## The Project Gutenberg eBook of Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 2 [of 7]

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Title: Slang and its analogues past and present, volume 2 [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: November 22, 2025 [eBook #77292]

Language: English

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

Credits: Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://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 2 [OF 7] ***

SLANG
AND ITS
ANALOGUES.

# 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. II.—C. to Fizzle.
PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.
MDCCCXCI.

[1]

## Vol. II.

## A · Dictionary · of Slang · and · its · Analogues.

ab, subs. 1. (University and school boys’).—An adventitious aid to study; a ‘crib’; a pony (q.v. for synonyms). [From cabbage (q.v.) = pilferings.]

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’). Adventures of Verdant Green. Those who can’t afford a coach get a cab, alias a crib, alias a translation.

1876. Academy, 4 Nov., p. 448, col. 2. The use or translations, ‘cribs,’ or ‘cabs’ as boys call them, must at some time or other engage the serious attention of schoolmasters. [m.]

2. (old).—A brothel: in use during the early part of the present century; now obsolete. [Probably a contracted form of ‘cabin,’ some of the older senses of which (e.g., a small room, bedroom, or boudoir) are in correspondence. Parallels exist in other languages, and comparison may be made with the Fr. cabane, and Sp. cabaña; also with the Latin taberna = cabin, hut, and brothel. The It. bordello (Eng. bordel) was originally precisely equivalent to taberna and cabaña, being a diminutive of borda = cottage, cabin, shed, house of boards. All these words, and many similar (e.g., Latin cella, cellula, the petite maison of the French) came to be applied in the specifically esoteric sense under discussion, by an obvious euphuism or familiarism, which left the nature of the hut, booth, cell, or cabin to be supplied by those who understood. Further, ‘cabin’ = an Eng. rendering of the Latin cella, cellula = brothel. Also Cab-Moll (q.v.), a prostitute, originally the moll or molly of a cabin, cabane, or brothel, the present meaning being a popular misuse founded on a mistaken analysis.] For all synonyms, see Nanny-shop.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Mother, hew many tails have you in your cab? i.e., how many girls have you in your bawdy house?

Verb (colloquial).—1. To proceed from one place to another by means of a cab; Cf., ‘to foot or hoof it,’ ‘to tram it,’ ‘to train it,’ or ‘to ’bus it.’

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers. He’s a cabbing it, I suppose. [2]

1882. Blackwood’s Magazine, Feb., p. 238, col. 1. He … cabs off to take advice.

2. (schoolboys’).—To pilfer; to use a crib. Cf., Cabbage, verb, of which it is an abbreviation.

Cabbage, subs. (old).—1. Generally applied to pieces purloined by tailors; attributively to any small profits in the shape of material. Quoted by Johnson as ‘a canting term,’ but now recognised. There is little chance of cabbage nowadays, save amongst those who ‘make up gentlemen’s own material’; but the expression is well understood by low-class dressmakers. In America a corresponding term is ‘cold-slaw’ (q.v.) which consists of finely-cut cabbage, and represents the small remnants known in other quarters as ‘carpet-rags’ or cabbage. Cf., Pigeon skewings. The derivation is obscure. Murray traces it back to 1663 (Hudibras [spurious]), but points out that Herrick [1648] apparently uses garbage and carbage for ‘shreds and patches used as padding.’ He then goes on to say that ‘if this was a genuine use at the time, carbage may easily have been corrupted to cabbage.’ This difficulty can, I think, be removed. In the seventeenth century, a style of feminine headdress, then in vogue, very similar to the modern chignon, was called a cabbage. Thus in Mundus Muliebris [1690]:

Behind the noddle every baggage, Wears bundle ‘choux,’ in English cabbage.

Now, if this usage (omitted from the N.E.D.) be compared with the three quotations first following, it would appear (1) that the word cabbage was in use prior to carbage or garbage for ‘shreds and patches’; (2) that carbage and garbage contain a sarcastic reference to the materials with which a woman’s cabbage, or chignon, was stuffed; and (3) that in every quotation the play upon words appears to confirm these contentions. Hence, if cabbage as a mode of dressing the hair was current during the seventeenth century (I have come across no earlier instance), it is possible that the stages of transition were as follows:—

1. Cabbage = a well-known vegetable.

2. = A mode of dressing the hair, in such a form as to resemble a cabbage.

3. = The materials with which such a tire was stuffed.

4. = The shreds and pieces appropriated by tailors and others as perquisites.

There is no evidence in support of such guesses as those in, for example, the quotations dated 1853 and 1886.

1638. Randolph, Hey for Honestey (Old Play). Tailor. Nay, he has made me sharper than my needle; makes me eat my own cabbage.

1648. Herrick, Hesperides (Hazl.), I., 79. Upon some women, Pieces, patches, ropes of haire, In-laid garbage ev’rywhere.

1648. Herrick, Hesperides (Hazl.). II., 325. Eupez for the outside of his suite has paide; But for his heart, he cannot have it made; The reason is, his credit cannot get The inward carbage for his cloathes as yet.

1663. Hudibras, II., 56. For as tailors preserve their cabbage, So squires take care of bag and baggage. [3]

1742. Charles Johnson, Highwaymen and Pyrates, p. 343. She takes him into Pissing Alley, in Hollywell Street, otherwise called the backside of St. Clement’s in the Strand, so eminently noted for Taylors selling there their cabbage.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Cabbage (s.) … also a cant word to express anything that is pilfered privately, as pieces of cloth or silk retained by taylors, mantua-makers, or others.

1821. Cobbett, Weekly Register 28 April, col. 219. Taylor, of Charing Cross, will allow of no thumb-piece and of no cabbage.

1853. Notes and Queries, 1 S., viii., 315, col. 2. The term cabbage, by which tailors designate the cribbed pieces of cloth, is said to be derived from an old word ‘cablesh,’ i.e., wind-fallen wood. And their ‘hell’ where they store the cabbage, from helan, to hide.

1886. G. A. Sala, in Ill. Lon. News, 16 Oct., 394, 1. My correspondent’s derivation of cabbage from caboged [caboged = ‘cabossed’ or ‘caboched’ in heraldry, in Fr. cabochée. See Littré] is good; but there is another one, namely, cabas, a basket in which the pickings and stealings of cloth might be hoarded.

The place where cabbage is stored is termed hell (q.v.) or one’s eye (q.v.); these terms, as also goose (q.v.), a smoothing iron, are responsible for much cheap wit. Cf., Makings and Pickings. The Spanish has sisa = ‘a petty theft.’

2. (old).—A tailor; sometimes cabbager, and formerly cabbage-contractor (q.v.). For synonyms, see Button-catcher and Snip.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Cabbage: a Taylor, and what they pinch from the Cloaths they make up.

1725. New Cant. Dict. Cabbage: Taylors are so called, because of their … Love of that Vegetable. The cloth they steal and purloin … is also called cabbage.

3. (old).—A style of dressing the hair similar to the modern chignon. [For suggested derivation, see sense 1.] Fr. un kilo.

1690. Mundus Muliebris. Behind the noddle every baggage, Wears bundle ‘choux,’ in English cabbage.

4. (schoolboys’).—A translation or ‘crib’; sometimes shortened to cab (q.v., sense 2).

1868. Brewer, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, p. 129. Cabbage is also a common schoolboy term for a literary crib, or other petty theft.

5. (common).—A cigar. The French have une feuille de platane = a plane-tree leaf; also un crapulos or crapulados, a Hispanization of crapule = filth. For synonyms, see Weed.

1843. Punch’s Almanack, August 12. The cigar dealers, objecting to their lands being cribbed, have made us pay for the cabbage ever since.

1848. Punch, vol. XIV., p. 298. q. Are cigars an English invention? a. No! the cigar is a Spanish article, that has been merely cabbaged by the British manufacturer.

1853. C. S. Calverley, Verses and Translations, p. 141 [ed. 1881], Carmen Sæcularæ. O fumose puer nimuim ne crede Baconi Manillas vocat, hoc prætexit nomine caules.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday, July 6. Last week he offered me a weed—A worse one no man’s lips e’er soiled. ‘No, thanks,’ said, ‘I, know the breed; I much prefer my cabbage boiled.’

6. (venery).—The female pudendum. Cf., Greens. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Verb (old).—1. To purloin or pilfer pieces.

1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, pt. I., ch. x. Your tailor, instead of shreds, cabbages whole yards of cloth.

1870. New York Evening Sun, May 24. Report of Speech of Mr Chandler. Let us knock the British crown to flinders; let us arrange for some one or two hundred thousand British graves forthwith, and cabbage the whole boundless continent without any further procrastination. [4]

1882. Notes and Queries, 6 S., vi., 210. But he said, If I cabbage that ring to-night, I shall be all the richer to-morrow.

2. (schoolboys’).—To use a translation or other adventitious aid in preparing exercises; to ‘crib.’

1837. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), IV., 234. A speech, which … had been what schoolboys call cabbaged, from some of the forms of oration … published by way of caricature [m.]

1862. H. Marryat, Year in Sweden, II., 387. Steelyards … sent by Gustaf Wasa as checks upon country dealers, who cabbaged, giving short weight. [m.]

So also cabbaged, ppl. adj., pilfered, or stolen; and cabbaging, verbal subs., pilfering, purloining.

Cabbage-Contractor, subs. (old).—A tailor. [From cabbage (q.v., subs., sense 1) = contractor, a trader.] For synonyms, see Button-catcher and Snip.

Cabbage-Gelder, subs. (old).—A greengrocer or market gardener.—A.B.C. of a New Dictionary of Flash, Cant, and Slang [1866].

Cabbage-Head, subs. (popular).—A fool; a soft-head; a ‘go-along.’ For synonyms generally, see Buffle, and more particularly infra.

English Synonyms. Blockhead; chuckle-head; chowder-head; cod’s-head; chump or chump of wood; dunderhead; flat; go-along; goosecap; green-lander; gulpin; juggins; thick-head; lights; loony; looby; lubber; mooney; mug; muggins; muff; ninny-hammer; nincompoop; nizzie; pigeon; sawney; Simon, or Simple Simon; slow-coach; soft-horn; sop; Tom Tug. To which may be added ‘cupboard-headed,’ ‘half-boiled,’ ‘not all there,’ and ‘off one’s chump,’ used also of one not compos mentis; a thick (Winchester College).

French Synonyms. Une tête de pioche (popular: pioche = pickaxe or mattock); un poulet d’Inde (popular: poule d’Inde = turkey-hen); un couillé (popular); un paroissien de Saint Pierre aux bœufs (popular); un noc (popular = a ‘juggins’); un loffiat (popular: this is formed from a species of French back slang, lof = fol reversed. On the same lines we get la loffitude = ‘stupidity’ or ‘nonsense’; bonisseur de loffitudes = ‘a nonsense monger’; also solliceur de loffitudes = ‘a journalist’); un Jean-bête (common: Cf., English ‘Johnnie’ and ‘Jack’); barré (= cabbage-headed); une vieille bouillote (popular); une bourriche (popular: ‘a hamper’); une badouille (popular: also = ‘a hen-pecked husband’); être déboulonné (popular: literally = ‘unpinned’ or ‘unbolted’); un fifilolo (popular); un daim (popular); être de la tribu des Bênicoco (military); être du 14 bénédictins (popular); une bestiasse (this term has passed into the language); bête comme chou (= ‘extremely stupid’); bête comme un pôt (= a perfect ass); bête comme ses pieds (= an arrant fool); un abruti or ahuri de Chaillot (popular: Chaillot, in the suburbs of Paris, is a common butt, much as are Hanwell, Colney Hatch, etc.; abrutir = ‘to stupify, to besot, to imbrute’); une tête de boche (common: = a wooden head; also a German); un bidon de zinc (military = ‘a can’ or ‘flask’); un [5]cul or cul d’âne (popular: cul d’âne = ‘the rump of an ass’; Cf., English ‘ass’); un cantaloup (popular: literally a melon); un cube (a ‘regular idiot’); un canarie; être un c (a euphemistic phrase); un busard or buson or une buse (an allusion to the stupidity of the buzzard); une couenne (popular: = ‘pig-skin.’ ‘Est-il couenne!’ ‘What an ass!’); un coquardeau; un couillon (popular: a cullion, used in friendly jocularity = abashed, crestfallen, and above all idiotic); un espèce de cafouilleux (popular = ‘a bally bounder’); un arguche (thieves’); battre comtois (thieves’ = to play the fool); un baveux (a driveller: one who does not know what he is talking about); un boniface (popular); n’avoir pas cassé la patte à coco (thieves’ = ‘as big a bloody mug as they make ’em’).

Spanish Synonyms. Asnazo (m; properly ‘a big jackass’); asno (m); bambarria (m; also = an accidental but successful stroke at billiards, ‘a fluke’); bobalias (m; a colloquialism for ‘a very stupid fellow’); borro (m; properly a wether not two years old); echacantos (m); gentil hombre de placer (= ‘a buffoon’ or ‘clown’); guillote (m; literally a husbandman, one who enjoys the produce of a farm. Cf., ‘joskin’); Juan lanas (vulgar); mamacallos or mamaluco (m); naranjo (m; properly the citrus aurantium); pandero (m; also ‘a timbrel’); pinchauvas (m = a despicable person); porra (f); es un solemne bobo (‘he is a downright booby’); zamacuco.

Portuguese Synonyms.—Bamburrio; macacada; tauso; pãosinho.

1682. Mrs. Behn, False Count (1724), III., 146. Thou foul, filthy cabbage-head. [m.]

1862. Lowell, Biglow Papers, II., 228. For take my word for ’t, when all’s come and past, The Cabbage-heads ’ll cair the day at last.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘Right before the missis too.’ I’ve had a dreadful row All through a chum named Tommy Sheen, I ought to call him cabbage-head, He is so very green.

Cabbage-Leaf, subs. (common).—A bad cigar; usually contracted into cabbage (q.v., subs., sense 5). [From a popular theory of material.] In French un infectados by a play upon words in two languages, infect, Fr. = more than common, vile, and infectar, Sp. = ‘to infect’ or ‘be infected’. For synonyms, see Weed.

Cabbage Plant, subs. (old).—An umbrella; gamp (q.v.); or brolly.

Cabbager, subs. (common).—A tailor. [From cabbage (q.v., subs., sense 1) + er.] For synonyms, see Button-catcher and Snip.

Cabbage-Stumps, subs. (common).—The legs. For synonyms, see Drumsticks.

Cabbage-Tree Mob, subs. (Australian). Old for what are now called Larrikins (q.v.). [Derived from the low-crowned cabbage-palm hat affected by this section of Australian society.] Cabbagites was an alternative.

18(?). Lieut.-Col. Munday, Our Antipodes. Loafers known as the cabbage-tree mob, a class whom, in the spirit of the ancient tyrant, one might excusably wish had but one nose in order to make it a bloody one. Ibid. Unaware of the propensities of the cabbagites, he was by them furiously assailed. [6]

Cabby, subs. (colloquial).—A cabman. [From cab + y.] Amongst French equivalents are une hirondelle (properly = ‘a swallow’); un maraudeur (i.e., ‘a marauder,’ one who plies without a license; Cf., Pirate (q.v.), as applied to omnibuses.)

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxxiii. I was forced to offer him a seat in the cab, but he coolly replied, ‘No, thank ye … I’ll sit beside cabby.’

1864–5. Yates, Broken to Harness, II., p. 41. Easy, cabby; we don’t want to be thrown into the very midst of the aristocracy.

1890. Standard, Feb. 11, p. 3, col. 1. There was a Vienna cabby with his jolly red face and his professional impudence.

Cable, verb (popular).—To send a telegram by ocean (submarine) wire.

To slip or cut one’s cable, subs. phr. (nautical).—To die. For exhaustive lists of synonymous terms, see Aloft and Hop the twig.

Cable-Hanger, subs. (nautical).—Explained by quotations.

1724–7. Defoe, Tour thro’ G. Britain (ed. 1748), I., 150. Persons who dredge or fish for oysters, not being free of the fishery, are called cable-hangers, and are prosecuted and punished by the Court.

1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Cable-hanger, a person catching oysters, in the River Medway, not free of the fishery.

Cab-Moll, subs. (old).—A prostitute addicted professionally to cabs and trains. [From cab (q.v., sense 2) + moll (q.v.), a strumpet.] For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

Cabobbled, ppl. adj. (nautical).—Confused; puzzled; perplexed.

Caboodle, subs. (American).—A crowd; generally ‘the whole caboodle.’ [Thought to be an enlarged form of boodle which is frequently used in the same sense, and which is supposed by some to be derived from the old English bottel, a bundle (Fr. botel, boteau. Ger. beutel.). See, however, Boodle, subs., sense 1. Another derivation is from the Spanish cabildo, a provincialism for the corporation of a town.] Caboodle is general throughout the States, and has now almost completely supplanted boodle (q.v.), which is usually applied in a different sense. Sometimes caboose (q.v.)

1858. New Orleans Picayune, 23 Feb. The whole caboodle came out and fell upon me, till I was as soft as a squash, and then they took me up for fighting.

1887. Scribner’s Magazine. Ye’ve got ter have faith in Goddie-mighty then, sure, a-swingin’ up an’ down them mount’n-sides, dark nights or bright, when a rock on the track f’om a landslide ’ud fling the whole caboodle down the mount’n an inter kingdom come afo’ you’d know it.

Caboose, subs. (American).—Generally applied to convivial quarters; also to a bachelor’s snuggery—a den (q.v.) or diggings (q.v.). [Properly a ship’s cook-house or galley; and in the United States, a car on a freight train for workmen, or for a special purpose.]

The whole caboose, phr. (nonce expression).—Obviously a variation of caboodle (q.v.).

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. [7]

Cacafuego, subs. (old).—A spitfire; braggart; bully. [From the Latin cacare through the Spanish cagar, ‘to void excrement,’ + Spanish fuego, fire.] This word, once literary, has long fallen into desuetude. It was regarded as vulgar after the middle of the last century, and thereafter was only included in slang dictionaries.

1625. Fletcher, Fair Maid, III., i. She will be ravisht before our faces, by rascalls and cacafugos, wife, cacafugoes. [m.]

1696. Phillips. Cacafuego, a Spanish word signifying Shitéfire; and it is used for a bragging, vapouring fellow. [m.]

1725. New Cant. Dict. [s.v.]

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Cacafeugo. A sh-te-fire, a furious braggadocio or bully huff.

Cachunk! intj. (American).—Onomatopœic—the ‘bow-wow’ word of Max Müller—belonging to a class of exclamations intended to convey an imitation of the sound of a falling body. Uncertain as regards orthography they are largely affected in the Southern and Western States. Mainly of recent origin, though two, keswollop and kewhollux rare in the States, are not unfamiliar to English ears. Examples are:—Caswash; Cawhalux; Chewallop; Casouse; Cathump; Kerplunk; Katouse; Katoose; Kelumpus; Kerchunk; Kerplunk; Kerswosh; Kerslosh; Kerswollop; Kerblinkityblunk; and Kerblam.

Cackle, subs. (theatrical).—1. The dialogue of a play; especially used at first, of the patter of clowns, etc., in a circus. [From the figurative usage of cackle, to make a noise as a hen after laying an egg, a usage traceable as far back as 1225.]

1887. Referee, 21 August, p. 2, col. 3. Those [playgoers] who do not insist upon a very high order of literary quality in the cackle.

2. (colloquial).—Idle, inconsequent, noisy chatter.

1676. A. Rivetus, Jun. Mr. Smirke, 18. Bedawb’d with Addle Eggs of the Animadverters own Cackle.

1887. Punch, 10 Sept., p. 111. If a feller would tackle a feminine fair up to Dick, he ’as got to be dabs at the cackle.

Verb (old).—To talk idly, especially in the sense of telling secrets. For synonyms, see Peach.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. The cull is leaky and cackles; the rogue tells all.

1882. Punch, LXXXII., 177, 2. The old jokers in scarlet and erming who lounge in their red bedroom-chairs, And the cinder-wig’d toffs in alpaca who cackle and give themselves airs.

Cackle-Chucker, subs. (theatrical).—A prompter. [From cackle, the dialogue of a play, + chucker, one who throws out (from the mouth).]

Cackle-Merchant, subs. (theatrical).—A dramatic author. [From cackle, the dialogue of a play, + merchant. Cf., Caper-merchant, a dancing-master.]

Cackler, subs. (old).—1. A fowl. [From cackle (q.v.) + er.]—See also Cackling cheat.

1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 192. A Prigger of the Cacklers.

1730–6. Bailey. Cackler … a humorous word for capons or fowl.

1749. Life of Bamphylde-Moore Carew. Oath of the ‘Canting Crew.’ No dimber damber, angler, dancer, Prig of cackler, prig of prancer.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Cackler: a hen. [8]

2. (colloquial).—A noisy talker; a ‘blab.’—See Cackle, verb.

1400. Cov. Myst., 131. Kytt Cakelere and Colett Crane. [m.]

1598. Florio, Gracchione … a chatter, a cackler. [m.]

1730–6. Bailey, Cackler: a Prater, a Tell-tale, a noisy Person.

1878. Browning, Poets of Croisic, 92. If they dared Count you a cackler.

3. (circus and showmen’s).—An actor or showman who has a speaking part.

1854. Dickens, Hard Times, bk. I., ch. vi., p. 14 (H. ed.). ‘He has his points as a Cackler still … a speaker, if the gentleman likes it better.’

Cackler’s-Ken, subs. (old).—A hen-roost; a fowl-house. [From cackler (q.v., subs., sense 1), a fowl, + ken (q.v.), a place or house.] A French thieves’ equivalent is une ornière (from ornie, a hen).

Cackle-Tub, subs. (old).—A pulpit. [From cackle (q.v.) + tub, in allusion to the shape of old-fashioned pulpits.] For synonyms, see Hum-box.

1888. Musgrave, Savage London. I sorter think if yer’ll borrow Lucy’s chair to wheel me, I’ll go and sit under the cackle-tub in Little Bethel next Sunday.

Cackling-Cheat or Chete, subs. (old).—A fowl. [From cackling, that cackles, + cheat, From A.S. ceat, a thing.]—See Cheat.

English Synonyms. Beaker; cackler; margery prater; galeny; partlet; chickabiddy; rooster; chuck-chuck; chuckie.

French Synonyms. Un becquant (a thieves’ term); un ornichon (also a thieves’ term for a chicken); un pique-en-terre (literally ‘a peck-the-ground’); une estable or une estaphle (thieves’); bruantez (Breton slang).

German Synonyms. Kachni (from the Gypsy); mistkratzer.

Italian Synonyms. Ruspante or raspante (properly ‘scratching’ or ‘scraping’).

Spanish Synonyms. Capiscol (this, and indeed all the terms here given from the Germania, refer to the cock-bird. Capiscol = Fr. caporal); obispo (properly a bishop); rey (literally king).

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 86. She has a cackling-chete, a grunting-chete, ruff pecke, cassan, and poplarr of yarum.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, v. 1. Or surprising a boor’s ken for grunting-cheats? Or cackling-cheats?

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Cackling-cheats (cant): fowls.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Cackling cheats: Fowls (cant).

Cackling-Cove, subs. (theatrical and common).—An actor. [From cackling (see Cackle, subs., sense 1) + cove, an old canting term for a man.]

English Synonyms. Mummery-cove; mug-faker; mummer; mugger (properly an actor who makes free play with his face); tragedy or comedy merchant; pro; stroller; cackle-faker; barn-stormer; surf.

French Synonyms. Un prètre (thieves’: literally ‘a priest’: a curious sidelight on the views concerning religious orders of the criminal classes); un raze or razi pour l’af (thieves’: raze or razi = priest; and affe in old French cant signified ‘life’ or ‘the soul,’ but latterly eau d’affe = [9]‘brandy.’ There seems, however, little connection between either of these readings and the example under consideration); un Egyptien (theatrical: a term applied to a bad or inferior actor); un acteur-guitare (a term specially applied to one who elicits applause in lacrymose scenes only—an actor with only one string to his bow); un enleveur (theatrical: one who plays in such a way as to enlever la salle, i.e., ‘to bring down the house’); une doublure (an understudy); un cab, cabot, or cabotin, (used mainly in contempt, much in the same way as ‘mummer.’ Cabotinage is the life of hardship led by strolling players, and thence, by derivation, the life of the ‘profession’ generally); un brûleur de planches (theatrical: a spirited or restless actor); un acteur brûlé (popular: one that has had his day); un bouch trou (theatrical: an understudy or stop-gap); un bouleur or une bouleuse (a substitute, or understudy); un misloquier or une misloquière (thieves’); un nom (theatrical: ‘a star’).

Cackling-Fart, subs. (old).—An egg. [From cackling (see Cackle) + fart (q.v.) a discharge of wind through the anus.] A variant in English is hen-fruit; Fr. un avergot (thieves’); the Breton cant has bruant, whilst in the German Gaunersprache is found Dickmann (also = the penis and testes); the Fourbesque has arbifi and alberto (the latter from the Italian albo, white).

Cad, subs. (popular).—A term of contempt now generally applied to an offensively ill-bred person, irrespective of social position. Formerly used of underlings and others performing menial offices. [Murray favours its origin in cadet and the popular forms cadee and caddie. See, however, Cadator, the quotations under which appear to suggest a collateral, if an independent origin. Some regard the word as a contraction of ‘cadger’; whilst others trace it to the Scotch ‘cadie’ or ‘caddie,’ an errand boy—now an attendant at golf; or to the slang University sense of the word, a non-member]. The vocable has passed through a variety of meanings.

1. Passengers taken up by coach drivers for their own profit. [m.]

2. (obsolete).—A chum or companion.

3. (old).—An assistant.

4. (old).—An omnibus conductor.

1833. Hood, Sk. fr. Road. Though I am a cad now, I was once a coachman. [m.]

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxiii., p. 279. He paused, and contemplated, with a face of great calmness and philosophy, the numerous cads and drivers of short stages who assemble near that famous place of resort [the Mansion-House].

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 355. The conductor, who is vulgarly known as the cad, stands on a small projection at the end of the omnibus.

5. A messenger or errand boy.

1835. T. Hook, Gilbert Gurney, ch. vii. I will appear to know more of you than one of the cads of the thimble-rig knows of the pea-holder.

1839. T. Hood, Miss Kilmansegg, p. 230. Not to forget that saucy lad (Ostentation’s favourite cad), The page, who looked so splendidly clad. [10]

1843. J. Hewlett, College Life, I., p. 115. Webb’s boy, who went as cad with the dog.

6. (University and public schools’).—A contemptuous term applied to non-school or non-University men. At Cambridge snob, the word Thackeray used, has long been a common term for a townsman; now the undergrad says Townee or Towner (q.v.). The German analogue is Philister. Dr. Günther (Jena and its Environs) tells that of the old towers and gates which formed the entrance to Jena, the square one to the west alone remains; and is remarkable not only for its prison, called ‘The Cheese-Basket,’ but for four images of monkeys’ heads carved at the several corners of the gate itself. In a quarrel between students and townsfolk in the vicinity of the Johannis-Thor, the former dubbed the watchmen there ‘the monkey watchmen.’ The guard vowed vengeance, and one evening killed a student who had taken no part in the disturbance. The ecclesiastical superintendent, Götz, preached a sermon at the boy’s funeral from Judges xvi. 20, ‘The Philistines be upon thee, Samson!’ and that night his text was heard in the street, Philister über dir Samson! ‘Henceforward the citizens were called ‘Philister’ by the students; and, the name being exported to the other Universities, it came at length to be applied to burgher folk throughout Germany.’ According to some this fight occurred in 1693. For synonyms, see Rank outsider.

1831. Hone, Year Book, 670. Preceded by one or two bands of music in two boats, rowed by cads.

1856. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, I., p. 117. And I can chaff a cad.

1860. Macmillan’s Mag., March p. 327. You don’t think a gentleman can lick a cad, unless he is the biggest and strongest of the two.

1873. Saturday Review, September, p. 305. At Oxford the population of the University and city is divided into ‘Dons, men and cads.’

7. (general).—A vulgar, ill-mannered person; a blackguard, i.e., a person incapable of moral decency. For synonyms, see Snide.

1849. Charles Kingsley, Alton Locke. ‘The cads,’ ‘the snobs,’ ‘the blackguards,’ looked on with a dislike, contempt, and fear which they were not backward to return.

1860. Thackeray, Lovell the Widower, p. 245. There’s a set of cads in that club that will say anything.

1880. Punch’s Almanack, 12. Lor’ if I’d the ochre, make no doubt I could cut no end of big-pots out. Call me a cad? When moneys in the game, cad and swell are pooty much the same.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. vii. Perhaps your old governor has been making a cad of himself then, and you’re out of sorts with him.

1889. Answers, Feb. 23, p. 205, col. 3. You wouldn’t care to know Goodfellow, Miss Smart; he’s awfully bad form—a regular cad, you know.

Cadator, subs. (old).—A beggar in the character of a decayed gentleman.

1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. I., p. 7. He is one of those gentile [? genteel] 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.

ed. 1760. T. Brown, Works, II., 179. You … sot away your time in Mongo’s fumitory, among a parcel of old smoak-dry cadators.

Caddie, subs. (Scots).—An attendant at golf.

1889. Scots Observer, Feb. Oh, my Caddie, my Caddie ye’re a vera intelligent laddie. But I dinna like yer grinnin When I’m no exactly winnin’. [11]

Caddish, adj. (popular).—Vulgar; offensively ill-bred. [From Cad (q.v., sense 7) + ish.]

1869. Shirley Brooks, Sooner or Later, II., p. 31. ‘Well I don’t care about walking on Sundays. Religious scruples, perhaps.’ ‘I should think not. But it seems so caddish—like snobs who can go out on no other day.’

1872. Civilian, Aug. 10. There are many sorts of Ministerial insolence at present ‘on view’ in the House of Commons. Mr. Ayrton’s is coarse and caddish, the Attorney-General’s contemptuously courteous, and Mr. Lowe’s cynically and facetiously insulting.

1874. E. L. Linton, Patricia Kemball, ch. xx. ‘However, I have brought you here to reason, not to wrangle,’ he continued more quietly; ‘and wrangling is caddish.’

Cade, subs. (society).—The Burlington Arcade. [An abbreviated form of ‘Arcade.’] Cf., The Zoo for ‘the Zoological gardens,’ The Proms. for ‘the Promenade Concerts,’ The Pops. for ‘the Monday Popular Concerts,’ and The Cri. for the ‘Criterion Bar.’ Somewhat older examples are The Lane (q.v.) and The House (q.v.).

Cadge, subs. (vulgar).—The profession of cadging or begging.—See verbal sense.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. The cadge is the game or profession of begging.

1832–53. Whistle-Binkie (Sc. Songs), Ser. II., 68. He could ‘lay on the cadge’ better than ony walleteer that e’er cost a pock o’er his shouther.

Verb tr. and intr.—To obtain by begging; to beg. Now applied to vagrants and others who solicit in an artful wheedling manner. [A comparatively modern derivative. Cadger (Scots) a pedlar or carrier, i.e., one who strolls the country with his stock-in-trade in a cadge, i.e., a panier or basket for the carriage of small wares. Cf., ‘to beg,’ from ‘bag.’] Hence said of anyone who lives by sponging on another, or who gets a livelihood without giving a proper quid pro quo. For example, a waiter when hanging about for ‘a tip’ is said to be cadging or ‘on the cadge.’ Among intimates To Cadge a dinner or supper is now often used without implied reproach.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Cadge the swells, beg of the gentlemen.

1846. Lytton, Lucretia, II., xii. ‘I be’s good for nothin’ now, but to cadge about the streets and steal and filch. [m.]

1848. E. Farmer, Scrap Book (ed. 6), 115. Let each cadge a trifle.

1866. G. A. Sala, Trip to Barbary. ch. xiv. Thumping the tom-tom, and cadging for coppers.

1833. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 8, p. 3, col. 1. ‘It’s as bad a’ most as drawing peoples’ teeth to cadge a trifle off them in such winter months as we’ve had since the Autumn broke.’

English Synonyms. To mump; to pike; to mouch; to stand the pad; to maund; to tramp; to mike.

French Synonyms. Bettander (thieves’); aller à la chasse avec un fusil de toile (popular: literally ‘to go hunting with a canvas gun,’ an allusion to the necessary wallet or bag); bellander (tramps’; Cf., bettander; possibly some confusion has arisen between these two terms); balauder (tramps’); truquer de la pogne (tramps’); trucher (Old Cant, from truc, any kind of open air small trade or artifice. The word appears in various French, Italian and Spanish dialects, whilst Méril in his Dictionnaire du pâtois Normand allies it with the English ‘trick’); tendre la demi-aune (popular: [12]demi-aune = the arm); cameloter (popular: meaning also to sell, cheapen, or tramp); faire le coup de manche, or faire la manche (to call at people’s houses); mendigoter (popular).

German Synonyms. Abgeilen (to get by begging. From the O.H.G. gil); abschnurren (to beg through a lane, town, or province; also = to take to one’s heels; M.H.G. snurren, schnurren (q.v., infra) and Schnurrant, a beggar musician); bimmeln (Bimmler, Bummler, a beggar or vagrant); benschen (a corruption of the Latin benedicere = to say grace after meat; from praying to begging is but a step); paternellen (perhaps, like the foregoing, a formation, from the Latin pater noster, signifying to say much pater); noppeln (vagrants’); Schnurren, schnorren, snurren, (from the O.H.G. snurren, to grind, to grind out music on a hurdy-gurdy [q.v.], or to grind out prayers. A beggar or vagrant is termed Schnurrer, Schnorrer, or Snurrer = a grinder. Auf die Pille schnurren = to beg by feigning epileptic fits; auf Serffleppe schnurren = to beg on the pretence of having been ‘burnt out’; Schnurrpilsel, Schnurrscheye, Scenurrschicksel, Schurrkeibelche, and Schnurrmädchen, are epithets for very young girls who are beggars or strumpets as occasion fits; the dual occupation being known as Kommistarchenen and Hemdenschnurren); tarchenen, targenen, dörgen, dorchen (‘to beg’ or ‘to hawk.’ The derivation is obscure, but it is possibly to be found in the Hebrew tirgel, ‘to teach to walk’ or ‘to guide the foot.’ Others trace it to the O.H.G. Turg, ‘uncertain’ or to storgen from Störger, ‘a wandering quack.’ The Fiesellange, or Viennese thieves’ lingo, has Tarchener as equivalent to Kegler, a kitchen thief); linkstappeln (to beg or collect money under false pretences; see Linkstappler under cadger); prachern (probably from the Hebrew berocha, a blessing: wandering beggars generally introducing themselves with some sort of a benediction); Schnallendrücken gehen, or auf Schnallen, drücken gehen (these terms also signify to walk the streets as a prostitute. Schnalle = untruth, cheating, deception, and the female pudendum); stabeln, stappeln, and stapeln (the first of these forms is peculiar to Vienna, and all are traceable to Stiban or Stap, the Anglo-Saxon staff. The meaning is to go with a begging staff, generally with a pretence of having seen better days); dalfen and dalfern (the corresponding noun Dalfon = a poor fellow, is supposed to be derived from Dalfon, the only one of the ten sons of Haman, whose name had not the letter aleph either at the beginning or end of it [Esther ix. 7–9]. The story goes that because of this he was not only hanged, but mocked into the bargain: the feast in commemoration of Haman’s fall being essentially a merrymaking. Thenceforth, a poor man became a Dalfon); deufen gehen = to go begging with the intention of committing a robbery. Cf., O.H.G. Diufa, Deube = theft; fechten, Viennese thieves’ lingo).

Italian Synonyms. Truccare (identical with the French truquer q.v.); Santocchiare (also = ‘to [13]say one’s prayers’); calcheggiare (also = to steal).

Cadge-Cloak or Gloak, subs. (old).—A beggar. For synonyms, see Cadger.

1791. Carew, Life and Adventures of Bamphylde-Moore Carew. Cadge-cloak, curtal, or curmudgeon; no Whip-Jack, palliard, patrico … nor any other will I suffer.

Cadger, subs. (common).—Primarily a carrier, pedlar, or itinerant dealer; now mainly applied to a whining beggar; also, occasionally, a ‘sponger,’ snide (q.v.), or ‘mean man’ (see quots.). [From cadge (q.v.) + er.]

English Synonyms. Abram man; croaker, Abraham cove; Tom of Bedlam; Bedlam beggar; maunderer, moucher; pikey; traveller; turnpike, or dry land sailor; scoldrum; shyster; Shivering James; silver beggar; skipper-bird; mumper; paper-worker; goose-shearer; master of the black art; durrynacker.

French Synonyms. Un trucheur, or un trucheux (Old Cant, from truc, which see under Cadge); un marcandier or une marcandière (thieves’; a variety of the mendicant tribe which is described in le Jargon de l’Argot as ‘those who journey with a great purse by their side, with a pretty good coat, and a cloak on their shoulders, pretending they have met with robbers who have stolen all their money’); les millards. (Old Cant); un bêcheur; une comète (popular: ‘a comet’—one here and there); les callots; un enfant de la loupe (thieves’); un loupiat (popular); un mendigot (thieves’); un lartin (Old Cant).

German Synonyms. Dalfon (see Cadge); Techtbrud (Viennese thieves’); Gomol (from the Hebrew, and used only as a nickname); Hochstappler (a beggar cheat who has seen better days. Cf., Stappler and Linkstappler); Linkstappler (a beggar by means of false papers; a dealer in sham lottery tickets; or a ‘snide’ collector for purposes of charity); Pracher (possibly from the Hebrew berocha, ‘a blessing,’ in allusion to the mumper’s benediction); Schnallendrücker (from Schnalle = ‘an untruth,’ ‘cheating,’ or ‘deception,’ + Trecker, one who pulls); Schnurrer (see under Cadge); Stabeler (see under Cadge); Standjunge (a beggar frequenting markets, fairs, and public processions).

Italian Synonyms. Campagno di calca (campagno = companion or comrade, calca = ‘crowd’); calco (see preceding); corteggiano or cortigiano (literally ‘a courtier’); cavorante di scarpe (literally ‘working shoes’; specially applied to a beggar who is also a pickpocket); granchetto (especially one who patters in flash (q.v.); truccante (also = a thief); guido or guidone (literally ‘a guide’; also = a ‘dog’ or a ‘companion’); incatenato an old and decrepit beggar’s boy-leader. Literally one put up or hung up in chains).

Spanish Synonym. Chita (a nickname for a deformed vagrant or beggar).

1821.—W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 6. Cadgers make holiday, Hey, for the maunder’s joys, Let pious ones fast and pray, They save us the trouble, my boys.

1851.—Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, I., 339. A street seller nowadays is [14]looked upon as a ‘cadger,’ and treated as one.

1882.—Daily Telegraph, 5 Oct., p. 3. col. 1. See on a Saturday night, in Whitechapel, the rank hypocritical cadger, whose coarse disguise of cleanness and respectability would scarcely deceive the most foolish persons at the West-end.

1884.—Jas. Greenwood, The Little Ragamuffins. I may here remark that amongst people of my born grade no one is so contemptuously regarded as he who is known as a cadger. The meaning they set on the word is not the dictionary meaning. The cadger with them is the whining beggar, the cowardly impostor, who being driven or finding it convenient to subsist on charity, goes about his business with an affectation of profoundest humility, and a consciousness of his own unworthiness; a sneaking, abject wretch, aiming to crop a meal out of the despising and disgust he excites in his fellow-creatures.

Cadging, verbal subs. (common).—Begging, frequently eked out by petty pilfering. [From cadge (q.v.) + ing.]

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xv. I’ve got my living by casting fortins, and begging, and cadging, and such like.

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.

Cady, subs. (common).—A hat. [Derivation unknown.] Sometimes written cadey and caddy. For synonyms, see Golgotha.

1886. The A.B.C. of New Dictionary of Flash, Cant, Slang, etc., p. 85. Caddy: a man’s hat.

1887. Walford’s Antiquarian, April, p. 251. Sixpence I gave for my cadey A penny I gave for my stick.

Caffan.—See Cassan.

Caffre’s Lightener, subs. (South African).—A full meal. Fr. une lichance (from licher = lécher, ‘to lick’).

1864. Lady Duff Gordon. Letters from the Cape. I asked him [a young black shepherd at the Cape] to sing; and he flung himself at my feet, in an attitude that would make Watts crazy with delight, and crooned queer little mournful ditties. I gave him sixpence and told him not to get drunk. He said, ‘Oh, no! I will buy bread enough to make my belly stiff; I almost never had my belly stiff.’ He likewise informed me that he had just been in the tronk [Cape Dutch slang for a prison, answering to the English stone jug], and, on my asking why, replied, ‘Oh, for fighting and telling lies.’

Cage, subs. (old).—1. A minor kind of prison for petty malefactors; a country ‘lock-up.’ [From cage, a place of confinement for birds, beasts, and, formerly, human beings.] Once in literary use; now thieves’ slang.

1500. Lancelot, 2767. As cowart thut schamfully to ly Excludit in to cage from chewalry. [m.]

1593. Shakspeare, II. Henry VI., iv., 2. Dick. Ay, by my faith, the field is honorable, and there he was born, under a hedge; for his father had never a house but the cage.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed). Cage (s): a place of confinement for thieves or vagrants that are taken up by the watch in the night-time, to secure them till the proper officer can carry them before a magistrate.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. liii. I was doomed—still I kept my purpose in the cage and in the stocks.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1882], p. 78. The cage at Willesden was, and is—for it is still standing—a small round building about eight feet high, with a pointed tiled roof, to which a number of boards inscribed with the names of the parish officers, and charged with a multitude of admonitory notices to vagrants and other disorderly persons, are attached. [15]

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 3. ‘A synopsis of voting.’ He who is incited into an assault, that he may be put into the cage.

English Synonyms. For a prison generally, academy; boat; boarding-house; bower; block-house; bastille; bladhunk; stone-jug; jug; calaboose; cooler; coop; downs; clink; jigger; Irish theatre; quod; shop; stir; clinch; steel; sturrabin; mill; toll shop; floating hell; floating academy; dry room; House that Jack Built; choakee.

Among special names for particular prisons may be mentioned Bates’s Farm or Garden (Cold Bath Fields); Akerman’s Hotel (Newgate); Castieu’s Hotel (Melbourne Gaol); Burdon’s Hotel (White Cross Street Prison); Ellenborough Lodge, Spike or Park (the King’s Bench Prison, to which, as a matter of fact, every Chief Justice stood god-father); Campbell’s Academy (the Hulks); City College and Whittington’s College (Newgate); Tench; Pen; and Smith’s Hotel (Edinburgh).

French Synonyms. Le castue (thieves’); la caruche (thieves’); la boîte aux cailloux (thieves’); cailloux = stones; Cf., ‘stone jug’; le collège (thieves’: Newgate at one time was called the City College); la cage (popular); le château (thieves’: literally a castle, château de l’ombre = a convict settlement); la chambre de sûreté (the parish prison of the Conciergerie); le chetard (thieves’); le canton (thieves’: according to Ménage in his Dictionnaire Etymologique, the original sense of this word is the same as coin. From canton has been derived the verb, cantonner, a military term signifying the billetting of troops in one or more villages); en ballon (popular: in prison); la grosse boîte (thieves’: literally the big box); la bonde (thieves’: a central prison); la Biscaye (thieves’); l’abbaye de sots bougres (thieves’: obsolete = The Silly Bugger’s Arms); le bloc (a military prison or cell, Cf., block-house); la dure (thieves’: a central prison, dur is properly hard, merciless, obdurate); la femme de l’adjudant (a military lock-up, jigger, or Irish theatre; literally the adjutant’s wife); la bagnole (popular: a diminutive of bagne, of the same meaning); la motte (thieves’: a central prison or house of correction); l’hôpital (thieves’: a man in durance is un malade = a patient); la mitre (thieves’: a corruption of mithridate, the name of a certain ointment; mitre formerly meant ‘itch’); le jetar (military; the same as chetar); l’ours (common: a term given to a prison, guard-room, or cell); la boîte à violon (a lock-up at a police-station; violon itself signifies a prison, the barred windows being compared to the strings of that instrument. Argot and Slang says:—The lingo terms jouer de la harpe, to be in prison, and jouer du violon, to file through the window bars of a cell, seem to bear out this explanation. Some philologists, however, think that the stocks being termed psaltérion, mettre an psaltérion, to put in the stocks, became synonymous with ‘to imprison,’ the expression being superseded in time by mettre au violon when that instrument itself [16]superseded the psaltérion); la tuneçon (Old Cant); l’austo (a military prison); le lycée (thieves’: = ‘academy’); l’école préparatoire (pop.: a preparatory school for young thieves); le lazaro (military: = lazar-house, or ‘spike’); le mazaro (military: = cells); la matatane (military: ‘a guard room’ or the cells); le loustaud (thieves’); la lorcefé (thieves’: the old prison of La Force); le loir (thieves’ = ‘dormouse’); l’hosto (soldiers’ and thieves’: also popularly, ‘a house or crib’); la grotte (thieves’: the hulks. Properly a grotto or crypt); l’hôtel des haricots (familiar: from the staple of diet, Cf., Ger. Erbsien and Graupenpalais); la morte paye sur mer (obsolete: the hulks); l’ombre (popular: = ‘shade,’ Cf., Ger. Kühle); la maze (abbreviation of Mazas, a central prison in Paris); là-bas (prostitutes: St. Lazare; thieves’: the convict settlement at New Caledonia, or in Cayenne); la malle (military: Cf., English ‘box’).

German Synonyms. Antoniklosterl (Viennese thieves’ = a prison in Vienna); Drillbajis or Drillhaus (a house of drill or correction); Echetel (Viennese thieves’); Erbsien (Viennese thieves’: from the staple of diet—Erbsen = peas. Cf., Graupenpalais); Graupenpalais (a prison in Berlin, from the staple of diet—barley); Grannigebais (Granigire Marochum = a fortress); Gymnasium (Cf., college, academy, lycée); Kaan or Kân (from the Hebrew; im Kaan scheften, to be in prison); Kue or Kuh (in die Kue sperren; to imprison); Kitt or Kittchen (from the Hebrew Kisse = a chair, throne, roof, common lodging-house, brothel, workhouse, and prison); Kille (literally an assembly); Kühle (im Kühlen sitzen, literally to sit in the ‘cooler’ or in the shade; Cf., être à l’ombre, and ‘to be under a cloud’); Leck (Viennese thieves’ M.H.G., luken, to lock up); Mifzer (Hebrew pozar, a fortress or prison); Schofelbajis (from the Hebrew schophal, bad, common, low, or unfortunate. Also a brothel); Stube (this, according to Zimmermann, signifies a prison); Tallesmasky (Hanoverian: from tallo, gallows, + masky from Maskopei, society, i.e., gallows-birds); T’fise (from the Hebrew tophas).

Italian Synonyms. Basta; casa (a house. The forms casaccia and cazanza are also used); cavagna; travagliosa (literally laborious); sentina (properly a sink of vice); viscola or visco losa.

Spanish Synonyms. Madrastra; angustias or ansias (literally grief or anguish); banasto (literally a large round basket); banco (properly a bench); temor (i.e., fear); trena (f).

Portuguese Synonyms. Estarim or xelro; limoeiro (a cant name for a prison in Lisbon).

2. (common).—An ‘improver,’ or bustle. See Bird-cage.

3. (venery).—A bed; also Breeding-cage.

1875. W. E. Henley, Unpublished Ballad. ‘In the breeding cage I cops her, With her stays off, all a’blowin’!—Three parts sprung.’—

4. (parliamentary).—The Ladies’ Gallery in the House of [17]Commons; sometimes called the chamber of horrors, which appertains more properly to the Peeresses’ Gallery in the Upper House.

1870. London Figaro, 10 June. ‘The Angels in the House.’ Mr. Crauford’s Motion for the expulsion of strangers (during the debate on The Contagious (Women’s) Diseases Act) had reference to the cage and not to the Reporters’ Gallery.

Cagg, verb (old military).—Grose says ‘a military term used by the private soldiers, signifying a solemn vow or resolution not to get drunk for a certain time; or, as the term is, till their cagg is out, which vow is commonly observed with the strictest exactness: e.g., “I have cagg’d myself for six months. Excuse me this time, and I will cagg myself for a year.” Common in Scotland, where the vow is performed with divers ceremonies.’

Cag-Mag, subs. (vulgar).—Primarily a provincialism for a tough old goose; now a vulgarism for refuse, or rubbish, or scraps and ends. The transferred sense is older than given in the N.E.D. Cf., Keg-meg. [Brewer derives it, ‘from the Gaelic and Welsh,’ cag magu, whilst others consider it as originally a University slang term for a bad cook, κακὸς μάγειρος. The Latin magma (Pliny), = dregs or dross.] Also a plain or dirty woman.

1769. Pennant, Tour in Scotland, 1774, p. 10. Vast numbers [of geese] are driven annually to London; among them, all the superannuated geese and ganders (called here [Lincoln] cag-mags).

1839.—Comic Almanack, Sept., p. 188, But here’s the greatest grief, and sure it makes one choke to put on A libel to one’s neck, just like cheap cag-mag-scrag of mutton.

1851–61.—H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 133. ‘Do I ever eat my own game if it’s high? No, sir, never, I couldn’t stand such cag-mag.’

1864.—Temple Bar, vol. X., p. 185. No kag-mag wares are sold, no cheap articles are retailed.

Cain. To raise cain, phr. (American).—To proceed to extreme measures; to be quarrelsome; to make a disturbance. Of Western origin; primarily applied to men who would have shown no hesitation in shooting or stabbing; generally = merely disputatious or quarrelsome. Variants are to raise hate, hell, or hell and tommy, and to raise ned (q.v.). [An allusion to the anger of the first fratricide.]

1849.—Ruxton, Scenes in the Far West, p. 117. He had been knocking around all day in every grog-shop and bar-room in town, and when evening came he was seen swaggering down Main Street, his head bare, his eyes bloodshot, and his revolver in hand, shouting: ‘Who’ll hinder this child? I am going to raise Cain! Who’s got anything to say agin it?’

1869.—Mrs. Beecher Stowe, Old Town Folks, p. 116. ‘I’ll tell you what, Solomon Peters,’ said Miss Asphyxia, ‘I’d jest as soon have the red dragon in the Revelation a comin’ down on my house as a boy! If I don’t work hard enough now, I’d like to know, without having a boy around raisin’ gineral Cain.’

Cain and Abel, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A table.

Cainsham-Smoke, subs. phr. (old).—The tears of a wife-beaten husband.—Dunton. Ladies’ Dictionary [1694].

Cake or Cakey, subs. (popular).—1. A fool or dullard. Quoted by Grose in his Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue [1785], in various provincial glossaries, and generally colloquial in the lower strata of society. [In punning allusion, some have thought, to the doughy [18]softness of a cake, a name given at first to any ‘flat’ kind of sweetened breadstuff. Hence variants, such, for example, as ‘flat,’ ‘soft,’ and ‘muff.’ Others, however, trace it to the Greek κακὸς, bad, and point out that in University slang a clever man is called a good man and the opposite a bad one, or a cake.] For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

1841. Comic Almanack, ‘Twelfth Night,’ p. 256. And ever since, on fair Twelfth Night, A wand’ring form is seen: A female form, and this its cry:—‘Vy vot a cake I’ve been!’

1842. J. R. Planché, The White Cat, II., iv. Your resignation proves that you must be The greatest cake he in his land could see!

1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Channings, ch. xxix. If Pye does not get called to order now, he may lapse into the habit of passing over hardworking fellows with brains to exalt some good-for-nothing cake with none, because he happens to have a Dutchman for his mother.

2. (American thieves’).—A stupid policeman.

3. subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—A stroke with a cane.

Verb (Christ’s Hospital).—To cane.

To take the cake, phr. (common).—To rank the highest; to carry off the honours; to be the best of a kind; ‘to fill the bill’ (theatrical). [Cake has long been employed symbolically in this connection; in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, ‘to get one’s share of the cake’ was a common colloquialism. The special application has been popularised in the U.S.A. In certain sections of the country ‘cake walks’ are in vogue among the coloured people. The young bucks get themselves up most elaborately, and walk from one end of the hall to the other, under the gaze of beauty and the critical glance of the judges. The marking is done on a scale of numbers, and the ties are walked off with the utmost finish and a rare attention to style. The prize is a cake and the winner takes it.] Whimsical variations are to take or yank the bun; to slide away with the banbury; to annex the whole confectioner’s shop. Cf., to take the kettle = to take the prize for lying.

1885. San Francisco News Letter, Between you ’n me, red stockings ain’t becomin’ to all—ahem—limbs, ’n for cool cheek ’n dash. I back some o’em against any saleslady ’t makes a livin’ by it, the way ’t some o’ those girls ’d pin on a boutonnière took the cake.

Hurry up the cakes! phr. (American) = Look sharp! Buckwheat and other hot cakes form a staple dish at many American tables, but the phrase has now become pure slang.

Like hot cakes, phr. (American).—Quickly; with energy; a variant of like winking, or like one o’clock (q.v.).

1888. Punch’s Library, p. 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.’

Cakey-Pannum Fencer.—See Pannum fencer.

Calaboose, subs. (American and nautical).—The common gaol. [This word comes into popular use from the Spanish calabozo through the French calabouse.] So also to calaboose = to imprison. [19]

1840. R. H. Dana, Two Years before the Mast, ch. xxi. A few weeks afterwards I saw the poor wretch sitting on the bare ground, in front of the calabozo, with his feet chained to a stake, and handcuffs about his wrists.

1888. Santa Ana Blade. Charley Read struck an old tramp in the calaboose the other day, who looked disgusted at his headquarters and remarked ‘Well I’ve been in every jail from Portland to Santa Ana, but this is the d—nest snide of a calaboose I ever struck yet.’

Calculate, verb (U.S. colloquial).—To think; expect; believe; intend; indeed, almost any sense save the legitimate, which is ‘to estimate by calculation.’ It belongs to the same class of colloquialisms as guess and reckon. Calculate is sometimes, especially in New England, corrupted into cal’late.

1830.—Galt, Lawrie, T., II., v. (1849), 56. I calculate, that ain’t no thing to make nobody afeard.

1848.—J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers. The Sarjunt he thout Hosea hedn’t gut his i teeth cos he looked a kindo’s though he’d jest come down, so he cal’lated to hook him in, but Hosy woodn’t take none of his sarse.

1851.—Miss Wetherell, Queechy, ch. xix. ‘Your aunt sets two tables, I calculate, don’t she?’

Caleys, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Caledonian Railway Ordinary Stock.

1881.—Atkin, House Scraps. ‘If anything tickles our fancy We buy them, Brums, Caleys or Apes.’

Calf, subs. (colloquial).—An ignoramus; a dolt; a weakling. Cf., Calf lolly. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

1553.—Udall, Royster D., II., iv., in Hazl. Dodsley, III., 94. You great calf, ye should have more wit, so ye should.

1627.—Drayton, Nymphid (1631), 171. Some silly doting brainless calfe.

1872. Hamilton Aïdé, Morals and Mysteries, p. 60. She had a girlish fancy for the good-looking young calf who had so signally disgraced himself.

To eat the calf in the cow’s belly, phr. (common).—A variant of ‘to count one’s chickens before they are hatched.’

1748. Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe [ed. 1811], III., 135. I ever made shift to avoid anticipations: I never would eat the calf in the cow’s belly, as Lord M’s phrase is.

Calf-Clingers, subs. (common).—Pantaloons; i.e., close-fitting trousers. [Derivation obvious.] For synonyms, see Bags and Kicks.

1884.—J. Greenwood, Little Ragamuffins. Knee-breeches were just going out of fashion when I was a little boy, and calf-clingers (that is, trousers made to fit the leg as tight as a worsted stocking) were ‘coming in.’

Calf, Cow, and Bull Week, subs. phr. (operatives’).—Before the passing of the Factory Acts it was customary in manufacturing districts, especially for men, women, and children, to indulge in the practice of working very long hours for a period of three weeks before the Christmas holidays. In the first, which was called ‘calf week,’ the ordinary hours of work were but slightly exceeded; in the second, or ‘cow week,’ they were considerably augmented; and in the third, or ‘bull week,’ it was common for operatives to spend the greater portion of the twenty-four of each day in their workshops. The practice resulted in extreme exhaustion and—naturally—indulgence to excess in stimulants. [20]

1871.—Echo, 4 Dec. Calf, cow, and bull week. We find a good illustration of the beneficial influence of the Factory Acts in the reports of the Government Inspectors just issued. The district inspector expresses the hope that the measures which he took against some offenders in bull week last year will extinguish for good and all this absurd and illogical custom.

Calf’s Head, subs. (common).—A stupid, witless individual. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

1600.—Shakspeare, Much Ado about Nothing, V., i., Claudio: ‘I’ faith, I thank him; he hath bid me to a calf’s head and a capon; the which if I do not carve most curiously, say my knife’s naught.’

Calf-Lick.—See Cow-lick.

Calf-Lolly, subs. (old).—An idle simpleton; a general term of reproach.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. I., ch. xxv. Jobbinol goosecaps, foolish loggerheads, flutch calf-lollies.

1708. Motteux, Rabelais, iv., xvii. I was a Calf-lolly, a doddipole.

Calf-Love, subs. (common).—A youthful, romantic fancy. [A sarcastic allusion to the blind unreasoning character of boy and girl attachments.]

1823. Galt, Entail, I., xxxii., 284. I made a calf-love marriage. [m.]

1863. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s Lovers, II., 104. It’s a girl’s fancy—just a kind o’ calf-love—let it go by.

1884. Longman’s Mag., IV., 50. I was still at the early and agonising stage of the passion which is popularly known as calf-love.

Calfskin-Fiddle, subs. (old).—A drum.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

Calf-Sticking, subs. (thieves’).—Explained by quotation. [Cf., Calf and Stick].

1883. Daily Telegraph, 25 July, p. 2, col. 1. The venerable oarsman grinned, and set me right by explaining that what was called calf-sticking by those who practised it was the putting off of worthless rubbish, on the pretence that it was smuggled goods, on any foolish or unscrupulous person who could be inveigled into treating for the same.

Calibogus, subs. (American).—A very old name for a mixture of rum and spruce beer, being quoted by Grose in 1785 as ‘an American beverage.’ The last two syllables of the word are thought to be derived from the French bagasse, the refuse of the sugar cane. This view would seem to be supported by the fact that rum is itself a product of the sugar cane.

1861. L. de Boileau, Recoll. Labrador Life, p. 162. Callibogus, a mixture of Rum and Spruce-beer, more of the former and less of the latter.

Calico, adj. (old).—Thin; wasted; attenuated. [Calicut is the name of the Indian city whence the material of the comparison was brought. The earliest reference for original signification given by Murray is 1505; but he omits the cant meaning.]

1733. Nathaniel Bailey, Colloquies of Erasmus (translated), p. 37. In such a place as that your callico body (tenui corpusculo) had need have a good fire to keep it warm.

1861. Sala, Seven Sons of Mammon. A shrewd, down-east Yankee once questioned a simple Dutchman out of his well-fed steed, and left him instead a vile calico mare in exchange.

Calico-Bally, adj. (common).—Somewhat ‘fast’; applied to [21]one always on the look out for amusement. [Primarily used of frequenters of calico-balls.]

18(?). Broadside Ballad, ‘The Flipperty-Flop Young Man.’ I once was a cabby and hack young man, And a little bit calico-bally; A picture card out of the pack young man, And frequently music hally.

California.—See Californian, sense 2.

Californian, subs. (common).—1. A red or hard-dried herring. Further explained by quotations. Also Soldier, Atlantic ranger and Glasgow Magistrate.

1873.—Cassell’s Mag., Jan., p. 245, Very large quantities of cured herrings came from North Britain at that time, and, excepting those from the Firth of Forth, they were more cured, dryer and salter than those from Norfolk. Some were sent very dry indeed, as hard as a stick, and of a very deep red colour; such were used, as similar fish now are, for exportation. About the time of the gold discoveries, some one applied the term Californian to these. The word was appropriate, and Californians such highly-coloured herrings are called to this day.

2. [Generally used in the plural—Californians.] Generic for gold pieces.

California Widow, subs. phr. (American).—A married woman whose husband is away from her for any extended period; a grass widow (q.v.) in the least offensive sense. The expression dates from the period of the Californian gold fever, when so many men went West, leaving their wives and families behind them.

Calk, verb (Eton College).—To throw.

Call, subs. (Eton College).—The time when the masters do not call absence (q.v.).

To have or get a call upon, phr. (American).—To have a preference, or the first chance.

1888.—Puck’s Library, May, p. 23, Picture Dealer (to Professional’s Husband): ‘No, sir; I can’t sell no more of your wife’s pictures unless she gets down some of that flesh, and looks kinder æstheticker. The ethereal and intellectual has got the call on the old style of beauty now-a-days.’

To call a go, verbal phr. (vagrants’ and street patterers’).—To change one’s stand; to alter one’s tactics; to give in at any game or business. [From the go ‘call’ in cribbage.]

1851–61.—H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 252. To call a go, signifies to remove to another spot, or adopt some other patter, or, in short, to resort to some change or other in consequence of a failure.

To call a spade a spade.—See Spade.

To call over the coals.—See Wigging.

Put and call.—See Put.

Calle, subs. (old and American thieves’).—A cloak or gown. Quoted by Grose [1785], and still in use in the U.S.A. amongst the criminal classes. For synonyms, see Caster.

Calp or Kelp, subs. (old).—A hat. [Origin unknown.] For synonyms, see Golgotha.

Calvert’s Entire.—The Fourteenth Foot. [Called Calvert from their colonel, Sir Harry Calvert (1806–1826), and entire, because three entire battalions were kept up for the good of Sir Harry, when adjutant-general. A play upon words in reference [22]to Calvert’s malt liquors.] This regiment was also called the Old and Bold.

1780. R. Tomlinson, Slang Pastoral, canto viii. Gin! What is become of thy heart-chearing fire, And where is the beauty of Calvert’s Intire?

1871. Chambers’ Journal, 23 Dec., p. 803, col. 1. The 14th Foot, Calvert’s Entire.

1886. Tinsley’s Magazine, April, p. 322. A very curious name, Calvert’s Entire, used to be attached to the 14th, but this as well as the circumstances which gave rise to it are forgotten.

Calves. Calves gone to grass, subs. phr. (old).—Said of spindle shanks; i.e., slender, undeveloped legs, with lack of calves.

There are many ways of dressing calves’ heads, phr. (old).—Many ways of saying or doing a foolish thing; a simpleton has many ways of showing his folly; or, generally, if one way won’t do, we must try another.

Calves’ heads are best hot, phr. (common).—A sarcastic apology for one sitting down to eat with his hat on.—See Stand-up.

Calx, subs. (Eton College).—The goal line at football. [From a Latin sense of calx = a goal, anciently marked with lime or chalk.] At Eton calx is a space so marked off at each end of wall; good calx is the end at which there is a door for a goal; bad calx the end where part of an elm tree serves the purpose.

1864. Daily Telegraph, Dec. 1. The Collegers were over-weighted … and the Oppidans managed to get the ball down into their calx several times. [m.]

Cambridge Oak, subs. (old).—A willow. [An allusion to the abundance of this tree in the county in question, which is situate in the Fen District.] Formerly many analogous sayings were in vogue; e.g., ‘A Cotswold lion’ for ‘a sheep,’ etc.—See also Cambridgeshire nightingale.

Cambridgeshire or Fen Nightingale, subs. phr. (common).—A frog. [The county is scored with canals and dykes; the allusion is to the natural preponderance of the croaking of frogs over the singing of nightingales.] Cf. Cambridge oak and Cape nightingale.

1875. Chambers’ Journal, No. 581, p. 107, col. 2. The male of the eatable frog is distinguished … by … a pouch.… These pouches increase the volume of the croak, and render it so powerful that the possessors have, from the county in which they are particularly plentiful, received the nickname of Cambridgeshire nightingales.

Camden-Town, subs. (rhyming slang).—A halfpenny, or ‘brown.’ For synonyms, see Mag.

Camel’s Complaint, subs. phr. (common).—Low spirits; the hump (q.v.).

Camesa, subs. (thieves’).—A shirt chemise, or ‘shimmy.’ [From the Spanish camisa, or Italian camicia.] The word appears in various forms from the beginning of the seventeenth century, e.g., ‘camisa,’ ‘camiscia,’ ‘kemesa,’ ‘camise,’ and in a more genuinely English dress as ‘commission’ (q.v.), which in turn is shortened into mish (q.v.). For synonyms, see Flesh-bag.

1690.—B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Camesa: a shirt or shift. [23]

1785.—Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Camesa (cant, Spanish): a shirt or shift.

1812.—Byron, Childe Harold II., Tambourgi ii. Oh! who is more brave than a dark Suliote, In his snowy camese and his shaggy capote?

1834.—H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. With my fawnied famms, and my onions gay, my thimble of ridge, and my driz (laced) kemesa.

Camister, subs. (thieves’).—A preacher or clergyman. From the white gown or surplice. [From Latin camisia, a linen tunic, alb, or shirt, + (probably) a termination suggested by ‘minister.’] For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. [List of patterer’s words.] Camister = Minister.

Camp. To go to camp, phr. (Australian).—To go to bed; to take rest. [From the practice in the early settlers’ days of forming a camp whenever a halt for the night was called.]

1887. All the Year Round, 30 July, p. 66, col. 2. To go to camp, by a transference of its original meaning, now signifies, in the mouth of a dweller in houses, simply ‘to lie down,’ ‘to go to bed.’

To take into camp, phr. (Common).—To kill.

1878. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’) Some Rambling Notes of an Idle Excursion, p. 66. Sure enough one night the trap took Mrs. Jones’s principal tomcat into camp, and finished him up.

To camp, phr. (Australian).—To surpass; to ‘floor.’

18(?) H. Kendall, Billy Vickers. At punching oxen you may guess There’s nothing out can camp him; He has, in fact, the slouch and dress Which bullock-driver stamp him.

Campbell’s Academy, subs. phr. (old).—The hulks, or lighters, on board of which felons were condemned to hard labour. Mr. Campbell was the first director.—Grose.—See Academy and Floating academy. For synonyms, see Cage.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 11. He was tried at Guildhall, Westminster, and sentenced to improve as a pupil in Mr. Duncan Campbell’s Floating Academy for five years.

Camp-Candlestick, subs. (military)—An empty bottle, or a bayonet. Quoted in the Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]. For synonyms in the sense of ‘an empty bottle,’ see Dead-man.

Camp-Stool Brigade, subs. phr. (common).—Said in the first place of people who wait outside a place of entertainment to secure the best seats, and bring camp-stools with them to rest themselves.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 23 Sept., p. 5, col. 2. The first night of the Gaiety Wanderers will not be forgotten in a hurry. Seats for the occasion were booked a year ago last April! Can you wonder that the camp-stool brigade besieged the pit door as early as 10 a.m.?

Can, subs. (American).—1. A dollar piece.

2. (Scots).—A ‘slavey.’

Canack, Canuck, Kanuck, K’nuck, subs. (American).—A Canadian, usually a K’nuck. [Obscure, and limited in its application within the Canadian frontier. There, a Canuck is understood to be a French Canadian, just as within the limits of the Union only New Englanders are termed Yankees; whereas elsewhere that appellation is given indiscriminately to [24]natives of all the States. It is by some supposed that Canuck is a corruption of Connaught, the name applied by French-Canadians to the Irish, from which it would follow that, by a process of inversion, a nickname given by one section of a nation to another has, in course of time, been applied to the whole. Others, however, think the first syllable of ‘Canada’ has been joined to the Algonkin Indian substantive termination uc or uq.]

Canary or Canary-Bird, subs. (thieves’).—1. A prisoner; a very old cant term for habitual offenders; or, as Grose says [1785], ‘a person used to be kept in a cage’ (q.v.). The same idea occurs in some foreign equivalents, e.g., the French, oiseau de cage, and the German, Kastener, from Kasten, a chest or case. For synonyms, see Wrong ’un.

1673.—Head, Canting Academy, p. 157. Newgate is a cage of canary-birds.

1725.—New Canting Dictionary. Canary-bird, a little, arch, or knavish boy; a rogue or whore taken and clapped into the cage or roundhouse.

1839.—Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 55. Now for the cage, my pretty canary-bird. Before we start I’ll accommodate you with a pair of ruffles.

2. (general).—A mistress. [See preceding quot. (1725): the term is still in use.] For synonyms, see Tart.

3. (common).—Formerly a guinea, but now applied to a sovereign [From similarity of colour.]

English Synonyms. Yellow boy; goldfinch; yellow hammer; shiner; gingleboy; monarch; couter; bean foont; James (from Jacobus); poona; portrait; quid; thick ’un; skin; skiv; dragon; goblin. A guinea was also called a ‘ned.’

French Synonyms for the equivalent twenty franc piece are, un jaunet (popular: literally ‘butter-cup’ or ‘yellow-boy’); une sigue, sigle, sigolle or cig (thieves’); un bonnet jaune (popular: literally ‘yellow-cap’ or ‘bonnet’); un bouton (i.e., ‘a master-key’); une maltaise (old cant; according to Victor Hugo this gold coin was used on board the convict galleys at Malta); un moule à boutons (popular); une médaille d’or (popular: = a gold medal).

German Synonyms. Gelbling (gelb = yellow); Fuchs (a gold piece; literally ‘a fox’).

For synonyms of money generally, see Actual and Gilt.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Canary-Birds in a canting sense, guineas.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvi. Fifty as fair yellow canary-birds as e’er chirped in the bottom of a green silk purse.

1842. Punch, p. 168. ‘Prolusiones etymologicæ,’ 13. Goldfinches—Canaries.—Singing birds; the which whose possesseth needeth never to pine for lack of notes.

4. (thieves’).—A female watcher or stall; a mollisher (q.v.). Cf. Crow = a male watcher. Fr. une marque franche.

1862. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lond. Poor, IV., 337. Sometimes a woman, called a ‘canary,’ carries the tools [of burglars], and watches outside.

5. (Salvation Army).—A written promise of a donation or subscription. At some of the meetings of the ‘Army’ instead of [25]sending round the plate, the ‘officers’ distribute slips of paper on which those present are invited to record their benevolent intentions. The original colour of the slips was yellow—hence the nickname.

Cancer. To catch or capture a cancer, phr. (common).—See Crab.

1857. Hood, Pen and Pencil Pictures p. 141. He had another way of capturing cancers, namely, by never putting his oar into the water at all.

Candle-Keepers, subs. (Winchester College).—The eight seniors in college by election who are not præfects. They enjoy most of the privileges of præfects without their powers.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 30. The Seven Candle-keepers (why so-called, I have no idea, nor have I ever heard any interpretation of the appellation). These were the seven inferiors who had been longest in the school, quite independently of their position in it; they were generally old and tough. Of these, the senior had almost as much power as a præfect; he had a ‘valet’ in chambers, one or two ‘breakfast fags,’ and the power of fagging the twenty juniors when in school, or in meads. The junior candle keeper was called ‘the Deputy,’ and had also some slight privileges besides that of having a valet and breakfast fag, which was common to all of them.

1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 278. Presided over by a candle-keeper.

Candlestick, subs. 1. (Winchester College).—A humorous corruption of the word ‘candidate.’

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 175. Each of these [the Electors] had in turn the privilege of nominating a boy for admission into Winchester till all vacancies were filled, of which there were generally about twelve, but always many more ‘Candidates’ (or Candlesticks, as they were often called).

1878. H. C. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 418. Candlestick, merely a facetious version of ‘candidate.’

2 pl. (London).—The fountains in Trafalgar Square.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and Lon. Poor, I., p. 529. There was his (Nelson’s) pillar at Charing Cross, just by the candlesticks (fountains).

Candy, adj. (old).—Given by Grose in 1785, and by the Lexicon Balatronicum, in 1811, as ‘drunk—an Irish term.’

Candyman, subs. (northern).—A bailiff or process server. Originally a seller of candy. [In October, 1863, there was a great strike of miners at the collieries of Messrs. Strakers and Love, in the county of Durham. As no adjustment of the difference was possible, the owners determined to eject the miners from their cottages. For this purpose, an army of rascals were engaged, including at least one whose ordinary occupation was that of hawking candy and sweetmeats. The man was recognised and was chaffed; and candyman, which rapidly became a term of reproach, was soon applied to the whole class; and since that time is come into general use over the two northern counties whenever ejectments take place.]

1863. Newcastle Chronicle, Oct. 31. The colliery carts and waggons stood at the doors, and the furniture was handed out, and piled quickly but carefully upon them. It was evident that the candymen had warmed to their work. The name of candyman has been given to the loaders because of their avocations of ‘candy’ hawking, from which they are supposed to have been taken to be put to this work.

1876. Notes and Queries, 5 S., v., 405. A term in the North for men employed to [26]carry out evictions against cottage occupiers.

1886. Notes and Queries, 7 S., i., p. 445.

Canister, subs. (general).—1. The head. [A transference of the original meaning, ‘a box or case for holding things.’] For synonyms, see Crumpet.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. To mill his cannister; to break his head.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 4. Tom. I’ve nobb’d him on the canister.

1885. Bell’s Life, Jan. 3, p. 8, col. 4. Once more did the star of Australia rise, but to set from additional raps on the canister. He fell on his knees, and his head droped on his breast.

2. (common).—A hat. [Formerly canister-cap (see sense 1); subsequently shortened to canister.] For synonyms, see Golgotha.

1887. Atkin, House Scraps. Turning round, I saw my unfortunate beaver, or canister, as it was called by the gentry who had it in their keeping, bounding backwards and forwards.

Cank, adj. (old).—Dumb; silent. [Curiously enough, cank also signifies ‘to chatter,’ or ‘cackle as a goose’; it only survives in this latter sense.]

1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 36. Cank: dumb.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Cank: dumb.

Cannibal, subs. (Cambridge University).—In the bumping races at Cambridge, a college may be represented by more than one boat. The best talent is put into the first, but it has sometimes happened that the crew of the second have got so well together that it has disappointed the prophets and bumped the first of its own college. In this case it is termed a cannibal, it having eaten up its own kind, and a fine is enacted from it by the University Boat Club.

Cannikin or Canniken, subs. (old).—The plague. [Grose includes it in his dictionary under the sense of ‘a small can,’ but this was not a slang usage.]

1688. R. Holme, Armoury. III., iii., § 68. Cannikin, the Plague. [m.]

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

Cannis-Cove, subs. (American).—A dog-fancier. [Either from Latin canis, a dog, or the Fr. caniche, poodle + cove, a man.]

Cannon.—See Canon.

Cannon-Balls, subs. (political).—1. A nickname, now obsolete, given to the irreconcileable opponents of free trade in England.

1858. Saturday Review, 30 Oct., p. 413, col. 2. The amendment … which sealed for ever the fate of Protection, was carried [in 1852] with only fifty dissentient voices—the celebrated cannon-balls. [m.]

2. (venery).—The testicles. For synonyms see Cods.

Canoe. To paddle one’s own canoe, phr. (American).—To make one’s own way in life; to exhibit skill and energy; to succeed unaided; a slang phrase of Western American origin, but now universal. [Extremely careful and clever manipulation is required in the management of canoes, especially in shooting rapids; otherwise the surging body of water might swamp the boat, or sunken rocks strike and seriously damage it. Hence the adoption of such an expression to signify skill, close attention, and [27]energy.] A variant is to bail one’s own boat; and the French have a proverbial saying, il conduit or il mène bien sa barque.

1845. Harper’s Magazine, May. Voyager upon life’s sea, to yourself be true; And, where’er your lot may be, Paddle your own canoe.

1868. Broadside Ballad, sung by Harry Clifton. My wants are small, I care not at all, If my debts are paid when due. And to drive away strife on the ocean of life, I paddle my own canoe.

1870. C. H. Spurgeon. At Metropolitan Tabernacle [speaking of Mr. John Magregor said]—He puts his trust in God and paddles his own canoe.

1871. De Vere, English of the New World, p. 343. The familiarity with boating, which the unsurpassed number of watercourses all over the country naturally produces everywhere, has led to the use, not only of paddling one’s own canoe, … but also of ‘bailing one’s own boat,’ in the sense of ‘minding one’s own business,’ independently and without waiting for help from others.

Canon or Cannon, adj. (thieves’).—Drunk. [The origin of this term is very obscure, although many guesses have been hazarded. Amongst these may be mentioned (1) From the ‘can’ having been used freely. Rather less absurd is (2) its derivation from the French slang expressions un canon, a glass drunk at the bar of a wine-shop; canonner, to drink wine at a wine-shop, or to be a habitual tippler; se canonner, to get drunk; and un canonneur, a tippler, wine-bibber, or drunkard. Yet another suggested origin is (3) from the German cannon, a drinking cup, from which is obtained canonised, = ‘shot’ or ‘drunk.’ A German proverb runs er ist geschossen, and Barrère points out that canon becomes naturally confused with can, German Kaune, a tankard, and Canonenstiefel, or ‘canon’ (i.e., long boots), a common pattern of tankard.] For synonyms, see Screwed.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 502. One night I was with the mob, I got canon (drunk), this being the first time.

Canoodle, verb (American).—1. To fondle; bill and coo; indulge in endearments.—See Canoodling. [There are two suggested derivations—(1) from cannie in the sense of gentle, and (2) that the primary signification may have been ‘to act as a noodle,’ i.e., to play the fool.] For synonyms, see Firkytoodle.

1864. G. A. Sala, Temple Bar, Dec., p. 40. He is an adept in that branch of persuasive dialectics known as conoodling. He will conoodle the ladies (bless their dear hearts! and how sharp they think themselves at making a bargain!) into the acquisition of whole packages of gimcrack merchandise.

1879. Punch, March 15, p. 117, col. 2. ‘Our Representative Man.’ Then he and the matchless one struggle, snuggle, and generally conoodle together rapturously. Then the matchless Ecstacy being the wife, not of the Chevalier, but of Charles VI., King of France, she, this impulsive, loving, beautiful, hugging, conoodling young Ecstacy, has the cool impudence to declare that theirs is a ‘guiltless love.’

2. (Oxford University).—To paddle or propel a canoe.

1879. E. H. Marshall, in Notes and Queries, 5 S., xi., 375. When I was an undergraduate at Oxford, to canoodle was the slang expression for paddling one’s own canoe on the bosom of the Cherwell or the Isis.

3. (American theatrical).—To share profits.

18(?). Green Room Jokes. ‘Pray, good sir, what is a canoodler?’ ‘Tell you, mum, queer business, mum, but prosperous, money—heaps of it, mum, for you and me’—and he winked significantly, jerked up a chair, and squatted in it, all in a breath.… Undeterred, he rattled on: [28]‘I’m an original thinker, mum. Invent business opportunities. Share ’m with actors, and then we canoodle—divvy the profits. Me and Sheridan made a big thing on the Japanese advertising screen in “School for Scandal!” Big thing.’

4. (common).—To coax.

Canoodler.—See Canoodle.

Canoodling, verbal subs. (American).—Endearments.

1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 11 a.m., par. 8. A sly kiss, and a squeeze, and a pressure of the foot or so, and a variety of harmless endearing blandishments, known to our American cousins (who are great adepts at sweet-hearting) under the generic name of conoodling.

1864 and 1879. [See quots. under Canoodle, sense 1.]

Cant, subs. and verb.—[As regards derivation (whether noun or verb), to signify the speech, phraseology, or whine peculiar to thieves, beggars, and vagrants, authorities differ among and with themselves: the word occurs as early as 1540, and has long since achieved respectability. Grose was probably wrong in thinking it a corruption of chaunting, and it was certainly in use long prior to the two Scotch clergymen, Oliver and Andrew Cant, who are said to have preached with such a voice and such a manner as to give their name to all speaking of the same kind. A correspondent of Notes and Queries (2 S., vii., 158) suggests as a possible source the ordinary word mendicant (fr. Lat. mendico), but this is historically improbable, and the weight of evidence is in favour of the Latin cantus, singing or song, though it must be observed that neither the ancient nor the modern usage implies a mere sing-song, but rather the whine of one bent on deceit. There is a consciousness of hypocrisy by the canting in connection with religion, politics, begging, or anything else; and this principle is recognized in the attempt on the part of The Scots Observer to substitute Bleat (subs. and verb) for the cant of æstheticism, the cant which deals with art in the language of sentiment and emotion. It has been further suggested that if the word meant singing, the A.S. cantere is a much more probable source of origin than the Latin canto or cantus; but there is an argument which seems to lend additional weight to the claim of the latter language: the French chanter, to sing, is sometimes used in the sense of cant. In answer to a whining, lying tale (in reply indeed to anything incredible whether whining or brazen), a Frenchman would say, ‘Qu’est-ce que vous chantez là.’ Whatever the derivation, however, there is little doubt that Andrew Cant has little to do with it; indeed, Pennant in his Tour in Scotland, vol. I., p. 122, says that ‘Andrew canted no more than the rest of his brethren, for he lived in a whining age.’]

Subs.—1. The secret speech or jargon of the vagrant classes—gipsies, thieves, beggars, etc.; hence, contemptuously, the peculiar phraseology of a particular class or subject. Identical with Thieves’ Latin, St. Giles’ Greek, Peddlar’s French, etc. (q.v.); but for synonyms, see Flash.

1706. In Phillips. [m.]

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.) Cant (s.): a barbarous broken sort of speech made use of by gypsies.

1856. C. Reade, Never too Late, ch. [29]xlv. All this not in English, but in thieves’ cant.

Here follow specimens of ancient and modern jargon. Further illustrations will be found in the canting songs in the Appendix.

[ancient cant.]

1567. Harman, Caveat (E.E.T. Soc., extra series, IX., 1869), p. 84–86. The vpright Cofe canteth to the Roge. Vpright-man.—Bene Lightmans to thy quarromes, in what lipken hast thou lypped in this darkemans, whether in a lybbege, or in the strummell? Roge.—I couched a hogshead in a Skypper this darkemans. Vpright-man.—I towre the strummel trine vpon thy nabchet and Togman. Roge.—I saye by the Salomon I will lage it of with a gage of benebouse; then cut to my nose watch. Man.—Why, hast thou any lowre in thy bonge to bouse? Roge.—But a flagge, a wyn, and a make, etc., etc., etc.

[modern thieves’ lingo.]

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. ‘Oh! I’m fly. You mean jumping Jack, who was done last week for heaving a peter from a drag. But you talked of padding the hoof. Why, sure, Jack had a rattler and a prad?’ ‘Yes, but they were spotted by the harmans, and so we walked Spanish.’ ‘Was he nabbed on the scent?’ ‘No; his pal grew leaky and cackled.’ ‘Well, Bell, here’s the bingo—sluice your gob! But who was the cull that peached?’ ‘A slubber de gullion named Harry Long, who wanted to pass for an out-and-out cracksman, though he was merely a diver.’ ‘Whew! I know the kiddy like a copper, and saved him once from lumping the lighter by putting in buck. Why, he scarcely knows a jimmy from a round robin, and Jack deserved the tippet for making a law with him, as all coves of his kidney blow the gab. But how did you hare it to Romeville, Bell for I suppose the jets cleaned you out?’ ‘I kidded a swell in a snoozing-ken, and shook him of his dummy and thimble.’ ‘Ah! Bell! you were always the blowen for a rum bing.’

2. (pugilistic)—a blow or toss. [In Mem. Capt. P. Drake, II., xiv., 244 (1755), occurs this passage, ‘To give me such a cant as I never had before or since, which was the whole length of the coffee-room; he pitched me on my head and shoulders under a large table at the further end.’ Transition from the nautical sense of heeling over to that embodied in ‘cant on the chops,’ is easy.] For synonyms, see Bang, Dig, and Wipe.

3. (tramps’).—Food. Also Kant, but Cf., sense 4.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, vol. III., p. 415. The house was good for a cant—that’s some food—bread or meat.

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, pt. I., ch. ix. The slavey’s been always good for a kant, and the cove for a bob.

4. (tramps’).—A gift. [Possibly connected with cant, sense 3, a share or portion.]

1857. Snowden. Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. Gift of Clothes—Cant of Togs.

Verb.—1. To speak with the beggar’s whine.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), 34. ‘It shall be lawefull for the to Cant’—that is, to aske or begge—‘for thy living in al places.’

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 17 (B. Club’s Repr., 1874). According to the saying that you [thieves and cadgers] haue among your selues (If you can Cant, you will neuer worke) shewing that if they haue beene rogues so long, that they can Cant, they will neuer settle themselues to labour againe.

2. To speak the jargon of gipsies, beggars, and other vagrants.—See Canting.

1592. Defence of Conny-catching, in Greene’s Works, XI., 45. At these wordes Conny-catcher and Setter, I was driven into as great a maze, as if one had dropt out of the clowds, to heare a peasant cant the wordes of art belonging to our trade.

1609. Dekker, English Villainies (1638), And as these people are strange, both in names and in their conditions, so do they speake a language (proper only to themselves) called Canting, which is more strange. This word canting, seemes to be [30]derived from the Latine Verbe (Canto) which signifies in English to sing, or to make a sounde with words, that is to say, to speake. And very aptly may Canting take its derivation, à cantando, from singing, because amongst these beggerly consorts that can play on no better instruments, the language of canting is a kinde of Musicke, and he that in such assemblies can cant best, is counted the best musician.

1639. Ford, Lady’s Trial, V., 1. One can man a gulan, and cant, and pick a pocket.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.) Cant (v.): to talk gibberish like gypsies.

3. To speak; to talk.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. To Cante, to speake.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. ‘On the trail.’ ‘But cant us the cues. What was the job?’ ‘A pinch for an emperor’s slang. We touched his leather too, but it was very lathy.’

Cantab, subs. (colloquial).—A student at Cambridge. [An abbreviation of ‘Cantabrigian.’]

1750. Coventry, Pompey Litt. II., x. (1785), p. 18, col. 1. The young cantab … had come up to London. [m.]

1821. Byron, Don Juan, c. iii., st. 126. And I grown out of many ‘wooden spoons’ Of verse (the name with which we cantabs please To dub the last of honours in degrees).

Cantabank, subs. (old).—A common ballad singer. [From Latin cantare, to sing, + banco, bench; i.e., a singer on a stage or platform.]

1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie (Arb.), 96. Small and popular Musickes song by these Cantabanqui vpon benches and barrels heads. [m.]

1834. Taylor, Ph. van Art, pt. I., iii., 2. He was no tavern cantabank that made it, But a Squire minstrel of your Highness’ court.

Cantankerous, adj. (colloquial).—Cross-grained; ill-humoured; self-willed; productive of strife. See also quot. 1773. [Thought to be derived from the M. E. contak, conteke, contention or quarrelling.] So also cantankerously and cantankerousness. For synonyms, see Crusty.

1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, II. There’s not a more bitter cantankerous road in all Christendom.

1775. Sheridan, Rivals, Act v., Sc. 3. But I hope Mr. Faulkland, as there are three of us come on purpose for the game, you wont be so cantankerous as to spoil the party by sitting out.

1876. M. E. Braddon, Joshua Haggard, ch. xvi. And who was to nurse this peevish, cantankerous old man.

Hence the American verb, to cantankerate, and adjective, cantankersome.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxiv. You may [by contentious writing] happify your inimies [and] cantankerate your opponents. Ibid. 3 S., ch. xii. Plato Frisk, a jumpin’ Quaker, a terrible cross-grained cantankersome critter.

Cante.—See Canter.

Canteen Medal, subs. phr. (military).—A good conduct stripe for the consumption of liquor.

Canter, subs. (old).—A vagrant or beggar; one who cants (q.v.) or uses the secret language otherwise called Peddlars’ French, St. Giles’ Greek, etc. The form has varied, Greene using cante, whilst many writers speak of the fraternity as the canting crew.—See Appendix. [From cant, verb, sense 1, + er.]

1592. Greene, Quip for Upst. Courtiers, Harl. Misc. V., 396. I fell into a great laughter, to see certain Italianate cantes, humourous cavaliers, youthful gentlemen, etc.

1625. Ben Jonson, Staple of News, Act ii. A rogue, a very canter I, sir, one that maunds upon the pad.

1630. Taylor, (‘Water Poet’), wks. II., 239, i. Two leash of oyster-wives [31]hyred a coach on a Thursday after Whitsontide … they were so be-madam’d, be-mistrist, and ladified by the beggars, that the foolish women began to swell with a proud supposition or imaginary greatness, and gave all their mony to the mendicanting canters.

1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. ‘Song of the Young Prig.’ My mother she dwelt in Dyot’s Isle, One of the canting crew, sirs.

Canticle, subs. (old).—A parish clerk. [From canticle, a song or psalm; one of the duties of a parish clerk being to lead the congregational singing.] So given in Grose [1785], and in the Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]. Also called an amen curler (q.v.).

Canting, verbal subs. (old).—The jargon used by beggars, thieves, gipsies, and vagrants. The same as Cant, subs., sense 1, which seems to be an abbreviated and later form of canting; Cf. ‘cab’ from ‘cabriolet’ and ‘bus’ from ‘omnibus.’

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 6, Their language which they terms peddelers Frenche or canting.

1610. Jonson, Alchemist, II. Supr. What a brave language here is! next to canting.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia. I., in wks. (1720) IV., 27. A particular language which such rogues have made to themselves, called canting, as beggars, gipsies, thieves, and jail-birds do.

1742. Johnson, Highwayman and Pyrates, p. 57. All the canting language (which comprehends a parcel of invented words, such as thieves very well know, and by which they can distinguish one another from the other classes of mankind.)

Ppl. adj.—Belonging to the jargon of thieves and beggars.

1592. Groundwork of Conny-Catching, 99. The manner of their canting speech [m.]

1871. London Figaro, 13 May, p. 3, col. 2. ‘Bill’s dead on for a lark with the canting bloke,’ whispered a lean and hungry-looking ‘casual’ to a no less half-starved neighbour.

Canting Crew.—See Canter.

Can’t Say National Intelligencer, phr. (American).—A euphemistic expression equivalent to ‘drunk.’ [The National Intelligencer is an old Washington newspaper.] For synonyms, see Screwed.

Can’t see a Hole in a Ladder, phr. (American).—Referring to a superlative form of intoxication. For synonyms, see Screwed.

Canuck.—See Canack.

Canvass. To receive the canvass, phr. (old).—A seventeenth century colloquialism for ‘to be dismissed’; in modern slang ‘to get the sack.’—See Bag, sense 2, and Sack.

1652. Shirley, The Brothers, Act. ii. As much as marriage comes to, and I lose My honor, if the Don receives the canvas.

Canvasseens, subs. (nautical).—Sailors’ canvas trousers. For synonyms, see Bags and Kicks.

Canvass-Town, subs. (general).—The Volunteer Encampment at Wimbledon or Bisley when the National Rifle Association meets; also any camp or ‘baby’-city. Cf., Bull’s-eye Villas.

Cap, subs. (thieves’).—1. A false cover to a tossing coin, called a cover-down. The cap showed either head or tail as it was left on or taken off. Obsolete. [32]

2. (old).—The proceeds of an improvised collection. [Cf., ‘to send round the cap or hat.’]

1851. Eureka; Sequel Ld. Russell’s Post Bag, 21. What amount of cap is realised out of an average field? [m.]

3. (Westminster School).—The amount of the collection at Play and Election dinners. [From the College cap being passed round on the last night of Play for contributions. Cf., ‘to send round the cap.’]

Verb (thieves’).—1. To stand by a friend; to take part in any undertaking; to lend a hand. Grose has ‘to take one’s oath.’

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. I will cap downright; I will swear home.

2. (public schools’ and University).—To take off or touch one’s hat in salutation; also to cap to and to cap it.

1593. H. Smith, Serm. (1871) I., 203. How would they cap me were I in velvets. [m.]

1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam p. 23. s.v. bore. Other bores are to attend a sermon at St. Mary’s on Sunday … to cap a fellow.

Cap one’s lucky, verbal phr. (American thieves’).—To run away. For synonyms, see Amputate.

Cap or cast one’s skin, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To strip naked. For synonyms, see Peel.

To set one’s cap at, phr. (colloquial).—To set oneself to gain the affections. Said only of women.

1773. Graves, Spiritual Quixote, bk. III., ch. xi. I know several young ladies who would be very happy in such an opportunity of setting their caps at him.

1773. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act i., Sc. 1. ‘Well, if he refuses … I’ll only break my glass for its flattery, set my cap to some newer fashion, and look out for some less difficult admirer.’

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. iii. The wily old fellow said to his son, ‘Have a care, Joe; that girl is setting her cap at you.’

To cap a quotation, anecdote, proverb, &c., phr. (colloquial).—To fit with a second from the same, or another, author; to ‘go one better’ in the way of anecdote or legend.

1584. Peele, Arraignm. Paris, iv., ii. (1829) 48. Sh’ath capt his answer in the cue. [m.]

1856. Vaughan, Mystics (1860) I., i. v. Now you come to Shakspeare, I must cap your quotation with another. [m.]

To pull caps, phr. (colloquial).—To wrangle in an unseemly way.—Said only of women.

1763. Colman, Deuce is in Him, I., in wks. (1777) IV., 120. A man that half the women in town would pull caps for.

1771. Smollet, Humphry Clinker, line 19. At length, they fairly proceeded to pulling caps, and everything seemed to presage a general battle.

17(?). Wolcot, P. Pindar, p. 140. Behold our lofty duchesses pull caps, And give each other’s reputation raps, As freely as the drabs of Drury’s school.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. vii. Well, dearest Rachel, we will not pull caps about this man.

Cape Cod Turkey, subs. phr. (American).—A salted cod fish, another name for which is marble-head turkey. Cf., Billingsgate pheasant, Yarmouth capon, and Albany beef.

1865. C. Nordhoff, 1 May (in letter). A salted cod fish is known in American ships as a cape cod turkey. [33]

1890. New York Herald, 3 June. ‘Newfoundland Fishery Dispute.’ Factories have been established for the production of cape cod turkeys; i.e., salted cod fish.

Capella, subs. (theatrical).—A coat. [From the Italian.]

English Synonyms. Benjamin; cover-me-decently; upper benjamin (a great coat); joseph; wrap-rascal; bum-cooler or arse-hole-perisher, or shaver (a short jacket); claw-hammer, swallow-tail, steel-pen (all three = a dress coat); M.B. coat; panupetaston; rock-a-low; reliever; pygostole; ulster; monkey-jacket. See also Caster, many synonyms of which = a coat.

French Synonyms. Un cache-misère (familiar: specially applied to a coat buttoned close to the throat to conceal the absence of a shirt or the soiled state of one’s linen); un alpague (also alpaga and alpag); un elbeuf; un Berry (a fatigue jacket); une menuisière (pop.: a long coat); un ne-te-gêne-pas-dans-le-parc (a short jacket; also termed un saute-en-barque, un pet-en-l’air, and un montretout).

German Synonyms. Oberhänger (an overcoat; also a cloak). Wallnusch (Hanoverian: corruption from the Hebrew malbusch = clothes); Schwalbenschweif (a dress-coat, a ‘swallow-tail’).

Italian Synonym. Tappe (clothing in general; it also signifies ‘feathers’).

Cape-Nightingale, subs. (colonial).—A frog. Cf., Cambridgeshire nightingale.

1889. H. A. Bryden, Kloof and Karroo: or Sport, Legend, and Natural History in Cape Colony. The very smell of the water and the din of the huge frogs, cape nightingales as we call them, revived them.

Capeovi, adj. (costers’).—Sick; seedy (q.v. for synonyms). Cf., Capivi.

Caper, subs. (vagrants’).—A device, idea, performance, or occupation. Americans use it in the same sense as racket (q.v.), e.g., the ‘real estate racket’ or ‘caper.’ [From the figurative sense of caper, signifying a fantastic proceeding, freak, or prank.] Also used in the sense of ‘the go,’ ‘the fad,’ i.e., the latest fashionable fancy.

1867. London Herald, 23 March, p. 221. ‘He’ll get five years penal for this little caper,’ said the policeman.

1870. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 220. Charley would reply … ‘I have just done such and such an amount to-day with these people,’ at the same time showing the invoice of the goods he had just purchased at the house where he got change for his fifty sovereigns. The conversation, as a rule, ended in Charley’s giving them an order too. Of course, this little caper would only ‘wash’ once.

1884. J. Greenwood, The Little Ragamuffins. ‘Are you goin’ a ‘tottin’?’ ‘No,’… ‘Then what caper are you up to?’

To cut a caper upon nothing, or to cut caper sauce, phr. (old).—To be hanged. For synonyms, see Ladder.

1708. Motteux, Rabelais. IV. xvi. Two of the honestest Gentlemen in Catchpole-land had been made to cut a caper on nothing.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. And my father, as I’ve heard say, Was a merchant of capers gay, Who cut his last fling with great applause. [34]

Caper-Juice, subs. (American).—Whiskey. [From caper, a freak or antic + juice.] For synonyms, see Drinks.

1888. Portland Transcript, 29 Feb. Say, fellers, let’s take a leetle mo’ uv the caper juice. [They drink again. Sam and the girl exchange affectionate glances.]

Caper-Merchant, subs. (old).—A dancing master. [From caper, a frolicsome leap or step, + merchant.] Also called a hop-merchant (q.v. for synonyms).

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. [Quoted as above.]

Capital, To work capital, verbal phr. (old).—To commit an offence punishable with death.

1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. And though I don’t work capital, And do not weigh my weight, sirs, Who knows but that in time I shall.

Capivi or Capivvy (vulgar).—Balsam copaiba, a popular remedy for clap.

To cry capivvy (sporting).—To be persecuted to the death, or very near it. In Handley Cross [1843] Mr. Jorrocks promises to make the foxes cry capivvy.

Capon, subs. (popular).—Primarily, a red herring; but applied to other kinds of fish, herrings now receiving the distinctive cognomen of Yarmouth capons. The usage is a very old one, and it is notable that Glasgow Magistrate, another name for a red herring, was formerly Glasgow capon.

c. 1640. J. Smyth, Hundred of Berkeley (1885), 319. The Sole wee call our Seuverne Capon. [m.]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Yarmouth capon: a Red Herring.

1719. Ramsey, Hamilton, II., iii. A Glasgow capon and a fadge ye thought a feast. [m.]

1812. W. Tennant, Anster F., iv. Each to his jaws A good Crail’s capon holds [note ‘a dried haddock’]. [m.]

Cappadochio, Caperdochy, or Caperdewsie, subs. (old).—Nares says ‘a cant term for a prison.’ [The same authority suggests that it is a corruption of Cappadocia: ‘The king of Cappadocia, says Horace, was rich in slaves, but had little money.’] For synonyms, see Cage.

1600. Heywood, I. Edw. IV. My son’s in Dybell here, in Caperdochy, i’ the gaol.

1607. w. s., Puritan, in Supp. Shaks., II., 510 (n.). How captain Idle? my old aunt’s son, my dear kinsman, in Cappadochio?

1663. Butler, Hudibras, I., ii., 832. I here engage myself to loose ye, and free your heels from caperdewsie.

Capper, subs. (American thieves’).—1. A confederate; at cards one who makes false bids in order to encourage a genuine player. [See Cap, verb, sense 1.]

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 319. In the West a striker is not only a shoulder-hitter, as might be suspected, but a runner for gambling establishments, who must be as ready to strike down a complaining victim as to ensnare an unsuspecting stranger.… Cappers they are called, when the game is the famous Three-Card Monte.

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.

2. (auctioneers’).—A dummy bidder whose function is either to start the bidding or to run up the price of articles for sale.

Capper-Clawing.—See Clapper-clawing. [35]

Captain, subs. (general).—1. A familiar and jesting form of address. An equivalent of ‘governor,’ ‘boss,’ etc. Very common in U.S.A., where also it signifies the conductor or guard of a train—an analogy being drawn between the phraseology of rail and water traffic. (see quot. 1862).

1598. Shakspeare, King Henry IV., pt. 2, Act ii., Sc. 4. Doll Tearsheet. A captain! God’s light, these villains will make the word as odious as the word ‘occupy.’

1862. Russell, Diary, North and S., I., xiii., 139. All the people who addressed me by name prefixed ‘Major’ or ‘Colonel.’ ‘Captain’ is very low.… The conductor who took our tickets was called ‘Captain.’ [m.]

2. (old).—A gaming or bawdy house bully. Cf., Fielding’s Captain Bilkum in Covent Garden Tragedy. Fr. un major de table d’hôte.

1731. Daily Journal, Jan. 9. ‘List of the officers established in the most notorious gaming-houses.’ 12th. A Captain, who is to fight any gentleman who is peevish for losing his money.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Captain (s.) … and in the Cant Phrase, a captain is a bully, who is to quarrel or fight with peevish gamesters, who are testy or quarrelsome at the loss of their money; and sometimes it signifies money itself, as, ‘the captain is not at home,’ that is, there is no money in my pocket.

[Captain is also a fancy title for a highwayman in a good way of business; Fletcher uses the term copper-captain, as also does Washington Irving, for one who has no right to the title, and, in modern athletics, we have the captain of a club or crew, with the corresponding verb to captain.]

3. (old).—Money.—See preceding quot. [1748].

4. (knackers’).—A glandered (horse).

Captain Armstrong. To come Captain Armstrong, phr. (turf)—To ‘pull’ a horse and thus prevent him from winning. Captain Armstrong is often used for a dishonest jockey. [A play upon words, i.e., ‘to pull with a strong arm.’]

1864. Sporting Life, 5 Nov. (Leader). Captain Armstrong is again abroad, muscular and powerful, riding his favourite hobby in the steeple-chase field, preparing thus early in the season for pulling, stopping, and putting the strings on.

Captain Copperthorn’s Crew. subs. phr. (old).—All officers Said of a company where everyone wants to be first.

Captain Cork, subs. phr. (military).—A nickname for a man who is slow in passing the bottle.

Captain Crank, subs. phr. (old).—The chief of a gang of highwaymen.

Captain Grand, subs. phr. (old).—A haughty, blustering fellow. For synonyms, see Furioso.

Captain Hackum, subs. phr. (old).—A hectoring bully.—Grose.

Captain Lieutenant, subs. phr. (old).—Meat neither young enough for veal, nor old enough for beef. [The simile is drawn from the brevet officer who, while ranking as captain, receives lieutenant’s pay.]—Grose.

Captain Queernabs, subs. phr. (old).—A shabby or ill-dressed man. For synonyms, see Guy.

Captain Quiz, subs. phr. (old).—A mocker.

Captain Sharp, subs. phr. (old).—A cheating bully, or one in a set [36]of gamblers, whose office it is to bully the ‘pigeon,’ who refuses to pay.—Grose. Cf., Captain, sense 2.

Captain Tom, subs. phr. (old).—The head or leader of a mob; also the mob itself.—Grose.

Caravan, subs. (old).—1. A dupe; gull; a subject of plunder.—See Bubble.

1676. Etherege, Man of Mode, III., iii., in wks. (1704), 233. What spruce prig is that? A caravan, lately come from Paris.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia. [In list of cant words prefixed to.] Caravan: a bubble, the cheated.

1889. G. L. Apperson, in Gentleman’s Magazine (‘Seventeenth Century Colloquialisms’), p. 598. Towards the end of the century a person easily gulled, or ‘bubbled’ was known as a caravan, but earlier the term ‘rook’ which is now restricted to a cheat or sharper, appears to have been applied to the person cheated.

2. (old).—A large sum of money.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Caravan: a good round sum of money about a man, and him that is cheated of it.

3. (pugilistic).—A railway train, especially a train expressly chartered to convey people to a prize fight. [Early in the present century caravan, now shortened to ‘van,’ was applied to a third class covered railway carriage; now a pleasure party is so described; also a gypsy’s cart; also the wheeled cages of a travelling menagerie.]

Caravansera, subs. (pugilistic).—A railway station. As thus: ‘The scratch must be toed at sharp five, so the caravan will start at four from the caravansera.’—Hotten. See Caravan, sense 3.

Card, subs. (common).—1. A device; expedient; or undertaking; that which is likely to attain its object, or through which success is sure. Thus we have such expressions as a ‘good card,’ a ‘strong card,’ a ‘safe card,’ a ‘likely, or a doubtful card.’ [Figurative; from card playing.] That’s a sure card sounds modern, but as Lowell has pointed out it is to be found in the old interlude of ‘Thursytes’ (1537).

1690. b. e., Dic. Cant. Crew. A sure card, a trusty Tool, or Confiding Man.

1763. Fr. Brooke, Lady J. Mandeville, in Barbauld Brit. Novelists (1820) xxvii., 23. Poor fellow! I pity him; but marriage is his only card. [m.]

1826. Scott, Woodstock, III., xiv., 358. No card seemed to turn up favourable to the royal cause.

2. A character; an odd fish; an eccentric; generally coupled with such adjectives as ‘knowing,’ ‘old,’ ‘queer,’ ‘downy,’ ‘rum,’ etc. [Apparently derived from the card-table, such expressions as a ‘sure card,’ a ‘sound card,’ being of very ancient use. Osric tells Hamlet that Laertes is the card and calendar of gentry.—(Hamlet, v., 2.)]

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, 264. Mr. Thomas Potter, whose great aim it was to be considered as a knowing card.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xx., p. 173. ‘Such an old card as this; so deep, so sly, and secret.’

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. ii. Frank Hardingstone was, to use their favourite word, ‘a great card’ amongst all the associates of his age and standing.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xii. A quaint boy at Eton, cool hand at Oxford, a deep card in the regiment, man or woman never yet had the best of ‘Uppy.’ [37]

1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. III., ch. i. ‘You’re one of the Patriarchs; you’re a shaky old card; and you can’t be in love with this Lizzie.’

3. (common).—The ‘ticket’; the ‘figure’; the correct thing. [Possibly from the k’rect card (q.v.) of racing.]

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, II., p. 47. I’ve got 10s. often for a great coat, and higher and lower, oftener lower in course; but 10s. is about the card for a good thing.

Verb.—Also carding, subs. (Irish Nationalist). A peculiar form of torture, which consists in the application of the card, a spiked or toothed implement used in the preparation of flax and wool, to the naked shoulders, &c., and is commonly reserved for ‘unpatriotic’ girls and women.

1889. The Scots Observer. ‘They never told the ramping crowd to card a woman’s hide.’

To give one cards, phr. (American).—To give one an advantage. The English equivalent, ‘to give points,’ is derived from the billiard saloon. An analogous French phrase is faire un bœuf.

1888. Grip (Toronto), May. You know that Artie found a Chinaman out in ’Frisco who could give him cards and spades and beat him out.

On the cards, phr. (common).—Within the range of probability. [Dickens popularised the expression, which appears to mean ‘possible to turn up,’ as anything in the game when the cards are turned up. Still, it is not unlikely that the phrase originated with cartomancy, at a time when cards were frequently consulted as to the issue of enterprises.] See N. and Q., 7 s. iv., 507; v. 14, 77, 495.

1740. Smollett, Translation of Gil Blas. I showed them tricks which they did not know to be on the cards, and yet acknowledged to be better than their own.

1813. Sir R. Wilson, Diary, II., 40. It is not out of the cards that we might do more. [m.]

1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, I., p. 219. By way of going in for anything that might be on the cards, petition to the House of Commons, etc.

1868. W. Collins, Moonstone, I., p. 149. It’s quite on the cards, sir, that you have put the clue into our hands.

1874. Saturday Review, April, p. 488. When they discovered that a Restoration was not at present on the cards, they became Conservatives.

1890. H. D. Traill, A Bulgarian Appeal. ‘Saturday Songs,’ p. 43. I’ll be shot if I do, though it’s equally true That it’s quite on the cards I’ll be shot if I don’t.

To pack, stock, or put up, the cards, phr. (Western American).—To prepare cards for cheating purposes.—See Concaves, Pack, and Stock broads.

To speak by the card, phr. (general).—To speak with precision; or with the utmost accuracy. [An allusion to the card of the mariner’s compass.]

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, v., 1, 149. We must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us.

1867. Yates, Forlorn Hope, i., p. 23. ‘Are you speaking by the card?’ said Count Bulow, with the slightest foreign accent.

1879. Trollope, Thackeray [in ‘English men of Letters’ series], p. 186. Henry Esmond … however, is not made to speak altogether by the card, or he would be unnatural.

Cardinal, subs. (old).—1. A red cloak worn by ladies circa 1740 and later. [From the colour and shape which suggested a cardinal’s vestment.] [38]

1755. Connoisseur, No. 62. That fashionable cloak … which indeed is with great propriety styled the cardinal.

1755. The World, No. 127. I have made no objection to their (the ladies) wearing the cardinal, though it be a habit of popish etymology, and was, I am afraid, first invented to hide the sluttishness of French dishabille.

1881. Besant and Rice, Chap. of the Fleet, pt. 1, ch. iv. In the windows of which were hoods, cardinals, sashes, pinners, and shawls.

2. (general).—Mulled red wine.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xv. He goes up, and finds the remains of the supper, Tankards full of egg-flip and cardinal, and a party playing at vingt-un.

3. in plural (street).—Shoeblacks. [In allusion to the red tunics of some London brigades. That stationed in the City is now better known as the City Reds.]

1889. T. Mackay [on ‘Shoeblacks’], in Time, Aug., p. 132. From that hour the Shoeblack Brigade has been firmly established in London … costermongers called them cardinals.

4. (American).—A lobster; from its colour when cooked. Jules Janin once made a curious blunder and called the lobster le cardinal de la mer. Cardinal hash = a lobster salad.

5. (common).—A new [1890] variety of red.

Care. Not to care or be worth a [fig, pin, rap, button, cent, straw, rush, or hang, etc.], phr. (colloquial).—Similes of indifference; to care about a matter not even so much as to the value of a fig, a pin, or a straw. Fr. s’en battre l’œil.—See Not worth a Fig.

1590. Spenser, Fairie Queene, I., ii., 12. He … cared not for God or man a point. [m.]

1633. Marmyon, Fine Compan., II., i., 68. I do not care a pin for her. [m.]

1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 50. I do not care a farthing for you. [m.]

1760. Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, xlvi. Not that I care three damns what figure I may cut.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ed. 1846, vol. I., ch. iii., p. 13. You told him you did not care a fig for him.

1848–62. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers. ‘Don’t fire,’ sez Joe, ‘it ain’t no use, Thet Deacon Peleg’s tame wil-’goose’; Seys Isrel, ‘I don’t care a cent, I’ve sighted an’ I’ll let her went.’

1871. London Figaro, May 13, p. 4, col. 2. Coster Ballads, ‘Found Drowned.’ ‘Well, sir, to cut it short, she ’ad the chap—’Twos cruel ’ard on me—I don’t believe he cared for ’er a rap, But so it wos, yer see.’

1889. Answers, June 22, p. 49, col. 1. ‘Is it for sale?’ demanded the visitor, excitedly. ‘If it is I want it. I don’t care a snap what it costs.’

I don’t care if I do, phr. (American).—A street phrase, meaning nothing in particular. Also a form of accepting an invitation to drink: ‘Will you peg?’ ‘I don’t care if I do.’

1888. New York Tribune. Volapuk will never be popular in Kentucky. It contains no sentence to take the place of that classic phrase, I don’t care if I do.

Care-Grinder, subs. (thieves’).—More usually the vertical care-grinder.—See quot. For synonyms, see Wheel of life.

1883. Echo, Jan. 25, p. 2, col 4. The treadmill again, is more politely called … the wheel of life, or the vertical care-grinder.

Cargo, subs. (Winchester College).—A hamper from home. The word is still in use.

1870. Mansfield, School Life at Winchester College, p. 77. The boys, eager for breakfast, tumultuously rushed out from school-court … to see if Poole, [39]the porter, had letters, or, what was even more delightful, a cargo (a hamper of game or eatables from home).

1883. Every-day Life in our Public Schools. Scholars may supplement their fare with jam, potted meats … or, better still, from the contents of cargoes, i.e., hampers from home.

Carler, subs. (New York thieves’).—A clerk. For synonyms, see Quill-driver.

Carlicues.—See Curlycues.

Carney or Carny, subs. (colloquial).—Soothing and seductive flattery; language covering a design. [The origin is unknown, though some have conjectured the word to be of Irish derivation. As a verb it first appears as a dialecticism, and is now mostly in use as a ppl. adj.—carneying (q.v.). The word, however, seems to be fast making its way into respectable usage, and is even now largely in literary use.]

Verb, tr. and intrans.—To wheedle; coax or insinuate oneself; to act in a cajoling manner.—See Carneying.

Carneying, ppl. adj. (common).—In a wheedling, coaxing, or insinuating manner. Cf., Carney.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 566. When I tried to turn ’em off they’d say, in a carnying way, ‘Oh, let us stay on,’ so I never took no heed of ’em.

1869. H. J. Byron, Not such a Fool as He Looks [French’s Acting ed.], p. 12. Sharp old skinflint, downy old robber as he is, he’s under Jane Mould’s thumb, and well he knows it. (In carnying voice) With many thanks, sir, for your kind attention to my case.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 15 May, ‘Critique on Mr. H. J. Byron’s Play of An English Gentleman.’ Rachel does not like Brandon’s carnying ways.

1884. R. L. Stevenson in Eng. Illustr. Mag., Feb., p. 305. The female dog, that mass of carnying affectations.

1885. Clement Scott, in Ill. Lon. News, 3 Oct., p. 339, 2. The change from the carnying, wheedling sneak to the cowardly bully, is extremely clever.

Carnish, subs. (thieves’).—Meat. [From the Italian carne, flesh, through the Lingua Franca. Carne, in French argot, signifies tough meat.]

French Synonyms. La crie, crigne, or crignolle (thieves’: Old Cant; Greek, κρίας; Fourbesque, crea, creata, creatura, criulfa; Germania, crioja); la criolle (thieves’); la niorte (thieves’); la barbaque or bidoche (popular); le choléra (popular = bad meat); le mastic (= bread or meat).

German Synonyms. Kärner (this is the same as carnish and comes from the Italian carne; Kärnerfetzer = a butcher).

Italian Synonyms. Bronco (specially applied to beef); slavigna; crea (see remarks under crie in French synonyms).

Carnish-Ken, subs. (thieves’).—A thieves’ eating house, or prog-shop. [From carnish, meat, through the Italian carne, + ken, a house or dwelling.] A French equivalent for the proprietor of such a place is un fripier, a term which also means a cook, a ‘dripping’ or old clothes’ man.

Carny.—See Carney.

Caroon, subs. (costermongers’).—A five shilling piece. [Hotten and Barrère trace it to the French couronne, Spanish and Italian [40]corona; it is in all probability a mispronunciation of the English word ‘crown.’]

English Synonyms. Bull, or bull’s-eye; cartwheel, coach-wheel, or simply wheel; tusheroon; dollar; thick ’un (obsolete, the term being now applied to a sovereign); case; caser; decus.

The nearest French equivalent, a five franc piece, is called un roue de derrière (literally ‘a hind wheel,’ and corresponding pretty closely to the English wheel, cartwheel, and coachwheel); un bouton de guêtre; un blafard de cinq balles; une drille or dringue; une croix (the old six franc piece, in allusion to the cross inscribed on it); une chatte (a piece of six francs: very old; and formerly prostitutes’); une médaille or médaille de St. Hubert (popular); un monarque (popular); un œil de bœuf (= an ox’s eye); un noble étrangère (literary: = a distinguished stranger).

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.

Carpet, verb (colloquial).—To reprimand. Equivalents are to ‘call over the coals,’ to ‘give a wigging’ or ‘earwigging,’ etc. The phrase sometimes runs ‘to walk the carpet.’ so also carpeting; for synonyms, see Wig.

1823. Galt, Entail, III., xxix., 278. Making … her servants walk the carpet. [m.]

1840. H. Cockton, Valentine Vox, xli. They had done nothing! Why were they carpeted?

1871. Chester Chronicle, 11 Feb. ‘Report of Affiliation Case at Hawarden Petty Sessions.’ [The plaintiff, Louisa Jackson, said] neither did Lunt, the page, say that night if her master knew of her coming home in that state she would be carpeted for it.

1877. Hawley Smart, Bound to Win, ch. xxx. There is no hurry; but, before the race, I think Mr. Luxmoore will have to carpet Sam.

To bring on the carpet. To bring up or forward. A slang rendering of mettre sur le tapis.

Carpet-Bag, subs. used attributively as adj. (American).—See Carpet-bagger for explanation of such phrases as carpet-bag rule, carpet-bag adventurers, carpet-bag government, etc.

1872. New York Herald, 22 Aug. Hundreds of millions have been taken from the pockets of the people since the beginning of the war by dishonest contractors, unjust claimants, county robbers, and city plunderers, and Carpet-bag State Governments. Ibid. The Tammany robberies, although trifling in comparison with the old revenue robberies, and the present wholesale plunder of the Carpet-bag Governments in the South, etc.

1888. Chicago Record. The head of the ticket is one of the most vulnerable men who figured in Southern politics in the carpet-bag era. No man of that period left a blacker record.

Carpet-Bagger, subs. (American political).—A political adventurer. [After the Civil War, numbers of Northerners went South. Honest or not, they were looked upon with suspicion by the Southerners, and, as they were generally Republican in politics and joined with the freedmen at the polls, the nickname carpet-bagger came to have, and still retains, a political significance. It was unjustly applied to many well-meaning men, but at the same time it fitted the horde of corrupt adventurers who infested the South, and whose only ‘property qualification’ was contained in the carpet bag with [41]which they had arrived from the North. Originally, however, a carpet-bagger was a ‘wild-cat banker’ out West: a banker, that is, who had no local abiding place, his worldly possessions being contained in a carpet bag.] Applied to politics the term has become of general application.—Cf., Scalawag.

1868. Daily News, Sept. 18. All carpet-baggers and ‘scalawags’ are whites. The carpet-baggers are immigrants from the North who have thrown themselves into local politics, and through their influence with the negroes obtained office.

1871. New York Post, April. ‘The general drift of public sentiment is, that the carpet-baggers, scalawags, ex-slaves, ex-slaveholders, rebels reconstructed, rebels unreconstructed, and Southern loyalists should be left, for a brief period at least, to fight out their own battles, in their own way; and that if the nation is ever again to become a party to their quarrels, it shall be on no slight pretext and for no trivial purpose.’

1877. Temple Bar, May, p. 107. At the same moment a swarm of adventurers settled in the conquered states, and became governors, judges, tax-collectors, and so on. These are the carpet-baggers of history. They came with two shirts, got salaries of (on an average) four thousand dollars per annum, and made fortunes of a million in four years!

Carpet-Bag Recruit, subs. phr. (military).—A recruit of better than the ordinary standing; one with more than he stands upright in.

Carpet-Swab, subs. (common).—A carpet-bag.

1837. Barham, I.L. (Misadv. at Margate). A little gallows-looking chap—dear me! what could he mean? With a carpet-swab and mucking togs, and a hat turned up with green.

Carrier, subs. (old).—See quot., and Cf., Carrier-pigeon.

1725. New Cant. Dict. Carriers: a sett of Rogues … employ’d to look out, and watch upon the Roads, at Inns, etc., in order to carry Information to their respective Gangs, of a booty in Prospect.

Carrier-Pigeon, subs. (old).—1. A cheat—especially one who victimised lottery office keepers. Cf., Carrier.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 64 [named and described in].

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Carrier Pigeons; sharpers who attend the drawing of the lottery in Guildhall, and as soon as a number or two are drawn, write them on a card, and run with them to a confederate, who is waiting near at hand, ready mounted; with these numbers he rides full speed to some distant insurance office before fixed on, where there is another of the gang, commonly a decent-looking woman, who takes care to be at the office before the hour of drawing; to her he secretly gives the number, which she insures for a considerable sum, thus biting the biter.

2. (racing).—One that runs from place to place with ‘commissions’; a kind of tout.

Carrion, subs. (venery).—1. A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and tart.

2. (common).—The human body; formerly a corpse.

Carrion Case, subs. (common).—A shirt or chemise. [From carrion, the human body, + case, a covering.] For synonyms, see Flesh bag.

Carrion Hunter, subs. (old).—An undertaker. [Carrion was formerly general to signify a corpse]. For synonyms, see Cold cook.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Carrion Hunter: an undertaker, etc.

Carrots, subs. (popular).—Red hair. Used attributively, and also as a proper name. The [42]adjectival form is carrotty. An analogous colloquialism is Ginger-hackled, which see for synonyms.

1685. S. Wesley, Maggots, 57. The Ancients … Pure carrots call’d pure threads of beaten gold. [m.]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Carrots: Red hair’d People.

1703. T. Baker, Tunbridge Walks, quoted in Ashton’s Social Life in Reign of Q. Anne, I., 129. Jenny Trapes! What that Carrot-pated Jade.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xiv. Not to appear before Mr. Cringer till I had parted with my carroty locks.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. vii. ‘Blanche, with her radish of a nose, and her carrots of ringlets.’

1855. Newcomes, ch. xxii. ‘Tom is here with a fine carroty beard.’

1864. Mark Lemon, Jest Book, p. 205. Carrots Classically Considered. Why scorn red hair? The Greeks, we know (I note it here in charity) Had taste in beauty, and with them The graces were all Χαριται.

1882. Daily Telegraph, Oct. 6, p. 2, col. 1. The two elder of the party were a boy and a girl of unmistakably Irish parentage, and with unkempt and carrotty heads of hair.

Take a carrot! (common).—A vulgar insult; equivalent to calling one a fool, or telling one to ‘go to hell.’ The phrase was originally obscene [Cf., Et ta sœur! aime-t-elle les radis?] and applied to women only.

Carry Boodle, verbal phr. (American).—See Boodle.

Carry Coals, verbal phr. (obsolete).—To put up with insults; to endure an affront or injury.

1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Supererog., in wks. II., 32. Because Silence may seeme suspicious to many: Patience contemptible to some … a knowne forbearer of Libellers, a continuall bearer of coales.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, i., 1. Gregory o’ my word, we’ll not carry coals.

1638. H. Shirley, Martyr’d Souldier, Act ii., Sc. 1. Hub. I can carry anything but Blowes, Coles, my Drink, and—the tongue of a Scould.

Carry Corn, verbal phr. (common).—To bear success well and equably. It is said of a man who breaks down under a sudden access of wealth—as successful racing men and unexpected legatees often do—or who becomes affected and intolerant, that ‘he doesn’t carry corn well.’

Carryings On, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Frolicsome or questionable proceedings; a course of conduct that attracts attention.—See Carry on.

1663. Butler, Hudibras, I., ii., 556. Is this the end to which these carryings on did tend?

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxi. Many have heard her stern demands for rent, and her shrill denunciation of the carryings on of her tenants.

1876. M. S. Braddon, Joshua Haggard, ch., iv. ‘And what about the rest of the time when he wasn’t with you? Fine carryings on indeed for a grocer’s daughter!’

Carry-Knave, subs. (old).—A common prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

1630. Taylor’s Workes. And I doe wish with all my heart that the superflous number of all our hyreling hackney carry-knaves, and hurry-whores, with their makers and maintainers were there.

Carry Me Out and Bury Me Decently, phr. (general).—An exclamation or objurgation generally called forth by an incredible story, or by something displeasing to the auditor; varied by ‘let me die!’ ‘good [43]night!’ etc., as also by ‘carry me home!’ ‘carry me upstairs!’ ‘carry me out and leave me in the gutter!’ A writer in Notes and Queries [2 S., iii., 387] states it to have been in use circa 1780. [The origin is obscure, but some derive it from the Nunc dimittis (Luke ii. 29).]

1857. Notes and Queries, 16 May, p. 387, col. 2. Carry me out and bury me decently. Do any of your correspondents recollect to have heard this phrase?

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xlv. And so the president comes out to see the St. Ambrose boat row? Seldom misses two nights running. Then ‘carry me out, and bury me decently’ … Don’t be afraid. I am ready for anything you like to tell me.

1864. The Reader, Nov. 12. Mr. Hotten has carry me out. Well the equivalent ‘Federal’ is ‘D’you tell?’

Carry On, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To make oneself conspicuous by a certain line of behaviour; to conduct oneself wildly or recklessly; to joke or frolic; also in a special sense applied to open flirtation on the part of both sexes.

French equivalents are canarder (based on canard = a ‘take in,’ an extravagant or absurd story); faire du jardin (popular).

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. iii. With lynx-eyes she notes how Lady Carmine’s eldest girl is carrying on with young Thriftless.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xxxv. ‘She and I carried on for a whole season. People talked.’

1884. M. Twain, Huckleberry Finn, ch. xxii., 222. And all the time that clown carried on so it most killed the people.

Carry one’s real estate about one, verbal phr. (American).—To neglect the finger nails till they show a black rim; to go so unwashed as to display a considerable amount of what Palmerston called ‘matter in the wrong place.’

1877. Joseph Hatton, in Belgravia, April, p. 221. We looked at the hands of several of the gamblers, and found that they carried their real estate with them.

Carry Out One’s Bat.—See Bat.

Carry the Stick, verbal phr. (Scotch thieves’).—To rob in the manner described in quotation.—See also Tripping up.

1870. Times. 21 Sept [Marlborough Street Police Court Report.] Police Sergeant Cole said the prisoner’s plan was for the woman to go up to well-dressed elderly or drunken men, to get them into conversation, and rob them. The male prisoner would then come up, and, pretending to be a detective, make a disturbance, so as to enable the woman to escape. The practice was called in London ‘tripping up,’ and in Scotland, where it is also practised, carrying the stick.

Carsey, subs. (thieves’).—A house, den, or crib. [From the Lingua Franca casa = a house.] For synonyms, see Ken.

Cart, verb (University).—To defeat: in a match, a fight, an examination, a race, &c. We carted them home = we gave them an awful licking.

In the cart, or carted, phr. (racing).—1. An employee is said to put an owner in the cart when, by some trick or fraud, his horse is prevented from winning. Also in the box.

1889. Evening Standard, 25 June. [Sir Chas. Russell’s speech in Durham-Chetwynd case.] It was alleged that in two races run by Fullerton in 1887, Sir George Chetwynd—to use a vulgarism—had been put in the cart by his Jockey. [44]

2. (common).—‘In the know’; ‘in the hunt.’

1883. Referee, 1 April, p. 1, col. 1. No one, not even the previously most authoritative—and most in the cart—seems at all astonished at the success of Knight of Burghley.

3. (gaming).—The lowest scorer at any point is said to be in the cart; sometimes on the tailboard.

To walk the cart, phr. (racing).—To walk over the course.

To cart off or out, or away, phr. (colloquial).—To remove.

Cart-Grease, subs. (common).—Butter; in the first instance bad butter.

English Synonyms. Cow-grease; Thames mud; cow-oil; spread; scrape; smear; ointment; sluter.

French Synonym. Le fondant.

German Synonyms. Schmierling (Schmier is properly ‘grease,’ especially ‘wheel-grease,’ also ‘ointment.’ The term is, therefore, practically identical with cart-grease); Schmunk (used by knackers. Schmünkig signifies ‘fat’ of any kind, but especially that of horses).

Carts, subs. (common).—A pair of shoes. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases.

Cart-Wheel, subs. (popular)—1. A five-shilling piece. A variant is coach-wheel, and both forms are often contracted into wheel. For synonyms, see Caroon.

1871. London Figaro, 15 Feb. ‘Mornings at Mutton’s.’ The coin of the realm in question was the largest that we have known in the present century—so large, that, in the slang language of thieves and costermongers, it is called a cart-wheel, ‘coach-wheel’ and ‘thick-’un.’ It was, in fact, a crown-piece.

2. (popular).—A broad hint.

3. (popular).—A continuous series of somersaults in which the hands and feet alternately touch the ground, the appearance produced being similar to the spokes of a cart wheel in motion. Otherwise called a Catharine wheel.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, II., p. 562. We either do the cat’unwheel (Sic) or else we keep before the gentleman and lady, turning head-over-heels. Ib., p. 564: at night I go along with the others tumbling. I does the cat’enwheel. (Sic.)

1864. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Dec. 23. I saw a little … blackguard boy turning cartwheels in front of the Clifton House.

Carver and Gilder, subs. phr. (common).—A match maker. Cf., Fingersmith, a midwife.

Casa.—See Case.

Cascade, subs. (Australian).—1. In Tasmania beer is called cascade because manufactured from ‘cascade’ water. Cf., Artesian. For synonyms, see Swipes and Drinks.

2. (theatrical).—Explained by quotation. Another name for the same effect is hang out.

1851. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, III., p. 156. The principal distinction between pantomimes and ballets is that there are more cascades, and trips, and valleys in pantomimes, and none in ballets. A trip is a dance between Harlequin and the Columbine, and cascades and valleys are trundling and [45]gymnastic performances, such as tumbling across the stage on wheels, and catching hold of hands and twirling round.

Verb (old).—To vomit. For synonyms, see Accounts.

1771. Smollet, Humphry Clinker, III., Oct. 4, iii. She cascaded in his urn.

1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. I daresay five hundred rank and file, at the fewest, were all cascading at one and the same moment.

Case, subs. (colloquial).—1. A certainty in fact, an accentuated or abnormal instance in character. When two persons fall in love, or are engaged to marry, it is said to be a case with them. An eccentric person is likewise a case. [As a designation for persons, case probably had its origin in Journalese and Police-court English; e.g., a case of larceny.]

1848. Bartlett, Dictionary of Americanisms. Case: a character, a queer one; as ‘That Sol Haddock is a case.’ ‘What a hard case he is,’ meaning a reckless scapegrace, mauvais sujet.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xlii. Tossed from workhouse to prison, from prison to hulk—every man’s hand against him—an Arab of society. As hopeless a case, my lord judge, as you ever had to deal with.

1868. O. W. Holmes, Guardian Angel, ch. iv., p. 35 (Rose Lib.). ‘It was a devilish hard case,’ he said, ‘that old Malachi had left his money as he did.’

1872. Miss Braddon, To the Bitter End, ch. xlviii. They have only been engaged three weeks; but from the day we first met Lord Stanmore at a hunting breakfast at Stoneleigh, the business was settled. It was a case, as you fast young men say.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. xxiv. He saw people began to make way for him when she was concerned; in short, that they looked upon it as a case.

1887. Cassell’s Mag., Dec, p. 26. It isn’t Mr. and Mrs. Cardewe he comes to see! It’s Miss Amy.… They have met before; and in my opinion it’s a case!

2. (thieves’)—A bad five-shilling piece; half a case, a bad half-crown. Cf., caser. In America a dollar, good or bad. [There are two sources, either of which may have contributed this slang term. (1.) Caser, the Hebrew word for a crown; (2.) silver coin is frequently counterfeited by coating or casing pewter or iron imitations with silver.—Hotten.]

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. Bad five shillings—case.

3. (old).—A house, respectable or otherwise. Subsequently restricted to a brothel, and, by derivation, a ‘water-closet.’ [Presumably from the Italian casa, a house, through the Lingua Franca. It is found in various forms, casa, case, caser, carser, carsey, the last a phonetic rendering of the usual pronunciation of casa.] For synonyms, see Ken.

1678. Marvell, wks. (1875) III., 497. A net … That Charles himself might chase To Caresbrook’s narrow case. [m.]

1690. b. e., Dict. Cant. Crew. Case: a House, Shop, or Ware-house.

1785. Grose, Dict. of Vul. Tongue. Case: a house, perhaps from the Italian casa. In the canting lingo it meant store or warehouse, as well as dwelling house. Tout that case: mark or observe that house. It is all bob, now let’s dub the gigg of the case: now the coast is clear, let us break open the door of the house.

1883. Echo, Jan. 25, p. 2, col. 3. From the Italian we get the thieves’ slang term casa for house.

4. (Westminster School).—The discussion by Seniors and Upper Election preceding a tanning (q.v.), and the tanning itself. [46]

A case of Crabs, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A failure.

A case of Pickles, subs. phr. (colloquial).—An incident; a bad break-down; a break up.

A case of Stump, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Said of one absolutely guiltless of the possession of coin.

Caseine, subs. (rare).—The correct thing. A variant of the cheese (q.v.) Cf., Cassan.

1856. C. Kingsley, Letter, May. Horn minnow looks like a gudgeon, which is the pure caseine.

Caser, subs. (thieves’).—Five shillings.—See Case and Caroon.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 501. One morning I found I did not have more than a caser (5s.).

Case-Vrow, subs. (old).—A prostitute in residence in a particular brothel; now called a dress-lodger (q.v.). [From case (q.v.), a house, + Dutch vrouw, a woman.]

Casey, subs. (thieves’).—Cheese.—See Cassan.

Cash.—See Cassan.

Equal to cash.—Of unquestionable merit. In allusion to the fact that paper currency is largely a medium of exchange.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., chap. xvi. Though I say it, that shouldn’t say it, they [the U.S. Americans] fairly take the shine off creation—they are actilly equal to cash.

To cash a Prescription, subs. phr. (colloquial).—To get a prescription made up.

1890. The Scots Observer, p. 399, col. 2. The Socialist, with an ear for Ibsen, and an eye for Wagner, and a prescription in his pocket that only needs to be cashed for the world to forget its past, and belie its present, and bedevil its future.

Cashels, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Great Southern and Western of Ireland Railway Stock. [Said to be derived from the fact that the line originally had no station at Cashel.]

Cash or Pass in One’s Checks. verbal phr. (American). To die. Derived from the game of poker, where counters or checks, purchased at certain fixed rates, are equivalent to coin. The euphemism is drawn from the analogy between settling one’s earthly accounts, and paying in dues at the end of the game.

18(?). John Hay, Jim Bludsoe of the Prairie Belle. ‘How Jimmy Bludsoe pass’d in his checks The night of the Prairie Belle.’

1870. Bret Harte, Outcasts Poker Flat. Beneath this tree lies the body of J. O. who … handed in his checks on the 7th December, 1850.

1872. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Roughing It, p. 332. ‘You see,’ said the miner, ‘one of the boys has passed in his checks, and we want to give him a good send off.’

1882. Dodge, Plains of the Great West. As close a shave as I ever made to passing in my checks was from a buffalo stampede.

1888. New York Sun. Well, I owned the mule for several years after that, and when he finally passed in his checks I gave him as decent a burial as any pioneer ever got.

Cash-Up, verb (colloquial).—To liquidate a debt by the transfer of money, i.e., cash, or its equivalent. For synonyms, see Shell out.

1837. Barham, I. L. (M. of Venice). And Antonio grew In a deuce of a stew, For he could not cash up, spite of all he could do.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, I., p. 213. ‘When my father’s executors [47]cash up’ he used strange expressions now and then, but that was his way.—‘Cash up’s a very good expression’ observed Martin, ‘when other people don’t apply it to you.’

1861. Sala, Seven Sons of Mammon, II., p. 197. ‘But they may cash up.’ ‘Cash up! They’ll never cash up a farthing piece.’

Cask, subs. (popular).—A brougham; otherwise a pill-box (q.v.). A French equivalent is une bagniole.

Cass.—See Cassan.

Cassan, subs. (thieves’).—Old Cant for cheese. Also cass, casson, cassam, cassom, and casey. The oldest form is cassan, which is found in Harman’s Caveat or Warening for Common Cursetors, the first known dictionary of English cant [1567]. Cass, chiefly American thieves, is a latter corruption probably influenced by the Dutch kaas, or the M. Dutch kâse, Lat. caseus. [For suggested derivation, which corresponds to that given in the N.E.D., see second quot.]

English Synonyms. Caz; sweaty-toe; choke-dog.

French Synonyms. Le renâché (thieves’ term); une côtelette de menuisier, de perruquier, or de vâche (popular terms for a portion of Brie; literally a cabinet-maker’s, hair-dresser’s, or cow-cutlet); le dûreme (thieves’); une boussole de réfroidi or de singe (popular = a Dutch Cheese.)

German Synonyms. Fendrich (Old Cant appearing in the Liber Vagatorum [1529] as Wenderich or Wendrich; subsequently modified into Fähndrich. The derivation is referable, perhaps, to an old practice, prevalent in North Germany, of using as a board sign [Fahne, a flag, standard, banner] with three cheeses pictured); Gewine (from the Hebrew gewino); Karnet or Kornet; Kawine (a variant of Gewine); Stinkefix (from the O.H.G. Stinchan, to smell, to stink; this is especially applied to old cheese).

Italian Synonyms. Tenerosa (cream cheese); mascherpo; stifello (literally a kind of flute, in allusion to the holes in some kinds of cheese, notably Gruyère).

Spanish Synonym. Formage (evidently a corruption of the French fromage).

1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 86. She hath a Cacking chete, a grunting chete, ruff Pecke, cassan, and popplarr of yarum.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, in wks. (Grosart) III., 195. Cassan is cheese, and is a worde barbarously coynd out of the substantive caseus, which also signifies a cheese.

1656. Broome, Jovial Crew, Act ii. Here’s ruffpeck and cassan, and all of the best, And scraps of the dainties of gentry cofe’s feast.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. Casum: cheese.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. Cass: cheese.

Castell, verb (old).—To see or look. [It is uncertain as to whether this word is slang or not. It is not included in the N.E.D.] For synonyms, see Pipe.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). To Castell: to see or looke.

Caster, subs. (old).—1. A cloak. [Cf., Castor, a hat; there seems to be no historical improbability for a similar derivation]. [48]

Another Old Cant term for a cloak was calle (q.v.), and the French have un bleu, whilst the Italian Fourbesque has toppo and manto, the latter probably meaning ‘a long black veil’; Calaõ. tralha. The Germania renders cloak by noche (literally ‘night,’ and signifying also in a canting sense ‘sadness’ and ‘sentence of death’); nube (literally a ‘cloud’); pelosa (specially applied to a cloak worn in the morning; literally ‘shaggy’ or ‘hairy’); bellosa or vellosa (a sailor’s cloak).

1567. Harman, Caveat [E. E. Text Soc., 1869], p. 77. He walketh in softly a nights, when they be at their rest, and plucketh of as many garmentes as be ought worth that he may come by, … and maketh porte sale at some conuenient place of theirs, that some be soone ready in the morning, for want of their Casters and Togemans.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Caster: a Clocke.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue [s.v.].

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum [s.v.].

2. (colloquial).—A cast-off or rejected person or thing. [From cast, thrown, + er.]

1859. Lang, Wand. India, p. 144. The horse which drew the buggy had been a caster … a horse considered no longer fit for the cavalry or horse artillery, and sold by public auction, after being branded with the letter R on the near shoulder. [m.]

Castieu’s Hotel, subs. phr. (Australian thieves’).—The Melbourne gaol, so called from Mr. J. B. Castieu. For list of nicknames of this description, see Cage.

18(?). Australian Printers Keepsake. He caught a month, and had to white it out at diamond-cracking in Castieu’s Hotel.

Castle-Rag, subs. (rhyming slang).—A flag or fourpenny piece. For synonyms, see Joey.

Cast-Offs, subs. (nautical).—1. Landsmen’s clothes. For synonyms, see Togs.

2. In singular (general).—A discarded mistress.

Castor, subs. (old).—A hat. [From Latin castor, a beaver, hats having formerly been made of beaver’s fur.] For synonyms, see Golgotha.

1640. Entick, London, II., 175. Beaver hats, Demi-casters. [m.]

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed. Castor: lat., 1, a beaver, a beast like an otter. 2, a fine hat made of its fur.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Jerry. (Walks about, and, by mistake, takes Logic’s hat, which he puts on.) Damn the cards! Log. (Following Jerry, and rescuing castor.) Don’t nibble the felt, Jerry!

1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, ch. viii. The last effort of decayed fortune is expended in smoothing its dilapidated castor. The hat is the ultimum morieus of ‘respectability.’

1860. Morning Post, Jan. 30. Such as tin for money, castor for hat, brick for good fellow, gemman for gentleman.

Cast Sheep’s Eyes, verbal phr. (common).—To ogle; to leer or ‘make eyes’ at; formerly to look modestly and with diffidence, but always with longing or affection. [Probably in allusion to the quiet, gentle gaze of sheep.] The phrase has been varied by to cast lamb’s eyes. Fr. ginginer; lancer son prospectus, and un oeil en tirelire = an eye full of amorous expression.

1590. Greene, Francesco’s Fortunes, in wks. VIII., 191. That casting a sheepe’s eye at hir, away he goes; and euer since he lies by himselfe and pines away. [49]

1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, V., iii. Who chances to come by but fair Nero in a sculler; And seeing Leander’s naked leg and goodly calf, Cast at him from the boat a sheep’s eye an’ a half.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xvi. There was a young lady in the room, and she threw … many sheep’s eyes at a certain person whom I shall not name.

1864. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. vii. He would stand for some time casting lamb’s-eyes at the object of his affections—to the amorous audacity of the full-grown sheep he never soared.

1881. Hawley Smart, Gt. Tontine, ch. xi. It isn’t to be expected a well-bred lass like this is going to knock under the minute a young fellow makes sheep’s-eyes at her.

Cast Up Accounts.—See Accounts, to which may be added the following.

French Synonyms. Jeter du cœur—or son lest—sur carreau (general: literally to ‘throw hearts or diamonds’ or ‘throw one’s heart,’ here meaning the stomach, ‘on the floor’); compter ses chemises (popular); débecqueter (popular); deborder (popular); lâcher son goujon (general); lâcher une fusée (popular).

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, Act v., Sc. 1. Mist. Wafer. I would not have ’em cast up their accounts here, for more than they mean to be drunk this twelve-month.

1808. R. Anderson, Cumbrld. Ball, 26. The breyde she kest up her accounts in Rachel’s lap. [m.]

Cat, subs. (old).—1. A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

[1401. Pol. Poems, II., 113. Be ware of Cristis curse, and of cattis tailis.] [m.]

1535. Lyndesay, Satyre, 468. Wantonnes. Hay! as one brydlit cat, I brank. [m.]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Cat: a common Whore.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Cat (s.) … also a cant word for a lewd, whorish woman, or street-walker.

2. (popular).—A shortened form of cat-o’-nine-tails (q.v.).

1788. Falconbridge, Afr. Slave Tr., 40. A cat (an instrument of correction, which consists of a handle or stem, made of a rope three inches and a half in circumference, and about eighteen inches in length, at one end of which are fastened nine branches, or tails, composed of log line, with three or more knots upon each branch). [m.]

1870. London Figaro, 23 Dec. We are delighted to learn that Mr. Baron Bramwell, at the Warwick Assizes, on Saturday, sentenced a batch of street thieves to hard labour for eighteen months, and twenty lashes each, with an instrument called the cat.

1889. Globe, 26 Oct., p. 7, col. 3. The ‘Cat.’ A companion of the prisoner was convicted last session of being concerned in the assault and robbery, and was sentenced to eighteen months’ hard labour and to receive twenty-five lashes.

3. (thieves’).—A lady’s muff. [Muff = female pudendum. See sense 4.]

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. To steal a muff—To free a cat.

4. (popular).—The female pudendum; otherwise a pussy; French, le chat.

5. (thieves’).—A quart pot. Pint pots are called kittens. Stealing these pots is termed cat and kitten sneaking.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, II., p. 118. The mistress of a lodging-house, who had conveniences for the melting of pewter-pots (called cats and kittens by the young thieves according to the size of the vessels). Ibid. I., p. 460. At this lodging-house cats and kittens are melted down.… A quart pot is a cat, and pints and half-pints are kittens.

6. (popular).—See Tame cat.

7. (common).—A monster infesting lodging houses, and assimilating, [50]with equal readiness, cold meat and coals, spirits and paraffin, etc., etc.

1827. R. B. Peake, Comfortable Lodgings, Act I., Sc. iii. I wonder whether the cat ever comes in here, and knocks anything over? Sir Hippington Miff, here’s your health!—Ladies, yours! (Drinks.) Bless my soul! the cup’s empty! I’ll turn it over, and lay the fault at pussy’s door.

1871. Figaro, 2 July. ‘My Landlady.’ Who on my viands waxes fat?—Who keeps a most voracious cat!—Who often listens on my mat? My Landlady.

Flying cat, subs. (old).—An owl.

1690. B. E., Dictionary Canting Crew, s.v. Flutter. An owl is a Flying-Cat.

To jerk, shoot, or whip the cat; or simply, to cat. To vomit; generally from over indulgence in drink.—See Accounts and Cast up Accounts.

1609. Armin, Maids of More-cl. (1880), 70. Ile baste their bellies and their lippes till we haue ierk’t the cat with our three whippes. [m.]

1630. J. Taylor (‘Water P.’), Brood Cormor, wks. III., p. 5, col. 1. You may not say hee’s drunke.… For though he be as drunke as any rat He hath but catcht a fox, or whipt the cat.

1830. Marryat, Kings Own, ch. xxxii. I’m cursedly inclined to shoot the cat.

To whip the cat, otherwise to draw through the water with a cat, phr. (old).—1. To indulge in practical jokes. [For suggested origin, see quotation 1785.]

1614. B. Jonson, Barthol. Fair, I., iv. [n.]. I’ll be drawn with a good gib cat through the great pond at home. [m.]

1690. B. E., Dictionary Canting Crew. Catting: drawing a Fellow through a Pond with a cat.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Cat-whipping or whipping the cat: a trick often practised on ignorant country fellows, vain of their strength; by laying a wager with them, that they may be pulled through a pond by a cat; the bet being made, a rope is fixed round the waist of the party to be catted, and the end thrown across the pond, to which the cat is also fastened by a pack-thread, and three or four sturdy fellows are appointed to lead and whip the cat; these, on a signal given, seize the end of the cord, and pretending to whip the cat, haul the astonished booby through the water.

2. (tailors’, etc.).—To work at private houses. In America the term is also used by carpenters and other itinerants, especially schoolmasters who ‘board round.’ At one time it was more convenient to pay in kind than in currency; and, in rural New England, a school-teacher would be ‘boarded round’ amongst his pupils’ parents as a part of his remuneration. (See Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow.) This was called whipping the cat.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, 648. Whipping the cat: an old English phrase, used only by tailors and carpenters, has maintained its existence in New England, Pennsylvania, and a few other States, where it denotes the annual visit of a tailor to repair the clothes of a household. It is said to have originated in a very rough practical joke, which bears the same name in Hampshire, England, and of which, it is surmised, the tailor may have been the victim (J. R. Lowell). The simple tailors of former days liked thus to go from house to house in the rural districts, providing the families with clothing. The chief romance for the happy ‘Schneider’ was in the abundant and wholesome cheer of the farmer who employed him, and as his annual visits fell in the pudding and sausage season, he was usually crammed with that kind of ‘vegetables,’ as he facetiously called them, to his heart’s content. The only objection made to catwhipping, was that it afforded no opportunity to ‘cabbage,’ and in former days this was a serious grievance. The introduction of large manufacturing establishments, low-priced ready-made clothing, and the advent of the sewing-machine, have now nearly made an end to this itinerant occupation. The terms catwhipper and catwhipping were often facetiously, and [51]sometimes very irreverently, applied to other itinerant professions: even ‘schoolmasters’—there were no ‘teachers,’ much less ‘educators,’ in those benighted days—were called catwhippers, when they boarded, as was quite usual, in turns with the parents of their scholars. Itinerating preachers also were, by the initiated, included in this category.

To see how the cat will jump, phr. (common).—To watch the course of events. An American equivalent is to sit on the fence.—See Fence and Jumping Cat.

1827. Scott, in Croker Pap. (1884), I., xi., 319. Had I time, I believe I would come to London merely to see how the cat jumped. [m.]

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.

You kill my cat and I’ll kill your dog, phr. (common). ‘Ca’ me, ‘ca’ thee; an exchange in the matter of ‘scratching backs’—in Fr. passez moi la casse, et je t’enverrai la senne.

To let the cat out of the bag, phr. (common).—To reveal a secret; a variant with a slightly modified sense is to put one’s foot in it. [This and the kindred phrase ‘to buy a pig in a poke,’ are said to have had their origin in the bumpkin’s trick of substituting a cat for a young pig and bringing it to market in a bag. If the customer were wary the cat was let out of the bag, and there was no deal.]

1760. Lond. Mag., XXIX., p.224. We could have wished that the author … had not let the cat out of the bag. [m.]

1782. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Pair of Lyric Epistles To the Reader. But, to use a sublime phrase, as it would be letting the cat out of the bag, I have fortune.

1811. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), I., 475. She has let a wicked cat out of the bag to G. M. respecting his mother.

1855. Mrs. Gaskell, North and South, ch. xliv. You needn’t look so frightened because you have let the cat out of the bag to a faithful old hermit like me. I shall never name his having been in England.

1888. Macdermott [on the case of Crawford v. Dilke]. This noble representative of everything good in Chelsea, He let the cat, the naughty cat, right out of the Gladstone bag.

Who ate or stole the cat? phr. (common).—A gentleman whose larder was frequently broken by bargees, had a cat cooked and placed as a decoy. It was taken and eaten, and became a standing jest against the pilferers.

To lead a cat and dog life phr. (popular).—To quarrel night and day. Said of married (or unmarried) couples.

To turn cat in the pan, phr. (old).—To ‘rat’; to reverse one’s position through self-interest; to play the turncoat. [The derivation is absolutely unknown. The one generally received—that ‘cat’ is a corruption of ‘cate’ or ‘cake’—is historically untenable.]

c. 1559. Old Play, ‘Marriage of Witt and Wisdome.’ Sc. 3. Now am I true araid like a phesitien; I am as very a turncote as the wethercoke of Poles; For now I will calle my name Due Disporte. So, so, finely I can turne the catt in the pane. [52]

1593. 4 Lett. Conf., in wks. (Grosart) II., 286. If it bee a home booke at his first conception, let it be a home booke still, and turne not cat in the panne.

1625. Bacon, Essays (of Cunning), p. 441 (Arber). There is a Cunning, which we in England call, The Turning of the Cat in the Pan, which is, when that which a Man says to another, he laies it, as if Another had said it to him.

c. 1720. Song, ‘The Vicar of Bray.’ ‘When George in pudding time came in, And moderate men looked big, sir, He turned a cat-in-pan once more, And so became a Whig, sir.’

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, ch. xxxv. ‘O, this precious Basil will turn cat in pan with any man!’ replied Claverhouse.

To feel as though a cat had kittened in one’s mouth, phr. (popular).—To ‘have a mouth’ after drunkenness.

Many other phrases and proverbial sayings might, more or less justifiably, be classed as slang in this connection; e.g., to fight like Kilkenny cats; to grin like a Cheshire cat; not room enough to swing a cat; able to make a cat speak, and a man dumb; who shot the cat (the last a reproach addressed to volunteers), etc.

Catamaran, subs. (colloquial).—A vixenish old woman; also a cross-grained person of either sex. [Cf., Catamount. Probably associated with the colloquial use of cat, a quarrelsome, vicious woman]. For synonyms, see Geezer.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. vi. The cursed drunken old catamaran, cried he, I’ll go and cut her down by the head.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. lxxv. ‘What a woman that Mrs. Mackenzie is!’ cries F. B. ‘What an infernal tartar and catamaran!’

1861. Macmillan’s Magazine, June, p. 113. She was such an obstinate old catamaran.

Catamount, Catamountain, or Cat O’Mountain, subs. (American).—A shrew. [Cf., Catamaran and Beaumont and Fletcher’s use of the word for a wild man from the mountains, itself a transferred sense of catamount = a leopard or panther.]

1616. Fletcher, Cust. of Country, I., i. The rude claws of such a cat o’ mountain!

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch., xii. She was a dreadful cross-grained woman, a real catamount, as savage as a she-bear that has cubs.

Cat and Mouse, subs., phr. (rhyming slang).—A house.

Catastrophe, subs. (old).—The tail or latter end. Cf., the Falstaffism ‘I’ll tickle your catastrophe.’

Catawampous, Catawamptiously, adj. and adv. (popular).—With avidity; fiercely; eagerly; or violently destructive. See Catawampus.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch., xxi., 216. There air some catawampous chawers in the small way too, as graze upon a human pretty strong.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, bk. X., ch. xx. If a man like me … is to be catawampously champed up by a mercenary selfish cormorant of a capitalist.

18(?). F. Burnand, The White Cat. Don’t hurt me; spare a poor unhappy pup, Or I’ll be catawampously chawed up.

Catawampus, subs.—Vermin, especially those that sting and bite. [Apparently formed from Catawampous (q.v.).]

1880. Mortimer Collins, Thoughts in My Garden, vol. I., p. 244. Look at their [spiders’] value in destroying wasps [53]and blue-bottles, gnats, midges, and all manner of catawampuses, as the ladies call them.

Catch, subs. (colloquial).—A man or woman matrimonially desirable; formerly in a canting sense, a prize or booty [see quot. 1877]. A woman who is ‘no great catch’ is in French argot termed une grognotte.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, Act ii., Sc. 1, 333. Bap. The gain I seek is—quiet in the match. Gre. No doubt but he hath got a quiet catch.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.) Catch (s.) … also a cant word for a prize, booty, etc.

1842. Comic Almanack, p. 333. Angelina Ampletin was one of the prettiest girls in Pimlico, and if there was any truth in rumour, very far from one of the worst catches.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 244. Well, as it was her catch, I thought as I’d consult along of her whether we should take the £200.

Catch or Cut a Crab, verbal phr. (common).—There are various ways of catching a crab, as for example, (1) to turn the blade of the oar or ‘feather’ under water at the end of the stroke, and thus be unable to recover; (2) to lose control of the oar at the middle of the stroke by ‘digging’ too deeply; or (3) to miss the water altogether. An English variant is to ‘capture a cancer,’ an American form being ‘to catch a lobster.’—See Lobster.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple [ed. 1846], ch viii., p. 206, s.v.

1844. Puck, p. 134. Now, Johnson, thou wilt surely rue! Didst ever pull before? (Brown had been up to fish at Kew. And caught—of crabs—a store.)

1849. John Smith (J. D. Lewis) Hark, the gun has gone thrice, and now off in a trice, With the Johnians we’re soon on a level. When Hicks, who’s no dab, with his oar cuts a crab, And our coxswain he swears like the Devil.

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.

1872. Daily News, 10 Sept. ‘London Rowing Club Regatta.’ The excitement and fun engendered by the numerous scrimmages resulted in ‘fouls’ and crabs of most portentous magnitude.

Catch a Tartar, verbal phr. (popular).—To unexpectedly meet with one’s superior; to fall into one’s own trap; having a design upon another, to be caught oneself. [Explanation may be found, perhaps, in the horror born of the atrocities of the Tartar hordes who devastated Eastern Europe in the reign of St. Louis of France. Cf., Tartar, a person of irritable temper.] An American variant is to catch on a snag (q.v.).

1682. Dryden, Prol. to King and Queen, in wks., p. 456 (Globe). When men will needlessly their freedom barter for lawless power, sometimes they catch a tarter.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xxx. Who, looking at me with a contemptuous sneer, exclaimed, Ah, ah! have you caught a tarter?

1778. Fanny Burney, Diary, 23 Aug. ‘Ah,’ he (Johnson) added, ‘they will little think what a tarter you carry to them.’

1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, ch. v. When the Danish pirates made descents upon the English coast, they caught a few tartars occasionally, in the shape of Saxons.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘Unhappy Because it Can’t Last.’ They say two heads are better than one, so I took a wife and caught a tartar, and found two of a trade could never agree, and proved the proverb that marry in haste repent at leisure.

Catch-’em-Alive, or Alivo, subs. phr. (common).—1. A fly-paper. [54][In allusion to the sticky substance smeared over the paper which, attracting the flies, literally ‘catches them alive.’]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 38. They used to … call ’em Egyptian flypapers, but now they use merely the word ‘flypapers,’ or ‘fly-destroyers,’ or ‘fly-catchers,’ or ‘catch ’em alive, oh’s.’

1857. Dickens, Dorrit, wks. I., ch. xvi., 122. And such coats of varnish that every holy personage served for a fly trap, and became what is now called in the vulgar tongue a catch-em-alive, O.

1890. Globe, 16 April, p. 1, col. 3. Typhoid microbes take as kindly to sluggish waters as flies do to catch-em-alive-oh’s.

2. (common).—A tooth-comb; a ‘louse-trap.’

3. (general).—The female pudendum.

Catch-Fart, subs. (old).—A footman, or page boy. [A combination of catch, in its ordinary sense, + fart (q.v.). Fourbesque, bolognino and falcone (‘a falcon’).]

Catch it, verb (colloquial).—To get a scolding or castigation; to get into trouble; to ‘come in for it.’ For synonyms, see Tan and Wig.

1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xxxviii. We all thought Tom was about to catch it.

1848. Mrs. Gaskell, M. Barton, xxxi. I shall catch it down stairs, I know.

1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xvi., 218. He catches it if he does not bring home a fair proportion to his wife.

Catch me! or Catch me at it! phr. (colloquial).—An intimation that the person speaking will not do such and such a thing. An analogous phrase is don’t you wish you may get it!

1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belle’s Stratagem, Act iii., Sc. 2. First Gent. May I be a bottle, and an empty bottle, if you catch me at that! Why, I am going to the masquerade.

1830. Galt, Lawrie, T., V., iv. (1849), 207. Catch me again at such costly daffin.

1841. R. B. Peake, Court and City, I., i. Satisfaction! Catch me at that!

1846. Dickens, Dombey and Son, I., p. 112, col. 3. ‘You have a committee to-day at three, you know.’ ‘And one at three, three-quarters,’ added Mr. Dombey, ‘Catch you at forgetting anything!’ exclaimed Carker.

Catch on, verb (colloquial).—To understand; to grasp in meaning; to apprehend; to attach or fix oneself to; to quickly seize an opportunity and turn it to advantage. [A literal translation, in fact, into the language of slang of the Latin apprehendere.] A French equivalent is piger, but for synonyms, see Twig.

1884. Lisbon (Dakota) Star, 27 June. Now is the time to catch on in order to keep up with the procession. [m.]

1889. The Nation, 19 Dec., p. 499, col. 1.… The farmer knows only the traffic of his market town and his county, and he is slow to catch on to the new and progressive.

1890. Globe, Feb. 13, p. 1. col. 5. Well, assuming that the notion were to catch on, and the example of this enterprising mother to be generally imitated in the upper orbits of the social system, would there be a balance of advantage to the nation?

Catch on a Snag, verbal phr. (American).—to catch a Tartar (q.v.); to meet with one’s superior.

1887. Stuart Cumberland, The Queen’s Highway. In rough Western parlance a man who falls in with such a player (a man, who, bearing a high reputation for all-round godliness, is a crack ‘poker’ player) catches on a snag, and it is said that everyone who visits the [55]North-West comes across, sooner or later, the snag on which he is to catch.

Catch on the Hop, verbal phr. (popular).—Properly to catch or have on the hip, as Gratiano catches Shylock.—See Hop.

c. 1869. The Chickaleary Bloke, sung by Vance. For to get me on the hop, or on my ‘tibby’ drop, You must wake up very early in the morning.

Catch-Pole, subs. (old).—A warrant-officer; a bum-bailiff. A very old term formerly in respectable use, but employed contemptuously from the sixteenth century. [From catch, to arrest, or stop, + pole or poll, the head.] Fourbesque, foco or fuoco = fire. Cf., Bum-bailiff.

1377. Langl., P. Pl., bk. XVIII., 46. Crucifige, quod a cacchepolle I warante hym a wicche. [m.]

c. 1510. Barclay, Mrr. Good Mann. (1570), G., iv. Be no towler, catchpoll, nor customer.

1601. B. Johnson, Poetaster, III. Catchpole, loose the gentlemen, or by my velvet arms, etc.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xcvii. The catchpole, after a diligent search, had an opportunity of executing the writ upon the defendant.

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xiii. You are brought there by a catchpole, and kept there under lock and key until your creditors are paid.

Catch the Wind of the Word, verbal phr. (Irish).—To quickly understand the meaning of what is said. For synonyms, see Twig.

Catchy, adj. (colloquial).—Vulgarly or cheaply attractive; of a quality to take the eye or ear; easily caught and remembered (as a tune). Wrongly used in quot. 1885.

1831. Fraser’s Mag., III., 679. A catchy, stage-like effect. [m.]

1885. S. O. Addy, in N. and Q., 6 S., xii., 143. This seemed to be like one of those catchy questions which examiners in law and history are said to ‘stump’ the candidates.

Caterpillar, subs. (old).—A soldier. For synonyms, see Mudcrusher.

Caterwaul, verb (colloquial).—Properly to make a noise like cats at rutting time; to woo, to ‘make love.’ The quotations show the process of transition from the old figurative usage of the word, to be ‘in heat,’ ‘to be lecherous,’ to the current sense. For synonyms, see Firkytoodle.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 284. The friars and monks caterwawld from the abbots and priors to the novices.

1700. Congreve, Way of the World, Act i., Sc. 9. An old aunt, who loves catterwauling better than a conventicle.

1771. Smollet, Humphry Clinker, l. 64. I hope you have worked a reformation among them [servant-maids], as I exhorted you in my last, and set their hearts upon better things than they can find in junketting and caterwauling with the fellows of the country.

1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, ch. xvii. From what I hear, you came to Riddleton fooling after my daughter. Now, I’ll have no caterwauling of that sort.

Catever, subs. (common).—A queer, or singular affair; anything poor or bad. [From the Lingua Franca, and Italian cattivo, bad.] Variously spelled by the lower orders.—Hotten.

Catfish Death, subs. (American).—Suicide by drowning.

c. 1889. Chicago Press [quoted by Barrère].… driving his sweetheart to lunacy and a catfish death, by his dime-museum freaks. [56]

Catgut-Scraper, subs. (common).—A fiddler. [From catgut, the material of which fiddle strings are made, + scraper, one that rubs or scrapes.] Sometimes simply scraper or catgut; the latter of which is also used to signify the music produced. Also Rosin-the-bow and Teaser of the Catgut.

1633. Massinger, Guardian, IV., ii. Wire-string and catgut, men and strong-breathed heautbois. [m.]

1785. Burns, Jolly Beggars. Her charms had struck a sturdy caird, As weel’s a poor gut-scraper.

1796. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Tristia, wks. (1812) V., 267. Behold! the Catgut-scraper with his croud Commands at will the house of hospitality.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 21. Or they will call to the orchestra, saying, ‘Now then you catgut-scraper! Let’s have a ha’purth of liveliness.’

Cat Harping Fashion, adv. phr. (nautical).—See quot.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Drinking cross ways, and not as usual over the left thumb.

Cat Heads, subs. (old).—The paps. For synonyms, see Dairy.

Cathedral, subs. (Winchester College).—A high hat. [So called because only worn when going to the Cathedral.] For synonyms, see Golgotha.

Adj. (old)—Old-fashioned; antique.

1690. B. E., Dictionary Canting Crew. Cathedral: old-fashioned, out of Date, Ancient.

1755. Johnson. Cathedral: in low phrase, antique, venerable, old.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Cathedral: old-fashioned, an old cathedral bedstead, chair, etc.

Catharine Puritans, subs. phr. (University).—Members of St. Catharine’s Hall, at Cambridge. [Puritan from the pun on the words Catharine and Καθαίρειν = to purify.] They were also called Doves (q.v.).

Catherine Hayes, subs. (Australian).—See quot. [The derivation may presumedly be traced to the immense popularity of the Irish singer at the antipodes.]

1859. Frank Fowler, Southern Light and Shadows, p. 53. [A liquor consisting of] claret, sugar, and nutmeg.

Cat’s, subs. (University).—A short name for St. Catharine’s Hall.

Cat’s Men, subs. (University).—Members of St. Catharine’s Hall.

Catherine Wheel.—See Cartwheel.

Cat-Lap, subs. (common).—Thin potations of any sort, especially tea. Such a beverage being so feeble as to be only fit for women. For synonyms, see Scandal broth.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Cat-lap: tea, called also scandal broth.

1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, ch. xiii. We have tea and coffee aboard … You are at the age to like such catlap.

1864. M. E. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, ch. xvii. ‘I’ve mashed the tea for ’ee,’ said the ‘softy’; ‘I thought you’d like a coop.’ The trainer shrugged his shoulders. ‘I can’t say I’m particular attached to the cat-lap,’ he said, laughing.

Cat-Market, subs. (common).—A number of people all talking at once. ‘You make a row like a cat-market’—a general ‘caterwauling.’ [57]

Cat-Match, subs. (old).—See quot.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Cat Match: when a rook or cully is engaged amongst bad bowlers.

Catoller or Catolla, subs. (old).—A noisy, prating fellow.—See quot.

1832. Pierce Egan, Book of Sports, p. 70. [Catolla is given as a foolish, betting man.]

Cat-o’-Nine-Tails or Cat, subs. (common).—A nine-lashed scourge now used for the punishment of criminals, but until 1881 the authorised means of punishment in the British army and navy. [From cat, a beast with claws, + o’ + nine tails, the nine knotted lashes.] History is against the view of some military authorities that the cat-o’-nine-tails was a Batavian importation of William III., and that the word ‘cat’ is derived from the Sclavonic kat, an executioner, or from katowae, to lash or torture. Another theory is that it was introduced at the time of the Armada (1588), when vast numbers of these ‘straunge whips’ were found in the captured ships of the Spaniards. A ballad of the period declares of the Spaniards that—

They made such whippes wherewith no man Would seeme to strike a dogge; So strengthened eke with brasen tagges And filde so roughe and thinne, That they would force at every lash The bloud abroad to spinne.

This view is not inconsistent with the quotations, the first of which antedates the earliest given in the N.E.D. by thirty years.] In prison parlance the cat-o’-nine-tails is known as number one or the nine-tailed bruiser (q.v.), the birch as number two (q.v.).

1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. iii., p. 28 (1874). A Cat of Nine-tails (as he called it) being so many small cords.

1702. Vanbrugh, False Friend, prologue. You dread reformers of an impious age, You awful cat-a-nine-tails to the stage.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. v. ‘I’ll bring him to the gangway, and anoint him with a cat-a-nine-tails.’

1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., pt. III., bk. VII., ch. iii. Rash coalised kings, such a fire have ye kindled; yourselves fireless, your fighters animated only by drill-sergeants, mess-room moralities, and the drummer’s cat.

Cat-Party; also Bitch-Party, subs. (common).—A party consisting entirely of women. [From cat, a woman, + party.] Cf., Stag-party, and see Hen-Party for synonyms.

Cats, subs. (commercial).—Atlantic Seconds were formerly so-called for telegraphic purposes.

Cats and Dogs. To rain cats and dogs, sometimes extended to and pitchforks and shovels, phr. (popular).—To rain heavily. [The French catadoupe, a waterfall, has been suggested as the origin. Another etymon has been found in the Greek κατὰ δόξαν in reference to the downpour being out of the common. Possibly Swift, who seems to have been the first to have used the expression, may have evolved it out of his own description of a city shower (1710).]

Now from all parts the swelling kennels flow, And bear their trophies with them as they go.… Drown’d puppies, stinking sprats, all drench’d in mud, Dead cats, and turnip-tops, come tumbling down the flood.]

1738. Swift, Pol. Convers., dial. 2. I know Sir John will go, though he was sure it would rain cats and dogs. [58]

1819 (Feb. 25). Shelley to Peacock, in Letters, etc. (Camelot), p. 264. After two months of cloudless serenity, it began raining cats and dogs.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Blasphemer’s Warning). But it rains cats and dogs and you’re fairly wet through Ere you know where to turn, what to say, or to do.

Cat’s Foot. To live under the cat’s foot, phr. (old).—To be under petticoat government; hen-pecked. Cf., Apron-string.—See Cat’s-paw.

Cat’s Head, subs. (Winchester College).—The end of a shoulder of mutton; further explained by quotation.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 84. His meal [dinner] took place at six o’clock p.m. in College (in Commoners’ it was at one); it was ample in quantity, and excellent in quality. That of the Præfects was nicely served in joints, that of the Inferiors was divided into portions, (Dispars; there were, if I remember rightly, six of these 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 was called ‘a Middle Cut,’ that out of the shoulder a ‘Fleshy,’ the ribs ‘Racks,’ the loin ‘Long Dispars’; these were the best, the more indifferent were the end of the shoulder, or Cat’s head, the breast, or ‘Fat Flab,’ etc., etc.)

Catskin-Earls, subs. (parliamentary).—The three senior earls in the House of Lords, viz., the Earls of Shrewsbury, Derby, and Huntingdon, the only three earldoms before the seventeenth century now existing, save those that (like Arundel, Rutland, etc.), are merged in higher titles, and the anomalous earldom of Devon (1553), resuscitated in 1831. [A correspondent of Notes and Queries (7 S. ix., p. 314) suggests that the reason of the application may be that in the seventeenth or late in the sixteenth century an order was issued for the use of ermine instead of the skin of cats—(but were such skins then used?)—for the robes of a peer. If so, however, it is curious that there are not ‘catskin dukes’ and ‘catskin barons’ as well. There is yet another theory: an earl’s robes consist (now) of but three rows of ermine; but in some early representations they are shown with four, the same as (now) a duke; and it has been suggested that these four rows (quatre-skins) may have given the name of catskin.]

1861–75. Dean Hook, Life of Cardinal Pole, vide note, p. 264. The Earl of Huntingdon is one of the three Catskin Earls of the present day.

Cat’s-Meat, subs. (common).—The lungs. [The ‘lights’ or lungs of animals are usually sold to feed cats.]

Catso, subs. and intj. (old).—The penis. Murray says: ‘Also catzo.’ [a. It. cazzo = membrum virile. Also an exclamation, Cf., the English ejaculation, Balls! Florio says: ‘also as cazzica, interjection, “What! God’s me! God forbid! tush!” ’] Frequent in seventeenth century in the Italian senses; also = rogue, scamp, cullion. Cf., Fr. cul, couillé and couillon as terms of contempt; also see the later Gadso.

Cat’s-Paw or Cat’s-Foot, subs. (common).—A dupe or tool. [A reference to the fable (Bertrand et Raton) of a monkey using the paw of a cat, dog, or fox, to pull roasted chestnuts off the fire, current in the sixteenth century, but varying considerably in details. The earliest printed [59]version occurs in John Sambucus’ Emblemata (Plantin, Antwerp, 1564), where the sufferer is a dog, and not a cat. There is, however, a story of the same kind told (Maiol. Coll. vii., scil Simon Maiolus, Astensis, Episcopus Vulturariensis, Dies Caniculares, h.e. Colloquia XXIII., Physica, Collog. vii., p. 249, Ursellis, 1600) of Pope Julius II., 1503–13 [see N. and Q., 6 S., viii., 35.]]

[1657. M. Hawke. Killing is murder. These he useth as the Monkey did the cat’s paw to scrape the nuts out of the fire.]

1782. Geo. Parker, Humorous Sketches, p. 140. They lug in Spain, to their assistance, a cat’s-paw made.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. lvi. Sir Robert, who had rather begun to suspect that his plebeian neighbour had made a cat’s-paw of him, inclined his head stiffly.

1878. M. E. Braddon, Cloven Foot, ch. xli. He felt angry with himself for having been in some wise a cat’s-paw to serve the young man’s malice.

Cat-Sticks, subs. (old).—Thin legs. [In comparison to the stick used by boys in the game of tip-cat.] For synonyms see Drumsticks.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

Cat’s-Water, subs. (common).—Gin. [From cat, a woman + water, a white liquid.] Cf., Bitches’ wine = champagne. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Cattie, adj. and adv. (printers’).—An imperfect or ‘smutty’ look on a printed sheet, caused by an oily or unclean roller.

Catting, verbal subs. (common).—1. Vomiting.—See Cat, verb.

2. (venery).—Running after loose women; molrowing (q.v.) for synonyms.

1725. New Canting Dictionary. Catting: whoring.

Cattle, subs. (common).—A term of contempt applied to human beings. Cf., Queer cattle, Kittle cattle. The generic names of the lower creation are pretty generally used in such transferred senses; e.g., Queer fish, Downy bird, Pigeon, Rook, Sad dog, etc. In England mostly employed disparagingly, but in the U.S.A. bug—here the name of one of the most offensive of vermin, but there the common term for all varieties of beetles—is used in a good sense; e.g., Big bug.

1579. Gosson, School of Abuse, p. 27 (Arber’s ed.). We have infinite Poets, and Pipers, and suche peeuishe cattel among vs in Englande.

1600. Shakspeare, As You Like It, Act iii., Sc. 2, 435. Boyes and women are … cattle of this colour.

188(?) G. R. Sims, Dagonet Ballads (‘Moll Jarvis’). Queer cattle is women to deal with? Lord bless ye, yer honour, they are!

[Cattle is often used of horses. See Harrison Ainsworth’s Rookwood: Have you any horses? Our Cattle are all blown. Also Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer.’]

Cattle-Bug, subs. (American).—See Bug, subs., sense 4.

Caudge-Pawed, adj. (old).—Left-handed.—Grose.

Caught on the Fly, phr. (American).—‘Caught in the act.’ An equivalent of ‘caught on the hop’ or ‘hip.’—See Hop.

Cauliflower, subs. (old).—1. A clerical wig supposed to resemble [60]a cauliflower; modish in the time of Queen Anne.

2. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

3. (popular).—The foaming head of a tankard of beer. In France, a glass of beer without any head is termed un bock sans linge or sans faux-col.

1882. Daily Telegraph, Oct. 10, p. 5, col. 4. This gave the porter a fine frothy or cauliflower head. [m.]

4. (military).—In plural.—The Forty-seventh Regiment of Foot, so called from its white facings. It is also known as The Lancashire Lads from its county title.

Caulk, subs. and verb (nautical).—1. Sleep; to sleep. In substantive form it sometimes appears as caulking. To caulk formerly meant ‘to pick out a soft plank,’ i.e., to lie down on deck; to sleep with one’s clothes on. [Cf., Bundling.]

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xix. But it’s no go with old Smallsole, if I want a bit of caulk.

1851. Chambers’ Papers, No. 52, p. 30. Sleeping upon deck is called, I know not why, calking.

2. Verb.—To cease; to shut up; i.e., to stop one’s talk or leave off talking. [This usage is obviously derived from the legitimate meaning of the word, to stop up crevices and seams.] For synonyms, see Stow it.

3. (common).—To copulate; to do the ‘act of kind.’ For synonyms, see Ride.

Caulker, subs. (common).—1. A dram; a stiff glass of grog—generally applied to a finishing bumper. When this happens to be sherry and follows the drinking of red wines it is called a whitewash (q.v.). [There are three suggested derivations: (1) that it is a punning reference to caulking, that which serves to keep out the wet; (2) because such a draught takes a deal of swallowing; and (3) that it is a corruption of corker (q.v.), a regular stopper.] For synonyms, see Go.

1808. J. Mayne, Siller Gun, 89 (Jam.). The magistrates wi’ loyal din, Tak off their cau’kers. [m.]

1836. M. Scott, Cruise of the Midge, ch. vi. We … finished off with a caulker of good cognac.

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. xxi. ‘Take a caulker? Summat heavy, then?’

1871. A. Forbes, My Experiences of the War between France and Germany, II., p. 201. The Mobile officer joins us heartily in a caulker, and does not need to be pressed to take a little supper.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. viii. The caulker of rum served out under the break of the poop by the light of a bull’s-eye lamp.

2. (popular).—A lie; anything surprising or incredible. For synonyms, see Whopper.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xxxi. I also took care that she should never afterwards be able to charge me with having told her a real caulker.

Caution, subs. (popular).—A colloquialism used both of men and things. Anything out of the common, or that conveys a warning; something wonderful or staggering; something to be avoided. Anything that causes surprise, wonder, fear, or indeed any uncommon emotion, is a caution to this, that, or the other. [61]At Oxford in 1865 it was employed to designate a ‘guy’ or ‘cure.’

1835. C. F. Hoffman, Winter in the West, p. 234. The way the icy blast would come down the bleak shore was a caution.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. ii. ‘The way he cleaned out a southerner, a fine young Carolinian, who made a series of matches with him, was, as the Squire himself would have said, a caution.’

1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. i. Such a clench of the slender hand and stamp of the slender foot as constitute what our American friends term a caution.

Cautionary, adj. (American).—Pertaining to that which is a caution (q.v.).

1843–4. Haliburton, Sam Slick in England. Well, the way the cow cut dirt was cautionary; she cleared stumps, ditches, windfalls, and everything.

Cavaulting or Cavolting, verbal subs. (old).—Sexual intercourse. [From the Lingua Franca cavolta, the equivalent of horsing or riding, both of which are frequently used in the same sense. Italian cavaliero = a rake or debauchee.] Cf., Cavort. For synonyms, see Greens.

Cavaulting School, subs. (old).—A house of ill-fame.—See Cavaulting, and for synonyms, see Nanny-shop.

Cave or Cave in, verb (American).—To give way when opposition can no longer be maintained; to break down; to ‘turn up.’ [Derived from the practice of navvies in digging earthworks, when the lower part is undermined until it can no longer sustain the overhanging mass. Murray says all the earliest instances of cave in, in print, are from America, and its literary use appears to have arisen there; but, as the word is given as East Anglian by Forby [1830], and is widely used in Eng. dialects, it is generally conjectured to have reached the U.S. from East Anglia.] The French has barrer; the Spanish acomodarse; and the Fourbesque battere.

English Synonyms. To knuckle under; knock under; give in; sing small; turn it up; chuck it up; jack up; climb down (q.v.); throw up the sponge; chuck it; go down; go out; cut it; cut the rope (pugilistic), etc.

1837–40. Haliburton, Sam Slick, Hum. Nat., 55 (Bardett). He was a plucky fellow, and warn’t a goin’ to cave in that way.

1862. Brown (‘Artemus Ward’), His Book. I kin cave in enny man’s head that, etc.

1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents at Home. In the meantime the tropical sun was beating down and threatening to cave the top of my head in.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xxii. ‘The Russians will cave when they find we are in earnest.’

Cave! intj. (Eton College).—‘Beware!’ A byword among boys out of bounds when a master is in sight. [From the Latin. The modern, ‘beware of the dog’ was rendered cave canem by the Romans.]

Caviare, subs. (literary).—The obnoxious matter ‘blacked out’ by the Russian Press Censor. Every foreign periodical entering Russia is examined for objectionable references or ‘irreligious’ matter, the removal whereof is accomplished in two ways. If the articles or items are bulky, [62]they are torn or cut out bodily. If they are brief, they are ‘blacked out’ by means of a rectangular stamp about as wide as an ordinary newspaper column, and ‘cross-hatched’ in such a way that, when inked and dabbed upon the paper, it makes a close network of white lines and black diamonds. The peculiar mottled or grained look of a page thus treated has suggested the attributive caviare: a memory of the look of the black salted caviare spread upon a slice of bread and butter. A verb has been formed from the noun, and every Russian now understands that ‘to caviare’ = to ‘black out.’ Of course as long as the Russian Government permits the entry of letters without censorial examination, any citizen of St. Petersburg or Moscow can write to Berlin, Paris, or London, and ask to have cut out and forwarded in a sealed envelope either a particular article that has been caviared, or all articles relating to Russia that may appear in any specified newspaper or magazine.

1890. St. James’s Gaz., 25 April, p. 7, col. 1. Every one of Mr. Kennan’s articles in the Century has been caviared.

Cavort, verb (American).—To prance; to frisk; to run or ride in a heedless or purposeless manner. [From the Lingua Franca cavolta = prancing on horseback. Some, however, derive it from ‘curvetting’ = capering for show; there are also, as possible sources, the Spanish cavar, the pawing of a spirited horse; and the French courbetter.]—See Cavaulting.

1848. Major Jones’s Courtship, 41 (Bartlett). A whole gang … came ridin’ up, and reinin’ in, and prancin’, and cavortin’.

1883. Bret Harte, In the Carquinez Woods, ch. i. ‘If we had’nt been cavorting round this yer spot for the last half-hour I’d swear there was a shanty not a hundred yards away,’ said the sheriff.

1889. Puck’s Library, April, p. 12. Being an educated man, I feel ten thousand woes Cavorting for the populace In illustrated clothes.

Cawbawn.—See Cobbon.

Caw Handed, or Caw Pawed.—Awkward; not dexterous, ready or nimble.—Grose [1785].

Caxton, subs. (theatrical).—A wig. [A corruption of caxon, a kind of wig.] In Grose’s time a caxon signified an old weather-beaten wig. Cf., Cauliflower.

Cayuse, subs. (American).—A nickname given by Mormon girls to young ‘Latter Day Saints’: the ‘Yahoos’ of the Gentiles. [The cayuse is properly the common Indian pony. In explanation, it must be noted that there exists among Americans a passionate love of horses. A near and dear friend, an old companion, or men and women whose traits of character command respect and homage, are familiarly ‘horses.’ A distinguished Kentuckian carried away by enthusiasm for Miss Kemble’s acting, started to his feet, and with tremendous energy roared out, ‘By heaven she’s a “horse.” ’] See Old Hog.

Caz, subs. (thieves’).—Cheese.—[See Cassan.]

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Caz: cheese; ‘As good as caz,’ is a phrase signifying that any projected fraud or robbery may be easily and certainly accomplished. [63]

Caze, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum.

Cedar, subs. (Eton College).—1. A pair-oared boat inrigged, without canvas, and very ‘crank.’ [From the material.]

2. (prison).—A pencil. [This, like the foregoing, is derived from the wood of which both are made.]

Celestial Poultry, subs. (popular).—Angels. [An allusion to the mythological wings of ‘men out of the body.’]

Celestials, subs. (military).—The Ninety-seventh Regiment of Foot. [So nicknamed from its facings of sky blue.]

1856. Notes and Queries, 2 S., ii., p. 215. The 97th too is not mentioned by your correspondents as far as I have seen, the celestials.

1871. Chambers’ Journal, Dec. 23, p. 801. ‘Celestials’—the facings of the … corps being sky blue.

2. sing. (common).—A ‘turn-up’ or ‘pug’ nose. For synonyms, see Conk.

3. (colloquial).—The Chinese. The Chinese Empire is spoken of as the Celestial Empire.

Cellier, subs. (old).—An out-and-out, unmitigated lie. [A word of great interest, illustrating the temporary use for certain purposes of the name of a certain person, as in the cases of Burke, Boycott, Bishop, and Salisbury (q.v.). The Meal-tub Plot in 1680 was the concoction of Thomas Dangerfield and Elizabeth Cellier, a Roman Catholic midwife. Forged documents which Dangerfield hid in Colonel Mansel’s lodgings were upon his deposition found there by Government officers; but the fraud was soon discovered, and Dangerfield was committed to Newgate. On his trial he endeavoured to throw the entire blame on Mrs. Cellier, and asserted that the original papers were all to be found in her house hidden in a meal tub. This turned out to be true, and Mrs. Cellier was committed to prison. On her trial she managed to prove that Dangerfield was wholly unworthy of credit, and her marvellous impudence and vigorous mendacity led to her own acquittal, and made her name for the time the equivalent of ‘an out-and-out lie.’ After her trial she thanked the jurors for giving her a good deliverance, and offered to ‘serve their ladies with the same fidelity in their deliveries.’] For synonyms, see Whopper.

1682. Popes Harbinger, p. 79. That’s a Celier, Sir, a modern and most proper phrase to signifie any Egregious Lye.

Cellar-Flap, subs. (common).—A step or dance performed within the compass of (say) a Cellar-Flap. The object of the Whitechapel artist in the dance is to achieve as many changes of step as possible without shifting his ground: his action being restricted to the feet and legs. An old equivalent is To Cut Capers on a Trencher; also Double-Shuffle (q.v.).

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 219. Others again would indulge in a break-down, or cellar-flap dance, dreadfully to the discomfort of the men in the cells below. [64]

Cent. Not worth a cent, phr.—See Care and Fig.

Cent Per Cent, subs. (common).—A usurer. [Literally one who charges an exorbitant rate of interest, here symbolized as a hundred for every hundred. Quoted by Grose (1785).] For synonyms, see Sixty per Cent.

Centre-of-Bliss, subs. (common).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Centurion, subs. (cricket).—A batsman who scores a hundred runs. [From centurion, the commander of a ‘century,’ in the Roman Army.]

1886. Graphic, 31 July, p. 107, col. 2. Some other centurions have been Chatterton (108) for M.C.C., Shuter (103, not out) for Trent.

Century, subs. (turf).—A hundred pounds; or at cricket, etc., a score of a hundred. Originally a division of the Roman Army numbering 100 men. In English it was and is in common use to signify a group of a hundred. Shakspeare, in Cymbeline, iv., 2, 391 [1611], writes a ‘century’ of prayers. See also A. C. Swinburne, A Century of Rondels and W. E. Henley, A Century of Artists (1889). Cf., Monkey, Pony, etc.

1864. Derby Day, p. 131. ‘I’m open to a bet. I’ll lay you an even century about Nimrod.’

1869. Daily News, July 29. ‘Police Court Report.’ After this he said he searched the breeches pockets that were lying by the side of the bed, and took half a century worth of property from them.

1883. Echo, Nov. 1, p. 4, col. 2. Golding … purchased Passaic from F. Archer for a century.

1883. Graphic, August 11, p. 138, col. 2. His batting this year has been of the highest order, as witnesses among his many good performances that against the Players, when he marked his century.

Cert, subs. (sporting).—A certainty, of which it is an abbreviation. With special reference in racing circles to events looked upon as absolutely sure. Variants are a dead, or moral, certainty; A dead ’un; and a moral.

1859. Letter from Edward S. Taylor to John Camden Hotten, 22 Dec. This edition will sell to a dead certainty.

1889. Man of the World, June 29. ‘Love-in-Idleness is bound to take the Rous Memorial, and I hear Pioneer is a cert. for the St. James’s.’

Certainties, subs. (printers’).—Infants of the male sex.—See Uncertainties.

Chafe, verb (old).—To thrash soundly. [Chafe = ‘to warm,’ ‘to rub with the hand.’ Cf., Anoint.] For synonyms, see Tan.

1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., p. 36.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Chafed: well beaten.

Chafer, verb (common).—To copulate. [Probably a corruption of chauver.] For synonyms, see Ride.

Chaff, subs. (colloquial).—1. Ironical or sarcastic banter; fooling; humbug; ridicule. [A word of uncertain derivation, which, except in two instances, both doubtful, does not appear in English literature, in either its substantive or its verbal form, before the beginning of the present century. Of the two the substantive seems to be the [65]earlier. If this be correct, Murray thinks it may have arisen from a figurative employment of the orthodox word, in the sense of ‘refuse,’ ‘worthless matter,’ etc., connected with which is the proverb ‘an old bird is not caught with chaff.’ On the other hand there is an Arabic word Jaf or chaf, ‘dry, withered’ (like the Greek καρφος), used metaphorically and vulgarly in a sense similar to ‘humbug.’ To chaff a man is vulgo, to humbug him; for humbug, like chaff, is what may be scattered before the wind—what is light, trivial, or unfounded—an act of folly or knavery.—See, however, verb, sense 1.]

[Murray in dealing with this word leads off his illustrative quotations with one (see quot. 1648) which he thinks may be uncertainly placed, as it may mean ‘scolding.’ There is, however, another instance, which, though also uncertain, may be a link in the chain of evidence. In this case chaffing may bear its modern slang signification, though as has been said, it is open to another reading.]

For synonyms, see Gammon, sense 1.

164(?). The Downfall of Charing-Cross. Percy Ballads, II., p. 327 [ed. 1765]. Undone, undone, the Lawyers are, They wander about the towne, Nor find the way to Westminster, Now Charing-Cross is downe: At the end of the Strand they make a stand, Swearing they are at a loss, And chaffing say that’s not the way, They must go by Charing-Cross.

1648. Jenkyn, Blind Guide, iv., 76. You pretend to nothing but chaffe and scoffes. [m.]

1821. The Fancy, vol. I., 250. He could not of course put up with chaff in the streets.

1853. Diogenes, II., 79. ‘Maxims for Cabmen.’ If you want oats for your horses you must cease giving chaff to your passengers.

1864. Athenæum, 29 Oct., No. 1931, P. 557, col. 3. Julius Cæsar passed his boyhood in a vicious locality, where cant phrases abounded, but the latter are not recorded. We have heard of the Famæ non nimium bonæ puellæ, Quales in mediâ sedent Suburrâ—but we hear only faint echoes of the chaff that was scattered thereupon by the passers-by.

1890. Globe, Feb. 13, p. 5, col. 2. The extract you send to me from some letter from Lord Rosebery about the House of Lords looks to me very like chaff, and was probably intended as such.

2. (Christ’s Hospital).—A small article or plaything, e.g., ‘a pocket chaff.’ Connected with ‘chattel,’ ‘chapman,’ etc.—Blanch. Cf., verbal (sense 2), adjectival, and interjectional senses.

Verb.—1. To banter; to jest; to ‘gammon’ or ‘quiz.’ An analogous term formerly in use was queer (q.v.). So also chaffing and chaffingly. For synonyms, see Gammon, sense 1.

1851. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, I., p. 35. Though he’s only twelve years old he’ll chaff down a peeler so uncommon severe that the only way to stop him is to take him in charge.

1864. H. Aïdé, Mr. and Mrs. Faulconbridge, I., 279. ‘Pshaw!’ said Sir Richard, with a lofty good humour, ‘Don’t chaff your uncle, sir.’

1889. T. Mackay, on ‘Shoeblacks,’ in Times, Aug., p. 135. I have known courageous men who would rather try to chaff a bus driver than a shoeblack.

2. (Christ’s Hospital).—To exchange small articles. Cf., subs. sense.

1877. W. H. Blanch, Blue-coat Boys, p. 96. Chaff me your knife.

Adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Pleasant; glad. Sometimes chaffy. Cf., subs., sense 2.

Intj. (Christ’s Hospital).—An exclamation signifying joy or pleasure.

Chaff-Cutter, subs. (old).—A back-biter or slanderer. [66]

Chaffer, subs. (colloquial).—1. One given to chaffing. [From chaff (q.v.) + er.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, vol. I., p. 357. She was considered to be the best chaffer on the road; not one of them could stand against her tongue.

1877. Temple Bar, p. 536. An actor of very moderate abilities, and so remarkably ill-favoured in person as to be the constant butt of the chaffers in the pit.

2. (popular).—The mouth, [i.e., the organ of chaff, or ‘ropery.’] For synonyms, see Potato-trap. Also, the tongue.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob. Suppose we haves a drain o’ heavy wet, just by way of cooling our chaffers—mine’s as dry as a chip.

1822. David Carey, Life in Paris, p. 194. For there you may damp your chaffer In fifty different ways.

To moisten one’s chaffer, phr. (common).—To drink. [See Chaffer, sense 2.] For synonyms, see Lush.

Chaffing-Crib, subs. (old).—The place where a man receives his intimates; his ‘den,’ ‘snuggery,’ or ‘diggings.’ [Cf., Chaff. From chaffing, light talk, + crib, a place of sojourning.] For synonyms, see Diggings.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry. Jerry. Chaffing crib! I’m at fault, coz, can’t follow. Tom. My prattling parlour—my head quarters, coz, where I unbend with my pals.

Chaffy, adj. (colloquial).—Full of banter. [From chaff, subs., + y.]

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, Aug. 7, p. 3. chaffy answers were all he got at first.

Chained or Chain Lightning, subs.—(American).—Whiskey of the vilest description—a spirit ‘warranted to kill at forty rods.’ Hence forty rod lightning, stone-fence, railroad, rotgut, and kill-the-carter (Scots). For synonyms, see Drinks. In the Western States of America, what is known as forked lightning in England, is called chain-lightning, from its forming a sequence of zig-zags.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms p. 215. The worst of lickers, as the signboards often have it in unconscious irony, is called chain-lightning, from its terrible strength and stunning effect.

Chain-Gang, subs. (thieves’).—Jewellers; watch-chain makers. The French argot has un boguiste (thieves’) and un chaîniste.

Chair. To put in the chair, phr. (cab-drivers’).—See quot.

1864. Social Science Review, I., 408. A Justice’s order is sufficient for the committal to prison of a cab hirer (driver) who will not or cannot pay.… Some hirers who become inured to prison discipline and prison fare get altogether hardened, and boast of the number of owners whom they have put in the chair or in polite English neglected to pay.

Chairmarking, verbal subs. (cab-owners’).—Inserting the date in a cab-driver’s licence in words instead of figures: or, endorsing it in an unusually bold, heavy hand: a hint to possible employers that the holder is undesirable. In other trades it is understood that an unexceptionable character, with the adjectives carefully underlined, is to be read as implying just the opposite of what it appears to say.

1890. Pall Mall Gazette, Sept. 15. A correspondent writes to protest against the heading ‘A Cabman’s Odd Complaint,’ which was given in these columns on Saturday to a paragraph concerning the chair-marking of a licence. [67]

Chaldese, verb (old).—To trick, cheat, or ‘take in.’ [Thought to be from ‘Chaldee,’ in allusion to astrology. Cf., to Jew.] For synonyms, see Stick.

1664. Butler, Hudibras, II., iii., 1010. He stole your cloak and pick’d your pocket, Chows’d and Caldes’d you like a blockhead.

1680. Rem. (1759), I., 24. Asham’d, that Men so grave and wise, Should be chaldes’d by Gnats and Flies. [m.]

1697. Dennis, Plot and No Plot, I. I chaldes’d a Judge while he was taking my Depositions. [m.]

Chalk, subs. (colloquial).—1. A score, reckoning; and (in a more decidedly slang sense) by Chalks, many chalks, long chalks, etc., i.e., ‘degrees’ or ‘marks’; also ‘credit,’ or ‘tick.’ Cf., Clock stopped.

1529. Skelton, El. Rummyng, 613. We’re fayne with a chalke To score on the balke. [m.]

1592. Nashe, P. Penilesse, B j b. Hee that hath no money must goe and dine with Sir John best betrust, at the signe of the chalke and the Post.

1634. S. R., Noble Soldier, v., 3, in Bullen’s O. Pl., I., 333. There’s lesse chalke upon you[r] score of sinnes. [m.]

1704. T. Brown, Lat. on Fr. King, wks. (1730) I., 60. I trespassed most enormously in chalk. [m.]

1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), I., 270. This wheedling talk you fancy will rub out my chalk.

1838–40. Haliburton, The Clockmaker (ed. 1862), p. 102. They reckon themselves here a chalk above us Yankees …

1864–5. Edmund Yates, Broken to Harness, I., p. 174. ‘Can you say that I have deceived or thrown you over in any way? Never!’ ‘Thank God for that!’ says the girl, with some bitterness; ‘for that’s a chalk in my favor, at least.’

2. (nautical).—A scratch or scar. Cf., verb, sense 2, and Chalkers, sense 1.

1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, vi. I got this chalk.

Adj. (turf).—Unknown or incompetent. [From the practice at race-meetings of keeping blank slides at the telegraph board on which the names of new jockeys can be inscribed in chalk, while the names of well-known men are usually painted or printed in permanent characters. The former were called chalk-jockeys, and the general public argued that they were incompetent, being unknown.]

Verb (old).—1. To score up, or tick off, in chalk, a material at one time handier than pen-and-ink. Subsequently in pugilistic circles merit marks, etc., were made with the same.

2. (nautical).—To make one ‘stand treat’ or ‘pay his footing.’ If an old hand succeeds in chalking the shoes of a green hand, the latter has to ‘stand drinks all round.’

3. (thieves’).—To strike, Cf., Chalkers, sense 1.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. (II., p. 84). Chalk him across the peepers with your cheery [which, translated, means slash him over the eyes with your dagger].

To chalk up, or to chalk it up, phr. (common).—To credit, or take credit; to put to one’s account.

1597. 1st Pt. Return Parnass., I., i., 451. All my debts stande chaukt upon the poste for liquor. [m.]

1611. Chapman, May-Day, Act I., p. 278 (Plays, 1874). Faith, sir, she [hostess] has chalked up twenty shillings already, and swears she will chalk no more.

1843. Punch’s Almanack, Jan.… ‘When you wish for beer resort freely to the chalk, and go on, getting as much as you can upon this principle, until it becomes unproductive, when you may try it in another quarter.’ [68]

To beat by long or many chalks, phr. (common).—To beat thoroughly; to show appreciable superiority.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 447. Still Sir Alured’s steed was by long chalks the best of the party, and very soon distanced the rest.

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.’

1856. C. Bronté, Professor, ch. iii. ‘You are not as fine a fellow as your plebeian brother by a long chalk.’

1883. Grenville Murray, People I Have Met, p. 133. The finest thing in the world; or, as he himself would have expressed it, ‘the best thing out by many chalks.’

To walk or stump one’s chalks, phr. (popular).—To move or run away; to be off. [Said to be a corruption of ‘walk! you’re chalked,’ the origin of which is found in the ancient practice of lodgings for the royal retinue being taken arbitrarily by the marshal and sergeant-chamberlain, when the inmates were sent to the right about, and their houses designated by a chalk mark. When Mary de Médicis came to England in 1638, Sieur de Labat was employed to mark ‘all sorts of houses commodious for her retinue in Colchester.’ The same custom is referred to in the Life and Acts of Sir William Wallace, To stump (q.v.) = to go on foot.] For synonyms, see Amputate.

1840. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xi. ‘The way she walks her chalks ain’t no matter. She is a regular fore-and-after.’

1843. Comic Almanack, p. 366. And since my future walk’s chalk’d out—at once I’ll walk my chalks.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 318. The President, in whom he is disappointed for one reason or another, does not come up to chalk; when he dismisses an official, he is made to walk the chalk.

To be able to walk a chalk, phr. (popular).—To be sober. [The ordeal on board ship of trying men suspected of drunkenness is to make them walk along a line chalked on the deck, without deviating to right or left. Cf., Making chalks and Toe the line (q.v.).]

Making chalks, phr. (nautical cadets’).—A term connected with the punishment of boys on board ship, and in the Royal Naval School. Two chalk lines are drawn wide apart on the deck or floor, and the boy to be punished places a foot on each of these lines, and stoops, thereby presenting a convenient section of his person to the boatswain or master.

To chalk the lamp-post, phr. (American).—To bribe. For synonyms, see Grease the palm.

1857. Boston Post, March 5. Chalking the lamp post. ‘The term for bribery in Philadelphia.’

There are other expressions connected with chalk, such as ‘to know chalk from cheese,’ ‘to chalk out,’ etc., but these hardly find a place here.

Chalkers, subs. (old).—1. Men of wit in Ireland, who in the night amuse themselves with cutting inoffensive passengers across the face with a knife. They are somewhat like those facetious gentlemen, some time ago known in England by the title of sweaters and mohocks.—Grose. See Ireland Sixty Years Since (p. 15). [69]

2. sing. (common).—A London milkman.—See quot. [One who mixes with chalk—an obvious innuendo.] Cf., Cow with the iron tail and Simpson’s cow.

1865. Daily Telegraph, Sept. 7 (?). It is an ominous fact that London milkmen are known in the vocabulary of slang as chalkers.

Chalk-Farm, subs. (rhyming-slang).—The arm.

English Synonyms. Bender; hoop-stick; fin; daddle.

French Synonyms. L’anse (popular: in old French cant anse signified the ‘ear’); les allumettes (popular: ‘the arms’); l[a]’aile or l[e]’aileron (popular: in the Fourbesque ala); les nageoires (plural).

Italian Synonyms. Ala (‘a wing’); barbacana (literally a kind of advanced fortification); tarentule (the Italian has tarantello, ‘a spider’).

Spanish Synonyms. Bracio; remo (properly ‘an oar’).

Chalk-Head, subs. (old).—A nickname for a person with a ‘good head for figures.’ Waiters in London are very commonly so called.—See quot. 1861. [From the ‘chalks’ or score formerly marked up behind a tavern bar, the ‘tally’ being ‘kept in the head’ instead of being ‘chalked up’ on a board or slate.]

1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 134. Billy. You see, Billy, my heddication war summat neglected, and I haven’t got the nateral adwantage of a good chalk-head.

1861. Punch, vol. XLI., p. 129. Among tavern waiters a ready reckoner is called a good chalk-head.

Cham or Chammy, subs. (popular).—An abbreviation of ‘champagne.’ For synonyms, see Drinks. Cf., Boy.

1871. All the Year Round, Feb. 18, p. 285. ‘Let’s have glasses round. Come and have a bottle of cham.’

Chamber of Horrors, subs. phr.—1. (parliamentary).—The Peeresses’ Gallery in the House of Lords. Cf., Cage, sense 4.

1876. Daily News. There could be no doubt as to the inconvenience, the gallery being generally known as the Chamber of Horrors.

2. In plural (common).—Sausages. [From the possibility of adulteration in this species of food. Also bags of mystery, and Sharp’s Alley bloodworms.] In Fourbesque, carbonata.

Chamming, verbal subs. (common).—Indulgence in champagne. [From cham, verb (on the model of ‘to wine,’ ‘to beer,’ etc.), to drink champagne, + ing.]

Chance. To have an eye to the main chance, phr. (colloquial). To keep in view that which will result in advantage, interest or gain. [Thought to have originated in the phraseology of the game of hazard.] Murray, quoting from the Dict. Cant. Crew, says that ‘to have an eye to the main chance’ was a cant phrase in 1699, and that the expression still partakes of the character. All the quotations given in the N.E.D. prior to 1699, illustrate a simpler form of the colloquialism, such as to ‘stand to the main chance,’ but it will be seen that to have an eye to the main chance is more than a hundred years older. [70]

1609. Jonson, Case is Altered, IV., 4. Juniper, to the door; an eye to the main chance. [Removes the dung, and shews him the gold.]

1693. Dryden, Persius, VI., 158. Be careful still of the main chance, my son; Put out the principal in trusty hands.

1711. Spectator, No. 196. I am very young, and yet no one in the world, dear sir, has the main chance more in her head than myself.

1844. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xviii., p. 190. ‘Was it politics? Or was it the price of stock?’ ‘The main chance, Mr. Jonas, the main chance, I suspect.’

Chancer, subs. (tailors’).—A liar. Also an incompetent workman: i.e., one who ‘chances’ what he cannot do.

Chancery. In Chancery, adv. phr. (common).—‘To have or get your man in chancery’ is to get his head under your left arm so that you can Fib (q.v.) him with your right until he gets it out, or you go to grass (q.v.) together. Primarily pugilistic. Figuratively the expression = in a parlous case; in an awkward fix. The French have adopted the phrases mettre en chancellerie and coup de chancellerie which are almost literal translations.

1819. Thomas Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 77. Lord St-w-rt’s a hero (as many suppose) and the Lady he woos is a rich and a rare one; his heart is in chancery, every one knows, and so would his head be, if thou wert his fair one.

1845. Punch, vol. IX., p. 9. ‘Lord Brougham’s Handbook for Political Boxing.’ Getting the nob into Chancery is a fine achievement, I once got several nobs into Chancery: and I certainly gave several of them severe punishment. This Chancery manœuvre has been a capital thing for me.

1860. Chambers’ Journal, vol. XIII., p. 15. Marsden suffered him to approach within distance, dashed his outstretched arms away, and received his transatlantic head into chancery.

1883. Daily News, 9 Mar., p. 3, col. 7. Thinking the man was a burglar he rode up to assist, and saw the constable holding Burtenshaw, and striking him. The constable had the prisoner in chancery.

Chance the Ducks, phr. (common).—An expression signifying ‘come what may.’ [From the colloquial use of chance, to risk, or take one’s chance of + ducks (q.v.), probably a pleonasm. Cf., please the pigs.

1886. T. Ratcliffe, in N. and Q., 7 S., i., 108. An’ chance the ducks—this when a man makes up his mind to a risky venture. He will say, ‘I’ll do it, an’ chance th’ ducks.’

Chance your Arm, phr. (tailors’).—‘Chance it!’ ‘Try it on!’ etc.—[See Chance the ducks,—of which it seems a variant.]

Chaney-Eyed, adj. (common).—One-eyed. [From Chaney, a corruption of ‘China’ or ‘Chinese’; hence, eyes as small as those of the Celestials.] Cf., Squinny-eyed.

Change.—This word, in the sense of coins of one denomination given in exchange for those of another is responsible for several expressive colloquialisms.

To give change, phr. (common).—To ‘pay out’; to give one his deserts. Cf., To take one’s change out of.

To have all one’s change about one, phr. (common).—To be clever; quick-witted; quite ‘compos mentis’; with ‘twelve pence to the shilling about one.’

To put the change on, phr. (old).—To deceive, or mislead. [71]Apparently for a long time a contemporary variant of to ring the changes.

1667. Dryden, Sir Martin Marr-all, Act ii. Warn.… By this light, she has put the change upon him! O, sweet womankind! how I love thee for that heavenly gift of lying!

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. xvi., p. 168 (1874). The box-keeper shall walk off, pretending some speedy dispatch of a business concerning the House of Office, etc., whilst your antagonist shall put the change upon you.

1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, v., 17. I have so contriv’d that Mellefont will presently, in the chaplain’s habit, wait for Cynthia in your dressing-room; but I have put the change upon her, that she may be otherwise employed.

1821. Scott, Kenilwortht, ch. iii. You cannot put the change on me so easy as you think, for I have lived among the quick-stirring spirits of the age too long to swallow chaff for grain.

To ring the changes, phr. (common).—To change a better article for a worse. [An allusion to bell-ringing where it signifies to exhaust the combinations of a peal of bells.] In its slang sense to ring the changes chiefly refers to the passing of counterfeit money. As thus:—‘About five weeks ago, the prisoner went into a tobacconist’s shop in Cheapside, and purchased a cheroot, tendering a sovereign in payment. The prosecutor, Mr. Elkin, gave him the change, half-a-sovereign and 9s. 6d. silver. The prisoner said he did not want to distress him by taking away all his silver, and asked for another half sovereign. The prosecutor put down half-a-sovereign, which the prisoner took up, and the latter then said that if he returned the sovereign, he would give him back the change, and the prosecutor, taken off his guard, did so, and received the first half sovereign and the 9s. 6d. in silver, the prisoner walking out of the shop with the second half sovereign.’

1661. Hist. of Eng. Rebellion in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), II., 528. Five months ago, our mighty States Were pleas’d to vote No King; But two months since, to act new cheats, Their votes the changes ring.

1760. Smollett, Sir L. Graves, vol. I., ch. x. Hugging in and ringing out the changes on the balance of power, the Protestant religion, and your allies on the Continent.

1828. Jon. Bee, Picture of London, p. 232. He found one piece [of muslin] that was indeed real India, bargained for and bought it, amidst continued attempts to shuffle it between others, for the purpose of ringing the changes, as they term the nefarious act.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 234. Nothing easier than for some man to have slipped out of bed, night or day, and rung the changes of the bottles.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners. ch. xli. The culprit had been guilty of ringing the changes or other petty larceny.

To take the change out of [a person or thing], phr. (common).—To be revenged upon; to take an equivalent, or quid pro quo. Frequently used interjectionally—Take your change out of that! with a blow or other rejoinder. An analogous expression is Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

1829. John Wilson, Noctes Amb., wks. II., 174. Shepherd (flinging a purse of gold on the table). It’ll require a gey strang thaw to melt that, chiels; sae. tak your change out o’ that, as Joseph [Hume] says, either in champagne, or jile … just whatsumever you like to devour best.

1838. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. viii. ‘Thinks I to myself, take your change out o’ that, young man, will you?’

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xi. If his ammunition be [72]exhausted he betakes himself to the bayonet, and swears ‘the beggars may take your change out o’ that.’

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xlvi. Turn Lady Ascot once fairly to bay, you would (if you can forgive slang) get very little change out of her.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliott, I., 185. Cabman, log: ‘I never said nothink to you, but without provocation you tell me to go to Putney. Now, I tell you what it is, I’m blessed if I don’t go, and you may take your change out of that!’ And go he did. [Cf., ‘Go to Putney’ (q.v.).]

Quick change artiste, subs. (music hall).—A performer, male or female, who sings one song in one costume, retires for a few seconds and returns to sing another in another guise, and so on.

Change-Bags, subs. (Eton).—Grey flannel trousers for cricket, and knickerbockers for football.

Change One’s Note or Tune, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To pass from laughter to tears, or from arrogance to humility; to alter one’s mode of speech, behaviour, etc. Cf., Change your breath (q.v. under Breath).

1578. Scot. Poems, 16th c. (1808), II. 185. Priestes change your tune. [m.]

1708. Motteux, Rabelais, V., ix. I’ll make him change his note presently.

Change Your Breath.—See Breath.

Chant or Chaunt, subs. (old).—1. See quots.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Chaunt: a song … To throw off a rum chaunt is to sing a good song.

1882. Daily Telegraph, 19 Oct., p. 5, col. 2. To troll his jovial chaunts … in a tavern-parlour. [m.]

2. (old).—See quots.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Chaunt: (a person’s) name, address, or designation; … a cipher, initials, or mark of any kind, on a piece of plate, linen, or other article; anything so marked is said to be chanted … an advertisement in a newspaper or handbill, etc.

1824. Compl. Hist. Murder Mr. Weare. 258. ‘We may as well look and see if there is any chaunt about the money’—and they examined the four notes, but there were no marks upon them. [m.]

Verb (old).—1. To talk; sing; relate the praises of; to ‘cry’ or ‘crack up.’ Street patterers and vendors chant their songs and wares, oftentimes to an extent not warranted by their quality: hence sense 2. An equivalent amongst French thieves is pousser la goualante.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 240. A running patterer … who also occasionally chaunts.

2. (common).—To sell a horse by fraudulent representations. [Apparently an extended usage of sense 1—‘to cry’ or ‘crack up.’] Fr., enrosser = to dissemble a horse’s faults.

1816. Sporting Magazine, vol. XLIX., p. 305. A number of frauds have been practised lately in the disposal of horses … by a gang of … swindlers, who technically call it chaunting horses.

1825. English Spy, vol. I., pp. 199, 200. Here a church militant is seen Who’d rather fight than preach, I ween, Once major now a parson; With one leg in the grave he’ll laugh, Chant up a prad, or quaintly chaff To keep life’s pleasant farce on.

1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xx. You may as well say that horses are sold in heaven, which, as you know, are groomed, are doctored, are chanted on to the market, and warranted by dexterous horse-vendors as possessing every quality of blood, pace, temper, age.

Chanter (generally Horse-Chanter), subs. (common).—1. A horse-dealer who disposes of [73]horses by means of fraudulent representations.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act. i., Sc. 6. Grooms, Jockies, and Chaunters, to Tattersall’s bring.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, xlii., 365. ‘He was a horse-chaunter: he’s a leg now.’

1845. W. M. Thackeray, Miscellanies, II. (‘Leg. of the Rhine’), p. 88. He is a cogger of dice, a chanter of horse-flesh.

1857. Dickens, Dorrit, bk. I., ch. xii., 88. The Plaintiff was a Chaunter—meaning, not a singer of anthems, but a seller of horses.

1884. Daily News, August 23, p. 5, col. 1. It is for the chanter and his attendant bonnet, who officiates as groom, to place the stock.

1890. W. E. Henley, Views and Reviews, p. 137. An apple woman to mystify, a horse-chanter to swindle, a pugilist to study, etc., etc.

2. (vagrants’).—A street patterer. More commonly spelt chaunter (q.v.).

3. (Scots).—The penis.

Chantey or Shanty, subs. (nautical).—A song sung by sailors at their work.—See Chantey-man. [Obviously a diminutive of chant, a song.]

1869. Chambers’ Journal, 11 Dec., pp. 794–6. [Article on ‘Sailors’ Shanties and Sea-Songs.’]

1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, preface, xi. But the lack of variety is no obstruction to the sailor’s poetical inspiration when he wants the ‘old man’ to know his private opinions without expressing them to his face, and so the same chantey, as the windlass or halliard chorus is called, furnishes the music to as many various indignant remonstrances as Jack can find injuries to sing about.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. iii. ‘Then give us one of the old chanteys,’ exclaimed my uncle. ‘Haul the Bowline,’ or ‘Whiskey, Johnny.’

Chantey-Man, subs. (nautical).—A singer of Chanteys (q.v.).

1887. Saturday Review, 27 August. A shanty, or, as pedants call it, ‘chanty,’ is a song sung by sailors at their work. The music is ‘to a certain extent traditional,’ the words—which are commonly unfit for ears polite—are traditional likewise. The words and music are divided into two parts—the ‘shanty’ proper, which is delivered by a single voice, with or without a fiddle obligato, and the refrain and chorus, which are sung with much straining and tugging, and with peculiar breaks and strange and melancholy stresses, by a number of men engaged in the actual performance of some piece of bodily labour. The manner is this. We will suppose for instance, that what is wanted is an anchor song. The fugleman takes his stand, fiddle in hand, and strikes up the melody of ‘Away Down Rio.’ Then, everything being ready, he pipes out a single line of the song, and the working party, with a strong pull at the capstan-bars, answers with a long-drawn Away Down Rio. He sings a second verse, and this is followed by the full strength of the chorus.… And so on, through stave after stave, till the anchor’s weighed, and, the work being done, the need for song is gone by.

1890. W. E. Henley, Views and Reviews, p. 153. He goes down to the docks and loiters among the galiots and brigantines; he hears the melancholy song of the chantey-man.

Chantie, subs. (Scots).—A chamber-pot. For synonyms, see It.

Chanting (more commonly Horse-Chanting), verbal subs. (common).—1. Tricking into the purchase of unsound or vicious horses.

1825. English Spy, vol. I., pp. 199, 200. The servant was a confederate, and the whole affair nothing more than a true orthodox farce of horse-chaunting got up for the express purpose of raising a temporary supply.

1870–2. Gallery of Comicalities. If I have got an ’orse to sell, You’ll never find that Dick is wanting; There’s few that try it on so well, Or beat me at a bit of chaunting. [74]

2. (vagrants’).—Street ballad-singing.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 297. There is a class of ballads, which may with perfect propriety be called street ballads, as they are written by street authors for street singing (or chaunting) and street sale.

1883. Daily Telegraph, Feb. 8, p. 3, col. 1. ‘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.’

Chapel or Chapel of Ease, subs. (common).—A water-closet. For synonyms, see Bury a Quaker and Mrs. Jones.

Chapel of Little Ease, subs. phr. (thieves’)—The police station or cells.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 27 Jan. [See short leader; also 25 Jan.]

1889. Answers, 9 Feb. 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, walk, sit, nor lie in it at full length. He was compelled to draw himself up in a squatting posture, and so remain during several days.

Chapped or Chapt, ppl. adj. (old).—Parched; ‘dry’; thirsty. [From chap, to crack (as the lips) from want of moisture, + ed.]

1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 37. Chap’d, Dry, or Thirsty.

1725. New Canting Dictionary, s.v.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Chapt: dry or thirsty.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Chappie or Chappy, subs. (familiar).—The latest (1890) variety of man about town; a term of intimacy. [From chap, a chum, + ie, a diminutive.] For synonyms, see Dandy.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 69, col. 1. I’ll sing you a fine new song, all about a fine young spark, Who’s a fine young London gentleman, quite up to any lark, Who takes supper very early, and breakfasts in the dark; Who’s a real ‘dear old chappie,’ as I needn’t perhaps remark.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Illustr. London News, March 24, p. 290, col. 1. Lord Boodle, a rapid Chappie always ready to bet on everything with anybody.

Character, subs. (colloquial).—A man or woman exhibiting some prominent (and usually contemptible) trait; an eccentric; a case (q.v.). Generally used with such adjectives as ‘low,’ ‘queer,’ ‘comic,’ etc.—[From character = a personage in history or fiction: one who has distinguished him- or herself.] For synonyms, see Odd Fish.

1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, II., 1. A very impudent fellow this! but he’s a character, and I’ll humour him.

1820–33. C. Lamb, Essays of Elia, p. 163. You are fond of having a character at your table, and truly he is one.

Charactered, ppl. adj. (old).—Burnt on the hand; otherwise lettered (q.v.). [From the legitimate meaning of the word, = ‘marked or inscribed with characters.’]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. T., s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. They have palmed the character upon him.

Charing-Cross, subs. (rhyming slang).—A horse. For synonyms, see Prad.

Chariot, subs. (thieves’).—An omnibus. In the sixteenth century chariot = a vehicle of any kind, and in the eighteenth a light four-wheeled carriage. French thieves call an omnibus une omnicroche, or un four banal, which last = also a pocket or ‘cly.’ [75]

Chariot-Buzzing, subs. (thieves’).—Picking pockets in an omnibus. [From chariot (q.v.), an omnibus, + buz, verb 2 (q.v.), to pick pockets, + ing.] French thieves’ faire l’omnicroche.

Charles, His Friend, subs. (theatrical).—See Friend.

Charley or Charlie, subs. (old).—1. A night watchman. A popular name, prior to the introduction by Sir R. Peel, in 1829, of the present police force; since when it has fallen into desuetude. The Charlies were generally old men whose chief duty was crying the hour on their rounds. Boxing a Charley was a favourite amusement with young bucks and bloods, who, when they found a night-watchman asleep in his box, would overturn it, leaving the occupant to escape as best he might. [The origin of the term is uncertain. Some trace it to Charles I., who re-organised the watch system of the metropolis in 1640. If this be tenable it is curious that so long a period elapsed between the event and its recognition in slang. The earliest appears to be that given infra. For synonyms, see Beak and Copper.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Charley: a watchman.

1823. Charles Westmacott, Points of Misery, p. 28. A regular chase between me and the Charleys all the way to Lad Lane.

1845. Hood, Tale of a Trumpet, st. 55. That other old woman, the parish Charley!

1852. Bentley’s Miscellany, 1 June, p. 620. Oh, those dear old Charlies of the Dogberry school! How their husky cries of the passing hour mingled with our dreams, letting us know that they were at least wide awake to the thievings of time!

1865. G. F. Berkeley, My Life, etc., I., 106. The night’s entertainment ending in the morning before a magistrate, when the roughly used Charleys, as the night-policemen were called, preferred charges of assault supported by black eyes and a few loose teeth carefully preserved for the purpose, and the offenders thought themselves lucky if they got off with only a moderate fine. [Temp. George IV.]

1889. Daily News, Sep. 28, p. 2, col. 5. The Last of the Charleys. In the person of Mr. William Mason, who died on Wednesday at the age of 89, we lose the last survivor of the Charleys who used to patrol the streets prior to the establishment in 1849 of the City Police Force.

2. (common).—A small, pointed beard, fashionable in the time of Charles I.; an ‘imperial’; in America a goatee (q.v. for synonyms).

1824. Gentleman’s Magazine, March 1, p. 295, col. 2. With white pantaloons, watch chains, and Wellingtons, and a Charley at their under lip.

1841. Hook, Widow, x., 145. He … wore … a Charley on his under lip.

1861. Taylor, Antiq. Falkland, 43. That square, short man … wearing a moustache and Charlie is William Laud.

18(?). R. M. Jephson, Girl He Left Behind Him, ch. i. Dolly himself was occupied in nursing a tuft of hair on his chin termed, grandiloquently, an imperial, familiarly, a Charley.

3. (hunting).—A fox. Fourbesque, graniera.

1857. Hughes, Tom Brown’s Schooldays, ch. i., p. 8. A nice little gorse or spinney where abideth poor Charley, having no other cover to which to betake himself for miles and miles, when pushed out some fine November morning by the old Berkshire.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xxviii. ‘And all after a poor little fox!’ ‘You don’t know Charley, I can see,’ said Halbert; ‘poor little fox indeed.’

4. (American thieves’).—A watch. [Possibly a pun upon Charley, sense 1, a watch or [76]watchman.] For synonyms, see Ticker.

5. (tailors’).—The nap on faced on glossy-surfaced cloth.

6. (tailors’).—A round-shouldered figure.

Charley Bates’ Farm, or Garden.—See Bates’ farm.

Charley-Lancaster, subs. (rhyming slang).—A ‘handkercher.’

Charley-Pitcher, subs. (thieves’).—A prowling sharper who entices greenhorns to take a hand in thimble-rigging, the three-card trick, prick the garter, etc.

1859. G. A. Sala, Twice Round the Clock (2 p.m., par. 10), p. 160. Even at remote country race-courses, you may find remnants of the whilom swarming tribe of Charley-pitchers, the knavish gentry who pursue the games of ‘under seven or over seven,’ … or inveigle the unwary with ‘three little thimbles and one small pea.’

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 32, note. A Charley-pitcher seems to be one who pitches to the Ceorla or countryman, and hence is equivalent to the term Yokel-hunter.

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, pt. I., ch. ix. With them marched the Charley-pitchers, who gained an honourable livelihood with the thimble and the pea.

Charley-Prescot, subs. (rhyming slang).—A waistcoat. For synonyms, see Fan.

Charley-Wag. To play the charley-wag (school-slang).—1. To absent oneself from school without leave; to play truant. Variants are To mouch; To wag; Fr., tailler or caler l’école; Spanish, hacer novillos, and andar á la tuna.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 57. Nothing could be done with him at school … Joe being, in spite of all entreaties, the greatest rapscallion and ringleader of all mischief, and at all times readier to play the charley Wag than to be the first in any prominent position in his class or form.

2. (common).—To disappear [figurative].

1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip to all Cross Coves. It’s up the spout and Charley-wag With wipes and tickers and what not. Until the squeezer nips your scrag, Booze and the blowens cop the lot.

Charlie.—See Charley.

Charlies, subs. (popular).—1. The paps. For synonyms, see Dairy.

2. (Winchester College).—Thick gloves made of twine. [Introduced by a Mr. Charles Griffith; hence the name.] Obsolete.

Charm, subs. (old).—1. A picklock.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1881. New York Slang Dict., s.v.

Charms, subs. (old).—The paps. Fr., les appas. Once in literary use, but now impossible except as slang. Flashing her Charms = showing her paps.

2. (American).—A generic term for money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1875. American English, in Cham. Journal, 25 Sept., p. 610. Money has forty or fifty different names; such singular terms as … shadscales, and charms figuring in the list.

Charter the Bar or Grocery, verbal phr. (American).—To buy up the whole of the liquor at a bar and stand drinks all round as [77]long as it lasts. This freak is not infrequent in the West. In Australia a similar expression is shouting oneself hoarse. (q.v.).

18(?). J. G. Baldwin, David Bolus, Esq. Bolus was no niggard. He would as soon treat a regiment, or charter the grocery for the day, as any other way.

Chasing, verbal subs. (workmens’). See quot.

1884. Rae, Cont. Socialism, 361. This is shown … in their prohibition of chasing … i.e., of a workman exceeding a given average standard of production. [m.]

Chasse, verb (society).—To dismiss. [From the French chasser.]

1847. Thackeray, Lords and Liv., III. He was chassÉd on the spot. [m.]

1868. Yates, Rock Ahead, I., p. 185. If Lord Ticehurst married, more than half Gilbert Lloyd’s influence would be gone, if indeed the turf were not abandoned, and the confederate chassÉd.

Chat, subs. (thieves’).—1. A house. For synonyms, see Diggings.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 501. I piped a slavey (servant) come out of a chat (house).

2. (common).—The female pudendum. [From French chat, a cat, and by implication the ‘pussy.’]

3. (common).—The truth; the real state of a case; the proper words to use; the ‘correct card.’

1819. Thomas Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 6. And, setting in case there should come such a rumpus, As some mode of settling the chat we must compass, With which the tag-rag will have nothing to do, What think you, great swells, of a royal set-to?

1862. Trollope, Orley Farm, ch. vi. Has the gentleman any right to be in this room at all, or has he not? Is he commercial, or is he—miscellaneous? That’s the chat as I take it.

4. (low).—Gabble; chatter; impudence; e.g., None of your chat, or I’ll give you a shove in the eye.

Verb.—To hang.—See Chates, sense 1. [This reading, however, is problematical.]

1513. G. Douglas, Æneis, viii., Prol. 126. Quod. I, churle, ga chat the, and chide with ane vthir.

Chates, subs. (old).—1. The gallows, (Also Chattes and Chats.) [Doubtful as to derivation, see quot. 1610.] For synonyms, see Nubbing-cheat.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. Chattes: the gallowes.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37, (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Chates, the Gallowes: here he [Harman, author of a Caveat for Cursitors-date, c. 1570, reprinted as The Belman of London, containing list of cant words] mistakes both the simple word, because he so found it printed, not knowing the true originall thereof, and also in the compound; as for Chates it should be Cheates, which word is vsed generally for things, as Tip me that Cheate, Give me that thing: so that if you will make a word for the Gallous, you must put thereto this word, Treyning, which signifies hanging; and so Treyning Cheate is as much to say, hanging things, or the Gallous, and not Chates.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). Chats: the gallows.

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

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

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

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1881. New York Slang Dict., s.v.

2. (old).—Lice. (Also chats and chatts.) [Grose suggests that chatts is an abbreviation of chattels in the sense of cattle—lice being the chief live-stock of beggars, gipsies, and the rest of the canting crew; the history [78]of the word ‘chattel’ appears to bear out his contention. The Norman catel passed later into cattell, and these forms were in the sixteenth century restricted to live-stock, chattell passing from legal French into general use for the wider sense—article of property.]

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

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

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v.

English Synonyms. Active citizens; crabs; crumbs; friends in need; back friends; grey backs; black cattle; Scots Greys; gentleman’s companions; creepers; gold-backed ’uns; German ducks; dicky-birds; familiars; saddle-backs; Yorkshire Greys.

French Synonyms. Les espagnols (popular: formerly lice were called ‘Spanish bugs,’ poux espagnols, to distinguish them from the cimex lectuarius, or common bed bug); un coquillon (popular: also ‘a pilgrim’); les goux (thieves’); le garnison (pop. = garrison); un loupate (= poux, disguised); un habitant (= a householder or ‘citizen’); un grenadier (popular); un got (thieves’); un mousquetaire gris (pop. = a grey musketeer).

German Synonyms. Huttererg’ sell’n (perhaps the nearest German equivalent to the English ‘gentleman’s companion,’ the German word signifying ‘skin-society’); Jokel, or Jokelche, Jokelcher, Juckel, Juckeler (sing.: also = a postillion, ‘one who rides,’ the latter, however, being more commonly rendered Post-Juckel. Ave-Lallement derives it from Jäckel or Jockel, diminutives of Jacob, but there are the German words, Jucken, ‘to itch,’ and Juckler, ‘one who itches.’ It is quite possible that the two last are later, historically. In connection, see next example); Hans Walter (in Luther’s Liber Vagatorum [1529]. Hanz literally means Jack, or John [Cf., preceding Jokel], the old word Hansa refers to a multitude; old German Hanse, a society; Hans, a companion); Kinne, pl. Kinnim (of purely Hebrew origin; Kinnimachler = a ‘dirty, filthy fellow,’ or ‘an avaricious man,’ literally ‘a lice-eater’; Kinnimer, a man full of lice. The Fieselsprache has Kineh and Kinehbruder to signify ‘an intimate companion,’ or ‘chum’; Marschirer or die stillen Marschirer (Viennese thieves’ for lice; literally ‘the silent walkers’); Sand (used for vermin in general and lice in particular; sandig sein, to be lousy).

Italian Synonyms. Grisaldi; grisanti; guallino.

Spanish Synonym. Cancano, (m; a low term).

Chat-Hole, subs. (prison).—A hole made by convicts in a wall, to carry on a conversation. [From chat, an abbreviation of chatter, + hole.]

Chats, subs. (old).—1. See Chates.

2. (thieves’).—See quot.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Chats, seals.

3. (Stock Exchange).—London, Chatham and Dover Railway Stock.

Chatter-Basket, subs. (common).—A prattling child. Originally [79]dialectical, chatter-basket being the Lancashire form; while in West Somerset they say chatter-bag. Cf., Chatterbox.

Chatter-bones, Chatter-cart, and Chatter-bladder, subs. (common).—Variants of chatterbox (q.v.). For synonyms, see Clack-box.

1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. xi., p. 94. That little girl of fifteen with the loquacious chin: who, to do her justice, acts up to it … for of all the small chatterbones that ever invaded the repose of drowsy ladies’ cabin, she is the first and foremost.

Chatterbox, subs. (colloquial).—An incessant talker; used contemptuously of adults and playfully of children. [From chatter, gabble + box, a receptacle; metaphorically, a box full of chatter. Cf., Bag of bones.] A variant is chatterbones (q.v.). For synonyms, see Clack-box.

1785. Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Chatter Box, one whose tongue runs twelve score to the dozen; a chattering man or woman.

1840. C. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop [C. D. ed.], p. 93. A set of idle chatterboxes.

1878. E. Jenkins, Haverholme, p. 52. A mere political chatterbox.

Chatter-Broth, subs. (old).—Tea; the beverage and the party. A Yorkshire equivalent is chatter-water. Quoted by Grose [1785]. Variants are cat-lap and scandal-broth (q.v.).

Chatterer, subs. (pugilistic).—A heavy blow upon the mouth; or, says Peter Corcoran, ‘a blow that tells.’ For synonyms see Dig.

1827. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’), Sonnet on The Fancy. I’ve left the Fives-Court rush,—the flash—the rally. The noise of ‘Go it, Jack’—the stop—the blow—The shout—the chattering hit—the check—the sally.

Chatterers, subs. (common).—The teeth. For synonyms, see Grinders.

Chattery, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Chattery, cotton, or linen goods.

Chatty, subs. (old).—A filthy man. [From chat (q.v.), a louse, + y.] English variants are chatty-dosser, crummy-dosser. Amongst French equivalents may be mentioned un bifteck à maquart (Maquart is the name of a well-known knacker); un sale pâtissier (literally a dirty pastry-cook); un kroumir; un gorgniat; un pégocier.

Adj. (common).—Filthy; lousy. [For derivation, see subs.] A French equivalent is graphiqué—itself a very ‘telling,’ ‘speaking,’ or ‘chatty’ expression; also malastiqué.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dictionary. Chatty: lousy.

Chatty-Feeder, subs. (old).—A spoon. [A vague reference to the mouth as the place of ‘chat’ or ‘chatter.’] For synonyms see Wedge-feeder.

1881. New York Slang Dictionary. ‘And where the swag so bleakly pinched, A hundred stretches hence?… The chips, the fawneys, chatty-feeders.’

Chaunt, subs. (old).—A song.—See Chant, subs., sense 1.

Verb (vagrants’).—To sing ballads, etc., in the streets.—See Chant, verb, sense 1.

To Chaunt the play, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To explain the tricks and manœuvres of thieves. [80]

Chaunted, ppl. adj. (streets’).—Sung of, and celebrated, in street ballads. [From chaunt, to sing street ballads, + ed.]—See Chanting, subs., sense 2.

1827. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’). Lines to Philip Samson in The Fancy. ‘Be content that you’ve beat Dolly Smith, and been chaunted, And trained—stripped—and petted, and hit off your legs!’

Chaunter, subs. (vagrants’).—1. A street singer of ballads, dying speeches, etc. Rarely heard now except in the poorest neighbourhoods. His practice is peculiar. One man gets as far as he can, and when his voice cracks his companion takes things up. For this reason the business is conducted by a brace of men, by a man and woman, or by a woman and child.—See quot. 1851. [From chaunt, to sing, + er.] Also called a paper-worker (q.v.); and Death-hunter (q.v.). French Synonyms are un chanteur à la balade or au baladage; un goualeur or une goualeuse (see Eugene Sue Mystères de Paris); une cigale (popular: a female street-singer); and un braillard. Fourbesque, granchetto (a term also applied to one who speaks gibberish or thieves’ lingo).

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 229. The chaunters, or those who do not cry, but (if one may so far stretch the English language) sing the contents of the ‘papers’ they vend. Ibid, p. 240. The running patterer … is accompanied generally by a chaunter.… The chaunter not only sings, but fiddles.

2. (common).—See Chanter, sense 1.

Chaunter-Cove, subs. (thieves’).—A reporter. [From chaunt, to ‘crack’ or ‘cry up,’ + er + cove, a man.]

Chaunter-Cull, subs. (old).—A writer of ballads and street literature for the use of chaunters or ‘street patterers.’ They haunted certain well-known public-houses in London and Birmingham, and were open to write ballads ‘to order’ on any subject, the rate of remuneration varying from half-a-crown to seven-and-sixpence. The chaunter having practically disappeared, his poet has gone with him.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 58. [Named and described in.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Chaunter-culls: Grub Street writers, who compose songs, carrols, etc., for ballad singers.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. vi. I trust, whenever the chanter-culls and last-speech scribblers get hold of me, they’ll at least put no cursed nonsense into my mouth.

Chaunter upon the Leer, phr. (old).—An advertiser.

Chaunting.—See Chanting.

Chauvering Donna or Moll, subs. (old).—A prostitute. [From chauvering, sexual intercourse. + donna (q.v.), a woman, or moll (q.v.), a loose female.] For synonyms, see Barrack-hack.

Chaw, subs. (common).—1. A countryman; a yokel; a bumpkin. [A contraction of chaw-bacon (q.v.). In common use at Harrow School.]

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. I., ch. i. There’s nothing like the old country-side for me, and no music like the twang of the real old Saxon tongue, as one gets it fresh from the veritable chaw in the White Horse Vale.

2. (vulgar).—A mouthful; a ‘gobbet’; in the mouth at once; [81]e.g., a quid of tobacco; a dram of spirits, etc. [From chaw, verb, q.v.]

1749. ‘Humours of the Fleet,’ quoted in Ashton’s The Fleet, p. 286. And in his nether jaw Was stuff’d an elemosynary chaw.

1772. Gentleman’s Magazine, XLII., 191. The tars … Took their chaws, hitched their trousers, and grinn’d in our faces. [m.]

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, xiv. The boy was made to open his mouth, while the chaw of tobacco was extracted.

1838. Glascock, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, II., 123. ‘I’m blest if I’m fit for work, ’thout a raw chaw.’

1864. Daily Telegraph, 26 July. The gentleman have often ‘that within that passeth show,’ to wit, a chaw of tobacco: this is not very conducive to volubility in conversation.

3. (University).—A trick; device; or ‘sell.’

Verb (vulgar).—1. To eat or chew noisily and roughly. To bite (see quot., 1890). Once literary; now degenerate, and vulgarly applied; specifically ‘to chew tobacco.’

1890. The Oont, Rudyard Kipling in Scots Observer, … We socks him with a stretcher-pole, and ’eads him off in front, And when we saves his bloomin’ life, he chaws our bloomin’ arm.

2. (University).—To deceive, trick, ‘sell,’ or impose upon one.

To chaw over, verbal phr. (common).—To create ridicule by repeating one’s words.

To chaw up, phr. (American).—To get the better of; to demolish; ‘do for’; smash or finish. Chawed up: utterly done for.

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.’

1862. C. F. Browne, Artemus Ward: His Book, p. 66. We chawed ’em up, that’s what we did.

To chaw up one’s words, phr. (American).—To retract an assertion; ‘to eat one’s words.’

Chaw-Bacon, subs. (colloquial).—A country bumpkin. [From chaw, a vulgar form of chew, to masticate or chew, + bacon, the staple food of agricultural labourers.] Other nicknames for a countryman are bacon-slicer; clod-hopper; barn-door savage; clod-pole; cart-horse; Johnny; cabbage-gelder; turnip-sucker; joskin; jolterhead; yokel; clod-crusher, etc.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Chaw Bacon. A countryman. A stupid fellow.

1822. Blackwood’s Magazine, XII., 379. You live cheap with chaw-bacons and see a fine, flat country. [m.]

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. v. ‘Give me the pail, you lop-eared buffoon—do you call that the way to feed a pig?’ and the General, seizing the bucket from an astonished chaw-bacon, who stood aghast, as if he thought his master was mad, managed to spill the greater part of the contents over his own person and gaiters.

Chaws, subs. (venery).—Copulation. For synonyms, see Greens.

Cheap. On the cheap, adv. phr. (colloquial).—At a low rate [of money]; economically; keeping up a showy appearance on small means.

1884. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 614. His being’s end and aim, both by day and night, is to obtain as much drink as possible on the cheap.

Cheap and nasty, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Said of articles which, though pleasing to the eye, are ‘shoddy’ in fact. For special application, see quot. [82]

1864. Athenæum, Oct. 29. Cheap and nasty, or, in a local form, ‘cheap and nasty, like Short’s in the Strand,’ a proverb applied to the deceased founder of cheap dinners.

To feel cheap, verb. phr. (common).—To ‘have a mouth on;’ to be suffering from a night’s debauch.

Dirt cheap or dog cheap, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Inexpensive; as cheap as may be. Dog cheap is the earliest form in which this colloquialism appears in English literature, dirt cheap not being found earlier than 1837.

1577. Holinshed, Chron. Descr. Irel., iii. They afourded their wares so dogge cheape, that etc. [m.]

1837. C. Dickens, Oliver Twist, xxxvii. ‘I sold myself,’ said Mr. Bumble … ‘I went very reasonable. Cheap, dirt cheap!’

Cheapside. He came home by way of cheapside, phr. (old).—That is ‘he gave little or nothing for it’; ‘he got it cheap.’

Cheat, subs. (old).—A general name for any object. [From Anglo-Saxon ceat, a thing. Cf., quot., 1608.] A term which, with a descriptive adjective, appears in a variety of forms in Old Cant. The cheat par excellence was the gallows, also known as the nubbing, topping, or treyning-cheat. The word is variously spelt—chet, chete, cheate, cheit, chate, cheat. The following combinations will serve to illustrate its use.

Belly-chete | = An Apron.
Bleting-chete | = A sheep or calf.
Cackling-chete | = A fowl.
Crashing-cheats | = The teeth.
Grunting-chete | = A pig.
Hearing-chetes | = The ears.
Low’ing-chete | = A cow.
Lullaby-chete | = An infant.
Mofling-chete | = A napkin.
Nubbing-cheat | = The gallows.
Prattling-chete | = The tongue.
Quacking-chete | = A duck.
Smelling-chete | = The nose.
Topping-cheat | = The gallows.
Treyning-cheat | = The gallows.
Trundling-cheat | = A cart or coach.

All of which see.

1567. Harman, Caveat [ed. 1869], p. 86. Now we have well bous’d, let vs strike some chete [that is], now we have well dronke, let us steale some thinge.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 117. The Cheating Law or the Art of winning money by false dyce. Those that practise this studie call themselues Cheators, the dyce Cheaters, and the money which they purchase Cheates: borrowing the tearme from our common Lawyers, with whome all casuals as fall to the Lord at the holding of his Leetes, as Waifes, Strayes, and such like, are said to be Escheated to the Lord’s use, and are called Cheates.

1611. Shakspeare, Winter’s Tale, iv., 2, 28. With dye and drab, I purchas’d this Caparison, and my Reuennew is the silly Cheate. Gallowes, and Knocke, are too powerfull on the Highway.

1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. IV., ch. ii. See what your laziness is come to; to the cheat, for thither will you go now, that’s infallible.

Cheats, subs. (old).—Sham cuffs or wristbands. Cf., Dicky and Shams.—See also quot., 1688.

1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III., p. 96, col. 1. A … kind of Waistcoats are called Chates, because they are to be seen rich and gaudy before, when all the back part is no such thing. Ibid, III., p. 258, col. 1. Such Gallants weare not Cheats or half Sleeves, but … their Waistcoats are the same clear throughout. [m.]

1690. B. E., Dictionary Canting Crew. Cheats … also Wristbands or sham Sleeves worn for true, or whole ones.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. |  | Sham sleeves to put over a dirty shift or shirt.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum.

Checks, subs. (American).—Money in general; cash. [A term derived from poker, in which game [83]counters or checks, bought at certain fixed rates, are equivalent to current coin.] For synonyms, see Actual and Cf., Chips.

To pass or hand in one’s checks, phr. (American).—See ante, To cash (or pass in) one’s checks. To die. For synonyms, see Aloft and Cf., Chips.

Cheek, subs. (colloquial).—1. Insolence; jaw; e.g., ‘none of your cheek’ or ‘chat’ and ‘none of your jaw.’ Equivalents are lip, chat, imperance, mouth, chin, chirrup, and nine shillings; the last a corruption of ‘nonchalance!’ Among foreign equivalents may be mentioned the French avoir un toupet de bœuf; and the Spanish adjectives cariraido (‘impudent’) and desollado (from desollar, ‘to skin, flay’); desuellacaras (m.; an impudent, shameless person); paparrucha (f. impertinence).

1840. Marryat, Poor Jack, xxii. The man, who was a sulky, saucy sort of chap … gives cheek.

1848. J. Mitchell, Jail Jrnl., July 20. I once asked … what fault a man had committed who was flogged.… ‘For giving cheek, sir.’ [m.]

1884. G. Moore, Mummer’s Wife (1887), p. 133. If he gives me any of his cheek I’ll knock him down.

2. Audacity; confidence; impudence; ‘brass’; ‘face.’ Formerly ‘brow’ was used in the same sense.—(See quot., 1642.)

1642. Fuller, Holy State, bk. IV., ch. xi. They were men of more brow than brain, being so ambitious to be known, that they had rather be hissed down than not come upon the stage.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 471. They [the Crocusses] ’d actually have the cheek to put a blister on a cork leg. Ibid, p. 404 (provided with) a noggin o’ rum to ‘give him cheek,’ and make him speak up to his victims.

1882. Daily News, Oct. 10, p. 5, col. 6. Of this fact, I know no more signal instance than the seizing of the Citadel of Cairo. As I stood on the spot the other day I realised for the first time the—if you will pardon me the use of a vulgar but expressive colloquialism—astounding cheek of the feat.

1889. Answers, p. 59, col. 2. The whole suggestion savoured so much of what our Transatlantic brothers call monumental cheek, that the Duke hardly knew what to say, or what emotions to express.

1890. Athenæum, Feb. 22, p. 253, col. 2. In various disguises Miss Palmer sings, dances, and exhibits her powers of coquetry and cheek.

Verb.—To address a person saucily.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 452. (They) persuaded me to go and beg with them, but I couldn’t cheek it.

1857. Dickens, Our Vestry, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 292. Dogginson … informed another gentleman … that if he cheek’d him he would resort to the extreme measure of knocking his blessed head off.

1890. Saturday Review, Feb. 1, p. 151, col. 1. Not only was Dick always ready to cheek his employer, and by his own account usually capable of getting the better of him, but he was on the same sort of terms with his pupils.

To one’s own cheek, phr. (colloquial).—To one’s own share; all to oneself. Sometimes used in the sense of allowance, i.e., ‘Where’s my cheek?’

1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, ch. lxxxviii. And though he consumed something like a prize on to his own cheek, he at length had to call for cheese.

1855. Punch, vol. XXVIII., p. 10. [From day to day, for near a week,] ‘I had a boiled salt round of beef On Monday all to my own cheek Whereon my hunger sought relief.’

To cheek up, verbal phr. (colloquial).— = cheek, to answer saucily.—See Cheek verb. [84]

1867. North Briton, June 5. ‘Royal Dramatic College.’ We shall not soon forget seeing, during our visit to the Fair last July, a number of ladies dressed up as jockeys, confined, like so many chattering monkeys, in a cage, cheeking up to gentlemen, selling them ‘k’rect cards,’ etc.

Cheek-Ache. To have the cheek-ache, phr. (common).—To be made to blush; to be abashed. [From cheek, the face, + ache, a metaphorical exaggeration of the pain of blushing.]

Cheekiness, subs. (colloquial).—Impudence; effrontery; cool audacity.

1847. Illustrated London News, 28 Aug. p. 142, col. 1. They were beat … by their slow, loggy stroke, and by their cheekiness. [m.]

1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gualtier Ballads, ‘Francesca da Rimini.’ There’s wont to be at conscious times like these. An affectation of a bright-eyed ease,—A crispy-cheekiness, if so I dare, Describe the swaling of a jaunty air.

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xliv. He lived but on the cheekiness of his gait and habits; he had become member of Parliament, Government official, railway director, and club aristocrat, merely by dint of cheek.

Cheekish, adj. (colloquial).—Audacious; impudent; saucy. [From cheek + ish.]

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 248. Being cheekish (saucy) to the beadle.

Cheeks, subs. (old).—1. The posteriors. For synonyms, see Blind-cheeks: to which may be added toby; stern; catastrophe; latter-end; jacksy-pardo; and juff.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar Tongue.

2. (old).—An accomplice.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 448. I have seen cheeks (a flash name for an accomplice).

Cheeks and Ears.—A fantastic name for a kind of head-dress, of temporary fashion.

(?) Lond. Prod., iv., 3, Suppl. to Sh., II., 511. Fr. O then thou canst tell how to help me to cheeks and ears. L. Yes, mistress, very well. Fl. S. Cheeks and ears! why, mistress Frances, want you cheeks and ears? methinks you have very fair ones. Fr. Thou art a fool indeed, Tom, thou knowest what I mean. Civ. Ay, ay, Kester; ’tis such as they wear a’ their heads.

Cheeks the Marine, subs. phr. (nautical).—Mr. Nobody. An imaginary personage on board ship created and popularised by Captain Marryat. The epithet has, likewise, passed into a byword as a sarcastic rejoinder to a foolish or incredible story—‘tell that to Cheeks the marine.’

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple (ed. 1846), vol. I., ch. vii., p. 36. I enquired who, and he said Cheeks the marine.

1878–80. Justin McCarthy, History of Our Own Times, II., ch. xiii., p. 15 (1848). Cheeks the Marine was a personage very familiar at that time to the readers of Captain Marryat’s sea stories, and the name of that mythical hero appeared with bewildering iteration in the petition.

1883. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language. Cheeks the marine: an imaginary being in a man-of-war.

Cheeky, adj. (colloquial).—Coolly presumptuous; impudent or saucy. Fr., insolpé.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xxvi. ‘You will find, Sir,’ said Lee, ‘that these men in this here hut are a rougher lot than you think for; very like they’ll be cheeky.’

1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 30. ‘The Volunteer on July fourteenth.’ But that Ass Snivens—a coming it as cheeky as could be. [85]

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Nov., p. 2, col. 3. The cheeky boy, with the natural ingratitude of youth, often makes a long nose at his master, even when showing off all that the master has taught him.

Cheese. The cheese, phr. (common).—1. Anything first-rate or highly becoming; the expression runs up and down the whole gamut of ‘cheese nomenclature’ from the Stilton, Double Gloster, to the pure Limburger. [It has been variously traced to the Anglo-Saxon ceosan, to choose; German, kiesen; French, chose; Persian, chiz; Hindu, cheez, thing. Summing up the evidence, the expression—(barring a solitary reference in the London Guide of 1818, where it is referred to a bald translation of c’est une autre chose, i.e., that is another cheese, subsequently coming to signify that is the real thing)—appears to have come into general vogue about 1840. This contention is borne out in some measure by a correspondent to Notes and Queries (1853, 1 S., viii., p. 89), who speaks of it as about ‘ten or twelve years old,’ a calculation which carries it back to the date when it appears to have started in literature. Yule, writing much later, says the expression was common among young Anglo-Indians, e.g., ‘my new Arab is the real chiz,’ i.e., ‘the real thing,’ a fact which points to a Persian origin.] For synonyms, see a1.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xiv. Whatever is the go in Europe will soon be the cheese here.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, p. 418. Cries Rigmaree, rubbing her hands, ‘that will please—My “Conjuring cap”—it’s the thing;—it’s the cheese.’

1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 33. ‘I hopes my love will excuse me if I’m not quite—quite—’ ‘Comme il faut, George.’ ‘I don’t mean that, love—not quite the cheese.’

1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 97. Were the custom [of putting mottoes on garments, temp. Rich. II.] now revived we can conceive what stupid mottoes would be sported by the Œntish who always mock and maul the fashion of their betters:—‘I wish my gal to please: O, aint I just the cheese’ would doubtless be a popular device for a new shirt front.

1863. Chas. Reade, Hard Cash, II., 186. ‘Who ever heard [said Mrs. Dodd] of a young lady being married without something to be married in?’ ‘Well [said Edward], I’ve heard Nudity is not the cheese on public occasions.’

2. subs. (schools and University).—An adept; one who ‘takes the shine out of another’ at anything; at Cambridge an overdressed dandy is called a howling cheese. [An extended usage based on sense 1.]

1864. Eton School-days. ‘Do you know Homer, Purefoy?’ asked Chudleigh. ‘No, I have not looked at the lesson yet.’ ‘I am sure I don’t know why you ever do; you are such a cheese. I want you to give me a construe.’

Hard cheese, phr. (common).—What is barely endurable; hard lines; bad luck.

Tip-cheese.—Probably the same as Tip-cat (q.v.).

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 282 (ed. 1857). All is gloom and silence in the house; even the voice of the child is hushed; his infant sports are disregarded when his mother weeps; his ‘alley tors’ and his ‘commoneys’ are alike neglected; he forgets the long familiar cry of ‘knuckle down,’ and at tip-cheese, or odd and even, his hand is out.

Cheese it! phr. (thieves’).—Leave off! Have done! Be off! [Thought to be a corruption of ‘cease it!’]. For synonyms, see Stow it!

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, Cheese it, the coves are fly; be silent, the people understand our discourse. [86]

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxviii. Two or three ‘hallos!’ and ‘now thens!’ accompanied by a strong recommendation to cheese it (i.e., act of cessation), causes these trifling annoyances to cease.

1864. Times, 7 December. He shouted ‘Murder!’ as well as he could, and the cries he made bringing assistance, he heard one of the men just before they let go of him call out ‘Cheese it, cheese it,’ which a policeman said meant make off.

1871. London Figaro, May 13, p. 3, col. 3. ‘Cheese that,’ cried Bill. ‘The genelman’s agoin’ to read, and I am agoin’ to listen.’

Cheese-Boxes, subs. (American).—A Confederate nickname for vessels of the ‘Monitor’ type; first applied during the Civil War [1860–65]. Cf., tinclads (q.v.).

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 335. The great inventor has not made it known what induced him to choose the name [‘Monitor’]: hence etymologists have evolved it out of their inner consciousness that he must have borrowed it from Gray’s Monitor Dracæna, a large lizard covered with impenetrable armour. Irreverent Confederates called the hideous-looking vessels cheese-boxes, and apparently one designation is, etymologically, though not æsthetically, as good as the other.

Cheesecutter, subs. (common).—1. A prominent, aquiline nose. For synonyms, see Conk.

2. (common).—A large, square peak to a cap; the abat-jour of the Zouaves.

3. (in plural).—Bandy-legs. For synonyms, see Drumsticks.

Cheese-Knife, subs. (military).—A sword. For synonyms, see Cheese-toaster.

Cheesemongers.—A popular name for the First Lifeguards until the Peninsular War. The term then fell into desuetude; but at Waterloo the commanding officer of the regiment had not forgotten it, and when leading to the charge, he called out, ‘Come on, you damned Cheesemongers!’ an invitation accepted so heartily that the title was restored, with the difference that it was no longer a word of reproach. [Some say that the nickname came from their exclusive home service until the time of the Peninsular War; others that it was bestowed on account of the old gentlemen in the corps declining to serve when it was remodelled in 1788, on the ground that the ranks were no longer composed of gentlemen, but of cheesemongers.] Also called The cheeses.

Cheeser, subs. (old).—An eructation. The Spanish has una pluma (f.; literally ‘a feather’); zullenco (a common colloquialism); soltar el preso (soltar = ‘to unloose,’ or ‘to untie’; preso = ‘a prisoner’).

Cheeses.—See Cheesemongers.

Cheese-Toaster, subs. (military).—A sword.

English Synonyms. Toasting-fork; toasting iron; sharp; knitting-needle; iron; cheese-knife; toll; poker.

French Synonyms. Un astic (thieves’: from the German Stich); l’aiguille à tricoter les côtes (military: l’aiguille à tricoter = knitting-needle, côtes = ribs); l’entrecôte (popular); un charlemagne (military; a bayonet-sabre); un Bon-Dieu (military); une curette [87](military: a cavalry sword, as also is un bancal); une côte de bœuf (thieves’); un grand couteau (military: a cavalry sword. Literally ‘a large knife’); un fauchon (popular); un fauchon de satou (a wooden sword); une gaudille or gandille; Joyeuse (the name of the sword of Charlemagne); une flambe or flamberge (the sword of Roland); une paille de fer (= cold steel); une latte (a cavalry sword); une lardoire (popular).

German Synonym. Michel (from the Hebrew michael, an executioner’s sword; also Langmichel).

Italian Synonym. Martina.

Spanish Synonyms. Fisberta; centella (literally ‘spark,’ ‘thunder,’ ‘lightning’); respeto (properly ‘respect’); garrancha; durindana.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Cheese-toaster: a sword.

1857–59. Thackeray, Virginians, x. I’ll drive my cheese-toaster through his body.

Cheesy, adj. (common).—Fine or showy. The opposite of ‘dusty.’ [From cheese (q.v.) + y.] For synonyms, see Up to Dick.

1858. R. S. Surtees, Ask Mamma, xlviii., 211. To see him at Tattersall’s sucking his cane, his cheesey hat well down on his nose. [m.]

Chemiloon, subs.—Chemise and drawers in one; a combination (q.v.).

Chepemens, subs. (old).—See quot.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Chepemans: Cheape-side Market.

Cheque. To have seen the cheque, phr. (common).—To know positively; to be possessed of exact knowledge concerning a matter. For synonyms, see Knowing.

Cherrilets, subs. (old).—The nipples.

1599. Sylvester, Miracle of the Peace. Then those twins, thy strawberry teates, Curled, purled cherrilets?

1654. Witt’s Recreations. Then nature for a sweet allurement sets Two smelling, swelling, bashful cherrylets.

Cherry, subs. (thieves’).—A young girl. Cf., Cherry-ripe and Rosebud.

Cherry-Breeches.—See Cherubims.

Cherry-Coloured, adj. (common).—Either red or black; a term used in a cheating trick at cards. When the cards are being dealt, a ‘knowing’ one offers to bet that he will tell the colour of the turn-up card. ‘Done,’ says Mr. Green. The sum being named, Mr. Sharp affirms that it will be cherry-colour; and as cherries are either black or red, he wins. Grose [1785] has cherry-coloured cat for one either black or white in colour.

1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood. And forth to the heath is the scamps-man gone, His matchless cherry black prancer riding.

1886. Ill. London News, Jan. 23, p. 78, col. 2. A favourite hoax is the great exhibition, wherein a cherry-coloured cat and a rose-coloured pigeon (the meeting between Wellington and Blucher), etc., are to be shown. The former consists of a black cat and a white pigeon.

Cherry-Merry, adj. (old).—1. Convivial; slightly inebriated. [88]

1602. Middleton, Blurt, I., i. [Tricks, tricks, kerry merry buff!]

1775. Cont. Sterne’s Sent. Jour., 219. That every convivial assistant should go home cherry merry.

2. subs. (Anglo-Indian).—A present of money. Cherry-merry-bamboo, a beating.

Cherry-Pickers, subs. (military).—See Cherubims.

Cherry-Pie, subs. (common).—A girl. [Possibly only an amplification of cherry (q.v.).] For synonyms, see Titter.

Cherry-Pipe, subs. (rhyming slang).—A woman, the ‘rhyme’ being with ‘ripe,’ from cherry-ripe (q.v.). For synonyms, see Petticoat.

Cherry-Ripe, subs. (thieves’).—1. A woman. Cf., Cherry = a young girl. For synonyms, see Petticoat.

2. (old).—A ‘redbreast’ or Bow Street Runner. [So called from the scarlet waistcoat which formed part of the uniform.]

3. (common).—A footman in red plush.

4. (rhyming slang).—A pipe.

Cherubims, vulgo, Cherry-bums, subs. (military).—1. The Eleventh Hussars. [From their crimson overalls.] Also cherry-breeches and cherry-pickers.

1865. Notes and Queries, 3 S., vii., p. 49. 11th Hussars—Cherubims and Cherry Pickers, having had some men taken while on out-post duty in a fruit garden in Spain.

1871. Forbes, Exper. War between France and Germany, II., 149. When [Lord Cardigan] commanded the Cherry-breeches there were generally more sore backs among them than in any other regiment in the service.

1871. Chambers’ Journal, Dec. 23, p. 802. The 11th Hussars, the ‘Cherubims and Cherry Pickers.’

2. (common).—Peevish children. [A facetious allusion to a passage in the Te Deum—‘To Thee cherubin and seraphin continually do cry.’] Quoted by Grose [1785].

3. (common).—Chorister boys. [Either founded on the allusion quoted in sense 2, or in reference to the fact that little more than the heads of choristers is visible to the general congregation.]

To be in the cherubims, phr. (old).—To be in good humour; in the clouds; unsubstantial; fanciful.

1542. Udal, Erasmus’s Apophth., p. 139. Diogenes mocking such quidificall trifles, that were al in the cherubins, said, Sir Plato, your table and your cuppe I see very well, but as for your tabletee and your cupitee I see none soche.

Cheshire Cat. To grin like a Cheshire cat [chewing gravel, eating cheese, or evacuating bones, is sometimes added], phr. (common).—To laugh broadly—to ‘laugh all over one’s face.’ Used disparagingly. [Origin unknown.]

1782. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Pair of Lyric Epistles, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol. II., p. 424. Lo, like a Cheshire cat our Court will grin!

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxiv. In fact, Mr. Newcome says to Mr. Pendennis, in his droll, humourous way, ‘that woman grins like a Cheshire cat!’ Who was the naturalist who first discovered that peculiarity of the cats in Cheshire?

1859. Letter from Edward S. Taylor to John Camden Hotten, 22 Dec. [89]Cheshire cat eating cheese—I have always heard ‘evacuating bones,’ which if less decent is more expressive.

1866. Dodgson (‘Lewis Carroll’), Alice in Wonderland, ch. viii.

Chest. To chuck out one’s chest, phr. (common).—To pull oneself together; stand firm; ‘keep a stiff upper lip.’

Chestnut, subs. (American).—A stale joke or story; an old ‘Joe’; something frequently said or done before. As to the variants of this phrase—their name is legion. The old songs are chestnut songs; he who would foist a stale jest is implored to spare the chestnut tree, not to rustle the chestnut leaves, not to set the chestnut bell a-ringing. [The Philadelphia Press (1888) attributes the introduction of the phrase to Mr. William Warren, a veteran Boston comedian. In a forgotten melodrama, by William Dillon, called The Broken Sword, there were two characters, one a Capt. Xavier, and the other the comedy part of Pablo. Says the captain, a sort of Munchausen, ‘I entered the woods of Colloway, and suddenly from the thick boughs of a cork tree’—when Pablo interrupts him with the words: ‘A chestnut, captain, a chestnut.’ ‘Bah!’ replies the captain. ‘Booby, I say a cork tree.’ ‘A chestnut,’ reiterates Pablo, ‘I should know as well as you, having heard you tell the tale these twenty-seven times.’ Warren, who had often played Pablo, was at a stage-dinner, where one of the men told a story of doubtful age and originality. ‘A chestnut,’ quoth Warren, ‘I have heard you tell the tale these twenty-seven times.’ The application pleased, and when the party broke up each member helped to spread the story and the commentary. This is the most plausible of many explanations.]

1882. Halkett Lord, in N. and Q., 7 S., vii., 53. I first heard the word [chestnut] in 1882, in a theatrical chop-house (Brown’s) in New York. The explanation given to me by Mr. Brown—once a well-known member of Wallack’s company—was ‘Chestnut, because it is old enough to have grown a beard,’ alluding to the prickly bristly husk of the nuts.

1886. Dram. Rev., March 27, p. 86 col. 2. Minnie Palmer will give £1000 to any one who will submit to her an idea for legitimate advertising.… Chestnut ideas not wanted. [m.]

1888. New York Sun, Jan. 24. ‘May I venture to tell the old, old story, Miss Maud,’ he said, tremulously; ‘the old, old, yet ever new, story of—’ ‘Pardon me, Mr. Sampson, if I cause you pain,’ interrupted the girl, gently, ‘but to me the story you wish to tell is a chestnut.’ ‘A chestnut?’ ‘Yes, Mr. Sampson, I’m already engaged; but I will be a sister—’ ‘It isn’t as wormy as that one,’ murmured Mr. Sampson, feeling for his hat.

Chete.—See Cheat.

Chew, subs. (common).—A small portion of tobacco; a quid. Cf., Chew the cud.

1880. Jas. Greenwood, Gaol Birds at Large. A piece as large as a horse-bean, called a chew, is regarded as an equivalent for a twelve-ounce loaf and a meat ration.

To chew oneself, verbal phr. (American).—To get angry. For synonyms, see Nab the rust.

To chew the cud, verbal phr. (common).—To chew tobacco.

To chew the rag or fat, verbal phr. (military).—To grumble. [90]

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.

Chewallop! intj. (American).—An onomatopœia, representing, it is thought, the sound of an object falling heavily to the ground or into water—See Cachunk.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. ii. I felt … only one stop more [and I] was over head and ears chewallop in the water.

1888. Hoppe, Englisch-Deutsches Supplement-Lexikon, p. 215. It means ‘flat down,’ and is a strong expression. If a woman, for ex., falls head over heels and flat to the ground, they say, ‘she fell chewallop.’

Chewre, verb (Old Cant).—To steal.

Chic, subs. (popular).—Finish; elegance; spirit; dash; style—any quality which marks a person or thing as superior. [Originally a French slang term of uncertain origin, Littré being inclined to trace it to chicane, tact or skill. The French chic originally signified subtlety, cunning, skill; and, among English painters, to chic up a picture, or to do a thing from chic = to work without models and out of one’s own head.]

1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., 321. The French have invented a slang word … and by the expression chic have designated a certain property, by which objects assert their undoubted superiority over all their counterfeits.

1866. Yates, Land at Last, I., p. 110. A certain piquancy and chic in her appearance.

1871. London Figaro, 28 Feb. Those rollicking break-downs, those screeching girls who are so much admired for their chic, invariably give me a headache.

Adj. (common).—Stylish; elegant; ‘up to Dick.’ So also chicdom. [From chic + dom.]

1873. Daily News, 9 June. She must be ready to stick on a bow here and there, to give herself an air of chicdom. The youthful student, however, must not go too far in the direction of chic, … the chief thing which distinguishes the dress of a lady is the absence of those prominent and inharmonious decorations, etc.

Chickabiddy, subs. (costers’).—A young girl.—See Biddy. [A nursery name for a chicken, commonly used as an endearment.] For synonyms, see Titter.

Chick-woman.—See ‘Much Ado about Nothing.’ Act 1, Sc. iii.

Chickaleary Cove or Bloke, subs. phr. (costers’).—An ‘artful member,’ otherwise a downy cove (q.v., for synonyms).

c. 1869. Vance, Broadside Ballad. I’m a chickaleary cove, with my one, two, three; Whitechapel was the village I was born in.

Chicken, subs. (thieves’).—A pint pot. Cf., Hens and Chickens and Cat and kittens.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I., p. 276. The hens and chickens, of the low lodging-houses are the publican’s pewter measures; the bigger vessels are hens, the smaller chickens.

No chicken, adv. phr. (common).—Elderly. [The term chicken is often applied to children.]

1720. Swift, Stella’s Birthday. Pursue your trade of scandel-picking, Your hints that Stella is no chicken.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. i). I swear she’s no chicken; she’s on the wrong side of thirty if she be a day.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. II., ch. ix. Adams, who was no chicken, and could bear a drubbing as well as any boxing champion in the universe. [91]

1771. Smollet, Humphry Clinker, l., 68. The knight swore he was no such chicken, but a tough old rogue, that would live long enough to plague all his neighbours.

1717–1797. Horace Walpole, Letters, III., 308. I made a visit yesterday to the Abbess of Panthemont, General Oglethorpe’s niece, and no chicken.

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. v. I am no chicken (though not the gray-headed old fogy that insulting Squirrel presumes to call me).

To count one’s chickens before they are hatched, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To reckon beforehand upon a successful issue. The Latins said, ‘Don’t sing your song of triumph before you have won the victory’ (ante victoriam canere triumphum). ‘Don’t hallo till you are out of the wood’ has a similar meaning, and in French, to lose a game as good as won = la perdre belle. The expression was doubtless popularised by Butler in his Hudibras [see quot., 1664], but it was known long prior.

1579. Gosson, Ephem., 19a. I woulde not have him to counte his chickens so soone before they be hatcht. [m.]

1664. Butler, Hudibras, II., iii., 923. To swallow gudgeons ere they’re catch’d. And count their chickens ere they’re hatched.

Chicken-Butcher, subs. (old).—A poulterer; also a sportsman’s term for anyone shooting immature game.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Chicken-Fixings, subs. (American).—Properly a hash, stew, or fricassee of chicken, but the term is now applied to any fare out of the common, and also to show of any kind. French, la gueulardise. Cf., Common doings.

1864. A Trip to the South. An extraordinary sight were the countless waiters, held up to the car-windows at Gordonsville by turbaned negro-women, filled with coffee-cups, eggs, and the inevitable chicken-fixings, which it was henceforth our fate to meet at every railway depot, till we reached New Orleans.

18(?). Carlton, New Purchase, vol. II., p. 240. These preachers dress like big bugs, and go ridin’ about on hundred-dollar horses, a-spungin’ poor priest-ridden folks, and a-eaten chicken-fixins so powerful fast that chickens has got scarce in these diggins.

Chi-ike or Chy-ack, subs. (costers’).—A street salute; a word of praise.—See Coo-ey.

c. 1869. Vance, The Chick-a-leary Cove. Now my pals I’m going to slope, see you soon again, I hope, My young woman is avaiting, so be quick, Now join in a chyike, the ‘jolly’ we all like.

1885. Daily Telegraph, April 6, p. 6, col. 1. A prosperous butcher … gives him what Mr. Poleaxer calls a chi-hike at his gate as he passes that way in his cart, between five and six a.m.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dictionary, s.v.

Verb.—1. To salute or hail.

1886. Sporting Times, 17 July, 7, 2. There was no charge for admission. Enough. They came, they saw, and they chi-iked.

2. (tailors’).—To chaff unmercifully. For synonyms, see Gammon, sense 1.

To give chi-ike with the chill off, phr.—To scold; abuse. For synonyms, see Wig.

Child.—See This child.

Children’s Shoes.—See Make children’s shoes.

Chill or Take the Chill Off [of liquids], verb (popular).—To warm. Chill is a contraction of the fuller phrase.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 264. A pint pot, the contents of which were chilling on the hob. [92]

With the Chill Off, phr. (popular).—An expression of (1) dissent, (2) depreciation, or (3) disbelief. A variant of over the left (q.v.).

Chime, verb (thieves’).—To praise; extol; puff; canoodle: especially with a view to personal advantage.

Chimney, subs. (common).—A great smoker; Fr., un locomotive.

Chimney Chops, subs. (old).—A negro. [An allusion to colour.] For synonyms, see Snowball.

Chimney-Pot, subs. (common).—The silk hat worn by men, as also by women on horseback. Also called a stove-pipe, beaver, bell-topper etc., but for synonyms, see Golgotha. [An allusion to shape and colour.] The French has une cheminée.

1861. Punch, vol. XLI., p. 258. ‘The Riding-Hat Question.’ Lucy. ‘Now tell me, Mary, which is the best?’ Mary (who is rather horsey). ‘Well, dear, for tea in the arbour and that sort of thing, perhaps the little round one; but if you want to look like going across country, the Chimney-pot all to nothing.’

1864. Spectator, p. 356. The chimney-pot hat, for the power of its transcendant ugliness beat all the artists, penmen, and men of taste in England, ten years ago.

1871. Echo, 2 March. ‘London Trades—Hatters.’ The shape of the chimney-pot is constantly changing, as we all know.

1880. Punch’s Almanack, p. 10. Now, why should not gentlemen content themselves with mere underclothing, and discard the hideous chimney-pot, Frock Coat, and Trousers of the Period, so fatal to Pictorial Design?

1890. Daily Graphic, Jan. 7, p. 9, col. 4. Then the crowd go mad. Up fly head-gear, chimney-pot, and wide-a-wake alike, their owners careless of their fate.

Chimney-Sweep, subs. (common).—1. A black draught. Cf., Custom-house officer.

2. A clergyman. [In allusion to the black wear of ‘the cloth.’] For synonyms, see Devil-dodger. Sweeps are nicknamed clergymen.

Chin, subs. (American thieves’).—A child. [? A corruption of kinchin.]

Verb (American).—1. To talk; to chatter.

1883. Bread-winners (1884), 161. You haven’t done a thing but … eat pea nuts and hear Bott chin. [m.]

1887. New York World. They chin about the best methods of relieving poverty. [m.]

18(?). Francis, Saddle and Moccasin. He was a worker, and liked nothing better than to get into a circle of young cow-punchers, and chin and josh with them.

2. To talk or act with brazen effrontery.

Chinas, subs. (Stock Exchange). Eastern Extension Australasian and China Telegraph Shares.

Chin-Chopper, subs. (pugilists’).—A drive under the chin. For synonyms, see Dig.

Chink, subs. (old).—1. Money; ready cash; also chinkers, or jink. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. lvii., st. 43, p. 134 (E.D.S.). To buie it the cheaper, haue chinkes in thy purse.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act i., Sc. 5. I nursed her daughter, that you talk’d withal; I tell you he that can lay hold of her Shall have the chinks.

1603. John Day, Law Trickes, Act i. They know me rich, Horatio,—chinke, chinke! Whilst this holds out, my cause shall never sincke. [93]

1630. Jonson, New Inn, I. Where every jovial tinker, for his chink, May cry, Mine host, to crambe! ‘Give us drink.’

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict., 2 ed., s.v.

18(?). Miss Wetherell, Glenham-Family, ch. xxviii. ‘I guess it’s something else,—she had chink enough to buy shoes with, I know.’

2. (general).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Chinkers, subs. (old).—1. Money.—See Chink.

1834. Taylor, Ph. van Artevelde, pt. II., iii., 1. We’re vile crossbow-men, and a knight are you, But steel is steel, and flesh is still but flesh, So let us see your chinkers.

1887. Baumann, A Slang Ditty. Rum coves that relieve us of chinkers and pieces, Is gin’rally lagged, Or, wuss luck, they gits scragged.

2. (thieves’).—Handcuffs united by a chain. [Derivation obvious.] For synonyms, see Darbies.

Chin-Music, subs. (American).—Talk; chatter; oratory. Cf., Chin-wag. The French say casser un mot.

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.

1874. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Gilded Age. Whereupon a young sprig … began to sass [sauce] the conductor with his chin-music.

1876, Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xxvi. ‘I am not,’ said he, ‘going to orate. You did not come here, I guess, to hear me pay out chin-music.’

1883. Bread-Winners, 77. If we have joined this order to listen to chin-music the rest of our lives.

Chinning, verbal subs. (American).—Chatting; talking.

Chinny, adj. (American).—Talkative. [From chin, verb, sense 1, + ny.]

Chinqua Soldi, subs. phr. (theatrical).—Fivepence. [From the Italian.]

Chinse, subs. (Winchester College).—A chance. [Apparently a corrupted form of the word.]

Chin-Wag, subs. (common).—Talk; chatter; officious impertinence.

1879. Punch, No. 2061, p. 4. I’d just like to have a bit of chin-wag with you on the quiet.

Chip, subs. (American).—1. [In plural.] Items of news, more especially locals (q.v.).

2. A reporter who collects chips, sense 1.

3. (common).—A sovereign.—See Chips, sense 5.

1883. Miss Braddon, Phantom Fortune, ch. xli. Where sheafs of bank notes were being exchanged for those various coloured counters which represented divers values, from the respectable ‘pony’ to the modest chip

4. (gaming).—See Chips, subs. sense 2.

Verb (American).—To understand. For synonyms, see Twig.

18(?). Francis, Saddle and Moccasin. I knew at once that they had got scared, and had trenched up like a bevy of quails; so I said to Jim, ‘Now you let me do the talking, when they begin to sing “Indians”—don’t you chip?’

To chip in, verb (common).—To contribute one’s share in money or kind; to join in an undertaking; to interpose smartly.

1884. Bret Harte, In the Tunnel. When you’ll hear the next fool Asking of Flynn—Just you chip in, Say you knew Flynn. [94]

1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents at Home, p. 22. Pard, he was a great loss to this town. It would please the boys if you could chip in something like that, and do him justice.

1888. American Magazine, Sept. A man who won’t chip in to charity is always an object of suspicion.

1888. Star, 12 Dec., p. 3, col. 3. Justice Smith here chipped in with the remark that counsel … had not curtailed their cross-examination.

Not to care a chip.—See Care and Fig.

Brother chip, subs. phr. (common).—‘Brother smut’; one of the same trade or profession. Cf., Chip of the old block.

1862. Penny Newsman. ‘Mr. Bernal Osborne on Pigs and Politics.’ I must say I never saw a set of gentlemen, who were in such excellent condition without verging upon obesity (considerable laughter). I could have wished, gentlemen, that there had been a larger show to-day. At the same time as a brother chip (a laugh)—Oh, gentlemen, I am a farmer (hear). I am one of those farmers that don’t understand my business as well as I ought.

Chip of the same, or the same old, block, sometimes abbreviated to chip, phr. (common). A person reproducing certain familiar or striking characteristics. Chip = also a man or thing, and in this sense is equivalent to Bloke, Cove, Cheat, etc., all of which see.

c. 1626. Dick of Devonshire, in Bullen’s Old Plays, ii., 60. Your father used to come home to my mother, and why may not I be a chipp of the same blocke, out of which you two were cutt?

1762. Colman, Musical Lady, II., iii. You’ll find him his father’s own son, I believe; a chip of the old block, I promise you!

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xviii., p. 189. ‘Yes, yes, Chuffey, Jonas is a chip of the old block. It’s a very old block now, Chuffey,’ said the old man.

1860. Funny Fellow, May 7, p. 1. Hollo, my kiddy, stir your stumps, And chuck yourself about; Make haste, young chip, my boots to shine, Or your shine I’ll quick take out.

1865. M. E. Braddon, Henry Dunbar, ch. xxxviii. I was in love myself once, though I do seem such a dry old chip.

Chip in porridge, broth, etc., phr. (common).—An old phrase signifying a thing of no moment; a nonentity.

1686. Goad, Celest. Bodies, I., xvii., 108. The Sextile is no chip in broth … but a very considerable Engine. [m.]

1688. Vox Cleri Pro Rege, 56. A sort of chip in pottage, which (he hopes) will not do Popery much good, nor the Church of England much harm. [m.]

1849. Sir Chas. Napier, as quoted in N. and Q., 1 S., i., p. 383. ‘The reviews which the Commander-in-Chief makes of the troops are not to be taken as so many chips in porridge.’

1880. Church Times, 25 June. The Burials Bill … is thought … to resemble the proverbial chip in porridge, which does neither good nor harm. [m.]

Chipper, adj. (American).—‘Fit’; active; ready to ‘chip in.’

Chippy, adj. (common).—Unwell; seedy. Generally used to describe the results of over-indulgence in eating, drinking, etc. Cf., Cheap.

1877. Belgravia, April, p. 235. After two copious libations of the above [B. and S.], a man is apt to feel chippy next morning.

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish [Ry. ed.], p. 157. A dozen cigars a day make one feel dreadfully chippy in the morning.

Chips, subs. (old).—1. A carpenter. Fourbesque equivalents are gangherino and zangarino, whilst the Gaunersprache has Mepaie.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. A nick-name for a carpenter. [95]

1851. Chambers’ Paper, No. 52, p. 20. The carpenter, a rough hardy Swede, rejoicing in the name of Burstrome, was not offended in the slightest degree at being called chips even by the black cuddy servant.

1883. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, pref., xii. The carpenter is more politely termed chips.

2. (gaming).—Counters used in games of chance. Cf., Checks.

1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Innocents at Home, ch. ii. Don’t put up another chip till I look at my hand.

3. (American).—Cards. [Mr. C. Nordhoff writing to Mr. John Camden Hotten, on 1 May, 1865, states that ‘chips = slang for cards.’]

4. (common).—Money. [This usage is derived through sense 2, and passes naturally to sense 5 (q.v.).]

1877. W. Black, Green Past. and Picc., ch. xlix. You kent fool away your hand and keep the chips.

1885. Sporting Times, 23 May. ‘The Chorister’s Promise.’ The landlady came and knocked at the door—(Sing Fulham Road), Saying she’d have to clear out, and swore She’d distrain on her wardrobe what was more (Because of the chips she owed).

5. (general).—A sovereign. Used both in sing. and pl.—See quot. under Chip, sense 3, and Cf., preceding sense.

6. (Wellington College).—A kind of grill, so called from its hardness.

To hand in one’s chips, phr. (gamblers’).—To die. [For probable derivation, see Checks.]

Chirp, verb (thieves’).—1. To talk. For synonyms, see Patter. Grose has chirping merry = exhilarated with liquor.

1884. J. Greenwood, The Little Ragamuffins. I firmly resolved to chirp, when I was taken before the magistrate to give evidence, as little as possible.

2. To inform. For synonyms, see Peach.

Chirper, subs. (common).—1. A singer.

2. (common).—A glass or tankard.

1862. George Meredith, Juggling Jerry Poems. Hand up the chirper! ripe ale winks in it; Let’s have comfort and be at peace. Once a stout draught made me light as a linnet. Cheer up! the Lord must have his lease.

3. (common).—The mouth. For synonyms, see Potato trap.

4. (music-hall).—One of a gang frequenting the stage doors of music-halls to blackmail the singers. If money be refused them, they go into the auditorium and hoot, hiss, and groan at the performer. [Cf., Chirrup, quot., 1888.]

1889. Daily News, 2 July, p. 2. Singularly enough the Canterbury Music-hall … was mentioned in one of the night-charges, two men known as chirpers or chirripers being brought before Mr. Biron.

Chirpy, adj. (colloquial).—Cheerful; lively. [From chirp = babble of birds, + y.]

1837. J. Bates, in Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., III., 332. It makes me chirpy to think of Roseland.

1879. Justin McCarthy, Donna Quixote, ch. xxxv. To Charlton this appeared gravely ominous … Paulina, on the other hand, was what she would herself have called chirpy.

1882. Besant, All Sorts and Conditions of Men, ch. xx., p. 146. Her ladyship put quite a chirpy face upon it. [96]

Chirrup, verb (music-hall).—To cheer or applaud under a system of blackmail. [The term appears to have come into vogue in the early part of 1888.—See quots, under Chirruper; also Cf., Chirper, sense 4, and Chirruping.]

Chirruper.—See Chirper, senses 1 and 4, Fr., un intime.

1888. Pall Mall Gazette, 6 Mar., p. 4, col. 2. A chirruper … excused himself at the Lambeth Police Court yesterday by alleging that ‘he thought there was no harm in it.’

1888. J. Payn, in Illustrated London News, 17 Mar., p. 268. The … singers in music-halls cannot … do without him (the chirruper). [m.]

Chirruping, verbal subs. (music-hall).—Hanging about stage doors to intercept the ‘artistes,’ and extort money with a statement that the performer who ‘parts’ will be applauded. [For suggested, but very dubious, derivation, see quot., and Cf., Chirper, sense 4.]

1888. Pall Mall Gazette, 9 March, p. 14. Chirruping. Mr. Rintoul Mitchell writing from the Savage Club [asks] to add a hint as to the etymology of the word. It is not remote. The French argot for blackmail is chantage. Such paltry operations as those reported from the Lambeth music-hall do not merit the description of singing—they are simply twittering or chirruping.

Chisel, Chizzle, or Chuzzle, verb (common).—To cheat. [Possibly an extension of the orthodox meaning of the verb in the sense of ‘to cut, shave, or pare with a chisel to an excessive degree.’ Jamieson (1808) gives chisel as to cheat, or act deceitfully. Current during the first half of the present century, it seems first to have appeared in literature about 1840. Cf., Gouge, Shave, Skin, and other words of a kindred type.] For synonyms, see Stick.

1844. Illustrated London News, 25 May. ‘The Derby.’ They have chiseled the peaman and no mistake about that.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 78. When we got home at night we shared 2s. a piece. There was five of us altogether; but I think they chisselled me.

1858. Savannah Republican, 17 May. When the books were overhauled by the Committee, it was found that … the stockholders would be chiselled out of a pretty considerable sum.

1865. Saturday Review, April. Mr. Hotten has given the supposed classical originals of ‘Dickey’ and of ‘Skedaddle.’ He might have traced the slang verb to chisel to the Latin deascio and deruncino.

1865. G. A. Sala, Trip to Barbary, ch. xx. To ‘carrotter’ any one, say an uncle or a creditor, is to chizzle or ‘chouse’ or ‘do’ him out of his property amidst assurances of high-flown benevolence and exalted integrity.

To go full chisel, phr. (American).—To go at full speed or ‘full drive’; to show intense earnestness; to use great force; to go off brilliantly.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker (1862), 95. The long shanks of a bittern … a drivin’ away like mad, full chisel arter a frog.

1878. Mrs. Stowe, Poganuc P., ix., 76. Then he’d turn and run up the narrow way, full chisel. [m.]

Chiselling, verbal subs. Cheating. [Cf. Chisel, verb.] Variants are bamming; biting; besting; gouging, etc.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 298. Other efforts at cheating are designated as chisselling—not as some have believed from the practice of chiselling, that is, opening by means of cold chisels the safes of banks and merchants, since the term is much older than the introduction of safes. [97]

Chit, subs. (Anglo-Indian).—1. A letter; corruption of a Hindoo word.

1785. In Seton-Karr, I., 114. [They] may know his terms by sending a chit. [m.]

1887. Chamb. Jour., 25 June, p. 411. He had brought a note or chitti, as they call it in those parts [Bengal].

2. (society).—An order for drinks in clubs, etc. [Obviously an extended use of sense 1. In India the practice of writing chits or notes on the smallest provocation has always been carried to excess.]

3. (common).—A girl, under age and undersized. For general synonyms, see Titter.

4. subs. (Scots). Food eaten in the hand: as a thumber (q.v.), a workman’s lunch, and a child’s piece (q.v.).

Chitterlings, subs. (old).—The shirt frills once fashionable. [Properly the entrails of a pig, to which they are supposed to bear some resemblance.]

Chitty, subs. (tailors’).—An assistant cutter or trimmer.

Chitty-Faced, adj. (old).—Thin; weazened; baby-faced. Cf., Chit, sense 3.

1601. Munday, Downf. R. Earl of Huntingdon, I., iii. You halfe-fac’t groat, you thick [? thin] cheekt chitti-face. [m.]

1621. Burton, Anat. of Melan., [2nd ed.], p. 519. A thin, lean, chitty-face.

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

1725. New Cant. Dict.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum.

1859. Hotten, Slang Dict.

Chiv.—See Chive.

Chivalry, subs. (old).—Coition. [From the Lingua Franca or O. F. chevaulcher.] For synonyms, see Greens and Cf., Ride.

Chive or Chiv, subs. (thieves’).—1. A knife. [The Gypsy has chive, to stab.]

English Synonyms. Arkansas toothpick (a bowie knife); cabbage-bleeder; whittle; gully; jocteleg (a clasp knife: a corruption of Jacques de Liége); snickersnee (nautical); cuttle; cuttle-bung; pig-sticker.

French Synonyms. Un bince (thieves’); un coupe-lard (popular: literary ‘a bacon slicer,’ lard being used as the English ‘bacon’ for the human body); un coupe-sifflet (thieves’: couper le sifflet à quelqu’un = ‘to cut any one’s throat’); un lingre or lingue (thieves’: from Langres, a manufacturing town); un trente-deux or un vingt-deux (thieves’: originally terms used by Dutch and Flemish thieves’); un chourin or surin (thieves’: possibly from the Gypsy churi, ‘a knife’); un pliant (thieves’); une petite flambe (thieves’: also a sword, said by Michel to be derived from Flamberge, the name of the sword of Renaud de Montauban. Mettre flamberge au vent = ‘to draw’).

German Synonyms. Hechtling; Kaut (possibly connected with the English ‘cut’); Mandel or Mandle: (Viennese thieves’: in the Gaunersprache = ‘a man,’ especially a little one); Sackin, Sackem, Sackum, Zackin, Zacken (from the Hebrew sochan); Schorin or Schorie (from the Gypsy churi, which in Hanover appears as Czuri). [98]

Italian Synonym. Bacchetto.

Portuguese Synonym. Sarda.

1674. R. Head, Canting Academy, 12. He takes his chive and cuts us down.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 11. Chieve, knife.

1785. Grose, Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

1828. Jon. Bee, Picture of London, p. 26. Some of these accomplices also carry a chiv, or knife.

1837. Disraeli, Venetia, ch. xiv. ‘Berwnu,’ he shouted, ‘gibela chiv for the gentry cove.’

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 503. So we had a fight, and he put the chive (knife) into me.

2. See Chivey.

Verb.—To stab; to ‘knife.’

1725. New Cant. Dict. To Chive his Darbies: to saw asunder his Irons.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v. To chiv a person is to stab or cut him with a knife.

1868. Cassell’s Magazine, May, p. 80. He [a bushranger] was as good a man as Jacky at any weapon that could be named, and if Jacky were game for a chiving (stabbing) match, he (Kavanagh) was ready for him.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 503. After the place got well where I was chived.

Chive-Fencer, subs. (costers’).—A street hawker of cutlery. [From chive, a knife, + fence or fencer, a receiver of stolen property.]

Chivey or Chivvy, subs. (common).—A shout; greeting or cheer. Cf., Chi-ike.

Verb (common).—To ‘guy’; to chase round or hunt about; to throw or pitch about. Also chevy. [Mr. C. G. Leland says in Annandale (vol. I., 460) chivvy is a common English word, meaning to goad, drive, vex, hunt, or throw as it were here and there. It is purely Gypsy. Chiv in Rommany means anything sharp-pointed, as a dagger, goad, or knife. The old Gypsy word Chiv among its numerous meanings has exactly that of casting, throwing, pitching, and driving. Murray, however, inclines to derive it from Chevy Chase, the scene of a famous Border skirmish; in any case the usage is modern, but see quot., 1821.] So also chivied, chiveying, etc.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, I., vii. Log. Come along, then. Now, Jerry, chivey! Jerry. Chivey? Log. Mizzle! Jerry. Mizzle? Log. Tip your rags a gallop! Jerry. Tip my rags a gallop?… Log. Bolt! Jerry. Bolt? Oh, aye! I’m fly now. You mean go.

1840. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), V. 50. The other side are to blame, if they do not, as we should say in the dragoons ‘chevy’ them back again.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 44. I never had patience enough to try and kill fleas by my process; it would be too much of a chivey to please me.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xxxix. The dog … used to chivy the cats into the window among the bon bons, and play the deuce and all.

1864. Eton School-days, ch. xiv., p. 168. Burke, however, ran the faster of the two, and after a short chivey, succeeded in capturing him.

1868. Miss Braddon, Trail of the Serpent, bk. VI., ch. iv. The Board of Health came a-chivying of us to take up our floorings, and limewash ourselves inside.

1871. Daily News Report, ‘A Republican Demonstration in Hyde Park, on Sunday, April 17.’ A comparatively decent man selling ‘A History of Ireland’ was mobbed and chivied from side to side.

Chiving Lay, subs. phr. (old).—Cutting the braces of coaches behind, whereupon, the coachman quitting the box, an accomplice [99]broke and robbed the boot. Also cutting through the back of the coach to snatch the large and costly wigs then fashionable.—Grose. [From Chive, a knife.]

Chivy or Chevy, subs. (thieves’).—The face. For synonyms, see Dial.

c. 1886. Music Hall Song. ‘’Aint he got an artful chevy.’

Verb.—To scold; to bullyrag. For synonyms, see Wig.

Choakee.—See Chokey.

Chock, verb (streets’).—To strike a person under the chin. [Probably a corruption of to chuck, i.e., ‘chuck under the chin.’]—See Chocker.

Chocker, subs. (streets’).—A man. Generally Old Chocker, and thus comparable with Old Codger (q.v.). The term is not however, used in contempt; presumably, therefore, it signifies a manly man, i.e., one who is capable of ‘chocking.’—See Chock.

Chocolate. To give chocolate without sugar, phr. (old).—To reprove.—Grose [1785], and Lexicon Balatronicum [1811].

Choke-Dog, subs. (common).—Cheese; especially that made in Devonshire.

1870. Good Words, March. As I have said before, the Dorsetshire hind is undoubtedly under-fed. Bread and choke-dog, as he calls his county’s cheese, etc.—these, as I have said before, are the chief items in his bill of fare.

Choke Off, verb (common).—To get rid of; to put a stop to; and in a milder sense, ‘to run contrary to.’ [In the first instance the idea was associated with the throttling of bull-dogs to make them loose their hold; but the editor of a recent edition of the Slang Dictionary (Mr. Henry M. Sampson of The Referee) adds en parenthèse, ‘Of course by those who don’t know the scientific way used in canine exhibitions and dog-fights—of biting their tails till they round to bite the biter.’]

English Synonyms. To shut off; to shunt; to fub off; to rump; to cold shoulder. For synonyms in a more emphatic sense, see Floor.

French Synonyms. Envoyer quelqu’un s’asseoir (popular: Cf., ‘to set one down’); arrêter les frais (‘to put a stop to proceedings.’)

1818. Cobbett, Pol. Reg., XXXIII., 72. The Duke’s seven mouths … made the Whig party choak off Sheridan. [m.]

1848. New York Exp., 21 Feb. (Bartlett). In the House … of … Representatives. The operation of choking off a speaker was very funny, and reminded me of the lawless conduct of fighting school-boys.

1864. Derby Day, p. 155. ‘That will do, mother,’ he said; ‘I think I have had my five shillings’ worth’; but the gipsy would not be choked off until she had finished the patter she had learnt by heart.

1870. London Figaro, 26 November. The hair-oil vendor was proceeding in this strain of eulogium on the virtues of his particular invigorating application when he was gently but firmly choked off.

1883. Graphic, July 7, p. 11, col. 2. English dealers attend these fairs with the object of purchasing these noble-looking animals, but prices have now risen to £20 per head, and the English demand is being choked off. [100]

Choker, subs. (common).—1. A cravat; primarily the large neckerchief once worn high round the neck. Sometimes white choker (q.v.), the white neckerchief peculiar to evening dress.

English Synonyms. Neckinger; tie (this is now technical, but was formerly a slang term); crumpler.

French Synonyms. Un collier or coulant; un blave or blavin; un épiploon (students’).

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. i., p. 146. The usual attire of a gentleman, viz., pumps, a gold waistcoat, a crush hat, a sham frill, and a white choker.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. xix. Cram on a wrap-rascal and a shawl choaker. Never mind the gold-laced overalls and spurs.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 72. I’ll take off his choker and make him easy about the neck, and then we’ll shut him up and leave him. Why, the beggar’s asleep already.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. vii. There’s Mr. Brown, who oils his hair, and wears rings, and white chokers—my eyes! such white chokers!—and yet we call him the handsome snob!

1869. Orchestra, 20 August. I found myself elbowing a fellow-countryman in a button-up waistcoat, and white choker!

1871. London Figaro, 13 May, p. 3, col. 3. ‘Bill ain’t hungry this morning,’ she repeated; ‘or the cove with the white choker ’ud be safe to collar. But look!’

2. (popular).—An all-round collar. Cf., All-rounder.

1869. New York Herald, 6 Sept. ‘Prince Arthur in Canada.’ A neat and elegant black dress coat, closely buttoned, pants of a light drab hue, a choker collar of enormous size, and a black silk tie, were the garments most conspicuous.

3. (common).—A garotter.—See Wind-stopper.

4. (thieves’).—A cell; prison; lock up.—See Chokey.

1884. St. James’s Gazette, Jan. 4, p. 12, col. [missing text] He preferred to go to choker.

5. (thieves’).—The hangman’s rope or ‘squeezer’; a halter. For synonyms, see Horse’s nightcap.

White-choker, subs. (common).—A clergyman. [In allusion to the white ties worn by ‘the cloth.’] For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

1849. Punch’s Almanack. The Swell Mobsman’s Almanack. Plant about Exeter ’All, in May take old ladies on way to ’All, as they generally hempties into the plate. The vite chokers may be fingured on their way ’ome as they mostly brings hoff a pocketful.

1852. Comic Almanack. ‘Modes of addressing persons of various ranks.’ The Clergy as a body, you will speak of as the white-chokers, The lay aristocracy are simply styled The Nobs.

Chokered, ppl. adj. (common).—Wearing a choker (q.v.).

1866. London Review, 7 April, p. 388, col. 1. A whitebait waiter is admirably chokered.

Chokey, Choky, Chokee or Choker, subs. (common).—1. A prison. [Indian: from Hindī chaukī, a shed, station, or lock-up. In use from 1698 onwards and transferred to English slang early in the present century.] The Queen’s Bench prison has been called the Queen’s chokey. For synonyms, see Cage.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge (ed. 18), p. 107. Lord, but it’s chokey!

1866. London Miscellany, March 3, p. 58, col. 1. I’ve jist crept out o’ chokey. This is the twenty-ninth time I’ve been took that way, and I’m jist gone twenty. [101]

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 131. Both were marched off to chokee, and I have no doubt got punished.

1877. Besant and Rice, This Son of Vulcan, II., ch. vi., p. 223. Find out this stranger, and, by God, I’m a justice of the peace, and I’ll cool his heels in chokee for a month.

1884. Daily News, Sept. 24, p. 3, col. 1. Wright … would get two or three days’ choky (i.e., bread and water).

2. (prison).—A cell, specially a punishment cell. For synonyms, see Clinch.

1889. Answers, 30 March, p. 280, col. 2. But I am reminded that I have not yet described that horrible institution known as the dark cell—chokey, we convicts called it.

Chonkeys, subs. (common).—See quot.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 208. Chonkeys, or a kind of mincemeat baked in crust.

Chop, subs. (old).—1. A blow. Once (in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries) literary; and still respectable in a ‘chopping’—i.e., a beating ‘sea.’

2. An exchange; a barter. Cf., Chop and change.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 140. I purchased, or more properly speaking, had a chop with a wooden bowl maker from Chesham.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To exchange; to barter: as, to chop logic = to give argument for argument; and to chop stories = to ‘cap’ one anecdote with another. Also to change quarters: as ‘the wind chopped round to the north.’ Cf., Swap.

1554. Latimer, wks. (1845), II., 433. Shall we go about to chop away this good occasion, which God offereth us. [m.]

1693. Shadwell, Volunteers, IV. (1720), iv., 467. Horses that are jades … may be chopt away or sold in Smithfield. [m.]

1871. City Press, Jan. 21. ‘Curiosities of Street Literature.’ He hangs out in Monmouth-court, And wears a pair of blue-black breeches, Where all the ‘Polly Cox’s crew’ do resort, To chop their swag for badly-printed dying speeches.

2. To eat a chop.

1841. Mrs. Gore, Cecil, xx. I would rather have chopped at the ‘Blue Posts’ as I once did, fifteen years before. [m.]

1887. Sala, Illustrated London News, Feb. 5, 144. I went one day … to chop at the ‘Cock.’ [m.]

3. (colonial).—See quot.

1871. Sheffield Telegraph, April. West African (New Calabar) slang for cannibalistic practice. He’s chopped, i.e., he is eaten.

Chop and change, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Ups and downs; vicissitudes; changes of fortune.

1759–67. Sterne, Tristam Shandy [ed. 1772], I., ch. xi. [Surnames] which, in a course of years, have generally undergone as many chops and changes as their owners.

1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, xvi. At last we were all arranged … although there were several chops and changes about until the order of precedence could be correctly observed.

1845. Hood, To Kitchener, iii. Like Fortune, full of chops and changes.

1849–50. Thackeray, Pendennis, III., p. 423. I have heard of all that has happened, and all the chops and changes that have taken place during my absence.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, II., 238. The accounts of such transactions for a series of years, with all their chops and changes.

Verbal phr., trs. and intrs.—To barter; buy and sell; exchange; change tactics; veer frequently from one side to the other; vacillate, etc.

1485. Digby Myst. (1882), v., 641. I … choppe and chaunge with Symonye, and take large yiftes. [m.] [102]

1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Super., in wks. II., 115. To mangle my sentences, hack my arguments, chopp and change my phrases.

1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, wks. V. (1713), 431. We have chop’d and chang’d, and hid our Christina’s so long, and often, that at last, we have drawn each of us our own?

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Chop Church, changing of one Church for another.

1883. Principal Shairp, in Good Words, Jan., p. 27. The politicians seemed bent on making the Church a tool which they might chop and change as the political wind blew.

First chop, second chop, etc. (q.v.).

Chop-Chop, adv. (pidgin).—Immediately; quickly.

1878. Jas. Payn, By Proxy, ch. ii. ‘Chow-chow is not fish, but food,’ explained Conway, laughing, ‘and chop-chop only means directly.’

Chopper or Chopping Blow, subs. (pugilistic).—1. See quotation. For synonyms, see Dig, Bang, and Wipe.

1819. Thos. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, pref., p. 30. A chopper is a blow, struck on the face with the back of the hand. Mendoza claims the honour of its invention, but unjustly; he certainly revived, and considerably improved it. It was practised long before our time—Broughton occasionally used it; and Slack, it also appears, struck the chopper in giving the return in many of his battles.

2. (trade).—A sausage maker.

1865. Pall Mall Gazette, 4 Sept., p. 9, col. 2. I was glad to get it off to a chopper at last.… Dr. Letheby explained that a chopper is the trade term for a sausage maker.

To have a chopper, or Button, on, phr. (printers’).—To be miserable; ‘down in the dumps’ or in a fit of the ‘blues.’

Chopping, adj. (old).—Sexually forward; said of girls unduly ‘vain and amatorious.’ [An extension in sense of chopping = strapping, thumping, bouncing, etc.] The French express it by avoir la cuisse gaie.

Chopping-Block, subs. (pugilistic).—A man like a butcher’s block, i.e., who takes an immense amount of ‘punishment’ in a fight without the science or the strength to return it.

Chops. To lick the chops, phr. (common).—See quots. [Chops = the mouth, lips, jaws.] Fr., les jaffes.

1655. Fellowes, tr., Milton’s 2nd Defence, 227. The sight of this egg … caused our monarchy-men … to lick their chops. [m.]

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 6, Manager. Of course then the Tories will take office? Punch. I rayther suspect they will. Have they not been licking their chops for ten years outside the Treasury door while the sneaking Whigs were helping themselves to all the fat tit-bits within?

Down in the Chops or mouth, phr. (colloquial).—Sad, melancholy. Cf., To have a chopper on.

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.’

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable. Down in the chops—i.e., down in the mouth; in a melancholy state; with the mouth drawn down. Chop or chap is Saxon for mouth; we still say a pig’s chap.

Chop the Whiners, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To say prayers. [From an extended use of chop in the sense of to bandy words—hence to speak + whiners (q.v.), prayers.] Fr., manger sa paillasse. [103]

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 2, ed. 1854. I tells you, I vent first to Mother Bussblour’s, who, I knows, chops the whiners morning and evening to the young ladies, and I axes there for a Bible, and she says, says she, ‘I ’as only a Companion to the Halter! but you’ll get a Bible, I think at Master Talkins the cobbler as preaches.’

1857. Punch, 31 Jan. For them coves in Guildhall and that blessed Lord Mayor, Prigs on their four bones should chop whiners I swear.

Chortle, verb (popular).—To chuckle; to laugh in one’s sleeve; to ‘snort.’ [Introduced by Lewis Carrol in Through the Looking Glass.—See quot.]

1872. Lewis Carrol, Through the Looking Glass, i. ‘O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’ He chortled in his joy.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, xxxii., 242. It makes the cynic and the worldly-minded man to chuckle and chortle with an open joy.

1887. Athenæum, 3 Dec., p. 751, col. 1. A means of exciting cynical chortling.

1888. Daily News, 10 Jan., p. 5, col. 2. So may chortle the Anthropophagi. [m.]

Chosen Twelve.—See Apostles.

Chouse, subs. (colloquial).—1. A trick; swindle; sham; or ‘sell’ (q.v.). [From chouse, a cheat, trickster, or swindler, through the verb. The derivation is thus discussed and weighed by Dr. Murray: ‘As to the origin of the Eng. use, Gifford (1814), in a note on the quot. from Ben Jonson, says, ‘In 1609, Sir Robt. Shirley sent a messenger or chiaus to this country, as his agent from the Grand Signior and the Sophy to transact some preparatory business.’ The latter ‘chiaused the Turkish and Persian merchants of £4,000,’ and decamped. But no trace of this incident has yet been found outside of Gifford’s note; it was unknown to Peter Whalley, a previous editor of Ben Jonson, 1756; also to Skinner, Henshaw, Dr. Johnson, Todd, and others who discussed the history of the word. Yet most of these recognised the likeness of chouse to the Turkish word, which Henshaw even proposed as the etymon on the ground that the Turkish chiaus ‘is little better than a fool.’ Gifford’s note must therefore be taken with reserve.’] The word is also used at Eton in this sense, but see sense 2, which is the commoner. Variously spelt chiaus, chews, showse, ghowse, and chouse.

1610. Ben Jonson, Alchymist, I., ii., 25. ‘D. What do you think of me? That I am a chiause? Face. What’s that? D. The Turk [who] was here. As one would say, doe you think I am a Turke?’

1639. Ford, Lady’s Trial, II., i. Gulls, or Moguls, Tag, rag, or other, hogen-mogen, vanden, Skip-jacks, or chouses.

1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, I., i., wks. (1713), 343. You are no better than a chouse, a cheat.

1673. Wycherley, Gent. Danc. Master, III., in wks. (1713), 295. He a dancing-master, he’s a chouse, a cheat, a meer cheat.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2 ed.).

2. (Eton College).—A shame; an imposition.

1864. Athenæum. When an Eton boy says that anything is ‘a beastly chouse,’ he means that it is a great shame; and when an Eton peripatetic tradesman is playful enough to call his customer ‘a little chouser,’ he means that a leaf has been taken out of his own book by one on whom he has practised.

1883. Brinsley Richards, Seven Years at Eton. The boy … was told that what he had done was an awful chouse. [104]

Verb (colloquial).—To cheat. [For suggested derivation, see subs., sense 1.] Synonyms will be found under Stick.

1659. Shirley, Honoria and Mam., II., iii. We are in a fair way to be ridiculous.… Chiaus’d by a scholar! [m.]

1663. Pepys, Diary, May 15. The Portugalls have choused us, it seems, in the Island of Bombay, in the East Indys.

1708. Centlivre, Busie Body, Act iii. You and my most conscionable Guardian here … plotted and agreed, to chouse a very civil, honest, honourable gentleman, out of a Hundred Pound.

1742–4. Roger North, Lives of the Norths, I., 90. The judge held them to it, and they were choused of the treble value.

1823. Hints for Oxford, p. 26. Everything in common use at Oxford, with the exception, perhaps, of books, is charged at an exorbitant rate; and, what is worse … you are often having yourself choused with abominable trash.

1890. Academy, Feb. 22, p. 125, col. 1. Susan Burnay’s letters, with charming naïveté, confess that, in the expectation of an early visit from the delightful mimic, she for four mornings was up at seven o’clock, only to find herself, borrowing the slang phrases of the day, ‘choused, for he nick’d us entirely, and never came at all.’

So also choused, ppl. adj., chousing, verbal subs., and chouser, subs.

Chout, subs. (East London).—An entertainment.—Hotten.

Chovey, subs. (costermongers’).—A shop. A shopman is known amongst the fraternity as a man-chovey, and a shop-woman as ann-chovey.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (2 ed.), 444. A shop—Chovey.

French Synonyms. Une boutogue (thieves’); une boutanche (thieves’); un boucard (thieves’); un rade or radeau (thieves’); also primarily, a till.

German Synonym. Chenwene (a market stall, the stock itself, or a box full of goods; Chenwener, the owner of such a place—a merchant or shop-keeper).

Chow, subs. (theatrical).—Talk; ‘lip’; jaw; e.g., to have ‘plenty of chow’ = to have a good deal to say.

Verb (theatrical).—To talk incessantly; to grumble. A variant is to chip. [Chow is apparently a form of ‘chew,’ now fallen into desuetude.]

Chowder-Headed, adj. (American).—Stupid. [The term though only dialectical in England is pretty general in U.S.A. It is given by Murray as a variant of cholter-headed, which in turn is another form for jolt or jolter-headed. Chowder is properly a kind of hotch-potch, and applied to the intellectuals would imply ‘confusedness,’ and hence idiocy.]

1819. Scott, Lett., 15 April, in Lockhart. I hesitate a little about Raeburn … [he] has twice already made a very chowder-headed person of me.

1851. H. Melville, Whale, xv., 73. What’s that stultifying saying about chowder-headed people? [m.]

18(?). S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Launch of the Steamer ‘Capital.’ The Showman … grabbed the orchestra and shook him up, and says, ‘That lets you out, you chowder-headed old clam.’

Christen, verb (thieves’)—1. To erase the markings from a watch, and substitute a fictitious inscription, with a view to preventing identification. An Old Cant variant was to church (q.v.), the derivation being analogous. French thieves, in speaking of a Christened watch or other ‘faked’ silver, use couvert. [105]

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 74. This alteration is called christening, and the watch thus transformed faces the world without fear of detection.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. To alter the maker’s name in a watch—to christen a yack.

1868. Doran, Saint and Sinn., II., 290. The pietist thieves … christen daily as soon as they have stolen a watch. This thieves’ christening consists in erasing the maker’s name and supplying another. [m.]

1872. Standard, ‘Middlesex Sessions Report.’ William Miller, the detective officer in the case, being called upon by the judge to state what he knew of the prisoner, said he knew him by his trade as a baker, but he mixed up with watch thieves and housebreakers, and the tools found in his possession he used for christening stolen watches and putting new bows to them.

2. (colloquial).—To mix water with wine; to mix liquors generally. Fr., Maquiller le vitriol = to adulterate brandy; monter sur le tonneau (vinters’ = to add water to a cask of wine). A Spanish equivalent is exactly translated bautizar el vino. To drown the miller (q.v.), = to add too much water.

1824. Scott, Redgauntlet, let. xiii. We’ll christen him with the brewer (here he added a little small beer to his beverage).

3. (low).—To souse from a chamber utensil.

4. (common).—To take a dram; or ‘do a drain,’ in celebration of something, as the purchase of a new pair of boots, a removal, etc.

Christian, subs. (common).—A good fellow; a decent or presentable person. [A human being as distinguished from the brute creation, in which sense it is used by Shakspeare; the modern slang usage was apparently introduced by Dickens.]—See quots. in various senses.

1595. Shakspeare, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act iii., Sc. 1, 272. Thee hath more qualities than a Water-Spaniell, which is much in a bare Christian.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, Christian: a tradesman who has faith, i.e., will give credit.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, xxxiv. You must take your passage like a Christian; at least, as like a Christian as a fore-cabin passenger can.

1859. Times, 20 April. Grey parrot for sale, the property of a lady. She talks like a Christian, and is in first-rate condition. Price, including cage. £15. Apply, etc., etc.

Adj. (common).—Decent; respectable, etc.—[See subs.]

Christian Pony, subs. phr. (old Irish slang).—The chairman or president of a meeting.

Christians, subs. pl. (Cambridge Univ.).—Members of Christ’s College.—[Of obvious derivation.]

Christmas, Christmassing, subs. and verbal subs. (colloquial).—Holly and mistletoe.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 228 (ed. 1857). The fat boy pointed to the destination of the pies. ‘Wery good,’ said Sam, ‘stick a bit o’ Christmas in ’em.’

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 141. In London a large trade is carried on in Christmasing, or in the sale of holly and mistletoe for Christmas sports and decorations.… ‘Look,’ said a gardener to me, ‘what’s spent on a Christmasing the churches!’

Chuck, subs. (prison).—1. Bread; meat; in fact, refreshment of any kind.

1850. Lloyd’s Newspaper, Oct. 6. ‘Inquest on murder of Rev. Mr. Hollest, Frimley Grove, Surrey.’ Macey, the village constable, stated that the prisoner, [106]upon coming to his cottage door had tried hard to get some chuck out of him, but had failed.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. i., p. 4. Two large slices of bread, … the allowance given out to some prisoner who … had forgotten to eat what in prison slang is called his ‘toke’ or chuck.

1877. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, ch. lii., p. 463. i wish i was nere you so i could send you chuck (refreshments) on holidays.

2. (common).—Scraps of meat; block ornaments (q.v.). For synonyms, see Duck.

1871. Echo, 11 Dec. ‘Sunday amongst the Silk Weavers.’ Few regular butchers ply their trade on Sunday morning—money is only to be made by the vendors of nauseous substitutes for wholesome meat—the refuse portion of beef and mutton, tough, coarse, and meagre pork, flaccid tripe, lean little sheeps’ chuks, as the natives call them, the savourless saveloy of Old England.

1887. Standard, 20 Jan. ‘The Poor at Market.’ From a sort of ludicrous spirit of snobbery a labourer will term a fellow he dislikes a ‘beggar who eats chuck,’ chuck being a low-priced part of the carcase.

3. (Billingsgate).—See quot.

1851–61. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 73. Sprats … are sold at Billingsgate by the ‘toss,’ or chuck, which is about half a bushel, and weighs about 40 lbs. to 50 lbs.

4. (colloquial).—A toss or throw.

1883. Punch, June 2, p. 264, col. 1. The average number of chucks at cocoa-nuts before achieving success is six.

5. (nautical).—Sea biscuit. Cf., senses 1 and 6. A sailor’s variant is ‘chow-dow.’

1864. Standard, 13 Dec. Of naval slang Mr. Hotten has missed the words chuck, used by sailors for biscuit, and barge, the box or cask in which the chuck is kept by the messes on the lower deck.

6. (military).—Mealy bread. Cf., nautical usage, sense 5.

7. (Westminster School).—A schoolboy’s treat.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., p. 101, s.v.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To throw; especially to throw away; to pitch.

1593. Prodigal Son, iv., 112. Yes, this old one will I give you (chucks him old hose and doublet). [m.]

1627. Drayton, Agincourt, 63. In the Tauerne, in his cups doth rore, chocking his crownes. [m.]

1753. Adventurer, No. 43. I … was kicked about, hustled, tossed up, and chucked into holes.

1771. Smollet, Humphry Clinker, l. 36. Dirt and trash chucked into it by roguish boys for the joke’s sake.

1820. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, tour II., ch. i. Yes, faith, as I’ve a soul to save, I will for nothing dig her grave; Yes, I would do it too as willing As if her hand had chuck’d a shilling.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxix., p. 342. I’m not only ready but villin’ to do anythin’ as’ll make matters agreeable; and if chuckin’ either o’ them sawbonesses out of winder u’ll do it, I’m the man.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 150. Many a time I walked through the streets and picked a piece of bread that the servants chucked out of the door.

1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. IV., ch. i. ‘When you’re ready for your snooze,’ said the honest creature, ‘chuck yourself on my bed in the corner.’

2. (vagrants’).—To eat.—See subs., sense 1. For synonyms, see Grub.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 192. Mo and his man were having a great breakfast one morning … Mo exclaimed to his man, ‘Chuck rumbo (eat plenty), my lad.’

3. (pigeon fanciers’).—To despatch a pigeon. Cf., sense 1, and To chuck it; also Hard chuck.

4. (general).—To spend extravagantly. For synonyms, see Ducks and Drakes. [107]

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xviii. Next to unlimited chucking of his own money, the youthful Englishman would like—what he never gets—the unlimited chucking of other people’s.

5. (old).—To desire (sexually); to be ‘warm,’ or a hot member (q.v.).

To chuck, chuck it, or chuck up, verbal phr. To abandon; ‘turn up’; dismiss; turn out of doors; to give up. Also chuck it up = ‘drop it.’ [From the custom of throwing up the sponge at a prize fight in sign of defeat. Often corrupted into jack up.—See Sponge. A French equivalent is laisser tout en plan.

1869. Daily Telegraph, 6 Sept. ‘Season at Baden.’ Why is it that Englishwomen can never combine their colours, or put on their clothes? Are their maids used to haymaking when at home, and do they ‘pitch’ on the petticoats, and give three cheers and have beer when they finish the work by chucking up the dress?

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xxvi. ‘But here, Cis, if you mean business, take my advice and chuck that corps.’

1883. Miss Braddon, Phantom Fortune, ch. xxv. She knows on which side her bread is buttered. Look how easily she chucked you up because she did not think you good enough.

To get or give the chuck, phr.—To dismiss, or be dismissed, Cf., bag and sack.

1889. Sporting Times [quoted in Slang, Jargon, and Cant]. And I shall get the blooming chuck as well as fourteen days.

Chuck up the sponge.—See Sponge.

To chuck [oneself] about or into, phr.—To move expeditiously. For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle. Also, to fall into.

1860. Funny Fellow, 7 May, p. 1. Hollo, my kiddy, stir your stumps, And chuck yourself about.

Chuck her up, phr. (cricket).—An expression of delight. [From the practice of throwing the ball into the air after a successful catch.]

[The verb, to chuck, is attached in an active sense to any number of objectives, and may be taken as equivalent to ‘to perform’ or ‘do.’ Thus ‘to chuck a fag’ = to ‘give a beating’; to ‘chuck a turd’ = to ‘rear,’ to evacuate; to ‘chuck a tread’ = to have intercourse; to ‘chuck a jolly’ = to undertake a bout of chaff; to ‘chuck a fit’ = to have an epileptic, or apoplectic, seizure; to ‘chuck a cram’ or ‘a kid’ = to lie, etc.]

Hard-chuck (pigeon fanciers’).—A long distance; also a trying flight. From Gravesend to London is considered a hard-chuck, as the low, flat country is bare of landmarks.

Chuck a Curly, verbal phr. (military).—To feign sickness; to malinger. [For possible derivation, see general remarks on Chuck, in a preceding paragraph, + curly, ‘doubling up,’ or writhing, as in pain.]

Chuck a Jolly, verbal phr. (costermongers’).—To bear up or ‘bonnet’: as when a costermonger praises the inferior article his mate or partner is trying to sell. This process is usually commenced with a chi-ike (q.v.). Also to undertake a bout of chaff.

Chuck a Stall, verb phr. (thieves’).—To attract a person’s attention while a confederate picks his pockets, or otherwise robs him. [Stall = an accomplice; and as a verb, to keep watch or spy upon.]

1884. Greenwood, Seven Years’ Penal Servitude. I said to my pal ‘chuck me a stall and I’ll have that.’ What [108]did I mean? Why, keep close to me, and cover what I’m doing.

Chucked. To be chucked or chucked up, verbal phr. (thieves’).—1. To escape committal; to be acquitted or released.

1887. Horsley, Jottings from Jail, Rit from 7 dials; remanded innocent on two charges of pokes, only out 2 weeks for a drag, expects to be fullied or else chucked.

1889. Evening News [quoted in Slang, Jargon, and Cant, p. 251, col. 1]. When I was chucked up they took me to an old Jew’s in Dudley Street for my clothes.

1889. Answers, 9 Feb. He was fortunate enough to get chucked, to escape, that is to say, as the evidence against him was not strong enough.

2. (common).—[Generally chucked out.] To be forcibly ejected. [From chuck, verb, sense 1, + ed + out.] Cf., Chucker-out.

3. (common).—Slightly intoxicated. For synonyms see Screwed.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday, Aug. 17, p. 258, col. 2. His back being nearly broken from your constantly falling over him when you’ve been chucked.

4. (prostitutes’).—Amorous; and hence ‘fast.’ French, galoper une femme = to make hot love to a woman. Cf., Molrower.

French Synonyms. S’allumer or allumer son pétrole or son gaz (the first of these terms is in general use, the others being employed chiefly by prostitutes); battre du beurre (popular: used more in the sense of ‘to be fast,’ but also = to speculate on ‘Change’ and to dissemble).

German Synonym. Spannen (to ogle prostitutes; to waylay women in order to make overtures; generally to lear with concupiscence).

Spanish Synonyms. Apacentar (properly to tend cattle); desbeber (also = to make water); despepitarse (literally to give a loose to one’s tongue or to act imprudently); rabanillo (m = an ardent longing).

5. (common).—To be disappointed; put out in one’s calculations; put to shame; ‘sold.’

c. 1879. Broadside Ballad. ‘Chucked again.’ Chucked again, chucked again! Whatever may happen I get all the blame, Wherever I go, it is always the same—Jolly well chucked again!

Chucked-In, adv. phr. (popular).—Into the bargain. Cf., Lagniappe. [From chuck, sense 1, + ed + in.]

1880. Punch, No. 2055, p. 245. Happy thought! chucked in an extra chapter on Literature.

1884. Punch, Oct. 11. ‘’Arry at a Political Picnic.’ Went to one on ’em yesterday, Charlie; a regular old up and down lark. The Pallis free gratis, mixed up with a old country fair in a park, And Rosherville Gardens chucked in.

Chucker, subs. (cricketers’).—1. A volunteer who does not keep a promise to play.

2. A bowler who throws the ball.

Chucker-Out, subs. (colloquial).—A man retained to eject or ‘chuck out’ from public meetings, taverns, brothels, and hells.—See quot., 1880.

1880. Punch, No. 2040, p. 63. Lord Grey was about to resume his rôle of chucker-out to the proposed measures of his own party.

1883. Saturday Review, March 31, p. 398, col. 1. We hired a smiling but stalwart assistant to act in the capacity of chucker-out. [109]

1884. Good Words, June, p. 400, col. 1. He had done twelve months [in prison] for crippling for life the chucker-out of one of these pubs. [m.]

1885. All the Year Round, Nov., 2226. Dens to which Brickey is attached in the capacity of chucker-out. [m.]

1887. Guardian, 2 March, p. 343, col. 1. Bogus meetings, where the chairman, committee, reporters, audience, and chuckers-out were all subsidised. [m.]

1890. The Scots Observer, p. 394, col. 2. The result of which was the resolution to appoint a body of Chuckers-out to keep delegates in order, and to show the Commons what to do with its Healys and its Tanners.

Chuck-Farthing, Chuck, Chuck-and-Toss, or Pitch-and-Toss, subs. phr. (common).—Games played with money, which is pitched at a line, gathered, shaken in the hands, and tossed up into the air so as to fall ‘heads and tails’ until the stakes are guessed away. A parish clerk was formerly nicknamed a chuck-farthing.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Chuck Farthing: a Parish Clerk (in the Satyr against Hypocrites) also a Play among Boies.

1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. XIII., p. 317. Where Mumpers, Soldiers and Ballad-Singers, were as busie at chuck-farthing and Hussle-Cap, as so many Rooks at a gaming Ordinary.

1712. Spectator, No. 509. The unlucky boys with toys and balls were whipped away by a beadle, I have seen this done indeed of late, but then it has been only to chase the lads from chuck, that the beadle might seize their copper.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol. I., ch. x. The spinning-wheel forgot its round,—even chuck-farthing and shuffle-cap themselves stood gaping till he had got out of sight.

1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I., 174. With chuck and marbles wearing Sunday through.

1851. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, II., p. 398. They frequently had halfpence given to them. They played also at chuck and toss with the journeymen, and of course were stripped of every farthing.

c. 1868. Brough, Field of the Cloth of Gold. From pitch-and-toss to manslaughter’s my game.

1878. M. E. Braddon, Cloven Foot, ch. xlii. ‘I remember when I was a little chap, at Dr. Prossford’s grammar school, playing chuck-farthing.’

1888. Illus. London News, Summer Number, p. 26, col. 1. Having replaced the musty documents upon the shelf, that ingenious youth adjourned to indulge in the passionately exhilarating game of chuck-farthing.

Chuck In, verb (pugilistic).—To challenge.—[From the custom of throwing a hat into the ring; a modern version of throwing down the gauntlet. Also, ‘to compete’; e.g., I shall have a chuck in = ‘I shall try my luck’—with a woman, a raffle, a personal encounter, and so on.

Chucking-Out, subs. (popular).—Ejection. [From chuck, verb, sense 1, through chuck up (q.v.), + ing + out.] Also as an adj.

1881. Sportsman, Jan. 31, p. 3, col. 5. We were the first to take the part of the pit against a chucking-out policy. [m.]

1887. Pall Mall Gaz., Feb. 23, p. 11, col. 1. Evictions in Glenbeigh … and chuckings-out in London. [m.]

1887. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live, p. 83. It is fair to say that the youths seemed quite ready for the emergency, and took their chucking-out most skilfully.

Chucks! intj. (school).—A boy’s signal on a master’s approach. A French schoolboy’s equivalent is Vesse!

Chuck the Dummy, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To feign sickness, especially epilepsy; a common dodge in prisons to get an order for the infirmary. [110]

Chuff It! intj. (common).—Be off! Take it away! For synonyms, see Hookey Walker!

Chul or Chull, verb (Anglo-Indian).—See quot.

1886. G. A. Sala, in Ill. L. News, June 19, p. 644. In Calcutta chul is a word that you hear fifty times a day. A lady tells you that her new Ayah will not chul at all; the proprietor of that popular weekly journal, the Hooghly Dacoit … tells you that he is going home for six months; but that he has an able editor, and that the paper will chul very well during his absence. The chul, I apprehend, means to go on, to proceed, to do.

Chum, subs. (colloquial).—A close companion; a bosom friend; an intimate. Formerly a chamber-fellow or mate. [Johnson calls it a term used in the Universities, and the earliest quot. seems to bear him out. The derivation is uncertain, and Dr. Murray says ‘no historical proof connecting it with “chamber-fellow” or “chamber-mate” has been found.’]

1684. Creech, Theocritus, Idyll XII. Ded. to my chum, Mr. Hody of Wadham College. [m.]

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Chum: a Chamber-fellow, or constant Companion.

1714. Spectator, No. 617. Letter written by University man to a friend begins ‘Dear Chum.’

c. 1750. Humours of the Fleet, quot. in Ashton’s Eighteenth Century Waifs, p. 249. When you have a chum, you pay but fifteen pence per week each.

1828–45. T. Hood, Poems, vol. II., p. 201 (ed. 1846). The very chum that shared my cake Holds out so cold a hand to shake It makes me shrink and sigh.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. v. The Colonel, as has been stated, had an Indian chum or companion, with whom he shared his lodgings.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. 21, p. 6, col. 2. His [Allingham’s] own chosen friend was Dante Gabriel Rossetti, his chums the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood.

English Synonyms. Gossip; pal; pard (American); marrow (north-country); cully (theatrical); cummer; ben cull; butty; bo’ (nautical); mate or matey; ribstone; bloater.

French Synonyms. Une branche (literally a branch or bough); un amar or amarre (thieves’, Cf., amarre, a cable, rope, hawser); un aminche, aminchemar, or aminchemince (thieves’: aminche d’af = an accomplice or stallsman); amis comme cochons (popular, m. pl.: literally ‘as thick as pigs.’ Cf., as thick as thieves); un matelot; une coterie (popular); un bon attelage (cavalry = a couple of good friends; literally ‘a good team’); un artiste (popular); un camerluche or camarluche (popular); vieux frère la côte (sailors’); un camaro; une faridole (prostitutes’ = a female pal); un fanande, or fanandel (thieves’).

German Synonyms. Gleicher (also ‘a brother’); Kineh or Kinehbruder (Viennese thieves’: German thieves use Kinne; from the Hebrew Kinnim, ‘a louse’; Kinnemachler, literally ‘lice eater’ = a dirty, filthy fellow; also = a miser. Kinimer = a man full of lice).

Italian Synonyms. Furbo = ‘an imposter, rogue, or sharper’; foneo; calcagno; guido, or guidone (literally a ‘guide.’ Also a ‘dog’ or ‘beggar’).

Spanish Synonyms. Cirinco (m); compinche (m).

Portuguese Synonym. Filhos do Golpe (literally ‘children of the crowd’). [111]

2. (military).—A brother-in-arms.

1890. Rudyard Kipling, Plain Tales (3rd ed.), p. 264. Oh! where would I be when my froat was dry? Oh! where would I be when the bullets fly? Oh! where would I be when I came to die? Why, Somewheres anigh my chum.

Verb, trs. and intrs. (colloquial).—To occupy a joint lodging, or share expenses; to be on the closest terms of intimacy with another; to be ‘thick as thieves’; or ‘thick as hops.’ French slang has être dans la chemise de quelqu’un; also être du dernier bien avec quelqu’un.

1730. Wesley, wks. (1872) XII., 20. There are … some honest fellows in College, who would be willing to chum in one of them. [m.]

1762. Churchill, The Ghost, bk. II. Old Maids and Rakes are join’d together. Coquettes and Prudes, like April weather, Wits forc’d to chum with Common Sense.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 339 (ed. 1857). ‘Why I don’t rightly know about to night,’ replied the stout turnkey. ‘You’ll be chummed on somebody to-morrow, and then you’ll be all snug and comfortable.’

1864. Temple Bar, Nov., p. 587. We choose our own carriages, and either leave our fellow trippers altogether, or, making a selection, chum in parties of three or four.

1871. Mortimer Collins, Mrq. and Merch., II., v., 143. She … found herself chummed upon a young person who turned out to be … a … slattern. [m.]

1877. Besant and Rice, With Harp and Crown, ch. xii. Here are City clerks, who, by chumming together, are able to afford one festive evening in the week at the Oxford.

New Chum, subs. (Australian).—A new arrival in the colony; a ‘greenhorn’; or ‘tenderfoot.’ For general synonyms, see Snooker.

1861. Earles, Ups and Downs of Australian Life, p. 199. ‘I suppose you’re a stranger, or as we calls ’em, a new chum, ain’t you?’

1886. E. Wakefield, Nineteenth Century, Aug., p. 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.

1889. Town and Country, 16 Feb. ‘Answers to Correspondents.’ New Chum (Forbes):—The first instalment will be due, etc.

Chummage, subs. (old).—Money procured by the practice of chumming together; but various extensions of meaning appear to have been in vogue at different periods.—See quots. [The practice alluded to in quot. 1777, was the rough music made with pokers, tongs, sticks, and saucepans, for which ovation the initiated prisoner had to pay or ‘fork out’ a certain sum of money, or submit to being deprived of its equivalent from among his personal effects; otherwise called chumming up.]

1777. Howard, State of Prisons in England and Wales, quoted in J. Ashton’s The Fleet, p. 295. A cruel custom obtains in most of our Gaols, which is that of the prisoners demanding of a new comer Garnish, Footing, or (as it is called in some London Gaols) chummage.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Chummage: money paid by the richer sort of prisoners in the Fleet and King’s Bench to the poorer for their share of a room.… A prisoner who can pay for being alone, chooses two poor chums, who for a stipulated price, called chummage, give up their share of the room.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, xlii. The regular chummage is two-and-sixpence.

1859. G. A. Sala, Twice Round the Clock (1861), 103. The time-honoured system of chummage, or quartering two or more collegians in one room, and allowing the richest to pay his companions a stipulated sum to go out and find quarters elsewhere.

Also used as an adjective.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlii., p. 364. You’ll have a chummage ticket upon twenty-seven in the third, and them as is in the room will be your chums. [112]

Chummery, subs. (common).—Chumhood; also the quarters occupied by ‘chums.’ [From Chum + ery; cf., Rookery, snuggery, &c.].

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, p. 196. Jack and her father lived in bachelor Chummery.

Chummy, subs. (colloquial).—1. A chimney-sweep’s climbing boy. [A corruption of ‘chimney’ through ‘chumley.’]

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 169. Vereas he ’ad been a chummy—he begged the cheerman’s parding for using such a vulgar hexpression, etc.

1844. Thackeray, Greenwich, wks. (1886) XXIII., 380. The hall … was decorated with banners and escutcheons of deceased chummies. [m.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. II., p. 417. A chummy (once a common name for the climbing-boy, being a corruption of chimney).

1859. W. Gregory, Egypt, I.; 154. His shrill voice, high up aloft, like a chummy’s on a London summer morn. [m.]

2. A diminutive form of chum (q.v.).

1864. Gilbert, Bab Ballads, Etiquette. Old chummies at the Charterhouse were Robinson and he. [m.]

3. (common).—A low-crowned felt hat; For synonyms, see Golgotha.

Adj. (colloquial).—Very intimate; friendly; sociable. The analogous French terms are chouette; chouettard; chouettaud.

1884. Harper’s Magazine, Sept., p. 536 col. 2. I … saw them form into small chummy groups. [m.]

1888. W. Besant, Herr Paulus, bk. III, ch. xi., vol. III., p. 204. I liked the fellow, I confess, and we got chummy in the evenings.

1889. Answers, May 11, p. 380. When I was at Pentonville, a man in the same ward, who had got rather chummy with his warder, asked him to post a letter to his friends in Manchester.

Chump, subs. (common).—1. A blockhead.

1883. Hawley Smart, At Fault, II., i., 29. Such a long-winded old chump at telling a story one don’t often see, thank goodness.

1887. Pall Mall Gazette, 2 Feb., p. 10. col. 1. Frank audibly remarked: ‘This man is a chump. I could go … this minute and do better than that.’ [m.]

2. (popular).—A variant of chum, subs. (q.v.). French ma vieille branche = my old chump.

1884. Punch, 11 Oct. ‘’Arry at a Political Picnic.’ All my Saturday arfs are devoted to Politics. Fancy, old chump, Me doing the sawdusty reglar, and follering swells on the stump.

3. (popular).—The head; especially in the phrase off one’s chump (q.v.). For synonyms, see Crumpet.

Chump-of-Wood, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—No good. Also a blockhead.

Off one’s chump, phr. (vulgar).—Insane. Cf., Off one’s Head, nut, etc. For synonyms, see Apartments.

c. 1860. Broadside Ballad, ‘We are a merry family.’ The fire is out, the fender’s broke, And father’s out on strike, Sister Ann’s gone off her chump, In fact, we’re all alike.

1866. Broadside Ballad, ‘Oh, She Was Such a Beautiful Girl.’ She diddled me, she fiddled me, She sent me off my chump.

1877. Besant and Rice, Son of Vulcan, II., xxiv., p. 377. ‘Master.’ he said, ‘have gone off his chump—that’s all.’

1883. Besant, Captain’s Room, ch. vii., p. 85 (1885). He … was engaged to be married to the king’s sister … unfortunately, only the week before I arrived, he was killed and devoured by a lion, and the princess was gone off her royal chump.

To get one’s own chump, phr. (thieves’).—See quot. [113]

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 242. ‘Cut her own grass! Good gracious, what is that?’ I asked. ‘Why, purvide her own chump—earn her own living,’ the old man replied.

Chumpy, adj. (common).—The same as off one’s chump.

Chunk, subs. (colloquial).—1. A thick piece or lump of wood, bread, coal, etc.

1691. Ray, S. and E. Country Wds. (E.D.S.) Chuck, a great chip.… In other countries [= districts] they call it a chunk. [m.]

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, ‘Chuck.’ Chuck, a great chip, Suss. In other counties called a chunk or junk.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xxix. Why not keep a clerk to read for you, and pay out the information in small chunks? I should like to tackle Mr. Carlyle that way.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘The Hungry Man from Clapham.’ He’d eat everything there was in the place, He bit a chunk from his mother-in-law’s face.

2. (streets’).—A school-board officer.

18(?). Thor Fredur, Sketches from Shady Places. Here they gambol about like rabbits, until somebody raises the cry, ‘Nix! the chunk’ (the slang term for School Board officer).

Church, verb (thieves’).—To take out the works of a watch and substitute another set, so that identification is impossible.—See Christen, verb, sense 1.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445. To have the works of a watch put into another case—To church a yack.

1868. Doran, Saints and Sinn., II., 290. The (thieves’) church their yacks when they transpose the works of stolen watches to prevent identification. [m.]

To talk church, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To talk ‘shop’ (q.v.).

1851. Newland, Erne, 217. Looking at those wretched people and talking church. [m.]

Churchwarden, subs. (general).—A clay pipe with a long stem.—See quot., 1864, under Clay. The following are general variants.

English Synonyms. Alderman; steamer; yard of clay; clay.

French Synonyms. Une bouffarde; une Belge; une chiffarde (thieves’); une marseillaise; une gambier (pop. from a manufacturer’s name).

German Synonyms. Lülke (M.H.G. lullen or löllen = to suck; lülken, to smoke); Massel (Swabian: also = a street-walker; masseln = to smoke); Nagel; Pilmerstab (only in Zimmermann); Sarcherstock (from the Hebrew sorach, through särchen, to stink or to smoke. Sarcher, tobacco; Sarcherkippe or Sarchertiefe, tobacco-box; Sarcherhanjo, tobacco-pouch); Selcher (Viennese thieves’: from selchen, to smoke); Schmalfink.

1857. Hood, Pen and Pencil Pictures, p. 269. Give me my willow-tube for a lance, the lid of a cigar-box for a shield. Thrust me a pair of cutties into my girdle for pistols; hang a churchwarden by my side for a sabre.

1863. Alex. Smith, Dreamthorpe, p. 262. He … lifted a pipe of the kind called churchwarden from the box on the ground, filled and lighted it.

1864. Dr. Richardson, on ‘Tobacco,’ before Brit. Assoc. Meeting at Bath. Cigars are more injurious than any form of pipe; and the best pipe is unquestionably what is commonly called a churchwarden or long clay.

Churl. To put a churl upon a gentleman.—See Gentleman. [114]

Cider. All talk and no cider, phr. (American).—Purposeless loquacity; ‘Much cry and little wool.’ Literally, much ado about nothing. [For suggested derivation, see quot., 1871.]

1835–40. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxi. It is an expensive kind of honour that, bein’ Governor.… Great cry and little wool! all talk and no cider.

1858. Notes and Queries, 2 S., v., 233. All talk and no cider. This expression is applied to persons whose performances fall far short of their promises.

1862. C. F. Browne, Artemus Ward: His Book, p. 135. What we want is more cider and less talk.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 591. This phrase originated at a party in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which had assembled to drink a barrel of superior cider; but politics being introduced, speeches were made, and discussion ensued, till some malcontents withdrew on the plea that it was a trap into which they had been lured, politics and not pleasure being the purpose of the meeting, or, as they called it, all talk and no cider.

Cider And, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Cider mixed with some other ingredient. Cf., Cold without, Hot with, etc.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. I., ch. xvi. She then asked the doctor and Mr. Barnabas what morning’s draught they chose, who answered, they had a pot of cider-and at the fire.

Cig, subs. (common).—A cigar. [An abbreviation of the legitimate word.] For synonyms, see Weed.

Cinch, verb (American).—To get a grip on; to ‘corner’; to put the screw on; also, in the passive sense, to come out on the wrong side in speculations. [From the Spanish cincha, a belt or girdle; cinchar, to girdle. Properly used of the saddling of horses with the huge Mexican saddle. To cinch a horse, however, is by no means the same as girthing him. The two ends of the tough cordage which constitute the cinch terminate in long narrow strips of leather called latigos—thongs—which connect the cinches with the saddle, and are run through an iron ring and then tied by a series of complicated turns and knots known only to the craft.]

1875. Scribner’s Mag., July, p. 277. A man is cinched = he is hurt in a mining transaction (San Francisco localism).

1881. New York Times, Dec. 18, quoted in Notes and Queries, 6 S., v. 65. Cinch. To subdue, to forcibly bind down and overcome. Thus it is unfairly said that the Northern Pacific Company intends to cinch the settlers by exacting large prices for its lands. Query, from Latin cingere.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 2 Feb. Black and Blue thinks the Dwyers have a cinch on both the great events.

1888. New York World, 22 July. The bettor, of whom the pool-room bookmaker stands in dread, however, is the racehorse owner, who has a cinch bottled up for a particular race, and drops into the room an hour or two before the races begin.

Cincinnati Olive, subs. (American).—A pig. [A spurious ‘olive oil’ is manufactured from lard, and Cincinnati is one of the largest centres of the ‘pork packing industry’ in America.] Cf., Cincinnati Oysters.

Cincinnati Oysters, subs. (American).—Pigs’ trotters. A curious interchange of names occurs between fish, flesh, and fowl. In Cincinnati Oysters we have flesh presented in the guise of fish; and the reverse is the case when the sturgeon is spoken of as Albany beef. Amongst other examples may be quoted marble-head turkey, for a codfish; also, in Nova Scotia a digby chicken = a herring smoked and dried in a peculiar fashion. [115]In England a Billingsgate pheasant is a fresh herring; whilst a Yarmouth bloater is sometimes a two-eyed steak.

Cinder, subs. (common).—1. Any strong liquor as brandy, whiskey, sherry, etc., mixed with a weaker, as soda-water, lemonade, water, etc., to fortify it.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dictionary, s.v.

1883. Referee, March 18, p. 2, col. 4. Having rushed out to get a glass of cold water with a cinder in it to take the chill off.

2. (sporting).—A running path or track; merely an abbreviation of ‘cinder-path,’ it being laid with ‘cinders.’

Cinder-Garbler, subs. (old).—A female servant. Grose [1785] says the term was ‘Custom House wit,’ but gives no particulars.

English Synonyms. Marchioness; slavey; cinder-grabber; cinderella; can (Scots); piss-kitchen; Julia.

French Synonyms. Un extrait de garni (popular); un chambrillon; une bobonne (for bonne); une larbine; une cambrouse; une jeanneton; une groule or groulasse.

German Synonyms. Schifche or Schifches; Schammesch or Schammes (from the Hebrew).

Spanish Synonym. Famula (f).

Circling-Boy, subs. (old).—A ‘rook’; swindler. Nares says a species of roarer; one who in some way drew a man into a snare, to cheat or rob him. See Gifford.—Ben Jonson, Barth. Fair, iv., 3, p. 481.

Circs, subs. (common).—Circumstances.

Circumbendibus, subs. (old).—A roundabout; a long-winded story. [From Lat. circum, around, + Eng. bend, with a Latin termination.]

1681. Dryden, Sp. Friar, V., ii. I shall fetch him back with a circumbendibus, I warrant him. [m.]

1768. Lord Carlisle, in Jesse’s Selwyn, II., 317 (1882). I can assure you it grieved me that anything of yours should make such a circumbendibus before it came to my hands.

1773. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act v., Sc. 2. ‘And from that, with a circumbendibus, I fairly lodged them in the horse-pond at the bottom of the garden.’

1849. Lytton, Caxtons, pt. VIII., ch. i. The cabman, to swell his fare, had thought proper to take a circumbendibus.

1890. Notes and Queries, 7 S., ix., 29 March.… No choice but to deliver himself of a malediction with a circumbendibus.

Circumlocution Office, subs. (common).—A centre of red-tape; a roundabout way. [A term invented by Charles Dickens (see quot., 1857), and applied at first in ridicule to public offices, where everybody tries to shuffle off his responsibilities upon some one else.]

1857. C. Dickens, Little Dorrit, I., x. The Circumlocution Office was the most important Department under Government. Ibid. Whatever was required to be done, the Circumlocution Office was beforehand with all the public departments in the art of perceiving—How not to do it.

1870. Graphic, Feb. 19, in ‘By the Bye.’ To complete the contretemps a portion of the telegraphs struck work on the very first day of the Government taking them in hand. Of course the great tribe [116]of evil-wishers ran about chuckling, and rubbing their hands gleefully. ‘I told you so,’ cried Rubasore. Circumlocution Office again, sneered Crossgrain.

Circumslogdologize.—See Stockdollagize.

Circumstance. Not a circumstance, etc., phr. (American).—Not to be compared with; a trifle; of no account—unfavourable comparison.

18(?). J. H. Beadle, Western Wilds, p. 28. I took a broadhorn to Noo Orleens, and when I was paid off on the levee, I was the worst lost man you ever did see. In the middle of the thickest woods in the world wasn’t a circumstance to it.

1848. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers. For Jacob warn’t a suckemstance to Jeff at financierin’; He never’d thought of borryin’ from Esau like all nater An’ then cornfiscatin’ all debts to sech a small pertater.

To whip [something] into a circumstance = to surpass. Thus a newspaper correspondent writes that ‘the streets of Georgetown, Demerara, are broad, smooth, and well laid out. Georgetown could give points to New York in its roads, and whip it into a circumstance.’

Circus-Cuss, subs. (thieves’).—A circus-rider.

Citizen, subs. (thieves’).—A wedge for ‘prizing open’ safes, before the alderman (q.v.), and jemmy (q.v.).—See also Citizens’ friend.

Citizens’ Friend, subs. (thieves’).—A smaller wedge than the citizen (q.v.), for ‘prizing open’ safes. The order in which the tools are used is (1) Citizens’ Friend; (2) Citizen; (3) the Alderman (i.e., a Jemmy); and sometimes (4) a Lord Mayor. For synonyms, see Jemmy and Betty.

City College, subs. (thieves’).—Newgate. In New York = ‘The Tombs.’ For synonyms, see Cage.

City Stage, subs. (old).—The gallows, formerly in front of Newgate. For synonyms, see Nubbing Cheat.

Civet, subs. (general).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Civil Reception.—See House of Civil Reception.

Civil-Rig, subs. (vagrants’).—A trick to obtain alms by a profuse show of civility and obsequiousness.

Civvies, subs. (military).—Civilians’ clothes, as opposed to regimentals. [A corruption of the legitimate word.]

Clack, subs. (colloquial).—1. Idle, loquacious talk; gossip; prattle—an exceedingly old usage. For synonyms, see Patter.

c. 1440. York, Myst. XXXIV., 211. Ther quenes vs comeres with her clakke. [m.]

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V. 251. Their clacke or gabbling to this purport.

1678. Butler, Hudibras, pt. III., ch. ii. And, with his everlasting clack, Set all men’s ears upon the rack.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. liv. I dreaded her unruly tongue, and felt by anticipation the horrors of an eternal clack!

1812. H. and J. Smith, Rejected Addresses (‘Punch’s Apotheosis’). See she twists her mutton fists like Molyneux [117]or Beelzebub, And t’other’s clack, who pats her back, is louder far than Bell’s hubbub.

1888. J. Payn, Myst Mirbridge (Tauchn.) II., xviii., 197. The old fellow would have had a clack with her. [m.]

2. (common).—The tongue [i.e., that which clacks (q.v.), verb.] A more ancient form was clap dating back to 1225.

English Synonyms. Glib; red-rag; clapper; dubber; velvet; jibb; quail-pipe.

French Synonyms. La diligence de Rome (popular); un battant (thieves’: also ‘heart,’ ‘stomach,’ and ‘throat’); un bon battant (‘a nimble tongue.’ Cf., ‘clapper’); une chiffe or un chiffon rouge (popular); une gaffe; le grelot.

German Synonym. Lecker (literally ‘the licker’).

Italian Synonyms. Serpentina; dannoso (literally ‘damagable’); zavarina (properly ‘a trifling old woman’).

Spanish Synonym. La desosada (i.e., Old Boneless).

1598. Greene, Jas. IV., wks. (Gros.) XIII., 210. Haud your clacks, lads. [m.]

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Clack (s.) … also a nickname for a woman’s tongue; a prattler or busybody.

1828. D’Israeli, Chas. I., II., i., 23. Who, as washerwomen … at their work, could not hold their clack. [m.]

1864. E. Sargent, Peculiar, III., 76. To hermetically seal up this Mrs. Gentry’s clack. [m.]

Verb.—To gabble. For synonyms, see Patter.

Clack-Box, subs. (common).—1. The mouth. For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

2. (common).—A chatterbox.

English Synonyms. A mouth almighty; poll parrot; babble-merchant; slammer.

French Synonyms. Un parlotteur (familiar); un dévideur or une dévideuse (popular: literally ‘a winder’); un bagoulard (popular: c’est un fameux bagoulard = he is the bloke to slam); un chambert: abuser du crachoir (said of a chatterbox who does too much with the ‘spitter’).

Spanish Synonyms. Hablatista (m; jocular); hablantin or hablanchin (m; colloquial); ladrador (m; properly ‘a barker’); prosador (m; properly ‘a sarcastic and malicious babbler’); gazetilla (f; ‘a farthing newspaper’); garlador; fuelle (m; properly ‘a pair of bellows’); ya escampa (it is importunate babbling; escampar signifies literally ‘to clean or clear out a place’); cotorrera (= a gossip; cotorreria = loquacity; a term specially applied to women); comadre (f; juéves de comadres = Cummers’ Thursday, the last before Shrove Tuesday); una chicharra (a prattler; chicharra = ‘a froth worm’ or ‘harvest fly’); charlantin.

Clack-Loft, subs. (popular).—A pulpit. [From clack, verb, + loft, an elevated room or place.] For synonyms, see Hum-box.

Claim, verb (thieves’).—To steal. (A locution similar in character to ‘annex,’ ‘convey,’ etc., and derived from a sense of the legitimate word signifying ‘to demand on the ground of right.’) For synonyms, see Prig. [118]

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., XL., 501. So I claimed (stole) them.

To jump a claim, phr. (American and colonial).—To take forcible possession; to defraud; specifically to seize land which has been taken up and occupied by another settler, or squatter. The first occupant is, by squatter law and custom, entitled to the first claim on the land.—See Jump.

1846. E. H. Smith, Hist. of Black Hawk. When I hunted claims, I went far and near, Resolved from all others to keep myself clear; And if, through mistake, I jumped a man’s claim, As soon as I knew it I jumped off again.

18(?). F. Marryat, Mountains and Molehills, p. 217. If a man jumped my claim, and encroached on my boundaries, and I didn’t knock him on the head with a pickaxe, I appealed to the crowd, and, my claim being carefully measured and found correct, the jumper would be ordered to confine himself to his own territory.

1883. R. L. Stevenson, The Silverado Squatters, p. 221. The claim was jumped; a track of mountain-side, fifteen hundred feet long by six hundred wide … had passed from Ronalds to Hanson, and in the passage changed its name from the ‘Mammoth’ to the ‘Calistoga.’

Clam, subs. (American).—1. A blockhead. Anglicé, ‘as stupid as an oyster.’ Shakspeare (Much Ado About Nothing, ii. 3) has ‘Love may transform me to an oyster; but I’ll take my oath on it, till he hath made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool.’—See Chowder-headed; chowder is a favourite form of serving clams.

1871. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Sketches, I., 46. A fine stroke of sarcasm, that, but it will be lost on such an intellectual clam as you.

2. The mouth or lips. Also clam-shell. ‘Shut your clam-shell’ = ‘Shut your mouth.’ The padlock now used on the United States mail-bags is called the ‘Clam-shell padlock.’ For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, I., 143. Shet your clam, our David.

1848. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers, II., p. 19. You don’t feel much like speakin’, When if you let your clam-shells gape, a quart of tar will leak in.

1848. Bartlett, Dict. Americanisms. Shut up your clam-shells. Close your lips together; be silent. Common along the shores of Connecticut and Rhode Island, where clams abound. Same as ‘shut your head.’

Clam-Butcher, subs. (American).—A man who opens clams; the attendant at an oyster bar is an ‘oyster-butcher.’

Clank, subs. (thieves’).—A pewter tankard; formerly a silver one.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue Clank: a silver tankard.

1837. Disraeli, Venetia, ch. xiv. Tip me the clank like a dimber mort as you are.

Clanker, subs. (old).—1. A great lie.—Grose. Cf., Clinker. For synonyms, see Whopper.

2. (old).—Silver plate. Cf., Clank.

Clank Napper, subs. (old).—A thief whose speciality is silver-plate. [From clank, subs. + napper (q.v.), a thief.] For synonyms, see Thieves.

Clap (or Clapper), subs. (common).—1. The tongue. [From clap = chatter; a babbler’s tongue is said to be hung in the middle, and to sound with both ends.] For synonyms, see Clack.

a. 1225. Ancr. R., 72. Þeone kuðen heo neuere astunten hore cleppe. [119]

1609. Dekker, Guls’ Horne-Booke, ch. vi. And to let that clapper (your tongue) be tost so high, that all the house may ring of it.

1633. Massinger, New Way to Pay Old Debts, III., 2. Greedy. Sir Giles, Sir Giles! Over. The great fiend, stop that clapper!

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VII., ch. xv. My landlady was in such high mirth with her company that no clapper could be heard there but her own.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xix. I thought I should have snorted right out two or three times … to hear the critter let her clapper run that fashion.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. vi. But old Murdoch was too pleased at hearing his own clapper going, and too full of whiskey, to find him out.

1878. John Payne, tr. Poems of Villon, p. 139. Enough was left me (as warrant I will) To keep me from holding my clapper still, When jargon that meant ‘You shall be hung’ They read to me from the notary’s bill: Was it a time to hold my tongue?

2. (vulgar).—Gonorrhœa; once in polite use. [Origin uncertain; cf., Old Fr. clapoir, bosse, bubo, panus inguinis; clapoire, clapier, ‘lieu de débauche,’ ‘maladie q’on y attrape’]. For synonyms, see Ladies’ Fever.

1587. Myrr. Mag., Malin iii. Before they get the clap.

1706. Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer. Five hundred a year besides guineas for claps.

1709. Swift, Adv. Relig. Works [1755] II., i. 99, s.v.

1738. Johnson, London, 114. They sing, they dance, clean shoes, or cure a clap.

1881. In Syd. Soc. Lex.

Verb (vulgar).—To infect with clap; see subs. Also figuratively.

1658. Osborn, Jas. I. [1673], 514. Atropos clapt him, a Pox on the Drab!

1680. Butler, Rem. [1759], I. 249. [They] had ne’er been clap’d with a poetic itch.

1738. Laws of Chance. Pref. 9. It is hardly 1 to 10 … that a Town-Spark of that Age has not been clap’d.

Clapper-Dudgeon, subs. (old).—A whining beggar.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 26. These Palliards be called also Clapper dogens, these go with patched clokes, and haue their morts with them which they cal wiues.

1625. Jonson, Staple of News, II. Here he is, and with him—what? a clapper-dudgeon! That’s a good sign, to have the beggar follow him so near.

1705–7. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. V., p. 10. Says he, there is an old curmudgeon, A hum-drum, preaching, clapperdudgeon.

1863. Sala, Capt. Dang., II., vii., 225. Rogues, Thieves … and Clapper-dudgeons … infested the outskirts of the Old Palace. [m.]

Clap of Thunder, subs. phr. (old).—A glass of gin: a variant of Flash of Lightning (q.v.).

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry [Ed. 1890], p. 79. I have not exactly recovered from the severe effects of the repeated ‘flashes of lightning’ and strong claps of thunder, with which I had to encounter last night.

Clap-Shoulder, subs. (old).—A term applied to the officers of justice who laid their hands upon people’s shoulders when they arrested them. Cf., Catch-pole.

1630. Taylor, Workes. Clap-shoulder serjeants get the devill and all, By begging and by bringing men in thrall.

Clapster, subs. (vulgar).—An habitual sufferer from gonorrhœa; by implication, one much and often in the way of getting clapped.

Claras, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Caledonian Railway Deferred and Ordinary Stock.

1887. Atkin, House Scraps. For we have our Sarahs and Claras. Our Noras and Doras for fays. [120]

Claret, subs. (pugilistic).—Blood, Variants are Badminton, Bordeaux, and Cochineal-dye. French le vermeil or le vermois.

1604. Dekker, Honest Whore, II., 45, wks. [1873]. This should be a Coronation day: for my head runs claret lustily.

1819. Thomas Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 25.… This being the first Royal Claret let flow, Since Tom took the Holy Alliance in Tow, The uncorking produced much sensation about, As bets had been flush on the first painted snout.

1878. Besant and Rice, By Celia’s Arbour, ch. xxxix. The lieutenant picked him up, and placed him—because he declined to stand; and, indeed, the claret was flowing freely—in the President’s arm chair.

To tap one’s Claret, phr.—To draw blood.

Claret Jug, subs. (pugilistic).—The nose. [From claret, blood, + jug, a receptacle.] For synonyms, see Conk.

1859. Punch, vol. XXXVII., p. 22. ‘A Chapter on Slang.’ A man’s broken nose, is his claret-jug smashed.

Clarian, subs. (Cambridge University).—A member of Clare Hall, Cambridge; also a Greyhound (q.v.).

1889. C. Whibley, Cap and Gown. E’en stuke-struck Clarians strove to stoop.

Class, subs. (athletic).—The highest quality or combination of highest qualities among athletes. He’s not class enough, i.e., not good enough. There’s a deal of class about him, i.e., a deal of quality. The term obtains to a certain extent among turfites.

1884. Referee, March 23, p. 1, col. 3. The elasticity necessary for anything like class at sprinting departs comparatively early.

Claw, subs. (prison).—A lash of the cat-o’-nine-tails. Cf., Clawed-off, sense 1.

1876. Greenwood, A Night in a Work-house. Oh! cuss that old Kerr, who condemned me to twenty-five claws with the cat.

Claws for Breakfast, subs. phr. (prison).—See quot.

1873. Greenwood, In Strange Company. A ruffian being uncertain as to the morning when he is to have, as he himself would say, claws for breakfast, is in the habit of lying night after night in a sweat of terror.

Clawed-off, adv. phr. (old).—1. Severely beaten or whipped. Cf., Claw.

2. (old).—Venereally infected.

Claw-Hammer, subs. (Irish).—A dress coat. [From a supposed similarity in the cut of the tails to a claw hammer, one end of which is divided into two claws, for extracting nails from wood.] Also called steel-pen coat and swallow-tail. For synonyms of evening dress generally, see War-paint.

1863. Nathaniel Hawthorne, Passages from English Note-books, I., 538. Sea-captains call a dress-coat a claw-hammer.

1883. Punch, July 21, p. 29, col. 2. An ‘Impressionist’ is not impressive In a claw-hammer on a public platform.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. 11, p. 7, col. 1. After the claw-hammer crowd had been exhausted, he sent up an invitation to the great army of unvarnished.

Clay, subs. (colloquial).—A clay pipe. Cf., Yard of clay, but for synonyms, see Churchwarden.

1859. Fairholt, Tobacco (1876), 173. Such long pipes were reverently termed aldermen in the last age, and irreverently yards of clay in the present one. [121]

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxi., p. 223. ‘He is churchwarden at home, and can’t smoke anything but a long clay.’

1866. London Miscellany, 19 May, p. 235, col. 2. Surely these men, who win and lose fortunes with the stolidity of a mynheer smoking his clay yard, must be of entirely different stuff from the rest of us.

1871. Calverley, Verses and Tr. Ode Tobacco. Jones … daily absorbs a clay after his labours.

To moisten, soak, or wet one’s clay, verbal phr.—To drink. [Clay = the human body.]

1708. Brit Apollo, No. 80, 3, 1. We were moistening our clay.

1711. Addison, Spectator, No. 72, par. 9. To moisten their clay, and grow immortal by drinking.

1731. Fielding, Letter Writers, Act ii., Sc. 2. A soph, he is immortal, And never can decay; For how should he return to dust Who daily wets his clay?

1790. Rhodes, Bombastes Furioso. Moistening our clay and puffing off our cares.

1800. Morning Chronicle (in Whibley, p. 92). Cram not your attics With dry mathematics, But moisten your clay with a bumper of wine.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxix., p. 345. Ever and anon moistening his clay and his labours with a glass of claret.

1837. Barham, I. L. (The Monstre Baloon). And they’re feasting the party, and soaking their clay, With Johannisberg, Rudesheimer, Moselle, and Tokay.

1864. Lowell, Fireside Trav., 119. When his poor old clay was wet with gin. [m.]

Clean, adj. and adv. (colloquial and expletive).—1. Entirely; altogether; e.g., clean gone, clean broke, etc. Employed by the best writers until a recent date, and scarce colloquial even now.

1888. W. E. Henley, A Book of Verses, ‘Ballade of a Toyokuni Colour Print.’ Child, although I have forgotten clean, I know That in the shade of Fuji-san, What time the cherry orchards blow, I loved you, once, in old Japan.

1890. Mark Rutherford (‘Reuben Shapcott’), Miriam’s Schooling, p. 11. The memory of the battle by the hill Moreh is clean forgotten.

2. Expert; smart.

1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. The cleanest angler on the pad, In daylight or the darky.

Clean-Out, verbal phr. (colloquial)—To exhaust; strip; ‘rack’; or ruin. Fr., se faire lessiver.

1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict. Cleaned out: said of a gambler who has lost his last stake at play; also, of a flat who has been stript of all his money.

1819. Thos. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 38. All Lombard-street to ninepence on it, Bobby’s the boy would clean them out!

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. xxix., p. 184. He never took a dice-box in his hand, or held a card, but he was plucked, pigeoned, and cleaned out completely.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘When I was Prince of Paradise.’ I introduced ‘loo’—in an hour or two, I’d cleaned all their pockets right out.

Clean Potato, phr. (general).—The right thing. Of an action indiscreet or dishonest, it is said that ‘It’s not the clean potato.’

Clean Straw, subs. (Winchester College).—Clean sheets. [Before 1540 the beds were bundles of straw on a stone floor. At that date Dean Fleshmonger put in oaken floors, and provided proper beds, such as existed in 1871 in Third, and later in the case of the Præfect of Hall’s unused beds in Sixth. The term has never been used, as stated by Barrère, in reference to mattresses of any kind, straw or other.]

Clean Wheat. It’s the clean wheat, phr. (general). The [122]best of its kind. For synonyms, see a1 and Fizzing.

Clear, adj. and adv. (old).—Thick with liquor. [Apparently on the principle lucus a non lucendo.]

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, I., iv. Yes, really I was clear; for I do not remember what I did.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Clear: very Drunk.

1699. Vanbrugh, Relapse, IV., iii. I suppose you are clear—you’d never play such a trick as this else.

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

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. The cull is clear let’s bite him.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Verb.—See Clear Out.

Clear as Mud, adv. phr. (common) = Not particularly lucid.

Clear Crystal, subs. (popular).—White spirits, as gin and whisky, but extended to brandy and rum.

Clear Grit, subs.—1. (Canadian).—A member of the colonial Liberal party.

1884. Fortnightly Review, May, 592. There arose up [in Canada] a political party of a Radical persuasion, who were called Clear Grits, and the Clear Grits declared for the secularisation of the Clergy Reserves.

2. (American).—The right sort; having no lack of spirit; unalloyed; decided.

1835–40. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. xxxii. I used to think champagne no better nor mean cider … but if you get the clear grit there is no mistaking it.

1861. New York Tribune, 10 Oct. Nor do we think the matter much mended by a clear grit Republican convention, putting one or two Democrats at the foot of their tickets.

Clear out (or Clear off), verbal phr. (colloquial).—1. To depart.

1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, II., 151. Like many a hero before him, he cleared out.

1861. Harper’s Monthly, August. You’ll have to clear out, and that pretty quick or I’ll be after you with a sharp stick.

1885. Truth, 28 May, 1847. I would have the Canal under the control of an International Commission … and then I would clear out of the country.

1888. J. Rickaby, Moral Philos., 205. To warn the visitor to clear off.

2. (popular).—To rid of cash; to ruin; to ‘clean out.’

1849–50. Thackeray, Pendennis. The luck turned from that minute … came away cleared out, leaving that infernal check behind me.

1884. Illustrated London News, Christmas Number, p. 6, col. 2. He cleared you out that night, old man.

Cleave, verb (old).—To be wanton; used of women. [Quoted by Grose, 1785.]

Cleft, subs. (common).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Clegg, subs. (Scots).—A horse-fly.

Clencher.—See Clincher.

Clergyman, subs. (common).—A chimney-sweep. [In allusion to the colour of ‘the cloth.’] Clergymen in their turn = ‘chimney sweeps.’

English Synonyms. Black draught; knuller; flue-faker; querier; chummy.

French Synonyms. Un artiste; Jean de la suie. [123]

St. Nicholas’ clerk or clergyman (old).—A highwayman.

1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc., I. A quarrel, by the highway side, between a brace of Saint Nicholas Clargie men. [m.]

1597. Shakspeare, King Henry IV., i. 1. Sirrah, if they meet not with St. Nicholas’ clerks, I’ll give thee this neck.

Clerked, ppl. adj. (old). Imposed upon; ‘sold’ (q.v.).

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. The cull will not be clerked.

Clerks.—See St. Nicholas’ Clerk.

Clerk’s Blood, subs. (old).—Red ink. A common expression of Charles Lamb’s.

Clever Shins, phr. (school).—Sly to no purpose.

Cleymes, subs. (old).—Artificial sores, made by beggars to excite charity.

Click, subs. (pugilistic).—A blow. For synonyms, see Dig, bang and wipe. Also a hold in wrestling.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 18. Home-hits in the bread-basket clicks in the gob. Ibid, p. 30.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 8 April. C. and W. Wrestling Society. The various competitors struggled hard and put on all they knew in ‘hipes,’ ‘hanks,’ ‘clicks,’ ‘strokes,’ and ‘buttockings.’

Verb (old).—See quots., and Cf., Clicker.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Click (v.) … or to stand at a shop-door and invite customers in, as salesmen and shoemakers do.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. To click a nab; to snatch a hat.

Clicker, or Klicker, subs. (old).—1. A shop-keeper’s tout. [Formerly a shoemaker’s doorsman or barker (q.v.), but in this particular trade the term is nowadays appropriated to a foreman who cuts out leather and dispenses materials to workpeople; a sense not altogether wanting from the very first.]

c. 1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew. Clicker: the shoemaker’s journeyman or servant, that cutts out all the work, and stands at or walks before the door, and saies, ‘What d’ye lack, sir? what d’ye buy, madam?’

1698. Ward, London Spy, pt. V., p. 117. Women were here almost as Troublesome as the Long-Lane Clickers.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Clicker (s.): the person that stands at a shoe-maker’s door to invite customers to buy the wares sold there.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dictionary. Clicker: a female touter at the bonnet shops in Cranbourne Alley. In Northamptonshire, the cutter out in a shoemaking establishment.

2. (popular).—A knockdown blow.—See Click, subs. sense.

3. (thieves’).—One who apportions the booty or ‘regulars.’

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Clift, verb (thieves’).—To steal. For synonyms, see Prig.

Climb Down, subs. and verb (colloquial).—The abandonment of a position; downward or retrograde motion; the act of surrender. At first American.

1871. Rev. H. W. Beecher, Star Papers, p. 41, quoted in De Vere’s Americanisms. To climb down the wall was easy enough, too easy for a man who did not love wetting. Ibid. I partly climbed down, and wholly clambered back again, satisfied that it was easier to get myself in than to get the flowers out.

1889 St. James’s Gazette, 22 Nov., p. 12, col. 2. I am particularly pleased (adds our correspondent) with the noble [124]conduct of the Bread Union, the first to climb down, and the promptest to send in its little bill.

1890. Globe, 7 April, p. 2, col. 2. It is satisfactory to learn on no less an authority than that of the New York Herald that the general election may at the moment be regarded remote. This is indeed a climb down on the part of the chief disseminator of the Dissolution rumour.

1890. Globe, 19 Feb., p. 2, col. 2. Mr. MacNeill’s ‘personal statement’ in the House yesterday was distinctly in the nature of a climb down.

Clinch, subs. (thieves’).—A prison cell. [? From clinch, to clutch, grip, and hold fast. Cf., Clink.] Variants in English are box, cob, salt-box, chokey and shoe. Fr., une cachemitte, une cachemar or cachemince (all thieves’, from cachot, ‘a black hole’); also un clou (military); maison de campagne (military); un mazaro, or lazaro; une matatane (military); un ours (popular); un abattoir (thieves’; properly ‘a slaughter house.’ This last, the name of the condemned cell in the prison of La Roquette, corresponds to the Newgate Salt Box). In German: Näck (only in Zimmermann; single cell in a prison; probably from the U.G. Noche and the M.H.G. Nacke = boat, from its shape; derivation from the Hebrew Nekef = hole, is also possible).

To get or kiss the Clinch or Clink, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To be imprisoned. For synonyms, see Cop.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., p. 102. s.v.

Clincher or Clencher, subs. (colloquial).—1. That which decides a matter, especially a retort which closes an argument; a ‘finisher,’ ‘settler,’ ‘corker.’ [From clinch, ‘to secure or make fast,’ through its obsolete meaning of ‘to pun or quibble,’ + er.]

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. Clincher … an unanswerable reason or argument.

1839. Pierce Egan, Finish to Life in London, p. 13. Death comes but once, the Philosophers say And ’tis true my brave boys, but that once is a clencher It takes us from drinking and loving away And spoils at a blow the best tippler and wencher.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xvi., p. 136. ‘Why cannot I communicate with the young lady’s friends?’ ‘Because they live one hundred miles from here, sir,’ responded Job Trotter. ‘That’s a clincher,’ said Mr. Weller, aside.

2. (common).—An unsurpassed lie; a ‘stopper-up,’ [This sense flows naturally from sense 1 and the accepted usages of clinch, verb and noun. Cf., Clinker, Whopper, Thumper, Whacker, etc.] For synonyms, see Whopper.

Cling-Rig.—See Clink-rig.

Clink, subs. (old).—1. A prison or lock-up; specifically applied, it is thought, to a noted gaol in the borough of Southwark; subsequently to places—like Alsatia, the Mint, etc.—privileged from arrests; and latterly, to a small dismal prison or a military guard room. For synonyms, see Cage.

1515. Barclay, Egloges, I. (1570) A. 5, 4. Then art thou clapped in the Flete or Clinke. [m.]

1642. Milton, Apol. for Smect, § ii., in wks. (1806) I., 237. And the divine right of episcopacy was then valiantly asserted, when he who would have been respondent, must have bethought himself withal how he could refute the Clink or the Gatehouse.

1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xix. Come along with me; we’ve a nice clink at Wandsworth to lock you up in. [125]

1839. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, ep. I., ch. vi. The old and ruinous prison belonging to the liberty of the Bishop of Winchester (whose palace formerly adjoined the river); called the Clink.

2. (thieves’).—Silver plate; also clinch.—See Clank.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II. He wouldn’t have been hobbled but the melting-pot receiver proved his selling the clink to him.

3. (Scotch colloquial).—Money. Cf., Chink.

1724–40. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc., 14. The Warld is rul’d by Asses, And the Wise are sway’d by clink.

1789. Burns, Let. J. Tennant, May ye get … Monie a laugh, and monie a drink, An’ aye enough o’ needfu’ clink.

1817. Hogg, Tales and Sk., II., 2, 3. Such young ladies as were particularly beautiful … and had the clink. [m.]

4. (colloquial). Also bum-clink.—A very indifferent beer made from the gyle of malt and the sweepings of hop bins, and brewed especially for the benefit of agricultural labourers in harvest time.

1863. Sala, Capt. Dang., I., ix., 266. A miserable hovel of an inn … where they ate their rye-bread and drank their sour clink. [m.]

To kiss the clink, verbal phr. (old).—To be imprisoned. [From Clink, subs., sense 1.] For synonyms, see Cop.

1588. John Udall, State of the Ch. of England, etc., p. 22 (Arber’s ed.) Diotr. Awaye, thou rayling hypocrite, I will talke with thee no longer, if I catche thee in London, I will make thee kiss the clinke for this geare. Paul. In deede the Clynke, Gate-house, White-lyon, and the Fleet, haue bin your onely argumentes whereby you haue proued your cause these many yeeres.

1889. Gentleman’s Magazine, p. 598. s.v.

Clinker, subs.—1. (in plural, old).—Fetters. For synonyms, see Darbies.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Clinkers: the Irons Felons wear in Gaols.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Clinkers: irons worn by prisoners.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

2. (old).—A crafty, designing man.

1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Clinker: a crafty fellow.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

3. (thieves’).—A chain of any kind, whether fetter or watch chain. Cf., sense 1.

4. (pugilistic).—A well-delivered blow; a ‘hot-’un.’

c. 1863. Thackeray, Men’s Wives, Frank Berry, ch. i. Berry goes gallantly in, and delivers a clinker on the gown-boy’s jaw.

5. (colloquial, chiefly sporting).—Any thing or person of first-rate and triumphant quality; also a clincher (q.v.); a ‘settler.’ Cf., sense 4.

1733. Swift, Life and Character Dean S——t. A protestant’s a special clinker. It serves for sceptic and free-thinker. [m.]

1869. Daily Telegraph, 5 April. Despite the indifferent manner in which Vagabond cut up at the finish of the Metropolitan, quite sufficient was seen of him to prove that at a mile and a half he is a clinker.

1871. Daily News, 17 April, p. 2., col. 1. Ripponden and Cheesewring performed so indifferently as to strengthen the doubts whether they are really clinkers.

6. (common).—Deposits of fæcal or seminal matter in the hair about the anus or the female pudendum.

7. (common).—A lie. For synonyms, see Whopper.

To have clinkers in one’s bum, phr. (vulgar).—To be uneasy; unable to sit still. [126]

Clinkerum. The same as clink, sense 1.

Clinking, ppl. adj. (common).—First-rate; extra good; about the best possible. Cf., Clipping, Thumping, Whopping, Battling, etc.

1868. Daily Telegraph, 6 June. Vermouth was a clinking good horse.

1887. Sporting Times, 12 March, p. 2, col. 2. Prince Henry must be a clinking good horse when in the humour to go.

1889. Polytechnic Mag., 24 Oct., p. 263. Soon afterwards the Poly. obtained a free kick, and Young notched a point for them. Heard again steered the ball to the Clapham goal, and Toghill put in a clinking shot which just shaved the upright.

Clink-Rig or Cling-Rig, subs. (old).—Stealing silver tankards from public-houses, etc. [From clink, plate, + rig, a theft, or dodge.]

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 174, s.v.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v.

Clip, subs. (colloquial).—A smart blow, e.g., a clip in the eye. For synonyms, see Dig, bang, and wipe.

1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xxvi. The master fires and hits the cat a clip on the neck.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker (1862), 89. He made a pull at the old-fashioned sword … and drawing it out he made a clip at him.

1860. Police Gazette, 17 November. He ran up to him, hit him a severe clip, and dashed through the window.

Verb (colloquial).—To move quickly. For analogous terms, see Amputate. [Probably originally a falconry term = to fly swiftly.]

1833. M. Scott, Tom Cringle, xii. (1859), 281. He clipped into the water with the speed of light.

1835–40. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker (1862), 46. He sees a steam-boat a clippin it by him like mad.

1843–4. Sam Slick in England, viii. (Bartlett). I ran all the way, right down as hard as I could clip.

Clipe, verb (school).—To tell tales; to ‘split’; to Peach; q.v. (for synonyms).

Clipper, subs. (colloquial).—A triumph in horses, men, or women; a splendid man; a brilliant or very stylish woman; an admirable horse. [From Clipper, = a vessel built with a view to fast sailing; previous to which the term was applied to a hack for the road.]

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xv. A perfect pictur’ of a horse, and a genuine clipper; could gallop like the wind.

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. xvi. You have head enough for both of us, Beck, said he. You’re sure to get us out of the scrape. I never saw your equal, and I’ve met with some clippers in my time, too.

1851. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, I., p. 133. They [wild ducks] come over here when the weather’s a clipper; for you see cold weather suits some birds and kills others.

Clipping or Clippingly, ppl. adj. and adv. (common).—Excellent; very showy; first-rate. [From that sense of clipping = that flies or moves fast.—See quot., 1643.] For synonyms, see A1 and Fizzing.

1643. P. Quarles, Emblemes, B. IV., ii., p. 194 (ed. 1648). O that the pinions of a clipping Dove Would cut my passage through the Empty Air, Mine eyes being sealed, how would I mount above The reach of danger and forgotten care!

1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. i., p. 46. What clipping girls there were in that barouche.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xxiii. [Mr. Commissioner Beresford loq.:] Clipping riders, those girls! good as Kate Mellon anyday! [127]

Cloak, subs. (thieves’).—A watch case. [From cloak, an outer garment.]

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 70. Near to these hopeful youths sat a fence, or receiver, bargaining with a clouter, or pickpocket, for a ‘suit,’ or, to speak in more intelligible language, a watch and seals, two ‘cloaks,’ commonly called watch-cases and a ‘wedge-lobb,’ otherwise known as a silver snuff-box.

Cloak-Twitchers, subs. (old).—Thieves who made a special business of robbing the lieges of their cloaks. [From cloak + twitch, to snatch, + er.] In the old French cant these rogues were termed tirelaines, i.e., wool-pullers (tirer = pull). For synonyms, see Thieves.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Clobber, subs. (common).—Primarily old, but now also applied to new clothes. For synonyms, see Togs.

1879. J. W. Horsley, Macm. Mag., XL., 502. Having a new suit of clobber on me.

1889. Answers, 11 May, p. 374, col. 3. The clobber (old clothes) which have been presented by charitable persons are exchanged and sold.

1889. Sporting Times, quoted in Slang, Jargon, and Cant, p. 255. If you are hard up always tell the dear things that you are a gentleman’s valet. This will account for your good clobber.

Verb.—Also clobber up. 1. To patch; revive; or ‘translate’ clothes. [Properly applied to cobbling of the lowest class. Cf., Clobberer.]

1865. Cassell’s Paper, Article, ‘Old Clo’.’ They are now past ‘clobbering,’ ‘reviving,’ or ‘translating,’ they are, in fact, at the lowest point of Fortune’s wheel: but the next turn puts them in its highest point again.

2. To dress smartly; to rig oneself out presentably. For synonyms, see Rig out.

1879. J. W. Horsley, Macm. Mag., XL., 501. I used to get a good many pieces about this time, so I used to clobber myself up and go to the concert-rooms.

1886. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Good-Night. You judes that clobber for the stramm.

1889. Fun [quoted in S., J., and C. p. 256]. ‘D’you know, if you were clobbered up I shouldn’t mind taking you out?’ She promised to be presentable. In her own words she said, ‘I’ll come clobbered up like a dukess.’

To do clobber at a fence, phr. (thieves’).—To sell stolen clothes. Fr., laver les harnais.

Clobberer, subs. (common).—See quot. and Cf., Clobber, subs. and verb.

1864. The Times, Nov. 2. Old clothes that are intended to remain in this country have to be tutored and transformed. The clobberer, the ‘reviver,’ and the ‘translator’ lay hands upon them. The duty of the clobberer is to patch, to sew up, and to restore as far as possible the garments to their pristine appearance.

Clock, subs. (thieves’).—A watch. A red clock = a gold watch; a white clock = a silver watch. Generally modified into ‘red’un’ and ‘white’un,’ but for synonyms, see Ticker.

1886. Tit-Bits, 5 June, p. 121. Thus Fillied for a Clock and Slang, reveals the fact that the writer stole a watch and chain, was apprehended, and has been fully committed for trial.

To know what’s o’clock, phr. (common).—To be on the alert; in full possession of one’s senses; a downey cove: generally knowing (q.v. for synonyms). A variant is to know the time o’day.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 451. Our governor’s wide awake, he is, [128]I’ll never say nothin’ agin him, nor no man; but he knows what’s o’clock, he does, uncommon.

1849–50. Thackeray, Pendennis, I., p. 138. I’m not clever, p’raps, but I am rather downy, and partial friends say that I know what’s o’clock tolerably well.

Clock Stopped.—See Tick.

Clod-Crushers, subs. (popular).—1. Clumsy boots. [In agriculture an implement for pulverising clods. Cf., Beetle-crushers, and for synonyms, see Trotter-cases.]

2. (common).—Large feet. [A transferred usage.—See sense 1.]

Clods and Stickings, subs. phr. (paupers’).—See quot.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 24 Oct., Henry Melville’s (the pauper) passionate, ‘beutiful,’ for Stepney Workhouse is a grotesque reflex of Marie Stuart’s pathetic farewell to France. Is the skilly we wonder most ‘beutiful’ at Stepney, or are the clods and stickings unusually free from bone.

Cloister-Roush, subs. (Winchester College: obsolete).—See quot.

1870. Mansfield, School Life at Winchester College, p. 117. We had some singular customs at the commencement of Cloister time. Senior part and Cloisters, just before the entrance of the Masters into School, used to engage in a kind of general tournament; this was called Cloister Roush.

Clootie (Scots).—The Devil.—See Cloots.

1786. Burns, Address to the Deil. Auld Hornie, Satan, Nick, or clootie.

Cloots (Scots), subs.—Hooves.

1786. Burns, The Death and Dying Words of Puir Mailie. An’ no to rin and wear his cloots, Are ither menseless, graceless brutes.

Close as Wax, adv. phr. (general).—Miserly; niggardly; secretive. [A simile derived mainly from close, adj. = hidden or reticent.]

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, I., 231. Then commenced a long and steady struggle, conducted with a Spartan dignity and self command, and a countenance as close as wax.

Close-File, subs. (old).—A person secretive or ‘close’; not ‘open’ or communicative. [From close, adj. = secretive + file = a man.]

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 8. Tom Sheppard was always a close file, and would never tell whom he married.

Cloth. [Generally the cloth], subs. (colloquial).—Primarily clergymen; the members of a particular profession. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 363 (ed. 1857). ‘I maintain that that ’ere song’s personal to the cloth,’ said the mottle-faced gentleman.

1864. Daily Review, Nov. 3. It might have seemed more decorous to draw our illustration of the Doctor’s [Revd.] ingenuity from an incident related of two persons who have some right to be considered as in a sense belonging to the cloth—The Abbess and Novice of Andouillets.

Clothes-Line. Able to sleep upon a clothes-line, phr. (common).—Capable of sleeping anywhere or in any position; said of those able and willing to rest as well upon the roughest ‘shakedown’ as upon the most comfortable bed. [Cf., Two-penny rope and plank-bed.] Also applied in a transferred sense—a synonym for general capacity and ability.

Clothes-Pin. That’s the sort of clothes-pin I am, phr. (popular).—That’s the sort of man I am. In the case of women That’s the sort of hair-pin (q.v.). [129]

Cloth-Market, subs. (old).—A bed. [Of obvious derivation. Cf., Fr., la halle aux draps.] For synonyms, see Bug-walk and Kip.

1738. Swift, Pol. Convers., dial i. I hope your early rising will do you no harm. I find you are but just come out of the cloth market.

1824. T. Fielding, Proverbs, etc. (Familiar Phrases), p. 148. He’s in the cloth market. In bed.

Cloud.—See Blow a cloud. Cloud originally signified tobacco smoke.—[Grose, 1785.] Fr., en griller une = to smoke a pipe or cigarette; also en griller une sèche and en griller une bouffarde.

Cloud-Cleaner, subs. (nautical).—See quot. Angel’s footstool, and Cf.

1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Word Book, p. 31. Cloud-cleaner, an imaginary sail jokingly assumed to be carried by Yankee ships.

Clout, subs. (vulgar).—1. A blow; a kick. For synonyms, see Bang, Dig, and Wipe.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Clout: a blow (cant), I’ll give you a clout on your jolly nob; I’ll give you a blow on the head.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1864. M. E. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, ch. xx. ‘If you had a father that’d fetch you a clout of the head as soon as look at you, you’d run away perhaps.’

2. (thieves’).—A pocket-handkerchief. [A.S. clút, a clout or patch; Dan. klud, Swed. klut, or perhaps from the Keltic; hence, any worthless piece of cloth.] For synonyms, see Wipe, sense 2.

1574–1637. Ben Jonson, Metam. Gipsies. And Tidslefoot has lost his clout, he says, with a three-pence and four tokens in’t.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall, 4 ed., p. 11. [List of Cant Words in.] Clout: a handkerchief.

1754. Fielding, Jon. Wild, bk. I., ch. ix. A neat double clout, which seemed to have been worn a few weeks only, was pinned under her chin.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. A handkerchief.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. A handkerchief (cant). Any pocket handkerchief except a silk one.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict. Clout, or Rag, a cotton pocket handkerchief (old cant).

3. plural (low).—A woman’s under-clothes, from the waist downwards. Also her complete wardrobe, on or off the person.

4. (common).—A woman’s ‘bandage’; ‘diaper’; or ‘sanitary.’

Verb (low).—1. To strike. Fr., jeter une mandole. For synonyms, see Tan.

1576–1625. Beaumont and Fletcher [quoted in Annandale’s ed. of Ogilvie’s Imperial Dict.]. Pay him over the pate, clout him for all his courtesies.

2. (old).—To patch; to tinker.

17(?). Scots Ballad. I’ll clout my Johnnie’s grey breeks For a’ the ill he’s done me yet.

1785. Burns, The Jolly Beggars. In vain they searched when off I marched To go and clout the caudron.

Clouter, subs. (old).—A pickpocket—especially one who steals handkerchiefs. [From clout, sense 2 (q.v.), a pocket-handkerchief, + er.] Cf., Clouting, sense 2. For synonyms, see Stook-hauler.

1839. W. H. Ainsworth, J. Sheppard, p. 158, ed. 1840. Near to these hopeful youths sat a fence, or receiver, bargaining with a clouter, or pickpocket.

Clouting, verbal subs. (common). 1. A beating, basting, or tanning (q.v. for synonyms).—See also Baste. [130]

2. (thieves’).—Stealing handkerchiefs. Cf., Clouter.

Cloven, Cleaved, Cleft, adj. (old).—Terms applied to a sham virgin. (Cleft, subs. = the female pudendum.)

In Clover, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Well-off; comfortable; e.g., like a horse at grass in a clover field.

Clow, subs. (Winchester College). Pronounced clō.—A box on the ear. [Possibly from clout (q.v.) on the model of ‘bow’ from ‘bout,’ and ‘low’ from ‘lout.’ Halliwell gives ‘clow’ as a Cumberland word, meaning ‘to scratch.’] Cf., Baste, and for general synonyms, see Bang, Dig, and Wipe.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 140. The juniors did not get much fun out of the regular games, as their part consisted solely in kicking in the ball, and receiving divers kicks and clows in return for their vigilance. Ibid, p. 39. Nor, when ordered to ‘hold down,’ (i.e., put your head in a convenient position) for a clow, would the victim dare to ward off the blow.

Verb.—To box one on the ear. It was customary to preface the action by an injunction to ‘hold down.’—See quot., 1870, under subs., sense.

Clowes, subs. (old).—Rogues.—Grose [1785].

Cloy, Cligh, or Cly, verb (old).—To steal. For synonyms, see Prig. An old Gloucestershire vulgarism for the hands is clees.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 8 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). They are sure to be clyd in the night by the angler, or hooker, or such like pilferers that liue upon the spoyle of other poore people.

1622. Head and Kirkman, Canting Song, in English Rogue. I met a Dell, I viewed her well, She was benship to my watch; So she and I did stall and cloy, Whatever we could catch.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). Cloy: to steal.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Cloy: to steal.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To cloy the clout, to steal the handkerchief. To cloy the lour, to steal money.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Cloyer, subs. (old).—A thief who intruded on the profits of young sharpers, by claiming a share.

1611. Middleton, Roaring Girl, O. Pl., vi., 113. Then there’s a cloyer, or snap, that dogs any new brother in that trade, and snaps,—will have half in any booty.

1659. The Catterpillars of this Nation Anatomised. [Cloyer = a pickpocket.]

Cloyes, subs. (old).—Thieves; robbers, etc. [In Grose, 1785, and Lexicon Balatronicum, 1811.]—See Cloy and Cloyer.

Cloying, verbal subs. (old) Stealing.

1739. Poor Robin. Money is now a hard commodity to get, insomuch that some will venture their necks for it, by padding, cloying, milling, filching, nabbing, etc., all of which in plain English is only stealing.

Club, verb (military).—In manœuvring troops, so to blunder the word of command that the soldiers get into a position from which they cannot extricate themselves by ordinary tactics.

18(?). Thackeray, Novels by Eminent Hands. ‘Phil Fogarty.’ ‘Clubbed, be jabers!’ roared Lanty Clancy. ‘I wish we could show ’em the Fighting Onety-Oneth, Captain, darlin’!’

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xi. If you’re in difficulties, [131]ask Sergeant File what is best to be done, only don’t club ’em, my boy, as you did at Limerick.

Subs. (venery).—The penis.

Clump, subs. (common).—A blow, generally a heavy one, with the hand.—See quots. under verbal sense. For synonyms, see Bang, Dig, and Wipe.

Verb (common).—To strike; to give a heavy blow. Fr., faire du bifteck. For synonyms, see Tan.

1864. Derby Day, p. 52. ‘We can’t give ’em in charge now.’… ‘Because why? I’ll tell you … we shouldn’t know when to spot ’em. No. I want to clump them. It will spoil sport to call in the bobbies.’

1874. W. E. Henley, MS. Ballad. Which they calls me the Professor, But I’m only Hogan’s Novice, Bloody artful with the mufflers, And a mark on fancy clumping.

1888. Daily News, 2 Jan., p. 7, col. 1. The prisoner clumped (struck) both of them, and then ran away.

Clumper, subs. (common).—1. A thick, heavy boot for walking. [Clumps in shoemakers’ technology = extra fore or half soles.] Cf., quot. under Clumping. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases.

2. (common).—One that clumps; a ‘basher.’

Clumperton, subs. (old).—A countryman. For synonyms, see Joskin.

1870. All the Year Round, Mar. 5. ‘Byegone Cant (Geo. II.).’ Clumpertons agape at the giant proportions of the still somewhat new St. Paul’s would turn from their wondering walks to shudder and shrink at the ghastly gallows exhibition at Newgate.

Clumping, verbal subs. (common).—Walking heavily and noisily: as in hobnails or in clogs.

1864. [From Hotten’s MS. Collection, n.d.] ‘Why, woman! dost ’oo think I’se had naught better to do than go clumping up and down the sky a-searching for thy Tummas?’

Cly, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pocket; purse; sack; or basket. For synonyms, see Brigh and Sky-rocket.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.). p. 12. Cly: a pocket.

1742. Charles Johnson, Highwaymen and Pirates, p. 252. Filing a cly which is picking pockets of watches, money, books or handkerchiefs.

1748. T. Dyche, Dict. (5 ed.). Cly (s.): the cant term for … purse or pocket.

1818. Maginn, from Vidocq. The Pickpocket’s Chaunt. A regular swell cove lushy lay. To his clies my hooks I throw in, Tol, lol, etc.

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood. No knuckler so deftly could fake a cly.

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. II., ch. i., p. 69. They’re just made for hooking a fogle [handkerchief] out of a clye.

1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. Frisk the cly and fork the rag, Draw the fogles plummy.

2. (thieves’).—Money.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.), Cly (s.): the cant name for money, a purse, or a pocket.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Cly: money.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Verb (old).—1. To take; have; receive; pocket: in fact, ‘to cop.’

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. The ruffian cly thee, the deuil take thee.

1609. Dekker, a Gypsy song, in Lanthorne and Candlelight, etc. The Ruffin cly the nab of the Harman beck. If we mawnd Pannam, lap or Ruff-peck.

Cly-Faker, subs. (thieves’).—A pickpocket. [From cly, a pocket, + fake, to steal. + er.] For synonyms, see Stookhauler. [132]

1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. lxxxii. They were gentlemen-sharpers, and not vulgar cracksmen and clyfakers.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 14. ‘Oh, I see!’ replied Blueskin, winking significantly.… ‘Now! slip the purse into my hand. Bravo! the best cly-faker of ’em all; couldn’t have done it better.’

1852. Punch, vol. XXIII., p. 161.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., p. 103. Cly-faker: a pickpocket.

Cly-faking, subs. (thieves’).—Pocket-picking. For synonyms, see Push.

1851. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. xxxi., p. 112 (1888). ‘What do you mean by cly-faking?’ ‘Lor, dear! no harm; only taking a handkerchief now and then.’

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. lx. Well, sir, I won’t deny that the young woman is Bess, and perhaps she may be on the cross, and I don’t go to say that what with flimping, and with cly-faking, and such-like, she mayn’t be wanted.

Cly-Off, verb (old).—To carry off. Cf., Cly, verb, sense 1.

1656. Brome, Jovial Crew. Act ii. Here safe in our skipper Let’s cly off our peck, And bowse in defiance O’ th’ Harman-beck.

Clyster-pipe, subs. (old).—An apothecary. [From clyster = an injection for costiveness.] Fr., un flûtencul, a play upon words. For synonyms, see Gallipot.

1785. Grose, Dic. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Cly the Gerke or Jerk, verbal phr. (old).—See quots.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. To cly the gerke, to get a whipping. Cf., to cop a hiding.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dic., s.v.

1827. Lytton, Pelham, ch. lxxxii. You deserve to cly the jerk for your patter.

Coach, subs. (formerly University and public schools’; now common).—A private tutor; and in a transferred sense one who trains another in mental or physical acquirements, e.g., in Sanskrit, Shakspeare, cricket, or rowing. Analogous terms are crammer, feeder, and grinder.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xxix., p. 240. Besides the regular college tutor, I secured the assistance of what, in the slang of the day, we irreverently termed a coach.

1853. C. Bede, Verdant Green, pt. I., pp. 63–4. ‘That man is Cram, the patent safety. He’s the first coach in Oxford.’ ‘A coach,’ said our freshman in some wonder. ‘Oh, I forgot you didn’t know college slang. I suppose a royal mail is the only gentleman coach you know of. Why, in Oxford a coach means a private tutor you must know; and those who can’t afford a coach, get a cab alias a crib alias translation.’

1864. Eton School-days, ch. ix., p. 103. Lord Fitzwinton, one of the smallest and best coaches—in aquatics—in the school.

1871. Times. ‘Report of the Debate in House of Lords on University Test Bill.’ The test proposed would be wholly ineffective … while it would apply to the college tutors, who had little influence over the young men, it would not affect the coaches, who had the chief direction of their studies.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Nov., p. 1, col. 3. The schoolmaster is concerned with the education of boys up to eighteen; all beyond that falls either to the coach or the professor.

Verb (common).—To prepare for an examination by private instruction; to train: in general use both by coacher and coachee.

1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, ch. v. The superb Cuff himself … helped him on with his Latin verses, coached him in play-hours.

1870. London Figaro, June 10. ‘Quadrille Conversation.’ It is, we fear, Quixotic to hope that ladies and gentlemen invited to the same ball would coach with the same master. [133]

Coachee, subs. (colloquial).—A coachman. Cf., Cabby.

1819. Thos. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. Cong., p. 79. This song … in which the language and sentiments of Coachee are transferred so ingeniously.

1825. English Spy, I., pp. 134–5.

Coaching, verbal subs. (common).—1. Instruction; training, etc.—See Coach, subs. French students call it la barbe.

1836. Pluck Examination Papers for Candidates at Oxford and Cambridge, by Scriblerus Redivivus [Oxford]. The system of coaching pupils considerably improved by the examiners becoming pupils.

2. (Rugby School).—A flogging. Now obsolete.

Coachman, subs. (anglers’).—A fly-fisher’s rod. [In allusion to whipping the stream.]

Coach-Wheel, subs. (popular).—A crown-piece, or five shillings. For synonyms, see Cart-wheel.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Coach wheel: a half crown piece is a fore coach wheel, and a crown piece a hind coach wheel, the fore wheels of a coach being less than the hind ones.

Coal.—See Cole.

To take in one’s coals, or winter coals, phr. (nautical).—To contract a venereal disease. For synonyms, see Ladies’ fever.

Coal-Box, subs. (musical).—A chorus. [Obviously ‘music-hally’ or ‘circussy’ in derivation: a cross between rhyming slang and a clown’s wheeze (q.v.).]

1809–70. Mark Lemon, Up and Down London Streets. The slang word for chorus, coal box, if we might mention anything so ungenteel.

Coaley, subs. (common).—A coal-heaver, or porter.

1880. Jas. Greenwood, ‘Diddler Domesticus,’ in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 93. With such arguments the bargain is driven to a conclusion, and the grateful coaley takes his departure.

1889. Star, 3 Dec., p. 3, col. 4. The coalies demonstrated last night in right novel fashion at St. Pancras Arches.

Coaling or Coally, adj. (theatrical).—Among ‘pros’ a coally or coaling part is one that is grateful to the player. [Hotten says it means ‘profitable,’ and derives it from cole = money, but this is doubtful.—See quot.]

1872. M. E. Braddon, Dead Sea Fruit, ch. xiv. The gorger’s awful coally on his own slumming, eh?… I mean to say that our friend the manager is rather sweet upon his own acting.

Coal-Scuttle, subs. (common).—A poke bonnet; modish once, but now reserved for old-fashioned Quakeresses and ‘Hallelujah Lasses.’ [From the shape.]

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby. There was Miss Snevellici … glancing from the depths of her coal-scuttle bonnet at Nicholas.

Coat. To get the sun into a horse’s coat, phr. (racing).—Explained by quot.

1889. Standard. ‘Sir Chas. Russell’s Speech in Durham-Chetwynd Case,’ June 25. An owner says to his trainer, ‘I suppose, Mr. Jones, we’ll have very good luck to-morrow?’ (laughter). ‘Well no, sir,’ says the trainer; ‘I don’t think the horse has any chance to-morrow. The fact is, he isn’t fit.’ A fortnight elapses, and on comes another meeting at Newmarket, and the owner goes down again, and he sees the horse. To his uninitiated eye the horse seems as well as when he saw it on the previous occasion. In the interval the trainer had ‘slipped in a lot of work into him,’ I think that is the term, and the owner, who thinks he knows something about horses (laughter) says to his trainer ‘You’re going to run this horse [134]to-morrow?’ ‘Oh, I think so, sir,’ says the trainer. ‘But look here,’ says the owner, ‘This is a much better class. He is meeting this horse upon no better terms than before.’ ‘But, sir,’ says the trainer, ‘he has greatly improved. The sun has got into his coat.’

Coax, verb (old).—To dissemble in the shoes the soiled or ragged parts of a pair of stockings.—[Grose, 1785.]

Cob, subs. (prison).—1. A punishment cell. For synonyms, see Clinch.

2. (nautical).—Money. Especially given to a Spanish coin formerly current in Ireland, worth about 4s. 8d. Also the name still given at Gibraltar to a Spanish dollar.

1805. Plymouth Newspaper of Feb. 24, quoted in ‘Autobiography of a Seaman,’ by Earl of Dundonald, vol. I., ch. x., p. 174. His Lordship sent word to Plymouth that, if ever it was in his power he would fulfil his public advertisement (stuck up here) for entering seamen, of filling their pockets with Spanish ‘pewter’ and ‘cobs,’ nicknames given by seamen to ingots and dollars.

3. (Winchester College).—A hard hit at cricket. Of modern introduction. Cf., Barter.

Verb (schoolboys’).—1. To detect, catch, etc.

2. (popular).—To humbug; deceive; to gammon (q.v.).

3. To hit hard.—See subs., sense 3.

Cobb, verb (general).—To spank; to smack the posteriors with (say) a tailor’s sleeve-board.

1830. Marryat, King’s Own. Gentlemen, gentlemen, if you must cobb Mrs. Skrimmage, for God’s sake let it be over all.

Cobber, subs. (common).—A prodigious falsehood; i.e., ‘a thumper’; whopper (q.v.).

Cobble-Colter, subs. (old).—A turkey. Fr., une ornie de balle and un Jésuite. Cf., Alderman in chains.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1837. Disraeli, Venetia, p. 69. ‘Come, old mort,’ said the leader, in a very different tone to the one in which he addressed his young guest, ‘tout the cobble-colter; are we to have darkmans upon us?’

Cobbled, ppl. adj. (schoolboys’).—Caught; detected; spotted. [From cob, verb, sense 1.]

Cobblers’ Knock. To give the cobbler’s knock or to knock at the cobbler’s door, verbal phr. (provincial).—A sort of fancy sliding in which the artist raps the ice in triplets with one foot while progressing swiftly on the other.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, vol. ii., ch. 2. Sam Weller, in particular was displaying that beautiful feat of fancy sliding which is currently called knocking at the cobbler’s door, and which is achieved by skimming over the ice on one foot and occasionally giving a postman’s knock upon it with the other.

Cobblers’ Marbles, subs. phr. (vulgar).—A corrupt pronunciation of cholera morbus, once a name for Asiatic cholera.

Cobbler’s Thumb, subs. (Irish localism).—A small fish; the bull-head, called in English the miller’s thumb.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xxvii. His hands and feet, forming some compensation by their ample proportions, give to his entire air and appearance somewhat the look of a small fish, with short, thick fins, vulgarly called a cobbler’s thumb. [135]

Cochineal Dye, subs. (pugilistic).—Blood. [From the colour.] For synonyms, see Claret.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. 11., p. 31. He would kindly inquire of one gentleman, ‘What d’ye ask for a pint of your cochineal dye?’

1883. Referee. It certainly seemed that their stock-in-trade was largely composed of cochineal dye; there was in truth no lack of the gory accessory of the fight.

Cock, subs. (common).—1. The penis, Cf., Ger., Hahn, Hänchen. [Possibly related to ‘cock’ = turn-valve.] For synonyms, see cream-stick.

1600. Shakspeare, King Henry V., ii. i.—Cf.

1647. Beaumont and Fletcher. The Custom of the County, v., 4. The mainspring’s weakened that holds up his cock.

1730. Bailey, Dict., s.v.

1737. Rabelais. Trans. I., 185., s.v.

1807. Rabelais. Trans. [Longman’s ed.]. s.v., I., 169.

1849. Rabelais. Trans. [Bohn’s ed.], s.v., I., 135.

2. (colloquial).—A chief or leader; particularly in such phrases as cock of the walk, school, etc. [A simile drawn from the barndoor.] Cf., sense 3, and adj.

1711. Spectator, No. 131. Service to the knight. Sir Andrew is grown the cock of the club since he left us, and if he does not return quickly will make every mother’s son of us commonwealth’s men.

1729. Swift, Grand Question Debated. But at cuffs I was always the cock of the school.

1764. O’Hara, Midas, I., 1. Cock of the school. He bears despotic rule.

1811–63. W. M. Thackeray, Miscellanies, II., 275. There is no more dangerous or stupifying position for a man in life than to be a cock of small society.

1862. Mrs. H. Wood, Channings, ch. xxix. ‘Were I going in for the seniorship, and one below me were suddenly hoisted above my head, and made a cock of the walk, I’d know the reason why.’

3. (common).—A familiar address; e.g., old cock, or jolly old cock. [Probably derived from sense 1.] Amongst similar expressions may be mentioned old man, my pippin, and in French, mon vieux zig, or lapin.

1639. Massinger, Unnatural Combat, II., i. He has drawn blood of him yet: well done, old cock.

1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XVIII., ch. x. Then give me thy fist, a’t as hearty an honest cock as any in the kingdom.

1825. The English Spy, vol. I., p. 215. The low-bred, vulgar, Sunday throng, Who dine at two, are ranged along On both sides of the way; With various views these honest folk Descant on fashions, quiz and joke, Or mark the shy cock down.1

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 367 (ed. 1857). ‘Do you always smoke arter you goes to bed, old cock?’ inquired Mr. Weller of his landlord, when they had both retired for the night. ‘Yes, I does, young Bantam,’ replied the cobbler.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 278. The people down here are a queer lot, but I have hunted up two or three jolly cocks, and we contrive to keep the place alive between us.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xvi. Shrewd old cock, Mr. Binnie. Has brought home a good bit of money from India.

1870. London Figaro, 19 Oct. What on earth is the meaning of Mr. Santley’s voice being over-crowed by a mammoth orchestra? I never heard before that fiddles crowed, or that Mr. Santley was a cock. He is what is known as a jolly cock, but there his similarity to the noisy fowl ends.

4. (racing).—A horse not intended to win the race for which it is put down, but kept in the lists to deceive the public.

1887. Field, May 29. In the phraseology of slangy turfites, the horse was a cock; i.e., it had been liberally backed, but was never intended to run. [136]

5. (common).—Primarily the fictitious narratives in verse or prose of murders, fires, etc. (see quot., 1851), produced for sale in the streets. Famous manufactories of cocks were kept by ‘Jemmy’ Catnach and Johnny Pitts, called the Colburn and Bentley of the ‘paper’ trade. They fought bitterly, and Catnach informed the world that Pitts had once been a ‘bumboat woman,’ while Pitts declared—

That all the boys and girls around, Who go out prigging rags and phials, Know Jemmy Catnach!!! well, Who lives in a back slum in the Dials.

Catnach got at last to be ‘Cock of the Walk,’ and remained so till his retirement in 1839. [Hotten thought the word might be a corruption of cook, a ‘cooked’ or garbled statement, or a coinage from ‘cock and bull story.’] Fr., une goualante.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 228. What are technically termed cocks, which, in polite language, means accounts of fabulous duels between ladies of fashion, of apocryphal elopements … or awful tragedies, etc.

Hence applied to any incredible story.

1870. London Figaro, 1 Feb. We are disposed to think that cocks must have penetrated to Eastern Missouri.

6. (thieves’).—An abbreviation of ‘cockney.’

7. (printers’).—In gambling or playing with ‘quads,’ a cock is when one (or more) of the nine pieces does not fall flat but lodges crosswise on another. The player is then given another chance.

8. (tailors’).—Good cock—poor cock. A good and bad workman respectively.

Adj. (colloquial).—Chief; first and foremost. Cf., Cock, subs., sense 2.

1676. Etherege, Man of Mode, II., ii., in wks. (1704), 211. Why the very cock-fool of all those fools, Sir Fopling Flutter.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. II., ch. vi. They’ll make the old Madman cock medicine-man and tattoo him all over.

Verb (venery).—1. To copulate. Usually employed by women and in the passive sense: e.g., ‘to want cocking,’ or ‘to get cocked.’ For synonyms, see Ride.

2. (common).—To smoke.

Cock the eye, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To shut or wink one eye; to leer; to look incredulous. Fr., cligner des œillets. Cf., Cock-eyed. [In venery a woman with a cock in her eye = a woman in a condition of sexual excitement, a woman that ‘means business.’ Cf., Pintle-keek (q.v.) and Look Pricks.] Of the kindred phrase, to cock the chin, an illustration appears in Elegant Extracts.

As Dick and Tom in fierce dispute engage, And face to face the noisy contest wage; ‘Don’t cock your chin at me,’ Dick smartly cries. ‘Fear not, his head’s not charg’d,’ a friend replies.

The French equivalent is s’aborgner (literally ‘to make oneself blind of one eye by closing it’).

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. ii. He … made wry faces, and, to use the vulgar phrase, cocked his eye at him, to the no small entertainment of the spectators.

1836. Marryat, Japhet, ch. iv. Timothy put on his hat, cocked his eye at me, and left us alone. [137]

1859. J. Eastwood, in Notes and Queries, 2 S., viii., 461. The phrase cock your eye is not at all an uncommon one in Yorkshire—meaning ‘direct your eye, give a glance.’

To Cock Snooks, verbal phr. (common).—See Coffee-milling and Snooks.

That cock won’t fight. phr. (common).—Originally cock-pit slang. Said of things problematical or doubtful.

1844. Puck, p. 124. ‘Song of the First Tragedian … having pawned his properties.’ Suppose I told my uncle what I fear he’d not believe, That I’ll certainly repay him the money ere I leave; That my benefit when it comes off is sure to prove a hit, I don’t think, with a screw like him, that cock would fight a bit.

By cock or by cock and pye. phr. (old).—‘Cock’ is here a corruption, or disguise of ‘God.’ We find also ‘cocks-passion,’ ‘cocks-body,’ and other allusions to the Saviour, or His body, as supposed to exist in the Host: the expression surviving the belief. In by cock and pye, the pie, or Sacred Book of Offices is added. By cock and pie and mousefoot, is quoted from the old play of Soliman and Perseda, Orig. of Drama, ii., p. 211.

1571. Edwards, Damon and Pythias, Old Pl., i., 216. W. By the masse I will boxe you. J. By cocke I will foxe you.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, iv., 5. By cocke they are to blame.

1598. Shakspeare, Henry IV., pt. II., Act v., Sc. 1. By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away to-night.

1606. Wily, Beguilede. Now by cock and pie, you never spoke a truer word in your life.

Knocked a-cock, adv. phr. (pugilistic).—Knocked ‘all of a heap,’ or ‘out of time.’ Obviously adapted from the lingo of the cock-pit, and suggested by the sight of the beaten bird laid on his back.

Cock-a-Doodle Broth, subs. phr. (? nonce phrase).—See quot.

1856. Reade, Never Too Late to Mend, ch. lxxxv. He complains that ‘he can’t peck,’ yet continues the cause of his infirmity, living almost entirely upon cock-a-doodle broth,—eggs beat up in brandy and a little water.

Cock-a-Hoop or Cock-on (or in-a)-Hoop, adj. (colloquial).—Strutting; triumphant; high-spirited; ‘uppish.’ [Ray suggested that it refers to the practice of taking out the spigot (an old synonym for the penis, by the way) and laying it on the top of a barrel with a view to drinking the latter dry; a proceeding that would naturally induce a certain swagger in the actors. There seems, however, no doubt that the true derivative is the French coq à houppé. Houppé, in French, is a tuft, touffe (and toupet, is kindred). Littré says, terme de blason, tuft of silk or tassel hanging from a hat: ‘Elle sert de timbre au chapeau des cardinaux,’ etc. Houppée is the foam on the top of a wave. Houppe is the tuft on a trencher cap: ‘Qui distingue,’ says Tarver, ‘le bonnet des nobles de celui des autres’ at the universities—hence tuft-hunter, coureur de houppes. Also, ‘Il trouve à se fourrer parmi les plus huppés’ = he contrives to vie with those at the very top of fashion. The Hoopoe, (Lat. Upupa), is a crested bird. Hence coq à houppé is a crested cock, and by analogy one swaggering, triumphant, exulting; so ‘cock-a-hoop’ is ‘cock-a-top,’ ‘cock-a-crest,’ elated beyond reason—‘cocky,’ as schoolboys say—‘cock of the walk,’ ‘cock at the top.’ In cock-fighting, the ‘cock-a-top’ is he that gets the vantage stroke. ‘Abattre l’orgueil des plus huppés’; to bring down the [138]crest of the highest. Cock-a-hoop is plainly the original expression, and cock-on-the-hoop a later form adopted when the original meaning had vanished.] English equivalents are ‘in full feather,’ and ‘a-cock-horse’ (q.v.), while colloquial French has s’en pourlécher la face and s’émérillonner (to become cheerful through repeated potations).

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act i., Sc. 5. Am I the master here or you? Go to.… You will set cock-a-hoop! you’ll be the man.

1633. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, V., ii. John Clay agen! nay then—set cock-a-hoop: I have lost no daughter, nor no money, justice.

1707. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. XII., p. 20. Those cruel, sanctify’d Pretenders, Now rais’d by Fortune, cock-a-hoop.

1853. Diogenes, II., 195. ‘Our Foreign News Summary.’ All the cock-a-hoop Beys in the Sultan’s dominions Have taken to expressing their individual opinions.

1885. D. C. Murray, Rainbow Gold, bk. IV., ch. vi. He’s a fine lad, a fine lad, but cock-a-whoop, and over certain for his years.

Cock-Ale, subs. (old).—A homely aphrodisiac.—[Grose, 1785.] [An allusion to the penis and the stirring tendency of strong beer.] Nares says it was ‘a sort of ale which was very celebrated in the seventeenth century for its superior quality.’

1675. Woman Turn’d Bully [quoted in Nares]. Spr. How, Mr. Trupenny, not a drop worth drinking? Did you ever taste our cock-ale?

1698. Ward, London Spy. My friend by this time (knowing the entertainment of the house) had called for a bottle of cock-ale, of which I tasted a glass, but could not conceive it to be anything but a mixture of small beer and treacle. If this be cock-ale, said I, e’en let cockscombs drink it. [n.]

1738. Poor Robin. Notwithstanding the large commendations you give the juice of barley, yet if compar’d with canary, it’s no more than a mole-hill to a mountain; whether it be cock-ale, China ale, etc. [n.]

Also cock-broth, etc.

Cock Alley, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. Other derivations of the same make are Cock-chafer, Cock Hall, Cock Inn, Cock Lane, Cock-Loft, Cock-Pit, Cockshire, and Cock-shy. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Cockalorum or Cockylorum, subs. (common).—1. A half contemptuous address.—See quot.

1815–23. T. C. Carter, in Daily News, 7 Dec., 1889, p. 3, col. 5. In 1823 was displayed in a shop window in Pilgrim Street, Ludgate Hill, a picture entitled ‘Seizure for Rent.’ It represented the interior of a room; the only article of furniture a bottomless chair, on the edge of which was seated a half-clad man smoking a pipe. The doorway was filled up by a very fat beadle in full uniform; behind him in the shade could be seen two men, each with a porter’s knot. To the beadle the tenant was saying: ‘Now then, old cockalorum jig, seize away.’ In my school days, from 1815 to 1820, we often heard in the playground: ‘Now little cockalorum, out of that.’

2. (schoolboys’).—A rough and tumble game described as follows by a correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette (1890, Jan. 4, p. 2, col. 1):—

When I went to Harrow, thirty years ago, I found a winter evening game in force there, called ‘high cockalorum,’ of which I send you a sketch. The players used to divide into two opposing bands of from twelve to fourteen each—in fact, the more the merrier. One side ‘went down,’ so as to constitute a long ‘hogsback’—the last boy having a couple of pillows between himself and the wall, and each boy clasping his front rank man, and carefully tucking his own ‘cocoa-nut’ under his right arm, so as to prevent fracture of the vertebræ. When the hogsback was thus formed, the other side came on, leap-frogging on to [139]the backs of those who were down, the best and steadiest jumpers being sent first. Sometimes the passive line was broken quite easily by the ruse of a short high jump, coming with irresistible impulse on a back which was not expecting weight just yet. Sometimes a too ambitious leap-frogger ruined his party by overbalancing and falling off. It was, however, as the last two or three leap-froggers came on that the real excitement more generally began. There was absolutely no back-space belonging to the other party left to them; and they were obliged to pile themselves one upon another—‘Pelion on Ossa’ as it was called. When the last man was up it was his duty to say, ‘High cockalorum jig jig jig—high cockalorum jig jig jig—high cockalorum jig jig jig—off, off, off,’ and then alone was it permissible for tortured and perspiring human nature to fall in one indistinguishable heap to the ground. The repeater of the shibboleth often fell off himself as he was uttering the above incantation—thus losing the victory for his side. It was a splendid game. I understood from family inquiries that it was played at Harrow in my great grandfather’s time.

Cock-and-Breeches, subs. (common).—A sturdy, little man, or boy.

Cock-and-Bull-Story, subs. (colloquial).—An idle or silly story. [Presumably from some old legend of a cock and a bull, apropos to which it should be noted that the French equivalent is coq-à-l’âne, a ‘cock-and-ass.’]

1603. John Day, Law Trickes, Act iv., p. 66. Didst marke what a tale of a Cock and a Bull he tolde my father whilst I made thee and the rest away.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol. IX., ch. xxxiii. L—d! said my mother, what is all this about? A Cock and a Bull, said Yorick—and one of the best of its kind I ever heard.

1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, ch. v. That sounds like a cock-and-bull story, said the young fellow whom they call John. I abstained from making Hamlet’s remarks to Horatio and continued.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., xxiv., p. 432. ‘Giving ear to a cock-and-bull story that can’t be true!’

Cock-and-Hen-Club, subs. (common).—1. A free and easy gathering, or ‘sing-song,’ where females are admitted as well as males. [From cock-and-hen, the male and female bird, and used figuratively for men and women, + club.]

1819. Thos. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. to Congr., p. 78. A Masquerade, or Fancy Ball, given lately at one of the most fashionable Cock-and-Hen Clubs in St. Giles’s.

1828. G. Smeeton, Days in London, p. 40. Introduced him to one of the cock-and-hen houses near Drury Lane Theatre well primed with wine.

2. A club for both sexes; e.g., The Lyric.

Cock-and-Pinch, subs. (old).—The old-fashioned beaver of forty years since. [From its being cocked back and front, and pinched at the sides.] For synonyms, see Golgotha.

Cockatoo-Farmer, subs. (Australian).—In Victoria and New South Wales a small farmer or selector. A term of contempt used by large holders in describing agricultural squatters with small capital. [Probably an allusion to their numbers: a comparing to the rush for land, the swooping of cockatoos in myriads in new sown corn.]

1865. H. Kingsley, Hillyars and Burtons, ch. lx. The small farmers [in Australian wool districts] contemptuously called cockatoos are the fathers of fire, the inventors of scab, the seducers of bush-hands for haymaking and harvesting [and many other heinous crimes].

1886. G. Sutherland, Australia, p. 64. The shepherd king tries to steal a march upon the poor cockatoo, as he contemptuously calls the small farmer.

1887. G. A. Sala, in Ill. L. News, 12 March, 282, col. 2. I venture to differ from my correspondent when, in telling [140]me that ‘cocky’ is Australian argot for a small farmer, adds, ‘by-the-by, you never hear the word “farmer” over there … many scores of times at the Antipodes I have heard agriculturists, whose holdings were small, spoken of, not as “cockies” but as “cockatoo farmers.” ’

Cockatrice, subs. (old).—1. A common prostitute; also a mistress or ‘keep.’ [Nares says ‘probably from the fascination of the eye,’ alluding to the fabulous monster hatched from a cock’s egg by a serpent. Shakspeare speaks of ‘the death-dealing’ eye of a cockatrice.] For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

1600. Ben Jonson, Cynth Rev., IV., 4. And withall, calls me at his pleasure I know not how many cockatrices and things.

1604. Marston and Webster, Malcontent, O. P., iv., 93. No courtier but has his mistress, no captain but has his cockatrice.

1630. Taylor, Workes [quoted by Nares]. And amongst souldiers this sweet piece of vice Is counted for a captaines cockatrice.

1664. Killegrew, Pandora. Some wine there, That I may court my cockatrice. Care. Good Captaine, Bid our noble friend welcome.

1740. Poor Robin. Some gallants will this month be so penurious that they will not part with a crack’d groat to a poor body, but on their cockatrice or punquetto will bestow half a dozen taffety gowns, who in requital bestows on him the French pox.

2. (common).—A baby.

Cock-a-Wax, subs. (common).—1. A cobbler. [From cock a man (q.v.), + a + wax, an adjunct of the cobbler’s trade.] For synonyms, see Snob.

2. A familiar address.

Cock-Bawd, subs. (old).—A male brothel keeper. [Quoted in Grose (1785).]

Cockchafer, subs. (thieves’).—1. The treadmill. For synonyms, see Wheel of life.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 59. ‘He enpiated,’ as it is called, this offence by three months’ exercise on the cockchafer (treadmill).

1864. Glasgow Citizen, Nov. 19. The Jeremy Diddler who forges his honest name to a fakement, incurring thereby a drag at the cockchafer.

2. (venery).—The female pudendum.

3. (venery).—See Cock-teaser.

Cocked-Hat. To be knocked into a cocked hat, verbal phr. (common).—To be limp enough to be doubled up and carried flat under the arm [like the cocked hat of an officer.]

English Synonyms. To be doubled up; knocked into the middle of next week; spifflicated; beaten to a jelly; knocked a-cock; wiped out; sent all of a heap; bottled up; settled; to get beans, or snuff; sent, done, or smashed to smithereens, etc.—See also Tan, Tanning, and Wipe.

French Synonyms. Effondrer quelqu’un (popular: literally ‘to dig into one’; effondrer une volaille = to draw a fowl); tatouiller quelqu’un (popular: tatouiller is a slang term for a thrashing); soigner quelqu’un (popular: properly ‘to take care of,’ or ‘to attend,’ ‘to nurse’); se faire écharpiller (popular); déboulonner la colonne à quelqu’un (popular); décarcasser quelqu’un (popular); manger le nez à quelqu’un (popular: literally ‘to eat one’s nose’).

1870. Daily Telegraph, 20 Aug., ‘Speech of Mr. Ralph Harrison at the Crystal Palace.’ The publication of the [141]Morning Star on March 17, 1856, it was prophesied, would knock the Daily Telegraph into a cocked hat.

1877. C. Reade, The Jilt, I., in Belgravia, March, p. 59. I never knew a Welsh girl yet who couldn’t dance an Englishman into a cocked hat.

1881. Hawley Smart, Gt. Tontine, ch. xxx. I think now we may consider Bob Pegram’s marriage as knocked pretty well into a cocked hat.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 18 Sept. p. 2, col. 3. You give in the Pall Mall of to-night three translations of Plato’s well-known epigram. Permit me to give you another which in my opinion knocks all the rest into a cocked hat.

Also in the moral sense to be amazed to stupefaction and speechlessness.

Cocker, According to Cocker, adv. phr. (colloquial).—According to rule; properly, arithmetically, or correctly done. [From old Cocker, a famous writing master in Charles II. time, author of a treatise on arithmetic. Professor de Morgan notes ‘that it became a proverbial representative of arithmetic from Murphy’s farce of The Apprentice (1756), in which the strong point of the old merchant Wingate is his extreme reverence for Cocker and his arithmetic.’] In America a similar locution is according to Gunter (q.v.). Gunter was a famous arithmetician a century before Cocker, and the American is no doubt the older phrase. The old laws of Rhode Island say, ‘All casks shall be gauged by the rule commonly known as “gauging by Gunter.” ’ Among sailors, the standard of appeal is according to John Norie—the compiler of a popular Navigator’s Manual.

1851. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor. ‘Answers to Correspondents.’ Surely, to increase the quantity of labour, while the amount expended in the direct purchase of that labour remains the same, is according to Cocker—to decrease the wages in precisely the same proportion.

1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xxxii., p. 337. Well, so you ought to be, according to Cocker, spending all your time in sick rooms.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Ill. L. News, Nov. 24, p. 499, col. 2. The average American may not know what we mean by according to Cocker; while the average Englishman may be unaware of the meaning of ‘according to Gunter.’ They both mean the same thing; implying irreproachable accuracy in computation.

1888. Grant Allen, This Mortal Coil, ch. ii. According to Cocker nought and nought make nothing.

Cock-Eyed, adj. (common).—Squinting. [Cf., Cock the eye.] For synonyms, see Squinny-eye.

1884. Daily News, Nov. 27, p. 2, col. 2. I am told the proper description of him would be a little man with a cock-eye.

Cock-Fighting. That beats cock fighting, phr. (common).—A general expression of approval—up to the mark; A 1. [From the esteem in which the sport was held.]

1659. Gauden, Tears of the Church, p. 228. Ministers’ scufflings and contests with one another is beyond any cock fighting or Bear-baiting to the vulgar envy, malice, profaneness, and petulancy.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. vi. ‘Well, roast me!’ cried he, viewing me with a kind of admiration; ‘if this don’t beat cock fighting.’

Cock-Horse, adv. phr. (old).—Triumphant; in full swing; cock-a-hoop. Halliwell says, ‘a somewhat slang expression not quite obsolete.’

Cocking.—See Cock, verb, sense 1. [142]

Cockish, adj. (old).—Wanton; ‘on heat.’ [From cock, the penis, + ish.] Latham quotes cockish in the sense of ‘pert,’ from the strutting of the barn-door cock.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. A cockish wench: a forward, coming girl.

Cock it, verb (tailors’).—To examine; see; or speak of (a thing).

Cockles, subs. (venery).—The labia minora.

Cockles of the Heart, subs. phr. (common).—A jocose vulgarism encountered in a variety of combinations; e.g., ‘that will rejoice’ or ‘tickle’ or ‘warm the cockles of your heart,’ etc. [It is suggested (N. and Q., 7 S., iv., 26) that a hint as to its origin may be found in Lower, an eminent anatomist of the seventeenth century, who thus speaks in his Tractatus de Corde (1669), p. 25, of the muscular fibres of the ventricles.

‘Fibræ quidem rectis hisce exteri oribus in dextro ventriculo proximè subjectæ obliquè dextrorsum ascendentes in basin cordis terminantur, et spirali suo ambitu helicem sive cochleam satis aptè referunt.’

The ventricles of the heart might, therefore, be called cochlea cordis, and this would easily be turned into cockles of the heart.] The French say, Tu t’en pourlécheras la face (that’ll rejoice the cockles of your heart).

1671. Eachard, Observations [Wright]. This contrivance of his did inwardly rejoice the cockles of his heart.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxvi. Which would have cheered the cockles of the reigning monarch.

1834. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xii. ‘There now, master, there’s a glass of grog for you that would float a marling-spike. See if that don’t warm the cockles of your old heart.’

1839. W. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, p. 49 (ed. 1840). ‘There, Mr. Wood,’ cried David, pouring out a glass of the spirit, and offering it to the carpenter, ‘that’ll warm the cockles of your heart.’

To cry cockles, verbal phr. (common).—To be hanged. [From the gurgling noise made in strangulation.] For synonyms, see Ladder.

Cock-Loft, subs. (old).—The head. [A cock-loft is properly a small loft, garret, or apartment at the top of a house. Cf., Garret, Upper Storey, etc.] An old proverb runs, ‘All his gear is in his cock-loft’; i.e., ‘all his wealth, work, or worth is in his head.’ For synonyms, see Crumpet.

1642. Thomas Fuller, Holy and Profane State, And. Ad. fen. 1. Often the cockloft is empty, in those whom nature hath built many stories high.

Cockney, subs. (colloquial).—One born within the sound of bow-bells. [The origin of cockney has been much debated; but, says Dr. Murray, in the course of an exhaustive statement (Academy, May 10, 1890, p. 320), the history of the word, so far as it means a person, is very clear and simple. We have the senses (1) ‘cockered or pet child,’ ‘nestle-cock,’ ‘mother’s darling,’ ‘milksop,’ the name being applicable primarily to the child, but continued to the squeamish and effeminate man into which he grows up. (2) A nickname applied by country people to the inhabitants of great towns, whom they considered ‘milksops,’ from their daintier habits and incapacity for rough [143]work. York, London, Perugia, were, according to Harman, all nests of cockneys. (3) By about 1600 the name began to be attached especially to Londoners, as the representatives par excellence of the city milksop. One understands the disgust with which a cavalier in 1641 wrote that he was ‘obliged to quit Oxford at the approach of Essex and Waller, with their prodigious number of cockneys.’]

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, Act ii., Sc. 2. As Frenchmen love to be bold … and Irishmen to be costermongers, so cockneys, especially she-cockneys, love not aqua-vitæ when ’tis good for them.

1760. Foote, Minor, Act i. But you cockneys now beat us suburbians at our own weapons.

1840. Thackeray, Paris Sketch Book, p. 28. ‘You ’ad such an ’eadach’, sir,’ said British, sternly, who piques himself on his grammar and pronunciation, and scorns a cockney.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Nov., p. 3, col. 2. London mist, when turned into London black fog by the poisonous carbonic anhydride and sulphurous anhydride with which it is loaded, encompasses all cockneys, good or bad with a real danger to health and life.

Cockney-Shire, subs. (common).—London. [From cockney, a native of London, + shire.]

Cock Pimp, subs. (old).—The husband, real or supposed, of a bawd or procuress. [From cock, male, + pimp, a procurer.]—Grose [1785].

Cockquean, subs. (obsolete).—A man who interests himself in women’s affairs. The common form is ‘cotquean.’ Cf., Molly.

Cockroaches. To get or eat cockroaches, verbal phr. (old).—To practise masturbation. For synonyms, see Frig.

Cock-Robin, subs. (old).—A soft, easy fellow.—Grose [1785].

Cock-Robin Shop, subs. phr. (printers’).—A small printing office, for cheap work done at vile wages. In other trades a slop shop.

1888. R. R., in Notes and Queries, 7 S., v., 333. Let me advise collectors of such things [cheap books] to avoid the regular booksellers, and try the cock-robin shops, and the general dealers in small wares, down back streets.

Cocks, subs. (popular).—1. See Cock, subs., sense 2.

2. (trade).—Explained by quotation. The word appears to be slang for anything fictitious. Cf., Cocks, subs., sense 2.

1880. Daily News, Nov. 4. [Quoted in N. and Q., 6 S., ii., p. 387.]

3. (Charterhouse).—A lavatory where changing for games, washing before meals, etc., goes on. [From the taps over the basins.] It is equivalent to the Winchester Moab (q.v.).

Cock’s Egg. To give one a cock’s egg, phr. (common).—To send one on a fool’s errand; to gammon (q.v. for synonyms). The expression is of the same type as ‘to send one to buy pigeon’s milk,’ ‘oil of strappum,’ ‘strap oil,’ etc.

Cock-Shy, subs. (popular).—A mark, butt, or target; any person or thing that is the centre of jaculation.

c. 1834. Marryat, Rattlin the Reefer, p. 92. What a fine cockshy he would make, said Master Blubberlips.

18(?). Lord Strangford, Letters and Papers, p. 215. This was as if the great geologists … had invited two rival theorists to settle the question of a [144]geological formation by picking up the stones and appealing to the test of a cockshy.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. iii. He had seen Tom Ricketts, of the fourth form, who used to wear a jacket and trousers so ludicrously tight, that the elder boys could not forbear using him in the quality of a butt or cockshy.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 262. A desperate fight ensued, the ‘nobblers’ arming themselves with cock-shy sticks.

Cock-Stand, subs. (venery).—An erection of the penis. For synonyms, see Horn and Cf., Stand.

Cock-Sucker, subs. (venery).—A fellatrix.

Cocksure, adj. (colloquial).—Confidently certain; pertly sure. [Probably a corruption of ‘cocky sure.’ We call a self-confident, overbearing prig a cocky fellow, from the barnyard despot. Shakspeare (I Henry IV., ii., 1) employs the phrase in the sense of ‘sure as the cock of a firelock.’

We steal as in a castle, cocksure:

and still earlier usages imply its derivation from the fact that the cock was much surer than the older fashioned match.]

1549. Latimer, Sermon on the Ploughers, p. 32 (Arber’s ed.) For the Deuyll was dysapoynted of his purpose for he thoughte all to be hys owne. And when he had once broughte Christe to the crosse, he thought all cock-sure.

1603. John Day, Law Trickes, Act iii., p. 30. Then did I learn to … Make false conueyances, yet with a trick, Close and cock-sure, I cony-catch’d the world.

1667. Dryden, Sir Martin Marr-all, Act. iv. Nothing vexes me, but that I had made my game cock-sure, and then to be backgammoned.

b. 1738, d. 1819. Wolcot (‘Paul Pindar’), Odes to the Pope, II., in wks. (Dublin, 1795) V. ii., p. 492. Yet deem themselves, poor dupes, cocksure of Heav’n.

1837. R. H. Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), 320. Last of all, gentle Reader, don’t be too secure!—Let seeming success never make you cock-sure.

1849. T. Carlyle, IV., 108. [Yes, Manning was shot there; he had told us Hyde was cocksure.]

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. iii. ‘Hawke will not get his daughter to have him, he may be cocksure of that.’

1889. The Star, Aug. 24, p. 3, col. 4. In his most insolent and cocksure manner he declared, etc.

Cocktail, subs. (common).—1. A prostitute; a wanton.

2. (common).—A coward.

3. (American).—A drink composed of spirits (gin, brandy, whisky, etc.), bitters, crushed ice, sugar, etc., the whole whisked briskly until foaming, and then drunk ‘hot.’

Cocktail or Cocktailed, adj. (military).—Unsoldierlike; uneven; showing bad form; and in its specifically military sense, anything unworthy of the regular army. For example, at one time the Volunteer auxiliaries were described as ‘such a cocktailed crew.’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 67. He confessed he not only urged his brother into it, but compelled him to be as bad as himself, and had thrashed him many times for turning cocktail.

Cock-Teaser, or Cockchafer, subs. (venery).—A girl in the habit of permitting all familiarities but the last. [145]

Cock-up, subs. (printers’).—What is technically known as a ‘superior’; e.g., the smaller letters in the following examples:

Ye Limtd Compy; Jno. Smith, Senr.; No.; London1

Cocked-up, adj.—See Cocky.

Cock Up One’s Toes, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft and Hop the twig.

1820. Reynolds, (‘Peter Corcoran’), The Fancy. ‘King Tims the First.’ Now I see a neighbour cock his toe—Walk by his side in black—in well paid woe.

1864. E. D. Forgues, in Revue des deux Mondes, Sep. 15, p. 472, note. Cock one’s toes. Cette … locution, si bizarre au premier coup d’œil, doit s’expliquer par un des phénomènes de la retraction cadavérique; les pieds du mort, ramenés en arrière, ont pu rappeler la position que prend le chien de la batterie quand le fusil est armé.

Cocky or Cocking, adj. (popular).—1. Pert or saucy; forward; coolly audacious; over confident, ‘botty.’ [Formerly cocking. An allusion to the strut of the barn-door bird.] Fr., se gourer, to be cocky; also se gonfler, faire sa merde, and faire son matador.

1711. Spectator, No. 153. But the cocking young fellow who treads upon the toes of his elders, and the old fool who envies the saucy pride he sees in him, are the objects of our present contempt and derision.

1820. Clare, Poems of Rural Life, Familiar Epistle, st. 5. I’ve long been aggravated shocking, To see our gentry folks go cocking.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. II., ch. vi. ‘It seems so cocky in me to be advising you.’

1864. Glasgow Citizen, Nov. 19. Cotgrave (1672) gives us ‘Herr, master or sir; a rogue.’ Aleman [‘The Spanish Rogue’] Vous faite du Herr. ‘You are very cockit, or lusty; you take too much upon you.’ Is it not gratifying to know that cockiness is older than this century, in which it has been developed to so alarming an extent?

1872. The Scotsman, 29 Oct. ‘Sir J. Pakington at Stourbridge.’ He should be inclined to offer him a little homely advice, and to tell him in somewhat plain language ‘Not to be too cocky.’

1884. Cornhill Mag., April, p. 442. ‘Davis,’ said Toddy, ‘you haven’t had a banging this term, and you’re getting cocky.’

2. (Stock Exchange).—Brisk; active—applied to the money market.

1871. Figaro, 3 June. ‘Notes on Change.’ Everything again brisk, and the market, what is expressly termed cocky.

Cocoa-Nut, subs. (general).—The head. Fr. le coco. For synonyms, see Crumpet.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 176 (ed. 1864). ‘A thousand pities that so fine a fellow should have a sconce like a cocoa-nut!’

1840. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. iii. ‘The Major a-pokin’ along with his cocoa-nut down, a-studyin’ over somethin’ or another quite deep.’

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘Waltzing Round the Water-butt.’ Gaily the troubadour will waltz round the water-butt, Blissful the happy thoughts that float round my cocoa-nut, Moonlight and spooning ’neath the old hazel tree!

That accounts for the milk in the cocoa-nut, phr. (common).—A rejoinder upon having a thing explained for the first time.

To have no milk in the cocoa-nut, phr.—To be insane; silly; ‘cracked.’—See Apartments.

Cocum, Kocum, subs. (common).—1. Shrewdness; ability; luck; cleverness. [From the Hebrew [146]chochum, chochem, or cochem, crafty; learned, wise, or a wise man. The term is found passim in early Hebrew literature, especially in the Book of Proverbs: ‘A cochem will hear and increase learning’ (Prov. i. 5). The slang sense has been introduced by the Whitechapel Jews. In Yiddish cochemer or cochem, the pronunciation of which is not dissimilar to cocum, means wisdom; cochumwirth = a thieves’ landlord. (Cf., paragraph on German analogues.) Cocma is another Hebraism used by London Jews in a similar sense, but it has not made its way into slang.

English Analogues. Real jam (this in the sense of anything exceptionally good or lucky); all beer and skittles (extremely pleasant); rattling (extremely jolly, pleasant, or well appointed); to be in clover (happiness and luck); to stand on velvet (a variant of the last mentioned); to be cracking a tidy crust (to be doing very well); to be having a good swim (thieves’ for a good run of luck, i.e., being a long time out of the policeman’s clutches); well ballasted; on the spot; up to Dick; on it; right; and so forth.

French Analogues. Etre de la bonne (popular: to be lucky); décrocher la timballe (popular); être de la fête (popular and thieves’); avoir des as dans son jeu (popular: to have an advantage, ‘to be in luck’s way’); avoir l’assiette au beurre (popular: to be fortunate in life); bidard (m. lucky); être de la bate (popular).

German Analogues. Chochom, Chochem, Chochemer (which Hebraism is the root of the English cocum. Among German thieves who more frequently spell the word Kochem, Kochemer, the meaning is almost identical with that given it by their English brethren, except that the wisdom, profit, or luck, applies almost solely to the results of crooked ways and dealings. Chochom and its variants signify, therefore, the cunning, prudent, and successful vagabond; Chochem lehorre = a dangerous vagabond, one who is prepared for the worst; Chochem mechutten = a bad patron, a dangerous companion, a rogue of the worst type; Chochme = wisdom, cunning, circumspection, or the practice of swindling).

Italian Analogues. Cavazzonare (literally ‘to place well or be well placed’); aver primavera (this applies to cocum as represented by pleasure; literally ‘to have spring’).

Spanish Analogues. Cucarachera (f; a vulgarism for luck or good fortune); harlarse buena cucarachera (to be lucky or fortunate); potroso (a colloquialism signifying lucky; literally ‘afflicted with a rupture’); charanguero (m; a lucky fellow, one with cocum); hijo de la gallina blanca (a lucky bird).

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 279. ‘It’s decent and comfortable too, and it’s about 6d. a night to me for singing and patter in the tap-room. That’s my cokum (advantage).’

1861. Earl, Ups and Downs of Australian Life, p. 224. ‘No one was to get drunk, the governor said as how it wasn’t cokum, and he wouldn’t have it,—and so we were all fit for work the next day.’

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v. ‘Jack’s got cocum, he’s safe to get on, he is,’ viz., he starts under favourable circumstances. [147]

c. 1886. Broadside Ballad, ‘The Flippity Flop Young Man.’ I once was a Member-for-Slocum young man, And for Parliament had a strong fancy, A know-pretty-well-what-is-kocum young man When addressing a constituency.

2. (publishers’).—A sliding scale of profit. [Publishers sometimes issue books without fixing the published price. These they sell to the retail trade at a fixed sum, leaving the bookseller to make what he can.

To fight or play cocum, verbal phr. (common). To play double; to be wary, cunning, or ‘artful.’

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3 ed.), p. 445, s.v. To be cunning, wary, or sly.

1885. Referee, April 26, p. 1, col. 2. The best show in the Crawfurd Plate—that is, unless a lot of the pulling-up division were playing cokum—was that of Ptolemy.

Cod, subs. (common).—1. A fool. [Cf., Cod’s head, of which it is possibly an abbreviation.] For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

2. (tailors’).—A drunkard.—[See verb, sense 2.]

3. (thieves’).—A purse; a cod of money = a large sum of money. [A.S. cod or codd, a small bag.] For synonyms, see Poge.

4. (street).—A ‘pal’ or friend; generally prefixed to a surname. [Here cod is the diminutive of ‘codlin,’ an old endearment.] Cf., Codd.

Verb (common).—1. To play the fool; to monkey (q.v.).

2. (tailors’).—To go on the drink; generally, to act loosely.

3. (common).—To chaff; hoax; ‘take a rise out of.’

1865. Evening Citizen, 28 Nov. Codding a Town Council.—The Fife Circular, Kirkcaldy, says:—According to usual practice, several members of the new Town Council attended divine service at the Parish Church on Sunday forenoon last. The Rev. M. J. Bryden officiated, and preached an eloquent and appropriate sermon to the Council from these words in the 10th chapter of St. Matthew:—‘Ye are of more value than many sparrows.’

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xxxi. ‘What do you think of that, cook?’ ‘Think?’ answered the cook, who had a rather sour eye; ‘why, that that rough sailor man was a-coddin’ of you, sir.’

Codd or Cod, subs. (Charterhouse).—A pensioner of the Charterhouse.—See quot., and Cf., Cod, sense 4.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, II., p. 333. Yonder sit some three score of gentlemen, pensioners of the hospital, listening to the prayers and psalms. You hear them coughing feebly in the twilight—the old reverend blackgowns. Is Codd Ajax alive, you wonder?—the Cistercian lads called these old gentlemen Codds, I know not wherefore—I know not wherefore—but is old Codd Ajax alive, I wonder? or Codd Soldier? or kind old Codd Gentleman? or has the grave closed over them?

Coddam or Coddom, subs. (common).—A public-house game played three, four, or more a side. The only ‘property’ required is a coin, a button, or anything which can be hidden in the clenched hand. The principle of the game, which is simplicity itself, is that of ‘Guess whose hand it’s in.’ If the guesser ‘brings it home,’ his side takes the ‘piece,’ and the centre man ‘works’ it. If the guess be wrong, a chalk is taken to the holders, who go on again.

1884. J. Greenwood, Seven Years’ Penal Servitude. The convicts take advantage of that to the extent sometimes of playing a gambling game called coddom. [148]

1885. Good Words, August, p. 530. Some prefer coddam, and risk their pint of beer on the discovery of the coin.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., March 1, p. 5, col. 2. The boys were playing a game called coddom, a guessing game.

Codding, verbal subs. (common).—Nonsense; humbug; chaff. [From cod (q.v., verb, sense 3).]

Codger, subs. (common).—A familiar term of address, especially in old codger; a curious old fellow; an odd fish; a ‘rum’ character; a precise, and sometimes a mean or miserly man.

English Synonyms. Most of the general slang terms for a man or fellow correspond in usage to ‘old codger,’ e.g., old chap; ben cull; old man; my pippin; old cock, etc.

French Synonyms. Un béquillard (popular: French thieves give the same name to the executioner); vieux canasson (popular: ‘old man,’ ‘old cock’); un birbe; ma vieille branche.

Italian Synonym. Fuino (literally a pole-cat).

1760. Colman, Polly Honeycombe, in wks. (1777) IV., 39. A clear coast, I find. The old codger’s gone, and has locked me up with his daughter.

1760. Smollett, Sir L. Greaves, vol. I., ch. iii. She twisted her hand in Grove’s neckcloth without ceremony, crying—‘Sha’t then, I tell thee, old coger.’

1796. Mad. D’Arblay, Camilla, bk. IX., ch. iv. He gave himself the airs of an old justice of the peace, and said if he did not find the affair given up, nothing should induce him ever to help me again. What a mere codger that lad has turned out!

1837. Barham, I. L. (Lay of St. Nicholas). How a thirsty old codger, the neighbours call’d Roger, With them drank cold water in lieu of old wine.

1859. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, bk. II., ch. xxiv. Why, I am a boy, sir, to half-a-dozen old codgers here.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 61. His father, a rum old codger, had been a captain in the army.

1883. F. R. Stockton, Rudder Grange, ch. xi. I knew that any sensible man would rather have me in charge of his tent than a young codger like that.

1887. Baumann, Londinismen, Slang u. Cant. pref., vi. So from hartful young dodgers, From vaxy old codger, From the blowens we got Soon to know vot is vot.

Codicils, subs. (American journalists’).—A kind of literary sparring match; also called accumulatives (q.v.). Some editor will make a remark or a joke—with a capital J; another will cite it with comments; and, in his turn, he will be handled by a third. There are cases in which the original paragraph has gone the round of twenty or thirty prints. [A codicil is properly a writing by way of supplement to a will.]

1889. Polytechnic Mag., 24 Oct., p. 253. ‘How many apples did Adam and Eve eat?’ Some say Eve 8 and Adam 2—a total of 10. Now, we figure the thing out far different. Eve 8, and Adam 8 also—total 16.—Boston Journal. We think the above figures are entirely wrong. If Eve 8, and Adam 8–2, certainly the total will be 90. Scientific men, however, on the strength of the theory that the antidiluvians were a race of giants, and consequently great eaters, reason something like this:—Eve, 8–1st, and Adam 8–2—total, 163.—Gloucester Advertiser. Wrong again; what could be clearer than if Eve 8–1–1st, and Adam 8–1–2, would not the whole be 1,623?—Boston Journal. Now we think these figures are not according to Cocker. The following is probably the true solution:—Eve 8–1–4 Adam, Adam 8–1–2–4 Eve—total, 8,698.—Veritas. Stop friend; still another calculation is as follows:—If Eve 8–1–4 Adam, Adam 8–1–2–4–2 oblige Eve—total, 82,056. We think, however, this is not a sufficient quantity; for, if we admit that Eve 8–1–4 Adam, Adam, if he 8–0-8–1–2–4–2 keep Eve company—total, [149]1,082,056.—New York Mail. You do the fair thing by Adam, brother, but you slight Eve. This poor smit 10–1–8–1–4–2 please the serpent, and Adam, of course, if he as good husbands do of-10–8–0–8–1–2–4–2 keep Eve company—total, 109,099,384.—Syracuse Journal. The American newspaper calculators, with the savagery of all other historians, meanly stigmatise the woman. Adam, a mere dupe, lacked the nobility to try a dangerous experiment first. Eve eat an apple for dinner: Adam, forgetting the injuries to many an unborn 1,000,000–8–1–4 millions more—the coward! True total, 1,000,000,814,000,000. Whoopee! Now is the time to subscribe.—Polytechnic Magazine.

Codland, subs. (American).—Newfoundland. Cf., Cod-preserves.

Codlings.—See Cods.

Cod-Preserves, subs. (nautical).—The Atlantic Ocean. [An obvious allusion. Cf., Codland = Newfoundland; also Briney.]

Cods, subs. (venery).—1. The testicles. [From A.S. cod or codd = a small bag.] Also codlings.

English Synonyms. Bawbels, baubels, or bobbles; bollocks; balls; beef (the penis and testes); bird’s-eggs; bobbies; bullets; bum-balls; cannon-balls; clock-weights; culls (old); dowsetts (old); gingambobs; jelly-bags (more properly in sing = the scrotum); knackers; love-apples; marbles; nick-nacks; pebbles; seals (Cf., watch-and-seals = the male pudenda); spunk-holders; stones; thingambobs.

French Synonyms. Les antilles (thieves’: f. pl.); les virolets (obsolete: in allusion to a man’s virility); les sonnettes (common: literally bells); les frères siamois (popular: an allusion to the Siamese twins); les prunes (common); les grains (leger de deux grains = an eunuch).

German Synonym. Dickmann (also ‘an egg,’ and ‘the penis.’ Dick = enciente; dick machen, to deflower and quicken. Dick means literally ‘thick’).

Spanish Synonym. Cojones.

2. (old).—See quot.

1871. Bookseller, 4 Nov. The Cods and Hooks were the Whigs and Tories of Dutch William’s land.

Cod’s-Head, subs. (old).—A stupid fellow; a fool.—See Buffle and Cabbage-Head.

1675. The Woman turn’d Bully. Dash. Sweet sir, I think it is neer octa hora. Your servant, gentlemen. Good. Farewell, cods-head.

1694. Dunton, Ladies’ Dictionary. You confounded toad, you, where were your eyes, in your heels? that you should be such a bungling cods-head to see no better.

Cofe.—See Cove.

Coffee, subs. (American thieves’).—Beans.

1859. G. W. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, p. 19, s.v.

Greased coffee, subs. phr. (American).—Pork and beans.

Coffee-House or Coffee-Shop, subs. (common).—1. A water-closet. For synonyms, see Mrs. Jones, and Cf., Bury a Quaker.

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

Coffee-Housing, subs.—See quot.

1877 Hawley Smart, Play or Pay, ch. iv. ‘Not going to hunt? Why Miss Bazing told me you had a regular string of horses coming down!’ ‘Ah, Bessie’s wrong. I always was a changeable beggar, you know. The string consists of a hack, just good enough to do a little bit of coffee-housing occasionally.’ [150]

Coffee-Mill, subs. (old).—The mouth: a ‘grinder’ itself, and furnished with ‘grinders’—American ‘cogs,’—as well. For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 2. Gas. Come, come, silence your coffee-mill.

Coffee-Milling, subs. phr. (common).—1. Grinding; working hard. Cf., To cock snooks (see Snooks) or ‘take a sight’ by putting the thumb of one hand to the nose and grinding the little finger with the other, as if you worked an imaginary coffee mill.

1837. Dickens, Pickwick, p. 249.

1854. Aytoun and Martin, The Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘The Lay of the Lovelorn.’ When I went the pace so wildly, caring little what might come, Coffee-milling care and sorrow, with a nose-adapted thumb.

Coffins, subs. (Stock Exchange).—The Funeral Furnishing Company’s Shares.

Another nail in one’s coffin.—See Nail.

Cog, subs. (American thieves’).—A tooth.—Matsell [1859]. Cf., Coffee-mill.

Coke. Go and Eat Coke, verb. phr. (vulgar).—A phrase indicative of contempt. A corollary is ‘and evacuate, or s—t cinders.’

Coker, subs. (old).—A lie.—Grose [1785]. For synonyms, see Whopper.

Colchester Clocks, subs. (streets’).—A breed of large oysters.

1865. Daily Telegraph, 13 Sep. For the big, uncompromising Colchester clock, which we see on stalls and shudder at, with unlimited vinegar and pepper, the East-ender willingly gives his penny.

Cold. To have a bad cold, verbal phr. (common).—Said of one who keeps his door closed against all comers for fear of duns; also of one who has ‘shot the moon.’ Also of one that has taken clap.

1863. Chambers’ Journal, vol. XX., p. 5. ‘It’s no good your ringing,’ remarked the book-boy, when I had discovered that fact for myself; ‘Mr. Cranium ain’t at home, he ain’t. He’s got a werry bad cold.’ After a few minutes, however, and many genial impertinences, I discovered that having a bad cold means, in Camden Town, being in debt, while a very bad cold implies that the sufferer has taken clandestine departure from his lodgings.

To leave out in the cold, verbal phr.—To neglect; shut out, or abandon.

1861. New York Tribune, July, The ‘Assents’ continue to come in freely at the Erie Railroad office; and the appearances are that at the closing of the books … there will be few shares or bonds left out in the cold.

Cold Blood, subs. (licensed victuallers’).—A house licensed for the sale of beer ‘not to be drunk on the premises.’

Cold Coffee, subs. phr. (Oxford University).—1. A sell; a hoax; a trumpery affair.

2. (common).—Misfortune; ill-luck. A variant is cold gruel; also to have one’s comb cut; in French, to experience a run of ill-luck is expressed by être abonné au guignon; literally ‘to become a subscriber to ill-luck’; in Spanish, dar al traste con los negocios, signifies, colloquially, ‘to fail’ or ‘to be unfortunate in business.’ [151]

3. (familiar).—An unpleasant return or snub for a proffered kindness.

Cold Comfort, subs. phr. (trade).—An expression used of articles sent out on approval and returned. [Merely an extension of the literal meaning i.e., what is barren of consolation: a usage dating from the sixteenth century.

Cold Cook, subs. (popular).—An undertaker. [Literally one who has to deal with cold meat, i.e., the lifeless human body.] Cf., Cold meat and its derivatives.

English Synonyms. Carrion hunter; body snatcher; death hunter; black worker (see Black work).

French Synonyms. Un emballeur de refroidis (thieves’: an undertaker’s man; literally ‘a packer of cold meat’).

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v.

Cold Cookshop, subs. phr. (popular).—An undertaker’s premises.—See Cold cook.

Cold Cream.—See Cream of the valley.

Cold Deck, subs. (American thieves’).—A prepared pack of cards. Cf., Concaves and convexes and Stock broads. More politely a good hand obtained on first dealing and without drawing fresh cards.

1880. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Screamers. I never have gambled from that day to this—never once—without a cold deck in my pocket. I cannot even tell who is going to lose in games that are being played unless I deal myself.

Cold Gruel.—See Cold coffee, sense 2.

Cold Meat, subs. (common).—A corpse. [The human carcass is compared to butchers’ wares.] For synonyms, see Dead Meat. Among medical students the term cold meat or pickles (q.v.) = specimens direct from the subject.

1819. Thos. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. to Con., p. 25. In the Twelfth and Last Round Sandy fetched him a downer, That left him all’s one as cold meat for the Crowner.

To make cold meat of one, verbal phr. (common).—To kill. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 148 (ed. 1857). ‘You mustn’t handle your piece in that ’ere way, when you come to have the charge in it, sir,’ said the tall gamekeeper, gruffly, ‘or I’m damned if you won’t make cold meat of some of us!’

Cold-Meat Box, subs. phr. (common).—A coffin. [From cold-meat, a corpse, + box, a receptacle.] For synonyms, see Eternity box.

1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 1, col. 3. ‘Well, s’pose I perched first?’ ‘Well,’ replied Pitcher, ‘I should just come in where you were lying in the cold-meat box, and I should whisper in your ear,’ etc.

Cold-Meat Cart, subs. phr. (common).—A hearse. [From cold-meat, a corpse, + cart.] Fr., mannequin à refroidis. Cf., Cold-meat train.

1820. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’), The Fancy, p. 46. He’s gone—how very muddy some folks die!—He’s for the cold-meat cart, and so am I.

Cold-Meat Train, subs. phr. (popular).—Generally, the funeral trains to Brookwood, Kensal Green, and other cemeteries. [152]Specifically, the last train at night per S.W.R., by which officers can reach Aldershot in time for their morning duties. It starts about 2 a.m. from Nine Elms, and is properly a goods train, but a carriage is attached which is known as the ‘Larky Subaltern.’ [It is an error to suppose that this particular train received its nickname for taking corpses to Woking Cemetery. It carries nothing more dreadful than a portion of the beef and mutton for the morning ration to the troops in camp; and, as before stated, a few belated officers.]

1876. R. M. Jephson, Girl He Left Behind Him, ch. xi. The train by which Dorrien journeyed to Aldershot was that one known as the cold-meat.

Cold Pig. To give cold pig, verbal phr. (common).—To waken a sleeper either by sluicing him with cold water, or by suddenly stripping him of his bed-clothes.

1818. J. R. Planché, Amoroso, King of Little Britain. For if the Queen should come this way, As sure as fate and quarter day, cold pig will be your fare.

1837. Comic Almanack, June. I’ve given him strap,—a thick rope’s end,—cold pig! In vain!—There lies the stupid clown, As if the Night Mare held him down.

1846. Thackeray, Jeames’s Diary (in Punch, vol. II., p. 72). ‘What was it I red there? What was it that made me spring outabed as if sumbady had given me cold pig?—I red Rewin in that share list—the Pannick was in full hoporation.’

1869. W. Bradwood, The O. V. H., ch. xxxv. Then he came back rosy and hungry, and revenged himself by an administration of cold pig to the still slumbering Ralph.

Subs. (thieves’).—1. A person robbed of his clothing. Cf., sense 2.

2. (thieves’).—A corpse. For synonyms, see Dead meat.

3. (commercial travellers’).—The ‘empty returns’ sent back by rail to wholesale houses.

Cold Shivers, subs. phr. (common).—A figure of speech describing the effect of illness, intense fear or any violent emotion. An American equivalent is a ‘cold shake,’ which may refer alike to a period of cold weather, and an attack of fever and ague.

1864. Derby Day, p. 50. ‘There’s our friend the Littl’un,’ he resumed; ‘he’s all shivery shakey as if he got the staggers or the cold shivers, and was going wurra, wurra, wurra, between his teeth, as if he couldn’t help himself.’

Cold Shoulder. To give, show, or turn the cold shoulder, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To treat a person with studied coldness, neglect, or contempt; to ‘cut,’ in a modified form. The phrase appears to have been first used by Scott in the Antiquary, in the glossary to which it is explained as ‘to appear cold and reserved.’ Jamieson localizes it in the South of Scotland.

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xxxiii. The countess’s dislike didna gang farther at first than just showing o’ the cauld shouther.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. lxvi. He gives me the cold shoulder on this very matter, as if he had had nothing to do with it, instead of being the first to propose it.

1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, pledge iii. They were not received everywhere with open arms. He was, of course, but the wife was occasionally cold shouldered.

c. 1882. Broadside Ballad, ‘Where’s the Cat?’ She gave him the cold shoulder, and quickly told him to depart.

Cold Slaw.—See Cabbage, sense 1. [153]

Cold Tea, subs. (common).—Brandy—a seventeenth and eighteenth century colloquialism. For synonyms, see Drinks.

1690. Dict. Cant. Crew. Cold tea: brandy.

1693. Remonstrance of the Batchelors, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), IV., 505. Since their sex has been so familiar with brandy (blasphemed by the name of cold tea).

1857. Notes and Queries, 2 S., iii., p. 59, s.v.

1888. C. J. Dunphie, The Chameleon, p. 235. It is worthy of remark that cold tea was a slang name for Brandy in the 18th century.

Cold Water Army, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The general body of total abstainers.

Cold Without, subs. phr. (common).—Spirits and cold water without sugar. Cf., Cider and; also Hot with.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, p. 156 (ed. 1862). On the fire, too, she pops some nice mutton-chops, And she mixes a stiff glass of cold without.

1853. Bulwer Lytton, My Novel. I laugh at fame. Fame, sir! not worth a glass of cold without.

Cole or Coal, subs. (popular).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 52 (1874). Tip the cole to Adam Tyler, give what money you pocket-pickt to the next party, presently.

1676. A Warning for Housekeepers (canting song). But when that we come not agen, As we walk along the street, We bite the Culley of his cole.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, I., in wks. (1720) IV., 16. Cheat. My lusty rustick, learn, and be instructed. Cole is, in the language of the witty, money; the ready, the rhino.

16(?). Song of Seventeenth Century, (quoted in Halliwell and Wright’s ed. of Nares’ Glossary). The twelfth a trapan, if a cull he doth meet, He naps all his cole, and turns him i’ th’ street.

1741. Walpole, ballad in Letters to Mann, i., 22. This our captain no sooner had finger’d the cole, But he hies him aboard with his good Madam Vole.

1837. R. H. Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 398. Moreover—the whole Of the said cash or cole; Shall be spent for the good of the said Old Woman’s soul!

1844. Puck, p. 146. Thank you for the offer of your bill; but I can wait until you can finger the cole, when I shan’t stand on ceremony about taking a cool hundred or two.…

To post or tip the cole, phr. (common).—To hand over money; to ‘shell’ or ‘fork out.’—See 1671 quot., subs. sense.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. ‘Will he post the cole? Will he come down with the dues? Ask him that,’ cried Blueskin. Ibid. If he don’t tip the cole without more ado, give him a taste of the pump, that’s all.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Ill. L. News, Nov. 10, p. 451, col. 3. The lamented J. B. Buckstone, at a Theatrical Fund Dinner, once entreated the guests present to post the cole, i.e., to be prompt with their subscriptions and donations.

Colfabias or Colfabis.—See quot.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict. Colfabias, a Latinized Irish phrase signifying the closet of decency, applied as a slang term to a place of resort in Trinity College, Dublin.

Coliander or Coliander-Seeds, subs. (old).—Money.—Grose [1785]. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

Collar, verb (common).—To seize: appropriate; steal; e.g., ‘collar his dragons,’ i.e., steal his sovereigns. [Properly ‘to seize by the collar’; hence, by transition, ‘to lay hold of anything forcibly.’] For synonyms, see Nab and Prig.

1841. Leman Rede, Song, ‘Kit Clayton,’ in Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. 3. Ve collar’d the blunt, started off [154]for town, With the dashy, splashy, leary, little stringer, Horses knock’d up, men knocked down—Phililoo!

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lvii., p. 476. Look well after your own money, for they are dead certain to collar it, if they can.

1866. London Miscellany, March 3, p. 58. I slept in Holborn Workhouse. While I was asleep the other coves tore every rag up and collar’d my toke.

1866. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 242. Old Sir John Collywobbles had six black horses, six white horses, and six pied horses. So I recommended my father-which-is-in-law to collar the lot.

1884. W. Besant, Julia, ch. iv. Your grandmother tells me you’ve plucked up spirit at last and won’t let her collar more than half the wages.

To Collar the Bun, Cake, Banbury, or Confectioner’s Shop, verb. phr. (common).—To be easily first; to surpass.—See Cake.

Out of Collar, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Out of work; out of cash; not in training. Conversely, in collar = in work; in comfortable circumstances; and, as regards training, ‘fit’ or ‘in form.’ [Simile taken from the stable, in allusion to a horse, i.e., with his collar on or off.]

French Synonyms. Balloter (tailors’ = ‘to be out of work’); caler (popular and nautical = ‘to sink’); envoyer à la comédie (popular: to dismiss a workman for want of work to give him. Cf., remporter une veste); être à la comédie (‘to be out of work’); un panas (popular: ‘one out of work’); un inspecteur des pavés (literally ‘an inspector of the pavement’); avoir de la laine (to be in work).

1857. Ducange Anglicus, The Vulgar Tongue. A decent allowance made to seedy swells, head robbers, and flunkeys out of collar.

1867. Scottish Journal, p. 39, col. 1. There is nothing that so materially and frequently effects the well-being and social position of a working man as the circumstances arising from being, in his own phrase, ‘out of collar’—that is, his being unable to obtain work when he is able to do it and anxious to get it to do. Ibid. A workman on tramp will, if he is tolerably well known in the trade, and if he have, when in collar, shown a disposition to assist those who were out, often be kept among his former shopmates.

1880. Millikin, Punch’s Almanack. Now October! Back again to collar, Funds run low, reduced to last ’alf dollar.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘Why Did She Leave her Jeremiah?’ When I was in collar I loved a fair maid, With eyes of a sweet dark blue.

Against collar, adv. phr. (common).—Uphill; working against difficulties, or against the grain.

To be put to the pin of the collar, verbal phr. (common).—To be driven to extremities; to come to the end of one’s resources.

To wear the collar, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To be subject to control not altogether to one’s liking. The antithesis of ‘to have the whip hand’ and ‘to wear the breeches’; etc.

Collar and Elbow, subs. phr. (wrestling).—A term for a peculiar style of wrestling—the Cornwall and Devon style.

Collar-Day, subs. (old).—Hanging day. [In allusion to the hangman’s noose.] Also Wry-neck-day (q.v.); Fr., jour de la St. Jean Baptiste.

Collared. To be collared, verbal phr. (gaming).—To be unable to play one’s usual game owing to temper, ‘funk,’ or other causes. [155]

Collared Up, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Kept close to business. Cf., Out of collar.

Collar or Get the Big Bird.—See Big Bird, and for synonyms, Goosed.

Collar Work, subs. phr. (colloquial). Laborious work.—See Against Collar.

1883. Daily Telegraph, July 3, p. 2, col. 1. The bald patches on their shoulders testified to their intimate acquaintance with collar work and tugging on stoney roads with heavy loads behind them.

1888. Ant. Trollope, What I Remember. And when Lucca was reached there were still fourteen miles, nearly all collar work, between that and the baths.

Collector, subs. (old).—A highwayman or footpad.

College, subs. (thieves’).—A prison; the inmates are called collegians or collegiates (q.v.); Newgate was formerly called ‘the City College.’ The Spanish Germania has colegio and collège is found in the argot of French thieves.

1703. Title, ‘The History of Whittington’s Colledge otherwise (vulgarly) called Newgate. London, Printed in the Year 1703.’

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. College, Newgate, or any other prison.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 370 (ed. 1857). ‘Mornin’, gen’l’mem’, said Sam, entering at the moment with the shoes and gaiters; ‘avay vith melancholly, as the little boy said ven his schoolmissus died. Velcome to the college, gen’l’mem.’

1859. Matsell, Vacabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, p. 20. College: a State prison.

1889. Answers, 8 June, p. 25. I have since met several men whom I knew in prison at one time or other, and most of them have recognised me; but only one other has stopped me to remind me that we were at ‘college’ together.

College Chum.—See Collegiate.

Colleger, subs. (University and public schools’).—A square cap, otherwise known as a mortar-board. For general synonyms, see Golgotha.

Collegian.—See Collegiate.

Collegiate, Collegian or College Chum, subs. (thieves’).—The inmate of a prison.—[See College.]

1743. North, Life of Lord Guildford, I., 123. His beginnings were debauched, and his study and first practice in the gaol. For having been one of the fiercest town-rakes and spent more than he had of his own, his case forced him upon that expedient for a lodging, and there he … busied himself with the cases of his fellow-collegiates.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 369 (ed. 1857). ‘I say—do you expect anybody this morning? Three men—devilish gentlemanly fellows—have been asking after you downstairs, and knocking at every door on the hall flight: for which they’ve been most infernally blown up by the collegians that had the trouble of opening ’em.’

1859. G. W. Matsell, Vocabulum, or the Rogues Lexicon, College Chum: a fellow-prisoner.

1884. Dickens. [Quoted in Supplement to Annandale’s ed. of Ogilvie’s Imperial Dict.] It became a not unusual circumstance for letters to be put under his door at night enclosing half-a-crown … for the father of the Marshalsea, ‘with the compliments of a collegian taking leave.’

Ladies’ College, subs. (general).—A brothel. For synonyms, see Nanny-shop.

Collogue, verb (colloquial).—To confer confidentially and secretly; to conspire; to wheedle; or flatter. The term is also used in a humorous sense. [From Lat. col, together [156]+ Lat. loquor, to speak, influenced probably by ‘colleague’ and ‘colloquy.’]

1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 136. For once before I had bin so cousend by his colloging, though personally we neuer met face to face.

1676. Earl of Rochester, Hist. of Insipids, st. 9. When to give Money he can’t cologue ’um, He doth with Scorn prorogue, prorogue ’um.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). collogue (v.): to treat with a person underhandedly, to cheat, flatter, coax, or sooth a person in order to get a secret out of him.

1818. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. xxxvii. It was hardly possible two such d—d rascals should collogue together without mischief to honest people.

1857. Barham, I. L. (House-warming). Miss Alice, in short, was supposed to collogue—I Don’t much like the word—with the subtle old rogue, I’ve heard call’d by so many names,—one of them’s Bogy.

1858. G. Eliot, Mr. Gilfil’s Love-Story, ch. iv. ‘We shall be poisoned wi’ lime an’ plaster, and hev the house full o’ workmen collogeing wi’ the maids, an’ makin’ no end o’ mischief.’

1861. G. Eliot, Silas Marner, ch. ix. ‘And how long have you been so thick with Dunsey that you must collogue with him to embezzle my money?’

Colly-Molly, adj. and adv. (old).—Melancholy. [A jocular corruption of the word. Cf., Solemoncholy and (in Dr. Marigold’s Prescriptions) lemon-jolly.]

17(?). Decl. of Pop. Imp. sign. Q. 3. (quoted in Nares). The devil was a little colli-mollie and would not come off.

Colly Wobbles, subs. (common).—The stomach-ache; also the rumblings of flatulency; figuratively, the stomach.

English Synonyms. Wiffle-waffles; gripes; mulligrubs.

French Synonyms. Mal au bréchet; also gargouillade.

1853. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. I., ch. viii. ‘Peakyish you feel, don’t you, now, with a touch of the mulligrubs in your collywobbles?’

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘Complaints’ or ‘The Ills of Life.’ Then I’ve had the colic, spasms, dizziness, and swimmings, Mullygrubs and collywobbles, with delicious trimmings.

Colour, subs. (sporting).—1. The handkerchief worn as a badge by prize-fighters and other professional athletes. Each man chooses his own, and it was once a practice to sell them to backers to be worn at the ring-side. The present rules of the Ring provide as follows:—‘That every man shall be provided with a handkerchief of a colour suitable to his own fancy, and that the seconds proceed to entwine these handkerchiefs at the upper end of one of the centre stakes of the ring; that these handkerchiefs shall be called the colours, and that the winner of the battle at its conclusion shall be entitled to their possession as the trophy of victory.’ For a description of various ‘fancies,’ see Billy. In racing circles the colours are the owner’s and are shown in the jockeys’ caps and jackets.

1818. P. Egan, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 170. The Chicken now sported the blue-spotted silk handkerchief, as the champion’s colour.

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. II., ch. xii., p. 189. Each of the men had, previous to the fight, done a little profitable business by selling pocket-handkerchiefs, which they called their colours.

2. (popular).—Used of money; e.g., ‘I have not seen the colour of his money’ = I have not received payment.—See quots.

1736. Fielding, Don Quixote, I., iii. If I have seen the colour of gold this fortnight, may I never see Teresa Pancha again. [157]

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xix. The padrone informed them that he should like to see the colour of their money before they went on board.

Coloured on the card, phr. (racing).—Having the colours in which a jockey is to ride inserted on the card of the race.

Off colour, adv. phr. (common).—Exhausted; run down; ‘seedy.’

c. 1876. Broadside Ballad, ‘That’s Where The Money Goes.’ London’s Police will be made up of men, Cold Rabbit Pie will be off colour then.

Colour One’s Meerschaum, verbal phr. (common).—To get brandy-faced; to drink one’s nose into a state of pimples and scarlet.

Colquarron, subs. (old)—The neck. For synonyms, see Scrag.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. colquarron: a man’s neck (cant), his colquarron is just about to be twisted, he is just going to be hanged.

1830. Sir E. B. Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 5 (ed. 1854). ‘’Tis a rum business, and puzzles I! but mum’s the word, for my own little colquarren.’

Colt, subs. (popular).—1. A person new to office, or, to the exercise of any art; e.g., a professional cricketer during his first season; a first-time juryman; a thief in his novitiate. [Properly a colt is a young male horse.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1885. Daily News, 28 August, p. 3, col. 7. A match arranged for the benefit of the young players of the county was commenced yesterday at Manchester, when the Lancashire Eleven were opposed to Twenty-six colts.

2. (nautical).—See quots.

1830. Marryat, King’s Own, ch. viii. He always carried in his pocket a colt (i.e., a foot and a half of rope, knotted at one end, and whipped at the other), for the benefit of the youngsters, to whom he was a most inordinate tyrant.

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xii. ‘He knocked me down—and when I got up again he told me that I could stand a little more—and then he took out his colt, and said he was determined to ride the high horse.’

3. (thieves’).—A thief’s weapon; otherwise known as a billy (q.v.). For synonyms, see Neddy.

4. (thieves’).—A man who hires horses to burglars. In America he is called a colt-man. [Quoted by Grose, 1785.]

5. (legal).—See quot.

1887. Sir F. Pollock, Pers. Remembr., vol. I., p. 212. In April I accompanied the newly-made Chief Baron [of Exchequer] as his colt (the so-called attendant on a serjeant at his making) to the Lord Chancellor’s private room at Westminster.

Verb (nautical).—1. To thrash; [From colt, sense 2.] Cf., Baste, and for synonyms, see Tan.

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xii. ‘Then he colted me for half-an-hour, and that’s all.’

2. (common).—To cause a person to stand treat by way of being ‘made free’ of a new place; to make one ‘pay one’s footing.’ Cf., subs., sense 1.

Coltage, subs. (old).—The footing paid by colts (q.v., subs., sense 1) on their first appearance.

Colting, verbal subs. (common).—A thrashing. For general synonyms, see Tanning and Baste.

Colt-Man.—See Colt, subs., sense 4. [158]

Colt’s Tooth. To have a colt or colt’s tooth, verbal phr. (old).—To be fond of youthful pleasures; in the case of elderly persons, to have juvenile tastes; to be of wanton disposition and capacity. [In allusion to a supposed desire to shed the teeth and see life over again.]

1500. Marlowe, 2 Tamburlaine, iv., 4. Nay, we will break the hedges of their mouths, And pull their kicking colts out of their pastures.

1606. Sir Gyles Goosecappe, v., 2, in Bullen’s Old Plays, iii., 87. I shood doe my country, and Court-ship good service to beate thy coalts teeth out of thy head, for suffering such a reverend word to passe their guarde.

1637. Fletcher, Elder Brother, II., iii. He should love her now, As he hath a colt’s tooth yet.

1753. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 27 April (1833), vol. III., p. 89. I hear that my Lord Granville has cut another colt’s tooth—in short, they say he is going to be married again … there are not above two or three-and-forty years difference in their ages.

1770. Colman, The Portrait, in wks. (1777) IV., 215. Tho’ not in the bloom of my youth, Yet still I have left a colt’s tooth.

1812. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), II., 5. Tyndall and I always fought about noblemen, tho’ I suspected his colt’s tooth with regard to Lord Apsley, who is a mighty good sort of man, but only captivating.

Columbine, subs. (theatrical).—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

Columbus, subs. (theatrical).—Failure. A regular Columbus = an utter failure; ‘dead frost.’ Fr., Il pleut! = the play is a failure.

Comb-Brush, subs. (old).—A lady’s maid. [A word compounded from the names of two familiar toilet requisites. Cf., whip = a coachman.]—See Abigail.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones. The maid who at present attended on Sophia was recommended by Lady Bellaston, with whom she had lived for some time in the capacity of a comb-brush.

Comb Cut. To have one’s comb cut, verbal phr. (popular).—To be mortified; disgraced; down on one’s luck. [A simile drawn from cock-fighting.]

Comb Down.—See Comb one’s hair.

Combie, subs. (university).—A familiar abbreviation for ‘Combination room,’ the parlour in which college dons drink wine after Hall. Also a garment; see Combination.

Combination, subs. (general).—A woman’s undergarment, shift and drawers in one. Also combie, and (American) chemiloon (q.v.), itself a combination of ‘chemise’ and ‘pantaloon.’

Comb One’s Hair, verbal phr., trs. and intr. (common).—To take to task; to scold; to keep in order. Sometimes to thrash, and generally ill-treat. Variants are to comb down; to comb one’s noddle with a three-legged or joint stool. [A.S. cemban; O.E. kemben; German, kämmen = to comb. Halliwell gives kemb (a Border form) = to comb; also comb = to cut a person’s comb, to disable him. The word seems to have always involved the idea of personal castigation, either physical or figurative. In this connection, cf., quot., 1593.] Fr., donner une peignée and laver la tête; but for synonyms in the sense of ‘to scold,’ see Wig; and in the sense of ‘to thrash,’ see Tan. [159]

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, i., 1. Kath … doubt not her cares should be to comb your noddle with a three-legg’d stool, And paint your face, and use you like a fool.

1769. John Wallis, Antiquities of Northumberland. [Speaking of Wark Castle.] On the west side are the outworks, now called the Kemb, i.e., the camp of the militia designed to kemb or fight an enemy; kemb being a word often used by the borderers when they threaten in a passionate tone to beat an assailant,—they will kemb him, i.e., drub him heartily.

1836. W. Kidd, London and all its Dangers. ‘Magistrates,’ p. 12. The Magistrate of Hatton Garden has lately had his ‘hair combed’ by the Home Secretary for his brutal conduct.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxvii., p. 236. ‘If you had only settled down, and married Joe Pouch’s widow when he died in North America, she’d have combed your hair for you.’

1866. G. Eliot, Felix Holt, ch. xliii. ‘But you see, these riots—it’s been a nasty business. I shall have my hair combed at the sessions for a year to come.’

1869. … Ino (played at Strand Theatre). ‘Since Ino’s combed my wool it’s ceased to grow.’

Comb the Cat, verbal phr. (nautical).—See quot.

1867. Smyth, Sailors’ Word Book. Combing the Cat: the boatswain, or other operator, running his fingers through the cat-o’-nine tails to separate them.

Come, verb (venery).—1. To experience the sexual spasm; to achieve emission; to Spend (q.v.). The expression (which applies to the agents only: never to the proof, or effect, of their activity) is common to both the sexes. Cf., Cream (q.v.); Spendings; q.v.; and Letch-water (q.v.).

2. (general).—To practice; to understand; to act the part of. Cf., Come over and Come tricks.

1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co. We ain’t two by ourselves as comes that dodge.

3. (old).—To lend.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Has he come it? i.e., has he lent it?

To make drunk come, phr. (American).—To become intoxicated. For synonyms, see Screwed.

Come about [One], verbal phr. (old).—1. To circumvent. Cf., Come over and Come round.

1755. Johnson, Dict. Eng. Lang. (11 ed., 1816), s.v. ‘About’ in common language they say to come about a man, ‘to circumvent him.’

2. (venery).—To copulate. (Said only of men by women).

Come a Buster.—See Buster (subs., sense 3).

Come a Cropper.—See Cropper.

Come and See your Pa, phr. (common).—An invitation to drink. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Come Captain Armstrong.—See Captain Armstrong.

Come-Down, subs. (popular).—A fall, whether of pride or worldly prospects; an abandonment of something for something else of less value or moment.

Verb.—[Used either independently or in combination: e.g., To come down; to come down handsome, or to come down with the dust, dues, dibs, ready, oof, shiners, blunt, needful, etc.] (common).—1. To pay, i.e., to ‘part’; or [160]to lay down (as in payment); to ‘fork out.’ For synonyms, see Shell out.

1701. Steele, The Funeral, Act ii., Sc. 1. I must do according to my orders … except you’d come down a little deeper than you talk of:—You don’t consider the charges I’ve been at already.

1727. Gay, Beggar’s Opera, Act iii., Sc. 1. Did he tip handsomely?—How much did he come down with?

1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 136. ‘Bolt!’ she falter’d, ‘from the gov’nor? Oh, my Colin, that won’t pay; He will ne’er come down, my love, nor Help us, if we run away.’

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxix. My uncle augurs everything from the Begum’s generosity, and says that she will come down very handsomely.

1889. Barrère, Sl., Jar., and Cant, (quoted in). Do you keep the gentleman in discourse while I speak to the prisoner, and see how he can come down.

2. (trade).—To abate prices.

Come down from the Walls, verbal phr. (American).—To abandon a position. Cf., Back seat.

Comedy-Merchant, subs. (common).—An actor. For synonyms, see Cackling-cove.

Come it, verb (colloquial).—1. To proceed at a great rate; to make a splash and dash (in extravagance); to ‘cut a figure.’ Cf., Come it strong and Go it.

1840. Thackeray, Paris Sketch Book, p. 22. ‘I think the chaps down the road will stare,’ said Sam, ‘when they hear how I’ve been coming it.’

2. (thieves’).—To inform. For synonyms, see Peach.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. To inform = to come it.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., p. 126. The expression come it (to inform, tell, or disclose) is best known to the lower and most dangerous classes.

1889. Daily Telegraph. He heard one of the others say in reply, ‘come it,’ meaning to tell—to be quiet.

3. (pugilistic).—To show fear.

4. (American).—To succeed. Especially in you can’t come it, i.e., you cannot succeed: an expression of disbelief in the ability of another. Probably a survival of old English usage. Cf., Come over.

Come it Strong, verbal phr. (popular).—To exaggerate; to ‘lay it on thick’; to carry to extremes. For synonyms, see Longbow. Cf., Come it.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 356 (ed. 1857). ‘Vell, sir,’ rejoined Sam, after a short pause, ‘I think I see your drift; and if I do see your drift, it’s my ’pinion that you’re a comin’ it a great deal too strong, as the mail-coachman said to the snow-storm, ven it overtook him.’

1837. Barham, I. L. (Lay of St. Gengulphus), ed. 1862, p. 157. He here shook his head,—Right little he said, But he thought she was coming it rather too strong.

1846. W. M. Thackeray, Yellowplush. ‘Mr. Deuceace at Paris.’ Now, though master was a scoundrill and no mistake, he was a gentleman and a man of good breeding; and miss came a little too strong (pardon the vulgarity of the expression), with her hardor and attachmint for one of his taste.

1869. Bret Harte, The Heathen Chinee. In his sleeves, which were long, He had twenty-four packs. Which was coming it strong.

Come John, or Lord, Audley.—See John Audley.

Come off, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To happen; to occur; to result from.—See also Come, sense 1.

1609. Jonson, Case is Altered, IV., iii. His muse sometimes cannot curvet, nor prognosticate, and come off as it should; no matter, I’ll hammer out a paraphrase for thee myself. [161]

1857. Dickens, The Detective Police, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 239. In consequence of which appointment the party came off, which we are about to describe.

1870. Wilkie Collins, Man and Wife, in Cassell’s Mag., p. 292, col. 1. ‘The betting’s at five to four, my dear. And the race comes off in a month from this.’

1872. Civilian, 10 Aug. Unfortunately, the event, to use the language of the turf, did not come off, and considerable disappointment was manifested.

1883. Graphic, August 11, p. 138, col. 2. Batting is his forte, though he does not always come off.

Come off the Grass, or the Tall Grass! phr. (American).—‘None of your airs!’ ‘Don’t put it on so!’ ‘Don’t tell any more lies!’ The French say, As-tu fini tes manières or magnes? ne fais donc pas ta Sophie; and ne fais donc pas ton fendart.

Come out, verbal phr. (common).—1. To make an appearance; to display oneself; to express oneself vigorously; to make an impression (especially in sense 2). Sometimes in an intensified form to come out strong. cf., Come it strong.

[The first quot. is doubtful, but it looks like an anticipation.]

1637. Sl. Rutherford, Letters, No. 167, vol. I., p. 390 (ed. 1862, 2 vols.). Christ … who hath given you eyes to discern the devil coming out in his whites.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, II., 14. The more he [Clive] worked, the more he was discontented with his performance, somehow; but J. J. was coming out very strong; J. J. was going to be a stunner.

1865. G. F. Berkeley, Life, etc. II., 135. Our inclination to quiz him [Lord Wm. Lennox] on the subject increased when in later years he came out strong in magazines and reviews, as a sporting writer.

1865. Cornhill Magazine, IV., 218. ‘A county ball.’ The native comes out strong in waistcoats—his array in that respect being gorgeous.

1870. Good Words, April. ‘The Hand Nailer.’ In the nailing communities, as elsewhere, woman manages somehow to come out extensively on Sundays.

18(?). Aytoun, The Dreepdaily Burghs, p. 2. Let me confess it. I had of late come out rather too strong. When a man has made money easily, he is somewhat prone to launch into expense.

2. (common).—To turn out; to result; e.g., How did it come out? Cf., Come off.

3. (colloquial).—To make a first appearance in society.

To come out of the little end of the horn, phr. (American).—To fare badly; in allusion to the thin end of the Cornucopia.

Come Over, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To influence; to overreach; to cheat. (If the quots. are compared chronologically it will be seen that there has been a gradual deterioration in the meaning of this colloquialism.) Cf., come round; get over.

1609. Dekker, Gul’s Horne-Booke, ch. ii. Care not for those coorse painted cloath rimes, made by ye University of Salerne, that come ouer you, with … sweete candied councell.

1667. Shirley, Love Tricks, Act ii., Sc. 1. I do not see what fault she can find with me; and if I had some good word to come over her—but I must help it out, an need be, with swearing.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. To come over any one: to cheat or overreach him.

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. I lately came over him for a good round sum.

c. 1860. Broadside Ballad, I’m a young man from the country, But you don’t get over me. [162]

c. 1879. Music Hall Song (sung by Jenny Hill, the ‘Vital Spark’). You may get over water-butts, You may get over fountains, But I’ll take particular notice that you don’t get over Sal.

1884. Daily Telegraph, March 11, p. 2, col. 1. ‘But don’t you try and come it over me, or you’ll find yourself in the wrong box.’

Come [the old Soldier, or any person or thing] Over One, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To imitate; to overbear; to wheedle; to rule by an assumption of authority. Fr., essayer de monter un bateau à quelqu’un; or monter le coup or un battage.

1713. C. Shadwell, Humours of the Army, Act iii. The Devil a Farthing he owes me—but however, I’ll put the old soldier upon him.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xviii. Were it not that I think he has scarce the impudence to propose such a thing to succeed, curse me but I should think he was coming the old soldier over me, and keeping up his game.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 369 (ed. 1857). ‘Ah, by jove, he has!’ replied Smangle. ‘Hear him come the four cats in the wheelbarrow—four distinct cats, sir, I pledge you my honour. Now you know that’s infirnal clever!’

1839. The Druid. ‘Post and Paddock.’ The only way his crime to cover, To hide his shame from children’s eye, Is not to try and come the lover, But stable-wards at once to fly.

1855. W. M. Thackeray, The Newcomes, II., 253. ‘I had a letter this morning from my liberal and punctual employer, Thomas Potts, Esquire, of the Newcome Independent, who states, in language scarcely respectful, that Sir Barnes Newcome Newcome is trying to come the religious dodge, as Mr. Potts calls it.’

1877. W. Black, Green Past. and Picc., ch. i. ‘She’s rather serious, you know, and would like to come the maternal over you.’

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 167. To hear him speak, one might imagine him as innocent as a lamb, and as green as a schoolboy, but just try to come the hanky-panky and play the old soldier with him.

1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple. Permit me, if you and your two friends think of coming what is vulgarly called the old soldier over me, to make you understand that you had better abandon the intention.

Come Round, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To influence; to circumvent; to persuade. Cf., Come over, and come about, sense 1.

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. xi. Finally, the reports were that the governess had come round everybody, wrote Sir Pitt’s letters, did his business, managed his accounts—had the upper hand of the whole house.

Come Souse, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To fall heavily. Also Cosouse.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. to Cong. As it was, Master Georgy came souse with the whack, And there sprawled, like a turtle turned queer on its back.

Come the Gum Game, verbal phr. (Western American).—To overreach by concealment. [From the preference shown by hunted opossums and racoons for gum trees as places of refuge.]

1869. Kansas City Advertiser, 7 May. You can’t come that gum game over me any more; I’ve been to the land-office and know all about the place.

Come Through a Side Door, verbal phr. (common).—To be born illegitimately.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘The Blessed Orphan.’ I don’t think I was born at all, No parents own I came here; I was left at a house of call, Close by a Pickford’s van here, Some wicked wretches say, but I My indignation smother, That I came through a side door In this world from the other.

Come to Stay, verbal phr. (American).—To be endowed with permanent qualities. Thus the New York Morning Journal announces [163]that earth fuel, a new material for cooking and firing purposes, has come to stay, i.e., its commercial success is assured.

1888. Pittsburg Bulletin. In the realm of advertising, the illustration has evidently come to stay. It attracts and retains the eye, and so serves a double purpose.

Come To, or Up To, Time, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To answer the call of ‘Time!’ after the thirty seconds’ rest between round and round; hence, by analogy, to be on the alert; to be ready.

1869. Whyte Melville, M. or N., p. 11. The surprise staggered him like a blow. From such blows, however, we soon come to time, willing to take any amount of similar punishment.

Come Tricks.—See Come, sense 2.

Come up Smiling, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To laugh (or grin) at ‘punishment’; hence (generally) to be superior to rebuff or disaster; to face defeat without flinching.

1887. John Strange Winter, That Imp, p. 67. And yet come up smiling at the end of it.

Come up to the Chalk.—See Scratch.

[Some other slang uses of the verb To Come are To Come the Artful = to essay to deceive; To Come the Heavy = to affect a vastly superior position; To Come the ugly = to threaten; To Come the Nob, or The Don = to put on airs; To Come the Lardy-Dardy = to dress for the public and ‘look up to your clobber’; To Come the Serjeant = to issue peremptory orders; To Come the Spoon = to make love; To Come the Gypsy = to try to defraud; To Come the Rothschild = to pretend to be rich; and To Come the Traviata (prostitutes’, now obsolete) = to feign consumption, to put on ‘the Traviata cough’ (q.v.) with a view to beguiling charitable males.]

Comflogisticate, verb (American).—To embarrass; put out of countenance; confuse; or hoax.—See Bamblustercate.

Comfoozled, adj. (rare).—Overcome; exhausted.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxix., p. 340. ‘Well,’ said Sam, ‘he’s in a horrid state o’ love; reg’larly comfoozled, and done over with it.’

Comfortable Importance or Comfortable Impudence, subs. (old).—A wife; also a mistress in a wife’s position. Fr., Mon gouvernement. For synonyms, see Dutch.

Comical, subs. (common).—A napkin.

To be Struck Comical, verb. phr. (popular).—To be astonished.

Coming, ppl. adj. (old).—1. Wanton; forward; sexual.—See Come, sense 1.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, ch. xii. I dares to swear the wench was as willing as he, for she was always a forward kind of body. And when wenches are so coming, young men are not so much to be blamed neither, for to be sure they do no more than what is natural.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (old).—Sexually capable.—See Come, sense 1.

Commercial, subs. (thieves’)—See quot.

1886. Tit-Bits, 31 July, p. 252. He is one of the cleverest commercials (this is the polite name for rogues and vagabonds generally) on the road.

2. (common).—An abbreviation of ‘commercial traveller.’

Commission or Mish, subs. (old).—A shirt. [From the Italian.—[164]See Camesa.] For synonyms, see Flesh bag.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65, s.v.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v.

1622. John Fletcher, The Beggar’s Bush. I crown thy nab with a gag of benbouse, And stall thee by the salmon into clowes To maund on the pad and strike all the Cheats To mill from the Ruffmans, and commission, and slates.

1630. Taylor (‘The Water Poet’), wks. quoted in Nares. As from our beds we doe oft cast our eyes, Cleane linnen yeelds a shirt before we rise, Which is a garment shifting in condition, And in the canting tongue is a commission; In weale or woe, in joy or dangerous drifts, A shirt will put a man unto his shifts.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.

Commister, subs. (old).—A clergyman. The same as camister (q.v.). For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

Commodity, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

1596. Shakspeare, King John, ii., 2. Tickling commodity; commodity—the bias of the world.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Common-Bounce, subs. (low).—One using a lad as a decoy to prefer a charge of unnatural intercourse.

1886. M. Davitt, Leaves from a Prison Diary, p. 109. The common bounce Of all the scoundrels that stalk abroad in the world unhung for undetected enormities, this is the most infamous.

Common-Doings, subs. (American).—Every-day fare. [A phrase of Western origin, at first restricted in its meaning, but now including ordinary transactions as compared to those either large or peculiarly profitable; applied to men, actions, and things. ‘What shall we do?’ says a poor frontiersman’s wife, when she hears of a Federal Officer who is to take up his quarters at her cabin for a day; ‘I can’t give him common-doings.’]

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, 3 S. I guess I’ll order supper. What shall it be? Cornbread and common doins, or wheatbread and chicken fixins?

Commoner-Grub, subs. (Winchester College).—A dinner formerly given by Commoners to College after cricket matches. [Commoners are boys not on the foundation.]

Commoney, subs. (schoolboys’).—A clay marble. Cf., Alley.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 28 (ed. 1857). On one occasion he patted the boy on the head, and after inquiring whether he had won any alley tors or commoneys lately (both of which I understand to be a particular species of marbles much prized by the youth of this town), made use of this remarkable expression—‘How should you like to have another father?’

Common-Jack, subs. (military).—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

Common-Plugs, subs. (American).—Ordinary members of society.

Commonsensical, adj. (colloquial).—Marked with common sense.

1880. Frazer’s Magazine, Sep., p. 308. The manner in which he (Alexander Russell) begins must have delighted the commonsensical mind of old Charles Maclaren.

Common Sewer, subs. phr. (common).—1. A drink; dram; or ‘go.’ [From common sewer = ‘a drain.’] For synonyms, see Go. [165]

2. (venery).—A prostitute.

Communicator. Agitate the communicator, verbal phr. (common).—To ring the bell.

Comp, subs. (printers’).—A compositor. [An abbreviated form of ‘companion’ now peculiar to compositors, but originally applied to pressmen who work in couples, as well as to compositors who work in a ‘companionship,’ or ship (q.v.).] Galley-slave (q.v.) is a variant; so are ass (q.v.) and donkey (q.v.). Cf., Pig.

1870. Sportsman, 17 Dec. ‘A Chapel Meeting.’ I stood before the world a journeyman comp.

1886. Tit-Bits, 31 July, p. 252. At provincial newspaper offices and other establishments applications for work from travelling comps are frequent.

1888. W. Blades, in Notes and Queries, 7 S., vi., 365. The printers who work together in one room are to this day called comps.

Company. To see company, verbal phr. (prostitutes’).—To live by prostitution; to take in fancy work (q.v.).

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Competition Wallah, subs. phr. (Anglo-Indian).—One who enters the Indian Civil Service by examination. [From competition + Hindustani wallah, ‘a man’ or ‘person.’]

1863. G. O. Trevelyan, Title, The Competition Wallah.

1886. Ill. Lon. News, 9 Jan., p. 31, col. 3. It is quite certain that, if justice is ever to be done to India, our competition wallahs must not be encouraged to look upon it as a mere Tom Tidler’s ground, where they are to remain just so long as they require for picking up gold and silver (in the form of pension and savings).

Compo, subs. (nautical).—A sailor’s term for his monthly advance of wages.

Compy-Shop, subs. (workmen’s).—A truck-shop. [Probably a corruption of ‘company-shop’: workmen before the passing of certain Truck Acts, having been frequently compelled to make their weekly purchases at shops either kept by, or worked to the profit of, their employer.]

1870. Globe, 24 Sept. The Acts of Parliament which have been passed from time to time in reference to truck are easily evaded, for as a rule no workman is told that he must buy at the compy-shop, but the workmen well know that if they did not resort thither they would soon be dismissed their employment.

Con, subs. (Winchester College).—A rap on the head with the knuckles, or with anything hard, such as a cricket ball. [For suggested derivations, see verbal sense.]

Verb.—To rap with the knuckles. [The derivation formerly accepted at Winchester was from κονδυλον = a knuckle, but the editors of the Wykehamist suggest its origin in the North Country con, ‘to fillip,’ with which the French se cogner exactly corresponds.]

Concaves and Convexes, subs. phr. (cardsharpers’). Cards prepared for cheating. All from the eight to the king are cut convex, and all from the deuce to the seven concave; so that by cutting the pack broadwise you cut convex, and by cutting them [166]lengthwise you cut concave. Sometimes they are shaped the reverse way, so that, if suspicion arise, a pack so treated may be substituted for the other to the same effect. In this trick the sharper has less in his favour than in others, because the intended victim may cut in the usual way, and so cut a low card to the dealer. But the certainty of being able to cut or deal a high or low card at pleasure, gives him an advantage against which skill is of none avail. Other modes of sharping are by means of reflectors (q.v.); longs and shorts (q.v.); pricked cards (q.v.); the bridge (q.v.); skinning (q.v.); weaving (q.v.); the gradus or step (q.v.); palming (q.v.); and the telegraph (q.v.). A French term for prepared cards is les aiguilles à tricoter les côtes (Anglicé = old gentlemen, q.v.); also une cartouchière à portées (a pack of prepared cards); and les harnais = stocked broads (q.v.).—See also stock broads.

Concern, subs. (general).—The pudenda, male or female.—See Creamstick and Monosyllable respectively for synonyms.

Concerned, ppl. adj. (old).—Drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed.

1686. Magdalen College and King James II. (Oxford Hist. Soc.), quoted in Athenæum, 8 Jan., 1887, p. 56. When Mr. Anthony Farmer came to the Lobster about eleven at night, he came much concerned in drink.

17(?). Swift. [Quoted in Davies’ Supp. Lex.] (Mary, the cook-maid to Dr. Sheridan.) Which, and I am sure I have been his servant four years since October, And never call’d me worse than sweetheart, drunk or sober; Not that I know his Reverence was ever concern’d to my knowledge; Tho’ you and your come-rogues keep him out so late in your wicked college.

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.

Conchers, subs. (Australian).—Tame or quiet cattle.

Condiddle, verb (old).—To purloin or steal. [From Latin con, a pleonastic prefix, + diddle, ‘to cheat.’ Condiddled is quoted by Grose in the Provincial Glossary, 1787, as signifying ‘dispersed.’]

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. iv. ‘Twig the old connoissœur,’ said the Squire to the Knight, ‘he is condiddling the drawing.’

Condog, verb (common).—To agree with. [A facetious variation of ‘concur’; ‘cur’ = dog.]

Confab, subs. (colloquial).—Familiar talk. [A contraction of confabulation; Latin confabulatio.]

1778. D’Arblay, Diary, etc. (1876), vol. I., p. 37. We had a very nice confab about various books.

1789. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Subjects for Painters, in wks. (Dublin, 1795), vol. II., p. 26. For lo, with many a King and many a Queen, in close confab the gentleman is seen.

1841. Punch, vol. I., 75. Sibthorp, meeting Peel in the House of Commons after congratulating him on his present enviable position, finished the confab with the following unrivalled conundrum.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xxv. ‘Mr. Harry … called Mr. Archer into his own room, and they had a confab.’

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. viii. This ended our confab and half an hour afterwards I stood in the hall shaking hands all round.

Verb.—To talk in a familiar manner; to chat.—See subs., sense. [167]

1778. D’Arblay, Diary, etc. (1876), vol. I. p. 85. Mrs. Thrale and I were dressing, and, as usual, confabbing.

Confectionery, subs. (American).—A drinking bar. An analogous term is grocery, but for synonyms, see Lush-crib.

Confidence Trick, Dodge, or Buck, subs. phr. (common).—A process of swindling, the basis of which consists in obtaining trust with the deliberate intention of betraying it to your own advantage. A greenhorn meets (or rather is picked up by) a stranger who invites him to drink. The stranger admires him openly, protests his confidence in him, and to prove his sincerity hands him over a large amount of money [snide] or valuables [bogus], with which to walk off and return. The greenhorn does both, whereupon the stranger suggests that it is his turn next, and being favoured with certain proofs of ‘confidence,’ which in this case are real, decamps and is no more seen. This is the simplest form of the trick, but the confidence man is inexhaustible in devices. In many cases the subject’s idiosyncrasy takes the form of an idiotic desire to overreach his fellows; i.e., he is only a knave, wrong side out, and it is upon this idiosyncrasy that the operator works. He offers a sham gold watch at the price of a nickel one; he calls with presents from nowhere where none are expected; he writes letters announcing huge legacies to persons absolutely kinless; and as his appeal is addressed to the sister passions of greed and dishonesty he seldom fails of his reward. Fr., mener en bateau un pante pour le refaire = ‘to stick a jay and flap him.’

Conflabberated, ppl. adj. (common).—Bothered; upset; ‘flummoxed.’

Conflabberation, subs. (common).—A confused wrangle; a ‘hullabaloo.’

Confounded, adj. (colloquial).—Excessive; odious; detestable; e.g., a confounded nuisance, lie, humbug, etc. [Confound is properly ‘to mistake one for another,’ or ‘to throw into consternation.’ In its colloquial sense confounded is misused much as are ‘awful,’ ‘beastly,’ and other ‘strumpets of speech.’]

1766. O. Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, ch. vii. (ed. 1827), p. 42. Mr. Thornhill, loq.: ‘For what are tythes and tricks but an imposition, all confounded imposture.’

Confubuscate, verb (popular).—See quot., and Cf., Confusticate.

1880. Broadside Ballad, ‘You mustn’t tickle me.’ I hope I don’t confubuscate, I’se Topsy from the Georgia State.

Confusticate, verb (American).—To confuse.

Coniacker, subs. (thieves’).—A counterfeiter; smasher; or ‘queer-bit’ faker. [Obviously a play upon coin, money, and hack, to mutilate.] Fr., un mornifleur tarte.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 296. False coins, the makers of which are curiously called coniackers.

Conish, adj. (old).—See quot.

1830. Sir E. B. Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 29 (ed. 1854). ‘Paul, my ben cull,’ said he with a knowing wink, and [168]nudging the young gentleman in the left side, ‘vot do you say to a drop o’ blue ruin? or, as you likes to be conish (genteel), I doesn’t care if I sports you a glass of port.’

Conk, subs. (popular).—The nose. [Hotten says: possibly from the Latin concha, a shell. Greek, κόγχη—hence anything hollow. A parallel is testa = an earthenware pot, a shell, in Latin; and in later Latin = a skull; whence the French teste or tête = head. Cf., quot., 1838.]

English Synonyms. Boko or boco; proboscis; smeller; bowsprit; claret-jug; gig; muzzle; cheese-cutter; beak; snuff-box; snorter; post-horn; paste-horn; handle; snout; nozzle; smelling-cheat; snotter; candlestick; celestial; snottle-box; snuffler; trumpet; snorer; peak.

French Synonyms. Une bouteille (popular: literally ‘a bottle’); un Bourbon (popular: an abbreviated form of nez à la Bourbon. In allusion to the thick, prominent, and almost aquiline Bourbon nose); un blair or blaire (popular); un caillou (popular: properly ‘a flint.’ In allusion to a Bardolphian, a light-giving, quality); un tubercule (familiar: applied to a big nose. In medicine ‘a tumour,’ ‘swelling,’ or ‘protuberance’); un pivase (popular: a nose of large dimensions. Michel derives the word from pive = ‘a grog-blossom’ or ‘pin-point,’ properly a fir-apple); un piton (popular: literally a geographical term meaning ‘a peak.’ Un piton passé à l’encaustique, a red or ‘copper-nose’); un pif or pifre (general); une trompe (literally ‘a horn’ or ‘trumpet’); une truffe (popular: literally ‘a truffle,’ for which pigs are trained to search. Hence a Frenchman when he wants to call a man a pig, says il a un nez à chercher des truffes); une trompette (popular: literally ‘a trumpet’); un naze (popular and thieves’: a Provençalism); un nazaret (popular); un chandelier (popular); une tasse (popular); un sabot (popular); un os à moelle (thieves’: literally ‘a marrow-bone.’ Faire juter l’os à moelle = to use the fingers as a handkerchief); un éteignoir (popular: a large nose; literally, ‘an extinguisher’); un nazonnant (popular); un minois (thieves’: obsolete); un mirliton (popular); un morviau (popular).

German Synonyms. Muffer or Muffert (from muffen, muffeln, or murfeln = ‘to smell’); Schneitzling or Schnäuzling; Schnut (a North German form of Schnauze. Schnut is a favourite nickname among thieves, especially for those who possess long noses; also a pet name for a sweet-heart or doxy. Schnutenmelech or Schnutenkönig: the nosey king, or nosey one); Schniffling.

Italian Synonyms. Soffiante (this exactly corresponds to the English ‘snorter’; it signifies literally ‘blowing’ or ‘breathing’); fiauto or flauto (properly ‘a flute’); maremagno (literally ‘the great sea’).

1838. Comic Almanack, p. 158. I have inserted a small item from my surgeon’s bill, for repairs of his companions’ noses, damaged by his passion for Conchology.

1840. H. Cockton, Valentine Vox, ch. xxviii. He fancied it proper to put on his nose before he alighted from the cab. ‘Oh! oh! there’s a conk! there’s a smeller! Oh! oh!’ exclaimed about fifty voices in chorus. [169]

1859. Punch, vol. XXXVII., p. 54. ‘Essence of Parliament.’ July 25, Monday. Lord Lyndhurst let fly and caught him what (if pugilistic terms be not out of place when one is alluding to so pacific a personage) may be designated an extremely neat one on the conk.

1860. Chambers’ Journal, vol. XIII., p. 348. His nose is his conk.

1887. Atkin, House Scraps. His ‘dexter ogle’ has a ‘mouse’; His conk’s devoid of bark.

1889. Answers, 9 Feb. That portion of his countenance which is euphemistically described in the language of lower London as a conk.

Conoodle.—See Canoodle.

Conscience, subs. (theatrical).—Thus explained in Slang, Jargon, and Cant: A kind of association in a small company for the allotment of shares in the profits, etc. The man who is lucky enough to have a concern of his own, generally a very small affair, however badly he may act, must be the leading man or first low comedian, perhaps both. He becomes the manager, of course, and thus has one share for ‘fit-up,’ one for scenery, one and a half for management, one for wardrobe, one and a half as leading man; and the same is given to the wife, who, of course, will not play anything but the juvenile lead, but who at any other time would be glad to play first old woman.

Considerable Bend. To go on the Considerable Bend, verb. phr. (common).—To go in for a bout of dissipation.

Consonant-Choker, subs. (common).—One that clips his G’s and muffles his R’s.

Constable. To out or over-run the constable, verbal phr. (common).—To live beyond one’s means and get into debt; also, in a figurative sense, to escape from a bad argument; ‘to change the subject’; to talk about what is not understood.

1663. Butler, Hudibras, pt. I., canto iii., l. 1367. Quoth Hudibras, Friend Ralph, thou hast Out-run the constable at last; For thou art fallen as a new Dispute, as senseless as untrue, But to the former opposite, And contrary as black to white.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xxiii. He inquired, ‘how far have you overrun the constable?’ I told him that the debt amounted to eleven pounds.

1766. Anstey, New Bath Guide, letter vii. And some people think with such haste he began, That soon he the constable greatly outran.

1782. Wolcot (‘P. Pindar’), Rights of Kings, ode xi. Got deep in debt, the constable out-ran.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xli., p. 357. ‘He run a match agin the constable, and vun it.’ ‘In other words, I suppose,’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘he got into debt.’ ‘Just that, sir,’ replied Sam.

Constician, subs. (theatrical).—A member of the orchestra.

Constitutional, subs. (colloquial).—A walk undertaken for the sake of health and exercise [i.e., for the benefit of the constitution]. Tronchiner, from Doctor Tronchin, is French for the verb, tronchinade for the act.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xxix. One evening, about a week before the examinations were to begin, I was taking my usual constitutional after Hall.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. II., p. 41. At one time he was a great friend of Cocky Palmer’s, and used to go with him to the Cock fights at Wheatley—that Village just on the other side Shotover Hill—where we did a constitutional the other day. [170]

1871. City of London Directory. ‘Facts and Anomalies.’ The valetudinarian has not much choice in the city for a constitutional, seeing that it possesses but three walks, and ‘Long Walk’ is the shortest.

Contango, subs. (Stock Exchange).—A fine paid by the buyer to the seller of stock for carrying over the engagement to another settling day, and representing a kind of interest for a fourteen days’ extension. [Thought to be a corruption of ‘continuation.’]

1853. Notes and Queries, 17 Dec., p. 586, col. 2. Contango: a technical term in use among the sharebrokers of Liverpool, and I presume elsewhere, signifying a sum of money paid for accommodating either a buyer or seller by carrying the engagement to pay money or deliver shares over to the next account day.

1871. Daily News, 27 Feb. A large amount of money was offered in the Stock Exchange, in connection with the fortnightly settlement, which began this morning, and the contangoes on British railway securities were light, while the supply of stock was small.

1872. Evening Standard, 11 Dec. ‘City Intelligence.’ Erie Shares are steady; the contango is 3d. to 9d.

1884. Daily News, Nov. 13, p. 5, col. 1. City shop is not less baffling, and it is perhaps impossible for laymen to understand what contango means. Contango, by the way, would be a proud motto for an ennobled stockbroker, and would look well under a crest.

1887. Atkin, House Scraps. B stands for broker, for bull and for bear, C’s the contango that’s paid by the bull.

Content, adv. (old).—Dead. For synonyms, see Aloft and Hop the twig.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. The cull’s content: the man is past complaining (cant), saying of a person murdered for resisting the robbers.

Continent, adv. (Winchester College).—Ill; on the sick list. [From continens cameram vel lectum, keeping one’s room or bed.]—See Abroad.

1870. Mansfield, School Life at Winchester College, p. 146. When a boy felt ill, or inclined to quit school for a period, he had to get leave continent which was done by sending a boy in the morning first to get leave from his tutor, and then from the Head Master.

1878. Adams, Wykehamica, p. 224. We suggested the ‘continent room’; and on being required to say what was to become of the sick boys? replied, that it was notorious that there was never anything the matter with them!

Continental. Not to care or be worth a continental or continental damn, phr. (American).—To be worthless; not to care in the least degree. [Continental was the common qualification at the time of the Revolution of whatever concerned the American Colonies before they were united into a confederacy; hence continental congress, continental money, continental troops; while the people themselves were generally spoken of as continentallers or continentals. Continental damn, a term almost universally applied to the worthless continental paper money of those days is, nevertheless held by James Grant White (Words and their Uses) to be a counterpart, if not a mere modification, of other phrases of the same kidney—a tinker’s or trooper’s damn, etc.—and as the colonial troops were called continentallers or continentals during the war, and for many years afterwards, it is probable that it began as a continental’s damn. Passing to the general phrase ‘not worth a damn’ Mr. White thinks that the ‘damn’ = A.S. cerse = watercress. Piers Ploughman (1362) says ‘wisdom and witt nowe is not worth a kerse’ and transition, by reason [171]of identity of sound and a love of variety, from ‘not worth a curse’ to ‘not worth a damn’ is easy.]—See Care and Curse.

1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), The Innocents at Home, p. 20. He didn’t give a continental for anybody. Beg your pardon, friend, for coming so near saying a cuss-word.

1888. Missouri Republican, 16 Feb. I am not worrying about the nomination, though. I don’t care a continental if I don’t receive it.

Continuations, subs. (general).—Trousers. [Of analogous derivation to inexpressibles; unmentionables; musn’t-mention’ems; untalkaboutables, etc.] For synonyms, see Bags and Kicks.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 4, col. 1. Like the London dustmen, the Newmarket jockeys, the peripatetic vendors, or buyers of ‘old clo’,’ or the Albert continuations at one pound one, they appear to be made to measure for the same.

1853. Whyte Melville, Digby Grand, ch. xx. To whose wonderfully-fitting continuations, ‘pants’ he calls them, the ‘Ananyridians’ themselves are but as a Dutchman’s drawers.

Contraptions, subs. (American).—Small articles; tools; and so forth.

1838. J. C. Neal, Charcoal Sketches. For my part, I can’t say as how I see what’s to be the end of all of them new-fangled contraptions. [de v.]

Control Fortune, verbal phr. (card-sharpers’).—To cheat at cards.—See Rook.

Convenience, subs. (common).—A water-closet or chamber-pot.

Convenient, subs. (old).—A mistress. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

1676. Etherege, Man of Mode, III., iii., in wks. (1704), 233. Dorimant’s convenient, Madam Loveit.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, II., in wks. (1720), iv., 47. But where’s your lady, captain, and the blowing, that is to be my natural, my convenient, my pure? Ibid, I., iv., p. 22. Shamwell. Thou art i’ th’ right; but, captain, where’s the convenient, the Natural? Hackum. Why, at my house; my wife has brought her into a good humour; she is very pretty.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Convexes.—See Concaves.

Convey, verb (old).—To steal. [In law, to transfer from one person to another; by which it will be seen that there is a certain humour in the expression.] For synonyms, see Prig. Cf., Annex.

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act i., Sc. 3. Nym. The good humour is, to steal at a minute’s rest. Pist. Convey, the wise it call.

1607. Marston, What You Will, II., 260. But, as I am Crack, I will convey, crossbite, and cheat upon Simplicius.

1883. A. Dobson, Old World Idylls, p. 237. If they hint, O Musician, the piece that you played Is nought but a copy of Chopin or Spohr; That the ballad you sing is but merely conveyed From the stock of the Arnes and the Purcells of yore.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 31 Oct., p. 3. col. 1. Three great works of research and collaboration have been projected and partially or wholly executed in England within the lifetime of the present generation. They are the Encyclopædia Britannica, the Dictionary of National Biography, and the New English Dictionary. Each of these, but especially the last (from which the Century crew have conveyed freely) is as perfect in its way as any human undertaking can be.

1890. Scots Observer, 14 June, p. 98, col. 1. Lest this may seem an ungenerous suspicion, I hasten to say that it would never have crossed my mind had not so many of the other characters in this remarkable production (?) been obviously conveyed (delicious word!) from well-known novels. [172]

Conveyance, subs. (old).—A theft.—[See Convey and Conveyancer.]

1592. Shakspeare, I. Hen. VI., i., 3. Since Henry’s death, I fear there is conveyance.

1712. Spectator, No. 305. Provided the conveyance was clean and unsuspected, a youth might afterwards boast of it.

Conveyancer, subs. (old).—A thief. [From convey, to steal. In law, one whose occupation is to draw conveyances or transfers of property, deeds, etc.]—See Conveyer.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3 ed.), p. 445. To pick pockets: to buzz, buzzmen, clyfakers, conveyancers.

Conveyancing, verbal subs. (common).—Thieving. [In law, the act or practice of drawing up deeds, leases, etc., for transferring the title to property from one person to another. Cf., Convey, to steal.]

1865. Mr. Smollett, in House of Commons, 14 March. ‘Speech on the Nawab of the Carnatic.’ Pickpockets in London, when they appropriated purses or watches, called the transaction conveyancing.

1889. Modern Society (quoted in S., J. and C.), p. 269. The green youth who attempted to decamp with ——’s watch … was properly punished for his verdancy in the art of conveyancing.

Conveyer, subs. (old).—A thief. [One who conveys or steals.] Fr., emposteur.

1597. Shakspeare, Richard II., iv., sub. fin. O good convey! Conveyers are you all, That rise thus nimbly by a true king’s fall.

Cony or Tom Cony, subs. (old).—A simpleton. [From the proverbial simplicity of the rabbit or cony.]—See Cony-catch, verb, and for synonyms, Buffle-head and Cabbage-head.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vul. Tongue, s.v.

Cony-Catch, verb (old).—To cheat; deceive; trick; or ‘bite’ (q.v.). [Literally ‘to catch conies.’] Dekker, in his English Villainies, describes the system which is obviously the equivalent of the modern confidence trick (q.v.). A society of sharpers of this type was called ‘a warren,’ and their dupes ‘rabbit-suckers’ (that is, baby rabbits), or conies. At other times the gang were ‘bird-catchers,’ and their quarry was ‘a gull,’ etc. For synonyms, see Stick.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, v., 1. Take heed, signor Baptista, lest you be conny-catched in this business.

1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 158. Hereby hee thought to conny-catch the simple world.

1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., in wks. (1873) II., 12. Why, sister, do you thinke He conny-catch you, when you are my cozen?

Cony Catcher, subs. (old).—A cheat; sharper; or trickster. [From cony-catch, verb (q.v.), + er.] For synonyms, see Rook.

1592. John Day, Blind Beggar, Act iii., Sc. 3, p. 57. We’ll go seek out those cony-catchers; and ere I catch them, I’ll make them pay soundly all for their roguery.

1599. Minshew, Dict., s.v. A conie-catcher: a name given to deceivers, by a metaphor, taken from those that rob warrens, and conie-grounds, using all means, sleights, and cunning to deceive them, as pitching of haies before their holes, fetching them in by tumblers, etc.

1602. Rowlands, Greene’s Ghost, p. 3. (Hunterian Club’s Repr.) And the name of conicatchers is so odious, that now a dayes it is had vp, and vsed for an opprobrious name for euerie one that sheweth the least occasion for deceit. [173]

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. Marry, thou hast me on the hip there, thou old miserly cony-catcher!

Cony-Catching, verbal subs. (old).—Cheating; trickery; swindling after the manner of cony-catchers (q.v.). Shakspeare, says Nares, has once used it to express harmless roguery, playing jocular tricks, and no more [see quot., 1593]. For synonyms, see Sell.

1592. Greene, Groundwork of Conny-Catching, p. 2. … this booke, wherein thou shalt find the ground-worke of Conny-catching.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, iv., 1. Come, you are so full of conycatching.

1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, III., iv. Thou hast more cony-catching devices than all London.

1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. XI., p. 260. And being almost Drunk, their Brains ran on coney-catching.

1884. Daily News, Jan. 5, p. 5, col. 2. Coney-catching, or its modern equivalent, the confidence trick.

Ppl. adj. (old).—Mutatis mutandis, the same as the substantive (q.v.).

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, i., 1. Marry, sir, I have matter in my head against you; and against your Coney-catching rascals, Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol.

1596. Ben Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, iii., 1. Whoreson coney-catching rascal! I could eat the very hilts for anger.

Coo-e-e-e, or Coo-ey, subs. (Australian).—A signal cry of the Australian blackfellow, adopted by the invading whites. The final ‘e’ is a very high note, a sort of prolonged screech, that resounds for miles through the bush, and thus enables parties that have lost each other to ascertain their relative positions.

1883. Graphic, July 7, p. 6, col. 3. Coo-e-e is the Australian cry for help. When the two hands are used, and the coo properly pitched, it can be heard a wonderful distance. Whenever a coo-e-e is heard in the bush it is a matter of conscience to answer it and see what is amiss.

1887. G. L. Apperson, in All the Year Round, 30 July, p. 67, col. 1. A common mode of expression is to be ‘within cooey’ of a place. Originally, no doubt, this meant to be within the distance at which the well-known cooey or bush cry, could be heard; now it simply means within easy reach of a place. To be ‘within cooey’ of Sydney is to be at the distance of an easy journey therefrom.

1889. E. S. Rawson, In Australian Wilds. ‘A Queensland Mystery.’ It is solely on this, or the mad theory, that one could account for the startling effects of Jim’s cooee or otherwise to the belated wanderer it would have been a revelation of joy and rescue.

Cook, verb (colloquial).—1. To tamper with, garble, or falsify. Accounts are cooked when so altered as to look better than they are. Pictures are cooked when dodged-up for sale. Painters say that a picture will not cook when it is so excellent as to be beyond imitation.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xcviii. Some falsified printed accounts, artfully cooked up, on purpose to mislead and deceive.

1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 189. ‘Advertisement of Bubble Bank Book-keeping,’ by Prof. McDooall. It is remarkable especially for the facilities it offers for cooking the accounts, as it entirely prevents any possibility of checking them.

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, II., p. 19. When A has been looking up to B for thirty years, he cannot look down on him all of a sudden, just because he catches him falsifying accounts. Why, man is a cooking animal; commercial man especially.

1871. The Athenæum, 4 Feb. The great work of art of Ivan Turgeneff, the Notes by a Sportsman had been what is vulgarly called cooked for the French markets. [174]

1872. Spencer, Study of Sociology, ch. vi., p. 119 (9 ed.). The dishonesty implied in the adulterations of tradesmen and manufacturers … in cooking of railway accounts and financial prospectuses.

1888. Grant Allen, This Mortal Coil, ch. v. Where Warren Relf was seated cooking a sky in one of his hasty seaside sketches.

1890. Saturday Review, 1 Feb., p. 134, col. 1. We referred, in our last article upon this [gambling] subject, to the Paris Mutuels, and explained their working. Now money has to be found somehow for the poorer classes to get to the Mutuel and back their fancies, and the clerk cooks his books, and the shop-boy ‘fingers the till.’

2. See Cook one’s goose, of which it is an abbreviation.

3. (colloquial).—To swelter with heat and sweat. In this sense the Fourbesque has ansare; literally ‘to be out of breath.’

To cook one’s goose, verbal phr. (common).—To ‘settle’; ‘worst’; kill; or ruin.

English Synonyms. To anodyne; to put to bed; to snuff out; to give, or cook one’s gruel; to corpse; to cooper up; to wipe out; to spiflicate; to settle, or settle one’s hash; to squash; to shut up; to send to pot; to smash; to finish; to do for; to bugger up; to put one’s light out; to stop one’s little game; to stop one’s galloping; to put on an extinguisher; to clap a stopper on; to bottle up; to squelch; to play hell (or buggery) with; to rot; to squash up; to stash; to give a croaker. For synonyms in the sense of circumvention, see Floored.

French Synonyms. Avoir son affaire (familiar: this also means to have got ‘a settler,’ and ‘to be absolutely drunk’); buter (thieves’ = ‘to kill’ or ‘execute’); escarper (thieves’); envoyer essayer une chemise de sapin (military: literally ‘to send one to try on a deal shirt.’ Cf., ‘wooden surtout’ = coffin); faire suer un chêne (popular: suer = to sweat; chêne = cove); faire passer le goût du pain (familiar = ‘to give one his gruel’); coffier (thieves’: an abbreviation of escoffier, to kill); conir (thieves’); ébasir (thieves’: formerly esbasir; Fourbesque sbasire and Germania esbasir); mettre à l’ombre (general = to put in the shade); endormir (thieves’); entailler (thieves’); abasourdir (thieves’: properly ‘to astound’); chouriner or suriner (thieves’: ‘chourin’ or surin = a knife); estourbir (thieves’); scionner (thieves’: from scion = a knife); faire un machabée (thieves’: in cant machabée = a drowned corpse. Michel thinks the expression originated either in the reading of II. Macabees, ch. xii., which is still retained in the Mass for the Dead, or through la danse macabre, the Dance of Death shown in the engravings of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries); faire flotter un pante (popular = to cook one’s goose by drowning. Flotter = to float. i.e., like a corpse); crever la paillasse (popular: literally ‘to rip open the mattress’); laver le linge dans la saignante (thieves’: to wash linen in blood): dévisser le trognon à quelqu’un (popular); entonner (popular: see Michel); estrangouiller (popular = ‘to strangle’; from a veterinary term étranguillon = ‘the strangles’); tortiller la vis, or le gaviau (thieves’); terrer (thieves’: to ‘guillotine’); faire la grande soulasse [175](thieves’: soulas, Old French = ‘solace’ or ‘comfort’); rebâtir un pante (thieves’); sonner (popular); lingrer (popular); envoyer ad patres (popular = ‘to send to one’s fathers’); envoyer en paradis (general = ‘to send to kingdom-come’); envoyer en parade (thieves’ = ‘to send on parade’); capahuter (thieves’ = to get rid of an accomplice to secure his share of the booty; sometimes rendered by refroidir à la capahut); décrocher (military: literally ‘to unhook,’ ‘to take down’); descendre quelqu’un (popular = to bring down); couper le sifflet (popular = to cut one’s whistle); watriniser (popular: in reference to M. Watrin, who was murdered by the Decazeville miners in 1886. Cf., the English ‘to burke’); moucher le quinquet (popular: ‘to snuff the lamp’); faire saigner du nez (thieves’ = ‘to give a bloody nose’); sabler (thieves’); faire banque (common); suager (thieves’: from suer, ‘to sweat’).

German Synonyms. Abfetzen (to kill by cutting or stabbing); abmeken, abmacken (Hebrew mocho = to put aside, to destroy, or to give ‘tit for tat.’ North German afmurksen); bekern machen (from the Hebrew peger. Used of animals it is the equivalent of krepieren); hargenen or horeg sein (‘to kill’ or ‘murder.’ Horeg, the murderer; Horug, the murdered; nehrog, murdered; nehrog werden, to be murdered; Hereg or Harigo, the murder); heimthun, or heimerlich spielen (heim, a corruption of the Hebrew chajim = life); Kappore machen or fetzen (literally ‘to make purified.’ From the Hebrew kophar); memissen or memissren; die Neschome nehmen (Hebrew neschomo, the soul or life); pegern or peigern; rozechenen or rozchenen (Hebrew, rozach = to kill); schächten (Hebrew, schochat).

Italian Synonym. Sbasire (literally ‘to cause to faint’ or ‘swoon.’ Sbasire su le funi = to swoon on the rope, i.e., to be hanged).

Spanish Synonyms. Apretar á uno la nuez (properly to clutch the Adam’s apple, i.e., the throat); apiolar (properly ‘to gyve a hawk’ or ‘to tie game together by the legs’; and metaphorically, ‘to seize’ or apprehend); despabilar (literally ‘to snuff a candle.’ Cf., Fr. moucher le quinquet and the Eng. ‘to put on an extinguisher’); apercollar (also, ‘to seize one by the collar’).

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 360. When the clarences, the cabs that carry four, came in, they cooked the hackney-coachmen in no time.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Adventures of Verdant Green, p. 270. Billy’s too big in the Westphalia’s gig-lamps, you’re the boy to cook Fosbrooke’s goose.

1861. A. Trollope, Framley Parsonage, ch. xlii. Chaldicotes, Gagebee, is a cooked goose, as far as Sowerby is concerned. And what difference could it make to him whether the Duke is to own it or Miss Dunstable.

1865. G. A. Sala, Trip to Barbary, ch. v. The first Napoleon … once nearly killed himself by his addictedness to Provençal cookery. Yes; a mess of mutton and garlic—’tis said it was poisoned—very nearly cooked the goose of Achilles.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 128. Seeing how the fellow was acting he sent him two ‘shise’ notes, which gave him a dose that cooked him. I saw the man myself, serving his time at Dartmoor. [176]

1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 10. When the chromo first emerged from chaos, the producers of that kind of picture insisted that the goose of the artist was cooked.

Cookey or Cookie. To bet a cookie, verbal phr. (American).—The custom of preparing the cakes still known in Scotland as cookies was part and parcel of American life. [The cookey, like the English pancake on Shrove Tuesday, and the hot cross bun on Good Friday, forms a special old-fashioned dainty at Christmas-tide and New Year. From the Dutch koekje, dim. of koek, a cake.]

1870. Bret Harte, Luck of Roaring Camp, p. 227. Don’t know what he is! He lost every hoof and hide, I’ll bet a cookey!

1872. Lloyd’s Weekly, 28 April. ‘Probate Court Report.’ Might have said she would bet a cookey that the will was in America. (Laughter.)

1888. Detroit Free Press, 31 March. A book has just been published to instruct reporters in the use of proper phrases. We bet a cookey no reporter will ever read it.

Cookeyshine, subs. (old Scots).—An afternoon meal at which cookies (q.v.) form a staple dish. Cf., Tea-fight, Muffin-worry, etc. (q.v.). [From cookey, a small cake, + shine (q.v.), an entertainment.]

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, I., 103. Dr. Sampson, loq.: We shall see whether we are on the right system: and if so, we’ll dose her with useful society in a more irrashinal forrm; conversaziones, cookeyshines, et cetera. And if we find ourselves on the wrong tack, why then we’ll hark back.

Cook-Ruffian, subs. (old).—A bad or indifferent cook, ‘who would cook the devil in his feathers.’

Cool, adj. (colloquial).—1. Impertinent; audacious; calmly impudent.

1870. Figaro, 22 May. It is considered to be cool to take a man’s hat with his name written in it, simply because you want to get his autograph.

Cool as a Cucumber, phr. (common).—Without heat; also, metaphorically, calm and composed.

2. (In reference to money; e.g., a cool hundred, thousand, etc.) Commonly expletive; but sometimes used to cover a sum a little above the figure stated.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VIII., ch. xii. Mr. Watson, too, after much variety of luck, rose from the table in some heat, and declared he had lost a cool hundred, and would play no longer.

1771. Smollet, Humphry Clinker, l. 41. I’ll bet a cool hundred he swings before Christmas.

1825. Miss Edgeworth, Love and Law, i., 2. Suppose you don’t get sixpence costs, and lose your cool hundred by it, still it’s a great advantage.

1841, Lytton, Night and Morning, bk. II., ch. x. Borrowed his money under pretence of investing it in the New Grand Anti-Dry-Rot Company; cool hundred—it’s only just gone, sir.

1890. Illustrated Bits, 29 March, p. 8, col. 2. I made three thousand last year, but if I have good luck this year I shall make a cool fifty thousand.

3. (Eton College).—See Cool kick and the following.

Verb (Eton College).—To kick hard.

Cool-Crape, subs. (old).—A shroud, or winding sheet.—Grose.

Cooler, subs. (old).—1. A woman.—Grose [1785]. For synonyms, see Petticoat.

1742. Charles Johnson, Highwaymen and Pyrates, p. 293. ‘Not I,’ replied Jones, very readily, ‘I neither know nor [177]care who you are, tho’ before you spoke I took you for a brewer because you travel with your cooler by your side.’

2. (American thieves’).—A prison. For synonyms, see Cage.

3. (common).—Ale or stout after spirits and water. Sometimes called ‘putting the beggar on the gentleman’; also damper (q.v.).

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry (ed. 1890), p. 76. Many persons … in order to allay the heat or thirst arising from the pernicious use of such quantities of ardent spirits, frequently take a glass of porter, which is termed a cooler, ‘a damper,’ etc.

Cool-Kick, subs. (Eton College).—When a behind (q.v.) or ‘back’ gets a kick with no one up to him.

Cool-Lady, subs. (old).—A female follower of the camp who sells brandy.—Grose [1785].

Cool-Nantz, subs. (old).—Brandy. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Cool one’s Coppers, verbal phr. (popular).—To allay the morning’s thirst after a night of drink. Cf., Hot-coppers and Dry as a lime basket.

1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. iii. We were playing Van John in Blake’s rooms till three last night, and he gave us devilled bones and mulled port. A fellow can’t enjoy his breakfast after that without something to cool his coppers.

1870. Sportsman, 17 Dec. ‘A Chapel Meeting.’ Bring me a mouthful, George, shouted a grasping Typo one day to his chum, who, at the trough in the furthest corner of the room, was cooling his coppers with cold water.

Coon, subs. (American).—1. A man. [Coon, a curtailment of ‘racoon’ (Procyon lotor), is thought to be of Indian origin (Algonquin, aroughcun, the scratcher), though some trace it to the French raton. The contraction dates from about 1840, when the racoon was used as a kind of political totem.]

1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 227. ‘The Baby in the House.’ I sign him, said the Curate Howe, O’er Samuel Burbott George Bethune, Then baby kicked up such a row As terrified that reverend coon.

2. (American).—A nigger, e.g., a coons’ bawdy house = a house where none are kept but girls of colour.

Gone coon, subs. phr. (American).—One in a serious or hopeless difficulty. A Scots equivalent is gone corbie, i.e., a dead crow. Cf., Gone goose. [The explanation generally given is that during the American War a spy dressed in racoon skins ensconced himself in a tree. An English rifleman (the nationalities are reversible) levelled his piece at him, whereupon the American exclaimed: ‘Don’t shoot, I’ll come down. I know I am a gone coon.’]

1845. Mr. Giddings, in Congress (quoted in De Vere). Besides the acquisition of Canada, which is put down on all sides as a gone coon.

1857. Dickens, Lying Awake, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 192. I must think of something else as I lie awake; or, like that sagacious animal in the United States who recognised the colonel who was such a dead shot, I am a gone coon.

1864. Derby Day, p. 51. We shan’t get to your advice till the crack’s hocussed and done for, and we’re all ruined as safe as coons.

1867. London Herald, 23 March, p. 221, col. 3. ‘We’re safe to nab him; safe as houses. He’s a gone coon, sir.’

1883. Calverley, Fly Leaves, p. 83. ‘On the Brink.’ She stood so calm, so like a ghost, Betwixt me and that magic moon. That I already was almost A finished coon. [178]

To go the whole coon, verbal phr. (American). = ‘To go the whole hog.’

Coon’s Age, subs. phr. (American).—A long time; ‘a blue moon.’ The racoon is held to be a long-lived animal.

b. 1780, d. 1851. Audubon, Life, I., p. 178. ‘Wall, Pete, whar have you been? I hav’n’t seen you this coon’s age.’

Coop, subs. (thieves’).—A prison. For synonyms, see Cage.

1866. London Miscellany, 3 Mar., p. 58, col. 3. 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.

1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple. You say that you have been in the coop as many times as I have.

Cooped-up, ppl., adj., phr. (old).—Imprisoned. [From coop (q.v.), a place of detention.] For synonyms, see Limbo.

Cooper or Cooper up, verb (thieves’ and vagrants’).—1. To destroy; spoil; settle; or finish.

2. (thieves’).—To forge.

3. (American).—To understand. For synonyms, see Twig.

Coopered, ppl. adj. (racing, thieves’, and vagrants’).—Hocussed; spoiled; ruined; e.g., a house is said to be coopered when the importunity of many tramps has caused its inmates to cold-shoulder the whole fraternity; a coopered horse is a horse that has been ‘got at’ with a view to prevent its running.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. ‘Cooper’d,’ spoiled by the imprudence of some other patterer.

Coored, adj. (old).—Whipped.—D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171 [1821].

Coot, subs. (American).—A stupid fellow; generally ‘a silly’ or ‘mad old coot.’ Stupid as a coot is a common English provincialism. [The fulica altra, the bald or common coot, like the ostrich, is said to bury its head when pursued, thinking none can see it, as it cannot see itself.] For synonyms, see Buffle-head and Cabbage-head.

Cooter.—See Couter.

Cop, subs. (common).—A policeman. [From cop, verb, sense 1.] For synonyms, see Beak, sense 1, and Copper.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, p. 124. Oh! where will be the culls of the bing … And all the cops and beaks so knowin’, A hundred stretches hence?

1879. Punch, 3 May, p. 201, col. 1. I suppose if the Toffs took a fancy for chewing a stror or a twig, Like a tout or a hostler, or tumbled to carryin’ a bludgeon as big As a crib cracker’s nobby persuader, Pall Mall would be jolly soon gay With blue-blooded blokes a green cop might mistake for foot-pads on the lay.

Verb (common).—1. To seize; steal; catch; take an unfair advantage in a bet or bargain. [Cop has been associated with the root of the Latin cap-io, to seize, to snatch; also with the Gypsy kap or cop = to take; Scotch kep; and Gallic ceapan. Probably, however, its true radix is to be found in the Hebrew cop = a hand or palm. Low-class Jews employ the term, and understand it to refer to the act of snatching.]

[Cop like Chuck (q.v.), is a sort of general utility verb. Thus to Cop the [179]Needle = to get angry; to Cop the Bullet or the door = to get the sack; to Cop it Hot = to be severely clapped; to Cop it (said of women) = to be got with child; and to Cop the Brewer = to be drunk.]

For synonyms in the sense of to steal, see Prig; and in the sense of to seize, see Nab.

1864. Manchester Courier, 13 June. ‘Copper’ … a slang name for a policeman derived from cop, which is a well known and generally used vulgarism for ‘catch.’

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., p. 500. I was taken by two pals (companions) to an orchard to cop (steal) some fruit.

1883. Punch, Sept. 29, p. 146, col. 2. ‘Bill’s not such a fool as you think; He’ll cop my truncheon, pat, Jam the whistle into my mouth, And stretch the Peeler flat.’

1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip to all Cross Coves. Booze and the blowens cop the lot.

2. trs. and intrs. (thieves’).—To arrest; imprison; betray; ensnare.

English Synonyms. To give the clinch; to make one kiss the clink; to accommodate; to nobble; to bag; to box; to fist (old); to scoop; to take up; to victimize; to run in; to give or get one the boat; to buckle; to smug; to nab; to collar; to pinch; to nail; to rope in; to shake; to pull up.

French Synonyms. Empioler (thieves’); tomber au plan (thieves’ = to be apprehended); étre mis au plan (thieves’ = to be imprisoned); enfourailler (thieves’); bâcler or boucler (thieves’: literally to buckle, put a ring to); bloquer (military: properly to blockade); étre le bon (popular = to be arrested; also to be the right man); boulotter de or coucher à la boîte (military = to get frequently locked up. La grosse boîte = a prison; boîte aux refléxions = a prison cell); mettre quelqu’un dans la blouse (familiar = to ‘pocket,’ as at billiards); se faire cuire (popular = to be arrested); clouer (popular: clou = guard-room or cell); coller au bloc (popular: coller is properly to stick, as with glue, but in a slang sense it carries the meaning of to place or put; bloc = prison); piper (familiar); poisser (popular and thieves’); grimer (popular); coquer (thieves’: also, to peach or inform); enflacquer (thieves’); mettre or fourrer dedans (familiar: literally to put inside); mettre à l’ombre (common: literally to put in the shade); mettre au violon (popular: see violon under Cage); grappiner (popular); poser un gluau (thieves’ = to lime, as in snaring birds); empoigner (popular = to fist; possibly a dictionary word); piger (popular); emballer (popular and thieves’; properly to pack up); gripper (this has passed into the language); encoffrer (popular = to ‘box up’); encager (familiar = to cage); accrocher (properly to hook); ramasser de la boîte (military: also ramasser quelqu’un and se faire remasser); souffler (thieves’); faire tomber malade (popular = to make one ill); agrafer (literally to hook or clasp; avoir son linge lavé (thieves’ = to have one’s linen washed).

German Synonyms.—Bekaan scheften (from the Hebrew kaan); im Kühlen sitzen (literally to sit in the cold. Cf., Fr., mettre à l’ombre); krank werden (literally [180]to fall ill; equivalent to the Fr. faire tomber malade); ins Leck baun (Viennese thieves’ M.H.G. luken = to lock up); millek sein (to be imprisoned); trefe fallen (to be apprehended under grave circumstances; e.g., with burglar’s instruments or stolen goods); versargen (to imprison for a long time); abfassen (students’ slang); ankappen (popular colloquialism); klemmen (M.H.G. klembern = to press heavily); taffen, tofes nehmen, tofes lokechnen, or tofes lekichnen (from the Hebrew tophas); vercheweln, vercheifeln or verheifeln (from the Hebrew chobal; also to bind or gag).

Copbusy, verb (thieves’).—See quot.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445. To hand over the booty to a confederate or girl—to copbusy.

Copper, subs. (popular).—A policeman. [From cop, verb, senses 1 and 2, (q.v.), to catch, + er; literally a catcher.] Equivalents are robin or robin-redbreast; m.p. (i.e., member of police); copperman (an Australian prison term); but for synonyms, see Beak, to which may be added the following.

French Synonyms. Un chasse-coquin (popular: also = a ‘beadle’ and ‘bad wine.’ Literally ‘a beggar-driver’: Cf., chasse-chien = a beadle employed to drive away dogs); un chasse-noble (thieves’); le cadratin (police; a term applied to the detective force; properly what printers call an ‘em quad’); l’enplaque (thieves’); une fauvette à tête noire (thieves’: literally ‘a black-cap’); un bricul or briculé (thieves’: an inspector of police); une casserole (thieves’ = a detective; also a prostitute. Properly ‘a saucepan’ or warming-pan); un emballeur (thieves’: properly ‘a packer’); un ficard (thieves’); un arnacq or arnache (thieves’); un vesto de la cuisine (thieves’ = a detective. Vesto = haricot bean; cuisine = detective force); rabatteur de pantes (thieves’ = a beater of game, man being the quarry); un bigorneau (properly a periwinkle); un cognac (thieves’); un quart (pop: faire son quart = to be on the watch); un radis noir (common: also = a priest or devil-dodger); un renifleur (thieves’: renifler = to sniff); mari Robin (thieves’); un marchand or solliceur de lacets (thieves’: lacets = hand-cuffs); lapin ferré (a mounted policeman); un liêge (thieves’).

German Synonyms. Blaukragen (Viennese thieves’: for an armed policeman; literally ‘a blue collar,’ in allusion to the uniform); Blitzableiter (literally ‘the lightning conductor’); Bosser-Isch (a play upon words is involved in this term. It is derived from the Hebrew bosar = meat. Bosser-Isch signifies literally ‘meat-man,’ i.e., a butcher, or translated into literary German, Fleischmann. In the first half of the last century a certain Lieutenant Fleischmann was especially zealous in ‘persecuting’ the robber gangs infesting the district between Frankfurt and Darmstadt. Every hunter of rogues and vagabonds has since then been called a Bosser-Isch or Fleischmann. Hence its application to the police); Greiferci (specially applied to the ‘criminal’ police); [181]Hadatsch or Hatschier (Viennese thieves’); aie Herren (the police force generally; literally ‘the gentlemen’); Husche, Huscher, Husskiefel or Husskopf (a mounted policeman); Iltis or Iltisch (thieves’); Kapdon (from the Hebrew kophad: literally ‘to draw together,’ or intransitively ‘to cut off’; applied to a clever policeman); Karten (the police. Cf., Garden = guards); Koberer (the officer in charge of the regulations over registered prostitutes; Koberer = ‘fancy-man,’ or ‘protector’); Klisto (a mounted policeman; from the Hanoverian gypsy glisto); Kreuzritter (Viennese thieves’ = a policeman who is also a soldier; more correctly, a police-soldier); Laileschmir (a night policeman; from the Hebrew lailo, ‘the night’); Laterne (Viennese thieves’); Lederzeug (a mounted policeman); Mischpoche (a Hebrew word signifying ‘the family,’ ‘the relations’; gang of robbers; the inmates of a prison; the police force taken as a whole); Polenk or Polente (Hanoverian slang for the police; possibly from the Gypsy polontschero = ‘the night-watchman’ or ‘herdsman’); Poliquetsch (a term applied either to the force or to a single member); Quetsch (Cf., foregoing); Schin (an abbreviation, being the Hebrew letter ‏ש‎, for the turnkey of a prison, a policeman, etc.; ein platter Schin, a policeman who makes common cause with a burglar; miser Schin, a policeman who is hated); Spinatwächter (soldiers’ for a police-soldier; in allusion to the green uniform); Spitz or Spitzl (a vigilant policeman, from Spitz = pointed, from which is derived Spitz-bube, a thief); Teckel (Hanoverian for foot-police); Zaddik (from the Hebrew signifying ‘the just’ or ‘pious one’; used sarcastically as a nickname for the guardians of the right); Zenserei (Viennese thieves’: Zenserer = a police superintendent. Apparently the modern form of the old Sens, Sins, Söns, Sims, or Simser, of which the derivation is clearly to be found in Zent or Cent, from the Centenæ of the Frankish kings, who divided the counties into Centenæ and Decaniæ for the purposes of administration).

Italian Synonyms. Falcon de draghetti (literally ‘a hawk preying on schoolboys’); sbirre.

Spanish Synonym. Abrazador (m; literally ‘one who embraces’; abrazar = to hug, or clasp).

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, p. 21. ‘The knuck was copped to rights, a skin full of honey was found in his kick’s poke by the copper when he frisked him’; [i.e.] the pickpocket was arrested, and when searched by the officer a purse was found in his pantaloons pocket full of money.

1864. Manchester Courier, 13 June. The professors of slang, however, having coined the word, associate that with the metal, and as they pass a policeman they will, to annoy him, exhibit a copper coin, which is equivalent to calling the officer copper.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 237. I daresay the coppers quite expected us the next night, and looked out for us.… Coppers, I may inform the reader, is slang for police.

1889. Punch, 3 Aug., p. 49, col. 2. Young ’Opkins took the reins, but soon in slumber he was sunk—(Indignantly) When a interfering copper ran us in for being drunk!

Copperheads, subs. (American).—A nickname applied to different sections of the American nation: first to the Indian; then [182]to the Dutch colonist (see Irving, Knickerbocker); lastly, during the Civil War, to certain Northern Democrats who sympathised with the South. [Properly the Trigonocephalus contortrix.]

1864. Walt Whitman, Diary, 10 April [in Century Mag., Oct., 1888]. Exciting times in Congress. The copperheads are getting furious, and want to recognise the Southern Confederacy.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 29 Aug. Should he [Mr. Greeley] be elected, he will owe his victory to … the copperhead ring of the Democratic party.

1881. W. D. Howells, Dr. Breen’s Practice, ch. ix. He lived to cast a dying vote for General Jackson, and his son, the first Dr. Mulbridge, survived to illustrate the magnanimity of his fellow-townsmen during the first year of the civil war, as a tolerated copperhead.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 2 March. Gay was executed, I think, in November, 1862, at Indianapolis. He was … a virulent copperhead.

Copperman, subs. (Australian prison).—A policeman. Cf., Copper.

Copper-Nose, subs. (old).—The swollen, pimply nose of habitual drunkards. A ‘jolly’ or ‘bottle’ nose; in Fr., une bette-rave, i.e., a beetroot; also un piton passé à l’encaustique. Cf., Grog-blossom. For synonyms for the nose generally, see Conk.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. x. ‘The stoutest raven dared not come within a yard of that copper nose.’

Copper’s Nark, subs. (thieves’).—A police spy; one in the pay of the police. [From copper (q.v.), a policeman, + nark, a spy; used as a nark signifies to watch or look after.]

1879. Thos. Satchell, in Notes and Queries, 5 S., xi., 406. Copper’s Nark: A police spy.

1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Good Night. Likewise you coppers’ narks and dubs What pinched me when upon the snam.

1889. Answers, 20 July, p. 121, col. 1. He instructed me … on no account to appear to be anxious to pry into their secrets, lest I should be mistaken for a copper’s nark, i.e., a person in the pay of the police.

Copperstick, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Copus, subs. (Univ.).—A wine or beer cup, which was commonly imposed as a fine upon those who talked Latin in hall or committed other breaches of etiquette. Dr. Johnson derives it from episcopus, and if this be correct it is doubtless the same as bishop.

Copy of Countenance, subs. phr. (old).—A sham; humbug; pretence.

1579. Gosson, Apol. of the Schoole of Abuse, p. 64 (Arber). They have eaten bulbief, and threatned highly, too put water in my woortes, whensoeuer they catche me; I hope it is but a coppy of their countenance.

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho, Act ii., Sc. 1. I shall love a puritan’s face the worse, whilst I live, for that copy of thy countenance.

1637. Fletcher, Elder Brother, V., i. Nor can I change my copy, if I purpose to be of your society.

1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. III., ch. xiv. This, as he afterwards confessed on his death-bed, i.e., in the court at Tyburn, was only a copy of his countenance; for that he was at that time as sincere and hearty in his opposition to Wild as any of his companions.

1756. Foote, Englishman from Paris, Act i. And if the application for my advice is not a copy of your countenance, a mask; if you are obedient, I may set you right. [183]

Coral Branch, subs. phr. (venery).—The penis.

Core, Coreing, verb and verbal subs. (old).—See quot.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Coreing: picking up small articles in shops.

Corinth, subs. (old).—A brothel. For synonyms, see Nanny-shop. Cf., Corinthian and Corinthianism.

1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens, Act ii., Sc. 2. Would we could see you at Corinth!

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Corinthian, subs. (old).—1. A rake; a loose liver; sometimes specifically, a fashionable whore. Shakspeare has it, ‘a lad of mettle,’ but in another place he uses corinth as above. In the slang sense an allusion to the notoriety of Corinth as a centre of prostitution, i.e., the temple-city of Aphrodite. Κορινθάεσθαι, = to Corinthianise was Greek slang. Hence the proverb—Οὺ παντὸς ἀνδρὸς εἰς Κόρινθον ισθ’ ὁ πλοῦς: and Horace, Epist. lib. 1, xvii., 36—

‘Non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum.’

Also used as an adjective, a verbal form being to corinthianize. Cf., Shakspeare’s use of Ephesians in II. King Henry IV., ii. 2. For synonyms, see Molrower.

1598. Shakspeare, I Henry IV., Act ii., Sc. 4. And tell me flatly I am no proud Jack, like Falstaff; but a Corinthian, a lad of mettle, a good boy.

b. 1608. d. 1674. Milton, Apology for Smect. And raps up, without pity, the sage and rheumatic old prelatess, with all her young Corinthian laity.

1890. Daily Telegraph, 25 Feb., p. 4, col. 7. Is it not curious that hotel proprietors [at Monte Carlo] should countenance, if not encourage, a Tom and Jerry tone and a wild Corinthian element, even in well-conducted restaurants?

1890. Henley and Stevenson, Beau Austin, iii., 1. I assure you, Aunt Evelina, we are Corinthian to the last degree.

2. A dandy; specifically applied in the early part of the present century to a man of fashion; e.g., Corinthian Tom, in Pierce Egan’s Life in London. For synonyms, see Dandy.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 9. ’Twas diverting to see, as one ogled around, How Corinthians and Commoners mixed on the ground.

1832. Pierce Egan, Book of Sports, p. 210. ‘I would be a Corinthian to the end of the chapter if I could—but the truth is, I was not lucky enough to be born a swell.’

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. iv. Where the hospitable ‘Jem’ received his more aristocratic visitors, and to which, as Corinthians, or ‘swells,’ we were immediately admitted.

1854. Thackeray, Leech’s Pictures in Quarterly Review, No. 191, Dec. Corinthian, it appears, was the phrase applied to men of fashion and ton … they were the brilliant predecessors of the ‘swell’ of the present period.

Corinthianism, subs. (old and modern).—See Corinthian, in both senses of which, mutatis mutandis, corinthianism is employed.

Cork, subs. (common).—1. A bankrupt. For analogous terms, see Quizby.

2. (Scotch).—The general name in Glasgow and neighbourhood for the head of an establishment, e.g., of a factory, or the like. [184]

To draw a cork, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—To draw blood. A variant is to tap one’s claret.

1818. P. Egan, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 136. Several blows exchanged, but no corks were drawn.

1819. Thos. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. to Cong., p. 25. … This being the first Royal claret let flow, Since Tom took the Holy Alliance in tow, The uncorking produced much sensation about, As bets had been flush on the first painted snout.

1837. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xii. Tap his claret cask—draw his cork!

Cork-brained, adj. phr. (old).—Light headed; foolish.

Corker, subs. (common).—1. That which closes an argument, or puts an end to a course of action; a settler; a finisher (q.v.); specifically a lie. Cf., whopper.

2. Anything unusually large, or of first-rate quality; remarkable in some respect or another; e.g., a heavy blow; a monstrous lie.—See Whopper.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xix. ‘Then I lets him have it, right, left, right, jist three corkers, beginning with the right hand, shifting to the left, and then with the right hand ag’in.’

To play the corker.—To indulge in the uncommon; to exhibit exaggerated peculiarities of demeanour; specifically in school and university slang to make oneself objectionable to one’s fellows.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. vii. ‘Why, you’re sticking up for him now!’ said Tom … astonished at this apparent change of front. ‘If you choose to come back and play the corker like this, it’s your look-out.’

Corks, subs. (general).—1. A butler. [An allusion to one of the duties of the office.] Cf., Burn-crust, a baker; Master of the mint, a gardener; Cinder-Garbler, a maid-of-all-work, etc.

2. (nautical).—Money. [A facetious allusion to money as the means of ‘keeping afloat.’] For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

Corkscrewing, verbal subs. (common).—The straggling, spiral walk of tipsiness.

Corkscrews, subs. pl. (general).—Very stiff and formal curls, once called bottle-screws.

1890. Notes and Queries, 5 April. Bottle-screws—Dr. Murray has this word in the N.E.D. as obsolete, meaning cork-screws, as we now call them.

Corky, adj. (colloquial).—Sprightly; lively. [An allusion to the buoyancy of a cork.] Shakspeare uses it in King Lear, iii., 7. Com., ‘Bind fast his corky arms’; but with him (1605) it = ‘withered.’

Corn, subs. (American).—1. Food; sustenance; grub. [A figurative usage of the legitimate word.]

1870. Green Bay (Wis.) Gaz., Oct. I therefore take thus to forewarn You not to trust her with a straw, For I will never pay her corn Unless compelled to by the law.

2. (American).—An abbreviated form of corn-juice (q.v.), i.e., whiskey.

1843. John S. Robb. ‘The Standing Candidate.’ ‘Ef you war a babby, just new born, ’Twould do you good this juicy corn!’ [185]

To acknowledge the corn, phr. (American).—See Acknowledge, and the following quote:

1846. New York Herald, 27 June. The Evening Mirror very naïvely comes out and acknowledges the corn, admits that a demand was made, etc.

Corned, ppl. adj. (common).—1. Drunk. [Hotten: ‘possibly from soaking or pickling oneself like salt-beef.’ Barrère: ‘almost beyond doubt … an Americanism from corn, a very common name for whisky.’ Both are wrong; the verb ‘to corn’ is a common provincialism and Scotticism signifying ‘to be drunk.’] For synonyms, see Screwed.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1808. Jamieson, Etymolog. Dict. Scottish Lang. The lads are weel corned.

1835. Haliburton, The Clockmaker, p. 257 (ed. 1862). ‘I was pretty well corned thet arternoon, but still I knew what I was about.’

2. (sailors’).—Pleased.

Corner, subs. (colloquial).—1.—See verbal sense.

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 309. Mr. Bill Greyson thought it much more likely that a syndicate of bookmakers had plotted to make a good thing out of the horse by working him in the betting-market like any other corner on the Stock Exchange.

2. (sporting).—Tattersall’s Subscription Rooms once situate at the top of Grosvenor Place, near Hyde Park Corner; now removed to Albert Gate, but still known by the old nickname.

1848. W. M. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. x. He is a regular attendant at the corner, where he compiles a limited but comfortable libretto.

1874. G. A. Lawrence, Hagarene, ch. v. She heard how—without anticipating the stable commission, or making any demonstration at the corner—the cream of the long odds against the Pirate had been skimmed.

3. (sporting).—Short for Tattenham Corner, a crucial point on the Derby course on Epsom Downs.

4. (thieves’).—A share; an opportunity of ‘standing in’ for the proceeds of a robbery.

Verb (colloquial).—To get control of a stock or commodity and so monopolize the market; applied to persons, to drive or force into a position of difficulty or surrender, e.g., in an argument. [Probably American, being a simple extension of the legitimate meaning of the word to drive or force into a corner or place from which there is no means of escape.] French equivalents are être en fine pégrène, and se mettre sur les fonts de baptême. Tailors speak of a man as cornered who has pawned work entrusted to him, and cannot redeem it. Also used as a ppl. adj.

1848. Lowell, Fable for Critics, p. 24. Such [books] as Crusoe might dip in, altho’ there are few so Outrageously cornered by fate as poor Crusoe.

1851. Hawthorne, House of Seven Gables, ch. v. A recluse, like Hepzibah, usually displays remarkable frankness, and at least temporary affability, on being absolutely cornered, and brought to the point of personal intercourse.

1883. Graphic, April 21, p. 406, col. 2. Chief member of a ring which has cornered colza oil this winter to such an extent that the price has been very considerably enhanced during the last few months.

To be round the corner, verbal phr. (common).—To get round or ahead of one’s fellows [186]by dishonest cuts, doublings, twists, and turns. For synonyms, see Knowing.

To turn the corner, phr. (common).—To get over the worst; to begin to mend in health or fortune.

To be cornered, verbal phr. (common).—To be in a ‘fix.’ Fr., être dans le lac.

Corner-Man or Cove, subs. (common).—1. A loafer; literally a lounger at corners.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 445. I mean by corner-coves them sort of men who is always a standing at the corners of the streets and chaffing respectable folks a-passing by!

1885. Chamb. Journal, Feb. 28, p. 136. Curley Bond was well known in the district as a loafer and corner-man.

2. (music hall).—The ‘Bones’ and ‘Tambourine’ in a band of negro minstrels.

Corn In Egypt, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Plenty of all kinds. [Biblical.]

Cornish Duck, subs. (trade).—A pilchard. Cf., Yarmouth capon.

Corn-Juice, subs. (American).—Whiskey. For synonyms, see Drinks.

1888. Detroit Free Press, May. … Don’t be for ever loafing whar the corn-juice flows.

Cornstalk, subs. (Australian).—Generic for persons of European descent, but especially applied to girls. The children of Anglo-Australians are generally taller and slighter in build than their parents. Originally a native of New South Wales; now general. Cf., Bananalander.

1885. Chambers’ Journal, March 21, p. 191. The stockman—a young six-foot Cornstalk (or native of New South Wales).

1887. G. L. Apperson, in All the Year Round, 30 July, p. 67, col. 2. A native of New South Wales is known as a cornstalk.

1888. Colonies and India, 14 Nov. Auld Jamie Inglis has written ‘anither buik, ye ken’ … for the delectation of the youthful Cornstalk’s mind.

Cornstealers, subs. (American).—The hands. For synonyms, see Bunch of fives and Daddle.

1835. Haliburton (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker. ‘How is you been, my old bullock?’ and he squeezed his cornstealers till the old gineral began to dance like a bear on red-hot iron.

Corny-Faced, adj. (old).—Red and pimply with drink. [From corn, to render intoxicated, + faced.]

Coroner, subs. (common).—A severe fall. [Literally a fall likely to produce a coroner’s inquest.]

Corporal, To mount a corporal and four, verbal phr. (old).—To practice masturbation.—See Frig.

Corporation, subs. (colloquial).—A protuberant stomach. For synonyms, see Bread-basket and Victualling office.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue.

1849. C. Bronté, Shirley, ch. xvi. The former, looming large in full canonicals, walking as became a beneficed priest, under the canopy of a shovel hat, with the dignity of an ample corporation.

1887. W. P. Frith, Autobiog., i., 49. Very stout men … each possessing larger corporations than are commonly seen. [187]

Corpse, subs. (sporting).—A horse in the betting for market purposes alone; otherwise a stiff’un.—See Cock, subs., sense 4.

Verb (theatrical).—1. To confuse; ‘to queer’; to blunder and so ‘put out’ one’s fellows: to spoil a scene.—See Regular corpser.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v.

1886. Graphic, April 10, p. 399. An actor who forgets his words is said to ‘stick,’ or be ‘corpsed.’

1886. Cornhill Mag., Oct., p. 436. He expressed a hope that Miss Tudor ‘wouldn’t corpse his business’ over the forge-door again that evening.

2. (common).—To kill (literally to make a corpse of one). A Fr. equivalent is parler sur quelqu’un. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.

1884. Editor of Notes and Queries [in ‘Answers to Correspondents’ (6 S., ix., 120), says that]. ‘To corpse … is one of many customary and coarse ways of menacing the infliction of death. It is horribly familiar in London.’

1887. W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, Act 4. Moore. And is he thundering well corpsed?… Then damme, I don’t mind swinging.

Corpse-Provider, subs. (common).—A doctor or physician. For synonyms, see Crocus.

Corpse Reviver, subs. phr. (American).—A mixed drink.—See Drinks.

1871. Birmingham Daily Post, 22 Dec. And our American refreshment bars, In drinks of all descriptions cut a dash, From corpse revivers down to ‘brandy smash.’

1883. Daily Telegraph, March 8, p. 7, col. 1. In winter the dash into the open air or the standing for a few minutes in a line of comrades will certainly enhance the joys of the English equivalents for the Yankee corpse reviver.

Correct or K’rect Card.—See Card.

Corroboree, subs. (Australian).—A disturbance. [Properly a tremendous native dance.]

Verb.—To boil.—See preceding.

Corsican, subs. (sporting).—Something out of the common; a ‘buster.’ [A ‘Burnandism.’]

1889. Polytechnic Mag., 18 April, p. 232, col. 2. This heat was a Corsican.

Corybungus, subs. (pugilistic).—The posteriors.—See Blind cheeks, Bum, and Monocular eye glass.

Cosh, subs. (popular and thieves’).—A ‘neddy’; a life-preserver; a short, loaded bludgeon. Also a policeman’s truncheon.

Cosouse.—See Come Souse.

Cossack, subs. (common).—A policeman. For synonyms, see Beak and Copper.

1886. Graphic, Jan. 30, p. 130, col. 1. A policeman is also called a ‘cossack,’ a ‘Philistine,’ and a ‘frog.’

Costard, subs. (old).—The head. [Properly an apple.] For synonyms, see Crumpet.

1534. N. Udall, Roister Doister, III., v., p. 58 (Arber). I knocke youre costarde if ye offer to strike me.

1605. Shakspeare, King Lear, Act iv. Sc. 6. Edg. … Nay, come not near th’ old man; keep out, che vor ye, or ise try whether your costard or my bat be the harder.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, Costard, the head; a kind of opprobrious word, used by way of contempt, probably alluding to a costard apple. [188]

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. xii. ‘It’s hard I should get raps over the costard.’

Cotch, verb (vulgar).—To catch. [A corruption.] Also ppl. adj., cotched.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., Oct. 12, p. 5, col. 2. Taken before some French beak whom he did not know, and an interpreter brought, the cotched culprit was made to pay 20 f.

Cots, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot. [A corruption of ‘cotton.’]

1810. Charles Lamb, Recollections of Christ’s Hospital [1835], p. 24. The Cots, or superior Shoe Strings of the Monitors.

Cotsold or Cotswold Lion, subs. phr. (old).—A sheep. Mentioned by Ray in his proverbs. For synonyms, see Wool-bird.

1615. Harington, Epigrams, bk. III., ep. 18. Lo then the mystery from whence the name Of Cotsold lyons first to England came.

Cotton-Lord or King, subs. (common).—A wealthy cotton manufacturer.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xix. ‘But, Mr. Fulsby [a Manchester man], the country will never … do away with the army because you cotton lords consider it unnecessary.’

Cottonopolis, subs. (general).—Manchester. [In allusion to the staple.] Cf., Albertopolis, Cubitopolis, Hygeiapolis.

1884. Echo, May 12, p. 4, col. 2. For the big race [Manchester Cup] at Cottonopolis a fine lot are let in.

Cottons, subs. (Stock Exchange).—Confederate Bonds. [From the staple of the Southern States.]

Cotton To, verb (common).—To take a fancy to; to unite with; to agree with. In the last sense it is found occasionally in the Elizabethan writers, and is American by survival. [As regards derivation, it comes from the Welsh cytuno, to agree, to consent.]

Some French analogues are:—Avoir un béguin pour quelqu’un and avoir un pépin pour une femme; one who cottons to another is by students called un colleur; while concubinage by sheer force of habit is damned as le collage.

1582. Stanyhurst, Virgil, p. 19 (Arber). If this geare cotten, what wight wyl yeelde to myn aulters Bright honor and Sacrifice.

1605. Play of Stucley, I., 290. John a Nokes and John a Style and I cannot cotton.

1837. Barham, I. L. (The Bagman’s Story). For when once Madam Fortune deals out her hard raps, It’s amazing to think, How one cottons to drink!

1846. Punch, vol. II., p. 12. I agree in the words of Mrs. Judy, who says, ‘My dear, I hope one day to see Peel and Cobden cotton together.’

1864. Derby Day, p. 152. ‘You stop here and cotton up to the gipsies,’ exclaimed Charley Brickwood.

1880. Ouida, Moths, ch. vii. ‘Ride? Ah! That’s a thing I don’t cotton to anyhow,’ said Miss Fuschia Leach, who had found that her talent did not lie that way.

To die with cotton in one’s ears, phr. (obsolete).—See quots.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry (ed. 1890), p. 92. Many of the most hardened and desperate offenders, from the kindness, attention, and soothing conduct of the Rev. Mr. Cotton [the chaplain at Newgate, 1821], who is indefatigable in administering consolation to their troubled minds, have become the most sincere penitents.

1864. Athenæum, 29 Oct., No. 1931. Rev. of Sl. Dict. When a late chaplain [189]of Newgate [Rev. Mr. Cotton] used to attend poor wretches to the scaffold, standing by their side to the last moment, they were said to ‘die with cotton in their ears!’ Let us add here, that Rowe invented the phrase ‘launched into eternity,’ to signify the simple but solemn matter of hanging.

This was by no means the only instance of a popular punning allusion to the name of Cotton. The Jesuit Father Coton, having obtained a great ascendency over Henri IV., it was remarked by that monarch’s subjects that, unfortunately, ‘his ears were stuffed with cotton.’

Cotton-Top, subs. (obsolete).—A woman loose in fact, but keeping up some sort of appearance. [In allusion to cotton stockings with silk feet.]

Couch a Hogshead, verbal phr. (old).—To lie down and sleep. [Couch, to lie down, was in common use in Shakspeare’s time (Merry Wives of Windsor, v., 2). Hogshead = the head.]—See, however, quot., 1610, and for synonyms, see Balmy.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. To couch a hogshead: to ly downe and slepe. Ibid, I couched a hogshead in a skypper this darkemans.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Cowch a hogshead: to lie doune and sleepe; this phrase is like an Alminacke that is out of date: now the duch word to slope is with them vsed, to sleepe, and liggen, to lie downe.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. iv., p. 37 (1874). The fumes of drink had now ascended into their brain, wherefore they coucht a hogs-head, and went to sleep.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, ch. xxx. ‘We’ll couch a hogshead, and so better had you.’ They retired to repose, accordingly.

Councillor of The Pipowder Court, subs. (old).—A pettifogging lawyer. [The Pipowder Court was one held at fairs, where justice was done to any injured person before the dust of the fair was off his feet; the name being derived from the French pié poudré. Some, however, think that it had its origin in pied-pouldreux, a pedlar, and signifies a pedlars’ court.

Council-of-Ten, subs. phr. (common).—The toes of a man who walks duck-footed (q.v.). Cf., Ten commandments. Fr., arpions.

Counsellor, subs. (Irish).—A barrister. Fr., un gerbier.

1889. Answers, 9 Feb. I referred him to my solicitors, who very kindly lent their services for nothing, giving the £3 he had to the counsellor (thieves always call barristers counsellors) employed.

Count, subs. (common).—A man of fashion; a swell.—See quot., 1883, and Dandy for synonyms.

1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 6 p.m., par. 20. Tremendous counts are the clerks in the secretary’s office, jaunty bureaucrats, who ride upon park hacks, and are ‘come for’ by ringlets in broughams at closing time.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Ill. London News, April 21, p. 379, col. 2. Fops flourished before my time, but I can remember the ‘dandy,’ who was superseded by the count, the ‘toff,’ and other varieties of the ‘swell.’

Counter, verb (pugilistic).—To strike while parrying. Also used as a verbal subs., countering. Figuratively, to oppose; to circumvent.

1853. C. Bede, Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 106. His kissing traps countered, his ribs roasted. [190]

1857. O. W. Holmes, Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, ch. vii. He will certainly knock the little man’s head off, if he strikes him. Feinting, dodging, stopping, hitting, countering—little man’s head not off yet.

1871. Daily News, 17 April, p. 2, col. 2. The Jockey Club met on Wednesday last, when they countered the Hunt Committee … by refusing to father the said ‘wrangling stakes’ by a majority of eleven to three.

1873. Conservative, 15 Feb. If ‘The Druid’ is the prettier sparrer, ‘The Ædile’ must be admitted to have shown unexpected powers of countering, and has stood up gamely to his bigger opponent.

Another lie nailed to the counter.—See Another.

Counterfeit-Cranke, subs. (old).—Explained in quots.—See Cranke.

1567. Harman, Caveat. These that do counterfet the cranke be yong knaves and yonge harlots, that deeply dissemble the falling sickness.

1621. Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, p. 159. A lawyer of Bruges hath some notable examples of such counterfeit cranks. Ibid. 436. Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater.

1622. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, ii., 1. And these, what name or title e’er they bear, Jarkman, or Patrico, Cranke, or Clapper-dudgeon, Frater, or Abram-man, I speak to all That stand in fair election for the title Of king of beggars.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 39 (1874), s.v.

Counter-Jumper (or Skipper), subs. (common).—A draper’s assistant; a shopman. Fr., chevalier du mètre. For synonyms, see Knight of the yard. Also counter-jump = to act as a shop-assistant, and counter-jumping, verbal subs.

1855. C. Kingsley, Westward Ho. ‘Why,’ said he, stifling his anger, ‘it seems free enough to every counter-jumper in the town.’

1860. Guide to Eton, p. 236. They are like the young counter-jumper, mentioned by Dickens, on the outside of a coach, who lighted a great many cigars, and threw them away when he thought no one was looking.

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, II., 189. Mamma, dear, you open that gigantic wardrobe of yours, and I’ll oil my hair, whitewash my mug (a little moan from Mrs. D.), and do the counter-jumping business to the life.

1864. G. A. Sala, in Temple Bar, Dec., p. 40. He is as dextrous as a Regent Street counter-jumper in the questionable art of ‘shaving the ladies.’

1876. M. E. Braddon, Joshua Haggard, ch. viii. I don’t want my son and heir to keep company with counter jumpers.

Count-Noses, verbal phr. (parliamentary).—To count the ‘Ayes’ and ‘Noes.’ [A punning allusion to the latter.] Generally, to take the sense of any assembly.

Country, subs. (cricket).—That part of the ground at a great distance from the wicket; thus, a fielder at ‘deep-long-off,’ or ‘long-on’ is said ‘to be in the Country,’ and a ball hit to the far boundary is ‘hit into the Country.’

Country-Put, subs. (old).—An ignorant, country fellow. For synonyms, see Joskin.

1717. Mrs. Centlivre, Bold Stroke for a Wife, Act iv., Sc. 2. Col. F. Enough. Now for the country-put.

County-Crop, subs. (general).—The hair cut close to the skull; a mode once common to all prisoners, but now to convicts only. Also prison-crop. [An abbreviation of county-prison crop.] Used likewise adjectively.

1867. Jas. Greenwood, Unsent. Journeys, xxv., 199. A slangy, low-browed, [191]bull-necked, county-cropped … crew.

Couple- (also Buckle-) Beggar, subs. (old).—A celebrant of irregular marriages—as the Chaplain of the Fleet; a hedge priest. A Spanish colloquialism for such a marriage is bodijo.

1737. Swift, Proposal for Badges to the Beggars. Nay, their happiness is often deferred until they find credit to borrow, or cunning to steal, a shilling to pay their popish priest, or infamous couple-beggar.

1842. Lever, Handy Andy, ch. xxix. This was a degraded clergyman, known in Ireland under the title of Couple-Beggar, who was ready to perform irregular marriages on such urgent occasions as the present.

Couple of Shakes.—See Brace of Shakes.

Coupling-House, subs. (old).—A brothel. [From coupling, the act of copulating, + house.] For synonyms, see Nanny-shop.

Couranne.—See Caroon.

Court-Card, subs. (old).—A beau, or ‘swell.’ For synonyms, see Dandy.

Court Holy Water or Court Promises, subs. phr. (old).—Fair speeches without performance.

Cousin Betty, subs. (colloquial).—A half-witted person. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

1860. Mrs. Gaskell, Sylvia’s Lovers, ch. xiv. I dunnot think there’s a man living—or dead for that matter—as can say Foster’s wrong him of a penny, or gave short measure to a child or a cousin betty.

Cousin-Trumps, subs. (old).—One of a kind: brother smut; brother chip.

1825. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks, and worthy cousin-trumps, etc.

Couter or Cooter, subs. (common).—A sovereign. For synonyms, see Canary, sense 3. Half a couter = half-a-sovereign.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant (3 ed.), p. 444, s.v.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 243. ‘A foulcher, with flimsies and couters for a score of quid in it.’

1880. James Payn, A Confidential Agent, I., 207. ‘Well, he gave us half a couter at all events,’ pleaded John in mitigation.

Cove, Covey, Cofe, Cuffing, and, in the feminine, Covess, subs. (general).—1. A person; a companion. [Some derive cove from the Gypsy cova, covo = that man, covi = that woman; Cova, says Pott (quoted in Annandale), has a far wider application than the Latin res; there is no expression more frequent in a gypsy’s mouth. Others connect it with the north country coof; a lout or dolt.] Cove enters into many combinations: e.g.,

Cross-cove | = a robber.
Flash-cove | = a thief or swindler.
Kinchin-cove | = a little man.
Flogging-cove | = a beadle.
Smacking-cove | = a coachman.
Narry-cove | = a drunkard.
Topping-cove | = a highwayman.
Abram-cove | = a beggar.
Queer-cove | = a rogue.
Nubbing-cove | = the hangman.
Gentry-cove | = a gentleman.
Downy-cove | = a shrewd man.
Rum-cove | = a doubtful character.
Nib-cove | = a gentleman,

etc., etc., etc., all which see. [192]

English Synonyms. Boy; chap; cull; cully; customer; kiddy; homo or omee; fish; put; bloke; gloak; party; cuss; codger; buffer; gaffer; damber; duck; chip.

French Synonyms. Bête à pain (popular: literally a bread-eater; also a man who ‘keeps’ a woman); un bonhomme (familiar); un type (prostitutes’ = a dupe); un gonce, gonse or gonze, and une gonzesse (thieves’); un goncier (thieves’); un gonsalé (thieves’); un gadouille; un nière or niert; un pante (thieves’: from pantin, a puppet); un mastic (thieves’: properly cement or putty); une mazette (military); une mecque (thieves’); un marquant (thieves’: especially applied to bullies or Sunday-men); un marpaut or marpeau (old cant); un lancier (thieves’); un lascar (thieves’); un messier or messière (thieves’: from mézière, a fool); un orgue (thieves’); un gas (thieves’); un gosselin (popular = Eng. covey; une fignolé gosseline = a ‘natty piece’); un gniasse (thieves’); un loncegue (thieves’).

German Synonyms. Baal (perhaps one of the most comprehensive terms in the Gaunersprache, and signifying not only a ‘cove’ [i.e., an individual], but also a master, husband, possessor, artist, expert, artisan—in fact, one owning or capable of anything. Combinations are Balbajis, Balbos [fem. Balboste, Balboëste] = master of the house; Baldower = a principal or leader of a gang, an adviser, the creator of opportunities, the spy; Baleze, Baleize = an adviser, also a chief of police; Balhoche [from Baal and hocho (there)], prostitutes’ = ‘one in possession’ but removeable; Balhoche (thieves’) = one with an opportunity of theft; Balhei is merely the abbreviation or Baalhe or hei; Balmassematten [masso umattan], the business man, the leader of a gang; Balmelocho, the artisan; Balmelochestift, the artisan’s apprentice; Balplete, Balpleite, the runaway; Balschochad, any official who takes bribes; Balspiess = a common lodging-house; Balm, Balmach, Balmachan, Palm, Palmer, Palmach, Pallmack, Pallmagen = a soldier; the Hanov. has Palemachome [Palemachen, Pallemacher]; Balverschmai = an inquisitor or judge); Brooker (Hanoverian = one in trousers, from the North German Broek or Bracca, trousers); Gatscho (from the Gypsy gaxo); Isch (from the Hebrew isch).

1567. Harman, Caveat. Cofe: a person.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, in wks. (Grosart) III., 196. The word cove, or cofe, or cuffin, signifies a Man, a Fellow, etc.

1654. Witts, Recreations. As priest of the game, And prelate of the same, There’s a gentry cove here.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 12, s.v.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. x. ‘Do you see that old cove at the book-stall?’

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. ii.: [a misquotation of a far older song.] ‘The ministers talk a great deal about port, And they makes Cape wine very dear, But blow their hi’s if ever they tries, To deprive a poor cove of his beer.’

1871. Figaro, 15 April. We need hardly say that the cove in question is not a man.

[For examples of the use of Covey and Covess, see same.] [193]

2. (Up-country Australian).—The master, ‘boss,’ or ‘gaffer’ of a sheep station.

Cove of Dossing-Ken, subs. phr. (thieves’).—The landlord of a common lodging-house. Fr., marchand de sommeil.

Covent-Garden, subs. (rhyming slang).—A ‘farden’ or farthing.

Covent-Garden Abbess, subs. (old).—A procuress. [Covent Garden at one time teemed with brothels: as Fielding’s Covent Garden Tragedy (1751–2) suggests. Cf., Bankside ladies, and Barnwell ague.]—See Covent-Garden ague and Abbess. For synonyms, see Mother.

Covent-Garden Ague, subs. phr. (old).—A venereal disease. [An allusion to brothels in the neighbourhood in question.] Cf., Bankside ladies. For synonyms, see Ladies’ fever.

Covent-Garden Nun, subs. phr. (old).—A prostitute.—[See Covent-garden ague and Nun.]

Coventry. To send one to, or to be in Coventry, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To exclude from social intercourse, or notice; to be in disgrace. [Variously but indecisively explained:—(1) From Coventry Gaol, as a place of imprisonment for Royalists during the Parliamentary war. (2) From the fact that in Coventry, as elsewhere, the privilege of trading was anciently confined to certain privileged persons. (3) As a corruption of put or sent into quarantine, the transition from ‘Coventry’ formerly pronounced and written Cointrie—(‘his breech of Cointrie blewe.’ Drayton’s Dowsabell: 1593)—being easy and natural, in which connection, see quot., 1821. The expression appears first in Grose, but ‘Quarantine’ used analogically is found in Swift.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1821. Croker, in Croker Papers, vol. I., p. 203. I found MacMahon in a kind of Coventry, and was warned not to continue my acquaintance with him.

1838. Lytton, Alice, bk. IV., ch. iii. ‘If any one dares to buy it, we’ll send him to Coventry.’

1869. Spencer, Study of Sociology, ch. x., p. 244 (9 ed.). The skilful artizan, who in a given period can do more than his fellows, but who dares not do it because he would be sent to Coventry by them.

1872. Post, 21 June. Another representation on behalf of Lieutenant Tribe, of the 9th Lancers, now for some months past in Coventry, will be made in the course of a few days to the Minister for War and to his Royal Highness Commanding-in-Chief.

Cover, subs. (thieves’).—A pickpocket’s confederate: one who ‘fronts,’ i.e., distracts the attention of, the victim; a stall (q.v.).

Verb (thieves’).—1. To act as a pickpocket’s confederate.

1868. Glasgow Gazette, 13 Nov. ‘A Sensitive Thief.’ I saw Merritt lift up the tail of a gentleman’s coat and thrust his hand into the pocket.… Jordan and O’Brien were covering Merritt while so acting. I knew them all to be regular thieves.

2. (American).—To drink. For synonyms, see Lush.

3. (venery).—To ‘have’ or ‘possess’ a woman. [Properly used of a stallion and a mare.]

1653. Urquhart, Translation of Rabelais. Madam, it would be a very great benefit to the commonwealth, delightful to you, honourable to your progeny, and necessary for me, that I cover you for the propagating of my race. [194]

Cover-arse Gown, subs. phr. (Univ., obsolete).—A gown without sleeves.

1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.

Cover-Down, subs. (thieves’).—An obsolete term for a false tossing coin.—See Cap.

Cover-Me-Decently, verbal phr. (old).—A coat. For synonyms, see Capella.

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, p. 5. (Dicks’ ed., 1889.) Tom. This, what do you call it?—this cover-me-decently, was all very well at Hawthorn Hall, I daresay.

Covess, subs. (old).—A woman.—See Cove.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 144. He was well acquainted with the cove and covess.

1827. Sir E. B. Lytton, Pelham, p. 310 (ed. 1864). Ah, Bess my covess, strike me blind if my sees don’t tout your bingo muns in spite of the darkmans.

Covey, subs. (common).—A man; a diminutive of cove (q.v.).

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Tom. Well there’s a flimsy for you; serve the change out in max to the covies.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. viii. Upon this, the boy crossed over; and, walking close up to Oliver, said, ‘Hullo, my covey! what’s the row?’

1854. Aytoun and Martin, The Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘The Laureate’s Tourney.’ ‘Undo the helmet! cut the lace! pour water on his head!’ ‘It ain’t no use at all, my lord; ’cos vy? the covey’s dead.’

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 19. Ah! Ah! you half-starved, hungry, ugly-looking covey, why, if they had you in the country where I came from they’d boil you down for the pigs.

Cow, subs. (old).—1. A woman. The term is now opprobrious; but in its primary and natural sense the usage is ancient. Howell [1659] says: ‘There are some proverbs that carry a kind of authority with them, as that which began in Henrie the Fourth’s time. “He that bulls the cow must keep the calf.” ’ For synonyms, see Petticoat.

2. (general).—A prostitute. [By analogy from sense 1.] Fr., une vache. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

3. (sporting).—A thousand pounds. Other slang terms for sums of money are:—

Pony | = £25.
Century | = £100.
Monkey | = £500.
Plum | = £100,000.
Marigold | = £1,000,000.

but for complete list, see Monkey.

1870. Athenæum, 10 Sept. ‘Liverpool.’ All over Lancashire a horse is called a cow, which everywhere else where slang prevails is a cant term for a thousand pounds.

To talk the hind leg off a cow or dog.—See Talk.

Tune the cow died of.—See Tune.

Cowan, subs. (common).—A sneak or prying individual. Among masons the uninitiate in general.

Cow-and-Calf, verb (rhyming slang).—To laugh.

Coward’s-Castle or Corner, subs. phr. (popular).—A pulpit. [Because a clergyman may deliver himself therefrom without fear of contradiction or argument.] For synonyms, see Hum-box.

1883. Notes and Queries, 6 S., viii., p. 147. Coward’s Castle.… An epithet … in use not inaptly for a [195]pulpit. Ibid. p. 238. I have often heard the pulpit called the Coward’s Castle, it being said to be ‘six feet above argument.’

Cowcumber, subs. (vulgar).—A corruption of ‘cucumber.’

1821. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Bob. Very vell, two pound, vith a pickled cowcumber, and a pen’orth o’ ketchup.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxv. In case there should be such a thing as a cowcumber in the house will you be so kind as bring it, for I’m rayther partial to ’em myself, and they does a world of good in a sick room.

Cow- (also Bushel- and Sluice-) Cunted, adj. phr. (venery).—term of opprobrium applied to women deformed by parturition or debauchery.

Cow-Grease or Cow-Oil, subs. (common).—Butter. For synonyms, see Cart-grease.

Cow-Juice, subs. (popular).—Milk. Cf., Bung-juice and Cow-grease. For synonyms, see Sky-blue.

Cow-Lick, subs. (common).—A peculiar lock of hair, greased, curled, brought forward from the ear, and plastered on the cheek. Once common amongst costermongers and tramps. For synonyms, see Aggerawators.

Cow-Oil.—See Cow-grease.

Cow-Puncher, subs. (American).—A cowboy or herdsman.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 21 July. He was a cowboy, or, in Western parlance, a cow-puncher.

Cow-Quake, subs. (Irish).—The roar of a bull.

Cows-and-Kisses, subs. (rhyming slang).—The ‘missus,’ or mistress; also women generally.

1887. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. Come, cows-and-kisses, put the battle of the Nile on your Barnet fair, and a rogue and villain in your sky-rocket.

Cow’s-Baby or Babe, subs. (common).—A calf. In Old Cant bleating-cheat (q.v.). For synonyms, see Mooer; Cf., Cow-juice and Cow’s-spouse. Also a poltroon; Fr., un fouinard, un fouetteux de chats, un fouailleur, un foie, un flemard or flaquadin, or un frileux.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Cow-Shooter, subs. (Winchester College).—A ‘deerstalker’ hat: only worn by præfects and ‘candle-keepers.’

Cow’s-Spouse, subs. (old).—A bull.—Grose [1785].

Cow With the Iron Tail, subs. phr. (general).—A pump; the source of the ‘cooling medium’ for ‘regulating’ milk. Thus, Dr. Wendell Holmes, in The Professor at the Breakfast Table (1860):—It is a common saying of a jockey that he is all horse, and I have often fancied that milkmen get a stiff upright carriage, and an angular movement that reminds one of a pump and the working of a handle. Also black-cow; one-armed man; and Simpson’s cow (q.v.).

1867. Punch. The Rinderpest does not affect the cow with the iron tail.

1872. Standard, 25 Dec. Simpson … is, however, universally accepted as the title for that combined product of the Cow natural, and the cow with the iron tail. [196]

1876. Once a Week, 23 August. Every drop of milk brought into Paris is tested at the barriers by the lactometer, to see if the iron tailed cow has been guilty of diluting it; if so, the whole of it is remorselessly thrown into the gutter—the Paris milk is very pure in consequence.

Coxy, adj. (public schools’).—Stuck up; conceited; impudent.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 202. He’s the coxiest young blackguard in the house—I always told you so. Ibid, p. 214. ‘Confoundly coxy those young rascals will get if we don’t mind,’ was the general feeling.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice Versâ, ch. iv. ‘Now then young Bultitude, you used to be a decent fellow enough last term, though you were coxy. So, before we go any further—what do you mean by this sort of thing?’

Coyduck, verb (old).—To decoy. [An ingenious blend of conduct and decoy.]

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.

Coyote, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Cozza, subs. (cheap Jacks’).—See quot.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. p. 28. Mo … declared he would never eat another bit of cozza, i.e., pork, as long as he lived.

Crab, subs. (auction).—The same as bonnet (q.v.), subs., sense 1.

Verb (thieves’).—To expose; to inform; to offend or insult; and especially to interrupt, to get in the way of, to spoil. [Properly to render harsh, sour, or peevish; to make crabbed.] Also used adjectively. For synonyms, see Peach and Rile, respectively.

1825. The English Spy, vol. I., p. 179. Liveryman, Eglantine. What coming crabb over us, old fellow? Very well, I shall bolt and try Randall, and that’s all about it.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. If a patterer has been crabbed, that is offended at any of the ‘cribs’ (houses), he mostly chalks a signal on or near the door. Ibid, vol. II., p. 568. ‘We don’t crab one another when we are sweeping; if we was to crab one another, we’d get to fighting and giving slaps of the jaw to one another.’

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, pp. 5–6. Others, however, would be what we termed crabbed.

1880. Millikin, Punch’s Almanack. Crab your enemies,—I’ve got a many, You can pot ’em proper for a penny.

To catch a crab; also to cut a crab; to catch or cut a cancer or lobster, verbal phr. (common).—There are various ways of catching a crab, as, for example, (1) to turn the blade of the oar or ‘feather’ under water at the end of the stroke, and thus be unable to recover; (2) to lose control of the oar at the middle of the stroke by ‘digging’ too deeply; or (3) to miss the water altogether.

Crab Louse, subs. (old).—The pulex pubis, the male whereof is called a cock, the female a hen.—Grose [1785].

Crabs, subs. (thieves’).—1. The feet. [A punning comparison of the feet and ten toes to the ten-footed, short-tailed crustaceans popularly known as ‘crabs.’] For synonyms, see Creepers. In Haggart (see Glossary, 1821) crabs = shoes. [197]

2. (old).—Lice. For synonyms, see Chates, sense 2.

3. (gaming).—A pair of aces, or deuce-ace—the lowest throw at hazard.

1768. Lord Carlisle, in Jesse’s Selwyn, II., 238 (1882). I hope you have left off hazard. If you are still so foolish, and will play, the best thing I can wish you is, that you may win and never throw crabs.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Hard Times), p. 4, ed. 1851. Well, we know in these cases Your crabs and ‘Deuce Aces’ Are wont to promote frequent changes of places.

1874. G. A. Lawrence, Hagarene, ch. iii. ‘My annuity drops with me; and if this throw comes off crabs, there won’t be enough to bury me, unless I die a defaulter.’

To turn out crabs or a case of crabs, verbal phr. (common).—A matter turns out crabs when it is brought to a disagreeable conclusion. [Cf., Crab, verb, in the sense of to interrupt; to get in the way of; to spoil.]

Crabshells, subs. (popular).—Shoes. [From crabs, subs., sense 1 (q.v.), + shells, an outer covering.] For synonyms, see Trotter-cases.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 210, ‘Now these ’ere shoes,’ he said … ‘even now, with a little mending, they’ll make a tidy pair of crab-shells again.’

1889. Answers, July 20, p. 121, col. 2. The state of my crabshells, or boots, pointed to the fact that I had come down in the world.

Crack, subs. (old).—A crazy person, or soft-head. [From crack = to impair, or to be impaired.] For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, in wks. (Grosart) III., 212. A Foyst nor a Nip shall not walke into a Fayre or a Play-house, but euerie cracke will cry looke to your purses.

b. 1672, d. 1719. Addison (quoted in Annandale). I cannot get the Parliament to listen to me, who look upon me as a crack.

2. (old).—A prostitute, see sense 4. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, Act v., Sc. 3. You imagine I have got your whore, cousin, your crack.

1705–7. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. II., p. 27. Old Leachers, Harridans, and Cracks.

1715. Vanbrugh, Country House, II., v. For you must know my sister was with me, and it seems he took her for a crack, and I being a forward boy he fancied I was going to make love to her under a hedge, ha, ha.

1748. T. Dyce, Dictionary (5 ed.), s.v.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vul. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

3. (old).—A lie. Cf., Cracker (the modern form), and for synonyms, see Whopper.

1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act ii. Miss N. There’s something generous in my cousin’s manner. He falls out before faces to be forgiven in private. Tony. That’s a damned confounded crack.

4. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

5. (thieves’).—A burglary. Cf., Crack a crib, and for synonyms, see Panny. [The term originated about the beginning of the present century. Fr., une fraction.]

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood p. 120 (ed. 1864). We’ll overhaul the swag here, when the speak is spoken over. This crack may make us all for life. [198]

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, p. 124. The crack failed, said Toby, faintly.

1841. G. W. Reynolds, Pickwick Abroad, ch. xxvi. But should the traps be on the sly, For a change we’ll have a crack.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. 5. Come on, then! A sweet ride of a dozen miles, just to cool one’s head, then for the crack; and then back to London.

1889. Answers, 13 April, p. 313. Such inscriptions as ‘Poor Joe from the Dials in for a crack,’ meaning ‘Poor Joe from Seven Dials in for a burglary,’ are numerous.

6. (thieves’).—A burglar. [See sense 5, and cf., Cracksman.]

1749. Life of Bampfylde-Moore Carew. Suffer none, from far or near, With their rights to interfere; No strange Abram, ruffler crack.

1857. Punch, 31 Jan. (from slang song). That long over Newgit their Worships may rule, As the High-toby, mob, crack, and screeve model school.

7. (colloquial).—An approach to perfection. Cf., sense 8.

1825. English Spy, p. 255. Most noble cracks and worthy cousin trumps, permit me to introduce a brother of the togati.

1864. Glasgow Herald, 5 April. ‘Report of R. N. Y. Club.’ This vessel (one of Fyfe’s cracks) being almost new, and coppered, will be free from the objectionable fouling which is so great a drawback to the use of iron yachts.

1871. London Figaro, 17 Oct. Does it mean that the crack is a thing of the past, and that the learned author is no longer to be considered as a crack?

1889. Answers, March 23, p. 265, col. 3. Warders are not, thank goodness, first-rate shots, but even a crack would find it difficult to hit a man’s head appearing for only a moment or two in probably a heavy fog.

8. (turf).—A racehorse eminent for speed. Hunting: a famous ‘mount.’ [An extension of the usage in sense 7.]

1853. Diogenes, II., 271. ‘The Betting Boy’s Lament.’ Cesarewitch, Cambridgeshire now No longer for me have a charm; the cracks may be ranged in a row, But for me they’ve no fear nor alarm.

1864. Derby Day, p. 38. Sir Bridges Sinclair would not scratch a horse—no, not if it was ever so, let alone a Derby crack.

1871. Standard, 6 Nov. Unlimited gossip as to the welfare and chances of forthcoming cracks.

1883. The Echo, Feb. 7, p. 3, col. 6. I give below a few of the probable starters for the Waterloo Cup, including all the cracks.

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 155. Of course he was au courant with all the rumours concerning the Panton Lodge crack.

9. (vagrants’).—Dry firewood.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 358. The next process is to look for some crack (some dry wood to light a fire).

Adj. (colloquial).—Approaching perfection; used in a multitude or combinations. A crack hand is an adept or ‘dabster’; a crack corps, a brilliant regiment; a crack whip, a good coachman; etc. As a connecting link between the adjective and the earlier use of crack, cf., The crack.

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.

1839. Thackeray, Fatal Boots (July). And such a crack-shot myself, that fellows were shy of insulting me.

1859. Whitty, Political Portraits, p. 106. But he [the Earl of Shaftesbury] has insisted on a recognition of the facts of our appalling civilisation, and that was a good deal to do, which none other than a Peer and crack Christian could hope to do. Ibid, p. 288. The whippers-in will never receive instructions to find the addresses of the brilliances of Union debating clubs, bar messes, and crack newspapers.

1865. M. E. Braddon, Henry Dunbar, ch. xx. Who was moreover a crack shot, a reckless cross-country-going rider, and a very tolerable amateur artist. [199]

Verb (old).—1. To talk to; to boast. [The verb was once good English, and in the sense of to talk or gossip is still good Scots. The modern form to crack-up, is well within the borderland between literary and colloquial English. The following quots., together with those under crack-up, form an unbroken series].

1597. G. Harvey, Trimming of Nashe, in wks. (Grosart) III., 31. So you may cracke your selfe abroad, and get to be reported the man you are not.

1621. Burton, Anat. of Mel., I., II., III., xiv., 199, (1876). Your very tradesmen, if they be excellent, will crack and brag, and show their folly in excess.

1654. Witts, Recreations. And let them that crack In the praises of sack, Know malt is of mickle might.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (thieves’).—To force open; to commit a burglary. [A shorter form of crack a crib (q.v.)]

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xix. The crib’s barred up at night like a jail; but there’s one part we can crack, safe and softly.

3. (American thieves’).—To forge or utter worthless paper. [An extension by analogy of ‘to crack,’ i.e., ‘to force,’ and ‘cracksman,’ a burglar.]

4. (colloquial).—To fall to ruin; to be impaired. Cf., subs., sense 1.

b. 1631. d. 1701. Dryden [quoted in Annandale]. The credit of the exchequer cracks when little comes in and much goes out.

5. (thieves’).—To inform; to peach (q.v. for synonyms).

c. 1850, but date uncertain. Broadside Ballad, ‘Bates’ Farm.’ I mean to crack a crib to-night, but pals don’t crack on me.

To crack a bottle or a quart, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To drink. Analogous and equally old is ‘to crush a cup.’ Fr., étouffer une négresse or un enfant de chœur. For synonyms, see Lush.

1598. Shakspeare, II. Henry IV., v., 3, 66. Shal. By the mass, you’ll crack a quart together.

1711. Spectator. No. 234. He hems after him in the public street, and they must crack a bottle at the next tavern.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VIII., ch. vii. ‘What,’ says the wife, ‘you have been tippling with the gentleman! I see.’ ‘Yes,’ answered the husband, ‘we have cracked a bottle together.’

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. viii. ‘You have cracked my silver-mounted cocoa-nut of sack, and tell me that you cannot sing!’

1853. Thackeray, Barry Lyndon, ch. xvii., p. 221. ‘I chose to invite the landlords of the ‘Bell’ and the ‘Lion’ to crack a bottle with me.’

To crack a crib, swag, or ken, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To commit a burglary; to break into a house. [From crack, to force open, + crib, a house.]

English Synonyms. To stamp a ken or crib; to work a panny; to jump a house (also applied to simple robbery without burglary); to do a crack; to practice the black art; to screw; to bust a crib; to flimp; to buz; to tool; to wire; to do a ken-crack-lay.

French Synonyms. Faire un cassement de porte (thieves’); faire une condition (thieves’); faire copeaux (thieves’: in allusion to the splinters from a forced door); écorner une boutanche or un boucard (thieves’ = to enter shops burglariously); faire un vol à l’esquinte (thieves’); [200]maquiller une cambriole (thieves’: maquiller = to do, to ‘fake’—an almost universal verb of action); faire fric-frac; nettoyer un bocart (thieves’).

German Synonyms. Aufnollen (to ‘burgle’ with skeleton keys); aufplatzen (literally ‘to wrench’ or ‘break open’); aufschränken (schränken [from Schranke, O.H.G. screnchan, M.H.G. schranne, schrange, schrand] = a burglary with violence. Schränker = burglar. Up to the middle of the present century burglars used to be called Schränker a zierlicher; Schränkmassematten = a burglary with violence; Schränkzeug, Schränkschaure, Schränkschurrich = burglars’ tools); blaupfeifen (Viennese thieves’); Cassne handeln or melochenen (to commit burglary with open violence); einen Massematten handeln (Massematten is a word whose Hebraic components very nearly correspond to the English ‘debit and credit’; it signifies commerce and activity—of the kind that pertains to cracksmanship; e.g., einen Massematten baldowern, to make an opportunity for theft; einen Massematten stehen haben, to have ‘dead-lurked’ a crib, or prepared a burglary; Massematten bekoach, a burglary with violence.)

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 297, ed. 1854. And you ‘members as now I met Harry and you—there, and I vas all afeard at you—cause vy? I had never seen you afore and ve vas a going to crack a swell’s crib.’

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. 5. Jer. Now comes the grand spec; we go to crack a ken; Kit’s in, so’s the captain. Steady’s the word; I go first, you all follow.

1871. Standard, 26 Dec. If their pals outside, the gentry who hocus Jack ashore in the east, pick the pockets of Lord Dundreary in the west, and crack cribs in the lonely outskirts could only realise how miserable the Christmas-day was for them, we might look out for a needful retrenchment in the estimates of penal expenditure.

1871. Morning Advertiser, 11 May. ‘Leader.’ He took to burglary, employing professional burglars to assist him, whenever it became necessary to crack a crib.

1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip. Dead-lurk a crib, or do a crack.

To crack a judy (or her tea cup), verb. phr. (common).—To deflower a maid.

To crack a crust, phr. (common).—To rub along in the world. A superlative for doing very well is, To crack a tidy crust.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 445. I am now just managing to crack an honest crust; and while I can do that I will never thieve more.

To crack a ken, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To commit a burglary; to crack a crib (q.v.).—[See Crack, verb, sense 2 and Ken.]

To crack a whid, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To talk. [Whid (q.v.) = a word: Old Cant.] Cf., Cut, verb, sense 1. For synonyms, see Patter.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 22. The whids as the words or set phrases used by Cheap Johns in disposing of their articles are called are very much alike … many little circumstances occur when they (the whids) are being cracked which are lost to a reader.

To crack on, verb. phr. (common).—To ‘put on speed’; increase one’s pace.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xi. ‘I shot a wild goose at River Philip last year, with the rice of Varginny fresh in his crop; he must have cracked on near about as fast as them other geese, the British travellers.’ [201]

1876. Broadside Ballad [quoted in C. G. Leland’s Captain Jonas]. We carried away the royal yards, and the stuns’le boom was gone. Says the skipper, ‘they may go or stand, I’m darned if I don’t crack on.’

To crack up, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To praise; eulogize. A superlative is to crack up to the nines. Fr., faire l’article, (commercial travellers’) and faire son boniment or son petit boniment (cheap jacks’ and showmen’s).

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit. Ch. 33 … We must be cracked up, said Mr. Chollop, darkly.

1856. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, p. 139. Then don’t object to my cracking up the old school house, Rugby.

1878. Jas. Payn, By Proxy, ch. i. ‘We find them cracking up the country they belong to, no matter how absurd may be the boast.’

The crack, or all the crack, phr. (general).—The go (q.v.); ‘the thing’; the ‘kick’; the general craze of the moment.

In a crack, phr. (colloquial).—Instantaneously; in the twinkling of an eye. For synonyms, see Bedpost.

1725. Ramsay, Gentle Shepherd, Act i. I trow, when that she saw, within a crack, She came with a right thieveless errand back.

1763. Foote, Mayor of Garrett, Act i. Nic Goose, the taylor, from Putney, they say, will be here in a crack.

1819. Byron, Don Juan, ch. i., st. 135. ‘They’re on the stair just now, and in a crack will all be here.’

1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 136. In a crack the youth and maiden To a flowery bank did come.

Cracked or Cracked-Up, ppl. adj. phr. (colloquial).—1. Ruined; ‘bust up’; ‘gone to smash’ or to ‘pot.’ For synonyms, see Dead broke.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 2 [also pp. 24, 47]. If a Catholic coster,—there’s only a very few of them—is cracked up (penniless) he’s often started again, and the others have a notion that it’s through some chapel fund. Ibid, p. 22. ‘If we’re cracked up, that is, if we’re forced to go into the Union.’

1870. Britannia, June. ‘Speculation in 1870.’ Of these there only remain now 122 companies, with a capital of a hundred and eighty millions, the rest having one and all cracked up, as the Americans would say.

2. (common).—Crazy. For synonyms, see Apartments and Tile Loose.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 3 Sept. ‘Police Court Report.’ Mr. Bushby: Is her head affected? The Prisoner: Am I cracked? Of course—in the nut. You’ll be to-morrow.

3. (common).—Deflowered. Also Cracked in the Ring.

Cracker, subs. (common).—Anything approaching perfection. Used in both a good and bad sense; e.g., a rattling pace, a large sum of money, a bad fall, an enormous lie, a dandy (male or female) of the first magnitude, and so forth. [Cf., Crack, subs.; senses 3 and 7, adj., and verb, sense 1.]

1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. vi. ‘I remember … Belphegor’s year. What a cracker I stood to win on him and the Rejected!’

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, I., 28. You know the University was in a manner beaten, and he took the blame. He never cried; that was a cracker of those fellows.

1869. Daily News, Nov. 8. ‘Leader.’ Now he’s gone a cracker over head and ears.

1871. Daily News, Nov. 1. ‘Prince of Wales’ Visit to Scarborough.’ The shooting party, mounting their forest ponies, came up the straight a cracker, Lord Carrington finishing a good first. [202]

1883. Graphic, March 24, p, 303, col. 1. He [the Oxford stroke] could also depend on his own men for not falling to pieces through being taken off at a cracker.

Crackey.—See Crikey.

Crack-Halter, or Crack-Rope, subs. (old).—A vagabond; an old equivalent of jail-bird. Cf., Hemp-seed.

1566. Gascoigne, Supposes, i., 4. You crackhalter, if I catch you by the ears, I’ll make you answer directly.

1607. Dekker, Northward Hoe, IV., i. Featherstone’s boy, like an honest crack-halter, laid open all to one of my prentices.

1639. Massinger, Unnatural Combat, II., ii. Peace, you crack-rope!

1818. Scott, Heart of Midlothian, ch. xxx. ‘Hark ye, ye crack-rope padder, born-beggar, and hedge-thief,’ replied the hag.

Crack-Hunter, or Haunter, subs. (venery).—The penis. Cf., Crack, subs., sense 4. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Cracking, verbal subs. (thieves’).—House-breaking. [From crack, verb, sense 2.]

1862. Cornhill Mag., vol. VI., 651. We are going a-flimping, buzzing, cracking, tooling, etc.

Crackish, adj. (old).—Wanton, said only of women. [From crack, subs., sense 4.] Cf., Coming.

Crack-Jaw Words, Names, etc., subs. (colloquial).—Long words difficult to pronounce. [From crack, to break, + jaw, speech.] Variants are half-crown words, jaw-breakers, and cramp words.

1876. M. E. Braddon, Joshua Haggard’s Daughter, ch. vii. ‘He brings her plants with crackjaw names.’

1883. Daily Telegraph, June 25, p. 3, col. 1. ‘Some of the ways with the crack-jaw names of cooking it would give it a foreign flavour to me.’

Crackle or Crackling, subs. (University).—The velvet bars on the gowns of the Johnian ‘hogs’ (q.v.). [From their resemblance to the scored rind on roast pork.] The covered bridge between one of the courts and the grounds of John’s is called the Isthmus of Suez (Latin sus, a swine).

1885. Cuthbert Bede, in Notes and Queries, 6 S., xi., 414. The word crackle refers to the velvet bars on the students’ gowns.

Crackmans or Cragmans, subs. (old).—A hedge.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 57 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. The cull thought to have loped, by breaking through the crackmans, but we fetched him back by a nope.

Crack or Break One’s Egg, or Duck, verbal phr. (cricket).—To begin to score. [To make no run is to ‘lay, or make, a duck’s egg’; to make none in either innings is ‘to get a double-duck,’ or to come off with a pair of spectacles.]

1890. Polytechnic Magazine, 5 June, p. 367, col. 2. Watson bowled splendidly, taking 8 wickets at a very small cost, two of his foemen being unable to crack their egg.

Crack-Pot, subs. (popular).—A pretentious, worthless person. For synonyms, see Swash-Buckler.

1883. Broadside Ballad, ‘I’m Living with Mother now.’ My aunty knew lots, and called them crack-pots.

Crack-Rope.—See Crack-halter. [203]

Cracksman, subs. (popular).—1. A housebreaker. [From crack, verb, sense 2, + man; literally one who cracks or forces his way into a house.] For synonyms, see Thieves.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. The kiddy is a clever cracksman.

1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 298, ed. 1854. I have no idea of a gentleman turning cracksman.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, p. 123. You’ll be a fine young cracksman afore the old file now.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Lay of St. Aloys). Your cracksman, for instance, thinks night-time the best To break open a door or the lid of a chest.

1839. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard (1889), p. 70. I’ll turn cracksman, like my father.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 21 Nov., p. 6, col. 1. The latest dodge among cracksmen is to personate an electric-light man.

2. (common).—The penis.—See Crack, subs., sense 4.

Cradle, Altar, and Tomb Column, subs. phr. (American).—The births, marriages, and deaths column in newspaper. An English equivalent is hatch, match, and dispatch column.

Crag.—See Scrag.

Cram, subs. (popular).—1. A lie; oftentimes crammer. [The idea is that of stuffing with nonsense.] For synonyms, see Whopper.

1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 21, col. 2. It soundeth somewhat like a cram: but our honour is at stake, and we repeat the ‘mile.’

1864. Le Fanu, Uncle Silas, ch. xxxviii. ‘It is awful, an old un like that telling such crams as she do!’

1864. Quiver, 4 June. By some delicate distinction the falsehood presented itself under the guise of a cram, and not of a naked lie.

1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Good Night. You magsmen bold that work the cram.

2. (colloquial).—Hard, forced study. Resulting rather in a test of memory than of capacity.

1872. Morning Post, Oct. 15. Poor Toots, the head boy of Dr. Blimber’s academy … bloomed early and had by cram been enabled to answer any given set of questions, and to work any papers at an ‘exam.’

1872. Daily Telegraph, July 25. ‘Speech Day at King’s College School.’ Dr. Maclear also said a few words on the advantage of boys going up straight from school to college without any interval of cram.

1878. Jas. Payn, By Proxy, ch. xii. They have gained their position by cram of the philosophic kind.

3. (colloquial).—One who prepares another for an examination; a coach; a ‘grindstone.’

1861. Dutton Cook, Paul Foster’s Daughter, ch. ix. ‘I shall go to a coach, a cram, a grindstone.’

4. (University).—An adventitious aid to study; a translation; a ‘crib.’ For synonyms, see Pony.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘C. Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. II., p. 68. The infatuated Mr. Bouncer madly persisted … in going into the school clad in his examination coat, and padded over with a host of crams.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To study at high pressure for an examination. Also to prepare one for examination. Cf., Dig and Coach.

1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.

1825–27. Hone, Every-day Book, Feb. 22. Shutting my room door, as if I was ‘sported in’ and cramming Euc.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, chap. li., p. 446. ‘He crammed for it, to use a technical but expressive term; he read up for the subject, at my desire, in the Encyclopædia Britannica.’ [204]

1844. Puck, p. 13. Though for Great Go and for Small, I teach Paley, cram and all.

1872. Besant and Rice, My Little Girl. The writer of one crushing article crammed for it, like Mr. Pott’s young man.

2. (general).—To lie; to deceive, [Literally to stuff with nonsense.] For synonyms, see Stick.

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. Luckily, I crammed him so well, that at last honest Jollux tipped me the cole [money].

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xviii. A thousand ridiculous tales … with some specimens of which our friend Richie Moniplies had been crammed … by the malicious apprentice.

Crammer, subs. (general). 1. A liar; one who tells crams (q.v.). [From cram (m), a lie, + er.]

2. (common).—A lie; the same as cram, sense 1.

1861. H. C. Pennell, Puck on Pegasus, p. 17. I sucked in the obvious crammer kindly as my mother’s milk.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. xxxviii. ‘What on earth made you tell him crammers like that?’ asked Silverbridge.

c. 1884. Broadside Ballad, ‘On Monday I Met Mary Ann.’ I thought t’would last for ever and I never should be sold, Because I was so clever in the crammers that I told.

3. (general).—One who prepares men for examination; a coach, or grinder (q.v., for synonyms).

1812. Miss Edgeworth, Patronage, ch. iii. Put him into the hands of a clever grinder or crammer, and they would soon cram the necessary portion of Latin and Greek into him.

1872. Evening Standard, 16 Aug. ‘The Competition Wallah.’ The crammer follows in the wake of competitive examinations as surely as does the shadow the body.

Cramming, verbal subs. (common).—The act of studying hard for an examination. [From cram (q.v., sense 2) + ing.] American, boning.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 201, col. 1. Aspirants to honours in law, physic, or divinity, each know the value of private cramming.

1863. Charles Reade, Hard Cash, I., p. 16. ‘All this term I have been (‘training’ scratched out and another word put in: c—r oh, I know) cramming.’ ‘Cramming, love?’ ‘Yes, that is Oxfordish for studying.’

1869. Spencer, Study of Sociology, ch. xv., p. 574 (9 ed.). And here, by higher culture, I do not mean mere language-learning, and an extension of the detestable cramming system at present in use.

1872. Daily News, Dec. 20. Competitive examinations for the public service defeated in a great measure, the object of their promoters, which was to place rich and poor on an equality, because success was made to depend very largely on successful cramming, which meant a high-priced crammer.

Cramped or Crapped, ppl. adj. (old).—Hanged; also killed. For synonyms, see Ladder.

Cramping-Cull, subs. (old).—The hangman. [From the cramping of the rope, + cull, a man.] Cf., cramp rings (q.v.).

Cramp in the Hand, subs. phr. (common).—Meanness; stinginess.

Cramp-Rings, subs. (old).—Bolts; shackles; fetters. [Properly a ring of gold or silver, which after being blessed by the sovereign, was held a specific for cramp and falling-sickness.] For synonyms, see Darbies.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight [ed. Grosart, III., 203]. Straight we’re to the Cuffin Queer forced to bing; And ’cause we are poor made to scour the cramp-ring. [205]

1671. Head and Kirkman, The English Rogue, ‘Canting Song.’ Till cramprings quire, tip Cove his Hire, And Quire-ken do them catch.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Cramp-Words, subs. (old).—1. Hard, unpronounceable vocables; crackjaw words (q.v.).

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Cramp words (s.): hard, difficult, unusual or uncommon words.

1779. Mrs. Cowley, Who’s the Dupe? II., ii. I’ve been in the Dictionary this half-hour, and have picked up cramp words enough to puzzle and delight the old gentleman the remainder of his life.

1812. Coombe, Tour in S. of Picturesque, C. xxv. Who get cramp words, and cant the Muse In Magazines and in Reviews.

2 (thieves’).—Sentence of death. [A figurative usage of sense 1.]

1748. Dyche, Dict., 5 ed. Cramp-words(s) … also in the canting dialect the sentence of death pass’d by the judge upon a criminal.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. He has just undergone the cramp-word.

Cranberry-Eye, subs. (American). A blood-shot eye resulting from alcoholism.

Crank, subs. (old).—1. Sometimes cranke.—See quots. and Counterfeit crank.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 33. These that do counterfet the cranke be yong knaues and yonge harlots, that deeply dissemble the falling sicknes. For the crank in their language is the fallinge evill.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Crancke, the falling sickenesse: and thereupon your Rogues that counterfeit the falling sickenes, are called counterfeit crancks.

2. (old).—Gin and water:—Grose [1785].

3. (American).—An eccentric, a crotcheteer. [From the colloquial cranky (q.v.) = full of crotchets; crazy.] Cf., Counterfeit Crank.

1886. Florida Times Union, 22 May. I know perfectly well that I shall probably be called an old fogy, if not a crank, for presuming to think that anything in the past can be better than in the present.

1887. New York Tribune, 4 Nov. A good deal of ridicule, mostly good-natured, is showered upon the base-ball crank, as everybody persists in calling the man or woman who manifests any deep interest in the great American game.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 2 Feb. The man was evidently a crank, and said that 4,000 dollars were due him by the Government.

Adj. (nautical).—Easily upset: e.g., ‘the skiff is very crank.’

Crank-Cuffin, subs. (old).—One of the canting-crew whose specialty was to feign sickness. [From crank (q.v., sense 1), the ‘falling-sickness,’ + cuffin (see Cove), a man.]

1749. Bampfylde Moore-Carew, Oath of the Canting Crew. I, Crank-Cuffin, swear to be True to this fraternity.

Cranky, adj. (colloquial).—Crotchetty; whimsical; ricketty; not to be depended upon; crazy. [Cf., quot., 1787.]

English Synonyms. Dicky; maggotty; dead-alive; yappy; touched; chumpish; comical; dotty; rocketty; queer; faddy; fadmongering; twisted; funny.

French Synonyms. Chevrotin (popular: applied to a bad or irritable temper); être comme un crin (popular); avoir sa chique (familiar: said of the temper).

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary. Cranky, ailing, sickly; from the Dutch crank, sick. [206]

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. vii., p. 33. Adding to this retort an observation to the effect that his friend appeared to be rather cranky in point of temper.

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, II., 113. He had repeatedly been called into cases of mania described as sudden, and almost invariably found the patient had been cranky for years.

1873. Mrs. Edwards, A Vagabond Heroine, in Temple Bar, June. ‘On goes the cranky carriage, on goes the swearing driver and the high souled Burke.’

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. III., p. 42. ‘What’s the matter now?’ asked Mrs. Hall, in her cranky way.

Cranny, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Cranny-Hunter, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms; see Creamstick.

Crap, subs. (old):—1. Money; sometimes crop. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.); s.v.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary and Dict. Vulg. Tongue [1785]. Crap … In the north it is sometimes used for money.

2. (old).—The gallows. For synonyms, see Nubbing Cheat.

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 255 (ed. 1854). ‘Ah!’ said Long Ned, with a sigh, ‘that is all very well, Mr. Nabbem; but I’ll go to the crap like a gentleman.’

1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood. And what if, at length, boys, he comes to the crap Even rack punch has some bitter in it.

3. (printers’).—Type that has got mixed; technically known as ‘pi.’ [Here compared to excrement.]

Verb, trs. and intrs. (old).—1. To hang; to be crapped = to be hanged.

2. (common).—To ease oneself by evacuation. For synonyms, see Bury a Quaker and Mrs. Jones.

Crapped, ppl. adj. (old).—Hanged. [From crap (q.v., subs., sense 2), + ed.]—See Cropped.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. s.v.

Crapping Casa, Case, Castle or Ken, subs. (common).—A water-closet. [From crap, verb, sense 2 (q.v.), to ease oneself, + ing + casa or ken, a house.] For synonyms, see Bury a Quaker and Mrs. Jones.

Crapping-Castle, subs. (hospital).—A night-stool.

Crash, subs. (old).—1. Entertainment. Probably a cant word.—Nares.

2. (theatrical).—The machine used to suggest the roar of thunder; a noise of desperate (and unseen) conflict; an effect of ‘alarums, excursions’ generally.

Verb (old).—To kill. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.

Crashing-Cheats or Chetes, subs. (old).—1. The teeth. [From crash, to break to pieces. + ing + cheat, a thing, from A.S. ceat.] For synonyms, see Grinders.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 64, s.v.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. [207]

2. (old).—See quots.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. Crashing chetes: appels, peares, or any other fruit.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), Crashing cheates: apples.

Crater, Cratur, or Creature, subs. (old).—Formerly, any kind of liquor, but now, Irish whiskey. [Fuller speaks of water as ‘a creature so common and needful,’ and Bacon describes light as ‘God’s first creature.’ Transition is easy.] The skin of the creature = the bottle. For synonyms, see Drinks.

1598. Shakspeare, II. King Henry IV., ii. 2. My appetite was not princely got; for, by my troth, I do now remember the poor creature, small beer.

1663. Howard, The Committee, Act iv. Mrs. Day. Oh fie upon’t! who would have believ’d that we should have liv’d to have seen Obadiah overcome with the creature.

1683. S. B. Anacreon done into English out of the original Greek. Oxford. There goes a very pleasant Story of him, that once having took a Cup too much of Creature, he came staggering homewards through the Market Place, etc;

1772. Graves, Spiritual Quixote, bk. VII., ch. ii. You will never be able to hold out as Mr. Whitfield does. He seems to like a bit of the good cretur as well as other folks.

1816. Scott, Old Mortality, I., p. … I do most humbly request … that … thou wilt take off this measure, called by the profane a gill, of the comfortable creature, which the carnal do denominate brandy.

1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. xiv. He produced two bottles of brandy … so we passed the creature round, and tried all we could to while away the tedious night.

1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 23. And reaching home refresh myself with a ‘kervartern of the cretur!’

1864. Good Words, p. 952. Well as an Irishman—who had already paid for one pot of porter and a drop of the crater besides—I was not going to hear anything against ould Ireland.

Crawl, subs. (tailors’).—A workman who curries favour with a foreman or employer; a ‘lickspittle’ or ‘bum-sucker.’

Crawler, subs. (common).—1. A cab that leaves the rank and ‘crawls’ the street in search of fares.

1860. Daily News. It is said the question of making increased provisions for cab-stands, with a view to the restriction of the wandering cabs called crawlers, is now under the consideration of the Chief Commissioner of Police.

1885. Daily News, August 7, p. 5, col. 1. How often does the driver of the crawler increase his pace just as he sees some one venturing to attempt a crossing.

2. (common).—A contemptible person, especially a ‘bum-sucker’ or ‘lickspittle.’ For Synonyms, see Snide.

1885. Evening News, 21 Sept., p. 4, col. 1. The complainant called her father a liar, a bester, and a crawlers.

Crawthumpers, subs. (old).—1. Roman Catholics, ‘the Pope’s cockrels’ (1629). Also called brisket-beaters and, collectively, the breast-fleet. In America a crawthumper = an Irishman or dick, i.e., an Irish Catholic.

1782. Wolcot, Lyric Odes, No. 7; in wks. (1809) I., 69. We are no crawthumpers, no devotees.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Craw Thumpers: Roman Catholics, so called from their beating their breasts in the confession of their sins.

1889. Philadelphia Public Ledger [quoted in S. J. & C., p. 279]. Wanted a servant-maid. No pulings or crawthumpers need apply.

Cream, subs. (venery).—The seminal fluid; Marlowe’s ‘thrice decocted blood’; the ‘white-blow’ and the ‘father-stuff’ of Whitman. A single drop is called a snowball (q.v.). [208]

English Synonyms. Butter; buttermilk; fuck; white honey; jelly; baby-juice; homebrewed; jam; ‘delicious jam’ (Whitman); lather; ‘lewd infusion’; love-liquor; milk; milt; ointment; the oyster; roe; seed; soap; spendings; sperm; spermatic juice (Rochester); spume; spunk; starch; stuff; the tread.—See Come.

Portuguese Synonyms. Leite (= milk); esporra; langouha (= a kind of thick gum).

Cream Cheese. To make one believe the moon is made of cream (or green) cheese, verbal phr. (popular).—To humbug; to deceive; to impose upon. For synonyms, see Bamboozle and Jockey.

Cream Fancy.—See Billy, subs., sense 1.

Cream Jugs, subs. (Stock Exchange).—1. Charkof-Krementschug Railway Bonds.

1887. Atkin, House Scraps. Oh! supposing our cream-jugs were broken, Or ‘Beetles’ were souring the ‘Babies.’

2. (common).—The paps.

Cream of the Valley, also Cold Cream, subs. phr. (common).—Gin. Cf., Mountain Dew = whiskey. For synonyms, see Drinks.

1858. A. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, ch. i., p. 1. ‘What’s up, Jim? … is it cream o’ the walley or fits as has overcome the lady?’

1864. Comic Almanack, p. 63. Cold Cream Internally.—Cold cream is an excellent remedy for ‘hot coppers.’

Cream-Stick, subs. (common).—The penis. [Literally a stick supplying cream (q.v.).]

English Synonyms. Aaron’s Rod; Adam’s Arsenal (the penis and testes); the Old Adam; arbor vitæ; arse-opener; arse-wedge; athenæum; bayonet; bean-tosser; beak; beef (the penis and testes); bag of tricks (idem); belly-ruffian; Billy-my-Nag; bludgeon; Blueskin; bracmard (Urquhart); my body’s captain (Whitman); broom-handle; bum-tickler; bush-beater; bush-whacker; butter-knife; catso or gadso; child-getter; chink-stopper; clothes-prop; club; cock; concern; copper-stick; crack-hunter; cracksman; cranny-haunter; cuckoo; cunny-catcher; ‘crimson chitterling’ (Urquhart); dagger; dearest member (Burns); dicky; dibble (Scots); dirk (Scots); Don Cypriano (Urquhart); doodle; dropping member; drumstick; eye-opener; father-confessor; ‘cunny-burrow ferret’ (Urquhart); fiddle-bow; o-for-shame; flute; fornicator; garden-engine and gardener (garden = the female pudendum); gaying instrument; generation tool (C. Johnson and Urquhart); goose’s neck; cutty gun (Scots); gut-stick; hair- (or beard-) splitter; hair-divider; Hanging Johnny; bald-headed hermit; Irish root; Jack-in-the-box; Jack Robinson; jargonelle; Jezabel; jiggling-bone (Irish); jock (q.v.); Dr. Johnson; ‘Master John Goodfellow’ (Urquhart); John-Thomas; ‘Master John Thursday’ (Urquhart); man Thomas; jolly-member (Urquhart); Julius Cæsar; ‘knock-Andrew’ (Urquhart); lance of love; Langolee (Irish); leather-stretcher; life-preserver; live sausage (Urquhart); Little Davy (Scots); lollipop; lullaby; machine; ‘man-root’ (Whitman); marrow-bone; marrow-bone-and-cleaver; [209]Member for Cockshire; merry-maker; middle-leg; mouse; mole; mowdiwort (Scots); Nebuchadnezzar (cf., Greens); nilnisistando (Urquhart); Nimrod; nudinnudo (Urquhart); ‘nine-inch knocker’ (Urquhart); old man; peace-maker; pecker; pecnoster; pego; pestle; pike (Shakspeare); pike-staff; pile-driver; pintle; pizzle; ploughshare; plug-tail; pointer; ‘poperine pear’ (Shakspeare); Polyphemus; ‘pond-snipe’ (Whitman); prick (Shakspeare and Fletcher); ‘prickle’; privates, and private property (the penis and testes); ‘privy member’ (Biblical); quim-stake; ramrod; ‘Rector of the females’ (Rochester); Roger; rolling-pin; root; rudder; rump-splitter; Saint Peter (who ‘keeps the keys of Paradise’); ‘sausage’ (Sterne); sceptre; shove-straight; sky-scraper; solicitor-general; spigot; ‘split-rump’ (Urquhart); spindle; sponge (cf., Ramrod); staff of life; stern-post; sugar-stick; tarse; tent-peg; thing; ‘thumb of love’ (Whitman); ‘tickle-gizzard’ (Urquhart); tickle-toby; tool; toy; trifle (tailors’); trouble-giblets; tug-mutton; unruly-member; vestry-man; watch-and-seals (the penis and testes); wedge; whore-pipe (Rochester); wimble; yard; Zadkiel (almanack) = the female pudendum.

French Synonyms. Le sansonnet (popular: literally a starling); le gluant (thieves’ = Old Slimy. In Argot also ‘a baby’); l’asticot (properly = a flesh-worm); le jambot (Villon).

German Synonyms. Bletzer (from Bletz = a wedge; bletzen = to beget); Breslauer (Viennese thieves’ = magnum membrum virile; also, a head-piece, and a large glass, or indeed any quantity of brandy); Bruder (also an expression belonging to the Fiesellange; literally a brother. Cf., Schwesterlein, little sister = the female pudendum); Butzelmann (in Luther’s Liber Vagatorum [1529]; Buze = little man); Fiesel (supposed to be from Faser a birch-rod or fibre; the Eng. feaze is also connected with it. Thus, Mädchenfiesel, a ‘hot member’; Pechfiesel, a shoemaker, etc. Fiesellange signifies the language of the strong, i.e., those of the ‘fellowship’ of thieves, burglars, and rowdies [Fr., coupeur], etc. In Vienna Fiesel = the lowest and most dangerous type of bawdy-house bully). Dickmann (also, an egg, or testicle); Pinke or Finke (Low German); Schmeichaz or Schmeigaz (O.H.G. smeichen = to flatter, to laugh); Schwanz (also, a fool or boaster).

Portuguese Synonyms. Pae de todos (= father of all); porra (= a strong stick); virgolleiro (= that which deprives of virginity); pica (= lance; also, a measure equal in length to the handle of a long spear; cf., Eng. yard); bacamarte (= a milk-giving gun); a montholia de Pastor (= an oil-flask).

Creamy, adj. (general).—Excellent; first-rate. For synonyms, see a1 and Fizzing.

Creation. To beat or lick creation, verbal phr. (American).—To overpower; excel; surpass; to be incomparable. English variants are ‘to beat hollow, to sticks, or to fits,’ etc. Cf., Big as all outdoors. [210]

1848. Bartlett, Dict. of Amer. ‘Proverbs.’ When a man runs his head against a post, he curses the post first, all creation next, and something else last, and never thinks of cursing himself.

1862. Among the Mermaids. ‘An Old Sailor’s Yarn,’ p. 86. The notion of finding the capting’s cask pleased me mightily cos I knowed it would tickle the old man like all creation.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. I’m willin’ to take advice. Beats all creation how I mistook, but I shan’t go agin yer words.

Creeme, verb (old).—To slip or slide anything into the hands of another.—Grose [1785].

Creeper, subs. (general).—One who cringes and ‘curries favour’; a ‘skunk,’ or snide (q.v., for synonyms).

Creepers, subs. (common).—1. The feet.

English Synonyms. Dew-beaters; beetle-crushers; understandings; trotters; tootsies; stumps (also the legs); everlasting shoes; hocks; boot-trees; pasterns; ards (Old Cant: now used as an adjective, = ‘hot’); double-breasters; daisy-beaters; kickers; crabs; trampers; hockles; hoofs; pudseys.

French Synonyms. Les trottins (popular: trottiner, to go a jog-trot; aller chercher les pardons de Saint-Trottin, to take a walk instead of going to church); les reposoirs (common: properly [in sing.] a resting place or pause; also an altar set up in the streets for a procession); les ripatons (popular); les palerons (thieves’: properly, in sing., a shoulder-blade); les paturons (thieves’: properly pasterns); les harpions (thieves’: also hands). Cotgrave has harpe d’un chien = a dog’s claw or paw; also, Il mania très bien ses harpes, He stirred his fingers very nimbly. [Cf., ‘pickers and stealers’ = fingers]; les mains courantes (popular: literally running hands).

German Synonyms. Tretter (Cf., English ‘trotter’); Trittling, or Trittchen (Hanoverian = shoe, boot, foot, or staircase); Trittlingspflanzer or Trittlingsmelochner (the shoemaker).

Italian Synonyms. Calcioso; pisante; bottiero; mazzo.

2. (general).—Lice. For synonyms, see Chates.

Creeps, subs. (common).—The peculiar thrill resulting from an undefinable sense of dread. [Literally a ‘crawling’ of the flesh as with fear.] Also known as goose-flesh, cold shivers, and cold water down the back.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick Papers. I wants to make yer flesh creep.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xiii. [Late Autumn.] Dreary down in the old country mansions … where the servants, town-bred, commence to be colded, sniffy, to have shivers and creeps.

1870. London Figaro, 27 June. ‘A River Romance.’ Talking about bodies, I could give you the creeps with what I’ve seen.

1883. The Lute, 15 Jan., p. 18, col. 2. We see the great tragedian holding on to a chair, and giving his audience creeps with the ‘Dream of Eugene Aram.’

1890. Globe, 22 May, p. 1, col. 4. Miss Gertrude is the sister of Mrs. Chanler-Rives (better known as Amélie, or still better as the writer of The Quick or the Dead, by which many ladylike persons have been given ‘the creeps’).

Crevecœur.—See Heart-breaker. [211]

Crevice, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Cri, subs. (popular).—The Criterion, theatre and restaurant, at Piccadilly Circus.

c. 1886. Broadside Ballad, ‘Another Fellah’s.’ Round into the cri ev’ry evening I slip, And deep in the pale sparkling bitter I dip.

Crib, subs. (old).—1. The stomach. Cf., Cribbing, sense 1. [A transferred sense of crib = a manger, rack, or feeding place. Cf., Isaiah i., 3, ‘The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib.’] For synonyms, see Bread-basket and Victualling office.

1656. Brome, Jovial Crew, Act. ii. Here’s pannum and lap, and good poplars of Yarrum, To fill up the crib, and to comfort the quarron.

2. (colloquial).—A house; place of abode; apartments; lodgings; shop; warehouse; ‘den,’ ‘diggings,’ or ‘snuggery.’ For synonyms, see Diggings. [From A.S., crib, or cribb a small habitation.]

1598. Shakspeare, King Henry IV. Why, rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, Than in the perfumed chambers of the great?

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 80 (ed. 1854). Now, now in the crib, where a ruffler may lie, Without fear that the traps should distress him.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xix. The crib’s barred up at night like a jail.

1847. Illus. London News, 22 May. The burglar has his crib in Clerkenwell.

1860. Chambers’ Journal, vol. XIII., p. 212. He said he was awful flattered like by the honour of seeing two such gents at his crib.

1882. Daily News, 5 Oct., p. 5, col. 2. To manage escapes from prison successfully is only an application of the principles which enable the burglar to crack the rural crib and appropriate the swag of her Majesty’s peaceful subjects.

3. (popular).—A situation, ‘place,’ or ‘berth.’ [The transition from subs., sense 2, is easy and natural.]

4. (school and University).—A literal translation surreptitiously used by students; also a theft of any kind; specifically, anything copied without acknowledgment.—[See verb., sense 2.] For synonyms, see Pony.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 185. He has with a prudent forethought stuffed his cribs inside his double-breasted waistcoat.

1853. C. Bede, Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 64.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxii. I wish I had read Greek a little more at school … when we return I think I shall try and read it with cribs.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. II., ch. vi. Tom, I want you to give up using vulgus books and cribs.

1889. Globe, 12 Oct., p. 1, col. 4. Always, it seems likely, there will be men ‘going up’ for examinations; and every now and again, no doubt, there will be among them a wily ‘Heathen Pass-ee’ like him of whom Mr. Hilton speaks—who had cribs up his sleeve, and notes on his cuff.

5. (thieves’).—A bed.—[See subs., senses 2 and 3.]

1827. Maginn, from Vidocq. Lend me a lift in the family way. You may have a crib to stow in.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To steal or pilfer; used specifically of petty thefts. For synonyms, see Prig.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Crib (v.): to with-hold, keep back, pinch, [212]or thieve a part out of money given to lay out for necessaries.

1772. Foote Nabob, Act i. There are a brace of birds and a hare, that I cribbed this morning out of a basket of game.

1846. T. Hood, Ode to Rae Wilson, Esqr., wks., vol. IV., p. 224. Yet sure of Heaven themselves, as if they’d cribb’d Th’ impression of St. Peter’s keys in wax.

1855. Robert Browning, Men and Women. Fra Lippo Lippi, ed. 1863, p. 351. Black and white I drew From good old gossips waiting to confess Their cribs of barrel-droppings, candle-ends.

1889. Answers, 27 July, page 141, col. 1. He knew that if the manuscript got about the Yankees would think it a smart thing to crib it.

2. (school and University).—To use a translation; to cheat at an examination; to plagiarise.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 177. Cribbing his answers from a tiny manual of knowledge, two inches by one-and-a-half in size, which he hides under his blotting-paper.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. II., ch. iii. Finishing up with two highly moral lines extra, making ten in all, which he cribbed entire from one of his books.

To crack a crib.—See under Crack.

Cribbage-Face and Cribbage-Faced, subs. and adj. phr. (common).—Pock-marked and like a cribbage-board. Otherwise colander-faced, crumpet-faced, pikelet-faced, and mockered (q.v.).

French Synonyms. Avoir un grenier à lentilles (popular: a cock-loft, granary, or garret, for the storage of lentils); ne pas s’être assuré contre la grêle (popular: grêle = hail); un morceau de gruyère (popular: that cheese being honeycombed with holes); avoir un moule à gaufres (popular: moule = mould; gaufre = a cake); une écumoire (familiar: properly a skimmer); poèle à châtaignes (poèle = frying pan and châtaignes = chestnuts; the colander-like shovel for roasting chestnuts).

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Cribbage-faced: marked with the small-pox, the pits bearing a kind of resemblance to the holes in a cribbage-board.

Cribber, subs. (military).—A grumbler. [A horse that gnaws his crib or manger.] Cf., Crib-biter, and for synonyms, see Rusty-guts.

Cribbeys or Cribby-Islands, subs. (old).—Blind alleys, courts, and bye-ways; Fr., culs-de-sac.

Cribbing, verbal subs. (old).—1. Food and Drink. Cf., Crib, sense 1.

1656. R. Brome, A Jovial Crew. For all this ben cribbing and Peck let us then, Bowse a health to the gentry cofe of the ken.

2. (schools’ and University and general).—Stealing; purloining; using a translation. Cf., Crib, subs., sense 4.

1862. Farrar, St. Winifred’s, ch. xxxv. They would not call it stealing but bagging a thing, or, at the worst, cribbing it—concealing the villainy under a new name.

Crib-Biter, subs. (common).—An inveterate grumbler. [Properly a horse that worries his crib, rack, manger, or groom, and at the same time draws in his breath so as to make the peculiar noise called wind-sucking.] French equivalents are un gourgousseur; un rême; un renâcleur; and un renaudeur.—See Cribber.

Crib-Cracker, subs. (general).—A housebreaker. [213]

1880. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live, p. 11. The little boys look up half with awe and half with admiration at the burly Sikes with his flash style, and delight in gossip concerning his talents as a crib-cracker, and his adventures as a pickpocket.

Crib-Cracking, verbal subs. (thieves’).—Housebreaking.

1852. Punch, vol. XXIII., p. 161. With higher ambition Bill Sykes he burned, And becoming experter as he grew older, From cly-faking to crib-cracking turned.

Cries.—See Street cries.

Crikey! Cracky! Cry! intj. (common).—Formerly, ‘a profane oath’; now a mere expression of astonishment. [A corruption of ‘Christ.’]

1837. R. H. Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 276. It would make you exclaim, ’twould so forcibly strike ye, If a Frenchman Superbe!—if an Englishman crikey!

1841. Comic Almanack, p. 275. Oh! crikey, Bill; vot a conch that lady’s got!

1853. Diogenes, II., 54. O, crikey! the switching I got, At the hand of the cruel old miser.

1888. W. E. Henley. ‘Culture in the Slums.’ ‘O crikey, Bill!’ she says to me, she ses. ‘Look sharp,’ ses she, ‘with them there sossiges.’

Crimini, Criminey, or Crimes!—See Crikey. [Possibly the latter usage has been influenced by crimen meum, my fault.]

1700. Farquhar, Constant Couple, Act iv., Sc. 1. Murder’d my brother! O crimini!

1816. Scott, Antiquary, ch. xvi. ‘A monument of a knight-templar on each side of a Grecian porch, and a Madonna on the top of it!—O crimini!’

1841. The Comic Almanack, p. 280. ‘A Lament for Bartlemy Fair.’ Oh! lawk; oh! dear; oh! crimeny me; what a downright sin and a shame.

Crimson. To make things look crimson, verbal phr. (American).—To indulge in a drunken frolic; to paint the town red (q.v.)

Crimson Chitterling, subs. phr. (old).—The penis. Used by Urquhart. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Crincle-Pouch, subs. (old).—A sixpence. For synonyms, see Bender.

1593. ‘Bacchus’ Bountie,’ Harl. Misc., II., p. 270 [ed. 1808–11]. See then the goodnes of this so gracious a god, al yee, which in the driest drought of summer, had rather shroude your throates with a handfull of hemp, than with the expence of an odde crinclepouch, wash yourselues within and without, and make yourselues as mery as dawes.

Crinkum-Crankum, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. [Properly a winding way.] For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Crinkums, subs. (old).—A venereal disease. Cf., Crinkum-crankum. For synonyms, see Ladies’ fever.

Crinoline, subs. (common).—A woman. For synonyms, see Petticoat.

Cripple, subs. (old).—1. A ‘snid’ (Scots) or sixpence.—[See quots., 1785 and 1885.] For synonyms, see Bender.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Cripple: six pence, that piece being commonly much bent and distorted.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 178, s.v.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 25, n. A bandy or cripple, a sixpence.

1885. Household Words, 20 June, p. 155. The sixpence is a coin more liable to bend than most others, so it is not surprising [214]to find that several of its popular names have reference to this weakness. It is called a bandy, a ‘bender,’ a cripple.

2. (common).—An awkward oaf; also a dullard. Fr., malapatte (popular: properly mal à la patte). [Figurative for one that creeps, limps, or halts—whether physically or mentally.] Cf., sense 3, and Go it, you cripples.

3. (Wellington College).—A dolt; literally one without a leg to stand on. Cf., sense 2, and Go it, you cripples.

Go it, you cripples! phr. (general).—A sarcastic comment on strenuous effort; frequently used without much sense of fitness; e.g., when the person addressed is a capable athlete. Wooden legs are cheap is sometimes added as an intensitive.

1840. Thackeray, Cox’s Diary. ‘Striking a balance,’ p. 229. ‘O! come along,’ said Lord Lollypop, ‘come along this way, ma’am! Go it, ye cripples.’

Crisp, subs. (popular).—A banknote. For synonyms, see Soft.

Crispin, subs. (common).—A shoemaker. [From Saints Crispin and Crispianus, the patrons of the ‘gentle craft,’ i.e., shoemaking.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1861. Punch, vol. XLI., p. 246. Crispin, everybody knows to be a name for a shoemaker.

St. Crispin’s Lance, subs. phr. (old).—An awl. [From Crispin (q.v.) + lance, a weapon.] Fr., une lance.

Crispin’s Holiday, subs. phr. (old).—Every Monday throughout the year, but most particularly the 25th of October, being the anniversary of Crispinus and Crispianus.

Croak, subs. (thieves’).—A dying speech, especially the confession of a murderer. Also the same as printed for sale in the streets by a ‘flying stationer.’ [From the verbal sense (q.v.).]

1887. A. Barrère, Argot and Slang, p. 272. The criminal … would perhaps utter for the edification of the crowd his ‘tops, or croaks,’ that is, his last dying speech.

1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip. Go crying croaks, or flash the drag.

Verb.—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft.

Croaker, subs. (old).—1. A sixpence. For synonyms, see Bender.

2. (old).—A beggar.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444, s.v.

3. (common).—A dying person.—See Croak, verbal sense.

4. (common).—A corpse. [From croak, verb. sense, through croaker, senses 2 and 3.] For synonyms, see Dead-meat.

5. (provincial).—See quot.

1886. Ulster Echo, 31 July, p. 4. The inspector of nuisances said the meat was known as croaker, or the flesh of an animal which had died a natural death.

6. (prison).—A doctor [connected with crocus, but influenced by croaker, subs., senses 2, 3, and 4.]

1889. Evening News [quoted in Slang, Jargon, and Cant]. One man who had put his name for the ‘butcher’ or croaker, would suddenly find that he had three ounces of bread less to receive, and then a scene would ensue. [215]

7. (common).—A person, male or female, who sees everything en noir, and whose conversation is likened to that of the raven, which is a bird of ill-omen.—See Goldsmith’s Good Natured Man. Fr., un glas = also a passing bell.

Croakumshire, subs. (old).—Northumberland. [Grose: ‘from the particular croaking in the pronunciation of the people of that county, especially about Newcastle and Morpeth, where they are said to be born with a burr in their throats, which prevents their pronouncing the letter “r”.’]

Crock, subs. (common).—A worthless animal; a fool; said of a horse it signifies a good-for-nothing brute; of a man or woman, a duffer, a ‘rotter.’ [Most likely from the Scots crock = an old sheep.]

1887. Sporting Times, 12 March, p. 2, col. 5. The wretched crocks that now go to the post will be relegated to more appropriate work.

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3. For five minutes that crock went about twice as fast as it had ever done.

1889. Illustrated Bits, 13 July. ‘I say,’ said the Lumberer to the Old Hermit, as they stood at the mouth of the Cave listening to the song birds, ‘you are getting a bit of a crock—failing fast, I should say.’

Crocketts, subs. (Winchester College).—A kind of bastard cricket, sometimes called ‘small crochetts.’ Five stumps are used and a fives ball, with a bat of plain deal about two inches broad, or a broomstick.

1870. Mansfield, School-Life at Winchester College, p. 122. The more noisily disposed would indulge in … playing Hicockolorum, or Crocketts.

To get crocketts, verbal phr.—To fail to score at cricket; to make a duck’s egg.

Crocodile, subs. (University).—A girl’s school walking two and two.

Crocus, Crocus-Metallorum or Croakus, subs. (common).—A doctor; specifically, a quack. [Conjecturally, a derivative of croak = to die. Cf., quot. 1781, under Crocussing rig.]

English Synonyms. Pill; squirt; butcher; croaker; corpse-provider; bolus; clyster; gallipot. [Several of these terms also = an apothecary.]

French Synonyms. Un dragueur (popular: literally a dredging machine); un cliabeau (a doctor at St. Lazare); un bénévole (popular: a young doctor, especially one walking the hospitals); un marchand de morts subites (common: literally ‘a dealer in sudden death.’ Cf., Corpse provider).

German Synonym. Rofe or Raufe (from the Hebrew).

Italian Synonyms. Maggio (signifying God, king, lord, and pope); posteggiatore (literally ‘he that places’; used of any charlatan, but particularly of a quack doctor); dragon di farda.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Crocus or crocus metallorum: a nickname for the surgeons of the army and navy.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lond. Poor, vol. I., p. 231 (quoted in list of patterer’s words).

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed. p. 444, s.v. [216]

Crocus-Chovey (vagrants’ and thieves’).—A doctor’s shop. From [crocus = doctor + chovey, a shop.]

Crocus-Pitcher, subs. (vagrants’ and thieves’).—A quack ambulant. [From crocus (q.v.), a doctor, + pitcher, one that stands in the street to hold forth concerning his business.]

Crocussing-Rig, subs. (old).—Travelling from place to place, as a quack doctor. [From crocus (q.v.), a doctor, + ing + rig, a performance or trick.]

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 171. Crocussing Rig is performed by men and women, who travel as Doctors or Doctoresses.

Crone, subs. (showmen’s).—A clown or buffoon.

Crook, subs. (old).—1. A sixpence. [An abbreviation of crookback (q.v.).]

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 178. s.v.

2. (general).—A thief; swindler; one who gets things on the crook (q.v.).

1887. Orange Journal, 16 April. Strange as the statement may seem, the public know nothing of the work of a really clever crook, and the police themselves know very little more. The explanation of this ignorance is a very simple one. A crook whose methods are exposed is a second-rate crook.

On the crook, adv. phr. (thieves’).—The antithesis of on the straight (q.v.). Cf., On the cross.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 503. Which he had bought on the crook (dishonestly).

To crook (or cock) the elbow, or the little finger, verbal phr. (popular).—To drink. [A French colloquialism, identical in meaning, is lever le coude; a hard drinker is un adroit du coude.] For synonyms, see Lush.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms. To crook the elbow, is one of the many slang terms for drinking.

1877. Besant and Rice, With Harp and Crown, ch. xix. The secretary … might have done great things in literature but for his unfortunate crook of the elbow. As he only crooks it at night, it does not matter to the hospital.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 3 May, p. 4, col. 1. I’ll … ask him to take a drink, chat with him while he crooks his elbow.

Crook-Back, subs. (old).—A sixpenny piece, many of the slang names of which suggest a bashed and battered appearance; e.g., ‘bender,’ ‘cripple,’ ‘crook,’ crookback, etc. Quoted by Grose [1785]. For synonyms, see Bender.

Crooked, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Disappointing; the reverse of straight (q.v.); pertaining to the habits, ways, and customs of thieves.—See On the crook. So also, mutatis mutandis, crookedness = rascality of every kind.

1837. Comic Almanack, p. 94. Things have gone very crooked.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. ii., p. 126. The prisoner’s friend was also a ‘fly’ man, and he immediately saw how he could thoroughly pay off the crooked officer.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 22 Jan., p. 3, col. 1. My time was up the same day as that of two lads of the crooked school; it was through them that I took to thieving.

1884. Echo, 28 Jan., p. 4, col. 1. Last season will be long remembered in the racing world for the crookedness of some owners.

1888. Detroit Free Press, 3 Nov. ‘What are you trying to get out of me?’ ‘I am going to see that to-night you are [217]better lodged to begin with. I may decide to do more, but that will depend pretty much on yourself.’ ‘Nothing crooked, is it?’ asked the other, suspiciously!

Crooked as a Virginia (or snake) fence, phr. (American).—Uneven; zig-zag; said of matters or persons difficult to keep ‘straight.’ To make a Virginia fence is to walk unsteadily, as a drunkard. The Virginia fences zigzag with the soil.

Crooky, verb (common).—To hang on to; to lead; to walk arm-in-arm; to court or pay addresses to a girl. For synonyms, see Trot out.

Crop.—See Crap, sense 1.

Cropped, ppl. adj. (old).—Hanged. For synonyms, see Ladder and Topped.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 30. Sentencing some more to be crapped (sic) [hanged].

Cropper, subs. (common).—A heavy fall or failure of any kind; generally ‘to come a cropper.’ [Originally hunting.] Analagous French phrases are avoir une discussion avec le pavé (literally ‘to argue with the pavement’); prendre un billet de parterre (a punning play upon words: the pit of a theatre is parterre; par terre = on the ground: hence to take a ticket for the pit); se lithographier (popular). For synonyms in a metaphorical sense, see Go to pot.

1868. Echoes from the Clubs, 23 Dec. ‘Pleasures of the Hunting Field.’ In short, it is fox-hunting which … induces the belief that life is a mistake without occasional croppers.

1869. H. J. Byron, Not such a Fool as He Looks (French’s Acting ed.), p. 8. Mr. Topham Sawyer missed his own tip as well as his wictim’s, and came down a cropper on a convenient doorstep.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. lxvii. Talking to his father he could not quite venture to ask what might happen if he were to come a cropper.

1883. Daily News, 24 Jan., p. 5, col. 3. Ouida treads ‘alone, aloft, sublime’ where Astræa might fear to pass, and though she comes what men call croppers over a thousand details, she is sublimely unconscious of her blunders.

Croppie or Croppy, subs. (old).—Originally applied to criminals cropped as to their ears and their noses by the public executioner; subsequently, to convicts, in allusion to their close cropped hair; hence to any person whose hair was cut close to the head; e.g., the Puritans and the Irish Rebels of 1789.

1870. Sir G. C. Lewis, Letters, p. 410. Wearing the hair short and without powder was, at this time, considered a mark of French principles. Hair so worn was called a ‘crop.’ Hence Lord Melbourne’s phrase, ‘crop-imitating wig’ [Poetry of Anti-Jacobin, p. 41]. This is the origin of croppies, as applied to the Irish rebels of 1789.

1877–79. Green, Short Hist. Eng. People, ch. x., The croppies, as the Irish insurgents were called in derision from their short-cut hair.

Croppled. To be croppled, verbal phr. (Winchester College).—To fail in an examination; to be sent down at a lesson.

Croppy.—See Croppie.

Crops, verbal phr.—To go and look at the crops = to leave the room for the purpose of consulting Mrs. Jones (q.v.).

Cross, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pre-arranged swindle. In its special sporting signification a [218]cross is an arrangement to lose on the part of one of the principals in a fight, or any kind of match. When both principals conspire that one shall win, it is called a double cross (q.v.). [Obviously a shortened form of cross-bite (q.v., verbal sense).]

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.

1864. Derby Day, p. 39. ‘As sure as the sun shines, Askpart ’ll lick ’em; if so be,’ he added significantly, ‘as there ain’t no cross.’

1867. A. Trollope, Claverings, ch. xxx. I always suppose every horse will run to win; and though there may be a cross now and again, that’s the surest line to go upon.

2. (thieves’).—A thief; also cross-man, cross-cove, cross-chap, squire, knight, or lad, of the cross, etc. [Literally a man on the cross (q.v.).] For synonyms, see Thieves.

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 72, ed. 1854. There is an excellent fellow near here, who keeps a public-house, and is a firm ally and generous patron of the lads of the cross. Ibid, p. 140. Gentlemen of the Road, the Street, the Theatre and the Shop! Prigs, Toby-men, and squires of the cross!

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. ii. Never a cross cove of us all can throw off so prime a chant as yourself.

1864. Cornhill Magazine, II., 336. In the following verse, taken from a pet flash song, you have a comic specimen of this sort of guilty chivalry:—‘A cross cove is in the street for me, And I a poor girl of low degree; If I was as rich as I am poor, Ye never should go on the cross no more.’

Verb.—1. To play false in a match of any kind.

1887. W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson, Deacon Brodie, Act iv., Sc. 3. What made you cross the fight and play booty with your own man?

2. (venery).—To possess or ‘cover’ a woman.

Cross in the air, subs. phr. (volunteers’).—A rifle carried butt-end upwards.

3. (colloquial).—To thwart; to baffle; to spoil.

1709. Matthew Prior, The Thief, etc. There the squires of the pad and the knights of the post, Find their fears no more balked and their hopes no more crossed.

To play a cross, verbal phr.—See Cross, subs., sense 1; and verb, sense 1.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 257 (ed. 1864), Zoroaster was just the man to lose a fight; or, in the language of the Fancy, to play a cross.

To shake the cross, verbal phr. (American thieves’).—To quit the cross and go on the square (q.v.).

1877. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, ch. lii., p. 459. The day my time was up, you told me if i would shake the cross and live on the square for three months, it would be the best job i ever done in my life.

To be crossed, verbal phr. (University).—Thus explained in a University Guide:—For not paying term bills to the bursar (treasurer), or for cutting chapels, or lectures, or other offences, an undergrad can be crossed at the buttery, or kitchen, or both, i.e., a cross is put against his name by the Don, who wishes to see him, or to punish him.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley, (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. x. Sir!—You will translate all your lectures; have your name crossed on the buttery and kitchen books; and be confined to chapel, hall, and college. [219]

See also Cross, verb, sense 1.

On the cross, phr.—The opposite of on the square (q.v.). Cf., On the Crook.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xxxv. [Chas. Ravenshoe to Shoeblack] ‘Have you any brothers?’ ‘Five altogether. Jim was gone for a sojer, it appeared; and Nipper was sent over the water, Harry was gone on the cross.’ ‘On the cross?’ said Charles. ‘Ah,’ the boy said, ‘he goes out cly-faking and such. He’s a prig, and a smart one, too. He’s fly, is Harry.’

1868. Ouida, Under Two Flags, ch. v. Rake had seen a good deal of men and manners, and, in his own opinion at least, was ‘up to every dodge on the cross’ that this iniquitous world could unfold.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 244. We went down to a bloke I knew up in one of the streets leading off the Euston road who did a little on the cross now and again, to see what he’d stand for the £300.

1884. Echo, 1 March, p. 3, col. 6. Prisoner knew they were stolen, and said he could get rid of any quantity of similar articles that were got on the cross, a slang expression for stolen goods.

1889. Answers, 8 June, p. 25. One of them then came a little nearer, and produced a good gold scarf pin, worth, perhaps, £2 or £3, and asked if I would buy it, adding it was on the cross (stolen), and I could have it for 2s., as they wanted a shilling to get a bed.

Cross-Belts, subs. (military).—The Eighth Hussars. [The regiment wears the sword belt over the right shoulder in memory of the Battle of Saragossa, where it took the belts of the Spanish cavalry. This privilege was confirmed by the King’s Regulations of 1768.]

Cross-Bite, subs. (old).—See Cross-biting.

Verb (old).—To cheat; to scold; to hoax. [Nares thinks it a compound of cross and bite. It has suffered a double abbreviation, both its components being used substantively and verbally in the same sense.] For synonyms, see Stiff.

1581. Riche, Farewell to Militarie Profession. She was such a devill of her tongue, and would so crossebite hym with suche tauntes and spightful quippes.

1593. G. Harvey, New Letter, in wks. I., 274 (Grosart). If he playeth at fast and loose … whom shall he conny catch, or crosbite, but his cast-away selfe.

1717. Prior, Alma, canto iii. As Nature slily had thought fit For some by ends to cross-bit wit.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. I know—I know—ugh—but I’ll cross-bite him.

Cross-Biter, subs. (old).—A cheat; swindler; or hoaxer. [From cross-bite, verb (q.v.), + er.] Fr., un goureur.

1592. Robert Greene, Blacke Bookes Messenger [part of title]. Laying open the Life and Death of Ned Browne, one of the most notable Cutpurses, cros-biters, and Coneycatchers.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), II., 108, s.v.

1681. A Dialogue, etc., in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), II., 126. I think nobody knows what he is; but I take him to be a cross-biter.

Cross-Biting, verbal subs. (old).—A deception; cheat; or hoax. Cf., Cross-bite, verb.

1576. Whetstone, Rocke of Regard, p. 50. Crosbiting, a kind of cousoning, under the couler of friendship; and in his epistle to the readers, The cheter will fume to see his crosbiting and cunning shiftes decyphered.

1586. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, IV., v. Like one that is employed in catzerie [knavery] and crossbiting.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 53 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). He [Lawrence Crosbiter] first vsed that art which now is named crosbiting, and from whose name this damned art (crosbiting) tooke her first call, as if Laurence Crosbiter first inuented the same. [220]

1839. W. H. Ainsworth, J. Sheppard, p. 126, ed. 1840. ‘The devil,’ ejaculated Jonathan. ‘Here’s a cross-bite.’

Cross-Buttock, subs. (athletics’).—A peculiar throw in wrestling. Also used as a verb and verbal subs.

1690. D’Urfey, Collin’s Walk, c. ii., p. 74. When th’ hardy Major, skilled in Wars, To make quick end of fight prepares, By Strength or’e buttock cross to hawl him, And with a trip i’ th’ Inturn maul him.

1742. ‘Handbill,’ in P. Egan’s Boxiana, vol. I., p. 45. I doubt not but I shall prove the truth of what I have asserted, by pegs, darts, hard blows, falls, and cross-buttocks.

1760. Smollett, L. Greaves, vol. II., ch. viii. He was on his legs again … but, instead of accomplishing his purpose, he received a cross-buttock.

1836. M. Scott, Cringle’s Log, ch. 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.

1860. Chambers’ Journal, vol. XIII., p. 347. He is initiated into all the mysteries of ‘hitting’ and ‘counterhitting,’ ‘stopping’ and ‘infighting,’ ‘the suit in chancery, and the cross-buttock.’

Cross-Chap.—See Cross, subs., sense 2.

Cross-Cove.—See Cross, subs., sense 2.

Cross-Crib, subs. (thieves’ and vagrants’).—A thieves’ hotel. [From cross (q.v., subs., sense 2), a thief, + crib (q.v., subs., sense 2), a place of abode.]

Cross-Drum, subs. (thieves’).—A thieves’ tavern. [From cross (q.v., subs., sense 2), a thief, + drum, a house or lodging.]

Crosser, subs. (sporting).—One who arranges or takes part in a cross (q.v., subs., sense 1).

1834. Ainsworth, Rookwood. The mill is o’er, the crosser crost, The loser’s won, the vinner’s lost!

Cross-Fan or Cross-Fam, subs. (thieves’).—Robbery from the person done cross-fammed, that is, with one hand (fam) across, and dissembling the action of, the other.

c. 1869. Broadside Ballad, ‘The Chickaleary Cove.’ Off to Paris I shall go, to show a thing or two, To the ‘dipping blokes’ what hangs about the caffies, How to do a cross-fan for a ‘super’ or a ‘slang.’

Verb (thieves’).—To rob from the person.—See subs.

Cross-Kid or Cross-Quid, verb (thieves’).—To question; cross-examine. [Kid = to quiz; hoax, or jest.] Fr., faire la jactance; also faire saigner du nez.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macmillan’s Mag., XL., 502. A reeler [policeman] came to the cell and cross-kidded (examined) me.

Cross-Man.—See Cross, subs., sense 2.

Cross-Patch, subs. (colloquial).—An ill-natured, ill-tempered person. As in the old nursery rhyme:

Cross-patch, Draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin.—Lit.

Not mentioned in Ash.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Cross-patch: a peevish boy or girl.

1841. Comic Almanack, p. 258. Miss Pigeon’s trying to look shy, He’s calling her crosspatch!

Cross the Damp-Pot, verbal phr. (tailors’).—To cross the Atlantic.—Cf., Big drink, Damp-pot, puddle, and Herring-pond. [221]

Crow, subs. (thieves’).—1. A confederate on watch whilst another steals. Generally a man, but occasionally a woman acts as a crow; the latter is also called a canary (q.v., subs., sense 4).

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 286. One keeps a look-out to see there is no person near to detect them. This person is termed a ‘crow.’ If anyone should be near, the ‘crow’ gives a signal, and then decamps.

1862. Cornhill Mag., VI., 648. Occasionally they [women] assist at a burglary … remaining outside and keeping watch; they are then called crows.

1889. Answers, 18 May, p. 390, col. 2. A crow (confederate) is next planted outside, or in an upper window, if there be one, to give notice, by means of signals or a cord reaching to the workers, of the approach of a peeler or chance passer-by.

2. (common).—A piece of unexpected luck; a ‘fluke’; generally ‘a regular crow.’ [Originally billiards’ in which it = a hazard not played for, i.e., a ‘fluke’: no doubt a corruption of the Fr. raccroc.] A French equivalent is mettre dans le mille.

To eat crow.—See Broiled crow.

A crow to pluck, to pull, or to pick with one, phr. (colloquial). Something demanding explanation: a misunderstanding to clear; a disagreeable matter to settle. Sometimes, a bone to pick, etc.

1593. Shakspeare, Comedy of Errors, iii., 1. If a crow help us in, sirrah, we’ll pluck a crow together.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 302. So I coulde plucke a crowe wyth Poet Martiall for calling it putre halec.

1659. Howell, Proverbs. I have a goose to pluck with you.

1664. Butler, Hudibras, pt. II., 2. If not, resolve before we go, That you and i must pull a crow.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. To pluck a crow: To reprove anyone for a fault committed; to settle a dispute.

1819. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor, ch. xv. If these Ravenswood cases be called over the coals in the House of Peers, you will find that the Marquis will have a crow to pluck with you.

Crowd, subs. (old).—A fiddle.

Crowder, subs. (theatrical).—1. A large audience.

1883. Referee, 18 March, p. 3, col. 2. If the proprietors want, in the way of audiences, to be able to boast of crowders, they should take care to avoid giving pain.

2. (old).—A fiddler.

Crow-Eater, subs. (colonial).—A lazybones who prefers subsisting upon what he can pick up, as the crows do, to putting himself to the trouble of working for it. For synonyms, see Loafer.

Crow-Fair, subs. (old).—A gathering of clergymen.

Crown, verb (thieves’).—To inspect a window with a view to operations.

Crown and Feathers, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Crowner, subs. (old colloquial).—A coroner. [A corruption of ‘coroner.’]

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, Act v., Sc. 1. Sec. Cl. The crowner hath sat on her, and finds it Christian burial.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, in wks. V., 220. And if any drowne themselues in them, their crowners sit vpon them.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. ii. You’ll be to Connecticut afore they can wake up the crowner and summon a jury. [222]

Crown-Office, subs. (old).—The head. For synonyms, see Crumpet. Quoted by Grose [1785].

Crow’s-Foot, subs. (thieves’).—The Government broad arrow; also (in pl.) wrinkles at the outside corners of the eyes.

Cruel or Cruelly, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—Extremely; very; great. A fashionable intensitive; an Americanism by survival. Cf., Awful and Beastly.

1662. Pepys, Diary, 31 July. Met Captain Brown, of the ‘Rosebush,’ at which he was cruel angry. Ibid, 1666–7, 21 Feb. W. Batten denies all, but is cruel mad.

1848. Bartlett, Dict. of Americanisms, p. 170. Oh, doctor, I am powerful weak, but cruel easy.

Cruelty-Van or Booby-Hutch, subs. (common).—A four-wheeled chaise.

Crug, subs. (Christ’s Hospital).—1. At Hertford, a crust; in the London school, crust and crumb alike.

1820. Lamb, Elia (Christ’s Hospital), p. 322, wks. [ed. 1852]. He had his tea and hot rolls in a morning, while we were battening upon our quarter of a penny loaf—our crug.

2. (Christ’s Hospital).—A Blue; especially an ‘old boy.’

1877. Blanch, Blue Coat Boys, p. 80. All crugs will well remember, etc.

Cruganaler, subs. (Christ’s Hospital). A biscuit given on St. Matthew’s Day. [Orthography dubious. Blanch inclines to the following derivation: ‘The biscuit had once something to do with those nights when bread and beer, with cheese, were substituted for bread-and-butter and milk. Thence the term “crug and aler.” The only argument against this is the fact that the liquid was never dignified with the name of ale, but was invariably called “the swipes.” By another derivation = “hard as nails.” It is then spelt cruggy-nailer.’]

Cruggy, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Hungry. [From crug (q.v.).]

Cruisers, subs. (old).—1. Beggars, or highway spies: ‘those who traversed the road,’ says Grose, ‘to give intelligence of a booty’; also, rogues ‘ready to snap up any booty that may offer.’

2. in sing. (common).—A street-walker.

Crumb, subs. (military).—A pretty woman. Cf., Crummy, adj., senses 1 and 2.

Crumb and Crust Man, subs. phr. (common).—A baker. Cf., Burn-crust and Master of the rolls. Fr., un marchand de larton.

Crumbs.—See Pick up one’s crumbs and chates.

Crummy, adj. (popular).—1. Fat; plump; well-developed. Especially said of high-bosomed and full-figured women: e.g., a crummy piece of goods. [From a provincialism, crum or crom = to stuff, whence crummy = fat or well stuffed.] Fr., fort en mie (an almost literal translation); elle a de ça; Sp., carrilludo = plump-faced.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Crummy (a.): … also fat, rich, plump, or fleshy. [223]

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress p. 14. For they saw, notwithstanding Crib’s honest endeavour, To train down the crummy, ’twas monstrous as ever!

1828. Jon. Bee, Pict. of London, p. 60. A nice, crummy, young woman, who seemed surprised and interested at his situation.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxix., p. 289. ‘There’s the remains of a fine woman about Sairah. Poll, … Too much crumb, you know,’ said Mr. Bailey; ‘too fat, Poll.’

1865. Henry Kingsley, The Hillyars and the Burtons. You’re crummy and I ain’t a going to deny it. But you ain’t what I’d call fat.

2. (American).—Comely. Cf., sense 1.

3. (thieves’ and soldiers’).—Lousy.

4. (thieves’).—Plump in the pockets. [Probably an extended use of sense 1.]

Crummy-Doss, subs. (thieves’).—A lousy bed. [From crummy (q.v., sense 3), lousy, + doss (q.v.), a bed.]

Crump, subs. (Winchester College).—A hard hit; a fall. Used also as a verb in very much the same sense as to cob (q.v.). Cf., Barter.

Crumpet, subs. (common).—The head.

English Synonyms. Brain-pan; nut; chump; jazey; steeple; tib or tibby; weather-cock; turnip; upper extremity; top end; twopenny; upper storey; canister; attic; garret; costard; sconce; bonce; nob; lolly; lobb; knowledge-box; block; cocoa-nut; Crown-Office; calabash; top-knot; crust; chimney-pot; onion; chevy; cockloft; top-flat; gable; pumpkin; hat-peg; billiard ball; upper-crust; mazzard; cabaza; dome.

French Synonyms. Le michaud (thieves’); un caillou (popular; properly a pebble or flint); une baigneuse (thieves’); un baptême (popular); une cafetière (thieves’ and vagrants’); une façade (popular); une armoire à glace (popular); une bille (popular: properly a billiard ball); un béguin (popular); une citrouille or un citrouillard (thieves’: literally a pumpkin or gourd); un citron (thieves’); une ardoise (popular); un coco (popular: literally a cocoa-nut); une calebasse (popular = a calabash); une cocarde (popular: properly a cocade); un caisson (common: literally a chest or locker); une coloquinte (thieves’); un chapiteau (popular: literally a capital); une balle (popular); un moule de bonnet (popular: literally a cap-mould); le grenier à sel (popular: properly the [Attic] salt-loft); le baldaquin (a canopy); la boule (popular: the bowl, ball, or sconce); une ciboule (popular: properly a scallion, green onion, or eschalot); la boussole (familiar: in nautical phraseology, the compass); la pomme (popular and thieves’); le tesson (roughs’); la bobine (popular: literally a bobbin or spool); la poire (popular); la boîte au sel (familiar: the [Attic] salt-box); la boîte à sardines (popular = sardine box); la boîte à surprises (general: box of surprises); la tirelire (popular: literally money-box); la hure (properly the head of a wild boar); la gouache (popular); la noisette (popular: literally nut); le char (popular); le réservoir (popular: reservoir or cistern); le bourrichon (popular); la goupine [224](thieves’); la tourte (popular: properly tart or fruit pie); la tronche (thieves’ = chunk (or ‘chump’ of wood); le trognon (popular); la guitare (common); la guimbarde (popular: properly a Jew’s harp); le soliveau (popular; properly a small joist); le bobéchon (popular); la bobinasse (popular); le kiosque (familiar); le vol-au-vent (general); l’omnibus (common); la sorbonne (see remarks under Balmy, sense 2); la caboche (possibly a language word); le soufflet (popular: literally bellows; also the head of a carriage); le jambonneau (popular: properly a small ham); le schako (popular).

German Synonym. Kiefel.

Italian Synonyms. Chiurla or ciurla (a popular term); elmo (literally a helmet); borella (properly a ball); grinta (in orthodox Italian, ringworm of the scalp).

Spanish Synonyms. Chimenea (fem.; literally a chimney. Se le subió el humo á la chimenea, = the smoke has got into his head; said of one who is affected with drink); cholla (fem.); cabezorro (mas.; a big head, an augmentative of cabeza); caletre (mas.; an abusive term, properly understanding, judgment, discernment); campanario (mas.; properly a belfry).

Balmy in one’s crumpet.—See Balmy, sense 2, and the foregoing.

Crumpet-face, subs. (common).—A pock-pitted face.—See Cribbage-face.

Crumpet-Scramble, subs. (popular).—A tea party; tea-fight, muffin-worry, muffin-fight, bitch-party or cooky-shine (q.v.).

1864. Derby Day, p. 16. There are men who do not disdain muffin-worries and crumpet-scrambles.

Crumpler, subs. (common).—1. A cravat.

2. (acrobats’).—See quot.

1874. G. A. Lawrence, Hagarene, ch. xxxviii. Pete knew how to fall as well as any acrobat, and thought no more of a common ‘crumpler,’ than ordinary hunting folks do of a ‘peck’ or stumble.

Crush, subs. (colloquial).—A fashionable name for any large social gathering.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xiii. We fear he had rather go to a crush at Lady Dinadam’s than sup with Boz.

1872. Pall Mall Gaz., 23 June. It would possibly be found that one week of political reunions, concerts, balls, and crushes would be as disastrous in its effects as two months of absinthe drinking.

1890. H. D. Traill, Tea Without Toast. ‘Saturday Songs,’ p. 100. It appeared to us a feast wouldn’t help the cause the least, And we settled that to give a crush at nine Would be greatly more effectual, and far more intellectual, Than at six o’clock to, greatly daring, dine.

Verb (general).—To run away; to decamp. For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

To crush down sides, verbal phr. (Northern).—To keep tryst; also to run to a place of safety.

To crush or burst a pot, cup, or bottle, phr. (old).—To drink (generally in company). See Crack a bottle. [From the Italian crosciare = to decant.] Shakspeare, in The Taming of the Shrew, induction, Sc. 1, uses burst in a similar sense to crack and crush. [225]

1592. Defence of Conny-catching, in Greene’s wks., xi., 43. If euer I brought my Conny but to crush a potte of ale with mee.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act I., Sc. 2. And if you be not of the house of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. vii. I crushed a quart with that jolly boy Jenkin.

Crusher, subs. (popular).—1. A policeman. [Possibly from the slang verb to crush = to run. Crush! was once a favourite signal of the ‘pea and thimble’ and other race-course sharpers, the meaning being: ‘Run! the police!’ The word came into general use, and was ultimately converted into crusher = a policeman.] For synonyms, see Beak, sense 1, and Copper.

c. 1840. Thackeray, The Organ-Boy’s Appeal. Though you set in Vestminster surrounded by your crushers, Harrogant and habsolute like the Hortocrat of hall the Rushers.

1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 137. ‘Proverbial Philosophy.’ There is not one crusher who is proof against the waistcoat pocket.

1853. Diogenes, II., 46. Here in came [to the Court] a crusher (Beg pardon—mean usher), Dragging in a Pot-boy, With great show of joy.

1859. Sala, Tw. Round the Clock, 5 p.m., par. 19. A crusher, or policeman, there is indeed.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 223. Oh, that’s one of the cleverest gentlemen cracksmen out.… The blooming crushers were precious glad when they ‘pinched’ ’im.

2. (popular).—Anything large, fine, or extraordinary. [From crush, to overwhelm or subdue.] Akin to whopper, stinger, corker, bouncer, etc. (q.v.).

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. iv. She is a crusher, ain’t she now?

1870. New York Herald, Jan. The Fenians in England received rather a crusher, if I may use so slang a word, two days ago.

Crushing, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Excellent; first-rate. For synonyms, see a1 and Fizzing.

Crust or Upper Crust, subs. (common).—1. The head. For synonyms, see Crumpet.

Upper-crust (q.v.), also = Society with a capital S.

Crusty-Beau, subs. (old).—One that uses paint and cosmetics to obtain a fine complexion.—Grose.

Crutch, subs. (colloquial).—The ‘fork,’ or inner angle of the thigh.

Crutches are Cheap.—See Wooden-Legs.

Cry, subs. (common).—A large number; a quantity. [From cry, a pack of dogs.] As in Shakspeare’s Coriolanus, Act iii., Scene 3. ‘You common cry of curs.’

Great cry and little wool, phr. (general).—Much ado about nothing. The original text of the proverb was, ‘Great cry and little wool, as the devil said when he sheared the hogs.’ Hudibras alters it into ‘All cry and no wool.’

To cry carrots and turnips, verbal phr. (old).—See quot.

1747. Charles Johnson, Highwaymen and Pyrates, p. 254. He came oft with crying carrots and turnips, a term which rogues use for whipping at the cart’s arse. [226]

To cry [or call] a go, verbal phr. (common).—To give in, as one unable to proceed. An expression borrowed from cribbage signifying that the player who makes use of it has nothing playable in his hand, and is compelled to ‘cry a go.’] Cf., Pass.

1880. Punch’s Almanack. Got three quid; have cried a go with Fan, Game to spend my money like a man.

To cry cupboard, verbal phr. (common).—To be fasting, hungry, banded (q.v.). Fr., n’avoir rien dans le cornet; avoir le buffet vide; and danser devant le buffet.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii.), Footman. Madam, dinner’s upon the table. Col. Faith, I’m glad of it; my belly began to cry cupboard.

Cry matches! intj. phr. (American).—An exclamation of surprise. [Variously derived: (1) a corruption of ‘Crime hatches’; (2) cry = XPI or Christ, no suggestion being offered to account for ‘matches’; and (3) a conversion of the Fr. cré matin, presumably Canadian. Cf., Crimini.] Quoted in N. and Q., 5 S., viii., 491, and ix., 55, 318.

Cry off, verb (general).—To retreat; to back out from an engagement.

1866. London Miscellany, 5 May, p. 201. ‘London Revelations.’ ‘Why this gent told me to bid,’ said the dealer, patting his tingling fingers sharply, ‘and now he wants to cry off.’

To cry stinking fish.—See Stinking fish.

C.T.A., phr. (circus and showmen’s)—The police.

Cub or Unlicked-Cub, subs. (colloquial).—An awkward, sulky girl; a mannerless, uncouth lout of a boy. [In allusion to the clumsiness of bear cubs till their dam has ‘licked them into shape.’] Cf., Bear-leader.

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, Act v., I., 167. Duke. O thou dissembling cub! what wilt thou be When time hath sow’d a grizzle on thy case?

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, Act iv., Sc. 8. A country squire, with the equipage of a wife and two daughters, came to Mrs. Snipwell’s shop while I was there—but, oh Gad! two such unlicked cubs!

1762. Foote, Liar, II., ii. I don’t reckon much upon him: for you know, my dear, what can I do with an awkward, raw, college cub?

1773. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act iv., Sc. 1. ‘A poor contemptible booby that would but disgrace correction.’… ‘An insensible cub.’

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. ix. And Tommy, you are an uncivil young,—young,—young,—I should say cub if I dared, to tell me that you don’t like dining with me any day of the week.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxix. I don’t see why that infernal young cub of a Clive is always meddling in our affairs.

Cubitopolis, subs. (obsolete).—The Warwick and Eccleston Square districts. [From the name of the builders, see quot., 1864.] Cf., Albertopolis, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, The New Jerusalem, Slopers’ Island, etc. (q.v.).

1864. The Press, 12 Nov. Cubitopolis received its felicitous cognomen from Lady Morley.

1866. E. Yates, Land at Last, ch. iii. There are men yet living among us whose mothers had been robbed on their way from Ranelagh in crossing the spot, then a dreary swampy marsh, on which now stands the city of palaces known as cubittopolis.

Cuckoo, subs. (popular).—1. A fool. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head. [227]

1598. Shakspeare, Henry IV., Part I, Act i, Scene 4. O’horseback, ye cuckoo; but afoot he will not budge a foot.

2. (old).—A cuckold.

1594. Shakspeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act v, Scene 2. Cuckoo, Cuckoo, O word of fear Unpleasing to a married ear.

3. (schoolboys’).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Cuckoos, subs. (old).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1612. The Passenger of Benvenuto. These companions, who … carry the impression and marke of the pillerie galley, and of the halter, they call the purse a leafe, and a fleece; money, cuckoes, and aste, and crowns.

Cuckoo’s Nest, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Cucumber-Time, subs. (tailors’).—The dull season. [A correspondent of Notes and Queries (1 S., viii., 439) says it is of German origin, and remarks that many hundreds of London tailors are of German nationality. The German phrase is die saure Gurken Zeit (pickled gherkin-time). Hence, it is said, the expression ‘Tailors are vegetarians,’ because they live now on ‘cucumber’ and now on ‘cabbage.’ Quoted by Grose (1785).] Cf., quot., 1821.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 60. The chap in the corner … has been chaffing Spendall … about his being so cucumberish as to be compelled to ‘gammon the draper’ [which means when a man is without a shirt, and is buttoned up close to his neck, with merely a handkerchief round it to make an appearance of cleanliness, it is termed, ‘gammoning the draper’].

Cud, subs. (popular).—A chew of tobacco; a quid. [An allusion to ‘chewing the cud.’]

Adj. (Winchester College).—1. Pretty; handsome. [Thought to be derived from kudos.]

2. (Christ’s Hospital).—Severe.

Cuddie, subs. (Scots).—A donkey.

Cuddling, verbal subs. (athletic and pugilistic).—Wrestling.

Cuddy, adj. (Christ’s Hospital).—Hard; difficult; said of a lesson. Also Hertfordicé for passy (q.v.). [There is a common hard biscuit called a ‘cuddy-biscuit’ which doubtless has this derivation.]

Cue, verb (thieves’).—To swindle on credit.

Cuff, subs. (old).—1. A foolish old man. [Probably a contraction of cuffin (q.v.).]

1678. C. Cotton, Scarronides, bk. I., p. 3 (ed. 1725). The lustiest Carles thereabouts. Rich cuffs and very sturdy Louts.

1708. Centlivre, Busie Body, Act i. A very extraordinary Bargain I have made truly, if she should be really in Love with this old cuff now.

1760. Colman, Polly Honeycombe, in wks. (1777) IV., 38. They are just here! ten to one the old cuff may not stay with her: I’ll pop into this closet.

2. (tailors’).—A religious man, either real or sham.

To cuff Anthony, phr.—See Anthony.

To beat or cuff Jonas, phr. = To beat the Booby or goose (q.v. under Beat).

Cuffen.—See Cuffin. [228]

Cuffer, subs. (military).—1. A lie; an exaggerated and improbable story.—See quot., under to spin cuffers, and for synonyms, see Whopper.

2. (American thieves’).—A man; also cuffir. [Cf., Cofe, Cove, and Cuffin, from one of which the American form is doubtless derived.]

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

To spin cuffers, phr.—To tell extremely improbable stories; to yarn; to draw the long bow (q.v.).

1888. Colonies and India, 14 Nov. The Australian youth can develop the art of spinning cuffers very successfully on his own account, without any adventitious assistance from a passing Minister of Public Instruction.

Cuffin, Cuffen, or Cuffing, subs. (Old Cant).—A man.

1567. Harman, Caveat, s.v.

1857. Punch, 31 Jan., p. 49. ‘Dear Bill, this Stone-jug.’ In the day-rooms the cuffins [warders] we queer at our ease, And at Darkmans we run the rig just as we please.

Queer-cuffin, subs. (old).—A magistrate. [From queer, an old canting term for bad, + cuffin, a man; literally a bad man—from a rogue’s point of view. Some of the old canting terms are curious enough: e.g., ‘quyer crampringes’ = bolts or fetters; ‘quyer kyn’ = a prison house.] For synonyms, see Beak, sense 2.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candle-light [ed. Gros., III., p. 203]. To the quier cuffing we bing.

1837. Disraeli, Venetia, p. 71. The gentry cove will be romboyld by his dam said a third gypsy. ‘Queer cuffin’ [magistrate or queer man] will be the word if we don’t tour.

Cuff-Shooter, subs. (theatrical).—A beginner; one who gives himself ‘airs’; literally one who shoots his cuffs: having a greater regard for the display of his linen than for his work as an actor.

Cule, Cull, Culing, Culling, verb and verbal subs. (thieves’).—To purloin from the seats of carriages; the act of snatching handbags and other impedimenta therefrom. [Either an abbreviation and corruption of reticule, or from cull, to gather.]

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 444. Snatching reticules from a carriage—culing.

Cull or Cully, subs. (old).—A man; companion; partner. Specifically, a fool; one tricked or imposed upon. Grose seems to make a distinction, for he quotes cull = ‘a man honest or otherwise,’ and cully = ‘a fop, fool, or dupe to women,’ in which sense it was current in the seventeenth century. Thus Rochester (in Satire on the Times), ‘But pimp-fed Ratcliffe’s not a greater cully.’—See also quot., 1771. [Probably a contraction of cullion (Fr., couillon; It., coglione); but derived by Annandale from the Sp. Gypsy chulai, a man; Turkish Gypsy, khulai, a gentleman.]

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874). Culle: a sap-headed fellow.

1676. A Warning for Housekeepers. As we walk along the street, We bite the cullly of his cole.

1693. Congreve, Old Batchelor, Act iii., Sc. 1. Man was by nature woman’s cully made: We never are but by ourselves betrayed.

1712. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. i. I won’t let him make me over, by deed and indenture, as his lawful cully. [229]

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Cull (s.): a cant word for a man, either good or bad, but generally means one that a wench has picked up for some naughty purpose.

1760. Johnston, Chrysal, ii., 17. Your secret, grave, old, rich culls, just fit to do business with.

1771. Henry Mackenzie, The Man of Feeling, vol. I., ch. xxvi. Harley … sallied forth with a blush of triumph on his face, without taking notice of the sneer of the waiter who, twirling the watch in his hand, made him a profound bow at the door, and whispered to a girl who stood in the passage something in which the word cully was honoured with a particular emphasis.

1823. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxx. ‘Na, Na,’ answered the boy: ‘he is a queer auld cull, he disna frequent wi’ other folk.’

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 75 (ed. 1854). A famous cull is my friend Attie—an old soldier—has seen the world, and knows what is what.

1839. W. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard (1889), p. 14. Capital trick of the cull in the cloak to make another person’s brain stand the brunt for his own—capital!

1889. Puck’s Library, April, p. 18. Showman: Look-a-here, cully, yer don’t ’xpect ter git a lecture on nat’l history ’n’a free ticket ter the antipoads fer a quarter, do yer?

Rum cull, subs. (theatrical).—The manager of a theatre; also called a cully-gorger.

Culls, subs. (old).—The testes.

b. 1574, d. 1637. Ben Jonson. Claw a churl by the culls, and he’ll shite in your fist.

Cully-Gorger, subs. (theatrical).—The manager of a theatre; a companion or brother actor. [Cully (q.v.) = a man + gorger (q.v.), a swell, employer, or boss; literally a well-dressed man.]

Cully-Shangy, subs. (common).—Copulation. For synonyms, see Greens.

18(?). Carey, Life in Paris, p. 276, s.v.

Culminate, verb (University: obsolete).—To mount a coach-box.

1803. Gradus ad Cantabrigiam, s.v.

Culty-Gun, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Cum-Annexis, subs. (West Indian).—One’s belongings; specially applied to one’s wife and children. [In allusion to a legal locution connected with land transfer in Demerara. The outlying farms of estates come under this general description; e.g., Belair, (a well-known property) cum annexis includes, amongst others, estates formerly known as La Penitence, Turkeyen, Cuming’s Lodge, Industry, etc., and in official documents this congeries of estates is spoken of as Belair cum annexis.]

Cummer, subs. (common).—An intimate. For synonyms, see Chum.

Cundum, subs. (old).—An obsolete appliance worn in the act of coition, to prevent infection: so-called from the name of its inventor, a colonel in the Guards, temp., Charles II.: the modern equivalent is known as a French letter (q.v.).

1767. Rochester, Roscommon, and Dorset, A Panegyric upon Cundum, p. 208. Happy the man who in his pocket keeps, Whether with green or scarlet riband bound, A well-made cundum.

Cunnilinge, verb (venery).—To tongue a woman. [Latin cunnilingus, a form which occurs in Martial, from cunnus = the female pudendum + lingo. Cf., Tip the velvet.] [230]

Cunnilingist, subs. (venery).—A man (or woman) addicted to the practice of tonguing the female pudendum.

Cunny-haunted, adj. phr. (popular).—Lecherous.

Cunny-Thumbed, adj. (old).—1. Said of a person who doubles the fist with the thumb turned inwards.

2. (schoolboys’).—Said of one who shoots his marble—as at ring-taw or shoot hole—with the first phalange of the thumb from the second of the forefinger, instead of with the knuckle of the thumb from the first of the forefinger.

Cunt, subs. (common).—The female pudendum; Latin cunnus. A language word, but vulgar in usage. Diminutives of varying degrees are cunnicle, cunnikin, cuntkin, cuntlet, cunny. Derivatives, the result of an obvious play upon words (old), are cunny-catcher and cunny-burrow ferret (Urquhart), for which see Cream-stick; cunny-hunter = a whoremonger; and Cunny-skin (Durfey), for which see Fleece. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

1383. Chauce, The Miller’s Tale. Full prively he caught her by the queint, And sayde Ywis but if I have my will, For derne love of thee, lemman, I spill.

1622. Fletcher, Spanish Curate. They write sunt with a C, which is abominable.

1647–80. Rochester, The Royal Angler. However weak and slender in the string, Bait it with cunt, and it will hold a king.

1768. Sterne, The Sentimental Journey. So that, when I stretched out my hand, I caught hold of the fille-de-chambre’s ——.

Cunt-Pensioner, subs. (vulgar).—A male keep; one who lives by the prostitution of a wife, a mistress, a daughter, or any other female connection.

Cunt-Struck, adj. (vulgar).—Enamoured of women: who may, in turn, be either Cock-smitten or Prick-struck (q.v.).

Cup-and-Saucer Player, subs. phr. (theatrical).—A term of derision applied to the players associated with the late T. W. Robertson’s comedies.

Cupboard Love, subs. phr. (popular).—Interested affection: a variant of the saw that ‘the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.’ Cf., Rice-Christian.

c. 1661. Poor Robin [Herrick]. A cupboard love is seldom true, A love sincere is found in few.

1787. Miss Seward, Letters [ed. 1811], vol. II., p. 103. This last and long-enduring passion [of Dr. Johnson] for Mrs. Thrale was, however, composed perhaps of cupboard love, Platonic love, and vanity tickled and gratified.

1885. Girl’s Own Paper, VI., 830. When tea-time comes and milk, she’s not above Increasing her caresses, till we hear A whisper now and then of cupboard love.

Cupid.—See Fancy Joseph.

Cups. In one’s cups, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Drunk. Cf., Cup-shot, and for synonyms, see Screwed.

1593. Nashe, Christ’s Teares, in wks. IV., 228 (Grosart). Those whom the Sunne sees not in a month together, I nowe see in their cuppes and their jolitie.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, III., in wks. (1720), iv., 64. I shall take my leave: you are in your cups: you will wish you had heard me. [231]

1693. Dryden, Juvenal, x. 288. Which in his cups the bowsy poet sings.

1712. Arbuthnot, History of John Bull, pt. II., ch. iv. She used to come home in her cups, and break the china and the locking-glasses.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Brothers of Birchington). Gets tipsy whenever he dines or he sups, And is wont to come quarrelsome home in his cups.

1864. Mark Lemon, Jest Book, p. 185 [of one remarkable at once for Bacchanalian devotion and large and startling eyes]. ‘I always know when he has been in his cups by the state of his saucers.’

Cup-Shot, adj. (old).—Drunk.

1639. Fuller, Holy War, bk. III., ch. xvi. The spring-tide of their mirth so drowned their souls that the Turks coming in upon them cut every one of their throats, to the number of twenty thousand, and quickly they were stabbed with the sword that were cup-shot before.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Cup-Tosser, subs. (common).—See quot.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. Cup Tosser: a juggler (French joueur de gobelet). The old symbol for a juggler was a goblet. The phrase and symbol are derived from the practice of jugglers who toss in the air, twist on a stick, and play all sorts of tricks with goblets or cups.

Curate, subs. (common).—A small poker, or tickler (q.v.), used to save a better one; also a pocket-handkerchief in actual use as against one worn for show. The better article is called a rector. Similarly when a tea-cake is split and buttered, the bottom half, which gets the more butter, is called the rector, and the other, the curate.

Curb, verb (old).—To steal. For synonyms, see Prig.

1615. Greene, Thieves Falling Out (Harl. Misc., VIII., 389). Though you can foyst, nip, prig, lift, curbe, and use the black art, yet you cannot crossbite without the helpe of a woman.

Curbstone-Broker, subs.—See Gutter-snipe.

Curbstone-Sailor, subs. (popular).—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart, and cf., Cruiser, sense 2.

Cure, subs. (common).—An eccentric; a fool; also a funny fellow. Originally applied in many connections, see quot.

1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 201.

What’s a Cure.

Punch has no mission to repeat

The Slang he hears along the street,

But when a curious phrase he seizes,

Punch does—as always—what he pleases.

He finds then in the following word

No merit save that it’s absurd,

But as it’s likely to endure

He asks a question, ‘What’s a cure’?

He heard upon a river boat

The steersman told to move his coat,

The fellow grunted like a boor,

The captain said, ‘Well you’re a cure,’

The mud was thick, the crossing clean—

A well-dressed man, genteel of mien—

Walked through the first (he might be poor)—

The sweeper muttered ‘He’s a cure.’

Two youths talked ‘chaff’ (in phrase polite),

Each asked where ‘tother slept last night,’

‘Me? Up a spout.’ ‘Me? Down a sewer.’

The first: ‘Ain’t you a precious cure.’

A child more apt to eat than spell

Espied his little sweetheart Nell:

Embraced her with affection pure,

And cried, ‘You darling little cure.’

Before a shop stood maidens two

Where fine mock diamonds mocked their view:

‘Oh, Julia! That’s the Koh-i-noor.’

‘That!’ Julia said, ‘You silly cure.’

Lastly, he heard the word applied

To Lord Mayor Finnis in his pride;

A female shouted, ‘Well I’m sure!

Call him a mayor—he looks a cure.’

Thus having heard the word he mentions

Spoken with seven distinctions,

Punch doth the slangy world adjure

To state whence derivation ‘cure.’

[232]

Curious. To do curious, verbal phr. (common).—To act strangely.

Curl. Out of curl, adv. phr. (common).—Out of sorts; out of condition.

To curl up, verbal phr. (familiar).—To be silent; to ‘shut up.’

To curl one’s hair, verb. phr. (common).—To administer chastisement; to ‘go for’ one.

To curl one’s liver or to have one’s liver curled, verbal phr. (common).—To make one feel intensely. Cf., Turn the liver (q.v.).

1877. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, pp. 414–415. This is sport that makes the body’s very liver curl with enjoyment.

Curle, subs. (old).—Clippings of money.—Grose.

Curl Paper, subs. (common).—Paper for the W.C.; toilet paper; ‘wipe-bummatory’ (Urquhart), or ‘sanitary’ paper; bum-fodder; bumf; ammunition.

Curlycues or Carlicues, subs. (common).—Fantastic ornaments worn on the person or used in architecture; also, by implication, a strange line of conduct. Used by Burns in The Merry Muses.

1858. Home Journal, 24 July. Architects have a wonderful predilection for all manner of curlycues and breaks in your roof.

Currants and Plums, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A threepenny bit; or thrums (q.v.).

Currency, subs. (Australian).—A colonist born in Australia, those of English birth being sterling (q.v.). [In allusion to the colonial and home mintages, which, identical in value, present one or two strongly marked points of difference.]

1856. C. Reade, Never Too Late, ch. lxxxv. When gold was found in Victoria he crossed over to that port and robbed. One day he robbed the tent of an old man, a native of the colony, who was digging there with his son, a lad of fifteen. Now these currency lads are very sharp and determined.

Curse. Not to care or be worth a curse, phr. (common).—To care or be worth little—or nothing at all. [Curse may either = (1) the wild cherry; or (2) a corruption of A.S. cerse, watercress. Cf., Continental (q.v.).

1362. William Langland, Vision of Piers Ploughman. Wisdom and witt nowe is not worth a kerse, But if it be carded with cootis as clothers Kemble their woole.

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. xvi., p. 124. With regard to such questions … which one can’t be expected to care a curse about.

187(?). G. R. Sims, Dagonet Ballads (In the Workhouse). I care not a curse for the guardians.

Curse of God, subs. phr. (old).—A cockade.—Lexicon Balatronicum [1811].

Curse of Scotland, subs. phr. (popular).—The nine of diamonds. [The suggested derivations are inconclusive. The locution has nothing to do with Culloden and the Duke of Cumberland, for the card was nicknamed the justice-clerk, in allusion to the Lord Justice-Clerk Ormistone, who, for his severity in suppressing the [233]Rebellion of 1715, was called the Curse of Scotland. Other suggestions are: (1) That it is derived from the game of Pope Joan, the nine of diamonds there being called the ‘pope,’ of whom the Scotch have always stood in horror. (2) The word ‘curse’ is a corruption of cross, and the nine of diamonds is so arranged as to form a St. Andrew’s Cross. (3) That it refers to the arms of Dalrymple, Earl of Stair (viz., or, on a saltire azure, nine lozenges of the field), who was held in abhorrence for the Massacre of Glencoe; or to Colonel Packer, who attended Charles I. on the scaffold, and had for his arms nine lozenges conjoined, or in the heraldic language, Gules, a cross of lozenges. These conflicting views were discussed at length in Notes and Queries, 1 S., i., 61, 90; iii., 22, 253, 423, 483; v., 619; 3 S., xii., 24, 96; 4 S., vi., 194, 289; also, see Chambers’ Encyclopædia.]

1791. Gent. Mag., vol. LXI., p. 141. The Queen of Clubs is … called Queen Bess … The Nine of Diamonds, the curse of Scotland.

Cursitor or Cursetor, subs. (old).—A low tramp or vagabond. [Properly, a cursitor (unde Cursitor Street, in Chancery Lane) was a clerk in the Court of Chancery, whose business was to make out original writs; also a courier or runner. From the Latin.]

Curtain-Raiser, subs. (theatrical).—A short ‘piece’ to bring up the curtain and play in the house. Fr., lever de rideau.

1889. Daily News, 2 Sept., p. 3, col. 4. Miss Grace Hawthorne is about to try an original experiment in what are known as curtain-raisers.

Curtall or Curtail, subs. (old).—A vagabond and thief.—See quots.

1560. John Awdeley, Fraternitye of Vacabondes (1869. English Dialect Society’s Reprint), p. 4. A curtall is much like to the Vpright man, but hys authority is not fully so great. He vseth commonly to go with a short cloke, like to grey Friers, and his woman with him in like liuery, which he calleth his altham if she be hys.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Curtails: thieves who cut off pieces of stuff hanging out of shop windows; the tails of women’s gowns, etc.; also thieves wearing short jackets.

Verb (old).—To cut off. Originally a cant word—vide Hudibras, and Bacchus and Venus, 1737.

Cuse, subs. (Winchester College).—A book in which a record is kept of the ‘marks’ in each division: its name to dons is ‘classicus paper’; also used for the weekly order.

Cushion, verb (thieves’).—To hide or conceal. Variants are, stall off; stow; slum. Sp., Hacer la agachadiza = to hide oneself.

To deserve the cushion, verbal phr. (old).—On the birth of a child a man was said to deserve the cushion; i.e., the symbol of rest from labour.

Cushion-Smiter or -Thumper, subs. (common).—A clergyman. [Derivation obvious.] For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

1843. Thackeray, Irish Sketch Book, ch. xx. For what a number of such loud nothings, windy, emphatic tropes and metaphors, spoken, not for God’s glory, but the preacher’s, will many a cushion-thumper have to answer!

1849. Thackeray, in Scribn. Mag., June, 1887, p. 686. Cushion-thumpers and High and Low Church extatics.

1889. Modern Society, 19 Oct., p. 1294, col. 1. On a recent occasion a [234]cushion-thumper received a challenge from the miserable sinner whom he so volubly denounced.

Cuss, subs. (American).—A man, cove, or cull. Generally, but not necessarily, disparaging. [Of uncertain derivation: may be either from ‘curse’ or from ‘customer.’] For synonyms, see Cove. Also see specific use in quot., 1883.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 25 July, p. 2, col. 1. I’ll give Tom his due, and say of him that for flumoxing a cuss (Custom House Officer) or working the weed, I don’t know any one he couldn’t give a chalk to and beat ’em.

1888. F. R. Stockton, Rudder Grange, ch. xii. The man that lives up this lane is a mean, stingy cuss, with a wicked dog, and it’s no good to go there.

Cussedness, subs. (American).—Generally in such phrases as ‘pure cussedness,’ the ‘cussedness of things,’ etc. Mischievousness, or resolution, or courage may be implied; but in the Coventry plays cursydnesse signified sheer wickedness and malignity.

18(?). Col. John Hay, Song of the Prairie Belle. Through the hot, black breath of the burnin’ boat Jim Bludsoe’s voice was heard, And they all had trust in his cussedness, And knowed he would keep his word.

1886. Detroit Free Press, Aug. A more mischievous boy never came under my observation. Pure cussedness was spread out all over him.

1888. … Mr. Potter of Texas (Ry. ed.), p. 122. The extraordinary belief he had of transatlantic blood-thirstiness, scalping, and general cussedness engendered by these books.

1890. Notes and Queries, 7 S., ix., 29 Mar., p. 244. To swear at something when ‘the cussedness of things’ manifests itself in any specially exasperating shape seems to be recognised as a necessity by a large majority of the adult male population of the globe.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 May, p. 4, col. 2. The cause of the difficulty is the pestilent cussedness of the working man.

Cuss Out, verb (common).—To talk down, to flummox by the lip (q.v.).

1881. New York Times, 18 Dec. [quoted in N. and Q., 6 S., v., 65]. He cussed that fellow out, i.e., he annihilated him verbally.

Customer, subs. (common).—A man; fellow; cove; cuss; or chap; with a certain qualification, e.g. An ‘ugly customer’ = a dangerous opponent; a queer customer = a suspicious person, one to be suspected; a ‘rum customer’ = an odd fish. For synonyms, see Cove.

1818. P. Egan, Boxiana, I., 19. Here … many an ugly customer has met with his match, and been frightened in his turn.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. vi. Some of these good-looking young gentlemen are ‘ugly customers’ enough when their blood is up.

1870. London Figaro, 8 Oct. Customers would then know the kind of ‘customers’ of tradesmen with whom they had to deal.

Customhouse-Officer, subs. (common).—An aperient pill. [Because it effects a clearance.] Cf., Chimney-sweep.

Cut, subs. (common).—1. A stage or degree.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 183. It looked so knowing, with the front garden, and the green railings, and the brass knocker, and all that—I really thought it was a cut above me.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. iv., p. 29. Any other man in the wide world, I am equal to; but Sylme is, I frankly confess, a great many cuts above me.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, vol. II., p. 123. He’s a cut above me a precious sight.

2. (popular).—A refusal to acknowledge acquaintance, or to associate, with another person.—See verbal sense. A cut direct [235]or dead cut is a conspicuous non-acknowledgment of an acquaintance.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 55. His acquaintances were numerous, but they seldom lasted longer than a few days, when he made no hesitation in giving them the cut-direct.

1836. Marryat, Japhet, ch. lii. He was a noted duellist, had killed his three or four men, and a cut direct from any person was, with him, sufficient ground for sending a friend.

3. (theatrical).—Mutilation of the ‘book’ of a play, opera, etc.

1779. Sheridan, The Critic, Act ii., Sc. 2. Puff (speaking of the mutilation of his play): Hey, what the plague!—what a cut is here!

1883. Saturday Review, 21 April, p. 501, col. 2. Mr. Mackenzie had not only modified the energy of the orchestra, but had shortened the opera by some judicious cuts.

4. (general).—A snub or set-down. Cf., sense 2.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 143. One of the greatest cuts I ever knew was once when a man was speaking of Chris. Newman and saying what a good sort he was, upon which the other said, ‘What do you mean by saying that? Why, d— me, sir, he never called for a bottle of champagne in his life!’

Adj. (old).—Tipsy; on the cut = on the spree. For synonyms, see Screwed.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Cut (a.) … also an epithet applied to one who is drunk, as, He is deeply cut, that is, he is so drunk, that he can neither stand nor go.

1830. Pierce Egan, Finish to Life in London, p. 214. Terry was terribly cut.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. xli. I was so cut last night, old boy! Hopkins says to Tomkins (with amiable confidence).

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.

Verb (old).—1. To talk.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66.

To cutte, to say.

To cut benle, to speake gentle.

To cut bene whydds, to speake or give good words.

To cutte quyer whyddes, to geue euil words or evil language.

1622. Head and Kirkman, The English Rogue. This Doxie Dell can cut bien whids, and drill well for a win.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. Meg’s true-bred; she’s the last in the gang that will start—but she has some queer ways, and often cuts queer words.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 230 (ed. 1864). Here I am, pal Peter; and here are my two chums, Rust and Wilder. Cut the whid.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. ix. The infatuated young man went on cutting his jokes at the Admiral’s expense, fancying that all the world was laughing with him.

2. (colloquial).—To disown, ignore, or avoid associating with, a person. Sometimes to cut dead.—See Cut, subs., sense 2. An article in the Monthly Magazine for 1798 cites cut as a current peculiarity of expression, and says that some had tried to change it into ‘spear,’ but had failed.

1634. S. Rowley, Noble Souldier, Act ii., Sc. 1. Why shud a Souldier, being the world’s right arme, Be cut thus by the left, a Courtier?

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1085. I no sooner learned he was at the ‘Black Bull’ than I determined to cut the old codger completely.

1811. Miss Austen, Sense and Sensibility, ch. xliv. That he had cut me ever since my marriage, I had seen without surprise or resentment.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xli. ‘You are angry with her because she cut you,’ growls Clive. ‘You know you said she cut you, or forgot you; and your vanity’s wounded.’

1864. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. viii. It was only a slight satisfaction to hear that she has utterly lost [236]sight of my rival, and promises to cut him dead the first time they meet.

1870. Daily News, 26 May, ‘Leader.’ The old Greeks dedicated an altar to the Unknown God, for fear of cutting some jealous but obscure deity through ignorance of his existence and attributes.

Also as verbal substantive, cutting.

1840. Mrs. Gore, The Dowager, ch. xiii. [On the Continent.] Every person’s place in Society is so definite … that except in cases of some enormous breach of propriety, no person once established can ever be expelled. Unless for cogent reasons, he could not have been there at all.… There is no talk of ‘cutting.’ Such an outrage would reflect on the perpetrator rather than on the person ‘cut.’ All the vulgar caprices consequent on a shifting state of society are unknown.

3. (general).—Also to cut and run, cut it, cut one’s lucky, cut one’s stick, cut off, cut away, etc. To depart more or less hurriedly and perforce. [Originally nautical—to cut the cable and run before the wind.] Cut over and cut away formerly bore precisely the same meanings. For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

1570. Lambarde, Perambulation of Kent. Let me cut over to Watling Streete.

1593. Nashe, Countercuffe to Martin Junior, in wks., vol. I., p. 79. He came latelie ouer-sea into Kent, fro thence he cut ouer into Essex at Grauesende.

1678. C. Cotton, Scarronides, bk. IV., p. 86 (ed. 1725). Put on the Wings that used to bear ye, And cut away to Carthage quickly.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 51. Explain the philosophical meaning of the sentence. ‘He cut away from the crushers as quick as a flash of lightning thro’ a gooseberry bush.’

1857. Dickens, Little Dorrit, bk. I., ch. xxxi., p. 238. ‘I see precious well,’ said Mr. Tip, rising, ‘that I shall get no sensible or fair argument here to-night, and so the best thing I can do is to cut.’

1888. Rider Haggard, Mr. Meeson’s Will [in Illus. Lond. News, Summer Number], p. 2, col. 3. Off you go! and mind you don’t set foot in Pompadour Hall, Mr. Meeson’s seat, unless it is to get your clothes. Come, cut.

4. (trade).—To compete in business; to under-sell. A cutting trade is one where profits are reduced to a minimum. Also cut under.

1874. H. Mayhew, London Characters, p. 469. All agreed in referring their misery to the spirit of competition on the part of the masters—the same universal desire to cut under.

1883. L. Oliphant, Altiora Peto, II., xxiii., 78. So we dissolved partnership, and I went in with another chap, to work on some kind of principle, but Ned was all the time cutting under us by bringing out some new contrivance—he’s great on electricity, Ned is.

5. (common).—To excel.—See quot., 1853. Also cut out (q.v.).

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. viii. There have been instances of the weaker sex … cutting down, from sheer nerve and determination, the bearded sons of Nimrod themselves.

1884. Referee, 13 April, p. 1, col. 4. George’s performance in the ten miles handicap at Stamford Bridge on Monday—51 min. 20 sec.—is hardly likely to be disturbed for a long time to come, unless he cuts himself.

6. (theatrical).—To strike out portions of a dramatic production, so as to shorten for representation. Cf., subs., sense 3.

7. (University).—To avoid; to absent oneself from. Thus, to cut lecture, to cut chapel, to cut hall, to cut gates are common phrases.

1794. Gentleman’s Mag., Dec., s.v.

1889. Whibley, In Cap and Gown, s.v.

Cut a Caper or Capers, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To play a trick or prank; to behave boisterously [237]or fantastically. [From cut, a verb of action, + caper (q.v.) a freakish proceeding or prank.] Cf., Cut didoes. Fr., battre un huit.

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, Act i., Sc. 3. Sir And. Faith, I can cut a caper.

c. 1626. Dick of Devonshire, in Bullen’s Old Plays, ii., 68. Pike, Could I shake those chaines off I would cutt capers: poore Dick Pike would dance though Death pip’d to him.

1712. Spectator, No. 324. Others are called the dancing-masters, and teach their scholars to cut capers by running swords through their legs.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxxxvii. He … hied him home to his bride, to communicate his happiness, cutting capers, and talking to himself all the way.

1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belle’s Stratagem, Act iv., Sc. 1. Har. Why, isn’t it a shame to see so many stout, well-built young fellows, masquerading, and cutting courants here at home, instead of making the French cut capers to the tune of your cannon; or sweating the Spaniards with an English fandango?

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xx., p. 208. Jonas only laughed at this, and getting down from the coach-top with great alacrity, cut a cumbersome kind of caper in the road.

Cut a Dash, Splash, or Shine, verbal phr. (general).—To make a show; to attract attention through some idiosyncrasy of manner, appearance, or conduct. In the United States to cut a splurge or cut a swathe. Fr., flamber; faire du flafla; and faire flouer.

1771. Foote, Maid of Bath, I. But the squire does not intend to cut a dash till the spring.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxii. Well, they cut as many shines as Uncle Peleg. One frigate they guessed would captivate, sink, or burn our whole navy.

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. xxxi. Gin and water was the ordinary tipple in the front parlour; and any one of its denizens inclined to cut a dash above his neighbours generally did so with a bottom of brandy.

1884. S. L. Clemens (‘M. Twain’), Huckleberry Finn, xxiii., 227. It would a made a cow laugh to see the shines that old idiot cut.

1885. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, 1 Sept., p. 5, col. 4. It is while they are in the land of the living that I should like to see the Australian Crœsuses spending their money. Why don’t they—to use a very vulgar but very expressive locution—cut a splash with their magnificent revenues?

Cut a Figure, verbal phr. (common).—To make an appearance, good or bad.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy. vol. II., ch. ii. You will cut no contemptible figure in a metaphysic circle.

1766. Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, ch. x. When Moses has trimmed them [the horses] a little, they will cut a very tolerable figure.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. i. He certainly cut a droll figure.

Cut and Come Again, phr. (colloquial).—Plenty: i.e., if one cut does not suffice plenty remains to come at again.

1738. Swift, Polite Conv., dial. ii. I vow, ’tis a noble sir-loyn. Neverout. Ay; here’s cut and come again.

1821. Coombe, Dr. Syntax, tour III., ch. iv. Something of bold and new design Dug from the never-failing mine, That’s work’d within your fertile brain, Where all is cut and come again.

Subs. (venery).—The female pudendum.

Cut-Away, subs. (common).—A morning coat. [From comparison to a frock-coat, the lappets in front being ‘cut away.’] For synonyms, see Capella.

1866. London Miscellany, 5 Jan., p. 201. ‘London Revelations.’ He wore a Newmarket cutaway, with huge flaps and pockets monopolising the whole of the skirts, suggestive of being receptacles for plunder. [238]

1870. London Figaro, 8 June. It may be taken as an axiom that if a cutaway has been made for a fashionable man six feet high and broad in proportion, it will never sit nicely on the form of a wee little weaver of five feet two.

1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Oct., p. 3, col. 1. Off flies the frock coat and the flowing necktie; on goes the little red bow and the seedy brown ‘cutaway.’

Cut or Cut up Didoes, Shindies, Shines, etc., verbal phr. (colloquial).—To play pranks or tricks; the same as cut capers.

18(?). Pickings from the Picayune, p. 147. This ’ere Frenchman has been cutting up didoes in my house now for several days; he aint sober onst a week, and breaks all my cheers and tables Mr. Recorder.

1851. New York Tribune, 10 April. Had the Free States been manly enough, true enough, to enact the Wilmot Proviso as to all present or future territories of the Union, we should have had just the same didoes cut up by the chivalry that we have witnessed, and with no more damage to the Union.

Cut Dirt (American), or Cut One’s Stick, Lucky, etc., verbal phr. (common).—To make off; to escape. To cut dirt is clearly an allusion to the throwing up of mud and dust by a horse’s hoofs in fast trotting. Originally, to cut one’s stick refers to the cutting of a staff from a hedge or tree on the occasion of a journey. Cut over and cut away, though vulgarly colloquial in the nineteenth, were in literary use in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. A curious and noteworthy parallel is found in Zechariah xi. 10, where the ‘cutting of a stick’ is described as the symbol of breaking a friendly covenant. Cut one’s stick is sometimes elaborated into amputate one’s mahogany (q.v.). Cut one’s lucky is a simple reference to a ‘lucky’ escape. A Latin equivalent of Cut one’s stick is to be found in Juvenal’s Collige sarcinulas (‘collect the bags’). For synonyms, see Amputate. To cut one’s lucky also signifies to die.

1829. Negro Song [quoted in S. J., and C., p. 287]. He jump up fo’ sartin—he cut dirt and run, While Sambo follow arter wid his ‘tum, tum, tum.’

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers (about 1827), p. 79 (ed. 1857). Hold still, sir; wot’s the use o’ runnin’ arter a man as has made his lucky, and got to t’other end of the Borough by this time.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. xl. ‘And now that the nag has got his wind again,’ said Mr. Chuckster, rising in a graceful manner, ‘I’m afraid I must cut my stick.’

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 136. He [James II.] is the only English sovereign who may be said to have amputated his bludgeon, which, if we were speaking of an ordinary man and not a monarch, we should have rendered by the familiar phrase of cut his stick.

1841. Comic Almanack, p. 278. As sune as ve arived at the sumat had a Werry hextensif vew off Prinse lewy a cuttin his unlukky, folowd by his folowers at Hi pressure spede.

1843. W. M. Thackeray, Lyra Hibernica. ‘The Battle of Limerick.’ … the best use Tommy made Of his famous battle blade, Was to cut his own stick from the Shannon shore.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 150. A man got me to go for some in a orchard, and told me how to manage; but I cut my lucky in a minute.

1853. Western Scenes. Now you cut dirt, and don’t let me see you here again for a coon’s age, you hear?

1855. J. Richardson, Recollections of Last Half Century, vol. II., p. 172. In less than half an hour he swallowed the whole undiluted contents of the bottle, and having done so cut his lucky, and retired.

ante 1871. Border Adventures, p. 231. Now, I say, old hoss, if you don’t hurry up and cut dirt like streak-lightnin’, this child goes arter you, and you look out for a windin’ sheet, you hear?

1880. Punch’s Almanack, p. 3. [239]

Cute, Cuterer, and Cutely, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—Sharp; clever; ‘fly to wot’s wot.’ [A corruption of acute.] Fr., avoir le nez creux. For synonyms, see Knowing. So also cuteness, the quality or character of being cute.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Cute (a): sharp, witty, ingenious, ready, etc.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2 ed.). Cute (a low word used instead of (Acute): witty.

1762. Foote, Orators, Act i. I did speechify once at a vestry concerning new lettering the church buckets, and came off cutely enough.

1765. Foote, Commissary, III. I did not know but they might be after, more cuterer now in catching their larning.

1768. Goldsmith, Good Natured Man, Act ii. Well, who could have thought so innocent a face could cover so much ’cuteness!

1768. Goldsmith, Good Natured Man, Act iv. Truly, madam, I write and indite but poorly. I never was ’cute at my learning.

1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xxxv. We can leave them to their own devices; they’re both pretty ’cute.

1884. C. Gibbon, By Mead and Stream, ch. xx. Dressed in the latest City fashion—for there is a City fashion, designed apparently to combine the elegance of the West end with a suggestion of superhuman ‘cuteness.’

Cut Fine, verbal phr. (common).—To narrow down to a minimum.

Cut In, verbal phr. (common).—To join in suddenly and without ceremony; to intrude, or chip in (q.v.). Also substantively.

1819. Scott, Bride of Lammermoor, ch. xxi. He was afraid you would cut in and carry off the girl.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxiv., p. 246. I advise you to keep your own counsel, and to avoid tittle-tattle, and not to cut in where you’re not wanted.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. vii. ‘Most injudicious,’ cut in the Major.

1864. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. vi. Keeping all her after-supper waltzes for him religiously, though half the men in town were trying to cut in.

1883. Referee, 17 June, p. 7, col. 4. I am anxious to have a cut in and get a big advertisement for nothing.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. v. ‘In short,’ cut in my uncle unceremoniously, ‘you have seen enough of Jack’s life to know something about it?’

Cut Into, verbal phr. (Winchester College).—Originally to hit one with a ‘ground ash.’ The office was exercised by Bible-clerks upon a ‘man’ kicking up a row when ‘up to books.’ Now generally used in the sense of to correct in a less formal manner than tunding (q.v.).

Cut It, verbal phr. (common).—To move off quickly; to run away, or cut dirt (q.v.). For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 36. Once a week we cut it From the workhouse gate.

Intj. phr. (common).—‘Cease!’ ‘Stow it!’ ‘Stash it!’—A forcible injunction to desist and be off. Also cut that! or simply cut!

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, II., 240. Then first he seemed to awake to his danger, and uttered a stentorian cry of terror, that rang through the night, and made two [unprofessional] of his three captors tremble. ‘Cut that,’ said Green [professional] sternly, ‘or you’ll get into trouble.’ Mr. Hardie lowered his voice directly.

Cut it Fat, verbal phr. (general).—To show off; to make a display; to ‘come it strong’; ‘put on side,’ or cut a dash (q.v.).

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 54. Gentlemen, in alarming waistcoats, [240]and steel watch-guards, promenading about, three abreast, with surprising dignity (or as the gentleman in the next box facetiously observes, ‘cutting it uncommon fat!’)

1841. Comic Almanack, ‘Christmas Fair.’ A goose, even tailors have, who cut it fat, And use the goose itself to get a flat.

1887. Baumann, Londonismen. ‘A slang ditty,’ p. v. But, there, it don’t matter, Since to cut it still fatter, By ’ook and by crook Ve’ve got up this book.

Cut Mutton, verbal phr. (old).—To partake of one’s hospitality. Cf., ‘to break bread’ with one.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xxxii. Bungay … hoped to have the pleasure of seeing both gents to cut mutton with him before long.

Cut Off One’s Head, verbal phr. (American political).—Used when an official’s term of office has come to an end through change of Government, or supercession in other ways. Also to decapitate and to behead.

1869. New York Herald, 5 Aug. ‘The axe,’ wrote a correspondent from Washington, ‘is still doing its bloody work, and heads are flying off in all directions. The clerks in the Treasury Department begin to feel anxious, as the work of decapitation will soon make an end of them also.’

1872. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. ‘Leader.’ At the commencement of any fresh Presidency, hundreds of Democratic employés have their heads cut off to make room for Republicans who, in their turn, will be decapitated when the Democrats get the upper hand again.

Cut of One’s Jib, subs. phr. (nautical).—The general appearance. [From the foremost sail of a ship, which is frequently indicative of a vessel’s character. A strange sail is judged by the cut of its jib.]

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple [ed. 1846], vol. I., ch. ii., p. 9. I axes you because I see you’re a sailor by the cut of your jib.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. iv. For I seed by the cut of the feller’s jib that he was a preacher.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge (ed. 18), p. 363. Oh, I see—there is a smart hand, in the gay jacket there, who does not seem to belong to your crew—a good seaman, evidently, by the cut of his jib.

1881. Buchanan, God and the Man, ch. xvi. By the voice of you, by the rigs of you, and by the cut of your precious jib.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. iii. My democratic wide-awake and the republican cut of my jib, said he looking down at his clothes.

Cut One’s Cart, verbal phr. (vagrants’)—See quot.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 339. I’ve seen them doze and sleep against the door. They like to be there before anyone cuts their cart (exposes their tricks).

Cut One’s Comb, verbal phr. (common).—To snub; to lower conceit.

1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Supererog., in wks. II., 283. Can … loue quench, or Zeale luke warme, or valour manicle, or, excellencie mew-vpp, or perfection geld, or supererogation combe-cutt itselfe?

1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, IV., iv. To see ten men ride after me in watchet liveries, with orange-tawny caps,—’twill cut his comb, i’ faith.

ed. 1717. Ned Ward, wks. II., 302. If you prate one word more, I shall slice a sliver off your coxcomb, and teach you a little more manners before I’ve done with you.

1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. ii. I will take my own time; and all the Counts in Cumberland shall not cut my comb.

Cut One’s Eyes, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To get suspicious.

Cut One’s Eye (or Wisdom) Teeth, verbal phr. (common).—To learn ‘what’s what.’ [A play [241]upon the word ‘eye,’ with an allusion to the canine teeth.]

Cut One’s Own Grass, verbal phr. (prison).—To get one’s own living. Cf., Paddle one’s own canoe.

Cut Out, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To debar; deprive of advantage; supersede. Cf., Cut, verb, sense 5. [Originally a nautical term; from cutting out a ship in an enemy’s port.]

1779. R. Cumberland, Wheel of Fortune, Act iv., Sc. 3. I suspect your heart inclines to Captain Woodville; and now he is come to England, I suppose I am likely to be cut out.

1856. C. Bronté, Professor, ch. iii. There’s Waddy—Sam Waddy—making up to her; won’t I cut him out?

1863. Hon. Mrs. Norton, Lost and Saved, p. 182. One woman has often cut another out, whose superiority, if dissected and analysed, would be found to be composed of the carriage that whirled her up to the door, the nimble footman who rapped at it, the soft carpet on the handsome staircase, the drawing-room to which it led, and the gilt stand full of geraniums, heliotropes, and roses in the curtained window.

1864. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. xxv. Here, as elsewhere, she pursued her favourite amusement, remorselessly. Fallowfield called it ‘her cutting out expeditions.’ She used to watch till a mother and daughter had, between them, secured a good matrimonial prize, and then employ her fascinations on the captured one.

Cut Out of, verbal phr. (common).—To ‘do,’ or be done, out of.

Cuts, subs. (tailors’).—Scissors. ‘Small cuts’ = button-hole scissors.

Cut Saucy.—See Saucy.

Cut Short. (Generally cut it short!) phr. (common).—A common injunction not to be prolix. For synonyms, see Stow it.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lvii., p. 478. ‘Come, then!’ he gruffly cried to her, ‘You hear what she says. Cut it short, and tell her.’

1878. Jas. Payn, By Proxy, ch. xvi. Let us cut this short, Pennicuick. There is nothing more of importance to be said, and such talk is painful to both of us.

Cutter, subs. (old).—A robber; a bully. [From committing acts of violence like those ascribed to the Mohocks; or, from cutting purses. Cotgrave translates cutter (or swash-buckler) by balaffreux, taillebras, fendeur de naseaux. Coles has, ‘A cutter (or robber), gladiator, latro.’] This ancient cant word now survives in the phrase, ‘to swear like a cutter.’

c. 1589. Nashe, Month’s Mind, in wks., vol. I., p. 152. These like lustie cutters … aduentured to lay holde fast on our purses, and like strong theeues in deed proffered to robbe vs of all our monnie.

1633. Rowley, Match at Midn., O. Pl., vii., 353. He’s out of cash, and thou know’st, by cutter’s law we are bound to relieve one another.

1663. Abraham Cowley, The Cutter of Coleman St. [Title of play.]

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. Fifty thousand decuses, the spoils of five thousand bullies, cutters, and spendthrifts.

Cut the Line, Rope, or String, verbal phr. (thieves’).—To cut a story short; to stop yarning.—See Cave.

Cut the Painter, verbal phr. (nautical). 1. To decamp; make off—secretly and suddenly. For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

2. To die.—See Aloft and Hop the twig. [242]

Cutting, verbal subs. and ppl. adj. (trade).—1. The process of underselling; synonymous with competition of the keenest kind.—See Cut, verb, sense 4.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 372. There is great competition in the trade, and much of what is called cutting, or one tradesman underselling another. Ibid., vol. II., p. 232. Those employers who seek to reduce the prices of a trade are known technologically as cutting employers, in contradistinction to the standard employers, or those who pay their workpeople, and sell their goods at the ordinary rates.

1863. Once a Week, vol. VIII., p. 552. At first sight it would seem that the poor men got a better article for less money than the rich and well-to-do classes; but a little inquiry into the method by which these cutting bakers ‘make things pleasant’ soon dissipate this seeming anomaly.

1863. Once a Week, vol. VIII., p. 179. If she is accustomed to frequent cutting shops, where the stock is periodically thrown into a state of convulsions in its efforts to sell itself off, of course she expects to be done.

2. (colloquial).—Disowning or ignoring a person.—See Cut, verb, sense 2.

1854. Aytoun and Martin, Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘The Doleful Lay of the Honble. I. O. Uwins.’ Uselessly down Bond Street strutting, Did he greet his friends of yore: Such a universal cutting, Never man received before.

Cuttle or Cuttle Bung, subs. (old).—A knife used by cut-purses. [From Latin cultellus, a knife; unde, a cutlass.] For synonyms, see Chive.

1592. Greene, Second Part Conny-catching, in wks., vol. X., p. 3. And feeling if his cuttle boung were glibbe and of a good edge, went to this meale-man to enter combate hand to hand with his purse.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (Harl. Misc., VI., 172). [He] unsheathed his cuttle-bong, and from the nape of the necke to the taile dismembered him.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart) III., 154. He that cuts the purse is called the Nip.… The knife is called a cuttle-bung.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 37 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). A Roome Cuttle: a sword. A Cuttle bung: a knife to cut a purse.

Cutty-Eyed, adj. (thieves’).—Suspicious looking; leering.

Cut Up, verbal phr. (colloquial).—1. To run down; to mortify.

1759. Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 5, p. 390 (Globe ed.). The pack of critics, who probably have no other occupation but that of cutting up everything new.

1819. Shelley, Letter to Ollier, in Letters (Camelot), p. 309. I read the article.… I am glad, however, to see the Quarterly cut up, and that by one of their own people.

1874. Mortimer Collins, Frances, ch. xvii. The slashing writers who delight to cut up a book, especially if the author is a friend or a rival.

2. (common).—To come up; turn up; become; show up.

3. (thieves’).—To divide plunder; to share; to ‘nap the regulars.’ Cf., Cut up fat.

1779. R. Cumberland, Wheel of Fortune, Act iv., Sc. 3. Sir D. D. A gentleman, who trusts to servants in his absence, is sure to be cut up. Emily. Cut up! what’s that. Sir D. D. Why, ’tis a common phrase.

1870. J. K., Good Words, April. ‘The Nailmakers’ Lamentation.’ Now, what’s twelve shillings to cut up, To pay so many things.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 505. We had between sixty and seventy quid to cut up (share).

1880. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live. These … were mostly ‘ramps,’ or swindles, got up to obtain the gate-money, and generally interrupted by circumstances arranged beforehand by those who were going to cut up the plunder.

4. (common).—To behave.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. I., ch. v. You see, a great deal depends on how a fellow cuts up, at first. If he’s got nothing odd about him, and answers straightforward, and holds his head up, he gets on. [243]

1883. Illust. London News, 12 May, p. 463, col. 2. Export again cut up wretchedly in the Burwell Stakes, which fell to Blue Glass, and one of the best of the American three-year-olds.

Cut up fat, verbal phr. (common).—To leave a large fortune. Cf., Cut up, sense 3.

1824. T. Hook, Sayings and Doings, 1 S., Danvers, p. 13 (‘Colburn’s Stand. Novels’). His property was immense … and few people ventured to guess … what he would cut up for.

1831. Disraeli, The Young Duke, bk. IV., ch. vii., p. 228 (ed. 1866). ‘You think him rich?’ ‘Oh, he will cut up very large,’ said the Baron.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. vii. The old banker died in course of time, and to use the affectionate phrase common on such occasions, cut up prodigiously well.

1860. O. W. Holmes, The Professor at the Breakfast Table, xi., p. 351. In the midst of these kind expressions, the gentleman with the diamond, the Koh-i-noor, as we called him, asked in a very unpleasant sort of way, how the old boy was likely to cut up,—meaning what money our friend was going to leave behind.

1872. Civilian, 2 March. Time wears on, and old Stubbs pays the debt of nature, and cuts up splendidly. His colossal fortune is the making of his needy sons-in-law.

Cut up [rough, rusty, savage, stiff, ugly, etc.], verbal phr.—To become quarrelsome or dangerous.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xliii., p. 377. ‘I’ll trouble you for the loan of five-and-twenty pound.’ ‘Wot good ’ull that do?’ inquired Mr. Weller. ‘Never mind,’ replied Sam. ‘P’raps you may ask for it five minits arterwards; p’raps I may say I von’t pay, and cut up rough.’

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. 1. I didn’t mean any offence—beg pardon—hang it! you cut up quite savage.

1855–7. W. M. Thackeray, Miscellanies, II., 272. It is true that Natty [Edward’s Julia’s younger brother] called many times in Pocklington Square, and complained to Edward that he, Nat, could neither see his Mar nor the Gurls, and that the old gent cut up uncommon stiff.

1864. A. Trollope, The Small House at Allington, ch. iv. She’s always talking of Lupex being jealous! if he was to cut up rough, you wouldn’t find it pleasant.

Cut up well, verb. phr. (venery).—To strip well; to be an engaging bed-fellow.

To be cut up (common).—To be vexed; hurt; dejected; sometimes simply cut. Formerly, to be in embarrassed circumstances.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 60. But, owing to a combination of unfortunate circumstances, such as gambling, dissipation, etc., Jem is so cut up, that all his old pals have turned their backs upon him.

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, vol. I., ch. xxv. ‘I should have liked to see the old girl before we went,’ Rawdon said. ‘She looks so cut up and altered that I’m sure she can’t last long.’

1855. W. M. Thackeray, Newcomes, II., p. 201. It’s not when a fellow’s down and cut up, and riled,—naturally riled—as you are,—I know you are, Marquis; it’s not then that I’m going to be angry with you.…

1864. Glasgow Herald, 28 Dec. Not a word was said. I felt confoundly cut, and every mouthful of that dinner felt as if it would choke me.

Cutty, subs.—A short pipe; a nose-warmer, (q.v.).

Cuz, subs. (printers’).—A workman free of the ‘chapel.’

Cymbal, subs. (thieves’).—A watch. For synonyms, see Ticker.

[244]

1 The Sunday men, as they are facetiously called in the fashionable world, are not now so numerous as formerly; the facility of a trip across the channel enables many a shy cock to evade the eye … of the law. ↑

, subs. (common)—1. A penny, or (in pl.) pence; e.g., two d; three d, etc., = two-pence, three-pence, etc. [The initial letter of the Latin denarius.]

1880. Punch’s Almanack, p. 3. Got the doldrums dreadful, that is clear. Two d left! must go and do a beer!

2. (common).—A detective; among thieves, a policeman. For synonyms, see Beak and Nark.

1879. Thor Fredur, Sketches from Shady Places. Still I play Shoeblack odd times. I have a few friends among the d’s (detectives), who give me the job to watch a house occasionally.

To use a big d, verbal phr. (common).—‘To swear’; the ‘d’ stands for ‘damned.’

1878. Gilbert and Sullivan, Her Majesty’s Ship ‘Pinafore.’ ‘What, never use a big, big D?’

1890. H. D. Traill, Saturday Songs, p. 3. Do we fight the senseless duel, do we sling the big, big d, No; our strongest word is ‘Bother,’ and revolvers all we see.

The two d’s, phr. (military).—Army regulations enact that a soldier’s pay must not be so docked in fines as to leave him less than two-pence a day. Hence, if a man, from any cause, is put on short pay, he is said to be ‘on the two d’s.’

Dab, subs. (colloquial).—1. An expert; a dabster. [Thought to be a corruption of ‘adept’ (Latin adeptus); a dep; a dap; a dab.] Cf., ‘dabbler,’ one who meddles without mastery; a superficial meddler. Fr., dab, dabe, or dade.

1733. Letter of Lord Chesterfield to Lady Suffolk, 17 Aug. [Suffolk Correspondence, 1824, ii., 64.] … known dabs at finding out mysteries.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Dab (s.) … also an expert gamester is so called [also 1754, Martin, Eng. Dict. (2 ed.), s.v.].

1759. Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 1. One writer, for instance, excels at a plan or a title-page, another works away the body of the book, and a third is a dab at an index.

1838. Comic Almanack, p. 148. Such a dab to get up a commission.

1849. J. D. Lewis, in Whibley, p. 231. When Hicks, who’s no dab, with his oar cuts a crab, And our coxswain he swears like the devil.

1860. Dickens, Great Expectations, ch. xlii., p. 200. He was a smooth one to talk, and was a dab at the ways of gentlefolks.

2. (common).—A bed. For synonyms, see Bug-walk and Kip. [245]

1823. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act iii., Sc. 3. Mace:… Vhen ve’ve had the liqvor, ve’ll kick up a reel, and all go to our dabs.

3. (river-side thieves’).—The drowned corpse of an outcast woman.

4. (old).—A trifle.

1745. Walpole to Mann, ii., 53. The Count may have procured for her some dirty dab of a negotiation about some acre of territory more for Hanover.

Adj. (colloquial).—1. Clever; skilled; expert.—See subs., sense 1. Fr., avoir le ponce long, or rond, i.e., ‘to have a long or round thumb.’

2. (back slang).—Bad. A dabheno, a bad market, day, or sale, Doogheno = a good day, etc.; dab tros = a bad sort.

1877. Diprose, London Life. I’ve been doing awful dab with my tol (lot) or stock, have’nt made a yennep (penny).

Rum-dabe, subs. (old).—The same as dab, subs., sense 1. [Rum (q.v.) is Old Cant for ‘good.’]

Dab down, verbal phr. (common).—To pay; hand over; to ‘post’ or ‘shell out’ (q.v. for synonyms).

To dab it up [with a woman], verbal phr. (old).—To pair off; to agree to cohabitation.

Dabster, subs. (colloquial).—An expert or dab (q.v.).

1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple, ch. iii. ‘Not in the least like the performance of an amateur dabster,’ remarked Jack Mallet, admiringly. ‘Much more like the work of an old master for style and finish.’

Dace, subs. (old).—Two-pence; in America, two cents. [From ‘deuce.’]

Dacha-Saltee, subs. (thieves’ and vagrants’).—A franc; or tenpence English. [From the Italian dieci soldi.]—See Saltee.

1861. Reade, Cloister and Hearth, ch. lv. What with my crippledom and thy piety, a wheeling of thy poor old dad, we’ll bleed the bumpkins of a dacha-saltee.

Dad-Binged (also -Blamed, -Fetched), -Gasted, -Goned, -Rotted, or -Snatched, ppl. adj. (American).—Half veiled oaths; ‘whips to beat the devil round the stump.’ [Dad is a corrupted form of ‘God,’ which, with other forms, (Dod-, Dog-, etc.), is found in various combinations, as above.] For synonyms, see Oaths.

1887. Scribner’s Magazine. ‘Dadgum ye!’ cried Jeff, irritably, ‘whut—by grabs, hit’s a human critter!’

1888. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 122. A chile er two, mo ’er less, warn’t no consekens to Sollermun, dad-fetch him. Ibid. ‘Why, Mars Tom, I doan want no rats. Dey’s de dad-blamedest creturs to ’sturb a body … I ever see.’

Dad-Dad, Mum-Mum or Daddy-Mammy, subs. phr. (military).—A beginner’s practice on the drum.

Daddle, subs. (common).—The hand; or fist. To tip the daddle, to shake hands. For synonyms, see Bunch of fives, to which may be added the following lists:—

English Synonyms. Chalk-farm; claw; clutch; cornstealer; duke; fam; famble; feeler; fin; flapper; flipper; forceps; forefoot; fork; grappling-iron or [246]hook; goll (old); oar; paddle; palette; paw; plier; shaker; wing; Yarmouth mitten.

French Synonyms. Les abatis or abattis (popular: a term applied to both hands and feet; properly giblets); l’agrafe (common; hook or clasp); la croche (thieves’: properly a quaver; possibly influenced by croc = hook, grapnel, or drag; an allusion to the hooked appearance of the musical note); la cuiller (popular: literally a spoon); les brancards (popular: this expression, like abatis, is also used of the feet; properly = shafts, as of a cart); l’arguemine (thieves’); le battoir (popular: properly a washerwoman’s ‘bat’); un gigot (popular: a large, thick hand, a ‘mutton fist’); le grappin; les harpions (also = feet).

Italian Synonym. Gramoso (properly ‘a wretch’); cerra.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 143, s.v.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. to Cong., p. 23. From this to the finish, ’twas all fiddle-faddle, Poor Georgy, at last, could scarce hold up his daddle. Ibid. With daddles high uprais’d, and nob held back, In awful prescience of th’ impending thwack.

1827. Scott, Two Drovers, ch. ii. Ah, this comes of living so long with kilts and bonnets—men forget the use of their daddles.

1842. Punch, vol. III, p. 136. And her daddle link’d in his’n gone to roam as lovers use.

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. v. ‘Tip us your daddle, my boy,’ said the second speaker.

Daddy, subs. (general).—1. The superintendent of a casual ward; generally an old pauper.

2. (theatrical).—A stage manager.—See quot.

1886. Graphic, 10 April, p. 399. The manager himself is sometimes known as the ‘gorger,’ and daddy is the stage-manager.

3. (common).—A confederate of ‘workers’ of mock raffles, lotteries, etc.; generally the person selected to receive the prize.

Daddyism, subs. (American).—Pride of birth.

1871. Kate Field, in Harper’s Bazaar, Aug. An Eastern man commending the services of a young Philadelphian to a Chicago tradesman, said: ‘He comes of a very good family; his grandfather was a distinguished man.’ ‘Was he?’ replied the man of Chicago. ‘That’s of no account with us. There’s less daddyism here than any part of the United States. What’s he himself.’

Daffy or Daffy’s Elixir, subs. (common).—Gin. [From a popular medicine sold as early as the beginning of the eighteenth century: see advertisements (1709), in Ashton’s Social Life in the Reign of Queen Anne, i., pp. 7, 8: now known as ‘Tincture of Senna.’] For synonyms, see Drinks.

1821. The Fancy, vol. I., p. 304. While carrying on his new vocation of publican, Jack did not deny himself the use of drops of daffy.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. 2. Take some daffy to the back parlour.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 430. When I goes in where they are a havin’ their daffies—that’s drops o’ gin, sir.

1871. London Figaro, 15 April. [If the baby] should bawl persistently … he would … thoroughly dose it with daffy.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., 193. They had low foreheads, and wore big buttonholes, for so they termed the flowers, it was ‘the thing’ to wear. A good many of them, too, had been partaking freely of daffy. [247]

Daffy-Down-Dilly, subs. (old).—A dandy; one ‘got up regardless.’ For synonyms, see Dandy.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. 2. Bob: I’m here, my daffy-down-dilly!

Dagen, subs. (old).—An ‘artful member.’ [From dagen, a sword or dagger.] For synonyms, see Downy cove. Dagger = the penis.

Dagger-Cheap, adj. phr. (old).—‘Dirt’ cheap. [From an ordinary of low repute in Holborn, notorious for the coarseness of its entertainment.—See Jonson’s Alchemist, v., 2, and Devil is an Ass, i., 1.]

1631. Bishop Andrewes, Sermons (posthumous). We set our wares at a very easy price; he (the devil) may buy us even dagger-cheap, as we say.

Dags, subs. (common).—A feat; a performance or work, e.g., I’ll do your dags = an incitement to emulation. [From dag, the old Saxon form of ‘day.’ Darg for a day’s work is common in Scotland. A love-darg is a day’s free help given to a farmer by his neighbours.]

1879. Notes and Queries, 5 S., xii., 15 Aug., p. 128. ‘I’ll do you (or your) dags.’ An expression used by children of young, and sometimes of older, growth, meaning, ‘I’ll do something that you cannot do.’

1886. Fun. He was very fond of what, in schoolboy days, we used to call doing dags.

Daily Levy, subs. (journalistic).—The Daily Telegraph. [This London daily was established by Mr. Edward Levy Lawson.]

Dairy, subs. (common).—The paps. To air the dairy = to expose the breast.

English Synonyms. Bubs or bubbies; charlies; blubber; butter-boxes; butter-bags; berkeleys; cat-heads; diddies; globes; dugs; milk-walk; milk-shop; milky way; dumplings; udder (Browning); ‘Nature’s founts’; feeding bottles; ‘charms’; hemispheres; apple-dumpling shop; meat market; poonts; titties; cabman’s rests (rhyming); baby’s bottom.

French Synonyms. Les avantages (familiar); l’avant-cœur (popular = the fore-heart; as l’avant-bras = the fore-arm); l’avant-main; les avant-scènes (properly that goes before; the front of a stage); les avant-postes (literally, the outposts); l’oranger (popular = the orange-tree. Cf., des oranges sur l’étagère); les nénais or nénets (popular); deux œufs sur le plat (common); le monzu or mouzu (Old Cant); des blagues à tabac (popular = tobacco-pouches); des bessons (common = twins); une étagère or un étal (properly a butcher’s stall; étalage = goods exposed for sale; Cf., étaler sa marchandise = to wear a low-necked dress); la doublure de la pièce (popular); devant de gilet (popular: un gilet à la mode = well-developed paps); une livraison de bois devant sa porte (popular); le ragoût de la poitrine (ragoût = pleasure, poitrine = breast); la mappe-monde (popular: literally a map of the two hemispheres); les nichons (familiar); il y a du monde au balcon (said of one with large paps); les bossoirs (sailors’; gabarit sans bossoirs = thin or withered paps); les calebasses (= gourds); les éclaireurs (popular: scouts); des gibasses (popular: skinny paps); des œufs sur la place d’armes (popular). [248]

German Synonym. Gleishaus (i.e., milk-house; Gleis = milk).

Italian Synonym. Tetta.

Spanish Synonyms. Balso-peto (m; properly = a large pouch carried near the breast); chiche or chichi (f; a Mexican vulgarism); pechera (f; also = a stomacher or frill on the bosom of a shirt).

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Daisies, subs. (general).—Boots. Cf., Daisy-roots, and for synonyms, see Trotter-cases.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 503. While waiting for my pal I had my daisies cleaned.

To turn up one’s toes to the daisies.—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft and Hop the twig.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Babes in the Wood). Be kind to those dear little folks When our toes are turned up to the daisies.

Daisy, subs. (American).—A man or thing first-rate of a kind. Also equivalent to Dandy, subs., sense 4.

c. 1876. Broadside Ballad, ‘Mrs. Brady’s Daughter.’ She’s such a daisy, she sets me crazy.

1888. Denver Republican, May. Jack Dempsey is beyond compare a pugilistic daisy.

1890. Rudyard Kipling, Fuzzy Wuzzy, in Scots Observer, iv., p. 439, col. 1. ’E’s a daisy, ’e’s a ducky, ’e’s a lamb.

Adj. (American).—First-rate; A1.

1889. Puck’s Library, April, p. 7. Big scene of boats ascending Nile cataracts—new sensation, never done before—and chance for daisy effects in the desert.

Daisy Beat.—See under Beat.

Daisy-Beaters.—See Creepers.

Daisy-Cutter, subs. (common).—1. A horse whether good or bad. Also daisy-kicker. Fr., un rase-tapis.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. iii. I should like to try that daisy-cutter of yours upon a piece of level road (barring canter) for a quart of claret at the next inn.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood. Song, ‘The Game of High Toby.’ But what daisy-cutter can match that black tit.

1866. C. Reade, Griffith Gaunt, ch. i. Others galloped uselessly about pounding the earth, for daisy-cutters were few in those days.

2. (cricket).—A ball which travels more than half the ‘pitch’ along the ground without rising; a ‘sneak.’ Wykehamicè, ‘a ramrod.’—See Grub.

Daisy-Kicker, subs. (old).—1. A horse. Cf., Daisy-cutter and Grogham. For synonyms, see Prad.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 48. The hostler then says, ‘He has a choice nag or daisy-kicker to sell or swap.’

2. (old).—An ostler. [By implication from sense 1.]

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 39. Daisy-kickers are Hostlers belonging to large inns; and are known to each other by this name.

Daisy-Roots (rhyming slang).—Boots. Also daisies. For synonyms, see Trotter-cases. Fr., des salaires.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., XL., 501. I piped [saw] three or four pair of daisy-roots (boots).

To pick a daisy, verbal phr. (common).—To evacuate in the open air; also, to retire to make water. [249]

Daisyville, subs. (thieves’).—The country. Also deuseaville.

English Synonym. Monkery.

French Synonyms. La camplouse; la cambrouse; le pasclin or pasquelin.

Italian Synonyms. Longa (literally = an expanse); polverosa (literally = dusty); graziosa (literally = graceful).

1622. Head and Kirkman, ‘Canting Song.’ This Doxie Dell can cut bien whids, And drill well for a win; And prig and cloy so benshiply, All the deusea-vile within.

Dakma, verb (thieves’).—To silence.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

1881. New York Slang Dict. I had to dakma the bloke to cly the swag.

Dam. Not to care or be worth a dam, phr. (common).—To care or be worth nothing. [The dam or dawm is an Indian coin worth barely the fortieth part of a rupee.] Cf., Care and Fig.

Damage, subs. (colloquial).—The cost of anything; the sum total in the sense of recompense. ‘What’s the damage?’ ‘what’s to pay?’ also What’s the swindle? (q.v.). [An allusion to damages at law.]

b. 1788, d. 1824. Byron [quoted in Annandale]. Many thanks, but I must pay the damage and will thank you to tell me the amount of the engraving.

1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. xiv. Well, now, my good fellow, what’s the damage, as they say in Kentucky; in short, what’s to be paid out for this business.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 576. When he wishes to know what he has to pay, he asks, What’s the damage? or not so charitably, What’s the swindle?

Damaged, ppl. adj. (common).—Drunk; screwed (q.v. for synonyms).—See Drinks.

Damber, subs. (old).—A man, cove, or cull belonging to the fraternity of vagabonds. For synonyms, see Cove.

Damme, Dammy or Dammy-Boy, subs. (old).—A sixteenth and seventeenth century roysterer; a blustering fellow. [So called from the excess to which swearing was carried by the rakes of the day.]

1654. Witts, Recreations. To valiant dammee. Dam-me, thy brain is valiant, ’tis confest; Thou more, that with it every day dar’st jest Thy self into fresh braules; but call’d upon, With swearing dam-me, answer’st every one. Keep thy self there, and think thy valour right, He that dares damne himself, dares more than fight.

1687. Cleveland, Works. Depriver of those solid joys, Which sack creates; author of noise Among the roaring punks and dammy-boys.

Dam Nasty Oath, subs. phr. (American).—A corruption of amnesty oath. [Southerners, at the close of the Civil War, were required, as an outward sign of submission to the Union, to subscribe to certain conditions, upon which a free pardon was granted. The terms were deemed unpalatable—hence dam nasty oath.]

Damned-Soul, subs. (old).—A Customs House clearing clerk. [Because to avoid perjury he was alleged to have taken a general oath never to swear truly in making ‘declarations.’] [Lexicon Balatronicum, 1811.]

Damp (Generally, something damp), subs. phr. (common).—[250]A drink; or ‘go’ (q.v. for synonyms).

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxvii., p. 228. ‘So we’ll just give ourselves a damp, Sammy.’ Saying this, Mr. Weller mixed two glasses of spirits and water, and produced a couple of pipes.

Damper, subs. (thieves’).—1. A till or ‘lob.’ Drawing a damper = robbing a till, i.e., ‘lob-sneaking.’

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3 ed., p. 445, s.v.

2. (tailors’).—A sweater; one who takes as much as possible out of workmen for a minimum of pay.

3. (colloquial).—He or that which damps, chills, or discourages.

4. (old).—Ale or stout after spirits and water.—See Cooler.

5. (old).—A snack between meals.—See senses 6 and 7.

6. (schoolboys’).—A suet pudding served before meat. Cf., senses 4 and 5.

7. (Australian).—Unleavened bread made of flour and water and baked in thin cakes, in a frying pan or on a flat stone in wood ashes.

1885. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, 3 Sept., p. 5, col. 5. They got enough flour from Sydney to make their dampers.

1886. G. Sutherland, Australia, p. 77. They must at least receive a ‘pannikin’ of flour and be allowed to bake it up into a piece of damper at the cooking fire.

Damp One’s Mug, verbal phr. (common).—To drink. For synonyms, see Lush.

Damp-Pot, subs. (tailors’).—The sea; specifically the Atlantic. For synonyms, see Briny and Puddle.

Damp the Sawdust, verbal phr. (licensed victuallers’).—To ‘crack a bottle’ with friends ‘for luck’ on starting a new ‘house.’

Damson-Pie, subs. (Black Country).—A Birmingham and ‘black country’ term for ‘Billingsgatry.’

1888. W. Black, Strange Adv. of House Boat, ch. viii. Even if you were to hear some of the Birmingham lads giving each other a dose of damson-pie … you wouldn’t understand a single sentence.

Dance, subs. (thieves’).—A staircase or flight of steps. A contraction of the older form—dancers. [Ducange Anglicus, 1857.]

Verb (old).—1. To be hanged. Also to dance upon nothing and to dance the Paddington frisk. Fr., danser une danse où il n’y a pas d’plancher and faire la bénédiction du pied en l’air. For synonyms, see Ladder.

1839. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, ch. xxxi. ‘My limbs feel so light, now that my irons are removed,’ he observed with a smile, ‘that I am half inclined to dance.’ ‘You’ll dance upon nothing, presently,’ rejoined Jonathan, brutally.

1840. Hood, Miss Kilmansegg. Just as the felon condemned to die, With a very natural loathing, Leaving the sheriff to dream of ropes, From his gloomy cell in a vision elopes To a caper on sunny greens and slopes Instead of the dance upon nothing.

1864. Daily News, 2 Dec. Another synonym for being hanged is dancing on nothing in a hempen cravat.

2. (printers’).—Type dances if letters drop out when the forme is lifted. [251]

To dance Barnaby.—See Barnaby.

Dance of Death, subs. phr. (old).—Hanging. Cf., Dance, verb, sense 1.

Dancers, subs. (thieves’).—1. Stairs; a flight of steps. Fr., les grimpants.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 52 (1874). Track up the dancers, go up the stayres.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. II., ch. vii. ‘Bob, track the dancers. Up like a lark—and down like a dump.’ Bob grinned … and scampered up the stairs.

1858. Lytton, What will he do with it? bk. III., ch. xvi. Come, my Hebe, track the dancers, that is, go up the stairs.

2. sing. (thieves’).—Also dancing master. A thief whose speciality is prowling about the roofs of houses and effecting an entrance through attic and upper storey windows; a garreteer (q.v.). [In allusion to dexterity of walk.] For synonyms, see Area-sneak.

Dancing-Master, subs. (old).—1. A species of Mohock or dandy, temp. Queen Anne. [Who made his victims caper by running his sword through the legs; for detailed description, see Spectator (1712), No. 324.] For list of synonyms, see Dandy.

2. (thieves’).—See Dancers, sense 2.

3. (old).—The hangman; Jack Ketch.—See Dance, verb, sense 1.

D and D, phr. (police).—‘Drunk and disorderly’ (in connection with charge sheet cases). A synonym is Lushy and Stropolus.

1889. Answers, 2 March, p. 218, col. 1. Last New Year’s Day he took over 14s. to my certain knowledge, for the old man was up for d and d, trying to break a window with his broom.

Dander, subs. (colloquial).—Anger. To raise one’s dander or Get one’s dander up or riz = to make or get angry. [Derivation uncertain; provincial in several English counties.]

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxi., p. 223. I do my duty; and I raise the dander of my feller critters, as I wish to serve; … they rile up rough, along of my objecting to their selling Eden off too cheap.

1848–62. J. Russell Lowell, Biglow Papers. Wut’ll make ye act like freemen? Wut’ll git your dander riz?

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xliii. Don’t talk to me about daring to do this thing or t’other, or when my dander is up, it’s the very thing to urge me on.

1863. Punch, 7 Feb. If John Bull had riz our dander, Settin’ foot on yonder shore, Then we should have holler’d grander Than the broad Atlantic’s roar.

1872. Chamb. Journal, 14 Dec., p. 791. They knew he’d never find out who did it, for he was in such an awful dander.

Dandered, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Angry; ‘mad.’

1890. H. D. Traill, Saturday Songs, ‘The Precipitate Grandmother,’ p. 30. Whose way of tackling dandered snakes Is to perpitiate the critters With hominy an’ buckwheat cakes And pumpkin-squash an’ apple fritters.

Dando, subs. (common).—A great eater; a glutton; specifically a sharper who subsists at the expense of hotels, restaurants, or oyster bars. [From one dando, a ‘bouncing, seedy swell,’ hero of a hundred ballads, notorious for being ‘charged’ at least twice a month with bilking.] [252]

18(?). Thackeray, The Professor. ‘What a flat you are,’ shouted he in a voice of thunder, ‘to think I’m agoing to pay! Pay! I never pay—I’m Dando.’

1850. Macaulay, Journal in Life, by Trevelyan, ch. xii., p. 539 (1884), April 27.—To Westbourne Terrace, and passed an hour in playing with Alice.… I was dando at a pastry cook’s and then at an oyster shop.

1885. Ill. London News, 15 Aug., p. 154, col. 3. One day we are told that the couplet should be:—Oysters, you’ll find, are best by far In every month which ends with an r. Next day this is pooh-poohed, and we are to read, instead:—Oysters, you’ll find, are best by far In every month which contains an r. Spiritualists might be kind enough to consult dando, who would, no doubt, have the true version at his finger’s ends, so as to rap it out on the instant.

Dandy, subs. (formerly slang, now recognized).—1. A fop; a coxcomb; a man who pays excessive attention to dress. The feminine forms, ‘dandilly’ and ‘dandizette,’ did not ‘catch on.’ Dandy was first applied half in admiration, half in derision to a fop about the year 1816. John Bee (Slang Dict., 1823) says that Lord Petersham was the chief of these successors to the departed Macaronis, and gives, as their peculiarities, ‘French gait, lispings, wrinkled foreheads, killing king’s English, wearing immense plaited pantaloons, coat cut away, small waistcoat, cravat and chitterlings immense, hat small, hair frizzled and protruding.’ In common English dandy has come to be applied to such as are neat and careful in dressing according to fashion. [From dandy-pratt (q.v.).]

English Synonyms. Beau; blade; blood; buck; chappie; corinthian; count; court-card; cheese; daffy-down-dilly; dancing-master; dude; dundreary; exquisite; flasher; fop; gallant; gommy; gorger; Jemmy Jessamy; Johnny; lounger; macaroni; masher; mohawk; nerve; nicker; nizzie; nob; oatmeal; scourer; smart; spark; sweater; swell; toff; tip-topper; tumbler; yum-yun.

French Synonyms. Un gandin (popular = a frequenter of the old Boulevard de Gand); un gommeux; un mouchard; un mouget; un petit maître; un talon-rouge (from the red heels worn in the seventeenth century); un incroyable (a ‘swell’ of the Directoire period, as also un merveilleux); un mirliflore (an allusion to millefleurs, a favourite perfume); un muscadin; un élégant; un dandy; un lion; un fashionable; un cocodès; un crevé; un petit crevé; un col-cassé; un luisant; un poisseux; un boudiné; un pschutteux; un exhumé; un gratiné; un faucheur; un bécarre; un daim; un excellent bon; un fade; un fadard; un gilet en cœur; un muguet (properly lily of the valley. Cf., daffy-down-dilly).

Spanish Synonyms. Don guindo; hopeo; pisaverde.

1818. Carlyle, in Early Letters (Norton), vol. I., p. 158. When I walk along the streets, I see fair women … and fops (dandies as they are called in current slang), shaped like an hour-glass—creatures whose life and death, as Crispin pithily observes, ‘I esteem of like importance, and decline to speak of either.’

1821. Coombe, Syntax, Wife, c. iv. I met just now, upon the stairs, A dandy in his highest airs.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. viii. Great dandy was Mr. Bobbin; he looked just as if he had come out of the tailors’ hands.

1847. Lytton, Lucretia, pt. I., ch. i. What is now the dandy was then [1780] the Buck. [253]

1866. W. D. Howells, Venetian Life, ch. xx. He is a dandy, of course,—all Italians are dandies,—but his vanity is perfectly harmless, and his heart is not bad.

1890. Lord Lamington, The Days of the Dandies [Title].

2. (thieves’).—A bad gold coin. [In allusion to its careful make and composition, this coin containing a certain proportion of pure gold.]

1883. Jas. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co., p. 24. It is not in paltry pewter ‘sours’ with which the young woman has dealings, but in dandys, which, rendered into intelligible English, means imitation gold coin—half-sovereigns and whole ones.

3. (Irish).—A ‘small whiskey.’

1838. Blackwood’s Mag., May, ‘Father Tom and the Pope.’ ‘Dimidium cyathi vero apud Metropolitanos Hibernicos dicitur dandy.’

1883. Hawley Smart, Hawkins, ch. vi. It’s beautiful punch—ah, well, as you’re so pressing, I’ll just take another dandy.

4. (American).—Anything first-rate; a daisy (q.v.). Also used adjectively.

1888. Superior Inter-Ocean. Dr. H. Conner has invested in a fine piece of horse-flesh. The animal was purchased in Oshkosh, and has a record of 3′37. It is said to be a dandy.

1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, 21 Jan. My box ain’t no good mister, but I know a feller over dere dat’s got de dandy one.

1888. Missouri Republican, 2 Feb. I’m a terror from Philadelphia, and I can lick any man in the world. I’m a dandy from away back; the farther back they come the dandier they are, and I come from the furthest back.

The dandy, adv. phr. (common).—All right; ‘your sort’; ‘the ticket.’ Cf., Dandy, sense 4. A north-country song has the line, ‘The South Shields lasses are The Dandy O!’

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxvi. I guess our great nation may be stumped to produce more eleganter liquor than this here. It’s the dandy, that’s a fact.

1884. Notes and Queries, 6 S., ix., p. 35. I not long since heard a carpenter whose saw did not cut, wanting, as he expressed it, ‘to be sharpn’d,’ and who took up another in better condition, say, ‘Ah! that’s the dandy.’

Dandy-Master, subs. (thieves’).—The head of a gang of counterfeiters; who makes the coin, but does not himself attempt to pass it. [From dandy, subs., sense 2, + master.]

1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co. The spirits obtained being mostly bottled and labelled, and unopened, find a ready sale at public-houses known to the dandy-master, so that no serious loss is experienced in that direction.

Dandypratt or Dandipratt, subs. (old).—Primarily a dwarf; a page; by implication a jackanapes. In all likelihood, the etymon of the modern ‘dandy,’ erroneously derived from the French dandin = a fool, as in Molière, Georges Dandin. [From dandipratt, a half farthing of the time of Henry VII.]

1580. Lingua, or the Five Senses, O. Pl., v., 172. This Heuresis, this invention, is the proudest Jackanapes, the pertest, self-conceited boy that ever breathed; because, forsooth, some odd poet, or some such fantastic fellows, make much on him, there’s no ho with him; the vile dandiprat will overlook the proudest of his acquaintance.

1622. Massinger, Virgin-Martyr, II., i. The smug dandiprat smells us out, whatsoever we are doing.

1657. Middleton, More Dissembler besides Women, Anc. Dr., IV., 372. There’s no good fellowship in this dandiprat, this divedapper [didapper], as in other pages.

1706. R. Estcourt, Fair Example, Act iii., Sc. 3, p. 40. Boy. A candle, sir! ’tis broad daylight yet. Whims. What then, you little dandiprat? If we have a mind to a candle we will have a candle. [254]

1821. Scott, Kenilwortht, ch. xxvi. It is even so, my little dandiprat, but who the devil could teach it thee.

Dang it! phr. (provincial).—A euphemism for ‘damn it!’ Also Dang my buttons! and Dang me!

Danglers, subs. (thieves’).—A bunch of seals.

1859. Matsell, Rogues Lexicon, p. 124. And where the swag, so bleakly pinched, A hundred stretches hence? The thimbles, slang, and danglers filched, A hundred stretches hence?

Dan Tucker, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—Butter. For synonyms, see Cart-grease.

Darbies, subs. (common).—1. Handcuffs. [Origin uncertain. Father Derby’s name (he is supposed to have been a noted usurer) was already proverbial in 1576, but that is all now known of him.]

English Synonyms. Black-bracelets; buckles; Father derbie’s bands; ruffles; wife; snitchers; clinkers; government securities; twisters; darbies and joans (= fetters coupling two persons).

French Synonyms. Les alliances (popular = wedding rings); une bride (thieves’ = a convicts’ chain); le bouclage (thieves’: also = imprisonment); une cadenne (thieves’: applied to a neck-chain); un cabriolet (thieves’ = a small rope or strap); une guirlande (a chain for two).

Italian Synonym. Trionfo (literally = triumph).

Spanish Synonym. Calceta (properly = understocking).

1576. Gascoigne, Steel Glas, I., 787. To binde such babes in father derbie’s bands.

1592. Greene, Quip for an Upstart Courtier (Harl. Misc., V., 405). Then hath my broker an usurer at hand, as ill as himself, and he brings the money; but they tie the poor soul in such darbies’ bands [i.e., bonds], what with receiving ill commodities [i.e., goods in lieu of cash], and forfeitures upon the bond, that they dub him ‘Sir John had Land,’ before they leave him; and share, like wolves, the poor novice’s wealth betwixt them as a prey.

1602. Carew, Survey of Cornwall, p. 15 (ed. 1769). [Speaking of the hard dealings and usurious tricks of the marchant Londoners in their dealings with the Cornish tinners of his day, this writer tells the wiles by which the poor wretches became bound ‘in darbye’s bonds.’]

1676. Canting Song, ‘A Warning for Housekeepers.’ But when that we come to the Whitt, Our darbies to behold.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4 ed.), p. 12, s.v.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress p. 77. Thus a new set of darbies, when first they are worn, Makes the jail-bird uneasy, though splendid their ray.

1836. Marryat, Japhet, ch. lvii. We may as well put on the darbies, continued he, producing a pair of handcuffs.

1890. Standard, 7 April, p. 6, col. 3. (Addressing the officer): Didn’t you take me by the scruff of the neck, and hold me whilst others put the darbies on me?—I did not.

2. (common).—Sausages. Also bags of mystery and chambers of horrors (q.v.).

Darble, subs. (old).—The devil. [A corruption of French diable.]

Darby, subs. (old).—Ready money. [One Derby is supposed to have been a noted sixteenth century usurer.—See quots. under Darbies, sense 1.] For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1688. Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia (list of cant words), s.v. [255]

c. 1712. R. Estcourt, Prunella, Act i., p. 4. Come nimbly lay down darby; Come, pray sir, don’t be tardy.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Darby Allen, subs. phr. (Lancashire).—Cajolery; ‘chaff’; ‘gammon.’

Darby-Roll, subs. (old).—A gait peculiar to felons of long standing: the result of long shackles-wearing. Cf., Baker-kneed.

Darby’s-Dyke, subs. (old).—The grave; also death.

Darby’s-Fair, subs. (old).—The day of removal from one prison to another for trial.

Dard, subs. (old).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Dark. To get the dark, verbal phr. (prison).—To be confined in the punishment cell.

Dark-Cull or Cully, subs. (old).—A married man with a secret mistress.—[Grose, 1785.]

Dark-Horse or Dark’un, subs. (turf).—A horse whose pace is unknown to the backers; figuratively, a candidate about whom little is known.

1831. Disraeli, Young Duke, ch. v., p. 66 (ed. 1866). All the ten-to-oners were in the rear, and a dark horse, which had never been thought of, and which the careless St. James had never even observed in the list, rushed past the grand stand in sweeping triumph.

1853. Diogenes, vol. II., p. 271. Farewell! oh, farewell to the lists On whose varying prices I’ve hung; I care nought for the dark-horse that lives Unknown, who shall put me all right.

1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, ch. i. He had beaten everything that was going to oppose him, with the exception of some two or three dark colts, of which little was expected.

Dark-House, subs. (old).—A mad-house. Shakspeare (All’s Well, etc., ii., 3) used it to denote the seat of gloom and discontent.

Darkmans, Darks, Darky, subs. (old).—The night; also twilight.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 84. Bene Lightmans to thy quarromes, in what lipken hast thou lypped in this darkemans, whether in a lybbege or in the strummell?

1667. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight. ‘Canting Rithmes.’ Enough—with bowsy Cove Maund Nace, Tour the Parting Coue in the darkeman’s Case.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. I think we should be down upon the fellow, one of these darkmans, and let him get it well.

1857. Punch, 31 Jan. ‘Dear Bill, this Stone Jug.’ And at darkmans we run the rig just as we please.

English Synonyms. Blackmans; blind; blindman’s holiday (twilight).

French Synonym. La sorgue, or sorne.

German Synonyms. Mittelaile (midnight); Choschech, Chauschech, or Koschech (from the Hebrew choschach = a moonless night); Eref (specifically the eve of a Sabbath or festival); Fichte (literally a fir-tree); Ratt (Gypsy); Schwärze = (the black ’un); Zofon or Zofen (from Hebrew zophan = to hide).

Italian Synonyms. Bruna or brunora (Fr. brune); materna (properly = the maternal).

Spanish Synonym. Sorna. [256]

Portuguese Synonym. Zona.

Darkman’s Budge, subs. phr. (old).—A housebreaker’s confederate, who slips into a house during the day, hides there, and opens the door at night.—[Grose, 1785.]

Darky, or Darkey, subs. (old).—1. A dark lantern; a bull’s eye.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Stow the darkee and bolt, the cove of the cub is fly.

2. (old).—The night; the twilight. Also (nautical) darks.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 124. Bless your eyes and limbs, lay out a mag with poor Chirruping Joe. I don’t come here every darkey.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 216. We could average our ‘duey bionk peroon a darkey,’ or two shillings each, in the night.

1878. C. Hindley, Life and Times of Jas. Catnach. The cleanest angler on the pad in daylight or the darkey.

3. (common).—A negro. [From his complexion.] For synonyms, see Snowball.

1840. Dana, Two Years before the Mast, ch. xvii. Tom Cringle says that no one can fathom a negro’s affection for a pig; and I believe he is right, for it almost broke our poor darky’s heart when he heard that Bess was to be taken ashore.

1870. Negro Hymn. Walk in, darkies, troo de gate; Hark, de kullered angels holler; Go ’way, white fokes, ye’re too late, We’s de winnin’ kuller! Wait, Till de trumwet blow to foller!

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 594. I wish de legislatur’ would set dis darkie free, Oh! what a happy place den de darkie land would be; We’d have a darkie Parliament An’ darkie codes of law, An’ darkie judges on the bench, Darkie barristers and aw’.

Darn, Darned, verb and ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Euphemistic forms of ‘damn’ and ‘damned’; used to avoid ‘cussing bar’-foot.’ Also darnation, dangnation, darn burn it, and darn or dash my buttons or wig.—See Dadbinged and Oaths for synonyms.

c. 1840. West of England Ballad [quoted in Literary World, 11 Apr., 1890, p. 347, col. 1]. But if he’d know’d he’d got so much money He darned his buttons if he’d gi’ed ’un the shillin’.

1880. G. R. Sims, Zeph and other Stories, p. 87. I shall bring you to your senses, Bess, now, my girl, and you won’t be so darned fast refusin’ a good offer.

1888. Harper’s Magazine. My experience has taught me that in Colorado the man who tells the first story has a darned poor show.

Dart, subs. (pugilistic).—A straight-armed blow.

D.A.’s, subs. (general).—The menstrual flux. [An abbreviation of domestic afflictions (q.v.) and for synonyms see Flag-up.]

Dash, subs. (old).—1. A tavern waiter.

2. (common).—A small quantity; a ‘drink’; a ‘go’ (q.v. for synonyms). Also a small quantity of one fluid to give a flavour to another, e.g., a lemon and a dash = a bottle of lemonade with just a suggestion of bitter beer in it.

Verb (brewers’).—1. To adulterate.

1871. Times, 4 April. ‘Leader on Licensing Bill.’ The brewers are careless of the characters of their tenants; they compel them to take all their beer from themselves, and too often at such prices that they are driven to adulterate or dash the liquor.

2. Also dash it! or dash my buttons, wig, timbers, etc., intj. phr. (common).—Colloquial [257]expletives; also employed euphemistically = ‘to damn.’—See Buttons and Oaths.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress p. 46. Except light oaths, to grace his speeches, Like ‘Dash my wig!’ or ‘burn my breeches!’

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 22. You may try, but dash my timbers if you’ll ever cross the Thames to-night!

1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 20, col. 2. Yet henceforth—dash my wig! I’ll live with thee, with thee I’ll hop the twig!

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ch. iv. Gunpowder is your true leveller—dash physical strength! A boy’s a man with a musket in his hand, my chap!

1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. IV., ch. iii. And if you hadn’t come round to me to-night, dash my wig if I wouldn’t have come round to you to-morrow.

1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, pledge ii. ‘Dash it all!’ said the police-surgeon, ‘that’s two fatal cases I’ve had to-day.’

Cut a Dash.—See Cut.

To have a dash on, verbal phr. (turf).—To speculate largely or wildly; ‘to go it strong.’

Dasher, subs. (old).—1. A showy prostitute. (Cf., sense 2).

1790. C. Dibdin, Sea Songs, ‘Old Cunwell the Pilot.’ My Poll, once a dasher, now turned to a nurse.

2. (colloquial).—An ostentatious or extravagant man or woman; an impetuous person; a ‘clipper’; also latterly,—the word has shown progress towards literary English throughout—a man or woman of fashion; a person of brilliant qualities, mental or physical. Fr., genreux-se; une femme catapulteuse (a fine woman, as also une cocodète). Spanish equivalents are damaza and sibila, while tiene garabato is said of women who ‘hook’ men by their manner and grace (garabato = a meat-hook).

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxix., p. 289. ‘Why, you look smarter by day,’ said Poll, ‘than you do by candlelight. I never see such a tight young dasher.’

1856. Miss Edgeworth, Almeria, p. 292. She was astonished to find in high life a degree of vulgarity of which her country companions would have been ashamed: but all such things in high life go under the general term dashing. These young ladies were dashers.

Daub, subs. (common).—1. An artist. Verb.—See Dawb.

2. A bad picture.

David, subs. (common).—1.—See Davy, sense 1.

2. (American).—A torpedo.

1872. Morning Advertiser, 3 April.

David Jones or David Jones’s Locker.—See under Davy.

David’s Sow. Drunk as David’s, or Davy’s sow, adv. phr. (old).—Beastly drunk. [For a somewhat far-fetched derivation, see Grose’s Dict. Vulg. Tongue.]

c. 1720. Gay, New Song of New Similes. Though as drunk as David’s sow.

1733. Bailey, Erasmus, p. 127. When he comes home, after I have been waiting for him till I do not know what time at night, as drunk as David’s sow, he does nothing but lie snoring all night long by my side.

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xiv. Fellows who have no respect for the articles of war, and who get as drunk as David’s sow.

Davy, subs. (colloquial).—1. An affidavit. Synonymous, by implication, with ‘God,’ in so help, or s’welp me davy, or [258]Alfred Davy (q.v.). Fr., Je t’en fous mon billet or mon petit turlututu = I’ll take my davy on it.

1764. O’Hara, Midas, II., iv. And I with my davy will back it, I’ll swear.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xxii. ‘I’ll take my davy,’ says the captain, ‘it’s some Yankee trick.’

1842. Punch, vol. III., p. 136. Tell me on thy davy; whether thou dost dear thy Colin hold.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 4 Sept., p. 2, col. 2. You may take your davy I didn’t care anything about that.

2. (nautical).—Also old Davy and Davy Jones (q.v.).

Davy Jones, Davy, or old Davy, subs. phr. (nautical).—The spirit of the sea; specifically the sailors’ devil. [For suggested derivation, see Davy Jones’s locker, and for synonyms, Skipper.]

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xiii. This same Davy Jones, according to the mythology of sailors, is the fiend that presides over all the evil spirits of the deep.

1790. C. Dibdin, Sea Songs. And if to old Davy I should go, friend Poll, Why you will ne’er hear of me more.

c. 1800. C. Dibdin, The Birthday, Act I., Sc. 2. June. When your back’s turn’d she’s for … sending you in a gale to old Davy.

Davy Jones’ (or Davy’s) locker, subs. phr. (nautical).—The ocean; specifically, the grave of them that perish at sea. The popular derivation (= a corruption of ‘Jonah’s locker,’ i.e., the place where Jonah was kept and confined, and by implication the grave of all gone to the bottom, drowned or dead) is conjectural. The following, however, may be an additional link in the chain of evidence.

1628. Bishop Andrewes, Ninety-six Sermons, p. 515 (fol.) Of any, that hath beene in extreme perill, we use to say: he hath beene where Ionas was; by Iona’s going downe the Whales throat, by Him againe comming forth of the Whales mouth, we expresse, we even point out, the greatest extremity, and the greatest deliverence that can be.

[Cf., quots. under Davy Jones.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1836. Marryat, Midshipman Easy, ch. xxvii. By de holy poker, Massa Easy, but that terrible sort of gale the other day, anyhow. I tink one time we all go to Davy Jones’s locker.

1842. Comic Almanack, p. 324. There is no reason right why Jones’s kid Should be consign’d to Davy Jones’s locker.

1851. Notes and Queries, 1 S., iii., p. 478. If a sailor is killed in a sea-skirmish, or falls overboard and is drowned, or any other fatality occurs which necessitates the consignment of his remains to the ‘great deep,’ his surviving messmates speak of him as one who has been sent to Davy Jones’ locker.

Davy putting on the coppers for the parsons, phr. (nautical).—The indications of a coming storm.

Davy Jones’ natural children, subs. phr. (nautical).—Smugglers; sea-rovers; pirates.

Davy’s Dust, subs. phr. (common).—Gunpowder. [Davy (q.v.) = the devil.]

1864. G. W. Reynolds, Pickwick Abroad, ch. xxvi. Let Davy’s dust and a well-faked claw, For fancy coves be the only law.

Dawb or Daub, verb (old).—To bribe.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. The cull was scragged because he could not dawb.

Daylight, subs. (University).—A glass that is not a bumper; also Skylight (q.v.). Obsolete. [259]

To burn daylight, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To use artificial light before it is really dark; to waste time.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act i., 4. Mercutio. Come, we burn daylight.

To let or knock daylight into one, into the victualling department, or into the luncheon reservoir, phr. (common).—To stab in the stomach (or breadbasket); in the bread-room, potato-store, or giblet-pie, etc., and by implication to kill. Fr., bayafer. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 101, col. 2. A gentleman in a blue uniform has thrown himself into an attitude à la Crib, with the facetious intention of letting daylight into the wittling department.

Daylights, subs. (common).—1. The eyes. Cf., quots. under Darken the Daylights. For synonyms, see Glims.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vul. Tongue, s.v.

1823. Bee, Sl. Dict. [quoted in]. The hero (Achilles) in his tent they found, His day-lights fixed upon the cold, cold ground.

2. (general).—The space in a glass between liquor and brim: inadmissible in bumpers at toasts: the toast-master cries ‘no daylights nor heeltaps!’

To darken one’s daylights, verbal phr. (pugilistic).—1. To give a black-eye; ‘to sew up one’s sees.’

1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. I., ch. x. If the lady says such another word to me, d—n me, I will darken her daylights.

1786. The Microcosm, No. 2. The nobility and gentry were taught theoretically as well as practically, to bruise the bodies, and (to use a technical term) darken the daylights of each other, with the vigour of a Hercules, tempered with the grace of an Apollo.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 3. If the Fine Arts Of fibbing and boring be dear to your hearts; If to level, to punish, to ruffian mankind, And to darken their daylights, be pleasures refin’d.

1822. David Carey, Life in Paris, p. 200. So here’s at darkening his daylights for the advantage of his mummer.

Deacon, verb (American).—To pack fruit, vegetables, etc., the finest on the top. [Either derived by inversion, or in allusion to the Yankee proverb—‘All deacons are good, but there is odds in deacons.’]

1868. Miss Alcott, Little Women, ch. xi. The blanc-mange was lumpy, and the strawberries not as ripe as they looked, having been skilfully deaconed.

To deacon a calf, verbal phr. (American).—To kill.

To deacon land, verbal phr. (American).—To filch land by removing one’s fences into the highway or other common property.

To deacon off, verbal phr. (American).—To give the cue; to lead in debate. [From a custom, once universal but now almost extinct, in the New England Congregational churches. An important function of the deacon’s office was to read aloud the hymns given out by the minister one line at a time, the congregation singing each line as soon as read. This was called deaconing off.]

1848. J. R. Lowell, Biglow Papers. To funk right out o’ p’lit’cal strife ain’t thought to be the thing, Without you deacon off the tune you want your folks should sing.

1890. H. D. Traill, Saturday Songs, p. 7. We grieve, too, that of all men you, [260]Your own great Union’s stout defender Should deacon off the craven crew, Who here are clamouring for surrender.

Deacon-Seat, subs. (American lumberers’).—In log cabins the sleeping apartment is partitioned off by poles. The bed is mother earth, the pillow is a log, the foot-board a long pole six feet from the fire and in the centre of the cabin. The deacon seat is a plank fixed over and running parallel with the footboard so as to form a kind of settee in front of the fire. [Probably in allusion to the seats round a pulpit, facing the congregation, reserved for deacons.]

Deacon’s Hiding Place, subs. phr. (American).—A private compartment in oyster saloons and cafés; the Fr. cabinet particulier.

Dead, subs. (turf).—An abbreviation of ‘dead certainty.’—See Cert.

1889. Bailey’s Magazine [quoted in S. J. & C.]. ‘Dealers in the dead’ did well then.

Adj. (various).—Stagnant; ‘quiet’ (of trade); ‘flat’ (as of beer or aërated waters after exposure); cold (Am., see quot., 1888); good; thorough; complete (Cf., subs., sense). Also as an adv. as in dead beat, dead best, dead drunk, dead rolled (or flummoxed), dead nuts, dead bitched, etc.

1602. Shakspeare, Othello, ii., 2. Why, he drinks you, with facility, your Dane dead-drunk.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress p. 36. As dead hands at a mill as they, and quite as ready after it.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xvii., p. 187. ‘I wish you would pull off my boots for me,’ said Martin, dropping into one of the chairs, ‘I am quite knocked up. Dead beat, Mark.’

1845. Punch, vol. IX., p. 163. The general opinion is that the Premier is dead beat.

1860. Punch, vol. XXXIX., p. 37. A dead take-in is swipes too thin.

1864. Punch. Veal is as dead as mutton.

1872. Derby Mercury, 1 May. ‘Freemasonry in New Zealand.’ He was not dead, but only dead drunk.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. vii. So surely do I intend to try my dead best—all that I know—to win Florence’s love and possess her as a wife.

1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 27. Hungry Guest. Please bring me some clam fritters. Count (in disguise). Live ’r dead? Hungry Guest. Why, dead, of course! (And he got them stone-cold.)

Dead as a door-nail, mutton, a herring, a tent-peg, Julius Cæsar, etc., adv. phr. (common).—Utterly, completely dead. Dead as a door-nail is found in Langland’s Piers Plowman [1362]; all other forms are modern. [The door-nail is the striking-plate of the knocker. Herrings die sooner after capture than most fish.]

1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Super., in wks. II., 71. If you will needes strike it as dead as a dore naile.

1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, in wks. III., 182. Wee’l strike it as dead as a doore-naile.

1598. Shakspeare, II. King Henry IV., iii. Falstaff. What! is the old king dead? Pistol. As nail in door.

1608. Armin, Nest of Ninnies. But now the thought of the new come foole so much moved him, that he was as dead as a doore-nayle, standing on tip-toe, looking toward the door to behold arivall.

1700. Farquhar, Constant Couple, Act iv., Sc. 1. He’s as dead as a door-nail; for I gave him seven knocks on the head with a hammer.

1790. Rhodes, Bombastes Furioso, Ay, dead as herrings—herrings that are red.

1843. C. Dickens, Christmas Carol, s.v.

1864. D. W. Thompson, Daydreams of a Schoolmaster, p. 230. The boat of Charon will push a difficult furrow through [261]innumerable bodies, brick-bat laden, of purrless, soul-less dead-as-door-nail cats. Poor pussies.

1878. Besant and Rice, By Celia’s Arbour, ch. xlviii. Quite dead he was, dead as a door-nail.

In dead earnest, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Without doubt; in very truth.

1880. E. Bellamy, Dr. Heidenhoff’s Process, p. 11. I am sure that you never had a more sincere, more dead-in-earnest convert than I was.

Dead Against, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Decidedly opposed to.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. vii. You know I was always dead agin your tariff bill.

Dead-Alive or Dead-and-Alive, adj. (colloquial).—Dull; stupid; mopish; formerly deadly-lively.

1884. H. D. Traill, in Eng. Ill. Mag., I., 541. The city has greatly revived of late … it has ceased to belong to the category of the dead-alive, and has entered that of the lively.

Dead-Amiss, adv. phr. (turf).—Incapacitated through illness from competing in a race; said of horses.

Dead-Beat, subs. (American).—1. A sponger; loafer; sharper. Cf., Dead-head and Beat, subs., sense 1.

1865. Glasgow Herald, 25 Dec. ‘Trial Swanborough v. Sotheran.’ I returned the whole of the receipts, and about £4 16s. for dead beats—free admissions who took advantage of the occasion and got paid—which caused great discontent.

1884. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, p. 284. These uncles of your’n ain’t no uncles at all; they’re a couple of frauds—regular dead-beats.

1888. Bulletin, 24 Nov. 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.’

2. (American).—A pick-me-up compounded of ginger, soda, and whiskey.

Verb (American).—To sponge; loaf; cheat. Cf., Beat, verb, and Dead-head.

1880. Boston Journal. No party can dead-beat his way on me these hard times.

Adj.—Exhausted; e.g., Billy romped in as ‘fresh as paint,’ but the rest were dead-beat.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 34. Logic was at length not only so dead-beat, as to be compelled to cry for quarter, but to seek a temporary retirement, in order to renovate his constitution.

Dead Broke, adv. phr. (general).—Utterly penniless; ruined. Also Flat or stone broke; used verbally, to dead-break.

1866. Cincinnatti Enquirer, 1 June. When he left the gambling-house, he was observed to turn toward a friend with the words, dead-broke! and then to disappear round the corner.

English Synonyms. Wound up; settled; coopered; smashed up; under a cloud; cleaned out; cracked up; done up; on one’s back; floored; on one’s beam ends; gone to pot; broken-backed; all U. P.; in the wrong box; stumped; feathered; squeezed; dry; gutted; burnt one’s fingers; dished; in a bad way; gone up; gone by the board; made mince meat of; broziered; willowed; not to have a feather to fly with; burst; fleeced; stony; pebble-beached; in Queer Street; stripped; rooked; hard up; broke; hooped-up; strapped; gruelled.

French Synonyms. Enfoncé (familiar: also—done brown); [262]centré (popular); désossé (popular: properly = boned); eréné (popular); atigé (thieves’); panné (= in Queer Street); see also Beat.

Italian Synonym.—Ferrare (to be ruined; also = to spoil or corrupt).

Dead-Cargo, subs. (thieves’).—Booty of a disappointing character.

Dead Certainty, subs. phr. (colloquial).—That which is sure to occur; usually contracted to Dead or Cert, both of which see.

18(?). Aytoun. The Dreepdaily Burghs, p. 4. Everybody is realising; the banks won’t discount; and when your bills become due, they will be, to a dead certainty, protested.

Dead cut.—See Cut.

Dead Duck, subs. phr. (American).—That which has depreciated to the verge of worthlessness.

1888. New York Clipper. Long Branch is said to be a dead duck. But for the investments made at Elberon the Branch proper would probably have been abandoned long ago.

Deader, subs. (military).—1. A funeral; a black-job (q.v.).

2. (common).—A corpse.

Dead Frost, subs. (theatrical).—A fiasco; a columbus (q.v.). Fr., un four noir.

Dead-Give-Away.—See Give dead-away.

Dead Gone, adv. phr. (colloquial). Utterly collapsed.

Dead-Head, Dead-Beat or Dead-Hand, subs. (American).—One who obtains something of commercial value without special payment or charge; a person who travels by rail, visits theatres, etc., by means of free passes (cf., Paper); a sponge (q.v.). Also a loafing sharper.—See Beat and Dead-beat.

1861. Morning Post, ‘New York Correspondence.’ The editor had evidently been travelling as a dead-hand, as it is called, and paid his bill by a laudatory notice.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms. The dead-head receives his newspapers without subscribing, travels free of charge on steamboat, railroad, and stage, walks into theatres and shows of every kind unmolested, and even drinks at the bar and lives at the hotel without charge.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 21 May, p. 3, col. 1. ‘Lucia di Lammermoor’ is stale enough to warrant the most confirmed deadhead in declining to help make a house.

Also to dead-head, dead-headism, etc.

1871. New York Tribune, March. Elder Knapp, the noted revivalist, advertised that he would furnish a free pass to glory, but very few of the unrighteous population seemed anxious to be dead-headed on this train.

1888. Portland Transcript, 14 March. Unless we count those which had to do with the stage business and went dead-head.

Dead-Heat, subs. (colloquial).—A race with an equal finish. Formerly dead.

1635. Quarles, Emblems, Epig. 10. Mammon well follow’d, Cupid bravely led; Both touchers; equal fortune makes a dead; No reed can measure where the conquest lies; Take my advice; compound, and share the prize.

1828–45. T. Hood, Poems, vol. I., p. 170 (ed. 1846). Away! Away! she could ride a dead heat With the Dead who rides so fast and fleet.

1884. Ill. London News, 18 Oct., p. 362, col. 3. St. Gatien, the horse that ran a dead-heat for the Derby. [263]

Dead-Horse, subs. (common).—1. Work, the wages for which have been paid in advance; by implication, distasteful, or thankless labor. Fr., la bijouterie. To pull the dead horse = to work for wages already paid. [Seamen, on signing articles, sometimes get pay in advance, and they celebrate the term of the period thus paid for by dragging a canvas horse, stuffed with straw, round the deck and dropping him into the sea amidst cheers.] Fr., manger du salé (to eat salt pork.)

1651. Cartwright, Siedge. Ply. Now you’l wish I know, you ne’r might wear Foul linnen more, never be lowzy agen, Nor ly perdue with the fat sutler’s wife In the provoking vertue of dead horse, Your dear delights, and rare camp pleasures.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 110. Sir Humphry Foster had lost the greatest part of his estate, and then (playing, as it is said, for a dead horse) did, by happy fortune, recover it again.

1824. T. Fielding, Proverbs, etc. (Familiar Phrases), p. 148, s.v.

1857. Notes and Queries, 2 S., iv., p. 192. A workman ‘horses’ it when he charges for more in his week’s work than he has really done. Of course he has so much unprofitable work to get through in the ensuing week, which is called dead horse.

2. (West Indian).—A shooting star. Among Jamaican negroes the spirits of horses that have fallen over precipices are thought to re-appear in this form.

To flog the dead horse, verb. phr. (common).—To work to no purpose; to dissipate one’s energy in vain; to make ‘much ado about nothing.’

1872. Globe, 1 Aug. ‘In the House,’ For full twenty minutes by the clock the Premier … might be said to have rehearsed that particularly lively operation known as flogging a dead horse.

Dead-Letter, subs. (colloquial).—Anything that has lost its force or authority by lapse of time or other causes.

1755. Fielding, Voyage to Lisbon, p. 145. And to enact laws without doing this, is to fill our statute-books, much too full already, still fuller with dead letter, of no use but to the printer of the Acts of Parliament.

1859. Sala, Gaslight and Daylight, ch. xxi. The Metropolitan Buildings’ Act is a dead letter in Tattyboys Rents, for nobody ever thinks of building.

1861. Chambers’ Encyclopædia, s.v. Bunkum. Many laws, agitated for by popular factions, remain a dead letter, unless they happen to be enforced by clubs organized for the purpose.

Deadlights, subs. (nautical).—The eyes. For synonyms, see Glims.

Dead Lurk, subs. (thieves’).—See quot.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 403. The dead lurk, for instance, is the expressive slang phrase for the art of entering dwelling-houses during divine service.

Deadly, adv. (colloquial).—Very; extremely; excessively. In Arbuthnot: ‘So deadly cunning a man.’

Deadly Lively, adv. phr. (common).—Jovial against the grain and to no purpose.

Deadly Nevergreen, subs. phr. (old).—The gallows. Also known as the leafless tree and the tree that bears fruit all the year round. For synonyms, see Nubbing Cheat.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue s.v.

Dead Man, subs. phr. (common).—1. An empty bottle: said also to bear Moll Thompson’s mark (i.e. M.T. = empty). [264]

English Synonyms.—Camp-candlestick; fellow-commoner; corpse; dummy; dead marine; dead recruit; dead ’un.

French Synonyms.—Une fillette (= a half-bottle); un corps mort (popular: literally, a corpse); une négresse morte (popular: a reference to color as well as condition).

1738. Swift, Polite Convers., Dial. 2. Ld. S. Come, John, bring us a fresh bottle. Col. Ay, my lord; and pray, let him carry off the dead men, as we say in the army [meaning the empty bottles].

1825. The English Spy, vol I., p. 152. On the right was the sleeping room and at the foot of a neat French bed, I could perceive the wine bin, surrounded by a regiment of dead men (empty bottles).

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 59. Talk of the pleasures of the dead languages, indeed! why, how many jolly nights have you, and I, Larkyns passed ‘down among the dead men.’

1871. London Figaro, 15 April. We knew that, in practical use, imperials were inconvenient and wasteful; and that, moreover, it was far from easy to dispose of their corpses when they became dead men.

1879. Miss Braddon, Vixen, ch. viii. And added more dead men to the formidable corps of tall hock bottles, which the astonished butler ranged rank and file in a lobby outside the dining room.

1888. E. Zola. Translation of L’Assommoir, ch. vii., p. 208. In a corner of the shop, the heap of dead men increased, a cemetery of bottles.

2. (bakers’).—A loaf, overcharged, or marked down though not delivered. In London, dead ’un is a popular term for a half-quartern loaf. Also, by implication, a baker.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 16. Dead men are bakers, so called from the loaves falsely charged to their master’s customers.

3. (tailors’).—In pl. Misfits; hence, a scarecrow.

Deadman’s Lurk, subs. phr. (thieves’).—Extortion of money from the relatives of deceased persons. [Lurk = a sham, swindle, or imposition of any kind.]

Dead Marine.—See Dead Man.

Dead-Meat, subs. (common).—A corpse. [By comparison to butchers’ wares.] Cf., Cold meat.

English Synonyms.—Cold meat; pickles (medical students’: for specimens direct from the subject); croaker; stiff; stiff ’un; dustman; cold pig.

French Synonyms.—Un engourdi (thieves’: properly, torpid, heavy, dull); une falourde engourdie (popular: falourde = a heavy piece of firewood); un dégelé (pop: dégel = death); un rebouis (thieves’: one who has been ‘polished off’); un refroidi (thieves’: refroidir = to cool, to chill; in cant, to kill); les conserves (popular: literally, preserves; cf., ‘pickles’: specifically used of murdered bodies recovered from the water).

Dead-meat train.—See Cold-meat train.

Dead Men’s Shoes, subs. phr. (common).—A situation, property, or possession formerly occupied or enjoyed by a person who is dead and buried. Waiting for dead men’s shoes = looking forward to inheritances.

b. 1584, d. 1660. Phineas Fletcher, Poems, p. 256. And ’tis a general shrift, that most men use, But yet ’tis tedious waiting dead men’s shoes.

1758. A. Murphy, The Upholsterer, Act i. I grant ye, ma’am, you have very good pretensions; but then it’s waiting for dead men’s shoes. [265]

1764. Wilkes [in P. Fitzgerald’s Life of] (1888), vol. I., p. 244. As they have no other relation but Miss Wilkes, I therefore suppose they will leave everything to her, independent of me. Yet this is, after all, waiting for dead men’s shoes.

1878. C. H. Wall, tr. Molière II., 218. Death is not always ready to indulge the heir’s wishes and prayers, and we may starve while waiting for dead men’s shoes.

Dead-nap, subs. (provincial).—A thorough-going rogue.

Dead-nip, subs. (provincial).—A plan or scheme of little importance which has turned out a failure.

Dead-oh, adv. (naval).—In the last stage of intoxication. For synonyms, see Drinks and cf., Screwed.

Dead on, or Dead nuts on, adv. phr. (common).—Originally, having some cause of complaint or quarrel; also, very fond of; having complete mastery over; sure hand at. Cf., death on, Derry on and down on, all of which are variants.—See also nuts on, an older form.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 288. Davies was dead nuts upon cutting men’s hair. The whole evening long was he calling men out to be operated upon.

Dead-set, subs. (colloquial).—A pointed and persistent effort or attempt.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 196. He then gave me what I term the dead set with his eye.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 145. He was made a dead set at by some other prisoners, who schooled him for a career of vice and crime.

1889. Globe, 2 Nov., p. 6, col. 2. Certain persons of the ‘thoughtful’ kind, says Rod and Gun, are making a dead set against the field sports of Britain.

Dead Sow’s Eye, subs. phr. (tailors’).—A badly worked button-hole.

Dead Stuck, adv. phr. (theatrical).—Said of actors who break down in the midst of a performance through sudden lapse of memory.

Dead Swag, subs. (thieves’).—‘Dead stock’ or dead cargo (q.v.); plunder that cannot be disposed of. [Swag = booty.]

Dead to Rights, adv. phr. (common).—Certain; without doubt. An amplification of To rights (q.v.).

1888. Cincinnati Weekly Gazette, 22 Feb. Hill claims he has the thing down dead to rights, and that he will make the farmers sweat who have been asserting that his claim was ‘N.G.’

Dead-’un, subs. (thieves’).—1. An uninhabited house. The cracksman who confines his attentions to ‘busting’ of this kind is, in Fr., un nourrisseur.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 505. Me and the screwsman went to Gravesend, and I found a dead ’un (uninhabited house).

2. (common).—A half-quartern loaf. Cf., dead man, sense 2.

3. (turf).—A horse destined to be scratched or not intended to win, and against which odds may be safely laid; a safe ’un (q.v.).

1864. Bailey’s Magazine, June. These al fresco speculators have their dead ’uns, and carry ‘milking pails,’ like their more civilised brethren, privileged with the entrée to the clubs and the Corner.

1868. London Review, 11 July, p. 38, col. 2. The stable and owners might safely lay against what was technically a dead ’un from the first.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. v. Lord, what dead ’uns he did back, to be sure! [266]

4. (common).—An empty bottle. For synonyms, see Dead man.

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3. We submitted, and with her help were soon surrounded with a formidable array of dead ’uns.

5. (theatrical).—An unpaid super.

Dead Unit for [or against], adv. phr. (colloquial).—Collective advocacy of (or opposition to) a subject, principle, or line of action. Cf., to go the whole hog.

1888. The Solid Muldoon (Ouray, Colorado). The Eastern Press is a dead unit against the passage of the Postal Telegraph Bill.

Dead-wood Earnest, adv. phr. (American).—Quite earnest; ‘dead on.’ Cf., in dead earnest.

1876. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), Tom Sawyer. No! oh, good licks, are you in real dead-wood earnest?

Dead Wrong ’Un.—See Wrong ’un.

Deady (modern American, Dead-Eye), subs. (old).—Gin; a special brand of full proof spirit, also known as Stark-naked (q.v.). [From Deady, a well-known gin-spinner.] For synonyms, see Drinks.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 35. As we’d been summon’d thus, to quaff our deady o’er some state affairs.

1834. Southey, The Doctor, inter-chapter xvi. Some of the whole-hoggery in the House of Commons he would designate by Deady, or Wet and Heavy; some by Weak Tea, others by Blue-Ruin.

Deal. There’s a deal of glass about, phr. (common).—Said of men and things; used as a compliment = showy, ‘its the thing.’

To wet the deal, verb. phr. (common).—To ratify a bargain by drinking; to ‘shake.’

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 268. I shall be back again shortly, when we will wet the deal.

To do a deal, verb. phr. (common).—To conclude a bargain.

Deal-Suit, subs. (common).—A coffin; especially one supplied by the parish. [In allusion to the wood of which cheap coffins are made.] For synonyms, see Eternity Box.

Dean, subs. (Winchester College).—A small piece of wood bound round a Bill-Brighter (q.v.); that securing a fagot is called a Bishop.

Deaner, subs. (thieves’).—A shilling. [Origin uncertain; possibly related to Latin denarius. In the 16th and 17th centuries, denier = a coin—vide Nashe, Shakspeare, Johnson, etc. Others trace it to (a) the Cornish dinair; (b) Yiddish dinoh, a coin; (c) Gypsy deanee, a pound; (d) Lingua Franca dinarly.] For synonyms, see Blow.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 444. Shilling, Deaner, also twelver.

1864. Times, 12 October, p. 11, col. 6. One woman said where’s the deaner?

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 501. I had been down three or four days running, and could not buy anything to earn a deaner (shilling) out of.

Dearest Member.—The penis.

Death. To be death on, verb. phr. (common).—Very fond of, or thoroughly master of—a metaphor of completeness; the same [267]as dead on, a mark on, or some pumpkins on. Cf., nuts on. [Literally to prosecute or pursue any course of action to the death.]

To dress to death (colloquial).—To attire oneself in the very extreme of fashion. In America to dress within an inch of one’s life; to dress up drunk and to dress to kill. An old Cornish proverb has dressed to death like sally hatch (N. and Q., 3 ser., vi., 6). [Apparently a pun on killing (q.v.).]

1869. Newfoundland Fisheries [quoted in De Vere]. The next day I met Davis and Nye, my two chums, on board the Little Rhody, dressed to death and trunk empty, as they said of themselves.

Death-Hunter, subs. (common).—1. A vendor of the last dying speeches, or confessions of criminals; a running patterer or stationer.

1738. [From J. W. Jarvis and Son: Cat. No. 40, p. 38]. Ramble through London, containing observations on Beggars, Pedlars, Petticoat Pensioners, death hunters, Humours of the Exchange, etc., by a True-born Englishman [Title].

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., 228. The latter include the ‘running patterers,’ or death-hunters; being men (no women) engaged in vending last dying speeches and confessions.

2. (popular).—An undertaker. For synonyms, see Cold cook.

? Old Song, ‘Life’s a Chase.’ And e’en the death-hunter, in coffins who deals Is at last hunted into a coffin.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Death or Glory Boys.—See Bingham’s dandies.

Debblish, subs. (South African).—A penny. For synonyms, see Winn.

Decapitate.—See Cut off one’s head.

Decent, Decently, Decentish, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—Moderate; tolerable; passably; fairly good.

Decoy-bird or Duck, subs. (colloquial).—One employed to decoy persons into a snare; a buttoner or bug-hunter (q.v.). Fr., un allumeur, un chatouilleur, or un arrangeur.

Decus, subs. (old).—A crown piece. [From the Latin, the motto decus et tutamen on the rims of these coins.] For synonyms, see Caroon.

1688. T. Shadwell, Squire of Alsatia, ed. 1720, 2, vol. IV., p. 48. Madam Hackum, to testify my gratitude, I make bold to equip you with some Meggs, Decus’s, and Georges.

1822. Scott, Fort. of Nigel, ch. xxiii. ‘You see,’ he said, pointing to the casket, ‘that noble Master Grahame, whom you call Green, has got the decuses and the smelts.’

Dee, subs. (vagrants’).—1. A pocket-book or reader. For synonyms, see Leather.

2. (common).—A detective; also ’tec, (q.v.). Cf., Deeker, and for synonyms, see Nark.

1886. Graphic, 30 Jan., p. 130, col. 1. A detective is known as a dee and a teck; the former is principally used by tramps and gipsies, and is properly D, the initial letter of the word.

3. (common).—See D, sense 2.

Deeker, subs. (old).—See quot.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Deeker, a thief kept in pay by a constable.

Deep, adj. (colloquial).—Artful; e.g., ‘a deep one.’ [An extension [268]of the figurative sense = remote from comprehension, hard to penetrate—usages frequent in Biblical language.]

1672–1726. Vanbrugh, The Mistake, Act I. When you take us for fools, we never take you for wise men. For my part, in this present case, I take myself to be mighty deep.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, III., in wks. (1720) iv., 63. Fools! nay, there I am sure you are out: they are all deep, they are very deep, and sharp.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 268. I can scarcely believe my eyes. Oh! he’s a deep one.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. vi. He was, too, very deep, and some men, who could put up with his other failings, could not endure that.

1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 17 Oct., p. 2, col. 2. His Majesty the Sultan is ‘a deep one,’ it is clear.

Deerstalker, subs. (popular).—A felt hat. For synonyms, see Golgotha.

1870. London Figaro [letter dated Dec. 9]. Either the wind must be bottled up or the P. of W. must start the fashion of wearing deerstalkers … in the windy weather.

Deferred Stock, subs. (city).—Inferior soup. [A play upon words.] For synonyms, see Glue.

1871. Pall Mall Gaz., 22 May. A few years ago, at an economical Chancellor of Exchequer’s dinner on the Queen’s Birthday, the Chairman of one of the Revenue Boards, after tasting the soup, asked the Governor of the Bank of England, who happened to be sitting next to him at the table, ‘What is this?’ ‘Deferred Stock, I suspect,’ replied the Governor.

Degen, Degan, or Dagen, subs. (old).—A sword. [From the German.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Nun the degen, steal the sword.

1827. Bulwer Lytton, Pelham, p. 325. ed. 1864. Tip him the degen.

Delicate, subs. (vagrants’).—A lurker’s (q.v.) false subscription book.

Dell, subs. (old).—1. A young girl; a virgin; a young wanton. Later, a mistress: cf., doxy. For synonyms, see Titter.

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 75. A Dell is a yonge wenche, able for generation, and not yet knowen or broken by the vpright man.

1574–1637. Ben Jonson, Metam. Gipsies. Sweet doxies and dells My Roses and Nells.

1609. Thomas Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight. Docked the Dell, for a Coper meke His wach shall feng a Prounces Nab-chete.

1622. Head and Kirkman, English Rogue. I met a dell, I viewed her well.

1694. Dunton, Ladies’ Dictionary. Dells are young bucksom wenches, ripe, and prone to venery, but have not yet been debauch’d.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Dell, Doxy, a wench.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. I., ch. ix. He was seized … by the bailiff of Westminster when dead drunk, his liquor having been drugged by his dells—and was shortly afterwards hanged at Tyburn.

Delog, subs. (back slang).—Gold. For synonyms, see Redge.

Delo-Nammow, subs. (back slang).—An old woman. For synonyms, see Old Geezer.

Delve It, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To hurry with one’s work, head down and sewing fast. Cf., dig, verb.

Demand the Box, verb. phr. (nautical).—To call for a bottle.

Demaunder for Glymmar, subs. phr. (old).—See quot.

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 61. These Demaunders for Glymmar be for the moste parte wemen; for glymmar [269]in their language, is fyre. These goe with fayned lycences and counterfayted wrytings, hauing the hands and seales of suche gentlemen as dwelleth nere to the place where they fayne them selues to haue bene burnt, and their goods consumed with fyre. They wyll most lamentable demaunde your charitie, and wyll quicklye shed salte teares, they be so tender harted. They wyll neuer begge in that Shiere where their losses (as they say) was.

Demi-doss, subs. (vagrants’).—See quot.

1886. Daily News, 3 Nov., p. 5, col. 5. Others, unable to find the coin wherewith to obtain even a demi-doss, i.e., penny sleep.

Demi-Rep, subs. (old slang, now recognised).—A woman of doubtful repute. [A contraction of demi-reputation.] For synonyms, see Barrack Hack and Tart.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XV., ch. ix. That character which is vulgarly called a demi-rep; that is to say, a woman who intrigues with every man she likes, under the name and appearance of virtue … in short, whom everybody knows to be what nobody calls her.

1754. Connoisseur, No. 4. An order of females lately sprung up … usually distinguished by the denomination of Demi-Reps; a word not to be found in any of our dictionaries.

1846–48. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, vol. II., ch. xx. So they went on talking about dancers, fights, drinking, demi-reps, until Macmurdo came down.

Demnition Bow-wows, subs. phr. (common).—The ‘dogs’ which spell ‘ruin.’ Originally a Dickensism (see quot., 1838). For analogues, see Dead Broke.

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, II., 32. ‘I beg its little pardon,’ said Mr. Mantalini, dropping the handle of the mangle, and folding his arms together, ‘It’s all up with its handsome friend. He has gone to the demnition bow-wows.’

1888. New York Herald, 25 March. There are some men who, if they don’t make twice as much as they expect to make, will cry hard times, and say that general business is going to the demnition bow-wows, but these men would say the same thing in any event.

1889. The Nation, 19 Dec., p. 499, col. 1. Our great farming industry—the very soil of National growth—is not going to the demnition bow-wows.

Demnition Hot, adv. phr. (American).—Exceedingly warm; a heat supposed to be akin to that of the place where they don’t rake out the fires at night.

1888. San Francisco Weekly Examiner, 22 March. It was demnition hot, and I commenced to hunt for soft spots in my saddle.

Demon, subs. (Australian prison).—1. A policeman. For synonyms, see Beak and Copper.

2. (colloquial).—A super-excellent adept; e.g., The demon bowler = Mr. Spofforth; The demon jockey = Fordham or Fred Archer, and so forth.

Den, subs. (common).—A place where intimates are received; one’s ‘diggings’ or ‘snuggery.’ [In Anglo-Saxon = a bed, cave, or lurking place.] For synonyms, see Diggings.

1865. Punch, vol. XLVIII., p. 111 col. 2, s.v.

Dennis, subs. (old).—A small walking stick.

Dep, subs. (common).—1. A deputy; specifically the night porter or chamberlain at padding or dossing kens.

1870. C. Dickens, Mystery of Edwin Drood, ch. v. I’m man-servant up at the Travellers’ Twopenny in Gas Works Garding, this thing explains, all man-servants at Travellers’ Lodgings is named Deputy.

2. (Christ’s Hospital).—A deputy Grecian, i.e., a boy in the form below the Grecians. [270]

Derby.—See Darby.

Derrey, subs. (thieves’).—An eyeglass. To take the derrey, (tailors’) = to quiz, ridicule.

Derrick, subs. (old).—The gallows. [A corruption of Theodoric, the name of the public hangman at the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth centuries.] Now the name of an apparatus, resembling a crane. Also, used as a verb = to hang; apparently the earliest recorded sense. For synonyms, see Nubbing Cheat.

1600. W. Kemp, Nine Days’ Wonder, in Arber’s English Garner, vol. VIII., p. 37. One that … would pol his father, derick his dad! do anything, how ill soever, to please his apish humour.

1607. Dekker, Jests to Make you Merie, in wks. (Grosart), ii., 318. For might I have beene her Judge, shee should haue had her due, and danst Derriks dance in a hempen halter.

1609. Dekker, Gul’s Horne-Booke, chap. ii. The Neapolitan will (like Derick, the hangman) embrace you with one arme, and rip your guts with the other.

Derwenter, subs. (Australian).—A convict. [From the penal settlement on the banks of the Derwent, Tasmania.]

Despatchers, subs. (gamesters’).—False dice with two sides, double four, five, and six.

1856. Times, 27 Nov., s.v.

Desperate, and Desperately, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—A metaphor of excessiveness; e.g., desperately mashed = over head and ears in love.

Detrimental, subs. (society).—An ineligible suitor; also a male flirt.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 133, col. 1. Defining that zero of fortune to stand below which constitutes a detrimental.

1859. Whitty, Political Portraits, p. 113. The fact is, that the detrimentals won’t work; born into shifty affluence, it is easier to struggle on in a false position than to struggle out of it.

1886. Household Words, 13 March, p. 400. A detrimental, in genteel slang, is a lover, who, owing to his poverty is ineligible as a husband; or one who professes to pay attentions to a lady without serious intention of marriage, and thereby discourages the intentions of others.

Detrimental-Club, subs. (society).—The Reform Club.

Deuce, Dewce, or Deuse, subs. (common).—1. The devil; perdition. Also used as an ejaculative, e.g., The deuce! What the deuce! Who the deuce! Deuce take you! etc. [Wedgwood: ‘The evolution of deuce from Thurs., the name of a Scandinavian demon is fully vouched.’ Skeat: Latin deus, God, deus, borrowed from French usage, being found as an interjection in early English works. Low German duus, Ger. daus are used similarly and may have the same origin; others connect it with Armor. dus, teuz, a goblin.] For synonyms, see Skipper.

b. 1670, d. 1729. Congreve. It was the prettiest prologue as he wrote it; well, the deuce take me if I ha’n’t forgot it.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2nd ed.), s.v. Dewce.

1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belle’s Stratagem, Act v., Sc. i. Miss C. Deuce take her! She’s six years younger than I am.

1827. R. B. Peake, Comfortable Lodgings, Act I., Sc. iii. De C. I am the Intendant of Police, sir. Sir H. The deuce you are!

1837. Barham, I. L. (Jackdaw of Rheims). There’s a cry and a shout, And a deuce of a rout, And nobody seems to know what they’re about. [271]

1854. Aytoun and Martin, Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘To a forget-me-not.’ I can’t tell who the deuce it was That gave me this Forget-me-not.

2. (vagrants’).—Twopence.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 12, s.v.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 276. ‘Give him a deuce’ (2d.).

3. (gamesters’).—The two at dice or cards.

To play the deuce or devil with, verb. phr. (common).—To send, or be sent, to rack and ruin.

1881. Jas. Payn, Grape from a Thorn, ch. i. I have a presentiment that the cooking will play the deuce with my digestion.

1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 89. Her drinking played the deuce with the shop.

The deuce to pay, phr. (common).—Unpleasant or awkward consequences to be faced; see Devil to pay.

1854. Thackeray, The Rose and the Ring, p. 69. There has been such a row, and disturbance, and quarrelling, and fighting, and chopping of heads off, and the deuce to pay, that I’m inclined to go back to Cumtartary.

1869. Mrs. H. Wood, Roland Yorke, ch. xxxiii. One or both of ’em … report me for negligence! I get a curt telegram to come to town, and here’s the deuce to pay!

Deuced, adj. (common).—Devilish; excessive; confounded. Also adverbially. [From deuce (q.v.), + ed.]

1836. Michael Scott, The Cruise of the Midge, vol. I. [ed. 1860], p. 160. Quacco all this while was twisting and turning himself, and, although evidently in a deuced quandary, trying to laugh the affair off as a joke.

Deusea-ville, subs. (old).—The Country.—See Daisyville.

Deusea-ville Stampers, subs. phr. (old).—Country carriers.

Devil, subs. (common).—1. Formerly a barrister who devils, or ‘gets up,’ a case for a leader; as in A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton for Mr. Stryver. Now common for anyone hacking for another.—(See quots., 1889.)

1872. Echo, 14 Nov. Mr. Archibald, the Attorney-General’s devil is to be made a judge. Well, other devils have been made judges of. Sir James Hannen, we are told, was a devil once.

1873. Daily Telegraph, 12 Feb. It will not be possible even to send a telegram to a French journal during a sitting. Not a word must be printed until the President’s devil has distributed the Officiel to the different office boys who will henceforth, etc.

1889. Telegram. M— 84, B— Street, London, E.C. Strange letter received. Will you please see devil at my chambers? R—. [In original telegram the word ‘devil’ was queried by the P.O. authorities!]

1889. George R. Sims, The Author’s Ghost. ‘Who are you?’ I asked in dismay. ‘I’m a devil.…’ ‘A what!’ I exclaimed with a start. ‘A devil.… I give plots and incidents to popular authors, sir, write poetry for them, drop in situations, jokes, work up their rough material: in short, sir, I devil for them.’

1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., p. 211, col. 2. No one who is not in the swim can have any conception of the amount of work and worry that devolves upon a counsel in leading practice at the criminal bar.… He has to do the best he can, with the assistance of juniors and devils.

2. (printers’).—An errand boy or young apprentice; in the early days of the craft, the boy who took the printed sheets as they came from the press. Fr., un attrape-science.

1754. Connoisseur, No. 9. Our publisher, printer, corrector, devil, or any other employed in our service.

1757. Foote, Author, Act I. A printer’s prime minister, called a devil. [272]

1859. Punch, vol. XXXVI, p. 82. ‘An author’s paradise.’ A place where there are no printers’ devils.

1863. Alex. Smith, Dreamthorp, p. 211. He wrote in a leisurely world, when there was plenty of time for writing and reading; long before the advent of the printer’s devil or of Mr. Mudie.

3. (nautical).—See quot.

1883. Illustrated London News, 16 June, p. 603, col. 2. It is proposed to prevent the use of the devil, a kind of sharpened anchor, at the bows of a trawler for cutting the nets of drifters in the North Sea.

4. (old).—A firework.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. III., ch. vii. The captain, perceiving an opportunity, pinned a cracker or devil to the cassock, and then lighted it.

5. (licensed victuallers’).—Gin seasoned with capsicums. Cf., following sense.

1828. G. Smeaton, Doings in London. The extract of Capsicums or extract of Grains of Paradise is known in the gin-selling trade by the appellation of the devil. They are manufactured by putting a quantity of small East India chillies into a bottle of spirits of wine and keeping it closely stopped for about a month.

6. (common).—A grilled bone seasoned with mustard and cayenne. Cf., Attorney.

7. (military).—A sand-storm.

1889. Daily News, 8 July. ‘The Camp at Wimbledon.’ They raised also clouds of dust that went whirling across the common in spiral cones like desert devils.

8. (common).—A species of firewood soaked in resin.

The or a devil of [a thing], adj. and adv. (colloquial).—An indefinite intensitive: e.g., devil of a mess, of a woman, of a row, etc.

1602. Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, ii., 3. The devil, a puritan that he is, or anything constantly.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge [ed. 1860], p. 102. a devil of a good fight he made of it.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge [ed. 1860], p. 298. The devil a thing was there in sight, not even a small white speck of a sail.

American devil, subs. phr. (workmen’s).—A steam whistle or ‘hooter’; used in place of a bell for summoning to work.

1872. Manchester Guardian, 24 Sept. Mr. Powell’s Bill contains abundant powers for suppressing the vile nuisance known as the American devil, and should any man suffer from it in future he will have nobody to thank but himself.

Blue devils.—See ante.

Little (or young) devil, subs. phr. (common).—A half playful, half sarcastic, address; a term of endearment; e.g., you little devil. Cf., you young tinker.

1841. R. B. Peake, Court and City, Act i., Sc. 1. My wife was such an unreasonable little devil, as to ask me forty questions about my staying out so late.

Verb (common).—1. To act as a devil (q.v., subs.); to perform routine or detail work for another.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 30 Nov. Letter, ‘Called to the Bar.’ Then I took legislative rambles in the Courts, so that I might see practice, and that practitioners might see me; and then I devilled and reported a little.

1883. Graphic, 12 May, p. 478, col. 2. The practice prevailing among eminent counsel of undertaking more cases than they can possibly manage, and handing over some to the juniors who devil for them.

2. (American cadet).—To victimize.

What, Who, When, Where, or How the Devil, phr. (common).—An expletive of wonder, vexation, etc. [273]

b. 1688, d. 1744. Pope [quoted in Annandale]. The things we know are neither rich nor rare; But wonder how the devil they got there.

1776. David Garrick, Bon Ton, or High Life Above Stairs, Act ii., Sc. 1. Sir T. Why, what the devil do you make one at these masqueradings.

1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belle’s Stratagem, Act i., Sc. 3. Har. Who the devil could have foreseen that?

1827. R. B. Peake, Comfortable Lodgings, Act i, Sc. 3. What the devil is all this about?

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge [Ry. ed. 1860], p. 134. How the devil can you get anything out of an empty vessel?

To play the devil with, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To ruin or molest.

1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 46. The passions, as I’ve said, are far from evil, But if not well confined they play the devil.

To pull the devil by the tail, phr. (colloquial).—To go to ruin headlong; also to be reduced to one’s last shift. Cf., To play the devil with.

1890. European Mail, 2 Aug., p. 30, col. 2. The immense disproportion between the solid assets and the liabilities of the enterprise made experienced Parisian financiers say from the first that the company was pulling the devil by the tail, and a perusal of M. Monchicourt’s report must confirm this view.

To whip the devil round the stump, verb. phr. (American).—To enjoy the sweets of wickedness and yet escape the penalty.

1857. New York Evening Post. While Mr. Jones is describing his wants in the money line, and telling the president how near through he is, that officer is carrying on a mental addition it may be after this manner: Jones, you’re a clever fellow, but Smith tells me you are engaged in a coal-stock operation. I have heard also that you have been dabbling in Erie. There is a want of candor now, I perceive, in the statement of your affairs. There, you are now whipping the devil around the stump: I see his foot.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 187. Nor is the slang phrase: to whip the devil around the stump to be traced very clearly to the backwoods.

1872. Haldeman, Pennsylvania Dutch. I whipped the devil round the stump, And gave a cut at every jump.

Haul devil, pull baker, phr. (colloquial).—To contend with varying fortunes. In the sense of endeavouring to overreach, a variant is diamond cut diamond.

1889. Cornhill Mag., July, p. 99. I can’t get proper accounts from her; and it’s a regular case of pull devil, pull baker, whenever I want to look at the trades-people’s books.

And the devil knows what or who, phr. (colloquial).—A term used vaguely and indefinitely to include details not specifically mentioned or known.

1717. Mrs. Centlivre, A Bold Stroke for a Wife, Act iii., Sc. 1. Per. Why, what a pack of trumpery has this rogue picked up! His pagod, poluflosboio, his zonos moros musphonons, and the devil knows what.

To go to the devil, phr. (colloquial).—To go to rack and ruin. Go to the devil! = begone! A summary form of dismissal with no heed as to what may become of the person who is sent about his business.

1801. T. Dibdin, The Birthday, Act i., Sc. 2. Capt. Hold your tongue, Junk; you are a libellous rascal. You, and your box, too, may go to the devil.

To hold a light or candle to, or burn a candle before, the devil, phr. (colloquial).—To propitiate through fear; to assist or wink at wrong doing. Shakspeare (Merchant of Venice, Act ii., Sc. 6), employs ‘What! must [274]I hold a candle to my shame,’ in much the same sense. [From the practice of burning candles before the images of saints, etc.]. Not fit to hold a candle to the devil = a simile of inferiority. To hold a candle to another = to assist in, occupy a subordinate position, or (see quot., 1859) to compare to another.

c. 1461. In Paston Letters, II., 73 (ed. Gairdner). For it is a common proverbe, ‘A man must sumtyme set a candel befor the Devyle;’ and therefor thow it be not alder most mede and profytabyl, yet if ij harmys the leste is to be take.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, p. 148. Though not for hope of good, Yet for the feare of euill, Thou maist find ease so proffering up a candell to the deuill.

1672. Wycherley, Love in a Wood, I., i., wks. (1713), 346. You cannot hold a candle to the devil.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. III., p. 17. To hold a candle to the devil, Is not the means to stop this evil.

1828. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth, ii., 213. Here have I been holding a candle to the devil, to show him the way to mischief.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffrey Hamlyn, ch. xxxii. A Frenchman is conceited enough, but, by George, he can’t hold a candle to a Scotchman.

The devil, or the devil and all to pay, phr. (colloquial).—A simile of fruitless effort; awkward consequences to be faced. [Nautical: originally, ‘There’s the devil to pay and no pitch hot’; the ‘devil’ being any seam in a vessel, awkward to caulk, or in sailors’ language ‘to pay.’ Hence by confusion the deuce to pay (q.v.).]

1711. Swift, Journal to Stella, 28 Sept. Letter 31. And then there will be the devil and all to pay.

1761. Colman, Jealous Wife, III., in wks. (1777), i., 69. There’s the devil to pay in meddling with them.

1762. Foote, Liar, iii., 3. Sir, here has been the devil to pay within.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge. [Ry. ed. 1860], p. 127. Here was the devil to pay with a vengeance.

1837. R. H. Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends. The Execution (ed. 1862), p. 198. Hollo! Hollo! Here’s a rum go. Why, Captain!—My Lord!—Here’s the devil to pay!—The fellow’s been cut down and taken away!

1866. G. Eliot, Felix Holt, ch. xxi. He made a fool of himself with marrying at Vesoul; and there was the devil to pay with the girl’s relations.

Talk of the devil and you’ll see his horns or tail, phr. (colloquial).—Said of a person who, being the subject of conversation, unexpectedly makes an appearance. Fr., parlez des anges et vous en voyez les ailes.

b. 1664, d. 1721. M. Prior. Hans Carvel. Since therefore ’tis to combat evil, ’Tis lawful to employ the Devil, Forthwith the Devil did appear, For name him and he’s always near.

Devil-may-care, adj. (colloquial).—Rollicking; reckless; rash.

1822–36. Jno. Wilson, Noctes Amb. I., 274. [The shepherd has thrown back to the fire a live coal.] Belyve the blisters’ll be rising like foam-bells; but deil may care.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xlix., p. 428. He was a mighty free and easy, roving, devil-may-care sort of person, was my Uncle, gentlemen.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. xii. There was also a certain devil-may-care recklessness about the self-satisfied swagger of his gait.

1849. Albert Smith, in Gabarni in London (Acrobats). Unsettled, wandering, and devil-may-care as his disposition may be, he cannot be called idle.

1863. Hon. Mrs. Norton, Lost and Saved, p. 33. Treherne had a hot twinge of doubt, in spite of his devil-may-care style of writing, whether Lewellyn would answer him at all.

1865. Punch, vol. XLVIII., p. 106. Fechter’s acting [as Robert Macaire] in The Roadside Inn may be described as the devil-may-care style. [275]

Devil take, or fetch, or send, or snatch, or fly away with, you, me, him! etc., phr. (colloquial).—An imprecation of impatience. Fr., le boulanger t’entrolle en son pasclin.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 339. Don’t use naughty words, in the next place, and ne’er in your language adopt a bad habit of swearin’. Never say, ‘Devil take me,’ or ‘shake me,’ or ‘bake me,’ or such-like expressions. Remember Old Nick, To take folks at their word, is remarkably quick.

There’s the devil among the tailors, phr. (common).—A row is going on. [Edwards:—Originating in a riot at the Haymarket when Dowton announced the performance for his benefit, of a burlesque entitled ‘The Tailors: a Tragedy for Warm Weather.’ Many thousands of journeymen tailors congregated, and interrupted the performances. Thirty-three were brought up at Bow Street next day.—See Biographica Dramatica under ‘Tailors.’]

When the devil is blind, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Never, i.e., in a month of Sundays; said of anything unlikely to happen. For synonyms, see Greek Kalends.

Devil Dodger, subs. (common).—A clergyman. Also, by implication, anyone of a religious turn of mind.

English Synonyms.—Devil catcher, driver, pitcher, or scolder; snub devil; bible pounder; duck that grinds the gospel mill; commister; camister; sky-pilot; chimney-sweep; rat; rum (Johnson); pantiler; cushion smiter, duster, or thumper; couple, or buckle, beggar; rook; gospel grinder; earwig; one-in-ten (tramps’ = a tithe-monger); finger-post; parish prig; parish bull; holy Joe; green apron; black cattle (collectively); crow; the cloth (collectively); white choker; patrico; black coat; black fly; glue pot; gospel postillion; prunella; pudding-sleeves; puzzle-text; schism-monger; cod; Black Brunswicker; spiritual flesh-broker; head-clerk of the Doxology Works; Lady Green; fire-escape; gospel sharp; padre (Anglo-Indian); pound-text.

French Synonyms.—Un radicon (thieves’); un otage (popular: = hostage, in allusion to events under the Commune of 1871); un radis noir (familiar: also a police officer. In allusion to ‘the cloth’); un ratichon (pop. from ratissé, rasé = shaved); un sanglier (thieves’: a wild boar, but also a play upon words sans without, + glier, the infernal regions); un raze or razi (thieves’); un rochet (thieves’: a surplice); un pante en robe (thieves’: ‘a cove in a gown,’ also a judge); un chasublard (popular); une calotte (fam.: le régiment de la calotte = the skull-cap brigade, i.e., the company of the Society of Jesus); un corbeau (pop.: = crow); un couac (popular); un babillard (thieves’: especially a confessor, a ‘blab-monger’); un bichot (a bishop); une enseigne de cimetière (‘a cemetery signpost.’ Cf., sky-pilot and finger-post); un bâton de réglisse (thieves’: = a stick of liquorice. Also a police-officer); un barbichon (popular: a preaching friar. From barbe = beard, in allusion to the long beard characteristic of the order). [276]

German Synonyms.—Herrle (especially applied to Catholic priests). Lefranz or Lefrenz (a transposition of Franzle or Fränzle = the Franciscan. Liber Vagatorum Lefrenzin, = a priest’s harlot, still popular in N. Germany); Schocherer (from Hebrew schochar = black. Cf., analogous English terms); Schwarzfärber (Schwarz = black; Färber = a dyer).

Italian Synonyms.—Chiodrino; capellano rosso (a cardinal; ‘a red chaplain’); farfoio (= a monk; farfoia, a nun); rossignolo (= ‘a nightingale’); pisto or pistolfo (Michel: ‘parce qu’il suit le condamné à la piste’).

Spanish Synonym.—Cleriguillo (= a little cleric: both insult and endearment).

1791. Lackington, Memoirs, Letter vi. [ed. 1803]. These devil-dodgers happened to be so very powerful (that is, noisy) that they soon sent John home, crying out he should be damn’d.

1889. Cornhill Mag., Jan., p. 50. He’s just a kind of a fine-haired cuss—a gambler, or a devil-dodger. I reckon … I’m open ter bet he’s a preacher.

Devil-Drawer, subs. (old).—An indifferent artist.

Devilish, adv. (colloquial).—Used intensitively. Cf., Awfully, and Beastly.

1755. The World, No. 140. How arbitrary is language! and how does the custom of mankind join words, that reason has put asunder. Thus we often hear of hell-fire cold, of devilish handsome, and the like.

1780. Mrs. Cowley, The Belle’s Stratagem, iii., 1. I tell you, sir, that, for all that, she’s dev’lish sensible.

1871. Sir M. Lopez, Speech on Army Bill, H. of C., 3 July. It was devilish hard—he meant very hard—to lay it.

Devil’s Bed-posts, or Devil’s Four-poster, subs. phr. (cards’).—The four of clubs; held as an unlucky ‘turn-up.’

1879. J. C. J., in N. and Q., 5 S., xii., 473. In London I have always heard the four of clubs called the devil’s bedpost, and also that it is the worst turn-up one could have.

Devil’s-Bones, subs. (old).—Dice; also Devil’s teeth. Cf., Devil’s books.

1664. Etherege, Comical Revenge, II., iii., in wks. (1704), 27. I do not understand dice: I understand good pasture and drink—hang the devil’s bones.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxiii. A gamester, one who deals with the devil’s bones and the doctors.

Devil’s-Books, subs. (common).—Cards. [Of Presbyterian origin; in reproof of a synonymous term—King’s Books, or more fully, The History of the Four Kings (Fr., livre des quatre rois).] Also Books of Briefs (Fr., la cartouchière à portées).

1729. Swift, Intelligencer, No. 4, p. 43 (2nd ed.). Cards are the devil’s own invention, for which reason, time out of mind, they are and have been called the devil’s books.

18(?). Thackeray, Character Sketches (Capt. Rook and Mr. Pigeon). I often think that the devil’s books, as cards are called, are let out to us from Old Nick’s circulating library.

Devil’s-Claws, subs. (thieves’).—The broad arrow on convicts’ uniforms.

Devil’s-Colours or Livery, subs. (common).—Black and yellow.

Devil’s-Daughter, subs. (common).—A shrew.

Devil’s-Delight. To kick up the devil’s delight, verbal phr. (common).—To make a disturbance. [277]

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xv. His wives, five or six on ’em, was yowlin’, and cryin’, and kickin’ up the devil’s delight.

1863. Chas. Reade, Hard Cash, I., 278. Well then, speak quick, both of you, said Sharpe, or I’ll lay ye both by the heels. Ye black scoundrels, what business have you in the Captain’s cabin, kicking up the devil’s delight?

Devil’s-Dozen, subs. (old).—Thirteen; the original baker’s-dozen (q.v.). [From the number of witches supposed to sit down together at a ‘Sabbath.’ In Fr. le boulanger (the baker) = the devil.]

Devil’s-Dung, subs. (old).—Asafœtida: the old pharmaceutical name. [From the smell.] Now recognised.

1604. Dekker, Honest Wh., in wks. (1873), ii. 40. Fust. The divel’s dung in thy teeth: I’ll be welcome whether thou wilt or no.

1759. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vol. VIII., ch. xi. ’Tis all pepper, garlic, staragen, salt, and devil’s dung.

1804. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), i. 203. I devoured loads of devil’s dung rounded into pills.

Devil’s-dust, subs. (trade).—1. Old cloth shredded for re-manufacture. [In allusion both to the swindle and to the ‘dust’ or ‘flock’ produced by the disintegrating machine which is called a ‘devil.’ The practice and the name are old. Latimer, in one of his sermons before Edward the Sixth, treating of trade rascality, remarked that manufacturers could stretch cloth seventeen yards long, into a length of seven-and-twenty yards: ‘When they have brought him to that perfection,’ he continues, ‘they have a pretty feat to thick him again. He makes me a powder for it, and plays the pothicary. They call it flock-powder, they do so incorporate it to the cloth, that it is wonderful to consider; truly a good invention. Oh that so goodly wits should be so applied; they may well deceive the people, but they cannot deceive God. They were wont to make beds of flocks, and it was a good bed too. Now they have turned their flocks into powder, to play the false thieves with it.’ Popularised by Mr. Ferrand in a speech before the House of Commons, March 4, 1842 (Hansard, 3 S, lxi., p. 140) when he tore a piece of cloth made from devil’s dust, into shreds to prove its worthlessness.] Also Shoddy (q.v.).

1840. Carlyle, Misc., iv., 239. Does it beseem thee to weave cloth of devil’s dust instead of true wool, and cut and sew it as if those wert not a tailor but the fraction of a very tailor?

1851. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, II., p. 30.

1864. Times, 2 Nov. It is not many years since Mr. Ferrand denounced the devil’s dust of the Yorkshire woollen manufacturers; this devil’s dust arises from the grand translation of old cloth into new.

2. (military)—Gunpowder.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. i. One looks up at the snow-white walls … and then remembers grimly what a mess the devil’s dust, as used by modern artillery, would make of them in these days.

Devil’s Guts, subs. (old).—A surveyor’s chain.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Devil’s Own, subs. (military).—1. The Eighty-Eight Foot. [A contraction of the devil’s own Connaught boys, a name given by General Picton for their gallantry [278]in action and their irregularity in quarters during the Peninsular War, 1809–14.]

2. (volunteer)—The Inns of Court Volunteers [in allusion to the legal personnel].

1864. Mark Lemon, Jest Book, p. 211. At a review of the volunteers, when the half-drowned heroes were defiling by all the best ways, the devil’s own walked straight through. This being reported to Lord B——, he remarked, ‘that the lawyers always went through thick and thin.’

1872. Daily Telegraph, 28 Nov. In Richmond Park the Inns of Court Rifle Volunteers, more familiarly known as the Devil’s Own, were inspected by Colonel Daubeney.

Devil’s-Paternoster. To say the Devil’s Paternoster, verb. phr. (old).—To grumble.

1614. Terence, in English. D. What devills pater noster is this he is saying? what would he? what saist thou honest man?

Devil’s Playthings, subs. phr. (common).—Cards.—See Devil’s Books.

Devil’s-Sharpshooters, subs. (American).—Clerics who took part in the Mexican War.

Devil’s-Smiles, subs. (common).—April weather with alternations of sunshine and rain.

Devil’s-Tattoo, subs. (common). Drumming the fingers on any resonant surface, or tapping the floor with one’s feet, acts of vacancy or impatience.

1817. Scott, Search after Happiness, st. xv. His sugar-loaves and bales about he threw, And on his counter beat the devil’s tattoo.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 181. Her tears had ceased; but her eyes were cast down, and mournfully fixed upon her delicate little foot, which was beating the devil’s tattoo.

1841. Lytton, Night and Morning, bk. III., ch. vi. Mr. Gawtrey remained by the fire beating the devil’s tattoo upon the chimney-piece.

1855. Thackeray, The Newcomes, II., 130. Lady Kew (loq.): ‘Have you been quarrelling as much as usual?’ ‘Pretty much as usual,’ says Barnes, drumming on his hat. ‘Don’t beat that devil’s tattoo.’

Devil’s Teeth.—See Devil’s Bones.

[Also to note in this connexion are devil’s own boy = a young blackguard; imp of the devil = idem; devil’s own ship = a pirate; devil’s own luck = uncommon, or inexplicable, good fortune; to lead one the devil’s own dance = to baffle one in the pursuit of any object; the devil a bit says punch = a jocular yet decided negative; and neat but not gaudy, as the devil said when he painted his bottom pink and tied up his tail with pea green, a locution employed of aged ladies dressed in flaming colours.]

Deviltry, subs. (low).—A vulgar form of ‘devilry.’

Devor, subs. (Charterhouse).—Plum Cake. [From the Latin.]

Devotional-Habits, subs. (stable).—Said of a horse that is apt to ‘say his prayers,’ i.e., to stumble and go on his knees.

Dew-Beaters, -Dusters, or -Treaders, subs. (old).—1. Pedestrians out early in the morning, i.e., before the dew is off the ground.

1692. Hacket, Life of Williams, i., 57. It is not equity at lust and pleasure that is moved for, but equity according to decrees and precedents foregoing, as the dew-beaters have trod their way for those that come after them.

2. (common).—The feet. [An extension of sense 1.] For synonyms, see Creepers. [279]

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1823. Scott, Peveril, ch. xxxvi. First hold out your dew-beaters till I take off the darbies. Is that usual? said Peveril, stretching out his feet.

3. (tramps’).—Shoes. [Cf., senses 1 and 2.] In Norfolk, heavy shoes for wet weather.—Forby.

Dew-bit, subs. (common).—A snack before breakfast. Cf., Dew-Drink and Dew-Beaters.

Dew-Drink, subs. (common).—A drink before breakfast. Cf., Dew-Bit and Dew-Beaters. Fr., une goutte pour tuer le ver, i.e., ‘to drown the maggot,’ or ‘to crinkle the worm.’ Not, of course, the ‘early worm’ of the proverb, but his spiritual cousin, the worm that never dies.

Dewitt, verb (old).—To lynch. [The two De Witts, opponents of William of Orange, were massacred by the mob in 1672, without subsequent enquiry.] Cf., Boycott, Burke, Cellier.

1690. Modest Enquiry into the Present Disasters (Life of Ken, p. 561). It is a wonder the English Nation … have not in their fury de-witted some of these men who have brought all this upon us. And I must tell them that the crimes of the two unhappy brothers in Holland (which gave rise to that word) were not fully so great as some of theirs.

b. 1664, d. 1721. Prior, The Viceroy. To her I leave thee, gloomy peer, Think on thy crimes committed; Repent, and be for once sincere, Thou ne’er wilt be de-witted.

1849–1861. Macaulay, Hist. of England. One writer … expressed his wonder that the people had not … dewitted the nonjuring prelates.

Dewse-a-Vyle.—The country.—See Daisyville. Cf., Rom-vile = London.

1567. Harman, Caveat, etc., s.v. 1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight, in wks. (Grosart), iii., 200, s.v. 1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38. (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v. 1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 12, s.v.

Dewskitch, subs. (tramps’).—A thrashing. For synonyms, see Tanning.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 244. It means a dewskitch (a good thrashing).

Dial or Dial-plate, subs. (common).—The face. To turn the hands on the dial = to disfigure the face.

English Synonyms.—Frontispiece; gills (the jaws); chump (also the head); phiz; physog; mug; jib; chivy, or chevy; roach and dace (rhyming); signboard; door-plate; front-window.

French Synonyms.—La binette (familiar: quelle sale binette = what an ugly mug); un abcès (pop. = ‘a red or bloated face’); la fertille (thieves’: also straw); la fiole (fam. = phial); la bobine (pop: from O. F. bobe = grimace); une balle d’amour (prostitutes’: a handsome face); une balle (pop.: also = a franc piece and head); une glutouse (thieves’); une gargouille, gargouine, or gargue (popular); une gargarousse (thieves’); une gargagoitche (thieves’); une frime (thieves’: une frime à la manque = ugly face).

German Synonyms.—Bonum or Bunem (Hanoverian: from Heb. ponim = face); Ponim (see preceding); Rauner (also = the eye; im Rauner halten = to keep an eye upon one).

Italian Synonyms.—Berlo; baleffo (literally, a gash or scar: primarily = the mouth). [280]

Spanish Synonyms.—El mundo (also = the world); el geme (a woman’s face. Properly, the space between the extended ends of thumb, and forefinger).

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3. An absinthe tumbler which caught him a nasty crack across the dial finally convinced him that discretion was the better part of valour.

1890. Polytechnic Magazine; 21 March. ‘Boxing Brutalities.’ Now if there is a rule that no competitor may strike another with a force greater than a fixed number of pounds, it will be easy to disqualify a man whose opponent’s dial shows a greater amount of punishment.

Dials, subs. (prison).—Convicts and thieves hailing from Seven Dials.

Diamond-Cracking, subs. (Australian thieves’).—1. Stonebreaking.

1885. Australian Printers Keepsake. He caught a month, and had to white it out at diamond-cracking in Castieu’s Hotel [Melbourne Gaol].

2. (English miners’).—Working in a coal mine. Cf., Black Diamonds.

Dibble, subs. (common).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Dibs or Dibbs, subs. (common).—Generic for money. [Said to be a corruption of diobs, i.e., diobolus, a classic coin = 2½d. Another derivation is from the hucklebones of sheep, popularly dibbs, used for gambling; Scots ‘chuckies.’] For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt. To brush with the dibs = to abscond with the cash; To tip over the dibs = to pay down or ‘shell out’; To flash the dibs = to show money, etc.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Dead Drummer). One of their drummers, and one Sergeant Matcham, Had brush’d with the dibs, and they never could catch ’em.

1842. Comic Almanack, p. 313. Governor,—Science can’t be purchased without dibbs. When we want subjects we must shell out.

1862. Penny Newspaper. The other informed him that if he did not tip over the dibs he would blow his —— brains out.

1880. Punch’s Almanack, p. 7. Time to think about my outing. No dibs yet, though, so it’s no use shouting.

1887. W. E. Henley, Villon’s Straight Tip. The merry little dibbs you’ll bag.

Dice. To box the Dice, verb. phr. (legal).—To carry a point by tricking or swindling.

Dick, subs. (common).—1. A dictionary; a Richard (q.v.); also, by implication, fine language or long words.—See Swallow the Dick.

1860. Haliburton (‘Sam. Slick’), The Season Ticket, No. xii. Ah, now you are talking ‘dic.,’ exclaimed Peabody, and I can’t follow you. When I talk —— You use the vulgar tongue, retorted the Senator.

2. (coachman’s).—A riding whip.

3. (military).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

4. (common).—An affidavit.

1861. Dutton Cook, Paul Foster’s Daughter, ch. xxvi. No. I’d take my dying dick he hasn’t got a writ in his pocket, or he couldn’t move along so easy as that.

5. (American).—An Irish Catholic—See Crawthumper.

Verb (thieves’).—To look; to pipe (q.v.); e.g., the bulky’s dicking = the policeman is watching you. [From the gypsy dikk.] Fr., gaffer. For synonyms, see Pipe. [281]

Dick in the green, phr. (thieves’).—Weak; inferior. Cf., Dicky.

1812. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v.

In the reign of Queen Dick, adv. phr. (common).—Never; ‘when two Sundays come in a week.’ For synonyms, see Greek Kalends.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1864. Standard, 13 Dec., Rev. of Sl. Dicy. Moreover … a few days since, a ‘bus driver in altercation with his conductor, who threatened him with paying off soon, replied, ‘Oh yes, in the reign of queen dick,’ which, on inquiry we found to be synonymous with ‘Never,’ or ‘Tib’s eve.’’

To swallow the Dick, verb. phr. (common).—To use long words without knowledge of their meaning; to high falute (American).

Up to Dick, adv. phr. (common).—Not to be ‘taken in’; ‘artful’; ‘fly’; wide-awake. For synonyms, see Downy. Also = up to the mark, i.e., perfectly satisfactory.

1877. J. Greenwood, Under the Blue Blanket. ‘Ain’t that up to dick, my biffin?’ ‘I never said it warn’t.’

1887. Walford’s Antiquarian, April, p. 251. Betwixt you and me I think you’ll agree That of course I look ‘up to Dick.’

Dickens, subs. (old).—The devil (q.v.) or deuce (q.v.); used interchangeably. [A corruption of nick (q.v.).] For synonyms, see Skipper.

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act III., Sc. ii. I cannot tell what the dickens his name is.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, bk. I., prol. (Bohn), vol. I., p. 99. But hearken, joltheads, you vie-dayes, or dickens take ye.

1727. John Gay, Beggar’s Opera, Act I. Sc. 1. Peach. What a dickens is the woman always whimpering about murder for! No gentleman is ever looked upon the worse for killing a man in his own defence.

1754. Foote, Knights, Act II. Mally Pengrouse! Who the dickens is she?

1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, i., 1. Oh! the dickens—I’m stunded.

1880. G. R. Sims, Zeph. ch. xv. ‘Inez is fretting after Pedro,’ he said to himself, ‘but what the dickens is Totty blubbering about?’

1889. C. Haddon Chambers, Ne’er-do-Well, ‘In Australian Wilds.’ What the dickens could I do? I believe I swore a little at first, and then I flourished my whip.

Dicker, subs. and verb: also Dickering, subs. (American).—Barter; swap (q.v.): generally applied to trade in small articles.

1830. Cobbett, in Rural Rides, I., 199 (1886). It is barter, truck, change, dicker, as the Yankees call it, but, as our horse-jockeys call it, swap, or chop.

1831–90. Whittier, Poems. For peddling dicker, not for honest sales.

1888. New York Weekly Times, 28 March. He had perhaps been considering the advisability of making a dicker with his old political opponents in the hope of bettering his condition.

1888. Denver Republican, 7 April. After some dickering a style of coffin was selected and a price decided upon.

Dickey, subs. (old).—1. A woman’s under petticoat.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

2. (common).—A donkey.

b. 1766, d. 1823. Bloomfield, Richard and Kate. But now, as at some nobler places Amongst the leaders ’twas decreed Time to begin the dicky races, More famed for laughter than for speed.

1841. John Mills, Old Eng. Gentleman, ch. vii., p. 60 (3rd ed.). A young dickey, in the full kick of youth, mistook some sweet briar for a thistle.

3. (common).—A sham shirt front, formerly a worn-out shirt. [282]Cf., sense 4. [Hotten: originally tommy (from the Greek, τομη, a section), a word once used in Trinity College, Dublin.] Also, by implication, any sham contrivance; see quots.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 82, note. Dickey: cant for a worn-out shirt.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. A sham shirt.

1835–40. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 2 S., ch. ix. She made frill, shirt-collar, and Dicky fly like snow.

1836. Willis Gayford Clarke, The Olla Podriana Papers. For a handkerchief I had flourished a common dickey, the strings whereof fell to my feet.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. xx. Those wretched Beaux Tibbs’s of society, who sport a lace dickey, and nothing besides.

1857. Hood, Pen and Pencil Pictures, p. 206. Do not take off that article of apparel which Fanny Fern distinguishes by a name which, on this side the Atlantic, is the familiar for a youthful Richard. Spare it, we say … although it may be (and we guess, from the absence of cuffs and sleeves, it is) an imitation, a sham, a make-shift!

1872. Public Opinion, 24 Feb., p. 241. ‘Inside Newgate.’ What is she here for? I asked, pointing to a florid-looking girl who was taking a deep professional interest in ironing a dickey.

1876. Jas. Greenwood, Low Life Deeps. ‘I saw a laden waggon bearing the name of one of the cheap advertising firms you speak of.’… ‘Ah, bearing the name … you saw a waggon wearing a dicky, you mean—a false front-plate with a name on it which slips on and off like them on the wans that the pianoforte-makers borrow.’

1883. Jas. Greenwood, ‘Veteran of Vauxhall,’ in Odd People in Odd Places, p. 38. Besides these articles there was a pair of what had once been white linen cuffs, a dickey of the same dubious complexion, and a white tie.

4. (American: New England).—A shirt collar. De Vere. Cf., sense 3.

5. (nautical).—A ship’s officer or mate; generally, second dickey, i.e., second mate.

6. (London).—A swell. For synonyms, see Dandy.

7. (schoolboys’).—The penis.

Adj. (common).—1. Sorry; inferior; paltry and poor in quality. Dickey domus (theatrical) = a poor ‘house.’

2. (London).—Smart. A corruption of up to dick (q.v.). Cf., subs., sense 6.

All dickey with [one], adv. phr. (common).—Queer; gone wrong; ‘all up with.’

1811. Poole, Hamlet Travestied, III., vi. O, Hamlet! ’tis all dickey with us both You’ve done my business by a blow, ’tis true; But I—Oh! I—have done the same for you.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 21. ’Twas all dicky with Georgy, his mug hung so dead.

1837. Thackeray, in Fraser’s Magazine, 10 Oct. Sam, the stable boy [who from living chiefly among the hosses and things has got a sad low way of talking], said it was all dicky, and bid us drive on to the nex’ page.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Brothers of Birchington). Here a monk, whose teeth funk and concern made to chatter, Sobs out as he points to the corpse on the floor, ‘’Tis all dickey with poor Father Dick—he’s no more.’

1882. Daily Telegraph, 3 Oct., p. 2, col. 2. I was coolly told that ‘anyhow, all the actual meat there was in, say half a pound of cheap German sausage, couldn’t do any one much harm if it was ever so dicky.’

Dickey-bird, subs. (common).—1. A louse. For synonyms, see Chates.

2. pl. (theatrical)—Professional singers of all grades.

3. (venery).—A prostitute; generally naughty dicky-bird. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and tart.

c. 1830. Broadside Ballad, George Barnwell. When he had put the shutters [283]up He went to see his dickey-bird, And when he came back next morning, Blowed if he could speak a word.

Dickey-diaper, subs. (old).—A linendraper.

Dickey-dido, subs. (popular).—An idiot. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

Dickey-Lagger, subs. (common).—A bird catcher. [From dickey, a pet name for a bird + lagger, one who lays hold of.]

1881. W. Black, Beautiful Wretch, ch. xviii. ‘They’re starved out in this weather, Miss; and then the boys come out wi’ their guns; and the dicky-laggers are after them too.’ ‘The what?’ ‘The bird-catchers, Miss.’

Dickey-Sam, subs. phr. (common).—A native of Liverpool.

1870. Athenæum, 10 Sept. We cannot even guess why a Liverpool man is called a Dickey Sam.

1884. Book Lore, Dec., p. 27. The natives of Liverpool call themselves, or are called by others, Dicky Sams.

Dicky, subs. (Scots’).—1. The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

2. See Dick in all senses.

Diddies, subs. (common).—The paps. For synonyms, see Dairy.

Diddle, subs. (old).—1. Gin. For synonyms, see Drinks. In America, liquor generally.

1858. H. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, bk. iii., ch. i, p. 252. And there’s a first-rate ‘diddle cove’ (publican) keeps a gin-shop there.

2. (schoolboys’).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

3. (common).—A swindle or ‘do.’—See verb, sense 1.

1885. Punch, 5 Sept., p. 110. And something whispered me—in diction chaste—It’s all a diddle!

Verb (common).—1. To cheat. For synonyms, see Stick.

1811. Poole, Hamlet Travestied.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, 1. Diddling your subjects, and gutting their fobs.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. v. And Jack is diddled, said the Baronet.

1841. Comic Almanack, p. 266. Thus, while pig and tail the villagers diddle, My tale’s in the middle, my tale’s in the middle!

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. xv. He had me, and no mistake. Done, yes, diddled; and I thought I had rather an easy-going lawyer to deal with.

1887. Lic. Vict. Gazette, 2 Dec., 362, 1. You have been done, regularly diddled, by that fellow.

2. (venery).—To copulate. Cf., Diddle, subs., sense 2. For synonyms, see Ride.

3. (Scots’ colloquial).—To shake.

Diddle-Cove, subs. (American).—A landlord. Cf., Diddler.

1859. Matsell, Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Diddler, subs. (common).—A cheat; a dodger. [From diddle (q.v.) + er.] For synonyms, see Rook.—See Jeremy Diddler (Kenny’s Raising the Wind). Also a chronic borrower. Diddling = cheating; also borrowing.

Diddly-pout, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Didoes, subs. (American).—Pranks; tricks; fantastic proceedings.—See Cut Didoes, and Cut Capers. [284]

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 1 S., ch. xvii. I met a man this mornin’ … frum Halifax, a real conceited lookin’ critter as you e’enamost ever seed, all shines and didoes.

1851. New York Tribune, 10 April, Had the Free States been manly enough, true enough, to enact the Wilmot Proviso as to all present or future territories of the Union, we should have had just the same didoes cut up by the chivalry that we have witnessed, and with no more damage to the Union.

Die or Dee, subs. (American thieves’).—A pocket-book. Matsell’s Vocabulum [1859]. For synonyms, see Leather.

Die-by-the-Hedge, subs. phr. (provincial).—The flesh of animals deceased by accident or of disease; by implication, inferior meat.

Die-Hards, subs. (military).—The Fifty-Seventh Foot. [From the rallying call at Albuera (1811) its Colonel (Inglis) calling to the men, ‘Die hard, my men, die hard,’ when it had thirty bullets through the King’s Colour, and only had one officer out of twenty-four, and one hundred and sixty-eight men out of five hundred and eighty-four, when left standing.]

Die in One’s Boots or Shoes, verb. phr. (old).—1. To be hanged. For synonyms, see Ladder.

1653. Urquhart, Rabelais.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘The Execution’ (ed. 1862), p. 196. And there is McFuze And Lieutenant Tregooze, And there is Sir Carnaby Jenks of the Blues All come to see a man die in his shoes.

1888. Denver Republican, 9 April. When in liquor he was quarrelsome and the prediction was commonly made that he would die with his boots on.

2. (American).—To ‘die standing’: at work, ‘in harness,’ in full possession of one’s faculties.

1887. Scribner’s Magazine. These stiff prairie plants never wilt—they die in their boots.

1888. Cincinnatti Enquirer, Title: died with his boots on. The killing of the notorious Desperado Leo Renfro.

Die with One’s Ears Stuffed with Cotton.—See Cotton.

Dig, subs. (colloquial).—1. A blow, thrust, punch, or poke; in pugilism = a ‘straight left-hander’ delivered under the guard on the ‘mark.’

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 51. While ribbers rung from each resounding frame, and divers digs, and many a ponderous pelt.

1876. C. W. Wall, trans. Molière, vol. i., p. 80. The digs in the ribs I gave you with such hearty good will.

English Synonyms.—Auctioneer; biff; bang; buck-horse; buster; chatterer; chin-chopper; chopper; clip; click; clinker; clout; cock; cork; comber; cuff; cant; corker; dab; downer; douser; ding; domino; floorer; ferricadouzer; fibbing; facer; flush-hit; finisher; gooser; hot ’un; jaw-breaker; lick; mendoza; muzzler; noser; nobbler; nose-ender; nope; oner; punch; stock-dollager; stotor; spank; topper; twister; whack; wipe.

French Synonyms.—Un coup d’encensoir (popular: a tap on the nose; ‘one on the smeller’); un coup de tampon (pop.: tampon = buffer); un coup de Garibaldi (thieves’: a butt in the stomach); un moule de gant (popular: ‘a mould for a glove’); une mornifle (colloquial: ‘a wipe in the jaw’); [285]une mandole (popular); une gnole (popular: from torgnole); un coup de gilquin (popular); un cataplasme de Venise (popular); un gnon (popular); une dariole (pop.: also, a cream-cake); une beugne (popular); une dandine (popular: ‘a twister’); une baffre (popular); des castagnettes (military: punches); une châtaigne (popular); une couleur (popular); une bouffe (popular: bouffée = gust or blast); un cabochon (popular); un estaffion (popular); une estaphe (popular); une accolade; une balle de coton (thieves’).—See also Tan, verb.

German Synonym. Azkes malaikes (Viennese thieves’: = a blow with the fist on the throat. The derivation may be: azke from Heb. osak, to quarrel + malaikes from Heb. melocho, work).

Spanish Synonyms.—Duros (whip-strokes; also = harsh, merciless); tapaboca (a ‘corker’: also any action or observation which cuts one short); pasagonzalo (a quick hit); capon (generally colloquial); chamorrada (a butt with the head); mojada (a stab); zumbido or zumbo (literally, a humming or buzzing); tantarantin (a thwack; also = beat of a drum); tarja (also = a target).

Italian Synonym. Ramenghi d’alta foia (blows with a stick).

2. (American).—A diligent student. [By implication from the verb (q.v.); also study; e.g., To have a dig at Cæsar or Livy.

Verb (American)—To work hard; especially to study.

1876. Miss Alcott, Little Wives, ch. ix. He … turned studious, and gave out that he was going to dig, intending to graduate in a blaze of glory.

Dig a day under the skin, verb. phr. (common).—To make a shave serve for two days.

To dig up the hatchet.—See Bury.

Digester.—See Patent Digester.

Digged.—See Jigged.

Diggers, subs. (common).—1. Spurs; ‘persuaders.’

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 173, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

2. (cards’).—The spades suit; also Diggums. Big digger = ace of spades.

3. (vulgar).—The finger nails.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.

1881. New York Slang Dict. ‘On the Trail.’ ‘If you do,’ returned Bill, ‘I will fix my diggers in your dial-plate and turn it up with red.’

Diggers’-Delight, subs. (New Zealand).—A wide-brimmed felt hat. For synonyms, see Golgotha.

Diggings, subs. (common).—A place of residence or employment. [First used at the Western lead mines in the U.S.A. to denote whence ore was dug.]

English Synonyms.—Birk; box; case; crib; chat; den; dry-lodgings; drum; place; pig-sty; pew; cabin; castle; chaffing-crib; caboose; sky-parlour; shop; ken; dossing-ken; hole; rookery; hutch; hang-out. [286]

French Synonyms.—Une bagnole (pop.: from bagne = hulks); un bazar (military: also, a brothel); un bocal (pop.: also = stomach); une baraque (common: in disparagement); une baite (thieves’); une case (thieves’); une carrée (thieves’); une cambriole (thieves’); une cambuse (popular); une condition (thieves’); un creux (thieves’); une piole or piolle (thieves’).

German Synonym.—Bes, Beth, or Bajis.

Italian Synonyms.—Bacchia; clocchia or cloccia (also = a bell); coschetto delle Fantasime.

Spanish Synonyms.—Caverna (‘a cavern’; cf., English den); aduana (also = a brothel, and thieves’ resort); nido (‘a nest’; nido de ladrones, a ‘cross-drum’; a thieves’ resort); percha (‘a perch’).

1838. J. C. Neal, Charcoal Sketches, II., 119. Look here, Ned, I reckon it’s about time we should go to our diggings; I am dead beat.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 171. The miner in California and Nevada has been known, in times of a rush, to speak of a place where he could stand leaning against a stout post, as his diggings for the night.

1883. Referee, 1 July, p. 3, col. 2. Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft are changing their diggings, and clearing out of Cavendish-square.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. viii. Oh, he lives round the corner. You may see his diggings from your daughter’s bedroom window, sir.

1888. C. J. Dunphie, The Chameleon, p. 86. ‘Diggings’ I call my dwelling, according to the prevalent slang.

Diggums, subs. (provincial).—1. A gardener.

2. (gamesters’).—The suit of spades; also diggers (q.v.).

Dilberries, subs. (common).—Fæcal and seminal deposits in the hair of the anus and the female pudendum; clinkers.

Dilberry-bush, subs. (common).—The hair about the female pudendum or the anus.—See Dilberries.

Dildo, subs. (old).—An instrument (of wax, horn, leather, india-rubber, gutta-percha, etc., and other soft material), shaped like, and used by women as a substitute for, the penis. Now called a broom-handle or broomstick, the pudendum in this connection = broom (q.v.). [Bailey: from It., diletto, a woman’s delight or from dally = to toy.] In Lombardy, passo tempo.

c. 1672. Butler, Dildoides (Occasioned by Burning a hogshead of dildoes at Stocks Market).

1886. Burton, The Thousand Nights and a Night, vol. x, p. 239. Of the penis succedaneus, that imitation of the Arbor-vitæ, or Sotor-Kosmou, which the Latins called phallus and fascinum, the French godemiché, and the Italians passatempo and diletto (whence our dildo), every kind abounds, varying from a stuffed ‘French Letter’ to a cone of ribbed horn, which looks like an instrument of torture.

Verb (old).—To wanton with a woman. Cf., subs., sense. For synonyms, see Firkytoodle.

Dilly, subs. (common).—A night cart; formerly a coach. [From Fr., diligence.]

17(?). The Anti-Jacobin. So down thy hill, romantic Ashbourne glides, The Derby Dilly having four inside.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. ix. One which they called a dilly.

Dilly-bag, subs. (Australian).—A wallet; or scran-bag.

1880. A. C. Grant. Their own dilly-bags have nothing of value or interest in them. [287]

Dilly-dally, verb (colloquial).—To loiter; hesitate; trifle. [A duplication of dally.]

1740. Richardson, Pamela, i., 275. What you do, sir, do; don’t stand dilly-dallying.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XVIII., ch. xii. But if I had suffered her to stand shill I shall I, dilly dally, you might not have had that honour yet awhile.

1869. W. S. Gilbert, The Bohemian Girl. When at a pinch you should never dilly-dally.

Dimber, adj. (old).—Pretty, neat, lively. Variants are scrumptious; natty. Fr., batif (thieves’); fignole (thieves’); girofle (thieves’).

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

Dimber Cove = a sprightly man, a gentleman: Dimber Mort = a pretty girl. Fr., une largue girofle. Cf., Dimber-damber.

1837. Disraeli, Venetia, book I., ch. xiv. ’Tis a dimber cove, whispered one of the younger men to a companion: Ibid, Tip me the clank like a dimber mort.

Dimber-damber, subs. (old).—A captain of thieves or vagrants. [From dimber (q.v.), skilful, etc., + damber (q.v.), a chief or head man.]

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I, ch. v., p. 48 (1874).

1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict.

1749. Life of Bampfylde-Moore Carew, ‘Oath of the Canting Crew.’… No dimber damber, angler, dancer, prig of cackler, prig of prancer.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. No; no refusal, exclaimed a chorus of voices. Dick Turpin must be one of us. He shall be our dimber damber.

Dimmock, subs. (common).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. IV., ch. i. ‘I have … pocketed the dimmock’ (‘here ’tis,’ continued he, parenthetically slapping his pockets).

Dinahs, subs. (Stock-Exchange).—Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Ordinary Stock.

Dinarly or Dinali, subs. (theatrical).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt. Nantee or Nanti Dinarly = no money. Sp., dinero; Lingua Franca, niente dinaro = not a penny.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 149. ‘I have got no money’ is, ‘My nabs has nanti dinali’ [among strolling actors].

1870. South London Press, 8 Oct., Advt. So don’t forget when you’ve the tin To here spend your ‘Dinarley.’

Dine-out, verb. phr. (common).—To go dinnerless, to dine with Duke Humphrey (q.v.). Variants: to take a Spitalfields’ breakfast (q.v.), or an Irishman’s dinner (q.v.), also to go out and count the railings (q.v.). Fr., Se coucher bredouille = to go to bed supperless; aller voir défiler les dragons = to go and watch the dragoons march past; diner en ville = to dine in town, i.e., to munch a roll in the street or to eat nothing; lire le journal.

1888. All the Year Round, 9 June. p. 542. To ‘dine with Duke Humphrey,’ or, as it is now sometimes more shortly phrased, to ‘dine out,’ in both cases meaning not to dine at all.

Dine with Duke Humphrey, verb. phr. (old).—To go dinnerless; to dine out (q.v.).—[Origin uncertain; supposed, however, to refer to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the youngest son of Henry the Fourth, who, though really buried at St. Alban’s, was reputed to have a monument in [288]Old St. Paul’s, from which one part of the church was termed Duke Humphrey’s Walk. Old Paul’s was a regular promenade, especially for lackeys out of livery, and ruffians and sea-captains out of luck. Thus Falstaff explains of Bardolph that he ‘got him in Paul’s,’ while Jonson actually lays the scene of Every Man Out of His Humour (1599), in ‘The Middle Aisle of St. Paul’s,’ to introduce his cavaliero Shift. Shift and Bardolph, in fact, were what is now called ‘inspectors of public buildings’; they walked in Paul’s on the chance of a pick-up, and they dined by looking at the monuments. The Bodleian Library was founded by the same Duke Humphrey, and the Gentleman’s Mag. (1794, p. 529) records that when a student stayed on during the dinner hour, at which time it used to be closed, he was said to dine with Duke Humphrey. An alternative traces the saying to the report that Duke Humphrey was starved to death. Chambers, in his Historical Sketch of St. Giles’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, records a similar pleasantry concerning the tomb of the Earl of Murray, and quotes a Scots poet, one Sempill (16th cent.), who makes a hungry idler say: I dined with saints and gentlemen, E’en sweet St. Giles and the Earl of Murray. See Wharton, Hist. of Eng. Poetry (ed. 1824), vol. IV., p. 361.

1592. Nashe, Pierce Penilesse, in wks., ii., 18. I … retired me to Paules, to seeke my dinner with Duke Humfrey.

1592. Gab. Harvey, Four Letters. To seek his dinner in Poules with Duke Humphrey.

1608. The Penniless Parliament of Threadbare Poets. And if I prove not that a mince-pie is the better weapon, let me dine twice a week at Duke Humphry’s table.

1664. H. Peacham, Worth of a Penny, in Arber’s Garner, vol. VI., p. 273. Who, having been troubled with over much money, afterward, in no long time, have been fain, after ‘a long dinner with Duke Humphrey,’ to take a nap on ‘penniless bench,’ only to verify the old proverb, ‘A fool and his money is soon parted.’

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. lv. My mistress and her mother must have dined with Duke Humphrey, had I not exerted myself in their behalf.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 22 Jan., p. 5, col. 3. In future, not even the most impecunious of diners-out must accept an invitation from Duke Humphrey.

Ding, verb (Old Cant, in some senses).—Used as a colloquialism (as in Scott) it signifies to knock, to strike down, to pound or (as in quot., 1786) to give way: while in slang it means to get rid of; to pass to a confederate; ‘to steal by a single effort.’ To ding a castor = to snatch a hat and run with it: the booty being dinged if it has to be thrown away. Going upon the ding = to go on the prowl. Ding the tot! = Run away with the lot!

c. 1340. Hampole, Pricke of Conscience, 7015 (ed. Morris). Right swa pe devels salle ay dyng, on pe synfulle, withouten styntyng.

1600. Sir John Oldcastle, Act III., Sc. ii. For the credit of Dunstable, ding down the money to-morrow.

1610. Jonson, Alchemist, V., iii. Sur. [without]. Down with the door. Kas. [without]. ’Slight, ding it open.

1773. O. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act II. If I’m to have any good, let it come of itself; not to keep dinging it, dinging it into one so.

1786. Burns, A Dream. But facts are chiels that winna ding.

1821. Pierce Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 78. Oh I took him such a lick of his mummer, and dinged his rattle clean out of his hand.

b. 1793, d. 1872. Dean Ramsey. Our meenister’s dinged the guts out of twa Bibles. [289]

1846. Dickens, Dombey, ch. ix., p. 74. These were succeeded by anchor and chain-cable forges, where sledge hammers were dinging upon iron all day long.

Ding-Bat, subs. (American).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

Ding-Boy, subs. (old).—A rogue; a bully.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Ding-Dong. To go at it, or to it, ding-dong, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To tackle with vigor, or in right good earnest. Formerly, helter-skelter, (Grose, 1785).

1887. H. Smart, Saddle and Sabre, ch. xx. For the next hundred yards it was a ding-dong struggle between them.

Dinge, subs. (Royal Military Academy).—A picture or painting.

Dinged, adj. (American).—A euphemism for ‘darned’ = dammed. Sometimes Ding-goned.—See Oaths.

Dinger, subs. (old).—1. A thief who throws away his booty to escape detection. [From ding (q.v.), to throw away + er.]

2. in pl. (conjurers’).—Cups and balls; Fr., gobelets et muscades.

Ding-fury, subs. (provincial).—Huff; anger.

Ding-goned.—See Dinged.

Dingle, adj. (old).—Hackneyed; used up.

1786. The Microcosm, No. 3. Your Mic is dead-lounge—dissipates insufferable ennui of tea-table,—fills boring intervals of conversazione,… By the by, in your next propose some new lounge.—They are all so dingle at present, they are quite a bore.

Dining-Room, subs. (common).—The mouth. For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

Dining-room chairs, subs. phr. (common).—The teeth; also dinner-set (q.v.). For synonyms, see Grinders.

Dining-Room Post, subs. phr. (old).—Petty pilfering done from houses by sham postmen.

Dink, adj. (Scots’ colloquial).—Dainty; trim.

1794. Burns, My Lady’s Gown. My lady’s dink, my lady’s drest.

Dinner-set, subs. (common).—The teeth. ‘Your dinner-set wants looking to’ = you need to go to the dentist. For synonyms, see Grinders.

Dip, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pickpocket; also dipper and dipping-bloke. For synonyms, see Stook-Hauler.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, p. 26, s.v.

1866. Vance, The Chickaleary Cove. Off to Paris I shall go to show a thing or two To the dipping-blokes wot hangs about the cafés.

1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat. A dip touched the Canadian sheriff for his watch and massive chain while he was reading the Riot Act.

2. (American).—A stolen kiss, especially one in the dark.

3. (Westminster School).—A pocket inkstand.

4. (colloquial).—A candle made by dipping the wick in tallow. [290]

1837. Barham, I. L. (Ingoldsby Penance.) None of your rascally dips, but sound, Best superfine wax-wicks, four to the pound.

Verb (thieves’).—1. To pick pockets. To dip a lob = to rob a till. Also to go on the dipe = to go pocket-picking. For synonyms, see Frisk.

1817. Sporting Mag. Defence of Groves at Bristol Assizes. I have dipped into 150 … pockets and not found a shilling.

2. (old).—To pawn; mortgage.

1693. Dryden, Persius, vi., 160. Put out the principal in trusty hands: Live of the use; and never dip thy lands.

1711. Spectator, No. 114. What gives the unhappy man this peevishness of spirit is, that his estate is dipped, and is eating out with usury; and yet he has not the heart to sell any part of it.

1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xiv. You have but one son, and he has a fortune of his own, as I happen to know. You haven’t dipped it, Master Philip?

3. (thieves’).—To be convicted; to get into trouble.

To dip one’s beak, verb. phr. (common).—To drink. For synonyms, see Lush.

Dipe.—See Dip, verb, sense 1.

1877. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’) Life on the Mississippi, p. 460. i felt very rough and was thinking i would have to go on the dipe again.

Dipped in Wing, adv. phr. (popular).—Worsted.

Dipper, subs. (old).—1. A baptist.—[Grose, 1785.]

2. See Dip, subs., sense 1.

Dipping-bloke.—See Dip, subs., sense 1.

Dips, subs. (nautical).—1. The purser’s boy.

2. (colloquial).—A grocer.

Dipstick, subs. (old).—A gauger.

Dirk, subs. (Scots’).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Dirt, subs. (American).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

To eat dirt, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To submit to insult; to eat broiled crow, or humble pie (q.v.); to retract.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. x. Though they bow before a calf, is it not a golden one? though they ‘eat dirt,’ is it not dressed by a French cook?

1861. New York Evening Post, 4 Jan. After eating so much dirt, are we asked to swallow free soil?

To fling dirt or mud, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To abuse; to vituperate.

1689. Selden, Table Talk, p. 104 (Arber’s ed.). One that writes against his Adversary, and throws all the dirt he can in his Face.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. ii., p. 11. Scurrility’s a useful trick, Approv’d by the most politick; Fling dirt enough, and some will stick.

1875. Ouida, Signa, vol. I., ch. xv., p. 358. A wicked old tongue that could throw dirt with any man’s or woman’s either.

1885. J. S. Winter, Bootles’ Baby, p. 66. I suppose he wants to daub Bootles with some of his own mud. Thinks if he only throws enough some of it’s sure to stick.

To cut dirt.—See Cut.

Dirt-Baillie, subs. (Scots’).—An inspector of nuisances.

Dirt-scraper subs. (American).—An advocate who rakes up unpleasant facts in a witness’s past. [291]

Dirty-Dishes, subs. (common).—Poor relations.

Dirty Half-Hundred, subs. phr. (military).—The Fiftieth Foot. [From the fact that, in action, during the Peninsular War, the men wiped their faces with their black facings.] Also nicknamed the Blind Half-Hundred.

1841. Lever, Charles O’Malley, ch. xciv. A kind of neutral tint between green and yellow, like nothing I know of except the facings of the ‘dirty half-hundred.’

Dirty-Puzzle, subs. (old).—A slut.—Grose [1785].

Dirty Shirt March, subs. phr. (vulgar).—On Sunday mornings the male population of Drury Lane, Whitechapel, and other crowded districts loaf about the streets, before attiring themselves in their Sunday clothes. This promenade is called a ‘dirty shirt march.’

Dirty-Shirts, subs. (military).—The Hundred and First Foot. [They fought in their shirt-sleeves at Delhi in 1857.]

1887. Daily News, 11 July. As the old Bengal European Regiment … they [the 2nd Munster Fusiliers] had won their honourable sobriquet of the dirty shirts, half-a-century earlier.

Disgruntled, adj. (old).—Offended: still colloquial in U.S.A. Undisgruntled = unoffended.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1869. Springfield Republican, 20 Nov. Rev. Dr. Newman Hall, of London, tells how when he was journeying to Chicago, an apple-peddling boy, on the cars, without any preliminaries took hold of and immediately examined his breast-pin. Nevertheless the reverend gentleman, quite undisgruntled, remarked, ‘Was it not there to be seen? Was he not a man and a brother?’

1877. Providence Journal, 1 March. We have had enough exercise of extraordinary power, and this continual grasping after authority for the purpose of meeting the individual case of some disgruntled persons should receive the stamp of this committee’s disapprobation.

Disguised, adj. (old).—Drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

1622. Massinger, Virgin Martyr, III., iii. Harp. I am a prince disguised. Hir. Disguised! How? Drunk!

1625. Jonson, Staple of News, IV. Come, I will shew you the way home, if drink Or too full diet have disguised you.

1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act I. Fail. Will not ale serve the turn, Will? Bib. I had too much of that last night; I was a little disguised, as they say.

1704. Steele, Lying Lover, Act IV., Sc. i. Sim. You are a little disguis’d in Drink tho’ Mr. John.

1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act IV. A damned up and down hand, as if it was disguised in liquor.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xvi. I met a third mate I knew, slightly disguised in liquor.

Dish, verb (common).—To cheat; to circumvent; to disappoint; to ruin.

1798. Monthly Mag. [quoted in N. and Q., 1 S., iv., p. 313. In the Monthly Mag., in 1798, is a paper on peculiarities of expression among which are … ‘done up,’ dish’d, etc.

1811. E. Nares, Thinks I to Myself, i., 208. He was completely dished—he could never have appeared again.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 26.… Could old Nap himself, in his glory, have wish’d To show up a fat Gemman more handsomely dish’d?

1821. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, i. 7. No, I’m out of spirits because I have been dished and doodled out of forty pounds to-day.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. xvi. I oughtn’t to show a youngster like you any sympathy in this job of dishing a parent’s hopes.

Dish-Clout, subs. (common).—A dirty, slatternly woman. [292]

To make a napkin of one’s dish-clout, verb. phr. (old).—To marry one’s cook; to contract a mésalliance.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Dished, ppl. adj. (printers’).—Said of electrotypes when the centre of a letter is lower than its edges.

Dismal-ditty, subs. (old).—See quot.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Dismal Ditty … also a cant expression for a psalm sung by a criminal at the gallows (s.v. Ditty).

Dispar, subs. (Winchester College).—See Cat’s-head.

Dispatches, subs. (old).—False dice; so contrived as always to throw a nick.—See Doctor.

1811. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v.

1866. Times, 27 Nov.

Dissecting-job, subs. (tailors’).—Garments requiring extensive alteration.

Distiller, subs. (Australian thieves’).—A man easily vexed, and unable to dissemble his condition.

Ditto-blues, subs. (Winchester College).—A suit of clothes all of blue cloth. Cf., Dittoes.

Ditto Brother, or Sister, Smut.—See Brother Smut.

Dittoes, subs. (colloquial).—A complete suit of clothes of the same material. Fr., un complet. Occasionally applied to trousers only.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. x. A slight, dark man, of middle height, clad in an ordinary suit of dittoes, entered the room.

1882. James Payn, Thicker than Water, ch. ix. His attire, though quite as faultless and more equable—he was never seen in dittos even in September—was not so splendid as of some members of the Aglaia.

Ditty-Bag, subs. (common).—A handy bag, used by sailors as a ‘huswife.’ [From deft, dight = neat, active, handy.]

Dive, subs. (American).—A drinking-saloon; also a brothel.

1888. Troy Daily Times, 7 Feb. A plot to entrap young women for the dives of Northern Wisconsin has been discovered at Eau Claire, Wis.

1888. St. Louis Globe Democrat, 27 Feb. Even fallen women, when the rose is gone from their cheeks, are pushed aside, and from a gilded house to the lowest dive is the last and quickest step of all.

Verb (old).—To pick pockets. Cf., dip, and for synonyms, see Frisk. Also diving = picking pockets.

1631. Ben Jonson, Metam. Gipsies. Or using your nimbles [fingers], in diving the pockets.

1712. Gay, Trivia, bk. III., l., 80. Guard well thy pocket; for these sirens stand To aid the labours of the diving hand.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Dive (v.) … and in the Canting Language, to pick pockets in a crowd, church, etc.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

A dive in the dark, subs. phr. (venery).—The ‘act of kind.’

To dive into one’s sky, verb. phr. (common).—To put one’s hands into one’s pockets. [293]

To dive into the woods, verb. phr. (American).—To conceal oneself.

Diver, or Dive [see quot., 1608], subs. (old).—A pickpocket (as Jenny Diver in ‘The Beggar’s Opera’); a dip (q.v.). For synonyms, see Stook-Hauler.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart), III., 140. [One who steals from houses by putting a boy in through a window to hand out to him the plunder—is called a Diver.]

c. 1626. Dick of Devonshire, in Bullen’s Old Plays, ii., 40. Your horse and weapons I will take, but no pilferage. I am no pocketeer, no diver into slopps.

1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. i., p. 24 (2nd ed.). So expert divers call aloud, Pray mind your pockets, to the crowd.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Diver (s.) … also a cant name for a pick-pocket.

1828. Jon. Bee, Picture of London, p. 56. Thieves frequently go well-dressed, especially pickpockets; good toggery being considered a necessary qualification for his calling, without which the divercould not possibly mix in genteel company nor approach such in the streets.

1887. Baumann, Londismen, V. Smashers and divers and noble contrivers.

Divers, subs. (common).—The fingers. For synonyms, see Forks.

Divide the House with One’s Wife, verb. phr. (old).—To turn her out of doors.

Diving-bell, subs. (common).—A cellar-tavern. Cf., Dive. For synonyms, see Lush-crib.

Do, subs. (colloquial).—1. A fraud.

1812. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 17. I thought it was a do, to get me out of the house.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862.), p. 418. I should like to see you Try to sauter le coup With this chap at short whist or unlimited loo, By the Pope you’d soon find it a regular do.

1846. Punch, vol. XI., p. 114. What is the meaning of the rise? I’m sure I cannot tell—can you? Yes, fame with hundred tongues replies, ’Tis in one word A Do! a Do!

2. (colloquial).—One’s duty; a success; performance; what one has to do; once literary.

1663–78. Butler, Hudibras. No sooner does he peep into the world but he has done his doe.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 162. Well, I heard how a man … was making a fortune at the hot-eel and pea-soup line.… So I thought I’d have a touch at the same thing. But you see I never could rise money enough to make a do of it.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To cheat. For synonyms, see Gammon.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 142. Who are continually looking out for flats, in order to do them upon the broads, that is, cards.

1803. Kenney, Raising the Wind, I., i. I wasn’t born two hundred miles north of Lunnun, to be done by Mr. Diddler, I know.

1831. Disraeli, The Young Duke, bk. iv., ch. vi., p. 220 (ed. 1866). There was the juvenile Lord Dice, who boasted of having done his brothers out of their miserable £5,000.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 265. I should have a much better opinion of an individual if he’d say at once, in an honourable and gentlemanly manner, as he’d done everybody he possibly could.

1843. Comic Almanack, p. 373. England expects every man to do his duty, a strong recommendation to every man ‘to do’ the authorities who collect the duty at the Custom-house.

1871. Public Opinion, 4 Feb. Do you suppose that you can do the landlord in the ‘Lady of Lyons?’ asked a theatrical manager of a seedy actor in quest of an engagement. If I can’t do him, was the reply, he will be the first landlord I ever had anything to do with that wasn’t done by me. [294]

1889. Answers, 9 Feb. The regular hotel thieves are constantly inventing new dodges to do us.

2. (pugilistic).—To ‘punish.’

3. (common).—To visit a place; e.g., ‘to do Italy,’ ‘to do the Row,’ ‘to do the High’ (at Oxford), etc. Early quots. are given; latterly the phrase is common enough. The Fr., faire is used in the same sense; faire ses Acacias, i.e., to walk or drive in the Allée des Acacias.

1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. xxxii. We did Venice very severely, with the exception of Forrester, who … declined seeing anything more than what he could view from his gondola.

1858. Shirley Brooks, The Gordian Knot, p. 53. You have been in Egypt? asked Margaret, with much interest. I did Egypt, as they say, about two years back, [said Philip].

4. (colloquial).—To perform; to ‘come’; e.g., to do the polite = to be polite; to do a book = to write one; to do the heavy, the grand, or the genteel = to put on airs.

1767. Colman, Eng. Merchant, I., in wks. (1777), ii. 17. I compose pamphlets on all subjects, compile magazines, and do newspapers.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 224. He used to talk politics to papas, flatter the vanity of mammas, do the amiable to their daughters.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xv., p. 125. There was the young lady who did the poetry in the Eatanswill Gazette, in the garb of a sultana.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxiv. A great number of the descriptions in Cook’s Voyages, for instance, were notoriously invented by Dr. Hawkesworth, who did the book.

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. iii. A vision of John doing the polite, and laughing as he ceremoniously introduced Captain Lovell and Miss Coventry.

1864. Glasgow Citizen, 29 Nov. Is not the exhilarating short-length of being known beyond our own Queen Street that it is not registered here? And we miss the rag trade whose worthy members do the above-named goes.

1880. Milliken, Punch’s Almanack. Nobby button ’oler very well, When one wants to do the ’eavy swell.

5. (counterfeiters’).—To utter base coin or queer (q.v.).

Do as I do, phr. (common).—An invitation to drink.—See Drinks.

To do a beer, or a bitter, or a drink, or a drop, verb. phr. (common).—To take a drink.

1853. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, ch. x. To do bitters, as Mr. Bouncer phrased the act of drinking bitter beer.

1880. Milliken, Punch’s Almanack. Got the doldrums dreadful, that is clear, Two d left!—must go and do a beer.

To do a bilk.—See Bilk.

To do a bill, verb. phr. (commercial).—To utter an acceptance or bill of exchange. Cf., to fly paper or kites.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends [ed. 1862], p. 257. Now, then, old sinner, let’s hear what you’ll say As to doing a bill at three months from to-day.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lxii. Sir Francis Clavering … had managed to sign his respectable name to a piece of stamped paper, which … Mr. Moss Abrams had carried off, promising to have the bill done by a party with whose intimacy Mr. Abrams was favoured.

To do a bishop, verb. phr. (military).—To parade at short notice.

To do a bit, verb. phr. (common).—To eat something. Cf., to do a beer. Also (venery), to have a woman.

To do a bunk or shift, verb. phr. (vulgar).—To ease nature.—See Bury a quaker and [295]Mrs. Jones. Also (colloquial), to go away.

To do a crib, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To break into a house, to burgle. Fr., maquiller une cambriole. For synonyms, see Crack a Crib.

To do a guy, verb. phr. (thieves’).—1. To run away; to make an escape. [From do, verb of action + guy, an escape.] For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

1889. Answers, 6 April, p. 297. They all dispersed at once—to put it in their own language, they did a guy.

2. (workman’s).—To absent oneself when supposed to be at work.

To do a nob, verb. phr. (circus and showmen’s).—To make a collection.

To do a pitch.—See Pitch.

To do a rush.—See Rush.

To do a Snatch.—See Snatch.

To do a star pitch, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To sleep in the open air. Fr., loger à la belle étoile. For synonyms, see Hedge Square.

To do a brown.—See under Brown; also Bamboozle. Also to do brown and to do it up brown.

To do for, verb. phr. (common).—1. To ruin. Also, to kill, in which sense, cf., quots., 1650 and 1877. For synonyms, see Dead broke and Cook one’s Goose respectively.

1650. Howell, Familiar Letters. The Emperor, who, rather than becom captif to the base Tartar, burnt his castle, and did away himself, his thirty wives, and children.

1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. vi., ch. iv. He said something, too, about my master … he said he would do for him, I am sure he said that; and other wicked, bad words, too, if I could but think of them.

1811. Jane Austen, Sense and S., ch. xli. He has done for himself completely! shut himself out for ever from all decent society!

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 233. He called out, He’s done for me; he’s done for me; send at once for Doctor Howell.

2. (common).—To attend on (as landladies on lodgers).

3. (thieves’).—To convict; to sentence. Done for = convicted.

To do a grind, a mount, a tread, etc., verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate.

To do or play gooseberry.—See Gooseberry.

To do gospel, verb. phr. (common).—To go to church.

To do the handsome or the handsome thing, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To behave extremely well to one.

To do it away, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To dispose of stolen goods. Also To do the swag (q.v.); to fence (q.v.).

To do it on the B. H., verb. phr. (common).—To perform with ease. [B = bloody; H = head].

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 221. ‘What’s yer dose?’ Looking on to my badge, ‘Five, oh, you can do that little lot on yer ’ed easy.’

To do it up, verb. phr. (old).—To accomplish an object in view; to obtain one’s quest. To do it up in good twig = to live an easy life by one’s wits. [296]

To do one proud, phr. (colloquial).—To flatter: e.g., ‘Will you drink?’ ‘You do me proud.’

1836. W. G. Clark, Ollapodriana Papers. To this damsel I addressed myself, and solicited her hand in the dance. She assented; and with my brain reeling with fancies of wine and women, I really thought, for the moment, that ‘she did me proud.’

1887. Sidney Luska, Land of Love, in ‘Lippincott’s Mag.,’ p. 241. Ah? So? The frank confession does you proud.

To do out, verb. phr. (American thieves’).—To plead guilty and exonerate an accomplice.

To do over, verb. phr. (common).—1. To knock down; to persuade; to cheat; to ruin.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 50. Who could, at any time, do him over, as they phrased it, for half-a-crown or half-a-guinea.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 326 (ed. 1857). Well, said Sam, he’s in a horrid state o’ love; reg’larly comfoozled, and done over with it.

2. (thieves’).—To search a victim’s pockets without his knowing it. Cf., run the rule over.

3. (venery).—To seduce; also to copulate. For synonyms, see Dock and Ride respectively.

To do polly, verb. phr. (American prison).—To pick oakum in gaol.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or the Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

To do one’s business, verb. phr. (common).—To kill. For synonyms, see Cook one’s Goose. Cf., Business. Also (vulgar), to evacuate; and (venery), to serve a woman.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. VIII., ch. x. He concluded he had pretty well done their business, for both of them, as they ran off, cried out with bitter oaths, that they were dead men.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xii. Then he took down his venerable and murderous duelling-pistols, with flint locks, that had done the business of many a pretty fellow in Dublin.

1856. C. Reade, Never Too Late, ch. xvi. She was stronger than he was for a moment or two, and that moment would have done his business. She meant killing.

To do the downy, verb. phr. (common).—To lie in bed. Downy flea pasture = a bed. Cf., Balmy.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. vi. Jer. The family’s gone to downy nap this half-hour. Why don’t the captain give the signal.

1853. C. Bede, Verdant Green, pt. ii., p. 59. This’ll never do, Giglamps! Cutting chapel to do the downy.

To do the swag, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To sell stolen property, Fr., laver la camelote or les fourgueroles. Cf., To do clobber.

To do the trick, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To accomplish one’s object; specifically (venery), to do the ‘act of kind’ effectually, and (for woman), to get rid of one’s maidenhead.

1864. Derby Day, p. 38. If the little ’un don’t do the trick me an’ him’ll fall out.

1870–2. Gallery of Comicalities. Star of the stable! Ostler Dick, Still in your calling wide awake; I warrant you can do the trick—A cunning cove, and no mistake.

18(?). W. C. Russell, Representative Actors, p. 476. Edmund Kean then whispered in his son’s ear ‘Charlie, we are doing the trick.’

To do time, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To serve a term of imprisonment. [297]

1871. Times, Dec. Both … fled to New York to save doing time on the treadmill.

1884. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 614. He has repeatedly done time for drunks and disorderlies, and for assaults upon the police.

1888. Referee, 15 April, 3, 1. The robbers-in-chief, who had done time before, were sentenced to five years’ penal servitude.

To do to death, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To repeat ad nauseam.

To do to tie to, verb. phr. (American).—To be fit to associate with; to be trustworthy.

To do up, verb. phr. (common).—To use up; finish; or quiet. Done up = tired out; ruined; ‘sold up.’ For synonyms, see Floored.

1594. Nashe, Unf. Traveller, in wks. v., 170. I was cleane spent and done, there was no hope of me.

1667. Dryden, Ann. Mir., st. 70. Not so the Holland fleet, who, tired and done, Stretch’d on their decks like weary oxen lie.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiv. ‘How did he get back from India?’ ‘Why, how should I know? The house there was done up, and that gave us a shake at Middleburgh.’

1831. Disraeli, The Young Duke, bk. iv., ch. xii., p. 245 (ed. 1866), ‘The Universe’ and ‘The New World’ announced that the young duke was done up.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 264. A man’s done up at fifty, and seldom lives long after, if he has to keep on at coal-portering.

1870. L. Oliphant, Piccadilly, pt. iii., p. 130. I am awfully done, said Spiffy. I never went to bed at all last night.

[For the rest, do, like chuck and cop, is a verb-of-all-work, and is used in every possible and impossible connection. Thus, to do reason and to do right = to honour a toast; to do a bit of stiff = to draw a bill; to do a chuck = to eject, or to go away; to do a rub-up = to masturbate; to do a sip (back slang) = to make water; to do a cat = to vomit; to do a hall or a theatre = to visit a music hall or a playhouse; to do a fluff (theatrical) = to forget one’s part; to do a pitch (showman’s or street artists’) = to go through a performance; to do a mouch or a mike = to go on the prowl; to do a grouse = to go questing for women; to do a doss = to go to sleep; to do a cadge = to go begging; to do a tumble or a spread = to lie down to a man; to do a perpendicular or knee-trembler = to copulate standing; to do a scrap = to engage in combat; to do a rural = to ‘rear’ by the wayside; to do a dive in the dark = to copulate; etc.

Doash, subs. (Old Cant).—A cloak. For synonyms, see Capella.

Dobbin, subs. (old).—Ribbon. Dobbin Rig = stealing ribbon.

Dock, subs. (printers’).—1. The weekly work bill or pole (q.v.).

2. (popular).—The hospital.

Verb (old).—1. To deflower; hence, by implication, to possess; [Gypsy dūkker, to ravish]. Feminine analogues are to have done the trick; to have had it; to have done it at last; to be cracked in the ring; to have broken her tea-cup; to have had it there; to have gone star-gazing on her back; to have given her pussy a taste of cream; to have let the pony over the dyke (Scots’); to have broken her knees or her leg; to have sprained her ankle. Fr., avoir vu le loup; laisser aller le chat au fromage; and avoir vu la lune; whilst l’avoir encore and avoir encore l’avoine is said of maids. Sp., desvirgar = to deflower: Docked = possessed. [298]

1567. Harman, Caveat [ed. 1869, E.E.T. Soc.], p. 87. He dokte the dell.

1609. Dekker, Lanthorne and Candlelight. ‘Canting Rithmes.’ Docked the dell for a Coper meke.

1611. Middleton and Dekker, Roaring Girl, v., 1. And couch till a pallyard docked my dell.

2. (Winchester College).—To scratch out; to tear out (as from a book); also to strike down.

To go into dock, verb. phr. (nautical).—To undergo salivation.

To be docked smack smooth, verb. phr. (old).—To have suffered amputation of the penis.

Docker, subs. (legal).—1. A brief handed to counsel by a prisoner in the dock. Legal etiquette compels acceptance if ‘marked’ with a minimum fee of £1 3s. 6d.

2. (colloquial).—A dock labourer.

Dock-walloper, subs. (American).—A loafer; one who loiters about docks and wharves; also an unemployed emigrant.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 344.… A dock-walloper is an object of great contempt to Jack.

Dockyarder, subs. (nautical).—A skulker. Cf., Strawyarder (q.v.).

Dockyard-horse, subs. (naval).—An officer better at correspondence than at active service.

Doctor, subs. (old).—1. A false die; sometimes a manipulated card.—See To put the doctor on one.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, I., in wks. (1720), iv., 18. Belf. Sen. Tatts, and Doctor! what’s that? Sham. The tools of sharpers, false dice.

1709. Centlivre, Gamester, Act i. Now, sir, here is your true dice, a man seldom gets anything by them; here is your false, sir; hey, how they run! Now, sir, those we generally call doctors.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones. Here, said he, taking some dice out of his pockets, here are the little doctors which cure the distempers of the purse.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxxiii. A gamester, one who deals with the devil’s bones and the doctors.

1823. Scott, Peveril, ch. xxviii. The dicers with their doctors in their pockets, I presume.

2. (common).—An adulterant. Cf., To keep the doctor.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. A composition used by distillers to make spirits appear stronger than they really are.

1828. G. Smeaton, Doings in London. Maton, in his ‘Tricks of Bakers Unmasked,’ says alum, which is called the Doctor, ground and unground, is sold to the bakers at fourpence per pound.

3. (licensed victuallers’).—Brown sherry. [Because a ‘doctored’ (q.v.), wine. Cf., sense 2.]

4. (nautical and up-country Australian).—A ship’s cook.

5. (Winchester College).—The head master.

1870. Mansfield, School Life at Winchester College, p. 27. The head master, or the Doctor, as he is always called, lives in ‘Commoners’ buildings.’

6. (Old gamesters’).—The last throw of dice or ninepins.

Verb (common).—1. To patch; adulterate; falsify; ‘cook.’

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends [ed. 1862], p. 464. She doctor’d the punch and she doctor’d the negus, Taking care not to put in sufficient to flavour it. [299]

1862. H. Greeley, in N. Y. Independent. The news [of success to the United States armies, said the English leading journals] all came through Northern channels, and was doctored by the government which controlled the telegraph.

2. (sporting).—To poison a horse.

To keep the doctor, verb. phr. (licensed victuallers’).—To make a practice of adulterating the liquor sold. Cf., doctor, subs., sense 2.

To put the doctor on one, verb. phr. (common).—To cheat.

Doctor Draw-fart, subs. phr. (common).—A wandering quack.

Doctored, ppl. adj. (common).—Patched; adulterated; falsified; ‘cooked.’

1866. G. Eliot, Felix Holt, ch. xxviii. The Cross-keys … had doctored ale, an odour of bad tobacco, and remarkably strong cheese.

Dod Burn it! intj. phr. (American).—A euphemistic oath; on the model of dadbinged (q.v.).

Dodder, subs. (Irish).—Burnt tobacco taken from the bottom of a pipe and placed on the top of a fresh plug to give a stronger flavor.

Dodderer, subs. (street).—A meddler; always used in contempt. Sometimes doddering old sheep’s head, which also = a fool.

Doddy, subs. (provincial).—In Norfolk a person of low stature. Sometimes hodmandod and hoddy-doddy, all head and no body. Dodman in the same dialect = a snail.

Dodfetched, adj. (American).—A euphemistic oath. [Dod = God.] Most of its kind have originated in New England, where the descendants of the Puritans form the largest portion of the population.

1888. Texas Siftings, 7 July. Then the poet was sore grieved, and he said unto himself, ‘I’m a dodfetched fool.’

Dodgasted, adj. (American).—See dodfetched.

1888. Detroit Free Press. It’s a dodgasted funny thing, Uncle Zeke, but it’s a fact, never knew it to fail; straight as a string, too.

Dodge, subs. and verb, [and derivative. Dodging, verb. subs.] (colloquial).—To trick; to swindle; to elude. Once slang, now recognised. Used in various combinations: the pious dodge = a pretence of piety; the tidy-dodge = begging in the streets with tidily but poorly dressed children, etc. Also, to ‘nart.’ For synonyms, see Lay.

1708. Swift, Abolishing of Christianity in prose wks. (Camelot Cl.), p. 235. The chaffering with Dissenters, and dodging about this or the other ceremony.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2nd ed.). To dodge.… 2. To be off and on. 3. To prevaricate, or play shifting tricks.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 135 (ed. 1857). ‘It was all false, of course?’ ‘All, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller, ‘reg’lar do, sir; artful dodge.’

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 227. Conscious how much their own livelihood depends upon assumption and trickery, they naturally consider that others have some dodge, as they call it, or some latent object in view when any good is sought to be done them.

1856. Punch, vol. XXXI., p. 217. Long though your sentence and your task severe, The pious dodge a ticket soon will send.

1865. Spectator, 2 Dec., Women’s Tact. [Mrs. Caudle.] Nagged, and [300]nagging is universally useful only with maids. She lost her temper occasionally, and the suffering angel dodge is a very much more effective as well as Christian resource.

1865. Spectator (On the Academy Dinner), p. 492. Earl Russell … broke loose from one conventionality of public dinners to fall into another. He dodged the toast of Her Majesty’s Ministers, and did not promise the Academy.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 23 March, p. 6, col. 1. He is naturally anxious to ascertain if any new dodge has been brought to light, and what was the amount of the penalty imposed for its perpetration.

Dodger, subs. (common).—1. A trickster. Cf., The ‘Artful Dodger’ (Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. viii.). Fr., être ficelle = ‘to be a dodger.’

1611. Cotgrave, Dict., Caqueraffe, a base micher, scurvie hagler, lowsie dodger, etc.

1825. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well, ch. xxviii. A sly cock, this Frank Tyrrel, thought the traveller; a very complete dodger—but no matter—I shall wind him, were he to double like a fan.

1887. Baumann, Londonismen, vi. So from hartful young dodgers, From vaxy old codgers, From the blowens ve got Soon to know vot is vot.

2. (popular).—A dram; provincially, a nightcap. For synonyms, see Go.

3. (American).—A hard-baked cake or biscuit, more usually termed corn-dodger. When mixed with beef, beef-dodgers.

4. (American).—A handbill.

1888. Texas Siftings, 15 Sept. Then I would have a great quantity of little dodgers printed to throw around everywhere.

Dodo, subs. (old).—A stupid, old man.

Dodrotted, ppl. adj. (American).—A euphemistic oath. See Oaths.

1887. Century Magazine. You ketch us with yer dodrotted foolin’, says he; we hain’t the kind to be fooled.

Does it? phr. (common).—A sarcastic retort.—See Does your Mother know you’re out?

Does your Mother know you’re out? phr. (streets’).—A popular locution, vague as to meaning and inexact in application—an expression expressive of contempt, incredulity, sarcasm, anything you please.—See All my eye, Street cries, and infra.

English Variants.—Has your mother sold her mangle? Not to-day, or it won’t do, Mr. Ferguson! Sawdust and treacle! Draw it mild! And the rest! Who are you? All round my hat! Go it, ye cripples! Shoo, fly! How does the old thing work? Well, you know how it is yourself! How’s your poor feet? Why, certainly! I’ll have your whelk! Not to-day, baker, call to-morrow, and we’ll take a crusty one! Do you see any green in my eye? Put that in your pipe and smoke it! Where are you going on Sunday? Go to Putney! Who stole the donkey: the man in the white hat! Cough, Julia! Over the bender! There you go with your eye out! etc., etc.

French Variants.—Et les mois de nourrice = (and the rest!); du combustible (popular: = go it you cripples); tu t’en ferais péter le cylindre (popular: = don’t you wish you may get it); chiche! (popular: a defiant refusal); chaleur! (popular: expressive of contempt, disbelief, and ironical admiration); croyez ça et buvez de l’eau (popular: = believe that and [301]drink water); à Chaillot ( = ‘go to Bath and get your head shaved’); tu t’en ferais crèver (pop.: = don’t you wish you may get it?); colle-toi ça dans l’cornet (pop.: = put that in your pipe and smoke it!) je la connais (pop.: = do you see any green?); j’entrave pas dans tes vannes (thieves’: = you don’t take me in); de la bourrache! (popular: = no go); un sale truc pour la fanfare (popular: an expression of disgust); de quoi (popular: what next? also = wealth, money, etc.); allez donc raconter cela à dache (thieves’: = tell that to the marines!); des dattes! (pop.: = take a carrot!); et ta sœur (popular: indicative of refusal, contempt, and insult); faut pas m’la faire (popular: = Walker!); et le pouce (pop.: = and the rest!)

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 6, col. 2. Where are they that should protect thee In this darkling hour of doubt? Love could never thus neglect thee! Does your mother know you’re out?

1864. Sun, 28 Dec. ‘Review of Hotten’s Slang Dictionary.’ Ridiculous street cries, such as does your mother know you’re out? or, Has your Aunt sold her mangle? or, You don’t lodge here, Mr. Fergusson—whatever those sapient remarks may mean.

Dog, subs. (colloquial).—1. A man; sometimes used contemptuously (Cf., Cat = a woman), but more frequently in half-serious chiding; e.g., a sad dog, gay dog, old dog, etc. For synonyms, see Cove. Sometimes adjectively = male; see quot., 1856. An old dog at it = expert, or accustomed to.

1596. Nashe, Have with you, Epis. Ded. par. 5. O, he hath been olde dogge at that drunken, staggering kinde of verse.

1697. Vanbrugh, Æsop, part II., Sc. iii. Why, I’m a strong young dog, you old gent, you.

1703. Mrs. Centlivre, Stolen Heiress, I., wks, (1872), i., 336. She is in love, forsooth, with a young beggarly dog not worth a groat.

1736. Fielding, Don Quixote, II. iv. A comical dog, I fancy; go, give my service to him.

b. 1764, d. 1817. J. G. Holman, Abroad and at Home, I., 3. And my praise to withhold none so currish, With a girl so divine! Such dinners! such wine! What a d—d clever dog was Jack Flourish!

1810. Crabbe, The Borough, Letter 6, Law. For he’d a way that many judg’d polite, A cunning dog—he’d fawn before he’d bite.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 369. (ed. 1857). Curse me, they’re friends of mine from this minute and friends of Mivins, too. Infernal pleasant, gentlemenly, dog Mivins, isn’t he? said Smangle, with great feeling.

1856. Whyte Melville, Kate Coventry, ch. vii. Then comes Ascot, for which meeting they leave the metropolis, and enjoy some quiet retreat in the neighbourhood of Windsor, taking with them many potables, and what they call a dog cook.

2. (thieves’).—A burglar’s iron. For synonyms, see Jemmy.

1888. American Humorist, 31 Mar. The safe was rifled, and every appearance of robbery was manifest. In this case the murderer was discovered by means of a dog, which was described in the newspapers as having certain peculiar scratches on it.

Verb (venery).—To copulate on all fours.

To go, or throw to the dogs.—See Go and Demnition Bow-wows.

Hair of the dog that bit you.—See Hair.

To blush like a blue dog.—See Blush.

Dogberry, subs. (common).—A stupid constable, or magistrate. [From Much Ado about Nothing.] For synonyms, see Beak and Copper. [302]

1864. M. E. Braddon, Aurora Floyd, ch. xxxviii. The detective had reason to know that the dogberries of Doncaster, … were on the wrong scent.

1869. Gent. Mag., July, p. 195. I trust I shall not be accounted a dogberry, lavish in my tediousness, if I bestow one more anecdote upon my readers.

Dog Biting Dog, adv. phr. (theatrical).—Said of actors who spitefully criticise each others performance.

Dog-Cheap, adj. (colloquial).—Very cheap; of little worth; foolish. [Skeat: from Swed., dog, = very; Latham: the first syllable is god = good, transposed + cheap, from chapman, a merchant—hence, a good bargain (Fr., bon marché).]

1598. Shakspeare, 1 Henry IV., iii. 3. The sack … would have bought me lights as good-cheap at the dearest chandler’s in Europe.

1606. Dekker, Newes from Hell, in wks. (Grosart), ii., 116. Three things there are dog-cheap, learning, poore men’s sweat, and others.

1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act II. No fat over-grown virgin of forty ever offered herself so dog cheap, or was more despised.

1772. Foote, Nabob, Act II. dog-cheap; neck-beef; a penny-loaf for a halfpenny.

1830. Marryat, Kings Own, ch. xxx. I’ll sell mine, dog-cheap, if any one will buy it.

1851. Carlyle, John Sterling, pt. I., ch. x. There lay in a certain neighbouring creek of the Irish coast, a worn-out royal gun-brig condemned to sale, to be had dog-cheap.

Dog-Collar, subs. (common).—A ‘stand-up’ shirt collar; an all-rounder (q.v.).

1883. Grenville-Murray, People I have Met, p. 42. The dog-collar which rose above the black cloth was of spotless purity.

Dog-Drawn (old), adj. phr.—Said of a bitch from which a dog has been removed by force during coition. Sometimes applied to women.

Dogger, verb (Charterhouse).—To cheat; to sell rubbish.

Doggery, subs. (popular).—1. Transparent cheating. Cf., dogger.

[Carlyle in Frederick uses doggery = the doings of a scurvy set of soldiers.]

2. (American).—A low drinking saloon.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 315. Doggeries are only found near the shanties of Irish laborers or in remote western and southern settlements.

Doggoned, adj. (American).—A euphemistic oath.—See Oaths.

1852. Gladstone, Englishman in Kansas, p. 46. If there’s a dog-goned abolitionist aboard this boat, I should like to see him. I’m the man to put a chunk o’ lead into his woolly head right off.

1873. Carlton, Farm Ballads, p. 80. But when that choir got up to sing, I couldn’t catch a word; They sung the most dog-gondest thing A body ever heard!

1879. Eggleston, The Hoosier Schoolmaster. I never knowed but one gal in my life as had cyphered into fractions, and she was so dog on stuck up, that she turned up her nose one night at an apple-peelin’ bekase I tuck a sheet off the bed to splice out the table-cloth, which was rather short.

Doggy, subs. (mining).—See quot.

1845. Disraeli, Sybil, bk. III., ch. i., note. A Batty in the mining districts is a middleman; a doggy is his manager.

Adj. (colloquial).—1. Connected with, or relating to dogs.

1883. Graphic, 24 Feb., p. 199, col. 3. Liverpool and the Adelphi Hotel in particular, are now [time of Altcar coursing meeting] the headquarters of all the doggy men of the three kingdoms. [303]

2. (colloquial).—Stylish.

Dog in a Blanket, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A pudding of preserved fruit spread on thin dough, rolled up, and boiled; also called roly-poly and stocking.

1887. G. A. Sala, in Ill. Lon. News, 12 Feb., p. 174, col. 3. Bubble and squeak … is a colloquialism, and no more slangy than ‘toad in the hole’ or dog in a blanket.

Like a dog in shoes, adv. phr. (Irish).—A pattering sound; as the noise of a brisk walk.

Dog in the Manger, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A selfish churl; who does not want himself, yet will not let others enjoy. [From the fable.]

1621. Burton, Anat. of Mel., I., II., III., xii., 189 (1836). Like a hog, or dog in the manger, he doth only keep it, because it shall do nobody else good.

1673. Dryden, Amboyna, Act ii. You’re like dogs in the manger, you will neither manage it yourselves nor permit your neighbours.

1757. Garrick, Irish Widow, II. That’s the dog in the manger; you can’t eat the oats, and won’t let those who can.

1836. Marryat, Japhet, ch. lxxii. Why, what a dog in the manger you must be—you can’t marry them both.

Dog-Latin, subs. (colloquial).—Barbarous or sham Latin; also Kitchen, Bog, Garden, or Apothecaries’ Latin.

1856. H. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 149. A Spaniard … who called himself a physician, and who, being unable to speak English, communicated with the doctor in a kind of Spanish dog-Latin.

Dogs, subs. (university).—1. Sausages; otherwise Bags of Mystery (q.v.), or Chambers of Horrors (q.v.).

2. (Stock Exchange).—Newfoundland Land Company’s shares; now amalgamated with the Anglo-American United, and called Anglos.

To go to the dogs.—See under Go.

To let sleeping dogs lie.—See Sleeping Dogs.

Dog’s-Body, subs. (nautical).—Pease pudding.

1851. Chambers’ Papers, No. 52, p. 16. Peas-pudding (alias dog’s body) is often allowed upon pork days.

1883. W. Clark Russell, Sailors’ Language, p. 42. dogs-body.—A mess made of pea-soup, powdered biscuit, and slush.

1889. Chambers’ Journal, 3 Aug., p. 495, col. 1.

Dog’s-eared, adj. (colloquial).—Crumpled, as the leaves of a page with much reading.

Dog’s Match. To make a dog’s match of it, verb. phr. (vulgar).—To copulate by the wayside.

Dog’s Meat, subs. (colloquial).—Anything worthless; as a bad book, a common tale, a villainous picture, etc.

Dog-shooter, subs. (old).—1. A volunteer.

2. (Royal Military Academy).—See quot.

1889. Barrère, Slang, Jargon and Cant, p. 317. Cadets thus term a student who accelerates, that is, who, being pretty certain of not being able to obtain a commission in the engineers, or not caring for it, elects to join a superior class before the end of the term.

Dog’s-nose, subs. (common).—A mixture of gin and beer.—See Drinks. [304]

1812. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxiii., p. 285. dog’s nose … your committee find upon enquiry, to be compounded of warm porter, moist sugar, gin, and nutmeg.

1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xl. Ah! that’s not bad tipple after such a ducking as we’ve had. dog’s nose, isn’t it?

Dog’s-paste, subs. (common).—Sausage or mince-meat. Cf., bags of mystery and chambers of horror (q.v.).

Dog’s-portion, subs. (common).—‘A lick and a smell,’ i.e., next to nothing.

Dog’s Sleep, subs. phr. (colloquial).—The lightest possible form of slumber.

Dog’s-soup, subs. (common).—Water. For synonyms, see Adam’s Ale and Fish Broth.

1836. W. H. Smith. ‘The Thieves’ Chaunt.’ For she never lushes dog’s-soup or lap.

Dog’s-tail, subs. (nautical).—The constellation of Ursa minor or Little Bear.

Dog-stealer, subs. (common).—A dog-dealer; applied sarcastically.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xiii. Now nodding to a trainer, now indulging in quaint badinage, which the vulgar call ‘chaff,’ with a dog-stealer.

Doldrums, subs. (colloquial).—Low spirits; the dumps or hump (q.v.). [Properly parts of the ocean near the Equator abounding in calms and light, baffling winds.]

1865. M. Browne, in the ‘Argosy,’ I., 36. An Apology for the Nerves. All I say is, do not let us have any abuse of the nerves. Do not confound nervousness with the megrims, or the doldrums, or any other complaint. Do not confound it with cowardice or ill-temper.

1883. James Payn, The Canon’s Ward, ch. xi. She treated all subjects in the same light way; … from aversion to serious thoughts of any kind, which she stigmatised generally as the doldrums.

Dole, subs. (Winchester College).—A stratagem or trick. [From Latin dolus.]

Dolifier, subs. (Winchester College).—One who contrives a trick.—See Dole.

Dollar, subs. (common).—A five-shilling piece. Half-dollar = half-a-crown, or two shillings. For synonyms, see Caroon.

Dollop, subs. and verb (common).—A lot; All the dollop = the whole thing. Cf., quot., 1812. In Norfolk to dollop = to dole out; also to ‘plank.’ Dolloping = throwing down.

1812. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v. = the whole sum of money.

1853. Notes and Queries, 16 July, p. 65, col. 2. Applied to lumps of any substances, whether food or otherwise. Such a phrase as this might be heard: What a dollop of fat you have given me.

1871. Beli’s Life, 23 Dec. All we wish to convey is, that a large bait is absolutely necessary to a heavy bag of chub. Exceptions may arise, as giants may dally with crumbs, but as a rule these fish desire a dollop.

1876. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 28. I have known men literally give their goods away, or to throw them at each other, which is termed dolloping.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 8 March, p. 4, col. 1. A dollop of something having a mortar-like appearance, imaginatively styled pudding.

Dolly, subs. (venery).—1. A mistress. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart. [305]

1647–48. Herrick, Hesperides, p. 38. Drink, and dance, and pipe, and play, Kisse our dollies night and day.

1843. Punch, vol. V., p. 8. Dol is a pure Anglo-Saxon word signifying dull, erring—whence the English Dolly, any one who has made a faux pas.

2. (tailors’).—A piece of cloth used as a sponge.

3. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Adj. (popular).—Silly.

1864. Dickens, Our Mutual Friend, bk. I., chap. 4. You are a chit and a little idiot, returned Bella, or you wouldn’t make such a dolly speech.

Dolly-mop, subs. (common).—Specifically, a professional strumpet, but see quot., 1851. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. iv. The captain says we are to take the young gentleman on board directly. His liberty’s stopped for getting drunk and running after the Dolly-Mops!

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 234. Those women who, for the sake of distinguishing them from the professionals, I must call amateurs, are generally spoken of as Dolly-mops.

Dolly-Shop, subs. (common).—A marine store: really an illegal pawn-shop and fence (q.v.); also leaving-shop. No questions are asked; all goods are received on the understanding that they may be repurchased within a given time; so much per day is charged; no duplicate is given; and no books are kept. [From the black doll (q.v.) suspended outside as a sign.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 142. If she hasn’t, or if the neighbours hasn’t it, she borrows it at a dolly-shop (the illegal pawnshop).

1860–68. Chambers’ Encyclopædia, s.v.

1871. Echo, 16 March. Chimney sweeps having lent their machines to dolly-shop keepers for the price of a spree, could not redeem them to commence business.

Dome, subs. (common).—The head. For synonyms, see Crumpet.

Domestic-Afflictions, subs. (common).—The menstrual flux; a woman’s flower-time. For synonyms, see Flag-up.

Dome-stick, subs. (common).—A ‘domestic’ servant.

Dominie, subs. (old).—A clergyman; modern Scots = a pedagogue or schoolmaster. [From Latin dominus, a lord or master.]

1616. Beaumont and Fletcher, Scornful Lady, II., i. Wel. [addressing parson], Adieu, dear Domine!

1754. Foote, Knights, Act ii. She falls in love with young Sleek, her father’s chaplain; … what does me I, but slips on Domine’s robes, you; passed myself upon her for him, and we were tacked together.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 21. And, take him at ruffianing work (though, in common, he Hums about Peace and all that, like a Domine.

1883. Brinsley-Richards, Seven Years at Eton, xii., 122. The Scotch dominie, from whom he had learnt Latin … knew nothing of elegiacs.

Dominie Do-Little, subs. phr. (old).—An impotent old man.

Domino! intj. (common).—An ejaculation of completion: e.g., for sailors and soldiers at the last lash of a flogging; and for ’bus conductors when an omnibus is full inside and out [N. and Q., 6 S., v., 229]; also, by implication, a knock-down blow, or the last of a series. [From the call at the end of a game of dominoes.] [306]

Domino-Box, subs. (old).—The mouth. For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

1812. Vaux, Flash Dictionary, s.v.

Dominoes, subs. (popular).—1. The teeth. For synonyms, see Grinders.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and 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? don’t you understand Hinglish?

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’; the teeth, dominoes.

1864. E. D. Forgues, in Revue des deux Mondes, 15 Sept., p. 470. Le mot ‘dents’ est remplacé par celui de dominos aussi bien sur les bordes de la Tamise que sur ceux de la Seine.

2. (colloquial).—The keys of a piano.

To sluice one’s dominoes, verb. phr. (common).—To drink.—See quot., 1823 ante.

Domino-thumper, subs. (common).—A pianist.

Dommerar, Dommerer, or Dummerer, subs. (old).—A beggar feigning to be deaf and dumb; also, a madman.

1567. Harman, Caveat, p. 57. These Dommerars are leud and most subtyll people: the moste part of these are Walch men, and wyll neuer speake, vnlesse they haue extreame punishment, but wyll gape, and with a maruelous force wyll hold downe their toungs doubled, groning for your charyty, and holding vp their handes full pitiously, so that with their deepe dissimulation they get very much.

1621. Burton, Anat. of Mel., I., II., IV., vi., 233 (1836). It compels some miserable wretches to counterfeit several diseases, to dismember, make themselves blind, lame, to have a more plausible cause to beg … we have dummerers, Abraham men, etc.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v. (Repr. 1874), p. 49. Dommerar, a Madman.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Dommeror, a Madman.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum. Dommerer, a fellow that pretends to be deaf and dumb.

Don, subs. (colloquial).—An adept; a swell; also a man that ‘puts on side.’ At the Universities a fellow or officer of a college; whence the vulgar usage. [From Latin, dominus, a lord, through the Spanish title.]

1665. Dryden, Indian Emperor, Epilogue, 21. For the great dons of wit—Phœbus gives them full privilege alone, To damn all others, and cry up their own.

1698–1700. Ward, London Spy, pt. xiii., p. 299. Like the Great Old Dons of the Law, when they dance the Measures in an Inns-of-Court Hall upon the first day of Christmas.

1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, Act I., p. 7 (2 ed.) The old dons … will come cringing, cap in hand, to offer to show the ladies the curiosities of the college.

1826. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’), Song on the Fancy. Dull innocence! Twaddle on, Thy weary worshipper—and fain Would give thee up, to be a don, And beat the watch in Drury Lane.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xi. Does not go much into society, except … once or twice to the houses of great country dons who dwell near him in the country.

c. 1880. Broadside Ballad, sung by Jenny Hill. ‘’Arry, ’Arry, There you are now, ’Arry, I say, ’Arry, by Jove, you are a Don.’

Adj. (common).—Clever, expert; first rate. [From the subs. sense.] [307]

Dona, Donna, Donny, or Doner, subs. (vulgar).—A woman. [From the Italian.] For synonyms, see Petticoat.

1875. Athenæum, 24 April, p. 545, col. 2. A circus man almost always speaks of a circus woman, not as a woman, but a dona.

Donaker, subs. (old).—A cattle-lifter.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 108.

Done! intj. (common).—An interjection of acceptance or agreement.

1602. Dekker, Honest Whore, in wks. (1873), ii., 17. Cast. … I’le wage a hundred duckats upon the head on’t, that it moves him, frets him, and galles him. Pio. Done, ’tis a lay, joyne gols [hands] on’t.

1761. Colman, Jealous Wife, IV., in wks. (1777), i., 106. Why, it’s a match, miss! it’s done and done on both sides.

1762. Goldsmith, Life of Nash, in wks., p. 546 (Globe). Why, if you think me a dab I will get this strange gentleman, or this, pointing to the flat. done! cries the sailor, but you shall not tell him.

1840. Thackeray, Paris Sketch-book, p. 196. ‘I will bet thee thy water for a year that none of the three will pray for thee.’ ‘Done!’ said Rollo. ‘Done! said the daemon.’

Ppl. adj. (common).—Exhausted; ruined; cheated; convicted.

[See Do in most of its senses.]

Done-over, adj. (common).—1. Intoxicated. For synonyms, see Screwed.

2. (venery). Possessed in kind; said only of women.

Donkey, subs. (printers’).—1. A compositor; pressmen are in turn called Pigs (q.v.).

English Synonyms.—Ass; moke; galley-slave.

French Synonyms.—Un mulet (printers’); un compositeur mie de pain (an unskilled or clumsy workman; mie de pain also = a louse); un marron (a compositor working on his own account with another printer’s plant); un homme de lettres (= a man of letters); un singe (= a monkey); un amphibie (a compositor who is donkey and pig [q.v.] together).

1857. In Notes and Queries, 2 S., iv., 192. Compositors are jocosely called mokes or donkeys.

2. (nautical).—A sailor’s chest.

3. (colloquial).—A blockhead. For synonyms, see Cabbage-head and Buffle.

A penny, twopence or threepence more and up goes the donkey, phr. (common).—An exclamation of derision. [Street acrobats’: the custom was to finish off the pitch by balancing a donkey at the top of a ladder on receipt of ‘tuppence more’; which sum, however often subscribed, was always re-demanded, so that the donkey never ‘went up’ at all.]

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 41, col. 2. Mr. Joseph Muggins begs to inform his old crony, Punch, that the report of Sir John Pullon, ‘as to the possibility of elevating an ass to the head of the poll by bribery and corruption’ is perfectly correct, provided there is no abatement in the price. Let him canvass again, and Mr. J. M. pledges himself, whatever his weight, if he will only stand one penny more, up goes the donkey!

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xv. He … has left the key in the lock; so I shall take the liberty of exploring a little; I’ve a strong though undeveloped taste for architectural antiquities. Twopence more, and up goes the donkey! Come along! So saying, he flung open the door. [308]

Who stole the donkey? phr. (common).—A street cry once in vogue on the appearance of a man in a white hat. With a similar expression ‘Who stole the leg of mutton’? applied to the police, it had its rise in a case of larceny. J. H. Dixon, writing to Hotten, Nov. 6th, 1864, remembered both. The first occurred at Hatton Garden Police Court, where a man, wearing a white hat, was charged with stealing a costermonger’s donkey.

1889. Sporting Times, 3 Aug., p. 3, col. 5. Who stole the donkey? The man with the white hat! This was a very popular street colloquy some years ago.

To ride the donkey, verb. phr. (common).—To cheat with weights and measures. Also donkey-riding = cheating as aforesaid. Cf., Ambush.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. Donkey-Riding. Cheating in weight or measure; miscounting.

To talk the hind leg off a donkey.—See Talk.

Donkey-Drops, subs. phr. (cricket).—See quot.

1890. The Hon. and Rev. E. Lyttelton, Cricket, p. 69. Slow round-hand bowling, such as is seldom seen in good matches, but is effective against boys, and is known by the contumelious designation of donkey-drops.

Donkey’s-ears, subs. (old).—An old-fashioned shirt-collar with long points.

Donna.—See Dona.

Donnish, adj. Donnism, Donnishness, subs. (University).—Arrogant; arrogance. [From Don (q.v.).]

1823. Hints for Oxford, p. 66. The Bachelors, we imagine, are the most pleasant set of beings in Oxford.… They have luckily not been so long emancipated as to have become stiff, and donnish, and disagreeable.

c. 1830. Ballad, quoted in N. and Q., 2nd S., xii., 154. Our Yankee, who’d commenced the fight and rather to be donnish meant, Sam squabbled felt (as well he might) with genu-ine astonishment.

1853. Thackeray, in Scribner’s Mag., Oct., 1887, p. 415. At Boston is very good literate company indeed; it is like Edinburgh for that,—a vast amount of toryism and donnishness everywhere.

1888. Mrs. Ward, Robt. Elsmere, vol. I., bk. I., ch. ii., p. 48. He was a curious man, a refined-looking, melancholy creature, with a face that reminded you of Wordsworth, and cold donnish ways, except to his children and the poor.

Donny.—See Dona.

Donovans, subs. (old).—Potatoes. Cf., Murphy. [Donovan, like Murphy, is a common Irish patronym.]

Don’s Week, subs. phr. (tailors’).—The week before a general holiday.

Don’t get your Back up.—See Back, and Hold your Hair on.

Don’t-name-’ems, subs. phr. (common).—Trousers. For synonyms, see Kicksies.

Don’t you wish you may get it, phr. (street).—A retort forcible.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 179. A thousand marks, continued the confessor.… Sir Guy shrank from the monk’s gaze; he turned to the window, and muttered to himself something that sounded like, ‘don’t you wish you may get it?’

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 22, col. 2. Who would own her heart thine, Though a monarch beset it, And love on unchanged, ‘don’t you wish you may get it?’ [309]

1844. Puck, p. 14. The Proctor caught him in a spree, Asked his name and college with courtesie; ‘Don’t you wish you may get it?’ and off he ran, Did my spicy swell small college man.

Doodle, subs. (old).—1. A dolt. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head. [Thought to be a corruption of Dawdle, to trifle.]

1775. Ash, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. v. I know it was every word composed by that abominable old addlehead, Dr. ——, a doodle that he is!

2. (old).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

1785. Grose, Dic. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Doodled, ppl. adj. (old).—Cheated, ‘done.’

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, i., 7. No, I’m out of spirits because I have been dished and doodled out of forty pounds to-day.

Doodle-dasher, subs. (venery).—A masturbator. [From Doodle, the penis + dasher.]

Doodle-doo-man, subs. (old cock-pit).—A cockfighter or breeder. [From the childish name for poultry.]

Doodlesack, subs. (old).—The female pudendum. Also Doodle-case and Doodle-trap. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Doog, adj. (back-slang).—Good.

Dookie, subs. (theatrical).—A penny show or unlicensed theatre. Cf., Gaff.

Dookin and Dookering, subs. (thieves’ and gypsies’).—Fortune-telling.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 444.

Dookin-Cove, subs. (common).—A fortune-teller. [From dookin = fortune-telling + cove, a man.]

Door-nail. Dead as a door-nail.—See Dead.

Doorsman, subs. (common).—See Barker and Clicker.

Doorstep, subs. (common).—A thick slice of bread and butter. Fr., une fondante.

1885. Miss Tennant, in Eng. Ill. Mag., June, p. 604. Doorsteps, I found, were thick slices of bread spread with jam.

1890. Spectator, 3 May, Rev. of vol. I., ‘Slang and its Analogues.’… The extraordinary ‘bouncer’ that a very common request at Lockhart’s coffee-houses in London is for ‘a doorstep and a sea-rover,’ i.e., for a halfpenny slice of bread and butter and a herring, &c.

Dooteroomus or Doot, subs. (American).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, s.v.

Dope, verb (American).—To drug with tobacco. Also doping = the practice.

Dopey, subs. (old).—1. A beggar’s trull.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

2. (old).—The podex.

Dor, subs. (Old Westminster School).—1. See quot.

1715. J. Kersey, English Dictionary. Sub voce, a term used at Westminster School for leave to sleep awhile.

2. (old).—An affront.

1600. Jonson, Cynthia’s Revels. [310]

Doras, subs. (Stock Exchange).—South-Eastern Railway Deferred Ordinary Stock, sometimes applied to the ‘A’ Stock.

Dorbie, subs. (Scots Masonic).—An initiate.

The Dorbies’ knock, subs. phr.—A peculiar rap given by masons as a signal amongst themselves. It may be represented by the time of the following notes:

Dorcas, subs. (colloquial).—A sempstress; especially one employing herself for charitable purposes.

Dorse.—See Doss.

Dose, subs. (thieves’).—1. A sentence of imprisonment; specifically three months’ hard labour.

English Synonyms.—Spell, time, drag, three moon, length, stretch, seven-pennorth, sixer, twelver, lagging.

French Synonym.—Une marque.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 22. ‘What’s yer dose?’ looking on to my badge; ‘five, oh, you can do that little lot on yer ’ed easy.’

2. (thieves’).—A burglary.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

3. (pugilistic).—A beating.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress p. 17. Sandy tipp’d him a dose of that kind, that, when taken, It isn’t the stuff, but the patient that’s shaken.

4. (colloquial).—As much liquor as one can hold.

To have a dose of the balmy, verbal phr. (common).—To ‘do a sleep.’—See Balmy and Doss.

To take a grown man’s dose, verb. phr. (common).—To take a very large quantity of liquor.

Doss or Dorse, subs. (vagrants’).—A bed, or lodging; also a sleep, or lib (q.v.). [Origin uncertain.] For synonyms, see Kip and Balmy.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 165. Dorsed. The place where a person sleeps, or a bed. ‘I dorsed there last darkey.’

1858. Mayhew, Paved with Gold, p. 118. Into this branch curtained retreat, the lads crept on all fours, one after another, to enjoy their doss, as, in their slang, they called sleep.

1883. Daily News, 3 April, p. 3, col. 5. He replied that he had only come there to have a doss (sleep).

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 9 Sep., p. 3, col. 2. If you want a doss, a doss is provided. A wooden framework, about as wide as the widest part of a coffin, and a wooden pillow and a blanket of leather.

Verb (vagrants’).—To sleep. For synonyms, see Balmy and infra. Also Dorse.

English Synonyms.—To go to the arms of Murphy (q.v.); to have forty winks; to go to Bedfordshire; to take a little (or do a dose) of the balmy; to chuck (or do) a doss; to snooze; to go to by-by; to read the paper; to shut one’s eyes to think; to retire to the land of Nod.

French Synonyms.—Battre la couverte (military); se foutre un coup de traversin (= to have a [311]little turn up with the bolster); se bâcher, pagnotter or percher (to roost); se mettre dans la bâche; se bourser (popular); éteindre son gaz (popular: to put out one’s light; = also to die); entrer aux quinze-vingts (Les Quinze-vingts = a government hospital for the blind); dormir en chien de fusil (i.e., to sleep sitting, the head between the knees); dormir en gendarme (popular: ‘to sleep with one eye round the corner’); fermer les châssis (to put up shutters or ‘peepers’); se coller dans le pieu (popular).

Spanish Synonyms.—Acostarse con las gallinas (= to go to bed by cock-light); encamarse; tomarle á uno el sueño; tumbar (literally, to tumble down).

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To dorse with a woman signifies to sleep with her.

1846. Punch, vol. XI., p. 165. Then silent flowed the tears of those maidens as perforce, Each saw her favourite champion sent, as Bell’s Life says, dorse.

1850. Lloyd’s Weekly, 3 Feb., ‘Low Lodging House of London.’ One said, Mate, how long have you been knocking about; where did you doss? I didn’t know what they meant, and when they’d told me, they meant, where did I sleep?

Dosser, subs. (vagrants’).—One who frequents a doss house (q.v.).

’Appy-dossers, subs. (vagrants’).—Houseless vagrants who creep in, sleep on stairs, in passages, and in empty cellars.

1880. G. R. Sims, How the Poor Live, p. 43. A ’appy dosser can make himself comfortable anywhere. I heard of one who used to crawl into the dust-bin, and pull the lid down.

1883. Referee, 15 July, p. 7, col. 2. The Lazaruses of to-day don’t lie exactly at Dives’s front door—the police are too active to allow such happy dossing as that.

The dosser, subs.—The father of a family.

Doss-house or Dossing-crib or Ken, subs. (vagrants’).—A common lodging-house. [From doss, to sleep + crib, or ken, a place of abode.] Fr., un bastengue and un garno. English variants: Libken, two-penny-rope, padding-ken, and kidden (all of which see). Doss-money = the price of a night’s lodging.

1838. Comic Almanack, April. The hulks is now my bowsing-crib, the hold my dossing-ken.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 150. When their funds are insufficient to defray the charge of a bed, or a part of one, at a country dossing-crib (his lodging-house).

1885. Daily Telegraph, 22 August, p. 2. col. 1. Her’s is no common dossing-crib, with a squalid kitchen, common to all comers.

1889. Globe, 29 Aug., p. 2, col. 2. Various other smart people who are at present residing in the doss-houses of London.

1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., p. 211, col. 1. Equally bad doss-houses exist in Notting Hill and near Drury Lane.

Dossy, adj. (common).—Elegant, ‘spiff’ (q.v.).

Dot, subs. (old).—A ribbon. Dot-drag = a watch ribbon.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171, s.v.

Dot-and-Carry-, or Go-one, subs. phr. (common).—1. Properly, a man with a wooden leg; by implication, a hopping-giles or limping jesus (q.v.). Fr., un (or une) banban. Cf., verbal sense.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. [312]

1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. v. That was his father.… You old dotard. Dot-and-carry-one that you are.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Lay of S. Nicholas). How he rose with the sun, limping dot and go one.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, Act i., Sc. 4. Kit. Of all the rummy chaps I ever did see, that dot-and-carry-one-of-old poetry is the queerest; he’s as green as a babby, and as deep as a wooden spoon.

2. (old).—A writing-master or teacher of arithmetic. [Grose, 1785.]

Verb (old).—To ‘hirple’; especially applied to a person with one leg shorter than the other, or, ‘with an uneven keel.’

Do tell! intj. (American).—A useful interjection, for listeners who feel that some remark is expected; equivalent to the English Really? and Indeed? A similar phrase in the South is the old English, You don’t say so? which a Yankee will vary by, I want to know! Do tell is also used with inexperienced Munchausens who by its means may often be lured to repeat themselves.

1824. R. B. Peake, Americans Abroad, Act I., Sc. ii. Mrs. L. But when they order nothing at all— Dou: What then, du pray tell?

1854. N. and Q., 1 S., x., p. 84, R. Does Jeremiur behave well now? S. No, he’s very ugly. He tried to burn the barn. R. do tell!

1871. De Vere, Americanisms, p. 598 s.v.

Dots, subs. (American journalist).—1. Items of news.

2. (popular).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

Dotter, subs. (common).—A reporter; penny-a-liner. Cf., Dots, sense 1.

Dottle, subs. (common).—The same as Dodder (q.v.).

1885. John Coleman, in Longm. Mag., VII., 69. During the performance of ‘It’s Never Too Late to Mend,’ some gentleman of the proletariat, in knocking out the burning dottle of his pipe, succeeded in setting the gallery on fire.

Dotty, adj. and adv. (common).—1. Feeble; dizzy; idiotic; e.g., dotty in the crumpet = weak in the head; dotty in the pins = unsteady on the legs. [Totty is given in Cole’s Eng. Dict. (1724) = dizzy, but cf., dotish and dotage.] For synonyms, see Apartments, Balmy, and Cf., Cabbage-head.

1870. Sportsman, 9 April. Although he begins to go a little stiff in his limbs and dotty on his feet he enjoys good health.

1884. Daily Telegraph, 9 April, p. 2, col. 6. His bad leg grows worse … and, as usual, he [a race-horse] pulled up in a dotty condition.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 3 Aug., p. 242, col. 3. As poor Doody on his knees had dropt In front of lovely Tottie, And the fatal question just had pop’t. He really look’d quite dotty.

Subs. (common).—The fancy man of prostitutes of the lowest type.

Doubite, subs. (old).—A street.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Double, subs. (colloquial).—1. A trick.

2. (theatrical).—An actor playing two parts in the same piece; used also as a verb.

1825. Egan, Life of an Actor, ‘The Country Manager.’ I make no reserve for myself, like all other managers; indeed, I am to double any character, and only anxious to make the most of every little bit.

3. (thieves’).—See quot. [313]

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 501. I piped a slavey (servant) come out of a chat (house), so when she had got a little way up the double (turning) I pratted (went) in the house.

4. (printers’).—Repetition of a word or sentence.

[Double, adj. and adv., is also used as an intensitive in many obscene or offensive connotations: e.g., double-arsed = large in the posteriors; double-duggs (and double-dugged or diddied) = heavy breasted; double-guts (and double-gutted) = excessively corpulent; double-cunted = stretched beyond service; double-hocked = abnormally thick ankled; double-shung = extravagantly large in the genitals; double-mouthed = mouth-almighty (q.v.); and so forth.]

To put the double on, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To circumvent.

To tip or give the double, verb. phr. (common).—To run or slip away openly or unperceived; to double as a hare; formerly to escape one’s creditors. Also to tip one the Dublin packet. For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, I., 174, s.v.

1860. The Druid, ‘Post and Paddock.’ Alas! my innocent rural police, Your fondest hopes were a bubble; Your attempts to prevent a breach of the peace, Your race o’er the Derbyshire stubble; You must freely own that you felt like geese, When Sam Rogers gave you the double.

1870. Daily News, 26 May. ‘The Metropolitan Police.’ The policeman must do his best to ‘keep square’ with the sergeant who looks after him and his beats, who can be down upon him at any moment and double upon him three or four times a-night.

1884. Hawley Smart, Post to Finish, ch. i. Old Gregson would never put the double upon us. No, it’s right enough, you may depend upon it.

Double-back, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To go back upon oneself; an action; an opinion.

Double-barrel, subs. (popular).—A field or opera glass.

1890. H. D. Traill, Saturday Songs, p. 61. Intently as the masher plies O’er all the stage his double-barrel That Eightyer mute had fixed his eyes Upon his honoured guest’s apparel.

Double-barrelled, adj. (venery).—Said of a harlot working both before and behind.

Double-bottomed, adj. (colloquial).—Insincere; saying one thing and meaning another.

Double-breasted feet, subs. phr. (common).—Club feet. Also Double Breasters.

Double-cross or Double-double, subs. (sporting).—Winning or doing one’s best to win after engaging to lose or ‘mike’; (q.v.).

1887. Referee, 21 Aug., 1, 3. When the pair raced before, Teemer declared, and Hanlan did not deny, that a double cross was brought off. Teemer promised to sell the match, and finished by selling those who calculated on his losing.

Double-distilled, adj. (colloquial).—Superlative: e.g., ‘a double-distilled whopper’ = a tremendous lie.

Double-dutch, adj. (colloquial).—Unintelligible speech; jargon; gibberish. ‘It was all Double-dutch to me’ = I didn’t understand a word of it.

Double-event, subs. (sporting).—1. Backing a horse for two races.

1883. Grenville Murray, People I Have Met, p. 155. His lordship, who had won largely on a double event.

2. (venery).—Gonorrhœa and syphilis at once. Said also of simultaneous defloration and impregnation. [314]

Double-finn, subs. (common).—A £10 note.—[See Finn.]

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 505. Yes, there it was, fifty quid in double finns (£10 notes).

Double-header, subs. (common).—A false coin with a head on the obverse and reverse, made by soldering two split coins. Cf., Cover and Heading ’em.

1887. Walford’s Antiquarian, p. 252. A double-header is the usual property of the gutter sharper.

Double-juggs, subs. (old).—The posteriors (Burton). For synonyms, see Blind cheeks, Bum, and Monocular eyeglass.

Double-lines, subs. (nautical).—Ship casualties. So called from the manner of entering at Lloyd’s.

Doubler, subs. (pugilistic).—A blow in the side or stomach, causing a man to bend from pain or lack of wind. Cf., Double up, sense 1. For synonyms, see Dig.

1821. The Fancy, vol. I., p. 255. In the fourth round he came in all abroad, and got a doubler in the bread-basket, which spoiled him for the remainder of the fight.

Double-ribbed, adj. phr. (common).—Pregnant. For synonyms, see Lumpy.

Double-shotted, adj. (colloquial).—Said of a whiskey (or brandy) and soda, containing twice the normal quantity of alcohol.

Double-shuffle, subs. (common). 1. A hornpipe step in which each foot is shuffled twice in succession, the more rapidly and neatly the better.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 47. The waterman … is dancing the double shuffle, in front of the pump, to keep his feet warm.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 542. I used to talk to him and whistle. I can just whistle … and to dance him the double-shuffle.

1871. Echo, 11 Dec., ‘Sunday among the Silk Weavers.’ The clumsy high low with which they execute scientific ‘elephant dances’ and double-shuffles.

2. subs. (common).—A trick or fakement.

Double-Slang.—See Slangs.

Double-Sucker, subs. (venery).—A term descriptive of an abnormal development of the tissues of the labia majora.

Doublet, subs. (thieves’).—A doctored diamond or other precious stone. Cf., Triplet. [The quots. show derivation.]

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Doublet, a precious stone of two pieces joyned.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xxxi. Your een are sharp enough to look after gowd and silver, gems, rubies, and the like of that.… Look at them—they are a’right and tight, sound and round, not a doublet crept in amongst them.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 273. Most jewellers and pawnbrokers are well acquainted with what are called doublets. These are rubies or emeralds made of two pieces. The face is a real ruby, emerald, or sapphire, as the case may be, and this is backed up by a piece of coloured glass.

Double-Thumper, subs. (common).—A prodigious lie.

Double-Tongued, adj. (colloquial).—Mendacious; given to change opinions in changing company. [315]

Double-tongued Squib, subs. phr. (common).—A double-barrelled gun. For synonyms, see Squib.

1864. G. W. Reynolds, Pickwick Abroad. A double-tongued squib to keep in awe The chaps that flout at me.

Double-up, verb (pugilistic).—1. To punish. Also to be collapsed. Cf., Doubler.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 20. Doubled him up, like a bag of old duds.

1827. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’), The Fancy, note on p. 89. Randall doubles up an opponent, as a friend lately declared, as easily as though he were picking a flower or pinching a girl’s cheek.

1830. S. Warren, Diary of a Late Physician, ch. xii. Accompanied by a tremendous doubling up body-blow, as in an instant brought him senseless to the ground.

1845. Punch, vol. IX., p. 163. Ben’s reference to the Premier’s friend, Canning, completely doubled him up.

1849. Thackeray, Dr. Birch, p. 6. I reflect as I go up and set him a sum, that he [Champion] could whop me in two minutes, double up Prince and the other assistant and pitch the Doctor out of the window.

1866. London Miscellany, 5 May, p. 202. Doubled you up, I mean, sir. Smashed you.

2. (common).—To pair off, to chum with.

1885. W. Westall, Larry Lohengrin, ch. iii. He … promised the steward a handsome tip if nobody were doubled up with him,—i.e., if no other person were put into the same cabin.

Dough, subs. (public schools’).—Pudding.

Dough-baked, adj. phr. (colloquial).—Deficient in intellect. U.S.A. = Easily moulded: said of politicians. For synonyms, see Apartments.

1675. Wycherley, Country Wife, IV., iv. in wks. (1713), 212. These dow-baked, sensless, indocile animals, women.

Doughy, subs. (common).—A baker.—See Burncrust, and for synonyms, master of the rolls.

Douse.—See Dowse.

Dover, subs. (hotel).—A made dish; hash; rechauffé.

Dovers, subs. (Stock Exchange).—South Eastern Railway Ordinary Stock. [From one of the termini on the line.]

Doves, subs. (University).—Members of St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge.—See quot. Obsolete.

1888. C. Whibley, Three Centuries of Cambridge Wit, p. xxix. It is said that the members of St. Catharine’s Hall were first of all called ‘Puritans,’ from the derivation of the name of their patroness from καθαίρειν. The ‘dove’ being the emblem of purity, to change a name from ‘Puritans’ to doves was but one short step.

Soiled-Doves, subs. (common).—High-class prostitutes. For synonyms, see Barrack-Hack and Tart.

Dove-Tart, subs. (colloquial).—A pigeon pie. (Doo-tairt is excellent Scots for the same thing.) Cf., Snake Tart = eel pie.

1857. Rev. E. Bradley (‘Cuthbert Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. vii. Why, a dove tart is what mortals call a pigeon-pie.

Dowlas, subs. (common).—A draper. [From dowlas, now a kind of towelling, but mentioned by Shakspeare (1 Henry IV., III., iii., 1597) as a material for shirts. [316]Popularised as a sobriquet by Colman’s Daniel Dowlas in The Heir at Law.—See Dickey Diaper, and cf., Dripping = cook; Grindo = miller; Gallipot = chemist; Lint-scraper = surgeon, (q.v.).

Dowling, subs. (public school).—See quot.

1871. Newspaper Report, 18 Feb., of a charge of assault against the head boy of Shrewsbury School. Mr. Chandler addressed the Bench for the defence. He said the game of dowling was practised at Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Westminster and other large schools, etc.

1877. Everyday Life in our Public Schools. There are four or five compulsory games a week (football) known as dowlings δοῦλος.

Down, subs. (thieves’).—1. Suspicion; alarm; a diversion. There is no down = All is quiet, it is safe to go on.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Down, alarm; rose the down, gave the alarm.

2. (American).—Small beer. Up = bottled ale.

Adv. (colloquial).—1. Dispirited; hard-up; in disgrace. Found in various combinations: e.g., down in the mouth, or dumps = dejected; down on one’s luck = reduced in circumstances; down at heel = shabby; down on one’s back-seam = out of luck; down to bed-rock (American) = penniless, etc., etc.

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, Act iv., Sc. 9. Sir J. Witt. Now am I slap-dash down in the mouth, and have not one word to say!

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. xlix. He … told the physician that he was like the root of the tongue, as being cursedly down in the mouth.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 6, (ed. 1857). I see—never ruined—accidents will happen—best regulated families—never say die—down upon your luck—pull him up.

1840. Comic Almanack, p. 208. Let’s not be down upon our luck Nor out of heart at our condition.

1846. Thackeray, Vanity Fair, vol. II., ch. xxix. They say, that when Mrs. Crawley was particularly down on her luck, she gave concerts and lessons in music here and there.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 58. If the hucksters know that the person calling the raffle is down, and that it is necessity that has made him call it, they will not allow the property put up to be thrown for.

1861. Marian Evans (G. Eliot), Silas Marner, ch. viii. Well, here’s my turning, said Bryce, not surprised to perceive that Godfrey was rather down; so I’ll bid you good-day.

1864. Edmund Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. 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, ch. xlvii. I’m sorry you’re so down in the mouth. Why don’t you try again?

1880. Jas. Greenwood, Veteran of Vauxhall in ‘Odd People in Odd Places,’ p. 40. Then I got down at heel, as the saying is; and when a man is reduced to one bare suit of black, and that one so shaky with long wear that it wants as tender handling as an invalid, he hasn’t got much of a chance to get on well as a waiter.

2. (old).—Acquainted with; ‘fly’ (q.v.); up to (q.v.). Also in combination: down to, down on, and down as a hammer.

1610. Jonson, Alchemist, IV., iv. Thou art so down upon the least disaster! How would’st thou ha’ done, if I had not help’t thee out?

1825. The English Spy, vi., p. 162. Dick’s a trump, and no telegraph—up to every frisk, and down to every move of the domini, thoroughbred and no want of courage. [317]

1839. W. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, p. 138, [ed. 1840.] Awake! to be sure I am, my flash cove, replied Sheppard, I’m down as a hammer.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. iv. You’re about right there, Mr. Lawless, you’re down to every move, I see, as usual.

1865. G. F. Berkeley, Life, etc., II., 103. Crib. I said … I’m down on it all; the monkey never bit your dog.

3. (old).—Hang-dog. Cf., adv., sense 1.

1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. xv., p. 353. He describes a swarthy, black, ill-looking Fellow, with a down look, or the like.

1879. Jas. Payn, High Spirits (Number Forty-seven). ‘Well, he was rather a down-looking cove.’ ‘Hang-dog?’ said I. ‘Well, yes, to be frank, hang-dog.’

4. Verb (common).—To put on one’s back: whether by force or by persuasion: e.g., to down a woman = to lay her out for copulation.—See also quot.

1874. Henley, Unpublished Ballad. Then I downs my bleedin’ Judy, And I puts a new head on her.

To be down a pit, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To be very much ‘taken’ with a part.

To be, or come down upon one, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To berate; to attack; to oppose. Sometimes with a tag: e.g., like a thousand, or a load, of bricks; like one o’clock; like a tom-tit on a horse-turd, etc.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. I think we should be down upon the fellow one of these darkmans, and let him get it well.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry (Dicks’ ed., 1889), p. 6. Prime. From the cut of the gentleman’s clothes, I presume he’s lately come from the Esquimaux Islands. Tom. Ha! ha! very good, Primefit; I say, Jerry—you see he’s down upon you.

1864. London Review, 28 May. There are no loungers in this mortal sphere who so nicely judge a horse’s points, or who are so inexorably down upon any blemish as this careless fringe of observers upon those two fashionable promenades.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 167. Let him only find out a man in some artful little game, and he would be down on him and hunt his life out almost.

To be down pin, verb. phr. (skittle alley).—To be out of sorts, or despondent. Cf., Down, adv., sense 1.

To drop down to one, verb. phr. (old).—To discover one’s character or designs.

To put a down upon one, verb. phr. (old).—To peach so as to cause detection or failure.

To put one down to [a thing], verb. phr. (old).—To apprize, elucidate, or explain; to coach or prime; to ‘let one into the know.’

To take down a peg.—See Peg.

Downed, ppl. adj. (common).—Tricked; beaten; ‘sat upon.’ [Cf., down, adv., sense 1.]

Downer, subs. (old).—1. A sixpence. In U.S.A., a five-cent. piece. [Cf., deaner (q.v.); now corrupted into Tanner (q.v.).] For synonyms, see Bender.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 444. Sixpence, downer, also sprat.

1861. Whyte Melville, Good for Nothing, ch. vi. It’s not the first downer I’ve had by a good many; and if it was not for leaving you I shouldn’t care so much about it!

1885. Household Words, 20 June, p. 155. Two more names for a sixpence are a downer and a ‘tanner.’ [318]

2. (pugilistic).—A knock-down blow. Cf., Bender, Doubler, and Dig, for synonyms.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. Cong., p. 25. In the twelfth and last round Sandy fetch’d him a downer.

Down-hills, subs. (old).—Dice cogged to run on the low numbers. [1785, Grose.]

Downs, subs. (thieves’).—Tothill Fields Prison. For analagous terms, see Cage.

1856. H. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 82, note, s.v.

Downstairs, subs. (old).—Hell.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Brothers of Birchington.) Now if here such affairs Get wind unawares, They are bruited about, doubtless much more downstairs, Where Old Nick has a register-office they say, With commissioners quite of such matters au fait.

Down the Road, abj. and adv. phr. (common).—Vulgarly showy; ‘flash.’

1859. Sala, Tw. Round the Clock, 4 p.m., par. 9. A knot of medical students, who should properly, I take it, in this sporting locality, have a racing and down-the-road look, but who, on the contrary, have the garb and demeanour of ordinary gentlemen.

Down to Dandy.—See Up to Dick.

Down to the Ground, adv. phr. (old).—Entirely; thoroughly; to the last degree. Formerly, up and down. Cf., up to the knocker or the nines, up to the handle, up to dick, etc. [Literally, from top to bottom.]

1542. Udal’s, Erasmus’s Apophth., p. 324 [ed. 1877]. He [Phocion] was euen Socrates vp and downe in this pointe and behalfe, that no man euer sawe hym either laughe or weepe.

1606. John Day, Ile of Guls, Act v., p. 98. For, saies my mother, a thinge once wel done is twice done: and I am in her mind for that, vp and downe.

1878. M. E. Braddon, Cloven Foot, ch. xlv. Some sea coast city in South America would suit me down to the ground.

1883. Echo, 6 Aug., p. 4, col. 1. A post which would suit the noble lord … down to the ground.

1889. John Strange Winter, That Imp, p. 3. A name that suited him well—down to the ground, the officers of the Royal Horse said.

Down upon the nail.—See Nail.

Downy, subs. (common). A bed. Cf., Downy flea pasture.

1857. A. Trollope, Three Clerks, ch. ix. I’ve a deal to do before I get to my downy.… Good night, Mr. Scott.

Adj. (common).—Artful; knowing (q.v., for synonyms). [Cf., down, adv., sense 2, of which downy is a derivative.]

1823. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 3. Bob. You’re a downey von—you’ll not give a chance avay if you knows it.

1842. Punch, vol. II., p. 217, c. 2.

1849. Dickens, David Copperfield, ch. xxii., p. 198. Up to mischief, I’ll be bound. Oh, you’re a downy fellow.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. x. I’m not clever, p’r’aps, but I am rather downy; and partial friends say I know what’s o’clock tolerably well.

1860. Punch, vol. XXXVIII., p. 230. You never come across A cove more downier, I’ll be bound, But you knows that ’ere ’oss.

1869. H. J. Byron, Not Such a Fool as He Looks [French’s acting ed.], p. 12.… Sharp old skinflint, downy old robber as he is, he’s under Jane Mould’s thumb.

To do the downy.—See Do. [319]

Downy Bit, subs. phr. (venery).—A half-fledged girl.

Downy Cove, (or Bird, or in pl., The Downies), subs. phr. (common).—A clever rogue.

English Synonyms.—Mizzler; leary bloke or cove; sly dog; old dog; nipper; file; Greek; one that knows what’s o’clock; one who knows the ropes, or his way about; don; dodger; dab; doll’s-eye-weaver; dam-macker; shaver; dagen; chickaleary-cove; ikey bloke; artful member; one that is up to the time of day; fly cove; one that’s in the know; one that has his eye-teeth skinned, or that has cut his wisdoms.

French Synonyms.—Un gaspard (popular); un fouinard (pop.: fouiner = to slink off); un ficellier (popular); être d’affût (thieves’ = to be on the track or scent); un arcasien (thieves’: from arcane = a secret); un pante désargoté (thieves’: one ‘fly to the time of day’); un mariolle (thieves’ = English file [q.v.]); un lapin (popular); un écopeur (pop.: a safe hand); un emberlificoteur (O.F., popular).

German Synonyms. Barje or Borje (from the Hebrew birjah: also = a fop); Bochur, Bacher, or Bocher (from Hebrew bochur: also an official who understands thieves’ lingo); Chochom, Chochem, or Chochemer (more frequently spelled with ‘k’: from Hebrew chochom); Lowon (also = silver, shining).

Spanish Synonyms.—Candonguero (applied to one who is mischievous as well as cunning); zarapeto; zorrastron; perro viejo; estuche (also = a pair of scissors); guitarron (also = a large guitar); perillan; pua (also = a sharp point: es buena pua = he is a keen blade); carlancon; es un buen sastre (= he is a sly dog or cunning blade. Sastre = tailor); soga; alpargatilla; sobon or sobonazo (also = a lazy fellow).

Portuguese Synonym.—Tinente.

1821. Egan, Tom and Jerry (ed. 1890), p. 95. Mr. Mace had long been christened by the downies, the ‘dashing covey.’

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, ii., 4. Tom Bullock, the downiest cove, the leary one that never goes to sleep.

1877. Greenwood, Dick Temple, Downy-looking Cove, the fair ’un; a mug like that ought to be worth a fortune to him.

Downy Flea-pasture, subs. phr. (common).—A bed. For synonyms, see Bug Walk and Kip.

Dowry, subs. (common).—A lot; a great deal; dowry of parny = lot of rain or water.

Dowse or Douse, verb (old).—1. A verb of action.—See quots.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar Tongue. Dowse your dog vane = take the cockade out of your hat. Dowse the glim = put out the candle. Dowse on the chops = a blow in the face.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering. Dowse the glim!

1860. Punch, vol. XXXVIII., p. 252. ‘The Death and Burial of poor little Bill.’ And who’ll put on mourning ‘Not we,’ said the House ‘The Reform flag we’ll douse, But we won’t put on mourning.’

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, I., 212. At nine p.m., all the lights were ordered out. Mrs. Beresford had brought a novel on board and refused to comply;… The master-at-arms, finding he had no chance in argument, doused the glim—pitiable resource of a weak disputant—then basely fled the rhetorical consequences. [320]

Dout, verb (provincial).—Literally = to do out; as Dup (q.v.) = to do up, and don = to do on. Cf., Hamlet, iv. Then up he rose and donned his clothes, And dupped the chamber door.

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. VIII., p. 131. The guard seemed not to hear it, so lost was he in astonishment at there being no light. Why, what can have douted it? he cried aloud.

Doxology-Works, subs. (common).—A church or chapel. For synonyms, see Gospel Mill.

Doxy, subs. (old).—A mistress; a prostitute; occasionally, a jade, a girl, even a wife. In West of England, doxy = a baby. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 14. And thither repayre at accustomed tymes, their harlotes which they terme mortes and doxes.

1592. Greene, Quip, in wks., xi., 283. The Pedler as bad or rather worse, walketh the country with his docksey at the least.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark all, p. 14 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). You decypher and point out a poore Rogue, or a doxie that steale and rob hedges of a few ragged clothes.

1611. Chapman, May-Day, Act IV., p. 299 (Plays, 1874). He called me … pandar, and doxy, and the vilest nicknames.

1617. C. Shadwell, Fair Quaker of Deal, Act v. Thou couldst not have picked out a wife so fit for thee, out of a whole regiment of doxies.

1694. Dunton, Ladies’ Dict. Prostitute doxies are neither wives, maids, nor widows; they will for good victuals, or for a very small piece of money, prostitute their bodies, and then protest they never did any such thing before, that it was pure necessity that now compell’d them to do what they have done, and the like; whereas the jades will prove common hacknies upon every slight occasion.

1727. John Gay, Beggar’s Opera, Act III., Sc. 3. Finale. Thus I stand like the Turk, with his doxies around, From all sides their glances his passion confound.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Doxy (s.) a she-beggar … the female companion of a foot-soldier, travelling tinker, etc.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 231. List of patterers’ words. Doxy—a wife.

Dozing-crib, subs. (old).—A bed. For synonyms, see Bug Walk and Kip.

D.Q., On the D.Q., phr. (American).—On the dead quiet. Cf., Strict Q.T., etc.

Drab, subs. (common).—1. Poison; also medicine. [From the gypsey.] Also used as a verb.

1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lxxi., p. 226 (1888). At him, juggal [a dog], at him; he wished to poison, to drab you.

2. (colloquial).—A strumpet. Also drabbing = strumming.

Drabbut, verb (provincial).—A vague and gentle form of imprecation. Drabbut your back = Confound you.

Draft on Aldgate Pump, subs. (old).—A fictitious banknote or fraudulent bill. See N. and Q., 7 S., i., 387–493.

17(?). Fielding, Essay on Character of Men, in wks., p. 647, ed. 1840 (b. 1754). This is such another instance of generosity as his who relieves his friend in distress by a draught on Aldgate pump. [A footnote says] A mercantile phrase for a bad note.

1828. Jon Bee, Picture of London, p. 187. Why, he might as well have accosted Aldgate-pump with a bill for payment.

Drag, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A cart of any kind; now usually applied to a four-horse coach. [321]

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 11. While Eld—n, long doubting between a grey nag And a white one to mount, took his stand in a drag.

1820. Reynolds (‘Peter Corcoran’). Glossary at end of The Fancy, s.v.

1839. Lever, Harry Lorrequer, ch. x. He turned out what he calls a four-in-hand drag which dragged nine hundred pounds out of my pocket.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxviii. Lord Kew’s drag took the young men to London; his lordship driving, and the servants sitting inside.

2. (old).—A chain.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171, s.v.

3. (old).—A street or road; Back-drag = a back street.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 232. He ‘patters’ very little in a main drag (public street).

4. (thieves’).—Three months’ imprisonment; also three moon. For synonyms, see Dose.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 233. Sometimes they are detected, and get a drag (three months in prison).

1883. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. But neither Snuffy (Reeves, the identifier), nor Mac (Macintyre) knew me, so I got a drag and was sent to the Steel.

1884. Greenwood, Seven Years’ Penal Servitude. Well, sir, as I was saying, I only got a drag for the last job. Oh, I beg pardon, a drag means three months. Three weeks is called a drag, too—a cadger’s drag.

5. (general).—Feminine attire worn by men. To go on, or flash the drag = to wear women’s attire for immoral purposes.

1870. Reynold’s, 29 May, ‘Police Proceedings.’ He afterwards said, that instead of having a musical party he thought he would make it a little fancy dress affair, and said, We shall come in drag, which means men wearing women’s costumes.

1870. London Figaro, 23 June. There is a good deal about Tom and Jerry which our superior refinement might term low—not quite so low though, as going about in drag or consorting with creatures who do.

6. (common).—A lure; trick; stratagem.

7. (hunting).—A fox prepared with herring or aniseed and brought to covert in a bag.

1869. W. Bradwood, The O.V.H., ch. v. He subscribed to the drag at Oxford, though his first season had taught him to seek a less emulous scene of horsemanship.

1887. Cassell’s Mag., Dec, p. 27. He was thrown from his horse, near London, they say, huntin’ with a drag.

8. (old).—See Dragging.

Done for a drag, phr. (old).—Convicted of dragging (q.v.). Cf., drag = term of imprisonment.

To put on the drag, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To ease off or go slow; also to put on pressure.

Drag-cove, subs. (old).—A carter or driver of a drag (q.v., sense 1).

Dragging, verb. subs. (old).—Robbing vehicles.

Drag-lay, subs. (old).—The practice of robbing vehicles. [Grose, 1785.]

Dragon, subs. (common).—1. A sovereign. [From the device.] For synonyms, see Canary.

1827. Maginn, Translation of Vidocq. And collar his dragons clear away.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

2. (venery).—A wanton. Cf., St. George (q.v.). [322]

d. 1625. Fletcher, How our St. George’s will be stride the dragons! The red and ramping dragons!

To water the dragon, verb. phr. (common).—To urinate; ‘pump ship;’ ‘rack off.’

Dragsman.—A coachman; also a Drag-sneak (q.v.).

1832. Egan, Book of Sports, p. 2. The Swell dragsman or in plain English a well-dressed stage coachman.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 332. This locality is much infested with pickpockets and also with dragsmen, i.e., those persons who steal goods or luggage from carts and coaches.

Drag-Sneak, subs. (old).—A thief who makes a speciality of robbing vehicles.—[See Drag, sense 1.] Also Dragsman and Dragger, see quot., 1781.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 151. Draggers [named and described in].

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Belonging to the first variety, or those who sneak off with goods, are drag-sneaks, who make off with goods from carts or coaches.

Drag the Pudding, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To ‘get the sack’ just before Christmas-time.

Drain, subs. (common).—A drink. For synonyms, see Go. To do a drain, wet (q.v.), or Common Sewer (q.v.) = to take a friendly drink.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 106. Those two old men who came in just to have a drain, finished their third quartern a few seconds ago.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 2 July, p. 5, col. 3. The drinking portion of the Americans are excessively partial to perpendicular drains of cocktails and other drams with more or less preposterous names.

2. (old).—Gin. [From its diuretic qualities.] For synonyms, see Drinks.

3. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Drains, subs. (nautical).—A ship’s cook; otherwise the doctor (q.v.).

Drammer.—See Drummer.

Draper.—See Gammon the Draper.

Drat, verb, and Dratted, adj. (colloquial).—A mild and indefinite imprecation of contempt, or impatience. [A corruption of ‘God rot it.’] For synonyms, see Oaths.

1846. Punch, vol. XI., p. 40, col. 2.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxi., p. 178. Drat you, be quiet! says the good old man.

1864. Churchman’s Family Magazine, Nov., p. 420.

1869. Mrs. H. Wood, Roland Yorke, ch. v. If that dratted girl had been at her post indoors … it might never have happened.

1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, ch. xxix. An observation which, I am sorry to say, … she supplemented with ‘Drat the girl!’

Draught, subs. (colloquial).—A privy. For synonyms, see Mrs. Jones.

1602. Shakspeare, Troilus and Cressida, v. 1. Sweet draught! Sweet quoth ’a! sweet sink, sweet sewer!

1633. Harrington, Epigrams. A godly father sitting on a draught, To do as need and nature hath us taught, Mumbled (as was his manner) certaine prayers.

Draw, subs. (popular).—1. An undecided contest. [An abbreviation of ‘drawn game.’] [323]

2. (common).—An attraction; e.g., an article; a popular preacher; a successful play; and so forth.

1883. Saturday Review, 21 April, p. 497, col. 2. The insinuation that umbrellas are the creation of the devil to tempt otherwise honest men … is an unfailing draw, whether in a comic paper or an after-dinner speech.

3. (cricket).—A stroke with the surface of the bat inclined to the ground.

Verb (common).—1. To attract public attention.—See subs., sense 2.

1883. Hawley Smart, At Fault, III., xv., 238. Like a judicious theatrical manager, he usually kept ‘his show’ running as long as it would draw.

2. (thieves’).—To steal; to pick pockets. To draw a wipe or ticker = to prig a handkerchief or watch; to draw a damper = to empty a till.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. To draw a swell of a clout, To pick a gentleman’s pocket of a handkerchief.

1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. Chorus. Frisk the Cly and fork the rag, Draw the fogles plummy, Speak to the tattler, bag the swag, And finely hunt the dummy.

3. (common).—To tease into vexation; take in; make game of.

4. (colloquial).—To bring out; to cause to act, write, or speak, by flattery, mis-statement, or deceit. Also to draw out; Fr., tirer les vers du nez.

1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. vi. The wags who call upon Mrs. Brandon can always, as the phrase is, ‘draw’ her father, by speaking of Prussia, France, Waterloo, or battles in general.

1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co. The older tramp was in conversation with him, and evidently drawing him out.

1889. Colonies and India, 24 July, p. 11, col. 1. Any libel or unjust criticism on Western Australia is sure to draw that sturdy friend of the Colony in London, Mr. Charles Bethell.

1890. Pall Mall Gazette, 16 July, p. 4, col. 2. They had the satisfaction last night of seeing him regularly drawn by Mr. Morley.

5. (colloquial).—To ease of money: e.g., ‘I drew him for a hundred’; ‘She drew me for a dollar’!

6. (venery).—Cf., Dog-drawn (q.v.).

To draw on [a man], verb. phr. (common and American).—To use a knife.—See Bead.

1885. Saturday Review, 7 Feb., p. 167. I’ll never draw a revolver on a man again as long as I live.

To draw a bead on, verb. phr. (common and American).—To attack with rifle or revolver.

1886. World, 11 August, p. 12. It is said that twice a bead was drawn upon him, but fortunately the shots missed.

To draw a straight furrow, verbal phr. (American).—To live uprightly.

To draw one’s fireworks (or to draw one off), verb. phr. (venery).—To cool one’s ardour by coition (said of men by women).

To draw plaster, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To ‘fish’ for a man’s intentions.

To draw straws, verb. phr. (old).—See quot.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation (conv. iii). Lady Ans. I’m sure ’tis time for all honest folks to go to bed. Miss. Indeed my eyes draw straws (she’s almost asleep).… Col. I’m going to the Land of Nod. Ner. Faith, I’m for Bedfordshire.

To draw teeth, verb. phr. (old).—To wrench knockers and handles from street doors. [324]

To draw the badger.—See Badger, verb.

To draw blanks, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fail; to be disappointed. [From drawing a blank in a lottery.]

To draw the bow up to the ear.—See Bow.

To draw or pull the long bow, verb. phr. (colloquial).—See Bow and quots., infra.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xxx. What is it makes him pull the long bow in that wonderful manner?

1883. A. Dobson, Old World Idylls, p. 134. The great Gargilius, then, behold! His long bow hunting tales of old Are now but duller.

To draw the cork, verb. phr. (pugilistic).—To make blood to flow; to tap the claret (q.v.).

1860. Chambers’ Journal, vol. XIII., p. 348.

To draw the King’s or Queen’s picture, verb. phr. (common).—To manufacture counterfeit coins.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

To draw wool or worsted, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To irritate; to foment a quarrel. Cf., Comb one’s hair.

Draw it mild! phr. (common).—An interjection of (1) derision; (2) incredulity; (3) supplication. Cf., Come it strong.

1837. R. H. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (ed. 1862), p. 322. It was not so much for myself as for that vulgar child, And I said, ‘A pint of double X, and please to draw it mild.’

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 60, col. 2. Draw it mild! as the boy with the decayed tooth said to the dentist.

1841. Comic Almanack, p. 271. Vehement cries of ‘bravo!’ and ‘draw it mild!’ here interrupt the speaker; but he declares he cannot draw it any milder.

1850. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, p. 10. Draw it mild, old fellow! interrupted the young gentleman in question.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 154. This caused angry words, and Nancy was solemnly requested to draw it mild, like a good soul.

1854. Martin and Aytoun, Bon Gaultier Ballads. ‘The Biter Bit.’ And if you’d please, my mother dear, your poor desponding child, Draw me a pot of beer, mother, and mother! draw it mild.

Draw-boy, subs. (trade).—A superior article ticketed and offered at a figure lower than its value. Cf., Draw, sense 2.

Drawer-on, subs. (colloquial).—An appetiser: used only of food as puller-on (q.v.) of drink. Both are in Massinger.

Drawers, subs. (old).—Embroidered stockings. Fr., bas-de-tire; tirants brodanchés. Spanish, demias; tirantes. German, Zehnling. It., tiranti.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 65, s.v.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v.

1671. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 48 (1874), s.v.

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

Draw-fart (or Doctor Draw-fart), subs. (common).—A wandering quack.

Draw-latch, subs. (old).—A thief; also a loiterer.

1631. Chettle, Hoffman. Well, phisitian, attend in my chamber, heere, till Stilt and I returne; and if I pepper him not, say I am not worthy to be cald a duke, but a drawlatch. [325]

1706. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Draw Latches, Roberdsmen, Night thieves.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

[Date uncertain]. Nursery Rhyme. Cross-patch, draw the latch, sit by the fire and spin.

Draw-off, verb (pugilistic).—To throw back the body to strike; ‘he drew off, and delivered on the left peeper.’ A sailor would say, ‘he hauled off and slipped in.’

Dreadful, subs. (common).—A ‘sensational’ story, newspaper, or print. For variants, see Awful, and Shilling Shocker.

1890. Academy, 1 Feb., p. 78, col. 1. Mr. George Manville Fenn is an old hand at a story with an alarming title, and he seldoms fails to live up to it. The only thing we can say against his last ‘dreadful’ is that it is a little deficient in ‘body.’

Dredgerman, subs. (common).—Explained in quot.

1857. Dickens, Down with the Tide, in Reprinted Pieces, p. 269. Besides these, there were the dredgermen, who, under pretence of dredging up coals and such like from the bottom of the river, hung about barges and other undecked craft, and when they saw an opportunity, threw any property they could lay their hands on overboard: in order, slyly, to dredge it up when the vessel was gone. Sometimes, they dexterously used their dredges to whip away anything that might lie within reach. Some of them were mighty neat at this, and the accomplishment was called dry dredging.

Dress, subs. (Winchester College).—The players who come next in order after Six or Fifteen. [So called because they come down to the matches ready dressed to act as substitutes if required.]

Dress a Hat, verb. phr. (common).—To exchange pilferings: e.g., to swap pickings from a hosier’s stock with a shoemaker’s assistant for boots or shoes.

Dress Down, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To beat; also to scold.—See Tan and Wig respectively for synonyms. Cf., Dressing.

1715. Mrs. Centlivre, Gotham Election, Sc. v. I’ll dress her down, I warrant her, and she be for fighting.

Dressed Like Xmas Beef.—See Beef.

Dress-house, subs. (common).—A brothel. Cf., Dress-lodger.

Dressing, or Dressing-down, subs. (colloquial).—Correction, whether manual or verbal; also defeat. Cf., Baste. For synonyms, see Tanning.

1811. Jane Austen, Sense and S., ch. xxx. If ever I meet him again I will give him such a dressing as he has not had this many a day.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxviii. The Scourge flogged him heartily … and the Penny Voice of Freedom gave him an awful dressing.

Dress-lodger, subs. (common).—A woman boarded, fed, and clothed by another, and paying by prostitution.

1836. Kidd, London and all its Dangers, p. 32. Dress ladies are a class of Cyprians who deserve no pity. They are voluntarily the property of an old hag who clothes them elegantly for the wages of their prostitution, and their only aim is to enjoy themselves, and cheat her of half her perquisites.

1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. You would never dream of the deplorable depth of her destitution if you met her in her gay attire.… She is absolutely poorer than the meanest beggar that ever whined for a crust. These women are known as Dress lodgers.

Dress to Death, Dress Within an Inch of One’s Life, or Dress to Kill, verb. phr. (colloquial). To dress in the extreme of fashion. [326]

1859. Notes and Queries, S. 2, viii., 490. ‘He was got up very extensively,’ said of a man who is dressed within an inch of his life or dressed to death.

Dressy, adj. (colloquial).—Fond of dress.

Drilled, ppl. adj. (old).—Shot through the body.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple [ed. 1846], I., iv., 17. And what is winged and drilled? enquired I.

Drinks.—The subjoined lists will be of interest.

Invitations to Drink.—What’ll you have? Nominate your pizen! Will you irrigate? Will you tod? Wet your whistle? How’ll you have it? Let us stimulate! Let’s drive another nail! What’s your medicine? Willst du trinken? Try a little anti-abstinence? Twy (zwei) lager! Your whiskey’s waiting. Will you try a smile? Will you take a nip? Let’s get there. Try a little Indian? Come and see your pa? Suck some corn juice? Let’s liquor up. Let’s go and see the baby.

Responses to Invitations to Drink.—Here’s into your face! Here’s how! Here’s at you! Don’t care if I do. Well, I will. I’m thar! Accepted, unconditionally. Well, I don’t mind. Sir, your most. Sir, your utmost. You do me proud! Yes, sir-ree! With you—yes! Anything to oblige. On time. I’m with you. Count me in. I subscribe.

Synonyms for a Drink [i.e., a portion], generally, or when taken at specified times.—Anti-lunch; appetiser; ball; bullock’s eye (a glass of port); bead; bosom friend; bucket; bumper; big-reposer; chit-chat; cheerer; cinder; corker; cobbler; damper, or something damp; dannie; drain; dram; deoch-an-doras; digester; eye-opener; entr’acte; fancy smile; flash; flip; facer; forenoon; go; gill; heeltap; invigorator; Johnny; joram; morning rouser; modicum; nip, or nipperkin; night cap; nut; pistol shot; pony; pill; quantum; refresher; rouser; reposer; shout; smile; swig; sleeve-button; something; slight sensation; shant; sparkler; settler; stimulant; soother; thimble-full; tift; taste; toothful; Timothy. For other synonyms, see Go.

General Synonyms for Drink.—Breaky-leg; bub; crater (also = whiskey); fuddle; gargle; grog; guzzle; lap; lush; neck-oil; nectar; poison; slum-gullion; swizzle; stingo; tipple; tittey; toddy. For other synonyms, see Tipple.

Synonyms for Beer (including stout).—Act of Parliament; artesian; barley; belch; belly-vengeance; bevy or bevvy; brownstone; bum-clink; bung-juice; bunker; cold-blood; down (see up); English burgundy (porter); gatter; half-and-half; heavy-wet; John Barleycorn; knock down or knock-me-down; oil of barley; perkin; ponge, pongelow, or ponjello; rosin; rot-gut; sherbert; stingo; swankey; swipes; swizzle; up (bottled ale or stout). For other synonyms, see Swipes.

Synonyms for Brandy.—Ball of fire; bingo; cold-tea; cold-nantz; French elixir or cream. For other synonyms, see French Elixir. [327]

Synonyms for Whiskey.—Aqua vitæ; bald-face; barley-bree; breaky-leg; bottled-earthquake; bum-clink; caper-juice; cappie; curse of Scotland; family-disturbance; farintosh; forty-rod lightning; grapple-the-rails; hard stuff; hell-broth; infernal compound; kill-the-beggar; lightning; liquid fire; moonlight; moonshine; mountain-dew; old man’s milk; pine-top; railroad; red-eye; rotgut; screech; Simon pure; sit-on-a-rock (rye whiskey); soul-destroyer; square-face; stone-fence; tangle-foot; the real thing; the sma’ still; white-eye. For other synonyms, see Old Man’s Milk.

Synonyms for Gin.—Blue ruin; blue-tape; Brian O’Lynn (rhyming); cat-water; cream of the valley; daffy; diddle; drain; duke; eye-water; frog’s wine; juniper; jackey; lap; max; misery; old Tom; ribbon; satin; soothing-syrup; stark-naked; strip-me-naked; tape; white satin, tape, or wine. For other synonyms, see Satin.

Synonyms for Champagne.—Cham or chammy; boy; fiz; dry; bitches’ wine.

Synonyms for Port.—Red fustian (q.v.).

Synonyms for Sherry.—Bristol milk; white wash.

Terms Implying Various Degrees of Intoxication.—All mops and brooms; at rest; Bacchi plenus; battered; be-argured; beery; been at a ploughing match, crooking the elbow, drowning the shamrock, having a cooler or warmer, having the eyes opened, in the sun, looking through a glass, lifting the little finger, making fun, on sentry, talking to Jamie Moore or trying Taylor’s best; bemused; been bit by a barn mouse; blued; boosed or boosy; bosky; bright in the eye; buffy; canon; can’t see a hole in a ladder; can’t say National Intelligencer; chirping-merry; clear; corned; croaked; crooked; cup-shot; cut; damaged; dipped rather deep; disguised; doing the lord or emperor; done over; down with barrel fever; dry; electrified; elevated; elephant’s-trunk (rhyming); far-gone; feeling right royal; flushed; flustered; flawed; been flying rather high; foggy; fou’, or fou’ as a piper; fuddled; full; foxed; glorious; got a drop in the eye; got the back teeth well afloat; greetin’ fu’; groggy; got the gravel rash; half-cut; half-seas-over; hard-up; hazy; hearty; helpless; in a difficulty; in liquor; in the altitudes; in one’s cups; inspired; in the blues, shakes, or horrors; jolly; kisky; been lapping the gutter; loose; looking lively; lumpy; lushy; mellow; miraculous; mortal; moony; muggy; muddled; muzzy; nappy; obfuscated; on; on his fourth; on the batter, beer, bend, fuddle, loose, muddle, ramble, ran-tan, ree-raw, rampage, skyte, or spree; off his nut; out of funds; overcome; overtaken; paralysed; peckish; ploughed; podgy; pruned; pushed; raddled; rather touched; reeling; roaring; salubrious; screwed; scammered; sewed-up; shaky; slewed; smeekit; smelling of the cork; soaked; spiffed; spreeish; sprung; stolling; starchery; swipey; tavered; taking it easy; thirsty; three-sheets-in-the-wind; tight; tipsy; top-heavy; unco’ happy; under the influence; up a tree; waving a flag of defiance; with the mainbrace well spliced; got the sun in the eyes; [328]whittled; wet; winey; yaupish, yappy, or yaupy. For other synonyms, see Screwed, and cf., Drunk as Davy’s sow.

See also lists under Elbow-crooker; Drunk; Lush; Gallon Distemper; Gladstone; Pistol; Flesh and Blood; and Razors.

Dripper, subs. (old).—A gleet.

Dripping, subs. (common).—A cook; especially an indifferent one. Fr., un fripier and une daube. Cf., doctor and slushy (q.v.) = a ship’s cook.

Drive, subs. (common).—A blow. Cf., ‘let drive’ = to aim a blow; to strike. ‘Four rogues in buckram let drive at me.’—Shakspeare. For synonyms, see Dig.

1863. H. Kingsley, Austin Elliot, ch. xix. Lord Charles, after three or four attempts, had managed to give him a violent ‘drive’ on the shins under the table.

Verb (cricket).—To send a ball off the bat with full force horizontally.

To drive at, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To aim at: e.g., What are you driving at? = What do you mean?

1697. Vanbrugh, Relapse, Act iii., Sc. 2. I can’t imagine what you drive at, Pray tell me what you mean.

1730. Jas. Miller, Humours of Oxford, Act iii., p. 41 (2 ed.). Tru. What does the coxcomb drive at?

1752. Fielding, Amelia, bk. IX., ch. iii. ‘O, your servant, sir,’ said the Colonel, ‘I see what you are driving at.’

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xii. Howld yer impudence, ye young heretic doggrel-writer; can’t I see what ye are driving at?

To drive a bargain, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To conduct a negotiation; to make the best terms you can; to dispute a condition or a price; to succeed in a ‘deal.’ Cf., to drive a humming trade.

1580. Sidney, Arcadia. My true love hath my heart, and I have his, There never was a better bargain driven.

1638. Ford, Lady’s Trial, V., ii. Love drove the bargain, and the truth of love confirmed it.

1668. Etherege, She Would if She Could, V., in wks. (1704), p. 172. How … goes the business between you and these ladies? Are you like to drive a bargain?

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, ii., in wks. (1720), iv., 43. He never … drinks hard, but upon design, as driving a bargain, or so.

1697. Vanbrugh, Provoked Wife, II., i. Why, madam, to drive a Quaker’s bargain, and make but one word with you, if I do part with it, you must lay down your affectation.

1712. Spectator, No. 450. I do not remember I was ever overtaken in drink, save … five times at driving of bargains.

1837. Lytton, Ernest Maltravers, wks. IV., ch. vii. You’ll drive a much better bargain with me than with her.

1855. Mrs. Gaskell, North and South, ch. xxvii. As it affected his branch of the trade he took advantage of it, and drove hard bargains.

To drive a humming or roaring trade, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To do well in business.

1625. Jonson, Staple of News, II. And as you say, drive a quick pretty trade still.

1736. Fielding, Don Quixote, III., iv. You are to drive a humming trade here.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. vii. The vendors of apples, oranges, and gingerbread … were driving a roaring trade.

1883. A. Dobson, Hogarth, p. 71. The gentleman at the sign of the ‘Three Balls’ is driving a roaring trade.

To drive oneself to the wash, verb. phr. (common).—To drive in a basket-chaise. [329]

To drive pigs to market, verb. phr. (common).—To snore.—See quot. Fr., jouer à la ronfle or de l’orgue; also fumer.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, &c., p. 64 (1811). He is driving his hogs over Swarston-bridge. This is a saying used in Derbyshire, when a man snores in his sleep. Swarston-bridge (or bridges, for there are several of them, one after another) is very long, and not very wide, which causes the hogs to be crowded together, in which situation they always make a loud grunting noise.

To drive turkeys to market, verb. phr. (common).—To reel and wobble in drink.

To drive French horses, verb. phr. (common).—To vomit. [From the ‘Hue donc’ of French carters to their teams.] For synonyms, see Accounts.

Driver’s pint, subs. phr. (military).—A gallon.

Driz, subs. (thieves’).—Lace. Fr., la miche (pop., in allusion to the holes in a loaf of bread); la gratouse (thieves’: gratousé = adorned with lace); la paille (thieves’: also, straw, or chaff); la galuche (thieves’); le rayon de miel (thieves’).

1812. De Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. [see Camesa].

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 233. Scotch Mary, with ‘driz’ (lace), bound to Dover and back.

Driz-Fencer, subs. (thieves’).—A seller of lace; also a receiver of stolen material. [From Driz + Fence.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 429. Among street-people the lace is called driz, and the sellers of it driz-fencers.

Dr. Johnson, subs. phr. (old).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Droddum, subs. (Scots’).—The posteriors. For synonyms, see Blind cheeks, Bum, and Monocular eyeglass.

1786. Burns, To a Louse.—O for some rank mercurial rozet, Some fell, red smeddum, I’d gie ye sic a hearty doze o’t, Wad dress your droddum!

Dromaky, subs. (provincial).—A prostitute: north of England, particularly N. and S. Shields. [From a strolling actress who personated Andromache.]

Dromedary, subs. (old).—A bungler; specifically, a bungling thief. Also purple dromedary (q.v.).

Drop, subs. (old).—See Drop-game.

Verb (common).—1. To lose, give, or part with.

1812. Vaux, Flash Dict. He dropped me a quid, He gave me a guinea.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xliii. That rascal Blackland got the bones out, and we played hazard on the dining-table. And I dropped all the money I had from you in the morning.

1870. London Figaro, 7 June. The money dropped by the turf prophets in the investment of advertisments, postage-stamps, and ‘an office for the transaction of the increasing business of their numerous clients,’ is quickly returned to them.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xxxi. Ladds is hard at work at ecarté with a villainous-looking stranger. And I should think, from the way Tommy is sticking at it, that Tommy is dropping pretty heavily.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. lxiii. Nobody could have been more sorry than me that your Lordship dropped your money.

2. (colloquial).—To relinquish; abandon; leave: e.g., to drop an [330]acquaintance = to gradually withdraw from intercourse. Cf., Cut, verb, sense 2. To drop the main Toby = to turn out of the main road.

1711. Spectator, No. 89. He verily believes she will drop him in his old age, if she can find her account in another.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle, ch. lxxxi. They attempted to make a proselyte of me; but finding the task impracticable on both sides, we very wisely dropped each other.

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xxiv. What do these people mean by asking a fellow to dinner in August, and taking me up after dropping me for two years?

1872. Dr. Doran, A Lady of the Last Century. ‘Mrs. Montague, sir,’ said Dr. Johnson, ‘has dropt me.’

3. (pugilistic).—To knock down. Cf., to drop into = to thrash.

4. (sporting and duelling).—To bring down with a shot.

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. v. But when you do make a hit, drop your man if possible; it settles him and frightens the rest.

To drop anchor, verb. phr. (racing).—To pull up a horse.

To drop one’s anchor, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To sit (or settle) down.

To drop a cog.—See Drop-game.

To drop one’s flag (colloquial).—To salute; also to submit; to lower one’s colours.

To drop, hang, slip, or walk into, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To attack. Cf., Drop on to.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxiv., p. 217. He’s welcome to drop into me, right and left, if he likes.

1884. Punch, 10 May, p. 217, col. 2. If I ever drop into tune, I deserve to be dropped into by the critics afterwards.

To drop off the hooks, verb. phr. (common).—To die. For synonyms, see Aloft and Hop the twig.

1857. Ducange Anglicus, The Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

To drop one’s leaf, verb. phr. (common).—To die. [From the ‘fall of the leaf’ in nature.] For synonyms see Aloft and Hop the twig.

To drop on one, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To accuse or call to account without warning. Also = to thrash. Cf., To drop into.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 268. During the weeks or months that the siege is going on, and the plans are working, do the police ever drop upon the parties and frustrate their plans?

To drop the scabs in, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To work buttonholes.

To drop one’s wax, or to drop a turd (vulgar).—to evacuate or ‘rear.’

To get or have the drop on, verb. phr. (American).—To hold at disadvantage; to forestall.

1888. Troy Daily Times, 8 Feb. I also kept my revolver handy and did not propose that he should get the drop on me. When he found that I was prepared for him, he did not try to shoot me.

1888. Texas Siftings, Aug. At any rate, we will not let Arcturus get the drop on the reading public.

To have a drop in the eye, verb. phr. (common).—To be slightly drunk. For synonyms, see Screwed.

1738. Swift, Polite Conversation. O faith, Colonel, you must own you had a drop in your eye, for when I left you you were half-seas over. [331]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Drop it! phr. (colloquial).—Cease! Cut it! Cheese it (q.v. sense 2).

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xxvi. A jackdaw on the roof brings their hearts into their mouths; were it not for the case-bottle they would drop it even now.

1859. Dickens, Tale of Two Cities, bk. II., ch. xix. You might as well flop as meditate. You may as well go again me one way as another. Drop it altogether.

1872. Public Opinion, 24 Feb., p. 241. ‘Inside Newgate.’ Do you know Newgate? I said to a cabman whom I hailed in Piccadilly on Saturday afternoon. He looked at me angrily, and briefly answered, drop it.

Drop-game, subs. (old).—A variety of the confidence trick:—The thief picks out his victim, gets in front of him, and pretends to pick up (say) a pocket-book, (snide) which he induces the greenhorn to buy for cash. The object is a Cog, and the operator a Dropper or Drop-cove.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Dropped on, adv. phr. (tailors’).—Disappointed.

Dropper, subs. (old).—A specialist in the drop-game (q.v.). Also drop-cove.

1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), ii. 108. [In list of names of thieves.]

Dropping, verb. subs. (old Royal Military Academy).—A beating; ‘I’ll give you a good dropping’ i.e., I’ll thrash you severely. For synonyms, see Tanning.

Dropping-member, subs. (old).—The penis; specifically one affected with gonorrhœa.

Droppings, subs. (vulgar).—The excrement of horses and sheep.

Drown the Miller.—See Miller.

Drudge, subs. (American).—Whiskey in its raw state, as used in the manufacture of alcohol. For synonyms, see Drinks.

1869. S. S. Haldeman, Pennsylvania Dutch. Drudge, another name for raw whiskey, originating in the Eastern States. I doubt whether the word drudge is thirty years old.

Drug, verb (colloquial).—To administer a narcotic.

A drug in the market, subs. phr. (colloquial).—Anything so common as to be not vendible.

Drum, subs. (old).—1. An entertainment; now a tea before dinner; a kettle-drum (q.v.).

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. XVII., ch. vi. A drum, then, is an assembly of well-dressed persons of both sexes, most of whom play at cards and the rest do nothing at all, while the mistress of the house performs the part of the landlady at an inn.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. i. We recollect it well, not so many years ago, lit up for one of those great solemnities which novelists call ‘a rout,’ but which people in real life, equally martially as well as metaphorically designate ‘a drum.’

2. (thieves’).—A road, street, or highway. [From the Gr. δρομός through the Gypsy drom.]

English Synonyms. Drag; toby; high or main toby; pad; donbite; finger and thumb (rhyming).

French Synonyms. La trime (thieves’); le Général Macadam (popular, also = the public). [332]

Spanish Synonym. Calca.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 231. We … slink into the crib (house) in the back drum (street).

3. (pugilistic).—The ear. For synonyms, see Hearing-Cheat.

4. (old).—A building; Hazard-drum = a gambling hell; Flash-drum = a brothel; Cross-drum = a thieves’ tavern. For synonyms, see Ken. In U.S.A., a drinking place.

1867. Jas. Greenwood, Unsent. Journeys, xxvi., 204. ‘Come along; I shall be a pot to your pot.’ ‘Where shall we go?’ ‘Oh, to the old drum, I suppose.’

1890. Illustrated Bits, 29 March, p. 11, col. 1. The two chums were footing it to the ‘ancient drum,’ as they called the Norwich theatre.

5. (Australian).—A bundle carried on tramp; generally worn as a roll over the right shoulder and under the left arm. Also Bluey and Swag (q.v.). Cf., Swagsman.

1887. G. A. Sala, in Ill. London News, 12 March, 282/2. Here are a few more items of Australian slang kindly forwarded to me by a correspondent:—‘To hump one’s swag,’ or ‘drum,’ i.e., to pack up a bundle to be carried on the shoulders.

1890. Family Herald, 8 Feb., p. 227. I was just debating whether I had better ‘hump my drum.’

6. (tailors’).—A small workshop. Cf., sense 4.

Drummer, subs. (old).—1. A horse, the action of whose forelegs is irregular. [Grose—1785.]

2. (old).—A thief who before robbing narcotises or otherwise stupifies his victim.

1856. H. Mayhew, Great World of London, p. 46. Those who hocus or plunder persons by stupifying; as ‘drummer’ who drug liquor.

3. (general).—A commercial traveller; also Ambassador of Commerce or Bagman (q.v.); Fr., un gaudissart (from one of Balzac’s novels); une hirondelle (= a swallow). [Cf., Drum = a road; and old-time pedlars announced themselves by beating a drum at the town’s end.]

1827. Scott, to C. K. Sharpe, in C. K. S.’s Correspondence (1888), ii. 398. Dear Charles,—I find the Nos. of Lodge’s book did not belong to the set which I consider yours, but were left by some drummer of the trade upon speculation, so I must give you the trouble to return it. [In another letter on next page S. again refers to the ‘scoundrelly drummer.’

ante 1871. [in De Vere], A Country Merchant out West, p. 217. Look at that man, he’s drummer for A. T. Stewart.

1877. M. Twain, Life on the Mississippi, ch. xxxix., p. 365. It soon transpired that they were drummers—one belonging in Cincinnati, the other in New Orleans.

1885. G. A. Sala, Daily Telegraph, 14 August, 5, 3. Among whom were conspicuous sundry drummers, or representatives of American commercial firms, bound for Australasia, there to push their wares.

4. (tailors’).—A trousers’ maker, or Kickseys’-builder (q.v.).

Drumstick-Cases, subs. (common).—Trousers. [From drumstick = a leg + case, a cover.] For synonyms, see Bags and Kicks.

Drumsticks, subs. (common).—1. The legs—especially of birds.

English Synonyms. Cheese-cutters (bandy legs); stumps; cabbage-stumps; pins; gams; notches; shanks; stems; stumps; clubs; marrow-bones; cat-sticks; trap-sticks; dripping sticks; trams; trespassers; pegs; knights of the garter. [333]

French Synonyms. Les brancards (popular, les brancards de laine = weak or lame legs); des baguettes de tambour (popular = thin legs; properly drumsticks); un bâton de tremplin (mountebanks’ = a leg; tremplin is properly a spring-board); des cotrets (popular: ‘a fagot’; jus de cotret = stirrup-oil, a ‘lathering’); des flûtes or flûtes à café (popular); des flageolets (popular); des gambettes (popular: from O. F. gambe = leg; des gambilles is of similar derivation); des fumerons (popular); des fuseaux (popular: also = a spindle or distaff); des jambes en manche de reste (popular = bandy-legs; des jambes de coq = spindle-shanks; des jambes de coton = weak legs); numéro onze (popular = Shank’s mare); des guibes, guiboles, guibolles, or guibonnes (popular and thieves’); des merlins (popular); des fourchettes (popular, literally, forks; fourchettes d’Adam = fingers); les chevaux à double semelles (popular. Cf., English Shank’s mare).

Italian Synonyms. Ramo (literally, ‘a branch’); calcha; colonna (literally, ‘a column’).

Spanish Synonym. Gamba (Cf., O. F. Gambe).

1770. Foote, Lame Lover, I. What, d’ye think I would change with Bill Spindle for one of his drumsticks.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby, ‘Lay of St. Nicholas.’ He helped his guest to a bit of the breast, And he sent the drumsticks down to be grilled.

2. In sing. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Drunk, subs. (vulgar).—A debauch; by implication, a drunkard. On the drunk = ‘on the drink,’ i.e., drinking for days on end.

1871. Philadelphia Inquirer, 6 July. It seems that Gamble went on a drunk last Monday evening.

1879. G. R. Sims, Dagonet Ballads (told to the Missionary). I was out on the drunk and caught it—lor, what a cuss is drink!

[Among other meridians are drunk as a brewer’s fart; drunk as Bacchus; drunk as Chloe; drunk as the devil; drunk as hell; drunk as buggery; drunk as a Gosport fiddler; drunk as a fly; drunk as he (or she) can stick (or hang together); drunk as a lord; drunk as an owl (American, a biled owl); drunk as a tapster; drunk as a piper; blind drunk; crying drunk; pissing drunk; dead drunk; so drunk that you can’t see a hole through a ladder; drunk as blazes; and so drunk that he opens his shirt collar to piss; tumbling drunk].

Drunk as Davy’s sow.—Excessively drunk.—See Davy’s Sow.

Drunkard. To come the drunkard, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To feign drunkenness; also to be drunk.

To be quite the gay drunkard (colloquial), verb. phr.—To be more or less in liquor.

Drunken-Chalks, subs. (military).—Good conduct badges.—See Chalk.

Drunks, subs. (colloquial).—An abbreviation of ‘drunk and disorderly.’

1883. Daily Telegraph, 26 March, p. 2, col. 8. Of the twenty-nine night charges, by far the greater number were of drunks.

1884. W. D. Howells, Lady of the Aroostook, ch. xvii. If you could see how my mother looks when I come out of one of my drunks.

1890. Globe, 26 Feb., p. 1, col. 4. ‘A Short Way with drunks.’ At Buenos Ayres it is customary to punish drunkards, … by setting them to sweep the public streets for eight days or so. [334]

Drury-Lane Ague, subs. phr. (old).—A venereal disease.—See Ladies’ Fever.

Drury-Lane Vestal, subs. (old).—A prostitute. Cf., Covent Garden Nun, and Bank-side ladies.

Dry as a Lime-basket.—See Lime-basket.

Dry-bob, subs. and verb (venery).—Coition without emission (said of men only).

Dry-boots, subs. (old).—A dry humorist. [Grose—1785.]

Dry-hash, subs. (Australian).—A miser; or bad egg; also, by implication, a loafer.

1887. All the Year Round, 30 July, p. 66. In Australian parlance … a dry hash, or a stringy bark, that is, a ne’er-do-weel.

Dry-land! intj. (rhyming).—‘You understand!’

Dryland Sailor.—See Turnpike Sailor.

Dry-lodging, subs. (common).—Accommodation without board.

Dry-nurse, subs. (old).—A guardian; a bear-leader, or tutor; a junior who instructs an ignorant chief in his duties.

1614. Jonson, Bartholomew Fayre, I. Quar. Well, this dry nurse, I say still, is a delicate man.

c. 1640. [Shirley], Captain Underwit, in Bullen’s Old Plays, ii. 322. Tho. But, sir, you must have a dry nurse, as many Captaines have. Let me see: I can hire you an old limping decayed sergeant at Brainford that taught the boyes.

1747. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 10 May (1833), vol. II., p. 292. This curious Minister … used to … walk in the Park with their daughters, and once went dry nurse to Holland with them.

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxv. Oh, some poor devil old Grant has picked up cheap as dry-nurse to his pet idiot … half valet, half tutor.

1868. Brewer, Phrase and Fable, s.v. When a superior officer does not know his duty, and is instructed in it by an inferior officer, he is said to be dry-nursed. The inferior nurses the superior as a dry nurse rears an infant.

Dry-room, subs. (thieves’).—A prison. For synonyms, see Cage.

Dry-shave, subs. (common).—Rubbing the chin with the fingers; also used as a verb. The action implies a certain effrontery.

Dry-up, subs. (theatrical).—A failure or Columbus (q.v.); contrast with draw, sense 2.

Verb (colloquial).—To cease talking; to abandon a purpose or position; to stop work. As an interjection = Hold your jaw!

1865. The Index, 2 Feb. With which modest contribution we dry up with reference to the subject.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 4 July. An audience which should cause defeated Boston to hang her diminished head, dry up, and feel small.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 69. I must dry up for the fellow’s bested me.

1884. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 617. Dry up! is the slangy and impatient exclamation with which he cuts short the occasional attempts of his mother to lecture him.

1887. O. W. Holmes, Our Hundred Days, p. 131. There were frequent … interruptions, something like these: ‘That will do, sir!’ or, ‘You had better stop, sir!’… With us it would have been dry up! or Hold on!

1888. R. Haggard, Mr. Meeson’s Will [in Illus. Lond. News, Summer No. p. 3, col. 1]. He … suddenly dried up [335]as he noticed the ominous expression on the great man’s brow.

Dry-walking, subs. (military).—A hard-up soldier’s outing.

D. T’s., subs. phr. (common).—Delirium tremens. For synonyms, see Jim-jams. Also The D. T. = Daily Telegraph.

1864. Soiled Dove, p. 266. I wish to God I could get d. t., and then I should go mad and cut my throat, or pitch myself out of the window.

1868. Public Opinion, 1 Aug. Frightful diseases, one of the commonest of which is jocularly spoken of by tipplers as d. t.

1880. G. R. Sims, Ballads of Babylon (Beauty and Beast).—And had sold her child to a titled churl, Who had just got round from a bad d.t.

1883. Globe, 7 July, p. 1, col. 5. One of the daily papers, which boasts the largest circulation in the world, is familiar to all as the d.t.

1887. Jas. Payn, Glow-worm Tales, vol. i., p. 209. As certain as d.t. is the end of drinking.

Dub, subs. (old).—1. A key; specifically a master key. [From dup or dub, to open; to do up; see verb, sense 1.] For synonyms, see Locksmith’s daughter.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 153. A bunch of young dubs by her side, which are a bunch of small keys.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 171. Dub, a key.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 39. That’s the kinchin as was to try the dub for us, ain’t it? muttered Smith.

Verb (old).—To open, ‘Dub your mummer’ = Open your mouth. Cf., Dubber; ‘Dub the jigger’ = open the door.—See quot., 1848. Also by confusion, to shut or fasten.

1567. Harman, Caveat [E.E.T. Soc., 1869], p. 85. Dup the gygger, and maund that is bene shyp.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, Act iv. Sc. 5. Then up he rose and donned his clothes, and dupped the chamber door.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London Laid Open, p. 106. Dub the jigger, fasten the door.

Dub at a Knapping Jigger, subs. phr. (old).—A turnpike keeper.

1812. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v.

Dubber, subs. (old).—1. The mouth or tongue; mum your dubber = hold your tongue. (Cf., dub your mummer, under dub).

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 150. Dubber mum’d. To keep your mouth shut, or be obliged to hold your tongue.

2. (old).—A picklock. [From dub, a key + er.]—Grose, 1785.

Dub-Cove.—See Dubsman.

Dub-lay, subs. (old).—Using picklocks. [From Dub (q.v.), a key + lay (q.v.).]—Grose, 1785.

Dublin-dissector, subs. (medical students’).—A cudgel.

1841. Punch, vol. I., p. 154. At first he perpetually carries a Dublin dissector under his arm.

Dubs, adj. (Winchester College).—Double.

Dubsman, or Dubs, subs. (old).—A turnkey or gaoler. [From dub (q.v.) = key + man.]

1812. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v.

1887. Henley, Villon’s Good Night. For you, you coppers’ narks, and dubs, What pinched me when upon the snam.

English Synonyms. Jigger-dubber; screw.

French Synonyms.—Un gaffier (thieves’); un gaffe [336](thieves’ = boat hook); un oncle (thieves’ = uncle); un boye (thieves’: also an executioner at Cayenne or New Caledonia); le Duc de Guiche (thieves’: from guichettier = jailer); un artoupan (thieves’); un barbeaudier (thieves’); le Comte de Castue (thieves’: Castue = prison); un chat (thieves’ = a cat); le Comte de Canton (thieves’: Canton = prison or ‘stir’); le Comte de la Caruche (thieves’).

Spanish Synonyms.—Banastero (= basket-maker); banquero (= banker).

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], 30. Quoth a dubsman, who gazed on the shattered wall, ‘You have carved your epitaph, Claude du Val, With your chisel so fine, tra la!’

Dub up, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To hand over; pay; fork out. [Cf., provincial dubs = money.] Fr., foncer; abouler. Formerly, to lock up or secure; to button one’s pocket.

1840. Comic Almanack, p. 237. Come, dub up! roars a third: and I don’t mind telling you, in confidence, that I was so frightened that I took out the sovereign and gave it.

Ducats, subs. (theatrical).—1. Money. [Probably from Shylock and The Merchant of Venice.] For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. vi. The Jews have always appeared to me a calumniated race. From spendthrift King John downwards, the Christian has ever pocketed the ducats, and abused the donor.

2. (thieves’).—Specifically a railway ticket; also pawnbroker’s duplicate; raffle-card, or brief (q.v.). Also ducket.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 501. So I took a ducat (ticket) for Sutton in Surrey.

Duce, subs. (old).—Twopence. [From the Latin.]

1812. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii., 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.

Duck, subs. (common).—1. Scraps of meat; otherwise block-ornaments, stickings, faggots, manablins, or chuck (q.v.).

2. (Winchester College).—The face. To make a duck = to make a grimace. For synonyms, see Dial.

3. (common).—A ‘draw’ or decoy. [An abbreviation of decoy-duck.]

4. (colloquial).—A term of endearment; also used in admiration; e.g., a duck of a bonnet. Also ducky: duck of diamonds being a superlative. For synonyms, see My tulip.

1837. Comic Almanack, p. 78. You won’t grudge your poor rib a few ribbons, will you, Duck?

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, i., 2. Nel. Oh, isn’t he a duck of a fellow? Bob. He’s the very flower of the flock.

1846. Punch, vol. XI., p. 164. Though somewhat out at elbows, he’s what the ladies call a ‘duck.’

5. (cheap jacks’).—A metal-cased watch; i.e., old watch movements in German silver cases.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Advent. of Cheap Jack, p. 38. What appeared to the roughs a fine old English and valuable watch, but what in reality was an almost worthless duck.

To make a duck, or duck’s egg, verb. phr. (cricketers’).—To make no score; Cf., To [337]crack one’s egg, and pair of spectacles. [From the shape of the ‘O.’]

1868. St. Paul’s Magazine, Aug. You see by the twitch of the hand, the glove rapidly raised to the face, and replaced on the bat-handle, the jerk of the elbow, and perhaps the uneasy lifting of the foot, that his fear of a duck—as, by a pardonable contraction from ‘duck’s-egg,’—a nought is called in cricket play—etc.

1870. London Figaro, 21 June. J. C. Shaw is a host in himself; he took six wickets, and all of them for ducks.

1872. Weekly Dispatch 9 June. The next ball from Brice sends Caffyn’s bails flying: and out comes the last man—Southerton—and he is used to duck’s eggs.

1883. Echo, 15 May, p. 4, col. 2. Out of the eleven Surrey batsmen who played against Notts yesterday, no less than five were credited with ducks.

Duck that runs, or grinds the gospel mill, subs. phr. (American).—A clergyman. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

1869. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’) Innocents at Home, p. 17, 18. Are you the duck that runs the gospel mill next door?

Lame Duck (q.v. post).

German Duck (q.v. post.).

To do a duck, verb. phr. (thieves’).—To hide under the seat of a public conveyance with a view to avoid paying the fare. [From duck = to bow or stoop.]

1889. Sporting Times. Doin’ a duck, macin’ the rattler, ridin’ on the cheap, on the odno, under the bloomin’ seat.

Ducket.—See Ducat.

Duck-footed, adj. phr. (common).—Said of people who walk like a duck; i.e., with the toes turned inwards.

Ducking. To go ducking, verb. phr. (common).—To go courting. [From duck (q.v.) = a term of endearment + ing.] See Goose-and-Duck.

Ducks, subs. (colloquial).—1. Linen trousers; generally white ducks. [From the material and colour.] At Eton worn only by men in the boats. For synonyms, see Bags and Kicks.

1835. Dickens, Sketches by Boz, p. 248. There’s our man, Tom; he can have a pair of ducks of mine, and a check shirt of Bob’s.

1846. Punch, vol. X., p. 263. I wore my Russian Ducks, In their beautiful whiteness.

1888. Mrs. Musgrave, Savage London. Billy should do the thing proper, and be married in a pair of white ducks.

2. (Stock Exchange).—Aylesbury Dairy Co. shares.

3. (Anglo-Indian).—Officials of the Bombay service.

Chance the ducks (q.v., ante.)

To make ducks and drakes of one’s money, verb. phr. (common).—To squander money as lavishly as stones are squandered at ‘ducks and drakes.’ [In allusion to the childish game. Lemprière (Art. Scipio Africanus the Younger) refers to Scipio and Lælius taking to ‘ducks and drakes’ as a supplementary recreation to shell-gathering, and an early notice of the game occurs in Minucius Felix (Octavius cap. iii.):—From the beach they choose a shell, thin and polished by the waves; they hold it in a horizontal position, and then whirl it along as near the surface of the sea as possible, so as to make it skim the surge in its even motion, or spring up and [338]bound from time to time out of the water. That boy is conqueror whose shell both runs out farthest and bounds oftenest.] Variants are To Blue One’s Pile; to Sweat (q.v.). Fr., galvauder; manger sa légitime.

1605. Chapman, etc., Eastward Hoe! Act i. Do nothing, be like a gentleman, be idle … make ducks and drakes with shillings.

1664. H. Peacham, Worth of a Penny, in Arber’s Garner, vol. VI., p. 259. I remember, in Queen Elizabeth’s time, a wealthy citizen of London left his son a mighty estate in money; who, imagining he should never be able to spend it, would usually make ‘ducks and drakes’ in the Thames, with Twelve pences [= 5/– now], as boys are wont to do with tile sherds and oyster shells.

d. 1680. S. Butler, Character of a Miser, in Remains, vol. II., p. 343 (ed. 1759). And he that made Ducks and Drakes with his Money enjoyed it every way as much.

1698. Ward, London Spy, pt. xvi., p. 372. They hook in the old fool again to make ducks and drakes with his money.

1700. Gentleman Instructed, p. 18. I would neither fawn on money for money’s sake, nor duck and drake it away for a frolick.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lviii. We’ve tied up the property, so that he can’t make ducks and drakes with it.

1858. Marian Evans (G. Eliot), Janet’s Repentance, ch. xxv. They say Mrs. Dempster will have as good as six hundred a year at least.… It’s well if she doesn’t make ducks and drakes of it somehow.

Duck’s-Bill, subs. (printers’).—A tongue cut in a piece of stout paper and pasted on at the bottom of the tympan sheet. [From the shape.]

Ducky or Duck of Diamonds.—See Duck, sense 4.

Dudder, Dudsman, or Duffer, subs. (old).—A pedlar of so-called smuggled wares—gown-pieces, silk waistcoats, etc. The term and practice are both obsolete, though in a few seaports, London especially, they survived till recently in a modified form. [From duds (q.v.) = clothes.] Fr., un marottier (thieves’). See also Whispering Dudder and Barrow-man.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 160. A dudder happened some time ago to meet a countryman in a dark lane, and sold him a waistcoat-piece for two guineas and a half, which stood himself in only four-and-sixpence.

Dude, subs. (American).—A swell; fop; ‘masher.’ For synonyms, see Dandy. [From Scots duds = clothes; Cf., quot., 1870.] Derivatives are Dudette and Dudinette = a young girl affecting the airs of a belle; Dudine = a female masher.

1870. Putnam’s Magazine, Feb. Think of her? I think she is dressed like a dud; can’t say how she would look in the costume of the present century.

1883. Graphic, 31 March, p. 319, col. 1. The one object for which the dude exists is to tone down the eccentricities of fashion.… The silent, subfuse, subdued ‘dude’ hands down the traditions of good form.

1889. Puck’s Library, April, p. 3. For the front rows two styles are recommended—dude, No. 16, and Bald-headed Man, No. 41—both original in design and exquisite in finish.

Dude Hamfatter, subs. phr. (American).—A wealthy pig-jobber. [From Dude, a swell + Hamfatter, in allusion to occupation.]

1888. New York National Police Gazette. It seems that the dude hamfatters, after trying various games to skip unseen, conceived the idea of making up as a couple of well-dressed women.

Duds, subs. (colloquial).—Clothes; sometimes old clothes or rags. [Scots dud, Dutch todde, a rag; [339]O.E. dudde = cloth. Duddery = a clothiers’ booth (De Foe’s Tour of Gt. Brit., p. 125).] In America applied to any kind of portable property (Cf., quots., 1622, 1780, and 1884). To angle for duds, see Anglers; To sweat duds = to pawn (see Sweat).

1440. Prompt. Parv., ed. Way, i, 134. Dudde, cloth.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1869), p. 86. When we byng back to the deuseauyel, we wyll fylche some duddes of the Ruffemans.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Dudes, clothes.

1622. Head and Kirkman, English Rogue. ‘Canting Song.’ For all your duds [goods] are binged avast.

1780. R. Tomlinson, Slang Pastoral, IX. No duds in my pocket, no sea-coal to burn.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary. Dudds, rags. Also clothes.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 20. Doubled him up, like a bag of old duds!

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. v. A ragged rascal, every dud upon whose back was bidding good-day to the other.

1841. Leman Rede, Sixteen-String Jack, ii. 3. Crissy, odsbuds! I’ll on with my duds.

1871. New York Tribune, 23 Jan. The three [railway] Commissioners, in whose appointment you had no choice, decide that you must get out, leave your house, bundle out your duds, and be off.

1881. A. Trollope, Marian Fay, ch. iii. To see her children washed and put in and out of their duds was perhaps the greatest pleasure of her life.

1884. Athenæum, 19 July, p. 74, col. 2. A writer in 1784 [in Gent. Mag., Gomme, vol. II.] says, for instance, that duds signifies rags, tatters, and that it comes from the Celtic. We do not believe in the derivation, but will not at present endeavour to refute it; we are sure the meaning is given wrongly, though it has the authority of Halliwell and Wedgwood in recent times. Duds, in the northern dialects means small things, or things of little account, whether articles of clothing, trade, or merchandise. We have frequently heard the word applied to workmen’s tools; and in an unprinted churchwarden’s account of an eastern shire we find in the year 1501 mention of ‘clocke-dudes.’ From the context it is evident that the small wheels belonging to the town clock are meant.

Dudsman.—See Dudder.

Dues, subs. (old).—Money. To tip the dues = to pay; to hand over a share. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt. [A colloquial extension of due = toll, tribute, fee, etc.]

1812. Vaux, Flash Dict. So a thief, requiring his share of booty from his palls, will desire them to bring the dues to light.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 13. Will he come down with the dues.

Duff, verb (thieves’).—1. Specifically, to sell flashy goods as pretended contraband or stolen; hence to cheat. Duffers, or Men at the duff = pedlars of flash. (Cf., Dudder). Duffing = the practice; used as an adjective = spurious.

1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II., 158. ‘The Duff’ [smuggled goods, so named and described in.]

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Duffers: cheats who pretend to deal in smuggled goods, stopping all country people, or such as they think they can impose on; which they frequently do, by selling them Spital-fields goods at double their current price.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 23. They have been regularly ‘duffed’ out of the streets, so much cheap rubbish is made to sell.

1888. G. R. Sims, in Cass. Sat. Journal, 31 March, p. 7. The man at the duff palms off false jewellery as real.

2. (common).—To rub up the nap of old clothes so as to make them look almost as good as new. [340]

Duffer = one who performs this operation, whilst the article operated upon is also a duffer by virtue of the fact itself. Cf., Duffer.

Duffer, subs. (old: now recognised).—1. A pedlar; specifically a hawker of Brummagem (q.v.), and so-called smuggled goods (hence senses 2 and 3). In the population returns of 1831 duffer = one who gets a living by cheating pawnbrokers.—See Dudder and Duff.

1796. Colquhoun, Police of the Metropolis, p. 176. A class of sharpers who are known by the name of duffers, who go about from house to house, and attend public-houses, inns, and fairs, pretending to sell smuggled goods.

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xxxvii., p. 361. Nor did it mark him out as the prey of ring droppers, pea and thimble-riggers, duffers, touters, or any of those bloodless sharpers, who are, perhaps, a little better known to the police.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lx. Now it is a fact that Colonel Altamont had made a purchase of cigars and French silks from some duffers in Fleet Street about this period.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 413. An intelligent street-seller, versed in all the arts and mysteries of this trade, told me that he understood by a duffer, a man who sold goods under false pretences, making out that they were smuggled, or even stolen, so as to enhance the idea of their cheapness.

2. (colloquial).—Anything (or person) worthless; anything sham. [From sense 1.]

d. 1845. Hood [quoted in Annandale]. Duffers (if I may use a slang term which has now become classical, and which has no exact equivalent in English proper) are generally methodical and old. Fosset certainly was a duffer.

1869. Mrs. H. Wood, Roland Yorke, ch. xi. Don’t you think, Hamish, he must have been a great duffer to go and marry before he knew how he could keep a wife?

1872. Standard, 12 Sept. ‘Who is to blame?’ we ask, in the interests of our government, and natural curiosity. ‘That duffer in feathers’ is the curt reply, pointing with the finger of scorn at one hero whom we had mistaken for something little short of a field marshal.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 264. I’d several sovs.—good ones—with me, and also a whole lot of duffers.

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 10. He made no bones about calling her stupid, and was more apt to call her a little duffer than to sympathise with her when she got into trouble.

1889. Answers, 29 June, p. 66, col. 1. If the note is a genuine one the water-mark will then stand out plainly. If a duffer it will almost disappear.

3. (nautical).—A female smuggler.

Duffer-out, verb. phr. (Australian miners’).—To get exhausted.

1887. Finch-Hatton, Advance Australia. He then reported to the shareholders that the lode had duffered out, and that it was useless to continue working.

Duffing, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—False; counterfeit; worthless; Cf., Duff and Duffer.

1862. London Herald, 27 Dec. ‘Answers to Correspondents.’ Houses burdened with ninety years’ repairing leases and heavy ground rents are run up by the ‘duffing’ builder, merely for sale.

1873. Times, Jan. We know now that so-called ‘duffing’ jewellery is scattered far and wide over the land.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 239. A ‘shise’ half-bull and a ‘duffing’ tanner: half-a-crown and a sixpence quietly palmed off on this man out of his half-sovereign.

Dugs, subs. (old).—The paps; once used without reproach of women; now only in contempt, except of animals. [From same stem as ‘daughter.’] For synonyms, see Dairy.

Duke, subs. (old).—1. Gin. For synonyms, see Drinks. [341]

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

2. (cabmen’s).—A horse. For synonyms, see Prad.

3. (thieves’).—Any transaction in the shape of a burglary; e.g., ‘I was Jemminy to their duke’ = ‘I was privy to the robbery.’

Duke Humphrey. To dine with Duke Humphrey.—See Dine.

Duke of Limbs, subs. phr. (common).—An awkward, uncouth man; specifically one with ungainly limbs. [Grose, 1785.]

Duke of York, verb. phr. (rhyming slang).—To walk; also, to talk.

Dukes, subs. (common).—The hands. For synonyms, see Bunch of fives and Daddle.

1879. J. W. Horsley, in Macm. Mag., xl., 501. So I said I would not go at all if he put his dukes (hands) on me.

1888. Lic. Vict. Gazette, 27 Jan., p. 55, 3. The men … put up their dukes to fight for supremacy.

To grease the dukes, verb. phr. (common).—To bribe; also to pay.

1883. J. W. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. I went to him and asked him if he was not going to grease my duke.

To put up the dukes, verb. phr. (common).—To put up one’s hands for combat.

1885. Home Tidings, p. 369. ‘Boxing Club Report.’ The two contestants put up their dukes, and soon warmed up to their work.

Dukey.—See Dookie and Gaff.

Dulcamara, subs. (colloquial).—A quack-doctor. [From the name of a character in Donizetti’s l’Elixir d’Amour (1845).]

Dull in the Eye, adv. phr. (common).—Intoxicated. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

Dull-swift, subs. (old).—A sluggish messenger.

Dumb-fogged, ppl. adj. (common).—Confused.

Dumb-foozled, ppl. adj. (common).—Confounded; puzzled.

1883. Hawley Smart, At Fault, I., x., 240. Considering you built the theatre, it struck me you weren’t very good at finding your way about, you seemed regularly dumbfoozled.

Dumbfound, Dumfound, verb (Also Dumbfounding, subs., Dumbfounded or Dumfoundered [Scots], adj. [Old Slang, now colloquial]).—To perplex; to confound.

1690. Dryden, Prologue to Prophetess. Then think on that bare bench my servant sat. I see him ogle still, and hear him chat. Selling facetious bargains, and propounding That witty recreation called dumbfounding.

1703. Ward, London Spy, pt. xvi., p. 379. This unexpected retort of the parsons, quite dumb-founded the Quaker.

1706. R. Estcourt, Fair Example, Act. III., Sc. i., p. 30. And if I can but dumb-found my husband with a dream, I shall be able to make my word good.

1714. Spectator, No. 616. They grew a little mutinous for more liquor. They had like to have dumfounded the justice; but his clerk came in to his assistance.

1766. Mortimer, Falstaff’s Wedding, I., ii. They let fly their jests so thick at me, and peppered me so plaguily with small wit, that I was dumfounded.

1855. A. Trollope, The Warden, ch. xi. At any other time how exquisitely valuable would have been that touch! but now he was distraught, dumb-founded, and unmanned. [342]

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. v. He utterly dumfoundered Charley, by asking abruptly ‘How’s Jim?’

1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, Pledge xx. White as a ghost, dumbfoundered, and trembling, Dan attempted to explain that he was innocent.

1882. Democracy, ch. vii. She lost her command of thought, and sat dumbfounded.

1883. W. E. Norris, Thirlby Hall, ch. ix. I was too dumbfoundered to speak.

Dumb-glutton, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Dumb-squint, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Dummacker, subs. (old).—A knowing person. For synonyms, see Downy Cove.

Dummerer.—See Dommerar.

Dummock, subs. (common).—The posteriors. For synonyms, see Monocular Eye-glass.

Dummy, subs. (colloquial).—A deaf mute; also an idiot; sometimes a Duffer, sense 2.

c. 1884. G. R. Sims, Dagonet Ballads (Mott Jarvis). And she left us like open-mouthed dummies a-waggin’ our heads at the moon.

2. (colloquial).—Generic for sham substitutes for real objects: e.g., empty bottles and drawers in an apothecary’s shop; wooden half-tubs of butter, bladders of lard, hams, cheeses, and so forth; Dummies in libraries generally take the form of works not likely to tempt the general reader. Hence, by implication, anything sham.

1846. Punch, vol. XI., p. 185. A Dummy list of Causes has long since been preferred, to enable Thompson to ascertain whether ‘we are retained on the other side’ when a brief is brought on behalf of either party.

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 112. The doorway is set round with sprucely-dressed ‘dummies’ of young gentlemen that have their gloved fingers spread out like bunches of radishes.

1869. Mrs. H. Wood, Roland Yorke, ch. ix. The large imposing stock turned out to be three parts dummies.

1871. Daily News. ‘Leader,’ 28 April. The Bill is not yet in the hands of members or public, the document placed on the table of the Lords being what is, in parliamentary slang, called a ‘dummy.’

3. (cards’).—The open hand at an imperfect game of whist.

1853. Lytton, My Novel, bk. XI., ch. iv. We might cheer the evening with a game at whist—double dummy.

4. (thieves’).—A pocket book.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Frisk the dummee of the screens = take all the bank notes out of the pocket book: Ding the dummee, and bolt, they sing out beef = Throw away the pocket book, and run off, as they call out ‘stop thief.’

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. v. He is caught—he must ‘stand and deliver’; Then out with the dummy, and off with the bit [money].

1878. Charles Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. (Chorus)—Speak to the tattler, bag the swag, And finely hunt the dummy.

[Other colloquial usages are: (1) = dumb-waiter; (2) = a locomotive furnished with condensing engines, and hence without the noise of escaping steam; (3) = a fireman’s term for a jet from the main or chief water pipe; (4) = a hatter’s pressing iron: Cf., tailor’s Goose; (5) = a piece of cloth rolled tight and saturated with oil, for rubbing hard places to be cut; (6) = an actor or actress who has nothing to say, etc.]

Dummy-Daddle Dodge, subs. phr. (thieves’).—Picking pockets under cover of a sham hand or daddle (q.v.).

1883. Greenwood, in Daily Telegraph. Asked by the friendly warder what he thought of the dummy-daddle dodge, [343]Mr. Mobbs said he rather thought that game was played out. A woman, he proceeded to explain, can work with a dummy-daddle in an omnibus or a railway carriage much better than a man, because, without appearing conspicuous, she can wear any kind of loose shawl or cloak as concealment for her real hand.

Dummy-hunter, subs. (old).—A pickpocket who confined his operations to pocket-books. [From dummy (q.v.) = a pocket book + hunter.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood [ed. 1884] p. 89. No dummy hunter had forks so fly, No knuckler so deftly could fake a cly.

1843. Punch, vol. IV., p. 129. While ears are cramm’d with humbug, boys! The dummy-hunters ply An easy trade.

Dump, subs. (old).—A metal counter.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To throw down so as to produce a heavy noise: e.g., to dump down coals.

2. (Winchester College).—To put out. ‘Dump the tolly!’ = Extinguish the candle!

Dump Fencer, subs. (old).—A button-merchant.

Dumpies, subs. (military).—The Nineteenth Hussars. [From the diminutive size of the men when the regiment was first raised.] Obsolete. Dumpy = squat or undersized.

Dumpling-depôt, subs. (common).—The stomach. For synonyms, see Bread-basket.

Dumpling-Shop, subs. (common).—The paps. For synonyms, see Dairy.

Dumps, subs. (common).—Money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (Sir Rupert). May I venture to say when a gentleman jumps In the river at midnight for want of the dumps He rarely puts on his knee-breeches and pumps.

In the dumps, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Cast down; ill at ease; unpleasantly situate.

1592. Greene, Groatsworth of Wit, in wks. xii., 115. Whence spring these dumps?

1596. Jonson, Every Man in His Humour, III., iii. How now, Master Knowell, in dumps, in dumps! Come, this becomes not.

1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado about Nothing, ii., 3. Sing no more ditties, sing no mo Of dumps so dull and heavy.

1711. Spectator, No. 176. When I come home she is in the dumps, because she says she is sure I came so soon only because I think her handsome.

1717. Mrs. Centlivre, Bold Stroke for a Wife, v., 1. What art thou in the dumps for?

1771. Foote, Maid of Bath, II. She seems got quite i’ the dumps.

1847. W. B. Rhodes, Bombastes Furioso, p. 19. My happiness is chang’d to doleful dumps, Whilst, merry Michael, all thy cards were trumps.

1855. Trench, English, Past and Present (2nd ed.), p. 131. In the great ballad of Chevy-Chase a noble warrior, whose legs are hewn off, is described as being in doleful dumps. Holland’s translation of Livy represents the Romans as being in the dumps after the battle of Cannæ. It was in elegant use then.

1885. Daily Telegraph, 19 Jan., p. 5, col. 2. Everybody who suffers now and then from a fit of the dumps is counselled to read amusing books.

Dun, subs. and verb (originally slang: now recognised).—An importunate creditor; to persist in demanding payment. [A.S. dynian = to clamour, to din; possibly influenced by the memory of a certain Joe Dunn, a famous [344]English bailiff, temp. Henry VII.] Fr., un loup (= wolf); un Anglais (= an Englishman). Also dunner and dunning.

1663. T. Killegrew, Parson’s Wedding, III., v., in Dodsley, O.P. (1780), xi., 452. We shall have the sport, and be revenged upon the rogue for dunning a gentleman in a tavern.

1675. Wycherley, Country Wife, I., in wks. (1713), 136. The most insatiable sorts of duns, that invade our lodgings in a morning.

1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, Act V., Sc. ii. Man. No, no. Those you have obliged most, most certainly avoid you, when you can oblige ’em no longer; and they take your visits like so many duns.

1678. C. Cotton, Scarronides, bk. i., p. 43 (ed. 1725). Have what you want, nor will I dun ye, But pay me when you can get mony.

1707. Farquhar, Beaux Stratagem, Act III., Sc. iii. I remember the good days when we could dun our masters for our wages, and if they refused to pay us, we could have a warrant to carry ’em before a Justice.

1712. Spectator, No. 454. Though they never buy, they are ever talking of new silks, laces, and ribbons, and serve the owners, in getting them customers as their common dunners do in making them pay.

1731. Daily Journal, 9 Jan. [‘List of the officers established in the most notorious gaming-houses.’] 9th.: A dunner, who goes about to recover money lost at play.

1742. Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk. III., ch. iii. Poverty and distress, with their horrid train of duns, attorneys, bailiffs, haunted me day and night.

1777. Sheridan, Trip to Scarborough, Act I., Sc. ii. What, hast spent all, eh? And art thou come to dun his lordship for assistance?

1821. Scott, Kenilworth, ch. xv. I refused him admittance as flatly, Blount, as you would refuse a penny to a blind beggar; as obstinately, Tracy, as thou didst ever deny access to a dun.

1838. Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, ch. ix., p. 66. To fetch three new boys, and dun the relations of two old ones for the balance of a small account.

1888. C. J. Dunphie, The Chameleon, p. 6. Dunning for payment which may not be convenient to them, and which would in no sense conduce to the honour of the dunners.

Dunaker, subs. (old).—A cattle-lifter.

16(?). Poem of 17th Century (quoted by Nares). The seventeenth a dun-aker, that maketh his vows To go i’ the country and steal all their cows.

1693. Herrick (‘Poor Robin’). Mercury is in a conjunction with Venus, and when such conjunctions happen, it signifies a most plentiful crop that year, of hectors … donnakers, cross-biters, etc.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Dunderhead, subs. (old).—A fool. For synonyms, see Buffle and Cabbage-head.

Dundreary, subs. and adj. (colloquial).—Specifically, a stammering, foolish, and long-whiskered fop—the Lord Dundreary of Our American Cousin (1858)—generally, a foppish fool. Cf., Jubilee Juggins.

1876. Jas. Grant, One of the Six Hundred, ch. iii. His whole air had the ‘used up’ bearing of those miserable dundrearys who affect to act as if youth, wealth, and luxury were the greatest calamities that flesh is heir to, and that life itself was a bore.

Dundrearies, subs. (colloquial).—A pair of whiskers cut sideways from the chin, and grown as long as possible. A fashion (now obsolete) suggested by Sothern’s make-up in Our American Cousin.

1882. F. Anstey, Vice-Versâ, ch. xvii. Bushy black whiskers, more like the antiquated dundreary type than modern fashion permits.

Dung, subs. (workmen’s).—An operative working for less than ‘society’ wages. Formerly, according to Grose, ‘a journeyman taylor who submits to the law for regulating journey-men’s taylors’ [345]wages, therefore deemed by the flints (q.v.) a coward.’

Dung-Fork (also Dung-Cart), subs. (colloquial).—A country bumpkin. For synonyms, see Joskin.

Dun-in-the-Mire, subs. phr. (obsolete).—An antiquated game.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, i., 4. Mercutio. If thou art dun we’ll draw thee from the mire Of this (save reverence) love, wherein thou stick’st Up to the ears.

Dunnage, subs. (nautical).—Baggage; clothes. Cf., Duds. [Properly wood or loose fagots laid across the hold of a vessel, or stuffed between packages to keep cargo from damage by water or shifting.]

1849. J. F. Cooper, The Sea Lions, ch. v. Not only was the chest more than half empty, but the articles it did contain were of the coarsest materials.… ‘There is little here to pay a man for crossing from the Vineyard,’ observed Roswell Gardiner.… ‘What is to be done with all this dunnage, deacon?’

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 262. If they can meet with … the young ladies, they ‘put it on them for dunnage’ (beg a stock of general clothing.)

Dunnakin or Dunnyken, subs. (old).—A privy; in U.S.A., a chamber-pot. For synonyms, see Bury and Mrs. Jones.—[Grose—1785.]

Dunop, subs. (back-slang).—A pound.

Dup, verb (old).—To open.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. To dup ye gyger, to open the dore.

1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, iv. And dupped the chamber door.

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.

1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 49 (1874), s.v.

1691. Academia, quoted in Notes and Queries, 6 S., xii., 416. Beside, it cost me twopence more, To one that sits to dup a dore.

1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Dup = enter (the house).

Durham-Man, subs. (old).—A knock-kneed man.

Duria, subs. (old).—Fire.

1857. Ducange Anglicus, The Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

Durrynacker, subs. (thieves’).—A female hawker of lace; generally practised as an introduction to fortune-telling. Also Durrynacking. [Described in H. Mayhew’s London Labor and London Poor, vol. i., p. 472, 1851.]

Dust, subs. (common).—Money. [Said to be from ‘gold-dust,’ but this is a mere guess.]

1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., vi., 299. My lord, quoth the king, presently deposit your hundred pounds in gold, or else no going hence all the daies of your life.… The abbot down with his dust; and glad he escaped so, returned to Reading.

1671. Eachard, Observations. If they did intend to trade with Christ they must down with the dust instantly, for to his knowledge the Papists did offer a vast sum of money for England’s Christ.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5 ed.). Dust … also a cant name for money, as down with your dust, put, pay, or lay down your money, etc.

1834. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, bk. III., ch. xiii. You have thrown away a second chance. Play or pay, all the world over.… Down with the dust.

1840. Comic Almanack. ‘The Dust about the Gold Dust,’ p. 217. She cried, ‘Come, down, now, with your dust!’

1890. Welfare, March, p. 5, col. 1. ‘Strange Sermons.’ It is related of Dean Swift that, preaching of charity, he comprised his sermon within a single short sentence. His text was from Proverbs xix., 17: ‘He that hath pity upon the poor [346]lendeth unto the Lord.’ His treatment of the subject consisted of the words: ‘If you approve the security, down with your dust!’

To dust one’s jacket, cassock, or coat, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To thrash; metaphorically, to criticise severely.—See quot., 1557, and cf., Baste.

1557. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. 49, st. b., p. 107 (E.D.S.). What fault deserves a brushed cote.

1612. Passenger of Benvenuto. Observe, my English gentleman, that blowes have a wonderfull prerogative in the feminine sex; for if shee be a bad woman, there is no more proper plaister to mend her, then this: but if (which is a rare chance) she be good, to dust her often hath in it a singular, unknowne, and as it were an inscrutable vertue to make her much better, and to reduce her, if possible, to perfection.

1698. Farquhar, Love and a Bottle, Act v., Sc. ii. Tell me presently where your master is, sirrah, or I’ll dust the secret out of your jacket.

1771. Smollet, Humphry Clinker, l. 26. Prankley, shaking his cane, bid him hold his tongue, otherwise he would dust his cassock for him.

1837. Barham, I. L. (M. of Venice). Old Shylock was making a racket, and threatening how well he’d dust every man’s jacket, Who’d help’d her in getting aboard of the packet.

1865. Saturday Review, Ap. If he will turn to Theocritus, v., 119, he will learn that there is a good and respectable Greek ancestry for the cant phrase, to dust one’s jacket:—ὅκα μάνποκα τεῖδέτυδάσας Εὐμάριδας ἐκάθηρε, where ἐκάθηρε means, ‘purgavit te,’ ‘dressed you,’ ‘gave you a dressing,’ dusted your jacket. So great is the similarity of ideas in all nations and languages, of which, indeed, there is abundant illustration in other passages of Theocritus.

1872. Fun, Sept. The difference is I dusts his [coat] off his back, and he dusts mine on my back.

To get up and dust, or To dust out of, verb. phr. (American).—To move quickly; to leave hurriedly. For synonyms, see Absquatulate.

To have dust in the eyes, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be sleepy; to draw straws (q.v.). Said mainly of children: e.g., ‘The dustman is coming.’

To kick up, or raise a dust, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To make a disturbance, or much ado.

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.

1766. H. Brooke, Fool of Quality, ii., 41. Our lay and ecclesiastical champions for arbitrary power … have raised such a dust, and kept such a coil about the divine, hereditary, and indefeasible right of kings.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxxiii. ‘Is there not a strong room up yonder in the old castle?’ ‘Ay, is there, sir; my uncle the constable once kept a man there for three days in Auld Ellangowan’s time. But there was an unco-dust about it—it was tried in the Inner-house afore the feifteen.’

To throw dust in the eyes, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To mislead; to dupe.—See Bamboozle.

To bite the dust, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To knock under; to be mortified, or shamed.

Dust-bin, subs. (common).—A grave.

Dusted, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Drubbed; severely criticised.—See Dust one’s jacket and Tanning.

Duster, subs. (tailors’)—A sweetheart. For synonyms, see Jomer.

Dust-hole, subs. (theatrical).—1. The late Prince of Wales’ Theatre in Tottenham Court Road. [From the fact that, fifty years ago, under the management of Mr. Glossop, the sweepings of the house were deposited and suffered to accumulate under the pit.] [347]

1886. John Coleman, in Temple Bar, Feb., p. 225. During his management of the dusthole (since known as ‘The Prince of Wales’s’), in Tottenham Court Road.

2. (University).—Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Obsolete.

Dustman, subs. (common).—1. A personification of sleep: ‘the dustman’s coming’ = you are getting sleepy. Cf., dust in the eyes.

1821. Pierce Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 111. A social glass of wine beguiled an hour or two, till the dustman made his appearance and gave the hint to Tom and Jerry that it was time to visit their beds.

2. (old).—A dead man.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

Dusty. Not so dusty, adv. phr. (common).—A term of approval; ‘not so bad’; ‘so-so.’

1854. F. E. Smedley, Harry Coverdale, ch. xlii. ‘Why is the fact of the contents of a backgammon-board having been thrown out of the window like Milton’s chef d’œuvre?’ Do you give it up? ‘Because it’s a pair o’dice lost.’ None so dusty that—eh? for a commoner like me?

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 28. ‘Well, my dear,’ said Butters in the most patronising way, ‘I know I’m not so dusty, and if it wasn’t for my disgusting weight I’d pretty soon let ’em see at Newmarket what I can do.’

Dusty-Bob, subs. (common).—A scavenger.

Dustypoll or Dusty-nob, subs. (old).—A miller. [Dusty, = floury, + poll, or nob = the head.]

Dutch. An epithet of inferiority. A witness, no doubt, to the long-standing hatred engendered by the bitter fight for the supremacy of the seas between England and Holland in the seventeenth century.

Subs. (common).—A wife. [Probably an abbreviation of Dutch clock.]

English Synonyms.—Mollisher; rib; grey-mare; warming-pan; splice; lawful blanket; autem-mort; comfortable impudence; comfortable importance; old woman; evil; missus; lawful jam; yoke-fellow; night-cap; legitimate, or legiti; weight-carrier; mutton-bone; ordinary; pillow-mate; supper-table; Dutch clock; chattel; sleeping-partner; doxy; cooler; mount; bed-fagot.

French Synonyms.—Une marque de cé (thieves’); une légitime (fam. = legitimate); mon gouvernement (pop. = my old woman); mon associée (printers’ = my partner); mon bien (popular, bien = chattel); une gerce (thieves’: also a mattress).

German Synonyms.—Keibe, Keibel, Keife (also = woman or concubine: from O.H.G. Chebisa, M.H.G. Kebese, Kebse = illegitimate); Krönerin (literally a ‘horneress’; Kröne = to be provided with horns); Rammenin (Hanoverian: from the gypsy romnin).

To do a dutch, verb. phr. (military).—To desert; to run away. For synonyms, see Amputate.

That beats the Dutch, phr. (common).—A sarcastic superlative.

1775. Revolutionary Song [New Eng. Hist., Reg. Ap. 1857], p. 191. And besides all the mortars, bombs, cannons, and shells, And bullets and guns, as the [348]newspaper tells, Our cargoes of meat, drink, and cloaths beat the dutch; Now who would not tarry and take t’other touch?

To talk Dutch, Double-Dutch, or High-Dutch, verb. phr. (common).—To talk gibberish; by implication, nonsense.

1604. Marlowe, Faustus, Sc. iv. Wag. Villain—call me Master Wagner, and let thy left eye be diametarily fixed upon my right heel, with quasi vestigiis uostris insistere. Clown. God forgive me, he speaks dutch fustian.

1790. Dibdin, The Sweet Little Cherub. And, my timbers! what lingo he’d coil and belay, Why ’twas just all as one as high dutch.

1876. C. H. Wall, trans. Molière, vol. I., p. 116. He never taught me anything but my prayers, and though I have said them daily now these fifty years, they are still double dutch to me.

The Dutch have taken Holland, phr. (common).—A quiz for stale news. Cf., Queen Bess (or Queen Anne) is dead; the ark rested on mount Ararat, etc.

Dutch-Auction or Sale, subs. (cheap-jacks’).—A sale at minimum prices; a mock-auction.

1872. Daily Telegraph, 30 Nov. So thoroughly corrupt and vicious has the existing system become that it would be well-nigh a relief to fall back on the old dutch auction, by which an article was put up at a high price, and, if nobody accepted the offer, then reduced to a lower, the sum first required being gradually decreased until a fair value was attained.

1885. Punch, 21 Feb., p. 93. Gives up India to Russia, Africa to Germany, puts up garrisoned fortresses and coaling stations at dutch auction, and lets colonies run loose.

Dutch-Bargain, subs. (old).—A bargain all on one side.

‘In matters of commerce the fault of the Dutch, Is giving too little and asking too much!’

Dutch-Clock, subs. (music-hall).—1. A wife. Cf., Dutch and sense 2.

2. (common).—A bed-pan.

Dutch-Concert or Medley, subs. (common).—A sing-song whereat everybody sings and plays at the same time as everybody else; a hubbub.

1814. Scott, Waverley, ch. xi. And now the Demon of Politics envied even the harmony arising from this dutch concert, merely because there was not a wrathful note in the strange compound of sounds which it produced.

1871. Daily Telegraph, 23 Mar. ‘Lord Derby on Pauperism.’ It happens that instead of the harmony which should exist where good men and good women are, working together for a common object, you have something like what is popularly known as a dutch concert, or in other words, every man playing his own tune on his own instrument.

Dutch Consolation, subs. (common).—Job’s comfort; unconsoling consolation.

1888. All the Year Round, 9 June, p. 542. The expression often heard, ‘Thank Heaven, it is no worse,’ is sometimes called dutch consolation.

Dutch-Courage, subs. Pot-valiancy. Cf., Fielding’s Dutch-defence = sham-defence.

1872. Spencer, Study of Sociology, ch. viii., p. 185 (9th ed.). A dose of brandy, by stimulating the circulation, produces dutch courage, as it is called.

1887. Mrs. Lovett Cameron, Neck or Nothing, ch. iv., p. 50. Bob waited half a second for an answer, glancing uneasily at his friend’s face, and then he dashed on again with a sort of dutch courage, for, to tell the truth he wasn’t quite sure how Jack would take it.

Dutch-Feast, subs. (old).—See quot.

1888. All the Year Round, 9 June, p. 542. Dutch feast is a phrase now obsolete; it was formerly applied to an entertainment where the host got drunk before his guests. [349]

Dutch-Gleek, subs. (old). Drinks.

1654. Gayton, Fest. Notes, p. 96. Nor could be partaker of any of the good cheer, except it were the liquid part of it, which they call dutch gleek, where he plaied his cards so well, and vied and revled so often, that he had scarce an eye to see withall.

Dutchman. I’m a Dutchman if I do, phr. (common).—A strong refusal. [During the wars between England and Holland, Dutch was synonymous with all that was false and hateful; therefore, ‘I would rather be a Dutchman’ = the strongest term of refusal that words could express.]

1855. Earl Russell, Memoirs of Thomas Moore. Cope mentioned a good specimen of English-French, and the astonishment of the French people who heard it, not conceiving what it could mean—‘Si je fais, je fais; mais si je fais, je suis un Hollandais.’ ‘If I do, I do; but if I do, I’m a Dutchman.’

Dutchman’s-Breeches, subs. (nautical).—Two streaks of blue in a cloudy sky.

Dutchman’s-Drink, subs. (common).—A draught that empties the pot.

Dutch-treat, subs. (common).—An entertainment where everyone pays his shot.

1887. Lippincott’s Mag., Aug., p. 191. ‘You’ll come along too, won’t you?’ Lancelot demanded of Ormizon! Dutch treat, vous savez!

Dutch Uncle. I will talk to you like a Dutch uncle, phr. (common).—I will reprove you smartly. [The Dutch were renowned for the brutality of their discipline. Uncle is the Latin notion of pat’ruus, ‘an uncle,’ ‘severe guardian,’ or ‘stern castigator.’ Hence Horace, 3 Od. xii. 3, Metuentes patruæ verbera linguæ (dreading the castigations of an uncle’s tongue); and 2 Sat. iii. 88, Ne sis patruus mihi (Don’t come the uncle over me). A Dutch uncle = therefore, an uncle of peculiar fierceness.]

1853. Notes and Queries, 1 S., vii., 65. In some parts of America, when a person has determined to give another a regular lecture, he will often be heard to say, I will talk to him like a dutch uncle; that is, he shall not escape this time.

1869. East Anglian, vol. III., p. 350. [In list of Suffolk sea words]: ‘There were the squires on the bench, but I took heart, and talked to ’em like a dutch uncle.’

Dutch-widow, subs. (old).—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and cf., Grass-widow.

1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, III., iii. Dra. Yes, a dutch widow. Hoa. How? Dra. That’s an English drab, sir.

Dutch-wife, subs. (common).—A bolster.

Dying in a Horse’s Nightcap. Dying by the rope; cf., Horse’s Nightcap.

[350]

agle-takers, subs. (military).—The Eighty-Seventh Foot. [The title was gained at Barossa (1811), when it captured the eagle of the 8th French Light Infantry. Its colours also bear ‘the plume of the Prince of Wales’ and ‘the harp and crown,’ an eagle with a wreath of laurel.] It was also nicknamed ‘The Old Fogs’; also ‘The Faugh-a-Ballagh Boys,’ from Fag an bealac! = ‘Clear the Way,’ the regimental march, and the war-cry at Barossa.

Ear. To send away with a flea in the ear, verb. phr. (common).—To dismiss peremptorily and with a scolding. Fr., mettre la puce à l’oreille = to get angry.

1764–1817. J. G. Holman, Abroad and at Home, ii., 1. I could not think of Miss Hartley being troubled with such a brute of a fellow … so, an’t please you, my lady, I sent him away with a flea in his ear.

1841. Comic Almanack, p. 280. One thing is very clear, If they ain’t off of their own accord, the Lord Mayor will soon help ’em off with a flea in their ear.

1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 202. Her husband had with difficulty restrained her from sending Forrest away with what in homely language is denominated a flea in his ear.

To bite the ear.—See Bite and Break Shins.

To get up on one’s ear, verb. phr. (American).—To bestir oneself; to rouse oneself for an effort.

1870. Richard Grant White. Words and their Uses. They called me bully boy, altho’ I’ve seen nigh three-score years, And said that I was lightning when I got up on my ear.

1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 15. A man who walked on his ear out of a store said ‘he came out on the Erie route.’

Earl of Cork, subs. phr. (Irish).—The ace of diamonds.—[See quots.]

1830. W. Carleton, Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry. ‘What do you mean by the Earl of Cork?’ asked Mr. Squander. ‘The ace of diamonds, your honour. It’s the worst ace, and the poorest card in the pack, and is called the Earl of Cork, because he’s the poorest nobleman in Ireland.’

1864. Athenæum, 29 Oct. The ace of diamonds acquired the name of ‘the earl of cork’ because his lordship happened to be the poorest nobleman in Ireland. [351]

Earl of Mar’s Grey Breeks, subs. phr. (military).—The Twenty-First Foot. [In allusion to the colour of the men’s breeches and to the original title of the regiment, The Earl of Mar’s Fuzileers.] Obsolete.

Early. To get up early, verb. phr. (common).—To be astute; ready; wide-awake. Cf., ‘It’s the early bird that catches the worm.’

1738. Swift, Polite Convers., Dial. 3. They must rise early that would cheat her of her money.

c. 1869. Vance, Broadside Ballad. For to get me on the hop, or on my ‘tibby’ drop, You must wake up very early in the morning.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. xlvi. It was said of him that … if you wished to take him in you must get up early.

Early-riser, subs. (common).—An aperient. Cf., Custom-house officer and Two gunners and a driver.

Early-worm, subs. (common).—A man who searches the streets at daybreak for cigar stumps.

Earth-bath, subs. (old).—A grave. To take an earth-bath = to be buried; cf., ground sweat.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Earthquake. Bottled earthquake, subs. phr. (American).—Intoxicating drinks.

Earth-stoppers, subs. (old).—Horse’s feet.

1823. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, i., 6. There’s action for you—there’s one to tip ’em the go-bye at a mill,—there’s earth-stoppers—quiet to drive, quiet in harness, trots fifteen miles in less than an hour.

Earthy, adj. (colloquial).—Gross; common; devoid of ‘soul.’

Ear-wig, subs. (old).—A private prompter or flatterer; also (thieves’) a clergyman. [From the popular delusion that the earwig lodges itself in the ear with a view to working its way into the brain when it causes death.]

1639. Beaumont and Fletcher, Bloody Brother. Dram. Personæ, Latorch Rollo’s Earwig.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter p. 77. And the court, mercy on us! there are no words equal to the just painting of its ear-wigs, its sycophants, pensioners, placemen, scouters, masters of the ceremonies, etc.

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, A pack of mouthers, and flatterers, and ear-wigs.

Verb (common).—To prompt; to influence by covert statements; to whisper insinuations.

1842. Marryat, Percival Keene, xiii. And by way of a hint, make him your friend if you can, for he earwigs the captain in fine style.

1879. Jas. Payn, High Spirits (Confiscated Weeds). He is a sound divine and politician, but a little apt to be led away by specious arguments on the subject of education; and Carker was in the habit … of earwigging him.

Ease, verb (common).—1. To rob; Fr., soulager. Cf., Annex and Convey. To ease a bloke = to rob a man.

1630. Jonson, New Inn, I. Ease his pockets of a superfluous watch.

1817. Scott, Rob Roy, ch. viii. ‘The law’s hard—very severe—hanged poor Jack Winterfield at York, despite family connexions and great interest, all for [352]easing a fat West-country grazier of the price of a few beasts.’

1840. Thackeray, Paris Sketch Book, p. 109. His was the place at the écarté table, where the Countess would ease him nightly of a few pieces.

1849. Punch, November, ‘The Swell Mobsman’s Almanack.’ Remember, wen you’ve eased a cove in a fogg, never cut away in an ’urry, or crushers stop you.

2. (venery).—To content a woman.

1861. A. C. Swinburne, Poems and Ballads. ‘Hermaphroditus.’ Hath made him man to ease a woman’s sighs.

To ease oneself, verb. phr. (colloquial).—1. To ‘rear.’ For synonyms, see Bury a Quaker.

2. (venery).—To ejaculate.

Eason, verb (American thieves’).—To tell.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

East-and-South, subs. (rhyming slang).—The mouth. Also Sunny South. For synonyms, see Potato-trap.

1857. Ducange Anglicus, The Vulgar Tongue, s.v.

Eastery, subs. (cheap-jacks’).—Private business.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 107. At one eastery Aaron Jessell was going to cry the place.

Easy, To make easy, verb. phr. (old).—To gag or kill. [Grose, 1785.]

Easy as damn it, (or as my eye), adj. phr. (popular).—Excessively easy: ‘easy as lying’ [Shakspeare].

Easy does it! verb. phr. (popular).—An exclamation of encouragement and counsel = ‘Take your time and keep your coat on.’

Easy over the pimples, (or over the stones), verb. phr. (popular).—An injunction = ‘go slow,’ or ‘mind what you’re about.’

Easy Virtue.—See Lady of Easy Virtue.

Eat, verb (American).—To provision: e.g., a steamer is said to be able to eat 400 passengers and sleep about half that number.

ante 1871. Pickings from the Picayune, p. 47. Hoosier—‘Squire, what pay do you give?’ Contractor—‘Ten bits a day.’ Hoosier—‘Why, Squire, I was told you’d give us two dollars a-day and eat us.’

1887. R. A. Procter, on ‘Americanisms’ in Knowledge, s.v. Sometimes a host may eat his guests in another sense. I once, when staying at an hotel, found a finely coloured motto rather unfortunately spelt; it ran, ‘Watch and Prey.’ Its owner carried out the idea.

Eat coke.—See Coke.

Eat crow.—See Crow.

Eat a fig, verb. phr. (rhyming slang).—To ‘crack a crib’; to break a house.

To eat one’s head off, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be retained for service and stand idle; also (quot., 1850) to cost more in ‘keep’ than one is worth.

1850. F. E. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, ch. xiv. I’d rather keep her for a week than a fortnight, I can tell you; she’d eat her head off in a month, and no mistake.

1872. Times, 27 Aug. ‘The Autumn Manœuvres.’ The country never would stand the maintenance all the year round of some 1,500 horses which would have nothing to do for nine months out of the twelve but eat their heads off. [353]

1874. Mrs. H. Wood, Johnny Ludlow, 1 S., No. xxv., p. 446. And I fit to eat my head off with having nothing to do.

Eat one’s head, hat, boots, etc., verb. phr. (common).—A locution of emphatic asseveration. [Probably Dickensonian, influenced by the proverbial saying, ‘To eat one’s heart out’—to undergo intense struggle, and also To eat one’s head off (q.v.).]—See Notes and Queries, 7 S., iii., 7, 94, 197, 352, 433.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, xlii., 367. ‘Well, if I knew as little of life as that, I’D eat my hat and swallow the buckle whole,’ said the clerical gentleman.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. xiv. This was the handsome offer with which Mr. Grimwig backed and confirmed nearly every assertion he made; and it was the more singular in his case because, even admitting, for the sake of argument, the possibility of scientific improvements being ever brought to that pass which will enable a man to eat his own head in the event of his being so disposed, Mr. Grimwig’s head was such a particularly large one that the most sanguine man alive could hardly entertain a hope of being able to get through it at a sitting, to put entirely out of the question a very thick coating of powder.

1887. E. E. Money, Little Dutch Maiden, II., viii., 148. And if you don’t run up against him next day in Bond Street, you may eat your hat!

To eat one’s terms, verb. phr. (legal).—To go through the prescribed course of study for admission to the bar. [In allusion to the dinners a student has to attend in the public hall of his inn.]

To eat one’s words, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To retract a statement; to own a lie.

To eat up, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To vanquish; to ruin. [Originally Zulu.]

1890. National Observer, 13 Dec, p. 88, col. 2. But buttons tarnish, hot gospelling palls, the eating-up of white men is in strictest consonance with regal tradition and the regal habit.

Eaves, subs. (American).—A hen-roost.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Eavesdropper, subs. (American).—A chicken thief; also generally, any petty pilferer.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Ebenezer, subs. (Winchester College).—A stroke at fives: when the ball hits ‘line’ at such an angle as to rise perpendicularly into the air.

Ebony, subs. (common).—1. A negro; otherwise Blackbird (q.v.) and Black Ivory. Thomas Fuller (1608–1661) spoke of the negro race as ‘God’s images cut in ebony.’ For synonyms, see Snowball.

2. The publisher of Maga.: i.e., Blackwood.—(See Noctes Ambrosianæ passim.)

Ebony-optics, subs. (old).—Black eyes. Ebony-optics albonized = black eyes painted white.

Edgabac, subs. (back slang).—Cabbage.

Edge. Stitched off the edge, phr. (tailors’).—Said of a glass not filled to the top.

Side-edge, subs. (tailors’).—Whiskers.

Short top edge, subs. phr. (tailors’).—A turn-up nose or celestial (q.v.). [354]

Edge in, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To slip in; insinuate: e.g., To edge in a word (or a remark).

Edge off (or out of), verb. phr. (colloquial).—To slink away; to gradually desist. To take the edge off [a thing, or person, or idea] = to become acquainted with; to enjoy to satiety. Cf., Hamlet, iii., 2. ‘It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge.’

Edgenaro, subs. (back slang).—An orange.

Edge-ways. Not able to get a word in edge-ways, phr. (colloquial).—Having but the barest opportunity of taking part in a discussion.

Eel-Skins, subs. (old).—Tight trousers. For synonyms, see Bags and Kicks.

1827. Bulwer Lytton, Pelham, ch. xlix., p. 190. He only filched a twopenny halfpenny gilt chain out of his master, Levy, the pawnbroker’s window, and stuck it in his eel-skin to make a show.

E-fink, subs. (back slang).—A knife.

Efter, subs. (thieves’).—A theatre thief.

Egg.—See Bad Egg.

Egg on, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To encourage.

Eggs. Sure as eggs is eggs, phr. (popular).—Of a certainty; without doubt. [From the formula, ‘x is x.’]

To teach one’s grandmother to roast or suck eggs, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To lecture elders and superiors; Fr., les oisons veulent mener les oies paître = the goslings want to drive the geese to pasture.

Egham, Staines, and Windsor, subs. phr. (common).—See quot.

1886. G. A. Sala, in Ill. Lon. News, 23 Oct., 418, 2. Is not the three-cornered hat of an English gentleman’s coachman in gala livery known as an ‘Egham, Staines, and Windsor’?

Egyptian-Hall, subs. (rhyming slang).—A ball.

Eighter, subs. (prison).—An eight-ounce loaf.

Ekame, subs. (back slang).—A make (q.v.), or swindle.

Ekom, subs. (back slang).—A moke (q.v.), or donkey.

Elbow, verb (American thieves’).—To turn a corner; to get out of sight.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

To shake the elbow, verb. phr.—To play dice. [From the motion of the arm in ‘casting.’]

1680. Cotton, Compleat Gamester [gaming is compared to] a paralytical distemper which, seizing the arm the man cannot chuse but shake his elbow.

1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, Act i. He’s always shaking his heels with the ladies and his elbows with the lords.

1709. Mrs. Centlivre, Gamester, I. (1872), i., 134. He is at shaking his elbows over a table … courting the dice like a mistress, and cursing them when he is disappointed.

1713. Guardian, No. 120. But what would you say, should you see the Sparkler shaking her elbow for a whole [355]night together, and thumping the table with a dice-box?

1822. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel, ch. xvii. To eke out your living By the wag of your elbows.

To crook the elbow, verb. phr. (common).—To drink.—See Elbow-crooker. [From the action of the arm.] For synonyms, see Lush.

Elbow-Crooker, subs. (common).—A hard drinker. See infra and Drinks.

English Synonyms.—Borachio; boozington; brewer’s horse; bubber; budger; mop; lushington; worker of the cannon; wet-quaker; soaker; lapper; pegger; angel altogether; bloat; ensign-bearer; fiddle-cup; sponge; tun; toss-pot; swill-pot; wet subject; shifter; potster; swallower; pot-walloper; wetster; dramster; drinkster; beer-barrel; ginnums; lowerer; moist ’un; drainist; boozer; mopper-up; piss-maker; thirstington.

French Synonyms.—Un louave (thieves’); un litronneur (popular: litre = 1·760 pint); une grosse culotte (popular = big-breeches or fat-arse); un gavé (thieves’: gaver = to stuff); une lampe à mort (pop.: a confirmed drunkard; = a death-lamp); un zingueur (popular); un boyau rouge (pop. = red-guts); un marquant (thieves’: = conspicuous, striking, etc.); un canonneur (pop.: canon = a glass of wine; cf., English cannon); un camphrier (pop.: a dram-drinker; also = a camphor-tree); un fioleur (pop.: fiole = phial: cf., toss-pot and swill-pot); une éponge (pop.: = a sponge; also a paramour, a fool, an attorney); un bibard (thieves’: biberon = sucking-bottle); un buvard (popular: = blotting book); un pochard (colloquial); adroit du coude (pop. = artful elbowed); un artilleur (pop.: = a cannoneer; cf., cannon); un boissonneur (pop.: boisson = drink); un buvailleur or buvaillon (pop.: a man easily drunk); un chocaillon (pop.: a female drunkard); un poivrot (familiar); un sac à vin (pop. = a wine butt).

German Synonym.—Mattobolo (matto balo = a drunken pig: from the gypsy matto = drunk).

Italian Synonyms.—Fransoso (= a Frenchman); chiaritore; chiaristante.

Spanish Synonyms.—Cuero (= a goat-skin bag for wine or oil); coladra (= 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 liquor skin dressed and pitched); peneque; potista; odrina (= an ox-hide bottle).

Elbower, subs. (American thieves’).—A runaway. [Cf., elbow.]

Elbow-Grease, subs. (colloquial).—Energetic and continuous manual labour: e.g., ‘Elbow-Grease is the best furniture oil.’ Fr., huile de bras or de poignet; du foulage.

1779–1839. Galt [quoted in Imperial Eng. Dict.]. He has scartit and dintit my guid mahogany past a’ the power o’ beeswax and elbow-grease to smooth.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. G. Eliot, Adam Bede, bk. I., ch. vi. Nowhere else could an oak clock-case and an oak table have got to such a [356]polish by the hand: genuine elbow-polish, as Mrs. Poyser called it, for she thanked God she never had any of your varnished rubbish in her house.

1870. London Figaro, 31 Oct. Often have I been … frequently admonished to put some elbow-grease into my work.

1876. M. E. Braddon, Joshua Haggard’s Daughter, ch. xi. There’s no such polish in Devonshire, I should think, as poor Phœbe’s elbow-grease.

Elbow-scraper, or Jigger, subs. (common).—A fiddler.

Elbow-shaker, subs. (old).—A gambler.—See Elbow.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Elbow-shaker (s.) a gamester, one that practises dice-playing.

Elbow-shaking, subs. (common).—Gambling.—See Elbow.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lx. ‘It’s been doosedly dipped and cut into, sir, by the confounded extravygance of your master, with his helbow shakin’, and his bill discountin’.’

Electrified, ppl. adj. 1. (American).—Moderately drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

2. (colloquial).—Violently startled.

1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends. ‘The Lay of St. Gengulphus.’ Pig, pudding, and soup. The electrified groups, Pop under the sofa.

Elegant, adj. (colloquial).—Excellent.

Elegant-Extracts, subs. (military).—1. The Eighty-Fifth Foot. [This regiment was remodelled in 1812, after a long sequence of court-martials: when the officers were removed, and others set in their room.]

1871. Chambers’ Journal, 23 Dec., p. 803. ‘Elegant Extracts’ was the name given to the 85th on its being reformed with officers picked out from those of other regiments.

2. (Cambridge University).—Students who, though ‘plucked,’ were still given their degrees. A line was drawn below the poll-list, and those allowed to pass were nicknamed the elegant extracts. [There was a similar limbo in the honour-list, called the Gulf: for ‘Between them (in the poll) and us (in the honour lists) there is a great gulf fixed.’]

Elephant, subs. (American thieves’).—A wealthy victim. Cf., To see the Elephant.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

To see the Elephant, verb. phr. (American).—1. To see the world; to ‘go out for wool and come home shorn’; by implication, to ‘go on the loose.’ Sometimes, To see the King.

b. 1533, d. 1592. Montaigne, Arrien. Hist. Ind., ch. 17. Aux Indes Orientales la chasteté y estant en singulière recommandation, l’usage pourtant souffroit qu’une femme mariée se peust abandonner à qui luy presentoit un ÉlÉphant, et cela avec quelque gloire d’avoir esté estimée à si hault prix.

1841. Kendall, Narrative of the Texan Santa Fé Expedition, i., p. 109. When a man is disappointed in any thing he undertakes, when he has seen enough, when he gets tired and sick of any job he may have set himself about, he has seen the elephant.

1870. L. Oliphant, Piccadilly, pt. ii., p. 39. So had Mr. Wog, who went up to town to see what he called the elephant,—an American expression, signifying ‘to gain experience of the world.’

1872. Besant and Rice, R. M. Mortiboy, ch. xxxiv. Just like the Americans, when they go to see a great sight, say they are going to see the elephant.

1888. Boston Globe, 4 March. It was in a Hanover Street dispensary, where the tillers of the soil love to congregate, when [357]they are down to Bosting, inspecting the Athenian white elephant.

1889. Puck’s Library, Ap., p. 25. Forepaugh says that elephants have a natural liking for whiskey. We have often wondered, when a man went out to see the elephant, why he always brought back such a strange odour with him. This seems to explain it.

2. (common).—To be seduced; Fr., avoir vu le loup. For synonyms, see Leg.

Elephant-dance.—See Cellar-flap and Double-Shuffle.

Elephant’s-trunk, subs. (rhyming slang).—Drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

Elevate, verb (colloquial).—To make or become slightly drunk.—See Elevated.

Elevated, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Slightly drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

1664. Etherege, Comical Revenge, IV., iii. in wks. (1704), 51. The wine makes the rogue witty.… I will keep him thus elevated ’till he has married Grace.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, ch. xvii. The liquor mounted up to our heads, and made us all extremely frolicsome. I, in particular, was much elevated.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Elevated (a.) … sometime spoke of a person that has drank a little too freely.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. l., p. 434. Except when he’s elevated, Bob’s the quietest creature breathing.

1837. Disraeli, Venetia, p. 274.

Elevation, subs. (colloquial).—1. A phase of drunkenness.—See Elevated.

1823. Scott, Peveril, ch. iii. The unwonted agitation of her voice attracted the attention of the refractory steward, notwithstanding his present state of elevation.

2. (common).—Opium.

1849. C. Kingsley, Alton Locke, ‘What’s elevation?’ ‘Opium, bor alive.’

Elfen, verb (American thieves’).—To walk lightly; to go on tiptoe.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Ellenborough Lodge, or Spike, or Park, subs. phr. (old).—The King’s Bench. [From Lord Chief-Justice Ellenborough.] For synonyms, see Cage. Ellenborough’s Teeth = the chevaux de frize round the prison wall.

Elrig, subs. (back slang).—A girl.

Elycampane or Elecampane.—See Allacompain and quot.

1823. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, ii., 4. Go and get a pennyworth of elycampane. Jerry. There’s a pair of men-milliners.

Emag, subs. (back slang).—Game: e.g., ‘I know your little emag.’

Embroider, verb (common).—To exaggerate; to add to the truth.

1877. S. L. Clemens (‘Mark Twain’), The Mississippi Pilot. Tom tried to make himself appear to be a hero too, and succeeded to some extent, but then he always had a way of embroidering.

Embroidery, subs. (common).—Exaggeration; the American sass and trimmin’s (q.v.).—[See Embroider.]

1890. Standard, 5 April, p. 2, col. 1. Fanny Burney had many good qualities, no doubt, but we fancy that when she tells us with such evident unction how great folks loved and admired her she puts a good deal of embroidery into her narrations.

Emma.—See Whoa Emma and Street-cries. [358]

Emperor, subs. (American thieves’).—A drunken man. [An intensification of ‘drunk as a lord’; whence ‘drunk as an emperor.’]

1881. New York Slang Dict. ‘On the Trail.’ A pinch for an Emperor’s slang.

Drunk as an Emperor, phr. (common).—An intensitive of ‘drunk as a lord.’ Fr., saoul comme trente mille hommes, or un âne.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Empty the Bag.—See Bag.

Encumbrances, subs. (common).—Children.—See Certainties and Uncertainties.

End. To be all on end, verb. phr. (American).—To be very angry; irritated. Also expectant.

At loose ends, adv. phr. (common).—Neglected; precarious.

End on, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Straight; full-tilt.

To be end on, verb. phr. (venery).—To have an erection.

To keep one’s end up, verb. phr. (American).—To rub along.

End of the Sentimental Journey, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Enemy, subs. (common).—Time: e.g., ‘How goes the enemy’ = what’s o’clock? ‘To kill the enemy’ = to kill time.

1839. Dickens, Nich. Nickleby, ch. xix., p. 149. ‘How goes the enemy, Snobb?’ asked Sir Mulberry Hawke. ‘Four minutes gone.’

1864. Glasgow Citizen, 19 Nov. The swell who is bored by his efforts to ‘kill the enemy.’

English Burgundy, subs. phr. (old).—Porter.—See Drinks.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Enif, adj. (back slang).—Fine.

Enin Gen, subs. phr. (back slang).—Nine shillings. Enin Yanneps = Ninepence.

Enjoy, verb (old).—To ‘possess’ a woman.

1594. Shakspeare, The Rape of Lucrece, st. 74. ‘Lucrece,’ quoth he, ‘this night I must enjoy thee; if thou deny, then force must work my way.’

Eno, adj. (back slang).—One.

1850. Lloyd’s Weekly, 3 Feb. ‘Low Lodging Houses of London.’ There’s people there will rob their own brother. There’s people there talk backward—for one they say eno, for two owt, for three eerht, for four ruof, for five evif, for six exis. I don’t know any higher.

Ensign-Bearer, subs. (old).—A drunkard; especially one with a red nose and blotchy face.—See Elbow-crooker.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Ephesian, subs. (old).—A boon companion; a ‘spreester.’ Cf., Corinthian.

1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, iv., 5. Art thou there? it is thine host, thine Ephesian, calls.

1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., ii. 2. P. H. What company? Page. Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.

Epip, subs. (back slang).—A pipe.

Epsom-races, subs. (rhyming slang).—A pair of braces. [359]

Equal to the Genuine Limburger.—See Limburger.

Equipped, ppl. adj. (American thieves’).—Rich; well-dressed; in good circumstances. Cf., well-ballasted.

Erif, subs. (back slang).—Fire.

Eriff, subs. (American thieves’).—A young thief.

1881. New York Slang Dict. ‘On the Trail.’ It’s the gait all them eriffs dances, observed the one-eyed man.

Errand. To send a baby on an errand, verb. phr. (common).—To undertake what is pretty sure to turn out badly.

Error.—See No Error.

Erth (back slang).—Three. Erth Gen = Three shillings. Erth-pu = Three-up, a street game, played with three halfpence. Erth Sith-Noms = Three months’ imprisonment; a ‘drag.’ Erth Yanneps = Threepence.

Esclop (back slang).—A police-constable; esclop is pronounced ‘slop’ the c is never sounded. For synonyms, see Beak and Copper.

Es-roch (back slang).—A horse. For synonyms, see Prad.

Essex-Lion, subs. (old).—A calf: e.g., ‘as valiant as an essex-lion.’ Cf., Cotswold Lion, Cambridgeshire Nightingale, etc.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary, s.v. Essex lions. Calves, great numbers of which are brought alive in carts to the London markets.

Essex-Stile, subs. (old).—A ditch.

1787. Grose, Prov. Glossary. Explained to be either real stiles which, because of the very small enclosures in Essex, are very frequent or the ‘narrow bridges, such as are laid between marsh and marsh in the hundreds of this county, only jocularly called stiles, as the loose stone walls in Derbyshire are ludicrously called hedges.’

Esuch (back slang).—A house. For synonyms, see Ken.

Eternity-Box, subs. (common).—A coffin.

English Synonyms.—Cold meat box; wooden surtout; coffee-shop; deal suit.

French Synonyms.—Boîte à dominos (popular); étui à lorgnette (popular); boîte à doche (thieves’); redingote de sapin (popular).

German Synonyms.—Pron (from the Hebrew); Teba (Hebrew leba).

Evaporate, verb (common).—To run away; to disappear. For synonyms, see Amputate and Skedaddle.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xxii., p. 191. Upon which the young man, looking round, instantly evaporates.

1854. Ainsworth, Flitch of Bacon, pt. I., ch. x. You may evaporate if you think proper, Sir G.; but split me if I stir a step.

1857. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. ix. Mr. Bouncer evaporates with a low bow, leaving the Ladies to play with their parasols, and converse.

Evatch, verb (back slang).—To have: e.g., ‘Evatch a kool at the elrig’ = Have a look at the girl. [360]

Everlasting-Shoes, (also Everlastings), subs. (common).—The naked feet. For synonyms, see Creepers.

Everlasting-staircase, subs. (thieves’).—The treadmill. For synonyms, see Wheel of Life.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. i., p. 300. Why we should be very soon taking reg’lar exercise on Colonel Chesterton’s everlasting staircase. We has a great respect for the law—O, certainly!

1874. H. Mayhew, London Characters, p. 349. I had ‘done’ my quarter of an hour on the everlasting staircase (treadmill).

Everton-toffee, subs. (rhyming slang).—Coffee.

Everything is lovely and the goose hangs high, phr. (American).—Everything is going swimmingly. [An allusion to the ‘sport’ of gander pulling. A gander was plucked, thoroughly greased, especially about the head and neck, and tied tight by the feet to the branch of a tree. The game was then to ride furiously at the mark, catch it by the head or neck, and attempt to bear it away. With every failure the fun would get more uproarious].

1867. Round Table, 30 July. I am not aware that any one has asked you the meaning of the slang phrase, everything goes lovely and the goose hangs high; but doubtless … it is derived from the Southern sport(!) of ‘Gander-pulling.’

Eve’s Custom-House, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum.

Evif, adj. (back slang).—Five Evif-gen = A crown, or five shillings. Evif-yanneps = five pence.

Evil, subs. (old).—A wife. For synonyms, see Dutch.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. Evil. A wife; a halter; matrimony.

Evlenet-gen, (back slang).—Twelve shillings. Evlenet sith-noms = twelve months: generally known as a ‘stretch.’

Ewe.—See White Ewe and Old Ewe.

Ewe-mutton, subs. (common).—An elderly strumpet or ‘piece.’

Exalted, ppl. adj. (old).—Hanged. For synonyms, see Ladder. Cf., elevated = drunk.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge, p. 226. Your great-grandfather was exalted, was he?—that is hanged, I suppose?

Exam, subs. (school).—An abbreviation of ‘Examination.’

1883. James Payn, Thicker than Water, ch. xxi. It’s a mere question of political economy; I read all about it for my exam.—the supply will exceed the demand.

Exasperate, verb (common).—To over-aspirate the letter H.

1857. Cuthbert Bede, Verdant Green, pt. II., ch. ix. Mr. Bouncer replies, with a footman’s bow, and a footman’s h exasperation of his h’s.

Excellers, subs. (military).—The Fortieth Foot. [A pun upon its number, xl + ers.]

Excruciators, subs. (common).—Tight boots; especially with pointed toes.

Execution-day, subs. (common).—Washing day. [361]

Exes, subs. (common).—1. An abbreviation of ‘expenses.’

1871. Fun, 4 Nov. ‘The Policeman’s Complaint.’ Nay oft I’m told I’ve been deceived, And of my x’s I’m bereaved; So on the whole I muchly grieved By information I received.

1883. Referee, 18 March, p. 3, col. 3. The piece was ready, but the ‘pieces’ were not, and without the exes Morton would not allow the gas to be lighted or the curtain to go up. It was a case of no pay no play.

1890. Montagu Williams, Leaves of a Life, I., p. 153. He was out for a spree at the races, and I suppose he thought he’d like to pay his exes.

2. (colloquial).—An abbreviation of ‘ex-officials,’ ‘ex-ministers,’ and so forth. As in Tom Moore’s ‘We x’s have proved ourselves not to be wise.’

Exis-evif-gen, (back slang).—Six times five shillings, i.e., 30s. All monies may be reckoned in this manner, either with yanneps or gens. Exis-evif-yanneps, literally, ‘sixpence and fivepence = elevenpence.’ Exis gen = six shillings. Exis sith-noms = six months. Exis yanneps = Sixpence.

Expecting, ppl. (colloquial).—With child.

Experience Does it, phr. (common).—A dog-English rendering of Experienta docet.

Explaterate, verb (American).—To hold forth; explain in detail. [From O.E. Explate = to unfold.]

Explosion, subs. (common).—A delivery.

Exquisite, subs. (common).—A fop. For synonyms, see Dandy.

Extensive, adv. (common).—Formerly applied to a person’s appearance or talk; ‘rather extensive that!’ intimating that the person alluded to is showing off, or ‘cutting it fat.’

Extinguisher, subs. (common).—A dog’s muzzle.

1890. Standard, 12 May, p. 5, col. 4. I had to appear before Mr. Curtis-Bennett, at West Kensington, to answer the charge of the dog being at large without his extinguisher en évidence.

Ex Trumps, adv. phr. (Winchester College).—Extempore. To go up to books ex trumps = to go to class without preparing one’s lesson.

Eye.—See All My Eye.

To pull wool over the eyes.—See Pull Wool.

To keep the eyes clean, skinned, or peeled, verb. phr. (American).—To be watchful; alert; with all one’s wits about one.

1837. C. Gilman, Negro Domestic’s Recollections. Mans Ben ax ’em for sing one hymn for ’em, cause he eye clean.

1865. New York Herald. My son, afore you leave yer home, I want ter say ter you, Thar’s lots of pitfalls in the world ter let young roosters through; So keep a padlock on yer mouth and skin yer weather eye, But never advertise yerself as being monstrous fly.

To have a drop in the eye, verb. phr. (common).—To be drunk. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

1738. Swift, Pol. Convers., Dial. 1. You must own you had a drop in your eye; when I left you, you were half seas over.

1837. Barham, I. L. (Black Mousquetaire). In vain did he try With strong waters to ply His friend, on the ground [362]that he never could spy Such a thing as a ghost with a drop in his eye.

In the twinkling of an eye.—See Bedpost.

To bet one’s eyes.—See Bet.

My eyes! intj. phr. (common).—An expression of surprise.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. viii. ‘My eyes, how green!’ exclaimed the young gentleman. ‘Why a beak’s a madgst’rate.’

Eyelashes. To hang on by the eyelashes or eyebrows, verb. phr. (common).—To be very tenacious; also, by implication, to be in a difficulty. Cf., Hang on by the splash-board.

Eye-limpet, subs. (common).—An artificial eye.

Eye-opener, subs. (American).—1. Drink generally; specifically, a mixed drink.

2. (general).—Anything surprising or out of the way.

1879. Notes and Queries, 5th S., xi., 140. His lecture must have been a lively and profitable eye-opener for the somnolence of a cathedral town.

1888. Cornhill Mag., March, p. 228. If Joanna was ever so blessed as to hear her sing ‘Houp la!’ it would be a regular eye-opener to her.

1889. Answers, 23 Feb., p. 194, col. 1. No doubt the enclosed will be an eye-opener for you.

3. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Eyeteeth. To have cut one’s eyeteeth, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To have learned wisdom.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed). Eye-teeth (s.), those immediately under the eye; also quickness or sharpness of understanding and parts, are sometimes so called.

1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker 1 S., ch. xvi. Them ’ere fellers cut their eye-teeth afore they ever sot foot in this country, I expect.

Eye-water, subs. (common).—Gin. For synonyms, see Drinks.

1869. Whyte Melville, M. or N., p. 66. On this minnit, off at six, Buster; two bob an’ a bender, and a three of eye-water, in?

1886. Judy, 4 August, p. 58. He imbibed stupendous quantities of jiggered gin, dog’s nose, and Paddy’s eye-water.

[363]

ace, subs. (colloquial).—1. Confidence; boldness; also (more frequently) impudence: e.g., ‘I like your face’ = I like your cheek. Once literary; Cf., Cheek, Jaw, Gab, Brow, Mouth, Lip, etc.

1610. Ben Jonson, The Alchemist. ‘Dramatis Personæ.’—face.

1617. Middleton, A Faire Quarrell, II., ii. I that had face enough to do the deed, Cannot want tongue to speak it.

1668. Etherege, She Would if She Could, I., i. (1704), p. 95. I admire thy impudence, I could never have had the face to have wheadled the poor knight so.

1676. Etherege, Man of Mode, V., i., in wks. (1704), 265. I am amazed to find him here! How has he the face to come near you?

1702. Defoe, Shortest Way, in Arber’s Garner, vol. VII., p. 590. You have butchered one king! deposed another king! and made a mock king of a third! and yet, you could have the face to expect to be employed and trusted by the fourth.

1714. Spectator, No. 566. A man has scarce the face to make his court to a lady, without some credentials from the service to recommend him.

1854. F. E. Smedley, Harry Coverdale, ch. liii. I can hardly suppose even Phil Tirrett would have the face to throw me over and ride for O’Brien.

1870. London Figaro, 3 June. ‘Look at that girl in pink, Sancho,’ he said; ‘that’s Lord Rubric’s daughter. Ran away with the family organist—that’s he with her. I like their face, though, to come here; it’s awfully good.’

2. (common).—Credit. To push one’s face = to get credit by bluster.—[See sense 1 and cf., Face-Entry.]

1765. Goldsmith, Essays, VIII. There are three ways of getting into debt: first, by pushing a face; as thus: ‘You, Mr. Lutestring, send me home six yards of that paduasoy, damme; but, harkee, don’t think I ever intend to pay you for it, damme.’ At this the mercer laughs heartily; cuts off the paduasoy, and sends it home; nor is he, till too late, surprised to find the gentleman had said nothing but the truth, and kept his word.

1865. Bacon, Handbook of America, p. 365. To run one’s face, to make use of one’s credit, to run one’s face for a thing is to get it ‘on tick.’

1875. American English in Chamb. Journal, 25 Sept., p. 610. To run your face, which means, to go upon credit.

3. (common).—A qualification of contempt: e.g., ‘Now face! where are you a-shoving of?’

Verb (old).—To bully.—See all senses, especially To Face with a card of ten.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, iv., 3. Face not me; thou hast brav’d many men; brave not me; I will neither be fac’d nor brav’d. [364]

To face or out-face with a card of ten, verb. phr. (old).—To browbeat; to ‘bluff.’ [Nares: derived from some game (possibly primero) wherein the standing boldly upon a ten was often successful. The phrase originally expressed the confidence of one player who with a ten, as at brag, faced or outfaced one who had really a faced card against him.]

1460–1529. Skelton [quoted by Nares.] First pycke a quarrel and fall out with him then, And so out face him with a card of ten.

1593. Shakspeare, Taming of the Shrew, ii. A vengeance on your crafty wither’d hide, Yet I have fac’d it with a card of ten.

1630. B. Jonson, New Inn, i., 3. Some may be coats, as in the cards; but then Some must be knaves, some varlets, bawds, and ostlers, As aces, duces, cards o’ ten to face it Out, i’ the game which all the world is.

To face the knocker, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To go begging. For synonyms, see Cadge.

To have no face but one’s own, verb. phr. (old).—To be penniless; or (gamesters’) to hold no court cards. Fr., n’avoir pas une face = ‘not to have a sou.’

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

To make faces, verb. phr. (prison).—1. To go back, or ‘round’ upon a friend. [In allusion to the convicts’ habit of distorting their features under the lens.]

2. (old).—To beget children. Cf., Face-making.

To face the music, verb phr. (American).—To meet an emergency; also to show one’s hand. [J. Fenimore Cooper derived it from the green-room, whence actors go on the boards and literally face the music. Another traces it to militia musters, where every man is expected to appear equipped and armed, when in rank and file, facing the music. A third derives it from drumming out of the army.]

1857. Worcester Spy, 22 Sept. Although such reverses would seem to fall with crushing weight upon some of our most substantial citizens, a strong determination to face the music is everywhere manifested.

1888. Daily Inter-Ocean, 20 Feb. I am sure Fred can explain everything satisfactorily. I hope he hasn’t read the newspaper stories about him, for it might scare him, and he’d very foolishly skip out. That would be the worst thing he could do. He must face the music.

Face-entry, subs. (theatrical).—Freedom of access, the personal appearance being familiar to attendants.

Face-making, verb. subs. (old).—Begetting children. Cf., making feet for children’s stockings.

Facer, subs. (pugilistic).—1. A blow in the face.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 24. In short, not to dwell on each facer and fall, Poor Georgy was done up in no time at all.

1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood. ‘The Double Cross.’ No claret flows, No facers sound—no smashing blows.

1837. Barham, I. L. (The Ghost). Whom sometimes there would come on A sort of fear his spouse might knock his head off, Demolish half his teeth, or drive a rib in, She shone so much in facers and in ‘fibbing.’

1862. Athenæum, 1 Nov., p. 557, col. 1. Before his unknown adversary well [365]knew what was coming, the skilled fist of the Professor had planted such a facer as did not require repetition.

1868. C. Reade, Foul Play, ch. ii. This was followed by a quick succession of staggering facers, administered right and left, on the eyes and noses of the subordinates.

2. (common).—A sudden check; ‘a spoke in one’s wheel.’ [By implication from sense 1.]

1860. Thackeray, Philip, ch. xl. In the battle of life every man must meet with a blow or two, and every brave one would take his facer with good humour.

1869. Whyte Melville, M. or N., p. 189. Dick Stanmore took his punishment with true British pluck and pertinacity. It was a facer.

3. (Irish).—A dram.

4. (old).—A bumper. [Grose, 1785.]

5. (common).—A tumbler of whiskey punch.

6. (American thieves’).—An accomplice; a stall (q.v.) or fence (q.v.).

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

1881. New York Slang Dict., s.v.

Facey, subs. (tailors’).—A fellow workman vis-à-vis. Facey on the bias = one in front either to right or left; Facey on the two thick = one working immediately behind one’s opposite.

Facings.—To be put, or go, through one’s facings, verb. phr. (popular).—To be called to account or scolded; to exemplify capacity; to ‘show off.’ [Military.]

Silk-facings, subs. (tailors’).—Stains upon work caused by droppings of beer. [In allusion to the ‘watered’ silk trimmings in front of a regimental jacket or coat.]

Fad-cattle, subs. (old).—Easy women. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart. [Cf., Faddle = to toy + cattle (q.v.).]

Faddist (also Fadmonger), subs. (colloquial).—A person (male or female) devoted to the pursuit of public fads: as ‘social purity,’ moral art, free-trade in syphilis, and so-forth.

Faddle, verb (obsolete).—To toy or trifle: as a subs. = a busybody; a ‘nancified’ affected male. Also Faddy = full of fads.

Fadge, subs. (common).—A farthing.

English Synonyms.—Fiddler; farden; gig, or grig; quartereen.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 178, s.v.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.

Verb (old).—To suit; to fit; to agree with; to come off. [A.S., fégan, fégean, to join, to fit. Nares says, ‘probably never better than a low word: it is now confined to the streets.’]

1593. Nashe, 4 Lett. Conf., in wks. (Grosart) II., 215. They haue broght in a new kind of a quicke sight, which your decrepite slow-mouing capacitie cannot fadge with.

1594. Shakspeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost, V., i., 154. We will haue, if this fadge not, an Antique.

1599. Massinger, Old Law, IV., ii. Clean. My Lord! Sim. Now it begins to fadge. [366]

1636. T. Heywood, Love’s Mistress, Act IV. Vulcan … I keep a dozen journeymen at least, besides my Ciclops and my Prentises, yet ’twill not fadge.

1639. Beaumont and Fletcher, Wit without Money, III., iv. Clothes I must get; this fashion will not fadge with me.

1678. Quack’s Academy; in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), ii., 32. That could never make their untoward handicrafts fadge to purpose.

1750. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 18 Oct. (1833), vol. II., p. 485. Alack! when I came to range them, they did not fadge at all.

1819. Scott, in C. K. Sharpe’s Correspondence (1888), ii., 197. Pray let me know … how matters fadge in the great city of Edinburgh.

1830. Scott, Doom of Devorgoil, Act II., Sc. 1. If this same gear fadge right, I’ll cote and mouth her, And then! whoop! dead! dead! dead!

1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. lv., p. 173 (1888). Any new adventure which I can invent will not fadge well with the old tale.

Fadger, subs. (glaziers’).—A glazier’s frame; otherwise a ‘frail.’

Fadmonger, subs. (colloquial).—A Faddist (q.v.). Fadmongering, verb. phr. (colloquial) = dealing as a Faddist (q.v.) with fads.

Fag, subs. (public schools’).—1. A boy who does menial work for a schoolfellow in a higher form. [From Fag, to grow weary.]

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xviii. Bob Trotter, the diminutive fag of the studio, who ran on all the young men’s errands, and fetched them in apples, oranges, and walnuts.

1857. G. A. Lawrence, Guy Livingstone, ch. i. Is still enumerated among the feats of the brave days of old, by the fags over their evening small beer.

2. (Christ’s Hospital).—See quot.

1850. L. Hunt, Autobiography, ch. iii. Fag, with us [at Christ’s Hospital], meant eatables. The learned derived the word from the Greek phago, to eat.

3. (American thieves’).—A lawyer’s clerk.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Verb (public schools’).—1. To do menial work for a schoolfellow in a higher form. Cf., Fag, subs., sense 1.

1884. Temple Bar, August, p. 514. He must have completely marred his chance of happiness at the school when he refused to fag and took countless thrashings, snivelling.

2. (old).—To beat.

1754. B. Martin, Eng. Dict. (2nd ed.).

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Fag the bloss, beat the wench.

Fagger, Figger, or Figure, subs. (old).—A boy thief whose duty is to enter houses by windows and either open the doors to his confederates (as Oliver Twist with Bill Sykes), or hand out the ‘swag’ to them; also little snakesman (q.v.); cf., Diver.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.

Fagging, or Faggery, subs. (public schools’).—Waiting upon and doing menial work for a school-fellow in a higher form. Also used adjectively.

1853. De Quincey, Autob. Sketches, i., 210. Faggery was an abuse too venerable and sacred to be touched by profane hands.

1873. Pall Mall Gazette, 17 May. The Winchester ‘tunding’ system, with all its faults, is hardly less objectionable than the fagging system pursued in the Scotch endowed hospitals.

Faggot, subs. (common).—1. A term of opprobrium applied to women; a ‘baggage.’ [At one time a faggot was a popular symbol of recantation of opinions [367]thought worthy only of burning (Bailey, 1728), and heretics who had thus escaped the stake were required either to bear a faggot and burn it in public, or to wear an imitation on the sleeve as a badge.] Also used in combination: e.g., Bed- (or Straw-) Faggot = a wife, or mistress; Tumble-faggot = a whoremaster; Carry-faggot = a mattress; and Spike- (or Tickle-) faggot (obsolete) = the penis.

1820. Reynolds (‘P. Corcoran’), The Fancy, p. 16. I have got a faggot here, Aye, and quite a bad one; Were I married, p’rhaps my dear Might think that he too had one.

2. (common).—See quot., 1851.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. ii., p. 255. He then made his supper, or second meal, for tea he seldom touched, on fagots. This preparation … is a sort of cake, roll, or ball, a number being baked at a time, and is made of chopped liver and lights, mixed with gravy, and wrapped in pieces of pig’s caul. It weighs six ounces, so that it is unquestionably a cheap [it costs 1d. hot] and, to the scavager, a savoury meal, but to other nostrils it’s odour is not seductive.

1870. London Figaro, 2 July. Have you more than a penny? A glorious perspective opens out before you of all the delicacies of the season, commencing with trotters—the harmless mutton, or the succulent swine; ‘faggots,’ etc.

1884. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 615. They can obtain hot faggots, hot baked potatoes, hot fried fish, or a cut of pork with hot pease-pudding.

3. (old).—A ‘dummy’ soldier; one hired to appear at a muster to hide deficiencies. Many names of dummies would appear on the muster-roll: for these the colonel drew pay, but they were never in the ranks.

1672–1719. Addison [quoted in Imperial Dict.]. There were several counterfeit books which were carved in wood, and served only to fill up the number like fagots in the muster of a regiment.

1728. Bailey, Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Verb (old).—1. To bind hand and foot; to tie [as sticks into a faggot]. Fr., un fagot = a convict, because bound to a common chain on their way to the hulks.

1728. Bailey, Dict., s.v.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Faggot the culls, bind the men.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

2. (venery).—To copulate; also to frequent the company of loose women.

Faggot-briefs, subs. (political).—Bundles of dummy papers sometimes carried by briefless barristers. [Cf., Faggot, sense 3.]

1859. Sala, Twice Round the Clock, 10 a.m. Par. 10. The counsel chat and poke each other in the ribs; the briefless ones, in the high back rows, scribble caricatures on their blotting-pads, or pretend to pore over faggot briefs.

1887. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 627.

Faggot briefs … those bundles of dummy papers sometimes carried by the briefless ones.

Faggoteer, (also Faggot-master), subs. (venery).—A whoremonger. For synonyms, see Molrower.

Faggot-vote, subs. (political).—A vote secured by the purchase of property under mortgage, or otherwise, so as to constitute a nominal qualification without a substantial basis. [Derived by some from Faggot, sense 3; by others from the mode of manufacture, i.e., by the purchase of property which is divided into as many lots as will constitute separate votes, and given to different persons.]

1854. Notes and Queries, vol. X., p. 403. Faggot-vote.—Can you inform [368]me of the origin of the term used to denote a spurious or fictitious vote, formed usually by the nominal transfer of a sufficient qualification to an otherwise unqualified man; this is called a faggot vote.

1879. Gladstone, 1st Midl. Speech, 25 Nov. Why, gentlemen, quite apart from every question of principle, nothing, I venture to say, can be so grossly imprudent as that which is familiarly known in homely but most accurate phrase as the manufacture of faggot votes.

1887. Cornhill Mag., June, p. 627. Faggot votes … the name is probably taken from an old military term.

Fains! Fainits! Fain it! intj. (schoolboys’).—A call for truce during the progress of a game without which priority or place would be lost; generally understood to be preferred ‘in bounds,’ or when out of danger. [Thought to be a corruption of ‘fend.’]—See Bags!

Fair-gang, subs. (old).—Gypsies. [From their habit of visiting fairs.]

Fair-rations, subs. (sporting).—Fair dealings.

Fair-shake, subs. (American).—A good bargain. [From a measure well shaken down.] Cf., Shake.

Fair-trade, subs. (nautical).—Smuggling.

Faithful. One of the faithful, subs. phr. (old).—1. A drunkard. For synonyms, see Elbow-crooker.

1609. The Man in the Moone. This fellow is one of the faithfull, as they prophanelie terme him, said Opinion; no Heliogabalus at meat, but he will drinke many degrees beyond a Dutchman.

2. (common).—A tailor giving long credit.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. Faithful. A tailor that gives long credit. ‘I say, Sam, what kind of crib was that you cracked?’ ‘Oh! it belonged to one of the faithful.’

Faithful Durhams, subs. phr. (military).—The Sixty-Eight Foot.

Fake, subs. (common).—An action; a proceeding; a manœuvre; a mechanical contrivance—an affair of any kind irrespective of morals or legality: generally used in a sense specifically detrimental. In America, a swindler. [Origin dubious: Barrère says, ‘a very ancient cant word,’ but gives no evidence. Fakement (q.v.) appears to be the older subs. form (1785), while the verbal usage is traced to Ainsworth’s ‘fake away’! in Rookwood (1834). Conjecturally derived from the Latin facere, to make, to do: compare to which the French slang use of faire.]

1827. Maginn, in Blackwood’s Mag. … the fogle-hunters doing Their morning fake in the prigging lay.

[Circa 1850, but date uncertain.] ‘Bates’ Farm.’ I’m up to every little fake, But in me there’s no harm.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 237. After that we had a fine fake—that was the fire of the Tower of London—it sold rattling.

1871. London Figaro, 21 Oct. Yet they’ve been known for many a fake To coolly set a trap.

1883. Greenwood, Tag, Rag, and Co. Naming the house in the ridiculous way it was named was merely a fake to draw attention to it.

1888. New York Mercury. Both ladies then came to the conclusion that the fortune-teller was a fake, and they decided to notify the police.

1889. Globe, 23 July, p. 2, col. 2. Good Gladstonites, flock up and take One bottle of the Parnell fake.

Verb (common).—1. To do anything; to fabricate; to cheat; to deceive, or devise falsely; [369]to steal; to forge. A general verb-of-all-work. In America fix (q.v.) is employed much in the same way, whilst the French slang has faire; maquiller; aquiger or quiger; and goupiner.

[In combination to fake a screeve = to write a begging letter; to fake one’s slangs = to file through one’s fetters; to fake a cly (q.v.) = to pick a pocket; to fake the sweetener = to kiss; to fake the duck = to adulterate, to dodge; to fake the rubber = to stand treat; to fake the broads = to pack the cards, or to work the three-card trick; to fake a line (theatrical) = to improvise a speech; to fake a dance, or a step, or a trip (theatrical) = to perform what looks like, but is not, dancing.]

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 390. The ring is made out of brass gilt buttons, and stunning well: it’s faked up to rights, and takes a good judge even at this day to detect it without a test.

1861. Reade, Cloister and Hearth, ch. lv. There the folk are music-bitten, and they molest not beggars, unless they fake to boot, and then they drown us out of hand.

2. (sporting).—To hocus; to nobble; to tamper.

1872. Morning Post, 7 Nov. Since the faking of the scales in Catch-’em-alive’s year the oldest habitué of Newmarket cannot recall so sensational a Cambridgeshire week as the last one.

3. (theatrical).—Also to fake up. To paint one’s face; to make up a character.

1885. Sporting Times, 23 May. ‘The Chorister’s Promise.’ The landlady left, and the chorister fair Faked herself up, and frizzed her hair.

4. (American thieves’).—To cut out the wards of a key.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Fake away! intj. phr. (common).—An ejaculation of encouragement.

1834. Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood. The knucks in quod did my schoolmen play, Fake away!

1846. Punch’s Almanack, ‘Song of September.’ The partridge on its tender wing Is up at break of day, But down the bird my gun shall bring: Bang! fizz, boys! fake away!

Fake-boodle.—See Boodle.

Faked, ppl. adj. (common).—Counterfeit; sometimes faked-up. Fr., lophe.

1889. Answers, 15 June, p. 41, col. 1. In order to prevent any chance of a dishonest person winning by means of a faked puzzle we shall provide a number of puzzles ourselves, and these will be used by all competitors.

Fakement, subs. (old).—1. A counterfeit signature; a forgery; specifically a begging letter or petition. Fr., brasser des faffes = to forge documents, i.e., ‘to screeve fakements’; un fafiot (also a bank note, or shoe); and une luque or un luquet.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. Tell the macers to mind their fakements, desire the swindlers to be careful not to forge another person’s signature.

1856. H. Mayhew, Gt. World of London, p. 46. Dependents of beggars; as screevers or the writers of ‘slums’ (letters) and fakements (petitions).

1857. Ducange Anglicus, The Vulgar Tongue, p. 39. Lawyer Bob draws fakements up; he’s tipped a peg for each.

1889. Answers, 27 July, p. 137, col. 1. I have drawn up fakements for sham members of almost every trade, always using a leading name at the head of the list of donors.

2. (common).—Generic for dishonest practices; but applied to any kind of action, contrivance, or trade.—See Fake, subs., of which it is an older usage. Cf., Kidment.

1838. Glascock, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, II., 4. That’s right; I see you’re fly to every fakement. [370]

1857. Ducange Anglicus, The Vulg. Tongue, p. 44. For every day, mind what I say, Fresh fakements you will find.

1859. H. Kingsley, Geoffry Hamlyn, ch. v. I cultivated his acquaintance, examined his affairs, and put him up to the neatest little fakement in the world.

1876. C. Hindley, Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 232. Stow your gab and gauffery, To every fakement I’m a-fly. Ibid., p. 233. I have got a pair of highly polished steel spring snuffers with extra fakement; they will either snuff a candle out or snuff a candle in.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 254. You worked that little fakement in a blooming quiet way, … said my late neighbour.

1883. Daily Telegraph, 7 Aug., p. 6, col. 2. Pair of moleskins [trousers], any colour … with a double fakement down the sides, and artful buttons at the bottom.

3. (theatrical).—Small properties; accessories.

Fakement-Charley, subs. phr. (thieves’).—An owner’s private mark.

1864. Hotten, Slang Dict., s.v.

Faker, subs. (common).—1. One who makes, does, or ‘fakes’ anything; specifically a thief. Found in many combinations: e.g., Bit-faker; Flue-faker; Grub-faker; Sham-faker, Twat-faker, etc.

1851. G. Borrow, Lavengro, ch. xxxi., p. 112 (1888). We never calls them thieves here, but prigs and fakers.

1857. Ducange Anglicus, Vulg. Tongue. Faker, a jeweller (theatrical).

1869. George Macdonald, Robert Falconer, pt. III., ch. x. Them pusses is mannyfactered express for the convenience o’ the fakers.

1885. Daily Telegraph, 1 August, p. 2, col. 1. ‘I’ve turned faker of dolls and dolls’ furniture; like what you see us working on now.’ ‘And when you say faker you mean—‘Renowater,’ struck in Miss Menders.’

1887. Baumann, Londonismen, p. 5. Piratical fakers Of bosh by the acres.

2. (circus).—A circus rider or performer.

3. (venery).—A prostitute’s Fancy-man (q.v.).

Fakes and Slumboes, subs. phr. (theatrical).—Properties; accessories of any kind.

Faking, verb. subs. (common).—The act of doing anything. [From fake (q.v.) + ing.] Fr., le maquillage or le goupinage.

Fall, verb (thieves’).—1. To be arrested.

1883. Horsley, Jottings from Jail [in Echo]. A little time after this I fell again at St. Mary Cray for being found at the back of a house.

2. (venery).—To conceive. For synonyms, see Lumpy.

Fall of the Leaf, subs. phr. (old).—Hanging. [In allusion to the fall of the drop.] For synonyms, see Ladder.

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.

False-hereafter, subs. (American).—A bustle. For synonyms, see Bird-cage.

Fam.—See Fambling-cheat and Famble.

Famble, Fam, or Fem, subs. (old).—The hand. Cf., Fambling-cheat. For synonyms, see Bunch of fives and Daddle. [German slang has Fehm, Vehm, or Vehn, and is apparently the same word as the English Fam. A likely etymon is the Swed. and Dan. fem, five.] [371]

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 64, s.v.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Fambles. handes.

1662. Fletcher, Beggar’s Bush, ii., 1. We clapt our fambles.

1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch. xxviii. If I had not helped you with these very fambles (holding up her hands).

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 28. Allowing for delicate fams, which have merely Been handling the sceptre, and that, too but queerly.

1878. C. Hindley, Life and Times of James Catnach. So kiddy is my famble.

Verb (old).—To touch; to handle; especially with a view to ascertaining the whereabouts of valuables. Also termed to fam for the plant, and to run a rule over. To fam a donna = to take liberties with a woman; to firky-toodle (q.v.); to cross-fam (q.v.).

Famblers, Fambling-Cheats (q.v.) or Fam-snatchers (q.v.), subs. (old).—Gloves.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v.

Fambling-cheat, Famble, or Fam, subs. (old).—A ring; also (about 1694) gloves, which later still were also called Fam-snatchers (q.v.). [From Famble, a hand + a.s. chete (q.v.), a thing.]

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 64. A fambling chete, a ring on thy hand.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). Fambling Cheates, Rings.

1688. Shadwell, Sq. of Alsatia, II., in wks. (1720), iv., 47. Look on my finger, sirrah, look here; here’s a famble.

1694. Dunton, Ladies’ Dict., s.v. Famble-cheats, rings or gloves.

1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Famble cheats, rings or gloves.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 180. Fam, A gold ring.

Fam-grasp, verb (old).—To shake hands. Also substantively, hand-shaking.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Familiars, subs. (common).—Lice. For synonyms, see Chates.

Familiar-way, subs. (common).—With child.

Family Disturbance, subs. (American).—Whiskey. For synonyms, see Drinks.

Family-hotel, subs. (old).—A prison. For synonyms, see Cage. [Cf., Family-man.]

1857. Punch, 31 Jan. In a ward with one’s pals, Not locked up in a cell, To an old hand like me its a fam-ly hotel.

Family-man, subs. (old).—A thief; specifically, a fence (q.v.). [In allusion to the fraternities into which thieves were at one time invariably banded.]—See Thieves.

1749. Bamfylde Moore-Carew., ‘Oath of the Canting Crew.’ No dummerar, or romany; No member of the family.

1788. G. A. Stevens, Adv. of a Specialist, i., 221. Let the people say what they will against gamesters, gamblers, Or family-men.

1838. Glascock, Land Sharks and Sea Gulls, II., 100. This house … was a favourite resort of the family, or, to speak with less reserve, it was a thieves’ house.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, [3rd ed.], p. 444. Thieves: Family-men.

Family of Love, subs. phr. (venery).—A company of prostitutes. [372]

Family-plate, subs. (common).—Silver money. For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

Family-pound, subs. (common).—A family grave.

Fam-lay, subs. (thieves’).—Shop-lifting. [From fam, a hand + lay, a performance.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Fam-snatchers, subs. (old).—Gloves. Cf., Fambling-cheat.

c. 1824. Pierce Egan, Finish to Life in London. To Jerry Hawthorn, Esq., I resign my fam-snatchers, i.e., my gloves.

Fam-squeeze, subs. (old).—Strangulation.

Fam-struck, adj. and adv. (thieves’).—Baffled in ascertaining the whereabouts of valuables on the person of an intended victim; also handcuffed.

Fan, subs. (thieves’).—A waistcoat; said by Hotten (1864) to be a Houndsditch term, but quoted in Matsell (1859) as American.

English Synonyms.—Ben; benjie; M.B. waistcoat; Charley Prescot.

French Synonyms.—Un gilmont (thieves’); un georget (popular: = a breast-plate); un casimir (popular); une camisole (popular: properly, a kind of petticoat-bodice worn by women); un croisant (popular).

German Synonyms.—Brustmalbisch; Kreuzspanne (Hanoverian); Nefesch (Ave-Lallement suggests identity with the Fischness of Zimmermann, a word said to be derived from the English ‘fashion.’ Probably, however, the true etymon is the Hebrew nephesch, in allusion to a waistcoat covering the chest and heart, the seat of life. German ladies call a scarf or shawl [which protects the same region] Seelenwärmer; i.e., a soul-warmer); Zwängerling (= fitting closely to the body; cf., Weitling, Hanoverian Weitchen, the trousers = wide).

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 444, s.v.

Verb (old).—1. To beat; to be-rate. For synonyms, see Baste and Tan.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. I fannd him sweetly, I beat him heartily.

1887. W. O. Tristram, in Eng. Ill. Mag., v., 228. The coachman now has recourse to all the dark arts of persuasion and the whip, fanning them, which, in the tongue of coachmen, is whipping them.

2. (thieves’).—To feel; to handle (with a view to ascertain if a victim has anything valuable about his person). [Cf. Fam, of which it is possibly a corruption.] Also to steal from the person.

1851–1861. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, IV., 319. Before Joe said anything to me, he had fanned the gentleman’s pocket, i.e., had felt the pocket and knew there was a handkerchief.

Queen Anne’s Fan.—See Anne’s Fan.

Fancy, subs. (old).—The fraternity of pugilists: prize-fighting being once regarded as THE fancy par excellence. Hence, by implication, people who cultivate a special hobby or taste. Cf., Fancy-bloke.

1818. P. Egan, Boxiana, vol. I., p. 355. The various gradations of the Fancy hither [373]resort, to discuss matters incidental to pugilism.

1848. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, ch. xiv. Mr. William Ramm, known to the Fancy as the Tutbury Pet.

1860. Chambers’ Journal, vol. XIII., p. 153.

Fancy-bloke, subs. (common).—1. A sporting man. [From Fancy (q.v.) + Bloke, a man.]

2. (venery).—See Fancy-man.

Fancy-house, subs. (venery).—A brothel; also a house of accommodation (q.v.). For synonyms, see Nanny-Shop.

Fancy-Joseph, subs. (venery).—A prostitute’s boy, or apple-squire, or cupid (q.v.). For synonyms, see Bully and Fancy-man.

Fancy-lay, subs. (old).—Pugilism. [From Fancy (q.v.) + Lay (q.v.) = an undertaking or pursuit.]

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 36. We, who’re of the fancy-lay, As dead hands at a mill as they, And quite as ready, after it, To share the spoil and grab the bit.

Fancy-man or Bloke, subs. (venery).—A prostitute’s lover, husband, or pensioner. [There are two suggested derivations; (1) that fancy here bears its face value; (2) that it is a corruption of the Fr. fiancé.] Fancy-woman = a mistress or keep (q.v.). For synonyms, see Bully and infra.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry, p. 20. Although ‘one of the fancy,’ he was not a fancy man.

1839. Harrison Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard [1889], p. 70. ‘And me,’ insinuated Mrs. Maggot. ‘My little fancy man’s quite as fond of me as of you, Bess. Ain’t you, Jacky darling?’

1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 186. The women of the town buy of me, when it gets late, for themselves and their fancy men.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant. (3rd ed.), p. 446, s.v.

1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 38. The most degraded are the men who subsist by fastening upon street harlots and sharing their wretched earnings. When their mistresses come to grief, and are placed under lock and key, which happens frequently, the fancy man generally manages to skulk out of the mischief and escape scot-free.

English Synonyms. Apple-squire; faker; bully; ponce; pensioner; Sunday-man; fancy-Joseph; squire of the body; fucker; apron-squire; cunt-pensioner; petticoat pensioner; prosser; twat-faker; twat-master; stallion; mack; bouncer; bruiser; buck.

French Synonyms. Un Des Grieux (popular: the hero of Manon Lescaut); un aquarium (pop.: an assembly of fancy-men; cf., maquereau = a mackerel); un cousin de Moïse (pop.: a ‘fast’ man who has married a demi-mondaine; Delvau says, ‘dans l’argot du peuple, qui fait allusion aux deux lignes de feu dont sont ornées les tempes du législateur des Hébreux’); un caprice (pop.: un caprice sérieux = a man who keeps a mistress); un paillasson (pop.: = a mattress); un dos; un marlou.

German Synonyms. Balhoche (from Hebrew baal, a man + hocho, here, there. Literally, one in possession but removable); Strichler or Strichbube (Strich = a fast locality); Strawes; Straweszunder (Viennese: from strizeln = to run quickly).

Italian Synonym. Bramoso.

Spanish Synonyms. Comblezado (obsolete: applied to a [374]married man whose wife lives in adultery with another); mandilejo (vulgar).

Fancy-piece, subs. (venery).—A prostitute. For synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

Fancy-work. To take in fancy work, verb. phr. (popular).—To play the prostitute on the sly; in the language of venery, ‘to work for one’s living and do the naughty for one’s clothes.’ Said of women (as milliners, dressmakers, shop girls, and so forth) in receipt of low wages yet dressing well and having plenty of money. ‘How does she do it?’ ‘Oh! she takes in fancy-work!’ Cf., Fancy-house and Ride.

Fang-faker, subs. (common).—A dentist. [From Fang, a long pointed tooth + Faker (q.v.).] Fang-chovey = a dental establishment.—See Chovey.

Fanning, verb. subs. (thieves’).—1. Stealing; Cross-fanning = robbery from the person, the arms of the manipulator being folded.

2. (old).—A beating. [From Fan (q.v.), to beat + ing.]

Fanny (also Fanny-Artful and Fanny-fair), subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Fanny Adams, subs. phr. (naval).—Tinned mutton.

Fanny Blair, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—The hair. For synonyms, see Top-dressing.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Fantail, subs. (common).—A sort of round hat with a long leathern fan-shaped flap at the back; worn by coal-heavers and dustmen; a sou’-wester (q.v.).

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. II., p. 199. He had good strong lace boots, gray worsted stockings, a stout pair of corduroy breeches, a short smockfrock and fantail.

1877. J. Greenwood, Dick Temple, ch. xiii. I fancy I see you, for example, with knee breeches and calves and a fantail, shouldering an inky sack and shooting its contents into a hole in the pavement.

Fanteague. On the fanteague, adv. phr. (colloquial).—On the ‘burst,’ or on the ‘loose.’

Far-back, subs. (tailors’).—An indifferent workman; an ignoramus.

Farden, subs. (common).—A farthing. For synonyms, see Fadge.

1880. Milliken, Punch’s Almanack, May. Otherwise don’t care one brass farden, For the best ever blowed in Covent Garden.

Farm, subs. (common).—1. An establishment where pauper children were lodged and fed at so much a head; also for illegitimate children. Also verbally = to contract to feed and lodge pauper or illegitimate children.

1838. Dickens, Oliver Twist, ch. ii. The parish authorities magnanimously and humanely resolved, that Oliver should be farmed, or, in other words, that he should be despatched to a branch workhouse some three miles off, where twenty or thirty other juvenile offenders against the poor-laws, rolled about the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing, under the parental superintendence of an elderly female, who received the culprits at and for the consideration of sevenpence-halfpenny per small head per week.

1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. There can be no question that [375]he has a better chance … though his treacherous ‘adopter’ deserts him on a doorstep, than if he were so kindly cruel as to tolerate his existence at the farm.

2. (prison).—The prison infirmary. To fetch the farm = to be ordered infirmary diet and treatment.—See Fetch.

Farmer, subs. (old).—1. An alderman.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

2. (common).—One who contracts to lodge and feed pauper or illegitimate children.

1869. Greenwood, Seven Curses of London. These are not the farmers who append to their advertisements the notification that children of ill-health are not objected to.

Fart, subs. (vulgar).—An eruption of wind through the anus. [A.S. feort.] By implication a contemptible person. Also verbally = to discharge wind through the anus. Fr., lâcher une pastille.

1383. Chaucer, The Miller’s Tale. This Nicholas anon let fleen a fart As gret as it had been a thonder dint.

1610. Ben Jonson, The Alchemist, i., 1. Thy worst! I fart at thee.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones. ‘I don’t give a fart for ’n,’ says the squire, suiting the action to the word.

1785. Burns, Death and Dr. Hornbook. But Dr. Hornbook with his art And cursed skill, Has made them baith no worth a f—t.

Fart-catcher, subs. (vulgar).—A footman. [That is, one who follows another closely; cf., Fart.] Other names are flunkey; John Thomas; James; catch-fart; and Calves (q.v.).

Fart-daniel, subs. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Farthing. Not to care a brass farthing, phr. (common).—To care nothing. Chaucer uses the expression ‘no farthing of grease’ as equivalent to a small quantity. [James II. debased the coinage and issued brass pence, halfpence, and farthings.]

Fartick (also Fartkin), subs. (vulgar).—A diminutive of Fart (q.v.).

Farting-crackers, subs. (old).—Breeches. For synonyms, see Bags and Kicks.

Farting-trap, subs. (Irish).—A jaunting car. [An allusion to the effects of the rough-driving character of these vehicles.]

Fartleberries, subs. (vulgar).—Excrement on the hair about the anus; also dilberries (q.v.) or clinkers (q.v.).

Fart-sucker, subs. phr. (common).—A vile parasite; an ‘arse-hole creeper.’

Fast, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—1. Embarrassed; ‘hard-up’; ‘in a tight place.’

2. (colloquial).—Dissipated; addicted to going the pace (q.v.): e.g., a fast man = a rake-hell, or spendthrift; a fast woman = a strumpet; a fast life = a life of debauchery; a fast house = a brothel, or a sporting tavern; to dress fast = to dress for the town; to live fast = to ‘go the pace,’ and so forth.

1751. Smollett, Peregrine Pickle ch. lxxxviii. He returned to his former course of fast living among the bucks of the town. [376]

1846. Thackeray, V. F., vol. 1., ch. xxvi. ‘He’s going it pretty fast,’ said the clerk. ‘He’s only married a week, and I saw him and some other military chaps handing Mrs. Highflyer to her carriage after the play.’

1860. The Atlas, 7 July. Lord William belongs to the genus fast and we presume to the species soft—contradictions more apparent than real.

1870. Daily Telegraph, 11 July. Having a delightful air of being mildly fast and decorously on the loose.

1880. G. R. Sims, Three Brass Balls, Pledge xi. She knew he could not afford to gamble and keep fast company night after night.

3. (common).—Impudent; ‘cheeky’: e.g., ‘Don’t you be so fast’ = Mind your own business.

To play fast and loose, verbal phr. (colloquial).—To be variable; inconstant; to say one thing and do another. [From the ancient game now known as prick the garter (q.v.).]

1557. Tottel’s Miscellany, p. 157 (Arber’s ed.), ‘Of a new maried studient that plaied fast or lose’ [Title of Epigram].

1593. G. Harvey, New Letter, in wks., i., 274 (Grosart). If he playeth at fast and loose (as is vehemently suspected by strong presumptions) whom shall he cunny catch, or cros-bite, but his cast-away selfe?

1599. Jonson, Ev. Man out of his Hum., I. Nor how they play fast and loose with a poor gentleman’s fortunes, to get their own.

1632. Chapman and Shirley, The Ball, Act ii. Fr. Is’t come to this? if lords play fast and loose, What shall poor knights and gentlemen?

1710. Ward, Vulgus Britannicus, ch. iv., p. 50. On second Thoughts, we should excuse, The People’s playing Fast and Loose.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. lvii., p. 477. I’m a practical one, and that’s my experience. So’s this rule. Fast and loose in one thing, Fast and loose in everything.

Fastener, or Fastner, subs. (old).—A warrant.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.; 1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Fast-fuck, subs. (prostitutes’).—An act of trade done standing, or at least in quick time: as opposed to trade with an all-night lodger.

Fat, subs. (thieves’).—1. Money; Fr., de la graisse (= grease or tallow). For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

2. (printers’).—Composition full of blank spaces or in many lines. Verse is fat, while this dictionary, with its constant change of type, is lean (q.v.). Hence, work that pays well. Fr., une affaire juteuse = a ‘fat job.’

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum. Fat amongst printers means void spaces.

1856. Notes and Queries, 2 S., I., 283, s.v.

1868. O. W. Holmes, Guardian Angel, ch. xxiv., p. 203 (Rose Lib.). If collected and printed in large type, with plenty of what the unpleasant printers call fat ensuring thereby blank spaces upon … thick paper.

1885. Athenæum, 27 June, p. 817, col. 1. With the aid of wide margins and a liberal amount of fat, as the printers call it, the text is doled out in pages of but nineteen lines each, and thus the three articles are successfully expanded into a booklet of over two hundred pages.

3. (theatrical).—A good part; telling lines and conspicuous or commanding situations. [Cf., sense 2.] Fr., avoir des côtelettes = to have a bit of fat (Dictionnaire Historique et Pittoresque du Theâtre. Paris, 1884).

1883. Referee, 18 March, p. 2, col. 4. They look miserable because they have nothing to do, all the fat having been seized by Terry. [377]

1888. Referee, 15 April, 3, 1. I don’t want to rob Miss Claremont of her fat, but her part must be cut down.

Adj. (general).—1. Rich; abundant; profitable.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Fat cull, a rich fellow.

1888. Puck’s Library, May, p. 25. This would make the labour so much lighter, that every time a girl went to set a pound of candy she would consider that she had a good fat take.

2. (Australian).—Good. [An old English usage.]

d. 1626. Middleton [works, II., 422]. O, for a bowl of fat canary, Rich Aristippus, sparkling sherry! Some nectar else from Juno’s dairy, O, these draughts would make us merry.

1890. Speaker, 22 Feb., p. 212, col. 2. As ‘good’ in English is fat in Australian, the story is probably true about the missionary—not a story of Dr. Lumholtz’s. After many years of work in the field, this good missionary was taken apart by some anxious but meagre inquirers in his flock. Sir, said they, must a man be very fat to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? He was able to reassure them.

Cut it fat.—See Cut.

Cut up fat.—See Cut up.

Bit of fat, subs. phr. (popular).—See subs., senses 2 and 3; also adj. in both senses: and (venery) connection with a stout woman.

All the fat’s in the fire, phr. (common).—Said of failures and of the results of sudden and unexpected revelation; disappointments: i.e., it is all ‘over’ or ‘up’ with a person or thing. A late equivalent is, ‘And then the band played.’

Fat as a hen’s forehead, adv. phr. (old).—Meagre; skinny (q.v.).

Fat- (also Barge-, Broad- and Heavy-) Arsed, adj. phr. (common).—Broad in the breech; and, by implication, in Richard Baxter’s Shove to Heavy Arsed Christians, thick-witted and slow to move.

Fat- (also Thick-) Chops, subs. (common).—A contumelious epithet.

Fat-Cock, subs. (common).—An epithet rather jocular than derisive for a stout and elderly man; also (venery) a double-sucker (q.v.).

Fater, Faytor, or Fator, subs. (old).—A fortune-teller. Lexicon Balatronicum [1811]. In Spencer = a doer; in Bailey = an idle fellow; a vagabond. [From Fr. faiteur.]

Fat-Fancier, (or -Monger,) subs. (venery).—An amateur of stout women.

Fat-flab, subs. (Winchester School).—A cut off the fat part of a breast of mutton.—See Cat’s Head.

Fat- (or Full-) Guts, subs. (common).—An opprobrious epithet for a fat man or woman.

Fat-head, subs. (common).—A dolt.

Fat-headed, -skulled, -thoughted, -pated, -brained, and -witted (colloquial) = dull; stupid; slow.

1885. Mrs. J. H. Riddell, Mitre Court, ch. xix. He is a fathead—a great blundering John Bull.

Father, subs. (thieves’).—1. A receiver of stolen property; a fence (q.v.). [378]

2. (general).—A chief in authority; an elder: e.g., the father of the house = the oldest member of the House of Commons (cf., Babe); among printers, the chairman of the chapel, the intermediary between master and men; in naval circles, the builder of a man-of-war or Government ‘bottom.’

Father Derbies’ Bands.—See Darbies.

Father’s Brother, subs. phr. (common).—A pawnbroker; my uncle (q.v.).

Fat Jack of the Bone-house, subs. phr. (common).—A contumelious epithet for a very stout man.

Fat-mutton, subs. (venery).—A fat bit (see Bit of Fat), i.e., a stout bed-fellow.

Fatness, subs. (common).—Wealth. Cf., Fat = rich.

Fatten-up, verb (theatrical).—To write fat (subs., sense 3) into a part.

Fat-un, subs. (common).—An emission of wind from the anus of peculiar rankness; a ‘roarer’ (Swift).

Fatty (or Fatymus, or Fattyma), subs. (colloquial).—A jocular epithet for a fat man; a comic endearment for a fat woman.

Faugh-a-Ballagh Boys, subs. phr. (military).—The Eighty-Seventh Foot; also known as the eagle-takers (q.v.), and the old fogs (q.v.). [From Fag an bealac = ‘Clear the Way,’ the name of the regimental march.]

Faulkner, subs. (old).—A tumbler; juggler. Lex. Balat. [1811] and Duncombe’s Sinks of London [1848].

Fawney, or Fauney, subs. (common).—1. A ring; Fr., une brobuante; une broquille; un chason; Fourbesque, cerchiosa.

2. A swindle (also called Fawney-dropping, or rig), worked as follows:—A ring (snide) is let drop in front of a passer-by, who picks it up, and is confronted by the dropper, who claims to share. In consideration of immediate settlement he offers to accept something less than the apparent value in cash. Also done with pocket-books, meerschaum pipes, etc. Fawney-dropper = one that practices the ring-dropping trick; Fawney-bouncing = selling rings for a pretended wager; Fawnied = ringed.

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 174. Fawny. An old, stale trick, called ring-dropping.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 471. He wears a stunning fawny (ring) on his finger.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 389. I do a little in the fawney dropping line; (fawneys are rings).

1857. Ducange Anglicus, The Vulgar Tongue, p. 39. Fawney-droppers gammon the flats and take the yokels in.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, p. 124. And where … The Chips, the fawneys, Chatty-feeders, The bugs, the boungs, and well-filled readers.

Feager, subs. (old).—See quot. and cf., Feaker.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). A Feager of Loges, one that beggeth with counterfeit writings. [379]

Feague, verb (old).—To send packing; to whiff away.

1826. Scott, Journal [pub. 1890], I., 205. Though this be Monday, I am not able to feague it away, as Bayes says—[The reference, as furnished by Dr. Murray to Mr. David Douglas, editor of the Journal (1890), is to certain editions of Buckingham’s farce, The Rehearsal: ‘I lay my head close to it with a snuff-box in my hand, and feague it away.’]

Feak, subs. (old).—The fundament. Lex. Balat. [1811].

Feather, subs. (colloquial).—1. Kind; species; company; cf., Birds of a feather. For synonyms, see Kidney.

1608. Dekker, Belman of London, in wks. (Grosart), III., 140. And he delivers it either to a Broker or some Bawd (for they all are of one feather).

1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens, Act i., Sc. 1. I am not of that feather, to shake off My friend when he must need me.

2. in pl. (common).—Money; wealth.—[See Feather one’s nest.] For synonyms, see Actual and Gilt.

3. (venery).—The female pubic hair (Prior and T. Moore). For synonyms, see Fleece.

In full feather, adv. phr. (colloquial).—1. Rich.—[See sense 2.]

1871. Mrs. H. Wood, Dene Hollow. ch. xxx. And now things went on swimmingly. Captain Clanwaring, in feather as to cash, at least temporarily, was the gayest of the gay.

1886. Graphic, 30 Jan., p. 130, col. 2. On these generally convivial occasions, Watty, by reason of his office [butler], was of course always in full feather.

2. (colloquial).—In full costume; ‘with all one’s war paint on.’

In high or full feather, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Elated; brilliant; conspicuous.

1852. H. B. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, ch. viii. Sam was in the highest possible feather, and expressed his exultation by all sorts of supernatural howls and ejaculations.

1856. T. Hughes, Tom Brown’s School-Days, pt. II., ch. iv. Martin leads the way in high feather; it is quite a new sensation to him, getting companions, and he finds it very pleasant, and means to show them all manner of proofs of his science and skill.

To feather one’s nest, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To amass money; specifically to enrich oneself by indirect pickings and emoluments. [From birds collecting feathers (see also sense 2) to line their nests.]

1590. Greene, Francesco’s Fortunes, in wks., viii., 138. She sees thou hast fethred thy nest, and hast crowns in thy purse.

1662. Pepys, Diary, 7 June. Mr. Coventry had already feathered his nest in selling of places.

1700. Congreve, Way of the World, Act v., Sc. 1. You have forgot this, have you, now you have feather’d your nest.

1705. Vanbrugh, Confederacy, I., ii., 25 (1734). If I don’t feather my nest, and get a good husband, I deserve to die.

1858. G. Eliot, Janet’s Repentance, ch. xiii. Dempster must have feathered his nest pretty well; he can afford to lose a little business.

To feather an oar, verb. phr. (aquatics).—In rowing, to turn the blade horizontally, with the upper edge pointing aft, as it leaves the water, for the purpose of lessening the resistance of the air upon it.

d. 1814. Dibdin, The Waterman. He feathered his oars with such skill and dexterity, Winning each heart and delighting each eye. [380]

Whence High or Low in the feather.

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, p. 5. The swells in high feather.

1878. Lang, Ballad of the Boat-race. They catch the stroke and they slog it through, With Cambridge heavy and low in the feather, The standing sin of the fair Light Blue.

To show the white feather, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To turn cur; to prove oneself a coward. [Among game cocks a cross-bred bird is known by a white feather in the tail. Of old the breed was strictly preserved in England, for though birds of all descriptions were reared in the farm-yard, special care was taken that game fowls did not mix with them; but this would occasionally happen, and while the game birds were only red and black, white feathers would naturally appear when there was any cross. The slightest impurity of strain was said to destroy the bird’s courage, and the half-breeds were never trained for the pit. It became an adage that any cock would fight on his own dunghill, but it must be one without a white feather to fight in the pit.]

1842. Comic Almanack, p. 306. Precluding the possibility of anyone, at any time, showing a white feather.

Feather-bed and Pillows, subs. phr. (venery).—A fat woman.

Feather-bed Lane, subs. phr. (old).—A rough or stony lane.

Feather-bed Soldier, subs. phr. (old colloquial).—A practised and determined whoremonger.

Feck, verb (old).—To discover the safe way of stealing or swindling.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, p. 106, s.v.

Feed, subs. (colloquial).—A meal; spread (q.v.), or blow-out (q.v.). Fr., une lampie (from lamper = to gulp down). [From the stable usage = an allowance of provender. An analogue, however, is found in Milton: ‘For such pleasures till that hour At feed or fountain never had I found.’]

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 22, ed. 1854. Like most single men, being very much the gentlemen so far as money was concerned, he gave them plenty of feeds, and from time to time a very agreeable hop.

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘C. Bede’), Verdant Green, pt. III., p. 90 (q.v.).

1861. A. Trollope, Framley Parsonage, chap. iii.… It’s deuced shabby of him, not hunting here in his own county. He escapes all the bore of going to lectures, and giving feeds to the neighbours; that’s why he treats us so.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xxxiii. He had been accustomed to describe Mr. Schröder as ‘a good old cock, sir; a worthy old party; kind-hearted, and all that, and giving no end of good feeds.’

18(?). Bret Harte, The Man of no Account. When the ‘Skyscraper’ arrived at San Francisco we had a grand feed.

1883. G. A. S[ala], in Illustr. L. News, 7 July, p. 3, col. 1. To be able to escape from a large public feed is, indeed, a sweet boon; but there are some big dinners at which attendance is a case of ‘must.’

Verb (football).—1. To support; back up.

2. (theatrical).—To prompt.

3. (university).—To teach or cram (q.v.) for an examination.

At feed, subs. phr. (colloquial).—At meat.

1890. National Observer, V., p. 138, col. 1. Statesmen at feed.

d. 1674. Milton. For such pleasures till that hour At feed or fountain never had I found. [381]

To be off one’s feed, verb. phr. (common).—To have a distaste for food. [From the stable.]

1836. M. Scott, Cringle’s Log, ch. ix. Shall I fill you a cup of coffee, Obed?… Why, man, you are off your feed.

1863. C. Reade, Hard Cash, ii., 218. No, doctor; I’m off my feed for once.

1881. Jas. Payn, Grape from a Thorn, ch. liii. I won’t take a rasher this morning, thank you; nor yet any pigeon pie. I’m rather off my feed.

To feed the dummy or the dumb-glutton (q.v.), verb. phr. (venery).—To have connection. For synonyms, see Ride.

To feed the fishes, verb. phr. (common).—To be sea-sick; also to be drowned.

1884. Home Tidings, 22 Nov., p. 398. Although I fed myself shortly before arriving abreast of Eddystone, I fed the fish shortly afterwards.

To feed the press, verb. phr. (journalistic).—To send up copy slip by slip.

Feeder, subs. (common).—1. A spoon; among thieves a silver spoon. To nab a feeder = to steal a spoon.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, s.v.

2. (university).—A tutor; crammer (q.v.); coach (q.v.).—(See Dr. Blimber’s Mr. Feeder in Dombey and Son).

1766. O. Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, chap. vii. (ed. 1827), p. 41. Mr. Thornhill came with a couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder.

1864. Glasgow Herald, 9 Nov. [Review of Hotten’s Slang Dictionary.] Feeder is given here as ‘old cant’ for a spoon.

Feeding-bottle, subs. (colloquial).—The paps. For synonyms, see Dairy.

Feel, verb (venery).—To take liberties with a woman. For synonyms, see Firkytoodle.

Feel a Thing in One’s Bones.—See Bones.

Feele, subs. (common).—A girl or daughter. For synonyms in the former sense, see Titter. [Fr., fille; It., figlia.] Feeles = mother and daughter.

Feeler, subs. (colloquial)—1. A device or remark designed to bring out the opinions of others.

1841. Tait’s Mag., Sept. ‘Political Register.’ The Times is putting out feelers on the corn-law question.

1889. Pall Mall Gazette, 29 Nov., p. 6, col. 3. The efforts made to purchase the Halliwell-Phillips collection by private subscription in Birmingham, have (says the local Times) utterly failed. A feeler was sent out by the Free Libraries Committee.

2. (common).—The hand. For synonyms, see Bunch of fives and Daddle.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 259. I one day asked a man … if the hard work of prison did not spoil his hands for delicate manipulations. ‘Oh, bless you, no!’ he replied;… ‘In a week or two a man can bring his hooks and feelers into full working trim again and no mistake.’

Feet. Making feet for children’s stockings, verb. phr. (old).—Begetting or breeding children.

Officer of feet, subs. phr. (old military).—An officer of infantry.—Grose [1785].

How’s your poor feet? phr. (common).—A street catch [382]phrase in the early part of the sixties. [For suggested derivation cf., quot., 1890.]—See Street cries.

1863. All the Year Round, p. 180, col. 1. ‘How’s your poor feet?’ a year ago cheated half the natives of Cockaigne into the belief that they were gifted with a special genius for repartee.

1890. Town and Country (Sydney), 11 Jan., p. 19, col. 4. Henry Irving’s revival of ‘The Dead Heart’ has revived a bit of slang.… When the play was brought out originally, where one of the characters says, ‘My heart is dead, dead, dead!’ a voice from the gallery nearly broke up the drama with ‘How are your poor feet?’ The phrase lived.

To lie feet uppermost, verb. phr. (venery).—To ‘take’ a man.

Feet-Casements, subs. (common).—Boots or shoes. For synonyms, see Trotter-Cases.

Feeze [also Feaze, Feize, and Pheeze], verb (old).—1. To copulate. For synonyms, see Ride.

1612. Beaumont and Fletcher, The Coxcomb (q.v.).

2. (old).—To beat.

Feint, subs. (old).—A pawnbroker. For synonyms, see My Uncle.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.; 1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Feker, subs. (American thieves’).—Trade; profession; cf., Feck.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Fell a Bit on, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To act craftily; in an underhand manner.

Fell-and-didn’t, phr. (tailors’).—Said of a man walking lame.

Fellow.—See Old fellow.

Fellow-Commoner, subs. (university).—An empty bottle. For synonyms, see Dead man.

1794. Gent. Mag., p. 1084. One [student at Cambridge] was a Harry Soph; another a fellow-commoner and senior Soph, and occasionally jocularly called an empty bottle, whilst è contrà, a bottle decanted was, from time to time, denominated a fellow-commoner.

Felt, subs. (old).—A hat of felted wool. For synonyms, see Golgotha.

1609. Dekker, Gul’s Horne-Booke, chap. iv. For, in my opinion, ye braine that cannot choose his Felt well (being the head ornament) must needes poure folly into all the rest of the members.

1614. J. Cooke, Green’s Tu Quoque, in Anc. Brit. Drama (1810), ii., 567. Sir Lion. Aye, but son Bubble, where did you two buy your felts? Scat. Felts! by this light mine is a good beaver.

1823. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act ii., Sc. 5. Don’t nibble the felt, Jerry.

1841. Thynne, Deb. between Pride and Lowliness. A faire cloke on his backe, and on his head a felt.

Fem.—See Famble.

Fen, subs. (thieves’).—A prostitute or procuress.—Grose [1785].

Verb (schoolboys’).—(also Fend, Fain, Fainits, etc.). A term of warning, or of prohibition: as to prevent any change in the existing conditions of a game; e.g., at marbles, Fen-placings = no alteration in position of marbles is permissible; fen-clearances = removal of obstacles is forbidden. [Fend = M. E. defend in sense of ‘to forbid.’] Fain, Fain I, (with which cf., Bags I) are corruptions. At Winchester, Fingy you or Fingy that are analagous; [383]but at Christ’s Hospital Fin = ‘I won’t have,’ the reverse of Bags I.

ante. 1815. E. C. Harrington, in N. and Q., 5 S., vii., 98. Respecting the word fen … I can testify to the use of the term by schoolboys prior to the battle of Waterloo … meaning that we protested against an exceptional action.

1852. Dickens, Bleak House. ‘I’m fly,’ says Jo. ‘But fen larks, you know.’

1877. Notes and Queries, 5 S., vii., 178. A comical application, was, I remember well, ‘Fen live lumber’! which, if pronounced in time, would disable your opponent from moving a bystander out of the way of his shot.

Fence, subs. (common).—1. A purchaser or receiver of stolen goods.—See verbal sense, and Thieves.

English Synonyms. Fencing master, or cully; billy-fencer; angling cove; stallsman; Ikey; family-man; father.

French Synonyms. Une crosse (thieves’); un carreur (thieves’); un attriqueur or une attriqueuse (thieves’); un franc de maison (also = landlord of a thieves’ lodging-house or ‘flash ken’); un fourgue, fourgat, or fourgasse (thieves’); une nourrice (a female fence; = nurse); un meunier (= a miller; porter au moulin = to fence the swag); un ogre (thieves’).

German Synonyms. Pascher or Verpascher (from paschlnisenen = to peddle illegally); Sarser, or Sasser (= a go-between); Tschorrgoi (gypsy).

Portuguese Synonym. Entrujão.

1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 3. The Fence and he [a thief], are like the Devil and the Doctor, they live by one another.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Fence (s.) … and in the Canting Language, signifies one who receives and disposes of stolen goods for the robbers.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 171 (ed. 1864). The fence and he are like the devil and the doctor, they live by one another; and, like traitors, ’tis best to keep each other’s counsel.

1837. Dickens, Oliver Twist, p. 60. What are you up to? Ill-treating the boys, you … insatiable old Fence.

1851. Mayhew, London Labour and the London Poor, vol. II., p. 106. In one of my inquiries among the young thieves and pickpockets in the low lodging-houses, I heard frequent accounts of their selling the metal goods they stole to fences, and in one particular instance to the mistress of a lodging house, who had conveniences for the melting of pewter pots (called ‘cats and kittens’ by the young thieves according to the size of the vessels).

1883. Daily Telegraph, 13 June, p. 7, col. 2. The criminal who, without the aid of the professional fence, would experience much difficulty in disposing of his booty.

1885. Indoor Paupers, p. 73. The articles bore the workhouse stamp, were much worn, and would not have brought the thief more than a couple of pence, even supposing that he could find a fence, who would venture to purchase.

2. A place where stolen goods are purchased or received. [From sense 1.] Also a Dolly-, leaving-, or swag-shop—(q.v.); Fencing-crib. Fr., un moulin.

1847. Illus. Lon. News, 2 May. The keeper of the fence loves to set up in business there [Clerkenwell]—low public-houses abound, where thieves drink and smoke—Jew receivers work the corners.

1848. Punch, vol. xiv., p. 149. If Citizen Blanc hold to his opinions of 1839, we may expect no law of international copyright from the Republic. Let M. Galignani rejoice; and let his Bibliotheque in the Rue Vivienne still remain the greatest literary fence in Europe.

Verb (old).—1. To purchase or receive stolen goods.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874). To fence property, to sell any thing that is stolen. [384]

1789. Geo. Parker, Life’s Painter, p. 153. Fenced. Is disposing of anything stolen for a quarter of the value.

1828. Jon Bee, Picture of London, p. 212. Even though he be a thief himself, or more harmfully engaged in fencing others’ thefts.

1830. Bulwer Lytton, Paul Clifford, p. 298, ed. 1854. Vell, ven ve came out, you minds as on the voman had a bundle in her arms, and you spake to her, and she answered you roughly, and left us all and vent straight home; and ve vent and fenced the swag that wery night, and afterwards napped the regulars.

1885. Chamb. Journal, 21 Feb., p. 126. Moreover, he was strongly suspected of fencing—that is, purchasing stolen property.

2. (common).—To spend money.

1728. Bailey, Dict., s.v.

To be, sit, or ride on the fence, verb. phr. (American).—To be neutral; to be ready to join the winning side; to wait ‘to see how the cat will jump.’ Also, To sit on both sides of the hedge. [Cf., Latin prævaricato = straddling with distorted legs.]—See Jumping Cat.

1862. J. Russell Lowell, Biglow Papers, II., p. 97. A kind o’ hangin’ round an’ settin’ on the fence, Till Providence pinted how to jump an’ save the most expense.

1887. ‘Political 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.’

1888. Texas Siftings, 7 July. While Democratic papers will claim that Judge Thurman is as hearty and well at seventy-five as he was at fifty-five, journals on the other side of the fence will represent him to be a weak, feeble old man, much better fitted for the invalid than the vice-presidential chair.

Those who thus seek to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds are called fence-men. The operation is fence-riding, which sometimes qualifies for rail-riding (q.v.).

1848. New York Herald, 14 Oct. All the fence-men, all the doubters, all the seekers after majorities, will now bustle up, come out, and declare that General Taylor is the most popular man in the country, and that he was always their first choice.

1868. Congressional Globe, 17 July. This question is one of clear right and wrong, and there can be no fence-riding, when the rights of four millions of men are at stake.

Fencer, subs. (tramps’).—A hawker of small wares; a tramp: generally used in connection with another word; thus, driz-fencer (q.v.) = a pedlar of lace.

Fencing-Crib or Ken, subs. (thieves’).—A place where stolen goods are purchased or secreted.—See Fence, subs., sense 2.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1839. W. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, p. 277, ed. 1840. ‘It only leads to the fencing crib,’ replied Wild. ‘There’s no outlet that way.’

Fencing-Cully, subs. (thieves’).—A receiver of stolen goods.—See Fence.

1720. Bailey, Dict., s.v.

Fen-Nightingale, subs. (common).—A frog. Also Cambridgeshire, and Cape Nightingale.

Ferguson. You can’t lodge here, Mr. Ferguson, phr. (street).—A street cry, popular about 1845–50; used in derision or denial. [Mr. J. H. Dixon, writing to Mr. John Camden Hotten, under date Nov. 6, 1864, says the phrase originated thus:—A young Scotsman, named Ferguson, visited Epsom races, where he got very drunk. His friends applied to several hotel keepers to give him [385]a bed, but in vain. There was no place for Mr. Ferguson. He was accordingly driven to London by his companions, who kept calling out, Ferguson, you can’t lodge here. This was caught up by the crowd, repeated, and in a week was all over London, and in a month all over the kingdom. Mr. Dixon states he was introduced to Mr. Ferguson, and that two of his companions were intimate friends.]—See Street-cries.

Ferm, subs. (Old Cant).—A hole; with Spencer = a prison.

1632. Dekker, English Villanies. He [an angler for duds] carries a short staff in his hand which is called a filch, having in the nab or head of it a ferme (that is to say a hole).

Ferret, subs. (thieves’).—1. A barge-thief.

2. (old).—A dunning tradesman.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

3. (common).—A pawnbroker. For synonyms, see My Uncle.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.

Ferreting, subs. (venery).—The act of connection.

Ferret Out, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be at pains to penetrate a mystery of any kind by working underground.

Ferricadouzer, subs. (pugilist).—A knock-down blow; a thrashing. [From the Italian fare cadere, to cause to fall + dosso, back.] For synonyms, see Dig.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 244. Then there wasn’t no risk with Haynan … no fear of a ferricadouzer for the butcher.… What does it mean? It means a denskitch (a good thrashing).

Fess, verb (colloquial).—To confess; to own up. Fr., norguer.

Adj. (school).—Proud.

Festive, adj. (colloquial).—Loud; fast; a kind of general utility word. Gay and festive cuss (Artemus Ward) = a rollicking companion.

Fetch, subs. (old).—1. A stratagem; indirectly bringing something to pass.

1576. J. Skelton, Merie Tales, xiii. Yea sayde Skelton, if thou have such pretie fetchis, you can dooe more then thys; and therefore if thou dooeste not one thynge that I shel tell thee, I wil folowe the lawe on thee. What is that sayde the Myller. If that thou dooeste not stele my cuppe of the table when I am sette atte meate thou shalt not eskape my handes.

1727. John Gay, Beggar’s Opera, Act II., Scene 2. Mac. Be pacified, my dear Lucy; this is all a fetch of Polly’s, to make me desperate with you, in case I get off. If I am hanged, she would fain have the credit of being thought my widow. Really, Polly, this is no time for a dispute of this sort; for whenever you are talking of marriage, I am thinking of hanging.

1780. Mrs. Cowley, Belle’s Stratagem, v. 1. Why, my illness was only a fetch, man, to make you marry Letty.

1848. Lowell, Fable for Critics, p. 19. But as Cicero says he won’t say this or that (a fetch, I must say, most transparent and flat), After saying whate’er he could possibly think of.

2. (colloquial).—A success.

3. (old).—A likeness: e.g., the very fetch of him = his very image or spit (q.v.). Also an apparition.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To please; to excite admiration; to arouse attention or interest. [386]

1607. Dekker, Westward Ho! Act ii., Sc. 2. Earl. Ha! Bird. O, I thought I should fetch you: you can ‘ha’ at that; I’ll make you hem anon.

1610. Jonson, Alchemist, II. This will fetch ’em, And make them haste towards their gulling more. A man must deal like a rough nurse, and fright Those that are froward, to an appetite.

1727. Gay, Beggar’s Opera, Act I., Sc. 8. Polly. Give her another glass, Sir; my Mama drinks double the quantity whenever she is out of order. This, you see, fetches her.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. v., p. 48 (1873). But now he was certainly fetched, as his friends would call it, and began to feel an interest in Miss Townshend, which he had never felt for any other person.

1867–70. C. G. Leland, Hans. Breitmann’s Ballads. Dot fetched him. He shtood all shpell-bound.

1879. Justin McCarthy, Donna Quixote, ch. xvii. She was quite clever enough to take on any part that might best commend her to the people she sought to please; and she thought she had hit upon the best way to fetch Gabrielle, as she would herself have put it.

1882. Besant, All Sorts and Cond. of Men, ch. xxx. You shall be my assistant: you shall play the piano and come on dressed in a pink costoom, which generally fetches at an entertainment.

1883. Referee, 1 April, p. 2, col. 4. There were scenes, though, wherein she fairly fetched her audience.

1884. S. L. Clemens (‘M. Twain’), Huckleberry Finn, xxi., 205. Hamlet’s soliloquy, you know; the most celebrated thing in Shakespeare. Ah, it’s sublime, sublime! Always fetches the house.

1884. G. A. Sala, in Ill. Lon. News, 17 May, p. 470, col. 3. The maritime conflagration fetched the audience, especially the pit and gallery.

2. (colloquial).—To get; to do.

[Some combinations are To fetch the farm = to get infirmary treatment and diet; To fetch a stinger (colloquial) = to get in a heavy blow; To fetch a lagging (thieves’) = to serve one’s term; To fetch a howl = to cry; To fetch a crack = to strike; To fetch a circumbendibus = to make a detour; To fetch the brewer = to get drunk.]

To fetch away, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To part; e.g., ‘a fool and his money are soon fetched away.’

To fetch up, verb. phr. (common).—1. To stop; to run against.

2. (popular).—to startle.

3. (American).—To come to light.

4. (common).—To recruit one’s strength after illness.

Fetching, ppl. adj. (colloquial).—Attractive (as of women); pleasing (as of a dress or bonnet).

c. 1882. Broadside Ballad. ‘You May Lay Odds on That.’ Some most fetching dresses the ladies now wear, You may lay odds on that.

1889. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 17 August, p. 262, col. 2. How can they show off a pretty figure and a fetching bathing costume if they go in further than knee deep?

1889. Bird o’ Freedom, 7 Aug., p. 3. Quite delighted at being at last understood and appreciated by one of the fetching sex, Stewart made the running so fast that I couldn’t see the way he went.

Fettle. In good or in proper fettle, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Drunk. [From provincial English fettle = a state of fitness.]

Few. A few, or Just a few, adv. phr. (colloquial).—Originally (cf., quot., 1778) a little. Hence, by implication, on the lucus a non lucendo principle, considerably; e.g., ‘Were you alarmed?’ ‘No, but I was astonished a few!’ i.e., ‘I was greatly surprised.’ Cf., rather = a good deal. [387]

1778. D’Arblay, Diary, etc., 6 July, vol. I., ch. i., p. 15 (1876). So I trembled a few, for I thought, ten to one but he’d say: ‘He?—not he—I promise you!’

1852. Dickens, Bleak House, ch. xx., p. 173. I appeal to our mutual friend, Smallweed, whether he has or has not heard me remark, that I can’t make him out. Mr. Smallweed bears the concise testimony, a few.

Fib, verb (Old Cant).—1. To beat; specifically (pugilism) to get in a quick succession of blows, as when you get your man round the neck (i.e., into chancery) and pommel his ribs or face.

1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 49 (1874). Fib, to beat.

1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Fib, to beat.

1811. Southey, Letters (ii., 236). I have been taking part in the controversy about ‘Bell and the Dragon,’ as you will see in the Quarterly, where I have fibbed the Edinburgh (as the fancy say) most completely.

1853. Thackeray, Men’s Wives, Frank Berry, ch. 1. For heaven’s sake, my boy, fib with your right, and mind his left hand!

1853. Rev. E. Bradley (‘C. Bede’). Verdant Green, pt. I., p. 106. His whole person put in chancery, stung, bruised, fibbed, propped … and otherwise ill-treated.

1865. G. F. Berkeley, My Life, etc., I., 311. As there was no room to hit out, in the phraseology of the ring, I fibbed at half a dozen waistcoats and faces with all my might and main.

2. (colloquial and recognised).—To lie.

1694. Congreve, Double Dealer, Act iv., Sc. iii. You fib, you baggage, you do understand, and you shall understand.

1712. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. IV., ch. iv. Whereby one may know when you fib, and when you speak truth.

1755. Johnson, Dict. of Eng. Lang., s.v. Fib, a cant word amongst children.

1863. Alex. Smith, Dreamthorp, p. 11. Could I have fibbed in these days; Could I have betrayed a comrade?

Also, used substantively = (1) a lie; (2) a liar; see quot., 1862.

1738. Swift, Polite Convers., Dial. 2. If I had said so I should have told a fib.

1750. Fielding, Tom Jones, bk. III., ch. iv. Those who will tell one fib will hardly stick at another.

1773. Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer, Act iii. Ask me no questions, and I’ll tell you no fibs.

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, chap. 58. ‘Oh! you dreadful fib,’ said Flora.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. xix. Mrs. Charrington saw no harm … in the utterance of a pretty fib; but she refused to place a deliberate lie upon paper.

Fibber, subs. (colloquial).—A liar. [From Fib.]

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Fibber (s.) a liar, one who speaks falsely, etc.

1785. Wolcot, Lyric Odes, No. 6, in wks. (1809), i., 67. Your royal grandsire (trust me, I’m no fibber) Was vastly fond of Colley Cibber.

1882. Jas. Payn, For Cash Only, ch. xxvi. For one’s lover to be a fibber is bad enough, but to be a forger

Fibbery, subs. (colloquial).—Lying.

1857. Ducange Anglicus, Vulg. Tongue. ‘The Leary Man.’ And if you come to fibbery You must mug one or two.

Fibbing, subs. (pugilist).—1. Pummelling an opponent’s head while ‘in chancery’; a drubbing. Fr., bordée de coups de poings. [From Fib (q.v.).]

1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem. to Cong., p. 2. And if the Fine Arts Of fibbing and loving be dear to your hearts.

1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 268 (ed. 1864). Resolved his fibbing not to mind.

1837. Barham, I. L. (The Ghost). Whom sometimes there would come on a sort of fear his Spouse might knock his head off, Demolish half his teeth, or drive a rib in, She shone so much in ‘facers’ and in fibbing. [388]

2. (colloquial).—Lying.

Fibbing-Gloak, subs. (Old Cant).—A pugilist. For synonyms, see Hittite. [From Fib, sense 1 + Gloak, a man.]

Fibbing-Match, subs. (thieves’).—A prize-fight.—See Fib, sense 1.

Fibster, subs. (colloquial).—A liar. [From Fib, verb, sense 2.]

1861. H. Kingsley, Ravenshoe, ch. xx. You wicked old fibster! Didn’t you hesitate, stammer, and blush, when you said that?

Fiddle, subs. (common).—1. A sharper; sometimes old fiddle. For synonyms, see Rook.

2. (American).—A swindle. For synonyms, see Sell.

3. (thieves’).—A whip.

4. (thieves’).—See quot.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. i., p. 44. The taskmaster warder came in, bringing with him the fiddle on which I was to play a tune called ‘Four pounds of oakum a day.’ It consisted of nothing but a piece of rope and a long crooked nail.

5. (Stock Exchange).—One-sixteenth part of a pound.

1887. Atkin, House Scraps. Done at a fiddle.

6. (old).—A watchman’s or policeman’s rattle.

1832. W. T. Moncrieff, Tom and Jerry, Act II., Sc. 2. There’s one! go it, Jerry!—Come, Green. Log. Aye, come, Jerry there’s the Charlies’ fiddles going. Jerry. Charlies’ fiddles?—I’m not fly, Doctor. Log. Rattles, Jerry, rattles! you’re fly now, I see. Come along, Tom! Go it, Jerry!

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.

7. (colloquial).—A sixpence; also a fiddler; Cf., fiddler’s money.

8. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Verb (colloquial).—1. To trifle, especially with the hands.

1663. Pepys, Diary, 13 July. Where all the ladies walked, talking and fiddling with their hats and feathers, and changing and trying one another’s by one another’s heads, and laughing.

1738. Swift, Polite Convers., Dial. 2. He took a pipe in his hand, and fiddled with it till he broke it.

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.). Fiddle (v.) … also to spend a person’s time about matters of small or no importance.

1883. Hawley Smart, Hard Lines, ch. iii. That second charger of Mr. Harperley’s is smart, but they’ve had him fiddling about so long in the school, he’s most likely forgot how to gallop.

2. (thieves’).—To cheat; specifically, to gamble.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 140. She is supposed to bring in all the money she has taken, but that we don’t know, and we are generally fiddled most tremendous.

3. (common).—To earn a livelihood by doing small jobs on the street.—See Fiddling.

4. (American).—To intrigue.

5. (common).—To take liberties with a woman; for synonyms, see Firkytoodle.

6. (pugilistic).—To strike.

Scotch-fiddle, subs. (common).—The itch.

To hang up the fiddle.—To abandon an undertaking.

To play first or second fiddle, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To take a leading or a subordinate part. Among tailors second fiddle = an unpleasant task. [389]

1843. Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit, ch. xii., p. 122. To say that Tom had no idea of playing first fiddle in any social orchestra but was always quite satisfied to be set down for the hundred and fiftieth violin in the band, or thereabouts, is to express his modesty in very inadequate terms.

1847. Thackeray, Letter, 2 Jan., to W. E. Ayton in Memoirs. If my friend will shout, Titmarsh for ever, hurrah for etc., etc., I may go up with a run to a pretty fair place in my trade, and be allowed to appear before the public as among the first fiddles.

1886. Jas. Payn, Grape from a Thorn, ch. xi. She had inherited from her mother an extreme objection to playing, in any orchestra whatsoever, the second fiddle.

Fit as a fiddle, phr. (colloquial).—In good form or condition.

1886. Jas. Payn, Heir of the Ages (Ry. ed. 1888), p. 63.

Intj.—See Fiddle-de-dee.

Fiddle-bow, subs. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

Fiddle-faced, adj. (colloquial).—Wizened, also substantively.

1885. W. Westall, Larry Lohengrin, ch. v. Tell me how far, in your opinion, I answer to this flattering description of yours—white-chokered, strait-laced, and fiddle-faced?

Fiddle-faddle, subs. (colloquial).—Twaddling; trifling; ‘little nothings’; rot (q.v.). Fr., oui, les lanciers!

1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Super. in wks. II., 98. Or who of judgment, will not cry? away with these paultringe fidle-fadles.

1657. Political Ballads (ed. Wilkins, 1860), vol. I., p. 139. After much fiddle-faddle The egg proved addle.

1712. Spectator, No. 299. Their mother tells them … that her mother danced in a ball at Court with the Duke of Monmouth; with abundance of fiddle-faddle of the same nature.

1876. C. H. Wall, trans. Molière, vol. i., p. 157. I see nothing about here but white of eggs, milk of roses, and a thousand fiddle-faddles that I know nothing about.

Adj. Trifling; fussing; fluffing.

1712. Arbuthnot, Hist. of John Bull, pt. III., ch. viii. She was a troublesome, fiddle-faddle old woman, and so ceremonious that there was no bearing of her.

b. 1811, d. 1863. Thackeray, Character Sketches (Fashionable Authoress). She interlards her works with fearful quotations from the French, fiddle-faddle extracts from Italian operas, German phrases, fiercely mutilated, and a scrap or two of bad Spanish.

Verb. To toy; to trifle; to talk nonsense; to gossip; to make ‘much cry and little wool.’

1761. Dr. Hawksworth, Edgar and Emmeline, I., ii. Here have I had a young, tempting girl fiddle-faddling about me these two hours to dress me.

1873. Miss Broughton, Nancy, ch. xxxvii. I am idly fiddle-faddling with a piece of work.

Also Fiddle-faddler, one inclined to fiddle-faddles.

Fiddle-head, subs. (nautical).—A plain prow as distinguished from a figure-head. Hence fiddle-headed = plain; ugly.

1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, III., i., 316 (ed. 1846). She has a d——d pretty run; but I hope Captain O’Brien will take off her fiddle-head and get one carved: I never knew a vessel do much with a fiddle-head.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. v. ‘Zounds! you’ve broke it, you fiddle-headed brute!’ exclaimed a choleric voice …, startling the ladies most unceremoniously, and preparing them for the spectacle of a sturdy black cob trotting rebelliously down the farm-road.

Fiddler, subs. (old).—1. A trifler; a careless, negligent, or dilatory person. [From Fiddle, to trifle.]

1748. T. Dyche, Dictionary (5th ed.) s.v. [390]

2. (common).—A sharper; a cheat; also fiddle (q.v.).

3. (pugilistic).—A prize-fighter; one who depends more on activity than upon strength or ‘stay.’

4. (common).—A sixpence. [From the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler a sixpence. Cf., Fiddler’s money.]

1885. Household Words, 20 June, p. 155. Why a sixpence should be a ‘magpie’ it would be hard to say. A more easily explained name … is a fiddler. This probably from the old custom of each couple at a dance paying the fiddler sixpence, and, moreover ‘fiddler’s money’ is generally small money.

5. (common).—A farthing. For synonyms, see Fadge.

1885. Household Words, 20 June, p. 155. fiddler. This same word also does duty as an equivalent for a farthing.

Fiddlers’-Fare, subs. (old).—Meat, drink, and money—Grose, 1785.

Fiddlers’-Green, subs. (nautical).—A sailor’s elysium (situate on the hither and cooler side of hell) of wine, women, and song.

1837. Marryat, Snarley-Yow, ch. ix. At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true, When here they’ve done their duty, The bowl of grog shall still renew, And pledge to love and beauty.

1842. Lover, Handy Andy, ch. xii. ‘He would as soon go into Squire Egan’s house as go to Fiddler’s Green.’ ‘Faith, then, there’s worse places than Fiddler’s Green,’ said Andy, ‘as some people may find out one o’ these days.’

1884. Henley and Stevenson, Admiral Guinea, iv., 4. Jack Gaunt, … it’s thanks to you I’ve got my papers, and this time I’m shipped for Fiddler’s Green.

Fiddlers’-Money, subs. (old).—Sixpences. [From the custom at country merry-makings of each couple paying the fiddler sixpence.] Also generically, small silver.

Fiddlestick! intj. (colloquial).—Nonsense; sometimes fiddle-stick’s end and fiddle-de-dee.

1600. Nashe, Summer’s Last Will, in wks. (Grosart) VI., 130. A fiddle-sticke! ne’re tell me I am full of words.

1701. Farquhar, Sir Harry Wildair, Act IV., Sc. ii. Golden pleasures! Golden fiddlesticks—What d’ye tell me of your canting stuff?

1834. Southey, The Doctor, ch. clxxxix. At such an assertion he would have exclaimed, a fiddlestick! Why and how that word has become an interjection of contempt I must leave those to explain who can.

Subs.—1. See quot.

1821. D. Haggart, Life, Glossary, p. 172. Fiddlestick, a spring saw.

2. (venery).—The penis. For synonyms, see Creamstick.

3. (old).—A sword.

1595. Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet, iii., 1. Here’s my fiddlestick: here’s that shall make you dance.

Fiddling, subs. (streets’).—1. A livelihood got on the streets, holding horses, carrying parcels, etc.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 211. A lad that had been lucky fiddling (holding horses, or picking up money anyhow).

2. See quot. and cf., quot., subs., sense 1.

1850. Lloyd’s Weekly, 3 Feb. ‘Low Lodging Houses of London.’ I live on 2s. a week from thieving, because I understand fiddling—that means, buying a thing for a mere trifle, and selling it for double, or for more, if you’re not taken in yourself.

3. (colloquial).—Idling; trifling. [391]

4. (gamesters’).—Gambling.

Adj. (colloquial).—Trifling; trivial; fussing with nothing.

b. 1667, d. 1745. Swift [quoted in ‘Annandale’]. Good cooks cannot abide what they call fiddling work.

1802. C. K. Sharpe, in Correspondence (1888), i., 152. He is a mighty neat, pretty little, fiddling fellow, and exceedingly finely bred.

1880. Hawley Smart, Social Sinners, ch. xiii. I will look in at that time, and trust to find you have settled all these fiddling preliminaries.

Fid-fad, subs. (old).—A contracted form of fiddle-faddle (q.v.); also applied to persons.

1754. The World, No. 95. The youngest, who thinks in her heart that her sister is no better than a slattern, runs into the contrary extreme, and is, in everything she does, an absolute fidfad.

1874. E. L. Linton, Patricia Kemball, ch. xvi. The fidfads, called improvements, which were not wanted and seldom properly managed.

Fidlam-Bens or Coves, subs. (thieves’).—Thieves who steal anything they can lay hands on. Also St. Peter’s Sons.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

Fie-for-shame, subs. phr. (schoolgirls’).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Field. To chop the field, verb. phr. (racing).—To win easily [Field = the horses taking part in a race.]

Fielder, subs. (betting).—A backer of the field [i.e., the ruck (q.v.). as against the favorite]. At cricket, a player in the field as against the team at the wickets.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. vi. I accommodate a vociferous fielder with 6 to 4 in hundreds as my concluding stake.

1883. Graphic, 11 August, p. 138, col. 2. As a batter, bowler, and fielder combined … he has yet no equal.

Field-lane Duck, subs. phr. (common).—A baked sheep’s head.

1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.

Fient, intj. phr. (Scots colloquial).—An expression of negation: e.g., fient a hair care I = Devil a hair I care.

Fieri Facias. To have been served with a writ of fieri facias, verb. phr. (legal).—Said of a red-nosed man. [A play upon words.]

1594. Nashe, Unf. Traveller, in wks. v., 44. Should I tell you how many pursenants with red noses, and sargeants with precious faces, shrunke away in this sweat, you would not belieue me … a pursenant or a sargeant at this present, with the verie reflexe of his firie facias, was able to spoile a man a farre of.

1608. Penniles Parl, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), I., 182. They that drink too much Spanish sack, shall, about July, be served with a fiery faces.

1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, Act ii. Vour. You are very smart upon one another, gentlemen. Fail. This is nothing between us; I was to tell him of his title, fiery facias; and his setting dog, that runs into ale-houses before him.

Fiery Lot, subs. phr. (common).—Fast (q.v.); rollicking; applied to a hot member (q.v.).

Fiery Snorter, subs. phr. (common).—A red nose.

Fifer, subs. (tailors’).—1. A waistcoat ‘hand.’ [392]

2. (Scots’ colloquial).—A native of the Kingdom (q.v.), i.e., the county of Fife.

Fi-fi or fie-fie, adj. (common).—Indecent; ‘blue’ or ‘smutty.’ [From Fie = an exclamation signifying contempt, impatience, or disapproval.] A Thackerayean term.

1861. A. Trollope, Framley Parsonage, ch. vi. And then Mrs. Proudie began her story about Mr. Slope, or rather recommenced it. She was very fond of talking about this gentleman who had once been her pet chaplain, but was now her bitterest foe; and, in telling the story, she had sometimes to whisper to Miss Dunstable, for there were one or two fie-fie little anecdotes about a married lady, not altogether fit for young Mr. Robart’s ears.

1874. M. Collins, Frances, ch. xviii. Flood was a gay bachelor, with a few fie-fie stories floating through club atmosphere about him.

Fifteener, subs. (bibliographical).—A book printed in the 15th century.

1890. ‘Grangerising’ in Cornhill Mag., Feb., p. 139. Some of them torn from fifteeners, or ‘incurables,’ books of the fathers of printing.

Fifth Rib. To hit, dig, or poke one under the fifth rib, verb. phr. (common).—To deliver a heavy blow; to dumbfound.

1890. Globe, 26 Feb., p. 1, col. 5. It strikes the man who has been dallying with strange tailors … under the fifth rib.

Fig, subs. (colloquial).—1. A gesture of contempt made by thrusting forth the thumb between the fore and middle fingers: whence the expression ‘I do not care, or would not give, a fig for you.’ Fr., je ne voudrais pas en donner un ferret d’aiguillette. Cf., Care, and for other similes of worthlessness, see Curse, Straw, Rush, Chip, Cent, Dam, etc. [Italian: When the Milanese revolted against the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, they set his Empress hind before upon a mule, and thus expelled her. Frederick afterwards besieged and took the city, and compelled all his prisoners, on pain of death, to extract with his (or her) teeth a fig from the fundament of a mule and, the thing being done, to say in announcement, ‘ecco la fica.’ Thus far la fica became an universal mode of derision. Fr., faire la figue; Ger., die Feigen weisen; It., far le fiche; Dutch, De vÿghe setten.

1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., iii., 6. Pistol. Die and be damned and fico for thy friendship. Fluellen. It is well. Pistol. The fig of Spain.

1610. Ben Jonson, The Alchemist, i. 1. Subtle. What to do? Lick figs out of mine arse.

1821. Pierce Egan, Tom and Jerry [ed. 1890], p. 106. A fig for each bum.

1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. vi. A fig for Poll Ady and fat Sukey Wimble; I now could jump over the steeple so nimble; With joy I be ready to cry.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 185, col. 2 (q.v.).

2. (common).—Dress. [From Fig, verb. sense = that which shows off a man or woman, as a fig of ginger shows off a horse. Cf., quot., 1819, in Fig up.] In full fig = in full dress.

1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. i. He waits on me in hall, where we go in full fig of cap and gown at five, and get very good dinners, and cheap enough.

1873. Cassell’s Magazine, Jan., p. 246, col. 2. ‘London Cured.’ They are rather prone to dress flashily, and wear when in full fig no end of jewellery. [393]

3. (venery).—The female pudendum. For synonyms, see Monosyllable.

Verb (stable).—To ginger a horse. [For origin, see subs. sense.]

To fig out, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To show off; to dress; to don one’s war paint (q.v.). [From the verb.]

1825. The English Spy, vol. 1, p. 177. Eglantine (to the ostler). Well, Dick, what sort of a stud, hey? Come, fig out two lively ones.

1884. W. C. Russell, Jack’s Courtship, ch. vi. He began to inveigh against the waiter’s costume, as he styled the dress I had figged myself out in.

To fig up, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To restore; to reanimate (as a gingered horse).

1819. T. Moore, Tom Crib’s Memorial, p. 24. In vain did they try to fig up the old lad, ’Twas like using persuaders upon a dead prad.

Figaro, subs. (common).—A barber. [From Le Nozze di Figaro.]

1886. Globe, 18 March, p. 3, col. 2. [Referring to recent order of French War Minister permitting soldiers to wear their beards.] There is wailing and weeping among a certain section of that army, the figaros, which has been despoiled at one fell swoop.

Figdean, verb (old).—To kill. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.

Figged.—See Jigged.

Figger or Figure.—See Fagger.

Figging- or Fagging-lay, subs. phr. (old).—Pocket-picking: cf., Fagger.

Fight, subs. (common).—A party; e.g., Tea fight, Wedding-fight, etc. Cf., Scramble, and Worry: also Row (q.v.).

To fight or play cocum.—See Cocum.

To fight or buck the tiger.—See Buck and quots., infra.

1870. London Figaro, 20 July. The other day a gentleman of San Francisco, hitherto only noted for deeds of daring in fighting the tiger, was seated asleep in the smoking-car of the evening train from Sacramento on the Vallejo route.

1886. Daily Telegraph, 18 Oct., p. 5, col. 3. If they subsequently fight the tiger at the games of faro or roulette.

One that can fight his weight in wild cats, subs. phr. (American).—A brilliant desperado.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly. John Halkett, as I learned afterwards, could fight his weight in wild cats.

Fighting-Cove, subs. phr. (tramps’).—A professional pugilist: specifically one who ‘boxes’ for a livelihood at fairs, race-meetings, etc.

1880. 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.

Fighting Fifth, subs. phr. (military)—The Fifth Foot. [So distinguished in the Peninsular.] Other nicknames were the shiners (in 1764 from its clean and smart appearance); the old bold fifth (also Peninsular); and Lord Wellington’s body guard (it was at head-quarters in 1811). Cf., Fighting Ninth. [394]

1871. Chambers’ Journal, 23 Dec., p. 802, col. 2. The Fighting Fifth was distinguished by its men wearing a white plume in the cap, when the similar ornament of the other regiments was a red and white tuft.

1890. Standard, 25 April, p. 3, col. 4, ‘St. George’s Day.’ With the exception of the annual observances by the Northumberland Fusiliers, better known as the Fighting Fifth, and a concert at the Crystal Palace, there does not seem to have been the smallest notice taken of what was, not a hundred years ago, a recognised popular festival throughout the length and breadth of once merrie England.

Fighting Ninth, subs. phr. (military).—The Ninth Foot. [Also Holy Boys (Peninsular), from its selling its Bibles for drink.] Cf., Fighting Fifth.

Fighting Tight, adv. phr. (American).—Drunk and quarrelsome. For synonyms, see Drinks and Screwed.

Fig-leaf, subs. (common).—An apron. In fencing, the padded shield worn over the lower abdomen and right thigh. Fr., une petite bannette. Cf., Belly-cheat and Flag.

Figs (also Figgins), subs. (colloquial).—A grocer.

Figure, subs. (colloquial).—1. Appearance; conduct; e.g., to cut a good or bad figure, a mean figure, sorry figure, etc.

1712. Spectator, No. 479. Men cannot, indeed, make a sillier figure, than in repeating such pleasures and pains to the rest of the world.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xvii. Peradventure our youth is fast, and aspires to be a man of figure.

2. (colloquial).—Price; value; amount.

d. 1863. Thackeray [quoted in Annandale]. Accommodating the youngster, who had just entered the regiment, with a glandered charger at an uncommonly stiff figure.

1864. London Society, Oct., p. 480. She had saved … about four hundred a year out of the wreck … and so, on the whole, did not do badly in life. Happiness has been found at even a lower ‘figure.’

1883. Sala, Living London, p. 184. The ‘figure’ to be paid to Madame Adelina Patti for her forthcoming season.

1886. Cornhill Mag., March, p. 304. ‘About what is their figure?’ asked Mr. Corder. ‘Slim and graceful,’ answered the lady. ‘I don’t mean that,’ said the ex-smoked-mother-of-pearl-button manufacturer; ‘I mean, what is each of them worth in money?’

3. (colloquial).—Paps and posteriors; said only of women. No figure = wanting in both particulars.

Verb (billiards’).—To single out; to spot (q.v.).

[Figure, like fetch, comes in for a good deal of hard work in America. It is colloquially equivalent to ‘count upon’; as, ‘you may figure on getting a reply by return mail’; also = to strive for. To figure on [a thing] = to think it over; to figure out = to estimate; to figure up = to add up; to cut a figure, see cut; to go the whole figure = to be thorough; to go the big figure = to launch out; to miss a figure = to make a mistake.]

Figure-dancer, subs. (thieves’).—A manipulator of the face value of banknotes, cheques, and paper security generally.—Grose [1785].

Figure-fancier, subs. (venery).—An amateur of large-made women.

Figure-head, subs. (nautical).—The face. For synonyms, see Dial.

Figure-maker, subs. (venery).—A wencher. [In allusion to the enlarged ‘figures’ of pregnant women.] For synonyms, see Molrower. [395]

Figure (or Number) Six, subs. phr. (thieves’).—A lock of hair brought down from the forehead, greased, twisted spirally, and plastered on the face. For synonyms, see Aggerawator.

1851. H. Mayhew, Lon. Lab. and Lon. Poor, v. I., p. 36. As for the hair, they [coster-lads] say it ought to be long in front, and done in figure-six curls or twisted back to the ear, ‘Newgate-knocker style.’

Filbert. Cracked in the filbert, adv. phr. (common).—Crazy; a variant of wrong in the nut (q.v.) or upper storey. For synonyms, see Apartments to let and Tile loose.

Filch, verb (Old Cant: now recognised).—1. To steal: specifically to pilfer in small ways [Dekker: from the ‘filches’ or hooks used by thieves in stealing out of open windows; Skeat: for filk from O.E. fele, Icel. fela, to steal, like talk and tell, stalk (verb) and steal where k is a formative element.—See Phil. Soc. Trans., 1865, p. 188.] For synonyms, see Prig. Filch, properly filchman (q.v.), = a hooked staff; on the filch or filching = stealing.

1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. To fylche, to robbe.

1580. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. 63, st. 13, p. 143 (E.D.S.). The champion robbeth by night, And prowleth and filcheth by day.

1611. Middleton, Roaring Girl, Act iv., Sc. 1. What she leaves Thou shalt come closely in and filch away.

1729. Swift, Intelligencer, No. 4, p. 35 (2nd ed.). The servants having all that time to themselves to intrigue, to junket, to filch and steal.

1830. Marryat, King’s Own, ch. x. I could filch a handkerchief as soon as I was high enough to reach a pocket, and was declared to be a most promising child.

1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iii., p. 246. She were an out-and-outer in going into shops on the filch.

2. (old).—To beat. For synonyms, see Baste and Tan.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v.

Subs. (old).—A thief. [From the verb.] Also Filcher (q.v.). For synonyms, see Area-sneak.

1810. Poole, Hamlet Travestie, II., iii. A very filch, that more deserves to hang, Than any one of the light-finger’d gang.

Filcher or Filch (q.v.). subs. (Old Cant: now recognised). A thief. [From filch (q.v.) = to steal + er.] For synonyms, see Area-sneak and Thieves.

1580. Tusser, Husbandrie, ch. 10, st. 54, p. 25 (E.D.S.). Purloiners and filchers, that loveth to lurke.

1596. Jonson, Every man in his Humour, IV., ix. How now, Signior Gull! are you turned filcher of late? Come, deliver my cloak.

1636. Davenant, The Wits, Act. V., The old blade Skulks there like a tame filcher, as he had New stolen ’bove eggs from market-women, Robb’d an orchard, or a cheese-loft.

1887. J. W. Ebsworth, Cavalier Lyrics (In Alsatia, etc.). Filchers, who grabble at other folks’ chink.

Filchman or Filch, subs. (old).—A thief’s hooked staff used as described in quot., 1632.

1567. Frat. of Vacabondes, p. 3. The trunchion of a staffe, which staffe they cal a filtchman.

1589. Nashe, Countercuffe to Martin Junior, in wks., vol. I., p. 80. Pasquill met him … with a Hatte like a sawcer vppon hys crowne, a Filch-man in his hande.

1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-all, p. 38 (H. Club’s Repr., 1874), s.v.

1632–48. Dekker, English Villanies. He carries a short staff in his hand, which is called a filch, having in the nab or head [396]of it a ferme (that is to say a hole) into which, upon any piece of service, when he goes a filching, he putteth a hooke of iron, with which hooke he angles at a window in the dead of night for shirts, smockes, or any other linen or woollen.

1665. R. Head, English Rogue, pt. I., ch. v., p. 49 (1874), s.v.; 1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict., s.v.

File, subs. (old). 1. A pickpocket. Also file cloy or bung-nipper; cf., Buttock. Fr., une poisse à la détourne.

1754. Fielding, Jon. Wild, bk. IV., ch. xii. The greatest character among them was that of a pickpocket, or, in truer language, a file.

1837. C. Dickens, Oliver Twist, p. 123. You’ll be a fine young cracksman afore the old file now.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. The file is one who is generally accompanied by two others, one of whom is called the ‘Adam tyler,’ and the other the ‘bulker,’ or ‘staller.’ It is their business to jostle or ‘ramp’ the victim, while the file picks his pocket, and then hands the plunder to the ‘Adam tyler,’ who makes off with it.

2. (common).—A man: i.e., a cove (q.v.). Thus silent file (Fr., un lime sourde) = a dumb man; close-file = a miser, or a person not given to blabbing; Hard-file = a grasper (q.v.); old file = an elder; and so forth.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry (ed. 1890), p. 54. He was one of the deepest files in London; indeed, he was ‘awake’ on every suit.

1836. C. Dickens, Pickwick Papers, p. 360 (ed. 1857). ‘Wot a perverse old file it is!’ exclaimed Sam, ‘always agoin’ on about werdicks and alleybis, and that. Who said anysthings about the werdick?’

1837. C. Dickens, Oliver Twist, p. 233. The Dodger … desired the jailer to communicate the names of them two files as were on the bench.

1849. Thackeray, Hoggarty Diamond, ch. xi. ‘You beat Brough; you do, by Jove! for he looks like a rogue—anybody would swear to him: but you! by Jove, you look the very picture of honesty!’ ‘A deep file,’ said Aminadab, winking and pointing me out to his friend, Mr. Jehoshaphat.

1876. Besant and Rice, Golden Butterfly, ch. xiii. If you were not such a steady old file I should think you were in love with her.

Verb (old).—To pick pockets.

Filing-lay, subs. (thieves’).—Pocket-picking. [From file = to steal from the person + lay = business, occupation.]

1754. Jon. Wild, bk. IV., ch. ii. I am committed for the filing-lay, man, and we shall be both nubbed together.

Filling at the Price, adv. phr. (common).—Satisfying.

1870. London Figaro, 28 May. ‘Penny Pleasures.’ We believe that baked taturs are accepted as Penny Pleasures, and as being filling at the price.

Fill One’s Pipe, verb. phr. (obsolete).—To attain to easy circumstances.

1821. P. Egan, Tom and Jerry (ed. 1890), p. 32. It has often been the subject of sincere regret that such persons, with very few exceptions, have lived just long enough, according to a vulgar phrase, to fill their pipe, and leave others to enjoy it.

Fill the Bill, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To excel in conspicuousness: as a star actor whose name is ‘billed’ to the exclusion of the rest of the company. Hence, by implication, out of the common run of things; e.g., That fills the bill = ‘that takes the cake,’ for a lie, an effect, an appearance—anything.

Fill the Bin, verb. phr. (American).—To be beyond question; to come up to the mark; e.g., ‘Is the news reliable?’ Yes, it fills the bin. Cf., To Fill the Bill. [397]

1862. Speech of W. G. Brownlow of Tenn. in N. Y. Herald, 16 May. ‘Sir,’ said he,—and he [W. L. Yancey] is a beautiful speaker and personally a very fine-looking man,—‘are you the celebrated Parson Brownlow?’ ‘I’m the only man on earth,’ I replied, ‘that fills the bin.’

Fillupey, adj. and adv. (obsolete).—Satisfying. [From fill + up + y.]

1853. Diogenes, II., 195. Champagne is fillupey, so is Auber’s music.

Filly, subs. (common).—A girl; specifically a wanton. Among thieves, a daughter.

1668. Etherege, She Would if She Could, II., ii. (1704), p. 112. I told you they were a couple of skittish fillies, but I never knew ’em boggle at a man before.

1846. Thackeray, V. Fair, ch. xi. Well, I heard him say, ‘By jove, she’s a neat little filly!’ meaning your humble servant, and he did me the honour to dance two country dances with me.

Filly-hunting, subs. (venery).—Questing adventures; grousing (q.v.).

Filth, subs. (old venery).—A prostitute.

1602. Shakspeare, Othello, v., 2. Iago, Filth, thou liest!

1609. Shakspeare, Timon of Athens, iv., 1. To general filths Convert, o’ the instant, green virginity.

Fimble-Famble, subs. (common).—A lame excuse; a prevaricating answer.

Fin, subs. (common).—1. The arm; also the hand. [Fr., nageoire, but for synonyms, see Daddle. To tip the fin = to shake hands.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Fin, an arm.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge, p. 116. I wagged my head at this one, and nodded to another, and salaam’d with my fins with all the grace of a wounded turtle, to a third.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ch. xxxvii., p. 323. ‘Smauker, my lad, your fin,’ said the gentleman with the cocked hat. Mr. Smauker dovetailed the top joint of his right hand little finger into that of the gentleman with the cocked hat, and said he was charmed to see him looking so well.

1844. Puck, p. 134. The sun shines fair in Carey Street, And eke in Lincoln’s Inn, When Brown and Johnson gaily meet And shake the friendly fin.

1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. lv. The young surgeon … succeeded in getting the General’s dirty old hand under what he called his own fin.

1850. F. Smedley, Frank Fairleigh, p. 152. I’ll drive you there instead; it will be better for your scorched fin (pointing to my injured arm), than jolting about outside a horse.

2. Also Finn or Finnie.—See Finnup.

Intj.—See Fain.

Find, subs. (Harrow).—A mess of three or four upper boys which teas and breakfasts in the rooms of one or other of the set. Find-fag = a fag who provides for or ‘finds’ upper boys.

Finder, subs. (thieves’).—1. A thief; specifically a meat-market thief.

2. (Oxford University).—A waiter; especially at Caius’.

Fine, subs. (thieves’).—Punishment; a term of imprisonment. For synonyms, see Dose. To fine = to sentence. [From the payment of money imposed as a punishment for an offence.]

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. The cove had a fine of two stretches and a half imposed upon him for relieving a joskin of a load of cole. [398]

To cut it fine.—See Cut fine.

To get one down fine and close, verb. phr. (American).—To find out all about a man; to deliver a stinging blow.

All very fine and large, adj. phr. (common).—An interjection of (1) approval; (2) derision; and (3) incredulity. [The refrain of a music-hall song excessively popular about 1886–88.]

Fine as fivepence.—See Fivepence.

Fine day for the young ducks, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A very wet day.

Fine words butter no parsnips, phr. (colloquial).—A sarcastic retort upon large promises.

Fine-drawing, subs. (tailors’).—Accomplishing an end without discovery.

Fineer, verb, Fineering, subs. (old).—See quot.

1765. Goldsmith, Essays, VIII. The second method of running into debt is called fineering; which is getting goods made in such a fashion as to be unfit for every other purchaser, and if the tradesman refuses to give them on credit, then threatens to leave them upon his hands.

Fine-Madam, subs. phr. (common).—An epithet of envy or derision for a person (feminine) above her station.

Finger, subs. (American).—A ‘nip’; usually applied to spirituous liquors. Thus, Three fingers of clear juice = Three ‘goes’ of whiskey.

1888. Newport Journal, 25 Feb. ‘Which is correct, spoonfuls or spoons-ful, uncle?’ Denver uncle—‘Um—er—the fact is I don’t know, my boy. In Denver, we don’t use either, we say fingers.’

Verb (venery).—To take liberties with a woman. For synonyms, see Firkytoodle.

To put the finger in the eye, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To weep. For synonyms, see Nap a bit.—[Grose, 1785.]

A bit for the finger, phr. (venery).—A lascivious endearment.

Finger and Thumb, subs. phr. (rhyming slang).—A road or highway, i.e., ‘drum.’ For synonyms, see Drum.

Finger-Better, subs. (American).—A man who bets on credit; also one who points out cards.

Finger-fucking, subs. phr. (venery).—Masturbation (said of women only). For synonyms, see Frig.

Finger-post, subs. (common).—A clergyman. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue. A parson: so called, because.… Like the finger-post he points out … the way to heaven.

Finger-Smith, subs. (thieves’).—1. A pickpocket.

1883. Horsley, Jottings from Jail [in Echo], 25 Jan., p. 2, col. 4. The delicate expression fingersmith, as descriptive of the trade which a blunt world might call that of a pickpocket.

2. (common).—A midwife. Fr., Madame tire-monde or tire-pouce (Rabelaisian); Madame tire-mômes (môme = ‘kid’); une mômière (thieves’); Madame tâte-minette, [399]Madame guichet or Madame portière du petit guichet (17th century phrases). Cf., Carver and Gilder.

Finish, verb (common).—To kill. For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.

Finisher, subs. (colloquial).—Something that gives the last, the settling touch to anything. Cf., Corker, Clincher, etc.

1788–1841. Th. Hook [quoted in Annandale]. ‘This was a finisher,’ said Lackington.

Finjy! intj. (Winchester College).—An exclamation excusing one from participation in an unpleasant or unacceptable task, which he who says the word last has to undertake.

Finnuf.—See Finnup.

Finnup, (also finnip, finnuf, finnif, finnie, finn, or fin), subs. (thieves’).—A five-pound note or flimsy (q.v.). [A Yiddish pronunciation of German fünf = five.] Also finnup-ready (ready = money). In America finnup = a five dollar bill. Double finnup = a ten pound note.

1851–61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. III., p. 396. The notes were all finnies (£5 notes), and a good imitation.

1857. Snowden, Mag. Assistant, 3rd ed., p. 444. Five-pound notes, Finnips, ten-pound notes, Double finnips.

1883. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. When we got into the rattler they showed me the pass. Yes, there it was, fifty quids in double finns.

Fippenny, subs. (Australian thieves’).—A clasp knife. For synonyms, see Chive.

Fire, subs. (thieves’).—Danger.

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, or Rogue’s Lexicon. This place is all on fire; I must pad like a bull or the cops will nail me.

Like a house on fire, adv. phr. (common).—Easily and rapidly. Cf., house, winking, one o’clock, cake, brick, etc.

To fire a shot, verb. phr. (venery).—To emit. Fr., tirer un coup.

To fire a slug, verb. phr. (old).—To drink a dram. [Grose, 1785.]

To fire in the air, verb. phr. (venery).—To shoot in the bush (q.v.).

To fire a gun, verb. phr. (old).—To introduce a story by head and shoulders; to lead up to a subject.—[Grose, 1785.]

To pass through the fire, verb. phr. (venery).—To be clapped (q.v.), or poxed (q.v.).

To set the Thames on fire, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be clever, or the reverse; used in sarcasm.

Fire and Light, subs. phr. (nautical).—A master-at-arms.

Fired, adj. (American).—Arrested; turned out; and (among artists) rejected.

Fire-eater, subs. (common).—In Old Cant a quick-worker; and in modern English, a duellist or bully. Also Fire-eating.

1841. Savage, Dict. Art. of Printing, s.v. A quick compositor.

1854. Whyte Melville, General Bounce, ch. xii. Sir Ascot was none of your sighing, despairing, fire-eating adorers. [400]

1868. Ouida, Under Two Flags, ch. xv. A soldier, who … was one of the most brilliant fire-eaters of his regiment.

Fire-escape, subs. (common).—A clergyman. For synonyms, see Devil-dodger.

Fire-prigger, subs. (old).—A thief whose venue is a conflagration.—Grose [1785].

Fireship, subs. (old).—A tainted whore. For general synonyms, see Barrack-hack and Tart.

Fire-spaniel, subs. (military).—A soldier who ‘nurses’ the barrack-room fire. Some English synonyms are, fire-dog; fire-worshipper; chimney-ornament; fender-guard; and cuddle-chimney.

Firewater, subs. (American).—Ardent spirits.

1861. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, ch. xiv. Yes. And awful firewater we used to get. The governor supplied me, like a wise man.

Fireworks, subs. (common).—A state of disturbance; mental excitement: e.g., fireworks on the brain = to be in a fluster.

Firk, verb (old).—To beat.

1599. Shakspeare, Henry V., iv., 6. Pistol. I’ll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.

Firkytoodle, verb (common).—To indulge in sexual endearments. Also Firkytoodling = preliminary caresses.

English Synonyms.—To canoodle; to fiddle; to mess (or pull) about; to slewther (Irish); to spoon; to crooky; to fam; to dildo; to caterwaul; to feel; to finger; to fumble; to grope; to clitorize; to touch up; to tip the long (or middle) finger; to guddle (Scots.)

French Synonyms. Mignoter (popular); jouer de la harpe (familiar: Leroux, in Dict. Comique, says: ‘Jouer de la harpe signifie jouer des mains auprès d’une femme, la patiner, lui toucher la nature, la farfouiller, la clitoriser, la chatouiller avec les doigts’); la petite oie (= preliminary favours); faire des horreurs (popular: des horreurs = broad or ‘blue’ talk; dire des horreurs = to talk bawd); bécoter (popular: = to make hot love); chouchouter (familiar: chouchou = darling).

Spanish Synonyms. Garatusa (= an act of endearment); caroca (generally used in plural, carocas = endearments); amoricones (vulgar).

Firmed.—See Well-firmed.

First-chop, adj. (common).—First rate. [From Hind., chaap, a stamp, an official mark on weights and measures; hence used to signify quality.] Also second-chop (q.v.).

1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. iv. ‘As for poetry, I hate poetry.’ ‘Pen’s is not first-chop,’ says Warrington.

1880. A. Trollope, The Duke’s Children, ch. lxviii. Old Beeswax thinks that if he can get me up to swear that he and his crew are real first-chop hands, that will hit the governor hard.

First Flight. In the first flight, subs. phr. (sporting).—Those first in at the finish; in fox-hunting those in at the death.

1852. F. E. Smedley, Lewis Arundel, ch. xxxix. Then you promise you will dine with me at Lovegrove’s, on Thursday, [401]and I’ll pick up half-a-dozen fellows that I know you’ll like to meet, regular top-sawyers, that you’re safe to find in the first flight, be it where it may.

First-nighter, subs. phr. (journalistic).—An habitué of first performances.

1886. G. Sutherland, Australia, p. 125. The first-nighter is almost unknown in the colonies.

First-Night Wrecker.—See Wrecker.

Fish, subs. (common).—1. A man; generally in contempt or disparagement as odd fish, loose fish, queer fish, scaly fish, shy fish (all of which see). Cf., Cove.

2. (tailors’).—Pieces cut out of garments to make them fit close.

3. (venery).—Generic for the female pudendum: e.g., a bit of fish = a grind (q.v.); fish-market = a brothel; and to go fishing = to go grousing (q.v.).

Verb (colloquial).—To attempt to obtain by artifice; to seek indirectly; to curry favour.

Pretty kettle of fish, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A perplexing state of affairs; a quandary.

To have other fish to fry, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To have other business on hand.

1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.

1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge, p. 90. He shouted to us, and pointed to his cargo; but we had other fish to fry, and accordingly never relaxed in our pulling.

To be neither fish nor flesh, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be neither one thing nor another; said of waverers and nondescripts; sometimes extended to neither fish, flesh, fowl, nor good red herring.

1598. Shakspeare, II. Henry IV., iv., 3. Falstaff. Why, she’s neither fish nor flesh; a man knows not where to have her.

1631–1700. Dryden [quoted in Annandale]. Damned neuters in their middle way of steering, Are neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring.

Fish-Broth, subs. (common).—Water. For synonyms, see Adam’s ale, to which may be added: Fr., le bouillon de canard (thieves’); l’agout (thieves’): Four. vetta.

1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe. The churlish frampold waves gave him his belly-full of fish-broath.

Fisher, subs. (common).—A lickspittle; only used contemptuously.

Fishhooks, subs. (common).—The fingers. For synonyms, see Forks.

1848. Duncombe, Sinks of London, s.v.

Fishmarket, subs. (gaming).—The lowest hole at bagatelle; Simon (q.v.).—See also Fish, subs., sense 3.

Fishy, adj. (common).—Effete, dubious, or seedy (of persons); unsound, or equivocal (of things). Also Fishiness = unsoundness.

1858. Shirley Brooks, The Gordian Knot, p. 14. Highly fishy they were. Something about breach of trust, and the embezzling his brother’s money—a man in India.

1859. Punch, vol. XXXVI., p. 82. The affair is decidedly fishy. However somebody must have the place, and so our friend Sam Warren … takes the mastership, resigning his seat. [402]

1868. Orchestra, 29 Feb., p. 365. When he commented on the words in the libel of Greek derivation, he professed to have forgotten all he ever learnt at school, said that ichthyophagous meant fishy, a word that thoroughly described the plaintiffs case.

1870. London Figaro, 31 Oct. Captain Spratt is the right man in the right place, though his appointment to such a post is certainly, on the face of it, fishy.

1884. F. Anstey, Giant’s Robe, ch. xxii. There’s something fishy about it all, and I mean to get at it.

1890. St. James’ Gazette, 9 April, p. 3, col. 1. Unfortunately the Bill is fishy; and there are ‘very awkward and stiff considerations about it.’

Fist, subs. (common).—1. Hand-writing. Fr., la cape.

1864. Derby Day, p. 8. Must say though that your friend writes a tolerable fist.

2. (tailors’).—A workman. Good fist = a good workman.

3. (printers’).—An index hand.

Verb. 1.—To apprehend.

1598. Shakspeare, II. Henry IV., ii., 1. Fang. An I but Fist him once! An a’ come but within my vice.

2. (colloquial).—To take hold, e.g., Just you fist that scrubbing-brush, and set to work.

3. (venery).—To fist it = to take a man by the penis, for intromission or masturbation.

To put up one’s fist, verb. phr. (tailors’).—To acknowledge a fact; cf., fill the bin and acknowledge the corn.

Fist-fucking, subs. phr. (venery).—Masturbation. For synonyms, see Frig.

Fit, adj. and adv. (colloquial).—Suitable; in good form.

1882. Punch, vol. LXXXII., p. 155, col. 1, (q.v.).

1884. A. Lang, in Longman’s Mag., IV., 140. The really best moment in life is that which finds us young and fit, bowling on a lively wicket, and conscious that we have considerable command of the ball.

1889. Evening Standard, 25 June. ‘Sir C. Russell’s Speech in Durham-Chetwynd Case.’ Now, Mr. Lowther, I am not suggesting—and I wish to be perfectly understood—that to run a horse that is not perfectly fit does not stand alone as an offence against the honourable conduct of any man on the turf.

Fit as a fiddle, adj. phr. (colloquial).—Awfully fit, i.e., in perfect condition.

To fit like a ball of wax, verb. phr. (common).—To fit close to the skin.

To fit like a sentry box, verb. phr. (common).—To fit badly.

To fit like a glove, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fit perfectly.

To fit to a T, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To fit to a nicety. [In reference to the T square used in drawing.]

1791. Boswell, Johnson. You see they’d have fitted him to a T.

To fit up a show, verb. phr. (artists’).—To arrange an exhibition.

To fit ends (or end to end), verb. phr. (venery).—To copulate. For synonyms, see Ride.

Fitch’s Grenadiers, subs. phr. (military).—The Eighty-Third Foot. [From the small stature of the men and the name of the first colonel.]

Fits. To beat into fits, verb. phr.—See Beat and Creation. [403]

Fitter, subs. (thieves’).—A burglar’s locksmith.

Fit up, subs. phr. (theatrical).—A small company. Also used adjectively; see Conscience.

1889. Answers, p. 40. One young fellow, who had come down with me, shook his head when he found that the company was one known as a fit up, that is to say, one where the stage is really carried about with the company.

Five-Fingers, subs. phr. (cards).—The five of trumps in the game of ‘Don’ or ‘Five Cards.’

1611. Chapman, May-Day, V., ii., in wks. (1873), ii., 401. For my game stood, me thought, vpon my last two tricks, when I made sure of the set, and yet lost it, hauing the varlet and the fiue finger to make two tricks.

1674. Cotton, Compleat Gamester [at the game of five-cards]. The five fingers (alias, five of trumps) is the best card in the pack … the Ace of Hearts wins the Ace of Trumps, and the Five Fingers not only wins the Ace of Trumps, but also all other cards whatever.

Fiver, subs. (colloquial).—Anything that counts as five; specifically a five-pound note. Cf., Finn.

1853. Wh. Melville, Digby Grand, ch. i. Spooner … loses a five-pound note, or, as he calls it, a fiver, to my antagonist.

1864. E. Yates, Broken to Harness, ch. xxv. Wouldn’t lend me a fiver to save me from gaol.

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.

1872. Fun, Sept. I lent a fiver unto a friend—He managed somehow that to spend.

1890. Tit-Bits, 8 Feb., p. 273, col. 2. Lend me a fiver, will you, Gus?

Five over Five, adv. phr. (common).—Said of people who turn in their toes.

Fivepence. As fine, (or as grand), as fivepence (or as fippence), phr. (colloquial).—As fine as possible. Cf., As neat as ninepence.

1672. Wycherly, Love in a Wood, V., wks. (1713), 421. Whilst his mistress is as fine as fippence, in embroidered sattens.

1720. Gay, New Song of New Similes. As fine as five-pence is her mien.

1738. Swift, Polite Convers., Dial. 3. Pray how was she drest? Lady Sm. Why, as fine as fi’pence.

1857. A. Trollope, Barchester Towers, ch. xxxix. There’s … the lot of ’em all sitting as grand as fivepence in madam’s drawing-room.

1866. G. A. Sala, Trip to Barbary, ch. xiii. They [the Jews] continue to sit ‘all of a row’ with their daughters dressed ‘all in green,’ or all in pink or salmon-colour, and as fine as fivepence on their ceremonial days, waiting, waiting, always waiting, for the restoration of the Temple and the end of the dolour.

Fives, subs. (common).—1. The fingers. Bunch of fives = the fist. Formerly also = the feet. For synonyms, see Forks.

c. 1629. Ballad in Arber’s English Garner, vol. VII., p. 13. Her cheeks were like the cherry.… Her waist exceeding small. The fives did fit her shoe.

1836. Dickens, Pickwick, ii., 7. Smart chap that cabman—handled his fives well.

1887. Judy, 18 May, p. 236. Both the men of sin handled their fives with almost professional dexterity.

2. (streets’).—A fight. [From sense 1.]

Fix, subs. (common).—A dilemma; frequently in conjunction with awful (q.v.) and regular (q.v.), e.g., an awful fix = a terrible position. Variants are cornered; up a tree; up a close; under a cloud; in a [404]scrape. Fr., avoir des mots avec les sergots = to run amuck of the police.

1837. R. H. Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends, (ed. 1862), p. 405. But, alas! and alack!—He had stuffed her sack So full that he found himself quite in a fix.

1840. Dickens, Old Curiosity Shop, ch. lxi. It can’t be helped you know. He ain’t the only one in the same fix.

1858. Shirley Brookes, The Gordian Knot, p. 88. John Claxton, what a fix I am in. That Mrs. Spencer will never go out of town.

1864. Tangle Talk, p. 271. Just as you are in a capital fix, exquisitely placed for being made a laughing stock, your friend will turn round upon you.

1869. Mrs. H. Wood, Roland Yorke, ch. xxi. Oh, but I could tell you of worse fixes than that.

Verb (old).—1. To arrest. For synonyms, see Nab and Cop.

1789. G. Parker, Variegated Characters. If any of us was to come in by ourselves and should happen to take a snooze you’d snitch upon us and soon have the traps fix us.

2. (American colloquial).—A general verb of action. Everything is fixed except the meaning of the word itself. The farmer fixes his fences, the mechanic his work-bench, the seamstress her sewing-machine, the fine lady her hair, and the schoolboy his books. The minister has to fix his sermon, the doctor to fix his medicines, the lawyer to fix his brief. Dickens was requested to ‘un-fix his straps’; eatables are fixed for a meal; a girl unfixes herself to go to bed, and fixes herself up to go for a walk. At public meetings it is fixed who are to be the candidates for office; rules are fixed to govern an institution, and when the arrangements are made the people contentedly say, ‘Now everything is fixed nicely.’ [This use is thought by Proctor to have arisen from some confusion between ‘fingency’ and ‘fixation’: as if the word had the meaning of the Latin fingo, fingere, instead of that of the Latin figo, figere. At least there is no use of fix in American which would not fairly represent the meaning of both.—See Philol. Soc. Trans. for 1865, p. 188.] The universality of the verb is only equalled by its antiquity, for, as J. R. Lowell points out, as early as 1675, the Commissioners of the United Colonies ordered ‘their arms well fixed and fit for service.’

To fix the ballot box = to tamper with returns.

1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. x., p. 86. You call upon a gentleman in a country town, and his help informs you that he is fixing himself just now, but will be down directly: by which you are to understand that he is dressing. You inquire, on board a steamboat, of a fellow-passenger, whether breakfast will be ready soon, and he tells you he should think so, for when he was last below, they were fixing the tables; in other words, laying the cloth. You beg a porter to collect your luggage, and he entreats you not to be uneasy, for he’ll fix it presently, and if you complain of indisposition, you are advised to have recourse to Doctor so and so, who will fix you in no time.

1888. Scribner’s Mag. I do hope you’ll like everything; it’s the first time we ever took boarders, but we try to fix things nice.

Anyhow, or nohow, you can or can’t fix it.—See Anyhow.

To fix one’s flint, verb. phr. (American).—‘To settle one’s hash.’ For synonyms, see Cook one’s goose.

1835–40. Haliburton, Clockmaker, S., ch. xii. Their manners are rude, [405]overbearin’, and tyrannical. They want their flints fixed for ’em as we did last war.

Fixings, subs. (American).—A noun of all work. Applied to any and everything.

1842. Dickens, American Notes, ch. x., p. 86. ‘Will you try,’ said my opposite neighbour, handing me a dish of potatoes, broken up in milk and butter, ‘will you try some of these fixings.’

1872. Daily Telegraph, 30 Sept. Still stoutly asserted by some sceptical Down-Easter to have been an itinerant dealer in hardware and kitchen fixings from Salem, Mass.

Fix up, verb. phr. (American).—To settle; to arrange. Cf., Fix.

Fiz, or Fizz, subs. (common).—Champagne; sometimes lemonade and ginger-beer. For synonyms, see Boy.

1864. Punch, vol. XLVII., p. 100. So away we went to supper For hungry we had grown, And ordered some fizz, which the right thing is, With a devilled turkey bone.

1869. St. James’ Mag., July. Her great object is to get one of these fellows to order the champagne. On each bottle of this stuff disposed of she has a percentage. She terms it fizz, and will pretend to fall into ecstacies at the prospect of a glass of the chemical essence of gooseberry sweetened up with tartaric acid and sugar of lead.

1871. Morning Advertiser, 11 Sept. Shall the Admirals of England now their former prowess drop, All courage ooze from tarry hands, like fiz from uncorked ‘pop?’

1879. Justin McCarthy, Donna Quixote, ch. xvii. I can open a bottle of soda or fizz … and never as much as wink.

1883. Referee, 22 April, p. 3, col. 3. I have seen you wince when it has come to your turn to stand treat, and you have been called upon to pay twelve shillings for a bottle of fizz.

Fiz-Gig, subs. (schoolboys’).—A firework.

Fizzer, subs. (common).—Anything first-rate. Cf., fizzing.

1866. London Miscellany, 19 May, p. 235. If the mare was such a fizzer why did you sell her?

Fizzing, adj. (common).—First-rate.

English Synonyms.—A1; cheery; clean wheat; clipping; crack; creamy; crushing; first chop; first class; first-rate, or (in America) first-rate and a half; hunky; jammy; jonnick; lummy; nap; out-and-out; pink; plummy; proper; real jam; right as ninepence; ripping; rooter; rum; screaming; scrumptious; ship-shape; slap-up; slick; splendacious; splendiferous; to rights; tip-top; true marmalade; tsing-tsing.

French Synonyms.—Aux oiseaux (pop.: very fine, very good); bath or bate (pop.: tip-top; for origin see under A1); c’est du flan (thieves’: it is excellent); c’est hurf (general: = true marmalade); c’est un peu ça (popular); c’est bath aux pommes (cf., bath ante); chenátre (thieves’); chic or chique (chique is literally a quid of tobacco); chicard, chicancardo or chicandard (superlatives of chic); chocnoso, chocnosof, chocnosogue or kosenoff (= crushing; nobby); chouette, chouettard, or chouettaud (chouette = literally a screech-owl); épatarouflant or êpatant (general = stunning); farineux (lit. farinaceous); flambant (lit. blazing, flaming); frais (used ironically); grand ’largue (largue = offing); mirobolant (fam. and pop. = slap-up); muche (= bully or ripping); numéro un (i.e., A1); obéliscal or obélisqual (common); ruisselant d’inouisme [406](familiar); rup (popular); schpile (popular); sgoff (popular); snoboye (fam. and pop.); superlificoquentieux (= splendiferous).

1885. Daily Telegraph, 1 August, p. 2, col. 2. ‘She’ll do fizzing,’ remarked Mr. Menders, regarding the transformed effigy admiringly, ‘to stick up at the head of the barrer.’

Fizzle, subs. (American).—A ridiculous failure; a flash in the pan. [The figure is adapted from wet powder which burns with a hiss, and then goes out.] In many of the United States colleges, the term = a blundering recitation. To hit just one third of the meaning constitutes ‘a perfect fizzle.’—Hall’s College Words. The ‘Brunonian,’ Feb. 24, 1877, defines the word to mean ‘where the student thinks he knows, but can’t quite express it,’ or ‘he tries to express it, and the professor thinks he doesn’t quite know.’

1849. Tomahawk, November. Here he could fizzles mark, without a sigh, And see orations unregarded die.

1851. National Intelligencer, 8 Dec. The speech was as complete a fizzle as has ever disgraced Congress, and we hope sincerely the honourable member from Massachusetts will take the lesson to heart.

1865. Letter in the D. Telegraph, 30 March. The famous ‘Jack o’ Clubs,’ from which so much was expected, is a dead fizzle. The half of the men had to leave the mines and go to the low country for want of work; and wages, which always were $10 a-day, were reduced to $80 per month, with board.

1883. Echo, 16 March, p. 4, col. 1. What promised at first to be a magnificent Parliamentary ‘row’ ended in a mere unsensational fizzle.

1890. St. James’ Gaz., 1 May, p. 4, col. 2. Altogether it begins to look as though the terrible demonstrations of down-trodden labour which were to shake society to its foundations would end in something like fizzle.

Verb (American).—To fail in reciting; to recite badly. Also (said of an instructor) to cause one to fail at reciting. At some American colleges flunk (q.v.) is the common word for an utter failure. To fizzle = to stumble through at last. In the ‘Yale Literary Messenger,’ ‘Fizzle = To rise with modest reluctance, to hesitate often, to decline finally; generally, to misunderstand the question.’ Also to flat out (q.v.). Four. Far une yappa.

1847. The Yale Banger, 22 Oct. My dignity is outraged at beholding those who fizzle and flunk in my presence tower above me.

1850. Yale Lit. Mag., p. 321. Fizzle him tenderly, Bore him with care; Fitted so slenderly, Tutor, beware.

End of Vol. II.

[408]

LONDON:
HARRISON AND SONS,
PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY,
ST. MARTIN’S LANE.

## Colophon

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### Corrections

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28 | Qu est ce | Qu’est-ce | 2
29, 117, 139, 151, 159, 199, 208, 244, 282, 287, 296, 308, 398 | [Not in source] | ‘ | 1
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31 | Coney-Catch | of Conny-Catching | 7
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34 | [Not in source] | : | 1
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39 | cajoleing | cajoling | 1
40 | we e | were | 1
41 | imm grants | immigrants | 1
42 | ringle s | ringlets | 1
45 | ” | [Deleted] | 1
46 | vrow | vrouw | 1
49 | In | in | 1
50 | . . | .… | 2
51, 56, 57, 57, 59, 115, 208, 215, 219, 227, 229, 268, 368, 396 | [Not in source] | ] | 1
53 | devasted | devastated | 2
58 | oft | off | 1
61 | , | ; | 1
68 | Of | of | 1
69 | [Not in source] | ’). | 3
73 | fradulent | fraudulent | 1
77 | ( | [ | 1
93 | a | A | 1
95 | Chorister’ | Chorister’s | 1
95 | pu | put | 1
99 | off | of | 1
100 | tile | tie | 1
103 | [Not in source] | the | 4
104, 106, 123, 203, 235, 261, 301, 344, 377 | [Not in source] | ( | 1
110 | fitteen | fifteen | 1
110 | Kinehbruaer | Kinehbruder | 1
118 | Ru ðen | kuðen | 2
121 | [Not in source] | 184. | 5
122 | Sqr., | Sq. of | 4
123 | Dick. | Dict. | 1
131 | Hotten s | Hotten’s | 1
133 | don t | don’t | 1
135 | similiar | similar | 1
137 | in a | in-a | 1
138 | ol. | vol. | 1
139 | Cock and-Breeches | Cock-and-Breeches | 1
144 | feliatrix | fellatrix | 1
146 | abou | about | 1
148 | folfows | follows | 1
150, 295, 389 | ’ | [Deleted] | 1
151 | hieves’ | thieves’ | 1
152 | I ve | I’ve | 1
156 | I’Ve | I’ve | 1
156 | Marigold s | Marigold’s | 1
158 | Brotner | Brother | 1
164 | [Not in source] | s | 1
165 | ph. | phr. | 1
176 | kœje | koekje | 3
176 | kœk | koek | 2
184 | Severa | Several | 1
188, 232, 293 | [ | ( | 1
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227, 365 | Labour | Labour’s | 2
227 | .’] | ’]. | 2
237 | Hucklebury | Huckleberry | 2
240 | seamen | seaman | 1
250 |  | ’ | 1
252 | 1880 | 1780 | 1
257 | David s | David’s | 1
264 | J. | I, | 2
264 | sBraddon | Miss Braddon | 4
264 | obby | lobby | 1
264 | ‘ | [Deleted] | 1
264 | engoúrdie | engourdie | 1 / 0
269 | Forsynonyms | For synonyms | 1
271 | Author s | Author’s | 1
297 | iii | III | 3
299, 304, 354 |  | — | 1
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304, 370 | he | the | 1
305 | alls | falls | 1
306 | ford | Oxford | 2
309 | = | + | 1
309, 313 | — |  | 1
309 | Cynthia s | Cynthia’s | 1
312, 336, 339 | Sixteen String | Sixteen-String | 1
312 | Lexion | Lexicon | 1
313 | syphillis | syphilis | 1
316 | of of | of | 3
317 | be-rate | berate | 1
321 | Caszell’s | Cassell’s | 1
332 | P or | Poor | 1
332 | he s | he’s | 1
333 | i.o. | i.e. | 1
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352 | synomyms | synonyms | 1
355 | o | o’ | 1
367 | )- | -) | 2
367 | f agots | fagots | 1
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368 | peferred | preferred | 1
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373 | ‘ | , | 1
373 | Möise | Moïse | 2 / 0
379 | [Not in source] | ’] | 2
379 | hy | thy | 1
387 | ’ | , | 1
393 | [Not in source] | ). | 2
397 | she s | she’s | 1
398 | spiritous | spirituous | 1
400 | Pen s | Pen’s | 1

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