING, for you’ve piped enough.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 2. Stow MAGGING—here’s more coves coming. [267]

1885. G. A. SALA, in Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept., 5–6. Who hangs for hours about the Piazza Colonna at Rome, chattering and scandal-MAGGING.

2. (thieves’).—To steal.

1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, xliii. And loot the carters MAGG the coals.

3. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MAGGING. Getting money by cheating countrymen with balls, patent safes, etc.

MAG’S DIVERSION. See MEG.

Maga, subs. (literary).—Blackwood’s Magazine.

Magdalene, subs. (colloquial).—A reformed prostitute.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, iv. 6. You don’t love mutton, you MAGDALEN unconverted?

1818. LADY MORGAN, Fl. Macarthy, II. ii. 79 [1819]. I will not have my house made a MAGDALEN Asylum to a parcel of canting methodistical thieves.

1873. WILKIE COLLINS, The New MAGDALENE [Title].

1883. TROLLOPE, Autobiography, p. 239. Very little of the MAGDALENE about her—because though there may be many MAGDALENES they are not often found.

Mag-flying, subs. (thieves’).—See quot. Cf. MAG = halfpenny.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 26 March, p. 2, col. 8. Of the twenty-nine ‘night charges’, by far the greater number were of … boys for MAG FLYING, i.e., ‘pitch and toss’.

Maggie, subs. (Scots’).—A harlot. Cf. KITTY.

1603. Philotus, S. P. R. [1792], iii. 50. Ye trowit to get ane burd of blisse, To have ane of thir MAGGIES.

Maggie Rab (or Robb), subs. phr. (Scots’).—1. A bad half-penny.

2. (Scots’).—A bad wife.

Magging, subs. (colloquial).—Talking.

1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness, xxx. I can understand it all, you’ve been worked upon by the chatter and MAGGING of these silly women until you’ve lost your own calm common sense.

Maggot, subs. (common).—1. A whim; a crotchet; a FAD (q.v.). Cf. (Scots’) ‘bee in bonnet’; (Fr.) des rats dans la tête.

1655. MASSINGER, Very Woman, v. 1. Now I dare swear Thou hast MAGGOTS in thy brains, thou wouldst not else, Talk of impossibilities.

1678. BUTLER, Hudibras, iii. 2, 1375. To reconcile our late dissenters, Our breth’ren though by other venters; Unite them and their different MAGGOTS, As long and short sticks are in faggots.

1685. CROWNE, Sir Courtly Nice, ii. 1. The beef o’ the nation breeds all the MAGGOTS in the people’s heads.

1701. FARQUHAR, Sir Harry Wildair, iii. 1. Some time ago he had got the travelling MAGGOT in his head, and was going to the Jubilee upon all occasions.

1706. FARQUHAR, Recruiting Officer, iii. 1. Pride possesses their hearts, a MAGGOT fills their heads.

1712. ARBUTHNOT, History of John Bull, Pt. 1. ch. x. John heard all this while, with patience, till she pricked his MAGGOT, and touched him in the tender point.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, IV. 77. Not long ago as all alone I lay upon my Bed, ’Twixt sleeping and waking, this MAGGOT came in my Head.

1822. SCOTT, The Fortunes of Nigel, iii. ‘The King is a weel-natured and just man of his ain kindly nature, but he has a wee MAGGOTS that maun be cannily guided.’

1843. JOHN STERLING, in Life by CARLYLE, Pt. III. ch. vi. The thing is not bad; but will require great labour. Only it is labour that I thoroughly like; and which keeps the MAGGOTS out of one’s brain, until their time. [268]

1855. TENNYSON, Maud, XXVII. 3. To tickle the MAGGOT born in an empty head.

2. (old).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAGGOT, a whimsicall Fellow, full of strange Fancies and Caprichio’s. MAGGOTTY, Freakish.

1725. N. BAILEY, Erasmus, 177. You were as great a MAGGOT as any in the world.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.) MAGGOT (S.) … also a whimsical fellow that is full of strange freakish fancies.

Maggot-boiler, subs. (old).—A tallow chandler.—GROSE (1796).

Maggoty (Maggot-headed or -pated), adj. (common).—Fanciful; eccentric; full of whimsies.

1687. BISHOP, Marrow of Astrology, 60. A fantastick man wholly bent to fool his time and estate away in … MAGGOT-PATED whimsies, to no purpose.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAGGOT.

1706. FARQUHAR, Recruiting Officer, ii. 2. I should have some rogue of a builder … transform my noble oaks and elms into cornices, portals, sashes … to adorn some MAGOTTY, new-fashioned bauble upon the Thames.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.), s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1817–26. KIRBY and SPENCE, Int. to Entomology, 85. The common saying that a whimsical person is MAGGOTY, or has got maggots in his head, perhaps arose from the freaks the sheep have been observed to exhibit when infested by bots.

1882. REV. J. PICKFORD, in Notes and Queries, 6. S.v. 238. Be it observed that MAGGOTY is a Cheshire provincialism for ‘crotchety’, like the expression used in other parts, ‘a bee in the bottom.’

Magistrand, subs. (Aberdeen University).—A student in arts of the last year: cf. BEJAN.

Magistrate, subs. (Scots’).—A herring. For synonyms see GLASGOW MAGISTRATE.

Magnet, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Magnificent, subs. (colloquial).—High and mighty. In pl. = a state of dignified resentment.

1886. MARRYAT, Midshipman Easy, ch. xxvii. Nevertheless, Jack walked his first watch in the MAGNIFICENTS, as all middies do when they cannot go on shore, and turned in at twelve o’clock, with the resolution of sticking to his purpose, and quitting his Majesty’s service.

Magnify. IT DOESN’T MAGNIFY, phr. (common).—‘It doesn’t signify.’

Magnum, subs. (colloquial).—A double quart. Cf. JEROBOAM, REHOBOAM etc.

1796. BURNS, Election Ballads, VI. High-wav’d his MAGNUM-BONUM round With Cyclopean fury.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MAGNUM BONUM. A bottle containing two quarts of wine. See Scotch pint.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, XXXVI. Discussing the landlord’s bottle, which was, of course, a MAGNUM.

1829. Edinburgh Review, XL. 378. Daily washing down turtle and venison with quarts of sherry and MAGNUMS of claret.

1837. DICKENS, Pickwick, xix. They … ordered a glass of brandy and water … with a MAGNUM of extra strength.

1850. THACKERAY, Pendennis, xxxi. They had a MAGNUM of claret at dinner at the club that day.

1888. Athenæum, 21 April, 449. 1. Your noble MAGNUM of Lafitte, E’en Rothschild would have deemed a treat.

Magpie, subs. (old).—1. A bishop. [From his vestments of black and white]. [269]

1663. KILLIGREW, Parson’s Wedding [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), xiv. 459]. In pure charity laid with him, and was delivered, of a MAGPIE … for the midwife cried out ’twas born a bishop, with tippet and white sleeves.

1707. F. BROWN, Works, i. 107. Let not those silkworms and MAGPIES have dominion over us.

2. (thieves’).—See MAG, subs. sense 2.

3. (common).—A pie; pastry. Fr. parfond.

4. (military).—A shot striking a target, divided into four sections, in the outermost but one. [It is signalled with a black and white disk]. Cf. BULL’S-EYE.

1884. Times, 23 July. Running through the scoring gamut with an outer, a MAGPIE, and a miss.

Magpie’s-nest, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

c. 1720. Ballad [Brit. Mus. Cat. 11621, i. 1. 75]. I heard the merry wag protest, The muff between her haunches, Resembled most a MAGPIE’S nest, Between two lofty branches.

d. 1796. Old Ballad, ‘Ken ye Na Our Lass, Bess?’ [quoted by BURNS in Merry Muses], Between her lily-white thies She’s biggit a MAGPIE’S-NEST.

Magsman, subs. (thieves’).—A street swindler, a CONFIDENCE-TRICK MAN. [From MAG = to talk + man]. For synonyms see THIEVES. Fr. un chevalier de la retourne.

1838. The Town, ‘The Swell Mob,’ 27 Jan. A MAGSMAN must, of necessity be a great actor, and a most studious observer of human nature.… Without [these attributes] a man might as well attempt to fly as to go out for a ‘mag-stake.’

1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of London, p. 46. The dependents of cheats; as ‘jollies’ and MAGSMEN, or the confederates of other cheats.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MAGSMEN. Fellows who are too cowardly to steal, but prefer to cheat confiding people by acting on their cupidity.

1864. Leeds Mercury, 7 June. The case we now report is one in which an Englishman—a Yorkshireman too—was swindled by two MAGSMEN.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good Night. You MAGSMEN bold that work the cram.

1888. G. R. SIMS, in Cassell’s Sat. Journal, 31 March, p. 7. The MAGSMAN earns his living by what is called the confidence trick.

Mahogany, subs. (common).—1. A dining-table. Also MAHOGANY-TREE.

1840–1. DICKENS, Master Humphrey’s Clock. I had hoped to have seen you three gentlemen with your legs under the MAHOGANY in my humble parlor in the Marks.

1847. THACKERAY [in Punch, vol. XII, p. 13]. The MAHOGANY TREE [Title].

1847. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, Vol. II. ch. vii. ‘I … can show a handsomer service of silver, and can lay a better dinner on my MAHOGANY, than ever they see on theirs.’

1856. STRANG, Glasgow & its Clubs, 102. With his legs below the tavern MAHOGANY, etc.

1889. Licensed Victuallers’ Gaz., 18 Jan. The men who had so constantly had their legs under his MAHOGANY.

1892. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Tableau III. Sc. I. p. 30. Why man, if under heaven there were but one poor lock unpicked, and that the lock of one whose claret you’ve drunk, and who has babbled of woman across your own MAHOGANY—that lock, sir, were entirely sacred.

2. (nautical).—Salt beef; OLD HORSE (q.v.).

3. (common).—See quot.

1791. BOSWELL, Johnson (1835), viii. 53. Mr. Elliot mentioned a curious liquor peculiar to his country which the Cornish fishermen drink. They call it MAHOGANY; and it is made of two parts gin, and one part treacle, well beaten together. [270]

1855. STRANG, Glasgow & its Clubs, 102. With his legs below the tavern mahogany, and with his own tankard of MAHOGANY before him.

TO HAVE ONE’S FEET UNDER ANOTHER MAN’S MAHOGANY, verb. phr. (common).—To live on someone else.

TO AMPUTATE ONE’S MAHOGANY, verb. phr. (common).—To run away; to CUT ONE’S STICK (q.v.).

Mahogany-flat, subs. (common).—A bug: cf. HEAVY CAVALRY. For synonyms see NORFOLK HOWARD.

Mahometan-gruel, subs. (common).—Coffee.—GROSE (3rd ed., 1796).

Maid. NEITHER WIFE, WIDOW, NOR MAID, phr. (old).—See MAIDEN-WIFE-WIDOW.

Maiden, subs. (Old Scots’ colloquial).—1. A decapitating machine.

1715. PENNECUIK, Descr. of Tweeddale, pp. 16–17. Which fatal instrument, at least the pattern thereof, the cruel Regent [Earl Morton] had brought from abroad to behead the Laird of Pennecuik of that ilk, who notwithstanding died in his bed, and the unfortunate Earl was the first himself that handselled that merciless MAIDEN.

1849. MACAULAY, Hist. Eng., v. The rude, old guillotine of Scotland, called the MAIDEN.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 7 Mar., p. 2. col 1. A young Scotch gentleman of good birth, named ‘A. Balfour,’ was executed by an instrument called the MAIDEN.

2. (colloquial).—In cricket, an over with no runs; in racing, a horse which has never run. Also as adj.: as, a MAIDEN-speech, a MAIDEN-attempt etc.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAIDEN-SESSIONS, when none are hanged.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1882. Daily Telegraph, 2 Jan. The conditions contain no allowance for MAIDEN.

Maiden-gear, subs. (old).—The virginity. Fr. côte de tribulation.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, i. 130. My father takes me for a Saint, Tho’ weary of my MAIDEN GEER, That I may give you full content, Pray look, Sir Knight, the coast be clear.

Maidenhead, subs. (vulgar: once literary).—‘Newness; freshness; uncontaminated state. This is now become a low word.’—JOHNSON (1755).

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller [GROSART, v. 114]. He would let Florence his mistres natiue citie have the MAIDENHEAD of his chiualrie.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Henry IV, 1. 59. The devil and mischance look big Upon the MAIDENHEAD of our affairs.

1694. CROWNE, Married Beau, ii. 1. I’ll give your ladyship the MAIDENHEAD of a new song of mine.

d. 1726. WOTTON [JOHNSON]. Some … have stained the MAIDENHEAD of their credit with some negligent performance.

Maiden-town, subs. (Old Scots’).—Edinburgh; AULD REEKIE. [From a tradition that the maiden daughters of a Pictish King sought protection there during a time of civil war].

Maiden-wife-widow, subs. phr. (old).—1. See quot.; and (2) a whore [RAY (1767)].

1688. RANDAL HOLMES, Academy of Armory, 404. A MAIDEN-WIFE-WIDOW, one that gave herself up to a man that could never enjoy her maidenhead.

Maid Marian, subs. phr. (old).—A wanton. [The character in the old morris-dance was taken by a loose woman]. [271]

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Henry IV, Falstaff. And for chastity MAID MARIAN is deputy’s wife of the wand to thee.

Maids-adorning, subs. (rhyming).—The morning.

Maidstone-jailer, subs. (rhyming).—A tailor. For synonyms see PRICK-LOUSE.

Mail, subs. (Stock Exchange).—In pl. = Mexican railway shares.

TO GET UP THE MAIL, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To find money to defend a prisoner.

Main, subs. (gaming).—The averages of the number to be thrown at dice; at (cock-fighting) the advantage on a series of battles.—BEE (1823).

TO TURN ON THE MAIN, verb. phr. (common).—To weep. For synonyms see NAP A BIB.

1853. BRADLEY (Cuthbert Bede), Verdant Green, Part 3, p. 90. The Mum cut up doosid this last time; You’ve no idea how she TURNED ON THE MAIN and did the briny.

Main-avenue, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Main-brace. TO SPLICE THE MAIN-BRACE, verb. phr. (nautical).—To serve an allowance of grog; hence to drink.

1834. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. xv. With a bottle of rum, procured at the time they SPLICED THE MAINBRACE.

1877. HARRIET MARTINEAU, Autobiography, vol. ii. Appendix p. 480. Yesterday the captain shouted, for the first time, SPLICE THE MAIN-BRACE (give out grog).

Main-chance. See CHANCE.

Main-sheet, subs. (common).—Drink: specifically (in quot.) brandy.

1886. GRANT ALLEN, In All Shades, ch. vii. ‘In Trinidad! Well, well, beautiful island, beautiful, beautiful! Must mind they don’t take too much MAINSHEET, or catch yellow Jack, or live in the marshes, that’s all.’

Main-toby, subs. (old).—The highway, or main road. See TOBY.

Majority. TO GO OVER TO (or JOIN) THE MAJORITY (or GREAT MAJORITY), verb. phr. (old).—To die. For synonyms see HOP THE TWIG. [The expression ἐς πλεόνων ἱκέσθαι is found in Crinagoras (Anthol. Palat. 11, 42), and penetrare ad plures in Plautus (Trin., ii, 2, 14). A correspondent of the Illustrated London News (‘Echoes,’ Sept. 9, 1883) writes: ‘The phrase JOINING THE MAJORITY is a free translation of the sepulchral formula, Abierunt ad multos, used by the Roman legionaries in Britain’; but in all probability the English use of the expression comes from quot. 1721].

1721. YOUNG, Revenge, iv. 1. Life is the desert, life the solitude; Death JOINS US TO THE GREAT MAJORITY.

1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Mirror, 30 Jan., p. 1, col. 3. Henry Saffrey, the Paris Leviathan, has JOINED THE ever-increasing MAJORITY. ‘Lucky Saff’ was very popular in the French capital.

Make, subs. (old).—1. See MAG.

2. (thieves’).—See quot.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MAKE (A.) done, performed, produced; also a cant word for theft.

Verb. (thieves’).—1. To steal. For synonyms see PRIG.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAKE.… I MADE this knife at a heat, I stole it cleaverly.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MADE.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MADE. [272]

1877. J. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple, ch. vi. Ten or twelve pounds per week! There are hundreds of London thieves, who are known and branded as such, who do not MAKE twice as many shillings.

2. (Winchester College).—To appropriate.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 46. In the matter of certain articles … supplied by the College, we used to put a liberal interpretation on the eighth commandment … and it was considered fair to MAKE them if you could.

3. (colloquial).—To earn.

1873. JAS. GREENWOOD, In Strange Company. 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 cadging.

ON THE MAKE, adv. phr. (common).—Intent on (1) booty, or (2) profit.

TO MAKE UP ONE’S MOUTH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To get one’s living.

TO MAKE HORNS, verb. phr. (old).—1. To reproach with cuckoldom by forking two fingers from the brows. See HORNS.

2. (colloquial).—See FACES.

TO MAKE AWAY (WITH ONESELF), verb. phr. (colloquial).—See quot. 1836.

1633. SPENSER, Ireland [Ency. Dict.]. Clarence … soon after, by sinister means, was clean MADE AWAY.

1836. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, p. 65 (ed. 1857). ‘Perhaps he may hang himself.’ ‘Very good,’ rejoined Mr. Simmery, pulling out the gold pencil-case again. ‘I’ve no objection to take you that way. Say—MAKES AWAY with himself.’ ‘Kills himself in fact’ said Wilkins Flasher Esquire.

TO MAKE DAINTY, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To scruple.

TO MAKE NICE, verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To scruple or object.

TO MAKE UP, verb. phr. (theatrical and common).—1. To dress: as an actor for a part. See MAKE-UP.

1602. DECKER, Satiro-mastix in Works (1873), i. 253. Wat Terrill, th’art ill suited, ill MADE VP, In Sable collours, like a night piece dyed, Conn’st thou the Prologue of a Maske in blacke.

1633. JONSON, Tale of a Tub, i. 3. I would have him The bravest, richest, and the properest man A tailor could MAKE UP; or all the poets, With the perfumers.

1655. MASSINGER, Very Woman, i. 1. Pedro. Morrow, sister! Do I not come unseasonably? Alm. Why, good brother? Pedro. Because you are not yet fully MADE UP, Nor fit for visitation.

1844. Puck, p. 30. Feeling convinced that lovers were my line I once tried Romeo, but was hissed; since then My young ambition, sadly I resign,—My mind and face MADE UP for first old men.

1869. MRS. H. WOOD, Roland Yorke, xxv. That lady … had absolute need of artistic aid in the matter of MAKING-UP; face and shape and hair and attire alike requiring daily renovation.

1883. D. COOK, Nights at the Play, vol. 1. ch. xv. The actor had taken exceeding pains with the part. His face had been carefully MADE UP, and every detail of his dress and deportment elaborately studied.

2. (common).—To get up, or invent: as a catch or ‘take in’.

TO MAKE (or TAKE) IT UP, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be reconciled after a quarrel.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Merchant of Venice, v. 4, 103. I knew when seven justices could not MAKE UP a quarrel.

TO MAKE MOUTHS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To jeer; to grin.

TO MAKE ENDS MEET, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE. [273]

TO MAKE HAY, verb. phr. (common).—To tumble; to confuse; to disorder.

1863. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, ch. xiii. His usual holiday amusements were these—to interrupt his sister’s lessons as much as possible, and in the absence of the governess, to (as he called it) MAKE HAY in the school-room.

TO MAKE MEAT OF, verb. phr. (American).—To kill.

1841. RUXTON, Life in the Far West, p. 3. Poor Bill Bent! them Spaniards MADE MEAT of him.

TO MAKE A HOUSE, verb. phr. (Parliamentary).—To gather a quorum (40 members).

1864. The Spectator, p. 529. Nobody played marplot, but the division revealed the absence of a quorum, and a bill which interests all capitalists, and will before long interest every taxpayer, was interrupted by mere official carelessness as to MAKING A HOUSE.

AS GOOD (BAD, HOT, DRUNK, etc.) AS THEY MAKE THEM, phr. (common).—As good, bad, etc. as may be.

187[?]. Broadside Ballad, ‘AS GOOD AS THEY MAKE ’EM’ [Title].

1889. Modern Society, 12 Oct., p. 1265, col. 2. About a dozen yards in, I think you said, and the tide coming in about AS FAST AS THEY MAKE IT. Ibid. p. 1267, col. 2. The couple were engaged to be married, and Miss King, who seems to be AS SENTIMENTAL AS AMERICANS ARE MADE, suggested that they should carry out the marriage ceremony in Greenwood Cemetery.

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3. On reaching the party it was evident that one of the Frenchmen was, not to put too fine a point on it, about AS DRUNK AS THEY MAKE ’EM. He opened the campaign by asking us to have a drink with him. Of course, he spoke in French.

1890. G. ALLEN, The Tents of Shem, iii. I like them; thorough ladies, and well brought up, and AS CLEVER AS THEY MAKE THEM.

1894. GEORGE MOORE, Esther Waters, xvii. You are AS STRONG AS THEY MAKE ’EM.

MAKE HIM SWIM FOR IT, phr. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MAKE HIM SWIM FOR IT. Cheat him out of his share.

See also BACK; BACON; BATES; BEEF; BLUE; BONES; BOOKS; BUTTONS; CHILDREN’S SHOES; CLEAN BREAST; CLEAN SWEEP; CLINK; CRIMSON; DUCKS-AND-DRAKES; FACE; FEATHER; FIGURE; FISH; FLASH; FOOL; FUN; FUR; GOOD; HAIR; HAND; HARE; HASH; HAY; HONEST WOMAN; KISS; LEG; LIP; LONG-ARM; LUCKY; MAN; MEAL; MEAT; MOUTH; NIGHT; PILE; PLAY; POINT; QUEEN ANNE’S FAN; RAISE; RUNNING; SCARCE; SHOW; SPLASH; SPLIT; STAND; THINGS; TRACKS; TURKEY-MERCHANT; TWO COME; VIRGINIA FENCE; WATER; WHACK; WHOLE CLOTH; WOMAN; etc. etc.

Makepeace, subs. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see TOKO.

1657. COLE, Adam in Eden. It [the birch] is useful for the punishment of children, both at home and at school, for it hath an admirable influence on them when they are out of order, and therefore some call it MAKEPEACE.

Maker, subs. (American).—A tailor; a PRICKLOUSE (q.v.). For synonyms see SNIP. Span. picapiojos.

1833. NEAL, Down Easters, v. 63. ‘Who’s your MAKER?’ ‘My MAKER!—Oh! I understand you, my tailor you mean?’ ‘Yes—who made your coat?’

Makeshift, subs. (old).—A thief. For synonyms see THIEVES.

1584. A Mirour for Magistrates of Cyties, fol. 33 (back). London is sore charged with these MAKESHIFTES.

Makesures, subs. (potmen’s).—Petty pilferings; FLUFF (q.v.); CABBAGE (q.v.). Fr. la gratte. [274]

Make-up, subs. (theatrical).—1. The arrangement of an actor’s face and dress. See TO MAKE UP, sense 1. MAKE-UP BOX = a box of materials—rouge, sponges, grease-paint, and the like—used in making-up.

1870. Figaro, 25 Nov. ‘A Dream of the Kow.’ An elderly gentleman—who is seventy if he is a day, but wishes to pass himself off for—let us be charitable and say—half his real age. Certainly, his MAKE-UP is wonderfully good.

1876. G. ELIOT, Daniel Deronda, iii. The sort of professional MAKE-UP which penetrates skin, tones, and gestures, and defies all drapery.

1879. DICKENS, Dict. of London, s.v. ‘Private Theatricals’. For wigs and MAKE-UP the amateur may depend upon Mr. Clarkson, of Wellington-street.

1882. Daily Telegraph, 22 Feb. ‘The success of the idea was prejudiced by the MAKE-UP, for though there was hideousness in the eyes, the lower part of the face of the new Caliban was anything but unprepossessing.’

1883. G. A. SALA, Echoes of the Year, 362. Her MAKE-UP was so terrifically weird and ghastly.

1889. Academy, 6 July, p. 14. Mr. Somerset, who makes up badly for the part of the father, unless it is, as it may be, very clever to suggest by MAKE-UP, a character wholly artificial etc.

1889. Globe, 11 Feb. The arrangement of paunch and limb and the MAKE-UP of the face are perfect.

1891. Sporting Life, 25 Mar. No more a type than those two comedians at the Opera Comique are—thanks to the MAKE-UP and the words they speak and warble.

2. (common).—A piece of deception; a BARNEY (q.v.); GAMMON (q.v.); HUMBUG (q.v.); a TAKE-IN (q.v.).

Make-weight, subs. (old).—1. A small candle.—GROSE (1785).

2. (old).—A short slender man.—GROSE (1785).

Makings, subs. (colloquial).—1. Material for anything.

1836. DICKENS, Pickwick, xxxvii. 324. He seemed to have the MAKINGS of a very nice fellow about him.

1858. Frazer’s Mag., Aug., 220. Men who have in them the MAKINGS of better preachers.

1876. G. ELIOT, D. Deronda, Bk. II. ch. xvi. ‘You’ve not the MAKINGS of a Porson in you, or a Leibnitz either.’

1885. World, 1 April, p. 18, col. 2. If I mistake not, he has the MAKINGS of a first-class steeplechaser about him.

2. (common).—(1) Profits; (2) earnings. Fr. le jus.

1892. Cassell’s Saturday Jl., 21 Sept., p. 13, col. 3. Of course my MAKINGS varied considerably, and to some extent depended on the success of my particular patrons at batting in the college matches.

Malady of France, subs. phr. (old).—Syphilis. For synonyms see LADIES’ FEVER.

1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry V, v. 1. 87. News have I that my Nell is dead i’ th’ spital Of MALADY OF FRANCE.

Malinger, verb. (old: now recognised).—To sham illness; to shirk duty.

1890. Century Dict., s.v. MALINGER … from F. malingrer, a slang word meaning ‘suffer’ … formerly applied to beggars who feigned to be sick or injured in order to excite compassion.

1895. Pall Mall Gaz., No. 9542, p. 1. ‘Administering Angels.’ The answer is comparatively simple: because the Shadow understands English politics, and thought to gain by MALINGERING.

Malingerer, subs. (old: now recognised).—A shirker under pretence of sickness.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. [275]

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MALINGEROR. A military term for one who, under pretence of sickness, evades his duty.

Malkin (Maukin or Mawkin), subs. (old).—1. Originally (JOHNSON) a kitchen-wench (MOLL for Mary + KIN). Hence, a dish-clout; a scarecrow; a wisp: and so, a slattern.

1579. GOSSON, Schoole of Abuse, p. 37 (ARBER). There are more houses then Parishe Churches, more maydes then MAULKIN, more wayes to the woode than one.

1596. NASHE, Have With You etc. [GROSART, iii. 169]. He makes a MAULKIN and a shoo-clout of her.

1606. DEKKER, Newes from Hell [GROSART, ii. 130]. Filthyer than a Baker’s MAWKIN that hee sweeps his ouen with.

1610. SHAKSPEARE, Coriol., ii. 1. The kitchen MALKIN pins Her richest lockram round her reechy neck.

1629. DAVENANT, Albovine, iv. ’Las poor MAULKIN! she’s caught.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MALKIN or MAUKIN, a Scare-crow, Drest and Set up to fright the birds.… Hence MALKIN-TRASH, for one in a rueful Dress, enough to fright one. There are more Maids than MALKINS. MAWKS, the same abbreviated. Mawkish, a Wallowish, ill Tast.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Bachelor, iii. 2. Thou MAUKIN, made up of the shreds and parings of his superfluous fopperies.

1728. SWIFT, Ballyspellin (Answer), [CHALMERS, English Poets, xi. 525]. Your MAWKINS there smocks hempen wear. Of holland not an ell in.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1847–50. TENNYSON, Princess, v. 25. Or a draggled MAWKIN, thou.

1872. Gardener’s Chronicle, 22 Nov. Our old friend of the hat and coat all stuffed with straw (in some districts called a MAWKIN) is in nine cases out of ten useless.

2. (Scots’).—A hare; also (old) a cat.

1787. BURNS, Tam Samson’s Elegy. Ye MAUKINS, cock your fuds fu’ braw.

3. (Scots’).—The female pudendum: i.e., PUSSIE (q.v.). Also ROUCH-MAWKIN.

1540. LYNDSAY, Thrie Estaitis, line 1924. And ye Ladies, that list to pisch, Lift up your taill plat in ane disch; And gif that your MAWKINE cryis quhisch, Stap in ane wusp of strae.

Malkin-trash, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MALKIN-TRASH. One in dismal garb.

Malmsey-nose, subs. (old).—See quot. Cf. GROG-BLOSSOM.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MALMSEY-NOSE. A red-pimpled snout, rich in carbuncles and rubies.

Malt, verb. (common).—To drink beer.

1828–45. T. HOOD, Poems, i. p. 148 (ed. 1846). She drank nothing lower than Curaçoa, Maraschino, or pink Noyau, And on principle never MALTED.

1835. MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, xxii. Well, for my part I MALT.

TO HAVE THE MALT ABOVE THE WHEAT (WATER, or MEAL), verb. phr. (Scots’ colloquial).—To be drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 63]. ‘Proverbial Periphrases of one Drunk’, The MALT IS ABOVE THE WATER.

1816. SCOTT, Old Mortality, iv. Aweel,—when the MALT BEGINS TO GET ABOON THE MEAL … then Jenny, they’re like to quarrel.

Maltooling, subs. (thieves’).—See quot. Cf. MOLLTOOLER.

1862. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab. & Lon. Poor, iv. 324. Which she does by shoplifting, and picking pockets in omnibuses, the latter being termed MALTOOLING.

Maltout, subs. (old).—See quot. [276]

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MALTOUT, a nickname … used by soldiers and sailors of other corps, probably a corruption of matelot … a sailor.

Malt-worm (-bug or -horse), subs. (old).—A tippler; a LUSHINGTON (q.v.).

1551. STILL, Gammer Gurton’s Needle [DODSLEY, Old Plays, ii. 21]. Then doth she trowle to me the bowle, Even as a MAULT-WORME shold.

1586. HARRISON, England, p. 202. It is incredible to say how our MALT-BUGS lug at this liquor.

1591. NASHE, Prognostication [GROSART, ii. 147]. If violent death take not away such consuming MAULT WORMS.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Comedy of Errors, iii. 1. 32. MALT-HORSE.… Coxcomb, idiot!

1593. Life & Death of Jack Straw [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), v. 403]. You shall purchase the prayers of all the alewives in town, for saving a MALT-WORM and a customer.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Hen. IV, ii. 1. None of these mad, mustachio, purple-hued MALT-WORMS.

1889. AUSTIN DOBSON, Poems on Several Occasions, II. 209. ‘The MALT-WORM’S Madrigal.’ [Title].

Mammet, subs. (old).—A puling girl.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo & Juliet, iii. 5. And then to have a wretched puling fool, A whining MAMMET, in her fortunes tender, To answer I’ll not wed—I cannot love.

1610. JONSON, Alchemist, v. 5. ’Slight! you are a MAMMET! O I could touse you now.

Mammy, subs. (colloquial).—1. Mother: an endearment.

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 180]. Cards, dice, kiss, clip, and so forth; All this our MAMMY would take in good worth.

d. 1796. BURNS, There Was a Lass. An’ aye she wrought her MAMMIE’S wark, An’ aye she sang sae merrilie.

2. (obsolete American).—A negro nurse; MAUMER.

Man, subs. (once literary: now vulgar).—1. A husband; a lover: generally ‘my MAN’.

c. 1369. CHAUCER, Troilus, iv. 447. I wol nat ben untrewe for no wight, But as hire MAN I wol ay lyve and sterve, And nevere noon other creature serve.

d. 1437. JAMES I (of Scotland), King’s Quhair, ii. 44. Quhen sall your merci rew upon your MAN, Quhois seruice is yet uncouth to yow?

d. 1719. ADDISON, The Ladies’ Association. In the next place, every wife ought to answer for her MAN.

1788. R. GALLOWAY, Poems, p. 124. ’Twas thus he left his royal plan, If Mar’gret cou’d but want a MAN; But this is more than Mar’gret can.

2. (common).—The ‘head’ or obverse of a coin used in tossing: cf. WOMAN.

1828. BEE, Living Picture of London, 241. The person calling for MAN or ‘woman’.

3. (old university).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MAN (Cambridge). Any undergraduate from fifteen to thirty. As, a MAN of Emanuel—a young member of Emanuel.

Verb. (venery).—To possess a woman. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

DEAD MAN, subs. phr. (old).—A supernumerary.

1659–60. PEPYS, Diary, 8 Mar. Philip Holland … told me to have five or six servants entered on board as DEAD MEN, and I to give them what wages I pleased, and so their pay to be mine.

MAN ALIVE! phr. (common).—A mode of salutation. Used in remonstrance or surprise.

MAN OF MANY MORNS, subs. phr. (Scots’).—A procrastinator. [277]

MAN OF THE WORLD, subs. phr. (old: now colloquial).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MAN OF THE WORLD. A knowing man.

MAN-FRIDAY, subs. (common).—A factotum. [From the character in Robinson Crusoe].

MAN-A-HANGING, subs. (old).—A man in difficulties.

THE MAN IN THE MOON, subs. phr. (political).—1. A mythical personage who finds money for electioneering, and for such electors as vote straight.

1866. Totness Election Petition, ‘Evidence of Mr. Rob. Harris.’ I have had to deal with unknown gentlemen at Totnes before. A MAN IN THE MOON is the natural consequence of a Totnes election.

1881. Contemporary Review, xxxix. 869. My labourers were paid in a public-house in the town by a man from behind a screen, who was invisible; after the fashion of the MAN IN THE MOON, who pays bribes at elections.

1884. Graphic, 9 August, p. 123, col. 1. What would Mr. Schnadhorst and the Six Hundred say if they were deprived of their favourite occupation because a few weak-kneed fellow-townsmen had been caught pocketing the guineas of some MAN IN THE MOON.

1889. Daily Telegraph, 25 Nov. Formerly bribery and corruption were personal. On or before the election day a mysterious stranger descended on the town, and took up his abode in a retired chamber of a private inn. The word was sent round, and there repaired to his presence quietly, and one by one, those undecided electors who were reported to have an itching palm. In many boroughs this stranger was called The MAN IN THE MOON, perhaps on account of the ‘silver lining’ to the voters’ pockets which resulted from his hidden rays.

2. (old).—A dolt. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1621–3. ARCHBP. LAUD, Sermons, p. 17 (ed. 1847). ‘And all the Kings of the gentiles shall do homage to their King.’ Good God, what a fine people have we here? MEN IN THE MOON.

IF MY AUNT HAD BEEN MY UNCLE SHE’D HAVE BEEN A MAN (or HAD A PAIR OF BALLS UNDER HER ARSE), phr. (old).—Said in derision of a ridiculous surmise:—‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride;’ ‘If pigs had wings, what lovely birds they’d make!’

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 167], s.v.

HE’LL BE A MAN BEFORE HIS MOTHER. See MOTHER.

TO GO OUT AND SEE A MAN, verb. phr. (common).—To drink: an excuse for a glass.

THE MAN IN THE STREET, phr. (common).—Everybody.

1868. WHYTE MELVILLE, White Rose, ch. xlvii. The moment the door closed, Burton’s face assumed an expression of deep and friendly concern. ‘Jerry,’ said he, ‘I didn’t come here at early dawn only to tell you what the MAN IN THE STREET says.’

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Nov., p. 1, col. 3. The Swaziland question, which has been smouldering in Government offices and between the covers of Blue-books for the last twelve years, has reached the flaming point when THE MAN IN THE STREET begins to turn round and look and wonder what is the matter in Swaziland.

1892. National Observer, 20 Aug., p. 355, c. 1. He tells you little or nothing that is not familiar to THE MAN IN THE STREET.

TO GET BEHIND A MAN, verb. phr. (common).—To endorse a bill.

THE FRUIT THAT MADE MAN WISE, phr. (old).—Copulation.

1605. MARSTON, Insatiate Countess, iii. I’ll lead the way to Venus’s paradise, Where thou shalt taste that FRUIT THAT MADE MAN WISE. [278]

OLD MAN, subs. phr. (common).—An employer; a chief; the GOVERNOR (q.v.); the father of a family. Also, a husband.

1847. HOWITT, Journal, p. 187. To begin with the captain. He was a first-rate OLD MAN as far as good treatment and good living went.

THE SICK MAN, subs. phr. (literary).—Turkey.

MAN ABOUT TOWN, subs. phr. (colloquial).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAN O’ TH’ TOWN, a Lew’d Spark, or very Debaushe.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

MAN OF KENT, subs. phr. (common).—See quot. 1787.

1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary etc. (1811), p. 72. All the inhabitants of Kent, east of the river Medway, are called MEN OF KENT, from the story of their having retained their ancient privileges, particularly those of gavel-kind, by meeting William the Conqueror at Swanscomb-bottom; each man, besides his arms, carrying a green bough in his hand; by this contrivance concealing their number under the appearance of a moving wood. The rest of the inhabitants of the county are stiled Kentish-men.

1861. CUTHBERT BEDE, Our New Rector, ch. x. p. 104. ‘And the MEN OF KENT, you know, were never conquered!—ar’n’t we just proud of that!’

A MAN OR A MOUSE, phr. (old).—Something or nothing (FLORIO); one or the other.

1541. Schole House of Women [HAZLITT, Early Pop. Poetry (1866), iv. 111]. Fear not, she saith unto her spouse, A MAN OR A MOUSE whether ye be.

NINE TAILORS MAKE A MAN. See NINTH.

THE LITTLE MAN IN THE BOAT, subs. phr. (venery).—The clitoris. See BUTTON.

Manablins, subs. (old).—Broken victuals. Fr. arlequin, and le bijou. Also MANAVILINS.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxii. No end of MANAVILINS either.

Manarvel, verb. (nautical).—To pilfer small stores.

Man-box, subs. (old).—A coffin.

1820. REYNOLDS (‘Peter Corcoran’), The Fancy, ‘King Tims the First.’ Mr. Munster Hatband, when shall I have a long MAN-BOX bespoke?

Manchester, subs. (common).—The tongue. For synonyms see PRATING-CHEAT.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.

1820. London Magazine, i. 26. Bidding her hold her MANCHESTER.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

Manchester-silk, subs. (common).—Cotton.

Manchester sovereign, subs. phr. (common).—A shilling. For synonyms see BOB.

Manchet. See BREWER’S-BASKET.

Man-chovey. See CHOVEY.

Mander, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1877. J. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple, ch. xvi. A couple of MANDERS (the slang phrase amongst this callow brood of young gaol-birds for ‘remands’).

Mandozy, subs. (old).—1. A telling hit; and (2) term of endearment among East-end Jews. [Both from the fighter, Mendoza].

Mang, verb. (Scots’).—To talk; to brag; to boast.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. [279]

1821. D. HAGGART, Life, ‘Glossary’, p. 172. MANG, to boast; to talk of.

Manger. See DOG.

Mangle, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Manhandle, verb. (common).—To maltreat; to handle roughly; to thrash. For synonyms see TAN.

1886. Century, xxxi. 905. In two minutes they were so mauled and MANHANDLED that it was reported aft.

Manhole, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Man-in-black, subs. phr. (old).—A parson. For synonyms see DEVIL-DODGER and SKY-PILOT.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, May, p. 5. The MAN IN BLACK makes … one of two in less than half an hour.

Man-in-blue, subs. phr. (old).—A policeman. For synonyms see BEAK.

Manners. AFTER YOU IS MANNERS, phr. (old).—A jocular implication of inferiority.

1659. BROME, Queen & Concubine [1873], p. 61. Cur. Wilt thou be a scholar? Andr. AFTER YOU IS MANNERS.

Mannish, adj. (old).—Amorous.

1383. CHAUCER, Merchant’s Tale, i. 292. A childstere or wastour of thy good, Or riche or poore, or elles MANNYSH wood.

Manoeuvre. See APOSTLE.

Man-of-straw. See STRAW.

Man (or lad) of wax, subs. phr. (old).—A sharp, clever fellow; a model man.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo & Juliet, i. 3. Why, he’s a MAN OF WAX.… Nay, he’s a flower, i’ faith, a very flower.

1612. FIELD, Woman is a Weathercock [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), XI. 19]. By Jove! it is a little MAN OF WAX.

1823. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii. 3. A glass of good max, had they twigg’d it, Would have made them, like us, LADS OF WAX.

Man-root, subs. (venery).—The penis [WHITMAN]. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Man’s meat. See MEAT.

Man-Thomas, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Man-trap, subs. (common).—1. A widow; HOUSE TO LET (q.v.).

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, iii. Y. M. There’s Mrs. MAN-TRAP.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (old).—A lump of excrement; a QUAKER (q.v.).

3. (venery).—See quot. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MANTRAP. A woman’s commodity.

Manual-compliment (or subscription), subs. (colloquial).—A blow; a SIGN-MANUAL (q.v.).

1750. FIELDING, Tom Jones, XVI. 2. These he accompanied with some MANUAL REMONSTRANCES, which no sooner reached the ears of Mr. Western than that worthy squire began to caper very briskly about the room.

Manufacture, subs. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MANUFACTURE. Liquors prepared from materials of English growth. [280]

Map, subs. (printers’).—A dirty proof.

Marble (or Marvel), verb. (American).—To move off; TO ABSQUATULATE (q.v.).

Marble-arch, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Marbles, subs. (common).—1. Furniture; moveables. MONEY AND MARBLES = cash and effects. [From Fr. meubles]. Hence, any substantial quid pro quo.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Belongings; household gods; lares and penates; moveables; sticks; sprats; slows; traps.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Le bahut (popular = large dresser); le bazar (prostitutes’); du fourbi (popular).

1867. A. TROLLOPE, Claverings, ch. xxx. And you may be sure of this, she won’t get any money from me, unless I get the MARBLES for it.

2. (old).—Syphilis; FRENCH GOUT (q.v.).

1592. R. GREENE, Theeves Falling Out [Harl. Misc., viii. 392]. Look into the spittle and hospitalls, there you shall see men diseased of the French MARBLES, giving instruction to others.

1592. GREENE, Quip for Upstart Courtier [Harl. Misc., vi. 406]. Neither do I frequent whore-houses to catch the MARBLES, and so grow your patient.

3. (venery).—The testes. For synonyms see CODS.

March. See DIRTY-SHIRT MARCH.

Marching-regiment, subs. (military).—An infantry regiment of the line: in disparagement.

Marchioness, subs. (common).—A slatternly maid-of-all-work; a SLAVEY (q.v.). [From the character in The Old Curiosity Shop, by C. DICKENS].

1883. G. A. SALA, in Ill. L. News, 24 Nov., p. 499, col. 1. I light upon the London papers, containing alarming statements about a little bit of a maid-of-all-work.… This MARCHIONESS down in Shrewsbury Vale has, it would appear, been the object of the most astounding ‘manifestations.’

1885. J. S. WINTER, Bootles’ Baby, ch. ii. p. 36. To develop into the unnaturally widened and unkempt hand of a MARCHIONESS.

Mare, subs. (common).—A woman; a wife. THE GREY MARE IS THE BETTER HORSE = the wife rules the husband.

TO WIN THE MARE OR LOSE THE HALTER, verb. phr. (old).—To play double or quits.

MONEY MAKES THE MARE GO, phr. (common).—Money does anything you will.

1605. BRETON, An Old Man’s Lesson [GROSART, ii. l, 7, 2, line 32]. Money is a matter of more moment than you make account of; why MONEY MAKES the medicine for the sick, pleads the client’s cause, maintains the merchant’s trade, makes the soldier fight, and the craftsman work, and the traveller tread lightly, and THE OLD MARE TROT, and the young tit amble.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 232. ‘The Power of Money.’ Furr’d Aldermen too, and Mayors also; This makes the old wife trot, and MAKES THE MARE TO GO.

1728. BAILEY, Eng. Dict., s.v. MONEY.

1857. KINGSLEY, Two Year’s Ago, Introd. I’m MAKING THE MARE GO here in Whitford, without the money too, sometimes.

1886. GREGO, Parl. Elections, 9. The proverb still remains, a relic of the days in which it had its origin, ‘MONEY MAKES THE MAYOR TO GO.’

SHANKS’S MARE. See SHANKS. [281]

TO GO BEFORE THE MARE TO MARKET, verb. phr. (old).—To do preposterous things.—RAY (1767).

Mare’s-nest, subs. (common).—A supposed discovery; a hoax; a delusion. Also TO FIND A MARE’S NEST AND LAUGH AT THE EGGS.

1647. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, BONDUCA, v. 2. Why dost thou laugh? What MARE’S NEST hast thou found?

1764. O’HARE, Midas, i. 3. Heyday! What MARE’S NEST’S found?

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 56], s.v.

1785 and 1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (1st and 3rd eds.), s.v. MARE’S NEST. He has found a MARE’S NEST, and is laughing at the eggs; said of one who laughs without any apparent cause.

1859. LEVER, Davenport Dunn, i. 206. He’s always MARE’S NESTING.

1861. Cornhill Magazine, iv. 105. ‘A Cumberland MARE’S NEST.’ In short you Lorton wiseacres, on coming to examine it, Have found a regular MARE’S NEST, and ’stead of eggs, a lamb in it.

1864. The Spectator, p. 355. It would not do for Englishmen to be ticketted as Englishmen all over the Continent, for they are recognised easily enough by that dialect of French which Mr. Kinglake once called Continental English—he has exchanged mots since then for MARE’S NESTS.

1870. LOWELL, Among my Books, 1st Ser., p. 292. It [the average German mind] finds its keenest pleasure in divining a profound significance in the most trifling things, and the number of MARE’S NESTS that have been stared into … passes calculation.

1873. Notes and Queries, 4 S. XII. 136. Each, in his endeavour to correct me, actually justifies my doubt, and their united criticisms prove that the stumbling-block which I have found, be it what it may, is not a MARE’S NEST.

1883. JAMES PAYN, Thicker than Water, ch. xlvii. ‘Dr. Bilde and the rest discovered something wrong and hoped for the worst, whereas they’ve only found a MARE’S NEST,’

THE MARE WITH THREE LEGS, subs. phr. (old).—The gallows; THE TRIPLE TREE (q.v.).

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, ‘The game of High toby.’ For the MARE WITH THREE LEGS, boys, I care not a rap.

Mare’s-tails, subs. (nautical).—Feather-like clouds indicative of wind.

Margery-prater, subs. (Old Cant).—See quot.; a CACKLING CHEAT (q.v.).

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (Repr. 1814), p. 65. A MARGERI PRATER, a hen.

1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight, in Wks. (GROSART), III. 201. MARGERY PRATER, a Henne.

1652. R. BROME, A Jovial Crew. Here’s grunter and bleater, with tib-of-the-buttry, And MARGERY PRATER all dress’d without slutt’ry.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. 1. ch. v. p. 50 (1874), s.v.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1712. T. SHIRLEY, Triumph of Wit, ‘The Maunder’s Praise of His Strowling Mort.’ When the Lightman up does call, MARGERY PRATER from her nest.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Maria. See BLACK MARIA.

Marigold (or Marygold), subs. (common).—1. One million sterling.

2. (old).—A gold coin. [From the color].

1663. COWLEY, Cutter of Coleman St. I’l write it an’you will, in shorthand, to dispatch immediately, and presently go put five hundred MARIGOLDS in a purse for you.

Marinated, adj. (obsolete).—Transported over sea.—GROSE (1785). [282]

Marine (or Dead marine), subs. (common).—1. See quot. 1864; a CAMP-CANDLESTICK (q.v.). Also (GROSE) MARINE OFFICER.

1864. MARK LEMON, Jest Book, p. 161. William IV seemed in a momentary dilemma one day, when, at table with several officers, he ordered one of the waiters to ‘take away that MARINE there,’ pointing to an empty bottle. ‘Your majesty!’ inquired a colonel of marines, ‘do you compare an empty bottle to a member of our branch of the service?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the monarch, as if a sudden thought had struck him; ‘I mean to say it has done its duty once, and is ready to do it again.’

1865. G. F. BERKELEY, My Life etc., II. 302. It was just as he said; our host did wake, but seeing a bottle with wine in it, closed his eyes, and Loraine soon made another MARINE.

2. (nautical).—See quot.

1840. R. H. DANA, Two Years before the Mast, ch. xvii. MARINE is the term applied more particularly to a man who is ignorant and clumsy about seaman’s work—a green-horn—a land-lubber.

TELL THAT TO THE MARINES. See HORSE MARINES, and add following quots.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, ‘Old Booty,’ A Sailors Tale, p. 31. ‘So luff there with your death-bed scenes And TELL THAT tale TO THE MARINES; Those lubbers may perhaps receive it, But sailors never will believe it.’

1836. M. SCOTT, Cringle’s Log, ch. vii. I told them who I was, and that curiosity alone brought me there. ‘Gammon, TELL THAT TO THE MARINES; you’re a spy.’

1846. Punch, v. p. 3. A New National Drama. Admiral. But I’ve bad news for you, my boy. The Admiralty has forbidden smoking on board … except in the galley. Tom. TELL THAT TO THE MARINES. What! your Honour, forbid a sailor his pipe!

Mark, subs. (colloquial).—1. A preference; a fancy.

1760. FOOTE, Minor, ii. Did I not tell you old Moll was your MARK? Here she has brought a pretty piece of man’s meat already.

1887. HENLEY, Culture In The Slums. My MARK’S a tidy little feed, And ’Enery Irving’s gallery.

1883. MISS BRADDON, Golden Calf, ch. xxv. Vernon was what Rogers the butler called a MARK on strawberries and cream.

2. (thieves’).—A person; a PIG (q.v.); a RAW (q.v.). OLD MARK = a lady.

3. (common).—See quot.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. MARK—(ring). The pit of the stomach is termed THE MARK, and ‘Broughton’s MARK.’ It was Bill Warr’s favourite hit; also, had been Dick Humphries’s.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

4. See MARK OF THE BEAST.

5. (thieves’).—A victim.

1885. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 July. The girl, a likely MARK, was a simple country lass.

6. (American).—A street-walker.

Verb. (thieves’).—To watch; to pick out a victim. See MARKING, sense 2.

TO TOE THE MARK. See TOE.

THE MARK OF THE BEAST, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. Also MARK. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., iv. 116. Now all my Friends are laid in grave, And nothing they have left me But a MARK a Year my mother gave, By which for to protect me. Yet I live.… As brave as any Lady, And all is with a MARK a year, The which my mother gave me.

TO MARK UP, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To know all about (cf. verb.) persons. [283]

MARK OF MOUTH, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The tale told by the teeth. (Originally horse-copers’). Cf. the proverb:—‘You mustn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.’

1857. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingstone, VIII. From a distant corner two ancient virgins, long past MARK OF MOUTH.

Marker, subs. (Cambridge University).—A person employed to walk up and down chapel during a part of the service, pricking off the names of the students present.

1849. Blackwood’s Mag., May. His name, pricked off upon the MARKER’S roll, No twinge of conscience racks his easy soul.

Market, subs. (racing).—The betting ring.

TO DRIVE PIGS TO MARKET. See PIGS.

Market-dame, subs. (old).—A strumpet. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1705–7. E. WARD, Hudibras Rediv., II. ii. (1715), 25. Punks, Strolers, MARKET DAMES, and Bunters.

Marketeer, subs. (racing).—A betting man who devotes himself, by means of special information, to the study of favourites and their diseases: the principal agent in all MILKING (q.v.) and KNOCKING-OUT (q.v.) transactions.

1847. ROBB, Squatter Life, 116. The MARKETEER started a few rods with him.

Market-fever. See PENCIL-FEVER.

Market-horse, subs. (racing).—A horse kept on the lists for the sake of the betting.

Market-place, subs. (provincial).—The front teeth.

Marking, subs. (thieves’).—1. A watcher; a STALL (q.v.).—MATSELL.

2. (thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MARKING. Observing; taking notice.

Marley-slopper, subs. (street).—See quot.

1887. Walford’s Antiquarian, 252. A MARLEY-SLOPPER is a splay-footed person. MARLEY is a corruption of marble.… In playing it is common for a boy to put his heels together, and turn out his toes … to stop an eccentric marble.

Marmalade. TRUE MARMALADE, subs. phr. (common).—A variant of ‘real JAM’ (q.v.).

Marmozet, subs. (old).—An endearment; also in jocular contempt, as MONKEY (q.v.).

1607. Puritan, i. 3. Why, do’t now then, MARMOZET.

Marm-puss, subs. phr. (tailors’).—A wife.

Maroon, verb. (nautical).—See quot. Hence, MAROON, subs. = a man MAROONED.

1862. MAYNE REID, The Maroon [Title].

1892. Leisure Hour, Jan., p. 172. Stealing was punished with great severity, generally by MAROONING—i.e. abandonment on a desert isle, with a little powder and shot and a flask of water.

Marplot, subs. (old; now recognised).—An officious bungler; a SPOIL-SPORT (q.v.). [From a character in The Busybody; see quot. 1709]. [284]

1709. CENTLIVRE, Busybody, iii. 5. That unlucky dog MARPLOT … is ever doing mischief, and yet (to give him his due) he never designs it. This is some blundering adventure, wherein he thought to show his friendship, as he calls it.

1764. A. MURPHY, No One’s Enemy but his Own, i. You are the very sieve of your own intentions; the MARPLOT of your own designs.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1844. THACKERAY, Barry Lyndon, ch. ii. p. 32. ‘You great blundering MARPLOT—you silly beggarly brat … hold your tongue!’

1848. EMERSON, Spiritual Laws, ‘Essays,’ 1 S. p. 125. If we will not be MARPLOTS with our miserable interferences, the work … would go on far better than now.

Marquis of Granby, subs. (common).—A bald-head; a BLADDER OF LARD.

Marquis of Marrowbones. See MARROWBONE.

Marriage-music, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MARRIAGE-MUSIC, Children’s Cries.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Married, adj. (old).—Chained or handcuffed together.—GROSE (1785).

MARRIED ON THE CARPET AND THE BANNS UP THE CHIMNEY, phr. (common).—Living as man and wife; TALLY (q.v.).

Married man’s cotillion, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Marrow, subs. (old).—1. A partner; an equal. Specifically (Old Scots’) a lover or spouse. Amongst colliers = MATE (q.v.).

1513. GAVIN DOUGLAS, Virgil, 183, 3. The tyme complete was for thare jornay grant: Bot sone him warnis Sibylla the sant, His trew MARROW, gan schortly to him say.

1538. LYNDSAY, Complaynt to the King [LAING i. 54, 307]. For every lord, as he thocht best, Brocht in ane bird to fyll the nest; To be ane wacheman to his MARROW.

1578. WHETSTONE, I Prom. & Cassand, ii. 4. Birds of a fether, best flye together; Then like partners about your market goe; MARROWES adew: God send you fayre wether.

1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 57, st. 40, p. 134 (E. D. S.). Yet chopping and changing I cannot commend, With theefe and his MARROW, for feare of ill end.

1621. BEN JONSON, Metam. Gipsies. Oh, my dear MARROWS! No shooting of arrows Or shafts of your wit, Each other to hit.

1630. DRAYTON, Muses’ Elys. Nym., ii. 1459. Cleon, your doves are very dainty, Tame pigeons else are very plenty. These may win some of your MARROWS, I am not caught with doves and sparrows.

1677. COLES, Eng.-Lat. Dict. The gloves are not MARROWS; chirotheæ non sunt pares.

1728. LINDSAY of Pitscottie, Hist. of Scotland, p. 78. This Cochran was so proud in his conceit, that he counted no Lords to be MARROWS to him.

1778. GROSE, Prov. Glossary, s.v. MARROW, a fellow, or companion. Exm. This pair of gloves or shoes are not MARROWS, i.e. are not fellows. N.

1818. SCOTT, Rob. Roy, xxxv. He saw that he wasna to get Die Vernon for his MARROW.

1822. NARES, Glossary, s.v. MARROW. The word is often used for things of the same kind, and (sic) of which there are two; as of shoes, gloves, stockings: also eyes, hands, feet, &c. Either from the French camerade, Angl. camrad (i.e., comrade), socius, sodalis, by an aphæresis; or from the French mari, Latin maritus in which sense the word is also taken. Thus Scot, a husband or wife is called half MARROW, and such birds as keep chaste to one another are called MARROWS.

1852. Lloyd’s Paper, 31 Oct. ‘Northumberland’. Afraid to face the angry [285]frowns of their grieving MARROWS, they determined, like desperate men, to stay where they were. Great was the consternation and mourning at Hylton, and, bent on knowing the worst, the forsaken wives set forth on a voyage in search of the lost husbands.

2. (venery).—The semen. For synonyms see SPENDINGS, and cf. MARROWBONE, subs. sense 2.

1598. All’s Well etc., ii. 3, 298. Spending his manly MARROW in her arms.

Marrowbone, subs. (old).—1. In pl. = the knees. Ital. devoti = worshippers.

a. 1553. N. UDALL, Roister Doister, I. iv. p. 29 (ARBER). Couche on your MARRYBONES whooresons, down to the ground.

1567. THOS. DRANT, Horace his Epistles, fo E iiij. Ep. 12. ‘To Iccius’ Phraates tooke his mace Kneeling upon his MARRIBONES, to Cesar’s aufull grace.

1594. NASHE, Unf. Traveller [GROSART, v. 23]. My welbeloued Baron of double beere got him humbly on his MARYBONES to the King.

1603. DEKKER, Wonderful Yeare [GROSART, i. 141]. At these speeches my tender-hearted hoste, fell downe on his MARIBONES, meaning indeede to entreate his audience to bee good to him.

1665. Homer à la Mode [NARES]. Some more devout clownes, partly guessing When he’s almost come to the blessing, Prepare their staves, and rise at once, Say’ng Amen, off their MARY-BONES.

1667. DRYDEN, Sir Martin Markall, ii. Down on your MARROW-BONES, and confess the truth.

1672. C. COTTON, Scarronides, Bk. i. p. 36 (ed. 1725). Upon a Stool set for the nonce, She went to rest her MARROW-BONES.

1700. DRYDEN, Wife of Bath Her Tale, l. 192. On her majestic MARY-BONES she kneeled.

1714. Spectator, 5 Nov. The mob drank the kings health on their MARROW-BONES.

1721. N. AMHERST, Terræ Filius, p. 33. The [Oxford] scholars, in most of their disputes and quarrels with the townsmen or aliens, usually came off the best at last, and brought their adversaries down upon their MARROWBONES to them.

1760. GEORGE COLMAN, Polly Honeycombe, i. 3. I’ll carry her off to-day, if possible, clap up a marriage at once, and then down upon our MARROW-BONES, and ask pardon and blessing of papa and mama.

1777. ISAAC JACKMAN, All the World’s a Stage, i. 2. When I come down, you are all to fall upon your MARROW-BONES.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1840. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (Merchant of Venice). So down on your MARROWBONES, Jew, and ask mercy! Defendant and Plaintiff are now wisy wersy.

1869. THACKERAY, The White Squall. And they call in their emergence Upon countless saints and virgins; And their MARROWBONES are bended And they think the world is ended.

2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK. Also MARROWBONE-AND-CLEAVER.

MARQUESS OF MARROWBONES, subs. phr. (old).—A lackey.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART, ii. 33]. Poor scullians, that, from turning spit in the chimney corner, are on the sodaine hoisted vp from the Kitchin into the waiting chamber, or made Barons of the beanes, and MARQUESSES OF THE MARY-BOANES.

Marrowbones and cleavers, subs. phr. (common).—Butcher’s music to new-married couples: formerly there was a regular peal in every parish.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1789. G. PARKER, Life’s Painter, ‘The Happy Pair.’ Ye butchers bring your CLEAVERS too, Likewise your MARROW-BONES.

1844. J. B. BUCKSTONE, The Maid with the Milking Pail. Of course; all in honour, church, parson, MARROW-BONES AND CLEAVERS, and all that! Now, as I’m a man o’ my word, I ask your hand in mattermony. [286]

Marrowbone- (or Marylebone) stage (or coach). TO RIDE IN (or GO BY) THE MARROWBONE-STAGE, verb. phr. (common).—To go on foot. See BAYARD OF TEN TOES and SHANKS’S MARE.

Marrow-pudding, subs. (venery).—The penis. Hence, A BELLY-FULL OF MARROW-PUDDING = the condition of pregnancy.

Marrowskying, subs. (general).—At the London University they had a way of disguising English (described by Albert Smith, in Mr. Ledbury, 1848, as the ‘Gower-street dialect’), which consisted in transposing the initials of words: as ‘poke a smipe’ = smoke a pipe; ‘flutter-by’ = butterfly; ‘stint of pout’ = pint of stout; etc. This is often termed MARROWSKYING. See MEDICAL (or HOSPITAL) GREEK.

1883. SALA, Living London, p. 491. On the whole, the Kaukneigh Awlminek seems to consist in pretty equal proportions of the vocabulary of Tim Bobbin, Josh Billings, Joe Scoap, the ‘Fonetik Nuz’, and the MARROWSKY language.

Marshall, subs. (obsolete).—A five pound Bank of England note: cf. ABRAHAM NEWLAND.

c. 1870. Newspaper Cutting. To the Yankee I’m partial, and those who see far shall, Impounding each MARSHALL, so smooth and so crisp.

Martext, subs. (common).—A clergyman: specifically a blundering or ignorant preacher. For synonyms see SKY-PILOT.

1600. SHAKSPEARE, As You Like It, iii. 3, 43. I have been with Sir Oliver MARTEXT, the vicar of the next parish. Idem v. 1. 5. A most vile MARTEXT.

1663. KILLIGREW, Parson’s Wedding [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), XIV. 385]. Adieu, heir-apparent to Sir Oliver MARTEXT.

Martin, subs. (old).—1. See quot.

1612. ROWLANDS, Hist. of Rogues [Century]. I have heard and partly know a highway lawyer rob a man in the morning, and hath dined with the MARTIN or honest man so robbed the same day.

2. (tramps’).—A boot.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 55. A pair of turtles on his MARTINS finished him.

3. See ST. MARTIN.

Martin-drunk, adj. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1592. NASHE, Pierce Penilesse [GROSART, ii. 82]. The sixt is MARTIN DRUNKE, when a man is drunk, and drinkes himselfe sober ere he stirre.

Martinet, subs. (old: now recognised).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. A military term for a strict disciplinarian: from the name of a French general, famous for restoring military discipline to the French army. He first disciplined the French infantry, and regulated their method of encampment; he was killed at the siege of Doesbourg in the year 1672.

Martingale, subs. (gaming).—Doubling a stake at every loss. [From the fact that, as in all fair games, a player must win once, there is a safe hold of fortune. The difficulty is to command a big enough bank, or, having the bank, to find some one to follow in a fair game].

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. MARTINGALE—at play, to double stakes constantly, until luck taking one turn only, repays the adventurer all.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, XXVIII. You have not played as yet? Do not do so; above all, avoid a MARTINGALE if you do. [287]

1874. MORTIMER COLLINS, Frances, ix. ‘This is my cousin, Dick Wyldote. You ought to know him. He’s got an infallible MARTINGALE—breaks the bank everywhere.’

1887. Science, x. 44. The fallacy of those who devise sure methods of defeating the bank (MARTINGALES as they are termed), etc.

Martin’s-hammer. MARTIN’S-HAMMER KNOCKING AT THE WICKET, subs. phr. (old).—Twins.

Marvel, verb. (American).—To walk; TO BE OFF: e.g. ‘He MARVELLED for home.’ Also MARBLE (q.v.).

Mary! intj. (printers’).—No score or love in JEFF-ING (q.v.) with quads.

TO TIE WITH ST. MARY’S KNOT, verb. phr. (Scots’).—To hamstring.

1784. Poetical Museum, ‘Dick o’ the Cow,’ p. 27. Then Dickie into the stable is gane,—Where there stood thirty horses and three; He has TIED THEM A’ WI’ ST. MARY’S KNOT, A’ these horses but barely three.

Mary-Ann, subs. (obsolete).—1. The dea ex machinâ evolved from trades-unionism at Sheffield, to the utter destruction of recalcitrant grinders. Cf. MOLLY MAGUIRES.

2. (dressmakers’).—A dress stand.

3. (common).—A sodomite. For synonyms see USHER. Sp. manflorito.

1895. Reynolds’s Newsp., 2 June, p. 1, col. 4. I remember when residing in Oxford having pointed out to me in ‘the High’ more than one professional catamite; just as waiting for a ’bus at Piccadilly-circus a few years later I heard prostitutes jocosely apostrophizing the MARY-ANNS who plied their beastly trade upon the pavement beside the women.

Marygold. See MARIGOLD.

Mary-Jane, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Maryland-end, subs. (American).—The hock of a ham: cf. VIRGINIA-END.—BARTLETT.

Marylebone Stage. See MARROWBONE-STAGE.

Mary-Walkers, subs. phr. (American).—Trousers. For synonyms see KICKS. [After Dr. Mary Walker, who adopted Turkish trousers].

Mascot, subs. (common).—A luck-piece, or talisman; somebody, or something, which ensures good fortune to the owner. Fr. la mascotte. [If the luck-piece be alive, the master-quality disappears with the loss of his (or her) virginity].

1886. Popular Science Monthly, xxx. 121. It is even fashionable to talk about MASCOTS—a MASCOT being an object, animate or inanimate, that contributes to the good fortune of its possessor.

1888. Lippincott, Jan., p. 137. What is the origin of the term MASCOT?

Mash, subs. (common).—1. A sweetheart. Also MASHER.

1883. Illustrated London News, 9 June, p. 563, col. 3. He appears to be the MASH (if it is permissible to quote the cant phrase of the day) at one and the same time of Queen Anne, the Duchess of Marlborough, and his own legitimate sweetheart.

1889. The Mirror, 26 Aug., p. 6, col. 2. For whom, dear Mabel, do you dye your wig-hair, And paint and powder?—Who is this new MASH?

2. (common).—ON THE MASH, see MASHER. [288]

1888. Daily Telegraph, 15 Nov. An impecunious fellow who was always ON THE MASH.

1892. Idler, June, p. 550. I loves to see ’im cuttin’ of a dash, A walkin’ down our alley ON THE MASH.

Verb. (common).—To court; to ogle; to lay oneself out for the practical approval of the other sex.

1883. Referee, 30 Sept., p. 2, col. 4. And looks so handsome that were he not so wicked he would be likely to MASH all the ladies who see him.

1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 9 Jan. But only fancy what a fellow with my taste for seeing life and MASHING the girls must have suffered!

1892. Illustrated Bits, 22 Oct., p. 4, col. 2. Successfully MASH a girl by reciting poetry to her.

Mashed, adj. (common).—Amorous; SPOONY (q.v.).

1883. Graphic, 17 March, p. 287, col. 3. There is always a certain amount of flirtation carried on at the half-crown ball.… There are nooks and passages which give sufficient cover for the smitten (or the MASHED, as, alas! the current slang is) to exchange their confidences, as they flatter themselves unobserved.

MASHED-ON, adj. phr. (common).—In love.

1886. Philadelphia Times, 19 Febr. He was MASHED ON fair Finette.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 66. Bell Bonsor is MASHED ON me.

Masher, subs. (common).—1. See quots. 1883, and—especially—1890. A species of Don Juan in a small way of business: specifically among choristers and actresses. Hence (2) a dandy.

1883. T. A. GARTHAM, in Pall Mall Gaz., 11 Oct. The participle MASHED was in use, in America, before the substantive. A person who was very ‘spooney’ on another was said to be MASHED. Then came the verb TO MASH, and latterly the noun MASHER; i.e. he who produces the effect, or at least who imagines himself a ‘lady-killer.’ Need I say that men of this calibre are often fops or dandies? Hence, the word MASHER as now understood here.

1883. Athenæum, 10 Feb., p. 181, col. 1. One poem, indeed, called ‘A Cry from the Stalls,’ presents our poet in the strange guise of the laureate of the MASHERS—we apologize humbly for employing a detestable phrase with which America has enriched (?) our vocabulary significatory of the worshippers of actresses.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 10 Oct. The talk around them will fairly match in mental vigour the ejaculations of the gaming table or the race-course, or the prattle of the MASHER between the acts.

1884. A. LANG, Much Darker Days, p. 24. That mass, once a white hat, had adorned the brows of that MASHER!

1885. Sporting Times, 23 May, ‘The Chorister’s Promise.’ She sat disconsolate, musing, sad, … For times were deucedly awful bad, As MASHERS were close with what chips they had (And alas for the chips she owed!).

1890. Standard, 11 Febr., p. 3, col. 1. There were specimens of tramps and beggars, of fortune-tellers and hawkers, of village musicians and MASHERS, called in Vienna ‘Gigerls,’ which every good painter or sculptor would be delighted to have as models—better specimens of the picturesque, in fact, than can be found in Rome or Naples.

1890. Slang, Jargon, & Cant, s.v. MASH. About the year 1860 MASH was a word found only in theatrical parlance in the United States. When an actress smiled at … a friend in the audience she was said to MASH him.… It occurred to the writer [C. G. LELAND] that it must have been derived from the gypsy mash (masher-ava) to allure, to entice.… Mr. Paluez a well-known impresario said … he could confirm [the suggestion] for the term had originated with the C— family, who were all actors and actresses, of Romany stock, who spoke gypsy familiarly among themselves.

1895. Sporting Times, 23 Nov. ‘Nothing to Do.’ There’s the MASHER, the great unemployed of the day.

Adj. (common).—Smart.

1890. Globe, 7 Feb., p. 1, col. 4. What are umbrellas or MASHER canes to [289]students immersed in Mill or Emerson, or the latest shilling dreadful?

Masherdom, subs. (common).—The world of MASHERS (q.v.).

1883. Referee, 6 May, p. 7, col. 3. In the smoking-rooms of the best club, in the haunts of MASHERDOM.

Mash-tub, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A brewer. Hence (Fleet St.) The Morning MASH-TUB = The Morning Advertiser.

Maskin, subs. (Old Cant).—Coal.

Mason, subs. (old).—See quot.

1754. POULTER, Discov., p. 30. One who swindled farmers etc. by giving worthless notes for horses etc. bought by them. The Dealers, called MASONS … giving Notes for Money, and never to pay it.

Verb. (old).—See quot.

1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, p. 9. If we could not get any Money at the Nobb we would buy a Horse or two, and give our Notes for our Money, telling our Dealer we lived at a Town where we did not. This is called MASONING.

Masonry, subs. (colloquial).—Secret signs and passwords.

1841. LYTTON, Night and Morning, Bk. III. ch. viii. I was one of them, and know the MASONRY.

Mason’s-mawn’d, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MASON’S-MAWN’D, a Sham sore above the Elbow, to counterfeit a broken Arm, by a Fall from a Scaffold, expos’d by subtil Beggers, to move Compassion, and get Money.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Massacre. See INNOCENTS.

Masse-stapler, subs. (Old Cant).—A rogue disguised as a woman.

Master-can (or more), subs. phr. (Old Scots’).—A chamber-pot.—FERGUSSON.

1776. HERD, Collection, ii. 214. She hae dung the bit fish off the brace, An’ it’s fallen i’ the MAISTER-CAN.

Master-of-the-black-art, subs. (old).—A beggar. For synonyms see CADGER.

Master-of-the-Mint, subs. (common).—A gardener. Cf. BURN-CRUST and CORKS.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Master-of-the-Rolls, subs. (common).—A baker.

1641. H. PEACHAM, Worth of a Penny, in Arber’s English Gamer, Vol. vi. p. 272. For a Penny, you may search among the ROLLS, and withal give the MASTER good satisfaction. I mean, in a baker’s basket.

c. 1762. DERRICK in FOSTER’S Goldsmith, Bk. III. ch. vi. p. 167 (5th ed.). ‘No, no,’ whispered Derrick, who knew him to be a wealthy baker from the city, ‘only for a MASTER OF THE ROLLS.’

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1826. The Fancy, i. 123. Martin is the only baker who has appeared in Chancery Lane lately without insult; but they possess, generally, so little of the retiring modesty of their MASTER OF THE ROLLS, that they deserve all they catch in that way.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Burn-crust; doughy; dough-puncher; crumbs; fourteen-to-the-dozen.

Master-of-the-Wardrobe, subs. phr. (old).—One who pawns his clothes to buy liquor.—GROSE (1785).

Masterpiece, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

2. (colloquial).—A culmination: the best that can be.

1715. PENNECUIK, Poems (1815), 338. Call it the MASTERPIECE of George’s reign. [290]

Match, subs. (Stock Exchange).—1. In pl. Bryant and May Limited Stock.

2. (American cadets’).—A stripling. For synonyms see LAMP-POST.

3. (old).—See quot.

1821. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. MATCH—persons nearly of a size are said to ‘make a good match,’ (ring). Horses’ MATCH consists in colour and size. A two-horses’ race, is a MATCH, when specially agreed upon. The agreement for a man-fight, is ‘making a MATCH.’ Young folks are said to ‘make a MATCH of it,’ when they marry; they do the same when they do not wed frequently, but bring gyblets together sans ceremonie.

TO LOSE THE MATCH AND POCKET THE STAKES, verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate: of women only. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Mate, subs. (colloquial).—A companion; a partner; a PAL (q.v.). Also MATEY.

1580. TUSSER, Husbandrie, ch. 113, st. 30, p. 212 (E. D. S.). As for such MATES, as vertue hates, … small matter it is.

1630. MASSINGER, Renegado, iv. 1. Come, my MATES, I hitherto have lived an ill example, And, as your captain, led you on to mischief.

1859. H. KINGSLEY, Geoffry Hamlyn, ch. xxxi. I took him for a flash overseer, sporting his salary, and I was as thick as you like with him. And, ‘MATEY,’ says I, (you see I was familiar, he seemed such a jolly sort of bird), ‘MATEY, what station are you on?’

1864. H. KINGSLEY, The Hillyars and the Burtons, chap. xxx. ‘Well, then, I’ll tell you where it is,’ said Jack Marton [Blacksmith] ‘me and my MATES must look to ourselves’.…

1874. Mrs. H. WOOD, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S. No. XXII. p. 403. ‘’Twasn’t me that originated the strike. I but joined in it with the rest of my MATES.’

1892. SYDNEY WATSON, Wops the Waif, ch. i. p. 2. ‘I say, Tickle MATEY, wot’s all them a-readin’ of on that bill over there?’ interrupted Wops.

1892. ANSTEY, Model Music Hall Songs, 119. Way-oh ole MATEY, I don’t bear no malice.

Mater, subs. (colloquial).—A mother; THE OLD WOMAN (q.v.). Fr. la maternelle.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1883. BRADDON, Golden Calf, vi. The pater and MATER are away.… So we can have things all our own way.

Matin-bell, subs. (thieves’).—A thieves’ rendezvous; an EVENING-CHIMES (q.v.).

Matriarch, subs. (American).—An old dowager.

Matrimonial, subs. (venery).—The act of kind in the natural position. Also MATRIMONIAL POLKA. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Matrimonial peacemaker, subs. phr. (venery).—See quot. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

1796. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. MATRIMONIAL PEACEMAKER. The sugar stick or arbor vitæ.

Matter. AS NEAR AS NO MATTER, phr. (colloquial).—Very nearly; as near as may be.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 69. I’ve reported as NEAR AS NO MATTER.

Mattress-Jig, subs. phr. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Maukes (Maux, or Mawkes), subs. (old).—See MAWKES.

Maukin. See MALKIN. [291]

Mauled, adj. (common).—See quot. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MAUL’D, swingingly Drunk, or soundly Beat.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MAULD.

Mauley (Morley or Mawley), subs. (common).—1. A fist; a hand. TO TIP A MAULEY = to give a hand. FAM THE MAWLEY = shake hands.

1800. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 139. The key of the street-door in her MAULEY. Ibid. 144. When one asks the other to shake hands, that is, sling us your MAULY.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, 207. Learn the use of your MORLEYS.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii. 6. Mr. J. It was but t’other day they took’d me up; slapp’d a pick-ax into one of my MAULEYS, and shov’d a shovel into t’other, and told me to vork.

1852. JUDSON, Mysteries of New York, iv. Ello, Charley, my kid! tip us your MAWLEY.

1857. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant Green, pt. II. ch. iii. ‘I couldn’t use my MAWLEYS no how!’ and the Pet illustrated his remark in a professional manner, by sparring at an imaginary opponent in a feeble and unscientific fashion.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1861. MISS BRADDON, Trail of the Serpent, Bk. IV. ch. v. ‘Let the man as murdered your uncle keep clear of my left MAWLEY, if he wants to preserve his beauty.’

1870. London Figaro, 2 July. ‘Milling Ancient and Modern.’ We think MAWLEYS is the correct sporting term for ‘bunches of fives.’

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, i. It takes a good man to put me on my back, or stand up to me with the gloves, or the naked MAULEYS.

1888. Sporting Life, 11 Dec. Lambert ducked and the MAWLEY flew over his head.

1890. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 31 Jan. TIP US YOUR MAWLEYS, old pal!

2. (common).—A signature; handwriting; a FIST (q.v.).

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 340. One of those specious but deceitful ‘fakements’ upon which the ‘swells,’ (especially those who have ‘been in the service,’) ‘come down with a couter’ (sovereign) if they ‘granny the MAULEY’ (perceive the signature) of a brother officer or friend.

Maund (or Maunder).—1. To beg. TO MAUND UPON THE PAD (or ON THE FLY) = to beg in the highway or the street. MAUNDING = begging. [From MAUND = a basket: cf. BEG from bag].

1531–47. COPLAND, Hye Way to the Spyttel House, line 1046. With bowsy Cove MAUND Nace, Tour the Patring Coue inthe darkeman Case.

1607. DEKKER, Jests to Make You Merie, in Wks. (GROSART), II. 322. In her MAWND or basket which she beares on her arme, lapt in a pure white cloth, some fine tidy pig.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). What MAUND doe you beake = what kind of begging use you? Ile myll your MAUND = Ile spoyle your begging.

1611. MIDDLETON, Roaring Girl, v. 1. I instructed him in the rudiments of roguery, and by my map made him sail over any country you can name, so that now he can MAUNDER better than myself.

1621. FLETCHER, Thierry & Theodoret, v. 1. Keep constables waking, wear out stocks and whipcord, MAUNDER for buttermilk, etc.

1622. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Beggar’s Bush, ii. 1. And every man to keep In his own path and circuit. Hig. Do you hear? You must hereafter MAUND on your own pads, he says.

1625. JONSON, Staple of News, ii. A rogue, A very canter, I, sir, one that MAUNDS Upon the pad. [292]

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1. ch. v. p. 44 (1874). Having sufficiently warm’d our brains with humming liquor, which our Lower (money) shall procure; if our deceitful MAUNDING (Begging) cannot.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v. MAUNDING, begging.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MAUNDER(S) … also the cant word for to beg.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua Haggard, ch. vii. Who [a Devonshire lad] … had already unpacked the basket, or MAUND, as he called it.

2. (Old Cant).—To ask.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat, p. 86. MAUNDE of this morte what bene pecke is in her ken, Aske of this wyfe what good meate shee hath in her house.

Maunder. See MAUND, sense 1.

Subs. (old).—A beggar; a CADGE-GLOAK (q.v.). Also MAUNDERER and MAUNDING-COVE.

1611. MIDDLETON, Roaring Girl [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1825), vi. 108]. I am no such nipping Christian, but a MAUNDERER upon the pad, I confess.

1622. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, The Beggar’s Bush, ii. 1. Our king and sovereign, monarch o’ the MAUNDERS.

1656. BROME, Jovial Crew (PEARSON, iii. 377). My noble Springlove, the great commander of the MAUNDERS, and king of canters.

c. 1660. Bagford Ballads [EBSWORTH, i. 195]. A Craver my Father, a MAUNDER my Mother.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, pt. 1. ch. v. p. 50 (1874), s.v.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1712. SHIRLEY, Triumph of Wit, The MAUNDER’S Praise of his Strowling Mort [Title].

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1823. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, ii. 6. Cadgers make holiday, Hey, for the MAUNDER’S joys, Let pious ones fast and pray, They save us the trouble, my boys.

1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 183 (ed. 1864). Rogue or rascal, frater, MAUNDERER.

Maundering, subs. (old).—See quot. Also MAUNDING and as adj.

c. 1603. Sack for my Money [COLLIER, Roxburghe Ballads (1847), 180]. A MAUNDING COVE that doth it love.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). MAUNDING = begging.

1630. TAYLOR, Works [quoted by NARES]. As for example, suppose a begger be in the shape or forme of a MAUNDERING, or wandering souldier, with one arme, legge, or eye, or some such maime.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

Maundring-broth, subs. (old).—A scolding.—B. E. (1690); GROSE (1785).

Maverick, subs. (Texan).—An unbranded yearling. [From one Maverick].

Maw, subs. (old).—The mouth.

1592. GREENE, Quip, in Works, xi. 236. That pinch their bellies to polish their backs, that kepe their MAWES emptie, to fill their pursses.

1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry V, ii. 1. And in thy hateful lungs,—yea, in thy MAW, perdy.

1603. SHAKSPEARE, Measure for Measure, iii. 2. Do thou but think What ’tis to cram a MAW, or clothe a back.

1654. CHAPMAN, Revenge for Honour, i. 1. Here men o’ th’ shop can gorge their musty MAWS With the delicious capon.

HOLD YOUR MAW! verb. phr. (old).—Stop talking.

Mawkes, subs. (old).—1. A vulgar slattern.—GROSE (1785).

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. [293]

2. (old).—A whore.

172[?]. Street Robberies Considered, 25. I had the clever’st MAUX in town.

Mawley. See MAULEY.

Maw-wallop, subs. (old).—A filthy composition, sufficient to provoke vomiting.—GROSE (1785).

Mawworm, subs. (common).—A hypocrite. [From Bickerstaff’s play, The Hypocrite]. Also as adj.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

1866. SALA, Trip to Barbary, p. 130. There was a sanctified MAWWORM expression, too, about this fellow, which filled you with a strong desire to fling him overboard.

1871. G. ELIOT, Middlemarch, Bk. I. ch. ii. A man naturally likes to look forward to having the best. He would be the very MAWWORM of bachelors who pretended not to expect it.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 17 April. Superintendent S— is no MAWWORM, And it must have gone very much against the grain.

Mawpus. See MOPUS.

Mawther, subs. (old).—1. A girl (JONSON); and (2), an old drudge (DICKENS).

Max, subs. (old).—Gin. For synonyms see DRINKS and WHITE SATIN. [From maxime and so properly applied only to the best quality spirit].

1823. BYRON, Don Juan, C. XI. st. 16. The dying man cried, ‘Hold! I’ve got my gruel, Oh! for a glass of MAX.’

1837. R. H. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (Bagman’s Dog). Who, doffing their coronets, collars, and ermines, treat Boxers to MAX at the Old Inn in Jermyn Street.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, v. 8, i. p. 168. The stimulant of a ‘flash of lightning,’ a ‘go of rum,’ or a ‘glass of MAX,’—for so a dram of neat spirit was then called.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Verb. (United States military).—At West Point to gain the maximum of marks; hence, to do well.

May, subs. (Cambridge University).—The Easter Term examination.

1852. BRISTED, Five Years etc., 70. As the MAY approached I began to feel nervous.

May-gathering, subs. (thieves’).—Sheep-stealing; FLEECY CLAMMING (q.v.); BLEAT-MARCHING (q.v.).

Mazarine, subs. (common).—1. A Common Councilman of the City of London. [From the robe of mazarine blue].

1761. Chronicle, ‘Annual Reg.’ 238. I had procured a ticket through the interest of Mr. —— who was one of the committee for managing the entertainment, and a MAZARINE.

2. (theatrical).—A platform under the stage.

Mazzard (Mazard, or Mazer), subs. (common).—The head; the face.

1602–3. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, v. 1. Ham. Chapless, and knocked about the MAZZARD with a sexton’s spade.

1602. DEKKER, Honest Whore [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iii. 329]. Break but his pate, or so; only his MAZER, Because I’ll have his head in a cloth as well as mine.

1605. CHAPMAN, All Fools, iv. 1. But in thy amorous conquests, at the last, Some wound will slice your MAZER.

1639. FLETCHER, Wit Without Money, ii. 3. The pint-pot has so belaboured you with wit, your brave acquaintance, that gives you ale, so fortified your MAZARD, that now there’s no talking to you. [294]

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 14. The Porpus kept guard O’er his beautiful mug, as if fearing to hazard One damaging touch in so dandy a MAZZARD.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. MAZZARD—the face, or perhaps the whole head. ’Tis Irish, and mostly confined to Dublin. ‘Toss up the coppers now Thady,’ ‘head or harp?’ ‘Harp!’ cried Paddy, ‘and down came three black MAZZARDS.’ ‘Chop his MAZZARD,’ a cut in the face.

1833. CRUIKSHANK, Sunday in London, p. 63. Knocking each other over the MAZZARD for a qvort’n of gin!

1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 312 [ed. 1864]. ‘Here is that shall put fresh marrow into your old bones,’ returned Jem, handing him a tumbler of brandy; ‘never stint it. I’ll be sworn you’ll be the better on’t, for you look desperate queer, man, about the MAZZARD.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Verb. (old).—To knock on the head.

M.B.coat (or waistcoat), subs. (clerical).—A long coat worn by some clergymen. [M.B. = Mark of the Beast]. See CAPELLA.

1853. DEAN CONYBEARE, in Edin. Rev., Oct., p. 315. Who does not recognise … the stiff and tie-less neckcloth, the M.B.COAT and cassock waistcoat, the cropped hair and un-whiskered cheek?

1884. Graphic, 20 Sept., p. 307/2. He has begun to affect the strictest clerical garb—M.B.WAISTCOAT, hard felt hat with band and tassels.

Meacock, subs. (old colloquial).—1. See quots. 1581, 1584–7, 1590, and 1610; and (2), a hen-pecked husband. (COLES: ‘uxorius, uxori nimium deditus et obnoxius’).

1563. Appius & Virginius [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 118]. As stout as a stockfish, as meek as a MEACOCK.

1581. LYLY, Euphues, 109. I shall be compted a MECOCKE, a milksop.

1584–7. GREENE, Carde of Fancie [GROSART (1881–6), iv. 47]. Shall I then … proue such a MEACOCKE, or a milkesoppe.

1590. Newes out of Purgatorie (HALLIWELL). She found fault with him because he was a MEACOCKE and milksoppe.

1593. NASHE, Strange Neues [GROSART (1885), ii. 245]. Meere MEACOCKS and ciphars in comparison of thy excellent out-cast selfe.

1593. HARVEY, Pierce’s Supererogation [GROSART (1884), ii. 49]. Martin himselfe but a MEACOCKE; and Papp-hatchet himself but a milkesop.

1603. DEKKER, The Batchelars Banquet [GROSART (1886), i. 274]. The poore MEACOCK … hauing his courage thus quailed, wil neuer afterwards fal at ods with her.

1610. Mir. for Magistrates, 418. A MEACOCK is he who dreadth to see bloud shed.

1619. FLETCHER, Wildgoose Chase, v. 2. Fools and MEACOCKS, To endure what you think fit to put upon ’em.

1635. GLAPTHORNE, Hollander [PEARSON (1874), i. 98]. They are like my husband, meere MEACOCKS, verily: and cannot lawfully beget a childe once in seaven yeares.

Adj. (old colloquial).—Cowardly.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Taming of the Shrew, ii. 1. 315. ’Tis a world to see How tame, when men and women are alone, A MEACOCK wretch can make the curstest shrew.

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Supererog. [GROSART (1885), ii. 17]. The MEACOCK Verse that dares not sing.

Meal. See SQUARE-MEAL.

Mealer, subs. (teetotallers’).—1. A partial abstainer: pledged to take intoxicants only at meals.

2. (colloquial).—One who lodges at one place and boards elsewhere.

1887. Christian Union, 11 Aug. One of those cheap boarding-houses … where humanity is resolved into two classes only … roomers and MEALERS. [295]

Meal-mouth, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MEAL-MOUTH, a sly sheepish Dun, or Solicitor for Money. Cf. MEALY-MOUTHED.

Meal-tub (or -sack), subs. (clerical).—The stock of sermons. ‘I’ve nothing in my MEAL-TUB’ = I’ve no sermon ready.

Mealy- (or Meal-) mouthed, (or mealy), adj. (old: now recognised).—Fluent; plausible; persuasive. See also quot. 1748. Cf. MEAL-MOUTH.

1587. HARMAR, Beza’s Sermons, 315. Ye whited walls and painted sepulchres, ye MEAL-MOUTHED counterfeits, ye devourers of widows.

1598. MARSTON, Sat., ii. Who would imagine yonder … MEALE-MOUTHED precisian … is a vile, sober, damn’d politician.

1600. DEKKER, Shom. Holiday [GROSART (1873), i. 13]. This wench with the MEALY MOUTH that wil neuer tire, is my wife I can tel you.

1606. JOHN DAY, Ile of Guls, iv. 4. p. 93. Wife. Tho I may not scold I may tel em roundly out I hope … and Ile not be MEALELY MOUTHD, I warrant em.

1631. SHIRLEY, Love Tricks, i. A very crazy, old, MEAL-MOUTH’D gentleman; you are younger at least by thirty years.

1639. FLETCHER, Bloody Brother, iii. 2. A place too good for thee, thou MEAL-MOUTH’D rascal!

1748. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MEALY-MOUTHED, one that is faint-hearted, bashful, or afraid to speak his mind freely.

1759. TOWNLEY, High Life below Stairs, ii. Out, you MEALY-MOUTHED cur!

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1854. WHYTE MELVILLE, General Bounce, ix. ‘We might get money—ay, plenty of it—if you were only like the rest: you’re too MEALY-MOUTHED, Mrs. Blacke, that’s where it is.’

1854. DICKENS, Hard Times, … I didn’t mince the matter with him. I’m never MEALY with ’em.

1886. Edinburgh Review, clxiii. 425. Angry men hotly in earnest are not usually MEALY-MOUTHED.

Mean, adj. (colloquial).—1. Disobliging; petty; STINGY. TO FEEL MEAN = to feel guilty.

2. (old: now American).—A general epithet of disparagement: MEAN night = a bad night; MEAN horse = a sorry screw; MEAN crowd = a man of no account; MEAN bit = a worn-out whore.

1848. Georgia Scenes, 27. He’ll cut the same capers there as here. He’s a monstrous MEAN horse.

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle & Mocassin, p. 146. There ain’t a drop of MEAN blood in him.

1888. Century Mag., Oct. There can be no greater provocation than is given by a MEAN horse, or a refractory steer.

MEAN ENOUGH TO STEAL ACORNS FROM A BLIND HOG, phr. (American).—As mean as may be.

Mean white, subs. phr. (American negro).—See quots.; poor WHITE TRASH (q.v.).

1837. H. MARTINEAU, Soc. in America, ii. 311. There are a few, called by the slaves MEAN WHITES, signifying whites who work with the hands.

1873. JUSTIN MCCARTHY, Fair Saxon, xix. That despised and degraded class, the MEAN WHITES—the creatures who had neither the social position and property that seemed essential to freedom in the South, nor the protected comfort of slavery.

Measly, adj. (vulgar).—Contemptible. [Cf. var. dial. MEASLED = diseased].

1864. M. E. BRADDON, Henry Dunbar, xxviii. ‘And to think that the government of this country should have the audacity to offer a MEASLY hundred pounds or so for the discovery of a great crime!’ [296]

1884. HENLEY & STEVENSON, Admiral Guinea (‘Three Plays’, p. 203). Now in my blind old age I’m to be sent packing from a MEASLY public ’ouse.

Measure, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MEASURE, the Distance of Duellers. TO BREAK MEASURE, to be out of the Adversaries reach.

TO MEASURE OUT, verb. phr. (common).—To knock down flat; to kill.

1891. Morning Advertiser, 3 April. The witness went to Martin’s assistance, and became engaged in a tussle with the prisoner Tounsel, who took an empty lemonade bottle from his pocket and said, ‘Look out, or I’ll MEASURE YOU OUT.’

TO TAKE (or GET) ONE’S MEASURE, verb. phr. (old).—1. To marry; and (2) to copulate.

1684. LACY, Sir Hercules Buffoon, v. 3. Gin I’d let him alane, he had TAKEN MEASURE o’ th’ inside of me as well as o’ th’ out.

1771. FOOTE, Maid of Bath, i. She is a tight bit of stuff, and I am confident will turn out well in the wearing. I once had some thoughts myself of TAKING MEASURE of Miss.

2. (colloquial).—To appreciate; to SIZE UP.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MEASURE. To examine closely.

1872. Derby Mercury, 1 May, ‘Freemasonry in New Zealand.’ He became thin and haggard, and afraid to meet any of his former companions for fear that they should say they would TAKE HIS MEASURE.

1891. N. GOULD, Double Event, 215. Fletcher did not venture into that ‘holy of holies’; there were too many men there had GOT HIS MEASURE.

TO BE MEASURED [for a part &c.] phr. (theatrical).—To get a part written to one’s liking or capacity; to be exactly suited.

1859. BLANCHARD JERROLD, Life of Douglas Jerrold, vi. p. 94. Even the pig was to be MEASURED FOR HIS PART.

TO HAVE BEEN MEASURED FOR A NEW UMBRELLA, verb. phr. (American).—(1) To appear in new but ill-fitting clothes; whence (2) to pursue a policy of doubtful wisdom.

TO BE MEASURED FOR A SUIT OF MOURNING, verb. phr. (pugilistic).—See quot.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, xix. No pugilist can be considered worth anything, till he has had his peepers TAKEN MEASURE OF FOR A SUIT OF MOURNING, or in common language, has received a pair of black eyes.

MEASURED FOR A FUNERAL SERMON, adv. phr. (American).—At death’s door.

Meat, subs. (venery).—Generic for (1) the female pudendum, and (2) the penis: cf., BEEF, FISH, FLESH, GAME, GREENS, MUTTON, &c. Hence, A BIT OF MEAT = the sexual favour; FOND OF MEAT = amorous; MEATY = enjoyable; FRESH MEAT = a new PIECE (q.v.); RAW MEAT = a nude PERFORMER (q.v.); MEAT-HOUSE = a brothel; MEAT-MARKET = (1) the female pudendum, (2) any rendezvous of public women, and (3) the paps; MEAT-MERCHANT = a bawd; MEAT-MONGER = a whoremaster; the PRICE OF MEAT = the cost of an embrace; MEAT-AND-DRINK = an amorous carouse; TO FLASH MEAT = to expose the person. Fr. la viande.

1595. GOSSON, Quippes, etc. [HAZLITT, Early Pop. Poetry (1866), iv. 259]. That you should coutch your MEAT in dish, And others feel it is no fish.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays [297](1874), x. 496]. I am no MEAT for his mowing.

1611. Ram Alley [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 369]. Faith, take a maid, and leave the widow, master: Of all MEATS I love not a gaping oyster.

1664. FALKLAND, Marriage Night, i. 1. But is she man’s MEAT? I have a tender appetite, and can scarcely digest one in her teens.

1668. KILLIGREW, Parson’s Wedding, v. 2. Your bed is big enough for two, and my MEAT will not cost you much.

1684. LACY, Sir Hercules Buffoon, iii. 3. I am so plagued with citizens that I cannot have a deer that’s man’s MEAT, but they steal it out of my park, my Lord.

1760. FOOTE, Minor, ii. Did I not tell you old Moll was your mark? Here she has brought a pretty piece of man’s MEAT already; as sweet as a nosegay, and as ripe as a cherry.

1856. WHITMAN, Leaves of Grass, Children of Adam (1891–2, ix. 87). The naked MEAT of the body.

TO CHEW ONE’S OWN MEAT, verb. phr. (American).—To do a thing oneself; hence, TO CHEW MEAT FOR ONE = to do another’s work for him.

Meat-and-drink, subs. (common).—1. Strong drink; also liquor thickened with yolk of eggs, etc.

2. (old colloquial).—Delight.

1600. SHAKSPEARE, As you Like it, v. 1. It is MEAT-AND-DRINK to me to see a clown.

3. (venery).—See MEAT.

Meat-axe. SAVAGE AS A MEAT-AXE, phr. (American).—Extremely hungry.

1843. CARLTON, New Purchase [BARTLETT]. It would be a charity to give the pious brother some such feed as chicken fixins and doins, for he looks half-starved and as SAVAGE AS A MEAT AXE.

1852. KIRKLAND, Forest Life, i. 103. ‘Why, you don’t eat nothing!’ he exclaimed; ‘ridin’ don’t agree with you, I guess! Now, for my part, it makes me as SAVAGE AS A MEAT-AXE.’

Meat-bag (or -safe), subs. (American).—The stomach. For synonyms see VICTUALLING-OFFICE.

1848. RUXTON, Life In The Far West, p. 8. Well, Dick was as full of arrows as a porkypine; one was sticking right through his cheek, one in his MEAT-BAG, and two more ’bout his hump-ribs.

Meat-flashing, subs. (common).—Exposure of the person. Hence, MEAT-FLASHER = a public offender in this line.

Meat-in-the-pot, subs. (Western American).—A revolver.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Barker; barking iron; black-eyed Susan; blazer; bulldog; Colt; the democratiser (American: as making all men equal); unconverted friend; pop, or pop-gun; persuader; shooting-iron; shot-gun; six-shooter; stick; towel; two-pipe scatter-gun.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un bayafe (thieves’); un blavin (also = pocket handkerchief); les burettes (= phials); un crucifix or crucifix à ressorts (thieves’); un mandolet (thieves’); un mouchoir de poche (Cf. blavin).

Meaty, adj. (common).—1. Plump; and (2) enjoyable. See MEAT.

1851–61. MAYHEW, London Lab., iii. 210. I’m just MEATY enough for my profession.

Mechanic, subs. (old: now recognised).—See quot. 1690. As adj. = common; vulgar; mean. [298]

1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry V, i. 2. 200. The poor MECHANIC porters crowding in.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MECHANIC, a Tradesman; also a mean, inconsiderable, contemptible Fellow.

Med (Medic, Medical, or Medico), subs. (medical).—A medical man. Also a student.

1823. The Crayon (Yale Coll.), p. 23. Who sent The MEDIC to our aid!

1850. Yale Banger [HALL], Nov. Seniors, Juniors, Freshmen blue, And MEDICS sing the Anthem too.

1853. Songs of Yale, p. 16. Take … Sixteen interesting MEDS, With dirty hands and towzeled heads.

1864. D. MASSON, in Macm. Mag., Dec., p. 124. Those minute physiognomic differences, which enable an expert to distinguish a jolly young MEDICAL from a prematurely-sharp leguleian.

1885. B. G. WILDER, Journal Nervous Diseases, xii. MEDIC is the legitimate paronym of medicus, but is commonly regarded as slang.

1889. Lancet, 13 July [No. 3437], p. 96. The London MEDICALS were quite as popular.

1890. Answers, 25 Dec. She did her exercise and work and had her meals alone, and during the whole of that period the only persons she spoke to were the governor (known in prison as the ‘boss’), the chaplain (in prison parlance ‘sky pilot’), the MEDICO (doctor), and the ‘screw’ (female warder).

Meddler. LAY-OVERS FOR MEDDLERS. See LARE-OVER.

Medes and Persians, subs. phr. (Winchester College).—Jumping on a MAN (q.v.) when in bed.

Medical Greek, subs. phr. (common).—See MARROWSKYING.

1885. Household Words, 20 June, p. 155. Medical students have liberally assisted in the formation of slang, their special department thereof being known as MEDICAL GREEK.

Medicine, subs. (common).—1. Liquor; and (2) GREENS (q.v.). TO TAKE ONE’S MEDICINE = (1) to drink; and (2) to copulate. For synonyms see DRINKS and RIDE.

Medium, subs. (Australian).—A person engaged by a squatter, part of whose ‘run’ is offered by Government at a land lottery. The MEDIUM takes lot-tickets, as if bent upon cultivation, attends the drawing, and, if his ticket be drawn before his principal’s land is gone, selects it, and hands it over on payment of the attendance fee.

Medlar, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. Cf. OPEN-ARSE. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. Hence, a harlot.

1603. SHAKSPEARE, Measure for Measure, iv. 3. Else they would have married me to the rotten MEDLAR.

2. (American thieves’).—A dirty person.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Meech, Meeching. See MIKE.

Meerschaum, subs. (pugilistic).—The nose. For synonyms see CONK.

1891. Sporting Life, 25 March. At the call of ‘Time’ ending in favour of Burford, Phillips being very weak, and his MEERSCHAUM beautifully painted. Ibid., 3 April. Determined left-handed exchanges, Macdonald standing over Harland, who made the most of the ring, but coloured Mac’s MEERSCHAUM in the last minute.

Meetinger, subs. (Nonconformist).—A chapel-goer.

1885. Notes and Queries, 11 April, p. 297. Those who attend the meeting are called MEETINGERS.

Meg, subs. (old).—1. See quots. For synonyms see YELLOW-BOYS and CANARY. Cf. MAG, subs., sense 2. [299]

1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia, i. in Wks. (1720), iv. 18. Sham. No, no; MEGGS are guineas, smelts are half guineas.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MEGGS.… We fork’d the Rum Culls MEGGS to the tune of Fifty, We pickt the Gentleman’s Pocket of full Fifty Guineas.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. in pl. (Stock Exchange).—Mexican Railway First Preference Stock.

3. (Old Scots’).—A wench. MEG DORTS = a pert girl. MEG-HARRY (Lanc.) = a hoyden.

1538. LINDSAY, Syde Taillis [CHALMERS, ii. 201]. Ane muirland MEG, that milkes the yowis, Claggit with clay abone the howis.

1725. RAMSAY, The Gentle Shepherd. She scour’d away, and said——‘What’s that to you?’ ‘Then fare ye weel MEG DORTS, and e’en’s ye like.’

ROARING MEG, subs. phr. (old).—A monster piece of ordnance; hence, an unfailing antidote.

1624. BURTON, Anat. Melan., Pt. II. ii. 6. 3. Musica est mentis medecina mæstæ, a ROARING MEG against melancholy.

Megrim, subs. (old colloquial).—1. A crotchet; and (2) a headache. Fr. une migraine.

d. 1520(?). DUNBAR, My Heid did Yak, in Poems (Scottish Text Society Edition, 1888–9), p. 254. So sair the MEGRYM dois me menzie.

1609. DEKKER, Almanacke [GROSART, iv. 185]. But shall be strucke with such MEGRIMS and turnings of the braine, that insteed of going to church, they will (if my Arte faile me not) stumble into a Tauerne.

1639. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Wit without Money, i. 1. He had never Left me the misery of so much means eke, Which, till I sold, was a mere MEGRIM to me.

1673. DRYDEN, The Assignation, iii. 3. Now will I have the headach, or the MEGRIM, or some excuse.

1795. R. CUMBERLAND, The Jew, ii. 2. Dorcas. How you ramble, Sirrah! What MEGRIMS you have in your head!

1866. G. ELIOT, Felix Holt, xi. ‘Can’t one work for sober truth as hard as for MEGRIMS?’

Meg’s diversions, subs. phr. (common).—1. Whimsical pleasantry; and (2) OLD HARRY (q.v.).

1834. M. G. DOWLING, Othello Travestie, i. 3. The galley slaves Are playing MEG’S DIVERSION on the waves.

1850. CRAVEN, Meg’s Diversions [Title].

Megsman. See MAGSMAN.

Mejoge, subs. (old).—A shilling; a BOB (q.v.).—Discoveries of John Poulter (1754).

Mell, subs. (Old Cant).—The nose. For synonyms see CONK.

Verb. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE. Also MEDDLE.

d. 1450. LYDGATE (HALLIWELL). Like certeyn birdes called vultures, Withouten MELLYNG conceyven by nature.

b. 1468. Ludus Coventriæ [Shaks. Soc. 1841], p. 215. And a talle man with her dothe MELLE.… We xul take them both togedyr Whylle that thei do that synful dede.

1541. Schole House of Women [HAZLITT, Early Pop. Poetry (1866), iv. 133]. Made him drunk, and so at last MEDLED with him.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, All’s Well etc., iv. 3. Men are to MELL with, boys are not to kiss.

Mellow, adj. (common).—See quot. 1690.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MELLOW, a’most Drunk; also smooth, soft Drink.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1774. GARRICK, Epitaph on Goldsmith, ‘Here Hermes,’ says Jove, who with nectar was MELLOW.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. [300]

1821. BYRON, Don Juan, Cant. iii. St. 82. Had been the favourite of full many a mess Of men and made them speeches when half-MELLOW.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Melon, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—A new cadet. For synonyms see SNOOKER.

Melt, verb. (old).—1. See quots.; TO BLEW (q.v.).

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MELT.… Will you MELT a Bord? Will you spend your Shilling? The Cull MELTED a couple of Decuses upon us, the Gentleman spent ten Shillings upon us.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 19. And if any of their Acquaintances gives them l’argent, then they jump into their Cellar to MELT it.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1748. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MELT (VI) … also a cant word for extravagantly spending any considerable sum of money.

1765. FOOTE, Commissary, i. 1. Give him the sixpence, then, there lay it out as you will. Coachm. It will be to your health, mistress; it shall MELT at the Mews, before I go home.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1843. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. What did you do with the tin? Bob. MELTED it, of course, in less than a month.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1869. C. READE, Foul Play, lii. I had him arrested before he had time to MELT the notes.

1880. JAMIESON, Dict. Scott. Lang., s.v. MELT, to spend money on drink; a low term, but much used; as, ‘I’ve jist ae saxpence left, let’s MELT it.’

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip, How do you MELT the multy-swag?—Booze and the blowens cop the lot.

2. (venery).—TO SPEND (q.v.). Fr. fondre.

1629. CAREW, Poems (1772), ‘Second Rapture,’ p. 174. In whose sweet embraces I, May MELT myself to lust and die.

TO LOOK AS IF BUTTER WOULD NOT MELT IN THE MOUTH. See BUTTER.

’TWILL CUT BUTTER WHEN IT’S MELTED (or HOT). See BUTTER.

Melted-butter, subs. (venery).—The semen; CREAM (q.v.).

Melting, subs. (pugilistic).—See quot.

1823. BEE, Dict. of the Turf, s.v. MELTING—a sound drubbing, all one way. A melter is he who punisheth, and the thing administered is a MELTING—a corruption of malletting.

Melting moments, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. MELTING MOMENTS, a fat man and woman in the amorous congress.

Melting-pot, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Melton, subs. (tailors’).—Dry bread.

Member, subs. (conventional).—1. The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK. Also UNRULY MEMBER, PRIVY-MEMBER and MEMBER FOR COCKSHIRE.

1356. MANDEVILLE, Travels, p. 197. Thei gon all naked, saf a litylle Clout, that thei coveren with here knees and hire MEMBRES.

1611. Deut. XXIII. 1 [Authorised Version]. He that hath his privy MEMBER cut off.

1639. GLAPTHORNE, Argalus, i. 2. Leg neatly made … thigh proportionable … a back that can bear any weight … full limbs … a lusty chine … rump so well made, and firmely knit, The nymphs are all stark mad for it, Because they think the rest of my MEMBERS proportionable.

1647–80. ROCHESTER, A Satire on the King. E’er she can raise the MEMBER she enjoys. [301]

d. 1796. BURNS, Epistle to a Tailor. An’ whatfor no Your dearest MEMBER.

3. (common).—A person: almost exclusively with qualifying terms, as HOT (q.v.); RUM (q.v.); WARM (q.v.) and the like.

1891. Sporting Life, 28 Mar. Accordingly Jem was put to work, but, WARM a MEMBER as our hero was, standing in front of a blazing furnace for hours and pushing in and pulling out huge bars of iron was too hot even for Jem’s sanguinary temperament.

Member-mug, subs. (common).—1. A chamber-pot. For synonyms see IT.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (Westminster School).—An out-of-door boy.

Men. See MAN for all senses.

Menagerie, subs. (theatrical).—The orchestra.

Menavelings, subs. (railway clerks’).—Odd money in the daily accounts; FLUFF (q.v.); OVERS AND SHORTS. Cf. MANABLINS.

Mend. TO MEND FENCES, verb. phr. (American).—To mind one’s own business; to attend to one’s interest.

TO CORRECT (or MEND) THE MAGNIFICAT, verb. phr. (old).—To correct that which is faultless.—RAY (1670).

Mentor, subs. (American).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MENTOR. A second in the ring.

Mephisto, subs. (tailors’).—A foreman.

Merchant, subs. (old).—A term of abuse.

d. 1555. LATIMER, Sermons, 115. b. [NARES]. The crafty MERCHANT that will set brother against brother meaneth to destroy them both.

1557–8. Jacob & Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 253]. What, ye saucy MERCHANT, are ye a prater now?

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo & Juliet, ii. 4. 153. I pray you, sir, what saucy MERCHANT was this that was so full of his ropery?

1633. Match at Midnight, v. 1. I knew you were a crafty MERCHANT.

TO PLAY THE MERCHANT, verb. phr. (old).—See quot. 1593.

1593. NASHE, Christ’s Teares [GROSART (1885), iv. 240]. Is it not a common proverb amongst us, when any man hath cosened or gone beyonde us, to say, Hee hath PLAYDE THE MERCHANT with us.

1632. W. ROWLEY, Woman Never Vext, iv. 1. I doubt, Sir, he will PLAY THE MERCHANT with us.

Mercury, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MERCURY … and a Courant or News-letter.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MERCURY … it is now applied in cant phrase to the carriers of news and pamphlets.

1827. TODD, Johnson’s Dict., s.v. MERCURY … it had been a cant phrase more than a century before Dr. Johnson’s time; and was used generally for a messenger.

2. (old).—See quot. 1690. MERCURIAL = witty.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MERCURY, Wit. Ibid. s.v. MERCURIAL, witty.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

3. (old).—A thief; a trickster.

1599. JONSON, Every Man Out of His Humour, i. 2. I would ha’ those MERCURIES should remember they had not their fingers for nothing. [302]

Mercury-women, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MERCURY WOMEN, Wholesale News-sellers who retail to the Hawkers.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

Meridian, subs. (old).—Refreshment taken at noon. ANTE-MERIDIAN = a morning dram: POST-MERIDIAN = an appetizer before dinner.

1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, iv. Plumdamas joined the other two gentlemen in drinking their MERIDIAN (a bumper-dram of brandy).

Merkin, subs. (old).—1. See quots. 1736 and 1796.

1620. PERCY, Folio MS., p. 508. A health to all Ladyes that neuer used MERKIN.

16[?]. JONSON, A Song of the Moon [CUNNINGHAM and BELL (1870), iii. 465]. The moon commends her to the merry beards in hall … Morts and MIRKINS that wag all, Tough, foul, or tender.

1647–80. ROCHESTER, To the Author of a Play called ‘Sodom’. Or wear some stinking MERKIN for a beard.

167[?]. COTTON, Voyage to Ireland, iii. 26. By these the true colour one can no more know Than by mouse-skins above-stairs the MERKIN below.

1688. RANDAL HOLME, Academy of Armoury, 389. Some term it … MERKIN when set about the lower parts.

1720. PHILLIPS, New World of Words, s.v.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., MERKIN (f. la mère, matrix) pubes (eminentia) mulieris.

1736. BAILY, Engl. Dict., s.v. MERKIN … counterfeit hair for the privities of women.

1796. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v. MERKIN, counterfeit hair for the private parts of a woman.

1873. HOTTEN, Slang Dict., s.v.

1890. BARRÈRE and LELAND, Slang, Jargon, and Cant, s.v.

2. (obsolete).—Fur.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Wks. (1725), Bk. iv. p. 90. Upon his back he had a Jerkin Lin’d through, and through with sable MERKIN.

3. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1656. R. FLETCHER, Martiall. Why dost thou reach thy MERKIN now half dust?

1661. Merry Drollery, ‘A Puritan’ [EBSWORTH (1876), p. 196]. Her zeal was in a sound. He edified her MERKIN Upside down.

1719. A. SMITH, Highwaymen, ii. 6. A strange whim … which was to get the hairy circle of her MERKIN. This he dried well, and combed out.

4. (American thieves’).—Hair dye.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Mermaid, subs. (old).—A strumpet. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1599. MIDDLETON, ROWLEY, and MASSINGER, Old Law, iv. 1. What, a MERMAID? No, but a maid.

Merry (or Merry-arsed), adj. (venery).—Wanton. Hence, MERRY-ARSED CHRISTIAN = a whore (GROSE, 1823); MERRY-BEGOT (q.v.); MERRY-BIT = a willing wench; MERRY-MAKER = the penis; MERRY-LEGS = a LIGHT-SKIRTS (q.v.) or QUICUNQUE-VULT (q.v.).

1610. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Maid’s Tragedy, iii. 1. Diph. What odds, he has not my sister’s maidenhead to-night?… She’s MERRY enough of herself; she needs no tickling.

c. 1800. BURNS, The Merry Muses of Caledonia [In title, and passim].

1887. HENLEY, Book of Verses, ‘Ballade of a Toyokuni Colour-Print’, When MERRY maids in Miyako. [303]

Merry-andrew, subs. (common).—See quot. 1785. Also MR. MERRYMAN.

1682. DRYDEN, Epil. to Univ. of Oxford. ‘Th’Italian MERRY-ANDREWS took their place. And quite debauch’d the Stage with lewd grimace.’

1710. ROCHESTER, Poems, p. 56. They ne’er had sent to Paris for such fancies, As monster’s heads and MERRY-ANDREW’S dances.

1732. HENRY FIELDING, The Mock Doctor, i. 1. I waited on a gentleman at Oxford, where I learned very near as much as my master; from whence I attended a travelling physician six years, under the facetious denomination of a MERRY ANDREW, where I learned physic.

1770. ST. FOIX, Essays upon Paris, ii. 64, ii. cap. 6. The MERRY-ANDREWS told stories.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MERRY ANDREW or MR. MERRYMAN, the jack-pudding, jester, or zany of a mountebank, usually dressed in a party-colored coat.

1785. BURNS, Jolly Beggars, R. iii. Poor MERRY-ANDREW in the neuk Sat guzzling with a tinkler-hizzie. Ibid. S. iii. Poor ANDREW that tumbles for sport.

1842. C. LEVER, Jack Hinton, … I wonder how a Christian would make a MERRY-ANDREW of himself by wearing such clothes.

Merry-begot (or -begotten), subs. (old).—A bastard: cf. quot. 1377.—GROSE (1785). For synonyms see BLOODY ESCAPE, etc.

c. 1377. LANGTOFT, Chronicle [BRUNNE (1725), p. 50]. Knoute of his body gate sonnes thre, Tuo bi tuo wifes, the thrid in jolifte [in jollity].

1890. HALL CAINE, The Bondman, i. ch. 6. Maybe you think it wise to bring up your daughter with the MERRY-BEGOT of any ragabash that comes prowling along.

Merry-cain. See CAIN, RAISE and JESSE.

Merry-dancers, subs. (colloquial).—The Northern Lights. [From their motion]. Fr. chèvres dansantes (= dancing goats).

Merry-dog, subs. (common).—A boon companion; a JOLLY-DOG (q.v.).

1891. W. C. RUSSELL, Ocean Tragedy, p. 18. He was a MERRY-DOG enough when Wilfrid was out of sight.

Merry Dun of Dover, subs. (nautical).—A ship so large that, passing through the Straits of Dover, her flying jib-boom knocked down Calais steeple; while the fly of her ensign swept a flock of sheep off Dover Cliff. She was so lofty that a boy who went to her mast-head found himself a grey old man when he reached the deck again. [This yarn is founded on a story in Scandinavian mythology].

Merry-go-down, subs. (Old Cant).—Strong ale; STINGO (q.v.). For synonyms see DRINKS and SWIPES.

c. 1530. Hoow Gossip Mine [in Neuenglische Lezebuch (1895), p. 154]. I know a draught of MERRY-GO-DOWN, The best it is in all the town.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, Ded. [Harl. Misc. vi. 145]. I present you with meate, and you … can do no less than present mee with the best morning’s draught of MERRY-GO-DOWNE in your quarters.

Merry-go-sorry, subs. (old colloquial).—Hysteria.

1600. BRETON, Fortunes of Two Princes, 25. The ladie with a MERRIE-GO-SORRIE.

Merry-go-up, subs. (old).—Snuff.

1821. EGAN, Real Life, ii. 90. Short but pungent like a pinch of MERRY-GO-UP.

Merry Greek, subs. phr. (old).—A jolly companion. [304]

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Troilus and Cressida, i. 2. Then she’s a MERRY GREEK indeed.

1647. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Woman’s Prize, ii. 2. Go home, and tell the MERRY GREEKS that sent you, Ilium shall burn, etc.

d. 1669. PRYNNE, Healthes Sicknesse, fol. B 2, b. Open, liberall, or free housekeepers, MERRY GREEKS, and such like stiles and titles.

1820. Barn. Journ., i. p. 54. A true Trojan, and a mad MERRY grig, though no GREEK.

Merryman. See MERRY-ANDREW.

Merry-men-of-May, subs. (nautical).—Currents formed by the ebb-tides.

Merry-pin, subs. (old).—A happy chance; a jolly time; a gay mood. IN A MERRY PIN = jovially inclined. [See quot. 1655].

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 166]. I will set my heart On a MERRY-PIN, Whatever shall befall.

1655. FULLER, Church History, iii. 17. The Dutch, and English in imitation of them, were wont to drink out of a cup marked with certain pins, and he accounted the man who could nick the pin; whereas, to go above or beneath it, was a forfeiture.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 174]. To be IN A MERRY-PIN.

1715. PENNECUIK, Poems (1815), 332. Finding the brethren IN A MERRY PIN.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., i. … Well, since you’re ON THE MERRY PIN And make so slight the counter-gin, I’ll do’t.

d. 1774. FERGUSSON, Poems (1851), ‘A Drink Eclogue,’ 114. And set the saul upon a MERRY PIN.

Merry thought, subs. (colloquial).—The furcula or forked bone of a fowl’s breast.

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Catriosso, the bone called the MERIE THOUGHT.

1694. ECHARD, Plautus [Ency. Dict.]. ‘Let him not be breaking MERRY-THOUGHTS under the table with my cousin.’

d. 1719. ADDISON, Omens [Century]. I … have seen a man in love grow pale, and lose his appetite upon the plucking of a MERRY THOUGHT.

Mesopotamia, subs. (obsolete).—1. Belgravia; CUBITOPOLIS (q.v.). Cf. ASIA MINOR, NEW JERUSALEM etc.

1864. E. YATES, Broken to Harness, xv. p. 143 (1873). A house in Great Adullam Street, Macpelah Square, in that district of London whilom known as MESOPOTAMIA.

2. (Oxford University).—See quot.

1886. Pall Mall Gazette, 23 June, p. 13. Every Oxford man has known and loved the beauties of the walk called MESOPOTAMIA.

THE TRUE MESOPOTAMIA RING, phr. (common).—High-sounding and pleasing, but wholly past comprehension. [In allusion to the story of the old woman who told her pastor that she found great support in that blessed word MESOPOTAMIA].

Mess, subs. (colloquial).—1. A difficulty; a fiasco; a muddle. TO MAKE A MESS OF IT = to fail utterly or permanently.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., ii. 193. They make it a rule when they receive neither beer nor money from a house TO MAKE AS GREAT A MESS as possible the next time they come.

1880. Life in a Debtor’s Prison, 77. Contemptuous pity due to a poor devil who has MADE A MESS OF IT.

c. 1884. J. W. PALMER, After His Kind, p. 91. What A MESS they MADE OF IT!

2. (Winchester College).—See quot. [305]

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 219. The Præfects’ tables in Hall were called ‘Tub, Middle, and Junior MESS’ respectively. The boys who dined at each were also so named. Any number of boys who habitually breakfasted together were so called, with some distinguishing prefix, such as Deputy’s MESS. In Chambers tea was called MESS; as was also the remains of a joint of meat. Lest the reader should make a MESS of all these different meanings, I will give a sentence in which they shall all figure, ‘Look.… Junior MESS has sat down at Tub MESS, but as they will find nothing left but a MESS, they had better go down to chambers as MESS is ready.’

TO MESS ABOUT, verb. phr. (venery).—1. To take liberties; to FIRKYTOODLE (q.v.).

2. (common).—To play fast and loose; to swindle; to put off.

TO LOSE THE NUMBER OF ONE’S MESS, verb. phr. (military and nautical).—To die. For synonyms see HOP THE TWIG.

1834. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ch. xxxiii. ‘I can’t say, Mr. Simple,’ said Mr. Chucks to me in an under tone, ‘that I think well of this expedition; and I have an idea that some of us will LOSE THE NUMBER OF OUR MESS.’

1881. T. F. KEANE, Six Months in Meccah, p. 60. Another followed, fetching me one on the skull, that would have ‘SETTLED THE NUMBER OF MY MESS’ but for the thickness of my too attractive head-dress.

Messel, subs. (old).—A partner; an associate.

1605. London Prodigal, ii. 1. I defy thee; press scoundrells, and thy MESSELS.

Mess-john, subs. (old).—A clergyman: in contempt. [Mass-JOHN]. See JOHN, sense 2.

1772. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical (1788), 169. The next a MESS JOHN of rank methodist taint. Who thought like a sinner, but looked like a saint.

1785. Poems in the Buchan Dialect, ii. 42. This breeds ill wills, ye ken fu’ aft, In the black coat, Till poor MASS-JOHN and the priest-craft Goes ti’ the pot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MESS-JOHN, a Scotch Presbyterian teacher or parson.

c. 1786. BURNS, To a Tailor. An’ syne MESS-JOHN, beyond expression, Fell foul o’ me.

Mess-mate, subs. (old: now recognised).—See quot. 1785.

1772. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, ‘The Storm.’ MESSMATES, hear a brother sailor Sing the dangers of the sea.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MESS-MATE, one who eats at the same mess, companion, or camerade.

Mesting, subs. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MESTING. Dissolving; melting.

Met, subs. (American).—A member of the Metropolitan (or New York) Base-Ball Club.

2. in pl. (Stock Exchange).—Metropolitan Railway Shares.

THE MET, subs. phr. (London).—The Metropolitan music-hall.

Metal, subs. (common).—1. Money. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT.

2. See METTLE.

Metallician, subs. (obsolete racing).—A bookmaker. [From the use of metallic books and pencils].

1887. Lic. Vict. Gazette, 2 Dec., 359. 2. He may, like Jem Smith, have three big METALLICIANS quarrelling for the honour of being his ‘Captain.’

1887. Daily Telegraph, 12 Mar. As for the long-suffering Australian public, they are mulcted, except in the colony of Victoria, as heavily as the much-taxed METALLICIAN. [306]

Metal-rule, subs. (printers’).—An oath; an obscenity. ‘You be metal-ruled’ = ‘You be damned.’ [From the use of ‘—’ in print].

Mettle, subs. (venery).—The semen. For synonyms see CREAM and SPENDINGS. METTLED = amorous.

1612. FIELD, Woman is a Weathercock, i. 2. What a sin were it in me … to marry a man that wants the METTLE OF GENERATION.

1649. DAVENANT, Love & Honour, ii. 1. I must provide her … broths That may stir METTLE in her.… I find Her no more fit for the business of increase Than I am to be a nun.

1672. HOWARD, All Mistaken, iii. The very same, my METTLED female.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

TO FETCH METTLE, verb. phr. (venery).—To masturbate.—GROSE (1785). For synonyms see FRIG.

Mettlesome, adj. (old: now recognised).—Bold; spirited.—GROSE (1785). [Cf. METTLE].

Mew-mew! intj. (tailors’).—In sarcasm: ‘tell that to the MARINES’ (q.v.).

Mice-feet. TO MAKE MICE-FEET O’, verb. phr. (old Scots’).—To destroy wholly.

Mich, Micher, Michery, Miching. See MIKE, MIKER, MIKERY, and MIKING.

Michael, subs. (old).—A man.

1647. FLETCHER, Woman’s Prize, i. 4. There are more maids than Maudlin. And more men than MICHAEL.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MICHAEL. Hip, MICHAEL, your head’s on fire. See HYP.

Mick (Mike or Micky), subs. (American).—1. An Irishman. Cf. MIKER.

1869. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents at Home, 22. The MICKS got to throwing stones.

2. (Australian).—A young wild bull.

1881. GRANT, Bush-life, i. 227. There were two or three MICKIES and wild heifers.

Mid (or Middy), subs. (common).—A midshipman.

1812. SOUTHEY, Letters [ed. WARTER, 1856], ii. 315. I have written to Bedford to learn what MIDS of the Victory fell in that action.

1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, xii. The purser and doctor, and three of the MIDDIES forward, Thomas Cringle, gent., pulling the stroke-oar.

1847. LYTTON, Lucretia, pt. II. ch. 1. Percival was meant for the navy, and even served as a MID for a year or so.

Midden, subs. (Scots’).—A foul slattern; a HEAP (q.v.). [MIDDEN = dunghill].

AN EATING MIDDEN, subs. phr. (Scots’).—A glutton; a belly-god.

Middies, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Midland Railway Ordinary Stock.

Middle, subs. (venery).—1. The waist.

1640. Wit’s Recr. [HOTTEN], 136. I care not, let my friend go fiddle; Let him mark her end, I’ll mark her MIDDLE.

1719. T. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, V. 79. In troth sweet Robin, I cannot, He hath got me about the MIDDLE.—Ibid. VI. 31. He took her by the MIDDLE, and taught her by the flute.

2. (Fleet St.).—See quot.

1887. Walford’s Antiquarian, Ap., 283. The writer of social, literary and scientific articles for the press is said to be a writer of MIDDLES, or a Middleman. [307]

3. (Old Cant).—A finger.

Middle-cut, subs. (Winchester College).—See quot. and DISPAR.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, p. 84. There were … eight [portions] to a leg of mutton … the thick slice out of the centre of the leg was called a MIDDLE CUT.

Middle-finger (or Leg), subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

Middle-gate, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1692. Gentlemen’s Journal, Aug., p. 8. You must as cautionary [an earnest] give a gate—that MIDDLE GATE which leads to th’ seat of bliss.

Middle-kingdom, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Middle-match. See MATCH.

Middle-mess, subs. (Winchester College).—See MESS.

Middle-piece, subs. (common).—The stomach. For synonyms see VICTUALLING-OFFICE. Also MIDDLE-PIE and MIDDLE-STOREY.

1675. CROWNE, Country Wit, iv. 1. I’ll lodge a cudgel in your MIDDLE-STOREY backward.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Middling, adv. (colloquial).—Tolerably; moderately.

1869. H. B. STOWE, Oldtown, p. 31. Wal, I don’t jedge him nor nobody.… Don’t none on us do more than MIDDLIN’ well?

Phr. (tailors’).—‘I don’t think so.’ ‘I don’t believe what you say.’

Middy. See MID.

Midge, subs. (provincial).—A small one-horse carriage used in the Isle of Wight.

Midge-net, subs. (common).—A lady’s veil.

Midget, subs. (colloquial).—Anything small of its kind; e.g., a sprightly child.

1869. H. B. STOWE, Oldtown, p. 177. Now you know Parson Kendall’s a little MIDGET of a man.

Midlands, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Midnight, subs. (American).—Sarsaparilla. MIDNIGHT WITHOUT = sarsaparilla without ice.

AS WHITE AS MIDNIGHT’S ARSE-HOLE, phr. (old).—As black as may be.

1557–8. Jacob & Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 253]. As WHITE AS MIDNIGHT’S ARSE-HOLE or virgin pitch.

Midshipman’s-half-pay, subs. (nautical).—See quot. and MONKEY’S ALLOWANCE.

1856. C. KINGSLEY, Letters [3rd abridged ed. 1879], May. You fellows worked like bricks, spent money, and got MIDSHIPMAN’S HALF-PAY (nothing a-day and find yourself) and monkey’s allowance (more kicks than halfpence).

Midshipman’s-nuts, subs. (nautical).—Broken biscuit, eaten by way of dessert.

Midshipman’s Watch and Chain, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. … a sheep’s heart and pluck.

Midshipmite, subs. (colloquial).—A diminutive midshipman. [308]

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, I. p. 56. ‘Clap on here Peg,’ cried the woman to another, ‘and let’s have this little MIDSHIPMITE, I wants a baby to dry nurse.’

1877. W. S. GILBERT, Bab Ballads, ‘Yarn of the Nancy Bell.’ A bosun tight and a MIDSHIPMITE.

Miff, subs. (old).—A petty quarrel; a tantrum.

1623. BUTLER, Feminine Monarchy, c. 5. Fol. L. 4. Your remedy is to knocke out the bees upon the mantle between two single Rests, and to set a fitter Hive over them; but this is not to be done before the swarming hours be fast, lest some of the bees take a MIFF.

1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, Bk. III. ch. vi. When a little quarrel, or MIFF, as it is vulgarly called, arose between them.

1768. GOLDSMITH, Good-Natured Man, iv. It’s the worst luck in the world, in anything but white. I knew one Bett Stubbs, of our town, that was married in red; and, as sure as eggs is eggs, the bridegroom and she had a MIFF before morning.

1816. SCOTT, Antiquary, v. In accomplishing an arrangement between tendencies so opposite, little MIFFS would occasionally take place.

Verb. (old).—1. To offend; and (2) to fall out.

Adj. (old).—Angered; MIFFED.

1802. W. TAYLOR, in Robberds’s Memoir, i. 447. You are right about Burnett, but being MIFF with him myself, I would not plead against him in the least particular.

1825. SCOTT, Diary, in Life, VIII. 133. This is not the way to make her pluck a bawbee and Lord M—, a little MIFFED in turn sends the whole correspondence to me.

Miff-maff, subs. (provincial).—Nonsense; ROT (q.v.).

Miffy, subs. (common).—The devil; OLD SCRATCH (q.v.).

Mifty, adv.. (old).—See quot. Cf. MIFF.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MIFTY, apt to take Pet, or be out of Humour.

Mighty (or Mightily), adj. and adv.. (colloquial).—See quot. 1755. Also MIGHTILY.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, iii. 3. 221. You do yourself MIGHTY wrong, Master Ford.

1609. FLETCHER, Wild-Goose Chase, iv. 2. This is some MIGHTY dairy-maid in man’s clothes.

1668. PEPYS, Diary, 26 Sept. To my house, where D. Gauden did talk a little, and he do MIGHTILY acknowledge my kindness to him.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Bachelor, i. 1. Your son’s MIGHTY like his Grace, has just his smile and air of’s face.

1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, iii. 4. Scan. Your lady says your sleep has been unquiet of late.… Mrs. Fore. O MIGHTY restless.

1712. STEELE, Spectator, No. 438. This gentleman deals MIGHTILY in what we call the irony.

d. 1721. PRIOR, in Wks. [quoted in Ency. Dict.]. He reigns: How long? Till some usurper rise, And he too MIGHTY thoughtful, MIGHTY wise: Studies new lines.

1738. POPE, Epilogue to Sat., ii. 133. But let me add, Sir Robert’s MIGHTY dull.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MIGHTY. In a great degree. Not to be used but in very low language.

1775. SHERIDAN, The Rivals, iv. 3. There is a probability of succeeding about that fellow that is MIGHTY provoking.

1780. CHASTELLUX, Travels in N. Am., ii. 14. On my asking him the next morning how he found himself, he answered, MIGHTY weak. Ibid. [Note by translator]. MIGHTY little, MIGHTY few, MIGHTY weak, &c., are favorite expressions in America.

1793. LD. H. SPENCER, in Auckland Correspondence, III. 83 (1862). Madame Bosset is arrived, and MIGHTY plain.

1793. BURNS, Impromptu on Mrs. ——’s Birthday. Now, Jove, for once be MIGHTY civil. [309]

1802. C. K. SHARPE, in Correspondence (1882), i. 152. He is a MIGHTY neat, pretty little, fiddling fellow, and exceedingly finely bred.

1844. KENDALL, Santa Fé Expedition, i. 32. You’ll be MIGHTY apt to get wet, said a thorough-bred Texan, who stood watching our movements.

1846–7. DICKENS, Dombey and Son, xi. The Doctor’s was a MIGHTY fine house, fronting the sea.

1847. HALLIWELL, Archaic and Provincial Words, etc., s.v. MIGHTY, fine, gay.

1848. Georgia Scenes, 84. His face is MIGHTY little for his body.

1892. GUNTER, Miss Dividends, iii. I am MIGHTY glad.

HIGH AND MIGHTY, phr. (common).—Consequential; full of ‘airs’.

1892. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Act. I Sc. 2, p. 10. Ye needna be sae HIGH AND MIGHTY, onyway.

Mike, subs. (common).—1. An Irishman.

2. See MIKER.

3. See MICKY.

Verb. (common).—1. To lurk; to skulk; to hang about: also TO DO A MIKE (or MOUCH). Also MICH, MICHE, MOOCH, or MOUCH. For synonyms see LOAF.

149[?]. Towneley Mysteries (‘Judicium’), Surtees Soc. Pub. (1835), p. 320. The negons thai MOWCHID, and hadde no wile.

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Fare a chetichegli … to sneake or MICH about lurkingly.

d. 1599. SPENSER, View of the State of Ireland [Ency. Dict.]. ‘Straggle up and down the country, or MICH in corners amongst their friends idlely.’

1612. CHAPMAN, Widow’s Tears [DODSLEY, Old Plays, vi. 212]. Not for this MICHING base transgression Of truant negligence.

1613. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Hon. Man’s F., v. 1. Say we should all MEACH here, and stay the feast now, What can the worst be? we have plaid the knaves, That’s without question.

1825. EGAN, Life of an Actor, p. 28. MIKE or Shammock. Technical or cant phrases amongst printers. To have a MIKE is to loiter away the time, when it might be more usefully or profitably employed.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., i. p. 472. These hedge fellows are slow and dull; they go MOUCHING along as if they were croaking themselves.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 59. When not employed MOUCHED about.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good Night. You spongers MIKING round the pubs.

1888. Cornhill Mag., Febr., p. 178. The poacher is a product of sleepy village life, and usually MOUCHES on the outskirts of country towns.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxii. MOOCHING about cattle.

2. (old).—To play truant; to CHARLEY-WAG (q.v.).

1581. LYLY, Euphues, 29. What made the gods so often to trewant from heaven, and MICH here on earth.

1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary, s.v. MOOCH.

3. (tramps’).—To hang about: for alms, a job, or a chance to pilfer. Also ON THE MOUCH.

1888. Daily Telegraph, 27 Nov. Yet it might safely be wagered that, while the poor street folk who pick up a precarious livelihood in this way would not resent being called costermongers, they would be bitterly offended at being stigmatised as mouchers, and would hotly assert that they never MOUCHED a penny from anybody.

1888. Indoor Paupers, i. Most of these people knew how to MOUCH or beg with skill and effect, while I could not beg at all.

1888. Bulletin, Nov. 24. All the dead-beats and suspected hen-snatchers plead when before the Bench that they were ‘only MOUCHING ROUND to find out whether the family neglected its religious dooties, yer washup.’ [310]

4. (old).—To steal.

1655. History of Francion [NARES]. The eagle more mindfull of prey than honour, did one day MOOTCH from the thunder which lame Vulcan had made, as crooked as himself, for almighty Jupiter.

1862. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab., iv. 418. I don’t mean to say that if I see anything laying about handy that I don’t MOUCH it (i.e., steal it).

Miker (Moucher, or Moocher), subs. (common).—A skulker; a petty thief; a beggar. Also, a truant. Also MICH and MICHER. See quots. passim. For synonyms see LOAFER.

1360. CHAUCER, Rom. of Rose [SKEAT (1894), i. 241. 6541]. Unne the that he nis a MICHER.

1450–1500. Gesta Roman. I. ch. 28, 94. The first [duty] is to wake in goode werkes, when othere men slepithe in synne, and for to slepe, when othere men wakithe, dothe thevis and MYCHERS.

149[?]. Towneley Mysteries [Surtees Soc.’s Pub. (1835), p. 216]. Thefes and MYCHERS keyn.

15[?]. Babees Book [E. E. T. S.], 401. Chyld, be thou lyer nother no theffe: Be thou no MECHER for myscheffe.

c. 1520. Hycke Scorner [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), i. 164]. Wanton wenches, and also MICHERS.

1590. GREENE, Mourning Garment [GROSART (1881–6), ix. 133]. If Aristotle had still, like a MICHER been stewed up in Stagyra.

1592. NASHE, Summer’s Last Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 57]. I know thou art but a MICHER, and dar’st not stand me.

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Pillucone, a sot, a coxcombe, a dodger, a wrangler, a MICHER.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Henry IV, ii. 4. Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a MICHER and eat blackberries?

1611. COTGRAVE, Dict., s.v. Caqueraffe, a base MICHER, scurvie hagler, lowsie dodger, etc.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MICHER. A lazy loiterer, who skulks about in corners and by-places, and keeps out of sight; a hedge-creeper. Mich or mick is still retained in the cant language for an indolent, lazy fellow. It is used in the western counties for a truant boy.

1775. ASH, Eng. Dict., s.v. MICH (a local word). An indolent lazy fellow.

1847. HALLIWELL, Archaic and Provincial Words, s.v. MICH. MICHER … may be explained, a sly thief, one who steals things of small value, or more usually, a truant or skulking fellow.… It was often used as a term of contempt; Hollyband gives it as the translation of Caignard, and Cotgrave has, ‘Chicke-face, a chichi-face, MICHER, sneake-bill, wretched fellow.’

1867. London Herald, 23 Mar., p. 221. If … asked … what he was doing, he would have said he was ON THE MOUCH, which being interpreted—French, mouchard, a spy; English MOUCHER, to be on the look-out for something.

1888. Indoor Paupers, 33. Another and about as numerous a class of Ins and Outs, whose members come and go and come again even more frequently than the tiptop-spree fellows, are the MOUCHERS or cadgers.

1888. Cornhill Mag., Feb., p. 182. It has been already remarked that the poacher is nothing if not a specialist. As yet we have spoken only of the MOUCHER, who directs his attention to fur.

1888. Daily Telegraph, 27 Nov. [A MICHER is] one who lives a semi-vagabond life, selling watercresses, wild flowers, blackberries, and other things that may be obtained in country places for the gathering. He is a vendor, too, of dandelion leaves, parsley, sow-thistle, clover, and so forth, as food for the myriads of tame rabbits kept in towns.

Miking (Mooching or Mouching), subs. (common).—1. Prowling; (2) pilfering; and (3) playing-truant. Also MICHERY and MIKERY.

1393. GOWER, Conf. Amant., v. Nowe thou shalt fall sore able That like stelthe of MICHERIE. Ibid. For no man of his counsaile knoweth What he maie gette of his MICHYNGE. [311]

c. 1420–80. HENRYSON, Fables, ‘The Fox and the Wolf’ l. 5. That durst no more with MICHING intermell.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, iii. 2, 147. Marry, this is MICHING mallecho; it means mischief.

1603. DEKKER, Wonderful Yeare, [GROSART (1886), i. 113]. Yet went they (most bitterly) MICHING and muffled vp and downe.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 115. Sandy Macintosh looked fit for anything, from MOUCHING up to murder, so long as not too much courage was required.

Adj. (common).—1. Skulking; (2) lurking; (3) mean.

15[?]. Songs & Poems on Costume [Percy Soc.], 687. Nothinge so fearde we are of theves Which ofte are layde in jayles, As now we are of MYCHING knaves, That cut off horses tayles.

1616. BEAUMONT & FLETCHER, Scornful Lady, v. 1. Some MEECHING rascal in her house.

1648. HERRICK, Hesp., II. 67. A cat I keep That plays about my house, Grown fat With eating many a MICHING mouse.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, xxiii. To mingle the soul of martial honour with thy thieving, MICHING, petty-larceny blood.

1862. LOWELL, Biglow Papers, 2nd Ser. p. 13. But I ain’t o’ the MEECHIN’ kind, thet sets an’ thinks fer weeks The bottom’s out o’ th’univarse coz their own gill-pot leaks.

1890. S. O. JEWETT, Deephaven, p. 159. ‘How came the ship to run up a tailor’s bill?’ ‘Why, them’s mine,’ said the captain, very MEECHING.

Milch-cow, subs. (colloquial).—See quot. 1785. Hence any living source of alms or revenue.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MILCH-KINE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MILCH-COW. One who is easily tricked out of his property: a term used by gaolers, for prisoners who have money, and bleed freely.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Mild, adj. (common).—Second-rate; feeble; inefficient.

1885. Sat. Review, 7 Feb., p. 166. Most of us have no wish to cheat railway companies by travelling first class at third-class prices, but there are ingenious adventurers who practise this MILD swindle.

DRAW IT MILD! See DRAW.

Mild-bloater. See BLOATER.

Miler (or Myla), subs. (vagrants’).—An ass. See MOKE.

Miles’s boy. See RALPH.

Milestone, subs. (old).—A country booby.—VAUX (1823).

Milestone-monger, subs. (common).—A tramp.

Milk, subs. (venery).—SPENDINGS (q.v.).

1669. JOHN AUBREY, MS. Aubr., 21. Her breath is sweet as the rose in June Her skin is as soft as silk And if you tickle her in the flank She’ll freely give down her MILK.

Verb. (venery).—1. To cause ejaculation. Cf. MILKMAN.

1610. JONSON, Alchymist, iii. 2. For she must MILK his epididimis.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, iii. 108. May teach her how to sleep all Night, And take a great deal more Delight, To MILK the cows than thee.

2. (old).—To plunder.

d. 1536. TYNDALL, Workes, p. 365. ‘And to ayd the kynge in hys right must the commons be MILKED till they bleede agayne.’

1605. JONSON, Volpone, i. 1. This three year I have MILKED their hopes.

1808. JAMIESON, Dict. Scot. Lang., s.v. MILK.

3. (old racing).—To bet against a horse, which is one’s own property [312]but is not meant to win; to keep him a favourite, at short odds, for a race in which he has no chance whatever, or in which he will not be run.

1862. Times, 2 Jan., p. 8, col. 6. If men of fortune and honour will permit their pastime to be sullied by such tricks as MILKING—by keeping a horse a favorite at short odds for a race in which he has no chance whatever, only to lay against him—etc.

1863. Fraser’s Mag., Dec. ‘The English Turf.’ MILKING then is an expressive term for getting as much as possible out of a horse.

1869. W. BRADWOOD, The O.V.H. xx. They’ll accuse you—or rather me, for he’s entered in my name and colours—of MILKING right and left.… It’s far simpler to let him run for the public money, and save a jaw and a long explanation.

1870. FIELD, 14 May, ‘The Present Condition of the Turf.’ We are not in the habit of producing examples of the proceedings at our race meetings, which are in vulgar language described as MILKING and roping, because we believe them to be so common that it would be unjust to select any one in particular for animadversion.

1871. Fun, 4 Nov. MILKING we fear is inseparably connected with the turf; we noted that sporting journals of the highest class picked ‘the cream’ of the autumn handicaps.

1888. Referee, 11 Oct. The assumption that no horse other than Paradox has ever been MILKED in open market, and many thousands of pounds made out of the transaction, is a trifle too utopian for present emergencies.

4. (general).—To get possession by artifice: as, TO MILK a telegram = to get access to it before the addressee. Cf. MILKER, sense 1.

1860. PRESCOTT, Electrical Invent., p. 108. The rapidity and simplicity of the means by which a wire could be MILKED without being cut, or put out of circuit struck the whole of the party.

1869. Times, 14 August [quoted in BREWER’S Phrase & Fable, s.v. ‘Telegram’]. They receive their telegrams in cipher to avoid the risk of their being MILKED by rival journals.

1871. Milk Journal. MILKING the wires is telegraphic slang for tapping the wires.… In India wires have been MILKED for fraudulent commercial purposes.

1884. Saturday Review, 10 May, p. 607. The Central News telegram, if it was MILKED at all, was MILKED through the medium of Sir C. Wilson’s, etc.

5. (old).—To exhaust; to drain.

1642. SYMMONS, Vindication, 175. Tho’ perhaps they have been pilled and MILK’D a few years longer by these new-states-men it will be confessed that the old government [that of the king] was far the better and more easie.

TO GIVE DOWN MILK, verb. phr. (old).—To pay.

1655. R. LESTRANGE, The Reign of King Charles, p. 187. The City was sullen, would not GIVE DOWN THEIR MILK, and pleaded want of trade and poverty.

TO MILK THE PIGEON, verb. phr. (common).—To attempt impossibilities: cf. PIGEON’S MILK.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

TO MILK THE STREET, verb. phr. (American).—To hold stock so well in hand as to make it fluctuate as you will.

1870. MEDBERY, Men and Mysteries of Wall St., 336. There is a distinction between the cliques and brokers.… Great operators rob the brokers by destroying their customers. To use the slang of the financial quarter, they MILK THE STREET.

1876. New York Tribune [BARTLETT]. The majority of stocks are still blocked, and the market, so far as possible, worked entirely upon the MILKING process.

TO MILK OVER THE FENCE, verb. phr. (common).—See quot.

1871. Milk Journal, Sept. Stealing milk from neighbours’ cows is … known as MILKING OVER THE FENCE. [313]

NO MILK IN THE COCOA-NUT, adj. phr. (common).—Silly or crazed. For synonyms see APARTMENTS TO LET.

BRISTOL-MILK. See BRISTOL.

Milk-and-molasses, subs. (American).—See quot.

1833. NEAL, Down Easters, VII. p. 96. The people of this country are of two colours, black and white … or half-and-half sometimes at the south, where they are called MILK-AND-MOLASSES.

Milk-and-water, subs. (old).—1. A stuff under this strange designation appears in 16th century inventories, but we have no guide as to what determined its title.—Draper’s Dict.

1555. Inventory of Richard Gurnell, a Kendal clothier, xj. Yards of MYLKE AND WATTER, 18s.

1571. Inventory of John Wilkenson, of Newcastle, j. Piece of MYLK AND WATTER.

2. (venery).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. MILK-AND-WATER. Both ends of the busk. [An old world toast].

Adj. (colloquial).—Insipid: undistinguished; harmless.

1823. BYRON, Don Juan, C. VIII. stanza 80. And one good action in the midst of crimes Is ‘quite refreshing,’ in the affected phrase Of these ambrosial Pharisaic times, With all their pretty MILK-AND-WATER ways.

1847. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, iv. Simple appeals to the affections, which people understood better than the MILK-AND-WATER lagrime, sospiri, and felicità of the eternal Donizettian music with which we are favoured now-a-days.

1861. C. READE, Cloister and the Hearth, XXVI. A MILK-AND-WATER bourgeois.

1889. Star, 12 Dec., p. 7, col. 1. The giant will be no MILK-AND-WATER giant, as young Mr. Geo. Conquest will represent him.

Milker, subs. (common).—1. See quot. and MILK, verb. sense 4.

1891. Cassell’s Sat. Jour., Sept., p. 1036, col. 2. When a telegram sent to a specific person is surreptitiously made use of or drawn from by others, it is said to have been ‘milked;’ and those who thus steal are called MILKERS. To guard, as far as possible, against this being done, important special and press messages from abroad, and sometimes home telegrams also, are written in cipher.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. Also MILKING-PAIL, MILK-JUG, and MILK-PAN. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

3. (colloquial).—A milk-giver.

1854. Quarterly Rev., cxlv. 292. One individual, several years ago, possessed 1500 MILKERS.

Milker’s-calf, subs. (Australian).—A calf yet with the cow; hence, a mother’s boy or girl.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, i. I used to laugh at him, and call him a regular old crawler of a MILKER’S CALF in the old days.

Milk-fever. See PENCIL-FEVER.

Milk-hole, subs. (Winchester College).—The hole formed by the ROUSH (q.v.) under a POT (q.v.).—Notions.

Milking-pail. TO WORK (or CARRY) THE MILKING-PAIL, verb. phr. (old racing).—See MILK, verb., sense 3.

c. 186[?]. Baily’s Magazine. These al fresco speculators have their ‘dead uns’ and carry MILKING-PAILS like their more civilized brethren privileged with the entrée to the clubs and the Corner.

Milk-livered, adj. (old colloquial).—Timid; cowardly.

1605–6. SHAKSPEARE, King Lear, iv. 2. Gon. MILK-LIVER’D man! That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs. [314]

Milkman (Milker, or Milk-woman), subs. (venery).—A trader in masturbation; a SHAGSTER (q.v.).

Milk-shop (Milk-walk, or Milky way), subs. (common).—The paps. For synonyms see DAIRIES.

1640. Wit’s Recr. [HOTTEN], 363. Her breast … Bears up two globes … Which headed with two rich round Rubies, show Like wanton Rose-buds … And in the MILKY-VALLEY that’s between, sits Cupid.

Milk-sop, subs. (old: now recognised).—A coward; a ladified man; a novice; a MEACOCK (q.v.).

1390. CHAUCER, Monkes Tale, b. 15396. ‘Allas!’ sche saith, ‘that ever I was i-schape, To wedde a MYLK-SOP or a coward ape.’

1590. GREENE, Mourning Garment [GROSART (1881–6), ix. 173]. What is it for mee to pinne a fayre meacocke and a witty MILKSOP on my sleaue who dare not answere with their swords in the face of the enemy?

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Superer. [GROSART (1885), ii. 17]. Are MILKSOP Muses such whiteliuer’d Trontes?

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Biancone, a goodly, great MILKE-SAPPE, a fresh-water soldier.

1600. SHAKSPEARE, Much Ado, v. 1. Boys, apes, braggarts, Jacks, MILKSOPS.

1603. DEKKER, Patient Grissill [GROSART (1886), v. 167]. Fye, Signior; no musicke in your mouth but battles, yet a meere MILKESOP?

1618. FIELD, Amends for Ladies, iv. 2. Thou art a faint-hearted fellow, a MILK-SOP.

1621. BURTON, Anat., p. 143. ’Tis now come to that pass that he is no gentleman, a very MILK-SOP, a clown.

1660. TATHAM, The Rump, i. [MAIDMENT (1873), p. 202]. A meer MILKSOP.… A wheybrain’d fellow.

1892. Evening Standard, 25 Nov. p. 4, c. 5. Everyone knows how boys dread being set down as MILKSOPS.

Milk-woman, subs. (Scots’ colloquial).—1. A wet-nurse. GREEN MILK-WOMAN = a woman recently delivered.

2. (venery).—See MILKMAN.

Milky ones, subs. phr. (common).—White linen rags. MILKY-DUDS = white clothes.—MATSELL (1859).

Mill, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A fight; a SET-TO (q.v.).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 36. We, who’re of the fancy-lay, As dead hands at a MILL as they.

1823. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, ii. 1. Cribb. Thank’ye, gentleman, thank’ye—but as I see by our sporting oracle, ‘The Dispatch,’ there’s a MILL on foot—I’ll give you, ‘May the best man win.’

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, ‘The Double Cross.’ The MILL is o’er, the crosser crost, The loser’s won, the vinner’s lost!

1843. Comic Almanack, 378, ‘Stoppage of the Mills.’ Indeed, I never saw the like, Our minds with wonder it must fill, Though MILLS ensue when people strike, The strikes have stopp’d full many a mill.

1853. Diogenes, ii. p. 134. Bell’s Life the other day told us of two noted pugilists who (we quote the very words), ‘had a MILL for 200l.’ When the decimal coinage is established, they will be able to have no less than five ‘mils’ for a penny.

1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-Days, Pt. II. ch. v. A champion was picked out on each side tacitly, who settled the matter by a good hearty MILL.

1860. THE DRUID, Post and Paddock, ‘The Fight for the Belt.’ By sea and by land, in village and town, Nothing whatever seemed to go down, Save the latest on dit of the MILL.

1862. The Cork Examiner, 28 March. Since this little event there have been … some very exciting little MILLS.

1883. Saturday Review, 31 March, p. 398, col. 1. This apparently harmless [315]elderly victim was a retired light-weight prize-fighter, and so, with the ready consent of everybody, a MILL was arranged.

2. (thieves’).—1. The treadmill; (2) a prison.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, 2nd Ser., p. 156 (ed. 1851). A landsman said, ‘I twig the chap—he’s been upon the MILL.’

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, viii. ‘Was you never on the MILL?’ ‘What MILL?’ inquired Oliver. ‘What MILL!—why, the MILL—the MILL as takes up so little room that it’ll work inside a stone jug, and always goes better when the wind’s low with people than when it’s high, acos then they can’t get workmen.’

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., i. 390. A few weeks after I was grabbed for this, and got a month at the MILL.

1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand, x. The latter worthy … gave a policeman such a licking the other night, that he was within an ace of getting a month at the MILL.

3. (obsolete).—The old Insolvent Debtors’ Court. Hence, TO GO THROUGH THE MILL = to be adjudicated bankrupt.

4. (military).—A guard-room in barracks; a JIGGER (q.v.).

5. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. Cf. GRIND.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc. (quoted in), v. 139. For Peggy is a bonny lass, and grinds well her MILL, For she will be Occupied when others they lie still.

6. (old).—A chisel.—GROSE (1785); MATSELL (1859).

Verb. (pugilistic).—1. To fight; to pummel; to kill: see quot. 1748. TO MILL THE NOB = to punch the head.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MILL … in the Canting Language, means to beat, thresh, maul, or kill a person.

1785, GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1818. P. EGAN, Boxiana, i. 10. When his Lordship, instead of redressing, set about MILLING him for his insolence.

1840. THACKERAY, Shabby Genteel Story, viii. He had MILLED a policeman.

1840. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (The Ghost). Boxing may be a very pretty Fancy, When Messrs. Burke or Bendigo engage:—’Tis not so well in Susan, Jane, or Nancy:—To get well MILL’D by any one’s an evil, But by a lady—’tis the very Devil.

1864. Eton School Days, iii. 38. Science, you know, is better than brute force, and although Chorley is older and bigger than me, if I knew how to MILL I wouldn’t stand still to be licked.

2. (old).—To rob. Also to break or force. MILL-LAY (GROSE, 1785) = burglary.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1869), p. 86. Yonder dwelleth a quyere cuffen, it were beneship to myll him.

1598. STOW, Survey of London (ed. 1754, vol. II. p. 543). Add one phrase more in those times used among this sort, MYLKEN, which is to commit a robbery, or Burghlary in the night in a dwelling house.

1609. DEKKER, Lanthorne & Candlelight [GROSART, iii. p. 203], ‘The Beggar’s Curse.’ The Ruffin cly the ghost of the Harman-beck.… If we niggle or MILL but a poor Boozing-KEN.… Straight we’re to the Cuffin Queer forced to bing.

1611. MIDDLETON and DEKKER, Roaring Girl, v. 1. A gage of ben Rom-bouse … is benar than a Caster, Peck, pennam, lay, or popler, Which we MILL in deause-a-vile.

1621. JONSON, Gipsies Metamorphosed. Can they cant or MILL? Are they masters in their art?

1622–65. HEAD and KIRKMAN, English Rogue, ‘Bing out, bien Morts.’ To MILL each KEN let cove bing then Thro’ Ruffmans, Jague, or Laund.

1661. FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, v. 1. Tell us If it be MILLING of a lag of duds, The fetching-off a buck of clothes, or so?

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1712. T. SHIRLEY, Triumph of Wit, ‘The Maunder’s Praise of His Strowling [316]Mort.’ If Lour we want; I’ll MILL A gage, or nip for thee a bung.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1754. Disc. John Poulter, 14. While we went a MILLING that swag.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MILL. To rob; also to break, beat out, or kill. I’ll MILL your glaze; I’ll beat out your eye. To MILL a bleating cheat; to kill a sheep. To MILL a ken; to rob a house.

1790. A. WILSON, Poems, 73. His dearie glad of siccan routh, To MILL a note was aye right ready.

1829. SCOTT, Mid-Lothian, xxx. Rot me, one might have MILLED the Bank of England and less noise about it.

3. (thieves’).—To send to the tread-mill.

1838–9. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p. 122 (ed. 1859). ‘So I do do as she bids me,’ replied Mr. Chitling; ‘I shouldn’t have been MILLED if ’t hadn’t been for her.’

TO GO THROUGH (or BE ON) THE MILL, verb. phr. (common).—1. To go through the Bankruptcy Court; to be WHITEWASHED (q.v.). See MILL, subs. sense 3.

2. (colloquial).—To pass through a more or less severe course of discipline, experience, or training.

1829. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, xxxi. ‘She [Jeanie Deans] ’s got a jark from Jim Ratcliffe’ said the short fellow ‘and Frank won’t hear of our PUTTING HER THROUGH THE MILL.’

1858. W. W. PRATT, Ten Nights in a Bar-room, ii. 1. P’raps you have BEEN THROUGH THE MILL.

1872. Fun, 10 Aug. ‘Over.’ One more year ON THE MILL, Twelve months more at the pen, Ere I of respite again have my fill—.

1883. Referee, 1 July, p. 2, col. 4. He hinted at the hardships which many actors and actresses have to endure, and did not disguise the fact that he had himself BEEN THROUGH THE MILL.

1887. Contemp. Rev., li. 10. Certain persons who have GONE THROUGH THE MILL of what is known as our ‘higher education.’

3. (thieves’).—See MILL, verb. 3.

1889. Daily News, 4 July. He had BEEN THROUGH THE MILL, and could do it again.

TO BRING GRIST TO THE MILL, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be a source of profit.

1726. AYLIFFE, Parergon [Century]. The computation of degrees, in all matrimonial causes, is wont to be made according to the rules of that law, because it BRINGS GRIST TO THE MILL.

TO PUT THROUGH THE MILL, verb. phr. (common).—To put to trial: as a horse before a race.

1872. Morning Post, 7 Nov. Totally disregarding the horse’s retrogression in the betting after he was PUT THROUGH THE MILL I advised my readers to make him a winner.

1888. Daily Telegraph, 24 Dec. The number of yearlings PUT THROUGH THE MILL before Christmas is fewer than usual.

Mill-clapper, subs. (common).—The tongue: specifically of women.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

Mill-doll, subs. (obsolete).—The Bridewell, once situate in Bridge Street Blackfriars.

1781. MESSINK, in Choice of Harlequin, ‘The Keeper of Bridewell’s Song.’ I’m Jigger Dubber here, and you are welcome to MILL DOLL.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v.

Verb. (old).—To beat hemp in Bridewell; to do work on the treadmill. See MILL-DOLLY.

1751. FIELDING, Amelia, i. x. I am sent hither to MILL DOLL.

1780. R. TOMLINSON, Slang Pastoral, vi. When sitting with Nancy, what sights have I seen!… But now she MILLS DOLL.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Mill-dolly, subs. (thieves’).—See quot. [317]

1719. SMITH, Lives of Highwaymen, i. 108. ‘Punisht at hard labour in Bridewell, which beating of hemp, the thieves call MILL DOLLY.’

Mill-dose, subs. (American thieves’).—Prison labour.—MATSELL (1859).

Mill-lay, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MILL LAY. To force open the doors of houses in order to rob them.

Miller, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A pugilist.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MILLERS—second-rate boxers, whose arms run round in rapid succession, not always falling very hard, or with determinate object.

1837. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late Physician, vii. The captain … being a first-rate MILLER, as the phrase is … let fall a sudden shower of blows about Mr. Marningham’s head and breast.

c. 1840. HOOD, Miss Kilmansegg. Because she wouldn’t go to a mill, She didn’t know when but remembered still, That the MILLER’S name was Mendoza.

2. See JOE MILLER.

3. (old).—A vicious horse.

1825. The English Spy, i. 236. The horse shewed symptoms of being a MILLER. The Baronet, nothing daunted, touches him smartly under the flank, when up he goes in his forequarters, smashes the tilbury into ten thousand pieces, bolts away with the traces and shafts, and leaves the baronet with a broken head.

4. (old coaching).—A white hat.

5. (Old Cant).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MILLER, a Killer or Murderer.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

TO GIVE THE MILLER, verb. phr. (common).—See quot.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 193. Some of his pals GAVE HIM THE MILLER, that is a lot of flour is wrapped up in thin paper about the size of a fist, and when thrown, the first thing it comes in contact with, breaks and smothers the party all over.

TO DROWN THE MILLER, verb. phr. (common).—1. To water overmuch. Originally TO DROWN THE MILLER’S THUMB, i.e., the thumb-mark on the glass.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 171]. TO PUT OUT THE MILLER’S THUMB. Spoken by good housewives, when they have wet their meal for bread or paste too much.

1821. SCOTT, The Pirate, ii. 64. ‘He shall drink off the yawl full of punch.’ ‘Too much water DROWNED THE MILLER,’ answered Triptolemus.

1834. MARRYAT, Jacob Faithful, ch. xii. Old Tom put the pannikin to his lips. ‘DROWNED THE MILLER, by heavens!’ said he; ‘what could I have been about?’ ejaculated he, adding more spirits to his mixture.

1886. MISS HUME, Shrops. Folk Lore, p. 597. TO DROWN THE MILLER = to add too much water to the flour in bread-making; also frequently applied to tea-making, when it is of course meaningless.

2. (Scots’).—To go bankrupt. [JAMIESON].

1805. A. SCOTT, Poems, 34. Honest men’s been ta’en for rogues, When bad luck gars DROWN THE MILLER, Hunted ’maist out o’ their brogues, Fortune-smit for lack o’ siller.

Miller’s-eye, subs. (common).—A lump of flour in a loaf.

TO PUT THE MILLER’S-EYE OUT, verb. phr. (common).—To be sparing of flour.

Miller’s-thumb. See COBBLER’S-THUMB.

Milliner’s-shop, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Mill-ken, subs. (thieves’).—A housebreaker. See AREA-SNEAK, and (for synonyms) THIEVES. [318]

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. (Repr. 1874), p. 50. MILKEN, one that breaks houses.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (ed. PARK), ii. 108. MILL-KEN [in list of names of thieves].

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict. MILKEN, a house breaker.

1725. Old Ballad (in New Cant. Dict.), ‘The Twenty Craftsmen.’ The fourth was a MILL-KEN, to crack up a door, He’d venture to rob both the rich and the poor.

1754. FIELDING, Jonathan Wild, bk. I. ch. v. The same capacity which qualifies a MILL-KEN, 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.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Milling, subs. (common).—1. A beating. Also fighting.

1810. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, ii. 2. One blood gives t’other a MILLING.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, iv. The champion of England stands unrivalled for his punishment, game, and MILLING on the retreat.

1841. MRS. GORE, Cecil, 158. Put myself in a Cribb-like attitude for a MILLING-match.

2. (old).—Stealing.

MILLING IN THE DARKMANS, subs. phr. (Old Cant).—Murder by night. See MILL, verb. 1.

1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, xxviii. Men were men then, and fought each other in the open field, and there was nae MILLING IN THE DARKMANS.

Milling-cove, subs. phr. (pugilists’).—A pugilist.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MILLING COVE. How the MILLING COVE served the cull out; how the boxer beat the fellow.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.

1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 250 (ed. 1864). Zoroaster, who was not merely a worshipper of fire, but a thorough MILLING-COVE, had engaged to some purpose in a pugilistic encounter with the rustics.

Mill-round, subs. (common).—Routine: see GO THROUGH THE MILL, sense 2.

1892. M. E. BRADDON, Gerard, p. 4. ‘What have you been doing with yourself?’ ‘Nothing beyond the usual MILL-ROUND.’

Millstone. TO SEE (or LOOK) THROUGH A MILL-STONE (or BRICK WALL), verb. phr. (common).—To be well-informed; to judge with precision; to be quick of perception.

1582. LYLY, Euphues and His England [NARES]. Then, Fidus, since your eies are so sharp that you cannot onely LOOKE THROUGH A MILSTONE, but cleane through the minde, and so cunning that you can levell at the dispositions of women whom you never knew.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 171], s.v.

1782. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Bold Stroke for a Wife, iii. 1. I’m sorry such a well-invented tale should do you no more service. We old fellows can SEE AS FAR INTO A MILLSTONE as them that pick it.

TO WEEP MILLSTONES, verb. phr. (old).—Said of a person not likely to cry.

1597. SHAKSPEARE, Rich. III, i. 3. Your eyes DROP MILL-STONES when fools’ eyes drop tears. Ibid. i. 6. Cl. Bid Glo’ster think on this, and he will weep. 1 M. Aye, MILL-STONES, as he lesson’d us to weep.

1607. Cæsar & Pompey [NARES]. He, good gentleman, Will weep when he hears how we are used. 1 Serj. Yes, MILL-STONES.

TO RUN ONE’S HEAD AGAINST A MILLSTONE (MILESTONE, or BRICK WALL), verb. phr. (common).—1. [319]To resist mulishly; to attempt impossibilities.

1837. C. DICKENS, Pickwick Papers, p. 129 (ed. 1857.) ‘All them old cats will RUN THEIR HEADS AGIN MILESTONES.’

TO RUN A MILESTONE, verb. phr. (old dicing).—See quot. and KNAP.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 27. He was not ignorant of knapping, which is, striking one die dead, and let the other run a MILESTONE.

Mill-tog (tag or twig), subs. (old).—A shirt. For synonyms see CAMESA.

1821. HAGGART, Life, 133. Few had either a MILL-TWIG, toper, or crabs.

1823. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. and Lon. Poor, Vol. i. p. 231, s.v. MILL TAG—A shirt.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1888. Temple Bar, XXIV. 536. I’ve known him to get thirty MILL-TOGS in one day.

Mill-wash, subs. (tailors’).—Vest canvas.

Milt, subs. (venery).—The semen; Hence, MILT-MARKET (or -SHOP) = the female pudendum; TO DOUBLE ONE’S MILT (old) = to ejaculate twice without removal.

Milton, subs. (common).—An oyster.

1841. THACKERAY, Comic Tales and Sketches, ii. p. 175. Mrs. Grampus herself operated with the oyster-knife, and served the MILTON morsels to the customers.

1854. AYTOUN and MARTIN, Bon Gualtier Ballads [14th ed. (1884), p. 180]. These mute inglorious MILTONS are divine.

Milvader, verb. (old).—See quot.

1821. D. HAGGART, Life, ‘Glossary,’ p. 172, s.v. MILVAD, a blow. MILVADERING, boxing.

1823. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue (3rd. ed.), s.v.

Mince, verb. (medical students’).—To dissect.

Mince-pies, subs. (rhyming).—The eyes. Also MUTTON-PIES (q.v.).

1892. Sporting Times, 29 Oct. ‘The Rhyme of the Rusher.’ And I smiled as I closed my two MINCE-PIES.

1894. CHEVALIER, Jerusalem’s Dead, i. My MINCE-PIES are waterin’ jes like a pump, and they’re red as a ferrit’s.

Minckins. See MINX.

Mind. See P’S AND Q’S.

MIND YOUR EYE, phr. (common).—Be careful. Also (nautical) MIND YOUR HELM.

Minden Boys, subs. phr. (military).—The Twentieth Foot. [From their bravery at Minden, 1759].

Minder, subs. (common).—A child put out to nurse.

Mine-arse. See BANDBOX.

Mine-of-pleasure, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

17[?]. Old Ballad [quoted by Burns in Merry Muses], ‘O Saw Ye my Maggy?’ A HIDDEN MINE OF PLEASURE.

Mine uncle. See UNCLE.

Mingle-mangle, subs. (old).—A hotch-potch.

1550. Apol. of Johan Bale, fo. 25. Al thys have I wrytten afore leaste we shulde take euyll for good, and couple sower wyth swete, making of the a MINGLE-MANGEL, for pigges of the pope’s old puddel.

1600. HOOKER, Sermons, v. 7. He cannot love the Lord Jesus with his heart … which can brook to see a MINGLE-MANGLE of religion and superstition. [320]

Minikin (or Minnikon), subs. (old).—See quots. Also as adj. = diminutive; dainty; delicate.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Mingherlina, a daintie lasse, a MINNIKIN, smirking wench.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Lear, iii. 6, 45. Sleepest, or wakest thou, jolly shepherd, Thy sheep be in the corn; And for one blast of thy MINIKIN mouth, Thy sheep shall take no harm.

1606. DEKKER, Newes from Hell [GROSART (1886), ii. 146]. Tickle the next MINKIN.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionary, s.v. Mignonnet. A prettie, or young minion; a MINIKIN.

1635. GLAPTHORNE, Hollander, ii. 1. Surely the MINIKIN is enamoured of me.

1656. Muses’ Recr. [HOTTEN], 71. I should begin to call my strings My cattlings, and my MINIKINS.

1667. PEPYS, Diary, 18 March. Angling with a MINNIKIN, a gut string varnished over, which keeps it from swelling, and is beyond any hair for strength or smallness.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MINIKIN, a little man or woman; also the smallest sort of pin.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MINIKIN.… ‘What a MINIKIN mouth she has.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v., MINNIKON.

Minor, subs. (Eton College).—1. A younger brother.

1864. Eton School Days, vii. ‘Let my MINOR pass, you fellows!’ exclaimed Horsham.

2. (old).—A water-closet.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

MINOR CLERGY, subs. phr. (old).—Young chimney-sweeps.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mint, subs. (Old Cant).—Money: also MINT-SAUCE or MINT-DROPS.

c. 1420. PALLADIUS, Husbondrie [E. E. T. S.], p. 99. Thees if me spende, or MYNT for them receyve.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65, s.v.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874), s.v.

1621. JONSON, Metam. Gipsies. Strike fair at some jewel, That MINT may accrue well.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. p. 50 (1874), s.v.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1724. E. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1828. EGAN, Finish to Tom and Jerry, 53. I not only hope that he gets lots of MINT-SAUCE, etc.

1867. JAS. GREENWOOD, Unsent. Journeys, xxx. 230. The requisite MINT SAUCE (as that horribly vulgar and slangy B. P. terms money).

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, p. .… When the Hon. T. H. Benton, of Missouri, put his whole strength forward on the floor of Congress and through the press to introduce a gold currency, he accidentally called the latter MINT-DROPS.

Adv. (colloquial).—Plenty of money.—Lex. Bal. (1811); MATSELL (1859). Also a MINT OF MONEY = a big sum.—GROSE.

Minx, subs. (old).—1. A woman: in contempt; and (2) a harlot. Also MINCKINS.

d. 1593. MARLOWE, Doctor Faustus, VI. What are you, Mistress MINX.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 509]. How now, you unreverent MINX.

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Magalda, a queane, a harlot, a strumpet, an old trot, a trull or MINXE, a gixie.

b. 1600. Grim the Collier etc. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 436]. Come hither, MINX!

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, iii. 3, 475. Lewd MINX! Come, go with me apart. [321]

1605. London Prodigal, iii. 3. MINCKINS, look you do not follow me!

1635. GLAPTHORNE, Hollander [PEARSON (1874), i. 129]. Well said, MINX!

1678. BUTLER, Hudibras [JOHNSON]. Some torches bore, some links, Before the proud virago MINX.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MINKS, a proud Flirt.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, May, p. 3. ’Twas there this precious MINX agreed to betray this young innocent.

1775. SHERIDAN, St. Patrick’s Day, i. 2. Why, you little provoking MINX.

Miraculous-cairn, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Mischief, subs. (colloquial).—1. A vexatious person; and (2) ruin. TO GO TO THE MISCHIEF = to go to the bad. Hence, WHAT, WHO, or WHERE THE MISCHIEF = what, who, or where the hell, or the devil; TO PLAY THE MISCHIEF = to play havoc; to disorder; WITH A MISCHIEF = with a vengeance.

1614. JONSON, Bartholomew Fair, i. WHAT THE MISCHIEF do you come with her? or she with you?

1630. JOHN TAYLOR, Wks. [NARES]. Will in a little time make her encrease with a vengeance, and multiply WITH A MISCHIEFE.

1818. S. E. FERRIER, Marriage, xv. Boys may GO TO THE MISCHIEF, and be good for something—if girls go, they’re good for nothing I know of.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, xxvii. Bide down, WITH A MISCHIEF TO YE, bide down!

1885. Morning Post, 5 Febr. These move slowly through the camp, their centrifugal force PLAYING THE MISCHIEF, blowing everything to pieces, knocking down tents, carrying them off 100 yards, and generally causing a good deal of bad language.

1892. Tit-Bits, 17 Sept., p. 19, col. 3. ‘What will our wives say when we get home?’ ‘Let them say what they want to; mine will tell me to GO TO THE MISCHIEF,’ responded number two.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room Ballads, ‘Gunga Din.’ You ’eathen, WHERE THE MISCHIEF ’ave you been?

3. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MISCHIEF. A man loaded with mischief, i.e., a man with his wife on his back.

Misery, subs. (common).—Gin. For synonyms see DRINKS and WHITE SATIN.

Misfit, subs. (tailors’).—An awkward man.

Mish, subs. (old).—A shirt or chemise; cf. CAMESA. [An abbreviation of COMMISSION (q.v.)].

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. p. 48 (1874), s.v.

1712. T. SHIRLEY, Triumph of Wit, ‘The Maunder’s Praise of His Strowling Mort.’ What though I no Togeman wear, Nor Commission, MISH or Slate.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 13, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Mishmash, subs. (old).—See quots.

1598. FLORIO [HALLIWELL], p. 95. A chaos, a confused lump, a formelesse mass, a MISH-MASH.

1609. HOLLAND, Ammianus Marcellinus [NARES]. And these are so full of their confused circumlocutions, that a man would thinke he heard Thersites with a frapling and bawling clamor to come out with a MISHMASH and hotchpotch of most distastfull and unsavorie stuffe.

1638. SIR T. HERBERT, Travels in Africa, p. 27. Their language … [is] a MISH-MASH of Arabic and Portuguese.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MISHMASH. A low word. A mingle or hotch-potch.

Mish-topper, subs. (old).—A coat or petticoat. [322]

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Miss, subs. (old).—1. See quot. 1662.

1662. EVELYN, Diary, 9 Jan. She being taken to be the Earle of Oxford’s MISSE, as at this time they began to call lewd women.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Wks. (1725), p. 268. It is mettle carries MISSES.

1675. The Character of a Town Miss, 3. ‘A MISS is a new name which the civility of this age bestows on one that our unmannerly ancestors called whore and strumpet.’

1678. BUTLER, Hudibras [JOHNSON]. All women would be of one piece, The virtuous matron and the MISS.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MISS, a Whore of quality.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Jan. p. 37. As subject to mistake an affected sorrow for a real grief, as our cullies, the fawnings of their MISSES for a true passion.

d. 1701. DRYDEN, in Wks. [JOHNSON]. This gentle cock, for solace of his life, Six MISSES had besides his lawful wife.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 197. Not sufficient to support his extravagancy in keeping several MISSES.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, i. 174. Then bring the MISS for Morning Bliss.

1729. GAY, Polly, i. XIX. Abroad after MISSES most husbands will range.

1775. ASH, Eng. Dict., s.v. MISS … a strumpet, a prostitute, a concubine.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1786. BURNS, The Inventory. I hae nae wife, an’ that my bliss is. An’ ye hae laid nae tax on MISSES.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (old).—A very young girl.

1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, ii. 2. Madam, you are too severe upon MISS; you must not find fault with her pretty simplicity.

1712. SWIFT, Corinna [CHALMERS, English Poets (1810), XI. 386]. She made a song how little MISS Was kissed and slobbered by a lad.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MONEY.

3. (dressmakers’).—A girl from about 10 to 15 years of age. Before and after, a ‘child’ and a ‘young lady’ respectively.

A MISS IS AS GOOD AS A MILE, phr. (colloquial).—A narrow escape is as good as an easy one.

TO MISS THE CUSHION, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Armeggiare … to raue or commit some foolish part, to MISSE THE CUSHION, or to be wide from the purpose.

TO MISS ONE’S TIP. See TIP.

TO MISS THE FIGURE. See COMBINATION and SLUMP.

Miss Brown, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.—GROSE (1785).

Miss Laycock, subs. (venery).—See quot. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MISS LAYCOCK. The monosyllable.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Miss-Nancy, subs. (colloquial).—An affectedly prim person: male or female. Hence, MISS-NANCYISM = affected nicety; effeminacy.

1883. Philadelphia Times, 2 July. The milksops and MISS-NANCYS among the young men, etc.

1886. Harper’s Weekly, 20 March. Ineffable silliness, sneering at the demand for honesty in politics as MISS-NANCYISM.

Missus (The), subs. (vulgar).—1. A wife: sometimes written as in quot. 1864; and (2), among servants, a mistress. [323]

1846–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, xxv. So he altered these words, bowing to the superior knowledge of his little MISSIS.

1857. TROLLOPE, Barchester Towers, xxxii. Mr. Harding and Mr. Arabin had all quarrelled with MISSUS for having received a letter from Mr. SLOPE.

1864. Glasgow Herald, 11 Nov. ‘Bankruptcy Examinations.’ I did not buy the property in Crown Street. THE MRS. bought a property in Rosehall Street.

Mist. SCOTCH MIST, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Rain.

Mistake. AND NO MISTAKE, phr. (colloquial).—Unquestionably; without fail.

Mistress, subs. (old).—The mark in the game of bowls; the JACK (q.v., sense 2).

1580. SIDNEY, Arcadia, p. 281. Zelmane using her own byas, to bowl near the MISTRESSE of her own thoughts.

1600. Weakest goes to the Wall, 4to. G. 3. I hope to be as near the MISTRESSE as any of you all.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Troilus & Cressida, iii. 2. So, so, rub on, and kiss the MISTRESS.

1632. W. ROWLEY, Woman Never Vext, ii. 1. Everyone strives to lie nearest the MISTRESS. Ibid. iv. 1. This city bowler has kissed the MISTRESS at first cast.

1653. BROME, Queen and Concubine, ii. 3. Rather than to have my head bowl’d at her, though I were sure it should kiss the MISTRESSE.

1655. FANSHAW, Lusiad, ix. 71. Like one That rubs the MISTRESS when his bowl is gone.

1657. MIDDLETON, No Wit like a Woman’s, ii. 3. There’s three rubs gone, I’ve a clear way to the MISTRESS.

Mistress Roper, subs. phr. (nautical).—A marine. [Because he handles the ropes awkwardly].

Mite (or Mitey), subs. (common).—A cheesemonger; cf. BURNCRUST, CORKS, etc.

1765. FOOTE, Commissary, iii. 1. There liv’d Miss Cicely MITE, the only daughter of old MITE the cheesemonger.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mitre, subs. (University).—A hat. See TUFTS. For synonyms see GOLGOTHA.

Mitten, subs. (common).—1. A hand. For synonyms see BUNCH OF FIVES.—GROSE (1823).

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.

2. (pugilistic).—A boxing glove; a MUFFLER (q.v.). Also MITTS.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1887. Lic. Vict. Gazette, 2 Dec., 359/2. I’ll get him to put the MITTENS on vid your friend, and have three rounds.

1888. GREENWOOD, Odd People in Odd Places, p. 56. You see them two there, sitting on t’other end of the table and eating fried fish and bread. That’s their MITTENS they’ve got tied up in that hankercher. They’re fighting coves.

Verb. (common).—To jilt. Also TO GIVE THE MITTEN. In Devonshire TO GIVE ONE TURNIPS.

1838. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches [BARTLETT]. Young gentlemen that have GOT THE MITTEN, or young gentlemen who think they are going to GET THE MITTEN, always sigh. It makes them feel bad.

1848. LOWELL, Fable for Critics, p. 43. Here comes Dana, abstractedly loitering along Involved in a paulo-post-future of song Who’ll be going to write what’ll never be written Till the Muse, ere he thinks of it, GIVES HIM THE MITTEN.

1855. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), Human Nature, p. 90. There is a young lady I have set my heart on; though whether she is a-goin’ to give me hern, or GIVE ME THE MITTEN, I ain’t quite satisfied.

1868. O. W. HOLMES, Guardian [324]Angel, ch. xxxiii. p. 264 (Rose Lib.). Some said that Susan had GIVEN her young man THE MITTEN, meaning thereby that she had signified that his services as a suitor were dispensed with.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, s.v. More ungracefully still, an unfortunate lover, who is simply ‘jilted’ at the North, is more violently ‘kicked’ at the South—a phrase marking most characteristically the contrast between the free and easy manners of our day with those of past days, when the strongest term used for the painful occasion was TO GIVE and TO GET THE MITTEN. The latter word ought, however, always to be MITTENS, as the phrase is derived from the same use made of the French mitaines, which had to be accepted by the unsuccessful lover instead of the hand, after which he aspired.

1873. CARLETON, Farm Ballads, 19. Once, when I was young as you, and not so smart, perhaps, For me she MITTENED a lawyer, and several other chaps.

1884. Punch, 1 March, p. 108, col. 2. Lifeboat hands who are found shrinking, Or with fear of danger smitten, GET, not medals, but THE MITTEN.

1887. Lippincott’s Magazine, Aug., p. 241. Ah, I see. Popped the question, and GOT THE MITTEN. Oh, well you mustn’t let that discourage you.

1888. Notes & Queries, 7 S. vi. 126. TO GET THE MITTEN.… Without doubt the Latin mitto, to send (about your business), to dismiss, is the fons et origo of the word.

1890. E. BELLAMY, Dr. Heidenhoff’s Process, p. 42. ‘After all,’ she said, suddenly, ‘that would be taking a good deal of trouble to GET A MITTEN. If you are so anxious for it, I will give it to you now;’ and she held out the glove to him with an inscrutable face.

TO HANDLE WITHOUT MITTENS, verb. phr. (common).—See quot.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MITTENS. TO HANDLE WITHOUT MITTENS. To handle roughly. A low phrase.

EASY AS MITTENS, phr. (common).—Free.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 22. The ladies was EASY AS MITTENS.

Mitten-mill, subs. (American).—A glove-fight.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Mivvy, subs. (common).—1. A woman: in contempt. Hence (2) a lodging-house landlady; a CAT (q.v.).

1887. Punch, 10 Sept., p. 111. Talk about stodge! Jest you arsk the old MIVVY as caters for me at the crib where I lodge.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 13. Bare-armed old MIVVIES you meet spread out pink in a theatre stall.

2. (schoolboys’).—A marble.

1856. Notes & Queries, 2 S. i. 283. s.v.

Mix, subs. (colloquial).—A muddle; a mess.

1882. W. D. HOWELLS, A Likely Story iii. What a fatal, fatal MIX.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To confuse; and (2) to involve or implicate. Also TO MIX UP (see quot. 1823).

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MIX IT UP—to agree secretly how the parties shall make up a tale, or colour a transaction in order to cheat or deceive another party, as in case of a justice-hearing, of a law-suit, or a cross in a boxing-match for money.

1879. E. DICEY, Victor Emanuel, p. 53. An Italian exile, who in his hot youth had been MIXED UP, very much against the grain, in an abortive plot for the assassination of the late king.

TO MIX (or JOIN) GIBLETS. See quots.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. GIBLETS.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MIX GIBLETS—to intermarry—naturally or legally.

1887. Notes and Queries, 7 S. IV. 511. TO JOIN GIBLETS. This expression may occasionally be heard … and has a very offensive meaning. [325]

Mixed, adj. (colloquial).—1. Confused; muddled; bewildered.

1880. Punch, 4 Sept., 106. ‘Tomkins’s First Session.’ Rather MIXED after twenty-one hours’ continuous sitting.

2. (old: now American).—Foul; bad; inferior.

c. 1280. Havelok the Dane, l. 2533, p. 88 (Roxb. A). Of Cornwayle that was erl, That fole traytour, that MIXED cherl.

3. (common).—Slightly drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1872. Leeds Mercury, 29 Aug. ‘Nottingham Police Report.’ ‘Was defendant drunk?’ ‘No, Sir, he was not drunk, and he wornt sober.’ ‘You say he wasn’t drunk?’ ‘No, Sir, he was MIXED.’

Mix-metal, subs. (old).—A silversmith.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Mixum, subs. (old).—An apothecary.

1635. GLAPTHORNE, Hollander, i. 1. Sir, I am sent from Mr. MIXUM, your apothecary.

Mizmaze, subs. (old).—See quot. 1755.

1706. LOCKE, Conduct of the Understanding, § 20. Those who are accustomed to reason have got the true key of books, and the clue to lead them through the MIZMAZE of variety of opinions and authors to truth.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MIZMAZE. A cant word, formed from maze by reduplication. A maze; a labyrinth.

1875. PARISH, Sussex Glossary [DAVIES]. I was all of a MIZMAZE—I was all in a bewilderment.

1883. American, viii. 308. Unless he had repeated that verbal MIZ-MAZE of the Convention.

Mizzard, subs. (tramps’).—The mouth: cf. MAZZARD.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, xiv. If the beds ain’t all made … and everything fat and lean in the kitchen, they open their MIZZARDS and slam I can tell you.

Mizzle, verb. (common).—To decamp; TO AMPUTATE (q.v.); to SKEDADDLE (q.v.).

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, II. 231. He preferred MIZZLING off to France.

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 143, s.v.

1821. EGAN, Real Life, i. 224. He tipp’d the slavey a tanner and MIZZLED.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd ed.), s.v.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, p. 6. Tom. That will do—now then Dicky, MIZZLE!—be scarce!—broom! Prince. Wouldn’t intrude a moment, gentlemen, good morning—order my carriage.

1830. T. HOOD, On a Royal Demise. How monarchs die is easily explained, And thus it might upon their tombs be chiselled: As long as George IV. could reign, he reigned, And then he MIZZLED.

1830. DICKENS, Pickwick, p. 74 (ed. 1847). ‘How you run on,’ said Rachael. ‘Run on—nothing to the hours, days, weeks, months, years, when we’re united—run on—they’ll fly on—bolt,—MIZZLE—steam—engine—thousand-horse-power—nothing to it.’

1840. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends (Lay of S. Cuthbert). ‘Cut your stick, sir—come, MIZZLE! be off with you! go!’

1841. HOOD, in Comic Almanack, 256. But, oh! pride, pride must have a fall; Her cash he soon got through: And then, one mizzling Mich’lmas day, The Count he MIZZLED too.

1843. S. COYNE, Binks the Bagman, i. Binks. Sanguinary scoundrel! you have murdered that angelic woman. Begone—abscond—dissolve—MIZZLE!

1844. CHARLES SELBY, London by Night, i. 1. Jack. Hawkhurst! (Aside.) I’d better MIZZLE. [326]

1849. DICKENS, David Copperfield, p. 202. Now you may MIZZLE, Jemmy, and if Mr. Copperfield will take the chair I’ll operate on him.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., iii. 154. Of course I MIZZLED, for fear of a stone or two.

1853. Comic Almanack, p. 52. ‘The Vulture.’ ‘Smith!’ I cried, ‘your horrid smoking, Irritates my cough to choking. Having mentioned it before, Really, you should not compel one—will you MIZZLE—as before?’ Quoth the Vulture ‘Never more.’

1853. SURTEES, Mr. Sponge’s Sporting Tour, i. Soapey Sponge, as his good natured friends called him, was seen MIZZLING along Oxford St., wending his way to the west.

1857. New York Herald, 17 June. They say the treasurer has MIZZLED, and as there is a small sum of a hundred thousand dollars missing, the presumption is not a very violent one.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, III. 77. ‘How dare you eat it there,’ said Hayes brutally: ‘take it to your own crib: come, MIZZLE.’ And with that he lent him a contemptuous kick behind.

Mizzler subs. (common).—A fugitive. RUM MIZZLER = a good hand at dodging or getting off.

1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 180 (ed. 1864). From the Arch-cove to the needy MIZZLER.

Moab, subs. (obsolete University).—1. A hat: specifically, the turban-shaped hat fashionable among ladies 1858–9. [From the Scripture phrase, ‘MOAB is my washpot’ (Ps. lx. 8)].

1864. Reader, 22 Oct. MOAB, a … hat.… University it is all over. We feel sure we know the undergraduate who coined the expression; he is now a solemn don delivering lectures in Cambridge.

1884. Graphic, 20 Sept., p. 307/2. The third, with his varnished boots, his stiff brown MOAB of the newest fashion, his well-displayed shirt-cuffs.

2. (Winchester College).—See quot.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 190. On the west side of School court, a spacious room, nicknamed MOAB, has been erected, with numerous marble basins, and an unlimited supply of fresh water.

Moabite, subs. (old).—A bailiff; a PHILISTINE (q.v.).—GROSE (1785).

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOABITE, a constable.

Mob, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. The populace; the crowd. [A contraction of mobile vulgus]. Also MOBILITY and MOBOCRACY.

1686. DURFEY, Common. of Women, ‘Dedication.’ The MOBILE being all poison’d with the pernitious Tenets of a misled, ungrateful Usurper.

1688. SHADWELL, Sq. of Alsatia I, in Wks. (1720), iv. 15. This morning your cloaths and liveries will come home, and thou shalt appear rich and splendid like thy self, and the MOBILE shall worship thee.

1690. DRYDEN, Don Sebastian, iv. 1. She singled you out with her eyes, as commander-in-chief of the MOBILITY.

1694. Country Conversations [Notes and Queries, 7 S. vi. 126]. ‘I cannot approve of the word MOB, in these verses, which though significant enough, yet is a word but of Late Use, and not sufficiently Naturalized to appear in a serious Poem: Besides I esteem it a kind of Burlesque word and unsuitable to the Dignity of Horace.’

1702. MRS. CENTLIVRE, Beau’s Duel, ii. x. If so, you’ll have both the MOB and the law on your side.

1703. WARD, London Spy, pt. VI. p. 140. The House was surrounded with the MOBILITY, that it look’d like the Welsh-Cow-keepers-camp, consisting of a number of both Sexes, of all sorts and sizes.

1711. Spectator, No. 135. It is perhaps this humour of speaking no more words than we needs must which has so miserably curtailed some of our words, [327]that in familiar writings and conversation they often lose all but their first syllables, as in MOB., red., pos., incog., and the like.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, v. 308. Damsel with squire, and MOB in the Mire.

1740. NORTH, Examen, p. 574. I may note that the rabble first changed their title, and were called the MOB, in the assemblies of this club (the Green Ribbon club 1680–82), first mobile vulgus, then contracted in one syllable.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict. [1815], s.v. MOBILITY.… In cant language, the populace.

1780. LEE, Chapter of Accidents, ii. 1. Brid. I don’t love to go much among the MOBILITY, neither.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ix. The court-yard for the MOBILITY, and the apartments for the nobility.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1878. GREEN, Short Hist. Eng. People, ch. x. § 1. p. 729. When MOBS were roaring themselves hoarse for ‘Wilkes and liberty.’

2. (common).—See quots. and SCHOOL; Cf. SWELL-MOB.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., i. p. 234. Some classes of patterers, I may here observe, work in schools or MOBS of two, three, or four.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOBS. A number of thieves working together.

3. (Australian).—A number of horses, or cattle; part of a flock of sheep: a flock is the total number of fleeces tended by one shepherd; any portion of it being a MOB.

1885. MRS. CAMPBELL PRAED, The Head Station, p. 2. I wonder whether there will be a MOB of fat cattle ready for the butcher next month.

4. (common).—A strumpet (also MAB).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Verb. (old: now recognised).—To crowd; to hustle; to annoy. Hence MOBBING.

1741. H. WALPOLE, Letters, No. 9, 12 Nov. The city-shops are full of favours, the streets of marrowbones and cleavers, and the night will be full of MOBBING, bonfires, and lights.

1754. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., 2nd ed. s.v.

1759. TOWNLEY, High Life below Stairs, i. 2. Ay, let us begone; for the common people do so stare at us—we shall certainly be MOBBED.

1884. BURROUGHS, Birds and Poets, p. 41. They swarm about him like flies, and literally MOB him back into his dusky retreat.

SWELL-MOB. See SWELL-MOB.

Mobility, (or Mobocracy). See MOB, subs., sense 1.

Mobsman, subs. (thieves’).—A pickpocket: i.e., a member of the SWELL-MOB (q.v.).

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab., iv. 25. MOBSMEN, or those who plunder by manual dexterity.

Mockered, adj. (common).—Full of holes: e.g., a ragged handkerchief, or a blotched or pitted face.

Mocteroof, verb. (Covent Garden).—To doctor or FAKE (q.v.) damaged produce: e.g., pines are washed with a solution of gum; chestnuts shaken in a bag with bees-wax, etc.

Model (The), subs. (old).—See quot.

1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of London, p. 113. This is Pentonville Prison, vulgarly known as THE MODEL.

Modern Babylon, subs. (common).—London. MODERN ATHENS = Edinburgh. [328]

Modest, adj. and adv.. (colloquial).—A vulgarism expressive of moderation; the reverse of LARGE (q.v.). Hence, MODEST QUENCHER = a small drink.

Modicum, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Works (1725), p. 258. Such knees, such thighs, and such a bum And such a, such a MODICUM.

Mods, subs. (Oxford University).—The first public examination for degrees. [An abbreviation of ‘Moderations’].

1887. Chambers’ Journal, 14 May, 310. MODS cannot be attempted until the end of one year from matriculation, and need not be tackled until the expiration of two.

Moey, subs. (common).—1. The mouth. For synonyms see POTATO-TRAP.

2. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOEY, a petition.

Moffling-chete, subs. (old).—See MUFFLING-CHEAT.

Mofussil, subs. and adj. (Anglo-Indian).—Any part of India except the three capitals, Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras: specifically rural; provincial.

1772. Order of Council of H. E. I. C. in Claim of Roy Rada Churn. 13. 2. In each district shall be established two Courts of Judicature: one by the name of the MOFUSSIL Audauler or Provincial Court of Dewannee.

1845. The Mofussilite [Title]. Published in Calcutta.

1863. G. A. SALA, Breakfast in Bed, Essay I. p. 11 (1864). ‘The conduct of the Indian government with reference to the Gwalior bungalows, the farming of MOFUSSILS to Kansamahs.’

Moggy, subs. (old).—1. A badly-dressed woman; a GUY (q.v.).

2. (old).—A calf.

Mogue, verb. (common).—To gammon; to throw dust in one’s eyes.

1870. Bell’s Life, 19 June. If Mr. Milsom means business and not MOGUING let him cover my deposit.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 60. Sometimes we MOGUE ’em by pulling ’em a bit, but those bookies are fly to the game.

Mohair, subs. (old).—1. An upholsterer. Cf. BURN-CRUST.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulgar Tongue, s.v. MOHAIR, a man in the civil line, a townsman, or tradesman, a military term, from the mohair buttons worn by persons of those descriptions, or any others not in the army; the buttons of military men being always of metal; this is generally used as a term of contempt.

Mohawk (or Mohock), subs. (old).—A ruffian who infested the streets of London at the beginning of the eighteenth century. At the Restoration, the street bullies were called Muns and Tityre-Tus; then Hectors and Scourers; then, Nickers and Hawcubites; and lastly, MOHOCKS or MOHAWKS. Also as verb.

1711. SWIFT, Journal to Stella, 8 March. Did I tell you of a race of rakes, called the MOHAWKS that play the devil about this town every night?

1712. STEELE, Spectator, No. 324. The MOHOCK-club, a name borrowed, it seems, from a sort of cannibals in India, who subsist by plundering and devouring all the nations about them.

1712. GAY, Trivia, iii. 326. Who has not trembled at the MOHOCK’S name?

1717. PRIOR, Alma, iii. Give him port and potent sack; From a milksop he starts up MOHACK. [329]

1719. T. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, vi. 336. There’s a new set of Rakes, Entitled MOHACKS, Who infest Her Majesties subjects.

1755. Gentlemen’s Mag., xxv. 65. The MOHACKS and Hell-Fire-Club, the heroes of the last generation.

1825. NEAL, Bro. Jonathan, i. ch. viii. Some loitering rascal who has been out a MOHAWKING to-day.

1839. AINSWORTH, Jack Sheppard [DICK’S ed.], p. 58. He’s the leader of the MOHOCKS.

1861. SALA, Twice Round the Clock, 4 a.m. Par. 9. A Billingsgate fish-fag, was more than a match for a MOHOCK.

1882. Punch, lxxxii. 83. ‘The MOHOCK Revival.’ That ancient form of ruffianism known as MOHOCKISM.

1889. CLARKSON and RICHARDSON, Police, 7. These were the Muns … the Hectors … and the MOHOCKS.

Mohican, subs. (obsolete).—See quot.

1848. Tait’s Mag., 2 S. xv. 309. A MOHICAN, in Cadonian phraseology, is a tremendously heavy man, who rides five or six miles [in an omnibus] for sixpence.

Moiety, subs. (old).—1. See quots.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOIETY, fifty.

2. (colloquial).—A wife.

Moisten, verb. (common).—To drink; TO LUSH (q.v.). Also TO MOISTEN ONE’S CHAFFER (or CLAY).

Moke, subs. (common).—1. An ass.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Baldwin; cuddy (Scots’); donkey; Dick; Edward; Issachar; Jack; Jenny; Jerusalem; Jerusalem pony; King of Spain’s trumpeter; long-ears; myla; Neddy.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., ii. 85. I had a good MOKE, and a tidyish box of a cart.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, xxx. The one who rides from market on a MOKE.

1856. Punch, xxxi. 218. We understand that the directors have been actually challenged by a sporting minded costermonger who has offered to back his MOKE against the fastest engine.

1866. G. A. SALA, Trip to Barbary, iii. As one out of every three Bedouins you meet in the country is mounted on a meek little MOKE … I should put down the number of Arab asses at about one million.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, viii. I am regular shook on this old MOKE, I believe.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, 85. I got to go to market, and we ain’t no bloomin’ MOKE.

1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July. Billy Skipper once came to Ben Bouncer to ask for the loan of his MOKE.

1894. Sketch, 28 March, 458, col. 2. ‘’E wants a barrer an’ a MOKE of ‘is hown,’ said Nan. ‘’E’s tired of a barsket.’

2. (common).—A dolt. See quot. 1871.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, s.v. MOKE, possibly a remnant of the obsolete moky, which is related to ‘murky,’ is used in New York to designate an old fogy or any old person, disrespectfully spoken to.

1871. Galveston News, 4 May. See here, my lively MOKE, said he, you sling on too much style.

3. (theatrical).—A variety artist who plays on several instruments.

4. (American).—A negro; a SNOWBALL (q.v.).

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, p. 617. s.v.

Moko, subs. (sportsmen’s).—A pheasant shot by mistake before the end of the close time. The tail [330]feathers are pulled out. Cf. LION, subs. sense 4.

Mole, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK. See MOWDIWARK.

Molecatcher, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Moll, subs. (common).—1. A girl; and (2) a female companion. [From MOLLESHER (q.v.)]

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MOLLS—are the female companions of low thieves, at bed, board, and business.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

3. (common).—A prostitute; a MOLLY (q.v.). For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. p. 245. She went up to some of the swell streets at the West End to see another MOLL, a pal of hers.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good Night. Likewise you MOLLS that flash your bubs For swells to spot.

MOLLED UP, adj. phr. (thieves’).—1. See quot.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab. etc., i. 336. Furnished cribs let to needys (nightly lodgers) that are MOLLED UP (that is to say, associated with women in the sleeping rooms).

2. (colloquial).—Arm-in-arm with, or accompanied by, a woman.

Moll-Blood, subs. (old Scots’).—The gallows. For synonyms see LADDER.

1818. SCOTT, Heart of Midlothian, xx. Three words of your mouth would give the girl the chance to nick MOLL BLOOD.

Moll-buzzer, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. Moll … MOLL-BUZZER a thief that devotes himself to picking the pockets of women.

Mollie, subs. (nautical).—See quot.

1885. SCHLEY and SOLEY, Rescue of Greely, p. 183. Whenever the whaling fleet is stopped for a number of days in the ice, it is the practice for the captains to assemble on board one or other of the ships to discuss the prospects of the season’s catch. These interviews are called MOLLIES and are announced by a bucket hoisted as a signal at the fore-royal mast-head.… Generally speaking a MOLLIE means making a night of it.

Mollisher, subs. (thieves’).—A thief’s mistress; a MOLL (q.v.).

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. etc., i. p. 472. One old MOLLESHER … brought out 8lbs. of white rags.

Moll Peatley’s Gig, subs. phr. (old).—Copulation. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Moll-sack, subs. (thieves’).—A lady’s hand-bag; a market basket.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Moll-Thompson’s Mark (or M.T.). subs. phr. (old).—Empty packages are said to be so marked: as adj. = empty.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Moll-tooler, subs. (thieves’).—A female pick-pocket. For synonyms see THIEVES.

Moll-wire, subs. (thieves’).—See MOLL-BUZZER. For synonyms see THIEVES.

Molly (Miss Molly, or Molly-coddle), subs. (common).—1. [331]An effeminate person; a MILK-SOP (q.v.).

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, xxxi. You have been bred up as a MOLLY-CODDLE, Pen, and spoilt by the women.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1860. G. ELIOT, Mill on the Floss, ix. Such a thin-legged silly fellow as his uncle Pellet—a MOLLY-CODDLE in fact.

1864. HAMILTON AÏDÉ, Mr. & Mrs. Faulconbridge, I. 279. You young men are such a set of MOLLY-CODDLES.

1883. Daily News, 2 July, p. 5, col. 2. Attempts are sometimes made to dismiss as MOLLY-CODDLES those who protest against the mania for indiscriminate mountaineering.

2. (old).—A prostitute; a MOLL (q.v.). For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, i. 5. Town follies and cullies, and MOLLEYS and Dolleys.

3. (old).—A sodomite; a MARY-ANN (q.v.).—GROSE (1785).

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

4. (old).—A country wench.

Molly-coddle, verb. (common).—To pamper. Also MODDLEY-CODDLEY.

1870. DICKENS, Mystery of Edwin Drood, ii. Don’t MODDLEY-CODDLEY, there’s a good fellow. I like anything better than being MODDLEY-CODDLEYED.

1895. Referee, 29 Dec., p. 5, col. 2. Who treats of MOLLY-CODDLING regulations.

Molly-coddlish, adj. (common).—Effeminate. Also MOLLYISH.

1801. DIBDIN, The Frisk. ‘Jack at the Opera.’ If it wan’t for the petticoat gear, With their squeaking so MOLLYISH, tender, and soft, One should scarcely know ma’am from mounseer.

1883. Referee, 25 March, 7, 4. I daresay to make even such remarks as I have is only the sign of a MOLLY-CODDLISH mind.

Mollygrubs. See MULLIGRUBS.

Molly Maguires, subs. (obsolete).—1. An Irish secret society (c. 1843) formed to intimidate bailiffs and process-servers.

1868. TRENCH, Realities of Irish Life, VI. ‘These MOLLY MAGUIRES were generally stout active young men, dressed up in women’s clothes, with faces blackened or otherwise disguised; sometimes they wore crape over their countenances, sometimes they smeared themselves in the most fantastic manner with burnt cork about their eyes, mouth, and cheeks. In this state they used suddenly to surprise the unfortunate grippers, keepers, or process-servers, and either duck them in bog-holes, or beat them in the most unmerciful manner, so that the MOLLY MAGUIRES became the terror of all our officials.’

2. (American).—A secret society formed in 1877 in the mining districts of Pennsylvania. The members sought to effect their purpose by intimidation, carried in some cases to murder. Several were brought to justice and executed.

1867. HEPWORTH DIXON, New America, ii. 28. The judge who tried the murderer was elected by the MOLLY MAGUIRES; the jurors who assisted him were themselves MOLLY MAGUIRES. A score of MOLLY MAGUIRES came forward to swear that the assassin was sixty miles from the spot on which he had been seen to fire at William Dunn … and the jurors returned a verdict of Not Guilty.

Molly-puff, subs. (old).—A gamblers’ decoy.

1629. SHIRLEY, Wedding, iv. 3. Thou MOLLY-PUFF, were it not justice to kick thy guts out?

Molly’s-hole, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Molocker, subs. (common).—See quots. Also as adj. and verb. [332]

1863. G. A. SALA, Breakfast in Bed, ‘On Things Going,’ Essay v. p. 105 (1864). ’Tis like an old hat that has been MOLOKERED, or ironed and greased into a simulacrum of its pristine freshness.

1892. Westminster Gaz., 4 Aug., p. 3. Even our beth customerth—vorking men ath likth a good MOLOCKER (MOLOCKER, it appears, is the trade term for renovated old chapeaux).

Molrower, subs. (common).—A whoremonger. For synonyms see MUTTON-MONGER.

Molrowing, subs. (common).—1. Whoring. Cf. sense 2. See GREENS and RIDE.

2. (common).—Caterwauling.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 42. Beats ’Andel’s MOLROWINGS a buster.

Mome, subs. (old).—A blockhead. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

c. 1550. INGLELEND, Disobedient Child [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 315]. Me her husband, as a stark MOME, With knocking and mocking she will handle.

1557–8. Jacob & Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 208]. Or whether Jacob have any, that peakish MOME.

1560. Nice Wanton [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 165]. I would sit quaking like a MOME for fear.

1562–3. Jack Juggler [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 138]. But if I were a wise woman as I am a MOME, I should make myself, as good cheer at home.

b. 1583. Flodden Field [CHILD, Ballads, vii. 73]. Away with this foolish MOME.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Comedy of Errors, iii. 1. 32. MOME, malt-horse, capon … idiot, patch.

1606. DRAYTON, Skeltoniad [CHALMERS, iv. 428]. Parnassus is not clome By every such MOME.

1661. BROME, Songs, p. 105. Words are but wind, but blows come home, A stout-tongu’d lawyer’s but a MOME.

Monarch, subs. (thieves’).—1. A name. Also MONEKER, MONIKER, MONARCHER, and MONICK.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 232. What is your MONEKEER?

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1879. Macmillan’s Mag., XL. 502. At the station they asked me what my MONARCH was.

1891. Sporting Life, 1 April. Then came Perrin (otherwise ‘Curley’) and ‘The Pocket Knifton’ (whose real MONIKER did not transpire).

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 83. I go by the MONARCHER of North Eye ever since. Ibid. 93. I can’t read or write my MONARCHER.

1895. Times, 11 Nov., p. 3, col. 5. ‘Silver Robbery’. The van is all right. I have had the MONNICK taken off.

2. (Eton College).—The ten-oared boat.

3. (old).—Formerly a guinea; now a sovereign. For synonyms see CANARY.

BIG MONARCHER (tramps’).—A person of note; a BIG-BUG (q.v.).

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 84. It’s always a bad day for me if a BIG MONARCHER preaches.

Monas, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Isle of Man Railway shares.

Monday. See ST. MONDAY.

Monday, subs. (common).—An intensitive. Cf. AWFUL, BLEEDING, BLOODY, etc.

1892. KIPLING, Barrack-Room-Ballads, ‘Snarleyow.’ An’ if one wheel was juicy, you may lay your MONDAY head ’Twas juicier for the niggers when the case began to spread.

Mondayish (or Mondayfied), adj. (common).—See quots.

1864. Fraser’s Magazine, March, p. 382. Sunday is not a day of rest to him [the clergyman]; it is a day of grateful work, in which many week duties are laid aside; but it is a day of work, the reaction from which has created the clerical slang word MONDAYISH. [333]

1885. Ill. Lon. News, 26 Sept., p. 331. When one feels fagged and wearied, with nerves overstrained, and altogether in that used-up condition that a parson, after a hard Sunday’s work, terms MONDAYISH.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. In the Idles; not-up-to-work; run down; seedy; off colour; off it; off the spot; out of it; shilly-shally; soft in the back; stale.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Etre carne (popular); s’engrouillé (popular); s’enrossé (popular); être un Flémard: also avoir la flème or flemme; n’en pas foutre un clou, un coup, or une secousse (= to be superlatively idle); malade du pouce; mou comme une loche; un Saint-lâche (= a MONDAYISH workman).

Mondongo. See MUNDUNGUS.

Money, subs. (colloquial).—1. Money’s worth; a way or line of investing money.

1851–61. MAYHEW, London Lab., i. 95. I sell dry fruit, sir, in February and March, because I must be doing something, and green fruit’s not my MONEY then.

2. (venery).—See quot. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MONEY. A girl’s private parts, commonly applied to little children: as: Take care, Miss, or you will show your MONEY.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

EGGS FOR MONEY, subs. phr. (old).—An excuse; a trick.

1604. SHAKSPEARE, Winter’s Tale, i. 2. Mine honest friend, Will you take eggs for MONEY.

HARD-MONEY, subs. (colloquial).—Coin. SOFT MONEY = notes.

1848. LOWELL, Biglow Papers, 1st Ser. vi. I du believe hard coin the stuff, For ’lectioneers to spout on; The people’s ’ollers soft enough. To make HARD MONEY out on.

MONEY MAKES THE MARE TO GO. See MARE.

POT OF MONEY, subs. phr. (common).—A large amount.

Money-bags, subs. (common).—A miser; a usurer; a man of means.

Money-box (Maker, or spinner). The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Money-dropper, subs. (thieves’).—A swindler who lets money drop before some ‘flat’, and, offering to share it with him, passes off counterfeit coin in return for good ‘change’.

1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random, A rascally MONEY-DROPPER.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Money-grubber, subs. (colloquial).—A miser.

Mongrel, subs. (old).—See quot. 1785.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MONGREL, a hanger on amongst cheats, a spunger; also a child, whose father and mother are of different countries.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Moniker. See MONARCH.

Monk, subs. (common).—1. A term of contempt.

2. (printers’).—An over-inked spot in a printed sheet; a dark patch; a blackened or wasted impression. See FRIAR.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1868. BREWER, Phrase and Fable, s.v. MONK. Caxton set up his printing [334]press in the scriptorium of Westminster Abbey; and the associations of this place gave rise to the slang expressions MONK and friar for black and white defects.

Monkery, subs. (tramps’).—1. The country; DAISYVILLE (q.v.).

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.

1820. EGAN, Boxiana, iii. 18. Having a snooze and blowing a long one in the MONKERY.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue (3rd. ed.), s.v.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 266. ‘Well,’ said he, ‘I don’t know what this ere MONKRY will come to, after a bit.’

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, v. ‘Do you belong to the start or the MONKERY?’ they asked. ‘London,’ says I. Ibid. 58. The boss had training quarters in the MONKERY for racers and hunters.

2. (tramps’).—Tramps; vagrants: collectively.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 336. The place was well-known to the MONKERY.

ON THE MONKERY, phr. (tramps’).—On tramp.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 344. Thirty years ON THE MONKERY.

Monkey, subs. (colloquial).—1. A term of real or affected displeasure. Also, an endearment.

1602. SHAKSPEARE, Othello, iv. 1. ‘This is the MONKEY’S own giving out; She is persuaded that I will marry her.’

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 206]. My mistress is so sweet … she never goes to the stool. O she is a most sweet little MONKEY.

1639. GLAPTHORNE, Wit in a Constable [PEARSON (1874), i. 219]. Clar. Grace. Ha, ha, ha. Free. What doe the MONKYES laugh at?

1786. BURNS, Address to the Deil. The bleezin’, curst, mischievous MONKEYS.

1879. RUSKIN, Letter to Young Girls [Century]. Serve the poor, but, for your lives, you little MONKEYS, don’t preach to them.

1895. IOTA, A Comedy in Spasms, vii. That MONKEY there might be a countess in her own right.

2. (racing).—Five hundred pounds sterling; also (in America) $500. See RHINO.

1856. THE DRUID, Post and Paddock. ‘Voltigeur’s Derby-day.’ ‘Our Jim’ is ‘up’, triumphant over surgeon, drugs, and nurse, And he hopes to see Newmarket with a MONKEY in his purse.

1861. WHYTE-MELVILLE, Good for Nothing [Century]. A MONKEY at least to the credit side of your own book landed in about a minute and a half.

1864. Derby-day, 132. ‘In that case, I’ll lay you two to one in MONKEYS.’ The Duke took out his book, and made an entry.

1882. Punch, LXXXII. 69. 1. He’ll bet in MONKEYS, ponies, though he has seldom ready cash.

1883. Graphic, 13 Jan., p. 39, col. 2. Notwithstanding the increase of ‘added’ money from 200 sovs. to a MONKEY, which, as every one knows, is the turf parlance for 500 sovs.

1885. Daily Chronicle, 3 Feb. The Grand Hurdle Handicap, the added money to which is a MONKEY.

1890. Globe, 13 Feb., p. 5, col. 5. The amount of the Slavin testimonial subscribed by the sporting public was £500, which was given to him at his wedding breakfast yesterday. Slavin is indeed a lucky fellow to have a MONKEY and a charming wife presented to him on one day.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 9 Jan. Keen, yet honest and business-like, he soon got on, and took a place inside the ring, and worked his way up until he disdained to lay odds to anything under a MONKEY, and had some £30,000 depending upon the great events of the year.

1892. N. GOULD, Double Event, p. 101. He had bought a couple of horses with Lord Mayfield’s MONKEY, and was preparing them for a selling race.

3. (bricklayers’).—A hod.

4. (prison).—A padlock.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. [335]

5. (military).—A rocket-driving instrument.

6. (nautical).—A vessel in which a mess receives its full allowance of grog.

7. (old).—See quot.

1889. Notes & Queries, 7 S. vii. 22 June, p. 498. The MONKEY was a small ‘bustle’, which in the days of very short waists was worn just below the shoulder blades.

8. (American).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Verb. (common).—To trifle; to play; to fool about.

1887. FRANCIS, Saddle & Mocassin, 143. It is just possible that I may have been MONKEYING with the cards a little.

1889. Harper’s Mag., lxxix. 465. I hope he’ll fetch money. I’ve had enough o’ MONKEYING ’long o’ checks.

MONKEY ON HORSEBACK, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, s.v. Who put that MONKEY ON HORSEBACK without tying his legs? Vulgar wit on a bad horseman.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MONKEY.

MONKEY ON A WHEEL, subs. phr. (common).—A bicyclist. Fr. un imbécile à deux roues.

MONKEY WITH A LONG TAIL, subs. phr. (legal).—See quot. A MONKEY UP THE CHIMNEY = a mortgage on one’s house.

1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. To a lawyer … a mortgage is a MONKEY WITH A LONG TAIL.

TO GET ONE’S MONKEY UP, verb. phr. (common).—1. To get angry. Hence, his MONKEY IS UP (or he has A MONKEY ON HIS BACK) = he is angry. Fr. reniquer.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, iii. p. 229. My MONKEY WAS UP, and I felt savage.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, ix. The mare, like some women when they GET THEIR MONKEY UP, was clean out of her senses.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gazette, 23 Jan. Each man’s MONKEY WAS UP.

TO SUCK THE MONKEY, verb. phr. (nautical).—1. To drink rum out of cocoa-nuts, emptied of milk and filled with spirits; (2) to drink liquor from a cask through a gimlet-hole and a straw (called TAPPING THE ADMIRAL, which see); and (3) to drink from the bottle.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MONKEY.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, lvii. I didn’t peach at Barbados, when the men SUCKED THE MONKEY.

1837. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Black Mousquetaire.’ What the vulgar call SUCKING THE MONKEY, Has much less effect on a man when he’s funky.

1864. Daily Telegraph, 26 July. Behind and in front of the bourgeois warriors, who, standing or sitting at ease, were smoking or taking a SUCK AT THE MONKEY, otherwise the whisky flask, there marched another dress parade.

MONKEY WITH A TIN TOOL, subs. phr. (common).—A phrase expressive of impudence or self-content: e.g., O, they’re as cocky as MONKEYS WITH TIN TOOLS.

Monkey-board, subs. (obsolete).—The conductor’s place on an old-style omnibus.

1860. Punch, xxxviii. p. 186. I was on the MONKEY-BOARD behind.

1883. JAS. GREENWOOD, Tag, Rag, & Co., p. 27. The omnibus conductors … the ill-paid and hard-worked drudges of the MONKEY-BOARD.

Monkey-boat, subs. (nautical).—A long, narrow, canal boat. Also a small boat used in the docks. [336]

Monkey-cage, subs. (common).—The grated room in which a convict sees his friends. Fr. le parloir des singes.

Monkey-coat (or -jacket), subs. (nautical).—A short, close-fitting jacket: a coat ‘with no more tail than a monkey.’ See CAPELLA.

Monkey-pump, subs. (nautical).—The straw used in ‘sucking the MONKEY’ (q.v.).

Monkey’s-allowance, subs. (common).—‘More kicks than halfpence.’

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MONKEY.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v.

1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, ii. When you get on board you’ll find MONKEY’S ALLOWANCE.

1856. C. KINGSLEY, Letter [3rd abridged ed. 1879], May. You fellows worked like bricks, spent money, and got midshipman’s half-pay (nothing a-day and find yourself) and MONKEY’S ALLOWANCE (more kicks than halfpence).

Monkeyshines (Monkeytricks or Monkeyings), subs. (common).—1. Antics; and (2) tricks.

1830. BUCKSTONE, Wreck Ashore, i. Take care, young woman, you can’t tell what MONKEY TRICKS he may have been up to in foreign parts.

1878. A. R. GROTE, Pop. Sci. Monthly, XIII. 435. You may have noticed bare-footed boys cutting up MONKEY-SHINES on trees with entire safety to themselves.

1887. Lippincotts’ Mag., Aug. ‘A Land of Love,’ p. 231. Such MONKEY-SHINES! It proves that you have no serious interest in science.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xi. Don’t get up to any MONKEY TRICKS.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 6. Your MONKEYINGS mar every pageant.

Monkey’s-money, subs. (old).—1. Goods; (2) labour; and (3) words. Fr. monnaie des singes.

1653. URQUHART, Rabelais, iv. 3. It was an original by Master Charles Charmois, principal painter to king Megistus (of France), paid for in court fashion with MONKEY’S MONEY.

Monkey’s-tail, subs. (old nautical).—See quot.

1823. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, p. 28 [ed. 1863]. ‘Youngster, hand me that MONKEY’S TAIL!’ I saw nothing like a MONKEY’S TAIL, but I was so frightened that I snatched up the first thing that I saw which was a very short bar of iron, and it so happened that it was the very article wanted.

Monmouth-street finery, subs. phr. (old).—See quot. [Monmouth-Street (now Dudley-Street) was long a mart for second-hand clothes]. Cf. WARDOUR-STREET ENGLISH.

1851. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., etc. ii. 25. MONMOUTH-STREET FINERY was a common term to express tawdriness and pretence.

Monniker (or Monick). See MONEKER.

Monocular-eyeglass, subs. (common).—The breech. For synonyms see BUM.

Monosyllable, (also DIVINE MONOSYLLABLE) subs. (venery).—The female pudendum; CUNT (q.v.).

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. A.B.C.; Abraham’s bosom (generic); ace; ace of spades; Adam’s own; agility; agreeable ruts of life; alcove; alley; almanack; Alpha and Omega; altar; altar of Hymen; altar of love; altar of pleasure; amulet; antipodes; aphrodisiacal tennis court (URQUHART); [337]arbour; attic; Aunt Maria; axis.

Baby-maker; bag of tricks; bank; basket-maker; bath of birth (WHITMAN); bazaar; beauty; beauty-spot; bed-fellow; bee-hive; belle chose (CHAUCER); Belly Dale; Belly Dingle; belly-entrance; Berkeley-Hunt (rhyming); best (DORSET); best in Christendom (ROCHESTER); best-worst part (DONNE); bird’s nest; bit; bite (GROSE); bit of fish, of jam, of meat, of mutton, of pork, of rough, or of skate; bit on a fork; Black (WILL. CAVENDISH); Black Bess; black hole; black (or brown, or grey) jock; black ring; blind eye; Bluebeard’s closet; boat; bob-and-hit; bonne-bouche; bore; Botany Bay; book-binder’s wife (‘manufacturing in sheets’: G. A. STEVENS); Bottomless Pit; bower; bower of bliss (CAREW and HERRICK); box; brat-getting place (FLORIO); breach; breadwinner (prostitutes’); broom; brown madam (GROSE); bucket; Buckinger’s boot (GROSE); budget; bull’s eye (ROCHESTER); bumbo (negro); bun; bung-hole; busby; Bushey Park; butcher’s shop; butter-boat; button-hole.

Cabbage; cabbage-field, -garden, or -patch; cab-mat; caldron (RAMSAY); callibistry (URQUHART); can; candlestick; canister (BURNS); Cape Horn; Cape of Good Hope; carnal-trap (URQUHART); case; cat (DURFEY); catch-’em-alive-o; cat’s-meat; catherine wheel; cauliflower; cave of harmony; caze (BURTON); cellar (R. BROME); cellarage; cellar-door; central furrow (CLELLAND); central office; centre of attraction; centre-of-bliss; centrique part (DONNE); certificate of birth; chat; chink; chum; churn; circle (SHAKSPEARE and CONGREVE); civet; claff (LYNDSAY); clap-trap; cleft of flesh (CLELLAND); clock; cloth (generic); the clouds; cloven spot (CLELLAND); cock; Cock-Alley; cockchafer; cock-holder; Cock-Inn; Cock-Lane; cockloft; cockpit; Cockshire; cockshy; coffee-shop; cogie (Scots’); commodity (SHAKSPEARE, etc.); concern; coney; confessional; conjuring-book (DURFEY); contrapunctum (URQUHART); conundrum; cookie; copy-hold (DURFEY); corner-cupboard; cornucopia; County-Down; coupler; covered way (STERNE); coynte (BURTON); coyote; crack; cradle; cranny; cream-jug; crevice; crinkum-crankum; crooked way; crown of sense (ROCHESTER); cuckoo’s nest; cunnie (DURFEY); cunnikin; cunny-burrow (URQUHART); cuntkin; cuntlet; Cupid’s-Alley, (-anvil, -arbour, -cave, -cloister, -corner, -cupboard, -highway, -ring, or -pincushion); cushat; cushion; custom-house; custom-house goods (a harlot’s: ‘because fairly entered’: GROSE); cut-and-come-again; Cyprian-arbour, -cave, or -strait (CAREW).

Daisy; dark, or dark-hole; dearest bodily part (SHAKSPEARE); diddle; diddly-pout; dimple; doodle-case; doodle-sack; dormouse; down bed of beauty (STEVENS); Downshire; downstairs; downy-bit; drain; dripping-pan; duck pond; dumb-glutton; dumb-, or hairy-, oracle; dumb-squint; [338]duster; Dutch clock; dyke.

Eel-pot (or -trap); eel-skinner; End of the Sentimental Journey (STERNE); entrance; Et-cetera (ROCHESTER and CLELLAND); evergreen; everlasting wound; Eve’s custom-house (‘where Adam made the first entry’: GROSE); exchequer (DONNE); Exeter-hall; eye that weeps most when best pleased (STEVENS).

Factotum; fancy bit; Fanny; Fanny-Artful; Fanny-Fair; faucett; fiddle (BURNS); fie-for-shame (schoolgirls’); fig; firelock; fireplace; firework; fish (generic); fish-market; flap; flapdoodle; fleshly-idol (BROWN); fleshly-part; flower; flower of chivalry; flower-pot; fly-by-night; fly-cage; fly-trap; forecaster; forecastle; fore-hatch; fore-room; forewoman; forge; fort; fortress; fountain of love; free fishery; front-garden; front-gut; front-parlor; fruitful vine (‘which bears flowers every four weeks, and fruit every nine months’: GROSE); Fumbler’s-Hall; funniment; furrow (BURNS).

Gallimaufry; gap (DURFEY); garden; Garden of Eden; gash; Gate of Horn; Gate of Life (BURNS); G.C.; gentleman’s pleasure garden; garrison (CROWNE); gear (FLORIO); gigg (GROSE); goatmilker; goldfinch’s nest; gravy-giver; greens (generic); green meadow; grotto; Grove of Eglantine (CAREW); grummett; gully; gut-entrance; gutter; gymnasium; gyvel (BURNS).

Hair-court; Hairyfordshire; hairy ring; half-moon (KILLIGREW); Hans Carvel’s ring (URQUHART and PRIOR); happy hunting-grounds; harbour; harbour of hope; hatchway; heaven; hell; hole of content (FLORIO); hole of holes; Holloway; home-sweet-home; horse-collar; hotel; house under the hill; housewife; hypogastrian cranny (URQUHART).

India (DONNE); ineffable; inglenook; intercrural trench (URQUHART); It; itcher; Itching Jenny; Ivory Gate.

Jacob’s Ladder; Jack Straw’s Castle; jam-pot; jelly-bag; jewel; jigger; jock; justum (URQUHART).

Kaze; keifer (generic); kennel (ROCHESTER); kettle (DURFEY, etc.); kitchen; Kitty; knick-knack.

Ladder; Lady Berkeley; lady-flower (WHITMAN); Lady Jane; lady-star (HALL); lamp of love; Lapland; lather-maker; leading article; lea-rigs (generic: BURNS); leather (generic: URQUHART, LYNDSAY, BURNS); Leather-Lane; leavingshop; Life’s Dainty (G. A. STEVENS); ling; little sister; little spot where uncle’s doodle goes; living fountain (HERRICK); lobster-pot; lock; locker; lock of all locks (STEVENS); Love-lane; Love’s harbour (CAREW); Love’s Paradise (MARSTON); Lowlands; Low Countries; lucky-bag.

Machine; maddikin; Madge (GROSE); Madge Howlett; magnet; main avenue (CLELLAND); malkin (LYNDSAY); mangle; manhole; man-trap; Marble Arch; mark (DURFEY); mark-of-the-beast; Mary-Jane; masterpiece; meat (generic); meat-market; medlar; melting-pot; merkin (R. FLETCHER, and A. SMITH); Middle Kingdom; Midlands; milker; milking-pail; milk-pan; milt-market; mill (DURFEY, BURNS, etc.); milliner’s shop; mine of pleasure; [339]miraculous cairn; Miss Brown (GROSE); Miss Laycock (GROSE); modicum (COTTON); money (GROSE); money-box; money-maker; money-spinner; monkey (American); mole-catcher; Molly’s Hole; Mons Meg; mortar; moss-rose; mossy bank; mossy cell; mossy-face; mother of all saints, all souls, or St. Patrick; Mount-Faulcon (FLORIO); Mount Pleasant; mouse; mouser; mousetrap; mouth thankless; (Old Scots’: KENNEDY, LYNDSAY, SCOTT); mouth that says no word about it (G. A. STEVENS); muff (BURNS); mumble-peg; mushroom; mustard-pot; mutton (generic and universal).

Naggie; name-it-not; nameless; nature; nature’s tufted treasure; naughty; needle-case; nest (American); nest in the bush; nether eye, or lips (CHAUCER); never-out; niche; niche-cock; nick-in-the-notch; nonny-nonny; non-such; notch; novelty; Number-Nip; nursery.

Old Ding; old hat (FIELDING and STERNE); old woman; omnibus; open C; oracle; orchard; ornament; orifice; open charms (LITTLE); oven; oyster (KILLIGREW); oyster-catcher.

Palace of pleasure; pancake; parenthesis (JON BEE); parsley-bed (DURFEY); parts of shame (POPE); patch; peculiar river (SHAKSPEARE); penwiper; periwinkle; pfotz (HALL STEVENSON); pincushion; pintle-case; pipe; pisser; pit (HERRICK); pitcher; pit-mouth; pit of darkness; place; placket-box (DURFEY); pleasure-boat; pleasure ground; pleasure’s place (DAVIS); plum-tree (COTGRAVE); p-maker; portal to the bower of bliss (HERRICK); postern gate to the Elysian fields (HERRICK); pouter; premises; pretty; prick-holder; prick-skinner; prin-cock (DUNBAR); privates; privities; privy-hole; privy Paradise; pudend (URQUHART); punse (YIDDISH); pulpit (old); purse (DONNE); puss (DURFEY and COTTON); pulse; pussy-cat.

Quaint; quarry; quaver-case (A. SCOTT); Queen of Holes (ROCHESTER); quem; queynte (CHAUCER and FLORIO); quim; quimsby; quivive.

Rasp; rattle-ballocks; receipt of custom; red ace; Red-C.; regulator (BURNS); rest-and-be-thankful; ring; road to a christening; roasting jack; rob-the-ruffian; rooster; rose; rough-O; rough malkin; rough-and-ready; rough-and-tumble; rufus.

Sack (DURFEY); saddle; salt-cellar; sampler; scabbard; scuttle; seal; sear; secret parts (SHAKSPEARE); seed-plot; seminary; sex; shake-bag; sharp-and-blunt (rhyming); sheath; shell (LYNDSAY and DUNBAR); skin-coat (URQUHART); skin-the-pizzle; slipper; slit; slot; Smock-Alley; snatch (American); snatch-blatch (MOTTEUX); snatch-box; socket (JONSON); solution of continuity (URQUHART); South Pole; spender; sperm-sucker; spit-fire; spinning-jenny; split-apricot; split-fig; split-mutton (generic); spleuchan (BURNS); sporran; Sportsman’s Gap; Sportsman’s Hole; spot of Cupid’s archery (ROCHESTER); square push (American); standing room [340]for one; star; star over the garter (LORD CORK); Stream’s Town (Irish: GROSE); suck-and-swallow; sugar-basin.

Tail (general); target; teazle (RAMSAY); temple of Venus; tench; tenuc (back-slang); that; Thatched House; thing; thingamy; thingumbob; tickler; tickle-Thomas; tickle-toby; tile; tirly-whirly (BURNS); tit-mouse; toll-dish (DURFEY); tool-chest; touch-’em-up; touch-hole; towdie (DUNBAR); tow-wow (A. SMITH); towsy-mowsy (DORSET); toy (ETHEREGE); toy-shop; treasure; treasury of love (CLELLAND); tu quoque (GROSE); turnpike; tuzzi-muzzy; twat (DURFEY); twachylle; twittle; tunnel.

Under-belongings; under-dimple; under-entrance; under-world; undeniable; Upper Holloway; upright wink; undertaker.

Vacuum; vade-mecum; Venus’s Secret Cell, Highway, Honey pot, or Mark; vessel (SEMPLE); vestry; vineyard.

Wame (BURNS); wanton ace; ware; waste-pipe; water-box (FLORIO); water-gap (URQUHART); water-gate (DURFEY); water-mill (GROSE); way-in; wayside-fountain; wayside-ditch; weather-gig (DURFEY); what-do-you-call-it; whim-wham; wicket; wonderful lamp; workshop.

Yoni; you-know-what; yum-yum.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. L’abricot de la jardinière (common: also abricot fendu = split-apricot); l’affaire (conventional = THING, q.v.); l’amarris (O. Fr. = matrix. Also l’amatrix); l’angora (common = CAT, q.v.); l’animal (= the beast); l’anneau (common = ring, q.v. Also l’anneau d’Hans Carvel = HANS CARVEL’S RING, q.v.); l’antre or l’antre à Priape (conventional: = Priapus’ lair); les appas (= charms); l’argument (= ORACLE); l’atelier (common = WORKSHOP, q.v. Also l’atelier de Vénus); l’armoyre (= cupboard); l’autel (conventional = the altar: also l’autel de Vénus and l’autel velu); l’autre or l’autre chose (= THING or THINGAMY); l’avec (= the wherewithal); le bagage; la bague (common = RING, q.v.); le bahut (common: = cupboard); le baquet (common: = pissing-tub); le bas (conventional = the under-world or -entrance); la basse-cour (= courtyard); les basses-marches (common = the bottom-steps); le bassin (= the dock); la batterie; la baudrière équinoxiale (= the equinoctial belt); le bedon (= drum); le belouse; le beauvoire (= BEAUTY-SPOT: also beauvoire de Vénus); le bénitier (common = font); le bidault; le bijou (literary = the jewel); le biribi; le bis (= Miss Brown); le bissac (common = wallet); le blanc; la blouse (billiard players’ = pocket); la boîte d’amourette (= Love’s casket); le bonnet (common = CAP, q.v. Also le bonnet à poils = hair-cap; and le bonnet de grenadier = BUSBY); la bouche d’en bas (common = under-mouth); la bourse à vits (RABELAIS = prick-purse); la boussole (= compass); la bouteille (= bottle); la boutique (common = shop); le bouton; la boutonnière (general = [341]BUTTON-HOLE); le brasier (common = MELTING-POT); la brèche (common = BREACH); le brelingot; le bréviaire, cf. CONJURING BOOK; le but d’amour (common = Love’s bull’s-eye: also le but de désir and le but mignon de fouterie); Ça (conventional = THAT, q.v.); le cabinet (common = the W.C.); le cadran (= Love’s dial); la cage (common = CAGE, q.v.); le canal (= DRAIN); le canichon (common = poodle); le calendrier (common = ALMANACK); le callibistri (RABELAIS); le calibre (= BORE); le carimara; le carrefour; le cas (= HOLE); le cas du devant (= FOREHATCH); la casemate; le caudet; la cave (common = CELLAR); la caverne (= BOTTOMLESS PIT, q.v.); ce (= THAT); ceci (conventional = this: cf. THAT); cela (= THAT, q.v.); le Céleste-empire (literary = Celestial empire); celui qui a perdu; celui de l’argent (= MONEY); celui qui regarde; celui qui contrebas; le centre (common = CENTREBIT); le centre de délices (= CENTRE OF BLISS); la chambre; la chambre défendue (= Bluebeard’s closet); le champ (common = GARDEN); le champ de bataille (= battle-field); le champ de Vénus (= Venus’s garden); le chandelier (common = CANDLESTICK); le chapeau (common: cf. OLD HAT and le bonnet); la chapelle (common: cf. HOLY OF HOLIES); les charmes; le charmier (= charmer); le chat (common = PUSS); le château de gaillardin (= Wanton Castle); la divine cicatrice (literary = divine scar); le chaudet; le chaudron (common = KETTLE); le chemin de Paradis (literary = the ROAD TO HEAVEN, q.v.); la cheminée (= CHIMNEY); la chose (conventional = THING, q.v.); la citadelle (= FORT); la cité d’amour (literary = City of Love); le clapier (= WARREN: cf. CUNNYBOROUGH); le cloître (= cloister); le cœur (O. Fr.); la coiffe (common = cap); le coin (= nook); le combien (prostitutes’ = ‘how much?’ cf. BREADWINNER); le comment-à-nom (= WHAT’S-ITS-NAME); le con (old and common = CUNT, q.v.: other forms, diminutive or familiar, are concon, conil = CUNNY, conillon = CUNTLET, connin, conneau, connasse = BUSHEL-CUNT, and connichon = CUNNIKIN, conibert, connaud); le concentrique (= centrique part); le cornet; le cornichon (common); le corps-de-garde (= guard-room); la coquille (= shell); le corbillon (= basket); le corridor d’amour (literary: cf. CUPID’S ALLEY); le creuset (common = MELTING-POT); le creux (= chasm); la crevasse (= CHINK, or CRANNY); le crot; le crot à faire bon-bon; la cuisine (= KITCHEN); le crypsimen; le cul (popular: specifically, the rectum); le cymbe; le custodinos; le dé; le dédale (common = maze); le dedans (cf. HOLY OF HOLIES); le drôle; le devant (common: cf. FRONT-PARLOUR); le dévorant (common: cf. DUMB-GLUTTON); l’écaille (= SHELL); l’écoutille (nautical = scuttle); l’écu; l’écrevisse; l’écuelle (common); l’empire du Milieu (literary = MIDDLE KINGDOM: cf. l’empire Céleste); l’emplâtre; l’enclume (= [342]anvil); l’endroit (= the PLACE); enfer (= HELL); l’engin (= TOOL); l’ennemi (= the enemy); l’entrée; l’entonnoir (= funnel); l’entre-deux (popular: also l’entremise and l’entre-sol); l’essaim; l’estré; l’étable; l’évier (= SINK); l’éteignoir (common = the extinguisher); l’éternelle cicatrice (literary = the everlasting scar); l’étoffe à faire la pauvreté (common); l’étui (= NEEDLE-CASE, (q.v.); le faquin; le faucon; la fendasse (military = GASH); le fenil (= COCKLOFT); la fente (common = SLIT); la feuille de sauge; la fève; la figue (common = FIG); la fiquatelle; le fita; la fontaine (common = fountain); la fontenelle; le formulaire; la forêt de bois-mort; le fort (= FORT); la forteresse (= stronghold); la fosse (cf. HOLE); le fossé (= ditch); le four (common = OVEN); la fourche (= fork); la fournaise (= furnace); le fracte; la fressure (Old Fr.); le frippe-lippe; le front; le fruit d’amour (general); la gaîne (= SHEATH); le gardon; la garenne (cf. CUNNYBOROUGH); la gauffrière; le gnomon; le golfe (common: cf. BOTTOMLESS PIT); le gouffre secret; la gouttière (= GUTTER); la grange (common); le grenier (= COCKLOFT); la grille; le grobis; la guérite (common = sentry-box: cf. STANDING ROOM FOR ONE); hæc; la hariquoque; le harnois (general: cf. HORSE-COLLAR); le haubert; l’hérisson (general = urchin); l’hiatus (common = GAP: also l’hiatus divin); l’histoire (general: also = specifically the penis); l’honneur; le huihot; le huis; l’huître (= OYSTER); l’humanité; l’ignominie (cf. FIE-FOR-SHAME); il (= IT); l’instrument (also = penis); l’intersection du corps; le jardin (= GARDEN: common to most languages: also le jardin d’amour); la jolie, or belle chose (= PRETTY: conventional); la jointe; la jointure; le jouet (= TOY); le jou-jou (common: cf. TOY); le joyau (common); la (= THAT); le labyrinthe de concupiscence (RABELAIS); la lampe amoureuse; la lampe merveilleuse (= WONDERFUL LAMP); la lanterne (common); le lapin (= CONEY); le leidesche (RABELAIS); la latrine (general: cf. PRIVY-HOLE); le lieu; l’autre lieu; lieu sacré; le limosin; le lure; la machine (common); le maljoint (common); le mallier; le manchon (common: cf. MUFF); la marchandise (common: cf. GEAR or WARE); la marmite, or marmotte; le maroquin (cf. LEATHER); le masteau; le membre; le ménage; la métaire; le messire Noc (literary and anagrammatic: Noc = Con); le mignon d’amourette (= LOVE’S DARLING); le milieu (common); le minon (= PUSSY); la mirely; le mirliton (general); la mitaine (= mitten); le mont-fendu; le morceau (= BIT); le morel; la mortaise; le mortier (common); le mosel; le moule à pine (common = pintle-mould); le moulin-à-eau (common: cf. WATER-MILL); la moniche, or monique (thieves’); la nacelle [343](= BOAT); la nature (conventional); la navire; le noc (anagram of con: cf. TENUC); le noir (common: cf. BLACK, BLACK-HOLE and MISS BROWN); l’object (common = CONCERN); la petite oie; l’osière; l’outil (= TOOL); l’ouverture divine (literary: cf. HOLY OF HOLIES); l’ouvroir (= workshop); l’ovale; le panier; le Paradis (= PARADISE); le parchemin; les parties honteuses (= PARTS OF SHAME); le passage; les Pays Bas (common: cf. LOWLANDS or LOW COUNTRIES); le pelisson; la pènillière (= COCK-HOLDER); le pertuia (BALZAC); la petiote délectation; le petit je-ne-sais-quoi (= LITTLE WHAT’S-ITS-NAME); le petit centre (common); le petit lapin (common: cf. CONEY); le petit trou (common); le petit vase (common); la pièce du milieu (common: cf. CENTREBIT); la pissette (common = PISSER: cf. WATER-WORKS); la place; la plaie (= the wound); le point conjugal; le pôle; le portail (= FRONT-ENTRANCE); la porte (also porte du devant = FRONT-DOOR); le port de Cythère (literary); la poste; le pot (= PISS-POT); les pudendes; le puits d’amour; le quartier; Quasi-modo; quelque chose de chaud (= a bit of hot); la queue (common = TAIL); le quoniam bonus (literary); la raie; la ratoire; le réduit (common); le reste; la rivière; la rose (conventional); le sac (cf. BAG OF TRICKS); le saint (= patron saint); le salon du plaisir (cf. PLEASURE-PLACE, -GARDEN, and -GROUND); le sanctuaire (= HOLY OF HOLIES); le sadinet (VILLON); le seau (= pail); le Sénégal (military: cf. INDIA); la serrure (common: cf. LOCK); la solution de continuité (RABELAIS); la souris (= MOUSE); le tabernacle (literary = ARK); la table; le tapecul; le temple de Cypris (literary); la terre; le terrier; la tesnière; le théâtre de la nature (common: cf. NATURE’S WORKSHOP); le thermomètre; le tirelire (common: cf. MONEY-BOX); la toison (= FLEECE); la tonsure; la tranchée (= TRENCH); la trappe (= TRAP-DOOR); le trône du plaisir (literary); le trou (common = HOLE: also, le trou de service, le petit trou, le trou charnel, le trou-madame, le trou mignon, le trou par où la femme pisse, and le trou velu); tu-autem; l’un; l’ustensile; le vagin (conventional); le vaisseau (cf. BOAT); le vaisseau charnel; la vallée paphienne (= PAPHIAN VALE); le vallon; le vase; le velu; le ventre (= WAME); le petit ventre; Vénus; la viande du devant (= fore-meat); la vigne du seigneur; le zin-zin; le verger de Cypris (literary = the Cyprian orchard).

GERMAN SYNONYMS. Busche (Hebrew = modesty); Haartruhe (Old. Ger. truhe = HAIR TRUNK); Kuttoch (also = pocket handkerchief, pocket, and sweetheart); Pfotze; Schmu; Schema; Schmalle; Schummel (also = hawker); Schwesterlein (= LITTLE SISTER); Weiberscham (= PRIVITIES): Weiblichescham or Weiblichkeit (= womanhood). [344]

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Bisti; or bistolfo (Fr. bis); baschiera; becchina (TORRIANO-FLORIO: = ‘a woman’s quaint or gear’: bacchi = ‘certain blazing stars all shaggie, compassed with a long main or hairy fringe’); bella bellina (cf. PRETTY); cioncia (FLORIO: = ‘a woman’s free quaint’); carnafau (FLORIO: = ‘the brat-getting place, or hole of content’); cioncia (FLORIO); cionno (TORRIANO-FLORIO: = ‘gullish, silly-witted’; cf. BIT OF FOOLISHNESS); connino (cf. CUNNY); conno (FLORIO: = ‘a woman’s privy parts, or quaint, as Chaucer calls it.’); cotale (= WHAT’S-ITS-NAME); cotalina (= THINGAMY); facende; ferne; ferale; femora (FLORIO); fessa (= CLEFT); fica (= a fig); firiende; forame; fregna or fringa; gabbia, or gaggia (= a cage); golfo di fetalio (FLORIO: = ‘a rugged and bristlie gulf’); grignapolla (used of both sexes); horto de venere (Venus’ garden); malforo (FLORIO: = ‘a mischievous hole’); menchia (= sport: cf. FUNNY BIT); mentole (used of both sexes); monina (= MONKEY); monte di Venere (= Venus’ Hill); monte di ficcule (TORRIANO-FLORIO: = ‘a woman’s Mount-falcon’); mortaio (= mortar); mozza (FLORIO: = ‘a wench, a lass, a girl. Also a woman’s gear or cunnie’); moneta (= MONEY); natura (FLORIO: = ‘the privie parts of man, woman, or beast’); pettinale (FLORIO: = ‘the privities that have haires upon them’); pinca (feminine of pinco = PRICK); porcile di venere (Venus’ Pigsty); potta (FLORIO: = ‘a woman’s commodity’; whence, potissiare = ‘to use or play with’—idem ‘roundlie’); pottaccia (FLORIO: = ‘a filthy great cunt’); San Giovanni Bocca d’Oro (used of both sexes); sermolina; serpolina; val cava (BOCCACCIO: = a cave); val costura; valle di Acheronte (cf. BOTTOMLESS PIT); valle satalio (FLORIO: = ‘a brizlie, buskie, brackish, hairie, gloomie, cloudie, duskie place; Boccace doth use it for a woman’s privie parts’); vergogne (cf. PARTS OF SHAME).

SPANISH SYNONYMS. Aceitero (= oil-flask); aduana (= CUSTOM-HOUSE); camino oscuro (= COVERED-WAY); camino real (= highway); changa (= joke); Chocho (common); chumino (rare); cicople (= CYCLOPE); ciega (= blind woman); cimenterio (= churchyard); conejera (= rabbit-warren); Conejo; confesionario (= confessional); coño or coña (classic); cosquillosa (= MISS TICKLISH); Cuba (cf. INDIA and la Sénégal); Do bemol (= C. flat); Doña Fulana de Tal (= MRS. WHAT’S-HER-NAME); espondeo (= spondee i.e. two longs); la fachada (= façade); foco de vida (= Life’s focus); fogón (= touch-hole); fortaleza; greta (= CRACK); grieta (= RIFT); guerica; huerfana (= orphan); jopo; Juana la loca (= Crazy Jane); lesma; lonja (Exchange); Madre Eterna (= Eternal Mother); Madre Soledad (= Mother Lonely); mata (= bush); miriñaque (= toy); mocosa (= SNOTTY); mofa (= flirt); ostra; paca; Paises Bajos (= LOW [345]COUNTRIES or Les Pays Bas); pan; papo; periquito; perra (= bitch); piadosa (= MISS PRIMSY); posada general (= common inn); pozo nupcial (= nuptial well); propriedad; raja (= SLIT); regalona (= pet); Señora López (cf. MISS BROWN); semana santa (= holy week); sierra (= mountain: cf. MOUNT PLEASANT and le mont fendu); superiora (= abbess); tienda (= shop); tranvía (= tram-car); tronera (= loophole); vaina (= scabbard); vasija morena (= brown jug).

PORTUGUESE SYNONYMS. Abbadessa (= abbess); aranha caranguegeira; as (= ACE); asbeiras; assoadouro do caralho; boceta (classical); cabra (= goat); cadinho (= MELTING-POT or CRUCIBLE); lagea; lanha; mata dos chatos (= crab-walk: also = MOTTE); papudo (of a stout woman); passarinho; pinto; poço sem fundo (= BOTTOMLESS PIT); registro de bacalháo (cf. FISHMARKET).

VARIOUS. Kut (Dutch); gatte (Walloon).

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 186. They [girls] all at once set up a laughing … occasion’d by some silly naughty word they have got by the end; perhaps a bawdy MONOSYLLABLE, such as boys write upon walls.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1786. PINKERTON, Ancient Scottish Poems, 384. Addison, the best instructor of the small morals who ever lived, yet thought nothing, in papers designed for the breakfast table, and the ladies, as he says himself, to tell us that a MONOSYLLABLE was his delight.

1788. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic & Satyricall, p. 88. But why from this round-about phrase must be guessed, What in ONE single SYLLABLE’S better expressed; That SYLLABLE then I my sentiment call, So here’s to that WORD, which is ONE WORD for all.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MONOSYLLABLE. A woman’s commodity.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MONOSYLLABLE—(the); feminine only, and described by Nat Bailey as pudenda muliebris. Of all the thousand monosyllables in our language, this one only is designated by the definite article—THE MONOSYLLABLE; therefore do some men call it ‘the article,’ ‘my article,’ and ‘her article,’ as the case may be.

Mons, subs. (Winchester College).—A crowd. Also as verb: e.g., ‘Square round there, don’t MONS.’—Notions.

Mons Meg, subs. (venery).—1. The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Monstrous, adv.. (colloquial).—A general intensitive. See AWFUL, BLOODY, LARGE etc.

1619. FLETCHER, Wild-Goose Chase, ii. 2. She is MONSTROUS proud, then?

1635. GLAPTHORNE, Hollander, ii. 1. The very scraping of our Galley-pots performes more MONSTROUS wonders.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, iv. 4. O MONSTROUS filthy fellow.

1843. Maj. Jones Courtship, viii. That makes mother MONSTROUS jealous.

Mons Veneris, subs. phr. (venery).—See quot. Cf. MOUNT PLEASANT.

1728. BAILEY, Eng. Dict. (1778), s.v. MONS VENERIS is that plump part of the female privities which covers the os pubis.

Montem, subs. (Eton College).—An Eton custom up to 1847, which consisted in the scholars going in procession on the Whit-Tuesday of every third year to a mound (Lat. ad montem), near the Bath Road, and exacting a gratuity from persons present or passing by. The collection was [346]given to the captain or senior scholar, and helped to defray his expenses at the University.

Month, subs. (old conventional).—In pl. = menses. For synonyms see FLAG. Also MONTHLIES.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. MONETH.… Woemens MONETHS, Menstruæ, les mois des femmes.

1617. MINSHEU, Guide into Tongues, s.v. A Woman’s MONTHES, or Monthlie Termes. Vide Flowers.

1664. PEPYS, Diary (1894), 27 Sept. So home, where my wife having … her MONTHS upon her is gone to bed.

A BAD ATTACK OF THE END OF THE MONTH, phr. (common).—Impecuniosity.

Month-of-Sundays, subs. (common).—An indefinitely long time: cf. GREEK KALENDS.

1850. C. KINGSLEY, Alton Locke, xxvii. I haven’t heard more fluent or passionate English this MONTH OF SUNDAYS.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, XL. ‘I ain’t been out of this blessed hole,’ he says, ‘for a MONTH OF SUNDAYS.’

1892. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, Sc. 2. p. 7. A MONTH OF SUNDAYS.

Month’s mind, subs. phr. (old colloquial).—Longing. [From the cravings of pregnant women].

1596. HALL, Satires, B. 4. s. 4. And sets a MONTH’S MIND upon smiling May.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen, i. 2. I see you have a MONTH’S MIND to them.

1605. London Prodigal, i. 2. He hath a MONTH’S MIND here to Mistress Frances.

1636. DAVENANT, Platonic Lovers, ii. 1. Belike then, you have a MONTH’S MIND to her.

1655. FULLER, Church Hist., B. 4. § 23. The king had more than a MONTH’S MIND to procure the pope to canonize Henry VI for a saint.

1663–78. BUTLER, Hudibras [quoted by JOHNSON]. For if a trumpet sound, or drum beat, Who has not a MONTH’S MIND to combat?

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 171]. To have a MONTH’S MIND to a thing.

1700. CONGREVE, Way of the World, iii. 1. She has a MONTH’S MIND; but I know Mr. Mirabell can’t abide her.

1847. HALLIWELL, Archaic and Provincial Words, s.v. MONTH’S-MIND … a strong inclination. A common phrase in our early dramatists, and still in use.

Mooch. See MIKE.

Moocher. See MIKER.

Mooching. See MIKING.

Mooer, subs. (common).—A cow; a WET-UN. Also MOO-COW.

1810. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, i. 14. The MOO-COW low’d, and Grizzle neigh’d.

Moon, subs. (common).—1. A month: specifically (thieves’) a term of imprisonment, e.g., ONE, TWO, or THREE MOONS; LONG MOON = a calendar month or CALLINGDER. See DRAG.

1823. J. F. COOPER, Pilot, iv. If you wait, sir, till the land-breeze fills your sails, you will wait another MOON, I believe.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. Mr. S.—Excuse my freedom but his modesty wouldn’t permit him to tell you himself—he’s been working on the mace—doing it up very blue, and so they’ve lumbered him for a few MOONS, that’s all.

1848. RUXTON, Life in the Far West, 22. They would return to their village, and spend a MOON relating their achievements.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOON. One month; thirty days’ imprisonment.

1879. J. W. HORSLEY, in Macm. Mag., xl. 501. I went on all straight the first few MOONS (months) at costering. [347]

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 48. The quilts have to be changed once a MOON.

2. (American).—A large, round biscuit.

1883. S. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, 460. I spent my last ten cents for two MOONS and cheese.

3. (old).—A wig. Also HALF-MOON.

1608. MIDDLETON, Mad World, iii. 3. To wear HALF-MOONS made of another’s hair.

1663. KILLIGREW, The Parson’s Wedding [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), xiv. 456]. Score a Sack of Score in the HALF-MOON [NOTE, i.e., put a quart of sack into your head at my expense].

Verb. (colloquial).—To wander or lounge as in a dream.

1856. MISS YONGE, Daisy Chain, XXI. ‘There! that bet is lost!’ exclaimed Larkins. ‘I laid Hill half-a-crown that you would not see me when you were MOONING over your verses!’

1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, i. 39. The silence continued till it was broken by—a fish out of water. An undergraduate in spectacles came MOONING along all out of his element.

1871. Standard, 14 April. ‘Italy.’ The press in vain raised its voice against this tomfoolery, which gives us an excuse for indulgence in our favourite occupation of MOONING at street corners, and of losing as much time as we can.

1871. London Figaro, 6 Mar. ‘French Refugees in London.’ Some of the Frenchmen still look wretched. The other day I saw two of them in blouses, mopingly MOONING along Broad-street.

1873. BLACK, Princess of Thule, xxvii. Spend their time in MOONING up in that island of theirs.

1877. BESANT and RICE, Golden Butterfly, xvi. I might have MOONED away the afternoon in the Park and dined at the club.

1884. W. C. RUSSELL, Jack’s Courtship, xiii. All this hoping and moping and MOONING has made your heart too battered a thing to offer to the next peerless creature ye may happen to light on.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xli. Well, I kept dark, you be sure, and MOONED about.

1889. MRS. OLIPHANT, Poor Gentleman, xliv. He went MOONING along with his head down in dull and hopeless despondency.

TO MAKE BELIEVE THE MOON IS MADE OF GREEN CHEESE, verb. phr. (common).—To hoax.

1562–3. Jack Juggler [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 154]. TO BELIEVE AND SAY THE MOON IS MADE OF A GREEN CHEESE Or else have great harm, and percase their life lese.

1640. Wit’s Recr. [HOTTEN], 114. The way to make a Welch-man thirst for blisse, … Is, to perswade him, that most certain ’tis, The MOON IS MADE OF nothing but GREEN CHEESE.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 171]. Tell me the MOON’S MADE OF GREEN CHEESE.

1846. T. MILDENHALL, Sister and I, sc. ii. Aye, you’d better ASK WHY THE MOON IS MADE OF GREEN CHEESE?

A BLUE MOON, subs. phr. (common).—An indefinite time; never; GREEK KALENDS (q.v.); TIB’S EVE (q.v.).

1528. ROY and BARLOW, Rede me and Be nott Wroth, p. 114. Yf they saye the MONE is BELEWE, We must beleve that it is true, Admittynge their interpretacion.

1876. B. H. BUXTON, Jennie of the Prince’s, ii. 140. ‘Does he often come of an evening?’ asks Jennie. ‘Oh, just once in a BLUE MOON, and then always with a friend.’

MINIONS OF THE MOON. See MOONMAN.

MAN IN THE MOON. See MAN.

TO SHOOT (or BOLT) THE MOON, verb. phr. (general).—To clear a house by night to evade distraint or payment of rent; TO DO A MOONLIGHT flitting. Hence MOONSHOOTERS. [348]

1825. Universal Songster, i. 70. She wished to gammon her landlord, and likewise BOLT THE MOON.

1842. Comic Almanack, 18 June. Now prepare for LUNAR SHOOTING, and hunt out Huntley’s vans. Convert your intimate friends after dark into light porters of household furniture.

1885. Sporting Times, 23 May. ‘The Chorister’s Promise.’ The landlady woke next day at noon, And was thinking of getting her rent full soon, When she found that her lodger had SHOT THE MOON And gone with the chips she owed.

1891. Morning Advertiser, 27 Mar. It was proved that the goods were removed after eleven o’clock on the nights of the 2nd and 3rd of March—a process described as SHOOTING THE MOON.

1892. Globe, 2 April, p. 1, c. 5. The MOON-SHOOTERS sometimes have lodgers in their abodes. Not always do they think it worth while to inform them of their intended journeying, and this may be awkward for the lodger. Ibid. Who shall say that our popular phraseology is not occasionally picturesque when we describe the flight of impecunious tenants as SHOOTING THE MOON, or ‘a midnight flit?’

TO CRY FOR THE MOON, verb. phr. (common).—To crave for the impossible. Fr. Vouloir prendre la lune avec les dents.

TO CAST BEYOND THE MOON, verb. phr. (common).—To make extravagant conjectures.

1606. Wily Beguiled [Orig. Eng. Drama, iii. 329]. Why, master gripe, he CASTS BEYOND THE MOON.

TO LEVEL AT THE MOON, verb. phr. (common).—To be very ambitious.

TO FIND AN ELEPHANT IN THE MOON, verb. phr. (old).—To find a mare’s nest. [Sir Paul Neal, a seventeenth century virtuoso, gave out that he had discovered an elephant in the moon. It turned out that a mouse had crept into his telescope. See BUTLER, The Elephant in the Moon].

Moon-calf, subs. (old).—1. A monster.

1609. SHAKSPEARE, Tempest, ii. 2. How, now, MOON-CALF? how does thine ague.

1620. BEN JONSON, News from the New World, Print. O, ay, MOON-CALVES! what monster is that, I pray you? 2 Her. Monster! none at all, a very familiar thing, like our fool here on earth.

2. (old).—A false conception.

1598. FLORIO, A Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Mola, … Also a lump of flesh in women’s bellies which they call a tympanie or a MOONE CALFE.

1601. HOLLAND, Pliny, viii. ch. 15. A false conception, called MOLA, i.e., a MOONECALFE.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie.… A MOONECALFE, a hard swelling or shapelesse peece of flesh in the wombe which makes women beleeve they are with child when they are not.

3. (colloquial).—A blockhead. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD. Also as adj. MOONCALFY.

1693. DRYDEN, Journal, vi. 798. The sotted MOON-CALF gapes, and staring on, Sees his own bus’ness by another done.

1858. DICKENS, Great Expectations, vii. 29–30. ‘And Lor-a-mussy me!’ cried my sister, casting off her bonnet in sudden desperation, ‘here I stand talking to mere MOONCALFS, with Uncle Pumblechook waiting.’

1891. R. L. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, p. 44. ‘No,’ said the poor MOON-CALF, changing his tune at once.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 4. Look at the MOON-CALFY mash.

Moon-curser, subs. (old).—A link-boy; a GLIM-JACK. [His services were not required on moon-light nights].

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

c. 1750. [quoted in ASHTON’S Eighteenth Cent. Waifs, 1887, p. 234]. Otherwise call’d Glym Jack from his having been a MOON CURSER, or Link Boy. [349]

1786. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1881. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mooner, subs. (common).—An idler; a GAPE-SEED (q.v.).

Moon-eyed, adj. (old).—See quots.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOON-EYED HEN. A squinting wench.

1792. A. YOUNG, Travels in France (1787–9), p. 75. The English mare that carries me … is going rapidly blind. She is MOON-EYED.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOON-EYED HEN. A squinting prostitute.

Moonflaw. MOONFLAW IN THE BRAIN, verb. phr. (old).—An idiosyncrasy; a craze. See BEE IN THE BONNET.

1659. BROME, Queen and Concubine. I fear she has a MOONFLAW in her brains; She chides and fights that none can look upon her.

Moonlight (or Moonshine), subs. (old).—1. Smuggled spirits. [From the night-work of smugglers].

Verb. (Irish).—See quot.

1888. Daily Telegraph, 21 Nov. Colletty, the rent-warner, was a witness of a very unsatisfactory sort, and after he had deposed to his experience of being MOONLIGHTED in the thigh—Moonlighters, it appears, generally giving a grain or two, as another witness put it, in the legs of their victims.

MOONLIGHT ON THE LAKE, subs. phr. (American).—Sarsaparilla. See DRINKS.

A RUSH FOR MOONLIGHT, subs. phr. (American University).—An attempt at the prize for elocution.

Moonlighter, subs. (common).—1. A prostitute. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

2. in pl. (Irish).—Men (c. 1880) enforcing the decrees of secret societies by violence. Their action was chiefly confined to the western counties, and their raids were nocturnal, whence the name. Their notices were signed ‘Captain Moonlight.’

1882. Saturday Review, 30 Sep., p. 422. Taking MOONLIGHTERS under his direct protection.

3. The same as MOONSHINER (q.v.).

Moonlight-flitting, subs. (common). See SHOOTING THE MOON (q.v.). Also LONDON-FLITTING.

1802. CAMPBELL, Journey, ii. 1. He made what is termed a MOON-LIGHT FLITTING.

1892. Cassell’s Sat. Jl., 28 Sep., p. 26, col. 3. He had done what is known in Lancashire as a MOONLEET FLIT, or, in other words, removed quietly in the dead of night, that nobody knew where he had gone.

Moonlighting, subs. (Irish).—Playing the MOONLIGHTER (q.v.).

1888. Daily Chronicle, 17 Jan. The prisoners, with two other men, were arrested on a charge of MOONLIGHTING in county Clare.

Moon-man, subs. (old).—See quots.

1603–8. DEKKER, Lanthorne and Candlelight, viii. A MOONEMAN signifies in English a madman.… By a by-name they are called gypsies, they call themselves Egiptians, others in mockery call them MOONEMEN.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOON-MEN. Gypsies.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

3. (old).—A nocturnal robber. Also MINIONS OF THE MOON.

1597. SHAKSPEARE, 1 Henry IV, i. 2. The fortune of us that are MOON’S MEN doth ebb and flow like the sea. [350]

Moon-raker, subs. (nautical).—1. An imaginary sail above the SKY-SCRAPER (q.v.); a MOON-SAIL (q.v.).

2. (common).—A Wiltshire man. [See quots.]. Hence, a smuggler.

1767. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 223], s.v.

1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary (1811), p. 93. Wiltshire MOON-RAKERS. Some Wiltshire rustics, as the story goes, seeing the figure of the moon in a pond, attempted to rake it out.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1865. OUIDA, Strathmore, ch. xiv. ‘It was fine moonlight, last night, my dear fellow, and Hampshire MOONRAKERS do go fishing after contraband goods, au clair de la lune, but I didn’t know you belonged to the fraternity!’

1887. JAS. PAYN, Glow-Worm Tales, i. 182. In Wiltshire we are not fond of strangers; we are a simple race—some people even call us MOON-RAKERS.

1889. HUNTER, Ency. Dict., s.v. MOON RAKER. Another version is, that some countrymen, raking for kegs of smuggled spirits which had been sunk in a pond, on being questioned by a revenue-officer, told him they were trying to rake that great cheese (the reflection of the moon) out of the water.

3. (common).—A blockhead. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

Moon-raking, subs. (common).—Wool-gathering.

1869. BLACKMORE, Lorna Doone, xvii. It irked me much that any one should take advantage of me; yet everybody did so as soon as ever it was known that my wits were gone MOON-RAKING.

Moonshine, subs. (common).—1. Anything unreal or unsubstantial; HUMBUG (q.v.); ROT (q.v.).

1593. HARVEY, Pierces Superer. [GROSART (1884), ii. 63]. You may discourse … I wott not what marvelous egges in MOONSHINE.

d. 1667. JER. TAYLOR [in Wks. (1835), ii. 126]. Labouring for nothings, and preaching all day for shadows and MOONSHINE.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOONSHINE. A matter or mouthful of MOONSHINE, a trifle, nothing.

2. (common).—See quots.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOONSHINE. The white brandy smuggled on the coasts of Kent and Sussex, and the gin in the north of Yorkshire, are also called MOONSHINE.

1819. SCOTT, Bride of Lammermoor [Saunders MOONSHINE, a smuggler].

1884. Notes & Queries, 24 May, p. 401. MOONSHINE signifies smuggled spirits, which were placed in holes or pits and removed at night. Ibid. At Piddinghoe they dig for MOONSHINE.

3. (old).—A month.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Lear, i. 2. 5. I am some twelve or fourteen MOONSHINES Lag of a brother.

4. (old).—A dish of poached eggs served with a sauce.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Lear, ii. 2. 35. Draw, you rogue; for, though it be night, yet the moon shines; I’ll make a sop o’ th’ MOONSHINE of you.

Adj. (colloquial).—1. Nocturnal; (2) empty; and (3) trivial.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, v. 5. 42. You MOONSHINE revellers.

GILDED MOONSHINE, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. GILDED MOONSHINE—sham bills of exchange; ‘no effects.’

Moon-shiner, subs. (American).—1. See quots.

1877. N.Y. Evening Post, 16 June. Nelson County, Kentucky, is the home of the MOONSHINER; that is, the manufacturer of illicit whiskey.… The MOONSHINER regards the revenue officer as a being to be extinguished, and favorable opportunity is the only thing he asks for putting his belief into practice. [351]

1885. Saturday Review, 7 Nov., p. 615. Old Layce, a MOONSHINER—that is to say, a maker of untaxed whiskey.

1891. Daily Telegraph, 23 Mar. A desperate and fatal encounter took place early on Saturday morning between a posse of Revenue officers and a party of MOONSHINERS, by which name the illicit distillers of the mountain districts are known.

2. (common).—See quot. and MOON.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MOONLIGHT WANDERERS; or ‘fly-by-night’ persons, who cheat their landlords and run away by night; when ’tis illegal to detain the goods.

Moonshining, subs. (American).—Illicit distilling.

Moonshiny, adj. (common).—Unreal.

Moonshooter. See TO SHOOT THE MOON.

Moon’s-minion, subs. (old).—1. A watchman; a CHARLEY (q.v.).

1828. LYTTON, Pelham, p. 142, ed. 1864. This action was not committed with impunity; in an instant two of the MOON’S MINIONS, staffs, lanterns, and all, were measuring their length at the foot of their namesake of royal memory: the remaining Dogberry was however a tougher assailant.

2. (old).—See MOON-MAN, sense 2.

Moony, subs. (common).—A noodle. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

Adj. (common).—1. Silly. Also MOONISH.

1600. SHAKSPEARE, As You Like It, iii. 2. 430. Being but a MOONISH youth.

1861. G. MEREDITH, Evan Harrington, xxv. p. 293 (1885). Rose gave him no time for reflection, or the MOONY imagining of their raptures lovers love to dwell upon.

1876. GEORGE ELIOT, Daniel Deronda, xxii. Violent and capricious, or MOONY and insipid.

1890. G. ALLEN, The Tents of Shem, xxx. You’ve seemed preoccupied and absorbed and MOONY and distracted.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 16. MOONEY young women in grey.

2. (common).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Moose-face, subs. (common).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOOSE-FACE. A rich ugly-faced man.

Mop, subs. (common).—1. See quots.

1787. GROSE, Prov. Glossary. MOP, a statute fair for hiring servants.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOP. A kind of annual fair in the west of England where farmers usually hire their servants.

1860. MRS. GASKELL, Sylvia’s Lovers, i. Many a rustic went to a statute fair or MOP, and never came home to tell of his hiring.

1874. MRS. H. WOOD, Johnny Ludlow, 1. S. No. xvi. p. 269. ‘There are as good servants to be picked up in a MOP as out of it; and you get a great deal better choice,’ said he. ‘My mother has hired many a man and maid at the MOP: first-rate servants too.’

2. (common).—A confirmed drunkard; a LUSHINGTON (q.v.).

3. (common).—A drinking bout: ON THE MOP = on the drink.

c. 1860. Newspaper Cutting. ‘It was all along of Bill Jones the printer, as keeps comp’ny with me,’ she muttered. ‘He’d been having a MOP, as he called it, because he was on piecework, and the author—oh! he did go on! and call him names such as I shouldn’t like to repeat—hadn’t sent the copy; whatever that may mean.’

4. (old).—An endearment. Also MOPPET and MOPSY.

c. 1388. Townely Mysteries, ut sup, ‘Prima Pastorum,’ p. 96. Haylle, lytylle, tyne MOP. [352]

1589. PUTTENHAM, Arte of Engl. Poes., p. 184. As in our triumphals, calling familiarly upon our muse, I called her MOPPE, But will you weet, My little muse, my prettie MOPPE, If we shall algates change our stoppe, Chose me a sweet. Understanding by this word MOPPE a little pretty lady, or tender young thing.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Pupo, … a daintie MOP, a playing babie.

1680. DRYDEN, Spanish Friar, i. 1. A globe in one hand, and a sceptre in t’other? A very pretty MOPPET!

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1706. Hudibras Redivivus, x. These mix’d with brewers, and their MOPSIES, Half dead with timpanies and dropsies.

1706. VANBRUGH, The Mistake. Leon. Ah woman! foolish, foolish woman! San. Very foolish indeed. Jacin. But don’t expect I’ll follow her example. San. You would, MOPSIE, if I’d let you.

5. (old).—A grimace.

1609. SHAKSPEARE, Tempest, iv. 1. Each one, tripping on his toe, Will be here with MOP and mow.

1621. FLETCHER, Pilgrim, iv. 2. What MOPS and mows it makes!

6. (old).—A fool.

c. 1399. Depos. Richard II [WRIGHT (1838), 24]. Daunsinge to pipis, In myrthe with MOPPIS, myrrours of sin.

c. 1430. York Plays, 299. This MOP meynes that he may marke men to ther mede He makis many maistries and mervayles emange.

Verb. (common).—1. See quot. 1811. Also MOP UP.

1675. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Works (1725), p. 261. I’ll stand, or lie as thou dost pray me, And MOPPE too, if thou’lt not betray me.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. TO MOP UP. To drink up. To empty a glass or pot.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., iii. 260. I have seen the youngest MOP UP his half-quartern as well as I did.

1868. WHYTE MELVILLE, White Rose, xxix. He MOPPED UP his champagne, though, pretty freely. Do you suppose now, he could have been drunk?

2. (colloquial).—To collect. Also MOP UP.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., iii. 213. If I gets inside, I’ll MOP UP 1/- if it’s good company, or perhaps 3d. or 4d., and always plenty to drink.

TO MOP UP, verb. phr. (common).—1. See verb., senses 1 and 2.

2. (common).—See quot.

1887. WALFORD, Antiquarian, April, 250. MOP UP means ‘Stop your talk,’ and is another form of ‘dry up.’

TO MOP (or WIPE) THE FLOOR (GROUND, or EARTH) WITH ONE, verb. phr. (common).—To knock one down.

1887. HENLEY & STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, I. iii. 1. Muck that’s my opinion of him … I’ll MOP THE FLOOR UP with him any day.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 25 Aug. ‘I told him that I could MOP THE EARTH with him, but had been careful not to use provoking language!’

TO BE MOPPED (or WIPED) OUT, verb. phr. (common).—To be ruined; FLOORED (q.v.); or killed.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 53. They say he’s MOPPED OUT; I dunnow.

MOPS AND BROOMS, adj. phr. (common).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1828. EGAN, Finish to Tom and Jerry, 135. Jerry declared himself to be quite MOPS AND BROOMS.

1840. H. COCKTON, Valentine Ven, xviii. He did mix, but scarcely took the rawness off the brandy.… ‘The governor’s GETTING MOPS AND BROOMS,’ whispered Horace to his amiable spouse.

1858. SHIRLEY BROOKS, The Gordian Knot, p. 173. If I had married a wife, I don’t think I should go home to her in a state of MOPS AND BROOMS, after offering to fight a fishmonger in the Haymarket because he had arranged his lobsters and prawns in a way displeasing to my bewildered eye. [353]

IN THE MOPS, adv. phr. (common).—Sulky.

Mope, subs. (colloquial).—1. A dullard. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1621. BURTON, Anat. Mel., 149. ‘They will be scoffing, insulting over their inferiours, till they have made by their humoring or gulling, ex stulto insanum: a MOPE, or a noddy.’

1726. POPE, Dunciad, ii. No meagre, Muse-rid MOPE, adust and thin, In a dun night-gown of his own loose skin.

1861. DICKENS, Tom Tiddler’s Ground [Mr. MOPES, a hermit].

2. in pl. (colloquial).—Low spirits; THE HUMP (q.v.); THE BLUES (q.v.).

Verb. (colloquial).—To despond.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, iii. 4. 81. Or but a sickly part of one true sense. Could not so MOPE.

1635. QUARLES, Emblems, i. 8. One’s MOP’D, the other’s mad.

1667. MILTON, Paradise Lost, xi. 485. MOPING melancholy and moon-struck madness.

1749. GRAY, Elegy. The MOPING owl doth to the moon complain.

d. 1792. HORNE, Works, v. 23. It directs him not to shut himself up in a cloister, alone, there to MOPE and moan away his life.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, li. You’d better think over your situation and don’t MOPE.

Moped, adj. (colloquial).—See quots. 1690 and 1785. Also MOPISH, MOPING and MOPE-EYED.

1621. FLETCHER, Pilgrim, iii. 3. What a MOPE-EY’D ass was I.

1640. Wit’s Recr. [HOTTEN], 465. MOP-EY’D I am, as some have said, Because I’ve liv’d so long a Maid.

1647. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Humourous Lieutenant, iv. 6. He is bewitched, or MOPED, or his brains melted.

d. 1656. BP. HALL, Spirituale Bedleem, 29. ‘Here one MOPISHLY stupid, and so fixed to his posture, as if he were a breathing statue.’

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MOP-EIED, one that can’t see well, by living too long a maid. Ibid. MOP’D, maz’d.

1717. KILLINBECK, Sermons, 348. [They are] generally traduced as a sort of MOPISH and unsociable creatures.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOPED. Stupid, melancholy for want of society.

1880. RHODA BROUGHTON, Second Thoughts, viii. ‘She sits drearily stitching, absently reading, MOPINGLY thinking.’

Moppet. See MOP, subs. sense 4.

Moppy, adj. (common).—Drunk. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

Mop-squeezer, subs. (common).—A housemaid.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Mopsy, subs. (old).—1. A familiar term for a woman: specifically a young girl; a MOP (q.v. sense 4).

2. (common).—See quots.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOPSEY. A dowdy, or homely woman.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOPSY. A short dowdy woman.

Mopus, subs. (old).—See quot. 1755.

d. 1745. SWIFT, Miscellanies, ‘The Grand Question Debated.’ I’m grown a mere MOPUS; no company comes But a rabble of tenants.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict. (1814), s.v. MOPUS … a cant word from ‘mope’. A drone, a dreamer.

2. (common).—A small coin. [Said to be a corruption of the name of Sir Giles Mompesson, a monopolist notorious in the reign of James I]. [354]

1690. B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1841. Tait’s Edinburgh Rev., viii. 222. Slily to my fob repair, And leave me not a MOPUS there.

3. in pl. (MOPUSSES).—Money.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOPUSSES Money.

1824. EGAN, Boxiana, iv. 443. Ned not having the MOPUSSES to spare.

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, I. ix. p. 55. Then whose inclinations are so uncontrolled as the highwayman’s, so long as the MOPUSES last?

1842. Punch, ‘Prolusiones Etymoligiere,’ p. 16. He that has the MOPUSSES May buy diamonds and topazes.

1844. CHARLES SELBY, London by Night, ii. 1. Ned. I see an improvement in the financial position—lucky, like myself. Jack. (Aside.) Lots of MOPUSSES.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1883. Punch, 3 Nov., p. 210, col. 1. But what’s that to us, so’s we pull in the MOPUSSES.

Moral, subs. (colloquial).—1. An exact counterpart.

1590. H. CONSTABLE, Sonnets, Decade 4. Fooles be they that inveigh ’gainst Mahomet who’s but a MORRAL of loves monarchie.

1726. SWIFT, Gulliver’s Travels, v. ‘I have seen the MORAL of my own behaviour very frequent in England.’

1771. SMOLLETT, Humphry Clinker, 385. The long chin is the very MORAL of the governor’s.

1789. G. PARKER, Life’s Painter, ‘The Bunter’s Christening.’ A chopping boy; Which was, as one might say, The MORAL of his dad, Sir.

1851. DOUGLAS JERROLD, St. Giles and St. James, 110. She’s the very pictur—yes, the very MORAL of Dick Turpin’s Bess.

1882. Graphic, 9 Dec, p. 643, col. 2. They are, for the most part, very dungeon-like rooms; and the ventilation of the ordinary prison cell—yes, we have tried it—is a MORAL by comparison.

2. (racing).—See quot. 1869. [Abbreviation of ‘moral certainty:’ see CERT].

1869. GREENWOOD, Seven Curses of London, 397. Everything that is highly promising becomes, in the slang of the advertising tipster, a MORAL.

1877. Belgravia, xxxii. 241. To invest a sovereign or two for her on what they may consider a MORAL.

1879. JAS. PAYN, High Spirits (Number Forty-seven). ‘Come, Bob,’ said my master, ‘that disposes of your friend Adamson’s having had anything to do with it, which you thought such a MORAL.’

1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke’s Children, lxxiv. ‘I think that we shall beat Cambridge this year to a MORAL,’ said Gerald.

1883. Referee, 25 March, p. 1, col. 1. She landed the stake with much ease, and thereby upset what at first appeared one of the biggest coursing MORALS upon record.

1888. N. GOULD, Double Event, p. 178. Lord Mayfield went into ecstasies over him, and said the double looked a MORAL.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday, 6 July. Cucumber was, to use the words of a sporting friend of Pottle’s, a MORAL.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 3 April. An idea of the strength of the MORAL may be gathered when it is stated that in a field of fifteen 6 to 4 was freely taken about the Danebury horse.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 62. Hangling isn’t my mark, that’s a MORAL, and fishermen mostly is fools.

Moral-shocker, subs. (Fleet St.).—A novel dealing with sex. Also HILL-TOPPER.

Moray-coach, subs. (Scots’).—See quot.

1808–25. JAMIESON, Dict., s.v. MORAY-COACH, a cart. A cant term, used in ridicule …; like the phrase, a Tyburn coach.

More. See ELBOW, POWER, SACKS, SEVEN, TWELVE.

MORE SO, adv.. (common).—A general intensitive: see quots.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, viii. But that distant production [355]of Australia, the larikin, is still very much to the fore, as spry, active, and wicked as he ever was, perhaps rather MORE SO.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 38. Pink Dominos style, only MORE SO, but blowed if ’twas up to that mark.

Moreish, adj. (colloquial).—See quots. 1847 and 1864.

1738. SWIFT, Polite Conversation (Conv. 1). Lady S. How do you like this tea, Colonel! Col. Well enough, madam, but methinks it is a little MORISH. Lady S. Oh Colonel, I understand you; Betty, bring the canister.

1847. HALLIWELL, Arch. & Provin. Words, s.v. MOORISH … wishing for more.

1864. HOTTEN, Slang Dict., s.v. MORE-ISH. When there is scarcely enough of an eatable or drinkable, it is said to taste MORE-ISH; as, ‘This wine is very good, but it has a slight MORE-ISH flavour.’

Morgan, subs. (American).—A bare-faced imposture.

1826. WEED [in Auto., i. 319]. [In 1826 American masons were accused of murdering Morgan, a renegade. Popular feeling ran high, and a violent anti-masonry crusade resulted, national politics being considerably influenced. Mr. Thurlow Weed, one of the chief figures of the episode, says:—] The election of 1827 elicited an accusation against me, which assumed proportions not dreamed of by those with whom it originated.… Ebenezer Griffin, Esq., one of the council of the ‘kidnappers,’ who was going to Batavia to conduct the examination, observed laughingly to me, ‘After we have proven that the body found at Oak orchard is that of Timothy Monroe, what will you do for a Morgan?’ I replied in the same spirit, ‘That is a good enough Morgan for us until you bring back the one you carried off.’

Mork, subs. (thieves’).—A policeman. For synonyms see BLUE.

1889. CLARKSON and RICHARDSON, Police, 346. To hear if there are any MORKS or any one in the way.

Morning, subs. (common).—An early dram; an EYE-OPENER (q.v.). Also MORNING-ROUSER.

1814. SCOTT, Waverley, XVIII. Of this he took a copious dram, observing he had already taken his MORNING with Donald Bean Lean.

1854. R. W. VAN DER KISTE, The Dens of London, p. 268. On rising to attend his work, according to his custom, he first went to a certain gin-shop in T—street for his MORNING.

1872. Globe, 12 Mar. That species of ‘refresher’ which in some parts of our country is known as a MORNING is also a German institution.

THE TOP OF THE MORNING, phr. (Irish).—A cheery greeting.

Morning-drop, subs. (old).—1. The gallows. For synonyms see NUBBING-CHEAT.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MORNING DROP. He napped the king’s pardon and escaped the MORNING DROP; he was pardoned, and was not hanged.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Morning-hills, subs. (Winchester College).—See quot.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 52. On holidays and Remedies we were turned out for a couple of hours on to St. Catherine’s Hill … once before breakfast, (MORNING HILLS), and again in the afternoon, (MIDDLE HILLS).

Morning-rouser. See MORNING.

Morning-sneak, subs. (old).—See quot.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, ‘Glossary,’ s.v. MORNING-SNEAK, going out early to rob private houses or shops by slipping in at the door unperceived, while the servant or shopman is employed in cleaning the steps, windows, etc.

Morning-star, subs. (old).—A weapon used as late as by the London train-bands, temp. Henry VIII. It consisted in a spiked ball [356]chained to a staff. Called also HOLY-WATER SPRINKLER.

Morocco-man, subs. (old).—See quot.

1868. BREWER, Phrase & Fable, s.v. MOROCCO MEN, agents of lottery assurances. In 1796, the great State lottery employed 7500 MOROCCO MEN. Their business was to go from house to house among the customers of the assurances, or to attend in the back parlours of public-houses, where the customers came to meet them.

Morpheus. IN THE ARMS OF MORPHEUS, phr. (colloquial).—Asleep. See MURPHY.

Morris (or Morrice), verb. (old).—To decamp. See quot. 1785.

1773. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, iii. Tony, I don’t value her resentment the bounce of a cracker; zounds, here they are! MORRICE! Prance! (Exit Hastings).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MORRIS. Come, MORRIS OFF; dance off or get you gone; allusion to morris, i.e., morisco, or Moorish dancing.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1835. Comic Almanack, 34. Being naturally desirous of recovering his footing, a messenger was MORRISSED OFF for a supply.

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, p. 37 (ed. 1850). Up with you on your pins. There! Now then! MORRICE.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1883. GRENVILLE MURRAY, People I Have Met, p. 69. The fellows dine with them, flirt with them, and MORRIS OFF to town in spring for better amusement.

Morsel, subs. (old).—1. A person; (2) hence, a harlot, a BIT (q.v.), a PIECE (q.v.).

d. 1529. DUNBAR, Woving of the King, in Wks. (Scot. Text Soc., Edinburgh, 1883–4). Scho was ane MORSALE of delight.

1609. SHAKSPEARE, Tempest, ii. 1. 286. To the perpetual wink for aye might put This ancient MORSEL, this Sir Prudence. Ibid. (1603) Measure for Measure, iii. 2. 57. How doth my dear MORSEL, thy mistress.

1641. MARMION, Antiquary, iv. ’Tis your own leman, your own dear MORSEL.

DEAREST MORSEL (or BODILY PART), subs. phr. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Cymbeline, i. 5. I have enjoyed the DEAREST BODILY PART of your mistress.

Mort, subs. (Old Cant).—1. A woman, chaste or not. See quots. passim. And (2) a yeoman’s daughter. Also MOT. Hence, AUTEM-MORT = a married woman; WALKING (or STROLLING) MORT = a female tramp; KINCHIN-MORT = a little girl; DIMBER-MORT = a pretty wench.

1567. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 49. These AUTEM MORTES be maried wemen, as there be but a fewe: For Autem in their language is a church, so shee is a wyfe maried at the church, and they be as chaste as a cowe I have, that goeth to bull eury moone, with what bull she careth not. Ibid. ‘Glossary.’ MORTES, harlots.

1597–8. MUNDAY, Downfall of Robert, etc. [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 156]. If I can get the girl to go with me Disguis’d in habit like a pedlar’s MORT.

1607. DEKKER, Jests to Make You Merie, in Wks. (GROSART), ii. 308. He is not worthy of the name of notable theefe among theeues, which is without his MORT or punck.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Mark-all, ‘The Maunder’s Wooing.’ O Ben Coue that may not be, For thou hast an AUTUM-MORT who euer that is she.

1611. MIDDLETON, Roaring Girl [DODSLEY, Old Plays, vi. 110]. Marry, this, my lord, says he: Ben MORT (good wench), shall you and I heave a bough, etc.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Belistresse … a doxie, MORTE. [357]

1621. B. JONSON, Maske of Gipsies. Male gypsies all, not a MORT among them.

1622. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Beggar’s Bush, ii. 1. Each man shall eat his own stol’n eggs and butter In his own shade, or sun-shine, and enjoy His own dear dell, doxy, or MORT at night.

1640. Wit’s Recr. [HOTTEN], 441. And for the Rome-MORTS … They are of the sorts That love the true sports.

1656. Muses Recr. [HOTTEN], 48. A Lord of this land that lov’d a Bum well, Did lie with this MORT one night in the Strummel.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MORTS.… Yeoman’s daughters; also a Wife, Woman, or Wench.

1712. T. SHIRLEY, The Triumph of Wit, ‘The Maunder’s Praise of His STROWLING MORT.’ Doxy oh! thy glaziers shine, As Glimmar by the Salomon, No GENTRY-MORT hath parts like thine, No Cove e’er wap’d with such a one.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MORT. A woman or wench; also a yeoman’s daughter.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. ‘Tour out,’ said the one ruffian to the other; ‘tour the bien MORT twiring at the gentry cove.’

1834. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, bk. III. ch. v. MORTS, AUTEM-MORTS, WALKING MORTS, dells, doxies, with all the shades and grades of the canting crew, were assembled.

1837. DISRAELI, Venetia, ch. xiv. Tip me the clank like a DIMBER MORT, as you are.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1885. BURTON, Arabian Nights, iii. 302. Nor MOTT nor maid from thee my heart shall spell.

2. (colloquial).—A large quantity; a great number.

1694. Plautus made English [NARES]. Then they had a MORT of prisoners, with boys and girls.

1740. RICHARDSON, Pamela [quoted by HALLIWELL]. He gave her a MORT of good things at the same time, and bid her wear them in remembrance of her good friend, my lady, his mother.

1775. SHERIDAN, Rivals, i. 1. Here’s a MORT o’ merry-making, hey?

d. 1823. BLOOMFIELD, The Horkey. And sitch a MORT of folks began To eat up the good cheer.

ALL AMORT. See AMORT.

Mortal, adj. (vulgar).—1. Extreme. Cf. AWFUL, JOLLY, etc.

1679. DRYDEN, Ovid, i. 733. The nymph grew pale, and in a MORT fright.

d. 1704. LESTRANGE [quoted by JOHNSON]. The birds were in a MORTAL apprehension of the beetles, till the sparrow reasoned them into understanding.

2. (common).—See quot. 1808. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1808–25. JAMIESON, Dict., s.v. MORTAL, … dead drunk.

1889. STEVENSON and OSBOURNE, The Wrong Box, vi. His men were all as MORTAL as himself.

3. (colloquial).—Expletive and intensitive.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MORTAL. Extreme, violent. A low word. Ibid. MORTALLY … a low ludicrous word.

d. 1832. SCOTT [quoted in Century]. Six MORTAL hours did I endure her loquacity.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xviii. Forty-two MORTAL long hard-working days.

1852. DICKENS, Bleak House, xiv. I go there a MORTAL sight of times.

1878. STEVENSON, Inland Voyage, 255. They performed a piece … in five MORTAL acts.

Adv. (colloquial).—Extremely. Also MORTALLY.

1625. BACON, Essays, ‘Of Envy.’ ‘Adrian the Emperour MORTALLY envied poets and painters.’

d. 1735. GRANVILLE [quoted by JOHNSON]. Know all, who would pretend to my good grace, I MORTALLY dislike a damning face.

1838. D. JERROLD, Men of Character, iii. I was MORTAL certain I should find him here.

1840. HALIBURTON, Sam Slick, 3, Ser. 102. It was a MORTAL hot day, and people actually sweated to that degree it laid the dust. [358]

Mortar, subs. (common).—1. The same as MORTAR-BOARD (q.v.).

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Mortar-board (or Mortar).—The trencher-cap worn at certain public schools and at the Universities.

1600. KEMP, Nine Days’ Wonder, ‘Ded. Ep.’ So that methinkes I could flye to Rome … with a MORTER on my head.

d. 1635. BP. CORBET to T. Coryate. No more shall man with MORTAR on his head Set forward towards Rome.

1647. FLETCHER, Fair Maid of the Inn, v. 2. He … may now travel to Rome with a MORTAR on’s head.

1857. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant Green, Pt. II. ch. iii. ‘I don’t mind this ’ere MORTAR-BOARD, sir,’ remarked the professor of the noble art of self-defence, as he pointed to the academical cap which surmounted his head.

1864. Fun, 21 May, p. 96. Anon I saw a gentle youth (no ‘sub fusc’ under-grad.) ‘Toga virilis’ he had none, no MORTAR-BOARD he had.

1881. PASCOE, Every-day Life, 147. On admission … a boy provides himself with a MORTAR or college-cap.

Mortgage-deed, subs. (common).—A pawnticket. For synonyms see TOMB-STONE.

Moses. TO STAND MOSES, verb. phr. (old).—See quots.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie.… HOLIE MOYSES, whose ordinarie counterfeit having on either side of the head an eminence, or luster, arising somewhat in the forme of a horne, hath imboldened a prophane author to stile cuckolds parents de Moyse.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOSES. A man is said TO STAND MOSES when he has another man’s bastard child fathered upon him, and he is obliged by the parish to maintain it.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOSES. A man that fathers another man’s child for a consideration.

BY THE PIPER THAT PLAYED BEFORE MOSES, phr. (common).—An oath. Also BY THE HOLY JUMPING MOTHER OF MOSES. See OATHS.

1855. STRANG, Glasgow and Its Clubs, 243. But, HOLY MOSES! what a rear?

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 109. Screw your courage to the sticking place and BY THE HOLY-JUMPING-MOTHER-OF-MOSES—who was my uncle—we’ll not fail.

1890. HUME NISBET, Bail Up! 212. ‘And, BY THE PIPER THAT PLAYED BEFORE MOSES, so they did,’ replied her companion coolly.

1892. HUME NISBET, Bushranger’s Sweetheart, p. 153. ‘Did I spake concerning the stable and a wisp of straw, me boy, for you and your friend? No, BY THE PIPER WHICH PLAYED BEFORE MOSES, ye shall have our best bedroom this night to lie in, and be carried up to it also.’

Mosey, verb. (American).—To decamp. For synonyms see AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE.

1838. NEAL, Charcoal Sketches, i. If your tongue wasn’t so thick, I’d say you must MOSEY: but MOSEYING is only to be done when a gemman’s half shot.

18[?]. N.Y. Family Companion [quoted by BARTLETT]. After I left you, or rather after you left me, when them fellows told you to MOSEY OFF before the boat went to sea.

1848. BARTLETT, Americanisms, s.v. MOSEY. The following is said to be the origin of the word: A postmaster in Ohio by the name of Moses ran away with a considerable sum of money belonging to the government. TO MOSEY OFF, or to run away, as Mr. Moses had, then became a by-word in Ohio, and, with its meaning somewhat extended, has spread over the Union.

1857. Louisville Journal, 9 Oct. My friend, let me tell you, if you do not MOSEY this instant, and clear out for good, you’ll have to pay pretty dear. [359]

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, s.v. This mysterious word MOSEY is, probably correctly, said to be nothing more than a mere variety of the Americanized verb vamose, with the final vowel sounded, and the first syllable lost. It certainly has the same meaning, of leaving suddenly, and generally involuntarily.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 6 Feb. But the bullets and their own fighting began to tell pretty soon, even on grizzlies. First one rolled over and stretched out, then another sat down on his haunches and dropped his head and finally sprawled out, a third MOSEYED OFF some distance to sit down and lick his wounds.

TO MOSEY ALONG, verb. phr. (American).—1. To jog along.

18[?]. New York Tribune [quoted by BARTLETT]. I’ll get a room nicely furnished, and my wife and I will jes MOSEY ALONG till the election trouble is over, an’ den dere’ll be a powerful sight of whitewashin’ to be done.

2. (American).—To bustle about.

1885. M. N. MURFREE, Prophet of Gt. Smoky Mountains, xiii. Hurry ’long, D’rindy, you-uns ain’t goin’ ter reel a hank ef ye don’t MOSEY.

Mosh, verb. (thieves’).—To leave a restaurant without paying. A corruption of ‘mouch’ (MIKE, q.v.).

Moskeneer, verb. (common).—To pawn for more than the pledge is worth: MOSKERS (q.v.) = men who make MOSKENEERING a profession. Also as subs. = the agent.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip. Fiddle, or fence, or mace, or mack; Or MOSKENEER, or flash the drag.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 100. He MOSKENEERS from twenty to thirty supers a week. Ibid. p. 99. As we were talking in came Johnson, a fair MOSKENEER.

Mosker, subs. (common).—See quot. and MOSKENEER.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 9 July, p. 3, col. 1. The MOSKER … is, in slang vernacular, one who makes a living by taking advantage of the business incapacity of persons engaged in the pawnbroking trade, and by subtle wiles and subterfuge imposes on their credulity and weak good nature. [From long article on The MOSKER].

Mosque, subs. (old).—A church or chapel.—PARKER, Life’s Painter, 120 (1800).

Moss, subs. (thieves’).—1. See quot. and BLUE PIGEON.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOSS. A cant term for lead, because both are found on the tops of buildings.

2. (American).—Money. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Moss-rose, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Mossyback, subs. (American).—1. A man hiding in woods or swamps—(‘till the moss grew on his back’)—to escape the conscription for the Southern army. Also MOSSBACK.

2. (American political).—An extreme conservative in politics.

3. (common).—An old fashioned person; a BACK-NUMBER (q.v.).

Mossy-cell (face or vale), subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum.—GROSE. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Mossyface (or old mossyface), subs. (common).—The ace of spades. [360]

Most, verb. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOST. Dining at an eating-house and leaving without making payment.

ALL THERE, BUT THE MOST OF YOU! phr. (venery).—Copulation.

Mot (Mott) or Mort, (q.v.) subs. (old).—1. See quots. 1785, 1851, and MORT.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOT. A girl, or wench.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 266. The MOT of the ken (nick-name for matron of the establishment).

2. (common).—See quot. 1819. For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, 189. MOTT, a blowen, or woman of the town.

1821. EGAN, Life in London, i. 223. The Hon. Tom Dashall … was in close conversation with his MOTT.

1828. MAGINN, Vidocq Versified. With the MOTS their ogles throwing.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Good Night. A MOT’S good night to one and all.

Mot-cart, subs. (common).—1. A brougham; a LOOSE-BOX (q.v.). (2) A mattress.—BARRÈRE and LELAND.

Moth, subs. (common).—A prostitute; a FLY-BY-NIGHT (q.v.). For synonyms see BARRACK-HACK and TART.

Mother, subs. (old).—1. A bawd. Also MOTHER-ABBESS, MOTHER MIDNIGHT, and MOTHER DAMNABLE. See ABBESS.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOTHER, or THE MOTHER, a bawd. MOTHER ABBESS, the same.

2. (common).—A familiar mode of address.

1647. FLETCHER, The Chances, i. 8. Good MOTHER.

1847. C. BRONTË, Jane Eyre, XIX. But, MOTHER, I did not come to hear Mr. Rochester’s fortune, I came to hear my own.

3. (old colloquial).—Hysteria.

1605. SHAKSPEARE, Lear, ii. 4, 56. O, how this MOTHER swells up toward my heart.

1662. MIDDLETON, Mayor of Queensborough [DYCE (1840), I. 186]. I’m so troubled with the MOTHER too.

1662. Rump Songs, i. 161. From Damnable Members, and fits of the MOTHER, Good Lord, deliver us.

DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU’RE OUT? phr. (common).—A derisive street catch-phrase. See DOES.

1836. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, Misadventures at Margate. He smiled and said, ‘Sir, DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW, THAT YOU ARE OUT?’

1840. Sporting Review, III. 2. Has he no friends to look after him? ‘DOES HIS MOTHER KNOW HE’S OUT?’

1841. Punch, i. p. 6, col. 2. In this darkling hour of doubt—DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU’RE OUT?

1844. Puck, 134. Tailors or cobblers, both, I trow, From board or stall ye roam, And DO YOUR ANXIOUS MOTHERS KNOW THAT YE ARE OUT? Go home!

1895. Chatham & Rochester News, ‘Political News’.… A Voice. DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW YOU’RE OUT? Ald. Davies. Yes! and next week she’ll know that I’m in as well.

HAS YOUR MOTHER SOLD HER MANGLE? phr. (streets’).—A catch phrase: see DOES.

TEACH YOUR MOTHER (or [361]GRANDMOTHER) TO ROAST (or SUCK) EGGS, verb. phr. (common).—A derisive retort upon a piece of information or an offer of help. Fr. les oisons veulent mener les oies paître = the goslings want to drive the geese to pasture.

1670. RAY, Proverbs [BOHN (1893), 7]. Teach your father to get children.

HE’LL BE A MAN BEFORE HIS MOTHER, phr. (common).—A derisive retort.

Mother-and-daughter, subs. (rhyming).—Water.

Mother-Carey’s Chickens, subs. phr. (nautical).—1. Snow; GOOSE-FLUFF (q.v.). Fr. les mouches d’hiver.

2. (old).—See quot.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MOTHER CARY’S CHICKENS—to fare alike and pay the same.

Mother-in-law, subs. (common).—A mixture of ‘old’ and ‘bitter’ ales.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 3 July, p. 5, col. 4. Others incline towards MOTHER-IN-LAW, otherwise ‘old-and-bitter.’

MOTHER-IN-LAW’S BIT, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOTHER. MOTHER IN LAW’S BIT; a small piece, mothers-in-law being supposed not apt to overload the stomachs of their husband’s children.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mother-midnight, subs. (common).—1. A midwife; a FINGERSMITH (q.v.) and (2) a bawd.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MOTHER-MIDNIGHT, a midwife (often a Bawd).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOTHER.

Mother Morey. I’LL TELL YOU A STORY OF OLD MOTHER MOREY, phr. (American).—In derision of an inconsequent yarn. [In allusion to the nursery rhyme].

Mother-of-all-Saints (All souls, masons, St. Patrick), subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1785. G. A. STEVENS, Songs Comic and Satyrical, p. 88. Lads pour out libations from bottles and bowls, THE MOTHER OF ALL SAINTS is drunk by all souls.

1788. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOTHER OF ALL SAINTS. The Monosyllable. Ibid. MOTHER OF ALL SOULS. The same. Irish. Ibid. MOTHER OF ST. PATRICK. The same. Irish.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MOTHER OF MASONS—a toast—not among their secrets in lodge, whatever it be at home.

Mother-of-the-maids, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOTHER OF THE MAIDS. A bawd.

Mother’s-milk, subs. (common).—Gin. For synonyms see DRINKS and WHITE-SATIN. Also = spirits of any kind (quot. 1860).

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom & Jerry, iii. 3. Log. What, my lily! here, take a drop of MOTHER’S MILK. (Gives black child gin out of measure he has received from Landlord).

1860. DION BOUCICAULT, Colleen Bawn, i. 3. Sheelah. Here’s the hot water. Myles. Lave it there till I brew Father Tom a pint of MOTHER’S MILK.

Mother’s-son, subs. (old colloquial).—A man. [362]

[?]. M.S. Cantab. Ff. v. 48. f. 127 [HALLIWELL]. Woundyt many a MODUR SONE, and xij he slew that day.

[?]. M.S. Linc. A. i. 17. f. 19 [HALLIWELL]. Perischte ilk a MODER SONE, and drownede in the water.

Motte, subs. (venery).—The mons veneris. See FLEECE and MONOSYLLABLE.

Motting, subs. (venery).—Wenching; also GROUSING (q.v.). For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

Mottob, subs. (back slang).—Bottom.

Mouch. See MIKE.

Moucher. See MIKER.

Mouchey, subs. (common).—A Jew. For synonyms see YID.

Mouching. See MIKING.

Moulder, subs. (pugilists’).—See quot.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MOULDER—a lumbering boxer, one who fights as if he were moulding clay.

Mouldy, subs. (nautical).—A purser’s steward.

Adj. (common).—1. Grey-headed. MOULDY-PATE = a lackey in powder.

2. (colloquial).—Worthless: e.g., a MOULDY offer.

Mouldy-grubs, subs. (common).—Travelling showmen; mountebanks who work in the open without tent or covering. MOULDY-GRUBBING = working as described.

Mouldy-’un, subs. (common).—A copper.

Mounch-present, subs. (old).—1. See quot.; (2) a glutton; and (3) one who takes bribes. Also MUNCH-PRESENT.

1530. PALSGRAVE, MAUNCHE PRESENT, briffault.

1560–1. AWDLEY, Fraternitye of Vacabondes. MOUNCH PRESENT is he that is a great gentleman, for when his mayster sendeth him with a present, he wil take a tast thereof by the way. This is a bold knave, that sometyme will eate the best and leave the worst for his mayster.

Mounseer, subs. (colloquial).—A Frenchman.

1627. DRAYTON, Battle of Agincourt. A shoeless soldier there a man might meet Leading his MOUNSEER by the arms fast bound.

1719. DURFEY, Pills, i. 98. The next a Nymph who to be Queen Her Monsieur was engaging.

1755. Gent. Mag., xxv. 229. And now, thus ballasted—what course to steer! Shall I again to sea—and bang MOUNSEER.

1887. W. S. GILBERT, Savoy Songs, p. 14. Though he’s only a darned MOUNSEER, d’ye see?

Mount, subs. (common).—1. A saddle-horse.

1856. WHYTE MELVILLE, Kate Coventry, i. We ride many an impetuous steed in safety and comfort that a man would find a dangerous and uncontrollable MOUNT.

1873. MISS BROUGHTON, Nancy, vi. ‘His horses would certainly carry me: I wonder would he give me a MOUNT now and then.’

2. (venery).—1. A wife or mistress; and (2) an act of coition. [Cf. Mrs. MOUNT in Richard Feverel].

3. (Old Cant).—A bridge.

Verb. (common).—1. To wear; to carry as an equipment.

1822. MOORE, Life, 26 Mar. Weather like midsummer: the dandies all MOUNTING their white trousers. [363]

1847. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, viii. One is bound to speak the truth as far as one knows it, whether one MOUNTS a cap and bells or a shovel-hat.

2. (theatrical).—To prepare for representation on the stage.

1880. Athenæum, 6 March, p. 322. As regards MOUNTING and general decorations the revival is superior to any previous performance of As You Like It.

3. (old).—To swear falsely; to give false evidence: for money.

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 159, s.v.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. MOUNT, to swear, or give evidence falsely for the sake of a gratuity. To MOUNT FOR a person is also synonymous with bonnetting for him.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOUNT. To give false testimony.

4. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

1593. SHAKSPEARE, Venus and Adonis. Her champion MOUNTED for the hot encounter.… He will not manage her although he MOUNT her.

1620. MIDDLETON, Chaste Maid, v. 4. A woman may be honest according to the English print, when she’s a whore in the Latin; so much for marriage and logic: I’ll love her for her wit. I’ll pick out my runts there; and for my mountains, I’ll MOUNT—[So in original, but the play on words is clear].

1629. JONSON, The New Inn [CUNNINGHAM, ii. 344], i. 1. Instead of backing the brave steed o’ mornings, My copy has, to MOUNT the chambermaid.

1662. Rump Songs, i. p. 358. He caught a Foal and MOUNTED her (O base!) below the crupper.

1668. ETHEREGE, She Would if She Could, iii. 2. How she’d curvet and frisk, If a man were once MOUNTED upon her.

1715. PENNECUIK, Poems (1815), p. 363. To see old Cuff upon young Helen MOUNTED.

1847. HALLIWELL, Arch. & Prov. Words, s.v. MOUNT. Futuo.

TO MOUNT THE ASS, verb. phr. (old).—To go bankrupt. [In France it was customary to mount a bankrupt on an ass, face to tail, and ride him through the streets].

Mountain-dew, subs. (common).—Scotch whiskey. [From the secret hill-side stills]. For synonyms see DRINKS and OLD MAN’S MILK.

1821. Edinburgh Evening Courant, 22 Jan. Bread, cheese, and MOUNTAIN-DEW were liberally provided.

1841. LEVER, Charles O’Malley, xxviii. Nor quit the land where whiskey grew, To wear King George’s button, Take vinegar for MOUNTAIN DEW, And toads for mountain mutton.

Mountain-pecker, subs. (common).—A sheep’s head. See JEMMY.

Mounter, subs. (old).—See quot. 1859.

1781. G. PARKER, View of Society, 11. 23, s.v.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOUNT.… Mounter. Men who give false bail; or who, for a consideration, will swear to anything required. Fellows who hire clothes to wear for a particular occasion; those who wear second-hand clothes.

Mount-faulcon, subs. (venery).—See quot. 1850. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1593. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v.

1850. HALLIWELL, Archaic and Provincial Words, s.v. MOUNTFALCON. The female pudendum. Apparently from the Italian. It occurs in Florio and is still in use.

Mount of Venus, subs. phr. (venery).—The mons veneris; the MOTTE (q.v.).

1750. STRUAN, Poems, ‘Horace,’ iii. 13. By this lov’d spot*, I’d live and die with thee. [* Note. Clapping her hand on the MOUNT OF VENUS]. [364]

Mount-Pleasant, subs. phr. (venery).—The mons veneris. Cf. SHOOTERS-HILL. For synonyms see MOTTE.

Mounts-of-lilies, subs. (old).—The paps. For synonyms see DAIRY.

1694. CROWNE, Married Beau, iii. 1. Who would not, to ascend these MOUNTS OF LILIES, Leave for a while religion at the bottom.

Mourner, subs. (American).—One taking a drink; a SPREESTER (q.v.).

1847. PORTER, Quarter Race etc., p. 126. The cards were dropt instanter … and the MOURNERS were soon distributed in knots upon the promenade deck.

1848. DURIVAGE, Stray Subjects, p. 110. By common consent the MOURNERS settled themselves down into comparative quiet.

Mourning. FULL MOURNING, subs. phr. (pugilists’).—Two black eyes: HALF-MOURNING = one black eye or a MOUSE. Fr. œufs sur le plat; yeux au beurre noir; yeux pochés.

Adj. (old).—Bruised. Also IN MOURNING.

1708. MRS. CENTLIVRE, The Busy-Body, i. 1. Mar. I would give ten guineas, I say, to be ranked in his acquaintance. But, pr’ythee, introduce me. Chas. Well on condition you’ll give us a true account how you came by that MOURNING nose, I will.

1820. REYNOLDS, The Fancy, ‘King Tims’. Her eyes were all sweetly IN MOURNING.

1821. EGAN, Anecdotes of the Turf, 67. Never again would he put the ogles of the ring IN MOURNING.

1828. BEE, Living Picture of London, 283. To send him before his betters with his peepers IN MOURNING.

1837. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late Physician, xii. His left eye was sent INTO DEEP MOURNING, which threatened to last for some weeks.

Mourning-shirt, subs. (old).—An unlaundered shirt: cf. BILED-RAG.

1650. FULLER, Pisgah Sights, 98. We say MOURNING SHIRTS, it being customary for men in sadnesse to spare the pains of their laundresses.

Mouse, subs. (pugilistic).—1. See quots. 1860 and 1895. Cf. BLACKWALL.

1857. CUTHBERT BEDE, Verdant Green, pt. II. ch. iv. ‘That’ll raise a tidy MOUSE on your ogle, my lad!’

1860. W. E. HOLMES, The Professor at the Breakfast Table, xi. 354. MOUSE is a technical term for a bluish, oblong rounded elevation occasioned by running one’s forehead or eyebrow against another’s knuckles.

1887. ATKIN, House Scraps. His dexter ogle has a MOUSE; His conk’s devoid of bark.

1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. Bringing his right into play with extreme force, caused a MOUSE to appear on his opponent’s left peeper.

1895. Westminster Gazette,… A black eye in true cockney slang is known as a MOUSE, and this accounts for the fact that a cockney near his platform on Sunday shouted out, ‘Jack, where is your rat-trap?’ Mr. Burns was rather astounded. ‘Why a rat-trap?’ he said, thinking vaguely of ‘black-legs’ and Liberal Unionists. ‘For that big MOUSE on yer eye,’ cried the delighted cockney.

2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK, and PRICK. Cf. MOUSER.

3. (old).—A term of endearment.

1593. ALLEYN, … [in COLLIER, Memoirs, 25]. My good, sweete MOUSE [of his wife].

1594. SHAKSPEARE, Love’s Lab. Lost, v. 2. What’s your dark meaning, MOUSE?

1594. Look About You [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 463]. Sweet MOUSE, the hermit bids you stay here. [365]

1611. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Knight of the Burning Pestle, i. 2. Wife. Stay … till I question my husband. Cit. What is it, MOUSE.

1656. Muses Recr. [HOTTEN], p. 33. Even Mopsa, prety MOUSE.

4. (common).—The face.

5. (old).—The mouth. Also as verb. = to bite. Cf. MOUSLE.

1557. TUSSER, Husbandrie [E. E. T. S. 91, 38, 3]. If foxes MOUSE them, then watch or house them.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, King John, ii. 1. line 354. And now he feasts, MOUSING the flesh of kings.

1675. WYCHERLEY, Country Wife, ii. 1. He told me none but naughty women sat there whom they tous’d and MOUS’D.

6. (common).—The same as MOUSE-PIECE (q.v.).

1888. N. GOULD, Double Event, p. 223. He’s turned MOUSE, has he?

Verb. (American).—To go mouse-like: i.e., as in depreciation of one’s self. [A variant of MOUCH].

1871. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Screamers. The poor blunderer MOUSES among the sublime creations of the old masters.

Intj. (old).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOUSE. Be quiet; be still; talk low; whisper; step light; softly.

TO SPEAK LIKE A MOUSE IN A CHEESE, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOUSE. TO SPEAK LIKE A MOUSE IN A CHEESE; i.e., faintly or indistinctly.

AS DRUNK AS A MOUSE, phr. (old).—Very drunk. See DRINKS and SCREWED.

c. 1508[?]. Colin Blowboll’s Testament, line 141. Oft hath made me DRONKE AS ANY MOUSE.

153[?]. Doctour Doubble Ale [quoted by HALLIWELL]. Then seke another house, This is not worth a louse; AS DRONKEN AS A MOUSE.

Mouse-digger, subs. (Winchester College).—See quot.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 150. Plying the MOUSE DIGGER (a kind of diminutive pick-axe) in search of mice.

Mouser, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum; the CAT (q.v.). For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. Cf. MOUSE, subs. sense 2.

Mouse-foot, subs. (old).—An oath.

1563. Appius & Virginius [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 151]. Yet, by the MOUSE-FOOT, I am not content.

1601. A. DENT, Pathway, 142. I know a man that will never sweare but by Cocke, or Pie, or MOUSE FOOT. I hope you will not say these be oathes.

1605. London Prodigal, ii. 2. I’ll come and visit you: by the MOUSE-FOOT I will.

Mouse-hunt, subs. (old colloquial).—A wencher; a GROUSER (q.v.).

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Romeo & Juliet, iv. 4. Aye, you have been a MOUSE-HUNT in your time, But I will watch you from such watching now.

Mousepiece (Mouse-buttock, or Mouse), subs. (colloquial).—A piece of beef or mutton below the round; the part immediately above the knee joint.

1591. LYLY, Sappho and Phaon, i. 3. Aptly understood, a MOUSE of beef.

Mousetrap, subs. (common).—1. The mouth; the potato-trap (q.v.).

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE. Cf. MOUSE, subs. sense 2.

3. (common).—A sovereign; a CANARY (q.v.). [From a fancied resemblance of the crown and shield to a set trap]. [366]

THE PARSON’S MOUSETRAP, subs. phr. (common).—See quot. 1785.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOUSETRAP. The PARSON’S MOUSETRAP; the state of matrimony.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mousle, verb. (old).—1. To nibble. Hence (2) to tongue a woman: cf. MOUSE, sense 5; TO TIP THE VELVET (q.v.).

1672. MARVELL, Rehearsal [GROSART (1873), iii. 152]. The poor word is sure to be mumpled and MOWSLED to purpose.

1675. WYCHERLEY, Country Wife, v. 1. He put the lip of his tongue between my lips, and so MOUSLED me—and I said I’d bite it.

1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, iii. 4. Ben’s a brisk boy … he’ll touzle her and MOUZLE her; … if he shou’d not stay for saying grace … but fall to without the help of a parson, ha?

1762. WILSON, The Cheats, ii. 4. I.I. Dear Mopus! [He hugs her]. Mr. Mop. Away, Captain! You do so MOUSLE one.

Mouth, subs. (common).—1. See quots. Also MOUTH-ALMIGHTY. For synonyms see CLACK-BOX and FURIOSO.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, King John, ii. 1, line 397. Large MOUTH indeed!

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.) MOUTH (S.) … also a cant word for a noisy, silly, ignorant, prating, scolding fellow.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOUTH. A noisy fellow. MOUTH half cocked; one gaping and staring at every thing he sees.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOUTH. A noisy fellow; a silly fellow.

2. (old).—See quot.

1754. Discoveries of John Poulter, 34. Another shall look out for a MOUTH that has a horse to sell or change.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOUTH. A silly fellow. A dupe. To stand MOUTH; i.e., to be duped.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. MOUTH, a foolish silly person; a man who does a very imprudent act, is said to be A RANK MOUTH.

3. See CHEEK.

4. (common).—The after-effects of a debauch; HOT COPPERS (q.v.).

Verb. (colloquial).—To rant.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Hamlet, iii. 2. If you MOUTH it as many of your players do.

1759. GOLDSMITH, Citizen of the World, xxi. I hate to hear an actor MOUTHING trifles.

1871. LOWELL, Study Windows, 180. In his pompous, MOUTHING way of saying it.

TO GIVE MOUTH, verb. phr. (common).—1. To put into words; and (2) to speak loudly and distinctly. Also MOUTH IT. It. dar la bocca.

1840. DICKENS, Barnaby Rudge, lxv. ‘What I say in respect to the speeches always is, GIVE IT MOUTH. That’s my maxim. GIVE IT MOUTH.’

1850. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOUTH IT. Speak loudly.

1861. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, Bk. II. ch. vii. ‘I have an opinion of you, sir, to which it is not easy to GIVE MOUTH.’

1883. Daily Telegraph, 4 Sep., p. 2, col. 2. ‘Black Bess,’ they said, was nothing unless you GAVE IT MOUTH, and the two remaining verses, with the chorus, were rendered with unabated vigour.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 42. GIVE IT MOUTH!

DOWN IN THE MOUTH, verb. phr. (common).—Dejected.

1608–11. BISHOP HALL, Epistles, i. 6. The Roman orator was DOWN IN THE MOUTH; finding himself thus cheated by the money-changer.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, iv. 9. Sir. J. Witt. Now am I slapdash DOWN IN THE MOUTH, and have not one word to say! [367]

1751. SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle, xlix. He … told the physician that he was like the root of the tongue, as being cursedly DOWN IN THE MOUTH.

1864. EDMUND YATES, Broken to Harness, x. What won’t do? asked Prescott, with flaming face. Why, this Kate Mellon business, Jim. It’s on hot and strong, I know. You’ve been DOWN IN THE MOUTH all the time she was away.

1880. A. TROLLOPE, The Duke’s Children, xlvii. I’m sorry you’re so DOWN IN THE MOUTH. Why don’t you try again?

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xxxiii. Poor Old Jim looks dreadful DOWN IN THE MOUTH.

1894. GEORGE MOORE, Esther Waters, xxx. I’m a bit DOWN IN THE MOUTH.

TO LAUGH ON THE WRONG (or OTHER) SIDE OF ONE’S MOUTH (or FACE), subs. phr. (colloquial).—To cry.

1714. LUCAS, Gamesters, 65. But tho’ he laugh; ’twas on the WRONG SIDE OR HIS MOUTH.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LAUGH.

1823. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. LAUGH.

1826. BUCKSTONE, Death Fetch, i. 4. Snapsch. (Aside.) And have a pretty family of them about my ears the first time I’m left alone in the dark, who would soon make me LAUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MY MOUTH, I fancy.

1837. CARLYLE, Diamond Necklace, iii. By and bye thou wilt LAUGH ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THY FACE.

MOUTH THAT SAYS NO WORDS ABOUT IT (or CANNOT BITE), subs. phr. (old).—The female pudendum.

1719. DURFEY, Pills etc., IV. 71. That feeds the MOUTH THAT CANNOT BITE.

See also, ALL MOUTH; BIG-MOUTH; BONE; CAT; SILVER-SPOON; LION; WATER.

Mouth-bet, subs. (racing).—A verbal bet.

Mouther, subs. (pugilists’).—A blow on the mouth.

1821. The Fancy, Vol. I. p. 254. The Jew brought first blood by a MOUTHER.

Mouth-glue, subs. (old).—Speech.

160[?] DAVIES OF HEREFORD, Wittes Pilgrimage (GROSART, 1878, II. h). ‘In Praise of Poesie.’ And Iudgement ioyne them fast with Art’s MOUTH-GLUE.

1688. CROWNE, City Politics, ii. 1. As for marriage-promises, they are but church MOUTH-GLUE, they won’t hold a couple together three days.

Mouthing, subs. (common).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOUTHING. Crying.

Mouthpiece, subs. (thieves’).—See quot. Fr. un lessiveur (thieves’ = whitewasher); un médecin (= doctor: cf. malade = prisoner; l’hôpital = prison); un parrain.

1888. GREENWOOD, Old People etc., 18. It was for the benefit of a man, whose name I needn’t mention, who was ‘in trouble’ and in need of a bit of money, the card said, to procure him a MOUTHPIECE,—which, perhaps you might not be aware, is another word for a defending counsel among those sort of characters.

Mouth-Thankless, subs. phr. (Old Scots’).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

1460–1505. KENNEDY, Ane Aigit Man (Bannantyne MSS. Hunt. Soc. Publications, p. 780–82). That ewir I scherwit MOWTH THANKLESS.

d. 1555. LYNDSAY, Answer to the King’s Flyting, in Wks. (Edinburgh, 1873), I. 106, l. 33. Sae sair I rew That ewir I did MOUTH-THANKLESS so persew.

15?–15?. A. SCOTT, Of May, in Wks. (Edinburgh, 1826). For helth of body now have e Nocht oft to mell with THANKLESS MOWTH.

Move, subs. (common).—See quots. TO BE UP (or FLY) TO A MOVE OR TWO (or EVERY MOVE ON THE BOARD) = to be wide-awake. [368]

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. MOVE, any action or operation in life; the secret spring by which any project is conducted, as, There is a MOVE in that business which you are not down to. To be FLASH TO EVERY MOVE UPON THE BOARD, is to have a general knowledge of the world, and all its numerous deceptions.

1853. WH. MELVILLE, Digby Grand, xiii. The champion glared … putting in play all the different manœuvres of the King, which the initiated call MOVES.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 16 Jan. He said he had as good as given me a fortune, for he had made me a tip-top player, put me UP TO EVERY MOVE UPON THE BOARD, and the next time I played I should sweep it clean.

Moveables, subs. (thieves’).—1. Furniture; and (2) see quots.

1599. SHAKSPEARE, Henry V. ii. 8. 50. Look to my chattels and my MOVABLES.

1607. MIDDLETON, Trick to Catch the Old One, iii. 1. He’s rich in money, MOVABLES, and land.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. MOVEABLES.… We bit all the Cull’s cole and MOVEABLES, we won all the man’s money, rings, watches etc.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MOVEABLES. Rings, watches, or any toys of value.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Moved, adv. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOVED. Bowed to.

Mow, verb. (American).—1. To kiss.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MOW. To kiss.

2. (venery).—See quots. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE. Also MOWE.

d. 1554. LYNDSAY, Kitteis Confessioun, l. 16. Quod scho, Will Leno MOWIT me.

1597–8. HAUGHTON, A Woman will have her Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 493]. I am no meat for his MOWING.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, v. 18. For when at her Daddy’s Ise gang to Bed, Ise MOW’D her without any more to do.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. TO MOW. A Scotch word for the act of copulation.

1793. BURNS, (In Title) Poor Bodies do Nothing but MOW. May the deil in her arse Ram a huge prick of brass, An’ damn her to hell wi’ a MOW.

1808–25. JAMIESON, Dict., s.v. MOW … to copulate.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1850. HALLIWELL, Archaic & Provincial Words, s.v. MOW.… Futuo.

Mowdiwort (or Mowdiwark), subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms see CREAMSTICK and PRICK.

17[?]. Old Song [quoted by BURNS in Merry Muses], ‘The MODIEWARK.’ The MODIWARK has done me ill, And under my apron has biggit a hill.

Mower, subs. (Old Cant).—A cow.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1728. BAILEY, Eng. Dict., s.v. MOWER.… Cant.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mow- (or moo-) heater, subs. (old).—See quot.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MOW HEATER. A drover: from their frequent sleeping on hay mows. Cant.

1870. All the Year Round, 5 Mar. ‘Bye-gone Cant,’ s.v.

Mozzy, subs. (showmen’s).—Judy. SWATCHELL = Mr. Punch.

M. P., subs. phr. (common).—A policeman. For synonyms see BEAK.

Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Knap, Mr. Nash, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Pullen. See FERGUSON, KNAP, NASH, PALM, and PULL. [369]

Mrs. Goff, subs. phr. (American University).—A woman. For synonyms see PETTICOAT.

Mrs. Grundy, subs. phr. (common).—A personification of respectability. See quots. 1849 and 1855. [From a character in Speed the Plough, see quot. 1798].

1798. J. MORTON, Speed the Plough, i. 1. Be quiet woolye? always ding, dinging DAME GRUNDY into my ears—What will MRS. GRUNDY say? What will MRS. GRUNDY think?

1849. LYTTON, Caxtons, Pt. xv. ch. iii. I have hit upon a mode of satisfying the curiosity of our friend MRS. GRUNDY—that is, ‘the World’—without injury to any one.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, li. ‘What will Richmond, what will society, what will MRS. GRUNDY in general say to such atrocious behaviour?’

1891. Tales from Town Topics, ‘How a Shell Broke the Ice,’ p. 39. Come in; MRS. GRUNDY has run away from Paris long ago.

Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Gamp, subs. phr. (Fleet St.).—The Morning Herald and The Standard under the proprietorship of Mr. Baldwin. [Cf. DICKENS, Martin Chuzzlewit, passim].

1846. Punch, x. p. 11. It is a fact—and as the evening MRS. HARRIS says, we will stake our reputation upon it—that MRS. GAMP of the Herald did, one day last week, write, that is scold, a leader about Lord John Russell, and did not quote Sydney Smith!

1885. Punch, 8 August. The Standard figures as ‘Sairey Gamp’ scolding—in allusion to a recent article in the S. abusing Lord Randolph Churchill.

Mrs. Jones, subs. phr. (common).—A water-closet.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bog; bog-shop (or -house); cacatorium; chapel (or chapel-of-ease); coffee-shop (or -house); colfabias; crapping-castle (-case, -casa, -house, or -ken); draught-chapel; dunnakin; Forty-two; fourth; gong; House of Commons; house-of-office; jakes; letter-box; the Long (University); my aunt’s; necessary-house; quaker’s burying-ground; place (or house)-of-ease; rear; shit-house; Sir Harry; the West Central; where the Queen goes on foot (or sends nobody).

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Madame Bernard (cf. MRS. JONES); le buen-retiro (popular); chez Jules; le goguenau (gogueno or goguenot—military); le gras (thieves’: cf. BOG); le longchamps (cf. LONG); la mousserie (thieves’); le numbro cent (popular: a play on sent); le restaurant à l’envers (common); la sacristie (cf. CHAPEL).

Mrs. Lukey Props, subs. (tramps’).—A bawd.

Mrs. Partington, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A personification of impotent and senile prejudice. Also, a kind of Malaprop.

1831. SYDNEY SMITH, ‘Speech at Taunton.’ I do not mean to be disrespectful; but the attempt of the lords to stop the progress of reform reminds me very forcibly of the great storm of Sidmouth, and the conduct of the excellent Mrs. Partington on that occasion. In the winter of 1824, there set in a great flood upon that town; the tide rose to an incredible height; the waves rushed in upon the houses; and everything was threatened with destruction. In the midst of this sublime storm, Dame Partington, who lived upon the beach, was seen at the door of her house with mop and pattens, trundling her mop, squeezing out the sea-water, and vigorously pushing away the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic was roused; Mrs. Partington’s spirit was up; but I need not tell you that the contest was [370]unequal. The Atlantic beat Mrs. Partington. She was excellent at a slop or puddle, but should never have meddled with a tempest.

1872. BESANT and RICE, Ready-Money Mortiboy, xxx. As MRS. PARTINGTON would say, they might all three have been twins.

Mr. Speaker, subs. (America).—A revolver. For synonyms see MEAT-IN-THE-POT.

Mrs. Suds, subs. (common).—A laundress.

1757. FOOTE, Author, i. MRS. SUDS, your washerwoman, makes the three half crowns.

M’s and W’s. TO MAKE M’S AND W’S, verb. phr. (printers’).—To be drunk.

M. T., subs. phr. (railway).—1. Empties, or empty carriages: see MOLL THOMPSON’S MARK.

2. (common).—An empty bottle; a DEAD-MAN (q.v.).

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Mubblefubbles, subs. (Old Cant).—Low spirits. Cf. MULLIGRUBS.

1592. LYLY, Mydas, v. 2. Melancholy is the creast of courtiers armes, and now every base companion, being in his MUBLEFUBLES, says he is melancholy.

1654. GAYTON, Festiv. Notes, 46. Whether Jupiter was not joviall, nor Sol in his MUBBLEFUBBLES, that is long clouded, or in a total eclipse. Ibid. 145. Our Mary Gutierez, when she was in the MUBBLEFUBLES, do you think I was mad for it?

[?] Misc. Antiq. Angl. in X. Prince, 55. And when your brayne feeles any payne, With cares of state and troubles, We’ll come in kindnesse to put your highnesse Out of your MUMBLE-FUBBLES.

1847. HALLIWELL, Archaic … Words, s.v. MUBBLE-FUBBLES … depressed in spirits without any serious cause. A cant term.

Much, subs. (colloquial).—An expression of quality, e.g., ‘Not MUCH of a lawyer’ = not a very good lawyer.

MUCH OF A MUCHNESS, phr. (colloquial).—Very much the same thing.

1837. S. WARREN, Diary of a Late Physician, xxi. ‘The people I want are very, very poor!’ ‘Oh! oh! oh! I’m thinking they’re all MUCH OF A MUCHNESS for the matter of that, about here,’ he replied.

1840. HALIBURTON, Clockmaker, 3. S. ii. It is MUCH OF A MUCHNESS, sir,—six of one, and half a dozen of the other.

1860. Punch, v. 28, p. 135. The two are MUCH OF A MUCHNESS.

1870. DICKENS, Mystery Ed. Drood, iv. p. 27. ‘Surely this key is the heaviest of the three,’ ‘You’ll find ’em MUCH OF A MUCHNESS, I expect,’ says Durdles. ‘They all belong to monuments.’

1876. G. ELIOT, Daniel Deronda, xxxi. Gentle or simple, they’re MUCH OF A MUCHNESS.

1891. Sportsman, 2 April. The sport was MUCH OF A MUCHNESS with that usually seen there of recent years.

NOT MUCH! (or NOT MUCHLY!), adv. (colloquial).—Not likely; certainly not! in derision.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, 2 Hen. IV, ii. 4. What with two points on your shoulder? MUCH!

1599. JONSON, Ev. Man Out of His Humour, i. 3. To charge me bring my grain into the markets, Aye, MUCH! when I have neither barn nor garner.

MUCH CRY AND LITTLE WOOL. See CRY.

Muchly, adv.. (common).—A great deal.

[?]. M. S. BIBL. REG., 17 B, 15 [HALLIWELL]. Went gravelie dight to entertaine the dame, They MUCHLIE lov’d, and honour’d in her name. [371]

Muck, subs. (old: now colloquial).—1. A dripping, or oozing, mass of filth. Hence, MUCK-CHEAP = very cheap; MUCK-HEAP, or MUCK-SCUTCHEON = a foul sloven: cf. MIDDEN; MUCK-GRUBBER = a miser; MUCK-HILL = a dunghill; MUCK-SPOUT = a foul-mouthed talker; MUCK-SUCKLE = a filthy woman; MUCKY-WHITE = sallow in complexion; MUCK OF SWEAT = a violent perspiration, etc.

1766. GOLDSMITH, Vicar of Wakefield, ix. She was all of a MUCK OF SWEAT.

2. (common).—Anything vile.

1884. HENLEY and STEVENSON, Deacon Brodie, I. iii. 1. MUCK: that’s my opinion of him.

1888. Sportsman, 28 Nov. ‘Yuss,’ quoth somebody else, ‘and a precious little luck he’ll get a drinking sech like MUCK.’

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 28. Up to now it’s bin MUCK and no error, fit only for fishes.

3. (old).—Money. For synonyms see ACTUAL and GILT.

1393. GOWER, Confessio Amantis, v. ‘For to pinche, and for to spare, Of worlds MUCKE to gette encres.’

1587. TURBERVILLE, Tragicall Tales [NARES]. Not one in all Ravenna might compare With him for wealth, or match him for his MUCK.

1592. NASHE, Summer’s Last Will [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), viii. 29]. St. Francis a holy saint and never had any money. It is madness to doat upon MUCK.

1603. DAVIES OF HEREFORD, Microcosmos [GROSART (1878), i. c], 70. Our MUCKE and Earthly Mammon’s continent.

1611. DAVIES, Scourge of Folly [NARES]. He married her for MUCKE, she him for lust; The motives fowle, then fowlly live they must.

1624. MASSINGER, Bondman, i. 3. Do you prize your MUCK Above your liberties.

1655. MASSINGER, Guardian, v. 4. Deliver such coin as you are furnish’d with.… Dur. When we have thrown down our MUCK, what follows? Sev. Liberty, with a safe convoy, To any place you choose.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed). MUCK (S.) … also a cant name or money hoarded up.

1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Dict., s.v. MUCK … pelf, which a miser scrades.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

4. (common).—A heavy fall. Also MUCKER.

5. (common).—A coarse brute.

Verb. (common).—1. To spend; and (2) to ruin.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 20. He’d MUCK a thousand!

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 75. Wot MUCKS me, old man. Ibid. p. 70. I’m MUCKED, that’s a moral.

2. (racing).—See quot.

1865. Sporting Gazette, 1 April. If this letter had not already reached a considerable length, I would discourse upon the probability that to RUN A MUCK, and to GO A MUCKER, which Mr. Hotten treats as synonymous, are in reality unconnected. The meaning and derivation of to RUN A MUCK are no doubt correctly given; but to GO A MUCKER as men frequently do on the Turf, seems to be connected with muck, to clean out, and perhaps with muckinger, a pocket handkerchief.

TO GO (or RUN) A MUCK (or A MUCKER), verb. phr. (common).—To go headlong; also to be recklessly extravagant; to run AMOK (q.v.). [Stanford Dict. The homicidal frenzy (of a Malay), used originally in Port. forms amouca, amuco; hence, in a homicidal frenzy, furiously, viciously; metaphorically, headlong. Rare as adv.. except with ‘run.’ Sometimes used as if it were the indef. art. ‘a’ with subs. ‘muck’]. [372]

1588. J. HICKOCK, Tr. C. Frederick’s Voyage, fol. 13, r8. This King of Cochine … hath a great number of gentlemen which he calleth AMOCHY, and some are called Nayry; these two sorts of men esteeme not their lives any thing. They will thrust themselves forward in every danger, although they knowe they shall dye.

1613. PURCHAS, Pilgrimage [1626], ii. 557. There are also certaine people called AMORICHI, otherwise Chiani, which perceiving the end of their life approach, lay hold on their weapons … and going forth kill every man they meet with, till somebody (by killing them) make an end of their killing.

1665. HEAD, English Rogue, Sig. Hhh, 2 vo. A great crew of Indians and Chineses … fell upon them, killing whom they could, not directing their revenge on any particular person, (which they call A MUCK).

1684. J. P., Tr. Tavernier’s Travels, I. II. iii. 202. Which the Java lords seeing.… Cried A MOCCA on the English, killing a great number of them.

1687. DRYDEN, Hind and Pauth, iii. 1188. He scours the streets And runs AN INDIAN MUCK at all he meets.

1754. SMOLLETT, Ferd. Ct. Fathom, l. The Malays never RUN A MUCK, but in consequence of misery and despair.

1821. DE QUINCEY, Confessions (1823), II. 135. Brought other Malays with him … that ran AMUCK at me.

1866. LOWELL, Biglow Papers, viii. The late MUCK which the country has been running.

TO GO A MUCK (or MUCKER), verb. phr. (common).—To go to smash. Also, to risk one’s all; TO PUT ON ONE’S SHIRT (q.v.).

1877. C. KINGSLEY, Life, 275. Only four more doing it and one receiving a MUCKER.

TO MUCK ABOUT, verb. phr. (coster).—To fondle; to MESS ABOUT (q.v.).

Muckcook, verb. (common).—To laugh behind one’s back.

Muckender (Muckinder, Muckinger, or Mucketer), subs. (Old Cant).—A handkerchief. [From Sp. mocadero, (influenced by MUCK) from muco = mucus]. For synonyms see WIPE.

1468. Cov. Mysteries, ‘Christ in the Temple’ p. 190. Goo hom lytyl babe, and sytte on the moderes lappe And put a MOKADOR upon thi brest: And pray thi modyr to fede the with the pappe.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Bavaro, a bib or MUCKENDER.

1600. Weakest goes to Wall, sign. I. 2 b. Onely upon his MUCKITER and band he had an F, By which I did suppose his name was Ferdinand.

1607. MARSTON, What You Will, II. 1. Wipe your nose: fie on your sleeve! where’s your MUCKENDER your grandmother gave you?

1608. MIDDLETON, Trick to Catch the Old One, iv. 5. One must wipe his mouth for him with a MUCKINDER.

1612. CHAPMAN, Widow’s Tears, iv. 1, p. 327 (Plays, 1874). To which all the Paphian widows shall after their husbands’ funerals offer their wet MUCKINDERS, for monuments of the danger they have passed.

1633. JONSON, Tale of a Tub, iii. 1. Take my MUCKINDER, And dry thine eyes.

1658. On Dr. Corbet’s Marriage [NARES]. You knew her little, and when her Apron was but a MUCKENDER.

1668. WILKINS, Real Char. Alph. Dict. MUCKETER, wiping thing.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, v. 220.… And now and then with a greasy MUCKENDER wipe away the dripping that bastes their foreheads.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1830. C. LAMB, Pawnbroker’s Daughter, i. 2. Scarce three clean MUCKINGERS a week Would dry the brine that dew’d my cheek.

1847. HALLIWELL, Arch. & Prov. Words, s.v. MUCKINDER.… The term is still in use, but generally applied to a dirtied handkerchief. [373]

Mucker, subs. (common).—See TO GO A MUCK: also TO COME A CROPPER.

2. (common).—See MUCK, sense 4.

3. (military).—A commissariat officer.

Verb. (colloquial).—To blunder badly; to come to grief; to fail.

1861. H. KINGSLEY, Ravenshoe, xiv. Welter has MUCKERED … but worse than that, they say that Charles Marston’s classical first is fishy.

Muckerer (or Mokerer), subs. (old).—A miser.

c. 1381. CHAUCER, Boethius, Bk. ii. Auarice maketh alwaie MUCKERERS to be hated.

Muck-fork, subs. (common).—A hand; a finger.

Muckibus, adj. (old).—See quot. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1756. WALPOLE, Letters, i. 498. She said in a very vulgar accent, if she drank any more she should be MUCKIBUS. ‘Lord,’ said Lady Mary Coke, ‘what is that?’ ‘Oh, it is Irish for sentimental!’

Muckingtogs (or Muckintogs).—A mackintosh.

1851–61. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ii. 137. With a carpet-swab and MUCKINGTOGS.

Muckrake, subs. (American).—See quot.

1871. DE VERE, Americanisms, s.v. MUCKRAKES, a slang term in politics for persons who ‘fish in troubled waters,’ from the idea of their raking up the muck to see what valuable waifs and strays they may find in it. The term is generally used in the form of MUCKRAKES AND PLACEMONGERS.

Mucks. See MUX.

Muck-snipe, subs. (common).—A ruined gambler. Cf. MUCK, verb., sense 2.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, i. 279. I was a MUCK-SNIPE when I was there—why, a MUCK-SNIPE, sir, is a man regularly done up, coopered, and humped altogether.

Muck-train, subs. (military).—A commissariat train.

Muck-worm, subs. (old).—A miser; [Cf. MUCK = money]. Also an upstart.

1665. HOWARD, The Committee, ii. Come, pr’y thee let’s go; these MUCKWORMS will have earth enough to stop their mouths with one day.

1670. J. EACHARD, Contempt of the Clergy [ARBER, Garner, Vol. vii. p. 298]. It is a great hazard if he be not counted a caterpillar! a MUCKWORM! a very earthly minded man!

1695. CONGREVE, Love for Love, ii. 1. ’Oons, whose son are you? how were you engendered, MUCKWORM?

1748. THOMSON, Castle of Indolence, i. 50. Here you a MUCKWORM of the town might see.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1795. R. CUMBERLAND, The Jew, i. Here comes one that supersedes all other visitors—old Sheva, the rich Jew, the merest MUCK-WORM in the city of London.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1895. H. B. MARRIOTT-WATSON, in New Review, July, p. 7. ‘You MUCKWORM, you——I’ll slit your gizzard, you——.’

Mud, subs. (old).—1. See quots. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 13. MUD, a Fool, or Thick-scull Fellow.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MUD(S) … also a dull, heavy-headed fellow is called a MUD.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MUD—a stupid twaddling fellow. ‘And his [374]name is MUD!’ ejaculated upon the conclusion of a silly oration, or of a leader in the Courier.

1836. W. H. SMITH, The Individual, ‘The Thieves’ Chaunt.’ There is a nook in the boozing-ken, Where many a MUD I fog.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

2. (printers’).—A non-society man; DUNG (q.v.).

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

AS CLEAR AS MUD, phr. (common).—Very obscure. Also the reverse: as plain as may be.

1837–40. HALIBURTON, The Clockmaker, p. 480 (ed. 1862). Well, I get her to set down and go over it all ever so slow, and explain it all AS CLEAR AS MUD, and then she says,—Now do you see, Sam, ain’t it horrid pretty?

1890. G. ALLEN, The Tents of Shem, vi. I’ll explain the whole thing to you, AS CLEAR AS MUD, in half a second.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 75. CLEAR AS MUD, my dear feller.

HIS NAME IS MUD! phr. (American political).—Said in cases of utter defeat; SENT UP SALT RIVER (q.v.).

Mud-cat, subs. (American).—A Mississippi man.

Mudcrusher, subs. (military).—An infantryman. Fr. pousse-caillou.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Beetle-crusher (or -squasher); blanket-boy (a volunteer); boiled lobster; brother-blade; caterpillar; cat-shooter (volunteer); coolie; flat-foot; fly-slicer (a cavalryman); grabby; jolly gravel-grinder (a marine, see Royal Jolly); leatherneck; light-bob; lobster; MUD-MAJOR (q.v.); mud-plunger; plunger; prancer (a cavalryman); Q.H.B. (= Queen’s Hard Bargain = a malingerer); raw lobster (see LOBSTER); red-coat; red-herring; Saturday-soldier (a volunteer); scarlet-runner; skid; snoddy; swaddy; tame jolly (see JOLLY); toe-footer (or bloody toe-footer); Tommy Atkins; tow-pow; wobbler; worm-crusher (or -squasher).

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un allumeur de gaz (= a lancer: in allusion to the weapon and a lamp-lighter’s rod); un barbe-à-poux (= a sapper: they wear long beards); un bibi (popular); un biffin, or bifin (the knapsack is likened to a rag-picker’s basket); un bouffeur de kilomètres (the Chasseurs de Vincennes; a picked corps of skirmishers and scouts); un briscard (= an old soldier with long-service stripes); un cabillot (sailors’); un camisard (a military convict who serves his time in Africa: also un camisard en bordée); un centrier or centripète (popular); un chacal (= a Zouave); une citrouille or un citrouillard (= a dragoon); les clous (the infantry en masse); un court-à-pattes (a foot artilleryman); un cul rouge (in allusion to the red trousers: cf. CHERRY-BUM); Dumanet (= TOMMY ATKINS: from a character in a play); une écrevisse de rempart (cavalrymen’s); un fiferlin (popular); un fiffot (popular); un griffeton or grivier (popular); un homard (= a spahi: cf. LOBSTER); un hussard à quatre roues (= an army-service man); un lascar (= a malingerer); un lignard (= a linesman); un marche à terre [375](cf. MUD-CRUSHER); une marionette (popular); un méfiant (military); un mousse-caillou (popular); les mutilés (= soldiers drafted to Africa for self-mutilation); officier de guérite (military); un Parisien (military: a crack soldier); un pied de banc (= a sergeant); un pousse-caillou (popular = gravel-grinder).

ITALIAN SYNONYMS. Burasco; formigotto; foco or fuoco.

Mudding-face, subs. (common).—A fool; a MUFF or MUFFIN-FACE (q.v.).

Muddle, subs. (colloquial).—A state of confusion.

1854. DICKENS, Hard Times, passim.

1882. E. J. WORBOISE, Sissie, xxv. ‘There is no management in our house; there is nothing but MUDDLE.’

Verb. (common).—1. To stupefy with liquor. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1712. ARBUTHNOT, Hist. of John Bull [Ency. Dict.]. ‘I was for five years often drunk, always MUDDLED.’

1834. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, III. ii. I must not MUDDLE my brain with any more Pharaoh.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. ‘The Clerical Scandal.’ The vicar had a pocket handkerchief in his hand, and was wiping his face. He appeared to be MUDDLED.

2. (colloquial).—To bungle.

3. (old Scots’).—To copulate. For synonyms see GREENS and RIDE.

TO MUDDLE AWAY, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To squander aimlessly; to waste one knows not how.

Muddle-head, subs. (common).—A fool. Hence MUDDLE-HEADED, adj. (colloquial).—Doltish.

1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, xxx. What a precious MUDDLE-HEADED chap you are.

1856. READE, Never too Late to Mend, VI. They are MUDDLE-HEADS.

Muddler, subs. (racing).—A clumsy horse.

Mud-fog Association, subs. phr. (obsolete).—See quots.

1838. DICKENS in Bentley’s Mag., IV. 209–227. Full Report of the Second Meeting of the MUDFOG Association for the Advancement of Everything [Title].

1886. C. DICKENS, Junior, in Household Words, 1 May, p. 13. Many critics have derided as a gross exaggeration a very early skit of my father’s which satirised the proceedings of a certain MUDFOG ASSOCIATION, but some recent meetings of the Social Science Association were quite as ridiculous.

Mudge, subs. (thieves’).—See quot. For synonyms see GOLGOTHA.

1888. Sportsman, 22 Dec. The judge said that he had noticed that one of the witnesses had referred to the hat as a MUDGE, a word which he had not heard of before. One had always to learn, and for the future he should be able to add MUDGE to his vocabulary. The gangs of Liverpool are clever at ‘bashing MUDGES,’ ‘slipping wipes,’ and ‘catching a Waterbury wind-for-ever.’

Mudger, subs. (old).—A milk-sop.

1830. SIR E. B. LYTTON, Paul Clifford, xxii. Ah, he was a fellow! none of your girl-faced MUDGERS, who make love to ladies, forsooth—a pretty woman need not look far for a kiss when he was in the room, I warrant, however coarse her duds might be.

Mud-hen, subs. (American Stock Exchange).—A female gambler.

1876. San Francisco Post, Nov. The average MUD-HEN is middle-aged, [376]rather stout in person, as voluble in conversation as a stump-speaker, and possessed of an inordinate desire to become a ‘stock-sharp.’ She has a wonderful amount of gossip and ‘dead-sure points’ to communicate, and is by no means unwilling to reveal all she knows to any one who is supposed to have information relative to any stock, and in return can give her a point.

Mud-hole, subs. (whalers’).—A salt-water lagoon in which whales are captured.

Mud-honey, subs. (common).—Mud; street slush.

Mud-hook, subs. (nautical).—An anchor.

Mud-lark, subs. (common).—1. See quots.

1796. COLQUHOUN, Police of the Metropolis, p. 60. These aquatic plunderers … practise another device, by connecting themselves with men and boys, known by the name of MUD-LARKS, who prowl about, and watch under the ship when the tide will permit, and to whom they throw small parcels of sugar, coffee, and other articles of plunder, which are conveyed to the receivers by the MUD-LARKS, who generally have a certain share of the booty.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MUDLARKS—fellows who scratch about in gutters for horsenails, and other fragments of scrap-iron; also women who go into the Thames, at low-water, to pick from the mud bits of coal, which are spilled from the barges along-shore.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., ii. 173. There is another class who may be termed riverfinders, although their occupation is connected only with the shore; they are commonly known by the name of MUD-LARKS, from being compelled, in order to obtain the articles they seek, to wade sometimes up to their middle through the mud left on the shore by the retiring tide. The MUD-LARKS collect whatever they happen to find, such as coals, bits of old-iron, rope, bones, and copper nails that drop from ships while lying or repairing along shore.

1871. Daily News, 26 Dec. ‘Workhouse Xmas. Depravity.’ Why, there’s Jemima Ann … has … been bleeding me of a fiver to send to some Christmas Dinner Fund for juvenile MUDLARKS.

2. (old).—A duck.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

3. (City).—Any one with outdoor duties.

4. (common).—A street-Arab (q.v.).

5. (old).—A hog.—GROSE (1785).

Mud-major, subs. (military).—An infantry major: i.e., one who, on parade, commands a company on foot.

Mud-picker, subs. (military).—A garrison policeman.

Mud-player, subs. (cricketers’).—A batsman partial to a soft wicket.

Mud-plunging, subs. (tramps’).—Tramping through slush in search of sympathy.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 8 Feb., p. 3, col. I. ‘The bitterest sort of weather is their [cadgers’] weather, and it doesn’t matter if it’s house-to-house work or chanting, or MUD-PLUNGING, it’s cold work.’

Mud-salad Market, subs. phr. (common).—Covent Garden.

1880. Punch, 14 Aug., p. 71. MUD-SALAD MARKET belongs to His Grace the Duke of Mudford. It was once a tranquil Convent Garden.

Mud-sill, subs. (American).—1. A low-born, ignorant, contemptible wretch.

2. (obsolete American).—A Southerner: circa 1861–4. [377]

Mud-slinger, subs. (common).—A slanderer.

Mud-student, subs. (see def.).—A student at the Agricultural College, Cirencester.

1856. Notes & Queries, 2 S. ii. 198. A young friend of mine … a MUD-STUDENT.

Muff, subs. (old).—1. A milksop; a bungler; a dolt. See quots. 1598, 1648, 1862 and 1879. Also MUFFIN.

1586–1606. WARNER, Albion’s England. ‘Those stiles to him were strange, but thay Did feofe them on the bace-borne MUFFE, and him as king obay.’

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes. Pupo, a pigsneye, a sweet-hart, a prettie MUFFE, a daintie mop etc. Ibid. Stiti-cozzie, swearing or swaggring MUFFS or dutchmen.

c. 1610. CHAMBERLAIN, Letters, 159. More than beseemed the King to give to such MUFFES.

1648. Travels of Sir John Reresby [quoted in Notes and Queries, 2 S. ix. 402]. The Low Dutch call the High MUFFES, that is étourdis as the French have it, or blockheads.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, act. ii. sc. i. A visitor? hurrah: some MUFFIN, I daresay.

1837. R. H. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 437. If any young man, though a snubb’d younger brother When told of her faults by his father or mother Runs restive, and goes off to sea in a huff, Depend on’t, my friends, that young man’s a MUFF!

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, ii. sc. 1. I’m a ruined homo—a MUFF.

1845. DISRAELI, Sybil, p. 146 [ed. 1863]. ‘I came about him. I wished to know whether he were alive, and that you have been able to inform me and where he was; and that you have not been able to inform me.’ ‘Why you’re a regular MUFF!’

1849. THACKERAY, Hoggarty Diamond, xi. Another called me a MUFF (which means, in the slang language, a very silly fellow).

1850. SMEDLEY, Frank Fairleigh, 26. ‘Put on the gloves!’ repeated I; ‘how do you mean?—what has that to do with Lawless?’ ‘Oh, you MUFF! don’t you understand?—of course, I mean the boxing-gloves.’

1857. G. A. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingston, XII. I heard him growl out, ‘That there MUFF’S enough to spile one’s taste for a fortnit.’

1857. HOOD, Pen and Pencil Pictures, p. 144. Awful MUFF! Can’t pull two strokes without catching as many crabs; he’d upset the veriest tub on the river.

1862. Notes and Queries, 3 S. i. 56. MUFF is the nickname applied by the natives of the Low Countries to all foreigners … the term will have passed the Channel with the motley troops of William III.

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 136. I must now proceed to football, a game I like … far more than cricket. The reason is simple: I was a tolerably good hand at the former, and rather a MUFF at the latter.

1869. Daily Telegraph, 2 Sept. Boys do not generally like to be considered MUFFS. What but a MUFF—a MUFF of the most hopeless, helpless sort—is a young fellow who cannot manage, by motions which Nature herself almost indicates in such a crisis, to keep himself afloat?

1879. Notes and Queries, 5 S. XII. 16. MUFF = a stupid person may have been introduced into England from the Netherlands, probably in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In Dutch, Mof = (1) a clown, a boor; (2) as a nickname, a German and particularly a Westphalian. Moffenland = Germany, Westphalia. This muf (2) occurs in MARLOWE, Tamburlane, i. 1. Sclavonians.… MUFFS and Danes.

1888. ROLF BOLDREWOOD, Robbery Under Arms, xliii. What a MUFF Sir Ferdinand must be.

2. (common).—Anything badly bungled.

3. (old).—See quot. 1607.

1607. DEKKER, Northward Ho, iv. 3. Marry, MUFF, sing thou better, for I’ll go sleep my old sleeps. [Dyce in note in Webster’s Wks., p. 274 (1859) [378]says:—‘A not uncommon expression in our old writers (equivalent, I believe, to stuff, nonsense).’]

1620. SHELTON, Don Quixote, Pt. II. x. Marry, MUFF (quoth the Countrey-Wench), I care much for your courting.

4. (venery).—See quot. 1785. [Cf. the old equivocal wheeze:—‘Lost, lost, and can’t be found; A lady’s thing with hair all round.’]

c. 1720. Ballad [Brit. Mus. Cat. 11621, i. 1. 75]. I heard the merry wagg protest, The MUFF between her haunches, Resembled most a Mag-pies nest, Between two lofty branches.

17[?]. Old Ballad [quoted by Burns in Merry Muses], ‘Duncan Davidson.’ Meg had a MUFF, and it was rough, ’Twas black without and red within.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MUFF, the private parts of a woman; to the well wearing of your MUFF, mort; to the happy consummation of your marriage, girl, a health.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

5. (old).—See quot.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. MUFF, an epithet synonymous with mouth. Ibid. s.v. MOUTH, a foolish silly person.

Verb. (common).—1. To bungle: e.g., to MUFF a catch.

1857. G. H. LAWRENCE, Guy Livingstone, vi. I don’t see why you should have MUFFED that shot.

2. (Eton College).—To fail in an examination; TO BE SPUN (q.v.) or PLUCKED (q.v.); TO SKIP A COG (q.v.).

1884. JULIAN STURGIS, in Longm. Mag., III. 617. Freddy and Tommy and Dicky have all MUFFED for the army. It’s really dreadful!

Muffin, subs. (American).—1. See quot.

1870. JOHN WHITE, Sketches from America [BARTLETT]. When a man, availing himself of the custom of the country, has secured a young lady for the season, to share with him his sleigh-driving and other of the national amusements, in Canadian phrase she is called his MUFFIN. Her status is a sort of temporary wifehood, limited, of course, by many obvious restrictions, but resembling wifehood in this, that, though a close and continuous relationship, it has nothing in it which shocks, and much in it which allures, the Canadian mind. Among the British commodities exported to our colonies, ‘la pruderie Anglaise’ does not find a place. The origin of the term MUFFIN seems to be wrapped in obscurity.

2. See MUFF, subs. sense 1.

COLD MUFFIN, phr. (common).—Poor; of no account.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 36. I thought the theayter COLD MUFFIN.

Muffin-baker, subs. (rhyming).—A QUAKER (q.v.).

Muffin- (or Muff-)cap, subs. (common).—The flat woollen cap worn by charity-boys.

1837. R. BARHAM, The Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 9. Mr. Peters, though now a wealthy man, had received a liberal education at a charity-school and was apt to recur to the days of his MUFFIN-CAP and leathers.

1838. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, vi. His jealousy was roused by seeing the new boy promoted to the black stick and hatband, while he, the old one, remained stationary in the MUFFIN-CAP and leathers.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 4 July. The Americans, indeed, appear to have a peculiar fondness for the ‘busby’ and the MUFF-CAP as items of military head-gear, distinctly preferring them to the helmet.

Muffin-face, adj. and subs. (common).—A hairless countenance. See quot. 1823.

1777. ISAAC JACKMAN, All the World’s a Stage, i. 2. Master Charles, who is that gentleman? He’s acting, isn’t he? Has he a MUFFIN-FACE? [379]

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MUFFIN-FACED—one who has large protruding muscles on his phiz, which is pale withal, is ‘a MUFFIN-FACED son of a ——;’ mostly cooks, idle gourmands, &c. who delight in fat, soups, and slip-slops, evolve mutton-faces.

Muffing, adj. (common).—Bungling; clumsy.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., iii. 62. ‘You can pick out a good many Punch performers, without getting one so well versed as I am in it; they in general makes such a MUFFING concern of it.’

Muffin-worry, subs. (common).—A tea-party.

1864. Derby Day, p. 16. There are men who do not disdain MUFFIN-WORRIES and crumpet-scrambles.

Muffle, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A boxing-glove. Also MUFFLER.

1755. Connoisseur, No. 52. He has the shape and constitution of a porter, and is sturdy enough to encounter Broughton without MUFFLERS.

1811. MOORE, Tom Crib, xix. Chap. 7. … shows that the Greeks, for mere exercise of sparring, made use of MUFFLES or gloves.

1819. BYRON, Don Juan, ii. 92. For sometimes we must box without the MUFFLE.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MUFFLERS—gloves with wool stuffed upon the knuckles, for boxers to spar withal, and not hurt each other too much; claret comes sometimes.

1827. REYNOLDS, The Fancy, ‘Stanzas to Kate.’ Forgive me—and MUFFLERS I’ll carefully pull O’er my knuckles hereafter.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1891. Licensed Victuallers’ Mirror, 30 Jan. p. 7, c. There were few, if any, men of about his height and weight who could stand before him with the MUFFLERS.

2. (pugilistic).—A stunning blow.

3. (thieves’).—A crape mask: once a kind of vizard or veil worn by women (STOW, 1539).

1838. GLASCOCK, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, ii. 126. The dark lanterns—the MUFFLERS—and the jemmy.

Muffling-cheat, subs. (old).—See quots.

1573. HARMAN, Caveat (1814), p. 65, s.v. A MOFLING CHETE, a napkin.

1777. BAILEY, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MUFFLING CHEAT … a towel.

Mufti, subs. (military colloquial).—See quots. 1834 and 1836. Fr. en pékin.

1834. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, xxxi. The governor’s aide-de-camps, all dressed in MUFTI (i.e., plain clothes).

1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, ii. The company was composed chiefly of naval and military men, but there was also a sprinkling of civilians, or MUFTEES, to use a West India expression.

1854. THACKERAY, Newcomes, VII. He has no MUFTI-coat, except one sent him out by Messrs. Stulty, to India in the year 1821.

1857. A. TROLLOPE, Three Clerks, xxxviii. He was dogged at the distance of some thirty yards by an amiable policeman in MUFTI.

1865. A Son of the Soil, in Macmillan’s Mag., March, p. 389. He had still a stolen inclination for MUFTI and wore his uniform only when a solemn occasion occurred like this, and on grand parade.

1876. GRANT, One of Six Hundred, i. I relinquished my gay lancer-trappings, and resumed the less pretentious MUFTI of the civilian.

1884. Notes and Queries, 6 S. IX. 398. MUFTI … the well-known title of a Mahommedan high-priest … officers in India, on returning from their duties … don pyjamas and loose white jackets, and when so arrayed bear a resemblance to the white-robed priests of Islam.

1888. Athenæum, 27 Oct., p. 554, col. 3. An elderly gentleman in MUFTI. [380]

Mug, subs. (common).—1. The face; the mouth.

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 166. Face. MUG.

1818. EGAN, Boxiana, ii. 41. A slight tint of the claret appeared upon both their MUGS.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 21. ’Twas all dicky with Georgy, his MUG hung so dead.

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v.

1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Heart of London, ii. 1. But how’s he to disguise his MUG from the turnkey?

1836. MICHAEL SCOTT, Cruise of the Midge, p. 305. ‘And you have said it with your own beautiful MUG, Benjie Brail,’ quoth Dennis Donovan.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, LVI. ‘Clive has just inherited the paternal MUG.’

1855. Punch, xxix. p. 3. Then I did the meek and lowly, Pullin’ sitch a spoony MUG.

1857. O. W. HOLMES, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, iii. The smile they carry has a quiet assertion in it, such as the champion of the Heavy Weights … wears upon what he very inelegantly calls his MUG.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1860. Chamber’s Journal, xiii. 348. His face as a whole is termed his MUG.

1877. GREENWOOD, Dick Temple, Downy-looking Cove, the fair ’un; a MUG like that ought to be worth a fortune to him.

1883. Referee, 1 April, p. 2, col. 4. He is a low comedian … and has an awfully funny MUG.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 10. The face of a cad with the MUG of a terrier pup.

2. (common).—A dolt. Also, a raw, or clumsy hand. See quots. 1851 and 1879.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. & Lon. Poor, iii. p. 203. ‘We sometimes have a greenhorn wants to go out pitching with us—a MUG, we calls them.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1879. Auto. of Thief, in Macm. Mag., XL. 500. One being a MUG at the game.

1888. J. RUNCIMAN, The Chequers, p. 4. Many eager souls were longing for a chance to plunder such an obvious MUG.

1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 3, col. 1. The method of plucking the MUG varies according to circumstances.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Feb., p. 7, col. 1. ‘Look here,’ said another, ‘if you offer me a tip, do you suppose I’m going to be MUG enough to refuse it?’

1891. Morning Advertiser, 30 Mar. There was no doubt that these men stole the orders from the office, and that Woodman and the females had been used as what the police termed MUGS in assisting to dispose of the property.

1891. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 23 Jan. He was stopped by a policeman and asked who the horse belonged to, and he gave the young MUG’S name and address.

1895. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 Jan., p. 2, col. 2. He expects the MUG to bet on his hand and to win the wager with the last trump.

3. (common).—A cooling drink; a ‘cup’.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 2 July, p. 5, col. 3. Anglo-Indian manuals of domestic economy give the formulas for such beverages as … cool tankard, or MUG, into the composition of which beer as well as wine or spirits enters.

Verb. (common).—1. To strike (or catch it) in the face.

1821. The Fancy, i. p. 261. Madgbury showed game, drove Abbot in a corner, but got well MUGG’D.

1857. DUCANGE ANGLICUS, Vulg. Tongue, ‘The Leary Man.’ And if you come to fibbery You must MUG one or two. [381]

1866. London Miscellany, 5 May, p. 102. ‘Suppose they had MUGGED you?’ ‘Done what to me?’ ‘MUGGED you. Slogged you, you know.’

2. (common).—To grimace.

1762. COLLINS, Miscellanies, p. 122. Wit hung her blob, ev’n Humour seem’d to mourn, And silently sat MUGGING o’er his urn.

1857. DICKENS, Little Dorrit, i. 20. The low comedian had MUGGED at him in his richest manner fifty nights for a wager.

1879. Macmillan’s Mag., XL. 479. He [C. J. Mathews] never MUGGED at the pit, as we once heard him warn Whiskerandos against doing in the second act of The Critic.

3. (common).—To rob; to swindle.

4. See MUG UP.

5. (Winchester College).—1. To study: e.g., I MUGGED all the morning, and shall thoke this afternoon; and (2) to take pains; e.g. ‘He has MUGGED his study, and made it quite cud.’

1866. MANSFIELD, School Life, 122. The præfects would … set to work MUGGING.

1890. G. ALLEN, The Tents of Shem, xxiv. ‘Miss Knyvett,’ and he paused with his brush upturned, ‘you’re a sight too clever for me to talk to.’ ‘Not clever,’ Iris corrected; ‘only well read. I’ve MUGGED it up out of books, that’s all.’ Ibid. ii. Instead of reading her ‘Odyssey’ and her ‘Lucretius,’ and MUGGING up amusing works on conic sections.

TO CUT MUGS, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To grimace.

TO MUG ONESELF, verb. phr. (common).—1. To get drunk.

2. (common).—To make oneself cosy or comfortable.

TO MUG UP, verb. phr. (theatrical).—1. To paint; to MAKE UP (q.v.)

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., iii. 203. He underwent the operation of MUGGING him UP with oil-color, paint, black, and not forgetting the lips, red.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 193. He put on the clown’s dress, got MUGGED UP, and went into the ring.

1882. Chambers’s Journal, 19 Aug., p. 530. He drew a long breath and repeated his ejaculation; ‘My eye! How you do MUG UP, Charley! You might go through this town, ah! if you owed money in every shop, and I don’t believe a soul would know you.’

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 59. You’re MUGGED UP to rights.

2. (common).—To cram for examination. Also TO MUG.

Muggard, adj. (old).—Sullen; displeased.

Mugger, subs. (provincial).—1. A gipsy.

1861. Cornhill Magazine, iv. 102. ‘A Cumberland Mare’s Nest.’ The scourge of tramp and MUGGER, he Commanded the intruder to be shown into his snuggery.

1871. London Figaro, 1 April. But the English gipsy is another character; although the members of the Lees, Jones, Hernes, and other families proudly hold their heads as being many grades above the travelling MUGGERS and tramping vagabonds who mend pots and kettles and re-seat old chairs.

2. (public schools’).—See quot.

1883. JAMES PAYN, The Canon’s Ward, viii. ‘A MUGGER, that’s what he is,’ said the other, contemptuously; a MUGGER—a comprehensive term understood to include all persons with an ambition for University distinction.

3. (theatrical).—A comedian whose best point is grimace. Also MUG-FAKER.

1892. National Observer, 27 Feb., p. 379. None had ever a more expressive [382]viznomy than this prince of MUGGERS. He can say more with his eyebrow than the common tragedian with the full resources of his double-bass.

4. (Anglo-Indian).—A crocodile.

1895. KIPLING, Second Jungle Book, ‘The Undertakers,’ 106. The MUGGER of Ahmedmugger Ghaut.

Muggill, subs. (old).—See quot.

1610. ROWLANDS, Martin Markall, p. 39 (H. Club’s Repr. 1874). The MUGGILL, the Beadle.

Mugging, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A thrashing. See MUG, verb., sense 1.

2. (public schools’).—Hard work.

3. (theatrical).—See MUG, verb., sense 2.

1871. London Figaro, 17 Mar. A collection of judicious and injudicious gags might prove as edifying as a selection of good and bad performances; although, on the whole, it is a dangerous custom, and one which is assuredly ‘more honoured in the breach than the observance.’ Judicious MUGGING is, perhaps, the more harmless of the two.

Muggins, subs. (common).—1. A fool. For synonyms see BUFFLE and CABBAGE-HEAD.

2. (common).—A borough-magnate; a local leader.

Muggled, adj. (thieves’).—A term applied to cheap trash offered for sale as smuggled goods.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., ii. 44. Another ruse to introduce MUGGLED or ‘duffer’s’ goods.

Muggles, subs. (old).—Restlessness; THE FIDGETS (q.v.).

1750. ROBERTSON OF STRUAN, Poems, 96. Push till the MUGGLES seize the Fair, And the unruly breaks his Bridle.

Muggy, adj. (common).—1. Tipsy. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

2. (vulgar).—Stifling and damp: of the weather. Also MUGGINESS.

1865. G. F. BERKELY, Life etc., ii. 120. I shall never forget a still hot day, or what would vulgarly be called a MUGGY lazy day in June at the fullest time of the Park.

1871. London Figaro, 27 Jan. Here a north-east aspect means exposure to the keenest winds that blow, to the sharpest frosts that occur, to the most damp and dismal atmosphere whenever the weather happens to be MUGGY in winter.

1873. MISS BROUGHTON, Nancy, ch. xliv. ‘Nice and fresh! Much better than one of those MUGGY days, when you can hardly breathe!’

1883. G. A. S[ALA], in Illustr. London News, 30 June p. 647, col. 1. A temperature varying between raw chilliness one day and oppressive MUGGINESS the next.

Mughouse, subs. (old).—An alehouse. For synonyms see LUSHING-CUB.

1710. Tatler, No. 180. There is a MUGHOUSE near Long Acre.

Mug-hunter. See POT-HUNTER.

Mugster, subs. (Winchester College).—One who MUGS (q.v.). [Notions: STER is generally the termination of the agent, as in ‘Brockster’, ‘Thokester’, etc. Cf. Harrow termination ER as in ‘footer’ = a footballer; loather = one to be loathed. So REVOLTER (q.v.); DISGUSTER (q.v.). Cf. MUGGER.]

1888. Times, 1 Feb., p. 12. col. 2. Remember the many epithets applied to those who, not content with doing their work, commit the heinous offence of being absorbed in it. Every school, every college has had its choice nickname, [383]for this unfortunate class … such as a ‘sap’, a ‘smug’, a ‘swot’, a ‘bloke’, a MUGSTER.

Mug-trap, subs. (common).—A fool-catcher.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, 75. The ‘D. T.’ is a regular MUG-TRAP.

Mugwump, subs. (American).—1. A man of consequence. Hence (2) one who sets himself up as better than his fellows; (3) an independent Republican, who, in 1884 openly refused to vote for the party nominee; and (4) a citizen who declines to take any part in politics. See quots. 1887 and 1896.

1840. Great Western, 4 July, ‘Leader’. Then the great MUGWUMP was delivered of a speech which the faithful loudly applauded.

1887. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 626. MUGWUMP … is now generally applied to those who profess to study the interests of their country before those of their party.

1888. NORTON, Political Americanisms, s.v. After the Independent movement was started, the word was launched on its career of popularity. The Critic of September 6th, 1884, contained a note to the effect that the word was of Algonquin origin, and occurred in Elliott’s Indian Bible, being used to translate such titles as lord, high-captain, chief, great man, leader, or duke. In Matthew vi. 21, it occurs as MUKXUOMP; and again in Genesis xxxvi. 40–43, and several times in II. Samuel xxiii. As is frequently the case in American politics, the word was used as a term of derision and reproach by one section, and accepted with a half-humorous sense of its aptness by the other.

1896. MORTON FREWIN, in National Review, Jan., p. 600. A nucleus of pretentious political thinkers who get together to discuss counsels of perfection. These superior beings … are described in the latest editions of American dictionaries as MUGWUMPS.

Verb. (American).—To abstain from politics.

Also MUGWUMPERY and MUGWUMPISM = the habit of MUGWUMPING.

1896. MORTON FREWIN, in National Review, Jan., p. 600. I fear, however, that the warm heart of MUGWUMPERY will no longer follow that idol which had been shattered prematurely in 1884 but for this handful of its votaries.

Mule, subs. (colloquial).—1. An obstinate person, male or female.

1891. W. C. RUSSELL, Ocean Tragedy, 131. I saw that he was a MULE of a man.

2. (colloquial).—An impotent man.

3. (printers’).—A day hand in the composing-room.

TO SHOE ONE’S MULE, verb. phr. (old).—To embezzle.

1655. History of Francion [NARES]. He had the keeping and disposall of the moneys, and yet SHOD NOT HIS MULE at all.

Mull, subs. (old).—1. A cow.

1689. Satyr against Hypocrites [NARES]. Tedious have been our fasts, and long our prayers; To keep the Sabbath such have been our cares, That Cisly durst not milk the gentle MULLS, To the great damage of my lord mayor’s fools.

2. (colloquial).—A muddle: a result of mismanagement.

1821. EGAN, Real Life, i. 606. Somebody must make a MULL.

1839. CHARLES DANCE, Alive & Merry, i. 2. Mr. Patrick Day, it strikes me, with the greatest respect, that you have made a MULL of your fortunes.

1844. Puck, p. 14. He tried his dos and ras and mes But floundering in his A’s and B’s He made among his bunch of keys As great a MULL as The class of Dons in Trinity With Mr. Hullah’s.

1858. SHIRLEY BROOKS, The Gordian Knot, p. 14. If that woman had anything to do with the dinners, one can see what a MULL they must have been. [384]

1860. BINNEY, Church Life in Australia, App. No. viii. 59. The whole thing is a MULL.

1874. JOS. HATTON, Clytie, II. ch. xii. And look what a MULL you made of the old Earl business! Why, the examination upon that point damns your whole case.

3. (colloquial).—A simpleton. Generally OLD MULL or REGULAR MULL.

Verb. (colloquial).—1. To spoil, to muddle; TO MUFF (q.v.).

2. (American thieves’).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MULL. To spend money.

Muller. TO MULLER A HAT, verb. phr. (obsolete).—To cut down a chimney-pot hat into the low-crowned MULLER. [From Müller, who murdered Mr. Briggs on the Brighton Railway, and tried to disguise himself by this means].

1864. Builder, November. One murderer gave us the word ‘burke;’ a second appears likely to add to the vocabulary of trade. In a small shop not far from Sloane-square, Chelsea, may be seen the following tasteful announcement: Hats MULLER’D here!

Mulligrubs (or Mollygrubs), subs. (colloquial).—1. Colic; the COLLYWOBBLES (q.v.).

1619. BEAUMONT and FLETCHER, Monsieur Thomas, ii. 2. ‘Whose dog lies sick o’ th’ MULLIGRUBS?’

1634. S. ROWLEY, Noble Souldier, iv. 2. Cor. The Divell lyes sicke of the MULLIGRUBS.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, v. 311. The pox, the MULLIGRUBS.

1738. SWIFT, Polite Convers., Dial. 1. What! you are sick of the MULLIGRUBS with eating chopt hay?

1837–40. HALIBURTON, The Clockmaker, p. 388 (ed. 1862). It draws the cold out, and keeps it from flyin’ to the stomack, and saves you a fit of the MULLIGRUBS p’raps.

1887. HENLEY, Villon’s Good-Night. You coppers, narks, and dubs.… Who gave me mumps and MULLIGRUBS.

2. (colloquial).—MUBBLE-FUBBLES (q.v.). See quot. 1748.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in Works, v. 280. Wherwith Peters successour was so in his MULLIEGRUMS that he had thought to have buffeted him, and cursed him with bell book and candle.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.). MULLIGRUBS (S.) a pretended or counterfeit sullenness, a resolute, and fixed, and artificial displeasure, in order to gain some point desired.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. A. SCOTT, Poems, p. 19. Waes me, the MULLIGRUMPHS she’s ta’en An’ toss’d him wi’ a vengeful wap Frae out her silk-saft downy lap.

1822. SCOTT, Fortunes of Nigel, xxi. Repeating as the rich cordial trickled forth in a smooth oily stream—‘Right Rosa Solis,’ as ever washed MULLIGRUBS out of a moody brain

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v.

1895. H. B. MARRIOTT-WATSON, in New Review, July, p. 6. But what’s gone is gone, and to curl up with the MULLYGRUBS because the milk is a trifle sour, is neither to your credit nor to mine. And that’s plain, I says.

Mullingar heifer, subs. phr. (Irish).—A girl with thick ankles.

Multicattivo, phr. (theatrical).—Very bad. [Italian, MOLTO CATTIVO].

1887. Sat. Review, 14 May, p. 700. To theatrical slang belong a good many terms that are now either introduced into familiar and slangy talk or are familiar; we know how to make the ghost walk when biz is rumbo, and what it is that makes the company MULTICATTIVO.

Multy, adj. (common).—An expletive. Cf. MONDAY, etc.

1887. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip. How do you melt the MULTY swag? Booze and the blowens cop the lot. [385]

Mum, subs. (old).—1. in pl. The lips; more frequently MUNS (q.v.).

Adj. (old).—Silent; also as adv. MUM! as intj. and in phr., MUM’S THE WORD! KEEP MUM! MUM YOUR DUBBER = Silence! Also MUM-CHANCE and MUM-BUDGET! See quots. 1611, 1660, and 1811.

1557–8. Jacob & Esau [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ii. 191]. But peace, MUM, no more: I see Master Esau.

1563. Appius & Virginius [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 131]. But peace, for man’s body! Haphazard be MUM.

1567. EDWARDS, Damon & Pithias [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 38]. Bah, MUMBUDGET, for Carisophus I espy.

1588. Jeronimo [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 376]. Peace; no words: I’ll get thy pardon: Why, MUM, then.

1594. Look About You [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 420]. MUMBUDGET, not a word, as thou lovest thy life.

1594. SHAKSPEARE, Richard III, iii. 7. Glo. How now, how now? what say the citizens? Buck. Now, by the holy mother of our Lord, The citizens are MUM, say not a word.

1596. SHAKSPEARE, Merry Wives, v. 2. I come to her in white, and cry MUM; and she cries BUTGET, and by that we know one another.

1599. PORTER, Two Angry Women [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 327]. Hush then; MUM, mouse in cheese, cat is near.

1607. Puritan, ii. 1. MUM! Mary’s a good wench still.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie, s.v. Avoir le bec gelé, to play MUMBUDGET, to be tongue-tyed, to say never a word.

1611. BARRY, Ram Alley, iv. Will Small-shanks has your daughter—no word but MUM.

1615. COTTON, Scoffer Scofft, in Works (1725), p. 273. But should another chance to come, Of Mavors not a word, but MUM.

1660. HOWELL, Lexicon, s.v. To play at MUM-BUDGET, demurer court, ne sonner mot.

1660. TATHAM, The Rump, i. 1. Odd, … they are here. I cry MUM.

1663. BUTLER, Hudibras, I. iii. v. 207. Nor did I ever wince or grudge it, For thy dear sake: quoth she, MUM BUDGET.

1664. WILSON, Projectors, i. 1. Farewell! but MUM.

1672. W. WYCHERLEY, Love in a Wood, iii. 2. MUM, MUM, make no excuses man; I would not Ranger should have known me for five hundred kicks.

1766. KENRICK, Falstaff’s Wedding, i. 1. He stood MUMCHANCE, and spoke never a living syllable.

1773. O. GOLDSMITH, She Stoops to Conquer, i. 2. ‘I’ll just step myself, and show you a piece of the way. (To the Landlord). MUM!’

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1789. GEO. PARKER, Life’s Painter, p. 150. Dubber MUM’D. To keep your mouth shut, or be obliged to hold your tongue.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MUM. An interjection directing silence. MUM FOR THAT: I shall be silent as to that. As mute as MUMCHANCE, who was hanged for saying nothing; a friendly reproach to any one who seems low-spirited and silent.

d.1817. HOLMAN, Abroad and at Home, iii. 2. You know, one should not brag of one’s connexions, so MUM’S THE WORD before my father; I must pass off for a foreign count; so mind your hits, Dicky.

1820. SCOTT, The Abbot, ch. xv. ‘We grow older every moment we stand idle, and life is too short to be spent in playing MUMCHANCE.’

1837. THEODORE HOOK, Jack Brag, ii. 3. I could tell you such a story—but, MUM, for the present.

1847. HALLIWELL, Archaic and Provincial Words, s.v. MUMBUDGET, a cant word implying silence.

1855. THACKERAY, Newcomes, xxi. The boys are always MUM under the eyes of the usher.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MUM. Say nothing; nothing to say. [386]

1863. H. KINGSLEY, Austin Elliot, ch. vi. This man could talk to her and amuse her, when he sat MUMCHANCE.

1869. C. READE, Foul Play, ch. 1. To use her own words, she was one as couldn’t abide to sit MUMCHANCE.

1893. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 35. A fig for sech MUMCHANCE old mivvies.

1895. H. B. MARRIOTT-WATSON, in New Review, July, p. 4. But when the Law says MUM, why I says MUM, too, as in duty bound.

Verb. (theatrical).—To act.

1569. PRESTON, Cambyses [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), iv. 231]. Running at tilt, justing, with running at the ring, Masquing and MUMMING, with each kind of thing.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, Mascarare, to maske … to MUM, to cloke, to hide.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 190]. And all the grisly sprights of griping hell With MUMMING look hath dogg’d thee since thy birth.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., iii. 149. We call strolling acting, MUMMING and the actors mummers.

Mumble-crust, subs. (old).—A toothless man or woman.

1623. MIDDLETON and ROWLEY, Spanish Gypsy, ii. 1. Farewell, old greybeard;—adieu mother MUMBLE-CRUST.

Mumble-matins, subs. (old).—A priest.

d. 1576. BISHOP PILKINGTON, Wks., 26. How can they be learned having none to teach them but Sir John MUMBLE-MATINS?

Mumble-news, subs. (old colloquial).—A tale-bearer.

1594. SHAKSPEARE, Love’s Labour Lost, v. 2. Some MUMBLE-NEWS, some trencher-knight, some Dick.

Mumblepeg, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Mumble-Sparrow, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MUMBLE SPARROW. A cruel sport practised at wakes and fairs, in the following manner: A cock sparrow whose wings are clipped, is put into the crown of a hat; a man having his arms tied behind him, attempts to bite off the sparrow’s head, but is generally obliged to desist, by the many pecks and pinches he receives from the enraged bird.

Mumbo-Jumbo, subs. (common).—1. An African deity.

1831. T. CARLYLE, Sartor Resartus, p. 137, ed. 1858. So likewise a day comes when the Runic Thor with his Eddas, must withdraw into dimness and many an African MUMBO-JUMBO and Indian Pawaw be utterly abolished.

1864. The Times, 2 Nov. And MUMBO-JUMBO will not be put off with inferior articles—the slightest blemish in colour or inferiority in cloth is instantly detected and rejected by these semi-savages, hence the greatest care is necessary in catering for their wants.

2. (colloquial).—Unmeaning jargon.

Mum-budget. See MUM.

Mum-glass, subs. (old).—The Monument on Fish St. Hill.

1760. DYCHE & PARDON, Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mummer, subs. (theatrical).—1. A player.

1599. Solyman and Perseda [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), v. 309]. I was one of the MUMMERS myself, simple as I stand here.

1605. MARSTON, Insatiate Countesse, iii. Dost make a MUMMER of me, oxe-head? Make answer gentleman.

1610. SHAKSPEARE, Coriolanus, ii. 1. If you chance to be pinched with the cholick, you make faces like MUMMERS.

1772. COLES, Dict., s.v.

1821. EGAN, Tom & Jerry, p. 78. [387]

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., iii. 141. ‘They talk of strolling actors living so jollily and well, but I never knew it fall to my share. What we call a MUMMER’S feed is potatoes and herrings.’

1871. Newark Advertiser, 18 Jan. A party of MUMMERS visited the towns and villages of North Notts during the past fortnight, and highly diverted the inhabitants by their dancing, singing of old songs, and the play of the Hobby Horse. The latter play was in existence in the days of the Plantagenets, and probably the song and tune which they sang, viz., ‘When Joan’s ale was new.’

1886. Fun, 4 August, p. 44. Now is the witching hour when country companies are formed, and MUMMERS go on tour.

1893. Daily Telegraph, 30 March. Mr. J. L. Toole has humorously described how at the outset of his career he once took lodgings in a house, the proprietor of which, when the popular comedian went away, cordially shook hands with him, and said how delighted he should be to see him again, although he was a MUMMER; for, the prudent man added, ‘the last MUMMERS took away the chairs and tables.’

2. (pugilistic).—The mouth. For synonyms see POTATO-TRAP.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1818. EGAN, Boxiana, ii. 559. Then he hit him on the MUMMER, and on the ropes he dropped.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Mummery-cove, subs. (old).—An actor. For synonyms see CACKLING-COVE.

Mumming-show, subs. (theatrical).—A travelling entertainment; a strolling company.

1871. London Figaro, 7 Oct. A scenic artist and actor in Theatres Royal at some goodly 3/- per week, and the same in a travelling MUMMING SHOW, sharing at the drum-head my 4d. per night.

Mummy. TO BEAT TO A MUMMY, verb. phr. (old).—To beat severely.

Mump, verb. (old).—1. To beg.

1624. MASSINGER, Parliament of Love, ii. 1. And, when she finds she is of all forsaken, Let my lady Pride repent in vain, and MUMP, And envy others’ markets.

1633. Match at Midnight, ii. 1. Remember that you do not MUMP, as if you were chewing bacon.

1673. DAVENANT, Playhouse to Let, v. Of MUMPING minx would we were fairly out.

1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Works (1725), Bk. iv. p. 72. Then she begins to MUMP and smatter.

d. 1680. ROCHESTER, A Dream. To see it MUMP, and wagg its upper lip.

1728. BAILEY, English Dictionary, s.v. MUMP … to spunge upon, to beg.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict. (1814), s.v. MUMP. In cant language. To go a begging.

1820. LAMB, Elia (Two Races of Men). To say no to a poor petitionary rogue (your bastard borrower), who, by his MUMPING visnomy, tells you that he expects nothing better.

1849–61. MACAULAY, Hist. Eng. xix. ‘One prince came MUMPING to them annually with a lamentable story about his distresses.’

1866. Temple Bar, xvii. 183. Having MUMPED a small shop and several private houses.

1883. G. A. S[ALA], Ill. London News, 17 Nov., p. 475, col. 3. Although the tramp when hard pressed solicits alms or food, he is not a MUMPING or professional beggar.

1887. W. E. HENLEY, Villon’s Straight Tip. Bonnet, or tout, or MUMP and gag.

2. (old).—To overreach.

1671. BUCKINGHAM, Rehearsal, p. 23. I’m resolv’d to MUMP your proud players.

1673. WYCHERLEY, Gentleman Dancing Master, iii. 1. You will MUMP the poor old father.

Mumper, subs. (old).—See quots. 1665, 1748, 1755, 1785 and 1876. [388]

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Abram-man (or -cove); bawdy-basket; Bedlam-beggar; blue-gown (old Scots’); cadator; cadger; canter; croaker; curtail; durry-nacker; dry-land sailor; filer; frater; goose-shearer; Irish toyle; keyhole whistler; master of the black art; maunder; milestone-monger; moucher; mud-plunger; mugger; mumper; munger; needy-mizzler; niffler; overland-mailer (or -man); palliard; paper-worker; pikey; ruffler; scoldrum; shivering James (or Jemmy); shyster; skipper-bird; skitting-dealer; silver-beggar; street-ganger; strolling-mort; sundowner; swag-man; tinkard; Tom of Bedlam; traveller; turn-pike; uhlan; upright man; wash-man; whip-jack.

For foreign synonyms see SHYSTER.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. p. 50 (1874). MUMPERS gentile [genteel] beggars.

1690. DURFEY, Collin’s Walk, C. I. p. 27. That even Vagabonds and MUMPERS, Have from my bounty had full Bumpers.

1690. CROWNE, English Friar, ii. 1. My lady is … rather a MUMPER; she has begg’d the backhouse, the gardens, to lay herself and her goods in.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor. LUCY. Hang thee—Beggar’s cur!—Thy master is but a MUMPER in love, lies canting at the gate.

1694. Poor Robin [NARES]. Since the king of beggars was married to the queen of sluts, at Lowzy-hill, near Beggars-bush, being most splendidly attended on by a ragged regiment of MUMPERS.

1703. WARD, London Spy, pt. I. p. 7. He is one of those gentile MUMPERS, we call Cadators; he goes a Circuit round England once a year, and under Pretence of a decay’d gentleman, gets both Money and Entertainment at every good House he comes at.

1705. Hudibras Redivivus, pt. 4. Here, said I, take your MUMPER’S fee, Let’s see one; thank you, sir, said she.

1712. Spectator, No. 509. The MUMPERS, the halt, the blind, and the lame.

1748. T. DYCHE, Dictionary (5th ed.) MUMPERS (S.) among the Gipsy Crew, is called the 47th order of canters or genteel beggars, who will not accept of victuals, but only money or cloaths.

1754. The World, No. 64. I was at his door by nine; where, after the fashion of MUMPERS, I gave but one single knock for fear of disturbing him.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict. (1814), s.v. MUMPER. In cant language. A beggar.

1777. BAILEY, Eng. Dict., s.v. MUMPER, a genteel beggar.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MUMPER, originally beggars of the genteel kind, but since used for beggars in general.

1830. SCOTT, Doom of Devorgoil, ii. 2. The courtier begs a riband or a star, And like our gentler MUMPERS, is provided With false certificates of health and fortune Lost in the public service.

1834. W. H. AINSWORTH, Rookwood, p. 130 (ed. 1864). ‘Ha, ha! Are you there, my old death’s head on a mopstick?’ said Turpin, with a laugh. ‘Ain’t we merry MUMPERS, eh? Keeping it up in style. Sit down, old Noah; make yourself comfortable, Methusalem.’

1849. MACAULAY, Hist. Eng., iii. A Lincoln’s Inn MUMPER was a proverb.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1868. Temple Bar, xxiv. 537. When he can’t go on in that racket he’ll turn MUMPER.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 64. A big MUMPER, that is a half-bred gipsey.

Mumper’s-hall, subs. (old).—A hedge tavern; a beggar’s alehouse.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Mumping, subs. and adj. (old).—Begging. [389]

1820–33. LAMB, Elia, Works (ed. 1852), p. 389. When they come with their counterfeit looks and MUMPING tones.

Mumpins, subs. (old).—Alms.

c.1460. Towneley Mysteries, Primus Pastorum, p. 89. 2d Pastor … let us go foder Our MOMPYNS.

Mumpish, subs. (colloquial).—Dull; dejected.

Mumple-mumper. See MUMMER.

Mumps, subs. (common).—Low spirits. See quot. 1754.

1599. NASHE, Lenten Stuffe, in Wks. (GROSART). v. 267. The sunne was so in his MUMPS vppon it, that it was almost noone before hee could goe to cart that day.

1754. B. MARTIN, Eng. Dict. (2nd ed.). MUMPS … flouts, or ill humour.

Mumpsimus, subs. (old).—See quot.

1847. HALLIWELL, Archaic & Provincial Words, s.v. MUMPSIMUS. An old error in which men obstinately persevere: taken from a tale of an ignorant monk, who in his breviary had always said MUMPSIMUS instead of sumpsimus, and being told of his mistake, said, ‘I will not change my old MUMPSIMUS for your new sumpsimus’.

Munch-present (or mounch-present), subs. (old).—See ante.

Mund. See MUNS.

Mundungus, subs. (old).—Bad tobacco.

c.1633. Lady Alimony, ii. 2. Sir Gregory Shapeless, a MUNDUNGO monopolist.

1665. HOWARD, The Committee, ii. A pipe of the worst MUNDUNGUS.

1671. SHADWELL, Humorists, iii. 41. A glass of Windy-Bottle-Ale in one hand, and a pipe of MUNDUNGUS in the other.

d.1680. BUTLER, Remains [1759, ii. 107]. Spoiled the tobacco for it presently became MUNDUNGUS.

1689. J. PHILLIPS, Satyr against Hypocrites, 13. Now steams of garlick whiffing thro’ the nose Stank worse than Luther’s socks, or foot-boy’s toes. With these MUNDUNGOS, and a breath that smells Like standing pools in subterranean cells.

1691–2. Gentlemen’s Journal, Mar., p. 10. To nasty MUNDUNGUS, and heath ’nish small beer.

1703. WARD, London Spy, Part IV. p. 80. The mixtures of scents that arose from MUNDUNGUS-TOBACCO.

1755. JOHNSON, Dict., s.v. MUNDUNGUS, n. f. Stinking tobacco. A cant word.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1824. SCOTT, St. Ronan’s Well, xxxii. Her jet-black cutty pipe, from which she soon sent such clouds of vile MUNDUNGUS vapour as must have cleared the premises of Lady Penelope.

Adj. (old).—Stinking.

1750. ROBERTSON of Struan, Poems, 50. To drink MUNDUNGUS ALE.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MONDONGO. Filthy; full of stench; it stinks beyond the power of endurance.

Mung, subs. (American).—News; MUNG-NEWS = false news.

1849. New York Express, 17 Feb. As many of our citizens who intend to go to California may base their arrangements upon the MUNG NEWS of some of the papers, we conceive it to be our duty to state that most of these letters are fictions.

Verb. (tramps’).—See quots.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Lab., i. 265. I sold small articles of Tunbridge ware, perfumery, &c., &c., and by MUNGING (begging) over them—sometimes in Latin—got a better living than I expected, or probably deserved.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MUNG. To solicit; to beg. [390]

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 52. Many’s the time you’ve been waiting on me coming home to give you some of the grub I’ve MUNGED.

Mungarly (Munjari, or Mungare), subs. (strollers’ and tramps’).—See quots.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, iii. 149. We [strolling actors] call breakfast, dinner, tea, supper, all of them MUNGARE.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 170. Help you and your school to some dinarly and MUNGARLY, i.e., money and food.

1889. Answers, 11 May, p. 374. The ‘clobber’ (old clothes) which have been presented by charitable persons are exchanged and sold, broken meat and scraps of bread (‘Bull and MUNJARI’ they are called) are given out liberally, and the blind men and cripples are the jolliest crowd imaginable.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, x. I … went to one of my regular padding-kens to sell the MUNGARLY to some of the needies there for nova soldi. Ibid. 12. Chuck it, we’ll go and have a bit of MUNGARLY now.

Mungarly-casa, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1864. Times, 18 Oct. Another curious instance of the prevalence of this Lingua Franca is the word Mungarly, as representing bread or food. MUNGARLY CASA is a baker’s shop, evidently a corruption of some Lingua Franca phrase for an eating-house. The well-known Nix Mangiare stairs at Malta derive their name from the endless beggars who lie there and shout ‘Nix Mangiare,’ i.e., ‘Nothing to eat,’ to excite the compassion of the English who land there—an expression which exhibits remarkably the mongrel composition of the Lingua Franca, mangiare being Italian, and nix an evident importation from Trieste or other Austrian seaport.

Munpin, subs. (old).—In pl. = the teeth. For synonyms see GRINDERS.

d.1450. LYDGATE, Minor Poems, p. 30. Thy MONE-PYNNES bene lyche old yuong.

Muns, subs. 1. (old).—The mouth. See quot. 1665. Also MUND.

1665. R. HEAD, English Rogue, Pt. 1. ch. v. p. 50 (1874). MUNNS. The Face.

1724. COLES, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1760. FOOTE, Mirror, i. Why, you jade, you look as rosy this morning, I must have a smack at your MUNNS.

1789. G. PARKER, Life’s Painter, ‘The Bunter’s Christening’. The first thing that was done, Sir, Was handling round the kid, That all might smack his MUNS, Sir.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 16. While Sandy’s long arms … Kept paddling about the poor Porpus’s MUNS, Till they made him as hot and as cross as lent Buns!

1823. BEE, Dict. Turf, s.v. MUNS—the mouth. ‘One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns, If you have no daughters give them to your sons: If you have no sons, stuff them in your MUNS.’

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MUND. The mouth. Ibid. MUNDS, the face.

2. in sing. (obsolete).—A MOHAWK (q.v.).

Munster-heifer, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MUNSTER HEIFER. An Irish woman. A woman with thick legs is said to be like a MUNSTER HEIFER; i.e., beef to the heels.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Munster-plums, subs. (common).—Potatoes; MURPHIES (q.v.).

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mur, subs. (back slang).—Rum. NETTOCK OF MUR = quartern of rum. [391]

Murder. See BLUE MURDER.

THE MURDER IS OUT, phr. (colloquial).—The mystery is displayed.

Murerk, subs. (tramps’).—The mistress of the house. See BURERK.

Murkauker, subs. (obsolete).—A monkey. [Jacko Macauco, or Maccacco, was a famous fighting monkey, who used some fifty years ago to display his prowess in the Westminster Pit].

Murphy, subs. (common).—1. A potato: cf. DONOVAN. Also MURPH.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bog-orange; Donovan; Irish apricot; Munster-plum, or orange; murph; ruggin; spud; tatur.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1821. EGAN, Anecdotes of the Turf, 154. Mathews relished the Irish stews and MURPHIES.

1839. Comic Almanack, 199. Having well roasted my MURPHY, I take him cum grano salis.

1842. Punch, ii. 214, col. 2. A story that Raleigh first introduced the potato—meaning the MURPHY—into this country.

1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-Days Pt. 1. vi. ‘That’s our School-house tuck-shop—she bakes such stunning MURPHIES, we’ll have a penn’ orth each for tea; come along, or they’ll all be gone.’

1856. Leisure Hour, 3 Jan., p. 12, col. 2. Past the potato and coal shed, well known to the Irish labourer, who for twopence can get three pounds of MURPHIES.

1869. THACKERAY, Peg of Limavaddy. Playing round the fire, which of blazing turf is, Roaring to the pot which bubbles with the MURPHIES.

1888. Sporting Life, 10 Dec. Surround him with a stack of bottles of ale and a dish of MURPHIES.

2. (American).—An Irishman.

3. (colloquial).—Morpheus, i.e., sleep.

1748. SMOLLETT, Roderick Random. What time MURPHY sends his slipping puppies to the heyes of mortals.

Murphy’s-face, subs. (Irish).—A pig’s head.

1819. VAUX, Memoirs, s.v. MURPHY’S COUNTENANCE.

Mush (Mush-topper or Mushroom), subs. (common).—1. See quots.

1821. HAGGART, Life, 62. In one shop they robbed two MUSH-TOPERS.

1856. H. MAYHEW, Gt. World of London, p. 6, note. Fanciful metaphors contribute largely to the formation of slang. It is upon this principle that the mouth has come to be styled the ‘tater-trap’; … umbrellas, ‘MUSHROOMS’ (or, briefly ‘MUSH’).

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MUSH. An umbrella; the mouth, in pugilism.

1870. London Figaro, 15 June. What pretty faces, MUSH of mine, I’ve sheltered ’neath thy shade! What jolly walks in ‘auld lang syne’ Beneath thy ribs I’ve made!

2. (old).—The mouth.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

1887. WALFORD, Antiquarian, 252. s.v.

Mush- (or Mushroom-) faker (or Mush-topper-faker).—See quot. 1851. MUSHFAKING = mending umbrellas.

1821. HAGGART, Life, 56. Tommy Twenty, a MUSH-TOPER-FAKER.

1851–61. H. MAYHEW, London Lab., ii. 28. In Umbrellas and Parasols the second-hand traffic is large, but those vended in the streets are nearly [392]all ‘done up’ for street-sale by the class known as MUSH or more properly MUSHROOM FAKERS. Idem., ii. 127. The umbrella-menders are known by an appellation of an appropriateness not uncommon in street language. They are MUSHROOM-FAKERS. The form of the expanded umbrella resembles that of a mushroom, and it has the further characteristic of being rapidly or suddenly raised, the MUSHROOM itself springing up and attaining its full size in a very brief space of time. The term, however, like all street or popular terms or phrases, has become very generally condensed among those who carry on the trade—they are now MUSH-FAKERS, a word which, to any one who has not heard the term in full, is as meaningless as any in the vocabulary of slang.

1893. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, 91. My old man … got his dudder by chinay-faking and MUSH-FAKING.

Mushroom, subs. (common).—1. A hat.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

3. (old).—See quots.

1622. BACON, Nat. Hist. [Enc. Dict.]. MUSHROOMS come up in a night, and yet they are unsown; and therefore such as are upstarts in state, they call in reproach MUSHROOMS.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MUSHROOM. A person or family suddenly raised to riches and eminence: an allusion to that fungus which starts up in a night.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v.

Music, subs. (American).—1. Fun; frolic.

2. (American).—See quot.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MUSIC. The verdict of a jury when they find not guilty.

3. (old).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MUSIC. The watchword among highwaymen, signifying the person is a friend, and must pass unmolested.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

4. (old).—See quot.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MUSIC … is also an Irish term, in tossing up, to express the harp side, or reverse, of a farthing or halfpenny opposed to the head.

TO FACE THE MUSIC. See FACE.

Music-box, subs. (common).—A piano.

1863. C. READE, Hard Cash, i. 178. But just you hear her sing, that is all … Just smiles and sits down to the MUSIC-BOX.

Musicianer, subs. (American).—A musician.

1848. BURTON, Waggeries etc., p. 186. The landlord cursed the MUSICIANER who paid his rent in such uncurrent notes.

Muslin (or a bit of muslin), subs. (common).—A woman. For synonyms see PETTICOAT.

1823. MONCRIEFF, Tom and Jerry, i. 1. A BIT OF MUSLIN on the sly.

1828. G. GRIFFIN, Collegians, x. Captain, I see you laugh a great deal, but you mustn’t laugh at our girls, though, there are sume pretty BITS O’ MUSLIN there, I can tell you.

1843. W. T. MONCRIEFF, The Scamps of London, i. 1. I came up to town to see life, leaving behind me as pretty a PIECE OF MUSLIN as you’d wish to see.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, l. ‘That was a pretty BIT OF MUSLIN hanging on your arm—who was she?’

1884. HAWLEY SMART, Post to Finish, 128. One thing more: take my advice, and keep clear of MUSLIN for the next six or seven years. It’s brought as many of your profession to grief as spirits.

Musn’t-mention-ems, subs. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms see BAGS and KICKS.

Muss, subs. (American).—1. Confusion; a fuss. See quot. 1859. [393]

1848. BURTON, Waggeries etc., p. 25. They soon raised a pretty MUSS, and kept on tearin’ at each other like a pack o’ wolves.

1848. DURIVAGE, Stray Subjects, p. 138. You’re eternally kicking up a MUSS with somebody.

1848. JONES, Sketches of Travel, p. 9. We’re all in a MUSS now gettin’ ready for the journey.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. MUSS. A quarrel; a row.

1888. Texas Siftings, 18 Aug. ‘Raw oysters for two, mister.’ ‘Yes, sir—have ’em in the shell?’ ‘Yes, John, if you think you kin open ’em ’thout makin’ a MUSS.’

2. (old).—A term of endearment. [Probably from MOUSE].

1596. JONSON, Every Man in His Humour, ii. 3. What ails you, sweetheart? Are you not well? Speak, good MUSS.

Verb. (American).—To confuse; to disorder; to mess-up.

Mussy, adj. (American).—Disordered. Also MUSSED-UP.

1888. Detroit Free Press. Neither of us got two winks of sleep during the night on the car, and Mr. Bowser narrowly escaped coming into deadly conflict with conductor and porter. We reached Chicago in a MUSSED-UP condition.

Mustang, subs. (American).—An officer entering the U. S. navy from the merchant service, after serving through the Civil War.

Mustard-pot, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

Mutcher, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1862. H. MAYHEW, Lon. Lab., iv. 282. They loiter about the streets and public-houses to steal from drunken persons, and are called ‘Bug-hunters’ and MUTCHERS.

Mute, subs. (old: now recognised).—See quot.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. MUTE. An undertaker’s servant, who stands at the door of a person lying in state: so named from being supposed mute with grief.

Mutton (or laced mutton).—1. A loose woman. Generic for the sex.

1569. BRACTON, De Legibus, ii. Courtisans … oves.

1578. WHETSTONE, Promos and Cas., 6, pl. i. p. 14. And I smealt he loved LASE MUTTON well.

1594. GREENE, Frier Bacon, in Wks. (GROSART), xiii. 94. The old lecher hath gotton holy MUTTON to him, a Nunne my lord.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen of Verona, i. 1. Ay, sir: I, a lost mutton, gave your letter to her, a LAC’D MUTTON; and she, a LAC’D MUTTON, gave me, a lost mutton, nothing for my labour.

1596. NASHE, Have with You, [GROSART (1885), iii. 61]. He that wold not stick so to extoll stale rotten LAC’D MUTTON, will … sucke figges out of an asses fundament.

1599. BRETON, Wil of Wit [GROSART (1879), ii. c. 62/1. 18]. If your stomache stande to flesh, eate of a little warme MUTTON, but take heede it be not LACED.

1602. MIDDLETON, Blurt Master Constable, sign. B. Laz. Pilcher, Cupid hath got me a stomacke, and I long for LAC’D MUTTON. Pil. Plaine MUTTON without a lace would serve.

1602. DEKKER, Honest Whore [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iii. 365]. Baa, lamb, there you lie, for I am MUTTON.

1604. MARLOW, Doctor Faustus [NARES]. I am one that loves an inch of raw MUTTON, better than an ell of dride stockfish; and the first letter of my name begins with letchery.

1606. Return from Parnassus [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), ix. 180]. But there’s no pleasure always to be tied to a piece of MUTTON … For mine own part … I am well-provided of three bouncing wenches. [394]

1608. MACHIN, Dumb Knight [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), x. 134]. ‘She is meat for your master.’ ‘And your man, sir, may lick your foul trencher.’ ‘Ay, but not eat of his MUTTON.’

1614. COOK, City Gallant [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), xi. 279]. More villany; there’s another goodly MUTTON going.

1620. MIDDLETON, Chaste Maid, ii. I’ll tender her a husband; I keep of purpose two or three gulls in pickle To eat such MUTTON with, and she shall choose one.

1624. JONSON, Masque of Nep. Triumph [CUNNINGHAM, iii]. Cook. O whom for mutton, or kid? Child. A fine LAC’D MUTTON Or two; and either has her frisking husband.

1638. ROWLEY, Match at Midnight. ii. 1. Say she be young … If, like an old cock he with young MUTTON meet He feeds like a cuckold.

1640. RAWLINS, The Rebellion, iv. No more, I say, it is a parcel of excellent MUTTON. I’ll cut it up myself.

1640. T. HEYWOOD, Love’s Mistress, ii. [Cupid described as] Lord of lamentations, and Monsieur of MUTTON-LAC’D.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, i. p. 353. I’m a loyn of MUTTON plainly dress’d, And those nice volk, love all their MUTTON LAC’D.

1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. LACED MUTTON, a prostitute.

1859. MATSELL, Vocabulum, s.v. LACED MUTTON, a common woman.

2. (venery).—See quots. 1811 and 1864. For synonyms see MONOSYLLABLE.

d.1680. ROCHESTER, Epitaph on Chas. II. Here lies our MUTTON-eating king, Whose word no man relies on; He never said a foolish thing, And never did a wise one.

1693. CONGREVE, Old Batchelor, iv. 6. You don’t love MUTTON, you Magdalen unconverted?

1697. VANBRUGH, The Provoked Wife, iv. And I hope your punks will give you sauce to your MUTTON.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MUTTON. In her MUTTON, i.e., having carnal knowledge of a woman.

1864. HOTTEN, Slang Dict., s.v. MUTTON. In that class of English society which does not lay any claim to refinement, a fond lover is often spoken of as being ‘fond of his MUTTON,’ which, by the way, in this place does not mean the woman so much as something else.

3. in pl. (Stock Exchange).—The Turkish loans of 1865 and 1873. [From being in part secured on the sheep-tax].

4. (colloquial).—A sheep.

1595. SHAKSPEARE, Two Gentlemen, i. 1. 106. Here’s too small a pasture for such store of MUTTONS.

1598. SHAKSPEARE, Merchant of Venice, i. 3. Flesh of MUTTONS, beefs, or goats.

d.1626. BACON [quoted by JOHNSON]. The flesh of MUTTONS is better tasted where the sheep feed upon wild thyme and wholesome herbs.

d.1627. HAYWARD [quoted by JOHNSON]. Within a few days were brought out of the country two thousand MUTTONS.

1755. JOHNSON, Eng. Dict., s.v. MUTTON. (2) A sheep. Now only in ludicrous language.

1860. THACKERAY, Philip, ch. xx. The appetites of those little ones were frightful, the temper of Madame la Générale was almost intolerable, but Charlotte was an angel, and the General was a MUTTON—a true MUTTON.… The brave are often MUTTONS at home.

BOW-WOW MUTTON. See BOW-WOW.

TO CUT ONE’S MUTTON, verb. phr. (common).—To dine.

DEAD AS MUTTON, phr. (common).—See DEAD.

1835. C. SELBY, The Widow’s Victim. I’m caught in a trap—DEAD AS MUTTON!

MUTTON DRESSED LAMB-FASHION, subs. phr. (common).—An old woman dressed young. [395]

TO RETURN TO ONE’S MUTTONS, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To hark back to the point at issue.

1868. BREWER, Phrase & Fable, s.v. MOUTONS. The phrase is taken from an old French play, called l’Avocat Pathclin, in which a woollen-draper charges a shepherd with stealing sheep. In telling his grievance he kept for ever running away from his subject; and to throw discredit on the defendant’s attorney, accused him of stealing a piece of cloth. The judge had to pull him up every moment with ‘Mais, mon ami, REVENONS à NOS MOUTONS.’

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Nov., p. 2, col. 1. ‘Now to RETURN TO OUR MUTTONS. Here is a drawer full of M.P.’s, Liberals, Radicals, Conservatives.’

1890. G. ALLEN, The Tents of Shem, chap. xi. I desire to live and die a humble Christian, in complete ignorance of that hard-hearted science. Let’s RETURN TO OUR MUTTONS.

WHO STOLE THE MUTTON, phr. (obsolete).—See quot.

1868. BREWER, Phrase & Fable, s.v. MUTTON. Mutton (Who Stole the)? This was a common street jeer flung on policemen when the force was first organized, and rose thus: The first case the force had to deal with was the theft of a leg of mutton; but they wholly failed to detect the thief, and the laugh turned against them.

Mutton-chops, subs. (common).—1. A sheep’s head.

2. (common).—See quot. Also MUTTON-CHOP WHISKERS.

1865. Evening Citizen, 28 July. Mr. Steinmetz shaved close, leaving no hair on his face save a short pair of MUTTON-CHOP whiskers.

1878. BESANT & RICE, By Celia’s Arbour, ii. His whiskers, equally white, were cut to the old-fashioned regulation MUTTON-CHOP, very much like what has now come into fashion again. They advanced into the middle of the cheek, and were then squared off in a line which met the large stiff collar below at an angle of forty-five.

1880. Life in a Debtor’s Prison, 62. The equally well-trained whiskers, which were of the old military style, known as MUTTON-CHOPS.

1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 53. White aprons, and trim MUTTON-CHOPPER each side.

Mutton-cove, subs. (old).—1. The Coventry-Street end of Windmill Street. [Once a notorious resort of harlots]. Cf. MUTTON, senses 1 and 2.

2. (common).—A man addicted to women; a MUTTON-MONGER (q.v.). For synonyms see MOLROWER.

Muttoner, subs. (obsolete Winchester College).—A blow on the knuckles from a cricket-ball.

2. (old).—A MUTTON-MONGER (q.v.).

Mutton-eyed. See SHEEP’S-EYED.

Mutton-fist (or -hand), subs. (common).—A hand large, bony, and coarse.

1672. C. COTTON, Scarronides, Bk. i. p. 10 (ed. 1725). With woful Heart and blubber’d Eyes, Lifting his MUTTON-FISTS to th’ Skies.

1693. DRYDEN, Juvenal, XVI. 45. Will he, who saw the soldier’s MUTTON-FIST, And saw thee maul’d, appear within the list To witness truth?

1706. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, Vol. 1. pt. vii. p. 25. Attended by a Rogue, design’d To guard and vindicate his Jewel With MUTTON FIST and Oaken Towel.

1719. DURFEY, Pills to Purge, i. 92. But when plump Ciss got the Ball in her MUTTON FIST, once fretted, she’d hit it farther than any.

1812. H. AND J. SMITH, Rejected Addresses (‘Punch’s Apotheosis’). See she twists her MUTTON FISTS like Molyneux or Beelzebub, And t’other’s clack, who pats her back, is louder far than Bell’s hubbub. [396]

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib, 34. By showing such a FIST of MUTTON, As.… Would take the shine from Speaker Sutton.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cringle’s Log, viii. But Paul, with his shoulder of MUTTON FIST, gave me a very unceremonious rebuff.

1836. BARHAM, Ingoldsby Legends, ‘The Bagman’s Dog.’ At each twist of her wrist, and her great MUTTON-FIST.

1846. Punch, x. 163. Ruggins of the MUTTON-FIST.

1876. HINDLEY, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, 190. The big fellow’s MUTTON-FIST dropping him a hot ’un.

Mutton-headed, adj. (old).—Stupid.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Mutton-monger, subs. (old).—A whoremonger.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Ballocks (or ballocker); beard-splitter; belly-bumper; bird (or cock) of the game; bird’s-nester; Bluebeard; bull; bum-faker (-tickler, -ranger, or -worker); button-hole-worker; carrion-hunter; cavaulter; chauvering-cove (or chauverer); chimney-sweep; cock-fighter; Corinthian; Don Juan; fish- (flesh- or meat-) monger; fuckster; gamecock; goat; high priest of Paphos; horseman; hot- (or warm-) member; hot-’un; jumbler; king of clubs; knocker; ladies’ tailor; leather-stretcher; leg-lifter; ling-grappler; miller; molrower; Mormon; Mr. Horner; muttoner; performer; petticoat-merchant; prick-scourer; quim-sticker; rattle-cap; rifle-man; rump-splitter; sharp-shooter; smell-smock; Solomon; sports-man; stallion; striker; thrumster; town- (or parish-) bull; twat-faker; tummy-tickler; wencher; woodman.

FRENCH SYNONYMS. Un abatteur de bois (popular); un acteur (general); un ami (prostitutes’) un Anglais; un bébé; un bobosse (common); un boche (popular); un bordelier (general); un boucaneur (popular); un boxonneur (boxon = brothel); un cascadeur (theatrical); un chaud de la pince (popular); un chevaucheur (popular); un courasson or vieux courasson (familiar); un coureur (popular); un cousin; un couvreur; un dénicheur de fauvettes; un enfilé à la rigolade (thieves’); un étalon (= STALLION); un fouailleur (popular); un godilleur (popular); un goteur (popular); un gourgandin (popular); un Hercule (common); un homme à femmes (common: also, un homme ardent, and un homme à ressorts); un juponnier; un larcottier (Old French); un leveur de femmes (common); un amant de la lune (popular); un matou (= molrower); un menin (Old French); un miché, michet, or micheton (popular: from michon = money); un milord; un noctambule (popular); un novateur des plaisirs (popular); un paillard (old); un paillasson (= mattress); un porté sur l’article (popular); un roumard (thieves’).

1594. Look About You [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1874), vii. 473]. Ah! old MUTTON-MONGER, I believe here’s work.

1598. FLORIO, Worlde of Wordes, s.v. Feminiére, a whore-monger, a frequenter of women, a MUTTON MONGER. Also belonging or pertaining to women. [397]

1600. Sir J. Oldcastle, ii. 1. [MALONE, Suppt. ii. 294]. You whorson bawdy priest! You old MUTTON-MONGER.

1602. DEKKER, Honest Whore [DODSLEY, Old Plays, iii. 406]. Is ’t possible that the lord Hipolito, whose face is as civil as the outside of a dedicatory book, should be a MUTTON-MONGER?

1611. CHAPMAN, May-day, ii. p. 38. As if you were the only noted MUTTON-MONGER in all the city.

1611. COTGRAVE, Dictionarie. A noteable smel-smocke, or MUTTONMONGER, a cunning solicitor of a wench.

1654. WEBSTER, Appius & Virg. [Ancient Drama, v. 400], iii. MUTTON’S MUTTON now. V. Why, was it not so ever? C. No, madam, the sinners i’ the suburbs had almost ta’en the name quite away from it, ’twas so cheap and common; but now ’tis at a sweet reckoning; the term time is the MUTTON-MONGER in the whole calendar.

1677. COLES, Dictionary, s.v. MUTTON-MONGER, scortator.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

1847. HALLIWELL, Arch. & Provin. Words, s.v. MOTONER. A wencher.

Muttonous, adj. (common).—Slow; monotonous. Fr. guitare.

Mutton-pies, subs. (rhyming).—The eyes. For synonyms see PEEPERS.

1887. Referee, 7 Nov., p. 7, col. 3. Bright as angels from the skies Were her dark-blue MUTTON-PIES.

Mutton-thumper, subs. (book-binders’).—A bungling workman.

Mutton-walk, subs. (old).—1. The saloon at Drury Lane theatre.

1821. EGAN, Real Life, Tally-ho … had not yet learned to trip it lightly along the MUTTON-WALK.

2. (common).—Any resort frequented by women of the town; specifically Piccadilly; cf. FLESH-MARKET.

Mux, verb. (American).—To muddle.

1869. BLACKMORE, Lorna Doone, lxii. Nicholas … had thoroughly MUXED up everything.

1872. J. M. BAILEY (‘Danbury Newsman’), They all do it, 22. Stop MUXIN’ that bread! one would think you were a drove of young hogs to see you at the table. You’ve eaten enough for twenty people. I shan’t have you MUXING and gauming up the victuals.

Muzz, verb. (common).—1. To intoxicate.

1836. Comic Almanack, 48. While Harlequin half-MUZZ’D with wine, Don’t care a rush for Columbine.

2. (Westminster School).—To read.

Muzzle, subs. (common).—1. The mouth.

1821. The Fancy, Vol. I. p. 260. He … got hit anywhere and everywhere, about the MUZZLE particularly.

1828. JON. BEE, Picture of London, p. 113. Barbers … having nought more in view than to plenish the MUZZLES of bristly handicraftsmen.

1836. M. SCOTT, Cringle’s Log, xiii. With which the worthy lady painted our friend’s face and MUZZLE in a most ludicrous manner.

2. (old).—A beard.

1785. GROSE, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v.

Verb. (pugilistic).—1. To strike in the mouth.

1851–61. MAYHEW, Lond. Labour, I. 233. Razor George and his moll slept here the day afore Christmas; just out of ‘stir’ (jail), for MUZZLING a peeler.

2. (common).—To drink.

3. (old).—To kiss. Cf. MOUSLE.

1697. VANBRUGH, The Relapse, i. 2. Ah, you young, hot, lusty thief, let me MUZZLE you. (Kisses him). [398]

Muzzled bull-dog, subs. phr. (nautical).—See quot.

1867. SMYTH, Sailor’s Word Book. Bull-dog or MUZZLED BULL-DOG, the great gun which stands housed in the officer’s ward-room cabin. General term for main-deck guns.

Muzzler, subs. (pugilists’).—1. See quot. 1811.

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. MUZZLER.… The milling cove tipped the cull a MUZZLER; the boxer gave the fellow a blow on the mouth.

1818. EGAN, Boxiana, ii. 459. He gave Dick a precious MUZZLER.

1821. EGAN, Real Life, i. 350. He saluted poor Pat with a MUZZLER.

2. (common).—A dram of spirits; a GO (q.v.).

Muzzy, adj. (common).—Half-tipsy; dull with drink. For synonyms see DRINKS and SCREWED.

1730. JAS. MILLER, Humours of Oxford, Act I. p. 7 (2nd ed.). Your fellows of colleges are a parcel of sad, MUZZY, humdrum, lazy, ignorant, old caterpillars.

1770. FOOTE, Lame Lover, i. Picking our teeth, after a damned MUZZY dinner at Boodle’s.

1789. G. PARKER, Life’s Painter, ‘The Bunter’s Christening.’ Long Ned, and Dust-Cart Chloe, … With whom came MUZZY Tom.

1829. BUCKSTONE, Billy Taylor, i. The constable of the night is at a ball, The keeper of the watchhouse down at Brighton, And all our brethren MUZZY.

1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, v. The captain was not only unaccustomed to tell the truth,—he was unable even to think it—and fact and fiction reeled together in his MUZZY, whiskified brain.

1889. Lic. Vict. Gaz., 18 Jan. My little game was very simple—just to sham being MUZZY and sulky.

My Aunt (Aunt Jones or Mrs. Jones), subs. phr. (common).—The W.C.; MRS. JONES (q.v.).

My Bloater. See BLOATER.

My eye! intj. (common).—An exclamation of surprise. See ALL MY EYE.

1819. MOORE, Tom Crib. 36. My eyes! how prettily Tom writes.

1847. HALLIWELL, Arch. & Prov. Words, s.v.

1876. M. E. BRADDON, Joshua Haggard, ch. vii. ‘Such juicy steak, and lots of potato!… MY EYE, ain’t I hungry!’

1892. F. ANSTEY, Voces Populi, ‘In the Mall on Drawing-Room Day,’ p. 82. Look at the dimonds all over ’er bloomin’ old nut. MY EYE!

Myla, subs. (tramps’).—See MILER.

Myll. See MILL.

My Lord. See LORD.

My Nabs. See NABS.

Mynt. See MINT.

My pippin. See PIPPIN.

Myrmidon, subs. (old).—See quot. 1811.

1809. BYRON, English Bards and Scotch Reviewers. ‘When Little’s leadless pistol met his eye And Bow Street MYRMIDONS stood laughing by.’

1811. Lex. Bal., s.v. The constable’s assistants, watchmen etc.

My stars and Garters. See STAR.

Mystery, subs. (common).—A sausage. Also MYSTERY-BAG.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS. Bags of mystery; chambers of horrors; darbies; dogs (dog’s meat or dog’s body); mystery-bags; Sharps-Alley blood-worms; sore-leg. [399]

1887. HENLEY, Culture in the Slums. ‘O crikey, Bill!’ she ses to me, she ses. ‘Look sharp,’ ses she, ‘with them there sossiges. Yea! sharp with them there BAGS OF MYSTEREE!’

1889. Sportsman, 2 Feb. But the MYSTERY-BAGS of Sieur X, if we are to believe the common report, were far from being fragrant. This gentleman has been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for ‘making sausages of tainted meat.’

My tulip. See TULIP.

My uncle. See UNCLE.

My unconverted friend. See UNCONVERTED FRIEND.

My wig. See WIG.

COLOPHON

The new cover art included with this eBook is hereby granted to the public domain.

Revision History

- 2026-08-28 Started.

Corrections

The following 373 corrections have been applied to the text:

Page | Source | Correction | Edit distance
Passim. | . | [Deleted] | 1
3 | Aug.s | Aug. | 1
Passim. | [Not in source] | ’ | 1
4, 94, 145, 266 | [Not in source] | ‘ | 1
Passim. | [Not in source] | . | 1
5 | Ænid | Æneid | 1
7 | synomyns | synonyms | 2
7 | 183 | 1836 | 1
7 | noctural | nocturnal | 1
Passim. | [Not in source] | , | 1
10 | o | to | 1
11 | co. .3l | col. 3. | 3
12, 247 | dont | don’t | 1
12 | thing | things | 1
14, 30, 229 | ( | [Deleted] | 1
14, 17 | | — | 1
16, 16 | similiarity | similarity | 1
16, 30, 47, 64, 382 | [Not in source] | ] | 1
16 | Suez | Sues | 1
17, 29, 47, 62, 197, 197, 330, 356 | , | [Deleted] | 1
19, 39, 43, 47, 48, 56, 59, 73, 124, 160, 229, 370 | , | . | 1
20, 28, 34, 43, 43, 71, 71, 73, 77, 77, 78, 79, 79, 196 | [Not in source] | | 1
21, 41, 71 | [Not in source] | ) | 1
24, 294 | ) | ] | 1
27 | cattle-faming | cattle-farming | 1
30 | uf | of | 1
31, 62, 73, 82, 119, 124, 125, 132, 182, 206 | [Not in source] | T. | 3
31, 32, 32, 47, 47, 56, 64, 72, 93, 104, 157, 210, 253, 300, 354 | . | , | 1
32 | grosart | Grosart | 1
32 | —. 1. | —1. | 2
32, 51, 178 | ] | ) | 1
33 | downrignt | downright | 1
36, 77 | Millikin | Milliken | 1
38 | ie | i.e. | 2
40 | he | be | 1
43 | hackny | hackney | 1
46 | n’ere | ne’er | 2
53 | dicoursing | discoursing | 1
55 | boite | boîte | 1 / 0
57 | Cincinnatti | Cincinnati | 1
59 | hight | right | 1
60 | [Not in source] | ( | 1
61 | Chizzlewit | Chuzzlewit | 1
62, 229 | ’. | .’ | 2
66 | manton | Manton | 1
68 | John-a-Notes | John-a-Nokes | 1
68, 212, 239, 243 | ( | [ | 1
68 | Athenaeum | Athenæum | 2
70 | merchants’ | merchant | 2
72 | coented | counted | 1
75 | men-mory | memory | 2
77 | [Not in source] | 81 | 2
77 | guage | gauge | 2
81 | though | thought | 1
83 | coloquial | colloquial | 1
86 | unpalateableness | unpalatableness | 1
86 | Il | If | 1
89 | ’ | [Deleted] | 1
89 | ‘ | ’ | 2
89 | ’ | ‘ | 2
90, 398 | ? | . | 1
91, 192, 214, 391, 394 | J. | T. | 1
92 | . | ? | 1
93 | Hamour | Humour | 1
98 | 1579 | 1879 | 1
107 | inplication | implication | 1
108 | 1838 | 1836 | 1
109 | kikgdom | kingdom | 1
114 | synomyms | synonyms | 1
120 | — | = | 3
123 | Play | Plays | 1
124 | colonical | colonial | 1
127 | [Not in source] | The Pickwick Papers, | 21
127 | later | latter | 1
128 | ect. | etc. | 2
132 | Jame | Jane | 1
135 | [Not in source] | as the | 7
148 | Harpers’ | Harper’s | 2
149 | Wi h | With | 1
160 | subs. | verb. | 4
161 | of | or | 1
168 | Malff | Malfi | 1
170 | ,: | ; | 2
172 | Place | Places | 1
173 | te | to | 1
180 | buffon | buffoon | 1
182 | Hamers | Harness | 3
187 | Postcript | Postscript | 1
199 | Lowers | Towers | 1
207 | D. | B. | 1
210 | Giuldhall | Guildhall | 2
216 | Sailors’ | Sailor’s | 2
217 | Cribb. | Crib | 2
219 | veneral | venereal | 1
226, 360 | Bronté | Brontë | 1 / 0
231 | M.S.S. | M.S. | 2
233 | sundays | Sundays | 1
240 | ; | . | 1
244 | ot | of | 1
252, 252 | ’ | , | 1
254 | [Not in source] | a | 2
255, 255, 396 | : | ; | 1
256 | trom | from | 1
266 | Darblay | D’Arblay | 2
276 | supernumery | supernumerary | 2
278 | on | or | 1
280 | quó | quo | 1 / 0
284 | Childrens | Children’s | 1
286 | Shanks’ | Shanks’s | 1
292 | Roxbughe | Roxburghe | 1
294 | bis | his | 1
302 | Higwaymen | Highwaymen | 1
307 | Sarsparilla | Sarsaparilla | 1
307 | sarsparilla | sarsaparilla | 1
308 | lets | let’s | 1
309 | [Not in source] | I | 2
313 | [Not in source] | iv | 2
324 | musn’t | mustn’t | 1
325 | be | he | 1
327 | chesnuts | chestnuts | 1
333 | Randon | Random | 1
334 | £30.000 | £30,000 | 1
335 | [Not in source] | drink | 6
336 | Sic. | Sci. | 2
336 | aphrodisaical | aphrodisiacal | 2
337 | - | [Deleted] | 1
339 | , | ; | 1
345 | bas | Bas | 1
345 | .. | . | 1
352 | Wordle | Worlde | 2
352 | Redivius | Redivivus | 1
354 | Humphrey | Humphry | 1
365 | Husbandie | Husbandrie | 1
367 | M.SS. | MSS. | 1
385 | [Not in source] | of | 3
385 | n | not | 2
385 | inplying | implying | 1
386 | Re artus | Resartus | 1
390 | Ball. | Bal. | 1
394 | cat | eat | 1
396 | petticoal-merchant | petticoat-merchant | 1

Abbreviations

Overview of abbreviations used.

Abbreviation | Expansion
A.S. | Anglo-Saxon
M.D. | [Expansion not available]
M.E. | Middle English
M.P.’s | [Expansion not available]
M.S. | Manuscript
N.Y. | New York
Q.H.B. | [Expansion not available]
Trum. s. | Truman senior
U.S.A. | United States of America
W.C. | [Expansion not available]

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Table of Contents

Slang and its Analogues Past and Present.

Colophon

Revision History

Corrections

Abbreviations

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